Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Clear writing is dangerous - Emphasis

Clear writing is dangerous Clear writing is dangerous Clear writing is dangerous writing. If you edit out all the padding and get to the point, you might actually say something, and this can be quite disconcerting. After all, you might not want to be bold and stick your head above the parapet. You might be quite at home with a nebulous style. This is a tricky issue. Many people would like their organisation to produce documents and emails that are clearer and more succinct. But not all their colleagues may share this wish. They may pay lip service to the idea, but find it harder to comply or feel that more complex language lends an aura of professionalism to their subject. Writing-skills training can help, to an extent. As long as an organisation chooses a good provider, staff will learn how to plan and structure their thoughts, focus on their readers interests and write more straightforwardly in an engaging style. This helps them feel more confident and debunks many of the unhelpful myths they may have come across at school and university. Often people undergo what almost amounts to a religious conversion, as the scales fall from their eyes and they realise how effective business writing can be. Yet when they go back to the office, the language of many of the people they interact with will not have changed (if they havent been on or commissioned the course) and the existing culture may mean its difficult to put their new skills into practice. (A style guide can help.) Most of the written documents they see will be in a style they will now feel needs changing. But if its their line manager whos writing it, that poses the more intractable problem of how to confront this. Be bold Sometimes its not individuals but the culture of the entire organisation that gets in the way. Although its people may recognise the need for change, and even welcome it initially, its all-too easy to slip back into those familiar old habits or be helped back into them by negative feedback. So, be bold, encourage your colleagues to look at their preconceptions about language, especially from your readers point of view, and if they seem to be really stuck, send them on a good writing-skills course. Click here to find out about our training.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Conjugating the Verb Emmener (to Take) in French

Conjugating the Verb Emmener (to Take) in French Similar to the verb,  amener  (to take or bring),  emmener  also means to take in French. This may be a simple verb, but conjugating it to the past, present, or future tense can be a little complicated. There are a few things to watch out for, which well examine in a short French lesson. Conjugating the French Verb  Emmener When a verb ends with  -e_er  like  emmener, the spelling needs to be changed for some of the conjugations. These are called  stem-changing verbs  and in many cases, the second E changes to an accented à ¨. While this may not make much difference in the pronunciation, it certainly does when youre writing it. If you pay attention to that small detail, the rest of the conjugations are easy. The infinitive endings that are attached to the verb stem are similar to those found in regular -er  verbs, which make up the majority in the French language. If you have a few of those memorized, simply apply those endings to  emmener. To conjugate  emmener  to mean taking, will take, or took,  match the subject pronoun to the appropriate tense. For instance, I am taking is jemmà ¨ne while we will take is nous emmà ¨nerons. Practicing each of these in sample sentences will help you memorize them. Subject Present Future Imperfect j' emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nerai emmenais tu emmà ¨nes emmà ¨neras emmenais il emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nera emmenait nous emmenons emmà ¨nerons emmenions vous emmenez emmà ¨nerez emmeniez ils emmà ¨nent emmà ¨neront emmenaient The Present Participle of  Emmener For  emmener, the  present participle  is  emmenant. There is no change to the verb stem, instead we simply add the ending -ant.  Not only is this a verb, it may be used as an adjective, gerund, or noun as well. The Past Participle and Passà © Composà © The past tense can be formed using either the imperfect or the  passà © composà ©. To construct the latter, conjugate the  auxiliary verb  avoir, then attach the  past participle  emmenà ©. As an example, I took is jai emmenà © and we took is nous avons emmenà ©. More Simple  Emmener  Conjugations There are a few more common conjugations of  emmener  that you may need to know. However, those discussed above should be a priority in your studies. When the verbs action is not guaranteed, you might use the subjunctive verb mood. Similarly, the conditional verb mood is used when something else needs to occur in order for the taking to happen. In formal writing, you might also encounter the passà © simple or the imperfect subjunctive. Subject Subjunctive Conditional Passà © Simple Imperfect Subjunctive j' emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nerais emmenai emmenasse tu emmà ¨nes emmà ¨nerais emmenas emmenasses il emmà ¨ne emmà ¨nerait emmena emmenà ¢t nous emmenions emmà ¨nerions emmenà ¢mes emmenassions vous emmeniez emmà ¨neriez emmenà ¢tes emmenassiez ils emmà ¨nent emmà ¨neraient emmenà ¨rent emmenassent The imperative verb form is used for  requests  and demands. When using it, keep things short and sweet and drop the subject pronoun: use emmà ¨ne rather than tu emmà ¨ne. Imperative (tu) emmà ¨ne (nous) emmenons (vous) emmenez

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Judaism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Judaism - Essay Example These beliefs basically constitute a significant part of â€Å"The Thirteen Principles of Faith† which is the heart of the Torah according to Maimonides, the Jewish philosopher and rabbi who compiled and referred to it as â€Å"Shloshah Asar Ikkarim† in Hebrew (Maimonides). Talmud, being the central text of Judaism or the most essential collection of the Jewish oral tradition, necessitates for its rabbinic substance to be put in translation from written principles and thought into actual behavior by each Jew. Through â€Å"The Thirteen Principles of Faith†, the Jews acknowledge the existence of one Creator who, in perfect unity or singularity, is considered the ‘primary cause’ of all that exists. Moreover, God is absolute, non-corporeal, and eternal by nature so that it is an imperative principle for the Jews to worship this same God alone and cast off the rest which are false gods. While the prophet Moses is regarded by the Jews as highly crucial in conveying the chief prophecy and the â€Å"Ten Commandments† of God, the revelation at Mt. Sinai is taken as a profoundly valuable occurrence in which Hashem (God) revealed in front of 600,000 Jews at the foot of the mountain that He chose these people to comprise His nation. By â€Å"The Thirteen Principles of Faith†, the Torah is further believed to possess divine origin and immutability. The omniscience and providence of God as well as the divine reward and retribution are altogether inclusive of the core principles of Judaism which similarly hold in great account the Jewish faith upon the coming of the ‘Messiah’ and the resurrection of the dead. On the other hand, the dispersal of the Jewish people from their ancestral homeland which is widely known as the ‘Diaspora’ began the time when a population of Jews were exiled from Israel by their Babylonian conquerors in the 6th

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Air Pollution in America Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Air Pollution in America - Term Paper Example This is due to the fact as time goes by, people breathe in so many things that can be considered liter of air. In the course of a day, we breathe 5,000 to 15,000 liters of air. With each breath, we inhale life-sustaining oxygen, which is absorbed in our lungs and carried throughout our body. Air also contains pollutants, including pollen, microbes, particles such as soot and dust, and gases such as carbon monoxide-substances that can harm the human body. Contact with these harmful substances, which are filtered through the lungs and can also irritate the eyes and skin, triggers several defense mechanisms such as coughing, sneezing, and the production of secretions. When these defense mechanisms are overwhelmed, human tissue is damaged or destroyed. Chronic or severe exposure may hasten the onset and progression of disease and even result in death (Myer, p.43). Even though this study would have been conducted in other countries, almost all the world's countries and their people possess unifying attributes that make them distinct and unmistakable for any other nationality, race, culture and language. America possesses the probability of encountering this problem because of countless causes such as cultural differences and differences in opinions while having environment issues that could very destroy the earth. This is why there has been discussion of air pollution contributing to health issues in such a way, which gives a bleak future. This is why there was a court case between the United States vs. Rapanos was an issue because they went against the Clean Air Act. DiscussionIt is easy to gather that Americans want a future that has economic prosperity and clean air that will be more abundant. This is because the American life consists of material prosperity as much as in civil liberties or political democracy is an old on as the content of what people believe it to be. However, since the structure of globalization has to be reconstructed while the greenhouse effect is being dealt with through the air pollution issue, the planet's air is being destroyed by carbon dioxide and other pollutants.. "There is only one way to pacify our inflamed atmosphere: The climate challenge requires all the countries of the world to adopt a common framework with mandatory reduction targets. Within such a framework, countries can find their own ways to meet the shared goal. Since the United States emits at least twenty percent of the world's greenhouse gases - with only five percent of the world's population - it clearly needs to take a prominent role in any globa l solution. Here is a concrete framework for change that is financially sensible, politically feasible and based on existing technology" (Gelbspan). In the twenty-first century, economic changes and changes in the environment were threatening all American classes economically. . With addressing global solutions for the environment, the United States will force environmental laws onto the public such as the following. John and Judith Rapanos own three parcels of land in the State of Michigan known as the Salzburg, Hines Road, and Pine River sites. PA at A2. In the 1980's and 90's, the Rapanos hired contractors to prepare these sites for development. The

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Use of Ace Inhibitors for Treatment of Hypertension Essay Example for Free

Use of Ace Inhibitors for Treatment of Hypertension Essay The prevalence of hypertension globally has sparked much research on medications and ways to cure it. Although there are varieties of medications available in the market to control hypertension, there are still none that can actually cure it. Until the time a drug to cure hypertension emerges, hypertension will be controlled by the use of antihypertensive drugs. Among the few well known classes of antihypertensive drugs is a group of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors are a fairly recent addition to the antihypertensive drug class and have been widely used since then due to its many potential benefits. ACE inhibitors are indicated for many conditions which include hypertension, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders, and prevention of nephropathy in diabetes mellitus. When used in hypertension, it is done so in combination with diuretics with fairly good results. (Merck, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The use of ACE inhibitors is especially useful for congestive heart failure patients. Therefore, it is indicated in cases where hypertension exists in correlation with congestive heart failure. There has been a significant decrease in the overall morbidity and mortality rates of patients suffering from both the conditions when using ACE inhibitors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The mode of action of these drugs is many fold, and for that reason very effective in the treatment of hypertension. For instance, it acts on the vascular system to reduce vascular pressure, which allows for less arterial pressure, combined with more venous capacity, thus immediately reducing the blood pressure. Alongside, it increases cardiac output and cardiac index and stroke volume. The main function of the ACE inhibitors, however, is the inhibition of the ACE enzyme, which is responsible for increased vascular pressure, ventricular remodeling, production of aldosterone and vasopressin respectively. (Katzung, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Such drugs however, require careful dosage regimes based on extensive studying of the case, as there are many side effects associated with these drugs. The most common of these include hypotension, due to the vasodilator effect of the drugs.(Merck, 2003)   The second most common problem is the development of persistent cough in such patients, which leads to reduction in patient compliance. The bid and tid dosage regimes also reduce the patients’ compliance. Due to its renal effects, ACE inhibitors must be used carefully in cases where damage to the kidney is expected or the kidneys are functionally impaired. For example, in patients with renal artery stenosis, the use of these drugs can lead to renal impairment. The prevention of release of aldosterone caused by these drugs impairs excretion of potassium in the body, which can lead to hyperkalemia. Increased levels can also lead to the development of angioedema, which can be life threatening. ACE inhibitors are also contraindicated in patients who are pregnant as it is teratogenic in nature. (Kaplan and Rose, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the mode of activity of these drugs, the ACE inhibitors become contraindicated in cases of history of angioedemas or renal artery stenosis, compromised renal functioning capacities, aortic valve stenosis and in patients suffering from hypovolumia. (Klabunde, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many drugs now belong to this category, however, the paper will discuss three of these, captopril, enalapril and lisinopril.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Captopril main mode of action lies in the suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. By inhibiting the ACE inhibitor, angiotensin I is prevented from converting into angiotensin II.   Captopril enjoys universal attention due to the fact that it is the first ACE inhibitor introduced. Its mode of action and its effect were considered a breakthrough at the time of its conception. Its action is two fold. Firstly, it helps in dilating the vessels, thereby helping reduce blood pressure. Secondly, it has shown very good performance in the cases of myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure. And thirdly, it has shown good results in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy. (www.rxlist.com)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There is very little difference in the working of all the ACE drugs, however, captopril differs in this respect due to its shorter duration of action and increased chances of adverse effects.   This intensity of side effects potentiated further research, the result of which was the introduction of enalapril in the market, and still further drugs subsequently. Regardless of the drug, the ACE inhibitors generally take several weeks of administration to give full effectiveness and results. When used with thiazide diuretics, the results achieved are even more.(Merck, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Captopril is administered one hour before meals to achieve maximum peak volume concentration, which is reached within an hour of ingestion of drug. Initial dosage may be as low as 25 mg bid or tid, and gradually can be increased to double dose bid or tid. The addition of thiazide diuretics is usually carried out when using captopril alone at 50 mg alone does not sufficiently control blood pressure.(Katzung, 2004) This range can be increased to 150 mg per day, provided the use of a thiazide diuretic is also carried out. The administration of drug results in the lowering of blood pressure within one hour. Renal blood flow is increased; however, the GFR remains unchanged. When used with digitalis, captopril shows good efficacy in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Its use has been very favorable in patients who had previously suffered from myocardial infarction, or those with left ventricular dysfunction. In case of LVD and CHF or MI, the usual starting dose is 50 mg target dose. (Kaplan and Rose, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚     Captopril has shown to increase the risk of developing neutropenia and agranulocytosis and therefore, full blood picture is mandatory for patients using captopril for a prolonged period. Also, since mode of elimination from the body is through the kidneys, the use of captopril becomes contraindicated or at least under observation in cases of renal impairment or dysfunction. (Katzung, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enalapril is the second drug introduced in the ACE inhibitor series. The main reason for its production was to eliminate the problems seen with the use of captopril. As in captopril, the drug utilizes the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Production of enalapril involved changing the molecular constitution of captopril, and therefore, the final result was the first dicarboxylate- containing ACE inhibitor, or enalaprilat. However, this modification limited the use of this drug as intravenous injection only. Further modifications in this structure led to the oral form by the name enalapril. (www.rxlist.com)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enalapril works by converting itself through hydrolysis into enalaprilat in the body. Enalaprilat then inhibits the ACE enzyme. The peak serum levels are reached within an hour of administration of the drug. As opposed to captopril, enalapril absorption is independent of gastric contents; rather it is dependant on the urinary recovery. In hypertensive patients, the dosage of enalapril results in both supine and standing but not orthostatic hypotension. This effect is not seen in case of captopril. The antihypertensive activity becomes visible within one hour of administration of the drug. This effect then remains for around 24 hours. Similar to captopril, enalapril shows improved hypertensive control when administered with a thiazide diuretic. it is also indicated for cases suffering from heart failure, and asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. (Kaplan and Rose, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Unlike captopril, which can be administered simultaneously with a preceding diuretic, enalapril can only be started after cessation of the diuretic after two to three days. This is essential to minimize the risk of developing hypotension. If this is not possible a test dose of 2.5 mg is given for at least two hours under observation, and the drug administered accordingly. The usual dosage regime may vary from 10 to 40 mg per day, and that is if the patient is not on a diuretic. Dose adjustment becomes necessary for patients who have impaired renal function, which may require reduction of the dose to almost half of the average 5 mg. this dosage is amenable to changes based on the blood pressure response seen. (www.rxlist.com)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Enalapril is highly favored over captopril as it has lesser side effects than its predecessor. It has a well toleration response, and the adverse effects are very mild in nature. Patients may complain of fatigue, asthenia, diarrhea and nausea, headache and dizziness, cough and skin rash. These symptoms can be present with varying degrees according to the reason why the drug is being administered. For example in heart cases, it can also lead to syncope symptoms and some differences in the special sensory perceptions. Angioedema is perhaps the most serious side effect of enalapril, with severity seen more in blacks than in non-black populations. This can be very fatal should laryngeal angioedema ensue. Initial doses can lead to fall of blood pressure and hypotension, which must be monitored very closely. Hyperkalemia, increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinin levels, and decrease in hematocrit and hemoglobin can also be seen. Liver enzymes can also become elevated. (Merck manual, 2003)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The effects of enalapril were much improved and effective with lesser side effects when compared to captopril, however, the speed of effect was still high in the case of captopril. The third drug to get introduced in the series of ACE inhibitors became lisinopril. The drug was important as it was the first hydrophilic ACE inhibitor introduces, with longer half life and penetration in the tissue. The drug remains the same even after excretion from the body, and is indicated for all the conditions mentioned above for which ACE inhibitors are introduced. While captopril and enalapril were made for bid and tid dosages, lisinopril, due to its longer half life, is generally administered once a day, helping aid patient compliance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The mode of action is similar to its sister drugs, that is the drug acts by inhibiting the ACE enzyme. The peak serum concentration of this drug however, is reached after 7 hours, compared to one hour of both captopril and enalapril. When used for hypertension, it results in the reduction of both standing and supine hypertension, with â€Å"no compensatory tachycardia†(Rx list, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The dosage of lisinopril is given according to the drug history of the patient. Patients with no use of diuretics are given 10 mg per day as initial dose. This can be increased from 20 to 40 mg as the case may need. In diuretic using patients, the protocol for the administration of lisinopril is the same as for enalapril. The diuretic is stopped two to three days prior to the administration of lisinopril, and observed for signs of hypotension. Dosage is then adjusted according to the body response of the patient. This drug should not be given along with any potassium supplements as it can lead to hyperkalemia. Renal status similarly, addresses the dosage of the drug, with 10 mg as standard for normal kidney function, 5 mg for moderate to severe renal impairment, and 2.5 mg or so for dialysis patients after proper observation and blood pressure response. (Klabubde, 2007)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Side effects of lisinopril are not so different from the side effects seen in the case of enalapril and captopril. However, cough becomes the primary side effect of this drug along with fatigue and asthenia etc. In all cases of ACE inhibitors, the side effects must be monitored closely and managed accordingly should the need arise. (ACE Inhibitors, 2004)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, the introduction of ACE inhibitors has been a welcome addition in the antihypertensive drug family and is now used widely due to its excellent prognosis in patients with concurrent heart conditions. Its use with thiazide diuretics has been widely documented and further studies will help in the introduction of much improved brands of ACE inhibitors. References ACE inhibitor drugs. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from www.rxlist.com ACE inhibitors, 2004. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from http://www.chfpatients.com/ace_old.htm Norman A Kaplan and Burton D Rose, 2007. ACE inhibitors in the Treatment of Hypertension. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from http://patients.uptodate.com/topic.asp?file=hyperten/10107#1 Richard E. Klabunde, 2007. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors. Site last accessed on August 5, 2007 from http://cvpharmacology.com/vasodilator/ACE.htm Bertram G. Katzung, 2004. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, ninth edition. The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Second Home Edition. Section III, Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Imperialism :: essays research papers

Imperialism is the total domination of the political, economical, or cultural aspects or a nation. Imperial colonization has been occurring sense the beginning of time. An imperialistic nation would increase its importance and power by winning an empire. Some takeovers were forced by political rivalries. One nation might seize a territory to prevent a competitor from expanding into that region. Some nations would expand to boost their economic value, or personal wealth. Imperialism advances a countries politics, society, and economic value into a powerful money making country. The political aspect of imperialism progresses a country from being week into a strong fighting nation. For example, when the French were taking over parts of Africa, the communication of the two countries increased and they started to share the Suez Canal. Also when the British government set up a system of Colonial rule, it controlled over 280 million Indians. Thus encouraging officials to learn new languages. When the Spanish took over Latin America they constructed a Council of the Indies which issued over 400,00 orders to improve the cities. However without society, politics would have gotten no where. The social aspect of imperialism was very important. First of all, by the colonization of countries scientist were able to find causes and treatments to diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Also Britain built canals, roads, and railways which opened up India’s interior. The Spanish improved the Aztecs cities by making public waterways, paved and lighted streets, and a new invention the printing press. The society increased but when it enhanced the economics boosted also. The economics of imperialism is a major reason why nations would take over other countries. In Africa they introduced better farming techniques like dykes and irrigation canals, which boosted the money growth. The British improved medical care that included doctor education, thus leading into a boom in the population.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Latinos in America

What is an American? This is a difficult question to address, especially concerning Latinos who only speak English. Many Latinos in the United States, consider language a point of high controversy. Some consider speaking spanish an essential part of being Latino , while others consider it a barrier that will prevent the assimilation into the American culture. Tanya Barrientos, like many other Latinos, wrestled with this very issue her entire life. Growing up as a Latina came with many stereotypes, speaking Spanish being one of the most negative characteristics for Barrientos. As society changed its views and learned to accept this diversity in language, Barrientos learned to embrace her heritage. The true question lies within her reasoning for this change in her perception, but was it for the right reasons? What makes this country great is that you can be both: A Spanish speaking latino that is fully emerged in American society. Being American is not about the language you speak but about your ideals and how they fit in the American way of life. Many Americans don’t realize that the choice in language is not determined by the individual but lies in the choice parents or caregivers. This choice is one that will haunt individuals for the rest of their lives. In Barrientos’ case, her parents decided it would be best for her to only speak English. As Barrientos grew up, she embraced her parents choice, saw this as a positive trait, one that differentiated her from most Latinas. She enjoyed defying expectations. Since childhood, she felt that speaking Spanish translated to been poor, holding less desirable jobs and discrimination towards the Latino community. It is because of this that she enjoyed attending a public school that attracted few Latinos, she wanted to distance herself from the rest. In her opinion, not speaking Spanish gave her an edge over other Latinos and allowed her to successfully fit into the American Anglo society. In her own words, it made her feel superior and American. Society pushed her to want to stay away from her heritage and embrace the melting pot as a full fledge citizen. Prejudice or stereotypes should not affect the way you feel about your ulture or background. If society is going to view you in a negative way because the way you look or where you come from, they will do so regardless of what you do. This should make you embrace your heritage and take pride in what makes you unique. This is especially true when it pertains to language, which is something that cannot be perceive by looking at a person. In Barrientos’ case it did not make sense to refuse a language when society would already perceive t he stereotype due to ethnicity. In her situation, not speaking Spanish made her feel like as if society did not view her as a Latina, when clearly by the comments from school staff and most likely other untold accounts, it didn't make a difference. To others who did not know her, she was still a Latina, no different than the rest who were Spanish speaking. She had very little sympathy or affection for other latinos and held many negative views of her own culture. She tried to differentiate herself from the Latino community as much as possible, and succeeded. In a way she had become what she was avoiding, holding prejudice and acquired a feeling of superiority towards Spanish speaking Latinos. Barrientos was concerned about blending in with society, this meant being seen as â€Å"white†. In her mind white meant American, you could not be American if you spoke Spanish. As she puts it Spanish associated you with the radical thinking of Mexican-Americans or Afro-Americans. While emerging yourself in the society you live in is positive, refusing/denying your culture is not the best way to do it. She pushed her culture away because it did not have anything positive to give her, it would only bring her problems and misfortune. Barrientos did not care to even be considered Latina. That is what a selfish, insecure individual would do. It wasn't until society view about Latinos and Spanish changed, that she started relating her culture to something positive. Once the realization that being Latino and speaking Spanish was not a negative but a positive, she began to change. In her own words it was time to take pride, but as she puts it, it felt fake, because in a way it was. It wasn't until she had something to gain, that she wanted to fit in. It seems that is the overall theme of her life, always trying to fit in, but only when its most convenient for her. This attitude will never truly allow her to belong. Even after trying to learn Spanish, other Latinos notice that she was different. Her entire life she worked on putting up walls between her and the Latino community. She outcasted herself for so long and then found it very difficult to connect with her own community. I suspect it was not just the language but her attitude and demeanor as well. In a society as complex as the one in the United States, it is important to realize that you can never fit in with the entire population. If you try to conform to what others want, you lose a part of your individualism. It is also important that in the process of assimilating you do not end up alienating others in your same situation. At the end of the day, you can not change the preconceived notions that come with belonging to a specific ethnic group, but you can choose to embrace your culture and enjoy that part of your life while still emerging in the American way of life.