Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion free essay sample

Thinking about Diversity and Inclusion Jennifer Smith Garman Soc/315 January 31, 2011 Dana Batzka Abstract This paper addresses the many dimensions of cultural diversity. How these dimensions affect which cultural, ethnic, or other groups people identify with, and how these groups affect our social circles. The difference between diversity and inclusion is identified as well as the importance of diversity training within the workplace and how workplace culture is affected by diversity. Thinking about Diversity and Inclusion There are many dimensions of cultural diversity. These dimensions affect which cultural, ethnic, or other groups we identify with as well as our social circles. Inclusion is a way of bringing these culturally diverse people together in a common way. With the use of diversity training, and implementation of workplace diversity policies, workplace culture is positively affected by diversity. Dimensions of Cultural Diversity Harvey and Allard define diversity â€Å"as the ways in which people differ that may affect their organizational experience in terms of performance, motivation, communication, and inclusion† (2009, pg. We will write a custom essay sample on Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ). According to Schaefer, cultural diversity comes from a mix of different groups. Racial groups, religious groups, ethnic groups, gender groups, and cultural patterns. These groups then form subordinate and dominate groups in society (Schaefer, 2011). People tend to self group based on any of the aforementioned groups. For example, people tend to marry within the same racial, ethnic, or religious group. They self segregate in a neighborhood like Chinatown and Little Italy (Schaefer, 2011) because the cultural patterns in that area are similar to their own. As I see it, cultural diversity is the blending of these groups, not to create one homogeneous group, but to work together with different experiences and points of view, to create a better society. The Affect of Cultural Diversity on Social Circles When sitting on my front porch, I can observe how people tend to gravitate toward people like themselves. For example, people consider me as Caucasian because of how I look, but I am of Native American and Hispanic decent. I consider myself to be multiracial. I am Catholic, middle income, and I have an education higher than the high school level. I served in the military for 11 years as well. My neighbors are also Caucasian, Christian, middle income families, who have received education higher than the high school level as well. Many of them are active duty or former military, or work as teachers, firefighters, or nurses. On our cul-de-sac, there is one African American family, and one family of Pacific Islanders, but these families are also middle income, active duty military families, who have received higher education as well. People tend to live and socialize with others similar to them in lifestyle and culture. My friends are very similar to me. Many of my friends are military or former military people. Many are multiracial. Most are Catholic/Christian, but a few are Muslim and Jewish. I think the strongest tie that most of us share is either our military service, or our spouse’s service. The military is a culture in itself. Being in the military is like living in a small town or city. People become a â€Å"family† when they have no family around. They understand each other’s circumstances when those who live outside of the military lifestyle do not. The Difference between Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and inclusion are two different things. According to Harvey and Allard, â€Å"being â€Å"inclusive† means that diverse employees feel that they are vital contributors to the organizational mission, not marginalized or tolerated† (2009, pg. 3). Everyone’s ideas, viewpoints, and skills are put to use to meet the goals of the organization. For example, a company may have a problem with absenteeism because of employees having sick children. An employee, who has previous experience with a company that provided sick hild daycare may suggest a cost- effective way for his current company to implement such a program. In turn, saving the company money, and helping employees to be more productive due to lower absenteeism. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. states that â€Å"diversity refers to the collective (all-inclusive) mixture of differences and similarities along a given dimension† (Harvey Allard, 2011, pg 12). I nclusion, or prejudice, is therefore an outcome of cultural diversity. Diversity is our different races, ethnicities, religions, genders, and cultural patterns; everything that make us all different, yet similar to each other. Diversity can either cause inclusion to occur, or for prejudice to happen. For example, people tend to have preconceived notions about how men and women manage and make decisions in the workplace because of the stereotypes that have been associated with the genders (Harvey Allard, 2011). For example, men are logical and women are emotional, therefore men should be in managerial position, not women. Cultural diversity seems to naturally occur, based on our different upbringings in different areas around the world. Diversity cannot be controlled. Inclusion, on the other hand, is something businesses can control, based on proper workplace diversity training, reviewing of company policies, and learning about the employees within a company. Importance of Workplace Diversity Training Cultural diversity is growing in the workplace. Successful organizations need to recognize the need to invest its resources on managing diversity in the workplace. Cultural diversity has many benefits. Greenberg says that diversity gives the organization increased adaptability, a broader service range, a variety of viewpoints, and more effective execution (2011). When a company has a more diverse group of employees, there will be greater ability to solve problems because of their different cultures and experiences. These companies will appeal to a larger customer base, and will be able to provide better services because of a greater understanding of cultures and languages. Diverse companies will be able to provide services on a â€Å"global level† (Greenberg, 2011). Diversity training is important because there are many challenges to implementing diversity policies. According to Greenberg the challenges to diversity are communication, resistance to change, and implementation of diversity in the workplace (2011). Communication is important because people speak many languages and there may be language barriers that can affect how people understand each other. It is important to ask questions to avoid misinterpretation of anything that was said. A company must let their employees know that it is acceptable to ask questions and that their opinions matter. Resistance to change is common in all environments. There seems to be one person who says â€Å"but we always do it this way. † Sometimes it is good to think outside the box and do things differently. Making broad sweeping changes, though sometimes necessary can foster resistance to the changes. If possible, make changes a little over time, and include all employees in the process because their experiences are what make the company diverse. Implementing cultural diversity in the workplace can be difficult. An organization must create policies that have a strategy for using their employees’ diversity (Greenberg, 2011). Constant review of the organization’s diversity policies is necessary to manage cultural diversity. Asking employees is one way to evaluate how diversity policies are functioning in the workplace. Using a customized employee satisfaction survey can do this for the organization (Greenberg). Diversity training is not enough to ensure a successful company. Diversity training should be used â€Å"as a tool to shape your diversity policies† (Greenberg). The Effects of Diversity in the Workplace Today most companies, including the military, are very diverse. Employees are men and women of all shapes and sizes, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in positions that were traditionally held by White men. Because of diversity, organizations are including more diverse groups in the management and function of their companies. In 2003, I worked for a surgery center that was one of six owned by a large corporation. The center I worked in was the first of the six to have a female registered nurse as the administrator instead of having a male businessman (e. g. accountant, MBA, etc. ) in the position. Our administrator had to work twice as hard to prove herself to her supervisors and her counterparts. In 2011, three of the six administrators are female registered nurses instead of businessmen. Women, and registered nurses, are no longer just a part of the company for patient care purposes. Their understanding of how quality patient care is provided, as well as state and local health codes, make them good choices for administrative positions in the company. Is this change a result of the first female making her mark, or is this the result of cultural diversity in the workplace. I think the later is true rather than the former. I served in the Navy from 1992 to 2003. Affirmative action was still in use in 1992. When I enlisted, I was told that I had a high score on my ASVAB, but that there was not a position available to me at that time. The recruited had said â€Å"too bad you’re not a minority. † I just looked at him, and said that technically, I was a minority because my mother was Mexican. I showed him my birth certificate showing my mother’s maiden name of Cervantes. He immediately submitted my package as a â€Å"high scoring Hispanic female. † I had a position offered to me as a Hospital Corpsman starting training in nine months. Today the military is a group of different races, ethnicities, and cultures. People are in positions based on their scores and skills, not their minority status. However, during my time serving on board a Navy vessel, I observed that many people still self segregate themselves with people of the same race or culture. During working hours, everyone works together to form a cohesive team. During meal hours I observed many African Americans sitting together at the same tables. The same went for the majority of Filipinos, Caucasians, and so on. Being on the ship is like living in a small city. In a city you can have a Chinatown and a Little Italy as well as other neighborhoods based on people’s ethnic and culture backgrounds. The military is very much the same way. People come together in their jobs, to bring the best of their diversity to the workplace, but in the end, return home to what is familiar and comfortable to them. Is this a step backward in regard to cultural diversity, or is it just human nature to stay with what is comfortable to them. I believe that it is the latter rather than the former. Conclusion There are many dimensions of cultural diversity. These dimensions affect which cultural, ethnic, or other groups we identify with as well as our social circles. Inclusion is a way of bringing these culturally diverse people together in a common way. With the use of diversity training, and implementation of workplace diversity policies, workplace culture is positively affected by diversity. Cultural diversity will continue to grow and be an important factor in business, and society, in the future. References Greenberg, J. (2011). Diversity in the workplace: benefits, challenges, and solutions. Retrieved January 30, 2011, from http://www. multiculturaladvantage. com/recruit/diversity/Diversity-in-the-Workplace-Benefits-Challenges-Solutions. asp. Harvey, C. P. Allard, M. J. (2009). Understanding and managing diversity (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Schaefer, R. T. (2011). Racial and ethnic groups (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion free essay sample Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion Christopher Dale Brooks Cultural Diversity Stephanie Medley-Rath July 25, 2011 Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion What are the dimensions of cultural diversity? Identify and briefly explain the dimensions by referencing both textbooks. The dimensions of cultural diversity are racial groups, ethnic groups, religious groups, and gender groups. Age is also a dimension. Minority groups also share the characteristics of experiencing unfair treatment, sharing likes and dislikes, involuntary membership, group solidarity, and marriage within the group. Each group should be dealt with simultaneously. It is important to focus on them all, rather than approach them in pieces. Components may vary, as it is possible to belong to multiple minority groups. Building a connection is just one dimension of diversity. To create a diverse workplace certain things must be met such as motivation, structure, and skills and training. Measurement of progress can be done through a series of evaluations. With what ethnic, cultural, or other groups do you identify? Describe what members of your social circle have in common. We will write a custom essay sample on Thinking About Diversity and Inclusion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I generally stay with my ethnic group of white male Caucasians. Working in the military has given me new insights to other ethnic groups which in turn has helped me to realize that we are all people that need some kind of help. Helping people whether it is personal, some kind of customer service, or just information that’s what I have learned to deal with on a daily basis. As for the members of my circle they are all of different cultures and groups. I tend to see a steady idea of what we all have in common is that we all need someone to talk to. Talking helps us all to release our stress of our day to our comrades who may have ideas to help us cope with whatever may be ailing us. Maybe, we just want to make sure that we are having a good day and that if there is something bothering us, we can help each other too. What is the difference between diversity and inclusion? Diversity can be defined as differences between two people, groups, and minorities. These differences can be as small as your looks, the language you speak, or you ethnicity. Let’s just say that I have a difference with my ethnicity because I am a white Caucasian male, I might hold a higher position in a job that someone else thinks that they are better qualified to apply. Only problem is that because the person running against me is African American, then that’s where it’s in the manager’s hand to be decided. Also, let’s just say that the manager has a biased opinion of me, and because he is African American maybe he will give the job to the African American and strip me of my job. Inclusion is defined as to be included. Minorities today want to be included in society. The minority groups today fight with a lot of passion just so they can make a stand and be heard. Ethnic groups want to be heard just as well in society so that they may have an opinion in the world today. Overall, all people want to do is to be accepted, included, and just a part of this world as the rest of us do too. What is the importance of workplace diversity training? Diversity training provides the knowledge, skills and tools to assist team members for behaving differently. This is important for creating and sustaining change that fosters a more creative, inclusive, respectful and productive workforce and workplace. Inclusion and diversity training must be flexible to meet the demands and schedules of todays active working environments. If these demands are not met then there would be an upheaval in the company. The military does not include this with their basic training. Which in reality, why do they need to include it? It is always about â€Å"one team, one fight. † This idea instills the ability of diversity to help each other through their personal issues and problems. What is your experience with workplace culture? Could there be, or could there have been, more inclusion? In most cases, the workplace could have been more inclusive. The reason I say this is that the military has many things to offer, but there is little room for culture. We do support other cultures with their holidays and special events but to what good are we if we are not fully aware of what their culture entails? I would like to see more support from our military to support other cultures with these events because I think that this would bring about the change in diversity for our military. Not only would it do the military justice, but maybe it could start something world-wide and of national interest too. I have worked in many jobs, and by far inclusion is the one thing that all company’s lack in the long run. I have worked with many cultures who thought that because they were a minority they didn’t have a chance to get to the top of the business. I know this because I saw many people walk away before they even began their climb because they did not think that our society would accept them for the position they could hold. References Harvey, C. P. , ; Allard, M. J. (2009). Understanding and managing diversity (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Schaefer, R. T. (2011). Racial and ethnic groups (12th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Queen Angelfish Facts

Queen Angelfish Facts The queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is one of the most striking fishes found in the western Atlantic coral reefs. Their large flat bodies are of a brilliant blue color with vivid yellow-accented scales and a bright yellow tail. They are often confused with blue angelfish (H. bermudensis), but the queens are distinguished by a navy blue patch located above the eyes at the center of the head, which is freckled with light blue spots and resembles a crown. Fast Facts: Queen Angelfish Scientific Name: Holacanthus ciliaris  Common Names: Queen Angelfish, Angelfish, Golden Angelfish, Queen Angel, Yellow AngelfishBasic Animal Group: FishSize: 12–17.8 inchesWeight: Up to 3.5 poundsLifespan: 15 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Western Atlantic ocean coral reefs, from Bermuda to central BrazilPopulation: UnknownConservation Status: Least Concern Description The body of the queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is highly compressed and its head is blunt and rounded. It has one long dorsal fin along its top, dorsal and anal fins, and a range of between 9–15 spines and soft rays. Blue and queen angelfish look even more alike as juveniles, and the two species can and do interbreed. Researchers believe that the entire population in Bermuda may consist of hybrid blue and queen angels.   On average, queen angelfish grow to around 12 inches in length, but they can grow up to 17.8 inches and weigh up to 3.5 pounds. They have small mouths with slender brush-like teeth in a narrow band that can be protruded outward. Although they are primarily blue and yellow, different regional populations sometimes have different color variations, such as occasional gold coloration, and black and orange blotches. Queen angelfish are of the Perciformes order, the Pomacanthidae family, and the Holacanthus genus.   Colorful Queen Angelfish, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands. Terry Moore / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution A subtropical island species, queen angelfish are found in coral reefs on coasts or surrounding offshore islands. The queen is most abundant in the Caribbean Sea, but can be found in tropical western Atlantic waters ranging from Bermuda to Brazil and from Panama to the Windward Islands. It occurs at depths between 3.5–230 feet below the surface.   The fish do not migrate, but they are most active during the day and are most commonly found near the bottom of coral reef habitats, from the nearshore shallows down to the deepest part of the reef where limited light inhibits coral growth. They are predominantly marine but can adapt to different salinities as needed, which is why the species is often seen in marine aquariums.   Diet and Behavior Queen angelfish are omnivores, and although they prefer sponges, algae, and bryozoans, they also eat jellyfish, corals, plankton, and tunicates. Apart from the courtship period, they are generally observed moving in pairs or singly year-round: some research suggests they are pair-bonded and monogamous.   During the juvenile stage (when they are about 1/2 inch long), queen angelfish larvae set up cleaning stations, where larger fish approach and allow the much smaller angelfish larvae to clean them of ectoparasites. Hawksbill sea turtle swimming over coral reef with stove-pipe sponge and a Queen angelfish, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean. Georgette Douwma / Photographers Choice / Getty Images Plus Reproduction and Offspring   During the winter courtship periods, queen angelfish are found in larger groups known as harems. These pre-spawning groups are typically made up of a ratio of one male to four females, and the males court the females. Males flaunt their pectoral fins and the females respond by swimming upward. The male uses his snout to make contact with her genital area, and then they touch bellies and swim upward together to a depth of about 60 feet, where the male releases sperm and the female releases eggs into the water column.   Females can produce anywhere from 25,000 to 75,000 transparent and buoyant eggs during one evening event; and as many as 10 million per spawning cycle. After spawning, there is no further parental involvement. The eggs are fertilized in the water column and then hatch out within 15–20 hours, as larvae lacking working eyes, fins or gut. The larvae live on yolk sacs for 48 hours, after which they have developed enough to begin feeding on plankton. They grow rapidly and after three to four weeks they reach about one-half inch long when they sink to the bottom and live in coral and finger sponge colonies. Juvenile Queen angelfish Holacanthus ciliaris in the Caribbean. Damocean / iStock / Getty Images Plus Conservation Status   Queen angelfish are classed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They are used as part of the commercial aquarium trade. They are not typically a food fish, in part because they are associated with the phenomenon of ciguatera poisoning which is caused by fish eating other toxic creatures and keeping a reservoir of toxins which may be passed on to human consumers.  Ã‚   Sources Feeley, M. W., O. J. Luiz jr, and N. Zurcher. Colour Morph of a Probable Queen Angelfish . Journal of Fish Biology 74.10 (2009): 2415–21. Holacanthus ciliaris from Dry Tortugas, FloridaPatton, Casey and Cathleen Bester. Queen Angelfish Holacanthus ciliaris. Discover Fishes, Florida Museum.  Pyle, R., R. Myers, L.A. Rocha, and M.T. Craig. Holacanthus ciliaris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: e.T165883A6156566, 2010.  Reis, Fernanda, et al. Diet of the Queen Angelfish Holacanthus Ciliaris (Pomacanthidae) in So Pedro E So Paulo Archipelago, Brazil. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 93.2 (2013): 453-60. Shah, Saara. Holacanthus ciliaris (Queen Angelfish).  The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. University of the West Indies, 2015

Death Penalty in California Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Death Penalty in California - Essay Example The executions also included convictions for piracy, rape, rioting, kidnapping, spying and espionage. The death penalties were also executed by the State Government laws. However, in 1972, the United States Supreme Court upheld that all the state death penalty laws were not in accordance with the constitution since they permitted for random and unpredictable adoptions. (The Federal Death Penalty) Since the federal statute has similar weaknesses as that of the state laws, no death sentence adopting the older federal statutes has been upheld. During the year 1988, the new Federal Death Penalty law was passed for murder in the course of a drug-kingpin conspiracy. This statute has been formulated in consonance with the statutes approved by the Supreme Court after its 1972 ruling. During the year 1994 the federal death penalty was expanded to include about 60 different crimes. The federal death penalty statute has the jurisdiction over any individual in any state or territory of the US convicted of the murder of certain government officials, kidnapping giving rise to death, murder for hire, fatal drive by shootings, sexual abuse crimes giving rise to death, car jacking resulting in death and also some crimes not ending with death such as managing a rampant drug business. (The Federal Death Penalty) In California 13 persons have ... It is also noted that the above 648 prisoners on Death Row include 15 women. It has been observed that in the recent years at least three innocent persons on Death Row were exonerated in California. Jerry Bigelow was set free in the year 1988 after the imprisonment for eight years; Patrick Croy was set free in the year 1990 after the imprisonment for 11 years and Troy Lee Jones was set free in the year 1996 after serving 14 years. (State by State: California) The statistics on death row inmates in different states reveal that Texas, North Carolina and Florida all are having large numbers but in California the number of death row inmates is highest. In California it has been found that imposition of death penalty has been negatively correlated to the richness. The more money the convicted have the more is the opportunity to beat the rap. Taking into the consideration the eleven sentences since the year 1970, it can be presumed that the 640 prisoners on death row most likely have deaths of natural causes costing the tax payers in terms of appeals etc to the tune of 100 millions. Moreover, trusting the government to kill people seems ambiguous since it involves trusting them with not making errors in killing the innocent people. (California: Highest Number of Death Row Inmates) The death penalty in California like that of other states is considered to be costlier in comparison to a life imprisonment sentence without the scope of parole. Such costs have been seen not to be the consequences of the frolicsome appeals but instead the consequence of the Constitutional safeguards. It has been provided that Juries must be accorded clear principles on sentencing that give rise to the explicit provisions for what forms the frustrating and extenuating situations. The

Addressing an Ethical Issue Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Addressing an Ethical Issue - Assignment Example During preparation of food products, it is vital that strong partnership is formed by all the parties in the production process. In this way, it will be possible for the parties to detect any issue that may result to ailment or even fatalities. A major ethical issue that faces Walmart is lack of adherence to food safety. Despite being a company that has diversified product portfolio, Walmart safety arrangements are not being upheld an aspect that is used by the competitors to face off Walmart in the market. The violations that are common in the company include expired food products, lack of proper use of sanitary cleaning equipments, and cross contamination among others. It is vital to note that despite the organization objective to increase the sales, Walmart should not do so at the expense of the consumer’s safety and health. Thus, the company should ensure that it maintains maximum safety for its products. Although it is the role of the management to ensure that the safety measures are followed by the employees among other stakeholders. Workers involved in handling, preparation and storage must ensure that they adopt food safety measures as outlined by the company policies (Unnevehr,  2003). In this way, the company will have put in place effective strategies to prevent their consumers from becoming ill. As indicated by World Trade Organization, firms dealing with food products should emulate four key strategies. First, they should prevent harming food products with pathogens spreading. Secondly, to prevent sullying the cooked products cooked and uncooked sustenance should be separated. Thirdly, a suitable life span with proper temperatures should be accorded during the cooking process to reduce the risks of pathogens. Fourthly, food should be properly stored using appropriate temperatures. A notable decision making model that I will adopt to deal with the issue of food safety is the ethics PLUS decision making model. According to this model, the firm

Deppression in older adults(community) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Deppression in older adults(community) - Essay Example This depression is not only painful for the person who experiences it, but also for the people existing in surroundings of this person. Gone is the time when treatment of this disease was unavailable, now the complete treatment and cure of the disease is accessible throughout the world. Many types of depression can affect the health of older adults. This mental illness changes the way the old people used to perceive feelings about their own selves and about their environment. This depression can affect the person in every walk of life, for minute aspects to the major ones. It induces the negative impacts not only in personal life of the old people but it also influence social, and office lives, as well to a great extent. Depression unlike mood disorders is a permanent feeling that just only gets worse if it goes untreated even for the life of the patient. There is no particular theory about the development of depression however; there are certain factors that can maximize the effects of depression. Researchers (Miller, pp. 11-13) showed that depression is a medical illness that is the effect of certain variations and instability in the chemistry of brain, these brain chemical agents known as neurotransmitters do help in regulation and controlling of moods. One of the most significant types of depression that occurs in older adults is the major depressive disorder. Studies have indicated that every one or two person out of the older adults having age of 65 above suffer from major depressive disorder. It may be possible that the older adults have the first attack of depression in their youth and then it returns back in the older age with greater intensity. There are two major symptoms of this kind of depression; one is the distressed moods and feelings for periods as long as two weeks and the other is the lacking or losing of interest or concern in

The Inheritance Of Sins In Sophocles Antigone English Literature Essay

The Inheritance Of Sins In Sophocles Antigone English Literature Essay Inheritance plays a very dominant role in the peoples lives. In both the books, Antigone written by Sophocles in the late 5th century in ancient Greece and The House Of Spirits written by Isabel Allende in the late 20th century, inheritance of sins form one of the major themes. Antigone is the protagonist of Sophocles Antigone. This play takes place in a society where the gods were highly worshipped. To understand this, it is important to know about Oedipus. Oedipus was a man of quick action and extraordinary insight. But, this habit of his eventually turns against him.He saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and became the king overnight,he murders his own father without knowing it, He marries his own mother Jacosta without realizing it, he stabs his own eyes, and then he himself demands to be exiled. He does all of this without knowing that one day, his curse will also befall on his family. The Greeks believed, that the entire family would be destroyed because of some crime committed by their forefathers because the god send them pain and suffering on order to avenge them. This is brought out in the very opening of the play when Antigone says:My own dear sister, Ismene, of all the sufferings bequeathed by Oedipus, can you think of one that Zeus has not given the two of us in our lifetime?  [1]  .. Antigone is very similar to Oedipus. She begins the play with almost the same characteristics that Oedipus did. But Antigone had one thing Oedipus didnt, she knew her past very well. She was not afraid of the approaching fate of the her life.When a house has been shaken by the gods, The ruin never leaves them, but creeps on Through generations of the family2., The chorus sing of the curse, the sins committed by the forefathers, which can brutally destroy a family, generation by generation.. One generation does not free the next, But a god strikes them down3., Antigones lif e revolves around the sins committed by her father due to which she lost her mother, brothers and finally she is going to lose herself. She is continuously haunted by the distortion that has destroyed her family. But she is aware of the fate that has been fixed for her and she feels that she has nothing to lose. The thrice told doom of my father, the entire destiny has come to us, to the famous children of Labdacus4., this quote signifies the reflection of Antigone on her family curse again. She keeps talking about the many grieves that Oedipus handed down to his children. In her emotional confusion, she sees herself doomed because of the crimes committed by her father that has brought ruin to their family. By the thrice told doom she keeps repeating her future. Through this we come to know that even though the Greeks believed in that the supernatural power will destroy the families, they also believe on the fact that even the humans are responsible for the choice they make. Antigo ne, though not afraid, moans her awaited destiny and is continually haunted by her family past. The girl is the violent child of a violent father5. At this point of the story, Antigone is being irrational and being impulsive. She does not know what she is saying or doing. Now, she is in the same position as her father, Oedipus, was except for the fact that Antigone is in complete control of her fate which Oedipus wasnt . Unlike Antigone, where there was the society that believed in supernatural powers and beliefs, The House of Spirits takes place in a modern society where the ancient beliefs are not mentioned, still . Yet, the inheritance of the sins completely changes the course of the life of Alba.Alba is the granddaughter of Estaban Trueba. Estaban Garcia is the grandson of Estaban Trueba and Pancha Garcia. He pours all his hatred into Alba to take revenge.. This is so because Estaban Garcia wants to take revenge on his grandfatherby torturing his granddaughter. Hehates his grandfather for not acknowledging him as. In the epilogue of this book, we also find out that Alba becomes the narrator  [i]  of the story. The epilogue of the story plays a major role as it is spoken by Alba herself and it helps her realize the reason behind these painful incidents. In The House of the Spirits, Alba suffers significantly because of her past..Estaban Trueba is the most prominent character in this book and he is the only character who stays from the beginning to the very end of the book. From the very beginning of the story, he makes a lots of mistakes without realising that one day it will bounce back at him through Alba. He forbade anyone to talk to him and could not tolerate opposition; he viewed the slightest disagreement as a provocationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the peasants hid their daughters and clenched their fists helplessly because they could not confront him6.. The peasants hated the ways Estaban treated them. He considered the workers and the peasants inferior to himself, so he did not give any importance to them. He was a representative of the conservative attitude. He believed that the peasants do not deserve a share in the wealth of the upper class. Estaban is a person who craves for power, and because of his attitude and the state of the gov ernment at that period of time, he became one of the richest person in the region. He treated the peasants and the lower class people with disrespect without understanding that these mistakes will affect his family too.I am beginning to suspect that nothing that happens is fortuitous, that it all corresponds to a faith laid down before my birth7, realization dawns on Alba that she is not going through all of this because of her fault, in fact she is suffering this pain because of the sins and misdeeds committed by people in her previous generations, especially by her grandfather.Because my revenge would be another part of the same inexorable rite8, Alba decides not to seek for revenge because, the sins committed by her in avenging herself will affect not only her, but also the future generations. She also realizes that this is a chain of events and if it does not stop, will continue forever. Estaban Trueba raped Pancha. And now the same sin is being committed by Estaban Garcia to th e granddaughter of the rapist. Alba has a burning desire to stop this circle of sinful incidents that will cause the future generations to suffer. Due to the suffering she had undergone in the hands of Estaban Garcia, Alba andher grandfather to write their familt story in order to , reclaim the past and overcome the terrors of my own9. By writing this story, both Estaban Trueba and Alba are able to let go of their anger and their yearning to take revenge. In both these books, it is seen that the course of the lives of the characters is determined through the sins committed by their forefathers. In Sophocles Antigone, it is brought out through Antigone. In The House of the Spirits, it is brought out through the youngest living character, Alba. In both these books, these characters realize that their life is shadowed by the sins that their ancestors committed in a very painful way. Antigone is tortured to death while Alba is physically and mentally tortured by Estaban Garcia. In Antigone, it was believed that Antigone suffered because the gods bring ruin to the family that has committed sins whereas in The House of the Spirits, Estaban Garcias desire for avenge became the consequence for the sins committed by the Estaban Trueba.In The House of the Spirits, we also see that the government and the political situation also plays an extremely important role in Albas life. It is because of her grandfathers power than gave rise to so many riv als and it was because of the political situation that Alba was tortured. We see that unlike Antigone, Alba realised that the mistakes she does today will affect her upcoming generations. This is what changes her life forever. Antigone dies whereas Alba lives. Though both these books have different places of origin and different timelines, they depict the same theme through these books. Mans life is truly determined by the sins committed by their ancestors in their previous generations.

Manhood and Heroism in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness :: Heart Darkness essays

Heart of Darkness Essay: Manhood and Heroism Civility, civilization and civilize, are they and could they be man’s defense against the power and mystery of nature and the primal nature of himself? When man lives away from refinement and education and is living in the natural habitat of sea, jungle, and forest, there can be seen a tragedy of a warrior, in the destruction of nature and himself. In "The Heart of Darkness", Joseph Conrad must go on a quest to discover the fire and passion in his male being and ignite the flame in his heart that is the fuel for his will to survive in the earth. The immediate relationship to the Thames River and his merging consciousness with that element, reflect back to him a memory of myth and history of all the archetypes of man and warriors who also as he, was engaged and moving in this famous passage. The sea has parted and has opened all past memory to the strong images that have crystallized before him of his first journey where man and sea began. The sea is a man’s world where he goes through trials and initiations that test his manhood, and why? Is there an obsession in our past history and today with manliness and manpower? Â   If aliens were to study our cultures, they definitely would notice something very strange. It is our social obsession with manhood that is considered a test to be passed, which creates unnecessary arenas of war, and work that links man with the social stresses of protecting, providing and procreating. In "The Heart of Darkness" there is the fear of a man not being man enough. The tragedies of a hero and the hazards of heroism are that the more he fights the enemy, the more he begins to be like the enemy; the more he kills beasts, the more he becomes like a beast.

China Reflection Paper

We traveled by plane, boat, subway, car, bus, and even a let train. The first day was a long day of travel and we landed In Belong around pm. This was my first time ever being do far from and It was an exciting feeling. Our group was all pretty new with each other, but right away we clicked and started making friendships. After we checked into our hotel we went on our first walk. It was a lot different then and any city I have been and I was excited right away. We had a beer while walking down the street (who knew you could do that) and smoked a cigarette with the group.At this point In time I knew nothing about the people and how they loud treat us, but after buying a beer and one walking up to me right away with a bottle opener after seeing me struggling I knew it was going to be a great trip. Not because of the beer although everyone loves beer, but because of how nice everyone was to us that first three hours we were in Beijing. The first couple days were definitely a culture sho ck. Everything was new! Our tour guide was a little hard to understand and it was a lot hotter than expected. On the first full day I was glad I brought a camera with. We went to the heart of Beijing.The Forbidden City. Attainment square, A bike ride through the oldest part of Belling, a Tea ceremony and to top it off we all got foot massages. This one day set the pace for the whole trip and I think got us all over our culture. I wish however that this day would been a little later in the trip so I could of really understood what was going on the whole time. Lisa was easy to understand after the first day and even started cracking a few jokes. Belong was amazing and my most memorable part was the Great Wall of China. The wall was huge to say the least. It took over 1 million people to build.It hard to explain its size without posting pictures. As soon we approached it and got in it I immediately respected the people who built it. Yeah it's a huge wall. A lot of people don't understa nd that the wall is built on top of basically a mountain ridge. It is only oft high, but If a person falls of they are rolling down the mountain side. Also a lot of people Including myself thought It was flat on top almost like a road. I never knew It was more Like a broken escalator. Once we walked and crawled to the end we were daring enough to explore past the part of the wall that still being kept up and tapped foot on the original wall.In my opinion this was the best part it showed the age and strength of it and how it lasted so many years. I never knew the wall was actually a bad thing for the Chinese. It separated China from the rest of the world and they used all of their recourses building It. I think they could of thought of a better way to keep to Mongolia's out with 1,000,000 people. All the wonders of tea and the health benefits certain teas give you. The ceremony is hard to explain, I could repeat it for you some time with my authentic teapot. I liked owe she explained each kind of tea individually and what temperatures they should be served at.I guess I'm not supposed to put green tea in boiling water†¦ Oops. Another one of the cool things we did in Beijing that I don't think I will ever see again is go to the Pearl Market. This wasn't Just any market the market was strictly for knock-off or look alike items. This market really put my bargaining skills to the test. The market was 4 floors of vendors each floor was as big as the Kirby Lounge. They had everything from pearls to statues. Every vendor started at a price and through his market Ryan and I really honed our bargaining skills.Some of the things we did we questionable, but effective. First things first you have to walk away at least twice. And keep walking the first time. They are really persuasive. They all think that we are â€Å"dumb† Americans and don't really know what the price should be. So Just keep saying a lower price and stand firm on the price. They always can go l ower. Sometimes it takes a good 15 minute argument, but it's satisfying knowing you paid the lowest price possible. Another trick we did which kind of upset a few people was elk to multiple venders. Play the â€Å"Over there well she said this price† game.Those weren't the only awesome things we did in Beijing, but if I talked about them it all it would literally take me three days. After Beijing we went to Tannin. Tannin was amazing. We spent 2 weeks there studying business and visiting businesses. I learned a lot about the Chinese culture in those two weeks from the tours, classes and the people we met. Instead of talking about the businesses and classes I would rather talk about the friends I made there. I learned a lot from them and they are the most memorable part. ICC, Iris, Tony, Niles, Jon, Jason, Lisa, and even Terry the club owner were all great people.Miss ICC was great she was out going and bubbly and really help us break the ice with the other Chinese students wh en we were together. She taught us all about the dating life. She was interested in older men because they were more mature and set in life. I feel like this is a common thing over there. She also talked about how marriage is not considered complete until the guy has a house and a car. Iris was very interesting. Her friends called her Superwoman on the account f that she was great at sports. She even took the time to teach Ryan and I few things about tennis.I don't think there is any hope for me in that sport. Tony was an interesting little guy. He taught us about how is China it is really is frowned upon to fail. That is why there aren't a lot of entrepreneurs there. He also helped me order a few times. He was interested in our gun laws compared to his. I never noticed that it was illegal over there to own a firearm. I Just thought of it as a nonchalant thing. He was very intrigued when I was telling him about hunting and the rights we have as Americans. Niles was awesome we got al ong very well. I don't think you ever met him Dry.L', but he was a world traveler from Germany. He wrestled in Minnesota during high school, went to college in France, studied abroad to China where I met him, on his way to south Asia for a month and then to South Africa for his last semester. He taught me a lot about how to communicate effectively with the Chinese. He had decent mandarin, effectively and how to be really respectful to the Chinese. He kind of inspired me to travel a lot more. Life's too short not to travel the world. Little Jon and Lisa were awesome too. They showed us everything and brought us everywhere.They were basically our guides around Tannin. They taught me about how the schooling and grades were actually set up. They explained that it is really hard to get into college, but once you're there it is basically a pass/fail. They took the time to show us around during their finals week which they would have otherwise spent studying. They broke the stereotype that all Chinese students do is spend their time in the library studying and never have any fun.. They even came out with us a few times and let loose, which was awesome to see. Jason did a good Job showing us around the city and explaining things.He let us have enough room to branch out on our own and explore stuff on our own which I think was the best part. It was cool meeting him and his family. I still remember his contagious laugh after he would crack a Joke. Terry the manager of the club still Heehaws me very once in a while Just to see how America is and how life is. He actually seems like a pretty nice person. After we left Tannin it was a sad goodbye, but it was exciting to start traveling again 2 weeks was plenty enough time to spend in the city of Tannin. The next city we went to was Wax. We met our new tour guide there named Joe.He went to school for Tourism and English and was originally from Wax. In Wax we visited the Tiger Hill pagoda which was one of the most beautiful p laces we had visited in my opinion and a Tea pot museum. The pagoda stood 7 stories tall and was built to honor and emperor. The emperor was said to have been buried with 7,000 swords. Wax stands for no more Iron. Wax used to be full of iron and was fought over because of it. It used to be a battle ground because of this precious metal, but once it was gone the city was named Wax Just to make sure no one would come back. It's hard to explain the beauty of all these laces.I guess that's why I took almost 1,000 pictures. The Tea Pot Museum was amazing. I love interesting facts and learning about random things like the teapot. The tea pots in it represented Chinese culture and history. People dedicated their lives to the art of Tea Pot making and we learned about the process of how the pots were made, History of the material, what makes a good quality Pot, and how they should be properly used. I had to buy one. I bought the 2nd lowest grade of pot, but it is the most traditional. It do esn't drip and can be perfectly balanced in water. After Wax we went to Ouzos then Hangout.One was known for its green tea and the other for silk. I had to buy some of both. They made great gifts for my girlfriend.. I could go on and on about the shows, tours and places we went, but I would be writing for over a month. I will have to end my reflection by talking about the food. The food was amazing I had the expectation that I would like it, I never thought I would miss it. In fact I'm pretty sure I gained a few pounds over there from it. Lets start with the breakfast. The breakfasts we had we usually at the hotel, which in America means a few bagels and cold cereal.In China is was pretty awesome most places we went had everything a person could think of and more. One place even had sushi. The breakfasts were pretty Americanizes in my opinion. They had the standard Chinese food a person could get here. The best lunch I had was at the dumpling place you brought us to. That place was amazing I wish Duluth had a place cooked. The dinners were interesting as well. They were all family style around a round table Which I am not used to. Also a big difference is the size of plate a person gets. The Pates in China Are comparable too Tea cup plate.

Invention of the Mirror

Invention of the Mirror Who invented the first mirror?   Humans and our ancestors probably used pools of still water as mirrors for hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. Later, mirrors of polished metal or obsidian (volcanic glass) gave wealthy preeners a more portable view of themselves.   Obsidian mirrors from 6,200 BCE were discovered at Catal Huyuk, the ancient city near modern-day Konya, Turkey.   People in Iran used polished copper mirrors at least as early as 4,000 BCE.   In what is now Iraq, one Sumerian noble-woman from about 2,000 BCE called the Lady of Uruk had a mirror made of pure gold, according to a cuneiform tablet discovered in the ruins of that city.   In the Bible, Isaiah scolds Israelite women who were haughty and walk[ed] with necks outstretched, ogling and mincing as they go...   He warns them that God will do away with all of their finery - and their brass mirrors!  Ã‚   A Chinese source from 673 BCE casually mentions that the queen wore a mirror at her girdle, indicating that this was a well-known technology there, as well.   The earliest mirrors in China were made from polished jade; later examples were made from iron or bronze.   Some scholars suggest that the Chinese acquired mirrors from the nomadic Scythians, who were in contact with Middle Eastern cultures as well, but it seems just as likely that the Chinese invented them independently. But what about the glass mirror we know today?   It also came about surprisingly early. Who was it, then, that made a sheet of glass, backed with metal, into a perfect reflecting surface? As far as we know, the first mirror-makers lived near the city of Sidon, Lebanon, some 2,400 years ago.   Since glass itself likely was invented in Lebanon, its not too surprising that it was the site of the earliest modern mirrors. Unfortunately, we do not know the name of the tinkerer who first came up with this invention. To make a mirror, pre-Christian Lebanese or Phoenicians blew a thin sphere of molten glass into a bubble, and then poured hot lead into the bulb of glass. The lead coated the inside of the glass. When the glass cooled, it was broken and cut into convex pieces of mirror. These early experiments in the art were not flat, so they must have been a bit like fun-house mirrors. (Users noses probably looked enormous!) In addition, early glass was generally somewhat bubbly and discolored. Nonetheless, the images would have been much clearer than those obtained by looking into a sheet of polished copper or bronze. The blown bubbles of glass used were thin, minimizing the impact of the flaws, so these early glass mirrors were a definite improvement over earlier technologies. The Phoenicians were masters of the Mediterranean trade routes, so its no surprise that this wonderful new trade object quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean world and the Middle East.   The Persian emperor Darius the Great, who ruled around 500 BCE, famously surrounded himself with mirrors in his throne room to reflect his glory.   Mirrors were used not only for self-admiration, but also for magical amulets.   After all, theres nothing like a clear glass mirror to repel the evil eye!   Mirrors were commonly thought to reveal an alternate world, in which everything was backward.   Many cultures also believed that mirrors could be portals into supernatural realms.   Historically, when a Jewish person died, his or her family would cover all of the mirrors in the household to prevent the deceased persons soul from being trapped in the mirror.   Mirrors, then, were very useful but also perilous items! For much more information on mirrors, as well as many other interesting topics, see Mark Pendergrasts book Mirror Mirror: A History of the Human Love Affair with Reflection, (Basic Books, 2004).

District six museum essays

District six museum essays The purpose of the District Six Museum is to recreate, preserve and heal the memories of the original inhabitants and their families, so that the precious memories destroyed by apartheid and the Group Areas Act would never be forgotten. It was built to rekindle the good times, and the communities of District Six, do the people who once knew and loved it would never forget it. It is also to show others, what a flourishing community District Six really was before it was destroyed. I think that one of the most important exhibits in this museum is the 75 authentic street signs that are suspended off three ladder columns. I think that this is important because it revives the memories of the good times, the old inhabitants can remember what was situated in each street, what they did and what their purpose was. Another significant exhibit is the plastic floor map, which displays a map of the whole of District Six, including street names and buildings. People have had a chance to reclaim their property in District Six by writing their names and details on the maps, in the exact place where they used to live. This helps others understand what it was like to live in District Six. How the community was so diverse, yet so close. How the community functioned on a whole and who lived where. In conclusion, I would like to say that the Distinct Six museum was very educational and moving at the same time. It touched my heart when we heard a first-hand account of what it was like to live in District Six and then to have your house destroyed in front of your very eyes. It educates national and international visitors with its intricate and detailed exhibits which are impeccably preserved. It gives you so much information about its successful community and the devastation of the destruction, that it makes you wonder how heartbreaking it must have been. To have seen it all destroyed, and knowing deep down that there was n ...

MRP5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MRP5 - Essay Example All countries have a duty to ensure protection of the rights of its citizens. The research design to be applied in this study is survey research which will provide thoughts, feelings and opinions of various sources that will further be used for in-depth analysis. This approach will have incorporate various groups of people with divergent views and background. The method is made of predetermined set of questions that will be presented to the target groups and organizations. Surveys attracts a number of advantages in their use such as being cost-effective, easy administration, can be developed and analyzed within a short period of time as opposed to other research design methods. The method allows collection of data from a large number of correspondents. It offers a higher degree of flexibility in the analysis of data and making conclusions that are not rigid. With the use of survey software, various statistical techniques can be used to analyze data so as to determine their reliability, validity, as well as their statistical significance. The background of this research is based on the need to identify various means of protecting the rights of individuals in the South East Asia. This region has been marked by increasing cases of abuse of human rights. The abuses ranges from denial of freedom of worship and association. People are restricted in relation to ownership of property and wealth creation. Increased cases of corruption which leads to unequal distribution of wealth is another factor of human rights violation. The population to be considered in this research will be drawn from the major cities in South East Asia in some selected countries such as India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand. Random interviews will be conducted in the streets and low-class estates. The research will also seek to interview humanitarian organizations and civil rights movements. Final interviews will be

Case 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case 2 - Essay Example Eric wanted to avoid a repeat of what had happened in Mexico and China, where projects that were initially planned to take a short time to do ended up taking a lot more time. This was especially the case in India, where a research assignment that was initially planned to take a total of eighteen months, ended up taking three years instead. This was mainly due to company employees like Fred. Fred was unwilling to train the locals and hand over some of the duties and responsibilities to them. The company employees had also shown a tendency of being unable to work effectively, with the district and federal regulations in the various countries that they had been sent to. This created a situation where they ended up taking more time on their various jobs. Eric should tell the HR Vice President all the problems that the company keeps on facing each time they send out expatriates to new countries. This should be done when they have their company meeting. This will help show the seriousness of the matter, especially now that they want to expand into China. China promises to be a more challenging environment and market as compared to all the other countries that the company has set up operations. To drive the point home, he can use the example of Fred Banks to further help make the point more clear. He should also suggest to them the need of creating a more intensive and complete training program for the company employees who were being sent overseas. This would be a total change of the current system. The current system is raising concerns for its not being effective and is being seen by the top management, as a series of â€Å" tell and sell† sessions with no meaningful exchange of insights or even ideas. The program should also learn from the problems facing the current program, where most people did not go through all the sessions. The company should make it a must for everyone undertaking the program to attend all the sessions. Eric should