Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Health - Essay Example Addressing health impairment factors with substance abusers is called â€Å"Fear appeals†, the individual can be taught about the hazards involved in abusing drugs and explaining the entire bodily, mechanism that is hampered as a result of the drugs. In order to convey the message of the fear appeal, the substance abuser must be sober at that time and one another factor that would be more effective in dealing with the problem is not inducing excessive amount of fear in the client. If the fear appeal induces excessive fear the client is likely to suppress these unpleasant feelings as quickly as possible and though, for a short period of time he may quit substance abuse but the behavior may relapse once the fear subsides. Therefore, clinicians must exercise caution. 2. Would it make a difference how old the substance abuser is? Age is an extremely significant factor in determining the effects of addressing the health impairment factor. For instance, if the substance abuser is yo ung there is a high possibility that the individual began abusing drugs only recently.

School and Bi Essay Example for Free

School and Bi Essay This is the town where his father saw the light of day, and where he sent to continue studying the rudiments of Latin, where he started to learn. Early Schooling Teodora Alonza Realonda * Was the first teacher of Rizal, where he learned the Latin alphabet and the Catholic prayer. Maestro Celestino and Maestro Lucas Padua * A private tutors of Rizal. Leon Monroy * Give the first lessons in Latin. Jose goes to Binan June, 1870 -Jose left Calamba for Binan, where he was accompanied by Paciano, who acted as his second father. They rode in a carromata. Leandro -a cousin of Rizal, went for sightseeing in the town. First Day in Binan School Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz -owner of the Binan school -tall, thin, long-neck man, w/ the sharp nose and a body bent slightly forward. Usually wore a sinamay shirt woven by the skillful hands of the Batanguenas. First School Brawl Pedro * The bully classmate of Jose and the son of their teacher Maestro Justiniano. Uncle Manuel * An athlete, the one who taught Jose in arts of wrestling. Andres Lakundanan * Challenged Jose to an arm-wrestling fight. Painting Lesson in Binan Juancho An old painter and the father-in-law of the school teacher. Who freely gave a lessons in drawing and painting. Jose Guevara * A classmate of Rizal, who also loved painting, and became the apprentices of the old painter. Daily Life in Binan Jose led a methodical life in Binan, which strengthened his body and soul. He recorded in his memiors: I heard the four o’clock Mass (in the morning), If there was one; or I studied my lessons in the same hour and heard mass afterward. Upon returning, I looked for mabolo fruit in the grove and I ate it. Afterward I took my breakfast, which consisted usually of a plate of boiled rice, and two fried sardinas. Then I went to class, which was over at ten. I went home immediately. If there was a particularly appetizing fish, Leandro and I were told to take it to the house of my aunt’s sons (a thing which I never did at home, and would never have done). I returned without saying a word, ate with them, and then applied myself to my studies. I went back to school at two, and was out at five. I played for a while with some good cousins before going home. There I studied my lessons, doodled a little, afterward taking my supper of one or two plates of boiled rice and an ayungin. We said our prayers and then, if there was a moon, my friends would call me out to play in the street in company with others. Thanks to God, I never fell sick when away from my parents. Best Students in School Jose beat all Binan boys. He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin and other subjects. â€Å"in spite of the reputation I had of being a good boy, the day was unusual when I was not laid out on a bench given five to six blows† End of Binan Schooling Maestro Justiniano informed Jose’s parents that their child should be sent in college in manila. December, 1871 * Jose received a letter from his sister Saturnina, to inform him of the arrival of the steamer Talim. Dec. 17, 1871 * Rizal left Binan on Saturday afternoon, he accompanied by Arturo Camps.

Essay --

Final Portfolio Paul Mbanu English 1 Section 1906 16 December 2013 Table of Contents Title page for â€Å"Learning letter† †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1 Learning letter (Letter to professor) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Title Page â€Å"Genre Works† †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... Draft genre 1 (Movie Review on â€Å"A few good men†)............................................. Draft genre 2 (Presentation summary - the real deal about fast food)...................... Draft genre 3 (Poem)........................................................................................... Title page â€Å"Research Paper† †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... Research paper †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Appendix (Extra Credit).................................................................................... Learning Letter Dear Prof Gill, For me, the beginning of this semester was stressful because of not knowing what was to come my way, but now I feel like I’ve overcome a few obstacles in this class I never thought possible, which is why I feel like I deserve at least a â€Å"B†. I feel this way because I know I got far off track at the beginning of the semester but I have since then developed a sense of concentration and have furthermore improved my writing skills, which will show in my final research paper. Before I entered English 1 I had only a slight of knowledge in writing. It usually took me some time to write because I didn’t really know how to be explanative properly or promptly and I also had a hard time thinking about what I was going to write about. At first, the reading journals & writing exercises... ... initially received a call of a possibly intoxicated man, who was later identified as Silva† (Stuart). Two witnesses who recorded the beating on their cellphone’s say they were approached by the officers minutes after and demanded the cellphone’s. In the form of Civil disobedience, they initially did not give them the phones, claiming that they had no right to do so and that filming the cops is legal. The cops however, were hell bent in getting those phones in fear of the truth coming out. Exercising their authority, the officers held the witnesses illegally for 8 hours and soon obtained a permit which allowed them to take the witnesses phones. At that point, it was possible that the cops may have deleted the footage. This is an example of how people from the system use their authority at the wrong times to serve themselves. Its our responsibility to firmly stand up

Federalism and Hurricane Katrina Essay

When it comes to Hurricane Katrina, many people have different opinions on who to blame. I think FEMA is to blame for the lack of response to Hurricane Katrina. FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency and the director of FEMA is Michael Brown. The main purpose of FEMA is to respond to disasters that occur in the United States, but FEMA may not be the best response. After the hurricane had hit, many articles went up about the hurricane and the response, and many of those articles were after FEMA for different reasons. An example would be the New York Times. One article explained how FEMA rejected other doctors and nurses from helping with dying patients because they were not â€Å"federalized† or certified members of a National Disaster Medical Team . Another article stated that FEMA had turned away Wal-Mart trucks stocked with water . Even FEMA’s own website was involved with the news and had an article about how the first responders were discouraged from responding. FEMA was lacking supplies for all of those who were affected by the hurricane. They would not allow help from anybody else. Paperwork is used to ask questions about insurance and income to determine how much loan can be given. If people asked to help FEMA, FEMA made it hard for those people with all of the paperwork. For example, FEMA would not allow Red Cross to deliver food for those that needed it. It seemed to be that FEMA thought that FEMA had everything under control, and refusing everyone else would prove it; a couple days later after the hurricane, people saw how they kept things under control. There had been many criticisms spreading about the responses of FEMA. Some people were saying that FEMA was just very slow in making the decisions; others were defending it by saying that FEMA wanted everything to be in an organized timing. The director of FEMA, Michael Brown, was surprised by the number of people seeking refuge was a large number and was not really prepared. Critics argue that FEMA had people appointed who had no experience with emergency management, like Michael Brown. They say it is partly because of the appointed people that FEMA is lacking response to disasters, especially during Hurricane Katrina. Federalism in the United States is power divided and shared between the different levels of government. In federalism, there are advantages and disadvantages; for example, federalism helps makes dictatorship difficult, but the arrangement of the shared powers is not always successful. It played a role in Hurricane Katrina that did not go too well. During Hurricane Katrina, the responsibility was given to the state government, who, at that time, was the Governor of Louisiana Kathleen Blanco. Of course, the US government could help the state government during the response, which would be FEMA providing finances. Although Hurricane Katrina wiped out everything and made people in danger, Kathleen Blanco failed to see that help was needed. She refused requests from the president, who was President George W. Bush at that time. In the end, it looked like FEMA lacked preparation for Hurricane Katrina, and needed to focus more on preparations of big catastrophes instead of routine emergencies. With hundreds of people dead and injured from the hurricane, FEMA has to step up and open up to other people in order to get ready for the next catastrophe. Works Cited SHANE, SCOTT. â€Å"After Failures, Government Officials Play Blame Game .† 5 September 2005. The New York Times. . TIERNEY, JOHN. â€Å"Going (Down) by the Book.† 17 September 2005. The New York Times. .

Context and Setting in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go Essay

Context and setting are quite significant in the text â€Å"Never Let me Go.† According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of context is â€Å"the whole situation, the background, or the environment relevant to a particular event, personality, creation† as well as â€Å"the parts of a sentence, paragraph, discourse, etc, immediately next to or surrounding a specified word or passage and determining its exact meaning.† According to Dr. Ezekiel Alembi â€Å"context is the social, economic and political environment under which a piece of literary work or art is written.† He goes on to say that context is important because it not only makes the reader, understand and appreciate the theme, but also understand and appreciate the style used. However,setting is what the writer wants us to see. Writers try to establish in the minds of their readers a sense of place and time. They use, ‘the power of the written word to make you hear, to make you fe el – it is above all to make you see’ (Joseph Conrad). It is also used to refer to the mood and the atmosphere created by the author, and the culture and the shared values and beliefs of the characters. In â€Å"Never Let Me Go† Kazuo Ishiguro uses details to create a sense of setting, as well as the full effect of the story depends on the presentation of an increasing amount of descriptive details. In this book the setting plays an integral part in the story. Apart fom providing the reader with a sense of where and when the story takes place, the setting can also serve other purposes, such as contributing to the plot. The aim of this essay is to evaluate the importance of both context and setting in text, â€Å"Never Let Go† by Kazuo Ishiguro. â€Å" Never Let Me Go† by Kazuo Ishiguro was published in 2005. He was already one of the most renowned and acclaimed British writers. Never Let Me Go addresses some contemporary issues. This novel has scie nce fiction qualities and a futuristic tone , thus takes place in a very similar yet alternate world. This novel is set in a recognizable England of the late 20th century. Yet it contains a key dystopian, almost sci-fi dimension you’d normally expect to find in stories set in the future. It also explores more timeless questions like childhood bullying and the role of sex in relationships. Never Let Me Go has three main institutional settings which are as follows: Hailsham, the Cottages, and the donor recovery centers. This is quite significant as it creates the mood and setting for the simple  yet intense plot for the story. The first sixteen years are spent at the Hailsham by Kathy and her friends. According to Kazuo Ishiguro based on interviews done, â€Å"The school setting, I must add, is appealing because in a way it’s a clear physical manifestation of the way all children are separated off from the adult world, and are drip-fed little pieces of information about the world that awaits them, often with generous doses of deception, kindly meant or otherwise. In other words, it serves as a very good metaphor for childhood in general.† From the ordeal related by Katthy, Hailsham is qite perfect and neat but somewhat mysterious, ‘This spacious house contains plenty of classrooms and dorm huts for all your schooling needs. It boasts a large sports pavilion perfect for spying on boys playing in neighboring fields. The ample grounds are surrounded by a fence that is not electrified (but which no one crosses anyways) and creepy woods (where no one goes because they fear they may get dismembered). Entirely secluded from the outside world, this real estate gem is p erfect for hiding clones that you want to pretend don’t exist. But beware: if you ever leave, you will never ever be able to find Hailsham again.’ However, in comparison to Hailsham, the Cottage is quite different . Their move to the cottage was difficult because of its air of shabbiness and lask lustere. However they were still able to be entertained and and have a great time. The cottage was described as, â€Å"These converted farmhouses require some TLC. The buildings are run-down and the rooms are damp. But there’s a charming churchyard nearby perfect for reading outdoors or getting in squabbles with your friends. The heat doesn’t work, so residents will need to sleep under extra blankets, carpets, and coats in order to avoid freezing during the winter. Enjoy!† The final stop for each of the donors is a recovery center. These are the buildings where Kathy and her friends undergo operations to remove their vital organs, and where they recuperate between donations. They are also the places where the donors â€Å"complete.† The setting of this centre as quite significant as this acttion is quite outstanding and essential in understanding the story. Additionally while Kathy is a carer she spends a lot of time driving around Norfolk and the English Countryside. She frequents Norfolk as well as other twons. It serves to be a great places to relax and retrospect. In fact, these scenic areas seems to be her favorite part of being a carer: â€Å"I do like the feeling of getting into my little car,  knowing for the next couple of hours I’ll have only the roads, the big grey sky and my daydreams for company.† These descriptions and strategies are intentionally utilized by Ishiguro for the readers to actually visualize exactly what is felt and experieced by the characters. Furthermore the setting in Never Let Me Go reveals traits of the character and in particular the narrator. According to various reseachers, Ishiguro’s novels share similarities in a particular aspect that is they are first-person narrators. This allows the reader to view the events of â€Å"Never Let Me Go†from the position of someone present and involved , in this case Katty. In this way the reader is given an insight into the character herself and at the same time can also directly experience what is happening in the story and so be able to relate to the surroundings. This is quite obvious by the intense and scenic descriptions stated above . It is noted that Ishiguro’s novels are â€Å" character studies and moral inventories that serve to illuminate the context of given political events. In the course of a story, then, a character is not ony seen struggling with their own feelings in reaction to interpersonal situations, but also a political environment.†

Anthem textual evidence Essays - Anthem, Ayn Rand, Free Essays

Anthem textual evidence Essays - Anthem, Ayn Rand, Free Essays One way that equality 7-2521 is demonstrating the quote I think therefore, I am by Rene Descartes is that he thinks and acts differently than the other people in his society is by the way he feels and thinks about Liberty 5-3000 or Golden One. In chapter 2 page 42 it states, We had broken so many laws, and today broken one more. Today, we spoke to the Golden One. This statement shows that no matter what anyone else does or thinks he was willing to break laws just to talk to the Golden One. This proves that he is different from the other people in the society. Our society in the 21st century is somewhat similar to the society of the future in Ayn Rands novel Anthem. We have some of the same principals and morals that they have. A couple of examples are cliques or groups that we have everywhere. Such as in school, at work, at home and around our lives. In Anthem there are groups of jobs such as doctor, street sweeper, and teacher. We have jobs and we refer ourselves by our rank in that job. In Anthem their society they are taught to think as many and not as an individual. We teach young children to share and to be good to the group and that the good of the group comes before the good of one. For example, we tell kids to help an old lady cross the street. That isnt looking out for yourself. However, this may not necessarily be a bad thing though it is in a certain context such as in Anthems society. Our society is not at all perfect, but perfection cannot become so without conformity.

Free Essays on The Necklace Paper

An Analysis of Idea in â€Å"The Necklace† Literary idea, as stated by Hugh H. Paschal, is â€Å"an author’s central meaning or theme of a literary work† (358). Literary idea is essential in helping us bridge the gap between simply viewing literature as mere entertainment and actually absorbing what we can gain from a specific piece of fiction. In fact, an effective conveyance of the idea embodied within certain works has the potential to ultimately change the way we think about life. By way of illustration, in the short story â€Å"The Necklace† Guy de Maupassant effectively employs idea to point out that the possession of material properties does not automatically merit true happiness. To better illustrate this theme, Maupassant first presents us with a character who views herself as having potential to live a life of great social importance. However, no matter how hard she tries, she can never actually break out of her shell. The second device utilized to communicate the author’s idea is eviden t in a conversation between Mathilde and her husband in which Mathilde’s importance of adornment is discussed. Lastly, the author develops an episode at the conclusion of the story that includes a confrontation between Mathilde and her friend from whom she borrowed the jewel. A careful analysis of these events in â€Å"The Necklace† will reveal that Maupassant convincingly presents his idea that material possessions are not the root of happiness. The first major consideration in Maupassant’s conveyance of idea in â€Å"The Necklace† is, in fact, the introduction of the protagonist, Mathilde Loisel. In literature, it is not uncommon for an author to sometimes utilize specific character development to define or assist in supporting his idea. Taking a look now at the work itself, Mathilde, a lower class housewife who often wishes she was in the limelight of social prominence, is introduced to the audience. Maupassant describes Mathildeï ¿ ½... Free Essays on The Necklace Paper Free Essays on The Necklace Paper An Analysis of Idea in â€Å"The Necklace† Literary idea, as stated by Hugh H. Paschal, is â€Å"an author’s central meaning or theme of a literary work† (358). Literary idea is essential in helping us bridge the gap between simply viewing literature as mere entertainment and actually absorbing what we can gain from a specific piece of fiction. In fact, an effective conveyance of the idea embodied within certain works has the potential to ultimately change the way we think about life. By way of illustration, in the short story â€Å"The Necklace† Guy de Maupassant effectively employs idea to point out that the possession of material properties does not automatically merit true happiness. To better illustrate this theme, Maupassant first presents us with a character who views herself as having potential to live a life of great social importance. However, no matter how hard she tries, she can never actually break out of her shell. The second device utilized to communicate the author’s idea is eviden t in a conversation between Mathilde and her husband in which Mathilde’s importance of adornment is discussed. Lastly, the author develops an episode at the conclusion of the story that includes a confrontation between Mathilde and her friend from whom she borrowed the jewel. A careful analysis of these events in â€Å"The Necklace† will reveal that Maupassant convincingly presents his idea that material possessions are not the root of happiness. The first major consideration in Maupassant’s conveyance of idea in â€Å"The Necklace† is, in fact, the introduction of the protagonist, Mathilde Loisel. In literature, it is not uncommon for an author to sometimes utilize specific character development to define or assist in supporting his idea. Taking a look now at the work itself, Mathilde, a lower class housewife who often wishes she was in the limelight of social prominence, is introduced to the audience. Maupassant describes Mathildeï ¿ ½...

11 Ways to Celebrate 4th of July with Your College Friends

11 Ways to Celebrate 4th of July with Your College Friends College friends are planning their 4th of July fun, festivities and classic American festivals with spirit this time of year! If you’re here, you’re digging for ideas. Well, in this post you’ll find 11 of the best. And listen, America needs your patriotism. No doubt. We all know that. Hell, the entire modern world knows that. America is going through an incredibly trying period right now after prolonged economic fallout and war fatigue. Please, make it a point to celebrate our nation’s history and rich heritage. You are, or you can be, we can be†¦Independent! Let freedom reign. 1. Hold a Legendary BBQ! Hot dogs, hamburgers, briskets and brats†¦oh my! You can get outside (weather permitting of course), fire up the grill and gather around a few tables with friends. If possible, head out super-early and secure a spot in a park overlooking a fireworks display. Speaking of which†¦ 2. Go and Watch a Mega Fireworks Display Listen, even if you guys have to pool some gas money and road trip it, maybe now is the time to see one of the biggest, boldest and loudest iconic American fireworks displays? Just Google it dude! Theres tons of them. Here’s a few of the more notable: â€Å"America’s Biggest Birthday Party† by the Gateway Arch in St. Lois. The Addison, Texas, fireworks display. The event at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois The 4th of July Barge Battle display in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Lake Tahoe, California display. The display around Municipal Pier, San Francisco Bay, California. The Space Needle display, Seattle, Washington. 3. It’s Patriotic Movie Time! If there’s going to be a television of some sort around, or in the background, whatever, make sure to have the best patriotic movies rocking. In fact, no one said you can’t just do a dorm movie day, or with someone special†¦like red white blue popcorn. Here’s a taste of the most popular ones we’ve all seen: Forest Gump Independence Day The Patriot Born on the 4th of July Glory Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Saving Private Ryan Captain America: The First Avenger 4. Host an Epic Patriotic Picnic Let’s say all the BBQ pits and public grills within miles and all over campus are already taken. That’s fine. Grab a big blanket, put together a bunch of different treats and fingers foods and do a picnic. The idea is to get outside and get into the thick of it with other Americans. The 4th of July is about us. 5. Patriotic Road Trip Time! Why not head out on a historical road trip to all the most timeless patriotic American destinations. Honestly, it’s something every American should be required to do during their college days. Until Oculus virtual reality headsets become commonplace, you’re going to have to make a road trip out of it. Here’s a sampling: Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania The Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Statue of Liberty Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone, South Dakota Mount Vernon, Virginia The Patriotic Path, Boston, Massachusetts 6. Go Join the Nearest Parade Most cities, even the small ones, hold parades for the 4th of July. If your college town doesn’t have one going on, well, then travel to somewhere that does. These places typically have all kinds of stuff going on; big gatherings, BBQs, fireworks displays, live music, etc. 7. Host a Beach Bonfire Bonanza! No, we’re not talking a little pit-fire or campfire here. On both the east and west coast there are places where you can either host your own beach bonfire and set off fireworks or join in on one someone else is hosting. Sometimes it’s private property. Sometimes it’s hosted by local organizations or groups. You’ll have to do a bit of digging online and make sure everything is by the book. 8. Throw a Study Session Oh lord. Yep, get your buddies together, drape yourselves in American flags and study (recite) patriotic writings like The Bill of Rights, The writings of Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, and Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, The Gettysburg Address, â€Å"Ragged Old Flag† by Johnny Cash or Patrick Henry’s Give me Liberty or Give Me Death speech. 9. Get Ridiculously Crafty There’s literally no end to what kinds of crafts you can make that are covered in red, white and blue. How many different ways can you craft an American flag? You can take something as simple as a regular wooden pallet and paint it to look just like one. 10. Did Someone Say Block Party? Yeah. Envision a historic college block party that doesn’t get out of hand, but stays peaceful, celebrative, and oozing with inspirational solidarity. 11. Go Nuts With Patriotic Food Bake a cake and get creative with the icing. Make some red, white and blue pretzels, cookies, fruit plates, parfaits, cupcakes, muffins, popsicles, kabobs, etc. There you have it all you patriotic souls, a slew of ideas for this year’s 4th of July celebration with your college friends. Again, remember, America REALLY needs your patriotism and that American spirit of yours. Let us know how your 4th goes and be safe!

Proposal for primary research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

For primary - Research Proposal Example The study considers whether having a standardised international marketing strategy, relevant for all international cultures, is effective for multi-national companies. The study tests whether convergence or the antithesis, divergence, is the prevalent decision-making phenomenon when comparing different national cultures. In order to determine whether ethnocentrism still dictates consumption decisions, the study takes a quantitative approach to research, utilising a survey constructed with a Likert-type scale which measures the level of ethnocentrism in five countries: The United States, Japan, Mexico, Sweden and Hong Kong. Questions provided in the survey include, â€Å"It is always best to purchase American products† and â€Å"Americans should not buy foreign products because it hurts American business and causes unemployment† (Keillor and Hult 1999, p.71) assists in determining whether global convergence is a legitimate phenomenon. The article finds that ethnocentrism is still present in some nations whilst in other nations with unique cultures, divergence in cultural identity is still prevalent. The study found that the U.S., Mexico and Hong Kong maintain high ethnocentrism when making product decisions whilst in Japan and Sweden, there is divergence of ethnocentrism that is not aligned with other evaluated nations. The study is further important as it suggests implications for today’s multi-national company marketers that using standardised marketing strategies will not be effective and refutes the notion that global convergence is a legitimate fact. This indicates that marketers operating in foreign nations should develop marketing communications that are sometimes aligned with existing cultural norms and preferences. This article lends support for the notion of global convergence as a result of cross-cultural exposure in India. The research study is important as it illustrates that Indian cultural

Heritage Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Heritage Assessment - Assignment Example The music called compas has been passed down to my children. They know many of the lyrics to the music I listen to. I have also maintained the Haitian language. It is French Creole. As a result I speak French, Spanish, Creole, and English. The religion practiced in Haiti and here for my family is Baptist. Religion is very important to me. Although I live in the United States, I have not forgotten where I have come from. My religion, food, family, and culture are deeply rooted in Haiti. Although my family came to the United States for greater opportunities, this never impacted my feelings about my culture. I am Haitian. My traditions and beliefs have remained strongly rooted in my birthplace. My large family is unique in American culture. Coming from a large family has helped me understand sacrifice, love, and tradition. I will admit that I have become Americanized to a degree, but I will always be Haitian. That is the good thing about America. I can live here, but still retain my own culture. My ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage will be useful to my healthcare related career in many ways. The first way my ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage will be useful is by knowing the Haitian people. For example, many Haitian children are not vaccinated. When I encounter a parent or child from Haiti that would be one of the first questions I ask. Another question would be if the patient from Haiti had a TB test. Haiti has a higher rate of TB than other countries. Other healthcare providers might not know these facts. Informing my colleges and fellow Haitians would help patients better understand each other. Sometimes Haitians that have newly arrived do not trust the government, medical staff, or others due to immigration status. If it is revealed that the child or adult does not have immunizations or a TB scan, the patient might feel that INES might be called. This can be very dangerous to the patient and everybody in contact with the patient. I would be

SUMMARY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

SUMMARY - Essay Example author then focuses on the support of the legislation and the author figured out that the legislation had not met with any form of criticism and no criticism is very rare. The author then focuses on the incompleteness of the legislation and states that the legislators have not provided advice regarding where the food waste was supposed to be dumped. He cites an individual belonging to the organization of The National Waste and Recycling association who believes that the food waste can be dumped in anaerobic digesters that churn this kind of waste in the same way food is churned in the stomach of a cow. The author states that the food waste can even be dumped at composite sites where this waste along with other waste is transformed into compost and the compost does not smell as bad as raw waste. The author states that companies that are involved in the production of compost will gain some new business due to this legislation and the author even states that similar legislations are gai ning popularity in other states. NPR.org,. Massachusetts Food Waste Ban Gains Broad Acceptance. N.p., 2014. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.

2 page letter to the editor Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

2 page letter to the editor - Assignment Example This involves an ability to clearly think through an issue, formulate opinion / policy, communicate it effectively and argue successfully the merits and demerits of the opinion and alternatives. In other words, a leader has to talk, listen and argue coherently to win over skeptics if any. Since we are all individuals from different socio-economic and political backgrounds, we manifest our leadership qualities in different styles. Some of us are authoritative, some are democratic and yet others are of please-all by nature. These styles appear appropriate in different situations e.g., military commanders are in general more authoritative, HR managers are more democratic etc. Authoritative leaders impose their will on the subordinates or even colleagues by the force of their personality and the power of their hierarchical status. Persuasive leaders opt for a more democratic approach Since the topic of healthcare reform is with the political leaders, I wish to draw a parallel with the council member of our neighborhood and the successful way he practices his leadership skills. On the one hand, this council member has to listen to the suggestions and grievances of his constituency (voters), prioritize them and do his best to get them executed through the administration. On the other hand, he has to contend with similar (and sometimes, opposing) demands from the other council members who have obligations to their own voters. There are political careers involved here and the contest is, as in the National Congress, among local leaders. Our council member is a soft spoken Republican. His priorities are dictated by public opinion and national policy. His interactions with the other council members can be seen as the flip side of his interactions with his own voters. Skillfully, he persuades the other council members to support his priorities within reasonable limits and extends similar support to them. By this way, he has

The faulty logic behind race boundaries elucidated in literature Essay

The faulty logic behind race boundaries elucidated in literature - Essay Example Weinbaum's analysis of race treats ideologies of nationalism and racism within the American. Basically, Weinbaum's analyzes the connection between race and reproduction. Her ideas find that slavery as an institution validated by 'difference of the races' cannot continue to exist if reproduction does not occur separately inside and outside that institution. The basic statement offered in Wayward Reproductions is that America, as a racially divided nation, is in crisis. Social order is compromised because reproduction is not an orderly process. Weinbaum states that problems are grounded in "the failure of the social order, particularly the modern racial nation, to continually produce itself without a glitch" (p. 14). The basic concept to apply to the literary works by Chopin, Jacobs, and Brown, is that the idea of racial supremacy is faulty. Classification by race cannot exist in society as our reproduction isn't based nor does it occur within clear-cut racially-segregated boundaries. Weinbaum analyses Chopin's Dsire's Baby within her book and points out problems of identification and power struggle within the relationship between Dsire and her husband. Because the baby is not adequately and unquestionably Caucasian, onlookers to the child question which of the two parents have African ancestry. The thought is 'Who's guilty' Dsire is blamed for the physical appearance of the child and returns to the family home. "She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again" (247). This is to say that Dsire, on behalf of her race being disclosed and African, is not welcome among the elite. However, in truth, Dsire's husband, who still resides in L'Abri, is the one, who due to 'racial inferiority' has been misappropriated his place. Kate Chopin expertly crafts her short story, Dsire's Baby, so that the reader will see the mockery of the premise of 'racial integrity.' Meanwhile, even the main characters are oblivious to the unfair hoax of racial divisions and the injustice those racial divisions cause, just as society cannot see the hoax that occurs among us. Via critique of Chopin's piece, Weinbaum also addresses Nationalism. Just as Desiree's household was interrupted, and Desiree returned to her family home, society is interrupted by assumptions based on race. This occurs and proves that social order is not stable. Models for classification, social control, and oppression (Weinbaum 3) of the races cannot function when those systems of classification have to be maintained through reproduction, which cannot be controlled. Both Harriet Jacobs and William Wells Brown include illustrations of autobiographical/biographical characters with mixed bloodlines who were born as slaves. Through them, race issues are addressed - issues such as racially-mixed reproduction, favorable treatment to those more Anglo-Saxon looking slaves, and the ever-present status of 'slave' or negro that contradicts the value of an individual. Constantly in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl and Clotel, Anglo-Saxon features of slaves are referred to as more attractive or more valuable. Degree of color is important to those telling these stories. Degree of color was of importance to the slaves themselves. Harriet Jacobs

2 page letter to the editor Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

2 page letter to the editor - Assignment Example This involves an ability to clearly think through an issue, formulate opinion / policy, communicate it effectively and argue successfully the merits and demerits of the opinion and alternatives. In other words, a leader has to talk, listen and argue coherently to win over skeptics if any. Since we are all individuals from different socio-economic and political backgrounds, we manifest our leadership qualities in different styles. Some of us are authoritative, some are democratic and yet others are of please-all by nature. These styles appear appropriate in different situations e.g., military commanders are in general more authoritative, HR managers are more democratic etc. Authoritative leaders impose their will on the subordinates or even colleagues by the force of their personality and the power of their hierarchical status. Persuasive leaders opt for a more democratic approach Since the topic of healthcare reform is with the political leaders, I wish to draw a parallel with the council member of our neighborhood and the successful way he practices his leadership skills. On the one hand, this council member has to listen to the suggestions and grievances of his constituency (voters), prioritize them and do his best to get them executed through the administration. On the other hand, he has to contend with similar (and sometimes, opposing) demands from the other council members who have obligations to their own voters. There are political careers involved here and the contest is, as in the National Congress, among local leaders. Our council member is a soft spoken Republican. His priorities are dictated by public opinion and national policy. His interactions with the other council members can be seen as the flip side of his interactions with his own voters. Skillfully, he persuades the other council members to support his priorities within reasonable limits and extends similar support to them. By this way, he has

Issues and results of the second Vatican council Essay

Issues and results of the second Vatican council - Essay Example It opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. It was a response to the changing culture of the post World War II world and a call to the spiritual renewal of the church. Even after all these years, the results of Vatican II continue to be debated and it has its supporters and its critics. It remains a bone of contention for theologians and Catholics, as it is subject to various interpretations. Traditionalists see Vatican II as a departure from the earlier beliefs and practices of the church and condemn the break with the past. Supporters see it as a step in the right direction and as a much-needed move to bring the church in step with the modern world. The opposing positions show that â€Å"Its champions, in many cases, see it as having liberated Catholics from a long night of oppression, thus restoring to the people of God their rightful liberties. Its detractors blame it for shattering the unity and order of the church and introducing an era of co ntestation and doubt† (Dulles, 2003). However, whatever may be the stand taken, it cannot be denied that Vatican II ushered in a new era in the history of the Church and has far-reaching implications for practicing Catholics today. ... It can be seen as the decision of the Church to â€Å"throw in their lot with all the forces making for humanization and progress† (Dulles, 2003). As O’Malley (2003) points out, the language used by Vatican II is a marked departure from that of earlier Church canons. It rejects the authoritarian, judgmental style of the past for a speaking style which conforms to contemporary communication. By opening channels of communication with all people, including non-believers, Vatican II ensures that the Church retains its relevance as a political and religious force to be reckoned with in today’s multicultural, diverse society. A refusal to engage in dialogue would result is a fortress-like mentality and effectively isolate the Church from the affairs of the world. Such isolation would definitely be â€Å"to the detriment of the church's mission† (Dulles, 2003). Vatican II attempts to see that its message â€Å"is extended and broadened to the entire world† (Pope Paul VI Closing Speech, 1965). By proclaiming its readiness to enter into a dialogue, and remain open to diverse viewpoints, Vatican II ensures that the Church can be a legitimate participant in international deliberations and contribute to finding solutions to the problems which beset the world. The purpose of the dialogue is to express the Church’s solidarity with all men, including non-believers. This objective of Vatican II is reiterated by Pope Francis in his recent address to the Diplomatic Corps, in which he expresses his wish that dialogue will help â€Å"to build bridges connecting all people† (Pope Francis, 2013). Pope Francis’ â€Å"embrace of the world† is a true reflection of the spirit of Vatican

Riordan Manufacturing HR System Analysis Essay Example for Free

Riordan Manufacturing HR System Analysis Essay The new HRIS system architecture will be implemented and integrated into the existing IT infrastructure which will be supported by the corporate office in San Jose. I recommend that the company consider a three-tiered implementation approach. HRIS base requirements and enhanced HR functionality being deployed to a consolidated organizational-wide instance of the HRIS located at corporate office and a single virtual network in Tier 1; implementing the HRIS base requirements to US based locations in Tier 2; and providing enhanced HR functionality and support to the worldwide locations in Tier 3. In addition to the above, Tier 1 would also incorporate the deployment of a centralized data warehouse to accommodate consolidated management analysis and reporting. Under the new HR Information System, all employee information will be recorded and stored. Riordan will benefit from this system with features such as grievance tracking, payroll, security, with limited access for low level employees, and a central server connection that will work with most other servers; cross-platform access will also be available just in case a department manager (IT manager) uses a MAC instead of Windows, they would have access to the data and finally Riordan’s HR staff will be able to access all employee data at any time and at all Riordan locations. Understanding and finding the right software for Riordan Manufacturing, several options made their selves known; there are two programs which stood out, Trak-IT HR and Perfect HR. The programs mentioned above have all of the necessary tools and functions that a company like Riordan needs to upgrade their Human Resource Department Information System. There are some differences between programs; Perfect HR does have a Payroll Management system that will be needed for the Human Resource Department at Riordan (Aspetuck Systems Inc. 2007). Here is a little information from Trak-It HR, â€Å"Since 1988, !Trak-It Solutions has been developing and enhancing our HRIS software to meet the ever-changing needs of the Human Resource professional in small and medium-sized companies.† (! Trak-It  Solutions. 2007). Trak-IT HR software is recommended because it will be able to handle all of the requirements that Riordan’s Human Resource Department needs; as it is very easy to navigate through and will be very easy to train individuals in the HR department, the system uses the latest technology for HR Departments such as Graphic Toolbar, Pull-Down Menus and Shortcut Keys† (!Trak-It Solutions, para. 2). This will make it easy for the user to navigate through with ease and has easy to follow navigations. Application architecture will include a new HRIS architecture which will include a DBMS (Data Base Management system), OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) combined with web services in an intranet application, which will be coded using open source technology. In this scenario the assumption will be that the HRIS system is not capable of storing or producing the additional information needed by the HR department. Currently, the HR department uses the HRIS system to store basic employee information. To implement this system it will require updating (training) all employees that will use the Riordan Human Resource information; this would include, Managers, Recruiters, Employee Relation Specialist, Human Resource Personnel, Payroll Personnel and whoever else is a part of the Human Resource Department. Any Upgrades must be based on the employees (User) position and should be determined on h ow often these users use this system. All Human Resource Personnel should receive an upgrade at start-up of the new system. A User-centered deign for interface will be used, this design will enable the system to adapt to the HR department as a whole and will still remain easy to understand and be user friendly. â€Å"Security is a process and not a state, ongoing refinement and assessment is needed for prolonged success† (Security Innovation Inc. 2007). With a new Information System comes security issues and this system will be in need of some sort of a security system. Using an outside source for security would benefit Riordan and if Riordan decides to go with an outside security company rather than having an in-house security system, this would reduce the technical help needed in order to run the security system, giving Riordan more time to concentrate on their Human Resources, ensuring employee benefit. We have touched on Riordan’s new HRIS system and security measures needed for this system and when security measures are in place the HRIS System will run smoothly. Data Base Integrity must be included in this process; the following security controls are to be recommended within the  DBMS (Data Base Management System), Identify security controls (Critical Assets) for Riordan HR system; Data Encryption, Transition Control, Backup and Recovery Protection, and the last one is most important when all other security bases are covered and Data Validation Controls are also needed for ensuring that all numeric fields are correct. During security implementation process, threats will be identified as well as any disaster recovery. To ensure that the appropriate and correct data is kept safe as well as all HR financial data, the security involvement by outside security firm will follow any security specifications that are needed for the new HR system. They will also run monthly security checkups as well as providing weekly security scans which will be done by a security team trained by outside security and will be constantly informed of any security threats and security measures. References !Trak-It Solutions. (2007). !Trak-It HR. Retrieved April 20, 2011 from http://www.hris-software.net/index.html Security Innovation Inc. (2007). Solutions for sustainable security. Retrieved April 26, 2011 from http://www.securityinnovation.com/company/index.shtml Aspetuck Systems Inc. (2007). Human resources software and payroll software solutions. Retrieved April 26, 2011 from http://www.perfectsoftware.com/

Has Globalisation Changed The Disposition Of Music Cultural Studies Essay

Has Globalisation Changed The Disposition Of Music Cultural Studies Essay To begin with the globalisation of music, we will have to understand that Intuitively, globalization is a process fuelled by, and resulting in, increasing cross-border flows of goods, services, money, people, information, and culture (Held et al. 1999:16). Sociologist Anthony Giddens (1990:64; 1991:21) proposes to regard globalization as a decoupling or distanciation between space and time, while geographer David Harvey (1989) and political scientist James Mittelman (1996) observe that globalization entails a compression of space and time, a shrinking of the world. The discourses over globalization of music constructed over these debates of Giddens and Harvey. When we talk about globalisation, we are in a sense talking about unity of the states across the globe. How this unity is brought up? Then how does it link the states together? What are the major contributors in this unification process? Along with a myriad of intellectuals I will also sum- up with an answer, global- culture. However, it is one of the measures required for the unification process. One set of theorists, who are pro-global- culture say, that the global culture is making the world closer and more united. The people of the world are combining their differences and being more cooperative towards one and other. This process of emerging global culture can be seen in times of need when everyone has pulled together to strive for peace and freedom. Although, there exists a wide range of religions of which people are becoming tolerant, forming a homogenised society. If we say that the global culture is the synonym of the common culture, then there are wide range of opinion on it. Wight uses the term common culture so loosely that it is unclear whether he has in mind a deep, historic sense of culture, or the more superficial agreed rules that compose a contractual society. (James 1993: 277-8) Alan James, System or society?, Review of International Studies 19: 3, 1993. I argue that to certain extent global culture is a common culture among the people of the world. Worldbeat is a term for various styles of world popular music, or pop, that are practiced outside the European-American mainstream. The Popular music (music produced and marketed on a mass-commodity basis) first emerged in the early 1900s, during which time numerous distinctive popular music styles began to develop around the world. The rise of such genres was linked to dramatic transformations-especially urbanization and modernization-occurring throughout the world. Such changes disrupted traditional attitudes, lifestyles, and forms of artistic patronage, while creating new urban social classes with new musical tastes. As per Terence Lancashire, The term world music usually conjures up images of musics from remote corners of the world. However, that remoteness is not always geographical and can. The formal emergence of world music in 1987 as a commercial gloss denoting a body of music which hitherto defied conventional categorisation namely musics other than popular and classic forms from North America and Western Europe or, alternatively, the incorporation of such musics into Western popular genres, has met with a variety of responses from musicologists/ethnomusicologists seeking to clarify the dynamics that underlie the production and reception of world musics and the related and sometimes indistinguishable genres of new age and healing. Regional case studies and overviews (e.g. Frith 1991; Keil and Feld 1994; Taylor 1997) often draw attention towards the relationship between the West and the rest where production and presentation of non-Western music has often meant some form of Western control in terms of discovery, production, marketing and distribution. Accusations of cultural exploitation and appropriation have, therefore, often run central to the debate on what appears to be yet another dimension of that unbalanced and uneasy relation between the first and third worlds. In reality, the question of who is exploiting whom is often a complicated one as non-Western musicians find access to markets hitherto only dreamt of. Nevertheless, in order for such musical projects to be realised, financial backing is essential and it is here that resources are, more often than not, concentrated inthe West. Thus, a music flow from south to north and east to west seems to define the world music equation. Yet, there are other players who, through cultural ambiguity, occupy an alternative arena less easily defined. Economic development in the Far East, coupled with rapid modernisation, has meant the emergence of countries which share similar economic goals, cultural interests and perce ptions with the West but, resulting from other cultural differences, most obviously language, are not so often included in debates on musics both popular and world. (Lancashire: 21) Globalisation, which generally implies westernisation and the Asianisation of Asia, is often posited to be a culturally, economically, technologically and socially homogenising force in the distribution of music, whilst localisation refers to the empowerment of local forces and the (re)emergence of local music cultures. These two notions of globalisation and localisation seem to be mutually contradictory, posing a fundamental dilemma for the understanding of the transformation of popular cultures into global forms. As argued by Law (forthcoming), the debate between globality and locality, or between homogeneity and heterogeneity in globalisation discourse, could be regarded as a product of similar antagonisms in the literature of development concerning theories of modernisation, dependency and world systems. Although there is no clear definition or model of globalisation (Hirst and Thompson 1996), its discourse attempts to theorise the phenomenon in terms of The temporal and spatial compression of human activities on the globe, to recognise, explore and explain the interaction and interdependence of economics, politics and cultures beyond local, regional and national boundaries, and to predict possible influences on human activities (Law, forthcoming, also see, for example, Featherstone 1995; Comeliau 1997; Poisson 1998; Jones 1999; Crawford 2000; Croteau and Hoynes 2000). Cohen (1995) suggests that locality could be most usefully used in popular music studies to discuss networks of social relationships, practices, and processes extending across particular places, and to draw attention to interconnections and interdependencies between, for example, space and time, the contextual and the conceptual, the individual and the collective, the self and the other (p. 65). In this respect the local is defined by reference not only to a community, but also to a shared sense of place within global culture. Globalisation promotes the meeting of musical cultures, whilst sim ultaneously encouraging regional differences. Local popular industries perceive their potential audience in international terms, and local pop markets are now awash with global sounds, since, as Wallis and Malm (1984) maintain, globalisation encourages popular musical practices to look towards global styles for possible inspiration, whilst also looking inwards to (re)create national music styles and forms. For decades, critics have depicted the international circulation of American and British pop as cultural imperialism. Yet US-American and British youth have increasingly been shaped by Asian cultural. Similarly, there is wide-spread recognition of the willingness amongst popular musicians to create novel forms that express a widespread experience of dislocation (Jenkins 2001, p. 89). For example, contemporary Afro-pop sometimes combines the electric guitars of Western rock and roll with melodies and rhythms of traditional African music, whilst Western rock drummers have long adopted a tradition from Africa whereby the sounds of different drums are combined (Croteau and Hoynes 2000, p. 333). Jenkins (2001) describes such musical eclecticism as the product of third culture youths, who fuse elements from mixed racial, national or linguistic backgrounds. Although the big international music companies affect local production, their markets are also influenced by particular local cultures. So, globalisation signifies more than environmental interconnectedness, and the meaning of musical products with global features strikes at the heart of the major social and political issues of our time. This is how Bennett (1999) represents the attempts to rework hip hop as a localised mode of expression by Turkish and Moroccan youth in Frankfurt. Economic globalisation is often con sidered to undermine the local foundations of the popular culture industry. The flow of capital through transnational monetary tems and multinational companies means that words, ideas, images and sounds of different cultures are made available to vast networks of people through the transmission of electronic media. Among the most prominent multinational electronic media companies are two Internet partnerships MusicNet, involving AOL, RealNetworks, EMI, BMG and Warner; and Duet, incorporating Yahoo!, Universal and Sony. The two most recognised online music providers so far, Napster and MP3.com, have also linked up with record companies (Source: http://www.grayzone.com/ifpi61201.htm). Furthermore, the international division of labour and the global circulation of commodities have ensured that processes of production and consumption are no longer confined to a geographically bounded territory. Consequently, economic globalisation has been characterised as the deterritorialisation. ( H o: 144) (Appadurai 1996) or denationalisation (Sassen 1996) of nation-states. Global economic forces reside in global networks that link different nations and cultures in profit-maximising webs of production, leading to the transformation of all sectors of all state economies and their mutual accommodation in the global context (Crawford 2000, pp. 71-2). Negus (1999) maintains that the global market is a concept that has to be constructed in a particular way to target the most profitable categories of music within the recording industry (p. 156). However, as we have seen, the (re)emergence of local cultures competes with global factors in a process that Morley and Robins (1995) refer to as the new dynamics of re-localisation in The attempt to achieve a new global-local nexus, about new and intricate relations between global space and local space (p. 116). Levitt (1983) explains that localisation is practised by multinational companies insofar as they must have a committed operating presence in the markets of other nations. However, electronic communications have also enabled the global broadcasting of messages of universal peace and love, and, in the case of www. indymedia.org, have even served as anti-capitalist noticeboards. Anderson (1983) suggested that the nation depends for its existence upon a sense of social- psychological affiliation to an imagined community, which was facilitated by the emergence of the mechanical printing press and consequent capital investment (Negus and Roman-Velazquez, 2000, p. 330). Similarly nowadays, global electronic communications can evoke a sense of a trans-national imagined community. In music, an example can be well illustrated by the 11 September 2001 tragedies in New York and Washington D.C. The US-American national anthem was thundered Not only all over the States but also in other countries, such as at St Pauls Cathedral in London. Whitney Houstons record company intends to re-release her version of the US-American national anthem that was produced ten years ago during the Gulf War. International popular artists such as U2, Britney Spears, Limp Bizkit and Destinys Child, worked together for the album Whats Going On, the market profits from which will be donated to funds for the relief of the families of victims of the tragedies of September 11. John Lennons Imagine, which evokes a world free from all state boundaries, has now become popular even in some non-English speaking regions, and was sung by all the artists involved in the Carlsbergs Rock Music Concert held in Hong Kong on 24 September 2001, who also prayed for those who died in the disaster two weeks earlier. Globalisation and localisation are in a dynamic dialectic. Globalisation is a process of local hybridisation that determines a great number of processes that change and even transcend the regional and national characteristics of popular music. Current debates about globalisation in popular music show that local actors become increasingly involved in global flows of meanings, images, sounds, capital, people, etc. Through the technology of global networks, new affinity group formation emerge, centring on particular musical styles and ways of expression. Economic globalisation always has cultural effects on the localisation of popular music. (Ho: 146) Hudson and Cohen bring out the detail of local musical cultures, the way in which music, produced through and producing space, may act as social glue.(431) Does globalisation of music produce convergaence? The very first argument for the present paper is the consequences of the globalisation of music as to the convergence of societies towards a uniform pattern of cultural organization. AS expressed in modernization theory, the spread of markets and technology is predicted to cause societies to converge from their preindustrial past, although total homogeneity is deemed unlikely. The sociologists reject the convergence debate by arguing that globalization homogenizes without destroying the local and the particularistic. For example, Viviana Zelizer (1999) about the economy that it differentiates and proliferates culturally in much the same way as other spheres of social life do, without losing national and even international connectedness. Robertson (1995:34-35) sees the global as the linking of localities. Issues of music getting de-territorialised Other argument is that the original is getting lost in the wake of globalisation. Other sets of arguments which emerge from this view are : How do listeners identify music with a particular place? The evolution and geographic distribution of instruments, use of specific melodies or scales, and existence of common rhythms are some key characteristics that help define and limit the territorial range of a music. How common traits can provide telltale clues about where a form of music originated and how it spread? How can music retain its association with certain places in an increasingly global society? If these questions could be answered the music could be retained as intact. IDENTITIES: Music and its origin Other argument flows that in a globalised village, where is the identity of the music? Four basic positions are highlighted in the successive integration of both MUSIC and identities, from separation to fusion: demonizing exclusion, primitivist polarization, diversifying hybridization and normalizing assimilation. Lomax also states that due to the widespread distribution of industrialized music and the loss of music that exemplifies cultural aspects and characteristics, civilizations are not maintaining a sense of national pride and identity. Without these distinguishing lines, Schiller states that at one time it was cultural diversity that flourished, and now we are witnessing the diffusion of such a process, if such a process of cultural breakdown were to keep evolving, we would have to face a global consumer monoculture. AMERICANISATION: Westernisation or polarisation of music Another argument of the discourses on the globalisation of music is that the music which is going global is by and large Americanised. One of the major fears associated with the globalization of music is the creation of a global monoculture. Barlow investigates how the global monoculture has infiltrated every corner of the earth. He feels that North American corporate culture, including the music industry, is destroying local tradition, knowledge, skill, artisans and values. Specifically artisans have been affected through the fact that the product that they have tried to market has been outdated and overrun by the popstar garbage that has taken over the world and destroyed cultures. The premise of Barlows argument finds that this is corporate America is not only destroying traditions, but it is burying a cultures overall identity. As best said by Nawal Hassan, a Egyptian artisan activist, This is an issue of identity. All our civilizations has ceased to be spiritual. Our civilizati on has become commercial. (Barlow 2001) I came up with the view that People arguing over the loss of a nations cultural identity, the terror of westernization, and the reign of cultural imperialism. Through topics such as these we explore the possibilities or the existence of hybridization of cultures and values, and what some feel is the exploitation of their heritage. One important aspect that is not explored that such influences can also be more than just a burden and an overstepping of bounds. These factors can create an educational environment as well as a reaffirmation of ones own culture. With the music being the highly profitable, capitalist enterprise that it is today, it is no wonder that it is controlled and regulated by a few large conglomerates. COMMERCIALISATION: Consumerism of music Another issue of debate is that the transnational corporations are making money on music, whether the music is twisted or re-mixed. So it is a kind of threat on the originality of the music. Growth of a profitable and varied music services industry producing everything from remixes to music marketing strategies. Standing at the forefront of this growth industry are a large number of firms attempting to combine in innovative ways music and ICT. This can take a variety of forms, for instance: selling and distributing music over the internet; web design and computerised advertising services tailored to music products; software design focused on multimedia products and virtual instruments; high-tech post-production and mixing services; and virtual centres and communities of music industry actors. Brunnette in empirical studies of market concentration in music (1990, 1993),reports that seven corporations together controlled no less than 50 percent of market share in any country where they had operations and up to 80 percent in some countries (199:104-5).The seven corporations, with their nation of origin and reported 1990 sales, are:Sony (Japan, $3 billion), Time/Warner (U.S., $2.9 billion),Polygram(Netherlands/Germany, $2.6 billion), Bertelsmann Media Group (Germany, $2 billion),Thorn/EMI (U.K., $1.88 billion),MCA(U.S., $1 billion), and Virgin (U.K., $500 million), total 1990 sales $13.88 billion (1993, pp. 141-143).With no. such as these it is nearly impossible to deny the fact that these companies do not have a great affect on the influence of music and media that they distribute. Conglomerates not only run the market for music,but determine which music is to be distributed and to where, therefore pushing an idea or culture onto a nation. Seeing that westernization has beco me a industry term for many businesses it is surprising that recently much of the profit that has been received from music conglomerates has been non-U.S. artists. The contemporary music industry The making of music is not only a cultural and sociological process but an economic one. However, economic geography perhaps because of a lingering productivist bias has yet to undertake a serious appraisal of the dynamics of the music industry (see Sadler 1995). Trends of globalization, internal corporate restructuring and global-local relations are, however, as evident here as in other sectors. In 1992, the music industry generated worldwide sales of US$29 000 million, dominated by just five major global corporations: Warners, Bertlesmann Music Group, Polygram International Group, EMI-Virgin and Sony. Seventy per cent of world record sales were generated in just five national markets, each dominated by the majors which between them captured 73 per cent of sales in the USA (31 per cent of the global market), 60 pe cent of sales in Japan (15 per cent), 90 per cent of sales in Germany (9 per cent), 73 per cent of sales in the UK (7 per cent) and 87 per cent of sales in France (7 per c ent) (Monopolies and Mergers Commission 1994). (Leyshon. Mayshell, Revill: 427) Music and traditions? The music is a tradition? It is another issue of debate. Because there are other instances which suggest that sometimes the popular music of a place was against the traditions. In some cases, as with jazz, Greek rebetika, and the Argentine tango, the emergent popular music styles came from the colorful underworlds of urban taverns and brothels. As such styles grew in sophistication, they came to attract the interest of cultural nationalists and middle-class enthusiasts. Eventually these styles shed their less reputable origins and developed into dynamic national genres. Powne (1968:vii-viii) referred to a debased or Westernized music in Ethiopia, and Price (l930a; 16) to the slovenly and immoral music called jazz, which he regarded as crude, negroid in form and vulgar. Even the sensitive scholar Kunst referred to the partially Western-derived genre of Indonesian kroncong as a monotonous and characterless wail,listing it as one of the causes why the native is either dying away or dege nerating (ibid.) Some writers have indulged in a romantic zeal to save traditional music everywhere from the contamination that was often supposed to result from musical contact between the West and the non-West. Fryer (ibid., 482) laments cuts in musical education, For Fryer, the environment of pop is an anti-culture with universally commercialized African rhythm undermining the universal cultural standards of the classical wester canon. For Bunge, the new and global is to be celebrated because it is popular and young; Fryer (ibid, 482) chastises a resurrection by a professed radical of the discredited economic doctrine of consumer sovereignty. (Leyshon. Matless, Revill: 424) Caroline Bithell says, The world music marketplace opens up a new area of representation of a culture by its own participants, while the high density of recording in its turn stimulates an increased preoccupation within the culture with questions of musical identity, all of which provides fertile ground for ethnomusicological research. The ensuing detective work is aimed not at flushing out cases of inauthenticity, but at uncovering ever more pieces of a multi-dimensional jigsaw rich in unexpected meetings and happy accidents and documented in different ways by field recordings and commercial recordings alike. While some of the groups identify themselves completely with the notion of the tradition, regardless of what they are actually doing in practice, others are quite clear that they are simply doing what they want to do and resent the imposition of the spectre of tradition as a restrictive framework (e.g. Minicale interview 1994). They do not in any case view the tradition as some thing fixed this can only lead to ossificationbut as a continually evolving organic entity which needs to find contemporary forms of expression (e.g. Poli interview 1995). (Bithell: 61) They feel that they should not be held to ransom by the notion of tradition or More precisely by other peoples perception of their tradition. (They remain concerned, nonetheless, that they should be seen as being grounded in the tradition.) What is at stake is not what is done but the way in which the traditional label is appropriated. At the same time, the concept of tradition itself is clearly flexible and contested and does not necessarily imply either great age or superior status. (The alternative designation popular does not share this problem but, in the modern media age, creates new difficulties. It also fails to bestow a sufficiently elevated aura.) There is also a danger of idealising or romanticising the workings of the oral tradition where songs were passed down directly from one generatio n to the next. In reality, the process did not always run smoothly. Some older singers were jealous of their repertoire and reluctant to pass on their secrets to younger singers. In many places, singing remained the prerogative of the older men (Sarrocchi interview). The availability of commercial recordings means that some of these human difficulties can be by-passed and the younger generations of singers can empower themselves as and when they are ready to do so.( Bithell: 62) Globalisation of music J. Mc Gregor Wise : Music is a landscape in which people negotiate their identities. There is prevalent a view that the growing ease with which capital and commodities cross international boundaries will serve to erode and perhaps even obliterate that which might be considered local. This particular conviction invokes a range of starkly different political responses. On the one hand, there are high modernists like Anthony Giddens who foresee that individuals will be enabled increasingly to transcend the strictures of the local in order to participate in what is understood as the rather richer environs of a global community forged out of the communications revolution (Giddens 1991, pp. 1467; 1998, p. 36). On the other, there is a swelling band of critics who fear that globalisation entails simply the homogenisation of cultural practice and taste. These anxieties are captured best perhaps in the lucid polemic of Naomi Klein (2000). While the contention that trans-national forces are inexorably eroding that which is particular to given societies exercises considerable a ppeal, it has of course been challenged in various quarters. Some social scientists have sought to suggest that the process of globalisation will not in fact impose homogeneity but rather will illuminate and foster the local. This particular reading of contemporary social trends finds an especially keen illustration in a new book by Andy Bennett. In Popular Music and Youth Culture we encounter a distinctive conception of the ways in which the social world is experienced and understood. The author sets out to challenge the view that popular music constitutes a cultural text that has a meaning independent of its audience. Social actors are not Bennett insists mere cultural innocents who passively consume the wares of the music business. On the contrary, he argues, people are in fact reflexive agents who interpret and appropriate popular music in ways that are critical and creative. As a consequence, the meanings of musical texts should be acknowledged not as singular and given but r ather as plural and contested. The particular reading advanced within Popular Music and Youth Culture insists not only that social actors engage critically with popular music but that they do so principally in the context of the local. This is defined throughout the text not as a demarcated physical space but rather as a set of discourses. The specific discursive practices through which the local is called into being are, Bennett asserts, intimately associated with the production and consumption of popular music. Those musical texts that originate elsewhere are routinely read through sensibilities that emerge out of a specific understanding of place. These particular sensibilities are themselves, however, heavily influenced by exposure to musical texts that originate else- where. Looking at musicalised forms of social practice would seem to suggest, therefore, that the relationship of the global to the local is a complex one not of dominance but rather of dialogue. (See Willet : rev iew) African American musical adaptations formed the roots of blues, jazz, and other genres of modern music in the United States. But elsewhere in the Americas, especially in the Caribbean and Brazil, drums remained integral to the black musical tradition. In these areas, African music has mixed with both indigenous and non-African traditions to produce a variety of musical styles, including calypso and reggae. Further Andrew Leyshon, David Matless, George Revill, talk about universal and national music. Shepherd, the assumed fixed criteria against which all music can be judged are rooted in the musical languages of ruling groups privileging the classical over the popular and the masculine against the feminine. Such cultural distinctions were brought to bear both within and beyond thewest.n Leppert and McClary (1987, xviii) show how such formulations have legitimized western sophistication and complexity against the primitive and suggest that ethnomusicological questioning of music and society has been acceptable only when applied to other cultures: recognizing that other musics are bound up with social values does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that our music likewise might be: more often it simply results in the chauvinistic, ideological reaffirmation of the superiority of Western art, which is still widely held to be autonomous.

Cultures Essay -- essays research papers

A Christmas Season in Poland In today’s society, it is very important to have knowledge of the different cultures that surround us. Most individuals that are born and raised in America practice the beliefs and social life of Americans. Most Americans tend to forget there are other cultures that surround us in our everyday life. However being born and raised as Americans, it is easy to ignore our descendents and our ancestors’ cultural background. In my case, my ancestors were Polish and have a very different cultural background than I do as an American. For instance, the Christmas season, which one would believe is celebrated the same way throughout the world, is in fact celebrated in various different ways. In Poland, there is no Thanksgiving like in the USA. Therefore, there is not any special designated shopping day to start the Christmas season. The Polish Christmas season begins November 30th with a celebration called St. Andrew’s Day. There is a long tradition of fortune telling especially for non-married girls on the November 30th in Poland. Since November 30th is under a patronage of St. Andrew the habit of fortune telling is called St. Andrew’s Day. The main purpose of St. Andrew Day celebrations is to predict the future of unmarried girls, especially their prospects for a good marriage. St. Andrew’s Day is a night of magic for young girls (Urban-Klaehn, 2005). The next day of celebration during the Christmas season is St. Barbara's Day. One of the most celebrated days associated with workers group is St. Barbara's Day on December 4th. St. Barbara is a patron of coal miners. Miners' profession was always considered dangerous, but prestigious, therefore, this day called "Barbà ³rka" or Barburka" was celebrated for centuries in a spectacular way. The name of the feast originates from St. Barbara as a patron (Pace, 1996). On St. Barbara’s Day, miners are dressed in the special uniforms. The uniform consists of a black suit and hat with a feather. The color of the feather, white, red, or black, depends on the rank of the miner. Miners wear their decorative uniforms not only during Barborka, but also for weddings, funerals, and other important political or social ceremonies (Urban-Klaehn, 2005). Christmas and St. Nicolas Days are not celebrated at the same time in Poland, but th... ...n Christmas season. However some practices are close to the same, the actions and the beliefs of Poles vary tremendously from those of Americans. How can the same holiday be celebrated in so many different ways by so two different cultures? Although my ancestors are Polish, being born and raised in America, I practice the beliefs and practices of the American people. Is this a good thing or is it a bad thing? I do not have the answer to that question, but I know that it has to be a good thing to for every individual to have knowledge of his or her ancestors and cultural background. References Houston, S. (2004). Christmas in Poland - Christmas Eve (Wigilia). News and Observer, pp. E1. Retrieved May 31, 2005, from Proquest database. Urban-Klaehn, J. (2005). Christmas in Poland; St. Nicolaus Day (Dec. 6). Retrieved May 31, 2005, from http://www.bellaonline.com/about/polishculture Urban-Klaehn, J. (2005). Christmas in Poland - Christmas Eve (Wigilia). Retrieved May 31, 2005, from http://www.bellaonline.com/about/polishculture Pace R. (1996). Polish holidays are rich in old customs and tradition. Business America, 117 (12), 2-6. Retrieved May 31, 2005, from Proquest database.

Gambling: dangerous to society? Essay

In a study performed by Kerby Anderson of Probe Ministries, a Christian organization that investigates hot topics in America today, he states that there are twelve million compulsive gamblers in the United States. Out of this twelve million, 96% began gambling before the age of 14. He also reported that the average compulsive gambler has debts exceeding $80,000. This means that for this class, if we all grow up to be compulsive gamblers, all but one of us will have started gambling by now, and we will all one day be in extreme debt. Today I will be informing you all how dangerous gambling can be. I will be talking about what good comes from gambling, the negative effects of gambling, and why gambling is a problem. In everything in life there is always some good. To gambling, there are some advantages that affect society economically. According to a study performed by the University of Minnesota, when casinos come into an area, property value around the casino will almost always increase. The casino also creates jobs so fewer people in the area are unemployed. The casino also attracts motels and restaurants that will come into the area. Most casinos are owned by Native American tribes. The casino will raise the income of individuals that belong to the Native American tribe. Along with these economic advantages there are also social advantages. People who work for the casino or the new places around the casino will often feel better about their employment. All people have problems in life. These people must always deal with the obstacles life puts in their way somehow. Some people might use the casino to get a break from these problems and pressures that life places in their way. The only problem with the good things in life is that they usually bring some bad things with them. To gambling, there are just as many, if not more, disadvantages that come with the advantages that it brings. Some of these are economic. Gambling has been proven to be addictive. When people have an addiction that calls for the need of money, they need to get this money one way or another. This leads to people going into debt or committing crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, and thefts. This causes for a need for more law enforcement. Another problem with casinos is that money begins to circulate within the casino system and it begins to cause problems. The money that circulates in the casino needs to be used to improve or keep up with roads and public facilities in that area. There are also social disadvantages to gambling. First off, gambling can become addictive. This causes people to lose a compulsive gambler’s trust and the compulsive gambler’s work to suffer. Gambling also causes families to break apart because they lose trust in each other. In fact, divorce rates are higher in families in which at least one of the adults is a compulsive gambler. People describe a compulsive gambler as many different things. A professor at the University of Minnesota defines compulsive gambling as â€Å"the inability of a person to resist the urge to gamble. It takes control of people, causing them to do and think things that are not what they personally value. A sure sign of addiction is the need to deceive both yourself and others by lying, denying, or covering up. † Compulsive gambling is often described as the purest form of addiction. It is known as this because other addictions such as drug or alcohol addiction involve some sort of chemical, but compulsive gambling is purely psychological. There are ways to stop the problem of compulsive gambling. One way is to completely ban gambling. This is probably not the best solution for the people who do not abuse their right to gambling. Another way is to strictly limit the amount of money one can use by gambling and limit the amount of times a person can gamble each month. This is a good solution because people can gamble, but they can use their right in a safe way. You now know how dangerous gambling can be to society and what comes along with gambling. We have discussed what good comes from gambling, the negative effects of gambling, and why we should keep gambling out of society. I want to leave you with a story about a guy named John. He and his wife found out that their son was in trouble as a result of gambling. They bailed him out of jail for the price of $3,400. That was seven years ago. Since then, John has bailed him out of jail many times. His son has lost three jobs and his wife divorced him. His two small daughters often cry because he would rather spend time at the casino than spend time with them. Works Cited ?Gambling: A Challenge for Youth 1992, Shirley J. Anderson, Roselyn A. Biermaier and Sandra K. Syverson ?Gambling 2002, Kerby Anderson, Probe Ministries ?Is Pathological Gambling Really a Problem? You Bet! 2001, Brian Castellani

Culture Wars And Cultural Democracy Essay

Given that culture wars is a conflict of different cultures for example the traditional and the progressive, it is therefore safe to say that it has been present for a long time and will continue to be present for a long time to come. This is because there will always be conflicting cultures based on the various aspects of society like age, background and so on. It is important that people learn to deal with the culture wars for them to be able to live together despite their differences. Culture wars are a social problem and cultural democracy is required to deal with them. The major issues causing the culture wars currently will be discussed expansively and the various ways that they can be dealt with. Cultural democracy will also be discussed and how it will assist tin the future in the culture wars. As time progresses, the way in which the society deals with the cultural differences changes and the concern they have in the society changes with each generation. In the past, religion was a major issue alongside class and race. Although these are still issues of concern, there has been a shift towards other areas (Nolan 1996). Currently there are cultural wars based on politics, different denominations when it comes to religion, technology and its impact on the society, politics and how it deals with the social problems, the media and what should be allowed for general viewing and also the moral values of the people to name but a few. Cultural democracy allows people to practice what they believe in whichever society they are in and hence may tend to be seen as the only solution to the wars that are present in all societies of the world. Religion, technology, gender, media and the morality concept are very interesting and will be discussed in this paper and their role in the present day culture wars. Initially, the religion factor was based on whether one was a protestant or a Roman catholic but it has changed to which denomination one belongs to. However despite the denomination one may belong to, the value of religion has diminished over time especially among the developed countries whereby few people belong to any religion. This has led to bans in certain areas on the use of religion in schools and other public institutions (Zimmerman 2002). Religion is also being used to determine who is a terrorist and who is not especially in America since the bombings that occurred. Since the terrorists were Muslims, anyone belonging to the Islamic faith became a suspect since then. It also determines whether one will get into political office as was demonstrated in the campaign for American presidency with President Barrack Obama having his opponents propagate that he was a Muslim so that he may lose some followers. To avoid losing the seat he had to clearly show that he attends a Christian church and is not a Muslim. When it comes to technology, there is a conflict of how much technology is safe to use and how much is not. The major bone of contention is the issue of privacy since people no longer have privacy because all their data is stored somewhere in government files from medical records to the daily activities. While some people are against so much intrusion in their lives, others argue that it assists in keeping the society safe in view of the increased rate of crime. Although crime would reduce if it were possible to keep constant reliable surveillance, not many people would prefer the safety if it costs them their privacy especially in the homes. The media is another aspect of culture that has been a source of much conflict. When it comes to providing information, the media is the major informant of the society. However, some of the media sources will provide false information or speculated information in order for their form of media to make sales. This is therefore misleading the general population on what is happening in order to make profit. They betray the trust of the people and make the lives of others very difficult if the information provided is about an individual especially the prominent figures. The media especially the television is blamed for the many vices currently in the society. A lot of violence is depicted in the television and the children tend to think it is real and may actually go ahead and imitate what they see with the result being tragic outcomes. Constantly viewing the horrific scenes with blood, fatal wounds and constant death tend to diminish the horror of it thus desensitizing people on such issues. It becomes almost normal for someone to shoot another and wound them without being affected in any way. The media is also used in spreading culture and it usually shows western culture as superior to other cultures (Trend 1997). The younger generation is easily influenced to copy what they see as modern and this more often than not brings about a conflict between them and the older generation. One generation tries to conserve the culture as it has always been while another is trying to imitate what they tend to see as progressive. This disregard of culture brings about much conflict between the two generations. Gender is another important aspect of culture wars. The role of a woman in society in particular has led to a lot of conflict with the changing times and the women liberation. Women were initially supposed to be subject to men and their wishes and do everything to make the men happy. They would stay at home to nurture the family while the men provided everything that was needed and therefore the women were at their mercy. Nowadays, women do not stay in the house waiting for the men to provide and instead go out and get employment from which they earn and provide for the family. This change in roles brings about conflict when a man still expects the woman to play the role of a nurturer and cater to all his needs while the woman has been out working just as hard as the man. The woman in such a situation is therefore expected to play the role of a provider and that of a domesticated worker and nurturer. In other situations it is completely forbidden or the woman to try and take over the role of a man and should stay at home and show a good image of a man who is able to provide for his family. This is not acceptable to a woman who has gone through rigorous education and training to get to where she is and this causes conflict in the society. The final aspect of culture wars to be discussed here is the issue of morality and how it’s meaning changes with time. The most interesting issue her is the same sex marriages and relationships. In most traditional cultures and religions, homosexuality is forbidden and to practice it is going against all laws of nature and society. In present times however, some churches are even conducting wedding ceremonies and appointing church leaders who are homosexuals and this has caused a great division especially in the churches. The homosexuals are busy trying to get accepted in a society that is busy condemning them and their way of life. This causes conflict between the two groups of people that at times leads to physical harm individuals from either side. Cultural democracy therefore is seen as the only way to solve these problems. Taking its meaning to be the acceptance of the differences in culture, (Trend 1997), then it becomes obvious that for all people to be able to live with each other comfortably in the future, cultural democracy has to be embraced. It allows all people to practice what they believe in without fear that they will be punished or criticized for doing so. People are also more accepting to others when others are accepting to them without trying to change their way of life. Since it is impossible to get all the people to think alike especially in America where there are many different cultures represented in the society, there has to be a way that all people are able to live together and accept each other. Cultural diversity is to be celebrated and not ridiculed while attempting to change those from other different cultures. The only way this can occur is by embracing cultural democracy which allows all people to live in harmony while giving each other space to practice the culture that they have embraced. With increased technology that makes it possible for culture to travel far and wide, acceptance is the only way for the future (Nolan 1996). Although the position is that cultural democracy is the only way for the future, there are misgivings about it. As explained by Langa (2004), it started a long time ago and is oftentimes used to mask what is really going on. In the case of gender, very few women are given positions of leadership when compared to the men. People will change according to the situation as was seen during the world wars with women taking up the work of men but when the men came from the war everything was expected to go back to what it was before. Egocentrism is assumed to be ingrained in an individual and thus it is hard to assume that people will just ignore what they have been taught. However since these differences cannot be ignored, the only way that the society will be able to resolve these culture wars is by accepting each others presence without trying to change their way of life. The acceptance allows people to recognize the good in other cultures and appreciate the differences without necessarily trying to imitate or change it. Therefore, the only way for the future is to embrace cultural democracy and by so doing reduce the culture wars because there is no competition of cultures. References 1. Langa H. , 2004, Radical Art: Printmaking and the Left in 1930’s New York, University of California Press, California 2. Nolan J Jr. (ed), 1996, The American Culture Wars: Current Contests and Future Prospects, University of Virginia Press, Virginia 3. Trend D. 1997, Cultural Democracy: Politics, Media, New Technology, State University of New York Press, Albany 4. Zimmerman J. 2002, Whose America: Culture Was in Public Schools, Harvard University Press, Cambridge

Coach Knight vs Coach Krzyszewski Essay

In the contemporary business world, there are many different styles of leaderships. All of them are approaches used by individuals, which are based on their values, preferences and beliefs but also on organizational culture and norms which encourage some styles and discourage others. Leadership styles work most efficiently if they are adapted to the demands of the situation, the requirements of the involved people and the challenges facing the organization. There is a difference in ways leaders approach their employees. In the analysis of Coach Knight and of Coach Krzyszewski’s leadership types, the authors sketch two successful leaders who were great achievers despite huge differences in their leadership styles. Couch Knight led through intimidation and tough discipline while Coach K. through positive reinforcement, trust and confidence. a) Describe Coach Krzyszewski’s leadership style. What are his basic assumptions about motivation, leading and human nature? Coach Krzyszewski had one rule, he and his basketball team followed: â€Å"Don’t do anything that’s detrimental to yourself. Because if it’s detrimental to you, it‘ll be detrimental to our program and to Duke University.† He believed that having too many rules keep leaders from making decisions, and instead of allowing them to be flexible and dynamic, they limit them. He is truly a leader with few simple rules which help him to build a successful team and become one of the famous trainers in the basketball history. As the West Point graduate he breathed the three main virtues: honesty, honor and discipline. And discipline was one of the basic traits every one of his team players had to learn. Being one of the best Coach Knight’s students, he never underestimated the importance of preparation. He also expected the same from each of his boys â€Å"(†¦) to do what they are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time they are suppose to do†. Coach Krzyszewski assisted his team at each exercise and game; he studied and practiced with them any possible strategy. But he was more than just trainer of his team. He managed to establish an instant trust and common respect within the whole team. He invested time in â€Å"getting inside player’s head, understanding, where (the player) comes from and helping him get to where all need to be as a team†. His taught and practiced an open and close communication with and within his team; he didn’t use whistle and always looked straight into ones eyes when one was talking to him. This principle was lived by everyone in the team, including the Coach. This way he encouraged and enforced the honest communication. Yes – Coach K. was imprinted by honesty, another West Point virtue. His primary motivator was not fear but values, and the biggest among them were: friendship, family and love. Father to three daughters and a whole basketball team, as he used to joke, he didn’t shy away from showing his feelings for his players and the game. And as fathers are, although caring and advising, also just and punishing in the situations which required such actions. This Coach truly believed that people are good, self-motivated and they deserve being treated with respect, love and care – these were the values he learnt at home where â€Å"sharing with one another and caring for one another was all about it†. b) Describe Coach Knight’s leadership style. What are his basic assumptions about motivation, leading and human nature? Comparing to his student, the master Coach Knight was a so called: â€Å"tough guy†. He motto was: â€Å" follow the rules, do exactly what I tell you and you will not loose.† He did not accept any opposition and told his players often: â€Å"Boys, you have to listen to me!†. Coach Knight did not accept from his players anything but the best, and this – all the time. He was intense and passionate about all he did. He was never satisfied with their results, and he pushed them always more to the edge of their physical and mental capabilities. There was no place for a mistake, he had no understanding for imperfection; he used to say: â€Å"If a coach tolerates a mistake, kids will be satisfied with mistakes†. As a former West Point disciplinarian, Coach Knight never stopped to be a soldier and his passion for winning never left him. He led and won his little battles using his own team, thus probably often called by his fans: â€Å"General†. Very demanding, obsessed with hard work and preparation, he used punishment and threat as his primary motivator. His definition of discipline was: â€Å"to do what you have to do, and do it as well as you possibly can, and do it that way all the time.† The same motto, that one of his best students: Coach K. acquired and followed in his successful life as a basketball coach – how differently though! Father to two boys, he didn’t treat them differently than his basketball players – motivating them the same way by using harsh language, push-ups, shouting and intimidation. Being a tyrant, he still was a parent with the â€Å"tough love† approach. In his own special way, he took care of his â€Å"boys†, even if he didn’t show it openly. When one of his players got injured in an accident, he raised money to support him and his family. Even if very few of his students appreciated his way of showing the affection, many of them stayed in touch with him after they left school, what he considered as the best reward for being a coach. Many of them became great players and many years after, thanked him and credited him as one of the most important mentors they ever had. Coach Knight, the great achiever, believed that people can never be successful without being strictly supervised, threatened and pushed over their limits. c) Who is more effective? Why? It is easy to compare leadership styles of both coaches, Coach Krzyszewski and Coach Knight, since they are so different from each other. And it is hard to believe that one of them was the teacher of the other one. To answer the question which of these styles is more effective is not so easy and straightforward though. Both men are passionate about their jobs, very disciplined. Both care very much about their players beyond the basketball court. They are successful in their long carriers, have their followers and fans and are acknowledged not only as top basketball coaches but as leadership teachers. Both are authentic and equally effective as leaders, although there may be different situations when one or the other leadership style, they present, is preferred. d) Under what conditions would you hire Coach K? Coach Knight? I believe that the leadership style of Coach Krzyszewski would be much more appreciated in organizations where team work, creativity, openness, good communication and flexibility are encouraged. Organizations, which motivate and support their employee’s development, let them take the responsibility and decide the way to achieve it. Coach Knight would be a very good choice for companies with clear structures and centered responsibilities, where the compliance is rewarded and any signs of rejection are punished. He would be a perfect leader for groups where individual and highly performing work is preferred over team work and communication, as for example: in a sales team. In such groups, each member works against time and responsibility for the accomplished work is centered. Leaders in these types of organizations do not use feedback to encourage their employees, and motivation is based on threat and fear. Organizations, where one is respected and not necessarily liked, would very likely consider hiring Coach Knight.