Tumultuous Sixties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tumultuous Sixties - Essay Example However, their hopes were crushed when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lyndon Johnson replaced Kennedy as president and brought the culture of working actively to promote the lives of Americans. Johnson believed that the only way to improve the livelihoods of the American people is through education and ending poverty. Johnson introduced the Civil Rights Act from the urging of the Congress, which then outlawed discrimination that is openly based on race, color, sex, religion, national and origin in the American federal programs (Nicholas, 2012). There was an introduction of mechanisms for enforcement to the American culture where there was an open application for voting, employment and public accommodations of American citizens and residents regardless of the race, color and religion.President Johnson introduced new student loans and grant programs that were free from racial discrimination and supported the consumer-protection legislation act. The presidentâ€⠄¢s ambitions to end poverty in America led to the effort of championing for better education and job training. However, the effort enjoyed mixed success, as it was not fully successful. In essence, the federal programs and economic expansion that Johnson initiated increased the number of problems that the poor Americans faced (Nicholas, 2012). What Americans had thought of the administration of Johnson turned out negative and critics pointed out at the numerous assassinations and unrest that occurred during his rule.

Not a Privilege, but a Right Essay Example for Free

Not a Privilege, but a Right Essay The times are ripe for civil disobedience. Not a full year ago was the act of defiance by the populace of Myanmar and their subsequent bloody repression displayed before the televisions around the world, sparking outrage and sympathetic demonstrations. The streets of Pakistan were also filled with protests, first against a President who would let an advocate of justice—a Supreme Court Justice—to be thrown to the jails for pursuing his conscience, and then again for the same President’s attempt to perpetuate his rule through an act of â€Å"emergency rule†. The world is now again made witness to a wave of international protests, sparked by violent protests by Tibetan secessionists and their repression by the Chinese government. Everywhere in the world, these acts of assembly and disobedience are criticized or hailed as acts of free expression based on the then-current sentiment. Many times, these same democracies that hails the voice of liberty and sound judgment and rule, condemn protests and demands for redress as â€Å"anarchistic in character† and â€Å"break the order and thus inconvenience the public†. Generally, if without the backing of any government, a protest is localized, and belittled as an act of unnecessary activism. Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. , though living in different periods of history, fought under similar demeaning circumstances, and faced similar opposition from their government. They asserted that the act of civil disobedience was a God-given right granted to people to correct the fatal defects of government. Their separate acts of defiance were considered â€Å"illegitimately born†, â€Å"with malicious intent†, and â€Å"unwise and untimely†; these same categories echo now in the criticisms of our movements. For their sakes, then: what constitutes a valid exercise of the People’s will? Studying Thoreau and King’s works, that is, on the Duty of Civil Disobedience and Letter to a Birmingham Jail, respectively, we can identify two primary characters of a legitimated act of defiance: a legitimated cause and legitimated means. Legitimated Cause Why did we choose the term â€Å"legitimated† rather than â€Å"legitimate† or â€Å"lawful†, in characterizing a valid act of the people? This is due to the fact that the act of defiance, seeks as its purpose the overthrow of the unjust system of government. In Martin Luther King’s time, this was the segregation between â€Å"whites† and â€Å"blacks†, which though inherently unjust, was nevertheless valid under passage of law. If one were to require a â€Å"lawful† cause, it would bar any protest against any injustice that is protected under the mantle of law. The cause is â€Å"legitimated† not because of its opposition to any system, but because the system lost its mantle of legitimacy by its promotion of injustice. Thoreau wrote that if a system causes some injustice to be inflicted though it is merely incidental in its application, one would be unjust to apply a level of severity to attack it, for eventually the system will soon be smoothened out and these flaws corrected. If, however, the system compels one to cause injustice to another, then the system may be validly attacked. This is to say that in all governments, flaws are to be expected—in fact, the imperfection of the system of government lies within the need, at all, of a system of government. In view of this, Thoreau stressed not the need for a no-government, as he believes the people to be unprepared for this event, but at once a better government, which does not promote injustice and does not speak for the stronger few. The legitimated cause of a civil disobedience is dependent on the measure of injustice inflicted by the present system of government the act is made to oppose. King further elucidated this by expounding on St. Thomas Aquinas’ expression that an â€Å"unjust law is no law†. There are two ways by which a law is made unjust: if it is made contrary to natural and divine law, or, if in consonance to it, it is implemented as to make it unjust. A government, then, that enacts a law ordering the execution of every second son of every family violates the natural law against murder, promotes its agent to violate the same, and is consequently unjust. Likewise, if a government would inflict a severe punishment for the infidelity of a wife yet will only inflict a punitive penalty for the same committed by the husband, by virtue of its disproportionate application of justice the government would likewise be unjust. This injustice, then, must be inherent within the system, and so prevalent as to inflict the severity of oppression. If, however, the system is merely suffering â€Å"momentary lapses† of injustice that are incidental to its improper application, the system could be corrected without the use for excessive violence, and hence, disobedience. For example, a government erroneously enacts laws as to regulate traffic when in effect such traffic is worsened; this is no cause for civil disobedience. If however, the same law was enacted to provide for a path reserved for â€Å"white† people, as opposed to those of other races, then the system is inherently unjust. Legitimated Means The qualifying word â€Å"legitimated† is also as important here as it was in qualifying the proper cause. For any act of civil disobedience to a system is, by nature, unlawful; as paramount to a government’s duty is to make sure that its people will follow laws, however unjust it may seem to be. Dura lex, sed lex. The law, however harsh in its implementation, remains the law. Besides, which, it is in the government’s best interest that these laws are followed, as these inherently perpetuate their power. King opined that oppressors, in light of historical precedent, would not voluntarily give up their power. Nevertheless, the act of disobedience is legitimated in light of the injustice inflicted. As Thoreau explained, when something is stolen from a man, or injustice inflicted on him, he will not content himself with exhausting all lawful procedures provided for him by law; he will only be satisfied upon the return of the stolen item, and consequently his vindication. The two civil advocates differ only in the interpretation of the purpose of legitimated means: Henry David Thoreau, believing fully that the State is unjust from its inception, considers his act (in this case, the non-payment of a poll tax) as one of exclusion; he will not be part of a system that promotes injustice, in this context the propagation of slavery and the aggression inflicted on the Mexican War. King, however, considers this act of civil disobedience as an act of inclusion, and recognizes its unlawful nature and is willing to suffer its consequences. In this act, however, he hopes to unmask the oppressiveness of the system and its persecution of the advocates of equality and free expression. This distinction is further substantiated in King’s denunciation of two other camps: one that would do nothing in the face of oppression, and another that would set itself against the State and employ violent action. A proper legitimated means is one that will exhaust methods of petition provided by the State, and, having been refused, act in defiance of the system in order to promote tension and force the State to negotiate. This formula of defiance has been employed by the likes of Nelson Mandela, Mohandas Gandhi and Aung San Suu Kyi. Conclusion: Not a Choice, but an Obligation. A final word remains of civil disobedience: Thoreau warns that those who do not stand in opposition to a system that promotes injustice will necessarily aid it, and participate in it. This is the concept of collective guilt—the nation is naturally responsible for excesses inflicted upon it by the government, in their silent acquiescence to its measures. Those criticizing the untimeliness and impropriety of civil disobedience can well be reminded King’s remarks that a revolution, and an act of civil rights will never be timely, and will never be proper in the eyes of the oppressive government. Those who passively let their rights be trampled upon are equally guilty of the oppression inflicted on them. This is a harsh truth, but it remains the truth: the State will not provide for an individual who â€Å"sleeps on his rights†. So long as the people are deficient in fighting for their cause, the State will, by virtue of the previous maxim, take what it can in the name of the few and escape with impunity.

Americas New War :: Politics Government Essays

America's New War America is currently at war against some intangible entity called Terrorism. I know that seems like and unnecessary statement of the obvious, but sometimes I feel the need to be reminded of the fact that we are really fighting a war. It is almost laughable how easy it is to avoid thinking about â€Å"America’s New War†. How can a nation go to war without the involvement of its population? The American public is not being asked to unite in support of our troops overseas; there has been no request for sacrifice or conservation of resources. Instead, we are being urged to consume, travel, and go on with our routine lives. According to an article titled, â€Å"Our World War†, by Jonathan Rowe, â€Å"the advertising industry has wracked its clever brains to conjure from the ashes of the World Trade Center an upbeat buying mood† (Adbusters Jan/Feb 2002 no. 39). The world has changed and we are asked to return to life as usual. I find this concern with consumer confidence somehow incongruent with the events that are taking place in Afghanistan right now. The economy is, without a doubt, a defining characteristic of the American way of life, and a weakened economy would jeopardize its stability and security. "’Sept. 11 dealt a very serious blow to the economy, demonstrating the cost of inaction,’ says White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan. New security measures are needed ‘for the sake of the economy and the safety of the American people’" (Ramstack). Our economic stability should be monitored and increased security measures should be taken after an attack like the one on September 11th. However, I feel a lack of concern for the lives that are at stake in the Middle East. I have to question whether our economic status is more important than the thousands of soldiers that are engaged in the war abroad. So much emphasis has been placed on the continuation of the â⠂¬Å"American Dream†, that after the drama of the attack wore off, the American unity and mobilization have been directed towards malls and car dealerships. Maybe someone can explain to me how my next purchase will benefit those sacrificing lives on the front lines.

Comparing Three Poems ‘Half-Caste’ Essay

Each of these three poems talk about certain problems faced by specific groups of people in today’s society. The poems have been written specifically to illustrate to people who have been brought up with derogative ideas about different types of people, that there are people who are different, but are neither superior nor inferior to themselves.  The main themes that run common in all 3 poems are the ideas of individualism, respect, culture and equality. The poem ‘Half-Caste’ by John Agard talks about the stereo typed judgement about half-caste people in society today. John Agard’s main argument in the poem is that being a half-caste person does not make you half a human being. He talks about how people make ‘assumptions’ about half-caste people.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦and when I’m introduced to yu I’m sure you’ll understand why I offer yu half-a-hand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote suggests that non half-caste peoples attitudes towards half-caste people is that they are not human, and do not do everyday things the way they would do themselves. Agard exaggerates his ideas in order to make his argument a lot clearer.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"..an when moon begin to glow I half-caste human being cast half-a-shadow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It is obvious that half-caste people do not caste shadows different to anyone else, but the emphasis on the ridiculousness of the mere idea of a different type of shadow makes the idea of half-caste people being ‘different’ just as ridiculous.  He explains quite cleverly how degrading the term half-caste can be by comparing half-caste people like himself to very worldly ideas that you would not title ‘half-caste’. â€Å"Yu mean when light an shadow mix in de sky is a half-caste weather†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His examples are all of things that people would associate with beauty, such as nature, art and music. His point being that if people call humans of two colours half-caste, then everything else with mixed colours must be aswel. People wouldn’t think twice about labeling a human half-caste, but when talking about nature or music and it would again be completely ridiculous to call Tchaikovsky’s composition a ‘half-caste symphony’. The poem itself also relays the message of individualism. It is written in phonetics to demonstrate his own personality with the language being English, but with his own Guyanan dialect. The readers are then forced to read the poem in a certain way, which enforces the message behind the poem.  Tom Leonard also uses this effective technique in his poem from ‘Unrelated Incidents’. This poem talks about status and social acceptance. Leonard talks about how people are reluctant to sit secure in the knowledge of a person with an accent, compared to someone who speaks with what is thought of ‘proper’, standard English in an English accent. He puts across the idea of how naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and narrow-minded people can be. â€Å"†¦if a tokaboot thi trooth lik wanna yoo scruff yi widny thingk it wuz troo†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚  He suggests that people would believe anything from the mouth of a ‘proper’ speaking person, no matter how insane it may be and totally dismiss what a person with an accent like his, is saying. Even if it was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so to speak. The way in which he has put this idea across is by using what is very commonly known to be quite English a typical example of where this sort of discrimination occurs. The news, where you will mainly hear the news read from a person who speaks with the ‘right’ accent. â€Å"This is thi six a clock news thi man said n thi reason a tok wia BBC accent iz coz yi widny wahnt mi ti talk aboot thi trooth wia voice lik wanna yoo scruff†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The poem is a parody of a typical British news broadcast, it is ironic the way in which Leonard has used his own dialect and spoken in the style of the commonly known news. It is obvious that Leonard is frustrated and angry at the fact that him and others alike would be looked down upon because of the way they talk. Similarly with John Agard we can see the resentment towards those people who treat half-caste people differently and Tom Leonard with the way society looks upon people with accents that differ from their own. However, Sujata Bhatt’s â€Å"Search For My Tongue† discusses society and culture from a different perspective. The problem she finds herself faced with is trying to make a correct balance with her own culture and heritage and the culture in which she lives in. She explains her fear of losing her ‘mother tongue’ and never being able to be totally accepted by the ‘foreign tongue’. Her concern with the mother tongue being lost is very explicit in the poem: â€Å"And if you lived in a place where toy had to speak a foreign tongue, you mother tongue would rot, rot and die in your mouth until you had to spit it out†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She explains how hard it is to keep your mother tongue healthy in a place where there is no use for it, and eventually it would become useless and you would eventually forget it about it. She talks not just about language but her whole culture and how she was brought up, what she was brought up to believe and live by and how society and different cultures sometimes make you forget. However she gets across to the reader that somehow, sub-consciously while she dreams, she dreams in her own language and reminds herself of her language and that she is still who she has always been and always will be.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"modhama pakay chay†¦ it blossoms out of my mouth.† The tongue is described to blossom out her mouth jus as she thinks she has forgotten it. This imagery of blossoming is beautiful and emphasises how important it is to be who you are because it is beautiful from whatever background and culture you belong to.

Bullying: America’s Worst School Issue Essay

Did you know that a massive amount of students in America are being bullied? What is bullying? According to Webster’s New World Pocket Dictionary, bullying â€Å"is the act of threatening weaker people.† There are many different types of bullying that we will be discussing too. This subject has a huge impact on students that are against bullying. Bullying is the most important issue in schools, because it can cause insecurity, suicidal thoughts and public embarrassment. Bullying can cause insecurity. To be insecure means not to be confident or think less of his or her self. This can cause an individual not to trust anyone, and feel as if they do not have any friends. The child has no choice, but to put up with it because they do not confide in anyone. Insecurity can affect his or her performance in school. According to huffingtonpost.com â€Å"The study shows that students who reported being bullied in the 10th grade saw a slight decrease in GPA by 12th grade — but the change is sharper for black and Latino students who tend to earn high grades. While the overall decrease in GPA for bullied students over the studied period was 0.049 points (on a GPA scale with 0 being the lowest and 4 being the highest), black students saw a 0.3-point decrease in 12th grade GPA from a 3.5 GPA in 9th grade — before they were bullied.† Without a doubt, insecurity can lead to depression; which is like the torrent of tears. Bullying can cause suicidal thoughts. What are suicidal thoughts? They are thoughts about killing oneself. The person being bullied thinks it is the only way out; by murdering themselves. For example; according to japantoday.com, on December 10, 2012 in Japan, a 13-year-old girl was hit by a train in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. She committed suicide as a result of bullying. Insecurity can also lead to the act of suicide. Again another suicidal thought can be caused by the child not being heard by anyone to speak to about the bullying. As a result many students do this because of stress, pressure, and a result of helplessness. They are crying out for help and don’t know how else to get it. Bullying can cause a great amount of public embarrassment. Being embarrassed publicly is the worst way to ever be embarrassed. People you know or do not know will see, and laugh at you. Bullying includes public embarrassment, because the bully may bring a crowd or have a entourage with them. Since technology has rapidly advanced, the bullying may be videotaped and put on YouTube or Facebook. Many instances of Cyber Bullying come from these websites. According to huffingtonpost.com â€Å"15-year-old Amanda Todd committed suicide October 25, 2012, many blamed cyber bullying as the cause.† Todd had posted a video to YouTube documenting instances of cyber bullying that included texts and Facebook posts; Todd also indicated she was bullied physically. Public embarrassment by a bully may leave you with injuries that will heal, but the memories last forever. Therefore, we need to stop this! Bullying is wrong and it affects a child’s future enormously. Although there are other problems students face in schools, like stealing or plagiarism, bullying can have the most severe and long-lasting effects for adolescents during the critical years. We as students should not let anyone else feel inferior. The bullies should be sent to psychologists to discuss why they chose to display their anger in such a format. According to bullyingstatistics.org 1 in 4 students are being bullied in the United States on a regular basis. We need to end this America! If you see someone being bullied, report to higher authority. As reported by bullyingstatistics.org 35% of teens have been bullied online; let’s end it! As stated on bullyingstatistics.com 77% are verbally abused; let’s that! Bullying is very serious, and we need stop it to create a better future for the children.

Chechen Rebels essays

Chechen Rebels essays In the course of Russian history, there has been one territory that has caused a lot of controversy. The area is Chechnya, which is located in southwestern Russia near Dagestan and Georgia. Most of Chechnyas population is Muslim and doesnt like the rule of the Christian Russians because of the practice of Islam in that area. Russia first took over Chechnya in the 19th century and immediately found resistance there. The resistance has lasted over time and reached a high point in the 1990s, and violence is still going on now. Recently there has been a paramilitary group in Chechnya that are extremists and want independence for Chechnya. This group is much like a terrorist organization. Although people are pressing for peace, it looks like the fighting will continue. The first invasion of Chechnya was in the 1830s by Czar Nicholas I (Johnson, 2000: Infoplease.com Timeline of Key Events in Chechnya). He met fierce resistance and many bloody battles where fought. However the Russians were victorious. In 1859 Russia had conquered their land and incorporated the Caucuses into their territory(Johnson, 2000: Infoplease.com Timeline of Key Events in Chechnya). Russia took Chechnya in a time of Russian Imperialism, and they took Chechnya by force and pressed a government and religion on the people that they did not agree with(Johnson, 2000: Infoplease.com Timeline of Key Events in Chechnya). The difference in ethnicity and religion will be the fuel for all of the blood that is to be split up to current day. There was peace for a short time until the early 1900s. In 1917 during the Russian Revolution Dagestan and Chechnya declared their independence from Russia (Johnson, 2000: Infoplease.com Timeline of Key Events in Chechnya). Bolshevik troops were sent in to occupy the area. The occupation period lasted for 6 years. In 1923 the Bolsheviks reclaimed Da...

Myths Declaration of Independence

Myths Declaration of Independence Free Online Research Papers Before we can examine if there are myths surrounding the Declaration of Independence we need to examine under what circumstances Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration (After the Fact pg. 75). By the spring of 1776, the patience of many congressmen had been sorely tried by bitter wrangling over the question of whether or not to declare independence. Many of the legislators thought it nonsensical to fight a war for any purpose other than independence, yet others disagreed. They held out hope for a resolution with England. For month after bloody month Congress had sat on its hands unable to offer a resolution, this angered many including John and Sam Adams of Massachusetts (After the Fact pg. 77). They felt that America was fighting a war it could not win unless it declared independence from Britain. Opposition to Parliament had been growing since it enacted the first American tax, the Stamp Act of 1765. At the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia in September 1774, some delegates wanted to force repeal of Parliament’s repressive measures through a trade embargo. A more conservative faction had pushed for a compromise to provide American representation in Parliament. In the end, Congress adopted the trade boycott, and war had come (US a Narrative History pg. 114-115). The greatest reluctance to engage in Independence came from the middle colonies (After the Fact pg. 76). New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware and in South Carolina, all had long since been drawn into the economic web of the Atlantic world. Before the war, the products of the backcountry- furs, hides and lumber- as well as grain, had moved through New York and Philadelphia to markets in the Caribbean and England. Charleston exported indigo and rice. In return, English-manufactured goods entered the colonies through these ports. Business had flourished during most of the 18th century; in recent years Philadelphia’s merchants had routinely enjoyed annual profits of more than 10 percent (American History pg. 218-219). The great merchants in Philadelphia and New York, who constituted a powerful political force, had other compelling reasons for remaining within the empire. Many relied upon credit supplied by English bankers. The protection afforded to transatlantic trade by the Royal Navy minimized insurance and other overhead costs. Independence, Philadelphia merchant Thomas Clifford asserted in 1775, would â€Å"assuredly prove unprofitable.† The â€Å"advantages of security and stability,† said another, â€Å"lie with . . . remaining in the empire.† But Adams was confident that those who favored reconciliation would be driven inexorably toward independence. In time, he believed, they would discover that London would never give in to America’s demands. Furthermore, he expected that war would transform the colonists’ deep-seated love for Britain into enmity, necessitating a final break (American History pg. 220). On June 11, Congress created a five-member committee to prepare a statement on independence. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert Livingston of New York were given until July 1 to complete their work (After the Fact pg. 77). Once again it was to Jefferson that a panel turned, this time for the fateful task of drafting the declaration (After the Fact pg. 79). Jefferson and his colleagues beat the deadline by two days, submitting on June 28 a document that explained and defended independence. By July 1, the final consideration of Lee’s motion to declare independence was taken up. That day’s session, John Adams told a friend in a letter written early that morning would see â€Å"the greatest Debate of all† (American History pg.222). When debate began midmorning on that Monday, Dickinson was first on his feet to make one last speech against independence. Speaking for two hours in the stifling heat of the closed room (windows were kept shut to keep spies from listening in), Dickinson reviewed the familiar arguments: America could not win the war; at best, it could fight Britain to a stalemate, and deadlocked wars often ended in partition treaties in which territory is divided among the belligerents; therefore, after all the killing, some colonies would remain part of the British Empire, while others would pass under the control of France or Spain (American History pg.223). It was John Adams- soon to be christened â€Å"the Atlas of Independence† by New Jersey’s Richard Stockton- who rose to answer Dickinson. Striving to conceal his contempt for his adversary, Adams spoke extemporaneously in subdued tones. Once again, he reviewed the benefits of independence. Although his speech was not transcribed, he surely invoked the ideas he had expressed and the phrases he had used on many another occasion. Breaking ties with Britain, he argued, would ensure freedom from England’s imperial domination; escape from the menace of British corruption; and the opportunity to create a republic based on equality of representation (American History pg.223). Others then took the floor. The speeches stretched past the customary 4 o’clock adjournment and into the evening. The business was â€Å"an idle Mispence of Time,† Adams remarked sourly, as â€Å"nothing was said, but what had been repeated and hackneyed in that Room a hundred Times for Six Months past† (American History pg.223). After the Congress reconvened the next morning, July 2, the delegates cast their momentous votes. Twelve states- the colonies would become states with the vote- voted for independence. Not one voted against the break with Britain. New York’s delegation, which had not yet been authorized by the New York legislature to separate from the mother country, did not vote. Adams predicted that July 2 would ever after â€Å"be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other forward forever more†(After the Fact pg. 78). He was wrong, of course, for July 4, the date that Congress approved the formal Declaration of Independence, would become the commemorative day. Although we celebrate July 4 as the official Independence Day it was not until at least August that all of the members signed the document. So why is it that most Americans think that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence? If it was a committee of five, what did the others contribute? Surely they had to contribute something. I think that it is easier to accept the fact that it was written by Jefferson and that everyone agreed with him. We have to remember that people have not changed all that much. We know what happens today when a group of opinionated people get together. How long have we been debating health care? So if it was a group effort or if Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence by himself, it was a remarkable achievement in such a short amount of time. Research Papers on Myths Declaration of IndependenceQuebec and CanadaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeDefinition of Export QuotasAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Twilight of the UAW19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraBringing Democracy to AfricaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPETSTEL analysis of IndiaWhere Wild and West Meet

How the English Days of the Week Got Their Names

How the English Days of the Week Got Their Names English speakers often take for granted the impact other languages have had on our own. The names of the days of the week, for example, owe much to the blend of cultures that influenced England over the yearsSaxon Germany, Norman France, Roman Christianity, and Scandinavian. Wednesday: Wodens Day Woden’s connection to Wednesday draws its name from the one-eyed god  known as Odin. While we associate him with the Norse and Scandinavia, the name Woden itself appeared in Saxon England, and elsewhere as Voden, Wotan (his old German moniker), and other variations, all across the continent. His image hanging from a tree with a single eye is reflected in many modern day religions.   Thursday Is Thors Day The mighty Thunder God was respected as Thunor among our ancestor culture in England, and his own influence as both the principal deity of Iceland and the international movie-star in Marvel movies  sits well alongside his more mysterious father. Friday: Freyr or Frigg? Friday can get tricky, as one can draw fertility god Freyr from the name, but also Frigg, Odin’s wife and goddess of hearth and home. Our common connotation shows Friday as a day of reaping (our paychecks) or returning home (for the weekend) so both could feasibly be the origins. A mythological mind might point to Frigg, our ancient mother, calling us home and giving us a family dinner. Saturn-Day Saturday pays homage to Saturn, that old force that appears in Rome, Greece.  Many might associate the name with pagan rites like â€Å"Saturnalia† or solstice festivals, which were (and still are) incredibly popular in both Northern and Western Europe. Old father time rests on this day, which conventionally ends the week in both the US and the Middle East, as a day of rest. Sunday: Rebirth as the Sun Returns Sunday is just that, a day celebrating the sun and the rebirth of our week. Many Christian sects point to this as the day of ascension when the Son rose and went back to heaven, bringing with him the light of the world. Solar deities beyond the Son of God stretch back universally, found all over the world in every single culture there is, was, and will be. It’s fitting that it should have a day all its own. Monday: Moon Day Likewise, Monday pays homage to the moon, the principal body of night. Monday has a good deal in common with the German name Montag, which translates as day of the moon. While Quaker heritage in the US calls it the second day, it is also the first day of the work week in Western culture, assuming that the first day is ascension on Sunday. In Arab and Middle Eastern cultures, Monday is also the second day of the week, which ends on Sabbath Day Saturday and starts again the day after, likely due to the shared Abrahamic religion, Islam. Tuesday Honors the God of War   We end this trip on Tuesday. In old German, Tiw was the god of war, sharing similarities with Roman Mars, from which the Spanish name Martes is derived. The Latin word for Tuesday is  Martis dies, Marss Day.  But another origin points to the Scandinavian God Tyr, who was also a god of war and honorable combat.

Rural Poverty and Microcredit in Third World Economies Essay

Rural Poverty and Microcredit in Third World Economies - Essay Example The traditional obsession with macro policies implemented at the state level has at most been disastrous. This, coupled with the inefficient delivery of aid to the poor nations, has only increased corruption, high and persistent inflation and unemployment, political repression and burdensome external and public sector debts (Woller and Wordworth 269) . This paper is divided into two parts. Part one looks at the latest strategy, microcredit, floated as a possible solution to ending rural poverty in Third World countries. Microcredit embodies the specific recognition that the lack of access to credit can be a limiting factor for significant numbers of the economically active poor. The second part seeks out a way through which the West can deliver aid effectively, efficiently and accountable to help combat rural poverty. The origins of microcredit Since the end of World War II few countries have moved from underdeveloped to developed status with the exception of the Asian tiger economi es. Though the reasons for this remain numerous and complex, Woller and Wordworth (268) attribute a large portion of the blame to widespread macro development policy failure. In the past it was believed that the best way to tackle poverty is through top-down, state-led development policies modeled on the experience of the Western industrial nations. These policies favored large-scale industrialization and concentration of economic power on elite groups. To make matters worse the international aid community reinforced the ills of these policies by pouring billions of dollars into numerous, and often dubious, large-scale state development projects (Woller and Wordsworth 268). Worse still, from the late 1960s, a rural alternative to the state-led modernization drive called the Green Revolution was initiated. The Green Revolution essentially forced Western agricultural practices on indigenous Third World peasant farmers, with many small family plots being expropriated by central gover nments and leased out to huge multinationals in the Europe and America. The end result of all these policies was uneven industrialization, high and persistent inflation and unemployment, endemic corruption, political repression and burdensome external and public sector debts (Woller and Wordsworth 269). In recent years economic growth has picked up creating a new sense of optimism for the Third World. However, even in a best-case scenario, it would be foolish to expect poverty eradication in these countries in the next few years. Woller and Wordsworth (270) are convinced that in the absence of policies that provide economic opportunities for the poor, macro development policies will continue to bypass the poor. What the Less Developed Countries (LDCs) need are small, concrete efforts that emanate from the grass-roots. The microcredit movement is part of this new paradigm that has emerged from the underground economy of the poor. The microcredit rationale Microcredit is defined as programs that extend small loans to poor people for self-employment projects that generate income (Woller and Wordsworth 267). With limited employment opportunities, in both rural and urban areas, millions of poor people in LDCs must earn their living through self-employment in the informal economy. This involves engaging in activities such as hawking, bicycle and/or rickshaw transportation, collecting scrap and running small shops. However, even these self-employment opportunities require capital for starting up, running or expansion.

Geo Thermal Energy - Extra Credit Assignment Essay

Geo Thermal Energy - Extra Credit Assignment - Essay Example First of all more and more people are moving into the cities all around the world. This urban movement is bringing more and more people to the mechanized life. Moreover governments all around the world are introducing new technologies to less developed areas of their countries. These factors would increase the demand of energy many times over. The people living in village have a very low demand when it comes to energy. The mostly do all their work by hand or animal. Their basic energy demands are fulfilled by burning firewood etc. By bring these people into cities or by taking technology to them the demand of energy would be increased as their life styles would be totally changes. Moreover the entire human race is becoming more technology dependent day by day. There was once a time when cars were considered to a luxury. Today however keeping a car has become a necessity. This shows how the number cars over the years have dramatically increased. Moreover the technology is becoming cheaper day by day. Therefore more and more people can afford to buy and use it, thus increasing the demand for energy. The sources of energy on the other hand are totally limited. The main energy source currently being used by the world is fossil fuel. These fuels are expected to run out in a few decades. Therefore the discovery of alternative sources of energy is not a luxury but a necessity. Moreover non renewable resources create a lot of population which is very dangerous for the atmosphere. A solution to world energy problems is geothermal energy. Geothermal as the word implies means the energy of the earth. There are many different sources of geothermal energy. The most common and powerful sources is using the energy stored up under the earth’s surface. The energy form radioactive decay of minerals and sun’s energy absorbed on the earth’s surface is also used as geothermal energy. Currently 10715 megawatts of geothermal power is being generated in almost

How Gender Roles Changed in the United States Over the Last Century Essay

How Gender Roles Changed in the United States Over the Last Century - Essay Example How Gender Roles Changed in the United States Over the Last Century In America, there have been drastic changes regarding the gender roles, notably in the last century. Such changes in the gender roles have affected the American society all round, starting from homes, schools, workplaces and even the government. Most of these changes have seen the female gender become more and more empowered and greatly involved in all issues of the society, which were previously reserved for men. Consequently, the gender constitution of workplaces and schools has changed, having more of the female gender being incorporated in areas that were previously dominated by the male gender only. While such changes have been welcome by many in the society, there did not lack some quarters from which resistance was experienced. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the resistance, the change in gender roles in the American society has occurred anyway. Then right to vote is one such change in gender roles that has occurred in the American society, in the last century. Previously, starting from the colonial times, women were not allowed to vote. However, this changed in 1920, with the 19th amendment to the US constitution, which allowed all genders to be involved in voting, without any discrimination, based on their sexes. This right was fought for by women parties and associations such as the Women suffrage and the National Women party, which sought to have women allowed to vote. The fight for the right to vote was speed up by the World War I, which was referred to, as the war for democracy. After the war ended, women undertook several protests to have them indulged in voting. Although, their protests were ignored for duration of six months, consistency in agitating and protesting eventually made the government agree to consider their grievances (David, 113). Eventually, the government agreed on the 19th amendment, which allowed wo men to be involved in voting, for all elective posts, both in the government and other organizations. This has acted as a major step towards enhancing equality for all genders, in matters to do with decision making, as earlier, only the male gender would be involved in such decision making, thus instilling their will on the female gender (Bailey, 36). The right to vote has allowed women not only vote for the members of the male gender, but also the female as well. This has allowed them get involved and represented in all spheres such as political, religious, social, and economic. Another major change in the gender roles is the roles played by women in the workplace currently, compared to the past centuries. There has been a great increase in the number of women at the workplace, who accounts for 47% of the entire American workforce currently (David, 65). By the year 1995, the percentage of women who were working away from their homes had increased to a tune of 76%. By the start of t he 20th century, women were not expected to be working and as such were meant to remain at home and undertake the domestic duties such as caring for children and performing other domestic chores such as cooking and washing. However, with increased access for education by the female gender, their

Personal and professional development plan Assignment

Personal and professional development plan - Assignment Example I am a Bachelor’s Degree Holder (Mathematics & Economics) having graduated from National University of Odeassa I.I Mechnikov in Ukraine. I am also continuing in my second Degree in International Business, as a Third Year student at London School of Business and Finance in United Kingdom. Away from this pack of knowledge, my competence in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point, and Internet have ignited my reliability to undertake any initiative accorded to me in any field of work. My oratory skills are a match of class for my excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working in a multicultural group for I am conversant and proficient in English, Ukrainian, and Russian languages (Beers, S. 2007:78). This empowers my ability to lead successfully a team of competent people to accomplish objectives and the commitment to deliver the results and achieving the goals within stipulated deadlines. My scaling initiatives have earned my trust from colleagues, superiors, and customer s due to positive attitude, integrity, politeness, and compatibility. In these avenues, I have extended an outstanding decision -making skills to solve any emergency problem in a diplomatic manner and in the interest of the entire organization. Key lessons learned from education and training (last 2 years) My education and training have not come with futility as my work experiences have earned me a lesson. For example, as a sales Executive in a show room in Ukraine, these skills were instrumental in achieving higher sales for the showroom due to superior presentation and customer relations skills. The virtue of responsibility has also helped a lot for I performed the assigned duties, such as maintaining inventory, loading and unloading of merchandise, and ensuring customer satisfaction, which assisted in the development of organizational and time management skills. I belief my versatility, not only in holding a valid Driver’s License, my dancing skills of five years have gain ed my far reaching accolades and appreciation. It is this appreciation and ability to have the niche and affinity for clients that drew admiration from my former manager for boosting sales during special occasions. Having people friendly attitude has really defined my professionalism and remains as a virtue to hold for long. Current situation My public relations and business acumen strengthened by my ongoing and never-ending attitude I have for serving, makes me proud and can declare that I have personal and professional strengths. However, as much as I would want to walk the tightrope of professionalism head on, I am aware of the hurdles I would face and the challenges. Overcoming all these situations successfully as they unfold is what shall define me as a valuable resource. To be a well-baked individual in my current situation, I have learnt that the faster I would learn to embrace consistency, practice, patience, tolerance, and professional assets the best would work out for me. I also have to a bolster up my personal and professional strengths and weaknesses to help me eventually develop an action plan for continuing personal and professional development. As a Cabin Crew Member, I know I am a mandate to be at my best if this chance swings to my side. Personal and profes

DBMS I - The Role of Database Administrators Research Paper

DBMS I - The Role of Database Administrators - Research Paper Example Additionally, a database administrator (DBA) is an information technology (IT) expert whose particular task is to design and manage database systems and put into practice efficient ways to organize and store data. In a lot of circumstances, database administrators have to shift data from out-dated systems into new systems (DegreeFinders.com, 2011; TechTarget, 1999). In addition, the database administrator is frequently available and required to work when required. This situation carries a huge accountability. Additionally, a DBA is responsible for protecting the database for example he implements the business internet access inside the corporate. In this scenario, he needs to implement policies and security measures that no one could be able to access an illegal website at the workplace such as Facebook. Moreover, every database has one or more administrators who are accountable for upholding the entire characteristics of the security strategy. However, if the business database system is not large in size, the database administrator can also perform the tasks of the security manager. Though, if the database system is huge, a particular person or group of people can have tasks partial to those of a security administrator (Vennapoosa, 2005; Alapati, 2005; Newcombe,

Variance analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Variance analysis - Essay Example The overall costumers’ performance in 2008 was better. In fact, it was also exceeded the anticipated average customers’ spending by $1,520.Nontheless, there was a variation in the individual customer’s spending. The company’s top 20 customers are include: Webber Rob ,Chandler Laverne, Locke Lanny, O Malley Grace, Antekier Gigi, Chubin Spencer, Harmon Majorie, Stuart Nathan, Galaviz Aldon, Sample Lorrie, Badillo Murrel, Sheppard Caroline, Shenton Bartley, Felt Dominic, Lockard Roz, Fain Mina, Waterworth Vera, Abrahamson Gaige , Britton Alisa, and Spencer Jude. On the other hand, the worst 20 customers include: Chivalan Rebecca, Cobb Petr, Dahlbeck Augie, Fowble Pat, Furst Gardner, Holzer Tracey, Hull Lorvel, Robinson Alpha, Talman Holly, Wayne Dayle, Allbritton Tad, Grenier Elsa, Hendricks Audrey, Innes Gilbert, Ledford Wendel, Stephens Sylvain, Yadon Kate, Daniels Kethy, Jackson Sophia, and Wilkins Rom. With reference to product performance, the company’s products recorded astounding performance, better than the expected. In this regards, the average sales were $ 1,795,664.76. in terms of individual product performance, the top 20 best selling products are: Electronics Sony, Electronics RCA, Electronics Sharp, Movies Matthew Broderick, Electronics Panasonic, Electronics Hewlett Packard, Movies Eddie Murphy, Movies, Liam Neeson, Movies Jack Nicholson, Electronics GPX, Movies Tom Hanks, Electronics New Media, Movies Richard Bradley, Music Alison Krauss, Books Geneen Roth, Music Blackhawk, Music Live, Music Aaron Tippin, and Electronics 3Com. On the contrary, the bottom 20 products in terms of sales are: Books Mark Wilson, Books Young, Music Sound Effects, Movies David Barton, Books Doug Hall, Books Jonathan Baird, Books David Miles Huber, Movies Robert Powell, Books Edward R. Tufte, Movies Billy Blanks, Music Doo Wop Box, Music Various Artists , Books Andy Rooney ,Books Stephen Sacks, Music

DBMS I - The Role of Database Administrators Research Paper

DBMS I - The Role of Database Administrators - Research Paper Example Additionally, a database administrator (DBA) is an information technology (IT) expert whose particular task is to design and manage database systems and put into practice efficient ways to organize and store data. In a lot of circumstances, database administrators have to shift data from out-dated systems into new systems (DegreeFinders.com, 2011; TechTarget, 1999). In addition, the database administrator is frequently available and required to work when required. This situation carries a huge accountability. Additionally, a DBA is responsible for protecting the database for example he implements the business internet access inside the corporate. In this scenario, he needs to implement policies and security measures that no one could be able to access an illegal website at the workplace such as Facebook. Moreover, every database has one or more administrators who are accountable for upholding the entire characteristics of the security strategy. However, if the business database system is not large in size, the database administrator can also perform the tasks of the security manager. Though, if the database system is huge, a particular person or group of people can have tasks partial to those of a security administrator (Vennapoosa, 2005; Alapati, 2005; Newcombe,

Motivating Employees and Team building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Motivating Employees and Team building - Essay Example Motivation is something abstract and the difficulties arise when one tries to explain its meaning and application. A wide variety of assumptions have been made on motivation by observing the resultant behaviour of motivation. Based on these assumptions and research findings, motivation has been defined in a number of ways. Vroom defines motivation as a process, which governs choices made by persons or lower organisms among alternative forms of voluntary activity. (Vroom, 1964 as cited in Putti) Motivations are the act of inducing an individual to follow a desired course of action. The desired course of action may be for the good of the individual or for the one who is inducing the individual towards a desired course of action or both. Zedeck and blood contend that motivation is a predisposition to act in a specific goal-directed way. (Sedeck & Blood, 1974 as cited in Putti) Atchison further defines Motivation as the immediate influence on the direction, vigor, and persistence of beha viour. (Atchison, 1964 as cited in Putti) on the other hand Gellerman defines motivation as steering one's actions towards certain goals and committing a certain part of one's energies to reach them. (Gellerman, 1963 as cited in Putti) In the view of Shartle, motivation is "a reported urge or tension to move in a given direction or to achieve a certain goal. (Shartle, 1956 as cited in Putti) Hence, Motivation can make the employees get all the targets settled by the Organisations. There are several ways by which employees can be motivated the most important is to address the needs of the employees. Just as the definition of basic human needs is a highly complex task, it naturally follows that there are no easy assumptions concerning what employees really want from the organisation. In various surveys, the following are some of the more typically specified wants. The first and the foremost important are pay. This want helps in satisfying physiological, security, and egoistic needs. The design of a monetary compensation system is exceedingly complex since it serves to satisfy multiple needs and cannot alone motivate the whole person. After the payment needs Security of job is another important motivating factor. Because of threats from technological change, this want is high on the list or priorities for many employees and labour unions. The underlying need of general security is also high on the list of priorities in the suggested need hierarchy of Maslow. However management can aid the process by carefully planned and executed induction programs, provision of means to socialise through rest periods and recreational programs, and promoting the formation of work teams through proper work-station layouts and human-related work procedures. With all the above, the provision of credit for work done is also an important motivator. This want issues from the egoistic classification of needs and can be supplied by management through verbal praise of excellent work, monetary rewards for suggestions, and public recognition through awards. Releases in employee's newspapers, and the like. Also, Job enrichment issues from both the need for recognition and the drive toward self-realisation and achievement is an important

Motivation and the Brain - Eating Healthy Essay Example for Free

Motivation and the Brain Eating Healthy Essay Eating right is essential for positive motivation and clear thinking. The brain, specifically the hypothalamus, along with the cerebral hemisphere works closely with physiological stimulation. This includes all five of our senses, specifically speaking, taste. Explaining the brain function associated with eating, I will discuss the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic factors, which will include heredity and involving the environment. In addition I will discuss the motivation need to succeed in eating healthy. The main function of the hypothalamus is homeostasis, or maintaining the bodys state in which it works. Factors such as blood pressure, body temperature, fluid and electrolyte balance, and body weight are held to a precise value called the set-point. The Hypothalamus organizes and controls many complex emotions, feelings and moods, as well as all motivational states including hunger, appetite and food intake, and everything to do with the concept of pleasure including satisfaction, comfort and creative activities (Incredible Horizons, 2009). It appears that almost everything the Hypothalamus does is related in some way to weight management and controlled weight loss. When the Hypothalamus is not working properly, food becomes more important, but increasingly more unfulfilling. We end up never feeling satisfied with the foods which we have eaten, gradually eating more and more to try to compensate for whatever is lacking. From a metabolism point of view, the Hypothalamus not only governs the motivation to eat, but most importantly how eating is to be experienced, if it is satisfying or not, and how deep the satisfaction occurs. This gives an idea just how important a healthy hypothalamic function really is (Incredible Horizons, 2009). Understanding how the hypothalamus works and keeping it healthy could be an extrinsic motivational factor to eat healthy. Being educated on how food affects the brain but also the body as a whole would be an example of extrinsic motivation. However, it is how we learn to eat, hereditarily speaking that gives us the tools to start out eating healthy from a young age or not. Lifelong food preference tends to start to develop while a baby is still in the mother’s womb. The strongest pattern for future food preferences is formed during the age of 9 to 19 months of age (Vera, 2009). At this time, everything connected with food intake leaves a strong imprint on the child’s brain. Also, the baby is tasting everything with his or her mouth; toys, shoes, body parts, etc. Concurrently, the child is memorizing the experiences of his mother and fathers eating habits; what they are eating, what they are feeding the baby, their emotional reaction to the baby’s consumption of these foods all while the unsuspecting parents believe that the child does not comprehend much of what is going on. The reality is the child is forming food habits for a lifetime. Whatever the first tastes, textures, smells an sights of food are, that child will crave them for the rest of his or her life, especially in moments of distress. Because of this, it would appear that comfort food is not too far from the truth. This was often a time in a child’s life when their mom or dad focused much love and caring on them and purely through association finds its way into our adult lives when we feel emotionally distressed or needing comfort. Human behavior patterns forming in childhood are crucially important for parents to pay close attention to the eating habits they are helping their children form (Vera, 2009). Promoting healthy eating habits with special care introducing fresh fruits and vegetables to their children as much as possible; in addition, parents must keep this promotion up otherwise children will fall prey to the society’s image of food which is unhealthy; another extrinsic example. In today’s society negative eating habits are advertised in every corner. According to Not Alone website, the top ten lists of popular food most people eat on a regular basis may not appear too alarming: a burger meal, Pizza, Spaghetti, or even a hot dog meal. However, after reviewing the nutritional analysis it should be alarming! For example, a burger meal contains 1300 calories, 34 grams of protein, 189 grams of carbohydrates and 44 grams of fat. This is equivalent to 38 teaspoons of sugar and a half of a stick of butter (McKeith, Ph. D. , 2005). The normal daily calorie intake should be 2,550 for men and 1,940 for women (McKeith, Ph. D. , 2005). Unfortunately the typically daily intake for both men and women are on average 3, 877 calories. Knowing these statistics should lead a person to use internal motivation to recognize the severity of the issue and begin to eat healthy. To conclude, eating right is essential for positive motivation and clear thinking. We have learned the hypothalamus, along with the cerebral hemisphere works closely with physiological stimulation including taste. I’ve explained the brain function associated with eating, discussed the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic factors including heredity and the environment. Lastly, I discussed the motivation need to succeed in eating healthy. References Breck, K. B. (2011). A practical guide to a happy life. Retrieved from http://www. kristenguide. com/Health/Weight_Loss/ways_to_stay_motivated. asp Incredible Horizons. (2009). Hypothalmus Function. Retrieved from http://www. incrediblehorizons. com/balance-Hypo%20function. htm McKeith, Ph. D. , G. (2005). 10 Foods People Eat On a Regular Basis. You Are What You Eat: The Plan that Will Change Your Life. Not Alone. Retrieved from http://www. enotalone. com/article/25017. html NowLoss. (2011). Getting Motivated. Retrieved from http://www. nowloss. com/how-to- get-motivation-to-lose-weight. htm The Life Co. (2009). A new recipe for life!. Retrieved from http://www. thelifeco. com/cok-okunanlar. aspx? id=478 Vera, Dr. (2009). Hereditary Eating Habits. Quantum Evolution. Retrieved from http://www. quantumevolution. comau/hereditary_eating_habits. htm.

Mimic Essay -- Matrix Snow Society Essays

Mimic Throughout history, writers have attempted to mirror reality in their literature. Sometimes, an author may attempt this feat using the tool of realism, trying desperately to replicate the world that surrounds them everyday. They make only subtle changes, perhaps inventing characters, maybe even a location or two. In other stories, the creator will attempt to parallel life using exaggeration and some rather complex warping of reality and time. This method of well placed hyperbole, and inventive worlds could be considered the foundations of movies such as The Matrix and novels such as Snow Crash In many ways, the motion picture and the book resemble our society. In other ways, they demonstrate what we may become, or extremes of what we are. Either way, they are both thought provoking, albeit sometimes frightening glimpses into the darkness of humanity. The future is a desolate place. The United States as we know it has collapsed, shriveling up into little more than a vague notion of th e great nation that once was. From the ashes of this distraught realm has risen a system of countries within a country. Individual neighborhoods have broken down to become their own independent nations. In this wasteland of a society, laws no longer exist. Such absence of authority has allowed the mafia to grow, or rather morph into what would appear to be a legitimate pizza franchise. This is the future as predicted by Neal Stephenson in Snow Crash. On the other hand The Matrix, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, shows an alternate outcome of human existence. With the rise of artificial intelligence, man and machine wage war against each other. The society of men think that without the sun, the machines will not survive. T... ... find our world today more chaotic than we, in the modern world, find the future civilizations portrayed in these modern works of literature. The authors may have intentionally made life more complex in the future, to make it seem as overwhelming to us as our world may seem to someone living a hundred years ago. Throughout time societies have changed greatly, and if all goes well, it will continue to do so. But one thing that has not changed very much is the desire of writers to write what they see. Often writers will take what is around them, and distort it into some sort of setting that is more pleasing to the storyline. But one their characters and situations still mirror the current life. This is true most great literature. Works Cited Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash. New York: Bantam Dell, 1992. Wachowski, Larry & Andy. The Matrix. DVD. Warner B Mimic Essay -- Matrix Snow Society Essays Mimic Throughout history, writers have attempted to mirror reality in their literature. Sometimes, an author may attempt this feat using the tool of realism, trying desperately to replicate the world that surrounds them everyday. They make only subtle changes, perhaps inventing characters, maybe even a location or two. In other stories, the creator will attempt to parallel life using exaggeration and some rather complex warping of reality and time. This method of well placed hyperbole, and inventive worlds could be considered the foundations of movies such as The Matrix and novels such as Snow Crash In many ways, the motion picture and the book resemble our society. In other ways, they demonstrate what we may become, or extremes of what we are. Either way, they are both thought provoking, albeit sometimes frightening glimpses into the darkness of humanity. The future is a desolate place. The United States as we know it has collapsed, shriveling up into little more than a vague notion of th e great nation that once was. From the ashes of this distraught realm has risen a system of countries within a country. Individual neighborhoods have broken down to become their own independent nations. In this wasteland of a society, laws no longer exist. Such absence of authority has allowed the mafia to grow, or rather morph into what would appear to be a legitimate pizza franchise. This is the future as predicted by Neal Stephenson in Snow Crash. On the other hand The Matrix, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers, shows an alternate outcome of human existence. With the rise of artificial intelligence, man and machine wage war against each other. The society of men think that without the sun, the machines will not survive. T... ... find our world today more chaotic than we, in the modern world, find the future civilizations portrayed in these modern works of literature. The authors may have intentionally made life more complex in the future, to make it seem as overwhelming to us as our world may seem to someone living a hundred years ago. Throughout time societies have changed greatly, and if all goes well, it will continue to do so. But one thing that has not changed very much is the desire of writers to write what they see. Often writers will take what is around them, and distort it into some sort of setting that is more pleasing to the storyline. But one their characters and situations still mirror the current life. This is true most great literature. Works Cited Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash. New York: Bantam Dell, 1992. Wachowski, Larry & Andy. The Matrix. DVD. Warner B

The New Beetle Case Study Essay -- essays research papers

1.) What made the â€Å"Drivers Wanted† campaign so successful? What did the campaign try to motivate the consumer to do? What measures prove that the campaign was successful? What did it do to the consumer’s perception of the brand? Looking back, Volkswagen’s decision to switch advertising agencies—from DDB Needham to Arnold Communications (AC)—was a critical step in the company’s comeback bid. After all, AC was the one who came up with the â€Å"Drivers Wanted† campaign. As stated in the case study, after AC won the Volkswagen account, they did some in-depth research on consumer and dealer perceptions of Volkswagen. They discovered that—Volkswagen consumers are younger, slightly more affluent, and more educated than the average car purchaser; Volkswagen owners are creative/confident/adventurous individuals who enjoy a more active role in driving; and Volkswagen was perceived as its namesake, the â€Å"people’s car.† Other important information was also taken into consideration, including—the rational benefit of Volkswagen was that it was the only brand that offered German engineering at an affordable price. The emotional benefit of Volkswagen was that it represented a different way of driving (more connected to the road) and living (more connected to the world). With this information, AC began to craft an ad campaign that played to these strengths (consumer influences). The â€Å"Drivers Wanted† campaign was success ful because its message—which was based on AC’s in-depth research—clearly ta...

Academic Summary Essay

In the article, How unethical are you? , Banaji et al. (2003) investigate four factors that result in unethical decision taken by managers: Implicit forms of prejudice, bias that favours one’s own group, a tendency to over claim credit, and conflict of interest. The authors believe that the implicit prejudice is an unconscious judgment which originates from unintentional tendency to create relationships in the past. The implicit bias brings about social and economic effects which may eliminate capable people from doing the right job. Another reason is a tendency that benefits members of a group. This happens when those in minority are treated differently and less supported by the larger group only because they are a small group. Unaware exaggeration of their own talents is another influencing factor in which individuals rate themselves highly competent and exaggerate one’s own cooperation in the group. Wide ranging opinions is the next factor stated by the authors which can also distort coming to a fair decision. See more: Homeless satire essay A bias in which there is tendency toward people with the same or similar idea causes disagreements and lead to unintentional immoral attitudes. Banaji et. al claim that by putting the conscious mind into use and paying more careful attention, managers would be able to confine the power of their conscious mind. They propose collecting data, shaping the environment, and broadening the decision making as the three main solutions to formulate conscious techniques. Banaji et. al point out that one way to decrease unintentional tendency is gathering information and making organized decisions. Moreover, they believe that implicit tendencies can be created by key signs in the environment. In order to reshape the existing bias, the person can put himself in an opposite situation in which the typical bias is being doubted. Expanding decision-making is another solution proposed by the authors which is achieved by disregarding your own identity when making decisions that may benefit specific groups of people more than others. Finally the authors state that managers who believe that they are unbiased must question the hypothesis that they are objective.

Pride and Prejudice †review Essay

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 to the Reverend George Austen and his wife in Hampshire, England. The sixth child out of the seven, Jane was educated mostly at her home although she and her sister, Cassandra, were sent away to school for several years when they were young. Austen wrote several novels when she was in her teens, but her major works were written later on in her life. ‘Pride and Prejudice’, was first published in 1813. Austen began writing the novel in 1796 at the age of twenty-one. The first title was originally called ‘First Impressions’. Between 1810 and 1812 ‘Pride and Prejudice’ was rewritten for publication. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is usually considered to be the most popular of Austen’s novels. This novel is mainly about people expressing both pride and prejudice in their relationships. The main theme of the novel is marriage, which reoccurs throughout the story and it is marriage which attracted Lydia to run off with Mr Wickham. There is pressure on women of these times to marry properly this is because the women need to get financial safety, not for just themselves, but also for their families too. In this novel the most important cause of marriage for a woman were financially and a high social position. The first line of the novel justifies this and explains what the novel is about. â€Å"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife† (Chapter 1) This is a wonderful introductory line written by Jane Austen to introduce and outline much of this romantic novel. There are various reactions of Lydia going to Brighton by the Bennet family as they all have their own response and thoughts. Mr. Bennet is the husband of Mrs. Bennet and the father of Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. He is the master of Longbourn. He has a sarcastic humor intelligent and believes his two eldest daughters sensible, while he finds his wife and younger daughters silly. He does wants to be bothered as little as possible by his family. Even when Elizabeth warns him not to allow Lydia to go to Brighton, he does not listen to her because he does not want to be bothered with Lydia’s complaints. Mrs. Bennet is a different person does not really care about her daughter’s education. From the beginning of the novel her only obsession is to marry off her daughters to wealthy men, as she has a greed for wealth. Her only joys come from visiting others and gossip. She is a self-centered person and causes humiliation to the family due to her inappropriate behavior. Elizabeth Bennet is the second oldest of five sisters. Elizabeth is lively, smart, and intelligent. Her father and herself are not too different in their characteristics therefore she has a good relationship with her father and makes decisions wisely due to her intelligence. She is not scared to express her feelings and gets along with people very well except those who think they are far more superior to her, for example Darcy in the beginning but later on through the novel Elizabeth discovers Darcy to be a fine gentleman. Jane Bennet is the eldest Bennet daughter and is considered quite pretty by all has a good relationship with Elizabeth. She is Beautiful, friendly, sweet, sociable, humble and noble. Jane never thinks badly of anybody. Kitty Bennet is the third daughter in the family, and she is more under the influence of Lydia, Kitty follows what ever Lydia does. She effect by Lydia going off to Brighton. Mary Bennet The third oldest of the Bennet sisters, she is the most modest of the five daughters .She dislikes going out into the public, and uses her time studying instead. Lydia Bennet The youngest of the Bennet sisters, she is a self-centered girl who is the flirting kind. However she is the liveliest out of all the sisters. She is the first to get married despite her being a young teenager. She also has similar characteristics to her mother. She doesn’t really care about her family members after her marriage. The various reactions of Lydia going to Brighton are mainly negative. This is due to Lydia’s ridiculous thinking. She’s an extremely self-absorbed teenager. She has a great interest in men and particularly officers. She begins flirting with them once they have settled in the town and also admires and enjoys their presence, and exposes this in freely, in view of the fact that she has no shame. Due to her selfishness Lydia commits foolish acts which affect her and her reputation and mostly has an effect on her family. She shows a negative impression of her family by eloping with Mr Wickham mainly because she also has another four sisters who are keen to get married and their chances of doing so have diminished. She does what she likes without thinking of the consequences to come. It is like she is in a world of her own and doesn’t realise the bad reputation her family is developing because of her immature behaviour. Lydia is invited be her friend to Brighton by Mrs. Forster. Mrs. Bennet is extremely excited and pleased for Lydia’s trip to Brighton and wished all the best for her. â€Å"Mrs Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity of her daughter and impressive in her injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity of enjoying herself as much as possible† (Chapter 41) Mrs. Bennet was totally trusting Lydia to go Brighton and thought she was old and mature to take care of her self, awareness to what the entire family is going to face shortly and how it will effect her sister’s chances of marriage. Lydia begins celebrating she is thrilled, perhaps because of the reason that she will be with the presence of the regiment. â€Å"Lydia Flew about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone’s congratulations, and laughing and talking†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chapter 41) She showed this excitement by roaming the house in happiness. She was awareness about her sister Kitty’s feelings and how degraded she feels, lonely and neglected. Kitty doesn’t understand why Mrs. Forster doesn’t ask her to come to Brighton too. â€Å"I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask me as well as Lydia† (Chapter 41) Kitty as mentioned before follows Lydia in what ever she does and feels as though that she should be going as well due to her close relationship with Lydia. She becomes extremely upset, expressive and is envious towards Lydia. â€Å"The separation between her and her family was rather noisy and pathetic. Kitty was the only one who shed tears but she did weep from vexation and envy.† (Chapter 41) Kitty was mostly envious towards Lydia because of her trip to Brighton she was jealous and she wanted to go as much as her sister wanted to go. . She is saddened by the fact that Mrs. Forster requests Lydia to go and not her and can’t do anything about it. â€Å"Though I am not her particular friend. I have just as much right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years older.† (Chapter 41) Kitty cannot accept the fact that she will not be going and exposes her frustration. Kitty gradually becomes resentful of Lydia’s attention. Lydia is unaware of Kitty because of her self-centeredness. Lydia and Kitty are very similar to one another when talking about their characteristics due to this, if Kitty would have gone she would have copied Lydia’s interest of men, and may have also began flirting just like her sister, and soon enough eloping with an officer and getting married just like Lydia. So by Kitty not going she may perhaps have been saved by the hazard she may have faced if she were to go. However, Elizabeth as the second oldest, was entirely aware of the situation and Lydia’s potential and capability, and is worried of what may occur if Lydia does go to Brighton. Mr. Bennet is a person who doesn’t not want to be bothered by his families problems so as a result he does not think about the damage Lydia may cause if she goes. Mr. Bennet just wants quiet and peace; by letting Lydia go perhaps he has the impression that there will be less botheration from his family. As mentioned before, Elizabeth has the same distinctiveness as her father and realizes that Lydia is not mature enough to go to Brighton so she tries and convince her father to think twice. â€Å"If you were aware.† said Elizabeth, â€Å"of the very great disadvantage to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner; nay, which has already arisen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair.† (Chapter 41) Elizabeth is worried about Lydia going to Brighton and is trying her best to change her fathers mind and trying to stop her father giving Lydia permission to go. She also thinks that Kitty may be affected by this and points this out. â€Å"In this danger Kitty is also comprehended. She will follow wherever Lydia leads. Vain, ignorant, idle, and absolutely uncontrolled! â€Å" (Chapter 41) Kitty follows Lydia in everything she does and Elizabeth realises this and is concerned, and mentions it. Elizabeth also expresses her frustration also by telling her father how the rest of the family can also be affected. Mr. Bennet is well aware of Lydia and her capabilities and her attitude towards men, especially officers, but simply doesn’t care and wants her to leave for the good of the town and possibly the family, as he mentions this to Elizabeth. â€Å"We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton.† (Chapter 41) This quotation shows us that Mr. Bennet has no concern about his daughters and can’t be bothered. He fails to complete his duties as a proper father to the family. It may have been because of him not listening to Elizabeth that the bad reputation that Lydia soon gives to the family. This may have happened because of his immature behavior as a father. Despite the argument between Elizabeth and her father, Lydia is still sent to Brighton. After sometime the situation in Longbourn improves and Kitty overcomes her emotions. Later Elizabeth begins to have feelings for Darcy and is quite thrilled when she hears that she is going to meet him while on a trip with her aunty Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth arrives at Pemberley where Mr. Darcy was also. Her relationship with Darcy was improving on a regularly for the duration of her stay. She discovered what type of man Darcy actually is. She also gets to meet Georgiana Darcy the sister of Darcy. She is found very pleasant and charming to Elizabeth by surprise. While Elizabeth was on her trip she receives letters, one of them stating that Lydia had eloped with Mr. Wickham, she was shaken by the message and totally astonished that her sister had done such a thing. The emotions Elizabeth was going through made her burst in tears. â€Å"She burst into tears as she alluded to it and for a few minutes could not speak another word, (Chapter 46) Elizabeth is obviously in disbelief and in shock. She is worries about Lydia and the reputation and shame she have bought on the family, she must be also worried about her father feeling because it was his idea to allow Lydia to go in the first place. â€Å"Lydia-the humiliation, the misery, she was bringing on them all, soon swallowed up every private care. (Chapter 46) Jane expresses her devastation and requests that Elizabeth to return as soon as possible since there is disorder and astonishment from this shameless act by Lydia. The whole family regrets sending Lydia to Brighton. M r. Bennet is going through an immensely tense emotional situation. Mr Bennet on the other hand, handles the case with ease and isn’t extremely stressed compared to the rest of the family is. Kitty was told about the news and was not surprised at all, as if she was expecting it from her sister. â€Å"To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected.† (Chapter 47) Jane points out this in her letter. Kitty already has negative feelings about this matter and wasn’t really surprised. Elizabeth is totally overwhelmed by sad emotions mostly due to her absence and her concern for Lydia. Mr Darcy becomes aware of this situation and decides to think of a solution to the problem, as he is trying to build up a relationship with Lydia, this could be the chance to show he cares about her and her family and can feel the pain she is going through whilst thinking about the awful reputation that her family will have to face later on. The Bennets were completely disgraced by this and were mocked and looked bad upon by the community. However, there was still a way for the family to get rid of the reputation, which the family desperately hoped for that to happen was for Wickham to marry Lydia, as that was vital for a better future for the family, especially the sisters as they still have to get married. Mr Darcy shortly takes action and meets Wickham, and completes Wickham’s demands by paying off all his debts off which then soon encouraged Wickham to decide on marring Lydia. While everyone was miserable and disgusted by Lydia’s untrustworthiness and selfishness they were quite soon relieved, after hearing that Wickham was due to marry Lydia. Darcy’s attendance was very important in this and he also deserves an immense amount of praise for doing the right thing and sort out the problem in which Elizabeth was going through. . The matter is soon solved and Lydia is back together along with her family. She feel proud that she is the first out of the five daughters to get married and her parents are very proud too especially their mother as she was excited for her daughters marriages. Conclusion â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† is a book in which we can be taught that having pride and arrogance is not liked to have in your individuality as a person. It destroys your status inside a community an example of this from the book is Mr Darcy, who in due course shows his true qualities and changes from a disliked person to well-liked Lydia is a cheerful young lady after her wedding which Mr. Darcy showed by returning the Bennet’s family reputation the right way by speaking and encouraging his friend Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia as soon as possible On the other hand, her other sister Elizabeth finds herself a man who can become a great husband for her. Mr Darcy establishes this constantly because of his support to Elizabeth and his . Mr and Mrs Bennet, Jane, Kitty and Mary are all happy for Lydia after the family come together after her marriage ceremony. . The elopement of a woman with a man was very common at that time. As we can see from Mrs Bennet’s reaction it is a painful experience upon the mother as well as the entire family. The whole community changes their sight about the Bennet family due to a self-centred person mistake by Lydia. The story also gives us an image of how romance and relationships took place during that time enabling us to compare and contrast it with the present and we can see what sort of relationships went on between the men and women of the 19th century It all shows that how one person and by a mistake can destroy the family and effect everyone else in the family especially the parents.

Financial Issues for Financing SMEs in Pakistan Essay

The small and medium sector enterprises are considered an impetus to economic growth in any country since these enterprises are mostly labour intensive and they tend to boost the employment more than any other sector. The government of Pakistan has identified the SME sector as one of the leading sectors along with agriculture and construction that can generate employment and contribute to overall economic growth. This sector in Pakistan contributes over 30 percent of the gross domestic product, 25 percent in export earnings, and 35 percent in manufacturing value addition. As per industry reports there are approximately 3. 2 million economic establishments across the country of which the SME sector contributes to 90 percent of all private enterprises employing almost 78 percent of the non-agricultural labour force. The sustained growth of this sector in Pakistan is restrained by a number of factors that include shortage of skills, inadequate leadership and management qualities, scarcity of capital goods, lack of structured data on the sector, resistance to change and difficulties in marketing products. But the biggest challenge facing the SME sector in Pakistan is the lack of adequate financing facilities. The limited access to credit has impaired the growth of this sector considerably. The banks are averse to taking risks in extending finance to the small and medium enterprises. The larger corporations face no such difficulty since the financing institutions have minimized risk due to their larger scales of operation and higher credibility in the market. The SME sectors are unable to provide adequate collateral in addition to the lack of adequate technical and managerial know-how that may affect the profitability of the business venture. For the purpose of this study the researcher has identified three prominent areas that influence the credit lending policy of financing institutions to the SME sector in Pakistan. These are political, legal and economic challenges facing the financial institutions. Statement of Objectives The Pakistan economy comprises mainly of the SMEs as suggested by the recent statistics outlined in the previous section. However, the sector suffers from a number of weaknesses that have constrained its development to its full potential. The SME sector does not have adequate access to finance from the formal sectors like large private banking corporations and financial institutions. They have to rely mainly on the credit facilities from the informal sector. The research paper intends to analyse the SME sector in Pakistan with emphasis on its growth over the past few years, the impact of this sector on the overall economic development, and the policy adopted by the government of Pakistan towards the sustainable growth of this sector. It will highlight the role of major financing institutions like International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, and the State Bank of Pakistan to boost the SME sector in the country. The paper will aim to provide answers to discussion objectives raised by study of the financial strategies of the funding institutions – the challenges and risk implications of financing small and medium enterprises. The objectives identified are summarised below: †¢ What are the factors that contribute to the overall financing of businesses in Pakistan? †¢ How does the political and legal environment affect the credit lending policy of the financial institutions in Pakistan? †¢ What strategies and policies are being adopted by the government of Pakistan to combat these issues? The paper proposes to analyse the economic, legal and political environment factors that simulates the lending policy of the financing institutions in Pakistan. The study identifies the lack of proper regulatory environment that restricts the banks’ operations in terms of providing finance to the borrower. The high rate of failures of business enterprises due to slumps in the market; institutional malpractices, political upheavals and damaging acts by the labour unions have presented huge risks for the credit lending institutions. In addition to insufficient and low quality production to meet demands of local and international markets, deficit in balance of payments, and increasing unemployment have increased the risk potential for the SME sector. Research Methodology The research paper will comprehensively review the SME sector in Pakistan highlighting the market statistics, trends and policies affecting the credit availability. The study will focus on the major points tabulated below: †¢ Research on the background of SMEs in Pakistan †¢ Identify the various sources of finance available for the small and medium enterprises †¢ Analyse the political, economic and legal environment factors that influence the industry segment. †¢ Research the implications of these factors on the credit lending policy of the financial institutions. †¢ Analyse the steps taken by the government in the past few years towards meeting these challenges. †¢ Analyse the roles of the financial and regulatory bodies in the growth and development of the SME sector. †¢ Provide recommendations to the SME policy within the scope of the study objectives. The paper will also discuss the SME policy that is being followed by the Government of Pakistan through its regulating body the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA). The SME policy adopted in the past laid over-emphasis on the industrial and manufacturing activities with little focus on the service sectors. The schemes designed for small enterprise development lacked focus and did not address the core issues of enterprise development and employment growth. Political manipulation and interference led to accrual of bad loans for banks and loss of public funds. Overall they contributed little to economic growth and did very little for the employment issues. These were some of the past initiatives that led to a cautious approach by the banks and financial institutions while lending credit to the small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. Recent years have seen a significant swing in the policy of the Pakistan government towards the development and growth of this sector. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority was established to boost the development of SMEs and monitor their interests with an eye to encourage and facilitate the growth of such enterprises. The paper will analyse the role of SMEDA in the past few years, the initiatives taken and the policy changes that made an impact on the SME sector. The research will evaluate the steps taken by this regulatory body to counter the challenges posed by the political, economic and legal environment to the financing of the SME sector. â€Å"The most significant step taken by the Government of Pakistan for the development of SMEs was the establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprise Bank (SME bank) to arrange for speedy financial assistance. † (Kaiser H. Naseem, the president of SME bank in an interview to PAGE). In addition to the setting up of the SME bank, Pakistan witnessed impressive changes in the SME financing sector. Global institutions like International Finance Corporation (IFC) are playing a major role in aiding the SME sector in Pakistan. It is observed by these institutions that the country needs to provide a conducive and enabling environment for SMEs to operate. They require support and assistance in order to achieve their maximum potential. Organisations like SMEDA can play a critical role in business development process, advisory support, and managerial training of SMEs. The commercial banks and financing institutions need to develop dedicated segment for servicing the SMEs. The banking institutions based on Islamic principles are providing interest free financial assistance to this sector. Based on such facts the research will outline the policies and recommendations that will help in structuring the financing of the small and medium enterprises. The research will be based on various journals, Internet articles, and textbooks related to the Small and Medium Enterprise sector in Pakistan. Explanation of Research Design The research will be based on two principal source types – qualitative and quantitative research. Data collection method: Qualitative research comprising of interviews and data gathered from other sources. The research employs data gathered from the SMEs in Pakistan taken from online resources and printed materials in the form of journals, newspaper articles and textbooks. Quantitative research that constitutes of statistical data collected from financial institutions. The study will be based on the statistical data of finance to SME sector in Pakistan collected for the past five years. This data will assist in analysing the financing trends in the recent years and help in projecting growth trends in the sector. Data processing and analysis: The outcome of the research conducted on the subject matter from various sources mentioned above will be written as a descriptive conclusion of the study conducted. The processed statistical data will be presented as graphs and pie charts for better understanding. Validity, reliability and limitations: As the information collected from various journals, newspaper reports and articles reflect the current market trend; the analysis based on the findings will be accurate and reliable. Timetable of research activities: Appendices The study will make use of facts and figures available from the published reports of State Bank of Pakistan, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, SME Bank of Pakistan, SMEDA and other journals released by the government of Pakistan on the subject matter. References: 1. SME led Economic Growth – Creating Jobs and Reducing Poverty, Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan – http://www. smeda. org/downloads/smepolicy2007. pdf – accessed on 2nd March 2008 2. Country overview – Pakistan, International Finance Corporation – http://ifcln001. worldbank. org/ifcext/mena. nsf/Content/Pakistan – accessed on 2nd March 2008 3. SME Sector Development (Program Loan): Pakistan, Asian Development Bank – http://www. adb. org/Documents/PIDs/34327013. asp – accessed on 2nd March 2008 4. Finance and Markets – SME Bank to play pivotal role, An interview with Kaiser H. Naseem, President SME Bank – http://www. pakistaneconomist. com/issue2002/issue5/f&m. htm – accessed on 2nd March 2008 5. SME Financing: Issues and Strategies, Ishrat Hussain – http://www. sbp. org. pk/about/speech/financial_sector/2005/SME_Financing_10_May_05. pdf – accessed on 2nd March 2008 6. SME Policy Development – Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority – http://www. smeda. org/projects/SME-policy-development. html – accessed on 2nd March 2008 7. SME Sector, SME Bank – http://www. smebank. org/SME%20Sector. htm – accessed on 2nd March 2008 8. SME Financing: State Bank of Pakistan – http://www. sbp. org. pk/sme/index. htm – accessed on 2nd March 2008 9. President’s Address to SME Financing and Strategic Conference – http://presidentofpakistan. gov. pk/FilesSpeeches%5CPolicy%5C510200583259PMSME. pdf – accessed on 2nd March 2008 10. Pakistan announced SME policy for higher growth – http://developing8. org/page/news/17/8/2007/pakistan_announced_sme_policy_for_higher_growth – accessed on 2nd March 2008

A Promise to Abraham Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

A Promise to Abraham - Essay Example Then the lord answered Abraham that no one will be his heir apart from the one who will come from the body of Abraham. In addition, God went further and directed Abraham outside at night. Then he told him to count all the stars that he saw above the sky. God told he would bore as many children as those stars in the sky1. Abraham had great believed in God, and he accounted it to him for righteousness. The lord then told him that he was the lord who brought him out of the land of Ur of the Chaldeans, then gave the land that he was dwelling in at that moment to inherit it. Consequently, Abraham wanted to if he would inherit that piece of land2. Following this question posted to the lord, Abraham was ordered to bring with him a heifer, female goat and an old ram all three years in age, turtledove and a young pigeon. Abraham then brought all these to the lord, divided them into two equal parts, and placed each peace opposite the other, but he did not divide the birds into two. In addition , whenever the vultures tried to interfere with the staff Abraham drove them away3. The time was going, and darkness was approaching as the sun was going down. Abraham felt a deep sleep, he was in slumber land, and beheld darkness accompanied by terror felt to Abraham. Then the lord appeared to him and told him that since his off springs would be strangers in a ground that was not theirs, they would serve them and afflict them for four hundred years. This came to succeed the sunsets and it was dark, and instantly came a smoking oven and a combusting torch, which passed against those meet pieces. On this same day, the lord God made a covenant with Abraham and informed him that he had landed his descendants land to dwell in starting from river Egypt to the great river Euphrates of Euphrates. Then Abraham gave thanks to God and headed to his missions4. Analysis of the literary style and the characteristics of the passage Following the first scene (Gen 1-5), the chief is Abraham’ s seed. God seeks to encourage Abraham in his fear by affirming that his reward would be very great (15: 1). Abraham responds by questioning him about the validity of the reward since he is childless. The lord assures Abraham that his ‘’seed will be more numerous than the stars in the heavens (Gen 4-5). He promises Abraham again what he is going to do in the near future, the ‘seed’ promise is as certain as the reliability of God5. Genesis 15:6 breaks the narrative pattern, Mosses affirms that Abraham responded to God’s promise of innumerable seed with faith. Based on Abraham’s faith, the lord reckons him as righteous. He recognizes Abraham as his loyal servant with whom he will enter into covenant. Genesis 15:7-18 recounts God’s making of covenant with Abraham. The stress in this part shifts to land promised by the lord to Abraham. He encourages Abraham with the fact that he had removed him out of Ur to lend him the land of Canaan as hi s heredity. (15:7). Therefore, the inheritance to be given to Abraham’s ‘’seeds’’ refers primarily to the land (15-8). In response to Abraham’s question, God gives assurance by entering into a covenant with him6. The covenant ceremony begins with the familiar pattern of the lord’s command and Abraham’s faithful obedience. The lord commands Abraham to take him certain animals. Abraham obediently comply cutting and laying some of the