Book Review on Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat

James R. McDonough once stated that his story is not a comprehensive documentation of the Vietnam War, but a mere account of an American platoon leader in battle. Lt. McDonough had, for a year after West Point, been situated in specialized training bases to be part of an airborne brigade. And as he was readily equipped, he was brought to the Strategic Hamlet Program – formed by the US armed forces in the 1960s to weaken the Viet Cong through civilian control, which, failed in the 1970s. Nevertheless, the US armed forces have not dissolved this program yet. 2nd Lieutenant McDonough found himself commanding a platoon led by a non-commissioned officer. Everyone was in low morale and inefficient as the lieutenant McDonough was replacing refused to wage war – all the time keeping the platoon from being harmed. Setting his goals straight, McDonough looked forward to gain the loyalty of his platoon, as well as, completing the mission with minimal or no casualties on their part. Mc Donough journeyed through a difficult period of founding leadership. He practiced careful observation and frequent combats with the enemy to lay out plans that would ensure an accomplished mission. An air of loneliness have also been created throughout the whole story as platoon men shared their piece of sufferings, fears and yearnings both in their military and personal lives. The novel provided a realistic point of view to both sides of the war – good and bad, the thoughts that prevail to each character in the story and the choices each one of them has to make in the line of duty (Hopkins). The three things this memoir might embed in the reader’s mind might include: Doing the right thing – in the right time and with the right reasons; There is a given responsibility each soldier has to his fellow comrades – it is to protect them at all costs; and Tiny mischiefs might ignite large conflicts – this should teach vigilance in discipline (Jacobs). These are just three of three of the important points presented in this memoir. But, among the most significant to note is leadership. He has set goals for a demoralized group of men, has aided each one of them to brave in realizing these goals, and ensuring that each of his men savor the success of these goals. McDonough made a comparison between good and bad leadership through the two lieutenants – the non-commissioned officer who refuses to fight, and he who wishes to be a real leader. Vivid details in the memoir bring the setting come to life along with the compelling set of characters. McDonough seemingly did not find it necessary to delve much in the morbid images of the war, rather, on the relationships that developed throughout the story. It was reflected in moments of irony and humor – an indication of the need to be resilient. He also enumerated different strategies and tactics that had been formulated during the war. These relationships were part of the humanizing aspects of the story, including issues that involve latrines. McDonough filled his memoir with discovering varied kinds of relationships with different men – from high-ranking men to allies and enemies, and civilians. It was a compilation of the view and experiences of war by different people. The Platoon Leader also indicated the ethics and morals of the war, the dehumanizing possibility a soldier might come across in the cruelty of the war. McDonough’s instrument character in this memoir is his being a leader – it enabled him to explore relationships, establish a set of war ethics and morals, a progression into a real leader. He portrayed a wise, humane, tough and firm leader, under the most difficult circumstances. The novel is a profound documentation on wartime virtues – making it a very important piece in American literature (Mazza). References: Hopkins, Martha. â€Å"Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat.† 2003.25 May 2007 . Jacobs. â€Å"Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat : Review.† 2007. 25 May 2007 . Mazza, Michael. â€Å"Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat: Review.† 2004. 25 May 2007

Animals in circus Essay

Is it normal for a bear to dance in a ball?, for an elephant to keep her weight in two legs?, or for a tiger jump through a ring of fire?, this is considered the worst feat that the animals have, actually we don’t realize it, circuses would quickly lose their appeal if more people knew about the cruel methods used to train the animals, instead, the circus makes us think that all of this methods are natural for them and they ‘’no suffer at all’’, at least this is what they said when they’re accused of mistreating this animals. Circus like Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus all of them are so hypocrites because they deny about what is evident, the abuse and the mistreating of the animals that they trap. According to PETA, thousand of these animals are used to perform silly, confusing tricks under the threat of physical punishment; are carted across the country in cramped and stuffy boxcars or semi-truck trailers; are kept chained or caged in barren, boring and filthy enclosures and are separated from their families, and all this suffer, all this pain, it’s for the sake of human ‘’entertainment’’, even many of these animals pay with their lives. The tricks that animals are forced to perform such as when bears balance on balls, apes ride motorcycles, and elephants stand on two legs are physically uncomfortable and behaviorally unnatural. The whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other tools used during circus acts are reminders that the animals are being forced to perform. These â€Å"performances† teach audiences nothing about how animals behave under normal circumstances, they are being removed from their habitat, they don’t deserve that. Wild animals are meant to live free, they have every right to live their lives in freedom in their homeland, they haven’t committed any crime that justifies their imprisonment for life, their mistreatment, and their humiliation during the shows. Some circuses have chosen not to use animals: Australians â€Å"the Flying Fruit,† the Canadian â€Å"Cirque du Soleil†, the French â€Å"Les Colporteurs† Americans â€Å"Minimusâ⠂¬ , â€Å"Nuage†, â€Å"Hiccup† and many others, using the talent of the jugglers, trapeze artists, clowns, comedians, mimes, contortionists. This is the way to go, the only civilian.

The GDP per unit of energy use Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The GDP per unit of energy use - Essay Example According to Pimentel (2013), data from populous and industrialized nations like China and India will serve the purpose of substantiating the relationship between the variables mentioned above. In this case, stage three of the term paper involves a comprehensive literature review that seeks to acquire relevant information about the underlying hypothesis. Literature Review Introduction Since the paper seeks to examine nations’ economies from the perspective of domestic product and energy consumption, then it is inherent to clarify certain terminologies and abbreviations that will be used extensively in the essay. First, gross domestic product, commonly referred to as GDP, remains one of the essential indicators of a nation’s economic status. According to Meyers (2010), GDP is the cumulative monetary value of all goods and services produced and offered by a nation’s population over a period of one year. Secondly, energy intensity is a terminology referring to effic iency of energy use within a given economic setting. The intensity is obtained by determining the ration between total energy consumption and the total gross domestic product. ... rding energy intensity within a nation are gaining attention after World Bank projected that by 2050, the world’s fossil fuels will have reduced by approximately 35%. According to Mely and Chang (2012), such prediction insinuates that reduction in fossil fuels will create a subsequent increase in demand for the same commodity. Consequently, nations whose economy is energy dependent may experience diverse difficulties in adjusting to the significant drop in fuel content across the world. In this context, it is undeniable that third world nations in Africa relies more on agriculture and tourism as the main source of their gross domestic product. However, populous and industrialized countries like China and India rely on manufactured exports and skilled services. Bosselman (2010) says that in China, industries and skilled services like road constructions are known to consume a lot of energy. GDP per Unit of Energy Despite the fact that manufacturing and service industries in Chin a and India generating huge economic output from every given energy unit, they still face a threat with regard to diminishing oil reserves. For example in 2005, China yielded a GDP of 3.7 for every kilogram of oil consumed. India yielded a slightly higher GDP of 5.3 for the same mass of oil consumed. On the contrary, the adjacent Republic of Hong Kong posted a GDP of 21.2 for every kilogram of oil used within the same period. Switzerland, which is known to being a less populous nation than India, posted a GDP of 12.3. Based on these figures, one can develop an insight on the energy efficiency within the four nations compared above. From the figure of 3.7 GDP per kilogram of oil consumed, then it is undeniable that China has lower energy efficiency. On the other hand, Hong Kong can manage to

How Horses were still used in WWI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How Horses were still used in WWI - Essay Example Still, the distinguished armed forces’ officers receive a sword as an award against exemplary performance. The ancient warfare was primarily based on courage, strategy, and strength of character. But, the computer technology took charge of major military operations in the world and therefore, the focus shifted towards technological proficiency and the element of courage and manhood became secondary in the context of current and prevailing warfare standards in the world. Still, the value of traditional weapons and tactics is being recognized in the literature (Treherne pp.142). The so-called modern Armies still train their soldiers in horse riding so that they should know the traditional and classical way of commuting when needed. However, the concept of warfare is becoming and transforming into something highly mechanized. In few decades from now, the traditional war will become a permanent resident of history books, as human soldier will be replaced with a robot. Thusly, it c an be established that human involvement in wars will become extinct in the future version (Bernard and Jones pp. 1036). But, in the context of World War I, the horses were used as a means of commuting. The timing of the featured war was considered concurrent with major technological and theoretical breakthroughs but the commuting infrastructure was not largely institutionalized and neither was it available to general public. The abovementioned shortages of mechanized transportation contributed significantly towards forcing armed forces to use natural resources a great deal (Treherne pp 140). Additionally, the vehicles of that time were low on the most important dimension of fuel economy and therefore, the authorities followed the notion of economic rationality in terms of deciding to use the most efficient source of transportation at their disposal. Humans’ profound inclination towards saving money and exercising tight control on cash outflows translated into vast scale use of horses in World War I. Furthermore, the Armies were not trained to use vans and other vehicles but they had a profound and notable efficacy to effectively use horse as a strategic tool in the panicked conditions that are associated with the perception of war. The two major reasons supported the application of horses in World War I. Firstly, the ill-developed industry of mechanized transporters and secondly, soldiers of that era did not have the appropriate training needed to use the modern way of transportation. Moreover, it is important to note that the other historically known war based on volume was fought with the help of mechanized infantry and tanks. Yet, in the case of the First World War, the fight was fought with the help of rifles and other simpler and elementary equipment. The idea of war was partially based on courage and leadership abilities when the maiden global military confrontation was being fought and the warriors’ best companion was also significantly i nvolved in its proceedings as well. The art and science of war transformed into highly technological endeavor by the time, the world entered into the terminal years of the 20th century. The major economic powers of the world managed to develop and perfect their nuclear technology by late 1990s and therefore, the world’s ability to destroy itself grew substantially over the past decade. In the view of political specialists, the probability of war has

Conflict & Intra-professional Relationships at the Workplace Research Paper

Conflict & Intra-professional Relationships at the Workplace - Research Paper Example Workplace conflict has long been viewed as an all negative thing, but the truth is that it is neither all positive nor all negative; it has both positive and negative implications (Masters & Albright, 2002; Duddle & Boughton, 2007). Conflicting intra-professional relations, however, increase the level of job stress among workers. Many studies have verified this (Healy & McKay, 2008 & McVicar, 2003). Different people use different coping strategies to manage workplace conflicts (masters & Albright, 2002). The way a workplace conflict is handled is the actual determinant of whether the effects of the conflict will be positive or negative. Perception of conflict is a subjective behavior and varies from person to person, but this perception is a factor that affects the coping strategy to be used greatly (McVicar, 2003). Like all fields of work, workplace conflict and conflicting intra-professional relations are also present in the field of nursing. In fact, one study by Hutchinson and co lleagues (2006) also confirms the presence of Bullying in a sensitive profession like nursing. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of conflict and intra-professional relationships in the field of nursing by presenting a critique of two prescribed journal articles in the same field. Almost, J. (2006). ‘Conflict within nursing work environments: concept analysis’. Journal of  Advanced Nursing, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 444-453.   This article is by Joan Almost, who is a faculty member of nursing at the University ty of Toronto, Canada. Titled ‘Conflict within nursing work environments: concept analysis’, this article was accepted for publication on the 27th of July, 2005; and was published in the Journal of Athe advanced Nursing in 2006, volume 53, issue 4. The article is based on a theoretical literature review of available academic material on workplace conflict within nursing, aimed at explaining and exploring the process of workplace conflic t. The data was collected by searching for some popular online academic databases for relevant articles submitted in the last 25 years.

Sensitivity analysis between three companies Term Paper

Sensitivity analysis between three companies - Term Paper Example Assessments at this level are those with inputs for both extreams oil prices, gas prices, percentage royalty and the NGL prices that are not grounded in real life market data. Trilogy Company has the highest upper limit values of oil price and gas prices than ARC and RMP respectively. Conversely, Trilogy has the highest percentage of income incurred, following the high level of royalty in the data sheet. The NPV for the underlying cash flows at a discount rate of 10% is equivalent to zero implying that the series of prevailing cash will yield precisely 10%. Moreover, as discount rates of Trilogy Company upturn higher than underlying 10%, the corresponding venture becomes less treasured. The net present value of ARC resources would be higher because there is no discounting rate applied to the project. Without discounting, it is economically approved that the project is possible and can be carried to term (Munier, Nolberto, Fernando and Diego 98). On the other hand, with a discount rate negligible amount correspondingly there is a rationalization for the project to be accomplished. Nevertheless, with a great discount rate of the costs offset the discounted benefits, signifying the project should not continue. Thus, in this situation of ARC, Trivoly and RMP, the case is viable to be continued to completion. Munier, Nolberto, Saez, Fernando, & Diego, Marta. Project Management for Environmental, Construction and Manufacturing Engineers: A Manual for Putting Theory into Practice. Dordrecht, NY: Springer,

647 W6D Project metrics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

647 W6D Project metrics - Essay Example The two most effect project metrics are retrospective metrics and diagnostics metrics. 1. Diagnostic Metrics: These are drawn from the existing information to analyse the current situation of the project. Using this metric, project managers may detect anomalies or forecast risks that might surface in the future (Kendrick, 2003). Diagnostic and retrospective metrics are used when the project is running and can be used to solve issues there and then. Diagnostic metrics alert the project managers regarding risks that are emerging during the course of the project. Retrospective metrics provide conclusions to the project reports and tell the managers if there are any risks expected in the future. Both types of metrics make the processes more efficient and risk free. Scarlat. E. et. al, n.d, ‘Indicators And Metrics Used In The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM),’ Department of Informatics and Economic Cybernetics, Acessed online, < http://www.ecocyb.ase.ro/20124pdf/Emil%20Scarlat%20%28T%29.pdf

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economics - Essay Example One of the unique things I have witnessed is the nature of people who buy collectible such as sports cards or movie posters. This essay examines applied economic principles to the nature of collecting and selling collectibles. Analysis The nature of the collectible marketplace is a notable economic phenomenon. Generally people usually buy things because they have an easily identifiable reason. For instance, people buy groceries because they have to eat, and they buy shampoo because they have to clean their hair. This is different for collectibles where the reason people purchase certain things is oftentimes mysterious. People note that they collect oftentimes for enjoyment (Yumeka). But still, why would one person be willing to pay thousands of dollars for a piece of cardboard with Mickey Mantle’s picture on it, but not be willing to pay $10 dollars for just a piece of cardboard? To a large degree economic analysis offers answers to these questions of collectible prices. The o verarching area of understanding collectibles is through Mankiw’s principles. One of the Mankiw’s economic principles is that, â€Å"Markets Are Usually a Good Way to Organize Economic Activity† (â€Å"Principles of Economics†). When considering collectible prices it’s clear they are a direct reflection of the market. As indicated above the reasons people desire to buy collectibles is out of a personal or sentimental connection to the object they are buying. For instance, it’s noted that people oftentimes baseball cards because they are seeking to reconnect with the memories they had during their childhood (Douglas). Certain types of card then take on greater personal and sentimental value for people. A Mickey Mantle baseball card will carry with it a lot more sentimental value than a baseball card by a less popular player. According to Mankiw then, the invisible hand of the market will guide the price of this card in relation to the amount the market is willing to pay for it. Another important consideration is Mankiw’s principle that â€Å"People Respond to Incentives† (â€Å"Principles of Economics†). Within the collectible market this is an important principle that influences price and collector involvement. While people oftentimes are drawn to buying collectibles because they have an interest in the specific item, there is also the hope for many people that the item they buy will increase in value. It’s noted that baseball cards have been considered a viable alternative to investing in stocks (Bullock). In these regards, the collectibles market is made complicated as people who buy the item out of personal interests and people who buy it out of economic interests clash and combine. Consider the nature of a very rare movie poster. While the poster may not be as attractive as a poster one could purchase from Wal-Mart, it still sells for a considerable amount more money. This is related to Mankiw’s principle of incentives in part because people recognize that there are some people who desire the poster for a personnel connection to it; however, they also recognize that since the poster is rare there is only a limited quantity. In this way people are willing to buy the poster because they will be able to sell it to others at a premium because the poster is not easily found. Conclusion In conclusion, this essay has examined the phenomenon of collectible sales in terms of two of

What is appealing and not appealing about law enforcement and what is Personal Statement

What is appealing and not appealing about law enforcement and what is the philosophy of law enforcemnt - Personal Statement Example I will become a part of a special breed of people whom the public places their infinite trust in when it comes to matters of security. I will be able to repay the country that has given me food and shelter all of my life by insuring its safety against domestic and international threats. However, there is something that tends to make this career the least appealing to me as well. That is the fact that each time I put myself out there as a law enforcement officer, there is a real danger that I could get killed by the same security threats I am protecting the public against. However, each day that I survive, those who know me will consider me a hero because I put other peoples safety and security ahead of my own safety. The Philosophy of Law Enforcement is something that cannot be clearly defined by one person as it is a term that must constantly evolve with the local and national security needs of our times. My opinion is that the philosophy is based upon the need to maintain peace and order within our communities. This is done by insuring that law enforcers work with the community to resolve threats to the safety and security of the community. After all, insuring the laws are enforced and respected is a community responsibility shares by the law enforcers with those living within their

Race and Ethnicity Essay Example for Free

Race and Ethnicity Essay Please show how Segregation shaped the lives of African Americans during the time frame 1870-1920. Please examine all faucet of society under slavery to support your argument. In the year of 1870, it was the re invention of slavery. America could not be built without economic. The south was still a negative place and they failed to accept blacks. After decades of discrimination, the voting rights act of 1965 aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that denied blacks to vote under the 15th amendment. The 15th amendment in 1870 gave African Americans the right to vote. The constitutional amendment passed after the civil war that it guaranteed blacks the right to vote. It affected not only freed slaves in the south but the blacks that were living in the north who was not allowed to vote(3). The amendment was favored by the Republican Party; since the votes of the slaves helped the party dominates national politics in the years after the war. During the same year, Hiram Rhodes Revels, who was a republican from Mississippi, became the first African American to sit in the United States congress when he was elected to the United States Senate. Millions of black men served in congress during reconstruction but more than 600 served in the states legislatures and many more held local offices(3). The Jim Crow laws were the era of struggle. The state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. In 1890, there was a â€Å"separate but equal† status for African Americans. Jim Crow laws followed the Black codes which restricted the civil rights and civil liberties of African Americans with no equality. During the reconstruction period, the federal law provided civil rights protection in the United States for the African Americans who had formally been slaves(1). In 1890, Louisiana required by law that blacks ride in separate railroad cars. The state of Louisiana passed a law that required separate accommodations for black and whites on railroads, including separate railway cars. Plessy attempted to sit in an all-white railroad car. After refusing to sit in the black railway carriage car, Plessy was arrested for violating in1890. Louisiana statute that provided for segregated â€Å"separate but equal† railroad accommodations. Those using facilities not designated for their race were criminally liable under the statute(4). Plessy was found guilty on the grounds that the law was a reasonable exercise of the state’s police powers based upon custom, usage, and tradition in the state. Plessy filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Louisiana against Ferguson, asserting that segregation stigmatized blacks and stamped them with a badge of inferiority in violation of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments(4). The case of Plessy vs. Ferguson was one of a combination of rulings passed by the U. S and the state Supreme Courts after reconstruction. Many of these decisions allowed and required Jim Crow segregation laws in southern states. At the highest level, the case was decided on May 18th in 1896, in favor of Ferguson and the state of Louisiana. The Supreme Court had given southern states all the permission they needed to let any remaining equality between the races fade away and be replaced by the Jim Crow laws standing(5). By the 1870s, many southern whites had resorted to intimidation and violence to keep blacks from voting and restore white supremacy in the region. Beginning in 1873, a series of Supreme Court decisions limited the scope of Reconstruction-era laws and federal support for the Reconstruction Amendments, particularly the 14th and 15th, which gave African Americans the status of citizenship and protection. The Compromise of 1877 occurred after the Presidential Election of 1876, when Congress formed the Electoral Commission to resolve disputed Democratic Electoral votes from the South. The republicans agreed to enact Federal legislation that would spur industrialization in the south. They agreed to withdraw federal soldiers from their remaining positions in the south(5). They did this to appoint democrats to positions in the south and to appoint a democrat to the president’s cabinet. The Compromise of 1877 effectively ended the Reconstruction era. The Southern Democrats promised to protect but the political rights of blacks were not kept. The end of federal interference in southern affairs led to widespread disenfranchisement of blacks voters(4). From the late 1870s, southern legislatures passed a series of laws requiring the separation of whites from persons of color on public transportation, in schools, parks, restaurants, theaters and other locations. These segregationist statutes governed life in the South through the middle of the next century, ending after the success of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. The migration was a watershed in the history of African Americans. It lessened their overwhelming concentration in the South, opened up industrial jobs to people who had up to then been mostly farmers, and gave the first significant impetus to their urbanization. The black migration began in the 1890s as African Americans left for cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and New York(8). The single largest movement of African Americans occurred during World War I, when people moved from rural areas and small towns in the South to cities in the North and the East. Even in the North, blacks encountered violence at the hands of whites, who resented competition for jobs and black economic success. Segregation and discrimination in housing, education, and jobs was pervasive in the North as well. From 1916, more than six million blacks left the South for other regions of the United States. Over the next fifteen years, more than one tenth of the countrys black population would voluntarily move north. The Great Migration lasted until 1930. This was the first step in the full nationalization of the African American population(2). The Klu Klux Klan is the oldest organization. During this time 1920’s, there were still 85 percent of African Americans in the south. The Klan was created in 1871 by the Democratic Party to prevent African Americans from voting the 15th Amendment. The Klan also became Americans 1st terrorist group and became an institutional part of American life and political colt. African Americans were intimidated and had fear towards the KKK. They hated blacks, republicans, Jews, etc(6). In the 1920s, many blacks had been brought to the south against their own will after the success of the northern states during the Civil War. Also, after the freeing of the blacks from slavery in 1865, a group was established which was designed to spread fear throughout the black population that still lived in the southern states. Most of the hatred was directed against the poor black families in the south who were very vulnerable to attack(6). The white hooded KKK burnt churches of the black population, murdered, raped, castrated etc. They were rarely caught as most senior law officers in the South were high ranking KKK men. White people who were in contact with any blacks had a reason to fear the KKK because they would be after them as well for being what they called â€Å"nigga lovers†(6). The Black Americans tried to fight back using non-violent methods. The NAACP asked Washington for new laws to help combat the KKK violence but received very little help. In the 1920’s Black Americans started to turn to the â€Å"Back to Africa† movement which told blacks that they should return to their native America. This was started by Marcus Garvey but the whole movement faltered when he was arrested for fraud and sent to prison. If African Americans were to move back to Africa, they would be giving the â€Å"white America† exactly what they asked for(6). African Americans drew to church. Going to church brought everyone closer to God despite everything that was going on in the 1920’s. In 1865, blacks started to create independent black churches. The African Methodist Episcopal and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion churches claimed southern membership in the hundreds of thousands, far outstripping that of any other organizations. They were quickly joined in 1870 by a new southern-based denomination, the Colored (Christian) Methodist Episcopal Church. The church was founded by indigenous southern black leaders. Finally, in 1894 black Baptists formed the National Baptist Convention which was an organization that is the largest black religious organization still today in the United States(8). The blossoming of the Harlem Renaissance was during 1918 through 1937. Harlem is located just north of Central Park. Harlem formally was a white residential district but by the early 1920’s, it was the becoming of a virtually black city. Harlem was a catalyst for artistic experimentation and a nightly popular nightlife destination. This was also an economic opportunity in New York(8). The Harlem Renaissance was a phase of a larger new Negro movement that emerged in the early 20th century. The movement raised issues affecting the lives of African Americans through various forms of literature, art, and drama. Its influence spread throughout the nation and beyond that included writers and philosophers. Between the 1920’s and 1930’s, about 750,000 African Americans left the south and migrated to the north to take advantage of this movement. The Harlem Renaissance appealed to a mixture audience. The literature appealed to the African American middle class and to whites. Many critics point out that the Harlem Renaissance could not escape its history and culture. Its attempt to create a new one separates from the foundational elements of White, European culture. Social foundations of this movement included the great migration of African Americans from rural to urban areas(8). The Harlem Renaissance was exposure to the African American Art and culture. It is also unusual among literary and artistic movements for its close relationship to civil rights. The Harlem renaissance set the stage for the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and the 60’s. This was very much black culture exposure. The African American artists intended to express themselves freely, no matter what the black public or white public thought. Since the 1980s, New Orleans has been the area for a new school of jazz players, among them trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and his brothers, saxophonist Branford Marsalis and trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis. New Orleans has brought widespread attention to jazz and a new appreciation of the city and its jazz tradition(7). In the 1890’s it was the beginning of the Mississippi Delta Blues. The blues is the generation of American Music. By the 1900’s New Orleans Jazz was introduced. Jazz was first originally accepted in France before anywhere else. Jazz was played by whites and blacks. Both races played jazz together. Jazz was for the middle class African American people(7). In conclusion, during the years of 1870 and 1920, African Americans still encountered a lot of continued discrimination against blacks in American and the separation of race. Through the Jim Crow laws and the segregation, Blacks kept it together through religion, and even music. When looking back at our history, African Americans had a great deal to do with the shaping of America today. Bibliography 1) Jim Crow Law (United States [1877-1954]). Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 2) Primary Documents in American History. 15th Amendment to the Constitution: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs Services, Library of Congress). N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 3) Fifteenth Amendment. History. com. AE Television Networks, n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 4) Compromise of 1877. History. com. AE Television Networks, n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 5) Compromise of 1877. Information about The. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 6) The KKK and Racial Problems. The KKK and Racial Problems. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 7) A History of Jazz Music. A History of Jazz Music. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 May 2013. 8) Notes.

UK Legislation on Maritime Cultural Heritage

UK Legislation on Maritime Cultural Heritage How does current UK legislation define and value maritime Cultural heritage? Abstract The paper investigates UK maritime law with regards to its definition of maritime cultural heritage and the value placed upon this issue. Acts such as the 1973 Shipwrecks Act and the 1996 Treasure Act show that there are large gaps in UK maritime law and that the value placed upon maritime cultural heritage protection in the UK is lower than that placed upon commercial salvage concerns. In addition, international law has had little effect due to the UK rejection of the 2001 UNESCO Convention. Current events also show that the UK government is prepared to put commercial concerns before maritime cultural heritage protection. A survey is conducted to show the lack of knowledge in the UK regarding maritime law, but the desire from society for increased protection. Recommendations are made to scrap current legislation in order to put in new, unified legislation that offers blanket protection for wrecks. The proposal is similar to the current Swedish model of maritime cultural law. Historically, as one of the world’s foremost shipping and naval countries, Great Britain has a huge amount of maritime culture and heritage. In order to protect this heritage, there are a large number of laws in place. However, there is much discussion as to whether or not these laws adequately protect and value maritime cultural heritage above other concerns such as economics, politics, and land protection. The aim of this essay is to look at the current UK legislation and see how it defines and values maritime cultural heritage. This subject is important, because maritime cultural heritage is an important part of our society, and can give us a sense of pride in our nation’s achievements. Maritime cultural heritage is part of our national pride and identity – part of what it means to be English. With this in mind, it is important that this heritage is protected. The first section will consist of a literature review of UK maritime law and how it values maritime heritage. This will involve looking at a wide variety of government legislation from both the UK and worldwide law. The second section will continue a review of literature regarding how best to protect and guard maritime cultural heritage, and how these theories interplay with the law in practice. In order to gain an understanding of how the UK legislation compares to other maritime laws worldwide, there will be a comparison of UK law and policy with the policies of Australia and Sweden. These countries have been chosen along with the UK because of their significant maritime heritage. A news and views section will outline some of the recent issues and developments in maritime cultural heritage to show how legislation is currently being used in practice. This will include a look at the recent Spain vs. Odyssey conflict and its significance to the protection of maritime cultural heritage. The next section will include a survey so as to determine the public’s knowledge of current affairs within the UK regarding maritime cultural heritage. This will be a chance to understand the problems and advantages of maritime cultural heritage protection and law in today’s Britain. The penultimate section will outline recommendations on how, in light of the literature review findings and survey results, the current legislation could be changed to further protect maritime cultural heritage in the UK and worldwide. This may involve the changing of current laws or the creation of new laws with regards to maritime heritage protection. The last section will conclude all of the findings of the paper. Before the literature review begins, it is important to give a basic definition of what is meant by maritime cultural heritage, so that it can be understood what the protection of it means. This will also be useful to compare with how the UK and worldwide legislation defines maritime cultural heritage. One good definition of so-called ‘underwater cultural heritage’ is put forward by Sokal, who says that underwater cultural heritage: â€Å"†¦Refers to all remains of human activities lying on the seabed, on riverbeds, or at the bottom of lakes. It includes shipwrecks and other objects lost at sea, as well as prehistoric sites, sunken towns, and ancient ports that were once on the dry land and were eventually submerged due to climatic or geological changes.†[1] However, this does not fully cover maritime cultural heritage that has since been salvaged or put on display, as many of the most precious items have already. The reason for this is that it is generally understood that once artefacts are salvaged they are then governed under usual artefact and heritage law. The protection of the maritime heritage is to do with the maintenance and protection of relics that are underwater rather than those that have already been retrieved. [2] Although there is no standard definition of cultural heritage, many of the UN drafts and resolutions include terms such as â€Å"Objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea†. Although it is hard to fully decide what this should include, it is fairly clear that in the most basic sense underwater cultural heritage has to do with historical remains or evidence of human existence in any body of water around the world, particularly if that evidence is of cultural significance.[3] In the next section this definition can be compared to the definition of maritime cultural heritage put forward in UK legislation. The problem at present is that our maritime cultural heritage is protected by an assortment of UK legislations, none of which were specifically designed or created for the sole purpose of protecting and conserving our maritime cultural heritage. This means that only around sixty sites have been protected of an estimated thirty or forty thousand in the UK. This is because the laws are heavily value laden, and this diminishes any powers of protection offered. One of the earliest laws related to cultural heritage is the Ancient Monuments Act of 1882. This act was put in place so that ancient monuments could be ‘guarded’ or looked after by the people who own them, and also so that the government could potentially buy monuments that they felt needed better protection. Although this act sets a good early example in that it lists punishments for potential defacers of such monuments, there is a significant loophole. Anyone who owns such a monument but has not been given the title of ‘guardian’ of that monument is not liable to such punishments. This means that anyone who takes possession of or owns a piece of heritage or monument could in fact use it for commercial purposes or sell its valuable parts without punishment, so long as they had not been officially labeled as a guardian of the monument. This is significant because it is likely that anyone who was labeled a guardian would have been given this title because of their commitment to the monument. Those unlabelled owners would be perhaps more likely to deface or use the monument, yet could escape punishment for doing so.[4] Another problem with this act is that it does not specifically mention maritime cultural aterfacts as being monuments, and talks more about land-based monuments and their maintenance. Although the act was updated in 1979, it still retained the core problem of determining what ‘monuments’ were in fact Only those monuments listed on a ‘schedule’ were truly protected by this law, meaning that thousands of locations of maritime cultural heritage were left out and exposed to harm.[5] One of the next acts to be created with regards to maritime cultural heritage is the 1949 Coastal Protection Act. This act is concerned with the maintenance and protection of land that is being encroached upon by the sea, to stop valuable pieces of land being destroyed by coastal erosion. The way in which this act helps to protect underwater cultural heritage is that permission is required in tidal waters to dredge or remove objects. This means that underwater heritage sites cannot be touched without permission. However, it also means that any works for maintenance of these sites requires permission, and may be refused if this work interferes with navigational safety in any way. Also, the main point of this act is to stop land destruction, and the prohibition of removal of materials does not specifically mention cultural artefacts. It also says that removal of minerals more than fifty feet below the surface is allowed. The act also offers no protection to artefacts or wrecks in non-tidal or inland waters, as these are not considered part of the realm of ‘coastal protection’. Again, whilst the Coastal Protection Act does make it harder for some artefacts to be removed, it also has many flaws because the act is not targeting cultural heritage protection.[6] Perhaps the first real attempt to create a law that takes into account cultural heritage sites is the 1973 Protection of Wrecks Act. This act when combined with the Ancient Monuments Act has helped at least 15 wrecks to be protected in parts of Scotland.[7] It has in total protected around 60 wrecks under section 1 of the Act. This act is an improvement on the Ancient Monuments Act because it does need have the requirement of scheduling a monument. Rather, for a wreck to be protected it needs to be of historical, archaeological or artistic value. The problem here of course is defining this ‘value’, and this is why so many wrecks have been ignored. There is no specific definition of what constitutes this artistic, historical or archaeological value, and in fact 2 items on the original list of 60 have been removed. This law is helping to protect culturally significant wrecks, but with its vague definition of what this means there are countless other wrecks not being protected. Another problem is that with the correct licenses people are still allowed to regularly dive with these wrecks, although not take anything away. The problem here is that there is potential for damage or removal of objects without the knowledge of those charged with guarding the wrecks if anyone with a correct license can b e allowed access to the wreck.[8] Another issue is that whilst the act stops designated wrecks being unduly disturbed, it does not mention anything with regards to the maintenance of such wrecks and how they are to be preserved for future generations – an integral part of maritime cultural heritage. In 1986 there came the Protection of Military Remains Act. The primary goal of this act is to prevent disturbance of human remains that are still present in military aircraft or vessels. This is an act that applies both to UK and international waters, although vessels of foreign origin only count within UK waters. The act categories places as either ‘protected’, where diving is allowed with a license, or ‘controlled’, where no-one is allowed to visit. The historic significance of a site is one of the most important criteria when deciding if a site is eligible for protected or controlled status under the law. Although there are currently 16 vessels protected by this law in UK waters and at least 5 more in international waters as of 2001, the major loophole is obviously that the sites are only being protected whilst the human remains stay at these locations. Once these remains are gone then under this law the vessels will not be offered protection. Also, the definition of what constitutes historical significance is not clear.[9] The Merchant Shipping Act of 1995 is somewhat different, and is based upon the 1989 International Convention on Salvage. This Shipping law states that all items of wreck found in UK waters must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck – an official of the British government. Once reported the person who finds the wreck then has rights of salvage. These rights of salvage mean that once reported, the wreck is to be detained by the Receiver until a valuation is completed, at which time the individual(s) who salvaged the wreck will need to pay up to  £5,000 to release the wreck into their custody. The government can then hold the vessel until an owner is established. However, the problem with this legislation is again that it was not designed with the protection of maritime cultural heritage at its core. Although it means that all wrecks, no matter their significance are reported, it also means that if no owner comes forward or is found the person who found the wreck has rights to it once the salvage costs are paid. Although the Receiver has the rights to refuse this salvage right, this has been rarely carried out in the UK, if at all. Another factor is that the entire legislation is concerned with property ‘value’ in money terms rather than any cultural or historical significance. Whilst a wreck may appear of little monetary value, it may be of significant cultural or historical interest. This law only helps maritime cultural heritage in the sense that more wrecks need to be reported. However, it does not help wrecks from being removed or taken into possession by those who salvage them, whatever their intentions are for the wreck.[10] However, the Treasure Act of 1996 is a law created to deal with artefacts collected or found, and has more significance for maritime cultural heritage protection. This act creates a legal obligation for anyone who finds an object of ‘treasure’ as defined in the act to report it to their local coroner within fourteen days. The coroner will then determine whether or not the item constitutes treasure. If the item is seen as treasure then the person who found it must offer to sell it to a museum at a price set by an independent board of antiquities experts. If the item is found to not be treasure or the museum does not want to purchase it, then the finder may retain the object. In this law, the definition of treasure is generally set out to deal with items that are gold or silver of at least ten per cent and precious coins that are at least 300 years old. Items that are older than 200 years and are deemed by the State to be of historical or cultural value are also included. The problem with this is that any item outside of the usual scope of ‘treasure’ can only be classed as treasure through a special order. This sort of order may only be granted in circumstances where significant cultural value is identified. Another problem with this law is that it does not really preserve heritage directly. It demands that any treasure found be valued and that a museum have to pay the full price for such treasure. This means that for extremely valuable items it may be beyond the means of museums to purchase everything. This leaves maritime cultural heritage in the hands of people who may only be interested in the monetary value of an item and have no desire to preserve the item beyond this. However, most significantly the law focuses on metallic items of over 300 years old and any other culturally significant items of over 200 years old. This means items under 200 years old may not be protected, and the wrecks where the treasure is found may be damaged or discarded in favour of collecting the treasure itself. It must be said that this law, like the Merchant Shipping Act, does mean that more treasure and historical items are reported and discovered, allowing museums the opportunity to collect more material than might be possible otherwise. However, it does also encourage those who actively seek treasure of value, for they know a price will be set for it. More emphasis in the law should be put upon the cultural and historical significance of the item. The flipside of this is of course that people are more likely to report treasure knowing they will get money for it, rather than just keep it for themselves.[11] The most important of recent UK laws in this field though is the National Heritage Act of 2002, which is an update of the 1983 Act. This act is important because it includes UK heritage agencies in the protection of ancient monuments in or under the seabed within the territorial sea adjacent to England. Wales and Scotland have similar administrative responsibilities in their devolved administrations under Cadw and Historic Scotland respectively.[12] This is a welcome law as it enables English Heritage to take over responsibility for maritime cultural heritage protection from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.[13] This means that the protection of monuments and promoting the public’s enjoyment and awareness of such monuments is all handled by one agency. Whilst there was obviously a transition period to move control from one agency to another, it has meant that archaeological sites from low water to the 12 nautical mile territorial limit around England are all dealt with by English Heritage.[14] Whilst this law is a step in the right direction by attempting to join up the laws governing maritime cultural heritage protection, the Acts themselves have too many gaps and too little direct focus on heritage protection to adequately protect our maritime cultural heritage. In addition to these UK laws however, cultural protection and heritage is governed by the UNESCO laws of 1972, 1981 and 2001. These laws have a significant influence on how cultural heritage is protected. The World Heritage Convention was adopted by UNESCO in 1972 and links nature conservation and preservation of cultural heritage. It helps to define the sort of sites that can be considered for the World Heritage List, and any country that signs the list pledges to protect not only their World Heritage Sites in their territory but their national heritage as a whole. By signing this list the UK has pledged to protect our national heritage, a large part of which is our maritime cultural heritage. However, it is the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention that really began to create a universal concept and law of maritime cultural protection. It is Articles 303 and 149 of this law that are of most interest. Article 303 says that ‘States have the duty to protect objects of an archaeological and historical nature found at sea and shall co-operate for this purpose’. [15] One problem with this part of the law is that it does not give any details of what these duties might involve. The law also says that it is not in contradiction or prejudice to any other international agreements on cultural protection, thus leaving the way open for future laws such as the 2001 convention. Article 149 says that: â€Å"all objects of an archaeological and historical nature found in the Area [that is, on the seabed underneath the high seas] shall be preserved or disposed of for the benefit of mankind as a whole, particular regard being paid to the preferential rights of the State or country of origin, or the State of cultural origin, or the State of historical and archaeological origin†. The problem with this is that the law is limited to the high seas, and there is a large gap between the high seas and the zones such as the contiguous zone closer to territorial waters.[16] As the most comprehensive of all the international maritime laws, it is a surprise that only two sections are linked to cultural protection. The problem is that these issues were only discussed at a late stage and the primary focus of the law is on fishing, the environment and trade. This law was ratified by 146 nations and came into effect in 1994. Of those nations that did not accept initially such as the USA, much of this was to do with deep seabed mining and other natural resource management concerns rather than with the issue of underwater cultural heritage – most likely because the Convention had so little in it about this topic.[17] However, it wasn’t long after this that new draft resolutions began to deal with the future of underwater cultural heritage, as it was felt that not enough was being done to deal with this issue. There was to be a look at cultural management, and these draft resolutions culminated in the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.[18] This law was certainly needed, for the 1982 law was an ambiguous and rushed attempt to deal with underwater cultural heritage protection. The problem is that past 24 nautical miles there is little protection for cultural heritage in the 1982 law, and the protection of cultural heritage is then left up to the freedom of the open seas.[19] The 2001 Convention was adopted by 87 votes for to 4 against, with 15 abstentions. However, in these 15 abstentions were the UK, and at the time the US was not part of UNESCO and so could not vote. This immediately causes problems, as although the UK has adopted the 1989 Salvage Convention, they have not adopted the 2001 Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention. The reason for this is that the 2001 Convention actually attempts to provide blanket protection for all maritime cultural heritages, and the way in which State vessels and warships were to be protected was different to the plans of the UK. Britain has such a huge amount of wrecks that it has been felt that only those of the most significance should be focused on. If this Convention were signed then all wrecks of any historical or cultural significance would need to be protected. Britain believes that diverting resources to the most important wrecks and then educating people about maritime cultural heritage is more important. [20] However, this is not a view that the researcher ascribes to, as it seems extremely important that we preserve our entire maritime cultural heritage so that we may understand both the good and bad events that Britain has been a part of. Funding is obviously integral to this, and perhaps at this time it has not been possible for Britain to offer such large resources to the protection of all wrecks. Whilst this may be monetarily prudent, it may prove to be a costly mistake in the future as wrecks continue to be salvaged without consideration for the protection of cultural heritage. The law itself is having an effect on our cultural heritage protection though as the UK becomes increasingly pressured to meet the demands of this convention and give blanket protection to historical wrecks. The problem with this though is obviously providing resources to meet these demands, which may result in protection resources being spread too thin. Also, blanket protection of all wrecks may result in us being too nostalgic about certain aspects of our maritime cultural heritage, in particular the perspective our Britain’s associations with the sea during times of conflict. It is questionable as to whether significant amounts of money should be spent on protecting all historically significant wrecks, even if these wrecks were associated with darker activities and times in our history.[21] However, the 2001 convention doesn’t offer nearly as much protection as it first seems. The fact that there is a 100 year minimum time limit on artefacts excludes a lot of more recent wrecks that may be historically or culturally significant, such as the Titanic and wrecks from World War 1 and World War 2. This fact was made abundantly clear when the wreck of the Titanic was uncovered in 1985 and it became apparent that there was no way to protect it from salvage. With more advanced equipment today the problem is even greater, and anything under 100 years old is simply not adequately protected by the law. [22] Despite this, the law does have some good points. It aims at a universal plan of in situ preservation of wrecks, meaning they are less open to invasive procedures that would damage their condition and prevent us studying them in detail in the future. Another very important aspect of the Convention is in Article 4 which declares that the rules of salvage and finds will not be applicable to underwater cultural heritage. Although salvors do not obtain ownership rights, they gain the right to large compensation. This means that anything labeled as underwater cultural heritage cannot be sold commercially or traded. [23] Of course, the major problem with this law is its ineffectiveness unless more nations sign onto it. With the UK not accepting its terms it means that whilst the UNESCO Convention is good in principle, it cannot particularly influence UK law at this stage. The UK still looks to the Protection of Wrecks Act as the way to preserve cultural heritage. However, should more nations accept the Convention then this would surely be a major step towards further protecting the maritime cultural heritage of all countries. Just like the 1982 Convention, acceptance of this Convention would help reduce piracy and crime that damages maritime cultural heritage.[24] The problem with all of the laws in the UK and the rejection of the 2001 UNESCO Convention is that there is a lack of value placed upon maritime cultural heritage. The next section will briefly examine how, despite efforts to promote maritime cultural heritage protection, the UK laws still place little value on this concept above financial concerns and traditional property rights and salvage law. An example of how maritime law in the UK fails to focus on maritime cultural heritage preservation can be found in a study conducted by Mike Williams, a senior law studies lecturer at Wolverhampton University. Williams found that in places like the south-west of England, the rights to a wreck were based upon non-law conventions such as rights based on being able to see out to the distance that the wreck is from the shore. Although Williams show that Britain does know the importance of underwater cultural heritage and that is why it adopted the Valetta Convention, the Shipwrecks Act of 1973 has many flaws. It does not include protection for items that are not ships such as wrecks of Warplanes, and it stops people from having access to historical sites, which almost defeats the point of protecting them. The problem is that salvors can still claim possession of such historical wrecks, as seen by the 1990’s case of the Hanover, which was designated a wreck after discovery because it was supposed to carry gold. The salvors took the government to court and won the right to salvage. This shows the law is does not value cultural heritage as much as the traditional rights of salvage.[25] The fact is that when on land, historical artefacts are protected much better than those in the water. Although there have been a number of shipwrecks or maritime archaeological remains found on land, this is rare and the core of our maritime cultural heritage is beneath the water.[26] The problem can be seen in the cases where politicians get involved to try and protect wrecks or bring them to the attention of the public. This is necessary because the law itself, or at the very least the application of the law, is not focused on maritime cultural heritage. A case in 2002 was highlighted when Baroness Blackstone called for protection from the law for the 18th century warship the Bonhomme Richard. Although this wreck was eventually protected thanks to an urgent Designation Order under the Protection of Wrecks Act, it is only because of quick work by the Baroness that this occurred. The issue was that if salvors had got to the wreck first there was little the law could have done to prevent their rights of possession. If more value was placed upon cultural heritage protection in the law, then these temporary emergency measures would not be needed to protect important historical sites such as that of the Bonhomme Richard.[27] Another problem occurring in the UK system is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find new and profitable uses for the port system. This means it is becoming harder to maintain these avenues of maritime cultural heritage, an example of which can be seen in the collapse of the coal ports in South Wales. The problem is that a balance between economic viability and cultural heritage is trying to be created. With architecturally important yards such as the Royal William Yard in Plymouth being left unused, it is becoming hard to see how economics can mix with cultural heritage. At the moment it seems that the force of economics is winning out. [28] The state of law at the moment is that cultural heritage is still put behind economic concerns of both salvors and the government. The law still favours salvors, and the government is unwilling to change laws to protect all wrecks because it would be too costly at this time. Therefore, by protecting a small number of high-profile wrecks it can be seen that something is being done. However, this is not enough and until these laws are changed it is clear that protection for maritime cultural heritage in the UK will remain inadequate.[29] To show how the UK maritime laws compare to other countries in terms of valuing cultural heritage, the next section will look at the legislation on maritime heritage in Sweden and Australia against that of the UK. Australian maritime law is perhaps more focused on maritime boundary zones than on preserving cultural heritage.[30] After ratifying the 1982 UNESCO Law of the Sea in 1994, they also put in a 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone to help protect their interests around their complex shoreline.[31] However, this is not to say that Australian law doesn’t take into account maritime cultural heritage. The 2001 UNESCO Convention has had an effect on Australian law, although policies to protect cultural heritage in Australian waters have been in place for around 25 years. However, the problem in Australia is that only the Federal Government can help to initiate such changes as put forward by the Convention. This is difficult because it is the Territories who often put in practice many of the initiatives regarding cultural heritage protection. Despite this, in 2001 a promise to review the 1976 Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act would be put in place, although this has taken some time to complete. The Historic Shipwrecks Act works very much like the UK Shipwrecks Act in that it protects historic shipwrecks rather than other relics. The review since the 2001 UNESCO Convention would aim to change this so that all historical artefacts would be preserved. However, like the UK there is opposition to this from salvors as well as divers, with Australia being particularly popular with wreck divers. They believe that new laws would limit the access to wrecks for the general public. In truth, these ‘concerned’

Conflicting Perspective in The Great Gatsby Essay -- The Great Gatsby

The 1920s prove to be an era that brought around some of the greatest influences and some of the greatest controversies. In the 1920s, there began to be a schism in the beliefs of prohibition, personal freedoms, and class separation. Traditionalist believed that people were running ramped drink and being promiscuous. Modernists were out to seek personal freedoms, such drinking, sexual experimental, women coming out of their stereotypical roles of being reserved and prude. Classes divided because some people had inherited wealth and other had work hard to earn their money. In The Great Gatsby, a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, these controversies that divided the generations of the 1920s included prohibition, and the right to personal freedoms and compares and contrast new money versus old money and modernism versus traditionalism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In The Great Gatsby, there is social dividing line that separates the aristocracy and those who are â€Å"would be† aristocracy. That diving is visible as well as invisible. It is visible in the form of â€Å"West-Egg† and â€Å"East-Egg†, which are areas of Manhattan that are divided between the people with New Money, West-Egg, and the people have had money for generations, East-Egg. People of the east look down on the people of the west as gaudy in every aspect, their homes are over elaborate, as describe by the narrator Nick Carraway. â€Å"My own house was an eye – sore, but it was a small eye-sore and it had been overlooked† (9-10 Fitzgerald). But the homes of east were not described in such as way they were â€Å"the white palaces of fashionable East – Egg† (10 Fitzgerald). Thus dividing in such a way that was as visible as the sound that ran between them. A more invisible dividing line was the snobbish way that Tom Buchanan treated everyone. He dismissed his own wife at times, to go and be with his mistress, whom he treated like property. Tom, one day on the way into New York, forces Nick off the train into the Valley of the Ashes, to go and retrieve his mistress. Demandingly Tom says to Myrtle â€Å"I want to see you†¦ Get on the next train† (30 Fitzgerald). And that was that no contestation, Nick stood there almost dumbfounded, and the arrogance of Tom was very apparent. This was a display that drew an invisible in between the people of East In 1920 the 18th amendment came into effect, outlawing and banding the sale, ma... ...en and women about sexual dangers of sexual activity and the value of â€Å"social purity†(Henretta 651). The thought was that the more people knew about the risks of their personal freedoms that they might choose to take a more traditionalist approach to the choices. But the modernist of their era continued their promiscuity and even created some birth controls, which was aided by Margaret Sanger. People continued to do what they please and then prohibition was repealed by the 21st amendment. The 1920s brought to society the things people may have felt but could not due to social constraints. Prohibition allowed people to go out and find the alcohol, since it could not be found elsewhere. Personal freedoms such as drink and sexual experimentation were expressed in full force of the modernists. There was a very aristocratic approach to the way people viewed and treated other people, there was much class segregation. That segregation was due to new money versus old money and traditionalism versus modernism. The twenties was a â€Å"roaring† era full of new ideas, gadgets, gismos, consumer items, drinking, sex, and fast-paced times. An era that has shaped the way the United States is today.

Varying Definitions of Community Essays -- Definition Essays

Varying Definitions of Community Being enrolled here at State University, one is a part of a community, a type of give and take community between both the elite student and knowledgeable professor.   The students enroll in this community by choice, and all of them share a common goal of success and wanting to grow and prosper through the community experience.   Today's version of the word community differs from past years and probably from how the word will evolve in the future.   In the examining of different dictionaries on the word â€Å"community† one can find that the meanings are very similar, yet they also have some slight variations. The community here at Michigan State University is a good example of the word community.   This example is especially prevalent in this definition of the word from The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary where it states a community being "a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society <the academic community>".   This is exactly the type of community we have here at MSU.   In looking at the numerous definitions in The Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition, it was obvious in that all of the definitions re-ascertained the same type of meaning that was in BOLD text among all of the rest.   The overall put together definition from all of the definitions found in this particular source was described as a "social group with different members who dwell in the same place and share some sort of common ground" (Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition) this definition stands true to our Michigan State community.   The definiti on also takes on a surprisingly different meaning in some of the older reference sources.   Having never seen such a definition ... ... meaning still remains the same.   People talk about community and getting involved in the community all of the time.   The people talking always revert back to the basic definition, and that's usually what they're talking about†¦Getting involved, or just plain old talking about (good or bad) the group of people whom live in the same area as they do, who share some of the same common interests as they do and hopefully, in the end, are always trying to better it day by day. Works Cited *   "Community".   A Dictionary of American English.Volume I.Sir William A. Craigie.1897. *   "Community".   The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 11th edition. 14 Nov. 2004.http://www.m-w.com/. *   "Community".   Nouveau Dictionnaire Anglais-Francais. J. McLAUGHLIN. 1914 *   "Community".   The Oxford English Dictionary Second Edition.Volume III.J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner.1989.

Story-telling in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club and Mother Journeys :: comparison compare contrast essays

Story-telling in The Joy Luck Club and Mother Journeys      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "Beginning with Gussie," Maxine Kumin's short story from the anthology Mother Journeys, has a central issue similar to that in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club: the need for transference of stories from mother to daughter. These two works have quite a few similarities, despite the fact that they are tales about very different cultural traditions. Is the cultural difference important? Or do these works reflect a universal truth about story-telling between mothers and daughters?    First of all, what are some of the similarities and differences between these works? Like Jing-mei Woo, Rebecca does not learn the full story of her mother's past until her mother has died. The past of both mothers involves children born before the daughter to whom the story is told; these earlier children were left behind because of the circumstances in which the mother found herself at that time. In both these instances, the stories are told by others who wish the daughter to understand the mother more fully; both stories seem to give the daughter a better understanding of herself as well as of her mother.    Story-telling may be even more central in The Joy Luck Club, with the stories told as lessons throughout the daughters' young lives. But "Beginning with Gussie" also demonstrates that the daughters know about their mothers' past experiences: Tweedie knows the story of the romance between her mother and father; Rebecca knows her parents' story though she doesn't learn the whole of her mother's story until her mother's death.    Another similarity is that Gussie's reason for telling her story to her granddaughter Tweedie is akin to the reason Ying-Ying decides she must tell her story to her daughter Lena: both are concerned about the choices being made by the daughter/granddaughter, choices that they see as too similar to their own past mistakes. Gussie ends her story to granddaughter with "And thus, Tweedie, while I cannot applaud your reliving my history, I am deeply happy to think that my genes are being handed on. Modified, broadened, no doubt improved upon." (Mother   274, in Mother Journeys) Ying-Ying thinks to herself, as she determines to tell the story of her past to Lena, "How can I leave this world without leaving her my spirit? So this is what I will do. .

Promoting Unity

We have been an independent nation for more than 70 years. In the early years of the post independence era, the various races worked hard to develop the country. The progress that we see and enjoy today would not have been possible if not for the hard work of our forefathers. As the older generations would attest, race or religion was never an issue. Our country was, in fact, a fine example to the world on how racial and religious tolerance should be. However, of late, there have been some disturbing developments that threaten our unity in diversity. The time has come to find ways and means to strengthen relations between the various races and prepare ourselves to face the multiple challenges as our nations progresses. Racial unity should begin at home. Since parents are closest to their children, they should be at the forefront and sow the seeds of racial and religious tolerance among children. Parents should encourage their children to mix freely with their peers of other races and religions. This will allow children to understand the different traditions and cultures and be tolerant of those from other faiths and beliefs. Once parents are able to instill values of racial and religious tolerance among their children, it will take off naturally. Schools are the best places for students of different races to mingle freely without prejudice and suspicion. Students should learn about the different festivals their friends celebrate, their rites and rituals and their places of worship. It is only when they understand how others live will they also know how to treat them with respect and understanding. There are numerous activities in schools that provide opportunities for children to integrate such as sports and competitions. The various festivals celebrated by the different races are excellent opportunities to sow the seeds of unity. The concept of open houses is a unique feature that augments unity. The intermingling of the various races will contribute towards enhancing national unity. Despite more than 7 decades of independence, the country is still grappling with issues concerning race relationships. we must remember that these decades of nation-building can be erased if we allow racial tensions to build. Unity among the various races is vital for the progress of the nation as the saying goes, ‘Untied we stand, divided we fall

Blank HELB form

In the event that the loaned discontinues studies for whichever reason before full disbursement is made, the Board shall not disburse the remaining allocation and shall recall the loan so far as advanced in full together with the interest thereon. . The Board shall electronically, through the website, send to each loaned annual statement indicating the amount disbursed per each academic year or the outstanding balance as the case may be. The sums of the amount indicated in the statements shall form the principal loan to be recovered from the loaned.The contents of the statements shall be deemed to be correct unless a written complaint to the contrary is received by the Board within three (3) months from the date of the statement whereupon the Board shall either confirm the complaint or advise as the case may be. A statement may be furnished at NY time on request but at the loaner's expense. 5. Where it is discovered that the loan was granted due to false information furnished by the loaned, the Board shall withhold release of the amount yet to be disbursed if any, besides subjecting the loaned to prosecution. . The Board shall engage agents (Banks) who shall be responsible for the disbursement of the loans as shall be advised by the Board from time to time. 7. The loaned shall keep the guarantor appraised of the principal loan awarded and in the event that there is a conflict, the amount as held by the Board will prevail. 8. Where there is default by the loaned, the guarantor shall be bound to repay the loan, interest thereon, penalties, costs and any other charges accruing to the loan. 9.The loan shall be due for repayment one year after completion of the course studied or within such period as the Board may decide to recall 10. The loan shall be repaid by monthly installments or by any other convenient mode of repayment as shall be directed by the Board but subject to the provisions of the Higher Education Loans Board Act. 11. If the loaned defaults in the re payment of the loan when the loan is due, the whole amount shall be due and payable and the Anne shall be bound to pay other charges that may arise as a result of the default including but not limited to the Advocates fees and penalties. 2. The Board shall charge a penalty of Kiss. 5,OHO per month on any account that is in default. 13. Non demand for loan repayment and the accruing charges shall not in any way signify waiver of any amount rightfully due under the terms and conditions of the loan. 14. The applicant hereby consents that the Board shall share information pertaining to the loan account with credit reference bureaus or any other parties as deemed necessary. 15. The Board shall effect credit protection arrangement of the loan at the expense of the loaned. 16.In the event that the applicant receives additional finance assistance from any other source and the need to refund by the university arises such refund shall be made to the Board and the same shall be utilized toward s reducing or offsetting the loan. 17. No loan shall be disbursed unless this agreement form is signed. 18. The signature of the loaned shall certify the reading, understanding and being in agreement with the terms and conditions herein including certification. Loaner's Signature Authorized Signature(HELL) Date: 14/04/2011

Graduate Teacher Programme Essay

My passion in teaching children and young adults with diversified culture is attuned with my oral and written skills in the following languages: German, French, Spanish, Latin, and English. Early in life, I discovered that I have an innate ability to learn foreign languages and a keen interest in being with people with diverse nationalities. Though I am often regarded as a polyglot, there is nothing more fulfilling in my life than to be an effective educator. My interest in the field of education was confirmed when I started tutoring a young Vietnamese girl and working as an education coordinator of OBI, a DIY company in Germany. Although I will earn my first year of teaching experience in July 2009, the love of being with children and explaining their lessons in simple and well-organized manner has made my teachings useful, fun and easy to understand. In addition, I always inject a sense of humour to encourage active participation and to make the learning atmosphere relaxing and conducive to the individual differences of the young learners. I am fully aware that teaching is a challenging job but the intrinsic reward of awakening students’ interest and transforming them into a person capable of productively applying the knowledge that they have gained outweighs the challenges of this profession. In spite of being armed with the language proficiency skills that gave me the ability to speak English and four European languages, my desire to teach my native German language to young adults in the United Kingdom will only be possible upon the completion of the Graduate Teacher Programme of CILT. I am determined to earn a teaching credential in UK so I can teach and provide students with insights into my country’s history, culture and people. I believe that with my language skills, dedication to my profession, and the experiences that I have gained from my travel exposures, I am eligible for admission in this Graduate programme.

The Insider Essay

The Insider Ethics in the Capital Society Jeong Pyo Son 09/17/2012 Business Ethics Johns Hopkins University The Insider: Essay The Insider is a great example of the whistle blowing problem and way for us to discuss right – versus – right ethics. I would like to analyze the essay focusing on the two main characters and how they made their decisions when they are standing at their turning points. The main two characters are Jeffrey Wigand who is the whistle blower of Brown Williamson Corporation, and Rowell Bergman, who is a TV producer of the show 60 Minutes, who sets up an interview with Wigand, in the film.In the movie, I think both characters are facing defining moments. For Jeffrey, one right is consistent with his role as an honorable scientist who knows the misconduct his company is involved with; and the other is in his role as an executive member in his company who is obliged to keep confidentiality. His actions could impact a large number of stakeholders. Blowin g the whistle could have a serious impact on the company’s brand image. It would also affect competing companies since the problem involves the entire tobacco industry.Bergman is also frustrated because he is supposed to disclose the interview to the public as a producer but at the same time he is opposed by CBS, for the interview poses a high potential financial risk for the company. If CBS airs the film it could be liable for â€Å"tortuous interference† and be sued by Brown and Williamson. Eventually Wigand and Bergman both decide to become whistle blowers. So what factors would have made them make these decisions? The most difficult factor for Jeffrey making his decision is probably choosing between his personal/professional rights and duties.Personally he has a family to sustain. He has a mortgage to pay-off and has a sick daughter who needs expensive medical treatments. It was affordable for him to solve these problems while he was still working for Brown William son. He knows that by choosing to side with the press, revealing the dirty truth about his firm, his family’s safety would be put at stake. This is one of the major reasons why whistle blowing is particularly difficult for him. If he were alone, he would just have to worry about himself, but in this case he has to take responsible of his family.According to Sissela Bok(1980), although one is expected to show more loyalty to one’s country and for the public rather than other individuals or organizations, people are still afraid of losing their careers and the capability to support households. Emotionally, people want to dissent over wrongdoings, but they cannot do it rationally. It was as difficult for Bergman as Wigand to make his decision, but he only had his career at risk. His personal and professional values are centered on being an honest, straight forward journalist.These values conflict with his duties as an employee working for CBS, which might face a huge law suit if it airs the interview with Wigand that he has arranged. His whistle blowing was easier because he valued his career and his virtuous character more highly than his responsibilities to CBS, and he saw his character being destroyed in front of him by his company. People hold different values and reason about them in different ways. How did Wigand and Bergman think in philosophical terms we have learned in class?From a Utilitarian perspective, Wigand basically made the right choice. In the Utilitarian way of thinking, he needed to make decisions that could maximize the satisfaction, or happiness, or benefits for the largest number of stakeholders. (Hartman & DesJardins, 2011). In that case, his actions could be regarded as a success since he let the public know the truth and the benefit to the public would be greater than that to the company if he were not to disclose the inside information. It is the same for Bergman in making his decision.Insisting on airing the interview mig ht cause trouble for CBS, and certainly would damage the reputation of Brown and Williamson and the tobacco industry but along with Wigand he chose to reveal the truth to the world. Does the deontological way of thinking apply to Wigand’s decision? Deontology is a matter of principle. Legally thinking, Wigand broke the law for not keeping the confidentiality of his company. Even if the information he held was lethal to the public, a law is still a law and it is a principle promised in the society. It is mentioned n the textbook that the Deontological way of thinking creates duties for the person to follow. (Hartman & DesJardins, 2011) But Wigand not only has a duty as an executive who is banned from opening his mouth; he also has a duty as a father and as a scientist. His role in his family as a father is to maintain a secure household. Facing the company would leave his family in danger. Also his duty and principle as a scientist collides with his role as an employee in his company. It was one of the reasons he got fired from his company too.In this Deontological way of thinking, Bergman did not really have to have inner conflicts as Wigand because he did not break any important ethical principles. Although, he would have felt guilty for leaking information to another press, he still maintained his principle as a journalist to publish the facts out in the public. Also he did not have major damages for his family too. His wife is working in the same industry and would have understood him for his decisions. So did Wigand value his personal integrity more than his family and loyalty to his company?Can we say he is a good person and made the right decision? According to Kidder(1995), kind people make tough decisions too. Although their values are clearly defined, it is difficult for people to find the right thing to do. There is a good example introduced in the article of Kidder. A manager is taking charge of a broadcasting filming scene taken at his compa ny parking lot. After the film shooting was over, the film director tried to credit the manager for helping them borrow the location. The manager now is facing a decision making situation whether he should receive credits on behalf of the company or not.Kidder(1995) said, â€Å"For him, it was hardly that simple because of his core values of honesty, integrity, and fairness, and his desire to avoid even the appearance of evil. All in all, he felt that there was some right on both sides, which it was right for him to be compensated. †This explains that even when someone has a strong self integrated value; it is still tough for him or her to make ethical decisions. This also applies to Wigand and Bergman. Joseph Bardaracco(1997) made a term â€Å"Defining Moments† to illustrate the choice of right-versus-right problem. There are 3 characteristics of Defining Moments which are Reveal, Test, and Shape.Bardaracco(1997) said, â€Å"Right-versus-right decision can reveal a m anager’s basic values and, in some cases, those of an organization. At the same time, the decision tests the strength of the commitments that a person or an organization has made. Finally, the decision casts a shadow forward and shapes the character of the person or the organization. † So how did Wigand and Bergman decide their defining moments for the decision? Wigand was a person of honesty; however he was forced to keep the secret from his company. His family wanted to keep the secret and live safely.But after he and his family got threatened by Brown and Williamson, he decides to step out to the public. He thought Bergman and the press were on his side, so he got his courage to take action. This was Wigand’s defining moment and after it was finished, he needed some time to shape himself because his whole family had left him. After the defining moment passed, Wigand became a truthful and honest scientist as he wished to be from the beginning. In case of Bergma n, we could say that he already shaped his character relating this issue since the beginning of the movie. He was a professional journalist with integrated value of honesty.Unlike Wigand, he did not have much inner conflicts about making his decision. He argued with the CBS board members and revealed the interview to other presses and he was not as serious as Wigand making his decision. His priority was airing the interview and he had to make it happen as an honest journalist. In conclusion, I was very interested to discuss about this subject with this movie because I was grown in a family associated with the press. Both of my parents are journalists and I have seen them discuss about this subject once in a while. I thought that I should ask them when their defining moments were next time I meet them.It also made me think when my defining moments were and how they shaped my character. As Pinker(2008) questioned in his article about the Universal Morality, everyone’s moral val ue is different after our stirrings of morality emerge early in childhood. We all make decisions in our own life with our principle and value that has been shaped by defining moments. It is time for me to think what my true values are in my life. References Badaracco, J. (1997) Defining moments, when managers must choose between right and right. (pp. 5-24). Harvard Business Press. Bok, S. (1980). Whistleblowing and professional responsibility.In Donaldson, T. , & Werhane, P. H. (2008). Ethical issues in business, a philosophical approach. (8 ed. , p. 128,131). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Hartman, L. P. , & DesJardins, J. (2011). Business ethics: Decision making for personal integrity and social responsibility. (2 ed. , pp. 109-110). New York, NY: McGraw-Hll. Kidder, R. (1995). How good people make tough choices. (1st ed. , pp. 24-25). New York, NY: Fireside. Kidder, R. (1995). How good people make tough choices. (1st ed. , pp. 26). New York, NY: Fireside. Pinker, S. (2008, 01 13). Th e moral instinct. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com

How to become a good leader Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

How to become a good leader - Essay Example A lot of researches have been done to understand the definition and essence of leadership, to identify the differences between the managers and the leaders. Management of organizational behavior defines leaders as the "Men and women who saw the need for action, believed in what they were doing, inspired others and, in spite of incredible odds, changed the world." (Hersey, Blanchard & Johnson, 1). Many theories and meanings of leaders and leadership have been developed throughout the world. All these theories have not been providing with same results however they do agree on certain grounds. All the theories agree that a leader has a clear set of goals and is capable of setting examples. He is a person with strong beliefs and vision for the future. A leader bravely voices his opinions and takes actions on his beliefs and passions. Leadership is a quality or ability that a person possesses to influence and guide others. There are various theories that define and explain leadership. The major ones are the Trait theory, Behavioral theory, Contingency theory and the Transformational theory. The Traits theory identifies certain traits or behavior in a person. This theory believes that human are born with the traits of becoming a leader. The theory suggests that if a person posses the specified traits he is a leader. The Behavioral theory suggests that leaders have a specific behavior towards their followers and that makes them distinct from others. This theory specifies the style and the behavior of the leaders. The contingency theory acts as the critic of the above theories and specifies that the styles and the traits of the individuals can be different in different dynamic situations. This theory suggests that the leaders are defined by their activities and abilities. The characteristics or the behaviors cannot be defined or specified. The transformational theory stresses on the effective interaction of the leaders with their

Research Paper on the film No Country For Old Men Essay

Research Paper on the film No Country For Old Men - Essay Example Using the critical mythological approach in analyzing the film’s content and how the events lead to one another, it is possible to entertain the existence of strong or invincible people despite having the fragile nature of humans, and how differing ideas regarding higher beings, destinies or fate, and the laws of the universe control the thoughts and viewpoints of individuals, which are also universal themes seen in older or classical stories. Evasion of and Facing People, Circumstances, and Death Some of the most compelling stories include parts wherein the main protagonist escapes getting hunted down and killed by adversaries, of having the need to face the enemies, and the possibility of ending up dead. This is an archetypal storyline of heroes and their adventures or quests, which in a way builds the heroic character and nature of the main protagonists (Guerin 153). ... rchetypal predisposition, wherein there is an evasion of circumstances when a hero initially stops to think and plan, to meditate or do retrospective thinking in order to transform and become better (Guerin 166). On the other hand the need to face people, circumstances and death as the consequence of events are shown in Moss’s unexpected death not from Chigurh but from a group of Mexicans shows how he faces death as the circumstance of seeing the results of a drug deal gone wrong and holding on to money he does not rightfully own right from the start, of Chigurh facing divine punishment after getting hit by a car and nearly dying right after scenes imply that he killed Moss’s wife, Carla Jean, and of Sheriff Bell having to face the reality that he has to let go of some things and move on with his life as his retired uncle explains to him(â€Å"No Country†).While not in their entirety seen as an adventure or heroic story, the individual lives of Moss, Chigurh, and Sheriff Bell reflect similarities with the quests of mythical heroes, of which some may succeed such as Chigurh, some may fail such as Moss and his death, and some momentarily put it on hold such as Sheriff Bell’s thoughts on resignation. Invincibility and Weakness Invincibility and weakness are often bound to each other, and usually employed in some, if not most classical works to remind people that despite all perfections within humans there will always be a hint of a weakness to ground them as mere mortals (Guerin 153). The Coen Brothers exploited this archetypal image of invincibility and weakness in developing Chigurh, the main antagonist in No Country for Old Men. Chigurh’s character is the definition of a scary, amoral, and dangerous antagonist that cannot be persuaded to spare lives by any means

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Strategic Management - Essay Example GM has a brand name with Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn. Trucks, sport cars, sedans, and SUVs are made by GM. The recognition of the GM brand sets it above new automotive company competition. Another asset is GM’s resources. Money, automotive parts, factories, and stock allow GM to remain competitive worldwide. GM has spent millions on research for hybrids and other cars that run on alternative fuel, lower emissions, and safer products. This creates confidence in the GM product for the consumer population. External Analysis---The remote environment is promising for GM. The resources available to GM allow the company to comply with economic, social, political, technological, and ecological demands. The industry environment is no problem for GM. Entry barriers, supplier power, buyer power, substitute availability, and competitive rivalry are handled by GM’s strong foundation and brand name in the auto industry. The operating environment is more unstable. Customers, creditors, competitors, labor, and suppliers can be affected by a recession or high oil prices. GM will need to take this into consideration and make necessary changes accordingly. As long as GM continues to change in the face of adversity, produce quality products, and research alternative fuel sources, the company will make it through tough times and

Research proposal (research method) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research proposal (research method) - Essay Example This research would particularly determine the impact on the family after the institutionalization of the patient. Accordingly, the sample would be taken from at least ten different nursing homes. The family members of at least three patients who have been diagnosed with alzheimers from ten nursing homes would be mailed a letter inviting them to participate. There may be reluctance on the part of some of them to participate and comply with the research. Only those that have been institutionalized for over three months would be included in the research process because a minimum time is needed to determine the impact. The hospital authorities would first be approached to collect a list of the Alzheimer patients and then the family members who have been in regular contact with the patient contacted through mail. This would include primarily the children but if grandchldren too have been involved as seconday caregivers, they would be included. The questionnaires would be mailed to the caregivers as they may be reluctant to speak out or fatigue and depression may distort responses. It is assumed that they would be willing to give vent to their feelings in the settings of their own homes which would also help to maintain privacy. Data would be collected through self-completion questionnaires as this method of data collection allows the ability for unambiguous quantitative data to be collected (Redmond & Griffith 2003). This questionnaire wud be developed specifically for this study although guidelines may be adopted from previous studies. Wherever possible, family members that have been secondary caregivers would also be asked to complete the questionnaire in addition to the primary caregivers, which would help to corroborate the results. This would be particularly helpful for this research because it is essential to determine how the caregivers are affected after the