A Rhetorical Analysis of: Evil is as Evil Does Essay

PURPOSE: The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, concerning the art of rhetoric, â€Å"[it] is the faculty of discovering in every case the available means of persuasion.† A suitably eloquent phrase, the definition lends itself to images of momentous speeches amongst great crowds and heated debates in which the fluent, forceful language of one person casts a shadow over the rural diction of another. Leonard Pitts’ purpose in his article, Evil is as Evil Does, is to argue that, â€Å"The events of September 11 did not happen because we did something wrong. Or because we somehow ‘deserved’ them.† Pitts feels very strongly that we were attacked on September 11 â€Å"because certain religious extremists hate us.† Pitts is writing a heated response to the arguments and comments he has heard over the past couple of weeks concerning why we were attacked. AUDIENCE: Since this article was in a local professional newspaper for the public, Pitts’ audience would consist of people in Columbus, Georgia, regions close around the city, and in Florida because he is a writer for the Miami Herald. The audience would consist of mainly middle-aged, middle class people. Pitts seems to be aiming this article particularly at those who are trying to empathize and rationalize the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. Pitts seems to feel they need to be convinced that evil cannot be rationalized and that the United States did not do anything to deserve these horrendous attacks. He says, although our â€Å"government has dirtied its hands in foreign affairs† we do not â€Å"drive planeloads of noncombatants into buildings filled with the same. And we don’t dance in the street when innocents die.† Therefore, he targets those who are trying to rationalize the motives of the terrorists because they are the people that are the most directly affected by the article, and the ones that need the most convincing. APPEALS: Pitts tries to reach his intended audience by making appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. Throughout the article, he points out the facts of his argument, and then he relates them directly to his topic. Pitts shows ethos by making a logical argument for his own opinions, and attempting to persuade his audience to see his side. He uses logos to invent pathos for the attacks in order to draw out the emotions of the readers. For instance, he aggressively attacks those who are trying to figure out what we might have done to deserve what happened. Even his voice seems to be filled with anger and condescension. He argues, â€Å"Despite all of our transgressions, we don’t sanction the murder of those who have neither the capacity nor the intention to harm us.† Then, he reiterates that this is what the terrorists did. Pitts also argues that, â€Å"the claim that there might be some sort of moral equivalency between us and them is misguided at best, offensive at worst.† Here he relate his argument to pathos by stating that â€Å"Hell no,† we did nothing wrong and nothing to deserve these attacks. He claims that these attacks happened because the terrorists hate us. Pitts’ states that â€Å"they hate us because our foreign policy has been supportive of Israel. They hate us because we helped repel Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991. They hate us because we are the biggest, the wealthiest, the most influential, and the most powerful. They hate us because we are not them, and, moreover, because they are not us.† STYLE: The style of this article is of a basic format. Pitts begins his article with a bold sentence to catch the attention of the reader. Kinneavy states in his book, â€Å"A Theory on Discourse†, that, â€Å"the distinctive function of the entrance paragraph is to introduce the subject and make clear the end and object of the speech† (Kinneavy, 266). He clearly introduces the purpose of his article in the first paragraph. He then transitions into his narrative and proof. He explains what propelled him to write this article and he proceeds with his proof as to why America is not at fault for the terrorist attacks. He concludes his article with another bold statement, which says, â€Å"We are right and they are evil. End of story.† This concluding paragraph shows the readers how strongly he feels about his argument. The reader can clearly see after reading this article that Pitts is using inductive reasoning to persuade his audience. The article was very easy to read and understand. There were no words that one would stumble over or that were hard to define and the paragraphs flowed and transitioned smoothly. The sentence structure was also varied well between long and short sentences. AUTHORITY: Pitts establishes his authority at the very beginning of the article by including his job title with his name: Leonard Pitts, Commentary. Right away, his audience is aware that he is an educated man because, otherwise, he would not be a writer for such a well-known newspaper as the Miami Herald. He is also an American, which, at this point, gives him good authority to write such an impassioned commentary concerning the recent attacks. Another thing that shows a writer to be credible is how one would define his character. Aristotle listed three aspects that would help with the credibility of a writer. â€Å"The speaker must appear to have a practical knowledge about the reality at issue, he must seem to have the good of the audience at heart, and he must portray himself as a person who would not deceive the audience in the matter at hand† (Kinneavy, 238). This is divided into good sense, good will, and good moral character. Pitts shows his good sense by showing his readers that he is well informed about the topic he is writing on. He goes through his article systematically, and reasonably refutes those people with which he does not agree. He shows his good will by explaining that we are better than the terrorists and the country they came from because we do not hurt innocent people on purpose or celebrate when they die. With his good will, he is establishing that as a fellow American, he does not, and will not empathize with the terrorists or anybody from the Middle East. Finally, Pitts expresses good moral character by showing his anger over the events mentioned. He also gives examples of the atrocities of the terrorists: flying airplanes into buildings filled with innocent people and â€Å"sanctioning the murder of those who have neither the capacity nor the intention to harm us.† He reminds those that are feeling sorry for the terrorists that Americans would never have done the evil things that terrorists do. He is expelling his good moral character by showing that he does not condone the acts of the terrorists. ORGANIZATION: Pitts starts his article with a quick and bold statement, â€Å"Let’s get one thing straight.† He then presents his thesis which states that we did not do anything wrong to deserve these attacks. He then begins to follow up with comments he has heard and e-mails he has received concerning why they believed the United States was attacked. Then he vehemently states that â€Å"In a word, no. To all of the above, to all the tortured reflection and moral distress: no. Hell no.† After this statement he proceeds to explain why he so adamantly disagrees with the empathetic reactions of the comments he has heard. First, he expresses acknowledgment that some people â€Å"might have legitimate reason for animosity toward this country.† He then transitions to state that although we might do things to cause anger in other countries, we do not respond in a violent and evil manner because of this. Pitts explains that when the United States is forced to take military action, we limit it to military targets and that we do not kill innocents on purpose. Pitts then states trying to change ourselves and the way we run this country in order to insure that â€Å"no one will ever steer a plane into one of our buildings again is foolishness.† Pitts then ties all these previous ideas together in his implications and conclusions section. He does not revisit each argument, but instead says that â€Å"they hate us† and â€Å"there is nothing about our enemies that deserves to be dignified by our moral distress.† He concludes his argument by asserting that â€Å"We are right and they are evil. End of Story.† EFFECTIVENESS: This article was a very effective argument. The author made a point by providing facts to support that point, and countering the opposition. The article flowed well, and the diction was not so complex that one could not understand. The passionate voice Pitts uses and the facts he provides clearly express his feelings on the issue at hand. I do agree with Pitts’ assertion that these attacks were not the fault of America and I also believe we did not deserve these vicious attacks. The acts of the terrorists were cowardly and evil. And in my own opinion, I believe that the attack backfired on them. Although they caused mass chaos and much pain, they also caused a revival of American pride and unity in our nation that has not been seen since World War II. Pitts’ article completely convinced me because I believe the same things that he does. We are certainly not a perfect nation and we do not always do the right things, but we do not condone the slaughter of innocent people, and there is no cause that would justify such an action. Works Cited 1. Kinneavy, James. A Theory of Discourse. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1980 2. Introduction To Aristotle. Co-Directors Sally Jackson and Scott Jacobs. San Francisco University. September 28, 2001 .

Research Proposal on Banking Essay

Introduction Over thirty-five years have passed since academics began speculating on the impact that information technology (IT) would have on organizational structure. The debate is still on-going, and both researchers and managers continue to explore the relationship between IT and organizational structure. As organizations need to process more information under these uncertain conditions, IT is one possible way for organizations to increase their information processing capability. We are conducting a research in HBL bank that, how bank increase the number of account holders using Internet banking among its Current Account holders. IT has a dramatic effect on both people’s personal and professional lives. IT is also changing the nature of organizations by providing opportunities to make fundamental changes in the way they do business. The technology is changing rapidly, with computing speeds and the numbers of transistor equivalents available in a given area of a microprocessor chip both doubling in very short time. Organizations are acquiring more and more technology systems to assist in everything from manufacturing to the management of information to the provision and improvement of customer service. Harnessing and coordinating this computing power is the challenge. New tools and innovative perspectives with which to examine, interpret, and comprehend these rapidly evolving environments are always needed and sought. Background / Literature View: IT is transforming the way that business is conducted. Computers prepare invoices, issue checks, keep track of the movement of stock, and store personnel and payroll records. Word processing and personal computers are changing the patterns of office work, and the spread of information technology is affecting the efficiency and competitiveness of business, the structure of the work force, and the overall growth of economic output. Many people believe that the primary driving force behind this information revolution is progress in microelectronic technology, particularly in the development of integrated circuits or chips. Thus, the reason that computing power that used to fill a room and cost $1 million now stands on a desk and costs $500 or that pocket calculators that used to cost $1000 now cost $10 is that society happens to have benefited from a series of spectacularly successful inventions in the field of electronics. But fewer people understand why the introduction of information technology occurred when it did or took the path that it did, why data processing came before word processing or why computers transformed the office environment before they transformed the factory environment. Because this technology oriented view of the causes of the information revolution offers little guidance to the direction that technological developments have taken thus far, it offers little insight into the direction that they will take in the future. Electronic banking is one of the first things that come to mind when one thinks about the future of banking. It is generally assumed that electronic banking is new and that it will replace or supplement many channels of delivery of retail banking services. The term electronic banking as used here refers to any banking activity accessed by electronic means. It includes Online Banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Automated Call Centers, Digital Cash, Internet Banking, Screen Telephones, E-Utility Bills and so on. These channels of delivery can be used for presenting and paying bills, buying and selling securities, transferring funds, and providing other financial products and services. Electronic banking can be used for retail banking and business-to-business (B2B) transactions, as well as for facilitating large-amount transfers. Equally important, electronic banking is a worldwide phenomenon. As the term is used here, it involves transactions. Web sites that are transactional are considered electronic banking. Electronic banking and the Internet in general are forcing a shift in the way banks and other businesses organize and the way they think of themselves. A shift is taking place from vertical integration to virtual integration. Banks and other financial intermediaries must realize that they are in the financial information industry. The Internet makes it possible to bring both customers and suppliers together to share critical business information. E-banking helps banks relay and show to their clients how good their services are, how many services we are providing and that the services they offer are of better standards. Through E-banking the company can show the clients that they are better than competitors and can give them satisfaction guaranteed. Statement of the problem The internet and the different things it can do to uplift business procedures, products and services is a current necessity for business. One of internet’s products is Electronic banking. Electronic banking is a faster way for clients to transact with the banks personnel. Clients can still transact with banks while on the comfort and safety of their homes and Offices. The main purpose of this proposed research is to determine, how we will increase Internet Banking Users among their present Account holders. Theoretical Framework: Increase Internet Banking Users Quality Products (websites) A Bank Manager observed that, if he provides the better Quality Products (Websites) and Low Bank Charges on Internet-Banking to his Account holders. This will increase the number of Customer of Internet Banking. But it will not affect on those Account holders with less qualification and do not use internet. Qualification of account holder and use of internet Low Bank Charges on Internet Banking Research Objectives: This Research intends to find out, If Bank updates its website and gives quality products, easy use and as well as reduce its transaction charges on Internet banking will increase the number of users using Internet Banking among its Account holders. However, according to the literature review, the qualification of account holder is plays an important part in this relationship. Our objective is if we increase quality products and reduce its transaction charges on Internet banking will increase the Internet Banking users. Research Question: * If we increase quality products and reduce its transaction charges on Internet banking will increase the Internet Banking users or not? * Qualification of customer and use of internet is effect on internet banking users or not? Research Design/Methodology: Type of research This research will use the descriptive type of research. Descriptive method of research is to gather information about the present existing condition and solving the problem. The descriptive approach is quick and more practical financially. Moreover, this method will allow for a flexible approach, thus, when important new issues and questions arise during the duration of the study, a further investigation may be allowed. The study opted to use this kind of research considering the goal of the study to obtain first hand data so as to formulate rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study. Research Strategy For this research data will be gathered through collating published studies from different books, articles from different related journals and studies, and other literary instruments. Afterwards make a content analysis of the collected documentary and verbal material. The study will then summarize all the necessary information. The study will then make a conclusion based on the said information and provide insightful recommendations on how to solve the said problem. Sample and Sampling Technique The respondents of the research came from the different branches of bank mentioned from Karachi. Due to time constraint and also, for the convenience of the researcher, only hundred (100) respondents were considered for the study. The convenience sampling technique was imposed in the study to pick up the hundred respondents, mainly because the availability of the respondents from the different branches was considered. This part of the study is important because the most important data needed to fulfill the objectives and aims of this study will only be supplied by the respondents from the Branches of HBL bank Karachi. Primary and secondary data collection The primary source of data will come from a survey using questionnaire and interviews that will be conducted by the researcher. The primary data frequently gives the detailed definitions of terms and statistical units used in the survey. These are usually broken down into finer classifications. The secondary source of data will come from research through the internet; books, journals, related studies and other sources of information. Acquiring secondary data are more convenient to use because they are already condensed and organized. Moreover, analysis and interpretation are done more easily. Validation of the instrument For validation purposes, the researcher pre-tested a sample of the set survey questionnaires. This was done by conducting an initial survey to at least five respondents from the different banks from Karachi. After the respondents answered, the researchers then asked them to cite the parts of the questionnaire that needs improvement. The researcher even asked for suggestions and corrections from the respondents to ensure that the survey-questionnaire is effective. Automatically, these five respondents were not included as respondents for the study. Data analysis Data gathered will be analyzed through frequency distributions. These will give way to reviewing the data categories and the number of referrals in each category. The data acquired will be analyzed according to the different categories and importance. The information that will be gathered and analyzed will be important to achieve the objectives desired by the study.

The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal Essay - 2

The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal - Essay Example The sale and use of cigarettes should be made illegal. Tobacco is a dangerous and addictive substance that causes major health problems to its users. Lung cancer increases the risk of lung cancer by 23 times in men and 13 times in women (Cdc, 2012). It also causes 10 other cancers including bladder kidney, and pancreatic cancer. Smoking decreases men’s sperm count and it causes infertility. The regular use of cigarettes is a risk factor that increases the chance of coronary disease. There is empirical proof that states that half of all regular smokers will die from its use. This fact implies that nearly 650 million people or 9.28% of the population will die from smoking. Cigarette smoking is even more dangerous among teenagers and pregnant women. Cigarette smoking is an epidemic that is hurting the youth in America. It is estimated that approximately 80% of all smokers begin to smoke cigarettes before the age of 18. The health dangers of smoking are greater for teenagers because their bodies are still developing. The incidence of teen smoking in the U.S. is extremely high as 30% of high school students are cigarette smokers (Cavnett, 2010). One of the reasons smoking is so dangerous among teenagers is because it causes oxygen deprivation. â€Å"Oxygen deprivation can damage and kill brain cells that are not replaced or repaired later in life† (Cavnett, 2010). Since the brains of teenagers are still developing smoking can inhibit the developmental process due to damage to brain cells. Pregnant women that smoke are irresponsible and are endangering an innocent life that is supposed to be protected by its mother. Smoking among pregnant women is a serious problem that deserves the immediate attention of our society. â€Å"Nearly one-quarter of all pregnant women in the United States are smokers, with more than half refusing to quit during their pregnancy† (Mozes, 2012). Making

Rhetoric of Dissent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rhetoric of Dissent - Essay Example In this paper, I address a different kind of a protest organized by the FEMEN activists in Europe who use their bodies and street theater elements as tools to achieve goals and deliver messages. I address the FEMEN protests in the narrative of a body rhetoric theory of Del Gandio and the concept of a public sphere of Habermas in order to explain and interpret how these activists use their bodies and what messages they are trying to deliver. Ukrainian activists FEMEN represent a radical feminist group of young women, mostly students and young professionals, seeking for gender equality and political justice. They address various issues: women trafficking and prostitution in Ukraine, social inequality, and issues of political matter such as unfair elections in Russia (Rubchak, 2011). The geography of their protests is not limited by one country; it ranges from Russia to some countries in Western Europe. Del Gandio points out that â€Å"body plays a rhetorical role in promoting or contesting political agendas (Del Gandio, 2008),† and the FEMEN protesters precisely express their concerns via body language. FEMEN activists are normally topless and provocative. Their actions might seem flamboyant and even outrageous, but they definitely attract attention and make people think of the addressed political issue. They are accused of populism and fame-seeking behavior, however, they successfully advocate for changes of social stereotypes and views on females. Habermas’ (Habermas, 1999) ideas of public sphere revolutionized the views on civic engagement and participation. Various scholars pay their close attention to this concept and apply it to various social phenomena: from revolutions and demonstrations to online activism. Public sphere is a place where individuals can freely exchange ideas and experiences and it is not necessarily limited by the boundaries of the nation-state (Dahlgren & Sparks, 1991). Therefore FEMEN activism fulfils certain

Debate2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Debate2 - Coursework Example Free trade arguments have in past times received support from majority of global institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO). As part of the argument in this paper, it will examine how removal of trade barriers induces higher level of economic growth and efficiency within the global economy (Quinlan & Stevens 1998b). None of the countries, in recent decades, has accomplished economic success, in regard to substantial improvement in its people`s living standards, without opening up its economy and engaging in free trade with the rest of the globe. For example, trade opening together with opening economies to foreign direct investment, constitute an important element in the growth of economies of East Asia. The average import tariff in these economies has fallen to 10 percent from 30 percent over the last 20 years. Several Asian countries have become more successful since they opted to participate in the global trade w hich has also helped them in attracting the bulk of direct foreign investment in developing countries as an expansion of their market. This is undoubtedly true of India and China since they both have embraced trade liberalization as well as other market-oriented reforms. China currently invests and trade with East African countries as a result of free trade agreement between the nations. Trade liberalization offers the ideal policy prescription since the economic benefits that accrue from free trade are relatively simpler to illustrate. Countries in the world are generally confronted with just two prices for goods and services within the global economy: the world prices and the domestic price. In a situation where the world price is lower than a country`s domestic price, say Brazil, then domestic consumers from Brazil will purchase the services and good offered by other international markets since they are cheaper. However, firms in Brazil can respond to the effect of free trade by seeking government support through imposing import tax or apply for investment incentives. In addition to the argument that free trade functions best in promoting efficient allocation of resources, it has also been asserted to occasion additional long-run benefits like; economies of scale, improved productivity since prices for intermediate services and goods decrease, and growth externalities via technology transfer. Economies of scale apply to industries which require a very huge volume of production prior to reaching the lowest average cost (AC). Examples of these industries are the movie and film industries of Nigeria and Hollywood. Without no doubt, such industries will hardly arise in an environment that free trade is restricted because, based on the reality that such industries definitely need large markets so as to be efficient, their market will be narrowed only to domestic market (United States, 2004). Growth externalities means the production benefits which may originate from the incorporation of recent technologies acquired by other globe`s production firms through enhanced interaction with foreign countries as a result of free trade. Therefore, free trade offers numerous opportunities for innovation and learning, which are necessary for the global economic growth and strength of international economies, than are offered by a system of closed economy or managed trade (Maddison, 2001). An example of these growth externality

Experience analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Experience analysis - Essay Example Consequently, Peggy calls for the need of uncovering the privileges according to the subject in order to present a ground for achieving equality. From the goal achieved by the event, it is of critical use in social construction of gender equality and reduced impact of racism in the society. The event presents an important step that can be taken to lessen the advantages possessed by male and white in the society. Peggy presents and expresses her goals in qualitative manner by using a case of individuals who are directly related to her study. For instance, she presents himself as a case by presenting an overview of her being â€Å"overprivilege† as the result of the color of her skin (McIntosh, 2012). This allows her to allows the audiences to readily identify with her goal besides gaining insightful view about the dimension of the study. Further, she also qualitatively describes the invisible privileges that men have, allowing her to adequately tackle her goal of discussing the impact of male privilege. Through using qualitative technique to express her goals, Peggy was able to present a clear picture of the overriding situation, to her audience that provided the basis for meeting her objectives. Peggy’s research was insightful and the way that she presents her theory fits well with intended concept of her study. I therefore agree with her position since she presents an ideal scenario that relates to the social construction of the gender. It is true that the fight against both gender and race discrimination has always avoided the discussion of privileges assigned to the â€Å"superiors† in the society. The event makes inclusive of feasible evidence for the study as seen when she describes herself as an overprivileged individual based on her skin color. This presented a chance for easily relating and understanding the message intended for the

Euthanasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Euthanasia - Essay Example The American Medical Association embraces the belief that active euthanasia is not acceptable due to the involvement of the intentional ending of a patient’s life by another human being. Many current thinkers have argued for and against this view discussing the moral acceptability of such an action, and some of the most notable arguments come from James Rachels. Rachels states that a strong case can be made against the American Medical Association’s doctrine. His main point is that passive euthanasia is not always preferable to active euthanasia: he states that, in some cases, there is simply no moral disparity linking active euthanasia and passive euthanasia. This is because they both are morally equivalent concerning the ultimate goal; however, it is factual that active euthanasia may be fair compared to passive euthanasia. He says that once the choice has been made not to prolong the patient’s agony, active euthanasia would be preferable because the latter wou ld lead to an unnecessary period of suffering (Dixon 25). His most brilliant example is the instance of the babies with a severe Down’s syndrome who were given birth with obstructions in the intestines. He states that sometimes in such cases the babies are allowed to die even if these matters were considered deeply; thus, we would find compelling moral grounds for preferring active euthanasia to passive euthanasia in the vastly greater degree of suffering involved in letting the baby die. Rachels challenge the doctrine that passive euthanasia is preferable to active euthanasia; he declares that it leads to decisions concerning life and death based on irrelevant grounds as to whether a person’s life should continue or not. He argues that ordinarily an intestinal obstruction can be fixed and is not a life or death matter; but in the case of a baby with Down’s syndrome with an intestinal obstruction, he or she should be allowed to die because of Down syndrome and n ot the intestinal obstruction. The presence of the intestinal obstruction in the baby becomes irrelevant due to its having Down’s syndrome, and this is the argument which justifies allowing the prolonged suffering of the baby before it dies instead of fixing the intestinal obstruction which would relieve it of the pain. This justifies Rachels’ argument against the American Medical Association’s doctrine that this doctrine rests on a distinction between killing and letting die that itself has no moral importance because they both lead to the same end and the means of getting there is inconsequential (Javier 262). Jake objects to Rachels’ argument and justifies his stance stating that active euthanasia is based on a person’s decision of killing a patient intentionally, and this is meant to bring to the end the patient’s suffering. This is hugely different from passive euthanasia, as in this case a patient is left to die in his or her own time and not given any substance that will make them die. According to Jake, therefore, it would be true to say that there is a clear difference between active and passive euthanasia, and that this difference is based on the morality of the two actions. While passive euthanasia can be considered morally right, active euthanasia

American Perspective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Perspective - Essay Example It was relevant to take health-protection policies and strategies at the governmental level and the health of the members of the American society was in danger. In the process of industrial development and progressive changes in the country rapid processes of urbanization and industrialization triggered the socialization and shift agricultural concerns of the government to industrial context. Moreover, post-war period imposed challenges on labor market in America. Thousands of lives of American soldiers were lost and there was a need to search for new employees. Environmental and health issues were of the main concern for the American government and similar to the modern policies, the government realized the necessity to contribute much to development of health safety policies in different fields and industries. Question 1 Describe the effects of the horse on urban pollution. What solution was developed to deal with this and how successful was it? In the article â€Å"Atlanta Exposi tion Address† (1895) by Booker Washington the issues of environmental pollution in the 19th and 20th centuries are discussed. The relation between environmental issues and industrial progress of the American society go hand in hand from the beginning of the industrial development of the country. ... It was more natural of them to work in the factory than going to the theatre or to the opera, for example. In the article â€Å"W.E.B. Du Bois Denounces Washington’s Accomodationist policies† (1903) we can read between the lines that when the country stood on the edge of industrial development, it had to make different challenging choices, such as convenience or animal health; industrial development or agrarian advancement. A horse was a golden mean of mediation between these challenging questions. The following article â€Å"Urban Pollution-Many Long Years Ago† by Joel L. Tarr is more detailed in its descriptions about a complicated process of assimilation of horse in the industrial activities of people. It was necessary to efforce a horse from the agrarian nature and force it in the industrial urban nature. The contemporaries draw parallels with environmental hazards imposed by the horse and automobile: we are suffering from exhaust gases and earlier a horse wa s accused of air contaminants harmful for health. I doubt that the scope of harm is equal between these two means of transport†¦ At the beginning of the twentieth century there was a clear intention to eradicate this harmful animal means of transportation vigorously and create a sounder and more health friendly means of transportation. The â€Å"horseless cvarriages† were the embodiment of dreamy ideas of the industrial developers at that time. There was an intention to choose the least of two evils, which was not a horse, but a potential automobile. The streets were full of mud because of the usage of horses as transportation means, and the American cities spent huge amounts of money for cleaning their streets from the horse mud. The epidemic expansion of cholera, smallpox, yellow fever

Management Theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management Theory - Assignment Example Management is of fundamental value to companies. Every organization is concerned with planning to get things done, organizing the business to ensure efficient and effective operations and motivate employees as well as develop a vision for everyone to work on (Williams, 2009). Finally, the need for having controls in place is high as the goals that have been set must be monitored and their fulfillment must be measured. Therefore, management is quintessential in making businesses successful as well as ensuring smooth sailing once that success has been achieved. The significance of management can be ascertained from the fact that businesses spend millions on hiring management consultants to guide them on effective management practices (Williams, 2009). These consultants offer insights as to how managers can lead people effectively, motivate them, deal with various people related issues and manage complex projects. Management, therefore, is the art of getting work accomplished through ot hers. Successful managers may often not be experts themselves but know how get work done through other experts. For instance, the manager of the car plant at General Motors narrated how he has never made a car part in his life and how this is not his job(Williams, 2009). He further explained how, as a manager, his role was to create an environment conducive for people to make these parts efficiently while at the same time staying motivated with their work. On the other hand, however, this conventional view has been contradicted by leaders such as Steve Jobs who not only got work done through people but was actively involved in the technical aspects of the work (Greengard, 2011). Furthermore, good managers and leaders have often been associated with organizational success. One such example is that of Apple which experienced transformational growth and recognition during the tenure of Steve Jobs. It is not surprising, therefore, that Apple’s stock took a leap from $10 to $400 ( CNN Money, n.d.) during his leadership and that all major innovations including iPod, iPhone and iPad were introduced during his tenure. Furthermore, leaders and managers influence the performance of organizations by â€Å"leading by example† (Caldwell, 2004). Taken a step further, managers are responsible for managing the intellectual capital of firms which is exactly what Steve Jobs did (Prasad, 2011). By putting in proper mechanisms in place to unleash employee creativity, Jobs was able to exploit the untapped innovative potential of human resources and use it for the transformation of the company. This demonstrates just how important management is in the contemporary age of turbulent market changes and volatile business environment. Dealing with today’s customer-centric world requires organizations to manage the talents of employees in order to meet these needs. Companies whose management fails to keep pace with the changing environment and nature of work tend to s uffer. For instance, Deloitte’s study suggests the private sector of America is getting only a fraction of the return on assets that it achieved decades ago (Denning, 2011). This is due to managers failing to adapt to the changing envi

What Is Religion Essay Example for Free

What Is Religion Essay Religion is a hard concept to comprehend. It is showing us a different side to look at our life. Instead of having hard facts that can be physically proven, religion shows us to take a leap of faith and believe the impossible. In The Nature of Existence Charles Messer says: â€Å"Religion is simply a system of actions meant to give you access to God and Heaven. (eternal Life)†. In my faith I am taught that we are created by a higher being; God. That He is omnipotent and he loves all human beings, even if we do not believe in him and follow him. That he sent his only son, to die on the cross for all of us. Other religions may say the opposite: that there is more than one god and that Jesus was not the messiah. Edward and people with similar beliefs say, â€Å"Religions are man-made world-views that help those in charge to control the masses. They are completely and utterly useless.†, but the only problem with this statement is that man also created science. Man has a lust for power and because religious leaders have so much power over so many people, others assume that religion is being used to gain power . (Your Thesis is not clearly visible, you are thinking with emotion instead of stating clear facts with passion) In today’s world there are too many religions to count. â€Å"There are as many ‘religions’ as there are believers since each person has a different understanding of what their religion is.†: as Nancy M has put it. Nancy brings up a great point by saying this. People might think they have the same views on religion but no one really does. That is one of the points of this documentary: to show different views on what they believe in. Free will gives us the power to choose our own paths, whether it is in speech or in religion. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy says, â€Å"Free will is to say that the agent has the capacity to choose his or her course of action.† We have the choice to believe in God or not to believe in God. That is the beauty of free will, that our decisions are our own. The biggest confrontation in religion is: which religion is right? People who have a strong faith in what they believe in, and will say that their religion is the true religion. I am one who believes that my religion is the correct. But like Nancy says; I have created my own religion. I discovered my own belief system, by challenging other religions and figuring out what others have to say about their own beliefs. Brother Jed Smock is one who challenges our faith, by going to college campuses and spreading his beliefs onto others. What he talks about at the colleges, causes the students to question and challenge Brother Jed’s beliefs. While asking these questions, the students have to also look at their own beliefs and may question them as well. To truly grasp our religion we need to ask questions and find answers. One of the best ways to do this is to challenge others and to break down the answer they have provided. It strengthens us and takes our beliefs to a whole new level. Believing in something is a way of life. Everyone has some kind of belief system. We can believe that there is a God or believe that there is no God. This is the same as an opinion: we all have opinions on everything no matter what. If no one had an opinion then there would not be discussions or arguments.(Without this progress could not be made) Whether or not we belive in a religion or science or even both, there is a reason why we do. It is a way to explain things we cannot explain (it is a way to ease our minds from fear of the unknown and to explain away the unexplainable). For example, where we go after we die or if something miraculous (Or tragic) happens in our life. We cannot explain these events, and therefore we look for answers (in a higher power, whether that power is religion or science) because as humans we do not like Uncertainty. (many people of faith turn to determinism, when something unexplainable happens, whether that something, is good or bad. According to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, â€Å"Causal determinism is, roughly speaking, the idea that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of nature.† Simply saying that everything happens for a reason. It is a way to avoid the confrontation, of questioning a belief system by putting life solely in the hands of a higher power. It is mainly used as a way to explain away tragedy and an attempt to console us in a time of grief. When something unexplainable happens, people (do not ) like to question why, they would rather move on with their life and accept what they believe to be inevitable. In my opinion I believe that I will make my own future and it is always changing and nothing is set until it happens. Nothing can determine our future except ourselves.

The Terrorism In Pakistan Politics Essay

The Terrorism In Pakistan Politics Essay Land trembled followed by an ear deafening noise. Smoke and dust caused an unpleasant darkness, people were shouting and crying in pain, blood was everywhere. This was a dreadful scene of a bomb blast. Terrorism, you may have heard this word many times especially in recent years. So what is terrorism? What is its origin? How can it be defined? These are common questions which arise in a person mind when he hears word Terrorism. The word terrorism origins from the French word terrorisme.(Online etymology definition) Before I can explain terrorism in Pakistan I will try to establish what terrorism and terrorists are. Terrorism in simple words can be described as systematic use of terror to cause uneasiness in the society. Terrorism has no legally accepted criminal law definition. Common definitions of terrorism describe it as the violent acts carried out in order to cause dismay, and these acts based on religious, political or ideological goals as their motives. Definition of terrorism has proven to be a controversial matter. Many governments and states use their own legislating definition of terrorism which is different from other definitions due to colliding ideology. Many religious and social factions also have their own beliefs about it. Research has found about more than 100 definitions of terrorism. (Jeffrey Record, (2009). But there isnt even a single definition which is accepted by everyone. Some points differ in every definition of terrorism, yet there is one thing which is common in every definition as Walter Laquer said the only general characteristic of terrorism generally agreed upon is that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence. (Centre for strategic and statistical studies) In this regard Angus Martyn said in Australian Parliament. The international community has never succeeded in developing an accepted comprehensive definition of terrorism. During the 1970s and 1980s, the United Nations attempts to define the term floundered mainly due to differences of opinion between various members about the use of violence in the context of conflicts over national liberation and  self-determination. Hence it can be concluded that there is no legitimate definition of terrorism accepted by everyone. What is a terrorist? In simple words a person who commits an act of terrorism is called terrorism. He may be a single person or a group of people sharing common ideals. There is a lot of controversy about it; it all comes down to how a person ideology allows him to see things. As David Hanny said One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter.(David Hanny, 2005) I can easily correlate this argument with help of an example, when Soviet Russia attacked Afghanistan the resistance group was called Afghan Mujahedeen (Freedom fighters) by almost all the world. And after 20 years later when these men tried to fight off American forces to save their homeland, they were crowned as Taliban (A terrorist Group). A liberal person working for the betterment of the society may be called terrorist by some people while others may call him a patriot or statesman. An example would be Martin Luther King although he worked all his life for liberty of black people; he was called a terrorist by west media and politicians for a long portion of his life. Now I will try to establish some of the common type of terrorism types. Violent acts carried out in order to disturb the peace of society pertaining to cause disorder can be classified as civil terrorism. A common example of it can be target killing. Sometimes terrorists perform violent actions in order to achieve some political agenda; this can be labeled as political terrorism. Perpetrators of this type of terrorism have some political aim as their motive. Death sentence of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is considered as political terrorism by some idealists. Sometimes terrorist will work as a lone wolf, he doesnt has any ideal or a political agenda behind it. He will just do it for fun; he doesnt even intend to cause uneasiness in the society nor is it his aim to destroy peace. Common example can be of a target killer. State terrorism is type of terrorism in which a nation will violate other nation right of freedom, invade it and continue to capture and rule it by fear. There is a lot of con troversy involved about what is in boundary of state terrorism and what is not. Some people consider American aggression against Afghanistan and Iraq to be state terrorism, while some consider this aggression to be justified on grounds of eradicating terrorists. Another controversial example of state terrorism will be of Israeli aggression on Palestinian home. It was strongly condemned by the Arab world but was supported by America. Many Muslim countries still hasnt accepted Israel and war still rages on. Yet there are some examples of state terrorism accepted by most of ideologies around the world. Indian reign of Jammu Kashmir is prime example of this kind of terrorism. Soviet Russian aggression on Afghanistan can also be placed into state terrorism. Religious terrorism is terrorism performed by a group or a single person, motivation of this type of terrorism is rooted in ethics and religious understanding of the group or individual. These types of terrorist acts have been perform ed since old time in order to enforce a system of belief. A religion cannot be necessarily held responsible for it; it all comes down to the understanding and interpretation of individual. Deadly operations such as 11 September World trade centre attack, London underground bombings and 2002 Bali Bombings are prime examples of this type of terrorism. (Sageman, Mark 2005) Bomb blasts, target killing, murders, and drone attacks unfortunately these topics are the headlines of news nowadays in Pakistan. Pakistan has been target of constant terrorist activities since its birth, it has been challenged by various group on basis of nationalism, religious segregation and political ideology. 1947 separation, 1971 civil war are biggest examples of this kind. Even today Pakistan is facing several distinct conflicts, both national and international. The annual death toll from recent terrorist attacks has risen from 164 in 2003 to 3318 in 2009, massing up to 35,000 Pakistanis being killed as of 2010. According to Government of Pakistan estimates the total economic damage caused by terrorism directly or indirectly masses up to 68 billion dollars. (Mohsin Hameed, 2011) These statistics gives us the idea of how gravely these terrorist activities are hurting Pakistan. Now I will try to narrow down the causes of terrorism. Unemployment is one of the biggest primordial of terrorism. Many people engage into terrorist activities because they dont have other means to realize their basic needs. Perpetrators approach these people and ask them to carry out their hideous missions in exchange for large sums of money. Sometimes these people have to comply to perpetrator demands because they have no alternate route to make money. Another big cause of terrorism is illiteracy and lack of awareness. Many people of tribal areas are tending to be brainwashed by terrorists because they lack education and awareness. These people then indulge into terrorist activities while believing that what they are doing is right. Exploiting religion is also one of causes of terrorism. Religious doctrine in our view is a justification for terrorist activities. Religious extremists are tending to indulge in terrorism because they are discontent with the political and economic status quo. Religious justifications are often combined wit h other, explicitly political, goals, such as nationalism or self-determination. (Martha chensaw, 2005). These religious extremists then make use of innocent people by brainwashing them, making use of false religion facts. Politics also causes terrorism in some form or other, target killing nowadays is comprised of political enviousness. These are the main causes which make up the roots of terrorism in Pakistan. Now I will try to illuminate about the effects of terrorism in Pakistan. Terrorism in itself causes the loss of life and money. It also has various other related effects which cause problems for Pakistan and its people. Terrorism directly or indirectly embodies fear into mind of the people. People tend to stay at homes and avoid public gatherings. It has changed the lifestyle of people mostly in big cities. People arent certain whether they will return from work alive or not. People are abandoning their homes in tribal areas where war against terrorism is being fought. Due to fear of terrorism foreigners are avoiding to visit Pakistan and it has drastically declined our tourism industry. Foreign companies hesitate to make investment in Pakistan. Pakistani Governments has made efforts towards ending terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistani army is at war against rebel groups in tribal areas. But is this enough? Government efforts to decrease target killing in Karachi and Baluchistan have all been in vain. What does this tell us? Government efforts most certainly arent enough to end terrorism. These efforts may have decreased terrorism but are tending to fail in the long run. If Governments efforts arent enough to end terrorism then what should be done about it? Everyone in the society has an obligation to eradicate terrorism. Government should hold seminars to spread awareness about terrorism. It needs to educate people of tribal areas and spread the true knowledge and spirit of Islam so that perpetrators cant exploit our beloved religion. It should provide adequate jobs to people so that people wont tend to indulge in criminal activities. Government needs to have talks with terrorist groups and try to talk them out of it. It should listen to their reasonable desires. Government should also make efforts to stop drone attacks. Killing innocent people of tribal areas cant be justified by labeling them terrorists. People whose loved ones are killed by these horrendous attacks wont stay silent. They will indulge in terrorist activities to take revenge for their loved ones. Violence begets violence. We cant stop violence using violence. Media also has a huge role to play if we want to end terrorism. Foreign Media blames Islam for terrorist activ ities, which is a blatant accuse. It is our media duty to prove the World that Islam is a religion of peace and harmony and strongly condemn terrorist acts. If Pakistani media is able to show the bright side of Islam and Muslims foreigners will stop hating us. This will break the cycle of hate and if we are able to break cycle of hate, terrorism will be uprooted from the world. Terrorism is a grave problem world is facing at the moment. We can end terrorism and eradicate the perpetrators with mutual understanding and harmony. It is everyones duty in the world despite which religion or faction you belong to make efforts towards ending it. All Globally conflicted issues should be dealt with dialogue and talk.

Book Review of The Path of Prayer: Four Sermons on Prayer by St. Theophan the Recluse :: Saint Theophan the Recluse Literature Essays

Book Review of The Path of Prayer: Four Sermons on Prayer by St. Theophan the Recluse   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is often said that there are no more heroes in today\\\'s world or even that this is an age of the anti-hero. Yet anyone who is blessed with the opportunity to observe children for any length of time will see that regard for those who exemplify certain ideals (heroes) is a spontaneous element in basic human psychology. The reported lack of heroes and the cult of the anti-hero are the fruit of a disillusioned Aadult@ mentality which has been lied to on this as well as other subjects and hence robbed of the natural inclination of a normal human being (a child) who is as yet untainted by the cynicism and Asophistication@ of a deeply troubled society. The more often the lie is repeated the more firmly it is held to be true. But, heroes do still exist -- it is rather that a society which values valuelessness no longer has eyes to see them and has lost the ability to produce them. For those who have eyes to see, one such hero is the author of the book under review here. St. Theophan of Vysha (+1894), better known as Theophan the Recluse, is one of the great 19th century Russian luminaries of the Orthodox Church whose light reaches even unto us in the present, heterodox West. Being virtually our contemporary, he was nevertheless steeped in the ancient Tradition of the Fathers. Having faced in his life existential and intellectual conditions very similar to our own, he is a bridge to authentic spiritual life in Christ, making the wisdom of the Christian Tradition easily accessible to us. This should not be particularly surprising, for as Christ himself tells us, a light is kindled not to be hidden under a basket but to be held aloft to shed light for all. One must stubbornly persist in blindness not to behold this Light Who has been providentially kindled in St. Theophan for our sake in these latter days. Like so many of the more recent saints of the Orthodox Church, very few of his writings are available in English. What is available is quickly gobbled up by seekers thirsting after a word of life from the Living Spring of Christ\\\'s Gospel. Unseen Warfare, his reworking of Lawrence Scupoli\\\'s Spiritual Combat (from the version already adapted by St.

Graduation Speech: The Important Things in Life -- Graduation Speech,

Well, I am supposed to give a speech, so sit back and enjoy the ride, hopefully it will not be too bumpy. I am sure all of us are really excited by now. You're probably thinking, "Yeah, we are finally out of here. We've survived all four years. It's time to party and move on in life." Yet, we are losing a great deal. We'll lose a lot of great teachers, we are giving up this small caring community, and in return we are moving to larger schools -- where we will be known by number rather than name. And we are splitting up. We are all going our own ways, and many of us will never see each other again. Yeah, we are losing a great deal, but we can't say we haven't gained anything because it just isn't true. We've gained knowledge, experience, responsibility, maturity, integrity and a diploma. These are all very important, but we have gained something much more important than all of these. We have gained a class ... friendship ... a sense of community. Throughout these last four years we have grown so tightly together that we have become one single identity -- the graduating class ...

Elton’s interpretation of the roles of Somerset and Northumberland Essay

Geoffrey Elton presented a view of Somerset as an incompetent leader, who failed to fill the political vacuum the ascension of an infant monarch had created; nonetheless, he was noble minded and had visionary aims. On the other hand, Elton saw Northumberland as ambitious and power greedy; however, he did recognise that Northumberland had introduced welcome reforms to the finances and administration, which certainly marked an improvement upon Somerset’s rule. In this essay, I will argue that Elton’s assessment of their reforms and actions was correct, although his judgement of their characters, although true to a certain extent, has been exaggerated. Somerset demonstrated very little concern for humanitarian reform, as has been said by historians such as Elton, and his rule merely exacerbated problems at the end of Henry’s reign. However, Northumberland showed more political ability in tackling the equally bad situation he faced and was not as power hungry as Elto n suggested. There were significant problems at the end of Henry’s reign. His foreign policy had led to a poor financial situation; wars with France and Scotland, although a matter of national pride, actually achieved very little and led to huge debts. Over 2 million had already been spent on the war with Scotland, however victory would have far outweighed these huge financial repercussions. Somerset, therefore, inherited huge financial problems with huge debts and a debased coinage; in addition, the war with Scotland continued and hostilities with France were high. However, it would be a mistake to say that the situation was at a point of no return, Somerset’s political inability is demonstrated in his failure to deal with the situation inherited from Henry. Indeed, his actions worsened the financial status of the Crown and served only to escalate discontent in his reign. Somerset’s political inability is shown in his failure to discontinue the damaging Scottish war; he didn’t realise, as his successor did, that the Scottish war was unsustainable. Rather, Somerset’s decision to continue the war was the worst possible start for his rule and indicative of his inability, it lead to a poor economic situation throughout his protectorate and also to his neglect of the more important issues facing his subjects. The Chantries Act (1547) that continued the dissolution of the monasteries in Henry’s reign created inflation; as a result, prices, especially grain, rose rapidly fuelling discontent among the poor. Had Somerset been more politically astute, he would have ended the Scottish war and undertaken financial reform. Instead, he made little or no effort to resolve the economic problems and left Northumberland with a worse situation than he had inherited. In this respect, I agree with Elton, who said that Somerset was â€Å"without any sign of administrative or political sense,† 1 this was not, however, limited to his economic policy. Somerset also inherited a nation divided on religion. Henry, although he had split from papal authority, never made the full transition from Catholicism to Protestantism as Northumberland did later in the Edwardian period. Rather, the doctrinal modifications, which followed the split from Rome, resulted in a confused nation. The ten articles of 1536 had seemed to establish England as Protestant; however, the six articles 3 years later represented the return of some Catholic doctrine. As a result, there was a certain confusion and ambiguity as regards the state religion to some extent to do with the competition of the conservative and reform factions of the court, but also the fact the Henry had never been totally converted to Protestantism. Nevertheless, since he followed a monarch who had implemented perhaps the largest religious reform in the history of the church, Somerset had to deal with a situation of religious insecurity. Arguably, the effects of religious reform are harder to forecast than the effects of economic policy; therefore, it is easier to condemn Somerset as inept on the basis of his economic policies than it is on the basis of his religious reforms. Somerset’s religious reforms moved towards Protestantism with the introduction of a new Prayer Book and the Act of Uniformity as well as the Chantries Act, which abolished the remnants of Catholicism. However, in an attempt to appease both sides of the spectrum, a certain ambiguity still remained and Catholicism had not been categorically denied. However, the reforms were met only with discontent, for some it was too extreme and for others too moderate. The Treason Act, which ended restrictions on the discussion of religious doctrine, served only to make matters worse and led to disorder. In terms of religious reform, the outcome would have been more stable had Somerset done nothing. We have seen that religious turmoil was the result of a lack of continuity in the short Edwardian and Marian eras. This suggests that a period of stability following the fast paced religious reform of the Henrician rule would have been beneficial in Somerset’s protectorate. However, as we have noted, the outcome of religious reform would have been much harder to gauge at the time. While Somerset’s religious policy is not the sign of an expert politician, it cannot be used to condemn him to the same extent as his economic record. His religious reform, therefore, supports Elton’s view that â€Å"Somerset had talked much about liberty but had produced disorder.† 2 His aim to appease the extremes can at least be seen as well meaning, while his actions were not those of an experienced politician; furthermore, his belief that appeasing the extremes was possible at th is point is arguably naive. Somerset was poor at dealing with the growing feeling of discontent in England. Not only was he largely responsible for the growth of discontent due to his economic and religious policies, but more importantly, instead of dealing with the roots of discontent he attempted to control the disorder that resulted. The Vagrancy Act (1547) was a heavy-handed attempt to control the public, it meant that anyone out or work for 3 days would be branded with a V and sold into slavery for two years. He put out the message that dissent was not to be tolerated, though his action was strong it showed few signs of effective leadership. As his reign progressed it was clear that he showed no signs of dealing with the root of the issue, rather to avoid rebellion. A reform programme was supposedly being put together by John Hales, who later turned out not to exist. Furthermore, having blamed the problems on enclosure, reforms to remedy the problem were merely piecemeal and demonstrated indecisiveness. Somerset was inept; the paranoid measures preceding his fall such as bans on football and on the spreading of rumours simply confirm the hypothesis that Somerset had no real understanding of the political situation. In a similar vein to his belief that he could appease the religious extremes, attempting to pacify a discontented populace with piecemeal anti-enclosure measures and a fake reform programme was equally naive. Somerset fell from grace because of his own inability to rule; Elton’s assessment was clearly correct: â€Å"Somerset was †¦ disastrous as a leader.† 3 However, Elton’s view of Somerset as a humanitarian reformer with the best intentions exceeds the reasonable bounds of optimism. Most people, who have a most basic sense of human rights, would see the Vagrancy Act as simply morally corrupt. His poor management of the economy and heavy-handed measures of control hit those most in need the hardest. This demonstrates almost a total disregard for the needs of the poor; furthermore, anyone regarded as a humanitarian reformer, or at least a man with good intentions, would be incapable of passing the Vagrancy Act. It has been conceded that some good will may have lay behind his religious reform, also anti-enclosure legislation may show faint concern for the poor. However, such evidence is far outweighed by his record of controlling legislation. Somerset was not a humanitarian reformer; Elton seems to have avoided the conclusion that a rudimentary presentation of the facts would suggest. Rather, the failure of anti-enclosure legislation is evidence of Somerset appeasing the elite as well attempting to pacify the poor, an end from which he could gain a lot more politic al capital. Indeed, far from concurring with Elton’s thesis on this issue, I suggest that Somerset was motivated by a desire to secure his own position of power. His continued use of proclamations as well as his neglect of the Privy Council demonstrates this theme. The Treason Act had done more than permit religious discussions; it repealed a previous act, which said that royal proclamations had the same force as acts of Parliament. Consequently, Somerset was now able to issue proclamations without the consent of his council and he frequently availed himself of this opportunity. Indeed, on average Somerset issued 13 more proclamations per year that usual. Furthermore, his attempts to hold onto power by control rather than tackling the root issues point to a man who was motivated by a need to secure his own position. Elton did recognise his neglect of the council: â€Å"He alienated his fellow councillors whose feelings and ideas he persistently ignored.† 4 However, Elton did not recognise the power seeking nature of Somerset’s character. I would agree with Heard who presented Somerset, not as a man with noble aims as Elton suggests, but as an â€Å"arrogant self-seeker.† 5 Therefore, It seems that Elton was correct in his judgement of Somerset as an inept leader as demonstrated in his economic and to some extent his religious policies as well as his abysmal handling of a situation of unrest, which he himself had created. However, Somerset was power seeking, not a man of noble aims; his record of legislation was clearly not motivated by a concern for the poor. Elton said: â€Å"It is difficult to say who did more harm to the country they were supposed to govern.† 6 It can certainly be said that Somerset exacerbated the poor situation after Henry’s reign, the economic situation worsened through continuation of the wars and the Chantries Act. Religious confusion was not eased and arguably fuelled dissent and he left a country in unrest after the rebellions that led to his fall. Therefore, I agree with Elton’s view that he was inept and cause harm to the country, although I disagree with Elton’s view of Somerset’s aims. Northumberland, on the other hand, introduced welcome reforms. Elton argues as much, however I believe Elton exaggerated his assessment of Northumberland as power hungry; furthermore, Northumberland’s effective reforms did not harm the country and it is unjust to tar Northumberland and Somerset with the same brush. Northumberland inherited a worse situation than Somerset and demonstrated political astuteness in his action, which dealt with the root of the problem. In addition, his dealings with the Privy Council and use of proclamation were far removed from the power hungry tactics of Somerset. Though his religious policy was arguably harsh and his attempts to alter the succession seem power seeking, Elton exaggerated this element of Northumberland’s character. Arguably, Northumberland’s best move was to end the Scottish and French wars. Indeed, the way in which the two leaders dealt with the wars can be seen as key in defining their rule and also how we interpret their ability. The treaty of Boulogue, although bad for England in the short-term, allowed the finances to improve and Northumberland to focus on the serious social unrest, Somerset’s mess that Northumberland was forced to deal with. The treaty is a clear indication of Northumberland’s superior ability to Somerset; indeed, this theme is shown throughout the governance. Far from harming the country, Northumberland had shown realism and taken the first step towards recovery. Furthermore, re-evaluation of the coinage and prohibition of usury in 1552 helped to improve the economy. Northumberland, in contrast with Somerset, made some positive achievements; his economic policies helped to reverse the terrible situation left by Somerset. Moreover, his governance seem s to have shown a commitment to reform, which had a current and lasting positive effect. The reformation of the revenue courts was indicative of this commitment to reform. In 1549, five ministries were responsible for collecting money and the situation was worsened by corruption in some courts. Although reform was not carried out under his rule, the recommendations of the Royal Commission were carried out in the Marian era. Therefore, the Boulogue treaty coupled with other economic policies and a clear commitment to financial reform demonstrates that Northumberland was an able politician. Northumberland’s economic policies were sound and he should be praised for steering a course out of the economic disaster created by Henry and worsened by Somerset. Indeed, it is arguable that Northumberland set the foundations for stable finances through into the Marian and Elizabethan eras. Elton notes that in Mary’s reign â€Å"financial and administrative recovery †¦ owed nothing to the queen or her policy.† 7 This adds strength to the argument that Northumberland deserves particular credit for his economic policy. Certainly, Elton was unreasonable to ask which of the two did more harm to the country. In doing so Elton comes dangerously close to equating the achievements of the two; however, Northumberland could not be accused of harming the country, particularly in reference to the finances. However, on this issue, it seems that this quote should be taken with a pinch of salt, for, within the same paragraph Elton praised Northumberland’s economic policies. Ignoring that rather peculiar quote, I would concur with Elton’s high acclaim of Northumberland’s financial reforms, which Elton says â€Å"provided the basis for sound finance in the reign of Elizabeth I.† 8 His religious policy resulted in a largely more favourable result than that of Somerset. Northumberland’s policy was clear; the Church of England was to become Protestant. The 1552 Prayer Books changed the services to meet Protestant doctrine and all ‘glamour’ was removed in favour of simplicity. Somerset’s mistake had been to introduce half-hearted, indecisive reform that attempted to appease as many people as possible. By contrast, Northumberland was decisive; arguably, this was a risky strategy as it may have incited catholic rebellion. However, rebellions were small and Northumberland was successful in crushing them. It is clear that his religious policy was, once again, a sign of his political ability. Northumberland had recognised that decisive action would create the stability required after the fast paced and confusing reform of his predecessors. His religious policy has been accused of being harsh; though this may be the case, it was a successful policy. Furthermore, it is arguable that had Mary not usurped the Protestant reformation, Northumberland’s religious policy would have enjoyed the same long-term success as his financial policies. Northumberland’s successful consolidation of the reformation supports Elton’s argument that he showed skill in public affairs 9. Further support for Elton’s assessment of Northumberland’s role comes from his handling of the social unrest. He deserves credit for his handling of the serious law and order problem during his rule. The aftermath of the 1549 rebellions and bad economic situation following Somerset’s fall coupled with three bad harvests and a collapse of the cloth trade meant that Northumberland had serious social unrest and disaffection to deal with. Rather than attempting to control and crush the unrest like Somerset, Northumberland attempted to solve the root problems and therein Northumberland’s greater understanding of the situation is demonstrated. Sheep tax was abolished, enclosure commissions were abandoned, an Act in 1552 protected arable farming and a new poor law meant that Northumberland had a more successful social policy. Furthermore, his success with financial recovery enhanced his efforts at calming dissent largely through reducing inflation. In this regard, though not a humanitarian reformer, Northumberland â€Å"demonstrated a concern for social justice† 10, which was clearly greater than that of Somerset. Again I would support the view of Elton that Northumberland showed political skill demonstrated here by his social policy, which solved the root problems rather than attempting to control the dissent. Therefore, Elton was correct in pointing out the very positive achievements of Northumberland’s reign. He played an important role in halting the financial and religious problems, which were created by Henry and exacerbated by Somerset. This was not a point that Elton expressly put forward, however I think this was a significant part of Northumberland’s role, which should be emphasised. I would also agree with Elton that his financial reforms were influential far past his fall although I would venture to suggest that his religious reform also had an influence in the future, though to a lesser extent, in shaping Elizabeth’s policy 11. There may be an argument, however, to suggest that the assessment of Northumberland’s role in the preceding paragraphs has gone too far to presenting Northumberland as a political genius. It must not be forgotten that Northumberland always had the benefit of hindsight, having seen the failures of Somerset’s reign. His financial, religious and social policies can all be seen as informed by the failures of Somerset’s reign. Whether, for example, Northumberland would have followed the same decisive religious policy had he been the direct successor of Henry is an interesting question. Therefore we must conclude that Northumberland was an apt politician, though certainly not anywhere near a political genius as we must recognise that he was able to learn from Somerset’s reign. It is possible to argue on the exact political abilities of Northumberland and how much advantage hindsight afforded him; however, the fact remains that his achievements were positive. While I may give more credit to Northumberland in some areas of his role, I would concur with Elton’s view that Northumberland was an apt politician. Moreover, his view that â€Å"Northumberland’s rule marked an improvement on Somerset’s† 12 is clearly correct and is supported by other historians, such as Alan Smith: â€Å"Northumberland was a much more realistic and effective ruler than the traditionally overpraised Somerset.† 13 Elton was correct in his assessment of Northumberland as greedy, however he has exaggerated the claim that Northumberland was power hungry. It is clear that this desire for power was present in his character as revealed in the desperate attempt to alter the succession at the end of his rule; nevertheless, it did not dominate his governance as Somerset’s desire for power motivated much of his policy. It is undeniable that during his rule his power and wealth increased significantly. Initially he gave himself the Earldom of Warwick and later became the Duke of Northumberland. He proceeded to make financial gains through land; many of his followers took the liberty to do the same. Clearly, he exploited his position to satisfy his greed and many argued this was at the expense of the King. Therefore, I would not argue with Elton’s view that Northumberland was greedy. His desperate attempt to alter the succession is certainly a sign of a serious desire for power. He attempted in vain to abandon the previous succession acts of Henry’s reign to bypass Mary and Elizabeth and install Lady Jane Grey, through whom Northumberland could retain a high level of power. It was a failure from the outset, he was unable to secure Mary’s arrest and upon the death of Edward the people of England opted unsurprisingly for the rightful heir. It was a dismal end to his governance and certainly evidence of a serious desire for power. However, as evidence of his desire for power, it should be viewed in the context of his whole governance. This was an act of desperation at the end of a rule in which his policies could not be seen as indicative of a thirst for power. Many of Somerset’s policies were methods of control to secure his position; moreover, he had demonstrated his desire for power through continued use of proclamation and a neglect of his council. Northumberland, despite the end of his rule, displayed a far more restrained policy and attitude to government, which leads me to the conclusion that Elton has exaggerated his claims of Northumberland as power hungry. Northumberland restored the Privy Council to its proper position under his guidance and control. Although he did not limit his power to use proclamations, he was much more cautious with their use making sure they were always based on parliamentary statute; furthermore, he made sure he consulted the council. This restrained attitude to government is evidence of him limiting his power and therefore is not demonstrative of desire for power. Of course, one could argue that he had learnt from Somerset’s mistakes and realised that the approach he took was the best way to keep in his council’s favour and thus maintain power. This argument leads to the opposite conclusion that this attitude to government demonstrates his desire for power. However, the fallacy of the latter argument is that his attitude to government led to the retention of his position, not to power. His motivation for this relationship with his council was to remain in his position; the fact remains that throu gh these means his power was limited and therefore it seems that it is more reasonable to accept the former argument. His policy and governance was not indicative of power hunger. Therefore, his desperate attempt to alter the succession coupled with his moderate policy and governance as discussed above lead to the conclusion that he did have a desire for power, but not to the extent that Elton suggested. It is worthy of note that the very nature of Somerset and Northumberland’s rules implies a certain extent of power hunger. Their positions relied upon taking advantage of the political vacuum opened up by the infant monarch. Therefore, I would agree with Elton that Northumberland was greedy, however to say that â€Å"Northumberland was exceedingly ambitious of power† 14 is an exaggeration and is not supported by his record in power. Lastly, it must be noted that though Northumberland may have displayed some unpleasant character traits, this does not infringe upon the success of his reform programmes. In brief conclusion, I agree with Elton’s interpretation of the roles of Somerset and Northumberland to a certain extent. I agree with Elton that Somerset was incompetent and his role did indeed harm the country exacerbating the problems he inherited from Henry. However, Elton’s view of Somerset as a humanitarian reformer is an error. Largely, I concur with Elton’s view of Northumberland although I would give him more credit for dealing with serious problems he faced and leaving a lasting political influence. Furthermore, he was undoubtedly greedy, yet Elton has exaggerated his desire for power. If we ignore the characters of the two rulers, Elton’s general view seems to be that Somerset was damaging whereas Northumberland brought forward marked improvements. In this general sense, I would agree with Elton’s thesis. 1 Elton, G.R. England under the Tudors. p. 208 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid. p. 210 4 Ibid. p. 208 5 Heard, N. quoted from Webb, C. â€Å"Was it the policies pursued by Henry VIII that caused ‘the mid-Tudor crisis’?† 6 Elton, G.R. England under the Tudors. p. 210 7 Elton, G.R. England under the Tudors. p. 214 8 Ibid. p. 209 9 Ibid. p. 210 10 Smith, A.G.R. The Emergence of a Nation State. p. 71 11 Anderson, A. and Imperato, T. An Introduction to Tudor England 1485-1603. p. 154 12 Elton, G.R. England under the Tudors. p. 209 13 Smith, A.G.R. The Emergence of a Nation State. p. 73 14 Elton, G.R. England under the Tudors. p. 209

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study By: Katrina Robinson Bus520 Leadership and Organizational Dr. Leonardo Serrano Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Outline the Leadership Style of Branson and its effectiveness to the U. S today Richard Branson and Effective Leadership Incorporation of Branson’s Leadership at School or Work. The Leadership Style of Branson and its effectiveness to the U.S today Richard Branson, the chairman and CEO of the Virgin Group has come up with a type of leadership centered on employees. He has embraced transformational leadership model as a style of leadership. Transformational leadership is a leadership style that focused on effecting revolutionary change in organizations through a commitment to the organization’s vision. Transformational leadership includes engendering trust, admiration, loyalty, and respect amongst followers throug h application of charismatic vision and behavior.Transformational leadership encourages change through intellectual stimulation aimed at self-reflective change of values and beliefs. Vision is critical for transformational leadership because employees are more comfortable when they understand the vision and direction of the company going forward. Transformational leadership impacts individuals' self-growth. Transformational leadership develops followers who can perform beyond their own and others' expectations.Transformational Leadership starts with the development of a vision, a view of the future that will excite and convert potential followers. This vision may be developed by the leader, by the senior team or may emerge from a broad series of discussions. Transformational leadership focuses on social values and appears in times of distress and change. Sir Richard Branson has empowered his employees to attain a given vision of the company. This has led to the rise in productivity and the morale of the worker.It has also increased utility and the wide professional and individual growth of the company. Sir Richard Branson is an iconic and legendary figure within business circles. His Virgin companies span the globe, while his thirst for brand domination and sense of adventure tell a story of an intriguing and thought provoking life sprinkled with danger, high risk tactics, pushing the boundaries of the possible and an encompassing purpose that is built upon fairness and change. In terms of leadership model addressed in Chapter 10 and 11, Branson exemplifies a transformational leader.Transformational leadership involves anticipating future trends, inspiring followers to understand and embrace a new vision of possibilities, developing others to be leaders or better leaders, and building the organization or group into a community of challenged and rewarded learners. Visionary, inspiring, daring, and ethical are words that describe transformational leaders. They a re risk takers who seize or create new opportunities. They are also thoughtful thinkers who understand the interactions of technology, culture, stakeholders, and external environmental forces (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011, page 329).He is not as much concerned about industry-specific expertise as he is with recruiting employees with strong communication and teamwork competencies that mesh with the Virgin culture. He truly feels that getting other peoples input and listening to what people have to say are a core value to him. He carries a notebook in his pocket all the time just in case he hears something interesting from people that he interacts with on any level. He loves to take high-risk decisions if in the end he feels it's worthwhile. According to the authors, passion is essential for task accomplishment.Passion is often more present in entrepreneurial leaders and Sir Richard Branson should be regarded as a passionate leader. On the Virgin group website (5) the company mentions â €Å"giving birth† to companies and â€Å"holding their hand† through the organizational development. This is by all means a supportive standpoint, far away from the quarterly run businesses of many. An example of his courage might be when he under heavy competition in the US decided to sell out Virgin Records to save the financials of Virgin Atlantic.In that deal he also decided to switch bank due to poor support and advice for Virginia Records. An example of Branson’s willingness to take risk is his venture into space tourism with Virgin Galactic. That business is by no doubt regarded as extremely courageous and risky but at the same time driven by the same reasons as any other business, profit. Branson has worked closely with Scaled Composites to develop a tourism spacecraft (9). As he puts it, it was a very risky act that could have gone totally wrong (10), (13).However Branson is not a stranger to risk management, according to an article in Time (6). He comm only starts out small and shares the risk with other investors. His companies are also loosely connected according to the article, to minimize risk for each party. Richard Branson’s ventures portray creativity, venturing into airliners using new creative measures such as touch-screen ordering of food and comfortable planes. This comes in an era where most other airliners are figuring out how to remove the last remaining frills to cut costs.Another developed skill is the possibility of delegating work to his colleagues and management staff and taking a step back. He spends a lot of time in the early days of a new business, drawing the big picture and helping the management setting the business plan and the way forward. When this is done he takes a step back and lets the management get a stake in the business and drive it forward. †The company must be set up so that it can continue without me†. Sir Richard is very thorough in hiring the right people. He is known for bringing in good managers and getting them to stay.If they don’t perform at an existing assignment he brings them into another venture where the person is more likely to perform according to his capabilities. †Look for the best and you’ll get the best†, is his words. Firing people is seldom an option to Sir Richard. This situational leadership model would combine both directive and supportive behaviors. Directive behavior would influence the culture by explaining what needed to be done; helping to organize the how, where, and when of getting it done, and ensuring a more hands on approach to the tactical nature of the plan.Supportive leadership, in combination, would provide both encouragement and coaching, and would act to facilitate problem solving and the large amount of issues that require change management. Both approaches could be used by Virgin, some more often than others, but would be a variable model of directive (high and low) depending on the pa rticular situation at hand. Essentially, this style chooses the right leadership style for the right person – and varies depending upon that individual’s ifts, views, background, and personality (The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory, 2012) If this model were adopted by Branson, he would have both the responsibility and ethical requirement to continually assess situations at hand, find the most appropriate placement on the above grid for that issue, and then act accordingly. Of course, at his level the â€Å"issues† would likely remain strategic and rather broad, and it would not always be possible to â€Å"never† direct change, or â€Å"always† direct change.Instead, it would be the appropriateness of individual situations and people that would place this model into Virgin’s strategic and tactical locus of operation (Farrington, 2012). Let us imagine for a moment that the technology has improved enough in aeronautics and space travel that it is possible to develop regular trips to a Space Station, or, at the very least, a launch and trip on a shuttle that would orbit the earth and allow passengers to experience space, a view of the planet, and an educational experience. It is quite natural to assume that the Virgin group might be seminal in the development of this type of new tourist activity.The easiest way to integrate some of Branson’s leadership qualities into the daily job would be to first and foremost examine the job and find the most exciting possibilities and potential for it and then to communicate that to colleagues, staff, and management. If in a managerial position, allow employees to come up with creative solutions to problems meet as a group and indicate a goal or challenge, ask for ideas, and then take some time to consider them, allowing employees to participate in this effort and help them feel empowered and part of the team.Part of being a good leader, according to Branson, is al so the ability to know when to back away from a task. â€Å"As much as you need a strong personality to build a business from scratch, you also must understand the art of delegation,† he says. â€Å"I have to be good at helping people run the individual businesses, and I have to be willing to step back. The company must be set up so it can continue without me. † In my opinion, the most important factor of good leadership is relating to other people. If you’re good with people†¦and you really care, genuinely care about people†. Leadership teams are generally composed of management brought together to span the boundaries between different functions in the organization. In order for a product to be delivered to market, the heads of finance, production, and marketing must interact and come up with a common strategy for the product. At top management levels, teams are used in developing goals and a strategic direction for the firm as a whole. Technology is impacting how teams meet and function.Collaborative software and conferencing systems have improved the ability for employees to meet, conduct business, share documents, and make decisions without ever being in the same location. While the basic dynamics of other types of teams may still be relevant, the dynamics and management of virtual teams can be very different. Most theories view leadership as grounded in one or more of the following three perspectives: leadership as a process or relationship, leadership as a combination of traits or personality characteristics, or leadership as certain behaviors or, as they are more commonly referred to, leadership skills.In virtually all of the more dominant theories there exist the notions that, at least to some degree, leadership is a process that involves influence with a group of people toward the realization of goals. I will say on the front end that, in my opinion, leadership is a dynamic and complex process, and that much of what is written these days tends to over-simplify this process. Trait theory postulates that people are either born or not born with the qualities that predispose them to success in leadership roles.Skills theory states that learned knowledge and acquired skills/abilities are significant factors in the practice of effective leadership. Situational theory states that is, to be effective in leadership requires the ability to adapt or adjust one’s style to the circumstances of the situation. Contingency theory states that a leader’s effectiveness is contingent on how well the leader’s style matches a specific setting or situation.The underlying beliefs of path-goal theory (grounded in expectancy theory) are that people will be more focused and motivated if they believe they are capable of high performance, believe their effort will result. The key in transformational leadership is for the leader to be attentive to the needs and motives of followers in an attempt to help th em reach their maximum. Transactional theory is a theory that focuses on the exchanges that take place between leaders and followers.It is based in the notion that a leader’s job is to create structures that make it abundantly clear what is expected of his/her followers and also the consequences (i. e. rewards and punishments) for meeting or not meeting these expectations. References Hellriegel, D. , ; Slocum, J. (2007). Organizational Behavior. Mason, OH: Thompson Higher People and Planet. (2012, January). Retrieved from Virgin. com: http://www. virgin. com/people-and-planet/our-vision The Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory. (2012, January). Retrieved from Mind Tools: http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newLDR_44. htm

Global Inequalities Essay

Global inequality generally means that the total income and wealth is spread out unevenly across the world. Almost half of the work (3 billion people) live on less that $2.50 per day, and the majority of these people love in extremely poor countries. There’s a pattern to show that the least developed countries lie in Africa compared to the rest of the world, however there are multiple reasons for this situation; The Conflict Trap, The Natural Resource Trap, The Landlocked with Bad Neighbours Trap, and The Poor Governance in a Small Country Trap. I will talk about each reason in order according to which i believe are most important. Poor governance in a small country is one of the main reasons as to why we have many global inequalities around the world. This is because a poor, corrupted government try to discourage Transnational Companies to locate in their country in order to avoid any wealth being taken out of their economy. This prevents peoples chances of having a job and earning a regular income for a stable lifestyle. Economic isolation leads to a country being globally isolated, this is difficult as everyone is reliant on their government to bring income, however this can’t happen because TNC’s are discouraged. In addition to this, even if a stable government was to take over, its extremely difficult to regain the economy and takes on average 52 years. The second most important factor i believe, is the landlocked with bad neighbours trap. This is because 38% of the poorest countries are landlocked, with the majority of them being in Africa. This is because if you are a coastal country, then you have the freedom to trade with anyone around the world, however when you are landlocked, you are only able to trade with your begun outing countries. However, some countries such as Switzerland and Austria have managed to cope with the issue, implying that a being landlocked is just a potential contributing factor to being economically unequal. A solution for this is to encourage remittances – so encourage some people to emigrate to earn money then send it back home to family for it then to be spent in their economy. This can slowly help  strengthen the economy. I believe the next most important factor would be the conflict trap. Because feel oped nations have had their civil wars in the past however they have managed to release themselves of the unfortunate cycle, however some of the poorest nations generally get trapped in the violent cycle, and any money generated is instantly spent on weaponry. These poorest countries have a substantial amount of young men, who eventually end up turning to crime and recruit into rebel groups because they have nothing else to do, so they have nothing to lose. There is a huge correlation between education and crime, because these men are less educated, the crime is higher. There is also a further correlation between civil unrest and the wealth of a country, showing that the less wealth a country has, the more civil unrest there is. Finally, the last contributing factor to global inequalities is the raw materials trap. This is when a country only has one type of raw material and are extremely reliant on this source to provide their country’s wealth, so they lack diversity. This is a very risky method because the resources are generally non-renewable and the reliance is so high, meaning that if it fails or runs out then they will be in a poor, failing economic state. They will lose all income and won’t be able to afford any imports from other countries, so they will not be able to provide necessities for their country. In conclusion to this essay, i believe that the poor governance in a small country is the main contributing factor to global inequalities, because i believe that every country has the potential to regain the strength in their economy, but with a corrupt government that generally keep money for themselves.