The American Flag And Its Growing Controversy Essays -

The American Flag And Its Growing Controversy The American Flag and its Growing Controversy Step 1: Details The American flag, to many, is the symbol of life and liberty. Freedom from oppression and the ability to run one's own life with minimal government intervention is what our country fought for all those years ago. The day after the SpanishAmerican War was declared, schools mandated the worship of the flag (Kaminer). So, when the issue of burning our great flag arises, everyone should be against it, right? Well, not exactly. The first amendment of the Constitution states that American citizens have the right to express themselves through free speech. Essentially, burning the American flag is speech without dialogue. Therefore, according to the Constitution, flag desecration is legal. However, flag protectionists are not going to give up that easy. The main controversy surrounding this issue is whether an amendment forbidding flag burning would infringe on our first amendment rights. In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that flag desecration was protected under our first amendment rights. In 1995, a constitutional amendment that would have given Congress the power to ban flag desecration was introduced to the Senate and the House of Representatives (Kaminer). The amendment passed through the House but failed in the Senate by a mere three votes. In February 1997, a similar amendment was again introduced to the Senate and the House Sell 2 Of Representatives (Kaminer). It also failed, but it does show the growing concern about the issue of flag burning. Protectors of the flag argue that burning an American flag is like spitting in the face of America and its democracy. On the other hand, flag burners argue that under America's democracy, they were given the right to express themselves freely. Obviously, this issue may never be settled with a positive outcome. Some arguments that flag burners have raised in their own defense include such things as having a flag bumper sticker on a car. They believe that if they cannot burn a flag because it is considered desecration, then an old, faded bumper sticker should be considered desecration as well (Apel). This brings up a valid point. Who decides where the line should be drawn between desecration and patriotism? Step 2: Obligations, Ideals, and Consequences As this issue continues to be brought up in our government, the obligations for everyone involved will continue to rise. Congress has the most important obligation of all. They are not only obligated to resolve the issue, but they are also obligated to American citizens in a way that is supposed to be unbiased. On the other hand, citizens are also obligated to understand and respect the government's decision. Not everyone is going to be happy no matter what decision is made, so we as a society are obligated to respect each other's views and morals. Ideals play a very important role in the issue of flag desecration. Ideals serve as the basis for actions. Obviously, social responsibility is an ideal that needs to surface when an issue is dealing with the Constitution. If an amendment is ever added to the Sell 3 Constitution making desecration of the flag illegal, the public has to be ready to deal with it, and follow it. Our government, however, needs to practice the ideal of fairness and integrity when such an issue is brought up. They need to listen to all sides and decide which course of action will contribute to the greater good of the country. After this issue is finally settled, it will be interesting to learn what consequences are adopted for flag burning (considering it becomes illegal). It will also be interesting to find out where the line would be drawn for flag desecration. Who knows? I might be arrested for wearing my flag swimming trunks to the beach. Again, our government has to be prepared to back up their decision, and that includes such consequences as dealing with protestors. Step 3: Possible Courses of Action Coming to a decision on this issue is going to take time. There will be a group, or groups that will feel like they have been cheated. Nevertheless, they need to realize that the government is taking what they feel is the best possible course

Interracial Relationships essays

Interracial Relationships essays Interracial relationships in America trace all the way back to when this country began. For many years, European settlers would usually marry Indian woman because there were not very many European women in America at that time. Even more today, there are many different types of interracial relationships. They come in many different varieties such as African-American and Caucasian, Latino and Asian, Chinese and Mexican, etcetera. Today, in our American society, there are so many different types of interracial relationships that the racial make-up of a couple could be of any combination. The facts on interracial relationships in America today are overwhelming. In a recent census taken on children who are born in America, one out of every twenty children born is a product of an interracial relationship. This means that out of every one million children born daily in America, ten thousand of them are a product of an interracial relationship. This poses a problem to people who are raciest. Usually, when a person is a raciest, they can easily find something wrong with anything and everything. After many years of hating people because of race, religion, sexuality, etcetera, it is almost impossible for that person to change. Today, however, people usually do not shout in front of large groups of people about their hatred. Usually, they only talk about their racism when they are around other people who are also racist. People who are racist usually try to be around other people who are racist. Then, they try to get people who are not racist to believe what they do. It all stems from them wanting to be accepted, and trying to find a way for others to accept them, no matter what the cost. I believe that when a person is making a decision on whether to be in an interracial relationship or not, there are several things that they must think about, as in any relationship. The main problem that can arise in an i...

Inaugural Address of Barack Obama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Inaugural Address of Barack Obama - Essay Example The most successful use of addressing the emotional needs of the American audience was the clever interplay of words. The way he also appealed to the audience’s emotion and logic was a combination of arguments, evidence, and language. The use of such emotion-generating phrases like â€Å"gathering clouds and raging storms†, â€Å"noble ideas†, â€Å"the greatness of our nation†, and â€Å"bitter swill of civil war and segregation† (Obama, We Seek A New Way Forward) in his speech are consistent, effectively, and cleverly infused throughout the various subjects that he was discussing that his attempt to persuade his audience by tapping into their emotions was prevalent throughout the speech that it blended so well it sounded natural. Moreover, the prudent usages of such phrases are not abused in the sense that Obama relies solely on them. Rather he used it as a way to simplify the concepts he was trying to address in a manner that the average American could understand. Obama’s emotional appeal was an appeal for solidarity, acceptance, loyalty, and most of all patriotism in spite of the diversity of the American people by reiterating the commonalities and shared experiences. Shared social struggles throughout history of Americans as a people of migrants and how these struggles are continuing today for current migrants who â€Å"toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth† (Obama, We Seek A New Way Forward)   and shared economic burden that Americans are experiencing across all walks of life in almost all business sectors. These commonalities are highlighted in an attempt to forge cooperation through shared experiences, shared history, shared sentiments, shared values, and a common vision.  Ã‚  

An Assessment and Critique of Crisis Management in the Oil and Gas Dissertation

An Assessment and Critique of Crisis Management in the Oil and Gas Industry in Ensuring Company Continuity - Dissertation Example Note: Delete this text, but do not remove the section break that follows—if you can’t see it, click on the  ¶Show/Hide button on the formatting toolbar. Dedication The dedication, if desired, is a numbered page, but â€Å"Dedication† does not appear in the Table of Contents. Note that if the Abstract is two pages long, the page number of the Dedication must be changed to iv. Acknowledgments The â€Å"Acknowledgments† entry does appear in the Table of Contents. Table of Contents Acknowledgments 2 List of Tables 5 List of Figures 6 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 7 Introduction to the Problem 7 Background of the Study 8 Statement of the Problem 9 Purpose of the Study 9 Rationale 10 Research Question 10 Significance of the Study 11 Definition of Terms 11 Assumptions and Limitations 13 Nature of the Study (or Theoretical/Conceptual Framework) 14 Organization of the Remainder of the Study 18 Overview 19 Crisis Management 19 Business continuity 25 The concept of crisi s distinguished from issue 26 The issue and crisis management relational model 27 Crisis Communication Theory 29 Crisis Leadership 41 Structural implications of crisis management on the organization 42 Low Probability, High Consequence Events 45 Assessment of the Crisis Prevention and Management System: The Exxon Valdez 46 Assessment of the Crisis Prevention and Management System: The BP Gulf Oil Spill 58 Synthesis of literature review 66 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY 69 Research Design 69 Sample 70 Setting 72 Instrumentation/Measures 72 Data Collection 73 Data Analysis 74 Validity and Reliability 75 Ethical Considerations 76 List of Tables Table 1. Crisis Response Strategies by Postures 31 Table 2. SCCT Match for Crisis situation with Recommended Crisis Response 32 Table 3: Example of Risk Management Structure 43 List of Figures Figure 1. Issue and Crisis Management Relational Model 16 Figure 2. Disaster Management Cycle 29 Figure 3: Nine Steps of Crisis Response 35 Figure 4: Crisis Leade rship Continuum 42 Figures 5 & 6: Pictures from the Exxon oil spill site 52 Figure 7: Comparison of Exxon and CNN responses in the Exxon Valdez crisis 54 Figure 8: Picture from the BP Deep-water Horizon oil rig and spill site 61 Figure 9: Picture of fish washed upon in Galveston, Texas 65 Figure 10: Process Flowchart for Data Collection 74 (Note: Do not remove the section break that follows this paragraph.) CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Ranked among the most disastrous man-made crises attributable to commercial operations are the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and more recently, the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Damage from these incidents affected the lives and livelihoods of people distributed over a broad geographical area, and experts expect the repercussions to extend to subsequent generations because of their effect on the environment and wildlife. The oil industry, unfortunately, did not see the Exxon Valdez as sufficient precedent to have prompted the development of a standard crisis prevention and mitigation protocol to apply in the future. Taken together, oil and natural gas pipeline accidents have occurred over decades, often resulting in a significant number of fatalities. In 2011, a pipeline fire killed 100 people and seriously injured 120 in Nairobi. In 2010, a Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos) pumping station in Central Mexico exploded, killing 27 and injuring 50 (Ellingwood, 2010). In 2006, a pipeline explosion in Nigeria killed up to 500 people (BBC News, 2006), but the

Supply and Demand in substitute products (cell phones) in our current Research Paper

Supply and Demand in substitute products (cell phones) in our current time - Research Paper Example To illustrate, as Luo (2006) points out, if government imposes higher tax rates on cell phones, consumer demand for cell phones would decline whereas demand and supply would increase when the government sets favorable tax rates. Government policies regarding imports can also significantly affect the demand and supply in the cell phone industry. Similarly, as Pierskalla and Hollenbach (2013) point out, technology also plays an inevitable role determining the demand and supply of cell phone products. The industry analysts say that technological innovations can reduce the production costs of products like cell phones and this situation in turn would increase their demand and supply. In addition, advancements in technology would assist cell phone manufacturers to offer technologically improved products to customers and consequently the demand and supply would be improved. Evidently, cost of production is inversely related to demand and supply (Hortman, n.d.). When the cost of production increases, manufactures will be compelled to charge higher prices for their products and this in turn would lead to a decline in demand and supply. In emerging countries like China and India, labor costs are relatively low and therefore production costs can be notably reduced. According to Sugden (2022, P. 42), nature of the industry can influence the demand and supply to some extent. Today cell phones have become increasingly popular and therefore people consider it as a necessity product. As a result, the supply and demand of cell phones would remain to be stable regardless of small variations in price. Degree of Competitiveness Degree of competitiveness is very high in the cell phone industry because there are numerous potential players like Nokia, Samsung, LG, and Sony operating in this sector (see Figure 1). Price competition is very common in the cell phone indus try because every marketer tries to improve the demand and supply of his products in order to obtain an edge over competitors by taking advantages of price sensitivity of modern customers. Therefore, a cell phone marketer cannot sustain in the industry if he fixes prices above the par industry prices. In addition, cell phone companies compete based on technology also. To illustrate, today cell phone marketers integrate technological features like video facility, high MP cameras, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, dual sim, external memory into their products with intent to retain customer interests. In order to address the intense market competition, the firm’s managers should particularly try to keep their labor costs and material costs low and thereby minimize costs of production. For this, managers need to establish their production plants in countries where cost of raw materials and labor is relatively low. Effects of Macroeconomic Events A decline in the relative value of the US do llar can have a significant impact on the demand and supply of cell phones. Evidently a declining value of the US dollar would directly lead to an increase in US import prices (Effects of a Falling Dollar). It is clear that the US cell phone market is dominated by foreign companies and hence a fall in the relative v

The Role Of Civil Society In Maintaining Democracy

The Role Of Civil Society In Maintaining Democracy The role of civil society and the media in modern day democratic governance is of utmost importance since they ensure the proper functioning of government while respecting the main pillars of democracy. This contribution is demonstrated best when one compares democratic governance in European countries with the situation in authoritarian regimes. It is very often the case that although there is a struggle towards the implementation and respect of democratic principles, they are still very far away from their proper application. Introduction First, I will define what civil society is since this will help us understand better its role in democratic governance. Then, I will outline how the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and political participation aid and strengthen democratic governance. In examining these areas, I will demonstrate how the media and civil society play a crucial role in doing so. All of this will be established through the comparison between democratic countries, and less democratic or authoritarian regimes. Before one delves into outlining the role of civil society and the media in democratic governance, one must define civil society. According to Els van Enckevort  [1]  , Civil society is made up by very different organisations, networks and associations. From football clubs to debate groups, from womens networks to labour unions, from book clubs to political parties) and from environmental lobby groups to religious groups. Although some organisations will have a much clearer influence on political processes and democratisation than others, all are included in the civil society and all do have some influence on democratisation. Furthermore, according to Jo Leinen, a German Member of the European Parliament, stated in Civil Society and Conflict Resolution  [2]  , a contribution by the speakers of the conference held on 20th September 2007, that If you want to secure democracy, rule of law, human rights and peace you cannot rely only on governmental institutions or political part ies. You need a citizens movement. You need a strong debate between state institutions and civil society. One must also point out that the Treaty of Lisbon, which came into force in December 2009, mentions that The institutions (of the EU) shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society. Thus, one can argue that democratic governance rests on several pillars. In this essay I will focus on the respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; the embracing of a pluralistic system; the integration of minorities in all levels of government and society and the promotion of a wide scope of political participation. As will be demonstrated, the achievement of these pillars can be facilitated by the working of an active civil society and effective media. Respect and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Human rights can be referred to as those basic rights and freedoms to which every human being is entitled to. Very often it is left in the hands of the organs of the state to ensure the protection of such rights. However, civil society and the media too play a role in demonstrating the importance of the protection of these rights. The latter are sometimes considered to be watch-dogs and struggle to ensure the adherence to these rights. The constant violation of human rights can be blamed on the facts that such actions remain undisclosed. This is where the media comes in. Its role is to expose such violations and make the public aware of such violations. It is only after the public is shown what is the outcome of such violations that awareness can be created. Furthermore, civil society must emphasise that education about human rights is increased as much as possible. In Malta, for instance, the People for Change Foundation, an NGO, works towards the achievement of a just, fair and inc lusive society all members of which may reach their full potential unhindered by factors such as age, race, sex, religion etc. Furthermore, it promotes social cohesion, and respect for Human Rights. One of the main reasons why civil society is of utmost importance is because it upholds certain values which strengthens the same civil society, and hence the democratic governance. It should thus work towards the upholding of human rights standards, and such value will permeate all levels of society. Since civil society organisation tend to focus on particular minor groups, voice their interests and work towards the clearing up of misconceptions and misunderstandings, and overcoming mistrust and fear. Such organisations are to aid governments to promote, as much as possible, dialogue between people hailing from various backgrounds and ethnicities. According to the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI)  [3]  project, a comprehensive study on civil society in Turkey, it can be argued that civil society is a crucial agent towards positive social change. Turkish civil society groups are not only providing services to disadvantaged and minority groups, but they also take active positions on several matters. The most remarkable efforts are in the alia of human rights where civil society organisations are making a lot of effort on expanding civic liberties. It is believed that when a particular government closes a geographical region to journalists there is the violation of human rights in that region. Chechnya, North Korea and Eritrea, amongst others, have all been closed in the past. In 2007, Human Rights Watch, an INGO, issued a report stating that the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua were closed to outside human rights observers, and that there was the commission of violations of human rights. The Human Rights Watch stated that there was little understanding of what was taking places in these regions since there wasnt much independent reporting on the area. The INGO went on to call the Indonesian government to open this region to independent observers so as to increase the amount and quality of information about the conditions there, and to allow independent and transparent reporting. Furthermore, the Russian NGO, Memorial, winner of the 2009 Sakharov Prize  [4]  also strives to promote the truth about violations of human rights in Russia, and former USSR states in order to ensure their democratic future. Freedom of Speech and Expression One of the most important functions of democratic governance is that decision-making at all levels is preceded by discussion and consideration of a range of views. A decision made after adequate consultation is likely to be a better decision than that which is taken after little or no consultation since the former mirrors the opinions, interests and needs of those concerned. This expression of opinions can be represented in the form of freedom of speech, and it is important in all levels of society. Without free speech, no political action is possible and no resistance to injustice or oppression is possible, and elections would have no meaning at all. Policies of political contestants become known to the public and become responsive to public opinion only if transmitted by the media by virtue of free speech. Furthermore, by virtue of Article 119 of the Constitution of Malta, the Broadcasting Authority is to ensure that broadcasting and television services preserve due impartiality in respect of matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to public policy, and that persons belonging to the different political parties are allocated a fair proportion of broadcasting time. Thus freedom of speech can be deemed to be the sine qua non of a democratic society. I believe that freedom of expression is designed to develop personal self-fulfilment; it is an essential process for the advancement of knowledge and discovery of truth; and it can be deemed to be a method of achieving necessary social change without resorting to violence. The importance of freedom of expression is outlined in Article 41 of the Constitution of Malta which states that: Except with his own consent or by way of parental discipline, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence. Similarly, the Constitution of Jordan guarantees freedom of opinion and speech, in addition to freedom of the press and media, but all within the limits of the law. However, in practice there are significant restrictions in place restricting the free operation of the media. Any criticism of the king or the royal family is prohibited, as well as anything which is deemed to harm the states reputation and dignity. The government has used tactics such as fines, prosecution, and detention to intimidate journalist. Furthermore, while press freedom has progressed quite a lot in Jordan in recent years, the very complex legislation of the state, and the lack of awareness of the law very often means that journalist fall foul of the system. Nidal Mansor, president of the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ), stated that The media is the cornerstone of reform and democracy, and so in 2002, with the help of the EU, the CDFJ set up a media legal aid unit which not only offers fre e legal representation for journalists, but also carries out advocacy work in Jordan and neighbouring countries to try to improve the existing laws concerning the press. While increased media freedom has been praised in Egyptian political life over the past decade, in last Novembers elections several negative factors surfaced. Pre-election time was characterised by the restriction of the liberty to discuss politics and this, as a result, slowed down the spreading of political information. They did not allow the opposition from using the media and made sure that critics are silenced. Freedom of Association and Assembly Article 42 of the Constitution of Malta states that no person is to be hindered in his enjoyment of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, thus they are to be able to hold demonstrations and meetings. The right to form associations with others comprises the right to join band clubs, political parties and trade unions amongst others. Thus, this can be seen as the basis of the formation of civil society. One must point out that the Maltese Constitution lays down that it shall be unlawful, to establish, maintain or belong to any association of persons who are organised and trained or equipped for the purpose of enabling them to be used for the display of physical force for a political object. It is recognized as one of the foundations of a functioning democracy, and its protection is crucial for creating a tolerant society in which groups holding different beliefs, practices, or policies can coexist peacefully. The Human Rights House Foundation, an INGO, deplored the fact that in Belarus people are deprived of expressing their dissent peacefully, and further condemned the use of force and violence against the peaceful demonstrators carried out on February 14th and 16th in 2009 in Minsk. Although the organisers applied for permission to hold these demonstrations, their application was turned down. In the latter peaceful rally held in solidarity with political prisoners, was also brutally disbanded. Ten minutes after people had gathered, dozens of riot policemen attacked the participants of the rally. Freedom of Press In more than half the worlds countries, banning, confiscation and censorship of publications are everyday occurrences. Even today, millions of men and women live under governments which restrict their right to know and express their opinions. The number of journalists, who go to jail for criticizing governments, or for simply expressing concern of any kind, is still high. As democracy is founded on an informed and active citizenry, citizens have the right and responsibility to participate in public affairs. Effective participation requires knowledge and wisdom. Citizens get their knowledge through media, and through discussions with others. The media provide forums through which individuals and groups express their opinions. As governmental watchdogs, the press and civil society organisations keep citizens informed of governmental events and actions. It is also important that people are not subjected to just one perspective of thing, but they are to be enabled to make comparisons, re ach conclusions and form opinions. The job of a free press is to keep an eye on the government, to make sure it stays honest and responsive to the people of the country. A free press also has an important role in government since it has an increasingly influential impact on public policy, governmental decisions and popular attitudes. Section 2 of the Spanish constitution provides, amongst other, for freedom of speech and of the press. Together, the Spanish independent press, the judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system ensure freedom of speech and of the press. Individuals are allowed to criticize the government publicly or privately, without fear of punishment, and the government does not hinder such criticism. The independent media in this country is very active and generally expresses a myriad of views without restriction. On the other hand, there is no current independent media in Eritrea, and all forms of media are Government sources. Eritrea has among the highest number of jailed journalists in the world. In 2001, in an effort to suppress increasing opposition about the future of the Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice, the government closed down eight independent newspapers and arrested a number of journalists. Eritreas press freedom is deemed to be the lowest in the world. Similarly, Jordanian radio and television are considered to be more restricted in their freedoms than the press. In general, people are allowed to access the internet freely, and such access in unrestricted; however, there were reports that the government investigated some website which were highly critical. Political participation and Elections David Friedrick  [5]  states that the participation of an organised civil society in governance arrangements at European and international level is enhancing democratic qualities, and goes further into saying that having a regulated model of participation would strengthen the democratic quality of civil society participation. It can be said that anything which restricts the scope of public participation not only weakens a countrys democratic foundations but also has the immediate effect of limiting debate over its development priorities. Furthermore, political participation is essential for realizing the basic values and objectives that minorities have. Elections constitute an essential feature of democratic governance. Through elections, people choose their representatives. Furthermore, political parties occupy a central place in the political process in modern democracies since these parties are deemed to be intermediaries between society and state. In order to guarantee the involvement of minorities in political parties, it is important to ascertain that the basic human right of freedom of association is fully respected. Recently, a Bosnian Jew and an ethnic Roma have challenged discriminatory provisions within Bosnias Constitution and electoral laws. In a case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on 22 December 2009, the Court found certain provisions of the Bosnian Constitution and electoral laws to discriminate against minorities in failing to allow its citizens who are not Constituent Peoples to stand for election to the Presidency. The UN-INSTRAW/CAWTAR  [6]  project Womens Political Participation in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, demonstrates how the media can play a crucial role in the promotion of women ´s political participation in this region. In these countries, womens political participation has been increased during the last years, mainly due to increased access to education and the integration of women in the labour market. However, women are still highly underrepresented in the political field, as well as in the legal and institutional areas. Even during the elections in Algeria and Morocco in recent years, female candidates were only given limited coverage. This is to be distinguished from the situation in Spain, where in 2004, there were 125 women in the 350 seat Congress of Deputies, and 61 women in the 259 seat Senate; and the 64 women in the 169-seat parliament, and seven women among the nineteen in the Supreme Court in Norway. In these two countries, one can see how womens political partici pation is much higher when compared to Arab countries. Conclusion Thus one can conclude that the basic roles of civil society and the media in democratic systems of governance are of utmost importance, and one can say that their main scope is to limit and control the power of the state, to raise public concern, to promote political participation, to develop values of democratic life, and to express diverse interests. It is only when the media and civil society, work hand in hand with the government that democratic governance is strengthened.

The City of Thessaloniki (Salonika) Essay example -- History Thessalon

The City of Thessaloniki (Salonika): Cultural, Political, and Religious History (315 BC- 1912) There was once a great city, a cosmopolitan center of commerce and culture. Its' port welcomed immigrants fleeing terror and want; its dense, bustling streets presented a kaleidoscopic variety of native dress and hummed with the sound of the world's languages.? Built on the twin pillars of tolerance and trade, the city was a beacon of pluralism and ethnic hatred. This great city is not New York but Salonika, "the Pearl of the Mediterranean" (1). Salonika, officially known today by the Greek name Thessaloniki, is a magnificent city with a rich heritage.? It was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedonia, who named this land Thessaloniki after his wife, Thessalonica, daughter of Phillip II and half-sister of Alexander the Great.? Story has it that Phillip received news of his daughter?s birth on the day he conquered Thessaly (2).? He named his daughter ?Thessaloniki?, meaning ?Victory in Thessaly? (3). Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, is also one of oldest European cities.? Over time, Thessaloniki grew to become the industrial and artistic center of Macedonia and one of the few Greek cities to have constantly developed culturally. Early History; Roman Era: During the Roman era, Thessaloniki was a free city and was considered the capital of Roman Macedonia and of the Southern Balkans (4).? In 130 BC the famous Via Egnatia, an important Roman road that linked the East and the West, and the city?s harbor were constructed, both which contributed to the growth and prosperity of the city (5).? In 50 AD, Saint Paul founded the second Christian church, to which he addressed two letters?Thessalonians, the... ...8302&destID=1678&p_id=28302&tn=attraction&search_type= > 12. ?Frommers.com:? Thessaloniki:? Museum or Other Attraction:? Church and Crypt of Ayios Demetrios.?? Frommers.com? 15 Dec, 2003.? Wiley Publishing, Inc.? <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/moreattract.cfm?a_id=28303&destID=1678&directory=thessaloniki&p_id=28303&tn=attraction&leftnav=1678022088 > 13. ?White Tower of Thessaloniki.?? Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Dec, 2003? <http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tower_of_Thessaloniki> 14. ?Frommers.com:? Thessaloniki:? Museum or Other Attraction:? The White Tower.?? Frommers.com? 15 Dec, 2003.? Wiley Publishing, Inc.? <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/moreattract> 15. ?Frommers.com:? Overview of Thessaloniki.?? Frommers.com? 8 Jan 2004 Wiley Publishing, Inc.? <http://www.frommers.com/destinations/thessaloniki/1678010001.html>

The God Must Be Crazy Movie Analysis

The only students there are a crop of rustic and austere people the Bushmen. They lead a simple yet vibrant life in their own â€Å"paradise†. However a bottle dropping from the civilized world encroached upon peaceful and complacent family life. In the wake Of discovering its various facilities they began to scramble for it to satiate their own needs thus stirring anger jealousy hate and violence. Therefore Xi the first person who had found the bottle decided to throw this evil thing to the end of the world.In the course of his journey he name across Andrew Steen and Kate Thompson who eventually fell in love with each other. Meanwhile a brutal Samba's gang was subdued by Mr.. Steen with the help of Xi. It is plausible that this comedy film is sheerer a good expression. This film directly demonstrates its positive and pleasant dimensions to its viewers. Indeed this film is imbued with comic elements. I was amazed when Xi had misgivings about how such a small bottle on the tele scope could have a capacity of so many people. I was bursting into laughter the moment Mr..Steen steered towards the fence which blocked his way and he responded awkwardly in the presence of Mrs.. Thompson trying to pick up the bottles falling from the table. Was giggling when Jack drove away his bus under which lurked Xi and Midi to elude the beast chasing after him. However that is far from enough. It is true that the aesthetic effect of a comedy is laugh which is the part and parcel of the whole movie but it is not the whole story the moral lying behind the laugh is the essence of the comedy. In keeping with Iliad which was composed by Homer a renownedGreek poet and depicted numerous valiant soldiers on the one hand and conveyed the idea of heroism and humanism inspiring people from generation to generation on the other the film The gods must be crazy has also represented the educational significance of a comedy edifying and reshaping viewers. After watching this film for a secon d time I come to a deeper understanding of this comedy that the comedy elements are not merely scheduled to create laughter instead they are planned to sing praise for Xi's primitive and rustic mind to give the thumbs up for Mr..Stein's grit and integrity while giving the thumbs down against Jack's hypocrisy. More importantly I hold that this comedy movie has a social implication for our modern life. Fraught with fierce competition due to the globalization people are progressively deprived of an air of freedom and dedicating themselves to a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love of comfort. We become desperate social climbers and have devotions to material things. Therefore, bottles-?material things constitute the center rhythm of our life.

Dyslexia and the Good Life Essay Example

Dyslexia and the Good Life Essay Example Dyslexia and the Good Life Paper Dyslexia and the Good Life Paper In her book Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level, Sally Shaywitz says, †¦Dyslexia can infiltrate every aspect of a person’s life. It is often described as a hidden disability because it was thought to lack visible signs, but dyslexia is hidden only from those who do not have to live with it and suffer its effects (Shaywitz, 4). Shaywitz says further that dyslexic children are often misjudged on the level of intelligence due to the difficulty of reading. For example, when a child’s progress seems impeded, the blame is usually set on sociological or educational issues. Even though the general public is more aware of dyslexia and its effects, not enough people recognize it in small children. Given the ‘normal’ issues teachers face on the preschool level, sometimes dyslexia will be diagnosed as something else pertaining to learning difficulty (e. g. attention deficit disorder). The purpose of this essay is to engage the reader in the different aspects of this unique condition. It is not uncommon for dyslexic people to be seen as having an attention deficit disorder when the reality is that they are having difficulty seeing the letters the same way as the other children in the classroom. Some letters in a word are reversed or rearranged giving a preschool child an erroneous symbol for specific letters of the alphabet. Other issues accompanying letter distortion include poor organization and introversion due to the ‘difference’ realized in the mind of a dyslexic child. The word ‘dyslexia’ actually comes from a Greek word which means difficulty with words. It includes a wide range of learning difficulties where a person of normal intelligence has persistent and significant problems with reading, writing, spelling and sometimes mathematics and musical notation (Hicks, www. bbc. co. uk/health ). It should be known that people in the past have associated poor parenting as a cause of dyslexia. This could not be further from the truth. Although a cause has not been pinned down yet, there are a number of ways to detect dyslexia in children and adults none of which has to do with the way they are treated. Some of these include phonics, letter identification, and even counting. Since dyslexic people suffer with differing symptoms, helping them to cope with everyday life must be done on an individual level. If detected early enough there are three widely used methods to help dyslexic children overcome this barrier in learning. The first method is called the developmental approach and uses previous methods that are believed to be instructional and helpful and center on the extra time these special children need to learn specific tasks. Because the symptoms vary with each individual, the specific symptom would have to be predetermined in order for the developmental approach to work. A second method uses corrective measures in that it breaks the children into groups and emphasizes special interests and assets of the special child. This method is based on the hope it will give the child to overcome the disability. If used properly, this method could strengthen a child’s resolve to overcome which results in them feeling normal. Specific corrective measures are taken on the child’s initiative which enables the child to understand they have the power to do something about this problem they face. The last approach is a remedial approach. It attempts to overcome dyslexia through education and psychology. It is thought that dyslexia is just a learning disorder that can be overcome through educating the sufferer and psychologically helping them to cope with it. This approach is really the most involved of the three, but it only involves people on a professional level. This could be seen as a detriment to children with dyslexia. The time spent with psychologists and other medical professions takes away from the time they could spend with children their age. With enough interaction on their level they may be able to see their difference, and with the help of the other children psychological help is provided. WebMD states that dyslexia could be genetic in that people who suffer with it usually have someone else in the family lineage that also suffers with it. Genetic disorders are diseases that can be passed from parents to children. Some disorders may be inherited if only one parent has the gene, while others can be inherited only if both parents have the gene (Cooke, http://children. webmd. com/tc/Dyslexia-Cause). Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle-Cell are two samples given by WebMD as being on the list of genetically inherited medical problems. The examples below give a better understanding of the processes in the brain of a dyslexic person. The word sare n otsp aced cor rect ly We spell wrds xatle az tha snd to us Sometimesalltheletterarepushedtogether The brain suffering from the symptoms of dyslexia uses both the left and right sides of the brain to do what the left side does in brains not suffering from dyslexia. The above samples of how dyslexic people see words and sentences demonstrates the level of difficulty just to communicate written messages. Every textbook they encounter will be six times harder to read for them than the other children with the same textbook due to the inadequacy of the left side of the brain. In an effort to demonstrate the efficiency with which normal brains operate and make sense out of words that are collected for the purpose of communication look at these wrds tht are msing lttrs. Se hw esy it bcms to rd smthng lke ths? Imagine words and letters being even more mixed up than this and you have a day in the life of a dyslexic. A University of Auckland study showed mostly left hemisphere brain activity when normal readers were asked to perform three different reading tasks, including a phonics-based reading task where letter strings must be silently sounded-out to get the correct answer. In contrast, the dyslexic adults showed very limited left-brain activity during these tasks, with most activity being in the right brain ( engineering. auckland. ac. nz/uoa/engineering/news/2006/04/dyslexia. cfm). It is the left side of the brain that controls the phonics of words. When the normal brain sees a sentence it recalls the learning process and calls into action the left side of the brain which deciphers the letters and the sounds which causes the words and letters to make sense. To a dyslexic brain, with little or no left brain activity, the problem arises. The right side of the brain, which is not the center for decoding messages, tries to take up the slack of the left side and therefore hinders the learning process. Doctor Karen Waldie, of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in an interview stated, The only significant activity in the phonological dyslexic group was in the frontal lobes of the right hemisphere of the brain, she continued. This might be the result of the dyslexic brain trying to compensate for an inefficient left-brain language system a system that might have been compromised during brain development or is simply genetically hard-wired to be a bit different from the norm. † The brain is so complex an organ that to understand how the right side of the brain compensates for the left side not functioning properly is a mystery. In relation to normal activity of the brain, dyslexia causes such a different pattern of activity that there are scientists who believe it is no more than a differing in brain activity and if the effected brain is properly trained it can lead a normal happy life. â€Å"The mental function that causes dyslexia is a gift in the truest sense of the word: a natural ability, a talent. It is something special that enhances the individual,† so says Ronald Davis in his co-authored book on the subject, The Gift of Dyslexia. He lists some well known people that were fortunate enough to have dyslexia; Hans Christian Anderson, Whoopi Goldberg, General George Patton and more. Davis, in an interview on a talk show, was asked if there was a positive side of dyslexia, when he gave her the list of famous people that had it, she was reported to have stated how fascinating it was that these people excelled in life in spite of their handicap. Davis notes in his book that he feels that they are famous as a direct result of their handicap, or as he says ‘their gift. ’ This book and others he has written have helped many people see their handicap as a gift and offers them a solution for their unique way of seeing the world. The brain is such a magnificent part of the human body. Some believe that the average person uses only about ten percent of their brain at any given moment. While this may lead to some fairly wild assumptions, it is clear and measurable that the dyslexic brain uses right brain matter to do what the left brain usually does. If this is the case, then it could be logically concluded that man does not really know what would happen if he was able to utilize more than that assumed ten percent at any given moment. It is a logical assumption (if you can use those two words together) then, that the human brain adapts to its surroundings. If a child is diagnosed as dyslexic the learning process will become different for him than it would be for one without it. When readers are asked to imagine cat without the kah sound, they readily summon at. The MRI photographs show their brains lighting up like pinball machines. When the brain gets it, the light bulbs really do go on. However, the brains of people who cant sound out words often look different on MRI pictures. There is less blood flow to the language centers of the brain and, in some cases, not much activity evident at all. Scientists are not sure why this is or what it means. But simply put, without the ability to sound out words, the brain is stumped (www. healthyplace. com). The main trouble dyslexics have when trying to read is the phonic sounds that the brain hears when it sees a word. According to the 2006 November edition of Scientific America, the dyslexic brain has little or no capability to phonically hear a word and thus has no reference point for the sounding of that word (101). The frustration is in the dyslexic’s ability to understand what they hear but not what they read. It’s like trying to remember something that you have remembered before, but now something is blocking the ability to recall that information again. Therefore people say things like â€Å"Until I remember it, it will drive me nuts! † The major life complication that most physicians will see as pertaining to people with dyslexia is self esteem issues. The fact that a basic fundamental part of everyday life is nearly impossible for them; dyslexic people are more prone to depression, withdrawal and isolation. Overall health can ultimately be affected depending on the depth of the depression or other complications arising as a direct result of being dyslexic. The remedies, for there is no known cure, are more home-grown than anything else. This means siblings and parents should read to them often to help them understand what they see, and should interact with them enough to be sure they feel as they are an important part of the family. Winston Churchill, a man who could move the masses, was dyslexic. Walt Disney, Henry Ford and Cher all dealt with, or in Cher’s case, still deal with dyslexia. The best treatment a dyslexic person can get is the friendly help from people who genuinely care about them. If your child has dyslexia, doctors would recommend that you be very supportive, talk to them about it, and develop study practices that will enable them to function in school. Self esteem goes a long way in children and youth alike. There will always be those who will ridicule, or make some other type of demeaning remark, so all the encouragement they can get will help them become productive members of society. Ronald Davis did something positive when he wrote Dyslexia the Gift, Cher sings and writes music, and there are probably people in your city dealing with dyslexia right now. As long as humans are in control of society, they will always have a way to cope with whatever life deals to them. Shaywitz, Sally, MD. Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level. New York: Random House Publishing, 2003. Hicks, Rob MD. Dislexia. December 2005. 18 April 2007. bbc. co. uk/health/conditions/dyslexia1. shtml Cooke, Kerry V. Genetic Disorders. 27 May 2005. 18 April 2007. http://children. webmd. com/tc/Dyslexia-Cause Faculty of Engineering. Map of the human brain sheds new light on dyslexia. 20 April 2006. 18 April 2007. engineering. auckland. ac. nz/uoa/ engineering/news/2006/04/dyslexia. cfm Davis, Robert D. and Braun, Eldon N. Dyslexia The Gift. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group. 1994. 4 10 Years of Brain Imaging. HealthyPlace. com. 2000. 18 April 2007.

Discuss The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Discuss 'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern he Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a debut novel that transports readers into a fantastical world in another time. Use these book club discussion questions on The Night Circus to lead your reading group into the intricacies of Morgensterns novel. Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Finish the book before reading on. The Night Circus is not written in a linear timeline. Did you find the structure of the book disorienting? Do you think it was effective in mirroring the nature of the circus or did it just annoy you?Between the chapters that tell the story of The Night Circus are descriptions of the circus itself, written as if you are visiting it right now. What do these chapters add to the story?What was your favorite part of the circus? Which character would you most want to meet? Which tent would you most want to visit? Which food sounded most appealing?Why are Frederick Thiessen and the reverse important to the story? Why do you think some people were so entranced by the circus that they devoted themselves to following it around?Did you feel sorry for those who were being used in the game Isobel, the Burgess sisters, even Celia and Marco? Why do you think some people, like Mr. Barris, dont mind being trapped by the circus while it drives others, like Tara Burgess, mad?Why do you think Bailey was willing to give his life to the circus? Discuss themes of good and evil and free will verses being bound.What did you think of Marco and Celias relationship? Why did they fall in love?Why does the man in the gray suit feel so passionate about stories? What sort of commentary do you think the chapter Stories is the novel? On life?Rate The Night Circus 1 to 5.

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Final - Essay Example It has deities based on the religious sect such as bodhisattvas, Mahayana faction, and space Buddha considered as gods as well as goddesses in the universe. Some of the most celebrated deities include the white Taras, laughing Buddha, medicine Buddha, and Kuan Yin. Furthermore, Buddhism fails to accept the actuality of the soul or atman as true. Individuals encompass five constituents, which are mental development, ideations, physical appearance, feelings, as well as consciousness. They integrate to delineate a human form during birth. Besides, Buddhists believe in reincarnation and karma, which contradicts the notion of human nature (Buddhist Temples, 2011). Hinduism Hinduism constitutes a number of deities categorized under several aspects such as Adi Parashakti, Shiva, Brahman, Durga, Lakshmi and Vishnu. The majority of Hinduism deities are portrayed through images, and distinguished by number of arms, posture, facial expression as well as dressing. Although Hinduism comprises sev eral deities, they basically act as a go-between linking Hindus to the supreme God, Brahman. As such, Hinduism acknowledges the presence of god (Brahma) who is manifested as various gods as well as goddesses. ... These paths influence lives as well as cultures of Hindus. In addition, Vedas emphasizes the significance of the life of the family circle as the extemporal depiction of humans. It requires individuals to carry out their social duties, lead an appropriate life and bear children. Based on teachings of Hinduism gurus, Upanishads acknowledge the uniting of Hindus with Brahman on the condition that their perceptions and actions are acceptable. In this sense, individuals ought to relinquish their sins, and begin a life of simplicity. As a result, Hindus must engage in deep truth-seeking analysis, thorough reflection, and develop true knowledge of self in order to attain the state of karma (Patheos, 2011). Question 2: Moses and Monotheism Moses revolutionized the religious orientation of Israelites by persuading them to acknowledge monotheism (belief in one God). The belief in one God had a significant effect on the lives of Israelites. It marked the end of idolatry, and decline of the bel ief in the existence of multiple gods as well as goddesses. Hebrews had a distinctive deity of tribal divinity before the time of Moses, which Joseph’s clans gave their allegiance to during the transit from Egypt. However, Moses introduced them to their God, Yahweh, at the mountain of Sinai who Israelites did not know by His name before. He is a storm God, God of fire, a tribal God, and the aspect of anthropomorphism. As a result, Israelites developed a more profound faith in their beliefs and religious practices. The primitive God, Yahweh, was considered as the territorial deity of the land occupied by the Israelites. This religious perspective set the stage for the continuation and development of the other several Abrahamic religious

MySofa.co.uk digital marketing plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

MySofa.co.uk digital marketing plan - Essay Example These are some of the most critical aspects that have the potential to bring critical challenges in the company’s expansion plan. Among these factors some are controllable or manageable (like selection of local vendor, supply chain and logistics) while others are uncontrollable (like government restrictions). In the present situation we are required to create a digital marketing plan for the brand â€Å"My Sofa† by the renowned sofa company of UK, Stokers. Sofa reflects the taste and preference of the users and thus it makes significant furniture among others. Whenever a visitor steps into the house, he or she faces the drawing room first where they are offered seats. These seats leave an impression in the person’s mind about the owner of the house as well as about the other members of the house. Thus it is of utmost importance to place a suitable sofa in the drawing room that would help the outsiders to have an impressive inkling about the people staying within the house. My Sofa is a luxury brand that aims at capturing the attention of the aged generation who mostly prefer a traditional, classic and sophisticated look in their drawing room. The digital marketing plan would create an online platform for the buyers and sellers where the customers will be able to choose the perfect sofa for their house without even visiting the store. The main aim of the website is saving the time and effort of the modern customer base that mostly remain busy with their professions. The online platform would also prove to be helpful for the sellers since the transactions will get recorded automatically that would save their time and effort and this platform will also provide the sellers with the opportunity to offer customized products and service to their customers. A situation analysis and clearly defined objectives The furniture and furnishings sector of UK is a significant industry. It accounts for ?9.4 billion to the nation’s GDP, which is equiva lent to 1.7% of the manufacturing yield, and provides job opportunities to almost 116,000 people inside  8,180 firms. In addition, the business  recruits 17,000 people in dedicated furniture and furnishings wholesale and retail, 7,000 in leasing, 2,000  in repair and a section of the 42,000 listed professional designers (The British furniture Confederation, n.d.). The Sofa Market is estimated to be worth ?2.8b annually by industry insider reports. Of this it is thought that 30% (?850m) are ‘quality seekers’. These are aspiring consumers who are proud of their home. This group of consumers can be split into 3 sub-groups according to their family, age, income status and their relationship with children: 1. Young established shoppers within the age group 25 to 35. These shoppers mostly do not have kids. The audience size is 3.4 million. The sofa market size is 230 million pounds. This group is basically considered to be the youngest among the three groups with urban lifestyle and modern outlook. Their choice