'Capitalism is a force of progress for business and society'. Discuss Essay

'Capitalism is a force of progress for business and society'. Discuss - Essay Example Progress, on the other hand, can be defined as a gradual shift from one state to another. This paper seeks to discuss capitalism as a force of progress for business and society. Capitalism as a Force of Progress for Business and Society In a capitalistic nation, a business and a society can be seen to relate in that both involve a group of people held by some common beliefs and objectives. The main principle applied in capitalism as an economic system is the principle of open competition. Capitalism treats all parties in an economy equally. As such, completion gets encouraged in the production of goods and delivery of services (Chang 2011, p.133). With capitalism, more choices get given for goods needed in an economy. This gives customers a large pool of products from which to choose their preferred taste. Capitalism makes it possible for these goods to come at the preferred prices of the customers. The same product may be produced at different levels of quality so as to be affordabl e to all classes of people in an economy. Competition has a wide range of benefits to the business sector. One such benefit is that it ensures a continuous production of standard goods as businesses try to compete with each other. In a competitive environment, businesses get to acquire the most competitive human labor available in the market. In order to impress businesses, individuals get required that they keep their skills up to date. Competition in a capitalistic society also entails competing for the available scarce resources (Hurrell 2007, p.348). This competition keeps businesses on their toes in terms of management and production. It is, therefore, necessary for the progress of such a society. In a capitalistic economy, the influence of the government on production gets highly minimized. This allows for all owners of the factors of production to compete fairly in the economy. Lack of government interference further ensures that potential investors get attracted to invest in such an economy. This is because they feel that they will have sole control of their production processes. When companies have less burdensome regulations from the government, they tend to perform better than when there is a lot of regulation from the government (Wade 2009, p.568). Capitalism in most cases works for the social good of the society. Although it may seem at the first instance that in capitalism everyone is greedy for money, an inner look of the matter may reveal otherwise. Every economic activity carried out in a capitalistic economy provides some benefits to another person different from the one producing it. Goods and services offered get produced by owners of the factors of production who later use the same income to pay for the factors of production such as labor and raw materials. These incomes, therefore, get rechanneled back to the economy. Capitalism brings equality in the society. No matter where a person may start in life, everyone has the opportunity to ach ieve what they wish. The basic principle used is that the harder one works the higher the reward one gets. Capitalism treats all individuals in a society equally providing them with equal opportunities to succeed. In a capitalistic society, all individuals get subjected to the same rules that govern the production activities in such a country. Capitalism further provides

American Government Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

American Government - Research Paper Example The last part undertakes the critical evaluation of the policies undertaken and suggests optimal policy ramifications. The launch pad for the flight of the worst recession in the past six decades around the globe was unleashed in the mid of 2007 and continued over almost two years. The entire global economy remained shivering owing to its evil affects. Moreover this recession jeopardized the roots of the formidable US economy. The dark sides began to erupt with global job crisis and crisis-induced credit crunch that lead to trade collapse. Again high rate of unemployment in the OECD countries devastated millions of the civilians of the poorer countries sweeping them deep down into acute poverty (Verick & Islam, 2010, p.v ). The absolute damage to the financial sector was prolific. The entire globe moved into a shock as the stock markets crashed and the giant financial institutions collapsed or went bankrupted. Even the governments in the wealthiest nations came up with rescue packages to save their financial systems from further worsening. It was soon felt that this global financial meltdown would affect the livelihoods of almost everyone around the world in an increasingly inter-connected world (Shah, 2010). The paper will highlight on various factors of global economic crisis of 2008-2009 with major focus on the US economy and how far the key actors of the American government are successful in curbing the evil effects of the crisis on the US economy. The world economic crisis of 2008- 2009 can be attributed mainly to the combination of world macroeconomic imbalances and serious weaknesses in the U.S. and the western financial structure. The US exports in 1975, exceeded the foreign imports by an amount of $12, 400 million. But that was the last trade surplus the United States saw in the 20th century. By 1987, the American trade deficit   swelled to $153,300 million. The deficit diminished a

Analysing the concept of Employee Development

Analysing the concept of Employee Development Human resources are the most important resources in any organization. It can be said that the success of any organization relies upon the success and performance of its employees. Organizations need to remain competitive within their respective markets and therefore they need their employees to equally competitive. Change management demands that competent employees are hired in order to facilitate the process of adapting to foreseeable challenges in life. Like the many forms of employee training, employee development programs are designed to address issues that affect employees. These issues range from corporate values and organizational missions to understanding and achieving personal career goals. This reports defines employee development (ED), addresses the main differences between training and development, highlights the significance of this process on the individual and organizational levels, points out various approaches used in implementing such process and finally it discusse s the roles of both employers and employee in the success development (Roth well, 2010). Definition of Employee Development The concept of employee development is not a new one. It has existed since the 1920s and it has changed and evolved depending on the ups and downs of the job market. When unemployment rates are low, making more jobs available, and organizations try to focus on keeping their current employees, so programs are designed with that in mind. When the market is more unstable and rife with lay-offs and downsizing, organizations might focus on cross-training their employees or teaching them more marketable skills. More recently, employers have adapted in such a way that they no longer expect to keep a new employee until their retirement. Hence, many organizations are now focusing their employee development programs on how to achieve personal goals, how to better prepare for various technological advances, and how to be more productive, in an overall sense. In doing this, an organization creates a culture that embraces and encourages employee growth, development and success, which in turn cont ributes to the overall success of the organization (Sims, 2001). Employee development is therefore a system of providing opportunities for employees to reach their full potential through improving their skills, knowledge and other attributes and to become of greater value for the organization. Normally it incorporates new hire orientation, training, career Management, and Management Development (Cavanaugh Cavanaugh, 2008). Development is about preparing for change in the form of new jobs, new responsibilities, or new requirements. Differences between training and development Training and development are processes that attempt to provide an employee with information, skills, and an understanding of the organization and its goals. In addition, training and development are designed to help a person continue to make positive contributions in the form of good performance. The term training is often confused with the term development. Training is defined as any attempt to improve employee performance on a currently held job or one related to it (Cavanaugh Kail, 2008). The key difference between training and development is that employee development is not always directly tied to observable, behavioral change. It cultivates individuals so that their organization and work group collectively possess the competencies essential to meet present responsibilities and prepare for future ones (Taylor, 2002). As such, training is designed to address current performance problems, whereas development focuses on preparing employees for future assignments. Training is focus on current immediate skills and abilities enhancements that will affect have results in the employees job today. Training tends to be more focused on building skills and abilities for individuals current jobs and tends to have a more short-term focus. Development is preparing the employee for a future. This imparts employees with hope for a future with the company or industry. It has a wider focus, longer time frame, and broader scope than training (Hawley, 2004). Importance of employee Development Employee development is the most salient aspect of organizational management towards achieving set business objectives. Qualified and competent workforce ensures that company objectives are realized through greater job outcomes. Training of employees equips them with appropriate skills and competencies to perform their duties satisfactorily (Keeton Sheckley, 2001). This leads to quality job outcomes which meet the expectations of stakeholders and customers alike. Satisfied clients are hitherto retained. Employee training also facilitates the process of acquiring new job skills relevant for solving challenges at workplace by employees. Development of employee training programs by a company integrates a culture of responsibility and accountability amongst the workforce in line with expected standards of quality and performance. Employees are equally motivated to work on their assigned duties towards developing their careers. To this end, employee training motivates workers. Employee d evelopment plays a major role in the organizational strategy. Employees are competing more for power, status, managers time and opportunities for personal growth and development. Approaches to Employee Development The best approaches to employee development takes into account various techniques appropriate for the composition of the workforce, the objectives need to be accomplished, and to allow for individual differences in learning styles. These approaches fall into four broad categories and many organizations combine these approaches: formal education, assessment, job experiences, and interpersonal relationships (Society, 1996). Formal Education Another option is tuition reimbursement. Some organizations will reimburse their employees for attending courses or earning a particular degree. This frequently, though not always, involves distance education programs. Advantages and disadvantages of off-site versus on-site approaches can be differentiated as follows: Advantages Get to learn outside of the culture of the organization. Get fresh perspectives. Increases critical thinking skills. Disadvantages Information taught is not always directly applicable to the industry or company the employee is in. Assessment Information for assessment may come from the employees, their peers, managers and customers. Why would companies invest in assessment of employees? The most frequent uses of assessment are: to identify employees with managerial potential, to measure current managers strengths and weaknesses, and to identify managers with potential to move into higher-level executive positions (Roth well, 2010). Methods and sources of information used in developmental assessment include: performance appraisals, psychological tests, and ratings of behaviors and style of working with others. Tools used for assessment include: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, assessment centers, the Benchmarks assessment, performance appraisal, and 360-degree feedback (Taylor, 2002). Developing a planning Process Employee development should be one tool for implementing HR plans. Unfortunately, it rarely is because ED is seldom planned. Creating a planned employee development program usually consists of many steps: Identifying each work group in the organization: Clarifying the groups purpose, activities and responsibilities Planning changes to group purpose, activities and responsibilities so that they match the desired purpose, activities and responsibilities of the work group. Determining how many and what kind of people are presently available in the work group. Comparing desired human resources to available supplies. Establishing a long term action plans for each work groups in order to narrow gaps between desired and available HR supplies through planned ED. Identifying development needs Choosing a development goal Identifying the actions that need to be taken by the employee and the company to achieve the goal Determining how progress toward goal attainment will be measured Investing time and energy to achieve the goal Establishing a timetable for development Employee development is most likely to meet the organizations needs if it is part of a human resource system of career management. Basic career management system involves four steps: Self-assessment Reality check Goal setting Action planning At each step, both the employee and the organization have responsibilities.The system is most likely to be beneficial if it is linked to the organizations objectives and needs, has support from top management, and is created with employee participation (Cavanaugh Cavanaugh, 2008). Conclusion Maintaining human resources is a vital part of the overall management of organizations greatest resources, their human capital. This includes proper employee orientation, training and development. These will help the organization create a posture of learning and thus remain competitive in their respective markets (Society, 1996). Employees should be help accountable for the training and development that they receive and thus results should be measurable for it to be an overall success. Effective training and development is vital part of the overall management of human resources however, in recent budget constraints it is often the first place organizations look to cut. This should be reconsidered based upon the return that an organization receives from its investment in its employees (Sims, 2001). . Training and development are critical components to successfully managing the human capital of an organization. Ongoing training and development is an investment that can help firms stimulate employee growth and maximize the competitive advantages provided by lifelong learning (First College, 1996). There are many ways to begin, and it all doesnt have to be done at once or in any particular order.

Jane Eyre :: essays research papers

In the two stories, Jane Eyre and The Yellow Wallpaper, the main characters are faced with various encounters with authority. Jane and the Narrator are the central characters that are faced with these authority figures, and an external as well as an internal relationship is developed with the figures that have power over them. These two women also display a unique use of authority to benefit themselves at various points in the stories. Jane and the Narrator are first alike in the way that they outwardly express their feelings about the situations they are in by the use of actions and words. This open, verbal communication with these figures in their lives is a common trait between them, but what differs is that Jane's communication is positive (she gets her feelings in the open and is understood) and the Narrator never gets listened to. The second similarity between Jane and the Narrator is the inner attitude that they feel about the figures of authority. This attitude is present in both characters as the reader sees their inner thoughts and feelings as well as the words and actions that take place when the authority figures are not around. The last criterion that is common to both Jane and the Narrator is that each woman gains a power of authority near the end of their story. What differs between the two is how they go about possessing the authority, and how they use it when they finally have it. The end result is made up of similarities between the two women's characteristics, but differences in the way that they use those characteristics in their lives. The novel Jane Eyre is about a young girl who goes through her life struggling with various life issues. Jane encounters people that treat her with little respect, the feeling of being trapped in situations that she is not happy in, and learning how to grow up as a poor girl who has to make all of her own decisions without any help.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A significant starting point in the novel Jane Eyre is at her arrival at Thornfield, and her meeting with Mr. Rochester. At that estate Jane is employed as the governess of a small child named Adele. At this point in Jane’s life, she is learning what it is like to be a paid subordinate under a master. This proves to be a good learning experience for Jane, and as the character of Rochester goes on to shape her life as she stays there, Jane learns and grows along with her feelings.

1. Is It Fine to Privatize Profits and Nationalize Losses, Is It Right for Organisational Development?

1. Is it fine to privatize profits and nationalize losses, is it right for organisational development? As the United States Of America had to suffer sub-prime crisis during 2007-2008. Many home-owners defaulted in their payments causing Freddie and Fannie to suffer multi-billion dollar losses. The share prices tumbled by more than 90% and the investors around the world felt that these two firms might not be able to live upto the guarantees which they have to provide to the public. It is somehow justified to â€Å"Privatize profits and nationalize losses† as the major companies(Freddie and Fannie) which required bailouts were US federal government entities and their guarantee was backed up by the federal government and in case of crisis the US government backed it with a gurarantee. Therefore the mortgage was a very safe option for the public. It is somehow argued that to privatize profits and nationalize losses is not good for the Organisational Development of the companies as this might set up a bad example for the future. It encourages weak leadership and poor management. The organisations should access the risk associated with their functioning and should adopt a proactive approach to counter such problems. The assured government bailout would affect the organisational working which would otherwise have been different. 2. Was this a result of failure of leadership of these firms ? The downfall of such huge companies is not just a failure of the financial system, but also a huge leadership failure. Excessive interest in personal financial goals as against the larger interest of the organization is one of the root cause of this meltdown. These days some managers are not that efficient and rely on reward and incentives. They believe that if they hire smart people, give huge incentives for personal results, the management of the firm would take care of itself. Under such circumstances, taking risks to achieve personal goals even if that puts others or organization in danger seems acceptable. These particular leadership failures have been a major cause of this full-scale meltdown of US financial So, proper approach and tackling problems in advance can avoid such kind of downfall of the companies. For eg. The subprime crises has never been thought off in indian market and the indian companies are not providing sub prime loans and have been only dealing with prime mortgage market so as to avoid future debacles which would prove fatal for the economy. The sub prime market of India is considerably small than the Prime mortgage market.

Implementation on teaching and learning approach

Nizwa College of Technology ( NCT ) follows a strategic program to accomplish its Vision and Mission as stated in NCT College Strategic Plan ( CSP ) . One of the ends of NCT is to offer high quality of instruction, larning and developing chances to all its pupils in line with the demands of the market [ Goal 2, NCT CSP ] . To guarantee that all the sub-goals [ Sub-Goal 2.a, 2.b, 2.c, 2.d ] pertaining to instruction and acquisition are achieved, the College through the Assistant Dean of Academics ( AD Academics ) encourages all academic staff to implement the ADRI [ QAM, p73 ] analysis in their instruction and larning map. The ADRI theoretical account for learning and acquisition is developed by AD Academics and is traveling to be presented in 13 June 2010 in the International Conference on Higher Education and Quality Assurance in Mazoon College, Muscat.DeploymentIn line with its aims, the first NCT Quality Assurance workshop for the College staff was conducted on 16th October 2008 w here one of the subjects discussed is ADRI theoretical account. In his presentation, AD Academics explained to the participants how to efficaciously utilize the ADRI theoretical account in the assorted procedures they are making in the behavior of their work. He specifically provided an ADRI theoretical account related to class bringing and other related activities. The AD Academics requested the academic staff to get down utilizing ADRI in their instruction and larning map. The execution of the ADRI analysis in NCT started in Semester 1, 2008-2009. To promote more staff to get down utilizing ADRI, the AD Academics launched the â€Å" Best ADRI † competition among the staff for A.Y. 2008-2009. A staff from IT has won the competition by coming up with the most elaborate ADRI for his class in IT Project. A 2nd ADRI presentation was conducted on 26th of May 2009 attended by about 110 NCT lectors. Harmonizing to NCT QAFU Portal, â€Å" the AD Academics emphasized in his presentation the importance of utilizing the theoretical account in placing programs for learning every academic twelvemonth, purely following the said program, analysing the consequences afterwards, and so supplying suggestions for betterment to be carried out in the succeeding academic twelvemonth. He expound on the usage of the ADRI theoretical account in learning by giving illustrations and activities a lector can supply in each phase of the ADRI theoretical account, from attack to betterment. He said that it is really of import for the college to hold a unvarying execution of the ADRI theoretical account, peculiarly in learning and acquisition, so that an institutional criterion can be followed in respects the quality confidence work in this country. † At the beginning, it was observed that merely 10 % of the academic staff is implementing ADRI analysis in instruction and acquisition and most of the staff have doubts on how to implement it decently. Likewise, many new staff has arrived in the College that needed orientation on ADRI so a 3rd presentation was given by the AD Academics on 8th February 2010 to familiarise new staff with how ADRI analysis could be implemented in their maps. Similarly, a new competition for â€Å" Best ADRI † for the current academic twelvemonth was initiated and the engagement is about 40 % . A study on ADRI Implementation in Teaching and Learning as shown in Appendix A was conducted in NCT to verify the consciousness of all academic staff. The study besides tries to get information from staff sing the importance of ADRI in their academic work and acquire feedback on the possibility of ADRI execution in other countries of work. Furthermore, the study tries to obtain feedback on jobs in ADRI execution and possible ways of bettering the usage of ADRI in NCT. The study was conducted in all academic sections of NCT including the Business ( Bus ) Department, English Language Center ( ELC ) , Engineering ( Engg ) Department and Information Technology ( IT ) Department. There are 47 % respondents or 73 out of 155 academic staff interrupt down into 18 respondents from Business, 10 from Engineering, 27 from ELC and 22 from IT section. The questionnaire has a sum of 22 inquiries which take the respondents feedback and perceptual experience on ADRI Awareness ( Aw ) , Acquisition ( Ac ) , Usefulness ( Us ) and Effectiveness ( Ef ) . Open-ended inquiries were besides included in the study to take the respondents sentiment and suggestions sing ADRI execution in instruction and acquisition.ConsequencesTable 1Percept of Staff on ADRI Implementation Harmonizing to Awareness, Acquisition, Usefulness and Effectiveness ( measured on a 5-point graduated table )The consequence on Table 1 shows that the respondents agree that there is an â€Å" mean † consciousness on ADRI in footings of the information posted on the NCT web site, as a clear tool for appraisal and in footings of relaxation in implementing ADRI independently. The respondents besides perceived â€Å" mean † acquisition in footings of similitude to utilize ADRI in their everyday work. Respondents besides perceived ADRI as â€Å" mean † in foot ings of utility in heightening the pupil ‘s acquisition, as a tool for professional growing and for informing the staff how good they teach. In footings of effectivity, the respondents perceived that ADRI as â€Å" mean † in supplying better planning to academic work, increasing pupil interaction and engagement, and in bettering pupil ‘s consciousness.Table 2Percentage of YES Responses to ADRI Awareness QuestionsSurvey ItemsBusinessELCEngineeringInformation technologyPercentageAw1a94 89 100 100 96Aw1b50 74 20 27 43Aw272 78 80 95 81Aw383 70 80 55 72Aw483 89 80 82 84 Based on table 2, it is clear that 96 % of the respondents are cognizant of ADRI and 43 % of the respondents have non used any self-assessment tool other than ADRI in their calling. 81 % of the respondents have used ADRI in their work but 72 % among them think that they still need aid in implementing it. Another 84 % agree that ADRI could be implemented in work other than learning.Table 3Percentage of YES Responses to ADRI Acquisition QuestionsSurvey ItemsBusinessELCEngineeringInformation technologyPercentageAc172 63 90 73 75Ac278 56 50 50 59Ac356 59 60 59 59 Harmonizing to Table 3, 75 % of the respondents agree that utilizing ADRI has increased their accomplishments and 59 % prefer utilizing ADRI to other self-assessment tools and would besides wish to implement ADRI every semester for learning and acquisition.Table 4Percentage of YES Responses to Usability QuestionsSurvey ItemsBusinessELCEngineeringInformation technologyPercentageUs156 59 50 64 57Us244 15 60 32 38Us367 56 90 73 72Us450 48 90 45 58 Table 4 shows that 57 % of the respondents think that ADRI helps in the immediate accommodation of learning pattern and 58 % agree that ADRI could be used to give justification of pupil results. Merely 38 % of the respondents agree that ADRI can be used to turn to all issues of instruction and larning although 72 % of them believe that it could be used to mensurate the booby traps and deficits in instruction and acquisition. Using the same study, feedback and suggestions were taken from the academic staff. Based on the feedbacks gathered, it is singular that utilizing ADRI made the academic staff aware of the importance of planning and good deployment attack in accomplishing the best consequences and covering more learning results. Harmonizing to the study, ADRI is the best tool for self-reflection and in happening out the countries that needs betterment and alteration. Furthermore, respondents agree that ADRI made the class bringing be aftering more effectual and helped a batch in bettering class stuffs, learning AIDSs and other teaching resources and methodological analysiss. They all agree that betterments from self-assessment utilizing ADRI has a great impact on the pupils ‘ category engagement and involvement in the category. Some of the notable and interesting positive responses from the study are as follows: â€Å" It made me more observant of what is go oning in the category and more sensitive to pupil ‘s demands † â€Å" We can measure ourselves in a better manner † â€Å" Better self-contemplation into manners of instruction, improved consciousness of the demand to better and modify certain countries † â€Å" No other better nutrient can replace ADRI in all our plants † â€Å" ADRI is passing the whole instruction procedure † â€Å" Any professional instructor unconsciously uses ADRI without believing about it † â€Å" ADRI is non a new tool, it is an in-built nature of the human existences † Most of the respondents feel that ADRI could be implemented efficaciously if the semester continuance is longer and some of them feel that ADRI becomes uneffective if academic staff is given different classs every semester because there will be no continuity and the betterments made based on the consequences can non be implemented. Some of the important negative responses from the study are as follows: â€Å" It requires more clip and paper work † â€Å" Since we are non certain about learning the same class once more, ‘Improvement ‘ portion of ADRI is less practical † â€Å" Analytic survey utilizing ADRI become less relevant for uninterrupted quality betterment which must be carried out the undermentioned semester or rhythm of learning and larning † â€Å" Deficit of clip † â€Å" It is acquiring progressively hard to make anything because of increased bureaucratism, lesson program composing, memos, meeting, test readying, pupil monitoring, etc. †ImprovementAlthough 81 % of the respondents have used ADRI in their work and hold on the effectivity of utilizing ADRI in learning and acquisition, there is still 72 % that suggests for more information and workshops for better apprehension and execution. Some of the respondents suggested that best ADRI illustrations might be selected and discussed during the workshops so that more staff and pupils could profit from the procedure. Some of the respondents besides suggested that academic staff be required to fix ADRI merely in one ( 1 ) class per semester and ADRI could be implemented in all classs when all the staff is already familiar in utilizing it. Based on the consequences gathered from the study, NCT through the AD of Academic Affairs is be aftering for more workshops sing ADRI execution on instruction and acquisition. The workshops will be by section so that more issues can be addressed. The best ADRI from the 2 competitions will be disseminated to all the staff so that that they will hold more information on how to fix ADRI and same ADRI samples will be discussed during departmental workshops. During the workshops, staff from each section could be grouped together and inquire to fix an ADRI based on a given instance scenario.

Diagnosing Children with ADHD essays

Diagnosing Children with ADHD essays There is considerable confusion as to exactly what ADHD is and how it should be treated. Part of the problem is that there is no definitive test to certify that a child has it. And because symptoms are usually fidgeting, loss of concentration, being disruptive and impulsive and making careless mistakes in schoolwork, to not finishing tasks, it's not always easy to distinguish between normal kid behavior and ADHD. I feel that parents are quick to medicate their children. They would rather give them a pill than take the time that is needed to redirect their attention and socialize them. There are some children whose impulsivity and aggressiveness can be extreme and cause them to fall hopelessly behind in school and to become social outcasts; a parent's decision to medicate can be a very hard one to make. On the other hand what about the parents of the countless of other kids who also may also carry the ADHD label but whose behavior is more uncertain? These parents face a lot of questions: Is their child's energy, dreaminess, or inattentiveness simple normal youthful behavior, or does it cross the line into an illness? And would putting the child on drugs be a help or hold them back in so many other ways? It is easier and cheaper for a doctor to simply prescribe a pill than to direct the child to costly therapists. The medications can cause serious side effects. The children taking them have been known to have suffered from insomnia, upset stomachs, appetite loss and even ticks. Most of these children often are vulnerable to having all of their initial symptoms resurface when the medication wares off. In some rare instances some children have experienced seizures and have had their growth affected by taking their ADHD medication over long periods of time. I have looked into other ways that might be more effective in helping children with ADHD. I feel these are much more effective if the parents take the time and try them rather ...

Conserving Economic Theories essays

Conserving Economic Theories essays Before the Industrial Revolution, we would export our raw goods to other countries. Then they were made into manufactured goods and shipped back to us where we had to pay a high fee for them. Now that the Industrial Revolution is starting we have many factories and industries. These factories can now turn our raw goods into useful manufactured materials. The growth of these factories and industries are the start of the Industrial Revolution. They are bringing a lot of money to the American economy which making many people rich. There are many different views on what the rich should do with their money. The conservative economic theories included laissez-faire, Social Darwinism, and The Gospel of Wealth (AMSCO p.339). Adam Smith came up with the idea of laissez-faire when he wrote An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations in 1776 (Smith, Adam). Since he wrote this before the Industrial Revolution, his ideas never really caught on until now. According to the theory of laissez-faire, the government wouldnt be as involved in the economy. Adam Smith believed that this would help the economy by introducing competition which would improve the goods and services and lower the prices (AMSCO p.339). He was completely against monopolies and mercantilist ideas because he believed that they worked against his whole laissez-faire idea. He did believe that there should be restrictions on free trade and the government should get involved in the economy to reduce poverty and government regulations to support the workers (Smith, Adam). Social Darwinism was the idea of survival of the fittest. Herbert Spencer was the most influential Social Darwinist. He believed that money went to the most fit, which was most beneficial to society (AMSCO p.339). Many of the wealthy people started out poor and worked their way up. Social Darwinists believed that those who rem...

ABBOTT Surname Meaning and Origin

ABBOTT Surname Meaning and Origin The Abbott surname means abbot or priest, from the Old English abbod or Old French abet, which in turn derive from the Late Latin or Greek abbas, from the Aramaic abba, meaning father. Abbott generally originated as an occupational name for the chief ruler or priest of an abbey, or for someone employed in the household or on the grounds of an abbot (since celibate clergy usually didnt have descendants to carry on the family name). According to a Dictionary of American Family Names it may also have been a nickname bestowed on a sanctimonious person thought to resemble an abbot. The Abbott surname is also common in Scotland, where it may be of English origin, or possibly a translation of MacNab, from the Gaelic Mac an Abbadh, meaning son of the abbott. Surname Origin: English, Scottish Alternate Surname Spellings:  ABBOT, ABBE, ABBIE, ABBOTTS, ABBETT, ABBET, ABIT, ABBIT, ABOTT Where in the World is the ABBOTT Surname Found? The Abbott surname is now most commonly found in Canada, especially in the province of Ontario,   according to WorldNames PublicProfiler. Within the United Kingdom, the name is most common in East Anglia. The name is also fairly common in the U.S. state of Maine.  Forebears surname distribution data places the Abbott surname with the greatest frequency in the former British Caribbean colonies, such as Antigua and Burbuda, where it is the 51st most common last name. It is next most commonly found in England, followed by Australia, Wales, New Zealand and Canada. Famous People with the Last Name ABBOTT Berenice Abbott - American photographer and sculptorGrace Abbott - American social worker best known for her work improving rights of immigrants and advancing child welfareEdith Abbott - American social work pioneer; sister of Grace AbbottSir John Abbott - former prime minister of CanadaJeremy Abbott - U.S. national figure skating championGeorge Abbott - American director, producer and playwrightBud Abbott -  comedian best known for playing the straight man of Abbott and Costello   Genealogy Resources for the Surname ABBOTT Abbott DNA ProjectIndividuals with the Abbott surname or any of its variations are invited to join this Y-DNA surname project of Abbott researchers working to combine traditional family history research with DNA testing to determine common ancestors. The Abbott Family GenealogyThis site compiled and written by Ernest James Abbott collects information on primarily Americans with the Abbott surname, and includes sections on authors, occupations, famous descendants, courses, and Abbotts in the military and ministry. Abbott Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Abbott surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Abbott query. FamilySearch - ABBOTT GenealogyExplore over 1.7 million historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Abbott surname and its variations on the free FamilySearch website, hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ABBOTT Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts a free mailing list for researchers of the Abbott surname around the world. DistantCousin.com - ABBOTT Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Abbott. The Abbott Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse genealogy records and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the common Abbott last name from the website of Genealogy Today. Looking for the meaning of a given name? Check out First Name Meanings Cant find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins. - References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back to Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins

The use and abuse of anabolic steroids by athletes, the problem seem Research Paper

The use and abuse of anabolic steroids by athletes, the problem seem to begin as early as high school and continues later on to the professionals - Research Paper Example Testosterone is the only hormone targeting the male sexual characteristics as it stimulates the reproductive organ and development of muscle and bones. It also promotes the growth of skin and hair and influence sentiments and sex drive in males. In males, the adrenal gland as well as the testes produces testosterone; whereas in the females it is only secreted by the adrenal gland. There are over hundreds various types of anabolic steroids synthesized in order to maximize its benefits. Since 2013, not a single type of anabolic steroid has been synthesized that do not have any kind of side effect. In most of the developing countries, anabolic steroids can easily be purchased without any prescription. However the American government has tried to impose some control over the buying and selling of these drugs. The use of anabolic steroids in US without any prescription is considered illegal and may also result in one year of imprisonment or $1,000 fine. These steroids are derivatives of testosterone, a hormone found naturally in males. A healthy male produces 2 to 10 mg of testosterone. It helps in hair growth, deepening of voice, growth of reproductive system and increases the density of bones and muscles (Anabolic Steroids). Anabolic steroids were originally developed in the year 1930 for treating the cases in which the body is not able to make much testosterone for fulfilling the daily requirement. In the following years physicians tried using this drug for other purposes but did not achieve effective results. Disadvantages associated with the drug over shadow its benefits and therefore its use was restricted to medical purposes only. Anabolic steroids were used by pediatrics for stimulating the rate of growth in children whose growth rate was slow. The availability of the synthetic growth hormone has limited the use of this hormone as growth stimulator in children. It was also used in the treatment

Brand Personality, Voice & Messaging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Brand Personality, Voice & Messaging - Essay Example For instance, the brand manager will use a concept such as â€Å"inner attractiveness and beauty is what emerges when you eat ABC restaurant pizza.† The advert will create a direct link between the company’s product and personality. The ABC restaurant intends to identify the voice that will clearly define its pizza. The voice will be attractive and will aim at advancing the product popularity over its competitor’s pizza. The use of appealing voice will be of the essence in attracting a huge number of potential customers to the company’s brand. The promotion voice will also help in sending the advertisement message in a clear manner to customers from various social and cultural backgrounds. The use of attractive voice will also aim at creating dialogue between the company managers and potential consumers. The ABC restaurant will also create a messaging map by describing the target audience and market. Although social network has multilayered audiences, the company will use clear messaging mapping in describing its target consumers. Identifying the target consumer will be vital in facilitating reliable interaction between the company and target consumers. Moreover, the restaurant intends to identify and engage in productive interaction with the target market. Productive interaction with the target market will be effective in associating potential customers with the company’s

Qualitative Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Qualitative Analysis - Assignment Example Considering the at the beginning of the first transcript on the basis of single handed lady FLICKA(Trish), staged in home port Columbia, the transcript is a conversation between Carolin who is an interviewee and Trish who is an interviewer. According to this first script, an issue of age is raised and this shows that an interviewee who is Carolin is more concerned with getting a clue of Trish’s personal details and the way of life she is living. As questions are articulated we administer an essence of misappropriate between the two people since the question raised by Carolin about the age has been channelized into Trisha’s life history. Meanwhile, Trish is so open to analyze all that she administered in Guinea specifically in the year 1979 showing that the interviewee is concerned to know what she encountered while delivering her best on the basis of sailing women school (Trish, 2005). The interviewee uses a motivational theme especially when she asked Carolin if she encountered and acquired skills that has helped her to develop personal traits on her daily time boating to cruising. However, the interviewee uses her ability to express her concern about Trish. She went forward by telling Trisha that she is not supposed to worry what somebody did and that the best thing is to be there, to justify that you are a good sailor. From this script, it becomes vice versa as Carolin becomes an interviewee as well as Trish becoming an interviewer. The aspect of concerned is raised here with an essence of getting out more on what Trish have on about the marine environment. In her response she articulates that she is a conservationist as she is engaged in doing things naturally. There is a connection between sailing boat as ascertained by Carolin from the first script and what Trish is engaging in as she term herself as a conservationist. Getting problems that cruising communities goes through was also

Comprehensive Examination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Comprehensive Examination - Essay Example The navigation design or the site hierarchy has to be carefully planned with the objectives in mind. Normally three-tier architecture is used in setting up the site hierarchy. The first tier is the landing page of the user; the second tier represents the next level where the website wants the users to reach. The third tier is the page where the objectives of the company, such as sales, gathering customer details, etc.., are present (Thompson, 2006). In this web 2.0 age, it is essential to ensure that the functionality is perfect across all the pages in a website. This functionality also requires careful consideration and the flow of information and the ease of use within the website, all depend on the functionality design. The final and most important aspect of websites is the user friendliness. The site should be simple and it should clearly display the intended content and links to the user. Complex websites often result in lack of user friendliness and hence result in lesser repeat users. Hence user friendliness has to be present and users from all demographics should be able to access the information with ease. Initially, Internet was used to display information. In the recent years, Interactive services and Ecommerce have become very common and this has led to advanced coding which involves a lot of server side coding as opposed to the client side scripts used in the past. The platforms and frameworks for technical coding have developed and many new advanced platforms such as ASP.NET 3.5 and PHP are becoming very common. Many standards have become inevitable for website coding. When compared to the past, nowadays, websites are all validated to follow these standards for many reasons, one of the main being search engine optimization. In the past, interactive features were considered as additional, whereas interactive web 2.0 services have

The interpretation of Islamic texts is entirely independent of Essay

The interpretation of Islamic texts is entirely independent of historical vicissitudes. Discuss - Essay Example Most of the interpretation of the Islamic texts is based on the historical changes and this is modified in order to suit a particular context whether present or past. It is in this perspective that I will be arguing against the perception that the interpretation of the Islamic texts is entirely independent of historical vicissitudes. The paper will be split into various categories in order to look analytically on the aspects that support my argument. The first section will be a history on Islam in the world. Thereafter I will discuss and argue against the aforementioned topic. This will be done in different contexts like looking at the gender in relation of the Islam; this will be looked at in relation of the treatment of women and men through the interpretation of the Islamic texts. Each concept will be looked at analytically with the support of relevant reading material and credited sources. The last section will be the conclusion of the paper and how each of the said point has bee n relevant during the research for this paper. Each argument will be argued first with me giving my own opinion about it then using the citation from relevant materials and concluding with my own opinion of the said topic. Each stage will have the relevant support references. Introduction to Islam The history of Islam has in most cases been associated with the sole existence of Islamic states and empires. Since the beginning Islam was existing; the spread of the religion was on a community—state basis. It was both a faith and a political order. Within years and centuries after the His death, Muhammad’s local Arabian polity did become a very huge empire going as far as North Africa to Southeast Asia. The advancement and development of Islam and institutions are always intertwined. Islam: The History In the 6th Century in the Arabia brought forward the rise of Islam. The Arabia was the source and congregation of many beliefs. Christianity and also the practice of Judaism was in the region although for the better part of the 6th Century C.E (Common Era) they were overwhelmed by the faction of the tribal deities that practices barbaric activities. Muhammad (pbuh), the Prophet of Islam was born in Mecca in 570 Common Era in what is referred to as Saudi Arabia. His family dealt in trade and by the time He was 25 he was employed by an old woman who was a widow with whom He later married. At 40, He began to experience visions and also auditory revelations, throughout His occasional meditation retreat in the caves. According to Islamic Social Services Association, the angel Gabriel revealed himself to Him and gave Him a book in which he was commanded to â€Å"Read†. In the beginning this revelation was being shared with His friends and family and with instances He congregated on a daily basis with the growing number of people and the meaning of Peace was shared. The message that Muhammad (pbuh) had for Peace was met with resistance thus it made Him run away to Medina. The event is called Hijrah (emigration). Eventually He returned to Mecca and died in 632 in Medina and He also did not leave any male heir. According to Endress (1987), The word Islam is an Arabic word meaning peace, greeting, allegiance loyalty and obedience to the Creator. According to Muslims, Allah chose Prophet

Supreme Court Rulings - Potter v. California Essay

Supreme Court Rulings - Potter v. California - Essay Example It is not only prudent for the government to protect the civil liberties of its citizens but it is a contractual obligation to do so as stipulated in the Constitutional Bill of Rights. Civil liberty is in itself a form of natural liberty, part of which is divested and placed in the hands of the government in order to produce more good and bring happiness in the entire community than if it were to remain in the hands of the individual (Cohen 15). Civil liberty as an offshoot of natural liberty for one to do as they please is not restricted by the government to the extent that it does not threaten public welfare. Civil liberty in guaranteeing one’s freedom to do what they want is limited to injury or harm of others by the action done. The concept of civil liberties is grounded on liberal theory. Liberal philosophers believed in a state of nature prior to a political society where individuals were entirely free to do anything, including killing each other. Creation of societies n ecessitated the need to keep people and their possessions secure thus restricting natural liberty as far as necessary for security of everyone. Any natural right that threatened public order was taken away. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States protects rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion from being interfered with by the government. The freedom of expression is constituted by the rights to freedom of press, speech, implied rights of belief and association, assembly, and right to petition the government in order to get a redress of grievances. Interpretation of the extent of protection given to these rights is reserved for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has interpreted The First... The researcher states that the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States protects rights to freedom of expression and freedom of religion from being interfered with by the government. The freedom of expression is constituted by the rights to freedom of press, speech, implied rights of belief and association, assembly, and right to petition the government in order to get a redress of grievances. Interpretation of the extent of protection given to these rights is reserved for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has interpreted The First Amendment to apply to the federal government. In this case, the researcher believes that Mr. Potter in pleading the First Amendment referred to the arrest as infringing on his freedom of expression. This freedom basically entails freedom of speech and it would be expedient for us to delve into its intricacies. First, the right to freedom of speech gives individuals the right to express themselves with no constraint or interference and in deed Mr. Potter exercised their freedom in this regard. Second, it is a requirement by the Supreme Court to give justification for interfering with this cases where it makes an attempt to regulate content of speech. Third, is the right to assemble, which allows people to congregate for lawful and peaceful purposes. The right to belief and association is embedded within this right too, which are the First, the Fifth, and the Fourteenth. Fourth, an individual has the right to petition government in order to obtain redress of their grievances.

The interpretation of Islamic texts is entirely independent of Essay

The interpretation of Islamic texts is entirely independent of historical vicissitudes. Discuss - Essay Example Most of the interpretation of the Islamic texts is based on the historical changes and this is modified in order to suit a particular context whether present or past. It is in this perspective that I will be arguing against the perception that the interpretation of the Islamic texts is entirely independent of historical vicissitudes. The paper will be split into various categories in order to look analytically on the aspects that support my argument. The first section will be a history on Islam in the world. Thereafter I will discuss and argue against the aforementioned topic. This will be done in different contexts like looking at the gender in relation of the Islam; this will be looked at in relation of the treatment of women and men through the interpretation of the Islamic texts. Each concept will be looked at analytically with the support of relevant reading material and credited sources. The last section will be the conclusion of the paper and how each of the said point has bee n relevant during the research for this paper. Each argument will be argued first with me giving my own opinion about it then using the citation from relevant materials and concluding with my own opinion of the said topic. Each stage will have the relevant support references. Introduction to Islam The history of Islam has in most cases been associated with the sole existence of Islamic states and empires. Since the beginning Islam was existing; the spread of the religion was on a community—state basis. It was both a faith and a political order. Within years and centuries after the His death, Muhammad’s local Arabian polity did become a very huge empire going as far as North Africa to Southeast Asia. The advancement and development of Islam and institutions are always intertwined. Islam: The History In the 6th Century in the Arabia brought forward the rise of Islam. The Arabia was the source and congregation of many beliefs. Christianity and also the practice of Judaism was in the region although for the better part of the 6th Century C.E (Common Era) they were overwhelmed by the faction of the tribal deities that practices barbaric activities. Muhammad (pbuh), the Prophet of Islam was born in Mecca in 570 Common Era in what is referred to as Saudi Arabia. His family dealt in trade and by the time He was 25 he was employed by an old woman who was a widow with whom He later married. At 40, He began to experience visions and also auditory revelations, throughout His occasional meditation retreat in the caves. According to Islamic Social Services Association, the angel Gabriel revealed himself to Him and gave Him a book in which he was commanded to â€Å"Read†. In the beginning this revelation was being shared with His friends and family and with instances He congregated on a daily basis with the growing number of people and the meaning of Peace was shared. The message that Muhammad (pbuh) had for Peace was met with resistance thus it made Him run away to Medina. The event is called Hijrah (emigration). Eventually He returned to Mecca and died in 632 in Medina and He also did not leave any male heir. According to Endress (1987), The word Islam is an Arabic word meaning peace, greeting, allegiance loyalty and obedience to the Creator. According to Muslims, Allah chose Prophet

Poverty and Reproductive Health Essay Example for Free

Poverty and Reproductive Health Essay Poverty can be defined in many different ways. A condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. † When people are unable to eat, go to school, or have any access to health care, then they can be considered to be in poverty, regardless of their income. At the 2005 World Summit, the international community reaffirmed its commitment to cut in half the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 and achieve the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a series of time-bound and quantified targets to attack povertys root causes in a multi-dimensional way. The scale of the challenges, and the benefits of success to individuals, communities and the family of nation, are enormous: Global population is expected to increase from about 7billion today to 9. billion by 2050, and the population of the 48 Least Developed Countries will more than double to reach 1. 7 billion. Almost all of the net increase in population is occurring in the urban areas developing countries, and in many of them, the number of people living in poverty is rising. Moreover, the supportive development environment that prevailed in the early years of this decade is now threatened as the world faces a global economic slowdown and a food security crisis. At the same time, the effects of climate change are becoming more apparent. Substantial evidence suggests that slower population growth and investments in reproductive health and HIV prevention (particularly among adolescents), education, womens empowerment and gender equality reduce poverty. Carrying out the Programme of Action adopted at the International Conference Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo and reaching its goal of universal access to reproductive health information and services by 2015 is an essential condition for achieving the MDGs. A central premise of the ICPD is that the size, growth, age structure and rural-urban distribution of a countrys population have a critical impact on its development prospects and on the living standards of the poor. Poverty is multidimensional: impoverished people are deprived of services, resources and opportunities, as well as income. The ICPD realized that investing in people and empowering individual women and men with education, equal opportunities and the means to determine the number, timing and spacing of their children could create the conditions to allow the poor to break out of the poverty trap. The countries in which poverty levels are the highest are generally those that have the most rapid increases in population and the highest fertility levels. Countries that have reduced fertility and mortality by investing in universal health care, including reproductive health, as well as education and gender equality, have made economic gains. A 2001 study of 45 countries, for example, found that if they had reduced fertility by five births per 1,000 people in the 1980s, the average national incidence of poverty of 18. per cent in the mid-1980s would have been reduced to 12. 6 per cent between 1990 and 1995. How do investments in reproductive health, education and gender equality reduce poverty? †¢Enabling people to have fewer children contributes to upward mobility and helps to stimulate development. †¢When women can negotiate their reproductive health decisions with men, this exercise of their rights leads to an increased decision-making role within families and communities that benefits all. Because smaller families share income among fewer people, average per-capita income increases. †¢Fewer pregnancies lead to lower maternal mortality and morbidity and often to more education and economic opportunities for women. These, in turn, can lead to higher family income. †¢As women become more educated, they tend to have fewer children, and participate more fully in the labour market. †¢Families with lower fertility are better able to invest in the health and education of each child.  Spaced births and fewer pregnancies overall improve child survival. †¢Sexual and reproductive health services are key to curbing HIV. The pandemic is killing large numbers of people in their most productive years, increasing the ratio of dependents to the working-age population. †¢Preventing AIDS-related disabilities and premature deaths translates into a healthier, more productive labour force that can improve a countrys economic prospects Many developing countries have large youth populations. Reproductive health programmes that address the greater vulnerability of adolescents to unprotected sex, sexual coercion, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, unintended early pregnancies and unsafe abortions, and enable young women to delay pregnancy and marriage are important factors in breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. †¢Investments in reproductive health, particularly in family planning, that result in lowered fertility can open a one-time only demographic window of economic opportunity.

Ahmedabad: History, Culture and Growth

Ahmedabad: History, Culture and Growth Ahmedabad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat. It is located in western India on the banks of the River Sabarmati. The city has been under different rulers since its creation and thus had a rich history. The city has been a former capital of Gujarat and has been the home to most important leaders of India like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel during the Indian independence movement. Ahmedabad is also the cultural and economical centre of Gujarat and the seventh largest city of India. (Wikipedia) Origin of Name Although fondly called Amdavad by the locals here, there is a very interesting legend associated with the city of Ahmedabad. Towards the beginning of the fifteenth century, the state of Gujarat was ruled by the Muslim Muzaffarid dynasty. Legend has it that once when the Sultan, Ahmed Shah was standing on the banks of river Sabarmati and he noticed a tiny hare chasing a strong ferocious dog. He kept pondering over it. He approached his spiritual advisor and asked for an explanation. The wise man said that, it was the uniqueness of the land that cultivated such rare qualities in people. After having heard this, the Sultan got so impressed that he decided to set his capital in that same location and called it Ahmedabad after himself. Early History Archaeological evidence also points to the occupation of the site from a much earlier period than that of Sultan Ahmed Shah. It was known in ancient times as Ashapalli or Ashaval. In the eleventh century the Solanki King Karandev I, ruler of Anhilwara (modern Patan), waged a war against the Bhil king of Ashaval. After his victory he established a city called Karnavati on the banks Sabarmati at the site of modern Ahmedabad. Solanki rule lasted until the thirteenth century, when Gujarat came under the control of the Vaghela dynasty of Dwarka. (Wikipedia) Muzaffarid Dynasty On founding the city in 1411, Ahmed Shah invited merchants and traders to the new city, which became a prosperous commercial, trading and industrial city, with textiles as its most important products. Wealthy Hindu and Jain merchants made up the commercial class dominating the community, eventually as the oldest and most established families, while Muslims were the skilled weavers working for them and (until Maratha rule) the government officials ultimately ruling them. (Joshi, 2004). Ahmed Shah built some of the still existing monuments that are spread across the city. JAMA MASJID, TEEN DARWAZA It is the largest mosque in Ahmedabad and stands in the heart of the city. Made by using yellow sandstones in 1423 AD, the architecture of this mosque is a blend of Hindu and Muslim styling. This edifice was built using items rescued from the demolished Hindu and Jain temples. Supported by 260 pillars, the Jama Masjid of Ahmedabad consists of 15 domes. There are different entrances to the mosque. Near the eastern entrance, stands the tomb of the Sultan Ahmed Shah, which houses the graveyard of three great rulers, namely Ahmed Shah I, his son, Mohammed Shah and his grandson, Qutub-Ud-Din Ahmed Shah II. The strong structure of this mosque has been able to withstand the pressure exerted by heat and rough weather. TEEN DARWAZA Teen Darwaza is an architectural marvel, the beauty of which is surely going to leave you awestruck. Consisting of gorgeous arched gates, Teen Darwaza is one of the longest as well as the oldest gateways of the Ahmedabad city. It was established in the year 1411 A.D. by Sultan Ahmed Shah, who founded the city of Ahmedabad. Lying adjacent to the famous Bhadra fort, Teen Darwaza has been intricately carved. Initially, it served as an entrance to Royal Square at Bhadra Fort. The great Mughal emperor Jahangir used to come here along with his beloved wife Noorjahan, to take a look at the procession that started from this grand gateway and went nonstop till Jama Masjid. The walls and pillars of Teen Darwaza are beautifully designed. Teen Darwaza of Ahmedabad, India is truly an epitome of the fine Islamic architecture. The windows of this fabulous monument are semi circular and adorned using mesh work. The central window depicts the tree of life. Five palm trees are shown that are covered with snakes. This portrayal also serves as the symbol of the Gujarat Government. This regal citadel is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Ahmedabad. (http://www.ahmedabad.org.uk/monuments/teen-darwaza.html) BADSHAHS TOMB, MANEKCHOWK In the middle of the busy street market and the popular food bazaar of Manekchowk, sleeps Sultan Ahmed Shah at the Badshah no Hajiro. The tomb( Badshah-no Hajiro) of Ahmed Shah; the founder of the city, situated just outside the east gate of the Jama Masjid, is square in shape with porticos on each side and has perforated stone windows. Women are not allowed into the central chamber. Opposite the Hajiro, across the main road is the Rani-no Hajiro where the queens of subsequent Sultans were buried. (http://www.chhotikarbala.org/siteseeingplace.htm) Descendants of royal musicians still play the shehnai here. Around this monument is the citys traditional block prints bazaar. Sultanate Rule After Ahmed Shahs reign, Gujarat was conquered by the Sultanate of Delhi at the end of the thirteenth century. In 1487 Mahmud Begada, the grandson of Ahmed Shah, fortified the city with an outer city wall six miles in circumference and consisting of 12 gates, 189 bastions and over 6,000 battlements to protect it from outside invaders. The last Sultan of Ahmedabad was Muzaffar II. (Wikipedia) Even the Sultans built impressive structure and contributed to the culture of the place. Since, Ahmed Shah had already taken the initiative of making Ahmedabad a prosperous city, groups of skilled artisans, merchants etc. were formed. Social institutions to safeguard various economic interests included the mahajans, guilds of merchants, and panches, guilds for artisans. The leader of the community, who came from the Jain business elites, was known as the nagarsheth, who would resolve disputes between mahajans and individuals and who interceded with royal officials. Under the nagarsheth, the city remained free from interference from the state or other powers. (Joshi, 2004) The society in itself was multi-cultural ranging from a strong Jain group to Hindus and Muslims. SIDI SYED MOSQUE, LAL DARWAZA Located near Lal Darwaza in Ahmedabad, the mosque of Sidi Sayed is one of the most prominent mosques in the Ahmedabad city. Constructed in the year 1573, the mosque was established by Sidi Sayed, a slave of Sultan Ahmed Shah. Sidi Sayed mosque in Ahmedabad, India consists of ten semi circular windows, the appeal of which is accentuated by the splendid mesh covering them, which is more popularly known as Jali. AZAM KHAN-MUAZZAM KHAN KA ROZA According to experts, the Azam Khan-Muazzam Khan ka Roza is also known to be one of the earliest massive brick mausoleums of Ahmedabad, like Darya Khan Ghummat in Shahibaug and is known to be built around 1457. This is more or less the only structure of its type in Ahmedabad and often compared to Mughal architecture with its double corridors, which are often compared to Humayuns tomb. ROZA, SARKHEJ Lying at a stretch of 8 kms on the south western side of Ahmedabad, Sarkhej Roza was the home of the spiritual leader of Sultan Ahmed Shah named Ahmed Kattu Gang Baksh, who was a Muslim religious leader. It contains a cluster of monuments, the origin of which can be dated back to the times of Mughal rule in Ahmedabad. (http://www.ahmedabad.org.uk/monuments/sarkhej-roza.html) KANKARIA LAKE A circular lake built in 1451 by Sultan Qutub-ud-Din. In the centre of the lake is an island garden with a summer palace known as Nagina Wadi. It has a very beautiful Musical Fountain show (although the music isnt too good, the lights and fountain are worth a trip). The lake is a popular recreation centre surrounded by parks, Bal Vatika an aquarium, a boat club, a natural history museum and a zoo. Mughal Rule After the power of the Delhi Sultans faded, Gujarat was conquered by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1573. During the Mughal reign, Ahmedabad became one of the empires thriving centres of trade, especially in textiles, which were exported as far as Europe. Jehangir, son of Akbar, visited Ahmedabad in 1617 but did not like it and called it Gardabad, the city of dust. Shahjahan spent the prime of his life in the city, and also built the Moti Shahi Mahal in Shahibaug. (Joshi, 2004) For centuries, the city existed without depending on feudal lords or patronage from a single court. An efficient system of lending, banking, credit and accounting developed, and Ahmedabad financiers developed a sophisticated banking network across the country. They were influential in the Mughal Court and loaned money to the ruling classes through the 16th and 17th centuries. (Joshi, 2004) The people of the city prospered and they were quite self-sufficient by all means. Because of this economic strength of the city, when the British came to Ahmedabad, there was no particular involvement from their side towards the social fabric and they just kept themselves to administering the region. SHAHIBAUG PALACE Shahibaug Palace was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who as prince Khurram spent the early years of his marriage in Ahmedabad as victory of Gujarat. SHAKING MINARETS, SARANGPUR At the Sidi Bashir mosque, if you shake one minaret, the other also shakes. Scientists say, the acid in the atmosphere dissolves the feldspar in the sandstone, creating space which shakes the minarets. Feudal lord Malik Sarang built this mosque. More commonly known as Jhulta Minar. A classic example of superb craftsmanship, Jhulta Minar is actually a part of the mosque Siddi Bashir. Maratha Rule In the year 1753, the rule of Mughals came to an end and the city came under the rule of Maratha generals Raghunath Rao and Damaji Gaekwad. The power struggle between them eventually led to the destruction of the city. British Rule The city was taken over by the British East India Company in the year 1818. The year 1824 led to the setting up of a military cantonment. A major development took place in the year 1864, when railway line was laid that connected Ahmedabad with Bombay. These developments brought Ahmedabad in the map of leading centers of trade and manufacturing. The textile Industry flourished and Ahmedabad was soon referred to as the Manchester of the East. It is interesting to note that inspite of their reign in the region, one does not find too many of remenants of colonialism. SWAMINARAYAN TEMPLE, KALUPUR The British gave land to the Swaminarayan sect to build a temple in 1800. The 12 pillars of this colourful temple disguise carvings of the first war of independence of 1857. HATHISINGH TEMPLE, SHAHIBAUG Sheth Hathisingh, Ahmedabads nagarsheth (city head) in 19th century planned this temple in 1840. His wife Harkuvar Shethani got it completed after his death. It combines Solanki, Islamic and Jain styles. An impressive white structure, the Jain temple built of white marble and elaborately carved is dedicated to Dharmanath the 15th Jina or Jain Apostle. Similar to all Jain temples, this temple to is rich in intricate carvings displaying, among other things, musicians. MAGANBHAIS HAVELI, KHADIA This was the home of famous mill owner Ambalal Sarabhais grandfather, Maganbhai Karamchand. This wood-carved 19th century haveli used to have Belgian chandeliers and German glass artifacts. Maganbhai had no son so he adopted his daughters son Sarabhai. GANDHI ASHRAM, SABARMATI Mahatma Gandhis nephew Maganlal Gandhi built this Satyagraha Ashram in 1917. The memorial and library were built by famous architect Charles Correa. Gandhis Dandi March to protest against British salt laws in 1930 began here. Post Independence The post independence period saw the declaration of Ahmedabad as a provincial town of Bombay. On the 1st of May in the year 1960, Ahmedabad became the capital city of Gujarat. SCIENCE CITY Located off the Sarkhej Gandhinagar Highway, Science City is an ambitious initiative of the government of Gujarat to trigger an inquiry of science in the mind of a common citizen with the aid of entertainment and experiential knowledge. Covering an area of more than 107 hectares, the idea is to create imaginative exhibits, virtual reality activity corners, and live demonstrations in an easily understandable manner. Currently the 3D Imax theater, musical dancing fountain, energy park and simulation rides interest visitors. It is hoped that as this place develops, the investment helps to create awareness and sensitivity to better care for our ecology and people through the appropriate use of science and technology. HUSSAIN-DOSHIS GUFFA A quiet refuge in the midst of this bustling city, which is surrounded by trees, art and fantasy, than a visit to this underground cave gallery will do you good. Also popularly known as Amdavad ni Gufa on Kasturbhai Lalbhai campus. It is a creative union of two of Indias most imaginative minds, the celebrated architect B. V. Doshi and painter M F Hussain. It is a lively whimsical fusion of modern art and natural design with undulating interconnected domes inlaid with mosaic tiles. This space also houses an art gallery by the same name and becomes a nourishing hub of creative exchange. Although the above mentioned is just a capsule of the history of the city, it gives one an idea of the various factors that influence the culture of Ahmedabad. During our talks with the people of the SCR, we figured out that the history of the city was very much alive. Some of the structures near the Teen Darwaza area of the old city are still used for living and business purposes. The Teen Darwaza area is pretty much the heart of the city with its bazaar of yore still very much alive even today. A lot of these monuments have spawned areas with shops and small stalls to buy almost anything and everything these days. The Sunday Jhumri on the banks of River Sabarmati is another feature of historical relevance A bazaar that happens once a week on a holiday where tradesmen get together and sell their wares. The co-existance of this with the latest shopping malls amongst other things is what makes Ahmedabad unique. People are very proud of their heritage and lineage. One will find the old existing side by side the new. The influence of History on the culture of the city from business to behaviour (like taking ownership), food (like the Bhatiyaar galli meat markets) to traditional clothing (like at law garden) and so on can clearly be seen. It is a fascinating and vibrant city with an even more interesting sub-culture. Change Drivers Nothing endures but change. (Heraclitus) The culture of the city of Ahmedabad has also grown with times and a lot of changes have happened over the years as well. During our research and interaction with people, we found that although certain aspects continue to remain the same, some others have resulted in a change or have influenced change in some way or the other. There have been changes in the past 2 decades since liberalization. Some of them are as follows : Mall culture Increased standard of education Higher standard of living Growing middle-class Entrepreneurial success Media exposure and awareness NRI factor Infrastructure development Progressive governance etc. The above mentioned factors have changed a lot of things from empowering woman to changing of consumption pattern which will be discussed in detail further in the report. Current trends There have been plenty of changes in the city for the past couple of decades. With the advent of mall culture, higher education institutes and better infrastructure, Ahmedabad has caught up with the pace of modernisation and forged its way ahead to become one of the most important cities of India. With globalisation, Ahmedabad has also taken steps to keep up with global standards. The Science city, ISRO and educational institutes like IIM-A, NID, CEPT and the likes have firmly placed Ahmedabad as not just a destination for culture but for quality higher education as well. Developments in the field of education and IT have been taking place on one hand and one the other infrastructure developments like construction of better roads, highways and the government initiatives to make Ahmedabad a city with a high standard of living have all ushered in a new era. Even with a lot of urban culture and western culture coming in, Amdavadis are still very much rooted to their culture and heritage. They have conveniently adopted the new without losing essence of their true identity and what makes them different.

Morality Essay -- Character Analysis, Gawain

We as humans often gauge ourselves and our perceived virtues on the scale of our peers; it is hard for us to form an authentic self view without the moral ruler of others. The obvious problem with this universal human practice is that our analysis depends greatly on the company we keep. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the poet explores Sir Gawain's moral development throughout his ordeal, often juxtaposing his supposed virtues against those of others, but finally, when he is alone, Gawain gains a sense of his true moral standing. The very moment of Gawain's introduction, the reader begins to sum up his virtues. From his own mouth Gawain explains why he should accept the Green Knight's challenge in place of the king: I am the weakest, the most wanting in wisdom, I know, And my life, if lost, would be least missed, truly. Only through your being my uncle, am I to be valued; No bounty but your blood in my body do I know. (Sir Gawain 34) Gawain bases his arguments in comparison between his traits and those of the other knights. These arguments, although self-depraving, paradoxically increase the reader's estimation of him. His humility is striking, and the fact that he agrees to the challenge while the others - whom Gawain previously described as â€Å"No braver knights when battle is joined† (Sir Gawain 34) - did not, casts doubt on the validity of him being the supposed worst among them. The author gives the reader no indication that anyone in the court attempts to refute Gawain's bleak assertion saying only; Then wisely they whispered of it, And after, all said the same: That the crowned King should be quit, And Gawain given the game. (Sir Gawain 34) This suggests that the common opi... ...y. When he returns donning the lady's green sash as a reminder of his sin, the poet juxtaposes Gawain's shame of this token â€Å"The burden [he] bear[s] for being caught by cowardice and covetousness† (Sir Gawain 114) with the court's reaction: And all the lords and ladies belonging to the Table Laughed at it loudly, and concluded amiably That each brave man of the brotherhood should bear a baldric A band, obliquely about him, of bright green, Of the same hue as Sir Gawain's and for his sake wear it. So it ranked as renown to the Round Table, And an everlasting honour to him who had it, (Sir Gawain 114-115) This comparison truly shows that Gawain has escaped the moral mediocrity and obsession with image that seems to permeate King Arthur's Court. He no longer measures his virtue on the scale of others and hence, has reached moral fulfillment.

Prologue Of History :: essays research papers

Prologue of History Until statehood, Hawaii was ruled economically by a consortium of corporations known as the "Big Five": C. Brewer and Co., sugar, ranching, and chemicals, founded in 1826; Theo. H. Davies & Co., sugar, investments, insurance, and transportation, founded in 1845; Amfac Inc. (originally H. Hackfield Inc.-a German firm that changed its name and ownership during the anti-German sentiment of WW I to American Factors), sugar, insurance, and land development, founded in 1849; Castle and Cooke Inc., (Dole) pineapple, food packing, and land development, founded 1851; and Alexander and Baldwin Inc., shipping, sugar, and pineapple, founded in 1895. This economic oligarchy ruled Hawaii with a velvet glove and a steel grip. With members on all important corporate boards, they controlled all major commerce, including banking, shipping, insurance, hotel development, agriculture, utilities, and wholesale and retail merchandising. Anyone trying to buck the system was ground to dust, finding it suddenly impossible to do business in the islands. The Big Five were made up of the islands' oldest and most well-established haole families; all included bloodlines from Hawaii's own nobility and ali'i. They looked among themselves for suitable husbands and wives, so breaking in from the outside even through marriage was hardly possible. The only time they were successfully challenged prior to statehood was when Sears, Roebuck and Co. opened a store on Oahu. Closing ranks, the Big Five decreed that their steamships would not carry Sears's freight. When Sears threatened to buy its own steamship line, the Big Five relented. In the end, statehood, and more to the point, tourism, broke their oligarchy. After 1960 too much money was at stake for Mainland-based corporations to ignore. Eventually the grip of the Big Five was loosened, but they are still enormously powerful and richer than ever, though these days they don't control everything. Now their power is land. With only five other major landholders, the Big Five control 65 percent of all the privately held land in Hawaii. Why was the 1946 Strike so important? Before 1946, Hawaii's economy, politics and social structures were completely dominated by a corporate elite known as the Big Five (Alexander & Baldwin, American Factors, Castle & Cooke, C. Brewer, & Theo. Davies). The leaders of these factor companies exercised absolute control over Hawaii's plantation workers and the majority of the islands multi-ethnic workforce. The 1946 strike forever changed the balance of power between workers and the plantations. No longer would living and working conditions be set unilaterally by the plantation owners or their parent corporations. Nor was the lesson lost on the workers outside the plantation either. As sugar workers were now successful in

On the Necessity of Rationalism

In the process of considering the various means of justification, a relativistic conception of reality assumes that the truth and hence the validity of a statement may only be assessed in relation to the perspective of the discipline which holds a particular belief. In this sense, truth is dependent upon the internal coherence of beliefs within a system of thought. In his The Last Word, Nagel claims that such is not the case. He argues that the truth and hence the validity of statements are dependent upon an unqualified notion of reason.He claims that the truth of a statement is independent upon any particular perspective. If such is the case, it follows that the truth of any statement is independent from the schema [truth schema] presented by any system of thought. In relation to scientific claims, it thereby follows that the truth of scientific claims ought to be assessed through the unqualified notion of reason as opposed to merely their internal coherence within the scientific co nception of reality [scientific framework].The aforementioned argument is based upon the critique of the intrinsic limits to subjectivist doubt since challenges to the independent validity of reason must themselves assume the independent validity of reason. Any explanation of reason deriving from outside the mind can itself be explained only from inside the mind, as having its own independent validity. In the case of scientific knowledge, he argues that it is mistaken to assume that the scientific discipline has freed itself from the limits of the Cartesian problem through the replacement of judgments about rules of practice from objective judgments.Nagel argues that if science will continually adhere to a subjectivistic and hence relativistic framework, the discipline will fail to provide an objective account of reality. He claims, â€Å"the general aim of such reasoning [scientific reasoning] is to make sense of the world in which we find ourselves and how it appears to us and ot hers† (81). If such is the case, it is necessary to conceive of the conception of the world which is not based upon an a priori conception of reality dependent upon a preconceived and limited conception of the word. According to Nagel, such an account is not provided by science.The reasons for this lies in the subjectivism of science (Nagel 84). Subjectivism within science [scientific methods] is apparent if one considers that the scientific â€Å"demand for order cannot itself be rationally justified nor does it correspond to a self-evident necessity† (Nagel 84). He notes that scientific subjectivism can only end if it adheres to rational means of knowledge acquisition. It is only through the defense of rationalism that an objectivist account of evidence is possible.Nagel further argues that the appeal of subjectivism arises out of a certain reductionist impulse in modern explanation as this reductionist impulse enables the explanation of things to hinge on their reduc tion to local and finite terms thereby ensuring subjectivist conclusions. Although this enables the assurance against rationalist explanations that refuse to make reason into something irrational or that conceive of reason as a capacity for grasping the universal and infinite principle, the reductionist explanation is in itself dependent on an irreducibly nonlocal and objective understanding of reason. Nagel argues that doubt about reason presupposes reason’s independent validity hence reason’s independent validity cannot be coherently doubted.He rightly argues that to object to reason on the grounds we cannot strictly explain it in naturalistic terms is to misunderstand the irreducible nature of the concept since reason cannot be so explained without losing its meaning or validity and that, as such, it is justified in a different way, by showing it to be necessary to intelligible thought and action. Science thereby must opt for a rationalistic as opposed to a subjecti vistic account of reality for it to maintain its value as a discipline.Work CitedNagel, Thomas. The Last Word. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.Essay Number TwoEdmund Gettier’s Counterargument Against thePlatonic Tripartite Account of Propositional KnowledgeThe Platonic tripartite definition of propositional and fallibilist knowledge found in the last section of the Theaetetus states that knowledge of P occurs when an epistemic agent S knows that P if and only if (1) P is true, (2) S believes that P, and (3) S is justified in believing that P (90). A well-known opposition to such an account of propositional knowledge questions the sufficiency of the aforementioned conditions.It is argued that although the aforementioned conditions are necessary in the definition of propositional knowledge such conditions are insufficient due to their failure to ensure S against conditions wherein knowledge of P occurs as a result of mere epistemic luck (Gettier 123). This critique is b est known as the Gettier type counter examples towards the tripartite definition of propositional knowledge mentioned above.A logical problem is posited by the Gettier type counter examples. This logical problem is evident in the lack of successful coordination between the truth of P and the reasons that justify S in holding P. Floridi notes that Gettier type counter examples arise â€Å"because the truth and the justification of P happen to be not only independent but also opaquely unrelated that they happen to fail to converge or agree on the same propositional content P†¦without S realizing it† (64). In order to understand this, it is important to lay down the main assumptions of Gettier’s counter argument that seeks to explicate the aforementioned logical problem.Gettier’s argument against the tripartite account of propositional knowledge, which involves the conception of knowledge as justified true belief arose as a result of the following claim: knowl edge [propositional knowledge] does not merely involve justified true belief. Such a claim is based upon the following assumptions. First, there are instances wherein the warrant is not a sufficient condition for a belief in P. This is evident if one considers that instances of belief and knowledge of P are in some respects epistemically different [other than in terms of truth] from belief of P without knowledge of P. Second, there are instances wherein warrant is fallible.This is due to the insufficiency of truth and justification as warrants for knowledge. The evidence of such, according to Gettier is apparent if one considers that it is possible for P to be false even if S believes that P possesses epistemically significant properties such that whenever a belief possesses such properties and is true the belief may thereby qualify as knowledge. Lastly, there is the closure of knowledge under obvious and known entailments. The last assumption argues that if S is justified in believ ing P and a deductively valid inference is drawn from P to another belief Q then S is justified in believing Q. This is a result of the entailment of Q from P.From what was stated above, it is possible to present the usual form of Gettier’s attack against the tripartite account of knowledge. Gettier’s counter argument is based upon the critique of warrant, fallibility, and closure. Note that combination of the three claims mentioned above leads to a contradiction. From what was mentioned above it follows that it is possible to believe in an obvious deductive consequence of P, which is Q, while in the process retaining the epistemically significant properties of the belief in P.If such is the case, it is possible to have a justified true belief of any property which has led S to have a belief in Q or any other type of belief which has Q’s epistemic characteristics. Note that this contradicts the assumed necessity that P and Q differ from each other since one qual ifies as knowledge [S believes and has knowledge of P] whereas Q merely qualifies as a belief [S believes but does not have knowledge of Q].Works CitedFloridi, L. â€Å"On the Logical Unsolvability of the Gettier Problem.† Synthese 142(2004): 61-79.Gettier, E. â€Å"Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?† Analysis 23(1963): 121-23.Plato. Theaetetus. Trans. M.J. Levett. Indiana: Hackett Publishing Co., 1992.

Thesis Statement

University of Phoenix Material Thesis Statement and Informal Outline Worksheet In this course, you will write a 1,050- to 1,750-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the following: †¢ Define what personal responsibility means to you. †¢ Explain the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. †¢ Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five. Thesis Statement: Even though when I do not take personal responsibility I am more likely to blame others, personal responsibility means to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions because the actions you take in life, affect your college success and by setting goals in the beginning you can stay focus throughout your college ed ucation.Informal Outline: †¢ Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions. Is important to acknowledge personal responsibility to be successful in life. †¢ The actions you take in life affect your college success.  §Ã‚   Procrastination can become a habit  §Ã‚  Learning to prioritize †¢ Setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education.  §Ã‚   Goals keep you motivated  §Ã‚   You stay focus in the reward of achieving your goal   Ã‚   I plan to practice personal responsibility in my academic career by being more responsible.  §Ã‚   Practice time management.  §Ã‚   Identifying my educational goals. o  Ã‚   Conclusion  §Ã‚   Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions for two main reasons. First, setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education. But most importantly, the actions you take in life affect your college success. Thesis Statement My thesis is based on the colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan, Afghanistan, which were destroyed by Taliban in March 2001. The Buddha statues at Bamiyan were of historical significance and were considered both as national and international heritage. I will provide in-depth information on those statues and their historical and cultural importance. There will be an introduction part in the thesis. I will then discuss step by step how these statues gained prominence on the global arena and the events leading to their destruction.The origin, history and other related events surrounding the Buddha statues at Bamiyan will be discussed in this paper. The main focus will be to find out why these statues were so historic and the qualities they had to gain such significance. In the end, I will provide a well-observed conclusion on the significance of these statues to the world community. Introduction Preservation of historic monuments with cultural significance is not only the responsibility of the state, but also it is the responsibility of the world community.However, the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan clearly indicated that the historical monuments are vulnerable to such attacks and are in real danger. The giant Buddhas of Bamiyan were considered as wonder monuments by people across the globe. They were carved into a mountainside at Bamiyan in the heart of the Hindu Kush Mountains. The Buddhas were among Asia's great archaeological treasures. A Brief Background â€Å"During the medieval period, modern-day Afghanistan was a breeding place for Buddhist culture and art. It was strategically placed from the Silk route that saw flourished trade between the Roman Empire, China and India.Bamiyan was a cultural center both in ancient and medieval period† (Rowland, 1960: 56). It made the region central to Buddhist history. Buddhism came into Afghanistan in the third century BC during the reign of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The religion flourished further under the pa tronage of Kushans. â€Å"According to Huan-Tsang, the Chinese traveler, Bamiyan was a flourishing Buddhist center with many hundreds of monks living in the caves built around the Buddha statues† (Rowland, 1960: 61). The rulers of Kushan dynasty expanded their empire from China to India and Afghanistan.They were responsible for bringing Buddhism to the soil of Afghanistan. They carved these beautiful wonders of the ancient world. Colossal Buddhas The Buddhas of Bamiyan were located in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan. They were believed to be built in the fourth or fifth centuries. They represented the classic style of Greco-Buddhist art. There were two giant statues. â€Å"The larger one stood at 53 meters (125 feet). It was considered as one of the most wonderful representations of the Buddha in the world. The other statue stood at 38 meters. Both the statues were painted in gold and were decorated with glittering ornaments.The entire structure of Buddhas of Bamiy an was a mixture of Greek, Persian and Central and South Asian art† (Rowland, 1960: 81). The architecture of the two grand statues was unique, as it differed from the sculptural traditions. The cliffs that housed the two main Buddha statues were 1300 meters long and 150 meters high. The taller statue was located at the far west of the cliff and the other one was located at the far east. Historians are still clueless on why such colossal statues were built. â€Å"Some believe that they were built by the Kushan rulers to attract attention and to gain supremacy over other countries in the world.It was also argued by some historians that the main reason could be to propagate Buddhism in other parts of the world by attracting people to witness the beauty of these giant statues† (Flood, 2002: 56). Description about the Statues â€Å"The smaller Buddha was sheltered in a forte. It was carved out of the mass of the rock on three sides and stood with the right hand in the gestu re of protection and the left in the gesture of charity† (Rowland, 1960: 83). The statue was built in such a way that voyagers considered the gestures shown by the statue as an assurance of protection from the dangers of travel.â€Å"Both the statues were made with mud-plaster over a coating of lime plaster. They used to give a sense of naturalism and realism. The attributes found in the statues belonged to the style of ancient Gandhara art. The heads and the bodies of the statues were carved out of the sandstone cliffs. Due to lack of proper care and maintenance, the portions of the faces of the statues were destroyed. The hands of the statues were mutilated by some religious bigots who invaded Afghanistan several times† (Rowland, 1960: 84).â€Å"According to Huan-Tsang, the taller Buddha was adored with bright gold dye and precious ornaments. Although both the statues had same style, the larger one was much younger than the smaller one. There were several slots with well decorated walls and ceilings within the shrines of the statues† (Rowland, 1960: 61). External Influence The paintings were executed in a unique manner. â€Å"The walls and ceilings were covered with mud mixed with straw and lime plaster. In the forte of the smaller Buddha, the ceiling had the image of the Sun-God on a chariot with the Buddha located below him.The inclusion of the image of the Sun-God was indicated that Bamiyan was a cross-cultural region that was located on a road that was leading to different directions† (Rowland, 1960: 84). The painting at Bamiyan represented three different styles of art: Greco-Roman, Indian and Central Asian. â€Å"The portrayal of deities clearly indicated the use of these styles of art. The ceiling of the forte that carried the larger Buddha carried damaged human and divine figures. Indian influence could be easily detected in the divine figures engaged in religious conversation† (Rowland, 1960: 84).The convergence of people from different regions was the main reason behind the emergence of Bamiyan as a center for art and culture. The rock-cut paintings around the statues at Bamiyan exhibit recurring themes of the Buddha and scenes of his life. â€Å"A Bodhisattva image appeared in the northern part of the forte that carried the larger Buddha. The Boddhisattva sat with crossed ankles on his throne that was adorned with jewelry and embroidered clothing† (Rowland, 1960: 85). Many paintings around the Buddha statues were vandalized by fundamentalist forces, as they considered Buddhism an alien religion.Despite the damage made to the place, the beauty of the art continued to attract visitors and scholars to Bamiyan. Some of the beautiful sculptures found around the statues were domes, garlands, lotuses, trees and musicians. Preservation of the Statues The Afghanistan government was aware of the significance of these statues to its culture and heritage. Hence, it took several measures to protec t these monuments. â€Å"Between 1969 and 1978, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) worked closely with the Afghanistan government to conserve the site of Bamiyan.Efforts were made towards preserving and repairing the small Buddha and its forte and shrines. A tubular scaffold was constructed to support the statue's structure. A missing portion of the dome roof of a shrine was restored. Chemical treatment was applied to preserve the paintings around the statues† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 61). Destruction of the Statues Although the Buddhas of Bamiyan were spared during the conquest of Mahmud of Ghazni in the 12th century, invaders like Aurangzeb, Genghis Khan and Nadir Shah used heavy artillery and cannon fire to destroy the statues.However, they could not succeed in inflicting heavy damage on the statues. â€Å"Between 1999 and 2001, there have been much debate and discussions on the protection of the colossal statues. Afghanistan's Islamic clerics began a campaign to crac k down on non-Islamic structures, music, imagery and sports. In March 2001, a decree was passed to destroy all the statues in and around Afghanistan, which symbolized idol worship† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 69). The issue was given a political color when Afghanistan's foreign minister stated that the destruction was retaliation against the international community for economic sanctions.â€Å"According to some reports, then Taliban rulers of Afghanistan were outraged after a foreign delegation offered money to preserve the Buddha statues at Bamiyan while a million Afghans faced starvation† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 69). The Islamic government of Afghanistan took a serious note of this offer. That could be the immediate provocation behind the decision to destroy the statues. It was not easy to destroy the statues, as they were strongly built and were firmly attached to the mountain. â€Å"The Taliban forces used dynamite and tank barrages to demolish the monuments.The intense bombing of the Budhhas at Bamiyan lasted for almost a month until the statues were completely destroyed† (Buckley & Rick, 2003: 70). Conclusion There is no doubt that the colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan were international treasures that should have been preserved at any cost. However, that did not happen. The destruction of such a world heritage illustrates the need for international laws for the maintenance of sites and strict punishment of violators. The world community must take a vow that they will never allow such destructions to occur again.The significance of the statues can be realized from the fact that despite the destruction caused by missiles, tankers and bombs, Bamiyan still remains as a unique example of the cross-cultural nature of Buddhist art. Bibliography: Rowland Jr, Benjamin. Gandhara Sculpture from Pakistan Museums. New York: Asia Society, 1960. Buckley, Mary & Rick Fawn. Global Responses to Terrorism 9/11, Afghanistan and Beyond. New York: Routledge, 2 003. Flood, Finbarr Barry. Between Cult and Culture: Bamiyan, Islamic Iconoclasm, and the Museum. The Art Bulletin. Volume: 84. Issue: 4, 2002. Thesis Statement 1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements: There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement. This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague. Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers. This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statement s: My family is an extended family.This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading. While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family. This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example: Companies need to exploit the marketi ng potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support. This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear.One way to revise the thesis would be to write: Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support. This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because, since, so, although, unless, and however.4. A strong thesis statement is specific.A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say: Wo rld hunger has many causes and effects.This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this: Hunger persists in  Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable. This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger. Thesis Statement University of Phoenix Material Thesis Statement and Informal Outline Worksheet In this course, you will write a 1,050- to 1,750-word Personal Responsibility Essay, due in Week Five, which includes the following: †¢ Define what personal responsibility means to you. †¢ Explain the relationship between personal responsibility and college success. †¢ Include a preliminary plan to practice personal responsibility in your education.This week, using the Center for Writing Excellence resources, provide the thesis statement and informal outline for your Personal Responsibility Essay assignment, due in Week Five. Thesis Statement: Even though when I do not take personal responsibility I am more likely to blame others, personal responsibility means to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions because the actions you take in life, affect your college success and by setting goals in the beginning you can stay focus throughout your college ed ucation.Informal Outline: †¢ Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions. Is important to acknowledge personal responsibility to be successful in life. †¢ The actions you take in life affect your college success.  §Ã‚   Procrastination can become a habit  §Ã‚  Learning to prioritize †¢ Setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education.  §Ã‚   Goals keep you motivated  §Ã‚   You stay focus in the reward of achieving your goal   Ã‚   I plan to practice personal responsibility in my academic career by being more responsible.  §Ã‚   Practice time management.  §Ã‚   Identifying my educational goals. o  Ã‚   Conclusion  §Ã‚   Personal Responsibility means to me to acknowledge responsibility for my choices and being accountable for my own actions for two main reasons. First, setting goals in the beginning can help you stay focus throughout you college education. But most importantly, the actions you take in life affect your college success.