Who do you think was the most important figure in Russian history – Lenin or Stalin?

Both leaders play important roles in the Russian history. Lenin gave birth to Communism in Russia and helped it survive during its first critical years. He set up a one-party rule, his style of leadership was borrowed with only slight alterations by six consecutive leaders and command economy with Communism lasted till 1991. Stalin continued along Lenin's way, but took Russia more into ‘extremes'. Out of the backward Russia he created an influential and industrialised totalitarian state feared by the West. He expanded the Soviet Unions' borders up to Eastern Europe and helped in the spread of Communism right 100 km from the most dominant capitalist state, the USA. He introduced Collectivisation, helped Russia win the 2nd World War, but at the same time killed millions of people, most of them during the Purges. But could all this have happened without Lenin? It is possible that without Lenin Communism would have never emerged in Russia. If he wouldn't have returned from Finland twice, first to raise the Bolshevik's popularity – from a barely known Party to the third most influential one – and the second time to persuade other fellow party members to seize power, then the Bolsheviks might have never won enough support or might have failed to seize the right moment for the overthrow of the Provisional Government. Considering that Communism lasted for more than 70 year in Russia, his importance in the Russian history seems to be enormous. Furthermore, Lenin helped Communism to survive in perhaps the most critical times of a new regime: right after it has been set up. He closed down the Constituent Assembly and made peace with Germany so he can concentrate on Russia's internal affairs. During the Civil War in 1918 he made some very tactful decisions, like letting Trotsky to lead the Red Army and introducing War Communism to supply the soldiers. From all these, we can easily see that Lenin's role in the set up of Communism is absolutely crucial, making him a very important figure in the Russian history. Stalin had a huge impact on Russia as well. After emerging as the new ruler in 1922, he had great plans for Russia, which mostly were fulfilled. He industrialised Russia at an incredible pace and introduced Collectivisation. Both of these new reforms were carried out by 5 of his successors. However, Lenin was the one who first introduced a state planned economy, and quite a strict one, especially during the Civil War. Therefore Stalin's ideas were ‘ borrowed' from Lenin, proving that without Lenin Stalin might have never introduced the same reforms and thus have the impact that it created. Stalin had a great importance in Russia's history because he expanded greatly the boundaries of the country so they included 5 whole countries from Eastern Europe and the Baltic Countries up till 1990. With this he managed to increase the hostility between Russia and Western Capitalist Countries, who felt threatened by the rapidly expanding Communism throughout the world. Thus it can be seen that Stalin played an important role in the Cold War, especially in the early stages. However, this rivalry between Communist and Capitalist countries was commenced by Lenin, who with his idea of ‘Permanent Revolution' induced fear in the mind of the capitalist countries' leaders. Also during the Russian Civil war in 1918, the Red Army fought against foreign troops as well, who were trying to restore the old Tsarist rule. Therefore Stalin didn't start the rivalry between Capitalists and Russia (Communists); he simply carried on what Lenin started a longer time ago. During the 1930s Stalin began the Cult of Personality, when all types of media and communication glorified Stalin and the achievements of the USSR as an influential Communist power. The result of these was that many generation's minds were indoctrinated by the extensive use of propaganda. However, even thou Lenin didn't glorify himself as a God-like being, he introduced widespread propaganda much earlier in Russia during the Civil War. Stalin introduced the Purges to eliminate any kind of opposition and to assure his place as an unquestionable leader. During his ruling period the secret police was very active, arresting, executing or sending to exile any people who opposed or might oppose the current government. In this way millions of lives were lost, and the remaining surviving ones lived in fear and terror. This style of ruling, by keeping the nation under a strict, tight control was introduced by Lenin, who also made use of the secret police to calm down any possible resistance against the new regime. The same thing happened with religion as well. As a good Communist Lenin forbade the practice of religion, and Stalin – just like Lenin – continued the suppression of religious freedom. Therefore we can see that Stalin had an important role in the Russian history, but if we look more closely, it is easy to spot that he just followed Lenin's path. All this prove, that even thou Stalin might have had a greater impact on Russia, Lenin had a greater importance than him, because he was the one who was mostly involved in the set up of Communism and putting it into practice using different new reforms. Ultimately, Stalin might have never emerged as a leader if Lenin wouldn't have gave him the position as the general secretary of the Communist Party, which allowed Stalin to win the power struggle. Therefore his importance in the Russian history is less than Lenin's.

The Housing Allowance – Business Ethics

THE HOUSING ALLOWANCE Wilson Mutambara grew up in the slums of Rambia and through hard work and talent he was given the opportunity to study and receive his MBA in the united states. After three years of working at a cellular telephone service company, NewComm, he received the opportunity to go back to Rambia when NewComm decided to expand. All the employees at the NewComm offices in Rambia were set to receive $2,000 monthly for housing needs to insure that its employees live in a safe and convenient area and that their living arrangements are complimentary to the company image.One of the employees, Dale Garman, found out that Wilson was falsifying his monthly housing expenses and was in fact living in his old neighborhood, which couldn't possibly cost more than $300. The house that Wilson was living in was not up to the company standards and it looked as if he was sharing it with quite a few people. Dale notified Wilson's supervisor Barbara Weston of his living situation and Barbara confronted Wilson. Wilson admitted to the falsified invoices and pleaded to Barbara that there is quite a bit expected of him as a Rambian from the slums.He provides for his family and pays for his nieces' and nephews' educational expenses from that money. He also felt that if he lived in an expensive area like his colleagues, his family would judge his actions and think of him as selfish. Although Wilson had good intentions in falsifying his claims, he did not use the allowance as NewComm intended for him to do and more importantly falsified his invoices. Now Barbara faces a tough decision of deciding how to appropriately handle this situation in an ethical way. At the personal level of analysis, Wilson is the primary stakeholder.He looked at the situation at the beginning and assumed that it was fair for him to receive equal compensation for housing even though he chose to live below his means. He was helping his relatives and was unable to see that the fraud he was committing co uld have dire consequences. At the corporate level of analysis is NewComm, its’ management and employees in Rambia. The company, NewComm, is a very significant stakeholder since it is providing the money to Wilson and expecting that the obligations they allocate to their employees are met without protest.NewComm can also garner trouble from authorities or the IRS if they are reporting the housing allowance under benefits, and Wilson’s imprudence comes out as fraud and the government might also think NewComm is involved. The societal stakeholders in this case are Wilson’s relatives and the Rambian community who perceives Wilson as their hero for achieving success in America. After Barbara confronted Wilson about his indiscretion and he explained his reasoning behind it, she has to decide how to handle this appropriately. Barbara is obligated to handle this by taking NewComm’s best interest into consideration.It is imperative that she consider the harm Wils on’s decision could have caused NewComm since he used the money dishonestly and intentionally misrepresented his false housing, and now Barbara has to decide if Wilson should face disciplinary action, or even termination. However, Barbara needs to show empathy toward Wilson and consider the reasons why he felt obligated to defraud NewComm. Wilson felt that this money was being put to better use since he was helping more people with it instead of spending it to portray a better image of NewComm by living an extravagant lifestyle.From my perspective, the three alternatives for Barbara in this case are: i. For Barbara to give a probationary period to Wilson to correct his actions and find proper housing in keeping with NewComm’s image. He can move out of Old Town and into the â€Å"safer† neighborhood where the rest of his colleagues are residing. Although this is very unfair, he can also receive a pay cut to reimburse NewComm for the money he wrongfully took from the housing allowance allocation. ii.Since Barbara is the supervisor, she is allowed to change the company rules and can make a change in the housing allowance under special circumstances. She could add a provision in the housing allowance for employees to get approval to live in any neighborhood they choose to. Compared to the money that other employees in Rambia are receiving for housing, it would be unfair to pay Wilson less if he is choosing to live near his loved ones and helping his relatives. iii. The final alternative is for Barbara to terminate Wilson’s employment with NewComm.Philosopher Immanuel Kant considered moral rules categorical imperatives, meaning that they are absolute and unqualified commands for everyone, in every walk of life, without exception, not even for stressed professionals. Kant pursued moral principles that do not rest on likelihoods and that define actions as fundamentally right or wrong apart from any particular circumstances. A Kantian appro ach, which considers duty, fairness and rights, would force Barbara to terminate Wilson’s employment with NewComm, even though it would be unfair.It teaches a lesson to other employees to follow proper policies and procedures when it comes to contractual relationships with employers. Wilson did lie and defraud NewComm and for that Barbara can privately sit him down and explain all the reasons why he is being dismissed. For Kant the source of moral justification is the categorical imperative. In order for an act to be categorically imperative, it must be thought to be good in itself and in conformity to reason. Overall, Kant says what you care about simply doesn’t matter.Your duty is your duty, and you must do it whether or not you want to or not. Nothing exempts a moral agent from the demands of moral duty. The dilemma that is faced by Barbara can be solved with proper thought given to Utilitarian principles. Most of the utilitarian philosophers would want her to do th e â€Å"right† thing which would harm the least amount of people since utilitarianism takes into account everyone affected by the action, instead of self-interest only. Aristotle’s four virtues would want to ask about the moral standing of the people engaged in this case.The four virtues are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. Prudence, the cardinal virtue, would require Barbara to exercise sound judgment or apply practical wisdom. Prudence is an ethical excellence of heart and mind, displayed in an eagerness to seek and an ability to find the â€Å"just right† course of action, attaining the best outcome possible in the light of present circumstances. Another very applicable virtue is fortitude which ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in doing the good. Fortitude is sometimes called strength or courage.Justice is another very important virtue; And Barbara could choose to be fair to Wilson and keep him with the company is he corrects his act ions, or better yet have the housing allowance rules changed so that every employee has the right to choose where they want to live. If Barbara were to follow Aristotle’s virtues, then she would think of the greater good and act with prudence, justice and fortitude. Aristotle would advise for Barbara to give a probationary period to Wilson to correct his actions and find proper housing in keeping with NewComm’s image.He can move out of Old Town and into the â€Å"safer† neighborhood where the rest of his colleagues are residing. In this case, Rawl’s theory of original position can also be used. Rawls proposes a set of Principles of Justice to be established through a thought-experiment, a kind of modern replacement for the philosophical state of nature. Basically, Rawls lets us imagine a situation where people are unaware of their own characteristics which may make given principles advantageous or disadvantageous to themselves.Through the veil of ignoranc e, people may then agree upon principles of justice independently of personal interests, meaning impartially and rationally. Those collectively decided principles should thus be socially fair. If Barbara is advised by Rawls, she can then look through the veil of ignorance to make this decision; it would most likely come out to that she terminate Wilson’s employment from NewComm. With the veil of ignorance she would have to look past Wilson helping his relatives and only look at the sham that Wilson committed.Personal knowledge of Wilson helping his relatives might tempt Barbara to select principles of justice that gave Wilson unfair advantage. Rawls claims that rational people will consistently adopt his principles of justice if their reasoning is based on general considerations, without knowing anything about their own personal situation. If Barbara is considering personal benefit over the greater good or the right thing to do then she might not be able to come to a clean an d honest conclusion.There are numerous practical constraints faced by Barbara in this situation. Barbara would have the live with whichever decision she makes regarding Wilson, if she chooses to fire him, she would have to live with the detestations from her inner self because Wilson’s relatives had gotten used to him providing for them and he was the bread winner for a lot of people. Now those people could be going hungry just because Barbara could not make changes to the policy and let Wilson work for NewComm.If Barbara were to let Wilson stay with company, the rest of the employees would think it is okay for them to also break company policy since the falsification by Wilson was taken too lightly. The action that should be taken by Barbara is to be fair to Wilson since he was trying to be a bigger person by helping his relatives and to payback his share to society. Barbara can be fair by amending the housing allowance and allowing for all the employees to receive the same $2,000 housing allowance for wherever they choose to reside. Barbara can show empathy toward Wilson nd consider the reasons why he felt obligated to defraud NewComm. Wilson felt that this money was being put to better use since he was helping more people with it instead of spending it to portray a better image of NewComm by living an extravagant lifestyle. Although, Wilson should also receive some sort of a reprimand for breaching the company policy and deceitfully misrepresenting his housing invoices. This decision is based on the four virtues of Aristotle and also the Utilitarian theory so she can help Wilson to help his relatives lead a better life. Read also: Disadvantages of Ethics in the Workplace

The British Culture

People can generally identify themselves as part of a larger culture, which means that they hold many of the same values and beliefs as those around them. But they might not be aware of being part of one or more subcultures. These exist within the larger culture but are marked by differences. A subculture is a group of people who are part of a larger culture, but who separate themselves by their own unique beliefs and behaviours. In the 1950s David Riesman, a United States sociologist, distinguished between the majority that passively accepted the styles, standards and meanings given to them and a minority. This subculture sought its own meanings of things, interpreting them in what Riesman calls â€Å"subversive values. † Culture sociologist Sarah Thornton believes that subcultures raise their status through their subculture so as to differentiate themselves from other groups. Ken Gelder states that subcultures are very social, sharing conventions, values and rituals with those in their subculture even if they do not share those values with the greater culture, in the following research; we will see all the different British subcultures which make the United Kingdom one of the richest cultures in the world.. The England culture: It sometimes becomes difficult to separate the culture of England from the influences of the culture of the United Kingdom. England Culture has come along way and has developed over several millennia, to recent movements such as Brit Art and now encompasses a variety of forms which include photography, painting, sculpture and performance art. Cuisines of England also influence the England culture to a great extent. The urbanized workers of England were in many cases cut off from regional food traditions as the country was the first industrialized country of the world. More recently, a new style of cooking called Modern British has emerged that combines traditional British ingredients with foreign culinary influences. English folklore that has evolved in England over a number of centuries is yet another aspect that influences the Culture of England. England thrives with folklore in all forms such as the traditional semi-mystical Arthurian legends and semi-historical Robin Hood tales, to contemporary urban myths and facets of crypto zoology. Culture of England is lame till we include the heritage of the country as it is massively affected and influenced by it.  Also you can read about  History of the Culinary Arts. In recent years, Stonehenge has become a focus for modern summer solstice celebrations. Though the Stonehenge pre-dates the existence of England as a nation, it is believed by many English people to hold an iconic place in the culture of England. English literature has been made rich by the famous works by the popular writer of the past like William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy and many more. Just like literature, English music has been instrumental in influencing the England Culture to a large extent. Talking about food, there are few food-related taboos in England. Some of the English avoid some foods for so-called hygienic reasons, such as onions and leeks, which can cause bad breath. There are also some types of foods that are considered uncivilized. Traditionally, the people of England have never eaten horses, dogs and other carnivores or insects. Slowly, the eating of meat is looked on as uncivilized. As part of the shift away from meat toward fruit, vegetables, and fish, people have become more distanced from the production of the meat they eat and less willing to eat as wide a variety of meats. The Scottish culture: The Culture of Scotland will give you a glimpse of the rich historical past of the country. Scotland is a nation which is well positioned in the north-west part of Europe. Scotland also beautifully shares a border with England. It is bordered by the Irish Sea and the North Channel to the southwest, the North Sea lies to the east while the north and west part of Scotland is bordered by Atlantic Ocean. The Culture of Scotland is influenced by the residents of the Scottish Highlands who basically belong to the Celtic descent. To the Southern part of Scotland, the residents are Scots with little bit of Nordic and Anglo-Saxon influence. The people of Scotland have a love for learning. If we look at the history of Scotland it is found that their history is full of educated persons who acquired university educations. In the beginning of the 20th century, Andrew Carnegie who was the Scottish-born American industrialist made education easy. In the Culture at Scotland, we can find the celebrations of Hogmanay, which is basically the celebration of to mark the beginning of New Year. In the Culture of Scotland, there is the tradition of taking out Torchlight Parade in Edinburgh. People take part in the Torchlight Parade which is held on the 29th December on each and every year. The people taking part in this parade carry wax torches and walk on foot through the popular streets of the city. The Hogmanay street party organized on New Years Eve last for three nights. We can also find the celebrations of Christmas like that of any other European countries. People take part in Christmas celebrations with great pomp and glory. During this period people go to churches and arrange gala lunch and dinner parties for ones friends and relatives. There is also many Scottish celebrations, one of them is the Burning of the Clavie which celebrates the New Year, old style, which falls on 11 January (unless 11 January is a Sunday, in which case the celebration is held on 10 January). The Clavie is a half-cask, mounted securely on a pole, and filled with staves of wood and inflammable liquid. If we are interested in the Scottish food, the region has a very distinctive cuisine that is usually based on traditional foods. Food of Scotland mainly comprises of the Scottish foods. Food of Scotland is really mouth-watering which will positively satisfy your appetite. Some of the popular traditional Food of Scotland that you can try out while on a tour to Scotland is: -Scottish Beef: The beef cattle belonging to Aberdeen Angus breed reared in Scotland. Steaks made from these cattle beefs are really very tasty. Bannocks or Oatcakes: This dish is an oat flour biscuit that is baked on a griddle. Nowadays people usually prefer to sample bannocks with cheese. The culture of Wales: The nation of Wales is a major part of United Kingdom but the Culture of Wales is quite distinct from the rest of England. The nation of Wales is known to preserve its own distinguishing culture, language, art and music. The national emblem of Wales includes leek and daffodil. The Welsh Dragon is a significant part of the Culture of Wales. The country of Wales is extended 274 kilometers in the north to south and about 97 kilometers east to west. The eastern side of the country of Wales is bordered by England, the southern side is covered by the Mor Hafren or the Bristol Channel, the western side has St. George's Channel and the northern side has the Irish Sea. The total area of the coastline is over 1,200 kilometers and includes several islands that lie off the Welsh mainland. The Welsh culture exhibits the true essence of the region and tourists are introduced to the colorful and vibrant cultural heritage of the nation. Gradually with the change in times a mode rn outlook developed among the Welsh and thus a different meaning was attached to the Culture of Wales. Cultural Tours of Wales provide you an idea of the religion, arts and crafts of the region as well as the language. Religion, music and sport are among the indispensable part of the Cultural Heritage of Wales. Basket making, candle making and knitting are among the popular arts and crafts of Wales. Wales is famous for music and poetry and Culture of Wales has a great affinity to the most well-known musical image of Wales. Wales has a long tradition of folk song and has a long history of the instrumental tradition. The most widely practiced religion in Wales is Christianity and include to the diverse Culture of Wales. Culture of the performing arts in the Swansea provides you great source of entertainment. Festival of Music and the Arts plays an important part in promoting Wales Tourism. The Festival of Music and Art brings a great cultural gathering. Culture of Wales is presented mainly at the Swansea, Pembroke, Llandeilo, Narberth and Tenby. These places are perfect for the region's deep-rooted cultural aspect that includes arts and craft and musical performances. When it comes to entertainment, the country of Wales posses a rich culture and history and the people here enjoy lots of festivals. Festivals and Events in Wales are celebrated throughout the year; the festival of Eisteddfodau for example, known as cultural gathering, is one of the major Wales Festivals and Events. The biggest celebration is the Royal National Eisteddfodd of Wales, which is generally held in the early period of the month of August. There is another version of this festival of International Eisteddfod festival that is held every year in the month of July. The festival of Eisteddfod is a cultural competition that has its root in the ancient times. This festival celebrates the victory of the British from the Norman invasion. Among the other Festivals and Events in Wales, one is the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show. This festival is held in July and in these festivals there is a wonderful exhibition of several spectacular agricultural products that have their own beauty and are unique. You can also enjoy a host of oddball events throughout the year. The city of Brecon is known for its jazz festival and the fine food festival of Abergavenny is also very popular. The Irish culture: Ireland is rich in history and has also been the home to many talented writers including the likes of Oscar Wilde. Ireland has made a large contribution in literature and the very traditional folk music combined with the beautiful steps of the Irish dance all reflect the rich culture of Ireland. The people of Ireland are known to be very hospitable and friendly in nature. Having a family life is considered of great importance in Ireland. The traditional ways of the Irish culture can be seen in the rural areas of Ireland. Here, a lot of traditional customs are followed which is quite a contrast to the modern life that is led in the urbane areas of Ireland. Ireland also has a large number of people who own their own palatial residencies. The modern Irish culture follows a more open method of communication between the Irish people. The Irish believe in displaying their affection rather than curbing the same. English still remains to be the most spoken language today. The native dialect can be found in some of the rural areas of Ireland. The Irish language was introduced by the Celts and many senior citizens can be found speaking in the traditional Irish language. The homes in Ireland still follow the same rule and are built in a similar fashion, as was the pattern of the olden days. Bright and cheerful colors can be seen splashed on the walls of most homes with colorful doors. Homes of Ireland are generally terrace houses with the central heating system having replaced the traditional fireplace. Although there is no official religion for Ireland, special consideration has been given to the Catholic Church. One can see the Roman Catholics, Methodists, Jewish, Presbyterianism and even a small percentage of other religions such as Islam existing in Ireland. Talking about food, Stories related to the old Irish culture have the mention of honey being widely used especially to make mead. Meat was widely eaten along with poultry products. The potato formed a major part of the food in Ireland amongst the labor class. Today, the food habits have influences from all over the world. Although meat has always been the main item in Irish food, fast food has also taken over. New Irish dishes are being churned out to maintain some healthy eating habits amongst the Irish people; these focus mainly on fresh vegetables. The British norms & values Norms are defined as specific but tacit standards of what is socially and individually acceptable; values as explicit but general statements of principle, of which the content is continually changing through changing norms, changing circumstances, changing policies and the accompanying ethical debate. The relation of norms, values and policies is shown by an historical example. The inherent conflict within both norms and values is discussed and the role of the policymaker is defined, both as an artist in conceiving and devising one among many possible but always partial realizations of contemporary norms and values, and as a partially conscious agent in reshaping the norms and values of his time. The psychological implications of this are briefly indicated. Britishness is the state or quality of being British, and is used to refer to what binds and distinguishes the British people and forms the basis of their unity and identity, or else to explain expressions of British culture, such as habits, behaviours or symbols that have a common, familiar or iconic quality readily identifiable with the United Kingdom. Dialogue about the legitimacy and authenticity of Britishness is intrinsically tied with power relations and politics; in terms of nationhood and belonging, expressing or recognising ones Britishness provokes range of responses and attitudes, such as advocacy, indifference or rejection. In the 16th and 17th centuries most people in this island lived in small village communities. They knew all their neighbours. They dressed alike, and almost all of them were white. The vast majority belonged to the same religion, and spoke much the same language. And, at regular intervals, these very similar people, possessed of very similar values, would cheerfully go and watch some of their number being burnt alive at the stake, or slaughtered with swords, because they were deemed to possess the wrong brand of Christianity. As this suggests, promoting common â€Å"British values†, even assuming that we knew what these were, is never going to be enough to prevent some stray, impassioned individuals in our midst from wanting on occasions to kill their neighbours on God's behalf. Acts of violence against one's own countrymen that are legitimated by religion are emphatically not new. Nor have such acts ever been unique to Islam. Historically – in this country, as in most other countries – religion has often proved a more consistently lethal and divisive force than any secular ideology. It has also often been a more divisive force than race. Yet, in recent decades, pundits and politicians have devoted far more time to worrying about racial divisions in British society, than they have to thinking imaginatively about the consequences of our new religious pluralism. This, despite the fact that, since 1945, Britain, like other European states, has entered uncharted territory as far as religion is concerned. Before the Second World War, most Britons were at least nominally Protestant. Now, all the world's religions are represented here. It is a great experiment. But it comes accompanied with new risks, tensions and uncertainties. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, made a speech in 2006 to promote Britishness. Brown's speech to the Fabian Society's Britishness ( British intellectual socialist movement ), Conference proposed that British values demand a new constitutional settlement and symbols to represent a modern patriotism, including a new youth community service scheme and a ‘British Day' to celebrate. In 2007, the majority of people in many non-white ethnic groups living in Great Britain described their national identity as British, English, Scottish or Welsh. This included almost nine in ten (87%) of people with mixed heritage, 85% of Black Caribbeans, and 80% of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Non-whites were more likely to describe themselves as British than whites. One-third of people from the White British group described themselves as British; some respondents opted to call themselves English, Welsh or Scottish. 19] A study conducted for the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) in 2005 found that, in England, the majority of ethnic minority participants identified primarily as British, whereas white English participants identified as English first and British second. In Wales and Scotland, the majority of both white and ethnic minority participants identified as Welsh or Scottish first and British second, although they saw no incompatibility between the two identities. 20] Other research conducted for the CRE found that white participants felt that there was a threat to Britishness from large-scale immigration, the ‘unfair' claims that they perceived ethnic minorities made on the welfare state, a rise in moral pluralism and perceived political correctness. Much of this frustration was found to be targeted at Muslims rather than minorities in general. Muslim participants in the study reported feeling victimised and stated that they felt that they were being asked to choose between Muslim and British identities, whereas they saw it possible to be both at the same time.

How Personality, Intelligence, Attitudes and Emotions Affect The Research Paper

How Personality, Intelligence, Attitudes and Emotions Affect The Success of a Company - Research Paper Example According to research, many organizations are interested in emotions at work. This is because many of them are dealing with service provision, emotional intelligence is thus popular. In addressing a hypothetical model of individuals, it is argued that employees who pose emotional intelligence are likely to adapt emotional responses in case of disagreements. This is because these people can easily adapt and respond to their emotions and moods with a healthier understanding of their emotional experience. Emotions, therefore, have adverse effects on an organization if not properly expressed.Attitude is an individual’s sensation, judgment, and inclination to respond to some issues within the environment. Attitudes of employees and managers pose an effect on the success of a company.Attitudes are always an indicator of the personal inclination to feel sense or act in a positive or a negative way towards a particular issue. Attitudes usually entail individual cognitions, effective r esponse, and behavioral tendency towards the company. Research has shown that if the majority of employees in an organization have a positive attitude then the success of the organization is granted. On the other hand, if the majority of the employees have a negative attitude towards the company then it is bound to fail. Managers should also have a positive attitude towards employees in order for the company to succeed. Positive attitudes in an organization are vital in enabling the company to realize its goals and in achieving change.

Nonreligious bases for nonviolences Research Paper

Nonreligious bases for nonviolences - Research Paper Example n in use for a long time, mainly by pacifists and non-pacifists, as a means of acquiring a social change and expression of resistance to any kind of oppression. In the past, the thought of non violence had made large numbers of people think and had attracted many followers. However, most non violent forms or cases have been in response to events of violence (PPU, n.d.). Non violence has usually been dived into two distinct parts or methods. The first one is the abstention from violence on religious grounds, while the second is the actions of people who neither start nor respond to any type of violence. Such kind of behavior has usually been linked to pacifism and abstinence of violence on grounds of principle (Riff, 1990, p. 166). Historically, western belief had an idea that non violence is something which can only be practiced by the educated masses, but this had been proved wrong in India, where the followers of Mahatma Gandhi were largely the poor farmers and uneducated masses (G regg, 1959, p. 184). In the following pages the various forms of non violence, apart from religious grounds, have been discussed. Also discussed are the contributions of some of the greatest preachers of non violence in the history of mankind. In this paper, the discussion has aimed to show how historically non violence had persistently fought the various types of violence on grounds which were not related to religion and the various forms of non violence prevalent in the world. The discussion also shoes how great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King had contributed to world peace through their non violent methods. Various cases of non violent action have been found in many countries over time, but it was only in the 19th century that non-violent action started to take different names and forms. The term ‘strike’ as devised at he beginning of the nineteenth century in the United States of America and it meant an organized form of stoppage of work or withdrawal of

Impact of Visual Effect on Currnet Film Industry Research Paper - 1

Impact of Visual Effect on Currnet Film Industry - Research Paper Example Innovation of visual effects, therefore, has made substantial changes in the film industry resulting into various effects. The paper attempts to analyze both positive and negative effects of visual effects in the film industry. Visual effects (VFX) or the visual F/X involves various processes by which imagery gets manipulated from the context of live shooting. It is a process, which enables editing of live shot movies emergence from old processes, which required directing of movies at exact spots. They involve the integration of live action footage recorded actions during various instances of movie production, with generated imagery from different environments (Ronchi, 2012). According to Christiansen (2008), they are computer-generated software, which enable generation of realistic, costly, but dangerous images that would be difficult to capture in real life. It is, therefore, a step and advancement in technology, which has not only acted as a revelation from the previous limited te chnology to development of new technology. The technology enables production of competent movies independent of life threatening occasions that do not put the life of actors in danger. The invention of visual effects in the film industry has indirectly expanded other sectors such as television series, commercials and games. In as much as this forms, a crucial part of luxury, many companies including middle size and large companies have joined the industry. This has led to increased employment with the people working in the industry increasing up over 70%. This has reduced unemployment, while increasing expertise among many people (Christiansen 2008). The discovery of visual effects in the film industry, therefore, has created more room for employment in the world. In addition, all films have a life around 40 years whether physical film, magnetic tape or an optical disc gets employed. This has posed a challenge in the film industry towards a discovery of mechanisms, which can enable production of longer lasting films. The British Film Institute, for instance, has an archive of 150,000 movies; this is only one third of what they produce. The discovery of visual effects in the industry, however, has remade the film industry allowing storage, re-scratch and re-use of data to meet desired interest. The format offers DPX and Cineon 10 BIT logarithm storage of data, which enable faster quantification of resolution and retrieval. According to the research, 90% of the entire commercial and film industries needs the application of visual effects. The sole purpose of visual effects is to enhance the attractiveness of products including movies and other film products. This enables an achievement of a competitive advantage over other people as people like movies with manipulations to fit the interest of customers (Okun & Zwerman, 2010). The London film industry, for instance, exports the largest number of commercials. It exports 2 billion GPB creating the largest numbers o f position in the city. This is even higher than the bank, which has a GPB less than 2 billion. In the current film, industry, production of a film costs 100 million dollars; however, it is surprising that out of the total lamp sum, 20% to 40% gets designated towards the production of visual effects. The centrality of resonance in various strands of visual effects

Psychological Anthropology Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Psychological Anthropology - Research Proposal Example Dean attempts to persuade Cindy to give their relationship another chance but Cindy refuses and moves away with their daughter claiming that their daughter cannot stay in a broken home. The film ends where Dean walks away from the house and tells the daughter who runs after him to stay with her mother.The reason for choosing the Blue Valentine film is to explore the social life or cultural phenomena of people in the society. The research investigates or aims to determine social aspects of people in a given society. In anthropology, the study of social aspects is classified under social anthropology, which is the branch of anthropology that attempts to reveal the way human beings behaves in the social groups or in the society. The researchers of social anthropology often carry a long-term and intensive field studies including participant observations, customs, conflict resolution, family structure, childbearing and gender relations. Therefore, the film of the Blue Valentine attempts t o focus on the social life of two young couples, the underlying logic of Dean and Cindy, their social behaviors and contradictions of their social life. Therefore, using the narrative or the storyline from the film can enable one to explore the ambiguities, contradictions of social life in the contemporary society or the underlying aspects of social behaviors in a social group. This will enable the researcher to develop a clear picture on the way human beings in social groups behave in the contemporary society.... Section B The reason for choosing the Blue Valentine film is to explore the social life or cultural phenomena of people in the society. The research investigates or aims to determine social aspects of people in a given society. In anthropology, the study of social aspects are classified under social anthropology, which is the branch of anthropology that attempts to reveal the way human beings behaves in the social groups or in the society (Casey and Robert 37). The researchers of social anthropology often carries a long-term and intensive field studies including participant observations, customs, conflict resolution, family structure, childbearing and gender relations. Therefore, the film of the Blue Valentine attempts to focus on social life of two young couples, the underlying logic of Dean and Cindy, their social behaviors and contradictions of their social life. Therefore, using the narrative or the storyline from the film can enable one to explore the ambiguities, contradictions of social life in the contemporary society or the underlying aspects of social behaviors in a social group. This will enable the researcher to develop a clear picture on the way human beings in a society groups behaves in the contemporary society. Therefore, the researcher will focus on the issue by extending social phenomena beyond art, culture and cognition. Section C Social theory is an effective approach that the researcher can use in the significant data analysis. Social theory is analytical approach or paradigm employed by researchers in examining the social phenomena. This theory takes into considerations the way societies lives, develops or behaves; thus it is an approach attempts to explain the social behaviors of human beings in the

Fukuyama Francis The end of history The national Interest (Summer Essay

Fukuyama Francis The end of history The national Interest (Summer 1989) - Essay Example He insists, therefore, in this case that the threat to the security and the freedom rights of people are no longer available. The history has, therefore, come to its conclusion from this point (Fukuyama 54). The phrase, â€Å"end of history,† according to Fukuyama symbolizes the end of human â€Å"ideological evolution,† the search for good governance that encompasses the rights and freedoms of every citizen within it. The most important information in the text is the urge for change or move from capitalism to communism. Mankind underwent transformation from the tiny under civilized forms of government to higher and progressive forms of governments systems. It is from this notion that Fukuyama where insists that the history would assume its ending in an absolute moment. He also believed that through such ending, only the victorious forms of government will assume the power to head such states. Upon the assumption of power, the citizens will be able to realize good governance that respects their democratic rights. The government too will also be able to understand their social, cultural, economic, and political backgrounds. Such type of governance will in turn foster the peaceful coexistence of the country’s citizens (Fukuyama 110). The main conclusion (explicit or implicit) in this article is that the homogenous state would eventually become victorious throughout the material world since ideological development has, in fact, ended. As presented by Fukuyamas context, it is not a must that all societies be liberal to become successful (Fukuyama 218). Clear evidence about this situation is in their difference in their ideological pretensions of representing different and higher forms of human society. The main assumptions underlying an author’s thinking are that the country would change from a communist state to a capitalist state. He also believed that the country would attain a liberal form of government with free

E-waste Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

E-waste - Essay Example The technology that has been manufactured for the betterment of the society is now posing a threat as it is being dumped in larger quantities (Luther) This essay will revolve around the concept of E-Waste and how measures are being taken in order to minimize the threat that it poses to the world. E Waste is generally considered a part of the solid waste and is disposed off in the municipal solid waste along with the necessary precautions that need to be taken when disposing it off. This disposal creates a hazard for the society as these gadgets are made up of components that can be hazardous to the health of the individuals (Luther 1-3). The waste that is being disposed off consists of lead, mercury, selenium and other components which are known to be hazardous (Johri 3-4). As these products are being disposed off, the hazardous nature of E-Waste is taking a new leap and the state affairs are taking a keen interest in the aspect of recycling this waste. Many states have already implemented a strategy that forces the concerned authorities to recycle this waste rather than disposing it off. However this recycling has also caused an irk amongst the scholars as the products are being recycled and sent to the developing countries where the hazards of such material increases even further (Luther 1-3). E Waste forms around 0.01% to 1% of municipal solid waste in the developing countries. Televisions and computers that were being built previously consisted of an overwhelming amount of lead. If these computers and televisions are discarded at a ground, these dangerous elements can leak out in the soil and cause havoc. The computer chips and other circuitry are made up of other poisons that can contaminate the soil and this includes mercury which is known to be a cancer causing agent. It is thus very important for the concerned authorities to review the process of dumping this waste and

3 short essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

3 short essays - Essay Example These parts are the exposition (A), the development (B), and the recapitulation (A’). The exposition is the main movement of sonata, which consists of such elements as a first theme, bridge (transition) with modulation, the second theme, and the closing theme (the cadence theme). The development contrasts with the exposition in tonic key, which is unstable because of modulations; also, in this movement, various themes developed, which then through the retransition return to the first key in the last movement, the recapitulation. This movement repeats the themes of the exposition in the first key and may end with the coda (concluding section). The Classical minuet and trio form is more complex than a Baroque minuet form due to its structure. Classical period composers extended the internal form of minuets and created pieces in accordance with the following scheme: minuet A (aba with repetitions) – trio B (cdc with repetitions) – minuet A (aba) or A (aba’) – B (cdc’) – A (aba’). The rondo (rondeau) form is commonly used for closing movements. It consists of a main theme (A) and spacers (B, C etc.) between the appearances of A. The main rondo schemes are as follows: ABACA coda; ABACABA; ABACADA and others. 2. Music period that appeals to me as a listener is the Late Baroque period. Primarily, it is so because of its complexity, which encourages to think and follow, intellectuality, accuracy (due to the tempered scales), regularity in rhythm and musical form, intensity of emotions, and ornamentation. Among the most significant genres of this period are concerto and concerto grosso, the fugue, dance suites, opera, oratorios, church cantatas etc. 3. With the aim to be able to deal with atonality and dissonance in music, Arnold Schoenberg presented his method of composing, known as the twelve-tone system, which he defined as â€Å"a method of composing with twelve tones solely in relation to one another†, meaning with

Walmart and Ethics Article Summary Essay Example for Free

Walmart and Ethics Article Summary Essay The article was acquired from http://knowledge. wharton. upenn. edu/article. cfm? articleid=2999, titled Everyone’s Problem: Looking Beyond the Wal-Mart Bribery Case. This is article’s purpose is to show how common bribing of public officials is using Wal-Mart’s case as an example. Wal-Mart is still having issues building up their ethical perception to the public. They had many shareholders investing in Mexico and these shareholders wanted answers on why the bribery was overlooked by upper management. The article gives many examples of countries that regularly participate in acts of some kind of bribery or countries where it is socially accepted. Many researchers believe this bribery is hard to track because people won’t speak up and most activity happens under the table. However, ‘Shaun Donnelly, vice president of investment and financial services at the United States Council for International Business, a New York City-based nonprofit, says that â€Å"the trend is in the positive direction. The public sentiment is that bribery is not an acceptable way to do business. † ‘(1) On the other side of things William s. Laufer, Wharton Professor of legal studies in business ethics, thinks that even with increased FCPA enforcement that acts of bribery of public officials is still on the rise. In the case of Wal-Mart the only excuse to remotely explain these acts would be the difference in culture, and what is and is not socially expectable. This article argues that corporate political influence can increase acts of bribery. The authors of this article used appropriate examples and sources for their facts, and the quotes throughout the article were from people with prestige. I enjoyed this article and as a publisher I would print because it brings about factual evidence supporting a claim that there is an unseen uprising in bribery involving public officials. I believe a point was reached in that the case of Wal-Mart was used as example of corporate political influence. The author backed up his main idea with showing how common bribery among public officials is and the influence a big corporation can have on a countries government. This article does lack some evidence from the corporation’s point of view. The article could contain quotes and/or opinions from corporations themselves or top management. There probably is some other evidence out there countering that bribery on the corporation level is not abused so often. However, this article flaws are covered up by a strong main idea and conclusion. This article is very sound in that has factual evidence and quotes to back up a main idea that uses Wal-Mart as its main example.

Target Private Label Brand Analysis Essay Example for Free

Target Private Label Brand Analysis Essay In this assignment we analyzed Target’s private labels. Target has both value and premium private brands. Target uses â€Å"Up Up† for its value private label products and â€Å"Archer Farms† for its premium private label food products. The three product categories that we picked are household products, health products, and food products. The first household product that we picked is Target’s Up Up body wash. The Up Up’s Delicate Exfoliating Body Wash is compared to the national brand Dove Exfoliating Body Wash. They both are 24 oz and have the same package size and color. The Up Up is $3.24 whereas Dove is $5.49 which is 69% more expensive than the Up Up body wash. In terms of packing, the Up Up body wash has the same packing as the Dove body wash. They are very identical to each other and have the same shape and color. The Up Up body wash is placed on the upper right shelf where other body wash products are placed. In addition, the private brand is placed on the same shelf, but to the right side of the national brand. Next, we picked Target’s Up Up hand soap. The Up Up’s Moisturizing Hand Soap Aloe Vera is compared to Softsoap Soothing Aloe Vera hand soap. They both are 64 oz, have the same package and color. The Up Up is $3.69 while Softsoap is $4.49 which is 22% is more expensive than Target’s private brand. In terms of packaging, the Up Up hand soap has the same packaging as Softsoap hand soap. They both look the same and have a similar package size, shape and color. The Up Up hand soap is placed on the center bottom shelf and is placed to the right of Dove body wash. From the health products we picked Target’s Up Up Probiotic Dietary Supplement. The Up Up’s Probiotic Dietary Supplement is compared to Align Probiotic Dietary Supplement. They both have 26 tablets 4 week supply. The Up Up tablets costs $16.79 where the Align is $28.89 which is 72% more expensive than the Up Up probiotic tablets. In terms of packaging the Up $ Up Probiotic tablets have the same package size and shape as the Align Probiotic tablets, but the Up Up has a blue packaging color. The Up Up tablets are placed on the bottom right corner of the shelf. The national brand Align is to the left of Target’s private label. From the food products we chose Target’s premium private label Archer Farms. Target only has premium private label for its food products. The Archers Farms’ Organic Skim Milk is compared to Horizon Organic Fat-Free Milk. They both are 1.89 L and have the same package size but have different package color. The Archer Farms’ organic milk is $3.59 whereas the Horizon’s organic milk is $3.99. Here we see that the national brand is only 11% more expensive than the premium private brand. In terms of packaging the Archer Farms’ milk has the same package size and shape to the Horizon’s milk but conveys a premium image. Archer Farms’ milk is placed on the middle shelf and on the center of the shelf for milk products. The national brand Horizon is to the left side of Archer Farms premium private brand.

Business Plan for YSDPC Waterproofing Company

Business Plan for YSDPC Waterproofing Company BUSINESS PLAN – COMPANY WRITE UP 2. OPPORTUNITY, INDUSTRY AND MARKET YSDPC Waterproofing is a proudly South African Brand. YSDPC Waterproofing is a South African Company that Manufactures, supplies and applies a range of building maintenance products country wide, with our systems and solutions for: Torch-on waterproofing Acrylic waterproofing Cementitious waterproofing Concrete roof slabs Zinc and tiled roofs Retaining walls Foundation walls Balconies and patios Multi-level boarded systems Roof flashings and valleys Reservoirs, ponds and tanks Flower boxes Parapet walls Face brick sealing Damp proof applications Rising damp Lateral damp Penetrating damp Chemical injection DPC Exterior and interior walls Basement and cellars Showers and bathrooms Subsoil and drainage systems Slurry coatings Tanking LOCALLY MANUFACTURED At YSDPC Waterproofing, we recognize the various challenges posed to maintaining buildings, due to our harsh South African climate. We manufacture all our products specifically for the South African market. We ensure that your building is maintained, be it a residential building, commercial building or an industrial building, so that you can be satisfied with the long term value added to your property. ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS YSDPC Waterproofing products are all manufactured from the highest quality Environmentally Friendly raw materials that are available to us globally. Not only do we incorporate Environmentally friendly and Eco-Friendly raw materials into our products, but our Manufacturing processes, are also based on minimizing the use of our natural resources. AIM YSDPC Waterproofing’s aim is to provide all our clients at the residential level, commercial level or industrial level, with cost effective, long term solutions, at the first instant. We provide you, our valued Customer with, environmentally-friendly Building Maintenance, long term Professional solutions. GAPS IN THE MARKET DURAM proudly produces the best high quality coatings for our South African market place. This range includes coatings for waterproofing floors and metals. With vast knowledge and experience you can be assured that DURAM product manufacturers use their innovative thinking to manufacture intelligent paints that are guaranteed to improve the lifespan of your assets. DURAM is a South African product which is manufactured to survive in our unique climate and it fully adheres to the local and international standards. ABE is a leading provider of innovative and cost effective waterproofing products within our South African market. ABE is a supplier of custom and specialised products to our retailers, construction and maintenance industries, including civil engineering industries. They distribute from their two manufacturing plants in South Africa, which makes supply easy and efficient for ABE. These products are a good value for your money local waterproofing solution. With the growing global emphasis being put on Eco-friendly products there has been a strong interest in the new environmentally friendly waterproofing products that was recently launched on the South African market by ABE construction chemicals. 7 new environmentally friendly products ABE Proof Acrylic Primer ABE Proof Anti Root ABE Thermal Shield ABE PU Eco ABE Proof Acrylic Matrix K11 Duraproof Dekflex System THE MARKET How fast is the market growing? There has been a growing infrastructure demand in the South African development sector, which is related the investment that is taking place in South Africa and Africa. The areas of investment which include water sanitation, power, energy, transport, logistics, accommodation and facilities, telecommunications health and education, and beneficiations infrastructure. We give support to the growing infrastructure of South Africa through the strategic partnerships with our local and international suppliers The engineering and construction industry is a growth filled sector locally and in the rest of Africa The engineering and construction sector creates and sustains jobs, contributes to the national fiscal revenue and it seeks to improve the well-being of the many of its citizens who are employed by the sector. Without infrastructure, sustainable social and economic development will not be possible. INDUSTRY WATERPROOFING FEDERATION SOUTH AFRICA (WFSA) Is dedicated to the support, promotion and protection of the company of the common interests of its clients specifying authorities, its contractors and its manufacturers to ensure that there is integrity and professionalism in the waterproofing industry. The waterproofing industry sector comprises of the membership of WFSA Waterproofing contractors Waterproofing materials and manufacturers Affiliate and associate members from the building technology division of the C.S.I.R Institute of S.A Architects, the SA Institute of building ,the South African bureau of standards, as well as other professional and education bodies. HOW MUCH POWER DO THE CUSTOMERS HAVE? The concerns of customers generally lie in the three basic areas The customer needs to be sure that she/he obtains expert advice during the selection of the product and system right at the outset That the waterproofing will be correctly and professionally installed to the industry standards That after installation she/he will know how to go about maintaining the waterproofing correctly. By the customer dealing with any of our WFSA members they can be assured that they will obtain the best advice and service according to the above. CUSTOMER INSTALLATION COMPLAINTS Whilst the vast majority of installation work that is carried out by the WFSA contractor the member is trouble free. The federation also acknowledges that there may be certain occasions when the standard of work considered by the customer is less than what are desired industry standards. It is particularly in this area that WFSA will assist. When a customer has a cause for a legitimate complaint against any contractor member WFSA can be contacted to offer impartial advice and assistance as the occasion demands STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF AN INSTALLATION COMPLAINT Firstly it is essential that the WFSA member is afforded a reasonable opportunity to rectify any defect as complaints can usually be settled in this manner WHAT TO DO IF THE COMPLAINT CANNOT PROMPTLY SATISFACTORILY BE SETTLED If for whatsoever reason the complaint against the member cannot be settled the customer must contact WFSA who will be ready and willing to ‘Conciliate’ in the matter. Once the details of the complaint is obtained, the conciliation will usually involve getting into contact with the member and then if necessary, arranging for a site inspection to help establish the facts and to evaluate the circumstances. This conciliation action will normally lead to the matter being resolved. TYPES OF WATERPROOFING SUPPIERS ABE – Is a leading supplier in the South African market that is committed to provide cost effective innovative products DURAM – Is a proudly South African brand and is the leading producer of top quality metal coatings and waterproof flooring RB10 – Is a local manufacturer of a wide range of waterproofing and priming paints and chemicals SIKA – Is a trusted brand within the SA building and construction industries supplying specialized solutions. POWER OF MANFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS To protect the common interest of suppliers and manufacturers to ensure they do not receive adverse publicity, unfair blame, or loss of sale due to misuse of their products To thoroughly investigate complaints and too assist in a quick, cost effective solution of the problems To act as a distribution centre for information on new products the manufacturer wishes to bring to the notice of the industry To arrange training for members and manufacturers, supplier’s premises in order to ensure the correct usage and increased customer satisfaction.

Essay --

There are many similarities and differences in the readings of Plato’s The Allegory Cave, Descartes’ Mediation and The Matrix. These stories share an alternative perception to reality and the implications that it is caused on the individuals who are affected by this alteration. These stories share skepticism of validity in the perception of reality. Firstly, these three stories, The Matrix, The Allegory Cave, and Mediation, share common similarities that questions the authenticity of the world around them and doubts their perceived perception of reality and its validity. Descartes discussed the possibility that everyone is dreaming and that our actions involving eye opening, moving our head, hands and our body are illusions.(Descartes, 1641) Plato also regarded the perception of men who were restrained to look forward only could only perceive objects and passersby as their shadows. Plato stated that these prisoners’ perception of reality would be no more than just shadows of objects.(Plate, 514-518) The Matrix relates with Descartes theory based on the fact that in The Matrix, there is a computer system that controls everyone’s mind in a computer-generated virtual dream world. These stories ask deeper questions on the basis of man’s perception of reality and the possibility that our minds and perceptions ar e controlled by something else and that something else determines our reality. (Wachowski, 1999) Secondly, although these three stories share common similarities about the validity of reality, they have distinguishing differences that separate them from one another. The Matrix depicts a stepford-like society that is completely controlled by the computer system. However, there is a group of individuals who have overcome their p... ...me where those who are living in an illusion will have to come to terms with reality eventually. The time in which that happens, those who are living in the illusion will have a much harder time trying to comprehend the true reality which would cause more troubles and problems than living with the harshness in the first place. Finally, The Matrix, The Allegory Cave, and Mediation all have significant importance is revelation of the perceived perception of reality and the validity of that reality. Each story has its own unique twist to whom or what has the control over that perception. The stories give the reader the opportunity to dive deeper into this meaning of reality. The skepticism that is used is relatable in each individual’s lives. Individuals have to determine what they perceive to be real and true and what they believe to be opinions that are truly false. Essay -- There are many similarities and differences in the readings of Plato’s The Allegory Cave, Descartes’ Mediation and The Matrix. These stories share an alternative perception to reality and the implications that it is caused on the individuals who are affected by this alteration. These stories share skepticism of validity in the perception of reality. Firstly, these three stories, The Matrix, The Allegory Cave, and Mediation, share common similarities that questions the authenticity of the world around them and doubts their perceived perception of reality and its validity. Descartes discussed the possibility that everyone is dreaming and that our actions involving eye opening, moving our head, hands and our body are illusions.(Descartes, 1641) Plato also regarded the perception of men who were restrained to look forward only could only perceive objects and passersby as their shadows. Plato stated that these prisoners’ perception of reality would be no more than just shadows of objects.(Plate, 514-518) The Matrix relates with Descartes theory based on the fact that in The Matrix, there is a computer system that controls everyone’s mind in a computer-generated virtual dream world. These stories ask deeper questions on the basis of man’s perception of reality and the possibility that our minds and perceptions ar e controlled by something else and that something else determines our reality. (Wachowski, 1999) Secondly, although these three stories share common similarities about the validity of reality, they have distinguishing differences that separate them from one another. The Matrix depicts a stepford-like society that is completely controlled by the computer system. However, there is a group of individuals who have overcome their p... ...me where those who are living in an illusion will have to come to terms with reality eventually. The time in which that happens, those who are living in the illusion will have a much harder time trying to comprehend the true reality which would cause more troubles and problems than living with the harshness in the first place. Finally, The Matrix, The Allegory Cave, and Mediation all have significant importance is revelation of the perceived perception of reality and the validity of that reality. Each story has its own unique twist to whom or what has the control over that perception. The stories give the reader the opportunity to dive deeper into this meaning of reality. The skepticism that is used is relatable in each individual’s lives. Individuals have to determine what they perceive to be real and true and what they believe to be opinions that are truly false.

Stereotypes Essay -- essays research papers

To adequately investigate the question as to whether stereotypes are the psychological lubricant on intergroup behaviour, several areas need to be considered. In the context of this essay the concept of stereotypes needs to be defined. Although Lippmann (1922) is credited with first using the term 'stereotype' in this context it is perhaps Brown (1995) who offers the most applicable definition when he wrote that "to stereotype someone is to attribute to that person some characteristics which are seen to be shared by all or most of his or her fellow group members." (p.83). With this definition in mind this essay will, firstly, in an attempt to address the question make a brief review of some of the research that has been conducted on the formation of stereotypes. Secondly, this essay will move onto examine the function of these stereotypes in the individual, both from the perspective of intergroup conflict and also in intergroup co-operation. Thirdly this essay will also exa mine the research that has been carried out into the persistence of stereotypes. Because of the vast amount of research that has been conducted in this area, this essay will, as far as possible, concentrate primarily on the more recent research conducted within the last decade. It appears from some of the research (for example Hamilton and Gifford, 1976; Hamilton and Sherman, 1989 and Chapman, 1967) that stereotypes are often derived from an over-awareness of statistically infrequent events. More specifically that if an event occurs infrequently amongst a group then it is remembered more vividly than events which might occur on a more regular basis. In a study carried out by Hamilton and Gifford (1976) they divided their participants into two groups with a disproportionate number of participants in the first group. The participants were then informed of a number of desirable and undesirable behaviours. It was found that despite the fact that members of both groups were just as likely to engage in undesirable activities an 'illusionary correlation' of the smaller group meant that a far higher number of these activities was perceived. Schaller and Maass (1989) found that this illusionary correlation would occur for positive as well as negative traits, al though not when the perceived negative trait was perceived to be associated with the in-group, o... ...m. British Journal of Social Psychology, 36, 107-117. * Schaller, M., & Maass, A. (1989) as cited in Maass, A. & Schaller, M. (1991) Intergroup biases and the cognitive dynamics of stereotype formation. European Review of Social Psychology, 2, 190-206. * Snyder, M. & Miene, P. K. (1994). Stereotyping the elderly: A functional approach. British Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 62-82. * Tajfel, H. (1969) as cited in Haslam, S. A., Oakes, P. J., McGarty, C., Turner, J., C., Reynolds, K., J. & Eggins, R., A. (1996). Stereotyping and social influence: The mediation of stereotype applicability and sharedness by the views of in-group and out-group members (1996) British Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 369-397. * Tajfel, H. & Turner, J. C. (1979) as cited in Platow, M. J., Harley, K., Hunter, J., A., Hanning, P., Shave, R. & O'Connell, A. (1997). Interpreting in-group-favouring allocations in the minimal group paradigm. British Journal of Social Psychology, 36, 107-117. * Turner, J. C. (1987) as cited in Maass, A. & Schaller, M. (1991) Intergroup biases and the cognitive dynamics of stereotype formation. European Review of Social Psychology, 2, 190-206. Stereotypes Essay -- essays research papers To adequately investigate the question as to whether stereotypes are the psychological lubricant on intergroup behaviour, several areas need to be considered. In the context of this essay the concept of stereotypes needs to be defined. Although Lippmann (1922) is credited with first using the term 'stereotype' in this context it is perhaps Brown (1995) who offers the most applicable definition when he wrote that "to stereotype someone is to attribute to that person some characteristics which are seen to be shared by all or most of his or her fellow group members." (p.83). With this definition in mind this essay will, firstly, in an attempt to address the question make a brief review of some of the research that has been conducted on the formation of stereotypes. Secondly, this essay will move onto examine the function of these stereotypes in the individual, both from the perspective of intergroup conflict and also in intergroup co-operation. Thirdly this essay will also exa mine the research that has been carried out into the persistence of stereotypes. Because of the vast amount of research that has been conducted in this area, this essay will, as far as possible, concentrate primarily on the more recent research conducted within the last decade. It appears from some of the research (for example Hamilton and Gifford, 1976; Hamilton and Sherman, 1989 and Chapman, 1967) that stereotypes are often derived from an over-awareness of statistically infrequent events. More specifically that if an event occurs infrequently amongst a group then it is remembered more vividly than events which might occur on a more regular basis. In a study carried out by Hamilton and Gifford (1976) they divided their participants into two groups with a disproportionate number of participants in the first group. The participants were then informed of a number of desirable and undesirable behaviours. It was found that despite the fact that members of both groups were just as likely to engage in undesirable activities an 'illusionary correlation' of the smaller group meant that a far higher number of these activities was perceived. Schaller and Maass (1989) found that this illusionary correlation would occur for positive as well as negative traits, al though not when the perceived negative trait was perceived to be associated with the in-group, o... ...m. British Journal of Social Psychology, 36, 107-117. * Schaller, M., & Maass, A. (1989) as cited in Maass, A. & Schaller, M. (1991) Intergroup biases and the cognitive dynamics of stereotype formation. European Review of Social Psychology, 2, 190-206. * Snyder, M. & Miene, P. K. (1994). Stereotyping the elderly: A functional approach. British Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 62-82. * Tajfel, H. (1969) as cited in Haslam, S. A., Oakes, P. J., McGarty, C., Turner, J., C., Reynolds, K., J. & Eggins, R., A. (1996). Stereotyping and social influence: The mediation of stereotype applicability and sharedness by the views of in-group and out-group members (1996) British Journal of Social Psychology, 33, 369-397. * Tajfel, H. & Turner, J. C. (1979) as cited in Platow, M. J., Harley, K., Hunter, J., A., Hanning, P., Shave, R. & O'Connell, A. (1997). Interpreting in-group-favouring allocations in the minimal group paradigm. British Journal of Social Psychology, 36, 107-117. * Turner, J. C. (1987) as cited in Maass, A. & Schaller, M. (1991) Intergroup biases and the cognitive dynamics of stereotype formation. European Review of Social Psychology, 2, 190-206.

protien synthesis Essays -- essays research papers

Protein Synthesis The Expression of a Gene   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The process of Protein Synthesis involves many parts of the cell. Unlike other similar productions, this process is very complex and precise and therefore must be done in proper sequence to work effectively. The slightest error during this process could cause the action to experience difficulty or even fail. For example, in the production of starch, glucose molecules are combined to be stored and eventually utilized as usable chemical energy. The cell can break down the starch with little difficulty as if each molecule was identical, even though there is a wide variety of molecules. This is a different case in Protein Synthesis. In Protein Synthesis, there are twenty different amino acids and if one is out of place than is will effect the specificity of the protein. In a healthy person, the protein hemoglobin can be found in red blood cells, hemoglobin is helps with the transfer of respiratory gases from the blood to the tissues of the body. With an illness called sickle-cell anemia, the red blood cells are changed from a round, disk shape to a floppy looking sickle shape. These cells therefore cannot pass through small blood vessels due to their divergent shape. The actual cause of this mutation is a gene disorder, where the sixth codon of the protein glutamaric acid is changed with valine. This small change in the genetic code can cause severe defects in the effected such as blood clots, severe disorders and even death. All this can result from a misinterpretation in one codon in a chain of hundreds! Protein synthesis acts in this way, that is if there is only the most minuscule mistake it can have monstrous effects. THE BASICS OF DNA AND GENES   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Protein synthesis first begins in a gene. A gene is a section of chromosome compound of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. Each DNA strand is composed of phosphate, the five-carbon sugar deoxyribose and nitrogenous bases or nucleotides. There are four types of nitrogenous bases in DNA. They are (A)denine, (G)uanine, (T)hymine, (C)ytosine and they must be paired very specifically. Only Adenine with Thymine (A-T) and Guanine with Cytosine (G-C).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To form a polynucleotide DNA, many nucleotides are linked together with 3`-5` phosphodiester linkages. In a compl... ... structure of many chromosomes ( chromosomal mutations). Mutations are not always bad because they can cause adaptation and variation in people. Point Mutations and Base Pair Mutations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most common type of mutation involves a change in only a single base pair. This change only effects a single codon of the gene. There are three types of base pair mutations: silent, missense, and chain termination. Silent mutations involves the repositioning of the third codon. This does not effect the amino acid sequence. Missense mutation is where one codon is altered to code for a different amino acid (sickle cell anemia). Chain termination mutations involve the codon being changes to a stop codon. This causes the protein synthesis to remain incomplete and lose most of the biological activity. Frame shift Mutations and Mutagens   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is the addition or deletion of one or more base pair but not multiples of three. This causes the ribosome to read the codon incorrectly causing and entirely different amino acid sequence. Mutagens are agents that increase the frequency of mutations. X-rays or other radiation are causes of mutagens.

Archetypes Case Study Essay

1. Which are the archetypes does Verbeke distinguish? Draw the figures associated with these archetypes. Verbeke distguish between 4 types of archetypes and they are the following: Centralized exporter: Home country managed firm. Firm specific advantage in its final products. Standardized products manufactured at home. Only the transferable firm specific advantages are taken to the host country, meaning that they try to make exporting successful in international markets. No development of location bound firm specific advantages. International projector: Clones home operations into host countries. Knowledge based firm specific advantages are replicated from home country. Only the internationally transferable firm specific advantages are taken to the host country. No development of location bound firm’s specific advantages. The international projector MNE seeks international expansion by projecting its home country success recipes abroad. International coordinator: Its main firm specific advantage is that it can coordinate location advantages (e.g., production capacity to access abundant natural resources) present in multiple countries. International operations are specialized in specific value-added activities across borders. Use internationally transferable firm specific advantages in each host country to develop location-bound firm specific advantages that fit the host country location factors. Multi-centered MNE: Each host county develops own location bound firm specific advantages, only transfers core routines (e.g., financial management). A set of entrepreneurial subsidiaries go abroad, to acquire knowledge for future firm specific advantage development. Local adaptation is the foundation of the international strategy. 2. Is there one best model? Why or why not? There is no best model because these models all depend on the firm specific advantages that an organization has its power on, and also on the host countries appeal for business. Firm specific advantages in the home country  can be a success, but the question is if those firm specific advantages are also a success in the host country? 3. Do you consider a centralized exporter a true multinational? A centralized exporter can be a true multinational if it derives a quarter of its revenue from operations outside of its home country and also if it operates in different host countries, and its managed by a core headquarter in the home country. Warner Bros. Pictures, a major US motion picture studio is a multinational which is operational through exporting its motion pictures. Most of its revenue is attained from its exports and of course from its home country the US. 4. What does it mean that the FSA is embodied in the product in case of an international projector? A product that has embodied a firm specific advantage means that the product contains in it a feature that makes the company with greater success than its former competitors. This firm specific advantage cannot be seen as a stand-alone component in the organization, in order to leverage success it can only be seen as a firm specific advantage within its final product. So this firm specific advantage is not from its operations such as great employee relationship, but only through the final product. This is seen in the centralized exporter. In the international projector this is not the case because they replicate their firm specific advantages to go abroad and use them, such as an advanced technology or secret recipe like Coca cola has one. A good example is Ford, which cloned its American operations into Canada and Europe. Europe was a challenge for Ford due to a widespread prejudice against American cars sold in Europe. 5. Does the firm develop FSAs in the host country in case of the international projector? No the firm which uses the archetype of international projector as a strategy does not develop firm specific advantages in the host country, what this organization do is cloning their home country firm specific advantages to the host countries, so in other words just using success firm specific advantages from home country to the host country. 6. Why is the international coordinator an example of global value chain? The international coordinator archetype is an example of global value chain because it can coordinate different location advantage operations in a wide variety of different geographies in the same period. Global value chains now contain activities that are tightly integrated. This means that firms and workers in widely separated locations affect one another more than they have in the past. So for example BP an international coordinator, when there where oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico, it suddenly affected all other BP operations, because their branding image was looked in a worse way, decreasing its organization reputation. 7. Why is a multi-centered MNE characterized by maximum local responsiveness? A multi-centered MNE is characterized by maximum local responsiveness because the foundation of a multi-centered archetype is local adaptation. This local responsiveness is evaluated and analyzed by different entrepreneurial subsidiaries from the organization that go abroad, so that new firm specific advantages can be developed. This newly firm specific advantage in the host country will conform with its host customers and through those means a good local adaptation can be attained. 8. The FSA is also framed in terms of core competences. That is the FSA is strongly related to the core competences of a firm. What key characteristics does Verbeke list for these core competences? There are 4 key characteristics of core competences: – Be difficult for competitors to imitate in terms of achieving the required internal coordination and learning. – Provide potential access to a wide variety of markets – Make a significant contribution to customer needs. – The loss of a core competence would have an important negative effect on the firm’s present and future performance, in terms of value creation. 9. What critique does Verbeke have on the concept of core competences? Core competencies are the company’s most important FSAs: its vital routines and recombination abilities. Recombination abilities are Locating resources, especially knowledge, as response to differences between national and foreign environments, and to satisfy new stakeholders’ demands. Verbeke has a few critiques regarding the concept of core competences and they are the following: Core competences of organizations in industries may differ. Prahalad & Hamel don’t include country factors in their analysis. Their theory overestimates the role of strategic management. Strategic management role is to develop strategic architecture. Develop a road map for the future which identifies core competencies to build the required technologies. In the other side their theory underestimates the role of host country location factors. Another critique from Verbeke is that core competences are historically driven. 10. What are the five forces Porter distinguishes? Explain these in your own words. The five forces Porter distinguishes is about how location advantages that affect firm competitiveness and firm specific advantage development. -Factor conditions: This is a force which is related to production factors such as capital, labor, infrastructure, scientific knowledge, technology. It gives improvement to problematic issues through innovation and continuous learning. A good example from the book is: In case of Japan, firms in several industries such as steel, shipbuilding and automobiles developed technological and design expertise to overcome a lack of natural resources and the just-in-time production process was pioneered in response to lack of affordable warehousing space. -Demand conditions: If customers increase their demand increasing external pressures to firms, then it gives the firm a good competitive advantage. So in order to gain this demand to customers the firm has to innovate a nd respond to the customer sophistication by adapting its technology and design features. This is good for future global  expansion, because the firm already gains early insights into future needs of customers or in other words buyer sophistication. -Related and supported industries: High quality home based suppliers which have great insight into international competition. These suppliers with good know how innovate through more efficient inputs, and spill knowledge between other suppliers within the firm through exchange of ideas, and different ways of communication. This is great for international competition. -Firm strategy, industry structure and rivalry: Domestic rivalry is good for international competitiveness. This forces firms to focus on firm specific advantages development beyond their home location advantages. This helps the firm become an international rival. So this is a well-functioning industry. -Government and chance: Luck plays a role, for example, a lucky innovation process that was coincidentally created and a valuable product with good technology or process knowledge was attained. This is often a long-term consequence. Government are the general governments of which are not corrupt. 11. How does Porter’s model fit in figure 1.2? Where does it belong? Porters fit model fit in figure 1.2 because the model is all about how to use location advantages to increase competition and force its firm to develop a firm specific advantage in order to go across the international border and use it as a competitive advantage abroad. This firm specific advantage can get them access into the development of a location bound firm specific advantage across borders. I think Porters model fits in the location advantages section at home country triangle and then it moves across to all the other host sections according to its force. 12. What is the big problem of Porters model when applied in the context of international business? Each industry has its own characteristics leading to different patterns of international competitiveness. According to Verbeke’s critique, firm specific advantages are home market determined, and Porters model has too much focus on the home market. In international business you need to take  account both markets, so the home market as well as the host country. International business is about how to succeed abroad, and only having emphasis on the home market that is not very attainable. Firms only go abroad if they can establish a match between their firm specific advantages and the location advantages to the host markets.

Love with Vronsky Essay

The younger of the two boys is the epitome of innocence and mischievousness. A blonde haired, blue-eyed boy who is lying in the grass, day-dreaming. This symbolizes all that is pure in the book, all which is innocent. The characters of Levin and Kitty seem connected with this young boy. They are both very vulnerable characters, and those who take love earnestly and base their lives around it. The older boy is working, absorbed in his work and was being very cautious and wary about his line. This boy seems to represent the character of Karenin, someone who is too absorbed in his own work to even notice what is going on around him, to be looking at the water just dreaming. When monetary expenses are discussed, Mihailov squirms and becomes irritated. This shows his loathing towards money, and how he looks beyond those aspects of life. It seems that Anna’s quirky attraction to Mihailov may have sprouted from the welcome change between a life where money and finance was a key element of daily life with Karenin, to this figure that chooses fervor over funding. After meeting Vronsky for the first time, Anna’s perception of Karenin becomes very distasteful. She notices all his faults. His hair seems to have been cut incorrectly, the cracking of his joints becomes irritating. The same happens to Vronsky in this section. Once he realizes that he is not a ‘talented’ artist, and once he stops short his experimenting because he realizes Mihailov’s ability far exceeds his, he becomes utterly bored. He notices all the faults of his situation.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"..struck them as intolerably boring in the little Italian town. The palazzo suddenly seemed so noticeably old and dirty. The spots on the curtains, the cracks in the floors, the stucco falling away form the cornices were constant eyesores.† This exposes one of Vronsky’s traits. He loves to try out different hobbies, much as he does in love (as he earlier admits that settling down seemed unreasonable to him). He becomes frustrated and grows progressively more restless. This impatience is shown by his sudden realization that he needs something new, needs to return to Russia. Anna’s company is not enough for him, yet Anna is â€Å"unpardonably happy,†4 as even though she has left her whole life behind, she has no complaints and fall even more deeply in love with Vronsky. Vronsky notices in Mihailov’s portrait of Anna a peculiar beauty.  Ã¢â‚¬  ‘One needs to know her and love her, as I have loved her, to discover the very sweetest expression of her soul,’ thought Vronsky, though it was only through this portrait that he himself learned this sweetest expression of her soul.†Ã‚  The fact that Vronsky, until he sees the painting, has not been aware of Anna’s true soul implies that he doesn’t know enough about her, (and although his love for her seems authentic) Vronsky feels he loves her more than he truly does. That a painter, someone who barely knows Anna (on a platonic level), can see something her lover cannot shows that Mihailov sees something in Anna undetectable by her closest contacts.  Therefore, this episode involving Mihailov, although not particularly important to the plot, gives the reader a deeper insight into the lives and emotions of Anna and Vronsky and the situation in which they have placed themselves. It is this episode that allows Vronsky to realize his boredom, and arguably what drives Anna to suicide (by returning to Russia.)

Pilgrimage Toward Social Equality

The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declaring African’s freedom from slavery and officially making them part of the United States was mandated a century prior to Martin Luther King Jr’s historical speech calling for social justice and abolition of racial discrimination against African Americans. Between the two historical periods, the black communities all over America have suffered subtle and savage forms of discrimination and oppression from the whites. The black community strived to seal their place in society amidst hostility and negative criticisms.One short story that very well illustrates their struggles is Ralph Ellison’s Battle Royal. The story provides a very descriptive narration of a black man’s pilgrimage to overcome oppression from an overly-racist community ruled by the economically-powerful white men and to find his opportunity to shape the destiny of his people. This paper aims to provide a vivid presentation of inhumane and savage oppre ssion that the African Americans encountered in Southern America before gaining their voice and place in American society.Battle Royal was narrated in a first-person perspective with a nameless narrator. He suggests that twenty years back, he has been struggling to find his own identity through other people’s acceptance and affirmation. He further explained that his dilemma for self discovery rooted from his grandfather’s last words on his deathbed, â€Å"Live with your head in the lion’s mouth. I want you to overcome ‘em, with yeses, undermine ‘em with grins, agree ‘em to death and destruction. Let ‘em swoller you till they vomit or bust wide open.† (Ellison, 2000, p 935) He calls his grandfather’s lines a â€Å"curse† haunting him whenever he feels accepted as the narrator describes, â€Å"When I was praised for my conduct, I felt a guilt that in some way, I was doing something that was really against the wishes of the white folks, that if they had understood they would have desired me to act just the opposite, that I should have been sulky and mean, and that they really would have been what they wanted, even though they were fooled and thought they wanted me to act as I did.†(Ellison, 936) The narrator’s statement represents his mindset of his actions and attitude toward the white folks. His current partially confused mindset is influenced by his grandfather’s words. In layman’s term, his grandfather’s words can be translated to a call to action to fight a good fight by acting according to the opponent’s will until they take you all in with acceptance until they destruct themselves in their own volition.One such incident where the orator became accepted and triumphant is when he delivered a graduation speech, which he describes by saying, â€Å"On my graduation day I delivered an oration in which I showed that humility was the secret, indeed, the ver y essence of progress. (Not that I believed this — how could I, remembering my grandfather? — I only believed that it worked)† (Ellison 938). His speech received accolades from his professors that he was given the opportunity to deliver it again in a â€Å"gathering of the town’s most leading white citizens†.When he arrived at the venue where he was supposed to deliver his speech, he was informed that before delivering his speech, he needs to join the Battle Royal. The hotel he’s in at that moment was indeed full of economically powerful people all dressed up with their tuxedos, intoxicating themselves with whiskey, and getting themselves a good spot among the chairs neatly lined up along the three corners of the ring. Inside the ring, a pool of black men were lined up blindfolded and were forced to do engage in a violent boxing war against each other.After torturous moments of fighting like headless chickens on the ring, the narrator was abl e to see slightly behind his blindfold. His awareness enabled him to keep a good fight without drawing attention to himself so the white men wouldn’t notice that he’s starting to dodge his hits. In the end of the first round, the narrator remained on the ring together with the biggest boy in the group to fight. While they were fighting it out on the ring, the narrator tried to negotiate with his opponent by scripting the fight and he’ll give him a proportion of the winning pot.His opponent refused and they continued to fight until the narrator was knocked out. Allegorically, the narrator’s unexpected battle before delivering his speech is a symbolic representation of the African American’s years of pains and struggles before they were given the chance to be heard. The battle royal may well represent the fights that black men wage against each other just to gain money, position, and prominence, as is the case of the narrator’s opponent.The co ncept of the fighters blindfolded can be allusion to some of the black men’s blindness of allowing the economically powerful white men to use them as a means of entertainment as if they were freaks of nature. After the first round, the fighters were then called out again for another round of activity where they were attracted to scourge over gold coins and bills scattered in a rug. They urged the fighters to gather the coins for themselves saying it’s all good â€Å"American cash†. In the process, they soon discovered that the rug was electrified.This narration emphasized the white men’s racism through barbaric treatment to the black men, as they treat them like animals. When the show ended, all the participants were paid and the narrator was about to leave the nightmare when the MC called him back to deliver his speech in the congregation of intoxicated people who have earlier gained pleasure through his pains. The narrator proceeded to deliver his Booke r T. Washington inspired speech while trying to conceal his aching physique while gulping down his blood.The narrator described that his audience continued with their incessant chatting and laughter as he delivers his speech and though he was tempted to do something else, the presence of the school superintendent who is still closely listening to him kept him going. In the process of his oration and swallowing his own blood, the narrator accidentally yelled â€Å"social equality†, a phrase had â€Å"often seen denounced in newspaper editorials, heard debated in public. † (Ellison, 940)Upon uttering the word, a deep silenced covered the whole room and the narrator received hostile reactions from his intoxicated audience, until a mustached man asked him upfront what he just said, and he got the chance to correct himself. The interrogator then asked him if he’s not being smart and that social equality was indeed a mistake. The narrator nodded and the man dropped th is statement, â€Å"We mean to do right by you, but you’ve got to know your place at all times. † (Ellison, 944)This man’s powerful statement is a general representation of the white men’s attitude towards racism over the negroes. They are aware of such discrimination, but they gain pleasure in treating them as inferior human beings as it constantly feeds them the feeling of superiority and power. The man’s statement may mean well as to change the narrator’s current status but he commands him to keep his head and mouth in its’ proper place. Upon the end of his speech, he was greeted with applauses as if the entire audience listened with so much enthusiasm to his speech.The school superintendent then came up to the stage to present him with a gift- a scholarship to the State College of Negroes. He then turned to the narrator and addressed him, â€Å"Prize it. Keep developing as you are and someday, it will be filled with important pap ers that will help shape the destiny of your people. † (Ellison, 947) The scholarship the narrator received is a symbol of an opportunity presented to him to â€Å"shape the destiny of his people†. That by going to college, he might become more knowledgeable and able so as to create a better society for his people.The scholarship becomes the first step to his pilgrimage towards social equality. Battle Royal is a very compelling short story that Ralph Ellison eventually made it the first chapter of his greatly-acclaimed novel, the â€Å"Invisible Man†. Every black man in that horrifying period might have been represented by the nameless narrator and all the pain he was inflicted during the Battle Royal is a representation of every black man’s pain and struggle for years.If the readers at that period view it as an allegory to the harsh conditions of the African American people within the American society, it would have been a wakeup call to those who were op pressed to unite and to those oppressors to change the society. References: Ellison, Ralph. â€Å"Battle Royal. † Making Literature Matter. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford, 2000. Ellison, Ralph Waldo. Invisible Man. New York: Random House, 1952.