“Bring Back Flogging” Response Paper Essay

In Jeff Jacoby’s essay, â€Å"Bring Back Flogging,† he strongly reveals his opinions and beliefs on corporal punishment. Jacoby illustrates the use of verbal irony and sarcasm. He applies verbal irony and sarcasm in such a way that by reading what is written is easily understood to interpret what he really means. Jacoby describes what flogging is, how it was helpful, and argues that flogging needs to be brought back to our society. After reading Jacoby’s argument for bringing back the harsh beating and whipping, called flogging, I see that flogging would be helpful if it is brought back. Flogging is exercising the practice of brutal beatings and whippings. Flogging has been practiced by the Puritans in 1632, all the way to 1972 when it was repealed. The Puritans acted in flogging when offenders were sentenced for committing a crime, such as adultery or blaspheme. When convicted of the crime an individual committed, they were tied to a post in public, with no shirt, and severely flogged. By practicing flogging, and displaying the beating to the citizens of the town, the citizens could see what would be done for their punishment if they commit the same or different crime. If flogging were to be brought back and routinely practiced on offenders of certain crimes, and the beating was displayed to the public, it could greatly reduce crimes committed. Being whipped is not any more or less degrading that being locked in a cage, like an animal. Bringing back flogging would inspire possible criminals not to commit a crime that they could be planning. By being whipped in public, the offender will be highly embarrassed and have severe pain. Hopefully this felling of embarrassment and the pain experienced will stay with them, if they think of committing another crime. Also, after beaten the wounds will turn to scars, these would serve as a permanent reminders of the consequences obtained from their actions. Prisons are packed tightly with hundreds of criminals. Some prisoners are violent offenders and others are not. Providing meals, building new jails,  keeping a prison running, and providing prisoners with necessities, is very expensive. If flogging was the consequence of committing crimes, the money spent in and for prisons, could be used for other and more important items, such as books for school systems. In addition, less dangerous offenders will not be abused or raped in prison. The practice of flogging would also increase prison space for more dangerous offenders. Bringing back the punishment of flogging would greatly reduce crimes committed. Also, the public display, pain, and the permanent reminder from scars, will reduce the possibility of participating in the crime again. It would also serve as a physical image to others of what will happen if they commit a crime. Puritan forefathers had an excellent idea of punishment for committing crimes. Flogging was also a very effective punishment. The knowledge of what will happen if a crime is committed, and knowing how painful it is, will allow individuals to think thoroughly if they ever decide they want to commit a crime. I vote to bring back flogging!

Impulse buying Essay

impulse buying refers to any purchase which a consumer makes which is unplanned and unneeded. the purpose of this paper is to find factors behind triggering this phenomena in consumers. the impact of different variables are analyzed by making their relationships with impulsive buying. These factors include promotional campaigns like low cost sale and discounts etc, income, layout of the store and behavior of sales person. the study is based on primary and secondary data which is analyzed further by using different techniques and methods. after analysis it has been found that the income level of a person has a significant effect on impulsive buying, moreover the other factors like promotional campaigns are mainly affecting this behavior due to pricing strategies, layouts of stores and behavior of sales persons also trigger the urge of impulsive buying. keywords: impulse buying, store layout, promotional activates, sales people, income. Introduction: In impulse buying a product is purchased spontaneously which is unplanned it could be anything,; a service, existing and new products to which the consumers are generally attracted because of various factors. Barratt, Rook 1987 stated that consumer gets attracted towards a product to buy it without considering its consequences of delaying a product to fill a pre-determined need. It is very much possible that consumer may experience positive and negative consequences of a product bought through impulsive buying after its post purchase evaluation. There are many researchers who have worked extensively on this topic and come up with more or less same definition and amplification of impulse buying. According to Cobb & Hoyer 1986; Piron, 1991; Rook, 1987; Rook & Fischer, 1995; Weinberg & Gottwold, 1982; searched and wrote that the urge of buying a product is of that the product is calling them to buy it, ultimately this urge leads them to purchase the product and some researchers stated that the urge of buying products are very dominant and powerful that the consumer cannot resist them. In Pakistan the number of retail outlets, shopping malls and super stores are increasing rapidly as compared to traditionally open bazar. This includes places likes Metro Cash N Carry, Hyper Star, Pace, Makro and Suburban etc. These are a  few of the prominent shopping malls in Pakistan with many outlets. The factors behind the success of these stores is their layout of well managed hassle free environment, availability and placement for fresh and hygienic vegetables, meat and fish which gets the attention and appreciation of consumers moreover the high-level of service and the behavior of sales staff make the visit of the consumers more comfortable and valuable especially for the working class who have minimum time for shopping. Attributes or characteristics of impulse buying behavior of consumer: The tempting and overwhelming force emerging from the product which produces feelings in consumer heart. Urge of buying a product immediately. Delaying the purchase of needed product. Ignoring the consequences of product purchased through impulse buying. Feeling of desperation in terms of buying a product. Literature Review: From the start of 1950’s till today a lot of research has been done on this topic in this long span of time many researchers who have conducted research on this always come up with very interesting findings or results. Recently many researchers have moved their area of focus from western to Asian countries and are investigating the buying patrons of the people living in Asia. Many of them have identified and observed some common variables according to a researcher (Beatty & Farrell, 1998). The ratio and chances of impulse buying increases with the passage of time. He or She spends more time in the store than before, the more they spend time on shopping and browsing upon different product the more it with increase the chance of impulse buying. Some researchers have also stated that the impulse buying is relatively more common in females as compared to males (Giraud, 2001). According to a researcher (Giraud, 2001) finds that the mood of the consumer also affects impulse buying behavior which means that when the customer is in a good mood, he or she will embark themselves with the products which fall in the category of impulse buying and if he or she is in bad mood the person will tend to reward his or herself less. (Maiet Al, 2001) Stated that the spending on impulse buying is done more by young generation and usually the age segment falls in the range of 18-40 years old. (Rook, 1987.) Stated that the urge and temptations of buying a particular product is so strong  that a person can postpone the purchase of a well needed product which solves their existing problem. The Importance and concept of store layout can never be bypassed by the true marketers and operational managers because the store layout influences the buying behavior of the consumer for example IKEA, LEGO and Zara Men etc are the famous brands which focuses heavily on store layout of a retail store. (Crawford & Melewar, 2003) stated that the true marketers should work on store layout and should provide a good layout to provide an ease of shopping to the consumer. A good standard and effective store layout let alone achieve the goal of providing convenience to the customer the role of good and trained sales person is also very important. According to (Crawford & Melewar, 2003) an interaction with a well trained sales person can trigger impulse buying behavior of consumer it also reduces the tension of customer by guiding them. One study conducted by (Wang and Zhou, 2003) shows that promotional activities show increases impulse buying by consumer when there are sales or discounts on products. according to researchers (dholakia,2000:rook 1987) when a consumer see promotional incentives on some products this things affects the impulse buying of him or her. Factors affectingaffectig impulse buying: The followingfollowig are the factors which affects impulse buying behavior of consumer Promotional activities Income Presence of others Store layout Sales person Promotional Activities: The word promotion in terms of marketing means by using different strategies marketers can influence the buying behaviorbehaviour of consumerconumer to buy a product to increase sales of the company. This could be achieved by sales discount, advertisement and free product. It is a human psychepsychy when evere they see a free product or discount they tend to buy to take advantage of this despite of affect they in actual did not need that product. Janakiraman Eded al, 2006 stated that willingness to buy the unneeded and unrelated commoditycomodity increases the chances of the impulse buying because of unexpected price discounts. Income: The income level influence and affect the impulse buying pattern of consumer greatly. The more a person is getting inco0me the more he will do impulse buying. In good economic conditions, the income levels of people go high, many economists and researchers have reported the increase in sales of products which also includes the purchase of products done thought impulsive buying. Presence of others: Store layout: Sales person The interaction between consumers and sales person is of very prime importance. A good competent salesperson could influence the consumer to buy product impulsively. Objective of the study: As we have told you earlier in this research paper that many researchers have conducted research on this topic especially in developed countries like England, Norway, Canada, America etc. Now the researchers and analyst areAnd also conducting research in developing countries like Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Poland, Bangladesh, and Thailand etc. Our objective of the study is to find out the factors effecting consumer impulse buying behavior in Pakistan. Theoretical framework: in this research paper we have taken impulse buying as dependent variable and sales force, promotional activities , income , store layout and presence of others as independent variables and formed several hypothesis which are given below H1: There is a positive relationship between promotional activities and impulse buying. H2:There is a positive relationship between income level and impulse buying. H3: There is a positive relationship between store layout and impulse buying. H4: There is a positive relationship between sales force behavior and impulse buying. H5:There is a positive relationship between presence of others and impulse buying. Research Methodology: The study has been conducted on the bases of two types of information  sources, primary data and secondary data. In primary data we gathered the data through questionnaires designed specifically on the basis of nature of questions to cover the concept of the study. In questionnaires the first section is devoted to the demographics and then a scale is designed. In the following questions the scale we design to assess each factor and its related question is from 1 to 5 Strongly disagree

Information System Management Essay

A new concept in today’s IT world is offshore sourcing in Information Systems which is a paradigm shift from the traditional Business Process Outsourcing. Although the latter has been facilitated by the lucrative IT infrastructure, it is important to focus and emphasis on what has brought about offshore Information System sourcing. This journal article has theoretically explored on factors which the authors considers are the key drivers that can influence a company to go offshore. Additionally, to practically drive the point home, the article has exclusively carried out and explained a case study on ComputerInc, an Australian IT services company. Consequently, some of the key-driving factors include becoming and remaining competitive, reducing operational costs, and increasing the market share. Nevertheless, key challenges include overall strenuous management, staff demoralization, and lowered quality of services. This article is relevant in that the roles of the management for instance that of Chief Information Officer is critical in creating viable decisions. Such include venturing into IS offshore sourcing so as to drive organizations technologically and reap benefits such as reduced operation costs (McNurlin, et al. 2009, pp. 10-13). In the article, ComputerInc is argued to have increased its global market share as a result of IS offshore outsourcing (Beverakis et al. 2009, p. 35). In this regard, McNurlin, et al. (2009, pp. 17-20) have classified roles of IT infrastructure into three: working inward, working outside, and working across. Benefits include global positioning, partnering, and increasing the clientele base if/when proper IS planning is done by the decision makers. The article explains how viable decisions made by ComputerInc’s management drove the company into offshore outsourcing, attain a global position, and command a competitive market share (McNurlin, et al. 2009, p. 18). This corresponds to the learning outcomes of this course and for that reason I would award the article a value of four out of five on a score-scale. The Journal of Global Information Management is an academic journal published by the Information Resources Management Association. The Editor-in-chief for this journal is called Felix B Tan of Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand. Journal of Global Information Management is published on quarterly basis every year. In each year, a single volume is released but in each quarter the released journal is assigned a separate issue number. The journal is both online and in print and it is accessible at a personal level and to institutions. However, to access the journal subscription is a must whereby printed journal goes is sold at $ 545 and $ 195 to an institution and individual respectively (JGIM 2010). In all the issues of the Journal of Global Information Management emphasizes on all the concepts related to management of worldwide information resources. The journal creates a forum in which professionals and researchers disseminate current and surfacing information in both theoretical and practical perspective in relation to information technology and information resource management at global level. Therefore its main objective is put main emphasis on organizational and managerial aspects of Information Technology resources management. It covers on a range of issues such as policies, failure, usage, success, applications, and strategies of IT in business enterprises both in developed and emerging economies (JGIM 2010). The Journal of Global Information Management has laid out procedures whereby professionals and researchers especially in the field of information system management share their knowledge in regard to emerging challenges, posed by IT developments. Through its case studies, the journal proposes means on how to integrate information technology techniques into current managerial strategies. Therefore, it covers on the learning outcomes of this course such as role of IS managers, importance of IS/IT in driving companies to the global center-stage (JGIM 2010). In this article, it is acknowledged that information system offshore outsourcing has over the years increased drastically. In the research study, a number of steps involved in making such decisions at the management level have been identified. It states that IT managers weighs on the benefits and challenges of offshore outsourcing, evaluates the all the logistics involved in the process, and determines the prevailing geography. The research is based on literature review of existing companies’ statistical reports as presented in annual releases. The article states that offshore outsourcing surpasses onshore outsourcing in terms of benefits and risks involved. USA, UK, France, and Germany are the major IS offshore outsourcers in countries such as India, and China. Reduction in operation costs has been identified as the key motivator whereas it also stresses that quality services, security, and provider location must be considered. The key factors identified by Reyes, Jose and Juan (2006, p. 234) that influence offshore outsourcing are market and economic globalization, savings on operational costs in terms of salaries paid to the staff, shortage of skilled manpower, the need to reduce IS projects’ development time-cycle, and the growth or access to internet by large number of people (McNurlin, et al. 2009, pp. 7 & 33-39). This article demonstrates and emphasizes on key steps that information system managers of any organization have to take while making decisions on whether to outsource some of their services offshore. In comparison, McNurlin, et al. 2009, p. 11) in their book acknowledges the same that CIO’s should design policies, analyze possible benefits and risks so as to make informed decisions. In regard to the learning outcomes of ECOM20001, the article is explicit on what chief information officers are expected to do, have presented statistical evidence on how companies expand due to outsourcing and the impact of globalization on company activities in terms of risks and benefits. Considering such coverage on E-enablement and globalization I would award the article a score of five.

Liver Cirrhosis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Liver Cirrhosis - Research Paper Example The Liver Weighing about 1.4 kg, i.e. about 3 lb in adults, the liver is the heaviest organ of the human body. It is also the second largest organ, skin being the first. It is located below the rib cage at the right hand side of the body. To be precise, it occupies part of the epigastric regions in the abdomino-pelvic cavity and part of the hypochondriac region (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). A healthy liver is an extremely important asset for an individual’s health and well-being. As Chopra (2001) writes, the liver is â€Å"akin to a master conductor who is orchestrating a number of essential functions†, working as a â€Å"central manufacturing factory†, a processing plant for toxic waste and even as a warehouse, all at the same time (p. 4). Anatomy of the Liver The liver has two irregularly sized lobes – the larger right lobe, and the smaller left lobe. The two lobes are separated by a fold of mesentery, forming the smooth falciform ligament (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). The right lobe is five to six times bigger than the left lobe. The liver has a smooth texture and is a vascular organ rich in blood vessels that impart it a reddish brown color. It has an intricate and interconnected network of liver cells called hepatocytes, along with large amounts of ducts and veins (Chopra, 2001, p. 4).... 4). Anatomy of the Liver The liver has two irregularly sized lobes – the larger right lobe, and the smaller left lobe. The two lobes are separated by a fold of mesentery, forming the smooth falciform ligament (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). The right lobe is five to six times bigger than the left lobe. The liver has a smooth texture and is a vascular organ rich in blood vessels that impart it a reddish brown color. It has an intricate and interconnected network of liver cells called hepatocytes, along with large amounts of ducts and veins (Chopra, 2001, p. 4). The hepatocytes, which are the principal liver cells, constitute almost 70% of the entire mass of the liver and are derived from the embryonic endoderm (Zorn, 2008, para. 3). Although some anatomists believe that the right lobe has an inferior quadrate lobe and a posterior caudate lobe, studies based on internal morphology and the distribution of blood vessels reveal that these two lobes more appropriately belong to the left lobe (Tortora and Derrickson, 2008, p. 945). The smooth falciform ligament that divides the two lobes of the liver extends from below the diaphragm, thereby helping the liver to stay suspended in the abdominal cavity. A round ligament, called the ligamentum teres, which is a remnant of the fetal umbilical vein, is present in the free border of the falciform ligament and extends from the liver to the umbilicus. A pear-shaped sac called the gall bladder is located in a depression that is present on the posterior surface of the liver. It hangs from the anterior-inferior margin of the liver and measures 7-10 cm. An analysis of liver histology reveals that it consists of bile canaliculi and hepatic sinusoids, apart from hepatocytes. The hepatocytes (liver cells) are

Major Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Major Project - Essay Example The leadership of the organization has to pronounce their promise to support the safety programs boldly. Policies of the organization regarding safety and health management should address issues relating to the purpose of having a health safety programs. Measures are taken to safeguard the employees in the workplace and policies that protect the health and safety of an employee. The input of the worker in coming up with safety and health measures is very vital because their interests will be for because the policies affect them directly (OSHA, 2013). XYZ Company needs to form a special task force that should be the responsibility of investigating accidents in the workplace. The composition of the team should include representatives from the different departments in the organization to ensure theirs equal representation. Proper investigations should be on health and safety issues monthly reports should be done to evaluate made in addressing safety and health issues. Through such a taskforce, cases that deserve compensation will be in time hence avoiding legal lawsuits that seem to have drained the company’s revenues in the 2013 financial year (OSHA, 2013). It is prudent that the organization identifies high-risk zones within an organization and caution employees in advance. Some areas in the organization can be classified as high-risk zones because they pose severe threats to the health and safety of employees. It is important to create awareness amongst employees and discourage them from accessing such areas unnecessarily without getting prior permission. Training employees who operate in the danger zones is very essential because it offers them skills that can help them avoid accidents. When a hazard is in advance, it becomes simple to come up with measures that can be used to control them and lessen the severity of

Must complete a summary post at the end of the discussion reflecting Essay

Must complete a summary post at the end of the discussion reflecting on your learning - Essay Example For instance, in a huge economy such as the UK, marketers need to properly budget for marketing research so that they can obtain the much needed information to design effective strategies in their operations. Various strategies can be implemented in order to obtain information from different sources. For instance, the marketers can implement the interactive strategy with the targeted audiences in order to get their views about their needs and interests with regards to products offered. In the same vein, organizations can also seek information from their suppliers to help them make informed business decisions. Marketing research can be carried out in order to obtain this kind of information. Unit 6 also covers the concepts of Product and Price. Essentially, all businesses are primarily concerned with satisfying the needs of the targeted consumers in a profitable way. This means that a product or service offered by the organization should be clearly defined and the price should also be set in accordance with the market forces obtaining at a particular period in order to attract many buyers. Through the use of the marketing mix involving the product, price, place and promotion, the marketers are in a better position to determine all the factors that can help improve the offering to the targeted customers. The strategy can be implemented in both B2C and B2B marketing. The organization’s capability to define its product and to price it correctly plays a pivotal role in determining its success or failure in its operations. The other important element that should be taken into consideration when determining the price of a particular product is its life cycle. Pricing m echanisms are usually determined by the life cycle of the product mainly comprised of four stages namely: introduction, growth, maturity and decline. The growth and maturity stages often attract high prices for the product since many customers would be interested in

Medical Apartheid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Medical Apartheid - Essay Example Admittedly, remedial steps are being taken on the government level to counter barriers mentioned above.A study was carried out by the National Institute of Health to recheck why disparity occurred in this drug’s efficacy for blacks and Asians but not whites. This research concluded that this was most likely a result chance. Even if there was a small possibility that this drug actually did hold some hope for HIV patients, especially blacks, it definitely called for further research and testing. The reason mostly given for not carrying out further research is that blacks are resistant to being subjects for testing, especially for HIV. However, many researchers have been successful in recruiting a large number of blacks for their work. This clearly implies that there is need for more trust and empathy for blacks to cooperate. It is the right of the African Americans to have more research conducted into AIDSVAX as they do represent the majority of sufferers of this disease. Furthermore, if this drug does indeed prove to be primarily applicable to blacks, these differences will most likely be environmental; even if the differences are determined to be somewhat racial, one successful drug could be made adaptive to whites with further work. The world indeed sits in wait of a miracle drug that could cure the ‘incurable’ AIDS. So far, AIDSVAX is the only drug that has come closest to being it. Our country has a battle with itself right now of overcoming this discrimination against race and color for common good.

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada Research Paper - 2

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada - Research Paper Example It deals with the issues concerning its organizational culture that encourages excellence by shielding itself from a nefarious effect of political influence which can negatively affect its organizational objectives of providing an efficient transport system for the region's population not only today but fifty years from now. It had adopted transparency in all its transactions with the publication of all relevant data and information on its Web site regarding its activities, agenda and future plans so that all the agency's community investments are maximized. The paper also gives a brief background on the dynamic region of southern Nevada and how the RTCSN plays an important part in its vital transformation. The agency is well managed as an empowered organization through its internal advocacy (like re-organization) and external advocacy (in cases like plans for transport systems such as building new roads) to minimize traffic congestion and future transport challenges. Introduction Th e region of southern Nevada includes the five counties of Clark, Esmeralda, Nye, Mineral, and Lincoln; this is incidentally also the region where the majority of the state's population live due to the rest of the state being an inhabitable desert. This region encompasses the Las Vegas Valley and the region is a major educational center of the area. Moreover, most of its economy is based on the tourism-related industries of gaming (gambling), leisure, vacation (senior retirees), hotel, hospitality, and travel. This means there is a lot of movement within this region, which is a reason for existence of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTCSN) to regulate and plan all the transport-related concerns of this region with regards to this sudden population expansion due to the influx of tourists (both local and foreign), migrants (temporary workers seeking jobs, mostly in construction) and those potential retirees attracted by the warm climate, no state taxes and na ture attractions at Lake Tahoe. It is estimated Nevada entices some five million visitors annually with revenues of about US$ 6 billion (Leong, 2008, p. 2). Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is the agency mandated by state and federal governments for maintaining a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive (3C) transportation planning process. The RTCSN has been re-named (in 1981) as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for southern Nevada in view of its expanded responsibilities. This new agency has to operate using the same modern management tools used in all big corporations and is the subject or topic of this paper. Among other things, it has to operate within budgets, use organizational skills to attract the best-qualified people to its ranks and obtain the cooperation of the riding public to achieve its goals of efficiency and sustainability (RTCSN, 2012, p. 1). Discussion The RTCSN has to be operated like any private enterprise in order to maximize all the resources given to it and achieve its mission of sustainability such as maintaining the air quality through encouragement of Club Ride Commuter Services that promotes walking, biking, pooling of cars and vans, and in the use of the mass transit system, which it operates and carries about 64 million passengers per year.  

Customer Service-Customer for Life-discussion Personal Statement

Customer Service-Customer for Life-discussion - Personal Statement Example Companies should aim at optimizing the entire customer experience while again focusing on traditional CRM functions like customer loyalty program, call center automation and outbound marketing. Companies need customer experience management in order to develop lifelong customers. In North Dakota, a company that fits this description is Gate City Bank. The corporation ensures that the processes of its employees are completely attuned to making and keeping the customers satisfied at each and every step along the way, which it does with the help of a thorough and detailed feedback program. The Bank also ensures that their customers feel special and appreciated to make them lifelong customers. A condition it achieves by sending them gifts or cards on special occasions and holidays, remembering their anniversaries and birthdays, sending them a regular newsletter and special reports explaining top them how to benefit more from the products offered and also to improve their various life aspects. The company summarizes this in their mission

Analysis of the book Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas Essay

Analysis of the book Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas - Essay Example Dumas, through the book, has shown that the way people perceive things and act and react to incidents regarding different cultures and values, holds the key to adjustment in a foreign land. The book is a collection of author’s experiences from her childhood to her adulthood in Southern California and is written in a language which is able to handle serious issues with simplicity and in a highly funny manner. The book is a collection of anecdotes of the author’s growing years in Southern California in the 70s. She had come here in 1972 with her family, initially comprising of her parents and brothers and who were later joined by other family members like uncle, aunt and cousins. Despite his education in America, her father was not much familiar with his host country and neither he nor other members of his family were well versed in English. But the language was not an insurmountable barrier for Dumas family because they tackled such issues with humor and really enjoyed the learning process which taught them how to overcome cross cultural issues and live in a multicultural society with harmony and peace. The book has been divided into 12 chapters where the author has given account of her different experiences and the titles of her experiences are succinct and give a hint of the experience in that area. Leffingwell Elementary School, Hot Dogs and Wild Geese, Save Me Mickey, Swoosh Swoosh, etc. prepare the readers for her unique experiences which are recounted with funny bylines and wit that leaves a smile on their faces. Indeed Dumas has shown that laughing at oneself is not only healthy but can turn out to be the best tool to conquer the manmade barriers like language, race, religion and other cross cultural issues. ‘It was the Promised Land. For me, it was where I could buy more outfits for Barbie’, indeed, such expressions are designed to send the message that one needs to take the serious issues with a little blasà ©

Saudi Students in the Us Education System Essay Example for Free

Saudi Students in the Us Education System Essay Western culture differs dramatically from Saudi Arabian culture, from religion, to education to music and food, even dress; they really are two different worlds. The challenges that a Saudi student might face here in the states are endless and adjusting takes time and a tremendous amount of effort. Let’s start by talking about education. In Saudi Arabia sexes are separated from day one. Males and females never attend school under the same roof, not even at university levels ( Flaits). For a Saudi student, here in the United States, this is a substantial change that has the potential to be, even traumatizing to students, especially to those students still in primary schools. Imagine with me for a moment that you are a thirteen year old Saudi Arabian girl. Your father has just gotten a job in the United States. Up till now you have spent your entire life in Saudi Arabia in a traditional home, going to a traditional all girl school. The only males you have ever spoken with are your close male relatives. Now, it is your first day to attend an American public school. You have a nice, dark complexion and wavy brown hair hidden away under your hijab. Never mind all the strange glances immediately thrown at you for your appearance the minute you step foot on the bus because of the way you are dressed, you expected as much. But you’re taken aback by the fact that well over half of these uncomfortable, judgmental glances are barreling down on you from the faces of boys. Your heart is beating hard and fast in your ears as you slide into the nearest vacant green leathery seat. You’re starting to feel your face grow warm and you just know you are seven shades of beat red. You concentrate on your breathing; you can feel every eye on the bus burning into you, you feel completely exposed. And just when you think that things couldn’t possibly get worse, a boy about two years older than you decides the empty seat next to you is as good as any to claim for his own. He gives you a warm smile, which you return with a blank stare. So he takes it upon himself to try and start a conversation. He is friendly enough, but you can’t concentrate on a single word coming out of his mouth. Not just because your English is below proficient, but because blood is pounding in your ears. What does this boy think he is doing? Your mind reels. The only thing you can think about is how angry your father would be if he saw this boy sitting next to you and you pray he never finds out. You have never spoken to a boy in your life, you wouldn’t know how to go about it, even if you wanted to, but your mouth doesn’t seem to be working now anyhow and all you want is for this boy to leave you alone before any tears manage to escape your eyes. You shut your eyes tight and count your breaths waaHid, ithnayn, talaata . . . You keep them closed for a long time and when you open them the boy has apparently gotten the point or been offended because he has changed seats. You feel only a slight twinge of guilt but a flood of relief. Finally the bus comes to a stop and everyone files off. Upon arriving to the school you find that the boys here are less friendly and somewhat frightening. Some whistle or stare, some wink, some make inappropriate gestures with their hands or mouths most of which you do not understand, some scoff and finally some ignore you completely which comes as a relief. The girls here don’t seem to be interested in any kind of interaction with you at all. Most avoid eye contact but some blatantly glare. Your head spins, all you want is a quiet, safe place to hide. So you retreat to the bathroom. Here you encounter a whole new set of awkward social problems, when a group of giggling girls, applying too much makeup, instantly become silent as you approach. You can feel the hostility as they take in your attire. Only one even attempts to smile at you. As if on cue, they all march out, fallowing a tall thin blond with a hot pink top, by the way the other girls dote, you can only assume she is their leader. You splash some cool water on your face, thankful for the silence and whisper a prayer to Allah, asking Him for the strength to just get through the day. The bell rings so you find your way to first period and take a seat nearest the door, most students have to walk past you, which isn’t ideal but you feel safer because you can bolt at any time if the need arises. The teacher inters the room and says good morning to the class. He looks across the room and his eyes come to rest on you, suddenly it is hard to breath you feel like you have been caught in some kind of sand storm that is suffocating only you, no one else in the room seems to feel ill at ease in the least. You have never had a male teacher before and it never crossed your mind that you ever would. This morning you prepared yourself the best you could with the idea of having to go to school with boys, you knew that you would stick out because of the clothing you wore and you knew it might be difficult communicating with the other children because your English is not that good, but it never occurred to you that you would have a male teacher! â€Å"good morning class, today we have a new student, miss Layla Almire,† never taking his eyes of you â€Å" would you mind standing and telling us a little about yourself ? † You slowly rise, â€Å"my name is Layla, I am thirteen, my family is from Saudi Arabia† you sit, unsure of what just happened. That girl standing, speaking, didn’t even sound like you. She sounded confident, not falling to pieces on the inside as you are doing now; your heart is beating so hard and your hands are trembling. â€Å"thank you miss Layla, we are glad to have you in class. Now take out your text books and turn to page eighty-three we left off talking about†¦Ã¢â‚¬  most of the day passes in a blur, you go from class, avoid eye contact or conversations with the children, eat lunch alone, some of your teachers are male, some are female, you act like you understand what the teachers say even though half the time you don’t. By the end of the day you are completely drained emotionally, mentally and physically and you are so relieved when it is finally over. But at home, you don’t want your parents to worry about you, especially your mother; the trip has been hard enough on her as it is. So you fake a smile and fight the urge to skip dinner and turn in early. After clearing the table you can fight it no longer, you tell your family that you have homework and retreat to your room. There you silently cry yourself to sleep hoping the morning does not come too quickly because you know what’s waiting for you when it does, your second day at an American public school. Saudi girls are painfully shy around men because their culture dictates that they have no interaction with men outside of close relatives. (Flaits) Coeducation can be difficult for male students as well because they are from a society where men are dominant, so being taught by women may be a very challenging thing to get used to (Flaits). To accommodate for these particular challenges, (first of all teaches need to be aware of the cultural differences), male teaches can help with these cultural challenges by not calling the female student out too much in class or talking to girls directly, by keeping a comfortable distance in a sense. And female teachers can try not to be too assertive, to avoid resentment from male students. Saudi’s in general, do not take criticism well, especially in public. It is viewed as an attack on their honor. It is for this reason that teachers need to be gentle when confronting a student about inappropriate behavior and never should this be done in front of the rest of the class. Saudi’s take it very personally if they are not trusted. This is a good reason not to accuse them unless you have strong evidence for your case. Trust and honor go hand in hand. I was not aware of this when I first began college and started hanging out with a group of internationals, I was not aware of many things. One night we were all at my friends and I was ready to go home but my friend was too tired to drive so his friend offered to give me a lift. I â€Å"politely† refused. Because I was raised never to get in a car with strangers, I thought this was common knowledge â€Å"don’t get into cars with people you don’t know†. This man took it very personally, he started to raise his voice, speaking in Arabic, and then left in a huff. I asked my friend what he said, it roughly translated to â€Å" fine if you don’t feel safe near me then I will just go† I felt slightly guilty but at the same time I thought it confirmed that this guy was a hot head that shouldn’t be trusted. Abdulah and I have laughed about our first meeting a lot since; he later became one of my best friends. This man wouldn’t hurt a fly, it’s just not in him, he is one of the kindest people I know. He has come to understand why I refused to get in the car that night and I, how disrespectful it was to refuse his help in front of all of our friends. Another challenge for Saudi students is the same for all immigrant students, language barriers. Students may need special accommodations to further acquire language skills. They may need additional time on assignments and additional clarification on direction for assignments. It is important for teachers to be patient with their students and not mistake the students lack of understanding for laziness. Some additional challenges, for teachers working with Saudi students, are keeping their attention, their interest. Saudis get bored very easily and quickly. Keeping their attention can prove to be quite difficult. Speaking with a fellow teacher I was given insight on how she kept her students engaged. She told me that Saudi students can be quite competitive so incorporating games with prizes or score boards is an effective and healthy way to inspire them to â€Å"stay on top of their game† she suggested things like writing on the black board, matching objects to words and spelling B’s where every point is tallied and any kind of learning game in general,to be effective methods. I have come up with a few of my own ideas to keep their interest and get them to study on their own as well. â€Å"THE LETTER GAME† have a bag full of random letters written on cards, at the beginning of class pull a set number of cards and place them in plain sight of the entire class, give the students a set amount of time to spell as many words as they can come up with from those cards, when the time is up tally the number of correct words the students got right, the one with the most words is awarded some kind of incentive. This accomplishes two things, challenges the student mentally and may lead to study outside of the class. Since the letters are completely random knowing their vocab will not be enough, because competition is such a part of their personality the intention is to get them to do independent studying, the more words they know, the better chance they have at winning the next go around. Racism is an infectious disease that plagues our public schools and even with all â€Å"bullies will not be tolerated† campaigns. Teachers need to keep a close eye out for students that might be being mistreated or harassed for the color of their skin, the god they believe in or the close they wear. In conclusion, there are many things that a teacher can and should do in order to make international students feel more at home in their class rooms. First and foremost, learn as much as you can about the students culture, this helps go a long way in helping the student. Secondly, when it comes to Saudi students, respect is key, don’t be too assertive if you are a female with male students, if you are a male with female students keep your distance, do not call out your Saudi students if they have, or are suspected of doing something wrong, speak with them in private. Thirdly offer accommodations for language barriers and engage them in some healthy competition to keep them motivated. And lastly, keep an eye out for racism or abuse from abuse from other members of the school.

Decision making on workplace Essay Example for Free

Decision making on workplace Essay In my workplace I look after a gentleman who likes to go to the shops on his own. He is deemed too have mental capacity to make this decision. On making this decision it was discussed with him what certain protocols we needed to put in place to support him and to make this happen safely. This man is very much involved in his care plan and he has read, and reviews his care plan when changes are needed. Firstly it was explained to this man that we needed to put a risk assessment in place which says if anything was to happen to him when he was out and about that he took full responsibility of what might happen, for example if this man was to fall when out by himself that the workplace would take no responsibility for this, this man was very happy with this statement and was willing to sign and agree to this risk assessment. The family were also made aware of this decision and were happy for this to be put in place. Family suggested that maybe before he goes out that he was to tell a member of staff where and when he was going, just so that someone is aware. All parties agreed to this. Letting this man go out to the shops by himself really helps with his self-esteem because it makes him feel important, respected and makes him feel like he is as independent as possible and that he doesn’t have to ask all the time about what he wants to do. Also if any changes have been made to his care plan for whatever reason he is always consulted first and asked if he is happy with the decisions that are being made. If he isn’t happy for whatever reason he is more than capable to speak up and say what he would like or prefer. On the other hand if this man didn’t have the mental capacity to make any of these decision or had no family to make decisions on behalf of him and advocate would be brought in and they would be able to make best interest decisions on behalf of him.

The Importance Of Fuel And Technology Environmental Sciences Essay

The Importance Of Fuel And Technology Environmental Sciences Essay I am researching these topics because it has a lot in common. Fuel energy and technology is a very interesting topic, they are the most useful things by human being, it is used for important things and this will help me know more about the history of fuel and technology, I am a person that likes a lot technology because is different of other things. Without technology, fossil fuels cannot be extracted in an easier way because technology gives details of ground and how fuels companies can extract petroleum from the earth. Fossil fuels provides 66% of the world electrical power and 95% of the world energy demand and we need to have in count that fuel energy and technology is our principal source of transportation. Fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas, are a non-renewable source of energy. Formed from plants and animals that lived up to 300 million years ago, fossil fuels are found in deposits beneath the earth. The fuels are burned to release the chemical energy that is stored within this resource. Energy is essential to modern society as we know it. Over 85% of our energy demands are met by the combustion of fossil fuels. Fuel is one of the most used earth product because in the entire world fuel energy is used to make a lot of important things such as vehicles gas, cells, etc. Fuel is any material that can be used to generate energy to produce mechanical work in a controlled manner and the processes used to convert fuel into energy include chemical reactions, such as combustion, and nuclear reactions, such as nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. Fuels are also used in the cells of organisms in a process known as metabolism. Hydrocarbons are by far the most common source of fuel in current u se, but many other substances can be used as well. The most interesting case about fuel energy is how it was create or how human being in the past thousand years has the incredible idea to perform energy source, fuel energy was first starts with wood. It was one of the first fuels used by humans and is still the primary energy source in much of the world. These discover was performed by home erectus near 2 million years ago. A very important thing to say is that without fuel, our technology never will be developed because without that, cars, airplanes and all types of vehicles will not work. Fossil fuels exist long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These are made up of plant and animal matter. When plants and animals died, their bodies decomposed and were buried under layers of earth. Millions of years later we have the three forms of fossil fuel: Oil, Natural gas and Coal. The advantages of fossil fuels is that they produces a lot of electricity especially coal, its cheap, transporting coal and gas is easy and power station that run on gas are very efficient and the disadvantages is that burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide which result in greenhouse gases that mean global warning alert, burning coal produce more carbon dioxide than gas and oil and it also produces sulphur dioxide that causes acid rain. According to scientists burning fossil fuels produces 20 billion of carbon dioxide every year and the earth natural process can only absorbs 20 billion tons of carbon dioxide and the remaining carbon dioxide goes to the atmosphere and contributes to global warni ng. The oil is found way down in the ground, usually between layers of rock. To get oil out, a well is dug. Digging a well is like putting a straw into a can of pop. The oil is then pumped out of the ground, just like when you suck pop up the straw. Oil is carried in pipelines and large tanker ships. A refinery changes the oil into products like gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel. Its also burned in factories and power plants to make electricity Natural gas is made out of methane, which is a simple chemical compound made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms and this gas is highly flammable. Natural gas is found near oil in the ground. Its pumped, just like oil, from wells that tap into the source and send it to large pipelines. Because you cant smell or see natural gas, it is mixed with a chemical to give it a stinky smell like rotten eggs. For thousands of years man has depended on fossil fuels as his primary energy source. Chapter 3Æ’Â   Technology Technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. Technology means computers and software, aircraft, pesticides, plasma TVs, birth-control pills, and microwave ovens, to name a few. But technology is more than these tangible products. Human being has found the correct way to make life easier and effective. Technology is what the world needs to develop in the faster and easier way, with technology everything can become possible and everyday technology is growing up. The use of the term technology has changed significantly over the last 200 years. Before the 20th century, the term was uncommon in English, and usually referred to the description or study of the useful arts. Technology is meant to be our future of our life. Technology can be most broadly defined as the entities, both material and immaterial, created by the application of mental and physical effort in order to achieve some value. In this usage, technology refers to tools and machines t hat may be used to solve real-world problems. With technology this world will have a better future and we will have a better lifestyle with a healthy and long life because technology is what is changing this world. It is true that technology is also bringing a lot of problems for todays young society because they are getting in their own world using internet, PlayStation etc†¦this is making childhood to be dependent of themselves and they dont do activities like sports going out with friends or interacting with family so this is the mayor problem of technology, people are getting addicted of excessive uses of technology because is more easier so they get lazy. It is the current state of humanitys knowledge of how to combine resources to produce desired products, to solve problems, fulfill needs, or satisfies wants. It includes technical methods, skills, processes, techniques, tools and raw materials. Conclusion In the world exist a lot of problems about global warming and this is happening because fuel energy extract, but we can be intelligent and take care of our planet and contributes in saving water, dont destroying our habitat, the world is created for us to live and is our home so it is incredible how humanity is destroying the world without thinking of a world destruction or humanity destruction. Fuel energy and technology is of great importance in the entire world because without this our advanced things like computers, motor vehicles, electronic devices, internet our world will not work as efficient as it is working todays days, everything is easier than the last 100 years. These two resources give a great contribution to the world. Technology gives a better way of communication and fuel a better way of transportation. Resources http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology/ http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology http://technology.blogs.ie.edu/ http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1423-fossil-fuel-energy http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html Home www.google.com www.wikipedia.com

The Conflict Between Conformity and Individuality in Willa Cathers Pau

The Conflict Between Conformity and Individuality in Willa Cather's Paul's Case Willa Cather’s â€Å"Paul’s Case,† displays the conflict between conformity and individuality through the main character, Paul. On a number of occasions, Paul is forced to lie and steal to escape the conformists who wish to control him and stifle his unique imagination. However, his lying, stealing, and attempts to escape the conformists, only force Paul into isolation, depression, and feeling a sense of shame for his individuality. Throughout the story one might see Cather’s constant contrast of individuality versus conformity, as well as Paul’s lying and stealing. Cather seems to draw the conclusion that extreme individuals, much like Paul are simply misunderstood, and not offered the acceptance they desire from conformist society. One way Cather contrasts individuality and conformity is through detailed descriptions of Paul’s character: Paul’s appearance, Paul’s unusual mannerisms, and Paul’s open criticisms of conformity. Collectively, these three characteristics assert Paul’s individuality. Paul’s appearance is described in detail at the beginning of the story and provides the foundation of his individuality: â€Å"Paul was tall for his age and very thin, with high, cramped shoulders and a narrow chest†(Pg. 1). One only needs to reach the second paragraph of the story and realize Paul does not fit in, which can be accredited to Cather’s careful word choice â€Å"for his age.† Most young individuals, specifically in Paul’s teenage age bracket, will struggle for acceptance from their peers; however it appears that Paul makes little effort in this regard. Paul’s unusual mannerisms are also worthy of analysis, and aid in creating a mental picture of this unusual young man. Cather uses Paul’s meeting with the faculty of his educational facility to convey the irritating and intimidating qualities of his mannerisms. She writes, â€Å"His teachers felt this afternoon that his whole attitude was symbolized by his shrug and his flippantly red carnation flower, and they fell upon him without mercy†¦. He stood through it smiling, his pale lips parted over his white teeth. (His lips were continually twitching, and he had a habit of raising his eyebrows that was contemptuous and irritating to the last degree)†(Pg.2). Combined with the description of Paul’s physical appearance, his mannerisms now... ...nearly always wore the guise of ugliness, that a certain element of artificiality seemed to him necessary in beauty†(Pg. 7). With this in mind, Paul’s actions seem deliberate, as if he knew what he was doing all along, again supporting the theory that he was simply wallowing in misery, crying for help. In conclusion, Willa Carther’s â€Å"Paul’s Case† is an interesting glimpse into the world of a young boy, who’s individuality is constantly in conflict with the conformist society that surrounds him. In attempts to escape this reality, Paul loses himself in a fantasy world of art, lies, and thievery. In this attempt to escape, Paul slips into isolation and depression. Carther in this regard is very careful on how she portrays Paul, to brink about some sympathy from the reader as he is simply a troubled young man. In the end, Paul’s individuality and societies refusal of him leads to Paul’s demise. The sympathy Cather creates for Paul leaves one questioning if society simply should have supported Paul’s individuality, instead of letting him slip away. Paul’s death seems to support this theory, as not a single reader would have wished such a cruel ending to the life of a dreamer.

Leukemia :: essays research papers

Leukemia   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leukemia strikes all ages and both sexes. In 1995 approximately 20,400 people died from Leukemia. The all time five year survival rate is 38%. This rate has gone to 52% in the mid 1980’s. Approximately 25,700 cases were reported in 1995 alone(American Cancer Society-leukemia, 1995).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leukemia is a form of cancer in the blood cells. Most forms of Leukemia occur in the white blood cells. These abnormal cells reproduce in large quantities and look and perform differently than normal cells(MedicineNet- leukemia, 1997). Right now the causes of Leukemia are unknown. Some studies have shown that exposure to high-energy radiation increases chances of contracting leukemia. Such radiation was produced in the atomic bombing of Japan during World War II. There is also enough energy in nuclear plants so strict safety precautions are taken. Some research shows that exposure to electric magnetic fields, such as power lines and electric appliances, is a possible risk factor. More studies are needed to prove this link. Some genetic conditions, such as Down’s syndrome, are also believed to increase the risk factor. Exposure to some chemicals is also suspected to be a risk factor. By learning the causes of leukemia treatment options will become available(MedicineNet-leukemia, 1997). There are many symptoms of leukemia. The symptoms of leukemia are the same for all the different types of leukemia. The acute types of leukemia, ALL and AML, symptoms are seen more quickly than in the chronic types of leukemia, CLL and CML, where symptoms do not necessarily appear right away. The symptoms are flu symptom, weakness, fatigue, constant infections, easily bleed and bruise, loss of weight and appetite, swollen lymph nodes, liver or spleen, paleness, bone or joint pain, excess sweating, swollen or bleeding gums, nosebleeds and other hemorrhages, and red spots called petechiae located underneath the skin. In acute Leukemia the cancerous cells may collect around the central nervous system. The results can include headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, or seizures. These clumps of cancer cells can collect in other various parts of the body(MedicineNet-leukemia, 1997 and American Cancer Society- leukemia, 1995).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leukemia can be diagnosed in a number of ways. Blood work is commonly done in the laboratory. Different forms of blood work include checking the hemoglobin count, platelet count, or white blood cell count. X-rays are routinely done for treatment follow-up. Ultrasound is also used as a treatment follow-up. CT Scan is a special type of x-ray used as a detailed cross section of a specific area of the body. Bone marrow is routinely tested to examine progress of the disease. Spinal taps are also used in certain types of cancers.

Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Essay

Symbolism in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams In Tennessee Williams’ play, A Streetcar Named Desire, the character of Blanche Dubois is a vivid example of the use of symbolism throughout the play. Blanche wants to view things in an unrealistic way. â€Å"I don’t want realism. I want magic†¦I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don’t tell truth, I tell what ought to be truth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Blanche p.117). She doesn’t want reality; instead she wishes to view a rose-colored version of life that goes along with her old-fashioned southern belle personality. Blanche doesn’t want to face the reality of her problems. She wants everything to be softened and dimmed for her, just as the light is softened and dimmed by the shade. â€Å"Light† often symbolizes truth, which is why she doesn’t like to stand in an illuminated room. She hides from reality and lives in a world of her own creation. â€Å"I can’t stand a naked bulb, any more than I can a rude remark or a vulgar action†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Blanche p.55 scene 3). She had bought a little colored paper lantern to put it over the light bulb, so the room could get that mysterious touch that she wanted. â€Å"†¦Soft people have got to shimmer and glow- they’ve got to put on soft colors, the colors of butterfly wings, and put a paper lantern over the light†¦ It isn’t enough to be soft. You’ve got to be soft and attractive. And I-I’m fading now! I don’t know how much longer I can turn the trick†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Blanche p. 79 scene 5). Blanche can al...

British Political Issue

Assess the impact of the media on the course and outcomes of a contemporary British political issue. You should choose one of the issues covered in the course.The Media, and its Influence on the Fortunes of Political LeadersIn a pluralist democracy, the media can have a very powerful effect upon politics, so powerful in some instances that it can shape outcomes of important political issues. Leadership of a party, therefore, is a precarious position to be in, owing to the persistent and pervasive influence of newspapers, television, radio and the internet. Events surrounding Iain Duncan Smith's reign as leader of the Conservatives illustrate the extent of this influence.Since the demise of spectrum scarcity in 1946, British politicians have been continually scrutinised by the media through television, newspapers and more recently the internet. Milton's 17th century concept of the ‘freedom of the press' has allowed independence from government manipulation and the ability to talk more honestly and freely about politicians. However, the impartiality of the information depends on the fair-mindedness of journalists and the editorial policy.In the first half of the 20th century, people used to attend political rallies where they heard the great politicians of the day. At smaller rallies other political voices could also be heard. Radio brought these debates into people's houses. With the advent of television came a completely new dimension. Not only the voice of politicians were heard but their personalities were exposed too. It was not enough to be an able politician with excellent policies but Political figures had to be ‘good on the box', in a sense ‘actors'.Kennedy and Nixon's presidential duel in 1960 first exemplified the importance of image and style; Kennedy was clean-shaven, and had a clear charismatic phraseology. Nixon looked pale, unshaven and disorientated. His poor performance contributed to his election defeat. One could say that politics has become that of a ‘spectacle', staged to the minutes detail in order to attract and persuade voters.Technology has increased the immediacy and potential of the media, with 24-hour television channels and internet sites allowing faster dissemination of news. Localised party election meetings have been replaced by intricately crafted media events where ‘self-image' and ‘sound bites' are vital for capturing the snapshot interest of the quite often-preoccupied British public. Party politics have subsequently been diluted and reduced to simple slogans that can be expressed in the shrinking time available in the evening news.After the ‘iron lady' left Downing Street in 1991, the Conservatives have struggled to regain both the image and the charisma of Margaret Thatcher. Her successor John Major was subject to the form of media scrutiny still affecting the Conservative Party today. In 1997, the normally. Tory biased Sun had this headline during the build up to the general election -The Sun Backs Blair†(The Sun,1997); although this swing in favour of Labour arose because of anticipation and previous disappointment rather than political preference.In 2001, Duncan Smith was elected after the failure of William Hague to revive the Conservative Party and improve their chances in the general election. The opportunistic media criticised Thatcher's radical poll and fuel tax policies in the 1980's and left the Conservatives with a rather burdensome shadow looming over them. Refusal to forget Thatcher's legacy has meant that tabloid papers have continued to apply lowbred anti-Conservative personalisation – increasing trivialisation and some elements of contempt towards Conservative MP's. John Major, William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and more recently Michael Howard have all been victims of personalisation; attributed to them chiefly by tabloids. John Major was the ‘grey man'- the avuncular shadow of Margaret Thatcher's former self, William Hague was the'high school debater', Iain Duncan Smith was ‘the old-soldier', and Michael Howard is the ‘dracula' type according to Anne Widdecombe -the Shadow Home Secretary. Perhaps the main reason for the prevailing criticism is the inability to equate the archetypal figure of Tony Blair. His TV personality, combined with his great technical ability as an extempore speaker make him unrivalled.Up until Iain Duncan Smith was unseated, a number of allegations were made about his conduct within office. He was alleged to have misused the parliamentary secretarial allowance by paying his wife. However, many believed him to be on his way out of office anyway, and that the claims were inconsequential to the security of his position. This is perhaps, exemplifies an attempt to frame Smith. Budge's framing theory emphasises the way in which the media can influence politics and the way in which people see and understand it.Fast-forward syndrome is a common occurrence in modern politics due to the fast, free flowing information that is available world-wide. Issues change throughout the course of time, affected by crucial events, which can eventually be laid to rest when new information is discovered. An example of this is the perpetual real time coverage of the Iraq war. Newspapers said Conservative prospects were ‘promising' under Howard's leadership, when only hours ago under Smith, they had been ‘beyond repair'. Optimism however can be premature in politics, as Iain Duncan Smith can testify.When he triumphed over Ken Clarke in September 2001, the media claimed he was the man to resurrect the Tories' and compete with Labour; Baroness Thatcher called him a â€Å"fine young man with exceptional potential†(Thatcher,2001). Unfortunately for the Tories, September 11th distracted attention away from Duncan Smith's introductory campaign. Scotland on Sunday also revealed precautionary optimism by saying: â€Å"Any democrat, regardless of political hue, should welcome the rebuilding of the parliamentary opposition into an incisive and effective team.†(Scotland on Sunday,2003)A few months down the line, he was criticised from all quarters including by members and ex-members of the party like Anne Widdecombe, Michael Heseltine and Crispin Blunt. Blunt resigned because he believed that Smith was a â€Å"handicap† to the party; Blunt of course was unaware that his comment would lead to a bombardment of insults in his direction -even from Duncan Smith critics. Thatcher concluded by lamenting the ineptitude of Smith calling him â€Å"the worst leader in the history of the Conservative Party†(Thatcher,2003). Broadsheets and tabloids emphasised the remark, which would mark the end of Smith's reign as leader. A substantial amount of newspaper coverage in the past three months was aimed at the Conservative Party, its ministerial fallouts and declining popularity. Duncan Smith questioned party loyalty and urged MP's to â€Å"unite or die†. After the ‘overacted' performance of Smith at the Conservative Party Conference in October 2003, even right of centre broadsheets like the Daily Telegraph started denouncing him, predicting his resignation â€Å"within weeks†(Riddell, 2003). It was: â€Å"the most desperate day in the history of the Conservative Party† (Riddle, 2003). One of the papers to retain its loyalty was The Sun who criticised the ‘backstabbing' Tories for squandering time and urged them to continue denouncing the government.Left wing opposition has arisen in the form of tabloids such as the Daily Mirror, who sloganised the Conservative Party's cabinet reduction strategy -which gives double the department responsibility to some of the members. The Mirror branded them â€Å"The Dirty dozen†. The Mirror's main concern was that some MP's were given the responsibility of two departments instead of one, indicating perhaps less emphasis on important issues like Health and Education.Rupert Murdoch's media ownership could have had an impact on the Conservative leadership. Owning The Sun, The Times, The News of the World and the Sunday Times -as well as 35.4 percent of BskyB, means that he is extremely powerful. He was a staunch Tory supporter in the 80's and 90's and has shifted his opinion of the leaders recently until the recent appointment of Michael Howard. Murdoch's position was cautious, but nevertheless significant in terms of media influence. â€Å"We will have to see how the Tory front bench looks,† Murdoch told BBC television on Friday. Although he was anti Euro, Murdoch at times backed Blair's Government, exemplifying the alternating ideological influences of media moguls over issues like party leadership.Failure to project his authority in the Commons was one of Smith's natural downfalls and perhaps undermines the argument that the media were responsible for his dismissal. In comparison with new leader Michael Howard, he did not have the ability to â€Å"alter his delivery while changing the mood of the house† (Fraser Nelson, 2003). Nelson also points out the striking differences in the chamber atmosphere; Smith would encourage a few mumbled utterances from his backbenchers, whereas Howard managed to gain a rumbustuous approval in his duel with Blair Prime Ministers Question Time. Michael Howard has already claimed BBC approval for his debating skills in the chamber; for example, his fight against excessive business beaurocracy and taxes, his clash with Blair over the conduct of Children's Minister Margaret HodgeA recent Guardian poll suggested that the Conservatives still lagged behind Labour on 38%(The Guardian, 2003). The alternating and sometimes contradictory multiplicity of ‘facts' displayed by left and right wing papers will no doubt have an effect on their loyal readership. However because these statistics only represent part of our democratic society and could be manipulated, the public's attitude to the leadership of the Conservative Party could be misdirected. Instead of polls representing the public's attitude -‘Reinforcement Theory'(Budge, 1998)- they might shape it into the image presented by the media rather than by theirs -‘Agenda Setting Theory'(Budge, 1998). People's opinions are changeable. Human beings think and act in crowds as well as individually, and if newspapers give the impression that most people have a particular viewpoint their willingness to have a more open mind can be affected. If a political party then makes mistakes and gains a reputation, not only will it find it difficult to detach itself from the previous deficiencies, but also it will inevitably be further damaged with the growth of investigative journalism. The issue of Iain Duncan Smith's leadership downfall therefore was not solely influenced by the media, but was a result of perennial antagonism against an ailing party. The initial optimism of Michael Howard's leadership could diminish when he gets involved in policy confrontation, and the media continue with their routine cynicism -which can influence the publics opinion on party leadership. REFERENCES Unknown Authorship, Scotland on Sunday, 2001Fraser Nelson, Scotland on Sunday, 2003Margaret Thatcher, Daily Mail, September, 2001Margaret Thatcher, Daily Mail, September, 2003Peter Riddell, The Times,2003Budge I, 2001, The New British Politics(Second Edition), Media Theories, Longman 2001, page 294-297 Unknown Authorship, 2003, http://uk.news.yahoo.com/031114/325/edzpq.html visited on the 19/11/03WEBOGRAPHYhttp://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,9061,947736,00.html visited on the 23/11/03http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,9061,1083855,00.html visited on the 23/11/03http://quickstart.clari.net/qs_se/webnews/wed/cd/Ubritain-politics-analysis.RJbq_DOT. htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3225615.stm visited on the 24/11/03http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3161070.stm visited on the 20/11/03http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2408891.stm visited on the 16/11/03http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3223185.stm visited on the 17/11/03 http://politics.guardian.co.uk/polls/story/0,11030,1088270,00.html visited on the 29/11/03BIBLIOGRAPHYNegrine, R, (1989) Politics and the Mass Media in Britain(second edition), Routledge, LondonBudge, I., Crewe, I., Mckay, D., Newton, K., 2001, The New British Politics(Second Edition). Longman 2001, pages 299-307

Ambition in Your Life Essay

Ambition a passion that never fails you and will never let you fail it, and this is why it will ultimately cause the downfall of the individual. In the novel Frankenstein and in the Play Macbeth, ambition is the main theme in these two pieces. Both Victor and Macbeth had great dreams of accomplishing certain things that defy a higher order. Ambition drove both of them to strive for what they want and never give up on their dreams. Ambition without doubt help or even single handling brought Macbeth and Victor to their dreams. Ambition is the best quality that a person can have, it allowed Victor and Macbeth to achieve what they always wanted. Whatever can bring you to the top, also has the power to make you fall harder then you fell before, being overly ambitious can also destroy a person and people that surrounds this individual. Victor and Macbeth succeeded in accomplishing their deepest desire but this does not mean they have succeeded in achieving happiness. Everyone dreams about achieving goals and dreams in life that is nearly impossible to grasp due to certain circumstances. Why do some individuals still try in chasing their dreams even though they know that the chances of succeeding are very slim? In the novel Frankenstein and the play Macbeth, Victor and Macbeth had dreams of achieving goals that defy a high order which promises server consequences. Victor and Macbeth are examples of the individual that were driven by ambition, this ambition was so strong and relentless that it actually allowed both Victor and Macbeth achieved their impossible dreams. In Victor’s case he succeeded in creating life and Macbeth succeeded in becoming king and this was all due to being ambitious and determined. Yes Victor and Macbeth did achieved what they wanted but both paid great prices in doing so. Was it worth it? Ambition is the best quality anyone can have, until we crossed the line of chasing a dream and just being obsessed. No one is born with the ambition that makes you obsessed with your goals and dreams in life. Certain incidents must occur to push this person to let ambition make you become obsessed with the goals and dreams in life. Victor and Macbeth both experience this incident that allow their ambitious minds to take over. Victor experienced the lost of a love one, which was his mother. This shock was too great for Victor to handle, this caused victor to hate the fact of death and suffering in life. The chance and opportunity of being able to bring his mother back, and to end all suffering was to captivating. He had the knowledge and power to do so. This caused his ambitious mind to grow and start to take over. The same line of events occurred to Macbeth as well. Macbeth had no intention in betraying his king and taking the throne. Until the three witches implanted the seed of betrayal in Macbeth, he started to think of the opportunities that being the king would bring to him. Betrayal thoughts started to occur in his mind. Macbeth was never sure of what to do until he talked to his lovely wife, she convinced him in taking this opportunity in becoming king. Macbeth kept his ambitious mind under control until the actual first deed of betrayal was committed which was the killing of Duncan, the current king of Scotland. After this incident, ambition took over Macbeth and caused in to do everything in his power to secure his throne. A determined and overly ambitious mind is a blind one. You may spend your whole life striving for a dream or goal that you have. You work so hard in getting what you think you really want, but when you actually achieved and accomplished you goal or dream. You realized that you’re not happy and lost certain things that are so much more important to you then your so called dream or goal. Macbeth and Victor both experienced this in their lives. Victor tried to create life and he succeeded in doing so, but in the course of creating â€Å"The monster† he abandoned what was really important to him, which is his family, his friends, most importantly his life. His creation actually destroyed everything that Victor loved and cared for. The monster should not be blamed because victor crossed the line of trying to better human kind and playing God. He created this hideous and ugly monster that no one can possibly love and abandoned it and left it to die. The actions of victor can also justify the actions of the monster. If victor actually took the time in thinking of what he was doing, he would’ve realized the mistake he was making. He made another mistake right after making the first one. He gave this monster life and limitless power and intelligent, obviously this monster can survive and cause great harm to him and his love ones. If he actually stayed with the monster and taught him how to live and act towards other beings, things would’ve of turned out totally different. Macbeth experienced the same exact lines of events and feelings that victor did in his life. If Macbeth thought of the acts that he was committing, he would’ve of realized that the only thing he is accomplishing in killing the king, is damning himself, his only loved ones. It is obvious that if he committed this act of betrayal and defiance of a higher order, only bad can occur from this. He didn’t realize this right after this act just like victor. He continued to do wrong because of his ambitious mind, which Victor also experienced. He continued acting on his relentless ambition to secure his throne and his undying passion to seek happiness which at the time was being king for him. Which was completely wrong. Knowledge is power and power can corrupt any human being. Victor and Macbeth had the opportunity to achieve their dreams and goals. This thought corrupted both their minds. As both Victor and Macbeth succeeded in achieving their dreams, they experienced different feelings. When Victor was successful in creating life, it totally scared him that he actually create life and it caused him to flee. This ultimately caused the downfall and death of Victor. In Macbeth’s case when he became king, it made him a more determined and stronger person. It made him paranoid and trusted no one, which caused him to make more mistakes, such as killing any one that stood a threat. Victor and Macbeth both were not happy even though they achieved their dream. This is because they acted on impulse which caused them to do whatever it takes to succeed, which caused them to make mistakes that they regretted towards the end of their lives. All of this and every mistake that both Victor and Macbeth made were because they let their ambitious mind blind them of their senses and conscious of what is really important to them and what truly makes them happy. Chasing a dream is good, until the mind is obsessed and is poisoned with the ambition that will change you to a whole new person. You can also order a custom term paper, research paper, thesis, dissertation or essay on ambition from our professional custom essay writing service which provides students with high-quality custom written papers at an affordable cost.

Mamma Mia Paper

The film Mamma Mia! (Lloyd, 2008) is based on the extremely popular and successful Broadway musical which opened in 1999 in London. Since then, this Broadway production has become a global phenomenon which has entertained countless audiences, and still holds on strong as one of the most enjoyed and accepted musicals of this generation (Shenton, 2009). And so it is assumed that the motion picture adaptation of Mamma Mia! would be just as popular; and it was, expanding into one of the highest-grossing films of 2008 as well as receiving two Golden Globe nominations along with many other awards (Mamma Mia! 1990-2009). The film portrays a young woman named Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, on the eve of her wedding, who is convinced that in order to feel complete she must find her father. After reading her mother’s diary and revealing that she has three potential fathers, she proceeds to secretly invite all three of them to her wedding. Many of the themes and elements that encompa ss the film are typical of a classical Hollywood musical such as the presence of utopia and spontaneity, the emotional connection between the characters and their audience, and the constant premise of nostalgia.However, Director, Phyllida Lloyd, uses these themes and elements, as well as new techniques in soundtrack development, to make Mamma Mia! unique. She successfully manipulates the conventions of the classical musical and pieces together an updated version that speaks directly to its contemporary audience. Musicals were originally introduced in contemporary cinema by Hollywood in an attempt to create an escape for people during periods of economic and social instability. People who lived during eras such as the Great Depression, and other times of recession, had suppressed feelings of exhaustion, dreariness, and hopelessness.Musicals, with their utopian sensibility, served as a retreat from the real world and brought feelings of happiness, life, and energy to these people, eve n if it was only for a short time. The way in which musicals achieve this is by posing this idea that the characters in the film are ‘real’ people, and their problems and resolutions to those problems are also ‘real’. When the audience ‘suspends their belief’, they forget that what they are watching is an actual construction and get swept up in the euphoric experience that encompasses the film (McMillin, 2006, p. 55).This utopian feel is a key aspect concerning the construction of a musical, since its main focus is to distract its audience from any hardships that may be occuring in their lives. The idea of a utopia refers to the â€Å"imagined or wished for versions of the human condition which are envisaged as actually happening in the world. † (Parker, 2002, p. 11). So if the audience can actually envision and believe that the events taking place in Mamma Mia! can actually happen, it keeps that hope alive within the individual watching the film that this happiness could also come to them. Mamma Mia! llustrates this utopia through the beauty of the film’s setting, the spontaneity of its musical numbers, and its happy ending which wraps up nicely with all characters finding their place in the world and true happiness. Mamma Mia! is set on a remote Greek island called Kalchuri and is filled with vivid shots of the luxurious beaches and a vast mountain side. Total relaxation and happiness is the type of environment that this island paradise presents to its viewers. To further the island’s appeal, Sophie mentions in the film that it was â€Å"once the site of Aphrodite’s fountain, the goddess of love.If you drank the water you were supposed to find true love and perfect happiness. † This mythical fountain ads a mysterious element to the island making it even more appealing to the audience, and also serves as a metaphor foreshadowing the status of absolute utopia that is finally restored tow ards the conclusion of the film. The audience can easily envision themselves in this type of setting, removing them from their harsh reality into this blissful place where almost anything can happen.Therefore, the events which take place in the film seem more believable along with the immense focus on spontaneity, which also adds to the euphoric atmosphere which encompasses the film. The theme of spontaneity is common in most musicals and is prominent in Mamma Mia! taking form throughout the film in random events such as an arbitrary burst of laughter by a group of Greek people for no reason in particular, or a piano placed in the most awkward position on a dock with a man playing the exact cords in time with the song during the â€Å"Dancing Queen† scene.Spontaneity is also exposed in most of the musical numbers where the characters have a tendency to just break into song at any given moment, even when the audience is least expecting it. â€Å"The musical, technically the m ost complex type of film produced in Hollywood, paradoxically has always been the genre which attempts to give the greatest illusion of spontaneity and effortless. † (Cohan, 2002, pp. 34-35). The character Harry Bright, played by Colin Firth, even goes as far as to articulate the word several times throughout the film referring to his own spontaneity, or lack thereof.By the end of the film, Harry’s character breaks through his shell of insecurity and reveals to everyone that he has found true love in the heart of another man. This detail comes as a shock and surprise to everyone, including the audience, furthering the development of his character and his spontaneity. Harry is not the only character in the film that finds true love and happiness at the conclusion of the film. Donna, played by Meryl Streep, and long time love interest Sam, played by Pierce Brosnan, are finally reunited.Her daughter Sophie and fiance Sky, played by Dominic Cooper, decide not to get married , and to leave the island and see the world, which is what they both originally wanted. Another unlikely pair is Bill and Rosie, played by Stellan Skarsgard and Julie Walters, who also find each other and are expected to also live happily ever after. To top it all off Aphrodite’s fountain, mentioned above, is finally discovered bursting through a crack in the courtyard and raining down on everyone symbolizing that ultimate utopia has finally been restored on the island.The way in which the film is wrapped up, is representative of its utopian nature. Many issues presented at the start of the film are no longer important such as the impending question which the whole plot is based on, who is Sophie’s father? The audience does not worry about this minor detail because utopia is reinstated and this happiness allows the audience to overlook the some loose ends that may be present at the end of the film. The feeling of utopia is closely tied in with the emotional connection that the audience feels with the characters and their happiness or sorrow.The emotions of the characters in the film also become the emotions of the audience, thus the appeal of the musical. Musicals most often will use the emotional vulnerability of the audience to ‘extend the fourth wall’ and establish a high level of emotional investment from the audience. One way in which the film attracts its audience is through the development of the soundtrack. Mamma Mia’s soundtrack unique from other musicals in that it is completely comprised of songs by an enormously popular musical group from the 70s and 80s named ABBA.Since these songs are so classic, most of the audience, which mainly consists of younger to middle-aged women, already know the words to most of the songs and become involved with the film by singing along with the characters. This also allows for the audience to become particularly attached to the characters, possibly even putting themselves in the char acter’s shoes. The strongest level of this audience to character relation is most evident during the various musical numbers taking place in the film. Musical numbers are woven into the narrative structure, motivated by character psychology and/or plot development and expressive of the emotions, opinions, or state of mind of the singer. † (Langford, 2005, p. 85). This is evident in the â€Å"Mamma Mia† number, performed by Meryl Streep. The character Donna has just discovered three men from her past in the attic of her old goat house. She has convinced herself that that part of her life was over; however, seeing them again after so many years has made her realize that it still greatly affects her and she cannot resist the urge to see more.The lyrics of the song, â€Å"Mamma mia, here I go again, my my, how can I resist you. Mamma mia, does it show again, my my, just how much I miss you. † show just how torn Donna is. As she sings these lyrics she is stumbl ing around, shocked and confused as to exactly why these three men are here. One can hear the bewilderment and frustration in her voice, and also see it in her actions. There is a constant struggle between what her head is telling her and what her heart wants her to do. The entire musical number is playing off her emotions and her state of mind, causing the audience to feel those same feelings.The mise-en-scene during this scene is interesting; she is alone for most of the scene, but is joined near the end by a group of islanders. This group of people help her in deciding whether or not to confront the three men. The group become just as curious as Donna in finding out why these strangers are on the island. The sight of the men takes Donna back to her past throughout the musical number as all those deep feelings of longing which she has suppressed for so long. The sight of these men makes Donna incredibly nostalgic, which introduces another main theme from the film.Nostalgia is a pr ominent theme in the film, the feeling of longing for the past is brought up several times. The plot itself deals with the idea of bringing Donna face-to-face with her past and the characters themselves are constantly referencing ‘the good old days’. Many musical numbers in the film such as â€Å"Our Last Summer† and â€Å"Slipping Through My Fingers† deal with this issue. One number in particular that references this idea directly is the â€Å"Dancing Queen† scene. At the commencement of this scene Donna’s best friend Tanya, played by Christine Baranski, says, â€Å"Whatever happened to our Donna?Life and soul of the party, el rock chick supremo? † Donna then replies with, â€Å"I grew up† and Tanya says, â€Å"Well grow back down again! † Tanya is reminiscing about the past when Donna was a free soul and encourages her to find that inner youthfulness that they are longing to see in her their old friend. The words of the song openly reference the theme of nostalgia; â€Å"And when you get the chance, you are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen. † These words transport Donna into the past, back to that carefree girl that her friends were encouraging her to find.This scene also conveys the theme of longing to the rest of the women on the island who are also coping with this same dilemma. Young and old women come together to channel their inner nostalgia and bring back the youthfulness that is trapped inside each one of them. The responsibility and obligation associated with growing old is like a burden over the women keeping them from unleashing their suppressed feelings. This is illustrated in the scene by an older woman who is carrying a bundle of wood on her back.As Donna and the other women pass her singing and dancing, she proceeds to lift the bundle off her back and throw it aside, while singing â€Å"Oh Yeah! † in time with the song and joining the rest of the wome n. The bundle of wood is a metaphor for the burden which is inflicted on all women as they grow older. The message that this scene is attempting to portray is that just because you grow older, it doesn’t mean you should let go of your past and youthfulness. Throughout Mamma Mia! the main aspects of a musical are truly seen and even challenged.Audiences appreciate musicals because the help them escape the, at times, bleak realities of the lives and represent a utopia that they feel is attainable through the extreme emotions expressed by the characters and the storyline. Nostalgia plays a great part in this film in particular because the characters are constantly evaluating their behaviours and questioning the decisions they have made in the past. Mamma Mia! follows the classic structure of a musical but combines an intriguing plot and an extremely popular musical soundtrack creating an appealing film for all audiences to enjoy.Bibliography Cohan, S. (2002). Hollywood musicals, the film reader. New York: Routledge. Langford, B. (2005). Film genre: Hollywood and Beyond. Edinburgh University Press. Lloyd, P. (Director). (2008). Mamma Mia! [Motion Picture]. Mamma Mia! (1990-2009). Retrieved March 11, 2009, from The Internet Movie Database: http://www. imdb. com/title/tt0795421/ McMillin, S. (2006). The Musical As Drama. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Parker, M. (2002). Utopia and Organization. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Shenton, M. (2009). Mamma Mia! Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www. mamma-mia. com/showhistory. asp

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Analysis Essay

Joseph Stalin strategically came into power in communist Russia in the 1930’s. Within just a few years, he turned Russia from a communist state into a totalitarian dictatorship. Few people chose to speak out against Stalin, but those who did were put into Siberian work camps or gulags. Alexander Solzhenitsyn was one of the few that chose to speak out against Stalin and his totalitarian regime. He used his years in the work camps to illustrate a vivid portrayal of what camp life was like in his book, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. The novel is a criticism against Stalin’s communism, and is a commentary on why a communistic system will never work. Three of the biggest ways the novel critiques communism are: by attempting to dehumanize Russian society, displaying forms of unjust punishment, and arguing the importance of faith. Solzhenitsyn propagates the radical idea that communism doesn’t work. Communism is the idea that everyone in society receives equal shares of the benefits resulting from labor. It teaches the poor to rise up and attain financial and social status equal to that of the middle-class. In order for everyone to be on the same level, wealth is redistributed so the members of the upper class are brought down to the same financial and social level as the middle class (Coffin 660-665). In theory, communism is presented as to be a utopia where everyone has adequate food and shelter but in the novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, it is clear communism in practice is very different from communism in ideology. The communism Solzhenitsyn presents in this novel actually tries to take away any form of human dignity. The story takes place in a Russian prison camp after World War II. The protagonist is a man named Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, but referred to as Shukhov for most of the novel . The author refers to Ivan as Shukhov to emphasize the how the camp sets him at a cold, official distance. â€Å"Ivan† is Shukhov’s first name and Denisovich is his patronymic, a name that is derived from one’s father’s name. In Russian society, addressing someone by his or her first name and patronymic is cordial but respectful. The early Soviet Communist regime tried to eradicate this form of address because the respect it entails suggested class differences among people, something communism seeks to destroy. On the other hand, addressing someone by his or her last name has an official meaning. The Soviet manner of addressing people as â€Å"Comrade† followed by their last name was an attempt to replace the old way of addressing someone with a new one better adapted to a class-free nation. â€Å"Even in the camp they were polite to people and addressed them by their full name† (Solzhenitsyn 26). The prison camp workers always addressed each other with the same degree of respect in order to preserve each other’s dignity. The labor camp in which Ivan is imprisoned is designed to oppress and dehumanize its prisoners. The living conditions are simply unbearable. The mattresses do not have sheets, prisoners share tiny portions of bread and porridge per meal, and the guards force the prisoners to undress in sub zero temperatures for body searches. The camp replaces the prisoner’s names with letter and number to erase all hints of individuality, â€Å"S 854†¦three days penalty work,† says the new warden to, Ivan as punishment for not getting up on time (Solzhenitsyn 7-8). The camp gives everyone numbers and makes them all dress identically take away their identities, â€Å"from the outside, everyone in the squad looked the same- their black coats were identical-but within the squad there were great distinctions† (Solzhenitsyn 15). However, Denisovich does not accept the camps attempts to dehumanize him. He shows maintaining human dignity does not have to be achieved through violent rebellion but rather, through developing a system of personal rules. For example, at meal time, no matter the conditions, he always removes his cap before eating, â€Å"then he removed his hat from his clean-shaven head- however cold it might be, he could never bring himself to eat with his hat on† (Solzhenitsyn 16). From his childhood, this practice gives Ivan a sense that he is behaving in a civilized manner. No matter how famished he becomes, he never stoops to Fetyukov’s level, begging for scraps. He scorns Fetyukov’s behavior, which he believes is inhuman. Ivan may be treated like an animal by the Soviet camp system, but he subtly fights back and refuses to submit. In one instance, Shukhov is tempted to ask a fellow prisoner for a cigarette which the other man has already half smoked but, â€Å"but he would never lower himself†¦ he would never look at a man’s mouth† (Solzhenitsyn 27). Ivan never allows the labor camp to get the best of him but gets punished for things one in his control on top of being imprisoned. Another criticism of communism throughout the novel is the description of unjust punishment upon the prisoners. In the beginning of the novel, Shukhov does not get up on time because he is sick and is then threatened with three days in the hole. Similarly, Buynovsky receives ten days in the hole for trying to bundle up against the cold with a flannel vest. Neither Shukhov’s illness nor Buynovsky’s attempt to stay warm harm anyone, but the camp treats both as strict violations of the law, worthy of severe punishment. Such harsh punishment for such petty offenses is absurd. These men are already locked into arduous prison sentences, heaping on unfair and illogical punishment upon them is just a brutal exercise of power by the guards. Through this unjust treatment one thing that help the prisoners survive was having faith in something whether it is a strict moral code or faith in god. One of the main goals of communism was to eradicate religion from society. According to the founders of communism religion hinders societal progress; it was Marx who said â€Å"religion is the opium of people.† Solzhenitsyn implies it is much easier to get through hardships with faith in something rather than without. During a march, Shukhov thinks of Alyosha, the devout Baptist, he wonders, â€Å"What had he to be happy about? His cheeks were sunken, he lived strictly on his rations, and he earned nothing. He spent all his Sundays with the other Baptists. They shed the hardships of camp like water† (Solzhenitsyn 38). Shukhov is making the point when you believe in something, like religion, it is much easier to keep a positive attitude and survive a terrible situation. Although Ivan does not mention religion for most of the novel, his final conversation with Alyoshka, reveals faith can be a means of survival in the oppressive camp system. Ivan adheres to a strict set of rules, like always taking off his hat before eating or trying to waste as little as possible. Alyoshka, has faith in god and the human spirit â€Å"for my part I am not ready merely to be bound but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus† (Solzhenitsyn 163), this comment really affects Shukhov to a point where he begins to reflect on his own philosophy. Shukhov’s s sense of inner peace in the novel’s last paragraph, which resembles Alyoshka’s sense of inner peace throughout the novel, demonstrates that religious faith offers strength in the face of difficulty. Having any type of faith can carry someone through hardship, religious faith is simply one type of such a faith. Though the labor camps were filled with suffering and misery, the men continued to exhibit acts of humanity in their day to day lives. The only way these men could have survived this inhuman treatment was by subtly fighting the system in their own personal way. Solzhenitsyn uses three simple yet powerful ideas: the dehumanization of the human society, displays of unjust punishment, and the importance of having faith in no matter how awful the situation is, to speak out against Stalin and the terrible consequences of Russian communism. Works Cited Coffin, Judith G., and Robert C. Stacey. Western Civilizations: Their History & Culture. New York, NY: W. W. Norton, 2008. Print. Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr Isaevich. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. New York: Dutton, 1963. Print.