Embarking Patriotic Immortality: Rhetorical Analysis

Daniel Aubertine Dr. Viera 10/11/2011 Final Draft Embarking Patriotic Immortality: Rhetorical Analysis of the Gettysburg Address The Gettysburg address was given on the grounds of a historical battlefield in Gettysburg Pennsylvania during the American Civil War on November 19th, 1863 by the late President Abraham Lincoln. The brief, powerful speech that he delivered to fifteen to twenty thousand people is regarded as one of the greatest in American history. It is considered the turning point of the Civil War, helping preserve the union and keep America together.Lincoln’s famous war-time speech, given on the graves of fallen soldiers, uses remarkable pathos along with an astonishing endowment to the history of American speeches through diction and patriotic passion. Following the three-day bloodbath that occurred in the fields of Gettysburg Pennsylvania in early July, thousands of bloody corpses rotted in the summer’s scorching heat. Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin a ppointed David Willis, a prominent Gettysburg lawyer, to oversee the project. An interstate commission was formed, money was raised, and seventeen acres of land at the battle site was purchased.The federal government provided the coffins. By November the cemetery was ready for dedication (Hay). The event was set-up so that orator Edward Everett would be the main speaker of the day. Lincoln sought to speak at this event because it would be a prime opportunity to boost the Union’s war efforts. Crowds of fifteen to twenty thousand citizens and soldiers gathered around the stage and listened to Everett speak for nearly two hours (Borade). Lincoln then rose and spoke for just under two minutes, and the crowd was speechless (Hay).Throughout the speech Lincoln uses the pathos to make the audience feel emotionally invested in the speech through guilt and courage. The audience is standing six feet above their fellow citizens who died in battle on their behalf, and to preserve the Amer ican way of life. Lincoln uses the location of the speech as emotional leverage on the crowd. Many of the members in the audience were either soldiers or citizens who lost loved ones in the battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln uses the guilty conscience of the audience members as persuasion into his main idea that the union cannot give up the fight.Lincoln states in his address, â€Å"We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who have gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. † He effectively uses pathos as a transition into a strong initiative that America should fight for the soldiers who lost their lives. The feeling of guilt is also intertwined and overcome by a feeling of courage in Lincoln’s speech. He makes the citizens who are opposed to the war feel guilty, and the citizens who are for the war, and the soldiers who are fighting, feel courage.The courageous compo nent of the speech that is felt by the audience is inspired by reminding them how heroic the soldiers who died on this field were. An example of this is when Lincoln states,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion†¦Ã¢â‚¬  They faced terrifying situations with courage and, in the end, gave their lives for what they believed in. The soldiers’ courage is the source of the courage for the audience. The inspiration though emotion that Lincoln delivered was the driving force of this inspirational speech.The incredible diction used by the president is the factor that set this historical speech apart from all the rest. Not once in his 272 word speech did the president use the word â€Å"I† or â€Å"me†. Lincoln was not that kind of man; he was unselfish and never distinguished himself from the audience. Another key aspect of Lincoln’s speech that is used very o ften in all types of writing is the use of repetition. He doesn’t repeat large memorable phrases; he repeats small words that seem to have great power. Throughout the speech he uses the words â€Å"we† and â€Å"us† a total of twelve times, referring to himself and the audience.Also, he often says the word â€Å"here† referring to the hallowed ground of Gettysburg to further associate himself with his audience (Zimmer, 4). This heavy use of plural first person tense creates a strong sense of unity with the audience and himself. Additionally he utilizes a strong vocabulary throughout the speech. He employed many complex sentences for an overall intelligent-sounding speech. For example, â€Å"Four score and seven years ago†¦ † is very poetic and elegant, much more dignified than simply saying â€Å"Eighty- seven†. Lincoln uses his words to dig deep into the udiences hearts and pull out every sense of patriotism that he can get. Each one o f the 272 words that he spoke that day was to bring out the American passion that is needed for victory in the Civil war. He begins by mentioning our forefathers and how they created this nation built on equality and liberty. Then he proceeds to tell that the principles on which the nation was founded are under attack. This immediately gets the audience in the mood for being inspired to act, because soon after this he hits them with pathos, the emotions of guilt and courage.But he ends the short speech with a powerful conclusion, â€Å"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion— that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain— that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not pe rish from the earth. † Lincoln’s powerful closing words left the audience in muted shock.The short powerful speech is one of the most patriotic in American history. Lincoln’s famous war-time speech given on the graves of fallen soldiers uses remarkable pathos along with an astonishing endowment to the history of American speeches through diction, and patriotic passion. The brief, powerful speech that he delivered to fifteen to twenty thousand people is regarded as one of the greatest in American history. It is considered the turning point of the Civil War, helping preserve the union and keep America together.The inspirational, patriotic, persuasive speech given by Lincoln shows just how good a speech can be from effective use of pathos, diction and patriotism. Works Cited Borade, Gaynor. â€Å"Summary and Significance of the Gettysburg Address. † Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. N. p. , n. d. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. . Hay, John . â€Å"Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, 1863. † EyeWitness to History – history through the eyes of those who lived it. N. p. , n. d. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. .

John Dewey’s Education Essay

The future of our civilization depends upon the widening spread and deepening hold of the scientific habit of mind. ~John Dewey Science as Subject-Matter and as Method The salient and noteworthy features that highlight the significance of educational significance from 1880 through 1920 in regards to progressive education and pragmatism can best be described as engaging not only the students in an era of academic discipline but also on the levels of teachers and administrators. The lesson of cooperation is one that is a shared in each academic approach; progressive and pragmatism thus the development of education at the turn of America’s twentieth century entailed a refreshed focus on the individual student. The following paper will analyze the commonalities and differences of progressive education and pragmatism and how progressive education has many ties with other philosophies such as humanism and liberalism. Thus, the two main but subtle theorists who will be discussed in this paper are Dewey and Plato. Although structure of Dewey’s belief of progressive education over pragmatic education is different from Plato’s pragmatism and humanism the paper will seek to show how these philosophies are shared in education but how progressive education is needed in order for the student to learn how to adapt to certain situations as well as to find their own route of learning. Education at the turn of the twentieth century must be approached through the achievement of common goals; not through students’ learning alone, but by teachers and administrators. As such, typical classroom schematics that have in that past previous to the concepts of progressive education pointed towards competition, and independent work ethic must be overruled by the more efficient cooperative small group learning dynamic which is one definition of pragmatism. Pragmatism is similar to the concept and theories involved with child psychology prevalent today. The student then with regards to pragmatism is viewed as learning by their own set of standards and by relating current progress to past mistakes. Thus, in the discipline of pragmatism, a student is judged and allowed to learn at their own pace. While other disciplines heightened learning through an array of tests and were exclusively subject oriented, pragmatism guided the student at the early turn of the twentieth century through a varied education in several genres which would ultimately be considered a type of social studies education; combining subject matter into a common arena of education. Schools that have focused on working to deprive others through competitive classroom activities initiate a win/lose strategy that only heightens the disappointment in the kids that lose instead of pointing towards the positive aspects of learning new materials that kids should be excited to learn which was the interest of other schools of thought instead of the curriculum evolution presented by pragmatism. Although pragmatism did present new ideas about citizenship, social conduct, and evolution into the classroom, there was still hesitation on the part of the American about its utilization in the classroom. Progressive education teaches that every child learns differently and must be treated as an individual, and it is through pragmatism that the individual is taught in a scientific fashion to explore their surroundings. No child learns in the same manner and thus, progressive education was essential in the split from America’s past that education was singular in nature and disconnected. Cooperation, however, is the key by which a progressive education was being presented and it is truly through cooperation that progressive education takes it role. It is thus through the individual observation of the world that pragmatism was developed in an educational way. Learning goals in regards to pragmatism can only be realized if consensus is constantly challenged. That is what is meant by ‘Do not block the way of inquiry’. By generalizing education into separate genres the sociology and interrelated issues of each subject become a chaotic discord. Through this type of group learning, individuals learn that nothing is related and that one subject cannot breach another subject. This limits the possibilities of science, math, art, etc. By interrelating subjects, one student who is not interested in a certain genre may see how their study of choice hinges upon another subject such as math calculations to art (i.e. M.C. Escher’s tessellation). Dewey brought to the foreground of early American pragmatism in the 1900’s that teachers should teach according to how the student learns. Thus, the teacher must know the interest of the student, and therefore, the student will make an effort to learn if it is something for which they already have a propensity. Unlike Herbart, Dewey taught that a teacher cannot force a child to learn or even been interested in a subject, it is something the student has to choose. There are five components by which progressive education has worked: positive interdependence, promotive interaction, individual accountability, interpersonal and small-group skills, and group processing. Each of these components teaches students and teachers that learning is not achieved through route memorization but through actively taking part in lessons and developing independent thought. Active learning should be a base by which each classroom is structured. In analysis, active learning simply means that students aren’t spoon-fed the correct answers but instead they question the subject and come up with their own hypothesis and then are allowed to check to see if it is correct: They are not handed the answers and taught to memorize but instead are taught to actively engage in each school subject and come to their own conclusions through proper problem solving techniques (this is applicable in any genre). In active learning, questions are just as important as the answers. Plato highlighted that learners need to think as well as learn for themselves and take what they learn in a classroom setting as a guideline to real life as is stated in his forms. Teachers then are given the duty of making sure they engage students in becoming active learners. Through formal and informal learning, this accomplished. Progressive education in American History is then implemented in the learning strategy of all classrooms together. Cooperation means learning with a group and giving succor to everyone participating in that group. A school then, is merely a larger extension of the classroom group which in turn is an extension of the smaller learning groups within the classroom. The focal point of pragmatism then become the welding of Fine Arts in education. That is, fine arts as the fusion between art, math, history, languages and science. It is with Dewey’s definition of pragmatism that art is a bases by which teachers teach (he considered teaching an art) and how students learn (also an art form) and thus, subject matters were understood through art concepts. Â  Congruency is a term that permeates both progressive education and pragmatism, for the students and teachers. With the diverse relation of subject matters implemented in progressive education Dewey came to identify the hands on experience, thus Dewey believed that learning was manipulative in which the learner abided by the laws of situation in order to be properly stimulated and it is through this that Plato’s system of inquiry is found. In a progressive education then, the common and ultimate goal of the entire system is to improve learning, and the avenues by which material is learned by the students. Progressive education also entailed elements of Humanism as thought of by other philosophers and educators of the time period. In the concern for the individual that pragmatists exhibited, it was only natural that Humanism be involved in the philosophy. Humanism is the value of each person and that feeling extended throughout the human race. Dewey as well as Plato’s belief in humanism was only part of the interdisciplinary status of progressive education. Another strong element within the understanding of progressivism was liberalism. That is to say that liberalism combined with progressive education formed a cohesion of social justice and advocacy consent. Progressive education should be understood within a social context, and not be misguided by ideas pertaining to Constructivism which is similar but models itself towards pupils gaining their knowledge based purely and solely on individualistic efforts, instead of the hands on experience involved with pragmatism. Progressive education, as it is involved with the education system of America from the 1880’s throughout the 1920’s was a system in which pupils were encouraged to challenge themselves with their own knowledge paired with the knowledge they gained in a classroom. Pragmatism was about finding new solutions to old problems and continually challenging those solutions to find better answers. The combining of all subjects through fine arts application was essential to the development of pragmatism in the classroom and enabled students to find interest in areas which would otherwise be off limits because of their lack of attention in subjects which they were not interested. Progressive education has its origins in pragmatism and the separation of the two is problematic to the understanding of American education during the specified time period.

Current and Future Market Trends Essay

When thinking of wireless phone or internet service, the first company that probably comes to mind is Verizon Wireless. Verizon officially became a force to be reckoned with in the wireless market in 2000 when Verizon communications and Vodafone merged. Verizon states, â€Å"Verizon Communications Inc., headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wire line communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.† Since entering the market in 2000, Verizon has made itself popular by offering service in more areas than any other wireless network. Market Structure Within economics, four types of market structures exist. The four types are: monopoly, monopolistic competition, perfect competition, and oligopoly. Colander (2008) describes market structure as, â€Å"the physical characteristics of the market within which firms interact.† Verizon Wireless’ market structure can be defined by a combination of monopolistic competition and oligopoly. Colander (2008) defines monopolistic competition and oligopoly as, â€Å"a market structure in which there are many firms selling differentiated products and few barriers to entry—and oligopoly — a market structure in which there are only a few firms and firms explicitly take other firms’ likely response into account. The wireless industry is smaller that people think and not much competiton exists. For example: Cingular and AT&T are both wireless carriers, but Cingular is a part of AT&T. Essentially, when a consumer spends money with Cingular, it still goes to AT&T. Using an oligopoly structure has worked well for Verizon in the past and currently. Current and future market trends should not have any affect on the market structure of Verizon. New Companies Competition in the wireless industry has always been tough. It seems as though every month or few weeks, a new phone or new service is being unveiled by a well-know company or a company trying to get started. Besides  Alltell, Verizon is usually the company the competition seeks to compete with. To compete with Verizon most companies offer a service similar to Verizon for a cheaper price, or they offer a similar phone for a cheaper price. Verizon would not be affected heavily by any new companies entering the market, because Verizon is already established and consumers are already familiar with the brand. Aside from that, Verizon offers a number of services and slogans to keep their consumers interested. Some of the slogans used are: America’s largest and most reliable network, #1 in customer loyalty, and the worry free guarantee. Verizon does not have to worry about the competition, the competition should worry about Verizon. Prices One of the downsides to having wireless services and phones is the price. Since the introduction of cell phones, the price of phones and the price of service have risen significantly. On average, a contract for cell phone service with two lines would cost anywhere from $160 – $250, depending on the services the customer chooses. That price does not include the price of the phone which could be anywhere from $50 – $900. The prices to maintain the convenience of a cell phone are ridiculous, but it is a necessity that most individuals find it hard to live without. The current and future trend of the wireless industry shows the price of services and phones increasing. With that being said, despite the prices of phones and service, consumers will continue to pay the prices set by Verizon and other wireless companies. Technology Cell phones and services have definitely evolved over the years. Technology is one of the leading factors when consumers consider purchasing a phone or selecting a company as their wireless provider. Most cell phone users use text messaging, check email, and log onto social networking sites like facebook and myspace from their mobile phones. Like any other invention cell phones have evolved and become an important part of our lives. Televisions went from just being in homes to our cars. Computers were usually found in places such as: homes, offices, and libraries. Now cell phones are the more modern version of computers. Verizon has always made note of the changing trends when it comes to technology and the company has always delivered excellent products the consumer wants or needs. Productivity To maintain the position as the largest and most reliable wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless must spend money. The costs range from building the network, to maintaining the network. Costs include employees, equipment and technology needed to keep the company on top. The company makes decisions based on what the benefit will be in the long run. These decisions are made by researching trends and technology in the wireless market and changing tastes of the consumer. The company knows the catalyst of success is a strong network. The law of diminishing marginal productivity states as more of a variable input is added to an existing fixed input, eventually the additional output one gets from that additional input is going to fall (Colander 2008). I was not able to get information specific from Verizon Wireless that would help me graph out this law. The company has over 86,000 employees and made 56.8 billion dollars in profit for 2008 (about us 2009). Each year bonuses are given to employees based on individual performance and company performance. Last year the bonuses were based on the fact that the company made 12% in profits. In today’s economic times, the e profit achieved was outstanding and was above any other profits made in the wireless industry for 2008. Cost Structure Wages and Benefits Employees of Verizon Wireless are compensated well. The employees salary along with the benefits provided are above others employed in the wireless industry, according to David Brown an analyst at Verizon Wireless human resources. At Verizon Wireless a broad-banded structure is used to organize jobs and manage pay. There are six bands that range from A to F. Depending on the skills of the individual, he or she is usually hired in on the F band, which is a customer service representative, or assistant. The duties are usually task oriented. The next band is E, which is a coordinator or analyst, who are proven to work independently, usually on projects and technical functions. D band consists of level one managers, supervisors etcetera. C through A bands are the higher levels of management and CEO. Jobs are assigned to bands based on similar roles and levels of responsibility. The jobs themselves can be quite different in terms of what people do. Jobs in the same band are similar in terms of their impact on our business results, the decision-making authority of the employees who hold them, and the knowledge and skills required. VZW classifies a job as either salaried exempt or salaried non-exempt. Verizon Wireless provides medical, dental and vision benefits to employees at a reduced cost, but also provides at no cost an education benefit up to 8,000 per year, 401k contribution matching up to 6% and yearly performance bonuses as well as profit sharing if enrolled in 401k and a long term incentive program that is also based on company performance. Employees are a vital asset to Verizon Wireless and the salaries along with the benefits are designed to maximize performance. Cost Structure Fixed and Variable Costs Fixed costs are defined as costs that are spent and cannot be changed in the period under consideration (2008). Fixed costs for Verizon Wireless include buildings, warehouses used, and upkeep of cellular sites. Variable costs, or costs that change, include workers employed, contracts for equipment production, new technology etcetera. Verizon Wireless is a firm that sells produced goods to individuals, businesses and government (2008). The company’s main output is technology. The fixed costs dived by the variable costs equal the average costs of the company. As was stated earlier, last year Verizon Wireless made a 12% increase in profits from the year before. Most of the revenue occurred in the 4th quarter of the year with the release of the BlackBerry Storm touch screen device. The device was the answer to the I phone distributed by AT&T. Over 100,000 devices were sold on the first day of release alone. The cost of the device was 199.99, which is around 2 million dollars made in one day. The demand for the devices increased, and the company met the demand with more phones. According to the March 2009 newsletter given to the company for 4th quarter earnings, the CEO Lowell McAdam advised that Storm sales were the factor that  significantly raised the company’s profits and set the bar for future ventures. Price Elasticity of Demand The relation between the shift in quantity and shift in price of a product is known as price elasticity. â€Å"Price elasticity of demand is the calculation of the percentage change in quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price† (Colander, 2008). Verizon Wireless has to make an effort to stay in synch with the pricing and offerings by their competition. Verizon Wireless must implement services and products that incorporate modern technology and are ground-breaking to compete in the wireless market and affordable in today’s economy. Impact of Government Regulations Verizon Wireless realizes the importance in ensuring that all regulations that are established by the Federal Communications Commission. Abiding by these regulations will guarantee that Verizon Wireless will keep providing long-standing benefits for the taxpayer and customers. Verizon Wireless trusts that the present structure â€Å"of auctioning spectrum licenses, with clearly defined, exclusive-use and flexible rights, is the right approach to spectrum policy† (Verizon Wireless, 2009). Although clear benefits towards allowing unlicensed use of spectrum is visible, that advance will not create the revenue for the United States Treasury or the best value for American economy. Broadband is one of the services provided by Verizon Wireless. Over the past ten years Broadband services have been used commercially. During that time the government has acknowledged the significance of implementing market-based motivations to persuade broadband usage and investment. â€Å"Rather than applying more-stringent regulations to telecommunications services and infrastructure, the FCC generally has applied an old wires, old rules; new wires, new rules philosophy towards broadband services and networks† (Verizon Wireless, 2009) By doing this, customers will reap in the benefits form the government’s decision to enhance incentives for broadband service providers to invest in better and superior broadband networks and services. â€Å"Investment and deployment in next-generation broadband networks – such as Verizon’s FiOS network – is happening at a remarkable pace, and consumers  now have more choices than ever before† (Verizon Wireless, 2009). Competitors Verizon Wireless has a substantial amount of competition in the wireless industry. Verizon competes with wireless companies such as T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T. Verizon Wireless became the largest wireless service provider by beating out AT&T. Nonetheless, Verizon’s landline industry is affected by the large opposition of modern technology and tends to confront challenges from various other competitors with high speed internet and cable companies such as Time Warner Cable. Verizon Wireless has to make an effort to stay in synch with the pricing and offerings of its competitors. The Wireless industry is so competitive, equipment can outdate within a few months. Companies must develop wireless devices that are affordable as well as reliable. Supply and Demand Analysis Even with today’s economic challenges, many opportunities to create innovative new products to meet customer demand still abound. In a bold new step the company introduced its line of netbooks, mini lightweight laptop computers that consumers can take with them anywhere. The netbooks have all the functionality of a laptop, with the convenience of a smaller wireless device. The smaller size and the low price the netbooks are offered, is what today’s consumers are demanding. Tapping into this market gives Verizon Wireless a piece of the notebook and laptop market that was only accessible in the past by offering mobile broadband cards. The added revenue from this market keeps Verizon Wireless ahead of the competition. Verizon Wireless also has the opportunity to expand its coverage globally with the 3G UMTS, Quad Band GSM networks. This means that business travelers as well as consumers will now have access to roam on more networks in over 250 countries across the globe. Verizon Wireless strives to produce the best most reliable wireless voice and data coverage in the industry. In order to obtain that goal the company will have to gain customers faster than the competition, widen the revenue lead and lead in profitability. As long as Verizon stays on the right track, the company should not have any issues presently and in the future. Reference Page Colander, D (2008).Economics, Fifth Edition. McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New York, New York, 10020 Verizon Wireless. (2009). Corporate History/investor relations. Retrieved June 26th, 2009 from www.verizon.com.

Choose a set of military images or objects and consider how they have Essay

Choose a set of military images or objects and consider how they have mobilized popular opinion in support of war - Essay Example Thesis statement: pictures especially of military objects mobilized popular opinion in support of war. This paper will discuss the role played by pictures in the outbreak and spread of the World War 1 and the Vietnam War. Experts believe that propaganda spread by the media then played a big role in the outbreak of the war (Dowling, 2006). The mass media played a great role in spreading pictures that were emotions and aggressive thus convincing the neutral nations that their sovereignty and peace was at risk (Allan, 2003). Many countries relied on propaganda pictures in scaring their enemies and demonstrating their military power. Cartoonists drew sarcastic pictures of their rivals thus contributing to anger among the citizens and agitations for the support of the War (Dowling, 2006). A majority of the pictures contained ill motive messages such as killing of women and children thus implying the intention to contravene the universal human rights of the civilians that were safeguarded by the international law. The agitated interest groups and emotional civilians could not withstand the provocative messages contained in the pictures and hence urged the governments to join the War in order to ensure national security (Allan, 2003). Pictures of women being raped by soldiers during war prompted feminist groups to urge the nation to join in the war while those containing images of burning property prompted the humanitarian groups to join urge the national governments to take military action against countries that breached civilian rights (Dowling, 2006). This was the height of propaganda since pictures portrayed the negativity of the war leading some countries to join the War in order to safeguard the innocent civilians (Allan, 2003). Accordingly, some pictures and images depicted an ongoing arms race since several countries were involved in military strengthening and manufacture of sophisticated weaponry. Countries like German and Britain were engaged in manufacturin g advanced war ships and battle tanks that could easily overpower the enemy (Dowling, 2006). The mass media fueled the popular opinion on War through showing the pictures of enemy weapons and analyzing how such weapons posed a great threat to their stability and security. Military weapons pictures contributed to War since several countries wanted to demonstrate their superiority and military strength through putting the advanced weapons in to action during the War (Dowling, 2006). The increased fear among the citizens led to agitation for surprise attacks on the enemies (Allan, 2003). The humanitarian crisis images and pictures taken in Vietnam also created a popular opinion towards the War since pictures showed images of crushing trains, burning airplanes, starving children. The pictures of death American soldiers and crushing planes made Americans believe that extreme military offensive through air strikes, naval strikes and additional soldiers was needed in Vietnam. The effects o f these devastating images prompted the entry of other states in order to end the costly War (Dowling, 2006). Recruiting Poster, World War I Pictured above was part of the posters used to urge nations to join in the First World War in the wake of its outbreak (Dowling, 2006). The picture shows a gorilla with fangs and a scary spiked Prussian helmet carrying off an American woman. The club has a label of â€Å"kultur†

International Business Culture and Diversity Case Study

International Business Culture and Diversity - Case Study Example Work behaviors vary from one culture to another. Even the organizational culture in place in a multinational company cannot totally dispel the influence of national culture. Organizational culture, in fact, has been known to blow up the members' national culture and gives emphasis to it In the light of the foregoing, culture does figure importantly in the day-to-day affairs of a company, whether or not it is actively into transactions that involve importing or exporting. Even companies that cater purely to local markets are confronted by cultural diversity amongst their employees, their suppliers, their clients, and other people that they do business with.At the onset of globalization, it was believed to bring about some sort of similarity, if not uniformity, of the world's cultures with one another. Although globalization did bring about an awakening to millions of people who used to think that life in their country is almost all there is to living in this world, it failed to make p eople of different races embrace a new culture that can be said to represent all the people of the world. In fact, it is when people of different cultures get together that their distinct traits, beliefs and habits become their source of identity, security and confidence.And so it was in the case of Ray Cisneros, who flew from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires to close a business deal. While his bosses believed him to be the best choice as the company representative because of his culture - his Hispanic background and capability to speak in Spanish - and his drive to excel, he found himself having to cope with issues that basically originated from the culture of the other party, the Argentinean executives. Cross-Cultural Differences Author Wederspahn names two levels that people of two or more different cultures go through before coming to the point when they are able to use the uniqueness of their individual cultures for the good of their common cause. The first level is where cultural dominance reigns. Each party would try to influence the other based on nothing but just culture. In this level, neither party acknowledges that there are cultural differences to be considered; each party would assume that the other will submit to his culture. (1989) Thus, Ray Cisneros flew to Buenos Aires with intentions of doing his presentation shortly after his arrival and with the belief that the Argentinean executives would agree to stick to his planned schedule. Meanwhile, the Argentinean executives arranged to let Ray Cisneros go sightseeing during his first days in Buenos Aires and then to meet him two days later. They were two parties from two distinct cultures, and each one naturally assumed that the other would agree to the designed schedule. This scenario illustrates the first level where cultural dominance is the name of the game. The second level brings in cultural compromise and the synergy that is achieved through it. In this level, the concerned parties learn to meet halfway to come up with alternatives that would be mutually beneficial. This can be attained even with the existence of cultural differences; it is a matter of acknowledging such differences and focusing more on common values and priorities. (Wederspahn 1989) This second level would ideally bring about a fruitful ending to the uncomfortable initial part of the negotiations between Ray Cisneros and the Argentinean executives. In this level, both parties would look beyond their individual feelings, reservations, plans, intentions and hopes for the meetings that are to be held and would instead dwell on the success and benefits that can be generated for both sides by a well-concluded discourse. The motives, plans, moods and behavior of Ray Cisneros and the Argentinean executives could be traced to the general characteristics of their respective cultures. Indeed, adequate information on the American culture and the Argentine

Google Froogle Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Google Froogle - Research Paper Example With increased traffic, they put in a 2 level filtering process for weeding our fake faculty profiles. Once any faculty profile was created, the back program would interact with Google with Google APIs and search for clues regarding authenticities of the profile. For example, if a new profile for Carlos Alva has been created claiming this person to be a faculty with Stanford University, then the program would interact with Google through Google API and search for "Carlos Alva Stanford University". In case there are any results, the profile will be allowed to be rated. If there are no results of the above given search, the profile will be flagger for further human review. This twin filtering of profiles created helped RateMyProfessor.com weed out fake faculty profiles. (Swapceinski J., April 2002) Databases can be categorized under various kinds based on the architecture, and the types of databases include relational databases, flat file databases, hierarchical databases, network databases and hybrid databases. (Peterson, n.d.) While flat file databases mimic the construction of a table where data is contained in cells (rows and columns), a hierarchical database contains multiple levels connected by nodes. ... A network database is a type of database where each data can have multiple owners. This is unlike relational database where there are no owners and a hierarchical database that has only one owner. Relational databases offer a number of advantages over other databases, namely, reduced redundancy, increased scalability and data integrity. Google uses a range of factors, including hyperlinks by other web pages, to determine the relative importance of a web page. (Annam V., n.d.) A relational database offers better results for Google as hyperlinks have been assigned some importance in Google's algorithm. So, the relative importance of a web page depends on on-site data as well as its relationship with other web-pages (data). A relevant result for a key word search will require "assembly" of information from multiple data sources. List of references: Annam V., (No Date), What are Relational Databases, and Why Should I Care retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://mylibrary.library.nd.edu/documentation/ch/ch16.html O'Brien J.M., (March 2004), The Secret R&D Army: How Hackers Give Google Its Wildest Ideas retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.03/google.htmlpg=10 Peterson, (No Date), Database Concepts, retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://maps.unomaha.edu/Peterson/gis/notes/DataBaseConcepts.html Swapceinski J., (April 2002), How The Google Web Api Makes My Life Easier, retrieved November 14, 2008, from

How Do Infrastructures Sape Cultures of Consumption Essay

How Do Infrastructures Sape Cultures of Consumption - Essay Example This essay stresses that the government of a country provides Infrastructure Services like Transport, Water & Electricity to promote well being of the citizens and hence will be committed to subsidize the cost to the consumers in order to make them reachable to the most unprivileged in the society. However, it needs to be clearly communicated that Infrastructure Services resulting in consumption of natural resources (like water) that is of utmost environmental importance should not be treated as a product which can be availed as per personal choice without any commitment to the larger community & the environment. The consumers would have to be educated on the bigger picture such that they assume larger accountabilities of preservation of the natural resources thus helping in reducing wastage. This can be done by promoting products & services that help in waste reduction without compromising on the day to day lifestyle goals of the individuals. Moreover the services are allowed to be controlled by non-profit organizations such that the cause of environment protection is higher on agenda than the revenues from services. This paper makes a conclusion that the design of end user utility services in large buildings & households should be done in such a way that manual avenues of saving natural resources (like water) should be provided along with signage or short instructions rather than controlling wastage through automatic means. Human behaviour would override the automatic systems more often thus resulting in more wastage than conservation.

What are mitigating factors in learning math in saudi arabia Assignment

What are mitigating factors in learning math in saudi arabia - Assignment Example The discussion of the results basically focused on elaboration of the behavioral patterns of students in relation to motivation in undertaking math as a subject. MRP6: This was the last section of the paper; it focused on a discussion of the purpose of the research followed by the conclusion section that basically provided summarized information of the entire research. Adler, N. E., & Stewart, J. 2009: Recommended reading for the research; provides pertinent information regarding motivation among human beings. This reference has noted that many human beings have a natural tendency of avoiding work. The DOS Based VBPro: This is the content analysis software that was used to facilitate the analysis of the data collected in this research. The rational for selecting this software for the research is based on the fact that it is easily applicable in analyzing qualitative data. Manipulative in learning: This is one factor that arised in the course of data analysis; manipulative method as a form of learning entails a scenario whereby student utilizes certain items i.e. calculators, toothpicks and markers to support hand-in learning. In my research, this is one factor that appeared to among the motivating factors used among students to learn math. School Quiz Logic Puzzles: This is another issue that emerged as I analyzed my data. It is a tool that was applied in most Saudi Schools to improve the performance of students in mathematics. Logic puzzles are basically brain games where a student is subjected to a scenario where he has to apply logic in order to solve a problem. Qualitative Techniques: This is the procedures that were used to collect and analyze data that guided my research. The rationale for selecting qualitative technique as my research designed was based on the fact that it facilitated asking and answering questions such as: Why? Where? How?

Inventory Management in the Supply Chain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Inventory Management in the Supply Chain - Essay Example As the paper declares the supply chain begins with the extraction of the raw material, there are then value additions along the supply chain along with several production links before the product finally reaches the end consumer. The Global Supply Chain Forum introcduced a supply chain model which included the following business processes which are cross-functional and cross-firm in nature. These processes and components include; customer relationship management, customer service management, demand management, order fulfillment, manufacturing flow management, supplier relationship management, product development and commercialization and returns management/ reverse logistics. This discussion stresses that supply chains are an integral component of any business. The term ‘Supply Chain Management’ was coined in the 1980s to express the need of integrating the key business functions from the supplier to the end user. The original idea behind supply chain is that companies involve themselves in sharing of information regarding market dynamics and production capabilities. The automobile industry has experienced a boom in recent years with automobile demand soaring up. However today it faces a lot of challenges including ; cost reduction and performance improvement, emerging markets, excess labour, production capacity and inventory, retail and distribution performance and environmental sustainability. In this situation it has been imperative to examine all areas of the value chain in the industry including the supply chain. This is because companies

Accounting project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Accounting project - Essay Example Accrual basis of accounting assumes that business will be done by both cash and credit. In these circumstances, there might be some unfinished or incomplete transactions at the end of every month or year. For example, salaries to workers are paid every Thursday evening but the present year ends on Tuesday, Dec 31. In such a circumstance, salary from last Friday to this Tuesday (5 days) has been earned by the workers, although we will pay them next Thursday 02 Jan. If we want to provide an accurate picture of the accounts as of Dec 31, we will take 5 days salary as payable up to Dec 31 and 2 days payable in the New Year. This accrual of 5 days salaries as of Dec 31 is an adjusting entry which helps us record salaries payable to workers as of that date. Under cash basis accounting this entry would be unnecessary since no cash would have been paid out till Jan 02 of the New Year (Accounting Coach, 1). From the above, it is abundantly clear about the nature and need for adjusting entries. Adjusting entries are needed to reflect a correct picture of the accounts as of the end of the year (Meigs et al, 153). Since most businesses have Dec 31 as the closing date for the year, this is the date at which their adjusting entries are made. However the accounts may be closed at any other date during the year, June 30 or Sep 30 for example and so adjustments are typically made at that date for these businesses. There may be different types of adjusting entries required. The following are the most usual kinds of adjusting entries that are seen in the business arena: One important peculiarity is that it is often seen that under the double entry system of accounting, where every debit has a credit, of the two accounts used in an adjusting entry, one is typically an Income Statement account while the other will be a Balance Sheet account. We usually have to create one of these accounts to record the complete

Explain the Influence of Management Style on the Nature of the Employment Relationship Essay Example for Free

Explain the Influence of Management Style on the Nature of the Employment Relationship Essay It always a great deal for management to perform effectively in an organization, it is because they are the ones that are always look into by the people within the company. With the policies and guidelines that they give for the employees in order for them to achieve their goal effectively is the main reflection on the management style they implement and want to follow in the company. That is why in order for a company to succeed, management is always one of the main key, because it provides a better deal on addressing the main issue of relationship as well as policies. What is important for the management is that, no matter what and how they provide their management style in an organization, it should have positive output for both its people and also the stakeholders. Or always find a way to â€Å"strike the balance† between the two, because if people in the organization will not be given the right attention, it will be hard for company to survive, since these people are called as the â€Å"front liners† and the reflection of these performance will surely be reflected on the service they provide for the customer. On the other hand for the stakeholders, they maybe people that do not want to know more about how people or staff deals with their work, but more focus on the stability of the company, or simply â€Å"bottom line†. But, in order to achieve this there should be leader that must stand in front which will lead all these into reality. They say that a good leader is a good coach as well as moderator; these people are some of the very few people that knows how to encourage and provide hope for people and convert them to be an asset in the company and instead of a threat. Because there are other managers who thinks of efficient and effective people as threat, threat because they can overthrown the manager, because some managers are not that highly motivated and do not want to challenge themselves, that is why most companies development or progress are hardly achieve by these â€Å"power tripping: managers who would not want to see potential leaders to be what they deserve they can be, and inte4ad they be given challenge, they are either being ignored or left behind. For most effective managers or leaders who really provide great influence in an organization, they see company as business, not finance. This is the problem with some appointed managers or managers that are just being assigned without really understanding the position well. Actually managers are not financial comptroller, where the latter works more on how to control expenses but look into prioritizing how to increase sales and revenues. Managers forget the fact that they must lead and not always focus on the financials, because if they focus on the financials they should not be manager anymore, instead they should be working in the accounting or finance department. Another is that, managers are in the company to provide action and not just lesson. They must also provide community action, an action that would really help the company to go to its greatest potential and always dwell on how to prioritizing the important activities that needs to be done. For being an action man or woman in the company, it is also easy to find respect from the organization, since there is always hard work shown, and all of these provides great influence and eventually will result to success in the employment relationship within the organization. (Heller, R, 2007, pars. 4 and 9). Employee relations and theoretical interpretation In employment relation to employment relation, there are different types of theory that is applied in an organization. These are: (1) Unitary Theory, (2) Pluralist Theory, System, (4) Marxist, (5) Feminist, (6) Comparative, and (7) Postmodernism. For unitary theory, it is the existence of a single policy or authority that is being practice within the organization. This type of management theory is known in the very early years, where leaders form their own rule in the basis of what they think is right and people are mostly not given the rights to contradict or over rule the policy or guideline that was implemented. Classical Pluralism, is however is considered as the form of management is greatly influence by an electorate political group or any group that holds power over the society. Their main power is strengthen by the ideology that come from the community or societal group and this form of management style is well supported since it is perceived as for the good of many and not just from the group. System theory focuses is focusing on the inter-disciplinary representation of field science, which is complex nature of science, nature and science are the main basic on this theory. This also means that in every decision there is always a scientific explanation which needs to be followed or adhered. For Marxist theory, its philosophy mainly focuses on the diverse theory that Karl Marx which is mainly in the light of communism, this theory mainly involves such diverse fields like, aesthetics, ethics, ontology, epistemology and the philosophy of science as well. This is made popularize in the early strict and communistic era in Russia. On the theory about Feminism, it also provides a wide variety of discipline which mainly focuses on the common ideology of women’s role in politics, and these include: anthropology, sociology, economics, women as well as gender studies. This form of management looks after on the main concern of the greater women in the community which can be effectively being applied in the form of management within the organization. Lastly, for the theory about Postmodernism, which only shows that most of the people here are great fun of opportunities, like on and off the job training, like in the case of a project that will be eventually be started since the government has allocated some ideas in the organization. These theories have provided different impact in the organization since every theory is applied appropriately in the companies. It also provides a clear guideline as to how people can be managed effectively. Like take for instance a company that lies on the service that they provide, for example a company of systems development, which has given the authority to let users to participate in forming and firming the management standards and practices that the company must used. For the last two theories for management practices, comparative and post-modernism, for the first theory, Cooperative theory, this form of management, shows big importance to the greater majority of the people and these is brought out by the well collaborative effort shown from the employee and the management as well. This also shows that management must play big attention in their respective stores in a typical â€Å"look and feel† of the organization. (Hollinshead, Nicholls, and Tailby, 2003, pp. 9-41). The Importance of Collective Bargaining in an Organization For some companies accepting the presence of a Union is not that well accepted, because for some management it is just a source of employees of pushing other request that might even defeat the main vision or mission of the company. In fact the main objective of it is to provide a better deal of the needs of the staffs and not just raising some wants, which may lead to negative result. Companies or staffs must not always look into having an agreement that focuses not only for employee compensation or benefits but it should also focus on some other concerns like safety and help provision. This is because most industry, most especially manufacturing companies, automatically has a union and it provides a clear directive on what the policy that must be followed and this process must be strictly be send and follow up users. Collective bargaining has it own process which helps the management and the employees union to follow for better understanding of its agreement. In Ireland, this process is formed in a way that corresponds also to the company guidelines which is important to have it more appreciative and well respected by the stakeholder. (How Has Collective Bargaining Happen in Ireland, 2007).

Stages of Demographic Transition in Spain Between 1960-2008 Essay Example for Free

Stages of Demographic Transition in Spain Between 1960-2008 Essay This corresponds to the red square stated on the figure showing the demographic transition theory. At the start of the second phase the birth rate and the death rate are still high, but in this phase they will both decline to a lower level. The death rate starts declining earlier and it will decline faster than the birth rate. This will result in a remarkable growth in the population size during the second phase. A important factor for the decline of the death rate is the improvement in the standard of living. Other factors for this decline were improvement in health care and in hygiene. The decline in the birth rate during the second phase of the demographic transition theory is also a result of the improvements in the standard of living and in health care. The increase in prosperity resulted in a decline of the total fertility rate. Children were no longer needed to work in the industrial life to help their parents raise an income, and because of the improvements in health care, children were no longer needed to take care of their parents when they were old.

Modernism In Scandinavia And Italy Cultural Studies Essay

Modernism In Scandinavia And Italy Cultural Studies Essay Modernism was not just a new style of thinking; it represented a new way of thinking, new ideas and a new ideology which was a shift from the contemporary ways of art, literature and architecture. Modernism, when defined roughly, refers to the contemporary ideas, notions, spirit and way of life. A more accurate definition would describe it as the change in the cultural values which originated in the form of cultural movements, and left their impact on the Western society in the late 19th and early 20th century. Some believe that modernism was an uprising against realism which was both conventional and conformist in its way of thinking. Some of the major political and societal changes which brought about the modernism were the post world wars situation. The huge developments and transformations in industry and technology coupled with the cultural exchanges, transportation and communication developments and influences from the West. The period of modernism in Scandinavia and Italy was both progressive and optimistic. It stems from the renaissance for the historians and was a cultural movement which impacted the Scandinavian and Italian art, architecture, music and literature. The breaking away from the conventional styles to newer representations in the period, where there was a shift from the traditional values. The period also marked growth and innovations in science, ethics, philosophy and psychology besides the previously mentioned art, architecture, music and literature. Different countries have had their share of influencing modernism. Modernism was reflected in art and styles and the streak touched many countries, with each nation contributing uniquely and overall adding to the progression. This period saw a change in the style and ideology of art during this era. The philosophy of art was transformed during this period in terms of the themes and subject matter, and also the use of colours, shapes and lines. The intellectual underpinnings of modernism emerge during the Renaissance period when, through the study of the art, poetry, philosophy, and science of ancient Greece and Rome, humanists revived the notion that man, rather than God, is the measure of all things, and promoted through education ideas of citizenship and civic consciousness. The period also gave rise to utopian visions of a more perfect society.  [1]   Every nuances of design, architecture or art captures the political and cultural aura of the time and place, and the modern art in Scandinavia and Italy reflected their countries situations in the modern art. Below is a modernism timeline which shows the significant events between 1920- 1970. Modernism in Scandinavia Scandinavia had a mixed dynamics of cultures, language and politics. This gave birth to a versatile and multi dimensional philosophy of art and design which became more assertive. The movement from Europe enveloped Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland within its fold. The Scandinavian countries had their own unique, yet impactful role in the move towards modernism. The response to the stimuli from the modern world was distinctive. The countries were experiencing the same changes in the modern life- social equality, industrialization and urbanization. Nonetheless, the outcomes and impact showed the unique natures of art and skills that evolved, which gave individuality and characteristic art and design to each of the countries. Yet the distinctiveness was combined with features which were common to all the Scandinavian countries which include a unifying touch in terms of humanism, tradition, moderation, handcrafted perfectionism, modesty, quietude and purposefulness  [2]   which came to know as the style of the Scandinavian modern art. Among the European countries, the Scandinavian were able to portray the modern artistic touch in their traditional and conventional craft most expressively. Countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland which had internal dynamics and resources which led to an increased inclination towards the craft industries were most explicit in communicating the modern aesthetic in their art and craft.With the breakdown of the craft guild system in the mid- nineteenth century, they established a number of institutions to protect them from an influx of inferior, foreign mass-produced goods.  [3]  The Swedish Society of Craft and Industrial Design was formed to cultivate and maintain high standards in crafts. In the pre-1900 times, the Scandinavian countries derived their inspiration from the national traditions and folklore. The early works, which imparted and impacted the most to the modernism, included the Viking-revival imagery of Norway, arts and crafts movement of Nordic and the Swedish porcelain works which depicted the flora and fauna to their utmost beauty on vessels. Harmony in visual arts such as architecture, decorative arts, graphics and craft came through the Art Nouveau movement which gave a unifying touch to the art. The driving motivation behind the flourishing of modern art during the Art Nouveau was the dissatisfaction with historicism, and the mutual feeling that a newer and fresher design should be adopted in the new century. Gregor Paulssons book Vackrare Vardagsvara was the starting point towards the unifying of Swedish design. The Swedish design was directed towards achieving ideals of humanism and democracy, depicted through beauty and simplicity. National romanticism found initial grounds in Sweden and Finland; however there was a failure to translate this style into architecture as a unifying feature. Works of architects like Gustaf Ferinand is of particular importance. The Scandinavian countries followed a same trajectory, like the Copenhagen town hall in Denmark failed to integrate Richardsons example. Romanticism is Finland had become prominent in the late 1800s. The inspiration behind the Finnish modern art was their folk epic kalevala. Sonck was a prominent figure who built a granite church and used materials such as steel and concrete for Engels university library. Other major buildings include Tampere Cathedral and telephone building with characteristic masonry syntax. Finland had been an imperial colony of Sweden and Russia, and therefore Denmark was where the revival of Romantic Classicism originated. Tinges of classism were seen in Sweden quite some time later in works such as Carl Westmans Stockholm Courts. The ar chitecture saw a shift from national romantic and classical to neo classical. In Sweden the Romantic classical revival could not witness its pure form and was diluted by inflection of plan and iconography. Tampere Landmarks and Monuments: Tampere Cathedral (Tampereen Tuomiokirkko)  tampere_cathedral_view.jpg Alvar Aaltos had Asplund as the driving force. Both Aaltos and Asplunds work had several directions to them, and depict different levels of cultural development. The work saw varying contrasts of classical and vernacular architecture. Major works of Aalto, such as the apartments, clubs, churches and renovations were inspired by Asplund, and had a Doricist touch to them with an amalgamation of vernacular, Hoffmanns austerity of line and Italian. Aaltos Paimio sanatorium instilled the Functional style in the 1927-34 periods. Aaltos later works were inspired by Erik Bryggman, who was a Finnish architect, in which classicism was combined with the Soviet-Agit-Prop lead in architecture expression. The designs of Aalto derived inspirations from both Dutch and Russian Constructivism, and included the use of concrete, geometrical schemes and serial landscapes. Aalto was influenced by different peoples and philosophies in his works. His later career saw a shift from rational and technical idea s to human imagination, and the use of materials shifted from concrete to wood. This was the organic approach to style and design. Special consideration was given to the ambiance and environment of the architecture, with filtration of heat, sound and light. Hence, the designs incorporated the physical and psychological needs of the people. Efforts were made to ensure the control of environment, meet the peoples needs of privacy, suitable exposure to light and heat, design of ceilings and non noisy wash basins. The designs and features of the buildings were tailor made for each, so that the varying needs such as those of a library and hospitals could be met effectively. Aalto describes his anti mechanistic and more humanistic approach to architecture in the words, To make architecture more human means better architecture and it means functionalism much larger than the merely technical ones. This goal can be accomplished only by architectural methods- by the creation and combination o f different technical things in such a way that they will provide for the human being the most harmonious life  [4]  . Neo empirical times in Scandinavia(1930s) saw the anti urban streak in them with an inclination towards the humanistic and traditional inspired styles. Some remarkable architectures in this period include the powerhouse designed by Osvald Almqvist, Sven Markeliuss Swedish pavilion, the house of Gunnar Asplund and other similar styles of buildings. The basic features of architecture in both Scandinavia and Italy can be described in the words, the entire inventive effort of these architects consist essentially of devising flexible urban modules whose geometrical character permits articulations that fit well into natural site, leaving the color, simplicity, and traditionalism of the details to provide the more immediate directions  [5]  . The Scandinavian styles, which emerged after the post world war period, were the works of many talented Scandinavian architects and designers. The works of the architects was highly successful and impacted o only the Scandinavian countries but also the rest of the world as described in the following words, Self-confidence grew with the successes. The American Lunning Award, reserved for Scandinavian designers, provided a number of young talents with their American breakthrough. In 1954 Design in Scandinavia embarked on a three-and-a half year long tour of the US and Canada. It was not just beautifully crafted objects, but A Scandinavian Way of Living that was promoted. Danish teak furniture, Swedish crystal and textiles, Norwegian enamel, Finnish furniture and glass merged into a concept generally perceived as Scandinavian: blond, cool, distinct and refined. Its careful craftsmanship, perfection, harmony and natural feeling were seen as the dream of a better world in a Europe which had risen from the inferno of World War II. Remarkably, there are few countries today if any which continue to produce as many vintage designs as the Scandinavian countries, testimony to their timelessness, practicality and to the well-deserved argument they transcend the vagaries of fashion  [6]  . Modernism in Italy Modernism in Italy is closely linked to the social forces and is portrayed through the artistic strategies. Artists as individuals, or in groups, sought to demonstrate the change of the century and the change in the social environment (with culture and politics being the main drivers) through painting, design, music, literature and architecture.Two architects, Giuseppe Sommaruga  and  Ernesto Basile, were the major contributors to the Art Nouveau in Italy. Art Noveau also known as the new art was a movement of changing styles of art, applied art and architecture in terms of style. Italy was affected, better, influenced by Modernism such that the era brought forward architectural masterpieces that were at times either influenced by the works of foreign modernist architects or by older architectural designs. The 1925 renovation of Rome brought about changes in the Roman map as streets were re-built to connect ancient monuments with the monuments that were to be built by the Mussolini with the help of Marcello Piacentini. While declaring the plan for the reconstruction of Rome, Mussolini declared: In five years time, Rome must astonish the peoples of the world. It must appear vast, orderly and powerful as it was in the days of Augustus. Affinity of tradition was so strong during the modernist era that it was almost impossible to construct and design buildings that did not draw influence from ancient Roman architecture. They were, therefore, bound to retain a typical national character. The act of taking inspiration from the past was best settled by the argument that the traditions are not erased from the memories of citizens but only evolve into variations of themselves. However, the avant-garde architecture and modernism was viewed fearfully by those who had witnessed the devastations of the world war and regarded modernism in the technological spheres and other advances as the root cause of the war. The new slogan raised was therefore that of humanism, which incorporated that which was left in the pre war period. Special emphasis was laid on the psychological and physical aspects of the architecture of the people, the expressive use of materials, integration with the environment and incorporation of the traditions and societal factors. The art and architecture sought to remove the anti-technology and neo-humanistic approach and produce work which the people could identify with by having a relationship with them and incorporating traditions. This is referred to as the neo-empirical movement in Scandinavia and the organic movement in Italy. The urban areas began to have a domestic tinge to them, with an anti urban attitude emerging in both Scandinavi a and Italy. The themes of nature and pseudo-psychologism flourished in the Scandinavian architecture in the 1930s. The Italian architects drew their inspiration from the Scandinavian architecture and therefore the architecture in Italy showed the visible signs of being inspired from the Scandinavians. The social-democratic styles were particularly attractive for the Italian architects. However, Italian modernism was more richer than the following of Scandinavian styles only. The flair of Italian furniture design for expressing exclusivity and esprit was much better suited to the booming economy than the sparse aesthetics and good-natured folksiness of Scandinavian design, which was beginning to feel tame and stagnant. A decade earlier, Nordic coolness and order had been needed to help heal the spiritual wounds in a Europe that was still in ruins and chaos. But now young Nordic designers could no longer walk in the old footsteps. Scandinavian design became unfashionable, also in Scandinavia itself  [7]  . However, the Italian architecture had more depth to it in the Neo-Realism, rather than just being inspired by Scandinavian styles. The central concern was on the insistence on defining a common language that would be directly communicative for the poorer classes who were viewed as the protagonists of the postwar reconstruction  [8]  . Informal ground plans were laid out to pay reverence to impulsive forms of architecture and materials such as wrought iron and Roman style bricks were used with an emphasis on local dialect. This combination clearly referred to the peasant world adorned for its naturalism. Certainly the rediscovery of rural purity was simply one aspect of the cultural populism that was so in vogue in the post war Italian culture. It was a regressive utopia with nostalgic accents. But, as far as the architecture was concerned, it created a true proper ideology that was adequate to the particular role that the building industry was called to fulfill in the period of r econstruction  [9]  . The architects gave monumental forms to their creations, with features of structural expressionism to build an emotive contact with the masses. The Italian architecture should also be viewed from the perspective of the polemics for and against the Organic architecture. In the Renaissance, architecture was seen as the supreme artit also represented the highest artistic achievement a human being could attain. The Italian renaissance architecture had significant impact on the world at that time, displaced only by the advent of modernist architecture in the twentieth century.  [10]   But even the modern architect Richard Meier notes that the quality of light, expression of structure, as expressed in an interior like Sant Ivo Sapienza, remains influential in the way buildings are designed today. Therefore, the ideas and philosophies that emerged with regard to the architectural design still find a place I todays world. The idea of buildings that reach into the heavens or the principle that an interior should welcome the light into the interior rooms can be traced to this period.  [11]  Much of domestic architecture throughout Europe and America still resists modernism, and you can still drive down the street in Palo Alto and see columned exterio rs on the houses of the wealthy mimicking public buildings and communicating civic power. The focus of Italian architecture was on the creation of open, well-lit, and above all public spaces that welcomed both light and was a reflection of humanistic ideas with special emphasis on the physical and psychological comforts for the people. The developments in Roman architecture with their innovative designs and use of styles such as arches and vaults are the source of inspiration for many architectural masterpieces even today. The modernism period brought changes that have changed the world of architecture forever. These impacts of modernism can be seen not only in the Roman empire but have also spread far and wide during the travels and conquests of the Romans. Conclusion The Scandinavian and Italian art and architecture, and the economic, technological, demographic and cultural changes evolved in tandem. The architectural designs depict the periods and their relative influence with different architects and artists gaining influence in different periods, and their works marked by their characteristic styles, yet having a unifying national touch to them. The styles which were adopted were the neo classism, Romanticism, historicism and vernacular architecture. These trends in architecture coincide with the societal and political changes in these countries during 1920-1970s. The use of wood and concrete and architectural styles like the arches, piers and others are the characteristic features of the times, and a reflection of political and societal evolution. The architecture in Scandinavia and Italy is intermittent with a variety of prevailing conditions, such as those of the society, but also reflect the architects innovation and style. The Scandinavia n and Italian architecture hold onto their uniqueness even today. A visit to these countries show how the architecture has a touch of individuality to it ranging from the buildings, shops, hotels, restaurants and other architectural creations. The modern and contemporary styles have left their mark so prominent, that it can be seen even today. To conclude, it may be said that identity is very important. During the modernism, people found validation and expression in the objects with which they surrounded themselves and therefore their ideologies were reflected in their art and architecture.

A Man For All Seasons Essays -- essays research papers

The 16th century was a time of political upheaval, a time of conflict and corruption †¦ and a time of heroes? All these elements are visibly present in Bolt’s book, A Man for All Seasons. As I was reading this story I was thinking that it could probably apply to our day and age but that begged the question. Why did Robert Bolt decide to use a 16th century character rather than a present time period character and setting? I believe that Bolt chose this man and his era because there things that he liked abut the man, there was no shortage of conflict and the he was worthy of being a hero. He fits into one of the archetype heroes. These three things I will touch upon in my seminar and I hope that my ideas will prove to be informative and enlightening.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the main reasons that Robert Bolt probably chose 16th century Thomas More as his hero for A Man for all Seasons was that he liked his personality. By that I mean that as Bolt wrote about More, he discovered more and more things that he found admirable about the man. At the outset, Robert Bolt was looking for a person who had a strong idea of who he is because this is what Bolt thinks is necessary to be a hero and this is exactly the type of man that Thomas More is. More saw in himself something that was his only and he was that it was something that allowed him to live life with confidence in himself. Only when he was denied that way of life was he able to accept his fate of death. Robert Bolt comments on this on page 13 of the preface. â€Å"†¦who nevertheless found something in himself without which life was valueless and when that was denied him, he was able to grasp his death.† This shows that Thomas knew that he had a sense of identity that no one else and he knew how important it was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After Robert Bolt selected this man, he began to write and realised many more things about Thomas More, which had drawn him to the 16th century character. One of the things that Bolt found out was More’s sense of self. He remarks on this on page 12 of the preface. â€Å"At any rate, Thomas More, as I wrote about him, became for me a man with an adamantine sense of his own self.† Robert Bolt went back to this era long past because of that trait but it was as he wrote about him that he discovered just how strong his sense of identity was.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B... ...e me, Alice, that in silence is my safety under the law, but my silence must be absolute, it must extend to you.† (P56) He has found that so long he doesn’t give any indication to his opinion, hey cannot do anything to him legally. â€Å"MORE: There’ll be no trial, they have no case.† (P85) When he is asking his family to leave the country, he knows that he has protected himself to the best of his abilities. He should be safe except for the fact that he is dealing with a corrupt King who considers himself above the law.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is there any way to do a play such as this in the 20th century? Evidently, Robert Bolt thought not and after analysing the story further, I have come to realise that he is right. The elements of the story, which were present in the 16th century, are not present in the 20th. There also may have been no one in this century that Robert Bolt liked enough and with the right characteristics. And of course, there is not enough conflict for one man to face as there was in that time. I believe that there are men (And women.) who would be able to face the problems that Thomas More had to face but we can all be thankful that there is no need for it.

Ted Bundy :: essays research papers

Ted Bundy Ted Bundy's Trail of Terror From the Beginning of Taking Life Until The End of His Life Serial killers tend to be white heterosexual males in their twenties and thirties. While it is impossible to predict who will become a serial killer there are traits that appear to be similar in all killers. These behaviors include cruelty to animals, bedwetting, lying, drug and alcohol abuse, and a history of violence. According to Robert Ressler et al., "serial homicide involves the murder of separate of separate victims with time breaks between victims, as minimal as two days to weeks or months. These time breaks are referred to as a cooling off period." Because homicides involving multiple victims is gradually becoming more commonplace, and to facilitate an understanding of the aforementioned definition, it is helpful to differentiate serial murder from other types of murder, such as mass murder, which involves,"four or more victims killed within a short time span," and spree killings, which Ressler et al. defines as "a series of sequential homicides connected to one event committed over a time period of hours to days and without a cooling off period." Ted Bundy is one of the worst serial killers in history. His antisocial personality and psychotic character made him feared across the country. After all was said and done Ted left behind a trail of bloody slayings that included the deaths of 36 young women and spanned through four states. The biggest question in many people's mind was how could someone as intelligent,highly accomplished, and praised as Bundy do such a thing? Theodore Robert Bundy was born November 24th, 1946 in Burlinton, Vermont to a 21 year old mother. Ted's mom never told him much about his father except that he was in the armed forces and they had only dated a few times. Ted was left in foster care for two months while his mom and parents decided what to do with him. In 1946 an illegitimate child was extremely looked down upon by society. Once they decided to keep Ted his grandparents told everyone he was their adopted son. Ted knew who his biological mom was, but outsiders were told that she was his sister. Ted adored his grandfather. His grandfather was also particularly fond of Ted. He remembered camping and fishing trips he and his grandfather would go on. Other family members describe his grandfather as an ill-tempered tyrant. He was racist, intolerant, and a perfectionist. He expected everyone to meet his demands. His grandfather was also verbally abusive toward other family members and physically abusive toward his wife.

Case Study Analysis: Union Carbide Corporation And Bhopal Essay

The Political, Social, and Legal Environment of Business Case Study Analysis: Union Carbide Corporation and Bhopal A single slip in action may cause lasting sorrow. A slight mistake in operation at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal of India causes a lot of deaths and injuries. What a tragedy it is. Undoubtedly, there must be something wrong with the management of the plant. In addition to the plant, the governments related in India that issued permits and provided incentives for the plant, Bhopal community officials who permitted slum dwellers to move near the plant in illegal settlements, Indian environmental and safety inspectors should also be responsible for this. The governments related in India issued permits because people need jobs, or people would starve to death. This was one reason in my opinion. Soft money from Union Carbide plant may be another reason for issuing permits. It was clearly that the governments in America would not issue a permit to Union Carbide plant under such circumstances, which lacked of severe environmental standards and permitted slum dwellers to live near the plant and so on. Such actions were the fuses leading to more deaths. Before the major gas leakage from the MCI unit on December 3, 1984, some people were killed because of phosgene gas leakage. However, no one took it seriously in spite of the report by media. One of the reasons that people ignore this was because people didn ¡Ã‚ ¦t know the potential danger of the chemical plant. The other reason was that there are not enough environmental inspectors to cover so many plants in India. Besides, those inspectors had a record of loose enforcement. Consequently, danger emerged just as the saying goes  ¡Ã‚ §Nothing comes of nothing. ¡Ã‚ ¨ As for the management of Union Carbide ¡Ã‚ ¦s Bhopal plant, some steps indeed needed to be improved. Let us take a look at the whole process of the gas leak and see what actions can be improved. The first mistake in my opinion was that R. Khan, an operator in the MIC complex, neglected to insert a slip blind above the point of water entry. This omission violated instructions in the MIC processing manual, the technical manual that set forth procedures established by the chemical engineers who set up the plant. Obviously, the plant failed to emphasize the importance of obeying the processing manual and the danger of disobeying ... ...nk he should be responsible for the whole case. In other words, he should resign for the whole incident. Generally speaking, the legal system didn ¡Ã‚ ¦t play a very active role in this case. First of all, the India government could do more on digging the truth of the gas leak out and set a more strict standard to regulate such dangerous plants in case that another crisis. Second, I didn ¡Ã‚ ¦t see any one who worked in the Union Carbide ¡Ã‚ ¦s Bhopal plant should be responsible for that tragedy. Does it mean that all that the India court wanted was money or it just wanted to reduce trial and subsequent appeals because it might have taken more than twenty years? To sum up, Union Carbide handled the crisis cleverly but not well enough because it knew what would the India government and court react to this incident. Union Carbide controlled the whole situation and took lead of the lawsuits itself. The India government and court didn ¡Ã‚ ¦t help those victims as much as they needed instead. The function of government, designed to protect its people, disappeared in this case. BIBLIOGRAPHY  ¡Ã‚ §Union Carbide Corporation And Bhopal, ¡Ã‚ ¨ in Steiner and Steiner, pp.147-161.

Juliet is the Better Lover Essay

Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s greatest love story. With all the characters mixed up in love, hate, war and friendship, the bard’s tale spearheads a current debate on whether Romeo or Juliet was the better lover. This paper attempts to prove why Juliet is by far the better lover compared to Romeo. Experts have reason to believe that Romeo and Juliet were actually juveniles. Romeo was fourteen and Juliet was thirteen. This was evident in Elizabethan royalties where sons and daughters of the rich found themselves pre-arranged to sons and daughter of the same class. Girls were allowed to marry as young as 12. Between Romeo and Juliet, Juliet sacrificed more because she had to pursue her love to Romeo given the fact that she was a girl and was the younger of lover. Being a woman, much less a girl during the Elizabethan times meant following very strict rules. Breaking of these rules meant dishonor, disgrace and punishment from her parents. Although the Romeo deserves the same fate from his parents, the gender difference makes all the difference. â€Å"Elizabethan Women were totally dominated by the male members of their family. They were expected to instantly obey not only their father but also their brothers and any other male members of the family. The punishment for disobey was the whipping stool – the Elizabethan girls were beaten into submission and disobedience was seen as a crime against their religion. † (2005) Of the many definitions of love, Scott Peck describes it in his book The Road Less Traveled as; â€Å"The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth. † (Peck, 1978) In this definition between Juliet and Romeo, it is Juliet who has extended herself. Trusting her life to the poison of the priest, she totally follows the plan hoping that through her sacrifice, Romeo and herself can live happily ever after. During those times when total faith is expected and practiced in society, the belief in earthly concoctions is almost equal to belief in witches’ ways. But because of her love for Romeo, Juliet allows her heartbeat to stop for three days choosing a life with her Romeo than a well-off life with her parents and Paris. Compared to the sacrifice of Romeo and Juliet, it is Juliet’s sacrifice that can be considered weighty because she became consistent with her selflessness for her lover. Romeo couldn’t sacrifice his vengeance for his friend who was killed by Juliet’s cousin which made the turns in the story. If love is self-sacrifice then Romeo is a better lover because he killed himself for the love of Juliet but love is not self-sacrifice per se. Love is the act of expanding oneself so that one could evolve from something to something better. To note, Juliet died twice for her Romeo. The first time was when she drank the poison and the second time was when she stabbed herself. So in the matter of the number of times the lovers tried to kill themselves for the love of the lover, it is still Juliet that outnumbered Romeo. She not only outnumbered Romeo in the time she killed herself but in the ways she did it. Romeo only used the poison once but Juliet used the poison and used the dagger to lead her to bleed to death upon her realization that her Romeo was dead. Juliet is the better lover because she was the first one who had to endure a lover’s loss. When Romeo was banished, she grieved for her Romeo more than for her cousin. If Romeo did not instantly grieve the death of his friend, maybe Juliet’s cousin would still be alive, but then again the greatest love story would not have been told. Romeo grieved for Juliet only upon knowing of her death, which made very dramatic and weighty due to his committing suicide. However, the drama did not climax at the end of his suicide but it further gained heights when Juliet took the dagger and impaled it into her chest. â€Å"Suicide is not something that happens for a simple reason. It is impossible to rap up in a nutshell the many reasons a person may want to die. The reasons for suicide range from critical injury and fatal illness to momentary sadness or a sudden and emotionally jarring shock. Some reasons may seem logical (if you are in pain and dying anyway, why prolong the suffering? ) while others seem ridiculous (a crush dumped on you in front of friends and you feel humiliated) but whatever the reason, to the person thinking of suicide, they are unbearable. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of suicides are the result of a complex combination of circumstances, emotions and a psyche in turmoil. † (Hardcastle, 2007) For Juliet, it was definitely a combination of perplexities during that very moment. But surely among them, she had the option of just continuing her life free of anything and everything. She could start anew because she was dead to her parents and families anyway. However, since she was also young and in shock about the death of her Romeo, the dagger was a quick solution to make her be eternally together with Romeo. Juliet definitely chose love. Physiologically, Juliet is more capable of being the better lover. At fourteen, boys will be boys as could be proven by the rage Romeo had when his enemy killed his friend. The clouding of the mind, never mind if he was about to kill his bride’s cousin but the rage of testosterone controlled Romeo. There are physiological differences between girls and boys that would prove their capability of experiencing true and mature love, as explained by Dr. Gurian, 1999. 1. Adolescent boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed as emotionally disturbed than adolescent girls. Given this, Romeo most likely had decided to kill himself but that decision may have been influenced with disturbed thoughts. 2. Adolescent males are four times as likely to commit suicide as adolescent females. Given this data, the suicide of Romeo would not count so much as Juliet’s suicide due to gender difference. 3. Adolescent males are routinely found to channel other primary feelings; hurt, pain, grief, into anger. Given this, there would be a possibility for Romeo to have committed suicide due to anger at the whole world than due to love for Juliet. 4. Adolescent boys are 15 times as likely as adolescent females to be victims of violent crime. Adolescent boys commit violent crime at a higher rate than adult offenders. Given this data, the suicide of Romeo does not count more in intensity than Juliet in terms of the violence confronting the adolescents. The shock, fear, courage and other emotions of putting the dagger towards her heart has more weight due to the gender difference. 5. Millions of adolescent boys experience post-traumatic stress due to family, cultural, and socio-economic situations. A post-traumatic boy is ten times more likely than his female peer to act out in a way that is dangerous to another person. Proving who the better lover is most difficult but like in any debate, the definitions must be stated clearly. For this paper, love has been defined as the act of self-sacrifice in the most mature circumstances. Love is an act where a person would consistently show in her actions and decisions that she is bound to another because she wishes the other person expansion of himself with her along with him. The sacrifice of Juliet comes early on in the play as can be taken from the excerpt; â€Å"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet. † The line illustrates that Juliet will decide not to be Capulet if Romeo do not relinquish his name. This decision also illustrates how Juliet was ready to sacrifice her whole identity just for the sake of her lover. Maybe, for Romeo to become the better lover, he should have been more mature than Juliet. Meantime, the bard’s tale is a unique example of truly big women’s capacity to love is. References: †¦. , 2007. Elizabethan Women. http://www. william-shakespeare. info/elizabethan-women. htm Peck, Scott. M. MD. 1978. The Road Less Travelled. P. 81. Touchstone New York Hardcastle, Mike. 2007. Teen Advice. http://teenadvice. about. com/mbiopage. htm Gurian, Michael. PhD. 1999. Ten things each of us should know about adolescent boys.

Christianity and Islam: A Case for Comparison and Contrast

The world is a place marked with essential diversity. In particular, one only has to take world religions as a composite phenomenon to best exemplify the diversified character of human affairs. But much too often, diversity can become a sure catalyst for misgivings and misunderstandings. This for instance happens when, still pertaining to religion, a person pits on belief system in respect to another, or someone tries to compare one set of doctrines against another.It is thus not surprising to learn that religion was often, and is in fact currently being taken as an unwarranted cause for heated debates, if not for human conflicts all together. In view of the foregoing, it is insightful to note that roadmap of this study aims not at sowing seeds of religious division as collocating the interesting correspondences that may be gleaned from juxtaposing Christianity on the one side of the spectrum, and Islam on the other side of the spectrum.At the very least, the crux of this paper aims at pursuing a successful comparison and contrast between Christianity and Islam. In the process, this paper hopes to appreciate important strains of resemblances between the two religions in question, against the palpable differences that already define them. To this end, the central thesis of this paper lies in arguing that notwithstanding patent differences, Christianity and Islam can in fact manifest elements of correspondences, while upholding respectable uniqueness in their own beliefs.Methodology and Scope Briefly, it needs to be cited that, for purposes of clarification and delineation, this paper employs an expository approach in discussing the major themes of the religions in question. An expository approach is done so as to elucidate on, with significant analyses, the topics that may be deemed appropriate for discussion.Since this paper would not to attempt to exhaustively circumscribe all the aspects pertinent to the two religions, owing much to the limits provided for th is particular study, the discussions shall zero in on expounding on the similarities and differences between the two religions in respect to at least three distinct aspects: the role which their own founders play in their respective belief-systems, the quality of the monotheism operative in both religions, and the differing notions of Abraham’s role in their faith and life.Christianity and Islam: A Ponderous Juxtaposition Christianity emerged from a handful of followers of a man named Jesus the Christ, sometime during the first century. Put in other words, the Christian religious phenomenon takes root from a small community that first embraced the teachings of Jesus as a both compelling and sufficient cause to deflect from the more dominant religious force of the time – namely, Judaism. Thus, the â€Å"precipitating cause† of Christianity â€Å"was and is a man named Jesus† (McGrath 1).Which is why, Tavard contends that Christianity is a religious movemen t that commenced when â€Å"an undetermined number of Jews believed that the prophet Jesus of Nazareth, who has ‘risen from the dead’ was alive in their midst by the power of God’s Spirit† (15); a movement which was greeted with much disdain and skepticism initially. For Christians, Jesus Christ is both the center and crux of their faith. They hold that Jesus Christ is Son of God, who was sent by God the Father to redeem humanity from misery and sinfulness.Consequential to this belief is the equally important ascent to the divinity nature and mission of Jesus Christ here on earth. Thus, Christians unreservedly worship Jesus Christ as a divinity as well. Islam, like Christianity, started too from a small group of community who saw themselves glued by a gripping desire to follow their revered founder in the person of Mohammad. While the faith in Mohammed’s teachings started when Christianity was already an expansive religious force, the historical cir cumstances defining the emergence of Islam nevertheless manifest unmistakable strains of similarities with the Christian faith.Like Christianity, Islam started on account of one man – Mohammad. And akin to Christianity, the small Mohammedan community was at the onset despised on account of the new faith it embraced (Renard 6). Unlike Christianity however, Islam does not give its founder a respect proper to a divinity. For Moslems, Mohammad is not a god; he is instead a prophet of plain human origin and descent. The prophet however is rendered with unparalleled importance within Islam because it is believed that Allah chose Mohammad to reveal his message (Renard 7).Secondly, herein it is important to cite that the manner in which the Islamic faith refuses to render Mohammad a kind of reverence fit to a divinity reveals only the quality of monotheism which the religion professes. Islamic faith, it has to be mentioned, is operative on a type of monotheism in the strictest sense of the term – i. e. the belief that there is only one god, and that such deity, because he is absolutely supreme, does not have a competing divine force as its rival.Islamic faith believes that Allah – the proper name of God as provided by the Qur’an – is identified as the principle of ‘tawid’ or simply, the unity of God. And â€Å"according to this central Islamic idea, (God) is utterly and inevitably One, a perfect unity (and) uniqueness unto himself† (Gordon 24). Simply put, the Islam religion believes that Allah, and him alone, is the accepted singular expression of divinity. Christianity meanwhile is operative on a unique kind of monotheism.On the one hand, it has to be noted that like Islam, Christianity concurs to a belief that there is only one God to whom unqualified human obedience and worship is due. On the other hand however, Christianity does not subscribe to a radical type of monotheism; for while Christianity believes th at God is essentially one, it nonetheless takes such oneness as revelatory of a further sociality within it. Christians call this the Trinitarian unity of the God, or simply, the Trinity.And according to this doctrine, â€Å"the divine life consists in three persons of equal and same nature – the Father, the Son (i. e. , Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (Neuner and Ross 86). As such, the Trinity does not speak of three separate divine entities; otherwise, Christianity would have been best described as a polytheistic rather than monotheistic faith. What this doctrine instead teaches is that the three persons of the Trinity are distinct expressions of that same divine reality which is God.Last but not least, it is certainly insightful to appreciate that both Christianity and Islam places high premium on the role of Abraham in their own profession of faiths. This is because both religions share a belief that the remotest roots of their faith necessarily throw them back to the heritage which Abraham bequeathed thousands of years passed. In fact, both the Christian Bible and the Islamic Qur’an give Abraham a special importance precisely on account of the fact that it was through him that the first strains of monotheistic faith was successfully practiced.Far more essential, both Christianity and Islam see the supreme importance of Abraham’s promethean response to God’s invitation as the primordial inspiration required for living one’s own faith; and this is for the plain reason that Abraham showed how to adore God who requires â€Å"submission to His decrees, even when they are inscrutable† (McLean). Still, it is imperative to carefully note that both Christianity and Islam differ in their particular understandings of their respective Abrahamic heritage.Christians on the one hand believe that Abraham’s faith acts as a precursor to the coming of the Messiah – who is Jesus Christ. The Christian Bible speaks of Abraham as the progenitor to a myriad of descendants commencing through Isaac, his only son to Sarah (Gen 17: 21). Thus, Christianity holds that God’s covenantal relationship with Abraham, and his children, marked the beginning of the long preparation that would welcome the sending of His Son into the world at an appointed time. On the other hand, Islam believes that the great Mohammedan tradition draws directly from the fount of the Abrahamic legacy.In other words, Islam maintains that the Moslems are the direct, nay rightful descendants and legitimate heirs to the heritage of Abraham. This is because the Islamic Qur’an speaks of Ishmael, Abraham’s son to Hagar, as the legitimate heir and the primordial progenitor of the Islamic faith. Ishmael, if only to remind, also figures in the Christian Bible as the son of Abraham to his maidservant Hagar. Both Ishmael and Hagar were thrown out of Abraham’s household â€Å"to find a life of their own† after Isaac was born to Sarah (Maxwell 168).Notwithstanding conflicting narratives, it still can be said that both Christianity and Islam recognize that the gratuitous love of God for humankind is the initial act that brings into play the faith with which both religions so sacredly profess. Conclusion This paper ends with a brief thought that affirms its central thesis expressed hereinabove – i. e. , notwithstanding differences, one can glean unmistakable similarities in juxtaposing the teachings and tenets of both Christianity and Islam. In the discussions, patterns of differences and similarities were discussed in respect to three aspects.First, it was seen that both Christianity and Islam places high regard and respect to their revered founders; second, both religion embrace monotheism as an axiomatic aspect for their respective belief-systems; and third, Christianity and Islam believe that their common Abrahamic heritage lends an initial inspiration to the subsequent coming abo ut of the faith they now both profess. In the end, it must be acknowledged that efforts to draw similarities against the larger backdrop of defining differences surely constitute a welcome avenue not only for inter-religious dialogue but also mutual respect.