Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Gun Control Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Gun Control Report - Essay Example Mostly, those involved in gun violence may not be gun owners, but might be individuals that have illegal access to guns. Generally, gun ownership tends to be strict upon civilians as many at times individuals with the intention of committing crimes acquire guns with relative ease through illegal means. Therefore, it is import that the government sensitizes the public on matters related to gun ownership before the actual implementation of gun control policies at the legislative stage of governance. Further, this report will give the various statics surrounding the reported numbers of gun related crimes within the urban setups as compared to those in rural areas. Ideally, the number of gun related violence in urban states where there are strict regulations on gun acquisition are higher than the rates in rural areas where gun acquisition is easy (Joe, 2012). Subsequently, the report will be in tandem with the practical approaches applicable in the minimization of gun related crimes at t he lowest level of governance to ensure that civilians also play a role in developing safer living environments. The report would also to address the impact of the castle doctrine laws in some states as possible contributors to gun violence. This is in line wit the Institute of Legislative Action under the National Rifle Association as per the provision of the Second amendment in the US Constitution (Davies, 2013). Your sincerely, May 20th 2013 Table of Contents Table of Contents 4 Executive Summary 5 Introduction 5 Problem statement 7 Method 7 Findings 8 Analysis 10 Conclusion 10 References 12 Joe, W., B. (2012). The reality of the Gun Control Debate. Retrieved from http://wjoeb.hubpages.com/hub/The-reality-of-the-Gun-Control-Debate 12 Webster, D. W. et al. (2012). The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America. John Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research Press. Retrieved on 20th May 2013 from http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-gun-policy- and-research/publications/WhitePaper102512_CGPR.pdf 12 Appendix 13 Executive Summary Presently, at least thirty thousand people that are part of the American population die because of gun inflicted wounds in which the greatest proportion of this number is young people. Ideally, this aspect has made gun violence be the greatest contributor to the premature demise of the young population of America. On the other hand, the statistics on the number of reported non-fatal gun related crimes amount to close to three hundred and forty seven thousand cases with a minimal number of this people seeking treatment at hospital departments. In essence, the rate of homicide in America is seven times higher than that of other developed economies making it a worrying trend for a good performing economy (Sowell, 2012). Fundamentally, the lack of proper gun laws is the prime reason as to why there is a higher prevalence of gun ownership and higher cases of gun related violent crimes. Further, gun viole nce also impacts the economy as the US population loses a significant number of the work force to violent deaths while the rest incurs expenses in seeking treatment for the injuries caused by gun violence. The traumatic effect caused by gun violence tends to have an impact on the increase of poverty levels as it tends to influence psychological imbalance for those affected by this tragic event. According to statistics, the average direct or
Monday, October 28, 2019
The Revolutionary War Essay Example for Free
The Revolutionary War Essay The first spawn of the American Revolution came from the gentry or in other words from the rich and wellborn. These were the first to resent Parliamentââ¬â¢s efforts to curtail their rights within the British Empire. They voiced their unhappiness in published statements and in speeches before elected assemblies. These influential planters, wealthy merchants, and prominent clergymen discovered that the revolutionary movement generated a momentum that they could not control. As the relations with the mother country deteriorated, the traditional leaders of colonial society were forced to invite the common folk to join the protest as rioters, petitioners and then as soldiers. Newspapers, sermons, and pamphlets helped transform what had begun only as a squabble among the gentry into a mass movement. Once the common people had become involved in shaping the nationââ¬â¢s destiny they could never be excluded again. No one in 1763 consciously made their mind up on fighting for independence it just happened. What Americans came to believe to be ââ¬Å"common senseâ⬠in 1776 would have been thought of as madness or treason just a decade before. The bonds of loyalty that had glued the British Empire were dissolving slowly. It is only with the benefit of hindsight that the confrontations of this period seem to have led to the Revolution. The men and women who lived through these difficult years did not know what the future would bring. At several points British rulers and American colonists could have compromised. They could have attempted in some ways to ease growing tensions. Their failure to do so was the result of thousands of separate decisions, errors and misunderstandings. The Revolution was a complex series of events, full of unexpected turns, extraordinary creativity and great personal sacrifice (Bailyn, 1967). In 1760 George the III, only 22 was given the ultimate responsibility for preserving the empire. In the public eye they praised the new monarch, but in private they expressed great concern. The king had led a very sheltered life that lacked many of lifeââ¬â¢s experiences. He had not gotten a good education, but had an aptitude for mechanical ability. He was basically considered stupid and slow witted. He had a difficult time in grasping the concept of imagination, generosity and wisdom during a difficult period in history. He decided to play an aggressive role in government this did not sit well with Englandââ¬â¢s political leaders. For decades a powerful group of men who called themselves ââ¬Å"Whigsâ⬠had set policy and controlled patronage. George the II was ok with this but when George the III came into power he dissolved this relationship. He placed people in charge that had absolutely no political knowledge and the only relationship for the job would have been just to have known someone. The Earl of Bute was selected as chief minister and this totally outraged the ââ¬Å"Whigsâ⬠. They accused George of trying to instill a personal Stuart monarchy that was free from traditional constitutional restraints (Morgan Morgan, 1953). The king does not bear the sole blame for Englandââ¬â¢s loss of the empire in America. The members of Parliament, the men who actually drafted the statutes that drove a wedge between the colonists and the mother country, failed to respond creatively to the challenges of events. With rare exception, they clung to the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and when Americans questioned whether that legislative body in London should govern colonial affairs, parliamentary spokesmen provided no constructive grounds for compromise. The establishment of a separate American commonwealth bound to British only by commerce and common allegiance to the monarch received no support in the House of Commons, this a huge problem for American colonialist (Higginbotham, 1971). Parliamentââ¬â¢s attitude was in part a product of ignorance. Few men active in English government had visited America. For those who attempted to follow colonial affairs did not get accurate information for the best decisions. Getting any kind of mail or information took a four week boat trip. To get a response took about three months. The result of the lag in communication between England and America became rumors that passed for factual events and a misunderstanding is the influence parliament took for the formulation of colonial policy. At the end of the French and Indian War, is seemed impossible that the colonists would challenge the supremacy of Parliament. But the crisis in imperial relations that soon developed forced the Americans first to define and then to defend principles that were rooted deeply in the colonial political culture (Morgan Morgan, 1953). For more than a century, the colonistââ¬â¢s ideas about their role within the British Empire had remained a vague bundle of assumptions about personal liberties, property rights, and representative institutions. By 1763 certain fundamental American beliefs had become clear. Colonists affirmed the importance of representative government. They also accepted the authority of local assemblies to tax their constituents. To declare that the House of Commons in London enjoyed the same right made no sense to them. Parliament was too far and its members could not possibly understand what American interests were. Political thought in the colonies contained a strong moral component, one that British rulers and American Loyalists never fully understood. The origins of this religious perspective on civil government are difficult to locate with precision (Bailyn, 1967). The Great Awakening raised menââ¬â¢s and womenââ¬â¢s consciousness of an obligation to conduct themselves according to scripture in public as well as in private. At the same time many Americans who were not swept up by the evangelical fervor adopted the ââ¬Å"commonwealthmanâ⬠tradition. Insistence on public virtue such as sacrifice of self-interest to the public good became the dominant theme of revolutionary political writing. Media took center stage, colonial newspapers spread the word and ideals throughout the new nation and this was true for the northern part of the country were most were literate. Following the Seven Yearââ¬â¢s War more than seven thousand British troops, members of the regular army remained in North America. Their alleged purpose was to protect Indians from predatory frontiersmen and to preserve order in the newly conquered territories of Florida and Quebec. But no one person in the British government actually made the decision to keep an army in the colonies. This unexpected circumstance occurred because various officials in London assumed that someone else had issued the order and what was in facet a no decision resulted in bureaucratic confusion and inertia that provided the initial catalyst for Anglo-American hostility. The war had saddled Britain with a huge national debt. It cost quite a lot to maintain scattered troops and military posts on the American frontier. This burden weighed heavily on the English taxpayers and this made government officials search for different avenues to gain revenue (Shy, 1976). Meanwhile back in America the colonialist was beginning to believe that the revenues spent on the army were too high, because of the inadequacies of the troops. Another factor that played into the make up of the war was that colonialists wanted to move west of the Appalachian Mountains and British refused. The colonialist saw this to be the armyââ¬â¢s fault and a problem stopping them from economic development. It was soon after this that George Grenville proposed the first bill that would tax the colonialist to pay for the military there in the states, the Sugar Act. This was soon by the Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Revenue Act, Tea Act, Coercive Acts and the Prohibitory Act. The last being what drives the Continental congress closer to a decision for independence (Morgan Morgan, 1953). The war lasted longer than anyone had predicted in 1776. While the nation won its independence, many Americans paid a terrible price. Indeed, a large number of men and women decided that however much they had loved colonial society they could not accept the new government. Over one hundred thousand men and women permanently left America. Americans turned their attentions to the business of building a new republic. Congress appointed a delegation to negotiate a peace treaty. According to their official instructions, they were to insist only upon the recognition of the independence of the United States. The peacemakers drove a remarkable bargain to say the least, a much better one than Congress could have expected. The preliminary agreement signed on September 3, 1783 guaranteed the independence of the United States and it also transferred all the territory east of the Mississippi River, except Florida which would remain under Spanish rule, to the new Republic (Rankin, 1964). The American people had waged war against the most powerful nation in Europe and come out victorious. The treaty marked the end of a colonial rebellion, but it left them to work out their new country. Many new questions would need to be answered and through difficult times were worked out to what we have today in America. Many referred to the American Revolution as a play with many acts that led up to its historical standing. Works Cited: Bailyn, Bernard. The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Cambridge: Harvard University press, (1967). Higginbotham, Don. The War of American Independence. New York: MacMillian, (1971). Morgan, Edmund S., Morgan, Helen M. The Stamp Act Crisis. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, (1953). Rankin, Hugh F. The American Revolution. New York: Putnam, (1964). Shy, John. A People Numerous and Armed. New York: Oxford Press, (1976).
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Feminist Critique of Tess of the DUrbervilles :: Essays Papers
Feminist Critique: Tess of the D'Urbervilles Tess of the Dââ¬â¢Urbervilles November 19, 1999 Ellen Rooney presents us with a feminist perspective which addresses a few key conflicts in the story, offering qualification if not answers. Essentially, Rooney argues that: Hardy is unable to represent the meaning of the encounter in The Chase from Tessââ¬â¢s point of view because to present Tess as a speaking subject is to risk the possibility that she may appear as the subject of desire. Yet a figure with no potential as a desiring subject can only formally be said to refuse desireâ⬠¦Hardy is blocked in both directions. (466) According to Rooney, we do not hear from Tess in this instance, for if we were to, it would only reinforce the notion of ââ¬Å"Tess the seductress.â⬠Yet, in various versions, Tess is presented as a seductress. Even by her nature as a beautiful women, Hardy presents the reader mixed messages; should we see her as a willing seductress, or as a victim who must suffer because of her bodyââ¬â¢s e ffects on others? Rooney argues that Hardy never comes to a conclusion on this issue, but ââ¬Å"enables Tess to give over [her body], utterly silenced and purified, not by Hardyââ¬â¢s failure to see that she might speak, but by his unflinching description of the inexorable forces that produce her as the seductive object of the discourses of manâ⬠(481). Rooney writes a capable piece of gender criticism, in that it is defined as ââ¬Å"how women have been written.â⬠Gender issues seem permeate the story and the author doesnââ¬â¢t take a definitive stand on them. Rooney attempts to examine what role Tess plays in the story, how her interactions with Alec and Angel Clare form her identity, and how she triumphs over her afflictions. Ironically, her biggest affliction is her natural beauty; itââ¬â¢s something men simply cannot pass up, and just by her looks, she becomes seductive. Rooney brings this point up, but much to her credit, does not unleash an attack on Hardy or men because of it. Often feminist critics bear the burden that they are out to ââ¬Å"getâ⬠men, yet when there is an apt argument for doing so in Tess, Rooney refrains and simply addresses the issues. Overall, her article was quite helpful in addressing the most resonate conflict in the whole story.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
John Locke Research Paper Essay
Throughout history there have been many philosophers that impacted the world. Philosophers such as John Locke have shaped todayââ¬â¢s society in a number of ways. John Locke was extremely influential and has had some of the most lasting impacts on the ideas still to this day. John Locke has inspired a many of people throughout his lifetime and shaped the way for philosophers and great minds of the generations to come. John Locke was an English philosopher, born on August 29 1632, in Somerset, England. He was born into a Protestant family (Faiella 24). Lockeââ¬â¢s mother died when he was an infant and he was raised by his father John, who is said to have had an influence on Lockeââ¬â¢s views (24). In 1652, Locke attended Christ Church College to study medicine (25). However, Locke found the ideals and theories of modern philosophers of his time more interesting than the material he studied while at Christ Church, which led to Locke never pursuing a career as a doctor (25). Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper sought out Lockeââ¬â¢s assistance to treat a liver cyst; Cooper soon became impressed with Locke and appointed Locke to be his advisor (28). Locke then joined the Royal. Society where he met individuals with whom he discussed mortality and religion, which resulted in the creation of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (Powell, Jim Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty, and Property). Locke wanted to learn more and pursued a position in which he could examine toleration, education and trade, leading to Locke and Anthony Ashley Cooper working closely together (Powell, Jim John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty, and Property). Anthony Cooper was the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, and it was in the Shaftesbury household where some of Lockeââ¬â¢s most influential ideas came alive. Cooper assisted in forming Lockeââ¬â¢s ideas; it was within the Shaftesbury household during 1671 that the meeting, which resulted in the making of An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, took place (25). Lockeââ¬â¢s friendship with Cooper became complicated, causing Locke to move to Holland where he became connected with the English Rebels (Faiella 29). Eventually, Locke was placed on a list of 85 traitors who were wanted by the English government as a result of his works (29). During 1683, Locke used an alias, Dr. Van Der Linden, to sign letters being sent to his peers (Powell, Jim John Locke Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Locke was offered a pardon offered by William Penn but, Locke wouldnââ¬â¢t accept the pardon because he believed he didnââ¬â¢t do anything to deserve his criminal status and he stood by his beliefs (Faiella 30). In 1686 while in Holland Locke was meeting with peers to discuss philosophical ideals and plot to overthrow King James II. Locke was later removed from the list of traitors (31). After the Glorious Revolution Locke returned to England and helped draft the Toleration Act of 1689 (31). Locke believed in many things as a philosopher, one of Lockeââ¬â¢s most known ideals was Natural Law. Locke strongly believed in Natural Law, which stated men have natural rights which cannot be given to you by rulers (Stephens, George M. John Locke: His American and Carolinian Legacy). Locke also believed in the Social Contract, which stated that, a persons moral or political obligations should rely on an agreement in order to form a society (John Locke: His American Carolinian Legacy). Locke strongly believed that people lived in a certain State of Nature before there was society. Locke stated that the State of Nature was when people lived with no judge, no laws and no punishment for their crimes (Treatises on Government). Locke thought that laws of society existed for the common good of the population as a whole (Treatises on Government). People could not break the social contract because it would result in chaos (Treatises on Government). Locke also believed that the government existed to assist the needs of the people and if it should not fulfill its job to the people, people had the right to overthrow the government (John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Locke believed that without a majority rule the social contract wouldnââ¬â¢t work (John Locke: His American and Carolinian Legacy). Therefore, Locke wrote An Essay Concerning Human Understanding which was based on his beliefs and experiences (Powell, Jim. John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Locke also wrote a Letter Concerning Toleration, which discussed an idea of religious toleration for everyone except Atheists and Catholics. (John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Locke believed education is for liberty and that people learn by examples and that this is the way society should learn (John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Locke also fought for freedom of the press and opposed the renewal of the act for regulation of printing (John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Clearly, John Locke had a very big impact throughout the world, even though during his time he was viewed as a criminal for some of his ideas. Locke provoked revolutions in Europe, Latin America, and in Asia (Powell, Jim. John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). John Locke influenced the Declaration of the Rights of Men, in 1789 while in France, which recognized property rights. (Stephens, George M. John Locke: His American and Carolinian Legacy). Locke also influenced Montesquieuââ¬â¢s beliefs regarding the separation of powers (Powell, Jim. John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). Also one of Lockeââ¬â¢s greatest influences was his assistance in inspiring the French Revolution (John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty and Property). John Locke influenced the United States in a number of different ways. For example, Lockeââ¬â¢s Second Treatise Concerning Civil Government inspired the American Revolution (Powell, Jim. John Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty, and Property). Also, In the Declaration of Independence it states how King George violated his contract with the colonist, which was influenced by Lockeââ¬â¢s ideas (Stephens, George M. John Locke: His American and Carolinian Legacy). The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution discusses property rights, which was also inspired by John Locke (John Locke: His American and Carolinian Legacy). In the constitution the legislative branch has more power than a single official but has no veto power, another ideal of Locke (John Locke: His American and Carolinian Legacy). In conclusion, John Locke inspired many people throughout history with his strong beliefs and ideals. Locke was criminalized and wanted for his beliefs. Lockeââ¬â¢s ideas have influenced not only England or the United States of America, but have resulted in a change in the world. Locke inspired people of his time, and implemented lasting ideas and changes in the government, and Locke inspired other philosophers. Philosophers similar to Locke have used Lockeââ¬â¢s ideas as a foundation to further mold the world we live in, and shape societies. John Locke has made a lasting impact and his ideas will continue to impact the world. Works Cited Faiella, Graham. â⬠John Locke: His Lifeâ⬠John Locke:Champion of Modern Democracy New York: Rosen Group, 2005. 24-31. Print. Locke, John. Two Treatises on Government. 1690. Print. Powell,Jim ââ¬Å"Jim Locke: Natural Right to Life, Liberty, and Propertyâ⬠The Freeman. Foundation for Economic Education. 1 August 1996. Web. 6 October 2014. Stephens, George M. ââ¬Å"John Locke: His American and Carolinian legacy. â⬠John Locke Foundation. N. D. Web. 2 October 2014.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Pros and Cons of Alternative Work Schedule
Many people are now opting to find work schedules that would best fit their lifestyles and suit their needs in doing other tasks. Some people are having a difficult time adhering on the traditional work schedules or the work schedules as prescribed by their company. That is why they look for schedules that will best suit their needs and allow them to manage their time on their own. Everyone has their own perception of flexibility and work. Such perceptions may greatly depend on the personal needs, educational background, skills and the type of work that you are about to pursue.Alternative work schedules refer to the type of schedule that is not based on the conventional work schedule. Types of alternative work schedules include part-time employment, flexible leave and subcontracting. Part-time employment has the advantage of doing many jobs effectively; however, employing two part-timers may cost more than employing one full-time employee. However, part-time employment may be a bette r option than lay-offs (Rogovsky, Ozoux, Esser, Marpe & Broughton, 2005). On the other hand, subcontracting is the type of alternative work schedule that is detaching some of the employees in period of time.The employees still belong to the company but they will work for another company. Flexible leave allows the employees to avail limited leave that is agreed by the company and the employee (Rogovsky et al. , 2005). Flex-time is a growing idea in the business industry and becoming a popular option in the workplaceââ¬â¢s work arrangements. The idea that the employees should not be tied on to their desks the whole week emerged in the 1990ââ¬â¢s. Today, flexibility is an integral part of business. This is expected already as the new generation enters the workforce (Bitti, 2008).The inception of new technology, especially the use of computers, changed the landscape of work arrangements. It allows employees to be more present or attend to their work anytime and anywhere if their w ork is accessible in the internet. That is why more companies are embracing flexi-time work schedules for their work arrangements (Bitti, 2008). Compressed work week is becoming an option for the company to attract more employees and increase their productivity. Compressed work week means that you will work for the same number of hours as they would work for regular week but in fewer days (MacKillop, Geddie & Miedema, 2003).Compressed work week may be in the form of flexible work arrangement in order to maintain balance between work and family. Alternative work schedules provide options for the employees that have other responsibilities ââ¬â either at home or at school ââ¬â as most of the people that seek for alternative work schedules are mothers who are engaged in household activities and students who seek job opportunities while studying. The alternative work schedule has its own advantages and disadvantages. Flexible work arrangement is a type of alternative work schedul e that renders benefits to the employees.One of the advantages it renders is allowing employees not to commute on the rush hour that is less stressful on the part of the employees (Katepoo, 2008). Alternative work schedule also improve the morale of the employees and considerably reduce the stress experienced of the employees. Alternative work schedule can lower the absences of the employees and can contribute greatly in productivity. In addition, the overtime pay for the employees is reduced, thus lowering the costs for the employers (Beierlein & Van Horn, 1995).Moreover, there is an enhancement in the aspect of recruitment as well as for the people who may be unavailable for the traditional work schedule. The business hours are also extended due to flex-time and compressed work week options. The equipment and facilities are also economically used in alternative work schedules (Beierlein & Van Horn, 1995). One of the advantages of the flexi-time is that it allows the employees to j uggle different things while receiving a regular payment. They are able to attend to other things without sacrificing their work (Bitti, 2008).Alternative work schedule also has its own share of disadvantages. This includes mentally and physically stressful or draining for the employees working in the compressed work week arrangement. This may also become the onset of chronic fatigue due to work and family conflict time pressures in some types of alternative work schedule. The compressed work schedule may render difficulty especially for mothers who are attending household responsibilities (Katepoo, 2008). Furthermore, supervisors and subordinates may not work on the same schedule making it hard for the management to effectively manage the company.Problems may also arise in the areas of timekeeping and how benefits are distributed (Beierlein & Van Horn, 1995). There is also the possibility of lower workforce on peak days that require the managements to establish efficient cross and back-up training and good communication system to ensure high productivity. In compressed work week arrangement, people with young family members spend longer hours in the office in some days and experience difficulty in their day care obligations (MacKillop, Geddie & Miedema, 2003).The alternative work schedule is a growing trend in the business industry and slowly gaining popularity in some companies. It renders advantages not only for the employees but also for the employer and the company. However, the alternative work schedule has its own set of disadvantages for both parties.References Beierlein, J. G. & Van Horn, J. E. (1995, June). Alternative Work Schedule. National Network for Child Care. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from http://www. nncc. org/EO/emp. alt. work. sched. html.Bitti, T. (2008, July 14). What are the pros and cons of flex time?. Financial Post. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from http://www. financialpost. com/small_business/businesssolutions/story. html? id=645 783.Katepoo, P. (2008). Compressed Workweek: Pros & Cons as a Flexible Work Arrangement. WorkOptions. com. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from http://www. workoptions. com/compros. htm.MacKillop, M. , Geddie, J. & Miedema, A. (2003). Legal Terms for Human Resources Professionals. Canada: CCH Canadian Ltd. Rogovsky, N. , Ozoux, P. , Esser, D. , Marpe, T. & Broughton, A. (2005). Restructuring for Corporate Success: A Socially Sensitive Approach. Geneva: International Labour Organization.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
History of SEMCO â⬠Business Management Essay
History of SEMCO ââ¬â Business Management Essay Free Online Research Papers History of SEMCO Business Management Essay Maverickââ¬â¢s story refers to a series of changes occurred to SEMCO, a Brazilian manufacturing company, initiated by the founderââ¬â¢s entrepreneur son, Ricardo Semler, turning it into one of the worlds most unusual and admired workplaces. SEMCO, whose headquarters is located in So Paulo, started in 1952 by Ricardoââ¬â¢s father, Antonio Semler, with a small patent for a centrifuge that could separate lubricating oil from vegetables, later growing under the entrepreneurââ¬â¢s hands into one of that countries most successful companies. Ricardo Semlerââ¬â¢s concise and efficient form of writing lay way to a textbook that reads like a novel and yet manages to render the vision under which his company should be run, a company who has proven itself a definitive success in business and economics. Certainly Maverick is a book for more opened-mined readers, an unquestioningly beneficial and stimulating novel, and a necessary narrative. Semlerââ¬â¢s vision was one which was not laid out to him from the very beginning it was drawn from not only his own ideas but from those of his close companions as well, he credits many of the people who work for Semler: Clovis, Joo Vendramin, Harro, Ernesto, Josà © Fiasco, etc. A vision that spread from giving his workers the confidence of eliminating supervisors and the desire to make them feel more involve in the process of production to eliminating nine layers of management and letting them set their own pay. A strong principal by which Semler has been guided is the trust in his employees. His view of them is not one of mindless slaves who are paid to do as they are told, but one of understanding individuals who are responsible for the cooperative effort of making a product. In the book we can see that SEMCO does not use a formal organization chart. They believe that without them they can create great leaders. If it is absolutely necessary to sketch the structure of some part of the company, they always do it on pencil, and dispense with it as soon as possible. The way SEMCO acquires new employees differs with other companiesââ¬â¢ standards. When some one is hired or promoted, the other employees of that unit and his subordinates have the opportunity to interview and evaluate the candidates before any decision is made. This makes SEMCO a more united company because every person knows the capacities and abilities of his or her comrade. The working environment there is very flexible, because at SEMCO they want their people to feel free to change and adapt their working area as they please. Painting walls or machines, adding plants or decoration the space around them is up to them. The company has no rules about this, and does not intend to have any. People change their area according to their tastes and preferences according with other people desires. SEMCO has a philosophy built on participation and involvement. Any worker can give his or her opinion. It is not desired to have workers who are just one more person at the company they should be participants. An opinion is always welcome, even if it just an interesting observation. Workers should get in touch with committees, and participate in elections. Another interesting point is the evaluation of your boss. This assessment is made twice a year by means of a questionnaire to be filled out enabling the employees to express what they think about their boss. Worker should be frank and honest, not just on the form but also in the discussion that follows. Employees at SEMCO are guaranteed representation through the Factory Committee of each business unit. Each SEMCO unit groups of workers elect representatives to serve on committees. These committees meet regularly with the top managers at each unit to discuss any and all workplace issues or policies. They are empowered to call strikes, audit the books, and question all aspects of management. At SEMCO workers are motivated to defend their interests even though these will not usually coincide with those of the company. These conflicts are to be seen as healthy and necessary. At SEMCO they offer job security which is than any worker that has been with them for three years, or has reached the age of fifty, has special protection and can only be dismissed after a long series of approvals. This does not mean SEMCO has no layoff policy, but it helps to increase the security of their people. Women in Brazil have fewer job opportunities, promotion, and financial opportunities than men. At SEMCO, they have various programs, run by them, that seek to reduce this discrimination. They are known as ââ¬Å"The SEMCO Womenâ⬠. They inspire women to participate. Every one at SEMCO should take thirty days of vacation every year. It is vital for their health and the companyââ¬â¢s welfare. No excuse is good enough for accumulating vacation days for ââ¬Å"laterâ⬠. Ricardo Semler has named this hepatitis leave. In his book he states his desire to make them feel more involved in the creation process. He uses a parable comparing three stonecutters and their response when asked what was their job. ââ¬Å"The first said he was paid to cut stones. The second replied that he used special techniques to shape stones in an exceptional way, and proceeded to demonstrate his skills. The third stonecutter just smiled and said: ââ¬ËI build cathedrals.ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ He understands the benefits for a company to have its people dedicated in what they build. He gives his workers as much freedom as possible, giving them voice in short of every decision the company deals with, from how the plants should look and where each section should be positioned to where the plants themselves should be located, what uniforms they would like to wear and making a lunch committee to choose the food available at the cafeteria to letting them set their own working hours and schedules as well as their pay. Not only is freedom offered, but also power. Ricardo Semlerââ¬â¢s company is not a dictatorship, it is a cooperative democracy where titles are forgotten and unions are welcome with mutual respect and dialog, where committees recommend changes and surveys are made regularly, a place where it is possible for the employees to dismiss their boss or force their hire. SEMCOââ¬â¢s managerial staff was reduced almost completely. In his view: ââ¬Å"The pyramid, the chief organizational principle of the modern corporation, turns a business into a traffic jam.â⬠That is why chapter 24 refers to ââ¬Å"rounding the pyramidâ⬠, which is simply the elimination of unnecessary management positions as well as the need for sophisticated titles. He implemented a system of circles: in which the innermost circle would enclose a team of half a dozen people, who will serve as a catalyst stimulating decisions and actions by those in the second circle, to be called Counselors. The second circle would enclose the leaders of SEMCOââ¬â¢s business units and be called Partners. The last, immense circle would be comprised of everyone else and be called Associates. With triangles scattered about enclosing a single individual to be called Coordinators, who are the first crucial level of management. There would be six to twelve triangles floating about each business unit. As a consequence wages evened out and titles were simplified. An important thing to remember is that all these things did not occur spontaneously, but more of a continuous flow of events, which started off a first-come first-serve parking policy. Another point that is emphasized in SEMCO is maintaining its people motivated. They are pushed to exchange job descriptions and positions with job rotation, for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five. New employees are required to be ââ¬Å"Lost in Spaceâ⬠, they must work for at least twelve departments in twelve months. He believes this helps maintain his people happy, allowing them to choose the right job for them, or simply let them work for the ones they like, not just a single occupation, obliging people to learn new skills, discouraging empire building, providing employees with a broader view of a company, which lets them appreciate colleagues problems, forcing management to prepare more than one person for a job and creating additional opportunities for those who might otherwise be trapped. He also created the ââ¬Å"Nucleus of technological innovationâ⬠, which are a small group of engineers who are free of day to day production or managerial responsibilities and have all their time to invent new products, refine old ones, devise market strategies, unearth cost reductions and efficiencies, even dream up new lines of businesses. Not mentioned above are the setbacks the company has faced. It is said more is learned form mistakes then from a success. SEMCO experienced growing pains, unnecessary hype So far as to what is considered to be different from other companies it is safe to say that almost every detail in his book is quire of the normal corporation. In fact his book is dedicated specifically to point out each one of these differences, why he believes them to be proper and how he implemented them. In general his view is one of democratic society where decision taking is not the role of one, but of many. He believes the only way to achieve this is with transparency, and a sense of equality where everyone is fighting for a greater good, the good of the company. For this he believes his employeesââ¬â¢ well being must reflect the well being of the company, if the company simply assigns wages no mater what goes wrong then people will not feel impelled to make things go right. His ideas of risk salary, where employees are proposed to take a pay cut of up to 25% of their wages for the chance to receive a 150% bonus if the company has a good year, and profit sharing, where company profits are not unilaterally distributed, but instead more is given to those who make less, provide this incentive. Several other policies are promoted to ensure democracy at SEMCO. When strikes take place it is emphasized that everyone is an adult and should be treated as such, strikers are told that no one will be punished when they return to work, the police is never called upon, benefits are maintained, workerââ¬â¢s access to the factory, or access of the union representatives to the workers, donââ¬â¢t fire anyone during or after the strike, but make everyone see that a walkout is an act of aggression. This in our opinion protects their employees (which are the companyââ¬â¢s greatest asset), the company itself and their politics. Their treatment towards union leaders is quite different as well. They are respected, union leaders are not kept waiting in line, they are attended with courtesy and equality as promptly as possible. No aspect other than Brazilââ¬â¢s economic conditions make SEMCOââ¬â¢s situation as a corporation distinctively separates the company so as to have an unequivocal and unique situation. Nevertheless this in itself is quite a big difference from companies in other countries, especially the United States. In Brazil there is an average of a 400% yearly inflation rate, with a peak year of 1,600%, Brazils currency has had three zeroes knocked off twice. Banks have made billions with the inflations, and fired 150,000 clerical workers when things go bad. Brazil has become a warfare ground were a 10% pay increase turns out to be a fluke when inflation is calculated at 15%, and everyone is trying to arrange contracts to their own benefit. Most other companies in Brazil abide by the traditional form of organization and because of this are plagued with strikes, low profit or even debt. Brazil has grown so fond of SEMCO that 25% of all graduates say that they would love to work for SEMCO. SEMCO was conceived under the chaotic, corrupted, inflation filled, strike infested society of Brazil, where a company must be as dynamic as possible to be able to adapt to the ever-changing hostile environment. A situation where all the techniques, described in Maverick, are constantly put under the test to prove themselves useful. Ricardo Semlerââ¬â¢s ideas, if implemented correctly, are all catalysts for solidarity, cooperation, and friendship among the ranks of his workers. These attitudes are of great help in times of need where everyone instead of fighting each other, attempting to place the blame of hardship elsewhere in order to liberate the conscience and assure the position in the company are trying to find ways to levy the companies burden by voluntarily taking pay cuts and reducing expenses so as few people as possible will be acquitted by adversity, and if dismissal is the last surrender committees are formed to take into account who are the ones who can cope best wit hout their paychecks; seniority and the costs of living all outweigh a newly employed single individual. Not withstanding, SEMCO has been through several setbacks; since the very beginning with Ricardoââ¬â¢s first aggressive leap into the market SEMCO was suffering from crushing losses when buyers became very hard to come by, then later on as well as the company experienced what the author called growing pains as the company grew beyond its capacity by buying too many companies which were in bleak economic conditions. The writer later goes on to explain his opinions on a very important topic, economies of scale. It is the authors opinion that economies of scale are overrated, that worrying about buying and producing in large scales eventually ends up consuming what was saved through the need for warehouses and overstocked inventories where there are hundreds of units for a specific piece but none for another which will freeze the production process entirely, apart from the fact that once this occurs, receiving a shipment of that piece takes a considerable amount of time when anyone from the factory can just run to the nearest shop and by several unit with which to work with in the mean time, it is SEMCOââ¬â¢s policy to encourage this behavior as SEMCO employees have been known to present such receipts and the company gladly pays for them, just as long as what was bought falls between a rational set of items. Another trail and error mistake came in the eighties, when mainframe computers at the core of businesses were a new and coming trend. SEMCO had decided it too would enter the information age. So in preparation for a new computerized system to handle all of the companyââ¬â¢s affairs the old hand written system had been left, and yet after several months past the deadline had gone by and the problem was either bug in the software or a glitch in the hardware it became clear that the project, as ambitious as it was, was destined to fail. Again SEMCO learned to take it slow. ââ¬ËThe era of using people as production tools is coming to an end. Participation is infinitely more complex to practice than conventional corporate unilateralism, just as democracy is much more cumbersome than dictatorship. But there will be few companies that can afford to ignore either of them.ââ¬â¢ Certainly Brazilââ¬â¢s situation as a country was a very crucial first step, if thing were to have been going well when Ricardo first entered the corporation then he would never have been so aggressive in implementing these radical changes. Another condition must be Ricardoââ¬â¢s personality, his qualities as a human being, his humility, always with an open ear to a new suggestion, his openness and forwardness. Ricardo Semler is a revolutionary individual, who had the balls to dismiss 75% of a stagnant companyââ¬â¢s managerial staff immediately after receiving possession of it, risking everything for the desperate hope of breathing new life where the industry itself is loosing ground. Fortunately through much pressure and with plenty of luck, Ricardo had the ability to find talented people, individuals who gave much of their selves in support of the company. The transparency with which as much information as possible must be made accessible to the employeeââ¬â¢s, as well as the means which allow for their comprehension. This appears to be the single most important factor for SEMCOââ¬â¢s successful change, transparency and the ability to think he has given his employees help make the efforts for cooperation between management and the working class as both sides learn to understand better each others situations, allowing the company to achieve its goals by means of favors and compromise. Concluding; the history of SEMCO is closely related to that of its leader, as the author matures into a more prudent individual so does his company, the large step of removing all the heads of a corporation without any replacement nor due time is no longer a part of SEMCOââ¬â¢s ways. And yet it remains fluid, ever changing dynamic and as little mundane as possible, just as the author is, the author and principle proprietor of SEMCO managed to instill his own personality into his corporation, just as his father had made it the strict, neat organizational reflection of himself. What is interesting is the authors respect for the working class, his humility in front of ââ¬Ëunnecessary expensesââ¬â¢ and his transparency, strait forwardness and trust of his fellow man. Just as he sees himself, so he wished to see his company. Of course it was not the work of this one man, but he managed to surround himself of similar individuals who shared his ideals and most importantly his visio n. Through hard work and dedication they managed to surpass the many obstacles in place before this goal, of which other peoples closed mindedness was the most important one. Every time a new idea came into play, at least someone had to be convinced for its implementation. It is very hard to make a coordinator become more flexible and understanding of not only his subordinates, but of his equals in other areas. This has been such a difficult exploit that most of the changes were made to force superior attitudes towards bending in and those who simply could not learn where expelled. At the end, Maverick and the story of SEMCO help us remember that there is more than one way to do things, and being pleasant and courteous is indeed one of them. Research Papers on History of SEMCO - Business Management EssayAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaTwilight of the UAWMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Project Managment Office SystemNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayResearch Process Part OneDefinition of Export QuotasIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in Capital
Monday, October 21, 2019
A Man For All Seaons Essays - English People, British People, Film
A Man For All Seaons Essays - English People, British People, Film A Man For All Seaons A Man For All Seasons (A man Cannot Serve Two Masters) Neither Thomas More or the Common Man are able to serve two masters In the play A Man for All Seasons by Roger Bolt, The Spanish Ambassador Chapuys says to Steward, a role played by the common man, No man can serve two masters(Bolt, 24). Within the play this statement is proven true for all the characters, especially for The Common Man and Sir Thomas More. The Common Man, shows himself time and again that he truly serves one master and that master is himself; whereas with More attempts to serve two masters. More attempt to serve King Henry of England, and God. By the end of the play it is shown that More cannot serve two masters despite all his efforts. It is apparent within the play that the Common Man is serving himself as his only master and no one else. In the play it may seem that he is not a self-serving character due to the fact that he obeys what people tell him to do, for instance in his conversations with Cromwell, and Chapuys, they ask him for knowledge about his master, Sir Thomas More. Firstly Cromwell asks him information concerning More's attitude towards the King's divorce of his wife the Queen. The Common Man replies, Sir, Sir Thomas doesn't talk about itHe doesn't talk about it to his wife, sirSir, he goes white when it's mentioned! Cromwell (hands coin): All Right.(Bolt, 23.). Later with his conversation with Chapuys he is asked about More's spirituality, Sir Thomas rises at six, sir, and prays for an hour and a halfDuring lent, sir he lived entirely on bread and waterHe goes to twice a week, sir. Parish Priest. Dominican(Bolt, 24). Chapuys then replies to the Common Man, Good, simple man. Here. (Gives coin. Going )(Bolt, 24). As you can see he does what he wants for himself and no other especially divulging information for money. The Common Man also only holds loyalty unto himself and no other. At the first sign his needs will no longer be met to his satisfaction he leaves. For when More loses his job and no longer has an income, the Common Man collects his belongings and leaves, Now, damn me isn't that them all overI nearly fell for it'Matthew, will you kindly take a cut in your wages?' 'No, Sir Thomas I will not.'(Bolt, 57). The Common Man is a very sly person, and holds nothing back when it comes to him and a job. This is evident as he acquires a position with Richard Rich, another very self- serving person by easily manipulating him. Richard Rich had no inclination to hire the Common Man; he was manipulated so well that the Common Man gets a job, Oh. Oh, I must contradict you there, sir; that's your imagination. In those days, sir, you still had your way to make. And a gentleman in that position often imagines these things. Then when he's risen to his proper level, sir, he stops thinking about itWell - I don't think you find people 'disrespectful' nowadays, do you sir?(Bolt, 61-62). Now, Sir Thomas More, through out the play tries to balance his life between God and King. More as he obeys God and King prays for his King, Dear Lord give us rest tonight, or if we must be wakeful, cheerful. Careful only for our soul's salvation. For Christ sake. Amen. And bless our lord the King.(Bolt, 8). To continue his service for both God and King, More is willing to sacrifice everything if it will allow him to serve both; There is my right arm. (A practical position.) Take your dagger and saw it from my shoulder, and I will laugh and be thankful, if by that means I can come with Your Grace with a clear conscience.(Bolt, 31). For in the play More is forced with a choice, to either continue in his service to King Henry and go against the Catholic Church or quite his job and continue in his service to the King, If the Bishops in Convocation submitted this morning, I'll take it offIt's no degradation.(Bolt, 48). In the play the Act of Supremacy
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Biography of Fannie Lou Hamer, Civil Rights Leader
Biography of Fannie Lou Hamer, Civil Rights Leader Known for her civil rights activism, Fannie Lou Hamer was called the spirit of the civil rights movement. Born a sharecropper, she worked from the age of six as a timekeeper on a cotton plantation. Later, she became involved in the Black Freedom Struggle and eventually moved on to become a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).Ã Dates:Ã October 6, 1917 - March 14, 1977Also known as:Ã Fannie Lou Townsend Hamer About Fannie Lou Hamer Fannie Lou Hamer, born in Mississippi, was working in the fields when she was six and was only educated through the sixth grade. She married in 1942 and adopted two children. She went to work on the plantation where her husband drove a tractor, first as a field worker and then as the plantations timekeeper. She also attended meetings of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership, where speakers addressed self-help, civil rights, and voting rights. Field Secretary With the SNCC In 1962, Fannie Lou Hamer volunteered to work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) registering black voters in the South. She and the rest of her family lost their jobs for her involvement, and SNCC hired her as a field secretary. She was able to register to vote for the first time in her life in 1963 and then taught others what theyd need to know to pass the then-required literacy test. In her organizing work, she often led the activists in singing Christian hymns about freedom: This Little Light of Mine and others. She helped organize the 1964 Freedom Summer in Mississippi, a campaign sponsored by SNCC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the NAACP. In 1963, after being charged with disorderly conduct for refusing to go along with a restaurants whites only policy, Hamer was beaten so badly in jail, and refused medical treatment, that she was permanently disabled. Founding Member and VP of the MFDP Because African Americans were excluded from the Mississippi Democratic Party, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was formed, with Fannie Lou Hamer as a founding member and vice president. The MFDP sent an alternate delegation to the 1964 Democratic National Convention, with 64 black and 4 white delegates. Fannie Lou Hamer testified to the conventions Credentials Committee about violence and discrimination faced by black voters trying to register to vote, and her testimony was televised nationally. The MFDP refused a compromise offered to seat two of their delegates and returned to further political organizing in Mississippi, and in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. Delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1972 From 1968 to 1971, Fannie Lou Hamer was a member of the Democratic National Committee for Mississippi. Her 1970 lawsuit, Hamer v. Sunflower County, demanded school desegregation. She ran unsuccessfully for the Mississippi state Senate in 1971, and successfully for delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 1972. Other Accomplishments She also lectured extensively, and was known for a signature line she often used, Im sick and tired of being sick and tired. She was known as a powerful speaker, and her singing voice lent another power to civil rights meetings. Fannie Lou Hamer brought a Head Start program to her local community, to form a local Pig Bank cooperative (1968) with the help of the National Council of Negro Women, and later to found the Freedom Farm Cooperative (1969). She helped found the National Womens Political Caucus in 1971, speaking for the inclusion of racial issues in the feminist agenda. In 1972 the Mississippi House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring her national and state activism, passing 116 to 0. Suffering from breast cancer, diabetes, and heart problems, Fannie Lou Hamer died in Mississippi in 1977. She had published To Praise Our Bridges: An Autobiography in 1967. June Jordan published a biography of Fannie Lou Hamer in 1972, and Kay Mills published This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer in 1993. Background, Family Father: Jim TownsendMother: Ella Townsendyoungest of 20 childrenborn in Montgomery County, Mississippi; family moved when she was two to Sunflower County, Mississippi Education Hamer attended the segregated school system in Mississippi, with a short school year to accommodate fieldwork as a child of a sharecropping family. She dropped out by 6th grade.Ã Marriage, Children Husband: Perry Pap Hamer (married 1942; tractor driver)Children (adopted): Dorothy Jean, Vergie Ree Religion Baptist Organizations Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP), National Womens Political Caucus (NWPC), others
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Performance & Reward Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Performance & Reward Management - Case Study Example The presentation's color scheme and the text size plus the amount of information put on one slide are some attributes that give the presentation the look that is required in this case justice was done with all the attributes and this resulted in a successful presentation (Michael Alley. 2007). First I would like to discuss the positives of the presentation. Another important aspect of a presentation should be that it catches the eye of the audience and gathers the attention and this presentation did have this element in it (Garr Reynolds. 2007). The group members seemed to be very prepared and completely informed about what they were doing and how they had to do it. The ideas that were explained and depicted through out the presentation were of immense importance as they shaped up the mood of the audience and made the presentation effective. Defining every single idea to its best extent with the help of solid examples was one quality that was seen throughout the presentation. The second point that I liked about the presentation and the presenters was that the information they had in their mind apart from the one they had on the presentation was used at the proper places and situations throughout the presentation. The presenters were well informed about the organization and its operations they knew completely how the performance management system operated and supported the daily operations.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Significant Security Event Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Significant Security Event - Research Paper Example Riot control police is not a special form of police force. Riot control police includes members of the police department of a region who have been trained with the knowledge, skills and abilities to deal with riots. This paper will examine why the need for riot control arises along with the tactics used by to counter rioting people with different examples of how riot police have tackled riots. The main purpose of riot control and riot control police is to take measures in order to control, disband as well as arrest individuals who are involved in protests and riots. In case of riots several measures are implemented to end the riot such as negotiations. But in certain scenarios negations tend to fail. Especially when there is a deadlock between the rioting individuals and those who are held responsible for the riot to occur, severe measures need to be taken to control riots. Riots are quite a unique problem as in case of riots police cannot use lethal force to stop the rioting public from protesting or being violent (ANON, 2014). This is because those who are rioting may be rioting for the just cause and may be rioting against those who have been elected by the rioting people into the government. Stopping a riot or a protest is not defined as a daily duty of the police force. Riot police is mostly called upon by the government when they fail to end the riot in a peaceful m anner or when the protestors become violent and agitated. The purpose of the riot police is to end the riot through forceful measures while ensuring that those who are protesting are not deadly damaged through the techniques used. Most of the riots start at the level of a crowd which includes a group of people who gather in a certain area due to a mutually shared interest (ANON, 2014). For example: in the case of Ferguson riots of 2014, the riots started after a 18 year old Black
Letter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3
Letter - Assignment Example The first speech I would like to share with you is a commencement speech that was presented at Kenyon University (Wallace, 2005). This speech calls for the understanding of education from a broader sense, which goes beyond taking classes, passing exams, and looking for a job. The second speech is a New York Timesââ¬â¢ article, which explores the authorââ¬â¢s experiences in a technology-driven society (Foer, 2013). The connection between the two speeches is critical. You and I enrolled in different colleges, but we have maintained our close friendship through technological platforms. Voice calls, texting, emailing, and instant social media messaging has kept us close yet so far. As we strive to achieve our career goals, it is difficult to maintain long-distance friendships. However, the use of technology has proved vital in this case. Moreover, I have continuously shared my academic experiences with you from time to time, an aspect that promotes learning from one another. Following these observations, I am sure you will find the two speeches worth to read because their connection resonates with our friendship. Even though communication technology has not worked the same way for everybody, I contend that it has maintained the liveliness of our friendship as we pursue our respective academic and career
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Readings In Social Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Readings In Social Science - Essay Example Through adapting these works toward the social commentary of the day, we find that in the same article of work by The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy is that ââ¬Å"Mill's defense of the view that we ought to pursue happiness because we do pursue happiness, has been the object of savage attack by, among others, F. H. Bradley in his Ethical Studies 1874 and G. E. Moore in Principia Ethica 1903.â⬠This would be aptly served by the situation of todayââ¬â¢s social policies in that it seems quite apparent in how his insight many years ago would have been a service to those governing today. ââ¬Å"But others have argued that on this particular point, Mill was misinterpreted by his critics. His insistence that happiness was to be assessed not merely by quantity but by quality - the doctrine that a dissatisfied Socrates is not only better than a satisfied fool but somehow happier, too - has puzzled generations of commentatorsâ⬠(Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy). Taking the abo ve statement into consideration, it would be evident that the social system of governance that is clearly applicable today has been influenced partly in what Mill parlayed in his writings. It is a mandate of the social reformists to make society economically grounded through necessity and not indulgence. Adding to the fears of the time and how America was starting to engage in over-indulgences brought on by the industrial revolution, ââ¬Å"Mill feared that it was also a society that cared nothing for individual liberty.â⬠... Adding to the fears of the time and how America was starting to engage in over-indulgences brought on by the industrial revolution, "Mill feared that it was also a society that cared nothing for individual liberty." (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy). This thinking would lead to a lack of "civil liberties" as Mill quoted in his writings On Liberty written in 1859. Through the lack of civil liberties "Mill lays down "one very simple principle" to govern the use of coercion in society - and by coercion he means both legal penalties and the operation of public opinion" (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy) and through this analogy Mill points out that society needs to follow the utilitarian viewpoint on self-discretion and self-denial. Utilitarianism and Its Impact Utilitarianism is defined by the Bentham ideology a "a moral theory according to which an action is right if and only if it conforms to the principle of utility." (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy) This basically means that an action is only correct in its definition if it relates to the consequences of that action. It is perceived that happiness of self applies to the welfare of self and utilitarian law implicates that happiness equates to the welfare of those best affected. The application of the word utilitarianism has been replaced by consequentialism by devotees of the movement. Mill's Theories of Influence It is apparent early philosophers had a great deal of influence over Mill and his social rhetoric on his viewpoints about social reform, but, there are those who have been guided by Mill themselves which include such individuals as: John Rawls, Robert Nozick, Karl Popper, Ronald Dworkin, H.L.A. Hart, Peter Singer. One such individual, John Rawls, was such a profound philosopher with respect
The Impact of Retail Distribution Review on Aviva Research Paper
The Impact of Retail Distribution Review on Aviva - Research Paper Example As the industry involves customers, financial advisors, and financial service providers, there can be conflicts of interest between customers and financial advisors or company and financial advisors. This is called agency problem which leads failure of customersââ¬â¢ trust on market. Financial regulatory bodies aim to employ certain regulations to resolve these issues. The Financial Services Act had been attempting to realize the retail market of investment and the reason for the failure of customers trust. In order to retain the public confidence and trust the FSA introduced the Retail Distribution Review (Personal Financial Society. 2010). This retail review was launched in June targeting the standard and quality of financial advisory services given to the customer in the financial services industry. Through the RDR, the FAS aims to develop a retail market where customers easily understand the information; the financial firms fairly treat their customers and the customers will have much confidence to invest in the market (CISI. n.d.). The approach has been quite influential to keep the resilience, efficiency and the productivity of the retail investment market. RDR is supposed to modernize the industry by bringing back customer confidence to the market by offering them the best choices to fulfill their pension and savings needs. RDR not only approaches to solve the significant issues influential behind some of the longtime problems, but it also considers the operating procedure of the overall market of retail investments. At the same time, the authority was concerned about the future operational procedures of the retail industry. To maintain a control and authority over the fair operation of the investment retail industry, RDR has considered and modified a number of previous policy initiatives. The modifications and introduction of some new policies have been carried out taking due consideration of all ofà the stakeholdersââ¬â¢ interests including the practitioners and the consumersââ¬â¢ representatives in this industry.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Readings In Social Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Readings In Social Science - Essay Example Through adapting these works toward the social commentary of the day, we find that in the same article of work by The Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy is that ââ¬Å"Mill's defense of the view that we ought to pursue happiness because we do pursue happiness, has been the object of savage attack by, among others, F. H. Bradley in his Ethical Studies 1874 and G. E. Moore in Principia Ethica 1903.â⬠This would be aptly served by the situation of todayââ¬â¢s social policies in that it seems quite apparent in how his insight many years ago would have been a service to those governing today. ââ¬Å"But others have argued that on this particular point, Mill was misinterpreted by his critics. His insistence that happiness was to be assessed not merely by quantity but by quality - the doctrine that a dissatisfied Socrates is not only better than a satisfied fool but somehow happier, too - has puzzled generations of commentatorsâ⬠(Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy). Taking the abo ve statement into consideration, it would be evident that the social system of governance that is clearly applicable today has been influenced partly in what Mill parlayed in his writings. It is a mandate of the social reformists to make society economically grounded through necessity and not indulgence. Adding to the fears of the time and how America was starting to engage in over-indulgences brought on by the industrial revolution, ââ¬Å"Mill feared that it was also a society that cared nothing for individual liberty.â⬠... Adding to the fears of the time and how America was starting to engage in over-indulgences brought on by the industrial revolution, "Mill feared that it was also a society that cared nothing for individual liberty." (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy). This thinking would lead to a lack of "civil liberties" as Mill quoted in his writings On Liberty written in 1859. Through the lack of civil liberties "Mill lays down "one very simple principle" to govern the use of coercion in society - and by coercion he means both legal penalties and the operation of public opinion" (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy) and through this analogy Mill points out that society needs to follow the utilitarian viewpoint on self-discretion and self-denial. Utilitarianism and Its Impact Utilitarianism is defined by the Bentham ideology a "a moral theory according to which an action is right if and only if it conforms to the principle of utility." (Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy) This basically means that an action is only correct in its definition if it relates to the consequences of that action. It is perceived that happiness of self applies to the welfare of self and utilitarian law implicates that happiness equates to the welfare of those best affected. The application of the word utilitarianism has been replaced by consequentialism by devotees of the movement. Mill's Theories of Influence It is apparent early philosophers had a great deal of influence over Mill and his social rhetoric on his viewpoints about social reform, but, there are those who have been guided by Mill themselves which include such individuals as: John Rawls, Robert Nozick, Karl Popper, Ronald Dworkin, H.L.A. Hart, Peter Singer. One such individual, John Rawls, was such a profound philosopher with respect
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Simulaitons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Simulaitons - Essay Example In the present case, the optimum solution is obtained for- Profit maximized ($1254) when Tables for 4=10, Tables for 2=8, wait staff=3 and kitchen staff=2. Loss of sales is least ($941). Other than the proposed alternatives, we can have two more possible solutions. There are basically, two areas of concern namely- Order taking and the ovens. The speed of operation at both these places directly influences the waiting time. Therefore, the optimal automation of these two areas would do a great deal of good even if there were initial investments to be made. A) Given the significant downtime and relocation costs, once you have decided to reconfigure equipment to improve process layout, how do you balance the immediate production requirements versus future needs for the facility There must always be a scope for future improvement, and so in order to achieve this, there must always be an effort for finding out better alternatives and under the present situation, the existing production must not stop, and so the best option for this would be to relocate only one thing at a time. This will ensure that current production stays unaffected and there is scope for future additions into any vacant space. B) The "cost of delay" is an important cost t
Capital Punishment is Wrong Essay Example for Free
Capital Punishment is Wrong Essay ââ¬Å" For hundreds of years people have considered capital punishment a deterrence of crime. Seven hundred and five individuals have died since 1976, by means of capital punishment; twenty-two of these executions have already occurred this year at Death Penalty Information Centerâ⬠, exclaims Tara Volpe in her article, Capital Punishment: Does Death Equal Justice? In another article written by Coretta King, the author states that, ââ¬Å"In recent years, an increase of violence in America, both individual and political, has prompted a backlash of public opinion on capital punishmentâ⬠. Capital punishment is a tremendous issue that faces the criminal justice system. Some people think that capital punishment is a good idea for those who commit capital or very serious crimes; on the other hand, some people believe that capital punishment is wrong. In reality, capital punishment is wrong for several reasons. According to the free online dictionary, ââ¬Å"capital punishmentâ⬠is defined as the penalty of death for the commission of a crime. There are several words, which are the same as capital punishments are execution, death sentence, judicial murder and death warrant. To begin with, capital punishment is wrong because it is immoral and unfair. Some people are subjected to capital punishment even when there is speculation as to whether they actually committed the specified crime. A known case of this kind was the one involving David Spense who was given the death penalty even though there was no substantial, concrete evidence to pin the crimes he was being charged. The homicide detective responsible for conducting the investigation clearly said ââ¬Å"there was no physical evidence connecting David Spense to the crimeâ⬠(Volpe). According to the article ââ¬Å"Capital Punishment: Does Death Equal Justice,â⬠those who testify against these criminals maybe bribed or coerce d into doing the act. More to it the article reiterates that there have been quite a number of cases in which people that were nearly given capital punishment were save by ââ¬Å"last minute presentation of evidence. This is construed to mean capital punishment is bad practice. It ends up killing people who donââ¬â¢t deserve to die. The worst part of the matter is that capital punishment is irreversible. Secondly, capital punishment is not even worth it because it does not stop or reduce criminal acts. Michael Meltsner points out that ââ¬Å"capital punishment is done in privacy and infrequentlyâ⬠hence capital punishment as a deterrent does not work at all (Volpe). In other words, capital punishment is done in itself and not to prevent anything. The statistics in the article shows that death penalty prove the lack of deterrence. For instance, the average of murder rates per 100,000 population in 1999 among death penalty states was 5.5, whereas the average of murder rates among death penalty was o nly 3.6. NEED SUPPORT or ENOUGH SUPPORT Lastly, capital punishment is a bad option because it is very expensive. The statistics in the article shows that California had spent approximately about nine millions dollars annually on execution itself. It is a waste of millions of dollars for death sentence. It would be better for capital criminals be used for community services such as land conservation projects, and road construction. By doing this, there are less expenses and what is at best for the criminal is made to contribute to society progress. The criminal can also be rehabilitated especially if the culprit has mental or psychological issues. Volpe states that life imprisonment costs less than execution. These criminals should go for rehabilitation for treatments and mental diagnosis. They can change their ways and become productive citizens for the society. In contrast to opponentsââ¬â¢ views mentioned above, the supporters of capital punishment oppose that, the practice should still be protected in the justice system. They completely ignore the benefits of saving cost, eliminating inhuman conduct of the practice and saving the innocents from being killed wrongly. In conclusion, some people believe that capital punishment is wrong. It is such as waste of money on execution only. Capital punishment have no deterrent the crimes. Capital punishment is immoral and unfair.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Factors Affecting Witness Accounts
Factors Affecting Witness Accounts Witnesses Accounts and the Reality The information given by an informant may vary significantly with the actual information or what happened on the ground. The most basic question that interviewers, weather in the justice system or in research always grapple with is how to know whether the informant is giving the truth (Dean Whyte 1958). It would be difficult to determine whether this information is the actual absolute truth. However, most interviewers use epistemological approaches to detect the level of truth in the interviewees information. Navarro (2012) asserts that the researches that have been conducted over a long period have not come up with a single conclusive modality of truth detection. Witness accounts may also lack a level of truth or may vary from the reality that transpired at the scene of the event. This difference can be motivated by several factors that range from the effects of the environment to psychological factors. This essay examines the main reasons that can lead to a distortion of the witness accounts from the reality. Specifically, the paper looks at the deflection of the truth due to perception and the effect of long-term memory on the accounts given by the witness. Laub (1992) examines the effect of age and long term memory on the ability to reconstruct the happenings of the Holocaust. At the time of the happenings, the author was a small child that had little knowledge of the happenings in the world. It has to be remembered that the events lasted some time and at the time of the witnessing, the author was already an adult. The author appears to have had a precocious development at the initial stage of life, making him to be able to make out the events. Through learning the basics of this event and the impact of age, the author is able to clearly understand the happening as they should have been. The only difference is that the ability to exaggerate or distort the information is quiet high. In the long term memory, the author cannot single out the specific details of each even and has to fill in the missing information from common knowledge. The deflection of the accounts given, in this case, is based on the learning experience on the subject that the witness has had over a period. In (Dean Whyte 1958), this long term effect of learning on the memory of a witness is described as cognitive formulation. The common knowledge here is that what the witness will have learnt over time will cause a difference on the accounts are given and the actual truth. In Callender (2011), the temporal aspects of philosophy are discussed with regards to the existence of the self. In this study, the author opines that there is a possibility of change in individuals over a period whether physical or in mental strength through learning. The discussion about eternalists is also reviewed by this study. It demonstrates the fact that eternalists perception of different times as analogous to the difference in locations. The argument presented by the eternalist here is that different events that occur or exits at different times give the specific ti mes different images. It is, therefore, possible to have a different perception of time and the events that occurred at those times. This spatial difference and learning is what supports the notion that it is possible to have a different of account from the real happening. A prevalent emotion in time also has an effect on the objectivity of the judgment of an agent or individual (Campbell-Sills, Barlow, Brown, Hofmann 2006). At the time of delivering an account of happenings, the emotional component of the witness are likely to impact on the testimony because this was not present at the time of the occurrence of an event. The argument here can take two facets: first it is difficult to give a real simulation of the events that transpired in terms of emotion. Secondly, the impact of the prevailing emotions of another individual could distort the contents of the account. As a result, emotions play a double role in the delivery of the accounts of witnesses both of which are subjective on the long term memory. On rare cases, the judgment of a person to give an objective account despite the subjective effect of the emotions has also taken place. In this case, emotions are not considered but the correct and proper outcome as is the norm is the guiding princi ple. Apart from the emotional context generated in the long term memory of a person through learning, it is possible that the effect of subjective perception could generate a level of difference. In subjective perception, the main idea is that everyone develops a meaning of the world as they so experience it. As a result, the difference in the experiences that have been gathered in the long term memory of individuals could be the cause of difference on the level of perception. In psychology, subjective perception and the resultant impact on the result of surveys is the main reason for disputing the level of accuracy of a research. This notion of subjective perception mainly concerns the researches that are conducted through the use of observation and non-scientific method. The reason for the bias in the observation and non-scientific methods is that each individuals observation would be different from the reality. And this also informs the difference in accounts of eye witnesses. Perception is closely related to the aspect of objectivity in individuals. Coon (2006) illustrates this objectivity role of perception as the ability of one to just recognize and believe what they see. When one sees something, the mind registers the image generated and can recognize the image. Other sensory stimuli information is also perceived by the brain. The sensory input is first received by the appropriate sensor then taken through the recognition process which utilizes the knowledge that is already owned by the individual. The brain compares the input by the data or information that the individual has learnt over time and selects the closest information that the same individual has of the same input. The mechanism of perception is can also be used to explain the idea behind an illusion. It is common knowledge that illusions are things that can be perceived wrongly. The simplest explanation that can be given in illusions is that the senses send a wrong signal to the brain for i nterpretation returning a wrong conclusion. The result of illusions can also weigh in on the major differences of witness account as compared to the reality. This is mainly attributed to the wrong interpretation or the ability of an event to have more than one interpretation The comparison mechanism in perception is the main reason there could a difference in the perception of different persons. It has been known that there are objects which can be perceived in more than one way. Apart from the different perceptions of a similar object, there is a possibility that different persons might have different perceptions. A common example of the difference in perception is the fact that different persons might perceive a similar color in two different ways. This condition is usually referred to as color blindness (Brewer, Heitzeg, 2008). Color blindness is a common reason for the difference of the witness accounts in cases where the witness is required to pin point the actual color of an object. The result is that while the color could be known or perceived singly by many, a witness could give a different account of the same. In perceptual learning, humans tend to develop a habit or a distinct pattern of learning. These patterns of learning if altered could result to the distortion of the information that is received by the individual. According to Coon (2006), these patterns are imparted by the prevalent norms in a society. It also gives an example of an inverted picture of a human head. Most persons walk upright and as such a human mind is accustomed to learning facial differences at an upright posture. Significant differences can be noted if the same picture of a human head were looked at from the two perspectives. The perception mechanism as described in human psychology has two parts that involve the detection and the search mechanisms. According to Shiffrin Schneider (1977), this process can either be automatic or controlled by an individual. Once the attention of a person has been drawn towards some stimuli input, the control of the process is shifted to the brain power. In a controlled perception, the study found out that the mechanism is serialized. It also requires a high level of input by the user which could limit the amount of information one retains in the whole process. In an automatically controlled process, the input of the user is limited and as such much of the processing power of the brain is focused on generating the conclusion of the perception exercise. These two different forms of perception could be the basis of the difference between a witness account and the reality. As notes, if the process was automatically triggered then the witness could end up with much information as it can which could be the truth anyway. However, if the process is controlled by the individual, it is possible that there could be a large amount of information (Shiffrin Schneider 1977) that is left out in the process. The study further explains that it is difficult to ignore, alter or delete from the long-term memory of a person if the perception was automatically instigated. Apart from memory and perception factor, Undue egocentrism is also a factor in deflecting the opinion of the witness that can cause a difference between the account given by a witness and the truth. This argument proposes that the impact of subjectivity on the minds of individuals is the main cause of the distortion of the account. An example of this would be an account given of a vehicle accident. A witness can state that the driver of the vehicle that was swerving was drunk at the time, and nothing else could be affecting the driving. This is an egocentric opinion or emotions that foster the belief that such driving must only be caused by drinking. Studies that have been conducted on the distributive justice judgment indicate that the basis of the conclusion either the norms or the egoistic self-serving notions (Ramsbotham, Miall, Woodhouse 2011). Apart from these forces, egocentrism is also part of the judgment that could lead to a skewed judgment in giving witness accounts. In conclusion, the level of accuracy in most of the accounts given by witnesses would be varied from the truth. At an early age, a witness would give a different account from the account given after a longer period usually in adulthood. The reason behind this level of difference is that as a person grows, the details in the long term memory can be forgotten or lost. Apart from the loss, there is a possibility that the learning process changes the ideas that a person has. The level of knowledge will shape their opinion and how they would have reported the whole event at an early age. It would take a precocious ability to reproduce the exact account owing to the time difference and the learning process. Perception is also an important aspect (Kuehn1974) of the delivery of a witness account. The main reason which can lead to the difference in the accounts given and the reality include the ability of certain objects to have double perception. A possibility of confusion through the illusion is also a factor that could limit the accuracy of the account. As an individual experiences a world from childhood, the experiences are custom to the person and can also affect the accuracy or the information that is given. It is, therefore, important to have the individuals who verify the accounts of witnesses to take into account the impact of all these factors on the truth value of the account. Bibliography BREWER, R. M., HEITZEG, N. A. (2008). The racialization of crime and punishmentà criminal justice, color-blind racism, and the political economy of the prison industrial complex. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(5), 625-644. CALLENDER, C. (2011). The Oxford handbook of philosophy of time. Oxford, Oxfordà University Press. CAMPBELL-SILLS, L., BARLOW, D. H., BROWN, T. A., HOFMANN, S. G. (2006).à Effects of suppression and acceptance on emotional responses of individuals with anxiety and mood disorders. Behaviour research and therapy, 44(9), 1251-1263. COON, D. (2006). Psychology: a modular approach to mind and behavior. Belmont, CA,à Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. DEAN, J. P., WHYTE, W. F. (1958). How do you know if the informant is telling the truth?.à Human Organization, 17(2), 34-38.à KUEHN, L. L. (1974). Looking down a gun barrel: Person perception and violent crime.à Perceptual and Motor Skills, 39(3), 1159-1164. LAUB, D. (1992). An event without a witness: Truth, testimony and survival. Testimony: Crisesà of witnessing in literature, psychoanalysis, and history, 75-92. NAVARRO, J. (2012). The Truth About Lie Detection. Psychology Today.à RAMSBOTHAM, O., MIALL, H., WOODHOUSE, T. (2011). Contemporary conflictà resolution. Polity. SCHNEIDER, W., SHIFFRIN, R. M. (1977). Controlled and automatic human informationà processing: I. Detection, search, and attention. Psychological review, 84(1), 1. SHIFFRIN, R. M., SCHNEIDER, W. (1977). Controlled and automatic human informationà processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending and a general theory. Psychological review, 84(2), 127.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Cigarettes And Their Destruction Of The Brain :: essays research papers fc
Cigarettes and Their Destruction of the Brain Smokers generally feel more comfortable after that especially important first cigarette of the day. Within just a few seconds of "lighting up," smoking activates mind-altering changes. Smokers are well aware of the long-term risks of their habit: such as lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and other deadly illnesses. However, smokers are attracted by the immediate effects of smoking: "a stimulant that makes them seem to feel more alert, clearheaded and able to focus on work." Smoking however, does not really have these effects; what the smoker perceives is an illusion. Nicotine begins to act on brain cells within ten seconds of inhalation, fitting into "keyholes" on the surface of the brain; the same "keyholes" as acetylcholine(an important neurotransmitter), and mimicking epinephrine and norepinephrine, giving the smoker a rush, or stimulation. Within 30 minutes, smokers feel their energy begin to decline, as the ingested nicotine is reduced. This process continues, as the smoker's attention becomes increasingly focused on cigarettes. Nicotine causes smokers' brain cells to grow more nicotinic receptors than normal; therefore, the brain may function normally despite the irregular amount of acetylcholine-like chemical acting upon it. The brain is reshaped: the smoker feels normal with nicotine in his system, and abnormal without it. A series of tests were conducted on nonsmokers, "active" smokers, and "deprived" smokers. The "active" smokers were given a cigarette before each test, while the "deprived" smokers were not allowed cigarettes before tests. The tests started simply, and then moved towards more complex problems. In the first test, subjects sat in front of a computer screen and pressed the space bar when a target letter, among 96, was recognized: smokers, deprived smokers, and nonsmokers, performed equally well. The next test involved scanning sequences of 20 identical letters and as one of the letters was transformed into a different one, responding with the space bar. Nonsmokers responded fastest, and active smokers were faster than those who were deprived from smoking. In the third test, subjects were required to memorize a sequence of letters or numbers, and to respond when they observed the sequence among flashed groupings on the screen. The purpose of this experiment was to test short-term memory: nonsmokers again ranked highest, however, deprived smokers defeated the active smokers. Subjects were required to read a passage and then answer questions about it in the fourth test. "Nonsmokers remembered 19 percent more of the most important information than active smokers, and deprived smokers bested their counterparts who had smoked a cigarette just before testing. Active smokers tended not only to have poorer memories but also had trouble
Friday, October 11, 2019
Grease v. The Breakfast Club: Finding Yourself Essay
The films ââ¬Å"Greaseâ⬠and ââ¬Å"The Breakfast Clubâ⬠feature the same strong theme: finding your identity. This theme is universal through many books, movies and even real life. The fact that these two films were filmed so far apart, ââ¬Å"Greaseâ⬠being filmed in 1959 and directed by Randal Kleiser and ââ¬Å"The Breakfast Clubâ⬠in 1985 directed by John Hughes, shows that this is a strong theme that sticks throughout the industry. These films have many characters that can be compared to one another. The main characters are Claire Standish (played by Molly Ringwald) and Sandy Olsson (played by Olivia Newton-John) and John Bender (played by Judd Nelson) and Danny Zuko (played by John Travolta). The girls are your typical high school ââ¬Å"girlie-girlsâ⬠and the guys are your typical high school ââ¬Å"macho menâ⬠. There is also a couple of less important characters in the films that can be compared such as Andy Clark (played by Emilio Estevez) and Kenickie (played by Jeff Conaway). Theyââ¬â¢re the kids who think theyââ¬â¢re the big man on campus and better than everyone else. The first obvious comparison is the leading ladies of the film. Sandy Olsson was a sweet, quiet girl when she first arrived at Ridell High. She felt pretty sure of herself entering the school, but when she joined a new group of friends and realized Danny Zukoââ¬â¢s real personality, she realized that she was not really the type of person that she wanted to be. With the help of her new friends, Sandy changed herself completely. On this path of discovery she was totally transformed in her looks and personality. She went from shy and unnoticed to sexy and confident. After the transformation, there was an occurrence that made her realize that she was just fine the way she was and didnââ¬â¢t need to change for anyone. In that time, she lost her true self trying to be something she wasnââ¬â¢t and then discovered at the end that she was always who she really wanted to be and no one could change her. Clair was a stuck up, pretty, popular girl at her school. No one took her seriously. Stereotypical ââ¬Å"prettyâ⬠girls are usually ditzy. That is just what people assumed of Claire. After she got stuck in detention with an unusual group of kids, kids she would normally have never interacted with, she slowly began to come out of her shell. Being in that new group of people was a way for her to let her true self out without worrying about people judging her. As the group of detention goers got closer and got to know each other better, it became apparent that Claire was not just a stupid, mean, pretty girl with lots of money. She was nice and smart. Her day in detention brought out her true identity, and let her along with everyone else discover who she really was. The next comparison is between Danny and John. Danny Zuko was the leader of the T-Birds, the schools big gang of popular guys. He was the heartthrob of the school and his name was coming out of peopleââ¬â¢s mouths left and right. The word around the street was that Danny Zuko was a tough, badass guy and he didnââ¬â¢t care about anything besides himself, his T-Birds, and looking cool. It was a little hard to disprove this though because that is exactly how Danny acted in front of everyone. He was the epitome of a macho man. The only time that he was his true self was during a summer before school when he fell in love with Sandy. He let his soft side show with her, but as soon as school started again, he was back to his old ways. This caused him to lose Sandy, and this in turn cause his realization that he was his true self with her and he wanted to be that again to make her happy. By the end of the movie, Danny has transformed himself into the nice sweet jock that he thought Sandy would love, only to realize that Sandy had transformed herself for him also, and they both discovered that they liked themselves and each other just the way they were. A similar character to Danny would be John Bender. He was his schoolââ¬â¢s typical macho man who wouldnââ¬â¢t take anything from anyone or let anyone tell him what to do or how to behave. That is how he landed in detention. At the beginning of the film, he kept up greatly with his badass rep. But throughout the film, the kids in detention became closer and they all got to know one another. The true side of John Bender that came out was that his life at home was pretty tough and that caused him to have a rough exterior. The kids in detention as well as the audience saw past that though as the film progressed. The was a part of the film where all the kids were about to get caught leaving detention and John sacrificed his own self to save the rest from getting in trouble again. This showed that he was compassionate and not so self-centered afterall. After breaking down his rough outer shell, the kids in detention saw who John Bender really was, and why he acted the way he did. Som e of that was understandable and they all became friends. John let his true identity shine to everyone. As far as theme goes, the theme of both ââ¬Å"Greaseâ⬠and ââ¬Å"The Breakfast Clubâ⬠were pretty generic. The way they were showed though made them more interesting than other films. Showing the journey of discovering your identity through multiple characters gives the film viewers more to relate to and helps people to enjoy the movie more. Whether youââ¬â¢re the badass, the jock, the popular girl, the geek, the psycho, or the shy girl, you can relate to one of these films. Finding your identity is something that every person has to go through in their lives. That makes the theme universal. These two films correlate well with each other to show that you will always find yourself, it may be harder or easier for different people, but in the end you will be able to find your true identity and be happy with the person you are, and be accepted by others.
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