The Working Poor Invisibe in America Essay Example

The Working Poor: Invisibe in America Essay Regardless if we are aware of it or not, not many Americans live the supposed American Dream of having a nice car, big house, well paying job, and have a secure family. In the renowned novel The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler he captures those Americans who live invisible in America that work so hard to suffer from the psychological effects of poverty. Not only does Shipler do that but he also indirectly talks about the â€Å"American Myth† and the â€Å"American Anti Myth through the lives on these individuals. † In The Working Poor Shipler goes on to explain both of the myths. Shipler states that the American Myth â€Å"still supposes that any individual from the humblest origins can climb to well-being† (Shipler, pg. 5), but the thing is that is not true because, there are many people who are humble that work hard and don’t go from rag to riches. The American myth has a demanding standard for both the nation and every resident that the nation† has to strive to make itself the fabled land of opportunity; the resident must strive to use that opportunity† (Shipler, pg. ). Not only that but the American myth also provides a means for laying blame; â€Å"if a person’s diligent work leads to prosperity(†¦) and anyone in society can attain prosperity through work, then the failure to do so is a fall from righteousness† (Shipler, pg. 6). George W. Bush also gave a voice to the myth weather he meant it or not that â€Å"people who work hard and make the right decision in life can achieve anything they want in America† (Shipler, pg. ), but when we examine examples in this book there are many of those who work hard in America but are hit with the circumstances of life and they fail or they are unable to achieve what they want in America; the land of prosperity for all. To the American Myth there is an opposite extreme the American Anti Myth â€Å"which holds the society largely responsible for the individual’s poverty† (Shipler, pg. 6). The ladder that is created in our society by racial discrimination and economic supremacy creates a condition of impoverished communities. As stated by Shipler â€Å"in reality, people do not fit easily into myths or anti myths. We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Working Poor: Invisibe in America specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is just that the individuals in this novel are scattered along this spectrum of polar opposites, that each person’s life â€Å"is the mixed product of bad choices and bad fortune, of roads taken and roads cut off† (Shipler, pg. 6). The debate on welfare and other social policies has been shaped by the question on â€Å"how to define the individual’s role in his/her own poverty† (Shipler, pg. 7). The poor have less control over their private decisions; their personal mistakes have larger penalties, and their personal achievement only bring back a small reward. What many people do not realize such as employers is that the poor lack â€Å"hard skills† like the use of a computer and â€Å"soft skills† like interacting with people and peers. In the novel there are many Americans that depict the â€Å"American Myth,† for example Ann she was typical of the low wage working people ( Shipler, pg. 24-25), but the thing is Ann did not point fingers of blame at anyone, she excepted that she got herself into the situation that she is now. Even though she knew that the credit card companies rates were high she made the option of using them, but that is not because she had a choice or not but only because she had to. The lease on Ann truck was about to expire and her ex husbands child support of $100 was about to stop because her daughter was about to turn 18. Ann only had one option left which was bankruptcy but then she found out that she was too poor to file, so Ann had last option was to stop paying her credit cards, and loans so she could save up to go bankruptcy. When we look at Ann’s story and her struggle in life we see that Ann is an example of the Americans who are invisible in America. Ann tried to make her credit better by paying them off, but she eventually had to stop just so she could save up to file bankruptcy. Another individual in the novel that portrays the â€Å"American Myth† is Christie. She â€Å"did the job that this labor-hungry economy could not do without† (Shipler, pg. 39). Every morning she would drive her battered Volkswagen from public housing the child care center where she watched little children so their parents could go to work, but the ironic part about that was Christie â€Å"could not afford to put her own two children in the daycare center where she worked† (Shipler, pg. 9). Christie low income entitled here to food stamps and rental subsidy, â€Å"but whenever she get a little pay raise, government agencies reduced the benefits,† (Shipler, pg. 40) and Christie felt punished for working because she already did not earn that much and the food stamps she received was not enough to feed her and her children. So w hen the food stamps is reduced that is more money she has to take out of her little to nothing $330 check. Unless employers can and will pay a good deal to society’s essential labor, â€Å"those working hard at the edge of poverty [like Christie] will stay there† (Shipler, pg 46). Work didn’t work for Debra Hall either. Debra was one of the single mothers on welfare and everything seemed to change in her life except her material standard of living. Debra was hit by life circumstances after the birth of her daughter she was â€Å"launched [into] a twenty one year career of welfare checks and â€Å"under the table type jobs† as she put it,† (Shipler, pg. 46) and she was unable to finish school. Being black Debra also felt herself on the wrong end of subtle racial strains, because she felt like the employers were more lenient on the Hispanics, when she packed 3 boxes of bread the Hispanic lady next to her only did one and instead of the manger talking to the Hispanic lady about it the manger raises hell with her because of that ladys lack of speaking English. Debra did not want to continue her family line of low wage jobs, but every time she would ask â€Å"supervisors about the salary at their level, they’d answer vaguely, â€Å"It varies† she couldn’t get specific numbers† (Shipler, pg. 9). This lowered Debra’s confidence that she could ever move up in position and pay. Caroline Payne was a different version of the â€Å"American Myth. † Caroline had earned a college diploma, and she had gone from homeless shelters to owning her own home, even though it was owned mostly by the bank, but the only goal that she could not achieve was a well paying job. â€Å"Caroline was the forgotten story of prosperity in America† (Shipler, pg. 51). She was not the victim of racial discrimination, and she was not lazy. She was very punctual and considered a nice lady by her coworker and mangers at Wal-Mart. â€Å"But she did not move up. She never moved up. And that ceased to amaze her because it had been going on for so long† (Shipler, pg. 51). Caroline worked so hard trying to get ahead working different shifts whenever she could; she was always available. â€Å"The people who got promotions tended to have something Caroline did not. They had teeth. Caroline did not have teeth (†¦) her teeth had succumbed to poverty, to the years she could not afford a dentist† (Shipler, pg 52). Caroline was the face of the working poor, â€Å"marked by poverty generated handicap more obvious than most deficiencies but not different† (Shipler, pg. 53). Caroline life resembled a fallen ladder if she had not been poor, maybe she would have her teeth, if she did not lose her teeth, and maybe she would have not remained poor. What David Shipler meant by invisible in America is for those Americans who do the jobs that no one usually pays attention to, for those Americans who get left behind in Americas economic prosperity, or unnoticed and unaccounted for in our society. They are the ones who work at the edge of poverty, and they are essential to America’s prosperity, â€Å"but their well-being is not treated as an integral part of the whole† (Shipler, pg. 300). Instead these individuals are forgotten and left behind to struggle. In conclusion, poverty is a peculiar menacing thing: â€Å"a cause whose effects then cause the original cause or an effect whose causes are caused by the effect,† (Shipler, pg. 53) all depending on where the cycle begins. Through this novel David Shipler makes it easier for us to see how the invisible in America are a bundle of these causes and effects.

Rap VS Techno essays

Rap VS Techno essays Rap is a style of popular music with a pronounced beat. Techno is a style of popular music using electric equipment and synthesized repetitive sounds. Which is better? This essay is about the differences between the two and what type of music people listen to. Also how each one is acknowledged in society and how old people react to music these days compared to as in their youth days. Rap is a bunch of words put together to give meaning about an event, feeling or emotion. Good rappers like Eminem and Nelly use words that rhyme and give a significant meaning. These rappers reprimand words suddenly and sharply, which makes it so entertaining to many teenagers. Techno however does not necessary have words and it generally pronounces an electric beat. Many DJs use techno rather than rap for dancing since it has a beat and electric echoing for people to dance to. So which is most popular? Generally it depends on the individuals characteristics. For example a rough, swearing character is most likely to listen to rap. Because most rappers use vulgar words in their song. Concerned parents dont like their children to listen to that type of music because the rapper is giving a bad influence to kids. In July 2001 a wave of moral indignation was sweeping Australia over bad language, aggressive lyrics and a pending tour by the U.S. rap singer Eminem. The Australian Prime Minister has aired an opinion, saying that the rapper's lyrics were "sickening and offensive." Over big controversy the rapper was permitted to tour Australia and only people over the age of 18 were allowed to see him sing. In Eminems latest song Without me he uses good lyrics without too many vulgar words. The song is currently in number one place in the Australian top 50. The video clip is also different to his previous ones. He advises to a little boy, in his video clip that his new album is only for adul ts. ...

Communism in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Communism in China - Essay Example The failure of nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek to offer protection from the threat posed by Japan led to his abduction. He was forced by the abductors to reconsider cooperation with the communist army (Office of the Historian, n.d.). This laid a foundation for the rise of communism in the country. The other factor that contributed was the rise of a dictatorial regime. The nationalist government was accused of undemocratic policies and corruption (Office of the Historian, n.d.). The discontent of the population and poor policies made the country more vulnerable to communism ideals. On the other hand, China Communist Party (CCP) received overwhelming support from peasants due to land reforms it initiated and repelling of Japanese invaders (Office of the Historian, n.d.). Lastly, foreign intervention played a role in the rise of communism. The United States and Soviet Union influenced various issues in the country. United States was in support of Nationalist government while Soviet Union supported CCP. However, Soviet Union prevailed as it occupied Manchuria and only left when Chinese Communist forces were in a position to claim victory of the area (Office of the Historian, n.d.). This led to the establishment of communism in the larger part of the

Week 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Week 4 - Essay Example ected is accurate, all the team members should evaluate the operational descriptions of the data and ensure they are all correct, can be easily understood and completed. Therefore, awareness of the reliability and validity of the data collection tool used in quantitative research project is vital (Joint Commission Resources, Inc., 2008). Ensuring that the data collection tool is accurate is very crucial in qualitative research. Using consistent data collection tools increases the validity and consistency of the data collection. For example, a different person should collect the same data one has obtained at a different time. One cannot assume the blood pressure measurements taken are all accurate unless he or she is certain that the sphygmomanometers are often calibrated and all the doctors and nurses are well trained to provide best practice on taking blood pressures. A well cross-examined questionnaire will ensure that there are no shortcomings that lead to the collection of unreliable data. One is advised that if he or she cannot get a reliable collection tool, he should ensure that they carry out a pilot test first to avoid the difficulties. To improve on the reliability of data collection, training should be undertaken to all those who are providing data in correct procedures of data entry. Collecting unreliabl e data will lead to wrong results of the qualitative research (Chambers & Wakley, 2005). Cultural background is important in ensuring that one gets the information that one requires. When interviewing Ms. Li some of the cultural considerations that are important to remember include the preference of Asian Americans to herbal medicine, intimate partner violence or abuse among Asian Americans and the belief that the human body is whole and that each part is intimately connected, therefore when sick the whole body should be treated. The abuse assessment screen refers to a screening tool that is used to evaluate indications of abuse or violence against

Engaging Colleagues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Engaging Colleagues - Assignment Example Most basic techniques of regression and analysis of variance are not completely understood or used appropriately (Judd, 1995). I can assume that I’m not alone facing this problem, my colleagues must also face this and I’m guessing like me, many opted statistics to get over the math-phobia. One strategy would be if a teacher could help explain the most common tactics that can used as tools to make sense of the data analysis quickly. The quicker we make sense of the data analysis the better. It is obvious that the majority finds complex reports very boring and they require stamina and perseverance in comprehending reports. The manners of presenting the data count a lot and findings can be significantly enhanced in the presentation on the data (www.ori.dhhs.gov). Whether there is a gun to my head or not, there are certainly some of the reports that I do find interesting. Any report on patient psychology triggers curiosity and I love to comprehend and learn new things in the report, having said that, I would never read complex reports out of my own desire. There is simply no point if students cannot simply understand what the report wants to tell them. Most of us are wrongfully lead to believe that numbers are unquestionably correct (Helberg, 1995), which is one of the reasons why people hesitate in questioning them. There should be little bit of coaching on how to speedily analyze the data. For instance, there can be a time limit given to the students and colleagues to practice with and special instructions, so that when they will read complex reports they will only look for things that are absolutely necessary, otherwise known as clearing the word noise and getting to the

Law Should Be Kept Separate From Morality Law Essay

Law Should Be Kept Separate From Morality Law Essay The statement quoted from the Wolfenden Report suggests that there should remain a line between sin and crime and that the law should not interfere in matters of private morality or immorality keeping it apart from public morality. This is a broad view and clearly, there are some areas in which the law should act as a moral guardian and interference is justifiable. I will outline some of these areas and critically analyse accordingly. However, there also areas that I feel should not be the laws business and where perhaps the criminal laws intervention cannot be justified. I will also look at the apparent blurring of private and public morality. I will also attempt to outline and clarify all these areas, providing the appropriate authorities, academic commentary and other relevant evidence in order to give a balanced view and to be able to draw a succinct informed conclusion. In order to understand the nexus between law and morality we need to establish the differences. Laws are sets of rules or boundaries established by authorities that should be obeyed and are formally enforced by the Police or the Criminal Prosecution Service. Morals on the other hand are beliefs, values or principles that are set by society or certain aspects of society, determining what is right and what is wrong. Morals do not have to be complied with, they are normally informally enforced through social or domestic pressures. Both laws and morals specify what should or should not be done and mark the boundaries between what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Having looked at the nature of laws and morals I will look at the historical debate and attempt to expand on whether or not laws and morals are intrinsically linked. Historically, there has been much philosophical debate as to whether in fact there is a connection between law and morality. Positivists  [2]  such as Jeremy Bentham, John Austin and H.L.A. Hart have all argued that there is not necessarily a connection between law and morality; on the other hand natural law  [3]  , thinkers such as St Thomas Aquinas  [4]  have postulated that there is a clear link between law and morality. To further complicate matters R Dworkin puts forward his own approach of interpretivism  [5]  , developed in a number of his works over the last thirty years  [6]  to try and answer the vexed question of law and morality and the nature of law and the relationship to each other. The links between law and morality can be seen in all areas of law. In Tort, for instance , in cases such as Baker v Hopkins  [7]  where two employees of the defendant company were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes in a well they were attempting to decontaminate. The plaintiff, a doctor, attempted to rescue them even though he was warned of the fumes. It could be said that he felt morally responsible . Unfortunately, all the three men died. The defendant company argued that the plaintiff doctor should either not be compensated because the doctor knowingly accepted the risk he was taking or his damages would be reduced for contributory negligence. The Court of Appeal considered that the suggestion was ungracious and that it was unseemly and irrational to say that a rescuer freely takes on the risks inherent in a rescue attempt. This would appear to be a seemingly moralistic judgement by their Lordships. Similarly, in property cases such as the High Trees Case  [8]  where Lord Denning used the equitable principle of promissory estoppel to prevent the recovery of rent or preventing what he saw as a moral wrong. These could all be seen as instances of the courts making judgements on what is morally right and wrong. In fact, in the case of Knuller v DPP  [9]  concerning a magazine containing advertisements, by homosexuals in order to procure sex, the courts were able to dictate public morality, recognising the offenc e of conspiracy to corrupt public morals established in Shaws Case  [10]  . It is the criminal law that provides us with sufficient evidence to conclude that there is indeed a link between law and morality. The Wolfenden Report itself, actually concerned the role of the law in matters of sexual morality and determining what conduct should be classed as criminal. Unfortunately, the result was not definitive as two diverging views emerged, firstly, that of Lord Devlin who concluded that the legislature was entitled to outlaw behaviour that was generally condemned as immoral on the grounds that such conduct may be likened to treason threatening the continued existence of social cohesion  [11]   and secondly, the view of Hart that immorality alone was not sufficient: law should not be used for prohibiting harm suffered by a person who is offended simply by knowing about other peoples conduct  [12]  . These opposing viewpoints probably accounted for the fact that the part of the Wolfenden Report concerning the decriminalisation of homosexuality was not implemented until the Sexual Offences Act of  1967 (following a motion by Lord Arran in the House of Lords favouring the implementation of the Wolfenden Report and a Sexual Offences Bill sponsored by Leo Abse) which eventually resulted in male homosexuality between consenting adults above the age of twenty-one being decriminalised. Another reason for the delay could be that public opinion and society in general before that time, felt that homosexuality was immoral and the law chose to reflect this, condemning homosexuality as a criminal offence. However, with the more liberated 1960s where there was a seeming relaxation of public and private morality and homosexuality could no longer be seen as immoral, the criminal law acceded to public opinion, leading to the eventual decriminalisation of homosexuality. However, the Wolfenden approach differed when contemplating the matter of prostitution. The committee readily accepted that prostitution was immoral but indicated that it was a matter of private morality, except when it creates a public nuisance. Therefore, the sale of sex was determined not to be an offence but kerb crawling was. This differing approach resulted in the report forming the basis of the Street Offences Act of 1959, an almost immediate response to the Wolfenden report. It seems then, that the criminal law should only intervene where the legislature considers there to be a public nuisance or is harmful to society or as John Stuart Mills stated That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.  [13]   Unfortunately, there are too many unanswered questions. Can we readily say that if something is immoral it is justifiably unlawful? Can we as a society distinguish between one persons perception of a lawful and moral activity and those that are immoral or unlawful and should the law really interfere in matters of private morality? If a person consents to something, would that not be a matter of private morality? The matter of consent and private morality is interesting. Here, criminal law has its vagaries, particularly in non-fatal offences against the person which include actual body harm, grievous bodily harm or wounding. Criminal law will not allow the consent of the victim to be available as a defence, especially if it considers the act to be unlawful. Only if the injury was a result of a lawful activity  [14]   will the defence of consent be available. This does not sit easily with the premise of the law not to interfere in matters of private morality. This has been exemplified in the case of Brown  [15]  . The criminal law deemed homosexual sado masochism as an unlawful activity and the court considered that activities in private between consenting homosexuals involving the infliction of actual bodily harm should constitute offences  [16]  . It seems then that the decision in this case was based on public morality rather than criminality, surely here consent would be a ques tion of private morality and not the laws business, indeed in Brown, Lord Mustill in dissenting, re-iterated that The issue was not whether the appellants conduct was morally right but whether it was properly charged under the 1861 Act. The standards by which questions of private morality fell to be judged were not those of criminal law. The case of Brown can be contrasted with R v Wilson  [17]  where the defendant, with the consent of his wife, branded her buttocks with the initials W and A with a hot knife. The scars led him to being charged with assaulting his wife contrary to section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. He was convicted by a Jury. However, the Court of Appeal held that the defendants conduct amounted to tattooing and that it was not in the public interest to impose a criminal sanction; The initial outcome still shows that the public and their moral judgement still has an influence in criminal law.   It appears then, that generally, the courts are keen to exercise its morality muscle in defence of a perceived public morality. Interfering in what are essentially private morality matters in order to stamp a moral dictum on society in general, however, is not necessarily in the best interest of society as a whole and issues of private morality are thorny issues. There are of course other areas of criminal law where the judiciary has, albeit slowly, intervened in matters of private morality, for the betterment of society, for example in the area of marital rape. Rape itself was enacted as statutory crime in the Offences Against the Person Act  1861. The Act indicated that it is a felony for a man to rape a woman and left the judiciary to establish the elements of the offence and to develop the factors that might allow consent. Its statutory successor, s 1 of the Sexual Offences Act  1956, failed to provide a more substantive definition. It was not until  1976  that s 1(1) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act defined rape as unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who at the time of the intercourse does not consent to it. However, there still appeared to be a presumption albeit rebuttable, that a married man could have sex with his wife regardless of consent. Morally, this appears to be reprehensible and surely the law should have c larified the position. However, it was not until the case of R v R  [18]  that the offence of rape was recognised if it was perpetrated by the husband, clearly an example of the law enforcing a specific moral value on society in an appropriate sphere. A further example of the entanglement of law and morality can be seen in the different approaches by Judges in cases where their own moral values or viewpoints have possibly affected judgements. Often the courts will find themselves dealing with difficult moral decisions involving life and death and often have to decide between individual rights and moral codes. This moralistic approach can be seen in various cases involving euthanasia, considered by the majority of society as both morally and legally wrong. In the case of Dianne Pretty  [19]  (a case decided by the House of Lords), for example, Mrs Pretty suffered from motor neurone disease, a progressive degenerative illness from which she had no hope of recovery. She only had a short time to live and faced the prospect of a humiliating and distressing death. She was mentally alert and wanted to bring her life to an end. Unfortunately, because of her physical incapacity she would have needed assistance. Her husband wanted to he lp, but only if he would not be prosecuted under section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 for aiding and abetting her suicide. She sought confirmation through the courts that ultimately refused her appeal. Contrast this with the case of Re B  [20]  . Ms B was a tetraplegic and suffered complete paralysis from the neck down. She was, however, able to move her head and speak. She gave instructions to the hospital through her solicitors that she wanted the artificial ventilation removed. The hospital refused to stop treatment. Ms B took the hospital to court, was successful and was allowed to die. Here the courts appear to take the stance that voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide is morally reprehensible but the request to withdraw treatment, resulting in, what is in effect, voluntary suicide or passive euthanasia was not a clear example of the complex moral and legal dilemmas faced by the courts. Further evidence of this dilemma between law and morality can be seen in the conjoined twin case  [21]  . Jodie and Mary were conjoined twins and their parents were devout Roman Catholics. Mary was the weaker twin and had she been born on her own she would not have survived. She was in fact, being kept alive by virtue of Jodies own circulatory system. Jodie was considered to be capable of surviving a separation procedure, Mary however was not. If there was no separation both would have died. The medical team wanted to separate them knowing Mary would die as a result. The twins parents would not sanction the operation. The medical team sought a ruling from the High Court, that an operation to separate the twins would not be murder. Their Lordships applied the defence of necessity but restricted the applicability of this defence (for the purposes of public policy) to the unique circumstances of the case. However, despite LJ Wards comment that this is a court of law, not of morals when the judgements are examined, it is clear that their Lordships have actually used moral concepts and language in reaching their decision, a true dichotomy. In conclusion, it is clear from the information provided that there are identifiable links between the law in general and criminal law in particular and morality. However, whether it is justifiable for the legal system in England and Wales to utilise the criminal law in the enforcement of specific moral values in society is debatable. Clearly, as we have seen, there are areas where it is justifiable in rape for example but where it is not so clear is whether it can be justified in those greyer areas such as private morality issues or cases of euthanasia. I believe that religion (which is the subject of other scholarly and academic debate) , morals and the law are all intrinsically linked and that in order to create a balanced modern society there must be some fluidity. One mans morality is different from another and the law must try to bridge the gap for the public good. Sometimes the law is rather slow in reacting to public opinion or changes in morality within society, but ultimately, it is the legislature that creates the laws and the job of the courts is only to apply the meaning of that legislation not to query its validity or to enforce moral limitations on parliament, or by implication, enforce those moral limitations on society.

the problem of evil Essay -- essays research papers

Studies in the Philosophy of Religion THE PROBLEM OF EVIL â€Å"God is the omnipotent and wholly good creator of all things† â€Å"There is evil in the world† a) EXPLAIN THESE TWO STATEMENTS AND SHOW WHY THEY ARE SAID TO BE CONTRADICTORY (20) The problem of evil is usually seen as the problem of how the existence of God can be reconciled with the existence of evil in the world. It’s regarded as a logical problem, because it is based on the apparent contradiction involved in holding onto three incompatible beliefs. This being that God is omnipotent, that God is wholly good and that evil exists in the world. The fact that evil exists in the world constitutes the most common objection to the belief in the existence of the omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and all loving God of Classical Theism. Classical Theism is the traditional understanding of God as worshipped by Christians, Jews and Muslims. This definition is initially criticised, for being culture-bound, as other religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism don’t believe in one God so can’t be applied to their respective religions. Therefore the problem of evil is only a problem for followers of a theistic religion. God is described as an infinite, self-existent, incorporeal (without body), eternal, immutable (doesn’t change), impassable (incapable of suffering), simple (one entity), perfect (God is seen as a morally perfect being i.e. wholly good), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful) being. Omnipotence means being able to bring about anything which it is logically possible to bring about. However not being able to bring about that which is logically impossible is not a restriction on omnipotence since the logically impossible is not a characterisation of anything. It is a non-thing. Evil is said to come from the free actions of human beings. God can’t do what’s logically impossible and it’s said to be logically impossible for God to create humans who are free but always choose to do what’s right. This therefore takes the responsibility of evil from God. Omniscience means knowing everything that it is logically possible to know. If God knows everything it is not possible for him to think of something he does not know. This raises the question of whether God knows every little fact; does he know what you’re thinking or what you’re going to do? If so then if he’s omnipotent shouldn... ...d that finding good consequences in bad things is a horrible idea. DOES IRENAEUS’ APPROACH SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF EVIL? There are many instances of good being brought out of evil through a person’s reaction to it, however there are many other cases where the opposite has occurred. Sometimes obstacles result in ones character being strengthened but other times they can be crushing leading to ones character being diminished and left incompetent so unable to grow and develop further. So it would seem any soul making is subject to an individual’s temperament and particular way of dealing with a problem. Therefore this doesn’t remove the contradiction, because there’s evidence of people suffering and not getting better after it. This produces more problems as shows God to be selecting people who he should know would suffer immensely because of this evil. Irenaeus approach takes the blame off God for human suffering. This is what is needed to solve the problem of evil. He places the blame on human free will therefore avoiding questions of God’s nature so in essence removin g the contradiction. People accept that suffering is there for a reason and it’s part of God’s plan for soul making.

Business Culture in Italy

Doing business abroad introduces international business people to differences in approaches to business, business etiquette and protocol. Although these may not be crucial to business proceedings they should not be dismissed as unnecessary. Cross cultural awareness can enhance the potential of the international business person's trip considerably. Let us look at a brief example: There are two business people each planning on doing business in Italy. Both have similar proposals. One ignores the possible impact of culture and concentrates their efforts on the business proposal. The other also invests time and energy in the proposal but in addition realises that doing business in Italy is a lot different to doing business in the UK or USA. They look into the business etiquette of Italy, the way in which meetings are conducted and negotiation styles. Nine times out of ten the latter of the two will have the advantage. They will be able to tailor their proposal and demeanour to gel better with the Italian way. In addition, they would endear themselves to the Italian hosts. This guide to doing business in Italy is designed as a brief introduction to areas business people should take into consideration before travelling to Italy. Doing Business – Etiquette Good manners and courtesy are prized qualities in Italy. When doing business in Italy ensure your conduct is always polished. There are etiquettes and protocols for many social and business situations, however, it is important to remember that Italians rate considerateness above behavioural formulas. When meeting and departing always shake hands. This is valid for both individuals and groups. After doing business in Italy for a period of time and building relationships do not be surprised if you are embraced when being met. This indicates the relationship has reached an intimate level. When doing business in Italy you will notice that little personal space is left between people when interacting. In addition, Italians are a tactile people. Moving away or keeping your distance may be interpreted as cold and unfriendly. If you are familiar with Italian, use the polite ‘lei' form until a relationship is established, then use the more informal ‘tu' form. When doing business in Italy, address people using ‘Signor' (m) or ‘Signora' (f) followed by their surname. ‘Dottore' (m) or ‘Dottoressa' (f) is used for those who have graduated. When doing business in Italy, dress to impress. It is no coincidence that Versace, Gucci, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana are all Italian fashion houses. Italians like to make an impression with their clothes. What you wear speaks volumes about the kind of person you are. Doing Business – Punctuality Italians are usually relaxed around issues relating to time. Being late with a good reason will not have any negative consequences. However, deliberate lateness is considered sloppy and taking people's time for granted is simply rude. When doing business in Italy err on the side of caution and aim to be punctual. Doing Business – Business Entertaining Hospitality plays a key role in Italian business culture. Invitations to lunch and dinner are to be expected when doing business there. At such occasions a small exclusive group will usually be present. Each attendee will have a particular interest in your visit. If you plan to host a meal, ask the most senior Italian contact who you should invite. Dining does have certain protocol in Italy. However, do not place too much emphasis on this as more time would be spent worrying about etiquette mistakes than enjoying the experience. Major etiquette tips are that the most honoured guest sits at the middle of the table or on the right of the host; the host always pays; pass dishes to the left; keep your knife in the right hand and fork in the left and do not answer phone calls at the table. Doing Business – Meeting and Negotiations Italians prefer to do business with someone they know. When doing business in Italy, use contacts and networks to introduce you before proceeding to set up meetings. To arrange a meeting write, in Italian, first. Follow this up with a phone call, fax or e-mail. The best time for meetings is between 10 – 11 a. m. and after 3 p. m. Avoid August as most businesses will run on skeleton staff due to holidays. Negotiations can be slow. Demonstrating a sense of urgency is seen as a sign of weakness. At the beginning of a meeting avoid business and concentrate on some small talk. Topics of discussion could include Italian culture, food, wine and football (soccer). Italians will take away proposals and analyse them carefully. Be sure to offer as much information as possible in written form for them to take away. A known Italian tactic is to dramatically change demands at the eleventh hour to unsettle or test the flexibility of their counterparts. Remain firm. Location: Southern Europe, bordering Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3. 2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km Capital: Rome Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south Population: 58,057,477 (July 2004 est. ) Ethnic Make-up: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south) Religions: predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community Government: republic The Italian Language Italian is the official language of Italy, and 93% of population are native Italian speakers. Around 50% of population speak a regional dialect as mother tongue. Many dialects are mutually unintelligible and thus considered by linguists as separate languages, but are not officially recognised. Friulian, one of these dialects, is spoken by 600,000 people in the north east of Italy, which is 1% of the entire population. Other northern minority languages include Ladin, Slovene, German, which enjoys equal recognition with Italian in the province of Alto-Adige, and French, which is legally recognised in the Alpine region of the Val d'Aosta. Albanian is spoken by 0. 2% of the population, mainly in the southern part of Italy, as too are Croatian and Greek. Catalan is spoken in one city, Alghero, on the island of Sardinia, by around 0. 07% of the population. On the rest of the island, Sardinian is spoken by over 1m, which comes to 1. 7% of the Italian population.

Gender Anthropology

Gender Anthropology Introduction Biology explains the differences between men and women through their sex (biological classification). This is usually possible as women and men have different sexual organs and the disparity in the sexual organs of men and women explains the differences in both sexes. There are also individuals who have both the male and the female sex organs and they are referred to as hermaphrodites as they are neither males nor females. They usually possess a combination of both female and male traits even in their day to day lives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Anthropology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Culture tries to explain what it really means to be a woman or a man in a certain community since different communities have different cultures. The term gender has been coined up over time to try and explain culturally constructed roles of women and men in a certain community. The presence of infants furt her contradicts the explanation of what gender is as children also have roles they are supposed to play in the society. Gender is dynamic and varies across different cultures of human societies. All these descriptions of what it means to be a woman or a man in a certain specific society changes over time and interactions with the environment are very important in this process, as right from childhood through middle age up to old age, gender roles keep on changing (Brettell Sargent, 2009). Perspectives to gender The exponential growth in technology leading to globalization has helped in exposing a bigger platform for the discussion of the critical factors that explain masculinity or femininity of individuals in the society, whether they are products of nature or culture. This has been possible as globalization has exposed diverse cultures to each other thus enabling cultural interactions beyond territorial borders. In most of the developed societies, they attribute sex to either mas culinity or femininity thus, they have constructed societal expectations of either a woman or a man mostly based on the tasks, duties and responsibilities expected of them to perform in that specific society, which is usually guided by the culture of that society. Despite this assertion, there has been a variation of masculine and feminine traits across cultures in different parts of the world. Infants at their tender age do not have expected cultural roles despite them either being males or females though they acquire them as they graduate from boyhood to manhood and as girls graduate to womanhood. Infants are not able to depict their masculinity or femininity; rather, they seem neutral individuals in the society (Counihan, 1999). The reliance of kids at early age to their parents, their optical, social capabilities and activity level cannot be adequately used in distinguishing their masculinity or femininity. Rather, these characteristics become more manifested in later developmen t stages of life, thus indicating the important role the environment plays in shaping and defining masculinity or femininity of an individual in a society.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If the biological sex of an individual determines their gender, then, it could be a very big distinction between infants of either sex. However, this is not the case as toddlers do not depict knowledge of whether they should be masculine or feminine. More so, there is no biological reason or structural evidence as to why they should be so. The terms sex and gender have been used as if they are synonyms despite there being a very big distinction between the two terms. Sex is the biological classification of a man or a woman whereas gender is the societal and cultural constructions of what it means to be a woman or a man in the community or society in question. Sex is a natural constructio n of individuals being of either male or female sex whereas gender is cultural construction of masculinity or femininity (Brettell Sargent, 2009), thus, the term gender is a product of culture and not of nature. Evidence that gender is a product of nature and culture In trying to show that gender is a cultural construction and that it is dynamic, Brettell and Sargent (2009) explored the situation in the United States of America and discovered that for a long time, it was taken that men were equal to masculinity and that women were equal to femininity. Women were considered to be the weaker sex that required protection from men. This made women to be kept away from combat as they were also considered to be sources of human reproduction that is critical for the survival of society. Women were viewed as symbols of femininity and childbearing. Human females are naturally expected to be the child bearers and care takers. However, this assertion has generated criticisms from scholars in the contemporary times who challenge its validity. The task of cooking and food preparation has also been taken to be a feminine task and thus, more often than not assigned to women while men are taken or considered to be the caretakers of their families in terms of them being their families’ breadwinners. On the other hand, men are thought to be more rational, critical thinkers and independent beings, capable of undertaking their activities without reliance on anyone.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gender Anthropology specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They are thought to be stronger and better than women both bodily and in their intellect. They are not expected to be hyper active in household chores such as bringing up of the children. As such, the parenting roles of men should be distinguished from those of women. The division and specialization of labor for men and women traditionally is done such that wom en engage in unpaid household chores while men take up the paid up work. Mothers are presumed to be the home laborers while husbands are expected to provide for the household through paid labor performed in the labor market. The roles and expectations that are linked with these discrepancies assist in construction and definition of gender roles despite the contemporary state of employment of both men and women outside their households. In trying to prove that nature has an upper hand in definition of a man and that of a woman, Brettell and Sargent (2009) terms gender roles for women and men as natural behaviors. In explaining why women ought not to be involved in combat, they argue that â€Å"women don’t have the physical and psychological strength† (p.89). They also add that women’s potential for conceiving and child bearing and consequent rearing makes them unfit for involvement in combat. The reasons given by the United States for barring women from taking up combat positions seems to point out a product of culture and socialization rather than biology. The assertion that men are more aggressive than women has no or has little evidence to support it hence its validity is usually put to question or debated mostly in developed societies which are more liberal in their view of life and its issues. The conception that women are deficient of the preferred extent of aggression seems to be a justification used/employed by the society as a whole to differentiate the roles and responsibilities of women and men (Counihan, 1999). On the other hand, if indeed women are less aggressive than men, they could also make good parents. In some cultures, such as the Aka fathers of Central African Republic, men are known to take up very active roles in bringing up the kids. This can be attributed probably to the dynamics of their societal structure.Advertising Looking for essay on anthropology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Men and women work interactively to provide for the community as they embrace communal mode of production. This enables the fathers to have more time to interact with their children and family unlike the case of most men in Western societies. From this, evidence speaks for itself that men can also take the responsibility of nurturing and rearing their children and that its just pressures from their cultures that make them to think that they naturally do not have the ability to do so (Counihan, 1999). Conclusion Brettell and Sargent (2009) have succeeded in explaining that the differences in masculinity and femininity can be explained through incorporation of the biological sex of an individual, plus the environment they are brought up in. We are persuaded that gender is a product of both nature and culture. The varied differences evident in gender roles across different cultures and societies show that gender description must incorporate both culture and nature. The gender assigned roles that men are more aggressive than women and that they fit better in combat unlike women, are just societal constructions by the military and the community at large to bar women from taking up positions in combat. It is thus evident that definition of one’s gender is a product of both nature and culture. Gender therefore varies across the diverse cultures and it is dynamic as it is subjective to changes in the environment. References Brettell, C., Sargent, C. (2009). Gender in cross-culture perspective. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Counihan, C. (1999). The anthropology of food and body: gender, meaning, and power. London: Routledge.

Social Media Essays

Social Media Essays Social Media Essay Social Media Essay Essay Topic: Social Media Social Media: Necessity vs.. Nuisance Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with the intent to reply (Stephen Convey). People view society as a lost cause: we rely so much on technology and social media that we lose Important values that make us unique and Ideal citizens of society. Weve become so subconsciously narcissistic that we forget to take the time to understand someone elses needs. Social media and technology has changed the way we interact with people because we center our lives around an imaginary world. In that world, we post pictures of our breakfast on social media to see how many likes we can get instead of enjoying a meal and spending time with our mother. You may ask yourself, what is social media? Social media is the interaction among people in which they create, share, or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks (Wisped). Social media websites range from Twitter, Backbone. Mainstream, Linked, Google+, etc. And are all globally connected. Society is moving forward and craving the latest and greatest in technology. To what extent is social media necessary? To some, social media Is a necessity and plays an Important part In ones life because It Is their virtual Identity and Image. To others, It Is a nuisance that depreciates the meaning of life. We must find a common ground and truly understand how social media Impacts our lives. Social media allows people from all over the world to virtually interact with each other. For many, this is a great step in implementing technology into our everyday lives. For others, it is absolute chaos because of the lack of privacy and the ignorance it entails. Twitter, a very popular social media website, has become a hotshot for communication and exploring breaking news articles from across the globe. Twitter also allows its users to see what is trending around the world and makes it easy for users to search for a specific topic and see what others are saying. Its fast, its easy, and its convenient. Previous generations did not have the accessibility of social media and were forced to conform to what they were taught and could not branch out to learn differently and connect with others who share common Interests. Before he ease of social media and the Internet, people were confined to sending letters and calling a number out of the phone book to satisfy their needs. In 2006, the Oxford dictionary introduced the term, Google, to Google, as a verb. When someone needs a question answered, one now says, Oh let me Google it! Society is becoming a freight train, adapting new technology to everyday life rapidly. Social media gives us a new outlook on life; people can express themselves and are exposed to different views and opinions that they can learn from and formulate our own thoughts on as ell. No longer is society suppressed from reality. People have a voice and are free to say what they want and share it with everyone. No longer can people be ignorant to the problems of the world. Social media has created a lost generation. We have become so consumed with our Image and how people perceive us that we have forgotten what It means to be a teenager. We would rather sit In our room and Judge people behind our smartness or computers Instead AT going on a DIKe rare on a Delightful sunny cay. Social media has created narcissistic individuals who solely care about rewets and favorites on a 140-character text message seen by others and could care less if it was aimed to hurt someone, otherwise known as a subtlest. Our youth has no feeling of shame or compassion towards people when it comes to social media. It is lowering grades, getting people fired, and affecting others instantly. Negative outcomes arent necessarily social medias fault, but the user itself who influences others and the people who allow the actions of others to affect them. I have asked any of my friends on their feelings towards social media and many of them agree that it makes them feel an array of emotions by the things they see and read. Intimidation sets in and we begin to feel excluded and assume things, which weakens relationships and friendships by the lack of trust and communication. For couples, seeing your significant other talk to and favorite the opposite sexs tweets and pictures on Mainstream, a popular picture sharing application, can cause Jealousy and tension between you, the person, and your significant other. It too creates lack of rust and can ultimately lead to breaking up, or even a divorce if the arising issue is not fixed immediately. It sounds silly, but it is a major problem in many young relationships. It is human nature to Jump to conclusion and assume, but you want to give someone the benefit of the doubt because we want to believe humans are not twisted and evil people. For me personally, social media has had both a positive and negative impact on my life. Knowing campus news or homework tweeted by your teacher is Just a click away leaves a peace of mind, but seeing the ignorant tweets of there and witnessing cyber bullying is appalling and irritating. Students are actively trying to combat cyber bullying by creating anonymous accounts on Twitter that complement many students of both Livermore and Granddad High. These accounts, these students, are genuine people and want to make a difference in the world and I admire their effort. My generation needs to wake up and smell the roses, the world is not going to change itself and we need to set an example for others on how social media should be used. People are constantly looking for ways to improve their ivies and by implementing new technology, we are able to find a mutual standpoint. Social media allows people all over the world to connect and share information and constantly learn new things to benefit them and grow as a person. With the wide availability and convenience of social media, we must create boundaries to prevent a flood of ignorance because in the long run, society will never truly be done with social media. We must educate ourselves in order to preserve the life we have in reality, not virtually inside a social media website.

Project management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 2

Project management - Assignment Example First the objective of the projects are essentials to define, then the goals of project will be stated clearly and communicated to the team members that are associated with the project, then tasks will be defined, after describing the task, resources required for the project are essential to define, the last two steps of project scope involve budgeting and scheduling (Dyal 2008). The critical path method could help penny in assisting scheduling and decision making. Penny could create efficiency, reduce uncertainty, and improve productivity through the help of critical path method. This can help in assess the earliest time by which the each activity can be completed. Through full project Gantt chart penny can evaluate the scheduling progress on the basis of individual task and whole project (Schwable 2013) Resource costing method is best to save the extra cost of utilizing resources; the second method is standard costing that helps in cost control, and the third method is activity based costing that determine the cost each activity required (Lewis 1995) Before starting any project risk assessment is the first step, risk occurs due to lack of tools, information and qualified employees. All uncertainties will be assessed through risk assessment data sheet and risk assessment matrix. Then the action plan will be created after conducting SWOT analysis of project, insurance will be taken to transfer risk and constant monitoring will be conducted to ensure the risk free status of the project. There are multiple evaluation methods but no can be said best; project evaluation methods include qualitative method. The formative evaluation methods are essential to lead up the project that is missing in the case study. The goal based evaluation is missed in the project that is necessary for any project and give ideas to the team members and management that how should the work be done in order to attain the stated goals. This evaluation encounters the SMART targets

How has Japanese Cinema been Informed by Nuclear Disaster Term Paper

How has Japanese Cinema been Informed by Nuclear Disaster - Term Paper Example The style of the day is one of modern casual wear, except when our young protagonist and his friend go to school, then, they wear uniforms.   Whereas in other films, such as Akira Kurosawa’s (1990) Dreams, there is a stark contrast to the actors’ traditional kimono dress that is worn in those vignettes that portray even modern life in Japan, such as Sunshine Through the Rain, where the dress in the home is kimonos, which is presented against a backdrop of modern Japanese architecture reflecting the traditional architecture with modern materials.   The result is striking and beautiful cinematography that is spellbinding as the story in this short vignette. In Kikujiro (Kitaro, 2000), if there is anything that denotes the impact of the nuclear holocaust suffered by Japan at the end of the war, it is in the westernization of the society that is conveyed through the film.   However, it should be noted that Japan was, prior to the onset of the war, looking towards the west as a model of economic success (Keyser & Kumagai, 1996, 1).   Still, with the postwar occupation of Japan by the Allied forces, it might be logical to conclude that the westernization of Japan took on a different direction than the pre-war model.   Kikujiro (Kitaro, 2000) portrays the move away from tradition, into a modern society with modern social problems, such as gambling first and second family identity problems.   While these problems may have existed in Japan since the medieval times, it is the distinct westernized appearance of them in this modern day film that breaks with the tradition of what is usually both perceived and seen in the film as being Japanese. Whereas Japan’s move toward away from the traditional towards a more western model might have been the path in a pre-world WWII setting, nuclear holocaust and the presence of a western occupation following that event probably helped bring Japan to a western present much quicker than they might have arrived had it not been for western occupation following the war. Kikujiro (Kitaro, 2000) is the film that demonstrates modern Japan’s westernization.