History (Lindeberg, David C. 2007. The Beginnings of Western Science Essay

History (Lindeberg, David C. 2007. The Beginnings of Western Science. 2nd Ed. University of Chicago Press - Essay Example (Ancient Greek Medicine, 2002) Romans had a strong relationship with Greece and the Greek medicines, especially the Hippocratic, were popular among Romans as well Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician is considered as the father of medicine and still all the medical students in the world take the Hippocratic Oath as a matter of respect to this greatest contributor to the medical field. Hippocrates is believed to be the first one who rejected the idea of the involvement of supernatural as the cause of diseases. He was the one who was able to separate the medicine from religion. As per the ancient beliefs, diseases were considered as the curses of God. Hippocrates has proved that diseases were happened due to reasons other than the one taught by the religion and he considered medicine as a science rather than religion. The Hippocratic writings introduced patient confidentiality, a practice which is still in use today. â€Å"Hippocrates recommended that physicians record their findings and their medicinal methods, so that these records may be passed down and employed by other physicians. Other Hippocratic writings associated personality traits with the relative abundance of the four humours in the body: phlegm, yellow bile, black bile, and blood, and was a major influence on Galen and later on medieval medicine†(Hippocrates) ANATOMY is the study, classification, and description of structures and organs of the body. PHYSIOLOGY is the study and process of the function of the human. It is the study of the physical and chemical processes involved in the functioning of the living organisms and their component parts. (Karin & David) In the Hellenistic era the foundation of the city of Alexandria implied from the very beginning an intensive and very productive interaction between the Egyptian cultural heritage and the Greek

Organisational Citizenship Behaviour and Counterproductive Work Behaviour Essay Example for Free

Organisational Citizenship Behaviour and Counterproductive Work Behaviour Essay Organisational behaviour is the study of human behaviour in the workplace, the interaction between people and the organisation, and organisation itself (Dubrin 2002, p. 2). In most of the organisational behaviour literature review, the following five types of behaviours are often highlighted- task performance, organisational citizenship, counterproductive work behaviours, joining and staying with the organisation and work attendance (McShane, Olekalns Travaglione, 2009). These individual-level dependent variables are present in most OB research which has a significant impact on the effectiveness of organisations. In my following essay, I will be highlighting on two of the above factors-mainly Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) and Counterproductive Work Behaviour (CWB). I will be discussing on how various authors agree that different personalities and positive affectivity levels contributes to the emergence of OCB and that how different authors view the stand of considering all OCB as voluntary acts based on own accord. In addition, I will also be discussing the issue in which a consensus has been reached by most authors that job dissatisfaction is one contributing factor of CWB and that CWB, being defined as harmful in nature, has been challenged by some authors to be a justifiable act. OCB Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) has been defined as individual behavior that is discretionary, not directly or explicitly recognized by the formal reward system, and that in the aggregate promotes the effective functioning of the organization (Organ, cited in Vigoda-Gadot, 2006, p. 3) or as individual behavior that promotes the goals of the organization by contributing to its social and psychological environment (Organ; Rotundo Sackett, cited in Vigoda-Gadot, 2006, p. 3). Personality and Positive Affectivity Personality refers to the enduring, inner characteristics of individuals that organise their behaviour (Derlega et al, cited in Rothmann Cooper, 2008, p. 24) and personality traits predict what a person will do as opposed to what he or she can do (Rothmann Cooper 2008, p. 24). As such, it is agreed that citizenship performance is well predicted by personality variables (Penner, Allen, Motowidlo, 2001; Hurtz Donovan, cited in Barrick Ryan 2003). It is also stated that differences in citizenship performance by the employees are clearly tied to the differences in their personalities and attitudes (Landy Conte 2004) and feelings about their work, also known as affects (Lee Allen 2002). I came across this survey done by (Bierhoff, Klein Kramp, ed. Murphy 1996) in which ‘first aiders’ who rushed to the aid of the accident victims almost immediately scored lower on a measure of egocentrism- the absorption with one self’s lives and family. They also scored higher on a measure of empathy in which they expressed a greater level of concern for others (ed. Murphy 1996). From the above results, I feel that various personality factors do influence the tendency of one to render help to others thereby performing citizenship performance which benefits the organisation as a whole. In addition to the above, I have learnt that the higher the level of positive affect, the higher the level of willingness to help is in individuals (ed. Murphy 1996). Besides the helping behaviour, I have also learnt that maintaining a positive mood in the course of our work may also inadvertently lead us to performing extra role behaviours (e.g.: protecting the organisation and developing oneself in terms of upgrading one’s skills to the benefit of the organisation) (George and Brief, cited in Lee Allen, 2002). To my surprise, I found that positive affect is not just influenced on a personal level but also due to external environmental factors. These include the differences in shades of lightings at our workplaces (Baron et al, cited in ed. Murphy 1996) and even presence of pleasant smelling artificial fragrances in our workplaces (Baron Bronfen 1994, cited in ed. Murphy 1996). Performed based on free will? Most of the recent studies and researches on OCB have pointed out that it is based on voluntary helping behaviours. However, (Vigoda-Gadot E 2006, p. 1 ) pointed out on focusing on the exploitative and abusive tendency of supervisors and managements to impose so-called ‘‘voluntary’’ or ‘‘extra-role† activities via compulsory mechanisms in the workplace, thereby refuting the conventional definition of OCB being performed based on ‘good will’ and free choice. In fact, some of these behaviours categorised under OCB may well be categorised under Compulsory Citizenship Behavior (CCB) (Vigoda-Gadot 2006, p. 1). By reviewing the Expectancy Theory (Griffin Ebert 2005, p. 246) in which people are motivated to work towards rewards that they want and that they believe they have a reasonable chance or expectancy of obtaining it in mind, I have actually agreed with the view that there is much possibility that OCB can also arise from other motives, some of them less voluntary or less self-initiated. Among these motivations are the abusive and exploitative behavior of immediate supervisors and the pressure by management or peers to become involved in activities in which the employee would otherwise not involve himself (Tepper, cited in Vigoda-Gadot 2006, p. 3). CWB Counterproductive Work Behaviours (CWB) is defined as voluntary behaviours that have the potential to directly or indirectly harm the organisation (McShane, Olekalns Travaglione T, 2009, p. 18). Job Dissatisfaction Job dissatisfaction is defined as a set of unfavourable feelings and emotions with which employees view their work (Newstrom Davis 1997, p. 255). It seems that authors have a consensus on job dissatisfaction contributing to the emergence and high levels of CWB. It is stated that dissatisfied employees may engage in psychological withdrawal (e.g.: daydreaming during job), physical withdrawal (eg: unauthorized absence, early departures, extended breaks, work slowdowns) or even overt acts of aggression and retaliation for presumed wrong. There are many factors influencing job dissatisfaction which includes organisational factors like pay and promotion opportunities and the working condition itself. Group factors like the role of supervisor and co-workers; personal factors like needs and aspiration and how are these met, and how individuals views he instrumental benefits of the job also contributes to job dissatisfaction( Rothmann Cooper 2008, p. 24). Though I am in agreement that job dissatisfaction is a strong contributor to the performance of CWB, I feel that CWB may also be induced by other factors like accumulated work stress leading to the emergence of violence which is one form of CWB. Similarly, theft cases in the company, which is another form of CWB, may just be a personal justification of the employees due to a perception of lost equity in the course of their work (Newstrom Davis 1997). Justifiable Act Various authors held on to their individual stands regarding the topic on CWB. In most of my readings, authors agreed that CWB are actually harmful acts towards either individuals or towards the organisation itself. However, (Fox 2002) had presented a different point of view discussing the view that CWB may could well be a justifiable act which is clearly challenging the most conventional definition of CWB which is being negative in nature. (Fox 2002, p. 2) expanded the definition of CWB to include unintentional harm, as long as the act itself is volitional- an act which is motivated by other reasons to cause harm. Hence with this expanded definition, it raises the possibility of constructive CWB. In their article, they have considered on 3 categories of arguments which are moral issues, role conflicts and productivity arguments. I personally feel strongly for the argument on role conflicts. Many of the withdrawal behaviours may be seen as counterproductive in the perspective of managers or even organisations. However, these behaviours shown may be required to be fulfilled by the employees in the perspectives of their family and even the community. Putting in simpler terms, employees may be expected by the society to perform these behaviours so as to be able to strike a work-life balance. Hence, I feel that CWB should not be seen as just a negative behaviour which is purely deviant from an organisation’s objectives as I strongly feel for the presence of positive CWB. Key Findings In this modern age, to adapt and survive in a workplace, other than equipping oneself with the generic skill of problem solving, it is also vital to place great importance on understanding fellow colleagues as this will lead to self knowledge and self insight (Dubrin 2002, p. 4). By understanding what motivates others to perform OCB through the study of organisational behaviour, it will also in turn allow employees to gain an understanding on what motivates them to have similar behaviours. Inadvertently, this may bring them to a greater level of job satisfaction which also leads to greater organisational effectiveness as a whole. In addition, studying organisational behaviours enhances a professional or manager’s effectiveness relating to their interpersonal skills. Hence, if solid interpersonal skills are added on to one’s professional or managerial knowledge, it will certainly be a bonus towards an organisation’s overall service and productivity. Hence, information about organisational behaviours is vital to be known to the employees in organisations. Reflection If I were given a chance to assume the role of manager in an organisation, the notion of having OCB being induced by compulsion as mentioned earlier on will certainly be omitted by me as I feel that though it is an important goal of managers everywhere to make employees aware of the benefits of OCB and ideally, encourage it, it is far more important to conduct it through a legitimate way and not by other means such as abusive or exploitative activities. In this way, I believe conventional OCB will indeed be truly promoted as the employees will be serving and going the extra mile for the organisation in the most genuine way as I agree with the view that a person who engages in OCB might receive appreciation and recognition that induce positive moods and there will be a greater likelihood of repeating the OCB (Miles et al, cited in Zirgham 2009, p. 85) which will greatly benefit the organisation. A discrepancy often exists among managers and employees about the definition of certain work tasks being â€Å"in-role† or â€Å"extra-role†. Each behaviour may be different for different people as every employee in an organization perceives job requirements differently (e.g.: for service sectors), helping others may be a routine, but some may see it as beyond their job scope. By acknowledging this in the position of an employee, I will be able to anticipate this possible occurrence of conflict between managers and employees and thus, expand the boundaries for the definition of my job scope. In this way, I believe that my chances of managerial exploitation and workplace abuse by supervisors to perform compulsive OCB will be reduced to the minimum. Conclusion OCB is a stable behaviour emerging in workplaces and it will always act as a value adding criterion in one’s performance. However, it will only act as a value adding criterion only when it is performed through the free choice of employees and not by coercion means and negative external pressures. Thus, we have to be aware and alert so as to preserve the original positive results of OCB being performed, leading to a more successful and healthy establishment of an organisation. CWB is always seen as a conduct having an adverse relationship with OCB. However, as the saying goes- there are always two sides to the same coin; we should probably broaden our perspectives in our view towards CWB and accept the notion that CWB may not be necessary all detrimental in nature.

Ethical Issues Qualitative Research On Internet Communities Media Essay

Ethical Issues Qualitative Research On Internet Communities Media Essay Ethics are always considered in conducting social research. Ethic is a set of principles, moral duties and obligations that guides the conduct of people (American Correctional Health Services Association, 2010). For social research, ethical is to conform to the standards of conduct of a given profession or group (Babbie 2007, p62). Generally, there are four ethical principles should be concerned in conducting social research including no harm to participants, informed consent, voluntary participation, and privacy and confidential. Here, Qualitative research into internet communities has created new ethical issue of informed consent. Informed consent means that subjects must base their voluntary participation in research projects on a full understanding of the possible risks involved, (Babbie, p64). In fact, the research on internet communities has led to a violation of this principle. Internet communities such as discussion boards, mailing lists, chat rooms, or newsgroups, provide rich information about peoples opinion or daily experiences. It is useful for researchers to obtain relevant data, such as some patient self support communities sharing their personal experiences. Researchers can access to those communities for acquiring information and observation. However, it brings a problem that some internet communities members do not want to be the research subjects and being monitored. Researchers might be intruders and damage the communities. Here, members are not the voluntary participants. Then, informed co nsent here may not work. Besides, there is also harm to research subjects on the internet communities when researchers are interested in insight research. For example, some of the members on Breast Cancer Mailing List claim that they do not want to be observed. When researchers are gaining insight personal experience about the breast cancer patients, it can recall their negative memories which lead distress to them. And the second main ethical issue is that there is a risk of disclosing to the privacy and confidentiality of internet communities member. Privacy and confidential is about the researcher can identify a given persons responses but promises not to do so publicly (Babbie 2007, p65). Since internet contains many of powerful search engines such as Google, it can search anything a user wants. For example, when the authors search for the Dejanews archive to find comments of newsgroup participants responding to researchers requests, it can show many of related messages. Another issue on privacy and confidentiality is that there could be various pitfalls for researchers. Particularly researchers may unintentionally violate the privacy of some members due to the blur spaces of internet. For example, even if researchers remove any personal information about research subjects, they may also breach the participants confidentiality due to the power of search engines. Thus, privacy and confidential on internet community is difficult to achieved. Words: 482 The authors distinguish three different types of research into internet communities. Summarise them in your own words. (400 words) Generally, the three types of research methods may include the passive analysis, active analysis, and identifying themselves as such and gathering information in the form of using internet. First, the first type is the passive analysis which the researchers would not actively participate in the online study. However, they would focus on the studies of information patterns on websites, interactions on discussion groups through observation. They may analysis those studies about helping mechanisms, and content of online self help groups for some patients like colorectal cancer, breast cancer, Alzheimers disease, and eating disorders. Second is the active analysis which is the researchers would participant in such internet communications. That means researchers try to be a participant to communicate with others. For instance, researchers would determine whether the responses to healthcare questions on the Usenet accurate or not. And the third type is that researchers would identify themselves as and gather information by using different forms of online methods. They may include online semi structured interview, online focus groups, or internet based surveys or use the internet to recruit participant for traditional research. Therefore, it is a more diverse way for researchers to use. Words: 213 Research into Internet communities blur the boundaries between public and private space. Describe the issues identified in the article. (400 words) In the article, it stated there is a difficulty to dichotomize the boundaries between public and private space appropriately during the process obtaining an informed consent from research subjects. In fact, research into internet communities is quite different to the traditional research for obtaining informed consent. Traditionally, informed consent is required when the research is occurred in a private context where individuals are expected there is no observation or reporting is taking place. If it is a public space, the research about natural observation is acceptable without obtaining consent from those subjects. And it does not require Research Ethics Board to review when the research is about observation, as it can be expected participants are seeking public visibility. Therefore, it has more clear boundaries between public and private space. However, research into internet communities may blur such boundaries as people participate in online discussion groups cannot be assumed to be seeking public visibility. And there are various ways of defining public or private space from researchers and internet communities users. Here, some issues are identified which relate to how to perceive the level of privacy in internet communities. Firstly, it noted that most of the subscribers are likely to see the group as a private space in cyberspace when a subscription or some form of registration is required to access a discussion group. Therefore, when there is a registration in that internet community, it is a private space. Secondly, it is pointed out the numbers of (real or assumed) users of a community determines how a public is. The public space is perceived to be a posting to mailing lists with 10 subscribers here is different 100 or 1000 subscribers in mailing lists. However, the problem now is that it is impossible to determine the actual or assumed users when sending messages as some messages may store in web accessible archives. Therefore, using the number of determining the space is public or not may cause the blur of boundaries. Finally, the perception of privacy sometimes is depended on an individual groups norms and codes, target audience, and aim may lay down in the frequently asked questions or information files of internet communities. In this way, it is firstly not easy for researcher to distinguish whether it is a private or public space. More importantly, researchers cannot access to those individual groups as they have set some norms and policies which not allow them to observe those subjects even researchers interested in. For example, a self support group of sexual abuse survivors has a group policy not allow those who were not sexual abuse survivors participating in. On the whole, research into internet communities blurs the boundaries between public and private space where it is difficult to determine these two spaces appropriately. The article mainly identified some issues about the level of privacy or the types into internet communities are various. Words: 480 Using an example of an internet community familiar to you, how might informed consent be obtained to study that community and discuss any problems in the methods you suggest? (800 words) Internet communities provide conveniences and rich information for qualitative research. However, how informed consent might be obtained is a problem that researchers encounter. Here, an example of internet community will be used to show the method of obtaining informed consent. And also discuss the problem may rise. One of the internet communities I familiar to is the discussion board from Facebook. It can connect many of different self support groups. Particularly, an example of support group that I know is the SoulTalk which has established within Facebook. SoulTalk is a non-profit organization with website and discussion board in Facebook. It provides professional, personalized care, support and resources for women share with emotional or relationship crisis. In the discussion board, it is a private group which only opens for its members to share emotional and experiences. Moreover, there are professional counselors helping members to solve problems. There are about 20 members within this discussion board, which they share their experiences about emotional problems. For those who are not the members can only view the basic information and no sharing is allowed. For someone who wants to access this discussion board, they can request for join it but should be confirmed by the group administrator. At first, we should register to be a member of Facebook. And then we can be the member of that community. While the researchers want to study this community, they may firstly need to register to Facebook and then wait for the confirmation of this community. Since this discussion board is a private group, it can be expected that all the information and data from the members are confidential, and they are not seeking public visibility. Therefore, informed consent is required to study this online community. First, as suggested by McCleary (2007), getting permission to enter the group from the administrators is necessary when studying that community. Since they know that community better than researchers, therefore, it should be a better way to understand the group norms or standards from that community, and what would be the best way to obtain consent from members. To obtain the permission from the group organizer, the researchers should explain their purposive of the research, and what form of the members data would be analyzed, and how they ensure that there will be no harm to members. Then, when there is a need to analyze the research result by quoting or using the postings of members, it is important to send emails and ask retrospectively each member of informed consent. Informed consent should note the content of consent form should explain the purpose of the research, and provide a description of any reasonably risks or discomforts to the subjects (Frankel and Siang 1999). Also, it should state the extent of members confidentiality of records would be used and maintained. In this way, members may know more about the research and the possible risks to them, thus, it can give members the considerations whether to withdraw or not. For example, to explain the obtained of their data would only be used in report with anonymity. If members are still refused to participate in, there are also alternatives to them withdraw from the analysis of research. Therefore, the ethical principle of obtaining informed consent can be maintained. Moreover, there will be less intrusiv e in this way and avoid the artificial of the stories made by participants. Indeed, the methods bring some problems. First, the method of asking each member of consent is quite time consuming and unmanageable. As said by Eysenbach and Till (2001), the email address may not be valid and some of them would respond to you. Thus, it may cause some troubles where researchers do not know the email is valid or not. And it is quite difficult for researchers to receive all the consent forms and analyze the result. It generally would be a problem of obtaining informed consent. Also, there would be also a problem that it is possible the administrator does not allow to access the discussion group where the researchers are interested in studying that issue. Therefore, it brings disadvantage to researchers. Besides, even if the administrator allows researchers to enter the group, it does not mean that all of other members agree their information is disclosed. Although researchers may try to conform to the ethical principles to obtain members consent, some of the members indeed do not expect and want to be research subjects. They may perceive researchers as intruders as a result of damaging that community. For example, after the members knowing there are researcher lurking on the discussion board, they may decide to leave the community. Therefore, it is a possible problem that this method of informed consent brings out. On the whole, researcher can identify whether the discussion board as a private space from the example because it has stated that the board would open to non-members. So, it is clear for researchers to follow the ethical principles. However, it still brings problems that cannot be solved during the process of obtaining informed consent which the above have stated. More importantly, the deeper problem should be considered is there is no a consistent guideline to define the boundaries between public or private spaces. Therefore, it brings difficulty to researchers when conducting online research particularly the different level of measuring private spaces. Words: 885 Total words: 2060

Japanese Auto Manufacturing :: essays research papers

The Road to Japanese Automobile Manufacturing Dominance Japan was devastated at the end of World War Two. Although the automobile industry wasn’t as heavily hit as some of the other industries, there were some severely hindering effects on production. Steel and other materials were difficult to obtain causing production to drop 50% by the end of the war (Chao, 1997). Now they are the leading automobile manufacturers in the world. Japan is the epitome of car manufacturers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Japan had a big ditch to dig themselves out of. First of all to enter into any kind of production they had to get permission from the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers of G.H.Q. This entity regulated trade of the Japanese until 1955. They allowed for as many as thirty manufacturers to enter the production of trucks in 1945, and in 1947 as the ambitions of the industry increased they allowed manufacture of small passenger cars (although limited to only 300 cars per year). With such small potential for production there was mass unemployment and the manufacturers had to take on the repair of their own damaged vehicles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Consequently, in 1949 with the tight government finance and banking policies adopted (to suppress inflation) Japan was hit with a massive recession. It was a real blow to the automobile industry; manufacturers had to cut wages and layoff workers. From 1949 to 1950 employment in the automobile industry was slashed by 23% (6,200 people). The labor unions confronted the management of the car makers, and all the manufacturers were hit with the longest strikes in Japanese history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Japan struggled through the early 1950’s, and in 1955 the â€Å"Post-War Era† officially ended. With the G.H.Q. out of the picture the Ministry of Transportation announced the People’s Car Plan, which gave Japanese auto manufacturers an excellent opportunity to develop new original cars of their own. The plan was eventually be scrapped because the manufacturers thought that proposal’s requirements would be â€Å"impossible to manufacture with the performance and sales price requested† (Shimokawa, 1994). The People’s Car Plan did influence competition to market new products and it gave primarily three-wheeled vehicle makers a way to enter the four-wheel market. Suzuki, Fuji (Subaru), Mitsubishi, and Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) all entered small cars into the market almost immediately.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moreover, the first two small cars that really made a name for themselves were the Toyota Corona and the Nissan Bluebird. Of course 90% of these cars were used for business (Rinehart, 1997).

African American Museum Essay

I firmly believe that the point of visiting a museum is to educate one on how things once were in the past through its display of artifacts, exhibits, art, cultural objects, etc. Its purpose is to let you imagine what it was like during a time you were not apart of or, in some cases, allow you to look back at a time you were apart of when you were very young. The African-American Museum of Long Island did a great job at presenting some of the many African-American contributions to society. In addition to presenting contributions from the African-American community, the museum was able to show us some of the struggle they were required to overcome as well. My favorite possession of the museum was Scott Joplin’s piano. Scott Joplin was dubbed the â€Å"King of Ragtime† during his musical career. I felt that it was so cool they somehow were able to get their hands on that piano. When I asked my tour-guide the value of the piano she told me that it was invaluable and that nobody can put a number on it. The only way to determine its value is to put it through an auction and see how much collectors are willing to pay for it. I think the reason for that is because its such an important part of African-American history. How could you put a value on that? I feel it would be impossible to. Another part of the museum I really enjoyed was the mural that an African-American carved out of a tree. The mural was his interpretation of the history of African-Americans. In the beginning it showed how they were all peaceful in Africa and their lives before they ended up being taken into slavery. In the next section of the mural it showed ho w they were forced into slavery, it even showed other African-Americans taking part of the slave trade which is something I, and probably a lot of individuals, never knew. The last part of the mural showed African-Americans in a pretty successful state in nice, fancy suits around family members overlooking the past. I interpreted the last part of the mural as African-American life finally starting to get better with them remembering the past and admiring their ancestors for their struggles to get them where they are. I could not believe how detailed a person could make a mural like that out of a tree. It was truly amazing. I can not imagine the time and dedication that person put into it. I am sure they are proud of where it is being displayed. The main exhibit was filled with many beautiful paintings by Ernani Silva. These paintings were meant to portray African-American life in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. These paintings were unlike any other paintings I have seen. They sort of came off the display to the point where I wanted to touch them so badly because it was really cool. However, I thought it was best if I did not touch anything in there. My favorite painting in this room was the painting of the Jazz band playing music in the streets with a crowd around them. This painting revealed some of the Brazilian culture and how they were forced to practice it on the streets because they were people trying to suppress their beautiful culture. In the room next door, they had a nice exhibit of Rosa Parks that showed the role she played in the Civil Rights Movement with what she went through when she infamously would not give up her seat in the â€Å"white section† of the bus. It also showed how it ended up leading to the famo us Montgomery Bus Boycott. I thought the coolest part of this exhibit was the fact that it had the only known picture of Rosa Parks with her husband together. Not that it has any historical value, but I thought they were a great couple and that they looked very happy together. Another interesting was the painting called â€Å"The Door of No Return†. This was a painting of an open door from a slave ship when they arrived in America. The door led to the fate of the African-Americans which was the harsh conditions and treatment they were about to endure on the cotton plantations. In addition, there was another painting right next to â€Å"The Door of No Return† that showed how the African-American slaves were packed into the slave ships. They literally would have had more room in a coffin than they did on the slave ships. This was the reason why so many African-Americans died on the ships because of disease. I really felt that I learned a lot at my trip to the African-American museum. I enjoyed my time there a lot because my tour-guide was extremely informational and my brother and I were able to interact freely with her. I was able to see some artwork and other cultural displays that I thoroughly enjoyed. The people who worked there were very friendly and spoke to us about our African-American classes we are currently taking. I am happy I had the opportunity to visit this museum.

Embedded Essays

Embedded Essays Embedded Essay Embedded Essay Paper II Section : II Embedded Systems INDEX No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Toggle Port LED Simulate Binary Counter at Port Generate delay using TIMER_0 Stepper Motor (clockwise/Anticlockwise) Generating square wave at port pin Generating Triangular wave at port pin Sine wave generation using look-up table Microcontrollers communicating over a serial link Read switch-status from i/p port and display at o/p port Using Input Capture Pin (ICP), measure pulse width display at o/p port Topic Date 6-9-2010 9-9-2010 17-9-2010 24-9-2010 8-10-2010 15-10-2010 15-10-2010 29-10-2010 22-11-2010 24-11-2010 Page 02 03 04 06 07 09 10 11 13 15 Sign Practical – 01 Toggle Port LED Aim : Write a program in embedded C programming language to alternately ON/OFF LEDs connected to 2 different ports. Components Used: i)AT90S8535 Micro controller ii)LED? S iii)Ground Code: #include #include void main(void) { DDRA = 0xff; PORTA = 0x00; DDRB = 0xff; PORTB = 0x00; while(1) { delay_ms(100); PORTA = 0x01; PORTB = 0x00; delay_ms(100); PORTA = 0x00; PORTB = 0x01; }; } Output: Mithibai College:-MSC COMPUTER SCIENCE PART II 3 Practical – 02 Simulate Binary Counter at Port Aim : Write a program using embedded C to simulate a binary counter. Components Used: i)AT90S8535 Micro controller ii)LED? S iii)Ground Code: #include #include void main() { DDRA = 0xff; PORTA=0x00; while(1) { delay_ms(100); if(PORTA == 0x80) PORTA = 0x01; else PORTA += 1; } } Description: First statement a unsigned char variable (unsigned integers are used to increase the range of numbers the variable can hold) is initialized to 0x01 . port A has been set to this variable . „+? perator stands for bit increment operation . we are incrimenting the bit of led_status to one position of binary number when the one at lsb reaches to the msb (0x80) of the variable we reinitialize the variable to 0x01. The Delay given is of one milli second so the bit shifts after every one second(1000ms) . Output: Mithibai College:-MSC COMPUTER SCIENCE PART II 4 Practical – 03 Generate delay using TIMER_0 Aim : Write a program using embedded C to generate delay using TIMER0. Components Used: i)AT90S8535 Micro controller ii)LED? S iii)Ground Code: #include int timeCount = 0; interrupt[TIM0_OVF] void timer0_ovf_isr(void) { TCNT0 = 6; if(++timeCount == 1000) { PORTA =PORTA ^ 0x01; timeCount = 0; } } void main(void) { DDRA = 0x01; PORTA = 0x01; TCCR0 = 0x02; TIMSK = 0x01; #asm(sei); while(1); } Description: A variable timecount is initialized to 0. In the main function the LSB of PORTA is chosen for output and it is set to 1. Then the TIMER COUNTER CONTROL REGISTER (TCCR0) is initialized in such a way that divide by 8 (CK/8)clock source is selected again the â€Å"timer interrupt mask is set to enable the timer0 counter. #asm† is a assembly language instruction „sei? stands for set enable interrupts to enable all the interrupts. Finaly ainfinite while loop. Then the function with keword interrupt is created. This function will be called automatically when the timer0 overflow interrupt takes place. This function returns nothing, since it is not called by any function and you cant pass any thing to f unction for the same reason . The timer0 is initialized to 6 in this function . As we have chosen ck/8 system as mentioned above and the clock frequency is 4 Mhz that? s why 4/8 Mhz so 500 Khz(0. Mhz) will be the effective frequency so for one tick of counter 1/0. 5 micro sec are required(1/freq. = time) that equals to 2 micro secondes. A timer can count 256 that? s why total of 256*2 that is 512 micro seconds are required . So to make it a round figure i. e. 500 microsecs we Mithibai College:-MSC COMPUTER SCIENCE PART II 5 have to omit 6 ticks of counters that is why we set timer (TCNT0 =6) to 6 so that it ticks from 6 to 256 hence ticks effectively for 250 times (250*2 = 500). and covers 500 micro secs ,when timecount is incremented up to 1000 (1000*500 micro secs = 0. secs). And led toggles after 0. 5 secs. Output: Mithibai College:-MSC COMPUTER SCIENCE PART II 6 Practical – 04 Stepper Motor (Clockwise/Anticlockwise) Aim : Write a program using embedded C to simulate Stepper Motor(Clockwise / AntiClockwise). Components Used: i)AT90S8535 Micro controlle r ii)LED? S iii)Ground iv)STEPPER MOTOR Code: #include #include unsigned char motorStatus = 0x01; void main(void) { DDRA = 0x0f; DDRB = 0x0f; #asm(sei); while(1) { PORTA = motorStatus; PORTB = motorStatus; delay_ms(200); motorStatus

Corporate Social Responsibility and Carroll Pyramid Essays

Corporate Social Responsibility and Carroll Pyramid Essays Corporate Social Responsibility and Carroll Pyramid Essay Corporate Social Responsibility and Carroll Pyramid Essay The global financial meltdown uncovered many social norms previously unimagined. The number of people who lost their Jobs due to the financial situation is appalling. Interestingly, this does not mean that multi-national corporations are necessarily suffering. Most of the established companies with branches all over the world took the excuse of the financial breakdown to benefit. All of a sudden, it was okay to lay off people on the pretext of financial gloom. This means that a few people were benefiting from the woes of a thousand more. The issue of corporate social responsibility presents itself in this situation in that, the multi-corporations are run by a board of governors. The board of governors is usually composed ofa few individuals that call all the shots. It is common knowledge that these corporations employ a huge number of persons in many sectors of the economy. When the profits of these gigantic companies fail to reach a certain goal, the running costs of the business have to be checked. This is why, the few persons at the top, not wanting to lose, resort to firing some people. This is done so as to maintain the profits at a certain level. The problem is that when all of the multinational companies resort to firing a few employees, the net effect is that, a large number of persons end up losing their Jobs. Corporate social responsibility ensures that corporations the world over are engaged in other activities that give back to the community (Crowther and Rayman-Bacchu 172). Many activities that are considered helpful include; organizing activities that seek to involve the community in such events as fund raising for the eedy, events that seek to help out the disadvantage in society and other similar activities. In the financial and corporate world, corporate social responsibility a given with a positive impact on performance. There are, however, several factors that show the need for corporate social responsibility. The first factor is population. The expanding population in developing regions will create larger markets dominated by younger individuals with questionable access to the developed worlds standard of living. Statistics show that more than eighty five percent of the worlds population will ive in developing countries by 2025 (Crowther and Rayman-Bacchu 165). This presents a challenge to companies seeking to involve themselves in corporate social responsibility, since it is clear that a lot of financial support will be required for these populations. The second factor is wealth. Despite the fact that global wealth is rising, the income gap has grown wider, threatening civil society. Seventy eight percent of the world can be classified as poor, with eleven percent in the middle class, and only eleven percent can be classified as rich. Each and every company should strive to be nvolved in attempting to balance this distribution of wealth. The trend of the rich growing richer while the poor grow poorer should be eliminated, since it is unethical for some people to have so much, and others to have nothing at all. The third factor is nutrition. There are millions of people who are malnourished, amidst an abundance of food. Thousands die of hunger every year, while rich corporations blow millions on fancy holidays for their executives. It is crucial for each company to take time and retlect on the finances it spends on benefits tor its executives, as compared o that spent on helping the needy in society. While these benefits are vital for employee motivation, they should not be taken overboard at the expense of the suffering masses. Education is another critical factor that should be considered in the design of corporate social responsibility programs. Basic education is widespread, but opportunities for learning continue to elude many. Over one hundred million children are not in school, with ninety seven percent of these being in developing countries. One in every five adults globally is illiterate, which are taggering fgures given the widespread opportunities to learn available today. Corporate are faced with the challenge of promoting education by setting up schools, and funding educational development programs. Education can also be encouraged by taking in interns and trainees and giving them an opportunity to learn the tricks of the Job, which will enable them compete fairly in the corporate world (Crowther and Rayman-Bacchu 169). In conclusion, this paper has shown that corporate social responsibility is a vital element for nay business corporations. It has been shown that here are many different areas in which a company may choose to focus its corporate social responsibility. The first area of focus in corporate social responsibility is with regard to the environment. Other areas that should be considered in the development of corporate social responsibility programs are education, health, nutrition and employment. Social responsibility investment combines investors financial goals with their obligation and dedication to factors that ensure the well being of society such as environmental friendly practices, economic growth and ustice in society (Anderson 9). These elements are not only aspects of corporate social responsibility, but also a show of the ethical standards of a company. It is unethical for some individuals to own so much and earn so much, at the expense of other suffering members of society. It is also unethical for companies to engage in environmentally degrading practices that result in illnesses and loss of life. It can be concluded that Social corporate responsibility and the maintenance of high ethical standards is not an option but an obligation for all business. Anderson, Jerry. Corporate Social Responsibility: Guidelines for Top Management. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1989. Print. Banerjee, Subhabrata. Corporate Social Responsibility: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Northampton: Eward Elgar Publishing, 2007. Print. Crowther, David and Rayman-Bacchus, Lez. Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing, 2004. Print. Werther, William and Chandler, David. Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment. Carlifonia: Sage Publications, 2006. Print.

Dragon ball z essays

Dragon ball z essays The characters that are drived from fiction and imagination consist of many different forms of character traits. They can have characteristics of courage, cleverness, strength, power, loyalty and other characteristics that make up him or her as a super hero, but the characteristics that he or she possesses will make him look masculine or feminine. The character I will be describing is Goku, a main character from a great cartoon Dragon Ball. Like Superman, he is from another planet sent by his father to Earth because his planet Vegita was destroyed. Goku is different from the people on Earth because he has extraordinary powers like Superman. He can fly, move mountains, run at a blitzing speed and has many other powers that puts him in a different class from the people on Earth. The characteristics that he embodies are undeniably a man's feature which he uses to save people's lives and use for the good of the people. The hero, Goku, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a character of a male hero. He is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters hideous monsters and the most ferocious of beasts but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership skills are superb and he is even able to boast about all his achievements. He has little or no emotions that puts his work in the line of danger. His priority is always to save people and his friends. These characteristics of strength, courage, and loyalty are all characteristics that classifies him as masculine. ...

High-Frequency Trading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

High-Frequency Trading - Essay Example It is the latest technological tool in the history of securities marketing. They assert the trading has lowered trading costs (Shorter and Miller 1-2). They, however, fail to realize that HFT leads to phantom liquidity, engages in manipulative strategies, have systematic risks, and that some HFT firms are involved in front-running. Although substantial evidence suggests that HFT provides market liquidity, it is not always the case. It at times fails to fulfill the liquidity-supplying function. The provision of liquidity by HFT is partially illusionary because it avails small order depth. This implies that HFT market makers usually quote narrow spreads without the will to sell or buy substantial quantities at the quoted prices. The low spreads, therefore, do not last and transacting significant quantities becomes impossible. In addition, it displaces other liquidity suppliers such as certified exchange specialists who are likely to endure in the market even during turbulent times. During the Flash Crash, for example, the sale of one large order caused HFT firms to gain substantial blocks of E-mini shares. As a result, many orders transacted at cheap prices and the index fell rapidly (Jones 1-3). Regulating HFT would, therefore, be important in order to caution liquidity when market conditions are not favorable. To remedy this problem, HFTs should run batch auctions at regular intervals. Under this regulation, exchanges can collect and aggregate available orders to trade securities. They would then be executed at the price when most offers and bids match (Shorter and Miller 34-36). There is a growing concern that HFT in front-running by damaging price discovery processes. In other words, there is growing worry that HFT provides unreliable price information and makes conditions difficult for traders equipped with sound information. It diminishes the market’s potential to

The nature of leadership Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The nature of leadership - Dissertation Example The optimism character and the confidence help to attain goals for the leader and develop the skills and expertise in his behaviour. The leader need to understand the attribution of the followers and motivate them and allocate resources to accomplish a goal by designing formal structures and systems. Mutual involvement and with trust and co-operation with the members are an essential element the leader should take care of to support the values of the fellow members. Without followers there are no leaders. What is known about followers? The followers are the makers of the leader. Leaders influence a group but it’s the followers who help to reach the goal through their skills and efforts. The training and development attribute along with the vision of the leader clubbed with the followers’ skills completes the causal chain of effect. Figure 1: Causal Chain of effects from two types of leaders’ behaviour (Source: Yukl, 2007, p. 27) The leaders enhance the skills and confidence of the people and attract them to follow in his own ideologies. The followers are needed to be trustworthy towards the leader and should be committed towards the work assigned to them. The people working under should be satisfied with their job and with the leader for an efficient implication of the assigned task in accordance with environment and external dependencies. Reference Yukl, G.

Influence of National Culture in the Marketing Strategy of Western Dissertation

Influence of National Culture in the Marketing Strategy of Western Supermarkets Entering China - Dissertation Example It was important to understand this relationship, so as to analyze the effect of the same on their grocery buying habits. The research questions for the research were also selected based on the objective of the study. The questions were mainly related to the Chinese and UK culture and their major similarities and differences, the influence of cross-cultural differences on the buying habits of the people and the behavioral pattern of the Chinese consumers. The literature review was designed keeping in mind the different cultural models. With the help of these cultural models such as Hofstede’s 5 D model, Kluckhohn and Fred Strodtbeck Model, and Trompenaars’ Seven Dimensions Model has been utilized to describe the nature of Chinese consumers and the Chinese culture. An equal comparison has also been drawn with the culture of UK, to show the difference. For conducting the research on the decided problem areas, a qualitative method has been utilized. Qualitative research me thod has been used because the research study focuses on culture and its effect and a qualitative analyze would be best in this case. The research is conducted in two phases. In the first phase an interview session is done with the marketing managers of the three chosen supermarkets and in the second phase a questionnaire survey was conducted by choosing a sample size of 500. These respondents are the customers in China and UK. After conducting the survey and conducting an interview with the managers, it was found that the Chinese culture is tradition and UK’s culture is much modern. In China relationships, family, group shopping and friend matter a lot even in case of shopping, while in UK these things does not play any significant role. Table of Contents CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION 7 1.1Aims and Objectives of the Study 11 1.2Problem Statement 12 1.3 Research Questions 12 CHAPTER II – LITERATURE REVIEW 13 2.1 Definitions of Culture 14 2.2 Chinese Culture using Klu ckhohn and Fred Strodtbeck Model 14 2.2.1 Relationship with Nature 15 2.2.2 Relationship with People 15 2.2.3 Human Activities 16 2.2.4 Relationship with Time 16 2.2.5 Human Nature 16 2.3 Chinese Culture using Hofstede’s 5-D Model 17 2.3.1 Power Distance 18 2.3.2 Individualism 19 2.3.3 Masculinity / Femininity 19 2.3.4 Uncertainty Avoidance 20 2.3.5 Long term Orientation 21 2.4 Chinese Culture using Trompenaars’ Seven Dimensions Model 22 2.4.1 Universalistic vs. Particularistic Culture 23 2.4.2 Individualistic vs. Collectivistic Culture 23 2.4.3 Neutral vs. Emotional Culture 24 2.4.4 Specific vs. Diffuse 25 2.4.5 Achievement vs. Ascription 25 2.4.6 Sequential vs. Synchronous Time 26 2.4.7 Internal vs. External Control 27 2.5 Hall’s Cultural Dimensions and Chinese Culture 27 2.5.1 Context 28 2.5.2 Space 28 2.5.3 Time 28 2.6 Schwartz’s Cultural Dimensions 29 2.6.1 Conservatism-Autonomy 29 2.6.2 Hierarchy-Egalitarianism 30 2.6.3 Mastery-Harmony 30 2.7 Cross Cultural Differences Influencing Consumer Behavior Patterns 30 2.8 Summary 34 CHAPTER III – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 35 3.1 Introduction 35 3.2 Justification for Methodology 35 3.2.1 Qualitative Methodology 36 3.2.2 Case Study Research 38 3.2.3 Semi-Structured Interviews 38 3.3 Data Collection Instruments 39 3.3.1 Construct Validity 39 3.3.2 Internal Validity 40 3.3.3 External Validity 41 3.3.4 Reliability 41 3.4 Sources of Data 43 3.5 Administration of Procedures 44 3.6 Ethical Considerations 44 3.7 Summary 44 CHAPTER IV- DATA ANALYSIS and FINDINGS 45 4.1 Findings 45 4.2 Data Analysis 48 4.2.1 Interview 48 4.2.2 Questionnaire Survey 56 4.3 Summary 57 CHAPTER V –

Evogear Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evogear - Essay Example The gratifying content in the website, which covers the descriptors and the content, helps and gratifies the basic need of the shopper. The website looks to bring together the cultural elements that go to make up the lifestyle: the art, the music the opportunities the website gives back. This adds more value to the customers. In agreement with the Evogear website developer, e-commerce has not yet attained its fullest marketing potential. Bryce Phillips says that it is in its infancy stage. This is true as the underdeveloped countries are yet to undergo the digital migration, which will uplift the e-commerce. Many countries he upsurge of the marketing environment experienced n the technical advanced nations is yet to be experienced making the e-commerce to be in its development stages. The website faces a lot of challenges in its operations. The quality products display has been a problem to the website. When the good will of one customer is lost, others will also be lost and this becomes a big loss for the store. The payment facilities of the website are not more secure as the website can be hacked or spammed. To address the challenges the website has moved to multi-sales online and mobile

Events Management and Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Events Management and Operations - Essay Example These are described below: Bedfordshire University The company has a choice of consuming the university place for conducting the desired event which can also be very economical for the University due to the exclusion of space rent. However, the cost associated with developing breakout rooms and other extra facilities will be rented out by the company itself which will increase the overall cost for both the university and company. The University is situated in Luton, England. Strathmore Hotel The Strathmore Hotel can be considered as an event organizing place which is very near to the University of Bedfordshire. The hotel has the availability of providing necessary equipments and space for the desired amount of audiences. However, a huge cost is associated with the rent of the space of hotel but all the necessary equipments are offered by the Hotel itself. UK Centre for Carnival Arts This location is also considered ideal for conducting an event which is situated at the opposite side of the University of Bedfordshire. However, the conference rooms and other space are to be designed accordingly by the event director. Furthermore, the equipments will be outsourced from a different company for the purpose of rent for a single day. Event Business Plan Vision The vision of the company is to create a long lasting impression in the mind of consumers about the event organized by the company. The company understands the value of retaining their customers over a longer period so they shall become potential customers. In order to make the vision successful, the company communicates the vision along with the desired preferences of audiences of event. The key stakeholders of the company are its audiences and the management people who make the event successful. The various strengths of the company involves targeting VIP’s and have relevant experience in serving them according to their needs. However, the company is very particular about using venues events because the company considers that many requirements are dependent to location of the event. The other strength of the company is their presentation which is likely to gain attention of audience. Operations The program will start with an opening ceremony which shall be performed by the chief guest appointed by the University of Bedfordshire itself. Different ideas and learning experience will be shared by professionals, which will be decided with the collaboration of University. The guests will then be transferred to 4 different breakout rooms where breakfast and tea will be served. The program will be resumed after guest entering the main conference room to discuss further involvement in event operations and hospitality. At precisely 1 pm lunch will be served to audiences to which they will again be transferred to their separate breakout rooms. The idea for developing 4 breakout rooms is that different individuals from similar related fields could join and share their ideas. For example, indus try professionals can consume an entire breakout room, whereas, academic scholars can consume the other breakout room. The lunch will be followed by another session of conferences amongst audiences sharing their experiences and ideas on

Cultural Identity Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cultural Identity Interview - Essay Example Peter says that Bulgarians are the Caucasian type, almost all of them are ethnic Bulgarians, but also there are minority groups like Turks and Roma populations. According to Peter, many Southern regions in Bulgaria are heavily populated by people who have Turkish ethnicity, in some villages even only Turkish is spoken. A double check with the Wikipedia (2006) shows that Turks amount to 9.4% of the population. The other Bulgarian minority are Gypsies. Peter shares that Gypsies in general are the poorest among all Bulgarians and are not at all integrated in the dominant Bulgarian culture. - Languages Peter’s native language is Bulgarian, and this is the only official language, although there are other languages minorities speak, like Turkish, Roman, or Macedonian. The Bulgarian language belongs to the group of Slavic languages (Wikipedia, 2006). In the United States Peter speaks English, especially at work. He has little accent and in my opinion he has no difficulties in communication in English. Still, he says, â€Å"In the US there are many other languages that can be of use for you. I would say that US is a bilingual country, because Spanish language is also very popular, even sometimes is it widely spoken†. He uses Bulgarian every day at home or when talking to his friends via the Internet. He adds that he is also trying to improve his Spanish, and Russian, because both languages are useful for him at his work as a guard at a local mall. Peter has learnt English and Spanish at his secondary school. This partially explains why he knows Russian and is eager to improve his speaking abilities in the language. Religion Peter is an Orthodox Christian. He says that most people in Bulgaria belong to the Orthodox Church. Further investigation into the Orthodox religion proves that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church (Wikipedia, 2006), but minority groups have other religions, like Islam, adopted mostly by the Turkish population; some Protestants and Roman Catholics (less than 1,5% together, according to Wikipedia, 2006). When talking about religion, Peter mentions that Bulgarians in general are not very religious. He says, this varies from region to region, but the communist period that ended in 1989 did not tolerate religious beliefs, partly because of the high influence the Church used to have, and because its financial strength that threatened the status quo. Today, the Southern and Western regions of the country are more religious than the Northern and Eastern regions. Also, where Turkish population is predominant, there are villages with no Christian churches, and it is a normal thing, he says, for any village to have a church. Food Peter mentions a variety of national favorite foods - foods containing various meat types, potatoes, rice and different types of vegetables. It seems bread is something Bulgarians do not miss at the table. Peter says that fruit and vegetables are much cheaper in Bulgaria, than they are in the United States, and are much tastier, having fewer conservatives. According to Peter, the Bulgarian cuisine today is heavily influenced by the Arab cuisine and is closer to

Evogear Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evogear - Essay Example The gratifying content in the website, which covers the descriptors and the content, helps and gratifies the basic need of the shopper. The website looks to bring together the cultural elements that go to make up the lifestyle: the art, the music the opportunities the website gives back. This adds more value to the customers. In agreement with the Evogear website developer, e-commerce has not yet attained its fullest marketing potential. Bryce Phillips says that it is in its infancy stage. This is true as the underdeveloped countries are yet to undergo the digital migration, which will uplift the e-commerce. Many countries he upsurge of the marketing environment experienced n the technical advanced nations is yet to be experienced making the e-commerce to be in its development stages. The website faces a lot of challenges in its operations. The quality products display has been a problem to the website. When the good will of one customer is lost, others will also be lost and this becomes a big loss for the store. The payment facilities of the website are not more secure as the website can be hacked or spammed. To address the challenges the website has moved to multi-sales online and mobile

Cultural Identity Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cultural Identity Interview - Essay Example Peter says that Bulgarians are the Caucasian type, almost all of them are ethnic Bulgarians, but also there are minority groups like Turks and Roma populations. According to Peter, many Southern regions in Bulgaria are heavily populated by people who have Turkish ethnicity, in some villages even only Turkish is spoken. A double check with the Wikipedia (2006) shows that Turks amount to 9.4% of the population. The other Bulgarian minority are Gypsies. Peter shares that Gypsies in general are the poorest among all Bulgarians and are not at all integrated in the dominant Bulgarian culture. - Languages Peter’s native language is Bulgarian, and this is the only official language, although there are other languages minorities speak, like Turkish, Roman, or Macedonian. The Bulgarian language belongs to the group of Slavic languages (Wikipedia, 2006). In the United States Peter speaks English, especially at work. He has little accent and in my opinion he has no difficulties in communication in English. Still, he says, â€Å"In the US there are many other languages that can be of use for you. I would say that US is a bilingual country, because Spanish language is also very popular, even sometimes is it widely spoken†. He uses Bulgarian every day at home or when talking to his friends via the Internet. He adds that he is also trying to improve his Spanish, and Russian, because both languages are useful for him at his work as a guard at a local mall. Peter has learnt English and Spanish at his secondary school. This partially explains why he knows Russian and is eager to improve his speaking abilities in the language. Religion Peter is an Orthodox Christian. He says that most people in Bulgaria belong to the Orthodox Church. Further investigation into the Orthodox religion proves that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church (Wikipedia, 2006), but minority groups have other religions, like Islam, adopted mostly by the Turkish population; some Protestants and Roman Catholics (less than 1,5% together, according to Wikipedia, 2006). When talking about religion, Peter mentions that Bulgarians in general are not very religious. He says, this varies from region to region, but the communist period that ended in 1989 did not tolerate religious beliefs, partly because of the high influence the Church used to have, and because its financial strength that threatened the status quo. Today, the Southern and Western regions of the country are more religious than the Northern and Eastern regions. Also, where Turkish population is predominant, there are villages with no Christian churches, and it is a normal thing, he says, for any village to have a church. Food Peter mentions a variety of national favorite foods - foods containing various meat types, potatoes, rice and different types of vegetables. It seems bread is something Bulgarians do not miss at the table. Peter says that fruit and vegetables are much cheaper in Bulgaria, than they are in the United States, and are much tastier, having fewer conservatives. According to Peter, the Bulgarian cuisine today is heavily influenced by the Arab cuisine and is closer to

The White Tiger Essay Example for Free

The White Tiger Essay The significance of the Darkness and the Light in the book The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga The contrast between the Darkness and the Light is often mentioned in this book. The darkness is described as the poor and miserable areas of the rural India, while the light is the opposite. In the light there are often flourishing cities crawling with entrepreneurs and hard workers. In The White Tiger one gets to follow Balram Halwai’s journey from the darkness to the light. Needless to say, India is far from the American dream. Once you are born into a certain type of caste you will probably spend your entire life with a fixed position in the social hierarchy. When Balram refers to the darkness he often mentions the poverty, ignorance and most importantly, the lack of education. â€Å"Me, and thousands of others in this country like me, are half-baked, because we were never allowed to complete our schooling† -Balram Halwai Primarily, what separates the light from the darkness is the level of education. Many people from the darkness end up being servants or drivers for their masters from the light. Balram describes the other servants as ignorant and unengaged. Nonetheless, what separates Balram from the others is his willingness to learn. While driving, he picks up a lot of interesting information by eavesdropping on his master, Mr. Ashok. With knowledge comes the ability to question and increased ambition, I think his increased knowledge is what inspires Balram to take the leap from the darkness to the light. Unlike the other servants he does not feel inferior to his master. â€Å"†¦ The tale of how I was corrupted from a sweet, innocent village fool into a citified fellow full of debauchery, depravity and wickedness.†- Balram Halwai In the big cities the traditional moral values do not apply anymore, instead money talks. Corruption is widespread, ranging all the way from the bottom to the top in the social hierarchy. Most cities in the light are clashes of  western and indian cultures. This means that materialism has gained the upper hand in these parts. Over time, Balram slowly transforms from the innocent village boy to the more egocentric city denizen. This is clearly shown when he abruptly stops sending payments to his family and spends this money rather on alcohol and debauchery. â€Å" I was looking for the key for years/ but the door was always open†- Iqbal, Pakistani poet I think this quotation is one of the most thematic for the book. Balram was discontent with his present situation and wanted a way out of the rooster coop that he was trapped inside. He eventually realized that the change originated within him, the door out of the coop was always open. All it took was someone who stood out from the rest/ a white tiger to break out of the coop, which took the form of killing his own master. However, by doing so, Balram fulfilled his journey from the darkness to the light and thus becoming his own master. Finally, the darkness and the light divide India in two very different categories, extreme poverty versus wealth, or â€Å"small bellies and big bellies† as Balram puts it. The contrast between the darkness and the light is so big that in the same country people can live in mansions with luxury cars and multiple servants while others can only afford a water buffalo in order to get nutrition to survive. Albeit, India has at this time a growing middle class and a developing economy it still has its social problems. Just look at what’s going on right now, women and children get raped and left to die whithout judicial priority. Although I think these problems are hard to deal with since moral values are hard to change, but by solving problems like these and the educational gaps that are brought forth in â€Å"The White Tiger†, India can take a step towards a more equal society and hopefully erase the world that Balram refers to as â€Å"the Darkness†.

Motivations for the Age of Exploration

Motivations for the Age of Exploration During the 1400s, Europeans started venturing beyond their borders to foreign places. This period of time when Europeans explored, colonized, and settled in foreign countries is known as the Age of Exploration. It began in the 15th century and lasted until the 17th century. The event led to numerous advancements in geographic knowledge, and also improved the interactions and trade between countries. Several factors favored Europe as the starting place of exploration. Medieval religious fervor made captains feel it was their duty to convert everyone they met to Christianity. Europe was also in good conditions economically, and its geographic position drove it to find routes to Asia, which then led to the Americas. Both the Renaissance and the Crusades were crucial in the development of the Age of Discovery. Renaissance ideas motivated the Europeans to experience and observe other cultures, giving them the courage to interact with different people. The Crusades also opened the minds of the Europeans which brought them in contact with different goods and religious ideas. After the Renaissance and the Crusades, the Age of Exploration began due to the Europeans’ urge to spread Christianity, their eagerness for fame, their desire for wealth, and the improvements in technology that allowed voyages. A major motive for the Age of Discovery was the religious desire to convert people to Christianity. Bartolomeu Dias, an early Portuguese explorer, stated his motives for voyage: â€Å"To serve God and His Majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness and to grow rich as all men desire to (Miller).† The first two motives stated were both religious goals that Christians hoped to accomplish. Another story that they believed in also motivated them to explore. This was the myth of Prester John (The Myth of Prester John). Although fake, the Europeans believed in this story where the king of the legendary Christian nation had ordered all Christians to join him in a religious battle against the infidels. This myth persuaded many Christians to join the holy wars, or the Crusades, which were extremely important factors of the Age of Exploration. Europeans thought that it was their duty to fulfill God’s wishes and save souls by spreading Christianity. The Crusades played a significant role in building up to the Age of Exploration (The European Voyages of Exploration). It exposed the Europeans to new people and places, giving them the new objective to convert more people to Christianity. Setting up missions was one of the religious goals of exploration. Missionaries that traveled with explorers preached to the natives of different areas to achieve their religious wishes. Francis Xavier was a Jesuit missionary that went to India with the Portuguese explorers (McGrath). He learned the local languages and was able to preach in their native tongue. This was a more effective way of spreading religion which made thousands of people convert to Christianity. Missionaries like Xavier were influential in saving the souls of people from all around the world, completing an objective of exploration. The Age of Exploration developed along with the Renaissance, as these ideas influenced their desires for individual glory. The Renaissance stressed the individual human being, so explorers wanted to earn fame and honor for themselves with successful explorations. People during this time wanted to live enjoyable lives, unlike people during the medieval times who wanted to reach heaven. Because of this, people during the Renaissance worked for themselves and worked to become rich in order to live an enjoyable life. Explorers also wanted to voyage in search of individual wealth and fame. Explorer Christopher Columbus was an example as he worked to achieve fame and fortune (Christopher Columbus). His contract with the Spanish rulers agreed that when he discovered land, he would be given a noble title, could keep ten percent of the riches he found, and would be able to govern the lands he discovered. Kings and queens also wanted glory for their countries, so they promoted exploration. Wit h the invention of the printing press, it became possible for one to become famous for what he or she did. With this in mind, explorers became motivated by personal glory to discover lands in the New World. The â€Å"rebirth† of classical Greek and Roman values that brought many changes to how people thought was created by the Crusades. The holy wars let the Europeans see beyond their own world, sparking their interest in learning which led to the Renaissance. The secular outlook made people think more about religious authority, and also gave them scientific curiosity (Brotton). It was a time when people wanted to learn more about the world. Humanism brought intellectual curiosity about the world to people’s minds, and the discoveries made led to a new age in search of scientific knowledge. The will and courage to learn and understand different cultures made people want to explore and see more around the world (Lecture 2). This idea links with the Renaissance in general, and also the human nature to explore and gain information on the unknown. The search for trade routes that led to wealth was an indispensable cause of European exploration. The Crusades and trade brought the Europeans to spices, silk, and other luxuries. The Europeans demanded spices from the East to add flavor to their bland food, making it extremely valuable. When important trade routes to the East were blocked by the Turks, the explorers embarked to find better ones (FC67). Better trade routes could increase the profit made in the markets of luxuries. Thomas Mun’s ideas on the effects of foreign trade stated in England’s Treasure by Foreign Trade showed how he supported foreign trade since it increased England’s treasury (Koeller). He tells of how England exports more goods than it imports, thus increasing the profit they made from trade. This idea links to mercantilism, where people thought that there was only a limited amount of money in the world. In order to make the kingdom strong, they had to have more wealth than other countr ies. Mercantilism motivated the Europeans to explore and search for trade routes, which could then help them become wealthy and powerful. Before the newer trade routes existed, trade for goods in the East was controlled by the Italians and Muslims. The Muslims sold the goods they got from the East to the Italians at a raised price, and then the Italians also increased the price of the goods sold to Europe in order to make profit. The Europeans were not happy with the amount they had to pay, so they wanted to find a route directly to Asia to bypass the middlemen. Before trade routes were found, a pound of cinnamon cost twenty-four pence, which would have taken a master carpenter three days to earn (Kelley). Although costly, Europeans still considered spices a necessity and were willing to pay large amounts of money for them. In order to acquire these goods and more wealth, explorers searched for trade routes, and the Portuguese accomplished this with their trading empire. Previous costs of spices could be anywhere from ten to a hundred times the original price, so a huge difference was made to these prices after the tra ding empire was created (Munro). It allowed merchants to bring back goods at the original price paid at the source, making it affordable to more Europeans. The Age of Discovery would not have been possible without the geographical knowledge gained during this time. Before maps had improved and included locations on global scales, sailors used the color of skies and waters, the types of vegetation, and also the types of sea birds in the area to identify their location. Later, portolan charts, coastal maps of Europe and the Mediterranean, and global projections were created, giving the Europeans better ideas of the world (FC81). With clear ideas of direction, sailing became a lot easier and explorers were also less likely to sail to the wrong place. Prince Henry the Navigator helped improve the techniques used to explore and map the new lands. He developed the first nautical map that replaced the portolan charts (Briney). The portolan charts kept sailors close to the shore, but the nautical maps allowed them to sail away from land which improved the results of travel, because more could be seen and discovered. Prince Henry also introduced navigational schools to improve the geographical knowledge of explorers. Furthermore, various naval inventions and advancements allowed the oceans to be sailed. Some of the most important were the magnetic compass, the astrolabe, and the changes in shipbuilding (FC81). The compass invented by the Chinese gave a better sense of direction. The astrolabe, perfected by the Muslims, helped determine latitude. Great changes were also made to the European ships. The hulls of the caravels were bulkier and sturdier, allowing voyage in large waves. The southern triangle or lateen sail allowed ships to sail against the wind, which was not possible before. These inventions made sailing overseas an attainable task, leading to the discovery of the various areas separate from Europe. The Age of Exploration was a crucial period of time that made influential differences in not only the history of Europe, but the history of almost the entire world. This event would never have occurred without the Crusades, Renaissance, and advancements in technology. The will to fulfill religious desires, search for wealth, and pursue personal fame drove the Europeans out of the Old World in search of new places over the seas. All the voyages made helped link different countries together, and even influenced the basis of knowledge nowadays. Although the Age of Discovery ended in the 1600s, the effects of it still make significant changes to the world today. Works Cited Briney, Amanda. â€Å"A History of the Age of Exploration.† About Education. About.com, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2014. Brotton, Jeremy. â€Å"The Myth of the Renaissance in Europe.† BBC History. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. Butler, John. â€Å"FC67: The Crusades Their Impact.† The Flow of History. Chris Butler, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. . â€Å"FC81: Early voyages of Exploration.† The Flow of History. Chris Butler, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2014. â€Å"Christopher Columbus.† History.com. AE Television Networks, n.d. Web. 21 May 2015. Kelley, Laura. â€Å"The Silk Road Roots of the Age of Exploration.† The Silk Road Gourmet, 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 21 May 2015. Koeller, David. â€Å"Thomas Mun: England’s Treasure by Foreign Trade.† Then Again†¦ David Koeller, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2014. Kreis, Steven. â€Å"Lecture 2: The Age of Discovery.† The History Guide. Steve Kreis, 2 May 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. . â€Å"The Myth of Prester John.† The History Guide. Steve Kreis, 11 Oct. 2006. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. McGrath, Jane. â€Å"How Missionaries Work.† HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks, 4 June 2009. Web. 24 May 2015. Miller, Jane. â€Å"Explorer Bartolomeu Dias.† ThingLink. ThingLink, n.d. Web. 21 May 2015. Munro, John. â€Å"Oriental Spices and Their Costs in Medieval Cuisine: Luxuries or Necessities?† Spices and Their Costs in Medieval Europe, n.d. Web. 21 May 2015. â€Å"The European Voyages of Exploration: Introduction.† Saylor.org Academy. Saylor Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

Pre-Revolution :: History

Pre-Revolution George Washington was promoted to lieutenant colonel by Governer Dinwiddie in 1754 with orders to attack the French fort Fort Duquesne. Washington was inexperienced in battle and inevitably blew his assignment. While marching towards Fort Duquesne, Washington and his men came upon a French reconnaissance party. Washington attacked with victory and fled the area to prepare for the French retaliation. Washington ordered his men to construct a fort as a meager means of defense from attack. This fort would be called Fort Necessity. Fort Necessity was poorly constructed and located in a terrible position. The surrounding forest made it possible for the French and Indian attackers to approach the fort without being seen. Washington and his men were forced to surrender. The French captured Washington and his men and forced Washington to sign an admission of attack. In this admission, which was written in French, Washington unknowingly admitted to assassinating the leader of the reconnaissance party. Although Washington could not read French, he signed the documents. All educated and sophisticated men could read French, and for Washington to admit to not being able to read French would be degrading to himself. The French let Washington and his men march out after the admission was signed. Washington returned to Virginia a hero and, while undeclared, the colonies knew that war had begun. This war would become known as the French and Indian War. In 1755 Britain sent General Edward Braddock to defend the colonies and capture Fort Duquesne. Braddock appointed Washington as second in command of his British troops. With over 1400 troops, Braddock marched against Fort Duquesne, only to be ambushed by a party of French and Indian soldiers totaling a mere fraction of his troops. Braddock was killed in combat along with 900 of his troops, leaving Washington in charge and responsible for marching the men back to Virginia. The British followed this defeat by more and more. Although the British outnumbered the French and Indians, they were poorly organized and failed to use the resources that surrounded them. Indians would attack the British troops while they were marching, by hiding in trees and attacking from all sides. In 1756, the conflict spread to Europe. Britain still was incapable of winning battles even home their home front. It wasn’t until 1758 when King George II appointed William Pitt as Prime Minister did the war efforts take a turn for the better.

An Analysis of Irvings Rip Van Winkle :: Rip Van Winkle Essays

An Analysis of Irving's Rip Van Winkle Rip Van Winkle had grabbed his gun and his dog, Wolf, and headed out to the woods. He rested under a tree where evening came on quickly. As Rip was getting ready to journey back home, he heard a voice calling his name. He went to see who was calling his name. He discovered an old man carrying a keg on his back. Rip and the old man walked to a ravine in the mountain. There they found a band of odd-looking people. Rip and the old man drank from the keg the man was carrying on his back. Rip feel into a deep sleep, which bring us up to his awaking. Rip Van Winkle woke up and it seemed to be the next morning. "The birds were hopping and twittering among the bushes, and the eagle was wheeling aloft, and breasting the pure mountain breeze." I think this symbolizes that the jeopardy that Rip was in the night before was over. The text said that the people in the ravine were rolling balls that echoed sounds of thunder through the ravine. That makes me picture a dark storm rolling in. This sets the scene with a little tension because Rip did not know what to make of the people in the ravine. He was a little frightened by them. So the birds singing and the sun rising the next morning seems to set the mood at ease again. Rip thinks about what went on the night before. He remembers the old man, the keg of liquor, the party, and the flagon. The flagon was the cup that Rip Van Winkle drank from the night before. Rip Van Winkle said, "Oh! That flagon! That wicked flagon!" I thought it was humors that he blamed the cup for getting him "tipsy" and causing him to sleep through the night. The first hint that is giving that Rip did a little more sleeping than he thought was the moment he reached for his gun. "He looked round for his gun, but in place of the clean, well-oiled fowling-piece he found an old firelock." It stated that the barrel was rusted and the stock was full of holes from worms eating away at it.

Religion and Individualism Essay

Different countries have different cultures, traditions and values. They represent the image of the nation, people’s mentality, how they think and behave, and what they strive for and struggle for. With the help of them we judge of what is important in life of a person, of a nation, of a country. America is not an exception. Despite the great number of various ethnic groups that inhabit United States, there are things that unite all the people. Among them are such values like freedom and independence that entirely characterize America. The American founding fathers felt that this concept was of utmost importance when they were deciding what the United States Of America would be and how it would function. In the second paragraph of the â€Å"Declaration of Independence† it‘s written: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liber ty and the pursuit of happiness.† This is what sets the U.S. apart from all other countries in the world. Other values are beauty, nature, patriotism, optimism, and equality. All of them are described by different American writers, painters, politicians and philosophers. Probably the most important ingredient of Americans’ ideology is their belief in the freedom of the individual called individualism. America’s highest ideal and greatest blessing is freedom and each individual decides to what purpose should it be employed. Everyone should set his own goals for himself. Americans are considered to be rather religious nation. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a very important role in their lives. We can see how various writers, politics and painters talk about religion and express it in their works. In this paper such values as religion and individualism will be analyzed, through the words of Emily Dickinson, Abraham Lincoln, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emily Dickinson, an American poet, was brought up in a prominent family, which raised Dickinson to be a cultured Christian woman who would one day be responsible for a family of her own. Her father attempted to protect her from reading books that might â€Å"joggle† her mind, particularly her religious faith. She dressed only in white. In religion white color is the symbol of innocence, purity, holiness, and chastity. She used contemporary popular church hymns, transforming their standard rhythms into free-form hymn  meters. Her poetry contains almost all the range of biblical and religious designations. Emily Dickinson’s poem â€Å"Faith is a Fine Invention,† can be interpreted spiritually. Dickinson says, â€Å"â€Å"Faith† is a fine invention- When Gentlemen can see†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In context, Faith is belief that does not rest on logical proof or evidence. In other words, faith is belief without seeing. In Dickinson’s poem, she suggests that hu mankind only possess faith when the object is seen. In essence, â€Å"faith† is nonexistent. Dickinson continues in the subsequent lines saying, â€Å"But Microscopes are prudent- In an Emergency.† This suggests the characteristic of some people who simply cannot accept something without witnessing an in-depth account. For example, â€Å"Microscopes† could be a representation of modern day scientists and interpreters who research and develop explanations to discover the truth behind what is believed. Continuing, Dickinson suggests these â€Å"Microscopes are prudent† only when things go bad. As with most people today, good judgment is generally a last resort in the midst of adversity. Genuine faith is the only way out of trouble. Nevertheless, humankind is busy trying to offer explanations and theory rather accepting belief without logical evidence. In her poem â€Å"This World Is not Conclusion† we see that she didn’t think this world is the end. â€Å"A Species stands beyond† – this means that life exists somewhere beyond our world. She was saying that death is not the end of this world. There is another life after death because God says so. This speaks also of the resurrection. She was saying after we die there is another generation that comes after us, so really this world never ends it keeps on going and going. It’s just like Plato was saying that all the souls transmigrate and only those souls, who reached the catharsis leave the earth and stay in the kingdom of heaven. People try to puzzle out what is this, but the â€Å"Faith slips — and laughs, and rallies –Blushes, if any see –Plucks at a twig of Evidence.† Again, you must just believe in God, in a world beyond, and not try to find evidences for it. There are things even the â€Å"wise† can’t explain: â€Å"Philosophy — don’t know.† Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States, has become a mythic figure in America’s civil religion. He was known for honest, sympathy, and kindness to the victims of the Civil War on both sides. He was private about his beliefs and respected the beliefs of others. Though Lincoln di dn’t belong to any church, he is believed to be Christian. Lincoln read the Bible throughout  his life and quoted from it widely. Lincoln was clear in his belief that Christians of the North and South were praying to the same God. Lincoln was self-taught in the ways of both God and humanity. His speeches and conversations always had references on Christianity, there is an unusual depth of the Christian perception. Nowhere was that depth visible than in his Second Inaugural Address: â€Å"Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.† He insisted that there were no unbridgeable differences. Both were God fearing people and worked hard. He went on to describe the strange fact that both sides pray to the same God for a successful resolution and improvement of each of their ideals. Both could not win. It was providence that willed that slavery should be abolished and in his speech, which was almost like a prayer, he hoped to calm both. Lincoln suggested that the cause of the war was the North and the South’s common sin of slavery. He continued, â€Å"Fondly do we hope – fervently do we pray – that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, so as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said â€Å"the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.† He uses religious imagery to enlist the belief that God is against slavery. Lincoln pla ced the outcome of the war into the hands of God to whom all seemed to be praying, saying that whatever God’s desire on these issues would be, that would decide the fate. He said that if it is God’s will that the war should continue until all funds be expended or until there is a peaceful conclusion, whichever the case, God would decide. He concludes with more religious imagery, specifying the divine right that the Union should attain a victory, and that the goal is to achieve and care about a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations, based on â€Å"firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.† Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American lecturer, essayist and poet. He was seen as a champion of individualism.  Emerson was drastic in his conviction that an individual should obey himself and himself alone. The concept of individualism is fully described in the essay â€Å"Self-Reliance.† Emerson uses the essay as a vehicle for stressing the importance of the individual’s intellectual and moral development, and for making a defensive statement supporting individualism itself. His idea is that a man can trust no one but himself; he should not obey the society, but think and act as he feels is right. â€Å"A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages.† Emerson says that man should focus on his inner self for guidance rather than relying on external. â€Å"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the divine Providence has found for you.† Reliance on and acceptance of the self are the keys to achieving uniqueness by way of trusting one’s own thoughts. Complete trust in a person’s own intuition should exist without influence from outside forces of tradition, religion or government. Emerson talks about the society as about an obstacle on the way of free thoughts. â€Å"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world†¦ The v irtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs.† The society doesn’t love truth and art, but meaningless words and conventions. And Emerson says: â€Å"I ought to go upright and vital, and speak the rude truth in all ways,† so he doesn’t want to follow the society and hide the truth. What is natural, what a man feels, what he believes to be true, right and paramount – these are important: â€Å"No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it.† If he is the only one who thinks differently from the society, that doesn’t mean he is wrong. All people are individuals and they are ruled by different values, opinions, moral codes and beliefs. If a person votes for a candidate just because everybody does, Emerson can’t really understand what this person presents of himself under this mask: â€Å"My life is for itself and not for a spectac le. I much prefer that it should be of a lower strain, so it be genuine and equal, than that it should be glittering and unsteady.† Later he says: â€Å"Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself.† Do what you want to do, what you  feel you should do, but not what majority dictates you. Otherwise you’re not living a life; you’re just a puppet in the hands of the society, a part of indifferent mass. People are afraid to be misunderstood. Therefore it would be better and easier to agree with the others and accept social standards than to try to go against them and to change something. When we allow ourselves to be dictated to by another, sooner or later those people realize they have us wrapped around their finger, and serious problems could arise. Emerson tries to assure them that’s not so bad; many famous figures were misunderstood. â€Å"Your conformity explains nothing. Act singly, and what you have already done singly will justify you now.† Also when you accept the thing you don’t believe in, you oppose yourself, which is the worst treachery you can do, according to Emerson. Emerson also says that everything comes from the main source. The universe is right, if we free ourselves, make our souls clear, we’ll understand the universe. â€Å"The inquiry leads us to that source, at once the essence of genius, of virtue, and of life, which we call Spontaneity or Instinct. We denote this primary wisdom as Intuition, whilst all later teachings are tuitions.† Intuition is the basic wisdom, the mystical senses, when you say you just know it, and you feel it. Emerson always thought that feelings are the best proofs and arguments for everything. Repeatedly throughout â€Å"Self-Reliance† Emerson returns to these ideas and themes to support his point that fortune and peace is attainable only through reliance on and trust in one’s self. People should believe in themselves, despite what others may say or think, not be afraid of thinking differently, not lose their identity. Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, critic, and philosopher. He is best known for his essay â€Å"Civil Disobedienc e,† an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state. One of the most important themes in the work of Thoreau is the idea of individualism. Thoreau rejects the view that a person must sacrifice or isolate his values out of loyalty to her government. Thoreau expresses his anti-conformity and individualism in pursuit of a political and ethical cause in spite of opinion of the majority. â€Å"Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?- in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the  least degree, resign his conscience to the legislation? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.† This means that first of all a person must be faithful to his opinions and views and do what he thinks and feels is right, he can and must disagree with the government if he thinks it’s beyond his standards of truth. His idea is that everybody is a â€Å"man first and a subject afterwards.† Everybody has his own feelings upon this or that questions, people are different and they have different beliefs and points of views. Nobody and nothing can make one change his thoughts. Thoreau distinguishes 3 types of people: â€Å"The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens.† Here he talks about people who behave just the way they are told, they even don’t ponder over their attitude to the things they are doing. Thoreau compares them with animals, that have no the ability of thinking, they just do what they are made to do. â€Å"Others- as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders- serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as God.† These people have the ability of thinking, they know what is right and what is wrong, but in spite of it they still do things that are profitable for them. They live for themselves and try to gain as much as possible. â€Å"A very few- as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men- serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are comm only treated as enemies by it. A wise man will only be useful as a man, and will not submit to be â€Å"clay,† and â€Å"stop a hole to keep the wind away,† but leave that office to his dust at least.† These are the individuals who are valued for being a  man, for not just having the ability of thinking, but thinking differently. They are not afraid to opposite the others and to divulge their thoughts. That’s mainly why these people are not accepted by the majority. He writes that government’s authority is â€Å"impure.† Thoreau exhorts to true respect for the individual. â€Å"There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.† He says that he dreams of a State that respects the individual, a State that would not mind if a few individuals even chose to live independent of it altogether. This k ind of State would prepare the way for an even more â€Å"perfect and glorious State.† Returning to religion we can notice that mostly Americans are religious people. Though the government doesn’t dictate any kind of religion to its citizens, people choose to be faithful. Each of them believes in his own God, and each of them feels the faith in his own way. Emily Dickinson and Abraham Lincoln were both Christians, both of them read Bible, and the works of both sound like a prayer. But what separates them is that Dickinson’s main idea was to believe in God without any proofs. One should not try to find evidence for the existence of God, he should just believe. And Lincoln’s idea was that North and South pray to the same God and that all people are equal in front of God. Also he believed that everything in the world, and the Civil War is not an exception, happens because of God willing. Only the Almighty can decide the fate of people, and the conclusion of the war including. Passing on to the second value of this work, it’s necessary to mention that individualism is one of the most important and inalienable elements for each American. Emerson and Thoreau were ardent supporters of individualism. They hated the society; they are against the majority and against those people who obey. They both think that what a person thinks and feels is right, and not what they are forced to think and believe. Emerson also talks about the human intuition, which is according to him the primary wisdom; you know something is right just because you feel it. Thoreau by-turn talks about 3 types of people, and elevates the people who are able to think differently and to act differently, without being afraid not to be accepted by the society. Thoreau also creates in his dreams a new State, where an individual would be respected.