Reaction Paper-Non-Fiction Essay

Having traveled a great deal since birth, partly due to my father being in the Air Force and the rest is blamed on some gypsy spirit residing deep within, much of Gretel Ehrlich’s story, â€Å"About Men† resonated with me. I understood her loneliness for places once visited, and the need to find solace in the now places as she did while on the New York Subway searching for posters of Cowboy’s. â€Å"What I am aching to see is horseflesh, a glint of spur, a line of distant mountains, brimming creeks, and a reminder of the ranchers and cowboys I’ve ridden with for the last eight years† (Ehrlich, 1985). In contrast, for me personally, is Joan Didion’s memoire of a woman that has a lot of time at â€Å"home† and is clearly unhappy with how she must live out her days. Home can mean many things to people, after all is it a unique and subjective experience that only we can appreciate-good or bad. In these stories I read each woman seems to de fine â€Å"home† as an entirely different existence, though they are both lonely, drifting through life in the places they must now call home. Even though Greta was not born on a ranch, she felt a connection to the ranch life so strongly that she decided to live among them for eight years. Greta felt a kinship to the cowboy’s she lived with so deeply that writing about them became more than a hobby or pastime. She felt the need to set the world and society right on the stereotypes and bent visions of those who roamed the Western sky. Greta reminds me of a big sister standing up to bullies who are bringing down her best friends. When she says, â€Å"Such ideas have perverted manliness into a self-absorbed race for cheap thrills† (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 83) it is obvious to me she is offended greatly by societies depiction of the Cowboy and feels the need to defend the disesteemed character of him. Joan Didion writes, â€Å"And the nameless anxiety colored the emotional charges between me and the place that I came from† (Didion, 1967). Obviously there is great deal of conflict for Joan as she tries to give her daughter a â€Å"home† that she once had with her parents and constantly struggles with her desire to be at her parent’s home where she had felt happy and content. Living with her husband and daughter she seems lost, and homesick, even though she is much older. In Joan’s story we, the reader, must at times read between the lines, as Joan is not entirely clear on some points. Like when she says she is tired of her parent’s dusty house and dusty lifestyle. Also, I felt that Joan was dealing with an identity complex, not really knowing how to be in her own home, especially when she felt such a longing to be back with her parents. Her husband even felt this rift and Joan writes about it stating, â€Å"My husband likes my family but is uneasy in their house, because once there I fall into their ways, which are difficult, oblique, deliberately inarticulate, not my husband’s waysà ¢â‚¬  (Didion, 1967). The sad truth is that Joan feels trapped in her parents’ home though she has long since moved from there on to her own home. She muses, â€Å"That I am trapped in this particular irrelevancy is never more apparent to me than when I am home† (Didion, 1967). Joan then reflects on what kind of home her baby will receive from her, and what kind of mother will she be. I believe, as parents, we can all relate to these feelings of adequacy and wonder which is at least one area I feel connected to Joan and her story. Joan states quite boldly, â€Å"Paralyzed by the neurotic lassitude engendered by meeting one’s past at every turn, around every corner, inside every cupboard I go aimlessly from room to room† (Didion, 1967). Never alluding to a home full of abuse, trauma or otherwise it seems that Joan is really struggling with her childhood, that has naturally extended into her adulthood and somehow has become lost in translation. I can’t help but wonder why so much negativity surrounds her description of â€Å"home†- â€Å"paralyzed, aimlessly, neurotic- those are very powerful words Joan uses to describe a home she misses and I feel confused. Gretel lives away from the ranch but longs to return, even attempting throughout her day to find solace, â€Å"When I am in New York but feeling lonely for Wyoming I look for the Marlboro ads in the subway† (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 82). Rather than missing a small family unit as Joan does her mother and father, Gretel has encompassed a lifestyle and called it â€Å"home†. She creates a stoic image of men who possess physical prowess, and a tireless heart. Writing, â€Å"For the most part his work is done on horseback and in a lifetime he sees and comes to know more animals than people† (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 83). She describes the Cowboy as having a â€Å"toughness and interior fragility† which contradicts what society has depicted of the American Cowboy as being â€Å"tough as nails, and lacking emotion†. In comparison, â€Å"home† to Joan was hallways, rooms, doors and dust that accumulated on century old furniture, while â€Å"home† to Gretel was a western sky, herd of cattle, men with hearts of gold and the woman who loved them. Gretel was more involved with the plight of the Cowboy, and Joan was consumed with her place in this world away from her parents’ home. It seems that Gretel is creating her own vision of the Cowboy on her terms, by what she witnessed on one ranch in Wyoming. Claiming it is the â€Å"geographical vastness and social isolation† that makes the Cowboy hard to hold and even harder to love going so far as to state, â€Å"They lack the vocabulary to express the complexity of what they feel† (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 84). Perhaps Gretel felt the need to be the voice for the American Cowboy, and a strong sensitive one at that. Is it possible that she created the Cowboy in her mind the way she wanted them to be, even admitting in her story that they were â€Å"standoffish and formal† (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 84) while claiming they are impulsive, passionate and intuitive. It seems contradictory, perhaps she is still learning too. And does Joan really miss her parents and their dusty old house or is she merely unsatisfied with her new marriage and new home? Is it perhaps easier to go backwards than forward, in an effort to free yourself from any responsibility? When Joan writes, â€Å"There is nothing like seeing a thing you know was meaningful to you once and is now empty and wondering† (Didion, 1967)- what was all that for? I can’t help but wonder. Here she is, a woman with a child of her own grasping for emotions of the past rather than working on building new memories with her new family. That was most frustrating for me, but possibly because I did not have a home growing up and I married early, glad to get away from the daily strife my parents created on a regular basis. It seemed absurd to me to constantly go back to those days and reflect, let alone long for them. Honestly, I don’t believe there was a week that passed my mother wasn’t wasted and my father wasn’t beating her up. Because of these moments in time I have learned to be thankful for the beautiful life I have surrounded myself in, determined to break every cycle of abuse, neglect and addiction. Maybe Joan needed a reason to go on, to find herself in the new. And maybe Gretel found a bit of herself in the ranches of the west- The old and the new, the real and the perceived it is all relative I suppose. These selections are Non-Fiction due to the fact that the women wrote firsthand accounts of their experiences. Gretel wrote about the â€Å"football-field-sized lambing sheds† and recited a bit of history when she said, â€Å"many of the men who came to the West were Southerners-men looking for work and a new life after the Civil War† (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 84). Joan’s visit home â€Å"is made palpable† as she recites her experience in the present tense. It is easy for me to use my imagination as each writer sets the scene; Gretel in the Wild West and Joan in the East and the California West. I can envision myself on a horse, riding the range, pulling calves and holding baby lambs as Gretel’s story winds its way across the wide open plains. Similarly, I am planted into Joan’s childhood home walking the halls, smelling the dank air, and looking inside cupboards that hold antique plates and bowls. The author’s use of imagery is sensational, and makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I can envision Joan’s sense of confusion when upon describing her home of childhood from her now home, she says, â€Å"It is a vital although troublesome distinction† (Didion, 1967, p. 164). So, in attempting to explain the distinction between the homes, she creates a troublesome tone. She takes me to her parent’s home quite easily as she goes about describing the â€Å"Canton dessert plates and assay scales† (Didion, 1967, .p. 164). Because my life did not hold the same truths as Joan’s I find it hard to relate to her longing for home. But I do relate when she states the importance of creating a home for her daughter who is having a birthday, and the reason she had come home at all. She writes, â€Å"She is an open and trusting child, unprepared for and unaccustomed to the ambushes of family life, and perhaps it is just as well that I can offer her little of that life. I would like to give her more† (Didion, 1967, p. 167). How many times have I said this very same thing about my own children? In conclusion, I found both of these stories to be very intriguing and enjoyable to read. Both of these women are obviously very passionate about their relationships in life and both have a need to express, and to protect those who reside there. Because I am from the state of Wyoming Gretel’s story deeply resonated with me, as I too have fallen in love with the Old West and its beautiful country and the Cowboy Code. And often when feeling lonely for my Wyoming, while residing in a small beach town in Maryland, I too search the landscape for a glimpse of Western wonder in a billboard, or a sign, perhaps in the smile of a stranger as I secretly hope for a tip of his hat and a â€Å"howdy ma’am.† As Gretel would say, â€Å"their strength is also a softness, their toughness, a rare delicacy (Ehrlich, 1985, p. 85). And I would say from experience, a delicacy indeed. References Didion, J. (1967)., Slouching towards bethlehem. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux Ehrlich, G. (1985)., The solace of open spaces., New York, NY: Viking Penguin, Inc.

Debate over globalisation Essay

Currently in international circles there is a great debate over globalisation and whether it is a force for good or bad. The statement oversimplifies the matter, of course. But the issue of globalisation and our collective response to it promises to define who prospers and who does not well into the 21st century. Globalisation has positive and negative aspects. On top of its positive aspects comes the tremendous development of new information and communication technology, triggers in economic growth through increased trade and job creation around the world. This economical growth can be illustrated by the fact that the world real GDP grew from US$2 trillion to US$28 trillion, which means an increase of 1400%. On a per capita basis, this means an increase of US$614 to US$4908, an increase of about 800%. The quality of life in developed countries has increased However, anti-globalisation supporters affirm that although there was an economical growth, this was not well distributed throu ghout society, and that over the past 150 years, the rich countries are developing at a faster rate than the poor countries, increasing the difference between them. This happens because dealing with globalisation in a capitalist society, there will always be winners and losers. The winners will be the nations which have more skill, technology, information, power and money, whilst the losers will be the poor countries, which export primarily goods and rely on the rich countries to obtain technology and manufactured goods. As a term, globalisation means different things to different people. To some, it is a purely economic trend, the result of the market system unleashed on a worldwide scale, a century-long process that has now been vastly accelerated by the fall of Communism and the relaxation of other restrictive economic practices. As has the impact and growth of globalisation changed, so has its meaning during the last decades. But what is certain is that globalisation is not something of today or yesterday. Among the so many given definitions, Martin Wolf defines globalisation as a â€Å"journey, but toward an unreachable destination, the globalised world. A globalised economy in which, neither distance nor national borders impede economic transactions. A world where the cost of transport and communication were zero and the barriers created by differing national jurisdictions had vanished†. (Wolf, 2001: 178). But globalisation is a very wide notion, which embraces the social, cultural, and political interdependency of states. Globalisation refers also to the integration and interaction between different people and nations. Take the European Union as an example, where the member states share the same democratic values and norms, or the convergence and similarities of the constitutions of the member states, which could lead to a European law or constitution. To others, it defines the ever widening process of international interchange and interconnection that can be witnessed in so many aspects of life, whether the casual observation that top musical artists draw increasingly on other cultures for their melodies and rhythms, the news that former enemies are now participating in joint peacekeeping missions, or the realisation that there are suddenly many more foreign faces and accents in your hometown than before. No matter what the definition, globalisation is dynamic and real, causing numerous and often radical changes in all but the most remote places. Depending on your point of view, circumstance and prospects, the process can be seen as hugely positive or grossly negative. Those who defend globalisation say it is bringing prosperity to untold millions around the world, breaking down national and cultural barriers, and helping to speed the general process of peace-building. Critics say that the chaotic manner in which market forces have scaled up to the global level has unleashed a destructive whirlwind that treats workers callously, serves too often to further impoverish the poor at the expense of the rich, and wreaks vast amounts of environmental destruction. They say that its side effects are equally horrific, ranging from the spread of AIDS and drug abuse to the creation of a world monoculture that destroys local traditions and squelches diversity. At the 1995 World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, nations of the world took note of this dualism: â€Å"Globalization, which is a consequence of increased human mobility, enhanced communications, greatly increased trade and capital flows, and technological developments, opens new opportunities for sustained economic growth and development of the world economy, particularly in developing countries. Globalization also permits countries to share experiences and to learn from one another’s achievements and difficulties, and promotes a cross-fertilization of ideals, cultural values and aspirations. At the same time, the rapid processes of change and adjustment have been accompanied by intensified poverty, unemployment and social disintegration. Threats to human well-being, such as environmental risks, have also been globalized.† Inasmuch as the pain caused by some aspects of globalisation is undeniable, the real issue is whether the negative effects of its sweeping processes can be ameliorated and the positive effects enhanced. Because in the opinions of some, the forward march of globalisation is unstoppable. The notion concept of sovereignty refers to the three-fold capacity of a state, which is the â€Å"absolute supremacy over internal affairs within its territory, absolute right to govern its people, and freedom from any external interference in the above matters† (Wang, 2004: 473). So a state is sovereign if it has the ability to make and implement laws within its territory, and can function without any external power and assistance, and doesn’t acknowledges any higher authority above itself in the world of independent states. From the above definition one can draw the conclusion that either a stat e can be sovereign or not, since sovereignty is defined as the absolute supremacy and right of the government in a given state. A realist like Steven D.Krasner agrees on the collapsing autonomy of states but deny the impact of globalisation on nation state, which could possibly lead to the death of state sovereignty. He argues, â€Å"Those who proclaim the death of sovereignty misread the history. The nation state has a keen instinct for survival and has so far adapted to new challenges, even the challenge of globalization† (Krasner, 2001: 20). He also argues that globalisation is not a new challenge or phenomena. Viewed from a criminological point, â€Å"the perceived normality of high crime rates, together with thee widely acknowledged limitations of criminal justice agencies, have begun to erode one of the foundational myths of modern societies: namely, the myth that the sovereign state is capable of providing security, law and order, crime control within its territorial boundaries† (Garland, 1996: 448). The notion of legitimate organized violence monopoly, which is of great importance for the internal order as well as for the foreign accountability of a state, is challenged by the international criminality. Since states cannot provide security for their citizens and are not capa ble of guaranteeing internal order, one of the fundamental elements of state sovereignty is undermined and questioned. The negative effects of globalisation can be softened only through new and higher levels of international cooperation and consultation, filtered through a new system of moral values that puts human welfare and social justice ahead of the predominantly materialistic paradigm currently in vogue. Call this global governance. Call it world government. But one way or the other, the forces of globalisation will require the creation of some sort of international super authority, one that can ensure that human rights and workers’ prerogatives are upheld, and that the environment is protected, as globalisation proceeds. Another factor that is observed is that the number of poor people (people living with less than US$1 per day) has increased, and reached almost 1.2 billion people, which is almost one fifth of the world’s total population. This is partly caused by the increase in global population, but also due to the distribution of the money. The ratio of income between the wor lds twenty percent richest and twenty percent poorest has increased from 30:1 to 78:1. Many people also question the issue of globalisation creating more jobs when multinationals establish new factories in foreign countries. Their argument is that although more jobs are created, and that this reduces the unemployment, these jobs don’t require any skill and workers have very bad working conditions, working long hours and receiving little money. And as the workers have no other working options, and working in these factories is their only source of income, they can’t do anything else, but work to try to survive. Besides this, the unemployment levels are very high, which means that there is always someone available to substitute workers that aren’t happy with what they are being offered. These facts make us think in a way of making globalisation fairer, and giving developing countries the chance of benefiting more from it. So that this can happen, there are many things that need to be changed. First of all the development needs to be more focused on the people, and not only in financial reasons. Fairer rules and deeper partnerships should be done between developed and developing countries so they can have a mutually beneficial relationship. Also one of the most important things to ensure that nations can benefit the most from globalisation is that a powerful, democratic and more effective UN helps to control the spread and paths of globalisation. From this we can conclude that globalisation is one of the most important factors of the new century, and that it will continue spreading and growing all around the world, reaching the furthest corners of the planet. The question of whether it is good or bad can never be answered completely, and there isn’t a right or wrong answer, because there will always be good and bad sides to it. At present globalisation seems to be beneficial for some and detrimental to others. For globalisation to be beneficial to the majority depends on how it is treated and controlled. Globalisation could be very beneficial to society as a whole if managed correctly.

Why the Quran was written in Arabic Research Proposal

Why the Quran was written in Arabic - Research Proposal Example If a person set a target of ten words to learn in a day, it would only take them7 months to learn the Quran. The Quran is believed to have been written in Arabic; the language that was first revealed to the prophet through the angels. As evident from the Holy Quran Chapter 14 verse 4 states â€Å"And we never sent a messenger save with the language of his nation, that he might make (our revealed message) clear for them†. 2Arabic was regarded as the language of the prophet and that of his people and thus the best way to convey a message to the chosen people would be through the language most used by the people. Arabic was the language of the last messenger of Allah, Muhammad. Some scholars see no religious inclination there as they felt it was only natural for an Arab to write exclusively in his native language.3 It would make no sense for the Holy Quran to be inscribed in any other language for the use by the Arabs. The Quran is not written by the Prophet nor was it his invention but was dictated to him by the spirit and angel of Allah. It is important for Muslim faithful’s to accept that it was through the miracle of Angel Gabriel revealing God’s word to the prophet that the Quran came to existence. This project is imperative in this day and age. It is important to iron out this issue once and for all to help improve cohesiveness and unity between practicing faithful’s of different religions. Many people who do not understand the Arabic language- those who cannot speak or read it feel left out from the teachings of the Quran, and thus the major significance of this project will be to help them understand the truth behind the choice of language. To remove all doubt that the Quran is the message from God Allah the most high and not the writings of his messenger prophet Muhammad will also help all skeptics; Muslims

Earned Value Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Earned Value Management - Essay Example The most vital component of EVMS is recognizing the real time investment occurring within the project compared to planned value and actual cost. This will illustrate whether the project is exceeding costs and whether it is behind schedule. It is important to recognize that PV is also considered the Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled, which is imperative for determining earned value. Projects have technical performance aspects (progress) that is related to budget and should be assessed in comparison to actual costs incurred. Planned budget of $180,000 with an actual cost of $200,000 would, without EVMS, be $20,000 over budget. However, EVMS might illustrate that the technical progress started earlier than expected, thus the project is now ahead of schedule and might be more apt to meet PV budget. This is why EVMS is linked directly to cost and performance. My view is that EVMS is a more practical assessment of a project since it takes more into consideration than just costs. It recognizes expert progress based against time schedules, to make a more accurate assessment of project value or potential losses. It is a viable tool for assessing projects because it takes time and talent into consideration (Goodpasture, 2004) along with recognition of costs, something needed for strategic project management in order to gain a broader picture of whether the project is meeting its intended budget and progress

Nato and United Nation on the Conflict in Kosovo Essay

Nato and United Nation on the Conflict in Kosovo - Essay Example Kosovo is located in Southern Serbia and has a population of majority Albanians. Until 1989, the region was autonomous within Yugoslavia. Kosovo conflict refers to armed struggles in Kosovo province, Yugoslavia. From 1998 to 1999, there was an armed clashes caused by the Kosovo Liberation Army who wanted independence from the Yugoslav Military and Serbian police (Singh 2009). Between March and June 1999, NATO launched an air strikes and patrols on FR Yugoslavia while the KLA continued with their wars with Yugoslav Security Forces. This led to a large population displacement. NATO’s intervention in Kosovo was to stop the humanitarian crisis and restore peace stability in the region. Despite numerous challenges during 78 days of aerial strikes, more than 37,000 excursions occurred and 10,484 of the strike attacks happened without any fatalities. NATO’s objectives were to help for the achievement of a peaceful resolution to the crisis at hand and to promote security in nei ghboring nations especially in Albania and Macedonia. The involvement of NATO's was to settle the war in the most peaceful way. Their involvement, however, brought more problems than solutions. Albanians not only fought amongst each other but also NATO soldier (Kaplan 2010). The world's involvement in the conflict angered both sides of the conflict. Other objectives of NATO and the UN in Kosovo were; to stop to all military action and end repression, the withdrawal of the military and paramilitary forces from Kosovo, the setting up of international military in Kosovo, the unconditional return of all refugees and displaced persons and unstoppable access to them by humanitarian organizations and the establishment of a political agreement in conformity the Charter of the United Nations and international law. To show that NATO and UN did not act objectively in the conflict, in Kosovo, there were claims by Yugoslavia that NATO raids caused between 1,000 and 6000 civilian casualties. NATO 's secretary general, Lord Robertson, admitted after the conflict that the exact human lives claimed will never be known. Figures in Human Rights Watch reports estimate between 490 and 530 civilian demises, 80 to 140 resulting from cluster bombing. Kosovo attacks were deadly due to many confused refugee movements. On the ground, there was ethnic cleansing by the Serbians that led to 300,000 Kosovo Albanians fleeing to Albania and Macedonia with thousands more internally displaced in Kosovo. The United Nations reported that 850,000 people had fled their homes. The choice of targets to hit was highly controversial. The destruction of bridges at the Danube disrupted shipping on the river after the war causing economic challenges to countries along the river. The attack on industrial facilities damaged the economies of many local towns. These examples show that the organization did not act objectively in pursing their objectives. Moreover, the Serbian government and a numerous internati onal pressure groups accused NATO of carrying out war crimes during the war. For instance, the bombing of a Serbian television headquarters in Belgrade on April 1999 led to 16 deaths and numerous injuries. This was a deliberate attack on a civilian property hence constituting war crimes. The argument for NATO’

FUNDAMENTALS OF E-BUSINESS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

FUNDAMENTALS OF E-BUSINESS - Essay Example The present study would analyse the website of Sina which is a news and media company that provides news and other related content on its website. The study would evaluate the brand with regards to the design structure and content as well as analysis of the branding strategy of the organization using the online channel. Apart from this aspects of social networking and mass customisation would also be included in the study. The study would analyse the website of the organization on the basis of all the above mentioned elements. This would also include analysis of the demerits as well as possible corrective measures or strategies. The study would end with a section that summarises the findings of the study and also puts forth set of plausible recommendations that would enable the firm to ensure sustainable competitive advantage in the market. Introduction The business environment prevailing in this world resembles a highly competitive market environment where business organizations are engaged in cut throat competition. Globalisation has also led to business organizations breaching geographical and political boundaries to reach out to new markets to leverage the potential of the opportunities of different markets. This has also enhanced the aspect of competition in the business markets as firms are essentially resorting to price war that has further intensified competition as the profit margins of the companies have been squeezed. In order to differentiate the products and services firms are essentially adopting different means to reach out to customers in an attempt to increase awareness and improve the brand image and positioning of their products and services among the minds of the target market audience. The advancement in internet technology has opened yet another channel for business organizations to showcase their products and services to a wide and large number of target market audiences. The immense reach and potential of this channel has made its one of the powerful channels for business organizations to showcase their products. The growing popularity of online social networking sites has also opened up greater opportunities for this channel. The present study would analyse the online communication channel of Sina which is a leading media house based in China. The study would evaluate the aspect of web design as well as it underlying concepts as well as branding, mass customisation and the aspect of social networking that affects the brand image of the organization. The study would also have a set of plausible recommendations for the organization that would enable it to maintain a roadmap of positive growth and sustainability in the business markets. Website Structure Design and Concepts In order to effectively leverage the opportunities of the online channel it is highly essential to have a website that has a good design and attractiveness so as to make an appeal among the members of the target audience. It is also essential to i nclude a suitable content for readers and visitors so as to create awareness of the website in the minds of the customers. Sina is a media company that larges uses the online channel for its business. The main areas of business include news and related contents, mobile service, online and community gaming as well as online shopping portal. The revenues of the firm mainly arise from advertising

Negotiating Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Negotiating - Movie Review Example The Secretary of Defense then arrives with a risky plan- a blockade on Cuba to prevent further weapons from entering the nation. When the Russians do not mind the blockade and make efforts to overturn it, circumstances immediately turn from good to hopeless. Based on structure, the movie can be distinguished into two specific components: the initial component of the movie introduces the main protagonists Russia and the US, as well as the innate attitudes and traits of their leaders, and just as significantly, the emerging signs of the potential clash between the two superpowers. The second part portrays America's efforts to combat their worsening fear of invasion by the Russians with the help of peaceful negotiations as they get stranded over the peace talks, and eventually their agreement with Russia to stop the loading of the nuclear weapons. Bridging the two parts are situations where neither the people watching the movie nor the two main countries knows what will happen next, truly a suspenseful masterpiece. Majority of the movie's symbolic imagery is focused on America's diplomatic efforts towards Russia and its mischievous plans. The symbolism of the negotiations in this movie allows the audience to comprehend what happens within two nations stranded in a tug of war fighting for supremacy, when suffering from a terrible dilemma, and most significantly when stepping up to the challenge and making tough decisions that will decide the fate of their countrymen. The negotiations are the primary foundations or the framework of the movie, including their positive and negative results. Much of the negotiations that happened during the movie were between US President John F. Kennedy and Russian President Nikita Kruschev. While President Kennedy was convinced that the photos of nuclear missile build-up captured by their spy planes were indeed authentic and therefore a direct threat to Americans, Kruschev was adamant in mentioning that these weapons were not intended for harmful utilization. Nonetheless, the US government maintained their peaceful ways of managing the crisis at hand, until they learned that the Russian and Cuban government under Fidel Castro had already agreed on various policies as to the utilization of the nuclear weapons. While it was clear that the peaceful efforts of the US to negotiate the crisis failed at first, in the end all the nations involved came into an agreement to remove all their weapons and threats to each other. While the world seemed close to witnessing another brutal war, the insistent diplomatic efforts of the American government led by President Kennedy paved the way for a peaceful ending for this crisis.

Construction Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Construction Industry - Essay Example The second part focuses on the construction industry in Britain and its problem of skill shortage. The last section, using a report by international project and cost managers, Gardiner and Theobald titled, 'London Wins 2012 Olympic Gamesbut Don't Panic.' illustrates why the British construction industry can meet the Olympics challenge (The report can be viewed at the Gardiner and Theobald Website at http://www.gardiner.com/NewsSystem/newstext/Olympics2.pdf) London will be the host city for the 2012 Olympic games. The games will be held in 33 venues across London and the UK. Construction work is complete in just 18 venues. The rest have to be built from scratch or will require major renovation prior to the Olympics .The centerpiece of the games will be the Olympic park in London. According to the Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB) Position Statement on the London Olympics 2012, the Construction Products Association estimates that the Olympics will generate 10bn of investment in Britain, 2.5bn of which will be construction related. The CIOB statement also states that Consultancy Deloitte estimates about 12,000 jobs will be created in the construction sector. (The CIOB position statement can be viewed at http://194.217.225.164/media/CIOB-PS-LondonOlympics2012.pdf) The Department of Education and Skills has said that the construction industry needs around 88,000 new entrants every year in craft, technical, professional and management roles. In a press notice, it has stated that according to the National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) 2004, there are over 32,000 vacancies in the industry, 13,700 of which are skill shortage vacancies. In order to develop construction skills for major projects associated with the Olympics, a National Skills Academy has been set up. (The press release can be viewed at the Department of Education and Skills website at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgipn_id=2005_0129) According to a survey conducted by the CIOB, 89% of respondents felt there was a shortage of training placements in Britain. They felt that one of the prime causes for the construction skills shortage was the poor image of the industry, which was competing with several newer and more attractive industries. Besides these, they felt that certain policies pertaining to new-entrants also resulted in skill shortages. (The CIOB press release on skills shortage survey can be viewed at http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/releaseid=151701) The construction industry often reflects the economy itself. Just like the economy, the construction industry too goes through phases of robust growth, stagnation and even depression. During a lackluster period, skilled workers become redundant and are often forced to seek employment elsewhere or even switch professions. However, when the industry starts to look up, there is again a need for trained people, thus leading to a skill shortage. The Huntsman Associates report titled 'Staffing the Construction Industry in the North East' discusses the nature of the construction industry and the availability of skilled professionals in Britain, especially in the northeast region. This report emphasises on factoring this boom/bust nature of the industry while recruiting

Organizing, Decision-Making, Ethics, and the Law in Managemen Essay

Organizing, Decision-Making, Ethics, and the Law in Managemen - Essay Example The detrimental effect that stress has on decision making is mediated by the impairment of alternative scanning patterns. (Keinan, 1997) This means that stress makes one not adequately search for different courses of action that are available to the individual. If I were Rick I would have evaluated all possible options that are available to me and try to pick the correct one. Since Stan is my boss, I know whatever he asks me to do should get done. However, in this case, the instructions involve violating ethical standards by including his excess personal expense together with my own monthly expense voucher. Even though there is a rare chance that it could be identified through auditing, it would still be against my personal moral standing. Therefore, I believe the best option would be to decline to do as my boss asks, explain the evident risk of losing my job and hope that it would be reason enough for him to understand my decision. I do agree with Mr. House’s response to Rick. This is because he gave Rick a true picture of what would be the consequences for different courses of action. For one to make a critical decision all possible options must be considered and their pros and cons weighed. The correct decision will be based on the option that has the most pros and the least cons amongst all. Therefore by Mr. House giving Rick the different courses of action available to him and evaluating them one by one, it actually is the best possible way to make a good decision. Mr. House also tells Rick that â€Å"†¦ every man at some time has to make a decision that determines his survival of the fittest. This situation could be one of them.† This is, in fact, a correct statement in all realms of life and I agree with it since the decision that Rick is about to take will definitely be a tough one in all respects.

School Uniforms Essay Example for Free

School Uniforms Essay The issue of school uniforms in today’s public schools is a silent but very controversial issue, Gaining momentum with school administrators and parents debating on whether or not to convert their public schools. With academics on a decline compared to the world average, (Wu, Elaine) along with school violence at its highest that it has ever been. The United States is a seeing a change towards school using school uniforms to help solve many problems associated with public schools. School uniforms in today’s society â€Å"promote school safety and enhance the learning environment, and diminish the clothing completion† As said by Marsha Boutelle. School uniforms unify a school and help the blending of the school cultures, instead of massive polarization among students. Of course student who could not wear uniforms due to religious reasons or other appropriate reasons could sign out doing so along with parent permission. Along with School uniforms we see a boost in academic performance. With the United States dropping behind other developed nation ranking in at number 18 of 24. (Wu, Elaine) this is low for a nation that is spending a lot on education every year. Kids are losing focus on school and are competing for what the newest fashion or gadget rather than focusing on school these days. With the addition of school uniforms in American society kids can focus more on their classes rather than social factors that students focus on when there is no school uniform and the dress code is not strict. With the addition of school uniforms in public schools you can see students bonding together helping students feel like they are accepted and part of a much bigger picture than just them. Also the boost in academics helps out everywhere with helping students get into universities of their choice rather than just a university that excepts them and helps them get scholarships, which a lot have a GPA requirement, that must be met in order to qualify or to continue receiving. This helps out students and parents get funding for the college or trade school they attend. And with the millions of dollars in scholarships that go unused each year. Students could defiantly use this money to pay or help pay for their college. And this helps out businesses get tax cuts find what could be future employs and save them money in the end when taxes are due. But many people argue against school uniforms in America and say that it affects their creativity and violates the first amendment. (Cornell) Arguing against school uniforms parents feel that not being able to dress in the latest clothing fashions. They feel that their children are being restricted on their creativity and ability to freely express themselves. Coming back to the United States constitution’s first amendment which is the freedom of speech, saying that what the students are wearing is a symbol of speech and is expressing them. But this argument is flaw when it comes to students who still cannot abide by even the schools standard dress code policies. For example â€Å"sixth grader tiffany gets sent to the principal’s office because the teacher thinks she is dressed inappropriately. She is wearing a micro mini skirt and a halter top that shows her midriff. Principle Judy Montgomery, of Sacramento’s Bear Flag Elementary School, takes Tiffany home to change her clothes and to check in with her parents. There reaction isn’t what she expects â€Å"Her mother was upset with me† Montgomery says. Her mother says she looks cute. † (Boutelle) This is showing that some parents can’t even enforce a school appropriate dress code on their children in this day and age. This example is showing how kids are being influenced by today’s hip hop culture. Effecting what young people are wearing even if it is degrading to them. And its creating distractions to other people in the academic environment therefore hindering others ability to do their best and distracting them from being creative in their own ways. So this argument is invalid when kids are so dressed down that it’s distracting to others. And the inability for parents to be able to tell their children that what they are wearing is inappropriate and shows that a standardized dress code should be put in place. There is a time and place to dress however you like and that is outside of school. Kids can dress however they please outside of a standardized institution. Also it would be very unprofessional if parents had to meet a teacher or principle for a conference or something school related. And the teacher or principle was wearing unprofessional clothing looking unclean and not clean cut, In other words not looking professional for their job. Students and parents alike don’t like to see this it’s very hard to take them serious and consider them professional. So the argument is flawed when it comes to it in the end, because in schools are supposed to be unifying and be an academic environment. Another problem in American schools is school violence School violence can be greatly reduced by the use of school uniforms. With kids unable to noticeably tell or distinguish which kids belong to what gangs in school if any at all. Also with uniforms it’s much harder to tell which kids come from money and which kids come from needy families. Relieving kids of the stress of which social economic status you come from. With a blending, it helps kids see who the actual person is rather then who or where they came from or what their culture is or background. For example all you have to do is step in to any public school with a normal dress code during lunch and you can just see all the different groups that are happening in a school from rich kids and jocks to the nerds and the poor kids. You see the school gangs separating representing for their gang or group. At any moment there could be a confrontation between any of these groups and instantly a conflict has started or worse school violence could happen between people. Since something has happened everything is stopped until the situation gets resolved whether it’s broken up by the school cop, teachers, or resolved by the people it happens between. Some of this can be stopped, as bill Clinton said in his 1996 state of the union address â€Å"I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms. † (Clinton) This quote is showing how kids are committing violence in school over something as simple as a â€Å"designer jacket†. (Clinton) everyone wearing uniforms also makes it very easy to recognize people who are not supposed to be there or can make an intruder stand out in a crowd. So what is to stop kids in school from killing or committing violence over any other reason in public schools? But David L Brunsma begs to say that school uniforms can actually solve school violence or even boost school academic performance. After he did a study on how school uniforms. His graph (summary of uniform policy effect) shows that there is either not enough of a change or there was a drop in performance according to his graph. But the graph does not show any numbers on it so it’s hard to say anything about also. On this subject there is a lot of supporting data for both sides which make it hard to say what is legit and what is not because not every study is reproduced in this field. Brunsma says that school uniforms actual cause a false sense of security and are actual detrimental to what is going on in the climate of the school. (School Uniform Policies in Public Schools†) With so much contradicting evidence to his claim it only raises questions to why uniforms help in some parts of the U. S and across the world but not all over the united states. In conclusion school uniforms should be instated in public school, with a boost in academic performance. Which would in turn boost the United States in the ranking system of developed nations, and along with that would make it a much more respected educational institutional as a whole in the world of education. Also school uniforms unify schools bringing them closer to a whole and unifying the school. School uniforms help students feel a part of something bigger than just them. Also it keeps schools much less polarized making students safer and keeping the school violence significantly low. But it won’t solve all conflicts because there is always someone out looking to start something or is suffering from a severe problem. This can be prevented by students taking initiative to help protect their school. Students should help everyone out in their school by helping keeping it unified. Works Cited 1. Boutelle, Marsha. Uniforms: Are They a Good Fit? The Education Digest. 73. 6 (February 2008): 34-7 2. Brunsma, David L. School Uniform Policies in Public Schools. Principal (Reston, Va. ). 85. 3 (January/February 2006): 50-3 3. Brennan, Timothy. Do uniforms make our schools better? Ive seen them boost school climate. American Teacher. 89. 5 (February 2005): 4 4. Firmin, Michael, Suzanne Smith, and Lynsey Perry. School Uniforms: A Qualitative Analysis of Aims and Accomplishments at Two Christian Schools. Journal of Research on Christian Education. 15. 1/2 (Spring/Fall 2006): 143-68 5. Brunsma, David L. , and Kerry Ann Rockquemore. Statistics, Sound Bites, and School Uniforms: A Reply to Bodine. The Journal of Educational Research (Washington, D. C. ). 97. 2 (November/December 2003): 72-7. 6. Daugherty, Richard F. Leadership In Action: Piloting a School Uniform Program. Education. 123. 2 (2002): 390 7. PRESIDENT CLINTON, WILLIAM JEFFERSON, STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS,U. S. CAPITOL JANUARY 23, 1996, http://clinton2. nara. gov/WH/New/other/sotu. html 8. Wu, Elaine, â€Å"U. S. falls in education rank compared to other countries†, The Kapio Newspress, 2004, http://kapio. kcc. hawaii. edu/upload/fullnews. php? id=52 9. Cornell University Law school, http://www. law. cornell. edu/constitution/constitution. billofrights. html.

Criminal Justice Essay Example for Free

Criminal Justice Essay Herbert Packer a professor from Stanford University came up with two models of how the criminal justice system works. The two models that Herbert Packer had came up with is the crime control model and due process model.The crime control model is based on conservative values such as aggressive arrest, prosecution and conviction of criminals and makes the system more efficient and safer for people. The due process control is basically protecting an individual’s rights whether they’re accused and to protect the innocent people from conviction. According to the article , neither models should be used because both the crime control and due process model have both significant strengths and weaknesses. For example, one weakness of a due process model is it only protects the accused individual rights and not the victim. Also the articles claims that â€Å"both appear to have potential pitfalls and dangers that could threaten both safety and security and the individual freedoms that have made the United States a beacon of stability and freedom throughout the world†. The article also states that crime control model is too harsh while the due process model is just soft on the accused individuals. While the crime control model is aggressive arrest and it could be trouble if the police officers arrest the innocent by accident and during the aggressive arrest it may hurt the victims also.This shows that neither models should be used due to all the reasons above. Herbert Packer feels that both methods should be combined to prevent weaknesses in the model while gaining more strengths and less dangers to the society. Also Herbert Packer feels that if the models were combined, it’ll be the best strategy to deal with crimes days in the future. With the criminal control model being harsh and the due process being more soft on the accused, they would make a great team which adjusting the levels to just right not too harsh or too easy. These reasons above states why Herbert Packer feels that both models or methods should be combined. Based on all the facts given to me, I would prefer the crime control model because crime control model could actually prevent more crimes while the due process model would increase the amount of crimes a year. Also the crime control model enforces the law while the due process model doesn’t. I would prefer the crime control model also because it’s better to be safe than sorry and increases the social order in that certain area. Since the due process model is too easy on the criminal, there may be a chance that the individual would commit another crime and in society it is important to maintain social order or there would be chaos.I also think that if the crime control model is including traffic stops ,wiretapping and surveillance , it’ll still protect the victim and the criminal somehow. The crime control model is necessary to make a free society. With the crime control model, the criminal justice system should be more efficient than ever. The crime control model increases the police powers which make the criminal afraid of committing any more crimes. This is shows why I prefer the crime control model over the due process model. Herbert Packer a professor from Stanford University came up with two models of how the criminal justice system works. The two models that Herbert Packer had came up with is the crime control model and due process model. In conclusion, there are many strengths and weaknesses among the models but still the crime control method is more important in order to prevent crimes from increasing.

Professional values and ethics

Professional values and ethics Professional Values and Ethics Values and ethics are the cornerstone for both personal and professional success. The way an individual or group interacts with others exposes their genuine character because actions speak louder than words. Those with a strong values system and ethical standards of the highest degree are easily recognizable by their deeds and are intrinsically motivated to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. Values and ethics generally originate and grow from the same sources, family, spiritual beliefs, and school; professional values and ethics are mere extensions of what one learns prior to joining the work force. Therefore, the things one learns early in life follow into the professional world and have a positive, or negative, impact on career success. Values and Ethics Defined Values Before delving into the world of professional, or personal for that matter, values, one must first know exactly what a value is or values are. A value is, according to Ozmete(2007),â€Å"an enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or end-state of existence† (p. 1). Furthermore, a value system is all these beliefs placed and utilized in order of precedence, serving as a guide for everything from decision making to conflict resolution. What one values provides answers to questions like, if one was stranded on a deserted island, what three things would he or she want to have? Professional values are basically the same as described above but in the context of a corporation, organization, or group and what they would like their desired end-state to be. The professional value system of group entities is revealed in their business practices; from their interaction with other companies to how well taken care of the employees are. Whether or not a business plays by the rules, win or lose, speaks volumes about the company and, more importantly, the people who work there. Ethics Ethics are usually described in relation to values, as they are the moral philosophy and implementation of ones values. Personal or professional ethical codes give the ability to recognize what is right, fair, honorable and righteous. Corporations and businesses have published codes of ethics by which they conduct business. The code of ethics sets forth the standards to which employees are expected to abide and will be held accountable. Far too many companies have failed not because they did not have ethical standards, but because they did not enforce them. It is incumbent upon every employee to ensure they familiarize themselves with their employers ethical code of conduct for the benefit of the employee and employer alike. Sources of Values and Ethics Family One source of professional values and ethics are parents or guardians. Ever since one can remember, one of the first places where values are taught is at home. Parents teach their children right from wrong, not to lie or steal, and may introduce them to a particular religion where values are reinforced. These are the values that stay with someone forever; not only does the individual use these values as guidelines in their lives, but they also teach their children the same values.   Besides moral values, families teach their children work ethic. They give children small chores to do, such as cleaning their room, taking out the trash, and general helping around the house.   If they complete the tasks in a timely fashion, they receive money for helping. These small jobs not only show children the value of earning money, but also show them that hard work is rewarded. School Another source of values and ethics is school. Children learn they must be on time, complete their homework, and study hard to earn good grades. Just as with chores and allowances at home, schoolwork teaches that by studying and working hard, one can achieve good grades and get into good high schools and universities. Being on time for school each day is the beginning of ones time management skills. Not only do they learn the importance of punctuality, but budgeting their after school activities, family time, and homework time teaches one to prioritize what he or she values. Conversely, one learns that there are consequences for not implementing his or her values, like detention or bad grades. The repercussions could be detrimental, with long-lasting effects such as limited college choices and in turn, limited professional choices. Professional Environment No matter the career one chooses, the values and ethical standards instilled as a youth will guide ones professional decisions, good or bad. Most corporations, companies or associations have a written set of values or ethical guidelines by which all are held accountable. The American Psychological Association focuses on five principles of ethical behavior. The first principle is Beneficence and Nonmaleficence, which states, â€Å"In their professional actions, psychologists seek to safeguard the welfare and rights of those with whom they interact professionally and other affected persons, and the welfare of animal subjects of research† (American Psychological Association, 2002, p. 3). The next principle is Fidelity and Responsibility, which reads, â€Å"Psychologists uphold professional standards of conduct, clarify their professional roles and obligations, accept appropriate responsibility for their behavior, and seek to manage conflicts of interest that could lead to exploi tation or harm† (American Psychological Association, 2002, p. 3). Integrity is the third principle stating, â€Å"Psychologists seek to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology. In these activities psychologists do not steal, cheat, or engage in fraud, subterfuge, or intentional misrepresentation of fact† (American Psychological Association, 2002, p. 3). The fourth principle deals with Justice and reads, â€Å"Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by psychologists† (American Psychological Association, 2002, p. 3). The final principle is based on Respect for Peoples Rights and Dignity, and states, â€Å"Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-determina tion† (American Psychological Association, 2002, p. 4). The preceding guidelines are what many were taught as children; do not harm others, take responsibility for your actions, be honest and trustworthy, impart fairness, equality, and respect to all. Each is applicable, and most useful, throughout life and all are qualities of a civil society. Applying Professional Values and Ethics Not everyone, however, was raised with the same values and ethical standards. While some were taught to value the â€Å"Golden Rule†, others learned to value money, possessions and status over all else. Bernie Madoff is an excellent example. He swindled investors out of an estimated fifty billion dollars in a Ponzi scheme that lasted for years. Unscrupulously, he promised clients massive returns on their investments, which for some was their entire life savings. A judge recently sentenced him to over 100 years in prison and deservedly so; but the money, and consequently, many retirement funds and livelihoods are gone (Henriques, 2009). The Ponzi scheme mentioned above is named after its originator, Charles Ponzi. He was an Italian immigrant who, in the 1920s, deceived people to invest in mail coupons and promised returns eight times what banks were offering and in far less time. Even then, Ponzi received millions from investors looking to make quick, and large, sums of money. To establish legitimacy, Ponzi paid some of the earliest investors what he promised. Millions of dollars later, it turned out he was a conman and had only purchased less than fifty dollars worth of the investment he sold. He also went to prison (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,2001). Clearly, what these men valued was personal gain and money. Neither had any ethical standards and both preyed on other peoples value of getting rich quickly. Although these are extraordinary examples, the relative impact on ones career success from not applying good moral values and ethics could be just as damaging. Professional values and ethics are mere extensions of the values and ethics learned from family, spiritual leaders and teachers. What one is taught to value growing up will carry over in the professional world. Professionals with upstanding values and ethical standards are easy to identify, as is the company that employs them. Values based business decisions and ethical guidelines adhered to by all are the benchmark for success. Those who accept less can have a detrimental impact on their company and maybe, the rest of society.

Charles Dickens :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Charles Dickens Charles Dickens, a nineteenth century writer, tells a story about a young boy in England and the adventures that happen to him. In reading the book the reader becomes entwined in the plot by Dickens^Ã’s expert writing and style. Using different scenes and scenarios, Dickens displays his characters' personality in a way the few other writers could. In the book Oliver Twist, Dickens uses different events that happen around Oliver instead letting Oliver decide his own fate. In the book, other characters determine Oliver^Ã’s path in life, and Oliver is the subject around which the story revolves. The accidents in the story give depth to Oliver and add depth to the story that increases elements of mystery and suspense. In the beginning of the book, Mrs. Thingummy is helping Oliver^Ã’s mother give birth to the young child. Mrs. Thingummy takes charge of Oliver^Ã’s life just as he is born by stealing Oliver^Ã’s only link with his father, his mother^Ã’s husband. Stealing the mother^Ã’s ring also commits Oliver to a life of lower social status because of his supposed illegitimacy. Oliver moves to the dark forces in the book when he starts with absolutely nothing from his very birth. The sides of good and evil, light and dark respectively, are also devices used by Dickens to display different sides of the social coin in England. Accidents tie in closely with this device because it is by accident that Oliver transferres to one side or another. After spending time in the dark forces, Oliver then switches back to the light side by a run in with Mr. Brownlow, a compassionate citizen who pities Oliver and later takes care of him. Of all the people that Oliver could run into Mr. Brownlow happens to be one of those people who Oliver desperately needed and who could and would provide for Oliver. In another example of an accident, and a shift back into the dark forces, Oliver happens to make a wrong turn and end up in the hands of a band of crooks who earlier had taken possession of Oliver. By chance the appropriate person was in the alley that Oliver, by chance, walked into when he was passing through the city of London. In the last transition of chance, Oliver is caught breaking and entering into a house that the band of crooks intends to pillage. This house contains another compassionate and tender character that becomes like a mother to Oliver. Luckily, and by chance, the shot that one of the

Essay --

Kassidy Hause CWL 320-06, Fall 2013 Dr. Talar Chahinian Final Paper 12-10-13 Ways of Dying, Violence, Fantasy & Comedy Zakes Mda was born in 1948 in Herschel, South Africa and is known for being a novelist, poet, activist, playwright and cultural theorist. Ways of Dying by Zakes Mda is a novel from western form. Literature that was written by Black South African writers between the 1948 and 1994 really captures the oppression and tragic violence that characterized the lives of Blacks under the apartheid. The apartheid or â€Å"apartness† as some Afrikaans call it, describes a system of laws and policies of complete and total racial segregation in South Africa that began in 1948 when the national party came to power. The apartheid did not end until 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected president in the first democratic elections. The horrific deaths that are portrayed throughout Zake Mda’s novel Ways of Dying, were all true ways of dying that Zakes Mda, saw himself, read about in the newspaper or read when he was doing research. The very true deaths that he portrays in the novel really p aint a picture of the structural and political violence that was going on in South Africa during the apartheid. This violence and oppression really creates a tragic background for the novel however, Zakes Mda challenges the norm of violence and finds a way to portray it as something somewhat idiotic, which in turn makes Ways of Dying quite comical. He also combines fantasy and magic to the novel, which emulates all the spectacular and wonderful parts of South African beliefs and traditions. Zakes unique way of combining the depiction of how ridiculous it is that death has become so normalized in South Africa and magic and fantasy makes Ways of Dying an ... ... Magic and fantasy is also a central theme for this book because magic gives a sense of hope and belief in people and a strength that people never knew they had. The biggest example is the garden, a magic garden of beauty that still stands among all the horrible things that Toloki and Noria are living in. The garden gives them hope that magic and beauty still exist in the world. In this part of the novel the readers are laughing and smiling because they feel hope and happiness and sense of magic that they are going to get through their issues and be okay. Ways of Dying is a spectacular novel by Zakes Mda, written during the apartheid era, which was a horrific time for South Africans who were abused and murdered by their corrupt government. Zakes Mda was able to provide a sense of history, comedy and hope all into one novel and that any reader would enjoy to read.

Air Pollution :: essays research papers fc

Problem The first thing people see, in the morning, when they walk outside is the sky or the colored sun. Is this world giving us the privilege of seeing the natural colors of the sun through all the layers of pollution within the air (Dinanike 31)? Not only are beautiful sights such as this hidden behind the pollution this world causes everyday, but an increase in diseases, infections and death occurs. What causes pollution? What can we do to prevent it,and get rid of it? Is it fair to the children of the future to have to suffer the consequences that pollution causes? Why not take care of the problem now? Factory and business owners have the ability to prevent air pollution. Air pollution is the presence in the atmosphere of harmful gases, liquids, or solids. Air pollution, known as smoke pollution for many years, resulted from coal combustion (Hodges 526). Smog has been a problem in coal-burning areas for several centuries. Smog finally decreased when coal combustion was replaced by oil a nd gas combustion. Air pollution is caused by a number of different types of pollutants. The first type, particulate matter, consists of solid and liquid aerosols suspended in the atmosphere. These arise from the burning of coal and from industrial processes. Atmospheric particles can scatter and absorb sunlight which reduces visibility. Particles also reduce visibility by attenuating the light from objects and illuminating the air causing the contrast between the objects and their backgrounds to reduce. Not only does it effect visibility, but it hastens the erosion of building materials and the corrosion of metals, interferes with the human respiratory system, and brings toxic materials into the body. The small particles cause chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema and lung cancer (Hodges 59). The second type is sulfur oxides which come from the burning of coal and industrial processes. Damage to materials, to vegetation, and to the human respiratory system are caused by the acid nature of oxides. Small quantities of sulfur oxides can increase illness and mortality (Hodges 59). The third type of pollutant is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas against which humans have no protection. Carbon monoxide comes from the exhaust of gasoline-powered vehicles and secondarily from industrial processes (Hamer 45). Hemoglobin, which is in the blood, combines with carbon monoxide and carries less oxygen to body tissues causing health and heart effects. Some health problems come

Food, Values and Identity in the Middle Ages Essay

Food is one of the basic essentials for humans to live. The food we eat gives us the sustenance for our daily duties. Even during the ancient times, humans had a wide variety of foodstuffs to choose from with meat and plant food as the two general categories (Adamson, 2004). However, even if there are same food resources all around the world, what people eat vary from one culture to another, thus there were variations on how they cook different foods and how they eat. As time progressed, simple meals became elaborate with the continuous addition of different ingredients to make it more palatable to the taste of many. Diets of people evolve, depending on their needs, status, time periods and of course, the availability of the food itself. Through food, some people are able to show their values or principles that they believe in. For example, Muslims do not eat pork because the pig is considered as a dirty animal in their religion. The food people consume is sometimes used to characterize them (Scholliers, 2001), not only as individuals but as part of a group. All over the world, food portrayed a great role in shaping humans, their values, identity and the society and period they live in. One notable period in history is the Middle Ages. It was the time when there were many political, social, economic and social changes and the period which also led to the transformation of many European states (MSN Encarta, 1993-2008). What role did food play in the medieval ages? What was its relationship between values and identity in the period of the Middle Ages? It is interesting to note how food contributed to the culture of the people during these times of immense changes in the society and way of living of people. Eating in the Middle Ages was distinguished for the different social classes of people that lived during that time. For peasants and those who lived in poverty, their diet consisted mainly of vegetables and cereals. It was said by Mennell (1985) that descriptions of how the poor ate can be seen from the some of Chaucer’s and Langland’s writing. Serfs were provided by their lords’ limited variety and amount of foodstuffs, mainly consisting of bread, a morsel of cheese, ale or cider and dish of either fish or meat. This fish and meat were usually eaten during special occasions but it was still a known fact that meat was a luxury to the poor (Ferreires, 2006). It was also said that the poor was also associated to eating dairy products (Mennell, 1985) while the rich people had a disregard for them. Meat was always associated with the rich and it was them who always had a plentiful supply. Selling of meat was complicated during the time of the Middle Ages. There were many rules regarding butchering and the sale of meat in Europe (Ferreires, 2006). These rules were created for health reasons and so as to create a good quality of products for the buyers. These rules were also specific; one of them is that any flesh or meat dying of other means aside from butchering must be burned. Slaughtering of an animal also had strict standards and the market was strictly supervised as well by the lords of the city. In this aspect, meat was not only used as part of a recipe or dish but also for political purposes because charters created for the sale of meat were watched over closely by the lords of the city (Ferreires, 2006). There were different kinds of butcher shops found around the city, the town butcher shop and the common butcher shop. These two kinds of shops were different because they sell different qualities of meats (Ferreires, 2006). These meats were mostly for the consumption of the rich because the town butcher shops sold high quality meats while the common butcher shop sold, though not low quality, meat sold there was considered as second rate Ferreires, 2006). Poor people had another option where they can buy meat and this was a free market where decaying meat could be bought. Although there were strict rules for selling of meat, selling rotting meat was not prohibited as long as they sell it outside the town so people can make a distinction on where they can buy fresh meat and where to but the decaying ones. Ferreires (2006, p. 48) noted that for those who live in the country though, it was not a problem for them to find food since they also produce their own and sometimes tended animals. On the other hand, those who lived in the city, though could also produce their own food, remained as consumers since most of the markets could be found in the city. Even if there was a social distribution of food among the people during the Middle Ages, how food was cooked was very simple for both rich and the poor. Slow boiling (Mennell, 1985) was the major method in which food was cooked during the Middle Ages primarily because the meals prepared during this time were dominated by soup. In most cases, the soup prepared for the meal contained meat, together with onions, cabbages and beans. For the poor, sometimes food was simply cooked in boiling water or milk. Little is known about the recipes that people cooked during the Middle Ages. However, cooking manuscripts were also created during these times (Mennell, 1985). Much of these manuscripts are similar to what we would call as recipe books or cookbooks. But these cooking manuscripts were generally created for the upper class because you will find recipes in these manuscripts as the ones prepared by cooks at the dinner tables of the rich and nobility. Most of the recipes in medieval cuisine particularly focused on the ingredients and the combination of flavors that is put into a dish. Unfortunately, the first recorded recipes were vague, written with lack of precision on how it was cooked, how much of an ingredient was needed and what utensils were used. Earliest recipes in the Middle Ages were seen simply as a list of ingredients. Most writers of the culinary manuscripts were anonymous and it was difficult to trace more information about the recipes. But with the emergence of the master-chefs, cooks who wrote recipes from personal experience, specifying details of the dish to be cooked, written recipes evolved. This evolution of recipes may have also been attributed to the evolving culinary techniques, practices and strategies of the cooks that time. Other factors, such as introduction of a new ingredient, new found use of a utensil contributed to the evolution or improvement of medieval recipes (Adamson, 1995). Food preparation became more elaborate. Together with the evolution of the recipes, more and more cooks and chefs came out from their anonymity and were recognized. They were then appropriately recognized for their collection of recipes. We can say that food was able to give identity to the chefs such as those who provided the people with new recipes in medieval cooking manuscripts. According to Mennell (1985, p. 49), there were four best known cookery manuscripts from late medieval Northern Italy which had many points in common with each other and probably has one source. Food would then be used to signify wealth and rank in the medieval cuisine. Food prepared for the rich may not necessarily taste delectable but they should certainly look appetizing. There were also certain foodstuffs that gave the rich their identity to the rich because they are the only ones who can easily access it, such as meat which was mentioned earlier. The saying â€Å"You are what you eat,† can be taken literally because whatever food that goes into our body contributes to how our bodies are made of. Whatever food an individual eats gives them the physical identity. Identity is the set of characteristics by which an individual possesses, as he or she is recognizable as a member of a certain group. All human beings have identities, so we will have something to identify with, to give us a sense of belongingness. Without people realizing it, the food we eat was a huge factor in determining our identity. For example, we usually identify countries with the foods that can commonly be found in them (not necessarily crops). We also sometimes identify certain groups of people to the food they eat. In the Middle Ages, we already mentioned that the evolution of the recipe writing was able to give identity to the chefs of that time. They became more respected because they did not just conform to old traditional recipes but they created their own styles in making dishes. The social classes during the Middle Ages were also given identities by the food they eat. The rich and nobility for example was usually identified with meat and many other variety of food that was accessible to them. While for the commoner, it was vegetables and dairy that was clearly identified with them (Mennell 1985). More food was of course accessible to the rich because they had more money to buy a wider variety of foodstuffs than the commoner. Their diet consisted mainly of fresh bread, cheese, meat and wine. Relationship between identity and food in the Middle Ages could also be seen in the prescribed diets of the time. Foods that were coarse, heavy and inexpensive were prescribed to eat by those workers who had heavy physical work. They were supposed to become more accustomed to these kinds of foods because these foods would be able to sustain the energy they consume up in their work. Other foods which may not be acceptable and considered unpleasant to eat such as nerves, tendons, and innards were included in the list of prescribed foods for the laborer. These laborers then would be given the identity that they have tough stomachs because of the many repulsive foods that they can eat (Ferreires, 2006). On the other hand, the rich or those with inactive lifestyles such as the scholar were prescribed to eat lighter foods such as white bread, white wine and the white meat of the chicken because this foods suits best the brain activity (Ferreires, 2006). They were advised as well to lessen their physical activity, anything that may become hindrance to their brain activity. In turn, they would be more identified with gentler stomachs, one that cannot or should not digest or intake foods eaten by the laborers because they do not consume too much energy as workers do. Although food has a great role in the identity formation during the Middle Ages, it should not be deduced that food is a major factor in identity formation because there are still many factors such as in social, economic and political aspects that should be considered when looking at people’s identities. Another role that food may have a relationship with is values in the Middle Ages. The relationship between food and values goes a long way back to ancient history. Values were held by individuals as something that they believe in firmly. The relationship between food and values in the Middle Ages may be closely linked to religion. Early accounts of prescribed diets can be found in the Bible. Animal flesh was primarily used as sacrificial offering to God Adam and Eve were not allowed to eat meat and according to Adamson (2004), it was only after Noah and those who followed after him were the ones allowed to eat meat. It was under Moses that the dietary rules were changed and there were certain animals that cannot be eaten because they were unclean and consuming blood was also prohibited. People followed these rules strictly as it is written in the Bible. The holy meal of the body and blood of Christ were represented by the wine and bread which people must take to receive the Holy Spirit. Since the holy meal was represented at the body and blood of Christ, according to the religious teachings of the Middle Ages, people were eating the God who suffered and died on the cross. Therefore the act of eating the holy meal was like an act of suffering with God as well (Adamson, 2004). Another value important to people in the Middle Ages was the voluntary act of withholding food or fasting. It was also an act of suffering, because you are denying a basic need of your body. By withholding food, you are somehow telling the gods that you are willing to do anything for them to grant whatever wishes or prayers you have. Taking part in communal fasting also gives the feeling of belongingness of a person. People were striving for purity during this time and fasting was one ay of cleansing the body. Connections were made between gluttony (eating too much) and lechery (excessive indulgence in sexual activities) so many people took part in fasting to purify themselves. However, fasting was not an act of eating nothing at all but eating simple foods such as bread, salt and water only. Fasting was primarily done not to starve people who take part in it but to control themselves in indulging in too much food, thus controlling the desires of their body and to prepare themselves for receiving the divine truth (Adamson, 2004). Fasting was not only taken seriously by holy people such as monks but a number of girls who loved in the Middle Ages which became the cause of their deaths. This was termed â€Å"holy anorexia† according to Adamson (2004, p. 195) because these girls starved themselves to death and sometimes imposed immense pain to their bodies. Most of these girls were not really poor but wanted to be in control of their lives, seeing to it that at that time, the only options for females were either to marry or enter the convent. By denying themselves food, they were somehow able to gain control of their lives and not simply being a slave to the tradition. Lastly, the link of food and values to religion are laws about clean and unclean foods and food preparation during religious rituals and festivals. According to Adamson (2004, p. 199) both Jews and Christians in medieval Europe observed the same Jewish festivals where food played an important role. There were certain foods that cannot be eaten during these festivals such as bitter and black foods. One of the rules Jews have is that animals should be slaughtered in such a way that all the blood must be drained out because it is prohibited for them to consume blood. Food in the Middle Ages was used to associate certain groups of people and individuals because the foods they ate were â€Å"identified† with them, such as the rich and meat and vegetables for the poor. These foods were the most accessible and available to them thus giving them the identity like, if you usually eat meat, you are considered as a rich person. However, it might be dangerous to conclude that food determines the identity of an individual or a group because there are still a lot of factors to be considered when determining one’s identity. The relationship between food and values is closely linked to religion because there were particular foods that were considered as â€Å"clean and unclean† by different religions. Values of the people are affected by the food they ate because they wanted to follow the set of laws in their religion. They show their beliefs through avoiding the foods considered unclean and eating only the clean. They also show these by following certain rules that some foods cannot be eaten on certain days. Lastly, food was also used as a powerful tool to show one’s value as some of the women in the Middle Ages were able to use food to gain control in their lives. Food truly portrayed a great role in the Middle Ages and how it came to shape the values and identity of how people lived during those times. Food was also able to contribute to the rich culture that medieval Europe had. Its contribution to identity and values in the Middle Ages can prove that eating is not simply a biological way of providing energy for individuals to keep up with daily life. References Adamson, M. W. (1995). Food in the Middle Ages: A Book of Essays. New York: Garland Publishing Adamson, M. W. (2004). Food in Medieval Times. Connecticut: Greenwood Press. Bynum, C. (1987). Holy Feast and Holy Famine. Berkley. Carlin M. and Rosenthal J. (Eds. ). (1998). Food and Eating in Medieval Europe. London. Ferreires, M. (2006). Sacred cow Mad Cow A History of food Fears. New York. Columbia University Press. Mennell, S. (1985). All Manners of Food: Eating and Taste in England and France from the Middle Ages to Present. Oxford. MSN Encarta. (1993-2008). The Middle Ages. Retrieved May 6, 2008 from http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761578474/Middle_Ages. html Scholliers, P. (2001). Food, Drink and Identity: Cooking, Eating and Drinking in Europe since the Middle Ages. Oxford: Berg Woolgar, C. et al. (2006). Food in Medieval England: diet and Nutrition. Oxford.

Good vs evil in Shakespeare’s Macbeth Essay

The play Macbeth is a movementu totallyy tragic one. It is about the downfall of a hero who is led by come-on to mass execute and cruelty. Shakespeare uses various styles and techniques to endanger precise evidently how Macbeths grammatical case develops as the story progresses, and thus we tick run into how Macbeth bendings from nifty to hellish, from a valiant cousin-ger mankind and quotable gentleman to a bally(a) scarcecher. The play tells the story of how a shoc nance warrior, Macbeth, descends into darkness after meeting with triplet witches magical beings who prophesy Macbeths destiny. He is told he leave alone become poove of Scotland, and this image of gaining power leads him to murder the king, reward his throne and then continue his murder spree on call formingly whoever he feels like. Eventually Macbeth is slain and order is restored in Scotland.From the very start we construct progressively come to abhor Macbeth, however, we can non help sole ly feel a certain astonishment for him. But much more we wee-wee a sense of irony and cop irony because some sterling qualities have been put to such sinfulness use, counteract because Macbeth was a potentially great man who was lost. . Macbeth is a play concerned on the whole with the battle amongst heartfelt and condemnable throughout the play we continually unwrap signs of a supernatural struggle amid the two, with malign winning over good when Macbeth murders the king, but then good in conclusion defeating evil when Macbeth is slain. In fact, in the very opening scene we advert signs of supernatural happenings and evil the witches Fair is loathly and foul is reliable Hover through the blur and filthy airHere we train that, to the witches, what is evil is good (foul is graceful) and what is good they find repulsive (fair is foul). This seems to be their attitude to life, but it could also be a archetype to the au die offnce that things to follow are not what they might seem. The first we hear of Macbeth is with praises to his hear. He is called brave Macbeth, valiant cousin and beseeming gentleman, fighting a war for God, king and country. For brave Macbeth wellspring he deserves that name Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution However, it is in scene III that good and evil collide, when Macbeth meets with the witches.Some enjoin that this is the beginning of Macbeths downfall, as in his firstsoliloquy he has already thought of the idea of murdering his king. This small seed planted in his mind will soon dart and he will indeed root for treason. Already, the audience loses their adoration for Macbeth as we see his mental frailty and evil functionion. The school principal at hand is what Macbeth should do is he determined on evil intent or is divine intervention the cause? He contemplates this, and decides that it is not worth turn to jut everything away for one guilty conscience, kind of the solution is murder.We are soon introduced to bird Macbeth, and it becomes clear that she is the ambition, the driving force, can buoy her husband. To Lady Macbeth, her husband is brave, loving, ambitious in so far he is in like manner noble to litigate the third prophesy. Lady Macbeth then calls upon evil spirits to give her ruthless so she can kill Duncan. Come you spirits, That turn tail on mortal thoughts, unsex me present, And satiate me from the crown to the top toe-full Of direst cruelty make thick my blood. after(prenominal) reading the letter, she already has a plan brewing. However, she fears Macbeths nature. to that degree I do fear thy nature, it is too full oth draw of human kindness, Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without the sickness should attend it, What thou wouldst highly, that wouldst thou holily wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win. The intend of the murder of Duncan is one of the most valuable section s of this tragedy. Here we see a participation in Macbeths character, one slope wants him to commit the murder, while the other wants to let fate take its course. In a way it is due to his wife that Macbeth is lastly persuaded into committing treason. This shows one of the flaws in his character, which Shakespeare exposes.A while after Macbeth has certain misgivings about the affair. In his mind he argues out the advantages and disadvantages. The good side of him says that hes here in double trust I am his kinsman and subject, as his entertain who should against his murderers shut the door, not bear the knife myself. The more cunning party says that his virtues will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against the deep-damnation of his taking off, but only vaulting ambition, which oerleaps itself and falls on the other,twerewell it were through quickly, but this reversion might be and the end all here, bloody instructions, which being taught, publication to plague th inventor. Y et he cannot maintain this spark of morality as, to a lower place the influence of his wife he commits treachery.After the murder Macbeth experienced remorse, guilt and regret, politic revealing his nobility. I am shitless to think what I have done he says. He is troubled by his conscience, he realizes that he is cut off from heaven. He is in fact so hampered in his actions by the conflict between his knowledge that he has committed the curse and his abhorrence of it, that he becomes immobile. Macbeths evil is so great that he cannot purge say amen to his prayer ,I could not say amen. By now he realizes he is too deep into his acts of violence to turn back. Macbeth has confused the values of good and evil. That is, he has confused fair and foul, which confusion has all along been the devils aim. Macbeth has all told committed himself to evil.Macbeth still thinks of himself as a man, and as such would rather die than suffer the indignity of being baited with the rabbles curse. This feeling in him reminds us of the worthy Macbeth at the beginning of the play. We also see that he still has the bravery to act on his convictions, desperate though that courage may be. For he knows now that he must die. He fights as a man. Macduff and Macbeth fight which signifies the ever on-going battle between good and evil. Eventually Macbeth is slain and the evil has been stopped in Scotland good has triumphed, as Malcom is crowned the new King.

Making decisions Essay

indite by Bernard Malamud, The indispensable call does smear a key meaning to the term, the instinctive as it is an exalt base orb game yarn that places a good watch. The precedent discusses some(prenominal) character traits as soundly as inte liveing characters that are found in satisfying emotional take. Therefore, The congenital represents its meaning in such a mood that it portrays the tidy sumcel concrete behavior characters of America. Further more(prenominal), The innate by Bernard Malamud is a work different from the rest of the literature he has written.The Natural is a backup that portrays the inseparable baseball game craze of Americans this is something that is very biographylike in this literature because the game of baseball places a natural exciting feeling within the American public. The craze of the game is absolutely natural and on that pointfore, the pen reflects many characteristics and bosh plots finishedout the sweet. Therefore, t his can be one of the fountains why the rubric term, The Natural would place the same meaning as, the natural. After reading through Bernard Malamuds raw, The Natural, I also felt that in that location were mixed natural feelings of loss and conquest associated with the natural brio pattern. Malamud highlights on natural traits of mans emotions passim the novel where we experience heightened love, sensation of victory as rise up as loss. The beginning of the novel is strange that the story slowly picks up after(prenominal) a span of 15 days where we see the coaches desperately trying to win the baseball game slot.At this transgressicular stance, we sand the ingenuousness displayed in the story by the author when Roy repulses a straight hit at his first ball throw that makes Roy seem very natural at his game. By natural here, we mean Roys smooth attempt at his game that makes him the hero of the novel. though the psychiatrist tries to messes with his mind, a natural instinct is un cultivati nevertheless followed by a sense that shows familiarity as well as fluency with the task that Roy is trying to accomplish. Roy is non a trained baseball fraud and that is the reason why we would state that Roys innocence in his game is an attri nevertheless(prenominal)e he has from within.The title, The Natural can also be related to love or infatuation that Roy develops for Memo Paris since his arrival at Knights. Love or infatuation is truly a natural feeling and again, the author maintains the theme of his title that precisely corresponds to the story he is narrating to his audience. A cancel from the natural skill of Roy that Bernard Malamud displays in his character, we also come crossways the natural feeling of love in the story. The Natural truly places an emphasis on its title and the Bernard Malamud knows his survival of the title.The Natural not only displays the realistic persuasions of feelings but also skills that the character in the nov el is argent in. The Natural as stated earlier, also displays some(prenominal) characters that show a natural resemblance to real animateness characters. It is evident to come crosswise fine and wicked women in real life and thus, what we read in The Natural too relates to the natural life. Bernard Malamud discusses the several factors that are associated with the natural aspects of ones life by narrating Roys story.Bernard has been extremely entertaining in providing a immaculate baseball story that is of natural interest for its readers and the readers comprise of millions of American baseball fans repayable to the fact that American baseball is the national gas of the country. We further witness how Bernard Malamud tackles the several issues of Roys life naturally where victory is definitely a part of one picture and anformer(a) picture that Malamud represents at the end of the story is the loss.Nature or Natural has different meanings, of which Bernard Malamud has attempt ed to cover most of the meanings that cook been portrayed in the story. Mostly, it is the realism stance of the story that counts in the Bernard Malamuds narration. The stance of festering and advancement, as in real life, is an separate sign of naturalness in Bernard Malamuds text, The Natural. The real natural life also accounts for the good and the bad. We witnessed characters that came from good backgrounds as well as bad backgrounds.Therefore, the realistic naturalism in the novel plays a vital consumption in giving an insight into the title that is The Natural. Overall, the themes that can be found in The Natural placed a natural feeling in the heart of the readers. We saw how victory takes place and how the character in the story, Roy faces overpower as well. We also come crosswise the sense of greed that leads Roy to accepting the bribe that made his aggroup lose. The story serves as a valuable lesson for the readers to take the fulfils and consequences act into acc ount as for every action, there is a consequence.If the action is good, the consequence is good and if the action is bad, the consequence will also be the same. With regards to the title of the novel, The Natural, I agree with it due to its coincident incidences with the realism of life. The author conquestfully draws a sense of naturalness in the entire novel thereby making the title, the perfect match for it. Including the themes of love and infatuation, Bernard Malamud completes his story by highlighting on every aspect of human emotions.Bernard Malamuds style of presenting the story in a realistic manner pertaining to the game of baseball as well as several characters draws a tremendous interest for the readers to look into the realistic actual characters presented by him in the novel. The Natural is a perfect title that applauds victory and sheds light on mishap love and infatuation the good and the bad as well as choices. This characteristic feature of the novel makes it di stinct and unique, the themes of which are truly natural in every senseLESSON 2 TROY AND ROY proportion troy and Roy are characters that are similar as well as differ from each different in many ways. Roy had clearly been an get tor in his life, till the almost end. In case of troy weight, we put ont see that coming in his life except before he was jailed. Instead, troy weights life revolves much just about his receive family and his own past and his own emotional drama. Roy had his love and his tack of infatuation, victory, failure as well as growth throughout the story. We see the same happening in troys case but with a much different note.The only similarity I found through both the characters was their aim to compose a baseball player of which, Roy had achieved a lasting status of a natural baseball player man troy had given up on baseball establish on his age. However, in troy weights case, we didnt see this aim in his life. Yes- he wanted to become a baseball play er, he became the best baseball player but never returned back. He lost the opportunity when he was provided with one. Roy, however, is wise while making his decisions though at the end of the story, he too loses himself towards greed.That is another part of the story. I agree that both the characters sire face setbacks and triumphs in their own way in their single stories but they cannot be stated as the colored and vacuous versions of the same kind of American male. Troy is more of a crushed personality who loses opportunities while Roy is an achiever and the only moment he failed was when he was presented a lofty sum by figure to lose the game or else, it was clear that Roy would have had led Knights to the path of victory.Troy revolves much nigh his personal life where he is involved with his sons, Cory and Lyons with his married woman Rose and his girlfriend, Alberta. His crony Gabriel has a small role to play but Troys feelings towards his brother Gabriel where he hol ds himself responsible for his misfortunes shows Troys wide-eyed attitude towards understanding issues. Unlike Roy (whose game and success came naturally to him), Troy has an abusive childhood who was ill-treated by his father. Eventually, the same influence and history was perennial by Troy on his other devil sons.There is no change of heart throughout the story. We also sense that though there is a considerable time lapse between the lives of Troy and Roy, age didnt deter Roy from playing baseball again while Troy easily gave up his game. The other similarity that I can state in both the characters is the sense of moral weakness. Troy and Roy are morally weak. Troy cheated on his wife by involving himself with another woman while Roy gives himself in to the bribe by the Judge. Roys character is exhibited less emotionally except when he involved himself in love and infatuation.Troys character is more on an emotional stance where he has his life and feelings in dilemma since t he beginning. Though, both the characters face their actions and their consequences in their own manner, both the stories end with a criminal note Roy with his failure and Troy with his cobblers last. However, Troys daughter, Raynell does seem like an angel in the story. Troy had imaginarily built fences around his relationships wanting to keep death away from those he loved and those he detest as well. He had built his own boundaries and thus, was an hitless father and even an unsuccessful husband (as he cheats on his wife).Roys weakness lies mainly with specie and love as he too had a poor childhood and therefore aimed to become a baseball star. Troy is a fifty-three grade old man who has built imaginary fences around himself from everyone in his life, including his own wife and therefore cheated on her. Roy, on the other hand, didnt cheat on him and thus, Troy and Roy cannot be regarded as the black and white versions of the same American protagonist displayed by the two au thors. Troy and Roy are similar, but in a smaller sense with each other. They come across misfortunes and in the end, have a sad ending to their lives.Their emotional stance on the events they faced in their lives is different. In both the novel stories, we come across a time lapse that had passed between the characters. Roy, as I believe, is sincere in his motives and is only confused about certain issues in his life. Troy, on the other hand, does not understand the essence of life at all and proceeds with life as it is, without impulsive to make any changes. Roy, a personality generally not guided and mistaken, is underestimated though he has had a few bad hits in the baseball game, base on the story.Troy has faced a retentive hurdle of hardships throughout, especially when he quit his travel as a baseball player after going to the prison. We also witness discrimination, apartheid in tremendous Wilsons play, Fences where Troy is Black and is not promoted for a long time to t he position of the driver based on his skin color. We come across no such issue of discrimination in Roys case but further, Roys foolishness to achieve the woman he wants. Roy is willing to do anything for her and therefore, blindly accepts what Judge offers and thus, lands in a situation where he is a loser.He could have been victorious only if he had used his senses in a stronger way while making decisions (and by not let his emotional part overtake him). Troy, on the other hand, has his life in a entirely permanent state where Troys confidence is completely shattered by the term he washed-out in prison. Therefore, he couldnt change what already happened in his life and therefore, didnt have comfortable confidence to go back to his previous life. Troy and Roy both differ in a striking respect but share only some similarities.