A Lesson before Dying: What Makes an Educated Man? Essay

A Lesson before Dying is a memorable novel, set in Bayone, Louisiana in the 1940’s, about an uneducated, illiterate black man, Jefferson, who is falsely accused of murder and sentenced to death. While on trial, his defense attorney likened him to a hog, calling him nothing more than a fool and a cornered animal. Jefferson’s godmother wants him to become a man before he dies. She persuades two men, Grant Wiggins and Reverend Ambrose, to visit with Jefferson and teach him what it means to be a man. While both men desire the same outcome, they disagree about what it means to be an educated man. Grant believes that his college degree gives him all the knowledge he needs. However, Reverend Ambrose believes that being educated goes deeper that reading, writing, and arithmetic. Grant Wiggins, the son of plantation workers, returns to his hometown after attending college with an attitude that his education somehow sets him apart the other black men living in his community. He becomes a plantation teacher, completing the cycle of returning to his roots. While he is outraged with how other blacks are treated, he does not use his education to help the cause. Instead, he becomes angry and bitter. He does not believe he can help Jefferson and he does not want to get involved: â€Å"What do I say to him? Do I know what a man is? Do I know how a man is supposed to die? I’m still trying to find out how a man should live. Am I supposed to tell someone how to die who has never lived? † (Gaines 31) Reverend Ambrose is a black preacher, determined to preach the gospel and lead people to salvation and an afterlife with Christ. Reverend Ambrose wants the blacks in his community to live peacefully with the whites and to rise up from the ashes of slavery. He is kind and compassionate and lives a humble life. While he is not educated like Grant, he is very wise to the realities of life. He believes that his knowledge of people makes him more educated than Grant. Reverend Ambrose believes that Grant looks down on him, because he is uneducated. He is determined to put Grant in his place by calling him â€Å"boy† and telling him what he thinks of him, â€Å"When you act educated, I’ll call you Grant. I’ll even call you Mr. Grant, when you act like a man. † (Gaines 216) Reverend Ambrose is angry that Grant does not really see what Tante Lou has done for him. He is frustrated that with all of Grant’s education he still does not understand his people: â€Å"Cause reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic is not enough. You think that’s all they sent you to school for? They sent you to school to relieve pain, to relieve hurt–and if you have to lie to do it, then you lie. You lie and you lie and you lie†¦ You tell them that ’cause they have pain too, and you don’t want to add yours–and you lie. † (Gaines 218) Reverend Ambrose understands why Tante Lou made sacrifices to send Grant to college. She wanted Grant to return home and make a difference for his people. It makes Reverend Ambrose angry that someone as educated as Grant cannot really see how people really feel. Reverend Ambrose believes that it is better to lie in order to prevent others from hurting. He wants Grant to reassure Jefferson of the existence of Heaven. He wanted Grant to lie and say he believed in God and Heaven: â€Å"I won’t let you sent that boy’s soul to hell. † He did not want Grant to acknowledge to Jefferson his lack of faith in God. He wants a dying man to have the hope of an afterlife that was better than his life here. Reverend Ambrose could not understand how an educated man would take away the hope of a man that set to be executed. While it would be easy to argue that Reverend Ambrose not as educated as Grant, one cannot overlook the fact that his worldly knowledge goes far deeper than Grant’s. He understands the depths of people’s souls, and knows how to comfort and led them to knowledge and truth. Grant, on the other hand, is naive about other’s feelings. His education lacks real life knowledge, as well as the ability to interact with people. Reverend Ambrose sees where Grant is lacking and believes that until he opens his eyes and heart to those around him, he will never truly be educated. Works Cited Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson before Dying. New York: First Vintage Contemporaries, 1994. Print.

The World in a Train by Francisco B. Icasiano

One Sunday I entrained for Baliwag, a town in Bulacan which can well afford to hold two fiestas a year without a qualm.I took the train partly because I am prejudiced in favor of the government-owned railroad, partly because I am allowed comparative comfort in a coach, and finally because trains sometimes leave and arrive according to schedule.In the coach I found a little world, a section of the abstraction called humanity whom we are supposed to love and live for. I had previously arranged to divide the idle hour or so between cultivating my neglected Christianity and smoothing out the rough edges of my nature with the aid of grateful sights without – the rolling wheels, the flying huts and trees and light-green palay seedlings and carabaos along the way.Inertia, I suppose, and the sort of reality we moderns know make falling in love with my immediate neighbors often a matter of severe strain and effort to me.Let me give a sketchy picture of the little world whose company Ma ng Kiko shared in moments which soon passed away affecting most of us.First, there came to my notice three husky individuals who dusted their seats furiously with their handkerchiefs without regard to hygiene or the brotherhood of men. It gave me no little annoyance that on such a quiet morning the unpleasant aspects in other people's ways should claim my attention.Then there was a harmless-looking middle-aged man in green camisa de chino with rolled sleeves who must have entered asleep. When I noticed him he was already snugly entrenched in a corner seat, with his slippered feet comfortably planted on the opposite seat, all the while his head danced and  dangled with the motion of the train. I could not, for the love of me, imagine how he would look if he were awake.A child of six in the next seat must have shared with me in speculating about the dreams of this sleeping man in green. Was he dreaming of the Second World War or the price of eggs? Had he any worries about the perman ent dominion status or the final outcome of the struggles of the masses, or was it merely the arrangement of the scales on a fighting roaster's legs that brought that frown on his face?But the party that most engaged my attention was a family of eight composed of a short but efficient father, four very young children, mother, grandmother, and another woman who must have been the efficient father's sister. They distributed themselves on four benches – you know the kind of seats facing each other so that half the passengers travel backward. The more I looked at the short but young and efficient father the shorter his parts looked to me. His movements were fast and short, too. He removed his coat, folded it carefully and slung it on the back of his seat. Then he pulled out his wallet from the hip pocket and counted his money while his wife and the rest of his group watched the ritual without a word.Then the short, young, and efficient father stood up and pulled out two banana le af bundles from a bamboo basket and spread out both bundles on one bench and log luncheon was ready at ten o'clock. With the efficient father leading the charge, the children (except the baby in his grandmother's arms) began to dig away with little encouragement and aid from the elders. In a short while the skirmish was over, the enemy – shrimps, omelet, rice and tomato sauce – were routed out, save for a few shrimps and some rice left for the grandmother to handle in her own style later.Then came the water-fetching ritual. The father, with a glass in hand, led the march to the train faucet, followed by three children whose faces still showed the marks of a hard-fought-battle. In passing between me and a person, then engaged in a casual conversation with me, the short but efficient father made a courteous gesture which is still good to see in  these democratic days; he bent from the hips and, dropping both hands, made an opening in the air between my collocutor and m e – a gesture which in unspoiled places means â€Å"Excuse Me.†In one of the stations where the train stopped, a bent old woman in black boarded the train. As it moved away, the old woman went about the coach, begging holding every prospective Samaritan by the arm, and stretching forth her gnarled hand in the familiar fashion so distasteful to me at that time. There is something in begging which destroys some fiber in most men. â€Å"Every time you drop a penny into a beggar's palm you help degrade a man and make it more difficult for him to rise with dignity. . .†There was something in his beggar's eye which seemed to demand. â€Å"Now do your duty.† And I did. Willy-nilly I dropped a coin and thereby filled my life with repulsion. Is this Christianity? â€Å"Blessed are the poor . . .† But with what speed did that bent old woman cross the platform into the next coach!While thus engaged in unwholesome thought, I felt myself jerked as the train mad e a curve to the right. The toddler of the family of eight lost his balance and caught the short but efficient father off-guard. In an instant all his efficiency was employed in collecting the shrieking toddler from under his seat. The child had, in no time, developed two elongated bumps on the head, upon which was applied a moist piece of cloth. There were no reproaches, no words spoken. The discipline in the family was remarkable, or was it because they considered the head as a minor anatomical appendage and was therefore nor worth the fuss?Occasionally, when the child's crying rose above the din of the locomotive and the clinkety-clank of the wheels on the rails, the father would jog about a bit without blushing, look at the bumps on his child's head, shake his own, and move his lips saying, â€Å"Tsk, Tsk.† And nothing more.Fairly tired of assuming the minor responsibilities of my neighbors in this little world in motion, I looked into the distant horizon where the blue C ordilleras merged into the blue of the sky. There I rested my thoughts  upon the billowing silver and grey of the clouds, lightly remarking upon their being a trial to us, although they may not know it. We each would mind our own business and suffer in silence for the littlest mistakes of others; laughing at their ways if we happened to be in a position to suspend our emotion and view the whole scene as a god would; or, we could weep for other men if we are the mood to shed copious tears over the whole tragic aspect of a world thrown out of joint.It is strange how human sympathy operates. We assume an attitude of complete indifference to utter strangers whom we have seen but not met. We claim that they are the hardest to fall in love with in the normal exercise of Christian charity. Then a little child falls from a seat, or a beggar stretches forth a gnarled hand, or three husky men dust their seats; and we are, despite our pretensions, affected. Why not? If even a sleeping man wh o does nothing touches our life!

Case study: Apple iPhones – Not “Made in America”

What is meant by the globalization of human capital? Is this inevitable as firms increase their global operations? The globalization of human capital refers to the fact that employees are now spread out across the world by their employers. This including, the companies, employed, unemployed, stockholders, consumers, contractors, supply chain, firms and economies. Companies branch out because labor costs are cheaper and productivity is faster.It is inevitable if firms increase their global operations because every country has something different to offer, something new, and without the current innovation being promoted to the market, the company will start to lose its edge on competition. 2. How does this case illustrate the threats and opportunities facing global companies in developing their strategies? Cost and Human Capital is the most important consideration for Global Companies. When President Obama’s inquired about Apple brining the job back to US, it was practically not possible for Apple.The break down in the case study was that it cost a total of $179 to produce an IPhone and it retailed at $500 leaving a profit of $321. This would mean more profit for the global company. For Global company price and profit is the most important consideration to stay competitive. They can use the cheap labor in other countries to be price competitive This gave the perception that Apple did not care about its country. It also gives the perception of greed which a global company can face. 3. Comment on the Apple executive's assertion that the company's only obligation is making the best product possible.â€Å"We don't have an obligation to solve America's problems. † All though it is a harsh comment but I think it makes sense. Apple is a Global company with its offices around the world. It is in business to make money. It is not possible for Apple to solve America’s problem. Apple is just trying to be the best company out there in order to be on top with innovation and success. It is not Apple’s responsibility to solve America’s problems with employment; their responsibility is to form the best product. 4. Who are the stakeholders in this situation and what, if any, obligations do they have?There are two stakeholders in this situation and they are: the companies Apple and Foxconn as well as the Chinese government. Apple has obligations to their employees both domestic and global. They need to be mindful that a corporation is only as good as its products as well as, its image. They need to be mindful that since its headquarters are in the United States, it should do all that it can to maintain a positive image. It is also important to make sure that the products they sell are quality products while keeping the price as low as possible. Foxconn has a stake in its people and the products they export.The unfair and inhumane working conditions forced the government to step in. Foxconn also needs to be mindful of the is sues presented previously for Apple (the difference they are headquartered in China). The fact that labor violations were taking place, China’s government had an obligations to its people. They need to protect their citizens from hazardous work conditions and hold Foxconn accountable for their actions. 5. How much extra are you prepared to pay for an IPhone if assembled in the United States? Personally I feel that the IPhone is already over price as is. The fact that they make $321 of profit off each phone is ridiculous.If the phone is fully assembled in the United State I do not feel the price of the phone should increase at all. There are many products that are specifically made in America that cost the same amount as their global counterparts. Clothes are an example, all things being equal, a t-shirt made overseas cost relatively the same as a t-shirt made in the US. Why should an IPhone be any different? I feel that although the profit from each phone would be decreased, they would sell the same amount of phones if not more. 6. How much extra are you prepared to pay for an IPhone assembled in China but under better labor conditions or pay?What kind of trade-off would you make? This also deals with the question previously asked. I have not changed my stance on IPhone; however, if they were to charge more to have it assembled in China, why couldn’t or wouldn’t they just produce it in America. It would not make sense if they had to increase cost to better working conditions in another country. I believe it would be cheaper to bring some of the laborers here to the US and open a plant here. 7. To what extent do you think the negative media coverage has affected Apple’s recent decision to ask the FLA to do an assessment and the subsequent decision by Foxconn to raise some salaries?What do you think will happen now? I believe that the negative media coverage has inspired Apple to be more cautious about their corporate image. Subsequen tly, it affected their way of thinking so that they had to ask for an FLA assessment. They could ill-afford to continue to be seen in a negative light and heartless. They already stated that â€Å"They don’t have an obligation to solve America’s problems, only to make the best product possible†, after the unfair working conditions and labor violations were discovered it only added to the idea that the company was greedy and didn’t care about their employees.Foxconn took pride in being one of the country’s most effective and efficient manufacturers. It could not allow the perception that they were running a â€Å"sweat shop† in which their employees were working 60 hours a week for little pay. The employee suicides did not help company’s image. They had to raise some salaries in order to save face in the public eye. Also, both companies had to show that although mistakes happened, once they were discovered they were fixed quickly. I be lieve now that the story is out they will have many follow up inspections to insure that both companies never come under scrutiny again.

Ethics in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Ethics in Business - Essay Example It sets out the fundamental principles that the company values and that employees should apply in their daily work. Supporting the Code of Conduct policy is a range of corporate policies providing specific guidance in areas such as competition law, marketing practices, non-discrimination, share dealing, and conflicts of interest. It is the responsibility of each employee to implement the code and follow the employee guide to sustain the trust and confidence as well as to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies, and to foster a positive, ethical work environment for all employees. In an article by Scott Shifrel on 10 August 2008 entitled, â€Å"Worst of times unveiled in Lawsuit,† a case involving ethical considerations is brought to court. In this article it is stated that, â€Å"a lawsuit by a New York Times employee paints a disturbing portrait of a workplace rife with sexual harassment - including an alleged incident of office cubicle masturbation - and age discrimination. Charles Cretella, 57, who has worked for decades creating summaries of Times stories, is fighting back after he says he was falsely charged with sexually harassing a 33-year-old male co-worker.† Though there are mixed reactions in this article, it is very unethical for one employee to sexually harass another work mate by virtue of seniority in the organisation. Each employee is entitled to his or her own freedom in the conduct of her daily duties. In another article which appeared in an online periodical entitled, â€Å"Mixing Politics, Religion and money,† the author condemns the use of money especially by religious leaders to buy votes during the period preceding the presidential elections in America. â€Å"The involvement of popular and religious figures in swaying the outcome of elections is clearly growing. While most of us are understandably shocked at the inflated importance given to the opinions of

Precursers to WWII and Non-Germany Contributors to the Prosecution of Essay

Precursers to WWII and Non-Germany Contributors to the Prosecution of Jews - Essay Example In the aftermath of the First World War serious unrest in Europe grew, especially revanchist and irredentist nationalism. Under the Treaty of Versailles German Empire lost over 10 per cent of its pre-war territory as well as all of its overseas possessions. Furthermore limits were imposed upon the size of German army. During the period of Weimar republic domestic civil conflict took place in Germany involving both nationalists and reactionaries against moderate democrats and communists. In the aftermath of World War I concerns about anti-Semitism rose throughout Europe. By late 1928 European states were legislating immigration that sometimes prevented Jews from entering their territories. Moreover some of the newly established European states viewed ethnic Jewish immigrants as a menace to their stability. Due to the large number of Jews among bolshevist leadership some European politicians feared that Jews arriving to their countries from the east would smuggle revolutionary spirits with them. The rise to power of National Socialists in Germany in 1933 gave another powerful impetus for growing Zionist support as well as immigration to British-controlled Palestine. The long held non-Zionist and assimilationist view that Jews might live safely as minorities within European societies was seriously undermined, since Germany had been regarded before as the state in which Jews had been successfully integrated. With almost all other states closed to immigration a new wave of Jewish immigrants rushed for Palestine. Those who could not pay the due fees for immediate entry joined British waiting lists. It is worth to mention that the British did really contributed much into committing genocide against European Jewry during World War II. In 1939 they issued the o-called White Paper. That document declared that the Jewish National Home had already been established so all of their obligations under the mandate had already been fulfilled. Further migration was viewed as harm ful to Palestinian Arabs. Only 10,000 Jewish migrants were allowed to arrive to Palestine each year from 1939 to 1944. Moreover Jewish migration was supposed to require consent of the Arab majority in Palestine. Palestinians were promised independence by 1949. Furthermore the British restricted Jews’ land purchases. Being preoccupied with securing Arabian support for British war efforts against the counties of the Axis while the latter’s propaganda was targeting Muslim world. As a result Palestinian Zionists increasingly viewed Great Britain as their enemy. Having contributed much into the catastrophe of European Jewry they by no means may be blamed for killing Jews. This notwithstanding Nazi Germany was not the only power responsible for killing 6 million of them. Germany’s allies are also responsible for crimes against humanity perpetrated during World War II. As a result of 1938 Munich treaty prewar Czechoslovakian Republic was dissolved and the puppet Slovak Republic was proclaimed in March 1939. Two years later Slovakian parliament passed the so-called Jewish Code which followed notorious Nuremberg Law of Nazi Germany. Slovakian Code required that Jews were to

Book summary and critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Book summary and critique - Essay Example Details of his courageous battle and determination to defeat cancer, despite being the tremendous odds of survival, were narrated in a matter-of-factly form. His commitment to his craft was his ultimate concern right after being diagnosed with cancer – even more than the possibility of untimely demise. Armstrong acknowledged the disease as an eye-opening opportunity to remunerate of his life, as he indicated â€Å"my illness was humbly and starkly revealing, and it forced me to survey my life with an unforgiving eye† (Armstrong & Jenkins, 4). The exceptional determination to win encouraged him to strive beyond expectations and enabled Armstrong to catapult to fame from winning the Tour de France in seven consecutive years from 1999 to 2005, despite the rigors of the dreaded disease. His inspirational experience provided the impetus for the establishment of a foundation, the Lance Armstrong foundation, with the mission of improving the lives of people who have been drast ically affected by cancer. Critique The book was inspirational for readers from all walks of life.

Refugees in America Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Refugees in America - Research Paper Example Many of those who are offered asylum by the US apply from abroad. They are the ones referred to as refugees. Loescher and Milner (2009) define refugees as people who flee their country due to persecution, violence or war. A refugee is one person who has a well-founded fear derived from persecution because of race, religion and religious activities, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Their view remains contradicting to those wanting to prosecute them. In most cases, they cannot coming back home simply because they are afraid and timid to do so. According to Daley (2009), ethnic, war, tribal and religious violence have been known to be among the leading causes of refugees fleeing their native countries. Refugees differ from normal immigrants in that they do not have a choice or will to go back to their countries. There is a limitation for refugee admissions to the United States set by the American President. Additionally, there exist a much small er percentage of refugees who apply form within and are granted asylum. They are referred to as ‘asylees. They may be granted asylum on a permanent or temporary basis. Each year, America receives and welcomes refugees. It does not matter whether the refugees come from Nepal, Sudan, Iraq, Burma or Somalia. All refugees share a similar journey. Many refugees can spend months and even years in substandard camps. Less than 1% of refugees are able to flee their camps and get a chance to live in America, Sweden, Australia, or Canada or any other country that resettles refugees. It the responsibilities of the US department of state, Migration and Refugees and Bureau of Population to oversee the American support of refugees overseas and abroad, as well as the selection and transportation of the refugees to the Unites States, and their assignment to a local settled community for resettlement. The US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants forms one of

Cuban Missile Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cuban Missile Crisis - Research Paper Example The Soviet Union plus the United States entered into an agreement through back channels of communication to withdraw the missiles. The United States withdrew it missiles from Turkey while the Soviet Union withdrew its missiles from Cuba (Chayes, 1974). After the communication between the two states, Cuba was not happy about it and considered it a betrayal by the soviet government. The relationship between Cuba and the Soviet Union deteriorated. This meant that mass destruction by nuclear weapons became abolished entirely (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). It ensured that there was diplomacy and bargaining power between the two super powers. The communication between the two made it clear that they could come to a compromise without necessarily going to war. They found a way of peaceful coexistence. The relationship between America and the Soviet Union did not remain cordial for a long time (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). The use of spy cameras and airplanes became predominant since the United States was following up the missiles on the bases of Cuba via satellite. The first telephone â€Å"hotline† became installed in order to offer direct communication between the two presidents. The negotiations were underway, and a compromise reached at (Chayes, 1974). Because of the great relationship, Kennedy got the public confidence after coming to an agreement with the Soviet Union since he became seen as a weak’ leader (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). After Kennedy, Reagan came to power and was able to overwhelm the USSR which brought about the downfall of this Soviet Bloc and also an end to the cold war (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). ... The experts informed Kennedy that he has only 10 days before the missiles are operational (Allison, 1969). Kennedy sets up a committee of National Security Council members to give him advice. The President soon announces that he was putting up a number of naval blockades on Cuba (Chayes, 1974). A number of B52 nuclear bombs became deployed, ensuring an eighth of all of them was airborne every time. On the same night, a Western spy working in Russia got arrested. His last message was that the Soviet attack was imminent (Allison, 1969) On the 23rd of October, Khrushchev provided an explanation that these missile sites were purposefully meant for defending Cuba against external attack (Chayes, 1974). 20 Russian ships became spotted heading to Cuba (Pfiffner, n.d). He accused the United States of piracy, and warned that Russia was preparing a fitting reply to the oncoming aggressor. The first Russian ship docked on the naval blockade on the 25th of October 1962 (Allison, 1969). This was an oil ship, and it was allowed to pass. The other Russian ships carrying dangerous missiles turned back. The US government had secretly offered to remove its missiles located in Turkey. They were to exchange them for the ones in Cuba (Chayes, 1974). On 26th October Russia was still going ahead with building the missile bases (Chayes, 1974). Kennedy began planning a military strike on Cuba. Khrushev sent Kennedy a telegram offering to destroy all the nuclear sites if he would lift the blockade he had placed and to agree not to invade Cuba (Clearly, 2009). The Kennedys’ met with the Russian ambassador and mentioned removing all the missiles located in Turkey (Pfiffner, n.d). Before Kennedy could reply to his letter,

Camus life is absurd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Camus life is absurd - Essay Example Even the non-living things have their own concerns and things matter for them as will be discussed in the paper. This thesis will be argued for by discussing nature, motivations, and actions of both the living beings and the non-living beings in this world. Explication Hare argues that when Camus says â€Å"Nothing Matters†, there can be three entities to which nothing matters; Camus, the main character of his novel, or the reader. Now saying that nothing matters to Camus is absurd because if nothing mattered to him, he would not have written such an interesting, highly influential, and engaging novel. As for the main character of the novel written by Camus, it is also inappropriate to thing that nothing mattered to him because for one, that was an imaginary character without his own aspirations, desires, or motives and only acted as Camus wanted him to and secondly, the activities he does in the novel cannot be done without having any concern. Thus, the reader draws wrong inf erences from the novel by thinking that nothing matters. Matter is not an activity like â€Å"chatter† because if it was to be taken in this sense, then â€Å"Nothing Matters† seems right. ... Life never imparts the meaning that people want from it. So their either believe in God hoping that they would get the rewards in the world hereafter or they find meaninglessness in life. The latter conclusion motivates one to commit suicide because one does not find life worth living. This leaves an individual with two options; either to commit suicide or to believe in the world hereafter. A third possibility is accepting to live in a world that does not have any meaning. Main Argument Hare’s argument is right. Nothing in this world has been made without a purpose. Even things like insects such as mosquitos and flies that we often think of as a burden on us have not been made without a purpose as they play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem healthy and going. Likewise, non-living things like the sun and the moon are not purposeless. Sun gives us light during the day as well as during the night by reflecting through the moon. The moon has the concern of getting the light from the sun to glow because without the reflection of sunlight, it would not glow. Camus’s argument is inherently illogical and false. There is hardly anyone who never gets from life what he/she wants. By nature, man has two desires; first, to gain worldly desires like money, power, and fame and secondly, to gain satisfaction and peace of mind by doing good deeds. If an individual tries but cannot become rich, he might not have been able to fulfill his desires, but he can always derive pleasure and peace of mind by doing good deeds. Many good deeds do not even require the individual to spend money e.g. helping a blind man cross a road does not take any money but doing so lends one happiness and satisfaction. This suggests that

Business contiunity Management is a luxury in times of recession Essay

Business contiunity Management is a luxury in times of recession - Essay Example Matthys (2009) lists some disruptive or unexpected events which may occur to an organization that may bring harm and other major impacts to the organization and community. Example of events are broken equipments; computer viruses and other IT fraud; phone, internet, power and gas failure; natural calamities; terrorist attacks and all forms of pandemics; and other events that hinder the flow of operations of the business. 2. RECESSION VS. BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT When recession strikes, it is the period when the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is negative. GDP is the total value of the annual output of goods and services produced within a nation's borders. It excludes the foreign output of domestic firms and includes the domestic output of foreign firms (Mankiw, 2008). Because of low GDP, companies' level of output they produce annually has been reduced. One common mistake of some companies during recession is when there is less money to go around, they will cut off their bu dgets. When this happens, it is inevitable to lay off key employees to reduce their expenses. When there's a decrease of employment rate in the economy, people will be earning lower incomes that will result to a decrease of consumer spending. Businesses then will be forced to lower the prices of their goods that will eventually cause a deflation (KCLAU, n.d.). The 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attack is an example in which local and national economies were pushed into recession. The Fiscal Policy Institute (2001) categorized the three types of direct effects of the WTC fall. First were the businesses that comprise the WTC area. Most of them are securities, insurance carrier, real estate operations and data processing services. Thousands of people working at the hotels, restaurants, banks and other establishments near the WTC lost their jobs, hence Lower Manhattan experienced decline of sales. Furthermore, other industries in New York were also greatly affected in the attac k. Example is the air transport industry which comprises 54,000 jobs was shut down for few days not just because of the attack but also most people were already scared to travel by air. This resulted to the decline of tourism. Lastly, the household spending in New York was reportedly made a huge impact during the attack and its aftermath. New York's annual consumption spending is over $200 billion. A 10% one month reduction in consumer spending was assumed by FPI resulting to 9600 job loss. Before the 9/11 attack, it was stated in the Info Security News Magazine of 2000 that 90% of losses will be reduced if an organisation had established beforehand an effective BCP in case of any unwanted event. After the attack, a study conducted that about 81% of CEOs had said that their company plans wouldn't be able to survive with that kind of incident (Naef, 2003). 3. OBJECTIVE CATEGORIES 3.1 STRATEGIC To fully understand the whole coverage of Business Continuity Management, an organization m ust begin first in the development of the business continuity strategies. These are courses of actions used in the development and implementation of business continuity plan which are approved, documented and funded by the management of the organization. The results of the

Cyber education Essay Example for Free

Cyber education Essay Examinations are a means of measuring the students’ learning in school and their capacity for further education. In this regard, the manner of teaching and the students’ learning methods are important. A student, while in primary and secondary schools, greatly relies on the teachers for knowledge, except for a few who do personal researches to further their understanding. More often than not, a student accepts what the teachers offer in school. With this set up, a student has to be abreast and attentive with classroom discussion. He should take down notes and submit in a timely manner the projects and assignments given in school. Participation in classroom discussion and school activities must be encouraged. Interest in school must be inculcated in the mind of every student to support the knowledge and understanding obtained from the classroom. This is to enable the student to have a more enjoyable stay in school. The more enjoyable the learning process is, the more retention of knowledge there. Cyber education is not at all detestable. Students’ learning is more enhanced if the mode of teaching is something which interests him. Cyber education is one that interests me and I think, is equally true with others. Where there is not much interaction with the teachers, the concept that it is more enjoyable makes the information stick into our minds. However, the concern of many that this might lead to no interaction at all with teachers, thus prevents the control of teachers on the students disregarding their personal differences and characteristics, should not be disregarded. Their concern is equally important. Thus, it is humbly proposed that learning be not limited to the traditional type of teaching, but must be combined with cyber school on some selected subjects suitable to it. A student must be exposed to both the traditional type of teaching and cyber school. It is of utmost importance that he is able to retain the information and apply what have been learned in school.

Personal Mission Statement Essay Example for Free

Personal Mission Statement Essay The capacity to fully utilize opportunities to become open for others is what is crucial in identifying my personal mission statement. Here, it caters not mainly to the ability to integrate personal gains but rather develop the perception towards identifying personal connections through other people. These associations with others are then strengthened by common bonds that are then shaped by religious values and perceptions. These then becomes crucial in exploring directions as I tread life and outline how I make crucial decisions in each situations. For my part, I gain appreciation and security through constant evaluation of my personal relationship with my faith. I deem this to be crucial as one perceives the aspect of engagement towards my religious life as it then shapes my capacity to make decisions in other dimensions. This then becomes a viable approach towards identifying common themes that cater towards personal views, opinions, and perspectives related to my personal capacity to grow through experiences. In essence, I continuously feel secured through my constant immersion with my religious faith and serves to direct my life in different ways possible. Similarly, my identity continues to be honed by these religious values and perspectives. Becoming a Christian molded my ability to rethink my previous standards and morals as it relates with other people and associate with myself. Here, I came to realize that in order to effectively ascertain changes within my life I must imbibe the scriptures intently – utilizing its tenets and meanings in a way that shapes fruitful interactions with my inner self and other people. This faith then strengthened my ability to know who really I am and what is my personal purpose and mission. This recognition of existence then becomes the epitome of change serving a new means for molding myself according to these precepts and functions. Here, the manner I communicate with other people and establish relationships revolve around my personal capacity to relate personal beliefs and aspirations related to what I believe in. These connections in turn help magnify my ability to generate sufficient means to redirect my faith towards other people. Through such perspective, I believe that it can strengthen relationships and my personal adherence towards the social constructs that shapes our personality and beliefs. At the same time, I also consider opening up with other people. This interaction process not only identifies my capacity to perceive within diversity but also correlate and share my beliefs to those who do not share the same faith as I do. This then identifies consolidates the teachings of my faith and becomes readily available among its followers. Due to this, I came to realize that people can be divided according to their religious faiths. They are thus divided by believers and non-believers which in turn consolidates new dynamics towards reaching out and becoming involved in the process of evangelization. As a member of the Christian faith, I deem to find opportunities to diversify changes within the people around me. The ideals and values created generate effective patterns that in turn ascertain models for development and growth. I do believe that this is my calling and fosters renewed options towards harnessing the necessary skills towards reaching out with other people. In the end, these perspectives cater towards utilizing new means for diversifying my role within society and the community. Through my associations with my Christian faith, I had gained considerable growth personally and determined my mission and role. As I constantly try to communicate and establish relationships with other people, I establish connections with other people and equally shape my responsiveness and purpose towards ascertaining what is essential and crucial within these parameters. Thus, my personal mission then connotes my ability to reach out and fulfill my role towards evangelization and living my life according to the principles and values of my faith.

Why China Is A Threat To India History Essay

Why China Is A Threat To India History Essay 1. The Chinese leadership believes that conflict is due largely to the rapacious role of the adversary, and that in this zero-sum context the application of violence is highly efficacious for dealing with the enemy. These assumptions generally translate into preference for offensive strategies followed by progressively less coercive ones, where accommodation is ranked last. This makes conflict over territory and other core interests of the Chinese regime and the PLA highly likely if the other state refuses to accommodate to Chinese goals.1 2. The Chinese defence white paper for the year 2008 critically analyses the world security situation and clearly brings out Chinas willingness to play a major role in international affairs. China also gives out its military policy as that of active defence, which means that China can launch a pre emptive if the need be so. The white paper also gives out probable reasons as to why would China go on war with any nation. The white paper states World peace and development are faced with multiple difficulties and challenges. Struggles for strategic resources, strategic locations and strategic dominance have intensified. Meanwhile, hegemonism and power politics still exist, regional turmoil keeps spilling over, hotspot issues are increasing, and local conflicts and wars keep emerging. 2 The reasons for likely struggle (conflicts) as given in the white paper in context of India are being analysed below: (a) Strategic Resources. Strategic resources in Indian context which could affect Sino-Indian relations could be water, natural gas, oil, exploration rights over sea and in other continents/ nations. The Chinese ambitious plan to divert river Brahmaputra before it enters India could be potential cause of conflict. Moreover, China views water of the yarlem Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) as an important natural resource, especially for its North Western provinces. Chinas dependence on imported oil will continue to rise and it is assessed that by 2010, it will be importing 61% of its oil requirements and by 2020, the figure will rise to 76.9%. Indias oil imports by 2020 are likely to be 91.6%. 3 majority of Chinas oil (about 54% ) 4 is imported from the African continent whereas majority of Indian oil imports are from the middle east countries. Chinas oil imports will have to cross the Indian ocean, where Indian Navy has the potential and capability to interdict these strategic supplies. China v iews this as a major weakness and is trying to counter balance the Indian Navy by its string of pearl policy. Especially the port that China is developing at Gwadar in Pakistan could provide China a base from where Indian oil supplies could be threatened. Chinese participation in anti piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, could provide the PLAN experience of conducting operations far away from the mainland. This could come in handy especially in keeping the threats from Indian Navy at bay in case of a conflict. (b) Strategic Locations. Chinas perceived strategic frontiers can be said to include the Indian Ocean and the Malacca straits to the South West, South China Sea, the East China sea, in addition to the current territorial boundaries and claimed justification over the aforementioned territories. 5 As interests between India and China clash in these regions, conflicts cannot be ruled out. China also views Central Asian Republics as important and strategic locations due to the enormous amount of gas reserves there. China has also made efforts to establish its presence in a manner so as to secure its sea lanes of communications, import gas through pipelines avoiding shipment through Indian Ocean where India can influence Chinese shipping, and also to acquire strategic bases such as Gwadar in Pakistan, Coco islands to be able to establish strategic naval capabilities. The reaons for conflict with India will keep increasing wherever interests clash. (c) Strategic Dominance. China views itself as one of the major powers in the world and the leading power in Asia. Mr Barak Obama termed it as the leader amongst Asian countries during his maiden visit to China. China also aspires to be a powerful nation second to none. In the Chinese quest for greatness Chinese analysts feel that two nations, Japan and India could be hindrances in its road to greatness. Japan because of the overbearing legacy from history and India due to its differences with China. The Tibet Issue 3. China invaded and captured Tibet in 1956. Indian opinion about Chinese occupation of Tibet has changed over a period of time and India now recognises Tibet as a part of China. However, Chinese still feel that India through the Dalai Lama tries to bring to fore the Tibet issue. Notwithstanding, Indias support to China during the anti China protests by Tibetans in the run up to the previous Olympics, Chinas mistrust of India has never diminished and could be used as an ostensible cause for conflict against India by China. Territorial Dispute 4. Today the line of actual control by both sides in the in the eastern sector conforms to the McMahon Line. The disputed area between the pre-1914 outer line and the McMahon Line covers a total area of 90,000 square kilometers. According to China this area comprises Tibets three districts of Monyul, Loyul and Lower Zayul; and according to India, this area is its Arunachal Pradesh. In the western sector, the line of actual control runs roughly along the Karakoram Range, conforming to the Chinese claim. The Indian Government however, claims that the boundary runs along the Kunlun range from the Karakoram pass. The disputed area is the Aksai Chin region between the two ranges, covering a total area of about 33,000 square Kilometers. This area falls mainly in Chinas Xinjiang and Part of it belongs to the Ari district of Tibet. The Indian government claims that it is part of its Ladakh area of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This area is sparsely inhabited, serving only as the traffic ar tery linking Xinjiang with Tibet. The unresolved border dispute has been an irritant in Indo China relations and can be a potential cause of conflict in future. Recent Diplomatic Struggles 5. Chinas recent reactions over Indian prime ministers visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Dalai Lamas visit to the same place and issuing visa to Indian Kashmiris on a separate paper have been seen has diplomatic offensives by China to contain India. Analysts feel that China could be looking for reasons to launch a swift political offensive against India in future to resolve the border issues in its favour. China has resolved its border disputes with those counties which are relatively weaker. 6 It could be deduced that China wants to resolve its disputes with other nations from a strong position so as to gain an advantageous deal. Moreover, normalisation of relations with Taiwan offers China the flexibility to switch forces from its Eastern borders to the borders neighbouring India. China Pakistan Nexus 6. China has been helping Pakistan militarily and in nuclear technology to develop a foil for India and to contain India in South Asian region. Export of military technology and hardware and clandestine support to Pakistan in for developing strategic weapons such as missiles and nuclear weapons flouting all international norms is seen as an effort to dilute Indias military potential. China does not at present wish to see any tensions on its borders with India. But at the same time, its approach to our sub-continental neighbours and our friends in ASEAN indicates that it will spare no effort to contain India strategically. Its actions like continuing assistance for Pakistans nuclear and missile programmes are quite evidently a part of this policy. 7 Insecurity of the Chinese Leadership 7. China is an economic success story but its leadership is highly insecure. The Chinese government under the communist party has every reason to feel confident. Yet, a Chinese professor, Liu Xiabao, was recently jailed for eleven years, just because he publicly advocated freedom of expression and an end to one-party rule in China. 8 Such incidents, human rights conditions, lack of freedom to press, media and internet in China, the Tiananmen incident etc indicate that Chinese communist leadership does feel highly insecure of any uprising against it. Further, India is the country that is spoken of most often as an enemy in China. 9 The leadership may resort to drastic acts such as annexation of Taiwan or an attack on India to divert public attention, if it is cornered by a popular movement in China against the Communist party. End Notes 1. Sujit Dutta, Chinas emerging Power and Military role: Implications for South Asia p 94 2. Chinese White Paper on National Defence; Year 2008, downloaded from www.china.org on 24 Sep 09 at 1500 h 3. Commander PK Ghosh, The Maritime Dimensions of Indias Energy Security calculus, p 33 4. Vice Admiral Raja Menon in his speech at DSSC on Dec 09 5. Ashok Kapur, China and Proliferation: Implications for India p 405 6. Kondanpalli Sreekanth in his lecture at DSSC Wellington on Nov 09 7. Kondanpalli Sreekanth in his lecture at DSSC Wellington on Nov 09 8. Ian Burma, The Times of India, Bangalore, 16 Jan 10 9. Downloaded from yahoo.com on 28 Sep at 0900 h

The Power Of Knowledge :: essays research papers

A person’s feeling can be depicted by the way he or she draws their pictures. Superiority and inferiority can be shown by the way the artist makes a person or ship larger or smaller than another person or ship. This is shown in the Spanish picture where the French ships are on the coast of America. The French ships are small and the Native Americans appear to be larger. In another picture it shows a tribe of Native Americans gathered around each other in a village. The first picture shows the Spaniards belief that the French are inferior to the Native Americans and themselves. They depict this by drawing the Native Americans much larger than the French people and even their ships. The power of the Spaniards is proven when they combine forces with the Native Americans to annihilate the French in Florida. The Europeans believed power was about conquering people. They conquered people in the name of God and Christianity. If they could not convert them they would destroy them. Their only knowledge was of God and what he wanted them to do. The Native Americans believed power was in the tribe. The picture of the Native Americans showed how they all come together. They thought a close –knit society was the best way of life. They created villages where people lived close to each other. They had a number of different occupational groups in their society. The Native Americans knew how to use the land far better than the Europeans. The Native’s farmland was located around the village. That also showed the how tight their bonds were. Because they all worked together on the farm and all took home some of the profit. On the other hand, the Europeans tended to keep a distance from each other. They had no sense of community. They did this because they wanted more land to farm. The more land they farmed the more money they could make. The Europeans had no real idea of who their neighbors were they lived in isolation. The main difference is the The Power Of Knowledge :: essays research papers A person’s feeling can be depicted by the way he or she draws their pictures. Superiority and inferiority can be shown by the way the artist makes a person or ship larger or smaller than another person or ship. This is shown in the Spanish picture where the French ships are on the coast of America. The French ships are small and the Native Americans appear to be larger. In another picture it shows a tribe of Native Americans gathered around each other in a village. The first picture shows the Spaniards belief that the French are inferior to the Native Americans and themselves. They depict this by drawing the Native Americans much larger than the French people and even their ships. The power of the Spaniards is proven when they combine forces with the Native Americans to annihilate the French in Florida. The Europeans believed power was about conquering people. They conquered people in the name of God and Christianity. If they could not convert them they would destroy them. Their only knowledge was of God and what he wanted them to do. The Native Americans believed power was in the tribe. The picture of the Native Americans showed how they all come together. They thought a close –knit society was the best way of life. They created villages where people lived close to each other. They had a number of different occupational groups in their society. The Native Americans knew how to use the land far better than the Europeans. The Native’s farmland was located around the village. That also showed the how tight their bonds were. Because they all worked together on the farm and all took home some of the profit. On the other hand, the Europeans tended to keep a distance from each other. They had no sense of community. They did this because they wanted more land to farm. The more land they farmed the more money they could make. The Europeans had no real idea of who their neighbors were they lived in isolation. The main difference is the

Conflict in America :: essays research papers fc

Conflict in America Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide is a growing conflict in America and the world. Many people turn to it because they feel it is a way to gain control over their life, or put an end to it. They want to terminate the pain and suffering. They do not want to become a burden to their family and/or society. They need an environment that will make them feel wanted and loved. The whole human race has one particular need in common, the feeling of belonging. Helping people in suicide does not convey compassion. The ill, the elderly, the depressed, and infants who are born with diseases are all at risk. Euthanasia is wrong because death should only be God’s decision, the process of dying is an important part of life and people should be cherished regardless of their physical condition. We are becoming a culture of death faster than we realize. Euthanasia, suicide, and abortion are the downfalls to our society. Do not believe that people can look at these situations and discuss them as "ethical" questions. Killing is killing no matter what the circumstances. Murder, suicide, euthanasia, abortion; they all lead to death, and death is not something that should be pre-meditated. Soon assisted-suicide will be just as popular as abortion, and we will have both types of clinics; what a comforting thought. Everyone has a conscience, and everyone who has participated in a suicide or abortion will be consumed by guilt one day. Too many different situations occur as a result of euthanasia. A terminally ill person will likely first seek the advice of a physician. Then there is the family involved; their feelings and values must also be considered. A situation that arises is that it is not always the decision of the person being killed. As in weather an ill person is in a coma, and has brain damage that is so bad the person is practically a vegetable. As one example in the case study of Jim Romney, 56, a retired school principle from Portland, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. People with this type of illness will barley ever live more than two years after being diagnosed with this type of disease. His physicians made it clear that the disease would destroy his body, by leaving his entire body paralyzed, but his mind would still continue to function.

O.C.C. Professor Has A Passion For Teaching :: Essays Papers

O.C.C. Professor Has A Passion For Teaching Ah, yes the college days, the days of the best teachers that opened your eyes to the world. The teachers who had a burning desire to teach us everything. Well those teachers still exist, very close to home. Jim Place, a native of Detroit, Michigan grew up in the southern tier of Corning, N.Y. Place has lived in Syracuse for 26 years and has made a name for himself in his years here. Place is a full time faculty member at O.C.C in the English department. Place starts his days with a revitalizing trip to thy gym .One of Place’s favorite hobbies include weightlifting and Place prides himself in the shape he is in at his age. Every Wednesday night for three hours Place also teaches a class on his passion, public relations. Before becoming a full time faculty member at O.C.C. Place found his love in advertising for 15 years. Prior to owning his own advertising business place was the director of an advertising agency for some time, working both nationally and internationally. Place has designed a number of logos in the advertising community. He has worked advertising for major companies such as Bristol Myers and Webster Coffee (Juan Valdez). Students in Public Relations describe it as not only a class but also an †experience.† Place teaches this class with good message about common sense and applying it to the real world. Another passion Place holds close is travel. With many relatives in Athens, Greece he travels there religiously. This would explain him being the Director and Advisor to the International Travel Club at O.C.C. Place has been honored with this position since 1998. Every year the club takes approximately 40 students to Europe .In past years Place has traveled to London, Ireland, Whales, and Paris (twice). This coming June ,Place will be accompanying the students to Italy.

Effects of Unemployment Essay

Psychological Effects of Unemployment and Underemployment The current state of the economy continues to be an enormous stressor for Americans, with 78 percent reporting money as a significant source of stress (APA, 2009). Unemployed workers are twice as likely as their employed counterparts to experience psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms, low subjective well-being and poor self-esteem (Paul & Moser, 2009). Like unemployment, underemployment (e.g., people working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment) is unequally distributed across the U.S. population, with women, younger workers and African Americans reporting higher rates of involuntary part-time employment and low pay, as well as higher proportions of â€Å"discouraged† workers who have given up on searching for a job (McKee-Ryan et al., 2005). Unemployment not only affects those who lose their jobs. Coworkers who are still employed may experience a heavier work load and suffer from anxiety that they too will soon be unemp loyed, (Kivimaki, Vahtera, Elovainio, Pentti, & Virtanen, 2003). Unemployment and underemployment also affect families and communities. ————————————————- Effects on Families According to the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues’ Policy Statement â€Å"The Psychological Consequences of Unemployment,† the stress of unemployment can lead to declines in individual and family well-being (Belle & Bullock, 2011). The burden of unemployment can also affect outcomes for children. The stress and depressive symptoms associated with job loss can negatively affect parenting practices such as increasing punitive and arbitrary punishment (McLoyd, 1998). As a result, children report more distress and depressive symptoms. Depression in children and adolescents is linked to multiple negative outcomes, including academic problems, substance abuse, high-risk sexual behavior, physical health problems, impaired social relationships and increased risk of suicide (Birmaher et al., 1996; Chen & Paterson, 2006; Le, Munoz, Ippen, & Stoddard, 2003; Verona & Javdani, 2011; Stolberg, Clark, & Bongar, 2002). ————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Effects on Communities Widespread unemployment in neighborhoods reduces resources, which may result in inadequate and low-quality housing, underfunded schools, restricted access to services and public transportation, and limited opportunities for employment, making it more difficult for people to return to work (Brisson, Roll, & East, 2009). Unemployed persons also report less neighborhood belonging than their employed counterparts, a finding with implications for neighborhood safety and community well-being (Steward et al., 2009). High unemployment and growing income inequalities are key factors in declining social climate (International Labour Office, 2010). The United Nations (2010) claimed that growing social inequality fueled by extended, global unemployment will increase social unrest and tension and a growing sense of unfairness. Increasing inequality in advanced economies is fundamentally linked to growing rates of physical, emotional, social and political disorder (Wilkinson & Pickett, 2010). â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Unemployment and Stress in Different Populations Unemployment does not affect all groups equally. Rates are higher among Latinos/as (13.1%) and African Americans (15.7%) than European Americans (9.5%). Immigrants (Kochhar, 2009) and people with disabilities (Shapiro, 2009) are also especially vulnerable to layoffs as are those without college degrees (Leonhardt, 2009). Unemployed women report poorer mental health and lower life satisfaction than unemployed men (McKee-Ryan et al., 2005). Women are more likely to report that they have consumed unhealthy foods, or skipped a meal as a result of stress. Women are also more likely to report physical symptoms of stress, including irritability, anger, fatigue and lack of interest or motivation and energy (APA, 2009). In combination with other health disparities, the unequal impact of unemployment on some groups may have devastating effects on already vulnerable communities. ——————————————†”—- Solutions and Recommendations The negative effects of unemployment can be lessened. Individuals who face unemployment with greater financial resources, as well as those who report lower levels of subjective financial strain, report better mental health and more life satisfaction than those who experience unemployment with fewer economic resources and a greater sense of financial stress (McKee-Ryan et al., 2005). Social support can also mitigate the negative impacts of unemployment and underemployment (Belle & Bullock, 2011). For example, being married is a protective factor during periods of unemployment and underemployment (Dooley & Prause, 2004; McKee-Ryan et al., 2005). APA supports critical and proven programs to prevent unemployment and provide support for those who are unemployed, and urges Congress to: Support the National Commission on Employment and Economic Security Act. Sponsored by Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL), this legislation would establish a national commission to study and address employm ent and economic insecurity and their effects on mental health. The commission would examine issues of economic and psychological insecurity within our workforce due to employment displacement. Furthermore, the commission would provide recommendations to Congress and the President on how to reduce economic and psychological effects of unemployment. Fund job training and reemployment programs that take into account the psychological and emotional needs of workers and help prevent long-term unemployment. For example, the Michigan Prevention Research Center (MPRC), a program funded for 20 years by the National Institute for Mental Health, developed and evaluated the JOBS Program to help unemployed workers effectively seek reemployment and cope with the multiple challenges and stressors associated with unemployment and job-searching. Currently supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the JOBS Program is a group-based intervention that has the dual goals of promoting reemployment and enhancing the coping capacities o f unemployed workers and their families. Reauthorize and expand the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to provide temporary assistance to the long-term unemployed. APA supports more federal support for increased benefit levels for States, more time for clients to access mental health services, and suspending the work first requirement, to encourage training and education.

Is the Nfl Too Dangerous

IS THE NFL TOO DANGEROUS? BY ALEXANDER COLON Football is one of America’s most beloved sports and with the super bowl coming up; fans of the sport are getting ready for the big game. I am an avid football fan myself and love playing it as much I enjoy watching it. What I have come to notice recently, is how the lives of football players are drastically changed when they are off the field. Football is a full contact sport, if you’re not prepared or unprotected at any given time during a play, you could end up limping off the field nursing injuries or even leave the game on a stretcher.Football players risk physical injuries every time they set foot on the field, and everyone is aware of that. What most people don’t know is that after players football careers are done and over, they face more problems than just a sore body every morning. Some players even play through these painful times in their career without even mentioning it, because they fear they will be dro pped from the roster. In recent research it has been found that mental trauma is occurring in football players leaving them mentally unstable or damaged later in life.This brings about the argument of football being too dangerous or a fair contact sport that all precautions for injuries are being tended to. When a fan watches a football game they don’t think about what the players go through off the field but only of the performance they are putting on the field. It is believed that every football player knows the risks of playing and has the knowledge that they might injure themselves physically. What a lot of the players don’t know is that they might damage their brains and develop things later in life like CTE.Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has common symptoms like sudden memory loss, paranoia, and depression during middle age. It is also known to cause dementia pugilistica, which was what a lot of boxers fell victim to but now more football players are bein g linked to it. NFL players get paid millions to do their job, something most people would kill for, and some people think that the reward is worth the risk. NFL players truly do put their lives on the line when they go out to play but the fame and money is compensation enough for the risks they take in some people’s opinions.In my opinion if you’re playing in the NFL then you are getting paid more than enough for what you’re risking. Even if their brains are messed up they have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. What the NFL should do is make players sign a waiver informing them of the possibilities that they might contract a disease from getting hit to many times and hopefully this would make them more comfortable with the repercussions.

A Simple Eassy For Entering the University Essay

I would be grateful if I could continue my studies in the tertiary education. In my mind, the University undergraduates should not only pursue academic excellence, but also show great concern for their society. A University education should allow students to explore their potentials and talents. On top of that, it should also help them to develop a positive philosophy of life and to think in a logical and systematic way. Life on the campus should be comfortable and multifarious. Firstly and most importantly, I look forward to challenging myself. My expectations to my future career are that it could fit my interest and provide senses of accomplishments to me. Moreover, I hope my profession could be meaningful and respectable; and could serve the needs in the community. For my areas of strengths, I have an independent and analytic mind. I can think logically and critically. Moreover, I am helpful and considerate to others. During my secondary school years, I had taken part in different kinds of extra-curricular activities, like Computer club, Chess club, Astronomy club and English club. They gave me good chances to gain more knowledge that cannot be learnt from general lessons in school. For service terms, I was one of the committee members of the Student Librarians and School I.T. Term. The opportunities of being a committee member, trained my leadership and organization skills. However, I still need more life-experiences to solve the problem I will meet in the future. Finally, if I could have a chance to study in the University, I would do my best to learn. After my graduation, I will contribute to the community by applying what I have learnt in the university to whatever job I might find. As a result, I really hope the University can give me a chance to study and a chance to serve the society in the future.

Reflection Using The Gibb’s Reflective Cycle model Essay

In order to help me with my reflection I have chosen Gibbs (1988), as the model to help guide my reflective process. This model comprises of a process that helps the individual look at a situation and think about their thoughts and feelings at the time of the incident. Reflective skills help us to think about what could have been done, so that if a similar situation occurs again the experience gained can be used to deal with the situation in a professional manner (Palmer et al 1997). To enable me to use this situation for my reflection the patient will be referred to as â€Å"James†. This is in order that his real name is protected and that confidentially maintained in line with the An Bord Altranais Code of Professional Conduct (2000). James, a seventeen year old boy was admitted with a fractured wrist who suffers with schizophrenia. Jame’s condition caused him to have delusions and hallucinations which made him act inappropriately towards other patients and staff. He found it hard to relax and paced the ward a lot. James constantly needed reassurance and would ask other patients and staff if he was all right. His questioning involved wanting to know if he was in trouble and if his eye balls were ok. Everyone would reply to his questions by saying: â€Å"yes James you are all right, your eyeballs are fine and no you are not in any trouble‟, but this was not enough, you also had to give the â€Å"thumbs up† as well to assure him that he was fine. When James became agitated he would act out by kicking people. Due to his small size and light weight, the kick was usually light and didn’t hurt but sometimes it had strength in it. This acting out led me to question my preceptor if James’s kicking was behavioural or part of the illness and why it hadn’t been dealt with. My preceptor relayed to me that the nurses had used various techniques including behavioural therapy to stop James’s kicking but nothing had worked. Doctors had also tried a number of different drugs to help James with his schizophrenia but nothing had worked for him there either. He had been taking Clozaril for a few months but it was not doing anything for his psychotic symptom s. James was even sent to the Maudsley hospital in England (a world leader in psychiatry research) to see if they could help him or if they had any ideas that could help him in his treatment but experts were mystified with him there also. Mealtimes were a very difficult process with James. If he could get away with it, he would never eat. He would play around with his food, smell it, ask if it was poisoned and ask various  questions to distract the nurse from what he or she was trying to do (which was trying to get James to eat). It was a very tedious task for the nurse in charge of him that day to get him to eat. The nurses always handled it professionally and with a lot of patience. Usually by the end of the meal James had eaten almost half of it and so would also have to drink a fortisip later to make up for his lack of dietary intake. One evening after a long and tiring day, the nurse in charge of James was busy and I was put in charge of him eating his dinner. As usual the task was very hard and James didn’t seem to take me very serious. I tried to emulate what I had seen the other nurses do but James would hardly touch his food. He even began spitting out his food on the plate and this really disgusted me. I tried not to let him know what I was thinking and behave like a professional. I also tried to encourage him by saying â€Å"come on now James, just a little bit more â€Å"and he did the usual by trying to distract me and asking questing like â€Å"Am I dead, I’ve no eyes†, but I wasn’t having it. This process went on for what seemed like an eternity and I was beginning to get very frustrated. I finally said to him, â€Å"if you don’t eat your food, I’m goanna have to feed you like a little baby†. I then took his fork, scooped up some food and held it in front of him. I then said â€Å"now open your mouth†. It was then that it finally dawned on me what I was doing and I immedia tely stopped. I was filled with embarrassment as I realised the implications of my actions. I glanced around at the other tables to see if the other nurses and patients had seen or heard me, but they had not. I felt very glad that no one had witnessed my actions but also very ashamed of myself for what I had done. James didn’t seem very bothered by me and carried on with his questions. I was glad he didn’t seem angry or upset by what I had said but I also wondered if my actions had an effect on his unconscious feelings. When I had first saw James I was very intimidated and a little scared of him because he was very confrontational and tended to lash out. What was good about this experience was that I had finally gotten over my fear of him. By challenging him to eat, I felt more assertive and empowering. Kilkus (1993) claims that using assertive behaviour in nursing, empowers the nurse and is an invaluable component in the profession. The negative side to this incident was that I became too forceful and domineering. By saying to him â€Å"I’m goanna have to feed you like a little baby† was very sarcastic of me  and subconsciously I was even mocking him. It also could have made James associate food with negative feelings and that would have set the nurses back in their progress with getting him to eat. Jacobsson et al (2004) asserts that food psychologically, can be associated with positive feelings of well-being and comfort or it can be associated with negative feelings of sorrow or b urden. Although James did not react to what I had said, this did not mean he did not comprehend it. It is common for schizophrenia sufferers to appear as though they have a lack of feelings. This is so, due to damaged pathways connecting the brain to facial expressions. Although it is possible that these feelings cannot be expressed, emotions are felt inside (Kring et al. 1993). James may not have understood the underlying meaning of what I was saying to him but we as human beings can convey and relate to others through expressions, gestures and body language. Whether one comprehends what you are saying or not, one can understand what you are really saying by how you hold yourself, showing how you feel and sometimes what you are thinking (Kozier et al. 2004). James often had trouble communicating what he wanted to say, which is a common aspect of the illness (Kring et al. 1993), and would often throw out words that made no sense to us. Sometimes he would talk about something that meant something else entirely different, for instance he might say; â€Å"Am I dead, I’ve no eyes† but would mean â€Å"I am worried about something†. Only the other nurses would know what he meant as they had experience with James over time. That evening while trying to get James to eat, he said â€Å"Am I dead, I’ve no eyes† and I took it as one of his usual ramblings that meant nothing. I should not have taken it at face value and tried to understand where it was coming from. If I am to become an effective nurse in the future I must have good communication skills with my patients. Only through good communication skills will I be able to establish the patient’s usual forms of communication and social interactions and identify any difficulties the patient may be experiencing. I must also learn how to treat the patient as an individual with their own individual needs and concerns (Taylor et al. 200 8).By saying to James â€Å"I’m goanna have to feed you like a little baby† was very belittling of me. Perhaps a subconscious part of me was annoyed by his disease and I just did not want to deal with it. Eventually, when I become a staff nurse I will have to deal with psychiatric patients, and so I must learn to be open to the  patient (whether they have schizophrenia, Bipolar or any other psychiatric illness) by not having any prejudicial thoughts or perceptions. I must learn to show acceptance and respect (Browne, 1993). I was feeling very tired that evening and so because I was tired, I was probably a little irritable as well. Due to the way I felt and having the tedious task of getting James to eat, I may have acted in a way that I would not have, if I had not been tired. How nurses feel when they are tired may negatively impact their judgment and increase patient errors (Townsend &Anderson, 2009).Once I am a qualified staff nurse I am sure there will be days where I will be feeling very tired but that does not mean using the way I feel as a means to justify my actions. I must be a professional at all times, tired or not. Nursing is a professional practice that is constantly ev olving (Fasoli, 2010), and I as a nurse must act as a professional if I am to succeed in the profession. As a student nurse I need try to understand why James did not want to eat. One of the telltale signs of people with schizophrenia disorders is a deterioration in self-care skills. Individuals with the illness may not be interested in eating, may distrust the food and/or maybe too busy to eat or take care of themselves (Brooking et al. 1996). I was not taking this into consideration when I was trying to get him to eat his dinner. As a novice in the nursing profession, I could put this incident down to inexperience (Benner,1984). I could also put this experience down to bad judgement and bad communication skills on my behalf. Communication is not only the foundation of humanity but it is also the most crucial aspect of nurse-patient interactions (Taylor et al. 2008). I should not have tried to force James to eat. I should have kept trying to convince him to eat in a positive and understanding way (just like how I saw his nurse do before). By forcing James to eat I acted like a bully an d could have subconsciously made him associate eating with negative feelings (Jacobsson et al. 2004). I also could have shown more patience and empathy towards James. As a student nurse I must have patience and empathy for patients and also be sensitive to the patient’s psychological needs (Scully & Dallas, 2005). If this situation were to happen again, I would first examine my self-awareness. According to Bulman & Schutz, (2004, p.29) â€Å"Self-awareness may be described as the foundation skill upon which reflective practice is built†. It enables the nurse to view themselves in a specific situation and monitor what effect he  or she has on the situation and what effect the situation is having on him or her. Nurses with a healthy self-awareness are likely to have a positive effect on patient care. Having a good sense of self-awareness is also necessary for creating therapeutic relationships with one’s patients. As a student nurse I must also learn to communicate to the patient with knowledge and awareness in order to strive for the best for them. Through self- awareness I would have realised that I was tired and kept in mind not to let it have a negative effect on the patient. This is also another way to describe â€Å"reflection in action†. It is whereby the practitioner recognises a situation or problem and thinks about it while still carrying out an action (Schon, 1987). Also if this situation were to happen again I would remember what I had learned by my previous experience. My experience with James has taught me a lot about self-awareness, communicating effectively, empathy, patience, having a comprehension of the patient’s illness, respect, empowerment, not putting my feelings before the patients and staying positive. When this incident occurred I wanted to bury my head under the sand and wish that it never happened, but now I am grateful that it did happen because it gave me an opportunity to look deeper into the situation and deeper into myself. Using the Gibb’s Reflective Cycle model (Gibbs, 1988), has helped me to analyse what took place and examine my own insight and take on what happened. This experience was a learning curv e for me as a novice and it will be beneficial to my learning experience as I have many learning needs as a student nurse. I know realise that only through experience and reflection will I be able to learn from them(Benner, 1984).

Analysis Of Mobile Communication Communications Essay

Analysis Of Mobile Communication Communications Essay Wireless communication has become a ubiquitous part of modern life, from global cellular telephone systems to local and even personal-area networks. This book provides a tutorial introduction to digital mobile wireless networks, illustrating theoretical underpinnings with a wide range of real-world examples. The book begins with a review of propagation phenomena, and goes on to examine channel allocation, modulation techniques, multiple access schemes, and coding techniques. GSM and IS-95 systems are reviewed and 2.5G and 3G packet-switched systems are discussed in detail. Performance analysis and accessing and scheduling techniques are covered, and the book closes with a chapter on wireless LANs and personal-area networks. Many worked examples and homework exercises are provided and a solutions manual is available for instructors. The book is an ideal text for electrical engineering and computer science students taking courses in wireless communications. It will also be an invaluab le reference for practicing engineers. Wireless communication technology is diffusing around the planet faster than any other communication technology to date. Because communication is at the heart of human activity in all domains, the advent of this technology, allowing multimodal communication from anywhere to anywhere where there is the appropriate infrastructure, is supposed to have profound social effects. Yet, which kind of effects, under which conditions, for whom and for what is an open question. Indeed, we know from the history of technology, including the history of the Internet, that people and organizations end up using the technology for purposes very different of those initially sought or conceived by the designers of the technology. Furthermore, the more a technology is interactive, and the more it is likely that the users become the producers of the technology in its actual practice. Therefore, rather than projecting dreams and fears on the kind of society that will result in the future from the widespread use of wireless communication, we must root ourselves in the observation of the present using the traditional, standard tools of scholarly research. People, institutions, and business have suffered enough from the unwarranted prophecies of futurologists and visionaries that project and promise whatever comes to their minds on the basis of anecdotal observation and ill understood developments. Thus, our aim in this report is to ground an informed discussion of the social uses and social effects of wireless communication technology on what we know currently (2004) in different areas of the world. We would have like to consider exclusively information and analyses produced within the rigorous standards of academic research. This constitutes a good proportion of the material examined here. The rise of mobile communication Mobile communication has diffused into society at a rate that is unprecedented. On a world basis, the number of mobile phone s rose 24% between 2000 and 2005. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there was about one telephone subscription for every third person in the world (2005).2 At the same time there were about half as many who had access to the intent (ITU 2005). The highest adoption rates are found in Europe where there are approximately 82 subscriptions per 100 persons. In Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, etc.) there are 69, and in the Americas there are 52 subscriptions per 100 persons. Following this Asia had 22 subscriptions per 100 and Africa had 11. While the adoption rate in Europe has levelled off, there is an almost Klondike like atmosphere in many other countries. The growth rates in India and China are far above 50% per year. In addition, growth in sub-Saharan Africa often tops 100% and sometimes even 200% per year.3 Thus, in the last decade; we have seen the widespread adoption of a new form of communication.

HR Strategies for Hotel Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HR Strategies for Hotel Management - Essay Example The most significant feature in the management of this chain of hotels is the availability of well trained, efficient and motivated work force. The company understands the necessity of the keeping the spirits of its employees high to realize its business dreams in the most acceptable manner. The hospitality industry and more specifically hotel industry is one of the most dynamic and sensitive business sector which performs very high during the favourable business environment while experiences a very sharp fall during the periods of recession or economic slow down. Thus being one of the leading hotel chain in China, Metropark hotels company need to create a unique style of management leadership that could set benchmarks in the hospitality business segment (Grand Metro Park Hotel, n d). The major domains the HR practices need to be reinforced is in the domain of delegation of work. The concept of right work to right people needs to be promoted well. As the hotels have different target clients based on the brands attached to it, the employees capabilities expected shall also differ from one type to the other. The Grand metro park hotels has most of its visitors from US and European Union, mostly the business executives who have their business operation expanding in China. Thus the capability of all the staff who are placed to handle different tasks must be highly capable to ensure not only to deliver their responsibilities well but also to ensure the retention during their future visits. The customer relation team shall also work in tandem with them to ensure the future business too. In addition to their skills to use English, language, the linguistic abilities of the front office staff shall include their abilities to handle other foreign languages like Spanish, French, Russian, Italian and also Arabic. Further, the

Analysis of Social and Health History Data for Older Persons Essay

Analysis of Social and Health History Data for Older Persons - Essay Example Moreover, the psychological changes among others are all problems associated with old age. The major changes that individuals face include adjustment to retirement, reduced income, and the use of leisure time. We will carry out a critical analysis of comprehensive social and health history data for two older persons. In this regard, one older person considers she or he is healthy’ for this stage of their life. Conversely, the second older person considers him/herself as experiencing ill health and/or a dysfunction. The potential health problems, demonstrate differences in these two persons’ social and health histories. Analysis will also be made on how these health problems impact on their quality of life and lifestyle. The person who will consider that he/she is healthy to this stage will react positively to changes. They will accept the fact that as the functions of the body changes, a healthy mental attitude helps a person to maintain a zest for living. This will fre e the person from monitoring changes and enables the person to seek medical care, hence adjust to personal lifestyle. This person will struggle to stay physically healthy by changing the poor health habits. Such habits include avoidance of negligence and body exercise that slows down the aging process. This postpones physical symptoms of aging such as heart failure, stroke, hypertension, and arthritis. Exercise will stimulate the mind and lessens premature dependence on others thereby improving the overall quality of life. This person with have positive social interactions that will enrich aging and can even involve themselves in community development, in volunteer activities, or even close family ties. All these provide enjoyment as a person ages. Ericson (1950) theory, Ego integrity versus despair, involve coming into terms with one's life. Any form of ill health can easily be dealt with, and these persons live long than expected. It is important to note that the adults who get to a sense of integrity feel whole, complete, and satisfied with their achievements (Martin & Kinsella, 2004, p.90). On the contrary, these other older person who considers he/she is experiencing ill health and/or dysfunction. These persons take the aging process negatively and lacks acceptance. At this stage, despair comes in and they feel they had made wrong decisions. In such a scenario, the time is too short to find an alternative route to integrity. Without another chance, these persons find difficulty in accepting the closeness of death and overcome with resentment, defeat, and hopelessness. These attitudes expressed as anger and contempt for others disguising contempt for oneself. These persons tend to have a faultfinding behavior with a tendency to blame others for their personal failures. They also have regretful view of their own life reflecting with a great sense of despair. These people will just lie down on their beds and start complaining. They get more prone to aging di seases as stroke, hypertension, heart failure, arthritis, and they lack the strength to struggle with such diseases. They die within a shorter period than expected. Compare the similarities and differences in the chosen health problems Similarities in these two persons are that they are both older persons thus exposed to illnesses associated with old age. Such diseases include omega 48 blood disorders, neurological disorders, and respiratory

Integrated Communication Marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Integrated Communication Marketing - Assignment Example The most influencing method is the one that converts potential customer to an actual customer (Castronovo and Huang). Event based marketing is the method that has influenced most on the purchasing decision. The reason is attention gained by the sellers and also the right customers being targeted through the well designed events. The method is though costly as compared to other ones but is accurate. The methods that are very common, spamming and random are least influencing methods (Castronovo and Huang). Such methods include email marketing which does not necessarily target the potential customers and the people usually ignore such marketing messages. More than the method, the designed message and the way render it most or least influencing. Mobile marketing influenced once resulting in purchase decision. The message was about the internet package being offered by the marketing personnel. However it was a random message but hit the head’s nail. At another instance at a sports event, the message regarding soccer kit resulted in purchase

Poetic Form Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Poetic Form - Essay Example The Victorian poets were very uncomfortable when more and more people shifted their attention towards scientific development, the belief that science can supersede God and his powers deeply affected the Victorian poets. Arnold conspicuously employs pathetic fallacy throughout "Dover Beach" the inanimate object has been presented in the form of sea in the poem. Sadness is a feeling which every human being experiences and sadness is being projected by Arnold in the poem, sadness is being attributed onto the sea by the poet in the poem. The poet also succeeds in creating a feeling of pathos in the poem, the readers begin to sympathize with the poet and this is how the feeling of pathos is created. â€Å"The sea is calm tonight, The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone;† (Dover Beach) The word â€Å"is† is repeated thrice in these lines and this goes to show that the poet is emphasizing on the nightly seaside sc enery. Several changes take place in the poem, the poet concludes by saying that there was light earlier but there is no light now which means darkness has descended and according to the poet it is all doom and gloom. â€Å"Gleams and is gone† The last is used clearly goes to show that the poet is trying to say that the light that was there earlier is there no more and there is nothing but darkness. Certainty also has gone with the light but this can only be understood if the poem is evaluated metaphorically. In darkness it becomes very difficult to determine one’s position and it becomes even more difficult to determine where others may be positioned. â€Å"Neither joy, nor love, nor light/ Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;" (Dover Beach) It is quite conspicuous that words like neither and nor have been repeated and usually when words get repeated in a poem it signifies emphasis and this case is no different. Neither and nor have been repeated in order to signify denial by the poet. The blank and the nihilistic view of Matthew Arnold has been presented here, he is talking about the basic human values here and believes that the basic human values have disappeared and nothing remains now and this is how the readers get to know of his nihilistic views. The poem’s language has been enriched by the poet; several adjectives have been used by Arnold. "Tremulous cadence", "eternal note of sadness" clearly signify melancholy and these adjectives have been used to increase the melancholic feeling in the poem. The readers must look for metaphors and images to understand the hidden meaning of the poem; the sea is both a symbol and a metaphor in the poem. Several transitions take place from the first stanza to the very last, initially the sea looks very beautiful under moonlight but it becomes hostile as the poem progresses. As the poem progresses the sea starts to evoke a feeling of sadness. In the third stanza it becomes "Sea of Faith" w hich has a hidden meaning as most stanzas of the poem. The certainty a religion brings with itself has been withdrawn and as usual human beings are left with nothing but darkness according to the poet. Tennyson’s â€Å"In Memoriam† is quite similar to Arnold’s â€Å"Dover Beach†. Both the poets are aghast in the poems; they pity human beings in their poems. The opening of â€Å"In Memoriam† is quite different from â€Å"Dover Beach†, Tennyson talks about faith in the opening stanza of the poem; he believed that faith is the only

PHD proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PHD proposal - Essay Example Although modern literature has perpetrated Islam and Muslims in a violent light, the majority of Muslims do not believe or worship this way. The idea that the fanatic terrorists of 9/11, suicide bombers, and others are the majority is a false perception. Islam does not teach this type of violence. The terrorists who twist their religion to suit their aims are using Islam to achieve their own personal goals. This minority has poisoned Western literature, which shows a stereotypical view of Muslims. This is important for my studies, because an examination for the reasons about the stereotypes of Muslims in Western literature could lead to an answer on how to stop the prejudices against Islam. Maybe this study can shed light on the truth about this misunderstood religion. The influence of the Islamic terrorist minority will be shown. The Western world has fixated on the terrorist and violent aspect of Muslims since before 9/11. An example provided will be Malcolm X (in Alex Haley chapter). Malcolm X did not believe in the non-violent approach of Martin Luther King (a Christian). Although Malcolm X intended the violence to be in self defence, Islam became equal to violence in his writings. The overall theme of this dissertation will be the how these selected writers view Islam and Muslims from their point of view. How are their attitudes toward this religion and its followers? Have they been ignorant? Is their literature a truthful portrayal of Islam? Do any of the writers have certain agendas? Some of these writers are Christian, Hindu, and Muslim. How did the writers individual faith impact their perspective of Islam? All of these questions will be answered, along with what Islam truly is about. In the following chapters I will illustrate how in these texts, the writers show Islam differently according to their experiences. Before moving into my discussion of the cultural differences between nations in The Shadow Lines, I