Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Express Yourself Through Music Essay

It is clearly the most powerful tool used for expression. It doesn’t judge or discriminate, and there’s always a piece for you. This, of course, is music, which might be the greatest invention known to humans. Music has become an important part of society throughout the world as people use it to express themselves. All it takes is to listen to the very different and contrasting genres of music we have today. Each different type of genre conveys different meanings. Jazz is associated with relaxation, the blues with sorrow, and so on. Whatever instrument it may be, your voice, or a piano, you are expressing yourself. Music provides a great source of communication. For example, if speech was the only form of communication, and there was no smiling, sign language, or music, life would prove to be very dull and unfulfilling. Most music has a purpose, in which the composer/performer is trying to relay a message to their audience. This is especially noticed on the radio, with song after song, each displaying its very own message. Some artists use lyrics in their songs to express explicit messages or to make people think about life and its various lessons. Others want to inspire people, invoking the emotions within, while others are use their demeanor and emotions to relax their listeners. Many songs I have heard have accomplished their goal of seizing the listener. No other song I’ve been in touch with has taken hold of me like Billy Joel’s â€Å"Piano Man†. I believe it to be a classic song and never tire from listening to it. The magnificent and captivating vocals and the smooth flow of the piano brings a sense of happiness and joy about me that is incomparable. Expressing yourself through music can help you keep in touch with how you are feeling. It can also release a lot of tension that you may be carrying around with you. Music can help prevent your feelings from bursting out in situations or ways that are embarrassing and inappropriate. This happens when people get out of touch with their feelings, something that music can help solve. Everyone needs some time to themselves to reflect on their feelings, which can easily be done while listening to music. Being able to express how you feel through music may help you make better decisions about what is right for you now. Your feelings and expressions are closely associated with music. I personally don’t know of anything else (outside of first hand interaction with other human beings) that can affect me the way music does. You can either express the way you feel and get out of that trap, or you can just drown in your problems by playing the sorry blues. All my life I’ve been involved with music and I also realize that music is a difficult, but beautiful thing that people should take more time to appreciate. It is often overlooked as being unimportant, but I know how useful it can be in expressing oneself. In fact, in life, there’s nothing that makes me feel more at peace than music.

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Heritage Essay

Rename, or Don’t. Asher Woolf 11C 1772008 Christiaan Barnard Street Ms Sutton Early Adderly Street Heritage plays an important role in self-identity, and hence the heritage of a country defines it. As a people we learn and improve through our past experiences and our history. This is especially relevant in a country like South Africa; having such an eventful and colourful past, it is essential we recognise all places, buildings, roads and dates that played a role in shaping our country today.Whereas the history of a given article is the cold, hard happenings of the past, heritage is what one identifies with in their history, and this can be tangible hereditary heritage (skin colour) or cultural heritage and traditional, such as religion and customs. The aim of this report is to explore the concept and importance of heritage, and its impacts on modern Cape Tonian reflections of heritage such as street names. Herein the example of Oswald Pirow Street’s transformation to C hristiaan Barnard Street is discussed as a prime example of correct renaming; however the impacts of name-changing in general shall be discussed as well.Our birthplace and place of residence forms part of our heritage; it is an identity that helps us place ourselves in the world. The preamble to The National Heritage Resources Act states that: â€Å"Our heritage is unique and precious and it cannot be renewed. It helps us to define our cultural identity and therefore lies at the heart of our spiritual well-being and has the power to build our nation. It has the potential to affirm our diverse cultures, and in so doing shape our national character. † This is a statement by our government that understanding and accepting our heritage is at the epicentre of our spiritual well being.The preservation of our national heritage sites is of the greatest importance. For many years, Oswald Pirow Street stood in existence in Cape Town. Named after Oswald Pirow, a far right politician and lawyer who was also a staunch Nazi sympathizer. He greatly admired Hitler, and his daughter even controversially stated that Pirow was â€Å"More German than South African† It can be stated without much contentiousness that the Nazi ideals are diametrically opposite to the ideals of freedom, acceptance and unified diversity that defines the New South Africa.That being said, a street named after Oswald Pirow is simply incongruous with our new country and incongruous with the heritage we as a nation chose to identify with. In extreme cases such as this, whereby a figure that is actively negative to unity and acceptance is honoured, I believe that changing street names can be conducive to promotion and celebration of Heritage in South Africa. Oswald Pirow Street was renamed to Christiaan Barnard Street.Christiaan Barnard actively spoke out against the National Party during Apartheid, and is famous for being the first surgeon in the world to perform a successful heart-transplant . This marvel of medical science was celebrated internationally and is a great symbol of South African pride and achievement. Hence the street was named after Barnard, an ultimately deserving figure of recognition. The above circumstance epitomizes name-changing done right; however there are a number of concerns affecting the issue in general. The issue of Heritage affects name change.South Africa, like every place on Earth that isn’t the Far East or Europe, was conquered and subdued by Europe. This forms a crucial part of South Africa’s history, in that our culture and the very language we speak was brought by the so called â€Å"invaders†. This also means that most names of cities and roads prior to 1994 were exclusively in European languages and mostly named after European people. After the fall of Apartheid, the indigenous peoples felt the need to have their heritage acknowledged by renaming cities and streets in the vernacular or based on more deserving peo ple.The issue becomes contentious as to where the line is drawn. While there are numerous cases of obvious villains of history (i. e. Hendrik Verwoerd) whose memory should not be celebrated, there are many more cases of differing peoples vying for recognition and pride, and it is difficult to insure that renaming remains an act to promote national heritage and not to laud one group over the other. It is for this reason that I believe the only way to approach the issue of renaming is to be practical. While the bvious villains of history and enemies of human rights must be removed, it is a cold hard fact that naming of Cape Town streets and places are largely European, and to try to rename everything to equally distribute pride and self-identity amongst all the peoples of South Africa is simply impractical. In our capitalist country, one must think of the use of money with priority. There are lots of alarming and immediate issues in South Africa (poverty, education, healthcare, etc) t hat require funding more pressingly than renaming does, and that in itself is the practical outlook of the issue.Although websites may be less reliable than book on an individual basis, the consensus gained from a multitude of websites is much more accurate. At first the idea for my road came from having lived in Stellenbosch for four years and visiting the shops on Dorp Street. However information on Dorp Street is hard to find, the recommendation to do Christiaan Barnard Street came from my mother, as she was an admirer of his growing up. Bibliography Article Sources 1. Acts Online. n. d. ). Retrieved July 19, 2008, from http://www. acts. co. za/ntl_heritage_res/index. htm 2. CIBRA. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 19, 2008, from www. cibra. co. za/downloads/City-Bowl-Prov-Herit-Sites. pdf 3. Explore South Africa. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 19, 2008, from http://www. exploresouthafrica. net/westerncape/stellenbosch/history/dorpstreet. htm 4. Legal City. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 19, 2008, fr om http://www. legalcity. net/Index. cfm? fuseaction=RIGHTS. rticle&Index=N&ArticleID=9346885&Page=1 5. Morris, J. (1979). Cape Town. new york: Don Nelson. 6. SAHRA. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 19, 2008, from http://www. sahra. org. za/intro. htm# 7. UNESCO. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 17, 2008, from http://whc. unesco. org/ 8. Wikipedia. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 18, 2008, from http://www. Wikipedia. com Picture Sources 1. http://farm1. static. flickr. com/185/395114148_e8853e55e3. jpg? v=0 2. http://rapidttp. com/milhist/vo113oca. jpg

Monday, July 29, 2019

Consumer behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 5

Consumer behaviour - Essay Example In this regard, the firms will formulate a marketing mix that reaps maximum benefits given the diverse market environment and the organizations resources (Lewis and Sappington, 1994). This brings to the fore certain marketing strategies like segmentation, targeting, and market positioning. This paper will seek to establish whether the marketplace can be inclusive to all consumers. Moreover, this paper will try to establish whether the market should be inclusive to all customers. This paper will focus on the fashion world in order to draw meaningful insights on the aspect of inclusivity and exclusivity of the marketplace. It is important to note that the scope of this study will be on the inclusivity and exclusivity of consumers within the fashion market place. Other markets will therefore not be focused on due to the dimension that this paper will take. The fashion market is a diverse and dynamic field that is constantly changing to accommodate the dynamic tastes, preferences, and needs of the clientele (Johnson and Myatt 2006). Players in this industry have to be abreast with the new trends as well as new emerging markets. This kind of reactiveness makes these firms to remain relevant in the fashion industry (Doeringer & Crean, 2006, p. 54). It is imperative to note that, the participants in the fashion industry have their own predetermined market. The goods that they produce are meant to serve a particular set of consumers. These firms rend to identify a niche and work to satisfy all the specifications that are required in that niche market (Dalgic, 1998, p. 4). In this regard, the success of a certain product in this niche market is because of the desires, wishes, or needs of a liberated customer and the consequence of marketers’ compulsion over an isolated individual. The advantages of adapting niche marketing entailed g rowth prospects, value formation and apparent value, revenues, augmented sales, prices and marketplace stakes, client

Sunday, July 28, 2019

The future challenges faced by tourism developers in China Essay

The future challenges faced by tourism developers in China - Essay Example (Butler, 2006 Butler, R. 2006, 11-45) Currently, world tourism does not take pleasure in rapid development given that the effect of economic calamity in the west stated has not still entirely gone, nor has that of the monetary disaster in the East and South East Asian states. But China has a far unlike story to let know as its market prospective are very fine. (Butler, 2006 Butler, R. 2006, 11-45) China in fact stands among the world's top ten most visited countries; but however, the size of its worldwide tourism, in stipulations of both arrival and reception, is much minor as compare to other tourism states which are quite developed. (Cai, 2005) Close the predictable and very massive market of this business, the markets of industry, meetings and chats, examination and holiday tourism leave much room for extra encroachment and in truth, the return of Hong Kong and combination the World Trade association may generate new markets for China's all-inclusive tourism, and offer new chances for added development. (Butler, 2006 Butler, R. 2006, 11-45) The improvement has endorsed China's economic advance, and changed the way of thoughts of the Chinese citizens. There may possibly be a host of knotty trouble to deal with in the long course of improvement; however sufficient supply and low price rises may extra stabilize the country's biased and monetary condition plus political and fiscal stabilization may not only offer good conditions for tourism expansion, but also generate a latest attractiveness for foreigners. (Butler, 2006 Butler, R. 2006, 11-45) Also a sort of balance might add back economic amalgamation and exchanges of a variety of different terms between China and the other parts of the world and again this may activate the expand of all-purpose tourist activities as well as an array of sort of typical interest tours such as trade and dialogue travel. (Fan, 2005, 77-79) The growth of Chinese outbound tour and expansion of objective may also endorse collaboration in the field of worldwide tourism. (Mitchell et al., 2001 C. Mitchell, G. Atkinson and A. Clark, 268-84) According to some very dynamic analysis of a modern survey group it was evaluated that the Chinese industry for tourism is reaching towards its destiny and last nineteen twenty years are concluded as the golden age in this regard and the main stream of public and private sector has shown its capabilities and temperament for running its trade. (Butler, 2006 Butler, R. 2006, 11-45). But here one thing should be in mind that the issue of housing is yet to be resolved by the ministry of tourism to avoid any further panic in the industry. (Mitchell and Coghill, 2000 C.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

My cultural identity and intercultural awareness Essay

My cultural identity and intercultural awareness - Essay Example As a native of Iran, I was accustomed to Iranian ways of thinking, feeling, reacting, dressing etc, all of which can be described as the Iranian culture based on Hofstede’s (2001) definition of culture. By nature, I am emotional and quiet, but not shy, female that loves to socialize, make friends, and self-confident as well as determined young person. My determination and focus helped me in earning admission in UK to study English Language. My experience in the UK has been very different from what it had been when I was growing up in Iran, which made me feel different about myself and my nature. Initially, I felt confused, lost, and low in confidence. Subsequently my self esteem lowered and I also started feeling disgusted and rejected because of low acceptability among my peers. The learning from intercultural awareness seems to provide solutions to the challenges that I am faced and also the answers to most of the questions that I had. With time passing in the UK, I started to realize that people around me are different and have different belief systems, behaviours, and attitudes, which probably is the UK culture. I learnt that culture and language are usually associated with unique ideologies that become the basis for judgment as well as relationship development (Piller, 2011). Judgements that are usually formed on the basis of ideologies lead to the formation of differential opinions about people from other cultures due to differences in their behaviour, attitude, personalities etc (Lewis, 2003). I can understand why it took more than two weeks for me to earn a good friend; my way of dressing clearly indicated that I was from the Middle East, which probably made my classmates to form opinions that I am from a different world and a different kind of perso n that they could not relate to. These opinions together result in stereotyping the individuals or groups based on prior knowledge and understanding related to some

Nursing Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Nursing Research - Essay Example Overall, the project focused on improving the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores in order to ensure that the facility achieved and maintained a competitive edge that made it provide quality care. In addition, it was evident that the failure to keep the HCAHPS scores high might affect the amount of the hospital’s reimbursement since the scores are influential in calculating the amount of reimbursement a healthcare facility received. In view of the level of importance and the benefits that the facility would accrue from the project, the planning, development, and the eventual implementation of the plan had to be aboveboard in order to leave no room for failure. There are various approaches that a healthcare facility can use in order to raise its HCAHPS scores. However, the unique nature of each facility necessitates a healthcare facility to examine the areas that required attention to raise the HCAHPS scores. For example, a healthcar e facility’s score on the aspect of pain management might rank high on the HCAHPS scores while the HCAHPS scores on the facility’s environmental conditions might rank low. ... The need for effective case management arose from the importance attached to improving the quality of care, which has to start with effective case management. Therefore, raising HCAHPS has to start with efficiency in case management. Communication is another key component that the practicum project focused on improving in order to raise the facility’s HCAHPS scores. In this regard, the practicum focused on communication among the members of staff and communication between practitioners and their patients. In this case, it is evident that communication helps improve the management of a patient’s case in order to provide quality care. Finally, the practicum project focused on improving the hospital setting and the environment in order to provide care that was safe and high in quality. Importantly, improving the hospital setting and environment not only improves the quality of care that a healthcare facility provided, but it also raises the HCAHPS scores in the facility. E ventually, raising the hospital’s HCAHPS scores was the overall objective of this scholarly project. Development of the Project The development of the project involved a series of steps as outlined below: Carrying out an analysis on the need to improve the low HCAHPS scores in the facility. Development of an action plan based on the analysis carried out on the need to raise HCAHPS scores in the healthcare facility. Implementation of the developed action plan in order to improve the HCAHPS scores. Evaluation of the implemented plan in order to find out the need for modifying the project. Analysis on the Need to Improve the Low HCAHPS scores Before implementing any project, it is important to carry out an analysis that highlights the need

Friday, July 26, 2019

Crawford and the Iraq war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Crawford and the Iraq war - Essay Example His books and his words state the trouble and trauma he went through and how it changed his life. He had been deployed at Iraq for 6 months which extended upto an 18 where Crawford witnessed the turmoils of the war. He shares the story at the Warfield and the life of the soldiers at the Warfield. Hinson (2005) says "Recounting his experience Crawford in A soldier's true story says the ancient city turned out to be a hellhole". Living amidst the bombs and the noises, life became horrible and difficult. They transformed like animals, they had no feelings, no proper food or no peace of mind. Crawford witnessed fear, stupidity, resentments and breezy victories of the soldiers. The war damaged his life bit by bit. Being in the war filed, the sound of bombs, the soldiers' voices and the noisy environment gave sleepless nights to Crawford. He then took Valium tablets to sleep in the night and got used to those drugs. He found it impossible to sleep with out those tablets. Crawford visualize d variety of feeling in the war field like anger, nervousness, isolation, liberation and defeat. In spite of him leaving the war field, the images and the scenes from the war field came to his mind again and again. He spent sleepless nights even in his nation. There was always a post war stress that remained in his mind, which did not allow Crawford to lead his routine life. His regular life became complicated for him. He felt that every thing changed. In spite of Crawford coming from a war family, he was totally disturbed by the war effects.

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Importance of the writings of John F Kennedy Essay

Importance of the writings of John F Kennedy - Essay Example This book consists of more than 100 speeches which were made during Kennedy's political life. This book is not the collection of quotations only, but also his public career which is completely portrayed in statements and speeches. The pages of the book are the reminder of John Kennedy as lofty ideal, parochial politician and clever person. It was mentioned that "much of the value in this book lies not in what it tells of Kennedy, but what it tells about the country in which he lived". (Unique Day of Hope 18) So it is necessary to discuss four main speeches made by Kennedy in order to get clear idea about his vision of America. All these statements are given in his book. (Goldzwig 189) The most famous Kennedy's speech was connected with Inaugural Address. This speech provides with several wit lines, the most notable of which are the words: "Ask not what your country can do for you,-ask what you can do for your country".( Unique Day of Hope 18) During reading this speech it became clear that there were no words about social security, poverty, educational problems, health care problems, civil rights and domestic problems which were the central point of all political debates. This speech deals completely with problems and development of foreign policy. (Goldzwig 189) The second speech which is also worthy of paying attention is Kennedy's address to Houston Ministerial Alliance.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Analysis of McClearns Closed for Business Essay

Analysis of McClearns Closed for Business - Essay Example The core argument or the thesis is that the Canadian government has been causing confusing amongst investors by blocking some bids from foreign investors without clear explanations. The author concludes that Canada could be closed for foreign business. The author has supported the argument using evidence of various companies that have been prevented from investing in Canada without any explanations from the government. Moreover, the author argues that Prime Minister Visit to china to encourage investors from china to invest in Canada has been received as a threat by American investors. Additionally, the Canadian government appears to be contradicting the prime ministers statement by rejecting bids from foreign companies wanting to invest in Canada. Another argument to support the thesis statement is that the Canadian government under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau introduced Foreign Investment Review Act (FIRA) in 1973 and the Investment Canada Act (ICA) in 1985. The two acts were sup posed to aid in setting up guidelines to be followed by foreign investors. However, there were no changes in the application and endorsement process. This has added to the confusion since the Canadian government is not clear on the requirements that foreign companies should meet in order to be allowed to invest in Canada. Although the author argues that Canada has been blocking investors, some parts of the article, arguments, and examples appear to contradict the main  argument while others do not contribute to the argument. For example, the author argues that foreign investors are being blocked from investing but still claims that 90% of foreign applications for takeover were rubberstamped. This is considerably high and does not show presence of any obstacle. On the contrary, the argument depict that Canada is still open for foreign investments (McClearn 34-36) Summary According to McClearn Canada was built using money obtained through the foreign investors. British investors fin anced the building of railways, buildings, canals and most of the infrastructures while American Industrialist was responsible of building most industries and manufacturing plants. Over the past, Canada has always been open and allowed foreign companies to invest. Around February, the Canadian prime minister personally visited China to inform the Chinese government that Canada was open for foreign investment. However, things have changed rapidly, Canada has been vetting foreign company, and a considerable number of foreign companies have been prevented from Investing in Canada. Such companies include Malaysia Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) and Lowe’s. Furthermore, there is fear that the Canadian government will reject the offer for Nexen by China National Offshore Oil Corp. Moreover, the Canadian Government has been showing mixed signals. McClearn views such moves as a threat to foreign investors since it appears like the Prime minister, Stephen Harper is contradicting himself (McClearn 34-38). Although Canada argues that it is open for investors from various countries including the upcoming China and Malaysia, investors from the two countries have been treated coldly through rejection of their bids. Moreover, the Canadian government has not given any explanations for the rejections which has created a chill amongst the investors (McClearn 35-36) Analysis of the Arguments   The statements and the evidence are sufficient to persuade the reader that the argument is sound. Almost all the arguments and statements made are followed by examples. For example, the argument that Canadian government is not giving enough explanations for rejection of investments by most companies has been supported by examples of several companies. Such

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

How does the TV show ( The Simpsons) effect my live Essay

How does the TV show ( The Simpsons) effect my live - Essay Example the following analysis will seek to engage the reader with an understanding of the impact that The Simpsons have had upon my own life and the manner by which I will ultimately intend on raising my own family. Essentially, The Simpsons served as a comedy program that could be enjoyed by each and every member of our family; when I was growing up. As such, my parents were not overly conservative and did not attempt to restrict the overall access the television in our home or otherwise only approved certain programs for viewing. The understanding that was unspoken, at least in our home, was the fact that when situations arose and were represented on television that did not abide by the rules of our family or the point of view that children were expected to respect, these did not need to be restricted; they merely needed to be dismissed. As such, I have distinct memories of several occasions in which my parents would laugh along with the plot of The Simpsons; turning to me and saying something to the effect of â€Å"you had best never do anything like that†. As such, even though this particular show was comedy, I was fully aware of the fact, even from an early age, that not everything represented within it should be taken exemplification from model behavior. In terms of The Simpsons and its overall impact upon how I will raise my own family, it should be noted that I will follow a very similar approach to that which my parents ascribe to during my own childhood. Rather than restricting access to certain television shows and ultimately attempting censor the media, the best approach is to enjoy these television shows with the appropriate age groups in question and merely categorized at certain times that specific behavior is not allowable and when not be tolerated. As such, the parent child relationship does not become one that is domineering; it becomes one that is beneficial and utilizes media as a way of helping to further define the roles that individuals within the

Monday, July 22, 2019

Strategic objectives Essay Example for Free

Strategic objectives Essay Strategic objectives are the core components of strategic planning. Strategic planning involves establishing the direction and scope of an institute or an organization over a lengthy period of time. This process specifically gains advantage over the dynamic environment through structuring the resources and the abilities of the people involved to achieve a certain aim. Therefore, strategic objectives become the center of all the process. Statements of visions are usually wide and do not specify a clear path of actions of achieving them. Mission statements however are more specific, explaining the reasons for the existence of the organization and the how it achieves competitive advantage in the market. Strategic objectives are the elements that come in to make the mission statements operational. They provide clear guidance on how the organizations will move successfully to the drawn overall objective or goal. In other words they help in the achievement of the purpose of the organization. This essay will shortly evaluate Google Inc. in terms of strategic objectives. Google Inc. In order to understand well this concept, I will use Google Inc. as an example to study its strategic objectives and the way it has achieved its management goals. Google fundamentally has its success on a human resource that is managed well. It has focused on developing the potential of the employees who will in turn give success to the company. Google Inc. has seen it right that with the changing market dynamics, businesses are focusing more on developing a competent human resource. This year CNNMoney. om reports that Google Inc. is voted 6th as the best employer in the USA (100 Best Companies to Work for, 2010). Gupta says, â€Å"†¦a brand that is build upon a culture that is high on trust, low on politics, great at sharing resources and sharing the wealth and full of meaning and significance† (Gupta, 2009). Google’s overall objective is â€Å"To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful† (Why Google, 2010). The organizational goal and vision of Google Inc. rest on the philosophy of workers’ empowerment. The founders, Page and Brin, endeavored that the company be one that is run by the geeks. The business wing of the same goal is to attract the most excellent minds from across the world to work for the company. These two are the specifics that give clarity to the overall goal, which is to make Google an information source. Discussion From the above observation I find out that Google Inc. is at par with its objectives as concerns the purpose of it existence. It is currently the most popular search engine that provides information to millions of people all across the globe. Google has come up with strategic objectives that enable them to draw periodical goals that conform to the Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound (SMART) objectives. Such strategic objectives are; to widen the human resource for anticipated company growth, venture into international markets and to continue going out of the box; that is development of innovative products. Google has captured the whole purpose without showing exactly the specific strategic objectives but through its company philosophy. This philosophy includes the following aspects. â€Å"Focus on the user and all else will follow, Its best to do one thing really, really well, Fast is better than slow, Democracy on the web works, You dont need to be at your desk to need an answer, You can make money without doing evil, Theres always more information available, The need for information crosses all borders, You can be serious without a suit, Great just isnt good enough† (Corporate Information, 2010). These are what it has made those people working for Google be very focused to obtaining a result. The first thing we expect is that the turnover is absent or very minimal, Gupta reports of a rate of 4. 3% voluntary turnover only (Gupta, 2009). Google has also had its revenues growing despite the recent economic recession. The year 2009 first quarter which was announced recently has an increase of 6% higher than that of the same period in the year 2008 which was at 3% (Google Announces First Quarter 2009 Results, 2010). In my opinion this shows that if a company draws clear purposes of existence, backed by a straightforward mission and strategic objectives, it will achieve the overall goal even in tough times.

Income and Wealth Equality Essay Example for Free

Income and Wealth Equality Essay Discuss whether the most effective way to have income and wealth equality is to tax income more progressively. Income is a stable flow of money, often a salary, which someone works for but this can also be made through interest on savings. This flow of money is often very unequal from person to person due to wage differentials, this then creates inequality. Wealth on the other hand is a stock of assets which have a market value, which may change over time e. g. houses or cars. These are often inherited but can be bought by someone through their income. Wealth and income often found together however someone who is wealthy doesn’t always have a large income. Their relationship with inequality is also very different with a lot more inequality found in wealth as a fifth of wealth is concentrated among the richest one per cent of households however there is still some in income. One way the government can stop this inequality is through a progressive taxation system that aims to tax the poorest people very little but make the money up by taxing the richer. This would work at several boundaries with someone income being taxed higher when it exceeds a certain limit. This then creates equality as the richer people have less money and the poorer have more from not paying tax and then the unemployed get benefits. This then reduces the budget deficit as the tax payers pay for people benefits, helping to reduce the class system. However one problem with this is that it may cause the highest earners to leave the country to avoid paying tax and companies moving their headquarters abroad where they will pay less tax. This happened in the 70s with the rolling stones but is also happening with corporations such Amazon and Costa and this something that may happen more if the richer are taxed too much. This is also taking money out of the economy as they spend their money abroad, out of the flow of income in the UK. Another problem with this system is that it creates ‘the poverty trap’. A type of government failure, this is when there is no incentive for people to get off benefits as they won’t make any more money. To stop this there may need to be a re-evaluation of the system as the replacement ratio is too high. This can also create poor attitudes, with generations of people not working. This is also found in the work place with some people refusing pay rises as they will have to pay more money in tax as they go through a tax boundary. However more recently this has happened with child benefits as these are being reduced depending on how much someone earns another reason why someone would refuse a pay rise. Wealth is often harder to tax however it is often caused by income so the tax system previously described may be used to reduce wealth and thus stopping inequality. This system can also be found in wealth though, with inheritance tax being used progressively. For example any money above 325,000 is taxed at 40%. This then creates a source of revenue for the government but also stops people inheriting huge sums of money, stopping inequality. However this system has its flaws as the tax has to be paid first, it could also be argued as unfair as someone who works for their money is entitled to leave it to who they want, especially as it was already taxed when it was earned. This system has also caused many pensioners to move abroad where what they leave is taxed less. The money inherited is also often used by entrepreneurs to fund businesses so the system may also reduce the possibility for future in income tax. This systems also sonly raises  £2.9bn a year, a mere 0.18% of GDP, which sometimes ends up being spent on court cases as people argue against the system. One alternative system for reducing inequality is by providing incentives for people to get into work. This could be done by changing the minimum wage as it would reduce the replacement ratio. This can also be achieved by reducing the unemployment benefits or making them harder to get. Reducing benefits would also lower the budget deficit as the government can save money. However this could be hard on people who genuinely can’t work due to long term illness or disability. Another way of increasing the work force is by increasing spending on training of workers but also in the education system. This will create better skilled and qualified workers, allowing them to make more money and giving them more job opportunities. This type of supply side policy can be expensive but there should be future benefits as their will be more money made from income tax. They would also create job opportunities for teachers or other people to teach skills. Other examples of this include apprenticeships and part time work schemes that together should create a job for everyone, reducing the tax bill. However they won’t work for everyone as there is always someone who will be left behind and It may also be hard to change the mind set of people who are used to not working. These types of policies would also all stop inequality as the poorer people would have employment opportunities giving them a higher source of income. However there are very little alternatives to redistribute wealth as it is impossible to give people items of value as those who are in poverty often don’t even have a house. The government may be able to provide schemes for people to work for their homes and other areas of wealth. It is also hard for them to find things of wealth at an affordable rate especially as it is normally found through work done by relatives. This is why it is unlikely to be done as it wouldn’t be very sustainable and effective however in theory the re distribution of wealth could be done. In conclusion the progressive tax system has its benefits as it provides a simple way of reducing inequality by taxing the rich and giving the poor money, bringing them closer financially. However in my opinion the system is the easy solution with short term benefits rather than long term gains that might happen through providing incentives rather than disincentives for people. However the problem with wealth is greater as it can’t be easily moved but through redistributing income wealth will consequently be redistributed as ultimately income is the main cause of wealth.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Comparison of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois

Comparison of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois had contrasting views on how to deal with the problems facing American-Americans. Which was superior in dealing with these conflicts? Booker T. Washington and WEB Du Bois are perhaps the two most important and influential African-Americans of the late nineteenth century and they both played pivotal roles in the Civil Rights movement. However, as the question suggests, they also had very contrasting political beliefs when it came to impacting the African-American movement. To fully understand where the two leaders had similarities and contrasts in their political views, I will first study Washingtons contributions to the African-American cause, and the reasons behind his choices. Focus will then shift to Du Bois views and his main criticisms of Washington, and whether these criticisms were valid or not. To understand the methods and reactions of Washington and Du Bois it is first essential to understand the background they were functioning in. During the late nineteenth century, when Washington and Du Bois were at their peak, Reconstruction had failed and life for many African-Americans was considerably worse then it had been before the American Civil War and the abolishment of slavery. African-Americans found themselves in the worse paid jobs in both rural areas, where they were exploited by an unfair sharecropping system, and in more urban areas, where the industrial revolution was beginning to take hold. Segregation was also rapidly moving throughout American society being reinforced in 1896 by the Plessy vs. Fergusoncase where it was decided that segregation was constitutional under the argument that it was â€Å"separate but equal†. More worryingly, during this time the number of African-Americans falling victim to lynching was rapidly growing. Due to these worsening con ditions many African-American leaders of the time developed a tolerating attitude towards the obvious oppression there people were suffering, believing that outspoken protest would only make situations worse, and so instead they would appeal for aid from wealthy and influential whites and encourage African-Americans to â€Å"lift themselves by their bootstraps†[1]. When looking at the background context it becomes clear why Washington and Du Bois had differing views when it came to Civil Rights. Washington had been born a slave in the South and grew up poorly fed and clothed and was denied an education. Growing up in the South Washington would have had first hand experience with the sort of discrimination many African-Americans were faced with at the time and would have also understood the real fear many African-Americans had of lynching. With this in mind it can be seen why Washington would have been more cautious in his methods of progressing Civil Rights. Du Bois by contrast was born a freeman in the North and didnt suffer discrimination until he entered higher education, and so it is understandable why he would not have had the same reservations as Washington when it came to a more radical approach to dealing with the oppression of African-Americans. Washingtons work for the African-American race can be most clearly seen when looking at the Tuskegee Institution, which still exists today. The school opened in July 1881 and was at the outset only space rented from a local church, with only one teacher, that being Washington. The following year Washington was able to purchase a former plantation, which became the permanent site of the school, and the students themselves erected and fitted the buildings, as well as growing their own crops and rearing their own livestock. While the Tuskegee Institute did offer some academic training for teachers, its main focus was on providing practical skills needed to survive in rural areas, such as carpentry and modern agricultural techniques. It can be argued that this more vocational slant towards teaching was damaging in the progression of African-American rights, however Washington believed that to become socially equal to whites, African-Americans must first become economically equal and show that they are responsible American citizens, who had something to offer society. Also, it can be argued that the practical teaching of the Tuskegee Institute was far more beneficial for the time than academic teaching would have been. The Institute is also a good example of why perhaps Washington had some merit with his views of appeasement. Washington was able to use his friendship with powerful white men to help finance the school and even got ex-slave owners, such as George W. Campbell, to support the new school. Without this aid it is unlikely that the Tuskegee Institute would have ever evolved from a small rented room into the huge institution that it is today. While the Tuskegee Institute showcased Washingtons views on education the Atlanta Expedition Address illustrated what he supposedly believed African-Americans place in society should be. Washington delivered the address in 1895, and was designed to â€Å"cement the friendship of the races and bring about hearty cooperation between them† [2]. Washingtons main purpose with the Atlanta Address was to help achieve a realistic settlement between Southern Whites, Northern Whites and the African-American community in a time when race relations were only getting worse. Washington was no doubt anxious not to antagonise the white population who held African-Americans at their mercy, and so he â€Å"urged blacks to remain in the South, work at the ‘common occupations of life, and accept the fact of white supremacy† [3]. When addressing the white population in his speech Washington reassured them that African-Americans had no intention or interest in securing social equality, that all they required was economic cooperation, â€Å"In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress† [4]. The work Washington did for African-American crossed over into the twentieth century with the creation of the National Negro Business Leaguein 1900. The aim of the League was to help promote and further the commercial and financial development of African-American business [5], not only in the South but also the North of America. The creation of the League empathized Washingtons belief that to become socially equal to whites that African-Americans must first become economically equal. However it can be argued that the League held little importance when considering African-American business as it did little to assist, but that it allowed Washington to have a â€Å"stronghold† of men in every black population of importance [6]. Compared to Washington Du Bois political views can be seen as being quite radical for the social climate of the time. Du Bois probably had more radical views because of his different background, as he didnt have a history of slavery and did live in fear of lynching the way many African-Americans did at the time. However, Du Bois did share some similarities in thought with Washington, for example Du Bois also believed that African-Americans needed to help bring themselves out of social inequality. However, unlike Washington, Du Bois believed that African-Americans needed leadership from a college-educated elite and that simple vocational education wasnt enough to elevate the position of African-Americans in society, â€Å"Men we shall have only as we make manhood the object of the work of the schools intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the world that was and is, and of the relation of men to it this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must underlie true life.On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain, with never a fear lest the child and man mistake the means of living for the object of life†[7], Du Bois set out the ideas of an elite group of African-Americans teaching other African-Americans in his â€Å"The Talented Tenth† article, the idea being that there was one in ten African-Americans, the talented tenth, was capable of becoming an influential leader, who would lead other African-Americans to a better future. Du Bois had many criticism of Washington, many of which he set out in an essay in 1903 titled â€Å"Of Mr Booker T Washington and Others†. Du Bois felt that Washington focused too much on vocational education and that â€Å"his educational program was too narrow† [8]. This particular criticism no doubt evolved from Du Bois own education which was wide and varied, and his more privileged background which allowed him the luxury of exploring avenues of education that wouldnt directly lead to work. Du Bois also believed that Washingtons methods and arguments â€Å"practically accepts the alleged inferiority of the Negro races†[9]. This criticism is almost entirely valid as Washington himself stated that African-Americans should accept White Supremacy in his Atlanta Expedition Address, and while it is doubtful that Washington himself saw the African-American race as inferior, he did little to try and convince the general population otherwise. Washington urged African-Americans to earn security through economic means and technical skills, and he put little importance on higher education and political and social rights, believing that they would follow naturally from economic freedom. However Du Bois argued that this approach would lead to many African-Americans living below the poverty line, because he believed that it was impossible for most people to gain economic rights and freedoms when they were unequal socially. Du Bois also clashed with Washington due to their differing political ideologies. While Washington championed capitalist ideals, Du Bois, who became a leading Black Marxist, felt that any social freedoms gained by economic progress would make the African-American population into dishonest money makers [10]. Du Bois Marxist views came into play with other disparagements he had with Washington, most apparent in 1903 when Du Bois tried to prove Washington was using â€Å"hush money† to control the African-American press, to make sure his own views were the more favoured in print [11]. To some degree Du Bois criticisms of Washington were valid, as Washington did little to resolve the social issues that plagued the African-American race, so as not to seem controversial or threatening to the white population. However, when looking at the backgrounds of the two leaders it becomes obvious why they had such opposing views. Washington had been born a Slave in the South and so he would naturally be more cautious and reserved when dealing with the white population as he knew the damage that a majority population could cause to African-Americans. He matured in a time when the number of lynchings was ever growing, and so he would fully recognise and understand the fear most African-Americans lived with. Du Bois by contrast, was born a freeman in the North, which was far more liberal and accepting than the South and so he didnt have a proper grasp of the everyday problems and anxieties many African-Americans dealt with. It can also be argued that while Du Bois spent large amo unts of his time criticising Washington, he actually did nothing practical to forward the progress of African-Americans the way Washington did with the Tuskegee Institute. While Du Bois was Washingtons most vocal and famous opponent, he was far from the only challenger. A black president of Atlanta University, John Hope, was vocal of his disagreement with Washingtons Atlanta Address, stating in 1896 â€Å"I regard it as cowardly and dishonest for any of our coloured men to tell white people and coloured people that we are not struggling for equality. Now catch your breath, for I am going to say that we demand social equality† [12]. While this view was to be expected among Northern black leaders, Hope shattered the illusion that all African-Americans in the South were willing to simply accept their lowered social status. William Monroe Trotter, editor of the Boston Guardian, was another of Washingtons most unforgiving critics and claimed that â€Å"[Washington], whatever good he may do, has injured and is injuring the race more than he can aid it by his school. Let us hope that Booker Washington will remain mouth-closed at Tuskegee. If he will do this, all his former sins will be forgiven†[13]. Trotters views are to some degree far harsher than Du Bois were, but the general idea theme is the same, that Washington was not helping the African-American race by deemphasising the importance of social equality, and that he was in fact hindering to movement. Trotter also challenged Washington at a National Negro Business League meeting in Boston while Washington was giving a speech. Trotter posed a number of questions that challenged Washington and his views, before he was arrested. While Washington did not respond to the challenges, Trotter made his point and the incident was reported as â€Å"The Boston Riot† the next day in papers. As can be seen, Washington and Du Bois had to some degree very opposing views on how to handle and progress the African-American race. Washington put great empathise on vocational education that would give practical skills to African-Americans living in the South. Rather than focus on social and political equality, Washington stressed the importance of economic advancement, believing that once the average African-American had the power of wealth that political and social freedoms and powers would follow. Washington felt there was great importance in appeasing the white majority, for the economic and political power it affording him in furthering the African-American cause and because he lived in the turbulent South, where it was dangerous to be a radical black man. Du Bois political ideas contrasted with Washingtons idea of â€Å"appeasement† and he had a far more radical approach to Civil Rights. Du Bois didnt think that it was possible for African-Americans to achieve econom ic equality before they had achieved social and political equality. Du Bois more radical approach stems from his background, as he did not share the same fear as Washington and did not experience the same forms of racism. Bu Bois could afford to be more radical has he had not experienced slavery and his placement in the North meant that he did not share the fear of lynching that many in the South had. Du Bois also put more empathise on academic teaching and did not feel that Washingtons vocational education would be useful in helping the progress of African-Americans. However, Washington and Du Bois did share some similarities in political thought. They both recognised the importance of having the support of powerful white men, who could both finance and encourage their cause. While both Washington and Du Bois had good arguments for doing things in their particular ways, it is probably safe to say that neither had perfect strategies. Washington was too timid to argue for equality, and Du Bois had no practical ideas he could implement. It is fair to suggest that a mixture of their two views would have been the best way to progress the African-American cause, as Washington had practical methods of improved the average African-Americans life, such as the Tuskegee Institute, and Du Bois was able to protest the obvious oppression that African-Americans suffered. Bibliography American Memory from the Library of Congress, 2008, National Negro Business League, http://lcweb2.loc.gov:8081/ammem/amrlhtml/dtnegbus.html Fairclough, Adam, 2002, Better Day Coming: Blacks and Equality, 1890-2000, New York: Penguin Books Franklin, John H., Meier, August, 1982, Black Leaders of the Twentieth Century, Illinois: University of Illinois Press History Matters, 2006, Booker T. Washington Delivers the 1895 Atlanta Compromise Speech, http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/39/ History Matters, 2006, W.E.B. DuBois Critiques Booker T. Washington: Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others, http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/40 TeachingAmericanHistory.org, 2008, The Talented Tenth by WEB Du Bois, http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=174 White, John,1985, Black Leadership in America 1895-1968, New York: Longman Inc.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Summary of The Pianist Essay -- essays research papers

The Pianist Summary From 1939 to 1945, the world merely watched while six million Jews were viciously executed by the Nazis. Never in the history of the world had man kind experienced such evil against one class of people. The Pianist, a movie directed by Roman Polanski, is a touching, yet brutally honest film about a man living under the unforgiving conditions of the Holocaust. Adrien Brody demonstrates spectacular acting skills while playing this man, Wladyslaw Szpilman. The story starts out in Warsaw, Poland, 1939, at the house of Szpilman’s Jewish family. Szpilman helped to support his family by playing the piano at different cafes and bars, and for the Polish radio station. By 1940, the Nazi force had already impacted many of the Jewish population. The Jewish were only allowed into some shops and restaurants, they had to walk in the gutters, and bow to the Nazis. On October 13, 1940, the Nazis issued an announcement stating that all Jews had to report to a â€Å"settlement† in Warsaw by the 31st and wear one-inch armbands with the Star of David printed on them. This was to dist... Summary of The Pianist Essay -- essays research papers The Pianist Summary From 1939 to 1945, the world merely watched while six million Jews were viciously executed by the Nazis. Never in the history of the world had man kind experienced such evil against one class of people. The Pianist, a movie directed by Roman Polanski, is a touching, yet brutally honest film about a man living under the unforgiving conditions of the Holocaust. Adrien Brody demonstrates spectacular acting skills while playing this man, Wladyslaw Szpilman. The story starts out in Warsaw, Poland, 1939, at the house of Szpilman’s Jewish family. Szpilman helped to support his family by playing the piano at different cafes and bars, and for the Polish radio station. By 1940, the Nazi force had already impacted many of the Jewish population. The Jewish were only allowed into some shops and restaurants, they had to walk in the gutters, and bow to the Nazis. On October 13, 1940, the Nazis issued an announcement stating that all Jews had to report to a â€Å"settlement† in Warsaw by the 31st and wear one-inch armbands with the Star of David printed on them. This was to dist...

Friday, July 19, 2019

Increasing Awareness of Child Abuse :: Violence Against Children

In recent years, child abuse has become, for the first time, an issue worthy of much attention. Child abuse happens everywhere; it is deeply embedded and practiced in many various cultures and geographical locations. Everyone has his or her own opinion on the significance of child abuse. To some, abuse merely is a topic that people have become obsessed with. Many people believe that abuse is only an extreme word for good discipline. These people are blind to the seriousness of child abuse. There are several very negative effects that spur from child abuse. These effects are anything but healthy in reference to the development of a child abused in any way. Many parents, in every culture, use child abuse as a method of conditioning their children to behave well. They use severe negative reinforcement too punish their children. These parents only see the immediate effects of child abuse. Naturally, if a child is beaten for doing something wrong, they will learn not to do it again. However, abused children tend to develop many problems later in life. In some cases, abused children will avoid growing close to people. They feel more comfortable trying to hide all of their pain and suffering. An approach like this to building relationships can lead to a lack of the true sense of intimacy and trust. A child will isolate themselves from others and experience severe loneliness. Abused children are more likely to bully other children around, isolating themselves from their peers (Judith 117). They sometimes fall into the pattern of befriending people who will only betray and cause them more pain. Abuse to a child can be a source of very painful experiences. Children often handle these experiences in the wrong way. Sometimes, these children try to ignore these painful feelings, which makes it difficult to learn how to cope with them. This behavior may lead to confusion and high stress. Children often become lost in the wavering maze of feeling little or no emotion, then switching to being overwhelmed with emotion and not knowing how to handle their feelings. These children may become psychologically unhealthy due to their emotionally instability (www.childabuse.com). Someone that was abused as a child is more likely to become an abusive parent than someone who was not (Judith 221). In this way, abuse can carry on from generation from generation. These families have unhealthy relationships. Family members frequently lack the love, caring, and friendship that everyone needs.