Boy Scouts, the National Rifle Association, and the Domestication of Rifle Shooting

A collaboration between three institutions—the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), and the manufacturers of guns and ammunition—created in the early years of the twentieth century a set of youth programs aimed at domesticating and naturalizing rifle shooting as a wholesome sport for preadolescent and adolescent boys. The BSA, in particular, had to persuade urban and suburban parents and community leaders that target shooting encouraged physical fitness, mental alertness, self-control, self-reliance, and an appreciation of the role of rifles in securing and maintaining American freedoms. Using BSA merit badge pamphlets and other materials created by these three organizations from 1910 to the present, this essay charts the rhetoric used to persuade boys and adults that boys should be taught to shoot rifles. The early appeals (1910-1940) stressed the origins of rifle shooting in American history, especially the romantic history of the west, but in the 1950s the appeal shifted to the wholesome, family-oriented dimensions of the sport. The urban violence and anti-war sentiments of the 1960s and 1970s complicated the persuasive messages, but the need to remasculinize America in the 1980s gave the youth shooting movements new life. Increased mass shootings at colleges and schools in the 1990s to the present have made the BSA-NRA partnership increaingly difficult to negotiate rhetorically

Know Your Enemy: Tibetan Perceptions of and Approaches to Chinese Studies in Exile

Achieving peaceful dialogue between Chinese and Tibetans is the crux of the Tibetan community in exile’s strategy to regain its homeland. Yet despite the recognized importance of cross-cultural communication the Tibetans, ideologically unwilling to separate “China the Oppressor” from “China the Neighbor” or even, potentially, “China the Co-Collaborator,” have largely avoided studying their adversary. Although increased literacy in Chinese language, knowledge of Chinese history and understanding of Chinese culture would enable the Tibetans to engage with China more effectively and productively, few initiatives exist in exile that facilitate the spread of such information. Receiving only a basic overview of Chinese history and culture under the education system in exile, those individuals seeking to learn more must often look past formal education and embrace less-conventional learning tools such as discussion groups, extracurricular language acquisition, and the arts. In addition to analyzing how China has been characterized, perceived, and approached in exile, both formally and extramurally, this paper contains a practical exploration of the extent to which artistic expression, specifically film, can serve as a valuable tool for disseminating information about China and encouraging Sino-Tibetan friendship. Using prominent Chinese films as a platform for discussion among young, intellectual Tibetans, I investigated the Tibetan conceptualization of China in exile. After analyzing the product of these discussions, I contend that film serves as an extremely effective and largely underutilized means of educating Tibetans about China. It would be in the Tibetan community’s best interest to take advantage of the opportunities this method provides and continue to employ the arts as an educational tool

Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Literature Review and Comprehensive Treatment Analysis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and debilitating autoimmune disease. The varying levels of severity of rheumatoid arthritis make it notably unique. Rheumatoid arthritis is not strictly an inflammatory disease of the joints; it is an extensive disease with many extra-articular manifestations that complicate its treatment and management. In addition to being a disease that is internally driven by the body’s immune system, current research reveals the pervasive influence of environmental factors on the disease’s severity and activity. This literature review examines the pathophysiology of RA, its implications on the body, and current treatment options to ameliorate some of its symptoms and complications. A particular focus on the efficacy and potential value of diet, psychosocial interventions, physical activity, and therapeutic modalities is central to the current work. Evidence using a literature review of peer-reviewed articles discussing RA and its many facets is utilized. A survey of patients with RA reveals patient attitudes and discretions towards their arduous personal experiences with rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, the findings indicate that having a well-versed interprofessional team of physicians and health professionals supporting patients with rheumatoid arthritis using an integrated model of care, is critical to improved overall well-being and disease outcomes

Pity the Nation

In light of the unprecedented events of social unrest that took place in the year of 2020, this piece takes inspiration from the timeless poem “Pity the Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Just as the text and themes relate to the United States during this time, they continue to resonate beyond multiple areas and eras. When recalling the events of 2020, some remember fear, uncertainty, pain, anger, disgust, and loss. Pity the Nation depicts these emotions. The alto and tenor voices follow each line of text in the poem, interpreting the themes musically as they are given. The fear of the unpredictable future is heard through the text-setting in both the voices and the chamber ensemble. This piece is dedicated to the memory of the renowned ‘Beat’ poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti

USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY INNOVATION LABS\u27 CONTRIBUTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Policy innovation labs (PILs) serve as centers of experimental innovation pursued by governmental, private, and non-profit entities that employ design-thinking methodology, scientific experimentation, and user-centric approaches (Wellstead et al., 2021). The multi-disciplinary expertise of policy innovation labs in social and economic topics equips them to offer policy recommendations addressing public issues, including environmental concerns. When designing innovative solutions, it is customary for policy innovation labs to provide substantial information and reports detailing their progress and methods. However, the wealth of information available becomes a challenge to fully divest in comprehending a lab\u27s contribution to solving global issues. This report addresses this challenge by harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to understand how environmental policy innovation labs contribute to solving global environmental issues. Specifically, it connects their alignment with a global framework of progress, the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through this process, this report also sheds light on the advancements and capabilities of using artificial intelligence as a method in social science research