The Prisoner Of War Camps - 837 Words

â€Å"Hello mother, father, this is your Louie talking. This will be the first time in two years that you’ve heard my voice. I am now interned at a Tokyo prisoner of war camp and I’m being treated as well as can be expected under wartime conditions.† As a viewer we can see the look of pure disgust and longing upon Louie’s face. It was evident that he wasn’t eager to read what was prepared for him as it depicted a false perception of what his wartime conditions were truly like. The fact that he had to make it seem like he was well when in fact he was anything but. I am now able to understand that what those in society often herd about their captured soldiers was quite often incorrect. The enemy wanted to portray an image that hid the true conditions and circumstances the American soldiers were subject to. I not only found this film inspiring as it showed the resilience American soldiers had whilst confined in the prisoner of war camps but also found it interesting as it showed the truths of war so vividly in way that could never be achieved through the use of written words. As a result of this film I am able to see how much we owe these men for our freedom, we were never truly able to appreciate the sacrifice made by those men and women until viewing this incredible film. They went through so much to ensure the freedom of many generations to come and if it wasn’t for these men who knows what our lives would be like today. Despite each text being written by different authors andShow MoreRelatedThe Prisoner Of War Camps1929 Words   |  8 PagesStates immediately after the Civil War knew very little of the atrocities of that occurred in the prisoner of war camps. News that their family member was in a prisoner of war camp was usually dreaded by the family of the captured soldiers. While being dead was much worse the families never truly knew what was going on inside the camps. For the Confederacy, many feared Rock Island, but there was a just as deadly camp just north of Rock Island in Chicago. Once the war had ended the atrocities of whatRead MorePow Camps And The Concentration Camps1009 Words   |  5 PagesThacker Pre-AP English II, B8 Mrs. Connor April 17, 2015 Prisoners of Death Bang! Boom! All you can see is darkness, but you hear as if outside. Prisoners of war were captured everywhere during WWII. POW camps had better treatment and were better than than other concentration camps. The conditions of the camps varied from one to another, but from Stalags and Concentration camps, they were close to the same. A large portion of deaths in POW camps were from â€Å"lack of food† (Uhl 1). The recommended dailyRead MoreThe War Of The Civil War1093 Words   |  5 PagesThe Civil War served as yet another reminder that although the US had successfully broken off away England, a long road still remained before total domestic unity. This war was bloody and it divided the nation, towns, and even families. With both sides fighting for their personal ideologies, this was more than a mere territorial war. Many aspects of this war will forever act as a blemish on our nation s history. In this essay, we will explore one aspect; the camps that were used to contain the prisonersRead MoreWorld War 2 : A Global War1579 Words   |  7 PagesWorld War 2 was a global war from 1939 to 1945 between the Allies and the Axis powers. During the war, over 120,000 American prisoners of war were captured by the German forces. World War 2 started through the bomb in Hiroshima on August 6th 1945. Around 8,000 people died because of radioactive from the bomb. The German prison camps were for mostly Jews since Hitler, the Chancellor of Germany, was against the Jewish religion.The internment camps were in very harsh conditions and many prisoners wereRead MoreA Brief Look at World War II1521 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II World War II was the largest war and the bloodiest war that the U.S. has ever been involved in. Forty to Fifty million people lost their lives during World War II. This was a war that lasted for about six years and involved countries from around the whole world. The axis powers in the war consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Allie powers consisted of the United States, France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and to a lesser extent, China. It is said that unsettled disputes fromRead MoreThe Civil War Of The United States Prisons1077 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Brother against brother.† This was the Civil War being summed up in just three words. Mike Wright wrote, â€Å"On both sides of the war, men and women were locked away in dark prisons or held in outdoor camps under blistering sun and freezing snow. They were fed too little and lived and died under primitive conditions.† One would arguably say that the Northern prisons might feel a little more at home than the Southern prisons, but this wasn’t the case at all, the prisons on each side were both poorlyRead MoreShattered: The Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)1738 Words   |  7 PagesIn regards to the Civil War veterans he saw, Rev. J.L. Burrows once said, It is not in human nature to be contented under physical restraints. This quote perfectly describes the feelings of soldiers taken prisoner during the Civil War. Many of these captives harbored feelings of resentment towards their captors, despite relatively mild prison camp conditions. However, these feelings of resentment soon turned to animosity as conditions went from mildly inconvenient to hellish nightmares. This willRead MoreEssay on Nazi Concentration Camps680 Words   |  3 Pagesworld’s worst genocides; concentration camps were the worst place to be if you were a captive. Adolf Hitler, a Nazi, convinced many that certain groups of people needed to be exterminated. He started concentration cam ps to terrorize his enemies. The first concentration camps started in 1933, six years before World War Two began. There were several concentration camps. These concentration camps consisted of European Jews, P.O.W.’s (Prisoners of War), political prisoners, criminals, homosexuals, and gypsiesRead MorePrisoners of War805 Words   |  4 PagesNo one goes to war thinking they will be the one captured and tortured by the enemy. As Canadian troops sailed to Europe to join in the fighting of World War Two, they more likely had nightmares about dying tragically, or suffering for days. No one really worried about being captured because war was associated with fighting, guns, winning and losing. A rude awakening came to those captured and taken to the many different concentration camps. Canadian POWs endured very unfortunate experiences inRead MoreThe Second World War Cost Germany1310 Words   |  6 PagesAltabef Money, Markets and Magic 3/17/15 The Second World War cost Germany approximately 270 billion dollars. Hitler understood that the German government should be prepared for a 10 to 15 year war. As he wished massive building projects to coincide with victory, this proved to be an unrealistic task (Overy). To combat growing industry several million prisoners of war were deported into the Reich (Spoerer). In order to sustain the German war economy, the armament industry was privatized. This privatization

Essay on Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club - 1251 Words

Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club Parents always want what is best for their children, regardless of culture or ethnicity. In The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, and in Life With Father by Itabari Njeri, the parents express their parental methods upon their daughters. Children will all react differently to their parents methods, as do Waverly, June, and Itabari, but they still share a common resentment for their parents. It is shown in the two stories how parental methods expressed to children can be misinterpreted, thus influencing the childs behavior. Junes mother wants her to become a successful piano player. The problem with this is that June possesses no talent or determination to do so, so she doesnt practice. Her mother cleans†¦show more content†¦It seemed that Waverly had an ability inherited from her mother to conceal feelings and strategies, much like what is needed to win a chess match. Waverly got along better with her mother than June did, but Junes mother pushed her in a direction she didnt want to go in, rather than taking credit for success. Both actions were misconceived however. Waverly has the ability to humiliate June, as she did at the New Years dinner. Those with self-confidence such as Waverly easily insult June. Waverlys mother has taught her to be proud of her abilities, while Junes mother has not shown her to be proud, but more content. Waverly is noted by Junes mother as being a crab, moving only sideways, trying to keep others from passing her. June is more of the type to surpass Waverlys meager insults, making her the better person. Waverly is like this because she cares so much about other people criticisms of her, strongest of all being her mothers. She runs her life based upon what she thinks her mother feels about things. These children act the way they do, insulting and accepting, based upon their parents means of conveying what is important. By being forceful, Suyaan has made June more passive, while Waverly has b ecome more aggressive as she likely has more contempt within her. Suyaan and Lindo have harbored pride as a very important factor within their daughters. Waverly refuses to play piano when her mother keeps bragging to everyone that herShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club1127 Words   |  5 Pages etc. Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club brings to light the imperfections of family dynamics. This imperfect relationship focuses on the struggles between mothers and daughters. The broken relationships invite readers to question their own relationships, but also see how they relate to the relationships of The Joy Luck Club. Tan uses animate and inanimate objects to express the love and hate in one’s relationship, even if it’s through wobbly furniture, a jade pendant, or a chess piece. Amy Tan utilizesRead MoreAnalysis Of Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club1369 Words   |  6 PagesA Perspective of the American Dream The Joy Luck Club Was written by 1989 by Amy Tan, a first generation American born in 1952 to immigrant parents. Tan was raised by her mother, who had left kids back in China, and a father, who was a Baptist minister. She grew up in California and attended high school in Switzerland. At the age of 15 her brother and father died of a brain tumor. Tan perceives the American dream in the way that an Asian immigrant would, which would be to pass down what we know soRead MoreAnalysis Of Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club1250 Words   |  5 PagesThe Joy Luck Club is Amy Tan’s first novel that is a tribute to several generations and different cultural connections. Tan has written: â€Å"To my mother / and the memory of her other / You asked me once / what I would remember. / This, and much more.† The Joy Luck Club is set primarily in modern- day San Francisco’s popular Chinatown, but much of the book occurs in flashbacks of the mothers’ lives in China. While and after reading this book, you can ask yourself many questions that could spark up anRead More Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club Essay1002 Words   |  5 PagesAmy Tans â€Å"The Joy Luck Club† The â€Å"Joy Luck Club,† by Amy Tan, is a collection of short stories about the relationships between Chinese born mothers and their American born daughters. The story called â€Å"Four Directions† is about a woman named Waverly Jong. The story is about Waverly trying to tell her mother that she is getting married to a American man named Richard. Waverly was a chess champion as while she was a young girl and she remembers the strategy that she used in her matches, and inRead MorePlot Development in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club 613 Words   |  2 Pagesa story organized, while others would say that plot structure tends to add too much order to a piece of work and hinder the reader from exploring true creativity. A great example of these two contrasting ideas is illustrated in Amy Tan’s well-known novel â€Å"The Joy Luck Club†. Although some could argue that there is no definite plot structure portrayed at all within the book, this is not true. A slight pl ot lies within each individual short story. While there might not be an overall rising and fallingRead MoreMain Characters In Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club813 Words   |  4 PagesWhat does identity mean to you? One of the main characters, Ying-ying St.Clair in Amy Tan’s novel The Joy Luck Club, was born in a very wealthy family, but influenced by the world around her, she lost her own â€Å"self†. As a result, she remained quiet and listens to all of the omens in life but never pays attention to her own feelings. Even her own daughter, Lena was also influenced by Ying-ying’s overprotection and criticism. In the novel, Ying-ying had evolved from a naive and wild child to a womanRead More Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club Essay566 Words   |  3 PagesJoy Luck Club The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, is a powerful portrayal of four Chinese women and the lives of their children in America. The book discusses the conflicting cultures between the United States and China, and how men treat women throughout their lives. People living in the United States usually take for granted their roles as a male or female. The culture of each country shapes the treatment one receives based on the sex of the individual. There are obvious differences within the differentRead More Search for Self in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesThe Search for Self in The Joy Luck Club       Amy Tans novel, The Joy Luck Club, presents a character with a divided self. One buried half of the self represents the mother, the mothers Chinese heritage, and the cold obedience she tries to instill in her daughter caused by her tragic past. The other half of the self represents the daughter, the daughters American heritage, and the endless indignation she uses against her mother in ignorance of her mothers tragic past and her own ties toRead MoreAmy Tans Joy Luck Club Essay1072 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan inserts various conflicts betweens mothers and daughters. Most of these relationships, already very fragile, become distanced through heritage, history and expectations. These differences cause reoccurring clashes between two specific mother-daughter bonds. The first relationship exists between Waverly Jong and her mother, Lindo. Lindo tries to instill Chinese qualities in her daughter while Waverly refuses to recognize her heritage and concen trates on AmericanRead More Essay on Search for Identity in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club1103 Words   |  5 PagesSearch for Identity in Joy Luck Club      Ã‚   Each person reaches a point in their life when they begin to search for their own, unique identity. In her novel, Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan follows Jing Mei on her search for her Chinese identity – an identity long neglected.    Four Chinese mothers have migrated to America. Each hope for their daughter’s success and pray that they will not experience the hardships faced in China. One mother, Suyuan, imparts her knowledge on her daughter through

Economics of ATT Essay Example For Students

Economics of ATT Essay The AT+T Corporation, formerly known as The American Telephone and Telegraph Company, was incorporated on March 3, 1885 in New York as a wholly owned subsidiary of The American Bell Telephone Company. Its original purpose was to manage and expand the burgeoning toll (long distance) business of American Bell and its licensees. It continued as the long distance company until December 30, 1899 when it assumed the business and property of American Bell and became the parent company of the Bell System. For most of its history, the company functioned as a legally sanctioned, regulated monopoly. No competition was apparent until the 1970s. Since the break up in 1984, AT+T has become the largest telecommunications company in the United States, and a world wide leader in communications services. Its main businesses include long distance services, AT+T Wireless Services, AT+T World Net services, AT+T Solutions consulting services and the AT+T Universal Card. AT+T has a very strong global presence that dates back to 1882 when it opened a plant in Antwerp ,Belgium. AT+T has approximately 51,000 employees based outside of the United States. We will write a custom essay on Economics of ATT specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In 1994, International revenues alone were 25 percent. You can see why AT+T has a presence in nearly 100 countries around the world, and does business in about 200 countries. In the last fifteen months AT+T has split into three separate companies. They are AT+T, a global communications company; Lucent Technologies, a technological company; NCR Corporation, a computer company. The new AT+T is committed to making the most of its leadership position in the dynamic global market for communications and information services. With 2. million share owners, AT+T is the most widely held stock in the United States. AT+T has an Environmental Responsibility and they follow through on it. They take precautions and do not want to mess up the environment any more than it has already been. AT+Ts strong commitment to have good environmental performance has to start with environmental goals that call for phaseout of CFC emissions from manufacturing operations. Also, they would like to eliminate reportable toxic air emissions. They have already increased recycling of waste paper and in the use of paper. Their progress is a key to their responsibility. The figures I found are as follows. The factories have virtually eliminated all CFC emissions. They have reduced reportable toxic air emissions by 92 percent. Also, they have reduced manufacturing waste by 49 percent. The company is recycling 63 percent of its wastepaper that computes to forty-eight billion pounds annually and has increased its use of recycled paper significantly. It has been reducing paper consumption by 25 percent since 1990. AT+T is also responsible for their employees conditions in the workplace. In reviewing information about the company, I feel they do an excellent job. They provide something called E,HS. This is an Environment, Health Safety organization dedicated to creating a safe and healthy workplace for the employees of AT+T. This is supporting the business, protecting the environment and maintaining AT+Ts strong reputation as one of the top corporate environmental champions. E,HS is currently working to provide guidance regarding compliance with regulatory policies world wide. Also they commit resources to legislative and regulatory analysis activities and performance monitoring which is how they evaluate the persons overall work presense,attitude, self ateem and overall performance. Finally they implement an environmental management system based on ISO 14001 principles that are the global environmental management systems standards. One other interesting area of AT+T is their Social Responsibility. They are mediocre with this. I feel they lay off too many people. They think profit before they think about what the effect will be on their employees. .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f , .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .postImageUrl , .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f , .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:hover , .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:visited , .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:active { border:0!important; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:active , .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue760bc3b96c4795a4c8e044aad56967f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Francis ford coppola EssayWhen AT+T announced in January of this year that it would be laying-off 40,000 workers or 13 percent of its workforce, people began to say that AT+T was another example of Corporational Greed. This is a failure of the social responsibility by the corporation. The flip side to the down sizing is that the new competitors have job openings for the people who have been layed-off. AT+T has also offered packages such as one years salary if they would leave so that they were protecting their employees for at least a year. This compensation package depended upon your seniority. What I do feel is right is that they want to be involved with the community. They have the ATT Foundation that supports projects in education, health, social action and the arts. They also care about the employees. They have work and family programs that they fund. These include child care and elder care that both have been commended by the United States Department of Labor. One last program is the Total Life Concept Program which addresses employee health, nutrition and stress management. AT+T is committed to the development and growth of its employees. That is why they want to build their employees capabilities so they can connect with the future. Environmental and social responsibilities are traditions that have been embedded to the company since the very first day. AT+T wants to keep up on the modernizing and look toward the future. If they continue to keep on making the advances that they are, they will be by far the strongest company in America. Their downfall will be there downsizing. To gain respect of their employees and their customers, they will need to remain as is.

The Ending Of King Lear Essays - Characters In Romeo And Juliet

The Ending Of King Lear Few Shakespearean plays have caused the controversy that is found with King Lear's ending scenes. Othello kills himself, Macbeth is executed, and of course in hamlet, everyone dies. Lear, however, is different from other Shakespearean classics. Is Lear mad or lucid? Is Cordelia really dead? Is Edmund's delay explainable? What is the nature of the Lear world that occasioned all of this? How does Knight's thesis relate to the ending? Critical commentary varies and appears exhaustive. Bradley speaks of evil, but thinks Lear dies in a moment of supreme joy; Knight argues that however vicious and cruel the Lear world is, the death of Cordelia represents the future triumph of love. Frye writes of Lear's madness as our sanity if it were not sedated as if the universe is fundamentally absurd. Andrews writes that the meaning depends on the F vs. Q variations, and that the audience must be left uncertain. Snyder says that Lear dramatizes the phases of dying that we all endure, and that Lear dies because he is warn out by the exhaustion of life. Rackin comments that the play moves through a dialectical process of reconciliation of opposites that culminate in Lear's triumph of faith. Hennedy notes the existential approach saying that Lear dies secure in knowledge that Cordelia lives after death, having experienced transcendence. The paradox of (in a Christian sense) that hopes comes from the cross. Donner writes that the c athartic experience the end of the play affords us is the belief that justice had not been done; how could it, and we can not forget the tremendous potential man has for evil that no one but God could forgive. Harris argues that the promised end is dramatized by the ending of Lear, and the final words of the play make the meaning clear?the power of art transcends what language can only try to express. Foakes thinks that Hamlet now is less suited for the twentieth century than Lear, insofar as Lear's existential content is what matters, so now the question becomes why would Cordelia want to live in Lear's world? The play is about protesting a world gone mad. The situation is further intensified by the Tate emendation that playgoers witnessed for over a century. Arguing from the perspective of post-restoration and neo-classical taste that literature must teach virtue, Tate dropped the Fool, gave Cordelia and Edgar a love interest, thus sparing her life along with her father: Edgar: My dear Cordelia! Lucky was the Minute Of our approach, the Gods have weighed our Sufferings, W'are past the Fire, and now must shine to Ages Albany notes, Take off their chains thou Injur'd Majesty, The Wheel of Fortune now has made a circle? What comfort may be brought to cheer your age? And heal your savage Wrongs, shall be apply'd For to your Majesty we do resign Your kingdom? Lear's last words according to Tate are: Though, thou hast some business yet for life; Thou, Kent, and I, retir'd to some cool cell Will gently pass our short Reserves of time In calm reflections on our fortunes past, Cheer'd with relation of the prosperous reign Of this celestial pair; thus our remains Shall in an even course of thoughts be past? Enjoy the present hour, not fear the last Quite a difference from Edmund's inexplicable delay in revoking his doom, leading inevitably to the death of Lear and Cordelia. Perhaps today our taste have changed since our metaphysics have, and if the mimetic theory of Aristotle still holds, then Foakes has charted the change when he notes that Hamlet has been replaced by Lear as the play most representative of our century. ?In the 1960's, the central question about the tragedy of King Lear, took on new form.? And as Herbert Blau put it, ?In our time it became possible to ask again about the death of Cordelia not why she should die, but why she want to live To escape the implied horror this question poses regarding this century, demands perhaps an existential interpretation of the universe. Lear then holding Cordelia asking us to ?Look there(V,iii,308) defines his own lucidity in a mad world where humanity preys upon itself. What brought Lear to such a moment in Act V? In the Wheel of Fire, Knight believes the universal apparatus

Strategy and Internet Essay Example

Strategy and Internet Essay The article â€Å"Strategy and the Internet† by Michael Porter discusses internet influences on the industry structure. Furthermore, the article provides overview of the internet and industry structure, the future of internet competition, internal and competitive advantage. Special attention is paid to six principles of strategic positioning and distorted market signals. Actually, the article seems to be significant as it thoroughly examines the importance of strategy and provides outcomes if the strategy is absent. Michael Porter notes that nowadays internet is â€Å"an extremely important new technology, and it is no surprise that it has received so much attention from entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and business observers†. Therefore, to persuade companies to turn to internet technologies he sums up main benefits offered by strategy development based on using internet opportunities. Porter argues that internet improves on-line investor relations meaning that it ensures constant access to information dissemination and broadcast conference calls. Further, internet technologies make human resource management simpler and faster, because different types of software may be installed to provide better connections between employees and executives. Apparently, internet may stimulate web-based training and self-service personnel. Additionally, internet is used to provide other linkage of inventory, forecasting and purchase systems with customers and suppliers. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategy and Internet specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategy and Internet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategy and Internet specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Porter emphasizes that most companies do use internet technologies, though only the minor part is aware how to deploy it. Certainly, internet technologies offer ways how to establish distinctive strategic positioning. Porter assumes that a company doesn’t require radically new approach to running business. The company has to build company on the â€Å"proven principles of effective strategy†, because internet â€Å"per se will rarely be a competitive advantage†. Thus the article aims at finding new ways how to create a new effective strategy combining both potential of internet technologies and proper decision-making process. References Porter, Michael. Strategy and the Internet. Retrieved December 6, 2006, from http://www.mercy.edu/faculty/Georgas/inbs560/files/pdf/StrategytheInternet.pdf

The Lost Art of Effective Procrastination

The Lost Art of Effective Procrastination Amending My Ways A couple of weeks ago, my assistant Jeanne requested that I stop sending her the copy for my blog articles on Sunday night or sometime on Monday, when I need her to publish it on Monday night. I’ve been writing my blogs on Sundays for 5 years, which worked fine when I was the one posting and distributing them. But now that another person’s schedule is at issue, I need to change my ways. This Friday, in an attempt to please Jeanne,  I squeezed  in my  blog in  the last minutes before heading  off to Breitenbush Hot Springs (near Portland, OR), where I had no  internet access (gasp) for 24 hours. Yup.  I left blog writing  to the last minute. I don’t procrastinate about a lot of work-related projects. In fact, I tend to err on the side of doing things right away so I don’t have to worry about them later! But in the case of my blog, I did so revel in a weekend of not knowing what I’d write about and being (mostly) at peace with that as Sunday night approached. So far, I have always thought of something to write about before deadline. I see the advantage of moving my deadline to Friday: I now don’t have the nagging thought, â€Å"I have to write my blog,† on my brain all weekend. But an early deadline has its challenges too. I have one more thing to fit into my work week, and pressure to think of something in what seems like less time. Procrastination Defined Procrastination, says Wikipedia, is â€Å"the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time, sometimes to the ‘last minute’ before a deadline.† This form of procrastination can be destructive. People can get fired because they put important projects off until the last minute, often compromising quality- or missing deadlines altogether. But what about procrastinating on making decisions (and I don’t mean using the excuse â€Å"I’m still deciding the best way to proceed† to avoid starting a project!)? Whose Decision is it Anyway? As I shared in last week’s newsletter, I recently thought for too long about whether to sign up for coveted Forrest Yoga classes with the founder of the discipline, Ana Forrest, who was visiting Chicago. I noticed, while blithely  putting off  this decision, that there was something appealing about letting others make decisions for me. In this case, by the time I decided on purchasing the tickets, they were gone. I was forced to come up with Plan B, which was, ultimately, okay with me. My decision-making procrastination transferred to the decision of whether to fly to Portland for a week to check out the yoga scene there and to explore the area. I looked for friends to stay with before buying the ticket; that didn’t work. I almost let that make my decision for me, but persevered, finding an Airbnb spot that was perfectly situated. Then I decided if I couldn’t get my ticket for less than 50,000 miles I wouldn’t go. But the ticket stayed within my budget. So finally I booked my room and a rental car and hit â€Å"Purchase† on my plane ticket. Immediately fear set in. What was I doing? Why was I going to new city by myself with no real plan? Maybe I’d have a horrible time. Oh my, no wonder I took so long to make this decision. There was terror behind my procrastination. Putting the Pro in Procrastination I did not let my fear stop me, and by the first day I was enjoying a beautiful hike by some waterfalls and eating a delicious crepe at the Portland Farmer’s Market. I met two business contacts for very fruitful coffees and lunches (those I did plan a little bit ahead). But pretty much everything I did on my trip I decided to do at the last minute. Breitenbush Hot Springs is notoriously full at this time of year, but I called Thursday and got the last bed  available for the next night! I also managed to get an appointment with a bodyworker in Portland  10 minutes after I called to ask about availability. As a traveler, there’s not much difference between procrastination and spontaneity. Last-minute choices allow for a sense of adventure, which I truly enjoy when I’m on â€Å"vacation.† I ended up doing many things I would not have predicted because I did not plan ahead for every moment in Portland. To be sure, deciding things at the last minute requires a willingness to accept the consequences if things don’t work out as planned. I don’t recommend this tactic when other people (like your assistant) are depending on you, or when the consequences of letting circumstances make decisions for you are unacceptable. But when all that’s on the line is exactly what you’ll be doing for fun and adventure, why not go with the flow?

Pick an ethnicity that lives on Long Island and discribe how the have Essay

Pick an ethnicity that lives on Long Island and discribe how the have adapted to life on long island - Essay Example In Long Island, the presence of the Chinese people in the area can hardly remain unnoticed and their impact to the ever-changing culture of the island can never be understated. Historical Background Based on government data, the first Chinese settlers of the United States arrived in 1820. During the California Gold Rush of 1848, a significant number of Chinese workers increased to over a hundred in the hope of finding their fortune in a foreign land. Years passed, more Chinese were transported to the country to do menial labor in the household, in the industries and in large projects such as the Central Pacific Railroad (1863). Practically, the early Chinese immigrants only sought for better economic opportunities in the New World; however, they were confronted with harsh discrimination and brutal treatment that they endured for decades (Zhao â€Å"Remaking† 39). The culmination of all the racism that the Chinese suffered occurred in 1882 when the Chinese Exclusion Act took ef fect. Until 1943, Chinese people were banned from immigrating to the ‘land of milk and honey.’ In the 70’s and 80’s, which is considered as the Second Wave of the Chinese immigration to the United States, citizens from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China traversed the Pacific in search for a better life. Through the years, issues on illegal immigration and the threat of deportation were faced by the Chinese in the US. In 1992, the Chinese Student Protection Act, sponsored by Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was enacted to grant permanent residency status to all Chinese nationals who came to the US on or before April 1990 (Zhou 55-61). Vis-a-vis with California, New York has been the haven of the Chinese in this western soil where they continually grew in number and gradually established their communities. In fact, the New York Metropolitan Area has recently been hailed as the district outside Asia where the largest concentrations of Chinese populations reside. In 2008, there were approximately 659, 596 Chinese in the metropolis (Zhao â€Å"†The New Chinese† 41). Long Island’s Chinatown The Chinese Diaspora has stretched in the entire globe and reached almost all corners of it. In Long Island, such phenomenon can be affirmed through the myriad testaments that can be seen not only in the streets but also on how people live. True to it, its diverse cultural environment has incorporated the Chinese Way, which can be perfectly gleaned from its ethnic enclave called Chinatowns. As vibrant as the one in Lower Manhattan and would be comparable to the one in San Francisco and Vancouver, the Chinatown in Flushing, Queens is the new home for Chinese businesspersons and workers. Until the 70’s, Flushing was mostly dominated by Italian and Greek nationals who left the place due to an economic downturn. As large groups of people departed from the area and the housing prices dropped, the Chinese immigrants, and the oth er East Asians, started to settle and prevailed in the area since the early 80’s until today (Tsui 53). The busy Chinatown in Flushing is a fusion of the East and the West. There are American stores as well as Chinese stores, restaurants and supermarkets. In fact, one hotel in the area prides itself of its ‘distinctly Asian flair.’ Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese business enterprises can also be seen in the area. Another Chinatown can be located in the Sunset Park at Brooklyn. Purported to be one

ZARA CaseQuest Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

ZARA CaseQuest - Assignment Example Using centralized manufacturing, the company has maintained standards within the global arena as products available anywhere exhibit no discrepancies in quality. This has contributed significantly to the high levels of customer satisfaction, leading to customer loyalty. The company continues to maintain customers through ensuring similar levels in product quality, hence assuring customers of quality in Zara products. High quality products have in turn brought high sales placing the company in a global market leadership position. Combinations of other business strategies aimed at strengthening the company position have also had influence in maintaining the company’s position, globally. Business Model (GAP) Gap Company has taken the approach of outsourcing manufacturing in different Asian countries. Outsourcing in these countries aims at utilizing the cheap labor available in Asian countries. The company hopes to reduce production costs through utilization of cheap labor, and ac hieve significant profit margins (George & Bock, 2012). The outsourcing model of manufacturing presents several risks to the business in standardization of numerous business elements. Standardization of products and service delivery becomes extremely difficult for the company to control. This could be attributed to the different manufacturing technologies and management styles available in different countries. In some countries with limited technological advancement, required product standards might be difficult to reach. This method also presents the risk of fake products being introduced into different international markets using the Gap trading name. Gap invests heavily on advertising because of the approach taken in manufacturing. The outsourcing approach could lead into product quality compromise that necessitates intensive advertising, aimed at convincing doubting customers. The intensive advertising conducted by Gap aims at creating product awareness in the different countrie s where the products are available. The availability of the product shall be notified to the customers through advertising. The company shall be able to conduct market analysis aimed at improving distribution channels utilized and creating policies regarding product improvements. The advertising process can also enable the company to effectively undertake competitor analysis, and created a competitive advantage over them. Gap company does not have specific times when new products can be introduced however, most introductions occur during the month of August. The company takes as a trend setter approach, therefore, decisions regarding new products result from market analysis to identify existing gaps. Introduction of new products follows the need to create a unique design, resulting from market research indicating need for such design. The company receives its income through the sales achieved from the subsidiaries. The subsidiary businesses have to undertake internal financial analy sis and establish the profits experienced during a trading period. The profits from different subsidiaries become the company’s income. The subsidiaries must make deductions of all subsidiary expenses incurred before arriving at profit remitted to the parent company as income. The core competency of Gap remains the capability to coordinate diverse manufacturing plants in delivering globally standardized products (Galunic & Rodan, 1998). Diversification in manufacturing locations remains a fundamental core competency for the company. The competitive advantage for Gap remains the utilization of cheap labor in Asian counties,

In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights endorsed the recognition Essay - 1

In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights endorsed the recognition of the right to truth. Does this open the way for greater accountability in future cases of abuse Critically Discuss - Essay Example The ruling in El-Masri differed from precedential rulings on extraordinary renditions in that it clearly broke the wall of secrecy which normally follows such cases at domestic level. The ruling was intended to ensure that justice was done and the European Conventions of Human Rights (ECHR) was protected, it can be interpreted as the recognition of the right of truth. Furthermore, it has provided the court direction in dealing with similar and related issues of human rights violations and will continue to strive effectively in safeguarding human rights. Prior to this landmark ruling, truth had not been taken or recognized as a right to both victims and nations2. The court in most instances only considered and recognized access to information when dealing with such cases. However, with the widespread secrecy of most of the extraordinary extraditions associated with terrorist suspects, cases of injustices, abuse of rights and lack of accountability continued to be on the rise. The ruling therefore motivates greater accountability in future cases dealing with human rights violation. Before ECtHR recognized truth as a right, there has been clamor for the right to truth in Europe3 due to public anguish towards the high number of cases caused by severe human rights violation and the impunity that the perpetrators of such acts have continued to enjoy even after having contravened the ECHR. Today, the right to truth is one of the most fundamental issues in Europe. It is taken to be the most recent human right construction. The recognition of it is a promising shift from conventional justice model towards a victim based remedy that is intended to benefit both survivors of human rights violation and European societies as a whole. To look at the right of truth and its impact in terms of accountability, decades of nation sponsored terror in European countries should be considered.

Why a sense of identity is important

Why a sense of identity is important There are many definitions of resilience but most have similar components. Gilligans (2000) definition states a set of qualities that helps a person to withstand many of the negative effects of adversity. Bearing in mind what has happened to them, a resilient child does better than he or she ought to do is one of the more straightforward. Critically, most authors consider that resilience is a mixture of nature and nurture. Attributes that some children are born with, such as good intellectual ability and a placid, cheerful temperament, are associated with resilience. Children who are born prematurely and/or with disabilities, who cry and cannot be comforted, who cannot sleep or who will not accept being held are more vulnerable to adversity and may be less likely to be resilient. The term resilience is used to describe why some people struggle hard to cope with life experiences while others survive with self-esteem, identity and their level of wellbeing intact. The concept of resilience has been used to refer to: a positive outcome despite the experience of adversity; continued positive or effective functioning in adverse circumstances; or recovery after a significant trauma. (Masten quoted in Schoon, 2006, p. 7) Johnston-Wilder and Collins quote: What constitutes adversity, adverse conditions and trauma varies among individuals and between cultures. Like adults, children vary considerably as to what they find easy, hard or impossible to deal with. When children are exposed to a stimulus that might offer a threat to self-image or self-esteem, they respond differently. (Johnston-Wilder and Collins, 2008 pg 54) Very little distresses parent/carers more than witnessing their children struggle to cope with lifes difficulties. Trouble, whatever its form or source, holds the potential of engendering negative emotions in children and exhausting their coping resources. If the trouble is serious or long lasting, it may reduce a childs chances of attaining life enhancing goals and experiencing sustained episodes of emotionally invigorating pleasure. It may also move a child on a course of maladaptive functioning. Parent/carers typically devote considerable energy trying to eliminate the source of difficulty or control. However, the government initiatives such as Every Child Matters: Change for Children (DfES, 2004) attempt to address the issue of identity and self-esteem, stressing the importance of supporting all childrens social and emotional development. Such support needs to be based on an understanding of identity formation, which involves a consideration of definitions of identity and of the complexity of the term. John Bowlbys theory of attachment argued that a childs emotional bond to their familial caregiver was a biological response that ensured survival. The quality of attachment, he quotes, has implications for the childs capacity to form trusting relationships. To put Bowlbys theory into practice, Pound states the main positive outcomes of good attachment experiences in the early years seem to be social ones: †¢ Self confidence †¢ Efficacy †¢ Self-esteem †¢ The capacity to care for others and to be cared for. (Pound, 2008, pg 44 and 45) Consequently, the attachment theory suggests that childrens self-esteem is profoundly affected by the quality of early relationships between children and their parents, carers or significant others. Knowledge of attachment and separation behaviours can be useful in supporting children who show unusual signs of stress in unfamiliar social situations, such as the transition to school (Barrett and Trevitt, 1991). Critcially both, Johnston-Wilder and Collins quote: But even exponents of attachment theory recognise that attachment history is only partially useful in predicting some outcomes for children, and even these would not be uniquely predicted by attachment history. Practitioners need to use a range of theories and knowledge to understand the behaviour of children with whom they work and be tolerant of individual differences and needs. There can, however, be pressures on such tolerance: schools, for example, often justify their exclusion policies with reference to the need to educa te all children and keep them safe from harm. (Johnston-Wilder and Collins, 2008 pg 44) Valerie Daniels quotes Being able to communicate is a real asset when working with children. Body language says a lot. What you say, what, the way you behave, even to the other adults in the room makes a very real impact on children. But if at all possible try and be as natural as possible with children. (Open University, 2008) The UNICEF document, An Overview of Child Well-being in Rich Countries provided an overview of the state of childhood in the majority of economically advanced nations of the world. The document states The UK ranked in the bottom third of the country rankings for five of the six dimensions reviewed. While the country ranked higher in the educational well-being dimension, the UK lags behind in terms of relative poverty and deprivation, quality of childrens relationships with their parents and peers, child health and safety, behaviour and risk-taking and subjective well-being. (UNICEF: 2007, pg Report Card 7). Critically, there is still considerable work to be done, to enhance all dimensions of child welfare, despite increased government investments in improving childrens services over the past 10 years. Daniel Coleman quotes critically, parents/carers are asked to attend emotional needs of their children and are prompted to train themselves to handle their interpersonal relations wisely. It is critical, that as a parent/carer, they should know about origin of their emotions, functioning of their brain and positive usage of their feelings. Critically, they need to control their emotions while making decisions; otherwise they have the capability to hijack their rationality. Many may face different situations and make spur of the moment decisions, followed by their emotions. Decisions may not be logical even though they may have sharp logics (Coleman, 1996). Consequently, responsibility for school readiness lies not with the child, but with the parent/carers who care for them and the educational systems. Parent/Carers therefore, need to attend to the emotional needs of their children and prompted to train themselves to handle their own interpersonal relations wisely. Foley and Leverett , quote There are a number of aspects of emotional literacy that may usefully be grouped, such as recognising your own emotional state, managing your own emotions, recognising others emotions, being able to be explicit about feelings, and being able to talk about talking. These skills and understandings are important components with which to build and sustain relationships with others. Here a child describes how, in her school, a simple bully box can encourage children to communicate worries and feelings (Foley and Leverett, 2008 pg 17) This work complements existing national initiatives to promote social and emotional well-being. It should be considered in the context of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme and related community-based initiatives. SEAL supports childrens social, emotional and behavioural skills. It focuses on five social and emotional aspects of learning: self-awareness, managing feelings, motivation, empathy and social skills. It looks at helping children develop skills such as understanding anothers point of view, working in a group, sticking at things when they get difficult, resolving conflict and managing worries. These initiatives stress the importance of such programmes to enable children to participate fully in the development to ensure their views are heard. However, a growing body of research indicates how identity formation is an important indicator of feelings of wellbeing and self-worth (Canino et al., 2004; Rapee et al., 2006). Our individual perception of, and how we value, ourselves is linked to our behaviour and social performance. This process becomes important to all who work with children because identity formation and feelings of wellbeing are strongly linked to life experiences and success (Kernis, 1995). Poor self-esteem is associated with anxiety development among young children (Canino et al., 2004; Rapee et al., 2006), identity conflict (Kendall and Kessler, 2002) and, in extreme cases, psychiatric distress and disorder (Burns and Rapee, 2006). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations, 1989), including the participation rights of the child, and so incorporates a dimension solely based on childrens own sense of wellbeing. International measurements and comparisons such as these should give an indication of a countrys strengths and weaknesses and of what is achievable; childrens wellbeing in rich countries is, in reality, policy-susceptible. It would appear that the UK has rather more weaknesses than strengths; the UK, at the time of writing, was in the bottom third of the rankings for five of the six dimensions of childrens wellbeing in the UNICEF report. Critically, practitioners face a dilemma around needing to both accept and change childrens perceptions of themselves in order to promote their wellbeing. Developing resilience is also of vital importance if children are to face up to and cope successfully with the challenges that come their way. Consequently, Susan Rodger states Youth Inclusion Project was developed to encourage young people with disabilities to access mainstream clubs and groups. I think its important they attend clubs like everybody else. They should be allowed to have that sense of belonging in these organisations without having to have their mum perhaps going along with them. (Open University, 2008). Lorraine states: If you see her body language, when she walks in, and shes walking up high and her shoulders are back and shes walking in and she thinks shes the bees knees. And shes saying bye to her brothers and you know, theyre quite high because they think its great that their sisters doing the same things as an y other girls and thats really important for their self-esteem too. It speaks volumes. I think its a struggle to get a child like Vanessa involved in just normal activities, usually because of peoples attitudes, because that attitude can be based on fear, it can be based on ignorance, it can be based on a whole variety of reasons, but it was a struggle. I mean like most things with a child with disability, to actually get to the point baseline almost, where other parents are, you know, starting off from, is a struggle. So it wasnt easy because not all the Guide groups in Stirling wanted to take her. (Open University, 2008). Other important issues are: what working effectively with others means; how the relevant skills develop; how children can be enabled to make choices about fitting in; where things may go wrong; and how positive intervention strategies can be applied. Nicola Fry quotes Children need to development their sense of responsibility not just to others but themselves. If I am talking to a group of children we all have to respect that  a particular  child has the right to be listened too and views taken seriously, then that child must realise that applies to the other children too and it then becomes his responsibility to listen.. and so on. (Open University, 2010). Critically, Identity is a complex term and process and consequently influenced by a myriad of social factors, an identity develops and evolves as a life story. Identity formation begins prior to birth and is influenced by social context, interpersonal relationships and the social construction of meaning. An understanding of the complexity and fluidity of identity development can help us to question ascribed labels, which may create barriers for children and between children. This provides practitioners working with children with a methodological instrument that urges them to examine the importance of the whole child and the whole child in context. Childrens wellbeing is connected to finding out about themselves and who they want to be. In the light of a childs right to preserve his or her identity (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, United Nations, 1989), practitioners have a responsibility to ensure that the children with whom they work can develop an identity in an atmosphere that challenges discrimination and prejudice. Consequently, adults need to know the children with whom they work, to work to build positive relationships with them and between children themselves, understanding and respecting their individual and emerging frames of reference. As professionals who work with families, our willingness to talk openly about identity and to help foster a positive sense of self in children can make an enormous difference in affirming the rich diversity of our human community and helping children make bridges across cultures and traditions. Children need to be treated as individuals; one size fits all responses are not helpful. Remember that communication of your interest and concern in the child is essential; it is often the little things where, for instance, you have gone the extra mile beyond the call of duty, where you have bought something the child particularly treasures or you have just been there to listen and comfort, that matter and are remembered. Residential workers who have a determined resilience perspective will often make a positive and long lasting difference to looked after childrens lives.

McDonald’s Case Study Essay

Strengths Largest Food service business in the world, 34,000 local restaurants serving nearly 69 million people in 118 countries, a $40 Billion dollar brand worldwide, Universally recognized brand name with a large advertising budget Partners with other high value brands Dannon Yogurt, Kraft Cheese, Nestle Chocolate, Dasani Water, Newman’s Own Salad Dressings, Heinz Ketchup, Minute Maid Juice The majority of the retail locations are owned by independent franchisees, The company is able to grow while minimizing large capital expenditure Recession Proof – Low price menu items allow McDonald’s to survive when the economy is low as there are few economic situations where most consumers cannot afford McDonald’s. Massive buying power- 34,000 locations allows McDonald’s to control pricing on its core menu items Highly trained management staff well versed in Customer service skills (hamburger University) Positive company social-image (Ronald McDonald House) Impressive core competencies in franchising and logistics Target market is children and teens Weaknesses Fast Food is viewed by many as poor quality and unhealthy, often associated with â€Å"cheap and greasy,† especially the baby boomers who built the brand in the 50’s and 60’s less than 6% of the over 100 item entrà ©e menu is less than 200 calories more than half the entrees are high in sodium Large size of the business makes growth more difficult to achieve Commodity costs can quickly erode profit margins Low differentiation with other similar fast food companies such as Burger King, Wendy’s High Employee turnover at the local level Market saturation Negative publicity, such as the movie Super-Size Me. Opportunities Adapting to fit the changing lifestyle of the largest population sector by adding healthier food options Fast food will never be completely viewed as healthy but efforts in this direction could aid in customer perception Parents would appreciate the convenience when selecting a family dining option Remodeling of older restaurants Changing customer habits and new customer groups Adding premium menu items Entry into new product categories (coffee) Provide optional allergen free food items, such as gluten free and peanut free. Sugar-free products for diabetics, and healthier beverage options. Internet applications to order in advance Threats Modern society views Fast food as unhealthy Government agencies are enforcing healthier menu regulations such as posting of calories Commodity food price fluctuations – droughts and similar cost fluctuations cut into margin as it is hard to raise prices on most menu items Competition. Regional or Local fast food restaurant chains Being a market leader forces McDonald’s to shoulder more burden regarding research and innovations, copycat competitors can quickly implement any success without incurring the cost of a failure. Competition and saturation in emerging markets Needs to be more environmentally friendly with packaging Scandals/ Bad publicity. Ex. Heroin happy meals Minimum Wage rising Employee health insurance issues What alternative action should be considered? The company should diversify toward additional healthy offerings. Perception is reality, if a consumer perceives McDonald’s as attempting to change to a  healthier option that is sufficient. No one fools themselves into believing anything purchased at a fast food restaurant will be the healthiest item, but it can assist in showing efforts are being made. A company can highlight their ongoing concern for their consumer’s well-being. McDonalds should focus on healthier options, such as freshly tossed, made to order salads, featuring quality healthy ingredients. Expanding their healthy food menu by adding a variety of healthier breads and beverages. Other healthier food items can be incorporated into the menu such as panini’s, wraps, and healthy soups. Other changes would include, internet ordering, and home delivery. List all resources required for the selected action. Find vendors for the additional menu items and required packaging Equipment purchases, ex. Panini press, fresh salad chiller and display Train the staff to implement these changes Target the advertising campaign towards a healthier image. Partner with local produce markets, to purchase vegatables,etc. What controls would be recommended to measure the selective action? Point of Sale reports showing restaurant activity per product Customer survey Profit and loss statements Meet & Greet by management Comment boxes Advertising & promotion of the new healthy menu.

Confucius “The Analects” Essay

From ancient time, the question of good and decent society has been the major concern in philosophical thought. Philosophers and political figure, clergy and common people have tried to answer the question â€Å"What makes of a good society?† Confucius creates its own values and moral rules changing understanding about a self and the decent society. His philosophy can be describes as a critical thoughtfulness which has a great influence on his world interpretation and views on decent society.   Confucius states that individuals should be free from committing immoral acts. â€Å"The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent consideration;-this may be called perfect virtue† (Confucius, n.d.). Decent society can be constructed by doing what is right, and only when a person can reach the state of true utility he lives in a good society. All actions of people are aimed toward the positive, and purpose is in nature. Confucius is against formal laws which limit freedom and welfare stating that only moral principles play a crucial role in social order. On the other hand, Confucius believes this to be a sort of self-deception, demeaning freedom and turning lives into something which is determined. â€Å"Extravagance leads to insubordination, and parsimony to meanness. It is better to be mean than to be insubordinate† (Confucius, n.d.). Every personal can be a leader if he keeps strong moral principles and values. Confucius underlines that if a person follows moral rules there is no need to guide this person. Living opposed to such wisdom has caused stress and unnecessary war which led to social and moral decay. To do so one must make choices in the full recognition in order to become consciously free and take responsibility for actions. An inauthentic life on the other hand is that which pretends and tries to reject the idea that humans are free. This approach is a very attractive one to take because freedom can be agonizing and people often make excuses to detach themselves from the choices they make. If the state guides and controls its citizens it deprives them freedom and free will which lead to stress. If people cannot control their needs and desires they can be compared with animal driven by instinct of self-preservation and fear. This leads to unnecessary wars and conflicts such as the thirty years war (1618-1648), Nazism, Napoleonic wars, etc. If rulers do not follow moral principles, it leads to wars. Confucius states that a society should live nobly and in peace for at least a hundred years before people can count on the continuity of a society that remains noble and peaceful. This argument can be explained by the fact that a hundred years is a period of time when three generations of people will change each other living no space for old virtues and traditions. â€Å"If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would stir require a generation, and then virtue would prevail† (Confucius, n.d.). Their values, religious and ethical, reflect on their relationship to a higher order of existence, whether one perceives it as an eternal force, the universe, a defined spiritual entity, or a concept that answers to a basic human need for a sense of order behind the turbulent appearance of everyday life.   Notions of â€Å"the noble society† are based in the instinctual/intuitional self that has been covered over and ignored by modern thought (Jensen, 1997). Any part of the world will resemble an utopian society because the society cannot be classless. Every society is based on the opposition between poor and rich classes, labor and capital, rulers and subordinates. Economic equality is impossible, because the core of the society is the division of labor and resources which determine social class and economic conditions of its citizens. Increased freedom causes frustration among members of the society because it limits their behavior and their attempts to satisfy their personal goals. Also, a society cannot exist without rulers and military, because it has to protect its citizens from foreign intervention. References Confucius The Analects. n.d. Available at: http://www.wam.umd.edu/~stwright/rel/conf/Analects.html Jensen, L.M. Manufacturing Confucianism: Chinese Traditions & Universal Civilization. Duke University Press, 1997.   

How does a nation essays

How does a nation essays A nation is commonly known as a group of people whose common identity creates a psychological bond and a political community. Their political identity usually comprises such characteristics as a common language, culture, ethnicity, and history. What is it that shapes the nations political institutions? Is it the culture or the history? Answer to this last question is critical because we live in a time of reshaping such nations like Iraq and Afghanistan. It would be important for these nations, which are changing their political institutions to know what they should base their system and institutions on other than democracy alone. Indeed, the culture of a nation is the character of that nation. Nevertheless, in terms of politics the facts show that when a nation analyzes her history and draws a conclusion about what was done wrong in the past can be more beneficial for the nation to build institutions by only relying on their cultural teachings and practices. So, how does a nations history shape its political institutions? In order to answer this question, there must be model countries to be observed and analyzed. In this case, they will be Republic of Italy and Republic of Turkey. One should also need historical backgrounds as well as cultural points, which will be mentioned in details later in the paper. Roman Empire would not be what it was without knowing the history of the ancient Greeks. Byzantine would not have existed if it were not for the ancient Greeks and later the Romans. As observing and improving the earlier civilizations history, Europe lived through Attila the Hun and survived from the brutal Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan (1). When Arabs invaded the Spanish Peninsula in 711 (2), the West knew they were dealing with a more advanced civilization; therefore, they resisted but with the curiosity to learn out of their invaders. They experienced this virtue in the past when they saw the so-called barbarians th...

Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control

Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control Introduction Water is a most important commodity in human life and it is actually used in almost every aspect of human life besides the fact that it supports the entire ecosystem. It is used in drinking, cooking, washing and on top of that, it is important in industries where it is used for various purposes.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unfortunately, not all the users of water are responsible to ensure that proper disposal or treatment of the used water is done before the water is returned to the water bodies. Due to the multiple uses of water, there is a possibility that contaminated water may find its way into the ecosystem and therefore causes harmful results to both human beings and animals in the society. It is in this plight that many people and organizations have endeavored to study in detail the various effects that wat er pollution may have to the society and how the causes of this pollution can be controlled. Sources of Water Pollution It is difficult for one to discuss the effects of water pollution without understanding what water pollution is and the causes of water pollution (Calow 258). Water pollution may be defined as the contamination of water bodies with substances that do not allow the water to be safe for human use or makes the water unable to support the living organisms that depend on water for their survival (Hill 110). There are several causes of water pollution ranging from the day to day activities that human beings carry out to large scale industrial operations. These causes can also be divided into two groups those which are direct causes and the indirect causes which can be linked to water pollution through a chain of activities. Water pollution causes can also be sub divided into point source and non point source group depending on whether the source of the pollution is from a single and relatively easy to identify source or from a multiple interrelated sources. Water pollutants can decrease the quantity of oxygen in the water body or even change the water composition of the water (Merchant 319). To begin with, presence of pathogens in water can cause the water quality to drastically reduce to the extent of being unable to support the marine life. Pathogens are known to be harmful to human being especially if the water that contains them is used for drinking.Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Though there are other causes of pathogens that are present in water, the ineffective sewerage system is one of the major causes of this. Untreated or semi treated sewerage system mostly finds its way into water bodies thus, contaminating the water (Hill 113). The problem of sewerage system is more pronounced in the third world countries however, it is also present in developed countries where the sewerage pipes might have leakages. Manufacturing industries usually use water for cleaning and cooling purposes among other uses. Unfortunately, in many cases the process of water treatment before disposing it off to water bodies by these firms is not that efficient and water that contains harmful chemical substances finds its way into the water bodies. Some of the chemical substances that are found in this water include oxygen demanding organic toxins like fats and grease besides the hydrocarbons from petroleum, industrial solvents, lubricants and other fuel by products which are highly used in industries and even in motor vehicles (Chiras 314). Substances used by people for their day to day activities such as the detergents, cosmetics and even water disinfectants produce by products which contribute to water pollution. There are also some inorganic substances that are emitted by human activities into water bodies conseq uently causing water pollution. Chemical waste products from industries, farming and other activities where chemicals are highly used form the bulky of this cause (Sengar 145). On top of that, surface run off can also collect the chemicals that are not properly disposed from various parts and take them to rivers and other water bodies where these chemicals are deposited causing a change in water PH among other effects. The change in the physical properties of water is also pollution since it interferes with how water can be used and the marine life. The increase and decrease of water temperature causes interference in the composition of water sometimes eliminating essential components (Chiras 521). Industries always tend to be located close to large water bodies and they use water as a coolant and dispose this water back into the water bodies thus, leading to high temperature variations. The emission to the atmosphere from industries, motor vehicles and even from domestic use also c ause water pollution by combining with rain water hence, forming acidic rain which falls back to the ground causing harmful effects to both plant and animals especially the marine organisms (Jensen and Steven 88). On the same note, the chemical compounds that mix with rain water are also harmful to human being and have been known to cause various disease and even deaths. Effects of Pollution Pollution has far reaching effects both in the developed world where control measure have been highly effective and in the developing world where little has been done to curb the effects of pollution. It is paramount to note that, water pollution still is the cause of very many deaths in the world either directly or indirectly despite the efforts being made towards reducing the effects of pollution (Miller and Scott 91).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Water Pollution Sources, Effects and Control specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn Mor e Firstly, marine life comes under great threat of survival the moment water is polluted because then it means their ecological unit is affected. Once water is polluted marine animals are unable to get food from the water or they take poisonous food substances which causes death to marine animals. Additionally, the inorganic deposits that find their way into water bodies sometimes float on the surface of water hindering free flow of oxygen thus, reducing the survival chances of marine organisms (Calow 334). On the same note, the oxygen demanding substances that are released into water bodies by factories or homesteads reduce the amount of oxygen in water therefore, causing death of marine organisms. Chemicals that are present in polluted can cause various effects to human beings. If contaminated water is used for bath taking, the chemicals present can enter in the body of a person through the open pores and cause serious health implications. On top of that, drinking of conta minated water or using it for cooking or any other domestic purposes exposes one to the danger of consuming the dangerous chemicals which besides causing heath implication can also cause death (Copeland 219). There have been cases where people have been reported to have suffered from various diseases including cancer, mental health problems, birth defects and central nervous systems and these conditions have been related to water pollution. Additionally, water pollution hardens water making it ineffective in washing thus, causing the community to increase their spending since they have to buy water softeners or they use a lot of soap than they could have used if the water was soft (Sengar 145). Another serious effect of water pollution is that it causes poisonous substances to enter into the ecosystem. Poisonous substances in water are consumed by the minute sea organisms which are then consumed by fish. This process sometimes causes death of fish and other sea animals (Miller and S cott 105). If these animals are lucky to escape death, sometimes they are not lucky to escape the fisherman’s bait and thus, find their ways into people’s table as sea food. Poisonous sea food causes various health problems to human beings including death. In this light, water pollution causes great disruption of the ecosystem distorting the natural ecological balance and leading to a series of problems. In conjunction with that, water contamination results in the presence of chemical compounds that sometimes the body system is unable to deal with. Nitrates from fertilizers when consumed by infants, aging and pregnant women are known to cause adverse health effects. Infants’ body is unable to detoxify these chemical compounds and end up suffering from blue baby syndrome where their blood is unable to efficiently carry oxygen around the body thus causing death (Merchant 237).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the same point, chemicals present in hard water can be deposited in the water pipes and after a long period of time they end up blocking and causing corrosion of these pipes hence interfering with the normal water supply. Furthermore, water that passes through corrode water pipes contains toxic substances which are harmful to human beings and other animals. Polluted water also allows toxic plants to thrive in them which in the end cause effects to human beings and sea animals. The toxins produced by the algae that thrive in polluted water are poisonous substances that poison marine organisms thus, interfering with the marine ecosystem (Copeland 233). These algae also can cause illness to human being in the long run if people end up consuming the poisoned sea food or if the water that is infested by the poisonous algae is used for domestic purposes. It is also important to point out that these algae sometimes end up blocking the gills of fish in the water thus, interfering with th e oxygen transport in these animals sometimes causing death. On the same note, at death these algae are deposited to the bottom of water bodies where during decomposition oxygen from the water is used up thus, rendering the water inhabitable (Jensen and Steven 291). In the long run though some organisms are able to change their point of occupancy to higher levels where they can get oxygen, small and micro organisms which are not able to move suffer the consequences and lose their lives. Due to the pollution of water that causes death and diseases of various marine animals, the ecological system of rivers and oceans have been affected greatly. When certain animals and plants die, other animals miss food and they are also unable to survive. Due to the imbalance that results from the disturbance of the natural way of dependency among living things in the water, the water bodies become unable to support to the full the diversity of living things by decreasing the factors of their surviv al (Calow 439). It has also been reported that rain water has long run effects on the vegetation since the water contains toxic substances which when accumulate over a long period of time cause vegetation to dry up and these has led to high rate of deforestation in the world. Since forests support wildlife destruction of forests means that wildlife is jeopardized and this can lead to extinction of several animals. On top of that, there are many human water borne diseases that are even more pronounced when the quality of water is questionable. These diseases have been known to cause a lot of deaths in the world especially in the developing countries where water treating system is not up to standard (Merchant 110). Though in the developed countries like the US success has been recorded in the efforts of reducing water borne diseases, cases are still reported of people who suffer from the same diseases. These diseases not only cause economical constraints to the citizens who have to di g dip into their pockets to secure medication but also to the state which has to provide health care to the people. Furthermore, there is evidence that certain chemicals that are present in contaminated water do disrupt the functioning of animal hormones therefore, altering the normal way of live of these animals. The hormonal disruptions that occur due to consumption of these chemicals can cause reduced immune response in animals, abnormal mating and parent behavior besides causing inability to breed in these animals therefore threatening the continuity of certain animal species (Chiras 114). These chemicals are mostly contained in sewerage waste products that end up in water bodies as it has been the case in southern California coast where there has been an upspring of intersex fish. Human beings are also not spared from the effects of these hormone-disrupting chemicals and the result has been decreased fertility, reduced immune function and increase in some type of chronic diseas es. On top of that, mercury which is another major cause of water pollution has dire effects on the live of animals. Research has shown that mercury can cause brain damage in young children, learning deficits and delayed or incomplete brain development as well as brain damage while adults exhibit problems of the central nervous system, heart complications and even death due to consumption of mercury. Nevertheless, still more needs to be done in understanding the exact effects of water pollution to the environment and animals for that matter. It is also important to note that, the effects of petroleum pollution are not yet recorded with certainty and therefore scientific research is essential to enhance understanding of these effects. Control of Pollution Water pollution and any other kind of pollution for that matter can easily be controlled and even eliminated with the right efforts and mechanisms. Pollution control comes with some kind of social and economical costs but helps to p revent what could otherwise be a long term disaster. By being responsible and trying to minimize the activities that cause pollution or properly dispose any waste material that is toxic or that can cause harm to human beings and the environment. The most contributing factor to water pollution is the sewerage system which can easily be taken care of through proper treatment of the sewer before allowing the same into water bodies. While most of the cities in the US have put in place good sewerage treatment procedures only 90% of the pollutants can be eliminated which means that m ore still is yet to be done (Miller and Scott 310). Despite the advanced treatment process through the secondary treatment and the subsystems that treat nutrients and pathogens, there are no mechanisms of eliminating the toxic substances that are found in the sewerage system. On the same note, the industrial waste should also be treated correctly to avoid chemical substances getting into the water system. The industries can put in place treatment measures that can help in the reduction of toxic substances before emptying the waste water into the council treatment centers. At the same time is should be a requirement that all industries that produce huge quantities of waste products to have their own complete treatment systems that take care of all the chemical substances which are available in their waste water (Hill 115). Additionally, industries that use a lot of water for cooling services can make their own dams where they can be channeling the hot water for cooling before they release the water to rivers and seas. Use of chemicals in farming has gained a lot of emphasis in US due to the good returns that are associated with the use of fertilizers and agro-chemicals. In this respect, erosion washes chemicals from the surface to water bodies forming the greatest danger of pollution. Therefore, proper agricultural practices should be used to control erosion which is the major cause of s urface run off. Crop mulching, crop rotation, afforestation mixed cropping and agro forestry as well as installation of riparian buffers will go a long way in preventing soil erosion (Copeland 227). On the same note, the management of the amount of nutrients that are applied in farms is important in ensuring that excess nitrogen and phosphorus are controlled. Furthermore, safety of our lives begins with our efforts to ensure that our environment is clean and that whatever we take is not dangerous to our health. Therefore, right from the homesteads people should exercise due care in ensuring that all waste material are properly disposed (Jensen and Steven 165). People should try as much as possible to ensure that what they use in the houses are non-toxic and they are also disposed properly in away that this substances will not get their way into the sewerage system. On top of that, those substances and commodities that are non-degradable should not be disposed in a manner that they w ill end up in the sewerage system because they will hinder the treatment of the sewer. Self restraint should be exercised by people to reduce or completely eliminate the littering of water bodies, while at the same time people should be encouraged to use products that do not pose a threat to the environment. Conclusion Water is a very important resource that is used in every sector of the economy besides supporting life of every living thing. Unfortunately, this important resource is prone to very many kinds of pollution which makes it a threat to the very lives that it is supposed to protect. Furthermore, water pollution has far reaching effects that end up touching almost every aspect of the ecosystem. It is therefore, paramount that efforts are made towards reducing water pollution because it is possible to eliminate water pollution hence boosting health of the whole society. Calow, Peter P. Handbook of Environmental Risk Assessment and Management. Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2009. Print. Chiras, Daniel D. Environmental Science. Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2009. Print. Copeland, Claudia. Water Pollution Issues and Development. New York: Nova Publishers, 2008. Print. Hill, Marquita K. Understanding Environmental Pollution. Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 2010. Print. Jensen, Clayne R. and Steven Guthrie. Outdoor Recreation in America. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2006. Print. Merchant, Carolyn. American Environmental History: An Introduction. New York: Columbia University Press, 2007. Print. Miller, Tyler G. and Scott Spoolman. Environmental Science. Stanford: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Sengar, Dharmendra S. Environmental Law. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd, 2007. Print.

Advertising Journal #4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advertising Journal #4 - Essay Example The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) presents its ads through television, newspapers, the Internet, billboards, hoardings and prize schemes etc. The ads under study have been developed for the children, who serve as the most passionate and ambitious consumers. The ad, above-mentioned, has been developed in such a way that it immediately captures the attention of little children, who insist to buy the product not only for themselves, but also for their stuffed toys. Teddy bear is one of the most popular stuffed toys among children, and when children find their toys drinking beverage, they feel delighted and purchase the same brand, causing the multiplicity in sales of the product. Though the ad appears to be confined to the children only, yet it is children that play vital role in the promotion of a segment. In addition, the ad covers the entire children community without race, religion, region and status. Moreover, bear is the national symbol of Russia, and represents all cold areas where bears are in abundance. It shows even the chilliest areas look for Coca-Cola and cannot resist its charm. As afore-mentioned, TCCC presents its ads at special occasions. This ad represents the children’s unflinching joys while celebrating Christmas in the company of Santa Claus drinking Coca-Cola and refreshing their delight and mirth. It also gives the message that there is no concept of holidays for Coco-Cola, nor the holidays can keep children away from their favorite beverage. The ad is a traditional expression of holidays, religious fervor and children’s passion to look for their favorite diet during fun making and enjoying. Happiness of the children can be observed by looking into their eyes and smiles, and Santa Claus is the representative of peace, joy and generosity, which proves the beverage source of joy and peace. Children are the

Assignment 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Assignment 7 - Essay Example In contrast, the expansionist hypothesis relates to women working outside the home as a positive feature of society. Expansionist supporters believe that the more roles a woman takes on, the more multi-tasking that she does, the more fulfilling and successful her life will be. Where scarcity supporters feel that participation in many different roles can essentially run down a woman’s energy resources, supporters of expansionism feel the opposite in that many different roles engage different parts of the brain and actually lead to happier working women. Specifically, multi-tasking is said to have reward association. This means that women working outside the home are subject to achieving role privileges, personality enhancement, and enjoying success in one role when another may not be going so well. A women who works outside the home and also provides the most care for her children can appreciate her success as a mother during tough times at work, and vice versa. Women can also experience an increase in self esteem when they participate in many different roles at the same time; instead of feeling pigeon-holed and relegated to one specific role, be it an outside-the-home job or a role within the household. This is what expansionist supporters are trying to address in their theory: the idea that women cannot exist within and without the home without overexerting themselves and ultimately making themselves miserable and hurting their families in the long run. The scarcity theory does not intend to insinuate that women cannot hold multiple roles successfully, but maintains that they cannot be expected to do so without harming their mental health. In terms of the actual mental health of women, it appears that the more successful roles that women hold, the happier they are. Stress levels can be heightened by holding multiple roles, however this is independent of the women themselves and in general a woman’s happiness is not dependent on the

Article by James Howard Kunstler Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Article by James Howard Kunstler - Essay Example   He suggests that no one thought of understanding the architecture that America could have established rather what happened was that roads were widened and this resulted in huge traffic jams at the present, which seem to mean a lot of tension and apprehension left, right and center. Kunstler has given the example of Walt Disney in this article as he thinks that Walt Disney understood the American psyche and thus he constructed something which could relate with the way the Americans used to live in and enjoy their freedom. He has touched upon the aspects related to the postwar decades where America could not come to terms with its own basis, breaking all the rules that were previously coined and turning towns into urban garbage lands. I believe that Kunstler has been pretty critical of the American geography and has just touched the construction aspects related with America itself. He has not linked this article with the advancements that America has had in different fields of life, so much so that it has come to be known as the Super Power of the World. But then again Kunstler has been vocal at making a point or two which could go down well with the town planners and architects since there is still a lot of room for improvement within the said fields and the matter pertaining to the ugliness of the American skyline is somewhat debatable as I have understood it. The urban sprawls have demanded that long towers are built across the cities and the people be inhabited across a set of different areas whilst being earmarked for living purposes, industrial concerns and the like. Thus the debate is somewhat mind-boggling since Kunstler must know about the facts before making a point about the actual basis of the American urban sprawls.  Ã‚  

Hot and Cold Essay Example for Free

Hot and Cold Essay Since time immemorial, Indians have been bombarded with snacks-to-go by street vendors; fastfood is neither a modern phenomenon, nor a western innovation. But as increasing numbers of international players enter the domestic market, there are bitter lessons to learn about what local consumers will and will not welcome. just-food.coms Debasish Ganguly reports from India on the evolving sector and the challenges facing new entrants into the fastfood market. Fastfood is not an alien concept to Indians; roadside shops have offered snacks-to-go since time immemorial and the country has a long tradition of indigenous fastfood served by a variety of street vendors. Whether the southern Dosas or the Phulkas in the north, the Vada, Samosas or Bhelpuri, this inexpensive cuisine is still going strong, and street selling is a low-cost method of food distribution. However, since the arrival of established fastfood chains such as McDonalds, marketing savvy and dollar power have given fastfood a very western orientation. The weekend stampedes outside any McDonalds restaurant are standing testimony to this fact. But the burger behemoths still have a long way to go. Local fastfood is not easily undermined by these interlopers, since methods of mass production have not been perfected and, in any case, they would have to compete with low cost artisan production. On the other hand, the reality is that established local fastfood chains, like Nirulas, Wimpys or Haldiram, are sensing competition by the growing popularity of McDonalds and other international chains. Though Nirulas does not admit to any drop in sales overtly, industry sources reveal that they have lost 18% of their original market share. So far, the fastfood chains have gained their popularity among the major metropolitan cities of India and some smaller cities, such as Pune or Baroda. Before the arrival of these fastfood chains, Nirulas was the market leaderin Delhi. In fact, Nirulas taught Delhi-dwellers what pizzas and burgers were all about. Nirulas was commanding a monopoly until western chains arrived in India.

Euthanasia Essay - Lutheranism and Doctor-Assisted Suicide :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide

Evangelical Lutheranism and Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide   Ã‚   As a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, I feel it important to express in this essay the stand of the church on the question of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Our church has strong biblical and traditional reasons for adamantly opposing these new end-of-life approaches.    Increasingly, people know from their own experience some painful dilemmas involving elderly or handicapped individuals who are in pain. While the achievements of modern medicine have been used to prolong and enhance life for many, they have also helped create an often dreaded context for dying. Costly technology may keep persons alive, but frequently these persons are cut off from meaningful relationships with others and exist with little or no hope for recovery. Many fearfully imagine a situation at the end of their lives where they or their trusted ones will have no say in decisions about their treatment. In this context, new emphasis is being placed on the rights of patients. Recent federal legislation, for example, requires all health care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid monies to inform patients of their right to make medical treatment decisions. This includes the right to specify "advance directives," [1] which state what patients wish to be done in case they are no longer able to communicate adequately.    We consider the legislation consistent with the principle that "respect for that person [who is capable of participating] mandates that he or she be recognized as the prime decision-maker" in treatment. [2] The patient is a person in relationship, not an isolated individual. Her or his decisions should take others into account and be made in supportive consultation with family members, close friends, pastor, and health care professionals. Christians face end-of-life decisions in all their ambiguity, knowing we are responsible ultimately to God, whose grace comforts, forgives, and frees us in our dilemmas.    Which decisions about dying are morally acceptable to concernd Christians, and which ones go beyond morally acceptable limits? Which medical practices and public policies allow for more humane treatment for those who are dying and which ones open the door to abuse and the violation of human dignity? Proposals in various states to legalize physician-assisted death [3] point to renewed interest in these old questions. ELCA members, congregations, and institutions need to address these questions through prayer and careful reflection.    Euthanasia Essay - Lutheranism and Doctor-Assisted Suicide :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide Evangelical Lutheranism and Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide   Ã‚   As a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, I feel it important to express in this essay the stand of the church on the question of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Our church has strong biblical and traditional reasons for adamantly opposing these new end-of-life approaches.    Increasingly, people know from their own experience some painful dilemmas involving elderly or handicapped individuals who are in pain. While the achievements of modern medicine have been used to prolong and enhance life for many, they have also helped create an often dreaded context for dying. Costly technology may keep persons alive, but frequently these persons are cut off from meaningful relationships with others and exist with little or no hope for recovery. Many fearfully imagine a situation at the end of their lives where they or their trusted ones will have no say in decisions about their treatment. In this context, new emphasis is being placed on the rights of patients. Recent federal legislation, for example, requires all health care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid monies to inform patients of their right to make medical treatment decisions. This includes the right to specify "advance directives," [1] which state what patients wish to be done in case they are no longer able to communicate adequately.    We consider the legislation consistent with the principle that "respect for that person [who is capable of participating] mandates that he or she be recognized as the prime decision-maker" in treatment. [2] The patient is a person in relationship, not an isolated individual. Her or his decisions should take others into account and be made in supportive consultation with family members, close friends, pastor, and health care professionals. Christians face end-of-life decisions in all their ambiguity, knowing we are responsible ultimately to God, whose grace comforts, forgives, and frees us in our dilemmas.    Which decisions about dying are morally acceptable to concernd Christians, and which ones go beyond morally acceptable limits? Which medical practices and public policies allow for more humane treatment for those who are dying and which ones open the door to abuse and the violation of human dignity? Proposals in various states to legalize physician-assisted death [3] point to renewed interest in these old questions. ELCA members, congregations, and institutions need to address these questions through prayer and careful reflection.