Music in Times of Conflict

Many people think that art, and especially modern popular music, has nothing to do with political and social life of countries. Nevertheless, art has proved that it is a powerful tool in struggle against the evil.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Music in Times of Conflict specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, Glenn Miller, the famous musicians who was killed in during the World War II, made a great contribution which was regarded as â€Å"an important part of the war effort† (Farley). Admittedly, music inspires people to continue struggling and fight for freedom. Bob Marley’s â€Å"War† is one of such songs. It has been inspiring people for more than three decades. The song â€Å"War† first appeared in Bob Marley The Wailers’ album Rastaman Vibration in 1976. This song was addressed to all people in the world, but primarily to Africans who suffered during the apartheid. The ap artheid in South Africa started in 1960s and lasted up to late 1980s (The History of Apartheid). This was a severe conflict between African people and their oppressors. The creation of homelands in the 1950s made Africans â€Å"aliens in their own country† (The History of Apartheid). People were deprived form basic human rights. They were to have passports which restricted their civil rights as well. Many people refused to obey and get passports. The Public Safety Act and the Criminal Amendment Act which were signed in 1953 enabled the government to declare the state of emergency. This, in its turn, enabled the government to imprison people and violate their basic human rights. During this conflict many people were killed and thousands were pursued and imprisoned. Despite the fact that the majority of world population were against the cruelty and unfairness which African population had to suffer from, the conflict lasted for two decades. Of course, many Africans tried to figh t for their rights. There were military conflicts and street fights. However, unfortunately, the parties had unequal forces. This was the major reason why so many civilians were killed, wounded, arrested or imprisoned. Nevertheless, people did not cease to fight and eventually achieved their goals. It is important to state that such songs as â€Å"War† was a great inspiration for people who believed that they were doing the right thing and that they would win. Thus, the song was created in times when the conflict was taking place. At once it became an anthem for many people who condemned cruelty against African population (Lacey). In fact, even nowadays this song is as significant as it was in the distant eighties in such countries as Ethiopia and Jamaica and it is one of the most popular worldwide (Lacey; Sanneh; Farley; French).Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Of course, it reached those it was addressed to. People from all over the world were singing along to every word of the â€Å"War†. People of South Africa were keeping this song in their hearts. This song was aimed at inspiring Africans to struggle for their rights. Of course, the purpose of Bob Marley was not to escalate the conflict, he sang about his position. Marley thought that people should have resisted and continued their struggle. It was not escalation of the conflict, but rather inspiration for oppressed to fight against the evil. Interestingly, the lyrics of the song is largely constituted by the passages from a speech of Haile Selassie I. The speech was delivered at the United Nations General Assembly (1963). The initial lines of the song reveal the major idea: â€Å"Until the philosophy which hold one race superior† †¦ â€Å"Everywhere is war†. Marley points out the core reason of the conflict. He stipulates that racism is the major problem which leads t o conflicts and such severe outcomes as apartheid in South Africa. Interestingly, the song does not explicitly say that people should take weapon and fight. The song only states that the war is everywhere if human rights are violated, if superior nations exist, if â€Å"ignoble and unhappy regimes† that hold people in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa remain ruling. However, such statements which are also warnings become the call for action. Marley’s vocal is really touching and inspiring. His heartfelt performance reveals his feelings. The musician expresses his mourning and hope while singing the famous anthem. It is important to point out that the song has been performed by many people. However, only Marley’s version became the most popular. The song evoked many debates concerning the authorship. Notable, Marley did not right the lyrics. In fact, he only performed the song. Nevertheless, he is regarded to be the creator of the great musical masterpiece of the twentieth century. The song is associated with the glorious apostle of freedom and equality. The song is a great example of reggae music. As far as the texture of the piece is concerned, it is necessary to point out that it is homophonic. Its disjunct melody creates a hypnotic effect. It is very calm and harmonic. It is not characterized by complicated composition. As any other reggae melody the piece is played in 4/4 times. The following instruments are used: Jazz bass, drums, guitar, percussion, keyboards. Percussion serves as the background of a melody and creates the rhythm. Basically, percussion is the basis of the song which prevails. Jazz bass appears in the very beginning of the song and during the chorus. Guitar is not that explicit. The melody and the instruments used in the song are characteristic for reggae songs. As far as composition is concerned it is possible to state that the piece is not unique or innovative.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on M usic in Times of Conflict specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, this melody should be only a background for very important lyrics. It is not about artistic innovations, it is about song which is to evoke thoughts and ideas about rebel, about freedom and justice. Thus, the melody serves the appropriate background for the song. The smooth and peaceful melody enhances the meaning of the lyrics. It is often said that reggae is quite hypnotic, the song in question can be also called hypnotic. Percussion creates definite background and Jazz bass stresses the most important parts of the song. Thus, Bob Marley’s â€Å"War† is one of his most famous songs. It became an anthem for Africans fighting for their right during apartheid in South Africa and the symbol of anti-racist struggle for people worldwide. The peaceful melody and lyrics, evoke, nonetheless, ideas about the necessity to fight. This peculiarity makes the piece s o popular. Basically, the Marley’s â€Å"War† is now regarded as one of those songs which were created during certain conflict but remain the anthem of struggle for future generations. Notable, the song was performed by many musicians and bands, but it became unique only because of Bob Marley. His vocal and his philosophy made the song that strong and meaningful. Works Cited Farley, Christopher John. â€Å"Music During Wartime.† Time, 2001. Web. French, Howard. â€Å"Celebrating Bob Marley, Voice of the Dispossessed.† The New York Times, 1991. Web. Lacey, Marc. â€Å"Reggae Fans Get Up, Stand Up for a Birthday.† The New York Times, 2001. Web. Marley, Bob. â€Å"War.† Song. YouTube, 01 Dec. 2007. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sanneh, Kelefa. â€Å"Pop review; Finding Inspiration In Marley’s Memory.† The New York Times, 2003. Web. â€Å"The History of Apartheid in South Africa.† Stanford Computer Science.  Web. This essay on Music in Times of Conflict was written and submitted by user Giovanny Simpson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Best AP Chemistry Notes to Study With

The Best AP Chemistry Notes to Study With SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips It can be difficult to keep your notes organized throughout the school year, especially in a class that covers so much content. This article will give you links to notes on every topic included in the AP Chemistry curriculum. If you're missing some of your notes, or if you just want a more structured overview of what you need to know for the exam, you've come to the right place! I'll also give you some study tips so that you can use both these notes and the notes you took throughout the year to your best advantage. How to Use These AP Chemistry Notes The notes in this article can be used to study smaller portions of the curriculum or to review for the final AP Chemistry exam.There are six "Big Ideas" (main themes) that organize all the concepts in the course, so I’ve categorized these notes according to that framework.Topics should be listed in roughly the same order as you learned them in class. These notes will provide a ton of background information, but keep in mind that AP Chemistry is less about memorization of facts and more about the ability to apply your knowledge to a variety of experimental scenarios.Reading notes can only get you so far.Practice problems are essential(a point that I will emphasize again later in this article). Take a diagnostic test before you dive into these notes if you plan on using them to review for the full AP test. Based on your results,you can see which areas need the most improvement, and then you can focus on the notes that are most relevant. AP Chemistry Notes These notes come from two different sources, ScienceGeek (which is a site that has a lot of helpful practice exercises as well) and CourseNotes.I wanted to include both sets of notes in case you find one more helpful than the other. CourseNotes is primarily definition-basedwhileScienceGeek is better at actually explaining how to solve different types of problems related to each topic. I've also included a link to a document created by a high school AP Chemistry teacher that goes through all of the concepts in one place. Big Idea 1: The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of matter, and all matter can be understood in terms of arrangement of atoms. These atoms retain their identities in chemical reactions. ScienceGeek: Chemical Foundations Timeline of milestones in the history of chemistry Atomic structure and periodicity Mass spectrometry Spectroscopy Coulomb’s law Atoms, molecules, and ions Naming compounds CourseNotes: Units of measurement Classification of matter Significant figures Atomic theory Inside the atom Terminology for compounds and overall chemical nomenclature Electronic structure of atoms Wave nature of light Line spectra and the Bohr model Wave behavior of matter and quantum mechanics Orbitals and electron configuration Periodic properties of elements Effective nuclear charge and atomic size Ionization energy and electron affinities Metals, nonmetals, and metalloids Big Idea 2: Chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them. ScienceGeek: Chemical bonding Covalent bonding and its relationship to orbitals Liquids and solids Gases (and gas law practice problems) CourseNotes: Chemical bonding Ionic and covalent bonding Electronegativity and dipole moments Lewis structures and VSEPR Bond enthalpy Valence bond theory Molecular orbital theory Gases Gas laws Ideal gas law and partial pressures Kinetic molecular theory and gases Intermolecular forces/phase changes Types of intermolecular forces Phase changes and diagrams Liquids and solids Big Idea 3: Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons. ScienceGeek: Stoichiometry Types of chemical reactions and solution chemistry Half-cell reactions Redox reactions and practice problems CourseNotes: Stoichiometry Chemical reactions and formula weights Moles and empirical formulas Balanced equations and limiting reactants Solution chemistry Aqueous solutions and precipitation reactions Redox reactions Solution concentration and stoichiometry Electrochemistry Oxidation-reduction Voltaic cells Batteries and corrosion Big Idea 4: Rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions. ScienceGeek: Chemical kinetics Rate laws CourseNotes: Chemical kinetics Rate law and reaction order Half-life and the collision model Catalysts and activation energy Big Idea 5: The laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter. ScienceGeek: Chemical equilibrium Equilibrium constants Thermochemistry Spontaneity, entropy, and free energy All about the nucleus CourseNotes: Thermochemistry Energy and thermodynamics Enthalpy Calorimetry Le Chautelier’s principle Chemical thermodynamics Spontaneous reactions and entropy Gibb’s Free Energy Nuclear chemistry Radioactivity and stability Nuclear transmutation and decay Nuclear fission Big Idea 6: Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external perturbations. Science Geek: Properties of solutions Solubility and complex ion equilibria Overall chemistry of acids and bases Acid-base equilibria CourseNotes: Properties of solutions Solution formation Concentration Colligative properties Properties of equilibrium Acid-base equilibria Acids (types, properties) Bases (types, properties) Acid-base relationships and salts Buffers and titrations Common ion effect Buffers Titrations Solubility equilibria Overall Review Document This document was created by an AP Chemistry teacher. It'ssort of like a (long) crib sheet with all the concepts and formulas you need to know in one place! If you want a quick holistic review without going through every individual notes page listed above, you can take a look at this document to remind yourself of the most important concepts for each unit. Ah, the bliss of knowledge. Also, this guy should probably get to the ER immediately. This is what happens when you cram, everyone. Study Strategies for AP Chemistry Notes If you want to use these notes to your full advantage, you shouldn’t just read them all and consider yourself prepared.For chemistry, you need to dig deeper to understand the material fully.Here are some tips to keep in mind: Tip #1: Start at the Beginning If you’re studying for chemistry, you should work your way through concepts in the order of when they show up in the curriculum.You need to master the basics first, or more advanced problems will look like complete gibberish to you.If there are any topics in Big Idea 1 that you don’t feel comfortable with, start your studying with those.Everything else in the course builds on the concepts you learned in the first couple of months! Tip #2: Always Follow Up With Practice Problems Every time you read a set of notes, do a few practice problems to make sure you’ve absorbed the information.Reading through these notes is a waste of time if they don’t provide you with the background information and skills you need to solve relevant problems.If you find that you’re having trouble with practice problems after you read through notes, this should be a red flag that you need to modify your study strategy. Tip #3: Supplement With Other Resources Don’t forget about the notes you took in class, handouts your teacher gave to you, and any other resources you’ve accumulated throughout the year.It’s worthwhile to shop around and see whether certain explanations of concepts resonate more than others.You might decide that videos explaining concepts are more useful to you than notes, or you may choose tobuy a review book that provides more guidance in planning out your studying. Tip #4: Don’t Cram! It’s unwise to cram for AP Chemistry.You need to do plenty of practice problems to feel comfortable with the material, and, if you cram, you won’t be able to spend enough time on this.Don’t pull out your notes the day before the exam and expect to learn everything in one marathon study session.You won’t retain the information, and you’ll be exhausted for the test. Cramming is a lot like trying to hold a huge volume of water back with a really flimsy dam. It's not gonna work out well. Conclusion The notes in this article should help you review all the essential concepts you need to know for the AP Chemistry exam. Make sure you supplement your review with practice tests so you can assess your progress and see where your main strengths and weaknesses lie. Also, keep in mind the tips I went through in the last section: Start at the beginning of the course Follow up your studying with practice problems Supplement these notes with other resources Avoid cramming Keep this article on hand so that you can refer to the notes whenever you want to review specific concepts and/or start your end-of-year cumulative review! What's Next? Do you need notes for additional AP classes besides Chemistry? Check out our articles with notes for AP Psychology, AP Biology, and AP US History. Notes are all well and good, but when do you actually need to start using them to review for the test? Find out how early you should start studying for AP exams if you're aiming for a great score. Have you planned out your schedule for the rest of your time in high school yet? If not, this guide will help you decide which AP classes to take in the future! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Human reproduction system Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human reproduction system - Assignment Example These increase the amount of calcium in the muscle cells which are in turn responsible for the contraction of the uterus. Aside from helping with contractions, the increased levels of this hormone in both mother and child foster feelings of attachment and affection. On the other hand, another hormone prolactin works together with oxytocin during pregnancy to produce and release breast milk, respectively. It increases during labour with the highest level occurring during birth and remaining high as the mother breastfeeds. Beta-endorphin and adrenaline are other hormones that help in child birth. Adrenalin helps in labor as it gives the mother energy to push. It also prevents the rise of oxytocin when the mother feels anxiety, tension or fear during labour. Similarly, beta-endorphin can be considered an innate painkiller and is released when the body feels pain so that natural childbirth and breastfeeding are bearable for the mother. It also helps in releasing prolactin during labour so the mother’s breasts are ready for the new born. (Hormones in Labour 2012) Magon, N and Kalra, S 2011, ‘The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor’, Indian Journal of Endicronology and Metabolism, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. S156-S161. Available from NCBI [September

Martin Luthers Protestant Breakthrough Its Political, Social and Essay

Martin Luthers Protestant Breakthrough Its Political, Social and Economic Impact - Essay Example It was a republication of the gospel. He made the Bible the people's book in church, school, and house (Schaff 7:xxx). As a German monk, theologian, teacher, preacher and university Professor, Martin Luther became not only the Father of Protestant revolution but also a man to reckon with. He even transcripted and transliterated the Greek Bible in common German language. For instance: Luther added the word "alone" to Romans 3:28 controversially so that it read: "thus, we hold, then, that man is justified without the works of the law to do, alone through faith" (Luther http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Bible). Lutheran gospel, and could read a little German, studied it with the greatest avidity as the fountain of all truth. Some committed it to memory, and carried it about in their bosom. In a few months such people deemed themselves so learned that they were not ashamed to dispute about faith and the gospel not only with Catholic laymen, but even with priests and monks and doctors of divinity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther). Martin Luther changed the course of Western civilization through his interpretation of Bible and humanitarian consideration. He did not agree to Roman Catholic Bible especially when the Church was becoming a place to merchandising of religion and rituals in Europe at that time. People started loving Christ instead of fearing. For Martin Luther:A man is abundantly and sufficiently justified by faith inwardly, in his spirit, and so has all that he needs, except insofar as this faith and these riches must grow from day to day even to the future life (Hillerbrand 16). Luther argued that the Bible, not the Pope, was the central means to determine God's word. This was a view that was certain to raise eyebrows in Rome. Also, Luther maintained that justification, or salvation, was granted by faith alone; good works and the sacraments were not necessary in order to be saved (Hillerbrand 20). The protest against the Church was not entirely new. In England, there had been similar protests in the 14th century; although these had been crushed. Luther gained a lot of support for his ideas because many people were unhappy with the Pope and the Church. Martin Luther despite all his sufferings all through his crusade of love for Christ, wrote 95 Theses known as "The Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" in 1517. These Theses further enhanced Lutherism or the protest against unjust claims made by Church officials including the Pope. And thus, emerged the Protestant aspect of the Church, first, in entire Europe and then in the world on a much wider scale. Luther's Protestant beliefs spread like a jungle's fire for they hit the hearts and minds of the people straightway. In spite of vehement criticism, no one could really stop Luther's faith and people oriented assertions and interpretations. The then Pope declared Luther a drunken bugger. It is a well known fact that Pope Leo X3 even ordered a Professor of theology to write and produce a volume against Protestant views of Martin Luther. Yet, the kings and princes and the people of Europe and the world supported and adopted views

590-1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

590-1 - Essay Example According to a report, Philip H. Knight, the CEO of Nike Inc. had felt that the University of Oregon (UO) had â€Å"broken chain of trust† by deciding to join the Workers Right Consortium which opposed the Fair Labor Association (FLA) as supported by Knight. The UO raised a dispute with the support of the student activists and the faculty that the Nike’s products which were sold in the stores of university campus, bearing the university logo apparel were manufactured by not abiding the sweatshop terms and conditions. In this connection it is worthy to mention that ‘Workers Right Consortium’ or WRC is identified as an independent labor rights organization which keeps an eye on and focuses on protecting the rights of the workers those who generally sews apparel and manufactures other products especially those which bears university and college logos being sold in the markets of United States. The FLA is a joint effort of socially responsible companies, colleges, civil society organizations and universities intended to recover the working conditions of the factories operating worldwide. It is a brand accountability system providing the responsibility towards companies for accomplishing the FLA’s labor standards as maintained in the factories which is involved with manufacture of their products. Their mission is to protect the workers and improve the working conditions of the workers globally. Their objective is to end up the sweatshop standards being followed worldwide. FLA’s code of conduct includes; abolition of child labor, discrimination, intimidation of those workers who seeks to organize unions, improving hazardous work conditions, settling payments for over time (Fair Labor Association, 2008). Whereas, WRC being a non-profit organization supervises the manufacturing of university apparel in order to make sure that

Total Quality Management in Higher Education

Total Quality Management in Higher Education Total Quality Management (TQM) has become a frequently used term in discussions concerning quality. TQM is considered to be an important management philosophy, which supports the organizations in their efforts to obtain satisfied customers. However, there exist extensive numbers of examples of failed or badly performed implementation processes of TQM. This is a problematic phenomenon, which negatively affects organizations, irrespective of size, in their development towards excellence and ultimately survival in a competitive environment. Furthermore, diversity among researchers exists regarding the actual benefits of TQM. Total Quality Management (TQM) has been adopted by many organizations worldwide, its implementation in non-profit organizations, such as higher education institutions, presents more challenges and difficulties than those encountered in business organizations. A critical step in TQM implementation is the process of customer identification. In addition to customer identification, there are other issues such as leadership, cultural, and organizational issues that tend to create difficulties for TQM implementation in higher education. In this article it has been tried to bring out a clear status of higher education and emergent needs to enhance the quality of higher education. Globalization of higher educational services has become an area of key focus for many countries. In order to fuel the socio-economic development of the country, higher education is playing a more active role in our country and this requires a paradigm shift in terms of governance and service delivery. These issues along with the role of students from a quality perspective and performance measure for higher education in Pakistan are discussed, and suggestions are made for their resolution. Higher education institutions must become more innovative leading to quality institutions of knowledge production and dissemination. Realizing the importance of higher education, a lot of innovative experiments are being done to improve the performance of this sector. Application of TQM concepts is one of such measures, which will go a long way in revolutionizing the higher education system. The paper attempts to theoretically conceptualize TQM in higher education. BACKGROUND TQM is, compared to other concepts such as quality control or quality assurance, wider since it embraces the whole organization instead of focusing on parts of the product or service. TQM has been acknowledged as an important subject in management theory and practice and has become a frequently used term in discussions concerning quality. The use of TQM among many western organizations has been relatively high during the 1990s, but there exists a diversity of opinion among researchers regarding the actual benefits of TQM. Research results that claim that there exists positive effect on performance can be found in e.g., Allen and Kilmann, for instance, express a more pessimistic view regarding the benefit of TQM investments [3]. INTRODUCTION The application of Deming quality management principles in educational institutions throughout the world as a successful paradigm for school restructuring and reengineering has been widely documented [9]. Multiple positive effects of TQM on increased student achievement tests and teacher made tests, increased student self-esteem, increased teacher morale, and increased parent and community involvement in the institute. Profound knowledge consists of appreciation for a system, knowledge about variation, theory of knowledge, and psychology. Hence, one of the purposes of this article is to study the implementation of TQM in Pakistans higher education. TQM is a management philosophy adopted from industry which has been applied to higher education in many countries throughout the world. TQM, also referred to as continuous quality improvement, is not without controversy and is far from being universally accepted in education. TQM philosophy entails forming quality improvement teams which investigate problems, suggest solutions, and realize quality improvement. TQM strives for continuous quality improvement in organizations. The popularity of TQM, some institutions and companies has found it difficult to implement this program successfully. An examination of the literature suggests that only one-third to one-half of organizations have observed significant improvements through TQM programs [10,11]. This lack of significant success is often not a failure of the TQM concept, but a failure to pay sufficient attention to the cultural and structural variables that influence TQM. Unlike other programs, TQM involves changing the way people interact and work in institutions. As such, it is a context-dependent program, the success of which depends to a large extent on cultural and structural factors. Hence, another purpose of this critical study is to identify the cultural and structural issues involved in implementation of TQM in Pakistans higher education. TQM in the classroom has been successful. The historic role of teacher, lecturer and provider of knowledge has been replaced with a new role: teacher as mentor, facilitator and classroom manager. The goal is no longer simply to impart knowledge to students; teachers and students must design and deploy education together. If students are active participants in the classroom, it is more likely that true learning is really taking place. The study of the Literature suggests to accomplish collaborative learning with technology, new metaphors for teaching e.g. teaching as choreography or teaching as maneuvering must emerge as teachers focus more on structuring the learning and social environment to encourage active participation and group self-reliance in completing team work [2]. The importance of education for the development of excellence, expertise and knowledge leading to overall development in economy cannot be undermined. This has necessitated a sound strategy for the development of higher education in almost all countries of the world. Establishing leadership and educational governance quality in the world is possible only when we have a developed system of higher education in which efficiency and effectiveness remains the sole criterion to evaluate educational, instructional quality and institutional performance. The system of higher education is found efficacious in making available to the society a dedicated, committed, devoted and professionally sound team of legislatures to decide the future of any nation. This is possible only when the principles of quality management are inculcated in the system of education. Total Quality Management (TQM) is inevitably common factor that will shape the strategies of higher educational institutions in their attempt to satisfy various stakeholders including students, parents, industry and society as a whole. The paper is also a theoretical attempt to explain the application of TQM in education. It deals with issues pertaining quality in higher education and moves on to identify variables influencing quality of higher education. Based on the discussed research dimensions and overall purposes, this article focuses mainly on the four concepts TQM, Implementation, Institutional Culture and Change, and Institutional overall performance. Although the aim of this article does not include a formal analysis of these concepts, a general discussion will be held in order to outline the overarching research area within present research. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Total Quality Management Dale, describe TQM as an umbrella of concepts and ideas in various contexts related to the quality field [6]. Furthermore, TQM is described as the mutual cooperation of everyone in an organization and associated business processes, in order to produce products and services which meet, and hopefully exceed the needs and expectations of customers. Oakland describes TQM as an approach to improve competitiveness, efficiency and flexibility for a whole organization [20]. TQM may be defined as an evolving system, consisting of practices, tools, trainings, and methodologies for managing organizations in a rapid evolutionary context. According to the authors, the system provides customer satisfaction and improves the performance of organizations by e.g. eliminating product defects and speeding service delivery. As the definitions of TQM vary, so does the interpretation of the fundamental constituents. Many authors within the TQM area consider values to be elemental for the concept. However, the number of values, as well as the formulation, differs slightly between different authors. For example, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is based on eleven core values and concepts [19]. Furthermore, Sila Ebrahimpour found in their extensive theoretical investigation that the following factors were the most frequently addressed within TQM definitions: (A) Customer focus and satisfaction. (B) Employee training. (C) Leadership and top management commitment. (D) Teamwork. (E) Employee involvement. (F) Continuous improvement and innovation. (G) Quality information and performance measurements. Still, there is a base of values, which seems to be common to most authors, consisting of the six values illustrated in Figure-1 [25]. TQM As A System Some authors have suggested a system approach to the concept of TQM, see e.g. Hellsten Klefsjo, declare that TQM not only consists of values, such as process focus, customer focus or people commitment [13]. The values are supported by techniques, such as process management, customer focused planning, or target-oriented groups, and tools, such as control charts, the quality house or Ishikawa diagrams, see Figure-1. The choice of TQM core values is supported by the findings of Sila Ebrahimpour [25]. Aim: Increase external and internal customer satisfaction with a reduced amount of resources TECHNIQUES Quality Circles Policy Development Self-Assessment Process Management Benchmarking Employee Development Quality Function Deployment TOOLS Ishikawa Diagram Design Matrix ISO 9000 Tree Diagram Control Chats Criteria of MBNQA Process Maps VALUES Top Management Commitment Focus on Processes Improve Continuously Base Decisions on Facts Focus on Customers Let everybody be Committed Figure-1: TQM seen as a continuously evolving management system consisting of values, techniques, and tools. The discussion held by Hellsten Klefsjà ¶ implies that TQM can be defined as a management system that consists of three units, which means a network of dependent units with a joint goal. The three units are the core values, techniques and tools. The goal of TQM is, according to Hellsten Klefsjo, increased customer satisfaction with a reduced amount of resources [13]. This implies that TQM is relevant in all fields of our society, not only in companies but also in health care, educational institutions, defense authorities. Interpretation of the Core Values A strategy for TQM in an organization must be built on the managements continuous commitment to questions concerning quality. According to Bergman and Klefsjà ¶, the management must establish a quality policy and support quality activities economically, morally and by managing resources [4]. But management should also set a good example by actively taking part in the practical work. Successful work towards TQM must be built with the managements continuous involvement as a basis. The core values are important parts of this work. However, the use of core values for managing an organizational change and cultural development is not unquestioned. According to my point view the management can stimulate the individual values by managing resources, supporting quality activities and by systematically working with techniques and tools that support the core values. Top Management Commitment Working with TQM and keeping up the quality improvements demands total commitment of the management [1,5,22]. The management must initiate planning for implementation and participate in the work including evaluation of processes and results. All senior leaders in the organization must create a customer orientation and set clear and visible quality values. The importance of the role of senior managers as advocates, teachers and leaders cannot be overstated. These leaders must serve as role models throughout the organization, thus reinforcing the quality values at all levels in the organization by choosing and applying appropriate techniques and tools. Focus on Customers A central core value in TQM is that all products and processes should always have a customer focus. Quality should be valued by the customers and should always be put in relation to their needs and expectations [20]. This signifies that quality is a relative concept, which, among other things, is set by the market competition. The organizations need to be dedicated to satisfying customers. To focus on the customer means, therefore, that one tries to find out the customers needs and values by conducting market analyses and then trying to fulfill the market expectations while systematically developing and implementing the services. Focusing on the customer does not only apply to the external customers. Every employee has customers within the organization, internal customers, and in order to do a good job their needs also have to be fulfilled. Base Decisions on Facts An important core value in TQM is to make decisions based on facts that are well founded and to not allow random factors to be of decisive importance. This calls attention to the importance of knowledge regarding variation and ability to handle and control variation. The improvement program called Six Sigma, with origins from Motorola in the 1980s, is one approach for considering variation within organizations. The different measurements required to obtain multiple facts can be classified as measurements of customer satisfaction including employee satisfaction, measurements of market position, development process and operating measurements. When the organization receives the described information it is in a position to quickly determine how well it is performing, compare its performance to that of competing or benchmarked organizations, and decide the action that is now convenient. Focus on Processes Much of the work within an organization can be looked upon as a process, which means a repetitive sequence of activities [4]. The goal of the process is to produce services, which should satisfy the customer. The corollary of focusing on processes is that the focus is not on results. Instead the result is the dependent variable. The result comes from whatever process is followed; process drives result. The process generates data that indicates how well the process is satisfying its customers. The process orientation and focus has become even more focused on in the currently dominating improvement program Six Sigma. Continuous Improvement It is not enough for an organization to do better than it did previously. The external demands an organization faces are continuously increasing. Consequently, an organization needs to continually try to improve the quality of its services/products and processes. The continuous improvement of the process leads to customer satisfaction, which results in an external quality improvement. The Deming cycle, or the PDCA-cycle, is a model for process analysis and improvement and serves as a symbol for continuous improvement. The PDCA-cycle consists of the four phases; plan, do, check and act [8]. Everybodys Commitment If the organizations quality strategy should be successful, all of the organizations employees should be engaged in the work of satisfying the customer with a continuously improved quality. Everybodys commitment means that continuous improvement should be practiced everywhere in the processes and that the involvement of all employees at every level should be facilitated. The work is based on the skills and participation of every employee and his or her understanding of what is required. Educating and training all employees provides the knowledge needed on the mission, vision, direction, and strategy of the organization as well as the skills they need to secure quality improvement and resolve problems. Maturity Levels of TQM If we consider TQM as a management system that can be implemented in an organization, we must be able to form an opinion of different levels of adoption to the system. Lascelles Dale describe six different levels of TQM adoption (or lack of it), which they have termed: Uncommitted Drifters Tool-pushers Improvers Award winners World class Figure-2: Levels of TQM adoption. (Lascelles Dale, 1991.) These levels are not necessarily the stages through which organizations pass on their TQM journey; they are characteristics and behaviors which organizations display in relation to TQM (Dale, 1999). The levels described by Lascelles Dale are intended to support organizations in identifying their weaknesses and addressing them, as a part of the continual challenge of continuous improvement throughout the organization [17]. As discussed by Lascelles Dale one level of TQM adoption are quality award winners [17]. Quality awards have been established over the last decades in order to stimulate TQM work and by appointing award recipients honor them for good work. This is used as inspiration for others. Many organizations choose to work towards TQM by means of the award criteria, for instance, by taking part in a quality award process. The types of quality awards extend from international, national, regional, branch-wise and in-company quality awards. An example of an international quality award is the European Quality Award, which was developed in order to sustain business excellence efforts among organizations within a European context. TQM and Organizational Performance Organizational performance is possibly the most widely used dependent variable in organizational research today. However, at the same time it remains one of the most vague and loosely defined constructs. Performance is a multifaceted concept, which can be measured at a organization or system level. While companys performance has its standardized indicators, it is more difficult to select for performance indicators of a system of organization and people. Previous research regarding TQM and performance has covered both soft and hard performance measurements, where hard measurements as accounting variables are in majority. However, one may argue whether financial figures are better at measuring the consequences of yesterdays decisions than they are at indicating tomorrows performance. The importance of soft performance measurements, as the organizations intangible and intellectual aspects, cannot be neglected. Activities may, at times, lead to favorable outcomes on one performance dimension and unfavorable outcomes on another performance dimension. Considering TQM, with its relatively extensive focus on intangible and intellectual aspects, one may argue that a study aiming at linking TQM to performance should include soft measurements. As McAdam Bannister maintain both hard and soft measures of performance are needed within the TQM framework [18]. Logically, the choice of performance measurements relies on the actual interest in what to examine. Furthermore, studying performance development in the context of TQM implementation necessitates a study of the impact of historical management decisions. Consequently, theoretical issues regarding performance and TQM investment will be the point of departure in the forthcoming discussion. One approach to study the relationship between TQM implementation and performance development is to compare quality award recipients with different control companies. However, sometime there was no significant difference between the quality award recipients and control companies during the implementation period. Another approach is to investigate the development of the share price on the stock market for quality award recipients. Implementation and Organizational Change The common standard dictionary definition of the term implementation is plainly to put into effect according to some definite plan or procedure. Based on that definition, implementation can be considered as a deliberate and sequential set of activities directed toward putting a strategy or policy into effect, making it occur. As a consequence one could view implementation as a process of interaction between the settings of goals and actions geared to achieve them. This means that implementation also can be considered as a form of organizational change. The above descriptions discuss implementation as a set of activities or a process. When considering TQM implementation, a definition that implies that implementation is a process of activities seems most suitable. This is due to the fact that the subject in this case, i.e. TQM, is, according to the definition, a thorough management system that includes all parts of the organization, and consequently is a process of activities needed. There must be a starting point when implementing. If no action is started, implementation cannot take place. There must also be an endpoint. Implementation cannot succeed or fail without a goal against which to judge it. Failure to implement may result either from overestimation of what can be accomplished or from underestimation of ability to implement. What Initiates the Change Process The ability for change and renewal is important and necessary in order for the organizations to maintain their long-term efficiency. A condition in this respect is that the change and renewal process brings improvements. Improvements demand changes but all changes do not bring improvements. An important aspect that affects the nature of the change process is the question concerning what factors initiated the change process. In addition to four main causes for strategic change namely environment, business relationships, technology, and people. TQM Implementation in the Organizational Development Context To implement a management system, such as TQM, requires an extensive organizational change, provided that the organization does not unconsciously work according to the system. Organizational Development includes TQM, the Excellence movement, culture management and business process reengineering. As a result, these change initiatives have tended to borrow fragments of the Organizational Development approach. This has had both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, it has made aspects of Organizational Development more widely known. On the negative side it has tended to misunderstand and misapply much of the underpinning theory, methodology and intervention practices of Organizational Development. This has, according to Grieves, often resulted in radical authoritarianism or radical democratized programmed approaches, rather than culturally democratic or pluralistic approaches to change [12]. The Change Process TQM Related Recommendations and Strategies There has been much written concerning implementation of TQM. The books and articles extend from very tangible and detailed descriptions, e.g. Deming, Juran, NIST, [7,14,19]. The theory describes both obstacles for working towards TQM and several strategies for implementing the concept in an organization. The recognition of quality as a strategic issue in business planning is critical for a successful TQM implementation. TQM implementation should be clearly aligned with the organizations strategic priorities and goals and be planned properly [3,15,24]. The planned implementation appears to incorporate many initiatives that address soft aspects, such as team work, employee involvement and culture. Failure of TQM implementation is, according to some authors, not due to flaws in TQM principles but in inadequate systems for executing TQM properly, implying the importance of tangible aspects. However, Saad Siha maintain that the reasons for failure in implementing TQM are mainly due to h ow it is implemented, i.e. the implementation phase [23]. While TQM principles appear obvious, many organizations have found them very difficult to execute, reportedly due to the fact that the implementation is cumbersome, time-consuming, and frequently lacking focus. Some of the resistance to TQM may be understood as typical resistance to any change. This may be more severe if the organization is successful, if there is a particularly deep-seated culture, if there has been a great deal of change already, or if the change lacks legitimacy, education and communication. A well-defined implementation structure and clear resource allocation are therefore essential. Implementation of TQM is a complex process since all employees, starting with top management, need to accept a fundamental organizational change [18,24]. The issue of management commitment is stated as a critical factor for successful TQM implementation [1,20]. The management is not only obliged to be committed in order to change the organization towards TQM, it is also imperative that the management ensures that the employees are permeated with the same quality commitment and managers therefore need to focus on and work with the intangible aspects to a large extent. TQM applications across developed countries reveal that the tangible aspects, such as technology, structure and strategy, have a relatively small impact on TQM effectiveness compared to the largely hidden and intangible aspects such as values, attitudes and perceptions. The use of teamwork during the quality development process is therefore of major importance. Senior managers may begin the task of process alignment by series distinct but clearly overlapping steps. This recommended path develops a self-reinforcing cycle of commitment, communication, and culture change. The order of the steps is important because some of the activities will be inappropriate if started too early. In the introduction of total quality for managing change, timing can be critical. Organizational Structural and Cultural Impacts on TQM Implementation The impacts of the companys culture and structure on TQM implementation is examined through seven building blocks of TQM: management leadership, employee involvement, responsibility for quality at source, elective teamwork and coordination, focus on customer, benchmarking and continuous improvement [9,14]. Management leadership: In companies with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures, managements role is to plan, organize, direct and control employees. This does not match the TQM concept, which suggests that management should lead and create a vision rather than plan, empower rather than direct, and partner and delegate rather than organize and control. TQM philosophy directs management to create a vision that incorporates quality as integral to the business, and to establish policies, practices and structures consistent with that vision [9, 14]. Employee involvement: Since TQM de-emphasizes status distinctions and empowers employees to make decisions and use their own intelligence [9], It is less likely to succeed in organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures that centralize decision-making authority in managerial hands. Organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures, in contrast, show a better fit with TQM practices such as employee involvement, empowerment, teamwork and coordination across functional areas. Responsibility for quality at source: TQM implementation requires employees to identify and diagnose quality problems and take corrective action without going through the management hierarchy [9]. This should be easier to implement in organizations that decentralize decision-making, empower employees and provide employee training in quality control techniques, than in organizations that centralize decision-making and focus on vertical controls. Elective teamwork and coordination: TQM emphasizes horizontal coordination based on flow of work processes across functional areas [9]. Organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures have existing horizontal coordination and communication networks, and should be more successful at implementing TQM compared to the organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures that have mainly vertical coordination and control channels. Focus on customer: Organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures have an internal focus and pay less attention to the organizations interdependence with the environment. This does not match the TQM philosophy of obtaining customer feedback, meeting and exceeding the needs of external as well as internal customers, and blurring boundaries between the organization, suppliers and customers [9]. Benchmarking: The TQM concept of benchmarking industry best practices is more likely to be successful in organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures that consider themselves interdependent with other entities in the environment, and less likely to succeed in organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures that largely ignore what is happening outside their boundaries. Continuous improvement: Organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures focus on permanence, since it increases expectedness which, in turn, increases control. This does not match the TQM emphasis on change and learning through strategies such as benchmarking, employee training, cross-functional teams and experimentation. The `kaizen philosophy of small and continuous improvements finds a better match in organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures. Challenges In TQM Implementation In Higher Educational Institutions: The main focus of the article is to identify and deliberate the critical issues and considerations of TQM implementation in the area of higher education. Critical issues in implementing TQM in higher education include leadership, customer identification, cultural and organizational transformation. Unlike business organizations, chancellors and departmental heads of higher educational institution do not enjoy ultimate authority in hiring and firing of personnel, process of allocation of resources and distribution of responsibilities and authorities. Lack of necessary authority makes it difficult to deploy their concepts, opinions, values and goals through layers of higher education institutions. Deep rooted traditions dating back to centuries, a rigid departmental model, inter departmental competition for resources, lack of market focus are the cultural and organizational reasons that makes it difficult to tune in with TQM transformation. Ambiguity in customer identification also crea tes hurdles in TQM implementation. While most administrators tend to perceive students as customers of faculty in classrooms, many faculty staff resent this metaphor as being too commercial. Without a well-defined customer and a customer focus, quality efforts may be easily diffused. Owlia and Aspinwall concludes that customer orientation is a more problematic principle of TQM when applied to universities because of special nature of many academics whose motivation to work is often independent of market issues [21]. The effectiveness of leadership is adversely affected by individualism among academic staff and due to absence of team working. Impact of TQM in higher education is small due to organizational inert

Essay on Shakespeares Sources for A Midsummer Nights Dream

Shakespeare's Sources for A Midsummer Night's Dream  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most-performed plays: a delightful comedy, but full of enough potential tragedy to avoid becoming saccharine. Much of that tragic possibility comes from Shakespeare's sources, as he directly acknowledges in Act V. The entertainments Philostrate proposes, all stories taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses, show the unhappy endings all too likely to spring from tales like that of the four lovers of Shakespeare's play, or the strife-torn fairy rulers. "The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung / By an Athenian eunuch with the harp" (V.i.44-5) is the first of Philostrate's suggestions, and the most blatant. Centaurs are almost an epitome of the dangerous fairy-world that underlies so much of Shakespeare's play: half-man, half-beast, they recall Bottom's similar, albeit more humorous, condition. Lust and jealousy cause the undoing of the marriage feast, for the Centaurs' theft of women provokes a battle. Thanks to the fairy intervention, all in Shakespeare's play are happy with their spouses: but how might the wedding have been marred if Demetrius and Lysander both still loved Hermia? "These are the forgeries of jealousy" (II.i.81) cries Titania to Oberon, and their contention, likewise a result of lust and jealousy and unbridled nature, luckily enters the play only peripherally. Theseus' law, and fairy medicine, overrules the lusty, animal side of love and prevents such violence from marring, indeed unmaking, the comedy. "The riot of the tipsy Bacchanals, / Tearing the Thracian singer [Orpheus] in their rage" (V.i.48-9) is an alternate selection, but one just as significant. "The mad Ciconian women" (p.259) cry "There is ... ... scene. The meta-drama overcomes the actual play, and what was tragic becomes "tragical mirth," what was a dire warning to heed society's laws or fear the consequences is a gross entertainment and slapstick. Theseus' laws have overcome the bloody, passionate side of love: the man himself appears to have ceased his earlier, youthful amours to settle down with a wife, Hippolyta, vigorous enough to match his own martial nature. Indeed, he discounts the entertainments as those which he has already heard or told -- they are old news to him, settled affairs, and he needs hear of them no more. The only reason "Pyramus and Thisbe" receives a hearing is its odd synopsis -- and equally odd presentation! Shakespeare shows the alternate endings his play could all too easily have taken, to make us relish all the more the happy solution he and the characters have found.   

Religious fundamentalism and terrorism

Religious fundamentalism and terrorism are products of globalization. Discuss. † Following evidence of a revitalization in religious faith throughout the world, and a series of terrorist incidents purportedly motivated by religious fundamentalism, various commentators have argued globalization has ushered in new forms of radical religious belief and expression and a unique form of contemporary terrorism.This essay contends that while various forms of religious belief and terrorism have been present in all human societies where congregation of groups has occurred, religious individualism and the current examples of terrorism are distinctly modern phenomena intimately bound to the processes and consequences of globalization. This essay will examine firstly how globalization has acted as a catalyst for the growth in religious fundamentalism and a resultant rise in religiously Justified violence, and secondly how the unequal experiences of globalization has led to a rise in terrori st activity.Specifically, the notion of a perceived necessity for a reassertion of religiosity as a response to globalization will be examined, particularly as a result of; the nonviolence and clash of beliefs and ideas; forces of secularism; the consequences of modernity and the anxieties associated with social disruption; and the issue of increased power convergence and a resultant increase in general powerlessness will be investigated.Expressions of religion, and political violence have been ever-present in society, and are generally reflective of that particular period of human relations; religious fundamentalism and contemporary terrorism thus, are the extreme expressions of the globalizes world. The notion of globalization is somewhat undefined, it is not altogether new, but is coming increasingly synonymous with the twentieth century. Simply put, globalization is an ongoing trend whereby the world has – in many respects and at a generally accelerating rate – bec ome one relatively borderless social sphere. Specifically the last twenty to thirty years have seen an exponential increase in the speed of globalization and its affects. 3 McGraw defines globalization as â€Å"a historical process involving a fundamental shift or transformation in the spatial scale of human social organization that links distant communities and expands the reach of power elation across regions and continents. â€Å"4 Globalization is then, the trend towards an increasingly interconnected society, with a convergence of cultures, spread of information and ideas.From the technological boom that created commercial air travel, telecommunications and the internet, societies and cultures are more linked and influenced by one another. Jan Intervene Pitters argues that increasing cross- cultural communication, mobility, migration, trade, investment, and tourism all generate awareness of cultural difference, leading to ambiguity and complexity in the orientation of self-id entity. 5 It is this uncertainty that has led commentators to assert that religious fundamentalism and contemporary terrorism are products of globalization.Religious fundamentalism can be broadly defined as a particular form of religious expression. Fundamentalists claim to be the upholders of orthodoxy that is the ‘right' creeds, values and beliefs; they also claim to uphold orthographies that is the ‘right' codes of conduct and behaviors. 6 In terms of the religious community, fundamentalism is distinct from conservatism and traditional belief, and lies to the extreme of religious expression. According to Earthen, â€Å"it is a religious way of being, that manifest itself in a strategy by which beleaguered believers attempt to preserve their distinctive identity as a people or group in the face of modernity and colonization. â€Å"8 Here Earthen contends that in the ever-changing globalizes world, in the face of ambivalence and ambiguity, individuals and groups turn to religion in order to provide a sense of certainty and social identity.For religious fundamentalists, religion itself provides a ready-made package of solutions, they assert their own understanding of these as the key to clarifying humanity mission in life; as the way to explain why things are going wrong in the world; and as a way to empower those who feel powerless and buffeted by the world. It is contended that it is the results of globalization that have pushed many to religious fundamentalism.Terrorism has been present as long as people have congregated in societies, although the term terrorism is considered to most likely have originated around the French Revolution of the 18th century in reference to the reign of terror. Al A universal conceptual definition of terrorism, Lutz and Lutz argue, has never been established and agreed upon, they point to the lack of a common classification in the international sphere as evidence of this. 2 However for the purposes of progress, Be rgsten contends that terrorism can be defined as, â€Å"the premeditated use of violence by a non-state group to obtain a political, religious, or social objective through fear or intimidation directed at a large audience. â€Å"13 Simply, terrorism involves three main factors; first the use or threat of use of violence, secondly it is mimed at achieving a political objective, and third it requires an audience larger than the immediate victims of the violence itself.Significantly, terrorism is a microcosm of the broader society from which it is drawn;14 thus it will constantly mutate and be always unique to a particular time period, however, the present debate surrounds the contention that in the contemporary era, it is globalization that has motivated and shaped the form terrorism has taken.Globalization and the convergence and clash of ideas, information and beliefs intrinsic to it has presented a challenge of plural and parallel claims too single god r belief system, it is argu ed that this process of globalization has pushed many to fundamentalist forms of religious expression, to reassert the ‘correctness'1 5 of their religion. As Featheriness notes, â€Å"the process of globalization leads to the compression of culture. Things formerly held apart are now brought into contact and juxtaposition. 16th experience Featheriness highlights is now common on a global level because of globalization, with the exposure of new ideas, of religion and god being compared to previously held beliefs. Believers of monotheistic religions, such s Islam, Judaism and Christianity all face new and plural claims to their religion, also claiming to possess knowledge of and access to the ‘one true' god, and ‘one true' way to communicate with themed.Karen Armstrong argues that a turn to religious fundamentalism and for some, religiously motivated violence is an attempt to reaffirm their god, religion and particular belief system, and is an attempt to push the un iversal application of their beliefs. 18 Here similar to the response to a confused world, globalization creates challenges to current religious beliefs, this halogen questions the beliefs of many, pushing many to respond.Some Armstrong argues, are motivated to violent expressions of their desire for religious universality, claiming that much contemporary religiously motivated terrorism is a reaction to the awareness of the plurality of religions, a result of the processes of globalization. Furthermore, religions face additional challenges, from a plurality of claims to being the ‘one true' god, religion's risk a relativistic of all claims. Featheriness points out that, â€Å"the spiral of relativism of culture through increased contact, Juxtaposition and lashing, creates many questions about long-held formations of culture. Rehire Featheriness notes that awareness of numerous claims of monotheistic religions to be the sole universal religion risks devaluing all these claims, god may no longer be universal but more culturally or racially specific. Malaise Earthen describes the uncertainty this creates as a â€Å"crisis of faith† and further illustrates it as â€Å"anxieties generated by the thought that there are ways of living and believing other than those deemed by one's group's version of the deity. 20 Similarly to plural claims of monotheistic religions, the challenge posed by a relativistic of religion argues Armstrong,21 pushes many to believe that the reassertion of religious universality is necessary, prompting many to simply restate and attest to their religions universality and superiority by turning to extreme forms of religious fundamentalism, but also is responsible for current trends of religiously motivated terrorism as a response to the largely modern phenomenon that is globalization.The advent of globalization has further tested religion by preaching the spread of secularism and the normalization of religion intrinsic to it. As a response, many believers have been further hardened towards fundamentalist approaches to religion, whilst others have been inspired to violence in order to reassert the importance of religion in the modern secularism world. Malaise Earthen argues that the secularist ideal that religious beliefs should be substituted for scientific evidence and rationality has left no room for religion in mainstream society. 2 The current trend being that religious notions are thought to be somewhat subjective and that more objective and reliable forms of governing society should be used, pushing elision out of the public sphere, and into only the private sector. Gerrymanders suggests that â€Å"fundamentalists oppose secularism; they believe it is the reason for the social and moral decline of society. â€Å"23 Here contending that fundamentalists view secular governance as the enemy of religion, they reject the notion that reason and rationality can provide them meaningful solutions to their s ocial and personal problems.Walter Liqueur discusses this rejection with reference to the Muslim Brotherhood operating in Egypt. 24 Egypt had seen the failure of secular leaders, who industrialists believed were responsible for decisions that uprooted tradition and gambled their culture. The brotherhood believed that they must restore their communities moral compass and pride, here they resisted and rejected claims of the supposed secular government superiority. 25 Similar attacks by Christian groups against abortion clinics and places it sees as homosexual havens, are designed to purify the ills of society and restore its moral fiber.Here secularist forces of globalization have provoked extreme religious responses, as well as many violent expressions of dissatisfaction. Current religiously Justified violence is not solely directed outwards by perpetrators, many see the concessions that many mainstream believers have made as a requirement to participate in the modern globalizes worl d as requiring adjustment. The demands that the contemporary globalizes world places upon the individual in their daily lives are immense and the sacrifice of numerous religious practices is often inevitable.Gerrymanders outlines the problems associated with living a religious life in the modern globalizes world, pointing especially to the stricter interpretations of the major religions as being particularly prone to forced disobedience. 27 Gerrymanders exemplifies his point by pointing to the daily prayer rituals of the major religions and the inability of these to fit within many westernizes occupations, as well as this the requirement to turn-the-other-cheek approach to some of the more liberal elements of society, at odds with many of the major religions. 8 The notion of sacrifice in the globalizes world is not an unknown quantity, all individuals at one time or another have been forced to sacrifice meeting, be it family, friends, business, politics or leisure, religion is no di fferent and it is this point Gerrymanders makes. However, the sacrifices of many mainstream, Jews, Christians and Muslims are viewed as a betrayal and dangerous by more fundamental groups of believers. Rainstorm points to the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Hiawatha Rabin in 1995,29 following actions some fundamentalists viewed as a betrayal to the Jewish homeland.Yell Learner, an outspoken extremist Israeli supported the assassin's actions, arguing that political assassination of Jewish leaders should be supported who were felt to be dangerously irresponsible and were De facto enemies of Judaism. 30 Further, Rainstorm suggests that anger concessions of mainstream religious groups is not limited to Judaism, citing examples of bombings of abortion clinics in America and other Western nations by Christian fundamentalists. 31 A further example is the AAA Qaeda group that has as one if its stated aims the re-establishment of an Islamic state based on the strict Habits teachings. 2 Here the unique demands that the modern globalizes world places upon religious individuals as well as the religion as a whole are immense, provoking some fundamental elements to terrorism to rectify what they see as dangerous. The process of globalization and the increased speed of change it has bought to the daily lives of individuals, communities and nation-states, has led to a form of ‘cultural crisis,'33 that has created constant alteration and consequently instability and unpredictability to the lives of many has pushed a revival of faith to provide stability and predictability to the lives of those affected.Anticipating Banyan's notion of ‘liquid modernity Rainstorm argues that, â€Å"the accelerated dissolution of traditional inks of social and cultural cohesion within and between societies with the current globalization process, combined with the historical legacy, and current conditions of political repression, have all led to an increased sense of fragility , instability and unpredictability for the present and the future. 35 Noting that in the current climate means of defining identity are no longer as conspicuous as they once were, creating a situation where one is dislocated and disengaged from society, unsure as to what beliefs and values are indeed the ones to be believed. Rainstorm further contends hat â€Å"they take refuge in religion, which provides centuries old-ideals by which to determine goals; they find physical or psychological sanctuary against repression. 36 Stating that people turn or return to religion, as religion itself provides a readmes package of solutions, including authority structures and institutions to regulate behavior as well as rules and answers to moral questions, providing something solid and consistent where it previously didn't. Lacquerer summarizes, stating that â€Å"if these are the norms of today, the prospects for tomorrow are bleak, and once again he certainties of their religion, their god a nd their text are appealing. 37 Banyan argues that it is the perceived need of these dislocated people to assert these religious codes and creed onto society for their lives, which pushes some to a point where violence appears appropriate or even preferable as a means of achieving it. 38 It is thus the worldwide experience of dislocation and unpredictability inherent to globalization largely unique to contemporary times that has thrust many to religion as a solution; some perceive a need to use terrorist violence to achieve their aims.Similarly globalization has instituted a situation where many are powerless to affect their own destiny, turning to terrorism as a ‘politics of last resort'. 39 Marty and Appleby argue that through foreign ownership, government amalgamations and the liberation's of social, economic and public sectors, globalization has removed much of the ability of individuals to affect their immediate surroundings. 40 Noting here that the power to control socie ty is increasingly converging into the hands of a few elites and away from the masses, as a result of globalization.Further, Lingers argues that these feelings of hopelessness and desperation are considerably more likely to occur and to a more extreme extent in the more marginal groups within society, specifically minorities and the disadvantaged. 41 Significantly then, those within society who have been traditionally denied political, social and economic rights and control over their lives, are further disenfranchised by the processes of globalization.Armstrong contends that this powerlessness, fuels feelings of firstly hopelessness, and eventually an overwhelming frustration to alter ones lot in life. 42 This ‘solicitation process'43 of increasing frustration ultimately pushes individuals to cross a Violence threshold'. 44 At this point argues Glare rational choice is made that traditional peaceful means of protest and dissent are no longer effective, and violence becomes a ‘politics of last resort'. 5 The inability to control one's destiny as a result of globalization, it is argued has pushed those most drastically affected towards terrorism as a means of remonstration. The experience of globalization is incredibly complex and ambivalent, being unique to every nation, community and individual. Globalization through the removal of space and time, the distribution of knowledge and expertise and a growth in technological development, promises countless benefits, however it is these same developments that have catalysts a growth in religious fundamentalism and politically motivated violence.Significantly the compression of space and time has juxtaposed supposed universal religions against one another, provoking conflict; the notion of secularism and scientific discovery as unsurpassed has motivated a reassertion of religiosity, specifically a more extreme form; further the modern world ND the sacrifices from mainstream forces required to operate wit hin it, have aggravated an extreme and sometimes violent response, and finally, the growth of a powerful global elite, controlling the globe from a distant has resulted in feelings of powerlessness and generated frustration in the more marginal's pockets of the world.Globalization has delivered much progress for society, however the fact that the benefits of this progress are generally unevenly distributed and have disrupted many traditional cultures and beliefs, it has often provoked unforeseen consequences.

Praying Mantis Egg Case

Praying Mantis Egg Case Have you ever found a brown, Styrofoam-like mass on a shrub in your garden? As the leaves begin to fall in autumn, people often find these odd-looking formations on their garden plants and wonder what they are. Many people guess that its a cocoon of some kind. Although this is a sign of insect activity, its not a cocoon. This foamy structure is the egg case of a praying mantis. Soon after mating, a female praying mantis deposits a mass of eggs on a twig or other suitable structure. She may lay just a few dozen eggs or as many as four hundred at one time. Using special accessory glands on her abdomen, the mother mantid then covers her eggs with a frothy substance, which hardens quickly to a consistency similar to Styrofoam. This egg case is called an ootheca. A single female mantid may produce several oothecae (the plural of ootheca) after mating just once. Praying mantids typically lay their eggs in late summer or fall, and the young develop within the ootheca over the winter months. The foamy case insulates the offspring from the cold and provides them with some protection from predators. Tiny mantid nymphs hatch from their eggs while still inside the egg case. Depending on environmental variables and the species, the nymphs may take 3-6 months to emerge from the ootheca. In spring or early summer, the young mantids make their way out of the protective foam case, hungry and ready to hunt other small invertebrates. They immediately begin to disperse in search of food. If you find an ootheca in the fall or winter, you may be tempted to bring it indoors. Be forewarned that the warmth of your home will feel like spring to the baby mantids waiting to emerge! You probably dont want 400 miniature mantids running up your walls. If you do collect an ootheca in the hope of watching it hatch, keep it in your refrigerator to simulate winter temperatures, or better yet, in an unheated shed or detached garage. When spring arrives, you can place the ootheca in a terrarium or box to observe the emergence. But dont keep the young nymphs confined. They emerge in hunting mode and will eat their siblings without hesitation. Let them disperse in your garden, where they will help with pest control. Its usually possible to identify the mantid species by its egg case. If youre interested in identifying mantid egg cases you find, includes photographs of the most common mantid oothecae found in North America. The egg case  shown above is from a Chinese mantid (Tenodera sinensis  sinensis). This species is a native of China and other parts of  Asia but is well-established in North America. Commercial biocontrol suppliers sell Chinese mantid egg cases to gardeners and nurseries who want to use mantids for pest control. Sources Tracks and Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates, by Charley Eiseman and Noah CharneyBugs Rule: An Introduction to the World of Insects, by Whitney Cranshaw and Richard RedakPraying Mantid Care Sheet, Amateur Entomologists Society website. Accessed online September 15, 2014.Ootheca, Amateur Entomologists Society website. Accessed online September 15, 2014.Carolina Mantid Ootheca, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, website. Accessed online September 15, 2014.Ootheca, Museum Victoria website.   Accessed online September 15, 2014.Subspecies Tenodera sinensis sinensis - Chinese Mantis, Bugguide.net. Accessed online September 15, 2014.

buy custom California Prisons essay

buy custom California Prisons essay This paper discusses the various ways in which gangs can be controlled and managed in California. The main issues that have been discussed here include a description of the problem, identification of the main prison gangs and their constitution, cultural framework, organization and its links with street gangs. The causes of prison gangs has been listed and explained in great detail, while investigating the main reasons why this problem needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Additionally, the gang problem is analyzed in great detail in order for a proper understanding of this perennial prison problem to be understood and solutions suggested. An analysis of the prison gang problem is followed by an investigation into what causes this problem. The preventative measures are proposed. The paper also explains wys in which gangs exert control in Californian criminal justice system. This form of control is outlined with special emphasis being directed at the various ways in which the administration and management has had to effect changes in the criminal justice system so as to deal with the street gang problem. It turns out after a careful presentation, analysis and discussion of facts that a multifaceted approach is needed if the administration is to prevent prison gangs wrecking havoc in prisons. The image of a street gangster is part of the American urban social landscape that is often romanticized in popular culture. In California, the gang problem in prisons is very deep-rooted. California prisons are full of gangs that commit assaults and murders across prisons in the state. These gangs are often in rivalry with one another. Some examples of these gangs include The Nuestra Familia, Mexican Mafiaa, Aryan Brotherhood and Black Guerilla Family. The Nuestra Familia are arch enemies with Mexican Mafia. Most of these gangs originate inside prisons, where they have a base that facilitates crimes outside prisons. Traditional prison rackets involving prostitution, drug trafficking, extortion and gambling. For the past decade, the California Department of Corrections has been trying to identify the leaders of different gangs and then isolating them into designated wings. This policy has been rather successful in reducing cases of violence that some years ago had become rampant and uncontrollable. However, members of California gangs are still wrecking havoc through stabbings, murders and assaults within the California prison systems. In addition to this problem, the lock down policy has been raising many liberty issues for a very long time. Buy custom California Prisons essay

Essay 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

2 - Essay Example He shows a burning urge to learn in the beginning. He spends long hours studying. His goal changes when he creates a monster. He failed to realize the implications of having a monster. He invited evil to his door step. The theme of family is illustrated in this theme under Victor’s ambition. Victor thinks parents do not understand. The tragedy would have not occurred if his dad had given reasons not to read Agrippa. Mary Shelley explains in her novel that having a supportive family is a great solution to the problems of the society. However, the nice family in this novel ends up in the middle of the woods exiled in a cottage. Not so good for a family. Victor’s ambition resulted into the death of his mother. However, Victor is exonerated morally from the tragedy responsibility since such happening was not in his control. Walton’s desire to have a friend reflects the urge the monster feels for a mate. In this novel, gender is not an issue: it is about intimacy and closeness, not sex. Frankenstein gives a gratifying â€Å"depiction of family affection.† However, this is not usual in a novel complete with tragedy, murder, and despair. These tragedy, despair, and murder take place due to the absence of connection to either society or family. Isolation is the true evil in this novel. Victor’s ambition resulted into loneliness. When Victor becomes lost in his researches, he isolates himself from the society. He loses responsibility and implication of his actions due to this isolation. Victor’s monster becomes vengeful because of isolation, and not because it is evil. Monster gets filled with overwhelming anger and hate. The monster wants Victor to be lonely the way it is. This results in violence, hatred, and revenge. Through Walton and Victor, Mary Shelley in her novel exhibits human beings as very ambitious, though flawed. The two characters shared a dream to transform the society and bring glory to their families

Cat's Cradle Is An Example of Art with Aesthetic Value Essay

Cat's Cradle Is An Example of Art with Aesthetic Value - Essay Example This is because, the Cats Cradle photo shows the picture of a child entangled in a diamond shaped structure. The child is tied up to the structure by hands and feet. The photo is meant to generate a feeling of lifelessness and imprisonment (Gilmore, 290). There is no way the child in the photo can get out of the entanglement since he is completely tied up to the structure. To qualify as having artistic value, any artwork must wholesomely conquer with that purpose. If for any reason there is some part of the art work that fails to constitutively show the desired purpose, then that part is a defect to the artwork (Gilmore, 293). In the Cats Cradle by Charles White, the whole artwork depicts the same purpose, lifelessness, and imprisonment, without any part indicating any other purpose in contrast to this. Thus, the photo fully achieves it artistic value. The functionality of the artwork is what qualifies its artistic value. The artwork can have several functions to that effect. Since the function of the Cats Cradle by Charles White is to show the lack of freedom of the child entangled in the diamond shaped structure, then the function is well met and supports the artistic value of the photo. The child is seated at the base of the structure. Both legs are widespread and tied up to the edges of the structure. The hands of the child are also tied up and connected to the feet. Considering the nature of the structure that the child in the photo is placed in, there is no way it can get out, since the apex of the structure is narrow and closed up, while the base, which can act as the only exit is used to tie up the child. Therefore, the artistic value portrayed here is that achieving freedom and a new life for the child in the photo is impossible. The intention of the creator of an artwork is what gives it its constitutive function (Lopes, 520). Since the photo Cats Cradle by Charles White is placed in the context of the novel by an American writer, Kurt Vonnegut,