Likewise the conclusion of my research Essay Example for Free

Likewise the conclusion of my research Essay I would like to study and research about Japanese business culture and Japanese way of making decisions, and analyze them. Every country’s business culture has always close relationship with its own culture, so I have to approach from Japanese culture to business culture for clear understanding. Also, I compare and contrast them with Korean business culture and decision processing. The approach would be Japanese business culture from foreigner (who understand Japanese culture)’s point of view, and analyze it if pros and cons exist. To observe Japanese business culture closer, I am willing to join Japanese company through internship or part-time job. These methods will make me experience the culture and decision process. At the same time, I can immerse myself to the organizational culture it promotes and how the management goes about on processes and ideas. Likewise, by reading a lot of case studies, it can help me to define and develop my research. Moreover, I will compare and contrast how Japanese and Korean companies go through this worldwide recession, not by countries’ policy, but by companies own policy. The company’s result and plans to mitigate the current recession will teach me lessons concerning efficiency and effectiveness. As far as communication and interaction is concerned, I will use a lot of observation and interviews with native Japanese people. Therefore, it is important that I enhance my Japanese language skill so that I could communicate profoundly with Japanese business people and understand Japanese culture better. This is essential in my research so I can actively get the needed information that I want. To conclude my research, I shall try to maximize the information gathered in my selected Japanese company and compare it accordingly to my selected Korean company counterpart. I wish to see that there are traits and cultural aspects of Japanese culture that are embedded in its organizational culture. There are specific factors that affect the company to make decisions and strategies accordingly and proved to be successful in addressing the problems and issue. Likewise, the conclusion of my research will highlight the similarities and differences between the organizational cultures of Japan and Korea. Under this framework, there are several traits that shall be given to fully understand how each mindset of such company operates. Lastly, the conclusion seeks to address the limitations of this study and what it has failed to address during the course of interview and analysis.

Origins of the Accumulation of Armaments

Origins of the Accumulation of Armaments Running Head: Contemporary and Historic Origins of the Accumulation of Armaments CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF WHY STATES NEEDS TO ACQUIRE AND ACCCUMULATE THE MEANS OF DESTROYING OTHERS AND WHY SO MUCH CONCERN FOR ARMS CONTROL ROXY AGANIMO PEGGY The issue of arms acquisition has been widely debated among states as well as other interest groups, hence the question, why would anyone need arms? Arms as stated by the United Nations are any forms of military weaponry ranging from tanks, armored vehicles, submarines, aircraft carriers, surface to air missiles, surface to surface missiles, to any form of battleship or gun boat, landmines or sub charges, heavy machine guns or even self-propelled guns[1]. Some may argue that we need arms for one or some of the following reasons: A. For protection- We may need guns and other weapons to help protect our family and other valuable possessions that are stored in our homes. B. For defense- In case of a robbery we may need a gun to defend ourselves and family[2] C. For recreation- Like going hunting or target shooting. How would you feel if you are not allowed to own/do these? But those are on a relatively small scale, why would states (Countries) desire to accumulate the means to destroy o thers? Could it be for fear, recreation, defense or protection? This paper would try to expatiate on the reasons behind arms control, disarmament and most especially how it all started i.e. despite the effective use of armaments, the need for the regulation and usage cannot be far-fetched, hence is acquisition should be curtailed. Politics is the activity in which ‘conflicting’ interest struggles for advantage or dominance, or as other political scientists postulate, the study of influence and influential [the influential being those who get the most of what there is to get][3], one should not be surprised that states struggle to ‘get what there is to get’, whether they be piece of land, or an island or (toys) weapons. Conflicts happens very often, they are basically forms of disagreement, which can be subdivided into 2 groups, a. Conflict of interests such as territorial, economic and governmental issues which undoubtedly are tangible. The theory of Lateral pressure explains why most conflict arises; it states that economic growth of states leads to geographic expansion as they seek natural resources beyond their borders which in turn leads to conflicts and sometimes war[4]. Next is b. Conflict of ideas such as ethical, ideological and religious ideas which are considered intangible elements. Both conflicts however, overlaps in their occurrence. In accordance with the Hobbesian theory of all against all, the international system is structurally a self-help environment i.e. anarchic (a state where there is no global authority to enforce rules) where every state must strive to ensure its own security and survival[5]. This philosophy reflects the Realist view of things- that mankind is not inherently benevolent but rather hostile, self-centered and competitive; states are therefore inherently aggressive (offensive realism- the need to get more power) and/or obsessed with security (defensive realism- the urge to build more weapons in defense from war), and that expansion and amassing of resources is only constrained by opposing powers which in modern time are referred to as the ‘Great powers’. Thus, relations between states are determined by their comparative level of power derived primarily from their military capabilities i.e. military force is relie d upon when implementing the states foreign policies[6]. If one Great Power emerges as dominant, Realist theory predicts that other major and Great Powers will tend to form a coalition or an alliance so as to prevent that power or state from conquering the entire region[7]. Thus the inherent structure of the anarchic system necessitates that states play a game of power politics in which alliances are formed and reformed to maintain this balance. Realists’ philosophy views security as a zero-sum game(a situation where no one benefits/wins), in which only relative gains are possible, major and Great Powers always suspect each other’s intentions, and are endlessly engaged in mortal competition for power[8]. It also sees the need to retain power as a necessity, Morgenthau cited the example of Great Britain’s foreign policy in 1939-1940 against Finland, he stated that the foundation of the policy was not based on any legalistic-moralistic approach but on massive military aid in defense of the soviet aggression that might ha ve backfired on Britain alone[9] Over the years, territorial disputes has been a big issue, places/territories such as Bakassi -disputed by Nigeria and Cameroon, Chagos Archipelago- disputed by the United Kingdom and Mauritius, Ceuta- disputed by Spain and Morocco, the spratly islands- claimed by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan, Kashmir and Jammu region- claimed by the People’s republic of China, India and Pakistan, and a host of many others. Man as quoted from ==== has restless desire for power, so international politics is marked by constant power play which makes cooperation much more difficult[10]. Wars as seen from the Marxist approach are as a result of clashes between capitalist whose interests are to create colonies[11] which are all as a result of economic exploitation and political subjugation of weaker states. There has been behavioral revolution in social science throughout ages, hence the birth of system analysis/theory. Morton Kaplan, a major contributor to the system made mention of international and nation state system which he felt had coherence, regularity hence important in international relations. He also made note of the fact that change was possible, notwithstanding the role of states that is constantly being determined by the international system; dividing the international system into 6 models- the first known as the â€Å"Balance of power† (BOP) system which happened between 1815- 1914[12]. He noted that the system began to falter as major actors were seen in the international system, hence the breakout of the First World War. The treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed afterWorld War Onehad ended in 1918 in the shadow of theRussian Revolutionand other events inRussia. The treaty, which was a prequel to Wilson’s fourteen points of peace to the US co ngress in January 1918[13] was signed on June 28th 1919 at the vast Versailles Palace near Paris hence its title between Germany and the Allies. The three most important politicians there were DavidLloyd Georgeof Britain, Clemenceauof France andWoodrowWilsonof America who after months of argument and negotiations, finally decided what the treaty should contain[14]. It was also referred to as ‘Diktat’- as it was being forced on the Germans who had no choice but to sign it. Although many people in Germany did not want the Treaty signed, the representatives there knew that they had no choice as German was incapable of restarting the war again[15]. Consequently, we can say Germany was disarmed the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons, but in modern day, disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such asnuclear arms. General and Complete Disarmament refers to the removal of all weaponry, including conventional arms. Initially, only the United States possessed atomic weapons, but in 1949 the Soviet Union exploded an atomic bomb and the arms race began –arms race. Both countries continued building more and bigger bombs. In 1952, the United States tested a new and more powerful weapon: the hydrogen bomb. The Soviet Union followed with its own version in 1953.Einstein watched with growing dismay as the two superpowers seemed to move closer and closer to nuclear war. Convinced that the only way to prevent the annihilation of humankind was to prevent all future wars, Einstein spoke out more fervently than ever in favor of international cooperation and disarmament[16]. The first red scare, which happened in America between the years 1919-1920, left the Americas cherished civil liberties threatened as communism claimed to subvert the American society[17]. To strident American anticommunists, the post- World War II Soviet danger lay not only in military aggression, but even more in the limitless prospect of Moscows ideological expansion aimed at world domination. To them the U.S.S.R.s self-assigned leadership of world Communism possessed the power and will to incite and support Communist-led revolutions everywhere, imposing on them its influence, if not its direct control. This presumption assigned to the Soviet Union the unprecedented power to extend its presence over vast distances without military force[18]. US, however carried out the ‘Marshall plan’ which was a financial aid to rebuild Europe’s economy as the fear that Soviet Union would invade Western Europe via provision of aid[19]. An arms race denotes a rapid, competitive increase in the quantity or quality of instruments of military or naval power by rival states in peacetime. What it connotes is a game with a logic of its own. Typically, in popular depictions of arms races, the political calculations that start and regulate the pace of the game remain obscure. As Charles H. Fairbanks, Jr., has noted, â€Å"The strange result is that the activity of theotherside, and not one’s own resources, plans, and motives, becomes the determinant of one’s behavior.† And what constitutes the â€Å"finish line† of the game is the province of assertion, rather than analysis[20]. Many onlookers, and some participants, have claimed that the likelihood of war increases as the accumulation of arms proceeds apace. There is no doubt that the United States and its European allies are primarily concerned with weaponization, they might accept a scenario in which Iran stops short of a nuclear weapon. Israe l, however, has made it clear that it views a significant Iranian enrichment capacity alone as an unacceptable threat. It is possible, then, that a verifiable commitment from Iran to stop short of a weapon could appease major Western powers but leave the Israelis unsatisfied. Israel would be less intimidated by a virtual nuclear weapon than it would be by an actual one and therefore would likely continue its risky efforts at subverting Irans nuclear program through sabotage and assassination which could lead Iran to conclude that a breakout capability is an insufficient deterrent, after all, and that only weaponization can provide it with the security it seeks[21]. Looking at the early forms of arms race, we see that states such as Israel is willing to use force (nuclear arms) to secure its nuclear monopoly in the region against Iraq as at 1981. It did the same to Syria in 2007 and is now considering similar action against Iran. But the very acts that have allowed Israel to maintain its nuclear edge in the short term have prolonged an imbalance that is unsustainable in the long term. Israels proven ability to strike potential nuclear rivals with impunity has inevitably made its enemies anxious to develop the means to prevent Israel from doing so again. Deterrence is the term for such action, In this way, the current tensions are best viewed not as the early stages of a relatively recent Iranian nuclear crisis but rather as the final stages of a decades-long Middle East nuclear crisis that will end only when a balance of military power is restored[22]. We may ask, why is there so much concern for arms control? First, on the 6th of august 1945,US President Harry Truman, during World War II (1939-45),gave others after the testing of bomb made with key materials for nuclear fission–uranium-235 and plutonium (Pu-239)in Mexico; an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed 80,000 people; tens of thousands more would later die of radiation exposure. Three days later, a second B-29 dropped another Atomic-bomb on Nagasaki, killing an estimated 40,000 people. Japan’s Emperor Hirohito announced his country’s unconditional surrender in World War II in a radio address on August 15, citing the devastating power of â€Å"a new and most cruel bomb†[23].In 1961 East Germany built the Berlin Wall separating East from West Berlin. It symbolized the division of Europe by what Winston Ch urchill had called the iron curtain[24]. Despite the hostility of East-West relations during the Cold War, a relatively stable framework of relations emerged, and conflicts never escalated to all-out war. In 1989, the wall fell symbolizing the end of the cold war, while 2007 marked the start of global economic crisis[25]. In contemporary times, we take a closer look at Iran- if it obtains a/the bomb, other states in that region will follow suit, leading to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. But the nuclear age is now almost 70 years old, and so far, fears of proliferation have proved to be unfounded. Properly defined, the term proliferation means a rapid and uncontrolled spread. Nothing like that has occurred; in fact, since 1970 as report states, there has been a marked slowdown in the emergence of nuclear states[26]. Consequently, millions if not billions of dollars were spent on the procurements of their strategic arsenals and nuclear weapons; these monies could have been spent on something more productive instead of the arms race[27]. In summary, Nuclear weapons, ‘Robert McNamara wrote in the September 1983 issue of Foreign Affairs, ‘serve no military purpose whatsoever. They are totally useless except to deter ones opponents from using them. The stark reality of mutual assured destruction, grounded on recognition of nuclear parity, led to an informal nuclear weapon taboo[28] they claim that nuclear weapons are deterrents that prevent the world from breaking out in total war. Researchers are supporting this argument by declaring how nuclear weapons have been keeping peace. However, other researchers and scientists deny the effectiveness of nuclear weapons as deterrents and declare that nuclear weapons will lead the world into total devastation[29]. National Treaty Means (NTM) of verification are individual methods used by individual parties to monitor treaty compliance[30] also the Strategic arms reduction talks (START) as well as some embargos such as Intermediate nuclear forces (INF) agreement, plus negotiations as well as limits on strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (SNDV) and compliance with antiballistic missiles (ABM) as well as non-proliferation treaty has been effective in curtailing the spread of armaments. Bibliography BBC on this day- 1945: US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima. (2005, August). Retrieved March 2014, from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/6/newsid_3602000/3602189.stm Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (2009). (A+E Networks) Retrieved from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki Eimer, M. . (1987, January 23). Verification and arms control. Science New Series, 235(4787), 406-414. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1698322 Ghosh, P. (2009). International Relations. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved March 2014 Joshua, G. S., Jon, P. C., Witworth, S. (2008). Internatonal conflict. In J. S. Goldstein, J. C. Pevehouse, S. Witworth, G. Bennett (Ed.), International relations (2nd ed., pp. 158-250). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Pearson education Canada. Retrieved March 2014 Nuclear arms race- The cold war. (2008). Retrieved March 2014, from American museum of natural history: http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/einstein/peace-and-war/nuclear-arms-race Schiffrin, A. (1997, March April). The Cold War and the University: Towards an Intellectual History. Foreign affairs, 76(2), 147-151. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20047943 Siracusa, J. M. (2009, December). Reflections on the cold war. Australasian Journal of American Studies, 28(2), 1-16. Retrieved March 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41054143 . Smith, S., Baylis, P. O. (2011). Introduction. In J. Baylis, S. S. Owens, The Globalization of the World politics- An Introduction to international relations (5th ed., pp. 4-200). New york: Oxford University press. Retrieved March 2014 Trading arms to terrorist organization. (2012). Retrieved March 2014, from Lawteacher.net: http://www.lawteacher.net/international-law/essays/trading-arms-to-terrorist-organizations-international-law-essay.php Uclari. (2008). International relations theory. Retrieved march 2014, from Rooster teeth: http://roosterteeth.com/forum/viewTopic.php?id=2205392 Waltz, K. N. (2012). Why Iran should get the bomb- Nuclear balancing would mean stabilty. Retrieved March 2014, from Foreign affairs: www.foreignaffairs.com Woodrow wilsons fourteen points. (2013). Retrieved March 2014, from History learning site: www.historylearningsite.co.uk 1 [1]Retrieved from http://www.lawteacher.net/international-law/essays/trading-arms-to-terrorist-organizations-international-law-essay.php [2] http://hotessays.blogspot.ca/2010/12/essay-on-right-to-bear-arms.html [3] Heard, A. (2011). Political Culture and Socialization: The Media and Other Mind Sharpers. In R. Dyck, Studying Politics: An Introduction to Political Science (pp. 6). Toronto: Nelson Education [4] Joshua, G. S., Jon, P. C., Witworth, S. (2008). International conflict. In J. S. Goldstein, J. C. Pevehouse S. Witworth, International relations (2nd ed., pp. 174). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Pearson education Canada. Retrieved March 2014 [5] Uclari. (2008). International relations theory. Retrieved march 2014, from Rooster teeth: http://roosterteeth.com/forum/viewTopic.php?id=2205392 [6] Smith, S., Baylis, P. O. (2011). Introduction. In J. Baylis, S. S. Owens, The Globalization of the World politics- An Introduction to international relations (5th ed., pp. 4). New York: Oxford University press. Retrieved March 2014 [7] Joshua, G. S., Jon, P. C., Witworth, S. (2008). Introduction- The Cold war, 1945-1990. In J. S. Goldstein, J. C. Pevehouse, S. Witworth, G. Bennett (Ed.), International relations (2nd ed., pp. 158-250). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Pearson education Canada. Retrieved March 2014 [8] Smith, S., Baylis, P. O. (2011). Introduction. In J. Baylis, S. S. Owens, The Globalization of the World politics- An Introduction to international relations (5th ed., pp. 4-200). New York: Oxford University press. Retrieved March 2014 [9] Ghosh, P. (2009). International Relations. ( pp.27). PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved March 2014 [10] Smith, S., Baylis, P. O. (2011). Introduction. In J. Baylis, S. S. Owens, The Globalization of the World politics- An Introduction to international relations (5th ed., pp. 4-200). New York: Oxford University press. Retrieved March 2014 [11] Ghosh, P. (2009). International Relations. (pp. 35). PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved March 2014 [12] Ghosh, P. (2009). International Relations. (pp. 35). PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved March 2014 [13]Retrieved from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/woodrow_wilson1.htm [14] http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/woodrow_wilson1.htm [15] Retrieved from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasak [16] Retrieved from http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/einstein/peace-and-war/nuclear-arms-race [17] Siracusa, J. M. (2009, December). Reflections on the cold war. Australasian Journal of American Studies, 28(2), 2. Retrieved March 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41054143 [18] Siracusa, J. M. (2009, December). Reflections on the cold war. Australasian Journal of American Studies, 28(2), 2. Retrieved March 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41054143 [19] Joshua, G. S., Jon, P. C., Witworth, S. (2008). Introduction- The Cold war, 1945-1990. In J. S. Goldstein, J. C. Pevehouse, S. Witworth, G. Bennett (Ed.), International relations (2nd ed., pp. 158-250). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Pearson education Canada. Retrieved March 2014 [20] Uclari. (2008). International relations theory. Retrieved march 2014, from Rooster teeth: http://roosterteeth.com/forum/viewTopic.php?id=2205392 [21] Retrieved from http://www.lawteacher.net/international-law/essays/trading-arms-to-terrorist-organizations-international-law-essay.php#ixzz2wXYbvfUj [22]Retrieved from http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/137731/kenneth-n-waltz/why-iran-should-get-the-bomb [23] http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki [24] Smith, S., Baylis, P. O. (2011). Evolution of International society. In J. Baylis, S. S. Owens, The Globalization of the World politics- An Introduction to international relations (5th ed., pp. 38). New York: Oxford University press. Retrieved March 2014 [25] Smith, S., Baylis, P. O. (2011).International . In J. Baylis, S. S. Owens, The Globalization of the World politics- An Introduction to international relations (5th ed., pp. 63). New York: Oxford University press. Retrieved March 2014 [26] Waltz, K. N. (2012, August). Why Iran should get the bomb- Nuclear balancing would mean stability. Retrieved March 2014, from Foreign affairs: www.foreignaffairs.com [27] Waltz, 2 [28] Siracusa, J. M. (2009, December). Reflections on the cold war. Australasian Journal of American Studies, Vol. 28 (2), pp8. Retrieved March 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41054143 [29]Retrieved from http://www.teenink.com/opinion/current_events_politics/article/466412/The-World-Does-Not-Need-Nuclear-Weapons/ [30] Eimer, M. . (1987, January 23). Verification and arms control. Science New Series, vol.235 No. 4787, pp 406. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1698322

The Image of Fire in Faulkner’s Short Stories, Barn Burning and Shingles for the Lord :: Barn Burning Shingles

The Image of Fire in Faulkner’s Short Stories, Barn Burning and Shingles for the Lord The image of fire was very prominent in Faulkner’s short stories â€Å"Barn Burning† and â€Å"Shingles for the Lord.† Throughout the two stories, fire emerged as a destructive device. The production of fire directly or indirectly destroyed property and the image of the characters, Snopes and Pap. Fire symbolized the character’s deceitful ways and destruction of his identity in society. The fathers present in the two stories possessed deceitful natures. In the story â€Å"Barn Burning,† Snopes’ ill manner erupted into arson. He appeared as the defiant worker. After destroying the landowner’s expensive rug, he refused to pay the ten bushels of corn and burned the landowner’s barn (18-21). His resort to fire symbolized his derogatory ways. Fire was his most destructive tool to facilitate his revenge. In comparison, in â€Å"Shingles for the Lord,† Pap indirectly produced fire. In his misleading plot, he tried to outsmart a fellow worker by removing shingles off the church roof at night. However, the lantern he used for light created a fire in the church (39). His accidental manufacture of fire was a result of his deception toward his fellow worker. Fire was an ultimate consequence of his behavior. Each character used fire as a destructive weapon and ultimately destroyed himself. In â€Å"Barn Burning,† Snopes’ use of fire in the beginning of the story presented him as an outcast. At a trial for arson, the judge told Snopes, â€Å"I can’t find against you, Snopes, but I can give you advice. Leave this country and don’t come back to it† (5). Snopes’ use of arson destroyed his self-image in front of societal figures. He was banished due to his actions. In â€Å"Shingles for the Lord,† Pap’s destruction of the church by fire destroyed society’s perception of him. The use of fire labeled him as an arsonist, a reduced man, and an untrustworthy individual. The preacher, Whitfield, told Pap, â€Å"If there is any pursuit in which you can engage without carrying flood and fire and destruction and death behind you, do it. But not one hand shall you lay to this new house until you have proved to us that you are to be trusted again with the powers and capacities of a man† (41). Pap’s arson destroyed society’s respect for him and labeled him as an outsider among the people. Faulkner’s use of fire signified the father figure’s deceitful ways and the ultimate deconstruction of each father’s presence in society.

Prejudice and Racial Discrimination in America Essay examples -- Socio

     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It has been over 500 years since Columbus sailed the ocean blue and yet the vast majority of that time has been filled with the woes, hatred and oppression of the American white man for his darker skinned brethren. If we take as our assumption that such racially motivated injustice can not be justified and should not persist then we must first understand how such an obvious imbalance came to be and what can and should be done to avert it in the future. Historically hatred was born out of fear and misunderstanding of cultural, religious and physical differences, and the economic necessities of the time. It persisted because of the even greater fear of admitting ones mistakes and the divestiture of power From African Americans when they most needed it. Even today it is diminished but not vanquished as linguistic and educational challenges combine with disagreements amongst those calling for integration to further stall our ability to achieve racial harmony . Hatred is an ancient evil that may yet be conquered through understanding. The place to begin is of course at the beginning, when first the white man came dominate and slander the African man. For our purposes this begins back in the colonial period of America when first the African people were brought across the ocean. Back then it is not unlikely that these people were treated much like any white compelled into indentured servitude (Takaki 53-4). However it seems clear to me that these black men most certainly would have been immediate outsiders, strangers from an "uncivilized" land lacking both English and Christian customs. These men were brought here expecting to be slaves or worse, and in all probability were not prepared for even the slim... ... Allen, Vicki. "Democrats Push Congress to Condemn Bob Jones Univ." Reuters. 29 Feb. 2000: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000229/pl/congress_bobjones_3.html. Asante, Molefi Kete. "Luncheon Keynote Address." Greenberg 17-21. Fafwuna, A. Babs. "Education in the Mother Tongue." Greenberg 22-29. Greenberg, James, ed. "International and Multicultural Perspectives". Beltsville, MD: BelJean Printing, 2000. Orlando Taylor Speech. Videotape. Dir. James Greenberg. Narr. Orlando Taylor. Greenberg Class Video Set, 1990. Steele, Shelby. "Beyond Ebonics." Greenberg 30-31. Sutter, Rita. "When Yesterday's Tradition's are Thankfully Past." Greenberg 38-39. Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror : A History of Multi-Cultural America. New York: Bay Back Books, 1993. Weil, Danny. "Towards a Critical Multicultural Literacy" Greenberg 1-9.

Good or Evil :: essays research papers

Good or Evil? The topic of this journal, is one that has caused much debate for a long time. Are we inherently good or evil at birth, or are we nurtured to be so? Many people believe that we have a natural tendency to be evil. Others think we are born good. To make thing a little bit clearer, I will give my definitions of what â€Å"good† and â€Å"evil† mean in this journal. â€Å"Good† as explained later, means â€Å"obeys rules and ethics of society over several centuries†. â€Å"Evil† means, â€Å"deliberate, or ignorant actions against rules of society†. Personally, I think that we are born impartial to either side, and it is our experiences, and the things that are impressed on us as we grow up. If a person were to grow up with no influences, then they would be pulled to what we see as evil, such as smashing a little RC car because it almost tripped them, which, if we didn’t know it was wrong, we would probably do so also. Another example toward my theory is that if you made two clones, and sent them down two paths, one to a rich family, and the other to a lower class family, at birth these two people are the same, and at death, they are entirely different. They could have been exactly the same, however, because of their upbringing, and experiences, they are entirely different people. An example not unlike my previous one would be my sister and I. We are twins, yet our interests are different, because we have perceived events differently, and we have had different influences in our lives. Even though she is a girl, and I am boy, I still believe if we had had the same experiences each other had, we would balance out to have relatively the same personality. Some people add to the theory I believe in. They say that what I say is true, however, they think that certain things are wired into the brain during creation, so two clones could be the same, (They both are genetically programmed to love a type of animal) but one likes dogs, and the other flying squirrels.

BMW’s Competitive Edge †A Case Study

Premium car makers operate in a highly dynamic and competitive marketplace. BMW is among the companies that have shown a stronghold on global markets that include Europe, US, Asia, and emerging markets in the Middle East. Its history shows instances when it has come under pressure from market forces, but the European carmaker has proven, time and again, that it can spring back and rejoin the race of top industry players. Recent years have even seen BMW appealing to new-generations users opting for winning design standards and quality. Indeed, BMW’s latest car models boast of enhanced performance and dynamics, making the carmaker one of the strongest luxury car contenders that continues to aggressively battle for consumer attention in the contemporary age. BMW’s Competitive Edge – A Case Study Cutting-edge technology, driving pleasure, comfort and luxury are closely associated with luxury cars like BMW, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, and Audi. For the average car buyer, each of these marques commands a strong presence. On the other end of the spectrum are the discerning clientele, whose fierce loyalty to a car brand or high regard for automaking heritage may account for sales volume uptrends. Indeed, premium carmakers, among them German automaker BMW, continually vie for consumer attention and nurture high hopes of hitting record sales despite rising costs related to materials and new model launches. What BMW has in great measure, though, is a sound business strategy that banks not so much on decades of experience and foresight but more on using a coherent theme or image as â€Å"the ultimate driving machine† to utmost advantage. After many false starts in the twenty years after the war,† (Kay, 1999, para. 8) BMW has clearly made â€Å"the match between the distinctive capabilities of the organization and the market opportunities it faces† (Kay, 1999, para. 8). In recent years, the pressure on BMW has been emanating mainly from the persistent threat of substitute products. Notwithstanding its vast experience and â€Å"ability to develop and use sophisticated technical skills†¦ the source of competitive advantage for so many German companies,† (Kay, 1999, para. ) BMW faces the tough possibility that luxury car buyers may opt for alternative brands in the market vis-a-vis the latter’s price offerings. The perceived level of product differentiation is another thing to contend with in the highly competitive luxury automobile industry. What may strike some customers as a refreshing innovation may be totally revolting for others. In most cases, it all boils down to a brand war. A satisfied BWM owner, as personified by the high-level executive of a fast-expanding conglomerate in Asia, cited brand as the most compelling reason to purchase a BMW. â€Å"It’s a good, reliable car† (J. Lucas, personal communication, July 31, 2008). Yet, as another ranking business executive asserted, â€Å"Mercedes Benz is still the best, while Audi is the rising star† (A. Lagmay, personal communication, July 31, 2008). Indeed, consumer tastes and requirements are evolving, and premium car producers who have made sizable investments in automobile design, quality and performance stand to reap some profit. In BMW’s case, solid growth was realized during the first half of 2008, despite testing economic conditions in certain automobile markets across the world (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. ). Today, pressure is mounting with the threat posed by the entry of new competitors. Automobile industry players stepping up price competition had been evident in the first few years of the 21st century, with â€Å"low price or incentives† serving as the â€Å"prevalent means to displace market share from competitors† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 735). To contain the costs, companies like BMW set up production plants in global growth markets. Business cycles fluctuate, though. While the European prestige car maker posted increased sales of its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands by 4. percent from January to June 2008 (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. 1), it was â€Å"not entirely able to avoid the difficult economic trends in important individual markets such as the USA and Japan†¦ global sales slipped 2. 8 per cent in the month of June to 146,138 units† (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. 2). Under its Chief Executive Helmut Panke, BMW has dramatically expanded its product offerings, setting its sights on market segments of the future. However, â€Å"moving into smaller cars meant earning the lower margins that were typical of those market segments† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 41) as compared to mid-size sedans and luxury limousines. As an analyst pointed out, â€Å"Compared with volume producers, BMW’s manufacturing costs are much higher, its product development cost more costly, and its purchasing costs higher† (Edmondson, Palmeri, Grow, & Tierney, 2003, para. 13). In essence, BMW has had to contend not just with the bargaining power of customers, but also with the bargaining power of suppliers which provide the unique resources to sustain its main sources of competitive advantage: brand quality and reputation of reliability. Nowadays, as the intensity of competitive rivalry heats up, BMW’s burning obsession with performance and brand identity or image has aided the firm in closing the widening gap with other luxury cars. BMW’s research and development teams have been caught in a frenzy to maintain competitive edge. â€Å"Development teams that pore over everything from (such) market feedback to innovations are encouraged to engage in `friendly fighting’ to decide the vital characteristics of a new BMW† (Edmondson, et. al, 2003, para. 24). As it faces countless threats and risks, BMW remains poised to prevail and deliver. Among the critical success factors in the high-end market where BMW competes is its design and brand appeal, which had become the customers’ overriding choice features (Lencioni, 2004, p. 741). Effective branding, likewise, created â€Å"emotional connections between customers on one side and products, salesmen, other users on the other† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 736) although this was true not just for BMW but for other luxury marques as well. One thing that worked to BMW’s advantage had been its â€Å"firm control on the supply chain† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 737). BMW nurtured long-running and dependable supplier relationships. Coupled with a highly talented workforce that operated at â€Å"the most flexible and most productive† factories in Germany (Edmondson, et. al, 2003, para. 20) to churn out vehicles with styling variations, unprecedented performance and safety features and individuality, the German carmaker remains a potent force to reckon with in the international automobile industry.

Equality and Diversity Essay

It would be very discouraging for children to be subjected to discriminatory beliefs that are held by either myself or other teachers for example my cousin wanted to be a ballet dancer when he was a child but after teasing from other members of the family suggesting that dancing is only for girls and gay men he did not continue to attend classes. This was something that he regrets as it was a dream of his and now he has grown up he wishes he had been encouraged to dance. By taking any of families or, friends or even my own beliefs in to school is unfair on the children I am there to support. They could be made to feel that if because of their background or who they are means they cannot aspire to be what they want to be so will not reach to achieve their full potential.As with another example my father-in-law is sexist and believes that a woman’s place is in the home cooking, cleaning and looking after the children and if I was to take that to school with me I could treat the girls differently dismissing their work and only encouraging the boys, giving the girls the false idea of they are not good enough. For example: â€Å"Both men and women teachers have low expectations of girls intellectual skills’ since it is thought that girls are inherently less intelligent than boys† (www.right-to-education.org) The support I give the children should be fair and equal in order for every child to feel safe, an equal part of society and that they are worthwhile. Each child should feel that their opinions count and that they have a voice that should be heard, they should not feel excluded or feel that they can exclude any other person because their race, religion, background, sex as this can affect their self-esteem, their confidence and will in turn effect their learning as proved by Jane Elliot in the â€Å"brown eyed-blue eyed experiment† (The Eye of The Storm) in 1968 where the children wearing the collar (to show they were the lesser pupils) took longer than they did the day before when they weren’t wearing the collars in a card pack reading practice. The children had low expectations of themselves and their body language changed (they looked shrunkeninto themselves). To challenge discriminatory behaviour there are many different methods that could be used for different types of discrimination for example if I heard a child being racist, calling each other names such as â€Å"paki† I would go to them straight away and say: â€Å" Excuse me children I heard what you just said why are you calling each other names?†Ã¢â‚¬Å" We don’t use language like that at school how do you think that has made Ron feel?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"What do you think would be right thing to say to him†. It is my responsibility and I am legally obliged as a T.A to challenge any kind of discriminatory behaviour. If there were problems in the playground at lunchtime when the boys were excluding the girls from football at lunchtime I could make changes to the playground so I would have an assembly to explain to the children why they would be having a week plan for the use of the footballing area and it would be as follows: Monday: Girls only netball. Tuesday:Boys only football.Wednesday: Mixed netball.Thursday: Mixed football.Friday: Something completely diffrerent, a team building game to get them working together.After this I would find from them what has worked well and what hasn’t.If children in year7 were sending offensive emails I would use the computer to suite to get them to research the consequences of their actions which they will then present to the class or in assembly. This would give them an insight into how such behaviour can affect the victims, they would also be made to apologise to the person or people they were harassing.| | In conclusion by not discriminating we give every child the same opportunities and support them equally, every child has the same right to an education no matter their background, race, religion, sex or disability. Children will have confidence in who they are and will be more productive in the classroom.| | Excellent and thoughtful answer. This also covers 4.2.5 – just add this at the top of the page. SJ 4.3.13