The Scarlet Letter Essays (1336 words) - English-language Films

The Scarlet Letter When the topic of a Puritanical society is brought up, most people think of a rigorous, conservative, highly devout society. While this may have usually been the case, this was not always so. The Puritan society was also known not to act out of brotherly, Christian love, but to cruelly lash out on those who sinned or were deemed unfit for society. Two works of literature that display both aspects of this society very accurately are The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. The Scarlet Letter displays a society that treats two people very differently who commit the sin of adultery together. The woman, Hester Prynne, admits her sin, is forced to always wear a scarlet letter A on her bosom, and is ostracized from society. The man, Reverend Dimmesdale, hides his sin from the world, is almost worshipped by the townspeople, but is filled with the shame of his action. Hawthorne illustrates how insensitive a Puritan society can be t! o those who admit their wrong doings. The Crucible is a play that tells the story of the famous witchcraft trial in Salem, Massachusetts. In the story, Abigail Williams, the orphaned niece of the town?s minister, Reverend Parris, is the main person who accuses people of sending their spirits on her and the other girls. What starts as children dancing in the woods leads to the accusation and execution of many innocent people for witchcraft. The two works of literature have very similar qualities, including setting, conflict, and general aspects of the characters, while there are also specific parallels between characters, such as Abigail and Hester, and Parris and Dimmesdale. The settings in both The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible are similar in many ways. The Scarlet Letter takes place around the 1640s, as the The Crucible occurs in 1692. The time period is very important in both pieces, because it is a time of religious intolerance and a conservative attitude pervades in New England, where both works of literature take place. This Puritan setting is also very important in both works of literature. The reason behind the townspeople persecuting sinners is because of the Puritan beliefs of the time period. This is the driving force between the actions of the characters. The setting of a religiously intolerant village is also the main reason behind the conflict that lies in each plot. The conflicts in both works of literature are also similar. They are both caused by the same thing, the excessively devout town in which the setting takes place. The conflict in The Scarlet Letter that occurs between Dimmesdale, Hester, and Chillingworth is caused by the town?s intolerance for sinners. Hester?s life is spent in complete loneliness because of the way the town treats her. Chillingworth, Hester?s past husband, is like most of the townspeople, because he feels the need to punish and inflict pain on sinners, especially those who have personally harmed him. Chillingworth tries to gain revenge on Dimmesdale, the man who commits adultery with his wife. The town?s desire to seek out and personally condemn sinners is also the source of conflict in The Crucible. In The Crucible, the townspeople hunt out the witches in the community as an attempt to rid the town of evil. In both, the conflict is caused by the town?s self appointed right to rancorously persecute a! nd punish anyone who is found sinning. The conflict is also similar because both towns are generally the same. They are both located in the same general area of America, which causes the people to have similar beliefs and traditions. This includes the townspeople, and the general aspects of the characters. The general aspects of characters are also similar in both The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible. Both have a main antagonist, who wishes to punish sinners. In The Scarlet Letter, this person is Roger Chillingworth, who wants to gain revenge on Dimmesdale, and in The Crucible, the antagonist is Abigail Williams, the girl who mainly accuses the people of being witches. Also, both works of literature include ignorant townspeople who contribute to the main conflict. In The Scarlet Letter, these people are the ones who loathe

Barrack Obama and race in politics and culture

Barrack Obama and race in politics and culture Introduction The United States is considered the most developed and sophisticated nation in the world due to its democratic institutions, culture and processes. However, very few people will recall the black days and events that engulfed this nation before and after the First World War.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Barrack Obama and race in politics and culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Today, Barrack Obama is the president of this most powerful nation in the world and continues to face racial criticism despite efforts to integrate all races and adopt a non partisan approach in managing national issues (Remnick 7). This research paper explores the issue of president barrack Obama and race in politics and culture. Background America has evolved from a racist nation and is slowly embracing other cultures in its national issues. The most evident illustration of racism was when it used to allocate nati onal positions to whites while discriminating against other racial groups. It is clearly illustrated in how blacks and red Indians used to be treated unfairly not only in national issues but also those that involved intercultural relations (Harris 71). Very few Americans allowed their family members to interact with black and this was the epitome of racism. However, American presidents like Kennedy and Lincoln tried their best to integrate all communities to participate in national issues but this was not possible. This country had architects of racism who ensured non whites were never given opportunities to use facilities meant for the elites. Slavery was also another illustration of how Africans were treated by the whites who during that time thought that the African population was inferior and used them as cheap labor. This trade led to the migration of blacks from Africa to America and later they found their ways into suburbs. It was impossible to travel back to Africa since the y did not have enough money for air ticket. Secondly, it was impossible for them to board a train. This group became so agitated by the discrimination practiced by the whites. This was evident in schools, churches, public transport, churches, recreation facilities and employment (Feagin 109). The industrial revolution witnessed in America before the beginning of the First World War was an indicator that things were going to turn from bad to worse as the demand for equality and justice continued to gain momentum. Workers unions became very powerful instruments for demanding these rights and they led their members to demo0snbtrate to demand their rights and freedoms. It is important top explain that these demonstrations turned ugly when they took a racial turn.Advertising Looking for research paper on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Africans and Asians were on the streets demanding the immediate inc lusion of their demands in national issues while the whites were also protesting and demanding that their country should be respected. It is important to understand d that this war turned from being a demonstration of workers to racial conformations where many blacks and whites were killed on the streets. In addition, the existing government used police brutality to silence hundreds of youths who were spearheading these demonstrations. Leaders of political p0arties affiliated to the black population and workers unions were detained for months following the chaos witnessed during these demonstrations. Capitalism was a principle adopted by the whites to oppress the poor in the society. This enabled the perpetrator5s to control the instruments of power that enabled them to amass huge wealth in terms of land, labor and money (Harris 41). The ideology continued to spread to other nations but was stopped by communism that was gaining ground in the Soviet Union. The first and second world wars were culminations of the pent up pressure among the whites and non whites. Even though, this war left many nations with serious injuries and losses they were necessary to create conditions for different nations and races to negotiate and discuss various issues that affected their members. Critics have claimed that these wars gave America opportunity to exercise justice and equality to its citizens and immigrants. Therefore, it was a necessary evil that could not have been avoided (Barrack 54). The end of these wars signified a new dawn for American democracy and paved way for peaceful demonstrations and negotiations between whites and non whites. However, politics became good ways of advancing racial interests as is evident in the legislations that barred non whites from engaging in active politics or holding public offices. The Obama presidency has been praised for respecting the rule of justice and equality by ensuring all Americans irrespective of their races are able to acc ess these rights without restrictions. However, this has not been the case due to a number of factors. First, the American population that constitutes a large population of the whites is very conservative. Even though, Obama continues to urge them to adopt racial integration his efforts are more of public shows that commitments to fight racism. There is no doubt that there are many issues usually swept under the carpet when it comes to American politics. Race is a significant factor that guides voting among the American population. The main issue of concern here is that even though many non whites are vying for elective seats very few of them manage to win these positions and this is an indication that the American population is still clinging to the old tradition of preferring whites to blacks when it comes to nation al and leadership issues.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Barrack Obama and race in politics and culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research Objectives The objective of this paper is to identify and illustrate the following issues that play key roles in determining the future of politics in America. First, the American population is perceived to have adopted a non racist culture basing on the fact that it voted for president Obama in the last two general elections. Seco0ndly, this paper examines the impacts of a black American president on the institutions and culture of the United States. Lastly, this paper will outline the recommendations for ensuring that the American government, politics and culture adopts a non racist approach in its social, economic and political affairs. Research Questions This paper will answer the following questions that will help the audience to examine the role of racism in politics and cultural practices. The following questions will guide this paper in examining these issues. What is the role of racism in American politics? What aspe cts promote racism in American politics and culture? What role has president Obama played in promoting and eliminating racism? What are the effects of racism in politics and culture? What steps should the American government take to avert racism? Literature Review The Substance of Hope, Barrack Obama and the Paradox of Progress by William Jellani Cobb William Jellani Cobb criticizes the Obama presidency for openly advocating for racial progress that would allow all races to play active roles in American politics. He focuses his discussion on Obama’s punch line â€Å"hope† that marked all his pre-election speeches. The writer argues that Obama used this word to create false optimism and cheated the American population and the world that he was the messiah for them. This word became a song to all non whites and motivated them to show up in large numbers during voting. Private organizations and well wishers from the non white populations became very loyal and philanthrop ic to Obama’s campaign to ensure they transform the politics of this country. However, their efforts are yet to bear fruits since Obama’s presidency has almost every thing in common with the Bush regime. This author is convinced that the Obama presidency has a good opportunity to transform the politics of the United States but has failed to do so. He argues that most non whites that are elected into office are those located in areas that have a huge black population. This means that racism continues to thrive in American culture and is evident i9n political activities. The Health Care Reform and American Politics, What Everyone Needs to Know By Lawrence Jacobs Jacobs Lawrence argues that Obama has helped the American government in dealing with racial challenges. However, the challenges he is experiences are to blame for his slow response to racial; issues. This author argues that most non whites face serious health challenges that expose them to diseases and poor servi ces from private healthcare institutions. However, president Obama is trying very hard to make sure that all poor Americans access quality healthcare services through reforming all bills related to healthcare.Advertising Looking for research paper on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, this author claims that most non whites are mistreated at their places of work by being underpaid and subjected to poor working conditions. Therefore, president Obama is ensuring that the senate adopts the recommendations to amend all bills regarding minimum wages to allow workers in informal and formal employments to get salaries that will sustain them. In addition, the president is encouraging many youths and no whites to play active roles of ensuring that they participate in civic processes. These are some of the issues that show how Obama is committed to transforming the racist culture that existed in America for many years. A Day Late and a Dollar Short, High Hopes and Deferred Dreams in Obama’s â€Å"Post-Racial† America by Jon Jeter and Robert E. Pierre These authors hold the same view with many critics of the Obama presidency by arguing that what president Obama is doing is too little to help his country manage the problem of racism. Even though, t hey recognize the efforts being done to com bat terrorism they argue that these steps are too slow and cannot be managed by the current financial position of this country. Their claim is based on the poor financial performance of the united tastes government that have exposed it to damaging allegations of racism. They present that president Obama continued to finance American troop-s to fight the Arab nation by investing in drones and other military equipment, training and staffing to ensure America wins the war. These authors identify the war on Iraq and Afghanistan as serious racial challenges facing Obama’s presidency. They proposed that he should have distanced himself from perpetuating the evils advanced by the former president Bush. In addition, they argue that Obama has not helped African or Arab nations to develop their economies but instead he has used a lot of American funds to travel to countries that will help his government to develop its economies. This is capit alism that depicts racial practices that were witnessed before and after the First World War. The American government perpetuated racism by dominating other countries and fighting cold wars with those that opposed it or seemed to give it competition in terms of dominating in world affairs. These authors argues that the war going on in Iraq and Afghanistan have nothing to do with terrorism but are aimed at silencing these nations against developing strong ties with the rest of the world since this will be as serious challenge to America. Effects of Race on Barrack Obama’s Presidency Politics Politics play central roles in determining various activities of a nation since it establishes guidelines that regulate the allocation of national resources and the provision of services to the population. The United States has a sophisticated political system that ensures the government is representative of all communities and regions in the United States. It has two houses that work toge ther to ensure the country adopts policies that will develop its institutions, infrastructure and promote the well being of its citizens (Kennedy 43). However, racism had become a serious threat to the exustabce4 of cordial relations between America and its trading partners and this forced the American government to adopt ways of managing this issue. It is important to state that political analysts had predicted a win for president Obama based on the following issues. The Bush regime had exposed the American government to criticism on its role to eliminate international terrorism. Even though, it had suffered numerous terrorist attacks it had no obligation to commit heinous crimes against innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. The constitution did not give Bush any power to invade another country no matter the seriousness of the crimes committed by some of the people from that nation. Therefore, this exposed this government to international criticism and there were fears that i f this trend would have continued many nations would have broken their ties with America. As a result, Obama used this criticism as a campaign platform to give people hope that he will stop the war on Afghanistan to ensure the world gains confidence on the American administration. People were frustrated the way Bush used a lot of money to finance and develop equipment, train soldiers and finance these wars at the expense of the high inflation rates in America (Tesler and Sears 69). Therefore, they admired the manifesto presented by Obama that would ensure the culture of racism will be eliminated and funds will be directed to development projects and provision of goof healthcare services to the population. However, this was not achieved within the first term of president Obama in office and even though he was granted a second term there is a lot to be done to ensure that American government desists from engaging in racial practices. Therefore, this was a chance for Americans to prove that they are not racist and would not advocate for it in their election process (Kinder and Riddle 33). However, the election and subsequent re-election of president Obama is just a public show to prove to the world that this nation has adopted non racial approaches to politics. Even though, president Obama claims to be a black American his cultural beliefs are strongly based on the American culture exhibited by the whites. There is no difference between him and the whites since they all have perpetuated class differences based on racial practices. Therefore, it is necessary to explain that Obama is black in appearance but white in al his political and cultural activities. This is evident in his recent proposal regarding the minimum wage that workers should earn. This policy is meant to increase the salaries of many non whites working in various places but the irony of this provision is that this will also raise taxes levied on their salaries. Most nations are struggling to reduce their expenses on recurrent bills like salaries and wages of public servants though different financial plans. Obama knows that the United States is experiencing the worst financial performance since the end of the Second World War and should not engage in activities or plans that will force the country to incur unnecessary budgets. Therefore, his proposal to increase minimum wages is just a populist approach to persuade the government that he is taking care of all racial groups in America. It should be understood that most people earning low salaries are black Americans, Indian and Asians who went to America through slave trade are have migrated there in the recent years. In addition, most of them cannot afford health insurance schemes that will safeguard their health; therefore, he has come up with a proposal for cheap medical services. These are populist approaches used to hoodwink the non white population that Obama will solve their problems (Alim 77). Therefore, they are perce ived to be gullible and cannot reason that America cannot afford to increase salaries and provide cheap medical suffices during this time. Critics have argued that this nation is suffering serious challenges associated with unemployment which stands at about 30% among the educated and 40% among those that have not attained university or college degrees. Therefore, it is going to be extremely difficult to raise salaries yet there are no jobs for the poor in the society. This means that the cost of living will increase and force the poor and jobless to seek other alternatives of survival. Therefore, they argue that Obama’s presidency will not achieve any good results in its fight against racism but instead it has established other precincts for perpetuating racial practices through populist declarations and policies that will have serious consequences on those that earn low salaries. Barrack Obama is the only president who gave Americans (whites and blacks) hope that they will live a better life free from economic, social and political challenges. However, this has proved to be a hard nut to crack especially with the many challenges facing his government, the congress has become partisan in moist affairs and this has affected the realization of the dreams of the American population. Many people had hoped that Obama was going to revolutionize politics of racism and ensure that everybody was involved in his government. In addition, people had hoped that there would be many employment opportunities and many people will invest in various sectors of the economy however, these were just mere dreams that could not be realized no matter how hard they struggled to make it to be reality. Financial institutions and other money lending organizations still have the culture of evaluating g the ability of clients to repay their loans based on their race. Therefore, they make it easy for whites to access loan facilities and deny the blacks these chances. Even though, the media has played significant roles in promoting ethical practices in various professions it has failed to highlight the problems non whites experience while applying for bank loan (Pierre and Jeter 108). In addition, housing continues to be a major problem in the American government as tenants are allowed to occupy houses depending on their racial backgrounds. This has promoted social stratifications and even though racial schools were banned teachers continue to express racial sentiments through punishments given to students. Racism is associated with discriminations and exploitation of the race perceived to be inferi0or and schools are slowly embracing cultural integration. However, this is not associated with prescient Obama but withy the modern trends that require people to interact irrespective of their racial backgrounds. Moreover, it is necessary to note that Americans have been forced to embrace racial integration as a necessity and not a deliberate step towards abolishing racial practices. This means that Obama has played a minor role in promoting good relations among different races. The media played a significant role of tracing the origin of Obama and his family lineage that associates him with the Luo community in Kenya. However, since his election to presidency he has never toured Kenya even though this country continues to face serious challenges in terms of poverty, corruption and political wrangles (Cobb 23). The best he does is issues public statements (video records) that en courage Kenyans to be patriotic and embrace nationhood. However, critics have clai9med that these are reflections that he may be feeling guilty and ashamed of his color; something that has not gone down well with his ancestral kinsmen. The fact that he has never visited Kenya and there is no likelihood that he will do so makes critics to predict that he does not have any good intentions for Africans. In addition, he has focused a lot of his attention o the war in Iraq s ince his inauguration into office. This means that he is not different from his predecessors who wanted to show the world that America is a super power and cannot be challenged by any nation. The Indian tigers and Chinese are getting many contracts in African countries and this is giving Obama sleepless nights. This means that soon they will take over most contracts that were awarded to America and leave America with weak ties. This will reduce its influence on African countries and the rest of the world. As a result china will gain more political and economic power which is serious threats to Obama’s administration. Therefore, he is working very hard to ensure that America remains the most influential nation in the world by cutting tiers with nations that support china. In addition, Obama, though the congress is establish plans to contain china’s influence on other countries by supporting the enemies of china and putting sanctions on nations perceived to be supporting this country (Fiona 32). However, critics have argued that if Obama continues to steer his government to oppose china’s invasion in international market this will interfere with the economy of America and expose it to many challenges. However, Obama, just like his predecessors cannot sit and watch other nations magnify their influence. He is using all his powers to ensure that China does not spread its influence to its key partners through establishing strict policies that will limit China’s abilities to invest in some countries. The congress has become very partisan and advanced Obama’s ideologies that am4erica will continue to be the world super power. The legislations passed in parliament ensure that America continues to interfere in the affairs of other nations while it resists any interference by other nations in its affairs. It is necessary to explain that the Bush and Obama adnministrat6ion have very much in common regarding international affairs. There are many sanctions and restrictions placed on third world countries compared to how America relates with developed nations. Obama perceives America as the only nation that can manipulate international bodies like the IMF and World Bank to ensure those that accept its policies are able to participate in international affair. Recently, Obama commented that Kenya will face international restrictions if Kenyans elect International Criminal Court suspects into office in their 2013 general elections. The irony of his statement is that America is not a signatory to the Rome statute yet it continues to urge other countries to respect the institution. Political analysts have claimed that Obama has used this institution to undermine the sovereignty o f third world countries. The terrorist attacks on various organs of the American government exposed Americans to serious threats. This forced it to issue travel advisory to many nations as an attempt to fight terrorism and keep its citizens safe from terrorist attacks. However, the biggest challenge to Obama is that if he is seriously committed to eradicate terrorism he should not warn his citizens against travelling to nations that are prone to terrorist attacks; instead, he should help these nations to stop these activities. However, his leadership is associated with racial undertones since he seems to care very much about Americans more than any other people min the world. Bush had subjected this country to animosity with Arab nations and this was a serious threat to American tourist, investors and students that visited other nations. Therefore, Obama was elected as president of America to deceive the worlds that America has now embraced racial integration and that all nations should perceive America as a friendly nation. Therefore, Obama has not been very active in fighting racial differences in the American culture. His political ideologies are based on the activities of his predecessor and even though most people asso ciate him with an African ancestral origin this has no impact on his presidency (Jacobs and Skocpol 51). It is important to understand that he has lived in America all his life and has interacted with Americans on various political and social events. For that reason, he knows all aspects of racial and political discrimination affecting Americans. However, his failure to address these issues makes him a racist president and exposes him to criticism from political analysis and other nations. Therefore, he has failed to promote racial integration among different races in America. Recommendations President Obama has a good opportunity of transforming the political; and cultural practices of America by showing the world that he abhors racism. He can do the following issues to ensure America is a non resist country. First, he should encourage the senate to be non partisan in its affairs to show the public that this house is committed to ensuring the lives of Americans are improved. The se nate has always taken sides with the incumbent president or with a political view that seems to favor the opposing side. This has made members of parliament to advance their interests and ignore their commitment to improve the economy and life of Americans. Secondly, he should adopt a divergent approach to national issues and avoid issuing public statements for the sake of it. His recent declaration that America will ensure the minimum wage for low income earners will be increased has been mate with mixed reactions. Some critics argue that this statement is meant to hoodwink the majority who are poor to believe that their welfare will be improved while others perceive this as a way of raising revenue to finance the huge budget that is straining its economy. However, they claim that he should not make statements that will not help his political life since his performance will be evaluated in these issues. In addition, Obama has a good opportunity to develop the economy of America if he focuses on issues that affect Americans and stops wasting national resources on unnecessary activities like investing in drones. America has pother serious challenges like poor healthcare services, unemployment, drugs and inflation and this should be given first priority by his government. Therefore, he has options to choose from but he should know that Americans and the rest of the world will evaluate his performance depending on how he manages issues related to politics and racism. Conclusion Racism is a long term problem that has continued to face America since the beginning of slave trade. Even though, this trade was abolished in the beginning of the 21st century it continues to thrive underground. American politics is largely influenced by international relations and developments and this makes it to lack polit5icalk plans to develop its infrastructure and institutions. President Obama has a good opportunity to prove his critics wrong by embracing racial integration and prac ticing politics that will benefit Americans and immigrants. Alim, Sammy. Articulate While Black, Barrack Obama Language, and Race in the  United States. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2009. Print. Barrack, Obama. Dreams from My Father, a Story of Race and Inheritance. New York: Wiley, 2011. Print. Cobb, William. The Substance of Hope, Barrack Obama and Paradox of Progress. New York: Wiley, 2011. Print. Feagin, Joe and Harvey Winfield. Yes We Can? White Racial Farming and the 2008  Presidential Campaign. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Fiona, Morris. Culture War: The Myth of a Polarized America. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Harris, Frederick. The Price of the Ticket, Barrack Obama and the Rise and Decline of  Black Politics. New York: Wiley, 2011. Print. Jacobs, Lawrence and Theda Skocpol. The Health Care Reform and American Politics,  What everyone needs To Know. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2009. Print. Kennedy, Randall. The Persistence of the Color Line, Racial Polit ics and the Obama  Presidency. New York: Wiley, 2011. Print. Kinder, Donald and Allison Riddle. The End of Race. New York: Wiley, 2011. Print. Pierre, Robert and Jon Jeter. A Day Late and a Dollar Short, High Hopes and Deferred  Dreams in Obama’s Post Racial America. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print. Remnick, David. The Bridge, the Life and Rise of Barrack Obama. New York: McGraw Hill, 2010. Print. Tesler, Michael and David Sears. Obama’s Race: The 2008 Election and the Dream of  A Post-Racial America. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.

A Response to a Historical Essay Based on the US Civil War Essay Example for Free

A Response to a Historical Essay Based on the US Civil War Essay ? The war as people have known and understood it, has inculcated nothing but violence. Over the history, the remnants of different wars became distinct because of the horrors that it caused and imbibed within the innocent lives of people not involved with it. In addition, those who have actually participated in wars, battleworn and inflicted with such violence can only remember the dreadful effects that it left. However, recent studies and approaches to war histories suggest otherwise. Indeed, there have been numerous horrors inflicted by the war towards innocent victims – women, children, elderly, and the soldiers themselves. But on a different light, the article by Drew Gilpin Faust shows that these wars, although violent and bloody, have brought numerous lessons that only the battlefield can best teach the people. In contrast to the usual and common notion perceiving war as evil and violent, some historians view the war as an enlightening period in the history. Francis Parkman believed that the Americans, who have for so long been vilified by their pursuit for success, will be purified and strengthened after a season of war wherein they shall call out for new ideals and they shall learn to appreciate emotions and sentiments relevant for them to destroy selfishness and greed (Faust, 2004, pp. 369-370). In a distinct manner, the Americans have been dominating the international arena due to their indespensable strength and the supremacy that they hold before less developed and weaker countries. And as such, this rendered the Americans the incapability to become keen of other nations’ sentiments towards their leadership. And with this, the outcomes of the war can be the only way to bring about worthy realizations towards the Americans. Although no one can deny that in reality, the wars that people have bravely fought caused numerous of lives gone to waste. However, despite the horrors of losing loved ones, comrades and brothers became a necessary sacrifice in order to purify a nation that has been subjected to ill doings and a means to cleanse the people out of their sins committed against their own nation and other nations. It may seem morbid to other people, but more civilians became largely interested in understanding the experiences of the fighters firsthand. Civilians became more willing to feel the sensation because for them, these experiences will render them the ability to become more humane – feeling different sensations and privilege of having emotions for them to grasp (Faust, 2004, p. 372). Those who served the military to cure the wounded became immensely satisfied of their tasks. For them, the patients that they attended to and the wounds that they had to cure introduced them to richer and new insights. And though these may have connoted a great level of violence, nonetheless these experiences explored a great deal out of their humanity. And for those who have endured the battle themselves as soldiers, a number treated such experience with rejoice despite the destruction and chaos that it caused them (Faust, 2004, p. 372). With all these perceptions about wars, Civil War in particular, most of the historians developed greater interests in tackling the horrors and lessons that come with it. The fondness of most of Americans in the wars that they have fought became distinct that most of the historians have dedicated a large amount of their time and career to discover the truth behind the Civil War and the lessons that it has ought to teach the people. As such, over the history, numerous books and studies have been developed that were dedicated to the Civil War. James McPherson’s book entitled â€Å"Battle Cry of Freedom† was one of the most celebrated composition and a direct beneficiary of the Civil War’s fame. It turned out to become one of the most respected and famous books that tackled the experiences behind the war. Consequently, the â€Å"Journal of Southern History† also became one of the best compositions that broadly represented the different aspects of the conflicts during the Civil War. Given the significant increase of people’s interest in the war, it is logical to wonder what has triggered the people’s desire to study more about it. Ken Burn explained that the issues confronted during the Civil War era is continously reflecting the contemporary issues that Americans still face today (Faust, 2004, pp. 374-375). In addition to Burn’s explanation, several writers have also come to the conclusion that people are still interested with the cause and outcome of the Civil War because it has shaped modern America’s society and culture. They believe that the horrors and lessons behind the war, though they are considerably dreaded, are keys to discover America’s roots and origin. The whole point of the article really does make sense. The turnout and effects of the war that it bestowed upon the country, the fighters involved in it, and the greater number of innocent lives who had to bear with the war experiences created a huge impact that is impossible to forget in a lifetime. The different aspects and different angles given to the study of Civil War offered a great amount of help in understanding the fruits and losses behind the incident. As such, such wars and battles mirror the history of America. During the present era, the war that America has fought and is still fighting presents the same outcome – numerous lives lost and land and property devastation. Same with America’s previous war engagement, they invented the war â€Å"in order to control violence† (Faust, 2004, p. 381). Equipped with weak evidences behind America’s attack against Iraq, America has acted in order to create for their country a â€Å"sense of meaning, intention and goal-directedness† (Faust, 2004, p. 381). Again, America was pushed into a war in order to regain superiority and control. Indeed, the wars that America has fought came with distinct lessons despite the unwanted memories and experiences that the wars have unleashed. But despite these horrors, the American government still pushed their nations onto a different battle regardless of what the world has to say about it. It is true, the Civil War taught Americans a great deal of lessons which were learned the hardest and most painful way. But now, they stand the war again – and numerous studies about the wars may not have helped at all. War, from the dawn of the history until the present generation, is still yet a battle that has not been won. Reference Faust, D. G. (2004). We Should Grow Too Fond of It: Why We Love the Civil War. Civil War History. (pp. 368-383). The Kent State University Press. A Response to a Historical Essay Based on the US Civil War. (2016, Aug 26).

Religious Engagement in Peace Building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Religious Engagement in Peace Building - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the world is a heterogeneous collection of religions. Every religion teaches humanity certain lessons that guide the individuals in numerous aspects of their lives including domestic, social, financial, political, peace building and many more. Religious values and teachings have a gigantic impact on shaping up a society’s cultural and intellectual principles and practices. One’s sovereignty, independence, and liberty are dependent on religious directions. It is the faith that educates the followers about the differences between the acceptable actions and immoral deeds, prevention from several problems, uncertainty that man confronts in every facet of his life and the comparison between the holy and sacrilegious matters. The world history has brought this appalling truth into limelight that majority of the fierce and ferocious events of the past come under connection with religion. The similar fact applies to the current g lobal situation as well where most of the riots and violence have come under linkage with faith. On the other hand, it cannot come under ignorance that religion has played a commendable and phenomenal role in peace building, resolving conflicts and settling down volatile issues. As religion actually outlines all the important and substantial affairs of one’s life, it intensely and genuinely comes under involvement in influencing the followers’ notion and idea of conflict and peace building and its maintenance with respect to religion.... This can come under performance through a detailed study of relationship between religious ideas and peace building actions (Bellamy, Williams and Griffin, 2009, pp.12-15). The crucial cause of religious based conflicts is that the followers have incomplete knowledge of their faith and thus due to misconceptions they consider aggression, violence and hostility as an inevitable move offered by religion. Furthermore, in a region where denizens are not under proper and adequate security and are suffering from frustration due to terrible social or political scenario consider violence as a possible solution and think that this will make them heard by the government (Kaplan, 2007, pp. 123-126). However, this is not right but lack of religious understanding and violent streak in a hot-blooded lot begets to conflicts that would have come under refrain if people had correctly comprehended the religious guidance or the suggestions of religious teachers and representatives. Instead, they choose a destructive option of violence on cost of the respect and reputation of their religion and fall short in noticing the possible peaceful alternatives provided by their religion itself (Kaplan, 2007, pp. 123-126). People of diverse religious backgrounds residing in either a common or a defined place and practicing their religious rituals and ceremonies can be a cause of violence and discrepancies. However, one cannot shut his eyes to the reality that religions have gargantuan and mammoth potential for solving these intensified issues. Peace building mission can come under execution successfully by following the religious teachings in this

- ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

- ISLAMIC BANKING AND FINANCE - Research Paper Example Sukuk have gained popularity in Islamic finance as one of the best strategies to raise funds over the last few decades. Sukuk can be termed as legally acceptable certificates or securities issued in the Islamic economy with the intention to raise capital. These certificates serve the same purpose as bonds in the western economies. Bonds are not accepted in the Islamic finance structure since they carry an interest rate. Charging interest on securities is not acceptable under the Islamic sharia laws since it violates the principle of contractual certainty and mutual benefit between the financier and the debtor. According to the Islamic faith, wealth is God given, and mankind was created to guard and make good use of wealth and resources. In this regard, charging interest on bonds is against God’s will on equality and brotherhood. The Islamic sharia law is the foundation on which the Islamic finance is built. For any financial decision to be acceptable in the Islamic economies, it must fulfill all the requirements enshrined in the sharia law. Sukuk is an Arabic word used to refer to securities that are structured in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic law and intended to raise capital (Ariff, Iqbar, and Mohamed 13)Sukuk are used to stand in place of undivided shares in the ownership of real/visible assets concerning a specific investment undertaking. For Sukuk to be issued, there must be a clear record of the existing tangible assets on the balance sheet of the entity intending to raise capital. The process of issuing Sukuk starts by identifying the assets of the entity to assess their validity. The next step involves arrangement of an effective organizational structure that respects the Sharia law. Once an effective organizational structure has been established, the adjacent step involves the application of a suitable Sariah structure. Once that has been accomplished, a lead manager is

Home Depots Organizational Culture Essay Example for Free

Home Depots Organizational Culture Essay In my opinion, Nardelli’s programs were failed in changing operation of Home Depot to a more effective one. There are two reasons that Nardelli was not more successful. First, most employees did not want to an outsider to â€Å"GE-ize their company and culture. † Employees in Home Depot did not trust their new manager, which led absent support when Nardelli carried out the new process. The second reason was also the more important reason. Nardelli used the concept learned from industrial businesses to conduct the customer businesses. Since Nardelli wanted to conduct Home Depot in his own approach, he failed to recognize the importance of front-line staff, which leaded his fail in conducting the retailing business. The thing he should have done was improve the circulation of information between the different stores or within different level. Only in this way, he could solve the problem that Home Depot faced at that time—too large to be profitable. The worst thing he should not have done was to get rid of many old employees and replaced the full timers with part-time staff. This decline in the quality of customer service and customer satisfaction strongly hurt the customer orientated business. 2. Nardelli provided a three-part strategy including improving Home Depot’s profit, and expanding the business and market. Crow focused on the other three priorities which would revive employees’ sense of ownership, foster their product knowledge, and boost their morale. The greatest difference was that Nardelli’s initiatives programs were concentrated on increasing profit and expansion, while Tim Crow’s programs were concentrated on increasing employees. Nardelli’s action decreased employees’ satisfaction and loyalty, which ruined Home Depot’s strong customer service culture. Tim Crow’s programs increased employees’ loyalty and revived Home Depot’s organizational culture. 3. Strong culture reflects the values of the organization’s founders. Home Depot’s founders: Bernard Marcus and Arthur Black, as entrepreneurs, emphasized on commitment to customers, colleagues, and company. These conducted the original culture of Home Depot. Sometimes, the organizational culture could cause conflict when top management changed. When Nardelli toke over Home Depot, clash of two distinct cultural approaches occurred. Organizational culture that is consisted of shared beliefs, values, and assumptions existed in the organization would lead the behavior of employees and the direction of organization. Home Depot’s original culture let employees to establish strong relationship with customers, but after Nardelli’s conduction, this relationship as well as employees’ and loyalty were harmed. Since the culture would affect employees’ performance and organization’s achievement, it should be built to fit the characteristics of the business and altered with great care. Coordination, conflict resolution, and financial success were the assets of maintaining culture. However Nardelli failed to achieve these goals. Tim Crow, on the other hand, focused on restoring the initial culture by implementing more employee award programs that would positively impact employee loyalty and performance.

santa clause :: essays research papers

Christmas, few people stop to think how it originated. Started as a pagan holiday during the time of Romans, it developed in to a Christian celebration dedicated for Christ. People in different age groups, both kids and adults, enjoy the season of Christmas. Christmas has been very big and an inspiring holiday for many families around the world for many centuries. Packed with busy shoppers, jingle bells, colorful lights and Santa Claus, Christmas is thought by many people to be â€Å"the most wonderful time of the year†. Winter, snow, Christmas tree, decorations and Santa Claus are very important things which makes us think that it is the most beautiful day of all the year. Everybody waits for Christmas, because that day has varies meaning for different people. But for kids, rather than shoppers, colorful lights, Santa Claus is their main reason why they count the days till Christmas eve. Even though one might say that Santa is just a big lie, Santa Claus brings a whole new m eaning to the season of Christmas. Although almost everyone has already figured out that Santa Claus is a big myth, kids, who are younger than 12 or 13 years, should have the right to be fascinated, to speculated, and to use Santa Claus as a possible role model.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unlike adults most of the kids wait for this season of the year hoping that they might able to get a glance at Santa Claus and his best friends, reindeers. Santa Claus is one of the most important imaginary figures on this earth, who has touched the hearts and souls of many children, is Saint Nicholas. It is said that he placed gold coins in the socks of three poor sisters so that they would have a dowry and not be sold into prostitution. St. Nick, better known as Santa Claus, is notorious for bringing gifts to children that are in need. Known for having a huge belly and a gigantic heart, Santa Claus brings hope to kids who are hopeless and smiles to those who have lost theirs. While snuggled in their bed, desperately trying to catch a wink of sleep, children around the world await the arrival of Santa Claus. Dressed in red and with a jolly old smile, he manages to fulfill the dreams of kids throughout millions of miles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though one might say that, from the

Rewrite-the Cask of Amontillado Essay

It was in the middle of carnival season when Montresor approached me. In retrospect, I should have noticed the deviant twinkle in his eye. Alas, it was a time of celebration, and I had had much to drink, which seemed to deter me from Montresor’s true intentions that evening. At the time, I was enjoying myself at the carnival festivities, wearing the attire of a jester, complete with cap and bells. Montresor approached me and I was delighted to see him. We chatted, and he informed me that he had purchased a pipe of Amontillado. He told me that he was not certain as to whether or not it was true Amontillado and asked me to look at it for him. Being a connoisseur of fine wines, I was intrigued. Montresor then noted that, since I was occupied, he was going to call upon Luchresi to assist him with his dilemma. I was quite taken aback by this, as Luchresi cannot compare to my taste. Montresor was about to depart, but I was adamant and won my way to Montresor’s vaults. I subsequently grabbed Montresor’s arm, and we made our way to his dwelling. Once again, I should have perceived right away that something was about, considering the entire home was empty. However, I brushed it off, assuming that all of the help was out being merry. Montresor obtained two candles off the wall, handing one to me, and we made our way down into the catacombs. By this point, the intoxication I was experiencing seemed to worsen. Holding onto Montresor for support, I inquired as to how far we would be going. He informed me that20it was much farther down, and, as I looked at the nitre upon the walls of the murky and sodden catacomb, a coughing fit took hold of me. It was then that Montresor attempted to have us turn back. However, his diligent attempts at making me turn around just made me want to go forward even more. I was not about to willingly allow Luchresi to take my spot as the finest wine connoisseur in the area. Handing me a leak of Medoc, we continued down the dingy catacombs. He would continue to feed me wines for the duration of the walk, all the while my intoxication worsening. For much of our journey, the only sound to be heard was that of the bells upon my hat jingling, along with our footsteps. Looking back on the evening, I ought to have realized something was stirring in Montresor’s head. The morose look on his face worsened with each step we took. At last, we made it to the Amontillado.

Book Review: Supercrunchers

We re likely to discount discomforting evidence and focus Instead on evidence that supports our preexisting beliefs. Reason 3: Most people are overconfident while they make prediction to the future while some people tend to be undercoating and slow to change In the face of new evidence. And overconfidence becomes severe when the problems become more complicated. 2. The author suggests that equations should not be without some kind of â€Å"over ride† capability. What is the â€Å"over ride† capability? Why does the author suggest this is necessary?Do you agree or disagree with this. Answers: â€Å"Over ride† capability refers to some kind of discretionary escape hatch some way for a human to override the prediction of the formula. Just like the rejection area of hypothesis test. It is necessary because a statistical procedure cannot estimate the causal impact of rare events because there simply aren't enough data concerning them to make a credible estimate. The r arity of the event doesn't mean that it will not have a big impact when the event does in fact occur.It Just means that statistical formulas will not be able to future the impact. In such case, a â€Å"over ride† capability is needed. I agree with this point because it is common in the day to day life. We need to find out when does the statistic way loose effectiveness. Every method has its own drawback; we need to figure out a systematic way to â€Å"automatically' reflect the time that a statistic method fails. 3. The author puts forward that if one concludes that equations are in fact better than experts, then one must ask the question of where experts fit Into the process of prediction.Explain the place for experts In a world where predictions are made by equations. Answers: In a word, the most Important thing that is left to human experts Is to use our minds and our intuition to guess at what variables should and should not be Included in statistical analysis. A statist ical regression can tell us the weights to place upon various factors. Human By Ranchers Chem. Email: [email  protected] Deed experts, however, are crucially needed to generate the hypotheses about what causes what.The regressions can test whether there Is a causal effect and estimate the size f the causal impact, but somebody needs to specify the test itself. In addition, humans are crucial not only in deciding what to test, but also in collecting and. At times, creating the data. Reason 2: Once we form a mistaken belief about something, we tend to cling to it. We are likely to discount discomforting evidence and focus instead on evidence that to change in the face of new evidence. And overconfidence becomes severe when the than experts, then one must ask the question of where experts fit into the process of reduction.Explain the place for experts in a world where predictions are made by equations. Answers: In a word, the most important thing that is left to human experts is to u se our minds and our intuition to guess at what variables should and should not be included in statistical analysis. A statistical regression can tell us the weights what. The regressions can test whether there is a causal effect and estimate the size humans are crucial not only in deciding what to test, but also in collecting and, at

Writing and Researching Skills

Writing and Researching Skills Introduction Every learning institution encourages novelty, clarity and objectivity in academic research. This is usually done to provide students with research writing skills that are necessary for successful completion of their studies. Students are therefore required to undertake self assessments, which introduce them to numerous factors that can promote strong and well structured writings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Writing and Researching Skills specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such activities are vital in helping students refine their arguments and writing at large. In addition, it helps establish logical writing in students. However, it faces several obstacles. These include among others, academic plagiarism. This has made research quite difficult as scholars try to avoid plagiarizing other people’s works. Plagiarism cases have risen, especially with increased availability of resources online. In f act, while advancement in technology has pooled resources, it has also led to increased cases of plagiarism. This paper will therefore try to explore academic writing styles, plagiarism, strengths and weaknesses as well as growth plan (Colantuono, 2009, p. 1). Plagiarism can be defined as use of other people’s ideas, or works as your own. This occurs in any event that an individual uses another person’s idea or written work without giving him/her credit. Most written works in learning institutions are nowadays turned in after passing through plagiarism detecting software. These are aimed at curbing plagiarism, which has been on the rise. Online degrees have had its advantages, which include among others, providing affordable quality education to learners from different regions. On the other hand, this has had its effects on creativity as plagiarism takes toil. It is quite important to note that plagiarism is a punishable offense both by law and learning institutions. I n learning institutions, plagiarism draws punishments that may range from penalties, suspension, expulsion and even sacking for scholars. Moreover, it can lead to jail term, if not avoided. Academic writing involves use of different formatting and citation styles. These include MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago, Turabian and Oxford, among others. These styles are usually utilized depending on the type of paper to be written. For instance, when writing papers on psychology, APA (American Psychological Association) style is usually utilized. Most of these citation styles are usually aimed at avoiding plagiarism as well as structuring academic papers in a formal and cohesive manner (McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2003, p. 1).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analysis of Strengths Some of the strengths I have in academic writing include creativity, which helps to minimize plagiarism. In addition, in situations where I use other people’s works, I usually ensure that they are credited. This helps in avoiding plagiarism. Another strength that I have in writing is my ability to master citation styles. This helps me in formatting academic writing as required. Academic writing requires people to be relevant as well as clear on given instructions. As much as this is sometimes difficult, I have tried to be relevant in most papers. This helps in ensuring that instructions are followed as given in the papers (Colantuono, 2009, p. 1). Analysis of Weaknesses Academic research comes with various obstacles. This includes fear of plagiarism, grammar mistakes, among others. I usually face a few problems in putting my essay together. Other obstacles that I face include level of writing. As much as I do formal writing, there are levels of writing required for each category. These include bachelors, masters and PhD levels. Moreover, depending on subject to be covered, writing can sometimes get complex. For instance, technical papers are usually more complex than others. In addition, Phd papers are commonly more detailed and complex than those of masters or bachelors. Finally, I am sometimes nervous on spelling and grammar mistakes (Dikel, 2011, p. 1). Growth Plan Academic writing is very important in learning institutions. This is mainly because it gives the true picture of an individual’s creativity and writing skills, among other attributes. Moreover, it confirms that one is able to conduct research and provide quality writings on them. Having considered both my strengths and weaknesses, it is only reasonable that I work towards improving them. In this regard, I have made a plan that includes improving in spelling and grammar, among others. Moreover, I plan to ensure that plagiarism becomes the least of my problems. In order to achieve this, I plan to institute regular self assessment tests with regards to citation styles. This involves going th rough research centers such as Purdue Owl and Ashford, among others. I also plan to practice more on academic writing, this will enable me improve in levels of writing as well as in formatting and style as required (Colantuono, 2009, p. 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Writing and Researching Skills specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion Academic writing is instrumental to an individual’s capacity development. Institutions of higher learning ensure that students are well trained on ways of articulating their ideas. This can only be done through academic writing. Self assessment is also important as it helps one to establish the causes and possible solutions to his/her problems in writing. It is quite imperative to know how to write varieties of academic papers. Throughout the process, I have learned on ways of writing different types of papers, styles as well as plagiarism. The process also helped me learn how to acknowledge sources that are used. In addition, the process has enabled me use credible sources in my research. I have also learned the importance of writing good papers since instructors use them to evaluate our level of comprehension and analysis (Ashford Writing Center, 2011, p. 1). References Ashford Writing Center. (2011).Research Guides. Ashford.edu. Retrieved from: http://ashfordwritingcenter.com/Home/tabid/628/Default.aspx?returnurl=%2fAPAResearchGuides%2fResearchWritingSamplesandGuidelines%2ftabid%2f1010%2fDefault.asp Colantuono, F. (2009). Academic Plagiarism. experiment-resources.com. Retrieved from: experiment-resources.com/academic-plagiarism.htm Dikel, M. (2011). Self- Assessment: The Riley Guide. Rileyguide.com. Retrieved from: rileyguide.com/assess.html McGraw-Hill Higher Education. (2003). Avoiding Plagiarism Tutorial. highered.mcgraw-hill.com. Retrieved from: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072873469/student_view0/avoiding_plagiarism_tutorialAdv ertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Persuasion and Influence 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Persuasion and Influence 1 - Assignment Example In an effort to influence and persuade, people comprehend the pros of being the first to command an order to get something back. An example is in the cosmetic industry where shoppers are encouraged to make a purchase in order to receive a gift or sample. The fact that there is a gift in exchange of a purchase compels one to buy (Hogan, 2010). The law of scarcity portends that whenever choice is limited or threatened, the need to maintain a share of that limited commodity makes us crave for it even more. When an opportunity is scarce, its value increases hence, the urge to own it. In marketing for instance, department stores use scarcity to bait consumers into an uncontrollable frenzy to shop for items brought on offer at bargain prices for a limited time only, limited shopper to a restricted number of items. They make use of deadlines, limited spaces, number or availability of stock clauses to create urgency to purchase (Pratkanis & Aronson, 1992). At a personal level, power may be applied on the basis of knowledge, technical competence and the ability to articulate ideas for others to follow. It relates to building trust and loyalty, relating well with others, communicating opinions and ideas in compelling ways, accomplishments, a charismatic style, self-confidence, enthusiasm and hard work. Words shape the thoughts, feelings and attitude towards a focused subject. The use of language and mastery of words control human behavior. For instance, in tobacco commercials, which portray the calming, soothing and comforting effect of a cigarette brand. At the end of the commercial, the negative side effects are read out quickly and de-emphasized that viewers are left with the overall positive impression. Words are positively chosen emotionally packaged to â€Å"Tame the sting† (Fahnestock, 2011). To ensure prudence in shopping, it is essential to purchase or acquire products on a need be basis. It is also necessary to

The Advent Of Globalization And Business Cultures Essay

The Advent Of Globalization And Business Cultures - Essay Example Power Distance: This deals with acceptance of the less powerful sections of an organization pertaining to the uneven distribution of power therein. Britain is a country that ranks low in PDI, indicating that it is a society that believes in minimising the inequalities among people. However, China is a top scorer in PDI, which implies that inequality in the distribution of power is acceptable in there and that power abuse is prevalent. Individualism: The issue addressed by this dimension is related to ways in which the society portrays itself, implying whether it is an inter-dependent society or an individual one. The UK is a country with a high individualistic approach, where children are taught to think and fend for themselves from a young age (Tanielian 90-96). Hence, personal fulfillment is a topmost priority in such societies. China appears to have a rather collectivistic approach, where people strive as a team and perform tasks that cater to the interest of a group or an organiz ation. Masculinity: This dimension explains dominant values of the society. A masculine or high-score on this dimension would indicate towards a society that is driven by achievement and success. A low-score (feminine) on this dimension would mean that the society is more inclined towards living a quality life and caring for others. Both China and the UK are strongly masculine societies, where people are ready to sacrifice family life in order to achieve success in the professional life. Leisure takes a backseat in such societies.