African American Stereotypes in the Film Industry - 982 Words

African-Americans have long endured demeaning and misrepresentative images within the film industry and American society as a whole. In the early 20th century, an abundance of films depicted an idealized vision of life in the south, in which blacks were happily subservient to their role as the property of their white masters. The roles of black characters were also portrayed by white actors in blackface. Blackface was a form of theatrical makeup used to represent an image of a black person and was employed as a means to portray negative images of African-Americans and to showcase them in an inferior light. Fortunately, the use of blackface dwindled as it was considered extremely offensive and derogatory, although the practice still remains in use today though very limited due to the rightful stigma surrounding it. However, the negative portrayals of African-Americans in film did not end there and continued for a long time after. African-Americans were still confined to roles which of ten portrayed blacks as incompetent, child-like, hyper-sexualized, and criminal. Even the more positive roles offered to African-Americans provided limited options and reinforced the belief that the proper social position for African-Americans was that of a servant who was devoted to his or her white masters and to upholding that particular social order. These roles were often as loyal servants, mammies, and butlers - some even found great success and prominence in these roles, most notablyShow MoreRelatedThe Stereotypes Of African Americans1347 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans have been oppressed ever since slavery was abolished and it seems to be a never-ending cycle. White Americans oppressed the black population because they needed a way to remind everyone of their so-called supremacy. They did this through many different ways but the most common were by theatrical performances. Ever since the minstrelsy shows the negative stereotypes of African Americans seem to keep gro wing. According to the book Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks, â€Å"in almostRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Society1654 Words   |  7 Pagesthem, and, increasingly, providing personal commentaries on the matters at hand. Because the majority of media outlets are owned by corporations dominated by white heterosexual men, many minorities are portrayed in ways that perpetuate negative stereotypes – if they are portrayed at all. Even though men have made great strides in regards to power, but with the black male they continue to experience both misrepresentation and underrepresentation in the modern media. The media in America is such anRead MoreStereotypes And Stereotypes Of African Americans Essay1468 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans have been represented in the media with harmful stereotypes which were founded in the slavery era (Cartier, 2014)(Carpenter, 2012). This negative representation invites bias from those who accept the images, the distortion of which is accentuated by both sexism and racism. Black women are the least represented group in cinema, making it easier to rely on stereotypes which encourage societal bias. From these stereotypes, like the Jezebel and Sapphire, stem the â€Å"real world† stereotypesRead MoreAnalysis Of Blaxploitation Films : A New Step For The Hollywood Film Industry From 1968 Till1623 Words   |  7 Pagesconceptual incongruity in Blaxploitation films concerning the shaping and portrayal of the female character exemplified in the works of Pam Grier. A new step for the Hollywood film industry from 1968 till nowadays is the creation of the MPAA film rating system. Ever since the erasure of the production code of the Classic Hollywood era, and filmmakers’ realisation that they do not need the seal of approval, it has become possible to show or tell anything on screen. Film genres like horror for examples thrivedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Film Blaxploitation Films And Chappelle s Show 1633 Words   |  7 Pageshistory, American society has famously taken advantage of non-European cultures and traditions for their own entertainment. Major media companies, colleges, and athletic organizations have famously exploited the cultures and stereotypes of Native American’s and African Americans for the sole purpose of profit and increased entertainment value. In American society, there has been the era of â€Å"Blaxploitation films† in which African American’s society was shown through raunchy and low budget film s. SportsRead MoreThe Minorities Vs. Entertainment War868 Words   |  4 PagesThe Minorities vs. Entertainment War The argument I plan to use is a battle between ethnicities and the entertainment companies that is transparent to the naked eye in the 21st century, the argument I plan to use is: the media and film industries are required to portray each minority fairly without racially profiling any ethnicity but turns a blind side to the current situation. Throughout the generation, entertainment has been an activity which provides diversion and permits people to amuse themselvesRead MoreThe Minorities Vs. Entertainment War Essay882 Words   |  4 PagesThe Minorities vs. Entertainment War The argument I plan to use is a battle between ethnicities and the entertainment companies that is transparent to the naked eye in the 21st century, the argument I plan to use is: the media and film industries are required to portray each minority fairly without racially profiling any ethnicity but does not stay accountable to their word and actions. Throughout the generation, entertainment has been an activity which provides diversion and permits people to amuseRead MoreRacial Stereotypes : The Film, Crash, Director Paul Haggis1304 Words   |  6 Pagesassimilation in hopes of becoming more American. Assimilating into the American society usually entails learning English, earning a better income, and behaving in accordance to American customs and norms. However, most attempts of integrating into American society are thwarted due to racial and ethnic prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination. In the film, Crash, Director Paul Haggis addresses racial inequality by conveying instance s of racial stereotypes, social class disparity, and police brutalityRead MoreThe History Of Police And African Americans Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans in modern America have bound together in unity against inequality to help end the unnecessary murders and unjust police beatings. However, where did these tensions between police and African Americans begin? This question can be answered by looking at the history of police in America and why they were originally established. Police first came on to the scene in 1704 when Carolina established the nation’s first slave patrol that would turn into what we know today as the modern policeRead MoreBlack Masculinity Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagesstill felt in the present. Collins was using different forms of media such as sport, film, and historic events. To help the readers to learn where hyper sexuality, violet, and criminal stereotypes of black male come from. Most people in the United States are aware of many stereotypes and images surrounding black men. These negative portrayals of black male are noticeable and expressed in the public through the news, film, and other forms of media. With the media access into peoples home helps to spread

Analysis Of Raymond Carver s Beginners - 969 Words

Defenseless Vulnerability is the key which unlocks the heart to someone else’s soul. The short story Beginners, written by Raymond Carver examines divergent views on love, by recollecting the characters personal experiences with it. After reading, it becomes apparent that being in love makes one vulnerable. This vulnerability can either be perceived as a positive or negative characteristic. When the characters bring up their involvements with love, it becomes clear that in all the situations the commonality is vulnerability. One character who specifically struggles with the idea of love imposing vulnerability is Herb. As mentioned above, vulnerability can be depicted in both a positive and negative manner. When one loves someone deeply they begin to find a sense of trust and security within that person. This new found trust typically causes both people to become more dependent on one another and, this leads them to relinquish control over their hearts. Realizing that you can rely on someone who loves you and has your best interest in mind, can be a beautiful aspect of a relationship. In contrast, being vulnerable to someone can lead to great pain as well because, at that point, one’s companion has supremacy over your heart. If they choose to abuse that power, then being defenseless towards that person can be terrifying. Herb endures the negative effects of vulnerability because he suffered a great deal when divorcing his previous wife. In light of that hardship, Herb does

General Profile City of Kelsey Free Essays

The City of Kelsey is a very eco-friendly community. Their goals were to provide a safer environment for their community. They wanted to encourage their quality of life with health lifestyles and efforts for the environment. We will write a custom essay sample on General Profile City of Kelsey or any similar topic only for you Order Now They have organic gardens, and orchards. They really focus on natural resources and preservation. The type of work in the City of Kelsey is a consulting firm, trucking company, organic fruits and vegetables, and a construction company. The prime shipping company is Huffman trucking which ships there organic, fruits and vegetables. Kelsey gardens runs a restaurant and have positions available in the vacationing season. They also have a construction company that helps Jobs become available for the residents of Kelsey such as construction, contracting, designing and engineering. The community of the City of Kelsey has an annual balloon fest every year, and a monthly farmers market for the community. They also partake in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, craft fairs, and a memorial softball tournament, and an annual 10K marathon. The residents of the City of Kelsey are very involved in their community and there are lots of activities for all. The members of the community really pull together to make things happen and keep everyone going. They also have a post office that offers shipping and mailing services for the residents. There medical center allows you to get the proper care when you need it. The responsibilities of the people of the City of Kelsey is to let the community now that they focus on continuously improving and making the City of Kelsey a happy place for all. There are so many opportunities at the City of Kelsey whether it’s finding employment or Joining the small or large businesses of the community. Each member of this community puts all efforts to making sure that they keep their community clean and help everyone developing a healthy lifestyle. The responsibilities of the community to their individuals are to let them feel like they can e comfortable and involved in their community. They offer numerous activities to bring everyone closer together as a community and at the same time they are having fun and staying healthy. As a member of this community being socially responsible would consist of volunteering my time and efforts to be a part of this community and do whatever it takes to keep it going strong and help come up with fresh new ideas for the community to grow and become a part of. How to cite General Profile City of Kelsey, Papers

“Desert Places” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” Essay Example For Students

â€Å"Desert Places† and â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening† Essay Robert Frost takes our imaginations to a journey through wintertime with his two poems â€Å"Desert Places† and â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening†. Frost comes from a New England background and these two poems reflect the beautiful scenery that is present in that part of the country. Even though these poems both have winter settings they contain very different tones. One has a feeling of depressing loneliness and the other a feeling of welcome solitude. They show how the same setting can have totally different impacts on a person depending on their mindset at the time. These poems are both made up of simple stanzas and diction but they are not simple poems. In the poem â€Å"Desert Places† the speaker is a man who is traveling through the countryside on a beautiful winter eventing. He is completely surrounded with feelings of loneliness. The speaker views a snow covered field as a deserted place. â€Å"A blanker whiteness of benighted snow/ With no expression, nothing to express†. Whiteness and blankness are two key ideas in this poem. The white sybolizes open and empty spaces. The snow is a white blanket that covers up everything living. The blankness sybolizes the emptyness that the speaker feels. To him there is nothing else around except for the unfeeling snow and his lonely thoughts. The speaker in this poem is jealous of the woods. â€Å"The woods around it have it – it is theirs. † The woods symbolizes people and society. They have something that belongs to them, something to feel a part of. The woods has its place in nature and it is also a part of a bigger picture. The speaker is so alone inside that he feels that he is not a part of anything. Nature has a way of bringing all of her parts together to act as one. Even the animals are a part of this wintery scene. â€Å"All animals are smothered in their lairs,/ I am too absent-spirited to count†. The snow throws its blanket of whiteness over everything and to him it is a feeling of numbness. â€Å"The loneliness includes me unawares†. The speaker has lost his enthusiasm for life. He can not express his feelings easily because of this feeling of numbness. The speaker is also in denial about feeling alone. He is at a stage where he just does not care about too much and he is feeling a bit paranoid. â€Å"They cannot scare me with their empty space. He is saying who cares how I feel, I do not need anyone else. â€Å"I have in me so much nearer home/ To scare myself with my own desert places†. The speaker was starting to realize that he had shut himself off to the world. He recognized that this winter place was like his life. He had let depression and loneliness creep into his life and totally take over like the snow had crept up on the plain and silently covered it. If he continues to let these feelings run his life, eventually everything would be snuffed out much like the snow does to nature. Stopping by Woods on a Snowny Evening† is a much happier and more upbeat poem than â€Å"Desert Places†. This poem is about stopping to enjoy life or as the cliche goes, stopping to smell the roses. â€Å"But I have promises to keep,/ and miles to go before I sleep†. The speaker in this poem was a very busy man who always had obligations to fufill and places to go. A feeling of regret is present. The man would like to stay and enjoy this private nature scene longer but he knows that he has other things to do. Again, Frost gives us a beautiful nature scene but this time we enjoy welcome solitude. .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 , .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .postImageUrl , .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 , .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:hover , .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:visited , .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:active { border:0!important; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:active , .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862 .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua142e8b73b56672dbbdf5f0948ba6862:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Beowulf And Monster EssayThe woods are lovely, dark and deep†. This poem expresses the joy of nature. The speaker seems concerned about what the rest of society would think about him just stopping in the middle of nowhere for no apparent reason. His horse represents society. â€Å"My little horse must think it queer/ To stop without a farmhouse near†. He admits that just stopping does seem odd. He is also somewhat concerned about the man who owns the woods. The man almost feels guilty for looking so lovingly at this other man’s woods. â€Å"He will not see me stopping here/ To watch his woods fill up with snow†. I think that the speakers life may be a little better off since he stopped to take a deep breath and enjoy all that really matters, the simple things. â€Å"Stopping by Woods an a Snowy Evening† is the opposite of â€Å"Desert Places†. The settings were exactly the same; calm, dark wintery evenings, but they express totally different feelings. â€Å"Desert Places† is a very depressing poem with a dark tone. The other is very happy and it makes you wish that winter was already here. These two poems are very different but they are also the same in some ways. They show two extremes of the same emotion. Being alone can be positive or negative it just depends on the state of the mind. Loneliness can be very depressing or it can be a time to collect your thoughts without the pressures of the outside world crashing down. Winter is the perfect season to reflect upon when expressing solitude. Winter can make everything seem dead. It can be a very depressing time of year. Snow covers everything living and the cold seems to chill to the very soul at times. Winter can also be very uplifting. It can wipe the slate clean with its pureness and it can be a time of starting over. Snow’s whiteness can, in a way, blind you with its beauty and make you forget about your troubles. Winter for me is a time of silent reflection. I could sit for hours and gaze at the blowing snow. Robert Frost creates two winter scenes with different outcomes. The first, â€Å"Desert Places† is a sad poem about loneliness and lost enthusiasm. â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening† is a rather uplifting poem about enjoying simple things in life. Frost seems to draw upon his experiences from living in rural New England and converts those experiences into beautiful poetry.

International Business Country Analysis China Essay Example

International Business Country Analysis: China Essay At 9.6 million square kilometers, China is one of the biggest countries in the world. It contains the worlds biggest city, Shanghai, and is ruled from the capital of Beijing in the east. China has been the worlds most populous country for centuries and it makes up one-fifth of the worlds total population. Over 1.3 billion people live in China, which makes every five people in the world Chinese. China is the scene of the most extraordinary economic, social and political transformation of our time. However, it is a nation that continues to struggle with its enormous population, a strained environment, and an unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity. This paper will cover in-depth areas that explains the reasons for Chinas low fertility rate and how this ensures rapid population aging in this century, how open markets and trade have widen income and health gaps, and how policy changes and economic growth have spurred labor migration in China and how its attracted the worlds attent ion. Background and Cultural Environment Though there is a misconception that China and its 1.3 billion people have a common culture, China is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Chinas rich cultural environment is important for foreign companies to understand and take into account to ensure profitable business in China. In China and many other countries, culture plays a large role in how business is carried out with domestic or foreign companies. Whether it is the many dialects that the Chinese people speak or the proper etiquette to use with Chinese businessmen and women, foreign companies are challenged to briefly assimilate as a Chinese company of their own. We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Country Analysis: China specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Country Analysis: China specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Country Analysis: China specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By far the largest cultural obstacle for foreign businesses to hurdle is the Chinese language and its many dialects. The Chinese people speak seven different dialects across twenty-three provinces, five autonomous regions, and four municipalities. Mandarin is the predominant dialect of the Chinese people and is spoken by over seventy percent of the population. Mandarin itself has eight different dialects of its own, spread across the regions of China. It is no wonder why many companies strive for employees fluent in Chinese dialect, especially Mandarin. China is also very rich in nationalities amongst its people. The Han people account for 91.9% of the population, while the other 8.1% account for fifty-five other nationalities. Businesses must understand the vital differences among the Chinese people to prosper from Chinas growing economy. Cultural differences between the Chinese and the rest of the world are even more present in the behaviors of the Chinese people. For example: it is common practice for gift-giving among business partners, but in China a clock should never be given because clocks represent death in Chinese culture. Also, being on time and having appointments are some other important facts that foreign companies must know about. There are numerous behaviors and communication practices that businesses must study in order to prosper in China. Having the knowledge and skills to smoothly execute foreign business will guarantee continued partnerships with Chinas emerging markets. Chinas Politics, Economic and Legal Environment, and Geography China has come a long way to be the world power that it is today. It is the worlds third largest country and certainly the most populous. The land is very diverse consisting of rainforests, mountains, valleys and plateaus and similarly has very different climates. The country borders fourteen other countries and is split into different regions. (Geography of China) Now known as the Peoples Republic of China, the countrys legal makeup is rooted in ancient culture and beliefs dating back to Confucian teachings, (Legal History of China). Confucius teachings stated, man was by nature evil and had to be controlled by strict rules of law and uniform justice, (Legal History of China). Chinese law now has developed in part due to the globalization of markets and the growing economy. Laws have been created to enforce rules and regulations as well as protecting Chinas industries. (Legal History of China). Doing business in China is much different than doing business in the United States or other western countries. When meeting with Chinese businessmen it is important to remember that their culture is much different than ours. In China the business matter comes second to the person. To the Chinese businessman taking the time to form lasting relationships is crucial. The relationships potentially could outlive the business. Having relationships in another country also helps the American businessperson to network. Another difference is the way they value time. Here it seems that we hold getting the job done to be the first priority. They are far more liberal in their time management, and the time it takes to do business is irrelevant. It is important to know the ins and outs of your business before doing business in China. They are sure to study your business before you arrive, and you must do the same. Having knowledge and looking into their business practices and the role they have in the community is a must before sitting down with them. Your partner must also have the same level of knowledge; if they appear weak to the Chinese chances are that that would signify the end of any business endeavor. To make meetings run smoothly it is recommended that all materials be translated into both Chinese and English. If you choose to have an interpreter, present him/her with the materials prior to meeting with the Chinese company. (Chinese Etiquette) The Chinese economy has changed greatly from the complete communist control in the 1950s. Chinas economys progress is due in part to their Five Year Plans which are a series of economic planning and goal setting characteristic of communist governments. (China and the First Five Year Plan). Whereas the government controlled all aspects of the economy before the country has moved into a new period that has been called a socialist market economy categorized by focusing on modernization and improving the quality of life throughout China, (Economy). The rapid growth of the countrys economy has lead to it becoming a major world economic power. However, this growth has come with many problems the country now faces. Due to the overwhelming population and its aging population the country is still relatively poor when it come to per capita terms, (Chinas Economy). Although rapidly growing the country has presented the country with challenges that China must face if it wants to have the worlds largest economy, (CIA World). China must find a way to gain new entrants to the work force and correct for the environmental damage that the rapid growth has caused. Prospect as a Trading Partner, Government Policies for International Trade, Direction and Terms of Trade, And Foreign Direct Investment for China China would be a great prospect for a trading partner. With the numerous trading opportunities, a potential trading partner will surely profit. Chinas economic reforms have introduced the economy to international trade and investments. As noted in an article in the International Monetary Fund, Chinas increasing integration with the global economy has contributed to sustained growth in international trade. Now, it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world! China is the United States third largest trader and is one of the largest Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) recipients. According to an article from The China Business Review, the United States exports to China have hit a new high. It has been said that during the last seven years, exports to China have surged dramatically, topping $65 billion last year (2007). You may notice that the store shelves in the United States are overflowing with products that are made by the Chinese. As stated earlier, China is the United States third largest trader. This is because of many reasons. First, the trade liberalization that followed Chinas entry into the WTO (World Trade Organization) was a key attribute. Another significant motive is that Chinas currency, which is called the renminbi, has appreciated about 20% against the US dollar since the year of 2005. That makes U.S. exports cheaper for importers and consumers. China continues to grow rapidly. Their imports and exports have grown faster than world trade for over twenty years. Chinas share of exports to industrial economies has increased and has become more diversified. They have become very important to regional economies because of their exports. Chinas diversification has caused them to become very important within the Asian economy. As a result, Chinas international trade has inflated progressively since the opening of the economy in 1979. Diversification has enhanced Chinas exporting. In the early 1990s, products such as footwear, clothing, and toys accounted for more than 40% of their exports. Today, most of their exports include electronics such as office machines and automated data processing equipment, telecommunications and sound equipment, electrical machinery, furniture, travel goods, and industrial supplies. Just as Chinas exporting is vital, their importing is crucial as well. Chinas trade has developed rapidly with imports from almost all trading partners. They are the third largest importer of developing country exports after the United States and the European Union. As a significant step toward normalizing its trade relations, China has been permanently granted most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment by other World Trade Organization members. As of result, many trading partners have eliminated many of their restrictions on imports from China. Chinas economic reforms have been instrumental in significantly reducing its barriers to trade and foreign investment. They are the largest livestock producer in the world and its energy use and reliance has increased swiftly in recent years. They have a governmental policy on international trade with the United States. The Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) was established in 1983 as a forum for high-level dialogue on bilateral trade issues (www.exports.ga.gov/china). In 1994, the United States and China governments strengthened the JCCT by establishing working groups covering trade and investment issues, business development, and commercial law. After the December 2003 meeting with President Bush and Premier Wen, the two agreed the Commission would be co-chaired on the United States side by the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative. It would be co-chaired on the Chinese side by the Vice Premier that is responsible for foreign trade. According to the sta tistics and research, China is becoming the new America. China is booming in the areas of importing and exporting; therefore, their country would be a great potential trading partner. Cross-national Cooperation and Agreements, Regional Trading Blocks, and FTAs The Peoples Republic of China has many trade agreements, mainly with other Asian countries. These include bilateral agreements with Pakistan, Thailand, New Zealand and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. China also has trade agreements with South American countries Peru and Chile. In addition to these bilateral trade agreements, China has two CEPA, Closer Economic Partnership Agreements, with former independent colonies Macau and Hong Kong and several less formalized trade agreements with European countries and the United States. Chinas trade agreement with Pakistan began in 2006 and is expected to triple the amount of trade between the two countries to 15 billion US dollars. China will reduce tariffs on livestock, aquatic products, vegetables, mineral products and textiles, while Pakistan will reduce tariffs on cattle, lamb, chemicals and machinery products with the goal of reducing the tariffs by 85% in the first five years and making 36% or the products tariff free within three years with the aim of eventually making 90% of the products tariff free. In 2003 China signed a Free Trade Agreement with Thailand. This FTA covered fruits and vegetables and is expected to reduce tariffs to zero on over 200 fruits and vegetables. Bilateral trade in produce has exceeded 5 billion US dollars in recent years. The Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and China was signed in April of 2008 making New Zealand the first developed country to negotiate a free trade agreement with China. Products exported from New Zealand include dairy, wool, fish, minerals, scrap metal and some fruits. Products exported from China include carpet, clothing, footwear, textile products, steel, plastics and furniture. Its estimated that this will save 115.5 million US dollars in tariffs. The ASEAN plus three trade agreement is expected to be completed by 2010. Once completed, it will encompass 1.8 billion people in the countries of China, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It will be the third largest trade group in the world behind the European Union and North American Free Trade Area. China has two Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong and Macau. These regions are governed by China but these SARs have more autonomy then the rest of the country. China has entered into CEPAs with both regions. These CEPAs reduce tariffs on goods exported to China, offer the SARs preferred opening to the Chinese market and facilitate the bilateral exchanges of goods and capital. The European Union sees bilateral trade with China as something of a mixed bag. For many countries, the opportunity to export their products to a market of billions has been a blessing but for those whose products must compete with low priced Chinese imports its been a difficult period. While some countries such as the Netherlands and Italy have found trade with China to be prosperous, others have raised questions about Chinese labor practices and a rising tide of Chinese exports to the EU. Overall though, trade between the two EU and China seems to benefit most. China has a large dynamic economy. In the past it sought to insulate itself from the outside world but in recent years has opened its markets to other economies. With billions of potential consumers and a GDP of 9.9% and rising, countries are lining up to develop regional trading blocks and free trade agreements with China. Even Chinas enemy, Taiwan, has signed a trade agreement with them. The future seems bright for China and its trade partners but some in the west think that the trade imbalance that these free trade agreements create will destabilize the economies of many countries around the world. Whatever the case may be, its clear that there will be no shortage of potential trading partners chomping at the bit to get into Chinese markets.

Childrens arent always Rights Essays - Libertarian Theory, Ethics

Children's aren't always Rights Essays - Libertarian Theory, Ethics Children's aren't always Rights But These Are The historical aspects of Children's rights are not a topic of typical discussions. In the past children were treated terribly in the US compared to now. Religious leaders thought that children were inherently evil, because of this people thought children needed to be raised in a strict, punitive way. But this view started to change during the enlightenment period during the 18th century, and the American Revolution because our country didn't want to be under the tyranny of Great Britain so children shouldn't be under tyranny either. This view continued throughout the industrial revolution. Children's rights today are a very controversial topic. This is because there are a lot of things today that people say violate children's rights. Most of the places in the world like Africa, Asia, and South America have implemented little to no children's rights at all. Children's rights have received a lot of scrutiny, and has been debated a lot because people think that children have to listen to their parents and shouldn't really have a say in what happens in their lives. This has caused for us to pass laws restricting the physical strain of a child. Also because of this children have been left to die in many different places. In 1796 a man named Thomas Spence published a book called "Rights of infants". He was one of the first people to really take a big step towards children's right. Also in 1927 a book called "A Child's Right to Respect" was published by a man named Janusz Korczak he was the second person to really step up for this. Since then there have been many people to undertake this burden. There are a lot of things that need to do to help make this situation better. We could create other laws protecting children from abuse and sexual assault even laws for parents/care givers based on specific needs of that child or children. But there are a lot of different things we could do to help protect the children of the world. We just have to make them a reality.

Reading Response - play by David Henry Hwang M. Butterfly Essay - 1

Reading Response - play by David Henry Hwang M. Butterfly - Essay Example sha, Linling’s love, and face the subsequent revelation of Linling’s true gender identity, Hwang creates a unique dramatic scope for his audience to experience the extremity of the West’s reaction to the orients’ self-decisive, so called, masculine activity. The development of the West’s stereotypical masculinity and feminization of the Asians as a dominant theme of the play mainly revolves around Galliard’s tragically flawed predisposition to assume Liling as a woman. Whereas at one end of this gender-confused relationship, Gallimard represents the West’s traditional prejudiced attitudes and stereotypes about the Asians, in a broad term, about the oriental people, their culture and nations, Liling serves as a representative of the disguised oriental masculinity. Gallimard as a representative of the West hegemonic masculine self is prone to accept Song Liling as a girl. Indeed his perception of Song is a typical extension of his assumption of the Chinese and Asians in general. Again since Hwang’s protagonist habitually is inclined to stereotype the Chinese women as subservient, compliant, submissive, and modest, the stereotypical feminine role, flawlessly played by Song Liling, keeps the truth of Song’s identity away from being revealed to Gallimard, without much effort. Indeed Hwang’s protagonist’s hegemonic and typical colonial attitude towards oriental cultures determines most part the relationship between Gallimard and Song. Gallimard’s tendency to stereotype Asian women is evident in the following lines: â€Å"She is outwardly bold and outspoken, yet her heart is shy and afraid. It is the Oriental in her at war with her Western education.† (27) The play’s theme is serious and finally it t urns into tragic. But the development of the theme is such that Hwang’s play cannot but assume a slight comic tone due to reversed gender relation. Yet in the play, Hwang’s primary tone is serious, grave and tragic. His deconstructive approach to

True religion jeans brand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

True religion jeans brand - Essay Example With the high sales volume and increased profits, this industry remains attractive in the market. The transformation of the market structure through the change of numerous denim labels into diverse lifestyle brands has facilitated increased rate of growth and survival within the market segment. The existing increased potential for sales is immensely attributed to the lifestyles brands, development of brand premiums and safeguarding product cycle downturns. These factors define the market structure as superior and stable. Does True Religion enjoy a competitive advantage in the segment? If so, is its advantage sustainable? Discuss the sources of competitive advantage and use the VRIO framework to evaluate True Religion and its major competitors Yes, True Religion enjoys a competitive advantage in the market segment it occupies. The advantage is sustainable because of the three segments operates independent of each other with different market sub-segments. For instance, the U.S wholesale Segment sells the premium products to leading countrywide retailer outlets; the international segment distributes the products across the international outlet and the consumer direct segment serves the consumers directly through branded retail stores and e-business sales. The sources of competitive advantage include use of technology in enhancing sales and marketing service. The internet and web ads are used to promote the products to the well-heeled, fashion cognisant consumers. On the same regard, the True Religion Jeans takes advantage of the opportunity to create brand value over its competitors. Consider the following VRIO

Managing Human Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Managing Human Resources - Essay Example As a work motivational approach, Cummings and Worley (2009, p. 434) explained that rewards can either be intrinsic or extrinsic by nature. In line with this, intrinsic rewards include the use of sincere acknowledgement for a good performance whereas extrinsic rewards can be in a form of increased salary, stock options, work promotion, or bonus given to employees (Cummings and Worley, 2009, p. 434). As compared to the use of extrinsic rewards, it is easier to implement intrinsic rewards because HR managers can easily make it a habit to acknowledge the effort of each employee in making the organizational goal attainable rather than requesting the business owners and board of directors to increase the available fund which can be use to reward employees for any improvements in their work performance (Shamir et al., 1993). According to Pfeffer (1998, p. 110), HR managers often ask the question â€Å"how much to pay employees† or â€Å"how much compensation package should be includ ed in the company’s reward system† in order to increase the work performance of each employee. Pertaining to the importance of developing and implementing effective pay and reward system, this report will focus on discussing how internal factors (i.e. organizational vision and mission, organizational structure, organizational culture, business objectives and business strategies) and external factors (i.e. competitors’ pay and reward system that is heavily influenced by economic pressures, the current labour market condition, government implemented labour policies, legal issues concerning the basic labour requirements, and the global labour environment) could shape the organizational approaches when designing a business organization’s pay and reward system (Heneman, Fisher and Dixon, 2001; Zingheim, Ledford and Schuster, 1996). Based on the research findings, the researcher will analyze how each factor is link with the other identified factors when designin g pay and reward systems. Internal Factors that Shapes the Organizational Approaches when Designing Pay and Reward Systems Several research studies revealed that internal factors that could significantly affect the shaping of organizational approaches when designing pay and reward systems includes the organizational vision and mission, organizational structure, organizational culture, business objectives and business strategies (Heneman, Fisher and Dixon, 2001; Zingheim, Ledford and Schuster, 1996). Depending on organizational vision and mission, organizational structure, business objectives and business strategies, a business organization can develop a culture with regards to its accepted and widely practiced pay and rewards system. Communicating the organizational vision to the rest of the employees serves as a guide in the development and implementation of strategic planning. In line with this, a shared vision can be use as a guide in developing the kind of reward system which co uld effectively motivate each employee to improve their work performance (Worldatwork, 2007, p. 39). Upon analyzing the significance of organizational vision and mission in the designing of pay and rewards systems, it is necessary for HR managers to be familiar with the organizational

Economic and Social impact of income inequality

Economic and Social impact of income inequality Globalisation has revolutionised the world in many great ways. Heshmati (2003) defined globalisation as the free movements of goods, services, and capital across countries, thus, enabling individuals and organisations to connect with the world in a faster and more economical way as compared to before. However, the rapid growth of globalisation can also be viewed from a different perspective; as they say there are two sides of the same coin. Although globalisation has widened opportunities for organisations to operate internationally and improve economic growth, it does create pressures which would lead to the increase of inequality and poverty in some countries (Duncan, 2000). Income inequality is the disparity of income distribution between the rich and the poor within an economy. Income inequality is also linked to relative poverty, where individual or household income falls below the average income level set by the country which determines the peoples status. The Gini coefficient is the most common method used to measure income inequality. It is based on the Lorenz curve which compares the distribution of a specific variable with the line of perfect equality. According to Slack and Rodrigue (2009), the Gini coefficient ranges from 0 to 1; where 0 represents perfect equality while 1 means complete inequality. Most countries in the world have a Gini coefficient ranging from 0.25 to 0.6. The degree of income inequality, its effect on social and economics, as well as methods to overcome the matter will be discussed further in this report. 2.0 The Degree of Income Inequality Sachs (2008) mentioned in his book that inequality is one of the devastating crises that the world has been experiencing for the past two decades, although it has been around for centuries. The Human Development Report 2002 proved that in 1820, Western Europes per capita income was approximately three times greater than the per capita income of Africa. However, by 1992, the difference has increased up to 13.2 times. This situation reflects the well-known phrase the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Income inequality has become a very serious issue because the increasing gap between the rich and the poor is too great to ignore. This gap exists either because the rich are getting much wealthier or the poor are falling behind, or even both. Now the question is why are the rich getting richer? There are a few reasons to name, but the main drive of inequality is due to the increase inequality of labour earnings. High pays are usually rewarded to skilled workers as well as those with tertiary education qualifications, whereas unskilled workers become the victims of inequality. Unskilled workers are struggling to survive with the mere low wages they earned that does not commensurate with the long hours of work performed. In the worst case scenario, their work might get taken over by immigrants who are more than happy to accept such amount of wage. Stilgitz (2002) quoted: The Westerns may feel working at Nike as exploitation because they receive low pays, but for many people in developing countries, working in a factory is better than staying down on the farm. Not only that, but with the advancement of technology and innovations, computers nowadays are capable of developing productivity in many sectors, thus, creating a high possibility of unskilled labours to be substituted off. Labours who are skilled with machineries and computers on the other hand are in demand for employment. Another reason why the rich are getting richer is owing to corruption. Corruption as defined by the Oxford dictionary is a dishonest or fraudulent act by those in power, which includes but is not limited to embezzlement, bribery, extortion, and fraud. In poor countries, those ranked at the top of the hierarchy are controlling money for their own gain instead of distributing for the societys welfare. Exploitation of natural resources in the third world country by the rich countries also leaves the poor in poverty as the large amount of money received was not returned to the people. Afrikhan (2011) quoted Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of Ghana, saying foreign capital is used by the western powers for exploitation rather than developing the less fortunate countries. In other words, the increase of foreign investments in less developed countries unfortunately does not reduce the gap between the rich and the poor countries. Therefore, yes, income inequality is a very serious matter that should be taken into account because it is directly related to the welfare of society in a country. While it might be argued that inequality creates a positive result in terms of a healthy competition and as motivation to lead a better life, the truth remains that income inequality is nothing but a burden towards society. 3.0 Effects of Income Inequality As mentioned earlier, income inequality is a growing concern not only within a country but is a serious global issue. In this section, the effects of growing income inequality on a countrys economy and social development will be discussed. 3.1 Economy Through the years, economists and policy makers have argued on the possible effect of income inequality on economics. According to Kuznets theory, the relationship of economic growth on income inequality can be illustrated by an inverted-U graph. When a country develops economically, the income inequality of that country worsens. A few decades later as a country grows wealthier with the rich investing more in the economy, the level of inequality reduces. However, the Kuznets theory seems to only apply on developed countries because studies on the third world countries have shown contrasting results (Samanta and Heyes, 2006). Human capital is a great asset to a countrys development because knowledgeable and skilled labours are the drivers of economy. In most poor countries, their economic growth is stunted by the high percentage of unemployed and unskilled labours due to the lack of education. Yet, in actuality, among those who are unfortunate to receive proper education, there are a great number of them who have potential to lead a better life. Regrettably, they do not have the opportunity to pursue education in order to contribute to the development of economy. As a result, the poor are not capable of providing goods and services to the economy that would generate high returns. Other than that, the vicious circle of poverty also affects the economy. This vicious circle is a self-perpetuating process which returns to its initial point with no development from when it begun (Gary, 2010). The vicious circle of poverty is when a person earns low salary, they do not have enough money for savings, and thus, they are restricted to invest which then results in low productivity. Once again, low productivity causes low income, and the cycle repeats itself again continuously. In addition, when income is low, consumption decreases as well. Due to this, the government are spending a large amount of money to eradicate the problem instead of investing on the countrys development, thus causing the drop in economic growth. If the cycle persists in long-term, the economy of the country would face greater risk. In a country suffering from high income inequality, there is a possibility that political instability will occur and would then lead to social unrest that could affect the countrys economy. An example is the current issue in Egypt; where the citizens were dissatisfied with the high levels of corruption, low wages, and poor living conditions. As a result, they protested against their President and government, and it caused serious social unrest. This political instability could discourage domestic and foreign investments; hence, underdeveloped economy. 3.2 Social The inequality affects peoples quality of life greatly when there is a gap between those with high and low income. However, the wealthier people of a country are not affected by the problem at all; instead they are enjoying their wealth in ways we cant even imagine. Take China as an example; there are thousands of people with low living standards in mainland China working in factories with low wages, but people in cities like Shanghai on the other hand are living their lives luxuriously. This situation shows that the income inequality of China is relatively high with a Gini coefficient of 0.42 in year 2007, as stated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In other words, income inequality affects a countrys social development negatively in terms of living standards, health, education and crime rates. Living standards is a measure of material welfare of a population in a certain geographic area. For people with low income, they face difficulties as the living standard would be relatively high for them in order to support their daily necessities as well as their families. Hunger and malnutrition is a very common problem among those unemployed as money is a limited factor. Based on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 2010 report, most of the worlds hungry are from developing countries which consist of 16% of the population. The second impact of income inequality is on the societys health. When there is inequality, it is clear that the less fortunate are affected greatly as they lack access to safe drinking water, exposed to unhygienic environment, and receives inadequate medical services. Some of the common diseases that affect the poor in third world countries are malaria, tuberculosis, kwashiorkor, pneumonia, and AIDS. The unavailability of clinics and medication supplies in certain geographic areas worsens this condition. Not only that, but ignorance in birth control and contraption increases the rate of those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Due to this reasons, the mortality rate in those areas will keep increasing terrifyingly unless safety measures are taken into action. Thirdly, the social effect of income inequality is on education. With limited money to invest, most people with low income do not have the chance to enrol their children into school to obtain proper education. Even if they do have the opportunity, they couldnt afford to continue to the tertiary level without any monetary support. Due to that, most of the poor are trapped in the vicious circle as mentioned earlier. For example, if a man is a low income worker, his son who lacks proper education would have to take up low income works as well; and the cycle of unskilled workers in the mans family will run through the next generation continuously if there is no government intervention. The final social effect on a countrys development is the increase of crime rates. When money is scarce and an individual is desperate for survival, one would do absolutely anything in order to continue living. Theft and robbery is a major problem in most countries as crime is the only way for them to obtain material goods instead of using proper methods. This is because the income inequality that affects the poor has forced a high level of stress upon them, which leads them to committing crimes. Therefore, it is apparent that the crisis of income inequality affects negatively in a countrys development either in terms of economic growth or social welfare. 4.0 Ways to Combat Income Inequality Countries worldwide have already taken action to reduce the wide gap between the rich and the poor by adopting new policies. The government of a country plays an important role in order to overcome the problem of income inequality. The first method to combat inequality is the government should manage their budget system relevantly. The governments main source of income comes from the tax paid by the people of a country as well as foreign investments into the country. Apart from investing on the countrys economy development and welfare expenses, the government should allocate and contribute money to the less fortunate too. One way of contribution is through unemployment benefits which were imposed in some countries such as Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom and Japan. Unemployment benefits are payments to the unemployed by the government or an authorised body of a country. Although the pay is not much, it is sufficient for them to fulfil their basic necessities. With the aid of this b enefit, the rate of unemployment and poverty decreases, thus, reduces the gap of inequality. My second recommendation is to provide training to unskilled labours that has great potential to work in high income jobs. By providing proper education and skills to the poor community, chances of them to break free from the poverty trap are higher. As mentioned earlier, there are actually quite a number of people with potential who are not given the opportunity to display their true potential because they lack education. Therefore, by establishing a program where potential people from the poor community are given training to work in sectors other than agriculture and industrial, will allow them to live their lives a little wealthier than before. The next step to overcoming income inequality is by providing education to the less fortunate with the governments support. Such as building schools in less developed areas, allocate accredited teachers to these areas to educate them, and providing scholarships so that they can move on to tertiary level education. It seems that obtaining a certified education is the only way to demolish the inequality between them and the wealthy. With proper education, it is not impossible for the poor to join the workforce alongside those people whose parents are wealthy enough to support them to study. In other words, education is able to reduce income inequality because they will then be earning the same salary and also automatically improves their living standards. The last possible approach in combating income inequality is through standardising minimum wage per hour for unskilled workers. By standardising minimum wage, living standards of the poor can be recovered and also stimulate consumptions. However, there are arguments indicating this policy would be a disadvantage to a country because foreign investors would opt to invest in other countries which do not apply such policy. Though there is truth behind these words, if countries worldwide practice this policy together, it would provide positive outcomes to the less fortunate. 5.0 Conclusion Throughout this report, I have discussed that the rising of income inequality is indeed a serious matter in which its impact can be seen to affect both economy and social development of countries globally. The disparity of income between the rich and poor ought to be reduced in order to achieve an equal and better living standard among society. Although I am aware that income inequality cannot be solved overnight, I believe that steps should be taken to overcome the problem. Therefore, in conclusion, special policies and global efforts are required to combat income inequality in order to accelerate economic and social development.

The Invasion of Normandy :: World War II History

The Invasion of Normandy The battle plan, code-named Operation Overlord, called for the largest amphibious assault ever to start the liberation of occupied Europe from Nazi Germany. It began in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, now known as D-Day. Thousands of American, British, Canadian, and French soldiers-backed by paratroopers, bombers, and warships-stormed a 50-mile stretch of French beach called Normandy. This "invasion of Normandy" was the greatest event to occur between the years of 1919 and 1945. D-day was the beginning of the end of the war. The invasion of Normandy allowed the Allied forces to get their soldiers back on the European mainland and to start defeating German opposition and Nazi tyranny. It was the major turning point of World War II and perhaps one of the greatest strategic military operations that ever executed. As the tide of World War II began to turn in favor of the Allies, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower had the task of forming the largest invasion fleet in history, in order for an amphibious landing on the northern coast of France to be effective. If it was executed as planned and labeled a success, the landing would be the starting point for the massive attack. The attack would move eastward through France and into Nazi Germany. In May, while millions of troops and equipment poured into the staging area of southern Britain, the Allies created a decoy. False radio transmissions and rows of inflated rubber tanks and landing craft located away from the true staging area kept the Germans confused about the operation's size and target. The invasion of northern France from England was not launched in May, as its planners had initially prescribed, but on June 6, the famous D-Day of World War II. A huge fighting force had been assembled, including 1,200 fighting ships, 10,000 planes, 4,126 landing craft, 804 transport ships, and hundreds of amphibious and other special purpose tanks. During the operation, 156,000 troops, of which 73,000 were American, were landed in Normandy, airborne and seaborne. As the day of the invasion approached, the weather in the English Channel became stormy. Heavy winds, a five-foot swell at sea, and lowering skies compelled Eisenhower to postpone the assault from the fifth to the sixth of June. Conditions remained poor, but when weathermen predicted that the winds would abate and the cloud cover rise enough on the scheduled day of the attack to permit a go-ahead, Eisenhower reluctantly gave the command.

Western Civilization

Western Civilization: Beginnings to Present Although Western culture has been defined by both Christian and secular values across the course of time, the West’s primary goal is to achieve economic supremacy, using Christian and secular philosophies, as well as colonization and technological innovation as means to achieve this goal. Of the features that define western culture, the most unique is democracy. Originating in ancient Athens, democracy created a sense of pride in one’s government which, in later centuries, would evolve into nationalism.In Athens, democracy allowed the people to have a say in their government, furthering the unification of their empire and thus strengthening it. Out of this democratic world came many of the world’s oldest philosophers, including Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates who challenged the world around them and attempted to rationalize it with mathematics and even proposed the idea of elements. It was this inquisitiveness and curios ity that would be harnessed on a much greater scale in the Enlightenment, which would allow Europe to flourish.As their Greek neighbors had before them, Rome too adopted a democracy in order to unite their people after a tyrant king Tarquinius and prevent placing the control of their nation into the hands of one man, which would eventually allow Rome to expand and connect with the trading routes of the silk roads. Even after the roman republic, Julius Caesar, as the first emperor of Rome, would do any means necessary to extend the borders of Rome as far as he could to obtain profit from war. This suggests that Romans were more concerned of the profits to be made by the war than the democratic beliefs that defined their government.The romans were also tolerant of many religions as long as they paid taxes for keeping their religions suggesting that money and riches was more important to them than having everyone follow one religion. This was certainly true as Christians emerged in Rom e, upsetting the local Jewish population who paid taxes to the state, giving them leverage towards the Roman politics to persecute them. This however ended as Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity in the fourth century A. D. As emperor Constantine saw that it would be more beneficial to stop persecuting the Christians and accept them to avoid another civil war, he ecame a Christian. This was only the start as Christianity spread throughout the European continent and Emperor Theodosius established it as the official religion of Rome in 380. This proved especially beneficial for the empire as it allowed Rome to be governed during its greatest extent. When Rome official fell in 476 to the barbaric tribes of the Germanic region, Christianity was the uniting factor as the chaos of local groups sought to hold power. Out of this developed a complex feudal system comprised of lords, vassals, and serfs along with the power and wealth of the Catholic Church.The Catholic Church demanded eno rmous amounts of money from the people as they sought redemption in times stricken with the Black Death and famine thus allowing the monasteries to emerge as the source of riches and the Church as the largest landholder in all of Europe. As the Church’s power grew towards the first millennia, and had sucked the wealth from nearly all of its local citizens, they desired to find the holy land. Despite the first commandment of â€Å"thou shall not murder† and the Christian idea of â€Å"turn the other cheek,† the Crusades were some of the bloodiest battles in European history.These crusades, although against Christian ideals, provided a vast amount of wealth for Europe and reconnected them to both their Greco-Roman history and the Silk Road trading network, furnishing them with a vast source of economic profit. As the Catholic Church continued down this path of non-Christian ideas including penance, a devote monk by the name of Luther sought to put the church back onto the path of Christ. This however was not favorable for the Church’s income and they eventually excommunicated Luther from their church.Luther was not about to give up however and his ideas spread quickly with the development of the printing press shortly before, weakening the Catholic Church’s grip on the citizens. This combined with the reunification of Europe and their Roman history, led the people of Europe to a more questioning mindset, further weakening the Church, and eventually leading them to the enlightenment. The enlightenment is the period in western history from the early 1600s through the 1700s as the medieval church worldview’s stepped aside for revolutions in science, politics and philosophy. The Enlightenment was a ime when the opinions and ideas of the Church, which were formally in charge of both the economy and the government of Europe, were challenged through a more secular point of view brought about by the scientific revolution and int egration of foreign cultures by the age of exploration. The secular beliefs of the enlightenment were more beneficial for European economic affairs in the High Middle Ages because, with the age of exploration underway, there was many foreign ideas entering Europe and having a more secular governmental and ideological system would be more accommodating and accepting of outside policy allowing for better trade.Also the enlightenment view was very in line with the discoveries of the scientific revolution allowing the inventing process to be spurred on. Some of the key inventions of the scientific revolution include the magnetic compass, lateen sails, and advanced map making technologies which allowed for the Spanish to cross the Atlantic Ocean and reach the Americas. The lateen sail and compass also allowed for better navigation to the Indian Ocean trading network, an essential source of wealth for the Europeans as they began their climb to economic supremacy.In 1492, once Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue was the beginning of a new era in the history of the world. His discovery marks the beginning of Colonization and imperialism as the Spanish and French began exporting tons and tons of silver from modern day South America and trading it to China for their silk, porcelain, and tea commodities. But silver was not the sole source of economic power received from the colonies, they were also great places to build plantations and thus the slave trade began.The trans-Atlantic Slave trade was when millions of Africans were ruthlessly taken from their homes and shipped to the Americas in horrid conditions. In general, the ruthlessness of the slave trade goes specifically against the Christian values of â€Å"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,† and other teachings of Christianity which shows how the economic benefits that came through the slave trade was enough for them to ignore the defining factor of European culture for the past five hu ndred years to make some coin.This overlooking of Christian values was popular throughout the people and as Frederick Nietzsche said â€Å"God is dead† signified the end of the Church’s power in Europe as it became replaced with monetary lust. As Europeans spread across the globe and began forcing their way into the Asian countries it became a vital part of Indian Ocean commerce and as they established ports and colonies in India, China, and Japan they began to bring with them an idea of imperialism. Europeans came about this idea as they became an economic power nearly overnight in world commerce and they were also able to coerce ideas onto older, existing civilizations.In Europe, nationalism drove many young explorers to go on expeditions for buried treasure and biblical references like the Ark of the Covenant or the Garden of Eden. Imperialism, or the overseas extension of nationalism, led many European explorers to believe, despite the Christian belief of acceptanc e of every race, that they were better than anyone and everyone else especially as they became the civilization that defined success and advancement in the world. This overextension of nationalism would end up bad however for the Europeans as it would cause cultural blinders and then revolutions as was the case of the Sepoy Rebellion.Imperialism would prove very beneficial for the Europeans Economy as it encouraged individuals to charge more for products because nationalistic view said that â€Å"European gold was worth more than Foreign gold,† making individuals demand more for their products. Also Imperialism encouraged the establishment of many colonies throughout Asia and the Philippines giving them massive amounts of silver, making them economically superior. Back in Europe however, rises in nationalism led to competition between the European states and the division of Europe into two major groups of alliances. Western Civilization Sometimes, it is very easy to read books about the lives of the real people who were able to overcome the crux in their own lives. The harder their challenges and difficulties were, the more entertaining it will be for the readers. We tend to be impressed with people who were able to write an account of their between life and death experiences and how they almost die. However, we have the tendency to forget how hard it might be for them to write down their own story of bitterness and much worse if their tragic experience was simply the beginning of a worse condition. The two authors in the books that are going to be analyzed and compared in this paper had the courage to relate their own experiences and humiliation as a Jew during World War II for the world to witness and remember the brutality of the War. They both endured the pain as they recall the torture they had been through and put them in writing. They narrated how tranquil and promising their lives were before the World War in the abode with their families. However, the war had ripped them with everything that could have included themselves. They were traumatized by massive and brutal deaths of people, their loved ones included. The two authors were the protagonists of their books. It was based on their first hand experiences during the war. If we are going to analyze the two books, we would have an idea how brutal the Nazi’s were and how tragic the Holocaust was. The first book was a narration of the true experiences in the Holocaust in the perspective of a Transylvanian son as he witnessed the brutal death of his family members and how it gained an impact in his faith and his life. On the other hand, the other book described the same event on the perspective of a Czech daughter who lost her family and lucky enough to be able to escape and return to her hometown in Prague. The only thing was her escape in that war did not spare her. It simply opened the door that led her to another war and another torture she had to bear (Kovaly). If we are going to compare accounts of two authors, we first need to consider the background of each author. We have to identify the compelling forces in their lives that gave a blend in their works. The first book was titled â€Å"Night†, which was written by the author Elie Wiesel. He began his story by describing his town in Sighet, his family and himself in the year 1942 when he was only twelve years old. He had three sisters and his dad was a shopkeeper and a venerated Jewish leader. Their family was deeply religious; as a matter of fact, Elie was enthusiastic in learning the dogma of their religion. He wanted to learn more and he had a very deep faith in God (Wiesel). However, this changed when the Germans arrived and captured their land in 1944. Despite the early warning of a person who survived and witnessed the maltreatment that the Jews suffered in Poland, his townsmen did not heed. Rather, they simply made fun of him. It was year 1944 when they regret not to take proper consideration of the admonition given by the old man. The Germans invaded their land and moved all the Jews out of Sighet to concentration camps in Auschwitz. The Germans were cordial at first but suddenly issued a decree that they should be impounded and transported into ghettos and concentration camps. They had no idea on what would happen next. It would have been a blessing if they would be killed immediately to spare them from torture and misery. However, it was an ardent intention of the Nazi’s to impose agonies to these religious people as imposed by the leader, Adolf Hitler. They were treated like animals as they were being transported to the concentration camps. When they reached the reception center, Elie was permanently separated with her mom and sister since they were directed to the gas chamber. He was left only with his father. Inside the camp, they were forced to witness how the innocent babies where ruthlessly burned and thousands of people crying in despair. It was his first night in the camp but it made an indelible mark on Elie’s heart. It was the night that he doubted God’s reverence. That night, he thought that his God also died. It was the night that dissolved his optimism and enthusiasm for life. At a very young age, Elie witnessed the cruelty of life and that he is just a tiny speck of worthless being who had to fight hunger, oppression and injuries in order to survive. He was once a very religious student whose life at that time depended on the whims of the Nazi’s. His virtues changed. His idea of retaliation against anybody who would threaten to hurt his family changed and turned into his despair to live. His concern changed as he suffered blows and fought to live. His main concern that was previously focused on God deviated to anything that could fill his stomach. In the camp, they were identified not with their name but with their number to signify perhaps that their lives do not matter, they are just mere numbers. He did not look up at his father as a blessing because they are still alive but a curse, a burden that might cause him his life. The hard work and inhuman conditions made him deny God (Wiesel). Their transfer to another camp in Buna served another challenge to Elie. He had changed. His god had already died and hanged in the gallows. He was beaten and his pain no longer mattered. Days and nights do not have any difference nor death and life. It was this transfer that he realized his father’s worth because the latter was separated from him. They had to work hard in order to live. This was the last camp they had been before they started the most painful march. It was the march that separated Elie permanently from his father. It was the march that forced a son to leave his loving father. It was the march that deprived them of food and water and were even mocked by the guards A lot of prisoner killed even their own kin just for a morsel of bread. Out of the hundred prisoners who marched, only a dozen survived and reached Buchenwald where his father finally died of dysentery and sever beating from the officer and other prisoner. It was the climax of Elie’s senses. It was weeks before the aids arrived and he could be finally branded as Holocaust Survivor. This was the end of the World War II and the end of this book. However, this period was only the beginning of the other book (Wiesel). The other book, â€Å"Under the Cruel Star: A life in Prague 1941-1968†, the author narrated her life as a Jew in the Lodz camp. Her name was Heda Margolius Kovaly. Albeit they were in a different country and ghettos, their religious faith brought them into similar fate in the ghettos. Heda and her family were sent to Lodz ghetto. She was also separated from her family and needed to bear the abomination of the soldier’s in the camp. She was of the same age as Elie at that time, still an adolescent, supposedly innocent to the atrocities of the world. Like Elie, she witnessed massive deaths, injustices and forced labor. When the Russian troops approached, they were also forced to march. Unlike Elie, Kovaly was very fortunate to have a chance to escape and return to her homeland in Prague. However, much to Heda’s dismay, this was not the end of her torment; rather, it was just the advent. The citizens of Prague were scared and refused to provide help, simply because they are Jews. Even her relatives and non –Jew friends were apathetic towards her condition because they, too, were afraid to suffer the beatings from a Nazi. The war was coming to an end and she was already in Prague, her home town. Supposedly it should serve as a citadel for her to soothe at last the pains that she suffered during the war. Unfortunately, it was not (Kovaly). However, one good thing that happened to Heda after this war was a birth of hope that finally a gush of tranquil wind will finally blow over her. She was able to reunite and later marry her sweetheart Rudolph Margolius. Like Heda, he also survived the concentration camps and the war itself. He was a very virtuous man with a lot of ideas about his country and Prague in particular. He supported reform and believed that the principles of the Nazi were the exact opposite of Communism so he supported the principles of Communism and thought that it would be effective government systems that will help his countrymen develop after the ravages of the war. He was able to get a good job in the government as the Communist government rose into power. However, this actually marred the supposedly happy ending of the couple. This job actually took his life when he was accused of conniving with an enemy of the Communist government. It was the system that he supported that accused him of being a traitor. Everything would have been perfect if the Communist party had not risen into power and condemned her husband and separated him from her forever. Things were made worse because they had a son, Ivan Margolius, who was growing up at that time. Heda was forced to make a living to support her son. However, the incident deprived her and her son the right to live a normal life. Since her husband was an enemy of the Communist State, she was deprived of the privileges to get a decent job to raise her son nor was she allowed to be helped by others without suffering the consequences from the Communist government. No matter how her friends in Prague would have wanted to help her and her son, they were scared of the repercussions just like when the Nazi’s were still in their land. They were forced to live life in poverty. They were treated like lepers that were needed to be isolated. Despite all this social persecution, she fell in love again and remarried Pavel Kovaly. However, it seems that she was born with so much bad luck that whoever would lend a hand to help her would also suffer failure. Because of what happened, her new husband, who had a very promising career ended up having a bad reputation just because of his affiliation with Heda. In the book, Heda’s miseries and continuous struggle lasted for more than twenty years. When the social had gone worst, she was able to escape again and finally live peacefully in the United States. That was the end of her book and the end of the war in her life. This book was dedicated to her son who was clueless with the persecution of his father and the agony of her mother (Kovaly). These two books actually presented the two victims and survivors of war in different perspectives. They both believed in the same God and the same doctrine. It was the same religion that led them to concentration camps. They both had the ardent desire to overcome whatever challenges that would come their way. One magnified and illustrated the turmoil inside the concentration camp and the genocide of the Jews, while the other placidly illustrated her agonies during the war when she lost her family and yet survived just to face another war that took her beloved away from her. They were all torn by the war. They were all innocent victims of abusive government and capricious rulers. The titles of these two books were quite similar in a sense that they all compare their experiences with darkness. The first one was even titled â€Å"Night† (Wiesel), to describe that one long night of unbearable nightmare that altered his life forever; while the other one denotes the cruelty of the stars that deprived her of any light to guide for more than twenty years of her life in Czechoslovakia. It was a saga of continuous struggle for better life but their struggle simply ended up into another saga filled with tears and bitterness. The courage of these two authors to share their tragic and humiliating experiences to reveal the truth about the grim of the war was so remarkable. It is not easy to share how tragic one’s life was, but these two authors made the difference in bringing the truth about what happened during those times. If there is one thing that their books reflected, that would be their determination to overcome whatever obstacle that would come their way. They did not resolve to self-pity. They struggled to move on even if they do not know what the future brings. They did not stop when they lost their loved ones. Instead, they continued and embraced life no matter how difficult it may seem. Their books reflected tragedies and misfortunes in one’s life are not enough reason to give up. No matter how heavy our burden in life could be, still, life must go on. Western Civilization (1) It has always been the power struggle that led people to revolt. Developments in agriculture were not enough to feed the whole French nation, especially in the cities, because the poor has always sufferred. Despite the advancement in agriculture and the use of modern agricultural techniques and â€Å"expected† increase in food supply, the prices of the food was still going up. Why? Because it was only â€Å"more food—rather than a fairer distribution† (Brown, 2003, p. 24) which means the peasants has still to push their luck to survive in the cruel world. Thus, peasant unrest in 1789 eventually came into view with so much oppression of the poor. To end constant riots and demonstrations, the politics during that time believed that the poor can be set aside disallowing them to cast their votes and making them cultivate food produce for the wealthy. Even the constitution that time discriminates poor by putting so much emphasis on individual private property ownership â€Å"at the expense of any right of the poor to subsistence† (Brown, 2003, p. 24). The unrest in 1789 was an incident where agriculture played a major role. Without farmers' efforts to provide food in the urban areas, or if the crop these farmers tilled produce a bad harvest, the effects were simply devastating: skyrocketing food prices, unemployment, and chaos. (2) There was so much developments in the eighteenth century Europe leading to acquisitions of various colonies by different European nations. Not counting prior developments, even the 15th and 16th century Rennaissance and Reformation, this 18th century alone has been a remarkable era. Who could imagine Napoleon defeated? And it happened in this period and â€Å"it begins and ends with the frustration of an attempt to dominate the Continent by its leading power, and between lie the events which brought about the French Revolution and its aftermath. â€Å"(Cowie, 1963, p. 1) Europeans' way of life during that period might be varied but they all have shared a long history together and similar longings and thus more often than not, imitate the good things that can be found in each other. For the Englishmen, they had freedom from having their passions done, especially the freedom to express and write and this was viewed as a favorable thing not only to themselves but to other nations in the continent. The same principles apply with the French chaateaux and its admirable tastes. And how about the Europeans' impositions to have colonies? These were obviously laid out in the Treaty of Utrecht and in the Treaty of Vienna. And when? Naturally, that was in the 18th Century Europe!

Johann bernoulli essays

Johann bernoulli essays Johann Bernoulli, a member of the worlds most successful mathematical family, the Bernoullis. Johann Bernoulli was born in Basel, Switzerland on August 6, 1667, exactly when the Civil War ended. Johann s family was originally from a small town called Antwerp, Belgium, but escaped to avoid persecution by Catholics. His mother Margretha Bernoulli was a local official and his father Nicolaus Bernoulli was a great merchant. His father wanted Johann to become a merchant like himself but Johann terribly failed as an apprentice. After Johann failed as an apprentice, he begged his father for permission to enter college. In 1683, his father gave him permission, he attended the University of Basel. The University of Basel was where his older brother Jacob Bernoulli was a professor. While a student at Basel he studied medicine and was tutored in math by Jacob, who was a great mathematician. A few years after learning math from his brother Jacob, he developed a mastery of the new Leibnizian Calculus. Johann became so great at math, it broke up his relationship with Jacob because of Jacobs jealousy of Johann. In 1694 Johann committed himself to math and received his doctorate on a mathematical paper on muscular movement. A year later, his wife Drothea gave birth to their first child named Nikolaus after Johann s father. Later after graduating from Basel, Johann took a trip to Paris. While there he met the leading mathematician L Hospital. L Hospital convinced Johann into teaching him calculus for a fee. After being taught by Johann, L Hospital published a book on fifferential calculus. Everything L Hospital wrote was from Johann notes and letters but L Hospital claimed all Johann s work as his own. Their friendship suddenly ended. After Johann came back from Paris Johann tried to get the seat of mathematics at Basel but couldnt because Jacob held it. Soon after Johann was denied the s...

Life of a Roman Soldier essays

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EU should enlargement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

EU should enlargement - Essay Example It is worth mentioning that EU has initiated significant steps towards developing Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in order to develop the economies at large. It has been noted that seventeen out of 27 EU members belong to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). These seventeen member states of EU have firmly agreed to coordinate their respective economic along with monetary policies by using single currency i.e. Euro. EMU participants also share central bank which is regarded as the European Central Bank (ECB) as well as common monetary policy for preserving financial stability. It is worth mentioning that these member states do not share fiscal policy and possesses sole right over regulating their national taxation and spending (Gros &Thygesen, 1998). Thus this paper intends to discuss the economic implications of EU’s enlargement process and makes arguments for its enlargements. Policy Position The member states of EU functions collectively through focusing upon buildin g common institutions in order to set effective policies and promote their combined interest. Since the formation of the EU, the different EU member states have progressively and radically committed towards harmonizing various laws and adopting joint policies emphasising on various relevant issues. Additionally, EU member states have agreed to cooperate almost in all the fields, however decisions related with economic and social policies requires unanimous agreement of all the 27 EU countries. In the recent past years, the EU member states have witnessed radical economic challenges. The Euro zone crisis that occurred during the year 2009-2010 has drastic economic impact on the EU member States (Archick, 2013). More specifically, the crisis has resulted in imposing significant impact on the actual and potential economic growth of the EU member states. The impact of the crisis was also visible on the labour market and employment (European Communities, 2007). Accordingly, the labour ma rket in the EU member states has considerably weakened. This impact has created an urge for forming an effective structural reform concerning economic policies of the EU. The EU possesses a common external trade policy which implies that the trade policy is exclusively governed by EU and no member states are liable to negotiate its own international trade agreement. Undoubtedly, it can be stated that EU’s trade policy is one of the well-integrated policies throughout the globe. The trade policies of EU provide free movements of goods and capital within different EU member States. With the free movements of goods, the EU aimed at eliminating one member state from importing goods at cheaper prices owing to the lower tariff and again re-exporting the items to another member state at relatively higher tariff. The common trade policy was further extended to include trade in services as

Is Television still considered a dominant form of entertainment in the Research Paper

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Alcoholism in families Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcoholism in families - Research Paper Example People from all walks of life are subject to its dangers and most importantly, those living close to the victims also suffer the consequences of uncontrolled alcoholism, which promotes antisocial behavior. This paper is a critical evaluation of alcoholism in the families. Alcoholism as discussed herein, is a condition which has the potential of creating havoc in relationships as well as families. For one, alcohol itself is a substance, which reduces understanding and judgment skills in a person, in some cases leading to poor emotional intelligence. Under such circumstances, it may be found out that people who abuse alcohol are more capable of engaging in unwarranted fights with their spouses out of simple arguments (Ketcham, 2001). However, the victims of such violence especially women tend to develop an understanding at the onset of such behavior, finding excuses to justify their husbands’ actions. In this context, they may be heard making excuses such as; it is only because he was under the influence of alcohol among others, but in the long run, the behavior develops into a habit, which may be difficult to tolerate. Research indicates that alcoholic couples are 3 times more capable of perpetrating spousal abuse as compared to non-drinking or occasional drinkers (Frederickson, 2009). Relationships are supposed to be based on love and if so, it is against the expected norms to hurt your spouse either while sober or under the influence of alcohol. Definitely, if such behavior persists, these relationships continue to deteriorate and eventually, divorce or separation becomes the only viable option. In addition, it has been noted that alcoholics are more prone to committing incest with their own children. According to research, it is observable that 30% of incestuous activities involving father and daughter are as a result of alcoholism. This is one of the worst experiences that a female parent can undergo and

School Speech Essay Example for Free

School Speech Essay Good evening to Dr S. Pillay, the staff of Sunford Primary, members of the governing body, parents and learners. It is indeed an honourable privilege to be part of this momentous occurrence in the calendar of Sunford Primary. I thank Dr. S. Pillay and her team of dedicated staff for this prestigious opportunity. During the past decades Sunford Primary has proved itself to be an invaluable asset to the local community in the facet of early childhood education and development. Being a resident in the area and having had my son, Pranav attend this school has given me insight into the dedication of the exemplary principal and her staff who all excel in their teachings. A teacher is a leader within a scholastic component of education, thus creating a stimulating and secure atmosphere where a child can learn, be happy and gain confident. Parents also have a duty to work hand in hand with the educator and their child, to ensure the best possible education, upon which the child can build his/her career. Remember we as parents want education for our children by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, their intellect is expanded and by which, they can stand on their own feet. Tonight’s awards function is set out to acknowledge all the top achievers of Sunford Primary in their respective grades. I congratulate each and every awardee for all your hard work and your exceptional results. May you always ride the tide of success. To all the other children remember what works for one child may not necessarily work for another, each child is unique and special. Education should be a fun voyage of discovery. Learning is an everyday thing; give it your best that is what’s important. To all learners Young adults and little children The future is up to you Increase your knowledge and wisdom In order to lead a bright tomorrow. To the Grade seven learners , who are embarking on secondary education, you have a solid foundation, embrace your future with optimism and raise above all challenges to fulfil your dreams and aspirations, although much has been achieved much more remains to be done. Take courage from the past and build thereon for the future. Remember it is choice and not chance that determines your destiny. God bless each and every one of you.