Debt to Equity Ratio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Debt to Equity Ratio - Essay Example This essay discusses that  the calculation of the debt to equity ratio is as straightforward as its definition. The ratio is computed by taking an entity’s total liabilities and dividing it by the company’s equity. The total liabilities and equity used are got from the statement of financial position of the company on discussion. A company’s equity is the amount of capital the shareholders or owners of the business have put in the business. It is determined by subtracting the total liabilities from the company’s total assets. It is best if the debt to equity ratio is kept within a reasonable range. If the ratio is very high, it is an indication that the business can be in a financial distress and maybe in leverage problem where it can find it had to offset its debtors. On the other hand, if the ratio is to low, it implies that the company is heavily relying on the entity’s equity to finance its operations.  According to the report findings  lo ans acquired from lenders come with an interest payment, which must be paid together with the principal loan amount. The advantage of financing a company’s operation through debt finance is that the company can deduct the interest payments in its tax returns. On the other hand financing the company’s operations through equity makes the company at an obligation to earn return and increase the shareholder wealth. Company’s should therefore strike a balance between the debt and equity use to run the operations of their businesses.

Essay on Compulsory Primary Education Essay Example for Free

Essay on Compulsory Primary Education Essay In a country everybody should know how to read and write and how to count, so that everybody can help the society with a better capacity. Primary education is based mainly on reading, writing and arithmetic. This is the minimum education that one should get, specially in a poor country like India, where nothing more can be possibly done owing to paucity of funds. Advantages: The present age is the age of people. In most of the countries there are democratic form of Government. Democracy cannot be successful if the people are illiterate. Because illiterate persons cannot read the newspapers. They cannot read the political pamplets. So, they remain in dark about their countrys affairs. People should have a least the primary education for their easy conduct in the society and for the success of democracy. Why it should be made compulsory: The poor people do not send their children to school for want of money. Some children work elsewhere to supplement their family-income. The farmers children help their parents in the field. So, they cannot come to school if it is not made compulsory. but it must be free education and children should get their books and slates from the Government. Most of the parents being poor, their children should be provided with free fooding and free clothing. Conclusion: It is the duty of every Government to make the primary education free and compulsory. The Government of India should work out this scheme with all sincerity, so that all the children of the entire country will come within the scheme. People should co-operate with the Government in this campaign. Students can help their local people to work out the primary education programme. During their holidays and vacations they should open camp-schools in their own localities and teach the local children in suitable hours.

Risk Factors Contributing Children Behavior Problem

Risk Factors Contributing Children Behavior Problem Child behaviors become problematic and these affect not only the family, but also in social and academic functioning. As working in a low-banding secondary school in Hong Kong, I have found a lot of students who are burdened with different behavior problems. These externalizing behaviors affect not only their academic achievement, but also their relationships with teachers, peers, and family, but further disrupt their future. Early intervention is essential to prevent progressive decline in childrens behavior. The principal goal for this review is to investigate different risk factors that contribute in child behavior problem. Child Behavior Problem Childrens behavior problems are divided into two major dimensions, they are internalizing and externalizing expressions (Henricson Rydell, 2006). Externalizing problems are behaviors that being harmful, disruptive, and impulsive. These behaviors are mostly stable and usually associated with long term negative outcomes (Henricson Rydell, 2006). Internalized problems are signified by emotions and moods. These symptoms are usually less consistent and cannot predict outcomes (Henricson Rydell, 2006). According to Achenbachs Child Behavior Checklist, childrens behaviors are identified into different syndromes. Syndromes refers to problems that tend to occur together. The eight syndromes that Achenbach had identified are Withdrawn, Somatic Complaints, Anxious/Depressed, Social Problems, Thought Problems, Attention Problems, Delinquent Behavior, and Aggressive Behavior. Five of the eight syndromes are grouped into Internalized and Externalized Behavior Problems (Achenbach, 1991). Internalizing is also called Personality Problems and Inhibition. Three syndromes, Withdrawn, Somatic Complaints, and Anxious/Depressed, are grouped under this heading. This group reflects childrens emotional problems (Achenbach, 1991). Externalizing is variously called Conduct Problems and Aggression. Two syndromes, Delinquent Behavior and Aggressive Behavior, are grouped under this heading. This group shows childrens behavioral problems (Achenbach, 1991). Aggression is defined as acts that impose harm on others (Aylward, 2003). Aggressive Behavior is under the grouping of Externalizing (Achenbach, 1991). Externalized aggressive behaviors are stable and are associated with long term negative outcomes (Henricson Rydell, 2006). Risk Factors There are different risks factors that lead to children behavior problem, including childrens personal factors, risks from school, parents marital relationship, parent-child relationship, and parenting and discipline style. Childs Personal Factors Stacks (2005) conceptualized risk factors for externalizing behavior by using ecological framework. Childrens temperament, developmental problems, and gender determine the severity of initial behavior problems. Personal factors, such as genetic factors, cognitive deficit, and hyperactive, also plays an important role in affecting childrens behavior. Children who have behavior problems tend to have cognitive deficit, they are lower problem solving skills (Pettit, 2004). Research shows that depressive symptoms predict antisocial behavior (Vieno, Kiesner, Pastore, Santinello, 2008). The correlations between depressed symptoms and behavioral problems were significant. This finding was also consistent with past studies by Patterson et al.(1992) and Beyers Loeber (2003). However the study suggested that the impacts of depressive symptoms to antisocial behavior occur within relatively short period of time (Vieno, Kiesner, Pastore, Santinello, 2008). Risks from School The quality school environment also plays important role in affecting predict behavior because many children spend most of the time at schools (Stacks, 2005). Studies also showed that conflictual teacher-child relationships and teachers negative responses are associated with children behavioral problems (Stacks, 2005). Pettit (2004) highlighted different risk factors for children antisocial behavior, including poor peer relationships and school failure. These factors cumulate to higher the risk of violent behavior, which was brought from early childhood to adolescent (Pettit, 2004). Parents Marital Relationship Children react to marital conflicts more negatively than other forms of family difficulties, and as a result, marital conflict is a predictor of childrens difficulties (Cummings, Goeke-Morey, Graham, 2002). It was said that marital conflict impacts childrens adjustment problems. These conflicts between parents consistently associated with externalized behavioral problems of children. These problems further influence childrens intellectual and academic achievements (Cummings, Goeke-Morey, Graham, 2002). Research also showed that children who experienced parents divorce are at higher risks of behavior problems (Stacks, 2005). Moreover, overt marital conflicts of parents were significantly risk predictors to youth maladjustment problems (Garard Buehler, 1999). Parent-Child relationship The parent-child relationship also plays an important role in influencing child development. The origin and developmental dynamics of antisocial behavior are said to be childrens early insecurity (Kochanska, Barry, Stellern, OBleness, 2009). Parental power assertion and resentful opposition lead to the insecurity of children. Poor parent-child relationship has shown impacts on childrens future antisocial behavior (Kochanska, Barry, Stellern, OBleness, 2009). Parenting Style Discipline Prevatt (2003) claimed that family risk and negative practices are highly predictive to childrens disruptive behavior and emotional adaptation. Negative family factors, such as inadequate parental involvement and poor parenting, primarily accounts for externalizing behavior (Prevatt, 2003). Dishion and Bullock (2002) also suggested that parenting practices plays an important role in childrens problem behavior. Both coercive limit-setting and poor monitoring are having direct influences on child negative behavioral outcome. Externalized behavior, such as outer-directed aggressive behavior, is one of the main indicators of maladjustment (Garard Buehler, 1999). There are three important correlates of youth maladjustment are repeatedly exposure to hostile and poor parenting. The poor parenting environment and the use of hostile are influencing risk factors to youth by showing negative interaction patterns within the family (Garard Buehler, 1999). Research shows that parenting put impacts on the development of disruptive behavior (Stacks, 2005). Parental warmth, responsiveness, and consistent limit setting are important to childrens development. Negative family interactions and functioning bring about aggression and violence to childrens behavior. Children who experienced violence directly are said to be in higher risks for externalizing behavior. These violent experiences include corporal punishment and physical abuse (Stacks, 2005). Childhood and developmental outcomes are associated with mild and harsh parental physical discipline (Lansford et al., 2009). Social context and family system leads to developmental consequences to children. Childrens externalizing behaviors are found to be associated with parents use of physical corporal discipline (Lansford et al., 2009). Lansford et al. (2009) also suggested that the antisocial behavior resulted from negative discipline may continue in later development. Corporal physical discipline in early childhood is related to increase in childrens behavior problems which would more likely to show in later years (Alink et al., 2009). Children learn to be aggressive through social learning theory (Bandura, 1973), they are also reinforced to use negative behavior to get parents attention (Alink et al., 2009) Conclusion Externalizing behaviors have great consequences to childrens eventual developmental pathway in their future. Research over the years has tried to determine how different factors contribute in deviant children behavior. Many factors can be added to the risks for externalizing antisocial behavior. Not only personal factors, risks from school, but also family factors, such as parenting style, parent-child relationship, parents marital relationship are also very influencing factors on child behavior problems. In sum, negative parenting is evitable in enabling poor child behavior, it is worthwhile to go into the family context and study the effect of parenting style to children behavior problem.

Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation Essay -- Philosophy Learnin

Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation The theory of constructivism rests on the notion that there is an innate human drive to make sense of the world. Instead of absorbing or passively receiving objective knowledge that is "out there," learners actively construct knowledge by integrating new information and experiences into what they have previously come to understand, revising and reinterpreting old knowledge in order to reconcile it with the new (Billett 1996). The cognitive structures that learners build include procedural knowledge (how--techniques, skills, and abilities) and propositional knowledge (that--facts, concepts, propositions). Often neglected are dispositions--attitudes, values, and interests that help learners decide: Is it worth doing? Knowing how and that is not sufficient without the disposition to do. Other key features of knowledge construction are functional context, social context, and usefulness. The process works most effectively when it is embedded in a context in which new knowledge and skills will be used. Research on thinking and learning reinforces the idea that people learn through interaction with others (Johnson and Thomas 1994). Although learning is a matter of personal and unique interpretation, it takes place within the social context. In addition, learning must be useful to the learner; intrinsic motivation emerges from the desire to understand, to construct meaning (Billett 1996). Using a constructivist approach, teachers facilitate learning by encouraging active inquiry, guiding learners to question their tacit assumptions, and coaching them in the construction process. This contrasts with the behavioralist approach that has dominated education, in which the teacher dissemina... ...." Journal of Technology Studies 20, no. 1 (Winter-Spring 1994): 33-45. (EJ 494 218) Lynch, R. L. Designing Vocational and Technical Teacher Education for the 21st Century. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1997. Parnell, D. "Cerebral Context." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 3 (March 1996): 19-21, 50. (EJ 519 286) Rahn, M. "Lively Connections." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 5 (May 1996): 33-35, 60. (EJ 522 561) Schell, J. W., and Babich, A. M. "Tech-Prep and the Development of Higher-Order Thinking Skills among Learners with Special Needs." Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education 16, no. 2 (Fall 1993): 6-13. (EJ 472 196) Stevenson, J., ed. Cognition at Work: The Development of Vocational Expertise. Leabrook, Australia: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 1994. (ED 380 542) Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation Essay -- Philosophy Learnin Constructivism: A Matter of Interpretation The theory of constructivism rests on the notion that there is an innate human drive to make sense of the world. Instead of absorbing or passively receiving objective knowledge that is "out there," learners actively construct knowledge by integrating new information and experiences into what they have previously come to understand, revising and reinterpreting old knowledge in order to reconcile it with the new (Billett 1996). The cognitive structures that learners build include procedural knowledge (how--techniques, skills, and abilities) and propositional knowledge (that--facts, concepts, propositions). Often neglected are dispositions--attitudes, values, and interests that help learners decide: Is it worth doing? Knowing how and that is not sufficient without the disposition to do. Other key features of knowledge construction are functional context, social context, and usefulness. The process works most effectively when it is embedded in a context in which new knowledge and skills will be used. Research on thinking and learning reinforces the idea that people learn through interaction with others (Johnson and Thomas 1994). Although learning is a matter of personal and unique interpretation, it takes place within the social context. In addition, learning must be useful to the learner; intrinsic motivation emerges from the desire to understand, to construct meaning (Billett 1996). Using a constructivist approach, teachers facilitate learning by encouraging active inquiry, guiding learners to question their tacit assumptions, and coaching them in the construction process. This contrasts with the behavioralist approach that has dominated education, in which the teacher dissemina... ...." Journal of Technology Studies 20, no. 1 (Winter-Spring 1994): 33-45. (EJ 494 218) Lynch, R. L. Designing Vocational and Technical Teacher Education for the 21st Century. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1997. Parnell, D. "Cerebral Context." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 3 (March 1996): 19-21, 50. (EJ 519 286) Rahn, M. "Lively Connections." Vocational Education Journal 71, no. 5 (May 1996): 33-35, 60. (EJ 522 561) Schell, J. W., and Babich, A. M. "Tech-Prep and the Development of Higher-Order Thinking Skills among Learners with Special Needs." Journal for Vocational Special Needs Education 16, no. 2 (Fall 1993): 6-13. (EJ 472 196) Stevenson, J., ed. Cognition at Work: The Development of Vocational Expertise. Leabrook, Australia: National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 1994. (ED 380 542)

A Paper on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is phenomenal societal problems that are plaguing human society at the present times which victims are mostly women and children.   They are usually victims of physical or sexual assault.Because women are prone to be victims of domestic violence, Feminist expressed concern about the widespread problem plaguing the present generation and struggle towards getting protection for women from the court.Although, most of the offenses were hidden under family affairs, Carol Bolimer, Jennyfer Brandth, Denise Bronson, and Helen Hartnett, in their article, Domestic Violence Law Reforms: Reaction from the Trenches, say that, Feminists are gaining success in their efforts, as criminal justice personnel are now getting   more objective investigative in handling domestic violence cases.But despite of this hundreds of thousands of American women and children suffer domestic violence each year, studies have shown that sixty percent up to seventy-five percent of families fall vic tims to domestic violence every year; and this problem has already taken thousands of women’s lives.What is domestic violence? How can one determine that he or she is standing on that very dangerous ground?   And what are the solutions to the problem, are some of the contents that this paper attempts to present.Definitions of Domestic ViolenceDomestic violence is defined as a continuum of behavior ranging from verbal abuse, physical and sexual assault, to rape and even homicide.   Most of the cases of domestic violence are perpetuated by â€Å"men against women and their children† In C.J. Newton’s article, domestic violence â€Å"an overview,† he presented a United States Department of Justice report published in May 2000 through the National Crime Victimization Survey and the FBI data, defining domestic violence as â€Å"violent crimes by current or former spouses, boyfriend and girlfriend.   In their definition of violent, it includes lethal (hom icide) and non lethal which they enumerated as rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.   The report mentions more than one million crimes committed against persons by the current or former spouses.Deborah Lockton, LLB, MPhil and Professor Richard Ward LLB, identified domestic violence as an act of physical and mental cruelty progressing from a slap or shore, to punch or kick, and to the more extreme manifestation of violence, in suffocation, strangulation, attempted murder and murder.†Causes of Domestic ViolenceDifferent group of people explained the causes of domestic violence, however, as one analyze the causes of the problem, they are similar in terms of gender roles which is fact has something to do with the cultural and historical origin of family.   It is also noted that, changes in terms of roles contributed a lot in the existence of this particular problem.According to feminism, one of the causes of domestic violence is the legal syst em which in their view is patriarchal on several levels. They argue that the law is â€Å"sexist in that it generally treats men better than women.†Ã‚   They emphasized that the criminal justice personnel prior to their effort to gain equal rights with men, treats domestic violence as a family matter and out of the reach of the legal system.They also reveal that police would simply â€Å"take perpetrator for a walk to discuss keeping the little woman in line† and then return her home without further action.†Ã‚   Kristin L. Anderson says Feminist emphasized that domestic violence is â€Å"rooted in gender and power and represents men’s active attempts to maintain dominance and control† (Anderson, 1997).   Feminist sociologist maintains that the main cause of domestic violence is the issue of gender and power.Anderson pointed out that Feminist contend that this is a system of which men â€Å"maintain societal dominance over women.†Ã‚   Lockto n and Ward say, domestic violence continues for years, before the victims take action which sometimes results to the death of either the victim or the perpetrator.But sociologist finds other causes of domestic violence.   They suggested that cohabiting status, unemployment and socio-economic status rank as one of the causes of domestic violence (UNICEF).They agreed that main causes of domestic violence pertain to unequal power relations.   Family institution, where traditional control lies with husband as the head of the family, is seen as breeding ground for domestic violence too.   Beliefs in male traditional superiority and other sanctions that do not recognize women’s and children’s legal rights in the society are also seen as causes of domestic violence plaguing human society worldwide.Nowadays, domestic violence includes physical aggression in which the perpetrator controls the victim by using fear and force.   It occurs usually in traditional marriages o r same-sex relationship especially when relationship is in the verge of collapse.

Allegories of Life Essay

In The Allegory of the Cave, Plato uses a vast spectrum of imagery to explain ones descent from the cave to the light. While Plato uses this Allegory to explain his point through Socrates to Glaucon. This allegory has many different meanings. The Allegory can be used in many different ways, from religion to politics to ones own intellectual enlightenment, or it can be interpreted as the blinded person in a colt like reality. Are we all prisoners in a world that is forced on us through the media? How do we really know that we are not just pawns in some one’s chess game. What meaning was Plato trying to introduce to Glaucon? This cave can represent many aspects in the world. And the prisoners can be any one. The puppeteers can be a symbol for people or for the things in life that hold us back from seeing and thinking clearly. As we look further into Plato’s work we will explore many different meanings for this allegory and attempt to give our life some meaning. I would li ke to start off with a summary of the allegory of the cave as I have understood it. In the the cave there are a group of prisoners bond form their neck to their feet facing a stone wall. They have been their since childhood. All they know of is what the puppeteers have shown them through the fire images. They hear sounds made by the puppeteers. And the shadow of images cast from the fire. They think that this is reality because it is all they have ever known. One prisoner is lead away from his shackles and is lead out of the cave. He his blinded by the sun at first. Once his eyes had adjusted to the light he see’s a tree a real green tree that is alive. Not the shadow of a tree shown by the puppeteers. The prisoner also see’s his reflection in the water. He see’s the world in its entirety. He has been enlighten. Just as the prisoner was getting a grasp of the real world he is lead back into the cave. The other prisoners are mocking him for what they thought of as a loss of sight. He try’s to explain to them what he has seen. But there pet ty little minds can’t grasp what he has seen nor do they believe what he says they have not seen it for them self. To understand what Plato’s passages meant is to try and understand yourself. Individual enlightenment is one way to analyze Plato’s Allegory of the cave. As children we are like those prisoners In the cave. Our parents shield us from the ugly cruel world. Until one day we are introduced to what the world is all about. As a child I feel I was shield from a lot of things death, divorce, heartache and pain. My grandfather died when I was seven, until then I didn’t think that life could be so unfair. But life is unfair at times and its is more than fair at others. We all have a cave in life and when we think outside the cave walls we will break free from the individual cave we make for our self. Life is all about pushing your self to the limits, finding out just what you can and what you can’t do. The stereo types or labeling we place on others can be a form of a cave. The cave is just a symbol for limitations we have. Until we have been enlighten we will never escape from the cave of life. At times we all need to be our own Plato and lead our self out of the cave. Like Plato Socrates and Aristotle the great philosophers of the past we all need to challenge society’s way of thinking. If you never learn to think for your self then what’s the point of going off to college and finding yourself. Live your life the way you see fit, love who you want to love. Stand out and dance in the rain if it means being who you are. Escape from your individual cave and see the light. Let the puppeteers know you know what reality is and you can think for yourself. Secondly there can be a religious allegory of the cave. The figures that were shown to the prisoner in the cave could be viewed as idols praised by the prisoners and puppeteers. Religion can be viewed by some as a cave. Being kept in the dark of there religion and forced never to see the light. Some religions brain wash there followers to see things only there way. If you don’t see, act or think how there religion views you should be. they may kill you. The Amish religion can be view like the prisoners in the cave. They are taught from a small age that God is all you need and the everyday life most Americans live is a blasphemy of God. They live a simple life most have no electrical devices and choose to dress modestly and in plain colored clothing. Some Amish travel to towns for supplies but most tend to grow everything there self. Children are shielded from the outside world until there teenage years when they participate in rumspringa. This event is where teenagers are given the choice to stay within the Amish culture or they ch oose to be an outsider. In summary the Amish are similar to the prisoners in the cave being told what to do and how to act there whole life until the day they can see the world and make their own choices. One important note most Amish teenagers choose to stay within the Amish community. Cults are similar to the Allegory of the cave. Members are kept in the dark, from what the real motivates behind the puppeteers actions are. Once one is lead away from the cult and one see’s for them self that there is more to life than what cult has shown them. They are enlightened and can see and choose for them self what they choose to be real or imaginary. There is also a political cave, and we Americans at times get blind by what we want to see. Then we never really see the truth behind the facade. As well know the truth is harder to see and recognize. We see what we want to see as the truth. The politicians are the puppeteers and we the citizens are the prisoners. We see and hear what they want us to know. And as we all know when we step outside from what they want us to know the consequences can be death. The government tells us what we can and can’t do by the way of the justice system, not saying that its wrong. But it seems the more money you have the more you can get away with . The political cave has many different levels and different puppeteers, we as common citizens will always be the prisoners to a higher power that can clinch its fist at any time and change how we live our life. One of the most common caves we put our self’s in is the intellectual cave. You can be placed in to the cave because of where you live or how you perceive yourself. The intellectual cave of life. So many face this cave and don’t have the courage or resources to step into the light. What some Americans take for granted is a quality education. There are so many prisoners of the intellectual cave, some are put there by their own doing. It seem better to work a minimum wage 9 to 5 everyday than to spend that time getting a higher education. The very extremes of this type of intellectual cave is being a drug dealer these persons feel they can make more money selling drugs and book smarts wont get them anywhere. But what these select individuals don’t understand that is that getting a better education is the key to getting what they want out of life and making a better future for their family then what was hand to them. The ones addicted to the drugs they sell are in a cave all of there own. Most say when they do reach that point of sobriety its like coming out of the darkness, like they have been lead out of the cave of addiction. After having read Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, I fell I have been enlighten even more. This isn’t the first passage of Plato I have read, it does have a lot of information in very few lines. The Allegory can be used in many different ways, from religion to politics to ones own intellectual enlightenment, or it can be interpreted as the blinded person in a colt like reality. I have discussed in the previous chapters the many different types of caves this allegory can portray. We may never know what plato’s literal intentions were. What the cave and prisoners were really an analogy for. But I believe that was plato’s point in writing this allegory in such a way that it could have all different types of meanings. This passage was written thousands of years ago but all of his words still fit this day and time, and will reach far into the future. We as young adults need to help those left behind in the cave and open there eyes to the light of enlightenment. Weather it be leading them out of a gang or off of drugs. A brighter more prosperous future shouldn’t only be for those more fortunate than the many. For those left in the religious cave of life one day the vale shall be lifted and there freedom will come to them as well. They will one day be able to make their own religious choices for their self. Plato’s allegory of the cave will be past down from generation to generation.

The Search for Meaning in Slaughterhouse Five essays

The Search for Meaning in Slaughterhouse Five essays Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse Five represents a man's desperate, yet, useless search for meaning in a senseless existence. Vonnegut uses a narrator, which is different from the main character to develop his theme. Vonnegut introduces Slaughterhouse Five in first person point of view. In the second chapter, however, this narrator changes to a bystander who speaks from a third person perspective. Vonnegut wants the reader to realize that the narrator and Billy Pilgrim, the main character, are two different people. In order to do this, Vonnegut places the narrator in the text, multiple times. An American near Billy wailed that he had excreted everything but his brains...That was I. That was me.? This statement clearly illustrates that the narrator and Billy are not the same people. The narrator was the American disgusted by Billy. Vonnegut places his experiences and his views in the text. He begins the book by stating, "All this happened, more or less." The war parts, anyway, are pretty much true...I?ve changed all of the names.? He feels war is a senseless act and, Slaughterhouse Five allows Vonnegut to express his feelings on the matter. Through Billy Pilgrim, he is able to portray his views. They had been lying in ambush for the Germans. They had been discovered and shot from behind. Now they were dying in the snow, feeling nothing, turning the snow the color of raspberry sherbet. So it goes.? He uses vivid and meaningful imagery here. The reader can picture the snow slowly being colored with the blood of the soldiers. By ending with the statement,So it goes,? The reader is satisfied. Vonnegut uses this statement throughout the book to show that death is death, there is no glorious or great death; all death is equal. Vonnegut doesn't want to glorify war. The narrator made a vow to O?Hare's wife , in chapter one, that the story would not do this. ...I give my word of honor. I'll call it the children's crusade.? ...

Smart Drugs essays

Smart Drugs essays Smart drugs are the term, which stands for legal substances intended to influence activity of human brain. Those substances should be of natural origin or they should be at least as much similar to natural substances as possible. One of the key attributes is that those substances are non-addictive. As I said before, those substances are intended to influence and expand activity of brain and thats why they are also called brain nutrients. Brain nutrients are also called smart drugs. This term isnt particularly fortunate, because the term drug is misleading and creates associations with something dangerous and life-threatening. Brain nutrients and neurotransmitters are substances that either directly or after digestion enter the brain and influence quality of neuron nutrition or activate their working activity or possibly replenish their levels to optimal levels, necessary for perfect activity. Concept and term of nootropics (substances in general slang called smart-drugs) was first introduced in 1972 by C.E. Giurgeou, chief research worker in Belgian company, which introduced Piracetam (one of the most widely known substances) at the market. The main areas of use are expansion of studying process, improving storage of information, facilitation of information flow between both brain hemispheres and increasing of brain protection and nutrition. Smart drugs are supposed to work in one of two main ways: either by increasing blood flow to the brain, or boosting the levels of one or other of the neurotransmitters thought to play a part in learning and memory. We can in general divide smart drugs into two groups. Nootropics and Nutrientes. Nootropics are rather intended for immediate use, with rather short effect, while nutrients are of rather longer-time effect (speaking in weeks or months). Now some of the most widely known, used and free sold nootropics and nutrients. ...

Social Entrepreneurism Module WA1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social Entrepreneurism Module WA1 - Coursework Example Model 2 enterprises- These are nonprofitorganizations that realize their funding from the surrounding environment and the business community. They operate to ensure a sustainable social value at the same time minimizing costs. Model 3 enterprises- these are social organizations that depend entirely on private business funds. They operate as a business with their returns going to the investors (Dees, Emerson & Economy, 2002). Value evaluation – these are the assessment activities carried out the business enterprises to come up with facts that help in decision making in the organization or assist the evaluators in generating periodic reports. Value evaluation involves assessment of issues such as the number of clients served over a certain period, the impact of the organization to the society and the environment and the level of customer satisfaction. Strategic service vision- These are the goals and targets set by the organization’s management to be achieved after a set duration of time e.g. by the end of the financial period. Strategic service vision helps the management come up with the organizations objectives, missions and vision Operating services strategy- these are the strategic plans and procedures laid by an organization on their daily operations. Different organizations have different service strategies depending on the products or services they provide. Operating service strategies are important in helping the organization realize its goals, missions and objectives. Examples of operating service strategies may include maintaining their customers by getting their contacts and following up on their progress or ensuring a clean, tidy environment and maintaining proper hygienic standards to portray a good image of the organization. The activities of value evaluation provide the facts and information required in decision making by the management.

Answers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Answers - Essay Example I plan to apply the OSHA program skills leant in my daily life, starting from my home to my future employment. If I was working in a group on a project and another member of the group was not performing their duties, I would handle the situation via verbal warning. If the group member would still not heed to the warning, I would give him or her a written warning, and if no change is seen; then dismissal of the individual. I would first communicate with the supervisor explaining the situation, and alerting that I would be late in delivering the weekly report due to the given pressing circumstances. Next, I would handle the situation at hand. This is because the report can wait, but the situation might be a life threatening one, which must be dealt with immediately. Root-cause analysis is a fishbone structural analysis useful in shaping the source of the issue and prevents reoccurrence. In root cause analysis, investigation of possible source of the problem is broken down as: man, machine, environment, and

Religion in the Work Place Annotated Bibliography

Religion in the Work Place - Annotated Bibliography Example Through involving God in the management process, an increased positive result is achieved. The article accords the comparison of the application of mature verses the immature religion. However, there is the need to articulate the essence of mature religion via the aspect known as Quest motivation. Trough the experimentation, the provision issued applies Quest in articulating the necessary religious inputs. The identity of the forms of religion needed to achieve positive results is included in measuring the necessary religious forms. Mature religion is the vital aspect in completing positive relations in any organization. Religion has been highlighted as a form of solace for individuals who shift from the rigid inclusion of business policies in the workplace. However, the laws that govern business regulations may influence the religious practices favorable within the office environment. Konrad (2006) explains that with the various barriers in the workplace, the solution to limit reduced performance may be in increasing employee morale and fulfillment. Religion serves as a means to offer satisfaction to employees and appreciate diversity in the workplaces. McGhee and Grant (2008) link religion and work through involving spirituality in deducing the implications of behavior in the workplace. They argue that spiritual individuals perform better in organizations as compared to a system without religion. The article is vital in predicting the results achieved when religion influences the behavior of individuals within the workplace through spiritual fulfillment. The result accords increased performance. The article presents that workers depict their spiritual fulfillment within the workplace and extends to management. With the provision, the service is influenced as spirituality is considered part of the humanity development. The article is vital in predicting the positive impacts of religion within the work places. Through the research,

Activities Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Activities - Personal Statement Example The lessons a person learns when he or she plays as an athlete can help him or her succeed in the corporate world. A valuable experience that I had outside of classroom was an internship at HSBC. During this internship I had to meet a lot of great people that inspired me to graduate soon and have a full time job. I learned the importance of communication and of being a team player. Another activity in which I have been involved in the past and of which I am very proud is community service. I have donated hundreds of hours to local food shelters and volunteering work coordinated through a church. Working in a shelter for the homeless was a life changing experience for me because it has taught me how we can make a difference in the lives of people who are in need. Community service is a very satisfying activity because other people reap the rewards of your efforts. Volunteering can help build a strong and united

Average Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Average - Essay Example The median’s advantage is that the extreme values do not affect the result as much as the mean. Moreover, there is only one answer and it is useful in comparing sets of data (Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center , n.d.). The disadvantage of the median is that it is not very popular. In the example given, the data is best represented by the mode which is $1. The mean may not be representative of the data because of an extreme value, $14 which will affect the result of the computation. When one sees the word â€Å"average†, it is important that one check if there are any extreme values in the data set because this will show whether the â€Å"average† is really representative of the data. If one is to ask a researcher for a mean, median or mode, one would request for the mean because among the three measures of central tendency, one believes that it is the most reliable and usually representative of the data set. However, if there are extreme values, it would also be helpful to compute the median and mode. Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center . (n.d.). Measure of central tendency. Retrieved February 6, 2012, from regentsprep.org:

Nurse Led Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nurse Led - Essay Example -led clinics also conduct home visits with the patient and their family in order to evaluate their medications and to secure adequate follow-up and verify patient’s stability (Schader, et.al., 2008). They also maintain contact with family to address ongoing health issues and care transitions. The nurses in the nurse-led clinics coordinate patient care with physicians, ensuring that they would receive adequate and timely care appropriate to their condition and their related physical attributes (Rydeman and Tornkvist, 2005). For the more specific management of diseases, nurses in nurse led clinics assist in the patient’s self-management. These nurses support patient’s efforts in self-managing diabetes by engaging with the emotional context within which the patients live with their condition (Furler, 2008). They work with patients in a way which is consistent with how they incorporate self-care into their daily lives. These nurses also go through critical self-reflection while they are managing their patient’s condition in order to prevent the devaluation of the other support structures for diabetes. As implied from the above discussion, nurse-led clinics can be seen in the community and out-patient setting. They are often based in the rural areas or isolated areas which cannot easily access medical or hospital care. In the community setting, they provide support for hospital and doctor services. D. (2008). The emotional context of self-management in chronic illness: A qualitative study of the role of health professional support in the self-management of type 2 diabetes. BMC Health Services Research, volume 8

Activities Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Activities - Personal Statement Example The lessons a person learns when he or she plays as an athlete can help him or her succeed in the corporate world. A valuable experience that I had outside of classroom was an internship at HSBC. During this internship I had to meet a lot of great people that inspired me to graduate soon and have a full time job. I learned the importance of communication and of being a team player. Another activity in which I have been involved in the past and of which I am very proud is community service. I have donated hundreds of hours to local food shelters and volunteering work coordinated through a church. Working in a shelter for the homeless was a life changing experience for me because it has taught me how we can make a difference in the lives of people who are in need. Community service is a very satisfying activity because other people reap the rewards of your efforts. Volunteering can help build a strong and united

Nurse Led Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nurse Led - Essay Example -led clinics also conduct home visits with the patient and their family in order to evaluate their medications and to secure adequate follow-up and verify patient’s stability (Schader, et.al., 2008). They also maintain contact with family to address ongoing health issues and care transitions. The nurses in the nurse-led clinics coordinate patient care with physicians, ensuring that they would receive adequate and timely care appropriate to their condition and their related physical attributes (Rydeman and Tornkvist, 2005). For the more specific management of diseases, nurses in nurse led clinics assist in the patient’s self-management. These nurses support patient’s efforts in self-managing diabetes by engaging with the emotional context within which the patients live with their condition (Furler, 2008). They work with patients in a way which is consistent with how they incorporate self-care into their daily lives. These nurses also go through critical self-reflection while they are managing their patient’s condition in order to prevent the devaluation of the other support structures for diabetes. As implied from the above discussion, nurse-led clinics can be seen in the community and out-patient setting. They are often based in the rural areas or isolated areas which cannot easily access medical or hospital care. In the community setting, they provide support for hospital and doctor services. D. (2008). The emotional context of self-management in chronic illness: A qualitative study of the role of health professional support in the self-management of type 2 diabetes. BMC Health Services Research, volume 8

Dance Paper Essay Example for Free

Dance Paper Essay Irish step dancing has existed since the 1700’s, over 300 years. Families in Ireland have passed down Irish step dance from generation to generation as a way of preserving their culture. While the meaning of the dance remains the same, the performance and showmanship has changed dramatically. From girls and boys with pale skin and natural hair to girls with fake tanned skin, huge curly wigs, and thousand dollar dresses and boys with fake tanned skin and outlandish outfits. Irish dance has become more of a spectacle—such as â€Å"Riverdance† and â€Å"Lord of the Dance. † Those dances are some of the most enjoyable and respected around the world. Over time this type of dance has taken on a life of its own and changed from traditional to modern. Despite the changes, however, this dance has clung to the meaning and history behind each intense movement keeping the tradition alive. Irish dance has such a strong response from those who are a part of the audience, teaching or dancing. It is so enthralling that in many ways it is sweeping the nations. Through schools where former dancers will teach the new comers and relay the traditions so they wont be lost in the past. This longing has guided the way for many dance schools throughout the world. The diversity of schools and teachers has lead to a more unique kind of dance. The different styles of the teachers and culture bleed through the movements and the school become products for that certain style of movement. On top of the teachers’ styles, every dancer over time creates a rare technique that melds as a whole with the impression of Irish dance. The fact that the dance is so out there and unique has given it a form of popularity in this century. Numerous people have taken the dance and attempted to improve it with modern aspects. Their efforts are to take the traditional aspect of the dance and form it to coincided with the time period in society. In the past this has been done by interest the dance into limelight. Taking methods of the dance or stick with the traditional movements and showing them in a way that would be more interesting to the public. Which is what was done with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, which take the form of the dance and use it for a dramatic necessity. There are various parts of Irish dance that have lasted throughout the years to remain an influence on the form known today. These basics have laid the foundation on which the dance has grown. Performed mainly during festivals, which date from the period of Eric the Red and the Viking raids of Ireland. While the Vikings did destroyed most books and written records, it was acknowledged that music and dance were important to the Gaelic culture. These festivals were a mixture of trade fair, political gathering, music, dance, sports, story telling and crafts. Today, the sole purposes of feiseanna are competitive dance competitions. There is still music, crafts, and trades, not as much. Officially there is no political aspect to the festivals anymore, many who participate would tell you otherwise. The reason that the traditional dance has remained apart of the world is because of the teachers and students. But in order to dance the students required movements, steps, and music to put them to. The dance masters—teachers of the 18th and 19th centuries—all had the same original dance steps, while they invented their own steps on top the original ones. There are two different roots, which made two forms of dance: step dancing—from a structural origin and ceili dancing—from a traditional origin. There are four types of Irish music and dances that compose the step dance: jig, the set dances, reel, and hornpipe. All of these dances are more elaborate than ceili and require more teaching. A ceili is a gathering for music and dance—danced mainly for enjoyment and entertainment not competition. It represents an informal tradition of dance that is generally common among people since prehistory. Ceili dances are danced in big groups and are pretty easy to learn. These basics of the dance have been changed in order to modernize it according to the present. The modern history of Irish dance began in 1893 when the Gaelic League was founded. This league was made to support the rebirth of Irish culture. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, â€Å"dance masters† trained dancers. The dance masters were all male and traveled from town to town-teaching dance along with other life skills that applied at the time. Dance masters formed both the set and ceili dances, as well as the first schools of Irish dance. Now teachers are both women and men and are paid for their services through their respective dance schools. During the period of the dance masters, stages were much smaller. As the art of Irish dance grew larger, the dancing was effected and the movement of dancers across a stage increased. Now judges will mark dancers down point if said dancer doesn’t move around the stage enough. Where the dancing took place changed too the outdoors to hotels or schools. In the 20th century, complex steps are evident in the new style of dance. Teachers continuously try one another by adding in new movement to every routine—including, in some cases, gymnastics moves. These characteristics along with others allow the traditional dance to explore, evolve, and change into a more modern version of what it was. Irish dancing is a beautiful dance and art that despite being suppressed has risen about to mix with the modern culture creating an influential dance widely popular throughout the world. The feeling by the teachers, dancers, and audience around the world has lead to the dance’s modernization that has improved the dance by creating new steps and movement to add to the traditional ones. Irish dance that has a presence you cannot ignore and with any luck will continue to evolve to withstand the course of time, entertaining whom ever is lucky enough to bare witness to this marvelous dance. Bibliography 1. Brennan, Helen. The Story of Irish Dance. Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland: Brandon, 1999. Print. 2. Hall, Frank. Competitive Irish Dance: Art, Sport, Duty. Madison, WI : Macater Press, 2008. Print. 3. â€Å"The History of Irish Dance. † Irelandseye. com. N. p. , n. d. Web. 7 April. 2012. 4. Cipollo, Kaelyn. â€Å"Irish Step Dancing. † Historical Boys’ Clothing. N. p. , 10 May. 1998. Web. 7 April. 2012.

Psychological Film Analysis: Silver Linings Playbook

Psychological Film Analysis: Silver Linings Playbook Hannah Altom Silver Linings and Family Pat Solitano had several tremendously difficult months under his belt when he was let go from his stay at the psychiatric hospital. He came out only to discover that his wife, Nikki, had left him leaving him with nothing but a restraining order following the acts that put him there to begin with. Now under the care of his parents, Dolores and Pat Senior they realize that they can only deal with so much of Pat’s unpredictable behavior before breaking. One would hardly call waking up their parents in the middle of the night to find their wedding video with their significant other who has a restraining order because he assaulted his wife’s other lover, a much older man. The fragile relationship between the two strengthened after the late night fight over Pats missing wedding video. Pat Seniors obsession with betting on Philadelphia Eagles on complicates their father son relationship when Pat senior attempts to make Pat join in on his crazy game day antics which includes wearing jerseys, stroking the handkerchief and not messing with the Eagles â€Å"juju† Pat thinks its just his dads form of a mental illness. Throughout the movie we see Pat struggling to search for the silver linings which he will not see until he comes to terms with his illness. With his father recently being let go from work Pat Senior is hoping to win enough money from betting on Eagles games to win enough money to open up a restaurant. Pat Senior shares an important thought telling Pat, â€Å"I’m telling you, you gotta pay attention to the signs. When life reaches out with a moment like this, it’s a sin if you don’t reach back. I’m telling you , it’s a sin if you don’t reach back, and it’ll haunt you for the rest of your days like a curse. You’re facing a big challenge in your life right now, at this very moment, right here.† I think the fact that Pat Senior shows symptoms of obsessive compulsive shows that the two are more a like than they would like to think. In one scene Pat Senior even confesses that his Philadephia Eagles ritual is the only way he can think of to involve his son in his life. I found it interesting that Pat’s mother Delores was so submissive. Anytime she would try to get involved in a situation she would back down just to keep the peace between them all. For example, the scene where Pat and Pat Senior are talking about how he is going to get the money to pay for his cheese steak restaurant â€Å" Pat Jr.: So what are you doing with yourself? Pat Senior: You know, Im gonna start a restaurant. Its gonna be a cheesesteak place. Pat: How you gonna pay for it? Pat Senior: Im gonna pay for it, dont worry about it. Pat: From your bookmaking?Pat Senior: Who told you that? Pat: Mom told me. Outside. Dolores: I did not. No, I didnt. Pat: You just told me outside, Mom, what are you talking about? Five minutes ago, we were walking up the stairs, you said, Dont say anything, but Dad lost his job and hes bookmaking. This is a perfect example of her submission and trying to keep peace. In her study, Social Support and Resilience to Stress, Dr. Faith Ozbay found that â€Å"Numerous studies indicate social support is essential for maintaining physical and psychological health. The harmful consequences of poor social support and the protective effects of good social support in mental illness have been well documented. Social support may moderate genetic and environmental vulnerabilities and confer resilience to stress.† This ties into The Silver Linings playbook because, given the situation of Pat finding his wife with a co-worker in the shower that was a very poor social situation and given the circumstances I think any person would go a little crazy to walk in on something like that. In their study, Social Support for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness: Evaluating the Compeer Model of Intentional Friendship, the authors noted that â€Å"In the general population, social support buffers against stressful life events, increases adherence to medical treatments, and improves recovery from medical illness, among other health-promoting effects. For people with Serious Mental Illness, perceptions of adequate social support are associated with several psychological benefits, including increased self-esteem, feelings of empowerment, functioning, quality of life, and recovery, while the absence of social support appears related to greater psychiatric symptoms, poorer perceptions of overall health, and reduced potential for full community integration† This is an important study because all of the factors relate to Pat and his family. If they all had supported each other more and confronted their illnesses, then possibly the bipolar outburst wouldn’t have been so strong. In her study, Mechanisms Linking Social Ties and Support to Physical and Mental Health, Peggy Thoits explains why social support and â€Å"mattering† are important to people that have mental illness.â€Å"Individuals assess the appropriateness of their own attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors against standards that are avowed and/or modeled by reference group members, usually shifting their own to match those of the group. Such influence can occur through simple observing and contrasting of self with others in the social network, without explicit discussion or attempts at persuasion taking place.† This can also tie into the Silver Linings Playbook, there are multiple scenes where a neighbor kid hangs around their house with a video camera and this negative social support from the neighbor could possibly be taking a toll on Pat Junior. Peggy also goes on to say, â€Å"Beyond behavioral guidance, I have argued that knowing who we are to others also provides purpose and mean ing in life, which in turn guard against anxiety and existential despair. A concept related to this function of role identities is â€Å"mattering†, mattering is defined as believing that one is an object of another person’s attention, one is important to that person, and he or she depends on one for fulfillment of specific needs. Because mattering refers to one’s significance to other people, it seems conceptually close to the notion of obtaining purpose and meaning in life from relationships with role partners. In sum, social ties as role identities should supply behavioral guidance and purpose and meaning in life (or a sense of mattering), which in turn should have positive effects on health habits and psychological well-being, respectively.† This theory of mattering is important in dealing with mental illness and just people in general because mostly everyone wants to know that they are wanted by others. Consider a lonely 17 year old girl in highschool constantly dealing with petty high school drama that is pondering that thought of suicide. If this poor girl had someone in her life, a teacher, coach, or even a friend that could fulfill that sense of mattering, then it could greatly change her views of the world and her views on possibly taking her life. References Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5. (2013). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association. Mccorkle, B. H., Rogers, E. S., Dunn, E. C., Lyass, A., Wan, Y. M. (2008). Increasing Social Support for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness: Evaluating the Compeer Model of Intentional Friendship. Community Mental Health Journal, 44(5), 359-366. doi: 10.1007/s10597-008-9137-8 Ozbay, F. (2007, May). Social Support and Resilience to Stress. Http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921311/. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921311/ Stevenson, T. (2013, May 24). Mind field. Financial Times. Retrieved from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/25391482-c2f5-11e2-bbbd-00144feab7de.html#axzz2UFE11QWW Thoits, P. A. (2011). Mechanisms Linking Social Ties and Support to Physical and Mental Health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 52(2), 145-161. doi: 10.1177/0022146510395592

Buying A Personal Computer :: essays research papers

In our report we hope to provide a helpful and detailed guide to buying a personal computer. Our aim is to be able to meet our student’s needs without exceeding our budget. We will cover input, output and storage devices and provide a realistic and practical advice for the buyer. We have chosen to find two PC’s within our budget one of the PC’s is a bottom of the range inexpensive PC from PC World which may seem like you are getting a deal. However, when we have concluded our report you will see why it isn’t quite the bargain it appears to be. The processor is a vital component it is in some way responsible for every single thing the PC does. The processor is also a major determinant of overall system cost: the newer and more powerful the processor, the more expensive the machine will be. The processors in both PCs are not Pentium however they are clones of the Pentium. As shown in the chart above (below) you can see that the PC from Computer Warehouse is faster as it is an AMD K6/2 500mhz processor compare to the Cyrix 400mhz in the other, the former is also a more recent design. The AMD K6/2 also offers Pentium Pro class performance. For a students basic computing needs it is not necessary to have the fastest most up to date processor. Since we have to stay within a budget it is necessary to maintain value for money, the AMD K6/2 offers us this. It is true in regards to hard drives you can never have too much storage. Buying lots of capacity is smart because data files tend to grow to fill the available space. More software fills up more space, on the grounds that with today's hard drives you can lose 100MB or so without noticing it. Again the Computer Warehouse PC is of much better value as it is 10.2gb compared to the 4.2gb of the other computer. The fact that the Computer Warehouse PC is also IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) also is a money saver.

Comparing the Love in Beloved and Secrets and Lies :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast

Overbearing Love in Beloved and Secrets and Lies Children are protected from the evil in the world from their parents, especially their mothers. An excerpt written by Kahilil Girbran, The Prophet, explains one view of the parent/child relationship. "And a women who held a baby against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children. And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor carries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.† -Kahlil Girbran (17-18) Girbran’s view of childhood is very well written. It explain to parents what place their children have their own thoughts and feelings. Their children are with them throughout life, but the children belong to their own life. Throughout childhood the love in the family can be very strong. The bond between a mother and child is almost unbreakable. It is amazing that a person was produced and lived inside a body for nine months. Parents are described as â€Å"the bows from which your children as living arrows are set forth.† (Gibran, 17) Their job is to raise their children to the best of their ability until they are old enough to be on their own. Mothers never want anything bad to happen to their own kids. Sometimes they are not able to let their children grow up like others. They are very overprotective, wanting to seclude their child from danger. In both the movie Secrets and Lies and in Toni Morrison’s book, Beloved, overprotective mothers are key characters .

James Joyce Essay

In James Joyce’s Ulysses readers encounter Stephen Dedalus’s search for identity – a search which will be present through the entire narrative. At the heart of Ulysses is Stephen’s relationship with his mother. Stephen describes both the real mother who reared him and is now dead and an imagined mother serving as a symbol who is a product of Stephen’s consciousness having fear and anxiety (Hill 329). Mother love is idealized by Stephen in Ulysses: â€Å"Amor matris,† says Stephen, â€Å"subjective and objective genitive, may be the only true thing in life† (207). The concept of â€Å"amor matris,† or mother love, shows the magic power of the mother’s fertility. Motherhood is the only fact of life about which Stephen is confident. A mother’s love, the dyadic relationship in which the mother and child are inseparable, however, Stephen experiences only nostalgically. He attempts to articulate it, when it is over. Thus Stephen’s fantasy of a selfless love is marked by a sense of loss. Main Body Although Stephen has buried his mother, she subsequently appears as a ghost. With his own mother dead, it is normal for Stephen to direct his attention sooner or later to Molly Bloom, the Magna Mater presiding over Ulysses. But Molly is something more than a mere person which serves in place of real mother. She symbolizes the sinful flesh, the claims of nature, and human love. Stephen’s attraction toward her is symptomatic of his disillusionment with all forms of patriarchal pressure (political authority and the Old Testament). She is like a moral goal towards which he is drawn as a result of his opposition to the church. As Murray explains: â€Å"If a man, who believes somehow in the reality and ultimate worth of some religion of gentleness and unselfishness, looks through the waste of nature to find support for his faith, it is probably in the phenomena of motherhood that he will find it first and most strikingly†(Goldberg 36). For Stephen the pain is very strong by the fact that his mother is dead. She has left him alone. She has taken with her his assurance of being related to the world and to himself. She has left the terrible anxiety about his loss. Moreover, she became the â€Å"ghostwoman† who appears to Stephen in the dream of death that lives in his memory throughout the day, together with memories and reflections about the mother in life. Added to his uneasiness about the psychic separation that is necessary for his growth into manhood is the hopeless realization that there is no physical woman to take the mother’s place: â€Å"She, she, she,† he says repeatedly in â€Å"Proteus,† â€Å"What she? † (426). As Stephen comes intermittently into focus through the text, so does as much again in strength the problem of the loss of his mother and his necessity for a woman to take her place. The Stephen’s persistent idea with his dead mother is lightened at times by tenderness, but gradually is darkened by feeling of distress, anger, and offence over the relationship. Stephen’s memories of his mother start in â€Å"Telemachus† with the recall of his periodic dream of her in her â€Å"loose brown graveclothes† (103-4), which draws from him his initial plea for release – â€Å"let me live. † Stephen’s reflection to the memories of his mother in life and in death vibrates at the beginning between the desire for separation and the desire for continuous dependence, and his plea for release in â€Å"Telemachus† – â€Å"No, mother! Let me be and let me live† (279). In order to become capable of giving immortality to his life, in art, Stephen must first become a man. This requires a rebirth, not through the spirit, as it is in religion, but like the birth from the mother, occurring through the flesh of the loved woman: â€Å"in woman’s womb. † Stephen considers this rebirth seriously. At the end, Stephen is reborn in the text. This rebirth is textually completed at the middle of â€Å"Ithaca,† when Bloom opens the garden gate for Stephen, and a birth image includes meanings of the pun on â€Å"in woman’s womb. † Bloom inserts a â€Å"male key† into â€Å"an unstable female lock,† to reveal â€Å"an aperture for free egress and free ingress† (215-19). This is the â€Å"rebirth into a new dimension† and is also Stephen’s participation in the incarnation of the artist (Goldberg 96). Stephen’s image in â€Å"Telemachus† of his mother’s â€Å"glazing eyes, staring out of death, to shake and bend my soul. . . . to strike me down† (273-76), brings from him the most dramatic raising of the terrible mother. â€Å"Ghoul! Chewer of corpses! † (278) is a manifestation of rejection which is definitely confirmed in ‘Circe† at the appearance of The Mother. Stephen’s mother shelters and nurtures her son with her body, her blood, her â€Å"wheysour milk,† who saves him from â€Å"being trampled underfoot† by the outside world (141-47). This motif of interchange between the loving and horrible aspects of the mother, presented in the first two episodes of Ulysses, is repeated in moments of memory any time Stephen’s mother becomes present in the text, until in â€Å"Oxen of the Sun,† the birth chapter, Stephen describes his release from the mother’s threat through his proposed appropriation, as an artist, of her sophisticated power: â€Å"In woman’s womb word is made flesh, but in the spirit of the maker all flesh that passes becomes the word that shall not pass away. This is the postcreation† (292-94). Haunted through the whole of the day by the memories of his mother in death and in life, Stephen has moved from his loneliness in the morning, coupled with his inner plea to his mother to free him – â€Å"Let me be and let me live† – to this statement of purpose at the maternity hospital. And this statement leads to his claim to a creative power that is greater than that of the mother (Hill 329). In â€Å"Circe,† then, The Mother meets with Stephen directly as the terrible mother, in her â€Å"leper grey,† with her â€Å"bluecircled hollow eyesockets† in her â€Å"noseless† face, â€Å"green with gravemould† (156-60). And here in the brothel, Stephen releases from the mother. This release is necessary for Stephen to become the divine creator of his proclamation. The release is accomplished in the unconscious, which is the ruling principle of â€Å"Circe. † The conversation between mother and son in a fundamental manner repeats Stephen’s encounters with her memory in the daytime, more or less changed, but still with the same odd balance between the loving and the horrible that is associated with the conscious memories. For although The Mother brings with her a message of death – â€Å"All must go through it, Stephen†¦. You too† (182-83) – she contains powerful features of the loving mother. As Stephen frightfully denies responsibility for her death – â€Å"Cancer did it, not I† (U 15:4187) – The Mother claims, â€Å"You sang that song to me. Love’s bitter mystery† ( U 15:4189-90). This line from Yeats’s ‘Who Goes with Fergus? † can be found in â€Å"Telemachus,† as Mulligan leaves the parapet, humming: And no more turn aside and brood Upon love’s bitter mystery For Fergus rules the brazen cars. (239-41). The paradox found in â€Å"love’s bitter mystery† colours The Mother’s answer to Stephen’s plea, â€Å"Tell me the word, mother, if you know now. The word known to all men† (U 15:4192-93). Twice before Stephen has asked the same question in his thoughts about â€Å"the word known to all men†: in Proteus (435) and in â€Å"Scylla and Charybdis† (429-30). In all the episodes in which the question is asked, in only one is a clear answer given. The answer, actually, had never been in the published text of Ulysses until Hans Walter Gabler’s 1984 Critical and Synoptic Edition interpreted five lines in â€Å"Scylla and Charybdis† (U 9:427-31) – forty-three words, eleven of them in Latin (Deming 129). This text, restored to one of the most scrutinized carefully segments in Ulysses, the source of most liked quotations about art and life, about fathers and sons, about mothers and sons, described love as the â€Å"word known to all men† (Deming 129). Richard Ellmann, in his 1984 presentation address to the Ninth International James Joyce Symposium in Frankfurt, presented the audience with his own identification of the word known to all men as love, claiming that the word was â€Å"perhaps† death (Deming 129). Kenner’s position that it might be death is much more than clear in his 1956 Dublin’s Joyce, where he describes Dublin as ‘the Kingdom of the Dead† and characterizes Molly’s final â€Å"yes† as â€Å"the ‘Yes’ of authority: authority over this animal kingdom of the dead. † The mother thus becomes the image of the â€Å"bitter mystery. † The complete answer to the question Stephen asks about the â€Å"word known to all men† is not ‘love† or â€Å"death† but â€Å"love† and â€Å"death† – for whatever is born of the flesh through love will die at the end (Goldberg 156). In â€Å"Circe,† The Mother answers to Stephen’s plea with a conflicting blending of the loving and the terrible mother. The Mother in â€Å"Circe† is not gentle. True, she gives evidences of her love for her sun – amor matris – in terms that echo Stephen’s own thoughts that his mother â€Å"had saved him from being; trampled underfoot† (146): â€Å"Who saved you†¦? Who had pity for you? † (196). But when she asks for Stephen’s penitence, she becomes for him ‘The ghoul! Hyena! † (198-200). And as the Mother continues to present assurances of her love and concern – â€Å"I pray for you†¦ Get Dilly to make you that boiled rice†¦. Years and years I loved you† (202-3) – her simultaneous threat of â€Å"the fire of hell† brings from Stephen the words of appeal, â€Å"The corpsechewer! Raw head and bloody bones† (212-14), together with the echo in â€Å"Circe† of his rejection in ‘Telemachus†: â€Å"Ghoul! Chewer of corpses! (278). Up to this point in the meeting with The Mother, although mother and son communicate, they do not touch each other. But with Stephen’s frantic denial of The Mother’s final demand for remorse, a crab unexpectedly appears, and mother and son touch through the crab. This â€Å"green crab with malignant red eyes,† although evidently autonomous, is nevertheless mysteriously, ambiguously connected with The Mother, who â€Å"raises her blackened withered right arm slowly towards Stephen’s breast with outstretched finger,† uttering, â€Å"Beware God’s hand! † as the crab â€Å"sticks deep its grinning claws in Stephen’s heart† (217-21). This crab is real, and at the same time â€Å"Cancer did it, not I† (187) – has all features of a primary creature from the dark depths of Stephen’s unconscious. Stephen’s crab is not visible to others, and his inner creature is not certainly visible even to him. But the terrible ghost with whom both crab and dragon are connected remains – for the reader and for Stephen himself – Stephen’s mother (Hill 329). Even Stephen’s references to Mother Ireland, Cathleen ni Houlihan, are tinged with gender bias. Stephen betrayed his mother as well as Mother Ireland. In the early morning at the Martello tower, he connects the old milk woman with the Shan van Vocht, â€Å"silk of the kine and poor old woman† (403), but doubtfully recognizes that the â€Å"wandering crone’ serves the â€Å"conqueror and her gay betrayer [Mulligan]† (403-5). Unlike the patriots who glorify Mother Ireland, Stephen thinks of â€Å"Gaptoothed Kathleen, her four beautiful green fields, the stranger in her house† (184). Mulligan and Stephen at the Martello connect woman with nature: the â€Å"great sweet mother† (78) of the sea. â€Å"Our mighty mother† (85) is, as in case with the Romantic poets, nature (Rickard 215). Conclusion In Ulysses, there is Stephen’s misogyny. He realizes the significance of â€Å"woman’s place† in a man’s life and in his sense of himself. Ulysses is, without doubt, typically a man’s book. It begins and ends with the mother figures who complete the male artist’s self. The mother, who is the â€Å"first incarnation of the anima archetype† (330), enters Ulysses with young Stephen and stays with him throughout most of Bloomsday. Thus, in Ulysses, though there are not many women, Joyce has presented to readers in symbolic terms the important interdependence and complementarity of the man and the mother. Works Cited Deming, Robert H. James Joyce: The Critical Heritage. Vol. : 2. Routledge: London, 1997. Goldberg, S. L. The Classical Temper: A Study of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Chatto & Windus: London, 1961. Hill, Marylu. â€Å"Amor Matris: Mother and Self in the Telemachiad Episode of Ulysses†. Twentieth Century Literature. Vol. 39, no. 3, 1993. Joyce, James. Ulysses. New York: Vintage, 1986. Rickard, John S. Joyce’s Book of Memory: The Mnemotechnics of Ulysses. Duke University Press: Durham, NC, 1999.

Is Money the Sole Motivator for the Workforce Essay

Mitchell has defined motivation as ‘the degree to which an individual wants and chooses to engage in specified behaviours’. Simply put, motivation is the reason why an individual wants to do something. The four characteristics that underlie Mitchell’s definition are: motivation is typified as an individual phenomenon, as each individual is unique; motivation is described usually as intentional; motivation is multifaceted and the purpose of motivation theories is to predict behaviour. The basic motivational model explains that needs and expectations will result in a driving force to achieve desired goals, which ultimately provide fulfilment, thus leading to new needs and expectations. The CIPD Employee Attitudes to Pay 2011 report provides evidence that since 2008 workers feel less motivated to perform well, and employees that receive bonuses gave a higher job satisfaction score than their counterparts. This evidence can be supported by Taylor’s rational-economic needs concept of motivation. Workers under his direction would deliver higher outputs to increase productivity and in return be rewarded for their hard work through monetary incentives. However, his belief disregards rewards that are not money orientated which could still increase productivity, also known as intrinsic motivation. Herzberg’s devised a two-factor theory to explain how to achieve motivation and job satisfaction. One set of factors are called ‘hygiene’ or ‘maintenance’ factors, which are concerned with job environment for example, salary, job security, working conditions, level and quality of supervision, company policy and interpersonal relations. If these are absent it can lead to an individual feeling dissatisfied. The other set of factors are called ‘motivators’ or ‘growth’ factors, which provide a sense of achievement, recognition, responsibility, nature of the work and personal growth and advancement. An absence of these lead to a lack of satisfaction, but not dissatisfaction. Employees at Aviva have demonstrated the second set of factors through applying the concept of â€Å"systems thinking† – improving processes on an organisation scale to improve customer experience. When an employee has achieved success it has spurred others to follow suit creating a domino effect, thus boosting employee engagement and increasing motivation at work. Using this model it becomes clear that money is a motivator but not the only motivator. If motivation is not present it can cause dissatisfaction, the extent of this determined by one’s circumstances and other satisfactions that can be achieved at work. Receiving recognition and having opportunities available to grow and work up the ladder are just as important, if not more, influences on motivation.

Blockbuster Hbr Case Essay Example for Free

Blockbuster Hbr Case Essay One of Blockbuster’s biggest value drivers is geographic location. Most people, especiall in urban areas live pretty close to a Blockbuster location. Availability of titles is also a value driver that not all video stores can provide. Their reputation is also a value driver. Economies of scale are one of Blockbuster’s largest cost drivers. The ability to negotiate with movie studios with leverage while their competitors can’t as effectively win lower prices for inventory purchases gives a huge advantage. The aforementioned reasons are ammunition to defened against competitors. Geographic location and leveraging the brand name recognition are two of the most important advantages that Blockbuster has that none of its competitors can easily overcome. After the formation of Blockbuster, the first major technological substitute to come along was the DVD (the digital versatile disc) and the DIVX (digital video express disc). There was a fierce battle between these two rival substitutes as they waged war. Both were looking to become the sole technology that would replace VHS. Blockbuster remained on the sidelines for the first few years after these technologies were introduced even though 8 major motion picture studios had committed to either DIVX or DVD (6 for DIVX and 2 for DVD) Once Antioco had made a decsion as to back DVD for a multitude of reasons, Blockbuster’s decision would lead to the demise of DIVX. Antico decided that DVD offered the most promise. They were more widespread, DVD player units were more readily available and they were cheaper. About a year after Blockbuster decided to back DVD, Circuit City decided to give up on the DIVX technology. Blockbuster also faced competition from consumer’s decsion to buy DVDs as opposed to renting them(sell through). Antioco saw this as a potential threat and decided to sell through used DVDs at a discount at Blockbuster stores. Along with some promotions, such as a free rental with the purchase of a movie, Antioco’s plan was expected to triple Blockbuster’s share of the video sales market. In 2003 Disney developed a technology much like DIVX called EZ-D. The plan was eliminate the return of rented videos as the disc would be discared 48 hours after opening because a chemical would render it useless. The technology ultimately failed as Blockbuster did not back the technology because for just a few dollars more (EZ-D discs retailed at $5-$7) consumers could outright purchase a DVD with unlimited use. One of the newest substitutes to threaten blockbuster is online video sales. This market is cannabilizing Blockbuster’s sell through numbers and Blockbuster is countering with their own online sales. Another is home delivery service. Even though this service had promise with more than a few firms, they all failed for a multitude of reasons and never posed a real threat. Netflix, a video subscription service with no late fees is also a substitute that Blockbuster is facing. After much initial success, Blockbuster decided to start their own subscription pricing model in which consumers can pay a flat fee each month for unlimitied rentals at their retail outlets. Eventually adding the feature where consumers can opt to either receive/return the discs through the mail similar to netflix or to receive/return them at a retail location to satisfy an immediate need. This option gives them a competitive advantage over Netflix. Blockbuster Hbr Case. (2018, Oct 22).

Drugs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drugs - Essay Example An example would be, if a person gets addicted to heroine, it is almost impossible to quit. Even though there are other soft drugs like marijuana, and others still they are addictive. And, in this light drugs should be made illegal as they are harmful to people. I strongly, propose that drugs should be made illegal. Another side of the problem is Why should drugs be legal Drugs are used for lot of other useful remedies, and keeping it illegal causes some problems. Government should do something to control the drug problem. It should make people aware that abuse of drugs is illegal. Illegal use of drugs causes several problems of social and criminal nature. This leads to many drug violators and serious offenders behind the bars. The money and expense used in managing the drug related problem is very big. It makes government spend too much money to buildings which are needed to accommodate these criminals. This is also a burden on the taxpayers, and nobody likes this situation. "it is possible to stop most drug addiction in the United States within a very short time. Simply make all drugs available and sell them at cost" (Vidal 384). I think this part is important to support the legalizations. The drugs are now spread out to the black market such as mafia. It relates with money, they make lots of money from drug businesses. However if government make that legal and sell it at cost, then black market could not sell the drugs illegally. The active part to control and legalize the drugs will help solve the problem. The second part of the problem is when it is illegal? Drugs have deep impact on the minds of the people, which make them get involved in crime.

Business Law - Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Law - - Term Paper Example The basic premise of this Act is to maintain good competition in the business life of the corporates. Competition Act aims at regulating the competition and defeating the acts by people who have tried to thwart competition in their respective jurisdictions. It has aimed at attempting to draw a line in anti-competitive activities. The Act has been designed in order to pave a way for the extinguishment of anti-competitive activities. The Act had been at the centre of curbing anti-competitive practices which have been performed by the companies who have been trading on in the business circle. â€Å"Legislation enacted by the federal and various state governments to regulate trade and commerce by preventing unlawful restraints, price-fixing, and monopolies; to promote competition; and to encourage the production of quality goods and services at the lowest prices, with the primary goal of safeguarding public welfare by ensuring that consumer demands will be met by the manufacture and sale of goods at reasonable prices.† The new Act defines a ‘dominant position’ ; what constitutes an abuse of such a dominant position and how are they interrelated. As mentioned in the Competition Act, being of the nature of a dominant enterprise does not constitute to an anti-competitive practice, but the fact when such dominant undertakings misuses their power in the competition to restrict it or to have a negative impact on it amounts to an anti-competitive practice which is prohibited in the Indian competition laws. In the case of N. V. Netherlands Banden Industrie Michelin v. Commission of the European Communities , the question arose to the court as to whether or not an enterprise which is dominant in nature leads to the violation of competition laws prevalent in the EU. It was held that â€Å"an undertaking having a dominant position is not a recrimination but simply means that irrespective of the reasons for which it has such a dominant position,

Defining The Self Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Defining The Self - Essay Example Modernity has, however proved that the human mind is capable of so much more. While I am a full time student, I have managed to take up two jobs as well. While in today’s world that is not a wonder, in the 17th and 18th century, it was unfathomable that one could take up two or more mentally and physically engaging tasks at once. This illustrates that the mind has so many capabilities; most of which humanity is not even aware of at this time. The abilities and endeavors that human beings will pursue in the distant future have not been comprehended in the current time. Kant is also in support of Hume’s assertion that they are not â€Å"unshakeable truths.† The beliefs that human beings live by in actuality do not have an explanation. Once someone asked me why I believe that stealing is wrong. I found myself fumbling with the answer. In actual sense, I have acknowledged that the only reasons I believe this is because firstly, my religion states it and secondly, those before me instilled it in me. However, none of the reasons laid out above are logically strong or supported. Therefore, Kant was right in stating that there is no evidence of the existence of â€Å"certain truths†; we have created them within our minds. John Locke shared Kant’s line of thought (the latter) but modified it. His focus was not more on the lack of existence of unshakeable truths, but rather on lack in existence of innate facts (Caruth, 31). The existence of God is one that has caused controversy in the literary world. If there were such a thing as innate facts, the existence of a supreme being ought to be one of them. This is because it is a belief that a larger majority of the world shares. If indeed there is a supreme being, it ought to be an innate (inborn) fact, as he is the creator of everything, including human beings. However, as a child, I had to attend Bible studies and learning sessions to completely understand the concept of God as well as what

Response and Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response and Summary - Essay Example She adds that it can help people become healthier too by reducing stress and anxiety. Likewise, it may improve creativity because people have more time to think about improving different work aspects. Damon believes that, though a three-day weekend break sounds great, reality indicates that people are â€Å"going the other way,† working longer than shorter hours per week. He adds that discipline and â€Å"benevolent employer[s]† are important for a four-day week to work (â€Å"GlobalNews†). She agrees that benevolent employers understand that employees are human beings who need extra time out. She further notes that retention rates may also increase if employees think that their employers are concerned of their general welfare. High retention rates mean lower employment costs that arise due to high employee turnout. The strengths of the claims of the speaker are its promotion of a shorter week’s benefits to individuals and societies and provision of examples of companies/nations that practice it. By promoting various benefits, Lyall may convince more organizations to implement it. In addition, through giving examples of companies and nations applying it, it underlines its popularity that may increase its acceptability for other firms. The weakness of the claims is that a shorter work week alone is not enough to attain its benefits. It may not improve the economy if people are not disciplined enough to finish their work on time. It cannot enhance work-life balance too if people bring their work to their homes. It could also hardly advance gender equality, if many people continue to think that only women must perform traditional roles and responsibilities. Despite this weakness, I agree with Lyall that a four-day week can have social and economic benefits. It means being more productive because I can focus on working more efficiently. It also gives economic advantages because I have lesser expenses in going to work. Three days of weekend

Advanced Practice Legal Considerations Case Study

Advanced Practice Legal Considerations - Case Study Example Basically, there are six types of torts—a few of which will be discussed here, and how those specific laws apply to Luann’s situation. There are intentional torts against persons, which deal with very specific charges that are incurred when one person injures another. Other categories of torts similarly deal with different types of wrongs committed, including: unintentional torts (negligence); and special negligence doctrines, including negligent infliction of emotional distress among others. Finally, defenses against negligence—as well as strict liability—will be examined, especially as it regards whether confidentiality issues were breached when the lab tech used personal information to make a decision about informing someone about someone else’s health, a one person who was not supposed to be privy to that information as that person was a third party. Herein are analyses of some aspects of torts, some of which may not be torts which necessarily a lign with this particular case, but which should be mentioned nonetheless. II. Misappropriation of the Right to Publicity According to Frackman et. al. (1996), â€Å"The right of publicity makes it unlawful to use another's identity for commercial advantage without permission. In recent years, that right has grown to encompass the potential misappropriation of voice, performance style, former names, and maybe, as contended in a case recently filed in Indiana regarding the race horse Cigar, . . . the image of an animal† (pp. 1). Misappropriation of the right to publicity basically means that someone’s privacy is being invaded in some way, shape, or form. Others’ privacy should be guarded well. III. Invasion of the Right to Privacy An invasion of the right to privacy is a direct intrusion on someone’s personal space. This â€Å"invasion of privacy,† so to speak, is not legislated per se. However, confidentiality agreements—such as the one the lab tech Luann signed—should be honored, and are honored, in a court of law. However, various celebrities and other personalities of note have invoked the invasion of the right to privacy in court cases. Using the name or likeness of a person can also get one into trouble in regard to the invasion of privacy. This is a bit like intellectual property law, where someone’s image is protected. Interference with the First Amendment can be a cause of torts. In the case of invasion of the right of privacy, this applies occasionally. IV. Unintentional Torts (Negligence) a) Duty of Care Duty of care basically means that a reasonable person has a duty to another person to make sure that he or she does not have any kind of trouble. This means that anyone should act reasonably according with to the situation at hand. For example, one example of duty of care is that, if an oncoming car is about to hit a pedestrian, and a passersby had the chance to save the person, this is called t he person’s duty of care. Any reasonably-acting person would have tried to get the pedestrian out of the way of the oncoming car. In Luann’s case, she had the duty of care to protect the confidentiality of her client’s name and condition. She did not abide by the confidentiality agreement set forth when hired, and this is what got her into a lot of trouble with the courts. V. Breach of Duty Breach of duty occurs when a person has a duty to perform for a person, but he or she does not do it. For instance, in the previous example with the car about to hit the pedestrian, the onlooker would have performed a breach of duty by not rescuing the

Christianity in the first three centuries Essay Example for Free

Christianity in the first three centuries Essay After the terror of September 11 the American people wanted to know what type of people would fly airplanes into buildings killing thousands of their good citizens. The left wing media and the Bush administration, which often patronizes left wing, political correctness, provided the most typical ‘spin’ for public consumption. This interpretation works within the typical left-wing paradigm, which deems all religions as essentially the same and politics as Ð ° separate category of life, removed from the private concerns of true religion. It is only when conservative religious-types attempt to impose their narrow minded beliefs upon the peaceable world of religious and political communities that problems arise. (Sherifa 2005 28) Therefore, it is not Islam that brought about September 11. ‘Islam is Ð ° religion of peace’. It is ‘fundamentalists’ who are most to blame for disturbing the peace. After all, the term Islam means ‘peace’. â€Å"Enhanced analysis is where â€Å"the rubber meets the road† Up to this point in the analytical process, personnel have primarily been cleaning data and analyzing information using broad approaches. Transforming the information into quality intelligence requires time and skill. Whether some forms of analysis are art or science is debatable. In the case of homeland security and terrorism analysis, it is both. Methods employed by an analyst can be replicated for use on many different fronts. In addition, there are numerous scientific models and tools available for analysts that can be utilized by anyone to prove or verify information. The data should yield the same results for whoever undertakes the process. (Paul 2002 31) Use of Ð ° checklist is encouraged due to the magnitude of events that can be faced by an analyst undertaking terrorism or organized hate group investigations. Too many steps are involved in the intelligence process, and information often arrives at intermittent times, making organization of the information difficult. Matrixes, link charts, time lines, and maps also play important roles in transforming information into enhanced intelligence. Whatever techniques are used to analyze the information, it is crucial to know ones criminal data and what information is available. In warfare, one needs to know the enemy, and in the analytical world one needs to know the enemy (subject or target) as well as the data. If you do not know what you have, how can you transform it into intelligence? (Michael 2004) Today the term is used by the media and intelligentsia as Ð ° form of hate speech an epithet to curse those who disagree with them. In the present context it is used as Ð ° means of casting aspersions upon conservative Christians in relating them to terrorist activity. Stephen Schwartz serves Ð ° good example of this type of rhetoric. In his work on the Saudis and Wahhabis, The Two Faces of Islam, he skews an otherwise outstanding work with Ð ° continual reference to ‘fundamentalist’ Muslims as perverting ‘true’ Islam. The term serves as Ð ° source of pure rhetoric throughout the work, disembodied from any specific reference to Ð ° movement, group or set of beliefs. There is only one section where he even bothers to relate it to Ð ° specific viewpoint. In this place he condemns Muslims who limit ‘all historical and cultural development in Islam after its first two generations’. However, this understanding of fundamentalism in terms of literal interpretation and living-in-the-past contradicts the overall thesis of Schwartz and his liberal constituency that would characterize the religion of Muhammad the ‘true’ and ‘authentic’ Islam as Ð ° religion of peace. If Muhammad was Ð ° man of peace, literal Islam would have produced the same sort of pacifism that we observe among early Christianity in the first three centuries. But the real truth is that it produced much the opposite. Islam does not exist in the world of ideas as Ð ° disembodied, un-interpreted spirit, subsisting above and beyond the communities who represent the faith. ‘True’ Islam exists only in the mind of those liberals who wish that Muslims would find in Islam what they want them to believe. No religion, philosophy or political ideology exists apart from those who interpret it in accordance with their own purposes. For example, one could find Nazism within the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche if one wishes to use his writings to deconstruct certain themes in certain ways. His writings contain that possibility, even if Nietzsche himself was not an anti-Semite. All works contain enough tensions within them to allow the interpreter to choose this or that reading as more indicative of the true essence of the text, It is all Ð ° matter of choice, If Ð ° reader wishes to find the good things of liberalism within the Qur’an feeding the poor and helping widows and orphans in their distress, there is much in the text that lends itself to this direction. (Paul 2002 56) However, Ð ° liberal cannot deny that there is more Ð ° pretext for deconstructing the Qur’an and proceeding in the horrid direction of September 11 than there is in the Bible or the sacred texts of most other religions. The Bible certainly contains imprecatory psalms and holy wars, but within its writings, especially those of the New Testament, there is much to counteract the more bellicose verses of the old Testament and marginate them or treat them as Ð ° product of Ð ° bygone dispensation. Within the Qur’an there are Ð ° number of disturbing sections that could lead in the direction of September 11 if so interpreted, and little else to counteract them. There is no concept of the historical progress of revelation, as the divine revelation did not take place over Ð ° period of time. According to most Muslims, the Qur’an is an eternal and uncreated book. Its Arabic is God’s Arabic its words God’s Words. Nevertheless, Islam does not exist as Ð ° simple monolith, which demands our acceptance or rejection. â€Å"Since the events of September 11, the American people may have been treated to more truth from their government than ever before. In the post Vietnam era, when the notorious Phoenix program of assassinations finally came to light, public indignation was sufficient to empower investigation by the Church Committee, and Ð ° subsequent ban on foreign assassinations. Over the past decade and increasingly under the Bush Jr. administration, however, open talk of intended foreign assassinations, efforts to overthrow the leaders of other sovereign states, or invasions of an unspecified array of nations can reach the daily papers through on-record remarks by elected officials. † (Amit 2003 127).