Starbucks Target Market

?Starbucks Target Market Starbucks Target market is nine-to-five workers inurban centers and surrounding suburbs, but in general any age, and any person too. Their costumers identifying a clear Value proposal, because is best communicated simply when  some person had made the decision to drop into a retail store, stay awhile, and then share with co-workers the next day the experience had there. Howard Schultz said in his vision of Starbucks that â€Å"you get more than the finest coffee when you visit†¦ you get great people, first-rate music, a comfortable and upbeat meeting place, and sound advice on brewing excellent coffee at home. In positioning itself as a unique entity in a land with nothing similar, a Starbucks store was promoted to be â€Å"a place where you can sit back and be yourself. † The company vision included that â€Å"at home you're part of a family†¦ at work you're part of a company†¦ and somewhere in between†¦ † there is a Star bucks! So the Starbucks product, while ingrained in its coffee, is really the overall experience. The price of an actual brewed cup of coffee was consistent with the image of being â€Å"a notch above† or a â€Å"worthwhile experience†Ã¢â‚¬â€œhigher than most competitors. And the place where Starbucks offered its product was primarily its retail outlets. To experience Starbucks fully, one must go to an actual Starbucks location. In this respect, the location of a Starbucks relative to customer convenience was important, and Starbucks developed a â€Å"real estate opportunistic† attitude to address this–that is it did not necessarily wait for the ideal building or lot to become available, Starbucks was flexible in terms of retail space layout and design to fit the location convenience of its target market

Case Study of Week Essay

Analysis of the template is most suitable for Kinkead. The reason is based on the case, electricity meters (EM), power tools (EI) products for customers to perform the same basic function. So their alternatives, so it needs to calculate a sales combined variances template, template B did not provide this data. Part B Answer: According to the relationship between the BCG matrix, analysis of market share and market growth. First, for the EM 499 286 According to Table, the variance of the size of the market is unfavorable, the size of the market because their budget is 800000, but the actual market size of 650000, it does not implement the expectations. The EM market share difference to 0, with 10% of the actual and budgeted position, it will not change. Therefore, they are a cash cow. Therefore, EM is the Cash Cow. Additionally, the Kinkead has been a leading Australia firm, and EM is the older but still dominant technology. Followed by EI table EI of the variance of the size of the market for 374,464 budgets, the size of the market for 250,000, lower than the actual market size of 363,500, more than expected. The market share variance is 241,321 Unfavorable which has decrease from 10% to 8%. Therefore, EI question mark. In addition, EI technology is new, or experiment. EI’s future is uncertain. Part C Answer: They seek cash cow product strategy, so there are two aspects of the important aspects of the performance, EM, reduce production costs and increase market share. More particularly, their market share of the difference does not change, which means it is a mature stage, and manufacturing has been standardized. So the company should take some new measures to reduce production costs. Secondly, the company should increase their market share, such as increased management fees. EI use of labeling strategies, there are three aspects of performance is very important to the EI. The first is the R ; D performance; they should increase R ; D costs continue to research new technologies for enterprises to create more profits in the future. Followed by market share, companies need to increase their market share of the product EI, because it is the mark phase of the problem, the future is uncertain. Thus, increasing its market share will change in the future star. Finally, production and sales is also very important, EI, because only effective production, to meet customer demand, increase the number of sales. Part D Answer: Assessment of the electromagnetic properties of the first actual sale price of $ 29, less than the standard price of $ 30, but only sold 65,000 units lower than planned sales of 80,000 units. There are two reasons led to this situation, first of all is their total market demand has been shrinking. Second, the actual sales commission EM is only $ 1, but the EI commission is $ 14. 9, which could lead salespeople do not want to sell the product. To evaluate the EI performance, the first problem is underpriced. Although the actual selling price is $153 which is higher than $150, the sale volume is 29,000 units which is large than budget 25,000 units. Secondly, although the size of the market from EI budget increase 250,000 units 362,500 units, the EI market share is not meet expectations, it has dropped from 10% to 8%. This means that the performance of the EI Company is not satisfied. Third, the staff may lack experience, because the actual manufacturing cost is $ 42. 1, higher than the standard $ 40. Finally, from a fixed cost analysis can be found, $ 121,000 of costs and unfavorable actual production costs are higher than the planned $ 11,000, from $ 1,388,000 to $ 1,399,000. Therefore, enterprises should improve production efficiency. On the other hand, the overall performance of EM and EI, and a profit of $ 51,000, cost of sales decreased $ 5,000 plans to invest $ 250,000 of the actual value of $ 245,000. The sales mix variance data can be found, there are more people choose EI, because the EI sales mix variance is $ 1,789,714! EM sales mix variance is $ 1,253, 571 should not be. The reason may be that the sales staff did not want to sell products EM, actual sales commission EI is 14. 9 dollars, but the commission is only $ 1. Second, EI is a new product and new technology, which will attract more customers to buy and more popular than the old.

Three Gorges Dam in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Three Gorges Dam in China - Research Paper Example â€Å"The massive project sets records for number of people displaced (more than 1.2 million), number of cities and towns flooded (13 cities, 140 towns, 1,350 villages), and length of reservoir (more than 600 kilometers)† (Three Gorges Dam). its location. China's huge Three Gorges Dam hydro-power project could spark a "catastrophe" unless accumulating environmental threats are quickly defused, senior officials and experts have warned. The dam, which is located in Hubei province in south-western China, is the world's biggest hydro-electric project. Inaugurated in 2006 it began generating electricity in 2003(Chinese government fears Three Gorges Dam â€Å"catastrophe) Three Gorges Dam has caught the headlines of media recently because of the huge concerns about the environmental impacts it may generate in Chinese territory. Environmentalists, not only from China, but also from other parts of the world unanimously opposed this project because of the huge threats it may cause to wild animals and to the environment. At the same time, Chinese authorities describe it as a landmark which has proved the technological advancements or dominance achieved by China. Moreover, Chinese authorities claim that the success of this project was achieved through the careful blending of social, engineering and economic capitals. They also argued that this dam is the greatest victory man achieved over nature because of the complexities involved in the construction of this dam. Amidst all such exaggerated or colourful claims, many people in the world are looking at this project suspiciously because of the environmental impacts it can cause not only to China, but also to the neighbouring nations. Erosion, landslides etc are some of the major threats other than the threats to the habitats of wild animals, as a result of the construction of this dam. This paper analyses the reasons for the construction of this dam, arguments of ecological organizations against it, alternate option s which could have been used, future plans of Chinese authorities to construct such dams etc. Chinese authorities labelled Three Gorges dam as a multipurpose dam because of the multiple utilities it can provide to the public and the nation. The entire world is currently facing severe energy shortages and it is necessary for each country to find out alternate energy sources since most of the energy sources available on earth are non-renewable in nature. For example, bio fuel or petroleum is a non-renewable energy source which is used extensively all over the world. According to some estimates, the available oil stocks may be used up within another 30 or 40 years time and it is necessary to find out alternate energy sources. Solar energy is a non-renewable energy source; however, cheap technologies have not been developed yet to exploit solar energy. Hydroelectric power is a renewable energy source and it is necessary for a big country like China to exploit such power as much as possi ble since alternate options are limited. Another reason for the construction of this dam is the increasing threats of floods. It should be noted that because of global warming and subsequent atmospheric temperature rise, huge ice blocs in the polar region are melting and as a result of that the probabilities of flood increasing day by day. Yangtze River is extremely vulnerable to flood threats and in

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words - 1

Strategic management - Essay Example Disturbance in North Africa and the Middle East had significant affect (Jones, 2012) while Uganda seized disputed license of TOC and held its 33% stake sale to heritage and CNOC (Mason, 2011c) ECONOMIC Significant source of revenue for country. Increase in tax from UK government of about ?10 billion resulted in increased concerns from oil and gas exploration companies claiming negative impact on job losses and household bills (Mason, 2011b) TECHNOLOGICAL Extensive technological expertise is required for oil and gas exploration. TOC has signed five year contract with FMC technologies for operations in Subsea services (PennEnergy Editorial Staff, 2013). SOCIAL Development of exploration plants results in social development of the country. Civil society stresses the accountability need of payment from oil and gas companies to counties and their respective utilization (Stewart, 2011). ENVIRONMENTAL Business has significant impact in the environment. Exploration in Savanna and Wetlands wa s warned for affecting natural land to elephants and lions by UNESCO (Manson, 2011a) LEGAL Governments are increasing pressures with increased tax system in lieu of depleting world oil reserves (Holmes, 2011). INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT Oil and Gas exploration industry is increasing competitive across the board. BHP Billiton, Centrica, Shell, E.ON, Bayerngas UK, Bridge Energy, ConocoPhillips, DONG Energy, Endeavour, GDF SUEZ, iGas, Perenco, Total and Tullow Oil forms around 60% of the UK oil production. Increased competitiveness is present in the industry despite of heavy capitalization which becomes a barrier to the industry. For instance, recent offer from Uruguay for the exploration received 15 bids from nine participants while four were granted rights. The offer made for 15 blocks yet accepted bids for nine only while every block had competition among more than three bidders (Webber, 2012). Owing to world’s increased need of energy the bargaining power of buyer is continuously r educing while the power of supplier is consistently rising. Renewable energy offering substitute are still not able to affect the demand of the energy. Intense competition has turned competitors to move towards strategic collaborative ventures. INTERNAL ASSESSMENT: Market Line (2012) has conducted in-depth assessment of Tullow and has identified following SWOT factors: STRENGTHS WEAKNESS Competitive advantage of leading oil and gas exploration business in Africa. Tullow has significant assets across Europe, Asia and South America in addition to Africa. The company has significant debt of around $2,854 million in 2011, which is a significant increase from $1,943 million in 2010. Hence, owing to growing competitive pressures huge debt can negatively impact Tullow’s capacity to compete. OPPORTUNITIES THREATS The acquisition that has been Tullow’s strategy to enhance its portfolio still offers great opportunities in future. Current developments in Uganda and Ghana such as development of Jubilee oil Field have potential for future development. Tullow has major capital projects underway while projects for FY2012 amounted around $ 2 billion. Capital expenditures incurred and planned offer greater opportunities for future. Big players of industry than Tullow has significantly greater strength from all perspectives such as technology, financial resources hence pose serious threats. Oil

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - Coursework Example In various departments, I have supported nurses to upgrade and improve services. Record your statements of philosophy of Nursing and of personal philosophy. Explain how these are reflected the values, vision, and personal interests that you recorded in your â€Å"My Vision and Interests† tool. I am committed to accept and respect the unique way in which patients’ view themselves and their world. I have taken nursing as a lifelong learning process guided by ethical values congruent with nursing practice (Wright, Flis & Gupta (2008). I am accountable for practice and participate fully in interdisciplinary activities as part of professional-practice. I am mindful and stop regularly to ascertain my mental state to stay connected to my thoughts and actions as a nurse. I consider my relatively small effort to be of essence and thus I look for opportunities to collaborate with teams to make a large impact.  I get practical experience when facilitating patient care and always try new things to improve the community I work for and with (Risjord, 2011). Clearly utilize information from the Assessment Tools as the basis for formulating your goals. Develop a list of prioritized goals based on your assessments. Goals must be stated in measurable terms, i.e., how can you tell you have accomplished that goal? Identify dates for accomplishing each goal. Apply knowledge and skills from learnt theory, research and practice within the first 3 to 6 months of working. By the fifth year, I need to be competent by collecting the most important data from patients and advocating for patients’ rights, services and treatment regimes. I plan to take further courses that will provide me with specialized skills in neonatal nursing care to offer training to fellow nurses and communities by the next 10 years (Floodet al., 2010). I intend to make use of collaborative

Management Decision Making A System Approach Essay

Management Decision Making A System Approach - Essay Example Management decisions are gaining extraordinary and unprecedented importance in the present changed business situation. Governments and business houses have to think beyond the territories while making a decision. They can make an impact all over the world, and the prevailing world business trend could make immediate impact on them. Management theories have evolved and have been applied mainly to change management and control management1. System approach is another, perhaps highly effective way to apply on a company that is targeting a certain achievement2. 1. Alamarai is a flourishing company, but a system and every work in the company is done as clockwork, without any change at all in the daily routine. It has its hierarchies, branches, transport system, distribution system and works like a well-oiled machine, noiselessly. 2. It has its own performance criteria and system objectives. Its performance criteria is mainly running its huge farm, stocked with yielding cows, cooling and pasteurising this milk, make connected milk products and supply them to the decided outlets along with other food products. Alamarai had been one company who had been performing flawlessly, even though a cooling project in Saudi Arabia is not an easy matter. 3. Alamarai is ruled by its environments, political, social, cultural and religious. It is also ruled by the economic environment of the present day world. These signals, the company is unable to ignore any more. 4. It has its own humanistic and psychosocial subsystems, but till recently controlling the humanistic conditions as they are mainly from foreign countries and hence, were mainly biddable, it had found comfortable, compared to the present psychosocial subsystem, that had been brought into the company through Saudisation. 5. Alamarai's aim had been integrating these subsystems with the whole wider society. The psychosocial subsystems are not only originated from the prevailing society, but also have to be improved and bettered in the same society and Alamarai is trying to integrate them. It increases options, reduces errors during achievement and the achievement could be anything. It need not be only the highly market victory. It could be connected socially, politically and culturally to the company, for which company is either forced or willingly inspired to work for.4 System approach is one of the decision support systems, that had been in vogue for sometime and had been found unquestionably effective by many organisations and has amply proved its efficiency, mainly because it works along with its subsystems, and hence, more scope for checking, correcting, evolving and finalising5. a) Company overview: Almarai (Green Pastures), a very famous company of Saudi Arabia, a household name in diary products was established in 1976, under the direction of the Prince. It is based in Saudi capital Riyadh, with its operations spread not only in Saudi Arabia, but also through the Arabian Peninsula, covering almost all the Gulf countries. It is a pioneer in agricultural, diary processing and food distribution field. It is a well known entity with a

Current State of the Economy in China Research Paper

Current State of the Economy in China - Research Paper Example This paper presents a thorough analysis of the current state of the Chinese economy. The main focus of the paper is on the potential of foreign and domestic trade activities in the country. Impact of the reforms in the economic policy, pertaining to the trade sphere, is also considered. The Chinese government in respect to foreign trade has worked to render some potential changes in this sector by removing some essential barriers pertaining to tariffs, and also reduced the level of monopolistic interventions of the different Chinese states. Even the foreign trade policies in relation to the export and import activities have been reformed by the Chinese government in terms of liberalizing the import licenses and enhancing the level of subsidies in regards to exports. The ascension of China to the WTO has also largely impacted the trade policies of China concerning the domestic trade activities. Government of China through the reduction of subsidies connected related to requirement of growth of import activities in such sector and thereby explicitly desired the reduction of dependence on indigenous materials. This activity is found to be impacted through the enhancement of American interference where the government of America strongly desired the reduction of the Chinese potential. American interference to alter the realm of government policies pertaining to Chinese domestic trade can be understood from the potential threat which the American government faces from growth of Chinese power. Thus American intervention is strongly observed altering the course of Chinese policy actions relating to domestic trade activities. The focus is rendered more on the energy sector of the Chinese economy which happens to render large amount of competition to the American region. Thus a fall in subsidies in the energy sector of China especially in the realm of wind energy helps countries like America to develop their potential in the international arena (Wolf). International and Domestic Trade Practices of China The trade practices of China pertaining to the domain of international trade of recent times is being widely accused for taking resort to a large amount of manipulation and adulterated activities. Developed countries around the world like United States and the European countries have in fact accused

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mary Barnett Trial Handoutiter's choice - Essay Example The case was categorized as a second degree murder because Mary Barnett was charged with intentional murder without premeditation. I have been asked to be on the jury to review the testimony and claims of the defendant, prosecution, and witnesses, and to come up with a fair verdict. Caroline Hospers’ statement clearly indicates that Mary Barnett was addicted to liquor products, and she could never carry out the duties and responsibilities of a good mother. In other words, Barnett had been following a bad lifestyle mainly because she lived without a husband. Hospers’ argument that Barnett went to visit her fiancà © ‘just to party and have a good time’ with him cannot be taken into account because it is Hospers’ personal view only (Chaffee para 4). Perhaps, Barnett and Caroline might not be in good terms, and therefore Hospers’ observation that ‘the baby was not taken care of properly’ should not be considered in order to support prosecution arguments (Chaffee para 4). Officer Mitchell tells that Barnett intentionally left her baby to get to California in time and she was aware that she would not be back for a while. Referring to Barnett’s initial responses, Mitchell asserts that Barnett was really informed of what she was going to do when she planned to leave the baby unattended in the apartment. Taking care of the baby was not the first priority of Barnett because she was extremely excited to visit her fiancà © at that time. Although Barnett had tried to arrange a babysitter for Alison, she could not find one, and therefore she just decided to leave her baby in the apartment for a few days. While analyzing the view of Dr. Parker, a professional psychiatrist, the defendant is competent to stand the trail on the charges she was accused of because Barnett developed depression and anxiety problems only after the shocking death of her daughter. According to Dr. Parker, Barnett â€Å"was mentally competent on

People Management & Performance in Contemporary Organisations Essay

People Management & Performance in Contemporary Organisations - Essay Example From this study it is clear that an effective performance appraisal system should also be implemented that will rate the employees according to their performance. Thus, adopting all these measures, the company can reduce its high attrition rate of graduate trainees and continue the normal organisational activities with greater productivity.This report stresses that  Pearl and Mutual Benefit Insurance Company (PMIC) is a financial service based organisation wherein higher rate of attrition of the employees has been witnessed. This can be justified with reference to the data produced at the end of the year 2014 revealing that 60% of the recruited graduate trainees have left the company for varied purposes such as change in career settings by shifting from one sector to other. One of the reasons behind this disturbing fact can be deemed as the persistence of inefficiency in the procedure of recruiting and selecting the trainees. It will be vital to mention in this similar concern that the recruitment procedure of PMIC must be structured in a strategic manner in order to select the potential graduates who would deemed fit with the company’s sales and hard driving oriented culture.  In accordance with the provided data on the case study, it can be ascertained that several graduate trainees who have been expensively recruited as well as trained have not obtained high ratings for their respective performance during annual appraisalsa.

The Diversity of HR Practices or policies employed by different Assignment

The Diversity of HR Practices or policies employed by different branches of a Multinational Corporation in two countries and the - Assignment Example Logistic analysis has been used to study the comparative impact of human resource organisational structures. There are many determinants to an organisations corporate human resource’s involvement in setting subsidiary level human resource policy up to and including the laws that exist in the country of origin. Literature search, strategy and aims In this paper, we will try to argue that human resource structures arbitrate the impact of the country of origin and the current host country of the subsidiary. For coca cola, the results we found tend to support an arbitration effect: it is important to note that the effects of country of origin on corporate human resource’s role are umpired by human resource structures for United States of America’s companies but the same is not true for Nigeria’s companies. The findings also imply that the salience of human resource structures as apparatus for influencing auxiliary level human resource policy is not universal a cross all multi-national companies’. Data was collected from the company website, â€Å"Management, 4th edition† by Englewood Cliffs, â€Å"How institutions evolve: insights from comparative historical analysis† by Streeck, W. ... By doing this, the companies improve their competitive edge. In this report we will consider the overseas multi-national company Coca-Cola and seek to find out how it is as a player in globalisation at the general level. Multinationals tend to act as channels for the movement of the ‘incumbent’ set of laws of the domicile’s national business structure by controlling auxiliary level guiding principles and practices. This report considers the scope in which the structural features of the United Kingdom’s Coca-Cola plant differs from that of Nigeria in corporate human resource at the organisational level. Preliminary review and evaluation of the relevant literature To a large extent, the coca cola company since it began operations, has had the lavishness of having to deal with a relatively narrow set of financial, cultural, and even legal requirements, as most of the countries it operates in are basically very entrepreneurial and competitive societies. For a c ompany that is running numerous businesses overseas, it is usually not blessed with such relative homogeneity. For example, the least number of legally authorized holidays may vary from none in a country like the United Kingdom to five weeks annually in Nigeria. Currently, a very troubling issue is the need for every company to tighten its security and that of its employees; this is mostly due to the acts of terrorism that have been witnessed in the past. Coca cola just like most other companies has been training its employees especially those who are to be sent to places such as Colombia and Nicaragua, where kidnapping of alien managers is the order of the day. How the human resource function is handled in multinational

Video games Essay Example for Free

Video games Essay Video games have gone a long way since PONG – one of the first arcade games (released in 1972) – or Pac-man. Nowadays gamers enjoy a variety of games and high-definition graphics, making it hard for anyone not to let himself drawn by their magic, even if it is just for a few minutes. But are they helpful or are they just a waste of time? Mainly they help you forget about your problems by offering you the possibility of living in a magical – though not real – world. However, there are also many disadvantages about video games that turn them into a dangerous activity. Firstly, some may consider the fake world more interesting and video games might make them forget that they are real people who need to live in the real world. People can become addicted to games and spend too much time playing. Video games are a waste of time. Teenagers should be doing more important things like spending time with their family. They could also be doing their homework or reading books for self-improvement. Another active is going to museums or doing physical activities. There is also no opportunity for physical exercise, something teenagers are sadly lacking. When they play video games, they stand or lay down and do nothing. Second, video games are a waste of money. A lot of money is spent by teenagers on these games. They could be saving their money to buy things that they need for school or for things that they may need in the future. Teenagers would be much better off without the temptation of having to spend money on video games. Third, video games will damage teenagers social skills. Many teenagers that play video games play for long periods of time. This means that they do not interact with people but with machines. What is important, is that teenagers should learn people skills. Interacting and sitting along with people is a learned skill and it must be practiced by use. Teenagers must learn to use social skill to be successful in life. Therefore, video games should banned. They waste time and money, and they damage teenagers social skills.

How To Read Literature Like A Professor

How To Read Literature Like A Professor Using the table below, write a chapter summary in the center column for the corresponding chapter of Thomas Fosters How to Read Literature like a Professor (HTRLLAP). In the right column, consider how the chapter provides insight into Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. Provide support for and explain your connection to the novel. You are to include at least one quotation from Frankenstein in each Connection response (including MLA style citations). Type your answers directly into the chart (you may expand the boxes) and save electronically to be uploaded to turnitin.com. HTRLLAP Chapter HTRLLAP Summary Frankenstein Connection Chapter 1: Every Trip is a Quest Foster states the essential criteria for a quest: a character to embark on the quest, a destination, the initial reason for reaching the destination, difficulties faced on the way, and the actual reason to reach the destination. The character many times does not complete the initial assignment, instead achieving an increased understanding of themselves, which Foster explains is always the actual reason for a quest. Because of this, the protagonist is normally young and has not gained independence. The initial reason usually wanes with progression of the story. Had I a right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations?I shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price perhaps of the existence of the whole human race. (Shelley 114-115) Assuming that Frankensteins quest was to create another being to accompany his monster so that the monster would leave Frankensteins loved ones unscathed, his initial assignment was uncompleted as he tore apart the being he was making. Instead, Frankenstein gains knowledge of where his priorities lie and how his loyalty to the human race prevailed over his own wants and needs. Chapter 6: When in doubt,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The effects of Shakespeares work on other authors are on hand for discussion in this chapter. Foster addresses the perpetual presence of Shakespeare in the minds of most writers, and how that causes them to at times build off of his work and use it as a foundation for their own. Foster also gives detail on how prevalent Shakespeare is in modern times in the form of quotes that one would be able to recognize even having never read his work. Also mentioned with regards to Shakespeare is intertextuality, or the indirect to direct communication between Shakespeare and later works, where the latter derives influence from Shakespeare. Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be the only apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed. (Shelley 152) The aspect of the novel which features the desire for knowledge, power and recognition is not unlike that of Macbeth in which the main character, like Frankenstein, desires something greater than he has, and loses a loved one(s) in the process of trying to control his future. Both characters die having not reached their goals, as the result of going too far in pursuit of them. Macbeth does not become king, as Frankenstein does not destroy his monster. Chapter 9: Its Greek to Me Foster addresses the role that myths can take on in a work of literature. Having faith in the myths that an author writes about is immaterial, he says, and what really contains importance is the way a myth or legend can provide substance for works that follow it. This works are not limited to writing, and include works of visual art, music, etc. Since myths can donate theme, imagery and other elements to subsequent works by other writers, Foster recommends that readers become familiar with mythology in order to enhance their understanding of literature. By degrees the calm and heavenly scene restored me, and I continued my journey towards Geneva. (Shelley 47) Persecuted and tortured as I am and have been, can death be any evil to me? (Shelley 124) These two quotes, along with the knowledge of what Frankenstein has done and where he has journeyed in reference to science, show the effect that it has caused upon him. Shelley calls Frankenstein a Modern Prometheus, and just as Prometheus went past the boundaries of man, so did Frankenstein, and the formers punishment was to have his liver eaten by an eagle, only to have it be restored overnight. This identifies with Frankensteins inner torture, temporarily muted by the peace of nature but always to return again. Chapter 10: Its More than Just Rain or Snow Atmospheric conditions in literature are not to be taken lightly, Foster expresses. Temperature and precipitation often have concealed purposes, no matter what the temperature or what type of precipitation. Rain is a common element used to alter the atmosphere and mood of a story, and can also be used as a plot device and unite characters that otherwise would have been unaffiliated. However, it can range in meaning from pertaining to Noahs Ark to symbolizing rebirth and restoration to showing that it affects all characters, regardless of their status or personality. Also mentioned are fog, which denotes bewilderment, and snow whose meaning is decided by the writer. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦we witnessed a most violent and terrible thunderstormà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I beheld a stream of fire issue from an old and beautiful oakà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I eagerly inquired of my father the nature and origin of thunder and lightningà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦This last stroke completed the overthrow of Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, who had so long reigned the lords of my imagination. (Shelley, 22-23) In this instance, rain was used as a plot device to indirectly cause the cessation of Frankensteins interest in the philosophers stone and Agrippa, Magnus and Paracelsus, and lead him onto other subjects concluding with the creation of his monster. He had initially been preoccupied with creation of a philosophers stone, but later with this event became convinced to turn his efforts elsewhere. Chapter 11: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦More than its Gonna Hurt You: Concerning Violence Foster next directs attention to the use of violence in literature. It can translate into a variety of meanings, and many times there is not just one meaning, but several. There are two forms of violence in literature: distinct injuries inflicted on the characters by themselves or other characters, and violence caused by the authors onto often multiple characters simultaneously; such as death and misfortune, used to continue the plot. Unlike violence in everyday life, literary violence always has meaning behind it, no matter how many purposes it serves. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I had hardly placed my foot within the door, before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused, some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, I escapedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Shelley 70-71) This event of violence aimed at the monster convinced him that he would never be accepted in a human society due to its tendency to prejudge him based on his appearance, which increased his resentment for Frankenstein for creating him that way. It also meant that he would have to learn human etiquette and language before trying to interact with humans, leading to his endeavor with De Lacy and his family. Chapter 12: Is that a Symbol? Symbols are prevalent in this chapter, as Foster elaborates on how they are to be understood. Foster states that one dilemma to arise regarding symbols is that at times readers will expect them to possess only one meaning, when in fact if this were true they would be known as allegories and not symbols. Also at hand is the tendency for readers to assume that symbols are only introduced as images and tangible items rather than occurrences and activities. It would aid readers to refer to their prior experience with symbols in literature while focusing on the meaning of a symbol. One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain. How strange, I thought, that the same cause should produce such opposite effects! (Shelley, 69) The fire in this scene is related to the light associated with knowledge and scientific advancement, and symbolizes the ambivalence of scientific progress: it can give comfort when admired from a distance, but when one approaches it too closely it causes pain and destruction. Chapter 13: Its all political First expressed in this chapter are the disadvantages of political writing: how it can at worst be elementary, pompous, and colorless. However, at best it can be thought-provoking and engaging. Traces of political writing can be found in many works, but not all. The cause for this rests in the fact that writers often take heed to the world around them, which includes the political circumstances of their time. I would willingly afford you every aid in your pursuit; but the creature of whom you speak appears to have powers which would put all my exertions to defiance. Who can follow an animal which can traverse the sea of ice, and inhabit caves and dens, where no man would venture to intrude?' (Shelley 139) This quote, spoken by the magistrate in response to Frankenstein, expresses how uncontrollable the monster is and how futile would be the efforts made against it. The monster is a symbol of a political leader in possession of absolute power, and Shelley expresses in the novel the dangers associated with these rulers. Chapter 19: Geography really matters Foster clarifies that writers are obligated to choose where their stories take place. Some fabricate the location, while others elect to use a pre-existing location. This may be essential to the plot, and it not limited to city or town; but rather may include people and other aspects of society. Geography in literature centers more on the relationship that a group has with its physical surroundings, and can advance the plot while also indicating themes and symbols. Foster states that when a character travels south, usually it is so that they can rebel. This rebellion is to communicate with the characters subconscious. My courage and perseverance were invigorated by these scoffing words; I resolved not to fail in my purpose; and, calling on heaven to support me, I continued with unabated fervour to traverse immense deserts, until the ocean appeared at a distance, and formed the utmost boundary of the horizon. (Shelley, 143) At this point in the story, the geography advanced the plot by affecting Frankensteins situation and causing it to become desperate because of the climate and surroundings which did not allow him to comfortably survive, unlike his monster, who was physically fit for the conditions. As they ventured further north, the geography caused Frankenstein to become trapped on a floating, melting block of ice, which caused him to finally encounter Waltons vessel. Chapter 20: So does season Foster calls to attention in this chapter the importance of season. The use of seasons in a work of literature for meaning has been around since the days of mythology, and each season has certain qualities associated with it. Summer is identified with courtship and maturity, winter with senility, death, and bitterness, spring with prime and youth, and autumn with fatigue and harvest. However, this is not set in stone and writers may make alterations to the meanings of seasons. Seasons, and the circumstances that accompany them, may be used to cause emotion to many characters. As I still pursued my journey to the northward, the snows thickened, and the cold increased in a degree almost too severe to supportà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The rivers were covered with ice, and no fish could be procured; and thus I was cut off from my chief article of maintenance. (Shelley 142-143) As Foster says and Shelley proves, winter in literature is a season of hardship and old age, as Frankenstein endures the last season of his life, which weakens him greatly before he finally dies. His monster dies in winter as well, having suffered not physically but emotionally to the point where after Frankensteins death, he has no other purpose left but to die himself. Chapter 21: Marked for Greatness Addressed in this chapter are the physical imperfections that may identify a character. They inform the audience of something that needs to be known about the character, whereas in real life they have no real meaning. To differ the main character from the rest of the characters would always provide multiple opportunities for the writer, and the hero of a story always has something that sets him apart. Distinguishing marks on characters are not important for every work, but since it is more difficult for a writer to include such a character in his story, many times the deformity possesses meaning. Why do you not execrate the rustic who sought to destroy the saviour of his child?I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Even now my blood boils at the recollection of this injustice.' (Shelley 155) In this quote the monster further reveals his feelings of isolation from humankind and subsequent frustration and misery. If the monster looked as an average human would look, he would have had no desire for revenge against Frankenstein for creating him, and would not have been alienated from society. The monster received his features, height and strength because it would set him apart from everyone else and allow him to commit acts that other humans would not be capable of. Chapter 22: Hes blind for a reason, you know Foster in this chapter calls attention to characters with little or no vision, and the usual reason for their inclusion in literature. Introducing blind characters into a story means that the writer has to decide what the effects of their blindness are, on them and on every other character that they interact with. This usually means that the concept of sight is of prominence in the story, but this can also be true even when blindness is not featured. In what he names the Indiana Jones Principle, Foster expresses that any abnormal quality pertaining to a character must be addressed by the author before that quality becomes relevant. I am blind, and cannot judge of your countenance, but there is something in your words which persuades me that you are sincere. I am poor, and in exile, but it will afford me true pleasure to be in any way serviceable to a human creature. (Shelley, 91) This quotes comes from the conversation that the monster had with De Lacy before being driven from him by Felix, and shows how De Lacy saw the monsters true personality and intentions like no other human being because of his inability to view the monsters physical features. Like other examples mentioned by Foster, this situation is ironic and demonstrates how the blindness of one person gives him the sight that those with functioning eyes did not possess. Chapter 25: Dont Read with your Eyes The importance of having an open perspective while reading is at hand in this chapter, as Foster tells readers to see the reason for certain events in a story. While no one can forego all attachment to their own values and ideals, too much of this can in fact hinder the understanding and enjoyment that are supposed to be received. Openness can be achieved when one takes into account the situations that the author was writing in. I confess to you, my cousin, that I love you, and that in my airy dreams of futurity you have been my constant friend and companion.(Shelley, 130) The knowledge that Frankenstein and Elizabeth are both biologically related and betrothed at this point in time would startle some, as such a union is considered by most to be inappropriate. However, with some knowledge of nineteenth century society one would realize that it was not uncommon then, and that nineteenth century readers would have thought nothing of it.

The communist ideology

The communist ideology The main events of the latter half of the 20th Century remain a topic of intense debate with the reasoning behind these events still a source of speculation. This essay will examine the key events in Soviet Foreign policy through the four leaders of the period between 1945-1991; Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Gorbachev and will be contrasted against the teachings of Communist ideology in an effort to determine whether ideology had greater influence in the foreign policy decisions made by said leaders or if state interests played a more significant role. Marxism-Leninism was the ideology of the Soviet Union. Thus, Marxist-Leninist ideas influenced foreign policy. For a Marxist-Leninist, the world is divided into classes rather than individual states and in strict Communist doctrine, the key objective of foreign policy was the ultimate achievement of world revolution by the proletariat. As a result, Marxist-Leninism has no theory of international relations. It was well expressed by Trotsky[1] when he was appointed Peoples Commissar for Foreign Affairs in 1917, I will issue a few revolutionary proclamations to the peoples of the world and then shut up shop. Revolution would displace the state system and end the need for diplomacy. On the other hand, failure of a world-wide revolution to take place meant that the sate interests of the USSR quickly acquired great importance for Soviet foreign policy-makers. The Soviet Union increasingly turned to building a Communist society at home, believing that strengthening Communism within the USSR was the way to ensure a Communist society outside of its borders: Socialism in One Country, and that once strengthened, the Soviet Union would prove strong enough to lead the whole world to Socialism. There are other Marxist-Leninist ideas that strongly influenced foreign policy, one of which was the necessary antagonistic nature of Communism towards Capitalist states, which Stalin strongly believed would inevitably lead to war[2]. Related to this idea was the concept of correlation of forces the Russian equivalent to our balance of power- where the overall strength of capitalism was measured against communism. The idea that capitalism suffered from such profound contradictions; states competing for resources, economic problems, led Communists to believe that their system would prevail and therefore were always on the look out for the correlation of forces to change in their favour. It also reinforced the effect of the Leninist conception of imperialism. Lenin held the view that war would bring the prospect of revolution as the ruling classes became demoralised by the burdens placed by war on the states concerned and the working classes plummeted into misery. As previously mentioned, communism was not adverse to war if the outcome would be revolution. This was a belief strongly held by Lenin. Alternatively, Stalin, was more interested in war that served his interest. An example of which is the Second World War officially known in the Soviet Union as The Second Great Patriotic War. He reasoned that World War I was brought about by capitalists, who inflicted damage and destruction on each other, but is seen as positive as it led to the emergence of the USSR. After the Second World War, the USSR was left absolutely devastated, the class struggle also had to be balanced with the desire of the Soviet population for peace so that they and their country could recover. Soviet leaders were aware of this desire, which tempered any revolutionary ardour they may have felt. Nevertheless the years to follow were also years of great triumph for the USSR. The destruction of the German army meant the USSR was the only great European military power, had b ecome a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and it had broken out of the capitalist encirclement of having allied states on its borders. Stalin sought to increase Soviet power beyond what the Tzars had accomplished now that he had Communist ideology driving him. He was the dominant creator of Soviet foreign policy, the subject of which remains under dispute by several historians. One such historian, LeFeber entertained the notion that (Stalin) displayed a realism, a careful calculation of forces, and a diplomatic finesse that undercut any attempt to explain away his actions as paranoia[3], while another criticises Stalins foreign policy as inexplicable in its parts as incoherent in its whole[4]. It has been argued that Stalins foreign policy from 1945 onwards was a direct result of material interests and power play with the United States of America, that the USA was now perceived as Glavny Protivnik (greatest adversary) and that Stalin was scared of war because of its strength. The exact origins of the Cold War remain under dispute, even with new archival evidence from former Eastern-bloc states. The role to which Stalins foreign policy played in the build up to the Cold War can be categorised in a small number of groups. The orthodox view, which entertained Stalins aggressive and expansionist policy, his desired expansion along all of the USSRs borders from the Pacific to the Atlantic, which can be argued to be in following with Marxist-Leninist theories of expansion[5], even though he permitted discussion on what governments could be formed within newly acquired states. It is interesting to note that Stalins aggressive and expansionist policy has been attributed to his own declining mental health. He had even been diagnosed, albeit incorrectly, in 1927 as a paranoid schizophrenic nevertheless this diagnosis was proved to be inaccurate. The revisionist view, perceived by Marxist and Marxist-Leninist historians, depicted the USA as an aggressive power, to t heir own people and others around the globe, imposing its empire on an unwilling world, ignoring the security interests of the Soviet Union and conforming to the classic Leninist model of Imperialism.[6] This view gained credibility later in the 1960s, partly owing to the Vietnam War. Other historians, not Marxist in inspiration, claim that the USA wanted to establish an economic system across the globe which would promote trade and economic growth from which the USA would benefit. Separate to the ideological views is the notion that the conflict was inevitable and thus both superpowers were responsible for it. That the Cold War was the natural result of a situation in which two superpowers with differing ideologies remained. Tactically speaking, the USSR had only three strategic enemies, of which Japan and Germany had been defeated and China was embroiled in a civil war. In addition, the Soviet Union had the largest army with mobilised resources, it was also geographically the larg est country in the world. The USA on the other hand was a massive economic power and its population had not been morally exhausted by recent war nor were they at odds with their own government. The resulting clash between the two would turn into a global disaster. At this time, it appears Stalin preferred to avoid a military confrontation with the USA and having determined that military probes into Europe would be too hazardous, Stalin sought to expand Soviet influence into regions where there would be less risk of confrontation with the USA and so he turned to Asia[7]. After repeatedly denying approval of North Korean leader Kim Il Sungs proposed military attack of South Korea, the Soviet Union unexpectedly began secretly providing large technological and military assistance to North Korea. This U-turn decision has been cited by both Gaddis and Westad to support their assertion that Marxism-Leninism was of crucial importance in Soviet foreign policy[8]. Westad also provided another theory to Stalins unexpected decision change in that Stalin had seen Mao Zedongs Chinese Communist victory and had been unnerved by it. Stalin therefore gave approval for the attack on South Korean when he realised his rival in Mao would support North Korea with Stalin or without and Stalin did not want to appear less revolutionary than Mao[9]. Regardless of the ideological reasons, be it enthusiasm in response to Maos ambitions or jealousy and an attempt to outmanoeuvre Mao by condoning North Korea, even an avoidance of the USA to prevent a catastrophic war, it is indic ated that ideology was a factor in Stalins foreign policy involvement in Asia. Stalin died in March 1953. He was succeeded by a collective leadership with Nikita Khrushchev soon emerging as the main figure. The new leaders quickly realised that changes in foreign policy were necessary; the main reason for this being the arms race which was now becoming more prominent in world events. In 1952, the USA had detonated the worlds first thermonuclear device followed in 1953 with the USSR testing its first hydrogen bomb. In the years that followed, both powers created and tested various delivery systems for these new weapons that resulted for the USSR in the creation of Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) which had the range to strike the USA. Khrushchev called these weapons the Gods of War[10]. The realisation of the enormous power of these new weapons caused Stalins successors to abandon key principles of Marxist-Leninist ideology. The precept of the inevitability of war between capitalism and communism, which in Stalins eyes, would be won by communism, had t o be discarded as a conflict would result in the mutual assured destruction of both the capitalist and communist states. In addition, the principle of revolution that, although perceived as inevitable and the only way to a Communist society according to Marxist-Leninist doctrine, could now be the cause of a war that would also end in complete devastation for the warring states and thus it was at the 20th Party Congress in 1956 that a set of initiatives were launched which came to be known as destalinization which established a policy of long-term peaceful cooperation with the capitalist world. The superpowers had inadvertently become partners, with the incentive to prevent thermonuclear war. Although there initially appeared to be a change of direction from Marxist-Leninist doctrine there were still elements of it that were pursued even with the new initiatives in place. The Party leadership was quick to introduce the idea that a peaceful transition to Socialism was still very much possible. The changes to foreign policy included the commencement of armistice talks in areas of conflict, for example, the Korean war. The Soviet regime also attempted to strengthen its satellite states in the bloc and draw them closer to the USSR. This all culminated in 1955 with the creation of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation. In addition, a massive amount of economic and technical assistance was given to the communist nation of the Peoples Republic of China. This assistance has been described as the greatest transfer of technology in world history[11]. The regime also encouraged trading and other forms of communication with the Western world, it opened up to tourism, Soviet citizens were pe rmitted for the first time to visit other states not in the Eastern bloc of which the reverse was also the same. Stalin, would have avoided this as, in his view, it would have potentially opened up the USSR to hostile foreign influences. Competing ideological tendencies and institutional interests allied with Khrushchevs own over-ambition in foreign policy were the prime factors resulting in his fall from power in 1964[12]. During the Khrushchev years, Brezhnev had supported the process of destalinisation but as soon as he became leader, Brezhnev changed direction and reverted to a more regressive, Stalin-type attitude, even taking the title General Secretary, which Stalins held until 1952. Brezhnevs overriding aims were to ensure the primacy of the USSR in the world communist movement. Establish strategic parity in the US and on that basis, to secure western acceptance of the post-war order in Europe while extending Soviet power in the developing world[13]. The first foreign policy crisis of the Brezhnev regime occurred in 1968 when reforms began sweeping through Czechoslovakia, initiated by leader Alexander Dubcek, that posed the reduction of importance of the ruling Communist party. The Soviet leadership attempted to limit the impact of Dubceks reforms through negotiation but their efforts proved in vain. Soon after, Soviet and Eastern bloc troops invaded Czechoslovakia tasked with restoring it to Marxist-Leninist doctrine. This became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine.[14] The doctrine was used to justify the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and also used to put an end to liberalisation efforts that had the potential to disrupt Soviet control within the Eastern bloc. The concerns of the Soviet Union fit an ideology based explanation of Soviet actions. It is interesting to note that while the western states heavily criticised the invasion, they were unable to challenge the Soviet military force in Europe without risking nuclear war. The events surrounding the collapse of Communism and the relatively quiet dissolution of the Soviet Union can be attributed to the euphemistically named Sinatra Doctrine. It was the name that the Soviet government of Mikhail Gorbachev used to describe his new policy of allowing the eastern bloc Warsaw Pact nations to determine their own affairs. This was a complete change of direction from the Brezhnev Doctrine which tightly monitored and controlled the internal affairs of the satellite states. For Wohlforth, once Gorbachev was in office, his perception of the USSRs relative decline grew steadily more pessimistic. He had to accept retreat after retreat from the Soviets great power commitments, which let to the sudden end of the Cold War[15]. Gorbachev had many issues facing him, one of which was the prevention of anti-Soviet violence from breaking out. Previously, any dissident uprising would have been resolved by military intervention, however if a crisis erupted now, then a massive amount of military intervention would be necessary. It was decided that Soviet policy should aim to achieve two basic goals: avoid direct military intervention at any cost[16] and for the rapid transition to a new political order to be achieved peacefully. Gorbachev obviously could not see that the changes he initiated would lead to the demise of the Soviet bloc, it can be argued that he was depending on like-minded leaders to emerge from the Communist groups in Eastern Europe.[17] The question of whether communist ideology played a role in the transformation of Soviet policy still remains. If Gorbachev had decided to maintain the orthodox Communist rule in the Soviet bloc and enforce the Brezhnev doctrine, the Soviet army would have ensured his success. It appears that it was Gorbachevs own choices, on domestic priorities and a desire to lay to rest all remnants of Stalinism'[18] that led the Soviet Union down the path to disintegration. While it is undeniable that the ideological differences of Capitalism and Marxism-Leninism provided the Cold War with a catalyst, it is not outside the realm of possibility that differences between the two superpowers left in the power vacuum after the Second World War would not have provided the fuel to ignite the conflict themselves. Some of the specific policies adopted by the Soviet leaders could have just as easily been pursued by a non-communist government responding to a tense global situation, however that does not mean ideology had no relevance. It appears that the USSRs state interests were themselves influenced by Communist ideology and thus influenced the foreign policy decisions of the leadership. Bibliography Craig Nation, R. Black Earth, Red Star: A History of Soviet Security Policy, 1917-1921 (1992) Fink, C., Junker, D. Gassert, P. (eds) The World Transformed :1968 (1998) Gaddis, J.L. The Emerging Post-Revisionist Synthesis on the Origins of the Cold War (1983) Khrushchev, S. N Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev Volume 1: Commissar, 1918-1945 (2000) Kramer, M. Ideology and the Cold War Review of International Studies (1999) Kramer, M. (ed.) The Collapse of the Soviet Union (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, (2000) LaFeber, W America, Russia and the Cold War, 1945-1992. Rosser, R.F. Introduction to Soviet Foreign Policy (1969) Taubman, W, Khrushchev: The Man and His Era (2003) Tompson, W. The Soviet Union under Brezhnev (2003) K zasedaniyu Politbyuro 6/X-88 g. 6 October 1988 (secret), reproduced in Tsena svobody: Refornatsiya Gorbacheva glazami ego pomoshchnika (Moscow: Rossika-Zevs, 1993) Westad, O.A. Cold War and Revolution: Soviet-American Rivalry and the Origins of the Chinese Civil War, 1944-1946 Wohlforth, W. Realism and the End of the Cold War. International Security, 19:3 (1994/5) Craig Nation, R. Black Earth, Red Star: A History of Soviet Security Policy, 1917-1921 (1992) p.1 Rosser, R.F. Introduction to Soviet Foreign Policy (1969) p.74 LaFeber, W America, Russia and the Cold War, 1945-1992. p.20. Westad, O.A. Cold War and Revolution: Soviet-American Rivalry and the Origins of the Chinese Civil War, 1944-1946, p.55 Rosser, Introduction p.80 Gaddis, J.L. The Emerging Post-Revisionist Synthesis on the Origins of the Cold War (1983) p.172 Kramer, M. Ideology and the Cold War Review of International Studies (1999) p.542-543 Kramer, Ideology p.541 Kramer, Ideology p.542 Khrushchev, S. N Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev Volume 1: Commissar, 1918-1945 (2000) Taubman, W, Khrushchev: The Man and His Era (2003) p.337 Tompson, W. The Soviet Union under Brezhnev (2003) p.28 Tompson, W. The Soviet Union under Brezhnev (2003) p.28 Fink, C., Junker, D. Gassert, P. (eds) The World Transformed :1968 (1998) p.163-8 Wohlforth, W. Realism and the End of the Cold War. International Security, 19:3 (1994/5) p.109 K zasedaniyu Politbyuro 6/X-88 g. 6 October 1988 (secret), reproduced in Tsena svobody: Refornatsiya Gorbacheva glazami ego pomoshchnika (Moscow: Rossika-Zevs, 1993) p.368 Kramer, Ideology p.569 Kramer, M. (ed.) The Collapse of the Soviet Union (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2000)

Metaphysical Realism and Matilal’s Theories on the Connection Between Words and Things :: Philosophy

Metaphysical Realism and Matilal’s Theories on the Connection Between Words and Things ABSTRACT: The vexed issue of the precise connection between words and things (or objects) has been a major preoccupation over the centuries summoning the resources of metaphysics, philosophy of language, linguistics, ontology and increasingly semiological analysis. Philosophy in India produced a number of different and often conflicting solutions, only to be rivalled by an equally bewildering variety witnessed in the ancient and modern West. I want to bring to the foreground the late Professor Bimal K. Matilal’s development of Nyaya-Vaisesika realist approach to the aporia, and interject the analysis with dissident voices, especially of Mimamsakas and Buddhists. Significantly, it will be the living ghosts of Putnam and Dummett that I will invoke to haunt Matilal’s variation on metaphysical realism (after Davidson). Matilal veered closer to a realist metaphysic, which is inflected in his own formulation of a theory of language appropriate to this ontology, this despite h is idealized attraction to phenomenalist-constructivism (especially Buddhist); his flirtations with Bhartrharian holism (even Saussurean semiology) and lately with Derridean deconstruction (after G. C. Spivak) in his epiloquia. But my critique focuses on his famous earlier analysis of Jnana or cognition and his defence of a particular linguistic-ontology within a narrowly circumscribed naturalized epistemology (after Navya-nyaya). The Problem The vexed issue of the precise connection between words and things (or objects) has been a major preoccupation over the centuries, summoning the resources of metaphysics, philosophy of language, linguistics, ontology and increasingly semiological analysis, to solve this problem. Indian philosophy produced a number of different and often conflicting solutions, only to be rivalled by the even more bewildering variety of approaches and theories witnessed in the West, traditional and modern, relying largely on various model of the ‘word’ (natural, ideal, scriptural, semiotic, etc.). In this paper I want to suggest that there is an even more intricate relationship between the model of the word or language and the background view of the world. In other words, it is not at all as simple as sitting down one fine morning and asking, "Well, ol' boy, what is the connection between the word and the world?" as though it is a question simpliciter about some given or givens in our envi ronment. Many theories proceed on the basis of this assumed dualism, if not a complete asymmetry between language and the world that it is supposed

View From My Window :: Visual Arts Paintings Art

View From My Window by Camille Pissarro This painting is a landscape and was painted, by Pissarro, from an upstairs window overlooking his back garden. This picture is mainly about farmland as it has a lady with some hens and some cows in the distance. In the foreground of this picture there is a large shrub at the front, to the right there is a grass area with a more similar shrubs and to the left there is another grass area with a lady surrounded by hens. The middleground is all grass area with several trees and several cows you can just see. The background has all trees - the start of a forest and then a sixth of the picture includes the sky. The artist captures your attention by the bright colours and in my opinion the focal point of the picture is the roof of the building as it's red and is the brightest point. I don't think the artist has really used line as such , but he creates line by dabbing the brush to form straight lines. I think the artist has used a wide range of tones from light to dark, the lightest point being the very centre of it which is a light green/yellow colour and the brightest point being the red roof. There are a few dark points too - there is a very dark green shrub and at the left background the sky is a dark grey/blue. I like this because it adds form to the painting and i think it makes it look more realistic. I think the shapes that have been used are regular eg. the sky is a rectangle , the trees are a rounded rectangle shape and circle shaped. In my opinion most of the shapes are formed and look 3D. The main colour of this painting is green and it's used in all different tones and shades. I think the majority of the colours are in harmony although I would say the red contrasts with the green around it. I'm sure a different approach could have changed the picture eg. with warmer colours it would look more of a sunny picture but with darker colours it would look more of a dull picture. I think the texture of the picture looks rough because the artist has created texture by using dabs of paint to make a shape or an object. The building in the foreground is slose up but you can tell it gets further and further away into the distance as the trees get smaller and there's a lot more of them.

JUNE :: essays research papers

To Pay or Not to Pay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  June Stephenson’s passage is about how men commit the most crime in America and women are still expected to pay their unfair share for male pursuit. June suggests that since men outnumber women ninety-four to six men should pay one hundred dollars more in their IRS returns. The author carries a chauvinist tone through out the passage and really gets carried away when she starts blaming all men because we are all â€Å"brothers†. I strongly disagree! We can not start pointing fingers and say men commit most of the crime, so men have to pay more taxes. I especially disagree with the statement that we all share the blame for crime, because we are all brothers. How can she expect that us as men take responsibility for actions of other men?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first reason I disagree is because why should men pay more tax than women, it is like saying if more Latino or black men are in prison Latino and black men should pay more taxes. Does a commuter that uses the freeway five or more times a week pay more tax than a person who does not commute to work and uses the freeway five time in a year? Does a taxpayer with five children pay more school tax than a taxpayer with no kids? We as taxpayers get taxed according to our income not on how much we use tax money.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another reason I strongly disagree with June’s passage is when she says; â€Å"Your brothers are murders, stock market manipulators, gang rapists, robbers, arsonists, litters, polluters, and child abusers.† What? Women do not commit any of these crimes. The author thinks that just being a male one has to share the blame for crimes because it is our â€Å"brothers†. That is the most illogical and ridiculous thing, I have ever read in my life. Does June share the blame for those women who are in prison because it is her â€Å"sisters†. Finally I disagree about how men do not take responsibly for their contribution to the violence in this country. June says, â€Å"This Country cannot count on its men to rectify its violent nature.† Maybe not all men take responsibly for their contribution to violence but not all men are criminals, there are many men who work hard to rectify violence. Imagine how violence would be if all men did nothing to rectify violence it would be a total chaos.

Evaluating the Research Process Essay

In this week’s paper, I choose a peer-reviewed research article which explained the research process and what can be assumed from the study based on these particular questions given: How is the literature review used in this research; What are ethical considerations for data collection; What is the data telling us in terms of statistical analysis; Are the findings statistically significant; Do the conclusions match the results of the study; Do the conclusions answer the research questions in the definition of the problem; Are the conclusions appropriate; and Do I have enough information to make a decision on the effectiveness of the study and if so, is it effective? To explain the research process, there are a number of steps which has to be applied. The first step would be to identify the research problem coming up with questions that are important and reasonable for the study. Second, a research proposal should be composed including an introductory, a literature review, a re search design and method, a data analysis with protection of an individual’s topic, and a timeline. Third, a pilot study should be managed in order to expand and carry out data collection methods and alternate techniques. Fourth, coordinate a major research. Fifth, arrange an outline. The sole purpose of this study and the goals intended are to compare how effective structured Community Health Workers provide home visits, with the use of an intervention developed through-out a community established participatory research offering quality assistance through the WIC or the Women Infants and Children’s department visitations. These purpose for these visits are to prevent the growth of overweight and obesity during the infant stages through their primary years. A literature review is used to summarize the study, review it, and then determine what the outcome will be. The literature review is used in this research as a summary which explains how the study was substantial in  identifying the link between childhood obesity, serious health issues, psychological, behavioral, social consequences, and adverse physical. It also reports the importance of the mother’s obesity level and the mother body mass index (BMI). The researcher’s recruitment process included Hispanic pregnant women participants as their ethical considerations for the data collection. The participants and their data were kept confidential due to the fact that they were pregnant and being recruited during their third month of pregnancies by the WIC clinic. The individuals conducting the research recruit in a private room and they are enrolled in the study in the privacy of their own homes during the prenatal home visits. During this process written informed consents are signed and obtained for themselves as well as their newborns to participate in the study. These individuals are randomly selected into the control group up to their first prenatal visit is complete. This allows the data collector to stay blinded to the studies assignments. The fact that the data collector is blinded to the identity of the group participants, for each group provided there is an ethical consideration. In terms of statistical analysis, the data provides a table which informs the research group about the timeframe, what instruments were being used, the ecological level, the purpose of the measurements, the variables, and when and how it was collected. However, since the research is incomplete, and continues, the results are inconclusive. This research is conducted over the first three years of and infant’s life. Unfortunately, due to the continuance of the research, there are no significant statistical findings and there is no research study to draw a conclusion just yet. The projected conclusions are appropriate for this study, but there is a lack of information due to the fact that the study continues to go on. The study is designed to prevent childhood obesity because preventing obesity in infants and young children is a promising approach to reversing the childhood and adult obesity epidemic (reifsnider, mccormick, culen, szalacha, moramarco, moramarco, diaz & reyna, 2013). Being obese as a child has the tendency to be persistent while growing into the adult stages of life and have a greater chance at increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The eating habits, exercises, and sleeping habits are all established while in the youth stages. These are methods that continue to effect quality of life, obes ity, and health for the duration of a child’s life. At this point and  time, I do not feel that there is enough information to make a decision on the effectiveness of the study because the study is incomplete. This study continues to recruit participants and has an estimated completion date of December 2016(reifsnider, mccormick, culen, szalacha, moramarco, moramarco, diaz & reyna, 2013). The research investigation has an extensive and broad span appropriate and potentially for the instantaneous spread across the WIC departments. They plan to reveal the results of how effective an ordinary population method would be in prohibiting obesity throughout the first 2 years of life as well as the involvements endurance from ages 2 to 3. This can be easily implemented and modified for many locations and various localities and will supply verification for strategy revisions to impact health throughout life (reifsnider, mccormick, culen, szalacha, moramarco, moramarco, diaz & reyna, 2013). References: reifsnider, E., mccormick, D. P., culen, K. W., szalacha, L., moramarco, M. W., moramarco, M. W., diaz, A., & reyna, L. (2013, 09 24). A randomized controlled trial to prevent childhood obesity through early childhood feeding and parenting guidance: rationale and design of study. Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-13-880.pdf

Globalization and developing countries

Globalization is supposed to be good for all, either developing states or developed states. However, there is ever a few semisynthetic side effects that non merely Malaysia can non avoid, but besides every other states that invite globalisation into their fatherland. Globalization has its ain defect, the 1 that affects many states and 1000000s of people all over the universe, economically and financially. The anti-globalizers may see this as a manner to halt globalisation from distributing its wings to other portion of the universe by connoting that globalisation promotes nil but poorness and inequality. On the other manus, pro-globalizers think that it really helps the hapless and disagreed with the â€Å"globalization is doing the rich richer and the hapless poorer† statement that the anti-globalizers came up with. Malaysia went through a batch of advancement since the epoch of globalisation. We ‘ve improved so much from the economic, politic, societal and cultural point of position. It is said that globalisation is a menace to our local civilization and that it will one twenty-four hours be trample by the planetary ‘consumer ‘ civilization introduced by the progress engineering. But there is no 100 per centum truth in it as civilization lives in the bosom and upbringing of people, non in the engineering. Equally long as people hold on tightly to their belief and the sense of integrity in each races and in between races are strong, nil could perchance bust up people ‘s sense of community and societal solidarity, non even globalisation. Sadly, in order to derive what we have now, our ecosystem has been badly damaged due to over development of delicate natural resources such as wood and piscaries. Although the Malaysia authorities has enforced several Torahs to protect our cherished hoarded wealth, but the greed of human existences to remain in front and to go financially powerful has blinded their sight to see what they are making towards our ecosystem. This proved that globalisation comes with a really expensive monetary value to pay. The chief job of globalisation that cause people to believe of it as a ‘beast ‘ alternatively of ‘beauty ‘ is the unstable planetary fiscal system which affected hapless states the most, go forthing them burdened with unsustainable debt. As we know, globalisation raises everyone ‘s criterion of life. Life to those with low rewards will go less low-cost and much more suffering. Government must endeavor for efficiency and seek to happen a remedy to this planetary ‘disease ‘ that the undeveloped state has been enduring for ages. Globalization should be the unstoppable force for development, supplying people with a comfy, modern yet healthy life, non the other manner around. In Malaysia, globalisation can be clearly seen in the urban country such as Kuala Lumpur. The cost of life in Kuala Lumpur is so high that people have to work excess hard in order to maintain up with the violently fast gait and at that place used to be people who lived in a h omesteader houses. Then, it was demolished by the authorities, and the homesteader occupants were provided with a low cost lodging. This shows that globalisation works both manner and the authorities is responsible for keeping the security and economic public assistance of their citizens. Globalization should non be position as a menace or ‘hidden enemy ‘ but it should be see as a ladder to mount up to the top of a more sophisticated political alterations, more stable economic position and more advanced engineering that will better our societal and civilization. Although it causes widespread of wretchedness, upset and unrest, but it besides provides people with a new markets and wealth. Therefore, globalisation can be said act as a accelerator to development and find in one successful state. The most of import is that states be given the right and infinite to reexamine the impact of globalisation and make up one's mind for themselves which facets are good for future usage and which facets should be ignore. Bettering our apprehension of globalisation will assist us to come up with an elixir that aimed at both alleviation and the causes of it. There are many policies that can profit all people, either developing or developed states, therefore, supplying glob alisation with the popular legitimacy that it presently lacks. Globalization is non inalterable as it is comprises of a policies and a set of constructs created by human existences and therefore it can be modified, re conceptualized and altered to suits the demand of our state. We can believe of globalisation as medium of conveyance, a boat that has many riders on board, which represents different states. Everyone has the same end which is to make the port, but due to several ineluctable jobs, non all riders managed to make the port. Every state sit the globalisation ‘s moving ridges, but non all succeeded in going the universe leader as each state has a different gait to catch the globalisation ‘s current. Changes of globalisation from several sectors are bind together in really complex mode, doing it instead hard to sum up all the positives and negatives effects. Overall, globalisation has done a enormous occupation in Malaysia, doing us one of the successful universe leaders. Globalization has tremendous potency and every bit long as it is decently managed, it will impact all parties involved.

Leadership Through Followership: Examining the Life of Edith Cavell

Leadership through Followership: Examining the Life of Edith Cavell During her final hours in the clutches of the German forces during the First World War, Edith Louisa Cavell summarized her life’s work with the famous quote, â€Å"I realize that patriotism is not enough; I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone. † These words capture not only the spirit of who Edith Cavell was and what she stood for; they embody the very essence of what it means to be a nurse. Theorists and scholars alike have stated that the core component of the nursing profession is caring. To Edith Cavell, caring knew no boundaries, and thus, neither did her nursing expertise. While it is correct to view Edith Cavell and her heroic actions during her life through the lens of leadership, one would be remiss should they choose to ignore the contributions she made to nursing and her country by being an exemplary follower. This essay will briefly explore the life of Edith Cavell and demonstrate how her actions and personal characteristics contributed to her ability to be an effective follower and thus, a visionary leader. Background Edith Louisa Cavell was born on December 4th, 1865, in Swardeston parish in the county of Norfolk in Eastern England. She was raised in a household comprised of strict Anglican beliefs enforced by her father, Reverend Frederick Cavell. It has been written that no books were allowed in the house except for the bible. Her devout religious faith would prove to be the guiding force behind her charity during her life. She began to train as a nurse in 1900 at the age of twenty at the London Hospital. Seven years later, she was recruited to become the matron of Berkendael Medical Institute in Brussels, Belgium. Not impressed with the current state of nursing in Belgium at the time, she sought to improve standards and regulate certain elements of practice by becoming an influential nurse educator. After the eruption of the First World War in 1914, Cavell vacated her again-home of England and returned to Belgium to resume her position as matron of the Berkendael Medical Institute, which had been converted by the Red Cross into a military hospital allowing the treatment of both German and Allied soldiers (Duffy, 2011). Despite Belgium’s declared neutrality, the country was promptly invaded and occupied by strict German forces. Cavell, knowing the inherent dangers of war, retained her post and continued to treat the sick and wounded. Knowing that many British soldiers were now trapped in German-occupied Belgium, her efforts were soon directed at assisting surrounded these British soldier’s in their return to England. Cavell was subsequently responsible for the safe removal of over 200 Allied soldiers from Belgium between 1914 and 1915. She provided shelter in safe houses, as well as false identification papers and guides out of the country. Unfortunately, she came under suspicion by the German military. This was not helped by her outspoken views on the perceived injustice of the German occupation (Tejvan, 2010). Cavell was apprehended by German authorities and eventually succumbed to interrogations. She was charged with treason and sentenced to death. Worldwide condemnation of the verdict (and the fact that she treated German and Allied soldiers indiscriminately) did little to detour the German military’s decision. Wearing a nursing uniform, Edith Cavell was executed by firing squad on the morning of Oct. 2, 1915. Global outrage ensued shortly thereafter. American and British mourners were particularly sensitive towards Cavell’s unjust execution; it ignited anti-German sentiment from both Americans and the British, serving as the catalyst for worldwide press coverage sympathetic towards the United States and Britain’s forthcoming war effort (Fee & Roth, 2010, pp. 1865-1866). Followership Behaviour The concepts of leadership and followership are deeply intertwined (Grayson & Speckhart). Edith Cavell’s traits as a follower allowed her to be an effective leader. The term follower is open to subjective interpretation, yet one particularly helpful definition is â€Å"[an individual] that follows the teachings and/or opinions of another† (Merriam-Webster, 2011). Grossman and Valiga have further expanded on the word ‘follower’ and have coined the term â€Å"effective follower† (2009, p. 41). In contrast to the above definition, the effective follower â€Å"functions independently, thinks critically about ideas that are proposed or directions that are suggested, and [is] actively involved† (Grossman & Valiga, 2009, p. 1). They further suggest that effective followers have six common characteristics also possessed by effective leaders: assertiveness, determination, courage, an ability to act as a change agent, openness to new ideas and willingness to challenge ideas, and a willingness to serve (2009, p. 44). Edith Cavell displayed all of the above traits at one point or another during her lifetime which suggests she was an effective follower, and therefore, an effective leader. Edith Cavell was assertive, determined, and courageous. In defiance of the Red Cross’s code of non-military involvement (2011) as well as German military code of conduct, she continued to smuggle British men out of occupied Belgium despite knowing in full that a sentence of death by court martial was the penalty. Upon capture and interrogation by the German military, she confessed in full to her alleged crimes of treason, a testament to not only her courageous nature but her rigid abidance to her values. She continued to serve her country despite knowing it could possibly end in her demise. On a less dramatic note, she was a proponent of increasing the value placed on not only nurses but women in general. Doing this during a time when women’s issues were considered less important than men’s required ample courage. This is also consistent with the following point. Edith Cavell demonstrated effective followership behaviour (thus effective leadership behaviour) by being open to new ideas, possessing a willingness to challenge ideas, and acting as a change agent (Grossman & Valiga, p. 44). Her willingness to challenge ideas was demonstrated by her public protest of the German occupation of Belgium and distain of German treatment of Allied soldiers. She acted as a change agent by inventing ways to smuggle Allied soldiers out of the country. Cavell also demonstrated these three behaviours during her stint as matron for the Berkendael Medical Institute. As described previously, she was unimpressed with what were current nursing standards in Brussels. For example, she instituted the practice of follow-up home visits for patients following discharge (Ryder, 1975). Cavell hypothesized that this would prevent readmissions, which indeed it did. It can also be said that Cavell was a foreword thinker on her views on gender. She was once quoted as saying, â€Å"The old idea that it is a disgrace for women to work is still held in Belgium and women of good birth and education still they think lose [status] by earning their own living†, suggesting that even in the early portion of the 20th century, Edith Cavell believed the notion of women being excluded from the workforce was antiquated. Lastly, Cavell possessed a â€Å"willingness to serve† (Grossman & Valiga, 2009, p. 4). Grossman and Valiga suggest that loyalty is one trait commonly held by effective followers (2009, p. 44-45). Cavell was loyal and ‘served’ in two ways. First, she was extremely religious. As mentioned prior, she was raised in a strict Anglican household under the supervision of her pastor father, and thus was loyal to the teachings of Christianity. There exist two key elements inherently rooted in any religion: followership and caring. If one abides by the definition of followership stated prior then individuals practicing a religion, as was Edith Cavell, are followers. One of the core messages common to all biblical scripture, regardless of the chosen religion, is one of caring for other people and creating nurturing environments. Cavell’s selflessness was ultimately spurred on by her unwavering commitment and loyalty to the teachings of her religion. To demonstrate her faith, it has been said that during the two weeks she spent in solitary confinement prior to her execution the only books she requested were the Holy Bible and The Imitation of Christ, a medieval volume of meditations that emphasizes self-abnegation and suffering (Shaddox, 1999, p. ). Second, she had a willingness to serve her country. In addition to being a devout Christian, Cavell was a dedicated patriot. She possessed a love and devotion for Great Britain rivalled by few. This was demonstrated by her loyalty to her fatherland even in the face of formidable danger. It is interesting to note that this sense of patriotism was seemingly abandoned during her final hours of imprisonment by the German military, in which she uttered the famous quote mentioned at the beginning of this essay. Implications for Nursing The life of Edith Cavell impacted the nursing profession in a number of ways. On a superficial level, multiple hospitals and schools have been named in her honour (see Appendix). She was also in influential in the early creation of professional nursing journals. During her stint as matron in Brussels, she was credited with the launch of L'infirmiere, which documented proper nursing standards and practices (Tejvan, 2010). It can be said, however, that her greatest contribution may not have come in life, but in death. While execution by firing squad lays in the extreme, she continues to serve as a symbol to nurses and non-nurse’s alike as to the level of personal sacrifice and emotional dedication many nurses put into the profession every day. This was presumably never her original intention, but through martyrdom Edith Cavell will forever live as an inspiration to all nurses in the annals of nursing history. Conclusion Edith Cavell is an important figure in nursing history. Her ability to lead was preceded by her ability to demonstrate effective followership skills. Her patriotism and devout faith, both of which are rooted in the concept of followership, provided the foundation for many of her life’s endeavours. Ultimately, though, it was her loyalty to her fellow person which proved to be the true motivation behind her actions. Nurses everywhere can proudly use Edith Cavell as a role model for their nursing endeavours, and will hopefully use her story for inspiration to care without borders.

Creating a sense of community Essay

Introduction Organizations, leaders and employees often need to be commended on a job well done and celebrate it with some exceptional time off from work. This is a positive step for the organization because it not only shows appreciation for those individuals who come to work every day to make sure that their organization achieve all of its goals, but illustrates the organizations appreciation for it valuable staff and employees. This can be done by simply honoring most federal and calendar year holidays throughout the year, company holidays including time off for birthdays and banquet celebrations as well. In addition, on a dismal note, sometimes an organization may have to honor its employees and staff for tragic circumstances that may occur throughout the year. Celebrating the community is key for an organization in terms of keeping their employees motivated and excited about giving their best effort on each task at hand. Kouzes & Posner mentions that celebrations serve as important a purpose in the long-term of an organization as does the daily performance of tasks ( Kouzes & Posner, p.310, 2013). Celebrating the community serves as a medicine that brings an organizations and its employees together in each prospective shared values and commitments. Overview of community building practices Kouzes & Posner states that In acknowledging the community (†common unity†) that individuals share with each other, a sense of team spirit is created among leaders who build and maintain the social support that is required for individuals to thrive and excel during tough times ( Kouzes &  Posner, p.310, 2013). Organizations must have in place an supportive structure that will support the employees and enhance their opportunities for appreciation for their hard work. Communities that have a strong commitment for connecting celebrations, community and commitment will set themselves far above average organizations. An outstanding leader who has made the vow to help renew those employees’ commitments will be headed in a positive direction. This approach will serve as a motivational and retention tool for the leaders and organization. Organizations should commit themselves on building fun activities and socials that are fitted for those employees, it’s a celebration of appreciation and respect. Celebrating those outstanding deeds that each employee exemplified should not be kept in house. The good news should be shared with the community, the public. Kouzes & Posner suggest that private rewards do little to set an example for the organization ( Kouzes & Posner, p.313, 2013). However, having the opportunity to share someone’s story of success is worth celebrating and it will also highlight the individual and the organization in a positive manner. Organizations that connect celebration, community and commitment for the long haul will undoubtedly be successful. Organizations that ensure that their employees understand that they are part of the big picture know that shared values, destiny and victories are important to securing a sense of community. Leaders should make sure that all employees have the opportunity to play a functional role in the celebrations and the framework that support the organizations values. Celebrations can come in all forms such as cyclical celebrations, celebrations of triumph, personal transitions, workplace altruism, events and ritual for comfort and letting go. Not every celebration is upbeat and enjoyable. There are times when a employee may have a sick family member or even suffered a loss of a loved one. Author Colleen Young mentioneds that in ttoday’s organization, the fledgling, but active, community continues to grow, providing peer-to-peer support and information for a very specific point in the health continuum, namely for people living with life-threatening disease, for friends and family who care about and for them, and for people dealing with grief and loss (Young, C. 2013). Different cultures There are many different cultures all around the world that handle  their employees differently. Individuals take time to celebrate their prospective cultures that have a particular meaning for them. Leaders that do not implement group interactions or celebrations could lack the reinforcement of a common purpose for different cultures. The organization have to get involved in each culture collaboration. The cultures in communities are many, such as the Chinese community which is the largest and the fastest growing group among Asian and Pacific Islander populations. It also has many different dialects that a leader and organization must understand. Furthermore, there’s the African American Community and the Central American Community. The African American Community has a group history of oppression and survival also affects the way it is organized. The networks and organizations that form to protect the rights of their members influence the way in which members of the group organize for self-help. It is important for an organization to know about their history and celebrated it accordingly. Lastly, there is the Central Americans who fled from poverty and oppression in their countries to seek a more secure and better life in a new place here in the United States. Challenges that leaders face in respecting the cultural differences Some of the challenges that a leader may encounter are not knowing the unknown and how to deal with tension among the groups when resources are limited. Another challenging situation that will likely to confront the leader is struggling with immigrants whose culture, institution and tradition are not readily familiar to most mainstream groups. Some of those cultures may not have community groups with leaders. Therefore, there is no organization or guidance. Culture typically refers to a set of symbols, rituals, values, and beliefs that make one group different from another. Culture is learned and shared with people who live or lived in the same social environment for a long time. Provide best practices for overcoming these challenges There are several best practices that can help the leader to overcome those cultural challenges. Kouzes & Posner discusses that Reflection and Action can help when social interactions required to uphold individuals or groups to a high standard. People are asked to go beyond their comfort zone, so as a leader you should set the example by getting personally involved in the celebrations of varies cultures ( Kouzes & Posner, p.329, 2013). Some other  best practices may include Plan a celebration today, reinforce core values in your celebrations. A leader need to start the celebration right now and don’t procrastinate. Understanding those cultures now will make for a better transition of understanding. Lastly, a leader should understand the cultures values and what they aspire to realize ( Kouzes & Posner, p.331, 2013). Being innovative and obtaining values and loyalty are key factors that will enable a leader to be successful in dealing with multiple cultures. SDLP I will implement my understanding of connecting celebration, community and commitment to my professional career. I have a clearer picture of how to bond and recognize those employees who work hard and treat them like an individual should be treated. I will go a step further in implementing a framework that will celebrate the key values of my staff when they go the extra mile to achieve their goals. My commitment to them will highlight and reward them not just internally, but publically as well. I know that this will be a motivation tool that can help shape the future of me as a leader and my organization. I will document my newly found knowledge of celebrating a community in my SDLP.