Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Essay Topics for Ethics Exposed

Essay Topics for Ethics Exposed Finding the Best Essay Topics for Ethics As an issue of fact, there may be more than 1 right answer, including worse or better decisions, where individual can earn a selection. Some individuals cannot be happy. Ethics are different for each individual, but for the large part, folks are interested in being known as a great individual. An individual, unlike a number of other animals, is endowed with the capability to acquire and use his knowledge to come up with and improve himself. New Ideas Into Essay Topics for Ethics Never Before Revealed Select a topic that you think will inspire debate. You should realize that the secret to success is an intriguing philosophy essay topic, which you've chosen taking into consideration your own knowledge on the theme. Every topic is tightly linked to the thesis statement. Taking into account that lots of persuasive essays concern controversial topics, before writing, you can want to sit down and think of wh at your opinion on the topic actually is. You could possibly be given the topic straight away by your professor, or maybe you be free to select the topic yourself. Having said this, most research papers will concentrate on a topic like sweatshop labour or bribery or whistleblowing. Oftentimes, students struggle when they need to conduct a research to compose an ethics essay. Students, who have gotten an appropriate example for the very first time, should definitely search for ethics essay examples which they may discover online. Be attentive to the size it must be and get started writing the narrative essay outline. Quite frequently, the very best topic is one which you truly care about, but you also will need to get ready to research it. Writing a great persuasive essay is not a simple task, however, it's achievable. A properly descriptive essay with distinctive and authentic content can be yours for a sensible price. With time and practice, you will gradually get to compose your own stuff. Thorough research work i s actually time-consuming. There is a particular code for medicine, company, teaching and so forth. So, it's a remarkable foundation for assorted epic stories! Ethical standards offer a basis to protect against committing errors in their career. Dignity Principle believes that every employee should respect the dignity of all individuals like safety and privacy. Property Principle is based on the belief that each employee should respect property in addition to the rights of the proprietors of the property as an example, theft. Reliability Principle believes that it's the employee's responsibility to honour the commitments they've made to the firm for instance, breaching a contract. The Secret to Essay Topics for Ethics Family and individual issues Maybe we can begin by describing what's ethical. Life doesn't have wrong choices. It consists of choices. The considerations of an ethical company world are adapting to the diversity that's put on the consumers and employees. Marshall your points in a way that the reader is going to learn from reading and acquire new understanding. Just by filling in the blanks, you may create articles based on your expertise your audience will really like to read. As any other essay, philosophy work has its features and peculiarities that should be taken into consideration when you wish to receive the top-notch excellent work. Principles of health ethics always function as a guide for the health care practitioners to satisfy their duty. The value of ethics cannot be undermined. They are values relating to human behavior. Medical ethics is extremely important as it helps medical practitioners save their patients in the most essential operations. Courage can arrive in subtle forms. Ethical dilemmas face people in various professions and in a number of situations. Ethics are important in every facet of our lives since they define the society in which we reside in. The One Thing to Do for Essay Topics for Ethics For instance, in college, you might be requested to compose a paper from the opposing viewpoint. Based on the development of your research, the principal question might be altered several times. In the actual sense, there is not any definite term of describing what's ethical and what's not. When it has to do with picking a topic, you will have an easier time if you select one which you get a strong opinion about.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Personal Statement Seeking Admission to Master’s Degree...

As far as success is concerned, a mans accepted wisdom works just the way a band-rejection filter does. It has low opposition to ambitions and ideally infinite resistance to failure. But in my perception, to be truly successful a man needs to accept and learn from failure as it is the fingerpost on the road to achievement. With this belief firmly in place, I wish to offer insight into my decision to pursue a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In my early years, I was fascinated to learn about the observations and inventions made by the Italian renaissance polymath – Leonardo da Vinci. I often wondered how difficult it must be for someone to combine art and science, the only two factors†¦show more content†¦According to the United States–India Educational Foundation, the education offered by universities of US is six years ahead of the rest of the world. When I discussed my plans of pursuing a master†™s degree with my college principal, also a senior member of operation research society of India, he strongly suggested Umass Amherst since it is categorized as a Research University with Very High research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and would be ideal for someone seeking a career in research. Besides the facts that Umass is the largest public university in New England, it built a Large Millimeter Telescope, its UMass Permaculture initiative, effective support service for international students, substantial funding prospects, academic brilliance and cutting-edge technology, what attracted me the most is the hands on training provided at your university and its research expenditures each year. I believe that I possess the fervor, intellect and perseverance to significantly contribute to the research carried out at your university. As wisely said by Sir Isaac Newton, If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. The wholesome education offered at your university will intensify my technical skills, strengthen my research abilities, serve the ultimate purpose of aquiring comprehensive knowledge that would be beneficial to the society and most of all it will instigateShow MoreRelatedFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 Pageswealth of interactive visual and audio resources, WileyPLUS gives you everything you need to personalize the teaching and learning experience.  » F i n d o u t h ow t o M A K E I T YO U R S  » www.wileyplus.com ALL THE HELP, RESOURCES, AND PERSONAL SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS NEED! 2-Minute Tutorials and all of the resources you your students need to get started www.wileyplus.com/firstday Student support from an experienced student user Ask your local representative for details! Read MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 PagesA S E F O U R Succeeding in the Sydney indie music industry C A S E F I V E Nucor in 2005 C A S E S I X News Corp in 2005: Consolidating the DirecTV acquisition C A S E S E V E N Shanghai Volkswagen: Implementing project management in the electrical engineering division C A S E E I G H T Television New Zealand: Balancing between commercial and social objectives C A S E N I N E From greenï ¬ eld to graduates: University of the Sunshine Coast C A S E T E N Whole Foods Market, 2005: Will there be enoughRead MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesStored-Program Concept 25 Types of Computer Systems 28 Microcomputers 29 Midrange Systems 30 Mainframe Computers Supercomputers 33 34 Key Types of Software 34 Applications Software 36 An Example of an Application Product Personal Productivity Software Support Software 37 38 41 The Operating System Language Translators 41 43 v vi Contents Third Generation Languages 43 Fourth Generation Languages Markup Languages 46 48 Object-OrientedRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pageslogic – keeping an eye on the sorts of arguments found in books on formal logic – forget, or underplay, how much of our daily reasoning is concerned not with arguments leading to truth-valued conclusions but with making choices, assessing reasons, seeking advice, etc. Dowden gets the balance and the emphasis right. Norman Swartz, Simon Fraser University v Acknowledgments For the 1993 edition: The following friends and colleagues deserve thanks for their help and encouragement with this project:Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pages658.40071 173—dc22 I. Cameron, 2009040522 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ISBN 10: 0-13-612100-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-612100-8 B R I E F TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Preface xvii Introduction 1 PART I 1 2 3 PERSONAL SKILLS 44 Developing Self-Awareness 45 Managing Personal Stress 105 Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively 167 PART II 4 5 6 7 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 232 233 Building Relationships by Communicating Supportively Gaining Power and Influence 279 MotivatingRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesLeaders 399 Case Incident 1 Leadership Mettle Forged in Battle 400 Case Incident 2 Leadership Factories 400 13 Power and Politics 411 A Definition of Power 412 Contrasting Leadership and Power 413 Bases of Power 414 Formal Power 414 †¢ Personal Power 415 †¢ Which Bases of Power Are Most Effective? 416 †¢ Power and Perceived Justice 416 Dependence: The Key to Power 416 The General Dependence Postulate 416 †¢ What Creates Dependence? 417 Power Tactics 418 Sexual Harassment: Unequal Power inRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 Pages What is the best way to use people’s skills? Car production has changed dramatically over the years as managers have applied different principles of management to organize and control work activities. Prior to 1900, small groups What Kind of Personal Computers Do Customers modiï ¬ ed to ï ¬ t together. This system, a type of Want? small-batch production, was very expensive; assembling just one car took considerable time of skilled workers cooperated to hand-build cars with parts that often hadRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pagesgenerics outstripped overall market growth from 2002 to 2005. A new type of industry player appeared in the 1980s – small biotechnology start-ups backed by venture capital to exploit the myriad opportunities created by molecular biology and genetic engineering. Initially, biotechs were associated with ‘biopharmaceutical’ agents, for example recombinant insulin, the industry’s ï ¬ rst product, launched in 1982. Biopharmaceuticals have very speciï ¬ c effects (with arguably greater safety) and, thanks to theirRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesquestions: Why Were Such Actions Successful? †¢ Was it because of the nature of the environment, and if so, how? †¢ Was it because of particular research, and if so, what and how? 4 †¢ Chapter 1: Introduction †¢ Was it because of particular engineering and/or production efforts, and if so, can these be adapted to other operations? †¢ Was it because of any particular element of the strategy—such as service, promotional activities, or distribution methods—and if so, how, and is it transferableRead More_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesteaching, he is the assessment facilitator for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Community Schools. In his spare time he enjoys reading and hiking. He and his wife have a daughter, Anna, who is a graduate student in Civil Engineering at Cal Tech. JAY DEVORE earned his undergraduate degree in Engineering Science from the University of California at Berkeley, spent a year at the University of Shefï ¬ eld in England, and ï ¬ nished his Ph.D. in statistics at Stanford University. He previously taught at the University

Monday, December 9, 2019

Personal Skills and Qualities free essay sample

Theoretical background: Target group: Exercise description: Personal skills and qualities Students aged 16 – 19 Students are asked to discuss the difference between skills and qualities. They then list their own skills and qualities and give examples of situations in which they have used them. Finally they look at real job vacancies and identify which skills and qualities are likely to be required. To present the students with a clearer selfconcept as a basis for selecting a career. 0 minutes Photocopier; job advertisements from local/national newspapers Pedagogical aim: Time: Resources needed: Personal Skills and Qualities Teacher Notes 1. Ask the class to brainstorm what they think: a) a personal skill is – and give an example b) a personal quality is – and give an example c) why are personal skills and qualities important – and to whom? d) go through the list of skills and qualities (each student has a list in their pack) and explain any words that stud ents are not familiar with 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Skills and Qualities or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Ask students, working individually, to complete the personal profile sheet. They need to state their four strongest personal skills and qualities and give examples of when they have used them i. e. justify their statements. 3. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group the a set of 4 sheets of jobs and ask the groups to identify and write down as many personal skills and qualities as possible that employers have stated they require from applicants. Ask the groups to feedback their answers and discuss the findings. Teachers Notes – Answers a. A personal skill is the ability to do something – see skills and qualities answer sheet for list of examples. 1b. A personal quality is a characteristic see skills and qualities answer sheet for list of examples. 1c. Personal skills and qualities are important to employers, colleges, work based learning providers and universities. Many application forms now ask people to state their skills and qualities in addition to thei r qualifications and previous experience. Personal Skills and Qualities – Vacancy Requirements Skills and Qualities Personal skills analyse information playing a sport reading a map communication designing/making recalling facts caring for others repairing machines first aid drawing/painting singing solving problems estimating gathering evidence bilingual taking photographs ICT skills managing money mental arithmetic planning own work playing a musical instrument Personal qualities calm confident sensitive punctual responsible conscientious strong minded team worker determined hard working trustworthy well organised enterprising friendly leadership enthusiastic adaptable patient considerate polite imaginative

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Love, Fear an The Time Machine by Riverside free essay sample

If you dont know know I have covered a Riverside album album previously and I do recommend you check out the review and the album its linked to before this. That aside, Riverside is a progressive rock/metal band coming from Poland and has many influences on bands like Marillion. A fairly underrated group in the world of metal and even progressive metal but part of the reason why I review things like this is to share good music to the world that you may not otherwise know much about. Lets get this started already shall we? Despite not being a concept album, it has book-end styled tracks much like Dream Theaters Sytematic Chaos or Pink Floyds Wish You Were Here, although this time it isnt the same title with two parts, instead the two tracks(Lost (Why Should I Be Frightened by a Hat?) and Found (The Unexpected Flaw of Searching)) are more like how it began and how it ended. We will write a custom essay sample on Love, Fear an The Time Machine by Riverside or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With that in mind, the first half of the album is more dark and kind of moody while the second half is more atmospheric and almost alludes some Porcupine Tree or Steven Wilson influence as well. Tracks like #Addicted are note worthy in their lyricism and how they decide to present it. In case youre wondering, its basically them telling us how many of us in todays world are found to be very used to using electronic devices and other sources of internet and media and can seemingly rely too much on this matter. It is very relatable too and makes you wonder how much you really do spend on your phones, computer, consoles, etc. when compared to the amount of time you actually tried to experience the world and all of its glory. We also get the single Discard Your Fears which some might say sounds a little too happy or simple in nature, well I can see where those people are coming from but in all honesty, with comparison to what Ive heard prior to it, it seems to fit in pretty well. Tracks like the epic Towards The Blue Horizon and Time Travelers also make for some great moments on the album that should be cherished and if nothing else, the reason you keep coming back to this album. I just love them. Afloat provides a nice transition into the next half of the album too by the way. (Just throwing that out there.) As is the case with Opeth and maybe Pink Floyd, repetition is very hard to perfect and make sound great, Riverside manages to do that and more in a manor that can rival the likes of the bands I just stated above. I cant see many flaws with this album and is by far, one of the best progressive rock albums of the year. Now, onto Amorphis and Spocks Beard how about it? I give this a 9.5/10. I am the Grim Reaper, signing off.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Biometrics and crime triangle Essay Example

Biometrics and crime triangle Essay Example Biometrics and crime triangle Paper Biometrics and crime triangle Paper Biometric technology is becoming an integral element of law enforcement system. Despite the variety of forms, all biometric solutions are represented within one technological framework which is usually referred to as the means of â€Å"automated identification, or verification of identity through physiological, or behavioral traits† (Coleman, 1999). Biometric systems of suspect identification are actively used in various law enforcement procedures; these technologies have proved their effectiveness and reliability in all crime prevention activities. Biometric technologies and human analytical abilities go hand in hand, and compete to achieve excellent crime prevention results. However, even despite the significant benefits biometric technologies offer to law enforcement professionals, serious ethical issues should be addressed to make biometrics safe in use.   Thesis statement: biometrics has turned into the indispensable technological element of crime prevention, but future effectiveness of biometric solutions will be threatened, if specialists fail to address significant privacy and security gaps that currently exist in the area of biometric technology use. Biometric technology and the need to use biometrics in crime prevention Crime prevention cannot be effective without identification. Identification is the essential element of all crime prevention and law enforcement procedures. Contemporary technological advances, the development of internet-related crimes and terrorist threats require creating and implementing the whole set of new technological solutions. In crime prevention, â€Å"everything else is ultimately secondary to the need to identify† (Nieto, 2002). That is why biometrical systems of crime prevention are constantly improved to guarantee cost-effectiveness and relevance of crime prevention activities. Current network of law enforcement agencies cannot develop an effective infrastructure that would guarantee safe and effective storage of information. The importance of biometric identification is justified by the need to create a relevant, cost-effective and secure data storage system that would not infringe citizen rights but would guarantee speedy and easy identification of suspects. As a result, biometrics is gradually turning into a real industry, with law enforcement serving its target market. Face recognition, iris scan, and fingerprints identification software are the results of the thorough analytical work that are successfully implemented at all stages of crime prevention. As software manufacturers are fighting for their portion of law enforcement market, they are trying to offer more relevant biometric solutions that will meet the challenging requirements of the difficult criminal situation. â€Å"What biometrics offers now and in the future is the possibility of improving the overall ‘clear-up’ rate of crime, therefore increasing the confidence of the public in the system and their overall sense of security in society† (Nieto, 2002). In simpler terms, better biometric technology is the direct pathway towards security, public awareness about the benefits of biometrics in law enforcement, and better citizen acceptance and recognition of various types of identification software. Biometric applications satisfy the widest range of crime prevention needs, starting with face recognition and up to voice recognition and border control. In the contemporary context, face recognition, fingerprints, and iris scan represent the three most widely used types of biometric solutions. â€Å"No two fingerprints are alike. For this reason, law enforcement and the courts recognize fingerprints as unique personal identifiers† (Jain, Bolle, Pankanti, 1998). Human analytical skills are too limited to identify the differences between fingerprints and to convert this information into the instrument of coordinating crime prevention procedures. Fingerprints require special technological approach; the smallest pores and ridges on the human skin should be detected to guarantee the relevance of investigation (and as a result, crime prevention) results. Iris scan and face recognition require similar technological approaches. Thus, the state cannot neglect the importance of biometric technologies in its striving towards minimizing the number of crimes. Biometrics forms excellent combination between human analytical abilities and unbiased technology’s ability to identify, match, and analyze personal biometric information.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Write a Good Thesis Statement

How to Write a Good Thesis Statement In composition and academic writing, a  thesis statement (or controlling idea) is a  sentence  in an essay, report, research paper, or speech that identifies the main idea and/or central purpose of the text. In  rhetoric, a  claim  is similar to a thesis. For students  especially, crafting a thesis statement can be a challenge, but its important to know how to write one because a thesis statement is the heart of any essay you write. Here are some tips and examples to follow. Purpose of the Thesis Statement The thesis statement serves as the organizing principle of the text and appears in the  introductory paragraph. It is not a mere statement of fact. Rather, it is an idea, a claim, or an interpretation, one that others may dispute. Your job as a writer is to persuade the reader- through the careful use of examples and thoughtful analysis- that your argument is a valid one. Developing Your Argument Your thesis is the most important part of your writing. Before you begin writing, youll want to follow these tips for developing a good thesis statement: Read and compare your sources: What are the main points they make? Do your sources conflict with one another? Dont just summarize your sources claims; look for the motivation behind their motives.Draft your thesis: Good ideas are rarely born fully formed. They need to be refined. By committing your thesis to paper, youll be able to refine it as you research and draft your essay.Consider the other side: Just like a court case, every argument has two sides. Youll be able to refine your thesis by considering the counterclaims and refuting them in your essay. Be Clear and Concise An effective thesis should answer the reader question, So what? It should not be more than a sentence or two. Dont be vague, or your reader wont care. Incorrect: British indifference caused the American Revolution. Correct: By treating their U.S. colonies as little more than a source of revenue and limiting colonists political rights, British indifference contributed to the start of the American Revolution. Make a Statement Although you do want to grab your readers attention, asking a question is not the same as making a thesis statement. Your job is to persuade by presenting a clear, concise concept that explains both how and why. Incorrect: Have you ever wondered why Thomas Edison gets all the credit for the light bulb? Correct: His savvy self-promotion and ruthless business tactics cemented Thomas Edisons legacy, not the invention of the lightbulb itself. Don't Be Confrontational Although you are trying to prove a point, you are not trying to force your will on the reader. Incorrect: The stock market crash of 1929  wiped out many small investors who were financially inept and deserved to lose their money. Correct: While a number of economic factors caused the stock market crash of 1929, the losses were made worse by uninformed first-time investors who made poor financial decisions.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Enhancing Occupational Safety and Environmental Health while Adapting Essay

Enhancing Occupational Safety and Environmental Health while Adapting to Alternative Fuels - Essay Example Their mass level production can solve this problem. Since 1999 the United States government has been working to promote the alternative fuel program and understands that governmental intervention can fill the gaps between production cost and consumption of alternate fuels. Brief introduction of these fuels is, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro power, solar power, Tidal power, Wave power and Wind power. The purpose of this project is to clarify the positive affects of alternative fuel program. With the usage of different forms of alternative fuels, there will be less of a demand on renewable resources. Most importantly, the dependence on fossil fuels imported fro OPEC. While quantifying the consumption of fossil fuels from around the world, Demirbas (2008) found that "countries in the Middle East to include the Russian Federation hold 70% of the worlds dwindling reserves of oil and gas" (p.3). Therefore, project will demonstrate that with the implementation of alternative fuel programs, it will result in safer working conditions for employees and a significant reduction of environmental degradation. Bio-fuel may be defined as a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from relatively freshly dead biological materials and can be distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material. Theoretically, bio-fuels are produced from any (bi... ned as a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from relatively freshly dead biological materials and can be distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material.Theoretically, bio-fuels are produced from any (biological) carbon source albeit; the most common sources may be the plants. Various plants and plant-derived materials may be used for the production of bio-fuel. Globally, biomass fuels are being most commonly used for the purpose of cooking and heating of homes and larger facilities. In European countries, more than 25% of heating is done with bio-fuels, including wood pellets, wood and chips. In Sweden, over 35% of all facilities are heated with biomass fuels which are incinerated in central biomass boilers at over 90% efficiency. Bio-fuels can also be used to generate steam and create electricity, and converted into a liquid or gas for use in motor vehicles. The process of conversion of biomass into electricity or into a liquid or gaseous form generally requires electricity that is mostly produced with coal. The efficiency of biomass to produce electricity, liquid bio-fuels, and gaseous bio-fuels consumes only 25-35% of the energy content of the originally biomass feedstock. This project is aimed at looking at all these aspects from occupational safety and ecological point of view. Topic and Brief Literature Review The topic of this Capstone research paper will be Enhancing Occupational Safety and Environmental Health while adapting to Alternative fuels. Below is an abbreviated list of sources that have been reviewed. 1- Pahl G. (January 2007). , in his book titled, "The Citizen-Powered Energy handbook. Community Solutions to a Global Crisis"

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

How Personal Can Ethics Get Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

How Personal Can Ethics Get - Essay Example Favoritism and Partiality has forever been known for violation of equal rights – a policy that most organizations carry on their sleeves. If an executive practices partiality in his/her choices of human resource, it not only affects the morale of the competitor individual but also diminishes the overall efficiency of the organization knowing a suitable candidate was rejected for a project against an incapable one. Additionally, this will also demoralize other employees of the organization, knowing that the system for their career growth is corrupt by personal biases. If this partiality is backed by personal gains (monetary or otherwise) on behalf of the executive, it further deteriorates the organizational relationships – the employees tend to be uninterested in company decisions, disloyal towards the organization and low- performed. Turnover rate can also be expected to be higher than normal for such an organization. Also, it can be expected that such an organization w ill dissolve rapidly into non-existence. Business operations therefore strictly require the setting aside of personal differences and working in collaboration for common organizational goals. Ethics play a vital role in organizations and organizational commitments on behalf of employees. Ethics, if practiced properly, can guarantee organizational prosperity. This is because ethical environment ensures safeguard of employee rights, allowing them to concentrate on their jobs and prove to be productive members of the organization. The employees will be less pressurized to compromise their own ethics and values, making them comfortable and satisfied in their jobs. It will promote equality among all employees, controlling misconduct and sycophancy naturally. An employee will possess greater willingness to report misconduct, if any, knowing the organization will take appropriate

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Why Go To College Essay Example for Free

Why Go To College Essay What influenced me to attend college? My Grandparents have tried to get me to go to college for many years. However, I didn’t have much interest in furthering my education. I was a nanny for almost seven years, and had hopes of making that my career, until I was charged with a felony. That put an abrupt end to a career in any form of childcare. So after spending the next two years in treatment, I came to the conclusion that going to college would be the best way for me to achieve my new interest of helping others with their chemical dependency addictions. â€Å"Your future starts here†(www.grad.pci.uta.edu). There are a lot of colleges that use that catch phrase. My future without college became clear to me when witnessing two brothers that came from the same background. One attended college and the other chose not to, and began his own transportation business. With the event of 9-11, his business went under. Without an education beyond High School, he has not been able to find meaningful employment and is currently living in a camper and doing odd jobs. The other brother, that attended college, is now an executive in a major corporation and is living in a ‘mansion’. It became clear to me that in order to get into the field I am interested in and make a decent living, I would need to further my education. The difference in the annual income between someone with just a high school diploma and someone with a Bachelor’s Degree is huge. Statistics show that High School graduates on average make $33,176 a year, and someone with a Bachelor’s Degree can make $54,756 on average per year.(www.ohe.state.mn.us, Facts About Income of Graduates, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, March 23, 2012, web, Aug. 2013) Now that’s quite a difference. I chose to compare these two things because a Bachelor’s Degree is what I would need to get into the field I may possibly be interested in. I’m still unsure of a specific major that I would like to pursue. Chemical Dependency Counseling is an interest of my mine, but I’m still undecided. So that’s another plus with going to college, they offer courses that are meant to help someone who’s unsure about what they want to do with their future, find something that interests them. I have found that college is not as easy as I once thought. There are many things or activities one must give up or put on hold while attending college, but a little studying now will lead to a better future later. Mainly what I hope to gain by attending college,  is not only a higher education, but also a skill set and the discipline to build a career in the field I choose, rather than just having a minimum wage job.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Analysis of Eleanor Rigby :: Douglas Coupland

Eleanor Rigby is a story about a 30-something female who lives her life with a very conscious and accepting feeling towards to her complete loneliness. She never goes out beyond her daily work experience, which she begins by counting down to her predicted date of death. This seemingly perfect mirage of a life is broken when Liz receives a phone call from the hospital saying that she best come to the E.R. As she arrives she meets a charming young man who turns out to be her son Jeremy, who she gave up after a drunken one-night-stand in the 10th grade on a school sponsored trip to rome. Soon after being reunited with her son the doctors tell her that he has m.s. and that he doesn't have much time to life. Liz takes him home and begins to care for him, marking an incredible change in her life. As Jeremy's condition declines, Liz's attitude towards life progresses, and soon she finds herself in a journey to find Jeremy's father, and to find real meaning in life. Eleanor Rigby starts out slowly and in many instances you may be tempted to put down the book, so one may be able to shut distance themselves with Liz Dunn?s seemingly incessant whining. Yet as the novel progresses it is impossible not to feel compelled by the read. Coupland incorporates dark humor that drips off of every page leaving the reader satisfied. At times its hard not to read with a smirk on ones face. Yet the reality of the story is so real and just that the reader will find their minds wandering towards thoughts of the Liz in their life, or the liz in themselves. The theme is that the prescient knowledge of death exists not to discourage but to motivate one to acknowledge the shortness of life and to exist with the greatness any individual possesses. This is supported throughout the novel by many moments coated with loneliness and sorrow. and these moments seem to permeate all of what occurs. Liz seems to live off of this feeling of intense solitude and use it as an excuse to be mediocre in life. Only when Jeremy is introduced into her life does she begin to take on roles she should have been motivated to do so earlier, and only when his imminent death becomes a pressing factor does she realize why he is not a miserable person.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Warhead Cable Test Dilemma Stanton Wong

1) What stage of moral development do you think Stanton Wong is at? What about Harry Jackson? Why do you think so? According to Kohlberg’s moral development theory, Stanton Wong is at post-conventional level. At this level, right action comes to be defined in terms of moral principles chosen because of their logical comprehensiveness, universality and consistency. It is because he is concerned with the well being of the innocent civilians and the military personnel if a missile misfired. Furthermore, he also thought how he can resolve this problem so that everyone is cared for equally that not harmed by the missile misfired. For Harry Jackson, he is at pre-conventional level. It is because he does not cares of others except if it benefits himself and how senior management can reward him. 2) What do you think Stanton should do now, and why? Use one or more of the methods of ethical reasoning presented in the chapter to support your view. I think Stanton should ask the source inspector, Jane Conway to check the warhead cable and also report to Jane Conway about the failed samples first. If Harry Jackson still ignores to solve the problem then Stanton should report to senior management. Besides, he also can try getting someone in the parent company to get help. One of the methods of ethical reasoning is logic. I think it is logical for Stanton to report the mistakes to authorities as he cares for the civilians and the military personnel. The other method of ethical reasoning is consistency. I think the behavior of Stanton is consistent with his caring attitude and always think that what he can do to solve the problem. 3) Should Stanton blow the whistle on his company? Why or why not? I think Stanton should inform senior management and should not become an external whistle-blower because the media should not be involved. He should try to solve the problem internally first before involving outside parties. Furthermore, he was respected by factory workers and management colleagues and he should not destroy his reputation by himself. Besides that, he also should not destroy the company’s image because he himself is an employee of the company. 4) What steps could the company take to prevent a situation like this from occurring in the future? To prevent a situation like this from occurring in the future, the company should have an established set of testing rules and if a certain number of tests fail out of another certain number then something needs to be done to fix the problem immediately. This rule should be strictly implemented. Secondly, if there any serious disagreement between vice president and supervisor, the matter should directly report to top management. Besides that, the company should take actions on Harry Jackson such as issue him a warning letter or punishment so that he will not repeat the mistake in future.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Cultural Patterns between the Sugar Industry and slavery in the Caribbean Essay

The origin of the Caribbean The Guanajatabey people were among the earliest inhabitants in the Caribbean island, who migrated from the forests of the South American mainland in 5300BC. They were a population of about 100,000 hunters, gathers and farmers. Recent research speculates that they may have migrated from the south of US substantiated by the resemblance of artifacts collected in both regions. Additional evidence suggests that the Guanajatabeyes were driven to the island by the arrival migrants, Taino and Cioney from the Orinoco delta in Venezuela. Colonization of the Caribbean In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the expansion of Europeans took two directions. Towards the west coast of Africa where raiding and trading of products like slaves, pepper ivory and gold was involved, and towards the Atlantic island which the Europeans collected products like honey and timber (Jennifer 1994). Eventually though, the colonists returned to settle and cultivate wheat and sugar since there was no arable land in Iberia. Sugar proved to be a very profitable commodity to produce but it needed huge tracts of land plus great labor force for production. As a result sugar and slave trade became entwined in the European exploitation in the Atlantic Islands and eventually spread to the Americas. Many think of the Caribbean Islands as a place for a get away vacation. The historical background tends to differ though. The island has come along way after colonization and slavery for many years. The settlement of the European in the Caribbean began with Christopher Columbus in 1492. Procession of an intricate feudal commission made him a long-term governor of all land discovered and also earned him a fraction of all trade conducted. Caribbean’s encounter with the European transformed the culture in the Atlantic Island affecting the lives of millions of people. It decimated its native population and introduced plantation agriculture. Sugar was one of the commodities that came with Christopher Columbus. It was a lucrative commodity that incited the Europeans to commence plantations in the Caribbean. Sugar’s long history in the Caribbean lands includes the dreadful era of slavery and just as dreadful era of indentured labor. Being the primary economic structure in the Caribbean, it resulted in external wealth increase and underdevelopment of internal markets and social classes. The colonists exploited the interior regions of the island to increase profits in the industry. They also enslaved Africans and indentured Asian laborers. They imported slaves from Africa to work in the sugar plantations. Slavery in the Caribbean Since slave trade was illegal, the Europeans used the Middle Passage. It was a very unpleasant and dehumanizing voyage. A good number of slaves did not make it to the other end. Dreadful conditions below deck, poor air conditions in the cargo, excruciating heat plus inadequate supply of food and water were among the problems faced by the slaves. Only the strong ones survived the diseases like typhoid, measles, yellow fever and small pox in addition to vomiting and diarrhea from the poor food. Apart from that, the conditions on the other end were just as appalling. In the mid 19th century, slave labor was greatly intense in sugar plantations (Marquez 1999). Plantation owners were dependant on slave labor since free labor was limited. With time, the demand of sugar rose and with limited labor, production was low. The Europeans were in dire need of laborers. The indentured servants could not meet the high demand for labor. The plantations required a large amount of labor to be at par with the increasing demand. This resulted to further importation of slaves from Africa to work in these plantations. On the other hand there was a cost increase in the importation of labor at the time. With rising costs and limited time to indenture, African slaves were the alternative. With the introduction of African slaves to the plantation sugar production rose by 300% (Payne Jennifer, 1994). Slave trade became the order of the day. With time the population of slaves rose by more than 200%. The interests of the slaves were also disregarded despite the immense turnover from the sugar industry since most of it went to Europe. England would not only benefit from the lucrative commodity but augmented demand would thrust slave trade. Planting, harvesting and processing of sugar is tiring, hot and dangerous. It also requires a gigantic amount of labor. The Africans were enslaved to work in these plantations despite the harsh weather (Conrad et al 1995). A vigorous adult was expected to till the land, plant and reap five acres of sugar. Slaves both adults and children would move row by row across the fields, planting thousands of seeds-cane stems manually. They would work from 6 to 6 with a break of two hours at noon. During harvest, the slaves would work longer hours racing against the weather to steer clear of attacks by insects on the harvest. Processing the sugar was also done manually under harsh supervision. Harvesting and processing cane was just as backbreaking as planting. Processing the sugar was done immediately by male slaves. The condition in the processing rooms was so severe that the slaves had to rotate out every four hours, their limbs engorged from the heat and humidity. The slaves worked day and nights in the mills and sugarhouses with shifts lasting up to 18 hours during harvest to avoid bottlenecks in production (Simon and Schuster, 2003). Despite some planters giving extra food and drink to encourage competition in production, the result was due to coercion. The slaves were controlled by threat and use of deadly force. In the 1770s, there was the introduction of anti-slavery movements in Europe. In 1787, The Society for the Abolition of Slavery was established which aimed at raising public awareness of the atrocious treatment of slaves. The fight however went on till 1807 when a law banning slave trade was passed. Many other countries endorsed similar laws soon after the law was passed. In 1831, a colossal anti-slavery rebellion destroyed many sugar estates in Jamaica, inspiring the government to Parliament to approve the Emancipation Act of 1834. The slaves who were still tied to plantation life were freed unconditionally. Most of the freed slaves acquired parcels of land on some of Caribbean islands for subsistent farming. For those who did not get went back to plantation work. Consequences of slavery in the Caribbean After the establishment of new colonization, there was the introduction of new cultures and languages. The world only focuses on Columbus as the great discoverer the new land and tends to forget the destruction and damages caused on the lives of the native people who were the first people on the Island. These people were almost wiped out by the brutal incursion of the Europeans along with their cultures and languages. There was division among the people which resulted from the introduction of different cultures, languages and values. The slaves that were also imported from Africa also brought along their different cultures and languages since they came from different region in Africa. Even long after slavery had been abandoned the economic and political structure that was used to control the Island still lingered. Former slaves were forced to work in the plantations but at minimum wage. Power and social inequality There was introduction of many races and cultures in the slavery era. Classes were defined according to race, financial status and culture. Despite the many cultural differences which continually impede the territories from merging, the Caribbean societies are trying to come together socially politically and economically in order to work as one nation. Facets of culture such as race, language, governmental systems, religion, history, values and morals among others differ in each territory and cause a barrier between them. The different cultures that resulted from slavery Several religious groups were started and developed from past experiences. Judaism and Rastafarianism are among the major ones that were formed from previous ones (Michelle 1986). There is a brawny bond between the two religions. They were bound by the subjugation and persecution they went through in the past. Rastafarianism Rastafari history started with the colonization of Africa. The European colonists enslaved many Africans, divided them and sent them to exile as captives worldwide. The areas in which they were taken were named Babylon. The movement was initiated in 1930 in Jamaica after a prophecy made by a black political leader, Marcus Following the prophecy was the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie 1 in Ethiopia He is known to them as the Black Messiah, Jah Rastafari (Edwards 1999). The rituals and practices of the Rastafarians were adapted during the late 1930s and 1940s. Some of the practices are reasoning and binghi. Reasoning is done by the members gathering to pray and smoke ganja or marijuana considered a holy herb. They would pass it around in a water pipe which they have likened to the Communion cup of the Christians in its symbolic meaning. Bighi on the other hand is anal night celebration consisting of dancing accompanied by idiosyncratic rhythms of Rasta drums. This is done to mark different occasions for instance Marcus Garvey’s birthday, coronation of Haile Selassie I and the liberation from slavery. Their deadlock hairstyle signifies the Blackman’s pride for his skin color and hair texture. Rastafarianism remains to be a resistance culture in many parts in the world. Despite experiencing an unstable social history in Jamaica, the movement retains a momentous moral influence that has spread its wings way beyond Jamaica. Conclusion Nowadays, sugar is regarded the most common commodity. It is available everywhere and at very cheap prices. Conversely, there was a time when it was a very precious product desired by many. It was a luxury to many noblemen while the colonists considered it a way to make money. Sugar was very profitable back then and also very expensive. This lucrative commodity incited the Europeans to commence sugar plantations in their colonies especially in the Caribbean (Howard 1998) The demand for African slaves arose from the introduction and development of plantation agriculture, rise in the price of sugar, and need for miners. Africans were not only viewed as skilled laborers, but were also agricultural experts. Consequently, considering their high immunity for malaria, they were suited for mining and agriculture. Moreover there were serious consequences as a result of slave trade. All the same, there were positive results from colonization like urbanization and civilization of the colonies. Works Cited Conrad, D. , Glenn R, Lucas, C. , and Ray. â€Å"A Brief History of the Louisiana Sugar Industry, 1795-1995. † Center for Louisiana Studies, 1995. Jennifer M. Payne, â€Å"Caribbean History†, 1994 Marquez Slavosevelie, â€Å"Slavery to Free Labor† 1999 Michelle H. â€Å"The Caribbean, and the World Sugar Industry’’. New York University 1986 Sidney W. 1986. â€Å"Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History. † New York, Penguin Books. Hagelberg, 1985

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Sears And Roebuck Company Essays - Sears Holdings, Business

Sears And Roebuck Company Essays - Sears Holdings, Business Sears And Roebuck Company Business Marketing Term Paper Sears and Roebuck Company For this paper I will be looking at an old established company, that has re-addressed its target market. To increase penetration in the market and expand in new markets, Sears has refocused its market concept. In the past Sears was where your grandparents shopped for quality product. As they sat back and enjoyed the comfort of their brand name and reaped the benefits, other companies sliced away at the market with new concepts in advertising until about five years ago when Sears woke up to a lagging profit margin. Sears began a recovery to regain market shares lost through complacency. To do this they gathered their staff and commenced to focus on new innovative techniques to cater to the needs of their consumers. First they looked at the production which was well established but could be streamlined. Some items could be eliminated or replaced by other brand name products to give the consumer a broader choice of items. For example they sold the Advantis computer branch to IBM when the projected competition would limit revenues in this area. They also negotiated lucrative contracts with brand name companies for the exclusive retailing rights for their product, an example of this is the Nordic Track home fitness equipment in January of this year. They targeted school age children with the new styles, which they refer to as the Relaxed Uniformity which increased sales in July of 1998. This helped bring in the younger and health conscious consumers who did not feel that the Sears brand name was ri ght for them. This stream lining effort would include shutting down some of the lagging catalog sales offices. This allowed them to establish more competitive prices in the market and better returns for their shareholders. This led to an increase in domestic revenues by 4.2 percent in 1998. The next areas they looked at were the location of their stores and the placement of the products in their stores. Some of the older stores which did not have a profit margin that warranted the expense of their upkeep where eliminated to cut overhead expenses. In addition, using trend analysis focusing on consumer habits, they took a hard look at the layout of the stores to see if they could improve sales through a better display or more efficient floor plans. Sears decided to set up displays, which bring the consumer walking by into the store and the product that has the return buyers interest in the back of store. With this in mind they revamped the floor plans and placed the items they knew the patron would search out to the back of the stores which forced the customer to pass by other product they did not realize was stocked by Sears. The placement of other products, which had lagged in the past, in high traffic areas, increased the sales of those items. Last but not least, once Sears had the company market strategy drawn out; they needed to inform the public of the changes they had made and figure out how they could meet the consumers needs. Sears re-launched its successful Softer Side of Sears advertising campaign that helped the company's turnaround by highlighting its renewed focus on women's apparel. The new version of the Softer Side campaign, which included print and broadcast ads, invited customers to Take Another Look at the fashions available at Sears. The Softer Side of Sears campaign achieves the key marketing objectives. It changes customers' perception of Sears, drives traffic into the stores, and demonstrates Sears commitment to offering customers stylish and relevant womens apparel, said Arthur C. Martinez, chairman and chief executive officer of Sears. Now the challenge is to build greater loyalty with our customer and reinforce Sears position as a destination place for apparel that fits her lifestyle. Reinforcing Sears commitment to serving its primary customer, a woman age 25 to 54 with a moderate household income, family and home. This campaign builds upon and personalizes Sears invitation to Come See the Softer Side of Sears by illustrating that Sears has more than fashionable apparel; it has the right apparel for her. The original Softer Side campaign, Developed by Young & Rubicam

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

World War II in the Pacific - New Guinea, Burma, China

World War II in the Pacific - New Guinea, Burma, China Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory The Japanese Land in New Guinea In early 1942, following their occupation of Rabaul on New Britain, Japanese troops began landing on the north coast of New Guinea. Their objective was to secure the island and its capital, Port Moresby, in order to consolidate their position in the South Pacific and provide a springboard for attacking the Allies in Australia. That May, the Japanese prepared an invasion fleet with the goal of attacking Port Moresby directly. This was turned back by Allied naval forces at the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 4-8. With the naval approaches to Port Moresby closed, the Japanese focused on attacking overland. To accomplish this, they began landing troops along the islands northeast coast on July 21. Coming ashore at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda, Japanese forces began pressing inland and soon captured the airfield at Kokoda after heavy fighting. Battle for the Kokoda Trail The Japanese landings preempted Supreme Allied Commander, Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) General Douglas MacArthurs plans for using New Guinea as a platform for attacking the Japanese at Rabaul. Instead, MacArthur built up his forces on New Guinea with the goal of expelling the Japanese. With the fall of Kokoda, the only way to supply Allied troops north of the Owen Stanley Mountains was over the single-file Kokoda Trail. Running from Port Moresby over the mountains to Kokoda, the trail was a treacherous path that was seen as an avenue of advance for both sides. Pushing his men forward, Major General Tomitaro Horii was able to slowly drive the Australian defenders back up the trail. Fighting in terrible conditions, both sides were plagued by disease and a lack of food. Upon reaching Ioribaiwa, the Japanese could see the lights of Port Moresby but were forced to halt due to a lack of supplies and reinforcements. With his supply situation desperate, Horii was ordered to withdraw back to Kokoda and the beachhead at Buna. This coupled with the repulse of Japanese attacks on the base at Milne Bay, ended the threat to Port Moresby. Allied Counterattacks on New Guinea Reinforced by the arrival fresh American and Australian troops, the Allies launched a counteroffensive in the wake of the Japanese retreat. Pushing over the mountains, Allied forces pursued the Japanese to their heavily defended coastal bases at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda. Beginning on November 16, Allied troops assaulted the Japanese positions and in bitter, close-quarters, fighting slowly overcame them. The final Japanese strongpoint at Sanananda fell on January 22, 1943. Conditions in the Japanese base were horrific as their supplies had run out and many had resorted to cannibalism. After successfully defending the airstrip at Wau in late January, the Allies scored a major victory at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on March 2-4. Attacking Japanese troop transports, aircraft from SWPAs air forces managed to sink eight, killing over 5,000 soldiers that were en route to New Guinea. With momentum shifting, MacArthur planned a major offensive against the Japanese bases at Salamaua and Lae. This attack was to be part of Operation Cartwheel, an Allied strategy for isolating Rabaul. Moving forward in April 1943, Allied forces advanced towards Salamaua from Wau and were later supported by landings to the south at Nassau Bay in late June. While fighting continued around Salamaua, a second front was opened around Lae. Named Operation Postern, the attack on Lae began with airborne landings at Nadzab to the west and amphibious operations to the east. With the Allies threatening Lae, the Japanese abandoned Salamaua on September 11. After heavy fighting around the town, Lae fel l four days later. While fighting continued on New Guinea for the rest of the war, it became a secondary theater as SWPA shifted its attention to planning the invasion of the Philippines. The Early War in Southeast Asia Following the destruction of Allied naval forces at the Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942, the Japanese Fast Carrier Strike Force, under Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, raided into the Indian Ocean. Hitting targets on Ceylon, the Japanese sank the aging carrier HMS Hermes and forced the British to relocate their forward naval base in the Indian Ocean to Kilindini, Kenya. The Japanese also seized the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ashore, Japanese troops began entering Burma in January 1942, to protect the flank of their operations in Malaya. Pushing north towards the port of Rangoon, the Japanese pushed aside British opposition and forced them to abandon the city on March 7. The Allies sought to stabilize their lines in the northern part of the country and Chinese troops rushed south to aid in the fight. This attempt failed and the Japanese advance continued, with the British retreating to Imphal, India and the Chinese falling back to the north. The loss of Burma severed the Burma Road by which Allied military aid had been reaching China. As a result, the Allies began flying supplies over the Himalayas to bases in China. Known as The Hump, the route saw over 7,000 tons of supplies cross it each month. Due to the hazardous conditions over the mountains, The Hump claimed 1,500 Allied aviators during the war. Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory The Burmese Front Allied operations in Southeast Asia were perpetually hampered by a lack of supplies and the low priority given the theater by Allied commanders. In late 1942, the British launched their first offensive into Burma. Moving along the coast, it was quickly defeated by the Japanese. To the north, Major General Orde Wingate began a series of deep penetration raids designed to wreak havoc on the Japanese behind the lines. Known as Chindits, these columns were supplied entirely by air and, though they suffered heavy casualties, succeeded in keeping the Japanese on edge. Chindit raids continued throughout the war and in 1943, a similar American unit was formed under Brigadier General Frank Merrill. In August 1943, the Allies formed the Southeast Asia Command (SEAC) to handle operations in the region and named Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten as its commander. Seeking to regain the initiative, Mountbatten planned a series of amphibious landings as part of a new offensive, but had to cancel them when his landing craft were withdrawn for use in the Normandy invasion. In March 1944, the Japanese, led by Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi, launched a major offensive to take the British base at Imphal. Surging forward they encircled the town, forcing General William Slim to shift forces north to rescue the situation. Over the next few months heavy fighting raged around Imphal and Kohima. Having suffered high numbers of casualties and unable to break the British defenses, the Japanese broke off the offensive and began retreating in July. While the Japanese focus was on Imphal, US and Chinese troops, directed by General Joseph Stilwell made progress in northern Burma. Retaking Burma With India defended, Mountbatten and Slim began offensive operations into Burma. With his forces weakened and lacking equipment, the new Japanese commander in Burma, General Hyotaro Kimura fell back to the Irrawaddy River in the central part of the country. Pushing on all fronts, Allied forces met with success as the Japanese began giving ground. Driving hard through central Burma, British forces liberated Meiktila and Mandalay, while US and Chinese forces linked up in the north. Due to a need to take Rangoon before the monsoon season washed away the overland supply routes, Slim turned south and fought through determined Japanese resistance to take the city on April 30, 1945. Retreating east, the Kimuras forces were hammered on July 17 when many attempted to cross the Sittang River. Attacked by the British, the Japanese suffered nearly 10,000 casualties. The fighting along the Sittang was the last of the campaign in Burma. The War in China Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched a major offensive in China against the city of Changsha. Attacking with 120,000 men, Chiang Kai-Sheks Nationalist Army responded with 300,000 forcing the Japanese to withdrawal. In the wake of the failed offensive, the situation in China returned to the stalemate that had existed since 1940. To support the war effort in China, the Allies dispatched large amounts of Lend-Lease equipment and supplies over the Burma Road. Following the capture of the road by the Japanese, these supplies were flown in over The Hump. To ensure that China remained in the war, President Franklin Roosevelt dispatched General Joseph Stilwell to serve as Chiang Kai-Sheks chief of staff and as commander of the US China-Burma-India Theater. Chinas survival was of paramount concern for the Allies as the Chinese front tied down large numbers of Japanese troops, preventing them from being used elsewhere. Roosevelt also made the decision that US troops would not serve in large numbers in the Chinese theater, and that American involvement would be limited to air support and logistics. A largely political assignment, Stilwell soon became frustrated by the extreme corruption of Chiangs regime and his unwillingness to engage in offensive operations against the Japanese. This hesitancy was largely the result of Chiangs desire to reserve his forces for fighting Mao Zedongs Chinese Communists after the war. While Maos forces were nominally allied with Chiang during the war, they operated independently under Communist control. Issues Between Chiang, Stilwell, Chennault Stilwell also butted heads with Major General Claire Chennault, the former commander of the Flying Tigers, who now led the US Fourteenth Air Force. A friend of Chiangs, Chennault believed that the war could be won through air power alone. Wishing to conserve his infantry, Chiang became an active advocate of Chennaults approach. Stilwell countered Chennault by pointing out that large numbers of troops would still be required to defend US airbases. Operating parallel to Chennault was Operation Matterhorn, which called for the basing of new B-29 Superfortress bombers in China with the task of striking the Japanese home islands. In April 1944, the Japanese launched Operation Ichigo which opened a rail route from Beijing to Indochina and captured many of Chennaults ill-defended airbases. Due to the Japanese offensive and the difficulty in obtaining supplies over The Hump, the B-29s were re-based to the Marianas Islands in early 1945. Endgame in China Despite having been proven correct, in October 1944, Stilwell was recalled to the US at Chiangs request. He was replaced by Major General Albert Wedemeyer. With the Japanese position eroding, Chiang became more willing to resume offensive operations. Chinese forces first aided in evicting the Japanese from northern Burma, and then, led by General Sun Li-jen, attacked into Guangxi and southwestern China. With Burma retaken, supplies began to flow into China allowing Wedemeyer to consider larger operations. He soon planned Operation Carbonado for the summer of 1945, which called for an assault to take the port of Guandong. This plan was cancelled following the dropping of the atomic bombs and Japans surrender. Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Contributing to Pepperdines Mission Personal Statement

Contributing to Pepperdines Mission - Personal Statement Example Responding to the mission of the school, I have thus prepared myself to be one in her mission, embracing it as my own. With this, I am binding myself to a lifelong education quest that will not just be limited in the education I get from this school through the course I have enrolled myself into but in everything from which I could learn from. Increasing my knowledge, I am resolved not just to rely on my professors but that I should understand that I also have the responsibility of helping myself as facilities are put to our disposal. Being a responsible student would be the least I could do, though it might not be much, I believe that one less trouble can make a great impact though not to the whole world; at least to the community I belong. Academically, I am prepared to do my best in all my subjects as it is my responsibility as a matured student and it is also my perception that doing so is the task expected of me to manifest the understanding that God has given me the authority to have dominion on my Eden. In addition, I am bound to commit myself to do, to my utmost capability the duties expected of a Christian student like being in the highest standard of values and ethical resolution.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

THE (ME )IN LEADERSHIP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

THE (ME )IN LEADERSHIP - Essay Example But the definition was too generalized to understand what leadership is really all about; what makes a leader, and what character trait must be learned to become an effective leader. But recent scholars however has synthesized of what really makes a good leader. The idea of being a good leader is no longer as elusive as before. While for others leadership is inherent, it can now be learned integrating the inherent intrinsic quality of an individual and developing it to be become an effective leader. II. The Poster Explained Learning leadership begins with learning the â€Å"self†; to have certainty about himself/herself to as a foundation of confidence to lead and get things done. â€Å"It is necessary for a â€Å"leader, who possesses a clear self-concept through private self-consciousness, to be more likely to possess a strong purpose-in-life. Having a strong purpose involves consistency in self-identity (i.e., self-concept clarity) (Campbell, 1990; Frankl, 1992). The â₠¬Å"possession of a clear self-concept through private self-consciousness enables an individual to recognize the gap between what he or she is (i.e., real self) and what he or she should become (i.e., ideal self). This recognition may enable a leader to develop a strong purpose-in-life by setting goals in order to narrow the gap between the real and ideal self (Frankl, 1992; Marcus & Wurf, 1987). This clarity and lucidness of self-concept is necessary not only to get things done but also to harmonize my inner sense of self to what my peers sees in me. This â€Å"self-concept of reality is again distinct from the contents of the self-structure and is instead the level of lucidity and certitude of one's own understanding of that content- how well the leader thinks they know themselves. Campbell et al. (1996). This clear awareness of myself translates to a clearer sense of goal and purpose which will evolve to Self-Belief. Self-belief, which is the inner confidence that I will succeed and overcome any obstacle to achieve the best outcomes for service improvement. This Self-Belief attribute also will enable me to transcend myself. To be conscious how I see myself and how others sees me as well. As Abraham Maslow (1968) elaborates â€Å"He thinks that there is much more to us than what we mirror about the world around us, writing, "there is not only an orientation to the outer but also to the inner". This â€Å"mirroring as the reflections of self that a group member encounters in other group members, in the group leader, or in the group as a whole (Bion, 1961) harmonizes us within and eliminates discord beginning from perception of how I look myself through my peers. This type of mirroring can include the psychological mechanisms of denial, splitting, projection, introjection, indentification and projective and introjective indentification (Pisani, Colangeli, Giordani, & Popolla, 2006). On the other side of the mirror(s) lies the possibility of self-knowledge an d true relationship. When group members can recognize and own their projections, when they can work with them carefully and honestly in group, when they can bear the reflection(s) of their full identities, they can know more about themselves. Such, this sensitivity towards myself and others comes to mind the idea of myself likening to a dynamo whom the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Pablo Picasso & Cubism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pablo Picasso & Cubism - Essay Example The essay "Pablo Picasso & Cubism" investigates the influence of Pablo Picasso on Cubism movement. The evolution of Pablo Picasso’s artistic styles and forms over the course of his long and fulfilling career provides us with interesting insights into the psyche of the man himself. Along with his contemporary Braque, Picasso is credited with the invention of the Cubism. This invention is not pre-conceived. Picasso or Braque did not set about radically altering norms of art; rather the circumstances of life of these gentlemen have had a significant effect on the way their minds conceived their paintings. Furthermore, Picasso is famous for the number of self-portraits he did. Hence, the biographical and the artistic are intricately linked. The rest of the essay will expand on this theme capture the essence of Cubism through its inventor. Picasso’s artistic career effectively started in the year 1900, when he first displayed his works in a Barcelona tavern named Els Quatre Gats. The fact that a defining figure of twentieth century art should start his dialogue with the rest of the world at the turn of the century is very symbolic. The beginning was a remarkable affair, for Picasso was still only nineteen and has proven his talent for drawing as a vehicle for ideas. After this initial success, Picasso grew in confidence and questioned orthodox views of education and social conduct. Adopting a radically different lifestyle, Picasso showed that behind his art was a profound caring for humanity.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Afghanistan Geostrategic Importance

Afghanistan Geostrategic Importance When Allah had made the rest of the world, he saw there was a lot of rubbish left over, bits and pieces and things that did not fit anywhere else. He collected them all together and threw them down on the earth. That was Afghanistan.  [1]   An old Afghan Saying. Introduction The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia,  [2]  South Asia,  [3]  or the Middle East.  [4]  It is bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast. The geographic entity now known as Afghanistan has a very long history, and has been an ancient focal point of the Silk Road and migration. It is an important geostrategic location, connecting East and West Asia or the Middle East. The land has been a target of various invaders, as well as a source from which local powers invaded neighbouring regions to form their own empires. Ahmad Shah Durrani created the Durrani Empire in 1747, which is considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan.  [5]   In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in The Great Game played between the British Empire and Russian Empire. Due to its strategic placement Afghanistan became the focal point of intense rivalry between Tsarist Russia and Britain during the nineteenth century. On August 19,1919, following the third Anglo-Afghan war, the country regained independence from the United Kingdom over its foreign affairs. During the ensuing conflict, the war-weary British relinquished their control over Afghan foreign affairs by signing the Treaty of Rawalpindi in August 1919  [6]  . In commemoration of this event, Afghans celebrate August 19 as their Independence Day. Afghanistan remained at the centre stage of international politics as a theatre in the cold war games of super powers with Pakistan acting as the frontline state of USA for channelling its financial, material and military supplies to the Afghan Mujahedeen. Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has experienced a continuous state of civil war punctuated by foreign occupations in the forms of the 1979 Soviet invasion and the 2001 USA led invasion that toppled the Taliban government. Afghanistan has assumed importance due to its potential to influence the societies and politics in its bordering countries. (Refer fig 1) Historical Perspective The geography of a nation determines its history, politics and the nature of its people. Afghanistan has been called by many names from being the heart of Asia by the great Indian poet Mohamed Iqbal, to the cockpit of Asia by Lord Curzon.  [7]  The geo strategic location of Afghanistan has been significant since the earliest Aryan invasion it being located on the crossroads between the Arabian Sea and India and between the central Asia and South Asia, the country has indeed stood guard over the land routes to the Indian subcontinent. Even the ruler of Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had recognised that the key to the security of the plains of India lay in Kabul.  [8]   Afghanistan has always remained an area of imperial aspirations, differing perceptions and competitions both in medieval and modern times.  [9]  Even before Afghanistan emerged as a geo political entity, the region had seen competition for influence by the Mongols, Persians, the Mughals as well as local tribal chiefs. Though Afghanistan as a state existed since 1747, its current political borders evolved only toward the end of the last century (1880-1901) as an outcome of rivalry between British India and Tsarist Russia. Creation of a buffer state between the two giant powers in Asia was a political and military compulsion. Politically speaking, it was the issue of security between British India and Russia that determined Afghanistan as a state more than the factor of its sovereignty since Afghanistans spatial location denied it the resources for it to be a viable state.  [10]  Successive Afghan rulers have maintained stability by sourcing revenue (i.e. plundering) from its n eighbours  [11]  . Afghanistan played a pivotal role in the security perspective during the era of the great game in the Nineteenth century when Russian and British imperial powers seemed to be on a collision course in Central Asia.  [12]  The history of Nineteenth century is consequently a history of moves and counter moves on the part of the Russians and the British Empire, which ultimately resulted in the emergence of the land locked Afghanistan as a buffer state in the demarcation of frontiers. Thus, it was primarily this Great Game being played out in Afghanistan, which resulted in evolving its current political borders, rather than its need for sovereignty. Since its stability was a key factor in maintaining the fragile security balance in the region, the external powers continued to supply rulers of Afghanistan with assured resources to sustain control and internal stability. Thus, Afghanistan became the only country to hold off both Russian and British expansion in the last century without aligning itself with either. The demarcation of Afghanistans border with Russia commenced in 1887, however Russians never lost sight of the fact that they needed to have their influence in the region, and this led to the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two in 1921  [13]  . The British too, carried out the demarcation of the border with Afghanistan by creating the Durand line, named after Sir Mortimer Durand in 1893, without giving any thought to the tribal affinities and traditional affiliations.  [14]   Geographical Location Afghanistan is the worlds 41st-largest country (after Burma) and has an area of 245,000 square miles. It is landlocked and mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest. Afghanistan with a noticeable sizeable chunk of geometrically regular territorial configuration lies at the intersection of the Indian Sub-Continent (Pakistan), the Middle East (Iran), Central Asia (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) and China (The Wakhan Corridor).  In terms of International borders, the details are Pakistan (2430 km); Iran (936 km); Tajikistan (1206 km); Uzbekistan (137 km); Turkmenistan (744 km), and China (75 km).  The northern and southern portion of Afghanistan is divided by the massive Hindu Kush mountain ranges  [15]  . The Pamir Mountains to the northeast also named the roof of the world by Marco Polo are the junction between Tajikistan, Afghanistan and China. In the east, the passes in Suleiman mountain range like the famous Khyber Pass have provided access to the Indian subcontinent. Geo Strategic Relevance since World War II The post World War II saw the collapse of the British colonial rule in the Subcontinent and Soviet Union emerging as a Super Power with USA led western bloc and Soviet Union led eastern communist block  [16]  . With the British departure from India Afghanistan lost its importance, possibly since the western bloc found an ally in Pakistan to counter the Soviet expansion. However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 brought the country to the limelight once again and the strategic balance of the subcontinent was altered dramatically with intervention of extra regional powers. The geo strategic relevance of Afghanistan in the above backdrop cannot be overlooked and it gained further importance with the breakup of Soviet Union. Infact the country has emerged as a new centre for terrorism. Post Cold War Era and the New Great Game The withdrawal of Soviet Union from Afghanistan once again altered the geopolitical and geo strategic importance of Afghanistan. The resultant power vacuum, infighting among the Mujahedeen commanders, weak government of Najibulla at Kabul, and the lack of United States support to Pakistan, were to a large extent responsible for the state of affairs in Afghanistan. Coupled with an indifferent world community, it formed a sure shot recipe for disaster. Surrounded by two nuclear states (China and Pakistan), a threshold nuclear state (Iran) and having two other nuclear powers in its near vicinity (India, and Russia) places Afghanistan in a difficult situation with its neighbours as well other powers vying to get a foothold in the region to spread their influence in the region and the subcontinent. The emergence of new States in Central Asia in 1991 brought to limelight the vast Hydrocarbon resources available in the region and once again Afghanistan acquired the critical importance of the land route from Central Asia to Arabian Sea. It could be asserted that despite its landlocked location, Afghanistan is important in geo-economic terms too both in terms of substantial deposits of oil and natural gas (assessed but not tapped) and as a energy corridor for Central Asia energy produce.  The newly independent states of the Central Asian region have been desperately looking for means of communication to export their oil and gas riches, so as to end their isolation and economic dependence on Russia. Turkmenistans hope of reviving plans to lay the pipeline across war torn Afghanistan to Pakistan and then to India revealed the desperation facing these states. Taliban and the Impact on the Geo Strategic Environment When Russia eventually withdrew from Afghanistan, the US-supported Mujahideen took control. Instead continuing the support for the buffer state, Americas subsequent withdrawal from the region caused a power vacuum, allowing sectarian interests (the Taliban) to seize control. As Afghanistan had been abandoned by both Russian and the West, the Taliban had no interest in acting as buffer, and pursued their own agenda. Afghanistan, apart from being the land bridge to central Asia has also become a home to the fundamentalist ranging from the Jihadis from Kashmir to the Uighur separatists and provided a suitable launch pad for such activities in Central Asia. Afghanistans geo-political and historical background further complicated the situation. The Taliban were initially welcomed by the war torn population since they promised an end to the prevailing anarchy. However, the subsequent quest for power and their change in stance from having no political ambitions, to a flat refusal for power sharing pushed Afghanistan into another period of instability. Afghanistan, till Dec 2001, can therefore be described as having been a legally undivided territory of fragmented power  [17]  . Soon Taliban as a Host to Al Qaida and its leader, Osama Bin Laden, turned into reality the threat of Islamic Fundamentalism faced by the Central Asian states since 1991. The strengthening of links between militant organisations like Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al Qaida, the Chechen rebels, Uighur separatists and the Taliban, further compounded the security situation in the region. The bombings of the US embassies in 1998 brought USA and the Taliban on a collision course. However, it was the 11 Sep 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre, which roused the world community and forced them to deal with the menace posed by Taliban and its associates. The Relevance Post 11 Sep 2001 The global war on terrorism (GWOT) launched by USA and its allies has added great deal of turbulence in the region. Presence in Afghanistan provides USA an opportunity to influence the region and keep a check on Russian, Chinese, Pakistani, Iranian and the Indian influence, the nuclear states in the region, a job it has already commenced, as is evident from the pressure on Pakistan and the Iranians.  [18]  The United States however is in a strategic dilemma as it made its Afghanistan strategy totally dependent on Pakistan Armys cooperation.   A strategic denouement is underway presently.  The United States geopolitically stirs a witches cauldron in Afghanistan by giving primacy to Pakistan Armys strategic sensitivities to control Afghanistan  [19]  .  Any US exit from Afghanistan could create a political vacuum which would most likely get filled in by Russia, Iran and India.  [20]  

Friday, October 25, 2019

Sandro Botticellis Painting, The Birth of Venus :: Visual Arts Paintings Art

Sandro Botticelli's Painting, The Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli (1444-1510) was a Florentine painter. Almost all of Botticelli’s life was spent in Florence. His genre of painting was based around mythological ideals and also religious subject matter. Botticelli painted in a highly personal style characterized by elegant execution, a sense of melancholy, and a strong emphasis on line; details appear as sumptuous still life’s. His paintings like The Birth of Venus, were a great impact on the Humanist art movement. Humanism was a belief in human effort rather than religion, showing emphasis on education and the expansion of knowledge; focusing especially on classical antiquity.[1] The Birth of Venus shows Venus riding upon a giant cockle shell, intently this focuses our attention directly towards her. Other figures in the painting include Zephyrus (the west wind) and the nymph Pomona. The painting is a mythological narrative which illustrates the birth of Venus, goddess of love.[2] The narrative has given us the explanation that â€Å"Zephyrus (the west wind) blows Venus, born of the sea foam and carried on a cockle shell, to her sacred island, Cyprus. There, the nymph Pomana runs to meet her with a brocaded mantle.†[3] Botticelli has achieved a sense of movement in the painting; Zephyrus’ gusts catch the brocaded mantle in undulation, carrying also the perfumed rose petals that swiftly fall upon the whitecaps. The Birth of Venus was painted in ca.1482 and has been exhibited at the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence. This painting was intended to be one of Botticelli’s most famous artworks painted for the Medici. The Medici were enthusiastic art collectors of the humanist art movement during the Renaissance. This painting can also be considered a relevant work of art, and the rebirth of the ancient ideal of beauty in the early Renaissance. The Birth of Venus is a work measuring approximately 5’ 8† x 9’ 1†.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Fast Food Nation Essay

â€Å"Fast Food Nation† is a film directed by Richard Linklater and it was released in the year 2006. This is one of those films, which provide new sources of thinking to a generation. This film deals with a large number of topics, which are old but still existing on our planet. Among these topics the mentionable ones are gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation and oppression. The film also shows that although being different parts of the social strata – these things are actually well related with each other. They act not only in the small communities but also throughout the world. There is no bar for these topics among the developed and developing countries in the present day world. â€Å"Fast Food Nation† upholds the problems, which are old enough to have been erased by now. But as a matter of fact, they still loom large in the human societies of all standards. Don Anderson is the main character of the movie. He is the famous Anderson who is known for the preparation of â€Å"Big One† of Mickey’s hamburger. This shows how the protagonist of the film is connected with the world of fast food. The main thing around which the film is constructed is to judge whether these businesses are honest or not. Anderson is not a bad human being but as a matter of fact he does not seem to know everything that is associated with his business. He finds one fault with the products of his company and travels to Cody in Colorado to trace the source of these bad and unhealthy ingredients in the products. Cody in Colorado is the center for the preparation of all the products of Mickey’s. Very soon Anderson comes to know about the faults that are actually taking place while manufacturing the products of his company. These are some of the most horrible truths waiting for him. The film has dealt with some other complicacies as well. Among them, the most important one is the exploitation of the illegal immigrants. People come to America to win a good fortune from various corners of the world. Mexico is one of these countries from where a number of illegal immigrants come in search of jobs. Very soon after entering the country they are exploited by the white settlers of the United States of America. Fast food culture has given birth to a huge industry in this country and most of the immigrants are taken in for the jobs that are available in this industry. Cheap labor is the main reason why the companies are always interested in taking these employees. By doing this, they can also earn a huge amount of profit within short time. (Linklater, et al, 2006) The tagline of â€Å"Fast Food Nation† says â€Å"The Truth Is Hard To Swallow†. In a way this film introduces the audience with the modern day world where almost every vice is present in the society just as they used to exist in the past. The presence of cow manure in the Mickey’s product is highly symbolic as it shows the commonly found tendency to live by cheating on others. A fast food nation like USA today looks after only the benefits from the business and not after the quality of service they are providing the customers with. This is the harsh truth, which Don Anderson discovers in his own company while visiting Cody in Colorado. â€Å"Fast Food Nation† is a movie that concentrates on many of the recent problems, which we come across in the modern world. Apart from that there are also other problems, which are not felt by us. Some of the downtrodden people have to face these truths in their lives. This is really unfortunate as we talk about the overall development of the world we act in a very hypocritical way. According to some of the well known critics â€Å"Fast Food Nation† is a well made angry movie which vents out the idealistic wrath on the wrong way in which the nation like USA is traveling towards a so called progress. It is obviously a credit going to Richard Linklater for the fact that he has chosen such a sensitive subject on which the economy of USA is dependent to a great extent. The glamour-less style of the movie is one of the most important symbolic, which is followed throughout the movie. We all know that America is a country of glamour and this is why a movie based on this country is hoped to be flashing with glamour and style. Unlike all other movies, â€Å"Fast Food Nation† is an entirely anti-glamour movie where all the characters are the dwellers of a very indifferent land. Truth hidden beneath the glamour is the main motive of this movie and this is why Linklater has focused more on incidents rather than the glamorous aspect of the film. (Morris, 2006) Linklater is very much successful in taking the audience to the root of the problems. He takes the audience to the slaughterhouses where raw materials for hamburger are produced. Visiting these places the audience is able to go through a series of events, which are revealing about how USA still deals on the grounds of race, gender and ethnicity. The Mexican immigrants are nothing better than the cows, which are slaughtered for the production. They are also exploited to a huge extent. By connecting to the story of the Mexican border Linklater actually introduces the audience with another horrible truth, which is looming large in the country. The country, which boasts of its democracy, is itself a system of exploitation and this is something, which Fast Food Nation deals with very carefully. Uniglobe is the meat plant where the team of Mexican workers joins. This is the place where the white Americans take the full advantage over the Mexicans as they have come in the country obtaining illegal process. It is very shocking to see a white that works as the floor supervisor threats the Mexican workers to kill them through the slaughtering machine unless they work properly. This show of rudeness opens up the horrible way in which the white people in American society are still dealing with the Mexicans. Money is the main thing, which draws the poor Mexicans to this vast land of USA where they have neither identity nor respect. There is a scene in the movie where a Mexican falls inside the slaughtering machine and loses his hand, which is chopped by the blade. The terrible scene is something, which agitates the audience to the core. Fast Food Nation not only focuses on the macro system of the society but also on the micro system where the workers are exploited at the same rate. We see the troubles, which are faced by Sylvia, the Mexican young woman who starts working as a hotel room cleaner. She faced huge problems in the slaughterhouse of Uniglobe where her husband and sister continue to work. The dangers of crossing the border are one of the most important elements, which the movie has dealt with. It shows the extent of risk, which the Mexicans are ready to undertake for their survival. Throughout the film it has dealt with huge problems in modern America. But the most important thing about them is the fact that everything, which happens in the life of the Mexican friends, is also the parts of the greater American life. Exploitation and all the other associated elements in the movie are actually representing the wholesome picture of the United States of America.   (Mother Jones, 2006) The use of satire in the film is a main thing, which consolidates the theme even more. There are actually three narrative parts that have been used in this movie. The pattern of the movie is very much like the documentary films, which shows the true picture of the world and easily deal with even some of the most controversial topics. Apart from human cruelty, animal cruelty is also an integral part of the film. However, the movie also concentrates on the matter of sexual orientation, which is a big issue in today’s America. Amber, the role played by Ashley Johnson, faces problems seeing the difference of sexual orientations among her friend. She asks her close friends not to meet cute looking boys, believing that they practice homosexuality. This is somehow associated with the slaughterhouse atmosphere and the theme thus becomes more convincing.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Black People and Roberta Essay

In Toni Morrison’s â€Å"Recitatif,† the story is about two girls, Twyla and Roberta. They grow up in an orphanage because their mothers could not care for them. Morrison makes it clear the girls come from different ethnic backgrounds but never states which one is black or white. At one point in the story Twyla comments, â€Å"We looked like salt and pepper. † I grew frustrated with the story and had to read it several times. I could never determine who was black and white and the lesson I learned should have been it doesn’t really matter. The story begins with Twyla’s mother dropping her off at the orphanage. She meets Roberta and they become best friends. The bond they share occurs because they were not considered real orphans. They were abandoned kids unlike the other children whose parents had died. One of the last times the girls see each other was the day of a visitation. On that night, Twyla’s mother was wearing â€Å"those tight green slacks that made her butt stick out. † Many people have labeled blacks as having larger butts. She could have been black, she could have been a heavy white woman with a large butt, or a Hispanic woman like me. But I automatically stereotyped and went with Twyla has to be black. During the visitation Roberta’s mother â€Å"had brought chicken legs. † Twyla notices Roberta does not eat the chicken legs. I always thought black people liked chicken more than white people which means Roberta was white since she did not eat the chicken. Or maybe she just wasn’t hungry. Shortly after that visitation Roberta’s mother came to take her home, leaving the girls devastated. They see each other several times throughout the years. At their first meeting, Roberta was rude and distant because she was high. Roberta tells Twyla she is on the way to see Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was an infamous black guitarist. I thought at this point Roberta has to be black. However Hendrix’s band was interracial with a diverse audience. Roberta could have been white due to the diverse audience. I am a huge Hendrix fan and I am not black so why would I think Roberta is. Twelve years later they meet again at a grocery store. Roberta married a rich man and was extremely friendly to Twyla. Twyla cannot hold back her emotions and asks Roberta about the last time they saw each other. Roberta shrugs it off, â€Å"Oh, Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black—white. You know how everything was. † I can relate to this. In 1980, the Cuban Mariel Boat Lifts came over bring thousands of Cubans. I am Cuban but I was born here. Kids I had known since kindergarten treated me as if I just come over on the boats. It had a lasting effect on me and matured me beyond my years. The third time they meet is at the school where their children attend. Roberta and other mothers were picketing because they did not want their kids to be segregated. This led to a fight severing any last chance of a friendship for them as it would not be resolved until Twyla and Roberta meet for a final time. As the story ends I do not get a sense of closure. The question of which girl is white or black remains unanswered. It opened my eyes and made me question how prejudice I really am. I try to not stereotype as a result of what I went through as a child but I found myself doing just that. I can understand why Morrison wrote the way she. I am not sure what her goal was overall but to me it seemed as if she were teaching me about prejudices. â€Å"Recitatif† challenged me to not judge either girl by their race but accept them for who they are. In the end, what difference did it really make about the girls’ races? The story is about how their friendship develops and then deteriorates. Nothing more; nothing less.