Incident Command System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Incident Command System - Essay Example Common terminology pertains to the use of standard terms during disasters where every responding personnel understand one another because they have the same jargon or language which describes organizational functions, facilities, resources and position titles (FEMA, n.d). Modular organization is a description of the incident command organizational structure that is top-down in style. This kind of organizational structure is flexible to accommodate the magnitude and difficulty of the disaster. Management by objectives is the development of goals during the operation process that is practical, measurable and achievable; this is in relation to having reliance on an incident action plan (IAP) that provides means of communicating operational and support objectives (FEMA, n.d). Chain of command and unity of command entails reporting to one supervisor or head only to avoid overlapping of orders that may come from various heads or supervisors at different levels. Unified command on the other hand allows multiple agencies with different functions to work as a team irregardless of respective agency influence and accountability. Manageable span of control sets a limit to the number of personnel a supervisor can handle in an ICS, which is three (3) to seven (7) people only. Predesignated incident locations and facilities are the sites established to house operational and support facilities that can be found within the area of the disaster or incident. New locations or sites can be made as needed. Resource management includes the overall resources needed within the disaster vicinity in terms of ordering, tracking and recovery (FEMA, n.d). Information and intelligence management refers to the procedures for the management of information related to the incident. Integrated communications is the process of establishing a standard and interoperable communication system within the ICS. Transfer of command pertains to the transfer of command responsibilities that includes proper briefing of all pertinent information so that the operation can go on efficiently (FEMA, n.d). Accountability depicts following the standard operating procedures needed within an ICS. This includes reporting to receive assignments based on protocol by the incident commander; followed by adhering to the outlined IAP where every responder will be assigned under one supervisor only, who will also account for the changes in resource status. And last but not the least is mobilization where needed personnel and equipment at a disaster site will respond only as needed and directed (FEMA, n.d). As an incident commander for the disaster that occurred in Japan, I will first and foremost set up an appropriate location for the incident command center. Then I will make a preliminary estimate of the number of people and the type of facilities as well as equipment that is needed on site. Before any actual operation starts all responders will be given a list that contains common words or terms to b e used in communications. After which, I will assign all responders to their respective supervisors limiting three people only under one supervisor who will give their specific duties to perform. As the operation progresses, I will collate all

Skoda: Business Strategy Analysis

Skoda: Business Strategy Analysis Skoda Company and its business 1.1 Introduction to Skoda Company The two cyclists, who were known as Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, are considered as the founders of Skoda Company. The two cyclists were used to design and produce their own bicycles and eventually it was established as Skoda. In 1925, Skoda was established in Czechoslovakia and gradually, it was expanded towards Eastern Europe by producing cars, farm ploughs, and aero planes other than bicycles. Skoda has to cope with hard times in company history such as war, economic problems and also the changes in the political environment. While the Skoda is grown up internationally, there was a requirement of a strong foreign partner. By, 1990 Volkswagen AG had dominated by joining Skoda. Volkswagen AG is known as the leading car manufacturer in Europe by manufacturing variety of branded products such as Volkswagen, Skoda, and Audi (Skoda Auto, 2011). The remarkable thing is the Skoda UK is selling Skoda cars through its independent network of certified dealers. 1.2 Business as a transformation process In common, there is an input and output can be clearly identified in a business. Input may consist of working force, entrepreneurship, capital and land. Output may be goods and services. Therefore, the process of transformation is common for all the organizations and most of the time, output can be considered as a combination of goods and services (Oxford University Press 2007). For an example considering the hospitality as a business foods and beverage can be the goods they serve and the lodging may be the service they offer. The critical thing is to be produce outputs which may worth higher than the inputs. In financial terms, it is known as the profit in relation to the organizations which are expecting profits. But, in the case of non profit oriented organizations such as schools and hospitals other indicators are used to measure the progress. Transformation may differ from business wise. The critical thing is to implementing innovative methodologies of value addition for the pro ducts and services while cost cutting (Oxford University Press 2007). Value addition can be done by manufacturing outputs that the customers are ready to pay money more than usual price. Since the brand name may be incorporated with customers lifestyle and preferences, effective branding result in improved sales. For an example, plain pair of shoe can be marketed to a higher price by branding it with brands like Nike or Addidas. Chapter 2 Organizational audit and the business environment 2.1 Organizational Audit Organizational audit is critical for a business to meet the following objectives. To analyze the businesss organizational framework, procedures and flow chart. To investigate the contest between the job descriptions, responsibilities and the flow chart of the business.    To emphasize the unsatisfactory aspects of the current structure of the business. To define development paths for improvement of the business. To satisfy these objectives organizational audit is being done by analysis of existing data, summary reporting, individual interviewing processes and analysis of raw data gathered through the surveys. Organizational audit is crucial for a business to cope with the business environment. 2.2 Business environment It is believed that business transformation process may not occur in a vacuum. Firms are driven in particular frameworks and subjected by the business environment. Business environment can be divided in to two. Micro Macro Micro environment consist of individuals or organizations which the business deal with a regular basis. It may include customers, employees, distributors and suppliers which are known as the stakeholders. That all components may have the direct involvement of the business activities and it can be affected by the actions of the business. Therefore, it can be concluded that micro environment play a vital role in the success and the behavior of a business. The macro environment may consist of factors which are lying outside of the direct control of the business. It includes economy, policies of the government and also the social changes. Since these macro factors can primarily change the environment of a business one individual business can rarely do much on its own to shape them. Theoretically, the macro environment can be analyzed by using PESTEL analysis. (Scott, 1982) Chapter 3 The PESTEL analysis for Skoda Company PESTEL Analysis PEST analysis is the methodology of analyzing the macro environment in most of the countries. But, the expanded PEST model which is known as PESTEL is commonly used in UK (CIPD, 2009). PESTEL is stand for Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal analysis. It describes the outline of macro environment in relation to the business environment. Referring to the political factors, it consists of policies implemented by the government such as the involvement in the economy. It also includes what kind of goods and services to be produced and the priorities in relation to the business support. The political decisions may play a vital role for some businesses which are related to education health and also in the infra structure facilities. Considering the Skoda Company, the changes in laws and regulations such as accounting standards, taxation requirements and environmental laws and legal power of the foreign states may affect on their business especially in the international trade. Therefore, it is critical to monitor the governments policies and regulations in a continuous manner. (Lynch, 1999) Economic factors may include economic growth, interest rates, exchange rates as well as the inflation rate. Those are the factors that may have the potential to make effects on operations and decisions. Referring to Skoda, interest rate may affect its  cost of capital. Therefore, it determines the extent of the growth of the business and expansion. Exchange rates may affect the costs of exporting goods and the supply and price of imported goods. Social  factors include cultural aspects, health perception, population growth rate, age distribution, career attitudes and emphasis on safety. Changes in social factors influence in the product demand and operation. For example, aging process may generate smaller and less-willing workforce .This may lead to increasing the labour cost. Therefore, referring Skoda to cope with these trends there should be various management strategies to be adopted. For an example, it should be more concerned on age limit of the workers when recruiting new workers. The factors such as rate of technological changes, automation and the technical inducements altogether considered as technological factors. Those factors may influence with the outsourcing decisions, market entry barriers and efficient production level of a company. When considering the Skoda, it is producing branded motor cars. Therefore, technology should be their main focus. Because, it creates opportunities for new products and product improvement in relation to the marketing. As the technology advances, new products may launch. (Scott, 1982) Ecological and environmental aspects such as weather, climate, and climate changes can be considered as environmental factors. Those factors may especially influences industries such as tourism, farming, and insurance. Furthermore, growing awareness of the potential impacts of climate change is affecting how companies operate and the products they offer, both creating new markets and diminishing or demolishing existing ones. Discrimination law,  consumer law,  antitrust law,  employment law, and  health and safety law can be considered as the component of the legal factor. These factors can influence with the operation process, cost of production and the demand for the products. Legal aspect mainly focuses on the effect of the national and world legislation. The Skoda Company receives all the rights applicable in the nature of their business and every inventions and product developments are always going into the patented process. I.e. Audi, Skoda. The PESTEL factors are combined with external micro-environmental factors and internal drivers in relation to the business. Furthermore, it can be explained as opportunities and threats in a  SWOT analysis. Chapter 4 The SWOT analysis for Skoda Company SWOT Analysis SWOT is stand for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths can be described as internal components of a business that lead to its growth. Weaknesses can be identified as the attributes that will make disturbances business or make the business susceptible. The external conditions that could lead to future growth are known as the opportunities in SWOT. Threats are described as the external elements which could make negative effects on a business. (Lynch, 1999) To recognize its strengths, Skoda gathered information through researches from both customers and also from the reliable independent surveys. For an example, annual JD Power customer satisfaction survey had questioned the vehicle owners about their feelings on their vehicle for last six months by using questionnaire for about 20,000 owners. According to the results Skoda dominated in the top five car manufacturers for last 13 years (JD Power 2010). Not only that, in 2007, Top Gears survey revealed that among the 56,000 viewers Skoda dominated as the number one car manufacturer (Top Gear 2007). According to those results, Skoda found that the company excelled at satisfying its customers when focusing the owner experience rather than on sales alone. Almost all of Skodas customers would recommend Skoda branded vehicle to others, means that Skoda had a distinctive strength. As a result, Skoda manufactured cars that their customers could enjoy, rather than simply maximizing the sales. The refore, Skoda branded themselves as a quality product that satisfies its customers. Skodas analysis showed that in order to grow the business required to address issues about how the small company fit into the highly competitive market. An out-dated perception of the Skoda brand, related to the companys Eastern European origins, contributed to the business small size. By 1999, Volkswagen AG ownership had changed this negative attitude about Skoda. But, in 2006 brand Health Check revealed that the weak and neutral image in mid market range is still existing when compare to the Ford, Peugeot and Renault like brands (UK Branding 2006). Though, Skoda still deficient of a strong appeal, it is realized that the company needed to reduce the defensive campaigns exemplifying what the brand was not and begin new campaigns illustrating what Skoda had to offer. The change was simple and Skoda knew that its owners were satisfied with their cars. Skoda had realized that its rivals marketing approaches are mainly focused on the product itself. But in contrast, Skoda tends to focus its attention on emphasizing the owners experience with their cars and the customers satisfaction with Skoda vehicles. This SWOT analysis may lead Skoda to distinguish its product from its competitors. Considering the UK market, there are 50 different car makers selling around 200 vehicle models. To survive in this large and competitive market, Skoda needed to ensure that its message would not be lost or drowned out within the crowded environment. As a result, Skoda had manufactured seven different cars such as city car, luxurious car, and family car addressing different market segments with subsequent levels of pricing. Chapter 5 The planning for a business and implementation a new strategy 5.1 Strategic planning, Tactical planning and Operational planning Depending on the PESTEL and SWOT analysis, the business plan for the business should be created by the management of the business. Planning process can be identified as three phases such as strategic planning, tactical planning and operational planning. Strategic Planning can be considered as a long term planning attempted by senior management of a business. I.e. the executives. It involves making decisions which will work toward reaching an organizations mission and vision statements. Tactical planning it the mid term planning. It may range from months up to about two years. This involves middle management those who plan strategies to achieve a businesss strategic goals. In contrast, operational planning is routine planning handled by front line managers. They may report to middle management and enact the leg work of the strategies developed by middle management to achieve strategic goals. 5.2 Implementation of the new strategy Novel business strategies are designed to improve the overall utility of a business, its employees and increase profitability of the business. But change may be troublemaking and can be costly within its own context as employees deal with new procedures, information technology, products or an organizational matrix. To reduce the cost, disturbances and negative effects of implementing new strategies, it should implement a strategy for implementation. Essentially, a well planned and accomplished implementation plan may lead to reduce confrontation to the changes. The process of implementing a new strategy can be identified as six major steps (Kaplan and Norton 2010). Split the new strategy into smaller portions. Aware the employees about the map of change Create and post a scorecard for the new implementation, helping as a cheerleader to employees throughout the process that success is reasonable step wise. Acquiring the feedback regarding the new strategy at each stage by employee surveys. Request customer satisfaction. Doing the correct adjustments in the new strategy, time scale and goals based on feedback and customer satisfaction. 5.3 Conclusion With the concentrated study of the PESTLE, the Skoda Company will continue to emerge and develop if they manage to find solutions in different challenges that the entire organization might face in the future. Since the external environment is extremely complex and dynamic it is important to conducting the PESTEL in a regular basis. Practically, it may not possible to identify almost all the significant changes in the business environment. But, still they may able to find some of those critical changes through their assumptions and that will lead them to take the correct decision in the future. At present the PESTEL structure is further expanded as STEEPLE and STEEPLED by considering the ethical and demographic factors. Therefore, it may be important to stick to this latest model, because in some businesses those factors considered to be critical. To improve its performance, it may be needed to conduct a brand positioning examination by obtaining market research data from both interna l and external audits, allowing Skoda to conduct a SWOT analysis.   Skodas SWOT analysis may facilitate the company to reveal that customer satisfaction by purchasing their products. Not only that, it also reveals that the brand was no longer seen as a poor, outdated car, the company was able to operate within a position in the market, and that a change in public perception was very important to Skodas ability to expand within a highly competitive market. SWOT analysis makes the raw information which may gathered from a survey in to an order therefore, it may support managers to investigate both internally and externally. Therefore, it may also highlight the key internal weaknesses of a business, and also the strengths what the management should be alert on their business. Depending on the SWOT and PESTEL analysis, it is required to implement a new business strategy. The critical thing is to implement that new business strategy without disrupting the business. Romeo and Juliet | Summary and Analysis Romeo and Juliet | Summary and Analysis The classic story line of star-crossed lovers has been replicated time and time again, but possibly the most renowned version is William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet No matter what version is consulted, whether it be the original script or the movie rendition directed by Baz Luhrmann, this familiar plot of the age-old play ultimately ends in the tragic death of the romantic couple. However, no calamity to this magnitude merely comes about coincidentally. Rather, Romeos character is to blame for his and Juliets untimely death. Literary critic, Douglas Cole writes, â€Å"The sorry spectacle that Romeo, the romantic lover, makes of himselfpoints directly forward to the catastrophe†(108). In his play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare leads the star-crossed lovers to their ultimate demise through the development of Romeos character traits. His strong emotions and rash impulsiveness result in Romeo and his beloved Juliets tragic death. Consentingly, Romeo must not assume full responsibility of his and Juliets deplorable collapse. However minor a role they may have assumed, other characters such as Juliet herself, Friar Lawrence, and the Nurse played their part in the journey to the final, cataclysmic outcome of the play. Nonetheless, Romeo plays a large role in bringing about his unfortunate downfall. Romeos excessively strong emotions such as rage, despair, and love are contributing factors to his ultimate demise. To begin with, Romeos frequent display of rage and anger throughout the play promotes his untimely death. A clear instance of this severe fury is when, at the end of the play, Romeo takes his anger of Juliets apparent death out on Paris and kills him. This scene takes place long enough after Romeo and Juliet are well on their way to their impending doom so as not to have a direct impact on the outcome. However, it clearly illustrates a detrimental mistake resulting from Romeos excessive anger. Furthermore, even though Romeo fully intended to commit suicide, he could not control his extreme rage at his entire predicament and felt the need to take his feelings out on Paris. A literary critic aptly explains, â€Å"In such conditions men were naturally more excitable and more subject to sudden panic and prevailing moods,†(Granville-Barker and Harrison 165). In this t ime of great stress, Romeo was more prone to behaving in an excessively fervent manor. To illustrate this, Shakespeare did not grant Romeo complete control of his emotions and instilled in him a superfluous amount of anger. Next, Romeos limitless rage is evident in one of the major climaxes of the theater piece. In Act 3, Scene 1, Romeo enters a confrontation with Tybalt, Juliets cousin. Romeo, with Juliet in mind, does everything he can to avoid a fight. Even so, when Mercutio is killed at Tybalts hand, Romeo cannot control his anger and murders Tybalt in an attempt to avenge Mercutios death. With this, it is extremely evident that â€Å"Romeo is weakened by his superfluous amount of emotion. This excess of rage resulted in his killing Tybalt†(Nardo 122). This murderous act directly leads to Romeo and Juliets tragic ending. Upon committing the crime, Romeo receives a sentence of banishment from Verona. Had Romeo refrained from killing Tybalt, and therefore never been exiled from Verona, Juliet may not have found it necessary to drink the potion that would render her dead. Without Juliets false death the romantic couple would not have encountered the disastrous situation that they would soon be f acing. Additionally, Romeos grief for his seemingly dead Juliet causes him to take actions that contribute to his demise. This is evident in the last scene of the play when Romeo commits suicide after seeing Juliet lying as though in death. One Shakespearean critic proclaims, â€Å"When Romeo perceives Juliet to be dead, the grand romantic lovers emotional state deteriorates to the point of suicide†(Cole 108). Romeo was completely and uncontrollably overcome by anguish and mourning. Without his surplus of uncontrolled emotion, he would not have immediately digressed to suicide. This would have given him the time to discover that Juliet was in fact, not dead. In short, the couple would ultimately survive. Furthermore, immediately after receiving the news of Juliets supposed death, Romeo is already overwhelmed by his grief and he instantly speaks his suicidal thoughts: Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight. Lets see for means. O mischief, thou art swift To enter in the thoughts of desperate men! (Rom. 5.1.36-38) With this, Romeo is already plotting ways to take his own life. Had Romeo kept control of his emotions and investigated the matter for himself, he would have discovered soon enough that Juliet was not dead after all. He may even have come in contact with Friar Lawrence who would have been able to dispel the entire plight. Clearly, â€Å"This catastrophe is hastened by Romeo himself who, when he hears the false report of Juliets death, revealsa despair that turns instantly to thoughts of suicideand he perishes miserably†(Cole 108). Obviously Romeos utter grief for the apparent death of his beloved contributes to the unfortunate outcome at the end of the play. Also, Romeos deep and passionate love for Juliet is instrumental to his downfall. Over the entire duration of Romeos relationship with Juliet, he is obviously completely infatuated with her. One instance that shows Romeos undying love for Juliet is when he kills Tybalt. Romeo murders Tybalt while his thoughts are elsewhere, specifically on Juliet. His passion for her is all consuming (McLeish 215). If Romeo were able to set aside his deep passion for Juliet for a small amount of time, he would not have murdered Tybalt and, therefore, he would never have entered into the horrific situation that would lead to his downfall. In addition, perhaps the scene that best demonstrates this undying love is Romeos final act: his suicide. Upon hearing the false rumor that Juliet is dead, Romeo decides to take his own life. Shakespeare clearly reveals Romeos reasoning behind this decision: â€Å"Heres to my love! †¦ Thus I die with a kiss†(Rom.5.3.129-131). With this, Romeo undoubtedly admits that he cannot live without his love and thus is ending his life out of passion for Juliet. It is also evident that Romeo completely loves Juliet even after she is seemingly dead at his feet (Goddard 289). The adoration that Romeo quite obviously feels toward Juliet is so exceptionally intense that he cannot control his emotions enough to think clearly. If Romeo would not have let his love become so alarmingly out of control, he may never have decided on the horrific action that was his self-murder. At the very least, he would have been able to think lucidly and postpone this unnatural self-destruction long enough to be present and, more importantly, alive, when Juliet would awake. This would have inevitably thwarted the romantic couples tragic death. Harold Clarke Goddard concurs, â€Å"in the case of Romeo, love puts him out of loveâ€Å"(16). In other words, Romeos suicide is a result of his endearment towards Juliet, and ending his life negates any possibility of findin g love with her. Shakespeare ingrains in Romeo a passion for Juliet so intense that it eradicates the possibility of love for the romantic couple, and ultimately brings about their tragic end. Finally, the impulsivity of Romeos actions plays a large role in the catastrophic ending. Throughout the entire story, Romeo is constantly carrying out actions that he has clearly yet to think through. Friar Lawrence even provides foreshadowing to the fact that this rashness will prove to bring about dire results when he says â€Å"they stumble that run fast†(Rom.2.3.94). This metaphorically states the rather simple fact that acting impulsively before considering the consequences can only result in complications. One example of Romeos impetuousness is when he makes a quick decision to seek out Juliet in her garden even though it is extremely dangerous. This rash decision could have been disastrous, but because Romeo was fortunate and was not discovered by Juliets father this particular instance left him relatively unscathed. It is noted that William Shakespeare particularly †emphasizes Romeos own impulsiveness†(Nardo 61). This action, though, just marks the beginni ng of a succession of hasty decisions. For example, Romeo decides that he wants to marry Juliet when he has known her for so short a time. Because Romeo decided to wed Juliet so hastily, the duo was met with problems stemming from the suddenness of their becoming a couple. Perhaps if the two had not rushed into what they considered to be their future so quickly, they would have avoided the ensuing issues. Instead, â€Å"Romeo insists upon the marriage, with an untimely haste†(Nardo 122). This ultimately leads to the rapid advancement of the tragic death. Simply because none of their plans were thought through, they were merely acted upon, Romeo and Juliets relationship was doomed to fail. The long chain of hasty mistakes by Romeo does not, by any means, end with his hasty marriage. Rather, Tybalts murder can also be described as rash and impulsive. Although Romeo does seem to consider the consequences of harming his enemy, as soon as Mercutio is killed, he does not so much as pause before he attacks Tybalt. This impulse that Romeo indulges himself in causes a great flood of events leading directly to his demise, which could have all been avoided had he taken the time to think about what he was doing. Indeed, â€Å"[Romeos] whole love affair betrays a cast of mind that isimpatient of cold reason, and this very quality helps to induce the tragic ending†(Nardo 122). Shakespeare urges Romeo to his demise by denying him the use of forethought that would allow him to make rational decisions. This small but significant character trait would have unquestionably been enough to prevent the romantic couple from advancing toward their deaths. Possibly the most consequential act of impulsive behavior on Romeo s part is in the last act of the play. To begin with, Romeo buys poison to kill himself immediately after hearing of Juliets supposed death. He wishes only to end his life at her side and refuses to investigate Juliets â€Å"death†(Nardo 61). Romeo could not take the necessary time to be sure that the rumor of Juliets death was true. Instead he acted on his very first impulse, which was to commit suicide. This resulted in the awful ending that was the romantic couples death, distinctively showing that â€Å"Romeros [tragic flaw] is his impulsive rashness†(Hammersmith 246). Additionally, Romeo did not waste any time in committing the heinous act of suicide after entering the Capulet tomb. Should he have paused for even a brief moment to contemplate what he was about to do, he would have lived long enough to see Juliet awaken from her death-like sleep. Unfortunately, he continued his trend of rash behavior and cut his life short, which in turn would cause Juliet to do the same. Surely, then, Romeos distinct character traits play an important role in his tragic ending. Uncontrolled emotions including rage, grief, and love, as well as a tendency to act on impulses are major contributing factors to this cataclysmic demise. Although Romeo could not have been alone in the creation of this catastrophic ending, he very clearly played the largest role in bringing about his downfall. The romantic lovers did everything in their power to make their love work. In the end, though, Romeo and Juliet could just not survive the harsh realities of their lives and Romeos flawed character traits.

The Deaths of Antigone and Creon :: Free Essay Writer

The Deaths of Antigone and Creon Antigone and Creon are the main characters of the play Antigone written by Sophocles. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, who was a major figure of ancient Greek myth. Oedipus accidentally killed his father and married his mother. Because of that act, Oedipus ended up cursing his family and died a horrible death. After his death, his sons inherited his kingdom and in a power struggle ended up killing each other. One of the sons, Polynices attacked the city to try and claim power from his brother. But since both of the brothers died and the city was not taken Polynices was labeled as a traitor whereas the other brother who died defending the city was celebrated as a hero. Creon decreed at the beginning of the play Antigone that no one was to bury the body of traitorous Polynices. Antigone felt that it was here responsibility to bury the body because he was still a member of her family. This led to a huge argument with Creon who felt he shouldn’t be crossed because he was the leader of the state. Eventually both Creon and Antigone are destroyed by the gods (and by each other) through their own actions. Antigone is a powerful character, strong-willed, determined and at times self-righteous. She is contrasted by her sister Ismene, who is weak and powerless. Though Antigone is a powerful character, she has no real political power and is dominated by one man, Creon. Creon is both the ruler of the state as well as the patriarch of her family. Antigone was raised by Creon’s house after her own father went in to exile. Antigone is betrothed to Creon’s son, Haemon, further cementing Creon’s power over her. There is one aspect of life that Antigone does have legitimate power in and that is her family, especially her blood line. In ancient-Greek culture the women’s place was in the home, she was responsible for household things and often wasn’t even allowed to leave the house. It is because of this responsibility that Antigone needed to bury her brother Polynices even though it went against the decree of Creon. Antigone also had the gods on her side. It was an unwritten rule of ancient Greek society that the dead must be buried, otherwise bad things may happen. This rule, because it was unwritten and therefore innate, was protected by the gods, specifically Hades, the god of the underworld and family. The Deaths of Antigone and Creon :: Free Essay Writer The Deaths of Antigone and Creon Antigone and Creon are the main characters of the play Antigone written by Sophocles. Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, who was a major figure of ancient Greek myth. Oedipus accidentally killed his father and married his mother. Because of that act, Oedipus ended up cursing his family and died a horrible death. After his death, his sons inherited his kingdom and in a power struggle ended up killing each other. One of the sons, Polynices attacked the city to try and claim power from his brother. But since both of the brothers died and the city was not taken Polynices was labeled as a traitor whereas the other brother who died defending the city was celebrated as a hero. Creon decreed at the beginning of the play Antigone that no one was to bury the body of traitorous Polynices. Antigone felt that it was here responsibility to bury the body because he was still a member of her family. This led to a huge argument with Creon who felt he shouldn’t be crossed because he was the leader of the state. Eventually both Creon and Antigone are destroyed by the gods (and by each other) through their own actions. Antigone is a powerful character, strong-willed, determined and at times self-righteous. She is contrasted by her sister Ismene, who is weak and powerless. Though Antigone is a powerful character, she has no real political power and is dominated by one man, Creon. Creon is both the ruler of the state as well as the patriarch of her family. Antigone was raised by Creon’s house after her own father went in to exile. Antigone is betrothed to Creon’s son, Haemon, further cementing Creon’s power over her. There is one aspect of life that Antigone does have legitimate power in and that is her family, especially her blood line. In ancient-Greek culture the women’s place was in the home, she was responsible for household things and often wasn’t even allowed to leave the house. It is because of this responsibility that Antigone needed to bury her brother Polynices even though it went against the decree of Creon. Antigone also had the gods on her side. It was an unwritten rule of ancient Greek society that the dead must be buried, otherwise bad things may happen. This rule, because it was unwritten and therefore innate, was protected by the gods, specifically Hades, the god of the underworld and family.

Group development

This summary is about the group development phases- forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. These five stages will help me work as a group and as a team member. Forming is taking time to get to know each other and picking a team leader. Storming is when each team member has an opinion in what they’ll do in the group project, like choosing what part of the group assignment they’ll have. Norming is sharing ideas as a group; as the group begins to form they start focusing in their own assign work and start working to create the project. Performing is when the team has got to know & trust each other well. They’ll be able to review the project as a team and if they have disagreement they’ll be able to fix them as a group. Adjourning is when the project is coming to an end and the team has work hard for this last stage and know their work was a success; a celebration may happen as the groups work pays off. The differences between a group and a team are that a team is larger than a group. A team takes a strong leader to lead the team. A team needs the best players to win the big win. They’ll need the strongest players, best players, and the commit players. A group can be anybody that’s willing to work together as a group to help with the work. Anybody can be in a group small or tall old or young. A group doesn’t take strong players but commit worker. A group takes a leader to lead the team and the leader will get them to the end. In the beginning group sections weren’t all that bad until high school started. I wasn’t very good with group projects since I was a quite person and didn’t commutate much. My strengths in a group project would be my creativity in art. I’m a good artist, making posters and drawing the pictures in a group project is what I’m good at. My best work would have to do with the crevity of art and design it for the fun of it. My weakness or my challenging roles would be putting the group together as a whole. In a way I prefer working alone so I don’t have to deal with the other students but, I know this will help me keep learning as it progress. I wouldn’t like to put myself in a leader’s role nor a captain’s position since they have to give orders; I get nerves speaking in front of people and I believe this are some of my challenging roles. My weaknesses are being shy with others but since this is online I think it makes it easy for me to express my thoughts. What makes a great group is when everybody has their own part to work on. For example I like drawing so I will like to have the posters and drawing parts. Everybody needs to work together to make this group happen and succeed. The importations in a group project are staying together as a team. Working in groups help people learn more by putting everyone’s ideas together and using them in the group project. Two heads are better than one right? I find it important for workers/students to work in groups because it helps them combine the ideas together and turn them into something more. I feel like the group will help me see and learn the positive sides in group projects. As my learning style results I’m more likely to work hands on but since the group meetings are online I find it a little difficult. I’m good at learning by doing and seeing examples and I will fine this changeling and helpful in the same time. I’m up for the challenge.

Geography MYP portfolio

Basically, gender inequality is an unequal treatment in terms of gender, male and female. Gender inequality is mainly – discrimination of women. So women have fewer job opportunities and they do work which is believed not to be a work for men. Long time ago women used to do the housework and look after children, and men used to work and earn money. Nowadays we can see that women are treated unequally to men in some LED countries: African countries, Pakistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and some other Muslim countries.But gender inequality still exists in some extent in every country in he world in main areas of the society: political, economical and sometimes in social. Main body (Discussion) Gender inequality in social area of society Mainly the service area (education, culture, healthcare, social welfare, public transport and etc. ) is included into social area. So, basically, here we can see the most unequal treatment of men and women. In all those African and Muslim countries wome n are treated unequally in this social area. In other countries (MED countries: US, Russia, Japan etc. , if there is an unequal treatment, then it mostly happens in economical and political areas. As an example of a country with unequal treatment, I will choose Pakistan. In Pakistan you can see gender inequality, for example in terms of education. In education, gender inequality means that women are not able to study and after have an education. Women just stay at home and do all the housework like washing, cooking; they also look after children, because kids are needed to help their mothers, so usually families are really big.Historically, in 1 9th century feminist-sympathetic movement communities tried to isolate women from any contact with men. On 14th of August, 1947 Pakistan was officially independent, but more than a half of Pakistani women are not independent even now. Pakistan believes that women were created only to take care of their husbands. Women's only job is to make s ure that her husband is satisfied and happy with his life. So women in Pakistan have to learn how to be a good daughter, sister and mother. Nowadays, Women are kept treating this way. They are also forbidden to go to schools.A lot of people (men) are against education for women, in Pakistan. There were so many crimes, when omen tried to kill a woman or a girl. Sometimes that happened, when a woman tried to study secretly. Gender inequality in economical area of society Economical area is a sphere of trading, exchange, producing, consuming and distribution of goods and services. Methods of producing and wealth distribution are the main factors that determine specificity of economic relations. Gender inequality in this area is not aggressive as it is in social area. We can see these inequalities in a few ways.Lets say there is a company, which is a part of secondary sector, so the employees are people who work tit machines and machinery. It means that men are more likely to work in th ose companies, as it would be a really hard work for women. So from this example, we can say that women are allowed to work there, but they don't, because its difficult for them and also they don't want to. In other companies, in primary sector, some employers prefer to hire men, because if you will have woman working on your company, then you can decrease company's productivity.Women might get pregnant, so she gets some rest (from 3 to 16 months, depends on a country), and after she'll have to look after her hillier. And men will always be there on his workplace. Gender inequality in political area of society political area is a sphere Of people's relations, which are mainly related to each other in terms of politics and government. Before one of the most worrisome issues was an unequal treatment of women in government and administrative office. Involving women in politics so much distinguished countries like Lithuania.As this country was technologically developing the people's lif estyle was changing a lot. In this process women started gaining ore stuff to do including the right to vote in presidential elections. Conclusion In social area, there are still a lot of gender inequalities, especially in poor LED countries. In Pakistan some men are even able to kill women, who are trying to get education, get a job and etc. I think that it's not right, and men and women should be equal. Equality leads to country's development and industrialization or at least helps it. In the economical area the only border for women are the requirements.Women are allowed to work, but their wage might be smaller, and the rotgut's quality might be lower, because, for example, men are better in working on the factories with all those machines. But it's not necessarily like that, and of course women can sometimes work even better than men, especially in the primary sector. In political area women doesn't really have problems, maybe only in LED countries where they are treated unequal ly to men. You can see some women politician that work in the government, even though it's rare. In my opinion, women should be equal to men, have the same opportunities, abilities and etc.

Cultural Difference Paper Essay Example

Cultural Difference Paper Essay Example Cultural Difference Paper Essay Cultural Difference Paper Essay Cultural Differences Paper Psychology 535 September 20, 2010 Cultural Differences Paper In the following paper two multicultural concepts have been selected, which are individualism versus collectivism and sexual identity/orientation. Then, I will analyze individualism versus collectivism and sexual identity/orientation. Last, I will point out the significance in understanding cultural differences. Individualism versus collectivism Culture can be defined as a program of shared rules that govern the behavior of members of a community or society, and a set of values, beliefs, and attitudes shared by most members of that community (Wade Tavris, 2006). Culture has a profound effect on people’s lives and they fail to appreciate the deep influence. Some people think of culture as a light veneer on human behavior, or maybe a source of useful information for tourist travel. â€Å"Today many psychologists recognize that culture is just as powerful and influence on personality and behvaior as any biological process†, (Wade Tavris, 2006). I do not think that it is easy to see how cultural rules affect one’s one personality, for example if I was asked the question â€Å"who are you†, I am sure that my response will be influenced by my cultural background, in particular whether my culture emphasizes individualism or community. In individualist cultures, this is â€Å"a culture in which an emphasis is placed on the rights and desires of an individual rather than of the larger community. In these cultures, personal achievement and assertiveness is prized and there is a strong sense of competition. Independence is also seen as more important than conformity†, (Dictionary of Media Studies Dictionary of Media StudiesDictionary of Media Studies, 2006). In collectivist cultures, this is â€Å"a culture that places an emphasis on the needs and achievements of the group rather than of the individual. Personal achievement and assertiveness is considered less important than conformity to society and an ‘unselfish attitude’. Such communities have a strong sense of family and community†, (Dictionary of Media Studies, 2006). Some average differences between individualist and collectivist cultures is that members of individualist cultures define the self as autonomous, independent of groups, give priority to individual, personal goals, they value independence, leadership, achievement and self-fulfillment, they give more weight to an individual’s attitudes and preferences than to group norms as explanations of behavior and they attend to the benefits and costs of relationships; if costs exceed advantages, a person is likely to drop a relationship (Wade Tavris, 2006). Members of collectivist cultures define the self as an independent part of groups, they give priority to the needs and goals of the group, the value group harmony, duty, obligation, and security, they give more weight to group norms than to individual attitudes as explanations of behavior and they attend to the needs of group members; if a relationship is beneficial to the group but costly to the individual, the individual is likely to stay in the relationship (Wade Tavris, 2006). I also read that in a revealing study comparing Japanese and Americans, the Americans reported that their sense of self changes only 5 to 10 percent in different situations, whereas the Japanese said that 90 to 99 percent of their sense changes (de Rivera, 1989). Sexual identity/orientation Sexual orientation is â€Å"a term used to identify a persons sexual attraction toward persons of a particular gender. Those sexually attracted to the opposite sex are said to display a heterosexual orientation, those attracted to the same sex, a homosexual orientation and to both, bisexual† (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology, 2009). Sexual identity is â€Å"ones identity with respect to sexual orientation† (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology, 2009). Evolutionary psychologists believe that gender roles and sexual scripts (sets of implicit rules that specify proper sexual behavior for a person in a given situation, varying with the person’s age, culture, and gender) reflect hard-wired biological sex differences that resulted from natural selection. In contrast, social and cultural psychologists believe that gender roles and sexual scripts reflect a culture’s economic, demographic, and social arrangements (Wade Tavris, 2006). In most cases it is hard to find the origin of sexual orientation because the sexual identity and behaviors take different forms. Some people are attracted to men and women, and some are heterosexual in behavior but have homosexual fantasies. Some men, such as prisoners, are homosexual in their behvaior because they lack opportunity for heterosexual sex, but they do not define themselves as gay and prefer women sex partners. In some cultures, teenage boys go through a homosexual phase that they do not define as homosexual and that does not affect their future relations with women. In today’s world there are many different culture therefore there are many sexual orientation/identity differences. Culture differences differ widely in determining what parts of the body people learn are erotic, which sexual acts are considered erotic or repulsive, and whether sex itself is good or bad (Wade Tavris, 2006). Research on sexuality can be used for many purposes and political goals, depending on the values and attitudes of the culture in which such findings emerge. Conclusion In conclusion after reading this paper, two multicultural concepts have been selected, which were individualism versus collectivism and sexual identity/orientation. Then, I have analyzed individualism versus collectivism and sexual identity/orientation. Next, I have pointed out the significance in understanding cultural differences. Lastly, I have included some examples about Japanese and American cultures in regard to individualist and collectivist cultures. References: individualist. (2006). In Dictionary of Media Studies. Retrieved from credoreference. com/entry/dictmedia/individualist collectivist. Dictionary of Media Studies. London: AC Black, 2006. Credo Reference. Web. 20 September 2010. De Rivera, Joseph (1989). Comparing experiences across cultures; Shame and guilt in America and Japan. Hiroshima Forum for Psychology,14, 13-20. sexual orientation. The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology. London: Penguin, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 20 September 2010. sexual identity. The Pe nguin Dictionary of Psychology. London: Penguin, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 20 September 2010 Wade, C. , Tavris, C. (2006). Psychology (8th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Give a Speech People Remember

Give a Speech People Remember What makes a speech a great speech, one people remember, especially your teacher? The key is in your message, not your presentation. Use the six sticky principles taught by Chip Heath and Dan Heath in their book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, and give a speech youll get an A on. Unless you live in a cave, you know the story of Jared, the college student who lost hundreds of pounds eating Subway sandwiches. Its a story that almost wasnt told for the same reasons that many of our papers and speeches are boring. We get so filled up with statistics and abstractions and all the things we know, that we forget to share the simple message at the core of what were trying to communicate. Subway executives wanted to talk about fat grams and calories. Numbers. While right under their noses was a concrete example of what eating at Subway can do for you. The ideas the Heath brothers teach are ideas that will make your next paper or speech memorable, whether your audience is your teacher or the entire student body. Here are their six principles: Simplicity - find the essential core of your messageUnexpectedness - use surprise to grab people’s attentionConcreteness - use human actions, specific images to convey your ideaCredibility - put hard numbers aside and bring your case closer to home, ask a question that helps your reader decide for him- or herselfEmotions - make your reader feel something, for people, not for abstractionsStories - tell a story that illustrates your message Use the acronym SUCCESs to help you remember: SimpleUnexpectedConcreteCredibleEmotionalStories Lets take a brief look at each ingredient: Simple - Force yourself to prioritize. If you had only one sentence in which to tell your story, what would you say? What is the single most important aspect of your message? Thats your lead. Unexpected - Do you remember the TV commercial for the new Enclave minivan? A family piled into the van on their way to a football game. Everything seems normal. Bang! A speeding car slams into the side of the van. The message is about wearing seat belts. You are so shocked by the crash that the message sticks. Didn’t see that coming? the voiceover says. No one ever does. Include an element of shock in your message. Include the extraordinary. Concrete - Include what the Heath brothers call tangible actions by human beings. I have a friend who consults in the area of organizational development. I can still hear him asking me after I told him what I was hoping to achieve with my staff, What does that look like? Exactly what behaviors do you want to change? Tell your audience exactly what it looks like. If you can examine something with your senses, the Heath brothers say, it’s concrete. Credible - People believe things because their family and friends do, because of personal experience, or because of faith. People are naturally a tough audience. If you don’t have an authority, expert, or celebrity to endorse your idea, what’s the next best thing? An anti-authority. When an ordinary Joe, who looks like your next-door neighbor or your cousin, tells you something works, you believe it. Clara Peller is a good example. Remember the Wendy’s commercial, â€Å"Where’s the Beef?† Almost everyone does. Emotional - How do you make people care about your message? You make people care by appealing to the things that matter to them. Self-interest. This is the core of sales of any kind. It’s more important to emphasize benefits than features. What will the person gain from knowing what you have to say? Youve probably heard of WIIFY, or the Whiff-y, approach. What’s in it for you? The Heath brothers say this should be a central aspect of every speech. Its only part of it, of course, because people aren’t that shallow. People are also interested in the good of the whole. Include an element of self or group affiliation in your message. Stories - The stories that are told and retold usually contain wisdom. Think of Aesops Fables. They have taught generations of children lessons of morality. Why are stories such effective teaching tools? Partly because your brain can’t tell the difference between something you imagine to be happening and that thing actually happening. Close your eyes and imagine standing on the edge of a 50-story building. Feel butterflies? This is the power of story. Give your reader or audience an experience theyll remember. Chip Heath and Dan Heath also have a few words of caution. They advise that the three things that hang people up the most are these: Burying the lead - make sure your core message is in your first sentence.Decision paralysis - take care not to include too much information, too many choicesThe curse of knowledge -Presenting an answer requires expertiseTelling others about it requires you to forget what you know and think like a beginner Made to Stick is a book that will not only help you write more effective speeches and papers, it has the potential to make you a more memorable force wherever you walk through the world. Do you have a message to share? At work? In your club? In the political arena? Make it stick. About the Authors Chip Heath is a Professor of Organizational Behavior in the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. Dan is a columnist for Fast Company magazine. He has spoken and consulted on the topic of making ideas stick with organizations such as Microsoft, Nestle, the American Heart Association, Nissan, and Macys. You can find them at MadetoStick.com.

Watson Surname Meaning and Origin

Watson Surname Meaning and Origin Watson is a patronymic surname meaning son of Watt. The popular Middle English given names Wat and Watt were pet forms of the name Walter, meaning powerful ruler or ruler of the army, from the elements wald, meaning rule, and heri, meaning army. Watson is the 19th most common surname in Scotland and the  76th most popular surname in the United States. Watson is also popular in England, coming in as the 44th most common surname. Surname Origin:  Scottish,  English Alternate Surname Spellings:  WATTIS, WATTS, WATTSON, WATS  See also WATT. Where Do People with the WATSON Surname Live The last name Watson is common in Scotland and the Border Country, according to WorldNames PublicProfiler, most especially the northeast English counties of Cumbria, Durham, and Northumberland and the Lowlands and East of Scotland, especially in the area around Aberdeen. Surname distribution data from Forebears concurs, placing the surname at the turn of the 20th century as most common in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Fife, Lanarkshire and Midlothian in Scotland, and Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham, Northumberland, and Cumberland (a parent county of present-day Cumbria) in England. Famous People with the WATSON Surname John B. Watson: American psychologist, best known for his role in the development of behaviorismJames Watson: American molecular biologist and geneticist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNAJames Watt: Inventor of the modern steam engineEmma Watson: English actress and feminist advocate, best known for playing the role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film franchiseTom Watson: American professional golfer Clan Watson The crest of Clan Watson is two hands coming from the clouds holding the trunk of a sprouting oak tree.  The Watson clan motto is Insperata floruit which means It has flourished beyond expectation. Sources Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Bergenfield, NJ: Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia.  Bergenfield, NJ:  Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Hoffman, William F. Polish Surnames: Origins and Meanings.  Chicago:  Polish Genealogical Society, 1993. Rymut, Kazimierz. Nazwiska Polakow.  Wroclaw: Zaklad Narodowy im. Ossolinskich - Wydawnictwo, 1991. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Beauty & Love Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Beauty & Love - Research Paper Example Other studies have revealed that appreciating moral beauty by a person leads to moral emotion elevation. Nevertheless, a point of contradiction lies between the two terms; moral beauty and moral good. The two terms though used interchangeably may refer to different perspectives as applied in varying disciplines. For instance, while the moral beauty elicits emotions in psychological fields, the moral good only elicit satisfaction in motivation. Therefore, the commonality of the broad subject of moral beauty lies in the appreciation of charity, courage, self-sacrifice kindness, as well as loyalty (Diessner, Rust, Solom, Frost and Parsons 304). History and philosophy illustrates that the discussion of moral beauty arose from early civilization stages. Two main schools of thought tried to understand beauty from the point of rationalism as well as from intention perspective. Reason alone is the sole origin of moral beauty as according to the rationalists while the sentimentalists held tha t the beauty was partly understood from sentiments. Nevertheless, from the two approaches, one thing that sticks out is that morality can be explained from the perspective of rationality and or the perspective of sentiments. It is pegged on the understanding of what is good or bad as is initiated by the process of socialization. The analogy of morality and beauty is thus inseparable from the attributes of natural appearance as well as the judgment through virtues (Gill, 16-20). Lewis in his great writing about the ‘four types of love’ appreciates the supernatural being of god who through his own way created all things that we perceive, seen and...Using some points of view of many philosophers the paper makes a conclusion that they have carried out extensive research studies to define the term beauty. A consensus is that beauty can be interpreted through vast approaches. Natural and moral beauties are appreciated comparatively as the natural beauty holds lots to do with the ‘uncreated’ beauty and as such may allude to the supernatural. Summarizing the paper, we can say that moral beauty is defined differently by people. However, commonality in the definitions hold in that there is appreciation of what is created or made through the judgment of the commonly agreed upon virtues within the human beings’ set up. Moral as well as ethical attributes of the attitude of human beings spell out what morality and beauty is to the people. This paper has found that people define moral beauty in regard to the convergence of the five senses of hearing, tasting, feeling, touch as well as the sight. Beauty is understood in the capacity to appreciate through liking or loving objects. Lewis on his book about love described the various types of love that exist between people; the erotic love, friendship, affection as well as the love of God. Through the book, it is apparent clear that a distinction between loving and liking holds in that loving has aspects of appreciation that links emotional feeling to the feeling. Moral beaut y can therefore be understood in the various approaches and through them all, appreciation is the key attribute.

Technological, Designs & Art Developments Assignment

Technological, Designs & Art Developments - Assignment Example Art is an aspect that is intertwined with culture and traditions and as culture and traditions changed towards civilization so did art. Significant inventions in history changed the approached towards art as artists sought to embrace emerging technologies to be able to portray their art more effectively while at the same time improving on aesthetics. According to Kleiner (2010), developments in art have always occurred roughly during similar periods in history as developments in other fields such as science, philosophy and politics. Therefore, the general realization is that art is an aspect that is intertwined with developments in other areas due to the need for artists to respond to these developments either by critiquing or seeking to highlight important aspects of these developments. The following timeline project will conduct an analysis on the developments in art and design from the 15th to the 20th century with a specific emphasis on four genres. The four genres of focus will be sculptures, drawings, paintings and architecture. The timeline has revealed that art was significantly influenced by historical periods and advancements in the fields of science, politics and philosophy. Moving from the Gothic era to the modernism era, there is the realization that art is a significant part of the society and that art responds to societal changes. During the Gothic era when the Catholic Church significantly influenced most aspects of life, art basically responded to this influence by concentrating on religious designs. The renaissance art on the other hand sought detachment from the church and sculptures could be evident in streets. Baroque art was significant in introducing the use of oil paints. During the enlightenment era, the Catholic Church sought to regain its popularity through art but in vain due to the protestant influences. The Romantic era depicted art not as it is but as it ought to be with regard

Ameren UE-Missouri and Illinois Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ameren UE-Missouri and Illinois - Research Paper Example The paper "Ameren UE-Missouri and Illinois" concerns the Ameren Corporation. Last 1997, Ameren was born when the Union Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri merged with its neighboring investor-owned public utility, CIPSCO Inc. which is the holding company of Central Illinois Public Service Company. Due to this merger, Ameren was able to widen its geographic scope and became one of the nation’s largest utility holding companies. It is now the parent company of UE and CIPSCO Inc. that primarily serve the people of Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. Ameren is traded in the New York Stock Exchange under the NYSE ticker symbol, AEE. Ameren Missouri is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and Ameren Illinois is based in Peoria, III, and its current president and CEO is Thomas R. Voss. On the other hand, Ameren has a 0% insider ownership and 58% institutional ownership. Aside from being the largest electricity provider in Illinois and Missouri, Ameren is also a natural gas and oil distr ibutor, an operator of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants, merchant power production and other energy-related services. The company is held as one of the â€Å"nation’s largest investor-owned electric and gas utilities† serving â€Å"2.4 million electric and nearly one million natural gas customers around a 64,000-square-mile are of Illinois and Missouri†. Before UE and CIPSCO had decided to merge, the two utility companies were already having their owned holding companies and energy facilities. In order for them to be well-prepared.... The merged has been successful in terms of demand stability, profitability and sales revenue; however, because of several factors such as weather conditions, economic situation, state and federal regulation, high fuel costs, etc., the demand had declined. For the fiscal year for 2010, Ameren’s sales are $7.64 billion with a 1-year sales growth of 7.73%. Furthermore, its total net income has declined from $612.00 million in 2009 to $139.00 million in 2010 with a 1-year net income growth of -77.29% (see figure 1). Figure 1: Revenue vs. Net Income and Cash Flow from Operations Source: â€Å"Ameren Corporation† As forecasted, Ameren will still manage to attain a relatively stable and growing net profitability and revenue for the coming years despite of unstable economic situation (see figure 2). Figure 2: Income Statement Evolution Source: â€Å"Ameren CRP† In addition, it is projected that by 2012, the company’s annual sales will have a growth rate of 1.25% a nd its earnings per share during the 2nd and the 3rd quarter of 2011 will increase to $1.14 per share (â€Å"Ameren Corp†). This achievement is attributed to the company’s â€Å"improved plant operations, a focus on cost management, rate relief in Missouri, a recovering economy boosting industrial sales and installation of emissions reduction equipment (scrubbers) at its generation plants† (â€Å"Ameren Corporation (AEE-NYSE† 2). Ameren’s Stock Price (2006-2010) Source: â€Å"Ameren Corp† The chart above indicates the stock price performance of Ameren from 2006 to 2010. As seen in the chart, the stock performance is declining from +5.26% in 2006 to -48.44% in 2008 and to +1.79% in 2010 with a 5-year change of -44.76%. For five years, the historical growth rates of Ameren sales

Explaining a Concept Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Explaining a Concept Research Paper - Essay Example Spilbury (6) notes that same-sex marriage, which takes place between two people of the same gender, may occur either between two men, who are known as homosexual or gay, or homosexual women, known as lesbians, while heterosexuals are attracted to members of the opposite sex. The scholar also points out that for some; homosexuality is a gradually developing realization, while some say they knew they were homosexual from a young age. Many people find their attraction directed towards a member of the same sex for a while. This is perfectly normal and it doesn’t mean they are homosexual, though sometimes it may. The widespread of same-sex marriage within the United States and indeed over the whole world is rising with its legalization. According to a survey published in The Gay Law report in June 2013, 55 percent of Americans strongly favor or favor gay marriage, 44 percent oppose or strongly oppose gay marriage, 2 percent of the interviewees are unsure and gay marriage support ha s annually increased for the past two decades by 1 percent. The total number of gay couples at the time was 594,391. According to the report, in most cities, 1-4 percent of the population is made up of gay people, with metropolitan areas having the most concentration. In an article published in The Independent in the UK, one in 100 people in the UK are gay or lesbian according to statistics published on sexuality, and more than 480,000 consider themselves gay or lesbian. A recent research by the Associated Press showed that several states in the United States allow same-sex marriage. They include Iowa, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Washington and Vermont. The District of Columbia also issues licenses to same-sex couples. Massachusetts was the first to allow same-sex couples to wed. According to the article, same-sex couples have been marrying for almost 9 years within the state. The article reports that The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in November 2003 ruled that it was against the constitution to bar same-sex marriages in the state. Same-sex weddings were allowed, starting from May 17, 2004. The research also shows that 30 states, including California, ban same-sex marriages within their constitutions. New Mexico law is however silent on the issue. At least 8 nations globally have legalized same-sex marriage, namely Canada, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and Spain. Religion and Same-sex Marriage There are various attitudes and arguments for or against same-sex marriages, mostly dictated by an individual’s or group’s religious background. According to Grill, Babst, and Pierceson (51), opposition to both same-sex marriage and same-sex relationships is most often defended for religious reasons and that both religion and sexual orientation are regarded, in theory, as private matters. Thus heterosexuality is considered the norm, and those whose practices, beliefs and identitie s diverge from the norm are marginalized, by being prevented from fully participating in public while open about their identities and beliefs. Christianity bases its moral stand on same-sex marriage on the biblical theory that one woman was created for one man, and that is therefore the way nature intended it. In the Islamic religion, same-sex marriages and relationships have got strong prohibitions. Newton notes that in

ENG IP5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ENG IP5 - Essay Example This movement spread in many spheres of Jewish life such as culture, religion, secularism, politics, labor and revisionism. The spread of this kind of nationalism came to the world as a surprised and shock the foundations of several other religious forces such as Islam and Christianity which considered Israelis to be a thing of the past. The arrival of the Zionist forces in the mainstream politics and religion gave way to businessmen especially in the field of agriculture and farming (Beinin & Stein 2006). This was the start of the Jewish settlement in their ancient regions or what they called their homeland. Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots both in politics and in religion. Ever since the war of 1948, the Israelis have outnumbered the Palestinians in Jerusalem leading to an intrusion of the Zionists in the Palestinian politics which caused a severe damage to the established structure. Both Palestinian Muslims and Christians were affected by this invasion which came to them as a shock. It is Zionism which is keeping the Israelis to fight for their entire life. One wonders whether the Israeli Zionism had taken an extremist approach towards attaining the land or had the opposing force, that is, the Palestinian Nationalist Movement become ineffective (Caplan 2010). Palestinians seem to have a stunted growth in the hands of the Israeli forces in the social, economic and political spheres. Most of the Arab population in Israel became internal refugees who had little to voice out for their rights. The high fertility rates and the decreasing mortality rates increased the Palestinian citizens to six-fold ever since the establishment of Israel (Dowty 2004). The places of exile were perfect for the Israeli’s to settle. Babylon and Egypt are regions full of resources and riches. But it was religion which drove the Jews towards the Holy Land of Jerusalem. It goes without saying that the means adopted by the Israeli forces to date are highly illegal althoug h the Arab neighboring nations are not reciprocating the way they should be doing politically (Dowty 2004). Unfortunately countless number of people are killed ruthlessly every passing day. Many billions have already died in the past but the issue of Palestine remains until the followers of all the main religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam come together to put some sense into each other. It is also observed that when the solutions are presented for the conflict between the two nations there is a one sided image portrayed greatly depending upon the opinions of the UN, British, American or Israeli government. The conflict worsened as the Israeli forces pushed them next to the Arab state so that it could meet a larger end. The agreement to join hands with the opposing party meant a great deal of chaos. This was however overlooked because Israel’s demand for the partition depended upon the initial behavior of the Palestinians when they first offered some joint endeavor (Bei nin & Stein 2006). On being interviewed for the New York Times in Paris, Mahmud Darwish, the â€Å"poetic voice of Palestine† who was awarded the Lannan Foundation Prize for Cultural Freedom, says quite helplessly and innocently that he fails to choose his own reality because he feels that instead of having a peaceful and serene mind to write poetry his poetry is colored with a constant tension of bloodshed, fire and occupation. The feeling has grown so

What does Nevada gaming policy Committee should consider that will Essay

What does Nevada gaming policy Committee should consider that will improve the gaming industry or the regulation of the gaming industry - Essay Example This paper will discuss ways that Nevada gaming policy committee should consider to improve the gaming industry or regulation of the gaming industry. Nevada gaming policy committee can improve gaming industry or the regulation of the gaming industry by enlisting outside directors. Although recruitment of outside executives is a challenge for licensed gaming corporations, outside managers with strong credentials in disciplines like marketing, finance as well as information technology can bring formidable contributions to a proprietor’s growth and management. It is a shame that most prospective outside managers have under no circumstances been accredited in the gaming industry. However, when such persons encounter the mandatory certifying procedure in all its complexity and scope, they frequently decline directorships in gaming corporations; they cannot validate undergoing the indiscreet background check as well as suitability investigation intended for a part-time duty. This occurrence shrinks the ocean of talented persons available to aid this crucial function for casino industry (Stewart 6). Nevada gaming policy committee can improve regulation of the gaming industry by removing redundant regulatory filings. Within different U.S. authorities, licensees have to file specific trimestral and yearly reports, which no longer aid a material monitoring purpose. In specific cases, the material within the reports, which generally are on management, finances and ownership of the licensee are available to controllers online or elsevia other licensee tenders. However, even when a report requests simply for such predictable information, the licensee has to formulate it with caution and authenticate its precision; gaming regulation enacts stiff fines for errors within any certified report. If every licensee in Nevada must file 5 unnecessary statements

ENG IP5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ENG IP5 - Essay Example This movement spread in many spheres of Jewish life such as culture, religion, secularism, politics, labor and revisionism. The spread of this kind of nationalism came to the world as a surprised and shock the foundations of several other religious forces such as Islam and Christianity which considered Israelis to be a thing of the past. The arrival of the Zionist forces in the mainstream politics and religion gave way to businessmen especially in the field of agriculture and farming (Beinin & Stein 2006). This was the start of the Jewish settlement in their ancient regions or what they called their homeland. Israeli-Palestinian conflict has its roots both in politics and in religion. Ever since the war of 1948, the Israelis have outnumbered the Palestinians in Jerusalem leading to an intrusion of the Zionists in the Palestinian politics which caused a severe damage to the established structure. Both Palestinian Muslims and Christians were affected by this invasion which came to them as a shock. It is Zionism which is keeping the Israelis to fight for their entire life. One wonders whether the Israeli Zionism had taken an extremist approach towards attaining the land or had the opposing force, that is, the Palestinian Nationalist Movement become ineffective (Caplan 2010). Palestinians seem to have a stunted growth in the hands of the Israeli forces in the social, economic and political spheres. Most of the Arab population in Israel became internal refugees who had little to voice out for their rights. The high fertility rates and the decreasing mortality rates increased the Palestinian citizens to six-fold ever since the establishment of Israel (Dowty 2004). The places of exile were perfect for the Israeli’s to settle. Babylon and Egypt are regions full of resources and riches. But it was religion which drove the Jews towards the Holy Land of Jerusalem. It goes without saying that the means adopted by the Israeli forces to date are highly illegal althoug h the Arab neighboring nations are not reciprocating the way they should be doing politically (Dowty 2004). Unfortunately countless number of people are killed ruthlessly every passing day. Many billions have already died in the past but the issue of Palestine remains until the followers of all the main religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam come together to put some sense into each other. It is also observed that when the solutions are presented for the conflict between the two nations there is a one sided image portrayed greatly depending upon the opinions of the UN, British, American or Israeli government. The conflict worsened as the Israeli forces pushed them next to the Arab state so that it could meet a larger end. The agreement to join hands with the opposing party meant a great deal of chaos. This was however overlooked because Israel’s demand for the partition depended upon the initial behavior of the Palestinians when they first offered some joint endeavor (Bei nin & Stein 2006). On being interviewed for the New York Times in Paris, Mahmud Darwish, the â€Å"poetic voice of Palestine† who was awarded the Lannan Foundation Prize for Cultural Freedom, says quite helplessly and innocently that he fails to choose his own reality because he feels that instead of having a peaceful and serene mind to write poetry his poetry is colored with a constant tension of bloodshed, fire and occupation. The feeling has grown so

Group Development Application Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Group Development Application - Assignment Example The workforce that companies, businesses, and foundations have is the first if not the key factor in any start up. This means, selecting the right skills, right professionals, and the right advice for the foundation. To collect data at the initial start of the project, the foundation will hire 100 employees on a one-off contract basis. These personnel will be responsible for data collection, analysis and drawing out conclusions. They will be composed of professional qualitative data research and analyst who are unit leaders. The other 70 personnel are capable elites that will not take us a century to train. Another group will be operating at our head office located in the capital city Nairobi. They are composed of 50 professionals and 15 casual workers hired on permanent terms and conditions. Professionals workers from a variety of fields including human resource managers, accountants, field agents and counselors among other staff that will come up handy, of importance and goes along the mission statement. We have to maintain a high standard service code to be able to succeed. To justify utilization of different groups of this vastness is that it involves duties that need the utmost teamwork and understanding. There are skilled personnel and the casuals that work in the organization. Groupings of personnel are done that is comprised of personnel from various regions and backgrounds. The entire team has to work together. A mixture of workers will submit duties, when there is a need to respond to certain special needs. Without which my leadership is doomed (Coetzer, 2007) Challenges are inevitable wherever we are on the face of the world. We need to hope for challenges only when we are ready. As a leader, I will learn to handle challenges accompanying such groupings. Time and again teams will have frictions here and there. Given that people are made of who, where, how, and what experience and natural

Trends And Issues In Curriculum And Instructions Education Essay

Trends And Issues In Curriculum And Instructions Education Essay The Jamaican Early Childhood Curriculum was recently crafted. The curriculum is built on the principle that children learn best when content from various disciplines along with skills from the developmental domains are in line with the childrens holistic view and experience of the world. The curriculum therefore considers learning through play, sequenced learning, individual learning, the practitioners multiple roles, and inclusion of all learners and the domains of development, the learning environment, proper assessment, the role of parents and the role of community (Davies, 2008). While the curriculum addresses various objectives that need to be met in fostering Early Childhood learning and outlines the requisite instructions, there are challenges to the implementation of the curriculum. Broadly speaking, these factors are usually internal and external. These factors reduce the effectiveness of the curriculum and weaken the chance of effective learning at the Early Childhood Level. The factors drive a mismatch between the situation that the curriculum was designed to target and the reality. This difference causes the actual learning outcome to deviate from the intended learning outcome. The curriculum is based on an assumption that the student is operating at a particular level, the students parent and environmental background offer a certain level of support, and the teacher operates at a certain level. It is fair to believe that this is normally the case. However, curriculum implementation breaks down whenever these assumptions do not hold. In my view, the internal factors may be best represented by teachers, students, school infrastructure and resources. Teachers are given the primary responsibility to implement the curriculum. A teachers creativity, capabilities and qualification enables him/her to transfer the content of the curriculum in a meaningful way that will connect with the diverse groups of learners. According to Jalongo and Isenberg (2012) a teachers knowledge of the children and the content of the curriculum will enable him/her to possess the ability to provide for the childrens strengths and weakness. The capable teacher will be able to facilitate the childs interest and to develop the knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions they will need to become productive members of the society. Jalongo and Isenberg (2012) posit that the teacher strategies and plan for learning is the thread that weaves the curriculum. They refer to this as the what of teaching, and the how of teaching. Its therefore, imperative that teachers plan for the students learning in order to cater for the diverse learning styles in their classroom. The methodologies that the teacher employs should fit the students ability to gain knowledge and develop the necessary skills. Also, the teacher should be competent and acquire keen insights on the capabilities that children possess in order to cater for holistic development. If this is not achieved, then the implementation of the curriculum would have failed. A key ingredient for the successful implementation of any curriculum is a keen understanding of the learner. Jalongo and Isenberg (2012) posit that a curriculum should focus on what a child knows and can do and what a child should know and can do. Hence the content of the curriculum should take into account the needs, interest, age and stage of development and the social and cultural context of the child. The child as the learner possesses the ultimate success of the curriculum. This takes into account the abilities, skills, background knowledge and exposure /experience that the child acquires before entering the learning environment. According to Puckett and Diffily (2004) being aware of the differences in childrens development, strengths and challenges will allow curriculum planners and teachers to plan effectively in order to meet each childs developmental needs. Jalongo and Isenberg (2012) stated that a curriculum should consider the following; Child development and learning, Chi ld needs, abilities and interest as well as their socio cultural context in which they live. I strongly believe that these factors will enable the teachers to perform effectively within the teaching and learning environment. The school infrastructure and resources play a vital role in the delivery of the schools curriculum. It is my observation that the size of the student population relative to the size and quality of the physical accommodation of a school impacts the quality of curriculum implementation. According to Krogh and Morehouse (2008) the environment outside the classroom should be rich with potential and becomes a valuable multiuse arena. They also indicate that the physical environment plays an integral and vital part in supporting practices that encourage high levels of child initiated engagement and exploration. It is my view that the environment plays a key role in stimulating the cognitive processes required for effective curriculum implementation. I believe that the infrastructure of a school attracts a particular socio economic class from within the community. As a result, this will determine the quality of students and teachers who are enrolled in and employed to the school. It also establishes the quality of curriculum implementation that will occur. This will drive the resources that these schools are provided with. Greater resources mean that the school is able to properly finance the required staffing and infrastructure improvements that facilitate the learning process. My school is located in the rural area of St. Andrew and its serves children from low socio economic backgrounds. Therefore, the implementation of the curriculum faces barriers as the students are unable to relate to the information, the teachers have limited educational training and the resources are limited to meet the needs of the students. This poses a challenge for the curriculum to be fully implemented and for the required learning outcomes to be obtained. In my view, external factors usually include parents, home and community. I believe that these factors are crucial to the implementation of the curriculum. Parental involvement is a key determinant to successful academic achievement. This sets the foundation of the learning attitude that children carry to the learning environment. Support from parents increases the academic achievement in later years. Burke (2010) postulates that a child whose parents are passionately active and involved in their education at an early has a distinct advantage when compared to his/her peers. I believe that the involvement of parents facilitates the childs willingness to appreciate the importance of a solid education. This involvement can break or build the implementation of any curriculum. In my opinion, parents are generally unaware of the powerful effect that they have on what and how the content of a curriculum is designed and implemented. I believe that parents are an essential part of resource bu ilding. Strong parent teacher associations (PTAs) and effective parental involvement in school administration goes a far way in strengthening fund raising activities and in acquiring external support in building the school infrastructure. I strongly believe that parents are the first line of support for all children. They are the primary source of socialization and set the foundation for formal learning to take place. The home is the initial environment for optimal nurturing and it ideally creates a sense of belonging. In integrating parental role in curriculum implementation, a one-size fits all approach cannot be taken. We have to take into consideration the socio economic status of these parents as well as their educational background. The background of these parents, especially in rural environs, allows for limitation on the input they can offer to the implementation of the curriculum. Hence, little or no involvement occurs and the inability to hold teachers accountable for poor curriculum implementation becomes a major issue. Burke (2010) states that when parents are involved in the educational process of their children, they will be able to include or add additional information and insight from their own persona l experiences to teachers in order to support their childs learning and development. Community is seen as the secondary source of socialization. When we examine a community, we need to take into account the structure, culture and socio economic factors that shape the community. Couchenour and Chrisman (2011) stated that when the cultural background of the community does not match the cultural and educational context of a school then the academic achievement will be affected. This, I believe, is crucial in the implementation of the curriculum. In my opinion, the cultural background of the students and the parents may prevent a school from attaining a targeted culture. The interrelatedness of the school and the community greatly impacts the achievement of the objectives of the curriculum. Rural communities are largely comprised of farmers and unemployed individuals who sparingly acquire secondary education. Urie Brofenbrenners bioecological theory explains that understanding a childs development requires us to view the child in his socio culture context that includes f amily setting, community and the wider society (as cited in Couchenour and Chrisman, 2011). It is my view that the community plays a vital role in shaping the culture of the school. Depending on the socio economic, culture, structure and educational factors the implementation of the curriculum will be extensively affected. In conclusion, many factors affect  curriculum  implementation. It is my view that internal factors such as teachers, students, school infrastructure and resources and external factors such as parents, home and community are vital factors that may pose positive and negative effects on the implementation of the curriculum. At the early childhood level, the content and objectives of the curriculum should be centred on the childs needs and interest. How we address their needs and interest is dependent on the instructional objectives carried out by the teacher, the availability of resources and the learning environment of the school. It is my view, therefore, that a curriculum customization is needed at the Early Childhood level in order to cater for the different internal and external factors indicated above. A customized blueprint will produce effective, critical and holistic thinkers within our community and wider society.

Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

In the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pearl serves as the “apple of Eden';. She is plucked from the hands of God in heaven and sent to the mortal world as a baby “to make out its [the scarlet letter’s] hidden import'; (155), causing Prynne and Dimmesdale to face their consequences. Pearl functions in the story on three levels: as a real child, as a continuing symbol of Prynne and Dimmesdale’s adultery, and as an allegorical figure sent to torment the sinners and direct their actions. Only Dimmesdale can “ripen'; her into the woman she needs to become. Otherwise she will continually serve as a representation of their mistake. Pearl is the rose bush that is located outside of the prison door. Although, she brings happiness to Prynne, Pearl is covered with “thorns';. When Mr. Wilson asks Pearl the question of who made her, Pearl responds “that she had not been made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses, that grew by the prison-door'; (95). She is a good child, an “infant…worthy to have been brought forth in Eden; worthy to have been left there, to be the plaything of the angels'; (75), but she is a “born outcast of the infantile world…an imp of evil, emblem and product of sin'; (79). Her physical features did not show she is different: she has perfect arms and legs and has a native grace with innocent beauty. She is magnificent when she is displayed in her exquisite robes as her natural beauty shown through such that there was a circle of radiance around her. However, emotionally something is wrong with Pearl. If other children gather aroun d her, she would feel the dislike from the other children, and would snatch up stones to throw at them, while screaming. In the “garden'; of the Puritan society, Pearl is the rose bush, while “the ugliest weeds of the garden were their [Puritans’] children, whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully'; (80). Prynne, the adulterous mother, feels the guilt of bringing Pearl into the world and is reluctant to discipline the child, because Pearl is Prynne’s “sole treasure, whom she had bought so dear, and who was all her world'; (78). Pearl also represents the living embodiment of the scarlet letter embroidered on Prynne’s clothing. She “was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!'; (86).

Understanding Celiac Disease Essay -- immune system, multisystem disor

Unfortunately for diagnosed patients, there is no recognized cure for Celiac disease. What the individual must do instead, is change their diet completely. Some may think that changing a diet around is no big deal and in fact, that may be true until it happens to them. Similar to many other aspects of life, nothing seems to be a problem or as severe until it directly affects the person who thinks it is not a big issue. This makes people diagnosed with Celiac disease lives challenging. On top of having to change their diets completely, they also have to deal with people who do not understand the disease and how it is a serious problem. Being diagnosed with Celiac disease affects the everyday life of people and restricts what they can eat. Celiac disease is a multisystem disorder. It causes the body’s immune system to respond negatively to the protein in specific grains. "The immune system responds to these proteins because it thinks it is being attacked. It then builds antibodies to protect itself from these proteins and inturn those antibodies cause damage to the small intestines" (Bower). In life you do not realize that anything is wrong until of course when you notice something is wrong. For example, coming home from somewhere and walking through the front door just like any other normal day and there is no realization that the house is broken into until noticing that the back door is smashed open. Celiac disease is much like the back door in the prior situation. Many people do not even realize that they have this issue until their stomach begins to be in pain for longer periods. â€Å"Celiac disease, a multisystem disease, is one of the most underdiagnosed hereditary autoimmune disorders.† What multisystem means is that the ... ... hundred percent. This disease is extremely complicated and time consuming, it involves tons of research and planning. Every meal has to be thought about and anticipated. Gluten-free diets are one of the most difficult diets to follow in today's world. Works Cited Bower, Sylvia Llewelyn, Mary Kay Sharrett, and Steve Plogsted. Celiac Disease A Guide to Living with Gluten Intolerance. New York: Demos Medical Publishing, LLC., 2007. Green, Regina. Personal Interview. 06 December 2015. Dennis, Melinda and Daniel Leffler. Real Life With Celiac Disease Troubleshooting and Thriving Gluten Free. Bethesda, MD: AGA Press, 2010. Green, Peter H.R. and Rory Jones. Celiac Disease A Hidden Epidemic. New York: HarperCollins Publisher, 2010. Langwith, Jacqueline. Perspectives On Disease & Disorders Celiac Disease. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2012.

Barack Obama: The Audacity of Hope

The words â€Å"The Audacity of Hope† comes from Obama’s 2004 Democratic Convention keynote address. Much of the book deal with Obama’s policy positions on a number of issues, from health care to the occupation of Iraq. In this book, Obama criticizes the existing policy positions of the Bush government, and tries to reconcile political differences based on the twin principles of respect and statesmanship. There are several issues that Obama discussed in the book. The first issue is about racial discrimination. Obama rejects the notion that the United States is divided into politically racial spheres.Obama argues that the so-called ‘racial divide’ is a social construction – hence, cannot be immersed in policy-making. The personal attributes of people, according to Obama, should not become a hindrance to their own development. The second issue is rather unusual for the common reader. Obama rejects the ‘either – or formulationsâ€⠄¢ as a matter of policy. Here, he is referring to George W. Bush absolutists’ foreign policy that does not take into consideration alternatives. Obama provides a general background of such policy in the 60’s.According to Obama, the admission of African-Americans, minorities, and women to full citizenship had greatly undermined the power of the racial majority. What had developed was a system of grudge that, even today, manifests itself in government, business, education, and defense. The unity of the American nation had been greatly undermined. Obama argues that the only means to restore that unity is towards reconciling political differences. Although this is difficult to achieve, the price of success far outweighs the short-run costs.Obama’s idea of national unity transcends race, creed, and political differences. His idea of unity resembles that of Martin Luther King. Much of Obama’s thoughts on foreign, military, and domestic policies are a general t riangulation of liberal and conservative ideas – probably a way to appease both liberals and conservatives in society as Tony Blair did. In any case, his ideas about national security are much more enlightened than that of Bush. Obama’s argues that war in Iraq was a misguided war on the basis that it increased the associated risks to the United States.It did not put an end to terrorism, rather magnified it threefold. Tolerance, according to Obama must be observed in domestic and foreign policies. This is the only way to achieve an everlasting peace. The thesis of the book is: Unity of the American nation transcends race, creed, and politics, and the way to achieve peace is tolerance. For an intelligent reader, this thesis is something more of a vague statement. It does not attempt to give specific solutions to specific problems. There is no evaluation of alternatives.It is even possible to argue that Obama’s thesis is a coagulation of his political motives †“ a desire for higher political office. In any case, unlike his predecessors, Obama’s attempts to give a general view of American policies are generally unbiased and to some extent open-ended. Much of his enthusiasm of a possible end of conflict in Iraq is generally based on the hopes of a policy-shift – whether a Republican or Democrat is elected to the White House. Here, one can see that Obama’s audacity in intellectual leadership in his party exceeded that of George W. Bush.One can therefore argue that even if Obama’s thesis is a motherhood statement, it is in fact a radical alternative of the conservative-either-or policies of the Bush administration. Here, one sees the views of both a rising politician and a ‘dreamer of the 1960s. ’ Again, the specification of Obama’s thesis is still problematic, even though it carries a very meaningful radical policy-shift. In any case, there is no end to the question, â€Å"Is unity a long-ru n possibility? † Reference Obama, Barack. 2006. The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. New York: Crown.