A Good Man Is Hard And Find By Flannery O Connor And The...

Literary criticism refers to the study of how literature is evaluated and interpreted. Literature is a common aspect of the life of scholars, and we need to understand and then evaluate the texts we read to get the intended message. There are a number of literary criticism theories that can be used in evaluating literature work. The different theories are applicable differently depending on the text in question. For instance, the feminist criticism theory is a theory that is used to analyze texts that have a gender imbalance as the major theme. These are theories that are guarded by feminism as the common factor. They could be evident in economics, social and political life. This paper will analyze two texts â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find† by†¦show more content†¦In helping them, The Misfit kills the whole family despite the grandmother trying to convince him that he is a good man. Applying the feminist criticism can be said that the story has an aspect of feminism. Initially, the female character is not named in the story, and the prerogative of naming is given to the male characters. Female characters are called The Grandmother, the children s mother and the woman. The only female character having name was a kid, June Star. In comparison, Even a small male character was given a specific name, such as the Misfit s follower, Hiram and Bobby Lee; and Red San, who owned The Tower Filling Station. At the beginning of the story the female characters show that women were not treated as equal to men. Throughout the story, male domination is evident. First, the father did not listen or did not take the grandmother seriously when she told the story of The Misfit and the reasons she was against a trip to Florida. He made sure that his choice dominated. It actually did since they went to Florida as he wanted. He did not respect his mother, due to the patriarchal view all ows him to see the grandmother was subservient to man. Also John Wesley did the same things as a boy, talk he likes to the grandmother since his male status lets him to not regard the grandmother as an equal. Secondly, When O Connor depicts the Grandmother s living

The Nature Of Evil Macbeth By William Shakespeare

Grace Bonin Ms. James Mod Brit Lit Oct, 5 2017 The Nature of Evil The story of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is a dark and quite depressing dramatic play that revolves around the themes of our bare to the bone human nature and if naturally evil or is something decided and developed by the individual mind. In the beginning of the story, are introduced to the main character Macbeth Thane of Glamis, the play gives many heavy implications that he generally liked by the people and the king especially. Macbeth was a warrior of the king and owned his own estate which really only the rich and powerful could acquire, so it can be assumed that even though as humans we all have secret ambitions or wishes, he was a relatively happy and†¦show more content†¦Macbeth also begins to question if fate will have it land in his lap or if the prophecy will make him perform dark acts to acquire the crown. Thus begins a dark and dangerous game that begins tipping the scales of reason and honor in Macbeth is personality. Before the witches’ prophecy and the actual possibility of Macbeth’s minor fantasy coming true, he would have never once thought about killing the good king Duncan and stealing his throne. Here in act one scene three Macbeth’s dark ambitions come to life is and he faces a very critical choice, either ignore their prophecies and claims continuing on with his good life, or take an immense risk that could quite possibly kill him. Most would say that Macbeth is naturally evil based on the very thought that he would consider committing such a horrific act. Contrary to that belief shows much evidence through the play that Macbeth struggled deeply with his own mind trying to sort out what he had just witnessed and what it all meant. Take into consideration the fact that three strange woman who looked so outlandish they almost looked unworldly, telling Macbeth that he would soon own more land and title and eventually become king, then to see the first part of the witches so called prophecy come true almost instantly. In reality it was probably just lucky coincidence but to Macbeth and how he perceived the information, it wasShow MoreRelatedCritical Review of Macbeth by William Shakespeare1008 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Running Head: Macbeth Critical Review of Macbeth by William Shakespeare [Aijaz Ahmed Shaikh] [Karachi University] Critical Review of Macbeth by William Shakespeare Introduction Not only is Macbeth by far the shortest of William Shakespeare’s great tragedies, but it is also anomalous in some structural respects. Like Othello (1604) and only a very few other Shakespearean plays, Macbeth is without the complications of a subplot. (Bradley, 1905) Consequently, the action moves forward in aRead MoreEssay about evilmac Comparing the Evil of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth966 Words   |  4 PagesComparing the Evil of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth       â€Å"At the heart of William Shakespeares Macbeth is an examination of the nature of evil and its many faces and facets†(Cathell 119). The principal evil characters in the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, are both evil, but the manifestation of evil is different in each.    Macbeths evil is a dynamic character trait. He begins the play as a celebrated hero, loyal to his friends and dedicated to his king. He is strong and noble, a manRead MoreThe Witches By William Shakespeare942 Words   |  4 Pagesfind themselves present in act in accordance, eventual harm and detriment resulting from their subsequent actions. In the seventeenth century tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare emphasizes, through the use of the witches, how society and curiosity in society influences an individual’s decisions, often in a negative manner, and amplifies the seed of evil naturally found in one, as present at birth. Thus, the natural and raw desires present in an individual remain unavoidable; however, only through societalRead MoreMacbeth, Ruler by Divine Right1675 Words   |  7 Pagesand Holy Retribution in Macbeth In the play Macbeth, author William Shakespeare tells the dramatic story of how a man, who becomes obsessed with his own fate and power, falls from grace and is eventually killed by his own obsessions. Written in 1606, this play follows historical figures during the mid 11th century in the struggle for power and the crown of Scotland. When this was written, the Tudor dynasty had just ended its nearly 120 years of ruling England and Shakespeare wished for a peacefulRead MoreGender Roles In The Renaissance Era885 Words   |  4 PagesJaniah Bell C. Stuckey Adv. English 12 23 October 2017 The Fluid Nature of Gender in the Renaissance Era Communicating about gender isn’t unusual in todays time period as it would have been in the Renaissance Era. The Tragedy of Macbeth is about a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, he murders King Duncan and takes the throne. His ambition willRead More The Cause of Macbeths Destruction in William Shakespeares Macbeth1062 Words   |  5 PagesDestruction in William Shakespeares Macbeth      Ã‚   In William Shakespeares Macbeth, Macbeth was a well-respected man of noble birth, but his fortune was reversed after he turned to darkness. He plummeted endlessly into a chasm of evil until his corrupt life was ended on the edge of Macduffs blade. Whose actions opened up the path of darkness to Macbeth? Whose actions led to Macbeths demise? The answer is threefold. The weird sisters set Macbeths fate into motion. Lady Macbeth goaded herRead MoreHamlet by William Shakespeare: The Three Weird Sisters1189 Words   |  5 Pageswith their transcendent knowledge, as representatives of â€Å"holy things†: nature in its most serene and sublime form (Vorspiel). In Christian interpretation, however, because of the theist’s aversion to knowledge as a progenitor of sinful ambition, the Norns are affiliates of Satan. Indeed, both Genesis 3 and Macbeth are allegorical representations of man’s downfall as a result of the loss of innocence. In Macbeth, Shakespea re demonstrates that knowledge inspires reckless ambition, which, in humanity’sRead More Images, Imagery, Symbols, and Symbolism in Macbeth Essay610 Words   |  3 PagesImagery and Symbolism in Macbeth   Ã‚  Ã‚   In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses extensive imagery and symbolism throughout the course of his play.   Shakespeare uses this imagery and symbolism so that the reader may gain a deeper understanding and feeling for the happenings of this tragedy.   This is further demonstrated by Shakespeares use of darkness in Macbeth.   As one of the more noticeable and important symbols, darkness represents many different elements in the play.   First and foremostRead MoreLady Macbeth By William Shakespeare1520 Words   |  7 PagesLady Macbeth was not evil she was misunderstood Claim thou art, and Cawdor and shalt be what thou art promised. (Quote) In many of his plays, William Shakespeare portrays women as more virtuous than men. Lady Macbeth, strong ambitious women who’s confidence, faithful and capable of almost anything. For example, in endless love, we notice the endless love they both share for each other, where fate still brought them back together even after all the influences affecting jade’s life, the overpoweringRead MoreImagery in Macbeth by William Shakespeare1172 Words   |  5 PagesImagery in Macbeth William Shakespeare use of imagery creates a picture in the mind of his audiences that tells a thousand words. In most of his literary work, he shows the importance of imagery, and how authors can manipulate a readers feelings towards a character. In Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, he shows his very skillfully uses imagery. Macbeth is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare. It’s about three witches that decide to manipulate a Scottish general

Sustainability and Leasing Decision †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Sustainability and Leasing Decision. Answer: Introduction Acquiring a commercial house for business is one of the greatest achievements a new company can ever make. Such kind of building gives the company the autonomy to perform their operations with minimal surveillance from the individuals who supposedly lease the building. The cost of acquiring new building is usually relatively large especially because it has the value of the land attached to it. This explains the reason why a new company would have to lease space at some point. Moreover, due to financial constraints, a new business can be obliged to acquire spec through leasing. However, it is important to understand the leasing procedures and all the requirements for getting into such an agreement. This is because certain legal requirements are binding to the agreement. On the other hand, understanding the project is essential before any other thing to the new company[1]. Description of Projects This being a new company, the project must be one that allows space for future expansion. This is from the basic understanding that any new projects may have some changes in future due to the changes that occur in the global market with regards to the needs of the consumers of the products. Taking the need for expansion into considerations is the first most important step to the success of the business. The space for expansion should in line with the land acquired to bridge the problem of having to improve the size of the building. On the other hand, it can be with regards to the scale of the offices to allow the use of the room by many of staff in the future. It is a fact that a company that does not think of expansion at the point of inception is as good as dead from the onset. The rule is simply for the new organization, to survive longer think big, to remain forever, and think of how best you can expand what you have at the beginning[2]. An occupation of 30 percent of the office building at the onset of the project is a good start for the company. This being a new business, there is a need for the management to raise finances every fiscal year until the time the business would be able to be stable with the flow of cash from its operations. Moreover, it is not certain whether the company would make proposed profits during the first fiscal year from its undertaking. The truth of the matter is any eventuality may arise from the firm line of operation, and this may cause severe losses that may hamper progress in the business. For this reason, therefore, the company must have a second plan on how to raise finances. With 70% un-used office, I cannot think of a better way of raising extra money apart from making use of the free space. This would form part of the smart thinking that the company management is required to have. However, the big question is, how do we make use of this space to generate funds?' One of the lucrative projects that the new company can get into to make good use of the free space is renting the space to people who need offices. Most self-proprietor operators in the entire world are need of an office space where they can have their operations[3]. While most people would be specific on the kind of the office design they want, most people would simply need a spec that is big enough to act as an office. The need for the variety of the possible tenants can be achieved by having office spaces with different outlooks. Rents paid would heavily depend on the size and prospects of the office acquired. On the contrary, the interior dcor of the rooms should be left at the mercy of the tenants since each tenant may have different taste[4]. It is not advisable to have the entire 70 percent of space used for offices only. This being a commercial building, a lot of business would be going around at any particular time. It is therefore important to incorporate other business buildings in the building as well to supply the needs of the occupants of the building. It is well understood that the ways of life of people are changing quite a lot and every business must be flexible to embrace these changes. The best thing that the company can do is not only to invest in the building but also to consider investing in the people occupying the building. The fact is that these people would need food and other basic needs at the end of the day[5]. For this reason, therefore, part of the space of the office can be utilized in installing a facility such as a restaurant. This restaurant should be owned by the company. Moreover, it should focus on providing meals that would be preferred by most people in the building such as snacks and var ious kinds of beverages. This way, the company would have the money it spends on its employee and various building maintenance retrieved back through this business. In a way, the organization would be able to create a self-sustaining business operation that would be able to survive the business industry for quite a long time. Moreover, it would be easy to cover up for the losses through the multiple operations that would be going on within the building[6]. The investments that other people would be doing within the free space in the building should be diverse. This would be achieved by allowing all manner of business to be conducted within the premises through the rented spaces. It is the mandate of the company to ensure that space has a design that can accommodate different business. Increasing the operations within the business increases the financial flows, and this makes the organization's investment such as the restaurant to make good profits. Care should, however, be taken with regards to the infiltration of the building with illegal business. Moreover, the building must meet the standard requirements of the law before it can be used for multiple operations[7]. Identification of the tenants would be a very critical step in this project. The tenants that occupy the premises must all be able to pay their rent at the end of every month duly. Therefore, tenants would be identified based on their business proposals before they can occupy commercial spaces. However, those who want to occupy the building for the office would be asked to provide an overview of the operations they would have in the office. This would help to ensure that the landlord understands all the transactions in the premise and identified tenants with a lucrative business that cannot default in rent payment[8]. Leasing Proposal The lease proposal is an important document for the acquisition of this building. The new company must ensure it is provided with a copy that is correctly filled and duly signed. This would be the only line of defense in a court of law in case any of the parties involved in the contract of getting the building breaches the agreement. With proper documentation and filling of the lease of proposal document, it becomes easy to operate within the premises. The contract proposal would be provided before the rental agreement is signed[9]. If the tenant finds the provisions in the lease proposal suitable for them, they will consent to it and request for contract agreement which would act as the binding document for the tenancy. Sample lease proposal that can be used is as seen below. This Lease Proposal document herein outlines the proposed terms for a lease of the premises described above to you, [TENANT NAME] ("Prospective Tenant"), by [LANDLORD NAME] ("Landlord"). If you are interested in proceeding, the full Lease Agreement will be prepared and submitted to you for review and signature. NOTE: The lease is not transferable to any other tenant other than the one whose name appears on the lease document. Tenancy is continual for the period agreed upon in this document and can only be terminated due to failure to pay rent. However, before quitting the premises, the tenant must provide a 30 days notice indicating the time they would leave the premises. The Landlord may, however, send the tenant away at any time in case of breach of any of the regulations of using the building[10]. Proposed usage Office spaces and commercial use Note: The building would be used for office spaces and commercial purposes. The areas for each purpose would be designated to avoid confusion and interference. Rent the monthly rent paid would be $ 100 for the office space and $ 120 for the commercial occupant. Rent would, however, increase at a rate of 5% percent upon renewal of the leased space. Security Deposit the building is under 24 hours CCTV surveillance. The entrance of the building would be heavily guarded by security officers with scanners to monitor all entrants. Inclusions the amount of rent would be inclusive of internet and telephone connectivity. Moreover, water charges would also be part of the rent paid every month. The usage of these services would monitor at the central server of the building, and one may be requested to pay extra charges in case of extreme usage of this services. The additional fee paid may not exceed half the rent paid every month. Exclusions these include electricity and cleaning operations. Every tenant would be expected to pay their electricity bills. Moreover, they should organize on regular cleaning of their work space and corridors as frequently as possible to maintain high hygienic standards at all times. Assignment or subletting the tenant has no authority to sublet or re-lease the space allocated to them to anyone. Notice to quit the promise must be provided to the landlord by the tenant before new occupant can be given the space. Other items the tenancy period must be as indicated in this lease agreement. Failure to abide by the period indicated herein, the tenant would be required to continue paying rent until the time in this agreement expires or until a new tenant is identified for the free space. Lease Agreement A formal, written lease agreement would be executed between the Parties that would become the final agreement between them. If you are interested in proceeding to finalize a formal, written Lease Agreement under the scope set out above, please contact [Insert name of contact person] at [insert daytime mobile or telephone number] OR [insert contact person's email] at your earliest possible convenience. This Lease Proposal does not constitute a contract, or an offer to contract, but rather an invitation to proceed with further actions by the Parties towards the execution of a formal agreement between the Parties. Appendices Schedules Calculations of rent paid per Square foot Calculations of rent paid per Square foot Rent for office space in this building is set at $ 10 per square foot of the leased space. Expressing this as either annual or monthly amount can be done as follows: A 2400 square foot office space is quoted as $ 10 per square foot giving; 2400 $ 10 = $ 24,000 annual rent. Monthly rent, therefore, would be; 24, 000 12 months = $ 2000 monthly rent[11]. Determination of Percentage lease It is important to determine the base rent that is needed by the company wants before having those in the commercial buildings add a percentage of their gross retail income to the base rent. This is because the business environment varies thus leading to a variant gross income every month for the occupants of the commercial buildings. Ideally, imposing a fixed price for the occupant would not be logical. Percentage added to the base amount can be calculated as indicated below. Minimum base rent + percentage over a given base amount. This is a case in which the tenant pays a minimum monthly base rent. After paying the rent, they add a percentage of their gross receipts over a certain amount. If monthly base rent is $ 2,100 and gross receipt is 4% over 55,000. Assuming an occupant gets a gross receipt of $ 80,000 in a month, rent that month would be: $ 80,000 $ 55,000 = $ 25000 $ 25000 4% = $ 1000 Rent = $ 2,100 + $ 1000 = $ 3,100 This can also be determined by using the formula of minimum base income added to the percentage of all the gross receipts. This ideally means that rents would be paid on all the gross receipt from $ 0. For example, having $ 400 base rent and 2.2% of the gross receipt. If a business person within then makes a monthly receipt of $ 80,000, his/her monthly rent would be as follow: $ 80,0000.022 = $ 1,760 $ 1,760 + $ 400 = $ 2,160 monthly rent for the commercial space. Bibliography Burton, Gregory. "The law affecting rent review determinations ; The law affecting valuation of land in Australia [Book Review]."Bar News: The Journal of the NSW Bar AssociationSummer 2015 (2015): 76. Duffy, Francis, Colin Cave, and John Worthington, eds.Planning office space. Elsevier, 2016. Halvitigala, Dulani, and Richard G. Reed. "Identifying adaptive strategies employed by office building investors."Property Management33, no. 5 (2015): 478-493. Harris, Rob. "The changing nature of the workplace and the future of office space."Journal of Property Investment Finance33, no. 5 (2015): 424-435. Johnson, Steven D. "Flexible cash farm lease considerations."Ag Decision Maker Newsletter13, no. 5 (2015): 4. Johnson, Steven D. "Flexible cash farm lease considerations."Ag Decision Maker Newsletter13, no. 5 (2015): 4. Matzler, Kurt, Viktoria Veider, and Wolfgang Kathan. "Adapting to the sharing economy."MIT Sloan Management Review56, no. 2 (2015): 71. Reichardt, Alexander. "Sustainability and the Leasing Decision of Office Occupiers in the US." InSustainability in Commercial Real Estate Markets, pp. 65-92. Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, 2016.

Silence Essays - Deaf Culture, Deafness, Education For The Deaf

Silence Imagine what it would be like not being able to hear what is going on around you. Most of the people, in this world live in a world of sounds, and these people often take them for granted. Nevertheless, we completely depend on sounds to get through our everyday lives. Although the majority of people in this world can hear the sounds around them, there are people in this world that are not able to hear anything at all. For those that cannot hear and for those that are hearing impaired, they have developed ASL. American Sign Language is a complex, visual-spatial language that is used by the deaf community (Nakumara, 1). American Sign Language has been around for as long as there have been deaf people. In 1817 two individuals, named Thomas Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc created the first official school for the Deaf in the United States (Carlson, 1). After the school was opened and certain standards were set in the United States, ASL quickly spread throughout Canada. Canada too followed these same standards. This form of sign language was big and would be the basis of the language for years to come. ASL offers the deaf people of this world an opportunity to communicate. Just like the English language has nouns, verbs and adjectives, so does ASL. Despite the fact that both the languages share the same nouns, verbs and adjectives, this does not mean that they use the same grammatical similarities (Nakumara, 1). In the English language, a person speaks words and writes words. With ASL, most communication is in the form of hand gestures and is written in brail. Included with the hand gestures, it is necessary to use facial expression, such as raising an eyebrow or smiling because these expressions can be a very important part of the communication. Without using these facial expressions, feeling can definitely be lossed in the meaning of what the person speaking may be trying to get across. The deaf people of the society find it hard to believe that those that hear can take such a privilege for granted. These people have complaints about hearing and should realize that not everyone has been as lucky as them when it comes to hearing. Noise pollution should not be what these people are worried about. The hearing should be grateful that they could hear at all. Of course not all hearing have been so ungrateful. There are people in this world that have taken on learning to sign just so that they might be able to communicate with those that are deaf, or even to just teach those that cannot hear. To learn how to sign there are programs offered. There is a place named the Center for Speech and Language Disorders, which offers professional speech and language services, including evaluation and treatment for children and young adults with communication disorders. The center also conducts scientific research related to the nature, treatment and prevention of speech and language disorders. The center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing treatment at or below of service to all children in need, regardless of ability to pay. CSLD started out of a small office in Elmhurst, Illinois and quickly evolved into a nationally renowned center. At first only offering a few different programs, now offering speech and language evaluation and therapy, social language group treatment, social-motor group treatment, educational therapy, occupational therapy evaluations and treatment, and many more (). The Center for Speech and Language Disorders is and internationally recognized leader in the diagnosis and treatment of hyperlexia and other language disorders (). CSLD has been around for over 21 years and is still growing rapidly and offering many programs. Not only does the CSLD offer programs for the hearing impaired or the deaf, but they also offer volunteer programs for those who would like to help the people in need. Volunteers can help teach classes or do other things. Most of all the volunteers are exemplifying great character and experiencing a great feeling when helping out the deaf community. Some other issues that the deaf community might face are two deaf parents, having a hearing child, or two hearing parents having a deaf

Ecology Organisms Differences

Ecology Organisms Differences The adaptation of living things to their environment is such that their features are only suitable for survival in their respective environments. Although organisms can tolerate a deviation of the environmental conditions form the optimum, severe and persistent alterations may lead to the deterioration of the organisms’ condition or even death.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ecology Organisms Differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The terrestrial and aquatic environments present considerably different conditions for the existence of life. Although the aquatic and terrestrial microscopic organisms may not exhibit significant structural differences, plants and animals living in these environments have distinct and different characteristics that enable them to survive in their respective environments (Dejours, 1987). Plants feature a cuticle, which protects them from the external environmental conditions. Aquatic plants have a thin cuticle since they live in water and do not need to undertake water preservation. This is a feature of fresh water aquatic plants. In addition, the stomata, which are the respiratory openings for the plants, are in abundance on the upper side of the plant to facilitate rapid water loss to maintain osmotic balance. Water is a dense medium, and thus plants living in water have a weak shaft for supporting the foliage and the upperparts of the plant. Furthermore, the plants’ stem is relatively weaker and they tend to float in water. Aquatic plants are submerged either partially or wholly in water. Thus, water covers most of their surfaces and can be readily absorbed. Their roots are small, highly flexible, and adapted for absorbing oxygen rather than water. Aquatic plants may also feature wide leaves to enable them to float and enhance transpiration (Cavendish, 2001). On the other hand, terrestrial plants have a thick cuticle on their leaves for protect ion from excessive transpiration that could desiccate the plant’s cells. In addition, the plants’ stomata are few and are located on the bottom of the leaves away from direct sunlight and convection current. Air, the atmospheric medium in which terrestrial plants thrive, is much less dense compared to water. Thus, terrestrial plants need stronger stems and shafts for the support of the foliage and other upper parts of the plant. Terrestrial plants have rigid and highly developed roots that facilitate water absorption and anchorage. Terrestrial plants may have thin leaves or leaves of various shapes adapted to the environmental temperatures rather than a mechanism of support (Solomon, 2005).Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the major unique features of the aquatic animals is that their appendages have undergone differentiation into fins or webbed feet for mo vement in water. Their skin or outer covering is smooth and may consist of a mucus membrane to reduce friction during movement. Aquatic animals feature a thick subcutaneous fat deposit. This fat helps the animals to maintain a regular and constant body temperature in the relatively cold water. Most aquatic animals have transparent eyelid to protect against friction with water. Although some of aquatic animals have lungs for ventilation, most of the animals have gills for respiration or a combination of lungs and gills (Cavendish, 2001). On the other hand, terrestrial animals have limbs with separated digits for grasping or climbing. Furthermore, some flying animals have their limbs differentiated into wings for flight purposes. Most animals have their outer covering covered with fur or hair. This keeps the animal warm in the air and may serve to protect the skin. Most terrestrial animals have a thin subcutaneous fat layer, but have more muscles to aid their locomotion and elevation from the ground. Except for some reptiles such as snakes, most animals have thick and opaque eyelids to protect their eyes from solid objects and dryness. For terrestrial animals, lungs are the primary respiratory organs, and they are highly developed (Solomon, 2005). References Cavendish, M., B. b. (2001). Aquatic life of the world. New York: Benchmark books. Dejours, P. (1987). Comparative physiology: life in water and on land. Padova: Liviana. Solomon, E. P., Berg, L. R., Martin, D. W. (2005). Biology (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ecology Organisms Differences specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More

The Fourteen Points of Woodrow Wilson

The Fourteen Points of Woodrow Wilson The Fourteen Points were a set of diplomatic principles developed by the administration of President Woodrow Wilson during World War I. These were intended as a statement of American war aims as well as to provide a path to peace. Highly progressive, the Fourteen Points were generally well received when announced in January 1918 but some doubt existed as to whether they could be implemented in a practical sense. That November, Germany approached the Allies for a peace based on Wilsons ideas and an armistice was granted. In the Paris Peace Conference that followed, many of the points were set aside as the need for reparations, imperial competition, and a desire for revenge on Germany took precedence. Background In April 1917, the United States entered World War I on the side of the Allies. Previously angered by the sinking of Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson led the nation to war after learning of the Zimmermann Telegram and Germanys resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. Though possessing a massive pool of manpower and resources, the United States required time to mobilize its forces for war. As a result, Britain and France continued to bear the brunt of the fighting in 1917 as their forces took part in the failed Nivelle Offensive as well as the bloody battles at Arras and Passchendaele. With American forces preparing for combat, Wilson formed a study group in September 1917 to develop the nations formal war aims. The Inquiry Known as the Inquiry, this group was headed by Colonel Edward M. House, a close advisor to Wilson, and guided by philosopher Sidney Mezes. Possessing a wide variety of expertise, the group also sought to research topics that could be key issues at a postwar peace conference. Guided by the tenets of progressivism which had steered American domestic policy during the previous decade, the group worked to apply these principles to the international stage. The result was a core list of points which stressed self-determination of peoples, free trade, and open diplomacy. Reviewing the Inquirys work, Wilson believed that it could serve as the basis for a peace agreement. President Woodrow Wilson addresses Congress on January 8, 1918. Public Domain Wilson's Speech Going before a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918, Wilson outlined American intentions and presented the Inquirys work as the Fourteen Points. Largely drafted by Mezes, Walter Lippmann, Isaiah Bowman, and David Hunter Miller, the points stressed the elimination of secret treaties, the freedom of the seas, limitations on armaments, and the resolution of imperial claims with the goal of self-determination for colonial subjects. Additional points called for the German withdrawal from occupied parts of France, Belgium, and Russia as well as encouragement for the latter, then under Bolshevik rule, to remain in the war. Wilson believed that international acceptance of the points would lead to a just and lasting peace. The Fourteen Points as set forth by Wilson were: The Fourteen Points I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view. II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in peace and in war, except as the seas may be closed in whole or in part by international action for the enforcement of international covenants. III. The removal, so far as possible, of all economic barriers and the establishment of an equality of trade conditions among all the nations consenting to the peace and associating themselves for its maintenance. IV. Adequate guarantees given and taken that national armaments will be reduced to the lowest point consistent with domestic safety. V. A free, open-minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims, based upon a strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty the interests of the populations concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined. VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory and such a settlement of all questions affecting Russia as will secure the best and freest cooperation of the other nations of the world in obtaining for her an unhampered and unembarrassed opportunity for the independent determination of her own political development and national policy and assure her of a sincere welcome into the society of free nations under institutions of her own choosing; and, more than a welcome, assistance also of every kind that she may need and may herself desire. The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their good will, of their comprehension of her needs as distinguished from their own interests, and of their intelligent and unselfish sympathy. VII. Belgium, the whole world will agree, must be evacuated and restored, without any attempt to limit the sovereignty which she enjoys in common with all other free nations. No other single act will serve as this will serve to restore confidence among the nations in the laws which they have themselves set and determined for the government of their relations with one another. Without this healing act the whole structure and validity of international law is forever impaired. VIII. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored, and the wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unsettled the peace of the world for nearly fifty years, should be righted, in order that peace may once more be made secure in the interest of all. IX. A readjustment of the frontiers of Italy should be effected along clearly recognizable lines of nationality. X. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development. XI. Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro should be evacuated; occupied territories restored; Serbia accorded free and secure access to the sea; and the relations of the several Balkan states to one another determined by friendly counsel along historically established lines of allegiance and nationality; and international guarantees of the political and economic independence and territorial integrity of the several Balkan states should be entered into. XII. The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of an autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. XIII. An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant. XIV. A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike. Reaction Though Wilsons Fourteen Points were well received by the public at home and abroad, foreign leaders were skeptical as to whether they could be effectively applied to the real world. Leery of Wilsons idealism, leaders such as David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando were hesitant to accept the points as formal war aims. In an effort to gain support from the Allied leaders, Wilson tasked House with lobbying their behalf. Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Library of Congress On October 16, Wilson met with British intelligence chief, Sir William Wiseman, in an effort to secure Londons approval. While Lloyd Georges government was largely supportive, it refused to honor the point regarding freedom of the seas and also desired to see a point added regarding war reparations. Continuing to work through diplomatic channels, the Wilson Administration secured support for the Fourteen Points from France and Italy on November 1. This internal diplomatic campaign among the Allies paralleled a discourse that Wilson was having with German officials which began on October 5. With the military situation deteriorating, the Germans finally approached the Allies regarding an armistice based on the terms of the Fourteen Points. This was concluded on November 11 at Compià ¨gne and brought an end to the fighting. Paris Peace Conference As the Paris Peace Conference began in January 1919, Wilson quickly found that actual support for the Fourteen Points was lacking on the part of his allies. This was largely due to the need for reparations, imperial competition, and a desire to inflict a harsh peace on Germany. As the talks progressed, Wilson was increasingly unable to garner acceptance of his Fourteen Points. Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. Library of Congress In an effort to appease the American leader, Lloyd George and Clemenceau consented to the formation of the League of Nations. With several of the participants goals conflicting, the talks moved slowly and ultimately produced a treaty which failed to please any of the nations involved. The final terms of the treaty, which included little of Wilsons Fourteen Points on which German had agreed to the armistice, were harsh and ultimately played a key role in setting the stage for World War II.

HFA 4M0 Summative Assignment World Cuisine Investigation Lebanon Research Paper

HFA 4M0 Summative Assignment World Cuisine Investigation Lebanon - Research Paper Example The economy of the country is based on tourism, agriculture and the banking sectors, with a special parliamentary democracy system of government, referred to as confessionalism, which reserves the top ranks of the government to members of certain religious groups (Sean, 1997). There is a fair distribution of the administration and the governing system among the 18 major denominations of the country, to mitigate religious conflicts. The country is made up of interrelated cultures of a people, having a population that greatly differs in religion, ethnicity, and language, thus making this country one of the most diversified community (Harb, 2006). The population of this country is predicted to be well over four million people, with all males required to vote on a compulsory basis after attaining the age of 21 years, while women can vote after attaining this age, only that they must have obtained education (Collelo, 2009). The cultures of this country are mostly religious integrated, with a high level of hospitality amongst the residents. Considering that, the arable land in this country is small, then, the country highly depends on imported foods. The major crops grown in the country include cereals such as wheat, fruits and vegetable as well as figs and tob acco. Since the country comprises about 30% of cultivatable land, irrigation and rain fed system are depended for the growth of crops, though not much of the land is irrigated (Aida, 1998). The agricultural activity contributes a 13% of the country’s total annual Gross Domestic Product, employing close to 14% of the country’s population, with most of the production consumed locally and just a small percentage accounting for export to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (Suad, 1986). Bread is a staple food in this country, which is served with almost every meal. Other foods acting as staple in this country include fruits, vegetables, rice,

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Essay

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - Essay Example The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners describes the elements of fraud as a triangle. The three legs of the triangle are an opportunity, motivation, and rationalization. The company y in question is a local one, and for purposes of the report, referred to as ABC Company. Reference to the employees is by their job titles to safeguard their identity. The company was an agency in San Antonio. It took inbound and outbound calls for several companies such as Southwestern Bell, Sears, Montgomery Wards, customers’ service call for credit card companies, and from the infomercials currently on TV. The company had a large turnover because the employees needed to meet quotas daily in order for them to receive their incentive pay. If the branch made the quota, the branch manager would get a weekly bonus. The company had two payroll departments, one for inbound employees and another for outbound employees. Some quick background on its outbound payroll department showed that ABC Company had a large payroll department that consisted of thirty people in 2000. It also paid out in 15 different locations, from San Antonio, Texas to Mobile, Alabama. The largest locations for the outbound payroll department were San Antonio and Universal City located in Texas. Some teams in the payroll department consisted of a minimum of two people a maximu m of five. Each team reported to a supervisor, who would report to the assistant director, who in turn reported to the director of the department. Some employees were cross-trained so that in the absence of one employee, any other employee would cover the position. 2. Verification specialist - verified data entered into the system and made sure all documents were in payroll files and set up correctly to reflect location and pay. This person entered all information into ADP for all company codes.

Importance of Slavery Essay Example for Free

Importance of Slavery Essay Economic, geographic, and social factors all contributed to the rise of importance for slaves in the southern colonies as their position in American society changed from 1607 and 1775. Slaves not only influenced Jamestown in 1607, but they influenced America, all the way into the American Revolution in 1775. Slavery ultimately flourished and aided economic triumph in the southern colonies. With the hopes of making it big in the new colonies, indentured servants came through the headright system, usually people who lacked funds of any sort hoping to make money. During this time, English practiced mercantilism and since they lacked the proper agriculture to grow tobacco. John Rolfe made it a cash crop in the new colonies and they were able to sell it quite easily to their mother country, England. This lasted until about the time of Bacon’s Rebellion where indentured servants were mad due to them thinking they would get land after their 20 years of work. But with this the south turned to slavery as a viable option. Now they could tell by just the color of their skin what class they were in. The triangular trade made this even better. They got more and made slaves work on their large plantations. Since slaves were not citizens they had no rights. The South flourished with their labor. They had huge profits. America did not just depend on tobacco they also had rice and indigo that helped the economy an immense amount. Social factors in the south also encouraged growth. The American slave code is based off the barbatos slave code. Aristocrats who were at the top of the pyramid in social class had many slaves. The blacks were at the bottom and they had no rights. The slave owners often had there slaves reproduce to make them more slaves. The more slaves you had the more money, and the higher nobility you had. Racism was a huge social factor of slavery. The whites thought they were superior to the blacks and they showed it. with the social presser to hate blacks slavery would not have been so successful economically. The geography of the southern colonies was not suited to standard farming as that of the northern colonies. The soil of the land was not suited to the growing of standard crops like wheat and corn. Also, the hot weather of the south did not allow for easy farming, and its wet and temperate sub-tropical climates was best suited for the growing of tobacco, rice, and indigo. Along with this, the extensive river system which divided the southern colonies into tiny interconnected pieces provided the best transportation for mass goods and for wet soil. The many river parts of the south made it easy to transfer goods grown on plantations, and to facilitate the purchase of slaves.

Through Trials and Tears :: English Literature Essays

Through Trials and Tears What is America? A young girl in a distant land asked her mother this question in a whisper as they were hiding among produce and goods on the docks trying to find a way our of their county. A way out of their life of poverty, persecution and even death. Looking for a new life in a new world, America. Some Americans don’t fell the meaning of this life, a life of freedom, a life of peace. To those in other countries like this family, it is something nearly impossible to reach, something only reached in a dream. Many Americans don’t feel the depth of America; they see problems in the government, problems in their jobs, and problems in their lives. But for those outside our borders, it is a life of perfection. Two of the most important parts of our nation are the patriotism we share and the rights our forefathers have granted us. Words cannot express the love and appreciation I have for this land and the people and thoughts that make it truly divine. Although there are fifty states with thousands of cities in America. It is all one nation. The United Stated of America reminds me of a great patchwork quilt, a quilt that has been sewn by the people who came to this land from all corners of the world, bringing with them many cultures, traditions, and many languages. All of those customs, ideas and people come together in a unique way that makes our country like no other. One of the most important parts of our nation is our patriotism. If we didn’t have patriotism in the early days of our country, then it most likely wouldn’t have survived. The word patriotism comes from the term used for the people fighting against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War called patriots. These men and women risked their lives to give us what we have now, freedom. Patriotism continued throughout history. In World War II women showed patriotism with Rosie the Riveter. This symbolizes women’s role in keeping the United States strong during the war. Even years later our country proves strong and united after the devastating attacks of September eleventh. After these attacks our patriotism came through in full force. Everywhere I looked I could see flags and symbols of gratitude for our country. Historians have concluded that Ancient Rome was so powerful and successful because of the patriotism of their Citizens and the fall of Rome was partly because of the loss of that support and love for their country.

Migration Stories Essay Family Story Essay

This paper will take a key interest in the migration story of my parents Barbara Heinemann and Kirby Clark and their story in relation to identify the factors that shaped the migration and resettlement of migrants in the 1980’s and the Australian government’s policies and desires. How the processes of alienation and assimilation affected migrants who came from a western culture and how acceptance and ‘mateship’ was difficult to find in Australians. I will do this while comparing the similarities that other migrants in Australia and around the globe faced and different migration trends in the 1980’s. The paper will also discuss migration and what set voluntary migrants apart from other people and particularly the predisposition for migrant children to become migrants themselves. During the early 1980’s like much of the world Canada was experiencing a recession. Many people were in fear of losing their jobs in the current environment. â€Å"I was very nervous about cut backs at PWC (PricewaterhouseCoopers). From what I knew at the time, Australia wasn’t affected nearly as much as Canada was so I decided I’d try my luck in Australia on a 2 year working/holiday. † (). Many such companies were being encouraged by the Australian government to bring immigrants with â€Å"particular Professional skills, business experience† (). Many of the people that decided to take up the opportunity provided by organisations like PricewaterhouseCoopers never intended on staying in Australia. â€Å" When I first arrived I thought I’d always be going home, like most of the people I worked with were expats they all thought they were going to go home after their visa was up†(). By the mid 1980’s Canada had pulled out of the wor st of the recession. â€Å" By the time I left Canada the recessions was pretty much over. I was in a rut, I wanted something new and a 2 year working/holiday in Australia was my way out, but when I arrived I saw that the recession wasn’t over in Australia† (). Australia’s ‘clever country’ policies made it easy for skilled migrants to obtain permanent residence. â€Å"Almost all of the people we worked with at PwC, who where expats decided to stay, we were practically handed permanent residency† ().In the 1980’s the government’s desire to develop the financial sectors and technological sectors saw an increase in demand for workers and an increase in income to those who worked in them. â€Å"migration policies refocused on highly skilled workers, whether  permanent or temporary† (). Skilled workers were in high demand all over the world and Australia being so isolated could only have decreased the desire for people to move there but the Austr alian government may have had one of the best immigrant ‘recruitment’ policies due to the huge percentage of skilled workers that it took in comparison to some other countries. Australia became home to any new migrant families in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, many of the temporary workers applied and received permanent residency. â€Å"Almost all of the expats at PwC stayed in Australia, and most of them married each other or an Australian.† (). Australia has become one of the world’s most diverse countries if not number one or two. 24 percent of Australia’s population was born overseas and another 26 percent have one or bother parents born overseas. This number will only increase with children from the migrants that arrived in the 1980’s and 1990’s becoming old enough to be part of the statistics. At most schools it seems to be a higher percentage than 26 that have parents from overseas and around the same as 24 that were born overseas. In the 1980’s migrants decided to stay in Australia and to make it their home as no one was from the same place their lives together were in Australia â€Å" Me being Canadian and my wife being English we didn’t have a shared home other than Australia. We both love it here why would we think of moving to either of the others?† (nkob). â€Å" I’m from Toronto in Canada and Barbara is from Vancouver, we didn’t have a shared history in Canada, we came to Australia at different times but we’d made ourselves a home here, we’d gotten married in 1988, bought a house in 1989 and had a son in 1991† (). After about 5-10 years many migrants who arrived in the 1980’s realised that they probably wouldn’t be going back home to live. For many it would have been an hard concept to deal with. â€Å"I know that after about 3 years I thought I probably wouldn’t be going back to Canada but it didn’t really hit me till I was here for the 7th year† (). â€Å"I always thought I’d be going home until my son was about 5, I decided that this is our home now. I’ll probably go home more when my parents get older and are unable to take care of themselves† (). Many of the skilled temporary workers thought they’d be going back to their homeland but most didn’t, about 75 percent of the staff at PricewaterhouseCoopers that came from overseas went home after their 2 years. â€Å"I only remember about four people going back to  their home countries.† () All migrants face some Alienation when they arrive in a new country. Even people who come from ‘western’ countries feel some sort of alienation. It may not have been culturally that they had problems. Socially the migrants that were seen as temporary were not accepted their Australian co-workers didn’t see the point of getting to know them if they were here temporarily. â€Å"The expats stayed together most of the time. The Australians weren’t rude but they just didn’t care it took years to get to know an Australian from work, I was only temporary in their eyes. The Australians were also into buying a house and setting up their families. Most of the expats were here to party, it was called a working/holiday for a reason, we’d go out together most nights of the week† (). The new migrants didn’t know where to go or what to do in Australia. â€Å"I’m sure I would of figured life out by myself but all newcomers were taken und er an others wing shown where to go and which places were the cheapest and the best† (). Some of the migrants are still feel alienated today. They’re not from a different ethnic background from many Australians. The difference is there isn’t a Canadian or an Irish or an English community. â€Å"In some ways it may have been easier to come here from a country where many of people have come earlier. I have been living in Australia for 23 years and I still get asked how long I’m visiting for, or where in the states I’m from† (). They may not be discriminated against but as soon as they open their mouths many of the migrants get labelled as temporary. Assimilation was also something that these migrants had to overcome, most Australians at the time that were the same age as most skilled migrants were starting to settle down, buy houses and starting families. â€Å"we didn’t really have much contact with Australians our age they were either younger or older at either ends of their professional carriers.† (). Many kept part of the culture from their homeland with them or their previous routine. â€Å"In Canada I played Ice hockey at a high level and for the first 6 or 7 years I was in Australia I continued to play, becoming all Australian a few times. I remember Paul played rugby at a high level in Ireland and continued that here as well.† Being considered Australian is a hard thing for a lot of migrants to deal with psychologically â€Å"I don’t have a home country, I’m more of a global citizen, I’m a Canadian citizen, a  permanent resident in Australia but I wouldn’t call either my home. I’m a Canadian in Australia and an Australian in Canada.† ()Assimilation in Australia is hard to define with there being so much diversity it maybe not be a big issue with people having to assimilate with Australian culture if they already come from a ‘western’ cultured country. During the 1980’s migrants were migrating in the search for jobs and to escape from prosecution. Canada, America and Australia had a huge influx of Asian people predominantly from Hong Kong and Taiwan ,â€Å"about 50 percent of peopled the immigrated to Australia in the 1980’s were from Asia†(). In the 1980’s and 1990’s a large number of immigrants that arrived in Australia came from Asian, Middle Eastern countries and India. â€Å"When I first arrived I didn’t see that many migrants that were from Asia, particularly Indian people in comparison to the number in Canada but over the next 6 or so years I saw a huge increase of Asian, Indian and Middle Eastern people around the city† (). Australia was being ‘Asianised’ not as in a invasion but that instead of most migrants being from Europe many more where coming from Asia and the government was being more accepting to non Anglophone people. â€Å"When I first arrived Australia wasn’t a multicultural country in comparison to what id experienced in Canada, but as time went on it became very diverse very quickly. It became the Australia they had been promoting.† In the financial sector most of the immigrants were from Europe or North America but in the Information technology sectors the Asian and Indian people were the majority. â€Å"Most of the people that came to PwC where I was working were from the UK/Ireland, Germany or North America but in the Tech department I don’t think there was a person that wasn’t Chinese or Indian† (). The reason why countries were looking for skilled migrants, migrants with capital and entrepreneurial migrants was that these migrants usually such migrants would find a niche for themselves, perhaps as initiators of the new industries (). Migrants are people willing to change their lives in an instant. Someone who’s willing to leave their homeland and go out into the world, move half way around the world and try their hand at something is someone to be admired. Migrant families also tend to not stay in one spot for long or usually someone in the family makes a similar decision as one of their forefathers to try something else. â€Å"migrants are different from everyone else I think, they’re willing to take a chance, to risk everything, they are looking for an adventure. Although my grandparents moved to Canada from England, I never knew them but from a young age I had a desire to see the world, may have been from the stories from Bob our next door neighbour, none of my brothers or sisters moved away from home.† () Is being a migrant hereditary? It seems that people whose parents have migrated or family members have migrated before are predisposed to do so themselves. â€Å" Do I think it’s genetically inherited no I think it’s a frame of mind and previous experiences. My parents moved from Germany to Canada after World War II, the fact that they were migrants didn’t persuade me to go in anyway but the face that I’d travelled a lot when I was younger did have an effect on me I always entertained the thought that I might not be a Canadian forever.† () It may also be the fact that people that are 1st generation citizens of their country don’t actually identify themselves with that country. â€Å"I was born in Canada but because both my parents are German, I considered myself more German then Canadian which makes it much more confusing for me now living in Australia whether I am Australian, Canadian or German.† () â€Å"Both my parents are Canadian when I talk about home I talk about Canada despite the fact that I never lived there and I was born in Australia, at school I was always considered Canadian. I don’t think I’ll be in Australia much longer, there’s so much more out there to experience!†() This essay has explored what factors shaped the migration and resettlement of my family and skilled migrants in the 1980’s. It also discussed the processes of alienation and assimilation that skilled migrants faced in the 1980’s placing particular emphasis on temporary workers. Whilst comparing both of these with other migrants in Australia and worldwide and other migration trends. Finally I will explore how migrants differ and what influences people to migrate and the effect it has on the next generation and their beliefs and the disposition they have into becoming migrants themselves. Reference List http://science.jrank.org/pages/10225/Migration-in-World-History-Global-versus- Nationalist-Perspectives.html

Learning machine Essay

The author believes that like a learning machine the human brain is capable of adapting anything new regardless of the age of the person. This she deduces this from a number of arguments in the form of research done from different points of view but all leading to her conclusion. The author is not describing other peoples’ opinions. Rather she uses their arguments as the premises to end at the conclusion that she states at the beginning of her excerpt. The author uses information on neural plasticity from presentation done by Gregg Recanzone using animals, Merzenich Michaels’ research on â€Å"shaping the machinery of our brains† using the elderly and   Alison Gopniks’ research on plasticity of the brain using children and the connection to the logic of imagination all from the University of California. Columbia University’s Walter Mischels’ discussion on the ability to control our desires based on the imaginations we put on them and Sir Michael Rutter of King’s college made a presentation of the effects of early institutional deprivation[1]. To arrive at the conclusion, the author used the data from done research as the premises to support her conclusion. Though the author does not use the solid research data to support her argument, she uses the findings of the research as her arguments. The research was done correctly. There are various experiments done where there was need for comparison. There was physical experimenting in the case of study. The author shows only one side of the issue. The author relies on isolated researches, which makes the findings reliable. The author makes a valid conclusion form the data that was well intended for showing that indeed the plasticity and changes in the brain is a life long process. At any time, the conclusions made should be based on concrete and sound arguments. Arguments based on facts or pre-proven researches are valid arguments. To make a conclusion, one needs to provide valid arguments that are in line with the conclusion to be made. The conclusion made should therefore be in tandem with the arguments presented to make a valid conclusion. This is because there can be a situation where there are valid arguments but an invalid conclusion. In the excerpt, the author has used valid arguments in the form done researches to arrive at the conclusion made. The conclusion is also valid. In making a good argument, there should be no assumptions made. In the excerpt, the argument that uses the animal species of a monkey to relate to the human situation is challengeable. Real research in the human context would have been the best line of action in the case study. The education sector in the United States today is a very good example. In the New York Times on 6th July 2010. The unions are accusing the government for â€Å"undermining public education†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Is the conclusion right? What is the basis of their conclusion? In the National Education Association’s convention that began on Saturday, there is no one from the Obama administration is set to speak in the convection. This is despite the previous two-year addresses that the president had made to them. They claim that they have not seen the change they hoped for from the government. â€Å"Today our members face the most anti-educator, anti-union, anti-student environment I have ever experienced,† Dennis Van Roekel, president of the union, the National Education Association, told thousands of members gathered at the convention center.[2] The angered teachers are being blamed for the prevailing situations in the public schools. There is a connection in the article and except, the teachers unions are deriving a conclusion from the arguments that I have briefly summarized among the many more in the article. The concept of using valid arguments to arrive at a conclusion is utilized here. Like any other animal man is no exception to nature. Nature requires that the species adapt to survive. The human brain is the control system of the human body, this makes it the first to respond to the changes and hence give directive to the whole body in order to survive. As we grow, the rate of responsiveness to changes will decrease. The brain is an organ in the human body, all the body tissues are subjected to wear and tear and old age makes the body not able to replace the worn out tissues as fast as before. Therefore, the brain will have worn out tissues that will make it unable to adapt as first as before. BIBLIOGRAPHY Dillon, Sam.2010. Teachers’ Union Shuns Obama Aides at Convention. The New York Times July 6th, 2010. Retrieved on 6th July 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/education/05teachers.html?_r=1&hpw Nelson, Leah.2006. A learning machine: Plasticity and change throughout life. Retrieved on July 6th, 2006 http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=2029 [1] Leah Nelson. 2006.   A learning machine: Plasticity and change throughout life. Retrieved on 6th July 2006   http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=2029   [2] Sam Dillon. 2010. Teachers’ Union Shuns Obama Aides at Convention. The New York Times 6th, July 2010. Retrieved on 6th July 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/education/05teachers.html?_r=1&hpw

11 Taboos in Chinese Culture

11 Taboos in Chinese Culture Every culture has its own taboos, and it is important to remain aware of them when traveling or encountering another culture to ensure you dont commit a social faux-pas. In Chinese culture, some of the most common taboos involve gift-giving, birthdays, and weddings. Numbers According to Chinese tradition, good things come in pairs. Therefore odd numbers are avoided for birthday celebrations and weddings. To avoid bad things happening in pairs, activities such as burials and gift-giving are not performed on even-numbered days. In Chinese, the  number four (å››, sà ¬) sounds like the word for death (æ ­ », sÇ ). For this reason, the number four is avoided- particularly on phone numbers, license plates, and addresses. For addresses that do contain fours, the rent is usually less and apartments on the fourth floor are typically rented by foreigners. Work Shopkeepers may opt not to read a book at work because book (æ› ¸, shÃ… «) sounds like lose (è ¼ ¸, shÃ… «). Shopkeepers who read may be afraid their businesses will suffer losses. When it comes to sweeping, shopkeepers are careful not to sweep toward the door, especially during the Chinese New Year, in case good fortune is swept out into the street. When eating a meal, never turn over fish when you are with a fisherman as the motion symbolizes a boat capsizing. Also, never offer a friend an umbrella because the word umbrella (傘, sÇŽn) sounds similar to æ• £ (sn, to break up) and the act is a sign that you will never see each other again. Food Young children should not eat chicken feet as it is believed that doing so will prevent them from writing well when they start school. They may also become prone to fighting like roosters. Leaving food on one’s plate- particularly grains of rice- is believed to result in marriage to a spouse with many pockmarks on his or her face. Not finishing a meal is also believed to incur the wrath of the thunder god. Another Chinese taboo relating to food is that chopsticks should not be left standing straight up in a bowl of rice. This act is said to bring bad luck to restaurant owners as chopsticks stuck in rice look similar to incense placed in urns. Gift-Giving Since good things are believed to come in pairs, gifts given in pairs (except sets of four) are best. When preparing the gift, do not wrap it in white as that color represents sorrow and poverty. Certain gifts are also seen as inauspicious. For example, never give a clock, watch, or pocket watch as a gift because to send a clock (é€ Ã© Ëœ,  sà ²ng zhÃ… ng) sounds like the funeral ritual (é€ Ã§ µâ€š,  sà ²ng zhÃ… ng). According to Chinese taboo, clocks symbolize that time is running out. There are many other such ominous  Chinese gifts to avoid. If you give an unlucky gift by accident, the receiver can make it right by giving you a coin which changes the gift to an item they have symbolically purchased. Holidays It is a Chinese taboo to share stories about death and dying and ghost stories during special occasions and holidays. Doing so is considered extremely unlucky. Chinese New Year There are many Chinese New Year taboos  to be wary of. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, inauspicious words cannot be spoken. For example, words such as break, spoil, die, gone, and poor should not be uttered. During the Chinese New Year, nothing should be broken. When eating fish, diners must be careful to not break any of the bones, and be extra careful not to break any plates. Also, nothing should be cut during Chinese New Year as that signifies one’s life could be cut short. Noodles should not be cut and haircuts should be avoided. In general, sharp objects like scissors and knives are avoided during Chinese New Year. All windows and doors in the home should be open on New Year’s Eve to send out the old year and welcome the New Year. All debts should be paid by Chinese New Year and nothing should be lent on New Year’s Day. When preparing paper dragons for the Chinese New Year, it is taboo for women who are menstruating, people in mourning, and babies to be near the dragons when the cloth is being pasted to the dragon’s body. Birthdays One long noodle is typically slurped on one’s birthday. But revelers beware- the noodle should not be bitten or cut as this is believed to shorten one’s life. Weddings In the three months leading up to a couple’s wedding, they should avoid going to a funeral or wake or visiting a woman who has just had a baby. If one of the couple’s parents passes away before the wedding, the wedding must be postponed for 100 days, as attending happy celebrations during mourning is considered disrespectful to the dead. If a roasted pig is given as part of the bride’s gift to the groom’s family, the tail and ears should not be broken. Doing so would mean the bride is not a virgin. Fifth Lunar Month The fifth lunar month is considered an unlucky month. It is a Chinese taboo to dry blankets in the sun and build houses during this time. Hungry Ghost Festival The Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh lunar month. In order to avoid seeing ghosts, people should not go outside at night. Celebrations such as weddings are not held, fishermen do not launch new boats, and many people opt to postpone their trips during the Hungry Ghost Month. The souls of those who die by drowning are considered to be in the greatest turmoil, so some people refuse to go swimming during this time to lessen the chance of a run-in with wayward ghosts.

The Essentials of Timber and Tree Marking Symbols

The Essentials of Timber and Tree Marking Symbols Timber marking symbols using paint and other tree scribing methods are not universally accepted in North American forests. There is no national code that mandates the use of painted slashes, dots, circles and Xs. There is no color used as a code that is more than a regional preference and usually accepted only locally. Even the United States Forest Service uses different marks and colors depending on the national forest and/or national forest region. However, there are many reasons to mark trees and forest timber. Trees may be marked to indicate a tree to be cut or left as per the forest management plan. Trees on forest boundary lines can be marked to indicate property ownership. Trees inside large forests can be permanently marked as part of a forest inventory system. Forest Tree Marking Meanings There are no national tree marking standards even if many of them are similar. Forestry organizations have tried for years to set a few guidelines for tree and timber marks. But foresters are an independent breed and many see their tree marking designs and system as their personal or company imprint or brand. Circles, number of slashes and other quick paint spurts, including stump marks, usually signifies cutting status along with the quality or grade of the tree marked. Boundary line colors often designate land belonging to a particular owner and usually painted over some removed bark (scars) to last longer. Marks Used in Selecting a Tree to Cut Selecting trees to cut is the most common mark made, often done using paint. Unmarked trees that are left usually have the best potential to make the most productive future second crop. The paint color is usually blue on trees to be cut and the trees intended product is identified by different paint slashes and symbols. Again, you are actually selecting the best trees with potential value by not marking them. There is a system described in the Wisconsin DNR Silviculture Handbook on trees to be marked that ensure the production of high-quality sawtimber products. The selection of trees to cut should apply the following order of removal to achieve the desired residual stand composition and structure. Nel-spot Paint Company manufactures the most popular paints used by the forest industry and their very popular blue is the most often used paint used to denote a tree to be used. 6 Reasons to Mark a Tree for Removal High risk of mortality or failure (unless retained as a wildlife tree)Poor stem form and qualityLess desirable speciesRelease of future crop treesLow crown vigorImprove spacing This order of removal will vary with landowner goals, the stand management plan, and silvicultural treatment. Examples would be a shelterwood seed cut that would open the forest floor to tree regeneration or the permanent removal of exotic invasive species. Removal of undesirable species would preserve the quality of an expected new stand. Marks Used for Boundary Lines Maintaining forest boundary lines is one major duty of the forest manager and tree marking is a part of that. Most forest landowners generally know where their boundary lines are and have accurately surveyed maps and photography but very few have their lines marked clearly on the ground. A clearly marked boundary is the best evidence that you know where your landlines are. Marked boundaries minimize the risk of problems, such as timber trespass, caused by others making inaccurate assumptions about your boundaries. They also help you avoid trespassing on your neighbors’ land when you cut trees or build roads and trails. Colored plastic ribbon or â€Å"flagging† is often used as a temporary location of boundary lines but should be followed by more permanent blazing and/or painting trees along and near the line. Make sure you are using the latest recorded survey. 5 Steps to Mark Your Forest Boundary Contacting your boundary neighbor is courtesy at its best as new line claims can cause disagreements.An axed blaze 5-6† long and 3-4† wide at 4 to 5 feet above the ground should be made. Limit the cut to just enough bark and outer wood to make it visible.  Avoid blazing over old blazes as they become supporting evidence of the original location of the line.Paint both the blazed surface including 1-2† of bark (to over-paint forming callous tissue).  Use a bright (fluorescent blue, red, or orange seem to work best) durable brush-on paint. Nel-spot makes great boundary paint.Many timber company forest owners blaze side trees on the line side it faces. This exactness can be helpful but takes a recent survey line for exactness.Mark trees close enough so that from any mark you can see the next mark in either direction.

How to Combat Corruption as a Public Administrator Research Paper

How to Combat Corruption as a Public Administrator - Research Paper Example Public administrators can avoid corruption by maintaining ethical behavior as well as providing avenues such as hotlines to the members of the public and staff. In conclusion, the paper indicates that the society in countries such as Haiti and Uganda have negatively been affected by corruption that existed in the past. The US stiff regulations and empowered FBI has made the government to effectively deal with corruption. Corruption entails fraudulent conduct by the individuals who are not only in power but also by the subjects. Basically, it involves providing asking for a bribe and providing it in order for an individual to get a favor. Being a vice that has negative impact on economic, political and social development of a country, corruption is used by the government officials for illegitimate private benefits such as acquiring properties and government funds. Other forms of corruption include embezzlement, extortion, abuse of power, nepotism, favoritism and fraud. One of the major importances of combating corruption in the public service is that it ensures that the negativities that it brings about are abolished. Regardless of the economic position of a country, corruption is known to undermine sustainable development, threaten proper governance, negative impact on the democratic process, and impending economic growth. Within the public sector, corruption has implications that include underminin g people’s confidence, impeding the effectiveness of public service, increasing the cost of public transactions, and reducing tax revenues. Thus, as a public administrator one should be in a position to put adequate measures to address corruption that has emerged as one of the challenges facing the public service globally. From a public administration perspective, corruption has affected management culture in society and ethics in work

Market Segments and Targets Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Market Segments and Targets - Assignment Example Market segments are crucial to business success owing to a number of reasons. An understanding of the market segment one serves helps them to understand the needs and wants of their target market thereby increasing their marketing opportunities. The business is also able to create a solid customer base since the customers realize their value to the firm and appreciate the fact that their needs fit consideration. Segmentation also helps a business focus on the little differences in the market that give them a competitive advantage over their competitors. They are also able to profile their customers and understand the market landscape (Kotler & Keller 2012). In this age of technological advancement, businesses need to stay updated so as to keep up with the upcoming trends in terms of technology. The internet is useful for marketing. It may also be a particularly useful tool for businesses that wish to launch a new product. The global net has made the world a global village, hence very useful in marketing. However, in marketing by use of the internet one ought to take special care and ensure the target market is in mind when choosing the target market. One cannot use the internet to advertise goods to a remote village with no electricity. The market targeted by an entity will have a significant effect on the outlook of its website. When developing a website the business will consider its target market. One cannot design a sophisticated and complex site when targeting the elderly. When dealing with the erratic teens, the site needs to be colorful and fun. An entity will also decide on the content of the site depending on the market.  

Gold buying trends and investment in saudi arabia Research Paper

Gold buying trends and investment in saudi arabia - Research Paper Example These conditions illustrate market failure since the investors are not aware of the possible opportunities (Trivedi & Behera 2012). Real estate investment is the most preferred option among the Saudi Arabian investors in comparison to gold (Smith 2011). Such occurs since the interest rates are low, the environment has a higher liquidity, there is a population increase and the demand for housing is high (Kelly 2011). Moreover, the government does not have adequate housing projects, which indicates why investors venture on this opportunity of real estate investment. On the other hand, women depict a viable market for the gold since they create a strong demand for the commodity. Women need gold for gifts and jewelry they represent during ceremonies (Rivlin 2009). However, sudden increase in the price of gold makes women not to buy jewelry and focus on other alternative commodities. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that as the population increases, the demand for gold will increase. Since ancient civilization in the Hejaz area, Jeddah creates a unique gold market (Karunagaran 2013). This is because Jeddah has a sea port and acts as a main gate to al medina and Makah, which makes it a strategic market for gold on annual basis during the hosting of the pilgrims. Saudi Arabian Investors are also oriented on economic activities, which are related to mineral fuels. Such occurs since the country is involved with the exportation of mineral fuels (Middle East Monitor: Gulf 2014). Other investors focus on foreign direct and indirect investments because they regard such investments as lucrative in terms of the returns on their investments and earnings on profits. Their major focus of foreign investments is in the United Kingdom, Japan, United States, Germany, France and Switzerland (Erb & Harvey 2013). Investors favor other alternative investments instead of gold because they consider such investments to have low risks in comparison to gold trade investment.

Influence And Power Of Political Dynasties Politics Essay

Influence And Power Of Political Dynasties Politics Essay The political dynasty undoubtedly plays an influential role in Philippine society. Families of political dynasties are sitting side by side to deliberate on important legislations that will affect the future of more than 80 million Filipinos both young and old for generations to come (PHILIPPINEPOLITICS.NET., 2000). It has been often contended that political dynasties go against the values upheld by democracy since it does not provide an equal opportunity for people to hold offices of power and service. With the set-up of the political dynasty, it seems as if positions of power are exclusively dominated by a particular clan or family. Arguably, the political dynasty is said to monopolize the system of governance since it limits the chances of other common Filipinos to serve the people. It creates a brain drain in the sense that the new and capable leader who could possibly perform better than those currently in office, would not be given an opportunity when running against someone wi th a name. Former Mayor, and now DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo of Naga City, who has firmly stood against political dynasties, he believes, The right to serve does not belong to one family alone. Ordinary people who deserve to be empowered should be given the opportunity to serve the community,  [1]  (Medel, 2007).It is undeniable that there are candidates who are voted into office simply because of their name and fame. Sons, siblings and even wives of politicians people who have no knowledge whatsoever of how to lead and serve, are voted into office simply because of their connection to previous leaders. Electoral votes are not so much based on the capability of one to serve, but rather on the name carried by one who is running. It is quite obvious that the family name of an elected official or a potential candidate plays a big role in the success of one who falls under the category of being part of a political family. It can be identified that power can be seen not only in exe rcises of excess but also in tangible things such as a candidates family name. This symbolic power could be seen as a perpetuation of the power system that runs through a political dynasty since it plays a big role in a dynastys continued existence and evolution. The validity of the political dynasty has always remained a highly debatable matter. Why do traditional political clans that which do not ground their resources based on their economic stance, still exist in the Philippine political arena despite some rejections by others that it does not provide equal opportunities for other candidates to run for public office? What key elements existing in these political dynasties make them dominant in the political arena up until today? Does the existence of the political dynasty really help the Filipino people, or is it just making the political maturity of the nation stagnant? (PHILIPPINEPOLITICS.NET., 2000). Despite the negative connotation brought about by political dynasties and its detrimental effects throughout Philippine history, political dynasties are not entirely negative and can bring certain positive effects. The solution to stop the negative effects linked to political dynasties is not to ban political dynasties in general, but inst ead, to educate people to vote more responsibly in choosing a leader. In this paper, I intend to find the factors that make political dynasties relevant today in the face of a democratic Philippine society by taking into consideration Michel Foucaults theory on power and Vladimir Lenins theory on organization. In line with what Michel Foucault mentioned in his work, Discipline and Punish, political dynasties in the Philippines are unique in a way that they possess dynamic qualities that keep them surviving up until today. He stressed in his work that power is exercised in ways that it can be excessive to maintain order and discipline in society. The example would be that of Francois Damiens  [2]  , who was publicly tortured and executed for his attempt to assassinate the sovereign. As Foucault recounts the event, one can see the display of the excessive use of power to punish Damiens for his actions, as seen in his recount wherein à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Damiens, who cried out profusely, though without swearing, raised his head and looked at himself; the same executioner dipped an iron spoon, in the pot containing boiling potion, which he poured liberally over each wound  [3]  (Focault, 1977). Here we can see the sovereigns excessive use of power to punish a subject who attempted to challen ge his sovereignty by attempting to take his life. Francois Damiens public torture and execution was made as an example to others that contesting the kings sovereignty would be subject to the same level of punishment or worse. What Michel Foucault was reiterating in his account of Damiens torture is that power is primarily being exercised on the body as a means of strategizing the deployments of power rather than to punish the violator by causing physical pain. The crime committed by Damiens was against the body of the king; therefore, the punishment that was given to the violator was also against his body, through the form of torture. The pain caused to the body was clearly not intended only for the body alone but rather reached out to those who have witnessed or heard about the execution. The gravity of such an event still touches on modernity in a way that whoever reads or hears about such an event could still feel the gravity of the excessive use of power. During the early 18th century, there was a display of excessive torture on the body according to Michel Foucault. In a span of a few decades, the process of torture became a process of organized disciplinary action in the form of a penal justice system. This evolution of torture saw the disappearance of punishment on the body and a loosening of the hold of the sovereign over the body. In the disappearance of punishment, it enters into the abstract consciousness of society rather than of perceptions. Moreover, there is a focus on the effectivity of punishment rather than of spectacles, wherein it focuses only on visibility or intensity of punishment such as that of Foucaults account of Damiens torture. On the loosening of hold of the sovereign on the body, one can see that punishment no longer touched the body but rather as Foucault would state, The body now serves as an instrument or intermediary: if one intervenes upon it to imprison it, or to make it work, it is in order to deprive the individual of a liberty that is regarded both as a right and as property  [4]  (Focault, 1977). In the spectacle of scaffolds, executioners served as the kings hand in punishing offenders. As time passed, doctors, psychiatrists, guidance counselors, judges and jail wardens now took over the executioners role of administering punishment. As Foucault aptly put it, To sum up, ever since the new penal system that defined by the great codes of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries has been in operation, a general process has led judges to judge something other than crimes; they have been led in their sentences to do something other than judge; and the power of judging has been transferred in part, to other authorities than the judges of the offence.   The whole penal operation has taken on extra-juridical elements and personnel.  [5]  (Focault, 1977). Negative Sides to Political Dynasties The very excess of the violence employed is one of the elements of glory: the fact that the guilty man should moan and cry out under the blows is not a shameful side effect, it is the very ceremonial of justice being expressed in all its force. Hence no doubt those tortures that take place even after death: corpses burnt, ashes thrown to the winds, bodies dragged on hurdles and exhibited at the roadside. Justice pursues the body beyond all possible pain  [6]  (Focault, 1977) Similar to what Foucault had studied about power relations, this paper, uses the same theory but relates it to the phenomenon of political dynasties in the Philippines. Throughout Philippine history, the political dynasty has taken on a negative connotation. Often linked to problems like graft, corruption, and abuse of power, it has taken on a detrimental role to society. Perhaps the most infamous of all would be the political dynasty of the Marcos family. Alleged to have embezzled between US$5 billion and US$10 billion from the Philippines, Transparency International  [7]  has ranked Ferdinand Marcos at second on a list of the worlds most corrupt political leaders of the past two decades; surpassed only by former Indonesian President Suharto (Ferdinand Marcos: Killer File, 2000). Names like the Estradas/Ejercitos and the Singson families have also linked the image of the political dynasty to allegations of graft and corruption. Luis Chavit Singson, governor of the province of Il ocos Sur, alleged that he had personally given Estrada the sum of 400 million pesos as payoff from illegal gambling profits such as jueteng, as well as 180 million pesos from the government price subsidy for the tobacco farmers marketing cooperative. Singsons allegation caused an uproar across the nation, which culminated in Estradas impeachment trial by the House of Representatives in November 13, 2000. A more recent example, would be that of the Ampatuans, whose name has been thrust to the limelight after the event of the Maguindanao Massacre  [8]  where 58 individuals consisting of their family rivals, the Mangudadatus, relatives and some journalists were shot and killed preventing them from filing their patrons certificate of candidacy. Families linked to political dynasties flood the news with allegations of all sorts of crime ranging from corruption, theft, murder and even rape. Regardless of whether these are proven or unproven, it all translates into the tarnished and dirty image that the political dynasty holds in todays society. This is exactly what Michel Foucault talks about in the spectacle of the scaffold wherein there is a display of an excessive use of power through torture. As Foucault mentions, there are three criterions where punishment must follow in order to fall under the category of torture. The first being, that it must manifest pain on a certain degree, that could be seen in the example of Francois Damiens torture. The second being that such pain is regulated in a way that suffering is maximized rather than imposing death immediately because this suffering would insure a more effective notice of change on the offenders part. Last but not least, perhaps the most important would be that torture ma rks the individual and that it should serve as a spectacle. Torture marking the individual means that there is a reclaiming of the sovereign by the ruler and that the making of the execution as a spectacle would serve as a public display of the rulers sovereignty. Such a public execution seeks to reach out to the whole of the society by letting the thought of punishment run through their consciousness making them aware of the total power of the sovereign, them serving as his subjects. The context of the logic of torture is that there is contempt for body, wherein the body serves a possession of the sovereign. There is a political need for the sovereign to display his power which will serve as a recognition of his dominance over his subjects. In addition, this display of power actually runs through an internal organization of politicization and serves as a disciplining factor towards order. As Foucault mentions how the Enlightenment period called torture as an atrocity, atrocity is one of those that best designates the economy of public torture in the old penal practice.  [9]  (Focault, 1977) Further, he states that insofar as being the crime before everyones eyes in all its severity, the punishment must take responsibility for this atrocity: it must bring to light by confessions, statements, inscription that make it public, it must reproduce it in ceremonies that apply it to the body of the guilty person in the form of humiliation and pain. Atrocity is that pa rt of the crime that the punishment turns back as torture in order to display it in the full light of day  [10]  (Focault, 1977) In light of Michel Foucaults study of power, he shows how the display of excessive power can serve as a negative connotation towards disciplining society. In relation to the existence of political dynasties, their display of excessive power by means of running private armies or reliance on coercion in order to establish and maintain their power, could very well serve as a detriment to public order as well as to their own existence. This is where Vladimir Lenins theory on organization can come into play because power alone in a democratic society, especially excessive power, can clash with the values of democracy while power coupled with proper organization could compromise with the said values. Organization, furthermore, would tweak how power is distributed, dispersed and used on the sovereigns subjects. In the case of political dynasties where power is seen to be a tool used for political domination, power alongside organization can produce an effective dynasty, which operates on be half of and for the public rather than for itself and its interests. Good Sides to Political Dynasties In his book, What is to be done?, Vladimir Lenin talks about the importance of organization to serve as a focusing of all efforts towards a certain goal. An organized exercise of power would mean that there is a proper system that is undergone where it is both regulated and directed towards achieving a goal rather than just a spectacle. In the case of political dynasties, despite the weaknesses that they are prone to, it also has its strengths. Political dynasties provide continuity and political stability which is particularly obvious in provinces such as those held by the Josons of Nueva Ecija, Ortegas of La Union, and Dys of Isabela. There is minimal political risk and this plays a huge role when it comes to investments. With the continuity offered by political dynasties, investors can be assured that laws do not change mid-stream of an investors project and that business agreements made in the past would still be upheld in the succeeding generations. This sparks an interest in t erms of foreign corporations doing business in third world countries since it takes out premium on political instability insurance (PHILIPPINEPOLITICS.NET., 2000). Furthermore, this continuity assures that the desired goal is achieved overtime and will be implemented throughout a long-term establishment made by these dynasties. In addition, their continued existence help promote continued progress and development, so long as the succeeding leader is actually capable and not just voted for his namesake. For example, a son who is to take the place of his fathers position in office, would be able to benefit from the experience and guidance of his father. Assuming that the succeeding leader has been trained from early on by the example of good leaders who have also lead from his dynasty, he would be able to emulate the good qualities and learn from mistakes made in the past as well as assure the constant upholding of the good qualities taught by his predecessors. By this process of lear ning from the example of the previous generations, they would have a huge advantage in terms of leadership and experience. An example of a prosperous region, which has been ruled under a political dynasty for over a century, is La Union. The family of Ortegas have occupied elective and appointed positions in the province since the 20th century. In 1901, Joaquin Ortega was appointed governor by the US colonial administration. In 2006, ten Ortegas were holding various elective posts in La Union  [11]  (Medel, 2007). The prosperity of the region speaks clearly, of how well the dynasty has managed. Boasting a 97% literacy rate and a 94.77% employment rate, La Union is classified as a first class province (La Union, 2007). The City of San Fernando is now the seat of national government agencies in Region I and center of trade, commerce, financial and educational institutions, among others. From a deep rooted potential of stable community governance, to international shipping, an airport with viable capacity to accommodate international air traffic, natural terrain conducive to tourism development and a pe ople endowed with cultural and virtuous heritage of industry, spirituality, nationalism and aspiration for growth, peace and prosperity, the City of San Fernando has emerged as the booming Metropolis of the North. (San Fernando City). In response to issues raised regarding the continued existence of a political dynasty in the region, Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega replies, It is not an issue. Why punish people who deliver? Like in Frankfurt, they have a Mayor for 25 years and she keeps delivering. Look how developed Frankfurt is. It is not an issue if you are in power for a long time. It is not actually the length of service. It is the quality of service that you give. If the leader delivers, why punish him/ her? On the other hand, if you have a term limitation, three years is too long kung hindi naman nagdedeliver,  [12]  (Medel, 2007). Another respectable leader belonging to families with a background in political dynasties include Senator Mar Roxas, son of the illustrious Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of the venerable President Manuel Roxas whose public service careers have greatly benefited the country. Mars public service life began in the House of Representatives in 1993. After his congressional stint, he was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; and then in 2004, he was elected to the Senate with a staggering 20 million votes the largest ever obtained by a candidate in any Philippine election. Mars stint in the House is most noted for his principal authorship of RA 7880, also known as the Roxas Law, which ensures fair distribution of the education capital budget among all the provinces. This gave life to his advocacy for fair and equitable access to education, free from regional bias and political patronage considerations. Owing to his record of accomplishments as a public se rvant and political leader, the international community described Mar as one of the young leaders in politics and business who will bring Asia and the Pacific to the forefront of world affairs. (Senator Mar A. Roxas) At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mar was named as one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow who is expected to shape the future. (Senator Mar A. Roxas) Recently, the Singapore Government has awarded him as the 16th Lee Kuan Yew Fellow (Senator Mar A. Roxas). Another example of a leader who has chosen to stick by his principles despite the temptations offered by that of a political dynasty is Governor Barbers. Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers is the eldest son of Senator Robert Bobby Z. Barbers and Vergie Smith of Makati City. The family has a deep-rooted background in politics. His brother was second district Rep. of Surigao del Norte and was succeeded by other family members who ran for governor in the province. Despite his familys involvement in a political dynasty, Lyndon Barbers has made a clear stand against nepotism; relatives are banned from benefiting from any project on account of his position as Governor. This has been proven on several instances. A relative of his was once caught operating a sand-gravel quarrying business without a license or permit and was brought to court. In another instance, a cousin of his was arrested for illegal gambling operations  [13]  (Medel, 2007). In addition, there are many other families be longing to political dynasties that have also contributed a great deal into building the nation and serving its people. Families like the Magsaysays, Osmenas, Biazons, Cayetanos, Villars, Duavits, Escuderos, Espinas, Gordons, Madrigals, Mitras Plazas, and Rectos have done a good job of keeping a clean image. These are the leaders who prove that the political dynasty can be beneficial to society so long as it does not abuse its power. It cannot be discounted that one will not practice the use of power, although, there can be ways wherein this power can be diverted into good reasons to achieve societal order and development. This is what Vladimir Lenin is stresses when he mentions in his work that, Such workers, average people of the masses, are capable of displaying enormous energy and self-sacrifice in strikes and in street, battles with the police and the troops, and are capable (in fact, are alone capable) of determining the outcome of our entire movement but the struggle against the political police requires special qualities; it requires professional revolutionaries  [14]  (Lenin, 1902). In this quotation, Lenin stresses that organizing a mass of people requires a strategic use of power as opposed to a fueling of the mobs emotions. A possible historical example would be that of the American Revolution in contrast to the French revolution. The French revolution had failed to recognize their freedom becaus e they failed to organize their efforts of systemizing their revolution. The leaders of the French revolution relied solely on power and doing so led to the abuse and struggle of power. In the end, the French revolution served as a spectacle of disorganization, wherein towards the end, Napoleon Bonapartes emergence to take hold of power was recognized. This emergence of Napoleon from this disorganization is an opposite to that of an organized succession and transfer of power seen in the American Revolution. The American Revolution, through proper organization, gave birth to freedom, liberty and equality among the states. The transfer and succession of power from one president to another required organization as well as a regulation of their, being the presidents, powers. The political dynasty has its own share of pros and cons. There are examples of good political dynasties as well as bad ones. However, it is usually the faults of the political dynasty that are highlighted and scrutinized. More often than not, the news is filled with reports about charges of theft, plunder and whatnot. As a result of which, many have turned to the solution of trying to ban political dynasties completely. Laws Regarding Political Dynasties In terms of the legality of political dynasties, Art. II, Sec. 26 of the Constitution says, The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. However, there is no clear definition of political dynasties and therefore the provision is none self-executing. It is the most ignored policy by Congress due to certain reasons. The framers left it to the congress to define political dynasties which it has not done (Cruz, 2007). This loophole in the law has allowed the political dynasty to continue up to the present day even if it is technically not allowed. The only law being actively enforced to prevent the abuse of power is the term limits on elective positions. However, providing a term limit for elective officials is easily countered by having families pass on their power. To retain political hold on his constituents, a forcibly retired official arranges to have his wife, a mistress, one of his children, his own siblings, or a parent to occupy his position for one term. After which, he will be qualified again to run for office (Cruz, 2007). In an effort to ban political dynasties, there was an anti-dynasty bill that was filled by Majority Floor Leader Arthur Defensor of Iloilo. Section Five of House Bill 783, which reads, Any person who has a political dynasty relationship with an incumbent elective official is disqualified from running for any elective public office within the same city and/or province where the elective public official is running. This bill will only be proactive. It will not affect those who are already currently holding positions. The bill also limits the definition of a political dynasty relationship as existing only among relatives up to the second degree of affinity or consanguinity. Thus, only the spouse, children, siblings or parents of the incumbent are deemed disqualified and similar in-law relationship. The bill disallows a relative of an incumbent from running for a position like governor, vice governor, mayor, vice mayor, as these positions are vested executive power. Another distinct feat ure of this bill is that it allows relatives of the incumbent to run for posts such as board member or councilor where power is shared owing to the collegial nature of the office. The idea of the bill is to bar relatives from holding positions where power is concentrated in an individual, but not from positions where decision-making is made through deliberation and consensus (Bordadora, 2007). Solution to Problems Regarding Political Dynasties Although this new bill seems like a good and effective idea for countering the negative effects of the existence political dynasties, it has yet to have been decided by legislators whether this will be fully implemented or not. It is up to the Congress to decide whether this bill will be passed and it seems highly unlikely that they will do so. This is partly due to the fact that political dynasties have become so much a part of the current system of governance that it is almost impossible to change. I dont think it has much of a chance under the present Congress, stated Defensor regarding his opinion on possibility of the bill being passed (Bordadora, 2007). Like it or not, the emergence of political dynasties in the Philippines still operate well within the framework of so-called democracy (PHILIPPINEPOLITICS.NET., 2000). No matter how much effort is put against the political dynasty, it is here to stay. It is simply futile to hope for any change regarding the current laws on political dynasties. Instead of looking at something that is simply out of reach, people should realize that there lies a much simpler solution. It would be impossible to ban all political dynasties in general; however, it is possible to put an end to the bad political dynasties. People should realize that they are the ones who elect their leaders into office. No matter how strong a political dynasty may be, sovereignty is held by the people. At the end of the day, it will be the people to decide whether or not a dynasty will be succeeded. Absolute power is when you have a dictatorship. We still have to go through an election. The electorate will be the ones to dic tate who are the ones who will lead. The people have the power, not the officials  [15]  (Medel, 2007). All this talk about outlawing political dynasties and its bad effects would not even be necessary if people were to vote more responsibly. What is happening in todays society is that the people are the ones choosing to make themselves powerless. They are quick to find faults in the system and demand for change, yet they do nothing to actually work for change. People need to realize that as much as the bad political dynasties are to blame, they are also responsible for allowing these dynasties to remain in power. Ultimately, people have the power to put a stop to political dynasties if the need arises. If they see that a certain dynasty abuses their power, they possess the power and responsibility to vote towards a change in leadership. On the other hand, if a dynasty is doing a good job, then they have the option to allow the dynasty to continue in the succeeding generations. According to then Representative of Tarlac and now President Benigno Aquino, the issue of whether a member of a political family should continue in office or not is a matter of public choice. At the end of the day, people deserve the government they get, he said (Cusi, 2004). That being said, these traditional political dynasties, that which do not ground their resources based on their economic stance, are still existing up to this day because they dont just merely exercise power on behalf of their families but rather they direct this power towards an ordered use to improve the publics welfare which is the way its supposed to be in a democratic society. While progress continues to be delivered by these political clans to their constituents, then their dominance and relevance in the Philippine political arena and society will be here to stay. On the other hand, if one lacks or exceeds in either their organization or exercise of power, then that dynasty is bound to fail. All in all, it is difficult to make a generalization whether the political dynasty is in fact good or bad since this would differ on a case-to-case basis. It can be detrimental to Philippine society on some instances, yet beneficial on other cases. There are both good political dynasties and bad ones. Each political dynasty has its own strengths and weaknesses and it is the duty of the people to be the judge. The political dynasty, like any other system of leadership, is prone to error. After all, no system of government is truly perfect; problems will always arise. What are needed are the unified efforts of each and every individual to continually strive in building the nation into a better place.