The Consequences of the Great Depression in the US Experienced from Research Paper

The Consequences of the Great Depression in the US Experienced from Children - Research Paper Example were hit hardest by the depression. On realizing that the economic downfall will last for a period, many countries initiated plans to keep their domestic production protected through the imposition of tariffs. Others raised their existing tariffs, and quotas were set on foreign imports (Ewing, 2006). All these restrictive measured aimed at reduction of international trade volume. Over the consequent assorted number of years, the contribution from investors declined and so did the consumption rate of the customers (Rauchway, 2008). Some economists are of the opinion that significant outcomes tot eh political sphere, with some political aspirants like Franklin D. Roosevelt of the democrat getting advantage of the economic distress. Arguably, the economic depression affected nation, consequently affecting individuals with those involved in trade getting severe effects. Though given less emphasis, the effects of the depression in children was as well diverse. This paper analyses in depth the consequences of the Great Depression in the US experienced by children. Lack of education Education is a key factor to the success of every child. As such, it is a requirement that children are given enough of it to ensure that their future life is well constructed. However, with the prevailing tension and economic distress during the Great Depression, the opportunity to access education was at stake (Terkel, 2011). Evidently, during this period, American institutions were profoundly transformed. For instance, in the 1920s, there was erosion of crucial educational advances, resulting in the closing of schools. The closure of these schools was instigated by the fact that funding was no more. In addition, those schools that were under construction were brought to a halt. This meant that children could not attend school any more. Notably also, the arrears for teachers and educational administrators increased. As a result, they formed unions and engaged in strikes with hope that th eir arrears would be cleared. The consequences were felt by children for lack of teachers and administrators meant that learning was no more (Bound & Turner, 2002). Retrieved on March 30, 2013, from http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/trickle-down-in-down-market-1.jpg Alteration of Family Unit structures The Great Depression altered the way of living for families and children, turning to be a challenge to every American family. The notable effects ranged from impacted financial structures and employment of the entire family unit. Further, the families lost their jobs and could not settle their mortgage debt were rendered homeless. The basic needs like food, water, and shelter became scarce. Regardless of where one was living, be it in the city or on the farms, life was hectic for everyone. The depression forced the kids to work, made others run away from their family, and began living in the railroads. Most of the children from families that were not well off were forced to work and bring money to the family for their upkeep (Rauchway, 2008). This meant that the family structure was completely altered as every individual in the family felt the need to work add to the family income. Working of the children was not that good since children were affected in growth due to the physical fatigue and psychological depression. Medical challenges During this period, scholars document that infant mortality rate was at its peak because there was no prenatal medical care for the pregnant

Psychic Skills Exploration & Development Essay Example for Free

Psychic Skills Exploration Development Essay Introduction: Welcome to my Free Ebook : Psychic Skills Exploration Development. Through this book I will be combining the courses I taught originally. The first part of the book is the very basics, the absolute beginnings of learning to understand the other senses, learning to find and meet with your Spirit Guides and more. The Second part is the content from my more advanced course. It includes a lot of development exercises, things to explore, and more. Although I am not teaching classes in a structured online forum anymore you may like to join the free discussion group that I moderate called Psychic Living (formerly Acheiving Psychic Awareness). In this group we discuss psychic ability and more from a Spiritual perspective that  welcomes and honors all paths as sacred. We also hold topic specific and general chats and have other files of interest etc. You can access the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/psychicliving and feel free to strike up a conversation with like minded folks, use the group features etc. I am also including a list of FAQs. These small chapters will be at the end of the book and will cover questions that many students have asked. You may find some of your questions have been answered previously. If not feel free to email me, and as time allows I will be happy to answer some of your questions. I may even include the answers (anonymously of course) to this book or to the website. There is also a resource chapter at the end of the book with links to great internet sites, other learning resources etc. Keeping with the feel of the original courses I have still included the class projects, assignments, and exercises. Although there are no grades and you dont have to turn them in, please do them for your own growth and benefit. You will learn a lot in the process guaranteed. It is highly recommended that you follow the first part of this book in order, it goes through the first class and then as you move on to the more advanced stuff you can jump around to whatever interests you. The Beginning Psy section is what the rest of the book builds from, so even if you are more adept please work through it first. Also, please know that there are no experts in this arena, and that we all grow and learn in our own ways. Take what resonates with you from this course, and leave behind what doesnt. Feel free to grow and explore in the forum, or to share this book with anyone you feel may enjoy it. You may even offer it as a free Ebook on your site so long as you agree to the following Terms: This book may be distributed FREELY, without Charge, not as a bonus for paying for something else, but FREELY. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/courseintro.html (1 of 2)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Introduction to Psychic Skills Development It must remain UNALTERED, do not edit things out, do not present it as your own work. This book may not be reproduced in any other form without express written permission from the author. It may not be excerpted etc. It must be  distributed in its entirety. If you agree to those very simple terms I encourage you to share this book with others :). Should this book be a help to you, and you find you have learned a lot from it, please consider making a small donation. To date I have received one donation, although hundreds have used this content. I use the proceeds to keep my site up and running and to continue to develop/promote great free content for the seeker. Your gifts are great Karma and greatly appreciated as they allow me to continue to offer great services and information, I thank you 🙂 Click the button below to be taken to a secure server where you can donate any amount every penny helps. Return to Table of Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/courseintro.html (2 of 2)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Developing Psychic Abilities: Things to Consider This Free Ebook brought to you by SpiritualGuidanceTarot.com Important Things to Consider Before Persuing This Path I would like to take this time to discuss a few issues that I feel are important to consider. Developing psychic abilities is not the same as pursuing spiritual growth. One does not have to be enlightened at all to use these abilities, this being said it is always important to be cautious about whom you trust, and first and foremost you should learn to trust yourself. Although I do approach psychic ability from a Spiritual perspective, psychic senses are only one aspect of spirituality. Many people get sidetracked on developing these abilities and forget to explore other areas of spiritual growth. This is a mistake, and that is why I am writing this in big bold print on the front of this book. I encourage all of you to further explore and walk your path, the truth will set you free, but each persons path to the truth is uniquely different. Dont expect developing your psychic skills to enlighten you or make your life easy. Psychic skills alone do not hold the keys to magic power or ha ppiness etc. Happiness is not a quest it is  a choice, and work with Spirit is wonderful, but you have to walk your own path. We are all on our personal path to the truth, and many are the paths that lead to it. There are no simple solutions so dont have unrealistic expectations in this area. Psychic abilities can enhance your connection to the Holy Spirit, to your own inner Spirit and help you to be more receptive to assistance from the Angels, Ascended masters, guides etc., but that brings me to my next important point. Dont give away your personal power! I was very surprised when I was teaching these classes online, by the number of people who incorrectly answered a question from the first course. The question said True or False: Spirits always have our best interest at heart and know more than we do so we should always listen to their direction. False is the correct answer, most answered true. I would like to state that it is always important that what you receive feel right to you. Often our ego will tell us what we want to hear and mask itself as spiritual guidance. There is a part of each of us that wants to be in control, when we branch out into these areas, our ego feels challenged, this can lead us to color some of the advice we receive. One of the most difficult parts of the process is learning to be objective when dealing with yourself. This requires a willingness to be extremely honest, facing parts of yourself you may not want to accept right away. Also, as on earth, sometimes you will encounter many different personalities, not all have your best interest at heart. To be sure you are receiving good advice remember the following: Spirit will never tell you what you have to do, they may show you different options, nudge you in a certain direction, but they will never demand you to do anything. If you spirit guide is a drill sergeant, chances are you are communicating with your own subconscious or ego, and not Spirit Spirit Guides, Angels, and the Masters are here to support and lend guidance and teaching, they are not going to solve your problems or walk your path for you. Dont have unrealistic expectations, you are file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/thingstoconsider.html (1 of 3)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Developing Psychic Abilities: Things to Consider  here to learn, and they are your mentors, not your mommies. I know many who  get angry that their guides dont tell them what they want to hear, or tell them what they should do. A teacher who has your best interest at heart adn wants to love you and watch you grow is not going to give you the answers. You are here to learn, and it would be a disservice to you if you were not encouraged to stretch and grow for yourself. Truth is, there is no growth without effort and growing pains. You get the idea ;). If in doubt ASK. A true guardian spirit doesnt care if you ask him/her to identify him/herself, or if you need a little assurance. If you get negative feedback from asking for validation chances are you are not talking to an enlightened being and/or you are talking to your subconscious again. Fear and old programming do funny things to the human psyche, and as you work through these chances are you may face some demons from your own subconscious. These are most often your own fears made manifest. Knowing what this is can help you work through these things more comfortably. There is a saying that says You are what you fear I dont remember the origin offhand, but it does hold great truths. Spirit will always talk to you with respect, which doesnt mean that they dont tell you how it is, or sometimes share things that youd rather not hear. There is a degree of integrity like no other, and they expect that respect and integrity to be reciprocated, so approach this with an open heart and mind, gratitude and respect folks:) use discernment, and know that you are in control of your own destiny. I recommend getting in touch with your soul first, work through any fears or misgivings you may have, we touched on this a bit previously, but many people have a big sense of disconnection from God/ Creator and this needs to be bridged to be the most successful. Cultivate a habit of expressing gratitude and compassion. These two emotions come from purity of spirit and not from ego, remembering to be thankful and compassionate brings humility, and shows your sincerity. This is where our true power lies, in our spirit, not our minds ;). Again, lets review. Psychic abilities and the extra senses are present in all beings. Some choose to develop them from a place of ego, to impress people, or to try to control others. Unfortunately, as with any other skill it can be used for noble intentions, and for purposes not so noble. I choose to persue psychic skills from a spiritual perspective, where they become a tool along the individuals spiritual path to God and to Self-Realization. I know some write to me and say I dont  believe in God you shouldnt teach that God is necessary. Well Im sure for these people that is correct, but for my experience, a connection to God is necessary because that is who I am. I believe God to be the inherint intelligence and source of energy present within and beyond all beings. I believe we all are connected through the same source ie God. My beliefs however arent important, they arent the only ones, and anyone with any belief system can use this course. I wont modify it however ;), so you will get bits and pieces of my own philosophy throughout. I can only share my perspective. If it offends, then this course may not be for you. As with anything in life, take what works for you and leave behind what does not. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/thingstoconsider.html (2 of 3)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Developing Psychic Abilities: Things to Consider I recognize these abilities to have great healing capacity, and to be empowering. That being said developing psychic skills is not synonymous with spiritual growth spiritual growth is a life long process embarked on by each individual soul. Some people mistakingly believe that developing psychically will make them more enlightened or spiritual and therefor make life easy. Those who believe this are often in for a big disappointment. It is also important to say here that it is important not to become distracted by psychic abilities again it is only one aspect of development. They are a tool, not the be all and end all. If you get hung up on it you stop growing and then the abilities that were intended to be for your highest good end up sabotaging you. You should be willing to continue to persue growth in all areas. Love and blessings, and enjoy exploring the rest of the book 🙂 Return to Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/thingstoconsider.html (3 of 3)3/7/2004 8:54:39 AM Download Free eBook Psychic Skills Development Free e-Book Psychic Skills Exploration Development This book combines much of the information that was contained in my psychic development classes. I dont teach classes formally any longer, so I decided to make the information available for free. This book provides a comprehensive look at psychic abilities, what they are, how they work, and how to develop them through a variety of activities and exercises. Main Menu As this is another free resource I am providing I ask that all of you respect a few rules. Please download only one copy to save on Bandwidth. The more copies downloaded the more I have to pay in server fees. If you dont want a copy on your PC, you can also view all of the content online as well HERE Please feel free to share it with others, but Please do NOT alter the content, sell the book, or use it as an incentive to get other people to buy your products/services etc. Other than that, Im pretty flexible ;). So, if you agree to these simple terms you can begin your download below. This file is an executable file .exe format. Download it to your computer and save it on your own harddrive. keep track of what folder you save it to, then click it and it runs itself. *Please note I am revamping this file to add more material to it and to fix a couple of bugs, this file will be placed again for download ASAP. In the meantime enjoy reading the material on the site. This Free Ebook brought to you by www.MysticalTreasures.net Below is one of several articles I have written. If you would like to read more of my writing visit my public portfolio for a range of different self-improvement/psychic related articles Psychic Phenomenon: Gifts, Powers, or Abilities? In my work as a psychic who seeks to mentor those developing their own skills, I find it important to discuss this subject. I refer to psychic abilities as just what they are skills or abilities. The other terms, gifts and powers, I find to be damaging as they infer that this is unattainable by others, or that psychic senses are much more â€Å"supernatural† than they actually are. Often I hear others speak of their developing abilities as â€Å"gifts†, as though they were so special that God gave them this unique and special ability and not others. Unfortunately, many famous psychics also do this, insinuate that some great mystical super-secret society power has been bestowed on them. This is harmful to those who would love to develop psychically but feel that they â€Å"arent enough† somehow, or havent been â€Å"chosen†. Are psychic abilities gifts? Indeed they are. Those of us who have developed them recognize that we are blessed, but I also recognize that every breath I take on this planet is also a gift. I also know that we all breathe. Therefor oxygen, while still a beautiful, precious gift that should not be taken for granted, is something that we can all partake in. Psychic ability is no different. Just as everyone can pick up a  pencil and write with it, everyone can also learn to develop the intuition to some degree. Not everyone will become a pulitzer prize winning novelist, or famous poet, but that doesnt stop all of the rest of us from writing, so why should it stop beginners in Metaphysical studies from even trying? It is amazing to me the number of people who come to me and say â€Å"I dont think I am gifted† or â€Å"Can you tell me if I have gifts?†. My answer: Are you standing here, breathing, having a life experience right now? then yes you are gifted. The key is not focusing on lack or what one doesnt have, but appreciating what is. What we believe tends to become self-fulfilling prophecy. Psychic abilities are not elusive foreign phenomenon that only the chosen few can bring forward, they are an innate set of senses, hidden deep within the psyche and soul of each being that must be allowed to come forward. Many people dont agree with this, they believe that because they want psychic abilities that they must already be allowing it and it just isnt coming. This is very untrue. Developing these skills means adjusting to a different reality that what is presently understood and accepted both by society and the individual. The body/mind have a natural resistance to this in place as a protective mechanism. In order to reach our fullest potential psychically, we have to work at peeling away the barriers. It can take considerable time and effort to allow these abilities to manifest to their fullest potential, and as with anything worth having they require sincerity, persistence, and dedication. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/psyskills.html (1 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Untitled We live in a society that pushes heavily the â€Å"instant gratification† syndrome, and this tends to cause many developing psychics to throw in the towel much to soon. When we add the stigma of â€Å"being gifted† to it, many dont even try at all. They are falsely led to believe that these abilities just manifest in others who have been fortunate enough to have them bestowed upon them by Creator. News Flash, God/ Creator loves all of creation, so why then would He/She/It only give gifts to some of the Earths children and not  to all? Thats not unconditional love, but it is a human condition ;). Every one of you reading this also has psychic ability, and yes it is a gift, but so is everything else. Another word I hear misused a lot is â€Å"powers†. Psychic ability does not give us â€Å"power† over anyone, and those psychics who believe it does usually find their careers short-lived, or find that Karma catches up eventually. Any genuine psychic is humbl e enough to tell people that they too can do what he/she is doing. A good psychics goal is to empower others not to wield some false sense of power over them. When I hear psychics and/or aspirants refer to their â€Å"powers† it is one of my biggest pet peeves. That word implies not only that it is a super secret society elite thing again, but also propogates fear and contributes to the already abounding social ignorance surrounding psychic phenomenon. Those who do this to puff up their own egos by portending they have super-hero like â€Å"powers† make it difficult for genuine psychics to get established and the outlook for ever being taken seriously in our field becomes even more grim. I have the upmost respect for psychics and healers as well, who seek to empower others by demystifying this process. John Edward is one prime example of a mainstream psychic who has done a lot of work in this area. Thanks to his work, more people are seeing this as something that is not just a power for the chosen ones, but something anyone with the dedication to do so can develop. I hope that as more of us establish our careers we will also take the â€Å"high road† and continue to promote more personal empowerment and less hocus-pocus. Knowledge is the true â€Å"power†. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Christin Snyder is an author, psychic, mentor, and pesonal success coach. She works on demystifying psychic phenomenon and helping others to expand their consciousness. Visit her website today for free guided meditations, spiritual guidance tarot readings, free psychic skills development courses and more: http://www.spiritualguidancetarot.com Return to Table of Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/psyskills.html (2 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Untitled This Free Ebook brought to you by www.MysticalTreasures.net Formatting Journals to help you through this book and the course contents: Formatting your Main Journal For your main class journal, I recommend buying a binder with loose-leaf paper and divider tabs. This allows you to move things around, and easily keep things divided into organized sections. You can add and remove material also. You will want a journal section for each part of the course. Exercises should be recorded in your journals. Also post to it daily if you are able about any insights you receive etc. You will enjoy referring back to this later on. Spend some time on your journal. It doesnt have to be expensive, but spend some time making it and personalizing it. Make it special and all your own. As time goes on through the course you will get very attached to your journal and it will hold reviews of all of yoru progress. I can tell you that honestly through this process I often neglected my journal, thinking I wouldnt forget certain experiences etc.. and I really regretted later on that I didnt write things down as I worked on them. That practice would have saved me a lot of repetition and heartache, so please be persistent in keeping yoru preogress recorded. You will be glad you did. Formatting your Dream Journals: Dream journals are personal and all your own. I suggest having two sections, one where you record dreams, and another where you list your common symbols, recurring themes, anything extraordinary that occurs, etc. This will be your own window into your soul, and developing your own personal dream dictionary of sorts is far more effective than using a standard dream dictionary. Although some meanings are somewhat universal, that isnt necessarily true. I suggest a small journal that can be kept easily and unobtrusively by your bedside. This will ensure easy access enabling you to record more of your dream experiences. If you find that writing dreams down doesnt work for you and you are able, buy a small tape recorder and keep that by your bed. When you wake you can record a message for yourself. This may also help those of you who forget very quickly upon waking. Return to Table of Contents file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/journals.html (1 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:0 1 AM Untitled file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/journals.html (2 of 2)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Psychic Skills Exploration Development This Free Ebook brought to you by MysticalTreasures.net Beginning Psychic Skills Development : Lesson I Learning to Still the Mind This is the first step in learning basic meditation methods and in preparing yourself to receive the subtle messages of Spirit communication. Our first lesson delves into learning to relax our conscious mind. Often this is the most difficult part of the whole process, learning to still our thoughts and come to an inner sense of calm quiet. Remember this is a new habit you are developing and plan on sticking with it without immediate gratification. More than learning to absolutely silence the mind, it is more of a process of learning to take control of your mind/thoughts. Knowing where they go and why, and how to bring them back to center and quiet them as much as possible. You will want to work with this lesson first, until you are fairly comfortable with it before attempting to move forward. This is important so that you proceed step by step and not sabotage yourself by trying to do everything at once. Even if you are an all or nothing type, please do this step by step, taking as much time between lessons as you need. 🙂 Youll be happier with the results if you do. It is important to learn how to control and be conscious of our thoughts and emotions to be effective as a psychic and/or to be successful in meeting our guides. By being able to control our response to outside stimulus, we are better able to tune in to the more subtle frequencies involved in using the extra senses and/or communicating with spirit. There are a few things to remember: 1) Dont struggle trying to force your mind to be silent, in the struggle itself you create more thoughts and sabotage the process. You should not latch on to thoughts either, let them float by you, acknowledging your willingness to release them. 2) If you dont succeed at first dont give up. It takes time to  develop a new habit. Dont be hard on yourself if you just dont get it the first few times. .. anything worth doing is worth the effort, and trust me this is worth the effort. the benefits are not just in developing psychically, the benefits of meditation are numerous and include increased energy, clearer thought process, improved health on many levels. 3) Remember to find a time where you will not be interupted and a place as free from outside interference as possible. No music, TV, etc. There are times when you can use soothing music, but for the purpose of psychic development it is best to have a very quiet environment. It makes it easier to pick up on subtle energies around you. As you start, you may wish to select a specific time of day, each day or as many days a week as you can. You will want to start off with a 5 minute time frame which you can increase as you progress. By choosing a specific time of day you are developing a habit, conditioning a response pattern and preparing your body and mind for the process of Meditation. file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/lessonI.html (1 of 3)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM Psychic Skills Exploration Development Once you have become more adept at relaxation and meditaiton you can remove the scheduled time and increase your meditation time, but for our purposes here, 5 minutes per day at around the same time if possible. Use this time to just deeply relax and become aware of yourself, the environment you are in, etc. etc. Total awareness naturally expands the consciousness. Remove yourself from as much outside interference as possible.. if earplugs or covering the eyes helps you please consider adding them to your routine. Learning to Relax the Mind: Once you are ready to begin, stretch out and release any tensions you may be feeling in the body. You will want to do this exercise sitting and not laying down as we dont want to indicate to the body that it is time to sleep, just simply relax. Sit in a comfortable but firm chair, not one that you slump down into.. you want to sit up straight with your back against the back of the chair, feet flat on the floor, and arms either rested gently on th e arms of the chair, or down to your sides. You should be in an attentive but relaxed position. Once you are  situated take a deep breath in through the nose and breath out through the mouth making the exhale longer than the inhale. As you exhale focus on pushing out any negative emotions, stress, etc that you may have built up within you. Do 3 -5 breaths, whatever it takes to help you start to feel the body relax. Each breath should have you relaxing even further. Once you have done this just sit with your eyes closed. Try to just focus on the stillness. If thoughts seem to keep coming dont struggle against them trying to push them down just allow them to come and go gently. Remove yourself from your thoughts and watch them float by. You Don t want to attempt to catch them and analyze them, and you dont want to struggle against them they just are, you just are. You can also do a visualization. Imagine yourself sitting in a quiet theater, there is a screen in front of you. On the screen appears anything that you need to know, that your higher self wishes you to know. Dont try to analyze the symbols, colors, or other messages, let them float on the screen. Here there is no time limits , pressures, or outside influences, this is just you in the fullness of the present moment without regard to past or future. Enjoy being in this moment a while longer and then gradually bring yourself back with a cleansing breath. Repeat this exercise until you have come to a place where you are comfortable in redirecting random thoughts for a minute or more before moving on. This most likely will not happen right away, so please dont get discouraged. Continue to practice this daily as you can. As you get into this more you will find the time you spend may naturally increase just because of the sheer pleasure of taking a break from our busyness. Thats great and even if you dont get this right file:///C|/Business%20Stuff/Tarot%20Site/psychicskillsclass/lessonI.html (2 of 3)3/7/2004 8:55:01 AM

A Modest Proposal :: Literary Analysis, Jonathan Swift

People have been trying to come up with solutions to threatening epidemics from many years. There was a famine in Ireland that killed many people. The poor people of Ireland could not support their families, which made them go to extreme measures. In order to survive, women and children were forced to beg for food to prevent them from starving to death. Jonathan Swift proposes a solution to this epidemic in A Modest Proposal. Swift states that the poor Irish should sell their children as if they were cattle, or better yet, eat the children themselves. Swift uses a mocking tone in order to effectively convey that he does not actually support cannibalism, but rather uses it as metaphor to describe the harsh times of Ireland. Swift’s occupation makes A Modest Proposal very ironic. â€Å"He was educated at Trinity College, was ordained a minister, and was appointed dean of Saint Patrick’s cathedral in Dublin in 1713† (914). Swift was very critical of how the government was handling issues at this time. â€Å"He addressed the political problems of his day by publishing pamphlets on contemporary social issues† (914). Since the reader knows that Swift was a minister, it helps set the stage for a sarcastic tone. A minister would never condone the selling of poor, innocent children. Jonathan Swift uses verbal irony to emphasize his sarcasm. He does so by mentioning the Catholic Church while saying, â€Å"infants’ flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after† (916). The people of Ireland would practice â€Å"lent† (916) in order to be considered holy by the Roman Catholic Church, all while killing babies. Catholics are extremely against abortion and birth control of any kind. Mentioning the Roman Catholic Church in the same paragraph as killing babies is a perfect example of irony. Swift uses satire to give the reader his strange insight. He goes into great detail about how to cure such an overwhelming epidemic. He stylistically uses a very harsh, sarcastic tone when describing what he would do with the poor children of Ireland. â€Å"A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore and hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter† (916). He is not only extremely harsh, but he goes into such detail it makes the reader want to cringe. A Modest Proposal :: Literary Analysis, Jonathan Swift People have been trying to come up with solutions to threatening epidemics from many years. There was a famine in Ireland that killed many people. The poor people of Ireland could not support their families, which made them go to extreme measures. In order to survive, women and children were forced to beg for food to prevent them from starving to death. Jonathan Swift proposes a solution to this epidemic in A Modest Proposal. Swift states that the poor Irish should sell their children as if they were cattle, or better yet, eat the children themselves. Swift uses a mocking tone in order to effectively convey that he does not actually support cannibalism, but rather uses it as metaphor to describe the harsh times of Ireland. Swift’s occupation makes A Modest Proposal very ironic. â€Å"He was educated at Trinity College, was ordained a minister, and was appointed dean of Saint Patrick’s cathedral in Dublin in 1713† (914). Swift was very critical of how the government was handling issues at this time. â€Å"He addressed the political problems of his day by publishing pamphlets on contemporary social issues† (914). Since the reader knows that Swift was a minister, it helps set the stage for a sarcastic tone. A minister would never condone the selling of poor, innocent children. Jonathan Swift uses verbal irony to emphasize his sarcasm. He does so by mentioning the Catholic Church while saying, â€Å"infants’ flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after† (916). The people of Ireland would practice â€Å"lent† (916) in order to be considered holy by the Roman Catholic Church, all while killing babies. Catholics are extremely against abortion and birth control of any kind. Mentioning the Roman Catholic Church in the same paragraph as killing babies is a perfect example of irony. Swift uses satire to give the reader his strange insight. He goes into great detail about how to cure such an overwhelming epidemic. He stylistically uses a very harsh, sarcastic tone when describing what he would do with the poor children of Ireland. â€Å"A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone, the fore and hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter† (916). He is not only extremely harsh, but he goes into such detail it makes the reader want to cringe.

Efficacy of Iraqi Sanctions Essay -- Government Politics Essays

Efficacy of Iraqi Sanctions As United States foreign policy has matured in the wake of the Vietnam Conflict, a seemingly bloodless, less nationally controversial tool than war has emerged. The United States has begun to slap economic sanctions on rogue nations in lieu of or in addition to sending in the Armed Forces. This policy of sanctioning nations begs one to ponder the legitimacy thereof. A specific case to be examined is the Iraqi conflict. In response to Iraqà ­s hostile takeover of Kuwait in 1990, the U.S along with United Nations implemented a sanction against Iraq. After the Gulf War had ceased, a treaty was drafted which included the lifting of the sanctions should Iraq agree to certain stipulations. To this date, the UN has ruled that the treaty has not been upheld by Iraq thus keeping the sanctions in place. In the years since the initial implementation, economic sanctions have proven to be largely ineffective in the achievement of foreign policy goals in Iraq while having produced a number of oth er negative results. Sanctions have not been able to force the Hussein regime out of power nor have they been able to halt Iraqà ­s import and export of key goods. While failing in those ends, sanctions have succeeded in bringing about a massive humanitarian crisis for the Iraqi peopleà ³one which seems may never end. Before the Persian Gulf War, the Iraqi military was one of the best in the Middle East. This fact caused Iraqi leadership to deduce that, being a powerful Mid-eastern force, no one would challenge their hostile take-over of tiny Kuwait. Unfortunately for Iraq, the rest of world did not let this act go unnoticed and began the Gulf War. The once proud Iraqi forces were reduced to almost nothing after the war. Th... ...o death by the economic sanctions and they feel as though there is no end in sight. Tareq Aziz, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, sums up the bleak Iraqi sentiments, "We donà ­t see a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a tunnel after the tunnel." ("Press Conference") Works Cited Cortright, David and George A. Lopez. The Sanctions Decade: Assessing UN Strategies in the 1990à ­s. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2000 "Press Conference of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Tareq Aziz." The Digital Voice of Iraq. n. pag. Online. Internet. 21 Oct. 2000. Available FTP: http://www.multimania.com/iraq/tareq-aziz12-11-98.htm Selden, Zachary. Economic Sanctions as Instruments of American Foreign Policy. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1999 Simons, Geoff. Imposing Economic Sanctions: Legal Remedy or Genocidal Tool?. Sterling, VA: Pluto Press, 1999

Heal hospital Essay

The healing hospital paradigm emphasizes the eradication of stress and other health risks in the healthcare environment for patients and visitors. The factors that influence these health risks are inherent to the setting of the hospital, not the illnesses being treated. For instance, patients become stressed because of painful therapeutic procedures, lack of social life, deterioration of financial status because of healthcare expenditures, etc. In order to guarantee that the patient’s well being is maintained, the amount of stress must be curtailed. Additionally, the all-inclusive care and attention components of the paradigm guarantees that the patient’s recovery process are utilized to the zenith without infringing upon their dignity and privacy. Instead of just simply curing the disease, the healing hospital paradigm incorporates the healing of the whole patient (Young & Koopsen, 2006). This is served from the paradigm’s focus on healing beyond the physical bo dy. It intends to improve the overall welfare of the individual by not only addressing the patient’s cognitive, emotional, and spiritual concerns, but also those of the family’s (Milstein, 2005). In order to develop a healing environment, certain barrier must be overcome within the context of the hospital setting. This paper will analyze the healing hospital paradigm, recognize its significance in care giving method, portray its aspects, and depict its connections to spirituality. Healing Hospital Aspects A healing hospital goes beyond windows, walls, and mortar. Its strong culture of love and caring is what sets it apart from traditional hospitals (Chapman, 2010). The healing hospital is composed of three essential aspects. Healing Environment Hospitals should be a healing physical environment. This denotes that hospitals should be free of any physical disturbances that could potentially cause stress. These outside factors consist of excessive noise, a morbid or  dull environment, and panic-inducing disorganization. In order to diminish these external environmental factors, employees must meticulously construct an organized hospital setting that complies with the aspects of a physical healing environment. Employees are given the proper training to become successful caregivers who are cognizant in patient and family interaction. This method of interaction will help patients and families cope with their grief and deal with their concerns. By engaging all five senses, the environment is designed to establish a spiritual relationship. Stefanidakis states that by choosing the appropriate colors, human behavior will be influenced to the desired effects and psychological systems will be established (2001). For example, the color green denotes a healing and nurturing environment–one symbolizing unconditional love and growth. This is due to the fact that color has the incredible ability to trigger emotional responses such as peacefulness, irritability, or cheerfulness. Furthermore, designing the hospital interior in a manner that resembles a church or temple promotes spirituality. This can be done by including religious artifacts such as rosary beads. However, the patient must feel in control of the environment in order for stress relief to occur. This control can be achieved with lighting, temperature, etc. Integrating Technology and Work Design Technology plays a large role in the healing hospital paradigm. Its interweaving into the healing hospital structure permits staff members to work with systematic efficiency, routing work in a way that amplified the patient’s and family’s comfort. In this more tranquil environment, patients receive much more sleep and, thus allow their bodies sufficient time to heal. Equipped with technological advancements such as cleaning machines with internal silencers and wireless phones for direct communication with the healthcare team, employees are competent in the effective use of this technology. Thus, they advocate a quiet and healing ambience. Developing a low stress environment, the staff is prone to fewer distractions. The lack of distraction leads to a decrease in common medical errors. The Culture of Loving Care Former executive of the Baptist Healing Hospital Trust Erie Chapman believes that the most important aspect of the healing hospital intertwined treatment with a significant component consisting of love, care, and empathy (Chapman, 2010). Constructing an intriguing culture in which the staff members are cognizant of their duties and are adept at unreservedly executing them through is a fundamental aspect of the healing hospital. All caregivers must advocate unconditional love for patients as well as visitors by incorporating it into their daily actions. Compassionate care through relationships in which the patient is the center is the basis on which the development of the healing hospital rests. Staff members inspire hope by exhibiting unconditional love through the utilization of compassionate care and the minimization of grief and stress levels of the patients and their families. Additionally, prayer strengthens hope and grounds the healing hospital in a spiritual relationship. Challenges of the Healing Hospital Environment As stated by Chapman (2010), there are five challenges that healing hospitals must conquer constantly. First, the growing amount of medical technology such as wires, tubes, and pharmaceuticals has monopolized healthcare to the point that healthcare professionals have forgotten the healing essentials such as the loving care method and the belief in the unification of body, mind, and spirit. Identifying the demand for, and providing balance between loving care and technology results in a raise in patient satisfaction. Next, the progression of technology has resulted in a tremendous focus on profits and market share rather than care. Although much ignored and neglected, the â€Å"Servants’ Heart† are faithful to their duty to provide Radical Loving Care; this is where leaders play an important role in â€Å"taking care of the people who take care of people† (Chapman, 2010). Thirdly, intimacy between patients and employees are often stripped as traditional hospitals and prisons partake in a type of institutionalism that destroys identity. By substituting patients’ clothes with hospital garments, names with identification numbers, and privacy with sharing rooms with strangers, a common institutionalism is set. Moreover, visiting hours restrictions have  the tendency to make a patient feel as though he or she is a hostage. In contrast, caregivers are often required to perform repetitive tasks with unparalleled precision. This is referred to as a â€Å"bureaucracy† or an organization that resembles a difficult-to-work-with machine (Chapman, 2010). In addition, cynicism is deleterious when it comes to caring for the patient. Believer or not, love should not be seen as a â€Å"nice thing† but as a â€Å"vital part† of patient’s recovery (Chapman, 2010). Healing is multi-faceted and and embodies the physical, emotional, and spiritual concerns of the patients. Lastly, leadership is a dig munificent component in patient healing. Given the opportunity and responsibility to prioritize loving care, leaders are encouraged to make sure their caregivers provide it. Biblical Passage Supporting the Concept of a Healing Hospital James 5:14-15 illustrates Jesus’ healing of the ill. In particular, Jesus asks if there are any ill people in the crowd. If there are, they should call for the elders of the church for an anointing with the sacred oil. This type if anointment will heal the sick because of their faith through the power of prayer (King James Version). This advocates the healing hospital paradigm since it recognizes a clear relationship between healing and prayer. This passage enforces the same belief, whereby the importance of the spiritual aspect of the healing process is brought to light. Since it is rooted in spirituality, prayer can effectively instill hope in patients and families. Though a relatively new turn in the medical profession, the healing hospital is increasingly gaining in popularity. Not only affecting the body but also the patient’s and family’s overall well being, the patient-centric attention and care facilities provided by the hospital adds to the healing hospital paradigm in a member that highlights radical love and compassionate care. Through spirituality, the healing hospital paradigm draws on hope and coping strategies, and thus forged support for its practices from both secular and religious communities. As in scriptures, a body frees itself of sin through piety and community, and with that community comes hope and solace. References Chapman, E. (2010). Radical loving care: building the healing hospital in America. Nashville, TN: Vaughn Printing. Milstein, J. (2005). A paradigm of integrative care: healing with curing throughout life, â€Å"being with† and â€Å"doing to†. Journal of Perinatology, 25, 563-568. doi: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211358 Stefanidakis, S. (2001). Healing with color and the human aura. Retrieved February 11, 2011 from www.fst.org/aura2.htm Young, C., & Koopsen, C. (2006). Spirituality, health, and healing (1 ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Financial Market Assignment

Financial Market Assignment There are various threats to the financial system that policy-makers and business executives should be aware of. This paper is aimed at discussing some of the most essential risks. First of all, one should speak about insider trading or the use of non-public information while purchasing or the stocks of a company.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Financial Market Assignment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This activity can result in the situation when the executives of businesses or financial institutions can disregard the interests of investors and stockholders and put these people at a disadvantage. The members of the general public will not be able to make informed decisions about the performance of various stocks, and they will lose the trust in the financial trust. So, insider trading can destabilize the financial system. In turn, Ponzi schemes can be described as the financial fraud when investors are compensat ed from the money of subsequent investors. This activity lead to the creation of economic bubbles such as dot-com bubbles. The existence of such market can cause panic in the market, and it can lead to the poor performance of financial system. Additionally, tax-evasion can adversely affect the financial system, because this crime can contribute to the budget deficits. In the long term, this activity can lead to the stagnation of the financial system. Apart from that, lack of transparency can be associated with the financial instability because in such an environment investors may not be fully of aware of their risks (Bouvard, 2012). This argument is particularly relevant when one speaks about the trading of credit default swaps in 2005 and 2007 when many investors were not informed about the potential risk. Significant risks can be associated with the securities market. In most cases, the challenges arise in those cases when securities are not backed up by any assets. This argument is particularly important when one speaks about debt securities. Finally, one should speak about such a threat as manipulation of the market or the action that prompts investors to act in a certain way (Misra, 2012). Very often, manipulation creates a demand for certain types of stocks. For example, the Federal Reserve lowered the interest rate for its bonds, and as a result, many investors chose to purchase the stocks of fraudulent companies such as Enron that deliberately mislead the purchasers of their stock. This is one of the main pitfalls that should be avoided. Furthermore, the so-called currency manipulation or intervention can also pose significant threats to the financial system. In some cases, the fiscal authorities can purchase the currency of the country, and it means that the exchange rate does not reflect the real purchasing power of the currency. This activity can mislead investors and businesses who conduct businesses or carry out financial transactions. This is one of the dangers that should not be overlooked by policy-makers and business executives.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, it is important to speak about governmental action or intervention that can adversely affect the financial system because this policy is not usually favored by investors (Beteto, 2012). In particular, one can mention the decision of the Cypriot government to intervene into the activities of the banks. This decision prompted many investors to withdraw their capital from the country, and in the long-term, it can lead to the stagnation of the financial system and the decline of the economy. Reference List Beteto, D. (2012). Government Intervention and Financial Fragility. Web. Bouvard, M. (2012). Transparency in the financial system:rollover risk and crises. Web. Misra, V. (2012). Evidence of market manipulation in the financial crisis. Web.

Electron Capture Definition

Electron Capture Definition Electron capture is a type of radioactive decay where the nucleus of an atom absorbs a K or L shell electron and converts a proton into a neutron. This process reduces the atomic number by 1 and emits gamma radiation or an x-ray and a neutrino.The decay scheme for electron capture is:ZXA e- → ZYA-1 ÃŽ ½ ÃŽ ³whereZ is the atomic massA is atomic numberX is the parent elementY is daughter elemente- is an electronÃŽ ½ is a neutrinoÃŽ ³ is a gamma photon Also Known As: EC, K-capture (if K shell electron is captured), L-capture (if L shell electron is captured) Example Nitrogen-13 decays to Carbon-13 by electron capture.13N7 e- → 13C6 ÃŽ ½ ÃŽ ³ History Gian-Carlo Wick proposed the theory of electron capture in 1934. Luis Alvarez was the first to observe K-electron capture in the isotope vanadium-48. Alvarez reported his observation in Physical Review in 1937.

Why Russian Jew Made good immigrants essays

Why Russian Jew Made good immigrants essays Almost 3 million Jews of Eastern European and Russian decent settled in New York Citys Lower East side between 1890 and 1910. The primary reason for this large migration in such numbers was to escape the harsh persecution of the Russian government. During this time of mass European migration, many ethnic groups such as Italian and Irish were frowned upon by natural born Americans and other immigrants from England, France and Germany. But Russian Jews were deemed the least desirable of all immigrants. The thoughts of most Americans were that the Jews were unclean, illiterate and had no desire to adapt to the American culture. Russian Jews possessed many traits that should have been considered desirable by all immigrants. Russian Jews considered education extremely important and held educated men in high regard. Russian Jews tended not to engage in excessive drinking or other vices that led to crime and sickness. And as a group Russian Jews were law-abiding citizens who came to America be productive and not drain the public and private charities set up to help the poor. Jewish immigrants possessed a great respect for education and educators. In Eastern Europe and Russia education was restricted for Jews. Many immigrates came here unable to read and write their native language. Once in America, it became a priority for them to learn the language of their new country. Many Jewish immigrants filled the classes of night schools or hired educated Hebrews to tutor them in the tenements. And this was after working long hours in the sweatshops. Jewish immigrant parents made huge sacrifices to send their children to school. They have high hopes for the futures of their children, and often set lofty professional goals for them. The public schools in the Jewish ghettos were overcrowded, but they still maintained a high standard of learning and achievement for its students. The Russian Jews were generally not a peop ...

Explore how managers can use specific communication models to create Essay - 1

Explore how managers can use specific communication models to create more effective working teams - Essay Example Key communication models are helpful towards creating more effective working teams. The Claude Shannon’s model is the simplest model of communication that is utilized in a traditional organization. In this model, there are two parties to communication. This involves the idea of the source and the receiver. The source initiates communication by sending a message to the receiver. The sender encodes a message into a form that the receiver can interpret. On the other hand, the receiver decodes information given one’s disposition. The encoded message is the signal while the decoded message is the received signal. The communication model is simplistic and it teaches a manager how communication is basically structured. The model, however, seeks to reinterpret rather than inform about an effective way of communication. This theory of communication reflected the context in which it sprang. This was the genesis of mass communication exemplified in items such as the radio and the television. In the end, it unified all later communication theories since it interp reted the basics of communication. It, therefore, teaches managers that communication involves two parties that deserve attention. This model, however, is a minimalist representation of an actually complex reality. In the real organizational environment, both the source and receiver can interchange roles. In the organization, communication may either begin from the managers or emanate from the employees and departments towards the opposite party. Communication also occurs within departments and take place between departments. In most cases, the department acts as a communication party, especially when it collectivize the opinions of the employees (Baran & Davis 2010, P. 111). Due to its simplistic mode, the model is useful in instruction giving. A manager should ensure that

Gender Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gender Studies - Essay Example Individuals at present have fashioned and shaped their lives based on their computer and social media activities. For the most part, their work, social life, and sometimes family life is connected and in some ways disconnected through the social media. This was discussed by Turkle, admitting how individuals often find themselves actively engaging in the social media and still being disconnected from each other from the most basic units of communication. Turkle points out that connectivity is useful, however, it also affects people’s attachments to elements or things which have always sustained individuals. She narrates a story involving her daughter Rebecca and her experience of bringing her to Ireland, helping her get settled into a dorm room as she was starting school in New England. Even with the distance, constant communication is still made possible with her daughter. Video chats have also allowed for actual conversations to be carried out with her daughter. Still, the au thor finds herself looking into old boxes looking for letters from her mother in the days when she herself went off to college. After finding the letters, holding these in her hands, she feels as connected to her mother as ever. Still, regular contact with her own daughter has been sustained through the internet. At times, there is a feeling of being constrained to be brief and still be charming during multiple video chats. Still, with the transition of technology, the author also realizes that in maybe 40 years from now, her daughter may not find the same connectivity to her as she has had with her mother. The digital footprints and records may have been faded erased and replaced with newer models which push the old information and communique out of the way. The story narrated by Turkle does show how lives are reshaped on the screen. People’s identity is ever mobile and ever changing, especially with the active use of the social media. More than ever, the transition has been seen in terms of digital settings where the digital technologies present the best usage for such settings. The shift from the digital world has been very quick and innovative and transitioning towards a specific convergence. Within the last decade, mobile technologies were not widespread in use, however, they have become more widespread. They have also provided us with an energetic process relating to service delivery which can be evaluated anytime and anywhere. Such omnipresent possibility for the social media has helped provide the connectivity and social media identity which has been discussed by Turkle. Such connectivity has supported the individual identity individuals seek to support. Mostly it is an identity which is digitally based. Under these conditions, it is possible to carry out transactions online, to call customer representatives and request assistance, to pay bills using credit cards from mobile phones, and even to receive goods with SMS confirmation upon delivery. Within this digital setting, the social media has become an omnipresent phenomenon. It has been imposed into the consciousness of people and their identity as well, enticing their participation in its active use. The lives and identity of individuals in the current age of social media is now inundated with text messages, phone calls, e-mails,

Comparstive law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Comparstive law - Essay Example The paper aims to understand the meaning and the concepts related to the comparative law. Besides it also provides an in detail description about different legal principles and its applications at various situations concerning the contract law. This is done by resolving a case study which revolves around three parties – the lessor, the lessee and the contractor. The paper is divided into two sub sections: the first section specifies the definition, meaning and relevance of the comparative law. It identifies and defines the various clauses and legal principles related to the comparative law. The second section of the paper deals with the case study – an overview of the case, description of the parties involved, legal principles related to the different situations arising in the case and providing a solution in accordance with the contract law clauses and cases. The paper concluded with a general observation on which law would be best suited to resolve the case had it been a real life scenario. All the references to the cases are derived from the books mentioned in the bibliography at the end of the report. In order to appraise the development and use of comparative law in the modern world, it is necessary to examine the nature, scope and its origin. Traditionally, comparative law has been comparative law of legal orders. This means that it is still pre determined by the tradition of 19th-century legal thought, where law is seen a system of positive legal orders.... thought, and define itself more as comparison of legal systems in the sense of systemization discourses. There are no less than 42 legal systems in the world, and comparison has traditionally focused on three major legal families in the world, namely the civil law system, common law system and socialist system. So, 'comparative law' can be said to describe the systematic study of particular legal traditions and legal rules on a comparative basis. To qualify as a true comparative law enterprise, it also requires the comparison of two or more legal systems, or two or more legal traditions, or of selected aspects, institutions or branches of two or more legal systems. Razi argues that a legal system in the wide sense 'is not made of rules alone but is also characterized by its institutions, practices, standards of research and even the mental habits of lawyers, judges, legislators and administrators' (Razi (1959) 5 Howard LJ 11). Legal culture has been define by Lawrence Friedman as 'ideas, values, expectations and attitudes towards law and legal institutions which some public or some part of the public holds' (Friedman (1997)). Comparative law is, therefore, primarily a method of study rather than a legal body of rules. Importance of Comparative Law: The comparative method has frequently been of practical significance to courts and the judicial process, in filling gaps in legislation or in case law, in providing the background and origin to legal rules and concepts which have been inherited or transplanted from other jurisdictions, in matters which are not covered by a code provision or statute or case law authority. In this way, a variety

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 50

Personal Statement Example During his tenure, he gained a vast experience in management and decided to launch his corporation that specialized in home appliances where he was the director. As a teenager, I worked with him in the corporation and incessantly acquired expertise and proficiency in management of security systems. For a duration of circa 2 years, starting 1st January 2008 to 6th November 2010, I was a system security officer for all branches of the establishment where I learned a lot from regular exchanges with customers. The aim of my job is to protect information from hackers and theft. I believe that the security of information is of vital prominence in the contemporary tech-savvy society. My desire to partake CIS is further bolstered by my ability to effectively undertake simple tasks such as word processing as well as fairly multifaceted tasks including administration of Linux web servers. Given a chance, I would use my interest and the skill that I will acquire from the course to contribute towards the betterment of our society and plummet or completely eliminate the huge number of hacking cases that have frustrated the effective functioning of businesses. Although I am currently enrolled in my University, I would like to transfer to this University and use my government’s scholarship to complete CIS. My decision is informed by the indisputable fact that the University’s reputation, academic staff, research facilities, prospects of its graduates landing a job are above par. What’s more, the University’s study plan is compatible with specialization in CIS, a factor that will empower me to develop personal skills, serve society, and reconnoiter other aspects of the specialty. As an international student, I can communicate fluently within and without the study environment. Thus, I will be able to cooperate with groups in accomplishing my personal goals and the University’s goals. Moreover, my aptitude to communicate will be

Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

Case Study Example Basing on this, this paper has developed a SWOT analysis of FedEx. A SWOT analysis is a managerial strategic program aimed at analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization so that decision makers can enact policies basing on information at hand. From the DI case, the weaknesses of the organization are highlighted, and in all, they are internal, and based on employees negligence. This report will highlight that. The table below shows the SWOT analysis of the organization. Political instability in various countries and regions of its interest might affect its operations. For example the Arab Spring crises that started in Tunisia to Egypt that led to overthrow of these governments through mass participation. Poor judgment by its employees on appeasing aggrieved clients can lead to customer dissatisfaction for example Poor customer relationship skills witnessed by the supervisor sending chocolates instead of offering an apology to aggrieved customers. Loses arising from inefficiency of their services through paying of refunds and compensations to clients for expenses arising from the company’s negligence. For instance DI lost $ 600 in paying trade booths which were to be used for showcasing the undelivered goods (McDougall and Charles, 48). Risk negative publicity and therefore affecting their profitability due to their inefficiency in handling DI shipments. This is portrayed by Anita Kilgour expressing her disappointment and unhappiness at how the organization handled her orders. From this analysis, we can conclude that FedEx is a strong company with minimum weaknesses in its operations. It is also a technology oriented company and because of this, it is a market leader in provision of courier services. Despite its strengths and position in the market, the company can improve on its weaknesses by improving on the terms of the money back guarantee system, to give

Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 50

Personal Statement Example During his tenure, he gained a vast experience in management and decided to launch his corporation that specialized in home appliances where he was the director. As a teenager, I worked with him in the corporation and incessantly acquired expertise and proficiency in management of security systems. For a duration of circa 2 years, starting 1st January 2008 to 6th November 2010, I was a system security officer for all branches of the establishment where I learned a lot from regular exchanges with customers. The aim of my job is to protect information from hackers and theft. I believe that the security of information is of vital prominence in the contemporary tech-savvy society. My desire to partake CIS is further bolstered by my ability to effectively undertake simple tasks such as word processing as well as fairly multifaceted tasks including administration of Linux web servers. Given a chance, I would use my interest and the skill that I will acquire from the course to contribute towards the betterment of our society and plummet or completely eliminate the huge number of hacking cases that have frustrated the effective functioning of businesses. Although I am currently enrolled in my University, I would like to transfer to this University and use my government’s scholarship to complete CIS. My decision is informed by the indisputable fact that the University’s reputation, academic staff, research facilities, prospects of its graduates landing a job are above par. What’s more, the University’s study plan is compatible with specialization in CIS, a factor that will empower me to develop personal skills, serve society, and reconnoiter other aspects of the specialty. As an international student, I can communicate fluently within and without the study environment. Thus, I will be able to cooperate with groups in accomplishing my personal goals and the University’s goals. Moreover, my aptitude to communicate will be

Socrates of Platonic Dialogue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Socrates of Platonic Dialogue - Essay Example Their parents, however, were often displeased with his influence on their offspring, and his earlier association with opponents of the democratic regime had already made him a controversial political figure. He made profession of no knowledge except of his own ignorance, and the famous "Socratic irony" was shown in his attitude of apparent willingness to learn from anyone who professed to know. The inevitable result of such conversations, however, was the reduction of the would-be instructor to a state either of irritation at the unmasking of his pretensions, or of humility and eagerness to be instructed by his questioner. It was natural that such a habit should create enemies, and Socrates was finally accused of introducing new gods and of corrupting the youth. His defense was conducted with his customary firm adherence to his convictions, and with entire fearlessness of consequences. He could, in all probability, have easily escaped the death sentence had he been willing to take a conciliatory tone, but he chose to drink the hemlock died (B.C. 399) a martyr to his unswerving devotion to truth. Socrates wrote nothing from which we may ascertain anything about himself and his philosophy. We have to depend on the information derived form the works of two of his distinguished scholars Plato and Xenophon and one his satirist Aristophanes. But unfortunately, these three sources also have quite contradictory views about Socrates which make the student of philosophy more skeptical about his philosophy. These three sources are (1) The Dialogues by Plato, the philosopher Plato, a younger contemporary and brilliant disciple of Socrates who presents Socrates as the main character in the majority of his dialogues. Plato characterizes Socrates as a prophet, a Christ-like figure whose unique way of inquiring originality of things inspires and compels us to investigate their reality and find the ultimate truth (2) The soldier and well-heeled country gentleman Xenophon (c. 430-c. 355), a petty bourgeois who presents Socrates as one of his own: a pompous, self-satisfied, rather dull Athenia n aristocrat with intellectual tastes and (3) The Clouds by Aristophanes, in which Socrates is presented as guilty of impiety and against the gods. As the Socrates presented by Plato in his Dialogues differ remarkably from that of the Socrates of the Clouds presetsnted by Aristophanes, and also as there are some doubts lingering over the originality and authenticity of both of them, we have to review them separartely in detail to find the original Socrates. 2. Socrates of the Clouds: Aristophanes (448-385 BC), Athenian playwright, was first and foremost a satirist. During his lifetime Athens was facing a period of convulsive cultural and social change which provided Aristophanes ready target in the politicians, poets, and philosophers of his day. His works show no sympathy for the aristocratic party in Athenian politics. He wrote more than 40 plays. The Clouds (423 BC) satirizes Socrates and presents him engaged in meditating about heaven above and

Information Technology Management Emphasis Essay Example for Free

Information Technology Management Emphasis Essay The Master of Business Administration—Information Technology Management is specifically designed for experienced business professionals and managers seeking upward career mobility in the information technology arena. The program prepares you for a mid-level to upper-level information technology management position in business, industry, and non-profit organizations. MBAITM Understanding the Competency-Based Approach Practically speaking, what does it mean when we say that WGU programs are competencybased? Unlike traditional universities, WGU does not award degrees based on credit hours or on a certain set of required courses. Instead, students earn their degrees by demonstrating their skills, knowledge, and understanding of important concepts through a series of carefully designed assessments. Progress through your degree program is governed, not by classes, but by satisfactory completion of the required assessments that demonstrate your mastery of the competencies. Of course, you will need to engage in learning experiences as you brush up on competencies or develop knowledge and skills in areas in which you may be weak. For this learning and development, WGU has a rich array of learning resources in which you may engage under the direction of your mentor. You will work closely with your mentor to schedule your program for completing the assessments. (We discuss assessments in much more detail later in this guide.) You will work closely with additional faculty members as you proceed through courses of study that are designed to lead you through the content you must master in order to pass individual assessments. The benefit of this competency-based system is that it makes it possible for people who are knowledgeable about a particular subject to make accelerated progress toward completing a WGU degree even if they lack college experience. You may have gained your skills and knowledge of a subject on  the job, accumulated wisdom through years of life experience, or, indeed, took a course on a particular subject. WGU awards a degree to you based on the skills and knowledge that you possess and can demonstrate, not the number of credits you have on your transcript. Accreditation Western Governors University is the only university in the history of American higher education to have earned accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions. WGUs accreditation was awarded by (1) the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, (2) the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, (3) the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and (4) the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The university’s accreditation status is now managed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The university is also accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), and the WGU Teachers College is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The Degree Plan The focus of your program is your personalized Degree Plan. The Degree Plan is a detailed blueprint of the learning resources and assessments that comprise your program. The length of your program depends on both the amount of new information you need to learn and the amount of time you plan to devote each week to study. Students will vary widely in the specific skills and information they need to learn. For example, some may be highly knowledgeable in a subject matter and would not need to engage in new learning opportunities. Others may find that portions of the program require completely new learning and that they may need to take an online class or participate in a study module to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to pass the program competencies in that area. Some individuals may be able to devote as little as 15ï€ ­20 hours per week to the program, while others may have more time. For this reason, you will complete pre-assessments to help your mentor form a profile of your prior knowledge and experience for use in creating your Degree Plan. WGU’s Mentoring Approach ]Our mentoring approach is a powerful component of the WGU educational experience. When you enroll at WGU, you will begin interacting with your personal mentor, course mentors, and support staff. Your mentor takes an active role and a personal interest in your success. Whether by e-mail or phone, your mentor will be your ―point personâ€â€" of communication throughout your program. Your mentor will help motivate you to work hard to complete your program. When you have questions or concerns, your mentor team will help you resolve them. You and your mentor will work together to evaluate your educational background, strengths, and weaknesses. With this analysis, your mentors will help determine in which areas you are already competent (and can move quickly to assessment) and areas you need to work on; this will become your personalized Degree Plan. Your mentor will direct you to the Courses of Study that contain the best learning resources for you (courses, texts, independent study modules, etc.) and are supported by course mentors that serve as your content experts for each area of study. As you proceed through your academic program, you and your mentor will determine when you are ready for the required assessments. If you are ready, your assessment will be scheduled. You will follow this same process as you proceed through each domain. Connecting with Other Mentors and Fellow Students As you proceed through your Degree Plan, you may also have direct contact  with other faculty members. These communications can take a variety of forms, including participation in learning communities, office hours via the courses of study, and webinars. As a WGU student, you will have access to your own personal MyWGU Student Portal that will provide a gateway to courses of study, learning communities, and program communities where you will have interactions with faculty and other students. Courses of study and communities are specifically designed to support you as you develop competencies in preparation for your assessments through the utilization of threaded discussions, blogs, and chats that are guided by content experts. You will access your program community during the Education Without Boundaries introductory course to network with peers who are enrolled in your program and to receive continued support through professional enrichment and program-specific chats, blogs, and discussions. WGU also provides a Student Services Associate to help you and your mentor solve any special problems that may arise. Education Without Boundaries Orientation Education Without Boundaries (EWB) is a required orientation that focuses on acquainting the student with WGU’s competency-based model, distance education, technology, and other resources and tools available for students. You will also utilize tutorials, message boards, online MBAITM chats, and other activities to connect with other students in your program. This orientation is completed before you start your first term at WGU. Transferability of Prior College Coursework Because WGU is a competency-based institution, it does not award degrees based on credits but on demonstration of competency. However, if you have completed college coursework at another accredited institution, you may have your transcripts evaluated and may be able to have some lower-division or co-requisite assessments cleared. The guidelines for determining what will  Ã¢â‚¬â€¢clearâ€â€" through transfer vary based on the degree program. The following transfer guidelines generally apply to graduate programs: Graduate domains (i.e., subject areas) cannot be cleared through transfer. Requirements in the domains that can be considered the degree major cannot be cleared through transfer. Furthermore, WGU does not clear any requirements based on the students professional experience and does not perform a resume review or portfolio review that will automatically clear any degree requirements. Degree requirements and transferability rules are subject to change in order to keep the degree content relevant and current. Remember, WGUs competency-based approach lets you take advantage of your knowledge and skills, regardless of how you obtained them. Even when you do not directly receive credit, the knowledge you possess may help you accelerate the time it takes to complete your degree program. Continuous Enrollment, On Time Progress, and Satisfactory Academic Progress WGU is a ―continuous enrollmentâ€â€" institution, which means you will be automatically enrolled in each of your new terms while you are at WGU. Your terms are six months long. Longer terms and continuous enrollment allow you to focus on your studies without the hassle of unnatural breaks between the shorter terms that you would experience in a more traditional environment. At the end of every six-month term, you and your mentor will review the progress you have made and revise your Degree Plan for your next six-month term. WGU requires that students make measurable progress toward the completion of their degree programs every term. We call this On Time Progress – denoting that you are on track and making progress toward on time graduation. As full-time students, graduate students must enroll in at least eight (8) competency units each term, and undergraduate students must enroll in at least twelve (12) competency units each term. Completing at least these minimum enrollments is essential to On Time Progress and serves as a baseline from which you may accelerate your program. We measure your progress based on the assessments you are able to pass, not on your accumulation of credit hours or course grades. Every time you pass an assessment, you are demonstrating that you have mastered skills and knowledge in your degree program. For comparison to traditional grading  systems, passing an assessment means you have demonstrated competency equivalent to a ―Bâ€â€" grade or better. WGU has assigned competency units to each assessment so that we can track your progress through the program. A competency unit is equivalent to one semester credit of learning.

Nissan revival plan was achieved one year ahead of schedule

Nissan revival plan was achieved one year ahead of schedule In 1999 Nissan had been facing great losses for seven of the past eight years which were now resulting in debts. This was mainly caused by the Japanese business custom of keiretsu investments which left little capital for other investments, like innovations in product designs. This lack of design innovation furthermore caused the Nissan brand to weaken as competitors were producing vehicles more stylish and up to date, reflecting customer demands. To foster a turnaround the Nissan president and CEO Yoshikazu Hanawa formed a mutual beneficial strategic alliance (Global Alliance Agreement) with Renault, allowing both companies to expand in new desirable geographic areas. With his experience in turnarounds Carlos Ghosn seemed to be the obvious choice to lead the Nissan turnaround from both the Renault and Nissan point of view. Evaluation The approach was an overall success in meeting the specific and measurable goal of turning the losses into profits not only on time but 6 month prior to the deadline. The Nissan Revival Plan was achieved one year ahead of schedule and succeeded in reducing their purchasing costs by 20 % which meant that they approximately reached the level of Renault. The large emphasis Ghosn placed on the execution also gave him an edge as this phase is much more demanding in terms of communication, meeting objectives on time and budget, potential conflicts with power resources and resistance to change. The respect Ghosn showed for the Japanese culture was vital for the initiatives to succeed, even though I believe it was a mistake for him not to learn about Japan before coming there as it is very easy unintended to insult people from other cultures if you are not familiar with their specific customs, but it also gave him an edge in being open-minded in perceiving the Japanese and Nissan culture. Coming to Japan he only brought three principles of management with him were to be well received and understood by employees: transparency, execution vs. strategy; improving quality and customer satisfaction and reducing costs. Not just anybody could have managed the Nissan turnaround as well as Ghosn did. For instance, A COO from Japan would not have been able to cut back on keiretsu investments. Because of the Japanese business culture to make these kinds of investments and the Japanese emphasis on cooperation and loyalty, it would have been considered to be a sort of betrayal and ultimately would 3 have harmed the Nissan brand even more. Only an outsider with different cultural background could legitimize such a change. The resistance Ghosn eventually faced when ignoring the almost sacred tradition of promoting by education, age and time within the company would likewise have been much more pronounced if the initiative came from a Japanese COO. Resistance to change Ultimately some sort of resistance was inevitable because of the major structural and cultural changes Nissan was facing with Ghosn as COO. People generally do not resist change, per se. but some underlying causes, like lack of understanding, fear of the unknown or fear of an outcome worse than the present situation.1 In this specific case Ghosn went a long way implementing many changes before meeting actual resistance in form of lack of cooperation among employees caused by the elimination of the old promotion system, allowing younger, less experienced employees to be promoted based on their skills and achievements. This resistance was clearly caused by fear of the unknown and fear of loosing/not gaining status by promotions. Resistance is generally a very important form of feedback and Ghosn chose to view the resistance as an opportunity for experience rather than a limitation.2 1 Dent, E. B. and Goldberg, S. G. (1999). Page 26 2 Ford, J. D. and Ford, L. W. (2009). Page 101 3 Nohria, N., Joyce, W. and Roberson, B.(2003). Page 45 4 Ford, J. D. and Ford, L. W. (2009). Page 100 Ghosn has overcome the actual resistance and prevented potential resistance to the cultural and structural changes in large by clearly communicating all initiatives and objectives to all Nissan employees. Communication had previously been a problem within the company but by creating a matrix structure (combining efficiency and effectiveness) and through consistency between his own actions, thoughts and communication Ghosn was making sure that transparency as well as communication within the organization was improved and afterwards maintained, keeping focus on the strategy.3 Likewise by creating the Cross-Functional Teams, he sought to build engagement and participation and made sure that the employees would have a sense of ownership over the Nissan Revival Plan and motivate communication across departments, stimulate future risk-taking and responsibility as well as regaining confidence in the companys future. Mitigating resistance by involvement and communication are generally very e ffective and will increase employee commitment to execution.4 4 The former lack of accountability and acceptance of responsibility among employees was eliminated by directly assigning responsibility and accountability and encourage people to take risks. This was accomplished in part by monetary rewards and stock options whenever the actions led to increase in operating profits or revenues.5 The previous consensus mentality at Nissan seems to have been: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢If everyone one is responsible then no one is accountable, and nobody gets punished,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- which was affecting risk-taking and slowing decision-making processes across the company. 5 Fu, Dean and Millikin, john P. page C553 Organizational culture As mentioned above, the understanding and respect Ghosn expressed for the Japanese Nissan culture and the fact that he communicated his wish to work through this culture were vital for his acceptance within the organization. He made it clear from the very beginning that he too had a personal stake in the outcome and thereby created a sense of cohesion with the employees. His visibility in the organization from day one and the consistency between his communications and actions was a new but welcome change that made him human in the eyes of the employees. This transparency and consistency together with his explicit promise to respect the culture also helped building a sense trust and thereby employee support for most of Ghosns change initiatives. The Nissan president and CEO, Yoshikazu Hanawa, had a positive attitude towards Ghosn and his experience and abilities in turnarounds, since he explicitly asked Renault to send Ghosn to Nissan to lead the changes. But because Ghosn was a foreigner and not accustomed to the Japanese way of doing business, several industrial business analytics expressed scepticism and concern for this arrangement. It is likely that middle-managers and higher-level-managers have been influenced by these critics and therefore had a negative attitude towards Ghosn as COO, but if they did, they did not make much fuss about it. 5 National culture When you consider the differences between Ghosns leadership style and the Japanese (Nissan) way of doing business, it is actually a bit of an achievement that resistance did not arise earlier and more pronounced than it did. The cultural differences between Ghosn, with his experience in working in organizations with strong corporate cultures, and the Nissan organization, with its weak culture traits, were very pronounced and had great potential to cause some trouble along the way, but it takes two to tango, and one of them has to lead. The initiative of putting together Cross-Functional Teams had great potential for meeting resistance in part because of the Japanese tradition of reaching consensus when making decisions. In addition, if every member of a Cross-Functional Team had to make sure, that their respective departments were supporting every suggestion, then the decision-making process would not only have been slowed severely but would have staled. It is also very likely that the employees at Nissan would have resisted the Cross-Functional Team initiatives because of the Japanese culture of loyalty and cooperation within departments but not necessarily across departments (especially not in troubled times) caused by the weak organizational culture. Early on Ghosn became aware that in order to turn Nissan around, he would have to address some of these cultural issues in order to get to root of the problems and meet the overall goal of creating profits. First and foremost, he would have to communicate and make understood the importance of meeting customer wants and needs (included a radical change in the decision-making processe).6 The management would have to create a shared vision (or long-term plan as opposed to their usual sort-term). Management at Nissan was displaying tunnel vision and was focusing on regaining market share instead of increasing margins and product innovation to meet customer demands.7 The emphasis placed on informal contacts and information, complicated knowledge sharing across the organization, as nothing was written or formally communicated, which also slowed decision-making processes. He would have to overcome these cultural obstacles (underlying problems) before addressing the real problems at Nissan. 6 Nohria, N., Joyce, W. and Roberson, B.(2003). Page 46-47 7 Fu, Dean and Millikin, john P. page C549 6 Luck and timing The timing for these changes was absolutely perfect. Had Ghosn and his Cross-Functional Teams tried to implement the same changes a few years earlier, they would most likely have met great resistance and possible failure. But because of the resent bankruptcy of the major financial house, Yamaichi, and the lack of bailout by the Japanese government, the employees at Nissan began to take their situation seriously and this imposed a sense of urgency among the employees. This sense of urgency helped push changes by making the employees more willing to cooperate and implement the proposed changes as well as taking more risks in order to turn the company around. This willingness for taking risks decreased the previous fear of making decisions (especially faulty decisions) which decreased the need for consensus decision-making , which again increased the speed with which decisions was able to be made. This further fostered motivation for innovative proposals for the product line, which had a positive effect on the Nissan competiveness and on consumer satisfaction. In short, the bankruptcy of Yamaichi was a stroke of luck at the exact right time to help kick-start the major changes at Nissan, especially in the minds of the employees. Looking forward In the next few years (2005) Ghosn will have to return to Renault to take over as CEO (his lifelong dream). The right replacement for his job must ensure continuous growth and success, keeping focus on customer needs and increases in profit as well as to nurture the newly accomplished sense of urgency to keep driving employees towards continuous improvements (Nissan 180). A successor should, besides the above mentioned, be able to create a balance between long-term and short-term objectives to ensure that employees do not fall back into old habits.8 Constantly setting short-term objectives, aligning them with long-term objectives will enhance motivation among Nissan employees as they will see their effort and hard work paying of. 8 Griswold, H. M. and Prenovitz, S. C.(1993). Page 5 9 Krackhardt, D. and Hanson, J. R.(1993). I would recommend Ghosn to use the network analysis9 as a tool for helping him making the best possible decision, ensuring that the person he will choose is trustworthy among employees, accountable and responsible, has influential power. The friendship network is always a good place to start, but he should be sure to mad both the communication network and advice network as well. Perhaps there will be an obvious overlap between the three. 7 Conclusion The Nissan turnaround was a great success in that it met measurable objectives and accomplished to overall strategic goal of increasing profits within the schedule. By approaching the Japanese and corporate Nissan culture with an open mind, Ghosn was able to gain the employees trust. His approach to the cultural differences combined with a great stroke of luck, turned the challenge into and opportunity and he was thereby able to meet the overall goal. In facing the fundamental problems within the organization; lack of clear profit orientation, insufficient focus on customers and too much on competitors, lack of a sense of urgency, no shared vision or common long-term plan, lack of cross-functional, cross-border, cross-cultural lines of work, he had to bend the rules of engagement by changing large parts of the Nissan culture. More specifically, based on the recommendations from the Cross-Functional Teams, he implemented some rather radical changes on the Japanese traditions of doing business, in order to help Nissan get back on track. Even though he was hereby violating his prior commitment to be sensitive to the Nissan culture, he did not experience serious resistance in doing so, because it was ultimately Nissan employees suggesting these changes, he was just executing them. In choosing his Successor Ghosn should map the informal networks within the organization, emphasising on trust, accountability and power to create change. 8 List of literature  · Dent, E. B. and Goldberg, S. G. (1999). Challenging resistance to change. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 35(1), 25-41.  · Ford, J. D. and Ford, L. W. (2009). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Decoding resistance to change.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- Harvard Business Review, 87(4), 99-103.  · Fu, Dean and Millikin, john P. (2003) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢The Global Leadership of Carlos Ghosn at Nissan,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- Thunderbird The American Graduate School of International Management, C546 C556  · Griswold, H. M. and Prenovitz, S. C.(1993).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢How to translate strategy into operational results.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- Business Forum, 18(3), 5-9.  · Krackhardt, D. and Hanson, J. R.(1993).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Informal networks: the company behind the chart.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- Harvard Business Review, July/August, 104-111.  · Nohria, N., Joyce, W. and Roberson, B.(2003).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢What really works.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬- Harvard Business Review, 81(7), 42-52.

Feminist Re-reading of Henry Jamess Washington Square :: Henry James Washington Square

An Inappropriate Feminist Re-reading of Henry James's Washington Square The article "Re-producing James" is a defense of the feminist perspective in regards to Henry James's Washington Square. The article discusses the point of truth in words. Stating only (in a roundabout way) that the readers interpretation and perspective of reading the novel determines their understanding of the truth. The author Barbara Rasmussen, states that another critic, Ian Bell's perspective of Henry James's writing " 'exploits the ideological equipment of that which it opposes': patriarchal capitalism" (63). However, her only point seems to be that in Ian Bell's criticism as well as in Washington Square, the writing is completely phallic, capitalistic, and patriarchal. In defending the reading of Washington Square and Ian Bell's critical essays, from a feminist perspective, Rasmussen believes that it can change the way one sees these writings. She seems to think that James's and Bell's writings both depend on a "phallocentric exclusion of difference, but will themselves be just as complicit†¦in the face of patriarchal inadequacies" (66). Yet, this seems to be the contradiction that poses as the general project of a feminist re-reading of American Literature. This article was hard to read. Rasmussen was a bit roundabout at getting to her point, and once I finally figured out what she was saying, I didn't really care. I personally think that Rasmussen is a sexist woman with an over-rated opinion! She attacks both Bell and James and unjustly signifies that because the writings are from a male perspective, they are themselves sexist and phallocentric. She also implies that the feminist perspective, which she uses as no more than a title under which she can vent her own sexist attitude, is of crucial importance in reading James's Washington Square and Bell's perspectives. She believes that since she reads from the feminist perspective, she has more challenges and undertakings to recognize and deal with because of James's and Bell's use of phallic relations. One must not, however, take Rasmussen seriously. I felt that she was writing to please herself, and others like her who think that it is unjust, and sexist to write in a patriarchal manner. However, Washington Square was written in 1880 and was very much a patriarchal time. So of course, it would have been written in that perspective, especially since it was written by a man.