Kings David and Solomon: from 10th Century B.C.E. to Present Day Controversy

Kings David and Solomon: From 10th Century B. C. E. to present day Controversy Introduction Perhaps the most famous Old Testament Kings, as well as two of the most famous Hebrew heroes of all time were, King Solomon and his father King David. Their stories have been told time and time again throughout the ages: passed down orally for centuries, then later reproduced and shared all over the globe as intricate portions of many historical religious texts including the Torah, the Koran and the Holy Bible. Biblical sources include: I Chronicles, I Kings, Ecclesiastes, as well as the accounts of many prophets.Furthermore, King David and King Solomon have been attributed to writing several Old Testament books including: the Song of Solomon, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and various Psalms. Historically, David is known for uniting the Kingdom of Israel, replacing Hebron and making Jerusalem its capitol, as well as establishing a dynasty that was held sacred in the hearts and hopes of the Jews for centuries after its demise. His son and successor Solomon is most noted for advancing David’s kingdom and for building the First Temple.In fact, according to Abba Eban (1999), author of over half a dozen historical reference books on Jewish history as well as the PBS television series â€Å"Civilization and the Jews,† â€Å"Solomon’s Temple was the crowning glory of a building program that rivaled those of the Pharaohs† (p. 50). Archaeologists claim to have found remnants of Solomon’s Temple as well in the form of a tablet dated tenth century B. C. E. (Carpenter, 2003, p. 46). However, not all historians and archaeologists agree to the authenticity of the tablet or even to the extent of King David and King Solomon’s rule.Recently, controversy has erupted concerning whether or not, King David and King Solomon, of the Old Testament (also known as the Jewish Bible) were actually the â€Å"grand builders of the united north-south monarchy in An cient Palestine† attributed to them through the Bible and said to unravel after their demise (Halken, 2006, p. 41). The Legacies of David and Solomon According to Rogerson (1999): It is no surprise that David should be one of the most important figures in the bible. As printed in the tradition his achievements were outstanding.Before his reign Israel was a defeated vassal people. Within a few years David made Israel free, and even extended his control over some small neighbouring peoples. Before his reign there was no one dominant political or religious centre in Israel. Within a few years Jerusalem had obtained a centrality that it never subsequently lost (p. 82). David was born around 1040 B. C. E. in Bethlehem, Judah (Castel, 1985, p. 87). He grew up the youngest of eight sons of Jesse, and has been linked with the Ammonite royal family (Rogerson, 1999, p. 78; 2 Samuel, 10: 1-2; 17:25-7).As a teenager David joined the entourage of Israeli King Saul as a minstrel and harpsic hord player. It was during this time period that he first gained notoriety when he defeated the ominous giant Goliath armed with a mere slingshot. In 1 Samuel 18:20-30 it states that with a dowry of 200 Philistine foreskins he married King Saul’s daughter Michal. Unfortunately, David’s marital bliss was cut short by the jealousy of his new father-in-law. Already a seasoned warrior David was praised as a military force with songs proclaiming â€Å"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands† (Rogerson, 1999, p. 78).While fleeing Saul’s armies to the south, David accomplished a great many military victories alongside his former enemies the Philistines, as described in 1 Samuel. Though his military reign started as an almost nomadic band with him a â€Å"robin-hood like bandit-chief,† his strategic prowess was realized by the Judean elders and he was proclaimed King of Judah in Hebron, c. a. 1010 (although some texts have him proclaiming himself King of Judah) (Castel, 1985, p. 89; Halkin, 2006, p. 41). He unified the Israeli tribes to the north and Judah to south and became the ruler of all of Israel seven years later following the death of King Saul c. a. 000 B. C. E. (Castel, 1985, pp. 87-89; Grant, 1984, pp. 75-78; Learsi, 1949, pp. 49-51; Rogerson, 1999, pp. 79-80; 2 Samuel, c. a. 1100-1010 B. C. E. , pp. 505-555). In a brilliant political move David took over the Jebusite city of Jerusalem and made it the capitol of the new United Kingdom of Israel â€Å"thenceforward to be honored as the City of David† (2 Samuel, 1997, pp. 505-555; Eban, 1999, p. 47). Moving the capitol to Jerusalem was an ingenious move on David’s part since it placed him geographically between the northern tribes of Israel and the former Judah. This also unified the Hebrew nation politically since Jerusalem was a fresh tart, not being formerly of Israel or Judah. In order to unify the nation religiously David (with the help o f King Hiram of Tyre) built a palace on Mount Zion where he housed the Ark of the Covenant (Castel, 1985, p. 90; Eban, 1999, p. 49; Halkin, 2006, p. 43; Learsi, 1949, p. 55; Rogerson, 1999, pp. 81-82). He then set out to expand his kingdom taking over and taxing all of Canaan (Rogerson, 1999, p. 82). King David ruled Israel for the next 33 years (Castel, 1985, p. 89; Harkin, 2006, p. 41). Unfortunately the house of David, like many great monarchs (especially those who practiced polygamy) faced great diplomatic personal odds.Among them was internal dissent including a great deal of â€Å"palace intrigue† that was coupled with David’s personal struggles involving subduing his strong passionate nature (1 Samuel, 1997, pp. 439-504; 2 Samuel, 1997, pp. 505-555). As for Solomon, his controversial legacy began before his birth with the scandalous circumstances surrounding his parents union. His mother, Bathsheba, had been married to another man when David saw her, had her, an d then had her husband put to death by placing him on the front lines of battle (Rogerson, 1999, p. 85). Since Bathsheba was a favorite of David’s he promised her that her son would be his successor.It took some clever maneuvering but Solomon was proclaimed King of Israel in c. a. 960 (Harkin, 2006, p. 43). Solomon’s reign was characterized by his diplomatic matrimonial choices, made in order to enhance his trade routes and expand his Kingdom. His first betrothal was to one of King Hiram’s daughters, solidifying his kinship with Tyre. This provided him with the materials necessary to build his father’s Temple. Another strategic marriage was to an Egyptian pharoah’s daughter. As a dowry the pharaoh burnt down the city Gezer and gave it to Solomon.All in all Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (Eban, 1984, p. 49-50). Historical and Archaeological Controversy In the last several years there has been an abundance of historical and archaeological d ebate over the reigns of King David and King Solomon. According to Harkin (2006) archaeologist Israel Finkelstein and author Neil Asher Silberman state that, kings David and Solomon, though â€Å"genuine historical figures† were but â€Å"bandit chiefs† (p. 41). Finkelstein believes that Israel could not have reached its peak during the reigns of David and Solomon in the 10th century, but rather in the 8th or 9th.Finkelstein’s account relies wholly on the lack of archaeological evidence to prove the existence of the monumental architecture described in the biblical accounts of David and Solomon (Harkin, 2006, pp. 41-48). However, their opinion is countered by several archaeological discoveries that have occurred over the last several years, resulting in their evidence being described as â€Å"†¦tendentious†¦like a conspiracy theory†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Harkin, 2006, p. 48). According to Blakely (2002) two maps of tenth century BC. E. ere uncovered providing archaeological evidence of King David and King Solomon’s kingdom (p. 49). Then in 2003 a possible breakthrough discovery was made: a piece of sandstone was unearthed said to be the first documented archaeological evidence of Solomon’s temple. Researchers at the Geological Survey of Israel examined the tablets and found them to be â€Å"almost certainly genuine† (Carpenter, 2003, p. 46). According to Bar-llan University archaeologist Gabrial Barkai, these tablets â€Å"could be the most significant archaeological finding in yet in the land of Israel† (Carpenter, 2003, p. 6). Further proof of the existence of King David and King Solomon’s kingdom was the amazing find of a 3000 plus structure by archaeologist Eilat Mazar which debunks Finkelstein’s claim that David and Solomon were nothing but â€Å"bandit chiefs† (Halkin, 2006, pp. 41-48). Conclusion The tedious process of gathering archaeological information certainly takes time. Not just time but a great deal of clever maneuvering, as well as ready manpower and abundant monetary resources. Even if you do have permission to dig, there is modern day architecture to be worked around.One just cannot go around up heaving present day civilizations in order to prove the existence of past civilizations. However, in the case of kings David and Solomon their existence has been proven time and time again. Backing up the biblical account is the â€Å"Tel Dan Stele† an Aramaic text uncovered in 1993 dated 835 B. C. E. which boasts of Hazael King of Damascus’ victory over northern Israel’s king Jehoram son of Ahab and southern Judah’s Ahaziahu of the house of David (Halkin, 2006, p. 48).

Social Studies Teenage Pregnancy Questionnaire SBA

SOCIAL SUDIES SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT (SBA) 2013 CANDIDATE NAME: MITSEY STONE SCHOOL: MONTEGO-BAY E-LEARNING TITLE: An examination on Teenage Pregnancy in my community TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement Introduction Task 1: Statement of Problem Task 2: Reason for Selecting Area of Research Task 3: Method of Investigation Task 4: Data Collection Instrument Task 5: Procedures for Data Collection Task 6: Presentation of Data Task 7: Analysis and Interpretation of Data Task 8: Statement of FindingsTask 9: Recommendations and Implementation StrategyACKNOWLEDGEMENTI have taken effort in this project; however it would not have been possible without the kind support and help of many individuals and book publishers. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them. I am highly indebted to Modules In Social Studies by Rampersad Ramsawak and Ralph . R Umraw for providing necessary information regarding this rese- arch. I would like to express my gratitude towards my family ,friends and the the persons in my community who participated,for their kind o-operation and encouragement which help me in completion of this project, And most of all to God for making this possible.INTRODUCTION TASK 1: STATEMENT OF PROBLEMWhat factors contribute to the increasing problem of teenage Pregnancy?How does this problem impact the lives of children?What can be done to decrease the cause of teenage pregnancy?TASK 2: REASONS FOR SELECTING THIS AREA OF RESEARCHThis area of research was chosen because it is a prominent issue that could be address in a better light. Similar essay: SBA on Drug AbuseThe researcher want to explore the options or me- asures that can assist these teenagers and also what can be done to eliminate the increase of teenage pregnancy in the community of Maroon Town.TASK 3: METHOD OF INVESTIGATION The method of investigation chosen to implement data is in the form of a questionnaire that was shared randomly to persons within my community.TASK 4: DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT QUESTIONNAIRE Instructions: Please read the following questions and put a tick in the box provided or answer on the spaces.1. Sex: Male Female2. To which age group do you belong ? 9- 12 years, 13- 15 years, 16- 19 years, 20- 50 years3. How long have you been a resident of this community? 3- 5 years, 7- 10 year,s 12- 15 years, Others4. To which ethnic group do you belong? African decent, Indian decent, Chinese decent, Other5. What is your level of education? Primary, Secondary, Tertiary6. What is the highest grade you completed? 8- 9 grade, 10- 11 grade, So me college, Other7. At what age did you become sexually active? 11- 13 years, 14- 16 years, 17- 18 years, 19- 20 years8.How many children do you have? 1-2 children, 3- 4 children, Over 5 children, Others9. How did you first find out about sex? Family, Friends, School, Media, Other10. What is your main source of financial support? Own job, Spouse, Parents, Other11. Are you currently working? Yes No12. If not why?13. Do you think that peer influences affect your opinion on sex? Yes No14. What are the main causes of teenage pregnancy? Lack of parental guidance, Sexual assault or rape, Economic issues Poverty15. How does teenage pregnancy affect a teenagers education?16. What are the advantages and disadvantages or teenage pregnancy?17. What were the challenges faced during your pregnancy?18. What measures can be taken to reduce the cause of teenage pregnancy in my community?TASK 5: PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTING DATA To gather information for this project the researcher constructed a questi onnaire which consist of eighteen questions which were con- tributed to thirty teenagers in Maroon Town. The sample was selec- ted using the simple method by placing fifty names of persons in my community in a bag.The bag was shaken and the first twenty names selected were given a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire were contributed on the 30th October and collected the 6th of November. Of the respondents 70percent were female and 30percent were male.TASK 6: PRESENTATION OF DATA Data was collected for this project using a pie chart, a histogram and a bar graph. Figure 1 Figure one is a pie chart illustrating the ages at which teenagers became sexually active in the community of Maroon Town. An estimate of 40% became pregnant at the age of 14 to 16 years

An essay to appraise a research study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

An to appraise a research study - Essay Example Based on that definition, the pilot study by van der Riet et al. (2015) can be categorized as qualitative research. Caldwell, Henshaw and Taylor (2005) articulate the need for a viable framework to critique research in health sciences. According to Caldwell, Henshaw and Taylor (2005) health care is a multi-disciplinary field and involves diverse approaches. Furthermore, there is a wide range of research conducted in health care field, hence the necessity for a workable framework for critique. The critique will adopt the framework by Ryan, Coughlan, and Cronin, (2007), as outlined in Lipp and Fothergill (2015). Ryan, Coughlan and Cronin (2007a, b) outline a two-section framework applied in the critique of qualitative research. The framework will be applicable to the study by van der Riet et al. (2015). Section one of the framework explores features that influence believability of the research. It includes the writing style, author, report title and abstract. Section two explores eleme nts that show the robustness of the research. The section includes statement of the phenomenon of interest, the study’s significance, literature review, theoretical framework, sample, ethical considerations during the research, data collection and analysis, findings and discussion, conclusion and references. The research is well-written and concise. Grammar use in the research is standard and plausible. There is no use of jargons in the language. The language is academic and serves well to communicate aspects of the research to readers. Its organization is great and conforms to conventional standards of research layouts. It has sub-sections that articulate different aspects of the study. The authors should possess credible educational background in the area under study (Ryan, Coughlan & Cronin, 2007). The research is a work by five authors and all have credible

Customers' and firms' views of using drones in business Essay

Customers' and firms' views of using drones in business - Essay Example A drone resembles and acts like an airplane. Lack of a pilot flying the drone is the major difference between a drone and an airplane. A person in a certain station controls a drone. The individuals are responsible for monitoring areas covered by the drone. In addition, the individual controls the movement of the drone. Drones are common among the military and army squads as they use them to survey enemies’ movement. They also act as bombs for attacking enemies. Development of drone abilities attracted executives who used for surveying areas that was not within the businessperson reach. Therefore, the drone has been of great service as it save time. Businessperson, use the drone for purposes such as delivery, providing internet services, news, photography, agriculture, population and monitoring public service.1 Apparently, the firms using drone and consumer have different views considering the use of drones in business activities. Some view them as advantageous while some view them as a disturber. Nevertheless, it depends on the service the drone offers to the individual. This paper attempts to views and explains the difference and similarities between the customers and the firm’s view on the usage of drones in business activity. The paper also adds the differences that firms and customers have while viewing the usage of drones in the business. It adds that the difference in people view is the main reason for the difference in how people view drones. Despite the many benefits of using drones in business, some firms and customers complain of the services produced. Some firms view the usage if drone in business and efficient. They lay their view upon the fast services produced when using the drone especially when delivering products. It is clear that most firms have experienced a challenge when delivering products and services to consumers in time when delivering products locally. The main problems that firms experience is a

Market Segmentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market Segmentation - Essay Example Apart from brushes, kid’s toothpaste is also available. Along with children, Oral-B offers various brushes and dental floss to adults. Mouth rinses are also available. Psychographic: The products of Oral-B can also be divided on the basis of psychographic market segment. People can choose Oral-B toothbrushes according to their individual taste, as variety of brushes with variable prices are in offer. They can also choose brushes according to their color fascination. If someone likes mouthwash or wants complete cleaning care, it is also available in Oral-B, in the form of floss and mouthwash. Apart from manual toothbrushes, power products are also available that comes with rotating oscillation that is effective inn reducing gingivitis and oral plaque. But, they are a bit expensive than manual brushes. Benefit: Oral-B uses benefit segmentation as it offers a variety of toothbrushes. One type of Oral-B toothbrush has nylon bristles that offer extra cleaning power, while some other brushes offer soft bristles for gentle care. Toothbrushes designed for children are easy to hold and they also have cartoon characters in the handles. It also offers angled handle toothbrush to easily clean the areas that is hard to clean. Oral-B also offers interdental and floss for complete oral care, as it is effective in removing plaque. Floss is also effective in fighting gum diseases. Power toothbrushes with rotating and oscillating bristles make cleaning really easy. Toothpastes and mouth rinses are also available in Oral-B. Demographic: Beauty products of Urban Care cater to women with variant tastes and lifestyle. Though the products are meant only for women, there are products for daily use as well as for special occasions. Psychographic: Products of Urban Decay can be categorized on the basis of interests and occupation. Women can use the cosmetics from this company while going to office and can also use other cosmetics while

Case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case analysis - Essay Example They were able to develop the Fiji Waters as a high profile drink as they sponsored golf tournaments, sports events and were even able to win endorsements in the movies. The drink that appeared to be exclusive is available in supermarkets and local stores and creates a notion that what is good for the rich and famous is also good for the majority. Green washing is a marketing strategy used by companies to mislead benefits of a product, service, technology, or company practice (Rouse, Margaret, Sept. 2007)). Companies engage in green washing to enhance product’s capabilities and mislead consumers on the true picture of the product for company’s gain. For example, the Fiji Waters â€Å"carbon negative† advertising campaign has been challenged in the US District Court to be misleading. I believe a claim is a green washing when there are many criticisms against it, and evidences or proofs are not rightly presented. The FIJI’s Water Negative campaign is not a green washing because it begins with a measurable target that proposes to offset more greenhouse emissions than were released by its operations and products. It is turning the positive harmful effects of its operations into something negative. Beginning 2008, it will reduce its land use and utilize renewable energy. It did not assume to maintain zero CO2, but rather `a reduction only. FIJI Waters hopes to reduce its CO2 emissions by 25%; 50% from renewable resources, and reducing wastes from production facility by 33%. FIJI Waters is conscious of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) and has done efforts to reduce damage to the environment. CSR is one way to be assured of the sustainability of long-range operations that will be beneficial to both the company and to the community. It is a head-turning marketing campaign that will also make people think of its environment. I am concerned that with the way underground water is cons umed,

Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business ethics - Essay Example Application of ethics into businesses has expanded the role of businesses in the economy. According to the classical economic theory however, the firms are driven by the primary objective to maximize profits while consumers are driven by the primary objective to maximize the self satisfaction which is known as utility. Hence the producers and consumers in the economy are motivated by profits and losses as measured in terms of dollars and cents rather than any moral value. Moreover, such profit maximizing production procedures may not be the ethical approach when the social and environmental concerns are addressed. Therefore, a theoretical ambiguity appears in what is the ethical conduct in business. When a company rigidly adheres to a marketing policy which focuses only on short run benefits it can suffer severe economic losses in the long run (Ferrell et al., 2012). Example, marginal declining of value of housing assets in the USA market ended up resulting in bankruptcy of Lehman Br others in the USA and BNP Paribas in France. Laiki Bank in Cyprus also ended up in bankruptcy as a result of unethical business strategies. In other words attempting profit out of thin year caused the recent financial market failure. Moreover, negligence of duty can result in lives lost to the society as well as losses to the companies (Guerra, 2013). An ethical dilemma is created when an individual company, a community or consumers are not in control of all the factors that influence their choices example, when the government interventions in open market operations lead certain companies into bankruptcy. Government interventions in the markets are identified in terms of price subsidizing, taxing, and imposing trade barriers which are aimed at achieving specific developmental goals, national food security and self sufficiency, reducing poverty, reducing market power and protecting the public goods. However, there are noneconomic, political motivations for interfering in the markets by the government example, for financing a war. Moral Issues in Financial Market Failures Banking failure is defined as a situation in which banks are closed from operation because of the financial difficulties (Gunsel, 2007). There can be a number of bad monetary policies which may cause banking failure. A number of moral issues also arise relevant to bank failures. For example, banks operate according to the policies which are set by the government i.e. policies are defined in the bank’s external environment. Even though an individual firm may foresee its bankruptcy it can have little to no control over the tragic destiny lying ahead. Government intervening in markets is identified as a market failure in neo-classical economics theory because it can disrupt the optimal resource allocation and create deadweight loss to the social welfare. Free market structure is identified as the most efficient economy. The three case studies described in the following chapter bare evidence s as to how bad fiscal and monetary policies can result in bankruptcy of the firms. Not only the external policy environment but unethical firm level policies can also lead companies into bankruptcy. The recent Subprime Mortgage Crisis Friedman, 2009, describes the cause of global financial crisis which occurred during the past decade in terms of following government interv

A Critical Review in the Contemporary Themes in Youth Work Practice, Essay

A Critical Review in the Contemporary Themes in Youth Work Practice, Thematic Area Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing - Essay Example The article argues that human beings and their humanity are as a result a result of both nature and nurture and thus none can be successful without the other. In this case nature is in reference to the genetic components that make up heir system while nurture is in reference to the various experiences that they go through while growing up at the various stages of their lives (Perry, 2002). The argument is that these two factors are essential in the development of a human being thus it ca n be said that both genes as well as experience are interdependent of one another. The understanding that I received from this article is that there is a need for both genetic development as well as experience for an individual to grow into a well rounded figure and a lack of any of these factors or a provision of negative ones will in turn deprive the person from forming into a well adjusted individual when they are in the adult stages of their lives (Perry, 2002). The article also explains that the earlier stages of an individuals lives (that is, from infancy to around their years as a toddler) are the more vital parts of an individuals life when the experiences that they undergo will have a vital effect on them and their psychological and emotional development (Perry, 2002). This is clearly seen in an example whereby a child who is not touched during their early stages as a baby is likely to suffer more and such an experience have an adverse effect as compared to a child who has reached puberty undergoing the same experience. This example also exhibits that dif ferent experiences are vital during different stages of one’s life and do not really play a large role after that stage in life has already been passed. The article has also argued that the neurodevelopment of an individual is highly influenced not only by the genetic transformations that take place,

Maths project Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Maths project - Coursework Example The collected data were from various ages and shoe size. Utilizing the underlying evidence to comprehend and make viable conclusion of the hypothesis that is most appropriate. Comprehension of the framework of the report and knowledge was utilized in creation of the thesis and via mind mapping the ideas were formulated for attaining relevant data. The objectives of this experiment are to contract a few friends and prevailing family member to aid in completing the questionnaire. It will involve collection of the shoe sizes for 20 children in the underlying range of 1 to 16 years old and carry out analysis of the data in order to either prove or disapprove the underlying fact that the prevailing children’s shoe sizes escalate with the increase in age. The investigation was kept fair and accurate as possible in regard to collection of the data pertaining to the shoe sizes and age. The major aim of the underlying experiment was to assess if the children’s shoe sizes escalates as their ages increases. It aimed at aiding in comprehending of the association amidst an individual’s age and their corresponding shoe size. The investigation also aimed at testing the underlying hypothesis through completion of the experiment after attaining the appropriate results of the investigation, assessing the results and verifying the validity of the prevailing hypothesis. Simple short questionnaire was utilized in obtaining sections of the vital information, shoe size, gender and corresponding age. All the prevailing participants were twenty and their consent were received from parents by elaborating the main reasons of undertaking the research. The data were then transferred into corresponding tally chart and then the number of participants with particular size shoe was computed. The data were displayed into the bar chart, pie chart and suitable scatter graph. Diverse means was utilized in computing averages and corresponding participants’ ages

International risk management Essay Example for Free

International risk management Essay A Letter of Credit is a document issued by a bank at the request of its customer promising to pay the exporter for the goods and services provided that the exporter provides all the documents as stated in the terms and conditions. To the exporter a letter of credit guarantees payment and reduces production risk if the buyer has a change of his order. It ensures that buyers cannot refuse to pay due to complain raised over the goods. It also provides a chance to get financing incase of delayed payment. The importer can structure their payment plan, it helps confirm the shipment of the goods, helps them reduce pre-payment, it as well ensures that the exporter delivers exactly what the importer required it also creates confidence for bigger transactions in future. A bill of exchange is a document that acts as the evidence of a debt and informs the importer to pay the exporter a certain fixed sum of money at a certain specific time. They act as a guarantee that goods of certain stated specifications have been shipped and that and that that require payment. The Export-Import Bank of United States of America helps in financing sales of goods and services by proving guarantee of working capital loans, it helps crate jobs through export of goods, the bank guarantees the repayment of loans to foreign purchasers, it also provides credit insurance for U. S. exporters against. The disadvantage of the Export-Import Bank is that for it to support the products at least 50 percent of them must be from U. S and they should not have any negative effect to the economy. It also does not offer help to importers outside U. S. In conclusion, the letter of credit, the bill of exchange and the Export-Import Bank are very important for the import-Export business to prosper not only in U. S but also any where in the world.

Narration in Jane Eyre

Narration in Jane Eyre Jane Eyre is written from the first person standpoint. How does this affect our judgement of the protagonist Jane? Jane Eyre is narrated by its title character and so presents us with a story from a sole point of view.   When the novel was first published it included the subtitle, ‘An Autobiography,’ thereby drawing further attention to its narration by one person very much involved with the story to be told.   The nature of the narrator and their relationship with the reader has a great effect on how we judge their character, and Jane Eyre is no exception.   Jane Eyre provides us with a narration of events and dialogue, as well as an account of her thoughts and feelings. The novel can be classified as a bildungsroman, as it charts the growth of Jane from a child into a young woman.   This particular genre of the novel capitalises on the first person narrator and as a result creates a story that is extremely sympathetic to the plight of the protagonist.   As a child at the very beginning of the novel, Jane utters to herself the words ‘Unjust! – unjust!’ (p17) and it is impossible for the reader not to constantly recall these words as Jane suffers at the hands of her cousins and later at Lowood School.   By reading an account from a first person narrator we are privy to not just a narration of events, but also of internalised emotions.   In this respect, it is often easy for this type of narration to become biased and extremely subjective.   We are able to understand how Jane feels, but must rely on her perception when it comes to the feelings of others. It is true that Jane’s narration is a very personal account and as a result is often selective, with Jane recounting experiences that stick in her memory, ‘I remember well the distracting irritation I endured from the cause every evening’ (p62).   However, because of the way Bronte characterises Jane – of good moral nature and of constant character – we accept her as a credible narrator.   Our sympathy and bias towards her cause is aided by the fact that we are given an insight into Jane’s life right from her childhood.   This means that we can relate to her and sympathise with her situation, knowing where she has come from and what drives her. There is no illusion presented in the novel that we are reading an unbiased version of events.   In fact, the narrator of Jane Eyre makes the relationship between reader and herself very clear, frequently bringing attention to the our position as reader ‘True, reader, and I knew and felt this’ (p79).   The power of the narrator becomes very clear as the novel progresses, with Jane Eyre often speculating on her role as narrator, ‘A new chapter in a novel is something like a new scene in a play; and when I draw up the curtain this time, reader – you must fancy you see a room in the George Inn at Millcote’ (p95).   She draws the reader into the story and in doing so identifies the reader as someone akin to a companion or friend.   Again, this tone of narration enables us to connect and empathise with the narrator.   We experience events as Jane remembers them, and are given explanations at the same point in the story as she would have received them. Jane relies heavily on language and story-telling as a means of expressing herself, this is clear from the very beginning of the novel when our first glimpse of her comes while she is reading a book, ‘Each picture told a story; mysterious often to my undeveloped understanding and imperfect feelings, yet ever profoundly interesting’ (p10-11).   In turn she becomes a great storyteller of her life.   This is also as a result of being confined as a child; she is rarely given the opportunity to explain herself, ‘Be seated somewhere, and until you can speak pleasantly, remain silent’ (p39).   Consequently, Jane tends to develop an affinity with those who take to storytelling like Bessie, and is repelled by those who do not, like St John.   When talking of Mary Ann Wilson, the importance she grants communicative relationships becomes clearer: ‘She had a turn for narrative, I for analysis; she like to inform, I to question; so we got on swimmingly together, deriving much entertainment, if not much improvement, from our mutual intercourse’ (109). This attitude enables the reader to accept Jane as a character telling a story as truthfully as she can through her own eyes, and also very aware of the entertainment value of a story. This limited understanding of events can become problematic with regard to our judgement of Jane when it comes to the treatment of Bertha.   Bronte had an unquestioning belief in the assumptions of imperialism, a belief that would obviously colour her views and sympathies for characters such as Bertha, as seen through the eyes of Jane Eyre.   Consequently the focal characters of the novel become Jane and Mr Rochester, forcing Bertha into the peripheral role of obstacle to the desired marriage. This pro-imperialist stance means that Jane consistently refers to the character of Bertha as bestial, irrational and violent: ‘What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight tell: it grovelled, seemingly on all fours; it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal: but it was covered with clothing, and a quantity of dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid its head and face.’ P291 Such a character fits perfectly into a gothic novel and her presentation succeeds in bringing us closer and feeling more empathy for the plight of Jane and Rochester.   It is extremely easy to sideline the character of Bertha and give her little thought other than as another hardship in the life of Jane.   We see her in relation to Jane and not as a character in herself.   Indeed, she is frequently addressed as it, and we are given little insight into her life before Thornfield Hall.   When we do receive information about her, it is largely biased towards Rochester.   For example, the act of bringing Bertha back to England is portrayed as an act of duty to God and humanity.   As a character in love with Rochester, Jane is able to narrate his behaviour and actions in a positive light. Jean Rhys tackles the issue of Jane Eyre’s subjectivity and treatment of Bertha in her novel Wide Sargasso Sea.   Rhys disputes Bronte’s English assumptions about colonial otherness by writing Bertha into the story, but this time with more than a minor role.   As stated by Jean Rhys in the book Jean Rhys and the novel as women’s text: ‘why should she think Creole women are lunatics and all that?   What a shame to make Rochester’s first wife, Bertha, the awful madwoman, and I immediately thought I’d write the story as it might really have been.   She seemed such poor ghost, I thought I’d try to write her a life.’( p128) By focusing on the story of Bertha (given the name of Antoinette) Rhys is able to justify her behaviour and give her a history and character of her own unrelated to Jane Eyre.   As a result we are able to place Jane and Rochester into a bigger picture, as opposed to reading them through blinkered vision. By shifting sympathy to the character of Antoinette, it seems that Rhys is suggesting that she was previously misrepresented by Bronte.   However, given the time that Bronte was writing in and the fact that she is presenting the views and opinions of one female character, this seems a little unfair.   Bronte was focusing on providing a voice to Jane Eyre, not to the Creole female in the attic.   As a nineteenth female writer, Bronte was – like Bertha – restricted by circumstances and what could not be done in life ran parallel with what could not be written.   This meant that Bronte would not have been in a position to question a woman’s role without writing against the grain of contemporary religious beliefs and societal convention (largely influenced at the time by imperialism).   Bronte’s novel is as much a sign of the times as a personal narrative. Communication is of great importance to Jane throughout the novel, to the extent that she frequently judges other characters on their narrative ability, granting favour to those who prove good narrators.   In the same way we grant favour to Jane Eyre for her position as a credible narrator.   There will always be gaps in a story, be these knowledge gaps or selected omissions and this is particularly the case when it comes to first person narrations. But as Jane notes in relation to Mary Ann Wilson, there is always one person who narrates and another who analyses; one who informs and another who questions.   In the case of Jane Eyre, it is left to the reader to analyse and question once they have read the novel, not necessarily judging the character of Jane, but considering the issues it raises. Bibliography Bronte, Charlotte, Jane Eyre   (Penguin, 1994) Harrison, Nancy, Jean Rhys and the novel as women’s text (University of North Carolina Press, 1988

Mother Doesnt Know Best Essays -- Personal Narrative Profile Essays

Mother Doesn't Know Best As a little girl, I was sure that a good parent would allow me to eat all the cookies in the cookie jar or buy me toys at Toys R Us. When I got a little older, I figured that a good parent would let me stay up past ten o'clock on school nights. Then I became a teenager and I felt that a good parent would buy me a car and let me be independent. According to these definitions of a "good parent," my parents always fell short. It wasn't until I became a parent that I began to understand what a good parent really is. My two-year old daughter taught me this lesson in her simple childlike manner. Having church at eleven o'clock is difficult for our family. Church time is play time, followed by lunch, and ending with naps. Needless to say, we always struggle during that first hour before we can deposit both Jenny Beth and Juliana into the nursery for the remaining two hours. I admit, it's crazy to expect a one-year-old and a two-year-old to sit quietly through an hour of inspirational talks that they consider boring. Nevertheless, we attend church as a family. This particular Sunday was no different. "Mommy, look! Taylor! Taylor!" Jenny Beth said excitedly to me during the church service. She wasn't using her whispering church voice as we had rehearsed on several occasions. Needless to say, I was a bit exasperated and embarrassed. Besides, I knew that Scott and Joy Rowe, Taylor's parents, were sitting a few rows over. I had seen them enter and sit down. Their one-year-old daughter, Taylor, was in Scott's arms. I had even discreetly waved to them. Hastily, I rummaged through the diaper bag and retrieved two tattered and torn books that were well-loved and well-gnawed by my two daughters. These were... ...t only believes in her children but believes them as well. A good parent can admit when she's wrong and acknowledge when her children are right. A good parent says, "I'm sorry." After church was over, I went to Jenny, my smart two-year old, and hugged her. I told her that I was sorry and asked for her forgiveness. She hugged me back and kissed my lips. She had completely forgotten what she was mad about only moments earlier. Accustomed to being told to say "Sorry," she misunderstood my apology and said, "Horry(sorry), Mommy." My eyes filled with tears. She was so merciful. "Let's go nursery, Mommy!" she said with anticipation. I felt like a good parent again. I was still the mother that day; however, I played another role, as well. I was a student in my daughter's classroom. She taught me a valuable lesson about parenthood. Mother does not always know best.

Henry James’ The Golden Bowl, The American Scene, and the New York Edition :: American Scene

Henry James’ The Golden Bowl, The American Scene, and the New York Edition In the letter he wrote to Scribner's in 1905 proposing that he "furnish" each volume of his forthcoming deluxe edition with a preface, Henry James portrayed his novels and stories as disenfranchised beings patiently awaiting a "chance" for their cause to be righted. James would be their advocate and the prefaces the texts with which he would demonstrate his novels' worth (367). In this paper I will argue that the writing of The Golden Bowl and The American Scene were essential precedents and complements to this project of self-vindication. Reading The Golden Bowl through its preface shows that beneath the narratives of familial and marital relations in the novel run stories of a writer's contention with a misapprehending audience--the same struggles out of which James spun creative autobiography and a theory of fiction in the prefaces to the New York Edition. Through his indirect critique of his readership in The Golden Bowl and the fierce challenges he delivered to his compatriots in The American Scene James laid essential groundwork for the lessons in reading and creative production he would later offer in the New York Edition. Paul Armstrong has argued that James's prefaces require the same "doubled reading" his novels require, that while the reader is absorbing James's account of his writing experience and his theory of writing, the reader is also responding to James as a centering consciousness whose "interpretive attitudes . . . are as much on display and as much an object for the reader's scrutiny as the impressions of a Lambert Strether or a Maggie Verver" (128). As comparable centering consciousnesses, James the preface-writer and his heroine Maggie Verver make common assertions. Both figures demonstrate the power of the creative deed. Paralleling James's affirmations about "doing" in the preface to The Golden Bowl is Maggie's discovery in the novel of her own brilliant capacity for action. After the assignation of the Prince with Charlotte in Gloucester, Maggie begins "to doubt of her wonderful little judgement of her wonderful little world" (307). She begins to "put" things both to herself and the people around her. She contrives gestures to effect a change in her "practically unattackable" situation. Henry James’ The Golden Bowl, The American Scene, and the New York Edition :: American Scene Henry James’ The Golden Bowl, The American Scene, and the New York Edition In the letter he wrote to Scribner's in 1905 proposing that he "furnish" each volume of his forthcoming deluxe edition with a preface, Henry James portrayed his novels and stories as disenfranchised beings patiently awaiting a "chance" for their cause to be righted. James would be their advocate and the prefaces the texts with which he would demonstrate his novels' worth (367). In this paper I will argue that the writing of The Golden Bowl and The American Scene were essential precedents and complements to this project of self-vindication. Reading The Golden Bowl through its preface shows that beneath the narratives of familial and marital relations in the novel run stories of a writer's contention with a misapprehending audience--the same struggles out of which James spun creative autobiography and a theory of fiction in the prefaces to the New York Edition. Through his indirect critique of his readership in The Golden Bowl and the fierce challenges he delivered to his compatriots in The American Scene James laid essential groundwork for the lessons in reading and creative production he would later offer in the New York Edition. Paul Armstrong has argued that James's prefaces require the same "doubled reading" his novels require, that while the reader is absorbing James's account of his writing experience and his theory of writing, the reader is also responding to James as a centering consciousness whose "interpretive attitudes . . . are as much on display and as much an object for the reader's scrutiny as the impressions of a Lambert Strether or a Maggie Verver" (128). As comparable centering consciousnesses, James the preface-writer and his heroine Maggie Verver make common assertions. Both figures demonstrate the power of the creative deed. Paralleling James's affirmations about "doing" in the preface to The Golden Bowl is Maggie's discovery in the novel of her own brilliant capacity for action. After the assignation of the Prince with Charlotte in Gloucester, Maggie begins "to doubt of her wonderful little judgement of her wonderful little world" (307). She begins to "put" things both to herself and the people around her. She contrives gestures to effect a change in her "practically unattackable" situation.

Chase.coms Quest for a Global Web Presence Essay -- Papers

Chase.com's Quest for a Global Web Presence Overview ======== Chase.com and Chase Manhattan together are an international powerhouse in commercial banking. The bank has been continually growing since the merger in 1955 between The Chase National Bank and The Bank of Manhattan Company; another merger with the Chemical Banking Company of New York in 1996 made Chase the largest bank holding company in the US. It was the takeover of J.P Morgan in 2000, which lead to Chase becoming the powerhouse of international banking. ====================================================================== Reasons for development ======================= Two of the major problems that Chase Manhattan faced were due to changes in the general business environment. Â · Globalisation is fast becoming a reality and therefore Chase's domestic customers were now competing with rivals all over the world. Chase in turn had to be able to offer these customers top-quality service wherever they were doing business. Â · Advances in telecommunications, including the growth of the Internet, forced Chase (as well as all other major banks) to use telecommunications to compete globally. Chase Manhattan had no choice but to expand and set up Chase.com due to the changing global economy. The internet has fast become used in every business all over the world and in order for Chase to keep in touch with it's customers and to keep ahead of its competitors it has to optimise business and links to noncore services. Before a new system can be successfully implemented, the characteristics of the company need to be evaluated to see what type ... ... process of implementing a system be to the requirements established by Chase to their ASP? Chase is demanding that the website enables it to have a competitive edge. The system solution is proposing to maintain a fully updated system which will be built on an established technological position, this will provide Chase with a world-class website to help them maintain their respected name in banking and provide them with a competitive edge over others. The solution will make Chase's business completely Internet enabled by providing account information, portals for banking and portfolio and currency management. With the option of updating the system when required to keep Chase ahead of competitors the ASP's suggested solution has all the characteristics of a successful partnership with Chase and its requirements. Chase.com's Quest for a Global Web Presence Essay -- Papers Chase.com's Quest for a Global Web Presence Overview ======== Chase.com and Chase Manhattan together are an international powerhouse in commercial banking. The bank has been continually growing since the merger in 1955 between The Chase National Bank and The Bank of Manhattan Company; another merger with the Chemical Banking Company of New York in 1996 made Chase the largest bank holding company in the US. It was the takeover of J.P Morgan in 2000, which lead to Chase becoming the powerhouse of international banking. ====================================================================== Reasons for development ======================= Two of the major problems that Chase Manhattan faced were due to changes in the general business environment. Â · Globalisation is fast becoming a reality and therefore Chase's domestic customers were now competing with rivals all over the world. Chase in turn had to be able to offer these customers top-quality service wherever they were doing business. Â · Advances in telecommunications, including the growth of the Internet, forced Chase (as well as all other major banks) to use telecommunications to compete globally. Chase Manhattan had no choice but to expand and set up Chase.com due to the changing global economy. The internet has fast become used in every business all over the world and in order for Chase to keep in touch with it's customers and to keep ahead of its competitors it has to optimise business and links to noncore services. Before a new system can be successfully implemented, the characteristics of the company need to be evaluated to see what type ... ... process of implementing a system be to the requirements established by Chase to their ASP? Chase is demanding that the website enables it to have a competitive edge. The system solution is proposing to maintain a fully updated system which will be built on an established technological position, this will provide Chase with a world-class website to help them maintain their respected name in banking and provide them with a competitive edge over others. The solution will make Chase's business completely Internet enabled by providing account information, portals for banking and portfolio and currency management. With the option of updating the system when required to keep Chase ahead of competitors the ASP's suggested solution has all the characteristics of a successful partnership with Chase and its requirements.

Effect Of Western Culture On Indian Youth Essay

How there is head and tail for a coin, there is both positive and negative impact of western culture on India and especially on Indian youth, In past in India men were our traditional dresses, but now it is entirely changed, now the Indian youth moving with jeans, t-shirts, minis, micros, etc., here we can proud of that western culture, it bringing us with the fast moving world. But when we consider the pubs, it is the thing to be strictly punished. In pubs both men and women are in drastic stage, by taking drugs, it should be punished. And we need to felt sorry for that. And there r many things to be taken from the western culture. Well World is changing, because of lot of developments in various sectors like IT, MANUFACTURING, Revolution of E COMMERCE and many more †¦ have brought the ties between various nations/ people and their cultures to get mixed with each other. WELL I WOULD TAKE A BIASED OPINION IN THIS. Lets take example of USA. Well Indians are crazy of adopting Western Culture LIKE DRESS CODE, MUSIC, HABITS, IMPORTING FOREIGN GOODS. What not we feel so attracted to all those. But by adopting we dint loose our traditions and culture; we tend to blend both of them. It all depends on person likes and dislikes, how he /she will behave according to situations. As our friend PAVANI has mentioned like PUBS are to be strictly banned. Well that cant is possible realistically. If an individual decides what is good/bad for them every person can be in control †¦rite I finally stress points like No matter people adopt what ever the culture †¦ They shud be in the limits and act rationally according to the situations. We jus cant stop/Ban things by considering it to be western /eastern. We need to analyze what benefits we get and try to choose.options. Since what all we want is PROGRESS/DEVELOPMENT ultimately to our nation. So IT’S EVERY PERSONS RESPONSIBILY TO CONTRIBUTE HIS/HER PART TO IT. I guess always the other†¦

Government Responsibility for Broadcasting and Creative Industries in the UK Essay

BBC * Breakfast Television, a new venture for the BBC presented by Frank Bough and Selina Scott, began in 1983 and this was followed three years later by daytime television. * Government responsibility for broadcasting and creative industries in the UK lies with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Office for Communications Act 2003 merged a number of regulatory bodies into a new regulatory structure headed by the Office of Communications or Ofcom. Ofcom took over responsibilities from the former Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority, Oftel, Radio Communications Agency and Broadcasting Standards Commission. * The BBC is run in the interests of its viewers and listeners. Twelve Governors act as trustees of the public interest and regulate the BBC. They are appointed by the Queen on advice from ministers. Day-to-day BBC operations are run by 16 divisions. The main BBC Executive Board is made up of 9 directors and is chaired by the Director-General. A Creative Board, Journalism Board and Commercial Board report to the Executive Board. The Executive Board answers to the Board of Governors. BBC Governors differ from directors of public companies, whose primary responsibilities are to shareholders and not consumers. BBC Governors represent the public interest, notably the interests of viewers and listeners. The Governors safeguard the BBC’s independence, set its objectives and monitor its performance. They are accountable to BBC licence payers and Parliament, and publish an Annual Report assessing its performance against objectives CNN * CNN.com is among the world’s leaders in online news and information delivery. Staffed 24 hours, seven days a week by a dedicated staff in CNN’s world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and in bureaus worldwide, CNN.com relies heavily on CNN’s global team of almost 4,000 news professionals. CNN.com features the latest multimedia technologies, from live video streaming to audio packages to searchable archives of news features and background information.

Definition of Communication Essay

Introduction Whenever we interact with other people, intentional or unintentional, we communicate; because of its abstract nature, the concept of communication is difficult to define. If one remembers Communication Theory as a Field (Craig 1999), we gain insight into the scientific fields of communication, on how diverse the fields of study actually are. With such diversity among theorists’ approaches to communication, it is even harder to get a single definition standing, at least within academia. The devil is in the details; however some argue that it is rather impractical to study a subject that isn’t well defined. A First Look At Communication Theory (Griffin 2012) offers a working definition. (Griffin 2012:6) states â€Å"Communication is the relational process of creating and interpreting messages that elicit a response†. But does this definition of what communication is suffice in the light of what the different theorists argue it is? This will be the main focus of my paper. I find it most reasonable to approach this question with two communication theories with different fundamental approaches to communication. In order to cover both the interpretive and objective theoretical approach, I will discuss the definition in relation to Constructivism and Semiotics. The Definition The definition consists of five parts: messages, creation of Messages, interpretation of Messages, A Relational Process, and Messages that elicits a response (Griffin 2012:6-9). â€Å"Messages are the very core of communication study.† (Griffin 2012:6). The creation of messages is the implication that messages is usually not randomly generated (constructed, invented, planned, crafted, constituted, selected, or adopted (Griffin 2012:7)). A message does not hold a meaning in and of itself; e.g. there is a differentiation between the words and the meaning. Communication is considered a process, because it functions in a contextual sense. In addition, it is a relational phenomenon because it involves two or more participants and affects their connection. And lastly, if a message fails to initiate any reactions, it would be ironic to call it communication according to Griffin. Constructivism Constructivism approaches communication from the psychological perspective, focusing on cognitive competence in interpersonal communication (Griffin 2012:98). The level of interactional competence is determined by the sophistication of the actor’s social perception skills, and their ability to analyze the social situation (the cognitive complexity of an actor (Griffin 2012:99)). The cognitive complexity is reflected in the communication process through the effectiveness of person-centered messages. â€Å"†¦ the capacity to produce highly person-centered messages has been assessed by having participants generate messages in response to standard situations and then coding these messages within hierarchical schemes for the degree of person centeredness manifested. For example, messages seeking to persuade others have been coded for the extent to which the goals and desires of the target are taken into account.† (Brant R. Burleson, Scott E. Caplan 1998:II,B) In a constructivist view, the communication process is more goal-oriented than relational. Constructing the message in a communicational context is in and of itself an intention to get an anticipated or desired reaction. â€Å"The perception and processing of others’ intentional efforts to convey some internal state–may be viewed as a special case of social perception† (Brant R. Burleson, Scott E. Caplan 1998:II,C). The addressed uses a received message as input in the process of structuring their response. The effectiveness of a response is directly correlated to the message’s goal related structure, and the cognitive complexity and perception skills of both addresser and addressed. Semiology Semiotics is the study of signs; it involves the production and the analysis of socially attributed meaning to an object. The semiologist Roland Barthes focused his research on signs we use in communication (Griffin 2012:332). In Mythologies (Roland Barthes 2009) we see that Barthes’ perspective on communication is broader than the interpersonal level, focusing more on abstract connotations and mythical signs in a cultural context. He argues that reality is converted into speech through human history; therefore there are no eternal meanings (Roland Barthes 2009:132). Concordantly, the meaning of a sign can shift as time progresses, an original sign could become a denotation for something else through the semiotic process. The creation of meaning of signs is then not only an individual process; it is also a conjunction and ongoing process of communication and human history. Barthes offers a semantic explanation, in his example of wrestling, to the reactions of the audience towards the wrestlers (Roland Barthes 2009:11-12). Arguing that, with French wrestling, different connotations around the mythical sign of â€Å"justice† were at interplay. So in the process of interpretation; Meaning can be implicit. Unconsciously perceived as connotative factor(s) to what is consciously noticed, and then reacted upon. Directly applying the points of discussion Extending the commonalities and differences between the two theoretical views, with Griffin’s definition, some points are very clear. Both view messages as the core instrument in communication and see it as a process. Both agree that if no reaction is elicited in any way, then the function of the message initially failed. The circumstances thereof are different in each point of view. However the aspects of messages in each theoretical view are defined in such a fashion; without a response of any kind, it would be a contradiction to refer to them as such (If we, of course, interpret messages that elicit a response to include apathetic responses). On the points of objection, it seems mostly to be a case of â€Å"weighing the words†, when viewed by either theoretical lens. As an example: on the point of a relational process, constructivists might prefer â€Å"goal-oriented† rather than relational. Or from Barthes’ perspective, adding a concept of creating mea ning as a result of communication to the definition. Conclusion The outlined approaches in this paper of constructivism and semiotics, display clear differences in the assumptions, focus-points and explanations of communication. However their general outlook does not, in any significant way, object to Griffin’s working definition. I think this outcome qualifies the definition as sufficient, as a practical tool when studying communication. The evident boundary of my paper however, is the lack of other major theoretical lenses in the subject. Further work needs to be done in order to conduct a more unified definition. References Barthes, R. (2009). Mythologies. London: Vintage Classics. 3-14 and 131-144 Craig, R.T. (1999). Communication theory as a field. Communication Theory, 9, 119-161. Griffin, E. (2011). A First Look at Communication Theory. 8th edition. New York: McGraw Hill. J. C. McCroskey, J. A. Daly, & M. M. Martin (Eds.). (1998). Communication and Personality: Trait Perspectives. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton, pp. 233-286, Website: Presshttp://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/wrightr/const/bu98b.htm#II.B.%20CC%20and%20%E2%82%ACMessage%20Production%E2%82%AC

Political Economy and the Propaganda Model of Noam Chomsky

Using one of the case studies outlined by Chomsky & Herman in ‘Manufacturing Consent – The Political Economy of the Mass Media’, critically assess the main propositions put forward in their analysis of the mass media. Is the ‘Propaganda Model’ still relevant today? Noam Chomsky along with Edward Herman has developed the  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Propaganda Model†Ã‚  of the media works. They helped develop the detailed and sophisticated analysis of how the wealthy and powerful use the media to propagandise their own interests behind a mask of objective news reporting. Herman and Chomsky expound this analysis in their book  Ã¢â‚¬ËœManufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media’. In their 1988 book, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky’s ‘propaganda model’ argues that there are 5 classes of ‘filters' in society which determine what is ‘news'; in other words, what gets broadcast by radio or printed in newspapers and shown on television. Herman and Chomsky's model also explains how dissent from the mainstream is given little, or zero, coverage, while governments and big business gain easy access to the public in order to convey their state-corporate messages. Noam Chomsky has been engaged in political activism most of his life; he spoke up firstly about the media coverage of Nicaragua. July 19, 1979 – the leftist  Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional  (FSLN/Sandinistas) rolled into Managua, Nicaragua leader of the insurrection that had finally succeeded in overthrowing the dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle. Then there was the election in 1984. The American coverage for the elections in Nicaragua and el Salvador are a key aspect which Chomsky and Herman cover in Manufacturing Consent, and one which Chomsky spoke of on many occasions. The media covered both elections in both countries simultaneously the American media condemned the outcome of the election in Nicaragua as a â€Å"soviet sham† because the new Nicaraguan government were against the American puppet government and were a more socialist country. Because President Reagan's war created a need for a propaganda victory, in December 1983 the Sandinistas outsmarted Washington by scheduling their first post-triumph election earlier than originally planned— 2 days before Americans would decide whether President Reagan should continue to lead the country. The Media coverage up to this point had been little in the way of truth, and of the actual happenings of Nicaragua in the past. What they were trying to achieve, for many years, and most of all about the upcoming elections of the time. The American press seemed to try and protect America’s interest and perception by the people, then to deliver unbiased reporting. The fact that most of the rest of the world was opposed to Reagan's terrorist activities didn’t filter through to the Americans. Most of the Nicaraguan people, along with many worldwide had hoped that if the Sandinistas won as expected, Washington would accept the results and call off President Reagan’s â€Å"freedom fighters†. This was a naive hope, as Secretary of State George P. Shultz made clear: â€Å"with or without elections we will continue our policy of pressuring Nicaragua†. Nicaragua was in the news on election night in the U. S, but the story that was in the news was not one on Nicaragua’s election. The story was of soviet MIGs. As reported by CBS Evening News on November 6, 1984, the soviet freighter Bakuriani was on its way to Nicaragua with MIG 21 fighters aboard. The ‘sham election’ story was succeeded quickly by the security threat story. The overwhelming majority of objective observers concluded that the election was conducted competently and fairly by the Supreme Electoral Council, and that all Nicaraguan political parties had been given ample opportunity and resources to campaign and get their messages out to the people without serious hindrance from the Sandinistas. While all this was going on, the American government stated on the complete flipside that the El Salvador election, whose victors were against the socialist uprising, was a victory for democracy. The Americans supported the oppressive party and condemned the socialists because it suited them and they could easily pass off the socialists as communists. The American government continued to support and fund the tyranny long after this travesty. â€Å"Only the naive believe that Sunday's election in Nicaragua was democratic or legitimizing proof of the Sandinistas' popularity. The result was ordained when opposition parties tamely accepted terms that barred them from power. This plebiscite will not end the struggle for pluralism in Nicaragua. But neither can it serve as justification for recent American policy. â€Å"The Sandinistas made it easy to dismiss their election as a sham. †¦ † Nobody Won in Nicaragua, Editorial, New York Times, Nov 7, 1984 pg. A26. â€Å"No major political tendency in Nicaragua was denied access to the electoral process in 1984. The only parties that did not appear on the ballot were absent by their own choice, not because of government exclusion. †¦ Opposition parties received their legal allotments of campaign funds and had regular and substantial access to radio and television. The legally registered opposition parties were able to hold the vast majority of their rallies unimpeded by pro-FSLN demonstrators or by other kinds of government interference. † (http://www. williamgbecker. com/lasa_1984. pdf)â € A member of the [opposition] Popular Social Christian Party, Jose Lazos said his party ‘recognized the percentage of the F. S. L. N. vote. ‘ ‘It was an honourable process', he said. † [Lazos also confided to the LASA delegation â€Å"We received the vote we expected†. LASA report, ibid. , p. 18. — B. B. ] â€Å"A team of observers from the Washington Office on Latin America, a church-sponsored lobbying group, said the electoral process had been ‘meaningful' and had provided a political opening in Nicaragua. â€Å"The group, in a statement prepared after the voting ended on Sunday, said the process had been ‘well-conceived' and had afforded ‘easy access to vote with guarantees of secrecy. †Ã‚  From  Sandinista Claims Big Election Victory, by Gordon Mott. New York Times, Nov 6, 1984. â€Å"However, [Virgilio Godoy, the PLI presidential candidate who dropped out the day after a visit from the U. S. ambassador] went on to compare favourably Nicaragua's election with presidential elections in El Salvador earlier this year. ‘If the US is going to try to be honest in evaluating these elections, it will be a real problem for the Reagan administration,' Mr. Godoy said. ‘If the US administration said that the Guatemalan and Salvadorian elections were valid ones, how can they condemn elections in Nicaragua, when they have been no worse and probably a lot better than elections in Salvador and Guatemala. ‘The elections here have been much more peaceful. There were no deaths as in the other two countries, where the opposition were often in fear for their lives. ‘† Nicaragua vote seen as better run than Salvador's By Dennis Volman, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor November 5, 1984, p. 13. Managua, Nicaragua  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Reviewing the history of the negotiations between the FSLN and the opposition parties since 1981, and especially during the current election year, Stephen Kinzer, the Managua-based correspondent of The New York Times, told our delegation ‘The FSLN gave in on almost all of the opposition parties' demands concerning how the electoral process would be run. Their stance seemed to be, â€Å"if any clause of the election law causes serious controversy, we'll modify it. † Most of the opposition's complaints about the process had nothing to do with the mechanics of the elections, but rather were more general criticisms of the political system†¦. What some of these groups want is a complete change in the political system: to abolish the CDSs (Sandinista Defence Committees), get the Sandinistas out of the army, prohibit [incumbent] government officials from running for office, and so forth. In short, they want Nicaragua to become a parliamentary democracy first, before they will participate. But this isn't Switzerland! ‘ † (LASA report, ibid. , p. 12. )†Suppose that some power of unimaginable strength were to threaten to reduce the United States to the level of Ethiopia unless we voted for its candidates, demonstrating that the threat was real. Suppose that we refused, and the threat was then carried out, the country brought to its knees, the economy wrecked and millions killed. Suppose, finally, that the threat were repeated, loud and clear, at the time of the next scheduled elections. Under such conditions, only the most extreme hypocrite would speak of a free election. Furthermore, it is likely that close to 100% of the population would succumb. â€Å"Apart from the last sentence, I have just described U. S. -Nicaraguan relations for the last decade. † —Noam Chomsky, The Boston Globe, March 4, 1990El Salvador in 1982 and 1984, and Nicaragua in 1984, provide a virtually controlled experiment in media integrity or submissiveness. The U. S. government promoted the Salvadoran elections as marvels of democratic advance, under adverse conditions, while trying to undermine and discredit the Nicaraguan election as a sham, even though facts did not support claims of superiority of the former election. In the case of El Salvador, the U. S. government agenda stressed the importance and excellence of the election. They focused on the long lines of smiling voters, the size of the turnout, rebel opposition and alleged efforts at disruption. Additionally, they downplayed the absence of fundamental conditions of a free election, such as the freedoms of press and assembly; the ability of all groups to run candidates; and freedom from state terror and coercive threats. The idea that the American press was so quick to praise one and condemn the other is what Chomsky refers to as the ‘propaganda model’ of the mass media. The American government dictates the press into writing about what benefits the American government more so than writing about the truth. Is the Propaganda Model still relevant today? In their propaganda model, Herman and Chomsky present a series of five â€Å"filters† to account for why the dominant U. S. media invariably serve as propagandists for the interests of the elite. Only stories with a strong orientation to elite interests can pass through the five filters unobstructed and receive ample media attention. The model explains how the media can conscientiously function when even a superficial analysis of the evidence would indicate the preposterous nature of many of the stories that receive ample publicity in the press and on the network news broadcasts. However, what, if any of what Chomsky and Herman presented is still relevant today? The model was dubbed a conspiracy theory by many critics on both left and right although Herman says he and Chomsky had looked for structural factors as the only possible root of systematic behaviour and performance patterns. In defending ‘Manufacturing Consent: Political Economy of the Mass Media’, Noam Chomsky's collaborator Edward Herman says; â€Å"Institutional critiques such as we present in this book are commonly dismissed by establishment commentators as ‘conspiracy theories,' but this is merely an evasion. We do not use any kind of ‘conspiracy' hypothesis to explain mass-media performance. In fact, our treatment is much closer to a ‘free market' analysis, with the results largely an outcome of the workings of market forces.   Herman goes on to further explain how the model is not a conspiracy theory and relevant: â€Å"The propaganda model describes a decentralized and non-conspiratorial market system of control and processing, although at times the government or one or more private actors may take initiatives and mobilize co-ordinated elite handling of an issue. † The â€Å"propaganda model† has as little in common with a â€Å"conspiracy theoryâ €  as saying that the management of General Motors acts to maintain and increase its profits. As Chomsky notes,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"to confront power is costly and difficult; high standards of evidence and argument are imposed, and critical analysis is naturally not welcomed by those who are in a position to react vigorously and to determine the array of rewards and punishments. Conformity to a ‘patriotic agenda,' in contrast, imposes no such costs. †Ã‚  Meaning that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"conformity is the easy way, and the path to privilege and prestige†¦ It is a natural expectation, on uncontroversial assumptions, that the major media and other ideological institutions will generally reflect the perspectives and interests of established power.   [Necessary Illusions, pp. 8-9 and p. 10] So in totally ruling out the ‘conspiracy theory’ label, Herman writes that â€Å"the dramatic changes in the economy, the communications industries, and politics over the past dozen years have tended on balance to enhance the applicability of the propaganda model. The first two fil ters–ownership and advertising–have become ever more important. The decline of public broadcasting, the increase in corporate power and global reach, and the mergers and centralization of the media, have made bottom-line considerations more influential both in the United States and abroad. The competition for advertisers has become more intense and the boundaries between editorial and advertising departments have weakened further. Newsrooms have been more thoroughly incorporated into transnational corporate empires, with budget cuts and even less management enthusiasm for investigative journalism that would challenge the structure of power (Herman and McChesney, 1997). † What Herman is saying is that the journalists own voice has been reduced. The Internet and new communication technologies are breaking the corporate stranglehold on journalism somewhat and opening an unprecedented era of interactive democratic media. Some think that they permit media firms to shrink staff while achieving greater outputs and they make possible global distribution systems, thus reducing the number of media entities. Herman states â€Å"there are, by one conservative count, 20,000 more PR agents working to doctor the news today than there are journalists writing it. †Looking for more modern examples to see if ‘The propaganda model’ still applies Herman uses the media's treatment of the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the subsequent Mexican crisis and meltdown of 1994-95. He states that â€Å"once again there was a sharp split between the preferences of ordinary citizens and the elite and business community, with polls consistently showing substantial majorities opposed to NAFTA — and to the bailout of investors in Mexican securities — but the elite in favour†. Media news coverage, selection of â€Å"experts,† and opinion columns were skewed accordingly; their judgment was that the benefits of NAFTA were obvious, agreed to by all qualified authorities, and that only demagogues and â€Å"special interests† were opposed. Labour has been under siege in the United States for the past fifteen years according to Herman, â€Å"but you would hardly know this from the mainstream media. † Using the example of the long Pittston miners’ strike to show â€Å"the propaganda model’s† relevance in a similar way to Nicaragua, Timor, Jerzy Popieluszko and so many of Chomsky and Herman other examples the strike was afforded much less attention than the strike of miners in the Soviet Union. The more recent examples to think of would be the American media coverage of the whole â€Å"war on terror† compared with most of the world’s media. Much of the world opposed the Iraq war and Americas invasions. In conclusion, the propositions put forward by Chomsky and Herman, such as the ‘five filters’ and their theories of mass media compared with worldwide media seem to be based on very solid ground, with a good foundation of case studies and research. The case study of Nicaragua being a prime example that backs up their studies in Manufacturing Consent. It is quite clear to see how the American media has filtered different stories and overall tried to sway people’s perceptions on the issue. The fact that the similar situation in El Salvador was so comparable proves a great basis to highlight Chomsky and Herman’s theories. Also when talking about if ‘the propaganda model’ is relevant today in which Herman talking on whether it is still relevant claims that â€Å"The applicability of the propaganda model in these and other cases seems clear. I agree that ‘the propaganda model’ is most certainly applicable today. To what extent remains to be seen through research, though I disagree that the internet has brought on an even greater level of control to mass media, although it is worth noting that the internet was a lot different back in the 90’s when Herman talked about it. | Bibliography http://www. chomsky. info/onchomsky/2002—-. htm http://ics. leeds. ac. uk/papers/vp01. cfm? outfi t=pmt&folder=30&paper=1227 The Social and Political Thought of Noam Chomsky  by Alison Edgley http://anarchism. pageabode. com/afaq/secD3. html http://www. chomsky. info/onchomsky/20031209. htm http://www. williamgbecker. com/nicaragua_1984_election. php http://www. chomsky. info/onchomsky/198901–. htm Washington's war on Nicaragua  by Holly Sklar http://www. williamgbecker. com/lasa_1984. pdf http://www. fifth-estate-online. co. uk/comment/Mullen_paper_FEO. pdf http://www. llc. manchester. ac. uk/research/projects/etrist/conferences/fileuploadmax10mb,169799,en. pdf

Operation management within maintenance operation in Maersk Oil Qatar Essay

Operation management within maintenance operation in Maersk Oil Qatar - Essay Example The intention of this study is an operations management as a segment of business that focuses on the production of goods and services. It focus is to make sure that business operations are efficient in that it uses as little resources as possible and effective in terms of meeting customer requirements and expectations. It focuses on managing the process that transfers inputs (in the forms of materials, labor and energy) into outputs (in the form of goods and services). Major operations management and problem solving techniques pertaining to the oil and gas industry include: estimating, organizing, modeling, planning and controlling resources and schedules with the aim of optimizing project performance and quality. Due to intense competitiveness, companies need to look for differentiating elements in the products and services they offer. After the business and service strategies have been identified, the management of productive and logistic operations plays a crucial role in the deve lopment of products and services to be supplied. Once the requirements of various clients have been identified, the operations management is applied to assess, define, schedule and monitor the resources and capacities needed to provide the solutions they want. Operations management is needed so as to make sure the efficiency and effectiveness of the flows of materials from the supplier, through the productive and distribution systems, to the customer, along with the related information flows.

Losing patient information Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Losing patient information - Assignment Example Health care organizations expose patient’s data or even it gets stolen. Such information includes lab tests results, allergies, medications and other forms of clinical information stored in computers or physical files. Many hospitals use outdated and primitive technology that does not receive security updates and this may allow hackers to access employees’ login credentials. In addition, they rarely encrypt all the data kept since even the Federal Health Records Protection law and the Health Insurance Accountability act does not demand encryption by the health care firms (Park,  2014)) Patient’s data needs to be accessed at times for doctors and other medical physicians to be able to make decisions concerning the patient and how to improve patient care. Inability to access data at the right time may delay clinical decisions and ultimately affect patient care negatively. Similarly, patients have the right to ensure that their personal health information is protected and can only be shared on certain circumstances. It is thus the responsibility of the health care centers to install control measures and practices to ensure that patient data is secure from unauthorized people. They must document the use of patient information, share with patient about security and privacy issues as well as reporting any information loss. On the other hand, patients should contact the healthcare administration immediately once they suspect that their personal data has been misused ( Loukides, 2012). The healthcare doctors and management should be at the forefront of adopting and using digital medical and electronic health information that has many benefits and help eliminate risks of losing patient data. Health policy leaders should develop standards, policies and procedures, adopt newest technologies, and educate healthcare professionals and other physicians aimed at improving healthcare through data privacy, confidentiality and protection from loss (Kloss, 2012). In recent

Richard Kims Lost Name Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Richard Kims Lost Name - Essay Example Korean echoes the boy’s worries about the changes he sees at school. The Koreans are confused about the new set of practices the Japanese authorities subject them to. Their only option is to subject to their masters. The Koreans were forced to renounce their names. Instead, they took up new Japanese names. This is something that does not go well with the Korean people. They have a feeling that the ancestors must be angry about the change of names. They must be angry that the colonizers are stealing their cultural identity. At one point, the narrator’s father takes the young boy to the cemetery so that they can ask the ancestors to forgive them for humiliation- the dropping of the ancestral names (Kim, 6). The Koreans underwent tough and painful times under the Japanese rule. Colonization led to the loss of cultural heritage among the Korean people. Their nationality was the destroyed-a painful experience that they must live with. The boy, in Lost Name, says, "my new nam e, my old name, my true name, my not-true name?" (Kim, 57). This quote illustrates the confusion that the Koreans have after their colonial masters change their names. The colonization also came with civility. The Koreans were required to attend school; they improved infrastructure; Korea became more industrialized; urban centers grew and the economy improved. These are the positive aspects of the colonization. Political analysts argue that, despite the high handedness and brutality used by the colonizers on the Koreans, Korea became financially stable and prosperous than it was some decades back (Kim, 89). The Koreans responded by minor protests but these were thwarted by the Japanese military who crushed any dissidents. Most of them failed to adapt their new names; instead preferring their ancestral names. They considered their culture superior to any other. They fought to protect their cultural heritage and regain their lost pride.  

The Little Red Roaster Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Little Red Roaster - Case Study Example Center of discussion in this paper is the Little Red Roaster that had been in business since 1994. Owned by Kendra Gordon Green, the company offered a menu of coffees, teas, gourmet beverages, breakfasts, light lunches and snacks. The company had been approached by other companies to diversify its operations into wholesaling and catering. There was also the option of selling the company. The LRR operated in a highly competitive market. Therefore the company could not afford to sit still. The company could expand into wholesaling or catering. The management could also sell the company. Given the fierce competition for market share in retail, the company’s core business, the future strategic direction would involve implementing one of these options. Gordon-Green had to make a decision fast about which option to pursue. The communication theory is relevant in this business situation because of the distribution and logistics issues to be considered. The company would require a wel l-designed communication system in either wholesale or catering. The company’s goal is to maintain net profit at 4.56% of sales. In reaching this goal, the company had three action alternatives. Gordon-Green could sell the company. The LRR could diversify into wholesale. The company could expand the catering capacity. In implementing either option of wholesaling or catering, the company would incur additional costs. In implementing the wholesaling strategy, the LRR should outsource distribution and logistics to D&C. ... So Gordon-Green had to make a decision about which of these future options to pursue. Problems The LRR operated in a highly competitive market. Therefore Gordon-Green had to make a decision fast about the strategic direction of the company. The LRR had been approached by wholesale and catering customers to expand in both industries. However, given the wide spectrum of competitors in the industry, they would not wait long. The LRR had developed strong brand awareness in the retail market. However the company could not afford to sit still given the wide spectrum of competitors, as stated in the case, ranging from multinational corporations to family-run businesses. Given the fierce competition for market share, the LRR had to diversify into other markets. Therefore Gordon-Green had to consider the proposals made by both the student consultant team and the wholesale and catering customers. Given the high level of competitive rivalry in the market, the strategic direction of the company was at stake. However Gordon-Green had three options to consider. She could sell the company or expand in the wholesale business or expand in the catering business. These are the three future options one of which should be selected. Given the fast pace of change in the external environment, the wholesale and catering customers would not wait long before they approached other retail companies. Therefore Gordon-Green was anxious to make a fast decision. If Gordon-Green sold the company, then she would no longer be able to capitalize upon the strong brand awareness that the company had achieved so far. Gordon-Green enjoyed being an entrepreneur and wanted to be in business for herself. However she was also

Project on There's Something About Mary (1998) Scene Analysis Essay

Project on There's Something About Mary (1998) Scene Analysis - Essay Example Although it was at the number one slot till its eighth week at the weekly box office, it played a total of well over 176 million U.S. dollars (cost about 23 million U.S. dollars) and was thus the third most successful film in 1998. ‘There's Something About Mary’ occupies space 27 in the list of the 100 best English comedies, as per list published by the American Film Institute on the 100-year anniversary of American film. In general, the reactions of critics to the film were positive. Internet reviewing site received 82 reviews, giving the film an overall score of 83%. The rating for the film on the site averaged at seven out of ten. They considered the movie to be warm and have a strong heart, despite the childish and trivial humor that it exhibited. Metacritic gave the film a lower rating of 69%, as a consequence of reviews from 29 critics. The film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert rated the film three stars out of four, stating the watching the film exposes some of our base human nature, our humor, by ignoring the normal standards of political correctness, manners, values and decorum (Ebert 1998). One of the most amusing scenes of the film occurs when Mary arrives for a date with Ben Stiller’s character, who is masturbating in the bathroom. Despite the borderline vulgarity and offensiveness of the scene, it is very funny.

Compare and Contrast___how technology is changing the way we live and Essay

Compare and Contrast___how technology is changing the way we live and the way we think - Essay Example Claudia Wallis in her article, â€Å"Gen M: The Multitasking Generation,† and Nicholas Carr’s â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† both argue against much of the way people interact and rely upon the technology both physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially in a few unpleasant ways. He focuses more on the intellectual laziness access to fast internet answers can breed and she focuses more on the social and interpersonal communicational perspective when people persistently interact and multitask with technology and how that can have a negative effects; both of these authors are absolutely right. Claudia Wallis discusses children are perpetually interacting with technology and that parents think there multitasking is a product and a credit to the presence of that technology and their minds, Unfortunately, that is little better than a â€Å"wives tale† that people may tells themselves to justify children’s excessive technological interactions. â€Å"Human beings have always had a capacity to attend to several things at once. Mothers have done it since the hunter-gatherer era--picking berries while suckling an infant, stirring the pot with one eye on the toddler† (Wallis p. 1). Many biologists and anthropologists would easily agree the things that defines us as human is our curiosity, ability to learn and adapt, and our ability to multitask and process multiple information at once; this did not evolve as a side effect of technological advancement. In truth, excessive interaction with technology leads to anti-social in face-to-face antisocial that belies th e communal and communicative nature of our species. The interactions online and the relationships we make are shallow and superficial, based on the shared likes and dislikes of other things posted on sites. There is also a misconception that the presence of all of this sophisticated

Nucor Corp Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nucor Corp - Essay Example The invisible competition is potential in large companies vertically integrating into steel production. This is the competitor environment in which Nucor Corp. strives to maintain an advantageous market position. Facing three categories of competitive tension, Nucor must formulate goals, objectives and strategies accordingly. Nucor Corp. can mitigate some of the competitive tension by acquiring other steel manufacturing companies. In that case the organizational culture of the company must be ready for the social-demographic tension resulting from unionization in the foreign companies. However acquisitions enable the company to get a technological edge as it integrates the operations of the acquired companies into its own operational framework. This is one of the key success factors of operating in the steel industry since the technology is constantly evolving while Nucor is not investing in R&D. Therefore acquisitions provide an effective means of maintaining the company’s te chnological base at the latest standards. There is economic tension in the form of plummeting prices of steel, scrap metal and iron ore. Increased environmental regulation is also adding to the cost of operations. Political regulations such as tariff withdrawal by the World Trade Organization have increased the competitive tension as the industry has been more exposed to foreign competition. The uncertain economic environment is a favorable factor in terms of enabling Nucor to acquire competitors who do not have the resource capabilities to sustain the economic difficulties. The result of acquisitions is further consolidation of the industry leading to reduced competitive pressure. The weak dollar also makes the company more competitive internationally. The marketplace is highly competitive. The competitive tension is increased by the economic uncertainty having repercussions on pricing, demand and access to capital. The companies operating in this environment can address the reperc ussions by achieving economies of scale. However all companies have similar capacities, thereby enhancing the competitive tension. The tension also results from the three buckets of competitors: immediate, impending and invisible. This competitive environment is the result of a highly fragmented industry. The highly fragmented global steel market place leads to an unattractive industry structure. Porter’s 5 forces analysis shows that the industry has high buyer power and competitive rivalry. The supplier power is medium. The high buyer power results from a commodity market in which the suppliers are price takers. Therefore buyers are able to pit suppliers against each other as they are price takers. Companies operating in the commodity market are unable to differentiate their products. As a result industry rivalry is high. It is also important to consider supplier power since the decreasing availability of scrap metal raises their price. As a result the suppliers are gaining greater bargaining power. Suppliers also present invisible competition since they have the ability to vertically integrate into steel manufacturing. Taking these factors into consideration, Nucor Corp. has to formulate strategies which are customized to an industry which has high buyer power and rivalry and medium supplier power. These are the three most important factors to be taken into consideration in determining the attractiveness of the steel industry environment.

White Privilege Essay Example for Free

White Privilege Essay ?In essence, it’s a simple concept: white privilege refers to the both minor and significant advantages that white people have in today’s American society. To be honest reading this article was a huge eye opener for me. I still struggle with both believing that white privilege exists and figuring out how to get rid of it. I have never felt that I was privileged to be white, however, I suppose that could be because as McIntosh states â€Å"whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privilege† After reading McIntosh’s list of the daily effects of white privilege I now understand these privileges and can put myself into the shoes of other non-white individuals to see how they would perceive me as a privileged white woman. I have never thought of myself as being privileged, or better in any way that those that I come in contact with. The concept of white privilege does not deny my individual hardships that I’ve dealt with throughout life. Hardships can be circumstantial, they can be something we are born with, or even something that we cause on our own. These circumstances are for the most part out of our control. Some hardships are related to race, and those who haven’t experienced those particular race-related hardships, I now suppose are white. In most ways conferred dominance and the fact that whites have been labeled as superior in any way is the exact opposite of the way I feel about myself, and the way I view others in my daily life. After reading McIntosh’s article, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, I suppose that I do see some advantages that I may have just always taken for granted. The one that may seem silly, but I’ve always wondered about is: why do they only make white â€Å"flesh† colored band aids? I t seems like a no brainer to me to make them in all flesh tones. In my school community which consists of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students I struggle to pick out white privileges. I do not feel that any of our teaching staff or administrators see themselves as dominant over any other race or culture within our school community. I suppose that the fact that our school principal, secretary, and most teachers are white would portray dominance within our race. The majority of our staff speak English, however we do have several bilingual teachers and staff members. In the classroom environment, other than our bilingual classrooms the population of white students is greater than that of any other race. As a teacher I am committed to equality and treating all of my students fairly and as equals in our classroom community. I do not think that 7 and 8 year old white students see themselves as dominant of more important than any other classmate. I can, however see how a Black, Hispanic, or students of other cultural background would feel at times to be the minority. I think that this feeling, however is taught to them at home, or somewhat of a learned feeling of identity. In my school community we do our best to incorporate other cultural history into our curriculum by designing lessons that educate our students about important people in our history from a variety of cultures. The majority of our schools population is comprised of white and Hispanic students. I think that as a whole we could do a better job at integrating more of the Hispanic culture into our school’s curriculum. After reading this article I now find myself more aware of the white privilege that I do hold, and am definitely going to work toward building my daily classroom routines and lessons to include a wider variety of cultures and discuss current events around the globe that my students can relate to.