Cultural Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cultural Analysis - Research Paper Example Healthcare provision is still behind in upper-middle-class countries. People in Panama have no confidence in the health care provision. They believe God is the only alternative for curing diseases. It made the researcher believe the level of education in Panama is still behind. Civilization has not taken root in most parts of Panama. To understand the women's position in the Panamanian’s society, the interviewee gave an in-depth discussion. The specific questions were how the marriage customs were practiced, attitude about separation, how women express modesty and roles of women in the society. The answers for the questions were different from what the researcher expected. It turned out that the women had no major position in Panamanian’s society. The researcher agreed with the interviewer that it would take time for Panama, to embrace the role of women in the society. For a health care provider to be culturally sensitive, he has to understand the roles of gender, sexual orientation, faith, tastes, and socioeconomic status. Physicians have to be sensitive to the unique needs of the Panama people. Sensitivity to their needs will improve the service delivery. Furthermore, asking appropriate questions, which are open-ended, will demonstrate a particular health care provider is culturally sensitive. Communication is an essential tool that will improve the patient-doctor relationship. The communication means should be able to bridge the differences between the culture of medicine and Panamanian’s beliefs and practices.

Water Supply in India Essay Example for Free

Water Supply in India Essay India has a land size of 3. 29 million square kilometers with a diverse population which has narrowly exceeded the one billion mark. The demand for water has continued to rise fast due to urbanization where a significant percentage of the population lives in the urban areas. In addition, the increase in demand of water is further attributed to industrial growth and increase in agricultural consumption (Omvedt, 1993). Access to clean drinking water is a basic necessity of life. However supply of clean water in India remains to be insufficient despite the measures that have been taken by major institutions in India in curbing the problem. Most of the cities in India, though densely populated, do not have continuous access to clean water supply on a daily basis. Water is distributed for only a few hours per day. According to a study that was carried out in 2007 by the Asian Development Bank, twenty out of the thirty five states in India had an average duration of 4. 3 hours per day of clean water supply (Deorah, 2006). This proves the unreliability in management and distribution of piped water in major cities as well as in small towns in India. Although piped water is not well developed in rural areas, the same problem still thrives, sometimes hand pumps remaining out of order for a long time. It is quite embarrassing to find that even with the great advancements in technology in the 21st century, there are still some people in certain areas of the world who face the danger of ill health due to lack of enough and quality water. Sustainable management of water resources is quickly turning out to be a necessity with a looming crisis that seems to be a threat to the livelihood and security of the general public in the coming years (Siegfried, Brown, Heikkila, Lall, 2008). Basing on this background, it is therefore the objective of this paper to center on the problem of water supply in India. 2. 0 Literature review A number of authors and scholars have carried out studies on the issue of water supply in India. The main focal point of these researchers was on the causes and possible solutions to the problem of water supply in India. According to Deorah, the major cause of low amounts of water supply whose quality is also poor is majorly as a result of mismanagement of water as a resource (2006). According to studies done by Mustafa it is revealed that the story of water in most parts of the Indus Basin which is largely in India, is related to the political landscape of the area (2007). Some of the authors highlight the possibility of an imminent danger facing India due to the conflicting figures in relation to the rising demand for water against the decline in supply of the same (Homer-Dixon, 2000). In a bid to solve this problem, Uitto and Jansky proposes that the public be incorporated in the process of efficient management of water sources (2005). In addition, it has been sugested by some scholarly material that the implentation of â€Å"the water conservation campaign awareness† is a great step in finding a lasting solution (Birkenholtz, 2009). Into the same bargain are authors Siegfried, Brown, Heikkila and Lall who recommend the idea of recycling waste water as well as harvesting of rainwater as part of the solution (2008). On the same note, Omdvet in his book â€Å"Reinventing Revolution: New Social Movements and the Socialist Tradition in India â€Å" gives the importance of preserving water catchment areas such as the Himalayas Mountains which plays a pivotal role in provision of water in the country (1993).

Allegory in Forsters The Other Side of the Hedge Essay -- Forster Oth

Allegory in Forster's The Other Side of the Hedge After reading the first few paragraphs, The Other Side of the Hedge, by E. M. Forster, seems to be nothing more than a story about a man walking down a long road. The narrator's decision to go through the hedge transforms the story into an allegory that is full of symbols representing Forster's view of the journey of life. The author develops the allegory through the use of several different symbols including the long road, the hedge and the water. The allegory is about man's life journey toward the ultimate goal of heaven. When the reader interprets the story on a literal level, it seems somewhat realistic, but he quickly senses a double meaning. In the story, the narrator travels on a long, dusty road that seems to have no end. He tells about the other people of the road, discussing the possessions that they attempt to carry with them. Some of these people abandon their journey, leaving their possessions behind to gather dust. The target of E.M. Forster's allegory is the transition from life on earth to life in heaven. Forster's many symbols in the story portray his view of life. One important symbol that Forster mentions several times is the long, dusty road. The seemingly endless road represents the long, difficult journey of life. The people in the story must travel on the road even though it never ends and leads them nowhere. At first, they carry as many possessions with them as possible, but they eventually leave them behind, as he journey becomes more difficult. The narrator says, "The road behind was strewn with the things we had all dropped." Eventually, the people of ... ... falls into the water, it cleanses his body physically, but it also cleanses his soul symbolically. His body is no longer covered with dust from his journey on the road. The water also causes the main character's pedometer to stop working. This further indicates that all links to the narrator's past life have been destroyed. He has moved on to a different stage in life, and there is no turning back. E.M. Forster's use of allegory and symbolism in The Other Side of the Hedge helps present his belief that the journey toward heaven is easier when one has fewer possessions and does good deeds for others. When the main character strays from the road, he begins a symbolic journey into heaven. The hedge strips him of his worldly possessions, while the water cleanses him spiritually, preparing him for the life to come.

Food Article Summary Response

â€Å"Serves Us Right† by Phoebe Damrosch describes the occupation of waiting as overlooked, treated badly, and in need of some change. We pay attention to and adore the rock star chefs, yet we often ignore those who deal with our food most, our waiters. Waiters in America are undertrained and treated poorly. Waiters work unpredictable schedules for unpredictable pay which depends heavily on tipping. They often do not receive work benefits such as health care and paid sick leave(1). As a result the quality of waiting is not great, because it is not a good job to hold, and there is a large turnover of new employees(2). Restaurants can improve the quality of waiting in America if they were to provide training and benefits(2). Damrosch suggests that removing tipping in exchange for a service charge paid by the employers would result in better service. Damrosch states that â€Å"The service charge shifts the focus from the money to the experience†(1). The occupation of waiting in its current state is sub par because the working conditions are sub par; waiter working conditions must be improved before work quality can too. Phoebe Damrosch makes many great points and is correct in her statements about the occupation of waiting and the occupation of waiting needs some changes for the better. Waiters and waitresses have some of the most unpredictable hours and schedules, making it difficult to schedule and lead their lives outside of their occupation. On top of that, they are underpaid; most waiters only make minimum wage and their salary is determined by how much they receive through tipping. Waiting is not a simple occupation either, it takes a lot of work and effort especially when it is busy to try and attend to all their customers. Taking orders, refilling drinks, making sure everything is OK, as well as delivering food from the kitchen requires a lot of multitasking skills and focus. I agree with Damrosch that tipping is instrumental in the failure of good service. With their already low wages, waiters and waitresses rely heavily on tipping, that means getting the customers in and out as fast as possible. This attitude towards working neglects the overall experience of each customer. Damrosch questions whether tipping should be held in practice anymore, and I completely agree. Removing tipping and boosting the base salary of waiters and waitresses would allow them to focus more on doing a good job instead of scrambling around trying to work as fast they can to receive more money from tipping each night. Most waiters and waitresses do not receive health care or other benefits either further adding to the list of negatives. All in all, Damrosch is correct, the occupation of waiting is one that is a lot of work, and hardly worth it. Too many negatives exist to keep people interested in waiting. For those that do practice waiting as their occupation, there is little motivation to do their job well. This job sees a lot of overturn as a result, so training becomes impractical and good service is becoming rare. The existence of tipping shifts the focus from providing quality service to trying to make as much money as possible. Waiting is hard work and improving the conditions of waiting is necessary before any improvement in the quality of work can be expected to be seen. Works Cited Damrosch, Pheobe. â€Å"Serves Us Right†. New York Times  September, 19, 2009: 1-2.

Federal Reserve Chair Game

Using the concepts you've been studying, describe how the game shows the use of monetary policy?Based on the monetary policy, the authority controls the supply of money through targeting the interest rate to promote economic growth and stability. Having relatively low price level and less unemployment rate are the main goals. Therefore, this game also adjusts the federal interest rate in order to retain the lowest unemployment rate and improving the economic stability by maintaining low inflation rate that increase the economic stability. So, we can say that this game controls the monetary policy.How can unforeseen circumstances effect the economy? Give examples.If the supply of money is not controlled by the monetary authority, there would be some chances that would affect the economic stability such as high inflation rate and unemployment rate may cause the issue to the current financial need and finally cause the high risk to the country.How does the Fed react to these circumstanc es? Did you get re-appointed? Why or why not?To keep the inflation rate low and stable around 2 percent and unemployment rate account 5 percent are recommended. In this case, it is necessary to have fed rate around 4.5 and also it needs to be revised every 3 months for next four years. If the rate will increase by 7.5 percent, unemployment rate would be around 4.69 percent, inflation rate as 2.26 percent. Therefore, the inflation will be higher as well as the unemployment rate. No, I was dismissed from the high inflation rate because I cannot control the monetary polity even form two times opportunity

Mother to Child Transmission Essay Example

Mother to Child Transmission Essay Example Mother to Child Transmission Essay Mother to Child Transmission Essay What is mother-to-child transmission? Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is when an HIV-infected woman passes the virus to her baby. This can occur during pregnancy, labour and delivery, or breastfeeding. Without treatment, around 15-30% of babies born to HIV positive women will become infected with HIV during pregnancy and delivery. A further 5-20% will become infected through breastfeeding. 1 Is MTCT a major problem? In 2008, around 430,000 children under 15 became infected with HIV, mainly through mother-to-child transmission. About 90% of these MTCT infections occurred in Africa where AIDS is beginning to reverse decades of steady progress in child survival. 2 In high income countries MTCT has been virtually eliminated thanks to effective voluntary testing and counselling, access to antiretroviral therapy, safe delivery practices, and the widespread availability and safe use of breast-milk substitutes. If these interventions were used worldwide, they could save the lives of thousands of children each year. How can MTCT be prevented (PMTCT)? pic]An HIV positive mother and her HIV positive baby in India Effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) requires a three-fold strategy. 3 4 Preventing HIV infection among prospective parents making HIV testing and other prevention interventions available in services related to sexual health such as antenatal and postpartum care. Avoiding unwanted pregnancies among HIV positive women providing appropriate counseling and support to women living with HIV to enable them to make informed decisions about their reproductive lives. Preventing the transmission of HIV from HIV positive mothers to their infants during pregnancy, labour, delivery and breastfeeding. Integration of HIV care, treatment and support for women found to be positive and their families. The last of these can be achieved by the use of antiretroviral drugs, safer infant feeding practices and other interventions. Antiretroviral drugs Treatment for the mother Women who have reached the advanced stages of HIV disease require a combination of antiretroviral drugs for their own health. This treatment, which must be taken every day for the rest of a womans life, is also highly effective at preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). Women who require treatment will usually be advised to take it, beginning either immediately or after the first trimester. Their newborn babies will usually be given a course of treatment for the first few days or weeks of life, to lower the risk even further. Pregnant women who do not yet need treatment for their own HIV infection can take a short course of drugs to help protect their unborn babies. The main options are outlined below, in order of complexity and effectiveness. Single dose nevirapine The simplest of all PMTCT drug regimens was tested in the HIVNET 012 trial, which took place in Uganda between 1997 and 1999. This study found that a single dose of nevirapine given to the mother at the onset of labour and to the baby after delivery roughly halved the rate of HIV transmission. 5 6 As it is given only once to the mother and baby, single dose nevirapine is relatively cheap and easy to administer. Since 2000, many thousands of babies in resource-poor countries have benefited from this simple intervention, which has been the mainstay of many PMTCT programmes. When is single dose nevirapine appropriate? A significant concern about the use of single dose nevirapine is drug resistance. Around a third of women who take single dose nevirapine develop drug resistant HIV,7 which can make subsequent treatment involving nevirapine and efavirenz (a related drug) less effective. Studies have found that drug resistance resulting from single dose nevirapine tends to decrease over time; if a mother waits at least six months before beginning treatment then it may be less likely to fail. 9  10 Nevertheless, in some cases the drug resistant HIV persists for many months in some parts of the body, even if it cannot be detected in the blood, and this may undermine the longer term effectiveness of treatment. 11 Whenever possible, women should receive a combination of drugs to prevent HIV resistan ce problems and to decrease MTCT rates even further. Among babies infected with HIV and exposed to single-dose nevirapine, around half have drug resistance at 6-8 weeks old. 12 Other infants may become infected with drug resistant HIV through breastfeeding. 13 Because of concerns about drug resistance and relatively low effectiveness, there is now general agreement that single dose nevirapine should be used only when no alternative PMTCT drug regimen is available. Whenever possible, women should receive a combination of drugs to prevent HIV resistance problems and to decrease MTCT rates even further. Nevirapine, however, is still the only single dose drug available to prevent MTCT. Other short course treatments require women to take drugs during and after pregnancy as well as during labour and delivery. This means they are much more expensive and more difficult to implement in resource poor settings than nevirapine, which can be used with little or no medical supervision at all. So, for now, single dose nevirapine remains the only practical choice for PMTCT of HIV in areas with minimal medical resources. Combining AZT with single dose nevirapine According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 guidelines,   the recommended course of drugs for preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT) in resources-limited settings should be a combination of AZT and single dose NVP. This approach is much more difficult to administer than single dose nevirapine on its own, but it is also significantly more effective, and is less likely to lead to drug resistance. AZT was first shown to reduce MTCT rates in 1994, and is the best-studied drug for this purpose. Under the 2010 guidelines, all HIV positive mothers, identified during pregnancy, should receive an extensive course of antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother to child transmission. For more information about the 2010 recommendations, please see AVERTs 2010 WHO Guidelines page. If these extensive drugs are not available, then the 2006 recommended course might be an option and a woman should begin taking AZT after 28 weeks of pregnancy (or as soon as possible thereafter). During labour she should take AZT and 3TC, as well as a single dose of nevirapine. If the woman receives less than four weeks of AZT during pregnancy then her baby should receive AZT for four weeks instead of one. Triple combinations The most effective PMTCT therapy involves a combination of three antiretroviral drugs taken during the later stages of pregnancy and during labour. This therapy is essentially identical to the treatment taken by HIV-positive people for their own health, except that it is taken only for a few months, and the choice of drugs may be slightly different. Triple therapy is usually recommended to women in high-income countries, and is becoming more widespread in the rest of the world and the WHO 2010 Guidelines, reflects this. AVERT. org has more information about HIV and pregnancy, including a discussion of these more sophisticated regimens. HIVNET 012 controversies In mid December 2004 a news story appeared alleging that side effects from single dose nevirapine during the HIVNET 012 study had been covered up. It claimed that US officials had been warned that nevirapine research was flawed and may have underreported thousands of severe reactions including deaths. By the time this news story appeared, a committee from the US Institute of Medicine was already engaged in a major independent review of the design, conduct, results and validity of the HIVNET 012 study. After evaluating extensive material from a variety of sources and reviewing primary source documents from Uganda, the investigation reported its findings in April 2005. The committee found that the original report on the HIVNET 012 study was sound, presented in a balanced manner, and can be relied upon for scientific and policy-making purposes. The allegations about unreported deaths were found to be completely untrue. Of the 306 mothers who received nevirapine, 16 experienced serious adverse events, and only one was thought possibly to be due to nevirapine. 14 The safety and effectiveness of single dose nevirapine has been confirmed by many other clinical trails. Although long-term use of nevirapine has been linked to liver damage, there is no evidence of any significant safety risk from a single dose to prevent MTCT. The December 2004 press story (which seems to have arisen from a personal feud between US officials) has been thoroughly discredited. 14, 15, 16, 17 Numerous subsequent studies, including a large clinical trial in Thailand, have reaffirmed that nevirapine is safe and effective at preventing MTCT. 15 HIV and safer infant feeding [pic]African woman breastfeeding A number of studies have shown that the protective benefit of drugs is diminished when babies continue to be exposed to HIV through breastfeeding. 6 17 Mothers with HIV are advised not to breastfeed whenever the use of breast milk substitutes (formula) is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe. However if they live in a country where safe water is not available then the risk of life-threatening conditions from formula feeding may be higher than the risk fro m breastfeeding. An HIV positive mother should be counselled on the risks and benefits of different infant feeding options and should be helped to select the most suitable option for her situation. 18 A baby fed on infant formula does not receive the special vitamins, nutrients and protective agents found in breast milk. And the cost of infant formula often puts it beyond the reach of poor families in resource poor countries, even if the product is widely available. Many women also lack access to the knowledge, potable water and fuel needed to prepare replacement feeds safely, or simply have no time to prepare them. If used incorrectly mixed with unsafe water, for example, or over-diluted a breast milk substitute can cause infections, malnutrition and even death. Furthermore, if a mother chooses not to breastfeed in settings where breastfeeding is the norm then this may draw attention to her HIV status and invite discrimination, violence or abandonment by her family and community. Another factor worth noting is the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding, which can help to lengthen the interval between pregnancies. Infant feeding advice for women with regular access to antiretroviral drugs For HIV positive women who choose, or who are advised to breastfeed, the World Health Organizations (WHO) recommendations are based on whether a women has access to antiretroviral drugs or not. If a woman has support and a regular supply of antiretroviral drugs then she should exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months of an infants life and then introduce mix feeding until the infant is able to have a safe diet without breastmilk. Mixed feeding (breastfeeding mixed with bottle feeding of water or formula, or providing other foods) is only safe in this situation because the mother or infant is taking antiretrovirals. Infant feeding advice for women who do not have regular access to antiretroviral drugs In situations where health services cannot supply women or infants with a regular supply of antiretroviral drugs, for an extended period of time, women are recommended to exclusive breastfeed for the first 6 months of an infants life and rapidly wean to avoid mixed feeding. Mixed feeding is not recommend because studies suggest it carries a higher risk than exclusive breastfeeding. Potentially this is because it damages the lining of the babys stomach and intestines thus making it easier for HIV in breast milk to infect the baby. If a HIV positive mother does not have access to ARVs she is strongly recommended to rapidly wean. Unfortunately, the best duration for this is not yet known and may vary according to the infants age and/or the environment 19 20. Read more about HIV and breastfeeding. Caesarean sections A caesarean section is an operation to deliver a baby through its mother’s abdominal wall. When a mother is HIV positive a caesarean section may be done to protect the baby from direct contact with her blood and other bodily fluids. However, as with formula feeding, there is a need to weigh the risk of HIV transmission against the risk of harm due to the intervention. If the mother is taking combination antiretroviral therapy then a caesarean section will often not be recommended because the risk of HIV transmission will already be very low. Caesarean delivery may be recommended if the mother has a high level of HIV in her blood, but the procedure is seldom available and/or safe in resource poor settings. Challenges faced by PMTCT programmes Even where PMTCT services are available, not all women receive the full benefit. Reasons for HIV positive pregnant women not accessing drugs include: Not being offered an HIV test Refusing to take an HIV test Not returning for follow up visits Not adhering to self-administered drugs HIV testing is critical because women who do not know they are HIV positive cannot benefit from interventions. In 2009 an estimated 26% of the estimated 125 million pregnant women in low and middle-income countries received an HIV test. 21 However some women refuse to be tested because they fear learning that they have a life-threatening condition; because they distrust HIV tests; or because they do not expect their results to remain confidential, and fear stigma and discrimination following a positive result. Women having tested negative early in pregnancy can become infected during pregnancy; without returning to clinics for retesting treatment is not accessed22 . Sometimes women who test HIV positive do not return to clinics for follow up visits, or fail to take the drugs they have been given. This can happen because they have had negative experiences nteracting with clinic staff, fear or stigma or disclosure and because they did not receive adequate HIV counseling. because they have been poorly informed about HIV transmission and how it can be prevented. Fear of disclosure is a common rea son why women are reluctant to return to their HIV clinic. In the words of a woman from Cote dIvoire: My husband might see me with the medicines, and he will want to know what they are for. That way he will find out about my [HIV positive test] result. Even the location bothers me, because everyone who comes to the clinic knows what goes on [at the programme]. As soon as a pregnant woman is seen coming here, its known right away that she is seropositive. 23 One of the major problems in preventing mother-to-child transmission, it has been argued, is making the provision of ARV drugs the focus of PMTCT efforts. Access to other services such as counselling, care and treatment services, infant-feeding guidance, and in particular sexual and reproductive health is ignored as a result. 24   Therefore, it should not be assumed that the proportion of HIV-positive pregnant women who are receiving antiretroviral prophylaxis to prevent their child becoming infected – estimated at one-third in low and middle-income countries – are receivi ng comprehensive PMTCT services. 25 To achieve a high success rate, PMTCT programmes must have well-trained, supportive staff who take great care to ensure confidentiality. They must be backed up by effective HIV testing and counselling programmes and by good quality HIV/AIDS education, which is essential to eliminate myths and misunderstandings among pregnant women, and to counter stigma and discrimination in the wider community. Under these conditions, antiretroviral drugs have the potential to save many thousands of babies lives. International PMTCT initiatives There are a number of large-scale international initiatives to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. These include: 1. The Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) 2. MTCT-Plus 3. The Global Fund 4. The Call to Action Project 5. The UN Interagency Task Team on MTCT The Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) On June 19th 2002, US President Bush announced a new $500 million International Mother and Child HIV Prevention Initiative to prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to infants and to improve health care delivery in Africa and the Caribbean. The Initiative was later integrated into the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In 2008 PEPFAR was reauthorized with the original $ 15 billion funding now tripled to $ 48 billion over the next five years. The original Initiative had the aim of reaching one million women with HIV testing and counselling and providing preventive drugs to 80 per cent of HIV positive delivering women by 2007. It aimed to reduce mother-to-child transmission by 40 percent in its fourteen focus countries, twelve of which are in Africa. From fiscal year 2004 to FY 2007, PEPFAR has supported prevention of MTCT for women during more than 10 million pregnancies with antiretroviral drugs being provided in over 827,000 pregnancies. This has resulted in the prevention of an estimated 157,000 infant HIV infections. 26 AVERT. org has more information about the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in our PEPFAR page. MTCT-Plus The MTCT-Plus Initiative was established in 2002, and is coordinated by the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. The Initiative aims to move beyond interventions aimed only at preventing infant HIV infection. It does this by supporting the provision of specialised care to HIV-infected women, their partners and their children who are identified in MTCT programmes. Funding for the initiative is provided by a group of private foundations, including the Gates Foundation, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, as well as by PEPFAR via USAID. The MTCT-Plus Initiative provides operational funding, medications, training and technical assistance at 13 sites in sub-Saharan Africa and at one site in Thailand. Since its inception MTCT-Plus has provided care and treatment to more than 16,000 adults and children. 27 The Global Fund The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a public-private partnership that distributes grants worldwide to fund HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes. Grants are distributed over two years and most countries receive some grants to fund PMTCT programmes. In 2008 the Global Fund announced that 271,000 HIV positive pregnant women had been reached with prophylaxis for PMTCT through Global Fund money in 2007. 28 AVERT. org has more about The Global Fund. The Call to Action Project The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation initiated the Call to Action Project (CTA) in September 1999 to help reduce MTCT of HIV in resource poor countries. The CTA is a public-private partnership that receives funding from both private sources such as the Gates Foundation and government grants. CTA has worked or is now working at approximately 400 sites in nineteen countries worldwide, of which twelve are in Africa.

Atticus FInch Character Analysis Essay Example

Atticus FInch Character Analysis Essay Example Atticus FInch Character Analysis Paper Atticus FInch Character Analysis Paper Only Man Of His Kind The main characters in Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird are Scout and Jem but their father Atticus finch is the character the reader should care about the most. Atticus is a great father in many ways, he is loyal, he teaches his children by example and he always does what is right. Because of his age, he has lived through many experiences that have taught him great life lessons that he teaches to his children to help them make the right decisions. The definition of loyalty is: a feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection. Jem and Scout are very loyal to their father, they efend him when necessary and they obey every command he gives them. Even after their mother died of a heart attack, Atticus did not give up on his responsibilities in life. He kept up with his Job as a lawyer, he kept up with his bills, groceries, etc, he kept up with everything that was necessary as a single parent. One day Jem and Scout were home alone and wanted to build a snowman but there wasnt enough snow so they dug up some of the yard and molded one out of mud. When Atticus returned home, Jem thought he would be furious but instead, he was impressed with Jems creativity: l didnt know how you were going to do it, but from now on Ill never worry about whatll become of you, son, youll always have an idea (67). Atticus also teaches Jem and Scout to not let what others affect them- mfou Just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anyone says to you, dont let em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change its a good one, even if it does resist learning (76). He is teaches his children that theres always someone that will be Judging you and that you have to keep your head held high and to not stoop down to their level. Walk away and be the bigger person. No matter what obstacles appeared in his life, he always found ways to overcome them and do what was best for his children. Life lessons are probably the most important things that Atticus teaches his children. He teaches them that they are always good enough no matter what anyone tells them. When Atticus sister otherwise known as Aunt Alexandra comes into town, she tries to change scout into less of a tomboy and more of a lady: He said there were already enough sunbeams in the family and to go about my business, he didnt mind me much the way I was(86). Atticus says that Scout is Just ine the way she is and he doesnt want what Aunt Alexandra says to affect the way Scout feels about herself. He also teaches them to always keep your head up and to not let what others say affect you. Mrs. Dubose is a mean woman that doesnt agree with some of Atticus choices and she is always rude and Judgemental to Atticus, Jem and Scout but everyday Atticus decides to be the bigger person: When the three of us came to the house, Atticus would sweep off his hat, wave gallantly to her and say, Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening. I never heard Atticus say like a picture of what. He would tell her the courthouse news, and would say he hoped with all his heart shed have a good day tomorrow. He would return his hat to his head, swing me to his shoulders in her very presence, and we would go home in the twilight. It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived(95). This and it will always make you look better. The most valuable characteristic that applies to Atticus Finch is that he always does what is right. Atticus believes that you must take a step in someone elses shoes before you Judge them- mfou never really nderstand a person until you consider things from his point of view; until you climb into his skin and walk around in it (30). Everyone has their own personal issues in their life, and no one has the right to Judge them based on whats on the outside. Atticus believes that is the right thing to do in every situation. Another thing that Atticus believes is the right thing to do is to never hit his children: Atticus aint ever whipped me since I can remember and I wanta keep it that way (90). Around the time period that To Kill a Mockingbird was written, it was very common for parents to hit their children when they misbehaved. Atticus believed that that was an unfair, useless punishment and used different discipline methods instead. The main reason that Atticus Finch is considered a person that always does what is right no matter what is the fact that he stood up for Tom Robinson, a black man that was accused of raping a white female: And Tom Robinson now sits before you having taken the oath with the only good hand he possesses his RIGHT. I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the State. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance. But my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a mans life at stake, hich she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt(204). No matter what the situation is, Atticus always does what is right and stands up for others and puts other peoples needs in front of his own. Because Atticus is such an amazing person in Maycomb, he is well known and is respected by many. Although, there are some people that have no respect such as Mayella Ewells husband Bob Ewell: Jem see if you can stand in Bob Ewells shoes a minute. I destroyed his last shred of credibility at that trial, if he had any to begin with. The man had to have some kind of comeback, his kind always does. So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating, thats something Ill gladly take. He had to take it out on somebody and Id rather it be me than that household full of children out there(231). Bob is upset with Atticus because he stood up for Tom Robinson, the man that supposedly raped his wife. Throughout the whole book, Atticus always respects people that respect him and he always puts their needs ahead of his as well as not following the people of Maycomb by respecting negros and treating them all equally, making Atticus Finch an overall amazing character in To Kill a Mockingbird.