Literary research paper on The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien Essay

Literary research paper on The Things They Carried by Tim OBrien - Essay Example This paper is a reflection of the literary analysis and in depth meanings of the characters and the circumstances they were thrust into. A number of famous stories make up the confines of the pages of this book – these include characters that keep reappearing every now and then. Each and every character is a justification towards some or the other feeling that every man suffers in his lifetime. For example, the main protagonist, Tim, is a soldier who finally admits that he was responsible for the death of Kiowa, tries to explain to others, and believes that not everything is explicable. This book is an amalgamation of the kind of experiences he shared with other soldiers. Jimmy Cross is a lieutenant and the platoon leader in the short story of the same title as the main book, The Things They Carried, and is also blamed for the death of Kiowa, a devout religious Christian soldier. Ted Lavender is one of the first to die in the book; he was a soldier with true grit but smoked ma rijuana and contained a great amount of anxiousness regarding what would happen next in the War. (Rafferty, Rebecca) The Things They Carried is a story full of symbolism; in this particular tale, O’Brien has marked a very vivid description of all the objects that the various soldiers carry with them. Incidentally, all these objects help the reader to understand the kind of people the soldiers are and the kind of relationship they share with others around them. He has written about Lavender’s obsession with tranquilizers and marijuana, Dobbins’ need to carry his girlfriend’s pantyhose around his neck as well as his extra rations, and Kiowa carrying a copy of the New Testament at all times. All this imagery helps to provide a stark understanding to the reader as per the needs and priorities of the soldiers. O’Brien has also described the kind of burden each man carries on his shoulders in the form of memories from their personal lives, for example, t he lieutenant’s obsession with Martha back home leaves him feeling very disgruntled and regretful. These thoughts eventually leave him questioning and wondering about Martha’s virginity and this eventually leads to distractions and death He also carried maps and compasses, giving a picture of the true leader that he was, always looking out for his soldiers. (Department) Physical objects like machine guns, M-16 rifles, grenade launchers and tents help to depict the harsh reality they were surviving in. Thus, with the use of these physical objects that the soldiers require during their stay in the War, the author has tried to explain the kind of dilemma they were being made to choose between – fantasy and reality. Cross begins to question himself for the death of Lavender and wonders whether or not it was his fault and negligence towards his duty because of his dark fantasizing about Martha that led him astray. (Moore, Julie) A literal meaning of the title and the background that the soldiers are in, the story speaks of a cross join between love and war. It tries to reflect, with the use of the everyday objects that each of the soldiers used (that made up their personalities) how it was unconditional but one sided love for someone that gave way to waging another war. This is a transition from Cross’

Utilitarianism Theory Essay Example for Free

Utilitarianism Theory Essay Utilitarianism is a moral theory generally considered to have been founded by Jeremy Bentham, a 19th century English philosopher and social reformer. It is centered on the concept of happiness, and those who seek it. The idea is that all people seek happiness, and that it is the ultimate goal of all human beings to be happy. Therefore, according to classical utilitarianism, when a person wishes to act in an ethically sound manner he or she should strive to bring about the greatest possible amount of happiness for the greatest possible amount of people. This is known as the greatest happiness attitude. Another, similar idea is that a person should always strive, if incapable of producing happiness, to reduce unhappiness. As the theory is wholly focused on the outcome of a person’s actions, it is classed as a â€Å"consequentialist† theory, i.e. a theory that concerns it with consequences and not actions in themselves. Utilitarianism can be seen as a highly mathematical theorem, looking at the total units of happiness that a particular action gives rise to. For instance, I might want to go out and have drinks with some friends and my boyfriend or I could find something more family oriented and do something fun with my son and my boyfriend. Consider that my son is only little for a short time, would I rather have drinks and regret the hang over later or share a memory with my little boy. Taking my son out for a night might add 10 units of happiness to the world’s total stock, whereas going out for drinks would only add a total of 6. Certainly, the latter would make a greater quantity of people happy (the former only benefiting one person), but it is the quantity of happiness produced that is of the first importance to utilitarianists. But let us look more closely at Bentham’s utilitarianism. To understand his approach more fully, it is vital that one come to an appreciation of exactly what he meant by â€Å"happiness†. His ideas here are, really, quite simple. Bentham thought that we should look at happiness as being based on pleasure. Naturally, it follows from this that he also felt that we should treat unhappiness as something consisting of pain. This view on happiness has led his particular brand of utilitarianism to be seen as a hedonistic theory. Furthermore, Bentham did not distinguish between different forms of pleasure. To him, anything that gave rise to happiness – be it drugs or reading – was fundamentally good. Other philosophers have striven to develop Bentham’s  theories further. One of the more notable of these is John Stuart Mill, who sought to distinguish between what he termed â€Å"higher† and â€Å"lower† pleasures. Mill disagreed with Bentham’s all-inclusive view on pleasure, feeling that there was a fundamental difference between the varying forms of pleasure available to people, and that some had a finer quality than others. It was Mill who put forth the notion that it is â€Å"better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied†. Mill’s idea was fairly straightforward, namely that while there are many simple, sensual pleasures in life, such as eating or drinking, there are also certain pleasures which are of a more cerebral nature, such as listening to classical music or reading poetry. According to Mill, these latter pleasures are of a greater quality, and should therefore be considered more important. He posited that someone who has experienced both forms of pleasure would naturally feel inclined to choose the higher pleasures. For instance, a man who is familiar with both tasty food and good poetry would view the latter as something more valuable than the former. This is a fairly straightforward exploration of the most common forms of utilitarianism. The most important thing to remember about these theories is that they are consequentialist and, above all else, that they are concerned with the greater good. Utilitarianists don’t care about your personal agenda or whether your actions happen to hurt some people. As long as the eventual results of your actions lead to more pleasure than pain, you’re in the clear. There were a number of things Mill did to change Utilitarianism. Mill said: â€Å"Better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be a Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.† Mill also linked Utilitarianism with Christian morality. He connected the theory with the teachings of Jesus. He said that the ‘ideal perfection of utilitarian morality’ was abiding by the ‘Golden Rule’-‘Do onto others as you have them do to you.’ This made many more people accept Utilitarianism as it linked with their religion. Rules were introduced into Utilitarianism by Mill. The rules introduced were ones that generally brought about the greatest happiness for the greatest number. For example, Mill argued that society needs the principal of truthfulness as it brings the most happiness on the long run. Utilitarianism is a theory that Christians can relate to. Mill brought it closer to the Christian church by introducing Rule Utilitarianism. This would be closer to the principals Jesus lived by. For  example, it was against the Jewish law to work on the Sabbath but when people were in need, Jesus bent this rule and healed them. The largest connection Christianity has with Utilitarianism is the death of Jesus. He was crucified and died for the sins of mankind-sacrificing himself for the majority. However, Utilitarianism does accept evil where Christianity most certainly does not.

The Homeless in Our Community Essay -- Homelessness In Our Community,

Table of Contents Literature Review — 3 Methodology — 5 Findings — 6 Summary — 8 Works Cited/Works Used — 9 Appendix: Survey Form — 11 LITERATURE REVIEW In this information behavior study, our group examines the everyday information resources, needs, and behaviors of the homeless. Literature research has led us to many key resources. Important literature on our topic includes Everyday Information Needs and Information Sources of Homeless Parents, The Homeless and Information Needs and Services, and Are the economically poor information poor? Does the digital divide affect the homeless and access to information? by Julie Hersberger, and The Impoverished LifeWorld of Outsiders and Framing Social Life in Theory and Research by Elfreda Chatman. The fundamental concepts in the literature show that a study must have a definition of homelessness and information poverty, address the everyday information needs and services of the homeless, identify misconceptions about how the homeless view and use information, and discuss information behaviors and barriers for the homeless. The homeless are a growing population in the United States. As the gap between the wealthy and poor increases, more people find themselves overwhelmed and displaced without a permanent residence, financial stability, or social networks, such as family, friends, and/or public assistance. Generally, homelessness in America is a result of unaffordable housing, family fragmentation, domestic violence, mental illness, health problems, addictions, unemployment, or a combination of several of these issues1 (Hersberger, 2001, p. 119). Research has concluded that homeless â€Å"people in their everyday lives are assessing their information needs in... ....What kinds of everyday information are you interested in encountering here? 23.How useful is what you learn at this place 1) Not Applicable 2) Not Useful 3) Somewhat Useful 4) Very Useful 5) Can’t Do Without 24. Is the information you encounter mostly trivial or good for making important or big decisions? 1) Trivial 2) Big Decision 3) Small Decision 4) All 5) Other 15 25.What would make it easier for you and others to share useful information at this place? 26.What are the drawbacks to getting information at this place? 27.How important is this place as a means to get help for information about everyday life? 1) Most important 2) Somewhat important 3) Not very important 4) Not important 28. What is your next best place for information? 29. Is there anything you’d like to add about what you’ve just told me? 30. Gender 31.Age 32.THANK YOU!

Bloomberg and the Soda Law Essay

The soda law introduced by Mayor Bloomberg to ban the sale of sodas larger than 16 fl. oz. at restaurants across the city will have zero to minimal economic impact on people who are currently buying them. The soda ban will have an extremely small net positive economic impact on businesses. And the rationale behind this is the fact that whoever drinks more soda will acquire more soda, regardless of how big or small the drink is. A 20 fl. oz. soda, when banned will be replaced by a 16 fl. oz. cup of soda. How much soda an individual drinks may even increase if instead of drinking just one 20 fl. oz. soda, he decides to get a refill of his 16 fl. oz. soda, something that most restaurants allow. The benefits projected for the society from this law, that may reduce obesity are preposterous. The cost of soda for restaurants is roughly $0. 0132 per ounce (see Appendix). On a 20 fl. oz. soda, the net cost to the restaurant is about $0. 22 (Appendix). A 20 fl. oz. cup of soda at an establishment such as McDonald’s, perhaps the main target of this law, sells for roughly $2. 50. Once the 20 fl. oz. cup is gone, it will be replaced by the 16 fl. oz. cup, but at the same price. The restaurants will re-label the 16 fl. oz. cup as the new large, introduce a 12 fl. oz. cup as a medium and keep the 8 –ounce cup as a small. But will this add significantly to the revenues of the restaurant? It is very unlikely, since the customers will just get refills for their 16 fl. oz. cups. The only economical benefit for the restaurant might be the people who do not refill their cups and this is minimal since the cost of soda is just a rounding error for most restaurants. This law is ineffective because it does not stop the consumer from consuming any less soda from what was being consumed before. The economic impact on the society will be in the red because of the hundreds and thousands of dollars spent on structuring the bill, the flawed methodologies of research that determined a small cup would result in less consumption of soda, and finally the money spent by various groups opposing or supporting this law. To effectively tackle the problem of obesity, the government needs to look at other avenues. Soda is a big cause of obesity, it is made of sugar and has calories, but the ban on a larger serving is not the solution. An effective solution would be to raise the taxes on sodas. Another solution is to ban refills, thus prompting the customer to purchase another soda, which will either discourage the purchase or add more to tax revenues collected by the government. In turn, this tax revenue can be used to build jogging tracks, exercise equipment and other recreational facilities for the community. Another option for the government is to advertise the ill effects of drinking soda and promote healthier alternatives such as fruit and vegetable juices at affordable prices at those restaurants. There are several other options for soda drinkers to consume the same amount of soda when this law is enforced. Restaurants and movie theatres give free refills, convenience stores such as 7-11 are exempt from this law, and grocery stores still sell the large bottles and cases. The answer to this problem lies in educating the people about the ill effects of soda and only then will this law be economically beneficial for the society. This law does not have any health benefits that can be converted in to economical benefits for the society. Appendix: â€Å"Costing Out Soda & Free Refills – How to Price Soda. † Wholesale Food & Restaurant Distribution by Pate Dawson Company. Pate Dawson Company, 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. .

Personal writing – David’s Table

Danielle's heart stopped the moment He stepped through the doorway. Although He was the reason that she came to this particular cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ at this precise time, she wasn't certain about her vague information. Go to Isabella's at quarter past four. He orders a cappuccino and a biscuit. He sits outside under the green umbrella at a wooden table and drinks his coffee, giving his biscuit to the birds. Sure enough, Danielle's man was given a polystyrene cup and white paper bag. She watched from her dark corner as He went outside. When she left, she noticed crumbs surrounding Him. The next day, Danielle couldn't curtail her thoughts. Whenever she looked at the clock she wondered what He was doing at that moment. At last, the bell rang and her body tensed in anticipation, but she had to wait until the end of roll call to grab her bag and make her way to Isabella's. Sitting at the same corner table, Danielle again ordered a cappuccino. Danielle hated coffee but it made her feel closer to Him. Today, she listened to His order at the counter. â€Å"Cappuccino to go and one of those cornflake biscuits, thanks.† Danielle smiled when the owner of the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ laughed and took His money. â€Å"David, mate, you've been coming here for months and its always the same thing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Danielle knew this was Him. â€Å"†¦And you only have different biscuits because you take whatever's there.† David grinned and took his order. â€Å"Well don't expect me tomorrow Bruce, I'm going back to Melbourne.† Danielle froze mid-pretend sip. Melbourne? â€Å"Melbourne?† echoed Bruce aloud. â€Å"Yeah, I have unfinished business there †¦Ã¢â‚¬  David looked away. â€Å"Ah, I see.† Bruce shut the till, smiled and turned to the next customer. David walked out onto the terrace. Inside, Danielle lost interest in her pretence. He was going away before she had a chance to talk to him. She picked up her coat and left, crossing the terrace just as He looked up and saw her walking away. School came second to Danielle's thoughts. However, this time her mind was firmly in the distant past on the day that had been the hardest of her life. Even thinking about it made her want to bawl into her notebooks. Mercifully, Danielle had on Thursdays she didn't have to say much, just sit there and look busy, so no one noticed. Neither Danielle nor David went to Isabella's on Thursday. David didn't want to go to Melbourne as he had only been in Adelaide for five months. However, since his mother died six weeks previously and he had been in Melbourne for the funeral, the pull became too strong. David knew that to start over again in Adelaide, he needed closure in Melbourne. A month sounded long, but there was a lot he had to do. Thankfully, he and Cassie didn't have any children; apparently they made divorce harder. David left for Melbourne on Thursday at six-thirty pm. After the weekend, Danielle returned to Isabella's. She wasn't sure whether to be upset that had was gone or relieved. Bruce noticed that she no longer sat in the corner with an untouched cappuccino; now Danielle sat outside on David's table with hot chocolate and cake. She ate the icing but crumbled the cake for the birds. Bruce considered getting a new cook, but instead, befriended her. Soon a month was up. Once, David wondered why some married couples had separate bank accounts. Wasn't marriage for life? Now he wished he had their foresight. Neither he nor Cassie wanted to sell everything but they couldn't do things fairly, too many emotions in the way. David was returning to Adelaide with money from the sale of his old life to purchase his new. His only concern was that his parents, his past, was buried in Melbourne. An indiscernible smell wafted down the aisle and punched David fair in the nose. Old shoes? Rotten eggs? It was too early for David to recognise the stench. â€Å"Would you like breakfast sir?† David smiled wanly as the flight attendant plonked a tray in front of him. The smell became stronger when he lifted the foil: overcooked omelette. Quarter to six he boarded the plane and now at seven-thirty it was too early for offal disguised as breakfast. David leant back in his chair and closed his eyes. He felt guilty about betraying his parents by leaving, by putting his childhood and young adult life in a neat box labelled â€Å"Melbourne† and moving on. But it was more; his motives for moving to Adelaide went against his parents' wishes and it was only after they had both died that he could defy them. At 32, David was still a naughty little boy. Danielle gazed at the attentive but blank faces in her chemistry class. Sometimes she wondered why she bothered. Most of these girls would go on to be nurses, secretaries or teachers. However it was a precious few who wanted more that made it all worthwhile. When Danielle was fifteen, she had been a precious one. She was to be a doctor in a time when girls were trained to be wives. Danielle was going somewhere until†¦ â€Å"Miss Everard, isn't there a two minus charge on the oxygen molecule?† Danielle shook herself from her reverie and looked at what she had written on the board. â€Å"Ah, yes, thankyou Catherine.† Catherine was a lucky one, going on to be what Danielle dreamed of. The siren went and the students began to pack up. â€Å"Miss Everard, is there any homework?† But Danielle had already left. David decided to go to Isabella's at four, as he wasn't back working yet. Bruce was pleased to see him. â€Å"David, I'm sorry but you can't have your table today. Why not try the table with the red umbrella?† David shrugged and sat down, glancing at the woman sitting at â€Å"his† table. She was slowly eating the icing from the top of her cake in between sips from her mug. He watched, captivated, as she picked at her cake and let bits fall from her fingers to the sparrows on the ground. He realised it, as his own cappuccino cooled beside him. Danielle, not noticing her company, was fully engrossed in the sparrows that flitted and darted around her. She found peace beyond her forty-eight years, something she hadn't felt for almost thirty-three years. David felt his thirst be slaked as he watched her, after twenty years of drought. This woman surrounded by birds mitigated the dryness started when he was told he was adopted. Bruce saw the young man approach the middle-aged woman and smiled. Knowing both sides, he had figured the whole story out long ago. With the strong sunlight slanting under the umbrella, Bruce could see that the resemblance between mother and son was uncanny.

Antigone Versus Socrates in the Crito essays

Antigone Versus Socrates in the Crito essays Sophocles play Antigone illustrates the conflict between obeying human and divine law. The play opens after Oedipus two sons Eteocles and Polyneices have killed each other in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. Oedipus brother in law Creon then assumes the throne. He dictates that Eteocles shall receive a state funeral and honors, while Polyneices shall be left in the streets to rot away. Creon believes that Polyneices body shall be condemned to this because of his civil disobedience and treachery against the city. Polyneices sister, Antigone, upon hearing this exclaims that an improper burial for Polyneices would be an insult to the Gods. She vows that Polyneices body will be buried, and Creon declares that anyone who interferes with his body shall be punished. This is where the conflict begins. Thus the theme of this play becomes the priority of unwritten law. The question is whether duties to the gods are more essential then obedience of the state and law. Creon calls the rottin g of Polyneices body an obscenity because he believes that burial of the dead is a necessity of human law and not of a citizen. . There is no compromise between the two both believe in the absolute truth of their obedience. Antigone believes that the unwritten and natural law supercedes any form of human written law. Honor and a principled responsibility to gods and family are given equal weight in her self-defense. She says that she fears, not men's condemnation, but penalties from the gods if she does not act The painful evils that beset her life (the loss of mother, father, and brothers) make death a gain in her eyes By contrast, if she had left her mother's son unburied, she would have grieved She expects to win glory for her gesture to the gods. Antigone displays the characteristic trait of pride in the way she justifies and carries out her decisions. She is obstinate in h...

Sodium Thiosulphate Essays

Sodium Thiosulphate Essays Sodium Thiosulphate Essay Sodium Thiosulphate Essay I am going to try and find out whether the reaction between Sodium Thiosulphate and Hydrochloric acid stays the same, increases or decreases when the temperature for both of the components is increased.Prediction: I predict that as the 2 components are heated the reaction will get quicker in time until a certain point. When the liquids reach a certain temperature the liquids will be too hot to make a reaction and there will be no reaction.Apparatus: for my experiment I will need: Bench Mat 2 Thermometers 1 Measuring Cylinder (25cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½) 30cm of Sodium Thiosulphate 30cm of Hydrochloric Acid 2 beakers X mat Water Bath Ice Box with cold water Stop watchApparatus Set up:X card Bench Mat Measuring Cylinders Water Bath Thiosulphate H2SO4Method: The first thing we need to do is to collect all of the equipment and set it up like in the diagram. Make sure that the heating or cooling element is at the right temperature for example make sure the water bath is at t he correct temperature and that the ice bath is as close to freezing as possible. Pour 10cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of sodium Thiosulphate into the measuring cylinder. Then pour 10cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ of hydrochloric acid into a different measuring cylinder. Place a thermometer into both measuring cylinders. Once the temperature has reached the temperature you wish to do the experiment at then take them out of the cooler or heater. Then add both liquids into 1 beaker and start the timer. Stop the clock when the X has totally disappeared and record your results.Observations:When I am carrying out this experiment I am going to be measuring how long it takes for the Hydrochloric Acid and the Sodium Thiosulphate, to cloud over a X mark which will be placed underneath a beaker. I will be measuring the time in seconds. Despite the time going into the minutes I am going to count them as seconds. This is because when I am placing the results and plotting the graph on the computer the spreadsheet program that I am using will place the results In a different way because it will count the one minute as one second and place the result as one second which would be wrong.Results:Temperature in Degrees CelsiusTest No.1023304050133.441.02.0346.3319.3226.05246.521.02.7549.8921.0827.39320.751.12.7548.4219.2924.61438.921.04.6846.832627.43531.241.07.2145.3316.9928.86Average34.171.05.147.3620.5326.56High46.521.02.0349.892628.86Low20.751.12.6845.3316.9924.61The numbers ranging between 20.75 and 1.02.03 are the times in minutes, seconds and hundreds of second.Graph:Conclusion: I think that my prediction was correct as when we heated it above 45à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C the liquids became inactive and the reaction went wrong. 2 of my experiments went wrong I think as they do look out of place on the graph. These are the experiments at 23à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C and 30à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C.Evaluation: After looking at my results and graphs I can see that my experiment was not a fair test as some of the results look like they have go ne wrong. So after discovering this I can virtually say that the results I have are unreliable. To make the test fairer the next time I carry it out I think that I should carry out each temperature out more than three times and instead carry them out another odd number of times like 5 or 7. This should enable me to gain better and more accurate results.Appendix:To help me out with this experiment I have used the following resources: AQA Modular Science FINAL EXAM, Higher Level Britannica 2001 Letts Science revision guide

Trajan, the Roman Empire and Soldier

Trajan, the Roman Empire and Soldier Born Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Trajan was a soldier who spent most of his life involved in campaigns. When delivered the news that he was adopted by Roman Emperor Nerva, and even after Nerva died, Trajan remained in Germany until he had completed his campaign. His major campaigns as emperor were against the Dacians, in 106, which vastly increased the Roman imperial coffers, and against the Parthians, beginning in 113, which was not a clear and decisive victory. His imperial name was Imperator Caesar Divi Nervae filius Nerva Traianus Optimus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus Parthicus. He reigned as Roman emperor from A.D. 98-117. Although we dont know the details, Trajan set up cash subsidies to help raise poor children. He is well known for his building projects. Trajan also built an artificial harbor at Ostia. Birth and Death Future Roman emperor, Marcus Ulpius Traianus or Trajan was born at Italica, in Spain, on September 18, A.D. 53. After having appointed Hadrian his successor, Trajan died while returning to Italy from the east. Trajan died on 9 August A.D. 117, after suffering a stroke, in the Cilician town of Selinus. Family of Origin His family came from Italica, in Spanish Baetica. His father was Ulpius Trajanaus and his mother was named Marcia. Trajan had a 5 year  older sister named Ulpia Marciana. Trajan was adopted by the Roman Emperor Nerva and made his heir, which entitled him to call himself the son of Nerva: CAESARI DIVI NERVAE F, literally, the son of the divine Caesar Nerva. Titles and Honors Trajan was officially designated optimus best or optimus princeps best chief in 114. He provided 123 days of public celebration for his Dacian triumph and had his Dacian and Germanic successes recorded in his official title. He was posthumously made divine (divus) as had his predecessor (Caesar Divus Nerva). Tacitus refers to the beginning of Trajans reign as a most blessed age (beatissimum saeculum). He was also made Pontifex Maximus. Sources Literary sources on Trajan include Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Cassius Dio, Dio of Prusa, Aurelius Victor and Eutropius. Despite their number, there is little reliable written information about Trajans reign. Since Trajan sponsored building projects, there is archaeological and epigraphical (from inscriptions) testimony. Trajan Optimus Princeps - A Life and Times, by Julian Bennett. Indiana University Press, 1997. ISBN 0253332168. 318 Pages.

SUPERIOR CUISINE PORTFOLIO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

SUPERIOR CUISINE PORTFOLIO - Essay Example He was known to be a lover of gourmet food and lavish banquets. Some of the directions we see in French culinary style including serving methods were effected mainly during his time. In the seventeenth century the regions near its borders, Italy and Holland, largely influenced French cuisine for example. Due to the Italian influence French cuisine at that time was nowhere near the delicate culinary style that it is today. As is typical of Italian cuisine, the French cuisine also showed excessive use and taste of sugar, salt with strong spices. Louis the XIV was determined to present French cuisine as a delicate and exotic cuisine and thereby transform France into a culinary capital in the eyes of the world. The staple base in most of the food that was eaten at that time was still bread among the peasants in the region. Louis the XIV, love for the culinary arts was aimed at bringing gourmet food to the peasants and he held many lavish banquets where the people received an education on French cuisine and treated as a form of Art. There was a drive to make food from fresh ingredients and herbs in place of strong and taste overwhelming spices. He also wanted all the components of the cuisine to be developed and perfected in France. This was his way of showing off the aristocracy of France as a nation. To enforce this that era saw a lot of ban of foreign ingredients. He also had a passion for gardening and urged the people to also grow their own vegetables and make the cuisine richer in taste by using fresh ingredients. Many innovations were effected because of the ban in foreign imports. Although France was unified as a nation it was a build up of people with varying cultural heritages and influences. Therefore people started producing ingredients that they were used to and familiar with. Due to proximity with other nations, the cuisine of population that lived near the border regions showed strong

Interstate Banking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interstate Banking - Essay Example Economies of scale are realized since loan activity is increased with the merging of assets brought about by expanded business in different states. Another advantage to interstate banking is the convenience it offers to its clients. With interstate banking, more branches are within the reach of the clients (Berry, 2011). The flow of bank activities are easily facilitated which makes it easier for the clients to do business. A smooth flow in bank activities may result in increased revenues because of the ease in doing business. Interstate banking makes it possible for banks to offer a wider range of banking services to its clients because of the interstate acquisitions and branches (Berry, 2011). Some of these services include more ATMs, electronic banking options and varied loan products. Financial security and stability is one of the major off-shoots of interstate banking. Since banking consolidation is allowed provided that the capital requirements are met, this means that the resources of the banks increase, making it more stable and secure. The liquidity and solvency of the banks improve with interstate banking. Bank clients benefit the most from interstate banking. The increased competition brought about by interstate banking makes banks think of strategies to capture a bigger market; thus, improving their services and developing new products which are attractive to the clients. Aside from bank clients, banks also benefit from interstate banking. Operating costs are greatly reduced as the bank subsidiaries are converted to bank branches. Geographic diversification will help improve the risk-return opportunities of banks (United States General Accounting Office, 1995). The most likely loser in interstate banking is the Federal Reserve (Berger & Humphrey, 1988). Since there will be an improvement in the efficiency of the payment system, multiple bank payments will decrease because most checks will be

Controversy Analysis, fracking, air pollution, gasland, Essay

Controversy Analysis, fracking, air pollution, gasland, - Essay Example Moreover, due to the harm and damage to the environment that fracking implies, it will be the recommendation of this author that fracking should ultimately be suspended until a means of resource extraction that is not so horrifically damaging to the environment is found. Fracking itself is a process whereby a fluid is injected below the surface layer of rock and sediment to pressurize underlying regions of rocks to create fissures within these layers so that the trapped reserves of petroleum or natural gas may find their way into pockets and thereby be extracted via conventional means (Rijke 14). As was discussed in Gasland, due to the fact that drilling a new well in order to tap pockets of resources is inefficient and harmful to the environment, many resource extraction experts have turned to fracking as a quick way to help consolidate a regions gas/petroleum resources and make these amenable to fast and rather painless extraction process. The process itself does however have its u nique drawbacks (Clean Air and Natural Gas 1). These unique drawbacks will of course be related in further detail the proceeding sections of this analysis. One of the main drawbacks to fracking, that was referenced in Gasland is of course the environmental effects that fracking entails. Although there is a high level of disagreement on the actual environmental damage that fracking causes, it can be understood that regardless of one’s particular view of the situation fracking has the potential to unleash any one of a host of negative environmental externalities (Adgate 81) Some of these include: improper disposal of waste water, overall integrity of pipeline system and risk of blowouts due to over pressure, affects of having fluid water pervade multiple layers of subsurface rock and sediment and thereby diffuse through these contaminating hitherto untouched samples with key elements and contaminants from the other subsurface sedimentary layers, and the long-term effects to hea lth and safety of the drinking water supply as a result of the process itself (Weinhold 278). Because this process itself is extraordinarily damaging to the local environment, a number of opponents, this author included, have raised their voice with regards to seeking to suspend the process indefinitely (The Case for a Ban on Fracking 1). This understanding is not a matter of a convenient level of agreement with the documentary film Gasland; rather it is understood in this particular manner due to the host of negative implications that it entails for the environment as well as the health of the people affected by it. Due to the issues that have been listed above in this analysis as well as the fact that so little is still known regarding the long term results that fracking necessarily entails, it is in the best interest of all involved to seek to bring such a practice to a premature end as a means of salvaging what is left of our tender environment and ecosystems (Porter 1). As such , the reader can quickly infer that the process of fracking likely entails

Environmental Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Environmental Management - Essay Example More over, the water based sports that are part of tourism activities are affected by the presence of waste. Hotels may lose clients as they move to the unpolluted areas. The waste water could be of use to the hotels if it is treated and used for sanitary purposes, thereby lowering the water expenses. On the other hand, hotels can avoid breaking government regulations regarding discharge of waste in to the environment, which may lead to legal action being taken against them. High electrical energy consumption also leads to the depletion of water resources especially where hydro-electric power is used. Other electric generation plants also have an impact on the environment, which may lead to the migration of organisms such as birds due to the emission of toxic gases. Such phenomena adversely affect the hotel and tourism industry. Hotels would on the other hand be at an advantage if they conserved energy in their operations and hotel rooms. The most important is lowering their energy costs, which translates in to reduced operation costs, hence higher profitability (Gibson et al 2003). This can be accomplished through sensitizing the staff and the visitors regarding leaving the lights off when not in use, ensuring that refrigerators and other electrical appliances are not switched on unnecessarily. The wood fuel that is used for cooking leads to the destruction of forests, which serve as an essential carbon sink. The greenhouse gases emitted from burning fuel have been a major contributor to climate change. This has adversely affected the hotel industry as water bodies dry up and land being transformed in to a desert. Wild life is becoming depleted in many countries where tourism is a major economic activity, which has led to the closure of many hotel businesses. It is therefore necessary for hotels to engage in the control of green house gases emission, no matter how little they may be contributing to

Cause and Effect and Correlation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cause and Effect and Correlation - Essay Example An article published by the John Hopkins University (2000) indicated that â€Å"predominantly black, low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore were eight times more likely to have carry-out liquor stores than white or racially integrated neighborhoods† (John Hopkins University, 2000, p. 1). Bradtmiller cited Interim Chief of the IU Police Department Jerry Minger as stating that â€Å"There are so many factors that are involved in violence,† Minger said. â€Å"It could be something like a domestic problem or a hate crime and have not anything to do with alcohol† (Bradtmiller, 2010, p. 1). Again, one agrees that the abundance of liquor stores is a contributory factor to criminal activities. In higher crime areas, there are usually more police; does that mean that police cause crime? This statement is totally unfounded, unsubstantiated and does not indicate any correlation to criminal activities. The reason why police presence is needed is to specifically address the crimes committed in high crime areas. There could be a correlation that when there are high incidents of crime, there would necessarily be greater number of police to address the criminal activities in the area. To determine a reliable correlation between the number of liquor stores and the number of crimes in low income neighborhoods, what kind of experiment might you design? A correlation analysis between two variables (number of liquor stores and number of crimes) would determine a reliable correlation between the two. What kind of correlation number would make you feel fairly certain that there is a solid connection between larger numbers of liquor stores in low income neighborhoods and resulting crime? The correlation number ‘r’ (Pearson r) would establish whether there is a solid connection between the two variables. As revealed in Knowledge Base (2006), â€Å"r will always be between -1.0 and +1.0. if the correlation is negative, we have a negative relationship; if its positive,

Environmental Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Environmental Management - Essay Example More over, the water based sports that are part of tourism activities are affected by the presence of waste. Hotels may lose clients as they move to the unpolluted areas. The waste water could be of use to the hotels if it is treated and used for sanitary purposes, thereby lowering the water expenses. On the other hand, hotels can avoid breaking government regulations regarding discharge of waste in to the environment, which may lead to legal action being taken against them. High electrical energy consumption also leads to the depletion of water resources especially where hydro-electric power is used. Other electric generation plants also have an impact on the environment, which may lead to the migration of organisms such as birds due to the emission of toxic gases. Such phenomena adversely affect the hotel and tourism industry. Hotels would on the other hand be at an advantage if they conserved energy in their operations and hotel rooms. The most important is lowering their energy costs, which translates in to reduced operation costs, hence higher profitability (Gibson et al 2003). This can be accomplished through sensitizing the staff and the visitors regarding leaving the lights off when not in use, ensuring that refrigerators and other electrical appliances are not switched on unnecessarily. The wood fuel that is used for cooking leads to the destruction of forests, which serve as an essential carbon sink. The greenhouse gases emitted from burning fuel have been a major contributor to climate change. This has adversely affected the hotel industry as water bodies dry up and land being transformed in to a desert. Wild life is becoming depleted in many countries where tourism is a major economic activity, which has led to the closure of many hotel businesses. It is therefore necessary for hotels to engage in the control of green house gases emission, no matter how little they may be contributing to

Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U.S. 844 (1997) Essay

Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U.S. 844 (1997) - Essay Example The CDA provisions were in tandem with Christian faith and the Holy bible which deplores immorality. The book of 1Thessalonians 4:3 states,† For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality." The Bible also states in the book of Proverbs 29:17, â€Å"Correct your son and he will give you comfort; He will also delight your soul.† This act sought to safeguard upbringing of children by shielding them from a filthy society that threatens corrupt their morality. However, in the case of â€Å"Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union,† the court of Supreme upheld a previous lower court decision that the CDA violated two existing provisions of the constitution. The CDA act violated the first amendment that provided freedom of speech. The CDA was found also violating the Fifth Amendment by virtue of vagueness of its words such as â€Å"indecent â€Å"and â€Å"patently offensive† (Law.cornell.edu, 2014). The judges final ruling resonates with an incidence in the Bible where Jesus disregarded Mosaic Law in order to protect a more fundamental right in the book of John 8:7-8 where he saved an adulterous woman from a mob that wanted to stone her, as required by the Mosaic Law. â€Å"He, who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her and when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones...† Justice John Paul Steven recognized the fact that the government had the responsibility to protect minors from sexually explicit materials but expressed his concern that the provisions unnecessarily suppressed the right to provide information to adults which could be educative. For instance a discussion on birth Control practices. The court was also concerned with the criterion used to define indecent materials or communication. The court argued that CDA â€Å"community standards† criterion implied that other nation- wide internet communication would be

French culture Essay Example for Free

French culture Essay France is a Western Europe country with a population of approximately 60. 4 million people as by July 2004. France has a diversity of religions but the dominant religion is Roman Catholic with Jewish religion having the least followers (Kwintessential, 2010). These preliminary diversities in ethnicity and religion signal a diverse French culture. This paper discusses French culture by looking into different beliefs and attitudes common to French people. Language is also a central part of French culture as well as other important values. A diverse French culture Every people have their identity which is mainly entrenched in their culture. The French are not exceptional for the French culture is rich in almost all dimensions. The culture is usually best felt when you explore philosophy or by looking at the unique literary and art work. The input of French people in philosophy is outstanding with prominent philosophers like Rene Descartes (1600s) prided as the pioneers of modern philosophy. Montaigne is also a renowned sixteenth century philosopher who is celebrated for his ability to institute as part of art. Other French philosophers include Voltaire, Pascal and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (LERC, 2010). Having such renowned philosophers indicate that the French culture has been very influential not only in European countries but also in the Western nations and practically the whole world. A people’s art is a mirror of the people and what their values are all about. French art is in the form of literature, theatre as well as other forms of art. Some of the art works are very old thus portraying a rich history of the French culture. Some of the French artists who are known worldwide include Claude Monet who is known for his contribution to impressionist art which is an impression of ones view about nature (Cauderlier, 2009). Other artists include Edouard Manet, Auguste Renoir and Armand Guillaumin. The cathedrals of France such as the Notre Dame and Chartres cathedral are popular structures that showcase French artistry. In particular, the Notre Dame cathedral has its walls decorated with statues as well as gargoyles. On the other hand, Chartres cathedral has its windows made of about 3,000 m2 of stained glass (LERC, 2010). All these are magnificent features of the French art work. Writing, poetry and theatre make up a beautiful French literature. France prides of the Academie francaise which is made of prominent writers. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was for instance the work of novelist Victor Hugo in the 1800s. Among other French writes whose works have been influential in development of culture include Alexandre Dumas and Charles Baudelaire (LERC, 2010). In poetry, the works of Ronsard and Lamartine regarding nature and love are still influential (French Language, 2010). French theatre is also a unique symbol of French culture. For instance, Moliere has several comedies which portray the vanities of human nature as a satire. Other playwrights include Racine and Corneille. These pieces of literature unique to French people are a source of pride and identity to the French people thereby displaying one aspect of their culture. Language is an important aspect in the French culture. French is the predominant language with about 88 percent of the communicating through French with even most of the rest speaking French and another language. Other spoken languages which are spoken by a small percentage of people include German dialects, Flemish, Italian, Catalan dialects, Breton and Basque. Immigrants have such dialects as the Corsu, Kabyle as well as Antillean Creole (Kwintessential, 2010). French people not only utilize verbal communication but they also regularly use non-verbal communication mainly in form of gestures. For instance, an eye contact is mainly used to signify equality or to act as a cue for friendship request. Shaking hands among acquaintances is also highly regarded by French people. Specific gestures are used for counting (using fingers starting from the thumb) whereas covering ones mouth with the hands indicates making an apology or an acknowledgement that one has made a mistake (LERC, 2010). French people also have their food which is unique and defines them. French cuisine varies mainly according to regions in France as regions influence availability of food. The most common traditional meal is the baguette and cheese accompanied by wine. Other meals have several courses with an air of sophistication. Since each region has different ingredients, each region seems to specialize in such ingredients but the foods have commonalities such as use of olive oil and tomatoes. In addition to the influence of local availability, French foods also vary depending on the influence of bordering countries and immigrants (sauerkraut common Alsace which borders Germany) Lunch break usually takes about two hours for most people (FPSi, 2010) The French society also has unique family and societal values, customs and etiquettes which are an important feature of the French culture. The family is highly valued and they are families are composed of few children. The roles of each family member are clearly defined with the parents being guardians and providers. The extended family offers support either financially or emotionally. French people usually develop open and polite dealings with family members and friends. Exchange of gifts bears some given etiquettes. For instance, one is not supposed to give an even number of flowers. Nevertheless, number thirteen is said to be unlucky and therefore such a number of flowers should not be given. It is also a requirement to open gifts immediately they are received (Kwintessential, 2010). French people are time conscious and they value keeping time. For instance, one is not supposed to be late for dinner for an invited dinner for more than ten minutes without prior explanation for being late. There are unique table manners such as being a requirement to finish food in ones plate. Business is usually conducted formally and courtesy is among the most important etiquettes. For a person who cannot speak French, it is always preferable for them to apologise if they are to establish a meaningful relationship. Dark-coloured suits are recommended for as business wear for men while women can do with either business suits or if it has to be a dress, then it must be elegant and having soft colours (Kwintessential, 2010). This is an exemplary culture as it has been adopted in the business environment virtually all over the world. Conclusion French culture is interesting, unique in many ways and has influenced other cultures in the world. The philosophy, art and literature are renowned worldwide and are an identity for the French people. French culture is also clearly defined in language, foods, general etiquettes in the society as well as unique business etiquettes. The French culture is undoubtedly interesting and influential especially if one considers every minor detail of the culture. As French, one finds reason to be proud of their culture which is outstanding even in the modern world. Bibliography Cauderlier, A. (2009). Monet. Retrieved 12, May 2010 from http://giverny. org/monet/welcome. htm FPSi. (2010). French food culture. Retrieved 12, May 2010 from http://www. france-property-and-information. com/french_food. htm French Language. (2010). French culture. Retrieved 12, May 2010 from http://www. frenchlanguageguide. com/french/culture/ Kwintessential. (2010). France-French culture, customs and etiquette. Retrieved 12, May 2010 from http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/resources/global-etiquette/france-country-profile. html LERC. (2010). French culture, communication and gestures. Retrieved 12, May 2010 from http://lerc. educ. ubc. ca/LERC/courses/489/worldlang/french/frenchcultandcomm. html

The History Of Jean Watson caring Science

The History Of Jean Watson caring Science Summary Jean Watson born in 1940 earned a diploma from Lewis Gale Hospital School of Nursing in Roanoke, VA. Watson furthered her education and attended the University of Colorado for her BSN, MSN in psychiatric-mental health nursing and Ph.D. in educational psychology and counseling. Watson has held numerous positions at the University of Colorado as both faculty and administrator. Watson served as faculty at the University of Colorado Health Science Center, dean of the School of Nursing, and fouding Dorector of the center for Human Caring. Watsons first publication was in 1979 and this was the introduction of the theory of Transpersonal Caring to the nursing profession. Watsons theory focuses on preserving the dignity and wholeness of humanity. Transpersonal Caring theory evolved from Watsons own personal values, beliefs, and perceptions regarding human life, health, and healing. (Walker, 1996, p. 144) Watson views nursing as a collective caring-healing role and its mission in society as attending to, and helpting to sustain, humanity and wholeness (Walker, 1996, p. 144). The thoery is meant to be a worldview or ethic by which nursing could know its traditions in health and healing. Watson views nursing as an human science academic discipline and as an clinical profession. The theory views nursing as a societal mission to caring and healing work with others during their most vulnerable moments of lifes journey (Walker, 1996, p. 145). The theory analyzes caring independently from curing. The discipline of caring and hea ling are derived from the arts and humanities. Watsons theory was based on Nightingales healing environment concept. The theory evolved from the belief that an individuals environment affects their healing. The theory began as a philosophy and was never meant to be a testable theory. Watsons goal for the theory is to move nursing from the belief that the human body is a machine to the belief that the interdependent and nondiscrete nature of a world and the spiritual nature of humans is of paramount importance (Watson, 1985, p. 1) Watson defines health as harmony, and illness as disharmony within the mind, body, and spirit. Eastern philosophy influenced Watsons theory on health and illness. In Watsons later works her influence was the Chaos Theory by Kellert and the quantum physics and mechanics by Pelletier (Walker, 1996, p. 191) Watsons goal is to serve as a bridge by which nursing will transition from a biomedical/natural-science model to a postmodern/human-science perspective. Watson believes language is the key to transitiong nursing from the biomedical/natural-science model to the postmodern/human -science model (Walker, 1996, p. 146) Watson (1999) believed nursing is a discipline devoted to caring, health, and healing. Watsons theory has continued to evolve in regards to her concepts. The main components of her origninal theory are: transpersonal caring relationship; ten carative factors; and caring occasion/caring moment. These components defined her orignial concept of transpersonal caring which was defined as a human-to-human connectedness occurring in a nurse-patient encounter wherein each is touched by the human center of the other (Watson, 1985). In Watsons updated theory new dimensions evolved and included the concept that the caring-healing modalities potentiate harmony, wholeness, and confort, and promote inner healing by releasing some of the disharmony and blocked energy that interfere with the natural healing processes (Walker, 1996, p. 151) The transpersonal caring relationship is a strong relationship between nurse and patient. The relationship is a unique relationship for the both the nurse and patient. A nurse enters into the life space or phenomenal field of another person and is able to detect the other persons condition of being (spirit, or soul level), feels this condition within self, and respons in such a way that the person being cared for has a release of feelings, thought , and tension (Walker, 1996, p. 152). Watson believes the necessary knowledge and sensitivity a nurse needs to build a transpersonal caring relationship with their patient can be gained through work with other cultures, study of the humanities, and exploration of ones own values, beliefs, and relationship with self (Walker, 1996, p. 153). Watson wanted the theory to apply to all nurses in any situation and make use of its carative factors in implements and delivering quality nursing care. Weaknesses The first limitation in Watsons theory is the lack of relevancy to todays nursing. Due to the acuity of illness and nurse patient ratios following Watsons theory doesnt seem practical. Watsons model continuously focuses on the spirit, and has a lack of emphasis on the physical entities of an individual. Watsons model would deem difficult to practice for nurses who focus care on the physical aspects and the treatment of illness. Watsons theory focuses on the human care process and not on the therapeutic nature of care (Rafael, 2000, p. 402) Individuals who believe the physical is separate from the spiritual may find this theory unpractical. Watson continuously focuses on the psychosial aspects and need of patients, and this is a secondary concern in the current state of nursing practice. Watsons theory also deems itself to be impractical because it calls for a level of care that is simply impossible in an environment where there is a high acuity of illness, short hospital stays due to lack of insurance, and an increased level of technology which limits the amount of time needed to spend with a patient. In the current business focused era and a bureaucratic health care system, Watsons model would prove to be extremely difficult for nurses to implement. The broad gap between the nurse caring process and the clinical reality, have some authors suggesting that this gap reduces clinical relevance. (Morse, Solberg, Neander, Bottorff, Johnson, 1990, p. 8) Nurses would find current hospital policies and practices would limit their flexibility to implement this theory. The health system follows a different set of values and beliefs and would stand as a barrier for nurses whom choose to follow these principles. Implementation of Watsons theory would require a change from the public and movement away from the idea of treatment and towards healing and caring. Watsons theory would require the restructuring of our entire health system, and rebuilding into a healing focused health care system. Strengths Watsons theory has been criticized by many, but is transformative and brings the caring aspect back to nursing. The theory guides the nurse to focus on the individual and requires the selective use of technology. The theory requires the use of technology only for the enhancement of healthcare practices, and not as the sole guiding factor in healthcare. Watson insists that the nurse focuses on the subjective experience of the patient, to facilitate restoring inner harmony and potential healing (Morse et al., 1990, p. 9) Watson calls the nurse to go beyond the duties of providing standard quality of care, but requires the nurse to provide soul satisfying care. Watson believes it is morally imperative and an obligation to care for the patient and their spiritual needs, regardless of the nurses experience or abilities. This notion also coincides with Leiningers Culture Care theory in requiring the nurse to provide non-judgmental and non-biased culturally competent care. Watsons theory allows the nurse to be flexible in their practice. The theory doesnt require the nurse to follow a set standard or tool. Transpersonal Caring theory focuses on the individual and not the disease or illness. The theory allows the nurse to utilize different interaction methods with different individuals. The theory grants the nurse the ability to adjust their approach and style of care based on the needs of each individual as separate entities and apart from their disease. The adjustment allows the nurse to have a transpersonal moment with their patient in which ones mind-bod- soul engages with anothers mind-body-soul in a lived moment. Here a spiritual union is felt with the other person (Rafael, 2000, p. 402) Watson brings the patient back to focus and eliminates the other common distractors such as technology and illness. By eliminating these distractors Watson is allowing the nurse to meet each patients physical and spiritual needs. Betty Neuman: The Neuman Systems Model Summary Betty Neuman born in 1924 in Ohio received her nursing diploma from Peoples Hospital in 1947 in Akron, Ohio. Neuman later received her B.S. in public health nursing in 1957 and her M.S. public-mental health in 1966 from UCLA. In 1985 she obtained her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Pacific Western University. Neuman has worked as a bedside nurse, teach, author, lecturer, and consultant. Neuman was the first nurse licensed in California as a marriage and family counselor. The Neuman Systems Model was developed in 1970 in response to graduate students requests for a course that would provide an overview of the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, and developmental aspects of human beings (Fawcett, 2001, p. 211). The model was first published in 1972 and five editions have been published with the last edition in 2010. The model was established during the period of general systems theory and is a holistic model based upon interactions and relationships. Neumans System Model consists of two major components stress and the reaction to stress (Neuman, 1995, p. 22). The model has four major concepts in relation to nursing which are: human being/individual, environment, health, and nursing. The model is an open system and defines the individual as a human being, the community, or a family. The goal of the system is to maintain balance and stability. Neuman allows the individual to maintain balance by utilizing resources within and outside of the system, or eliminate internal or external factors that affect the individuals ability to maintain stability. Factors that disrupt an individuals ability to maintain stability are called stressors. Neuman views stressors as either negative or positive and deem them capable of having this same effect on the individual. The model requires the individual to utilize and exchange with its environment. The individual may adjust itself according to the environment or adjust the environment as long as the ultimate goal of stability is met. The physiological psychological, sociocultural, developmental and spiritual factors are considered the core of the model. If the individual has maintained stability then these factors functions harmoniously amongst each other in spite of environment and stressors. Neuman believes when these factors are working together harmoniously and optimal stability has been attained then the individual has also obtained a greater level of wellness. Neuman utilizes wellness and health interchangeably and identifies these factors as optimal system stability, or the optimal state of wellness at a given time (Neuman, 1990, p. 129). The levels of health vary and is based upon the individuals response to its environment and stressors. The model identifies illness and death as requiring more energy that what is available, and wellness as requiring less energy than what is available or generated (Neuman, 1990, p. 129) Neuman utilizes prevention at the levels of primary, secondary, and tertiary to maintain stability (Fawcett, 2001, p. 213). Primary prevention is health promotion and maintenance and is utilized when a risk is identified and before its onset. Secondary prevention occurs after the risks onset and is utilized to prevent further injury and disability. If secondary prevention is unable to maintain stability the individual will move towards tertiary prevention. Tertiary prevention is maintaining maximum stability even with a disability to promote health and return to primary prevention. Neuman defines nursing as helping the individuals system attain, maintain, or retain system stability (Fawcett, 2001, p. 211). Neuman identifies the job of the nurse to accurately assess the individual and identify the stressors to their system, and assist the individual in making adjustments that will promote optimal health and wellness. By identifying and assisting the nurse stands as the linkage between the individuals system, its environment, and health. The nurses interventions are aimed at helping the individual maintain a level of stability. The level of stability must be maintained under the conditions of the environment and possibly stressors if the factors are unable to be eliminated. The nurse must assist the individual in maintaining stability under these conditions and minimize the amount of energy consumed by the individual. The model identifies a three-step process for the nurse and consists of the nursing diagnosis, nursing goals, and nursing outcomes. The Nursing Dia gnosis consists of the assessment and diagnosis of each individual. The second step Nursing Goals consists of the identification and planning phase. The final step Nursing Outcomes is the implementation and evaluation phase. (Fawcett, 2001, pp. 212-213) Weaknesses The major weakness identified in Neumans model is the ambiguity of the terms used in the model. Clarification is needed regarding the terms interpersonal stressors, extrapersonal stressors, and reaction. Gigliotti (2003) noted that linking statements (relational propositions) between stressors and the environment should be clearer (Gigliotti, 2003, p. 203). The reader can assume that interpersonal stressors occur between two people and extrapersonal stresors occur between a group or society and the person, but this is not clearly defined in Neumans literature. Hoffman (1982) analyzed the NSM and explored its use for theory construction concluding that the concepts of the NSM were defined and proposed that concept interrelations be further investigated so that relational hypotheses could be formulated (Gigliotti, 2003, p. 203). The differentiation between interpersonal and extrapersonal is not clear. The pictorial diagram of Neuman Systems Model includes the term reaction, but in the original model the term reaction is not clearly defined or discussed. The second weakness identified in Neumans model is the inconsistence use of the concepts health, environment and nursing. Neumans literature identifies health, environment, and nursing as major concepts within the model, but these concepts do not appear in the models diagram. Neumans diagram is considered to be an important representation of her model, but major concepts are eliminated from the model. Gigliotti (2003) noted that the definitions of essential concepts that Neuman had then supplied were adequate but the definitions of health, environment, and nursing needed clarification (Gigliotti, 2003, p. 203). Major concepts stated and continuously used within Neumans literature should be identifiable and noted within the pictorial explanation of the model. Strengths A major strength in Neumans model is its ability to be widely used within nursing. Neuman reports that the model was designed for nursing but can be used by other health disciplines (Fawcett, 2001, p. 212). If all nurses and other disciplines utilize this model then a consistent approach to health care will be facilitated. If all disciplines utilize the same model, established by Neuman, perhaps redundancy and errors will be limited across health care disciplines. Redundancy would be eliminated and the patient would only have to explain their needs or story once to all health care disciplines, rather than, having to tell the same story many different times. The second strength in Neumans model is not only can it be used across other health care disciplines, but can be utilized within all areas of nursing. Neumans model is flexible in the sense that it can be used in the areas of research, administration, education, and clinical practice all within nursing. The third edition of Neumans model highlights the use of the model in all areas of nursing throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, England, Holland, Sweden and Wales (Fawcett, 2001, p. 211). The widespread use of this model illustrates its universal applicability. Neuman highlights this applicability as crucial during the current state, in which, the nursing profession has an increased need for unity within the discipline. Neuman believes the systematic Nursing Process format has been especially relevant as a guide for practice, despite all of the social and professional changes that nursing continues to experience (Fawcett, 2001, p. 212).

Same Sex Marriage :: Gay Lesbian Marriage Argumentative Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gay and lesbian unions have been for a long time a subject that no one liked to discuss. For the last few decades, gays and lesbians have come out and expressed their sexuality preferences. Many believe that same sex marriage should not be legalized because it's against the moral. It's against the definition of marriage, which is considered as the union of a man and a woman as a husband and wife. Same sex marriage should be legalized because the way society views the union of lesbian and gays can a change. Another reason why same sex marriage should be legalized is that children that are issued from a gay or lesbian couple will be loved and raised in a family that is legally recognized under the law. Lesbians and gays also deserve to have the same rights as heterosexuals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The way society views same sex marriage can change. Throughout history, many beliefs have changed. In the past, black people were not considered as citizens in the constitution. It is not until the thirteenth amendment in 1865 that slavery was banned. Women were not considered equal to men and were not given the right to vote until 1920 when congress passed the fourteenth amendment. It takes time but opinions and beliefs can change and the past has shown us that is indeed possible! Same sex marriage are nothing more than the union of two humans being that care, love, and want to make commitments to each other. That commitment can not be recognized unless same sex marriage is legalized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Prohibiting same sex marriage is unconstitutional. "The act discriminates on the basis of the sex by making the ability to marry depend on one's gender" (American Civil Liberties Union, p 12). It also disregards the Faith Full and Credit Clause of the constitution. If a gay or lesbian couple gets married in a state where same sex marriage is legal, but then for some reasons decides to move to another state where same sex marriage is prohibited, it would mean that their union would not be recognized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Same sex marriage should be legalized. Gays and lesbians deserve to have the same rights in their unions as heterosexuals have. It is important to legalize same sex marriage because: Civil marriage is the way our society defines one's most intimate, committed relationships; it is the only vehicle our society has for recognizing the existence of primary relationships not defined by blood.

War on Poverty: Role of the Privileged People †S.C. Aggarwal

War on Poverty: Role of the Privileged People S C Aggarwal Delhi: Shipra Publications, 2007, pp. 135, Rs. 350. 00, ISBN 978-81-7541-378-8 S. C. Aggarwal’s book – War on Poverty: Role of the Privileged People, takes a very informal and straightforward approach in explaining the prevalence and significance of poverty in India. Even though the issue is widely discussed amongst leaders and the normal public alike, there is little change in the conditions of the poor over the past few decades.The author takes a very structured approach in explaining the situation of poverty in India, starting from the very basics, by providing important facts and some frank admissions by well-known government authorities, economists and personalities. Being an IRS officer himself, he goes on to admit that there have been flaws in Government policies in the past and suggests that the misguidance can be corrected if help is received in the future.He presents the reasons for the prevalence of p overty in India and highlights the negligence of ancestral villages by people and the lack of new programmes by economists as the main contributing factors for the same. The author has done a great job in giving various methods to remove poverty in a very simplistic manner, enabling its understanding even by the layman. Pointers to multiple approaches to people from varied professions, asking for their support in the rise of the poor and the eventual growth of the economy are some of the prime take-aways from this book.Appeals to people from all strata in the society have been made, personally requesting each of them for help in improving the conditions of one or two villages, especially their ancestral village. Prominent film makers, editors, interviewers, television programmers, TV channel owners, accountants, teachers, etc. are some of the people that the author has reached out to, suggesting ways in which each of them can contribute towards the removal of poverty. S. C.Aggarwalà ¢â‚¬â„¢s central idea is based on the effort that these intellectuals must strive to deliver in order to remove poverty from their respective native villages. He suggests that only a truly determined effort from their side, irrespective of their occupations, will be sufficient to remove poverty and improve the conditions of more than one third of the impoverished segment of our population. Various schemes and plans have been extensively discussed for each of them, enlightening them on how they may contribute towards this cause.Several queries have been raised to economists and intellectuals, making them realize their responsibilities towards the poor, through a series of questions which are directly related to their line of work. These questions force them to think, and hence take action towards poverty removal. Improving the condition of the schools which made them what they are, providing basic low cost health facilities in order to provide the spread of diseases, educating the pu blic about healthy living are some of the issues addressed to all individuals.For a start, each individual may solve one or two problems of his village, or help improve the conditions of buildings and roads in the village. The discussion on how we may make our village problem-free, with a focus to starting personalised schemes for the welfare of the people, and the resulting benefits of the same provokes a thought in the minds of the reader. In addition to the overly simplistic methods suggested which will help achieve a GDP greater than 7%, the author has also kept in mind the situation encountered in taxing unaccounted income in the book.This issue of black money, which is one of the key reasons for increase in poverty, has been intelligently dealt with, by providing practical solutions that will instigate people to declare the same during taxation. This will not only allow for increased taxes leading to increased income to be directly used in poverty eradication, but will also le ad to lower number of loans and reduction of dishonesty by people when declaring taxes.Also, providing benefits to tax payers or those with no interest payable, to those using their own funds to buy cars/property, alongside introducing added taxes for poverty removal on each individual’s income or purchase/sale of shares, are some of the measures suggested that may help better manage the problem of poverty. These methods will lead to a positive outlook in the minds of the people, encouraging them to contribute more than what they are already contributing towards poverty removal. Another useful tip is the setting up of Poverty eradication banks and poverty eradication funds by the Government and prominent editors respectively.In short, equal participation of people from all walks of life in the fight against poverty is the only way our country will be able to establish itself a global leader. S. C. Aggarwal concludes the book with a humble prayer to all, comparing poverty to v arious metaphors, in order to realize the various ways in which each one of us interprets poverty. People are requested to give a helping hand to their fellow country-men, and to lift them from their dire states in society, to that that will help them procure the basic amenities of life for themselves and their families.One must take up the responsibility of their own villages, by trying to connect to the emotions that each individual has towards the place of his birth, where he/she grew up or where his/her parents resided/ are still residing. The author suggests that their responsibility does not end at removing poverty only from their respective villages. Rather, one must spread this idea to other people, at least three more, so that they may eradicate poverty from their own villages, along with spreading this idea as well.However, the basic problem that may be encountered in order to administer these ideas is that it is dependent of too many people, and hence it may be difficult to track the progress of every individual towards his village. Also, the methods suggested in the book seem a little farfetched, and hence will require patience for their achievement. All in all, the book is a good read for people wanting to do something for their societies by enriching us with the basics that each of us must contribute for its development.

American History. The Trans-Atlantic Slave trade

Think piece #1 I choose to answer the second topic. the dehumanizing forces of the transatlantic slave trade The Trans-Atlantic Slave trade was considered the most abominable and cruel force of slavery, during the trade, the way of obtaining the slave is dehumanizing, if we were to conclude the dehumanizing force in only one word, it would be: the minimum food, clothing, and shelter was given to those slaves who survived the Middle-Passage, and the maximum amount of work was expected of them. The first challenge was on their homeland, they were towed into a forest where no one can see them, then people who work for the capitalist beat the person to faint, and then they were chained together and â€Å"escorted† to the small boat which will send them to the slave boat. After that, when they were on boat, they were put on the lower cabin like cargos, there was almost no room to breathe or take a turn. And the food is horrible as well, the slaves can only get food once or at most twice a day, and the food is at most one-spoon full and the taste is awful. Slaves also have no bowls or spoons to eat; they ate with their bare dirty hands. What is more horrible is that ships often run out of food or sometimes there is infectious disease on board, then the slaves who is extra will be thrown into the sea with a bag of heavy rock tied in the beginning. Thus the survival rate during the transportation is extremely low; the number is only 13% or so. The first reason why that method is employed is that slaves were better used to the tropical weather than the capitalist, what is more, their physical building is tough and the number of slaves is much more than the solders on the ship. If they were treated like a human, whom they can get sufficient food and shelter, there might be a rebellion which may put those capitalist into peculiar situation. And at second, the slaves were considered property instead of human in the mind of those capitalists, thus they will not be treated like human. Despite all those horrible conditions and treatments, black people formed a strong culture tie between one and another to keep their rebellion force. The culture they formed is fusion of their own cultures with that of the white colonists, and the culture varies from country to country, region to region across the Americas. Although the slaves were captured from the same kingdoms, for instance, Louisiana is vastly different from that in Haiti or in Brazil. The differences were due to the differing conditions of slavery and the different input from whites in those places.

The Lamp at Noon

In the short story† the lamp at noon† Sinclair Ross is trying to develop that idea that sometimes in life individuals are often driven mad by their geographical isolation. A young couples dreams of happiness after are torn apart by the horrendous elements of nature and by lack of communication to cope with the changing condition. First of all the author Sinclair Ross uses to convey the idea of isolation is through the horrendous setting. The setting was described in a very detail manner creating imagery that helps focus of how isolated the couples felt.The author develops the setting by using personification, for example†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Demented wind fled kneeling past the house; a wall through the eaves that died every minute or two†. This statement is given the reader the mood of the setting, a dark, dreary, somewhat ugly, and depressing scene. The change in weather reflects how the characters are feeling. Paul and Ellen both feel upset, depressed, and dark especiall y about their relationship too. As the story progress, the change in weather effects the character moods a little more directly.The setting in this short story is critical element in the story, without it, the plot would be kind of dull, because it gives the reader an idea of the time and place in the story’s plot ,which help the reader focus of how isolated the characters feels. Second way that the author help defined the character is by using characterization. Sinclair used outstanding description for the two main characters. This is because they could both relate fairly, easily, and realistically. Ellen’s strong feeling which revolve around the idea of a better, healthier and even a little more â€Å"rewarding† life are nicely depicted.The reality of her hopes, however, is that the thing’s she wants and needs most are unattainable, which links to how isolated she feels. Ellen feels if she doesn’t acquire these glamorous items, she gets depressed . Ellen just sits and waits for a better opportunity, and her husband to come safe and sound to comfort her with love and affection as shown in this quote†¦Ã¢â‚¬ please stay†¦ I m so caged if I could only break away and run. See I stand like this all day. I can’t relax. My throat so tight it aches.From this quote, you can already tell how the characters feel and how Ellen way of describing the way she feels portrayed an accustomed to the finer things in life, but also that she needs love and care from her husband to replace that need. Now Paul on the other side, a rugged, strong, pride farmer is a touch stronger and make more persistent for success compared to Ellen. He struggles to keep his land and livestock alive and booming. He was quite determined in staying and trying, and waiting for the land to get better, as well as lots of rain to feed them.There was a constant motion of his feeling for rain and better crops the following year. â€Å"Well have crops agai n†¦ good crops. The land will come back, it’s worth waiting for†. The pride Paul has for his land, the hope he keeps for progression of his land success, and the strength, physical and emotional he has is great example. Since he is the only one who feels this way between himself and Ellen, he is â€Å"isolated†, as well. Characters, their feeling and actions described a vital role in the contribution towards how they feel about the land.They both individually isolated themselves, as well as isolated together from society because of the phenomena that’s happening. Last, but not least the author uses symbolism. This is meaningful it spread out through the story. The author uses one symbol the help the reader realized how import it truly is. The author uses the lamp, the fact that it is lit at noon show’s that it is constantly dark, and foggy from all the storm, which symbolizes hope and faith the couple has for each other, for a better life, and for their child. The lamp is a very important element in story.Ellen also points out the lamps role†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ desert. The lamp lit at noon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  this quote shows the lingering thread of hope and faith left among the two, away to deal with isolation. Ellen’s sign of fear shows the weakness and defeat which slowly bottles up and explodes in anger later on leaving the house and taking the baby knowing that the bay would not survived. In conclusion, the author ways how not be act with isolation setting beside you, and has done a good job of it. This was created by the characters mood and symbolism that help contribute the way the couple felt about been isolated.

Discussion feedback(Project Management Assignment) Assignment

Discussion feedback(Project Management ) - Assignment Example You have also noted that you need to work on your self-assurance. It is very important that you work on this skill because in a project, all members draw their strength and inspiration from the team leader. You seem to have a lot of good characteristics but there is a need to work on them such that you become a great leader. Being decisive is very important because leadership has more to do with making decisions than anything else. If you are not decisive, it might be hard to lead a team through a crisis moment. Therefore, you need to work on this characteristic. A good analysis on why leadership and communication are very important for success of a project. Unfortunately, you seem to consider turnover of team members as not a very important setback. This might not be always the case. Consider a turnover of members in a highly technical project, any replacement of the old members may require substantial time for training and bringing them up to speed. Kindly note that having technical skills may not necessarily mean you can join any technical project in your field at any point and continue working without causing disruptions. Communication to you comes out as a very significant factor in ensuring that projects succeed. If there is good communication, everything is likely to roll out as planned. I like the manner in which you relate the housing bubble with learning lessons from the past. That is definitely one way in which business leaders can learn from the past. You are right that cost estimation is necessary in order to determine the viability of a project and thus decide whether to go on with it or not. You also correctly note that work breakdown structure is required to determine what it will take to complete the project and identify any challenges which may be encountered. That is a good analysis there. A good attempt at relating cost estimation with work breakdown structure and project planning schedule. You

Why you like Risk Management Plans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Why you like Risk Management Plans - Essay Example A risk management plan is a document that is created by the project manager to estimate risks, assess the impact of the risks and define solutions to the challenges. Risk management plans also contain a risk assessment matrix that determines the impact of a risk over a specific period (Power, 2008). The procedure of creating a risk management plan starts with understanding how risk management works then the project is defined, stating all the risks and their possible impact. Input from other stakeholders is crucial at this stage. All irrelevant issues are removed then probability of each risk occurring is calculated. The possible losses from the risks are then assigned with an impact number on a scale from 0.00 to 1 with less risky activities having a small value. Next, the total risk is computed then mitigation strategies are developed. After that, the project manager creates contingency plans and analyzes the efficiency of the strategies. Finally, an effective risk is calculated. A risk management plan has several objectives. The plan calculates risks and the probability of the risks resulting in loss. This is important when determining whether to pursue a business project. A risk management plan creates strategies for managing risks or managing the losses from the risk. The plan reduces the possibility of surprises and supports efficient use of organizational resources (Rejda, 2011). Risk management plans contain strategies on how to tackle risks. These strategies include risk avoidance, loss reduction, and risk control, spreading the risk, self-retention, and duplication of resources, accepting risks and transferring risks. Risk avoidance is the most efficient risk management technique. By avoiding a risk, the possibility of loss is eliminated completely. Risk avoidance is the most effective approach but not the most practical one. It is impossible to eliminate all aspects of risk in a project. Some

Writing assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Writing - Assignment Example ehaviour of the customers increased that proved extremely effective for the operating industries such as agriculture, consumer products, mining, automobiles, luxury goods, telecommunications etc. Thus, from the above figure, it might clearly depicted that the growth of GP per capita proved extremely effective for the country of China that amplified its brand image and reputation in the globe among other developing countries (Trading Economics, 2014). In terms of education, the gross enrolment ratio (GER) for China is quite high, whereas the rate of unemployment is quite low as compared to other developing and developed countries, both are presented below: The rate of inequality reduced significantly within the economy of China due to improvement in the gross domestic products and gross per capita income of the citizens. However, due to certain factors such as urban-biased polices, inland-coastal inequality, education and demographic changes, the rate of inequality enhanced significantly. In the economy of China, the rate of developed in urban areas is extremely high as compared to rural areas. As a result, the income distribution of the citizens in urban areas is also extremely high that resulted in inequality (Trading Economics, 2014). Similarly, scope of education is extremely low for the aging population that is also responsible for increasing the rate of inequality in China. The country of China is a socialist economy but not authoritarian in nature. The party that rules China in recent times is named as ‘The Peoples Republic of China’ that enhanced the economic prosperity of the nation (Britannica, 2014). Not only this, the People’s Republic of China improved the development of the nation by amplifying the per capita income of the citizens that amplified their living standard and life style (Indexmundi, 2014). China is recognised as one of the popular developing countries in the world. This is mainly due to its rapidly expanding GDP rate and GDP per

None Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

None - Research Paper Example Interest in the coffee developed, with neighborhood restaurants and hotels asking to be supplied too. While the first bistro is no more possessed by Green Mountain Coffee, the organization now keeps up its base camp in Waterbury, Vermont, where it has a 93,000 square foot 8,500 m2 broiling and dissemination office. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters opened up to the world in September 1993 and is recorded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the stock image GMCR. In October 2002, Green Mountain consented to an arrangement to offer reasonable exchange coffee under the Newmans Own Organics mark. In 2005, the organization procured Keurig, incorporated, a producer of single container fermenting frameworks (Gasparro. 2015, p. 5). The organization was positioned number one in The Best Corporate Citizens in 2006 and 2007. On November 13, 2009, Green Mountain declared the procurement of the wholesale division of Canadian coffee supplier Timothy World Coffees for $160 million US. On September 14, 2010, Green Mountain Coffee purchased a second Canadian wholesaler, Quebec based coffee administrations organization Van Houtte, for $920 million. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters then sold the Filter new US coffee administration parcel of Van Houttes business to Aramark on August, 29th 2011 for $140 million. On September 28, 2010, the organizations stock rose to an untouched high, yet the organization uncovered after the businesses shut that the Securities an d Exchange Commission has asked for archives and information from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters identified with an investigation into how it represents an income. The organization reported that U.S. controllers had asked into some of Green Mountains bookkeeping works for, including income distinguished, and the vast stock with a solitary merchant, M. Square. Most scholars accept that the organization practices are

Graduate Career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Graduate Career - Essay Example Serving in the ministry whether in Nigeria or in their foreign missions is okay with me but I would wish to work abroad. I am a person who likes travelling and meeting new people and this job would offer me the best chance to do that. I believe I am well suited to perform tasks in the ministry basing this on my academic credentials. I am currently pursuing a bachelor degree at Greenwich University, London in Politics and International Relations to end in 2012 and I also have a Diploma in Law acquired in 2005 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in many occasions deals with political assignments between countries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 2011). This is basically the role that is centred in international relations and the other part of my degree covers this fully. The ministry also acts accordingly through the understanding of international law and that of the land i.e. Nigeria. In this regard my law diploma comes in handy to offer the required background knowledge. It is important to note that this position will require me to have ample experience in international relations of which am short of. My plan in order to eliminate this gap is to apply for internship programs in related areas within the time I will be doing my degree. Hopefully it will be a foreign affairs ministry or other relevant organization. The current employment state has been plagued with institutions and organizations asking for experience from job applicants mostly ranging from 2-5 years. I therefore seem to have quite a mountainous task to clock the minimum experience requirement for the current job market. The other huge requirement lies with the need to acquaint myself with a number of languages that come in handy in the international platform like French and Spanish among others (Vsesoi?uznoe 2006). Language barrier is the biggest obstacle when dealing internationally and one needs to have knowledge of as many languages as possible. Lo oking back at the passion I have for this kind of job, I believe the task ahead is achievable with the required amount of effort and dedication. Applications are sent in their thousands to the ministry and to get an appointment one needs to have skills and experience that offer a considerable level of competitive edge. On the side of skills am planning to enrol in a law class to further my diploma in a college in London particularly to study International Law. World Vision International The world has been dogged by many challenges ranging from poverty, disease and natural disasters (Jones 2006). It is here that World Vision International comes in to alleviate people from such suffering by offering the necessary humanitarian assistance and advocacy (World Vision International 2011). In community development initiatives World Vision concentrates more on poverty and people’s welfare more so that of children. This Non-governmental Organisation is the other that I wish to join aft er my graduation. It is centred on helping the less fortunate in the society and the world at large. I am a charitable person and it is my wish to see the world being a better place through my direct efforts. World Vision in this case offers the best platform for me to exploit my knowledge and expertise in helping these kinds of people. I may wish to concentrate more on the African plight and Nigeria in particular. Helping people who are in need and enabling them to cross to some level of comfort is the

Hazara people Essay Example for Free

Hazara people Essay 1. Friendship, guilt, redemption â€Å"He knew about Assef, the kite, the money, the watch with the lightning bolt hands. He had always known. ‘Come. There is a way to be good again,’ Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. Said it in passing, almost as an afterthought. † (Chapter 14, pg 202). This quote symbolizes how Amir strived to do everything to forget, all he needed to do was to fly to Pakistan and see what Rahim Khan wanted him to do. So thats exactly what Amir did. Rahim Khan tells Amir that there is a way to be good again. Amir knew straightaway what he was talking about. He realizes, that all of those years, Rahim Khan had known about Assef, the kite, the money, the watch with the lightning bolt hands. He had always known. Rahim Khan had knew about Hassan getting raped. He needs to go to Afghanistan and talk about the ‘unspoken secret’ they both knew about. After the phone conversation, Amir keeps remembering Hassan saying ‘for you, a thousand times over! ’ Thinking of this, he knows he has to go to Afghanistan, see Rahim Khan, uncover the secrets and do whatever he asks to ‘be good again’. By this he means that Amir has the opportunity to make up for his betrayal of Hassan by saving his son, Sohrab. Rahim Khan knows what really happened to Hassan and also knows that this has been bothering Amir for years so he is basically implying that Amir can still redeem himself if he goes back to Afghanistan. When Amir ran, he ran from jealousy and fear; fear of Assef and fear of his own reputation as a Pashtun standing up for a Hazara. The negativity of the social setting influenced Amir’s rash decision on betraying Hassan. The prevailing theme of guilt and redemption is weaved through the journey of Amir’s life, influenced by the society, where Hazaras are betrayed. 2. Parental relationships â€Å"Here is another cliche my creative writing teacher would have scoffed at; like father like son. But, it was true, wasn’t it? As it turned out, Baba and I were more alike than I’d ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us. And with that came this realization: that Rahim Khan had summoned me there to atone not just for my sins but for Baba’s too. † (Chapter 18, pg 238) I chose this quote because not only is it ironic in and of itself, but it also ironically characterizes all the characters in the novel. Amir felt his â€Å"sin†Ã¢â‚¬â€betraying Hassan—made him so different from his father. He has spent much of his life trying to please Baba and mimic his father’s life. It is ironic that now, all these years later, when he discovers he and had father were so similar, it sickens him rather than bringing him joy. In the novel, he continually states that he would’ve never would have dreamed that Baba’s greatest sin would be theft on so many different levels (stealing wife, purity, truth) and gone against the nang and namoos, he so adamantly preached to his son. Amir and Babas relationship changes throughout the novel. The novel starts out with Amir doing whatever he could to win his fathers attention, which includes betraying his best friend, Hassan. He betrayed Hassan for his fathers full attention. He then earns it when Hassan and Ali move out and Baba and Amir move to America. This quote shows that Amir and Baba are very alike. They both betrayed their best friends. Baba betrayed Ali by sleeping with his wife, and Amir betrayed Hassan by not standing up for him while getting assaulted. Then they both try to redeem themselves with doing other good deeds. Baba, running an orphanage, and Amir going back to Kabul to save Sohrab, Hassans son. 3. Maturing â€Å"Earlier in the morning, when I was certain no one was looking, I did something I had done twenty-six years earlier: I planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress† (Chapter 19, pg 254) This quote shows how Amir had changed and grew more mature than before. In Kabul, before he had done the same thing to kick out Ali and Hassan. I lifted Hassans mattress and planted my new watch and a handful of Afghani bills under it. I waited another thirty minutes. Then I knocked on Babas door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies. † (pg. 110) Before, when he put the money under Hassans mattress, it was a coward move. He did it so Baba would get rid of both Hassan and Ali. Amir kept trying to cover up his past and get rid of it by setting Hassan up. He thought if Hassan left, then everything would go back to normal, but it didnt. Now, Amir had a heart. Rahim Khan told Amir to come back to Afghanistan to rescue Hassans son Sohrab. Amir stayed with Wahids family. They didnt have much at all. They served Amir all their food they had. Amir felt guilty for all the riches he had. Living in America, without war, having sanitary living conditions and enough food for meals three times a day. So, when it was time for Amir to leave, he snuck a fistful of money under the mattress. This time, it wasnt a coward who had done it, it had been a loving, but guilty man. Amir was slowly paying back his dues and hardships he had created in the past. 4. Strength of the human spirit â€Å"Then I told him I was going to Kabul. Told him to call the Caldwells in the morning. ‘I’ll pray for you, Amir jan,’ he said. †(Chapter 18 pg 239) Not only did Amir not stand up for himself, he did not stand up for others either (like Hassan when he got raped). Amir didnt dare to say his opinion, to the public, or to Assef that he and Hassan are friends because Hassan is Hazara and always was going to be. Later that changes. He fights for Sohrab, in fact what he really is doing is fighting back for all the times he didnt fight for Hassan, against Assef. In the fight he gets hare lipped just like Hassan, I think thats a symbol. A symbol that says that he has become as brave as Hassan. Another thing that indicates this change is that in the dreams he used to have where he couldnt part his father from the bear he later dreams of himself as the bear. He always admired his father, and his father was very brave. Bears are significant as brave and fearless. Back in Kabul, it seemed like Amir was finally doing something good in his life. After some misgivings, Amir agrees to rescue Hassans son, Sohrab, from an orphanage in Kabul. Amir even fights against a Taliban official who turns out to be Assef in order to save Sohrab. This reminds Amir and the readers that this time it wasn’t Hassan who was in Assef’s fist, it was his son and Amir had to save Sohrab because he couldn’t save Hassan last time. This is action instead of inaction; bravery instead of cowardice; selflessness instead of self-absorption. Perhaps this streak of good deeds will make up for his betrayal of Hassan. Its almost as if the confident Amir combines with the helpless and coward childhood Amir. While saving Sohrab, Amir makes a huge mistake and goes back on a promise to Sohrab. As a result, Sohrab tries to commit suicide. Were watching Amir repeat mistakes from the past even as he attempts to put the past to rest. This is Amir at his best and worst and perhaps this is the real Amir that really combines all the previous versions of him. Hes weak and blind, but also essentially kind. Hes jealous, but in the end only wants to be loved. Even though sometimes during the book, we would want to scream at Amir, but as we know that hes an utterly human character, and can’t blame him for anything. 5. ‘Discrimination and prejudice â€Å"True, I hadn’t made Ali step on that land mine, and I hadn’t brought the Taliban to the house to shoot Hassan. But I had driven Hassan and Ali out of the house. Was it too far-fetched to think things might have turned out differently if I hadn’t? Maybe Baba would have brought them to America. Maybe Hassan would have a home of his own now, a job, a family, a life in a country where no one cared that he was a Hazara, where most people didn’t even know what a Hazara was. Maybe not. But maybe so. † (Chapter 18, pg 238) The Kite Runner tackles the issue of discrimination in Afghanistan with an example of the relationship between Pashtuns and Hazaras. Babas father sets an example for Amir of being kind to Hazara people, even though they are historically not appreciated and persecuted. Baba could have easily sent Ali to an orphanage after his parents death, but he chose not to and picked the decision of raising him in his household. Baba does the same with Hassan, although this is because of the fact that Hassan is actually his son after all. Even in Babas house, the house of best intentions, the class barrier between the Pashtuns and Hazaras endures. Ali is as dear to Baba as a brother. Baba calls him family. But Ali still lives in a hut and sleeps on a mattress on the floor. He tends the garden, cooks, and cleans up after Baba, and raises Hassan to do the same. So strong is Hassans identity as a servant that even as an adult, when Baba is gone, he has no sense of entitlement. He insists on staying in the hut and doing housework. When Hassan dies defending Babas house, he does so not because he feels it belongs to him, but because he is being loyal to Baba and Amir. Discrimination is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Assef tells Amir, Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage. Like his idol, Hitler, he feels entitled to killing those he deems unworthy of living in his land. He even relishes the term ethnic cleansing because it goes so well with his garbage metaphor. Like Baba, many people do not mention the Hazaras history of persecution. The author shows that the persecution of the Hazaras is not new, but a greatly intensified outgrowth of long-held discrimination. 6. Man’s inhumanity to man â€Å"How could he have lied to me all those years? To Hassan? He had sat me on his lap when I was little, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, There is only one sin. And that is theft When you tell a lie, you steal someones right to the truth. Hadnt he said those words to me? And now, fifteen years after Id buried him, I was learning that Baba had been a thief. And a thief of the worst kind, because the things hed stolen had been sacred: from me the right to know I had a brother, from Hassan his identity, and from Ali his honor. His nang. His namoos. † (Chapter 18, pg 237) Until Rahim Khan reveals Babas secret, Amir thinks he is the only sinner among his family and friends. The biggest shocker to Amir was that Hassan was really his half brother. After Amirs mother died, Baba had slept with Hassans mother and got her pregnant. All along Baba knew that Hassan was his son and Ali covered as his father and the two of them were servants in Babas house. Amir thought about the reason why Baba was so worked up over Amirs mentioning of getting new servants was because he would be losing his son that way. There were so many signs he realizes like the plastic surgery and always inviting Hassan to events. Amir was filled with anger and he felt betrayed by Rahim and especially Baba. The regret is even greater in his life that he had driven out his own half brother and did not even know it, and now there is no way to make things right because Hassan is dead. Amir is shocked, taken back, and deeply hurt. Even before Amir betrays him, Hassan makes him feel guilty simply by being such a righteous person. Amir is constantly trying to measure up to Baba, because he does not realize that Baba is so hard on him because of his guilt over his own sin. Amir feels as though his entire life has been a cycle of betrayal, even before he betrayed Hassan. But having a taste of betrayal himself does little towards redeeming Amir. In Ghazi Stadium, the Taliban skews the words of Muhammad in order to justify murdering the alleged adulterers. The mullah announces that every person should have a punishment befitting his sin. Although he would not want to compare himself to the Taliban, Amir believes this in regards to his own sin. When he tried to get Hassan to pelt him with pomegranates, he was expressing his feeling that in order to be forgiven for hurting Hassan, Hassan must hurt him. When Assef almost kills Amir, he felt healed, as though now that Assef has hurt him, it is fair. He even tells Farid that in the room with Assef, he got what he deserved. In the end, Amir finds out that punishment is not what will redeem him from his sin. It is not even saving Sohrab. In order to make up for his sin and Babas before him, Amir must erase the lines of discrimination he has lived with all his life by giving Sohrab an equal chance at success and happiness.