Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Macbeth Vs Hamlet :: essays research papers
Proposition: Shakespeare utilized a similar meaning of disaster when he composed Macbeth, and when he composed Hamlet; Shakespearean catastrophes utilize heavenly episodes to interest the peruser's advantage, and his plays comprise of a legend that has a disastrous imperfection (now and again the need for the powerful) which makes him make a deadly mistake.I. Presentation II. Spirits III. Correlation IV. End Shakespeare consistently utilized similar components of disaster when he composed his catastrophes. These disasters can be thought about effectively, particularly Macbet and Hamlet. Shakespearean disasters utilize extraordinary episodes to interest the peruser's advantage, and they comprise of a legend that has a terrible blemish (here and there the longing for the otherworldly) which makes him commit a lethal error. Shakespeare followed this example in the entirety of his disasters; accordingly the likenesses among Macbeth and Hamlet can without much of a stretch be characterize d and discussed.Shakespeare promptly began Macbeth with a heavenly scene. The three witches set the grave and malevolence tone of the plot. In Hamlet, Shakespeare additionally introduced a heavenly event near the opening. The phantom of Hamlet's dad introduced itself to Hamlet with a chilling story. In the two circumstances, the lamentable saint was uncertain about whether the spirits were acceptable or malicious. The introduction of the extraordinary started to prompt the last destruction of every one of the characters. In Macbeth, the three witches made him think and carry out malice things. In the event that he had never met the witches, he would not have been enticed to kill the lord; along these lines, he would not have set himself in the position that he believed he expected to execute each and every individual who crossed his way. In the event that he wasn't so misleading, Macduff would not have called for war, and he would not have killed him. In Hamlet, in the event that he had not seen the apparition of his dad, he would not have realized that the supreme lord had submitted murder to pick up the seat.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
The Sun Rising by John Donne :: Poetry
The Sun Rising by John Donne The Sun Rising by John Donne utilizes allegorical, expository and metaphor methods to show the removal of the outside world for two sweethearts' internal world and how the sun satisfies its obligations by spinning around their room. Donne utilizes metaphorical language all through the sonnet. The principal refrain thinks about the sun to a Bustling old imbecile (1) and Through windows, and through blinds approach us? (3) is metaphorical language for eyes. A wink permits the sun to come into the darlings' internal world. The peruser realizes the sweethearts' room isn't the focal point of the world and the sun doesn't contract[ed] around their bed. Donne's relocation of the outside world, for the darlings' inside world, utilizes an explanatory procedure to endeavor to demonstrate by reason the strength and intensity of a couples love. At the point when Donne inquires as to why the sun approaches us? (3), Why shouldst thou think? (12) and Must to [the sun's] movements sweethearts' seasons run? Donne anticipates that you should definitely know the appropriate responses. He utilizes this language to assist you with going past the restrictions of the material world by ignoring outer impacts and forcing the sun to turn around the darlings. Allegorical language and explanatory strategy are joined with overstatement to change the outside world to rotate around the sweethearts' inward world. Dunne drives the sun away telling it to go reprimand (5) and in refrain twenty-nine Sparkle here to us, and thou are all over the place (29). These are embellishments for accentuation putting the sweethearts at the focal point of the world. Allegorical,
Friday, August 7, 2020
Schizophrenia Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Coping
Schizophrenia Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Coping Schizophrenia Print An Overview of Schizophrenia By Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD facebook linkedin Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD, is a freelance medical and health writer and published book author. Learn about our editorial policy Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 18, 2018 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 Schizophrenia Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children In This Article Table of Contents Expand Symptoms Diagnosis Causes Treatment Coping In Children For Caregivers View All Schizophrenia is a type of mental illness that affects how the brain works. This leads to chronic problems with disordered thoughts and behaviors. It usually requires lifelong care and treatment. Researchers estimate that schizophrenia affects approximately 0.3 percent to 0.7 percent of people (between 3 in 1000 and 7 in 1000).?? Schizophrenia affects people from all racial backgrounds and ethnicities. Schizophrenia is slightly more common in men than in women. Verywell / Cindy Chung Symptoms Two of the major categories of schizophrenia symptoms are âpositiveâ or ânegative symptoms. These terms dont refer to whether the symptoms are good or bad as some people might think, but rather to the way symptoms present. Positive Symptoms Positive symptoms are active problems that shouldnât be present (like hallucinations).?? They are positive in the sense that they represent an addition to someones typical day-to-day experience. Some of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia include: HallucinationsDelusionsDisorganized thinking and speech Hallucinations: During a hallucination, a person hears, sees, feels, or smells something that is not actually present. Most often this occurs in the form of hearing voices that others do not hear. These voices may be reassuring, threatening, or anything in between. Sometimes a person experiences these only as intrusive thoughts, but often they seem to come from outside the self. Delusions: Delusions are false beliefs held by a person that are not shared by other people. Someone with a delusion has a very fixed view of a situation and cannot be talked out of it with reason. For example, someone with schizophrenia might believe he is the subject of a government conspiracy, or that aliens are trying to monitor his activities. Disorganized Speech: People with disorganized speech may be difficult to understand because their sentences are unconnected or because the person is frequently switching topics in a way that doesnât make sense to the listener. However, the speech may have meaning for the individual in a way that is connected to their internal experience. Negative Symptoms Characteristics that seem to be absent or diminished in someone with schizophrenia are called negative symptoms.?? Negative symptoms of schizophrenia can include: Decreased emotional expressionLack of initiation in goal-directed activities People may also have additional cognitive symptoms like difficulty concentrating, remembering, or planning activities. People with schizophrenia may also have poor self-care and poor interpersonal, school, or career functioning. The illness also makes it more challenging for the individual to join in social events, and participate in meaningful relationships. Fluctuation of Symptoms Symptoms may have periods of worsening, and periods of improvement. Periods of worsening symptoms are called flares or relapses.?? With treatment, most of these symptoms may diminish or go away (especially positive symptoms). Disease remission refers to periods of six months or longer in which a person experiences no symptoms or only mild symptoms. On the whole, negative symptoms tend to be harder to treat than positive ones. In the traditional biomedical model of schizophrenia, these symptoms are purely pathological. However, people in the hearing voices movement argue that hearing voices is sometimes a meaningful human experience and that it shouldnt be seen purely as a sign of illness. Age of Onset The early symptoms of schizophrenia often start to appear gradually and then become more severe and obvious to others. Typically, symptoms of schizophrenia first appear sometime between adolescence and a personâs mid-30s.?? However, sometimes symptoms appear earlier or later. In women, symptoms tend to begin at a later age than in men. Changes in the Brain Scientists are continuing to learn about how schizophrenia affects the brain, as the condition is associated with a number of alterations in how the brain functions. These brain changes reflect the specific symptoms of the disease. The following are some of the brain regions thought to have disordered functioning in schizophrenia: Medial temporal lobe (causing problems with working memory)Superior temporal lobe (causing problems processing auditory information)Prefrontal lobe (causing problems with decision-making and inhibition) Diagnosis There isnât a simple blood test or brain scan that health providers can use to diagnose schizophrenia. To diagnose schizophrenia, a physician takes a thorough medical history and performs a medical exam. A clinician will need to rule out other psychiatric conditions that can cause hallucinations or delusions (such as Morgellons disease). People with schizoaffective disorder, for instance, have many of the same symptoms of schizophrenia, but they also have specific problems with their mood and emotions. Some other medical conditions that can cause some similar symptoms to schizophrenia include: Substance-related disordersDementiaEndocrine and inflammatory conditionsBrain tumorDelirium In some cases, an individual might need additional tests to rule out other conditions like these. How Mental Health Professionals Use the DSM Today Time Matters The time period of symptoms is also important in diagnosis. To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, a person must display at least a six-month period of symptoms. If you or a loved one have had symptoms for less than a month, the diagnosis may instead be what is called a brief psychotic disorder. Someone who has had symptoms for more than a month but less than six months might be diagnosed with something called schizophreniform disorder. Sometimes people with these conditions have persistent symptoms and are later officially diagnosed with schizophrenia. Subtypes You may have heard of various types of schizophrenia, such as paranoid schizophrenia or catatonic schizophrenia. Mental health providers used to diagnose people with these different subtypes based on their different symptoms. However, in 2013, psychiatrists decided to stop classifying people with schizophrenia in this way. They concluded that these categories didnât really help them understand schizophrenia any better, and they didnât help clinicians provide better care to patients. Causes The causes of schizophrenia are complex and not completely understood, though research does indicate certain risk factors. Genetics Genetics seem to play a role in those who have schizophrenia. You are more likely to have schizophrenia if you inherited variations of certain genes (portions of DNA) from your parents. People who have a relative with schizophrenia have a somewhat increased risk of also having schizophrenia or a related disorder, like schizoaffective disorder. Identical twins (who share identical DNA) are more likely to have schizophrenia than fraternal twins (who do not). This implies that genetics play a role in triggering schizophrenia, probably through several different genes. Other Risk Factors Schizophrenia can occur in people who have no history of it in their family. And just because you have schizophrenia in your family, doesnât mean you will have it yourself. Various environmental factors have been linked to an increased risk of schizophrenia.?? Some of these include: Obstetric complications at your birthInfection of the central nervous system in early childhoodChildhood traumaSocial stressors, such as economic adversity However, many people with schizophrenia have none of these risk factors. Schizophrenia likely emerges as a complex result of a variety of genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors that are not yet well understood. Treatment Ideally, treatment for schizophrenia combines a multidisciplinary approach from a collaborative team of health professionals. Early treatment can help improve the chances of a fuller recovery. Elements of treatment should include: Psychiatric medicationPsychological treatmentSocial support Many people with schizophrenia will need to initially be hospitalized for psychiatric treatment so that doctors can stabilize their condition. Medications Antipsychotic medications form a very important part of treatment for schizophrenia. These medications help reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia and help prevent relapse. First generation antipsychotic medications describe a class of drugs that were developed in the 1950s. These are also called typical antipsychotics. Some of these include: Haldol (haloperidol)Thorazine (chlorpromazine) This group of antipsychotics tend to have similar side effects like problems with movement (known as extrapyramidal symptoms), drowsiness, and dry mouth. Scientists later developed a newer group of antipsychotics, often called second-generation antipsychotics or atypical antipsychotics. Some of these antipsychotic drugs include the following: Abilify (aripiprazole)Clozaril (clozapine)Zyprexa (olazapine)Seroquel (quetiapine)INVEGA (paliperidone) These drugs donât usually cause the movement problems of typical antipsychotic drugs. However, they are more likely to cause weight gain and other problems with metabolism, among other side effects. Therapy Increasingly, mental health providers are realizing the important role of psychological treatment in addressing schizophrenia. For example, various forms of psychotherapy can be very helpful. One form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients learn to identify and change their dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.?? No matter the type of therapy one pursues, its best to be as honest as possible with your doctor or mental health professional. This way he/she can help you to the full extent in managing and coping with your symptoms. Schizophrenia Discussion Guide Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctors appointment. Download PDF Family therapy can also help both patients and family members learn better how to cope with the condition. Many people with schizophrenia also need social skills training, which can help teach basic self-care and social skills. Find Support With the 9 Best Online Therapy Programs Additional Support Support groups can also be helpful, both for people with the condition and for family members. People with schizophrenia may also need help finding work, housing, or certain other types of assistance. Goals of Treatment The goal of treatment is to help patients achieve remission. Some people have long periods of remission with a quite stable disease and minimal impairment.?? Other people have worsening symptoms and functioning and do not have a good response to available therapies. It is hard to know how a specific person will do after diagnosis. But the outlook for people with schizophrenia has improved over recent years, with better psychiatric medications and more comprehensive psychological and social support. Coping People diagnosed with schizophrenia can face a variety of challenges. Learning how to navigate these potential obstacles is an important part of living fully and keeping symptoms manageable. Emotional Coping Living with schizophrenia may feel overwhelming at times, especially as you learn of your new diagnosis and begin the treatment process. Emotional challenges are to be expected and it is important to allow yourself time to learn how to effectively regulate your emotions. Through counseling and peer support, you can learn ways to manage your emotional experiences in healthy ways. Social coping Social support from peers, family, and friends is important as you learn how to successfully navigate the journey of living with schizophrenia. There may be times when it is difficult to tell others about your condition, especially if you feel you may be judged by others. Learning about your condition, and being open about your experiences, can help others understand what you need, and how they might be able to help. Debunking myths Some people dont understand the condition of schizophrenia. You might find yourself explaining things about your condition to others. Some common misconceptions or myths about schizophrenia include things like:?? It means having multiple personalitiesThe diagnosis is very rareThe condition leads to violent behaviorIt always becomes worse over time The reality is that each persons experience with schizophrenia is unique. Although there are specific clinical criteria that need to be met in order to be diagnosed, each person can have different experiences with the types of symptoms they have, the degree to which symptoms progress over time or go into remission, and how they respond to treatment methods. In Children Although rare, the onset of schizophrenia can occur in children 13 years old or younger. It is estimated that childhood schizophrenia impacts about one percent of the American population.?? Being able to identify the condition in children can be quite difficult, as children can have a hard time understanding and describing their experiences to others. For this reason, asking your child questions about symptoms may not be very helpful. You may want to consult your childs doctor if you notice things like: Strange eating ritualsUnusual behaviorsBizarre ideasSocial isolationDrastic change in academic performance Since the onset of schizophrenia symptoms typically takes place in the late teens into the early thirties, keep in mind these symptoms are likely related to something other than schizophrenia. For Caregivers Caring for a loved one with schizophrenia can feel challenging. One of the most important things that can help is to educate yourself on the condition and the experiences that those with schizophrenia often face.?? Gathering information can help us learn what to expect along the way, what our loved one might need in the process and how we can best help. Support can be as important for caregivers as it is for the person living with the condition. Group support environments offer opportunities to connect with others who can relate to challenges and join you in celebrating victories. You may also find that people share helpful information about new or progressive treatment methods and other resources that can help your loved one. Dont be afraid to ask for help. Caregivers can feel overwhelmed with responsibilities and spend so much time caring for others that they neglect caring for themselves. Reaching out to a support group, a mental health provider or other resources can allow you space to share your experiences and process emotions. A Word From Verywell Schizophrenia is often a difficult illness to fully treat, but there is hope. Through multifaceted and consistent treatment, many individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia can recover from many disease symptoms. People with schizophrenia need support from their family and community members to have the best chance of living full and active lives. If you or your family member has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, know that it isnât your fault. Also, know that there are many people to help affected individuals recover and regain control of their lives. What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia?
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Nature And Nature Of Frederick Douglass - 1529 Words
Nature has always been with Frederick Douglass even on his journey throughout his life. Nature lived amongst the other slaves as well. When being a slave at a plantation or being owned period, you become familiar with nature; if it is picking cotton, ââ¬Å"tobacco, corn, and wheatâ⬠(Douglass 22) or if it is learning how to steer oxââ¬â¢s or learning how to drive a boat. Nature is with everything we do; nature is everything anyway because we are nature. We are just part of the huge spectrum of nature. Frederick Douglass was put to the test since the day he was born; becoming a slave by birth. His life was the caste system, no mobility whatsoever. His life is a low as the ground between his toes when the plantation owners only gave them a certain amount of clothing and accessories. Nature was everything and the only thing he had, as if they were best friends. This paper will give you the insight on how nature was to Frederick Douglass and the other slaves. In the end, I can a rgue that nature has always been with Frederick Douglass and other slaves and will always be with them. Frederick Douglass became first involved with nature when his mother took the opportunity to sneak out into the night to have her only chance at seeing her son. When the sky was pitch black and no one could see or care any less. She took her only opportunity to walk a great distance to spend the night with her boy in her arms. She even took punishment when arriving late at sunrise for her boy. Nature allowedShow MoreRelatedThe Humiliating Nature of Enslavement, Sexual Savage Exploitation, and Degradation in Autobiographical Narratives of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Ann Jacobs2068 Words à |à 9 PagesThe humiliating nature of enslavement, sexual savage exploitation, and degradation in autobiographical narratives of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Ann Jacobs In the age of Romanticism, slavery and the slave trade provoked sharp criticism and controversy and played a very significant role in shaping public opinion and causing moral opposition to injustice and tyranny. Since Columbusââ¬â¢s journey opened the doors of the Atlantic passage to African Slave Trade, slavery became manââ¬â¢s greatest inhumanityRead MoreFrederick Douglas And Henry David Thoreau950 Words à |à 4 PagesFrederick Douglas and Henry David Thoreau The life and works of Henry David Thoreau and Frederick Douglassââ¬â¢ has had a lasting impact in the literary field since there work is studied now in most colleges. Although, the writers travelled in the same circle and were both friends of Ralph Waldo Emerson the pair were not friends. In looking at the life and works of the two dynamic literary giants analyzing their common goals, work, and their place in Transcendentalist history will bring more understandingRead MoreTranscendentalism In Emersons The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass1735 Words à |à 7 Pagesbeliefs into actions. In Frederick Douglassââ¬â¢s 1845 The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, the self-agency Douglass utilizes to escape the bondage of slavery seems similar to the actualization that comes through trusting oneââ¬â¢s own interior instincts Ralph Waldo Emerson urges readers to cultivate in his 1841 essay on ââ¬Å"Self-Relianceâ⬠; and the similarities an d differences between key passages in both texts ultimately help characterize the nature of the link between the transcendentalistRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Frederick Douglass Speech838 Words à |à 4 PagesFrederick Douglass was a freed slave in the 1800ââ¬â¢s who was famous for his ability to read and write, uncommon of a black man at the time. On July 4th, 1852, he gave a speech to citizens of the United States. In this speech, he called out the ââ¬Å"hypocrisy of the nationâ⬠(Douglass), questioning the nations treatment of slaves on a supposed day of independence. Frederick Douglass effectively uses rhetorical strategies to construct his argument and expose the hypocrisy of the nation. One of the rhetoricalRead More Emersons Self Reliance vs. Douglass Narrative of the Life1306 Words à |à 6 PagesNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,â⬠by Frederick Douglass, one might notice a trend in what both writers regard as the key to happiness or self-fulfillment. Emerson and Douglass both imply that acquiring knowledge is what people should strive for throughout their lives. However, their perceptions on the kind of knowledge should be attained is where their ideas diverge; Emerson is the one that encourages one to develop the soul whereas with Douglass, it is the mind. à à à à à OneRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay858 Words à |à 4 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Boxill, Bernard. Frederick Douglassââ¬â¢s Patriotism. Journal of Ethics 13.4 (2009): 301-317. EBSCO. Web. 19 Oct 2015. Bernard argues that Frederick Douglass always was a patriot even throughout slavery. He states that most Americans are patriots even if they do not agree with the politics, but rather just a love for their country. It talks about Americans who give selfless amounts of time toward the improvement of America. Buccola, Nicholas. Each for All and All for Each:Read MoreFrederick Douglass Essay841 Words à |à 4 PagesFrederick Douglass once said, ââ¬Å"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightningâ⬠(Think Exist). Frederick Douglass, a man born into slavery overcame numerous obstacles to eventually become a chief abolitionist as well as a diplomat. Frederick Douglass got his hands on a book entitled ââ¬Å"The Columbian Oratorâ⬠and introduced himself to the wordRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass987 Words à |à 4 PagesLife of Frederick In the ââ¬Å"narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass an American slave written by himselfâ⬠Frederick reveled to audience the time he was living as a slave and the moments of brutal treats for example psychological, emotional and physical abuses. He was suffering terrible moments during his 20 years as a slave in the twentieth century. In addition, he describes in his own words the strategies he used to escape from the slave holders and to be free. This story the ââ¬Å"Narrative of theRead MoreEducation as a Reflection of Social Values in Langston Hughes One Friday Morning and Frederick Douglass Learning to Read and Write1632 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Worst The conception of education as a reflection of social values is one of the predominant themes in both Langston Hughes short story, One Friday Morning, as well as Frederick Douglass Learning to Read and Write, the latter of which is actually the seventh chapter of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. A plethora of similarities exist between these works, both of which include the education of an African American protagonist, the aid of Irish benefactors,Read MoreThe Treatment And Conditioning Of Slaves During The Antebellum South1521 Words à |à 7 PagesBrandon Rodriguez Dr. Roark Atkinson Intro to US History I 13 November 2014 Paper Assignment II: An Essay on Frederick Douglass The treatment and conditioning of slaves in the antebellum south was one of the most inhumane and merciless accounts in human history. Slaves were auctioned, sold and bought as if they were nothing more than livestock. They were fed with monthly rationsââ¬âeight pounds of pork or fish. They were given one pair of shoes, two shirts, two trousers, and one jacket intended to
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
How to Register for the ACT
Registering for the ACT isnt difficult, but you do want to make sure you plan ahead and have the information youll need at hand. Before you begin registering, make sure you know the registration deadlines for the exam you plan to take. They tend to be about five weeks before the actual exam. It will also be useful to have a copy of your high school transcript when you register so that you have the school information youll need for the form. Step 1: Visità the ACT Website and Create an Account Go to the ACT student website. Once youre there, click the Sign In button at the upper right of the page, then click on the create account option. Next, set up an online account so you can do things like check your scores online, print your admission ticket to get into the testing center, make changes to your registration if you have to miss a test day, request more score reports, and more. Youll need two pieces of informationà before you create your account:à your social security number and your high school code. The website will walk you through the steps of the process. Note: Be sure to fill in your name just as it appears on your passport, drivers license, or another approved ID that youll be bringing to the testing center. If the name with which you register does not match your ID, you will not be able to take the test on your scheduled test day.à Step 2: Register Once youve created your student account, you need to click the Register button and proceed through the next several pages. Youll answer questions about the following: Personal information like left-hand vs. right-hand (so you get placed in an appropriate testing desk), religious affiliations, parental educational background, and disabilities. Remember, this is all voluntary information.A high school summary like the type of school you attended and courses youve taken. Youll also see questions about extracurricular involvement in high school.à Your college plans such as preferences regarding school size, whether or not you plan to enroll full time or not, and college interests.Your specific testing date and location.à Where youd like your score reports to be sent. You can choose up to four colleges with the basic fee, so youll save money if youve decided where youd like them to go before you register.à Intended future college major and career choices.à Youll also be asked during this process to upload a current headshot. Make sure to follow the parameters exactly, or you could be banned from taking the ACT on test day. Both the photograph a nd the name on your identification are important pieces of information that ACT uses to make it difficult for anyone to cheat by having someone else take the exam for them. If youre wondering why ACT wants some of this information when it has nothing to do with the actual test, realize that college admissions is a big business of trying to get students matched up with schools where they will succeed. ACT (and SAT) provide names to colleges of students who might be an appropriate match for those schools. The more information they have about your grades, courses, and interests, the better than can align your credentials with potential colleges. This is why after you take a standardized test, youre likely to start receiving lots of mail from colleges. Step 3: Pay Check out the current ACT fees before you test, and fill in your waiver or voucher number if youve received one. At the bottom of the page, click Submit just once, and youre done. Youre then free to print your admission ticket. A confirmation will be sent to your email address. Step 4: Prepare Youre in. Now, all you need to do is prep for the ACT just a little bit. Start by going though the ACT basics, and then running through these 21 ACT test strategies to help you perform as well as possible when test day rolls around. Then, try your hand at an ACT English quiz or Math quiz to see how you might respond to the real ACT questions. Finally, pick up an ACT prep book or two to help see you through the end. Good luck! Updated and edited by Allen Grove
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
House of Payne Free Essays
SM Family Television Review The comedy show that my family and I enjoy watching is House of Payne, which airs on TBS every Friday at 8pm. ââ¬Å"The Paynes are three generations living under one roof. The story begins when CJ and his family move into the house of his aunt and uncle, a fact that no one is really happy about. We will write a custom essay sample on House of Payne or any similar topic only for you Order Now CJ has two children, and his aunt and uncle have very different ideas about raising kids. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the Paynesâ⬠. (http://www. tbs. com/stories/story/0,, 107846,00. html). The show is based off real life issues that everyday families experience such as, drug addiction, teen pregnancy, sex, marriage, morals and values, and most of all trust. As, a 23 year old, mother, student, wife, daughter etc, I was able to quickly relate to a few things in the show. This family did impact my life on what family really was because, I always have been the one to just think of my immediate (Mom, Dad, Brothers, Grandma) when I heard the word family. Now, that things have been introduced to me from different perspective, I am now able to fully understand what family is all about. I realize that when I have no one else to count on, that my family is the last hope I have, and also understand that sometimes I may have disagreements with relatives, but its ok because as long as there is communication, nothing is to hard to overcome, All of these things are key points that House of Payne focus on. After watching this show consistently, it has had a very positive impact on me, my family, my marriage and my ability to raise my children at such a young age. Although, these actors, and actresses are acting, they are real people and majority are related, such as the main characters, Cassi and Lavan Davis, who are husband and wife in real life. I enjoy watch the way the reveal each message because they all have a valuable lesson that I learn. This television series is a Christian based show, so I think that is the reason I enjoy watching it so much. It is interesting because some days, I may feel at my worst and watching this show can easily be a inspiration to me. Expressing my feelings and saying how I felt have, also been another issue Iââ¬â¢ve had problems with, and it also have taught me this as well. I believe that even a non-believer would enjoy watching this show because again, itââ¬â¢s real people, and they to know what itââ¬â¢s like to face certain situations. I feel that I can somewhat relate to this show because again, I am a young mother, married with children, living day by day , focusing on doing the right thing, despite what I see and hear around me. And sometimes, whether youââ¬â¢re old or young, this can be a challenge. House of Payne have messages for all ages, and they are very powerful messages! How to cite House of Payne, Papers
Friday, May 1, 2020
Training With Academic Learning Center â⬠Myassignmenthelp.Com
Question: Discuss About The Training With Academic Learning Center? Answer: Introducation Due to extensive consumer feedback, we at Sigma Global would like to demonstrate our commitment to our valuable clients to understanding the service we offered like marketing, promotions of university courses. As the clients are more and more interested in university courses regarding the academic institutions, we are delighted to provide our top-notch services to them. It is requested to all of our agents that some problems are arising while delivering the information to the clients end. To heighten the quality of our services to the customers, we expect our agents to meet some requirements. These include furnishing detailed information on our marketing and promotion courses, legal advice to the students on their academic courses, help them find suitable accommodation and transportation, child care services to the prospective customers and retaining the new ones, and so on (Costa, 2015). It is a burning matter that we have a large number of clients and agents in more than 150 nations around the globe, however, regarding providing superior quality services we are not fulfilling the expectations as well as demands and needs (Rao, 2007). Although, it is our catastrophe based upon an extensive client survey that we are unable to implement the right data at the right time at the right place. Therefore, such recommendations are needed to overlook concerning resolving the same. Some of the policies need to change and need to approve for any marketing material for local advertising and commercialization. It is stated to all of our agents to look after the business ethics we followed since for the long time to maintain the relationship between doing the right things for the students of course and making an impressive prospect. Regarding promoting honesty, responsibility, and fairness, we need focus on ethical marketing to know which are right things to do and what not. Our clients are always looking something better and refine services in promotion, marketing, child care services, so it is our prime responsibility to deliver quality services; however there are no hard and fast rules in ethical marketing, but a general set of guidelines you need to maintain to evaluate new marketing strategies (Murphy, 2016). We need to gain competitive advantages than the other service providers. Being a successful company, we need to develop a sense of trust among the clients that can reflect positively on our business. It can make the customers feel like our work is invested in the quality of the se rvices and the value we provide end users. So ethical marketing needs to be highlighted so that clients can make moral choices on the services which we are providing to upgrade our public reputation (Eagle, 2015). Also, Sigma Global agents need to ensure that they are well informed about each institution and the courses they deliver effectively. It is requested to all of our agents to properly maintain the services in an equal and fair manner so that each institution can rely on us for the long run. As you know very well, we provide accommodation and transportations to the students, so it is our one of the prime concerns to meet individual student conditions and the promises as well. Students are always looking forward to their study and the related services they got from us. We already gave promises to them about the services we offered. So look after all the issues regarding the expectations and the accommodations (Rowely, 2015). On the other hand, you people also need to concern about conducting transportation related services and advice including their benefits, concession, allowance, estimated costs and other privileges they can get from our end. In all academic institutions, the courses are more or less same. To provide our bests, we need to more focus on the childcare services to the students. Such matters are imperative regarding providing childcare costs, associated services i.e. duration of services, opening hours, university breaks and all (Wallace, 2013). We should not have to choose between excellence and affordability; however, we need to provide those by adopting a streamlined system to satisfy and encourage them overpoweringly. It is highly recommended to follow all the recommendations to assist the students in becoming independent and confident learners (Walker, 2014). We need to cover all the four areas of Academic Learning Center (ALC) for the betterment of the students- ALC Science that provides assistance and advice on science assignment, ALC Mathematics and Statistics that enables them to boost their individual domains for a range of courses, ALC Computing that facilitates a range of resources in technologica l platforms and lastly ALC Academic Communication offers a variety of academic assistance in academic assignment writing, referencing, written and verbal communication, paraphrasing, and note taking (Gilton, 2016).; References Gilton, D (2016) Creating and Promoting nursing Lifelong Learning in Public Libraries. Rowman and Littlefield. Copyright Wallace, M (2013) Teaching in Transnational Higher Education. Routledge. Copyright Walker, T (2014) English for Academic Purpose (EAP) in Asia. Springer, copyright Costa, P (2015) Ethics in Applied Linguistic Research. Routledge. Copyright Murphy, P (2016) Ethics in Management: International Cases and Perspectives. Routledge. Copyright Eagle, L (2015) Marketing Ethics and Society. SAGE. Copyright Rowely, C (2015) Ethical and Social Marketing. Chandos Publishing Rao, V (2007) A Visual Guide to Essay Writing. Valli Rao. Copyright
Saturday, March 21, 2020
One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and The Shawshank Redemption Essay Example
One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and The Shawshank Redemption Paper Contrasts in characterisation are employed throughout Keseyââ¬â¢s One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and Darabontââ¬â¢s The Shawshank Redemption to explore key ideas, as well as fundamental themes of confinement, oppression, and sacrifice. Contrast in characterisation is plainly evident between the protagonists and antagonists of the respective texts, but perhaps more specifically in the contrast that occurs as each author develops their narrators; Keseyââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËBromdenââ¬â¢ and Darabontââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËRedââ¬â¢. Both narrators experience a profound transformation, which becomes clear when contrasting their characters at the beginning to that of the end of the two texts. Bromdenââ¬â¢s mental illness is prominent within the first half of Keseyââ¬â¢s text, but towards the completion of the novel has transformed to a condition of psychological strength with a heightened appreciation for life. Both authors rely heavily on their protagonists in order to provide the inspiration for this change. Kesey makes use of imagery and symbolism, to explore the idea that individuality is a powerful motivator. Darabont utilises a similar catalyst for change as well as repetition; yet as a visual text, he also employs light and sound effects to explore the idea that a leader is a provider of hope. We will write a custom essay sample on One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and The Shawshank Redemption specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and The Shawshank Redemption specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and The Shawshank Redemption specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Red is unwittingly influenced by protagonist Andy Dufresne. Prior to Dufresneââ¬â¢s arrival, Red is presented as both cynical and dry, an institutionalised man unwilling to waste energy on hope; yet finds ââ¬Ësalvation from withinââ¬â¢ in the closing stages of The Shawshank Redemption. Kesey and Darabont use contrasts to explore core themes and ideologies, whilst invoking the audienceââ¬â¢s sense of independence and faith. In both texts, the narrators embody changes that gradually augment the readerââ¬â¢s understanding of the resultant effects of oppression. Keseyââ¬â¢s narrator, Bromden, describes the oppression associated with ward life through the use of simile to depict its mechanical nature and lack of individuality. This absence of humanity is the philosophy of Nurse Ratched, a domineering antagonist intent on creating a pure and pallid world for the ââ¬Ëtreatmentââ¬â¢ of her patients. ââ¬ËThe Big Nurse tends to get real put out if something keeps her outfit from running like a smooth, accurate, precision-made machineâ⬠¦. ââ¬â¢ However, this routine of maintaining order is shattered upon protagonist, Randall McMurphyââ¬â¢s, committal to the ward. This arrival of individuality instantly brings a vibrant atmosphere to the whitewashed walls of Ratchedââ¬â¢s ward. A similar change is evident in The Shawshank Redemption where Darabont utilises voiceovers to convey Redââ¬â¢s initial perception of protagonist, Andy Dufresne, ââ¬ËHe had a quiet way about him, a walk and a talk that just wasnt normal around hereââ¬â¢. The transformation in both Bromdenââ¬â¢s and Redââ¬â¢s character is not immediately apparent. Weeks pass before ââ¬Ëthe fogââ¬â¢, symbolic of Bromdenââ¬â¢s mental illness begins to clear; and similarly Red remains fearful for years about the likely damage of false hope. Darabont conveys Redââ¬â¢s aversion towards the notion of hope through the use of repetition, ââ¬ËHope? Let me tell you something, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. Itââ¬â¢s got no use on the inside. You better get used to that ideaââ¬â¢. Kesey and Darabont both ensure that there is a prolonged contrast in the characterisation of their central characters, allowing the audience to appreciate the subtle but increasing influence over time that the two protagonists have on the narrators. Darabont relies on the use of his narrator, Red, similar to Keseyââ¬â¢s use of Bromden; primarily to explore fundamental ideas and themes of confinement and sacrifice. The audience grapples with the cruel nature of confinement based on Redââ¬â¢s recounts of his and Dufresneââ¬â¢s experiences in Shawshank prison. Additionally, it is conceded by Darabont that Redââ¬â¢s blatant rejection of hope is indicative of Shawshank Prisonââ¬â¢s institutionalising effect, ââ¬ËThese walls are funny, first you hate them, then you start to get used to them. Eventually it gets so you rely on them. Thatââ¬â¢s institutionalised. ââ¬â¢ Dufresne unintentionally influences Redââ¬â¢s change in persona, which is quite unlike McMurphyââ¬â¢s extroverted behaviour in Keseyââ¬â¢s novel, ââ¬ËNobodyââ¬â¢s sure if this barrel-chested man with the scar and the wild grin is play-acting or if heââ¬â¢s crazy enough to be just like he talksâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢. Dufresne provides the inmates, but particularly Red, with hope through scenes where he sacrifices himself for the benefit of others; these include the roof tarring and phonograph incidents. Bright lighting is used as a focal element in order to demonstrate a contrasting, optimistic atmosphere; reflective of the changes occurring within Red. Likewise, McMurphy alters Bromden by demonstrating what true sacrifice is when he undergoes repeated Electro Shock Therapy sessions; allowing Kesey to explore imagery and symbolism associated with the biblical allusion, ââ¬Ëwearing a crown of thornsââ¬â¢. Both authors present their respective premises successfully through the narratorsââ¬â¢ contrast in characterisation, whilst presenting a common belief that freedom requires sacrifice. The pronounced transformation in the narrators is demonstrated through techniques unique to the respective texts, as well as the distinct use of contrasts. Melodic music creates a buoyant atmosphere in the closing scene of The Shawshank Redemption, with the culmination in contrast of Redââ¬â¢s character. The use of repetition is once again featured in order to demonstrate Dufresneââ¬â¢s effect on Red, specifically his newfound ability to hope, ââ¬ËI hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hopeââ¬â¢. Similarly, by the completion of One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest, Kesey makes it clear, through the use of a cliched simile, that McMurphyââ¬â¢s flair for instilling self worth has allowed Bromden to truly live again, and escape the daily drudgery of ward life, ââ¬Å"I felt like I was flying. Free. Nobody bothers coming after an AWOL, I knewâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Contrasting Bromdenââ¬â¢s character from beginning to the end of One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest allows the audience to examine Keseyââ¬â¢s idea that individuality is a powerful motivator. Darabontââ¬â¢s ideology that a leader is a provider of hope is portrayed through repetition, sound effects, and the contrast in Redââ¬â¢s character. Kesey and Darabont both present their respective ideas through contrast in characterisation, yet in very different ways. This disparity is primarily due to the difference in text types; resulting in Keseyââ¬â¢s reliance on the literary techniques of imagery and symbolism, and Darabontââ¬â¢s deliberate use of light and sound. Though the narrators are of critical importance in portraying their own transformations, the protagonists instigate the change and consequently develop the authorââ¬â¢s ideologies with equal significance. One Flew Over the Cuckooââ¬â¢s Nest and The Shawshank Redemption share a vast number of similarities in relation to their themes, whilst depicting divergent meaning due to the differing ideologies of the respective authors. Keseyââ¬â¢s and Darabontââ¬â¢s use of contrasts within the narrators supports the ideas present within the texts; allowing the audience to formulate their own beliefs about the importance of individuality and hope.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
buy custom Technology in the Elementary Classroom essay
buy custom Technology in the Elementary Classroom essay More and more children are becoming tech-savvy because of the immense technological expansion and improvement in the recent year. As a result, teaching has become more challenging because teachers find it difficult to reach out for children in classrooms without involving some degree of technology in their lesson plans. Experts hold that when children use technology as a support or tool for learning or communicating with others, they assume an active role rather than the traditional role or recipients of information from textbooks, teachers and broadcast. By embracing technology in Florida elementary classrooms, children would be provided with a rare opportunity of actively making important choices on how to obtain, generate, manipulate and display information on their own. Technology use will also enable them to define their own goals, make important decisions, and evaluate their progress while at a tender age. Additionally, embracing technology in Florida elementary school will help in redefining the teachers role as well. With technology, teachers will no longer be considered as the dispenser of information, but instead, assume the role of a facilitator, who sets project goals and provide resources and guidelines that will support various students activities. As the children workon their technology-supported activities, the teacher will be moving around the classroom, looking over shoulders and posing questions regarding various design choices to the delight of the children. There are various ways that a teacher can use technology in an elementary classroom. For example, a teacher can introduce the students to different web activities; take them to a virtual field trip, ask the students to make presentations and games (Cohen, 2009). It goes without saying that the introduction of technology in Florida elementary classrooms will come with immense benefits to both the teacher and the children. It is believed that the introduction of technology in elementary schools enhances technical skills. Students, even at this tender age can attain impressive levels of skills with a variety of computer software (Fisher, Dwyer, Yokam, 2006). Despite the fact that the specific software tools in use might change before these children enter the job market, being exposed to technology early provides them with a solid foundation of understanding how different classes of computer tools operate and behave. In turn, this builds confidence because they will be able to use new tools that will support their future learning of new software and hardware applications. Apart from enhanccing the pupils technical skills, the introduction of technology in elementary schools gives pupils an opportunity to accomplish more complex tasks at a tender age. Research indicates that students who have been exposed to technology while in elementary schools can handle more complex tasks and assignments. Moreover, such students can handle higher-order skills as a result of the capabilities and supports that are provided by technology (Bers, 2007). Another impact of technology on elementary school children cited by many teachers is an increased inclination by the young student to provide peer tutoring as well as work cooperatively. It can be noted that when a student is assigned to individual computer, there is an increased frequency of this child to help others with their work. This is because any student who has mastered a certain computer skill derives fulfillment, enjoyment and pride from helping others In conclusion, teachers should be very careful with the content that students get exposed to. There are some contents that children are not allowed to see or use because of their negative effect on small children. Such content include, but not limited to violence and pornography. It is argued that such content can affect the psychological and moral development of a child. Buy custom Technology in the Elementary Classroom essay
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Improving the efficiency of light distribution in PON for service Article
Improving the efficiency of light distribution in PON for service delivery in Fiber to the Home (FTTH) environments - Article Example This is true in wide area networks (WANs) that provide connectivity between cities and in metropolitan area networks (MANs) that connect telco operatorsââ¬â¢ nodes within cities. However, most local loop or the ââ¬Å"last mileâ⬠that serve residential, small business or enterprise users, have not benefited from this. The local subscriber lines for telephone and Internet are still using twisted copper pairs while cable television subscribers are still using copper coaxial cable [1]. With the increasing usersââ¬â¢ demands for services such as Internet applications, VoIP, interactive games, high-definition television (HDTV) and video on demand (VOD), the ââ¬Å"last mileâ⬠connection has become a bandwidth bottleneck. Developments in xDSL and cable TV technologies has in some extent addressed this problem but still not enough to meet the continuously increasing bandwidth demand. A more effective solution is gradually being put in place especially in urban areas by extending the fiber to the user. This technology is called by many names depending on the termination mode ââ¬â fiber to the home (FTTH), fiber to the curb (FTTC) or fiber to the building (FTTB). All of these FTTx solutions may utilize the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) distribution technology. This system utilizes bandwidth allocation algorithms to allow efficient sharing of limited upstream channel bandwidth [2]. Different methods of implementing this will be discussed in this art icle. An EPON system is a point-to-multipoint fiber optical network with no active elements in the transmission path from the source, an optical line terminal (OLT), to the destination, an optical network unit (ONU). It can use different multipoint topologies, such as bus, ring, and tree. The most typical architecture is based on a tree topology and consists of an OLT, a 1:N passive star coupler (or splitter/combiner), and multiple ONU. The OLT
Monday, February 3, 2020
Potential oppotunities n challenges wat doesthe company view as Essay
Potential oppotunities n challenges wat doesthe company view as opportunties and minimize challenges - Essay Example The fast changing environment of technology has necessitated the Hewlett Packard to meet the challenges of emerging new technology in mobile. While HP has been a leader in the computer technology and related areas, it needed to be creative in its diversification and introduce new gadgets to compete with its rivals like Apple Inc, IBM, Sony and Nokia. Palm provided HP with the opportunity to gain a competitive edge against its rivals. The three major opportunities that Palm gained through its merger with HP can be described as below: Brand creation is a major marketing technique that has massive support within and outside the business community and management strategy. ââ¬ËBrand building is needed because products are the sameââ¬â¢ (Kotler, 2005). The brand name ensures that the product maintains a high standard of excellence at a price that a customer is willing to pay for. Therefore, the brand provides the customer with a quality product which satisfies his needs, making it as one of the key reasons that brands still enjoy the popularity amongst its customers and at the same time, attract fresh clientele. HP is an established international brand and a leader in business computing. Palm is handheld computing device with multiple functions. It is an extremely useful device for executives who are constantly on move and who are looking for gizmos which are small enough to hold in their pockets but powerful enough to be used as computer, or phone or even as an entertainment device, as and when the need arises. Globalization has changed the dynamic of the business and today the professionals need to have all the information at their tip while following a hectic schedule. So the smaller the device which can pack such features, better are its chances of capturing this target group. Hence, Palmââ¬â¢s association with HP would greatly enhance its brand value. Financial considerations are strong motivating factors that promote strategic
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Four seasons hotels inc hr practices
Four seasons hotels inc hr practices The assignment is based on a case study that revolves around Four Seasons and their culture in relation to employment. The purpose of this assignment is to basically answer five questions that are specific to understanding the culture of Four Seasons and the influence of HRM on the organisation. Like any case there are issues that the company needs to deal with and the writer tries to identify these issues by explaining what caused the issue to occur. The assignment also recognizes several key factors that the HRM of the companies have to deal with and at the same time identifying how important is the HRM to the Four Seasons and what kind of influence it has on the employment strategy. The writer identifies several options and recommendations to solving the issues and also explains the purpose of choosing the option at the same time illustrating the affect each of the options would have on the organisation and the various stakeholders. The writer has incorporated various models and matrices to the various sections in order to facilitate in the explanation of the topics. Company and its position in the hospitality industry Isadore Sharp (Sharp) with the help of his brother-in-law, Eddie Creed (Creed) and his friend Murray Koffler (Koffler) founded the Four Seasons with an investment of less than a $ million. The first property was a motel, Four Seasons Motor Hotel in 1961 in downtown, Toronto. This was a 125 roomed motel, with upscale atmosphere and amenities that were the reason for attracting their guests and especially celebrities from the neighboring T.V. station. The next property was a 569 rooms Toronto Inn Park which was built in the year 1963. Since then Sharp went on to built several new hotels such as the Inn on the Park, in London and other small inns in smaller urban areas such as Belleville, Ontario and Nassau, Bahamas only in the year 1970. This building of new hotels came to a serious problem in around the year 1994 as the Four Seasons saw themselves in a huge debt and only due to the help of Saudi Prince Al-Waleed Bin Tala Bin Abdufaziz al Saud (Al-Waleed) and his investment of C$100 million did the Four Seasons and Sharp survive this collapse. With this financial support from Al-Waleed, Four Seasons was able to built new hotels in Singapore, Mexico City, Berlin and Prague; with this resorts were built in Hawaiis Kona Coast, Carlsbad, California and Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Four Seasons on February 2007 was acquired by various investing groups namely Casacade Investment, L.L.C. which belonged to Microsofts Chairman Bill Gates, Kingdom Hotels International, owned by Al-Waleed, and Triples Holdings Limited, a family holding company of Sharps, which together was a US$3.37 billion buyout offer. As a part of their negotiations a 10 percent interest in the group and the CEO position was given to Sharp, in addition to this a long-term incentive contract related to the sales of villa and penthouses as private properties. By the end of 2008, Four Seasons had 82 managed properties in 34 different countries with about 33,185 associates. Four Seasons lived on a term called The Golden Rule which meant Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you and keeping this in their mind they have treated their employees with as much respect as they would expect from the employees to the customers. This was personified with the various recognition they received from various publications such as Consumer Reports, Gourmet and Travel Leisure, Mobil Travel Guide, Gallivanters Guide and Condà © Nast Traveler Magazine. The most valued honor to Four Seasons and which they have managed to earn from the last thirteen years is the Top 100 Companies to Work For by Fortune Magazine and as of year 2010, Four Seasons were positioned at the 58th spot which compared to the hotel industry only Marriott International made the list as the 82nd position. This itself gives a picture of what the employees think about Four Seasons and their culture but there are some critics that say otherwise as they believe that the reason for their success i s because they tend to be very bias to foreign white skinned employees and prefer to hire them and the example given here was the Four Seasons Maldives resort, which was believed to be corrupt and bias as foreigners were given preference instead of locals irrespective of their talent and qualification and that local professional Maldivians were ignored just because of their color of skin. Another criticism was that even though the employees were paid well they were working extended hours and were stressed to deliver impeccable service. Four Seasons at present is one of the leading hotel chains in the world and have easily been considered to be one of the best in the field in comparison to hotel chains like Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Intercontinental, etc. and despite the various criticism Four Seasons has consistently been on the top when it comes to its work culture, thus becoming a globally successful hotel chain. Culture of Four Seasons and comparison to major competitors Four Seasons has always tried to provide its guests with value added service and hassle free stay and by keep this in to their working culture they have earned the reputation of a superior customer service organisation. The Four Seasons had also created more than 247 standards which were meant to identify what the customers should expect to receive in a Four Seasons Hotel. Even with these many standards Four Seasons always believed in empowerment as every employee was given all the rights to do what they felt right and this worked well for the company as an e.g. in the case mentioned how a bride had got her wedding dress stuck to the car door and the housekeeping staff did not waste any time and sent her to the spa while the staff member was patching the torn areas so that it would not be noticed. This was the kind of thinking that Four Seasons and especially Sharp want from their employees by this they created an environment where the employees were willing to use their mind in solv ing problems thus reducing the chances for it to escalate. Sharp also believed that loyalty and retention are the key to success, but loyalty to the customers came before the loyalty of the guests. They also truly believed in The Golden Rule and designed their recruitment, selection, training and development of the employees. Four Seasons culture was based on the value each and every employee could bring to the company and did not care about the qualification and experience the candidate had, this turn gave them employees who were willing to challenge themselves and at the same time willing to develop to the betterment of the company. This is also one of the reasons why their customers were loyal as they felt that the employees were willing and striving to help make their stay better, this can be seen with the award that Four Seasons have been receiving since 1980, which are the AAA Five Diamond awards. This award clearly shows the respect and loyalty that the customers have for the company due the respect and loyalty that the employees show to their customers. In comparison to Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Starwood, etc. Four Seasons believes in empowerment where as the other only use it as a form of marketing strategy. The mission statement or The Golden Rule of Four Seasons is Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you whereas Marriott has the Core Values that states Its about serving the associates, the customer, and the community. Marriotts fundamental beliefs are enduring and the keys to its continued success (Marriott International, 2010), Hyatts mission statement is To provide authentic hospitality by making a difference in the lives of the people we touch every day (Hyatt Corporation, 2010), Hilton believes in We will be the preeminent global hospitality company the first choice of guests, team members and owners alike (Hilton Worldwide, 2010) and Starwood would like to Create the most successful branded, global, lifestyle hospitality company by forming a trust- and respect-based corporate family committed to re-imagining our b usiness with creativity and innovation, resulting in the most fun workplace in the history of the world (Starwood Hotels and Resorts, 2010). Only by looking at these mission statements we can get an idea of who really caters to their employees as among the four major hotel chains mentioned only Marriott Hotel has their employees mentioned in their mission statement and even that is only considering that they take care of the associates but does not give an idea that they are willing to empower their employees like the way Four Seasons does. This does not mean that other hotels do not empower their employees but in terms of the definition which means giving the right and authority to an individual to think, behave, take action and make decisions in an independent way (Heathfield, 2010). By just applying the definition to the various hotels and their mission statements we can see that Four Seasons and Marriott are the only two hotel chains that seem to be empowering their employees to take their own decisions. Empowerment of employees sounds good and will attract employees but the real factor here would be that this would to some extent create a very bias hiring environment in the company as Sharp mentioned that they hire employees with the right attitude for the company and there is little need for them to have experience as the work itself can be thought, which as mentioned before created a bias environment in Maldives as almost all the employees that were hired were foreigners and even though the local population had all the right credentials and at times even better that the foreigner staff, they were not selected and this is the major difference between Four Seasons and the other hotels as almost every hotel select their employees based on their qualification and experience but being selected for having the right attitude to some extent is inappropriate and unethical especially if they are selected by the color of their skin, which is taking it to the extent of being racist and this i s a very dangerous road to take especially if Four Seasons would like to expand to newer countries particularly the developing and non-developing countries. This is also one of the major differences between Four Seasons and other hotel brands as Marriott for example believes in hiring employees from various cultures so as to help incorporate a multi-cultural environment in the organisation. Another reason for companies trying to incorporate local cultures in the company is because of the Corporate Social Responsibility as it is one of the most important factor for the existence of any company as by not incorporating it into the company means that various stakeholders such as government, NGOs, suppliers, stakeholders, local residents, etc. would not respect the hotel brand and thus causing future problems. HRM influence on vision, mission values and companys identity Four Seasons have been in this business since the 1960s and have live by one mission called The Golden Rule which defines their values as well. They focus on their employees and promote empowerment in the company, in addition they hire employees based on their attitude and not on their experience and knowledge as they believe that the job can be learnt by training but the attitude of a person cannot be changed. Human Resource Department (HRM) is considered to be the most vital and unavoidable department of a company but the influence of the HRM on the company depends on the culture and values of the company and how important they consider the HRM is and if it would help to improve the companys staff quality. In terms of Four Seasons the HRM would be more of a supporting department as they would have little influence on the culture of the company and instead the culture of Four Seasons would identify the HRM departments duties and the kind of recruitment, selection, training, development, etc. criteria they need to follow. The organisation of Four Seasons depend on finding the employees that fit in their culture rather than hiring qualified and experienced staff and then molding them to the requirements of the company. This to some extent makes it a lot easier for the HRM in terms of designing the programs but it also makes it extremely difficult to look for the right people for the right job. Another factor would be to incorporate the empowerment factor into the selection, training and development programs as they will need to be very accurate so as to not select, train and develop the wrong people for the wrong job. To do so Four Seasons has already created a program which begins with h iring talented individuals with the resourcefulness and dedication to perform to their best and the training was began with a three month initial orientation and a supervisor and management development programs, the senior management had their own executive development programs and the employees also received classroom training. The whole employee development program was divided into seven parts being Recruitment, Selection, Orientation, Training, Performance Management, Rewards Recognition, Development Success and Promotion/Transfer each of these programs included their own specific components such as brain storming sessions and extensive interviews for Recruitment, align with strategy, attitude comes first, define required key competencies, 4 stages interview process and Behavioural Interviewing based on defined competencies for Selection, align with strategy, adequate lead time, emphasis on attitude, service teamwork, consistent global approach, multi-lingual Culture film, heavy management involvement buy-in and re-orientation as needed for Orientation, align with strategy, on-line (Standards) program, designated trainers and customers service skills, emphasis on Culture throughout and coordinated efforts for Training, align with strategy, identify key Competencies, Good At not simply Good Person, a ssessment starts early and never ends, provide actionable feedback, do it in time to make a difference, potential assessment, goals/processes/measures and do it in time to make a difference for Performance Management, paid vacations and monetary rewards for Rewards Recognition, align with strategy, succession planning, task force work, planned global exposure, multi-ethnic talent for Development Succession and based on performance experience and destinations of choice for Promotion/Transfer. The purpose of mentioning all these components is that the HRM program was extremely well defined and due to this the different departments did not need to depend on the HRM to tell them what was needed to be done but instead only had to follow these components and see that the employees followed them as well. Each and every factors of employee development was important but the most important factor for any company and especially in the hospitality industry is the Performance Management Syste m (PMS) which could be defined as A management technique intended to holistically consider the performance of (usually a group of) employees or machines to work towards optimum performance of a particular task or (more frequently) a group of tasks (Allsites LLC., 2010). The main reason why the PMS is so vital to an organisation is because in this stage the company can actually identify whether all the earlier stages such as Recruitment, Selection, Orientation and Training were successful and if there is a need to redo few or all of the stages again, in addition this gives an idea of what to expect in the future stages. In simple terms this is a crossroad that could make or break the whole program so considering its importance every organisation needs to develop the best possible components for it. Four Seasons have identified nine various components, which give an idea that they as well consider it to be a vital aspect. The major issue here as mentioned in the earlier section is the focus on empowerment of employees which drives the HRM department and this is also the reason why the HRM is more of a collaborator rather that than initiator which leave very little room for change and this would seriously affect their growth prospects as this would cause the HRM department to be bias towards a section of the employee market and this could also cause major future problems for the company such as distrust and deflation of the brand image. Another important factor would be to not to consider being selfish to a particular section of the employees especially the white skinned employees which in any country and also by U.N.s universal declaration on Race, Racism and the Law is considered to be racist and unethical, this can be proven by the article 23 point 1 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, G.A. res. 217A (III), U.N. Doc A/810 at 71 (1948) which clearly states that Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable condit ions of work and to protection against unemployment (Bell, 2010). Thus it is extremely important for Four Seasons to try and not walk that line as selecting based on attitude could easily be perceived to be racist by international laws and this could also lead to a wide spread boycott of the Four Seasons and could tumble the identity and respect that the Four Seasons has earned. Policies and procedures in HRM and its evaluation The culture of Four Seasons is extremely strong and has a direct influence on the strategies of the HRM and has also dictates the policies and procedures of the department. Four Seasons always believes that the satisfaction of employees is more important than that of the customers. This can be seen in the benefits that the Four Seasons offer which is specifically created to motivate the employees to put in their best foot and this will be illustrated in the table below. Table : Benefits of working for Four Seasons (Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, 2010) Company-Wide Benefits Career Growth Opportunities Unique Deep Culture Best-In-Industry Training Luxury Environment Within Magnificent Locations Worldwide Profit Sharing/Incentive Bonus/Competitive Salaries Complimentary Stays At Four Seasons Properties With Discounted Meals Paid Holidays/Vacation Educational Assistance Dental And Medical Insurance/Disability/Life Retirement Benefits/Pension Employee Service Awards Annual Employee Party/Social And Sporting Events Complimentary Meals In Dedicated Employee Restaurants In addition to these benefits there are other benefits that are given to the employees depending on the local law and regulations. The benefits are very specific and takes care of all the needs of the employees in terms of the Maslows Hierarchy of Needs we could get a much clear picture. The Maslows Hierarchy of Needs identifies 5 various needs of a human being and that they strive to achieve it throughout their life and these 5 needs will be shown in the figure below. Figure : Maslows Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow, 2009) Maslows Hierarchy of Needs The Maslows Hierarchy of Needs states that there are five main needs that a person needs to satisfy to make him feel complete and these needs are Physiological Needs, Safety Needs, Social Needs, Esteem Needs and Self-Actualization Needs. Physiological needs are the need for basic things like air, food, drinks, shelter, clothing, etc. (Chapman, 2010). Safety needs is specific to laws and regulation and its impact on personal life or whether it is safe to live (Chapman, 2010). Social Needs on the other hand is more to do with having relationship with different groups of people mainly family and friends (Chapman, 2010). Esteem needs are more psychology based like feeling independent, having high status and prestige, personal achievements, etc (Chapman, 2010). The Self-Actualization needs are the most tough but the most vital for feeling complete and this can be achieved when a person feels self-fulfilled, achieves personal growth and reaches the peak of his experience (Chapman, 2010). T he Maslows Hierarchy of needs does not only affect the normal way of life but also has an influence on the motivation of the employees in an organisation especially the hospitality sector this sector tends to have the highest percent of turnover which mainly depends on the benefits that the company offers. To get a comprehensible prospective to this the writer will compare the two factor being the benefits of Four Seasons and the Maslows Hierarchy of needs to see which benefits affect what type of needs. Figure : Maslows Hierarchy of Needs to Four Seasons Employee Benefits à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide à ·Ã Dental and medicalà / disability / life insurance à ·Ã Paid holidays / vacation à ·Ã Educational assistance à ·Ã Retirement benefits / pension à ·Ã Complimentary meals in dedicated employee restaurants à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Annual employee party / social and sporting events à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide à ·Ã Dental and medicalà / disability / life insurance à ·Ã Paid holidays / vacation à ·Ã Educational assistance à ·Ã Retirement benefits / pension à ·Ã Complimentary meals in dedicated employee restaurants à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Annual employee party / social and sporting events à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide à ·Ã Dental and medicalà / disability / life insurance à ·Ã Paid holidays / vacation à ·Ã Educational assistance à ·Ã Retirement benefits / pension à ·Ã Complimentary meals in dedicated employee restaurants à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Annual employee party / social and sporting events à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide à ·Ã Dental and medicalà / disability / life insurance à ·Ã Paid holidays / vacation à ·Ã Educational assistance à ·Ã Retirement benefits / pension à ·Ã Complimentary meals in dedicated employee restaurants à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Annual employee party / social and sporting events à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide à ·Ã Dental and medicalà / disability / life insurance à ·Ã Paid holidays / vacation à ·Ã Educational assistance à ·Ã Retirement benefits / pension à ·Ã Complimentary meals in dedicated employee restaurants à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Annual employee party / social and sporting events à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide à ·Ã Dental and medicalà / disability / life insurance à ·Ã Paid holidays / vacation à ·Ã Educational assistance à ·Ã Retirement benefits / pension à ·Ã Complimentary meals in dedicated employee restaurants à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Annual employee party / social and sporting events à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Profit sharing / incentive bonus / competitive salaries à ·Ã Complimentary stays at Four Seasons properties with discounted meals à ·Ã Employee service awards à ·Ã Career growth opportunities à ·Ã Unique deep culture à ·Ã Best-in-industry training à ·Ã Luxury environment in magnificent locations worldwide In the above figure the writer has clearly divided each of the benefits to the various needs that it satisfies. This figure clearly identifies that the main reason why Four Seasons is in the top 100 companies to work for is because of they try hard to satisfy the needs of their employees and in addition to this they also offer empowerment to its employees which directly or indirectly satisfies the needs of Esteem and Self-Actualization. As Vice President of HRM moving Four Seasons forward in the next four years Four Seasons is an organisation with great potential for growth, this is mainly because of their organizational culture and the way they take care of the employees. Employees are one of the most important stakeholders that have a direct impact on the organisation and if the employees are not happy then the customers will not be happy and thus affecting the running of the organisation. There are several factors that can be taken into account for the development of the organisation but the most important factor would be to focus less focus on empowerment and more on diversity. The reason behind identifying it as a factor is that even although the company is managing to reduce their turnover by hiring employees that fit their culture, Four Seasons has not considered the external effects of perusing such an option and this has already started to take its toll on the company as people have started to notice that Four Seasons are bias to foreigners especially white skin candidate, this kind of controversies could seriously deteriorate the companys image and brand name, in addition it could in long term affect their employee turnover and even cause the company to lose their customers. This is only a miner effect compared to what could happen later as loosing the customers will effect various stakeholders to stop trusting the future of the organisation and this will cause a ripple effect where the stocks of the company will start falling, investors will start withdrawing their stocks and ultimately causing Four Seasons a final blow. This at the end would bring t he company to the verge of bankruptcy. This is farfetched and may not even happen exactly as mentioned but sooner or later people will start to notice the biasness and retaliate accordingly. The above elastration is the consequence of ignoring the issue but the real issue is what Four Seasons can do to avoid such a massive collapse. This may not be easy and could take a lot of time and money to reverse it. To begin with the company first needs to incorporate diversity to their culture as they need to stop judging that foreigners candidates are better at the use of empowerment than the local candidates and rather than hiring all the employees from outside resident country, they should divide the employee as 60% to 70% foreigners and 30% to 40% local should be included into their policies of HRM, this is simple terms means that Four Seasons needs to incorporate Talent Management in their strategy. Talent Management can be defined as A conscious, deliberate approach undertaken to attract, develop and retain people with the aptitude and abilities to meet current and future organizational needs. Talent management involves individual and organizational development in response to a changing and complex operating environment. It includes the creation and maintenance of a supportive, people oriented organisation culture (Derek Stockley Pty Ltd., 2005). Talent management incorporates the whole process of the HRM such as recruitment, development, performance management, retention, etc. and it does not end there as it also helps develop the culture of the organisation towards a more positive outlook. The purpose of identifying Talent Management as an option is due the effect it could have on the HRM and Four Seasons as it helps to identify critical areas that need to be changed, takes phased approach to implementing a strategy within the areas, creates ways to assessing the impact on the areas and conducts reviews on the varies areas so provide input for future implementation (TalentAlign, 2010). Figure : Talent Management Concept http://www.taleo.com/sites/default/files/article-talent-management.jpg (Taleo Corporation, 2010) Based on the above shown figure we can identify that there are two major factors influencing talent management which are business goals and business performance and these are more like a cause and effect of the company, the cause being the business goal and effect being business performance. The figure also identifies all the various segments that talent management influences by dividing it into 4 sections namely Align, Assess, Acquire and Develop. To explain it better Align and Assess are pre-recruiting stages or planning stage where the HRM can identify the purpose and outcome that they would like want to achieve. Acquire and Develop on the other hand is involved with more of the physical aspect of the HRM for instance recruiting, training, development, performance management, etc. Talent Management could in actual fact help Four Seasons to provide authority to the HRM department and thus restructuring the organisation to provide optimal workforce. This system is not bias thus chan ging the selection process and making the organisation more diverse. Craig Hickman a famous author of various books on business and management such as The Strategic Game, Mind of a Manager, Soul of a Leader, etc. identifies diversity to be an important component to the success of an organization and believes that organizations take it extremely lightly as they only tolerate it rather than embracing it and this is mainly due to the external influence such as government and local residence (Hickman, 2006). It is not just important for Four Seasons to incorporate diversity using talent management but also so embrace it with the optimism that it will improve their current position. The whole process of talent management should take around two to three years to accurately be integrated in the organisation but even after it integration Four Seasons needs to continue to develop it and follow up on the progress and identify the way to improve it. Another option for the company which may even be cheaper and less time consuming than talent management would be the use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In simple terms CSR is the involvement towards the economy, environment and social sustainability of the public with the assistance of various stakeholders (Baker, Corporate Social Responsibility What does it mean?). The purpose of identifying CSR as an option is because of cost effectiveness, media attractiveness, direct influence, no change in the organ
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Affirmative Action: Executive Order 11246
The Websterâ⬠s New World Dictionary defines affirmative action as ââ¬Å"a policy or program for correcting the effects of discrimination in the employment or education of members of certain groups. â⬠President Lyndon Johnson issued executive Order 11246. This required federal contractors to take ââ¬Å"affirmative actionâ⬠to increase the number of minorities that they employed. President Johnsonâ⬠s order he put in place has since been twisted and turned around to what it is today. Such twists and turns include the hiring of unqualified workers, the causing of problems for groups it originally set out to help, and the reverse discrimination that results in unfair standards into higher education and the work force. Affirmative action creates an equal opportunity for people in the work force and for students seeking higher education. However, while affirmative action creates equal opportunity to for some individuals, it discriminates against others, primarily white males. Take for example some police forces. If a member of a minority group is hired over a more qualified person and they are forced to be in a situation they cannot handle then that is a major problem of affirmative action. Therefore, affirmative action uses reverse discrimination to solve the problem of discrimination. In ââ¬Å"Assessing Affirmative Actionâ⬠, an article by Harry Holtzer and David Neumark , says that ââ¬Å"many firms where more likely to hire women and minorities with lesser qualifications, but also to give them remedial training, thus erasing the differencesâ⬠(Holtzer1). In many cases you see that affirmative action helps most minorities and women but has its obvious drawbacks. In another article by George Gurin, ââ¬Å"Sizing Up Affirmative Actionâ⬠, he sayâ⬠s that ââ¬Å"To many colleges and businesses are being almost to open on who they let in and who they donâ⬠t only because they are trying too hardâ⬠(Gurin3). In my opinion I think that affirmative action is a great thing to have in todayâ⬠s society, our nations development is credited to many different cultures coming together to form one great one. We will forever have the fight of discrimination, but there is not in my opinion one-way to satisfy everyone. As mentioned earlier affirmative action does hurt some of the people it set out to help. Consider an employer who hires a member of a certain minority group on the basis of skills alone. Many of the employees may automatically assume that the individuals appointment to that job is resulted from affirmative action. Therefore, an employee who does benefit from affirmative action may bear the brand of ââ¬Å"not being the best pick, but the best pick of a limited group(Pasour). â⬠Another part of affirmative action that is commonly brought up is women in the government. In earlier times people wouldnâ⬠t even consider having a woman in positions where they would be making decisions for men. In this day they were almost treated like the slaves that they owned. One of the only jobs that women did was to work in factories and low income jobs. Today women hold the top positions in some jobs. Companies are hiring and promoting women the same is they do men. Is this a result of affirmative action? When women were given their rights it was. Today it is easy to see that women are just as qualified as men at what they do. The question of having a woman president is still up for grabs. I think that it will still be a long time before society feels comfortable with a woman controlling their nation. That in itâ⬠s self would be another consideration. Would other countries take us seriously and treat us with the same respect they do now. In time affirmative action may be the winner in that a woman president is closer than everyone may think. Another heated issue with affirmative action is the issue of African Americans. America has been a racist country from the start. But as time has passed and people have accepted other races as their own. This was not until recently when people thought like this. In the case of the Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), a special admission program setting aside 16 places in the medical school class for disadvantaged students, chiefly racial minorities, violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment and title VI of the civil rights act of 1964(Regents2). All in all todayâ⬠s society is growing towards the acceptance of different races and minorities. And one stepping-stone to that acceptance is the issue of affirmative action.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Chinese Philosophy Essay
Human being is by nature a dynamic being, whose tendency to evolve is manifest in history, archeology and other disciplines that have put human development and progress in focus in the course of evolution and so does the society / community in which he resides. Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher, once stated; ââ¬Å"As they step into the same rivers, different and still different waters flow upon themâ⬠(qtd. in Snooks 1). In line with this saying, we may say that change is something that is part of nature. Many of the activities of communities can address, embrace or resist change. In order to manage the various incidents and conditions that are experienced by man and his society, various instruments and frameworks are devised. In the case of the Chinese society, a number of philosophical standpoints were developed in a bid to confront the challenges facing China. This paper endeavors to examine Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism and Legalism as the instruments put in place by the Chinese in response to the wars that China was experiencing, especially in regard to leadership in a society. Confucianism Confucianism puts quality on the ability of the human being to achieve, through self introspective processes, a state of inner harmony and moral uprightness, which can elevate the individual from the stables of a common person to a noble person. Confucias (541 ââ¬â 479 BCE) was Chinaââ¬â¢s first moral philosopher who linked moral behavior to traditional roles and hierarchies. He linked the Zhou order that was deteriorating and believed that all should understand and accept their role in the society. This system of thought is good in so far as it has faith in the human being as being capable of managing his own destiny, and being able to change for the better. Confucianism gives an individual member of the society a chance to take responsibility for creating and maintaining harmony in the society, by having it entrenched in the individual countenance that recognizes nobility as a state that can be achieved by an individual, without anybody being able to gain it through ascription or inheritance and this is not closely attached to the exercise of political power per se (Barry et al. 24) In China where many communities were vying for political dominance, Confucianism offered a window for the restoration of order through self cultivation, oriented toward achieving a noble state, in spite of the personââ¬â¢s social extraction. This, as a philosophy that sought to bring harmony in the warring Chinese society, worked toward the establishment of personal moral uprightness, which in turn would affect the way people related to one another, especially in their relation to leadership. If the society regarded nobility highly, then the noble people, having cultivated themselves effectively; would have their influence in the society to steer clear of war, or to effectively lead the people in better battle campaigns against their adversaries. If on the other hand, the Chinese society was to transform itself into a nation of noble people according to Confucian principles, then everybody would maintain the peace, because people would look at each other with more humility and kindness. The Confucian noble is thus, one who is able to provide leadership without really reigning or ruling. Confucianism can also be seen as a direct response to insensitive leadership during the war period, and thus, a system to try and impress the virtue of good leadership amongst the rulers of the time (86). This was done in such a way that it did not threaten as much, the social structures prevalent then, hence the Confucian recognition of the social hierarchies, and insistence on the citizenry to uphold respect for the superiors. Of course, war is a period when it matters to positively receive instruction and commands from the superiors. Daoism While Confucianism promotes the practice of self improvement in line with the argument based on natural evolution of the human species, Daoism on the other hand places all human effort in the search for knowledge and purposeful transformation in the realm of vanity. Daoists wanted the governments not to override their lives and were interested in the spiritual aspect of human existence. The temptation to dismiss this school of thought prima facie is quite high. This is due to the natural orientation of man to take responsibility of his destiny and the natural tendency to seek a better life, to marvel at nature and to try to influence it so as to satisfy personal needs. In that respect, one would expect that a working formula has to emphasize manââ¬â¢s rationality and his wants and needs, as the central pillars of his push toward creating his own history and having dominion over his environment. On the other hand, Daoism offers a situation where, as a country at war, the Chinese had an opportunity to re-examine their value systems and act accordingly. The Daoist concept of being in harmony with nature and not struggling to bring about change could be looked at as a peace strategy. This is because wars are naturally fanned by human desire to achieve something that humans feel is of ultimate importance to them. Wars also spring out of humansââ¬â¢ questioning of things and hence inventions of valuable things (which they desire so much). Humans would also like to either wrest from people who wouldnââ¬â¢t like them to possess the valuable items, or fervently protect the items from the people who would covet them. The need for man to change, to improve on things and to have an influence over his environment is a tendency that puts man in contention with the Daoist principle. If people followed Daoism, then they wouldnââ¬â¢t engage in a lot of questioning, which would bring about the escalation or perpetuation of the war. Their social relationships would be smooth, for all of them would be in harmony with nature, which would naturally take its course and not support of war. Daoist leadership would therefore be a laid back kind of leadership, with nature ââ¬Ëtaking care of itselfââ¬â¢. The kind of transformation to come out of the society would therefore be premised on the Daoist fact that nature is capable of transforming itself, and man doesnââ¬â¢t have to take steps to interfere with occurrence of events. This however, would be criticized on the premise that change is something to be managed by the human being, by use of his intellect. Daoism as a leadership style would be an aloof kind of leadership, and during the war period, something deliberate had to be done, the solutions to the problems then were not just left to ââ¬Ëfall from heavenââ¬â¢. To best illustrate this, Barry calls Daoists ââ¬Å"â⬠¦those who wandered offâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (48) Legalism This school of thought argued that strong government depended upon effective institutional structures not just the moral quality of the leaders. This could be described as the application of law for the benefit of the majority. Legalism thus becomes a system of reinforcement, with an emphasis on both positive and negative reinforcement meted out to the members of the society in order to discourage certain socially undesirable behavior according to the majority of people paying allegiance to the society in question (Ebrey & Buckley 23). According to legalism school of thought, society is shaped through its reward system, with socially unacceptable behavior being punished for, with blessings from the social framework that awards certain individuals the power to dish out these rewards, without necessarily being seen to deny one or infringe upon their rights. This may help galvanize a society or community, which will in turn have a more prominent sense of identity and solidarity. Such a stand in a war situation is good for the purpose of gaining victory over the enemy. Legalism is quite an ideal system for bringing the society together in the face of a common enemy. This also gives the ruler the chance to act with speed, since legalism is a system that is responsive to the times; changing with circumstances and accordingly responding to the dictates of the time. War times need an atmosphere where there is quick action and response, and with the foundation that gives legality to what the rulers are deciding on behalf of their subjects. Legalism was therefore, an ideal philosophical grounding for individual Chinese communities during the time of war, for it is a system that can well serve the expedients of war. This comes in the light of the fact that the Chinese had developed government structures bequeath to them by the Chin dynasty, and which lasted for more than two centuries (Barry et al. 145). The structures brought about by the Chin dynasty were important in the realization of the dictates of the legalistic system, which was organized around reward and punishment, and had to have a basis in the common will of the people. Thus, there had to be a person vested with the power to mete out punishment to errant members of the society, while at the same time hand down rewards to those who performed and behaved in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the society. This person also derived mandate from the same common will that requires the people to obey and take reward, both positive and negative, with understanding; since it is for the common good that this is done. It can be argued that legalism is something close to Confucianism, because it comes out of manââ¬â¢s free will. It is a product of social engineering, with a view to bringing about an ideal society; something totally distanced from Daoism, which emphasizes the need to let life just flow, without taking any action to influence oneââ¬â¢s environment. Mohism This is a system of universal brotherhood, where everyone on the face of the earth is related to each other, with an obligation to look after oneââ¬â¢s kin (Ebrey & Buckley 35). Taken from this very standpoint, this is a perfect doctrine for humanity at any one time, and in this case, for China during the warring times. This is because, as we have noted above, human conflict springs out of differences. These differences, when not solved amicably, lead to war. The inclination to keep some things away from others and to take what is owned by others is a perfect recipe for war. If, in the light of Mohism, all of humanity was to lay a claim on brotherhood, and maintain that doctrine of being each otherââ¬â¢s keeper, then the incidence of war would be remote. This is because brotherhood entails harmony and amity. It also presupposes the ability to communicate with each other without necessarily taking to arms. Mohists might not have been comprehensive in their brotherhood matrix. Even though all men are supposed to be brothers, the Mohistsââ¬â¢ view of the world is quite hierarchical, with the junior members of the society bearing a social responsibility to be subservient to those who are perceived to be on an elevated social platform. This is a system that would have borne fruit if only the small people accepted it. If however, the common people are not agreeable to this arrangement, then Mohism would be just but another plank of wood in the fire, for they would revolt as a response to this flawed brotherhood arrangement. From a different perspective, Mohism could be taken to be the answer to the perceived social injustices prevalent in China then. Much as one could be the otherââ¬â¢s brother, this system sought to cultivate an environment where an individual, after striving for, and accumulating enough superior residues; would acquire a higher status and would lead people. War needs strong willed people, since it carries a lot in terms of collateral damage, both in terms of human life and material possessions. War time also needs utmost sacrifice, so that as brothers, some members of the society do not just sit back and wait for the other people to work out way-through for them. If one is in a lower position, then he has to be obedient and provide for that one who is up. In this way, Mohism comes out as a system that influenced the social set up such that it recognized the need to love each other, and to be ready to stand by each other; while at the same time, not losing the individual. If they were to be juxtaposed, Mohism and Confucianism would relate up to a certain extent. One would easily say that in terms of hierarchy, both Confucianism and Mohism teach about the society in light of inequalities and the need for these to be maintained through proper social decorum. Confucius goes deeper to analyze, at a finer level, the social relations and how they should be handled for the sake of peace and tranquility. Mohists may differ on some of these because of the pedant stand they regard the social hierarchies and how they observe and maintain them. However, it provides a framework for the legitimization of rulership, for a ruler is someone who occupies a place in a hierarchical set up. Legitimacy of a ruler springs out of the acceptance the ruler enjoys from the society. War times need strong leaders who derive legitimacy from their people. In times of war too, a ruler could impose himself on the people, but for as long as he serves to protect them or unite them against the enemy, then his legitimacy may not be much of a problem, since it is in the peopleââ¬â¢s name that the ruler reigns. This solidarity is best achieved by communities that recognize hierarchy as a natural phenomenon in life, and which Mohists and Confucians upheld in their thought. Conclusion In conclusion, based on personal point of view, the various ideological developments in China which brought about the four schools of thought which have been examined in this paper are a response to certain conditions in the society at the time of their emergence, and that these are mechanism that were crafted so as to manage change. The difference only lies in the points that were stressed. Mohism, for instance, is a system that was conservative to a certain extent, reacting to the possibility of occurrence of a development that could challenge the existing hierarchical status quo. At the same time, it endeavored to foster change in the way people regarded one another, with the small people (the serfs and commoners) fully recognizing and venerating their lords. Confucianism on the other hand, much as it strove for change on the individual level which would later on seep into the entire social fabric of the Chinese, was also a fairly conservative system. Just like Mohism, it posed no threat to the existing powers. It was a system that would be used to bring the people together in times of war, for this was not a time for people to start questioning their authorities. By defending the hierarchical system existent then, the Confucians thought of an alternative leadership style where noble people would get to influence the rulers through their self cultivation. This system almost totally absolved the ruler from responsibility, since the leader had the social privilege of lording it over his subjects without being obliged to observe certain tenets of leadership. It was however incumbent upon the subject to go through the process of self improvement. What would happen if all the subjects had transformed themselves yet the leadership was not together with them? What avenues would they have to really exercise power? Daoism was one way of running away from the human responsibility to respond to change. By letting all systems go, the society would be at a greater risk of falling prey to the dictates of a bad ruler, a coward or one who would sell them to the enemy during this war period, since the Daoist doctrine was all about living and letting live. After considering everything, legalism seems to be the system that would have best defended the particular communities, and even a collection of the communities, for it is a system of action and reciprocation. The common person reacts, and then the system responds by awarding a deserving reward; whether positive or negative.
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