Handout the American Civil War

Handout â€Å"A House Divided†: Towards the American Civil War, 1831-1861 Causes of the American Civil War 1. social-economic differences between North and South 2. regional conflict about over slavery in unorganized territories 3. break-up of national political party system; emergence of new party system based on region (i. e. North-South) (see also handout week 4) 4. ideological and cultural polarisation between North and South Constitution: three-fifth’s clause; fugitive slave clause; slave trade clause 820 Missouri Compromise: – Missouri admitted as slave state – Maine created as free state – Line of 1820 (36 . 30 ) 1828-1833 – South Carolina tariff nullification crisis 1831-1860 – antislavery activism (1831: William Lloyd Garrison –The Liberator) 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner in Southampton County, Virginia 1845 annexation of Texas 1846-1848 Mexican War 1848U. S. victory over Mexico; territorial expansion (Californ ia, Utah and New Mexico territories) 1850 Compromise of 1850: California admitted as free state – â€Å"popular sovereignty† in New Mexico and Utah – slave trade prohibited in District of Columbia (Washington, DC) – Fugitive Slave Act 1852 Book publication Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act (â€Å"Bleeding Kansas†) 1854 splitting of Whig; foundation Republican Party (â€Å"Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men†) and American (â€Å"Know Nothing†) Party 1857 Dred Scott Decision of the U. S.Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Taney (pro-slavery) 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry (John Brown) 1860 Democratic Party splits into two (North vs. South) November 1860 – Lincoln (Republican Party) elected president December 1860 – South Carolina secedes from the union 1861- January: secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas – February: adoption Confederate Constitution and creation of Confederate States of America (South); pres.Jefferson Davis; capital: Montgomery, Alabama. – March: inauguration of Pres. Lincoln – 12 April: attack on (federal) Fort Sumter by door Confederate (Southern) troops; beginning of the Civil War 9 April 1865 – surrender by (Confederate) general Robert E. Lee (Appomattox) 14 April 1865 – assassination attempt on Pres. Lincoln; Lincoln dies on April 15. George Fitzhugh, Sociology for the South (1854) and Cannibals All! or, Slaves Without Masters (1856) John Calhoun, Disquisition on Government (1850)

A Solution to childhood obesity in Australia Essay

It is essential that through government and community participation, we develop, establish and integrate safe strategies to tackle the ever increasing problem of childhood obesity. ‘Australia is rapidly turning into a nation of fat kids.’ One in every five youngsters is now designated as overweight or obese, living a life prone to cardiovascular and health problems along with risks to there mental state and general well being. Studies conducted by The Australian Diabetes, obesity and lifestyle council indicate that poor self-esteem and confidence has also been associated with obesity and almost doubles the chances of depression. Education Queensland also associates obesity with poor academic performance, un-developed motor skills and coordination. Obesity is a killer, not only causing serious long term medial problems, but costing the taxpayer over a billion dollars each year. Something must be done. If we don’t act on this problem NOW, then it is predicted by 2020 that 65% of adolescents will be overweight or obese. There are so many reasons to exercise, so many benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. In today’s media conscious world we hear bout them, read bout them and are told about them almost everyday. So why do we continually ask the question.. why is Australia’s youth becoming increasingly overweight and unfit? There is a simple reason behind this staggering truth, a recent study found that 80 percent of adolescence did very little or no exercise- daily activities such as walking to school, physical education classes, after school activities, chores and general playing have been replaced with a sedentary lifestyle in front of the TV, computer or video games. Together we need to develop, establish and integrate safe program that offers adolescents of all ages the opportunity to engage in physical activity that enhances work, recreation and sports enjoyment and performance. For you see Im not going to let another child go through the pain, torture and humiliation I suffered in my childhood years. Let me tell you a story†¦ â€Å"For the majority of my primary years I was called ‘fattie’. I weighed about a 130 kilos, had a double chin, a bulging gut, fat hanging from every direction and for this physical appearance I truly copped it. Undoubtedly, my years at primary school probably weren’t like your days, fun-filled or joyful, my days were filled with tears, pain and suffering. Every single day of my life from years four to seven were filled with name calling and pranks. Not a day went by that I didn’t get singled out, harassed or bullied. Day after day, second after second I was being called ‘fat boy, fattie, go have another cheese burger’. It tore away my confidence and squashed my self esteem. I missed out on what people describe as some of the best years of your life, I gave up rugby, soccer and swimming not because I didn’t enjoy it, but instead because every time I went to training or a game I felt alone†¦ inadequate.† How would you like it if you life was like this day after day, , minute after minute? Do you think you’d be sitting where you are today?, This heart break, pain and torture was caused by one thing obesity. I was so sick of been harassed, singled out I searched for a solution. Three months later, after living on a diet that consisted of egg white, protein shakes and salad and an hours exercise. I was a new person, sixty kilos lighter. But the psychological issues were still there, I became ever more unconfident, depressed and unsure of myself. I became addicted to the gym, going twice or three times a day and even took growth hormones and steroids to gain people’s acceptance. The cycle kept on going, until it got to the point where it got to much, the body couldn’t handle it, I couldn’t handle.. and I found myself in hospital. Childhood obesity isn’t simply, an issue of been fat, it plays with the mind and heart. Together, we need to develop, establish and integrate safe program that allows youths of all shapes and sizes the chance to identify the physiological reason as why they are overweight, the opportunity to be involved with whatever physical activity they find fun, and motivate and  support them to lead a healthy and active life in a safe manner. Something needs to be done. It is essential that through political and social streams, an alliance is formed to tackle the ever increasing problems of childhood obesity. With government funding, a program can be developed that that permanently changes basic eating and exercise habits. This will be achieved by identifying the key emotional issues that are instrumental in the adolescent becoming overweight. Allowing children from all socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to take up physical activity such as soccer or rugby and be in a supportive atmosphere were dietians, physiologist and mentors are available. Such a program can be integrated within the current school time table or take place as an after school care activity. By establishing and integrating such a program that approaches the problems of childhood obesity from every angle, we can hopefully help those one in five suffers. Studies by Fitness Australia, illustrate that Youth receiving additional physical activity tend to show improved attributes such as increased brain function and nourishment, higher energy/concentration levels, changes in body build affecting increased self-esteem and better behaviour which may all support cognitive learning. If this is not enough to convince you, then think bout it from your own perspective, would you like to be teased and tormented everyday, live in a world of depression, where you simply don’t think you match up? As Martin Luther King once said â€Å"I am not sure I would have wanted my children to live a life of torment and abuse, so I dared to stop it.† Together, we can turn Australia into a nation of healthy, lean, happy and confident children, that are on top of the world.

Theories of Crime Causation

American Intercontinental University Unit 1 Individual Project CRJS 105 – Theories of Crime Causation November 11th, 2010 Abstract The following will examine the differences between criminalists, criminologists and forensic psychologists. It will then transition into how what exactly is a white collar crime and a blue collar crime. Lastly the paper will discuss the differences between index-one and index-two crimes as defined by the UCR. Media Portrayal of Crime Introduction With the prevalence of crime being portrayed in the media world, it can be difficult for the modern American to decipher all the aspects of crime. Criminology, the study of crime and its causes, is a excellent way to find out just what makes a criminals mind tick. Although it may be hard to know just what makes a person commit a crime, having a better understanding of the base of criminal justice aspects may be of assistance. Criminologists, Criminalists, and Forensic Psychologists With a plethora of jobs out there relating to the field of criminal justice, it may become overwhelming to try and decide who does what and how they do it. To have a better understanding of such fields one must know exactly what each field does separately from the other. A criminologist uses sociological theories and methods to study criminal behavior and how societies respond to crime (Hall, 2010). This means the criminologist seeks to find out the mentality behind a crime and how that thinking affects the society as a whole. By creating theories as to why of how this crime was committed the criminologist can form a wide array of possible answers for the crime. A criminologist would most likely be in an office but regularly would attend a crime scene to interview witnesses and others to gather sociological data about the crime. A criminalist examines physical evidence using investigative skills and practical experience. A criminalist is forced to look at nothing but the physical evidence of a crime without prejudice of the person or persons involved. This type of crime evaluation allows for an individual to make findings based on what is physically presented before them. In way you can say that evidence doesn’t lie so the criminalist should not be able to either as they are required to follow the evidence. A criminalist would be most commonly found at the site of the crime collecting physical evidence related to the crime. After the collection a criminalist would be typically found at a crime laboratory, analyzing the collected evidence. Forensic Psychology is the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system (abfp. com, 2010). This side of the criminal justice world refers to strictly the legal side of a crime. In this profession and individual would focus primarily on the criminal/person/persons on trial, as well as any other individual as it related to the case and would be required to provide an expert opinion on topics such as sanity, and competency. The psychologist enters the mind of the individual through a series of interviews and allows a better understanding of the person beneath what we see on the surface. Criminologists are typically found at interviews and trials related to the crime. This would typically be at the police station of in a courtroom. Misconceptions of such fields With constant development of new television shows relating to police work, as well as media portrayal of the criminal justice field, there can often be misconceptions placed upon these fields of work. A common misconception related to the field of criminology (criminologist) is that they live a life of danger and unpredictability. While the criminal mind can be unpredictable criminologists often stay low key and behind the scenes as they are analyzing the criminal mind and would not want to compromise that by running around in the field. In the life of a criminalist, the most common misconception has been brought on by the onslaught of television shows such as CSI and all its spin offs. The typical criminalist doesn’t run around shooting at bad guys in the newest designer jeans, or analyzing evidence in seconds. A criminalist is usually in a decontaminated suit and gloves doing nothing but collecting evidence. They are not there to fight crime nor solve it, they are there specifically for evidence collection (Criminalist, 2009). And as for the seconds long analysis, it’s more like weeks for a result to be returned, sorry to burst your bubble! Finally, a forensic psychologist may look like a cool job on the television show Profiler, but in actuality, there is much more to it than what is portrayed. While criminal profiling is one aspect of this field, there are many more unseen. They work in a wide variety of settings connected to law, depending on their prominence in forensic psychology. Clinical psychologists in the forensic field, for example, may work in a mental health center, a hospital, a prison, or a private agency. Developmental psychologists are found in both medical and academic settings, as well as give consults in court in regards to the behavior or testimony of children. So as you can see the media skews our view of what these individuals actually do and are responsible for. White Collar Crime vs. Blue Collar Crime When you first hear the terms white collar crime and blue collar crime, you may think, â€Å"People who commit crime are classified by the color of their collars? † On the contrary that is not the case. The terms White Collar and Blue Collar refer to the class of society in which a crime is committed. Blue collar crime typically refers to such crimes that are most likely committed by individuals in a lower class of society. Crimes of this nature are typically unplanned, spontaneous and sometimes involve direct harm to a person or property of others. An example of a blue collar crime would be an armed robbery of a bank of store by a person who is desperate. On the contrary, white collar crime is usually found among a higher class in society and consists of corporate, state and high tech crimes (Mojolaw. com, 2010). A good example of white collar crimes would be things such as Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and the Enron debacle. White collar crimes are most often planned and well thought out as they take a lot of attention to commit. Often the person/persons involved have a lot of money to provide a defense for themselves if caught. For this student, who watches media quite regularly it is hard to make a determination as to which type of crime is more prevalent. You constantly hear of more and more people desperate for money in these hard times so, blue collar crimes are being committed more. But it can also be argued that the white collar side is hurting to so there are more stories of fraud and schemes taking place. This student would have to say though, blue collar crime tends to be more focused on because it usually involves a form of violence which the media seems to gravitate towards. Index-One vs. Index-Two Crime As defined by the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook of 2004, Index-One crimes are considered to be the most heinous. The crimes include but are not limited to, Criminal Homicide, Forcible Rape, Robbery and Aggravated Assault. It can be assumed that all serious felonies will fall under an index-one crime. Index-Two crimes are all other crimes that do not constitute a classification in Index-One. These crimes consist of less serious offenses such as fraud, vandalism, disorderly conduct, and DUI. These would be all arrestable offenses that are reported to the FBI’s statistics center. These crime indexes have no fine line, as there is a huge difference between the two. Index one crimes often involve physical harm to an individual whereas index two crimes are typically considered petty. When making a judgment as to which crimes that fall under Index one are violent or not, that can be left up to ones interpretation of violence. You have to consider each situation differently because, although motor vehicle theft in of itself is not violent, if aggravated assault occurs than that theft becomes violent. This student would have to conclude that in most cases all crimes listed under Index one offenses, they would be considered violent. Conclusion The media will continue to skew the aspects of crime, and that has been happening for years. It is up to the public to want to obtain the truth about what a specific job or career actually entails. If a person lives their life believing everything they hear from someone else, then they are simply uninformed of the truth. Crime will always be a hot topic throughout society, so society must become educated in all facets of the criminal world (without committing crime itself). References The Differences Between Criminology and Forensic Science (2010). Hall, Shane. Retrieved on 11-Nov-2010 from http://www. ehow. com/list_6109148_differences-criminology-_amp_-forensic-science. html Criminalist. Criminal Justice USA (2009). Retrieved on 10-Nov-2010 from http://www. criminaljusticeusa. com/criminalist. html ABFP Brochure. Forensic Psychology. (2010). American Board of Forensic Psychology. Retrieved on 11-Nov-2010 from http://www. abfp. com/brochure. asp Forensic Psychology – Myths and Truths. (2010). All Star Directories, Inc.. Retrieved on 09-Nov-2010 from http://www. allpsychologyschools. com/psychology-careers/community/forensic-psychology-myths Mojo Law. (2010). Blue Collar and White Collar Crime, Mojolaw. com. Retrieved on 13-Nov-2010 from http://www. mojolaw. com/info/cl020 Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook. (2004). Federal Bureau of Investigations. , Retrieved on 09-Nov-2010 from http://www. fbi. gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/additional-ucr-publications/ucr_handbook. pdf

Managing of Energy Assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Managing of Energy Assets - Essay Example Proposed technique and Justification for the Technique 12 6. Conclusion 13 7. References 14 Monitoring Transformer Performance 1. Introduction Before going to present the proposal for instruments and techniques that can be used to monitor the condition of a transformer, let us get a better understanding of what transformer actually is and why is it important to supply electricity through the network. A transformer is an electric device, which is designed to convert alternating voltage from one level to another usually from high voltage to low voltage. Transformers work on the principle of magnetic induction. Dickinson (2009) states, â€Å"Transformers under load generate heat due to winding (copper) and core losses occurring during operation†. Transformers are solid-state devices, as they have no moving parts in them. The step up or step down in the voltages is the main use of every transformer. 2. Oil Filled Transformers There are two main categories of transformers, which in clude dry type and liquid filled transformers. In this paper, we will prepare a proposal for oil-filled transformers at substations, which are one of the main types of liquid filled transformers. Oil filled transformers make use of cellulose paper and mineral based oil in their insulation systems. This combination of cellulose paper and oil is very good for the working of transformers because they provide remarkable dielectric and thermal properties at a low cost. About this combination, Dickinson (2009) states, â€Å"So popular and effective are these units, that all other transformer designs are judged in relation to them†. For outdoor usage, oil filled transformers are the best ones among all types of transformers because of their low purchase costs and thermal and dielectric properties. The inclusion of mineral oil in the oil-filled transformers although makes them flammable but the low cost associated with these transformers makes them a good choice for power distributio n companies. The low purchase cost of oil-filled transformers makes them an attractive choice for all types of power distribution companies. Dickinson (2009) asserts, â€Å"Oil-filled transformers, thanks to their lower purchase costs, find applications in literally every sort of power distribution†. The only weakness of mineral oil filled transformers is flammability, which is the reason why these transformers are allowed only in outdoor locations because outdoor locations are considered safe for the installation of oil-filled transformers because of availability of proper fire protection mechanisms. Experts suggest that the consumers should always buy oil-filled transformers from trusted manufacturers because they ensure lowest level of flammability in the oil-filled transformers. Flammability is such a weakness of oil-filled transformers that most of the power distribution companies seek good replacements of oil-filled dtransformers, which should be non-flammable. This is the reason why dry type transformers have been popular for decades because they are completely free from this weakness. Dry type transformers make use of high temperature insulation instead of mineral oil which them a risk free option for power distribution companies. â€Å"Dry type transformer construction uses high-temperature insulation that exceeds the ratings of cellulose or 'O' and 'K' class fluids† (Dickinson 2009). There is no risk of flammability in

Rapid Response to Deteriorating Adult Patient Essay

Rapid Response to Deteriorating Adult Patient - Essay Example From this essay it is clear that  the development of a comprehensive program for the identification and detection of primary causal and contributory factors for the observed adult patient deterioration is imperative for the reduction of mortality rates associated with deterioration of acutely unwell patients. Although studies indicate the occurrence of patient deterioration at any duration of patient illness, identification of pathophysiological factors related to patient deterioration and subsequently mitigation measures may prevent the culmination of patient state to death.  Ã‚  This study outlines that the fundamental remedial measures for the deterioration of adult patients should be focused on the development,assessment, and implementation of effective medical care and practices that would offer optimal care to acutely unwell patients. This present essay is aimed at the identification, development and improvement of health care delivery to acutely unwell patients to prevent the occurrence of patient's health deteriorates through implementation of a rapid response deterioration adult patient program.  Deterioration of adult patients has been associated with the occurrence of physiological abnormalities in patients that are recognizable by medical professionals. Deterioration of adult patients has often been preceded with observable pathophysiological factors which could range from changes in patient vital signs, deterioration of consciousness and oxygenation in the case of patients suffering from cardiorespiratory arrest.

Design of Heat Transfer for a Chemical Reactor Assignment

Design of Heat Transfer for a Chemical Reactor - Assignment Example The instrumentation part includes putting in place the correct system such as closed loop control system, sensors and pneumatic valves for control of flow rate and temperatures. Much appreciation goes out to all the persons responsible in several ways for the success of this research, mostly to those who have made me gain much more than what the scholastic aspects of the course could have accorded. Much gratitude also goes to my lecturer for the basic knowledge he has provided in class. Production of Acrylic acid starts with propylene being partially oxidized in a fluidized -bed reactor. Propylene is broken down to acrolein in the process of getting catalytic gas at an oxidation stage. This takes place in presence of oxygen gas. The fluidized-bed reactor includes a packed-bed with a stirred tank that creates continuous flow reactors. It must posses some good characteristics of both heat and mass transfers. Substrates moves upwards through the bed which is immobilized with enzyme at high velocity which moves the particles up leading to though mixing. The reactor is normally used in highly exothermic reactions because it clears local hot-spots simply because of the mass and heat characteristics the fluidized -bed reactor has. The substrates are normally catalytic material where chemical reactants are given support. After achieving some optimum speed the reactor gets into a stage where the force of the fluid in the solids becomes enough to make a balance between the fluid and the solid materials. The contents of the bed-reactor begin to expand and swirl about in a manner equivalent to a agitated tank or a boiling pot of water after passing this level. This is where the reactor becomes a fluidized bed (Coulson, Richardson & Sinnott,1993). Pressure and temperature conditions in the process changes regarding the mode of reaction going on. Putting the fluidized-bed reactor in the higher section with higher temperatures and pressure than other areas provides good results since it promotes the needed reaction. The vapor velocity influences the rate of circulation for the catalyst. The velocity for the catalyst in inversely

Dickens hard times resonates with the work of his contemporaries Essay

Dickens hard times resonates with the work of his contemporaries particulary in relation to the effects on the enroaching effe - Essay Example Charles Dickens’s Hard Times presents a unique picture of industrialization and urbanization in 19th century England. The sullen atmosphere of Coketown symbolizes suppressed anger of the factory workers and failure to improve their lives and wellbeing. Surprisingly or not, Dickens’s work resonates with and echoes in the works of his predecessors and contemporaries, who discuss the tragic man-city dichotomy and depict the disruption of human integrity by cities. It would be fair to say that Charles Dickens’s Hard Times presents a unique and profoundly philosophic allegory of urbanization and industrialization, which causes encroaching effects on the lives of English class workers and reinforces the sense of human alienation from everything rational and urban. Charles Dickens’s Hard Times is rightly considered as one of the best representations of industrialization and its disintegrative effects on the lives and wellbeing of English class workers. ... Nevertheless, it is due to Dickens’s repulsion toward dry statistics, rationality, and facts that Hard Times turned out to be an excellent source of truth about the disruptive effects of industrialization on workers. In Dickens’s book, urbanization and industrialization are associated with the lack of creativity and everything humane. The family of Gradgrinds exemplifies the utmost saneness and extraordinary rationality with no tint of feeling or romance: â€Å"No little Gradgrind had ever seen a face in the moon; it was up in the moon before it could speak distinctly. No little Gradgrind had ever learnt the silly jingle [†¦] no little Gradgrind had ever associated a cow in a field [†¦] with that yet more famous cow who swallowed Tom Thumb† (Dickens 1854). Needless to say, those are the products of industrialization, which suppress romanticism and create a sullen atmosphere on Coketown. The name of the city itself symbolizes sullenness and intoxication with rationality. This sullenness, however, is nothing but the sign of repressed anger, which finds no outlet but goes unabated (Colon 2006). The implications of industrial sullenness in Coketown are two-fold: on the one hand, it creates and fosters a claustrophobic atmosphere; on the other hand, it indicates and reflects the growing social dissent in the English work class. Excessive rationality leaves workers beyond the boundaries of improved wellbeing and, at the same time, emphasizes an irresolvable man-city dichotomy. The themes of sullenness and workers’ alienation from the processes of industrialization and urbanization resonate with T.S. Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock. Green and Fernald (2003) are correct in that both works create a set of metaphors which

Advance practice role Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Advance practice role - Essay Example 49); while according to Roussel, (2013), a nurse administrator is a qualified nurse who is registered and participates in management of health care delivery services and is a representative of nursing service. A nurse administrator works in different settings with entrepreneurial chances accessible in health care all over the health care area. Nurse administrator serves in the following settings: hospitals, home health care, skilled care, community health services, residential care and adult day care (p.29). On the other hand, a nurse executive is a registered nurse whose aim is to give leadership within the workplace (American Organization of Nurse Executive, 2005). Their role is in the ability and capacity to lead organizations based on leadership ability (American Nurses Credentialing Center, 2014). The nurse executive has the chance of molding the future of professional practice in a working place by providing opportunities where staff nurses and managers to have best input into organizational decision making in regards to the future. According to Yoder-wise (2014), the nurse executive facilitates making of an objective and goals of the future

Fair Values in Accounting for Financial Instruments Essay - 2

Fair Values in Accounting for Financial Instruments - Essay Example Along with the depth development of financial instruments and fair value accounting practices by national standard setting bodies in many countries, fair value measurements have helped to create a more accurate representation of fact. Because of this, the FASB, IASB and other agencies continue to improve the recognition and measurement standards of financial instruments. For instance, in 1990, Richard C Breeden, the chairman of the SEC pointed out that historical cost for financial reporting does not help to prevent and/or defuse financial risk. As such, fair value accounting should be taken as the measurement of financial instruments (SEC, 1990). Although many people support the implementation of fair value, the debate about this has not stopped and has become fierce; especially after a financial crisis. As means of providing an example, FASB No. 157 provides a definition of â€Å"fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.†(Deans, 2007) There also have another defines set out by IASB including IAS 32 (presentation of Financial Instrument) and IAS 39 (recognition and measurement) which Fair value is defined as â€Å"the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. (IASB) IAS 39 defines fair value slightly differently from SFAS 157† (Laux & Leuz, 2009). Firstly, the information provided by the fair value accounting method can be considered as more relevant. Generally speaking, such information should satisfy the requirements of relevance and reliability at the same time. Brath explains the quality characteristic of accounting information. In this way, he proposes that it includes reliability, relevance, predictive, timely, neutrality, comparability, etc. (Ball, 2006). Historical costs

The Sikh Temple Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Sikh Temple - Case Study Example Those who believe in that philosophy join together and a religion is born. Those believers congregate in one place to reinforce their faith and thus places of worship come into existence. It is a long drawn progression whence a religion becomes a reality. It is an ongoing and continuous process that never has an end. The problem starts when places of worship become displays of religious supremacy. The imposing constructions and their special signature are nothing new at places of worship. History is replete with many such edifices to honor conquests and subjugation of their subjects. Many victories have been dedicated to some gods and impressive temples built to commemorate the victories. What is a Gurdwara The word "Guru" is made up of two words- "GU" meaning DARK and "RU" meaning LIGHT. The word Guru means from darkness to light or from ignorance to enlightenment. The one who enlightens is called "GURU". Among the Sikhs the title "guru" was given to the 10 leaders of the community from Nanak (1469-1539), the founder to Govind Singh (1666-1708) the tenth and last Guru. During the times of the early Gurus, Sikh places of worship were referred to as dharamsalas. They were places where Sikhs could gather to hear the Guru speak or sing hymns. As the Sikh population grew, Guru Hargobind the sixth Guru introduced the word Gurdwara, meaning the gateway through which the Guru could be reached. Thereafter all Sikh places of worship came to be known as Gurdwaras. Govind Singh, in 1708, ended the succession line of personal Gurus and installed the sacred book of "Guru Granth Sahib" as his eternal successor. Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru in 1604. It is a compilation of the actual words spoken by the Sikh Gurus and various other Saints from other religions including Hinduism and Islam. The Background of San Jose Gurdwara Sikh Gurdwara - San Jose, was founded in the Evergreen district of San Jose, California, USA in 1985 by leaders of the then-rapidly growing Santa Clara Valley Sikh community. Initially they congregated in a rented East Bay Community Center. In 1986 they bought a small building on White Road in East San Jose and later added some nearby land. Soon they realized that it would be too expensive to build a Gurdwara of their requirements in the city limits, so they sold that land and in 1996 the Gurdwara Committee under the tutelage of Bob (Bhupinder) Singh Dhillon bought 40 Acres of land near East San Jose Foothills in Evergreen District. The first phase of the project of approximately 20,000 square feet built-up area was completed in August 2004 at a cost of 10 million dollars. With an estimated investment of another 10 million dollars in the second phase the completed Gurdwara will have over 90,000 square feet built-up area, housing all the essential features of a Gurdwara. The Fremont's temple in the Bay area, built in 1991 at a cost of 1.8 million dollars is, at present, the nation's largest. With its completion San Jose Gurdwara will overtake the Fremont temple in size. The Controversy The 90,000 square feet structure sparked controversy when Sikhs first unveiled their aspiration. Ironically, beauty of the site is the chief cause for concern among Evergreen residents; many of them believe the temple may become a tourist's attraction, causing traffic problems

Enhancing community intergration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Enhancing community intergration - Essay Example Kennedy signed the law requiring states to begin investing in community-based mental health programs rather than funding state institutions for treating individuals with mental illness, the promise remains unfulfilled" In the modern times, meaning of community and its involvement is fast thinning. There is no doubt that we live in a deprived sense of 'loss of community'. Sociologists have untiringly pointed out this bereavement of modern times. "Maurice Stein's 1960 review of major sociological and anthropological community studies concludes with the central finding of a disappearance of the sense of community among residents of the towns studies (Stein 1960)," Rossi (2001, p.32). Even though olden days had their share of mental ill health, modern times of stress and strain have thrown up a plethora of mental health problems for people of all ages, especially for the elderly. Mental health problems could be very difficult for the afflicted person and for his family. As it is mostly a life span problem, with certain relief combined with cure, or sometimes simply progressive, the problem has to be faced for years and decades. Mental health problems cannot be faced in isolation. It needs help from family, school, and more importantly from community and society. ... It is not an individual problem either. It is the problem of community and society and should be treated so. Community has to take fair share of its responsibility because a person going through a mental sickness, or being cured and coming out of it, has a right to expect better and more considerate treatment from community around him. Treatment meted out to him by the community will be taken as standard measurement of his achievement in being cured, or the lack of it. Reaction of the community and people around him could send an individual reeling back into serious and more difficult mental problems, or can encourage him to come out of it. Afflicted person in his hopelessness of future and helplessness will be very watchful and wary of people around him. He would clutch at any kindness, but could turn violent or morose at the very hint of discrimination or ridicule. Mary and Andrew are mother and son, and the son is afflicted by the unfortunate Schizophrenia. We learn from his own words that Andrew treats his mental inadequacies as a form of education and a boon. He feels that he would never come out of his childhood, and experiences the complete happiness of childhood any time again, will never ask for better things and get disillusioned. He has his hobbies, his pets, his ideas and in his small world he is happy. Community around him had been understanding and cooperative and there lies the real root of Andrew's fulfilment. Is Andrew deceiving himself or taking a brighter view of his very difficult-to-cure mental problem It could be anything. But the fact remains that Andrew is happy in the small community, in their house along with his mother Mary. He could be blocking out the difficulties of the

Essay on Mobile Revolution Essay Example for Free

Essay on Mobile Revolution Essay Mobiles are no more a luxury or a life style product. Mobile phones, which were one of the beautiful possessions of anybody not until a decade ago, have now become a necessity to the common man. The entry of private service providers with CTMA, GSM and of course, 3G technologies has changed the Communication sector in India beyond imagination. Many new competitors have entered the mobile market resulting in reduction of the STD rates and Local call rates. Plans are also on anvil to enable mobile users to switch over to other service providers without changing their number, also called Mobile Number Portability (MNP). The mobile users in India have increased tremendously during the last decade. Youth, both in rural and urban India, have welcomed and accepted mobiles with open hands. The decrease in call rates can be imagined from the fact that it cost around? 16 per minute when mobiles were introduced in India and today it costs as little as 1 paisa per 2 seconds offered by companies like MTS. Even the size of mobile phones has changed to an unimaginable level. They have become very handy today compared to their walkie-talkie resemblance when they were introduced. The immense benefit offered by a mobile has triggered this revolution. With a mobile phone in hand, one can be available round the clock, and can get the up-to-date information on anything. The availability of internet on mobile phones has increased its utility tremendously. It has made mobile phones, to an extent, an essential item for carrying out a business transaction. The facility of sending short messages or pictures enables a person to send the message across without actually bothering to disturb the other person. For traders, it helps them get the price details of any products without even bringing the products to the market. The introduction of mobile banking helps people carry their bank in their mobile. Some people even carry their office in their mobile phones. However, mobile phones also have some demerits as they can be used to detonate bombs. Some instruments which have cameras in them can be used for taking unnecessary photographs. Constant use of mobile phones may create health problems and increase risk of accidents on road. In spite of these demerits, mobile phones are becoming popular day-by-day as their advantages fairly outweigh the demerits. In fact, the mobile revolution has occurred very fast in India. This symbolizes the countrys transformation from an inward looking tentative nature to a confident and resurgent global economic power. The mobile phone service providers have also increased manifold during the years. Some of the important market players are: Aircel, Airtel, BSNL, MTNL, Idea Cellular, Tata Indicom, Tata DoCoMo, Reliance Communications, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone, Videocon Telecommunications, MTS India and Spice Telecom. Even in rural India, mobile phone has brought a tremendous change to rural telephony, marginalizing the middlemen and empowering women, strengthened by the formation of self-help groups. It has vastly improved access to information and helped in the explosive growth in connectivity. Even at sea, fishermen in Kerala use the mobiles to keep track of rates for their catch in the market. The improvement in infrastructure and support from the Government has acted as a catalyst for mobiles to make tremendous inroads into rural India. The role of mobile telephones are varied, in that, they help assess the market information, coordinate travel and transport, manage remote activities and increase the remunerative working days. As a result, the rural marketing scenario has also undergone a change. Today, the rural consumer is better informed and price conscious. The total mobile penetration is increasing at a quick pace with companies like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Tata Teleservices, etc. aving unveiled big network expansion plans and innovative marketing strategies specially tailored region-wise. Some of these companies are using a door-to-door marketing strategy in villages and B and C category census towns. They are involving members of gram panchayats and trained market-feelers to make residents aware of the usefulness of mobile telephony and how the system of pre-paid refills work. Handset manufacturers too are gearing up with Nokia incorporating nine Indian languages on certain handsets to promote sales. Value-for- money handsets priced between 1,000 and 1,400 with a plethora of tariff plans to choose from is also one of the reasons for driving subscription growth in these regions. Handsets are being imported in bulk by some service providers. It is expected that voice short messaging service will become a focus area in future, especially in rural areas and service providers are already planning implementation of the same. The pace at which mobile revolution has occurred in India can be attributed to the easy to understand operations. For an illiterate, mobiles phones were so easy to operate that they needed to understand only two buttons the green button for answering a call and the red button for disconnecting a call. Everything else can be learnt with usage and passage of time. Even today, most of the mobiles are used on this two button principle, which makes it a popular device. Gone are the days when people use to queue up before a Public Call Office (PCO) and wait their turn for an hour, only to end up without connectivity. Mobile phones have also removed the necessity to remember telephone numbers of other people. In-built phone books in the instruments enable a person to call the other person, without ever having to remember the other persons number. Actually, mobile phones have become an all-in-one tool in the pocket, which has replaced even the old pocket diary. It is also slowly replacing purse, with the introduction of mobile transactions. No wonder, life without mobile phones have become unimaginable and unthinkable to many.

The Tragedy Of Machismo Media Essay

The Tragedy Of Machismo Media Essay The tragedy of machismo is that a man is never quite man enough. (Greer, 1987) This is a quote that could serve as a metaphor to describe how man can never be as ideal as portrayed by advertisements. The modern portrayal of men in advertisements is the one in which they all appear to be ultra masculine, and researches have shown these images to have a negative impact on the self-esteem of men, especially boys and young men (Constructed bodies, deconstructing ads: Sexism in advertising, para 2). This could be explained by the fact that men is trying to pursue the norm, of which they should be ultra masculine, leaving them under excessive emotional stress as they try to model after these stereotypically male attributes; or for some, especially feminine and androgynous men, to simply stay relevant within their social circle and essentially, the society-as discussed in Is the Malboro man the only alternative? The role of gender identity and self-construal salience in evaluations of male models. (Gnoth and Brett, 2009) The objectification of woman by modern advertising has been debated upon for many years since the start of the post-feminist era as women slowly gain their foot power in the society. As far as the apparent diminishment of advertising campaigns targeted to promote product services through the use of womens sexual appeal goes, there has also been a significant increase in the objectification of men in advertising. Unlike women who are shown as being excessively thin, men are shown as being over muscular and athletic. A 2002 study by the University of Wisconsin suggests that this new focus on fit and muscled male bodies is causing men the same anxiety and personal insecurity that women have been feeling for years. (Masculinity and Advertising, 2010) In the United Kingdom, one of the very worrying causes of death among men is suicide, which stands at a proportion of 1 out of 100 deaths. It is postulated by Mulholland (2010) that depression is one of the main causes of suicide, which main cause is poor self-esteem. Self-esteem is a concept that can only be measured by self-report. (Frost and McKelvie, 2004) It is measured by how much people value themselves and how worthy they feel their beings are. Poor self-esteem, therefore, occurs in people whose self-values or self-priorities are not met. So, where do these values and priorities come about? Why is value placed on certain things as opposed to other things? Several reasons that could have influenced how and what values and priorities people, mainly men, are adopted come to mind: Advertisements, social and cultural trends and the perception of men by the opposite sex. All factors: Advertisements, social and cultural trends and womens perception of men should be considered equally and not be discounted in any way. Hence, this paper shall seek to prove that the extent to which that modern advertising is negatively affecting mens self esteem is larger than the other factors. Advertisements vs Womens Perception of Men A quote by Ray Lewis, a professional football player featured in a viral television commercial for Old Spice, from the television commercial Old Spice | The Man Your Man Could Smell Like goes: Hello, ladies, look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isnt me, but if he stopped using ladies scented body wash and switched to Old Spice, he could smell like hes me. This particular television commercial (Old Spice | The Man Your Man Could Smell Like, 2010) was posted onto YouTube, a video sharing website, and has garnered almost 31 million views, 37 thousand comments, 114 video responses and umpteen reposts by other YouTube channels since its release in February, 2010. These staggering figures were also reflected in their sales figure: a 106% increase in sales (Old Spice Campaign Smells Like a Sales Success, Too, 2010) within 4 months of the start of the marketing campaign, Smell Like A Man, Man. The videos in this campaign, which seem to be targeted mostly at women, all feature a hunky man promoting the Old Spice products while reading a script which humorously brings across the point that no man is like him; no man can ever be like him; and the closest you can get to be like him is to smell like him. Judging by the fact that Old Spice had chosen women as the main target audience for their marketing campaignwhich they should have done extensive research to determineit can be inferred that womens perception of men, or particularly her man, has great power in deeply affecting men, influencing them in their decision making; in this context, the kind of smell they use. This inference can also be further proven by the actual increase in sales of the Old Spice products. However, to conclude that it is actually the womens perception of men that is affecting how men view themselves is a very narrow-minded act because the images displayed explicitly to the public through the form of advertisements are what are influencing womens perception of men. Hence, it can be concluded that advertising is and takes precedence and relevance over womens perception of men in lowering mens self-esteem. Next, this paper will explore this question: Is modern advertising following social and cultural trends, or is it going ahead of them? Advertisements vs Social/Cultural Trends Advertisements have always been known to be able to cause an impact, fulfilling their purpose to influence, urge and compel the public to purchase or engage the goods and services they are endorsing. In this context, it is no doubt that by doing so, they are also influencing the way people think about which are popular products or services and which are not, albeit subconsciously. However, what are the things that inspire advertisers in the way they advertise their products? Do they safely follow social conventions or do they actually set the standards? While it is easy to argue that since the sole purpose of advertisements is to persuade people to buy or engage goods and services, advertisements must surely conform to social standards; however, the possibility of it happening in reverse also deserves consideration. The following example presents evidence that supports the statement that advertising does go ahead of social trends; however isolated an example it is. In an interview conducted by CNN with Donatella Versace (Donatella Versace, CNN Interview, Part 1/3, 2009), designer for fashion powerhouse, Versace, it was mentioned that Versace was the first ever luxury brand to have entered China. Before 1979, the year China introduced Versace into its market, the idea of a luxurious lifestyle was not widespread, partly due to the then still low living standards. However, over the years, it was the upbeat advertising of the luxury goods lifestyle that started the notion of living life luxuriously. Since then, China has surpassed the United States of America to become the second-largest luxury market in 2009 (Luxury Brands in China, 2010). China is also set to become the second largest consumer of luxury by 2015 (China Luxury, 2007). The above-discussed point has proven that advertising and social trends both influence each other in a way or another. They are also factors that have in one way or another negatively affected mens self esteem. However, if we were to consider the extent to which has more direct effect on lowering mens self esteem, it will be advertising, since the visual representation in the form of images is straightforward and clear, unlike social trends, which sometimes can be unobvious, leading men to be oblivious about their existence. The Importance of Context When discussing the effect that modern advertising has on mens self-esteem, the context of the circumstances also has to be considered in depth. Across time and space, the set of priorities of men changes and is different. Therefore, we can assert that advertisements may not actually affect mens self-esteem as images portrayed by advertisements at a present time or place may not be what they desire to emulate or copy. For example, in the early to mid 20th century China, value might be put on people who had good martial arts skills because in those days, that was one of the few things people associate success with. However, nowadays, value seems to be put on wealthy people with social stature because of the change in what people associate success with-from life skills, or skills in general, to economic wealth. In addition, since martial arts originated from Asia, Westerners may lack familiarity to it and find it hard to relate to it, even though they are living in the same era. Hence, if an advertisement featuring a martial arts master were to be shown to the men of today, the effect of this advertisement on their self-esteem might actually be minimal to none. It might be true that the context in which advertisements are being displayed for public view and what they are actually about might not be applicable to some people due to the differences in each individuals set of values and priorities, but without factoring in external factors such as globalization, it will be unfair to come to the conclusion that advertisements have little to do with the lowering of self-esteem of men. With globalization, and the rise of computers and the Internet, the myriad of pages, websites and even programs are tools that have been connecting people, communities and even nations together. The exposure to advertisements online is abundant since usually, one of the key revenues for web and program developers is the endorsement of products through advertisements on their web pages and programs. The convenience and high accessibility of the Internet has enabled companies to broaden their customer market, and in the same way also helped expose people to a huge and limitless array of advertisements. Under the influence of these advertisements, which include references from both the present, past, and also all around the world, people start to learn more about the cultures of others, past and present. By accumulating more real world knowledge over time, advertisements will now be more relatable and relevant. Hence, advertising will, again, present the risks of lowering mens self este em. Conclusion All in all, although the social and cultural trends and also factors such as the womens perception of men have in a way or another contributed to the negative change in the way men view themselves, they are in fact caused by the extensive exposure to advertisements that have been making use of the objectification of men to sell their goods and services. Therefore, it is with huge certainty that I conclude that advertisements is to a large extent the main cause of the decreasing self-esteem of men.

Baló-like Lesion With Psoriasis and Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Balà ³-like Lesion With Psoriasis and Autoimmune Thyroiditis BALÓ-LIKE LESION ASSOCIATED WITH PSORIASIS AND CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS Authors: Corina Roman-Filip1, Aurelian Ungureanu2, Ileana Prăvariu3 Abstract Variants of multiple sclerosis are seldom encountered in clinical practice, sometimes with reserved prognosis or possibly serious disability. These pathologies are characterized by atypical demyelinating lesions such as Balà ³-type lesions or tumefactive lesions. The mechanism behind these lesions still remains a debate, since genetic and immune factors are incriminated. We present a case of multiple sclerosis variant with remarkably good outcome in association with autoimmune thyroiditis and psoriasis. This concomitant process questions the possibility of shared immune pathogenesis regarding the activation of T helper 17 cells lineage and mitochondrial oxidative stress. The imagistic appearance of the found lesions raises discussions on a possible radiologic diagnosis. Keywords: Balà ³-type lesions; tumefactive lesions; psoriasis; autoimmune thyroiditis; T helper 17 cells; Introduction Pathologist Jà ³zsef Balà ³ described a particular form of demyelinating disease, leukoencephalitis periaxialis concentrica, classically named Balà ³Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s concentric sclerosis (BCS). Nowadays, this is defined as a variant of multiple sclerosis. The intensive use of magnetic resonance showed an increasing number of different types of demyelinating lesions. Some of these are specific, but a large variety is under debate regarding the classification. Tumefactive demyelinating lesions (pseudotumoral) can sometimes present a degree of concentricity and can be easily mistaken for a genuine Balà ³ lesion, or at least a Balà ³-like demyelinating lesion. Historically, the variants of multiple sclerosis were regarded as serious disabling inflammatory damages of the central nervous system, but recent works have demonstrated that the course of the disease may be more variable, at least regarding BCS. Imagistic studies can lead to a better appreciation on the prognosis of BCS and its ass ociation with other types of demyelinating lesions [1]. The pathological mechanism behind it still remains a debate, although one can find similarities with multiple sclerosis (MS) and even overlapping lesions of these conditions. Case report We present the case of a 40-year-old woman admitted for mild incoordination of the left arm and speech impairment. The patient’s medical history is positive for psoriasis (since 2002) and autoimmune thyroiditis under treatment with levothyroxine 50 ug/day (since 2010). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies revealed FLAIR and T2 weighted inhomogeneous hyperintense lesions with concentric enhanced and non-enhanced lesions on T1 with gadolinium contrast (fig 1ab). The lesion was characterized as atypical demyelinating with 22.5/21.6 mm in size, with late concentric enhancement and without mass effect. Additionally, two demyelinating periventricular enhancing lesions were found (fig 1def). A biochemistry panel, antinuclear antibodies, anti-ds DNA antibodies, ANCA antibodies, anti Ro antibodies and anti-Borrelia antibodies were negative. Slight pleocytosis (16 cells/mm3 with 75% monocytes) was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid together with present oligoclonal bands and normal proteins. Serum myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies, myelin basic protein antibodies, IgG anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies were negative. Moreover, a high serum titre of anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (60.73 IU/mL – normal Discussion The association of the pathologies described may seem incidental. However, strong research evidence shows the implication of Thelper17 cells (Th17) and Interleukin 17 (Il17) in the autoimmune pathways of MS, autoimmune endocrinopathy and psoriasis [2,3]. BCS type lesions and MS lesions may both be present simultaneously in the same patient, and Balà ³-like lesions may change over time into the classic appearance of MS lesions [4]. The lesions are characteristic, with rings of demyelination, surrounded by partial demyelinated regions, reflecting the concentricity within the lesion. The lesion type is classified as MS pattern III with oligodendrocyte loss, microglial activation and loss of myelin-associated glycoprotein [4]. Studies of 7 Tesla MRI support the microvascular pathology associated to inflammation, which seems to be consistent with pattern III lesions [5]. These studies are sustained by identifying Notch 3 mutation in a patient with BCS phenotype and a family history of No tch 3 mutation carriers and CADASIL. Mitochondrial respiratory chain disturbance and the expression of some molecules probably tend to precondition hypoxic tissue to inflammation, such as mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 [6]. Furthermore, new cellular biology studies of cancer found that hsp70 can mediate the Th17 differentiation [1]. We consider that the simultaneity with the autoimmune endocrinopathy and psoriasis may be more than incidental and raises the hypothesis of probable linkage of the proinflammatory and autoimmune role of Th17 cells lineage with mitochondrial oxidative stress. Compliance with Ethical Standards Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study Fig. 1 a. T1 gadolinium sequence showing a frontal demyelinating lesion with concentric enhancing rings (arrow); b. T2 weighted image with concentric rings of demyelination and myelinated regions (arrow); c. DWI sequence with diffusion restriction in the active lesion; d. T1 gadolinium enhancement of periventricular lesion (arrowhead); e. Enhancing periventricular lesion in the occipital lobe (arrowhead); f. Coronal T2 small demyelinating lesion (arrowhead) with enhancement on T1 (not shown) Fig. 2 a. T1 gadolinium sequence showing a significant improvement six months later (arrow); b. T2 weighted image showing the demyelinating lesion markedly decreased (arrow); c. DWI; d, e, f. Improvement of demyelinating lesions References Hardy TA,Miller DH (2014) Balà ³s concentric sclerosis. Lancet Neurol 13(7):740-6. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70052-3. Kottke T, Sanchez-Perez L, Diaz RM, Thompson J, Chong H, Harrington K, Calderwood SK, Pulido J, Georgopoulos N, Selby P, Melcher A, Vile R (2007) Induction of hsp70-Mediated Th17 Autoimmunity Can Be Exploited as Immunotherapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer. Cancer Res 67(24):11970-11979. Bossowski A, Moniuszko M, Dabrowska M, Rusak M, Jeznach M, Bodzenta-Ã…Â ukaszyk A, Bossowska A (2013) Role of Th17 cells and IL-17, IL-23 cytokines in pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease in children. Thyroid Research 6(Suppl 2):A8.doi:10.1186/1756-6614-6-S2-A8. Stadelmann C, Ludwin S, Tabira T, Guseo A, Lucchinetti CF, Leel-Ossy L, Ordinario AT, Brà ¼ck W, Lassmann H (2005) Tissue preconditioning may explain concentric lesions in Balà ³s type of multiple sclerosis. Brain 128(Pt 5):979-87. doi:10.1093/brain/awh457. Berghoff M, Schlamann MU, Maderwald S, Grams AE, Kaps M, Ladd ME, Gizewski ER (2013) 7 Tesla MRI demonstrates vascular pathology in Balos concentric sclerosis. Mult Scler 19(1):120-122. doi: 10.1177/1352458512445302. Chitnis T, Hollmann TJ (2012) CADASIL mutation and Balo concentric sclerosis: a link between demyelination and ischemia? Neurology 78(3):221-3. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31823fcd3c.

Ubuntu :: Africa Philosophy Culture Papers

Ubuntu The decolonization of Africa, of which the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa is the most recent example, has led to a greater recognition of the wide variety of religions practising on its soil. When confronted with this plurality, and the corresponding plurality of claims to truth or credibility, believers often resort to absolutism. The absolutist evaluates the religious other in view of criteria which violate the self-understanding of the latter. The religious other is thus being colonized by a hegemony (i.e., an enforced homogeneity) of norms and values. This paper deals with an assessment of the faith of others which transcends absolutism without resorting to relativism. More specifically, it aims to show that an African philosophy and way of life called ‘Ubuntu’ (humanness) significantly overlaps with such a ‘decolonized’ assessment of the religious other, and that this assessment can therefore also be explained, motivated or underscored with re ference to the concept of Ubuntu. Introduction: A decolonized assessment The decolonization of Africa, of which the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa is a recent example, led to a greater recognition of the wide variety of religions practising on its soil. When confronted with this plurality, and the corresponding plurality of claims to truth or credibility, believers usually resort to either absolutism or relativism. The absolutist evaluates the religious other in view of criteria which violate the self-understanding of the latter. The religious other is thus being colonized by a hegemony (i.e. an enforced homogeneity) of norms and values. In an attempt to transcend this hegemonic colonization, the relativist, on the other hand, simply surrenders the evaluation of beliefs and practices to subjective arbitrariness. This paper deals with an assessment of the faith of others which transcends absolutism without resorting to relativism. More specifically, it aims to show that an African philosophy and way of life called "Ubuntu" (humanness) significantly overlaps with such a "decolonized" assessment of the religious other, and that this assessment can therefore also be explained, motivated or underscored with reference to the concept of Ubuntu. Much can and has already been said about the presuppositions and requirements of such an assessment. However, for the purposes of this paper I would like to concentrate on only three of these, viz.: (1) a respect for the other as a religious other; (2) an agreement on criteria, i.e. a common scale in view of which the adherents of different religious traditions may jointly judge these traditions; and (3) an interreligious dialogue or "mutual exposure" (cf.

John Bates Clark :: essays research papers

John Bates Clark John Bates Clark was an American economist who lived from 1847-1938. He played an important role in the development of marginal productivity, and had a great influence on the development of economic thought in the United States. Clark was educated at Amherst College and at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He taught at Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota from 1875 to 1881. He then moved on to teach at Smith College, Amherst, Johns Hopkins and Columbia from which he retired in 1923. In formulating the Neoclassical theory of the firm, John Bates Clark took over the classical categories of land, labor, and capital and simplified them in two ways, this simplification was the theory of marginal productivity. First, he assumed that all labor is homogenous, which meant that one labor hour is a perfect substitute for any other labor hour, but when marginal productivity was decreasing, the industry found it more profitable to replace labor with machinery. Clark believed that to make a sound economy wages had to be equal to the marginal productivity of labor. This was also beneficial to both the industry and the labor. Secondly, Clark ignored the distinction between land and capital, grouping together both kinds of non-human inputs under the general term "capital," which he then assumed that the broadened "capital" is homogenous. John took this Neoclassical approach one step further than others in applying it to the business firm and the maximization of profits. One of the results was a theory of the distribution which demonstrated that market outcomes were just. Clark also believed that technological change would lead to an increase in the standard of living which he felt was one of the chief goals of any economic system. He felt that with this technological change, labor would be more productive and lead to higher profits for industry. When the labor would see that industry was making higher profits, they would demand its share of the profits for their hard work. The labor's higher wages and the industries' higher profits would increase incomes and better the social living for everyone. Among Clark's works are The Philosophy of Wealth (1886), The Distribution of Wealth (1899), and Essentials of Economic Theory (1907).

Building Effective Teams

Work teams of all types are being empowered to perform tasks that previously were employees’ responsibility. As organizations move toward more highly empowered work teams, the organizations that invest resources to train teams can increase both team and organizational effectiveness. Management often rushes to form work teams without considering how the behaviors needed for effective team work differ from those needed for effective individual contributions. Team members may receive little or no training to ensure that they can perform the required tasks and achieve the goals set.Communication Issues in Situations 1. Not informing other departments of status and updated schedules. Improving communication in organization involves more accurate encoding, transmitting, decoding and updating at the interdepartmental level. People can overcome barriers to effective communication. They must first be aware that barriers exist and can cause serious organizational problems. Then they mus t be willing to invest the effort and time necessary to overcome the barriers. When departments do not communicate or update the status of information, then, there will be confusion in the process.To avoid this, employees must be able to follow up to determine whether important messages have been understood. Feedback doesn’t have to be verbal; in fact, actions often speak louder than words. The sales manager who describes desired changes in the monthly sales planning report receives feedback from the report itself when it is turned in. If it contains the proper changes, the manager knows the message was received and understood. Managers who tell everyone to see the big picture often create a serious communication overload.Rather than trying to keep everyone involved, top-level management need follow the â€Å"need-to-know† principle transmitting communication and updating people in other areas of the organization that need the necessary information. Sometimes it is use ful to regulate the flow of information and procedures that need to be brought to the attention of the people in the other departments. As long as performance falls within the acceptable range, the regular procedures aware followed. Misunderstandings and confusion can be reduced when adequate and timely feedback of information is done.Information must always be updated. Feedback mechanisms and reporting systems need to be established so managers know whether their messages have been understood, accepted and followed. Sometimes, a useful technique here is to manage the timing of messages so they are received in an orderly manner. This principle is similar to the procedure many executives use in responding to their in-basket. Incoming mail is sorted into piles of related topics. A similar procedure can be used, to some extent, with verbal communication where specific time periods are scheduled for discussing a specific topic.â€Å"Knowledge work is a process requiring knowledge from both internal and external sources to produce a product that is distinguished by its specific information content† (Kappes and Thomas). 2. Blaming between people of different races This is a big communication barrier that needs immediate remedy. When one has a grudge against someone, he tends to make that someone responsible for everything he finds wrong. When a person in one department blames someone, his desire to judge and punish is often what is at work.Someone blames another hen he is angry because the action made things turn out differently than he wished—if not through his words, then through his manner and tone of voice. One can put all the responsibility for what happened to him, in a way that implies what he did was â€Å"wrong† or â€Å"bad. † Moreover, blame breeds resentment. â€Å"it’s your fault! † is a red-flag phrase. It is to a person what a matador’s cape is to a bull. The hooker in blame is that smidgen of truth in what one said or implied. One can seldom say, â€Å"That’s just what you feel-it has nothing to do with me.† When a person’s blamer goes to work, it is very canny. It knows exactly where to go zap, where to pick out that nasty kernel of truth. A put-down artist is an expert at zeroing in on where you feel bad about oneself and making him feel even smaller there. Two messages get mixed up in blame: one party’s statement of how he feels (I’m angry and disappointed†) and one’s evaluation of the other party (â€Å"Scum like you shouldn’t be aloud to work in this company. †). The feelings about the situation are often hidden in the â€Å"you-are-bad† message, instead of being said straight out.One-way blaming in the organization is overcome is help open up communication between two blaming departments. Members of these departments must also be reminded that they need to take responsibility for their part in what happene d. 3. Lack of standardization among terms used with different departments. This signifies uniform and consistent procedures or knowledge of terms that employees are to follow in doing their jobs. They must be aware of not only the terms used in the different departments but also the written procedures, job descriptions, instructions, rules and regulations to standardize the routine aspects of jobs.Standards among terms used with different departments allow people to reinforce values important to the organization’s success. This approach may seem mechanical, but if terms were not standardized, many organizations couldn’t achieve their goals and will have confusion of meanings in the process. Terms serve to bind as well as to separate departments. Terms sometimes block more than they reveal. They can prevent a true look. One is unlikely ever to know the whole truth of something. Someone else may see or touch a thing in a different way than one does, and know another side of it.An idea or statement, or concept is true to the degree that it helps one accurately experience the thing or event it represents. Some of the terms team members use are: free riding which means that a member does not contribute fully to team performance but still sharing in team rewards despite making less effort than the others; groupthink which is an agreement-at-any-cost mentality that results in ineffective work team decision-making and may lead to poor solutions; productive controversy which occurs when team members value different points of view and seek to draw them out to facilitate creative problem-solving (Hellriegel et al 1996).Dryer and Ericksen (March 2004) propose that human behaviors in high-reliability organizations can affect organizational performance. They examine several Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) strategies that engender and reinforce certain human behaviors that in turn can result to reliability in organizations that â€Å"operate under t rying conditions, i. e. , those that manage complex and interdependent systems subject to substantial external volatility. † They believe reliability in organizations (like mining firms) is a â€Å"critical process-based† measure of organizational performance (Dryer and Ericksen, 2004).Communication Strategy Team discussions are important. This is crucial especially in discussing feelings for these reflect the emotional climate of a tram. The four feelings most likely to influence work team effectiveness and productivity are the feelings of trust, openness, freedom and interdependence. The more these feelings are present, the more likely the work team will be effective and the members will experience satisfaction. These feelings probably are present in a formal or informal group to which one belongs if they agree with the following statements:– Trust- Members have confidence in each other. – Openness – Members are really interested in what others ha ve to say. – Freedom – Members do what they do out of a sense of responsibility to the group, not because of a lot of pressure from others. – Interdependence – Members coordinate and work together to achieve common goals. Indeed, in organizations, departments can easily get into trouble when they forget that they are sometimes dealing with abstractions, and then act as though they were concrete things and events. REFERENCES Dryer, L. and Ericksen, J. (March 2004).Towards a Strategic Human Resource Management Model of High Reliability Organization Performance: A Working Paper. Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies, Cornell School of Labor and Industrial Relations. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2006 at: http://www. ilr. cornell. edu/depts/cahrs/downloads/pdfs/workingpapers/WP04-02. pdf Hellriegel, D. Jackson S. and Slocum, J. (1996). Management. USA: International Thomson Publishing. Kappes, S. and Thomas, B. A Model for Knowledge Worker Information Support. Know ledge Worker Information Management. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2006 at: http://www. cecer. army. mil/kws/kap_supp. htm Building Effective Teams Building a global-based team is not as easy as building a new internal team in the company. There are many things to be considered. Creating a single team composed of different nationalities with different cultures should be done with thorough research and full attention. Several factors need to be looked at and taken into consideration to build an effective global team working together despite the geographical barriers. A good mix of international team members can only be obtained if the right criteria in the selection are correctly set.The rest of this paper discusses some of the criteria that would best help in the purpose of building a global-based team working effectively towards a common goal. Selecting Global Sales Team Members As an HR Manager tasked to come up with an effective global sales team, there should be some criteria that would better facilitate the selection of team members. Some of these criteria can be the following: †¢ Each member should be open to the fact of working with other members from other countries. †¢ The member should have a proven record of being responsible and reliable in their jobs especially when it comes to important tasks or assignments.†¢ Excellent communication skills, especially when it comes to dealing with business projects and endeavors, need to be exhibited by the global team member. †¢ The member should have a sense of independence and organization. Working in a global-based team means a possibility of working in a virtual environment where members are not directly supervised by a manager. The member should be able to work on his own at times and organized enough to be able to manage his own time in order to accomplish all the deliverables on time.As mentioned, if a global sales team is desired, there is a possibility that the members will work together in a virtual environment. With this in mind, I would probably decide on building a team composed of highly experienced professionals with prove n and excellent track record. These professionals should also exhibit the criteria and characteristics mentioned above. All of those things are necessary in building an effective global sales team. As the manager who is in charge of building the team, I would ensure that every member of the team is aware of the team’s nature.They should be briefed when it comes to differing time zones, languages, culture and work ethics of each member since they belong to different nationalities. The members of this global team should fully and clearly understand the objectives and goals of the global team. Since the members do not work in just a single location, they should exhaust all possible means of communication. With today’s technology, working in a virtual team, with members located in all parts of the globe, is now easy because of all the advanced means of communications easily available to anyone just like email, mobile phones and internet telephony.An effective communication is crucial in the success of any global-based team. For a global team to build trust and integrate well with each other, Mitchell (2000, p. 162) said that â€Å"team members [should] realize that each culture has much to offer. The team [should] take the best from each culture and mold them into a team personality that reflects the diverse nature of team members. † References Mitchell, C. (2000). A Short Course in International Business Culture. Novato, CA: World Trade Press.

Causes of Reality TV Popularity

There are several reasons that reality television has become popular today. The three that I will focus on are the concepts of money, instant fame, and the guilty pleasure phenomenon. The first catalyst for reality television being popular today is money. Today’s shows offer huge sums of money to people who do not necessarily possess the career skills that would make them a productive enough member of society to amass such wealth through honest work. Simplified, dumb people get lots of cash. Now, some shows do in fact have, at least at first, a pseudo-intellectual premise. Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, for example, offered up to a million dollars to people answering a set of questions. The questions, however, differed from related shows in that they were usually trivia oriented. Also, the audience was involved, as well as calling a friend and so on, which added to the drama aspect. The lighting, music, and editing all were contrived to produce the maximum possible suspense surrounding rather innocuous pop culture subjects one might find in any game of Trivial Pursuit for Children. The promise of money and the vicarious joy at someone winning lots of money, or more commonly spectacularly losing said money, is what draws millions of viewers. The second reason I believe reality television has become popular today is that of instant fame. Reality television takes ordinary people, sets them up in extraordinary situations on a world stage with other similarly commonplace individuals, and makes them the focus of a nation’s attention on, for example, an hour every Tuesday. Obviously the majority of the population has no chance of ever being picked as a participant for the show itself, but again the concept of vicarious living kicks in and the audience is hooked. The members of the show are satisfactorily every-day individuals for fans to willfully suspend their disbelief. That’s what keeps 35,000 twenty year olds auditioning every year for a chance to participate in MTV’s The Real World, which offers no monetary reward save the endorsements from being an instant celebrity. The third reason that reality television is popular today is what I like to call guilty pleasure syndrome. Sociology professor Mark Fishman of Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, has made a study of reality TV. â€Å"The Germans have a word for it, the appeal of some of these shows,† he says. â€Å"It's called ‘schadenfreude. ‘ It means taking delight in the misfortunes of others. It's a guilty pleasure. You feel you shouldn't be watching. It's always been in good taste not to look at these things†¦. It's a moral envelope that's being pushed†¦. We seem to be in a new age of making public what [we used to think] shouldn't be seen. † In today’s society, with the massive technological revolution of home computing and the internet, and with the renewed interest in free speech and the protection of the arts, more and more people are finding premises entertaining that 30 years ago would have been considered obscene.

Direction and Purpose Essay

Metaphors provide creative images for readers. They give flavor to literature and allow free interpretation of a piece; thereby making a conversation in a story, an image in a poem, a symbolism in the plot and such, more interesting. Through the use of such a figure of speech, the images are laid bare and presented fresh. This creates an interaction between the reader, the author and the piece; as readers are made to analyze the images presented and the idea that the metaphor is trying to introduce. It seems the poem, â€Å"Manila†, efficiently develops the metaphor that is the Philippines society during the colonial era, through a timeline. It takes the problem of colonial Manila into the modern Filipino mindset. The poem begins with an introduction [Lines 1-3], which gives us the first glimpse of the similarities between the city of Manila and the hermit crab. The succeeding stanzas [4-8] elaborate the physical conditions of the country’s capital and finally, the poem concludes [l9-14] with the mentality upheld by the nation. To appreciate how metaphors lay bare Espino’s â€Å"Manila†, let us analyze the imagery create in the poem, line by line. Unlike most poems, â€Å"Manila† begins with an epigraph from Nick Joaquin, which reads: â€Å"Dust and crabs, dust and crabs.† We can assume that this quote gives a foreview of what Federico Espino’s poem will highlight. Though very little is conveyed in this line, we are able to suppose that the metaphor will hold significance to the poem proper. Dust may be described as either something that depicts age or some remains of an explosion. We also know of crabs as an animal that crawls and has claws. Crabs are also able to survive on land for short periods of time and can literally live on dust. â€Å"Manila† begins with the line: â€Å"A hermit crab beside the tide of times,† if we look at the concept of the hermit crabs as a description of Manila, the line merely tells us that time has passed. It tells us that Manila has an old history and that it has endured much. The next line: â€Å"She bears the traces of her former homes/ the shells of foreign cultures and the slime,† tells us that the country’s history contributes much to its identity. The city has withstood much to the point that it is now isolated and delayed in comparison to the developments of other countries. The â€Å"former homes† are the shells that the crab has already left behind. The â€Å"foreign cultures† such as that of the Spanish, British, Japanese and Americans have all freed the country, yet their influences – dating back to colonial times – still linger. But as hermit crabs changes its shell, Manila now looks for a new â€Å"shell† of protection as she enters another era – whilst trying to retain its identity. Even with the passing of time, the mix of culture is still protected and preserved, which the narrator describes as both positive and negative – implying that though the foreigners have given us a rich culture, they have made us endure much â€Å"slime† and shit (considering that slime is a gastropod’s mucus secretion) in order to take what was rightly ours – freedom. In the succeeding lines: â€Å"Now she looks for food as small waves comb/Upon the shore where bits of driftwood lie†, we now see a direction in the poem. Again it highlights how the hermit crab searches for something and we now see she looks for food. Keeping in mind that food is parallel to life – since it is necessary in sustaining life – the hermit crab looks for nourishment in a place which seemingly has very little to give. From Nick Joaquin’s â€Å"Sa Loob ng Maynila†, we understand the devastation in the city when it served as the center of the revolution, and we see that starting anew is difficult when one is left on what is being portrayed as a deserted island. As expected, â€Å"she finds nothing in her hungry quest/ Instead she hears the raucous seagull’s cry/ Which is a shriek beyond the rock-ribbed nest.† In these lines, the seagulls – natural predators of the hermit crab – are foreign countries. We can assume that not only are we looking up at the seagulls but that they are also in a position to take advantage of us. In relation to the Philippines’ history, foreign countries are soaring. Other countries progress and it is a mockery when – ironically – the countries we defeated fighting for our independence are now more stable than we are – they still rise above us. We are still beneath them in a sense to the point we have to crawl in order to get anywhere. These lines are merely creating the image of a third world country. All seems futile, especially when you have nowhere else to go. â€Å"It mocks her as she crawls upon the sand— The sidewise movement of the hermit crab/ Which Dylan saw on a deserted strand/ And used as a metaphor in runes that throb† It is possible that Dylan represents a foreigner (since it is a typical name for an American boy) and he saw our â€Å"aimless wandering† and toke advantage of it – however, this is more of a hunch than a legitimate argument. What is clear though, is the point of our sideways movement, which is the natural direction a hermit crab follows. By this we can concur that the movement has become innate. We are not moving forward. We want so much, yet work so little. Perhaps, these lines also imply that we search in all the wrong places. â€Å"With life. Yes, this city is a pair of claws/ Creeping, crabbing with all its tragic flaws.† These last lines of the poem summarize the intent of the entire poem. Here it is implied that the people of the Philippines are aware of the damage in their society. Slowly, almost lifelessly, the Filipinos attempt to move through the things we dislike in our country. We complain so much yet we do very little – and perhaps that is our downfall. True there is no prefect nation, but in most nations you see a progression. In reference to Nick Joaquin’s opening epigraph, perhaps the dust is the remains of those countries that once colonized us. We never bothered to clean up what was left to us – good and bad. Espino hints that perhaps that is why we are not moving forward, there is too much to fix all at once. And this can be related to what we call â€Å"crab mentality† or the Filipinos’ attitude of clawing at those who have gotten ahead to pull them back again. We â€Å"creep† and â€Å"crawl† in our own flaws – in our own mistakes – instead of picking ourselves and walking. It is our own claws that hold us back. The generalizations made by Espino are obvious. Though the title is â€Å"Manila† is it clear that the city, being the â€Å"heart† of colonial Philippines, is a synecdoche for the entire country. And when all aspects of Espino’s Manila are examined, we see that the metaphor is in the intricate, descriptive design of the Philippines as a hermit crab trapped on a deserted island. Though she is attempting to escape, she is crawling blindly in no particularly direction. It seems not much has change. Though â€Å"Manila† was written a long time ago, it is relatively surprising that the text paints Manila in a sad, accurate manner. We fought for our freedom. Now we merely struggle with it. It seems our nation cannot decide independently; like a hermit crab, we depend on our symbiotic relationships. We cannot survive alone and we rely on what can be give to us by those who â€Å"protect† us. The dependence relayed in the poem explains why we have no direction, no purpose, and no resources. We are – truly – stuck.

The Secret Guardian of Gotham

The Dark Knight portrays Batman well enough for the audience to easily analyze Batman’s characteristics and personality. Batman is one of the most crucial characters in the movie. Bruce Wayne, or Batman, is portrayed as a billionaire and an owner of a gigantic industry, who actually at night works as a vigilante fighting criminals with his bare hands. Batman’s sense of morality, self-righteousness, and self-sacrificial attitude in his actions allow effortless classification of Batman’s characteristics in True Color’s Personality Test, Myers-Briggs Personality Test, and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The way Batman believes the good in people, and the way he spends his nights for the safety of the people in Gotham proves that Batman is most likely the color blue from the True Colors Personality Test. People with blue characteristic hate with fervor, value harmony, give self to others, promotes feelings and warmth among people, and are too generous. Batman falls into all of these descriptions. Even though Batman abhors Joker, he never kills Joker despite all of the chances he is given because he believes in change in human potential, because he wants to inspire others through his actions, and because of his stern self righteousness of always wanting to do what is good for everyone. Also when Harvey Dent died after killing five people â€Å"fairly,† Batman tells Lieutenant Gordon to point the finger at him instead of Harvey Dent. Batman says, â€Å"You will hunt me. You will condemn me. Set the dogs on me, because that is what needs to happen,† (The Dark Knight) in order for people of Gotham to not lose hope by hearing and seeing the downfall of the Gotham’s White Knight, Harvey Dent. This sacrificing attitude is difficult to find in the characteristics of orange, green, and gold, but is the compassionate feature of the color blue. Towards the end of the movie, when Joker sees that the two ships didn’t bomb each other, Batman tells him, â€Å"This city just showed you that it is full of people ready to believe in good,† (The Dark Knight) implying that he, as well, believes in good nature of humans. From what is shown, my hypothesis would be that Bruce Wayne’s dichotomies are ESFJ, or extraverted, sensing, feeling, and judging. Even though Bruce Wayne is surreptitiously living another life as Batman, with only a few close confidants being aware of it, he seems to enjoy social gatherings and occasional dates with many different women. He approaches his criminals through high tech researches and careful observations of facts and proofs. Batman also does not use his sudden insights to act and rather weighs the different possibilities using his tangible sources. Therefore, I assume that Batman is more sensing than intuitive. Bruce Wayne is more feeling in the way he processes data because he considers the points of view of other people and he tries to do whatever establishes harmony within the society. For example, when Bruce Wayne had turned every cell phone in the city into a microphone and a high-frequency generator receiver, knowing that Lucius would not like such dangerous machine, he made it accessible and destructible by only Lucius. Also knowing that citizens of Gotham will lose hope and faith if they learn the truth behind Harvey Dent’s fall and death, Batman says, â€Å"Sometimes the truth is not good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded. † (The Dark Knight) Batman also shows his willingness to do whatever is needed to help Gotham by saying, â€Å"I am whatever Gotham needs me to be. † (The Dark Knight) Maybe because Batman is so engrossed in many different endless jobs he has to finish, he never seems to be having his pleasure and leisure time. He always seems to be task oriented and organized in his plans and well in control with the help of Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox so that the plans never fail. Watching this movie, I could not help but notice the parallel between Jesus from the Bible and Batman. Just like the historical character Jesus, who supposedly had no sin and dedicated to give up his own life for the forgiveness of others, and who eventually gets accused by the same people who used to acclaim him as the â€Å"Savior,† Batman, who did nothing against the morals, gets chased by those who used to praise him as the â€Å"Hero,† by becoming the scapegoat. Therefore, in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, even though I believe that Batman is sometimes on the level of safe and security because he gets injured often while fighting against criminals and Joker, Batman is primarily on the level of self-actualization. He truly dedicates himself for the benefit of others and to satisfy what the citizens of Gotham want. He knows what he is meant to do and does what he does not as a service for himself but as a guidance for the citizens of Gotham. Lieutenant Gordon, watching Batman run away, tells his son, â€Å"Because he is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now, so we will hunt him because he can take it. He is not our hero; he’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a dark knight. † (The Dark Knight) Bruce Wayne, Batman, or the Dark Knight’s characteristics summed together support Batman’s famous quote, â€Å"Batman has no limits. † (The Dark Knight) The way he dives into danger every day, cleans up all the violent and illegal mess made in Gotham, and sacrifices himself for people’s mental comfort proves his idealistic characteristics. Because he has no limit, I believe he was able to be the person and the hero portrayed in the movie. Without Batman, his perfect sense of morality, and his boldly courageous deeds, Gotham would not be the same.

In the films you have studied to what extent do you find Lady Macbeth to be a fourth witch? Essay

Roman Polanski’s version of Macbeth was staged in 1971, Macbeth was played by Jon Finch and Lady Macbeth was played by Francesca Annis. The BBC production was staged in 1982, Macbeth was played by Nicol Williamson and Lady Macbeth was played by Jane Lapotaire. The Royal Shakespeare Production was staged in 1978, Macbeth played by Ian McKellen and Lady Macbeth played by Judy Dench. In Polanski’s production Lady Macbeth was first introduced at the start of Act one Scene five, when she receives a letter from Macbeth unveiling the prophesies from the witches. Her costume is Shakespearean in period, in keeping with the time the play was written and it is bright and colourful. Polanski interprets Lady Macbeth to be a young and beautiful lady and also she is shown frail and innocent; for example, at the last speech of act one scene five, Lady Macbeth calls evil spirits to possess her body. This is a very dramatic and powerful speech but yet she talks faintly. Apart from Francesca Annis in my opinion acting out this speech poorly, Polanski leaves out a vital part of this speech: â€Å"Nor keep peace between Th’effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murth’ ring ministers, Whatever, in your sightless substances, You wait on Nature’s mischief.† I feel this was a great mistake by Polanski. This scene was shown as if it had no importance; it was rushed through, not giving a true affect on the audience. Lady Macbeth through this speech is running down the stairs to meet Duncan, this doesn’t show that she is serious in calling evil spirits which I think Shakespeare intended it to be. Lady Macbeth’s witch like character is first shown in this speech as she blocks out the good and calls up the spirits of evil. In the BBC production Lady Macbeth’s appearance is different to Polanski’s version, as she has dark hair and seems more powerful and thick skinned, and although their costumes are from the same period Jane Lapotaires are much duller and less decorative. At the end of this scene when Lady Macbeth calls on evil, Jane Lapotiare plays her with passion and shows that Lady Macbeth beyond doubt wants what she is praying and truly shows Lady Macbeth as a fourth witch. The point made in Lady Macbeth’s speech about her ‘unsex’-ing and her ‘woman’s breasts no longer being used for milk but for murder shows us to what extent she has to suppress the feminine side of her nature. In this production they did not in my view ruin this speech by omitting half of it like Polanski; the speech was given great importance to the play. Also the BBC production staged a middle aged woman of 38 for Lady Macbeth rather than a younger woman of 27 like Polanski. I believe this was a very good idea as it makes Lady Macbeth more eager for her husband’s ambitions as it suggests through the play that Lady Macbeth had a child but lost it and now was unable to have children. It was imperative in Shakespeare’s time that you had at least one child to carry on the family name, I think this would drive Lady Macbeth more to want her husbands happiness as she was unable to give it to him through children. In the Royal Shakespeare production Lady Macbeth’s appearance is very different from the two other films I have studied. Lady Macbeth looks a lot older. Also Judy Dench’s costume is very distinct compared to the other two costumes, she wears a black dress and black head scarf and her speeches are made more prominent by a spot light focused on her face. I believe this has the best effect of the three plays as you can truly focus on the words of Shakespeare, In Polanski’s version I could not keep Shakespeare’s words the centre of my attention as there was so much going on in the background. In Act one scene seven Lady Macbeth tries to persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan. In Polanski’s version this scene is set very near the Banquet for Duncan, I think this was a wrong decision as there was no focus on the scene itself, Polanski has a habit of doing this though out the play. When Lady Macbeth is debating with Macbeth to do this deed she starts to weep. I feel this was a good input to the play as it shows a human side to Lady Macbeth. A great weakness of this scene was the cutting of the speech: â€Å"I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn As you have done to this.† This part of Lady Macbeth’s speech I believe changed Macbeth’s decision form a definite no to an uncertain yes, and was of absolute importance to the persuasion scene. This scene played by the BBC production had a totally different feel. The start of Lady Macbeth’s speech shows more anger and makes Macbeth look like more of a fool. Lady Macbeth is very controlling and powerful in this production compared to Polanski’s version. Her outlook in this scene shows a fourth witch character as she smirks when Macbeth gives in to her persuasion saying: â€Å"If we should fail?† Also in the Royal Shakespeare production, Judy Dench is the dominant partner in the relationship but in this scene their loving relationship still remains whereas in the BBC production it dies down the end of Act one scene five. In Act two Scene two Lady Macbeth is played well by Francesca Annis, she put on a brave front but also shows a little fear through her eyes whilst saying: â€Å"A little water clears us from this deed† In this scene we get a glimpse of Lady Macbeth’s humanity as she says: â€Å"Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t .† This sentence might show that Lady Macbeth is not a fourth witch, she is just misunderstood, and she might have wanted this murder of Duncan to happen purely for the ambition of her husband. Lady Macbeth in the BBC production gave a taste to the audience of how scared she was when waiting for her husbands return and I feel she played this scene exceptionally well. In Act five Scene one of Pulaski’s version, Lady Macbeth losing her sanity is shown very well, she is walking around naked rubbing her hands to get imaginary spots out of her hand: â€Å"Out damned spot: out I say† This I feel, is a very good interpretation of the sleepwalking scene. This nude scene of Lady Macbeth also parallels the nude witches in the film. This might suggest that Lady Macbeth is in fact a fourth witch. From the Films and the text of Macbeth I have studied, I have found that Lady Macbeth has many characters: the fourth witch, the ambitious wife, determined, dependant, haunted, misunderstood etc. I think from all the films I have viewed they have had different main characters, Polanski’s Lady Macbeth was misunderstood, The BBC production’s Lady Macbeth was a fourth witch and the Royal Shakespeare Company showed Lady Macbeth to be an ambitious wife. I believe Lady Macbeth was a fourth witch in some ways and also played many other characters. Shakespeare’s intention was to let the audience decide.