Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Language - Essay Example Language and culture are closely related, especially because language is part of culture. When considered individually, however, language and culture have a major impact on national identity. In this regard, Anderson is right in arguing that the mother tongue is the medium through which fellowships are imagined, history is rebuilt, and futures fantasised among patriots1. First, it is important to explore the concept of nationalism since it has a huge bearing on the impact of language. Nationalism is a relatively new concept for most countries; this is because most countries are relatively young. In this regard, it could be said that the oldest countries have the strongest links to nationalism2. For example, it is hardly surprising that terms like Americanism, capitalism, and communism, liberalism, socialism and anarchism are more entrenched in Western societies than in African ones. These isms are not only foreign but also imposed, and language is the vehicle used to facilitate such imposition. However, what differentiates younger from older countries is culture, because culture is rarely dependent on nationalistic ideals. In English in the World: History, Diversity, Change, Seargeant and Swann explore the concept of globalisation and its connection to the spread of English3. Globalisation is often cited as one of the hindrances to nationalism and the development of nationalist ideals; this makes it a prime candidate for the examination of the relationship between struggles over the English language and struggles over national identities. The authors argue that the relationship between globalisation and English is two-way4. On one hand, the greater dynamism in society and the manner in which numerous facets of contemporary life function on an international rather than national level create a need for a standard method of communication that supersedes national boundaries. For example, if an enterprise wants to trade with businesses in other parts of the

Southeast Asian in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Southeast Asian in the US - Essay Example It has been statistically proven that the influx of refugees in Massachusetts from the East and Southeast Asia is on the rise since the number grew from 169 (2006) to 498 (2009) (Refugee and Immigrant Health Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health 1). The Southeast Asian refugees come from diverse and distinct cultures across the world that makes it impossible to assimilate them in a unified group. The Massachusetts government was amazed by the complex diversity of the large refugee groups, who flew their country owing to various historical circumstances. In addressing the current refugee problems, there is a need for a perspective development that takes care of some consistencies in terms of the refugee behavior and experience. This development perspective would help in addressing the social and psychological problems of the refugees, and in the same context, the refugee behavior can be socially patterned. This developed perspective strategy would help in analyzing the refugee problems from historical, comparative and general views. These analytical views prioritize the refugee problems as recurring with identifiable characteristics, casualty sets and similar patterns of behavior. Indeed this analysis will help in treating speci fic refugee problems as atypical, unique and personal historical events in line with the general subject. The refugee problems, behavior and situations, which occur in many regions, contexts and times should also be carefully analyzed. Another experience with the Southeast Asian refugees is little analysis given to the refugee camps. Only a few materials exist in the camps, and just a few scholars have made attempts to examine the effects of experience at the camps on the refugee behavior. Still, there are no camps classification systems nor some of the important camp experience elements.

The Tragedy By Pablo Picasso

The Tragedy By Pablo Picasso The Tragedy by Pablo Picasso was painted in 1903 in Barcelona, Spain (nga.gov). The piece was constructed by oil on wood. It stands at 41 7/16 x 27 3/16 inches (nga.gov). The time at which The Tragedy was created is known as Picassos blue period. At this time he was dealing with the recent suicide of his close friend Carlos Casagemas (Artist Pablo Picasso). The blue period was defined by gloomy and depressive subject matter, and an overuse of blue colors. Both of these characteristics are evident in The Tragedy. The scene in the painting is that of a middle aged man, a woman, and a young boy standing on a shoreline. The scene is dark blue and gloomy which helps to create an overwhelming feeling of sadness evident in the painting. The three of them are position at an angle from the viewer and the woman stands with her back to the viewer. Their body language tells us of stress and depression. Picasso provided little detail to the sky or ocean, both of which are blue. The dark sand also lacks detail and has been mixed with shades of blue. The bodies and clothes of the people are the only detailed parts of the work. This was done to make sure that the viewer knows the importance of the piece is human emotion. The three of them are without shoes, and their clothes are dark in color suggesting that they are wet. Picasso mostly used line and color to complete the visual elements of The Tragedy. The colors of the blue period reflected the depression of his own life into his art. This is especially true in this work. The lines in this piece are mostly vertical. Most are a part of the makeup of the people. Two strong vertical lines outline the woman and one strong vertical line holds up the right side of the man. Other vertical lines make up the remainder of the man and also the boy. These types of lines are also very emphasized in the makeup of their clothes. One strong horizontal line separates the water from the sky. The strong horizontal line helps to balance the painting which is mostly dominated by vertical lines. The work is mostly still with slight motion apparent where the water meets the shore. Picasso used several white, flowing lines to represent this motion. Otherwise the ocean and the sky are calm and still. The painting is not quite symmetrical. The woman stands to one side of the scene, and the boy and man to the other. Though this would seem to set the piece off balance, Picasso did a great job of keeping the work very well balanced through the use of color and line. The scale of the people in comparison to the water and sky is not well proportioned. The people almost seem too big for the scene. Though this is so, I believe it is an effect used to again show the focus of humans and their emotion to this work. The deep blues of this art is what caught my eye. When I saw this piece I knew I needed to know the story. After some research on the piece I feel as though the story Picasso is telling us is still unknown. Perhaps he wanted the individual viewer to interpret the story in their own way. One review on the work (The Artist Pablo Picasso) suggested that the man, woman, and boy are a family. This review suggests that the family is not stranded on the beach as many would assume at first look, but rather that they are a homeless family who live on or near this beach. The reviewer says that the way the family stands suggests this possibility. He argues that the family seems familiar with the area and stands aloof as if in deep thought rather than looking as though they are distraught and confused as they would if they were lost. A second review of the work written by Jon Corey suggests that guilt is a main theme in the work. He says that multiple characteristics of the mans posture suggest that he is the guilty party. These characteristics include a dropped head and one foot a step back from the other. He says that the body language of the woman implies that she is the one who reprimands the man. Corey also suggests that the three subjects are not a family. This is illustrated through the distance between the three of them. We assume that if they were a family there would be a stronger feeling of connectedness between the three of them. Although I agree more with the latter analysis of the work, Corey does not tell us his view of where the three of them came from. In my personal opinion I think that the three of them did come from the sea, but like Corey I do not think they are a family. They all look cold and wet as if they had just washed ashore. I feel that that they are the only three survivors of a ship that capsized. Perhaps guilt is a theme of the piece in that they feel guilty of being the only survivors. Blue is my favorite color, and though it represents sadness especially in this particular work, I am still very drawn to it. I think that the mysteriousness of the work also draws me in. I am not typically a fan of Picasso, but I like this piece. It is something that I would have in my own home if given the chance. I am still interested to know if there was an intended story behind the work or if it was simply meant for me to tell my own. Works Cited Artist Pablo Picasso, The. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.theartistpablopicasso.com/pablo- picasso-painting-tragedy.htm (2010, April 21). Corey, Jon. (2007, November 13). Art History. Retrieved from: http://quazen.com/arts/art-history/pablo-picassos (2010, April 21). National Gallery of Art. (2010). Pablo Picassos The Tragedy: Metamorphosis of a Painting. Retrieved from http://www.nga.gov/feature/picasso/index.shtm (2010, April 20). Claude Monet: The Japanese Footbridge 1899 Claude Monet was a French artist who lived from 1840 until 1926. This painting titled The Japanese Footbridge was completed in 1899. The piece is a scene from his own water garden at Giverny (nga.gov). The scene was recreated by him over 250 times during the later half of his life. He became so obsessed with painting this particular scene that eventually became the only topic of his works (nga.gov). There are multiple other works by Monet with same or similar titles and content. This piece is 32 x 40in and was created by oil on canvas (nga.gov). Monet was a major part of the impressionism movement. The term impressionism was actually an insult made toward a work by Monet (Frank 366). The term stuck and the movement grew. The focus of these artists was landscapes, seasons, and time of day. The impressionist wanted to portray what the eye actually sees rather than what the mind knows (Frank 365). From this movement The Japanese Footbridge was created. The painting depicts a stream surround by very tall and thick grass. The stream is covered in light pink lily pads. The water is not clear, but rather emphasizes the reflection of the grass surrounding it. As an impressionist piece the colors are not separated, but instead meshed together making a less vivid image of the scene. Starting the bottom of the work you see the scene as if from almost eye level with the water. At the top of the canvas a blue-gray bridge crosses the stream leading to either side of the grassy banks. There are trees in the background giving us a sense that the stream winds out of view. Like most of Monets work and that of other impressionist there is very little to the scene. The bridge, water, grass, lily pads, and background of trees complete the scene giving us no view of the sky or what lies to either side of the stream. The visual elements of the work give the viewer a feeling of peace when viewing the painting. The lines are soft and curved. The curve of the bridge is the most prominent line in the work. The soft yet bold line of the bridge combined with its blueish-gray color sets the mood for the viewer. Although it is a peaceful scene, the balance of the color scheme sets the mood to neither happy nor sad. The dark greens and blues contrast the light pinks and white. The scene is very still which also helps the viewer to feel at peace. There is no recognizable notion to movement of the water leading us to believe it is either a still stream or a very slow moving one. This lack of notion makes me feel as though time is standing still in the painting. The center of the work is light in contrast to heavy. The heaviness or mass in the piece is focused in the background and to the sides. This mass is concentrated in the thick forest of tress in the background and the overgrown grass to the sides. The focus of light (color) is on the bridge. In a few spots on what we see as the front of the bridge the color is very light blue. It almost does not match the rest of the bridge. Monet used this to give the illusion that the sun is reflecting off the bridge. Knowing that time of day was important to his work, I must conclude that this is a scene at either sunset or sunrise. The painting is almost perfectly symmetrical. The stream runs directly through the center of the work dividing the two grassy banks into two small equal proportions. The way the water winds smoothly around the lily pads leads the eye to the trees of the background. In this background there is a dark spot in the trees that falls in the center of the work. This spot helps to divide the work to be even more symmetrical. The bridge railings were positioned just enough off center to prevent the work from being perfectly symmetrical, but the work is still very well balanced. A reflection of the bridge falls in the bottom of the painting extending the balance from not only left to right but also top to bottom. With the reflection of the bridge Monet makes it clear to us that this is a wooden bridge by revealing the bottom of the bridge in the reflection. In the reflection we see brown that we do not see if the actual bridge. I have found from this class that I enjoy impressionism more than any other types of art. I cannot say that this is my favorite piece by Monet since I favor the work Impression: Sunrise as one of my favorite works of art in general, but I do like The Japanese Footbridge. I like the serenity of the scene and I love the bridge. I think the things I do not like about the painting are the view and the colors. I feel a little trapped in the small scene Monet provides for us and I want to be able to see what lies outside of what he is allowing us to see. I also find the colors a little dull. Like all artists I am sure he had a purpose in choosing his colors, but something a little brighter would have made the piece better for me. Even the use of more light could have brightened it up just enough to take away that neutral feeling of neither happiness nor sadness. Over all I think it is a good painting. He used the visual element and the principles of design in a way to make the piece easy o n the eye and enjoyable to look at. Works Cited Frank, P. (2009). Prebles Artforms. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. National Gallery of Art. (2010). The Collection. Retrieved from http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/gg85/gg85-74796.html (2010, April 19). The Shipwreck By Claude Joseph Vernet Claude Joseph Vernet was a French painter in the eighteenth century. He was the most famous water and landscape artist of his time (nga.gov). He was well known for portraying weather and time of day in his work (nga.gov). Most of his pieces included scenes of either rain, lightning, clouds, moonlight, sunset, storms or a combination of these subjects (nga.gov). He Specialized in [these] stormy seascapes, often depicting sailing vessels in distress (nga.gov). Vernets painting The Shipwreck is an example of one of these specialized seascapes. The piece is 44 ÃÆ'- 64 inches and was created with the use of oil on canvas. The scene in The Shipwreck is that of a ship being washed under by massive waves. The ship has approached the beach, and the few remaining on board are just seconds from either safety or disaster. Most passengers have made it to the safety of the beach and are frantically watch as the ship is overcome with water. The wind is so powerful that the sail of the ship is being pulled inland and is running almost parallel to the beach. Those who have escaped the sinking ship have done so by climbing down the ropes of the sail and dropped safely off the rope and onto the beach. The survivors stand holding ropes of the sail in what looks to be an attempt to stabilize the ship just long enough for the remaining passengers to escape via this route. Two people hang from the ropes of safety as though debating when to let go and make the fall to land. A person on the beach stands beneath them with their arms raised as to say Jump and I will catch you. Four people have made it to the top of the sail and are approaching the safety of the ropes. Another person climbs the sail in an effort to reach the top and make his way down the rope. One last person can be seen on the deck of the ship. His back is to us as he leans over the side of the ship that is yet to go under. He leans hard. It makes the viewer ask if the man is on his way overboard or if he is his last attempts to reach out for someone who has already gone overboard. To the right a person is stranded on a boulder that lines the beach. To the left another bolder strands two more people. Behind these two people a huge wave crashes against the tall rock shore line. In the front left hand corner a group of people have made it away from the crashing shore and to a safer place. Three of them attend to a limp woman who seems to be injured or even unconscious. Another man in this area rolls a barrel up the beach to a safer place. In the back ground another ship can be seen. It also looks as though it too will soon be taken by the storm. Atop the tall rocky shoreline a castle can be seen in the distance. Vernet used lightening from the storm to create light in this piece. A huge diagonal streak of lightening hangs in the sky just above the second ship. The sky is lit in pink around the lightening while the rest of the sky is covered in dark, stormy grays and blues. The lightening streak has a sharp line that shows its strength and assertiveness in the sky. This line points directly to a city in the background of the painting. The city is lit by the lightening in a warm pink. The warmth of the city symbolized a safe place. It says to the viewer; If only the ship would have washed ashore here, everything would be okay. Vernet used other sharp, assertive lines as well. The mast of the ship which hangs over the beach holds a sharp line that points toward the upper left hand side of the painting. The eye follows this line upward and to a broken tree branch that hangs in the rocks of the shore. Vernet used color to show us that this tree has recently been broken in the midst of the storm. The remaining tree limbs blow hard to the left indicating the direct of the overpowering wind. From there the eye is caught by the white of a breaking wave against a dark background. This is when the two people stranded on the boulder are noticed. From the boulder the eye is taken by horizontal lines of the waves of the sea and carried over to the sinking ship. This is when the viewer takes more detail to deck of the ship. From here the viewer is also made aware of a man stranded on a second boulder. Line and color are the strongest visual elements in this piece. Though line plays a great role in the flow of the work, I feel that Vernets use of color is what made the painting great to me. The dark sky is lit by the lightening in a pinkish orange. This color is reflected on the city in the background. Above the city the sky is purple. The purple blends into a dark blue and grays which then become lighter blue in spots above the ship. These lighter blue spots were used to portray the sun that is hidden behind the dark, stormy clouds. The portrayal of the sun is also evident on the beach. In the area that is the focus of the piece, the sun shines down and lights the people. The sand here is lighter, and the ocean is green in this area rather than blue. In the sky above this area a break in the clouds reveals the blue sky. This is where the sunlight is coming from. I think the use of light here gives the viewer a sense of hope, and the knowing that these people will survive. In contr ast to these people, the last man aboard the deck of the ship is very dark. A small area of light reflects of his back just enough to make him noticeable. I feel that this man was painted in dark colors to portray his fate of not surviving this shipwreck. The color and the seascape is what made me choice this painting. I love the blues, greens, and purples of the piece, and water is my favorite subject when it comes to art. After close attention to the detail of this piece I respect it in a different way. The symbolism of light and dark in this painting is beautiful. I have never really thought of art in that sense until now. It has opened my eyes to how perfectly the visual elements can be manipulated to create something meaningful. Works Cited Claude Joseph Vernet: The Shipwreck. (2010). Retrieved from the National Gallery of Art website: http://www.nga.gov/feature/artnation/vernet/index.shtm. (2010, April 24). Vincent van Goghs Girl in White After research on Starry Night by van Gogh, I have taken interest in him. I wanted to research another piece by him so I choose Girl in White. I choose this piece for two reasons. The first reason was because I wanted to study something far different from Starry Night. At first glance of this piece it is easy to see that the content and colors used are considerably different in the two paintings. Secondly, the time at which this was painted is interesting to me. I know that he died in July of 1890 after a self inflicted gun shot wound to the stomach (Life of van Gogh ). Girl in White is dated 1890 (nga.gov) as well, meaning this piece by him was created in the midst of his final emotional breakdown. Girl in White was done in the post-impressionist style which van Gogh is known for. It a 26 1/4 x 18 1/16 inch oil on canvas (nga.gov). The content is exactly what it sounds like it would be. A girl dressed in a white dress stands in the center of the painting. She is surrounded by tall flowers and appears to be standing in the middle of a field. There is little detail to the work. The flowers in the piece hardly even resemble flowers. Van Gogh simply used long, thick brush strokes to represent these flowers. They are slightly off color to the rest of the back ground which makes them more noticeable. He also painted occasional small red circles which represent the buds of the flowers. The girl is dressed in a white dress. To me this dress looks to be a wedding dress, but she wears a large sun hat on her head which means this probably is not a wedding dress. Although titled Girl, this does not look to be a girl, but rather a woman in her mid to late twentys. What little facial features van Gogh did provide make to woman appear to be stressed and unhappy. If this were a young girl I would expect a lighter mood expressed on her face. The lines in the piece are all vertical. The woman appears to be very tall because of the way these lines were used. The long straight lines of her dress, long arms, and near abnormally long hands and fingers make this so. A curved line used in the hat which falls across her forehead helps to break up all the vertical lines. Without this line, the painting would seem too sharp and less appealing to the eye. The placement of the woman on the canvas also gives this vertical appearance. The very bottom of the canvas consists of the lower half of her dress, but her feet are not showing. The upper part contains a small amount of the surrounding field, but the womans hat nearly reaches the top of the canvas. Her body takes up most of the space vertically, yet more of the field is apparent to the left and right of the woman. This combined with many vertical lines emphasizes her appearance of being very tall and thin. Van Gogh used light in an interesting way in this piece. I feel that it is hard to focus on this womans face because it appears dark and shaded from light. Instead the eyes are more drawn to the lighter areas of the woman which focus on her dress around the breast area and lower stomach. I do not know if this was meant to be symbolic of fertility in anyway, but it seems possible. The colors in this piece are plain and far different from a lot of his work toward the end of his life. Van Gogh painted with dull colors in his early works, but had taken a drastic turn in color scheme in his later pieces. I personally feel like this piece is reflective of the emotional pain he was enduring at the time this was created. Since dark colors a usually associated with death and dying, which I believe van Gogh was debating at the time this was created, I feel that the light colors used here represent his peace he associated with no longer being in his cruel world. It is known that van Gogh used color to express emotion in his work and this helps me to draw this unusual conclusion. When I look at this piece and consider the artist, and the year it was created, a story comes to my mind. I do not know if the story I create is anywhere close to the truth. I did not research this piece by van Gogh specifically, instead I wanted to take my own view of it and analyze it without any outside bias. The story I see is that of van Goghs lover after his death. She is dressed in her wedding dress when she hears the news of his death. In deep sorrow she wanders aimlessly into a field. There she stands with no direction of where to go, and the confusion and sadness is shown on her face. The light reflected on her breast and stomach could be symbolic of their plans to have children or symbolize that she is already in the early stages of pregnancy. Works Cited Life and Art of Vincent van Gogh. (March 23, 2010). Retrieved from http://lifeofvangogh.com National Gallery of Art. (2010). The Collection. Retrieved from http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/vangogh/vangogh-46505.html (2010, April 28). Thomas Morans Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Thomas Moran was born in England in 1837. He moved to the United States as a young boy, and grew up in Pennsylvania. Though born in England, he is considered an American artist (nga.gov). The subject of his art was always American landscapes. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone was completed in 1872 and is considered a part of Morans western collection. This painting is said to have launched his career as an artist (nga.gov). Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is a landscape scene from Yellow Stone National Park in Wyoming (Smithsonian). The view is from inside of a canyon. The viewer looks out over a ledge and straight ahead to a water fall in the distance. A mist has built up from the fall and it clouds the view. From the mist, the eye catches the blue water of the Yellowstone River (Smithsonian) and carries the viewer back to the ledge. Two people stand in the distance at the edge of the ledge. It is said that one of these two people is Moran himself (nga.gov). Also in the distance what appears to be a horse and people with luggage are making their way up the trail toward to viewer. The viewer is looking west. I think this is important to the work because it symbolizes Morans plans of exploration further west. It is as if he stopped here and took in the view of the direction he was headed. I know that the viewer is looking west because more vegetation is apparent on the right side of the canyon. More vegetati on indicates a northern direction. I know this from personal experience in the western United States. Moran used light to show us how huge the western sky is. He did this by creating large dark and light areas throughout the piece. This is significant because starting with the position of the viewer the ground goes from dark to light, back to dark, and again to light in the far off distance. The first dark area is not as important as the second because it is likely only the shadows of the canyon. The second dark area however is representational of a cloud over head. This is noticeable because of the way the ground is again lighter in the distance. If you have ever experienced the huge western sky this is easy to catch on to. I think Moran did the piece this way because he wanted to include the feeling of the large sky without actually showing it. The view from which the scene is painted does not allow much room for the sky so he had to show its enormousness in a different way. In the far distance above the canyon the land flattens to a plateau. In the even further distance snowcapped mountains can be recognized. This is also another indication that the viewer is looking west and toward the Rocky Mountains. The scale at which Moran painted himself and the other people helps us to grasp the vastness of canyon. They are so small that they are almost not even noticed. This gives the viewer an idea of how huge the canyon really is. Moran was painting for those who had never seen anything like this before, and he wanted them to be ale to feel completely engulfed into the scene as he had felt. I do not feel that Moran did anything too fancy with the piece as far as visual elements are concerned. I think he painted what he saw the way he saw it, and that is what makes it great. I think this is obvious by his use of colors. They consist of dull browns and earth tones. They are not popular or catchy colors that would typically draw you into a painting, but they are the true colors that he saw. Because of this I can appreciate this painting more than any other that I have studied. I know that it is real. There is no underlying meaning or message to be heard. It is just truth. He wanted you to see the canyon as it really is and appreciate its natural beauty. Landscape pieces are my favorite subject in art. I am especially fond of Morans western collection because of my own personal attachment there. I can relate to his art better than any other artist I have studied because I know what he felt when he painted these scenes. I know that I felt the same way the first time I traveled west. It is an indescribable feeling of beauty and you become completely engulfed in to it. To me there is nothing else like it, and I long to be back there almost every day! I am so glad I found this piece because it helps to fill in a little piece of me that is missing.

NAFTA Destroyed Employment Essay examples -- Free Trade, Globalization

NAFTA and the North American Worker The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed into law on December 8, 1993 by former President Bill Clinton. The goal was to facilitate trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada by eliminating tariffs on goods traded between them, but it was also about creating jobs. William Orme (1996) affirmed, â€Å"From the beginning, the Bush Administration said NAFTA was about three things: ‘jobs, jobs, jobs’† (p. 112). The trade agreement was sold to the workers of North America with the promise of better jobs, higher pay, and faster growth, but it did not turn out this way for workers in the U.S., for workers in Mexico, or for workers in Canada. According to the Economic Policy Institute, instead of an increase in better paying jobs in the U.S., over a million jobs were lost in ten years with a decrease in wages for many workers with less than a college education (Scott, Salas, & Campbell, 2006). The Mexican economy that NAFTA was expected to prop up has become one of cheap labor used to assemble imported goods into final products for export. James Cypher (2011) confirmed: â€Å"NAFTA has permanently tied Mexico to a low-wage export strategy† (p. 62). In Canada, the once generous social welfare programs granted to workers and citizens alike have been reduced since NAFTA was ratified. The U.S. Worker Although the impact has been less due to the size of the U.S. economy, the U.S. worker has still been adversely affected since NAFTA was implemented. This has been mainly due to the growing trade deficits with Mexico and Canada that have arisen after the agreement became law. The high-paying jobs of U.S. workers in industries that manufacture and export goods have been displaced as a result of more g... ...ited?. The International Economy, 22(3), 24-35. Retrieved from Research Library. (Document ID: 1554987891). Bacon, D. (2004). The children of NAFTA: Labor wars on the U.S./Mexico border. Berkeley: University of California Press. Cypher, J. M. (2011). MEXICO SINCE NAFTA: Elite Delusions and the Reality of Decline. New Labor Forum (Murphy Institute), 20(3), 60-69. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. MacArthur, J. R. (2000). The selling of "free trade": NAFTA, Washington, and the subversion of American democracy. New York: Hill and Wang. Orme, W. A. (1996). Understanding NAFTA: Mexico, free trade, and the new North America. Austin: University of Texas Press. Scott, R. E., Salas, C., & Campbell, B. (2006). Revisiting NAFTA: Still not working for North America’s workers. Economic Policy Institute. EPI Briefing Paper #173. Retrieved from http://www.epi.org/publication/bp173/.

Dealer Satisfaction

WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Introduction A firm is required to maintain a balance between liquidity and profitability while conducting its day to day operations. Liquidity is a precondition to ensure that firms are able to meet its short-term obligations and its continued flow can be guaranteed from a profitable venture. The importance of cash as an indicator of continuing financial health should not be surprising in view of its crucial role within the business.This requires that business must be run both efficiently and profitably. In the process, an asset-liability mismatch may occur which may increase firm’s profitability in the short run but at a risk of its insolvency. On the other hand, too much focus on liquidity will be at the expense of profitability and it is common to find finance textbooks begin their working capital sections with a discussion of the risk and return tradeoffs inherent in alternative working capital policies.Thus, the manager of a business entity is in a dilemma of achieving desired tradeoff between liquidity and profitability in order to maximize the value of a firm. Importance of Working Capital The working capital meets the short-term financial requirements of a business enterprise. It is a trading capital, not retained in the business in a particular form for longer than a year. The money invested in it changes form and substance during the normal course of business operations.The need for maintaining an adequate working capital can hardly be questioned. Just as circulation of blood is very necessary in the human body to maintain life, the flow of funds is very necessary to maintain business. If it becomes weak, the business can hardly prosper and survive. Working capital starvation is generally credited as a major cause if not the major cause of small business failure in many developed and developing countries. Objectives of Working CapitalIt is becoming more and more difficult to use debt to finance mechanical engineering firms. Companies in this industry are therefore forced to optimize their capital employed in order to become less dependent on borrowed money. Management of Working Capital While the performance levels of small businesses have traditionally been attributed to general managerial factors such as manufacturing, marketing and operations, working capital management may have a consequent impact on small business survival and growth.The management of working capital is important to the financial health of businesses of all sizes. The amounts invested in working capital are often high in proportion to the total assets employed and so it is vital that these amounts are used in an efficient and effective way. However, there is evidence that small businesses are not very good at managing their working capital. Given that many small businesses suffer from under capitalisation, the importance of exerting tight control over working capital investment is difficult to overstate

Overview of Conflicts of Interest Essay

Confidentiality is also something that some volunteers of the Remedios AIDS Foundation should also learn. Although many officers of this NGO advocate confidentiality, many of its volunteers could still breach this ethical code, thus further isolating prospective clients. It is a well-known fact that the life of the first Filipino AIDS victim was made into a commercial movie, and had attracted thousands of audience – making it seem like a carnival show. This is precisely the kind of stigma that HIV/AIDS victims is afraid of, and something that the Remedios AIDS Foundation – and many other NGOs dealing with this disease — is trying to work out. The Remedios AIDS Foundation is also faced with the dilemma on how to conduct research without exposing the patients to various risks (CIOMS 1993). As an NGO that do social and medical research, it has to ensure that HIV/AIDS patients must also benefit from its studies. It is unethical to expose subjects to the risks of participating in a research study unless the design is sufficiently rigorous that the results will be valid and generalizable (U. S. National Commission for the Protection of the Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research). Another critical ethical consideration that must be dealt with accordingly by the Remedios AIDS Foundation is how to maintain objectivity in front of emotional patients. Culturally speaking, the Filipino people tend to be emphatic of each other’s plights, thus it is not an isolated case to find volunteers who are emotionally affected by the conditions of HIV/AIDS patients. This eventually leads them to quit from their volunteer work and/or to be personally involved in their patients’ cases, which often clouds their critical judgment. Applications The best thing to do here is to implement an intensive and extensive information campaign on AIDS and the advantages of belonging to a core group that can emotionally and physically assist the AIDS victims. Moreover, volunteers of the Remedios AIDS Foundation should also undergo intensive training and education on how to properly deal with HIV/AIDS patients. It must be noted that these patients are already wrapped in insecurity and treating them with slight uncertainty will only decrease their self-confidence. To meet the ethical obligations for research, on the other hand, this NGO must conduct studies whose sample sizes must be adequate. Suitable study endpoints must also be selected. It must also ensure that clinical trials must undergo preliminary laboratory and animal research. It must always take into consideration that research with human participants raises ethical concerns because people accept risks and inconvenience to advance scientific knowledge and to benefit others (Lo 2000). Social researchers of this NGO must also learn how to use language that is not offensive to study participants. Conclusion As one of the NGOs at the forefront of combating HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, the Remedios AIDS Foundation is faced with many ethical dilemmas that it is trying to overcome one by one. Although it is difficult to do in this largely Catholic country where promiscuity is being strongly detested and HIV/AIDS is being associated with promiscuity, it continues to embark on a rigorous warfare against HIV/AIDS in the country. Everything is an uphill battle because social norms and religiosity keep HIV/AIDS patients from coming forward in the open to seek for help. The NGO is looking for ways and means to solve this problem without losing its focus. As the officers and volunteers of the Remedios AIDS Foundation are also mostly Catholics, they also have to be able to move around their religious beliefs in order to stop being discriminatory to HIV/AIDS patients. They also have to ensure that their researchers are well-trained to avoid offending study participants and this can only be done by conducting intensive trainings. Lastly, objectivity should also be encouraged to avoid personal involvement in patients’ predicament. This last ethical issue should be encouraged to avoid conflict of interest on the part of the NGO. In the end, the officers and volunteers of this NGO are cognizant of the fact that unless these ethical concerns are addressed, their fight against HIV/AIDS will never be successful. References: Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS). (1993) International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects. Geneva. de Bruyn, T. (1998) HIV/AIDS and Discrimination: A Discussion Paper. Montreal: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network & Canadian AIDS Society. Lo B. (2000) Overview of Conflicts of Interest. In Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: A Guide for Clinicians. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Reproductive Health Outlook. (1997) HIV/AIDS Key Issues. Retrieved May 30, 2006 from http://www. rho. org/html/hiv_aids_keyissues. html U. S. National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1978) The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. Washington, D. C. : Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare. The Offical Website of the Remedios AIDS Foundation. (1991) http://www.remedios.com.ph/

Truth Is Absolute Not Relative Essay Essays

Truth Is Absolute Not Relative Essay Essays Truth Is Absolute Not Relative Essay Paper Truth Is Absolute Not Relative Essay Paper Background of the Topic: Many people presents seek for â€Å"THE TRUTH† . I searched up the cyberspace and Google gave me 611 million replies in merely a quart of a 2nd. As top reply Google gave me this definition from wisegeek. com. â€Å"An absolute truth. sometimes called a cosmopolitan truth. is an inalterable and lasting fact. The construct of absolute truths – what they are and whether they exist – has been debated among many different groups of people. Philosophers have waded in the sludge of specifying absolute truth for millenary. For illustration. Plato believed that absolute truth existed. but that truth on Earth was simply a shadow of great signifiers of absolute truth bing in the existence which is now normally called â€Å"universals† . Alternatively. many believe in comparative truths. where facts may change depending on the fortunes. † Simply set. WHAT’S TRUE TO ME MAY NOT BE TRUE TO YOU. It is nevertheless hard to confute the construct of absolute truth. since stating that there are no absolute truths – that it is perfectly true that no absolute truth exists – is itself an absolute truth. † Relationship of the Topic- Main: It will assist us to cognize and acknowledge the cardinal footing of truth. To me: I steadfastly believe on absolute truth unlike others. I believe in the absolute truth of the Bible and God as its ultimate beginning. To the society: Life in a society sharing the same land that there is an being of absolute truth would eliminate most of today’s arguments on non-significant yet fascinating jobs. Besides. there is the demand of a certain and common cardinal footing of the starkness of truth and from whence it come Forth. Problem: Many of us were blinded about what is truth and a batch of us have different questions sing what is the existent significance of truth whether it is absolute or comparative. Definition of the subject: There are a few things that we all agree are perfectly true. but they depend upon an understanding in definition. ABSOULTE Truth: Truth is discovered non invented Truth is transcultural: it can be conveyed across different civilizations. Truth is unchanging: it can be conveyed across clip. Beliefs can non alter a truth statement no affair how sincere one may be Truth is unaffected by the attitude of the one profession it All Truthsare absolute Truth is cognizableIn order for truth to be absolute and keeping these qualities. it must be grounded in a beginning that is personal. unchanging. and crowned head over all creative activity. Relative Truth: Truth is created non discovered. Truth is a affair of position and each civilization or single defines for themselves what truth is. Since truth is invented. there is no cosmopolitan transcultural truth. Each civilization or person will specify truth otherwise harmonizing to their background and position. Truth alterations since it is inseparably connected to persons and civilizations which continually change truth perpetually to alterations. Since truth is a affair of a group or individual’s position. one’s beliefs can alter a truth statement. Since an single determines truth. truth is affected by the attitude of the one profession it. There can be no such thing as absolute truth. Absolute truth is non cognizable. Absolute and nonsubjective truth can non be known since it is built on the switching foundation of man’s perceptual experiences. As each individual’s perceptual experience is different. truth can non be known. Mentions: Bible and Blogs specifically the Truth Project

Free Essays on Teenage Alcoholism

Teenage Alcoholism Are today’s teenagers drinking more than their parents did 20 or 30 years ago? Are there reasons for drinking any different? Is teenage drinking, a problem that has suddenly spiralled out of control? Teenage alcoholism is a significant problem in contemporary culture that concerns me. For this reason, I am going to discuss some of the leading questions that were questioned commonly among New Zealanders. What are the effects of alcohol in the body? What are the causes of teenage alcoholism? What are the problems of teenage alcoholism in New Zealand? What are the possible preventive measures and treatments for alcoholics? There is a tendency in New Zealand to discuss the bad effects of alcohol use, largely in terms of its health hazards. Mitchel R. Hayley, author of the book "Teen Alcoholism", suggests that alcoholism is a chronic usually progressive disease that includes both a psychological and a physical addiction to alcohol. Alcohol is a mood- altering substance; when we drink it enters our brain and affects the chemicals there, and this changes the way we feel and the way we respond on the amount that we drink, and the state of mind we are in. Alcohol is also an intoxicating substance; this means that if we drink to excess it becomes toxic or poisonous to us. Gradually with more alcohol, our brain activity becomes more depressed and our lead of consciousness is reduced. Consequences of alcohol addiction can cause damage to every organ system of a patient’s life. It will cause liver disease (Cirrhosis), pancreatic disease, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, neurological diso rders and reproductive system disorders. (Source: â€Å"Teen Alcoholism†) These are clearly depicted in the figure below. Teenagers pass through a time of turbulence. Intense pressures to perform and succeed are felt by many youths, according to the book "Alcoh... Free Essays on Teenage Alcoholism Free Essays on Teenage Alcoholism Teenage Alcoholism Are today’s teenagers drinking more than their parents did 20 or 30 years ago? Are there reasons for drinking any different? Is teenage drinking, a problem that has suddenly spiralled out of control? Teenage alcoholism is a significant problem in contemporary culture that concerns me. For this reason, I am going to discuss some of the leading questions that were questioned commonly among New Zealanders. What are the effects of alcohol in the body? What are the causes of teenage alcoholism? What are the problems of teenage alcoholism in New Zealand? What are the possible preventive measures and treatments for alcoholics? There is a tendency in New Zealand to discuss the bad effects of alcohol use, largely in terms of its health hazards. Mitchel R. Hayley, author of the book "Teen Alcoholism", suggests that alcoholism is a chronic usually progressive disease that includes both a psychological and a physical addiction to alcohol. Alcohol is a mood- altering substance; when we drink it enters our brain and affects the chemicals there, and this changes the way we feel and the way we respond on the amount that we drink, and the state of mind we are in. Alcohol is also an intoxicating substance; this means that if we drink to excess it becomes toxic or poisonous to us. Gradually with more alcohol, our brain activity becomes more depressed and our lead of consciousness is reduced. Consequences of alcohol addiction can cause damage to every organ system of a patient’s life. It will cause liver disease (Cirrhosis), pancreatic disease, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, neurological diso rders and reproductive system disorders. (Source: â€Å"Teen Alcoholism†) These are clearly depicted in the figure below. Teenagers pass through a time of turbulence. Intense pressures to perform and succeed are felt by many youths, according to the book "Alcoh...

Abandonment provisions authorize the premature termination of a contract

Abandonment provisions authorize the premature termination of a contract Abandonment provisions authorize the premature termination of a contract, and occur through various scenarios within real estate. Abandonment-Landlord/Tenant California real estate law permits landlords to use abandonment as a reason to terminate the lease of a tenant. Most lease agreements contain provisions which state the length of time a tenant has to pay rent before a landlord can claim abandonment.Generally, If a tenant falls behind on payments more than 14 days, the landlord can draft and send a letter to the tenant of the intent to evict the tenant.If the tenant does not respond to the letter within 15 to 18 days, the landlord has the right to terminate the lease.If the landlord sends the letter using certified mail (confirmed with a receipt of arrival from the post office), the tenant has 15 days to respond to the letter. If the landlord sends the letter using standard mail, the tenant has 18 days to respond to the letter.If the landlord establishes abandonment of the property, the landlord can:Lease the property to another tenant Open the doors of the property without violating the tenants right of privacy Obtain legal representation to recover rent that has not been paid Leased property that is abandoned by the tenant of a lease can be confiscated by the landlord. Common actions that are inconsistent with continuous use of property include:Lessee fails to make rent payments Lessee removes personal property off property If lessee files a change of address with the post office In the three scenarios above, the land owner has the right to assume use of property. Abandonment of a Prescriptive Easement The granting of the easement occurs if the party claiming the property has used the property for five continuous years. If the party that holds the easement right abandons the property for five years, his or her right to the easement terminates. Abandonment in Insurance Contracts Insurance contracts can have abandonment provisions as well. If a homeowner’s property becomes severely damaged or destroyed (i.e. from a fire), and the cost of refurbishing or rebuilding outweighs the total property value, then the homeowner is allowed to abandon the property while recovering compensation from the insurance company. The property is then taken over by the insurance company. Abandonment in Bankruptcy Proceedings A trustee in a liquidation bankruptcy may elect to abandon a debtor’s property. If a particular property is of low value or rife with encumbrances, thus not worth selling off, the trustee may choose to abandon that property. The trustee would then have to file a notice of abandonment, which may be challenged by a creditor who believes the trustee has made an inaccurate evaluation of the property’s worth.

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Education - Research Paper Example The educators in this sector have realized the weaknesses of the students in this sector of not having the techniques in the study of sciences, math and the social studies. Some of the study materials used at this level fail to provide the easy way of approaching the study areas by the students through understandable and friendly approaches and equally the teachers at this level do not have the necessary and comprehensive trained skills to handle the issue. Researchers have reported certain approaches for the comprehension of the textbooks by the students. One of the reported approaches to the comprehending of the textbooks is the summarising, questioning, use of prior knowledge, imagery and setting of study goals by the students. To understand the materials the students were working on they had to make models of the best methods they felt they would employ in understanding of the study materials they were working on. The students accepted the various feelings in relation to naivety, embarrassment, and being scared. The study approaches that employed practical based means of learning and illustration like the use of maps and models were quite comprehendible and the students had better understanding of the subject matter. ... The approach of pyramids is enabling complete comprehension of the study materials hence it is the best means of study for the students. The understanding of some materials is hard as the language used in math books hence the use of PLAN can enable the students to decipher the information with ease. Some students will fail to study the math books in elementary school due to the problems encountered in the learning and use of the books (Charllote & William, 2009). The study approach of factoring of issues to deal with the comprehension of the content area is important since the students will study in a manner that they are able to master the information herein that will remain imbedded in their memory as a lifelong education. This approach is viable in the areas of English, Math, Social Sciences and Science. The students under this approach will be able to employ their prior knowledge of the subject matter, reviewing of the knowledge in the area, organizing of information in the area, carrying out self-evaluation, reflecting on the knowledge under study and operating on the regular monitoring of the issues under study and the comprehension level of individuals. The students have to apply the following framework in enabling better reading and understanding of the materials under study. The first approach that is applied is the decoding of information through the word recognition strategies and fluency attempts .Secondly is the comprehension of the materials under study that include the comprehension strategies like the syntax organizing of information. This approach equally ensures that there is frequent monitoring of the learnt information by both the students and the teachers hence enabling comprehensive

'Working with and Leading people' Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

'Working with and Leading people' - Assignment Example The section continues to give a definition of management and differentiates it with leadership. The report then concludes with an analysis of the leadership styles and methods of motivation that relate to the case study provided in the assignment brief. JD Sports Fashion is among the leading sports and trainer fashion retailers in the U.K, Based in Bury, Great Manchester; the retailer owns numerous retail shops all over the United Kingdom. JD Sports Fashions has recently expanded its operations to Bristol and is in the process of scouting for a store manager of the premise. Following the expansion of JD Sports Fashion operations in Bristol and the growth in business activities at the store, the company is advertising for a store manager position. We aim at attracting a talented and enthusiastic individual with vast knowledge and experience in store keeping and management The store manager will be the head of the store management team and will be responsible for the daily planning, control and maintenance of the store activities. The store manager will also ensure that the customers have access to the necessary supplies. The recruitment process adhered to the legal and regulatory framework that applies to recruitment and placement. We ensured that all the members of the interview panel were appropriately trained in the recruitment and selection techniques and were aware of the relevant employment legislation to be adhered. Data protection and freedom of information legislation were also considered during the recruitment process. The data we requested the applicants to submit was only used for the specified and lawful purposes, relevant to the employment The information obtained from the applicants was confidential. All the recruitment staff members were required not to discuss with anyone other than the Human resource and the committee members on the

Teaching Methods in our Public Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching Methods in our Public Schools - Essay Example The study should aim at incorporating various learning styles into the curriculum, which will greatly assist in keeping pace with the modern world. Some of these learning methods include; Discovery learning which is strictly a learner-centered approach. The learner is expected to apply his or her creative skills, draw hypothesis, perform experiments and logically interpret their own data to arrive at well-researched conclusions. The method largely contributes to the learner's cognitive development. Co-operative learning is the second method which calls calls for discussion and mutual exchange of ideas amongst students. It is aimed at promoting teamwork. A research conducted by Johnson (1979) indicates that the method not only assisted the teachers but also was also highly preferred by the students. Lastly, they talks about Digital learning a method which involves the use of modern electronic devices that assist learner in making their work easier for instance in making calculations. Teachers are also trained on how to use these devices which include calculators, computers etc. They also appear to be satisfied with the mode of communication, which includes good relations between them and their leaders. However they are not happy since there is on openness in sharing of knowledge and information.

Human Cloning and Its Consequences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Cloning and Its Consequences - Essay Example Human cloning is also wrong for other reasons, one of them being that human clones might have their bodies harvested for body parts and/or human organs. Then they would be left for dead. We must remember that every person has a soul and a spirit. People should not be grown like oranges on a tree. There has been talk about, indeed, cloning people in order to harvest their organs for one’s clone. This is not only morally reprehensible, but also ethically wrong. How one could even consider raising a human, only to use the human’s body parts for another human—is almost inconceivable. It is possible, but why would any forward-thinking individual want to do something like that? Not only is it a moral lapse, but it would also be a societal lapse as well. The value of human life would be reduced to what a human could provide in terms of body parts and/or organs for another human being. That is absolutely disgusting, not to mention wrong. Human cloning has no place in our society. Perhaps someday, people might have more of a vested interest in seeing their clone produce body parts or even organs which they might be able to harvest for themselves. This is not only ethically dangerous but morally backwards. Cloning has no place in our society because we do not want people who look just like us, talk just like us, and, in short—make a mockery of the human race. Everyone is an individual, and even clones would have their own personalities, even if their bodies were to be identical to the people being cloned. It has come to the attention of a one Dr. Gregory Pence that such research is necessary in order to foment the research field in ethical medical bioengineering. As a medical doctor, he can see many reasons for why people should indeed embrace cloning in all its forms. However, when Dr. Ruth Macklin presents her ideas as to why she feels that cloning would not be a good idea, her rationale seems to make much more logical sense as to why we sho uldn’t clone humans. In his book Medical Ethics, Dr. Pence—a seemingly ethical biomedical doctor— argues in favor of cloning, noting that it is not something of which one should be afraid.2 Of course, the idea of cloning people is not an entirely new one, but we must take into account the risks and the problematization of human existence. We already know that stem cell experiments are taking place, so the question remains, â€Å"What next?† How far will we have to fall as a society for us to realize that cloning is immoral and wrong? It may not be easy to convince those who are persuaded by scientific research that cloning is the way to go—the wave of the future, if one will. It will not be easy to convince those who are insistent upon the fact that there is nothing wrong with cloning—when the ethical scruples are staring us in the face. How is it going to be possible to clone people ethically? It just doesn’

Biography of Cheikh Anta Diop Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biography of Cheikh Anta Diop - Research Paper Example Diop argues that it was in Africa where humanity developed to the Homo sapiens status. According to him, this great development in human evolution helped shape the civilization of the early Egyptians. Although African civilization stared in other places such as Sudan, Egypt provided the right environment in which the civilization grew. He further noted that since Africa was the original home of humankind, the difference in skin color and other structural differences are self explanatory2. In general, Diop believed that the contribution of Africa towards humanity is enormous and cannot be ignored. Secondly, Diop believed in the anti-colonial policy and was greatly influenced by it. For him, he believed in an independent and economically sound united Africa. For example, in his book titled Black Africa: The Economic and Cultural Basis of a Federal State, Diop mainly focuses on how African countries coupled unite to form one common market3. He also argued that Africa needed to have a continental army capable of defending the content and its inhabitants. He had a vision of an industrialized and united Africa, free from external interference and aid. In this book, he divides Africa into different zones for purposes of industrial development. He believed that there lies a lot of potential in the African continent that when used, could make African countries rich. He had a vision of how fusion could be used to generate enough power for the African countries to help on the process of industrialization. These ideas about industrialization and African independence are born from the fac t that he was a firm believer in creativity. According to him, man needs to create in order to survive4. Therefore for him, the only way Africa could survive was through industrialization.

Teaching Methods in our Public Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching Methods in our Public Schools - Essay Example The study should aim at incorporating various learning styles into the curriculum, which will greatly assist in keeping pace with the modern world. Some of these learning methods include; Discovery learning which is strictly a learner-centered approach. The learner is expected to apply his or her creative skills, draw hypothesis, perform experiments and logically interpret their own data to arrive at well-researched conclusions. The method largely contributes to the learner's cognitive development. Co-operative learning is the second method which calls calls for discussion and mutual exchange of ideas amongst students. It is aimed at promoting teamwork. A research conducted by Johnson (1979) indicates that the method not only assisted the teachers but also was also highly preferred by the students. Lastly, they talks about Digital learning a method which involves the use of modern electronic devices that assist learner in making their work easier for instance in making calculations. Teachers are also trained on how to use these devices which include calculators, computers etc. They also appear to be satisfied with the mode of communication, which includes good relations between them and their leaders. However they are not happy since there is on openness in sharing of knowledge and information.

Biography of Cheikh Anta Diop Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biography of Cheikh Anta Diop - Research Paper Example Diop argues that it was in Africa where humanity developed to the Homo sapiens status. According to him, this great development in human evolution helped shape the civilization of the early Egyptians. Although African civilization stared in other places such as Sudan, Egypt provided the right environment in which the civilization grew. He further noted that since Africa was the original home of humankind, the difference in skin color and other structural differences are self explanatory2. In general, Diop believed that the contribution of Africa towards humanity is enormous and cannot be ignored. Secondly, Diop believed in the anti-colonial policy and was greatly influenced by it. For him, he believed in an independent and economically sound united Africa. For example, in his book titled Black Africa: The Economic and Cultural Basis of a Federal State, Diop mainly focuses on how African countries coupled unite to form one common market3. He also argued that Africa needed to have a continental army capable of defending the content and its inhabitants. He had a vision of an industrialized and united Africa, free from external interference and aid. In this book, he divides Africa into different zones for purposes of industrial development. He believed that there lies a lot of potential in the African continent that when used, could make African countries rich. He had a vision of how fusion could be used to generate enough power for the African countries to help on the process of industrialization. These ideas about industrialization and African independence are born from the fac t that he was a firm believer in creativity. According to him, man needs to create in order to survive4. Therefore for him, the only way Africa could survive was through industrialization.

Learning Organizations Essay Example for Free

Learning Organizations Essay 1. 1 Executive summary/ L. O! In times of uncertainty and change, organizations need new and effective managerial tools in order to cope with the rising competitiveness of markets. In this context, the concept of organizational learning is receiving growing attention among both managerial and academic surroundings in the last two decades. Among many possible definitions of a Learning Organization, David A. Garvin, a leading scholar in this field, suggests the following: â€Å"an organization made up of employees skilled at creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge. These people could help their firms cultivate tolerance, foster open discussion, and think holistically and systemically. Such learning organizations would be able to adapt to the unpredictable more quickly than their competitors could. †. A learning organization is aimed at increasing the flexibility and effectiveness of a company, making it react faster to changes in a competitive environment. This is achieved in cultures who constantly foster knowledge inside their organizations. Although this general idea of organizational learning may appear rather simplistic at first glance, its practical integration into day-to-day operations proves to require a more refined, systematic approach: â€Å"Generative learning cannot be sustained in an organization where event thinking predominates. It requires a conceptual framework of â€Å"structural† or systematical thinking, the ability to discover structural causes of behaviorâ€Å". This paper provides a deeper insight into the implementation and performance assessment of learning organizations (L. O. ’s), mainly using the Three Building Blocks Model outlined by Garvin, Edmondson Gino. To better understand this concept, the work will rely on Xerox as an example to highlight how L. O. ’s can provide competitive advantages to corporations. In the last section, the paper will also breakdown the effect that learning organizations have on major stakeholders (leaders, employees and organization itself). 1. 2. Introduction: Background to Xerox Xerox is a US-based multinational, founded in 1906, which produces and sales printers and photocopiers and provides related services. Throughout it’s history, Xerox has faced several crisis periods which ended up pushing the company to become a Learning Organization. Around 1980, the company was hit hard by the emergence of new japanese players on the market and lost its almost 100% market share. As a response Xerox introduced the â€Å"leadership through quality initiative† with the objective of training every employee in tools for generating ideas and collecting information, solving problems in a systematical way, reaching consensus etc. â€Å"Xerox became a case study — the first American group to win back market share from the Japanese†. More recently, in the year of 2000, with the announcement of Anne M. Mulcahy as CEO of the company, XEROX’s was able to overcome another serious crisis. Mulcahy’s leadership style, which mirrors many of the strategies suggested by the LO literature, managed to turn around this †sinking ship†, which had 19 billion in debt, a falling stock and double-digit negative growth. In 5 years time, Xerox would be profitable again. Ursula Burns has continued Mulcahy’s work, since becoming the new CEO in 2009, even acquiring new companies such as the 2010 $6. 4 bln. takeover of ACS. Xerox continues to stay on the list of companies frequently cited as learning organizations. The 3 Building Blocks of a Learning Organization The concept of the three building blocks of a learning organizations is introduced by David A. Garvin, Amy C. Edmondson, and Francesca Gino as an assessment tool to determine areas where organizations need to improve their learning methodologies. Below we provide a deeper explanation of each of the three building blocks and how Xerox fits each one of them. Building Block 1: XEROX, a supportive learning organization? There are four distinct characteristics of an organization that determine whether it is or not a Supportive Learning Organization. Firstly, how psychologically safe its employees feel. This is common in organizations where employees don’t feel pressured or marginalized when presenting their own ideas even if these go against what the majority of the organization thinks. Similarly, subordinates at this organization are encouraged to disagree with their coworkers and superiors and present new and bold opinions, meaning that this organization is opened to new ideas. In a supportive learning organization, employees also become aware of the different inputs and opinions each member of a team brings to the table and learns how to accommodate and value those differences. Lastly, a supportive learning organization needs to provide its employees with some time for reflexion, when they will to go over the company’s procedures and analyse past performances in order to assess what can be changed and/or improved. Tolerance and diversity at Xerox Xerox’s openness to new ideas can be partly linked to its high diversity of employee backgrounds, which ultimately reinforces the acceptance and inclusion of different solutions, making employees feel more comfortable in taking risks. This diversity has also enabled Ursula Burns, the current CEO, to climb up the ranks of Xerox and become the first female black CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Besides being â€Å"a proof† to other employees that effort at Xerox pays back, Burns herself stresses this idea of a supportive learning organization when she mentions that she â€Å"wants [XEROX’s] 130,000 employees to get over the past, take more initiative, become more fearless and be more frank and impatient with one another to ratchet up performance†. Burns refers to the all Xerox community as the â€Å"XEROX family†- â€Å"When we’re in the family, you don’t have to be as nice as when you’re outside of the family,( ) I want us to stay civil and kind, but we have to be frank — and the reason we can be frank is because we are all in the same family. † Building Block 2: Does Xerox implement concrete learning processes and practices? Because â€Å"a learning organization is not cultivated effortlessly†, organizational entities must put explicit processes in place to ensure that knowledge is constantly generated and collected inside the organization. The information must then be interpreted and infused into the organization to be always accessible in a way that will support problem-solving tasks and benefit its constant transformational processes. Moreover, this will also help to develop new products or services, as well as closely monitor competitors, clients and technological developments, using benchmarking techniques. Lastly, the company has to invest in training measures for its employees. MAIN Education and problem-solving at Xerox: The Six Sigma Method In the case of Xerox, measures to implement LO practices started as early as 1983 when executive management inaugurated Xerox’s â€Å" leadership through quality initiative†. The initiatives goal was â€Å"improving business processes to create higher levels of customer satisfaction, quality and productivity† by providing workshops to Xerox employees. These workshops were refined in the late 90’s, reorienting around the Six Sigma method, which had previously been successfully applied in other companies. Although these efforts proved successful in improving productivity, they were only limited to a local supply chain level and were not conducted regularly. In 2002 the management of Xerox then decided to implement the Six Sigma strategy across the whole organization, an effort which Xerox is continuing today. This is shown by the fact that the method has become part of the everyday communication process inside the company. The Six Sigma strategy is a tool, which empowers employees to become more efficient and proactive in daily problem-solving situations, for example by using the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) approach. Six Sigma also requires the employees to closely monitor market trends and to apply benchmarking appropriately. Xerox particularly emphasizes the fact that they see the efforts to implement the Six Sigma method (see attachment 1) as a long-term project. This idea is aligned with the academic literature on LO’s stating that â€Å"becoming a LO is a long process and small setbacks should be expected†. This is because employees and the management have to â€Å"unlearn† old modes of thinking. Information distribution at Xerox Xerox provides employees with access to a large intranet consisting of e. g. reference knowledge, material on best practices, and answers to frequently asked questions. This helps the stakeholders inside the company to share information. It also supports the efforts to keep employees informed on what the priorities are for the overall company. Building Block 3: Are Xerox leaders reinforcing learning? Leaders in a L. O. promote constant learning by raising difficult questions and listening to the answers and concerns of their employees. While doing so, leaders also communicate openness to these new ideas and take them into consideration in their actions. Additionally, leaders have to encourage employees to invest their time in reflecting on both how to solve current problems and what can be learned from past performance. The ultimate goal is for leaders to motivate employees to question the underlying assumptions of current modes of thinking, and therefore initiate efficiency and innovation inside company processes. Promoting Initiative at Xerox For the past two decades, Xerox has engaged their employees to participate in the Earth Awards Program. The goal of this yearly event is to come up with solutions for saving company resources by increasing its efficiency, therefore making it a â€Å"greener† company. With this challenging program, Xerox motivates their employees to generate new ideas that, for instance, in 2010, resulted in company savings of $10. 2 Million. In that year, thirteen winners were announced, corporate wide and among different teams. This is an example of how leaders take their employees’ input seriously and how the generation of new initiatives at Xerox arises from both top and bottom levels of hierarchies. Encouraging employees to invest their time in reflecting by example Senior management at Xerox demonstrates the behaviors, which they in turn expect from employees. A clear example of this â€Å"policy† was when, in 1993, the executive management put together the Presidential Review process. The objective of this process was to review the overall progress of the company collectively through Presidential Review process in 1993. Interviews were organized with more than 30 senior managers answering questions like â€Å"What has changed? Where are the largest gaps between what was intended and what is currently true? If you were to outline barriers that need to be dealt with, what comes to mind? What would you have done differently? †. After the interviews, 45 seniors got together for one day meeting to identify trouble spots and develop recommendations. Action plan was the result . 3. The Effect on Leaders, â€Å"Followers† and Organizations Becoming a successful learning organization can provide a company with significant competitive advantages in the long-run, as it also can largely benefit its major stakeholders (employees and leaders). However, it also requires some behavioral changes from them. In order to achieve the goal of a L. O. (foster knowledge creation and sharing to gain competitive advantage), it is important that leaders infuse a common goal inside the organization. This implies, that leaders should have an effective communication in delivering the company ethos to their subordinates. Once employees identify with the company and its goal, people on all levels of the company would naturally start thinking and discussing promising new ways to achieve these goals. On the other hand, learning processes require time among other resources, and eventually leaders will have to find efficient ways to maximize the time of their employees. It is crucial to determine a balance between time spent going over problem-solvings tasks and past performance analysis (required for learning processes) with regular work. Additionally, leaders will have to define the line between â€Å"acceptable mistakes†- those that arrive from risk taking attitudes, and â€Å"unacceptable mistakes† those originated by irresponsibility and lack of accountability. This is not always clear and, therefore, leaders might face some obstacles in implementing a learning culture as their workers’ â€Å"fear of punishment† can result in the limitation of creativity. Probably the most effective tool to boost innovation is to empower workers. But if the empowerment process provides employees the feeling that they are contributing and helping to define the company processes, then a new attitude is also required from them. Employees will have to remember that they are expected to show initiative, propose new ideas and act. And they should not always expect directions to do so. This can be particularly hard for workers who are risk-averse and who need clear instructions about their work role. Learning organizations can bring significant benefits to employees. Being part of the company processes transformation and being aligned with its goals are expected to make employees more motivated and dynamic. In this way, many of the aspects of the L. O. raise the levels of enjoying the work process. The job satisfaction in turn is expected to raise productivity levels. Also, because employees are more exposed to those in higher positions in the company, new career opportunities might arise together with monetary rewards. RISKS FOR COMPANY â€Å"No learning organization is built overnight. Success comes from carefully cultivated attitudes, commitments, and management processes that accrue slowly and steadily. The first step is to foster an environment conducive to learning. Analog Devices, Chaparral Steel, Xerox, GE, and other companies provide enlightened examples. † (http://w3. ualg. pt/~mzacaria/gic/HBR-Building-a-Leaning-Organization. pdf) 2. Organizations should be careful in applying new principles ensuring buy-in from most influential employees and checking progress not to fall into the trap of unfeasable change which could seriously hurt current business (see http://knowledge. wharton. upenn. edu/article. cfm? articleid=268) 4. Final considerations: As illustrated by the above analysis, as well by its overall economic performance in the last 11 years, it has become clear that XEROX has largely succeeded in becoming a LO. Arguably, Xerox has become so successful in it’s LO efforts that this has resulted in providing learning services to other companies through subsidiary spin offs, such as Xerox Learning Services. Concerning the evaluation of the theory proposed by Garvin, Gino and Edmondson, it has to be noted that the building blocks have to be seen as interdependent. Without effective leadership and learning environment, the learning process implementation will likely fail. Therefore, each of the above building blocks needs to be tackled by taylormade strategies, not least because companies do not perform consistently in each department. Similarly, organizations have to pay especial attention to comparing the extent of the learning process with other organizations, since only then you will have a solid benchmarking (in contrast to looking only at individual company performance over time). Attachment 1 [ 1 ]. O’Keeffe, T. 2002. Organizational Learning: a new perspective. Journal of European Industrial Training, 26 (2), pp. 130-141. [ 2 ]. Peter Senge (1990), â€Å"The Fifth Discipline† [ 3 ]. â€Å"Is yours a learning organization? † [ 4 ]. One good source on Xerox crisis times http://knowledge. wharton. upenn. edu/article. cfm? articleid=268 [ 5 ]. Building a L. O. [ 6 ]. http://www. economist. com/node/387740 [ 7 ]. http://www. economist. com/node/387740 [ 8 ]. http://mitleadership. mit. edu/r-mulcahy. php [ 9 ]. The following work will assume that the stance of the management towards encouraging the LO inside Xerox has remained constant. Since Mulcahy had been working with Burns for more than 9 years, Burns is expected to put her own stamp on the company in a way that was deferential to the work of Ms. Mulcahy, who remains chairwoman. See: http://www. nytimes. com/2010/02/21/business/21xerox. html? pagewanted=all_r=1 [ 10 ]. http://www. freepatentsonline. com/article/SAM-Advanced-Management-Journal/20982068. html [ 11 ]. http://www. businesswire. com/news/home/20041027005036/en/Diversity-Practices-Organization-Recognizes-Xerox-Diversity-Leadership [ 12 ]. Farmer, Paula (August). The First African American To Head A Fortune 500 Company, Franklin D. Raines Takes Over Fannie Mae. The Black Collegian. Retrieved November 7, 2008. [ 13 ]. Bryant, A. (February 20, 2010) Xerox’s New Chief Tries to Redefine Its Culture, The New York Times [ 14 ]. Bryant, A. (February 20, 2010) Xerox’s New Chief Tries to Redefine Its Culture, The New York Times [ 15 ]. Garvin, Edmondson Gino (2008), p. 4 [ 16 ]. Page 11: http://www. xerox. com/downloads/usa/en/n/nr_SixSigmaForumMag_2004_Aug. pdf It could be argued that these efforts were a spillover-effect from Xerox ground-breaking benchmarking efforts in its production process areas in billing, warehousing, and automated manufacturing. [ 17 ]. Page 13: http://www. xerox. com/downloads/usa/en/n/nr_SixSigmaForumMag_2004_Aug. pdf [ 18 ]. Slide 68:http://www. moyak. com/papers/learning-organization-presentation. pdf [ 19 ]. Easterby-Smith, M. , Crossan, M. , and Nicolini, D. 2000. Organizational learning: debates past, present and future. Journal of Management Studies. 37 (6) pp 783-796. See also Senges definition of mental models, which refer to how workers need to time to overcome old modes of thinking: Senge, P. M. 1990. The Fifth Discipline. London: Century Business. [ 20 ]. http://www. xerox. com/downloads/usa/en/n/nr_SixSigmaForumMag_2004_Aug. pdf [ 21 ]. Kaye, L. (November 15, 2010) Xerox’s Green Ideas Save Company $10. 2 Million, http://www. triplepundit. com/ [ 22 ]. Garvin, D. A. (2000), Learning in Action: a guide to putting the learning organization to work, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data p. 105 [ 23 ]. Garvin, D. A. (2000), Learning in Action: a guide to putting the learning organization to work, Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data p. 105 [ 24 ]. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. : ImageXerox lean six sigma framework. Figure 3Xerox lean six sigma framework. emeraldinsight. com http://www. emeraldinsight. com/journals. htm? articleid=1628232show=html.

The shape of the sixties

The shape of the sixties Abstract This essay is in essence talking about the idea of revolution. In the 60s there was a great deal of hardship, be it from the Civil Rights Movement to the war in Vietnam. The 60s were a very revolutionary time, people full of new ideas coming from different parts of the world. This essay will show you through music, film and speech how a revolution occurred in the 60s. The Shape of the Sixties Jefferson Airplanes co-founder, Paul Kantner once said â€Å"If you can remember anything about the sixties, then you werent really there.† Sure, â€Å"The Sixties† may have been just been a decade long party, but there was a different side to this era. The counter-culture that was the sixties undoubtedly revolutionized the world that we life in today. The music was edgy, and heavily drug influenced but marked the beginning of a whole new sound. The sixties also marked a new age of film production based on both technology and content. The speeches were controversial but shaped a better world. This era was heavily filled with controversy, scandal and crime but through this it changed the world. As Cat Stevens sings in the song Peace Train, â€Å"Ive been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one. And I believe it could be someday its going to come.† What Cat is trying to say here is that she can see change is coming, and the world is going to be a better place, a place of equality. However America in the sixties was a very uneasy time, with the Vietnam War as well as the Civil Rights Movement. Both of these were both huge catalysts for all of the protest in the sixties. At the end of the Civil War many groups were created in order to achieve this equality but the process was painfully slow. It wasnt until this era however that hundreds of years of work finally began to pay off. The hippie movement stood up in agreement with this change, and with them came the support of the music. In 1963 Bob Dylan released the song Blowin in the Wind a non-specific song but very related to the uneasy times. This song is essentially a universal plea for humans to learn from our mistakes and to have freedom. The song has being covered numerous times and is a staple for any anti-war song. The second stanza of the song goes â€Å"How many years can a mountain exist, Before its washed to the sea? Yes, n how many years can some people exist, Before theyre allowed to be free? Yes, n how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesnt see? The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind, The answer is blowin in the wind.† What Dylan is saying here is very clear, the people he is talking about is any group that has been oppressed or alienated should now be free, for everyone deserves freedom. The music of the sixties was not only groundbreaking and revolutionary, it was also changed the shape of music. Something happened in the sixties that was tokened as the â€Å"Britsh Invasion†, the British musicians essentially took over the American music industry and formed it into their own. This all started when The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and took off into superstardom. In 1967 The Beatles released the album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, a simply amazing record that was the anthem for the summer of 1967. This marked a new age and a new sound for what music was and will be. The sixties are when lyrics became edgy and people started to stand up against the government and oppression. In 1968 The Beatles released the song Revolution, a song with much apt to the current time. In the second verse it goes â€Å"You say you got a real solution.Well, you know. Wed all love to see the plan.† The Beatles are asking the government for their so called plan of action.1964, Dylan releasedâ€Å"With God on our Side† this is another protest song that traces the history of Americas conflicts dealing with all sorts of past wars. The lyrics are a vicious attack on the attitude that claims a war is vindicated. Music played a huge role in making the sixties a revolutionary time, and without these ext raordinary people much less would have been accomplished in this era. Through music you can see that media influence plays a lead role in bring about revolution, film in the sixties represented a decade of fun, music, fashion and countless social change. In the sixties was the first time that film began to really be about controversial subjects. The film Victim (1961) by director Basil Dearden was one of the first films to ever speak of the word â€Å"homosexuality†. This daring film was so groundbreaking and non-judgemental in that it talked about homosexuality in the early sixties. In fact when filming this movie Britain still had anti-sodomy statutes as law. Actions like these are truly the ones that make our world a better place, when people can stand up and fight against oppressive laws and belief. Without people who have the courage to stand up we would live in a painfully oppressed world today, things like slavery, alienation, segregation and even to the extreme, genocide, would still be very active in our world today. In the film industr y, just as in the music industry there was a â€Å"British Invasion† this came much from the new interest that Americans had in British fads, fashion and culture. The Beatles released three different films between 1964 and 1968, each of which was able to get across the music and its meaning to the viewer. Some of the controversial films that came out during this era are Billy Wilders satirical political farceOne, Two, Three (1961), Seven Days in May (1964), The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1965). These films came out and really displayed a more bleak side of the war. These films allowed viewers to see a more realistic, less politically influenced perspective on what was truly happening. In the mid sixties a film company named (AIP) American International Pictures began to produce more youth orientated counter-culture films such as The Wild Angels (1966) and The Trip (1967). These films gave many a view of the counter-culture that was in America, it allowed people who were a part from the â€Å"hippie movement† to become a part of it. The Trip is about a television commercial director and his drug dealer; it is full of special â€Å"trippy† effects and is a truly psychedelic experience. Film in this era was unquestionably remarkable, it was a time of groundbreaking new ideas, and daring old ones that finally had the chance to come out. The sixties changed film for the better and allowed all audiences to view a different side to every story. If you ask anyone about the sixties one thing they will probably mention is one of the most remarkable men of all time. On August 28th, 1963 Martin Luther Kings â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech sparked a fire that would lead to the end of oppression against the black community in America. Mr. King is known today as one of the best orators and his speech was so successful because it dramatically increased awareness of The Civil Rights Movement. The third paragraph of Kings speech is this â€Å"But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we hav e come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.† King (1963). What king is saying here is very clear, blacks were promised freedom and oppression was going to be eliminated, as they stand there however, it is clear that this is not the case blacks are still being oppressed on a day to day basis. Martin Luther Kings power of speech was able to change this however, he confronted the world of its wrong doing and they realized it. King ends the speech on some of the most powerful words ever written, words of change, words that brought about a revolution â€Å"When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of Gods children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!†. King (1963). Wit hout this man, I wonder where the world would be today in terms of segregation. Would South Africa still have abolishment of the blacks? Would slavery still exist in America today? Would we still have political and social upheaval nearly every waking moment? Incredibly this was not Kings only subject that he talked on, he also delivered numerous speeches in an anti-Vietnam perspective. Martin Luther King was a man who really cared for everyone, he truly believed in equality. In a speech he gave to his church about Vietnam he says â€Å"Tonight, however, I wish not to speak with Hanoi and the NLF, but rather to my fellow Americans, who, with me, bear the greatest responsibility in ending a conflict that has exacted a heavy price on both continents.†King (1967). King believes that well in his words, â€Å"We must continue to raise our voices if our nation persists in its perverse ways in Vietnam.† King (1967). Sadly on April 4th, 1968 we were without this man, as he was assassinated in his soon to be free world. Martin Luther King was one of the most powerful speakers, he was able to use this to his advantage and could communicate his revolutionary ideas to a world-wide audience. Many of the people who made the sixties the incredible time that they were are no longer with us today. Sure, some people may even say that the sixties werent in fact a good decade. Be it the war, or the oppression the abundant use of illegal substances or the growing counter culture. Regardless this era was simply revolutionary, even through hardship and trouble the people who lived in this decade changed the world. Music developed a groundbreaking new sound full of meaningful and powerful words. The influence of the sixties still lives in some of the great music that is being produced today. The Films were controversial and courageous in their content. This is still prevalent in modern films in that you can produce a film on just about any given topic. The Speeches, although only powerful by few were able to change nearly an entire worlds view. Martin Luther King made the first groundbreaking steps in the Civil Rights Movement and was able to lead the way. Kings words and power sti ll live in some of todays speakers and he will always be respected by the world. The sixties was an era that was able to push its way through numerous obstacles and turn them into something better, this decade was a revolution.

Abraham Lincoln as the Greatest President Essay -- Lincoln President U

Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that changed the war into a battle for freedom and declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. That November, Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address, which stated how a country must be dedicated to human fre edom in order to survive. He dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished, and called on the living to finish the task the dead soldiers had begun. (Donald, 1995) Lincoln believed that democracy could be a lasting form of government. He showed a nobility of character that had worldwide appeal, and he was a man of great integrity. However, Lincoln was not only the 16th president of the United States, he was an American hero. Lincoln was a well-rounded individual and he had numerous outstanding qualities. However, it is important to remember that Lincoln also led a private life, complete with close friends and family. Lincoln was born into a poor household on February 12, 1809... ... across the world. But to those who knew him, he was more then just a president. In addition to being a man who made revolutionary changes to our nation, he was also a devoted husband and father to his four sons. Despite his intimidating 6'4" figure, he was a kind, warm-hearted man, who actually cared about the common people. His family and friends had a substantial influence on him and they played an extremely important role in his life. They supported him in whatever he set his mind to and they kept him sane when he felt like he was about ready to breakdown during difficult times. There is more to Lincoln than most people could ever imagine, and his personal life could never be complete without his family. Lincoln had a very intimate relationship with his wife Mary Todd, and he showed endless love and affection to his children. Abraham Lincoln was a true family man.

Church Reform :: European Europe History

Church Reform The Reformation of European religion in the 16th century cannot be generally attributed to the secular spirit of the Italian Renaissance. Although the peasants saw bishops and abbots as part of a wealthy and oppressive ruling class and rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church for reasons primarily pertaining to the lavish adornments used by those aforementioned, their power was not great enough, nor did their reasons carry enough clout to start a reformation movement throughout Europe: that job was accomplished by those already having some, however small, social or religious power, such as the monk Martin Luther, the accomplished priest and lawyer Jean Cauvin, and King Henry VIII of England. The Lutheran and Calvinist Reformations were very similar in principle, although the Lutheran Reformation was less widespread. Luther and Calvin held that not mere abuses of the Roman Catholic Church needed correcting, but that the Catholic Church itself was wrong in principle. Luther's cause for reformation of 16th century European religion came from his unnatural paranoia that he was damned. He had problems convincing himself that his spirit was pure and that he would go to heaven; internal distress raged within him about the awful omnipotence of God, his own insignificant existence in comparison, and his apprehensiveness of the devil. His personal problems would not yield to the existing manners of assuring oneself that he/she was headed for heaven such as sacraments, alms, prayer attendance at Mass, and assorted "good works." Luther solved the problem, however, by believing that good works were the consequence and external evidence of an inner grace, but in no way the cause of th is grace. He felt that if one had faith in themselves, the religion, and God, then good works would manifest themselves because of it. This was Luther's doctrine of justification by faith. Luther was then involved in various events that provided for the spreading of Lutheranism, albeit sometimes indirectly. The agitation that Lutheranism was creating throughout Europe had revolutionary side effects where the reforming religious spirit was mistaken for that of a social and economic one, especially in Germany in the 1520s. A league of imperial knights, adopting Lutheranism, attacked their neighbors, the church-states of the Rhineland, hoping by annexations to enlarge their own meager territories. In 1524, the peasants of a large part of Germany revolted due to thoughts stirred up by preachers that took Luther's ideas a little too far: anyone could see for himself what was right.