Unit 12 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 12 - Coursework Example She claims that obligation-based theories can’t be sustainable in the long run. One example where these theories fail is the bad-parent case. It is necessary that a parent instills moral values in his kids. Obligation-based theories can’t be used to explain the reason why a parent has obligation to morally educate his children. She also opposes great emphasis on contractualism. She also says that a society that does not know anything about love and partnership is bleak, and impoverished. This gives rise of the need to bridge the gap between obligation-based and care-based theories. She proposes the concept of appropriate trust (Baier, 1995) as a marriage of love, and obligation. We can’t discard the obligation-based theories completely. Rather, we shall create an ethical standard based on love, trust, and relationship. The care-aspect is a very important and meaningful in cases of parents, doctor, nurse, friends and other relationships where deepening of special relationships is like to be more moral than impartial treatment. Rough generalizations can be made in this case, but they are not enough to give guidance for the next cases. Baier’s theory seems to provide a very good explanation of the correct moral behavior for humans. In every act of his, a person should not only just perform his obligation, but also care about other people who might be affected by the

Giving a Critique of the Usefulness of Spreadsheet Modelling in Essay

Giving a Critique of the Usefulness of Spreadsheet Modelling in Financial Accounting and Reporting - Essay Example Computer spreadsheets are very much beneficial in manipulating large volume of data very easily and in quickly (Moutinho, et al., 1994, p.26-27). Spreadsheets are very much useful in modelling situations in financial accounting and helps in various decision making processes. Uses of Spreadsheets Spreadsheets are argued to be most frequently used by most of the organisations all over the world. There are many tailor-made tools available in spreadsheets which perform specific business processes (Baker, et al., n.d.). There is an increased popularity in the use of spreadsheets in business concerns. It is so because of spreadsheets being an end user computing platform. The information systems department takes long time to complete the analysis and reporting. Moreover, spreadsheets are easy to use powerful software to do business analysis (Fisher, n.d.). Spreadsheets are used by many companies to assist in the management of information related to critical business procedures. It is done t o comply with the rules and regulations of financial accounting and reporting. With the advent of International Financial reporting Standards (IFRS), there is a need for the modifications in the existing system of financial accounting procedures in the organisations. Spreadsheets have thus become an interim option for the organisations before these changes are fully introduced in the accounting applications. Once the spreadsheets are in use in the organisation, the executives feel that the spreadsheets will be replaced by a fully designed new accounting system, very shortly. But in reality, those spreadsheets may be in use in the organisations for a much longer term. Hence it becomes difficult for managers to manage the increasing number of spreadsheets. Moreover, replacing the spreadsheets with the new accounting system can be costly option for the organisations (Baxter, 2006). In the corporate world, spreadsheets are used either for modelling purpose or for operational purpose. Mo delling spreadsheets are mainly used for a particular purpose or activity and are used as complex calculators. Spreadsheets meant for operational use acts as a core programme in business by assisting in daily transactions in business. Operational spreadsheets use all types of data, both static and dynamic and also calculations involving those data. Modelling spreadsheets become redundant once the particular task is done with it. Whereas, operational spreadsheets become an integral part of organisational processes and are in use for long term (Baxter, 2006). Five Categories of Spreadsheet Analysis Base-Case Analysis Most of the spreadsheet analyses are done for measuring the results or outcomes relative to certain base case of comparison. A base case can be either the current policy in use or the scenario which is most likely to occur or the best case or the worst case (Powell & Baker, 2010, p.120). This type of analysis can help in answering questions like what would be the expected profit next year if the current polic

Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau- Essay

Former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau- Essay It has been 10 years since the death of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. The passing of this anniversary provides an occasion to reflect on his leadership traits and legacy for our country. In 1984, I was nine years old when Trudeau resigned and from my memories, I do recall his strong vision of a united Canada, sharp wit, and flamboyant style. When he passed away in Sept 2000, I was in Ottawa at the time and saw the out pouring of emotion and accolades to his achievements. It was clear from this event, whether you admire Trudeau or not, he was not simply a good prime minister, but a remarkable prime minister who impacted many Canadians in his lifetime. From this experience, I asked myself what distinguishes a typical leader, from a great leader. In Trudeaus case, his consummate leadership skills were not based solely on intellect or technical skills, rather than, on his enhanced emotional intelligence which include greater self awareness, self regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. For the analysis of Pierre Trudeaus leadership style, his emotional intelligence will be explored to illustrate his exemplary performance as Prime Minster. Leadership Analysis: In 1968, Pierre Trudeau was elected as Prime Minister and symbolized the burgeoning hopes of a nation long relegated to the often smothering shadow cast by its dominant southern neighbour. He was young, intelligent, brilliantly articulate and physically vigorous, and enraptured the youth of the country with all the sex appeal and flamboyance of a rock star, something never before seen in Canadian politics.  [i]  (Appendix A) Self Awareness: One of Trudeaus greatest leadership traits is his self -awareness. Here, he has displayed a high degree of self confidence and a strong understanding of where he headed. One example is his Just watch me phrase that was made famous during the October crisis in October 1970 (Appendix B). Trudeau, who had in previous years been a strong proponent of civil liberties, spoke of the need for drastic action to restore order in Quebec. When questioned by a reporter on how far he would go in the suspension of civil liberties to maintain order, Trudeau replied Well, just watch me. Three days later he invoked the War Measures Act, which led to police action against many Quebec dissidents and ended the crisis.  [ii]   2.2 Self Regulation: Trudeau had an ability to control his impulses and moods. For example, during his election campaign in 1968, while attending the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day parade in Montreal, Quebec separatists were rioting and throwing rocks and bottles at where Trudeau was seated. Instead of taking cover, he remained in his seat and faced the rioters, showing no feeling of fear. The image of a politician illustrating such courage impressed the Canadian people, and he handily won the election the next day.  [iii]   2.3 Motivation: Trudeau strived to transform our nation to one that was proud of its bilingual heritage. In his first acceptance speech as Prime Minister, Trudeau, with great feeling, expressed the following ambition for his country: Canada must be unified; Canada must be one; Canada must be progressive; and Canada must be a just society. 2.4 Social Skills: In the 1968 leadership race for the Liberal Party, a nickname of Trudeaumania was coined to describe the excitement that surrounded Pierre Trudeaus candidacy. This nickname persisted throughout the federal election campaign and also, for the duration of Trudeaus early years as Prime Minister. At this time, plenty of young adults were predisposed to the 1970s counterculture and identified with Trudeau, an energetic nonconformist who was relatively young. They were dazzled by his charm and good looks, and a large fan base was established throughout the country. He would often be stopped in the streets for his autograph or for a quick photograph.  [iv]   Empathy Conclusion Since the post Trudeau era, has there been a political personality that has brought our nation together and inspired us tackle the many issues of the 21st century and develop a distinct Canadian approach to prevailing over them? From my own experience and observations, there has not been a leader since Trudeaus retirement that has exhibited bold leadership style. Perhaps pollster Michael Adams said it best of Trudeau: He represented the high mark of Canadian idealism, the last real coherent articulator of a Canadian vision of the country. Love him or hate him, we are all Trudeaus children.  [v]   Appendices The following documents have been used in the preparation of this document and are useful references to provide additional information about the comments in the assignment. Appendix A: Profile of Pierre Trudeau Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau,[1] (October 18, 1919 September 28, 2000), usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from 20 April 1968 to 4 June 1979, and again from 3 March 1980 to 30 June 1984. Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals, but he eventually joined the Liberal Party when he entered federal politics in the 1960s. He was appointed as Lester Pearsons parliamentary secretary, and later became his Minister of Justice. From his base in Montreal, Trudeau took control of the Liberal Party and became a charismatic leader, inspiring Trudeaumania. From the late 1960s until the mid-1980s, he dominated the Canadian political scene and aroused passionate reactions. Reason before passion was his personal motto.[2] He retired from politics in 1984, and John Turner succeeded him as prime minister. Admirers praise the force of Trudeaus intellect[3] and they salute his political acumen in preserving national unity against Quebec separatists, suppressing a violent revolt, and establishing the Charter of Rights and Freedoms within Canadas constitution.[4] His detractors accuse him of arrogance, economic mismanagement, and unduly favouring the authority of the federal government in relation to the provinces, especially in trying to control the oil wealth of the Prairies.[5] Trudeau remains well-regarded by many Canadians.[43] However, the passage of time has only slightly softened the strong antipathy he inspired among his opponents.[44][45] Trudeaus charisma and confidence as Prime Minister, and his championing of the Canadian identity are often cited as reasons for his popularity. His strong personality, contempt for his opponents and distaste for compromise on many issues have made him, as historian Michael Bliss puts it, one of the most admired and most disliked of all Canadian prime ministers.[46] He haunts us still, biographers Christina McCall and Stephen Clarkson wrote in 1990.[47] Trudeaus electoral successes were matched in the 20th century only by those of Mackenzie King. In all, Trudeau is undoubtedly one of the most dominant and transformative figures in Canadian political history.[48][49] Trudeaus most enduring legacy may lie in his contribution to Canadian nationalism, and of pride in Canada in and for itself rather than as a derivative of the British Commonwealth. His role in this effort, and his related battles with Quebec on behalf of Canadian unity, cemented his political position when in office despite the controversies he faced-and remain the most remembered aspect of his tenure afterward. Some consider Trudeaus economic policies to have been a weak point. Inflation and unemployment marred much of his prime ministership. When Trudeau took office in 1968, Canada had a debt of $18 billion (24% of GDP); when he left office in 1984, that debt stood at $200 billion (46% of GDP), an increase of 83% in real terms.[50] Though his popularity had fallen in English Canada at the time of his retirement in 1984, public opinion later became more sympathetic to him, particularly in comparison to his successor, Brian Mulroney. Pierre Trudeau is today seen in very high regard o n the Canadian political scene. Many politicians still use the term taking a walk in the snow, a throw-away line Trudeau used to describe his decision to leave office in 1984. Other popular Trudeauisms frequently used are just watch me, the Trudeau Salute, and Fuddle Duddle. Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_trudeau, accessed on November 11th, 2010 Appendix B: Overview of the October Crisis of 1970 The October Crisis was a series of events triggered by two kidnappings of government officials by members of the Front de libà ©ration du Quà ©bec (FLQ) during October 1970 in the province of Quebec, mainly in the Montreal metropolitan area. These circumstances ultimately culminated in the only peacetime usage of the War Measures Act in Canadas history, done by Governor General of Canada Roland Michener at the direction of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, having been requested by the Premier of Quebec, Robert Bourassa, and the Mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau. The invocation of the act resulted in widespread deployment of Canadian Forces troops throughout Quebec, and in Ottawa gave the appearance that martial law had been imposed, although the military remained in a support role to the civil authorities of Quebec. The police were also enabled with far-reaching powers, and they arrested and detained, without bail, 497 individuals, all but 62 of whom were later released without charges. At the time, opinion polls throughout Canada, including in Quebec, showed widespread support for the use of the War Measures Act.[1] The response, however, was criticized at the time and subsequently by a number of prominent leaders, including Renà © Là ©vesque, Robert Stanfield,[2] and Tommy Douglas,[3] who believed the actions to be excessive and the precedent to suspend civil liberties dangerous. The criticism was reinforced by evidence that police officials had abused their powers and detained, without cause, prominent artists and intellectuals associated with the sovereignty movement.[4] The events of October 1970 galvanized support against violence in efforts for Quebec sovereignty and highlighted the movement towards political means of attaining greater autonomy and independence,[5] including support for the sovereigntist Parti Quà ©bà ©cois, which went on to form the provincial government in 1976. Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Crisis, accessed on November 11th, 2010

Economic development in Saudi Arabia Essay

The topic about economic development has become contentious among many economists in the global scene. The paper focuses on economic development in Saudi Arabia. Discussion about the various concepts and theories about economic development has been introduced. An investigative approach has been applied in the analysis of the various factors affecting the economy of the country. All the theories and aspects of economic development identified have been integrated in the essay by providing a link between theory and practical aspects of the topic. The major emphasis is about the economy of Saudi Arabia (Bourland, para 5-9). Economic development is the establishment of new structures within an economy. Structural changes are brought about by the establishment of new infrastructures and programmes, for example; the condition of health and education in a country, population control policies, and many others. It is the expansion of both macroeconomic and microeconomic aspects of a country and does not focus only on the income of a country. Economic development is measured by the advancement of both private and public sectors in an economy (Arndt, pp. 457-466). Economic development is measured by the use of several parameters such as the improvement on the living standards of the people in a country, new infrastructures being introduced in an economy, increase in the national income and many other factors. Measuring economic growth by the use of one scale may become inefficient since there are many factors affecting the economy and its people. While assessing the aspects of economic development in a country, the main focus is on the long run status of the economy and the changes brought about by the government in a long period of time. Deviations are bound to happen in the short run; that is why the short run period is not adequate enough to measure the economic development of a country (Arndt, pp. 457-466). Background information about Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia covers a geographical area of 1,960,582 million sq. km. and has four cities; Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Dammam. The terrain of the country is mainly a desert with rugged mountains in the southwest. The country experiences an arid climate with extreme temperatures in the interior. At the coast there is high humidity and temperatures. The total population of the country is 28 million with an annual growth rate of 1. 9 percent. The main religion is Islam and the official language is Arabic. The country is known to be the home place of Islam. the culture of the country is conservative and strict Wahhabi interpretations of the laws of Islam are adhered to by the Muslims. The literacy levels have been estimated to be at an average of 78. 8 percent with a great difference between men and women (male 84. 7 percent while female 70. 8 percent). The workforce is composed of 6. 49 million people with 35 percent being foreign workers. Monarchy is the system of government in the country and the constitution is based on the Holy Qur’an (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 1-4). The kings are selected from the royal family. The king then establishes the government and the ministers to serve in the government. Saudi Arabia has joined World Trade Organization recently to promote trade in the country. The country is also a member of OPEC (Bourland, para 41). Economic development of Saudi Arabia As per the 2008 statistics the economy of Saudi Arabia had a gross domestic product of $527 billion with an annual growth rate of 6. 1 percent. The natural resources of the country are â€Å"Hydrocarbons, gold, uranium, bauxite, coal, iron, phosphate, tungsten, zinc, silver, and copper† (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 5). Agriculture accounts for a small percent of the economy of the country. The main industries in the country are â€Å"crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, and construction. † According to Bureau of Public Affairs (para. 5) the exports of the country in 2008 were valued at $364 billion while the imports where valued at $103 billion. In 2009 the exports were worth $180. 5 billion; petroleum and petroleum products accounted for 90 percent of the total exports. The government has established international relations with many countries in the world (Bourland, para 17). U. S. is the leading importer of oil products from Saudi Arabia. In 2008 oil exports were sold as follows â€Å"US 17. 2%, Japan 15. 3%, South Korea 10. 2%, China 9. 4%, India 5. 9%, Taiwan 4. 6%, Singapore 4. 4%. † the country made imports worth $86. 61 billion in 2009. The main imports are machines, equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, automobiles, and textile products. As per the data collected in 2008 the import partners are â€Å"US 12%, China 10. 4%, Japan 7. 6%, Germany 7. 3%, South Korea 5. 1%, Italy 4. 7%, India 4. 5%, UK 4%† (Bourland, para 29). Oil is the dominant economic product produced by the country for local use and export. It accounts for more than 90 percent of the exports of the country and 75 percent of the revenues collected by the government. Oil was discovered in the 1930s and large scale exploitation of the resource was done after World War II. The economic development of the country has been achieved through the sale of oil products to many countries in the world. Saudi Arabia has the largest oil reserves in the world and is the leading producer and exporter in the world. The government has control over all the oil produced in the country (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 14). The increasing oil prices have made Saudi Arabia achieve fast economic growth and development. The country has enjoyed surplus balance of deficit in trade with other countries. The revenues collected from trade in oil are used to strengthen the defense of the country, carry out development programmes and to assist other Arab and Islamic countries. Saudi Arabia has influenced OPEC to raise the oil prices. This increasing demand for petroleum products is creating a lot of revenues to the country and there have been many expansions in the industries in the country (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 16). To increase access to many foreign markets the country joined World Trade Organization in 2005. The government has encouraged foreign direct investment in the country to expand most of its industries. The living standards of many people in the country have been uplifted by the income from the sale of oil and its products. The government plans to expand the economy while maintaining its traditional Islamic values and customs (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 31). The surplus budget of the country has enabled the government improve the education system and job training to its citizens. The infrastructure of the country has been developed to improve the economic activities. The government provides good wages and salaries to its employees to promote the living standards of the people (Bourland, para 13). Saudi Arabia has successfully entered the business world. According to World Bank Group (para, 1-6) â€Å"the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been rated as the 13th most economically competitive country in the world, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC)-World Bank annual â€Å"Doing Business† report issued for 2010. † The government has enacted several reforms in many sectors of the economy to open up the market of the country to external investors. This has attracted many investors and the country is experiencing rapid growth in the business sector. The country has been ranked as the best in terms of business activities in the entire Middle East as well as in the Arab World (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 51). International relationship with other countries has been improved to maintain peace in the region and to avoid conflicts which may affect the economy of the country. The government has established several embassies with foreign countries. Saudi Arabia has maintained good relationship with US for a long period of time. The two countries have been trade partners and they exchange products as well as other resources. U. S. has been the major importer of oil products from the country. Europe and Japan have also been good trade partners with Saudi Arabia and trade has been facilitated through establishment of agreements and negotiations. To maintain peace in the region, the Saudia government funds security agents to keep peace in the neighboring countries as well as other Arab countries (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 19-25). The good relationship between U. S. and Saudia government has promoted security in the country. For example, â€Å"the United States has sold Saudi Arabia military aircraft (F-15s, AWACS, and UH-60 Blackhawks), air defense weaponry (Patriot and Hawk missiles), armored vehicles (M1A2 Abrams tanks and M-2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles), and other equipment† (Bureau of Public Affairs, para 33-41). The Saudia armed forces is supported with weapons and training facilities by the U. S. government. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers were used in the construction of military and civilian structures in the country. U. S. has promised to sell advanced defense military equipment to members of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This is a strategy to improve self-defense of the members of GCC (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 26-31). The economic development of Saudia continues to be affected by poor policies about human rights practices. Discrimination against women has remained a great challenge to the government. Ethnic and religious minorities are also not favored by the policies of the country. There are restrictions on freedom of speech and this has caused a global concern over the rights of the people to express themselves freely in the country. The press has been closely monitored by the government and strict rules have been placed to hinder spread of some information about the government. Several cases of abuse of prisoners have been reported as well as detention to citizens who are not guilty. Other human rights issues affecting the country are suppression of the rights of the workers, and the denial to change the government by the citizens. Since economic development is not only measured in terms of the GDP; the country is still lagging behind towards achieving success in the promotion of the economy (Bureau of Public Affairs, para. 32-40). The increasing population in the country is creating a great threat to the economy of the country. As the population increases more strain is placed upon the resources of the country. If the trend is not reversed the country will have inadequate resources to cater for the needs of its people. The excess control of the government to the private sector is creating threat to expansion of the private investments in the country. Foreign investors fear the strict policies established by the government upon the private investment. The system of the government also restricts growth and development of the economy since the kings come from the royal family. A democratic system of government is better since it encourages competition and good performance. Such a system increases the freedom of the people to express themselves and also provides rights to the citizens (Bourland, para 34). The global economic recession of 2007-2009 and its impacts on Saudi Arabia The economy of Saudi Arabia was affected by the global recession experienced by the world economies in 2007-2009. An estimated growth rate of -0. 6 percent in 2009 was achieved due to the poor performance of the global economies. 5 percent inflation rate was registered in the year 2009. Unemployment in the FY 2009 was estimated to be 11. 6 percent among Saudi males. The public debt of the country increased to 20. 3 percent in 2009 while the revenues declined to $167. 7 billion the same year. The public expenditure increased to $164. 3 billion in 2009. The economic recession can be traced from the subprime mortgages of the US. The banking sector in US issued many loans to subprime mortgage intermediaries. Due to the expanding market in the sub prime mortgage markets, many banks issued unsecured loans to the intermediaries. The climax of the boom was reached in 2007 when the prices of products started to increase and many subprime mortgage lenders were unable to repay their loans. This led to massive default of debts and banks registered huge losses. This reduced the lending capacity of many banks. The resulting effect was lack of credit in the economy and the collapse of many companies (Stapledon, pp. 29). Sub prime mortgages are policies which have a high risk of default. Subprime borrowers are the people with low incomes and have a poor credit history. They have higher risk of default compared to the prime borrowers. The US government had deregulated the real estate mortgages leading to massive investment in subprime mortgages. This caused the risky lending of subprime mortgages. The subprime mortgages were not popular initially but they became widely used in the 1990s. The climax of the sub prime mortgages was in 2006 when they accounted for more than 21 percent of all mortgages traded in the US market. The value of subprime mortgages in 2006 was valued at $600 billion. Many subprime mortgage intermediaries were established to reap the benefits of the expanding industry (Helleiner, pp. 44). Since the US is a major export partner to Saudi Arabia, a ripple effect of the economic crisis was felt in the country. Other economies were also affected and Saudi Arabia experienced declining exports for oil products. The imports purchased by the country were affected by global inflation and the country’s budget increased. Other economies declined since they had no market for their goods and Saudi Arabia reduced the oil exports. The entire world encountered economic crisis which resulted into failure by all sectors of the economy in the world (Stapledon, pp. 63). High levels of unemployment were experienced as industries closed down. International trade was affected by the economic crisis and this affected all sources of employment leading to high levels of unemployment. Poverty increased and the living standards of many people declined. Family incomes were low and the people barely survived through the hard economic period. The low incomes that people had could not buy the products in the market due to high rates of inflation. In the global economies, the crisis was at the peak in July 2008 but afterwards, it started to decline. The decline of the crisis started towards the beginning of 2009. The economy of Saudi Arabia has started to regain from the crisis. The economy has not yet recovered and a lot of investment is required to regain the normal economic situation as before. It will take a lot of time for the economy of the country to recover completely from the impacts of the crisis (Helleiner, pp. 35). Current strategies The government has introduced new strategies to promote economic recovery from the economic recession experienced in the recent past. The government of Saudi Arabia is encouraging private investors to extend investment in other sectors of the economy to avoid overdependence on oil. Only ten percent of the industries are non-oil manufacturing in Saudi Arabia. This sector provides employment to about six percent of the working population. This condition has been identified as risky and urgent measures have been adopted to reverse the trend especially after the global recession experienced in the country last year. The economic crisis affected the country due to over-dependence on oil as the main economic product. Other sectors have been neglected and this has created a major risk to the economy of the country. The government has permitted private and foreign investors to participate in telecom and power generation industries. Foreign direct investment has been encouraged by the government to increase the economic activities in the country as well as provide employment to more people (Bourland, para 38). Conclusion Economic development measures to changes in the structures, population, and the welfare of the people living in a country. The economy of Saudi Arabia has developed tremendously over the years due to the wealth of natural resources bestowed upon the country. Oil and other petroleum products are the main economic products produced and exported by the country. The country has established good relationship with other countries. It participates in trade with several countries. The government has offered assistance to neighboring countries and other Arab countries in terms of finances, peacekeeping and other aspects. The over-dependence on oil and petroleum products has placed the economy of the country at a great risk. Diversification in the economic activities has been encouraged to provide a better position in the turbulent global markets. Saudi Arabia has been adversely affected by the global economic crisis due to over-reliance on oil as the main economic product. The progress towards achieving success in economic development in the country has been hindered by the poor human rights practices experienced in the country. Work cited Arndt, H. W. Economic Development: A Semantic History. â€Å"Economic Development and Cultural Change. † Vol. 29, No. 3. (Apr. , 1981), pp. 457-466. Chicago: The Chicago University Press. Bourland, Brad. The Saudi Economy’s Golden Era: Phase Two. Saudi-US Relations Information Service. August 24, 2007. Brummer, A. â€Å"Turbulence Ahead; the Global Credit Crunch Has Hardly Begun to Bite: Much Worse Is to Come. Alex Brummer Predicts That 2008 Will Present Labor with by Far Its Sternest Economic Test†. New Statesman. Jan 7, 2008. Volume: 137. Issue: 4878. Bureau of Public Affairs. â€Å"Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. † Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. April 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010 from; Stapledon, N. , â€Å"Housing and the Global Financial Crisis: US versus Australia. Economic and Labor Relations Review. July 2009Volume: 19. Issue: 2. World Bank Group, Doing Business. 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2010 from;

Exploring Gender Identity And Gender Roles - 1809 Words

EXPLORING GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER ROLES HOMOSEXUALITY Abstract Gender identity display people’s understanding of themselves according to cultural definitions of female and male. In this essay I will attempt to enhance our understanding by exploring different aspects of gender identity, gender roles sexual identity issues. Relying mostly on my research that is conducted in the U.S. EXPLORING GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER ROLES HOMOSEXUALITY Exploring Gender Identity, Gender Roles Homosexuality We are currently living in a society where nearly every aspect of a person’s day is based whether or not he or she qualified inside the â€Å"norm† that society has created. Particularly, masculinity and femininity norms have a huge impact†¦show more content†¦In today’s society, it is completely common for a male to act feminine and female to act masculine and considered as â€Å"normal.† Men now wear female clothing and female wear male EXPLORING GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER ROLES HOMOSEXUALITY clothing. A male who go shopping at the female section, and a female who shops at the male section. Men now perform house duties like cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children while females perform outside work. Not only that but to a lot of people who transitions undergo to a surgical operation to completely have the gender they desired. However, many people still believe that this kind of act is unacceptable. Members of the LGBT are often victims of discrimination, such as being subject to insults and jokes or being rejected by friends or family members. Particularly, those religious parents who strongly believes that there are only two genders that should exist which are male and female. They sometimes resort to physical abuse the moment they find out that their child is homosexual in order for them to become straight. Although, some parents were able to take the news. Many of them are still going through something si milar to a grieving action which include: denial, sense of loss, shock, anger and guilt. These combined emotions are understandable given our society’s mental outlook towards lesbians, bisexuals and gays. Parents shouldn’t blame themselves. But since they love their child, they should learn to moveShow MoreRelatedIdentity Is A Long Process Of Exploration And Discovery1506 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Identity? Identity is really a complex thing and can’t be as simple as just asking someone who they are as Swartz mentions in his writing, â€Å"What is Identity.† Asking someone the question of who they are barely scrapes the surface of that person’s identity. This poses the internal subconscious thought in many of â€Å"who am I?† When asking oneself â€Å"who am I,† one might think in less complex terms such as; personality, race, ethnicity, culture etc. as the main focus to describe who they are. 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The Character of Okonkwo in Chinua Achebes Things Fall...

The Character of Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart What makes a successful man? This, in itself, is a culture bound question because it can vary from culture to culture. However, in the perception of Okonkwo, the main character in Chinua Achebes novel, Things Fall Apart, the measure of a mans success is based on two elements, material acquisition and growth, and physical prowess. This is ironic for Okonkwo since his peoples typical idea of success seems to be constructed of a complex, strong spiritual culture, seemingly able to deal in traditional ways with any challenge in nature and human experience. (Ravenscroft 9) Although Okonkwo is undoubtedly an important member of Umuofian society,†¦show more content†¦It is important to establish these facts because it exemplifies Okonkwos journey, and ultimately that of the Ibo people (as Achebe intended), as tragic in nature. As stated earlier, Okonkwo was obsessed with success. This manifested itself in many materialistic ways. First, he started out with nothing since he inherited nothing from his debt ridden father. He was forced to borrow seeds from a wealthy man. This was something he hated doing, but realized it was the only way to begin to become the man he wanted to be. I began to fend for myself at an age when most people still suck at their mothers breasts. If you give me some yam seeds I shall not fail you. (Achebe 16) Here we can see that Okonkwo started adulthood, in fact supporting his family, at a very early age. He began to cultivate his farm before many of the other townspeople. This unfortunately lead to disaster the first year since the rains came early and much of his crop wasShow MoreRelatedEssay about Role of Women in Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe1453 Words   |  6 Pagespromoted the growth of a woman’s role in society, does not mean women receive the same respect in other cultures around world. 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Lord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay - 1080 Words

Lord of the Flies Essay â€Å"Maybe there is a beast†¦ maybe its only us.†(Golding [Page 50]) The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is a novel that goes much deeper than a group of 12 year old boys stranded on an island. Throughout the book Golding portrays symbols and constant themes which show how he feels about the human race; that there is an inner beast inside everyone and no matter who you are, it will eventually get exposed. Golding also shows symbols throughout the book which represent the end of civilization, or on a much larger scale the end of humankind due to the war that was going on at the time of the novel. One of the symbols shown in Lord of the Flies is the constant theme of people and objects falling. Not only does this†¦show more content†¦Whoever had the shell could talk, and when the shell was blown all the boys came together. The conch was the thing that brought the boys together and made Ralph the leader. If Ralph didn’t have the conch, then there is a good chance that Jack would’ve been voted leader and the book would be different. â€Å"But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. The being that had blown that, had sat waiting for them on the platform with the delicate thing balanced on his knees, was set apart.†(Golding [Page 22]) This quote illustrates the scene when Ralph was elected leads and says the most powerful thing about him was the fact that he had the shell. This symbolizes how important the shell was to the boys, and in the end when it broke, something also broke in the boys and all they cared about was violence and hurting each other. â€Å"The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist.†(Golding [Page 181]) This implies that once the conch shell was gone, so was Piggy and the boy’s will to be civilized. When Piggy has his glasses it symbolizes how him and Ralph have a clear vision of whats going on and what is right, when Piggy’s glasses break once Jack starts getting uncivilized.Much like the conch shell, when his glasses broke, the boys broke intoShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay726 Words   |  3 Pagesalways refer to their morals to make decisions. Sanity is lost without referring to your morals. In Lord of the Flies, a group of young boys crashes onto an uninhabited island without adult supervision. 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In the novel, The Lord of the Flies, William Golding, utilizes symbols in order to get his deeper meaning across. In a novel about boys isolated on an island during the time period of World War II, Golding shows the outcome s of what isolation can have on a group of people. While trying to get these messages across, the author uses symbols as an aid These symbols range from strength, hope, andRead MoreLord Of The Flies Fire Symbolism Essay813 Words   |  4 Pagesan intrinsic relationship with the spirit it represents. A fire radiates heat and light to create an impression of power and liveliness. The vivacious flames are always dancing in different patterns, but maintain a degree of constancy. In the Lord of the Flies, fire is a prominent symbol of Ralph’s hopeful spirit throughout the series of events on the island. Fire’s recurring appearances throughout the novels demonstrates that there is always hope in all situations regardless of the amount of resourcesRead More Symbolism in Lord of the Flies by Golding Essay1064 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism - Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, Golding uses many images and symbols to portray evil and destruction. Symbolism Throughout the novel, Lord of the Flies, Golding uses many images and symbols to portray evil and destruction. One of the main symbols is the beast, and it destroys the relationships of the boys and is the main symbol of evil. The conch on the other hand, is the symbol of good, and represents the pure side of the boys. There are also many symbols whichRead MoreEssay about Symbolism in Lord of the Flies2983 Words   |  12 PagesSymbolism in Lord of the Flies The story, Lord of the Flies, has many interesting symbols relating adult society to kids surviving on an island. Many of the characters and items in this novel such as Jack or the conch can be interpreted on a macroscopic scale but the most important being this; a microcosm of children on an island makes a Read MoreEssay on Symbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding912 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in Lord of the Flies, by William Golding In his classic novel, Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses many elements of symbolism to help the readers gain a greater understanding of his message. Symbolism can be anything, a person, place, or thing, used to portray something beyond its self. It is used to represent or foreshadow the conclusion of the story. As one reads this novel, he or she will begin to recognize the way basic civilization is slowly stripped away from the boys as conflict