Racism: a Comparison and Contrast of Two Literary Works Essay

The words, purpose and identity are familiar with mankind. These words can mean many things to many different individuals. Each person on this Earth is uniquely made with unique DNA patterns and fingerprints that cannot be matched with any other individual among the billions of people that occupy this planet we call Earth. Why is prejudice so common among people if everyone is unique and special? This question remains unanswered. Many authors have written essays, stories, and poems about negative judgmental and biased views of people in hopes to understand unfair treatment towards mankind and promote changes in human behavior that will bring solutions of peace. This paper will reflect on the stories, Country Lovers, by Nadine Gordimer and The Welcome Table, by Alice Walker. Gordimer and Walker have become activists for fair and unbiased treatment among mankind. Both authors have been rewarded numerous honorary awards for promoting peace. Ironically, Nadine Gordimer is a white woman born and raised in South Africa and Alice Walker is an African American but both authors have kindred spirits and are celebrated for their commitments to fight the cruel elements of racism. Nadine Gordimer’s Country Lovers is a story about Thebedi, a black girl, and Paulus, a white boy, who fell in love. Gordimer wrote the story from a third-person point of view. The point of view is objective; the characters’ thoughts are not exposed as in the omniscient point of view. The point of view allows the reader to concentrate on the characters’ actions, creating a more dramatic effect. Thebedi and Paulus’ attraction to each other was unforbidden and socially not acceptable in the South African culture in which they were raised. Both children were raised on a South African farm, one that was owned by Paulus’ parents. Thebedi was one of the many black hired hands, slaves, or servants who worked on the Eysendyck’s family farm. The story does not clearly give a time period when the events unfolded, but the era of white dominance that existed over the black people was clearly defined, as the story states, â€Å"The farm children play together when they are small, but once the white children go away to school they soon don’t play together any more†¦so that by the time early adolescence is reached, the black children are making along with the bodily changes common to all, an  easy transition to adult forms of address, beginning to call their old playmates missus and baasie little master† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 1). Paulus and Thebedi exchanged gifts and their attraction for each other grew. Thebedi proudly wore a pair of hoop earrings given to her by Paulus but could not tell of the giver’s real identity and stated the earrings came from â€Å"the missus† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 3). Likewise, Paulus wore a bracelet made of elephant hair that was given by Thebedi but told everyone that one of the workers from his father’s farm had given him the gift (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 2). The fact that each person hid each other’s identities about the gifts suggest that their friendship was not acceptable because of their differences in racial and social statuses. As Thebedi and Paulus grew older, they frequently met at a remote dried river bed, each one walking a measureable distance from each other so that they would not be seen together. Paulus often spoke about his adventures away from home, as he was home for the holidays from a boarding school. Thebedi would ask questions and listen intently, enjoying Paulus’ company and laughing together (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 4). The friendship grew stronger and became sexual (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraphs 5 and 8). The couple continued to sneak around and see each other secretly, sometimes at Paulus’ home while his parents were away, as expressed in the line, †The door of the parents’ bedroom was locked and the empty rooms where the girls had slept had sheets of plastic spread over the beds. It was in one of these that she and the farmer’s son stayed together whole nights almost: she had to get away before the house servants, who knew her, came in at dawn.† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 8). The mood of the story quickly begins to change when Thebedi, at age 18, enters an arranged marriage union with Njabulo, a fellow black worker on the Eysendyck farm (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 9). Thebedi’s father was also a worker on the Eysendyck farm and saw Njabulo worthy of marrying his daughter; Njabulo was of the same social status as Thebedi’s family. Thebedi did not tell Paulus about her engagement to Njabulo, nor did she speak of her pregnancy, which was in the seventh month at the time she  married Njabulo (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 9). Soon, Thebedi gives birth to a healthy daughter, and with no surprise to the reader, the baby was light skinned (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 9). Njabulo’s disposition is one of high regards, as the story describes him as making no complaint, but â€Å"Out of his farm labourer’s earnings he bought†¦a pink plastic bath, six napkins, a card of safety pins, a knitted jacket, cap and bootees, a dress, and a tin of Johnson’s Baby Powder, for Thebedi’s baby† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 9). The author points out that the baby belongs to Thebedi, not Njabulo, but Njabulo assumes the role as father and provides for the child whole heartedly. The story’s plot comes to the climax when Paulus comes home from veterinary school and discovers not only is Thebedi married, but she has a child. Paulus visits the infant and immediately realizes he is the father of Thebedi’s baby. His reaction was a disturbed and embarrassed one, as the story explains, â€Å"He said nothing. He struggled for a moment with a grimace of tears, anger, and self-pity† as he asked Thebedi, â€Å"You haven’t been near the house with it?† (Clugston 2010,section 3.1, paragraphs 11 and 12). The reader sees the heart of Paulus at this point. It. The baby is referred to an it. Not a person but a thing that would bring him and his family shame and disgrace if anyone should find out. Paulus’s heart is further exposed with his commands to Thebedi, â€Å"Don’t take it out. Stay inside. Can’t you take it away somewhere. You must give it to someone—â€Å". Paulus left Thebedi’s home with the words, â€Å"I feel like killing myself† coming from the depths of his heart and out of his mouth (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 19). Paulus returns to Thebedi’s home shortly after and the reader discovers that Thebedi’s baby has been poisoned to death. The autopsy revealed intestinal damage not consistent with natural reason of death (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 22). Thebedi appears at an initial examination for the murder charges against Paulus, wearing the hoop earrings that Paulus had given her during their summer romance (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 24). Thebedi stated she had seen Paulus pouring something into her daughter’s mouth at the initial examination but later changed her story at Paulus’ trial, stating  she did not see anything that took place in her home. Thebedi wore her hoop earrings at both events, suggesting to the reader that she would always cherish Paulus and the affair they had together (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 25). Thebedi brought along her newborn baby at the time of the trial, suggesting to the reader that Thebedi had to go on with her life and concentrate on her new husband and her new baby; while Thebedi still cherished the memories that she and Paulus made together, those memories were only in the past. The reality was that Thebedi and Paulus had no chance of a future together. Paulus was found not guilty of the murder charge and Thebedi was interviewed by the Sunday papers. The author carefully points out that the newspapers â€Å"spelled her name in a variety of ways† suggesting that Thebedi was a common person and viewed in society as an individual with little importance (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 30). The story ends with Thebedi’s comment, â€Å"It was a thing of our childhood. We don’t see each other anymore† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 30). The author of Country Lovers, Nadine Gordimer, spoke out against racism in her interview presented by the Nobel Peace Organization on October 3, 2007. Having been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1991, an unnamed spokesperson asked Gordimer about the turning point in her life in which she became an activist for racism. Gordimer explained, â€Å"It was unthinkable for me to know black people whom would share my interests. It was always a servant/master basis. Even if you were the child of the master or mistress, you still had this particular position. But being troubled about it†¦I was beginning to find out there was something called racism in this world, and I was living in it. I was part of it. And then when I was older, training at Witwatersrand University, and there for the first time I met.there was one or two†¦there were a few young black members of the University, of course was whites only†¦there were certain courses that were not available in the black universities. And then as concession of post graduate level a few blacks would come in. I met one or two black people with whom I had far more in common than I had with the young whites that I knew at the time. There were young people who were trying to write, who were beginning to write. We had this enormous approach to life. I began at that age to make black friends. I moved into and entered into a fitting of incredible distortions of racism.  Not only the impression of blacks but the distortions in my personality and my mind as a white. These became very part of my life and indeed started my way to freedom from racism† (Nobelpeace.org, 2007). Gordimer, a native from Springs,South Africa, undoubtedly wrote Country Lovers based on experiences she dealt with firsthand growing up. In addition to winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, she has been awarded with several honorary degrees, ranging from Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and holds degrees from University of York in England and Witwatersrand in South Africa among many other schools (Nobelpeace.org, 2005). Some of the many honors extended to Gordimer have included being an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Honorary Member of the American Academy & Institute of Arts & Letters, and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honour of the Republic of Chile (Nobelpeace.org, 2007). Alice Walker’s The Welcome Table also presents a theme of racism. Walker is best known for her novel, The Color Purple, which led to Walker’s award of the Pulitzer Prize for the literary work (Clugston 2010, section 3.1,). The Welcome Table is told from a third-person omniscient point of view, carefully giving details of the thoughts of the main character, an elderly, rejected black woman, and those of the snobbish, prejudiced white people. The third-person omniscient point of view allows the reader to understand the deepest thoughts of the characters. The story begins introducing the old woman as one who has known suffering and who is looking for peace, dressed in her best Sunday clothes intending to worship at a local church (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 1). The unusual thing about the black woman’s presence is that the church is in an all- white community. The white people do not want the woman at their church and the narrator is quick to disclose the peoples’ thoughts, And so they gazed nakedly upon their own fear transferred; a fear of the black and the old, a terror of the unknown as well as of the deeply known† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 1). The narrator adds that â€Å"some of them there saw the age, the dotage, the missing buttons down the front of her mildewed black dress†¦Those who knew the hesitant creeping up on them of the law, saw the beginning of the end of the sanctuary of Christian worship, saw the desecration of Holy Church, and  saw an invasion of privacy, which they struggled to believe they still kept† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 2). The white people’s prejudice against the black woman suggest that this time period was when Civil Rights laws were being ma de and the white people did not want to accept the new laws that gave the right to black people to be in public places (Cheever J. and Mason B., 2012). Cheever and Mason add that â€Å"Privacy did not really mean privacy. They wanted to maintain their unequal social system and their own privileges at all costs† (Cheever J. and Mason B., 2012). The narrator tells the reader that the woman had walked a half of a mile to get to the church (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 3). The determination of the elderly woman contrasts with the character Thebedi from the previous story in that the unnamed woman does not give in to the white people’s dominating views, as she presses on to the white church. However, Thebedi knew her place within the society that was dominated by the white people. Thebedi accepted that she would not ever be able to fit into the white people’s world and have a future together with Paulus; subsequently, she proceded to marry Njabulo, even though she was carrying Paulus’ child. The next paragraph of The Welcome Table states that even the reverend of the church disapproved of the black woman’s presence (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 4). The people â€Å"stared at her as they came in and sat down near the front†¦the site of her, sitting there somehow passionately ignoring them, brought them up short, burning Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 4). An usher came up to the woman and told her to leave. (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 5). The Welcome Table and Country Lovers both introduce the reader to white people’s prejudiced and biased views toward black people. The black woman was looked down as on outcast in The Welcome Table, much like Paulus’ response when he saw his daughter, a product of a lowly, black servant girl. Paulus’ remark that he wanted to kill himself tells the reader that he thought his situation was so embarrassing and disgraceful that he would rather end his life than be exposed that he was a father to a half black daughter. Paulus wanted to send Thebedi away or have Thebedi give the baby to someone far away- so that no one would know about Thebedi and Paulus’ affair. The white people in The Welcome Table did not  kill anyone as Paulus did but they had hatred in their hearts and they might as well have killed the black woman. They literally picked her up and tossed her back outside into the cold air. The narrator describes the incident as â€Å"It was the ladies who finally did what to them had to be done. Daring their burly indecisive husbands to throw the old colored woman out they made their point†¦Could their husbands expect them to sit up in church with that? No, no, the husbands were quick to answer and even quicker to do their duty (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 5). The next paragraph describes the removal of the woman, â€Å"Under the old woman’s arms they placed their hard fists†¦Under the old woman’s arms they raised their fists, flexed their muscular shoulders, and out she flew through the door, back under the cold blue sky (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 6). The narrator explains that the woman had been singing in her head when she was rudely interrupted and thrown out of the church (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 7). This woman was singing. She had joy in her heart. She was daring and brave to come to the white people’s church but it should not have been a risk. It’s God’s people who are supposed to be lovable and accepting towards people-all people of every race, color, and tribe. The use of the third-person omniscient point of view engages the reader to feel the discomfort and the agitation towards the biased white people who threw someone out of the church simply because of the color of a person’s skin. It is one of the most disgraceful and wrong sins church people could commit. The narrator states that the woman looked down the highway and saw Jesus himself approaching her (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 8). The white people met together for church meeting in their best Sunday clothes, most likely carrying their bibles and sang of God’s love, yet God was not in their church. God was with the black woman and showed compassion by sending His Son Jesus to meet the woman and comfort her in her time of need. As Jesus approached the woman, he simply stated, â€Å"Follow Me† (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 10). The author must have known about the bible because Jesus told his disciples many times throughout the bible to follow him. Jesus also stated, â€Å"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me† (John 10:14) and â€Å"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,  and they follow me† (John 10:27). The words, Follow Me were very appropriate for this story. The woman gladly followed Jesus. The narrator states, â€Å"Jesus gave her one of his beautiful smiles and they walked on. She did not know where they were going; someplace wonderful, she suspected. The ground was like clouds under their feet, and she felt she could walk forever without becoming the least bit tired (Clugston 2010, section 3.1, paragraph 11). Not only is the woman walking side by side by Jesus, she is strengthened and her energy is renewed. The character, Njabulo in Country Lovers can be compared to the loving father like figure Jesus was to the old woman in The Welcome Table. Both Njabulo and Jesus met the needs of those around them. Njabulo was a great provider and bought several of the babies’ needs from his small income earned on the farm and was a great support to Thebedi throughout the story. Jesus accepted the elderly black woman and was everything she needed, taking care of all her needs. Alice Walker, the author of The Welcome Table, has dedicated her entire life in helping people. She has been very active in the Civil Rights Movement, promoting equal rights for black people (Jokinen 2006, p.1). She has also been an activist for the women’s movement, anti-apartheid movement, anti-nuclear movement, and has opposed female genital mutilation (Jokinen 2006, p.1). Walker has received many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 for her novel, The Color Purple, the Lillian Smith Award, The Rosenthal Award, the Front Page Award for Best Magazine Criticism, and the Townsend Prize and Lyndhurst Prize (Jokinen 2006, p.1). In the story, Country Lovers, the character Paulus was also educated and could have been influential in his community as an activist for black people but Paulus was more concerned about his social status. The thought of having a biracial child was degrading and unthinkable to Paulus. There has been recent attention to biracial identities in America. Kelly Rockquemore and David Brunsma teamed up together to write Beyond Black; Biracial Identity in America (Harris 2003, p. 436). The two authors presented a new approach to studying biracial profiles, arguing that previous projects by others assumed that all biracial individuals thought of themselves as merely biracial but, in reality, biracials claim they think of themselves as always white, always  black, sometimes white, sometimes black, or even raceless (Harris 2003, p.436). One could suspect that biracial studies as the ones conducted by Rockquemore and Brunsma would promote black and white people to live together in peace, merging communities, families, and hopefully, churches. South Africa, the setting of the story, Country Lovers, has actually had to address the issues of racism and has made changes to its government to promote equal rights among the people. In 1994, South Africa adopted a democratic form of government (Lefko-Everetti, 2012, p. 69). The Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, made into law in 1996, states â€Å"full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms’ and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity and gender† (Lefko-Everetti, 2012, p. 69). It has been said that non-racialism was one of the key founding values in making the new Constitution (Lefko-Everetti, 2012, p.79). Lefko-Everetti adds that, â€Å"the goal of pursuing a non-racial society accepting of diversity is embodied in the Constitution and continues to be embraced by many South Africans† (Lefko-Everetti, p.79). Authors Alice Walker and Nadine Gordimer have dedicated themselves for fighting for active rights of the people. Both authors have been awarded with numerous awards and have been recognized publicly for their written works against racism. Many other authors have written about racism and have joined their efforts with Walker and Gordimer to promote peace among mankind and to recognize that every individual deserves to be respected and not to be judged upon the color of their skin, nor of their religion preference, or their ethnicity. The stories, The Welcome Table and Country Lovers are prime examples of literary works that point out the sad and ugly realities of racism’s presence in communities. REFERENCES Cheever, J. and Mason, B. (2012) Alice Walker:Fiction and the Human Experience. Retrieved from http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/pardee/li220- 05/protected/lessons/notes/notes6.htm Clugston, R.W. (2010) Journey Into Literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education Inc. Harrris, D.R. (2003) Beyond Black:Biracial Identity in America (review). Social Forces, Volume 82, Number 1, September 2003, pp.436-437. Oxford University Press. Retrieved From Project MUSE at http://muse.jhu.edu Jokinen, A. (1996 ) Anniina’s Alice Walker Page. Retrieved from http://www.luminarium.org Lefko-Everetti, K (2012). Beyond race? Exploring indicators of (dis)advantage to achieve South Africa’s equity goals. Transformation: Critical Perspectives on Southern Africa, Number 79, 2012 pp.69-92. Retrieved from Project MUSE at http://muse.jhu.edu Nobelprize.org (2005) The Nobel Prize in Literature 1991 Nadine Gordimer Biography. Retrieved from www.nobelprize.org/nobel/prize.org/Nobel_prizesliterture/laureaates/ 1991/gordimer-bio.html Nobelprize.org (2007) Nadine Gordimer on racism 10-3-07(shown on YouTube). Retrieved From http://www.Youtube.com/watch?v+VWcxSsd8NsM

Collaboration Essay

†¢ What are the advantages of having diversity in a collaborative learning environment? There are several advantages to having diversity in collaborative learning environment and it enriches all of us. We, as students, learn to work with all types of people. We learn from each other, which, adds to our perspective based on our cultural differences. The outcome is positive by building respect, appreciation, achievement of common goals and commitment to equality. Because I work in retail, I have become more culturally aware. I realize the importance of everyone traditions and religious views. Learning from different cultures has helped me create new traditions for me and my family. In some ways, it has changed my whole outlook on life as well. †¢ How might factors such as diversity, attitude, learning, and work styles affect collaboration? Diversity enables students to learn how to work with different types of people and understand other points of view. A positive or negative attitude will affect one’s performance while learning will improve competition while work styles will determine which one is more effective. This can open windows for many of us in the career field such a travel, opportunities, and education. The disadvantages would be the individuals who do not see the good in cultural experiences and act prejudice. With that, people respond negative making the rest of us look bad. All of us have unique characteristics, looking for the same thing, â€Å"respect:† †¢ How does personal responsibility influence the work and success of a group? Personal responsibility in a group helps in the effective fulfillment of the goal set by the group. Assignment of roles according to an individual’s capacity in the group ensures that a task is completed as a result of teamwork. Personal responsibility also greatly builds trust amongst the group members. All of us have unique characteristics, looking for the same thing, â€Å"respect.†

My first date

I can vividly recall my first date but not for the reasons one would usually suppose. Actually, in my opinion this ‘momentous’ event hardly meant anything to me at the time and this was reflected in the triviality with which I treated the occasion. My focus at age thirteen wasn’t primarily at chasing girls though it should have been. My focus was on impressing my older brother and getting his attention. I admired him in so many ways. He isn’t the kind of brother many other boys my age would dote over. He was a ‘study-aholic’ and dedicated himself primarily to his school work and the work he did after school. He hardly had time for anyone else, and that included me. I longed so much for those days when he would mess around with me or punch me or beat me and deny it to my parents when I complained. We had both grown up from those days and somehow I feel as I grew older I began to lose my older brother. My first date was, in actuality, to be a movie and dinner with an extraordinarily intelligent and mildly beautiful young girl with whom I went to school. This date, however, also represented a chance for me to spend some needed time with my brother, even if it was to be only a few hours. I feigned annoyance when my parents insisted he had to accompany. Being the kind of son that he is he, of course, did not complain. He was all too willing to do as my parents requested and I was all to happy that he didn’t have better things to do that evening than spend some time chaperoning his younger brother. I hadn’t spent more than an hour with my brother since he started on his new part-time job with the same company my dad worked. He also did odd jobs around the neighborhood. I hadn’t heard the full conversation but I caught on that he and my parents had discussed his college education and they had stressed how difficult it would be to finance his studies immediately after he completes high school. He, however, was insistent that he needs to get into pre-med right away and thus took on the challenge to earn as much as he could to allay the cost burden on my parents. I’ve always admired his diligence and this in addition to the fact that he was MY big brother and no one else’s, set him apart from all other older brothers. Francis left early that morning to go to work. My dad always joked that he would soon take over his position because he was always so eager and on the ball. I had wanted his opinion on what to wear but it was too late when I got up and I felt a bit disappointed. Nevertheless this didn’t throw me off at all because I knew that at five o’clock he would be home with enough time to change and get dressed and then we would be on our way to meet the two sisters a short walking distance from our own home. That walk, with my brother, at six-thirty that evening, on that cloudless Saturday evening, was the highlight of my evening and is the memory I most treasure in my reflections of that evening. While we were walking towards the house he ruffled my hair with his fingers, the way he usually did and almost threw me off the sidewalk with a slap on my back. We romped, just like in the old days, for the full fifteen minutes it took us to arrive at their front door and at that time I found the brother I hadn’t seen in a long while. We didn’t have a particularly spectacular time with the girls. It was just like a normal date I guess. Susan was alright and so was her sister. They both seemed quite enthused to be out of the dreariness of their home for a change. We chatted about any and everything. Of course some times I brought up some silly ideas and my brother would hunch me in the side with his elbows, or rub my forehead till it burned. It was in those moments that my mind would flash back to our younger days, when he, in his mischief, would do just the same. It felt like magic finally having my brother back and knowing that I was not in danger of losing him to the rest of the world. My first date, the date with my brother with whom I now share a peculiarly close friendship was indeed, a marvelous experience.

Investing in Back Bay-Beacon Hill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investing in Back Bay-Beacon Hill - Essay Example As the report declares the main aspects of the real estate industry in Beacon Hill are as follows. First, properties in the area are valued at a price that is either double or triple of its value ten years ago. This presents an opportunity for profits for investors and developers in the long run. Second, properties in the area are either rented as apartments ranging from $1,600 for one-bedroom apartments up to $2,100 for two-bedroom apartments. Third, speculators forecasted the â€Å"back slope† in the northern part of the Beacon Hill area to increase value in the future. Fourth, due to state legislature, which established the Beacon Hill area as an historic district, constructions of new buildings have been prohibited. As a result, the values of existing buildings were enhanced, while land values were limited. This paper stresses that given the aforementioned characteristics of the real estate market in Beacon Hill, Alexander concluded that buying a property in the â€Å"back slope† would be most profitable because of the relatively lower values of properties there. Furthermore, he realized that it would be best to purchase a property, which would require an extensive amount of renovation to have better control on the property’s income potential. The property that interested Alexander was a 4-unit apartment in the â€Å"back slope.† The property is located in the middle of the block and is set 100 feet from the road.

Choose at least two cases of international M&As of varying degrees of Essay

Choose at least two cases of international M&As of varying degrees of success and analyse how HR might have made a difference - Essay Example In case of a merger, the two companies that get merged enter into a mutual agreement of forming a mixed company that exists as the sole entity. The activity of merger is a form of strategic alliance which results in the formation of a single entity. There are no other entities created as a result of the merger. There is a light difference between the mergers and the acquisitions. In cases of an acquisition, the buying company takes over another company and gains control over the entire assets and the liabilities of the company that it has taken over. The acquirer controls the operations and administration of the newly formed entity as a result of acquisition. However, the target entity or the entity that has been acquired exists as a separate entity whose stakes are controlled by the acquirer (Gregoriou and  Renneboog, 2007, p.68). The cases of international merger and acquisition are on the rise. ... the return on investments due to the share of expertise of the two entities in exploring the international market opportunities (Gaughan, 2007, p.35). Rationale for entering into M&A There are valid reasons for which the companies enter into international mergers and acquisitions. The rationale for the companies to enter into international merger and acquisitions are explained as follows. The companies operate in the domestic as well as foreign markets with a profit motive (Angwin, 2007, p.50). The various aspects of operation, marketing and sales, allocation of resources, planning and implementation are driven by the profit motives of the companies. Due to the saturation of the local markets and the need for expansion of the business for future growth leads to envisaging spreads of operations of the international markets. The impacts of globalization and the incentives offered for investments by the international companies lead to the plan of entering into international mergers and acquisitions (Sudi, 2003, p.36). The major reasons of opting for international mergers and acquisitions are mainly due to the consideration of returns against the possible risks in international mergers and acquisitions. The companies targeting international markets due to the potential demand of their products and services may not be conversant with the market characteristics and the local people. The political conditions of the international markets, fluctuation of economic conditions and the legal intricacies are the possible risk exposure of the companies. For this reason, the entities look for counter parts which have expertise in their probable areas of risk. On the other hand, the company offers its area of expertise in the field of product innovation, technology transfers, customer

Gender equity in science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gender equity in science - Essay Example The exact ratio is 10:24 favoring boys. II. Discussion From the data there seems not much difference in treatment between the boys and the girls in terms of interactions with the teacher. The slight variation in the ratio of interactions to the number of students by gender does not seem to be that significant, given the small sample of tallies made, and the small class size. The tallies ratio by gender roughly corresponds to the student ratio by gender. Taking a step back we look at the literature to inform us about the nature of gender equity in science in general, and in particular, science education and the science classroom. There seems to be much focus on this subject in the literature, with some studies, for instance, finding out that gender equity in science and in the classroom in general is something that requires concrete interventions to achieve. The implication is that without intervening the natural state o affairs is that of the lack of equity along gender lines, with t he status quo tilting towards a more favorable view of males, and a less than equal treatment of the females. The foundation of the inequity is said to rest in some geographies, as cited here, on some deeply-rooted stereotypes about the superiority of boys in terms of intellectual abilities (Esiobu, 2011, pp. 244-257). The same bias and stereotypes are noted in other studies, pointing to the need for interventions such as educating teachers and students about the presence of such stereotypes and about actively going against those stereotypes in order to achieve gender equity in science education, as well as technology education. Science is to be a venue for both boys and girls in an environment where there is an active role on the part of the system to counter the stereotypes and the weight of tradition regarding the inferior treatment of females (Wokocha, 2009, pp. 51-54). The inequity meanwhile is accepted in the literature as a long-standing problem, and something that has been w restled with and minutely studied by way of finding solutions and interventions to narrow down the inequity and level out the playing field between genders in the classroom as well as in the laboratory. By laboratory here is meant life after the classroom, and in the professional science arenas where, as a rule, boys outnumber girls as well. The problem is said to be rooted in inequities to be found at every step of the process that advances students from the classroom all the way to the professional stages of the science career. Interventions at every step of the process have been crafted and tried, and documented in the literature, with heavy emphasis on inequities in the classroom. This thorough look at the inequities and the proliferation of the literature on teaching interventions point to the gravity and to the importance of the issue for the general science and education communities (Brunner, 1998, p. 120; Gerhard, 1995, p. 53). In particular, one piece of literature collates at least 192 different methods and interventions to foster classroom equity in science education along gender lines, with emphasis on many different aspects of inequity, and many different areas of the learning process where the inequity exists. These interventions are baked into the curricula for science education along different levels, and are woven into different classroom and learning activities, such as reading, research, the conduct of surveys, and other classroom-related activities. These intervent

Proposal Argument Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Proposal Argument - Assignment Example Data in support of more bicycle lanes V. The Safety Aspect of Bicycling a. How street bike lanes make city biking safer for all concerned b. The â€Å"Safety Numbers† effect VI. Conclusion More Bicycle Lanes Will Make Street Biking Safer and Reduce Street Biking Accidents Bicycles have been a standard mode of transportation for people far longer than the cars have been in existence. These bone shakers were the preferred method of the early Americans when it came to getting around their neighborhood on errands and trips to visit friends. It has always been considered one of the most cost - effective, if not the most cost effective ways of transportation because of the method by which the mode of transport works, it does not require the use of gasoline. Health experts have argued and defended the positive effects of bicycling on the health of people. Environmentalists have pointed out the advantages of bicycling in terms of nature preservation and reduction of gas emissions into the atmosphere. Yet with all of these expert opinions abounding, it seems that the local governments have chosen to turn a deaf ear to the fact that our city would greatly benefit from the expansion of the current number of bicycle lanes in the city to a number that would actually have a positive impact on the traffic situation in the city, and address the growing concern for the safety of the increasing number of cyclists in our city streets. We have grown up in a â€Å"car culture† society. This means that we looks towards our automotive vehicles as our primary and only mode of transport. our culture saw bike riders as a danger to the â€Å"open door† situation of cars that were parked along the curb of sidewalks where bicycles were relegated to in the absence of actual bicycle lanes. There was a real fear that the cyclists would damage the car doors by slamming into them and causing a serious roadside accident. But, according to the Boston Cyclists Union (â€Å"Bi ke Lanes, The Reasoning Behind Them and a Bit of Boston History†) ; A typical argument from this anti-bike-lane crew is that bike lanes put riders closer to or inside the door zone. The city of Cambridge’s 2005 Hampshire Street Study has been called the â€Å"nail in the coffin† of that argument. Instead of moving into the door zone after a new bike lane was installed, people moved further away from it... The average distance away from the cars increased by only 2.4 inches. But the distribution of distances narrowed, so far fewer riders rode really close to the doors and about 8 percent of riders moved completely out of the door zone. Typical biking accidents include off-road riding, trick riding or racing. Due to the fact that there are only limited bike lanes available in the city, cyclists have to battle for street space with the cars. Due to the nature of the vehicle, not much protection is offered to the cyclist in the event of an accident. Gathered informat ion about biking accidents from 2008-2009 show that in the city of Toronto, There were 2, 335 injured cyclists admitted to their emergency rooms (Badger, Emily â€Å"Dedicated Bike Lanes Can Cut Cycling Injuries in Half†). The results of the study in Canada which were published in the American Journal of Public Health further explained that these injuries were sustained on 14 different types of streets lanes. These street paths included (Schmitt, Angie â€Å"Study: Protected Bike Lanes Reduce Injury Risk Up to 90 Percent†

Special Populations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Special Populations - Assignment Example Still in these communities there are the vulnerable population integrated throughout (Nyamathi & Koniak, 2007). The discussion will focus on people with AIDS, as a vulnerable population in the society. In this case, it will discuss this group in details, their description, and their social and health problems. It will also focus on a program that will enable this group have a better stay in the society, also focusing on the ethical and legal implications and present strategies developed to diminish the cycle of vulnerability in the society. The welfare of the people with AIDS may it be adolescents, elderly and young adults mainly depends on trail of personal developments, economic and social experiences of the society and stressors that may be distinct to the diverse age groups or to communities at different times. Several vulnerable groups in the society fall prey into abuses by the rest of the people may it be physical, sexual, mental, social stigma, and financial, and they can still happen to people with AIDS. They can be susceptible to influences that are devastating to their well fare. There are more reported cases each year of abuse of this population and more that often occurs and not reported. This is evident from the reports produced each year by the health care sector in several countries (Nyamathi & Koniak, 2007). Awareness of the abuses of people with AIDS is essential since this group comprise of the fastest growing population in America among others. Most of the people with AIDS abuses occur within cultural, economic, racial, and ethnic groups regardless of the religion and socioeconomic status. The abuse of the group goes back a long way to the ancient times when they regarded people with AIDS as outcasts and discarded after contracting with HIV (Aday, 2001). Reports published in the year 1970 showed that the abuse of

Drawing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drawing - Essay Example It is rather clear that the intention of Kollwitz was to make a connection between near-death situation and the â€Å"actual death†, which is being symbolized by the skeletal hand. The darker shades on her left arm and biceps suggest of a deteriorating body condition – Kollwitz was experiencing the degeneration of her body as death slowly takes her. There is also a great significance on the manner in which Kollwitz positioned her hands, particularly her fingers. Her index finger implies a weakening physical motor functioning. This can be validated by the first three fingers which already narrowed down. Her right arm was rested on her left biceps, nearly touching the skeletal hand. This may mean that Kollwitz, perhaps sensing her very near death, surrendering herself to the hands of death. Technically, the skeletal hand in the lithograph symbolizes the hand of death. It seems like Kollwitz did not erase anything from her original sketch. This can be proven by the somewhat untidy descriptions of the outlines of the drawing. Generally, the lithograph does not look neat but are made of brisk shades. The initial gestures were indeed integral part of the drawing. The gesture represented that of her age – an old, dying woman; and this even show on her facial expressions. The movements of the hands are definitely very slow. You will see in the lithograph that there are no hues of rapid movements. The artists richly used lines and tones to define the scope of her drawing. The semi-thick outlines that formed her shoulders provided a clear description of the motives of the lithograph, that is, to portray a dying woman or person. I used charcoal in my drawing in order to recapture the intentions of the artist in her drawing. I had to make sure that the space is carefully used in a way that would subtly separate the body of the woman from the skeletal hand. By using charcoal, it adds more â€Å"dark† emotions to the paintings, which is very important in order to

Role of Values Based Education in Personal and Professional Life Essay

Role of Values Based Education in Personal and Professional Life - Essay Example The first pillar committed to academic advancement not merely implores the students to gain knowledge, but rather nudges them to evaluate the imbibed knowledge in the laboratory of critical thinking and analytical evaluation. Mere knowledge makes a well informed person, but, approaching knowledge with a critical bent of mind makes a creative and original personality. At Grand Canyon University, the learning styles resorted to are such that they push a student to extend one’s intellect and ingenuity to its limits, thereby shattering all preconceived notions and challenging the inherent biases, prejudices and myths. The outcome of such an approach appears in the form of students who possess an open and inquisitive attitude towards life, resting securely on dependable and time-tested spiritual and moral foundations. Grand Canyon University encourages its students to develop a personality that is just the right blend of grass root practicality and an essentially Christian vision. The second pillar that is Christian camaraderie not only intends to facilitate an interactive and friendly mindset towards society, but also gauds the students to evaluate people not merely on the basis of worthless superficialities, but rather on the criteria of shared values and morals that are quintessentially Christian, yet at the same time, timeless and universal. The modern times defined by a fast paced life and the necessity to make quick decisions require professionals to adhere to a reliable system for understanding people. Isn’t it really great that the young people come to terms with this system while acquiring education, when they could test it in an emphatic and informed environment? Extracurricular activities constitute the third pillar of this hub of knowledge and learning. Really, life is not merely about practice and contemplation, but has as much to do with healthy recreation and a positive sense of humor. One comes across several instances in the New Testam ent when Jesus is shown as playing with children and resorting to good natured bantering with apostles and common people (Sheen, 1977). Extracurricular activities at GCU not only give the students a chance to recharge their batteries, but to many they offer an honorable and satisfying career in professional sports. The fourth pillar of GCU is committed to health and spiritual well being. A healthy body is the repository of a sound mind and an enlightened spirit.

Single Unemployed Mothers (Demographic Paper) Essay Example for Free

Single Unemployed Mothers (Demographic Paper) Essay A mother is a tough job at hand, but thinks for a second about a mother who is unemployed as well as a mother with an absent parent; the issue is many within one. The state of Michigan is experiencing an all-time high increase of unemployed people, suffering in poverty. The question at hand is how the demographic issue is affecting the society, relatively the health care market. Identify target population The demographics of the topic; single unemployed mothers within our nation as of 2008 were 84. 5 million and 9.9million were single moms with no help from the absent parent, according to the 2008 Census Bureau. However a single unemployed mother in Michigan has been, and is currently a huge growing issue. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the highest unemployed mothers are the minority, African Americans women, and Hispanic women. The report stated which single unemployed African American mothers increase within June till July from 11.8 percent to 12.9 percent; whereas the statistics for single unemployed Hispanics were 11 percent to 12.1 percent. The following statistics is based within the demographic population of the state of Michigan. However when you break the statistics down to a city, the numbers seems closer to reality. In saying you’re able to comprehend the issue at hand a bit more Maternal and Infant Well-Being Michigan. (2011, July 8). Gathered Information about the Population Statistics on single unemployed mothers within in the city of Grand Rapids Michigan reports, from the Institute for Research on Poverty states that the increase of poverty is rising extremely high in Grand Rapids. The League of Human Services states that 40% of births in Grand Rapids are to unwed mothers researched in 2010. However the percentage has increased from 2010 to 2012 by 20 percent. This goes into explaining the demographics further, in which reports out of every 3 births, 2 of which are to an unwed moms aging in her early 20’s Mothers by the Numbers. (2012, September 17). Demographics effects the HealthCare market According to the Kids Count of Michigan, unmarried woman are more likely to give birth into poverty, born in poverty may lead to health problems as well as educational problems. Living within poverty affects the person enduring the process as well as others. Being poor and less unfortunate affects the healthcare economy, by increasing the dollar amount for healthcare coverage. Not only does it increase the dollar amount for covering services/ treatments for those that are not able to afford, but it also puts a demand on the services, the physicians, and providers. The increase of Medicaid is looking as if we may enter a debt that no one is ready for. The demand for healthcare is vital, the government is doing the best to their ability, and however it is making younger people with a job work harder. As a result of them working harder, the taxes they pay into is going to those that are less fortunate. In my opinion to this topic, I’m fearful that the government is paying close a ttention to our debt and healthcare needs, and am totally excluding the attention our education needs. Overall the general effect of single unemployed mothers have on the healthcare market is that, because of the current demographics of the population the healthcare market has to work harder to stay out of debt. Changes in the population may help the healthcare market In 2009 Obama stated that he wanted to set up a plan to target the Department of Education to increase the financial aid packages for unemployed people so that they can get ahead, while still unemployed. The plan was to increase the pell-grant, so that the people that qualify can have extra funds to care for other things such as medical and housing expenses. The pell-grant was to increase from $500 to $5,350 as of May 2009. It three years later and Obama kept his word, however it has not drastically made a difference in Michigan. Michigan has made changes far as programs reaching out to help single unemployed mothers, such as Michigan Works/educational programs, food assistance programs, housing assistance, and also funding to cover child care expenses. Michigan Works is an education program that provides educational job trainings, skill building, it is an overall resource center. The food assistant program provided by the Human Services grant, is a program in which provides an additional funds to those that qualify for more food funding for their child within the school year, as well as the summer. Housing assistant is a program that provides housing expense vouchers, to cover the funding of rent to those that qualify. However this particular program is tedious, the waiting list to receive such a voucher is extremely high, the wait on some list are years behind. So in saying the changes that have been made are not helping the healthcare market by much. Identify HealthCare Related Changes Some changes that have been identified within Grand Rapids due to the issue of single unemployed mothers are longer lines in the emergency rooms, the increase amount of citizens on Medicaid, the increase amount of discrimination from providers because of Medicaid, and lastly the cost of them both. The increase of emergency room visits is due to the fact that so many people lack healthcare coverage, in a result of the E.R visit is due to having no family physician. The second healthcare related change that has been identified is, the increasing amount of citizens applying for Medicaid. The demand of Medicaid is so high, that the government is screening everyone to figure out who needs the assistant the most. Can you imagine someone getting declined for coverage, due to the fact that the government may assume that he or she can afford to pay other healthcare insurance rather than governmental assistance? What if this person is overlooked and their assistance went to an illegal immigrant, but in actuality they really needed the help, but were overlooked! Providers are now discriminating against those that have Medicaid. Providers are screening the intake of those that have governmental funding due to the fact that the expenses the government is willing to pay, is far from the rate they charge. So in saying when they accept a patient who has Medicaid they are losing money Michigan State Medical Society Legislative Meeting (2013, February 13). A Chronic Disease Wellness Program Conducting a chronic disease wellness program may affect the demographic cost, in a positive way. Most wellness programs are free of charge, so it would not hurt for a single unemployed mom to attend a program of such. The program of educating mothers of such a thing may bring the healthcare cost down. Practicing good eating and exercising habits may bring the emergency visits down, in which will bring the demand of services down. Not only is this programming an incentive for the economy, but it is also a networking incentive for employment. When people gather together you may not know who is among you that can help the next person. Marketing Needs Dealing with such a demographic as this, marketing to this type of population tells us that it would have to be creative. Marketing by telephone or the internet may be tricking, due to the fact that the population is a single unemployed parent. Having a telephone and or the internet is not at the top of the priority list, so in saying many may not posse these things. So advertising and marketing should be by mail, on the news, and visual billboards. Addressing Challenges to the population The society could continue to express the issues about single unemployed mothers. Not only to continue to get the word out about the struggle their enduring but stressing the fact that employment is needed in this area of Grand Rapids Michigan. In conclusion, it is noble to help those in need. Being a mother is a tough job at hand, but think for a second about a mother that is unemployed as well as a mother with an absent parent; the issue is many within one. The state of Michigan is experiencing an all-time high increase of unemployed people, suffering in poverty. The question at hand is how the demographic issue is affecting the society, relatively the healthcare market. The moral of the reading is how can you play a part or how can u be a servant of God and help those who are less fortunate than you? Reference Page Unemployment hits single mothers, minority women hardest. (2010, August 24). Retrieved from MLIVE Grand Rapids Press website: http://www.mlive.com/news/grandrapids/index.ssf/2010/08/unemployment_hits_single_mothe.html Michigan State Medical Society Legislative Meeting. (2013, February 13). Retrieved from Kent County Medical Society Allience website: http://www.kcmsalliance.org/legislative.html Mothers by the Numbers. (2012, September 17). Retrieved from Info Please website: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/momcensus1.html Maternal and Infant Well-Being Michigan. (2011, July 8). Retrieved from Institute of Research Poverty website: http://www.irp.wisc.edu/dispatch/2011/07/08/maternal-and-infant-well-being-michigan

Investigate the use of internet activities Essay Example for Free

Investigate the use of internet activities Essay ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This research study will neither be possible nor successful without the enduing support of trusted people in the lives of the researchers. We thank them with all our hearts and tears. The researchers would like to thank our thesis advisers Dr. Lita S. Sagun and Professor Melanie Pacho, for their patience and concerns in the accomplishment of this research paper. Also, the researchers extend a sincerest gratitude to Dean Orlando M. Cabigting, Jr. for his warm support in our data gathering, as well as Engr. Michael V. Benavidez and Prof. Albert A. Vinluan for making it possible. To the panel members, ______________________, _____________________, ______________________ for spending their time to share ideas and suggestions through the development of our paper. To our family and friends, who serve as our inspirations in doing our best to improve ourselves and our thesis as well. We thank them in showing full support and understanding to strengthen our hopes to finish this study. And of course, the most trusted of all, the Almighty God, for the blessings, guidance, knowledge and wisdom that He shared to give us enough perseverance and courage to go beyond success. APPROVAL SHEET The thesis paper hereto entitled INTERNET ACTIVITIES AND SLEEP DEPRIVATION, prepared and presented by MARY ROSE M. LEYSON, LES PAUL C. BUSTAMANTE, LEONY B. BOLAÑOS AND APRIL ROSE C. BILLONES, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology is hereby examined for acceptance and approval. _______________________ Thesis Adviser Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a grade of _______ on 14th day of September, 2013. ____________________________________________ Member Member ______________________ Member Accepted as partial fulfilment of the requirement needed in Psychological Thesis Writing for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Dr. LITA S. SAGUN Head, Psychology Program Dr. ORLANDO M. CABIGTING, Jr. Dean, College of Arts and Sciences ABSTRACT Title: Internet Activities and Sleep Deprivation Researchers: Mary Rose M. Leyson, Les Paul C. Bustamante, Leony B. Bolaà ±os, April Rose C. Billones Adviser: Dr. Lita S. Sagun Date: 2012-2013 The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of internet activities that may affect the sleeping hours of a person or else cause of sleep deprivation. The research aims to provide some possible solutions to utilize the cause of sleep deprivation. It is also conducted to the beneficiaries of the study including the students, parents, teachers and future researchers. In order to gather data and information, researchers used the descriptive method through the use of instruments such as survey questionnaires and interview. The interview is conducted to a sleep specialist, Dr. Instrella of Capitol Medical Center to further understand about sleep deprivation. Survey questionnaires are administered to Computer Science students of New Era University as the respondents of the study. For data presentation, statistical treatments are percentage and weighted mean. Researchers also used the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to determine the sleepiness of the respondents after using the internet. Researchers’ objective is to give awareness for the possible cause and effect of sleep deprivation to the students in using internet so as to be the starting point of letting this usual thing to us. This study provides information to the parents and teachers about the risk of having sleep deprivation amongst students. This study was conducted at New Era University in Computer Science Department with 207 respondents. Through random selection, there are 126 male respondents and 81 female respondents. According to age, there are 49 participants in 15-16, 83 participants in 17-18, 57 participants among age 19-20, and 18 participants from age 21 and above. The study found out that male respondents are more likely to have sleep deprivation if they continue not to control their time facing the internet every night than female respondents. Based on the results, researchers recommend limiting the time of using the internet, have a time-management, use of library books or any printed material for doing assignments and also provide a comfortable room to sleep with. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title pagei Dedication.ii Acknowledgement..iii Approval Sheet.iv Abstract..v Table of Contents..vii CHAPTER 1. The Problem and Its Background1 Statement of the Problem4 Assumptions5 Significance of the Study..6 Scope and Delimitation 7 Definition of Terms.7 2. Review of Related Literature..12 Theoretical Framework..23 Conceptual Framework.26 3. Research Methodology.28 Research Design .28 Respondents..28 Research

Hybridity Concept In Postcolonial Studies Cultural Studies Essay

Hybridity Concept In Postcolonial Studies Cultural Studies Essay Introduction This chapter seeks to examine key concepts that underpin this study. Hybridity, otherness and stereotyping in postcolonial studies are discussed in relation to the central argument of this thesis which is the roles teachers and students play at aiming for the construction of shared Malaysian identity in multicultural classrooms. The intention of this literature review is to identify the significance of hybridity, otherness and stereotyping in post colonial studies to my research and how Bhabhas notion of The Third Space helps to formulate the establishment of collective identity in students zone of development (Gutierrez, Baqudano-Lopez and Tejeda (1999). Hybridity concept in Postcolonial studies The flow of information and the movement of people in this ever evolving, interconnected and interactive world have been a profound reason in the creation of new cultures in the form of mixing of local and foreign ideas and values. This kind of mixing is a tiny part of the loose and slippery meaning of hybridity. The term hybridity is used in many areas such as hybrid economy (the mixture of private enterprises and government active participation in global economy) (Koizumi,2010); hybrid cars, hybrid language (creole and patois), and most importantly in relation to this study is in the arena of hybrid cultures (Tomlinson,1999; Coombs Brah,2000). Easthope (1998) contends that hybridity can have three meanings; in terms of biology, ethnicity and culture. In biological science, hybrid could mean the composition of genetic component in human being, animals or plants. In the second and third definitions, hybridity can be understood to mean an individual who possesses two or more ethnic and cultural identities. However de Toro emphasises that the meaning of hybridity in modern cultural theory has nothing to do with the biological and zoological origin of the term (de Toro, 2004). Hutnyk (2005) on the other hand reveals that the term hybridity and syncretism seem to serve the inner cultural aspects of colonialism and the global market. Several key thinkers in the realm of hybridity includes among others Homi Bhabha, Robert Young, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Stuart Hall and Paul Gilroy, who draw upon related concepts from Deleuze, Derrida, Marx, Fanon and Bakhtin to name a few.(Ref) In particular, Bhabha has developed his concept of hybridity from literary and cultural theory to describe the construction of culture and identity within conditions of colonial antagonism and equity (Meredith, 1998; Bhabha, 1994; Bhabha, 1996). In socio-cultural milieu, hybridity is used as an explicative term and hybridity became a useful tool in forming a discourse of racial mixing which was seen as an aberration in the end of 18th century. The kind of hybrid during this era was largely referring to inter marriage of black and white and the offspring were identified as the hybrid product. It has also been referred to as an abuse term in colonial discourse for those who are products of miscegenation or mixed-breeds. Papastergiadis in Werbner Modood (2000) on the other hand asserts that the positive feature of hybridity is that it invariably acknowledges that identity is constructed through a negotiation of difference and that the presence of fissures, gaps and contradictions is not necessarily a sign of failure. (ibid:258). Therefore hybridity can be seen in both negative and positive forms. Ashcroft, Griffiths and Tiffin (2006) assert that hybridity occurs in post-colonial societies as a result of economic and political expansion and control and when the coloniser diluted indigenous peoples (the colonised) social practices and assimilate them to a new social mold. They also further explain that hybridity extends until after the period of imperialism when patterns of immigrations from rural to urban region and from other imperial areas of influence; such as Chinese and Indian labourers coming in into the Malay Peninsula during the labour intensive period. However, with the end imperialism, with the rising of immigration and economic liberalisation, the term hybridity has profoundly been used in many different dimensions and is one of the most disputed terms in postcolonial studies. It can take many forms including cultural, political and linguistics. It is important to note that hybridity can be interpreted in many different accounts from a slight hybrid to the extreme of culture clash. In the postcolonial studies the term hybrid commonly refers to the creation of new trans-cultural forms within the contact zone produced by colonisation (Ashcroft et al.,2003). One other dimension of this term is the hybrid talk which is associated with the emergence of postcolonial discourse and its critique of cultural imperialism.(elaborate) Easthope (1998) on the other hand asserts that in his discussions of hybridity, it has no fix definition except in relation to non-hybridity: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦that the opposition between difference and absolute presence needs to be relativised by introducing more than one concept of identity, that a coherent, speaking subject cannot live in the gaps between identities. (p.347). Pieterse (2001:221) maintains that New hybrid forms are significant indicators of profound changes that are taking place as a consequence of mobility, migration and multiculturalism. In addition, cultural diasporization (Hall, 1990) signifies a new form of identity as a result of interculturality and diasporic relations (Anthias,2010). However, Anthias (ibid:620) postulates that: If hybrid social identities are now the characteristic identities of the modern world, then struggles over cultural hegemony and the underlying mechanisms that support it, become increasingly empty signifiers; merely to occupy the space of the hybrid constitutes an emancipator human condition. In addition, de Toro (1991,1996a) contends that hybridity is always inherent to culture, identity and nations but it is the object of reflections and definitions of different settings and also applied in very different fields. Correspondingly, de Toro suggests that one has to understand the notion of hybridity in a broader metacontext and has to see hybridity as mixing systems at the base of the combination of different models and processes. The discussion of hybridity in this study focuses on the contemporary debate about culture, ethnicity and identity which underpins de Toros model of hybridity as a cultural category. The main argument of this study is the problematic nature of managing the differences of cultural, ethnical and religious groups in Malaysias plural society in the quest for the construction of shared Malaysian identity. The discussion of hybridity in the Malaysian context in this study therefore is not about finding a midway to the solution of differences in cultures and identity but to identify a space where cultural, religious and ethnic difference can be celebrated. In as much the arguments in the succeeding sections deal with ethnicity, culture and religion, this study does not attempt to explicate an in depth discussion of the cultural theory concept. However, cultural theory will be reviewed at a surface level. In the linguistics setting, Bakhtin (1981) puts forward the notion of linguistic hybridity. He, according to Young (1995) delineates the way in which language, even within a single sentence, can be doubled-voiced. Bakhtin affirms that linguistic hybridity mixes two social languages within the limits of a single utterance but differentiated by other factors of those social utterances. Simplistically, it describes the ability to be simultaneously the same but different (ibid:20). Young further postulates that for Bakhtin, hybridity describes the process of the authorial unmasking of anothers speech, through a language that is double-accented and double-styled. Bakhtin (1981) divides his linguistic hybridity into two; intentional hybridity and unconscious or organic hybridity. The former occurs when a voice has the ability to ironise and unmask the other within the same utterance. The organic hybridity , on the other hand occurs when two languages fused together: . the languages change historically primarily by hybridization, by means of a mixing of various languages co-existing within the boundaries of a single dialect, a single national language, a single branch, a single group of different branches, in the historical as well as paleontological past of languages. (Ibid:358). The language hybridity phenomenon is one of main discussions in this current study as the multicultural society evolves in Malaya then Malaysia respectively, languages evolve in tandem. The discussion involves the emergence of Malaysian English or Manglish in social interactions of the populace within ones own ethnic community or with the other communities at large. This is argued in the discussions and findings chapter of this current study. The section that follows discusses in greater detail of hybridity in the light of Bhabhas (1998) work on cultural diversity and cultural difference. Understanding Bhabhas concept of hybridity in relation to cultural diversity Bhabhas conception of hybridity is developed from literary and cultural theory by which he identifies that the governing bodies (coloniser) translate the identity of the colonised (the other) in tandem with the essentialist beliefs. This action of translation however does not produce something that is known to the coloniser or the colonised but essentially new (Papastergiadis, 1997). Bhabha believes that it is this new blurred boundaries or spaces in-between subject-position that are identified as the locality of the disruption and displacement of predominant influence of colonial narratives and cultural structures and practice. Bhabha (1994) claims that the difference in cultural practices within different groups, however rational a person is, is actually very difficult and even impossible and counterproductive, to try and fit together different forms of culture and to pretend that they can easily coexist. As he affirms: The assumption that at some level all forms of cultural diversity may be understood on the basis of a particular universal concept, whether it be human being, class, or race, can be both very dangerous and very limiting in trying to understand the ways in which cultural practices construct their own systems of meaning and social organisation (ibid:209) There is truth to a certain degree to the statement above in terms of the universality of cultural diversity applied in many pluralistic countries including Malaysia. However, to a larger extent, this present study, at a later stage would render the limitations of that statement amidst difficulties and multitudes of problems in inter-ethnic relationship; Malaysian society has proven its ability to be one of the select few which are able to prove that the differences in cultural practices could be the catalyst not hindrance or counterproductive amongst different groups to coexist. This concept of the third space is central and useful in analysing this current study in terms of its interstitial positioning between cultural and ethnic identity with that of a negotiated identity (shared identity) in the Malaysian context. Bhabha believes that the process of cultural hybridity gives rise to new and unidentifiable, a new era of negotiation of meaning and representation. For him controversies are inevitable and unavoidable in a multicultural society as negotiations happen almost in all circumstances including socio-politics and economy down to minute affairs such as in classrooms context. The implication of western colonial legacy which had changed cultural ideology of a former colonised nation is central to the modern discourse of negotiation and instead of questioning the legality of certain cultural status assigned to immigrant cultures, it is inevitable but to accept, admire and celebrate diversity in ways which are appropriately befitting the society as a whole. The significance of the hybridity concept Post-colonial cultural politics assertions: integration and assimilation to unification As a result of hybridisation, dominant culture becomes diluted and more dispersed; less integrated and can then be negotiated. The process of cultural hybridisation allows greater opportunity for local culture to be emphasised thus presents a greater likelihood for more people to feel the sense of belonging. (Canclini,1995;Pieterse,2004). Hybridity needs to be considered as a continuous transaction of renewals and compromise of the practices of identity A more analytical perspective that reviews the assumption about culture and identity from us-them dualism to a collective sense of both. Therefore acceptance and conciliation of both difference and similarity. 5.0. The Third Space Appropriation of The Third Space to the study Otherness Stereotyping in Post Colonial Studies 9.0 Applying hybridity, otherness and stereotyping to the construction of shared identity Identity in Plural Society Propagating and espousing a new conception of shared identity New opportunities, new challenges to develop a collective sense of identity Identity is multiple, overlapping and context-sensitive (Kwame Appiah in Koizumi) New conception of self hybrid self rejects singular identity and adopt a fluid context-dependent identity Classification of identity formation: inherited and acquired (social and psychological) The Construction Malaysian Identity Summary

Outlines of a Value Typology Based on Decision Theorys Social Motives :: Philosophy

Values and their Collisions: Outlines of a Value Typology Based on Decision Theory's Social Motives ABSTRACT: Several years ago, I outlined a project to delineate ideological and scientific elements of our knowledge about values. I began by studying the typical configurations of values, their typical collisions, and some typical world-view-related standpoints as theoretical background. I now present the theoretical premises of my inquiry, the applied methods, and some of the results. I have tried to support the choice of variables used, make sensible the reliable limits of the findings, and underline some interconnections as well as some collisions between moral and/or ideological standpoints. Among values, and apart from the aesthetic (artistic) values, we can distinguish between ideological and moral ones. The ideological values (or social-political ones) concern and/or regulate the coexistence of larger groups of humans, while those considered moral ones are realized in the immediate interpersonal relationships. But there are weighty arguments suggesting their treatment in common or in parallel: (i) In the case of some systems of thought, the separation of moral values from the social political ones seems quite artificial (e.g. Aristotelian, Christian, utilitarian, liberal); (ii) Recent psychological research in the direction inaugurated by Piaget and Kohlberg supports the hypothesis that the lower phases of the moral development are constant across societies and ethic groups, while in the superior phases there is a culture-(respectively, society-) related differentiation. Higher level moral attitudes seem significantly related to the accepted political values (Kurt Bergling, 1981 (1) ). (2) (iii) In the case of many historical systems of thought (philosophies) the moral world-view is axiologically more elaborated than the political one. (The conceptions about the ontology of values, values' social functions and effects or values' acquirement are much more evident in the former.) Further, the moral inquiry is more nuanced in the elaboration of typologies and it is more concerned with the relations between cognitive sphere and values than the social-political thinking is. II I would distinguish 3 levels in approaching the moral phenomena: (i) Moral (of object-language) The level of valuations (good-wrong, just-unjust etc.) and norms, including laic knowledge about rewards and punishments, or about value legitimising and the metaphysical nature of good and evil. This can be considered the everyday moral conscience of the society, the object of anthropological, sociological, historical descriptions. (ii) Ethical (of meta-language) The level of categories introduced by ethics to study and to compare the specificities of moral systems, of the auto-reflection and self-defending argumentation of value hierarchies.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?, by Nicholas Carr Essay example -- Is Goog

With the rise of technology and the staggering availability of information, the digital age has come about in full force, and will only grow from here. Any individual with an internet connection has a vast amount of knowledge at his fingertips. As long as one is online, he is mere clicks away from Wikipedia or Google, which allows him to find what he needs to know. Despite this, Nicholas Carr questions whether Google has a positive impact on the way people take in information. In his article â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† Carr explores the internet’s impact on the way people read. He argues that the availability of so much information has diminished the ability to concentrate on reading, referencing stories of literary types who no longer have the capacity to sit down and read a book, as well as his own personal experiences with this issue. The internet presents tons of data at once, and it is Carr’s assumption that our brains will slowly become wired to bett er receive this information. The article begins with the depiction of a scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey in which the astronaut Dave Bowman unplugs the supercomputer HAL. Carr uses this to tie in his feelings that, like HAL, someone or something is toying with the wiring of his brain. This is a strong emotional appeal. Carr intends to quickly gain his audience’s attention with the feeling of being â€Å"unplugged†, and possibly to gain the sympathies of readers who have felt a similar feeling. Carr proceeds to talk about how he can no longer become absorbed in an article or book, saying â€Å"my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages.† Again, this works as a strong emotional appeal. English buffs - Carr’s likely primary audience - who read this article may agree... ...echniques employed are persuasive and subtle, and this allows Carr to take advantage of all emotional arguments at his disposal. In conjunction with sources pertinent to the topic, Carr’s emotional appeals seem to get his audience thinking, and from the article it is easy to agree with the points he has made. Carr’s use of logos and pathos does bring into question his ethos, however. Fortunately, Carr’s ethos should not be questioned, as he has written several books and articles on the topic. This does not excuse his bias, but it does permit him to speak on the topic at hand. Carr definitely presents himself as a strong literary figure, and his views on the internet are reasonable as well as relatable. This combination of ethos, pathos, and logos successfully allows Carr to write as an expert in this field, and his article and thoughts are not to be taken lightly.

TRICARE: The Restructuring of Military Healthcare System in Response to

In the U.S and other nations of the world, the health expenditure and number of physicians increase as the economy expands. However, physician shortage is of a great concern globally, which the U.S and the Military Healthcare System (MHS) are no exceptions. According to Garber (2004) â€Å"a shortage exit when there is unsatisfied demand, which occurs when the quantity of a good or service is less than what people will be willing to buy at the current price†. For example a long wait time to get an elective surgery done, or a long wait for a patient to get an appointment to see the doctor are evidence of physician shortage. Another definition of shortage is â€Å"having a projected supply of physicians that meet less than 80% of the forecasted demand or need, calculated at the estimated means (Scheffler, Liu, Kinfu, & Dal Poz, 2007). The World Health Organization report (2006) estimated that, 57 countries had absolute shortage of 2.3 million physicians. This shortage acco rding to prior studies implied the lack of a sufficient number of health care professionals to deliver skilled health interventions such as child-birth. Schaffer et al. (2007) projected the global supply of the physician workforce to balance the demand using the demand base model and sufficient surplus in the year 2015. Despite this projection of surplus and balance of the physician workforce globally, the problem of shortage will still remain with some countries and nations as a result of distributional problems that continue to persist, and Africa for instance will need about 65% increases in supply of physicians by the year 2015 (Scheffler et al., 2007). According to Cooper (2004 & 2005) the shortage of physicians in the U.S was related to the economic capacit... ....S and overseas to supplement the care provided to the growing beneficiary population in the MTFs. The MTF is the primary health care facility for TRICARE. TRICARE PCP shortage is due to deployment to war zones, humanitarian missions and special combat skill training. Throughout the research, attempts will be made to respond to the primary question and then the other sub questions in relation to; TRICARE background history, epidemiology, physician types, administration, policies and law, finance, personnel, marketing, ethical issues, beneficiary complaints and satisfaction. Other areas include the role restructuring plays in resolving the beneficiary complaints and the impact the restructuring of TRICARE will have on health care delivery to beneficiaries. The summary, recommendations and conclusion will be addressed finally to complete this research paper.

Repression of War Experience

Personification in Siegfried Sassoon’s â€Å"Repression of War Experience† After wartime, soldiers can suffer from not only physical injuries, but from psychological damage as well. They become victims of PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which, according to Medicinenet. com, is â€Å"an emotional illness that develops as a result of a terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise highly unsafe experience. † Considering the horrors that these soldiers are witnesses to, it is no wonder that PTSD can overcome them.In Siegfried Sassoon's poem, â€Å"Repression of War Experience,† Sassoon uses personification to emphasize the psychological damage sustained by soldiers after war. In the first two lines of the poem, Sassoon starts off by painting a rather dismal picture. He begins lighting candles and pauses to watch a moth, which he then describes to the reader. He finds it ridiculous that it flies toward the candle even though it's headed right f or the flame and will end up dying. He expresses this thought by commenting on, â€Å"What silly beggars they are to blunder in, /And scorch their wings with glory, liquid flame† (lines 2-3).Of course, moths are not beggars; they are not poor citizens, but Sassoon uses personification to further develop the moth's behavior. These lines imply that moths beg for their deaths by flying toward the flame of the candle, just as soldiers beg for their deaths by signing up to fight. Moths are drawn to the flame of a candle because of the light, but do not realize that they are headed towards their death. Perhaps soldiers are attracted to war in the same way–they are tempted by the false promise of glory and honor for their country–but unknowingly march toward their own deaths as well.Sassoon links both moth and man by making such comparisons, and suggesting that both end up embracing death. Further along in the poem, and this is a very short part of the poem, indeed, Sa ssoon comments on the rain and asks, â€Å"Why won't it rain? † (line 12). Without warning as to why he does so, Sassoon changes topic and says, â€Å"Books; what a jolly company they are, /Standing so quiet and patient on their shelves† (lines 16-17). One can guess as to why he suddenly goes off about books–he cannot bear any reminders of war, and desperately tries to keep his mind occupied with the things he sees around him.The mentioning of books being a â€Å"jolly company† indicates that Sassoon is alone and perhaps has just a few objects with him in his room. It is strange to address books as though they are people or companions, as if they can carry a conversation. Sassoon then develops this unusual view further by commenting on how the books are â€Å"Dressed in dim brown, and black, and white, and green† (line 18). Perhaps this is another accidental reference to war because it hints at the soldier's camouflage-colored uniforms of green and â€Å"dim brown† but one cannot be sure.In regard to the books â€Å"standing so quiet and patient†; it is true that books can stand on their own, perhaps on a shelf or a desk, but how can they be patient? Books cannot feel anything, nor can they have opinions. This personification suggests that Sassoon's mind is slowly moving away from clear thought and logic, and that war has negatively affected his mental state. Sassoon continues comparing normal everyday sights to living things. He writes that â€Å"in the breathless air outside the house, /The garden waits for something that delays† (lines 26-27). The comment of the â€Å"breathless air† is again, strange.Air cannot be breathless because it does not breathe. Only people and animals breathe air, and without it, they will die within minutes. However, during a war, poison gas is often released into the sky, making it impossible for soldiers to breathe properly. Such attacks were especially common in Wo rld War I, which Sassoon fought in from 1914 to the end of the war in 1918. His line was most likely a reference to the poison-filled air in which no one could breathe. In the last few lines of the poem, Sassoon has failed to completely ignore thoughts of war thus far, for he says that â€Å"You'd never think there was a bloody war going on! (line 34). He abandons all attempts to repress his memories and continues his monologue about â€Å"Those whispering guns–† (line 37). Obviously, guns cannot speak, and strangely, Sassoon writes that they â€Å"whisper† rather than yell or scream.The latter would be more sensible, considering that there are no quiet gun attacks. However, the description of the hushed weapons suggests (even further) that Sassoon is haunted by his memories, perhaps every night, and can never fully forget them. He himself seems to â€Å"lose control of ugly thoughts† (mentioned in line 7, in which Sassoon pities those oldiers who cannot repress their memories) and again, seems unable to distract himself with what he sees around him, as he had done throughout the entire poem until this point. He makes the exclamation of â€Å"O Christ, I want to go out, /And screech at them to stop† (lines 37-38). At this point, Sassoon has indeed lost control of himself and wants to scream at the guns to stop firing. Guns do not fire by themselves, nor can they fight a war without soldiers pointing the guns–Sassoon would have to screech at the soldiers to stop fighting–but this personification of the weapons further emphasize the psychological damage from which he suffers.Personification is a major literary element in â€Å"Repression of War Experience,† and it lets the reader understand just how psychologically wounded Sassoon has become. His comparisons range from moths to books to guns, and he jumps from subject to subject in order to show Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. His various personified objec ts are scattered throughout the poem, and they allow the reader to truly understand how he has suffered from his experience at war.

Cost Calculations – Managerial Accounting

Problem 1 Page 40 a- Cost of goods manufactured = Direct cost + Indirect cost = [Direct Cost of Material + Direct Cost of Labor] + [Indirect Cost of Material + Indirect Cost of Labor + Utilities Overhead] = Total Cost of Material + Total Cost of Labor + Utilities Overhead = 120,000 + 90,000 + 40,000 = $ 250,000 b- Total Cost of Operation = Cost of goods manufactured + Selling, General admin. and expenses. = 250,000 + 60,000 = $ 310,000 c- Prime Cost =Direct Material Cost + Direct Labor Cost 80,000 + 65,000 = $ 145,000 d- Conversion Cost = Direct Labor + Factory Overhead = Direct labor + [Indirect Material + Indirect Labor + Utilities Overhead] = 65,000 + 40,000 +25,000 + 40,000 = $ 170,000 e- Product Cost = Cost of goods manufactured = $ 250,000 f- Period Cost = Selling, general admin. and expenses = $ 60,000 g- Unit Cost = Total Cost of goods manufactured/Number of unit product = $ 250,000/10,000 = $ 25 per unit Problem 2 Page 40 a- Cost of goods manufactured Total Cost of goods put into production + [Difference between Beginning & Ending work-in-process] = [Total Direct Cost + Factory Overhead Cost] + [25,000-10,000] = [Direct Material Cost + Direct Labor Cost + Factory Overhead Cost] + 15,000 = [95,000+110,000+70,000]+15,000 = $ 290,000 b- Cost of goods sold = Cost of goods manufactured + [Difference between Beginning & Ending finished goods inventory] = 290,000 + [(30,000)] = $ 260,000 c- Net Income or Loss = Sales – Cost of goods manufactured – Selling , general admin. and expenses = 300,000 – 260,000 – 75,000 = ($ 35,000) ; Net LossExercise # 1 Page 43 Direct Material Cost = $ 8,000 Indirect Material Cost = $ 2,000 Direct Labor Cost = $ 3,500 Indirect Labor Cost = $ 1,500 Factory Overhead = $ 5,000 Selling Expenses = $ 7,500 General admin. Expenses = $ 8,500 a- Cost of goods manufactured = Total Direct Cost + Total Factory Overhead = Total Direct Cost + [Total Indirect Cost + Factory Overhead for heat, light and power] = 8,000 + 3,500 + 2,000 + 1,500 + 5,000 = $ 20,000 b- Total Cost of Operation = Cost of goods manufactured + Selling, general and admin. expenses = 20,000 + 7,500 + 8,500 = $ 36,000Exercise # 2 Page 43 Direct Material Cost = $ 25,000 Indirect Material Cost = $ 5,000 Direct Labor Cost = $ 30,000 Indirect Labor Cost = $ 4,500 Overhead [excluding indirect material & labor Costs] = $ 15,000 a- Prime Cost = Direct Cost = Direct Material Cost + Direct Labor Cost = 25,000 + 30,000 = $ 55,000 b- Conversion Cost = Direct Labor Cost + Total Overhead Cost = Direct Labor Cost + Indirect Material Cost + indirect Labor Cost + Overhead Cost [excluding indirect material & labor Costs] = 30,000 + 5,000 + 4,500 + 15,000 = $ 54,500 c- Product Cost = Cost of goods manufactured Total Direct Cost + Total Indirect Cost + Overhead Cost[excluding indirect material & labor Costs] = 55,000 + 9,500 + 15,000 = $ 79,500 Exercise # 5 Page 44 75,000 unit/year Beginning work –in- process = 0 Ending work –in- process = 0 Total Cost of goods manufactured = $ 300,000 Number of sold units = 59,000 Number of non sold units = 14,000 Number of loss = 2,000 Beginning finished goods inventory = 0 a- Expenses was for the year; Cost of each unit = $ 300,000/75,000= $ 4 per unit Expenses (Not sold units) = 14,000 * 4 = $ 56,000 b- Loss was incurred for the year; = 2,000 * 4 = $ 8,000 – Assets to be recorded as finished goods inventory was for the year; = 59,000 * 4 = $ 236,000 Problem # 2 Page 47 Beginning work-in-process $ 5,000 Ending work-in-process $ 6,200 Direct material cost $ 8,900 Direct Labor cost $ 10,000 Factory overhead $ 15,000 Beginning finished goods inventory $ 12,000 Ending finished goods inventory $ 22,000 Sales $ 37,500 Selling and general expenses $ 17,000 a- Cost of goods manufactured = Cost of production + [Difference between Beginning & Ending work-in-process] = [Direct Material Cost + Direct Labor Cost + Factory Overhead Cost]+ [(1,200)] = 8,900 + 10,000 + 15,000 + [( 1,200)] $ 22,700 b- Cost of goods sold = Cost of goods manufactured + [Difference between Beginning & Ending finished goods inventory] = 22,700 + 10,000 = $ 32,700 Problem # 4 Page 48 Sales $ 945,000 Beginning work-in-process $ 75,000 Ending work-in-process $ 60,000 Beginning finished goods inventory $ 35,000 Ending finished goods inventory $ 54,000 Direct material cost $ 176,000 Direct Labor cost $ 250,000 Factory overhead $ 237,500 Selling Expenses $ 55,000 General and admin. expenses $ 117,000 a- Cost of goods manufactured Cost of production + [Difference between Beginning & Ending work-in-process] = [Direct Material Cost + Direct Labor Cost + Factory Overhead Cost]+ [15,000] = 176,000 + 250,000 + 237,500 + [15,000] = $ 678,500 b- Cost of goods sold = Cost of goods manufactured + [Difference between Beginning & Ending finished goods inventory] = 678,500 + [(19,000)] = $ 659,500 c- Net Income or Loss = Sales – Cost of goods sold – Selling expenses – General an d admin. expenses = 945,000 – 659,500 – 55,000 – 117,000 = $ 113,500 Net Income

Who I Am as a Teenager

Who am I? This uncertainty has to be one of the most common to go through a teenager’s brain. As a regular teenager, I make mistakes, laugh, cry, smile and love. Every experience in my life good or bad, happy or sad makes me stronger. Each step in my life and each passing moment make me grow into the person I want to be. To understand who I am, I have to talk about things that help to shape my identity like my past, the culture where I come from, the environment where I grow up and my family Our history influences our patriotism and our nationalistic tendencies. As I have been growing up, I notice that my entire background have influenced in who I am. My history helps me to remember where my ancestors came from. By remembering that, I will understand my heritage, more about me, and how I should live my life the best I can. History is not only telling me about how my family’s ancestors lived their lives, but also show me my culture, my tradition, and the way that I think. The family history of everybody marks their past, their present, and their future, because the consequences of the actions remain in time. Our culture influences, to an extent, everything in our lives, from how we are schooled, the morals we are taught and other influences on our lives such as sports we play, foods we eat, clothes we wear, music we listen to and how we feel. All these examples represent my culture. It makes me different and identifies me with my birthplace, and I feel important in this world because of these differences. I was born in a small city in Vietnam, and I did not have any brother or sister. As the only child in my family, I grew up in a very loving, caring and educating family environment. However, grew up in that type of sheltered environment prevented me from seeing the outside world. My only friends were my toys, so when I started pre-school, it was really different for me because there were a lot more kids than I was used to seeing. Since I did not know anyone, I didn’t talk very much. As I grew older and moved through school, I began to have more friends than I did back in pre-school. I was starting to talk more and be more active. I realized that the environment where I grew up had influenced who I am as a person. All this parts of my background make the person that I am. Another aspect of who I am is the hobbies that I enjoy doing. I like to listen to any kind of music except rock and rap. I enjoy playing sports such as soccer, basketball and football with my friends. I also enjoy off-road adventures, and playing with my two three-year old nephews. Another one of my hobbies is reading books especially medical books because I want to be a doctor like my parents. My family is probably the largest reason that makes me who I am today because it decides my personality, bias and character flaws. My dad and my mom are both dentists and although they are busy with their job, they always spend most of the time to take care of me. Being a working housewife, my mom tries very hard to be a good homemaker. She is an adventurous cook, and she is good. Unlike many of my dad’s contemporizes, he is a picture of health and vitality. I admire his dedication to his patients and work. Although my father is a strict disciplinarian, he can be jovial and caring at the same time. When I was sick, my parents would take off work and spend the whole day to pampering me back to health. My dad used to tell me that â€Å"as a human being, everybody made mistakes. Some people would deny to facing it but the smart people would have the courtesy to learn from them and not made them twice. † He also taught me how to be strong. He told me to except things as they happened and moved on. If I spent all day thinking about it, I could miss the things that made me happy. Not only did they teach me good moral values, but they also provided me with examples of good behavior and how to support my family. I was taught that my most important goal in life was to have a good education. My parents used to say that someday they would not be with me anymore, and if I wanted to have an economic independence, I had to have a good education. Then I started to think about that, and I decided to study abroad in America. I knew more friends and got more independent. Through that experience, I had a chance to experience both traditional Vietnamese culture and innovation American culture. I learned how to use my Asian background as a beneficial tool and to see myself as a unique person rather than as a vagrant. I was able to know and learn about each person and their culture; my personality changed from introverted to sociable. Henry Ford once said, â€Å"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. † Each one of us is unique in the way that we interpret the influences on us and decide whether or not to accept these outside interventions in our self-molding. My history, my culture and my family’s environment are the most important parts of my life. They are things that help to shape who I am. I love being me and the person that I am. I am not perfect, and don’t try to be. I go through life with an open mind and take things in as they happen. I am me and that all I can be.