Equality finally begins to understand the way his society works after his invention of electricity was threatened to be destroyed. Equality was never the guy to always follow the rules of his society but he really didn’t think his invention of electricity would be as big of a deal as it was. In fact he was more thinking upon the lines that the scholars would go with it due to its extreme power and how it could work to the advantage of the people. He found out the reason for which the frog’s leg started to jerk after he cut into it with a knife. His specific find was that “The frog had been hanging on a wire of copper; and it had been the metal of our knife which had sent a strange power (electricity) to the copper through the brine of the frog’s body.” Knowing the way that his invention was created helps to reform his view of his society in a negative way.

Equality thinks that his society is more focused on keeping technological advancements to a minimum so there is a very limited possibility that people will form feelings and opinions. Equality feels like people need their own opinions and own abilities to do as they please bypassing the whole set of laws that the council has set for them. The way he can see that the scholars are somewhat brainwashed by the council is by the way they are responding to his invention proposal. They are saying things like “What is not thought by all men cannot be true” and “What is not done collectively cannot be good”. These comments show that the society, in which Equality lives in, is not made for the thoughts of a single person but for the thoughts of all people collectively. They point out the want for a “We” nation instead of a multitude of “I’s.” This can cause many problems within a society due to the fact nobody has the ability to think for themselves and not for all. This all explains what he thinks of his society before his invention was threatened.

After Equality submits his invention to the scholars who were the people he felt like would help him perfect this for the better good of all mankind. He was stunned when he heard such responses as “If this should lighten the toil of men, then it is a great evil, for men have no cause to exist save in toiling for other men”. Other things that began to form his greater understanding of how his society works were when the whole table of scholars conjoined in saying “It must be destroyed!” This just puts the icing on the cake for his displeasure of the world he lives in. This proves to be his turning point in the story because he becomes so passionate about his personal ideas and feelings. He also seems to care more about making the society into something he feels is right and best for everybody most of his attention goes to a girl he met at the “Palace of Mating” the name he gave her is “The Golden One” due to how he feels about her. From now to the end of the book becomes his plan to reform and fix the government so it works for the best of the people not the other way around.

In conclusion, we can see that equality himself felt the government should try to help and work upon the matter of personal feelings and personal needs. The overlook of Equality’s society would work on these ideas “For the Freedom of man. For his rights. For his life. For his honor.” The society he wants shows that he is for individual happiness for everybody because he sees that people need and deserve it.

The way Equality feels about his society is that they are more focused on keeping technological advancements to a minimum so there is limited possibilities that the people will form feeling and opinions.

Equality thinks that his society is more focused on keeping technological advancements to a minimum so there is a very limited possibility that people will form feelings and opinions.

            It was truly a sunny day last Saturday after a torrential downpour which lasted till Friday evening. People were apprehensive and actually thought the rains will make Saturday’s convocation impossible. In spite of the rains, all hands were on deck, as workers and vehicles hurried round to sand-fill the flooded campus including the only road leading to the University which was partially submerged in floods.

One can then appreciate the joy of the President who saw the sunshine on the day of the convocation as a special day of blessings for the departing students. True to its mission of building bridges across political, linguistic and cultural divides the convocation ceremonies on Saturday the 16th of July 2011 opened with first, the national anthem of the United States of America, that of Nigeria and then finally, the Republic of Benin national anthem. This is symbolic as the admission of students into the university is opened to all nationalities without discrimination. In majority, are students from Nigeria who run in thousands in a school where the student-population stands at over Six thousand

            A university like Houdegbe North American University Cotonou is, at this time relevant as a uniting factor for economic co-operation and growth, not only in the West African sub-region, but also in the entire African continent. The successful unification of the African region is hinged on the exchange of socio-economic, cultural and educational actions. These are the aspirations of the first fully bilingual University in West Africa, the Houdegbe North American University, Cotonou. Apart from the pursuance of knowledge and making the university a centre of academic excellence, the Houdegbe North America University also recognizes and awards HONORIS CAUSA to honor men and women who have made indelible marks in the socio-economic, political and cultural development cutting across all countries, especially the West African sub-region and the African continent.

This is the state of affairs, and it was all joyful celebrations on that bright sunshine Saturday the 16th of July when the University graduated students from the School of Business Administration, Departments of Economics, Computer and Mathematics, Schools of International Relations and political Science. Others are the faculty  of Law, the faculty of Languages and the Institute of Translators, the School of Medicine and the School of Pharmacy and Allied Medical profession.

In a well articulated and moving speech delivered by the Chancellor-President of the University, Professor Ocatve Houdegbe, who spoke both in the French and the English languages, urged all none-French- speaking students to be masters of the French language for the four years they will be staying  in the university. To achieve this end, he charged all the French lecturers of the university to do all things possible in order that the feat would be achieved, if the university has to assume its proper position as the only bilingual university in the West African sub-region. The colourful occasion which took place in a partially open space, witness thousands of guests from all over the World, especially the West African sub-region, spilling over to the extra-large canopies set besides the main open venue.

The most touching aspect of his speech was when the Chancellor urged the students to be virtuous, fusing moral disciple with intellectuality. Like Socrates and Plato had taught their students, wisdom and intellectuality alone cannot make a man without virtue and moral discipline. To them, the man with wisdom (the philosopher) and virtue should rule without being corrupt.

Moral discipline means so much to Houdegbe North American University as about sixteen students suspected to be cultists and other students caught in various criminal activities including rape, were rusticated recently from the University. The graduating students, according to the Chancellor, are going into the world, and in doing so, they have to be men and women of great integrity and virtue, urging them to uphold the good name of the University. He revealed that the University has working relationships with other Universities in he USA and Europe, especially  Hampshire University where students from Houdegbe North American University can continue with higher degrees, if they so wish. This was received amidst great cheers and ovation by the graduating students who were all decked with multicolor various academic gowns. So were their lecturers and other officials dressed.

True to the African way of life, the celebrations were unlimited. Parents, friends, and well-wishers have come from far and near to watch their children graduating, which to many people, is a remarkable achievement in their children’s lives. The parents and friends in their twenties and fifties were seen under various trees and corners with coolers of food and drinks in great feast, eating, drinking and merrying. The fact that their children are graduating after four years of great toiling, building up academic laurels is enough to celebrate.

Traditional music and trumpets rented the air while in various groups; dancers were in a world of their own. They are the graduates on who perpetual light of God will shine all through their lives.

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Pat Asakome, a Broadcaster, a University lecturer, an author and an analyst in Public Affairs, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

However, the facts on the ground are slowly changing. Malls are starting to put up notices where they state their definition of “public display of affection” as “hugging someone of an opposite sex and more” and at the same time inform us that we are not allowed to do that. Yes, hugging between men and women is frowned upon if not outright illegal. The tide is slowly turning and we can all feel the effects of it.

Along the same lines, the Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai (one and the same person)—Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum—introduced a new law. Starting this academic year, all public and private schools are going to be forced to 1) fly the flag of the UAE and 2) sing the national anthem of the UAE every morning before classes start. The reason for this is to, and I quote, “instill in them [the children] the spirit of nationalism and patriotism.

I know what you’re thinking right now. “There is nothing wrong with this move.” Of course, if all or most of the population here was both Emirati and Muslim, it would be completely fine to force them to sing the national anthem. However, the fact of the matter is that over 75% of the population in the UAE is foreign. Yes, you read that right—out of every 4 people in the streets of the UAE, 3 are not Emiratis. I am sure that gives you an idea about who most of these students are that are going to be singing the national anthem here.

Here is another problem. You do not have the right to apply for citizenship in the UAE and on top of all that, there is no such thing in the UAE as “permanent residency”. If you move here for work, you are on a 3 year contract with your employer and hence a 3 year visa (same goes for your wife and children). If your employer likes you, they will renew your contract and let you stay in the country for another 3 years, otherwise you’ve got to pack your bags and go home.

So, my problem here is with the idea that children that are never going to be able to call this country their home are being forced to sing the national anthem of the UAE which encourages them to “sacrifice their souls” for the country “whose religion is Islam and guide is the Quran”. It does not make sense to me. I, however, can’t do anything about it except rant here because I, like so many others here, am not a citizen of this country.

Here is the official website of Sheik Mohammed that gives a little more detail about his newest order for schools: Official website of the Prime Minister.

One example of propaganda use in anthem is fear. They use fear by publicly burning to death a man because he spoke the unspeakable word, I. Fear was also used during world war two as a propaganda techniques but in a little different way. Adolf Hitler used propaganda to make people fear the Jews which in turn led to the holocaust. Fear can be a powerful propaganda tool, it can make people obey orders by showing what will happen if they don’t and it can create a common enemy to bring together a country and create chaos.

Another example of propaganda use in anthem and world war two is bandwagon. In anthem it uses the bandwagon techniques of propaganda from a young age. They all grow up taught that they aren’t supposed to think for themselves and they are supposed to go along with the society and no be an individual. In world war two America used the bandwagon technique to bring people together, they put up posters and advertisements that showed how you should support your community because everyone else is. The bandwagon technique is a very useful technique because it can change the way people think and bring them all together.

I found the old Nigerian national anthem. For those Nigerians who are old enough to remember, we once had a national anthem that stood very different from the one we have today. Those many years ago, shortly before the second republic, it was deemed necessary to change it to the current anthem that begins thus: “Arise O Compatriot…”

Now, the following are the words of the old Nigerian national anthem.

Nigerian We Hail Thee

Nigeria we hail thee
Our home and native land
Though tribe and tongue may differ
In brotherhood we stand
Nigerian all and proud to serve
Our native motherland.

Our flag should be a symbol
That truth and justice reigns
Through peace and battle honoured
And this we count as gain
To hand onto our children
A banner without stain.

Oh God of all creation Grant this our one request And help se build a nation Where no man is oppressed And so in peace and plenty Nigeria may me blessed.

Conclusion

As I peered through the words of this ancient forgotten anthem, I saw in them the beginning, past, present and possible future of the Nigerian union. Tears rushed from my eyes in the middle of that library on that day; tears which I tried to hide from prying eyes by cloaking myself within the shadows of dusty book shelves.

I believe we replaced this anthem as a nation because it reminded us of how far we had strayed from the promise of a better nation embedded within its verses. In my view, these verses encapsulate a belief and a promise that the Nigerian nation should never forget.