Minority Groups Issue in Modern World

Minority Groups Issue in Modern World Introduction Minority groups have always been part of every society. In any given society, there are those people who are considered weak or lesser by virtue of one aspect or another most of which are natural.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Minority Groups Issue in Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Women have for a long time considered as minority groups in many societies; always taking the second place after men and always being denies opportunities which they deserve just by the mere fact that they are women. However over the years, the situation has changes and most minority groups and especially women have come out strongly to defend their position in the society. They have formed unions under whose umbrella they fight for their rights ensuring that they are not discriminated against just by the mere fact that they are women. Women have also managed to fight for a level paying ground and an equal pla tform just their male counterparts so that positions of leadership and other influential positions are given by merit and not based on gender or any other consideration. This discussion looks at the range of actions that minority groups are taking to advance their interests within the union movement and what other actions they could take to further their cause. Special attention will be paid to the different strategies and methods that minority groups are currently using or might use to further their goals. Who is a Minority Group? A minority group is segregated group in a society which always small and hence the name minority which is hardly incorporated or recognizes as part of the society. More often, this people are ignored or sort of disregarded and they are not sufficiently involved in social matters especially those that regard development.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is the continued sidelining of minority groups over the years that has resulted to the minority groups coming up with various strategies so as to advance their interests and ensure that they also participate actively in various developmental issues and other issues that are of societal concern. Minority groups are based on a number of factors mainly gender, age, sexual affiliation or general perceptions held by an individual (Simpson Yinger, 2005, p. 43). In the modern society, the most common minority groups include women based on their gender, children based on their age, lesbians and gays based on their sexual affiliation and other people who hold views that are not very popular with the rest of the society. As experience may have proven, it is not always easy to live under the umbrella of stereotype that most minority groups have to contend with. It is as if you do not belong in your very own society. It is a stereotype that has seen most of those belonging to minority gr oups attempt to break away if only to be treated in more â€Å"normal† way. However, with the strategies discussed below, it has become easier for these groups to find a place in the society where they could lead a productive life in the society and prove to the rest of the society that they are no different and can do equally good if not better just like everybody else. Strategies Used One strategy that has proven successful in helping minority groups advance their interests is joining union movements. Usually, a union movement is a group of people who come together with the main goals of ensuring that their interests are taken care of.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Minority Groups Issue in Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Union movements are common especially among workers in different sectors who come together to ensure that all their rights are respected and that they are able to advance ot her common interests they may have. It has also been noted that unlike in the past where most minority groups considered themselves lesser in their manner and behavior, this has since changed as most minority groups now consider themselves equal with other people (Whitley Kite, 2009, p. 65). In the past, most minority groups seemed to agree with the rest of the community that indeed they were lesser and did not have as equal rights as the rest of the people to access opportunities in different aspects of life. Minority groups have now come out strongly to show the rest of the world that being small in number of holding a view or perception that is not as popular does not make them any less. They have therefore become more assertive than they were previously and this has by and large helped them advance their interests. Unity is another aspect that has helped minority groups thrive and advance e their interest in the increasingly hostile society. Minority groups have been teaming up to form groups of their own with vested interests. For instance, women who have for a long time been considered as minority in many societies have found ways of empowering themselves by coming together to form groups which they use to come up with projects that are highly beneficial to them and to the society in general. Women for instance perhaps due to the fact that it is one of the minority groups that has been with the society for years has become more vocal than any other minority groups.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Women have come out strongly to assert their positions and there are now more women in positions of leadership and power more than there were a couple of years back. Women have also formed various help groups and have come up with very successful projects most of which are income generating. Thus, besides providing a steady income to these women, they are also beneficial to the society and they have helped the general society change their general perception about women. Another strategy that most minority groups are using to advance their interest and further their goals is by teaming with non-governmental organizations who provide funding that is required to help kick start their projects. The non governmental organizations have been very instrumental especially in supporting women groups implement their projects thus making the society a better place. Another strategy that has helped minority groups come out from what is seen as cacoon is by actively participating in forums of nat ional issues and general societal concern. Women for instance have been participating in religious issues and some are already holding positions of importance in the religious domain. About a decade ago, women could not be allowed to hold such positions. Women and other minority groups have therefore come out to show the rest of the society that indeed they have equal potential and can equally perform well when given an opportunity. Minority groups have also been holding demonstration in an attempt to have the voice heard. These peaceful demonstrations have helped a great deal because even the government listens to these groups when they demonstrate. The essence of these demonstrations is to make an assertive voice to the government, policy makers and the society in general that the minority groups also have a right to be involved and adequately so in the participation of making decisions. Of all the minority groups that there are, the women and the young people can be said to be th e most successful. Perhaps this is because the basis on which they are considered to be a minority group is not controversial. Lesbians and gays have not been having to easy in trying to find their position in the society. Perhaps due to the fact many people in the society based on their upbringing do not consider these practices correct, the minority groups may be said to be finding it even more challenging than women and young people have. They have however continued to hold peaceful demonstrations asking the society to view them as normal whose sexual affiliation should not be used to alienate them. Unlike when these practices first merged, the society seems to be slowly accepting this group of people although there is still a tendency to look at this group of people as though they are not normal. People suffering from disabilities are also part of minority groups and they have also had a fair share of challenges in having the society accept them and consider them as equally pote ntial people who can deliver when given an opportunity to (Sproule, 1989, p. 123). The media has played a major role in highlighting the plight of minority groups and influencing the society to start viewing these people from a different angle. Currently, there are several people with disabilities who are holding managerial positions and this goes to show that the society is changing positively and learning to accept that disability is not inability. Other tactics that minority groups may use to further their goals and ensure that they have an impact in the society is by ensuring that they are more united than ever before ( Pentassuglia, 2009, p. 54). It has been noted that while segregated groups form unions to represent their rights and interests, the majority of people are left out and this means that there are many people belonging to the minority groups especially at the grass root level who do not have any support. It is important therefore for the lobby groups to ensure that all persons falling under the category of minority groups are well represented. Collaboration with civil rights movements is yet another strategy that will work well in helping the minority groups further their goals. Conclusion Women are perhaps the best example of a minority group that has managed to liberate themselves using most of the above discussed tactics. In the modern world, the woman is holding just as good a position just her male counterpart. In this century, minority groups have risen to show the rest of the society that they are equally part of the society and that they also have a big part to play in making the world a better place. If the trend that most minorities groups are taking is anything to go by, then it would be correct to say that in a couple of years to come, there may in fact not be any minority groups in the society. Instead, there will be many different groups with different agendas but bring considered as rightfully belonging to the larger society. Re ferences Pentassuglia, G. (2009). Minority groups and judicial discourse in international law: a comparative perspective. LA: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Simpson, G. Yinger, J. (1985). Racial and cultural minorities: an analysis of prejudice and discrimination. London: Springer. Sproule, W. (1989). Minority Groups. New York: Gage. Whitley, B. Kite, M. (2009). The psychology of prejudice and discrimination. New  York: Francis and Taylor.

ALI Surname Meaning, Origin and Family History

ALI Surname Meaning, Origin and Family History The Ali surname derived from the Arabic root Ê•-l-w, which literally means high, elevated, or exalted. The Ali surname is especially common in Arab countries and the rest of the Muslim world. Surname Origin:  Arabic Famous People with the ALI  Surname Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay)  - American athlete, boxer and philanthropistLaila Ali  -  athlete, boxer and television personality; daughter of Muhammad AliTatyana Ali - American actress, model and RB singerImtiaz Ali  Ã‚  -  Indian film director and writer Where Is the ALI Surname Most Common? According to surname distribution from  Forebears, Ali is the 38th most common surname in the world- found most prevalently in India where over 1.1 million people bear the name. The Ali surname is among the ten most common last names in Bahrain (1st), the Maldives (2nd), Trinidad and Tobago (2nd), Sudan (3rd), Tanzania (7th), Algeria (7th), Chad (8th), Fiji (9th) and India (9th). Surname maps from  WorldNames PublicProfiler  also show the Ali surname as especially common in India, but does not include data from most Arab countries. Other regions where the Ali surname is fairly common include Kosovo and several regions of England (South East, West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire and Humberside. Genealogy Resources for the Surname ALI Ali Family Genealogy Forum: This free message board is focused on descendants of Ali  ancestors around the world. Search or browse the archives for your Ali ancestors, or join the group and post your own Ali family query.FamilySearch - ALI  Genealogy: Explore over 1  million results from digitized  historical records and lineage-linked family trees related to the Ali surname on this free website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.GeneaNet - Ali  Records: GeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Ali  surname, with a concentration on records and families from France and other European countries. Resources and Further Reading Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Businees organisation and policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Businees organisation and policy - Essay Example Furthermore, Board members believe that acquisitions or mergers will have long-run benefits for improving innovation or expanding product line to ensure higher revenues and thereby make the company more attractive to investors through bond issuance or stock purchasing. Despite this rationale, there are several different factors that lead to failures in merger and acquisition failures: cultural integration problems, direct management failures in execution and leadership, the current position of either company as it relates to product/service life cycle and the speed by which changes are made within the new blended organisation. This report gives perspective on these failures and potential successes to justify why Board members continue to pursue this strategy, using real-world case studies as reference for analysis. 2. Failed merger: Hewlett Packard and Compaq Both Hewlett Packard and Compaq believed a blended company would achieve synergies in relation to cost, research and developme nt, innovation and time to market, as well as consolidation of service and technical support which were significant expenditures as self-operated firms. Compaq had a well-established brand, however complexities in the consumer market, along with emerging competition offering similar services and products, continued to erode brand loyalty and sales revenues. At the time of the merger, Compaq experienced a net income of only $78 million, a decline from 2000 of $296 million (Compaq 2001). This was significantly low considering Compaq sustained revenues of 1.1 billion dollars in 2001. Compaq maintained significantly high operating expenses and credit/loan repayments that continued to erode cash flow and shareholder equity. HP, on the other hand, maintained a much stronger balance sheet and sustained a healthier brand loyalty in consumer markets and thus intended to strengthen the positioning of Compaq and consolidate its over-financed operations to ensure synergistic outcomes. However, executives at HP failed to consider that both Compaq and Hewlett-Packard were in the maturity stage of the service and product life cycle and would both be moving toward sales declines without innovative service and product launches. At the time of merger, Hewlett Packard was having a significantly difficult time competing with the B2B market alongside competition such as IBM and Sun in relation to server product purchases to sustain business information technology infrastructures (Hoopes 2004). This was a very profitable market for competition and for HP if they managed to position themselves properly on the B2B market. Investors found that the inability to gain target market business customers would only be further sustained by blending Compaq’s already troubled brand into its corporate sales and marketing strategies. HP and Compaq were already both experiencing the maximum profit expected without modernising services in the maturity stage and, at the time, neither company were working on significantly differentiated product developments to expand revenues and avoid eventual sales declines. Hewlett Packard also maintained a very rigid, top-down hierarchy that was highly centralized whilst Compaq had a more liberal system of governance that fostered more innovation and free

Quality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Quality - Essay Example This bill required the California Department of health services to adopt stipulated regulations that established the minimum nurse to patient ratios in hospitals. This came as a response to the numerous concerns raised about patient safety as the dynamics of healthcare became more complex and hence resulting into a shortage of nurses in the late 1990s (Donaldson and Shapiro, 2010). The minimum staffing requirements set in place aimed to improve the quality of healthcare and patient safety as well as aiming to retain and acquire more nurses by improving the conditions of their working environment. As required by the law, the California Department of Health Services requires hospitals that provide acute care to maintain the minimum nurse to patient ratios. The stipulated ratios vary by unit ranging from 1:1 ratio in operating rooms, and 1:2 intensive care units, neonatal intensive units and critical care, as well as in post-anesthesia recovery and labor delivery. Further, the ratio is 1:4 in ante-partum and post-partum, emergency room and pediatric care and the emergency rooms. Its 1:6 on psychiatric units. In general, regular hospital units have a 1:5 ratio (Aiken et.al. 2010). In the subsequent years after the California law took effect, nurses became very optimistic about the stipulated ratios. According to the California Nurses Association, the ratio law has been a large success as demonstrated by a large increase in the number of registered nurses licensed in California. Moreover, there has been a reduction in the rate of nurse turnover as a result of better job satisfaction. In addition, it has been observed to improve patient safety and hence helped to save more lives and provided nurses with a platform to advocate for their patients (Cook et.al. 2012). However, in spite of these positive observations, hospitals are still not convinced especially in the absence of tangible evidence that the ratios set out actually improve the care provided by the nurses an d reduce errors. A study conducted in 2002, two years before the law was implemented provided shocking findings. It showed that when a nurse is assigned four patients under his/her care, the risk of patient death rises by 7% for each additional patient assigned. The legislation which was signed into law in 1999 took effect on 1st January 2004 giving hospitals five years to implement the required changes. Contrary to the positive expectations after implementation, various problems that make the implementation process difficult to implement have been observed. A key limitation being that it requires continuous compliance with the ratio which means that the number of patients under the care of each nurse should not exceed the stipulated number at any one point in time during their shifts in any particular unit. So if a nurse has to use a restroom, then the law provides for him to reassign his/her patients to another nurse. Despite these minor setbacks in the implementation process, the requirements set out by the legislation have been observed to have a positive effect on the working environment of the nurses. This positive effect can be demonstrated by the increase in the

The Lord of the Rings Essay Example for Free

The Lord of the Rings Essay To begin describing my unlikely hero’s we first have to ask ourselves what makes a hero. Is it always a big, strong alpha male with a square jaw and cocky attitude? I hardly think so. I feel that a hero is someone who puts others needs in front of their own to complete whatever task is set before them, even though they may have to give their life in the process, they keep going. Once in a while you come across a story where the hero not only does not fit into the stereotypical hero status but is as far away from what you expect as you can get. The unlikely hero†¦ The unlikely hero is a hero who never wanted to be a hero. The unlikely hero proves that anyone can make it as a hero. This diamond in the rough disguises his true potential until tough times call for his aid. He is greatly unsure of himself and often unsure on what to do. He just knows that something has to be done. The odds are usually greatly in favor of the villains and there is much to overcome, both mentally and psychically. My unlikely heroes are Frodo from the Lord of the Rings (Tolkien) and Pug from the Riftwar Saga. Both of these unlikely heroes must overcome great odds to complete quests that are thrust upon them. One, a small hobbit with little knowledge of the world outside of his home in the Shire, the other, a small orphan boy from the rustic town of castle Crydee. Neither is aware of the dangers that await them or that their lives are about to change forever. Frodo Baggins is a hobbit. Hobbits are short and stocky and do not go out very often. Life outside the Shire does not concern them too much and they are very content on staying on their own land doing what pleases them. Frodo lives with his uncle Bilbo in his hobbit hole Bags End, a house carved into the side of a hill. Frodo is usually quiet and reserved and does not like to cause a scene. (Tolkien) While living with his uncle Bilbo, Frodo is left in the Shire as heir to Bags End and all of the possessions. This included a magic ring. All Bilbo knew about the ring is that it turned the wearer invisible; the true nature of the ring had become lost to history. After keeping the ring hidden for 17 years the wizard Gandalf came to Frodo to tell him that it is The One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron and that his agents are searching for it. Gandalf informs Fordo he must take the ring to Rivendell, home of the house of Elrond, an elf lord in order to keep it out of the hands of the Nazgul, Sauron’s agents. (Tolkien) At the start of his journey Frodo is joined by his friend and gardener Samwise Gamgee, and his cousins Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. They leave the shire for Rivendell and almost instantly they are tracked by the Nazgul, barely escaping. They make it to an inn in the town of Bree where they are joined by Aragorn who helps them escape their next attack and guide them to Rivendell. Once in Rivendell there is a meeting on what to do about the ring. There are representatives from each race at the meeting. They come to the conclusion that the ring is to be destroyed but an argument ensues on who will take possession of it to destroy it. Then Frodo volunteers for the task and everyone else takes an oath to protect him on his journey to Mordor to destroy the ring in the fires of Mount Doom. (Tolkien) There are many things that Frodo must overcome in order to complete his task. The ring drives the humans around it mad and they will eventually try to kill Frodo for it. Frodo is also hunted at every turn by Orcs and every other being that Sauron has under his control. Frodo eventually has to leave all of his companions behind with the exception of Sam in order to protect the ring from those that wish to use the rings power. Frodo and Sam made their way through Emyn Muil, followed by the creature Gollum. As they finally reached Mount Doom, Gollum reappeared and attacked Frodo, who beat him back. He continued on while Sam fought with Gollum. Having finally reached the Sammath Naur, or Crack of Doom, however, Frodo lost the will to destroy the Ring, and instead put it on, claiming it for himself. Gollum got past Sam and attacked the invisible Frodo, biting off his finger, and finally regained his precious. As he danced around in elation, Gollum lost his balance and fell with the Ring into the lava. The Ring was thus destroyed, Saurons power lost and his realm ended. Frodo and Sam were rescued by Great Eagles as Mount Doom erupted. (Tolkien) Pug is the child of unknown parents, an orphan abandoned at a monastery near Crydee, a town on the north-west coast of the Kingdom of the Isles. As a boy, he is sent to Castle Crydee and is adopted by Megar, the castle keeps cook. He grows up there, becoming the closest friend of Megars son, Tomas, becoming almost a brother to him. While gathering shellfish at age 13, Pug is caught in a storm, his ankle is sprained, and he is charged by a wild boar. He is saved by a franklin named Meecham, who is in the service of the court Magician Kulgan. (Fiest) Kulgan discovers Pugs talent for magic and takes him as his apprentice on Choosing Day. Under Kulgans tutelage, Pug makes satisfactory progress in the theory of magic, but finds himself unable to cast spells in the traditional way. Pug appears to suffer some form of mental block. Kulgan decides that as a foil to Pugs very logical mind, Pug is to be taught equestrian skills. This leads to Pug being selected to accompany Princess Carline (daughter of the Duke of Crydee) into the countryside on a ride. During the course of this ride, they are attacked by two trolls; Pug manages to defend the princess demonstrating skill first with a sling and then with his unexpected success in casting a spell, his first of any power. The spell causes the trolls excruciating pain and they drown. Kulgan voices to Pug that this is a skill unheard of in Midkemian magic. Casting this particular spell without a device to focus the power was impossible. Casting the spell in the manner in which Pug did should have caused great pain to himself instead of the Trolls. Upon return to Crydee, Pug earns the gratitude of the Duke and the affection of Carline, Duke Borrics beautiful, but willful, daughter. As a reward for this feat, Pug is made a squire and was granted land, to be held by the crown until the age of majority. Then, mysteriously, the Tsurani invade Crydee. A bitter nine year war ensues at the start of which, Pug is captured while helping Kulgan get safely away from a skirmish and taken to Kelewan, kept at first as a swamp slave, cutting timber and pulp for the Tsurani. He is liberated from the swamps by Clan of Tsurani nobles, and instructed to tutor their sons in the ways of the Kingdom. Pug is respected but never allowed to forget that he is nothing but a slave. During this time Pug meets and falls for Katala, a slave girl of great beauty and wit, and Laurie, a former Troubador from the Kingdom, most recently a friend and confidant of Pug. However, one day Pugs former training is recognized by a Tsurani Great One. Pug is trained as a Greater Path Magician, and is remarkable in many ways. His outworld status (as well as his former status as slave, enemy and lesser path apprentice) makes him something of a celebrity. Pug is renamed Milamber. Fiest) Pug becomes instrumental in bringing the Riftwar to an end, by destroying the planetary rift between Kelewan and Midkemia, in an effort to stop the return of the enemy to Midkemia. When the Riftwar ends, Pug is rewarded with the title to the island of Stardock, previously gifted to him by Duke Borric for saving his daughter. It is also revealed that after he had been considered dead, the Duke gave him a name in memorial, adopting him into the ConDoin family, effectively making him an adopted member of the royal family. Fiest) Midkemia is very similar to Earth in climate, and its flora and fauna. It has three continents: Triagia, Novindus and Winet. It has two oceans, though there are various names for them depending on the continent or nation. The Endless Sea is west of Triagia and is east of Novindus where it is called the Blue Sea. The Sea of Tears is east of Triagia and west of Novindus where it is called the Green Sea. (Fiest) Tolkien prepared several maps of Middle-earth and the regions of Middle-earth in which his stories took place. Some were published in his lifetime, though some of the earliest maps were not published until after his death. The main maps were those published in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales. Most of the events of the First Age took place in the subcontinent Beleriand, which was later engulfed by the ocean at the end of the First Age; the Blue Mountains at the right edge of the map of Beleriand are the same Blue Mountains that appear on the extreme left of the map of Middle-earth described in the Second and Third Ages. Tolkiens map of Middle-earth, however, shows only a small part of the world; most of the vast lands of Rhun and Harad are not shown on the map, and there are also other continents. (Tolkien) The two unlikely heroes are a lot alike as well as being very different. Pug has many powers he can use later on in the books to help him do what needs to be done. Frodo just has his will and the help of Sam. No matter how hard things became, they both pressed on in order to save their world.

Ender’s Game :: Essays Papers

Ender’s Game Andrew Wiggin is the main character in the novel, Ender’s Game. His nickname is Ender. Andrew got his nickname from his older sister Valentine when he was born because Valentine was unable to say the name â€Å"Andrew†, so she called him Ender. It has specific meaning in the book because of the fact that Ender is expected to be able to ‘end’ events that someone else had started before him. One event that has been started before Ender that he is expected to finish is the war between the humans on the planet, and the alien â€Å"Buggers.† Ender is expected to be able to end this war because his older siblings tested out impossibly in the governments way of determining aptitude, or ability to become a general in the army that is preparing for a fight with the Buggers. Rarely is a third child born, but in this exceptional case, Ender was permitted to be born because of his siblings test results. As soon as ender is born, a monitor is placed in the base of his neck to analyze his thoughts and senses to determine whether he is Battleschool material or not. Ender eventually goes to Battleschool and takes mass amounts of badgering and teasing from the other kids that are training too. Ender easily moves through the ranks and frustrates every instructor that he has. He becomes a commander and is given an army. He eventually goes to a planet called Eros, find the Buggers, and conclude that they are bugs, and that they have a queen like ants do. Ender finds an old man and finds that it is Mazer Rackham, his enemy. Ender finally finds that all the games he had been playing since Rackham became his enemy, was the real Third Invasion. Ender is a hero. Another event that Ender had to finish that had been started before him was his conflict with Stilson on the bus to Battleschool. Stilson and his friends make fun of Ender by calling him a ‘Third’ and they do not let him get to his seat on the bus. Stilson calls Ender names and summons his friends to hold Ender back because he had tried to grab Stilson’s arm in defense of himself.

Fahrenheit 451 Socratic Seminar

Keeping people out of â€Å"the cave† can be a burdensome task that requires a plentiful amount of strategy and intelligence. â€Å"The cave† may be defined as a somber place where the ignorance of those who inhabit it manifests and thrives, and this cave is an internal part of one’s mind, body, and soul. In order to keep people out of the cave, one must make certain that the confined are enlightened, the false interpretations of the real world are analyzed, the chains of limitations are released, and the truth must always be spoken.In schools, countries, and everywhere around the world, it is crucial that all inhabitants are enlightened and given the opportunity to learn, interpret, and experience the meaning of life. It is up to everyone to assist each other and speak the truth. It is up to everyone to construct the world and society in which it is healthy and safe to live. It is up to everyone to keep each other out of â€Å"the cave. † By characterizin g Mildred as shallow, apathetic, and not particularly intelligent, Bradbury uses her as a specimen to exemplify the personalities and characteristics of the people living in the city at this time.She is portrayed as a shell of a human being without any spirituality or emotion which also illuminates the mindsets and values of the rest of the people in the city. The avoidance of confrontation of oneself is extremely substantial when taking into consideration the fact that the people living in the city were in â€Å"the cave,† a gloomy and dismal part of one’s mind, body, and soul. Mildred’s insipid lifestyle and characterization indicate the meaninglessness in which she lives and that she is vacant of any thoughts or feelings. Bradbury uses Mildred as a representation of the characteristics of everyone living in the city. Fahrenheit 451 Socratic Seminar Keeping people out of â€Å"the cave† can be a burdensome task that requires a plentiful amount of strategy and intelligence. â€Å"The cave† may be defined as a somber place where the ignorance of those who inhabit it manifests and thrives, and this cave is an internal part of one’s mind, body, and soul. In order to keep people out of the cave, one must make certain that the confined are enlightened, the false interpretations of the real world are analyzed, the chains of limitations are released, and the truth must always be spoken.In schools, countries, and everywhere around the world, it is crucial that all inhabitants are enlightened and given the opportunity to learn, interpret, and experience the meaning of life. It is up to everyone to assist each other and speak the truth. It is up to everyone to construct the world and society in which it is healthy and safe to live. It is up to everyone to keep each other out of â€Å"the cave. † By characterizin g Mildred as shallow, apathetic, and not particularly intelligent, Bradbury uses her as a specimen to exemplify the personalities and characteristics of the people living in the city at this time.She is portrayed as a shell of a human being without any spirituality or emotion which also illuminates the mindsets and values of the rest of the people in the city. The avoidance of confrontation of oneself is extremely substantial when taking into consideration the fact that the people living in the city were in â€Å"the cave,† a gloomy and dismal part of one’s mind, body, and soul. Mildred’s insipid lifestyle and characterization indicate the meaninglessness in which she lives and that she is vacant of any thoughts or feelings. Bradbury uses Mildred as a representation of the characteristics of everyone living in the city.

Philosophy of Ernest Nagel from a First Person Essay

One burning and enduring problem in philosophy to which we have given considerable examination is the question of the existence of God–the superlative being that philosophers have defined and dealt with for centuries. After reading the classic arguments of St. Anselm and St. Thomas Aquinas, the contentious assertions of Ernest Nagel, and the compelling eyewitness accounts of Julian of Norwich, I have been introduced to some of the most revered and referenced arguments for and against God’s existence that have been put into text. All of them are well-thought and well-articulated arguments, but they have their holes. The question of God’s true existence, therefore, is still not definitively answered and put to rest; the intensity of this debate probably never will mitigate. Many theologians and academics honestly admit that no matter what any philosopher may assert regarding this topic, whether or not a certain person believes in God’s existence is a questio n of faith and nothing more. I am naturally inclined, then, even after reading the heavyweight philosophers of religion, to ponder this pressing issue. After all, what one person may gather out of serious consideration of this problem could totally alter his or her life. Even though I have been raised in the Episcopal Christian faith and have attended church regularly, I have never really taken the time to scrutinize the very existence of a being I have been worshipping for my whole childhood. Reading the famed selections in this course has alerted my attention to the topic, and this major philosophical problem continues to eschew my understanding. One would think that, because I have been raised a Christian and have been exposed to the doctrine and theory of Christianity, I would quickly lean toward the arguments for God and be more easily persuaded by them, hoping to find a defense for spending nearly every Sunday morning in the chancel at church. Actually, I am not automatically persuaded toward the theist position thanks to an atheist argument; the philosopher whom we have examined this semester who complicates this issue for me is Ernest Nagel, an atheist professor who wrote an outstanding defense of atheism. I found that his defense made atheism appear a much more attractive way to think than any theistic religion. I was not impressed, though, with his contentions against  the Ontological Argument of St. Anselm, and thus I refrain for now from venturing to the atheist way. Because of Nagel, I now have ambivalence towards believing in God, even though reading his work did not change my broader belief. One object of heated debate between convinced believers in God and convinced atheists is the Problem of Pain or Theodicy Problem, which asks how evil and suffering can exist in the world if an all-powerful and all-good God is overseeing what happens in his world. There are a few arguments that theists have constructed defending God’s existence in spite of this obvious conflict between doctrine and reality. Some of them, even though they have become classic arguments, are ridiculous; for example, Nagel confronts the argument stating that â€Å"the things called evil are evil only because they are viewed in isolation; they are not evil when viewed in proper perspective and in relation to the rest of creation† (605). This argument can be easily destroyed by a man of reason, and Nagel does so mainly by holding that â€Å"it is irrelevant to argue that were we something other than what we are, our evaluations of what is good and bad would be different† (606). Calling the argument â€Å"unsupported speculation,† (606) Nagel easily downturns this faulty response to the Theodicy Problem. What I found most admirable about this section of Nagel’s â€Å"Philosophical Concepts of Atheism† was his own solution to the problem–simply that it cannot be resolved: â€Å"I do not believe it is possible to reconcile the alleged omnipotence and omnibenevolence of God with the unvarnished facts of human existence† (606). Since Nagel has demonstrated that the Theodicy Problem cannot be taken down, it remains a solid argument for atheists and a very good disproof of the existence of an all-good, all-powerful God. I have not seen a response to this problem so effectively stated, honest, and convincing. Nagel’s arguments concerning the Theodicy Problem show that atheists think in a much more straightforward and practical fashion than do theists. The way Nagel uses the words â€Å"unvarnished facts of human existence† (606) leads to another attractive element to atheism and to his work–Nagel appeals to the earthly life, and only the earthly life, in describing how atheists think. Instead of reaching out to another world or deity that does  not even certainly exist, atheists â€Å"often take as their ideal the intellectual methods employed in the contemporaneous empirical sciences† (607). Because atheists use empirical evidence obtained through science, i.e. use evidence that certainly exists and can be sensed, all of the thinking they do is based solely on what clearly and distinctly exists in reality. To atheists, says Nagel, â€Å"controlled sensory observation is the court of final appeal in issues concerning matters of fact† (608). Not all of theist thinking is based on something that is proved to exist, since God has not been absolutely proved to be, so the essential base of the theist thoug ht is composed of supposition and theory. Atheists simply ground their logic in what is certainly known, and no assumptions found their reasoning. Even in matters of human morals, atheists think practically: â€Å"The conceptions of the human good [atheists] have advocated are conceptions which are commensurate with the actual capacities of mortal men, so that it is the satisfaction of the complex needs of the human creature which is the final standard for evaluating the validity of a moral ideal or moral prescription† (608). Nagel also excellently applies practicality to atheism in the way he describes â€Å"the stress upon a good life that must be consummated in this world† (608). Nagel dismisses the need of â€Å"some unrealizable other-worldly ideal† (608) so well that atheism appears supremely attractive among all the other religious modes of thought. Since Nagel implements practicality so well and perpetuates the question of the Theodicy Problem in â€Å"Philosophical Concepts of Atheism,† I found not only Nagel’s text, but also the atheist way very reasonable (literally) and intellectually striking. While Nagel superbly makes atheism appear much more attractive as a way of thinking than a theist religion because of its practicality and direct method of reason, I do not think he deals with St. Anselm’s argument for God’s existence well enough. Nagel refutes Anselm’s Ontological Argument by saying, â€Å"the word ‘existence’ does not signify any attribute† (601). I starkly disagree with this position. I think, as does Renà © Descartes, that existence in reality is a descriptor. When we, for example, reflect upon the life of one who has died, we experience that person as he or she exists in our understanding and in our imagination by remembering him or her; although  this individual is no longer existing in reality, he or she still exists, but on another plane of being. I am aware that this is, indeed, a highly debatable topic, but I am quite convinced that existence is an attribute, and thus I find that Anselm’s assertions withsta nd Nagel’s assaults. Even though the fact that atheists are practical, down-to-earth thinkers attracts me, I am still not convinced that God does not exist. For the time being, then, I will retain my theistic beliefs and remain a churchgoer, even though I now have ambivalence toward theism. I am not convinced that God does not exist because of some other reflections, shared especially by many within the scientific community. My current beliefs regarding God’s existence, those that I find more convincing than even the Ontological Argument, follow an deductive chain of reasoning; the argument I support most is the near impossibility that everything in creation came about by accident. The chances for molecules and cells, the very building blocks of the incredibly intricate natural creation, to come together entirely by themselves are so extremely slim that it is hard to believe that the world and all that lives in it are products of chance. The fact that the planet Earth is in exactly the right spot in space to support life, the fact that there are just the right amounts of chemicals and substances to sustain biological life on Earth, and the fact that there is only one species with the intellectual firepower to overcome physical inferiorities and become the ruling class of organisms on the planet all contribute to the suspicion that there may be a certain genius that planned out this harmonious structure of life. This is a tough argument for atheists to refute, but then again, it still could have been chance–it still could have been that one in a billion trillion times that happened. With that in mind, a great secondary argument is Anselm’s Ontological Argument, a piece of reasoning I think both Nagel and Gaunilo fail to overcome. If it ever is overcome, I may begin to take steps across the bridge to the atheist way. Work Cited: Cahn, Steven M., Patricia Kutcher, George Sher, and Peter J. Markie, eds. Reason at Work: Introductory Readings in Philosophy. 3rd Ed. Florence, KY: Thomson Learning, Inc., 1996.

Unforgiven essays

Unforgiven essays In 1992, actor/director Clint Eastwood produced a Western called Unforgiven. He also directed and starred in the movie, receiving an Academy Award for the former and a nomination for the latter. The movie itself won the coveted Best Picture Award that year. It was a bit out of the norm for an Oscar winner, bleak and remorseless without the heroism and justice with which moviegoers have grown accustomed. It lacked the happy ending that makes people leave the theater beaming or, in some cases, even teary-eyed. What it was, however, was a brilliantly directed and edited glimpse of what the Old West might have really been like. There are no good guys or bad guys, only ordinary people with ordinary weaknesses. The title of the film undoubtedly refers to more than one man or one crime of violence (which the movie opens with) against a woman. This is a world without forgiveness, where so-called good and bad people are alike; all pulled back into some fundamental sin. The plot for Unforgiven centers on William Munny (Clint Eastwood), a former murderer and thief who, for the love of a good woman, gave up his former life to raise a family and make his living as a farmer. With his wife now dead and his farm failing, Will is reluctantly drawn back into his old ways by the Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett), a self-proclaimed killer who brings Munny word of a bounty being offered in the Wyoming town of Big Whisky. The bounty is on the heads of two cowboys who slashed the face of prostitute there, the womans co-workers have offered a reward for the deaths of the cowboy who did the cutting and his accomplice. Will initially declines the Kids offer, but later reevaluates his situation and teams up with his old partner in crime, Ned Logan, and they set off to join the Kid. The excursion will pit him against William Little Bill Dagget (Gene Hackman), the authoritarian sheriff of Big Whisky, as...

Become a Better Student With These English Study Tips

Become a Better Student With These English Study Tips Learning a new language like English can be a challenge, but with regular study it can be done. Classes are important, but so is disciplined practice. It can even be fun. Here are some guidelines to help you improve your reading and comprehension skills and become a better English student. Study Every Day Learning any new language is a time-consuming process, more than 300 hours by some estimates. Rather than try and cram a few hours of review in once or twice a week, most experts say short, regular study sessions are more effective. As little as 30 minutes a day can help you improve your English skills over time. Keep Things Fresh Instead of focusing on one single task for the entire study session, try mixing things up. Study a little grammar, then do a short listening exercise, then perhaps read an article on the same topic. Dont do too much, 20 minutes on three different exercises is plenty. The variety will keep you engaged and make studying more fun. Read, Watch, and Listen. A lot. Reading English-language newspapers and books, listening to music, or watching TV can also help you improve your written and verbal comprehension skills. By doing so repeatedly, youll begin to unconsciously absorb things like pronunciation, speech patterns, accents, and grammar. (Scientists call this phenomenon indirect learning). Keep pen and paper handy and write down words you read or hear that are unfamiliar. Then, do some research to learn what those new words mean. Use them the next time you are role-playing dialogue in class. Learn the Sounds Separately Non-native English speakers sometimes struggle with certain word pronunciations because they do not have similar sounds in their native tongue. Likewise, two words may be spelled very similarly, yet be pronounced quite different (for instance, tough and though). Or you may encounter combinations of letters where one of them is silent (for example, the K in knife). You can find plenty of English pronunciation videos on YouTube, such as this one on using words that begin with L and R.   Watch Out for Homophones Homophones are words that are pronounced the same way, but are spelled differently and/or  have different meanings. There are a number of homophones in the English language, which is one of the reasons why it can so challenging to learn. Consider this sentence: Pack your clothes, then close the suitcase. Both clothes and close sound the same, but they are spelled differently and have different meanings. Practice Your Prepositions Even advanced students of English can struggle to learn prepositions, which are used to describe duration, position, direction, and relationships between objects. There are literally dozens of prepositions in the English language (some of the most common include of, on, and for) and few hard rules for when to use them. Instead, experts say, the best way to learn prepositions to memorize them and practice using them in sentences. Study lists such as this one are a good place to begin.   PlayVocabulary and Grammar Games You can also improve your English skills by playing vocabulary games that are related to what youre studying in class. For example, if you are going to study English on topics that focus on vacations, take a moment to think about your last trip and what you did. Make a list of all the words you might use to describe your activities. You can play a similar game with grammar reviews. For example, if you are going to study conjugating verbs in the past tense, stop to think about what you did last weekend. Make a list of the verbs you use and review the various tenses. Dont be afraid to consult reference materials if you get stuck.  These two exercises will help you prepare for class by making you think critically about vocabulary and usage. Write It Down Repetition is key as youre learning English, and writing exercises are a great way to practice. Take 30 minutes at the end of class or study to write down what happened during your day. It doesnt matter whether you use a computer or pen and paper. By making a habit of writing, youll find your reading and comprehension skills improve over time. Once youre comfortable writing about your day, challenge yourself and have some fun with creative writing exercises. Choose a photo from a book or magazine and describe it in a short paragraph, or write a short story or poem about someone you know well. You can also practice your letter-writing skills. Youll have fun and become a better English student. You may even discover youve got a talent for writing.

Franchises as a Form of Business Start-up Essay

Franchises as a Form of Business Start-up - Essay Example The Franchisee finds it easier to pay the initial and the royalty fees which are way lower than the required capital cost. At a time when the cost has become an important aspect of the business, Franchising has become a winner for international companies that intend to penetrate as many markets as possible in their global business design strategy. McDonald's is among companies that have a franchise in an effort to expand their business within new markets. The organizations have profited from rapid expansion, use of effective business models and reduced cost entering new markets. From this note, franchising has become a popular practice due to its efficiency in business start-up. Â  In the modern business industry, organizations are experiencing pressure to start new businesses in the international market as one way of appealing to bigger geographical space. One major driver for expansionism in business is the saturation of local business markets. Before the 21st century, organization sharply focussed on the expansion of business within the local markets due to the increasing demand for products within such markets. However, the demand in the local markets has reached a plateau phase and organizations can make little profits from these markets (Francois & Wooton, 2010). When demand remains flat, organizations are at the risk of incurring losses as expenses go higher while the profit remains constant (Garg, Priem & Rasheed, 2013). Consequently, organizations are forced to move out of the local markets and consider entering into new markets. Therefore, fall in demand within local countries has forced organizations to consider appealing to a broader geographica l coverage as the only way to remain profitable. Â  Secondly, the upsurge of competition within local markets has motivated organizations to consider launching international business strategies.

A)The financial crisis of 2007-2010 was it simply the result of lax Essay

A)The financial crisis of 2007-2010 was it simply the result of lax regulation, or were a range of factors at play (50 marks) - Essay Example The first phase, as explained below, is Novel Offering. Finally, I will discuss the link between the crises and the factors such as Crises of Financialisation and contradiction. The crises will also be explained from an economic theory pint of view (Peretz and Schroedel 2009). Novel Offerings Novel offerings are sources of revenue used by banks and other financial institutions by trading in different financial products. For the last few decades, the context of deregulation has greatly contributed towards development of these financial products. For example, since 1970s, different regulations controlling the actions of financial institutions in the UK and USA have been loosening up. This includes Glass Steagall, which had been instituted to disjoin the people’s savings from the riskier operations of investment banks. The banks resulted in creation of shadow baking system, which allowed them to circumvent the rule that required them to balance the risk on their books with some l evel of capital. Securitisation, Boom and collapse of shadow banking The shadow banking system is believed to have traded the worst performing and the riskiest mortgages. These systems put extensive pressure upon the traditional institutions hence forcing them to soften their underwriting standards and start dealing with riskier loans. These banks were later criticised for underpinning the financial system, though they were not accountable to the same regulatory controls. What’s more, these banks were susceptible because of maturity mismatch, implying that they borrowed short-term loans from liquid markets and bought illiquid, long-term, but risky assets. The uncontrolled practices of such banks are the core of the 2007 financial crises – the situation could have been better if regulation was imposed on all activities related with banking. In the spring of 2007, the securitization markets were helped by shadow banking systems, leading to a more or less shut-down in the fall of 2008. What ensued was disappearance from market of more than a third of the private credit market (Thompson 2005). Figure 1 shows how securitization market came near shut-down during the crises. Figure 1: Decline of securitization market Securitisation is the process by which a certain assets’ cash-flows are separated from the balance sheet of the primary entity and transformed into marketable securities (Thompson 1995). The purpose of securitisation is to convert illiquid assets into marketable securities. It is used by insures as a form of risk management, which is achieved through transferring, commoditising and reallocating of different types of risks such as interest rate risk, credit risk, and pricing risk. Securitisation of the US subprime mortgage, according to Ingham (2008), fuelled the global crises during the summer of 2007 by increasing the extent of lending to subprime borrowers, which was happening at a very high default rate. Between 2004 and 2006, the market for subprime loans expanded significantly as shown in figure 2. As a result, the European and the US banks were writing off a massive amount of financial assets as the securitised mortgages became illiquid. The public money was used by many governments to bail out the financial institutions that were entangled into crises. Although it is usually a regulatory requirement to undertake credit rating on