Hills Like White Elephants Essay

In the story â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† the vague dialogue conveys an allusive tone, in order to be represented correctly the author puts more emphasis in the character’s interaction with the setting. The setting is at a stopping point before their final destination. The dialogue mainly transpires throughout between the Girl and the American. This story is based around a vague dialogue, but is filled with the observations of the setting in order to express the pressure, significance, and opinions upon the subject at hand. In order grasp these messages, the reader interprets through the vivid imagery that is depicted by the author.The style of writing conveys this picture with an intended amount of clarity to leave the rest up to the reader to elucidate. This clarification is necessary in order for the reader to truly grasp the decision at hand and the weight of it as well. A metaphorical aspect of the setting is the â€Å"Elephant in the Room [2]†. This im plies that there is a subject that no one truly wants to discuss, and is left there to fester within the subconscious of these two characters until they have finally reached their decision. Another extended metaphor throughout the story is â€Å"†¦Like White Elephants†.This symbol can be interpreted as a great gift given to a person, but it is also a heavy burden that most would not desire. At this time they are having the discussion on whether or not to have an â€Å"Operation†. There are four main aspects of the setting that reflect upon the tone. The first are the hills mentioned in the beginning of the story. The second is the isolation between the two characters within the train station, and this is mainly because of it’s opposition to the tone, The first part of the setting that is mentioned is the hills along the Ebro Valley that from their perspective has no shade or trees.The absence of shade represents the blatant manner of how the American goes a bout convincing the girl in this story. Over and over again he promises happiness if she agrees. The trees represent life she is considering having. The absence of shade also shows why there is an absence of trees. As the â€Å"sun† overwhelms the â€Å"trees† they start to wither away. For example, later in the story as another form of persuasion he says â€Å"I don’t want you to do it if you feel that way [1]† in order to coax her in to making the decision he wishes for without making it seem that he had any influence with it.This displays the American’s true intention to rid Jig and himself of the baby. The lack of shade may also symbolize the lack of thought the girl goes through for the American’s suggestions. For example, the girl does not speak Spanish and therefore relies on him in order to get her a drink, and after that she also asks him if a drink is good with water claiming that she couldn’t decide this on her own. Her dep endency on the American in these situations indicates how reliant she is on him. This is an example of why she is so incapable of making such heavy decision.The second significant aspect of the setting is the Train station. The statement â€Å"the station was between two lines of rails in the sun. [3]† this has two significant observations. The first is the fact that the station is between two lines. This means that the conversation and the two’s relationship is at a â€Å"Stop† or a crossroad. At this point they are to make an important decision about whether or not to keep the baby. In this story you’ll notice the dialogue of the girl sounds somewhat ambivalent due to the way her decision sways back and forth. This is a prime example of why.What she sees on that side ultimately depicts the choice she is about to make. For example; in the story the reader may notice that there are â€Å"no trees† along the hillside. Later in the story the American is still busy trying to convince and then she gets up and she walks to the other side of the station she notices fields of prospering vegetation full of life alongside a flowing river whose viscosity emphasizes the idea of moving forward. These enticing promises from the American paired with the barren valley are dwarfed by the cornucopia of life seen within the field on the other.The juxtaposition between the two sides represents the heaviness of the choice on whether to give life or take it. The second tone-related characteristic of this station was the drinking between the American and the girl. As the girl and the American sat, she asked him what they should drink the American suggested alcohol. The beer was a way of escaping the serious discussion the two were trying to avoid. The alcohol was a method of getting around the â€Å"Elephant in the Room† with such dry small talk as â€Å"The beer is nice and cool [4]† or â€Å"They look like white elephants†¦.. I`ve never seen one†¦no you wouldn’t have [5]†.The girl points out that this routine of â€Å"look at thing and try new drinks? [6]†has grown tiring. This is the first change in her mood that is noticed, but after this small inquiry she recedes into her submissive nature continues this throughout most of the story. The third aspect of the setting that expresses the allusive tone is the juxtaposition between the two sides of the valley. This is another example of the reader relying on the setting in order to understand the representation of the tone. One of the sides features long white hills that resemble white elephants and are without shade or any trees.White Elephants are a symbol of burden, which anyone would normally abhor from. This mainly represents the American’s view on how this pregnancy will affect the two of them and how they’ll live. He states â€Å"We`ll be fine afterwards [7]† and â€Å"That’s the only thing that bothers us. [8]† in order to convince her about the positive things that will come out of this operation. The girl later retracts the statement about the hills looking like white elephants but states â€Å"They’re lovely hills†¦.. They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring through the trees. 9]†. This portrays a sudden change within the girl; from being very submissive to what the American suggests (Reason why she sees the hills without trees and lifeless) to questioning the reason for avoiding the true matters at hand (Reason she now sees flaws in his logic and starts form optimistic views about how the baby should not have an effect on how their relationship functions. ). The trees on this side of the station ultimately resemble the life she can hope for, but the other side of the station represents a promise of homogenous happiness.This side is showcases the joys of not having to worry about the â€Å"One thing that mak es unhappy†. The fields of grain and the river appeared to represent the progress that the American promised. While the girl stares into this auspicious land a cloud’s shadow is cast upon it. This shadow foretells the future that land that would prosper will have the shadow’s influence over, meaning the American will most likely take over her will and rid her of independent thought. Moreover there have already been examples of her relying on him for the simple decisions, and taking his desires as a primary concern instead of her own.The fourth aspect setting that reflects the allusive tone is the train. This part of the story conveys a sense of pressure to the story since it occurs within a time period of 40 minutes. Also since this in an unpopulated train station the sense of isolation also has an effect on the characters. This sense of isolation forces them to face the â€Å"Elephant in the Room† no matter how much they want and they must face it within the time frame. In order to avoid â€Å"talking with her† or communication between each other he speaks to her as if his attention was omewhere else. This explains why the American’s compelling reasoning is being heard over and over again. It’s mainly because he wants her to see his view and submit to his â€Å"Suggestion†. Once his suggestions fail he entices her with promises of affluence in the future by showing her the land and saying all this could be ours. The girl once again falls under the pressure of the time frame she has to make the choice and looking for relationship security, but after her acceptance of this the American perseveres with his insistence.In response the asks for silence or otherwise she’ll scream, this symbolizes the need for seclusion in order to steal away from the constant battering and pressure of another’s thoughts. The Woman then comes out with more alcohol in order to break the tension, also adds more pressu re by saying â€Å"The train comes in five minutes. [10]†. Instead of reiterating his last point he decides to take the heavy bags to the other side of the station, and when he comes back he decides to sit at the bar instead of the table with the Girl. He asks her if she felt better now and she replies with â€Å"I feel fine†¦.There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine. [11]† This tells us that she has resolved the issue by herself and is ready to continue with what she desires. In conclusion, we see that the different parts of the setting portray different methods of expressing their decision due to the lack of direct dialogue. Through things such as scenery like the hills; the change in how she sees them represent how her forms and has changed from when the story started. It has also been depicted through how the different sides of the train station juxtapose one another.On one side prosperity and promising futures are seen, but on the other side the deso late, dry, and lifeless hills promise nothing but a lack of progression. Another way the train station represents the tone is the change in what the girl sees alongside the hill as she abjures her previous statement and restates the hills no longer seem like white elephants but only appear that way through the trees. This change in viewpoint shows how she is starting to no longer lean on the opinion of the American and form one of her own.This retraction of her statement also means that she no longer sees this birth as the burden or the â€Å"Only thing that makes us unhappy† anymore. And lastly the inclusion of a timeframe increase the amount of weight that is felt within the decision making process. The train shows why the American is trying to be overly-persuasive in this conversation in order to convince her to go through with the operation. Overall, Ernest Hemingway expresses the majority of the decision through the characteristics of the setting and how the characters a re willing, unwilling, or unable to interact with one another.

Othello is incharge of his own downfall Essay

Othello, much like any other human being, is in charge of his own destiny. Despite the fact that his fatal flaw, which is his incapability to resist accusations or statements which are not in his favour, that of which leads to the Moor’s downfall, Othello, much like any other human being, has a choice – he, unfortunately chooses to believe anything and everything Iago places before him. Desdemona is nothing short of loyal to the Moor. She, even though is wrongly accused, is nothing less than a â€Å"true and loyal wife† to Othello. The genuine and passionate love she has for the Moor is so overwhelming that it leads her to disobey her father Brabantio in order to be with her â€Å"husband† which which she sees as her mother who â€Å"so much duty showed to [Brabantio] so [she] is due to the Moor.† The same amount of passionate love is felt for her by her â€Å"Valiant† spouse, Othello. However, Othello’s passionate love he has for his â€Å"white ewe† quickly turns in passionate hatred after having the seed of jealousy planted in him by â€Å"Honest Iago.† Although Iago is the initiator of Othello’s downfall, he is merely removing the â€Å"Valiant† facade the â€Å"Brave Othello† portrays which thus reveals his cannibalistic nature. The green-eyed â€Å"monster†, which was hidden behind the facade of a man who is of a â€Å"free and honest nature,† is revealed nearing the climax of the tragic play. Othello, by choice, now adapts to the cannibalistic and jealous nature which is inflicted by the Machiavellian character, Iago. â€Å"The Moor already changes with [Iago’s] poison.† Othello allows the vine of jealousy to overthrow him which results in his murderous killing of his â€Å"true and loyal wife,† Desdemona. During the revelation of his monstrous act, Othello cries out â€Å"O fool, fool, fool!† – this is indicative of his realization of his own cannibalistic actions which led to him creating a monstrous act, that of which is the murder of Desdemona. He, himself allowed his naivety and jealous emotions to take over him which leads to him killing his fair â€Å"maiden†, Desdemona, that of which he realizes was â€Å"a murder which [he] thought a sacrifice.† As a punishment for his monstrous actions, Othello kills, not Iago, but himself, The choice to kill himself rather than to seek revenge on Iago is indicative of his realization that the matter of his downfall and the death of his wife was because of his own doings – by making the choice to believe the Machiavellian that is Iago. The Moor than proclaims that he â€Å"loved not wisely but too well.† – This statement is indeed indicative of him making the wrong choice to allow his emotions overthrow him which utterly leads to his downfall.

Teens and Sex

Persuasive Essay Teens and Sex Word Count: 871 Revised Persuasive Essay Teens and Sex The sexual activity of adolescences in America today is a critical issue that seems to be growing rapidly. With the mass media promoting almost every aspect of sex, teen sexuality has become one of the most important issues in our society. As society has entered into the age of â€Å"sexual revolution† in the twentieth century, children have grown more susceptible to the idea of sex. Regardless of parental guidance and educational programs, teenagers are still very curious.Curiosity about sex and sexual activity is natural, but the lack of concern for consequences and irresponsible activity is dangerous. The increasing issue of adolescent sexual activity could have a powerful affect on their future, which includes sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), teen pregnancy, and even emotional instability. Curiosity about sexual activity is natural, but is the act normal in adolescents? Researchers h ave revealed that teenage sexual activity can expose new levels of intimacy; therefore, valuable lessons may be learned and different perspectives may develop, necessary for the understanding of the act.This knowledge becomes practical later in life when meaningful lifelong commitments arise (Zorn, E. , 1998, July 20). Sexuality is complicated amongst adolescents, yet the knowledge about love, respect, and the experience may result in wiser decisions as adults. The fact is adolescents are looking to the adults in their lives for guidance, restrictions, and values. Teenage sex is normal; however, sometimes the act is a mistake and could change a life forever. This year 3 million sexually active teens, approximately 25%, are infected with a STD.About one-quarter of all new cases, occur in teenagers (Mayer, B. , 2005). The statistics indicate that sexual transmitted diseases infect over 8,000 teenagers everyday. STDs in sexually active teenagers produce astonishing statistics, which sh ould be used in every phase of the educational process. With statistics at hand and deadly viruses on the rise, teenagers and their educators need to concentrate on the studies that are available to them. In 1994, the Journal f the American Medical Women's Association conducted a study which illustrated that, out of 25 reporting states, 193 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 had contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or better known today as the HIV virus. The same study was conducted again in 1998, with the same 25 reporting states and showed that 418 teens had contracted this fatal virus (â€Å"A Really Scary Adolescent Worry: HIV. †, 2001, August 6). This particular study demonstrated that the number of infected teens had more then doubled within a four-year span.This article is a freighting source that could keep teens consciously considering their decisions regarding sexual activities. There is a concern with not only STDs but also a concern for â€Å"kids raising kids†. Sexually active adolescences take a risk of becoming parents themselves. Teen pregnancy can complicate a young girl’s future hopes, dreams, and goals. A young girl who has a child before graduating from high school is less likely to complete school than one who does not have a child (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2002).Anyone without a high school education in today’s society will find that obtaining a job with good wages and benefits is difficult. Young parents often have to depend on the means of others for the help needed in raising their children. Whether the support needed is financial or emotional, someone has to compensate for the mistakes of kids having kids. Social welfare, a government-funded program, can be an alternative for young parents with financial barriers. Looking at the broader spectrum and statistics, we may find that American citizens are likely to pay for the undereducated and underprivileged adolescences with children.Society needs to protect teenagers from the risk of premature parenthood, and we need to protect the children they would struggle to raise. In addition to its role in promoting teen pregnancy and the current epidemic of STDs, early sexual activity is a substantial factor in undermining the emotional well-being of American teenagers (Rector, R. , Johnson, K. , & Noyes L. , 2005). Sexually active teens have an emotional instability, which could be one cause of teen suicide increases.Most sexually active teenagers have a sense of regret in their decision to have intercourse with the majority wishing they had waited until they were older. Depression amongst sexually active teens could have come from the thought of multiple partners, a STD that they had contracted, or an abortion a young girl had to go through. There is a variety of causes for depression in teens, but sexual activity is one cause that with education, parental guidance, and abstinence could be reduced. Sexual activity in adolescences is an essential concern that society needs to address.With the masses behind the promotion of sex and the miscommunication about sex to teenagers gives society a task that seems impossible. Educational programs that promote contraception are not enough with teenagers’ intense interest. Contraception will not prevent the physical and psychological effects surrounding sexually active teens. Several ways to limit sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancies, and emotional instabilities in adolescents today is not only powerful parental reinforcement and intense sexual education programs, but also encouraging the idea of abstinence.When exposing all three preventative elements, adolescents should become more aware and reluctant to their sexual surroundings. References Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2002). The facts of teen pregnancy: An overview. In M. H. Immell (Ed. ), Greenhaven Press, 7. Retrieved December 1, 2005 from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database. Maher, B. (2005). Ab stinence is the best message for teens. In C. Watkins (Ed. ), Greenhaven Press, 1. Retrieved December 1, 2005 from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database. A really scary adolescent worry: HIV. 2001, August 6). U. S. News & World Report 131, 6. Retrieved December 1, 2005 from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database. Rector, R. E. , Johnson, K. A. & Noyes, L. R. (2005). Sexually active teens are more likely to commit suicide. In J. Woodward (Ed. ), Greenhaven Press, 10. Retrieved December 1, 2005 from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database. Zorn, E. (1998, July 20). Premarital teen sex is normal. In T. L. Roleff (Ed. ), Greenhaven Press, 15. Retrieved December 15, 2005 from Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center database.

The Requirements in the Success of Business Intelligence Research Paper

The Requirements in the Success of Business Intelligence Implementation in public domain in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Research Paper Example ‘BI’ is the abbreviation for what is known as ‘Business Intelligence’, which refers to â€Å"various software applications that are utilized in analysis of the raw data of an organization.† (Mulcahy, 2011) The BI discipline is related to be comprised of â€Å"several related activities, including data mining, online analytical processing, querying and reporting.† (Mulcahy, 2011) Business Intelligence is used by companies for the purpose of bringing about improvement to their decision-making tasks, cutting costs and identifying new business opportunities. (Mulcahy, 2011) Business Intelligence is reported to be much more than mere â€Å"corporate reporting and more than a set of tools to coax data out of enterprise systems. CIOs use BI to identify inefficient processes that are ripe for re-engineering.† (Mulcahy, 2011) Business Intelligence is used in many business sectors, for example, it is reported that the Patriots â€Å"managed to wi n the Super Bowl three times in four years. The team sues data and analytical models extensively, both on and off the field. In-depth analytics help the team select players and stay below the NFL salary cap.† (Mulcahy, 2011) The team additionally uses these types of analytics in assessing and improving the â€Å"total fan experience.† (Mulcahy, 2011) A Google search using the term ‘business intelligence in Saudi Arabia’ reveals that there is a critical need for individuals experienced in business intelligence applications evidenced by the ads posted for business intelligence analysts and consultants in Saudi Arabia. ... In-depth analytics help the team select players and stay below the NFL salary cap.† (Mulcahy, 2011) The team additionally uses these types of analytics in assessing and improving the â€Å"total fan experience.† (Mulcahy, 2011) A Google search using the term ‘business intelligence in Saudi Arabia’ reveals that there is a critical need for individuals experienced in business intelligence applications evidenced by the ads posted for business intelligence analysts and consultants in Saudi Arabia. Background Business intelligence is reported to be such that serves to assist employees in modifying their work practices, both individually and in view of the team and this results in improved performance overall. (Mulcahy, 2011) Mulcahy reports that there are seven steps to rolling out BI Systems and that those seven steps are as follows: (1) ensure that data is clean; (2) users should be effectively trained; (3) quick deployment is required with adjustments along th e way; (4) use an integrated approach to building the data warehouse in the beginning; (5) define the ROI clearly prior to beginning as well as outlining the specific benefits that are expected to be achieved; (6) keep business objectives in focus; and (7) deploy BI with the idea in mind that there are numbers out there that must be found rather than deploying BI because it is thought that BI is needed. (Mulcahy, 2011) Challenges to the success of Business Intelligence in the organization are stated to include that of ‘user resistance’ as well as there, being barriers associated with â€Å"having to winnow through voluminous amounts of irrelevant data† and the lack of quality exhibited in poor data. (Mulcahy, 2011) Stated as another

Economic Crime- Collapse of Franklin National Bank Essay

Economic Crime- Collapse of Franklin National Bank - Essay Example The failure of the bank invited changes in the existing banking regulations as well as practice. The failure tempted the banking policymakers to devise new international banking methods. Cooperation was encouraged in the international financial markets so to avoid financial disasters in the future. During the 1970’s and 1960’s, many American banks were internationalized. This included the Franklin national bank also. This bank even acquired an international owner named Michele Sindona (Spero.1999). On October 1974 the US core banking sector was severely shaken by the demise of the 20th largest bank in the country, the Franklin national bank. The failure of the bank was mainly caused by mismanagement as well as fraud. The failure of the bank caused severe after effects in the economy as well as in the social setup of the country. Jail sentences were awarded to many bankers who were associated with the Franklin bank. There was a suicide in Italy. The share holders of the bank lost heavily. But the depositors of the bank were saved by the Federal Reserve form suffering loss. The bank was declared insolvent in October 8 1974. The assets of the bank were taken over by the European American bank. The Federal Reserve was responsible to save the world financial sector from a major disaster. Going back, the bank attained success under the chairmanship of Mr. Arthur. T. Roth. He joined the bank in 1934 and rose to the position of chairman. He remarkably changed the identity of the bank which was established in 1926 through a variety of measures. He changed the small time bank during the great depression times into one of the largest banks in the US history. He invested huge money in the build up process of long island. The capital of the bank when it was opened in 1926 was around $50000. During the downfall period, it had assets worth 4 billion$. Roth introduced credit cards and drive in

Tertiary Education System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tertiary Education System - Essay Example The intention of this study is the tertiary education system is a substitute entry trail to undergraduate education at the University level. The course lengths for tertiary programs are mostly half year with about fifteen contact hours every week. Enabling courses are often varied since there are no excessive rules or principles meaning that several people have access to the programmes when they reach that level of education. These enabling programmes are reacting positively to the local requirements and the broader needs of communities. They vary from short introductory programmes, on-going education support to comprehensive preparatory courses. Tertiary education enabling programmes have been established in conjunction with other institutions like TAFE, secondary education among others. Just like any other level of education, the tertiary enabling programmes also require students to prepare well, be motivated and supported to excel. In terms of fees, the tertiary education system v aries from one university to another in terms of course funding. Tertiary enabling programmes are very helpful to students and the communities because they enable students become successful adults after completing their university education, which leaves them with knowledge and skills to handle serious issues such as career and employment. Note that the enabling programmes can work excellently if they are connected to different initiatives for one year. Therefore, it is important to convince faculties to slot in enabling progressions into their undergraduate programs in order to meet the needs of the students and the society. II. Advantages of Enabling Programmes to: a) Institution Enable a higher preservation tempo of the student population in an institution. Enable superior achievement of the students in terms of their scores in class (Carmichael & Taylor, 2005). Reinforces its relationship with the society. The students can become role models to others and improve their performan ce in class. The weak students get motivation and learn ideas to succeed in their

Film Journal about the movie called Memento Review

Film Journal about the called Memento - Movie Review Example He is narrating the scene rather than talking from himself. To his right is a pull out lamp that is attached to the wall and it has a soft, somewhat fuzzy light. The wall behind him has an unframed "something" that may be a diploma but it is not necessary to know what it is because the main character is what is important in the scene. When the woman talks the camera reframes to her and the background is blurred so that the audience only looks at the woman. She is speaking in the film but in a voice that is almost a whisper. The room in the scene is spars to keep the audience focused on the main character. For the remainder of the scene the audience must concentrate on the face of Sammys wife until the camera switches back to the main character. The film uses a nonlinear narrative and this scene is one of the many black and white scenes that are telling the story and it is one of the scenes that are told in chronological order. There is no sound in this scene beyond the talking but the use of light is important. In this seen the light gives sharp contrasts with shadows and they amplify the main characters loneliness and his mood while he is talking to Sammys wife. The movie shows black and white scenes in chronological order and scenes in color in reverse chronological order. The importance of this scene is that it is one of the "investigative" moments that the main character is using to attempt to bring his memory back. It is less complicated than other black and white scenes and it is shorter. The scene is a small snippet or segment that is important to moving the plot because the audience needs to see all the characters to determine who may be the killer. This scene is about halfway through the movie and it is important to show all of the "characters" that were a part of the build up to the main characters revelation about himself. This scene also shows that the main character is doing a thorough job of interviewing each

Systemic review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Systemic review - Essay Example People have come up with different ways to lose weight, some of which are legit, and others not (Cawley and Price, 2013). Information has been posted in the internet and is available to all. But, is it that easy to find? In a bid to discern whether weight loss has anything to do with money as has been proposed, a research needed to be done. A financial incentive involves motivation of an action by monetary gain that would not otherwise happen in absence of the money. So many sources in the internet were available to use and it was necessary to carry out a research to determine the trustworthy sources from which the information could be obtained and thus the research objective. In order to provide trustworthy sources from which this information can be obtained. The search was conducted in the worldwide population because one country would be limited in the information it has, and that all over the world, financial incentives would be a motivator, suffice to say that what causes one to put effort to lose weight in one country is the same everywhere (Cawley and Price, 2013). Six databases were searched including CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, Science Direct, Web of Science and Pub Med. The phrase searched within the databases was ‘Financial incentives and weight loss and adults’. The databases were chosen for different reasons. PubMed (national library of medicine) was chosen because it is a national institute of health and thus contains a wide catalogue and variety of articles on health, which works for the health related topic. It is also widely used and well known (Cawley and Price, 2013). Science Direct was chosen because it contains a large pool of information, is a very broad and commonly used database containing a wide variety of different scientific disciplines including health. The aim was to draw information from a different pool of resources to cross analyze it with more specific

Learning Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Learning Journal - Assignment Example Being a foreigner from Saudi Arabia, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to adapt to the new environment both academically and socially. Despite all these challenges, I managed to come through and the reflective journal presented me with an opportunity to take account of the events that shaped my first one year in the university as a master’s student. It provided me with an opportunity to note down my history so that I could learn from it as it is normally said that if you do not learn from your history, it repeats itself. It was the tips that made me recognize the value of learning journal that it is a means to keep tract of one’s academic progress. It presents one with a chance to maintain course, change course or start all over again with respect to learning. I realized how I could be able to reject habits that did not contribute towards y academic and constructive social objectives. Orientation week: brief overview of the key events My life in the universit y in Canada started on a rather low note because I had neither friend nor a relative in the country. The process of making up new friends with diverse cultural background was a daunting task. The orientation process was conducted successfully but personally, I did not gain much because everything was new and strange. However, it was conducted normally and we were taken through the entire institution’s infrastructure, learning resources, recreational facilities, services, programs and other important details. I think the process of orientation should have been more at least two weeks because for foreign students like me, one week was not enough to start the life around a mix of native and foreign students from all over the globe. In fact, not to me alone, the first few weeks of learning is awfully strange because people are not very free with each other. Almost all students share very little for nearly the entire semester. Learning process is also very slow because students sp end time trying to reach out for each other and to accommodate each other’s cultural background (Michael, 2010, pp. 97-123). After a week of orientation, the class sessions begin almost immediately. A number of students still found difficulty in finding their way around in the institution because of slow mastery of the new environment. I did get lost on several occasions and being reserved, it was difficult to even ask. Apart from student’s life, the most affected of all is the learning process that picked up very slowly because of the mix of diverse cultural background, fear, shyness and new order of process (Heike & Helen, 2013, pp. 17-30). Foreign students such as me are affected the most because native students easily understand every process and entire institution. However, I must say I benefitted a lot from interactive forums that were organized to try to break the uneasiness among the students and to start normal socialization process that makes the society of t he institution lively. These forums fostered understanding and opened up students to try to get to each other and regard one another naturally. Learning process begun when these forums were initiated but, according to me, the learning process begun after these forums. Training on leadership The sweet dream of pursuing master’s degree in business in Canada was first marred by social challenges that I came to

Group Concepts Essay Example for Free

Group Concepts Essay Elements of an effective group. An effective group has several essential elements: positive interdependence (group members are linked with each other and are aware of this connectedness, they feel that their personal success depends on group success and group success depends on their personal success); two-way communication (exists when communication channels work in both directions and feedback is appreciated); distributed leadership (having more than one source of leadership, seeing every member of a group as an expert who is capable of making a difference); power based on expertise (those in power are those who hold the expertise; expertise becomes a source of power and an expert can influence others). Comprising all these elements, a group is â€Å"more than the sum of its parts† (Johnson Johnson, 2009, p. 20). These characteristics foster creativity and open-mindedness, for everyone can freely express his or her thoughts feeling that the feedback is appreciated. Such an environment allows challenging one another’s views, which helps seeing problems from different points of view and finding the optimal decision. 2) Team versus Group. Positive synergy is what distinguishes teams from groups. A group is a collective of individuals who share information and make decisions but who do not have a need for joint work. A group’s performance is the sum of its members’ performance. At the same time, a team is a collective of individuals united by a common goal and the need for joint efforts. A team’s performance is more than the sum of its members’ performance. Team members depend on each other and are interconnected, whereas each of group members primarily works on their own. Different tasks require different types of groups – for some, joint effort is not necessarily needed and the summation of individual performances of experts will bring the desired results; in other cases, working together is absolutely necessary for achieving the goal. It primarily concerns creative tasks that require innovation and more than one perspective. In such cases, teams can produce a better result than groups. To work in teams, not merely expertise is needed but also the desire and the ability to collaborate (Lecture 1. 1). 3) Team Effectiveness. Effective teams have the following characteristics: the goals are clear and coordinated with the individuals’ goals so that each team member is committed to achieving the team goals; conflicts are not suppressed but managed as the sources of creativity and innovation; there is two-way communication instead of one-way communication, open relationships rather than closed relationships, and feedback is asked and provided openly; all team members participate in group work, nobody is left behind; leadership is shared among team members; decision-making and problem solving involves all team members and participation is encouraged at all levels; risk taking is encouraged and mistakes are treated as the sources of learning rather than failures that deserve punishment (Lecture 1. 3). This is a rather long list but meeting all these criteria is not that complex as it seems to be, for most of these characteristics are interconnected and acquiring one entails another. For me, open relationships and two-way communication are the crucial skills; they involve opportunities for providing feedback, open discussion of goals, of conflict situations, participation in decision-making, etc. These require open mindedness and results in group’s being â€Å"more than the sum of its parts†, which is an essential characteristic of a work team that distinguishes it from a work group (Johnson Johnson, 2009, p. 20). 4) Sources and Value of Diversity. There are three major sources of diversity: demographic characteristics (ethnicity, race, religion, sex, language, age, social class, regional differences); personality characteristics (educational level, different attitudes, lifestyles, etc. ); abilities and skills (expertise in different areas, different technical or social skills, etc. ). Diversity can be a source of conflicts, misunderstandings, and hostility. However, if there is tolerance and respect to others, diversity is a powerful source of learning and creativity. If the mind is open, diversity brings in many new ideas and perspectives. People of different cultures and/or backgrounds often see the same things very differently, and acknowledging their different perspectives allows adopting a new creative and innovative approach. 5) Avoidance of Controversy. Controversy is often avoided in groups and perceived as a negative and stressful phenomenon. Thus, fear and ignorance stops group members from engaging in controversy. Yet, it should be valued and even stimulated. Controversy is an important part of any decision-making process. It means that more than one view on the problem is presented. Controversy helps weigh all possible views and find the optimal decision. In most situations, there is more than one view on the problem, and controversy helps find out the advantages and disadvantages of each view. Without an opportunity for controversy, the drawbacks of the chosen position may remain unnoticed and lead to tragic consequences. 6) Groupthink (how does leadership identify and prevent? ). Groupthink is one of the factors hindering group decision-making. It takes place when a group adopts an uncritical view of its own judgments. Usually it comes out when the group is homogeneous, values consensus, and has little time for producing a decision. It can be identified by its symptoms which include: belief that their judgments are right; illusion of invulnerability; collective rationalizing of poor decisions; sharing stereotypes concerning out-groups; self-censorship; maintaining illusion of unanimity; exercising pressure on those who disagree; protecting authority (PowerPoint Lecture 2. 2). Some of the strategies to prevent negative effects of groupthink include: resort to the help of outside experts; one of group members should be assigned a role of a critical evaluator who will question all decisions; the leaders should avoid making their own preferences explicit; allow time for discussion and elaborating alternative decisions. 7) Group Norms and how they are created. Group norms are implicit or explicit modes of conduct within the group that guide group members’ behavior without the direct application of power. Norms establish the rules and define what can be regarded as acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Group members should conform to group norms if they want to be a part of the group. Those who disobey usually experience pressure from the other group members up to the exclusion from the group. Group norms are created as a result of interaction between individuals and agreement on what can be considered right. They experience influence from the dominant culture in which the group operates. It is a kind of synergy of cultural norms, adopted organizational practices, and individual norms of every group member. Group norms regulate things from how much one can talk at a group meeting to how many times a day one can drink tea without being suspected to be lazy. 8) Experiential Learning (Lewin’s 12 principles). Experiential learning is, in short, learning through experience. It helps change learner’s attitudes, behavioral patterns, and action theories. Lewin defined 12 principles of experiential learning which describe the process of experiential learning and its effects. This kind of learning is more effective than simply acquiring new information. One of Lewin’s principles states that people tend to believe more in knowledge they discovered themselves than in knowledge taught by others. Experience is a form of active learning that is more effective than a passive process and that is able to change one’s attitudes and action theories. If action theories and attitudes do not change, the effect of learning will be only temporary. For changes in attitudes to occur, perception of oneself and one’s social environment must change. This kind of change can be easier achieved in a group context than in an individual context, and this context has to be a friendly and supportive one in order to facilitate the person’s ability to experiment with new attitudes. In fact, these 12 principles are the elaboration of the simple truth that we all learn from mistakes and experience. Like a child gets to know that fire hurts from firsthand experience rather than from the precautions of adults, we all tend to acquire new knowledge and change our behavioral patterns according to our own experience rather than taking somebody’s theories on trust. 9) Epistemic Curiosity. Epistemic curiosity is a state of mind that forces the person to search actively for more information in an attempt to relieve tension from conceptual conflict. Conceptual conflict or discrepancies in the existent practices and conditions point out that there is an information gap, which results in uncertainty and dissatisfaction. To eliminate dissatisfaction, the person strives to get more information and fill the information gap thus explaining to himself the discrepancies and acquiring certainty. Thus, epistemic curiosity is a powerful drive for knowledge. It is one of the ways by which controversies can be resolved. Stimulating data gathering and learning, it helps find optimal ways and grounds for adopted decisions. 10) Group Dynamics (what does this mean? ). The term group dynamics refers to the study of group development and of interactions within the group. Understanding group dynamics, one can diagnose how well the group is functioning, what can be done to improve performance, and intervene to make the required changes. It requires understanding of group processes and stages of group development. The essential point here is that the group is viewed not as a collection of individuals but as a real unit bound by positive interdependence. Simply put, group dynamics means the development of group over time, the processes that take place within the group, the relationships and interactions, changing attitudes, etc. B. A. R. T. analysis is a useful tool for studying group dynamics as it reveals major dimensions: boundaries (in terms of time, territory, tasks), authority (both formal and informal), roles (multiple formal and informal roles), and tasks (visions, missions, different understandings of the task, practical challenges, etc. ). 11) Stages of Group Development. Different authors describe different stages of group development. Tuckman elaborated a 5-stage model that comprises forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Johnson and Johnson (2009) list 7 stages of group development: (1) defining and structuring procedures, (2) conforming to procedures, (3) recognizing mutuality and building trust, (4) rebelling and differentiating, (5) committing to and taking ownership for the goals, procedures, and other members, (6) functioning maturely and productively, and (7) terminating (p. 28). Both models describe group development from its formation to its dismissal, but Johnson and Johnson’s model is a more elaborated and detailed one. In fact, it breaks the initial stage of forming to three stages that include defining procedures, conforming to procedures, and building trust. Thus, it underlines the normative element at the initial stages of group development. It is interesting also that according to both models rebelling, or storming, should take place before the group begins to function maturely. It once again proves the value of conflict. 12) Leadership Styles. There are three major leadership styles: autocratic, when the leader dictates his will and makes decision by himself without consulting group members; these decisions are enforced then; democratic, when the leader encourages involvement of group members into decision-making process, values opinions of others, and takes into account different views; laissez-faire, when the leader’s participation in decision making is minimal and group members are allowed maximum freedom. It cannot be concluded that one of these styles is better than the other, for the choice of style usually depends on the situation, on the leader’s personal abilities, and on company values. Some situations require autocratic leadership (for example, when there is no time for discussion and the decision, either good or bad, has to be made and implemented quickly), whereas in other cases democratic or laissez-faire leadership will work better. Giving freedom to employees make them feel valued and trusted which stimulates them. 13) Sources of Power. There are five major sources of power: legitimate power, having its source in the person’s position (group members believe that the person has a right to influence others in virtue of his or her position in the organization); reward power, having its source in the person’s ability to reward certain types of behavior; coercive power, having its source in the threat of punishment; expert power, having its source in the skills and knowledge of a person (group members believe that the person has a right to influence others in virtue of his or her expertise); referent power, having its source in person’s being liked and respected by others (group members comply out of respect). Legitimate, reward, and coercive power are usually associated with a formal position of the person, whereas expert power and referent power have its sources in the person’s abilities. Coercive power is very likely to produce resistance, and referent power results in commitment to the person. For leaders and managers, it is better to combine more than one source of power and have expert and/or referent power in addition to power based on formal position. In this case the followers will comply more willingly. 14) Organizational Culture. Organizational culture is a set of basic assumptions, norms, values, and behavioral patterns that regulate how people interact within an organization and with outsiders. It comprises rules, customs, symbols, visions, organizational environment and structures, etc. It is formed under the influence of the national culture, the management beliefs and values, and the sum of individual beliefs. None of these factors can form organizational culture on itself, but each of them can influence the formation and development of organizational culture. In fact, organizational culture is what distinguishes one organization from another. It is strong when it can stimulate a sense of belonging in the employees. Changing organizational culture is a very complex task that requires much time and care. The attempts to impose new values at once are likely to rouse a good deal of resistance. 15) Social Interdependence. Social interdependence among group members is the essence of a group. It means that one’s outcomes depend on the others, and vice versa. Social interdependence theory states that the type of interdependence existing in a group defines the type of interaction among members and, therefore, the results. Positive interdependence facilitates promotive interaction, when group members promote each other’s efforts to achieve the goal. Negative interdependence facilitates oppositional interaction when group members oppose and obstruct each other’s efforts to achieve the goal. When there is no interdependence, no interaction occurs, and group members focus on their individualistic efforts. Social interdependence makes a group a whole, because when a group member cannot achieve a goal on his own he has no choice but to interact with others. Positive interaction results in higher level of performance, because it creates supportive and collaborative working environment that stimulates each member’s efforts. 16) Gaining and loosing trust. Trust is a complex notion that is difficult to define, but without trust normal functioning of a group is impossible. Distrust increases competition and often results in conflict leading to destructive consequences. To gain trust, risk and confirmation are necessary. Risk and disconfirmation lead to losing trust. Thus, in both cases risk is an essential factor. A person should risk by disclosing his personal thoughts and feelings to another person, and in case his openness is accepted trust is built, whereas when the person’s openness is betrayed trust is destroyed. Trust is easier destroyed than built. It is enough to betray one’s feelings only once to lose trust, but it takes much time and efforts to restore it. Therefore, one needs to behave very carefully in order not to destroy trust and not abuse the other’s vulnerability. 17) Superordinate Identity (4-steps). Developing a superordinate identity is one of the four steps of the process of recognizing and valuing diversity in groups. This process includes: (1) appreciating one’s own identity (culture, religion, gender, etc. ), (2) appreciating the others’ identities; (3) developing a superordinate identity, and (4) learning a pluralistic set of values. The superordinate identity is the summation of all personal identities existent in the group; it unites and comprises diverse values in a single group identity. It is based on a pluralistic set of values and does not exclude any of the personal identities of group members. It helps overcome otherness and value differences. 18) Language Sensitivity. Being language sensitive means understanding which words and expressions are appropriate and which are inappropriate for communication with diverse groups and people of different backgrounds. It is clear that we communicate differently with our friends than with our boss. Similarly, what is good for people of one background may be inappropriate in communication with people of a different background? To avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication, individuals should heighten their language sensitivity and avoid using language that can be abusing for others. In some cases, the difference between communication patterns is obvious (like in the example with friends and boss); in other situations, we may not even be aware of differences (for example, when communicating with people from different cultures who can be used to absolutely different communication patterns). Therefore, language sensitivity often requires not merely â€Å"sensitivity† as it is but sensitivity supported by knowledge about different cultures. 19) Egocentrism. Egocentrism is the opposite of perspective-taking, or adhering to one’s own point of view so that other viewpoints are ignored. Egocentric person may even not be aware of the other points of view and of possible limitations of his or her own perspective. One’s own views are accepted uncritically whereas others’ views are criticized, and valued only if they agree with one’s own (Johnson Johnson, 2009, p. 297). Egocentrism limits the ability to see things objectively and therefore hinders decision-making process. When each member is uncritical about his personal views, a competition develops that aims not at producing the optimal decision but at proving that â€Å"my† view is the best one and making others comply. It often results in low-quality decisions. 20) Team Ethics. Team ethics is a set of moral principles adopted in a team that govern members’ behavior and define what is right. In this respect, it is related to organizational culture and group norms, for it also relies on common values. Team members are expected to comply with these moral principles, for unethical behavior is never praised. Team ethics develops alongside with team culture and experiences the influence of ethical systems adopted in the national culture and of the ethical beliefs of management and team members. However, it is usually more than a sum or a compromise of many ethical considerations. Team ethics should not level off individual ethical systems; it should rather provide a more elevated and demanding understanding of what is right. For team ethics to create a collaborative and supportive environment, it has to comprise such values as respect for others, acknowledging each member’s rights and needs, valuing liberty and diversity, respect for human rights, etc. 21) 5 steps to effective problem solving. Five steps to effective problem solving include: 1) identify the problem (formulating a single question the answer to which is likely to resolve the problem; that is why this tactics is also called Single Question Format); 2) create a collaborative setting (an agreement on principle for discussion should be reached and any assumptions and biases brought to surface); 3) identify and analyze the issues (to fully understand the nature of the problem, some minor issues, or sub-questions, should be identified and discussed); 4) identify possible solutions (several possible courses of action as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages should be defined); 5) resolve the single question (choose the optimal solution among those proposed that answers the single question). (Lecture 2. 4. ) This approach has a benefit of focusing attention on the most important issue without dispersing it to minor issues. Defining a problem correctly is a half of success in problem-solving. When the single question is defined correctly, it gets to the root of the problem, and answering it is likely to resolve all minor problems associated with the greater one. 22) Reflections on Virtual Groups and Teams. During this course, we participated in virtual groups. This experience is very different from participating in face-to-face communication. Many limitations impede group development. First of all, virtual team members communicate directly with each other only rarely, which gives only few opportunities for knowing each other better and developing trust and confidence. Then, technical issues (like the problems some of us had with microphones) may interrupt communication from time to time. Finally, I think that the lack of nonverbal communication is also an obstacle, for we often perceive the other’s feelings and intentions from facial expressions, eye gaze, etc. In this case, we only had to rely on words. I believe that all these obstacles result in the need for more time for a group to become a team and for trust and confidence to develop compared to face-to-face communication. However, the need for joint work and effort united us, and by the end of the course we were feeling quite confident. Therefore, to unite virtual groups, there is a need for regular and frequent communication and tasks that require joint efforts. References Johnson, D. W. , Johnson, F. P. (2009). Joining together: Group theory and group skills. 10th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon.

Philosophy Saul Kripke Naming And Necessity Philosophy Essay

Philosophy Saul Kripke Naming And Necessity Philosophy Essay He is best known for his attack on the descriptivist (Fregean, Russellian) theory of reference with respect to proper names, according to which a name refers to an object by virtue of the names being associated with a description that the object in turn satisfies. He gave several examples purporting to render descriptivism implausible. The key features of Kripkes contribution to the philosophy of language are (1) his account of names as rigid designators and not clusters of definite descriptions; and (2) his view that there are necessary a posteriori and contingent a priori truths. Both these claims are contentious and continue to be debated vigorously. In Naming and Necessity Saul Kripke argues against type-type-identity theory by the use of an argument from philosophy of language. Kripke wants to demonstrate that if one believes in the identity of mental- and brain states, one needs to accept the theorys full consequence, namely that there cannot be brain states which are not mental states or vice versa. To defend identity theory one would thus be in a need to prove not only empirical (e.g. by scientific research), but analytical a priori, that neither brain states without mental states, nor mental states without brain states could exist. This is quite hard, if not impossible, to do since on the one hand mental states are intuitively independent from the physical domain (Cartesian intuition) and on the other hand zombies are conceivable. Kripke introduces two types of designators (namings) of entities, namely rigid designators and non-rigid (flaccid) designators. Rigid designators refer to the same entity in every possible world, if the designator has any reference at all. For example, the rigid designator Anthony Flemming refers to the same entity in all conceivable worlds. Flaccid designators may refer to different entities in different possible worlds. For example, the author of this essay is Anthony Flemming only in this very world. Flaccid designators refer to entities only by use of contingent properties (e.g. X is the author of this essay). Identities between two rigid designators that name the same entity are necessary. The proposition that they are identical is trivially a priori true (you do not need any experience to prove it). If not both designators that are claimed to be identical are rigid, this identity is contingent, if it is true. The identity might be true in this world, but this has to be proven empirically since one could conceive a non-rigid designator referring to some other object. Kripkes strategy is to show, that identity theorists could not argue mind-brain-state identity to be a contingent identity. He demonstrates that both, the term mental state and the term brain state that are claimed to refer to one and the same entity are rigid designators. As an example Kripke uses the proposition pain is c-fiber stimulation. The term pain is a rigid designator because you could not imagine it to refer to something else than the sensation pain in another world. According to Kripke one could transfer this example to every other mental-state and the brain state, which is said to be identical with it. Identity theorists have asserted, the mental states are brain states identity was contingent just like the heat is molecular movement identity is contingent. Kripke replies, even the latter identity was not a contingent one at all, but necessary. It only seems to be contingent, for one confuses the physical property heat with the sensation of feeling heat. But the name heat could either mean the one or the other thing, since the physical property heat is not identical with the sensation heat (There is heat, namely molecular movement, when there is nobody to perceive the sensation caused by it). If the designator heat names the physical property, it is a rigid designator and the identity is necessary. If the term heat names the feeling there is no identity at all. Eventually Kripke reasons from this, that type-type-identity has to be necessary, if true, which connotes that every mental state is identical with a specific brain state in every conceivable world. But mental states without brain states and brain states, that are not mental states, either the conception or identity theory has to be false. Kripkes argument seems to be some sleight of hand at first glance, because it is that astoundingly convincing and still it seems at least imaginable that mental processes are really brain processes and nothing over and above in this world. This might just be, because he does not have any idea how to solve the mind-body problem himself. Moreover Kripkes argument is a very strong one indeed. It is very difficult to defeat because its core structure is logically sound: If it is: a) true that the terms for both mental- and brain-states are rigid designators, and b) they are identical, then c) the identity has to be necessary. The only way to attack the argument is to challenge the framework of semantics it makes use of. The excerpts contain less information on this topic. Important questions would be for example: Which contingent identities could we know a priori, if any? Is a possible world really identical with a conceivable world and what does this denote to rigid designators? It is obvious that this is too far-reaching to be examined in this paper. Kripke is a peculiar man with a sharp intellect. He talks fast and he thinks perhaps even faster. One is still stricken by the fact that he does not seem vitally concerned about applying philosophy to social issues. His ideals do not seem to be those of the visionary public intellectual, like Sartre, Russell, Chomsky or Cornel West. Kripke is one of Americas most respected philosophers, still he is not significant in public debates. For many he is a living legend.

An Appraisal Of Police Reforms In Kenya Criminology Essay

An Appraisal Of Police Reforms In Kenya Criminology Essay Police Services form part of the executive arm of the Government. Before the promulgation of the Constitution 2010, on 27th August 2010 they were referred to as Police Forces and were under the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security. The two Police Forces were the Kenya Police and the Administration Police Forces established under the repealed Police Act Chapter 84 and Administration Police Act Chapter 85 respectively. Together with other three sister departments in the Ministry, that is the NACADAA, the Government Press and the Provincial Administration, the five key departments are all answerable to one Accounting Officer under the Ministry. The Commissioner of Police has been the in charge of the Kenya Police Force while the Commandant of Administration Police, who before 27th August, 2010 operated under delegated authority  [1]  , has been in charge of the Administration Police Force. More often than not the Police have found themselves in crossroads with members of public and Civil Society Organizations. This has led to them being viewed as the key violators of Human Rights  [2]  . They have earned a title violators rather than protectors and keepers of Human Rights. The Alston Reports  [3]  on Judicial killings laid blame on Police on deaths and disappearance of youth without anybody accounting for them. Several shootings of innocent individuals have been associated with the Police guns. The duty imposed on Police of Protection of life and property has been reduced to perception that they are to eradicate life and property of innocent people. The experts on commission for enquiry and thinkers of reforms came up with recommendations in their report after the 2007-2008 Post Election Violence which associated most loss of life to the excessive use of force by police amongst other vices and omissions. Waki Report  [4]  indicate that the security forces were powerless against the violence. Often, when we think of police reforms, the people concerned many a times tend to either forget or neglect the primary reason and function of the police service right from the initial stage it was formed to where they focus it to be, which is of great importance and should always be taken seriously. Peaceful co-existence and calmness in the society is the recipe for experiencing and enjoyment of freedom and human rights. With breach of this, society is bound to be in a chaotic state, confusion and fear. This is why police work always comes in handy if professionally applied backed with strong laws and reliable independent judicial systems. The society creates laws and puts in place the justice system to deal with law breakers; police on the other hand has a responsibility to enforce these laws within the society for the purpose of sustaining peace and calmness. When a society enjoys relative peace and order, it signifies that people obey the laws laid down with offenders being subjected to justice promptly. Strict justice systems and societies law obedience always ease the work of police. You can institute police reform, you can reorganize service delivery but you cannot alter the fundamental principles of policing and police operations. Reformers and reform agendas must be cognizant of another reality that police officers and police services are delivering something that some people in the society are opposed to. No one wants to be a victim of crime. No one wants the law, criminal or regulatory, enforced on them.  [5]   Police reform or review will not make this disappear and no matter how you package or tidy up service delivery or the players, there will always be displeasure with the police. So we mostly find that the performance of any organization depends on the principles on which it is founded and the tempered actions of its officers. Violations of the founding principle of an organization lead to straying away hence corruption, inefficiency and partisan personnel who can easily be misused by influential who have personal interest of enriching themselves. It is because of this, that the police have found themselves being misused by politicians as they serve as agents of political executives rather than as an instrument of a democratic state. This leaves a weak police Service heavily reliant of its masters who politicize and destabilize the police hence vices. The police force had been marked with a reputation of applying the law selectively against opponents, whether political or personal, at the behest of person of influence. Impunity has reigned supreme and hence reforms appearing to be a distant reality. Security is a basic human right as it is underlined by Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a member of the family of nations, Kenya subscribes to this Declaration. As a country, we regard security as a matter of national priority.  [6]  Security of persons as a basic human right is also one of the most significant factors contributing to the quality of communities worldwide. Security provides an enabling environment for citizens to live and work in, and it stimulates social, economic and political development.  [7]   Kenyas transition, and prospects of development, hinge to a great extent on the countrys ability to guarantee security within her borders. This is a goal that the current Government is committed to attain. It is also a good that many Kenyans are longing for.  [8]   It is against this background that there have been attempts by the Kenyan Government to institute police reforms. Though the Government had initiated the Police Reforms since 2004 when the NARC Government first came to power, on platforms of Reforms, these reforms were largely operational and administrative as they did not address the structural policy and legislative reforms that were fundamental in transforming the Police.  [9]   Consequently, the Government appointed the National Task Force on Police Reforms on the 8th May, 2009, led by The Hon. Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley in Kenya Gazette Notice No.4790.1  [0]   The Task Force was mandated with the following Terms of References:-1  [1]   Examine the existing policy, institutional, legislative, administrative, and operational structures, systems and strategies and recommend comprehensive reforms taking cognizance of the recommendations contained in agenda 4; Kriegler, Waki and other Police related Reports so as to enhance police efficiency, effectiveness and institutionalize professionalism and accountability.(Special focus to be given to recommendations on Police Service Commission; Independent Police Oversight Authority; Policing Policy; and National Security Policy); Examine the existing competence, skills knowledge and attitudes of the Police at all levels and make recommendations aimed at enhancing shared core values, policing excellence and benchmarking against international best practices. Review the human resource management and development policies with a view to examine current standards and practices in recruitment, deployment, training, career progression, exit, post-exit management and recommend implementation of changes that enhance morale, meritocracy and professionalism; Review the tooling, logistical and technological capacity and recommend changes necessary to sustain modern security management, disaster management, conflicts and early warning/rapid response systems and joint operational preparedness strategy; Review the state of preparedness of the police to combat insecurity and other forms of emerging security challenges occasioned by national and international threats such as terrorism, piracy, organized gangs, drug/human trafficking, industrial espionage, cyber crime, money laundering, and economics crimes; Review and recommend strategies to harmonize and fast-track partnership between the community and security agencies in policing; Design a continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track police reform gains and consistency of policing needs; Recommend appropriate institutional arrangement to oversee the implementation of comprehensive police reforms; Prepare a draft Police Reforms Bill to embrace the comprehensive Police reform agenda; Make any other appropriate recommendations that add value to police reforms; and Develop a prioritized implementation matrix clearly categorizing the immediate, medium, and long- term police reforms and the attendant budgetary requirements. Within two and half months to submit to the President its findings and recommendations. The task Force submitted its report on October 2009 having made various recommendations summarized under four headings:-Professionalism, accountability, operational and administrative reforms and institutional policy and legislative reforms On 8th January,2010, the Government established the Police Reforms Implementation Committee charged with the responsibility of coordinating, supervising, providing, technical guidance, facilitation as well as mobilizing resources, communicating, monitoring and evaluation of reforms in the police.1  [2]   The promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 on 27th August, 2010 marked a milestone on the issue of the Police Reforms in Kenya.To crown it all, Article 243 to 2471  [3]  constitutionally provided a departure from the previous regime organizations of the police matters. 1.1. Objectives of the Study The study intends to appraise police reforms in Kenya and recommend the best approach to reforms, hence contribute to the process of reforming the police in Kenya to be more effective and accountable in their service. The research will also act as an informative tool and strengthen the knowledge of the readers, researchers, and any other interested parties. Specific objectives of the study were: To identify indicators of police reforms; To identify appropriate analysis and measurement tools to measurement the level of police reforms in Kenya; To gauge the level of police reforms and to benchmark with that of other countries; To recommend measures for the realization of police reforms in Kenya. 1.2 Problem Statement The following points summarize problem statement concerning police reform in Kenya that this research seeks to address: Not much has been done in terms of realistically appraising police reforms in Kenya. There is lack of continuous expert evaluations along the way. In certain cases, internal evaluations that are deficit of technical analysis are carried out, the reliability of the findings may be questionable; The police still have outdated colonial cultures and brutality with deep rooted corruption rate which is a concern of the public, the Kenya Government and the international community; Lack of professionalism; ineffective supervision and poor managerial skills; inadequate and oversight accountability and oversight mechanisms in the police; Slow pace of enactment of necessary legislations to speed up the reform process; 1.3. Scope of the Research It was necessary to clearly define boundaries of the research to focus on the objectives of the study and to eliminate ambiguities. The focus of the research was to assess the successes, failures and challenges of police reforms by identifying reform indicators and gauging reform activities using them. The goal was to shed light into the realities of police reform efforts by highlighting achievements and by benchmarking with other exemplary strides in Africa and the world. This research, being an appraisal, meaning judging the nature/value of the reform process or making considered opinion on quality/extent/status, the research dwelt on aspects that closely correlated with reform evaluation. 1.4. Theoretical Framework There are various theories which justify reforms. These theories explain the relationship between the ways things are and how they ought to be, the realisms and the idealisms. The Natural Law vie propound true law as the right reason in agreement with nature.1  [4]  That law is universal, eternal and unchanging and that there is only one source of law and the enforcer of this eternal and unchanging law is God. That law is a rule whereby man is induced to act or restrained from acting. Principles common in all natural law theories are that1  [5]  there are absolute values against which the validity of law should be tested. That there exists an order which is rational and which can be known by man. That man can become aware of the universal, eternal and comprehensible values, if he observes nature and understands it correctly. And that from these values man may derive appropriate value-statements. That, that which is good is in accordance with nature and which is evil contrary to nature. That a law which lacks moral validity is wrong and unjust. Positivism refers to a system of philosophy based on things that can be seen or proved rather than ideas. The basic premise of positivism lies in the derivation of positum meaning that the law is something posited or laid down. The positivist law argues thus that true law is law enacted by the sovereign and backed by sanctions1  [6]  :- Law is a social fact; The idea of law being a command emanating from a sovereign power; The idea that law must embody a medium of sanctions; The separation of law from morals or ethical concerns; That society must be in habitual obedience of the law; Idealism refers to the practice of forming or pursuing or believing in ideas, even when this is not realistic. It is the belief that ideas are the only things that are real or about which we can know anything.1  [7]   The theoretical framework of this study is therefore to be based on the natural and positive school of thoughts which are related in that positivism arose to answer defects in the naturalists understanding of law1  [8]  . But more to the ideas of the two theories, the study is based on idealisms, what ought to be rather than what is. 1.5. Conceptual Framework There are a number of concepts that explain policing e.g. problem-oriented policing, evidence-based policing, community policing, predictive policing and intelligence-led policing. This research proposes the framework of predictive policing to analyze police reforms in Kenya. Predictive policing is defined as any policing strategy or tactic that develops and uses information and advanced analysis to inform forward thinking crime prevention1  [9]  . Predictive policing concept involves data mining, geospatial prediction, statistical probability and social network analysis. Since this research involves much of data mining and intense use of statistical methods, the concept suits this research. Predictive policing approach originated from a number of sources including intelligence and business analytics2  [0]  . This approach was adopted because the criminal justice system in Kenya currently has inadequate tools and research to the development of evidence-based practices. This concept is embraced as the police services continue developing intelligence-led policing To be able to use this approach, the research proposes a boiling pot model with a pot of reform factors on a three stone hearth acting as pillars firing the reforms. The pillars support the police organization and energize management, administration and the entire police structures. These pillars are capacity legal environment, personnel, budget compensation, personnel, training equipment. The results of the boiling pot are reduced crime rate, observance of human rights, police-public cooperation, public acceptance of the police service, political independence of the police, incorruptibility and reachable police service with authority. Figure 1 The boiling pot model of police reform Source ¼Ã… ¡Author The boiling pot model was proposed in this research as an innovative way of explaining police reforms in the context of predictive policing since a lot has to be in place to facilitate boiling. The reform process needs support and should any one pillar crumble, effects are seen in the results which are squarely dependent on input from the pillars. Again, if the boiling heat goes down, expected results are delayed, half-realized or not achieved at all. Figure 1 illustrates police reforms boiling pot model. 1.6. Limitations of the Study There were obstacles that possibly limited the validity of results of this study to some extent. Limited time and hurdles of data collection ranging from resources to field visits were cumbersome. Questionnaire questions are possible sources of error; so great care in constructing them is essential if valid information is to be gained from the survey2  [1]  . Some of the interviewees declined to answer questions or were busy or lacked interest hence could give unreliable information. This research addressed this limitation, according to guidelines by Barbara and Robert (1980), A Practice Guide to Behavioral Research, pp. 20, using interview techniques like probes and other means of avoiding socially desirable response-statements and other undesirable interviewer/respondent interactions. Availability of data on police reforms is highly limited especially in Africa2  [2]  . Available police data from the Kenya Police and Administration Police is ad hoc and not systematically collected and cannot be very reliable in appraising the successes and failures of police reforms in Kenya. Chapter 2. Literature Review Berkeley2  [3]  notes: reform is such a strong word (which) is often misapplied in regard to police service delivery. Too often it becomes the term for what should be called organization or structure review. Reform is defined as a change for the better or improvement by removal of faults2  [4]  ; it means to fine-tune and restructure without radical changes2  [5]  . Police reforms therefore mean restructuring the police services with the aim of improving them; changing them for the better and fine-tuning the services. In respect to security sector reforms, SSR, police reform is defined as the transformation of a security system, including all the actors, their roles, actions and responsibility to manage and operate the system in a manner that is consistent with democratic norms and sound principles of good governance2  [6]  . 2.1. Police Reforms in Africa Policing in Africa is still inadequately documented and has been shaped by colonial rule that was greatly concerned with protecting interests of the colonial power compared to safeguarding safety and security needs of the people2  [7]  . After colonial rule mostly during the 1960s, development of more personal, impulsive and arbitrary neo-patrimonial rule played a role in shaping the police. Incumbent regimes utilized colonially inherited repressive capacity of the police to defend regime interests2  [8]  . Since many countries in Africa have faced internal civil war, brutality and destruction, the police became perpetrators, targets and casualties. The 2008 violence in Kenya saw role of Kenyan police forces with large scale brutality and extra-judicial killings in a large scale2  [9]  . Dynamics of police reform in Africa is understood within the context of policing environment for example in conflict-ridden areas, rural area policing, role of politics in reform process among others. In conflict areas, general policing is always seen as irrelevant or as part of the problem since more of military approaches are adopted. In such cases, new armed units which act as roving agents of repression and control3  [0]  are created to defend the interest of the power of the day. There are proofs of intimate connection between police and politics in Africa3  [1]  . Police reform is regarded a political endeavor and political interests are fundamental to the reform process. Police reforms envisaged in Africa involve changes in structure, function and legitimacy. Structurally police change from centralized to decentralized form; functionally the police change from emphasizing defense of regime to protection of citizens, and regarding legitimacy the change is from regime-based to people-driven legitimacy3  [2]  . Police Reforms in South Africa and the United States of America It is important to do comparative analysis of police reforms in Kenya with that in the USA and South Africa as benchmarks. The two countries are chosen as pinnacles of police reforms with South Africa giving a realistic African example. 2.2.1. Police Reform in South Africa Police reform in South Africa is understood within the unique political context. Apartheid system had racial status as its main feature and security institutions were organized in a similar way  [38]  39. South African Police and the judiciary were dominated by white officers at the senior level. Apartheid was known for brutality of security forces and widespread violation of human rights. During 1960 1990, about 78,000 people were detained without trial by the police because of political activism against apartheid  [40]  . Seventy-three executions in detention by police were recorded during that period of formal apartheid. In recent years, security forces were responsible for high levels of torture, extra-judicial executions and disappearance of pro-democracy activists. The coercion of unpopular racist laws created a deep crisis of legitimacy in the pre-reform criminal justice system in South Africa. In the late 1980s, the state of apartheid was in serious crisis forcing the police, army and bureaucracy to invent strategies, one being National Security Management System (NSMS) to defeat the liberation movements. The police and military suppressed protests during the State of Emergency declared in 1985 and there were mass arrests, trials, persecution, and murder. Police reform was shaped by negotiated political settlement after apartheid, that agreed to retain all employees of the apartheid government, police officers included. The settlement also created a Government of National Unity and Truth and Reconciliation Commission which dealt with some police abuses in apartheid. As negotiations were going on, the police were already involved in framing new arrangements for the management of public order and security of elections under the auspices of the National Peace Accord multi-party experience that gave the police a preview of the style required by democratic government. The police reform process was given highest priority in the first period of transition and state institutions relevant to effective combat of crime were put in place  [41]  . Mandela government had a challenge to build trust between state agencies, including the police, and the citizens. The police was given legitimacy of being associated with the new regime and was attached to repression of apartheid. Police-community relationship was to be built to allow the basic functionality of the police institution  [42]  . The initial steps to police reform in South Africa were shaped by clear strategic decision taken by the government with strong emphasis on accountability and oversight. In the second term of the democratically elected government, after political control and legitimacy has been achieved, the government started to emphasize the role of police in fight against crime. With many unresolved issues in initial stage of police reform, the government gave great importance to several strategic priorities and policies leading to great ideas in paper but inadequate capacity to implement policies in the police institution. Though South African experience of police reform is cited as a model for other African states, the process was laborious and often agonizing for members of the police organization  [43]  . 2.2.2. Police Reform in the United States of America Initial efforts of reform were through establishment of external commissions that outlined reforms and left the burden of implementation to the police. Important changes in policing, in respect to civil rights and constitutional law, were realized through a number of court decisions  [44]  3. Court decisions between 1961 and 1966, especially Mapp versus Ohio and Miranda versus Arizona, were highly influential and thus began to set national policing standards  [45]  3  [4]  . During the 1970s, special commissions were used to create changes in police and other law enforcement agencies. Permanent external oversight agencies were used to improve police accountability. The agencies focused on individual improvements3  [5]  and left out broader organizational issues that could result to long-term reform initiatives. Enactment of Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994 allowed for suits against law enforcement agencies with regard to abuses resulting into many departments signing memorandum of understandings to reform3  [6]  . The United States Department of Justice conducted investigation on abuse patterns in police and brought legal action to force changes. Less-than-lethal weapons like chemical sprays were introduced as alternatives to deadly force3  [7]  . Police reform encouraged police officers to try to deescalate situations with verbal warnings and persuasion and consider use of force continuum3  [8]  . 2.3. Key Lessons from South Africa and USA The following are clear from the two experiences3  [9]  : Substantial resistance to police reform efforts is highly expected from economic elite who gained from the old system and institutions which control public security apparatus; Sectors that feel insecure would champion for citizen-oriented policing; There is possibility of politicians taking selfish advantage of the reform process and thus violating the spirit of police reform; The government in place may form parallel police units that undermine development and legitimacy of the reform process or even favor particular police units compared to the others; In attempts to demilitarize the police, attention should be focused on composition, mission, doctrine and hierarchical separation of the police from military command; Participation of previously neglected groups in policing helps to ensure that policing is effectively representative of and responsive to the society. International actors can provide assistance with issues of composition and doctrine, as well as advice. To achieve effective reforms, there is need to strengthen and equip crim

An Inaccurate Review of The Fall of the House of Usher Essay -- Fall H

An Inaccurate Review of The Fall of the House of Usher David A. Carpenter, in the form of an essay, addresses Edgar Allan Poe’s short story â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† by interpreting themes, meanings, style, and technique within the story. His essay review contains many quotes and direct references to both Poe and â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher;† however, Carpenter’s analysis proves itself to be inaccurate. Carpenter repeatedly writes statements of which he claims are true, but then argues contrary points. His use of â€Å"evidence† is an extension of his self-negating arguments. Based on the inescapable presence of contradictions and â€Å"evidence† that does not support his opinion, Carpenter’s essay is an inaccurate review of â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher.† In his essay, Carpenter writes contradictory statements and expounds upon them in the form of illogical examples and rationale. Within the first sentence of the â€Å"Themes and Meanings† section, Carpenter claims â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† is not a didactic story, but then follows to say that Poe communicates a â€Å"definite moral message† (Carpenter 1986). Clearly, the author of the article does not understand what qualifies a literary work to be didactic—one that contains issues of morality. He also states that the morality portrayed in Poe’s short story is an â€Å"operative universal morality that is ultimately as inescapable as the hereditary forces which determine a person’s life† (Carpenter 1986). Carpenter’s attempt to clarify his idea of the morality fails when he relates it to hereditary forces, which, in this modern age, have little impact on determining one’s life, and are certainly not i nescapable. His logic is presumed an... ... logical events, such as Madeline escaping the coffin she was nailed inside of, despite Carpenter’s previous statements that the story, because of the effect created by the writer, was successful and would not, in general, leave a reader questioning legitimacy. Overall, Carpenter’s article leaves much to be desired. At first glance, sentences are confusing and ideas are hazy. As an author, Carpenter is not convincing of his essay’s general arguments because his statements are assumptions and are not backed up by clear evidence. Contradictions in both his arguments and elaboration reveal Carpenter’s essay addressing â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† to be illegitimate and inaccurate. Works Cited Carpenter, David A. Essay review. MagillOnLiterature Database [series online] 1986 9240000421. Accessed 2002 November 4. 2350 Marlow 12.37 - 1 -

Rosenberg Spies Essays -- Julius Ethel Rosenberg Nuclear Weapons Essay

Rosenberg Spies In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of passing information to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) concerning the construction of nuclear weapons. In 1953, the United States Government executed them. Some say, the Rosenbergs received their just punishment. Many historians feel that the trial was unfair, and that international claims for clemency were wrongly ignored. These historians claim that the Rosenbergs were assassinated by the US government. This report will be an analysis of the trial, the events which led up to it, and its aftermath. What Led to the Arrest? The first clue America had that a Russian spy ring existed in the US was the discovery of a KGB codebook on the Finnish battlefield during World War II. When compared with Germany's machine-scrambled codes, the code appeared to be relatively primitive; a certain set of numbers corresponded to a word, letter, or essential phrase. There was a little catch though; the codebook was to be read with a corresponding page that every KGB officer was given. Because the American ciphers did not have the corresponding page, there were an infinite number of possibilities that could have corresponded to the book, making deciphering it impossible. (Milton 7) Klaus Fuchs In 1944, the FBI raided the New York offices of the Soviet Government Purchasing Commission, a known front for the KGB industrial espionage operations. When the FBI began to go through what they had taken, they found that many KGB officers did not adhere to their orders diligently. They were told to dispose of all their "corresponding sheets." Many memos and other letters were carelessly stored away, instead of being destroyed after their use. After much studying of all the confiscated letters of the KGB, including the new sheets, the ciphers were now able to elucidate some of the codebook they had found earlier. In 1949, a report by Klaus Fuchs was deciphered. This was America's first solid evidence that there was a spy ring operating within the US. borders. The American authorities had some doubts, however. It was possible that Fuchs was not a spy and somehow the KGB had obtained his report. After much investigation, the FBI arrested Fuchs. Along with other evidence, a letter deciphered by the FBI had a reference to a British atomic spy, whose sister was att... ...y after a jury's recommendations. From the day the Rosenbergs were indicted to three days before their execution, this act was ignored. Astonishingly, nobody realized, including the prosecutors, defendants, or any judges, that this was being ignored. A lawyer from the West Coast raised the issue that suggested to somebody that the Rosenbergs were being wrongly executed. Even after the issue was raised, the Supreme Court ignored it and the Rosenbergs were executed anyway. Still today, there is an ongoing and bitter controversy as to why the Rosenbergs were put to death. (Sharlitt 27) Bibliography Allen, Thomas, and Norman Polmar. Merchants of Treason. New York: Delacorte Press, 1988. Burkholz, Herbert, and Clifford Irving. Spy The Story of Modern Espionage. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1969. Eisenhower, Dwight. Mandate For Change. Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1963. Milton, Joyce, and Ronald Rodash. The Rosenberg File. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1997. Meeropol, Michael, and Robert Meeropol. We Are Your Sons. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1975. Sharlitt, Joseph. Fatal Error. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1989.

Jeremiah as a Christ Figure in Peace Like a River

Jeremiah as a Christ Figure in Peace like a River In the novel Peace like a River, Leif Enger creates the character Jeremiah Land as a Christ figure in order to convey the character’s role as a person whose life is spent serving others. Throughout the novel, there are many miracles performed, and some seem to obviously connect with Jeremiah. The intent of making Jeremiah a Christ figure comes to fulfillment by the novel’s end, when Jeremiah sacrifices his life to save his son, Reuben.In the creation of Jeremiah as a Christ figure, Enger reminds the reader of the importance of self-abnegation and apprehension for others, attitudes that make the pains of human experience tolerable. As stated, there are many miracles in the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Reuben sneaks outside to use the bathroom, when he sees his dad, praying in the bed if the truck and he walks straight off and continues walking without falling. At Christmas time, Davy gives Swede a saddle, but it has an unfixable break in the seam, which is miraculously fixed after Jeremiah tripping over it and bringing it up to her room.One night, after Davy had broken out of jail, Tin Lurvy stops by the Land house and is served soup, but after at least eleven bowls total were served, the pot in which it was made was more than half full. Some miracles are very obviously connected to Jeremiah, like his walking off the truck, but there are others that are not so obvious. In the New Testament, Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves of bread and three fish, which connects to the somehow refilling pot of soup that Tin Lurvy kept eating.Supposedly, Jeremiah would boil water with some vinegar and that would help Reuben breathe better, but I believe it was Jeremiah himself when he made it for him. There is a point in the novel where the miracles seem to cease. It is the arrival at Roxanna’s house. They were running on the extremely small amount of gas that apparently lasted for th e entire morning until the found Roxanna and the gas company. After a while, Jeremiah had decided to court Roxanna, and the miracles stopped after that, for he spent most of his time in the Airstream inherited from Tin Lurvy after his heart attack.Reuben still had trouble breathing, but when Swede made the boiled water for him, it didn’t work well. After identifying many facts that support the claim, it is certain that Enger created Jeremiah Land as a Christ figure. But, miracles sometimes being called â€Å"acts of God†, most are not. There are many ordinary miracles happening all over. A woman that works two jobs an still finds time to take her kid to soccer practice; a teenager who says no to drugs and yas to an education; these are miracles you see each day, all the time, everywhere.