Out of School Youths Essay

Out of school youth means having a vulnerable people who have needs. Nobody can deny the hard fact that education is an extremely important factor for bringing change in the lives of individuals. It has universally been recognized as the most powerful instrument and pre-requisite for gearing up the socio-economic development of a nation. In fact, it can be said that it is a pre-condition for the overall up-lift and welfare of a nation. This is why investment in education is considered to be so vital for human resource development and the enhancement of the quality of manpower. The history of humankind, in general, and that of developed nations of the worked, in particular, is replete with the precedents, which establish the fact that a certain level of literacy in population is an essential pre-requisite for precipitating the process of development in a country. The segment of society that plays the most active part in the socio-economic development of any country/region consists of the adolescents. It is clear that the composition and characteristics of this most crucial part of population goes a long way in expediting the process of national development and influencing the policy makers and planners in their planning and decision making for the future. In this way, the adolescents act as a sort of a â€Å"pressure group† that exerts a far-reaching impact on the process of educational planning as well as on the other developmental activities of the country.

Strategic Analysis of ALDI Essay

1. Introduction Albrecht Discount Inc., globally known as Aldi, is a German based family owned global discount chain of supermarkets. Aldi constitutes of two independent groups, that are Aldi Nord (North) and Aldi Sud (South) legally and economically independent but family related (Aldi Sud Business, 2013). It is the market leader in the industry of international grocery retailing and owns and operates chain of discount grocery stores in Europe, Australia and United States. It’s stores retail and supply general merchandise and food including meat products, fresh meat, frozen and refrigerated foods,  sweets and snacks, dairy and bakery products, beverages and pantry items in addition to home care and personal care products (Report Linker, 2013). In the present Aldi Inc.’s strategic analysis is carried out to identify and evaluate its strategies against its business environment to critically analyze whether the strategies pursued by Aldi are effective in maintaining its market leader position or not. In doing so environmental analysis of international grocery retailing industry is carried out to bring about the opportunities and threats the industry is facing and SWOT analysis is carried out to shed light on Aldi’s strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats the industry is facing on the whole. Aldi’s strategies are then evaluated against the SWOT to analyze the effectiveness of its strategies in maintaining its market position. 2. Brief Background on Aldi Aldi Inc., was founded by Karl Albrecht and Theo Albrecht in 1913 in Essen and started trading in bakery products, later in 1914 Karl Albrecht’s wife Anna Albrecht opened the first grocery store. In 1919 they acquired a commercial and residential building in Essen and enlarge the grocery store. 1945 the brothers took over the family business and opened more stores and by the end of 1948 they were four Albrecht stores. In 1954 Albrecht expanded further more and opened its stores outside Essen and branch enlargement took place with 77 stores with core business as food self service. In 1961 two legally separate groups were established known as Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord yet the family remained connected. 1962 first ALDI – Albrecht Discount branched was opened in the discount principle and entire branch network was changed into ALDI format. Gradually internationalized its business by first entering in Austria with acquisition of Hofer retail chain, then further expanded in Germany, entered in the United States, UK, Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Slovenia and Hungary, in that order (Aldi Sud Facts and Figures, 2013). Aldi Group is active in nine European countries and in European market is one of the leading retail companies and a well known retail chain all over the world. Aldi Sud is into retail food trade and comprises of 31 companies located in Southern and Western Germany and Aldi Nord operates its own branch network of 2500 outlets in the northern and eastern Germany (Aldi Sud  Business, 2013; Aldi Nord, 2013). Aldi Group has more than 10000 stores worldwide with annual turnover of 75bn yet its core market is Germany (Fitzgerald, 2013). Aldi stores are known for their efficiency, no frills stores, low levels of staff, few big brand names and modest opening hours (Fitzgerald, 2013). Their main core competency is cut price through cost cutting, selling cheap and low quality products(Grocery.com, 2013) and its mission is â€Å"simply smarter shopping† (Aldi US, 2013). Aldi’s big rivals include TESCO, Morrison’s, Sainsbury, Asda, Carrefour and Lidl (Sky News, 2013; Butler and Bowers, 2013). The Albrecht’s has expanded into new territories but remains a closely guarded company and never disclose its profit margins citing commercial sensitivity and do not share much information with other branches managers (Fitzgerald, 2013). Aldi has to triple its staff and check outs to cater to the extra one million customers coming to its 500 stores in UK. The firm shunned premium big brands for its cut price own versions of premium ranges to attract new customers looking for cheaper products (Steiner, 2013). The retail market is seeing intense competition and big retail supermarkets are losing market share to discount stores and up market grocers such as Aldi all over Europe and other international markets. 3. Market Identification of Aldi It is an intensely family owned private company. Both Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord operate in retail markets however Aldi Nord mainly in Europe whereas Aldi Sud operates in the United States and Australia among other international locations. It has Aldi stores are located in Germany, Austria, Australia, Denmark, France, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Poland, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United states operating in 36 states and United Kingdom (Grocer.com, 2013). Its customers are mainly ‘do it yourself’ shoppers and bargain hunters (Grocer.com, 2013). Aldi in 2013 has outshined its biggest rivals in UK with doubling in annual profits and sales increase of 40.6% being a cut price grocer and holds 3.7% of market share in UK (Steiner, 2013; Sky news, 2013). It earned profit of 157.9 million in 2012 from 70.5 million in 2011 and sales increased from 2.7 billion in 2011 to 3.8 billion in 2012. It opened 34 new stores that were crucial in its strong performance in 2012 (Steiner, 2013). Aldi Ireland revenues increased by 30.7% in 2012 outstripping its German rival Lidl,  opened 3 more stores, in addition to 40 stores in Ireland that are being refurbished or extended. Together Lidl and Aldi control 12.5% of Irish grocery market (Fitzgerald, 2013). Aldi United states’ annual revenue is $68,700 million (U.S) with 1400 stores in 36 states employing 11,000 employees (Grocer.com. 2013). Aldi SUD in Germany consists of 31 independent companies, with more than 1820 branches, employing more than 33,600 employees (Aldi Facts and Figures, 2013). Aldi Nord operates in Eastern, Western and Northern Germany with around 2500 outlets (Aldi Nord, 2013) 4. Environmental Analysis International grocery retailing industry is facing intense competition and become a real battleground, retailing giants are offering plenty of price discounts to attract customers, that is seriously impacting their suppliers and pressure to regulate the sector is growing (Fitzgerald, 2013). The following section analyzes in detail the opportunities and threats the retail grocery industry is facing through PESTEL Analysis. 4.1 PESTEL Analysis 4.1.1 Political factors Legislators of European countries are being pressurized to regulate the retail market because intense competition and price cut is negatively impacting the manufacturers and suppliers (Fitzgerald, 2013). Retail companies are being accused of paying the lowest price to their suppliers, which is harming their business seriously, and are on the brink of collapse. Political campaigns are being carried out and interest groups are asking customers not to buy products their because of that (Osborne, 2012). 4.1.2 Economical factors Economic slowdown in developed countries and Euro zone crises has affected the industry greatly as customers with less income to dispense are forced to shop for cheaper and retailers owned goods swallowing their brand and switching from expensive brands. High flying retail giants are feeling the pinch as there was considerable drop in their sales and profits and more and more customers are switching to discount stores and up market grocers  (Butler and Bowers, 2013). Cash strapped households due to shrinking in their budgets as a result of high inflation that is not proportional to wage rises are flocking to discount stores (Sky News, 2013). The below graph shows consumer retail expenditure five year growth rate of UK (Verdict, 2009). Figure 1: Total consumer retail expenditure of UK- five year growth rate (Verdict, 2009) Burgeoning population, rise in immigration, developed nations beginning to emerge from recession and economic recoveries, falling in unemployment rates, urbanization leading to renewal of growth in retail industry. Disposable income, GDP and consumer spending are the macroeconomic factors that affect retail industry directly (Reuters, 2012). Asia pacific is dominating the industry as it driving the increase in global retail trade, representing 35% of the global retail market and will grow highest among all other regions between 2012 and 2017 (Reuters, 2013). 4.1.3 Social and cultural factors Consumers are becoming more and more socially responsible and considering increasingly the social impact of their purchases and supporting mainly those retailers who are also socially responsible and assert sustainable practices. Consumers are avoiding retailers who they think are irresponsible, encourage sweat shops, exploit suppliers, and outsource manufacturing and carryout unethical practices. Consumer preferences are changing more rapidly than ever before and retailers are struggling to cope up with their changing preferences. Economic recession is giving rise to generational differences, as whole generation experiencing recession are using money more cautiously and less credit cards (Mack, 2013). 4.1.4 Technology factors Technology is changing the way consumers shop retail products and the way retail businesses operate in bad and good ways. Online retail shopping has increased in manifolds along with creating more awareness among consumers, leading to price comparisons to find the best deal across the world. It is presenting both opportunity and threat as technology is helping in boosting retail stores performance but also forcing them to adapt to new changes  brought forward by technology or else give way to competitors who are doing so (Mock, 2013). Technological growth such as mobile commerce has provided opportunity for retailers to better interact with customers and give them more convenience and better service (Reuters, 2013). RFD Radio Frequency Identification Device has facilitated end to end tracking of ingredients and better stock control through business intelligence tools (PWC, 2013). 4.1.5 Environmental Factors Retail chains are being pressurized to be more socially responsible and adopt sustainable practices as their low price strategies are affecting the suppliers and the environment as a whole. Retailers are also accused of harming the environment as they are blamed for increased consumption of food products and causing global food insecurity and also for increased used of harmful plastic material for packaging. They are also accused of indulging in unethical practices to drive the products prices down and not caring for the environment (UNEP, 2003). To minimize this negative trend retail chains have to sustainable materials for packaging and carrying and in turn putting that costs on consumers (Osborne, 2012). 4.1.6 Legal factors Tax issues such as VAT, excise duties, environmental and property taxes, HR taxes, cross border transactions tax issues, corporation taxes and compliance with laws and legislations and increasing costs of corporate social responsibility are presenting challenges to retail industry and increasing their cost of operations. Accounting regulations like adopting of IFRS and passing of Sarbanes Oxley legislation on demand of stakeholders heightened the regulatory pressures on the retail and consumer industry (PWC, 2013). 4.2 Key Trends affecting the industry Consumers are switching from up market retail chains to low price retail chains (Butler and Bowers, 2013). Price inflation of retail products putting more pressure on retailers to decrease its impact on customers and cut down on profit margins (Butler and Bowers, 2013). E commerce and M commerce are increasing leading to increase in online retail (Mack, 2013) Customers are more aware and comparing prices online to gain best deal (Mack, 2013) Burgeoning population, urbanization, economic recovery are renewing growth  in retail sector (Reuters, 2013). Consumers preferences are changing more rapidly than before (Mack, 2013) Consumers are seeking more convenience and using other mode of payments like credit card, debit card etc. (Osborne, 2012; Mack, 2013), New consuming habits such as value shopping in FMCG products and clothing, luxury shopping in furniture and technology (PWC, 2013). Trends towards retailers being more socially responsible and sustainable retailing (PWC, 2013). Consumers supporting local suppliers and against outsourcing (Fitzgerald, 2013) Customer polarization that is have are shopping in up market stores, have not shopping more in low price stores, driving the growth of the industry (Sky News, 2013). Global retail trade growth is driven by Asia Pacific markets and will see highest growth rate. 5. SWOT Analysis 5.1 Strengths Highly efficient stores, staff levels are kept low, operates with only few big brand names and opening hours are fairly modest (Fitzgerald, 2013). High brand value and large extended network of branches covering major developed markets in the world. Continuous expansion in new markets to cater to increased footfall of customers. Basic packaging and limited advertising to keep costs low. Cost advantage derived from economies of scale (Fitzgerald, 2013) Own cheap luxury brands giving stiff competition to expensive luxury brands (Fitzgerald, 2013) Increase in sales mainly coming from new stores (Butler and Bowers, 2013) Discount pricing are impressively cheaper attracting shoppers away from bigger retail giants such as Tesco, Sainsbury Cherry pick bargains offered by Aldi increasing the number of shoppers (Butler and Bowers, 2013) Robust growth over the years (Fitzgerald, 2013) Good for buying staples (Ferruza, 2011) 5.2 Weaknesses In England Aldi does not accept payments through credit card restricting customers who want to pay through credit cards (Osborne, 2012) Charges  customers for a carrier bag (Osborne, 2012)  Low staff levels not able to handle increased customer footfall Reputation damaged because of recent horsemeat scandal and employee spying accusations (Snoops, 2013; Stuart, 2013; The Guardian, 2013). Serious limitation of product selection only 2800 products varieties are offered while other supermarket offer 30000 and shopping cart has to be rented for a quarter, (returned later after cart is kept back) (Grocery.com; Ferruza, 2013) Less glamorous store , interior ambience of stores is not so great, stores are like warehouses, does not decorate shelves, spends very less in packaging, stocking and transportation (Grocery.com, 2013) Stocks low quality products (Ferruzza, 2011). Less glamorous stores, ambience not attractive in stores, it’s like warehouse style store, no frills Stocks low quality products Limited product selection Low level of staff Charges for carrier bags and shopping carts Does not accept payment through credit cards Reputation damaged due to horse meat scandal and employee spying Sells mostly own brands label and limits the number of outside brands Very low advertising and store promotion and only in-house advertising Opportunities Economic recovery in development markets, burgeoning population, urbanization renewing growth Technology such as m-commerce and e-commerce increasing sales Customer polarization increasing discount retailers sale Economic slowdown in the past, inflation and high unemployment rate forcing customers to buy cheaper products Global retail trade growth is high in Asia pacific region and driving the market Price inflation moving customers to discount stores Threats Customers inclination towards sustainability, corporate social responsibility and preference to local suppliers threatening the cost efficiency of discount stores Taxation, and heightened regulations Technology creating operational complexities Consumer changing consuming habits and preferences threatening the industry 6. Identification and evaluation of the Strategies pursued by Aldi Aldi’s competitive strategy is to gain competitive advantage over its rivals through efficiency. Its competitive strategy is low cost leadership that it derives from economies of scale, cost efficiency, low staff level, low quality products, limited product selection and high bargaining power with suppliers (Fitzgerald, 2013; Butler and Bowers, 2013; Steiner, 2013). Its strategy to achieve its mission of simple smarter shopping it has implemented the following strategies in view of its changing business environment. 6.1 Strategies implemented by ALDI Constant rolling out new stores with increased size between 10,000 and 15,000 sq.ft in all countries it is operating (Fitzgerald, 2013). Backward vertical integration, producing cheaper luxury products to attract consumers who are  switching from expensive luxury brands (Grocery.com; Fitzgerald, 2013). Renovation and expansion of existing stores (Fitzgerald, 2013). Started using advertising campaigns to attract more up-market customers to promote its own luxury brand labels deviating from its past strategies (Butler and Bowers, 2013). Increased checkout points and staff level in its store to cater to extra one million customers coming to its stores all over Europe (Steiner, 2013). Delivering high value to customers who are looking for cheaper deals through efficiency in transportation, presentation and packaging (Steiner, 2013). Online sales and apps for attracting internet savvy consumer and engaging customers through social networks (Aldi App, 2013). Sustainable sourcing and reducing environmental impact through recycling and minimum packaging (Aldi Nord, 2013). 6.2 Critical Evaluation of the Strategies In view of Aldi Inc.’s SWOT and the strategies it has implemented it can be said that Aldi’s strategies are in sync with its changing business environment and taking advantage of its strengths and minimizing its weaknesses. By expanding its store sizes, renovating and redecorating its existing stores and opening new stores of bigger sizes it has tried to minimize its weakness of less glamorous warehouse type store. And by opening more stores consistently over the years it is taking advantage of burgeoning population that is resulting in increase of customer footfall (Fitzgerald, 2013). It has also taken care of its weakness of low staff level and increased staff level and checkouts to cater to increased customer footfall (Steiner, 2013). It has started rolling out advertising campaigns for promotions to attract luxury customers and elevated its market positioning by retailing luxury products and changing its reputation of a retailer of low quality products (Butler and B owers, 2013). Aldi is gradually moving from discount store principle to convenient store principle, opening stores in affluent locations, offering luxury products, delivering both value and quality to broaden its consumer base (Skynews, 2013). Through vertical backward integration it has taken advantage of the opportunity presented by the consumer shifting from expensive luxury products to comparatively cheaper luxury products by producing its own luxury label offering them at less price. Broaden its customer base by opening stores in affluent  locations and changing its positioning from a discount store to a convenient store, this is to take advantage of opportunity presented by economic recoveries of developed countries. It has sustained its cost efficiency competitive advantage by lessening costs on packaging, transportation and offering cherry deals. Aldi apps facilitate m-commerce, and it also sells online and interacts with customers using social networks, thus it is taking advantage of op portunities presented by digital media technology. It has minimized threat presented by environmental factors by adopting recycling and has become more socially responsible by adopting sustainable practices for sourcing to minimize the threat presented by customers inclination towards sustainability. However Aldi has not fully taken advantages of other opportunities such as taking advantage of growing Asia Pacific market, it is operating only in Australia and has not yet entered Asian countries where high growth is expected and many governments have opened foreign direct investment in retailing. Price inflation of products and heightened laws and regulations will threaten its cost leadership strategy and in future might increase its operational costs and it may not be able to sustain its competitive strategy for long however it has not taken any measures to address these threats. Increasing staff level will increase its labor costs adding to its operational costs further. 7. Conclusion Aldi Inc. is evolving and implementing strategies to take advantage of opportunities and thwart threats presented by its environment by exploiting its strengths and reducing or eliminating its weaknesses. It has resulted in success as Aldi has experienced great success in 2013 with increased profit and sales compared to other supermarket chains however it may not be able to sustain its competitive advantage for long because prices and costs are increasing and profit margins are decreasing with retail market being saturated in developed countries, it has to expand its operations into new markets for sustaining growth and maintaining market leader position. 8. References Aldi App, (2013), Smart Phone, Aldi App, Aldi Us, Available at https://www.aldi.us/en/services/smartphone-app/, Accessed 25 November, 2013. Aldi Nord, (2013), â€Å"Business†, Aldi Nord, Available at http://www.aldi-nord.de/unternehmen.html, Accessed 28 November, 2013. Aldi Sud Business, (2013), â€Å"Aldi Sud Business†, Aldi Sud, Available at https://unternehmen.aldi-sued.de/de/ueber-aldi-sued/unternehmen/, Accessed 24 November, 2013. Aldi Sud Facts and Figures (2013), â€Å"Aldi Sud Fact and Figures†, Aldi Sud, Available at https://unternehmen.aldi-sued.de/de/ueber-aldi-sued/unternehmen/daten-und-fakten/, Accessed 21 November, 2013. Aldi US, (2013), â€Å"Aldi US Corporate†, Aldi Us, Available at https://corporate.aldi.us/, Accessed 27 November, 2013. Butler, S., and Bowers, S., (2013), â€Å"Britain’s big supermarkets lose ground to cut price rivals and up market grocers†, The Guardian, Available at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/19/britain-supermarkets-market-share-fall-tesco-sainsburys -lidl, Accessed 22 November, 2013. Ferruzza, C., (2011), â€Å"Forget Trader Joe’s let’s hear it for Aldi†, Pitch, Available at http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives/2011/07/18/forget-trader-joes-lets-hear-it-for-aldi, Accessed 19 November 2013. Fitzgerald, K., (2013), â€Å"Germany the history of Aldi Supermarkets†, Meat Trade News Daily, Available at http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/300413/germany___the_history_of_aldi_supermarkets_.aspx, Accessed 23 November, 2013. Grocery.com, (2013), â€Å"Aldi Foods†, Grocery.com, Available at http://www.grocery.com/aldi-foods/, Accessed 27 November, 2013. Mack, S, (2013), â€Å"Social Factors Affecting Retail Business†, Small Business Chron, Available at http://smallbusiness.chron.com/social-factors-affecting-retail-business-71662.html, Accessed 23 November, 2013. PWC, (2013), â€Å"Industry Issues†, PWC, Available at http://www.pwc.co.uk/retail-consumer/issues/retail-and-consumer-ind ustry-issues.jhtml, Accessed 22 November, 2013. Osborne, H., (2012), â€Å"The Aldi Experience: Supermarket shopping with a difference†, The Guardian, Available at http://www.theguardian.com/money/blog/2012/oct/08/aldi-supermarket-shopping-difference, Accessed 25 November, 2013. Reportlinker, (2013), â€Å"Aldi Inc. – Strategic SWOT Analysis Review†, Report Linker, Available at http://www.reportlinker.com/p0500369-summary/Aldi-Inc-Strategic-SWOT-Analysis-Review.html, Accessed 29 November, 2013. Reuters (2013), â€Å"Research and

Mass Hysteria on Salem Witch Trial

What is mass hysteria? Mass hysteria is when most everybody develops a common fear that often spirals into a panic. The tragic story of the Salem Witch Trial contains mass hysteria back in 1692. In my two articles â€Å"Salem Witch Craft Trial† and â€Å"Mass Hysteria in Upstate New York† have similar problems. In both articles I will be explaining how mass hysteria played a key role in both of these issues. In the article â€Å"Salem Witch Craft Trial† it tells the history of the mass hysteria behind the whole Salem witch craft trials.The mass hysteria occurred from 1692-1693 and lead to many people dying. There were one hundred and forty arrests, nineteen hangings, one rock crushing and several people dying in jail while awaiting their trial. Everything that Salem had was to get rid of their witches in the city. In January 1962 two girls named Elizabeth and Abigail had fell out in church and start writhing on the floor. The doctor was convinced that it was witc hcraft.The pastor was asked â€Å"Who did this† and the two daughters said â€Å"Tituba the slave, Sarah Good a homeless woman and Sarah Osborn. † Tituba confess that she was a witch and was order to hurt girls. Tituba also told that were more witches in the town of Salem. The two girls start pointing people that could be witches who would spend months chained in jail. Over a hundred of Salem's prominent people would be incarcerated and suppose witches would visit the girls and torture them.Overall, nineteen people were hanged, one pressed to death and four others died in prison awaiting trial. What I learn from the articles that the people was scared of witchcraft. After Rev. Parris daughters were hurt, they start to kill people that were supposed to be a witch. Over hundred people were being killed during this time because of witchcraft. The mass hysteria in this article was the fear of having witches in Salem. With that being the mass hysteria a lot of people died.

Capstone Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Capstone Project - Research Paper Example However while eBay is a consumer-to-consumer trade platform, Amazon.com relies mainly on the producer-to-consumer trade model and also offers many own products and services. The other two main competitors for Amazon.com from the books/publications field and the multimedia provision field are Barnes & Noble and Netflix respectively. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington and employs more than a hundred thousand people. The company was founded by Jeff Bezos who remains its chairman, president and chief executive officer. Vision and Mission The self-stated mission of the company is to â€Å"be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavour to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.† And while there is no articulate vision, given by the shareholders or founder of the company, to be followed by the staff, there are several references in the official publically available d ocuments of the company to the drive towards technological innovation. There is no doubt that of all the businesses aiming or claiming to provide customers a wide variety of choice of products or services, Amazon.com, the world’s largest online retailer, is the truest to its mission statement. While it started off as an online bookstore, Amazon.com soon started offering multimedia products such as videos, films and music and later on got into the markets of various consumer products such as software, video games, electrical appliances, garments, cutlery, decoration items, sports goods and eatables etc. In the present day, Amazon.com offers many products and services of its own such as the market leading e-book reader (Kindle) and cloud networking services. The focus on customary offerings of Amazon.com can also be realized by the fact that the company operates specialized websites in Japan, Canada, United States, India, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Mexico, France, Australi a, Brazil, China and Spain and has plans for such websites in Sweden, Holland and Poland as well. E-commerce is a an extension of physical trade over the internet and e-commerce companies such as Amazon.com do not reflect the kind of technological innovation that is generally appreciated of a web-based enterprise such as an internet social network. That is because the focus is still on trading of tangible goods and hence the trading represents the area of business rather than technology or the internet which is just a conduit for the trade. Neither Amazon.com’s strategies nor its staff are known to be technologically advanced or innovative in the contemporary sense. Similarly while the focus on low pricing is highlighted by the mission statement of Amazon.com, just as it is in the written objectives of innumerable businesses, there is no special initiative that offers a cost advantage to customers or targets the lower classes of consumers other than the need-based policy of c ompetitive pricing. There is however a recently launched program that incorporates the ideas of both innovation and financial advantage for the customers called the â€Å"Subscribe & Save† program. The subscription offered by the program is open to consumers in most of Amazon.com’s operating regions and includes all household and other bulk-purchasable goods. Through this program consumers are offered up to a fifteen percent discount and free

Adopting Native American Names - Abandoning Redskins Research Paper

Adopting Native American Names - Abandoning Redskins - Research Paper Example Controversial cases of adoptions of Native American symbols and names for the emblems, mascots, and names of sports’ teams are the ‘Chief Wahoo’ mascot, supporters’ ceremony named the ‘Tomahawk Chop’, the professional basketball team Atlanta ‘Braves’, and possibly the most notorious of all, the name of professional football team—Washington ‘Redskins’ (Yiannakis & Melnick 204).Native Americans and other groups have been demanding to eradicate this tradition as they regard it to be disrespectful, insulting, and racially prejudiced. This paper argues that racial stereotyping as such, whether ‘good’ or ‘bad’, is damaging, and condemns the notion that such team names like ‘Redskins’ value Native Americans. Therefore, this paper argues that the Washington, D.C. professional football team should change its name/mascot in response to recent criticism. Colman McCarthy of the Washington Post argues that â€Å"’Redskins’ is a slur name that smells with the stench of racism† (Yiannakis & Melnick 204). Almost all of the new supporters of the team are not aware of the historical framework of the team’s racial prejudice. The ‘Redskins’, not once acclaimed for broad-minded race dealings, were the last team in the National Football League to accept African American athletes and were only forced to do so by the 1957 Stadium Act (Stapleton 15). The way racial minority groups call themselves—for instance, ‘Native American’, ‘black’, or ‘Negro’—is very important for those belonging to these groups. The way other people see them not merely works as a proof of the nature of intergroup relationships or affairs, but can actually be a critical, momentous issue. Racial insults, whether caused by deep-seated hatreds or of thoughtless stereotypes, breed hard feelings or enmity and usually deteriorate into violence or aggression (Stapleton 38). In an effort to show higher cultural respect, several academies, such as Stanford, Miami of Ohio, and Eastern Michigan, have given up their old Native American-based team labels. In numerous cases, opponents have criticized these movements as confirmation that political correctness is going berserk on universities (King 29).

Explain what it means to be a learning orgaization Essay

Explain what it means to be a learning orgaization - Essay Example The need for creating work systems that keep changing in line with market demands often mean that businesses have to keep learning how to develop effective strategies for developing and consolidating their competitive advantages. This development has led to the growth of learning organisations, which aim at ensuring their staff is always abreast of the changing market conditions. This paper examines the different operations that happen in learning organisations and how it helps to build their competitive advantages. According to Wyse (2013), a learning organisation can be described as the company or business organisation that creates and facilitates learning opportunities for its staff and constantly transforms itself. In most instances, learning organisations often emerge because of the many pressures that face modern organisations, enabling them to remain being competitive in the dynamic business environment. Wise (2013) explains that by keeping to continuous learning, these organisations create competitive advantages that are sometimes unmatched by their rivals. According to Fairclough (2008), the increasing competition in most industries prompts the need to have learning organisations. In this regard, many businesses going global have been allocating huge budgets towards research and development, which have been thought as being essential in enabling these business organisations to learn some different approaches towards creating and enhancing their competitive advantages (Fairclough 2008). Market research is an important activity that enables businesses to keep changing their marketing operations so that they can keep increasing their market share. The need for learning organisation in modern times cannot be underestimated. This is because; technological advancements have been influencing most business practices. However, while technology is being advocated for most business operations, the need to know and develop the right technologies for

Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational Behavior - Essay Example This is where the company creates a culture that appreciates new ideas from employees, improvements in performance, and innovations. The appreciation is mostly through awards or promotions. Such initiatives make employees offer best of their services. The strategy gives answers to why CISCO sells classy products, which dominate the networking industry despite other companies such as TP-Link and D-Link, which produces cheaper products (Boorsma and Mitchell, 2011). Annual activity schedule is also among the strategic techniques used by CISCO. This defines the work schedule of different departments, where they have to meet the target by the end of the financial year. In this instance, employees will be forced to work using the set guides and this facilitates the company in exploiting human resources to the maximum (Hiam, 2010). The annual activity schedule is designed with the â€Å"can’t lose spirit†. This enhances the company’s objective as they will be meet demands of customers and uphold their market share (Locke & Latham, 2009). Disarming technique is also a technique used to overcome critics from different parties. Practically, critiques are ideals tools, which facilitate identification of loops in services and products. The company motivates employees to criticize these critics by offering better services (Hiam, 2010). This turns out being a defense mechanism, thus improving employee performance. Boorsma, B. and Mitchell, S. (2011). Work-Life Innovation: Smart Work—A Paradigm Shift Transforming How, Where, and When Work Gets Done Available at:

Business Inventory control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Inventory control - Essay Example At the same time, money which is tied in inventory can’t be used for other purposes (Dubrin, 2011, pg: 211). Because of these reasons, it is very important to monitor and keep a control over inventory. Inventory control takes all the more importance because of the following reasons (Jawahar – Lal, 2008, pg. 118): a. Demand fluctuations –Demand for an organization’s products vary from season to season. In times of fluctuating demands, inventory plays a very critical role. Insufficient inventory will lead to frequent stock-outs whereas a very high inventory will lead to huge costs for storage and maintenance of inventory. b. Uncertainty in receiving the item from the supplier – Often there can be uncertainties in receiving inventory items from the supplier. An organization should keep buffer against such uncertainties by keeping sufficient stocks of the inventory. Inventory is one of the most critical components of the order to cash conversion cycle. It is important for an organization to have a control over the inventory because the same affects the profitability of the firm considerably. A less amount of inventory will lead to stock-outs and customers being returned without the sales while a high amount of inventory on the other hand leads to high cost in storage and

Pharmaceutical Industry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pharmaceutical Industry - Research Paper Example Insurance companies work by charging a premium for people to use their service, this premium is often paid in part by employers. To reduce their personal risk, insurance companies spread their services over a large group of people. As a consequence, the insurer receives premiums for taking on the risk for the people that it insures, and calculates the number of people in the group such that any losses are covered by the premiums paid by the rest of the group (Casto & Layman, 2006). Medicare works in a similar way, and is so effective as a business model, that private insurance firms base their models off that of Medicare (Bodenheimer et al., 2002). Medicare is a reimbursement system used in hospitals in the United States. It is large, with spending totaling over $11.7 billion in 1999 (Cotterill & Gage, 2002). Medicare is a form of insurance, using contributions from both employers and employees to make part of the premium for individual coverage. In addition, some individuals who do not have health insurance benefits through their jobs pay a direct Medicare premium which is then matched by the government (Casto & Layman, 2006).Payments from Medicare to hospitals are dependent on the number of patients that are being admitted to the hospital (Bodenheimer et al., 2002). Medicare works to provide reimbursement for costs such as per diem fees, but doesn’t take care of start up costs, some physician costs, and there are no bonuses in Medicare subsidies for superior care. From a health care perspective this means that any increase in care comes at the hospitals own cost, and is not reimbursed, and that the best financia l results come from decisions that result in lower health care (Bodenheimer et al., 2002). An important part of determining how to best treat patients is to look at the costs versus level of care. One example of this kind of decision is the instigation of a program that reduces hospital admissions in

The Human Development Index (HDI) for China and India Essay

The Human Development Index (HDI) for China and India - Essay Example The four input dimension indices for calculating HDI are, therefore, the life expectancy index, mean years of schooling index, expected years of schooling index, and income index (HDRO 1). Minimum value for life expectancy is set at 20 years, 0 years for both of the education variables, and $100 for the income variable measured in per capita gross national income (GNI). General formula for calculating dimension index is: Dimension index = Actual value – Minimum value Maximum value – Minimum value The HDI is the geometric mean of the normalised indices measuring achievements in each dimension. It is calculated as HDI =  Where; Ilife – life expectancy index2 Ieducation - Education index Iincome – Income index Case study: China and India Table 1: Computed HDIs and input variables for China and India INDIA: HDI Indicators HDI Indicator Value Goalposts for HDI 2011 Dimension Indices Maximum value Minimum value Life anticipation (years) 65.4 65.9 20.0 0.716 0. 546 Schooling mean years (years)3 4.4 4.6 0 0.336 Expected years of schooling (years)4 10.3 9.8 0 0.572 Combined education index 0.978 0 0.448 GNI per capita (PPP $)5 3,468 3,435 100 0.508 CHINA: HDI Indicators Indicator Value Maximum value Minimum value Dimension Indices HDI Life anticipation (years) 73.5 83.4 20.0 0.844 0.687 Schooling Mean years (years) 7.5 13.1 0 0.573 Expected years of schooling (years) 11.6 18.0 0 0.644 Combined education index 0.978 0 0.621 GNI per capita (PPP $) 7,476 107,721 100 0.618 HDI computation process: (I) India Life Expectancy index = (65.4-20)/(83.4-20) = 0.716 Mean years of schooling index = (4.4-0)/ (13.1-0) = 0.336 Expected years of schooling index = (10.3-0)/ (18-0) = 0.572 Combined education index = (0.336*0.572) ^ (1/2)-0/ (0.978-0) = 0.448 Income index = (Ln (3,468) – Ln (100))/ (Ln (107,721) - Ln (100)) = 0.508 HDI = (0.716*0.448*0.508) ^ (1/3) = 0.546 (II) China Life Expectancy index = (73.5-20)/(83.4-20) = 0.844 Mean years of schoo ling index = (7.5-0)/ (13.1-0) = 0.573 Expected years of schooling index = (11.6-0)/ (18-0) = 0.644 Combined education index = (0.573*0.644) ^ (1/2)-0/ (0.978-0) = 0.621 Income index = (Ln (7,476) – Ln (100))/ (Ln (107,721) - Ln (100)) = 0.618 HDI = (0.844*0.621*0.618) ^ (1/3) = 0.687 Table 2: Computed and Reported HDIs for India and China HDI Comparison Country Reported 2011 Calculated India 0.547 0.546 China 0.687 0.687 Calculated HDIs for both India and China are not significantly different from the reported figures as shown in Table 2. Small difference in the case of India could have been as a result of round off effects. It is notable, however, that computed HDIs would be significantly different from reported 2011 numbers if maximum values for input variables adopted for the calculation were to be drawn from the respective larger region (continent) data or observed values (HDRO 2). Evaluation of Calculated HDIs for China and India China’s HDI of 0.687 falls under the medium human development category together with countries such as Samoa, Thailand, Viet Nam among others in East Asia. According to the 2011 Human Development Report, countries that have the highest human development achievement in this continent are Palau, Malaysia, and Tonga with HDI’s at 0.782, 0.761, and 0.704 respectively. Countries such as Solomon Islands, Papua,

Empirical Data Analysis of UK Companies Coursework

Empirical Data Analysis of UK Companies - Coursework Example inability has been recognized by the companies operating globally, but the performance to purely be integrated into the strategy and operations as per the standard requires embedment of the standards and principles of the primary governance systems. Successfully embedding sustainability into the governance of a company requires selection of a right mix of issues, and placing the strategic direction of an organization with strategic social and environmental goals, and ensuring that the mechanisms taken by the government understand and perform well so as to reach the focus. So as to create sustainability a company tries to focus on risk and legal issues, individual competencies, finances, management structures, independence, and leadership. Boards of Directors are a significant component of governance structures and with the help of other governance mechanisms helps to bring about sustainable development (Mullerat, 2011, p-6). Boards have the ability to lead all the decisions taken wit h integrity; they possess the appropriate skills to undergo any difficult decisions and manage risks undertaken (Tayan and Larcker, 2011, pp. 8-9). Proper Implementation and maintenance of good governance facilities help in making decisions and improves the strategy taken by the organization, improves compliance, performance, and accountability, and is often characterized by evaluation, analysis, and monitoring. Effective and efficient corporate governance helps an organization to achieve its desired outcomes and objectives, and accomplish its obligations through the following- Successful corporate Governance also helps to provide a framework for establishing responsibility to the people served by the organization, i.e., its members, clients, and different stakeholders (Grobfeld and Luttermann, 2012, p. 331). Clear strategy- Good Corporate Governance starts with an apparent strategy for the organization.

Ethics in health services and policy a global approach Essay Example for Free

Ethics in health services and policy a global approach Essay Ethical dilemma Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethics is the study of sensible thinking. Nurses face moral dilemmas on their daily practices. Ethical activities depend on several factors. What one person consider as moral may be different from another person’s approach of the circumstances? Nurses encounter ethical dilemma regardless of where they function in wide-ranging tasks. These principled decisions can have a collision to the nurses as well as their patients. In general, there is no apposite decision to a moral dilemma. An ethical dilemma can be defined as a quandary without satisfying solution. The significance of moral decision making depend on the perception that regardless of numerous ethical alternatives made pertaining to a given ethical dilemma, the resultant choice can pose to neither right nor wrong judgment. Ethics involve doing right and causing no impairment. However, definition of principles varies from one nurse to the other. Ethical guideline classes provide the nurse with suitable tools to base moral decisions upon. Though, these principles are habitually shaped by the beliefs, values and knowledge of the nurse. Accordingly, various choices may be raised concerning the identical impasse.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are assorted ethical distresses that nurses can come across in the place of work. They include: freedom versus control, quality versus quantity of life, truth telling versus deception, pro-choice versus pro-life, empirical knowledge versus personal beliefs, and distribution of resources. Quantity might focus on an individual life span whereas quantity focuses on the number of citizens who will be influenced by the judgment. Quality address the goodness of life of a person, but it varies depending on how a person defines â€Å"good†. For example; the nurse’s position in supporting the patient deciding among a therapy that will lengthen life, but comprehending the quality of life. The patient’s life may be extended, but will experience major unattractive effects from the therapy. Nurses are called upon to use moral perceptions in delivering patient care.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethical perceptions include provision of accurate, good and coherent care. Patients necessitate to be offered prospects to put across their autonomy of preference in determining how they desire to be attended and in acquiring services. Ethical nurses identify that they are obliged to offer individualized care which will help the patient to realize their highest welfare. Ethical nursing care is based on lucid decision making and science. There are four fundamental concepts which are significant to a proficient nursing practice. They include: respect for patient self-rule, the task to operate with generosity, no mischief and justice. Nurses present respect to the patient self-rule by enhancing and recognizing a patient’s freedom of preference, respect their opinions, and providing privacy. The National League for Nursing issued a statement which highlights patient rights. Nurses are expected to encourage the rights of patients and adv ocate for patient’s who are unaware of their rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nurses exhibit generosity by helping patients to attain their highest welfare. This can be attained by developing health care policies that affect large population or provision of direct care to individual patients. Nurses are not allowed to cause any damage to their patients. This is the principal of non-mischief. Nurses often do have to perform operations which make the patients uncomfortable. For example, when a nurse is administering an injection to the patient. Patients need medication to relief the sicknesses, though, in the process of relieving the symptom, the nurse might cause distress. Non-mischief must be balanced by kindness, while providing patient care. The intention of the nurse provides a treatment whose gain must outweigh the discomfort caused. The nurse aim must be to assist rather than causing impairment. Equality and justice in nursing care is usually linked to the delivery of services. The current health care restructu ring strategy is an end result of people acknowledging that the present health care structure requires streamlining. Controversy arises over what is practical, fair, and efficiently realistic.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nurses are involved at every phase of current health care classification, assisting with policy development and decision making. Professionals propose that nursing concept of ethical care is outstanding case and needs staid implementation throughout the nursing practice. It is related to medical replica of ethics since it deals with life and death matters. The nursing model is one of the personal patient empowerment. Ethical nurses control health care reform plan which put emphasis on healing even in situations where curing is impossible. It position quality of life at the front line. Ethical dilemmas which the nurses face everyday are diverse. They include assorted topics such as end of life care and staffing ratios.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nurses might face ethical dilemma as they attend patients with disabilities which might position them at peril for self-harm. For instance, an aged patient might be eager to stroll without directive. The nurse desires to endorse patient sovereignty, though the possibility of patient harm because of falling may be large. The dilemma is how to balance the contrasting situations. The nurse is in a dilemma to choose which one is more significant between security and independence. Each family, patient and health care staff faces these challenges in daily basis. Momentous challenges may be experienced by nurses operating with parents who have infants with mental or physical disabilities. The nurse is left to decide whether it is moral to subject the infant to an inexperienced process which will impose pain if it provides them with distinct chance of survival. The nurses have to decide whether it is ethical to prolong life while the quality of li fe is being comprehended.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recent research findings reveal that, nurses as caregivers central to health care, face a growing rate of ethical dilemma. The know-how is helping patients to endure serious sicknesses. However, recent studies disclose that people are surviving, but they are not living decent lives. Nurses have a task of executing clinical and educational operations which deal with the subject that professional care provides. The other dilemma is that there are insufficient health care resources across the world. The resources are also not equally scattered. The nurses are left to ensure that there is equitable distribution of health care resources. Patients from various cultures and personal experiences may present with different opinions of what is moral. The nurse can serve as resource to make sure that every individual feels that their opinions were considered. They have to decide who should get the scarce resources? For instance, nurses working with p atients living in vegetative state; nurses decide whether these patients should be left on life maintenance? The outlay of sustaining these patients is high. The patients might be consuming possessions that could be utilized by patients whom such expensive interventions, if reachable, could set aside their lives. The dilemma is determining the position of the nurse when a family wishes to go on with life hold up for a medically ineffective patient.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, ethical principles are very noteworthy in the nursing practices since they direct the nurses to make their every day decisions. The nurses, however, face ethical dilemma since they are not able to settle to a superior decision. Nursing is a profession that requires a lot of decision making since they are working to save patient lives, though they are required to make decisions depending on the code of ethics. References Blasi, A. E. (2012). An Ethical Dilemma. Journal of Legal Medicine, 33(1), 115-128. Burkhardt, M. A., Nathaniel, A. K. (2008). Ethics issues in contemporary nursing (3rd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning. Butts, J. B., Rich, K. (2008). Nursing ethics: across the curriculum and into practice (2nd ed.). Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Garber, P. R. (2008). The ethical dilemma. Amherst, Mass.: HRD Press. Garber, P. R. (2008). The ethical dilemma. Amherst, Mass.: HRD Press. Harris, D. M. (2011). Ethics in health services and policy a global approach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Harris, D. M. (2011). Ethics in health services and policy a global approach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Hendrick, J. (2000). Law and ethics in nursing and health care. Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes. Hoffman, J. (2003). A Knotty Ethical Dilemma. Emergency Medicine News, 25(1), 36. Johnstone, M. (2007). Clinical risk management and the ethics of open disclosure when things go wrong: Implications for the nursing profession. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 10(4), 215-216. Liaschenko, J., Peter, E. (2004). Nursing ethics and conceptualizations of nursing: profession, practice and work. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(5), 488-495. Retrieved February 8, 2009, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03011.x Linzer, N. (2003). An Ethical Dilemma in Volunteer Professional Relationships. Social Thought, 22(4), 37-51. Lowe, M. (2000). Ethical dilemma. A question of competence. Age and Ageing, 29(2), 179-182. Martin, C. W., Vaught, W., Solomon, R. C. (2010). Ethics across the professions: a reader for professional ethics. New York: Oxford University Press. Mcmahon, R. L. (2003). An ethical dilemma in a hospice setting. Palliative Supportive Care, 1(01), 35. Miller, S., Selgelid, M. J. (2008). Ethical and philosophical consideration of the dual-use dilemma in the biological sciences. New York: Springer. Monga, M. (2007). An Ethical Dilemma. Monash Business Review, 3(3), 34-35. Pattison, S. (2010). Emerging values in health care the challenge for professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Spector, T. (2001). The ethical architect: the dilemma of contemporary practice. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Spector, T. (2001). The ethical architect: the dilemma of contemporary practice. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Tschudin, V. (2003). Approaches to ethics: nursing beyond boundaries. Edinburgh: Butterworth-Heinemann. Tschudin, V., Davis, A. J. (2008). The globalisation of nursing. Oxford: Radcliffe Pub.. APA formatting by BibMe.org. Source document

Distinguishing Whether Virtue Is Knowledge

Distinguishing Whether Virtue Is Knowledge Plato presents Socrates views on the question whether virtue is knowledge and whether it can be taught in several dialogues, most notably in Meno. In this dialogue, Socrates makes many different arguments on the subject of virtue. These arguments include how virtue is defined and whether or not people can acquire it. He examines the ways that virtue can be attained; whether or not one is born being virtuous, whether virtue can be taught or it is another factor for virtues people have. In this essay I will focus on the question of whether virtue can be taught. Platos answer is that virtue cannot be taught. In this essay I will suggest that Plato could have framed the questions a bit differently, which would have probably given him a different answer. In particular I will argue that Plato might have done better to ask whether virtue could be learned instead of asking whether virtue can be taught. The Meno begins with Meno asking Socrates whether virtue can be taught. The argument then is drifted then to another question, what is knowledge. Then Meno proposed an interesting paradox: one can never find out anything new: either one knows it already, in which case there is no need to find it out, or else one does not, and in that case there is no means of recognizing it when found (Plato 1997, 80d-e.). In other words if one does not already know what arà ªte (virtue) is, he cant even search for it, because if he does not know what it is already, then even h he searches, he wont be able to know when one has found it. Socrates suggests a way to solve this dilemma which is based on the Pythagorean view of the immortal soul. According to that notion, the soul, after the physical body dies, is reincarnated and thus never destroyed. If one can never acquire any new knowledge and at the same time it is obvious we are always learning new things, then it is be concluded that learning mus t be a matter of recollection of past life experiences and knowledge. In other words there is no such thing as teaching, but only remembering. In the Meno he demonstrated with a young slave boy who apparently didnt have any knowledge of geometry. By asking the young boy questions he managed to show that the boy had knowledge of certain mathematical theorems. Meno asks again his original question, that is whether one can be taught virtue, or one gets virtue by nature or in some other way. Socrates consents to proceed but argues that they need a common ground due to the fact that neither of them can say at this point what virtue is. Then Meno is made agree that if virtue is not knowledge then it cannot be taught, and if a knowledge then it can be taught. He points out that one can teach something only if one knows what it is that he is teaching. Someone who does not know himself how to drive a car seems unlikely to be able to teach someone else how to. Socrates and Meno much agree that there is no one that truly knows what is meant by virtue and because of this reason cannot be taught. According to Socrates, If virtue could be taught, we should be able to know not only those who teach it but also those who learn from them, which in truth we cannot easily do (Plato 1997,HYPERLINK http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=plat.+meno+96c 96c). Socrates claims that teachers for horsemanship, medicine, etc. exist and everybody recognizes these as genuine teachers, whereas people dont agree about whether the Sophists really do teach virtue. Socrates goes one to speak of Thucydides, who had two sons, neither of which was considered to be virtuous. However, it is said that Thucydides educated his children in many different disciplines, but it seems that he could not find a teacher of virtue even though he found teachers for other aspects of life he found valuable. He could not teach it himself either, even though he himself was known to be virtuous. Therefore it seems virtue cannot be a form of knowledge. In order for something to be knowledge, someone must be able to teach it to others. Socrates concludes that virtue cannot be taught and that there is no means or method by which virtue can be acquired. Virtue is simply shown as coming to us, whenever it comes, by divine dispensation (reference?) In my view, if Plato had framed the questions somewhat differently, he might have gotten a different answer. That is Plato could have better asked whether virtue could be learned instead of asking whether virtue can be taught. What I mean to say is that asking whether one can be taught something entails that the relationship of a student and a teacher, whereas asking whether something can be learned implies only that there is a student (whose life experiences might be said to be a teacher.) For example, to ask whether I was taught geometry is to ask whether a teacher taught me geometry. Whereas to ask whether I learned geometry is simply to ask whether I learned it, whether or not I was taught it by a geometry teacher or learned geometry myself either from (lets say) a book or by some other means. Learning can come in various forms. In order to learn something, one does not require a teacher in the strict sense. For instance, learning can be achieved from studying people who have virtue and yet the latter may not be aware that they are studied. So a man may be learning virtue, and his teachers may be virtuous, even though the teachers might not even be alive. Another form of learning is experience. Virtue may be learned through personal experience. In this example, the teacher would be both life experiences and the reflective nature of the learner. There is still another form of learning. A man can learn, even if he cannot offer an explanation of how he learned or of what he exactly knows. For instance, after someone has been through a particular problem in his life, he can then detect that a relative of his is going through the same problem. And although he can know it, he cannot give an explanation of how he recognized it. Another example is that of the musicians or painters who have learned their craft and are able to perform well, but find it almost impossible to give an explanation of what they have learned. So the question whether virtue can be taught is a much different, and narrower, than whether virtue can be learned. Plato is right in suggesting that virtue cannot be taught. I believe that we all know or have heard of people who recite rules of virtue (such us be compassionate or be honest,) but find it impossible to put them into practice. Certainly in this sense virtue cannot be taught. A mentioned above, having the ability to be virtuous is like having the ability to be musical, which is to some extent instinctual. So, for example, it could be argued that knowing when, for example, to offer help to a friend when he needs it, is a matter of instinct or judgment. All of this means that although virtue may not be taught, this is not to say that virtue cant be learned. Plato suggests the notion that virtue is inborn. Certainly this is to some degree true. There are some people with an exceptional capacity for virtues like compassion, etc. since they were born. Yet others look as if they are born with little to no moral conscience, which seems to be necessary for virtue to exist. However what this means is just that the foundation of virtue is inborn, not that it cant be learned. In the same way that we comprehend the fact that one can be preached how to be virtuous but fail to be virtuous in practice, the converse is also possible: people can refine the ways they understand virtue, they may become more virtuous by reflective practice, and their views of how to act in a virtuous way changes significantly as they grow up. In my view, if Plato put his questions in a different way (that is if he had asked whether virtue can be learned, instead of whether virtue can be taught) he might have found a much more affirmative answer.

Critical Issues in Law Enforcement

Critical Issues in Law Enforcement There are three critical issues in law enforcement Citizens today look to law enforcement for service and protection. In order for officers to serve and protect, some issues have to be resolved. Remaining stress-free, enforcing the code of ethics and lastly, the presence of female police officers. These three critical issues can quickly weaken a department if left to manifest without any intervention. Being stress-free in law enforcement is very important. An officers performance is diminished greatly if he or she has trouble concentrating at work. Law enforcement officers are perceived to be tough, rough, and always ready to protect and serve. Citizens feel safe when police officers are seen regularly patrolling the streets. When it comes to dealing with personal issues, officers tend to keep to themselves. Sometimes living up to those expectations can be challenging because the general public has a superhero image of law enforcement. Officers regularly deal with the worst of what society has to offer, and make special sacrifices to maintain the peace. In the process, performing daily tasks can be increasingly difficult. Unlike firefighters and paramedics, police officers are not trained to work as a group. Officers are left to work alone or with a partner. As a result, police coverage is often sparse throughout a jurisdiction. Officers today are in desperate need of a better support system. With the rising crime rate in todays society, officers can only handle so much before reaching a breaking point. As the stress of police duty builds up, an officer may soon experience anger, depression, or disillusion. Over time, these feelings may cause strained relationships with family and co-workers and in the end lead to suicide (Franklin, 2007). Running head: THREE CRITICAL ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 4 Officers need to be in constant emotional control. Law enforcement officers have a job that requires extreme restraint under highly emotional circumstances. Officers are trained to stay calm when excited, to take charge when nervous, and to be stable when emotional. Constantly altering emotions takes a tremendous toll on an officers mentality. When an officer is emotionally drained, it may make the officer more prone to fatigue, such as not wanting to participate in social or family life. Energy drain can also create job and social burnout (Goldfarb, Smith n.d.). Another cause of stress is shift work. No matter how many years an officer has been working, a persons body never gets used to fluctuating schedules. The human body is naturally programmed to eat, sleep, and wake at a certain time. An officer performing shift work never gets a chance to stay on a schedule and in turn upsets the physical and mental balances. Police have several options when it comes to dealing with stress. One option is psychological therapy. Police officers may be ordered to undergo sessions with a therapist. The sessions can persuade the police officer to identify any problems officer might have with their career and ultimately arrive at valuable solutions. The focus of the therapy session is to teach the police officer in finding out how and why he/she reacts to certain situations. This in turn can help the officer react correctly to stress factors. Stress management in law enforcement also includes anger management. In anger management, police officers can be taught to identify the triggers that cause aggression within an officer. Anger management also teaches police officers how to detect and prevent hostile situations from ever taking place, which in turn can be applied in Running head: THREE CRITICAL ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 5 settling disputes between citizens. Anger management can allow the officer to prevent and manage their stress by themselves, either on the job or at home with their families. The second critical issue within departments is code of ethics for criminal justice personnel. In order for the criminal justice system to work efficiently a code of ethics is needed. Due to the amount of power criminal justice professionals possess and because of the nature of problems officers encounter every day, employees often face serious conflicts and needs guidance, which is exactly what a code of ethics provides. One of the main purposes of a code of ethics is to guide a person in making a decision. These guidelines have to be in place in order for law enforcement agencies to operate smoothly and correctly. Superiors have to lead the rest of the department by being an example. If the leaders are corrupt, more than likely the subordinates are also (Peak, 2010). There are some behaviors which are completely unacceptable in law enforcement: bribery, excessive force, extortion and forgery. At no time should these behaviors be exercised by officers or any member of law enforcement. Citizens entrust law enforcement to protect and to serve communities. The lifeline of law and order for any society is law enforcement. It is therefore very important for the police personnel to command the respect citizens, to function effectively. The public-police relationship is vital, for maintaining law and order, and this relationship can be strengthened only when police conduct themselves in appropriate manner. Every police officer Running head: THREE CRITICAL ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 6 must realize that they need to be law-abiding citizens also, and be committed to serve society proudly and with morals. All officers and members of law enforcement should be made to attend a seminar on ethics. And after the seminar is complete, all employees will be tested and trained on all material presented. Testing will help to ensure all employees are on one ethical accord. A code of ethics can help an officer decide how to act on a daily basis. Ethics is very important for people of power because this type of person has great influence on the public daily. Law enforcement personnel make important decisions every day and the decisions an officer makes impacts the lives of others. Therefore, it is necessary that all members of law enforcement are bias free. The last issue that needs to address is female officers in criminal justice. There has been tremendous growth of female officers within the last thirty years. Law requires law enforcement agencies to hire regardless of gender or race. Traditionally, the only job a female had in law enforcement was a social worker. In the past, men have strongly resisted the integration of female officers into police departments because being a police officer was thought to be a mans job. Women have slowly transformed the social worker role because of their determination to overcome the stereotypical barriers and in more recent years, the law. However, a females acceptance by males has grown in the past thirty years. Running head: THREE CRITICAL ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 7 The first female police officer was Alice Stebbin Wells, born on June 13, 1873. Alice served in the Los Angeles police department. Joining the police department was no easy task in those days. Alice had to send petitions to the mayor, city council and police commissioner. Wells felt women and children needed someone to be their voice and Wells wanted to be the one who stood up for them. In 1985, Penny Harrington accomplished being the first female police chief in a large agency. And in 1990, Elizabeth Watson became the first female police chief of a city with a population of more than 1 million in Houston. Another reason why police departments have been hesitant in hiring female officers is because women officers are thought of as not being unable to balance their personal and professional lives. Trying to balance child care and work, especially for single female officers, can be a very demanding task. The pressure is on to be a good wife and mother regardless of the job. Every day a police officer encounters risks and dangers, including dealing with irate people and criminals. And also, maintaining workplace relationship in a male dominated field is not easy. Discrimination against female officers can also come from the community. Some citizens believe that policewomen are only able to settle domestic disputes or to deal with rape victims. Some may also think policewomen are incapable of diffusing physical altercations, mostly due to the fact that most crimes are committed by males. There are some female officers try to fit in and go along with the male police culture by acting subservient are quickly written off as not performing to police standards. Running head: THREE CRITICAL ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 8 Hiring and retaining female officers offers great advantages. First, women are great communicators. Listening to a womans voice can sometimes calm an intense situation. Second, male officers are more likely to use excessive force than females, it is only natural. Males are naturally more authoritarian. Third, the presence more female officers will reduce the amount of claims of sexual discrimination within the department. Women officers tend to use a style of policing that relies more on communication than physical force, and are far more likely to avoid the use of excessive force. Female officers are more likely to have a community-oriented style of policing and females excel in responding to domestic violence situations which constitute a majority of crime calls. Also, female officers trend to have more empathy than male officers in certain situations and the trait could be useful in delicate situation such as domestic calls. Inappropriate response also adds to the risk of litigation, as departments are increasingly being held accountable for failing to properly handle domestic violence (Anderson, 1985). In the past, fitting in a police force has been a challenge for women. Some of the requirements were seen as discriminatory against females. For example, scaling a 6 foot wall and being able to bench press ones own weight was almost impossible for a female to do (Peak, 2010 pg. 132 para. 8). One way to make sure women are not discriminated against is to make departments re-examine physical fitness tests and figure out ways to include females in the tests. And also, agencies should permit all candidates to practice for the pre-employment physical exam (Peak, 2010 pg. 132 para. 8). Running head: THREE CRITICAL ISSUES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT 9 There are several issues which need to be addressed in order to help female avoid discrimination in the department. Police departments can hold job fairs at different colleges and pass out flyers, brochures, newspapers, or television advertising (Peak, 2010). Hiring in this manner is instead of randomly hiring brings a more diversified police force. Training males and females together will make female officers feel more equal to males. Female instructors are important also because female officers can look to the instructors as role models. Sexual harassment is another hurdle for female officers. If an officer is being harassed, the officer may not feel that reporting the perpetrator. The officer may not want to go through the scrutiny and embarrassment. All department need to have written policies informing employees of the consequences of harassment in the department. In the written policies, the information should include illustrations and examples of what not to do and a description of the proper protocol of handling complaints. The department will need to promptly file and investigate all complaints and most important of all, keep all information about the case and individual confidential.

Malcolm X Essay -- Americanism, discrimination

A Dream Or A Nightmare   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å" No, I’m not an American. I’m one of the 22 million people who are victims of Americanism, one if the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy. So, I’m not standing here speaking to you as an American, or a patriot, or flag-saluter, or a flag waver. No, not I. I am speaking to you as a victim of the American system. And I see America through the eyes of a victim. I don’t see any American dream. I see an American nightmare!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  --Malcolm X   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I can see why Malcolm would refer to the American dream as a nightmare. We all have to understand that Malcolm and Martin Luther King came from very different class levels. Malcolm came from a lower class of African Americans. Malcolm was a criminal who spent time in jail and he was from a poor neighbor hood. Malcolm was educated by the environment that surrounded him. Malcolm often preached to the blacks to about self respect, and dignity. I think Malcolm know and understood this more than King because of Malcolm’s upbringing. Malcolm gave very derogatory speeches. Malcolm was an intelligent speaker. In Malcolm’s speeches you can see and hear the anger that the white people have caused the African American people. I’m sure that Malcolm was not the only African American person who had the same view points or felt the same way. It’s just that Malcolm had the nerve to speak up for what he believed. At this time, black people were fighting for equal rights. Every person handles stress differently. Malcolm was voicing his opinion based upon the times and his personal experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this article, I read a part of another speech from Malcolm that made statements against the white people. I think Malcolm had every right to make these comments about white Americans. Malcolm got the reputation that he was a racist. I believe that he and all the other black people had every right to be racist. White American people were being racist for not allowing the African Americans to have equal rights. So, why was it a big deal when Malcolm made racial slurs against the white Americans? It was ok for white America... ...cle was involved with her class. It makes the learning process fun and exciting for the students. The teachers make all the difference in the world. A student can learn memorize anything that a teacher lectures on. But the information is only stored temporally. If you make it fun and exciting the student not only learns but the memory lasts a life time. A Class Learns To Teach Itself   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that most adult classes are easier to teach because, as the article pointed out, adults have a goal for being in a class and they have other responsibilities. They don’t have the time to be goofing off. Adults are more willing to learn and don’t have to be reminded to pay attention. They have a purpose to being in class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The teacher in this article was surprised that the class took a turn and was teaching itself. The man who lost his daughter not only respected the writing’s he was reading but also able to use his life experiences to compare and learn more about what was going on in class. I think students learn more when they can understand the material and compare it to real life experiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

My Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Philosophy of Education Teachers Es

My Philosophy of Teaching When we are children we aspire many goals and careers. Once we complete, our K-12 education, reality must set in. What are best attributes to a career? What would sastify us most? What is the single most defying career choice that is best for us? During the past year, I have gone from one major to the next and back again. It is definitely a stressful time in one’s life. The choices we make now will have a lasting effect on us. Education was my beginning major and yes, through every obstacle it is the major I have chosen. Teachers possess a difficult job because they inspire and create our future nation. I want to be a part of that I want to help a child achieve their short and long-term goals. When asked why I want to be a teacher I could name many things, but in essence the reason I want to be a teacher is because I love children. I love their innocence, the mischievous thoughts they have, and most of all their love and longing to learn. For me, as a teacher, it would be an honor to have some type of impact on a child’s life. Students characterize this career. There are many different levels and personalities that every person attributes to a classroom. These differences are what make our world work. If everyone were the same, monotony would exist. Each student has their own learning pattern, personality, and academic level therefore as a teacher, you must conform to each student for their best abilities are exhibited. In my classroom, I plan to know each of my students and what type of teacher I must be to meet all their educational needs. In this case, students will be more likely to exert their energy to work on what they need most. A teacher who can arouse a feeling for ... ...raduation I plan to attend the masters program at Radford University in Virginia. When I have completed this program I want to become a Reading Specialist. I have many plans and ideas on how to get children motivated to read. At some point, I may decide I want a doctorate in education, I would then continue to teach and also continue my education. West Virginia offers many benefits in its teacher union, so I’m sure I would like to join some type of union wherever I may be teaching. There are many counter jobs that go along with being a teacher. I have learned to respect all the teachers I have ever experienced, and I hope all my students will gain respect for me. I know I can be anything I want to be, but I also know my career is meant to be an educator. I want to be an effective teacher that brings forth the ambition to learn in each of my student’s lives.

Wolves Should Be Hunted

Wolves Should be Hunted The Grey Wolf was reintroduced in the United States in the mid 1990’s after years of extinction. In 1973 Northern Rocky Mountain wolf subspecies were listed on the endangered species list. In 1980 congress started talking about reintroducing the wolf back into the U. S. Since then this has been a heated debate. Animal rights activists were all for bringing the wolves back while many other opposed it. (Wolf Reintroduction: How the Wolves Came Back) The thing that the government forgot to think about was that they were reintroducing a wolf that was not native to the U.S. and that this wolf was much bigger, aggressive, and used to much harsher weather conditions than the Timberwolves native to the U. S. , when they decided to introduce Canadian Wolves. Canadian wolves weigh from 160 to 180 pounds, they are huge killing machines. Upon reintroducing gray wolves they also promised that once the wolves reached a certain population, they would be hunted to keep the wolf population to a sustainable number. The government first reintroduced the Canadian Gray Wolves into the Yellowstone National Park and Idaho. They started with 35 Canadian Gray Wolves.They said their plan was to increase the wolf population to 300 and to at least 30 breeding pairs across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. The government then promised that states that were forced to accept wolves would be able to manage them once they reached a healthy breeding stock and were settled. The Government said that the reason for the reintroduction was to control the Elk population that had grown out of control in the Yellowstone National park. (Harkings, 2009) They argued by bringing a natural predator back into the ecosystem that this would take care of the over population of elk naturally.They said that the wolves would come in and take out the elk that were sick and failing. In the beginning this worked, however when the elk number were back to where they should be and the wolf numb er and packs grew, the government failed to let the state start managing them as they had promised before. This has brought much turmoil with the ranchers and sportsmen. The Governments plan worked so well that when the Canadian Wolves who are very territorial, spread into the small population of Timberwolves, they took over pushing the few native wolves out of the area killing them.The Federal Government’s Biologists failed to mention that this could happen. The wolves very quickly began to form packs and multiply. A typical breeding pair of wolves will have two litters of pups a year and with each litter they have up to twelve pups. This is the reason the wolf population has grown out of control. According to Idaho Fish and Game Idaho currently has 846 wolves in 88 pack’s and 39 of them are â€Å"breeding packs†The Canadian Wolves are now threatening healthy elk and deer. (Harkings, 2009) The elk and deer populations are now dwindling due to more harsh winters and wolves.They are also killing rancher’s livestock and putting rancher’s well-being at stake. Wolves have been proved to kill not only for food but for sport. For every one animal they kill to eat they kill three more just for the fun of it. Biologists call this â€Å"sport-reflex killing† or â€Å"lustful killing† the Canadian Gray wolves are killing machines (Harkings, 2009). They have also been proven to kill people’s dogs just for the fun of it. A wolf typically consume 16-24 hooved animals a year for consumption but that number must be doubled for all the animals that the wolf kills for sport and leaves left to die or rot. Harkings, 2009) The forests are being littered by carcasses left by the wolf. Wolves will wait until an elk, deer, or moose cow are giving birth and kill both the cow and the calf. Either eating them or leaving them and moving on to the next kill. They will dig up hibernating bears and kill them for both food and sport. W hen wolves are hunting in packs they are afraid of nothing. They will attack adult male grizzly bears and adult male moose. They are fearless and the only predators wolves have are humans. (Wood, 2005) That is why we need to start controlling their population before we have no hooved animals left.Wolves are such big killing animals that when they have taken out a species they will turn on their own and kill them for food. Wolves will stop at nothing they are killing machines that have to be stopped and their populations must be maintained before they become more out of control. Wolves have become so bold they have now been videoed stalking hunters in Northern Idaho. They also tried to attack a woman who was walking up her driveway. I would hate to think what would have happened if she didn’t have her cell phone and help hadn’t arrived soon enough.They are becoming more and more fearless every day and are coming closer and closer to humans. We not only have to put the f ear back into wolves for our own safety but for theirs. If we do not do something now wolves are going to diminish all of our wild hooved animals and start moving closer and closer to captivity. They are fearless and will stop at nothing. That is why we need to start taking control of the wolf before the wolf takes control of us. We have to start hunting wolves and maintaining their populations before these murderous creatures takes over.So go out get a tag and today and kill a wolf. Works Cited Harkings, D. (2009, June). Idaho Home to over 4,000 of the Biggest Baddest Wolves in America. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from http://proliberty. com/observer/20090623. htm Wolf Reintroduction: How the Wolves Came Back. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www. class. uidaho. edu/kpgeorge/issues/wolves_reintroduction/reintroduction_question. htm Wood, K. (2005, January 29). The Truth About Those Canadian Wolf â€Å"Re†introductions. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from htt p://rliv. com/wolf/DailyChronicalTruth. pdf

Oedipus’s transition from the beginning to the end Essay

Sophocles Greek tragedy, Oedipus displays how sine qua non and destiny, alternatively than chance, determine the planets within hu globe stepedness. It is this fate that turns Oedipus pull inmingly perfect existence expert circle, leaving him with less than nothing in the end. During the course of this story, Oedipus undergoes a complete innovation because of his personal quest to find break through his true identity. He eventu ally learns the truth, b atomic number 18ly at a great cost. He finds that he isnt who he believed himself to be, and he loses everything in the process.Oedipus therefore undergoes an absolute variation from a kingship to exile, from wisdom to misidentifyness, from admirability to deliver ravish. When Oedipus is first seen, he is clearly far-famed as the ruler of Thebes. The priest in fact regards him as, Great King of Thebes and sovereign Oedipus (Line 14). At the moment, Thebes is afflicted with a painful and mysterious plague, which can on ly be eliminated when the receiver of Laius, the former King of Thebes, is exiled or killed. It is apparent that the people trust and love their King, and so they look to him for help and guidance.This is why Oedipus acts so swiftly to find Laius receiver no matter what the cost may be. Oedipus once again exercises his kingship and power against Creon, upon consultation from Teiresias (a prophet) that he himself killed Laius. He accuses Creon of treason and sentences him to death. purge though the whole chorus and his wife, Iocasta, are against him, his will is still carried out until he himself decides otherwise. Such makes Oedipus the most powerful man at this point. However, as the events progress, Oedipus finds out that he indeed killed Laius.Upon come uponing this, Oedipus whole domain shatters, and he can no long-term comprise the truth. He blinds and willingly sends himself to exile. Oedipus loses his rubric and all the power that it stands for. He is left hand wit h nothing but his life in the end. Oedipus gained his Kingship by def eat the mythical man eating Sphinx and solving its circularise. The riddle was, What has four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night? Oedipus was the only atomic number 53 who answered, while, causing the Sphinx to finally kill herself. valet crawled as a baby in its youth, walked with two feet during mid life, and walked with a flog when old. Answering this riddle saved the ground of Thebes from the feared Sphinx, and so Oedipus was forever recognized for this. Oedipus wit, however, was alike the cause of his d throwfall. This is shown during Oedipus debate with Teiresias. As Oedipus exclaims, my science has brought me glory, Teiresias replies, And this success brought you to ruin overly (lines 441-443). In other words, Oedipus fulfilled the apart(p) prophecy placed upon him by defeating the Sphinx and thus, marrying Iocasta.In this tragedy, Oedipus is faced with the riddle of his identi ty. However, despite his wit, he is never able to solve the riddle on his own. In fact, he is confused practically throughout the course of the story. Iocasta even solves this riddle before he does, explaining her unpatterned reluctance of him trying to find out. It takes a whole cluster of clues for Oedipus to finally see that he was his fathers murderer, and his bring forths husband. Finally, Oedipus begins the tragedy with all the qualities of an admirable King.Oedipus genuinely loves his subjects, as can be seen in lines 58-60 My children, what you long for, that I cope indeed, and pity you. He calls his citizens his children, signifying his seniority, but also his devotion to them. He is proud of his citizens and of himself. He wants to prove that he is a advanced king to his people, and so he allows Creon to mouth his news from Apollo in front of all Thebans. He tells Creon, Let them all hear Their sufferings distress me more than than if my own life were at stake (93-9 4).Also, he in truth wants to save his citizens by finding Laius murderer as soon as possible. Therefore, he cares about his people even more than he does himself. Towards the end of the story, however, Oedipus becomes the epitome of shame throughout the kingdom of Thebes. In old-fashioned Greece, family and heritage was one of the most outstanding virtues practiced. And thus, killing ones own father was the most dishonorable action, close to marrying ones own mother. Oedipus, sadly, performed both of these shameful crimes which were considered worse, even, than mass murder.So Oedipus went from creation the pride of Thebes to its worst shame. Oedipus is indeed so ashamed of his actions that he tells his adviser, Quick as you can, I beg, banish me, hide me, assassinate me Throw me forth into the sea, where I may sink from view There is no man alive can bear this load of evil but myself. Oedipus modulation is evident in how he is instantly pleading and begging his own adviso r to banish him from Thebes. Thus, Oedipus loses everything, including his own dignity. In conclusion, Oedipus makes a tragic transition from having everything to having nothing.Because of his quest for the truth, he finally found it and suffered the most in the end. However, despite the shame in what Oedipus did, one must still admire his spirit to continue looking for truth. It is admirable how he chose blindness rather than death, and in a way, punished himself for his past sins. Such a trait still makes him a hero, at in that sense.Sources 1. http//www. users. globalnet. co. uk/loxias/myth. htminterpretation 2. http//cgi. sparknotes. com/hlite. rmpl? words=oedipus&pd=0&page=section5. rhtml&guide=%2fdrama%2foedipus.

Medically Assisted Suicide

medically aid Suicide Medically service suicide is an plaint in which a physician honors a longanimouss necessitate for a lethal dose of medication. It has be come a real emotional and controversial issue for m all in the United States. The all state legitimately allowing medically assisted suicide is Oregon since 1997. Although most feel it is unethical and morally wrong, medically assisted suicide should be legalized to forbearings who atomic number 18 terminally ailment because it would relieve them from constant and unbearable physical and psychological pain in a respectable and blue way.Individuals in the United States have the freedom to denounce decisions concerning their manners such as where they live, what they wear, who they marry, and occupation. Every several(prenominal) is able to make a decision about his or her life whether good or bad. Everyone is pass in full hold up of his or her confess life. By allowing someone to make choices freely reg arding their life, the akin should be allowed when regarding their death. Some patients passively aggressively demand to destruction their lives by not continuing intervention or therapy for their disease.This emphasizes the theory that battalion bum and should control their own lives. Patients choose to end their lives for various reasons they affright the loss of their independence, which later results in becoming a nucleus to their family or friends they motivation to die in a dignified way, and they in addition fear the panorama of dying alone. Society should understand why an mortal wouldnt want to have to rely on a family member to take cargon of them.Knowing that in the end they wont be able to do even the easiest daily tasks such as showering, eating, or walking alone, does put a heavy burden on whoever would be taking c atomic number 18 of them. It is also sound to understand that patients dont want to be remembered by how they were in their sick state. No o ne should have to go through beholding their loved one whither away to what isnt even the soul they were to begin with. It would provide often second-stringer to families and loved ones to remember the patient in a healthy and normal instruct.Medically assisted suicide shouldnt be positioned as a selfish proceed same(p) regular suicide, plainly as a dignified and painless way to end a life that would end in the near prox regardless. Whether suicides are legal or not, they bequeath occur, and it would be much better if they were brought into the open. Suffering is different and so pain. Suffering normally encompasses physical and psychological handicap for which there is no cure. While m each intrust taking a life away in any circumstances is immoral, death is a condole with way to relieve unbearable trauma.When physicians are asked to facilitate a patient into death, they have many responsibilities that come along with that request. Among these responsibilities are p roviding valid information as to the terminal illness the patient is suffering, educating the patient as to what their final options may be, making the decision of whether or not to help the patient into death, and also if they do regulate to help, providing the lethal dose of medication that will end the patients life. Medically assisted suicide became very familiar to the public in 1990 when Dr.Jack Kevorkian helped to assist his early patient to death. Dr. Kevorkian had invented a machine that consisted of three bottles that were affiliated to an IV. When the patients were ready to start the process of dying, they turned on the machine in which a downer was administed start-off to make them drift off to sleep. Following the sedative was the fatal ingredient potassium chloride. According to Kathlyn Gay, Dr. Kevorkian claimed that he had ca apply no death he just helped with his patients last civil rights.He believes that doctors that dont help assist their patients are like th e Nazi doctors during World War 2, those who used experiments on the Jewish slew (50-51). Dr. Kevorkian concerned 43 patients to their death. He agreed to assist patients after thoroughly interviewing from each one patient and realizing there werent any new(prenominal) alternative methods for the patient to deter suffering. It was reported that Kevorkians mannish patients had barren terminal illnesses that remaining them incapable of living, maculation the female patients suffered from breast cancer and separate illnesses that are curable (Keenan 16).Kevorkians medical license was hang up and eventually taken away, and he stood trial for make charges. Dr. Kevorkian was later placed in jail and therefore released by Judge Richard C. Kaufman who ruled the states ban of medically assisted suicide as unconstitutional. It was determined that Dr. Kevorkians charges be dismissed imputable to the basis of the quality of the patients life, saying that the patients life was signi ficantly impaired by a medical condition that was extremely unlikely to improve. Kaufman also said that people have a constitutional right to sacrifice suicide. Worsnop, 405). According to Oregons stopping point with hauteur Act, Terminal disease means an incurable and irreversible disease that has been medically confirmed and will, within reasonable medical judgement, produce death within 6 (6) months (2). The physician is also responsible for letting the patient know of any experimental drugs and any some other treatments that may benefit the patient in any way. Another responsibility of the physician is to educate the patient as to what their final options may be.They are inevitable to inform the patient about their diagnosis, the results of taking any medication that could be given, all alternatives that could be used to treat the patient, and also having the patient contact some other physician to confirm the diagnosis (The Oregon Death with Dignity Act 3, hereafter kno wn as The Oregon). It should be agreed that when a patient is left with no other alternatives or methods of survival, they should be allowed to decide if they want to end their own life.Physicians who aid in a patients request for aid shouldnt be judged as immoral, but nevertheless as someone who has the means and education to help patients with their last request in life. It should also be taken into consideration that everyone has the freedom of choice. Since there is no absolute legal, medical, or moral answer to the pass of what constitutes a good or correct death in the face of a terminal illness, the world-beater to make the decision about how someone dies can rest with only one individualthe soul living in that particular body (Shavelson 153).When patients are already faced with death due to a terminal illness, medically assisted suicide should be allowed so that they dont have to go through any pain. Many terminal illnesses rent the decomposition of the brain, vital org ans, and physical appearance. Patients normally run to lose their mental activity such as memory and thinking also. It isnt fair for a patient to have to go through that if they are not willing to. Not only for their mental and physical state of mind, but because of the cost. Patients shouldnt be required to pay for medical treatment that only prolongs a life with poor quality.Society also shouldnt blame a patient for not scatty to lie in a hospital know and rely on a machine to do their breathing. That patient should be entitled to choose an easy and peaceful death. Patients who make the decision to end their life shouldnt be viewed as doing something wrong because they are choosing to do something to help them. Decisions regarding time and circumstances are personal to each individual. A competent person should be able to choose. While many view the interest in preserving a life, the interest should swing when the individual has a strong desire to end their life.In conclusion, medically assisted suicide should not be viewed as ethically wrong. It should be viewed as a humane and graceful way for patients with no other alternatives to die. It prevents an individual who is terminally ill from feeling severe pain and deciding when and how they want to end their life. The suffering a patient goes through is incomprehensible to people who havent gone through it. so it shouldnt be decided by anyone but the individual going through it how long and how much suffering they endure. Bibliography Gay, Kathlyn.The Right To Die Public Controversy, secluded Matter. Brookfield, Connecticut The Millbrook Press, 1993. Keenan, James F. The Case for Physician- assist Suicide? America. November 14, 1998. 14-19. Shavelson, Lonny. A Chosen Death The Dying Confront Assisted Suicide. New York Simon and Schuster, 1995. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act. Yahoo. January 16, 2000, http//www. islandnet. com/deathnet/ergo_orlaw. html. Worsnop, Richard L. Assisted Suicide. C Q Resea rcher. Vol. 2, No. 7, p. 145-168. Washington D. C. Congressional Quarterly, Inc. , 1992.