Elements of genre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Elements of genre - Essay Example history of The Religious Freedom Restoration Act in the US since 1995, pointing out all the flaws in the process involving its implementation and practice over time. The author also explains how discriminatory the bill is. Considering that discrimination is unconstitutional, most patriotic readers will be convinced about the unconstitutionality of the Act. The author should have also given the audience a positive side of the Act, instead of banking on the negatives only. This writing argues for The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, citing its role of balancing the interests of people, as well protecting the religious commitments of various people in the United States. The writing taps into the audience’s values and emotions through its emphasis on diversity. The author believes in diversity, hence justifies exemptions on the basis of religion. The author of this article persuades his audience by pointing out the influence this Act has employers, employees, insurance companies, non-profits, and government. Form this, a reader can evaluate how the Act promotes diversity basing on its influence on different groups of people and bodies. The author is also realistic in his evaluation of the Act. He acknowledges the fact that the Act has not received full support, as it faces opposition from different parties. He also recognizes that the Act is quite complex, though it remains relevant. In order to make this writing better, the author should have considered enhancing the simplicity and clarity of the article. This could have been for instance, through mentioning directly how the Act promotes people’s religious commitments. The author has presented his argument in a way that the reader has to demystify the relationship between the Act and its promotion of the religious commitments of different people in America. The major argument is that The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is bad, as it predisposes religious people to considerable financial dependency on the

Properties of Language, According to Linguistics Essay Example for Free

Properties of Language, According to Linguistics Essay Language, we use it everyday, but what exactly defines â€Å"language? † Are there generalizations to be made of all languages? Does everyone learn language same way? What are the rules of language? â€Å"What is Language? † by Neil Smith and Deirdre Wilson answers these questions and more by highlighting the three major theories of modern linguistics. The first modern linguistic theory claims that language is govern by grammar and that grammar is a set of rules with two functions: identifying possible sentences in a given language and dictate the pronunciation meaning of a sentence in a given language. The first function provides fluent speakers the ability to understand every conceivable sentence in their language even if they never heard it before sentences. This creative quality to produce infinitely many sentences is unique to language. The second function provides fluent speakers of different dialects to communicate with each other using the grammar rules of their shared language. The two functions of the first modern linguistic theory provides effective communication between two parties and acknowledgment of it is vital in first understanding language. In part with the first modern linguistic theory’s definition of grammar is that each person’s linguistic grammar is entirely unique to him or herself, because everyone learns grammar differently due different external factors. Everyone absorbs different linguistic speech patterns from their external environment during infancy and adds it to his or her own unique grammar customs, habits or conventions. These differences are even more prominent in patients of aphasia, a language disability that breaks up certain parts of their grammar creating difficult to understand or entirely incoherent sentences. People with aphasia create their own linguistic systems, sometimes being completely incompatible with the common linguistic systems of their receivers, causing misunderstandings. Generally, the only two instances of completely unique linguistic systems are when infants first learn language and patients with aphasia. The study of these two instances are vital in understanding the degree of uniqueness a linguistic grammar systems. The second modern linguistic theory claims that grammar is psychologically real and unconsciously known. However, the idea that grammar is unconscious knowledge is a controversial one. The opposition argues that sentence understanding is formed from using analogous sentences the listener has already heard and understood. It is not unconscious knowledge, they claim, but conscious identification of previously understood sentences. However, that does not explain the creativity of forming entirely new sentences or understanding the meaning of a never heard before sentence. For example, Noam Chomsky’s famous line, â€Å"Colorless green ideas sleep furiously† understandably sounds English and follows the grammatical rules of English, but makes no semantic sense. The opposition’s claim should be understood as â€Å"previously experienced analogous rules are used to understand language. † This would be classified under grammar rules. This explains how students first learn a language by identifying patterns through multiple experiences with the same kind of sentences. L inguists, however, research existing patterns from recognizing sentence patterns that are psychologically valid, i. e. significant generalizations and sentence patterns that arose by accident or by coincidence, i.  e. accidental generalizations. Significant generalizations are formed from existing rules, such as using â€Å"mister† for a man and â€Å"miss† for a woman. Accidental generalizations are any rules that are not the currently valid linguistic rules and are formed from chance events from using rules during early development of the language or change from outside influences. A child might make an accidental generalization of â€Å"mister† and call a woman â€Å"mister,† which would be very inappropriate and incorrect. Through intensive research, linguists are able to identify which generalizations are accidental or incorrect and create generalizations that are correct. The third modern linguistic theory by Noam Chomsky claims that people learn certain language forms instinctively. Chomsky discovered this parallel from the fact that all languages are very similar to each other. A few universalities shared by all languages discovered by linguistics are that all languages have vowels, consonants, nouns, verbs, affirmative sentences, negative sentences and interrogative sentences. A study done by Russell Tomlin in 1986, London, is that 45% of all languages share the â€Å"subject-verb-object† sentence structure and 42% share the â€Å"subject-verb-object† sentence structure. Very few languages, for whatever reason, have the verb or object first, which would indicate that the formation of language favors the subject first and that most languages are predisposed to having a subject first in a sentence. Language, whether we completely comprehend its inner workings or not, is constantly a prevailing aspect of our daily lives. We use language unconsciously, and yet because of this aspect, it is very difficult to fully classify rules of language. Thankfully, we can analyze various instances of unique grammar formation to further clarify our generalizations of languages and through these generalizations, find universalities of all languages. What is language, you ask? Language is a beautiful study of unique linguistics systems, interplaying with each other to create powerful communication.

KPTO Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan Analysis

KPTO Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan Analysis Executive Summary The source of information which was critically examined and presented in this document was referred to the Te Mahere Rautaki o Kia Piki te Ora Strategic Plan and Final Report of Kia Piki Te Ora (KPTO) Suicide Prevention Program Evaluation for the Ministry of Health which contacted the KÄ hui Tautoko Consulting Limited (KTCL) to draw a variety of data sources in order to give attention on questions about what KPTO brings and what are the effects established through its approaches and actions on Maori people across the 9 Regions. The data collected where critically examined and the Scriven-Davidson Key Evaluation Checklist serves as a guide. The KPTO program evaluation centers on process and impact evaluation questions wherein the parts reflected on what are the services and the way each provider deliberated, distributed and monitored activities in agreement with KPTO Accountability Structure and the All Age Suicide Prevention System Logic Model, the impact attained in communities and the significance contributed to Maori people suicide prevention, the KPTO cultural proficiency and the KPTO strong points and its areas for improvements. Purpose In year 2006, the KPTO involved all range of ages in the prevention program to address suicide rates focusing on Maori people. The activities involve ethnic approaches that were founded from the recognized cultural practice models appropriate for Maori suicide prevention and service distribution (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). The goal of KPTO program is to enhance the psychological and welfare status of Maori and involve engagement in communities as well as target the decrease of access to methods of suicide and helped to lessen the damaging effects linked to suicide or suicidal tendencies with the family, friends and in community (Ministry of Health, 2013). The KPTO program evaluation wanted to discover in many ways the program providers helped on the suicide prevention in each respective community. The evaluation also looks on issues or parts that need further attention. Clarity The KPTO program has its purpose of promoting the psychological health and welfare of Maori people giving them the highest concern of the program, as part of achieving this, there are services provided through a wide-ranging of mental health endorsement undertakings and agencies partnerships. The KPTOs plan of lessening the availability to the means of suicide has been given concerned by establishing policies and guidelines in collaboration with local councils and learning institutions.   However, according to Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited (2014), there was a deprived of evidences that will support this objective in the 9 regions. In order to address the effect of suicide to families, friends and in the community, the KPTO has diverse strategies to address this objective in working with the government organizations and community groups depending on how they assess the needs of the Maori to provide suitable services. KPTO not just provided awareness on suicide but also responding on suicide crisis as well as promoting a joint effort in health promotion program and mental health services, and also encouraging schools to give more attention on bullying and the action of the police to occurrences of crisis (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). The Ministry of Health funded the Kia Piki Te Ora Suicide Prevention Program in 9 regions to support and maintain the activities to prevent suicide mainly to the regions where there is an increased need of the services (Ministry of Health, 2015). Accuracy of evaluation/audit In order to conduct an evaluation, collection of data from various sources is important, and doing such creates and enhances the evaluation questions. It includes conducting a review of the KPTO project plans, assessing the reports and files made available by the Ministry of Health. Looking at the KPTO designed plans, reviewing and examination of reports and relevant documents helps gather more important information essential in the evaluation. The KPTO program created a positive effect in communities where it functioned particularly relating to the promotion of the shared responsibility in endorsing the suicide prevention undertakings. It was achieved due to the strong partnership with different agencies and collaboration with the community in each region and was evidenced by the responses from the families and stakeholders wherein the nine regional sites are visited and interviewed the program staffs ad stakeholders. However, those who could not attend the interview was still able to respond on the online survey organized which was completed by the representative from DHBs, Maori and social service providers, other private associations and police department (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). Significance of findings The KPTO program service providers have shown that there are different approaches to deliver the services which contributed to the prevention of suicide in each community. The outcomes enable to present the KPTOs strong points, identified issues or parts that need attention and a way for improvement. The KPTO service providers along with the key stakeholders have strongly made an effort to collaborate for significant partnership and encouraged agencies to give more attention on suicide prevention and promoting more activities and programs in all 9 regions.   The result has brought a positive impact on rendering KPTO health services (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). KPTO service distribution in nine regions concentrated on whÄ nau ora (family health) and whÄ nau welfare. It has been known in 4 locations that this priority was purposely line up in Governments Maori family health approach where applied in planning and delivery of the program which evidently shows an effective Maori community engagement (MOH, 2013). However, there are identified concerns in the delivery of the program. The KPTO providers have known to work that is not within the KPTOs scope which the stakeholders have expected for them to do so and also, the program providers have difficulty to reach all areas in an outsized region fairly. With this finding, it is necessary to make clear of the coordinators duty which is to perform as facilitator in a community to endorse health promotion, not as the first to respond on suicide emergencies. And for the large geographical regions, the challenges are related to the limited resources, human capability and the length of transportation which must have been given attention (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). Most of the KPTO program providers strongly carry out activity design in line thoroughly to the Accountability Structure and the All Age Suicide Program Logic Model. It was evidently shown that the program providers acquire understanding of projected distribution and undertakings that need to be attained yearly and also they correspondingly reported properly in every month and every six month period, also they continue to document the particular assessments of their actions wherein these reports is used to update upcoming activity plans (MOH, 2010). Insights The success of a program depends on many factors such as the way it was planned, delivered, funded, and effort made by the management and staffs. As for the KPTO program, it reflects the effectiveness of its role in contributing to the mental health of the intended recipients of the program as evidence by number of activities and collaboration with the organizations to prioritize suicide prevention (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). With this evaluation, it shows that the management and staffs play an important part in attaining the objectives of the program. They are the one on hand with the delivery of the activities and along with the influence of the stakeholders creating a strong effort to endorse the program in organizations. The stability of the staffs and coordinators in providing the services greatly helped in the program as for its continuity in the delivery of activities and acquired more experience in the community. Majority of the providers have rendered services to the community which enable them to work collaboratively with agencies in each region. Also, it is significant in achieving objectives to be involved in the celebration of the main recipients (Maori in KPTO program) for example the Waitangi Day and also often conduct events in gathering places. With this evaluation, it presents verified realization that a programs coordinator was able to work effectively when participated in strategic meetings which allowed them to voice out in decision-making, and a good communication is a way to promote sharing of essential information and designing policies. It is also important to note the responds of the recipients on the program delivery to greatly determine its impact and contribution in achieving objectives (Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited, 2014). The program which is mainly intended for Maori presented a competent cultural approach which serves as the strength of the program and because of this, it permits the providers to promote the welfare of the Maori based on the applicable way within their culture, with such, the program is accepted and suits with the Maori culture (McNeill, 2009). That is why, a program that considers the proper way in adjusting to the needs of the recipients will likely become acknowledged and succeeds. References Davidson, E.J. (2005). Evaluation Methodology Basics: The Nuts and Bolts of Sound Evaluation. Sage Publications. Thousand Oaks, CA. pp.6-7. Kahui Tautoko Consulting Limited (2014). Kia Piki te Ora Suicide Prevention Programme Evaluation Final Report. Wellington: Ministry of Health. McNeill, H. N. (2009). Maori models of mental wellness. Ministry of Health (2010). Paper for the Ministerial Committee on Suicide Prevention: MÄ ori Suicide Prevention. Wellington: Ministry of Health. Ministry of Health (2015). Kia Piki te Ora Suicide Prevention Programme Evaluation Final Report. Ministry of Health (2013). Te Mahere Rautaki o Kia Piki te Ora. Wellington: Ministry of Health.

Comparing Portrayal of Women in One Hundred Years of Solitude and The House of the Spirits :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Portrayal of Women in One Hundred Years of Solitude and The House of the Spirits The portrayal of women in the novels One Hundred years of Solitude and The House of the Spirits differs greatly. In One Hundred Years of Solitude empowerment comes only through age, for instance Ursula Iguaran, the matriarch of the Buendia family and to some extent Macondo, or through strength of sexuality, for instance Pilara Tenera the 'sexual matriarch' of Macondo. This is in contrast with The House of the Spirits where empowerment comes also through force of conviction, as seen with Nivea, and also through commercial enterprise as seen with Transito Soto. These women represent Allende's own brand of feminism Furthermore those women who accept a traditional role of subservience and remain staunch in their conservatism are shown to finish their days alone and mostly forgotten as is seen with Ferula and Nana. As the novels were set in first half of the twentieth century in Latin America, the role of women in the social hierarchy of this backdrop is worthy of consideration. This was a patriarchal society where men of whatever age were always superior in standing to women. As a woman aged, her position in the social hierarchy would increase. Furthermore women had few career choices; all were linked to some form of domestic service whether solely as a wife and mother or as a nanny or a combination. Religion played a very important role in this predominantly catholic area. The role of women as portrayed by the church was somewhat of a paradox, simultaneously acknowledging and praising women for the gift of child bearing and yet depicting them as the root of all sin, as the temptress inducing thoughts of fornication as well as causing the original sin, that being Adam eating the fruit in the 'Garden of Eden'. Despite Marquez's well documented anticlericalism this idea in church ideology of the temptress is paralleled in One Hundred Years of Solitude albeit the figure of Eve in her roles is split between the matriarchs of Macondo namely Pilar Tenera and Ursula Iguaran. In the beginning of One hundred years of solitude: "The world was so recent that many things lacked names, and in order to indicate them it was necessary to

Poetry and Icarus Essay

The fateful tale of Icarus has been adapted in multiple ways in poetry and in paintings. In â€Å"Icarus†, a poem by Edward Field, a popular mythological character from long ago is transformed into the vastly different reality of a more contemporary world. Irony and figurative language are essential elements of Field’s version of the tale of Icarus, who is immersed into the twentieth century. Irony is extremely evident right when the poem begins to unfold. It starts off by mentioning the setting and the people that live within it. The line that mentions the witnesses of Icarus’s fall running off to a â€Å"gang war† is in my opinion, an ironic reversion of the roles. Field also says Icarus’s police report is â€Å"filed and forgotten†, which is more irony since that is the opposite of what should be done. In the first stanza alone there are immediate differences of the traditional life of Icarus and the new one. Field also uses diction to portray to the reader that the poem is a more contemporary version of the myth of Icarus. The words â€Å"suit†, â€Å"gang war†, â€Å"committees, and â€Å"trains† show that the writer is trying to tell you that the poem is in a more modern time. Field doesn’t even attempt to make the poem sound monumental like older poems and stories usually do. Edward Field adapts the Icarus myth so well that it still has the same lure as the actual Greek myth. His diction and irony definitely clarify the newer, more modern setting. He reflects an effective change of Icarus’s setting in a unique way that I haven’t seen done before, until now, that is.

NSA Eavsdropping VS Privacy rights Essay

Abstract The United States government should not have the right to eavesdrop and target U.S citizens because of matter of national security. However if we have nothing to hide from the government, then why we should be afraid of the government eavesdropping on U.S citizens because of a national security reason, if according to the government it is to benefit and protect us? Should we give our privacy rights away for security? â€Å"Once you’ve lost your privacy, you realize you’ve lost an extremely valuable thing.† (Graham B. 1958). In this essay I will talk about the National Security Agency eavesdropping versus privacy rights. I will also discuss whether the National security agency should have or not the right to take U.S citizens digital privacy away in exchange of security. I will also share my opinion on which side I stand and the reasons why I believe so, supported by veridical facts that are known and have been exposed to the light from the United States government. However I will also emphasize the government’s point of view. Last after having both sides perspectives and facts, I will conclude explaining on which side I stand and the reasons why, based on the research that I will provide to the reader throughout the essay. Should the National Security Agency have the right to listen to all digital communications and target all Americans because a matter of â€Å"national security†? In order for the National Security Agency to have complete access to all types of digital communications it w ould need a warrant against all civilians. Therefore if the National Security Agency is really using secret warrants, then it is violating the fourth amendment of the constitution of the United Sates which is the part of the Bill of Rights that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, it also requires any warrant to be judicially sanctioned. Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement must receive written permission from a court of law, or a qualified magistrate, to lawfully search and seize  evidence while investigating criminal activity. Therefore if the national security is using these warrants against all U.S citizens, then all Americans are being considered criminals by the government. The Bush administration passed through the congress a secret warrant to give through the United States Department of Defense full access and authority to the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on all United States citizen digital communications and databases. Now what is the National Security Agency â€Å"NSA†, and what is the function and purpose of this agency? The National Security Agency is the main producer and manager of signals intelligence for the United States. Estimated to be the largest intelligence agency in terms of personnel and budget, the NSA operates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense and reports to the Director of National Intelligence who is Keith Alexander. The National Security Agency is home to America’s code makers and code breakers. The National Security Agency has provided timely information to U.S. decision makers and military leaders for more than half a century. The National Security Agency is unique among the U.S. defense agencies because of the government wide responsibilities. National Security Agency provides products and services to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, government agencies, industry partners, and selected allies. They also deliver critical strategic and tactical information to war planners and war fighters. According to this information that was shared by Keith Alexander in 2009, the National Security Agency clearly has a lot of power, however this power should be used to target potential threats against the U.S citizens, not the U.S citizens. In the past year, the NSA has repeatedly denied that it is collecting data on U.S. citizens. In March 2012, NSA chief Keith Alexander told Congress that his agency doesn’t even have the ability to collect data on Americans. â€Å"The NSA gathers intelligence under Section 702 of the FISA Amendment Act, which allows the NSA to gather data on non-U.S. citizens outside the U.S. It also gathers tens of thousands of â€Å"domestic communications† by and from Americans in its normal gathering of foreign surveillance, according to declassified court finding.† (PBS. 2013). Now we can observe that there is a contradiction in between what the National Security is saying about spying on people, and what many articles are actually saying. However if these accusations from the people are true, how can we be sure and support them  since the National Security Agency is a classified agency that will never disclose this information with the civilians? A former contractor from the National security agency Edward Snowden gave away his liberty and his salary, which was above two hundred thousand dollars a year. Just to tell the world through The Guardian that the National Security Agency was violating the fourth amendment and spying all digital communications and targeting all civilians as high risk targets against the United States. Snowden said he just wanted the public to know what the government was doing. â€Å"Even if you’re not doing anything wrong you’re being watched and recorded,† (CNN. 2013). Snowden told The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom that he had access to the full rosters of everyone working at the NSA, the entire intelligence community, and undercover assets around the world. â€Å"I’m just another guy who sits there day to day in the office, watching what’s happening, and goes, ‘This is something that’s not our place to decide.’ The public needs to decide whether these programs or policies are right or wrong,† (The Guardian. 2013). When Edward Snowden issue happened and turned the people’s trust and faith against the government, the people started wondering and researching what were the methods that the government was using to target and spy all digital communications. PRISM, for example, is a clandestine mass electronic surveillance known to have been operated by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) since 2007. The Prism program collects stored Internet communications based on demands made to Internet companies such as Google Inc. The Apple Company just officially announced another source that helps the National Security Agency with data and information, when the iPhone 5s came out they announced that they would be sharing their database with National Security Agency. â€Å"Tim Richardson, District Manager of Apple’s North America Marketing Department admits about the sharing of Database with NSA, he said to Jane M. Agni† (Hackersnewsbulletin. 2013). The National Security Agency has been compiling a special database for over a year now to use with the new Apple technology. This clearly says that through the National Security Agency the government has an extremely high interest on listing and monitoring all communications of civilians. Of course people don’t find this acceptable, neither they can believe anything that leaders from the  government say. Civilians now think that when our leaders like the National Security Agency say nobody is listening to your phone calls, after the facts of the whistleblower, it actually means that all phone calls and digital communications are being intercepted, recorded and saved, then converted to text via a computer software which is PRISM. Prism then converted the txt into a metadata that gets analyzed by a computer algorithm and searched by National Security contractors. The contractors can listen to both recorded and live calls, as well as read emails, chats, financial histories, and then get the secret court rubber-stamp for the secret warrant, which is completely against the fourth amendment. However, the government is completely aware that this is a total violation of the fourth amendment, so they classified it as a matter of national security because they know if Americans realized what they are actually doing they will be upset and take action against it. Even if they spent billions of dollars trying to hide it, at some point the will truth come out. And president Obama said the same thing in 2008, but it seems that he didn’t take his own advice, that he gave to his administration in his first speech as president. Eventually the truth came out even that rumors of these violations were going around Edward Snowden made it official and this created many protests against the government. One of the main groups that took action against it is t he Anonymous group, who are an anonymous group of hackers from all around the world who work together against the government. Their weapon against the government is data information, they hack into classified networks and then they share the information they obtain with everyone. Their emblem is, â€Å"Knowledge is free, we are anonymous, we are a legion, we don’t forgive, we don’t forget, expect us.† If a government cannot be clear and not show their people what they want, then the civilians will stand up against the government and that is what the anonymous group is doing. For example, they are having a march on Washington D.C, and they are expecting 5 million people to show up to show the government how they feel about their acts and violations. If they don’t stop denying what has been clearly shown and proved by people from inside the government the people of the United States will take into consideration other options to change the government and its way of doing things without a permission of consent of the civilians. If we look back to history, every time there has been a revolution it is because  the people were tired of an oppressing government and they took action against it, but at the same time Americans are not focused on what is really happening in the government. They are too focused into what the media is feeding them which is another of the government’s methods to keep people distracted from the violations they are doing, and this is what all these anonymous type of groups are doing, which is to try to wake people up to the reality of all the rights we are losing because of a matter of national security. Internet References ACLU. (2013). â€Å"ACLU sues NSA for massive spying program† American civil liberties of union. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/secure/aclu-sues-nsa-massive-spying-program-stand-us CNN. (2013). â€Å"Man behind NSA says he did it to safeguard privacy, liberty. CNN Politics. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/10/politics/edward-snowden-profile/index.html Electric Frontier Foundation. (2013). â€Å"NSA spying on Americans†. Defending your rights in the digital world 2014. Retrieved from https://www.eff.org/nsa-spying Parks, Alika. (2013) â€Å"NSA wiretapping. â€Å"Government agencies foster unfair economic advantages†. The Huffington Post. September 9 2013. PBS. (2013) â€Å"NSA ability to intercept domestic communications raises more privacy questions† PBS Newshour. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/government_programs/july-dec13/nsa_08-21.html National Security Agency. (2009). Freedom of Information act. Retrieved from http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/foia/index.shtml The Guardian. (2013) â€Å"Latest on the computer analyst whistleblower who provided theGuardian with top-secret NSA documents leading to revelations about US surveillanceon phone and internet communications†. The NSA Files. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/edward-snowden Hackers News bulletin. (2013) â€Å" Apple admits, iPhone 5s finger print database to be shared with NSA†.HN Bulletin News. Retrieved from http://hackersnewsbulletin.com/2013/09/apple-admits-iphone-5s-fingerprint-database-shared-nsa.html

History of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal

History of the 1976 Olympics in Montreal The 1976 Olympic Games were marred by boycotts and drug allegations. Before the Olympic Games, New Zealands rugby team toured South Africa (still mired in apartheid) and played against them. Because of this, much of the rest of Africa threatened the IOC to ban New Zealand from the Olympic Games or they would boycott the Games. Since the IOC had no control over the playing of rugby, the IOC tried to persuade the Africans not to use the Olympics as retaliation. In the end, 26 African countries boycotted the Games. Also, Taiwan was excluded from the Games when Canada would not recognize them as the Republic of China. Drug Allegations The drug allegations were rampant at these Olympics. Though most of the allegations were not proven, many athletes, especially the East German women swimmers, were accused of using anabolic steroids. When Shirley Babashoff (United States) accused her rivals of using anabolic steroids because of their big muscles and deep voices, an official from the East German team responded: They came to swim, not to sing. Financial Implications The Games were also a financial disaster for Quebec. Since Quebec built, and built, and built for the Games, they spent the enormous figure of $2 billion, placing them in debt for decades. On a more positive note, these Olympic Games saw the rise of the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci who won three gold medals. Approximately 6,000 athletes participated, representing 88 countries. Source Allen Guttmann, The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1992) 146.