Weighing In Essay Essay Example

Weighing In Essay Essay In Essay Racism has repeatedly played a controversial role throughout the course of history. This is a topic fueled by the heated arguments of the parties on both ends of the matter, may it be the cry of the victim or defense of the offender. As described in the works of two members of ethnic minorities coping With the alienation they both faced in what is supposed to be the land of diversity, Froze Dumas The F Word, and Brent Staples Black Men and Public Space, racism is portrayed as a dark shadow cast upon those who may not me to conform to the norms of western culture to the typical American. Such stereotypes and predispositions should not hold the power to classify and simplify human beings to one single standard of a certain background, as one single Story or idea does not define an entire mass Of people. In Froze Dumas The F Word, she describes her life growing up as an Iranian in America. From the very beginning of her transition into western society, Dumas was exposed to the ugly world of racism at the tender age of seven, an idea almost too outlandish to even entertain. The idea that children t such a young age could feel the need to alienate someone due to unfamiliarity shows that indifference to foreign culture and background can begin at almost any age. She writes that her cousin was named Forbad, a respectable Iranian name meaning greatness, but in a land filled with Joeys and Mars, this was completely alien to his peers, resulting in his nickname Forehead. Similarly, her brother, Fairish, meaning he who enlightens became known as Farthest. A friend of Dumas sounded too similarly to an African American slur and her brothers name reminded those of a skin indention. We will write a custom essay sample on Weighing In Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Weighing In Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Weighing In Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer These children earned themselves such vulgar names solely due to the fact that they were raised and named accordingly to their culture, something that should never be disrespected or looked down upon as abnormal just because it is uncommon. When she reached the age of twelve, Froze opted for an American middle name, understandable for a young girl bearing the pressure of her surroundings, yet unacceptable for her to feel pressured to do so in the first place. She explains that she regrets this decision as it only complicated her life in the long run, even though it seemed o be a quick fix to her problems at the time. She had always received incredulous glares or horribly executed pronunciations, many without even a hint of actual effort in attempting to properly address her, a sad but common occurrence for those who are not often exposed to foreign cultures. Dumas finally settled on the name Julie and even introduced herself to her next-door neighbor using her new name. Her brothers even made fun of her for wanting to Americanize herself, who then later became Fred and Sean. In college, she did away with Julie and went back to her old name, but found that applying for jobs was a more successful venture when she used her American name, interestingly enough. Once she got married, it was almost as if she was living a double life, with family calling her Froze and most friends referring to her as Julie. This prompted her to permanently go back to her original name, forcing herself to cope with the mispronunciations and comments, which she simply now finds humor in. It is a huge relief that Dumas ended up referring to herself by her original first name, as dont feel that she should have ever felt pressured into conforming to the standards of stern culture and trying to Americanize herself. The fact that simply changing her name from Froze to Julie on job applications is mind blowing, as it is clearly not her credentials or talents that are being considered, but her American name. I appreciate that Dumas was able to come to the realization that although her American name would often allow her more job interviews and less of an intense reaction in every day life, her original Iranian name was part of her struggle growing up as an immigrant in America and was a better telltale of her story than Julie would ever be. Rather than being another Joe or Mary, people would just have to adjust to her, not the other way around. Similar to Dumas struggle in America as an Iranian, Brent Staples Black Men and public Space details the struggle of being a black man in America. There are countless stereotypes implanted in the minds of Americans of the typical black person, aggressive, dishonest, ruthless, and overall ill intentioned. The first encounter with this racist outlook on blacks Staples had was in a wealthier area of downbeat Chicago, who began to appear irksome and soon after proceeded to run from the author, who had done nothing intentionally to provoke fear in her. I agree that women should always place their safety as their first priority and should remove themselves from any situation in which they find themselves uncomfortable or at risk, but if blacks and whites cant manage to walk the same streets without one race thinking the other is going to attack at any given moment due to the misconceptions floating around in their heads, then America really isnt a land of diversity. It then becomes a land of hierarchy. As he says, Staples is too scared to even wield a knife at a chicken, let alone wield a knife at another human being, but by the color of his skin and appearance, one would never know this. Being perceived as dangerous, he writes, is a hazard in itself, and could easily land him in the back of a police car simply due to the stereotypes of the black man. Staples understands that women are vulnerable in situations involving street crime, and that blacks have a tendency to be the offenders in such situations, yet this is no excuse for the complete isolation teen blacks and whites that occurs on an everyday basis. He recalls a fascinating incident in which police attempted to arrest a black journalist whom they mistook for the murderer, further proving that many will forever have these misconceptions that almost all blacks are violent by nature. On late nights now, Staples finds himself whistling classical music, as he explains that many do not seem to think that a typical, violent black man would ever be whistling Beethoven or Vivaldi, which is one of the saddest parts of this story. It is almost disgusting to me that blacks and minorities in general feel he need to prove themselves to American society by doing White things. It is often understandably easier to do so and conform to western ways, but it is never necessary because one should not ever be ashamed of their background. No single story or stereotype or standard defines a human being. That persons actions, impact on the world, and the lives they touch are what define them. America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, is often an image of hopes and dreams and opportunity for those who wish to create better lives for themselves, yet the stereotypes people tend to hold of each racial aground impede any sort of progress in continuing to paint America as this beacon of hope. Racism not only simplifies humans to one single story, but almost dehumidifies a person, as well, looking past their traits and qualities and defining them as where they come from and what their culture is. It is necessary to learn that what society may deem normal to us is not necessarily normal to others, and rather than one party adapt to the other or furthermore alienate one another, we must begin to respect and not reject the diversity which surrounds us.

The Iraq Crisis essays

The Iraq Crisis essays Straddling the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and stretching from the Gulf to the Anti-Taurus Mountains, modern Iraq occupies roughly what was once ancient Mesopotamia, one of the cradles of human civilisation. In the Middle Ages Iraq was the centre of the Islamic Empire, with Baghdad the cultural and political capital of an area extending from Morocco to the Indian subcontinent. Mongol invasions in the 13th century saw its influence wane, and it played a minor role in the region until independence from British control in 1932. Following the overthrow of the monarchy in 1958 and a coup in 1968, Iraq became one of the centres of Arab nationalism under the control of the ruling Ba'th (Renaissance) party. Oil made the country rich, and when Saddam Hussein became president in 1979 petroleum made up 95% of its foreign exchange earnings. But the war with Iran from 1980 to 1988 and the Gulf War in 1991 following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, together with the subsequent imposition of international sanctions, had a devastating effect on its economy and society. In 1991 the UN said Iraq had been reduced to a pre-industrial state, while later reports described living standards as being at subsistence level. The Kurdish community has broken away and created a semi-autonomous region of its own in the north. United States, British and allied planes launched a massive campaign of bombing and missile strikes on targets across Iraq at 2330 GMT on 16 January 1991. It marked the end of five months of diplomacy and military build-up in response to Iraq's invasion of neighbouring Kuwait on 2 August 1990. Iraq had vowed to fight rather than pull out. The United Nations deadline, 15 January, ticked by with no withdrawal. The next day, the full might of the 29-member UN-backed coalition was unleashed. US, British and Saudi Arabian aircraft set out to destroy hundreds of mainly military targets. The Iraqi capital Baghdad was heavily hit and th...

U5 Research Project Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

U5 Research Project - Coursework Example The GPO corresponds to active directory containers. The GPO defines  registry based polices, security options, software installation and maintenance options, scripts options, and folder redirection options. It provides the facilities to maintain access barriers to different configurations of users and windows (Technet.microsoft.com, 2015). Windows policy editor is a tool that enables a user to edit group policies and is also a helpful learning tool. There are various differences between encrypting file system (EFS) and BitLocker drive encryption. Both services are used to encrypt your files. EFS is more specific than BitLocker. EFS is commonly used to encrypt particular files or folders in a drive whereas, BitLocker encrypts the whole drive; system drives, fixed drives and removable drives (windows.microsoft.com, 2015). BitLocker is independent of user accounts it is either on or off for all drives but EFS provides the individual rights to users (windows.microsoft.com, 2015). Moreover, BitLocker needs administrator rights. On other hand, EFS does not require administrator privileges in order to be used (windows.microsoft.com, 2015). BitLocker also uses a special microchip, trusted platform module (TPM) that underpins the advance security to your operating system. windows.microsoft.com,. (2015).  Whats the difference between BitLocker Drive Encryption and Encrypting File System?. Retrieved 5 January 2015, from

Write an annotation entry consisting of a Citation, a brief Summary, Essay - 3

Write an annotation entry consisting of a Citation, a brief Summary, and a short paragraph Evaluation of the text below - Essay Example Michelle mentioned that because they are economically weak and socially deviant, people of color are perceived by the justice system as disposable portions of the American society. Therefore, today’s mass arrests and subsequent incarceration of blacks in the United States have historical roots dating back to the discriminatory times of slavery and Jim Crow eras. This debate is an illustrative piece of journalism, which not only illuminates on the current state of racism in criminal justice, but also proposes probable roots of today’s problems in the American justice system. Invariably, responses from the debate raise certain questions like; Are people of color unfairly targeted by the American justice system? Recently, there has been a bubbling controversy on the issue of racism perpetrated by police departments, especially in mostly African American communities like Ferguson. Admittedly, the textual transcript on the debate is useful in validating certain claims surrounding the racism controversy. First, it is substantial that during arrests in Ferguson, police are up to 88% more likely to use force against African American offenders compared to whites (Gonzalez and Goodman 01). In addition, all reported cases of dog bites during arrests involved victims of African American origin. With respect to such statistically substantiated ar guments, the article reinforces my current stance on the issue of police-propagated racism in the U.S. Justice system. Admittedly, the voices involved in the debate establish considerable degrees of credibility. Despite the debate’s video being long and tedious to watch, contributors derived their arguments from irrefutable facts. For example, the debate’s moderator Amy Goodman cited the words of singer John Legend during the recently concluded Oscar Awards ceremony. John Legend reiterated the fact that the United States is the most incarcerated nation in the world. To emphasize his point, Legend

Implementing international accounting standards Essay

Implementing international accounting standards - Essay Example "As markets converge and geographical borders no longer present the same trade barriers increasingly there is a need for globally accepted accounting standards. Business needs them, investors are demanding them and accountants are under an obligation to ensure delivery." Here the need for their implementation in the view of the largest professional body of accountants in the UK is expressed as being primarily for the progression of trade, as recent technological advancements in technology has resulted in a break down of previous trade barriers and we are now expected to compete in a world market. Groom (2001), saw the importance of international standards as being a key part of his 5 legged stool of trust, ensuring that investors in capital markets retain confidence and invest. This confidence has become core to the survival of these markets, especially in the light of recent high profile collapses such as Enron in the US and One.Tel in Australia. Since the 2002 decision of the EU the interest in the implications of IAS's and their implementation, along with their costs and benefits, has risen. The core of this debate and the ultimate benefit of International standards to the UK as a whole will be discussed in the remainder of this text with specific focus upon the benefits and costs to both quoted and non-quoted companies. Currently there is significant concern in the UK that there... It is this lack of awareness which is likely to cause considerable increases to costs required to implement the standards when the ASB does converge, as this is no small task and requires a planned strategy.It is hard to actually assess the cost which has already been incurred by listed companies since the 1st of January implementation date, as a full year of trading has not quite been completed and therefore there has been limited analysis as yet, therefore the bulk of this analysis has to be based upon theories and analyses undertaken before implementation in the EU and is therefore, to some extent theoretical. The costs of implementing these standards have been widely discussed and most of these will affect both quoted and non-quoted companies, however they will differ in their extent. The bulk of these costs will be incurred in the education of the users of these financial statements; any stakeholder of the business for which the financial statements are being prepared, will be effected to some extent, and will need to be educated in order for the company to survive the change. Stakeholders are extremely influential and include banks and lenders, auditors and shareholders, a business needs to educate these people on the change and its impact upon their financial statements, and in this education other costs will be incurred. Gerhardy points out that banks and lenders will require reclassification of debt and equity, leading to dividend payout issues, and the reclassification of debts will lead to renegotiation costs with lenders, this will lead to strategy issues and a need for good communication of the effects IFRS will have on business with the shareholders, all of which will result in significant cost to all

The Kite Runner Religion Theme

The Kite Runner Religion Theme Introduction My object of study is The Kite Runner a novel by Khaled Hosseini, published by Riverhead Books in USA, 2003. The novel was adapted into a film in 2007 by the same name of The Kite Runner. Khaled Hosseini was born on 4th March 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan. His father worked for Afghan Foreign Ministry, and his mother was a teacher of Farsi and History. When Soviets occupied Afghanistan in 1978, the Hosseini family seek political asylum in the United States of America (USA) and moved to San Jose, California. Where Hosseini graduated from High School, and earned biology degree from Santa Clara University. He attended SanDiegos School of Medicine and completed his MD in 1993. He started writing The Kite Runner in 2001 while he was a practicing physician1. Hosseiniis Kite Runner is partly based on his childhood experiences in Wazir Akbar Khan in Kabul. While most of the events in the novel are fictional. After living 27 years in USA he returned to Afghanistan in 2003 and was shocked to discover the terrible situation there, even when he had written a very realistic and detailed fictional narrative of it. He declared that because of luck and material privilege, he and his fam ily was saved from the Soviets and the Taliban, much like his central figure of the narrative Amir. The rationale for choosing this novel is that it encourages the reader for repentance, and offers hope in devastation. It is a story of friendship and betrayal, love and sacrifices, written beautifully by Hosseini, against the background of Afghan political history. Background Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Its economy is based on agriculture and provides 70% of worlds opium and 90% of Europes heroin, but still one of the poorest countries. Among its 28 million people, 50% of men are illiterate and 79% of women. Life expectancy here is 47 years. The country has a long history of foreign interference by the Greeks, Persians, Turks, British, Indians and Russians. Talibans began as a group of fundamentalist Islamic students, were the last intruders until 2001 when Americans occupied and dismissed them. Because of all these intruders, there was a great diversity of culture and ethnicity in the country. Afghanistan divided into approximately 20 different ethnic groups, which further divided into tribes 2. It is inevitable to have conflicts between different groups while living in the same country, because of differences in their morals and beliefs. In Kite Runner Hosseinis main character Amir is a Pashtun and Hassan, is a Hazara the two groups do not get along in Afghanistan. According to Hosseini two things separate Hazaras from other ethnicities, one is that their looks are different, because they are the descendants of Mongol Empire and secondly, they are Shia Muslims, unlike most Afghans who are Sunni Muslims. Hazaras throughout the centuries have been the oppressed minority in Afghanistan. The Kite Runner acquires its name from the ancient game of kite flying known as gudi paran bazi. Boys make fighter kites from a bamboo frame together with tissue paper in different sizes ranging from one to five feet across. They attach the string to the kite which is coated with powdered ground glass. The goal of the fight is to cut the opponents kite string with a sawing motion. The real fight starts as soon as the enemys kite subsides and all wait impatiently to see who will get the fallen kite, as the kite is a symbol of their pride and glory.  3 Hosseini symbolises the kite fighting to the fighting between Afghan government and Mujahidin, whose hands were blooded and bruised, in the same way as does the hands of kite flyer when the kites string sears through his hands. Another way in which kite flying symbolises with the story of Amir and Hassan is the class difference between them, as the boy who controls the kite is Amir (Pashtun), and the other who assists him and run for the fallen kite for him is Hassan (Hazara), who also served Amir by cleaning and washing for him. Although, the kite fighting is violent but the only act of flying kite is innocent and depicts freedom. Despite their class differences the only activity which brings the two boys together is flying kites.   The Kite Runner  is the story of the friendship between two boys grew up in Kabul, Raised in the same household and shared the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan grew up in different worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, whil e Hassan, the son of Amirs fathers servant, is a Hazara an outcast ethnic minority. The two boys were very much attached to each other in their childhood and spend perfect time together by telling stories, running and flying kites, until that event happened which changed their lives forever. Their lives and their fates were interrelated, even when Amir and his father left the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he will forget Hassan, but surprisingly he couldnt. It is a story of Amir, his childhood, how he faces all the challenges while maturing into manhood, his friendship with Hassan, love and hate, father sons bonding and on the top, about the price one has to pay for his loyalty and betrayal. Representation of Religion The novel of Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan, where the majority of the population are Muslim and there are lot of references to Muslims and their beliefs in the novel. For example, the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Muslim calendar, and the first three days of Eid-ul-Adha, or Eid-e-Qorban, as Afghans call it a day to celebrate how the prophet Ibrahim almost sacrificed his own son for God. Baba has handpicked the sheep again this year, a powder white one with crooked black ears. (p 67) As Hayes S. Judi (2007) writes, Hosseinis view point is in many ways secular, when it is religious; the perspective is from an Islamic world view, not a Judeo- Christian perspective. But because Islam, Judaism, and Christianity hold in common at least some of events in the book of Genesis in the Hebrew bible, we will find much there that informs our reading of THE KITE RUNNER. Religion can be interpreted differently by different people according to their own values and beliefs. Same is the case in Hosseinis Kite Runner. Religion in the eyes of Baba (Amir Father) is morality, pride, honour and courage, and in order to be human one has to gain honour and respect in his community. Example of his pride and honour is that when they encountered a Russian soldier, on their way out of Afghanistan and the soldier demanded a half hour with the lady in the back of the truck, Baba said, Ask him where his shame is.war doesnt negate decency. It demands it, even more than in time of peace.(p100) Baba was more secular in his views and did not like the orthodox religious preachers, who impose their rigid views on others and who couldnt even allow minor sins and errors. His views on fundamentalists Taliban when he says youll never learn anything of value from those bearded idiots-piss on the beards of all those self righteous monkeysGod help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands(p15). While he has his own secular views, but he did good deeds in order to relieve his tormenting guilt. now, no matter what the Mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft. Do you understand that? (p16) For Amir, Religion is something entirely private; he was also influenced by his father and didnt much believe in traditional religious values. We only found him praying twice. Firstly, when his father got sick bowing my head to the ground, I recited half forgotten verses from the Koran..and asked for kindness from a God I wasnt sure existed.(p135) Secondly, when Sohrab tried to cut himself, the boy had cut himself deeply and lost a great deal of blood and my mouth begins to mutter that prayer again; La illaha il Allah, Muhammad u rasul ullahI will do namaz, I will do zakat. I will fast. (p304) Stereotypes of Religion We can see stereotypes of Taliban in The Kite Runner. Assef, the childhood bully, became a Taliban member. Hosseini portray Assef as a Talib just to give a back ground to the story. He knew that Taliban are already viewed badly in the western world. Assef claimed that hes on a mission of God and Amir asked him about his mission, What mission is that? ..Stoning adulterers? Raping children? Flogging women for wearing high heels? Massacring Hazaras? All in the name of Islam? (p248). As we can see how their rulers in the name of religion, beat, stoned, raped and brutalized women. Years of war had stripped them of gentleness, kindness and human expression, the very aspect of religion they allegedly follow and try to impose. And all in the name of God and religion they have turned their monstrosity on their own people. Critics of The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseinis THE KITE RUNNER faced lot of appreciation as well as criticism. Like all other work of art and literature, people from different sections advance  The Kite Runner  with different feelings. A critic for  The New York Times Book Review  described  The Kite Runner  as A story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love. Both transform the life of Amir, Khaled Hosseinis privileged young narrator, who comes of age during the last peaceful days of the monarchy, just before the countrys revolution and its invasion by Russian forces. But, political events, even as dramatic as the ones that are presented in  The Kite Runner, are only a part of this story. In  The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini gives us a vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence. Forces that continue to threaten them even today. http://www.sholajawid.org/english/main_english/afghanistan_kite_runner290908.html Written in the back drop of 9/11by an Afghan born medical doctor, The Kite Runner presents a glimpse of socio political climate in Afghanistan and the Afghan community in northern California. The Kite Runner achieves this by offering a fictional portrait of recent events manipulated by tribalism and religious conservatism and aggravated by foreign interferences but overcome through the humanism and bravery, which is fuelled by the sense of community.(Sadat, 2004) Some argue that Hosseini has put his finger on very sensitive cultural issues that Afghanis dont like to be discussing in public. Others accuse him of being secular, who believe in oneness of Allah and the Quran. In my opinion, Khaled Hosseini took a very bold step, in order to disclose and expose such brutality and misery, which was practised by Pashtuns, (Afghanistans dominant nationality), against Hazaras in the name of Religion. The people should have the understanding of whats going on in the world, other than theirs, in order to do something for those who are living in oppression, either in the name of religion, or in the name of Jihad- where the male chauvinist violate innocent children, women and men. Conclusion The Kite Runner basically in my view is a legendary story of people of Afghanistan. The author provides a very long, descriptive and eye opening account of Afghanistans culture and traditions, along with its people. He portrays a complete picture of life in Kabul before Soviets invasion and Taliban to the Western world as a cosmopolitan, artistic and a very intellectual environment. According to Sadat (2004) the authors goal ..is to humanize the Afghan people and put a personal face to what has happened there. For me The Kite Runner is a story of peoples conscience that they have to face during their difficult times in life. The religion of the novel in my view is redemption. Redemption is very important for those who has conscience and have sinned. The entire story of The Kite Runner is focused on just one sentence, There is a way to be good again, (p.2) Allah says in Quran 12; 53 And I do not make myself free of blame, for the human soul is inclined to ignorance, except what My Lord has mercy on. Surely My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful. Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will Allah turn in mercy: For Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. Quran 4: 17.   The Buddhist, Christian and Hindu principles of salvation are very much in common. Each of them stresses on liberation from sin, and relief from evil. Their goal is to return back to their former chastity and happiness. As evil is everywhere in this physical world, it is inevitable to commit sin making it inseparable from life. They believe that freedom can be achieved only by deserting this world. Buddhist believes into this doctrine in its purest form while Christians and Hindus have adjusted it to some extent, according to their belief. Amir is telling us the story of his childhood, memories of which are corrupted with shame and guilt. Towards the end of the novel we learned to know that it is not only Amir who needs redemption but Baba and Rahim Khan has also sinned and lived throughout their life in guilt. Amir thinks of himself as the only sinner among his friends and family, and his guilt become stronger when he sees Hassan as a righteous person. Amir had disgraced himself by not coming forward and helping Hassan when he was attacked and by lying and creating a situation in which Hassan was blamed of stealing and made him and his father (Ali) to leave Amirs home. Amirs relationship with Baba was very strained, as his father was very hard-driving and demanding. Amir was Desperate for his fathers affection and respect, and turns to kite flying sport, in which he was good from his childhood. At the age of 12, he wins the annual tournament of kite flying in Kabul with the help of Hassan.   Amir was very jealo us of Hassan and wanted his fathers love so much for himself, that he hurt Hassan in the process.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Amir tried continuously to make even with Baba, and didnt realize that it is Babas guilt which made him so hard on Amir and that Baba also needed redemption. People find redemption when they pay in some way for their wrong doings and try to replace the bad things with good ones. One day, Rahim Khan, Amirs fathers close friend called him and told him that he needed to come back home and to make things right, that had been done wrong, there is a way to be good again(p.2) indicated to Amir that it was a right time to let the guilt go away and redeem himself from the sin he committed 26 years ago. Finally, Amir redeemed himself as Rahim Khan recommended for him in his last letter, ..I believe, is what true redemption is, Amir jan, when guilt leads to good (p263). Later on, in the novel we learned that Hassan was his half brother and that he had had a son. Amir found his way to redemption by looking after Hassans orphan son. He left his wife and home in America to look for the boy in Afghanistan. Once, Hassan stood up for Amir, now its Amir turn to do something for his son Sohrab. He had to fight with his childhood enemy, (Assef) the man who caused him the suffering and guilt, in order to rescue Sohrab, and it was Sohrab who saved Amirs life that day who wanted to sacrifice his blood for Hassan in the same way as Hassan did in the alley one night about 26 years ago. When Amir was cruelly beaten by Assef, he laughed and said, .My body was broken-just how badly I wouldnt find until later-but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed (p253). These words show that his guilt and anxiety of finding redemption were really huge. He felt he deserved to be punched to the point of almost dying; he needed to feel punishment for what he did. The Kite Runner is a beautiful story about guilt and forgiveness, fear and redemption. The story emphasizes on what happens when there is an overwhelming fear which control ones actions, and the way one deals with this kind of situations. Rahim Khan carries the novels conclusive message about forgiveness. God is always merciful; and it is people who are not. He tells Amir in his letter, I know that in the end, God will forgive. He will forgive your father, me, and you too Forgive your father if you can. Forgive me if you wish. But most important, forgive yourself. (P263-264)

Noteworthy Technology Essay -- Music Composition Essays

Noteworthy Technology Few things possess the power of music. Good music has the capacity to convey messages, evoke emotion and inspire awe. Yet, not many posses the means to acquire the power of music. Writing music by hand can be time consuming, inaccurate, and it does not allow the composer to actually hear the annotated music. Furthermore, learning an instrument can be time consuming and frustrating if all a person wants to do is compose their own music. This is where the beauty of technology comes in. Through a system known as MIDI, or Musical Instrumental Digital Interface, and musical notation computer software, composers are able to input their music into a computer and have the means to listen to, edit, and print out their compositions. While MIDI technology and computer musical notation software is easily accessible today, it is a relatively new technology. MIDI was created in 1983 by a collaboration of the major music industry electronic instrument manufacturers including Roland, Yamaha, Korg and others (MIDI). MIDI includes a set of technical principles that standardize computer based music and allow electronic devices like synthesizers, computers, and multi-track recorders, to interact with each other (Ohler pars 4). For example, a person can use a use a single keyboard to trigger sounds from 10 other keyboards connected by MIDI interface. MIDI technology does not send an actual musical note or sound, but information about the note, in a process very similar to how computers share information through modems. MIDI communication is based upon the byte. Each MIDI command is composed of a specific byte sequence which contains important information such as the status byte, which tells the receiving MIDI... ...ay of creating joyful noises. MIDI and musical notation software makes it very easy to annotate our musical ideas. In this very direct way, we can use technology to glorify God with our creative talents and songs of praise. Works Cited MIDI.com. 8 Dec. 2002 <http://www.MIDI.com>. Ohler, Jason. "The Promise of MIDI Technology." Learning and Leading with Technology. Mar. 1996: OCLC FirstSearch. 8 Dec. 2002. Keyword: Music Composition. Perry, Jeffery. "The Inner Voice of Simple Things: A Conversation With Paul Lansky." Perspective of New Music. Summer 1996: 40-60. OCLC FirstSearch. Hekman Library, Grand Rapids. 7 Dec. 2002. Keyword: Music Composition. Webster, Peter R. "Time, Technology and Creative Process." Arts Education Policy Review. 94 Sept. 1994: 32-36. OCLC FirstSearch. Hekman Library, Grand Rapids. 8 Dec. 2002. Keyword: Music Composition.

Coca Cola External Environmental Factors

During the strategic marketing management process, there are many external forces that any company must be aware of in order to be profitable. These very important factors to be considered come in the form of technology trends, economic and government trends, consumer trends and innovations. It is very important to become aware of all of the potential opportunities and threats that may arise from these trends. I believe that for Coca-Cola, there are external forces in all of these areas that they must be aware of and incorporate into their planning if they are to continue to be successful.When it comes to technology, in recent years there are many emerging trends that I feel that Coca-Cola could use to their advantage. The popularity of services such as Twitter and Facebook may give Coca-Cola the opportunity to spread the word about their products to territories that haven’t yet been reached by their competitors. Since the majority of people use these services all over the wor ld, we feel that it is a great place for them to advertise.While it is still very important to have advertisements on television, more and more people are using the internet, and we feel that by collaborating with internet companies, they would be able to increase their profits. In addition to the increased use of the internet, another technology trend that Coca-Cola should be aware of is the production of bio-degradable bottles. Today’s plastic bottles are very bad for the environment and people are aware of this. Until recently, there was only technology to produce plastic that was made from petroleum.Now though, in the year 2010, there is technology to produce plastic that is made from plants. This plastic, also known as PLA or polylactide, emits fewer greenhouse gases, uses less energy than other plastic bottles and is also recyclable and compostable. We believe that since the environment is such a high priority in everyone’s minds, they should take advantage of th is technological development. Economic and Government trends are an extremely important part of the external environment. Since consumers are directly affected by the status of n economy, a company should always be aware of the economic conditions in the countries in which they operate. Currently, all over the world, we are dealing with a recession. The unemployment rate is very high, and as a result, consumers have decreased buying power. When consumers have less income, the first thing that they stop buying are luxury goods. In my opinion, Coke is a luxury item and not a necessity. I feel that if Coca-Cola wants to continue to be successful in the current economic conditions, they must begin to produce goods that people must buy. An example of such a product would be dairy products, like milk.While a consumer who has a strict budget may skip purchasing Coke, they will not skip on purchasing milk. While technological and economic factors are extremely important to Coca-Cola, we fee l that currently, the most important factor that needs to be addressed are changing consumer trends. Today, consumers are becoming more and more health conscious. When people purchase a food or drink, we think that they would ideally prefer something that has some health benefits to it. Coke has always been criticized for being bad for your health due to the food coloring, carbonation and high-fructose corn syrup.While we don’t believe that it is likely that Coca-Cola will lose much business to other cola competitors such as Pepsi, I do feel that they will lose business to companies that are producing healthy alternatives to cola, such as fruit drinks. I feel that Coca-Cola should be innovative and possibly consider changing some of the ingredients in Coke, such as using natural sugar instead of corn syrup and natural sources of food coloring rather than chemicals. Another very important consumer trend that should be noticed by Coca-Cola is the increasing population of Hispan ics in the United States.Hispanics make up a very large part of the population, and Coke isn’t marketed specifically to this ethnic group. We feel that if Coca-Cola marketed more directly to Hispanics, they would increase their profit. Lastly, a very important consumer trend is being â€Å"green†. As previously mentioned, consumers in the United States, as well as the majority of other countries in the world, are very concerned with the effects of pollution and the general well being of the planet. Coca-Cola’s biggest competition is Pepsi. In the past year, Pepsi has introduced the â€Å"Pepsi Refresh Project. †This program awards funding to people in America who have come up with great ideas on how they can improve their community. Some of the ideas that have been funded by Pepsi so far are making school buses more eco-friendly, growing fresh produce at schools to fight childhood obesity and making buildings in cities more energy efficient. In 2010, the Pepsi Refresh Project will give away more than $20 million to people with similar ideas. Each month, Pepsi will accept up to 1,000 new ideas every month and will award up to $1. 3 million in grants to the ideas who have received the most votes by other consumers.We feel that this is a very effective way of bettering the world that we live in and that Coca-Cola should do something very similar. Pepsi has so far only implemented this program in the United States, so this gives Coca-Cola the opportunity to use this idea on a global scale, and extend the benefits to other countries. We feel that being â€Å"green† is a very important consumer trend, and if Coca-Cola used a similar program across the world, they would begin to develop an image where they have the environment’s best interest at heart, and will gain the support of people all over the world as well as increasing their profits.

How Middle Class Families Can Afford Private School

How Middle Class Families Can Afford Private School Private schools can seem out of reach for many families. Middle-class households in many U.S. cities are struggling with the cost of  health care, education and other expenses on the rise. Simply paying for everyday living can be a challenge, and many middle-class families dont even consider the option of applying to private school due to the added cost. But, a private school education may be easier to achieve than they thought. How? Check out these tips. Apply for Financial Aid Families who can not afford the full cost of private school can apply for financial aid.  According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), for the 2015-2016 year, about 24% of students at private schools received financial assistance. That figure is even higher at boarding schools, with nearly 37% of students receiving financial aid. Nearly every school offers financial aid, and many schools are committed to meeting 100% of a familys demonstrated need. When they apply for aid, families will complete what is known as a Parent Financial Statement (PFS). This is done through the School and Student Services (SSS) by NAIS. The information you provide is then used by SSS to generate a report that estimates the amount you can contribute to school experiences, and that report is what schools use to determine your demonstrated need. Schools vary with regard to how much aid they can provide to help pay private school tuition; some schools with large endowments can provide larger aid packages, and they also consider the other children you have enrolled in private education. While families can not know in advance if the aid package provided by their schools will cover their costs, it never hurts to ask and to apply for financial aid to see what the schools can come up with. Financial aid can make affording private school much more feasible. Some financial aid packages can even assist with travel if youre applying to a boarding school, as well as school supplies and activities. Tuition-Free Schools Full Scholarships Believe it or not, not every private school carries a tuition fee. Thats right, there are some tuition-free schools across the country, as well as schools that offer full scholarships to families whose household income falls below a certain level. Free schools, such as Regis High School, a Jesuit boys school in New York City, and schools that offer full scholarships to qualified families, such as Phillips Exeter, can help attending private school a reality for families who previously never believed such an education would be affordable. Lower-Cost Schools Many private schools have lower tuitions than the average independent school, making affording private school more accessible. For example, the Cristo Rey Network of 24 Catholic schools in 17 states and the District of Columbia offers a college-prep education at a lower cost than that charged by most Catholic schools. Many Catholic and parochial schools have lower tuitions than other private schools. In addition, there are some boarding schools across the country with lower tuition rates. These schools make affording private school, and even boarding school,  easier for middle-class families. Enjoy Employee Benefits A little-known benefit of working at a private school is that faculty and staff usually can send their children to the school for a reduced rate, a service known as tuition remission. At some schools, tuition remission means a portion of the costs are covered, while at others, 100 percent of the costs are covered. Now, naturally, this tactic requires there to be a job opening and for you to be qualified as a top candidate who gets hired, but it is possible. Keep in mind, too, that teaching isnt the only job at private schools. From business office and fundraising roles to admission/recruiting and database management, even marketing and software development, the wide range of positions offered at private schools might surprise you. So, if you know that your skills align with the needs of a private school and that you want to send your children there, you might consider dusting off your resume and applying for a job at a private school.

Application for Emory University MBA Program Essay

Application for Emory University MBA Program Essay Free Online Research Papers Application for Emory University MBA Program Essay 1. List one of your most significant professional or organizational accomplishments. (Two pages) After graduation in 19xx, I was granted job offers from big x enterprises including xxx Group. Nevertheless, I entered the xxx, one of the leading companies in Korea in the field of international marketing. I was stationed at the export department in charge of xxx. During that time, the trading companies in Korea were in the middle of making research on availability of the so-called ‘positioning’ technique. That is, it was related to the prediction of the market tendency of the cargo to sell and purchase in timely manner. Despite the mandatory period of time for about 3-4 years to become a person in charge of one item in the trade department, I have visited xxx, xxx in Japan in order to check the data after I had worked for three months. That’s because I was highly recognized for my outstanding ability to conduct the business for standardized price variable and controls over the exchange rate fluctuation in order to reach the rational conclusion in an objective manner when I made a decision on the international oil price fluctuation and announced the research on the case of position deal such as Rock Phosphate and Gypsum, which are the materials of xxx. After all, it became to be a source of research in the company. Based on my outstanding job performance, I was officially appointed as a person in charge of exporting the cargo of xxx, xxx whose annual turnover came up to x million dollars on the average. As a result, we were placed at the top in terms of sales in Korea because the sales in xxx sector revealed the increase of xxx% in 19xx compared to that of last year. In addition, the net profit has been increased around xxx %, compared to that of last year after I took in charge of this sector. Therefore, I became the main source of jealousy from my seniors and fellow workers. These conclusions were derived from my positive efforts in the followings. In the first place, I increased the amount of cargo to operate with ‘Positioning’ more actively even though there was a chance of risk to some degree. In addition, I set up a letter of credit to the seller with low interest rate in place of the headquarters under the name of overseas corp. in xx, xx and etc. for the sake of minimizing the financial expense occurred between the installation of USANCE L/C and the negotiation in case of trades in three countries. I positively introduced a kind of ‘Bridge loan’ that maximized the profit. If the credit level of buyer is in danger, we supplied additional banking expense, making every effort to disperse the danger through banking technique like forfeiting with the Seoul office of xxBank. Later on, all the team in the company greatly contributed to the increase in net profit of company as introducing powerfully the method to decrease banking expense like loan and others. In addition, on May in 19xx, we were awarded about x million dollars worth of Tender, which xxx Authority under xxx Government started in the process as World bank loan was made under my supervision, beating 1 7 companies such as xxx, xxx and Japanese companies. Therefore, I was selected as the employer of the year in the trade department by achieving net profit of about xxx$ by delivering pre-positioned cargo from domestic industries. In November 19xx, I had a chance to discuss the practical business of international trade with a vice-president of xxx when I visited to secure the stable suppliers at xxx in xxx. Through this experience, I realized from the bottom of my heart the necessity of field education. As a matter of fact, xxx transacted business with xxx from all over the world as well as the cargo from the U.S. in the form of Position. I was shocked by the fact that the charger of items had led the market by positioning cargo within the limit of his management, creating considerable amount of profit. Comprehensive prediction for the future business, particularly xxx’ tip on rapid development of new Mechanism (E-Commerce) in Biz among each nation, his balanced judgment and decision-making ability, became an important source of guideline as well as the momentum to expedite the pursuit of my goal in MBA. I’m confident that my various international experiences will help me achieve not only my short-term goal of high-speed shift in domestic international marketing through cutting-edge technique such as Internet, but also my long-term aspiration of establishing a professional trading firm. 2-D. The greatest challenge I have faced. (One page) On December xth in 19xx, I had serious conflicts with a general manager in our department as hard as I should consider the resignation as a last option when our xxx heading for the xxx with x million dollar’s worth of xxx was caught on the rock. Through this experience, I realized the important fact that the role of leader is basically the coordination of the group rather than the implementation for the purpose of obedience. In this case, I also experienced the fact that leadership is derived from the fairest judgment by collecting and analyzing information after the accurate evaluation of the situation. At that time, I had conflicts with my general manager in terms of the benefit in the future and the cost at the present. The net profit in a xxx trading was about xxx$ worth, whereas it required xxx$ worth of expense to pay for the repair in place of missing ship owner after declaring general average. In the situation in which there was more possibility for ship owner to decla re bankruptcy, I powerfully insisted on managing all business in the burden of our company because I judged that there was grand anxiety to lose long-term customers if we spent more time. General manager, however, avoided making a decision for which could serve as major damage in his career. Therefore he was wasting lots of time by ignoring my opinion although I was in charge of the matter. As a consequence, we were able to deliver the xxx to the buyer in xxx after refilling the xxx under the instruction of the boss who recognized the seriousness of situation through the interview with me around x months later. Since then, however, Buyer in xxx got our firm to disqualify in the same bid in 19xx, which produced serious conflicts as to who was to blame inside the firm. No matter what is big or small problem, we are always in the situation where to find out the solution, and meet a great turning point in life by what decision we make. I found the important lesson from this case in the sense that the decision was not performed by the same fixed standard in every situation. In addition, it required accurate judgment of situation, the rational assessment of one’s own capability, and the bold determination for the purpose of more desirable decision-making procedure. 3. What do you hope to be doing five years after completing your MBA? What experience and attributes do you possess that would make you a good fit for that position? (Two pages) In 2007, I might be in the middle of wrestle with my brain in terms of purchasing conditions such as local buyer, price, and market in the xxx trading firm. I might have to decide how the change in the market will happen and also how the decision-making procedure should vary. My short-term goal is to conduct the business as a trading manager who can analyze current situation of market, grasp the tendency of future, and make accurate decision as well as to maintain and develop the flow of efficient business with all the partners in East Asia including Korea. My long-term goal is to establish a professional trading company, introducing new selling technique based on a cutting-edge mechanism such as Internet Web Site. Highly necessary is the professional knowledge in the sense that I will have to learn through the curriculums of EMORY such as marketing research, international marketing, integrated marketing communications. I am eager to hope for this sort of opportunity granted at your school. To the best of my belief, I am confident that my experience for the past x years will serves as great help achieving my goal. During the xxx, I learned the technique such as bridge loan, project finance, and risk hedge in the field of international finance as well as international marketing utilizing positioning in the field of international trade. In addition, I have analyzed the market price and the factors of demand fluctuation such as exchange rate occurred in international deal and the oil price. In terms of international business, a variety of skills in reference to the management skill and negotiation skill as well as global way of thinking obtained in the xxx Seminar held in xxx in April 19xx will be great basis for the potential and quality in the upcoming future. While working at xxx. for about x years, I have improved my capability to conduct business based on a rational decision through my main work of the collecting and analyzing the market data. I learned the role as a member of our team and a coordinator in the sense that we can create synergy effect that might go beyond each and every one’s ability based on the teamwork. Besides, I believe that these experiences will be great basis for me to run the international trading firm in the future. 4. What do you expect to accomplish in the Goizueta Business School MBA program? How will your participation fit in with your current responsibilities and your long-term career goals? (two pages) It is clear that only those who possess the well-balanced capability both in academic and practical context along with accurate prospect for the future are likely to survive in the sharp whirlpool of future economy. Along with the necessity of lifelong education, the rapid change in the environmental factors in worldwide economy, as you might see in the IMF economic crisis in Korea at the end of 1997, expedites my desire for the pursuit of MBA program. Based on the decision, I chose Goizueta Business School for the following reasons: First, small-scale classroom and small group interactions at your school are the primary reason to apply for Goizueta Business School. I will be able to learn the process of reaching the conclusion with reference to the specific theme based on the close interpersonal relationship with classmates and faculty at your school. In addition, the process that I will have learned at your class will serve as the basis for practical business in the future. My colleagues and I will be able to learn the importance of cooperation in supportive environment that GBS will provide. Moreover, a variety of ethnicity of my colleagues will enhance my global mindset. Secondly, GBS will help me achieve a series of processes such as strategic pursuing, negotiation skill, finalizing business deals with the limited data in an efficient manner. In this context, I believe it will be great basis to establish and manage a trading company, which is my long-term aspiration. Besides, I am confident that case-base approach, team field project, and computer simulations that GBS provides will serve up highly efficient standards in terms of the solution to the problem in actual business practice. In addition, both international area studies and concentration studies GBS focuses on provide great advantage in the light of my future goal, compared to other business schools. Third, the program of GBS will serve as a decisive role in cultivating leadership in terms of the role not only as a manager on the spot in the short term, but also a leader in the establishment of a trading firm in the long term. I strongly believe that it is quite clear when it comes to every single achievement of graduates of the GBS in each company. I would like to share the idea with the classmates in terms of the limited data analysis, success and failure in the process of rational prospect for the future, prompt decision and the leadership in every single program at GBS. Moreover, I would like to receive some feedback on the part that I did not experience from the fellow students, and vice versa. In case of some dilemma where my classmates might fall, I will be willing to give my hand to work out the problem. Research Papers on Application for Emory University MBA Program EssayDefinition of Export QuotasAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaThe Project Managment Office SystemTwilight of the UAWResearch Process Part OneIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalPETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Mountain Dew Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mountain Dew - Research Paper Example The advertising campaign of Mountain Dew’s is currently directed at the right market segment in terms of age, since the new campaign targets the teenager consumers to the consumers in their 20s. The ads are made for different mediums including television and radio and a diverse lineup of up to seven celebrities has been used to tailor the appeal to the needs of regional markets. However, the use of celebrities has not been made rightly. For example, as of the year 2011 in Los Angeles, there is a majority of white persons i.e. 71.8 per cent. The second largest population is of the Hispanics or Latinos i.e. 48.1 per cent, the non-Hispanic Whites make the third-largest population in Los Angeles with a population of 27.6 per cent of the total, Asians are the fourth-largest population i.e. 14.2 per cent, whereas the African Americans are the fifth-largest group in Los Angeles with a population of only 9.3 per cent (United States Census Bureau, 2012). Taking these statistics into co nsideration, Mountain Dew should have used a white celebrity in its ad for the audiences of television in Los Angeles whereas it included Lil Wayne in the ad who is an African American. Mountain Dew does not differentiate the product from the competition but the advertising campaigns run in the past have emphasized on the products’ benefits, e.g. â€Å"Ya-hoo! Mountain Dew! It’ll tickle your innards† (Stanford, 2012) and â€Å"Shore as shootin’, there’s a bang in every bottle† (Stanford, 2012). Mountain Dew has taken certain initiatives in the right direction like introducing new varieties and different flavors in addition to the original version in the states. To make more sales, Mountain Dew needs to make new customers without loosing its old customers. There has been a decrease in the percentage of the non-Hispanic consumers of Mountain Dew from the year 2000 to 2012 by almost three per cent. This is a huge loss for Mountain Dew since the whites make 80 per cent of the total population of Mountain Dew consumers. To make new customers, Mountain Dew needs to reflect in its ads that it caters for the interests and needs of people from all races and ethnicities. While there has been a decrease in the population of whites since the start of the 21st century, there has been a corresponding increase in the population of the non-whites in the US in general and the African Americans in particular. By casting Lil Wayne in its new TV advertising campaign, Mountain Dew has provided the African Americans with a means to identify with Mountain Dew, but not the audiences belonging to other races. The ad has been made strategically since it conveys the message in catchy phrases e.g. â€Å"If you got anything from me, it’s to find your thing and do you† (Stanford, 2012). In this sentence, Lil Wayne is drawing the audiences’ attention toward Mountain Dew. To generate a more universal appeal through its campaign, a better approach would be to use multiple stars belonging to different races and ethnicities in the ads meant for all states rather than including a star from a particular race or ethnicity to ensure maximum sale among particular groups within a state instead of everybody in general. This can be achieved by including stars from different races like Lil Wayne and Jason Aldean in the same ad. This

Paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Paper 2 - Essay Example Instructions to be followed by the bidders in terms of submission of documents will be sated. Tender response will compose of all the questions to be asked by the bidders and answerers by the bidder. The tender will compose if the declarations to be signed by the bidders. The certificate of non-alignment will be signed whereby the bidder will declare that he has not merged with any other bidder for the tender. Finally, there will be the draft of the proposed tender. The tender may be restricted, negotiated or open as per the tendering guidelines. Restricted tenders will have a pre-qualifying questionnaire (PQQ) that will cover the organization, financial details, environmental policies, technical information, health and safety policies of the bidder. The PQQ will be done before the invitation to tender (ITT) in the determination of quality and price basis. Any successful bidder should avail all the required information. Moreover, he should appropriately and correctly answer all the questions. Finally, the bidder should return the needed information at the speculated time. Award of the contract will be awarded after weighing several criteria mainly experience, quality, implementation timetable, pricing schedule, tax clearance certificates, financial stability and suitability. Provided that there will be no challenges encountered, the successful; bidder will be awarded after the contact after 10 days. Unsuccessful bidders will be informed with presence or absence of viable reasons as to why they were not considered. Thereafter, the selected bidder will sign a contract as per the tendering documents. The infrastructure strategy has three main parts mainly operating system, hardware and the networks. The strategy should ensure that the organization is provided with high computing and performance power with a strong bandwidth that is achievable at the lowest cost possible (ECU. 2011, p. 1). The application