Effects of Peer Pressure on Decision Making Essay

Our Peer-to-Peer interaction affects us every day. From decisions, we make, to the places we go. It is human nature to listen and learn from other people. Though we would like to think we have control over outside influences, studies show that our surroundings play a key role in how we function. Solomon Asch’s (1950) social experiment demonstrated, consumers often modify their responses, consciously or subconsciously, when surrounded by others with conflicting opinions. Peer Pressure is only rising in today’s society; it can’t be escaped! Our teenagers are the most influenced by peer pressure. Peers influence people because they want to fit in, be like peers they admire, do what others are doing, Its only natural for people to identify with and compare themselves to their peers as they consider how they wish to be (or think they should be), or what they want to achieve. see more:negative effects of peer pressure Peer Pressure is essential to social development. Its can’t be escaped! In turn peer pressure can develop a good character, if its learned to be worked the right way. There are 3 main goals that individuals have in the long term: †¢Accuracy – in that individuals seek practical, consistent actions that are reproducible, through the information they already have and the actions that they do. Think of it as a need to achieve goals effectively and with the greatest perceived reward. †¢Affiliation – in that individuals seek gratification that their actions ingratiate them with other individuals. Think of it as a need to create social relationships with others in a meaningful, maintainable manner. †¢Maintenance of a Positive Self-Impression – in that people have a constant want to increase their own self-awareness so that they can feel better about themselves. Think of it as a need to behave in a manner that boosts their pre-existing self image – through action, statement, belief etc.

Pneumatology: Spiritual Gifts Essay

There are actually three biblical lists of the â€Å"gifts of the Spirit,† also known as spiritual gifts. The three main passages describing the spiritual gifts are (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; and 1 Corinthians 12:28). The spiritual gifts identified in (Romans 12) are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. The list in (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) includes the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. The list in (1 Corinthians 12:28) includes healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Speaking in tongues – The gift of tongues is one of the temporary â€Å"sign gifts† given to the early Church to enable the gospel to be preached throughout the world to all nations and in all known languages. It involved the divine ability to speak in languages previously unknown to the speaker. This gift authenticated the message of the gospel and those who preached it as coming from God. The phrase â€Å"diversity of tongues† (KJV) or â€Å"different kinds of tongues† (NIV) effectively eliminates the idea of a â€Å"personal prayer language† as a spiritual gift. The apostles were for the most part ordinary men and only a few of them knowing another language other than their own. Even though there are those who teach that the gift of speaking in tongues is no longer a valid gift, in (1 Corinthians 13) we are told that at some time the sign gifts will cease. Some theologians say that the word â€Å"perfect† in verse 10 refers to the completion of the Revelation of God. Others teach that it refers to the resurrection. I believe that God can do whatever He wants. I don’t believe that the way we see this gift portrayed today is neither edifying to the church nor honoring God. If the gifts such as healing and speaking in tongues are still viable today, I believe that the gifts would be used in such a way as to never bring attention or glory to the one who possesses the gift, which is the opposite of what we see today. Even Paul said, â€Å"yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may reach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19) I do believe that the Holy Spirit can lead any one at any time to speak in tongues if required by God to do so, with certain rules to be followed. In today’s churches, I find the rules not to be followed, so therefore I choose to believe it to be misguided and generic at best, due to lack of interpretation. Interpretation of tongues – A person with the gift of interpreting tongues could understand what a tongues-speaker was saying even though he did not know the language that was being spoken. The tongues interpreter would then communicate the message of the tongues speaker to everyone else, so all could understand. â€Å"What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. † (1 Corinthians 14:26-28). In this passage Paul gave instructions for orderly worship. In his instructions we are told that if anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be two or three at the most and someone must interpret. What we see in most charismatic churches is contrary to these guidelines. I have visited several Pentecostal churches and have never seen a scriptural display of the gift of tongues. As I said before, if the gifts such as tongues and healing are still viable today, they would be used in such a way as to not draw attention to one person. What I have seen did not edify the church and it did glorify God. The sign gifts were given to confirm apostolic revelation. In â€Å"Theology Today†, Elmer Towns states, â€Å"When constructing a building, it is necessary to erect scaffolding to aid construction. When the building is built, the scaffolding is removed. The sign gifts were the spiritual scaffolding that God used as His authority to build the church†¦When the authority of the written Word of God was complete, God took the scaffolding down. † Whenever I come in contact with someone who objects to my views on tongues I just explain that the Bible spends so little time on the subject yet we spend too much of our time arguing about it. There are several places in Scripture I could take the time to make my views understood, but like many others, why waste the time on it when it does not serve a purpose pleasing to God? Along with the gift of tongues, there are other gifts listed that are still viable and useful and could be used in service to edify the church and bring glory to God. The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. We are all given the same portion of the Holy Spirit; but the Christian life is all about the Holy Spirit gaining more territory in us. There are three occasions in the book of Acts where speaking in tongues accompanied the receiving of the Holy Spirit—(Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:6). However, these three occasions are the only places in the Bible where speaking in tongues is an evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit. Throughout the book of Acts, thousands of people believe in Jesus and nothing is said about them speaking in tongues (Acts 2:41, 8:5-25, 16:31-34, 21:20). Nowhere in the New Testament is it taught that speaking in tongues is the only evidence a person has received the Holy Spirit. In fact, the New Testament teaches the opposite. We are told that every believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14), but not every believer speaks in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). The baptism of the Holy Spirit does two things, first it joins us to the body of Christ, and second it actualizes our co-crucifixion with Christ. Being in His body means we are risen with Him to newness of life (Romans 6:4). We should then exercise our spiritual gifts to keep that body functioning properly as stated in the context of (1 Corinthians 12:13). Experiencing the one Spirit baptism serves as the basis for keeping the unity of the church, as in the context of (Ephesians 4:5-6). Being associated with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection through Spirit baptism establishes the basis for our separation from the power of indwelling sin and our walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-10; Colossians 2:12). Ephesians 4:5-6 (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Alien

The airport seemed like a morgue in the Dark Ages through my toddler eyes. Everyone looked ill with excess travel, sick from impatience. Menacing towers, which looked to be in fact, men, glared at me as if I were someone to suspect. As if I didn’t belong. The expansive line of Immigrations painfully edged forward, but my mind scampered away to curiosity. What was India like? Was I going to enjoy it? What was I going to do there? We finally reached the stern officer in sky blue, equipped with a stately handlebar moustache. He and my dad exchanged sympathetic glances and polite greetings, as if they were old friends, seeing each other for the first time in years. He did the same for my mother and sister, but stopped at me. â€Å"Born in the USA? What is this boy doing in an airport in India?† Everyone laughed, but I didn’t. Regardless of what he meant, it hurt my toddler mind deeply. For the first time in my life, I felt different. I felt guilty of my presence, guilty to be who I was. As I walked into the streets of India, the kids stared at me for quite some time, and chattered accusingly amongst themselves. I did not dress like them. I did not act like them. I did not talk like them. I felt like the aliens I had read about so avidly from the comics back home. I tried fervently to make myself the epitome of a native Indian boy, but my relatives constantly hindered my progress. Cricket is like baseball. Flats are apartments. Auto-rickshaws are like taxies. I constantly reminded myself these things, but no matter how hard I tried, these concepts would not stick. Language became a ruthless and unforgiving adversary. My parents had prepped me well prior to the trip, yet still I was hit with unfamiliar phrases. While my accent was consistent, constructing the words proved to be a grueling task. I realized any slight mistake could question the quality of my parents’ teaching, and slowly I stopped talking. I was limited to a stubborn shake of the head for no, and an eager nod for yes. I was always the quiet one, the one who said very little, but they didn’t know why. I wouldn’t let them know, for my alien nature would be exposed. Years come and go with new perspectives. The toddler state of mind was black and white, frank and simplistic. I was so driven by stubborn anger and frustration that I never really tried or wanted to search for the answers I needed. Questions of doubt and difference gradually became answered by my friends, schoolmates, and teachers. We all realized our experiences were not so seclusive, and countless stories met laughs of recognition and understanding. Time allowed for me to accumulate the points that define who I am, whether it is by a distressing day at Immigrations, or the inability to master a language. By birth and by residency, I am an American. But, by the principals I abide to and the traditions I willfully obey, I am an Indian. I don’t feel different anymore. Rather, I feel honored to have the opportunity to share and experience two cultures simultaneously. The polarity of the two nations sometimes proves to be troublesome, but also adds a contrast that intrigues me t o the point of enlightenment. It now seems amusing to imagine a confused little boy, paranoid of his imminent transformation into an unknown being. Paranoid of becoming an unfamiliar creature in unfamiliar territory; not able to identify with his environment. I was once an alien.

Ethno Nationalist Terrorism Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethno Nationalist Terrorism - Personal Statement Example In this regard, the avoidance of media attention on Israeli-Arabs is crucial for the maintenance of peace and prevention of war (Seib, 2005). If the Israeli-Arab situation was highlighted by the media, it would have a negative impact on Palestinians because of the biased reporting that portrays Arabs to be terrorists (Seib, 2005). As a result, the Palestinians would feel compelled to defend their religion against Israeli attacks. It is apparent that Palestinians are fighting for a separation from the Israel governance and would use this war to extend their intentions. Another impact of media exposure of the Israel-Arab war on the Palestinians is that it would increase the recruitment of citizens to join the war. This implies that the reporting would incite people, raising negative emotions that cause tension (Seib, 2005). This can cause an Arab-Jewish war across the world with religious nations taking sides to support their allies. It is essential to avoid media attention on this situation because it has previously contributed to the outbreak of attacks between Israeli and Palestinians concerning border, security and cont rol for Jerusalem issues (Seib, 2005). I do not think media is an avenue to help with countering terrorist activities because of its biased reporting and partisan approach. The media has been faulted for inciting viewers on certain issues that cause tensions between communities. The media should take neutral grounds through the choice of their words when dealing with ethno-nationalist terrorism to avoid animosity. In this way, the media is not helping with efforts towards countering terrorist actions in wars involving religious

The tool for market research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The tool for market research - Essay Example Test marketing gives significant insight which is needed by a company in order to compete effectively in its market. For one, this tool permits a business organization to test the impact of alternative marketing plans. Since a test market is typically smaller than the whole market, investing in a test marketing effort in 10 cities is more rational for a large company than getting into a full-blown nationwide product launch. Test marketing as the name implies provides companies with a clear idea of whether a marketing effort is strategic or not without shouldering the huge cost of the whole marketing campaign in the entire market. Test marketing also allows companies to test multiple strategies without affecting the overall image of its products. For example, a company which wishes to embark on a new marketing approach and is choosing on three different ones will find it impossible to launch the three strategies on the entire market. Thus, it will opt to use test marketing in order to ascertain the best approach for its product at lesser cost. However, the utilization of test marketing as a market research tool is dependent on the internal competency and external market situation of a company.   According to one of its executives, â€Å"In our field—primarily higher priced cosmetics not geared for mass distribution—it would be unnecessary for us to test the market. When we develop a product, say an improved liquid makeup, we know it’s full-Brownell because we are familiar with the field†.

Part of a Marketing Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Part of a Marketing Plan - Assignment Example In addition to this a SWOT analysis has also been undertaken to analyze the relative areas of strengths and weakness of the company as well as its areas of opportunities and threats. Finally the study concludes with the formulation of a set of SMART objectives that can help the company generate sustainable competitive advantage in the turbulent business environment. The present era of globalization has created a scenario of intense competition among the market players to grab a share of the market. The present study would analyze the business strategy of an Australian Trans National company with regards to the strategic aspects pertaining to business expansion. The organization selected for the study is Foster’s Group Ltd that is a multinational firm based in Australia. Foster’s is a company that is engaged in the manufacture and sale of beer and soft drinks. The company mainly concentrates on its brewing business and is known for being a reputed brand across the world for its quality and perception of the brand. The company since its inception in 1888 has presently grown to about 2300 employees alone in Australia having a dedicated presence in about 45 different nations across the globe. The company is also listed on the bourses of Australian Stock exchanges (Foster’s Group, 2011). Environment plays a crucial role in the functioning and sustainability of any business organization. The mission of Foster’s group is to promote global enjoyment and fun (Funding Universe, n.d.). In this regard the company has a business model that enables in the manufacture and sale of quality beverages with a huge portfolio spanning across varied tastes. The company also has dedicated presence across nations that helps generate a fulfillment of the objectives and mission of the company on a global scale. (Fosters Group-a, n.d.). In addition to beer the company also manufactures other alcoholic and

Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economy - Essay Example Even the full restoration in the standard of gold was not able to restore the monetary policy and financial crisis occurred in every single decade, which was in 1825, 1836, 1847, 1857 and in the year 1866. This disturbance in the financial system was due to the adoption of new rule which was motivated by the idea that monetary disturbance are due to the failure of the fluctuation of mixed currency (gold and paper) at the rate it would have. It was observed that the new rule implemented seemed to be misguiding. It evoked fear that maintaining the gold standards and converting the gold into bank note alone cannot establish monetary stability unless there is a limitation imposed in the creation of notes by the banks (Rules v. Discretion, 2011). Answer 2 Inflation targeting is the policy of the central bank in which the inflation rate is estimated by the bank and then this projected rate is made public by the bank. The actual inflation is then directed towards this targeted one by using the interest rates and other monetary tools. The inflation rate and the interest rate are inversely proportional to one another.Therefore the attempt of the central bank to change the interest rate is transparent because of inflation targeting. Taylor rule on the other hand refers to monetary rules which are followed by some of the central banks, such as the US Federal bank.It forecasts how much the nominal rate must be changed by the central in order to divert from the targeted inflation rate, the actual GDP and also from the potential GDP(HETZEL, 2000). This rule has more attraction than the â€Å"Inflation targeting† because it takes into account the deviation from the actual equilibrium level such as from full employment and the inflation rate which has an overall better effect on the economy. The Taylor rule also allows the interest rate to react with the variation in the output gap. Therefore the reaction in the output gap is the reaction in the nominal interest rate. T his allows the central bank to observe the output gap for targeting the inflation policies(Inflation Targeting vs Taylor Rule, 2013). Suggestion: Taylor rule has influenced the debate on monetary policies for the last two decades. Various suggestions are made by the Federal on the basis of the Taylor rule. Federal Open Market committee in suggested that by increasing the basis points to 150, the funds rate of the Federal may be increased up to 70 percent (ILBAS, 2013). MICROECONOMICS Answer1 The statement seemed reasonable; however the idea presented in the statement is vague. The statement can be considered true if the firm is defined in term of its owner. The shareholder of any firm would be pleased with increased dividend, they are aware of the fact that the increased dividend is directly related to the increased profitability of the firm. Shareholders sometimes prefer to sacrifice the short-term profit of the firm, so that the firm may work for the acquisition of the long-term p rofit. They may let go the short term dividend of the firm, so that they may earn the long term benefits. While defining the firm in terms of the manager (decision maker), the

Organization Theory and Design by Daft, RL Essay

Organization Theory and Design by Daft, RL - Essay Example Rites of Renewal: The 'culture fit' after a long time in practice wanes its characteristics. To rejuvenate the organization with more or less the same culture-specific new rites are implemented from time to time. They are essentially system-supportive; and enthuse in the employees' mind a hope that their expectation is being realized, so that they reinforce their motivation in the organization as before. Rites of Passage: They help in new recruitments in the organization. The pre-training in the military and the police, extensive and intensive testing, screening, counseling, group discussion, interviews and assessment exercises are examples of these rites. Rites of Integration: These rites foster social co-relation by reviving common feelings and realsing individuals' commitment to the bound to the organization. They attempt at bringing people of different hierarchy through recreational activities like giving parties, picnic and joining en mass the common eating, drinking, dancing and other exchange performances. 1(b). Mission Culture: The 'mission culture' is as defined by D Denison in 'Corporate Culture and organizational Effectiveness' (1990) is a hypothesis that concentrates on certain values, goals and cultures (or subcultures) to achieve within a timescale. For this it lays a set of shared definition of the function and purpose for an organization. It is concerned with both internal factors and external environment to make the shared values positively effective. It has primarily two focused motivations. One, it instills in the mind of the employees non-economic reasons along with the economic targets, for employing their efforts for the well-being of the organizational set-up: there lies their own wellbeing. It sets a defined direction and cherished end-goals to follow for the organization. The Adaptability Culture: Adaptability culture is however more plastic in nature. It involves risk taking efforts, trusting each other. It follows a proactive approach to organizational life and is quick to recognize a possible hurdle and find its solution. It instills a positive confidence in the ability of the persons of all ranks and thus enthuse in them to achieve the 'mission culture'. Good examples of the 'mission cultures' which have made themselves a name to reckon with in the world are the McDonalds, Honda, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). McDonalds has a mission culture, while its varying menus for different cultures is the example of its adaptability culture. Therefore we may say that adaptability culture is more effective in achieving the target than the mission culture which is its mere identity with all unique technologies. 1(c). Culture strength: The strength that derives an organization is enshrined in a set of rules to be followed by strictly. Deviation is not tolerated. It rather makes people to instill assurance and certainty about the organization and is closely associated with durability of it. Only then the employees have faith in the organization and hence can be motivated to accomplishment. (Hmapden-Turner; 1990:13). Subcultures: They are just opposite of the culture strength in characteristics. Every dominant culture is characterized by some small homogeneous sets of beliefs, values and assumptions within it. The dominant culture

Stress and Coping Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stress and Coping - Coursework Example initial appraisal is important as it helps one to assess and understand the implication of a problematic situation and the probability of such an event occurring. Elicitation of preliminary efforts. This helps in assessing the impact of the stressors and if one is able to cope with them by taking an imitative and efforts to try something which is likely to bring a solution to a situation. Aldwin formulated person-based and environment-based theories of coping with stressful situations. For purposes of this study, environment-based theories will be considered as the most highly applicable and relevant model to actual stress related issues because they allow individuals under stress to cope with situations depending on the demands of the environment. As such, one is exposed to different types of solutions since the different types of stresses demand application of different types of coping strategies and solutions. For instance, the different stresses such as getting laid off from work, getting sick, losing a loved one or dealing with any other type of stress requires one to cope differently in order to successfully solve a stressful situation. Practically, there is numerous evidence in the real word, showing that most of the people under stress react differently towards varying types of stressors. Stressful situations can be categorized in varied ways. One category is to determine whether a particular situation has already led to loss of a loved one or any other harmful effect, if the situation has potential future harm such as if it entails some kind of threat, or if it can be seen as challenge that has potential of yielding positive outcomes. Stressors can also be classified according to content types. In this case, there are illnesses, hassles, interpersonal problems and deaths. The major coping strategy here is to help individuals relate multiple stressful conditions and compare how the coping strategies can be used successfully across the problems. Due to

ANSWER POST Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ANSWER POST - Essay Example In this regard, I think this is a good way of thinking, but based on the fact that the Indian tribes had their tribal courts, I believe that Native Americans should also have their own courts although they may be in conflict with the traditional American system. The author of this post suggests that because the American Criminal Justice system is applied widely across the country, it becomes a touchy issue to establish Native American court. However, the author believes that it is the right of Native Americans to have their own tribal court system, although it may make it more difficult for the American justice system. The author also backs his claim by using a quote from NADCP that there are conflicting values in America which we should all be aware of. I agree with the author that the differences between different communities indicate some level of maturity. In this regard, operating tribal court systems alongside the American justice system despite their conflicts shows some maturity in terms of appreciating American diversities (Nielsen & Silverman, 2009). This post makes me to understand that we all have our rights to uphold our traditions, and tribal courts are the best courts to uphold such

Intellectual and social development of infants Essay Example for Free

Intellectual and social development of infants Essay Nature can influence a child’s intellectual development, by genetic inheritance, the child could have inherited Down syndrome, which could cause a later development with the children’s speech and language, Down syndrome can also affect the muscles for them to become weak. They can also develop behaviour issues, such as autism, stubbornness, tantrums, compulsive and obsessive disorders. Children with Down syndrome can also develop a brain disorder which can affect the memory, judgement and function in later life. Another genetic disorder that can affect a child’s intellectual development is Angelman syndrome. If a child has inherited Angelman syndrome this will affect the child’s nervous system. The characteristic that are affect by this condition can include, intellectual disability for example learning difficulties, looking after themselves and communicating. These genetic inheritances can affect the child’s learning skills and also the social skills for the child. Nurture can affect the child’s intellectual development, when the child is in school, the teacher might not be teaching the child the best way. This will affect the child’s learning skills. Another affect that nurture has on intellectual development would be the environment, if a child is brought up in crime, then there is a possibility that the child will grow up to commit crime. Another affect would be if the child parents do not spend time with the child after school, to help complete their homework then they can fall behind in lessons. Nature can affect a child’s social development, if the child has inherited Autism. People with Autism find it hard to build relationships with people. This will make it hard from them to communicate in school, with other children. Autistic people also have difficulty with their speech and language. They also prefer to be alone which can also affect the child’s social development. Nurture can affect the child’s social development, by the child brought up in an abuse family the child will have to look outside the family for stability and affection. The environment can affect social development. If the child interacts with people doing crime, the child will also be lead into crime in the future. An example of nurture which can affect the social development would be a boy 12-13 years who was found running around with wolves in France. When the child was brought back into society, he could not talk or walk and he never developed as a normal human being, this shows that if a child needs to be taught socially to develop in the right way. Physical and emotional development of adolescents Nature can affect adults physical development, Nurture can affect an adults physical development, by environmental influences such as; exposure to toxins, illnesses and being raised in poor living conditions can also affect physical development. Head injuries, infections, lead poisoning are few of the many environmental reasons for affected physical development. Another affect for physical development would be if an adult has been in a car accident, amputation may be needed; this will lead to the adult not being able to walk. Old age can also affect physical development, as the adult is getting older their muscles, bones and internal organs are becoming weaker. When they reach old age their muscles and bones, will become stiffer, this will affect their walking. Nature can affect adults emotional development, with the hormones in the adult body, the hormones can affect emotional development. For example people born with high levels of testosterone can become more courageous and aggressive, where as someone with extreme levels of estrogen will lead to sensitivity and emotion. Nurture can affect an adult’s emotional development, if a family or friend has passed away, this can affect the adults emotional development. Another affect for emotional development would be marriage and divorce,

Ethics on Immanuel Kants Categorical Imperative Essay Example for Free

Ethics on Immanuel Kants Categorical Imperative Essay Abstract : . Kant’s ideas or his take on ethics was based upon autonomy (self-governance), and reason. He believed that unless a person freely and willingly makes a choice, then their action has no meaning much less any moral value. Kant also thought that every man when using reason when analyzing moral dilemmas would in fact agree with what he called the Categorical Imperative. In accordance with the good will aspects Kant’s claims on good will is the only thing that can be considered good without limitation. In this paper I will discuss several situations that I have been involved in where both the Categorical Imperative and a good will have applied to my personal experiences. Before I get started I would like to shed a little more light on the Categorical Imperative that Kant and others viewed as very valuable and vital if trying to understand the complexity of ethics and his moral philosophy. It is also important that one must clearly interpret exactly what the Categorical Imperative consist of before trying to administer or apply its formula to anyone. As human beings we tend to always have to have a logical answer based on reasoning from one source or another. Kant as a philosopher probably conceived ethics as the study of how it would be most rational to act, which is pretty straight forward indeed, but a few of the core aspects of Kant’s Categorical Imperative have many arguments posed against them especially from a Utilitarian perspective. I have done a lot of things that can merit a superior conclusion, and I have also committed acts that result in me being rewarded. Now as far as the inferior side of the coin goes, did I enjoy the rewards or gratitude given to me due to my actions that were viewed as moral or the right thing to do? Yes I enjoyed them and I will probably sub-consciously commit those same acts again. Now in accordance with the superior side of things I also have helped others I never even met just because I felt that it was a good will and I stand by those which make them a principle. Therefore I am superior in those particular cases. I do not believe that it is hard to find an individual that acts out of mere principle and expects no reward, I believe that it is just a lot of dishonest and naive people that are not willing to be honest about their true reason or rationalizing. The philosophical views from one of the greatest German philosophers to ever live continue to interest and influence scholarly opinions all around the world. Immanuel Kant was one of those brilliant thinkers or philosophers that were able to give valuable insight that surround many different ethical values of morality. Kant’s ideas or his take on ethics was based upon autonomy (self-governance), and reason. He believed that unless a person freely and willingly makes a choice, then their action has no meaning much less any moral value. Kant also thought that every man when using reason when analyzing moral dilemmas would in fact agree with what he called the Categorical Imperative. In accordance with the good will aspects Kant’s claims on good will is the only thing that can be considered good without limitation. In this paper I will discuss several situations that I have been involved in where both the Categorical Imperative and a good will have applied to my personal experiences. Before I get started I would like to shed a little more light on the Categorical Imperative that Kant and others viewed as very valuable and vital if trying to understand the complexity of ethics and his moral philosophy. It is also important that one must clearly interpret exactly what the Categorical Imperative consist of before trying to administer or apply its formula to anyone. As human beings we tend to always have to have a logical answer based on reasoning from one source or another. Kant as a philosopher probably conceived ethics as the study of how it would be most rational to act, which is pretty straight forward indeed, but a few of the core aspects of Kant’s Categorical Imperative have many arguments posed against them especially from a Utilitarian perspective. I have done a lot of things that can merit a superior conclusion, and I have also committed acts that result in me being rewarded. Now as far as the inferior side of the coin goes, did I enjoy the rewards or gratitude given to me due to my actions that were viewed as moral or the right thing to do? Yes I enjoyed them and I will probably sub-consciously commit those same acts again. Now in accordance with the superior side of things I also have helped others I never even met just because I felt that it was a good will and I stand by those which make them a principle. Therefore I am superior in those particular cases. I do not believe that it is hard to find an individual that acts out of mere principle and expects no reward, I believe that it is just a lot of dishonest and naive people that are not willing to be honest about their true reason or rationalizing. Just because one person may will a certain thing does not mean that the majority of people will follow suit. For example a key element of Kant’s theory is the concept of intentions or intent. To him the actual outcome or the consequences of a particular action doesn’t matter at all, it’s the intentional aspects he is concerned with. Imagine that you are a serial killer just walking down the street and you see a defenseless elderly woman walking in front of you. It’s no one else around and it’s very dark on the streets. You also have a knife to ensure a silent job and a very easy kill. Now let’s say you decide not to kill this elderly woman and spare her life, but not because you are worried about acting immorally but you did not want to risk her screaming and alerting anyone else that she was being attacked. In the end u decided not to act on your will then according to Kant you have not acted ethically. That’s where I find flaw in his analysis and theory. So our actions according to Kant’s philosophy doesn’t make us a better person because when you acted or (chose not to act), you weren’t considering action in terms of its morality. You actually abandoned the ideas of moral choice, and merely acted out of a sense of self preservation. However if you did chose not to kill the elderly woman because you suddenly realized that it was wrong to do so, then you would have acted morally according to Kant’s theory on Categorical Imperative. Can the Categorical Imperative even accurate enough and practical to be applied into a personal real life ethical dilemma? I do not believe that it could. My interpretation of Kant’s theory was the he thought that if everyone just used reason when trying to figure out their ethical duties, then everyone would come up with the same rules to follow. This may be true but I would say that it is very unlikely that humans will ever be unbiased enough to do this, and the Categorical Imperative fails to take into account the complexity of human beings and their relationships to one another. The formula that Kant used was the concepts surrounding universal law. By this universal law formula he was able to capture the concept that a maxim will work for everyone who it is applied too. The next formula Kant used was the end in itself which occurs when people try to use maxims, (rules that suit themselves) this formulation states that we must not treat others as if they do not have their own life, and respect their acts regardless of ethical belief. It may be my duty to give a small contribution of my earnings to charity, church, or to the homeless indeed, but a homeless man cannot demand that I do so for him because I am not a means to his end, and he has to respect that concept. The key thing to keep in mind here is that you can’t use people just as a means to an end because people are ends in themselves. For example you couldn’t kill a baby Hitler just because that will save a thousand Jews, according to Kantain perspectives. With the baby Hitler example the maxim would be â€Å"killing babies that will commit genocide when they grow up†. On the contrary what if that was a moral rule; like you must kill any babies that will grow up and commit genocide. If the maxim could function as a rule, then actions based on it will be morally right. These maxims also serve as a way to better understand the rigidly parameters that surround ethical issues. Now as I said earlier on I have a foot-hole in both aspects of this topic. I have done things to receive rewards especially when beautiful women are around. And I have also just given a pure stranger a ride home in the rain after seeing them struggle with groceries. And I never told a soul it was just a mere act of kindness and the ethical thing to do as far as good will goes. That is what makes Kant’s theory in my eyes as secondary to my individuality. I do not agree with him on some aspects of his analysis and some I can relate too. We all are presented with these scenarios and many of us as typical human beings tend to neglect the infrastructure behind morality of ethical issues. I would say that ethical theory must have examples attached to them; otherwise it wouldn’t be a very good ethical theory. These theories can never be applied practically if one could not imagine using them in different circumstances. The Categorical Imperative does sort of show any rational thinking person both how to tell the difference between right and wrong, and the moral necessity to choose to act in accordance with what’s right. Personally I fall right in between when it comes to this as I said I have done a little of both sides, being superior( acting out of principles), and I have acted to gain reward but not as much as I have been considered superior. I try my best to act accordingly with morality, and being a dedicated Christian this isn’t that hard. My main source of morality stems from the Bible. I use the Bibles principles as a guideline to how to act morally. I believe that this is the only true source of ethical acts, and that there is no man made doctrines or philosophies that can properly address this complex issue. As long as I understood Gods Laws and follow a righteous path, morality or acting morally comes like second nature. So to sum it all up about Kant’s perspectives I believe he was a little more concerned with a person’s intentions than a consequentialist with utilitarian views, but Kant did feel that if you didn’t act according to the Categorical Imperative you could be accused of acting unethically. It was clear that Kant like me was not content with the popular moral philosophy of his day. According to Kant, when we act upon a maxim that can’t be universalized or (willed by everyone else) we are contradicting ourselves. Meaning that without a will that everyone else views as objective then any action taken can potentially contradict one’s self. To further understand Kant’s philosophy I will walk you through a series of scenarios that I have experienced in my life. I can recall several occasions where the categorical Imperative aspect of Kant’s philosophy has shed light on my ethical or morally based actions. One afternoon I was riding down the street and I noticed a few guys struggling with groceries trying to get back to their school. I could have kept going and actually I did, but I decided to turn around and offer them a ride to their destination. Now according to Kant’s good will I acted on a matter of principle, and not to gain reward. There was nothing I expected to gain from my actions. Now if I had asked them for gas money or maybe some sort of payment for the ride then at that point I become inferior according to Kant’s Categorical Imperative. There was another instance when I acted morally and ethically in Kant’s eyes and that was the time I acknowledged an older woman attempting to put air in her tire at Kroger grocery store. Actually at the time I was in need of air for my tire too and the clerk had turned on the machine but before I got there to it she came and was experiencing trouble getting the air in her tire. I politely offered her assistance and she was very grateful and she insisted that I take five dollars for my actions. Now I in fact was not expecting to get paid for this, but she insisted that I take it. I made it very clear that I felt that this was a universal duty of mine to assist at a time when my assistance was clearly needed. She was older and having trouble with the air pump so I felt an obligation to assist her so I did so. Now did I act morally according to Kant’s Categorical Imperative and the good will? Was I superior or inferior? Yes I acted morally because Kant was not concerned with outcome or consequences he only focused on the intent of that particular action. Kant also emphasizes the absolute necessity of separating genuine morality from all empirical considerations. I find Kants formula to be a valuable tool but it neglects to define moral law as God-given.

Merger Between US Airways and American Airlines

Merger Between US Airways and American Airlines Merger between US Airways and American Airlines Mergers and Acquisitions On December 9th, 2013 the two airlines, US Airways and American Airlines merged to form the American Airline Group that turn out to be the major airline in the world. This merger was structured by the enlarged competition that airlines are countenancing in the business at present. The merger offered a prospect for both airlines to make use of the benefits of an extensive network that would effect subsequent to merging as countered to when each one operates separately. One of the foremost circumstances that encircled the merger was the imminent insolvency of American Airlines. The company in 2011 had filed for bankruptcy even though it relapsed to profitability the same year in July. The merger would enhance admission to opportunities of business for both airlines, particularly American Airlines that would decrease its coverage to financial risks, which were the preliminary grounds for the corporation filing for bankruptcy. The merger would generate enhanced synergies that would be ap parent in the course of increased flexibility and financial strength in the market (DePamphilis, 2008). Each of the entities merged would have admission to further destinations and bigger clientele. Each of them would admission to a bigger destinations network i.e. 300 destinations all around the world. They as well had a code share contract where customers would impeccably book their flights from any US Airways or American Airlines networks. Such controls are an enhancement to each of the airline’s ability and results to bigger business and performance. There are a variety of positive traits of this merger. One of the major advantages is that both airlines will have eminent penetration of market than what they had beforehand. This is since they will be creating on a daily basis more than 6,500 flights to above 300 destinations in additional than 50 countries all around the globe It effected in enlarged revenues and improved governance of most important routes. The American Airlines Group subsequent to the merger, is a foremost player in the Latin American global market of airline (CAPA center for aviation). Exploitation of these prospects directs to enhanced market performance and superior capability to compact with aggressive pressure. This is since the fresh airline company, subsequent to the merger, has additional resources at its disposal that direct to superior performance. An additional advantage of the merger is increase and diversification of the products offered by the airline (Boeh Beamish, 2007). Alongside the code sharing contract that permits air travelers to book their trip from any of the websites of company, there is improved access to one world association. This entails the improved opportunities of networking for the airline in the course of business agreements with further players in the industry for instance Iberia, British Airways, and Finnair. It lets the customers’ additional choices of air travel and unforgettable experiences of travelling crosswise a superior and more improved network. This develops levels of customer satisfaction and is necessary in developing loyalty of customer. The merger as well generates one of the finest-developed program of loyalty i.e. Advantage (American Airlines, 2014). Customers have superior access to prospect to possess and redeem miles crosswise the joint routes of both airlines. It constructs the customers gain from increased utilization of opportunities and capabilities in the wider market. It as well results in increased expediency for travelers, ensuing in cost savings. The fresh organizational structure has perceived the Doug Parker retention as the Chief executive officer of the fresh entity. The merger has, consequently, seen the construction of simply one chief executive’s place as opposite to two in view of the fact that each one of these companies had its individual chief executive formerly. There were as well considerable changes in the Board of Directors for the fresh company. The newly appointed Board of Directors incorporated four representatives of US Airways employees and as well five representatives for creditors of American Airlines. The preceding Boards of the separate entities did not have such representatives. Doug Parker was formerly the chairman and chief executive of US Airways. On the other hand beneath the new position, the chief executive will not be the chairman of the board. The preceding companies in particularly US Airways had a variety of groups that exercised to operate underneath the chief executive. Such groups incorporated corporate affairs, marketing and revenue group, and finance, in addition to the operations groups. However underneath the new corporation, there are no such groups. There were no chief changes in the practices of human resource subsequent to the merger. The fresh company, American Airlines Group, adopted the majority of its human resource strategies from US Airways and maintained the majority of its top managers. The foremost reason the corporation made no important changes in their human resource strategies is owing to reasons of business. They wanted to preserve their combined market share where employees contribute a vital role. They were acquainted with the fact that preserving their existing employees to a certain extent than recruiting new ones would simply utilize the more forceful worldwide network they had access to. This was reflected in the fresh setup where representatives of employee straightforwardly represented concerns of employee in the board of directors. This was intended at enhancing the satisfaction level of for these workers. This is since advanced levels of satisfaction enhance employee retention levels. The majority of these employees had served a lot of years in both airlines and their knowledge was very important for the success of the fresh airline company. The management at both companies had instituted that the majority of their non-impressive performances formerly, for instance those in 2011 that made American Airlines file for bankruptcy were primarily owing to callous market conditions. Employees had not added to the underperformance. The merger rendering the new entity to huge resources that might facilitate it to triumph over these market challenges. In actual fact the merger was seen as an prospect where the company would present the employees better compensation and benefits for their services (Bainbridge, 2003). It was perceive as a opportunity to close up the boil feuds that had been relentless among the two companies’ management and labor unions representing workers. This was additional widespread in American airlines than at US Airways. It concludes to union representatives being integrated in the Board of the fresh entity to make certain employee concerns were not looked downward upon. The retention of the majority of the employees and practically a parallel organizational structure is owing to the effectiveness of training such personnel on leadership qualities (Galpin Herndon, 2007). This is since the fresh entity would sustain minimal costs training these employees on facets of leadership in view of the fact that the airline had obtained a bigger global presence, as it turn out to be the biggest in the world. The development of leadership qualities in all its employees is decisive to the utilization of the opportunities offered by the bigger and more composite global market. Such employees are previously familiarized to the internal operations of the airline industry as opposite to new employees that would need substantial spending on induction and training. References American Airlines. (2014). AMR merger investor presentation. Retrieved on 8th March 2014 from http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=117098p=irol-irhome Boeh, K. Beamish, P. (2007). Mergers and acquisitions: Text and cases. New York. Sage publications. Bainbridge, S. (2003). Mergers and acquisitions. London. Foundation press.

Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Teaching and Student Experience Essay

Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Teaching and Student Experience ABSTRACT: This paper focuses on novel approaches open to teachers of philosophy in particular, but more generally also to other university teachers, in the face of what Allan Bloom saw as the waning of a literary culture. It is argued that, although some of Bloom's suggestions regarding the successful engagement of students' interest-against overwhelming odds-are didactically valuable, he neglects precisely those avenues from which students could benefit most on the basis of their own experience in a world largely devoid of literary attachments but saturated with audiovisual ones. These options are explored in some detail from various perspectives, including the difference between a written and an audiovisual text, the philosophical-critical potential of rock music and the interdisciplinary value of a teaching model that has student experience as its point of departure. Does the ancient discipline of philosophy still have something of value to give to university students as we approach the millenium? In a world suffused by proliferating media-images and sounds, does a discipline whose insights are born of the interpenetration of thinking and language stand any chance of being heard amid the noise, or noticed in the headlong rush for greater global investment and development? I shall argue that it does, and that philosophy is, in fact, alive (perhaps dormant) in the most unexpected practices and activities, albeit not always easy to recognize, and although philosophers and teachers of philosophy face the sometimes difficult task of enlivening these philosophical sparks into a steady flame. My argument rests on the assumption that philosophy is not only an anc... .... Being and time. Tr. Macquarrie, J. & Robinson, E. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Kearney, R. 1988. The wake of imagination. London: Hutchinson. Kierkegaard, S. 1987. Either/or. Vol. 2.Tr. Hong, H.V. & Hong, E.H. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Lyotard, J-F. 1991. The inhuman: Reflections on time. Tr. Bennington, G. & Bowlby, R. Cambridge: Polity press. O'Neill, O. 1993. Kantian ethics. In: Singer, P.(Ed.) A companion to ethics. Oxford: Blackwell. Paglia, C. 1993. Rock as art. In: Sex, art, and American culture. London: Penguin Books. Pettit, P. 1993. Consequentialism. In: Singer, P. (Ed.) A companion to ethics. Oxford: Blackwell. Plato. 1974. Republic. Tr. Grube, G. M. A. In: Plato's Republic. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co. Romney, J. 1996. Kids, a gift to middle America. In: New Statesman & Society, Vol 9, 17 May, Issue 403, p35.

As I Lay Dying Essay -- essays papers

As I Lay Dying In "As I Lay Dying" William Faulkner uses multiple points of view to explore the theme of existence as a motionless and meaningless cycle. The cycle is motionless because it is inescapable and unchangeable. One can never leave the cycle of life and death. People perpetuate the cycle by creating life, but in creating life they are creating death, for life irrevocably leads to death. Faulkner depicts existence as meaningless. Nothing really changes in the story. On the surface the characters appear to change, such as Addie dying, Darl going crazy and Anse getting a new wife, but none of these changes are really as relevant as they seem. By using multiple points of view Faulkner lets us into each character’s mind. We see how each person thinks about the cycle of existence. This insight could be accomplished with an omniscient narrator, but Faulkner’s way is much more effective. Faulkner allows us to see a ten-year-old’s perspective on life and death from the perspective of a ten-year-old, instead of from the perspective of some all-knowing narrator that doesn’t really know what it’s like to be a ten-year-old. Also, the actual sequence of narrators is in a cycle. We don’t just hear all of Darl’s point of view, and then Anse’s, and then Peabody’s. Faulkner cycles through his characters, returning again and again to people like Darl and Dewey Dell and Vardaman, while having characters such as Jewel and Addie speak only once. Addie Bundren is in many ways the central character of the story. The plot revolves around her as her family tries to get her body to Jefferson for burial. Her single monologue comes in the exact middle of the book, making her geographically the central character. Most importantly howeve... ...and what his place is in life, and the fact that he goes crazy is simply the next step in his identity crisis. Again, it is because we are given Darl’s thoughts that his craziness makes sense to us. We are brought into his confused mind, and so when it finally cracks we understand why. So nobody in the story really changes. They are all in a motionless state of existence, moving slowly towards death. Faulkner’s use of point of view helps us understand how the characters feel about their cycle of existence, and how much of it they truly understand. If Faulkner had told this story any other way, we would not understand the cycle as well as we do. We wouldn’t feel a part of they story and the characters. We would be distant from their emotions and thoughts. But as it is, we feel like a part of everyone in the story, and we can relate to and understand their thoughts.

Glacier :: Nature Wildlife Geography Essays

Glacier The glacial run off river was colder than ice, so cold it was like a torrent of broken glass against the skin. The water itself is bluish white, the color of skim milk. On the bank of the glacial river, a hundred dead and rotting fish lay scattered around like casualties of a recent battle. The corpses lay in every stage of decay, from fresh, as if just pulled from the water, to pure white skeletons stripped by scavengers. The stench is like an enormous natural gas leak. The river itself is so crowded with spawning silver salmon, that it resembles a giant can of sardines. The sunlight shining off their silver backs gleams like polished chrome. These amazing fish are swimming upstream against the current, jumping often with the power and agility of an Olympic gymnast. The terrain surrounding the river is frozen tundra. It has slimy green and brown muck on top due to the unusually warm summer, but dig down an inch and you will encounter ground as hard as concrete. The vast tundra is in sharp contrast to the rolling hills far in the distance. The retreating glacier literally cut its path through the landscape, voiding this stretch of land of everything but hard ground and arctic grass. Thousands of years of glacial movement had cut a distinct scar that could read history as well as any sedimentary rock. In the distance you could clearly see the boundaries of the ancient glacier. Hills suddenly appear out of the frozen wasteland. Tall evergreens jutting into the sky, look like giants, even at a distance, compared to the flatness of the tundra. Thick grey clouds hang ominously over head, as if further threatening any one who might dare this rugged country. The mountains far away have rings around them like halos, and one can see that they are emptying their heavy burden upon the green mountain slopes. When looking up the river, you can follow it west and trace it to its source. There, stands a magnificent mountain of ice, known as portage glacier. The glacier strongly resembles a real mountain, one that has endured a blizzard of phenomenal proportion. Instead of being a brown dirt slope with patches of white snow and ice, it is the opposite. A perfectly white slope pocked with patches of brown. The end of the glacier, which is about as far away as the eye can see, is pressed against the ground, like an unstoppable force working against an unmovable object.

Literary technique Essay

When one thinks of a lottery, they imagine winning a large sum of money. Shirley Jackson uses the setting in The Lottery to foreshadow an ironic ending. The peaceful and tranquil town described in this story has an annual lottery, and you can’t possibly guess what the â€Å"prize† isÂ…Â  The author foreshadows an ironic ending at the very beginning by establishing a cheerful setting. The story occurs â€Å"around ten o’clock† on June twenty-seventh, a time of day that is very bright and joyous and a time of year that is warm and makes people feel happy. The town’s physical setting also contributes to the overall â€Å"normal† feeling of the story. The grass is described as â€Å"richly green,† and the flowers are â€Å"blossoming profusely.† An ironic ending is also foretold by the town’s setting being described as one of normalcy. The town square is described as being â€Å"between the post office and the bank;† every normal town has these buildings, which are essential for day-to-day functioning. The townspeople also establish a normal, comfortable setting for the story. The children are doing what all typical kids do, playing boisterously and gathering rocks. The woman of the town are doing what all stereotypical females do, â€Å"exchang[ing] bits of gossip.† The men are being average males by chatting about boring day-to-day tasks like â€Å"planting and rain, tractors and taxes.† Despite this comfortable and normal setting, there are hints of the town’s unusualness that foreshadow a surprise ending. For example, the lottery is being held â€Å"around ten o’clock† in the morning, which is an unusual time because in most towns all the adults would be working during mid-morning. In addition, the author mentions a bank and post office as key buildings surrounding the town square, but what about a church or courthouse? Surely these two buildings would also be in any traditional town square! The lottery is compared to the town’s celebration of Halloween, not a joyous celebration such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day– but a rather dark, surreal, spooky, grotesque, and ominous holiday. The reader is told that school has let out for the summer, and yet the â€Å"feeling of liberty sits uneasily† with the children- which is strange, for no normal kid would be  anything less than ecstatic over summer break. Finally, the children are said to be building â€Å"a great pile of stones in one corner of the square,† which is a very strange â€Å"game† for children to playing. All of these hints indicate that something strange and unexpected is going to happen, and they all make sense once we discover the story’s final outcome. The introduction of the black box is a key turning point, giving the awful ominous answers to all those foreshadowing hints. When the black box is brought in, it’s said to be a tradition that â€Å"no one liked to upset.† The â€Å"villagers kept their distance† from the black box, as though they feared it. Also, when the black box is brought in, the mood and atmosphere of the residents noticeably changes. A â€Å"murmur of conversation† rolls through the crowd, and when the lottery official asks for help carrying the box, there’s a â€Å"hesitation† before two men step forward to assist him. More and more the town’s peculiarity begins to become apparent. For example, the names of certain residents hint at the irony and unfavorable events to come. Mr. Summers- the town clerk- has a last name that strangely coincides with the time of year- summertime. A Mr. Graves helps Mr. Summers store the black box for the lottery, which eerily predicts a future resting place. The ending of The Lottery totally contradicts the setting established by Jackson in the first paragraph. From the author’s extravagant detailing of the town, one would expect this â€Å"lottery† to be a chance for one lucky family to win some money. Instead, the winner’s â€Å"prize† is death-by stoning. The portrayal of the residents at the end of the story is quite disturbing– they go about killing the â€Å"winner† ritualistically, trying to â€Å"finish quickly.† They show no empathy at all– they’re simply following an ancient ritual. The lesson in this story hits pretty hard. The Lottery’s relationship to real life is that sometimes we are presented with traditions that have been adhered to for as long as anyone can remember, and we forget the reason these customs were created in the first place. (As Old Man Warner said,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"There’s always been a lottery.†) The problem is that circumstances can change and make these traditions outdated, useless, and even harmful. Think of the women trying to gain suffrage for their gender. If they had just let the tradition of only males voting continue, where would they lie in today’s society? We therefore must re-evaluate our traditions, questioning their original purpose; otherwise we’re just letting ourselves be stoned.

GBE Domestic Politics

Political risk is worth considering because an action or a change n policy in one country can have a big impact on the financial sector and the economy of that country. Political risks are generally associated closely with the government as well as political and security situation in a country. If the political situation is stable, generally business runs smoothly. In terms of the stock market, a conducive political situation would make the stock price go up.Conversely, if the political situation is uncertain, it would cause the element of uncertainty in the business. In Indonesia, after the fall of the New Order, changes in politics and governance was characterized by a significant change in the political system (a process of demagnification) which had opened new opportunities and also new threats to the business community this country. For years, during New Order, political parties in Indonesia were only 3 parties: app, Global, and PDP.After New Order fell (Reformation Era), the nu mber of political parties involved in general election increased significantly. The 1999 general election, the first general election in Reformation Era, was followed by 48 parties. Despite the number of political parties are always changing during the Reformation Era, political situation was relatively stable. The stability also continued under President Silo Bambina Hydrogen. However, in most current general election, few months ago, there were some instabilities in Indonesian politics.This paper will describe these conditions (the last general election) and their impacts on the industry, particularly palm oil industry, using the case of Golden Agric Resources Ltd, one of the biggest palm oil producer in Indonesia. 2. POLITICAL TURMOIL IN 2014 GENERAL ELECTION General election in Indonesia is run in phases, legislative election and presidential election. In 2014 general election, the legislative election was relatively conducive There were 15 political parties participated in the election, including 3 local political parties in Ache.This election was won by PAID with the total vote 18. 95% (whom. Penile. Com), followed by Global and Grainier on the second and third place. It was predicted that since the legislative election was held successfully and the situation was very conducive, reflected by there was no substantial protests or objections from he participants, the presidential election (which had two competing candidates, Parabola Substation-Hat Raja and Joke Widow-USAF Kali) would also run smoothly. However, the facts were totally different.Here are some events or facts that showed the unstable political conditions in Indonesia after presidential election in 2014: Different quick count results In quick count, both parties (Parabola-Hat and Kiowa-Kali) claimed as the winner Of the presidential election. There were some survey organizations stated that the election was won by Parabola-Hat, while the others stated he opposite. ISIS (Center for Strategic & International Studies) through senior researcher, Philip Vermont, stated that there were advantages in Kiowa-Kaki.The figure reached 51. 9 percent, while Parabola-Hat gained 48. 1 percent. There were also some other survey organizations published similar results, stated that the winner was Kiowa-Kali, such as R & D Compass, ISMS (Useful Musician Research and Consulting), and RI. Meanwhile, some other survey organizations indicated otherwise. A quick count conducted by Upstairs (Center for Policy Studies and Development Strategy) cleared that Parabola-Hat won the election by 52. 05%, whereabouts-J gained 47. 95 percent.Other survey organizations that declared Parabola- Hat as the winner were National Survey Institute (LSI) and the Indonesian Voice Network (SSI). These different quick count results were followed by announcement of victory by both candidates, which was the first time in Indonesia history, both competing candidates claimed as the winner. Moreover, supporters of both cam ps had celebrated their victories in separated places. Parabola's withdrawal from election process Another surprising event happened on July 22, 2014, when General Elections Commission was announcing the recapitulation of the presidential election results.While the recapitulation was still ongoing, Parabola announced that he had withdrawn his presidential candidacy after denouncing the election process as undemocratic. The consolidation of political parties supporting Parabola and their actions in Parliament Competition between Parabola and Kiowa did not stop when the General Elections Commission stated that Kiowa-Koala was the winner of the presidential election. Parabola along with his supporting parties filed an election disputes to Constitutional Court, though the court finally rejected their petition.In parliament, the parties that were supporting Parabola also took several actions that made Indonesian politics became unstable. They asked the Parliament legalize the draft of a Law regarding the local elections. In this new law, direct elections for provincial governors, district chiefs and mayors were eliminated, replaced by appointment by local elected legislatures. There were many opinions from local or international institutions aid that this was a big hit for Indonesian democracy. Indonesian democracy that had been growing in SUB era, was experiencing a substantial setback.The most noticeable effects might be the impacts on the price of stock in Indonesian Stock Exchange. Just after those events happened, the market responded. The responses can be reflected on the chart of Composite Index (JOKE) for the last 6 months. Figure 1 . Composite Index (JOKE) Source: finance. Yahoo. Com Just after the presidential election day, the index was increasing, from 4,800 to more than 5,050. Some analysts argued that it was one of Kiosk's effects. Despite there were some quick counts that stated that the winner wasParabola, since the reputation and credibility of tho se survey organizations were questionable, market believed that Kiowa would win the presidential election. On the day when General Elections Commission was announcing the recapitulation of the presidential election results, the index was slightly decreasing. It might be influenced by Parabola's statement that he had withdrawn from the election process. This statement was perceived as sign of the upcoming political instability in Indonesia. Moreover, on that day, Parabola clearly stated that there was systematic violation of democracy inducted by General Elections Commission.The clearest evident how market reacted to the political condition might be reflected on the price of stock following what happened in the Parliament in the first week of October. After the Parliament passed the law regarding local elections, which automatically eliminated direct elections for local governments, the stocks dropped significantly. Many political analysts stated that by eliminating direct elections, Indonesian democracy had moved backwards. Golden Agric Resources stock, seemed to follow the market price in general.Its price also creased after what happened in Parliament in early October. Figure 2. Golden Agric Resources Stock Price Source: Source: finance. Yahoo. Com 4. CONCLUSION Political conditions in a country is an important factor in industry. The influence is channeled through the expectation of business players in the market. When the condition in a country is stable, investors are likely to be willing to invest their money in that country. On the other hand, political instability might frighten investors to put their money in a country, resulting â€Å"sell-actions† that eventually pushes the stock price.This condition happened in Indonesia recently, following the presidential elections that was won by Kiowa-Koala, resulted in the decreasing Of most stock price in Indonesian Stock Exchange, including the stock price of Golden Agric Resources. However, there is still optimism about political condition in the future. Kiowa;Kali have an important role to stabilize the political condition and create supporting environment for business. On the other hand, industry might also have to adapt with the changes happen.

Letter of Advice for a Newly Engaged Couple Essay

Congratulations Susan and Gerald on your impending marriage. If I might, I would like to contribute some words of advice and suggest some effective communication tools to make your marriage successful and satisfying. Successful communication between couples increase the likeliness for a happy marriage, something every couple strives for. Communication is a process of many aspects that must be continually practiced and perfected. Though there are stumbling blocks in any relationship that may affect communication, following the advice in this letter will help you learn the many aspects of the communication process that must be continually practiced and perfected. I have put together a list of suggestions of communication tools and things to watch out for you both that will serve as a helpful guide in working towards effective communication in your marriage. The list begins with the first effective communication tool which is to develop and practice perfecting your emotional intelligenc e. â€Å"Accurately perceiving others’ emotions may help to more correctly perceive the partner’s needs and opinions and result in better perspective taking.† (Schrà ¶der-Abà © & Schà ¼tz, 2011, p. 156). Without emotional intelligence, you will not be able to understand, interpret, and correctly respond to the emotions of the other person. Emotional intelligence allows my husband to correctly perceive when a particular issue is important to me even if he does not feel the same way. By disregarding the importance of the issue for me, he is showing a lack of empathy and/or a lack of sensitivity towards the situation. The repeated practice of this process helps couples in developing â€Å"relationship satisfaction or closeness† with each other. (Schrà ¶der-Abà © & Schà ¼tz, 2011, p. 156). â€Å"People who are aware of their emotions and are sensitive to the emotions of others are better able to handle the ups and downs of life, to  rebound from adversity, and to maintain fulfilling relationships with others.† (Sole, 2011, Ch. 2.5, para. 4). Read more:  How many words is a 10-minute speech. Emotional intelligence can be achieved by raising self-awareness, providing empathy for the other person, and by developing self-control over your emotions. (Mind Tools, 2013). Self-awareness is paying attention to what you are focusing on and how you will interpret the world. (Sole, 2011, p. 74). Self-awareness will allow a person to have control over their thoughts, emotions, reactions which will all have an effect on their behavior. A person that does not develop self-awareness could make tense situations worse by their behavior, reactions, lack of empathy, or a lack of sensitivity. A person that does not have control over their emotions lessens the likeliness of rational and coherent thinking. The next communication tool on my suggested list is to practice self-disclosure, also another opportunity to develop emotional intelligence. Self-disclosure is described as â€Å"sharing your private feelings, fears, doubts and perceptions with your partner.† (Schoenberg, 2011). There is nothing to be gained if there is no self-disclosure between two people. The ideal self-disclosure between each other should mirror each other. If the level of self-disclosure is not identical for each person, it could lead to feelings of resentment, anger, embarrassment, low self-esteem, and the like which can lead to conflict. As the back-and-forth of the self-disclosure process progresses, so should the level of intimate information. If the levels of self-disclosure are mirrored, it can build a feeling of trust and it can give each person a feeling of closeness to the other person. When my husband and I first started dating, we would spend hours deep in conversation getting to know each other. We have since enjoyed talking to each other. It is easily forgotten how to have meaningful conversations amid the bustle of life where functional conversation or polite pleasantries become a daily routine. In an article I read that was written by Schoenberg (2011), it suggests taking at least 10 minutes per day to discuss self-disclosure topics with each other. This could be a great technique to build a strong and firm foundation that also helps strengthen your emotional intelligence skills. As we grow older, we change in our feelings, perspectives, perception, and the like. In taking the time to practice the suggested daily 10 minutes to engage in mini sessions of self-disclosure, it keeps a couple connected, growing together in sync, and  it improves the quality of communication. I will use myself and my husband as an example of the effectiveness of the 10 minute self-disclosure technique. My husband is busy with his day at work in the Army and I am busy with school and taking care of the kids. Every day is a nonstop busy day where we each have our responsibilities. Every evening before we got to sleep, my husband and I take the allotted time to remember ourselves as a couple. Even though we have been married for 11 years, we still ask each other simple open ended questions such as, â€Å"What movie did you like the most as a kid?†, â€Å"What did your family do for fun growing up?†, and â€Å"What places would you like to visit?†. When you ask open-ended questions such as â€Å"who†, â€Å"what†, â€Å"where†, â€Å"when†, â€Å"why†, and â€Å"how†, it requires â€Å"more than a â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no† answer and encourages the other person to talk†. (Sole, 2011, p. 172). There is always a possibility for you to run into stumbling blocks within interpersonal interactions to each other. Stumbling blocks could be in the form of self-image, self-esteem, and misinterpretation. Self-image is what we tell ourselves what we look like, if we are fat or skinny, pretty or ugly, smart or dumb, and the like. It is important to have a positive self-image because in accepting and loving yourself, it will allow you to be accepted and loved by another person. (Sole, 2011, Ch. 3.1, para. 29). If you do not have a positive self-image, it can be difficult to accept that another person accepts and loves you which could lead to distrust in a relationship. Self-esteem is your sense of self-worth and the level of satisfaction you have with yourself. (Sole, 2011, Ch. 3.1, Para. 30). A low self-esteem could cause problems within the relationship because it could bring a pessimistic attitude to difficulties that may rise. For many people, weight issues have the potential to cause low self-esteem. A great example of this concept would be myself at the times when I am at my heaviest and/or I am badly in need of a haircut. My outlook is grim and chocked with frustration. I tend to have a negative attitude towards those around me and I have little to no desire to leave the house. This is in opposition to when I have improved my appearance and my self-esteem raises along with my attitude. I try to maintain a healthy self-esteem, which I suspect allows me to pull myself out of the pocket of low self-esteem when needed. A person with a healthy sense of self-esteem thinks highly of themselves and has confidence in their ability to bounce back from any adversities. If I did  not do my best to maintain a healthy self-esteem, I do not think I would be able to pull myself o ut of the low pockets of self-esteem. Instead, I would most likely fall into a depression. To further demonstrate this concept, we can use an analogy of a person that takes vitamins on a daily basis. The person takes vitamins to strengthen their immune system but that does not guarantee they will never get sick. A healthy immune system will â€Å"make you less vulnerable to disease and better equipped to overcome it†. (Esteemed Self, 2013). In applying this analogy towards a person’s self-image, a healthy self-image will not guarantee there will never be adversities. A healthy self-image will make a person less at risk of succumbing to adversity and able to overcome it. In essence, having a healthy self-image allows a person to believe in themselves and to be okay with the way they look, feel, and so forth. Another potential stumbling block is misinterpretation. Misinterpretation occurs when one person incorrectly perceives the message of the other person. It is important to give feedback and to receive fee dback to ensure proper communication. Correct understanding is essential for effective communication between each other. Misinterpretation can come from the tone in a person’s voice or from any nonverbal communication. The tone of a voice can sound very unfriendly from the sender, perhaps from having a bad day, which could confuse the listener. The listener could internalize the negative tone in the speaker’s voice thinking it is directed at them. Other problems with the tone of our voices could include unclear mumbling, yelling, talking too fast, or an irritated tone could all contribute to miscommunications. We must be conscious of the tone in our voices to avoid any miscommunications. Nonverbal communication is the message that our bodies give off. Much like the tone of our voices, it is important that we are mindful of what our body language is telling the person we are speaking to. For example, what we do with our eyes while we are communicating can signal to the other person if we are uninterested or bored in the conversation (not making eye contact, looking away, looking at our wat ch, etc.). Much like our eyes can communicate a message to the other person, so can our facial expressions. Our facial expressions can signal to the other person how we feel but, at times can be miscommunicated as insincerity. (Sole, 2011, p. 119). Body posture and hand gestures are also part of the nonverbal communication that we must be cognizant of. Body  posture can send messages of disinterest if, for example, a person is folding their arms while they are communicating. Folding your arms can be very tempting to do, especially during a conflict. The examples of nonverbal communication mentioned will only serve as an aggravation to the situation, or rather conflict. An example of this is when my husband would smile as he was making a point during our disagreements (conflicts). It was not a genuine smile, but rather a condescending smile. After thinking about the behavior during our disagreements, my husband and I made a pact to do our best at avoiding this type of negative nonverbal communication. It is important to practice a healthy sense of self-concept, which is an inventory of your strengths, weaknesses, traits, race, heritage, and any other description that makes you who you are today. (Sole, 2011, Ch. 3.1, para. 1). Throughout your life up to this point, you have had many experiences to react and interpret different situations. My particular example of this would be the cultures that I grew up in. One illustration would be the Hispanic culture that my family and I are a part of. I experienced a sense of belonging to the Hispanic community and it therefore played a part in defining my self-concept. A sense of belonging is an important experience for a person so that they will see themselves as â€Å"loved, loving, and valuable†. (Ferrer & Fugate, 2003). In short, a person with a healthy sense of self-concept is able to have balance in their lives and is able to have better control over themselves, such as their emotions. This healthy sense of self-concept has a positive effect on relationships. Much like self-esteem or self-image, a negative sense of self-concept has the potential to keep a person from developing a feeling of belonging. In lacking the feeling of belonging, it could serve as a wedge that separates the individual from another person thus preventing any closeness in forming. Throughout our formative years, we experience reactions from people that serve as a form of feedback or we perform a self-analysis on ourselves based on that feedback. One or both of these make their own particular contribution in shaping our self-concept, a sense of who we are based on a combination of the cultures we have belonged to. Over time, this combination of who we are strengthens our self-concept and is an important influence on your ability to perceive and overcome difficulties. In application to your relationship, your self-concept has an influence on how you will handle  personal and sensitive issues that may arise. When communicating with each other, it is essential to develop good listening skills. Listening has the power to make the other person feel worthy, appreciated, and respected. It is a very uncomfortable feeling when you are speaking to someone, they have poor listening skills, and you are left to wonder if they even care about what you are talking about. Comprehension listening, or â€Å"critical listening†, is listening for facts, information, or ideas that may be of use to you. (Sole, 2011, Ch. 7.3, Para. 16). Empathetic listening is when you make an attempt to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. (Sole, 2011, Ch. 7.3, Para. 18). Both types of listening will be of great use to you in your marriage. A great technique for both types of listening is the speaker-listener technique. To begin the exercise, the first speaker has the floor and when he or she is finished, the listener then summarizes what the speaker just said. This process is repeated back and forth throughout the disagreement or conversation. This technique helps in ensuring both people communicating are understanding each other. In taking a moment to summarize what the speaker has said, it gives validation to the speaker. This could also tie into emotional intelligence, or more specifically, the ability to be empathetic towards the other person. When a person does not feel validated, they will be less likely to listen to the other person. This is an effective technique to use when two people have difficulty in commun icating with each other. Case in point, during the early years of my marriage to my husband, we were having difficulty during our disagreements. Our disagreements were filled with emotions and were very tense. Each of us wanted to get our point across and wanted the other person to listen to us. We realized we were accomplishing nothing. We made a decision to attend counseling where we learned the speaker-listener technique. My husband and I both have a better understanding the importance of validity. It is essential for a person to be heard and validated in a conflict. In doing so, they will be more open to compromising with the other person. It has taken me many years to understand the importance of communication skills such as self-disclosure, emotional intelligence, and the speaker-listener technique. All of these skills combined help in avoiding the type of pitfalls that can hurt a marriage rather than help. I stress the importance of all of these skills to you so that you will be successful in the coming years of  marriage. I will also stress avoiding stumbling blocks such as low self-esteem and misinterpretation that can rob any marriage of the joy of healthy communication. I am confident that both of you will be successful in practicing and perfecting the art of communication in the years to come. One last note to remember, interpersonal communication is ever changing because people are ever changing, therefore you will always need to practice and perfect it. Good luck on your marriage and have fun learning to communicate with each other! References Esteemed Self. (2013). The Dangers of Low Self-Esteem. Retrieved from http://www.esteemedself.com/what-is-self-esteem/the-dangers-of-low-self-esteem/ Ferrer, M., & Fugate, A.M. (2003). Helping Your School-Age Child Develop a Healthy Self-Concept. EDIS. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy570 Schoenberg, N. (2011, January 17). Can we talk? Researcher talks about the role of communication in happy marriages. McClatchy-Tribune News Service. Retrieved from ProQuest Newsstand. Document ID: 2240370261 Schrà ¶der-Abà ©, M., & Schà ¼tz, A. (2011). Walking in each other’s shoes: Perspective taking mediates effects of emotional intelligence on relationship quality. European Journal of Personality, 25(2), 155-169. Doi:10.1002/per.818 Sole, K. (2011).Making connections: Understanding interpersonal communication. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Mind Tools. (2013). Emotional intelligence. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_59.htm

Employment and Human Resource Management Essay

Define â€Å"beautyism† and its potential discriminatory effects on hiring in the workplace. â€Å"Beautyism† is giving a person preference or hiring someone due to their outward beauty. Some research has suggested that people who are outwardly beautiful get hired faster, get paid more, and receive better treatment in life in general, becoming more successful than others. While this may be true to an extent, I do believe that the opposite is also true, attractive people are over-looked due to their outward appearance and are taken less seriously even when qualified or more qualified than another candidate. This is not to mention that life brings challenges, hurts, and un-pleasantries, regardless of how a person looks. So we cannot be too quick to say that beautiful people have better lives. In this case though, the issue is beautyism as a â€Å"free-pass† in a sense, or a way into a job position without the proper qualifications (or in spite of the proper qualifications). There has been some evidence that people who hire for job openings do give preference at times to people who are obviously physically attractive. Researchers have noted that â€Å"beautiful people† tend to charm interviewers with their looks and create a positive tone and impression based solely off of how they look. Assess the Chair’s behavior from a human resource management perspective. I feel that if people try to regulate every detail of a hiring process, including the way people look, there will be even more discrimination. When an exceptionally beautiful or attractive candidate is interviewed, managers may feel pressure not to hire them just so there are no lies or tension in the workplace as to why that person was hired. In this case, though, it is not even evident that the Chair made an incorrect decision. Other department members should allow the Chair to do their job and trust that they have the proper qualifications to interview and choose quality  candidates. There are times when candidates are chosen without having all of the qualifications of another candidate. There are job openings available that specify that a certain degree is preferred but not required. The Chair was said to have â€Å"overlooked† a more qualified candidate, but that does not negate the fact that this interviewee may have also been qualified. A lot of times a degree or certain qualification sets are not the only thing being considered. A person who shows that they are able and willing to complete a job with a great attitude may win job offers faster than a very-highly qualified person who may be lacking in other areas. Recommend the action that the hiring committee should take to handle the hiring decision. The hiring committee should do their best to work as a team and keep down conflict within the workplace. The Chair made a hiring decision and that decision should be upheld. Employees may feel that the Chair is easily swayed and become more involved in the hiring process than they are even supposed to be. What happens when someone is interviewed that a worker just doesn’t like from their outward appearance? Going to the chair to try to get a hiring decision overturned should not be a route taken too often by employees. I feel that there is already enough â€Å"looks-discrimination† in the workplace. When a person enters a room to be interviewed they are being judged not only their answers but also how they look. Research shows that 74% of interviewers make hiring decisions within the first minutes of an interview. They judge looks by the person’s appearance, voice tone, handshake, and body-language. These are all surface characteristics†¦ There is enough judgment in interviews, applicants should not have to be subjected to on-looking, non-involved employees’ judgments as well. Discuss to what degree and why attractive candidates may be given unfair consideration during hiring processes.  This question makes me wonder, honestly, if people would feel better if attractive women or men were interviewed through a wall or only via telephone. People come in all sizes and shapes, with different features and looks. Attractive people cannot help how they look and are often not even  thinking about their looks when working or at an interview. Believe it or not, a lot of times attractive people would like a little less attention based off looks when it is time to be professional. More often than not, other people are more hooked on the candidates looks than the candidate themselves are. I feel this is an extremely issue and hopefully no advancements will be made to try to control this†¦ There is no way to tell what would begin happening in workplaces if employers try to control what they think others may be thinking about how a job applicant looks – this does not fit into professionalism. References Retrieved from: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/05/18/pretty-girls-get-all-the-jobs/. 16 May 2012. ERG Theory. Dictionary of human resource management (2001): 112. EBSCO MegaFILE. Retrieved viaWeb. 5 May 2011. Muller, M. (2009): The managers guide to HR: hiring, firing, & performance evaluations. New York, NY: AMACOM

The Example of How Humans Have Fallen into the Pattern of Elucidation Research Paper

The Example of How Humans Have Fallen into the Pattern of Elucidation and War - Research Paper Example Looking at the complicity of the churches, we see that from several different perspectives from a religion and culture student that, even with careful, honest and sensitive approaches, the role of the church in the genocide is still evident. One of the bases on which the latter can be approached is from a cultural view. Despite the fact that the two major ethnic groups were getting along well before the colonialists and missionaries in terms of the cultures and their ways of life, the influence of priests in the uproar of genocide is evident. An example of the above is that during the times, the priests presented themselves as ethnic-based which was one of the major catalysts for the genocide. In addition, the churches at that time allowed the priests to preach ethnic-hatred to the people. Some of the sources also say that the nuns and the nuns and the priests were also involved in the killing of the Tutsis. One of the hardest things to determine with regard to this issue is whether the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Anglican church leaders were informed about the issue and whether they got involved or simply decided to ignore the issue. With the views that have been expressed about the role of the church, one of the things that   I can establish as a religious student is that the clergy did not follow what they preach. A conclusion about the role that the church played in the genocide can be easily arrived at that, looking at the way that the course stood by the values that it preached before the genocide and what they preached towards the genocide, there must have been some political influence.

Confucian Moral Theory and Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Confucian Moral Theory and Practice - Essay Example The fundamental constructs of Confucian morality, in their independent nature, cannot comprehensively describe Confucian morality unless there is some form of connection between two or more of these constructs. As such, the five critical constructs have to be considered independently to form the basis for introducing the Confucian moral theory and practice in East Asia. First off is the concept of merging social-political reform to self-cultivation. According to Confucius’ belief, the establishment of political order on social order was essential and personal cultivation coined this social order, albeit among the members of the society: â€Å"From the Son of Heaven down to the mass of the people, the cultivation of the self is the foundation of everything besides† (Lai 24). Confucius contends that the self-cultivation of individuals will translated into the rectification of the hearts and, therefore, the spillover effects would see the other people get cultivated as wel l. A cultivated society would lead to families that are regulated, and thus, the whole State would be justifiably governed. Rightly, governed States would give rise to a kingdom that calm and glad (24). Intrinsically, the connection between personal cultivation and the social-political reform is overly strong and this sets ground for Confucian morality. The second concept of Confucian morality is the pursuit of dao. Dao refers to a method, doctrine, path of truth or in accordance to the moral teachings.