Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Technology Life Cycle
All new technologies goes through a technology adoption life cycle in which certain market groups adopt the product before others are willing to do so. Here is each of the market groups: Innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. Innovators in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation. They pursue new technology aggressively, learning about and evaluating new products in an effort to be first.They’re also relatively few in numbersâ€â€so for marketers, they represent a major key to the marketing campaign. Next down the list, early adopters are visionaries, not technologists. They are found at ease when imagining, understanding, and appreciating the advantage of new technology. When it comes to high-tech products, they’re looking for vital breakthroughs, not minor improvements. They rel y on their own intuition and vision to make their buying decisions, which make them the key to opening up a high-tech market group.Following, early majority customers are centered on the linking of practice and theory. The early majority know many of the upcoming inventions are just passing fads. They let the early adopters test the new technologies and post their experience with it to establish solid references. Approximately one-third of the adoption life cycle is early majority that is why this market group is the key to substantial profits and growth. Next, late majority adopters are conservative. They’re content to be followers, and often are not comfortable in their ability to handle new technology.They tend to wait until something has become standardized and seen a lot of support. Like the Early majority the late majority comprise about one-third of the entire buying population. This makes for high profitability, while its profits decrease as the produce matures, so do the selling costs, and virtually all the R&D costs have been amortized. Last of the cycle is laggards, this group are considered skeptics. They are very late adopters and in some cases they never adopt. If they do end up buying a new technology they tend to overlook it because it is a bi-product of another product.Realize that you’re not going to sell to this audience until very very late in your product life cycle, most likely when your product has become well accepted. In summary of the technology adoption life cycle, this cycle shows that technology is accepted in the community in stages which relates to the mental and collective understanding of the five groups that make up the community. The high-tech marketing model is a strategy that uses the technology adoption life cycle as the source to examine ways to market a product.It works by starting with the innovators by building a reputation and then moves to the next group, the early adopters, in hopes of the innovators c ompelling the early adopters to get on the â€Å"bandwagon†. The process continues all the way to laggards. The key to keep this process moving smoothly is to maintain a momentum, which makes it more natural for the next group to buy into the product. Another key is to keep up with the current technology by taking in the phrase â€Å"window of opportunity. †Competitors can easily overtake your market if the momentum is lost.The high-tech marketing model is a smooth transition that goes through stages of the technology adoption life cycle. If you can get there first, and establish a standard through the beginning of the cycle you gain a monopoly over the market in which you could gain high profits throughout the cycle and establish a sustained product. A good example of the previous concepts being used is the Lotus 1-2-3, which was the first spread sheet for IBM PC. The Innovators first started using lotus 1-2-3, stating that it was â€Å"slick†and â€Å"fastà ¢â‚¬ .Subsequently, the early adopters started using it because the new things they can do with it, such as the â€Å"what if†analysis. Next on the bandwagon, the early majority, they started using it because of its uses with common business operations. As it started to become standardized the late majority eventually fell into line. By the end of the 1980s it was pretty much the only standard program used for spreadsheets. There are several cracks in the technology adoption life cycle, from the innovators to the early adopters, from the early adopters to the early majority.But the latter happens to be the most challenging and an unrecognizable division chasm. The transition goes unnoticed because that in both groups the customer list and the size of the order can look relatively the same. The products that the early adopters buy, is some kind of change agent. Being the first in the industry gives a head start on the competition. When we move on to early majority they want to buy a productivity improvement for their current operations. Ultimately, they want evolution. This eventually leads to a catch-22.In a catch-22 situation the early adopters have already caught on and it has been publicized. In the end the product seems to never get past the early adopter group. When the promoters of high-tech products try to move on from their early adopters group, they leave the early majority without a reference and support. This chasm has made many marketers fail in the past. The early market is what the staff members interpret as sales of increasingly smooth curve, but in reality it is an initial blip and not an emerging mainstream market unfolding.Companies can fail when their managers don’t notice the transition from early adopters to early majority. This leads to high expectations and too much time spent on expansion rather than husbanding resources. This result in an illusion of high-tech marketing, which is the belief induced by the high-tech mark eting model that new markets unfold in a continuous and smooth way. While trying to avoid perils of the chasm, a new state needs to be established to examine and correct the flaws that are associated with the technology adoption life cycle. In turn, this provides a secure basis for marketing development with minimum problems.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Poverty In United States Essay
United States of America being among   the richest and most developed nations one would expect poverty to be a vocabulary that only exist in the national policies of third world countries.            By comparison Americans can be described as wealthy but there are some pockets of poverty in this vast and rich nation This paper attempts to explore poverty situation in United States highlighting its causes and characteristics, digging deeper to understand which group of people consist the poor.            A report released in 2002 shows that there were 35 million poor Americans, this represented roughly 10% of the population, and this figure has been rising Presently 12% of Americans are living below the poverty line.            By definition poverty is described as that condition where one is unable to meet the basic need in life, that’s one, can not afford a well balanced meal, decent housing and clothing. Poverty in United States is somehow different from the one experienced in least developed nations where living on less than a dollar qualifies one as poor. The poor in America constitute people who depend on state welfare since they are unable to provide for themselves, every year people fall in and out of poverty.  In a period of 10 years 40% of American fall in and out of poverty, this is attributed to fall of their income, when one of the family member moves out, among other situations (Fisher, G.M., 2003)            Some groups of people are more prone to poverty than others. This depends on their economic social or cultural position they occupy in the society. There are those who are unemployed meaning they do not engage in any income generating activity. Crime on one hand is a result of poverty or it can breed poverty. Poor tend to engage into criminal activity or they are driven into it by poverty. Apprehended criminals in correction centers rarely engage in economic activity while victims of crime e.g. thefts have to replace the stolen property eating on their savings. (Zweig, Michael, 2004)            Households headed by women on average tend to be poor in comparison to those with both spouses. In this type of a family woman is the sole bread winner. Most of her income goes towards provision of basic needs with less or no savings therefore making it difficult for this family to rise beyond poverty line (Martin N.,2008).            The size of the family affects family income, large families have more mouths to feed, more household bills to clear, huge spending in insurance, education and healthcare. If this type of family income is not enough they will for ever be trapped in poverty cycle.            Other groups that are likely to be poor are the unskilled, the less educated substance abusers immigrants and children.            Causes of poverty in America are several they range from economical, cultural, and geographical to social. . Distribution of resources largely affects people ability to produce. This also determines employment opportunities available which by and large dictates people incomes. States endowed with resources will have low poverty rates than those with little or unexploited resources. (Adams, J.Q, Pearlie S.A, 2001)            Economic condition which is not favorable will result to increased poverty rate, recessions leads to rise in inflation which means people pay more for the same goods they were buying but their income remains constant, and this means savings are curtailed. For example recession in 1982 led to rise in poverty rates from 12% to 15%             Education equips Americans with skills that enable them to gain employment or venture into business. On average Americans with a college diploma have access to high paying jobs compared to the less educated. To a greater extent educational level determine ones income, less educated are likely to earn less making it impossible for them to afford a decent living. On the same line education level dictates opportunities available to an individual. Unskilled labor attracts low pay making unskilled laborers more prone to poverty than their skilled counterparts.            Rural and urban settings provide greater disparities as far as living standards are concerned. Americans living in urban areas have higher incomes when compared to their rural countrymen. There are more opportunities in urban areas due to high population with disposable income and better infrastructure. In rural areas opportunities are few and are limited to primary production e.g. agriculture, mining e.t.c.This means income generation activities and employment opportunities are fewer and only attract the less skilled            Regionally, most of the southern states have higher poverty rates especially the rural areas .This is due to few employment opportunities and historical background.            Children are more prone to be poor than any other age group. According to the information released from population survey by census bureau in 2004, 21% 0f children were considered as poor. A greater disparity is seen when it comes to racial lines, almost half of African Americans and 40% of Latino kids are trapped in poverty circles. (Harrington, M.,1962).            Immigrants are great victims of poverty .Those with low education earn their living in low paying jobs. Illegal immigrants are even more disadvantaged as they can not gain any meaningful employment, therefore remaining in poverty circles for a long time            In conclusion, poverty in United States is dynamic, one may be in and out of poverty throughout their lives. Though there are conflicts as to who is poor, there is a common understanding that those who live on an income that is below what an average American earn is living below poverty . What constitutes poverty in United States may be middle class in some parts of the world especially in least developed nations. Poverty is a limiting factor in the society as it denies some Americans decent lives curtailing their freedom to enjoy lives. Policies need to be implemented to lower the poverty rates so as to rid United States of poverty. Reference Adams, J.Q.; Pearlie Strother-Adams, 2001. Dealing with Diversity. Chicago, IL: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. . Harrington, Michael ,1962 The Other America. Macmillan. Fisher, G.M. ,2003 The Development of the Orshansky Poverty Thresholds. Macmillan Zweig, Michael ,2004 What’s Class Got to do With It, American Society in the Twenty-first Century. ILR Press. Martin N. ,2008. Social Inequality: Patterns and Processes, 4th ed.. Boston: McGraw-Hill
Monday, July 29, 2019
Undecided Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Undecided - Research Paper Example Kate Choplin and Henrick Ibsen tried to depict sensitive, smart women who are not satisfied with their second roles in the man`s world. Kate Choplin`s feminist novels were forgotten after her death as they could not find their reader in her time. But activation of feminist movement in the second half of the 20th century let the readers and the critics see her works in a new light. Chopin’s literature gift, her sophisticated manner of writing influenced by French novelists, and her dedication to social, racial and gender problems were highly evaluated buy new generation of readership. Moreover, her attention to details became a characteristic feature of Choplin`s prose. In â€Å"The story of an Hour†Kate Choplin`s explores marriage from an unexpected perspective. A young woman is told that her husband died in the railroad disaster. Relatives and friends try to present the news in the most delicate way, however the woman goes to her room to be left alone. Here she realizes that death of her husband brought her not only grief but unexpected freedom and relief. Now she can live for herself and be the only mistress of her body and soul. Choplin depicts the woman who perceived marriage devoid of pure love and intimacy as obligation. Such attitude to marriage was typical to the à ©poque but not much attention was drawn to the emotional and psychological state of women in such relationships. To emphasize the degree to which the heroine`s emotions were suppressed Choplin â€Å"kills†her, and explains her death by the sense of happiness. Thus, the author was among the first writers who encouraged women to understand their real emotions and value body and soul freedom above all. In her story â€Å"Desiree`s Baby†Choplin speaks of even more controversial topics- gender and racial discrimination. A beautiful girl abandoned by her parents is raised in the house of noble French Creoles is the principal character of the story. She falls
Sunday, July 28, 2019
Advanced Cross-Cultural Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Advanced Cross-Cultural Communication - Essay Example ; (2) Why was the homestay mother rude to me?; and (3) Why was she refusing my help? The first question was analyzed using theories related to non-verbal miscommunication and parochialism. The second question was addressed using theories related to high- and low-context culture. The third question was answered based on the theory of individualism and collectivism as well as the high- and low-context culture. It was concluded that the root cause of miscommunication in cross-cultural encounter is â€Å"parochialism†. Therefore, this report highly recommends the need to provide our future business people with opportunity to learn different the ways on how they can increase their awareness particularly with regards to the relationship between cultural background and the use of non-verbal cues such as facial expression, body distance, gestures, etc. Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................. ........ ii 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Research Process ................................................................................................... 2 3.0 Findings and Discussion ........................................................................................ ... .................................................................................................. 9 5.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................... 10 References ........................................................................................................................... 11 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 12 Appendix I – Full Critical Incident Report .......................................................................... 14 Appendix II – Summary of Continuum from High-Context to Low-Context Culture ........ 16 Appendix III – Comparison of the General Characteristics that Affect Communication between people from High- and Low-Context Countries ............................ 16 1. Introduction When I first arrived in New Zealand back in 2001, I had to live in a â€Å"homestayâ € . Back then, I could not speak any word in English. In order to communicate with people who live with me at the homestay, I had to learn the use of body and sign language. Even though I was able to express my personal thoughts and opinion through the use of body and sign language, there were several occasions I encountered miscommunication between me and my homestay mother. (See Appendix I – Full Critical Incident Report on page 14) The rationale and main objective of this report is to analyze and discuss the relevance of several existing cross-cultural theories on the critical incident presented on Appendix I. In the process of completing this report, the student is expected to conduct a literature review with regards to the concept and application of cross-cultural theories. By doing so, the student
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Legal Environment of Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Legal Environment of Business - Assignment Example A deal is made with the help of the mediator. Arbitration is more formal and can be heard by arbitrators. Each side gives testimony and they are recorded. Witnesses can also be called. Yes, Perry has done something wrong because arbitration is only supposed to take place when both parties are present. Anything that is said in the dispute must be said in the full view of everyone so that there can be no complaints later. Yes, the speech is protected under the freedom of speech clause. The Constitution of the United States allows free and fair speech without fear of discrimination or censorship. This law should not be allowed because it is unconstitutional. No, they are not correct because equal protection rights only allow them the same access to the law that everyone else has. The tax rate is decided by the state legislature, so it cannot be claimed that equal protection rights are being impeded upon. No, the actions of the defendant’s agents did not constitute and intentional infliction of emotional distress. This law was created for problems that would arise out of assault, and Munley was not a recipient of this. Yes, this new firm’s conduct was tortuous because they intended to harm the business operations of their former law firm. They have no right to interfere with the clients of a firm after they have left the company. The store will say that there was a â€Å"wet floor†sign in place and store procedure was followed. If she slipped on the rubber mat, then it was her fault for not being more careful as she entered the store. No, the plaintiff should not recover because any injuries were a result of the plaintiff’s own actions. The defendant put a warning sign on the mower and also mentioned it in the instruction booklet. This is mislaid money because, although the original owner put the money there, they did not intend to part with it. It does make a difference because if it was lost, Alice could have a claim to
Friday, July 26, 2019
Calculus Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Calculus - Coursework Example Their professional backgrounds played a very important role in the way they perceived Calculus and its application. Since Newton was a physicist, his thinking was influenced by physical matter and that is why he applied Calculus to try and explain physical phenomena. Since Leibniz was a Mathematician, Calculus to him was more of a statistical endeavor that required deep analysis. However, both contributed greatly to the discovery and application of Calculus. Newton was responsible for developing the inverse relationship between the integral (area beneath a curve) and the derivative (slope of a curve). Leibniz’s work led him to discover the notations used for taking the integral and the derivative. When both of their work was combined, it led to the formation of Calculus. This view was not always held and there was a dispute as to who, between the two men, actually discovered Calculus. Newton claimed that he had in 1666, at the age of 23, invented Calculus, when he had begun working on a technique known as fluents and fluxions. As for Gottfried, in 1675, due to his fascination with the tangent line, he began conducting research on Calculus. Even though Newton had discovered the principles of Calculus earlier on, he did not publish his findings, unlike Leibnitz who published his in 1684. Therefore, as a matter of public record, some deemed Leibnitz as the person who discovered the principles first. Consequently, this led to the Newton-Leibnitz controversy that continued to rage on centuries later. Newton’s Publication of Principia, in 1687, has also been a source of controversy since it is not entirely known whether he included his workings on Calculus. However, in a 1693 publication, he published part of his work on fluxion notation, but he fully published his work in 1704 (Jahnke 78). Newton seems to have been the one with the earliest breakthrough, but on his own, his work was incomplete. The adoption of Leibnitz notation is very
E-marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
E-marketing - Essay Example Individual companies and organizations have developed websites that are aimed at reaching a considerable number of the target market. These websites have had their flaws and thus, the need to improve or adopt a different website that is of attraction to the user. A number of strategies have been proposed to improve the look and feel of the website such as using different advertising strategies and search engine optimization. Majority of online stores use e-marketing as a tool to advertise and sell their products and services, in this study, the website of Amazon.com will be analyzed, and suggestions offered in regard to the website. Although the company has done much on the website, there are a few things to be added and others improved. For example, the company can consider including mobile phone technology in its payment system. The organization can also take measures to allow users access its services through their smartphones. In addition, the company can engage Search Engine Opt imization in order to ensure that it gets the most traffiick which may end up being transformed to customers. E-marketing: Amazon Introduction Jeff Bozos founded Amazon.com in 1994, and the company has grown quickly to become a successful e-commerce company (business) in the universe. Today, the company is among the Fortune 500 companies and of the biggest online retailers in United States. Unlike, the other companies, such as e-bay which do online auction, the focus of Amazon.com has been on retail sale. Amazon.com has grown in the world in a rapid rate and has become one of the famous retailing website in the universe. The success of Amazon.com is attributed to its consumer friendly website interface and inventive tools that assist the consumers such as offering lists of popular books, the recommendation system, and lists of the best sellers (Wong 2009). Amazon is one of the first businesses to sell products embedded in their long chain through housing them in their many warehouses. It also distributes products from the numerous partner companies. Amazon acts as a medium or directly sells a wide range of products. These p roducts include consumer electronics, videos, music, clothing, household products, and books. Most of products sold are done through Amazon, however, majority of them are from third-party sellers (CrunchBase 2012). In this essay, Amazon.com website will be analyzed in terms of how it markets its products, and how it can improve online sales for its products. Suggestions to improve its online sales of product such as Search Engine Optimization and advertising strategies will be discussed in detail. Website Analysis The success of Amazon is as a direct consequence of the strong user shopping experience. There are several features that make the Amazon shopping experience a model worth to be imitated by e-commerce developers. The shopping experience of Amazon starts on the home page where user or shopper is visually informed of the two-fold purposes of the website; to inform customers of available products and their characteristics and to direct customers toward purchasing the products. Apart from the disorderly layout and several clean distinct components that attract the eye of the user, the shopping/search controls at the top, and the navigation section on the upper left stand out in the Amazon home page. With such components highlighted, the two-fold aim of the Amazon website is achieved when the user is capable of quickly finding and purchasing products, and the seller is capable of quickly processing online purchases and making a profit (Webdesigner depot 2009). The online shopping and product search are very conspicuous even for an individual who has visited the website for the first
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Has no topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Has no topic - Essay Example ntrastingly, people who depend on employment have no choice but to work as the job regulations demand and since they do not have other alternatives to earn a living. People having immense wealth can get easy access to the lawmakers through their efforts of campaigning and thus protecting their assets. Alexis argues that America has been an egalitarian society. Egalitarian society is one that takes into consideration little power, status, wealth and prestige differences among individuals. According to Alexis (Brueggemann, 2010), there has not been prevention of individuals amassing resources to extreme extents thus ensuring fair resource distribution. In contrast to this view, Gabriel Kolko argues that, despite year-to-year fluctuations since 1910, there has been unequal income distribution. Gabriel asserts that America has a characteristic concentration of wealth that is wealth is on the hands of only a few individuals in the society. The top 1% of the American rich own 33 percent of wealth in the United States. There are also another top 10% of the people possessing 69 percent of the assets. This means that the remaining 90% majority of the people only own about 31% of the assets. From Table 7.2, we note that 27 percent of the wealth falls to the percentiles 50 to 90% and the bottom about half of the total population possess only around 3 percent of the assets. Thus, it is evident from Table 7.2 that there is a large margin of inequality since the bottom 90 percent of the population is far poor compared to 1% of the population. Figure 7.1 gives the trend of wealth owned by the richest 1% of the population right from 1774 to the year 2005. It shows the share to have hit the highest percentage in 1830s reaching 44 percent. The period between 1774 and 1860 saw wealth concentration rising with 1820s and the late 1840s experiencing steep increases (Brueggemann, 2010). This trend conforms to Kuznets hypothesis. Figure 7.2 shows the top bracket (groupings for taxation
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Should colleges have male female quotas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Should colleges have male female quotas - Essay Example There are many reasons why colleges should have male and female quotas. For example, it gives students ample time for academic studies in the school. This is because they are able to make personal studies in the room and complete assignments without wasting time. Similarly, the establishment of male and female quotas accords students easy access to school facilities such as books, classes and the library (Franceschet, et al 145). Additionally, quick acquisition of such college materials helps students to cope well in class especially during the time of exams. Alternatively, there is the provision of security for students when both male and female quotas are found within the college. In other words, there is the essence of students enjoying their learning without the hassles of being mugged and robbed outside the college compound. Another fundamental reason why colleges should have male and female quotas is to encourage interaction of both sexes to improve on maturity. In other words, it is imperative for young people as they outgrow their hormonal and adolescent energies to practice how to cohabit with the members of the opposite sex without comprising their morals and virtues. Therefore, it solidifies the morals of the male and female students especially as they learn various youthful activities (Engelstad & Teigen 123). ... In other words, this is cemented by the ability to strike long term friendships that help even outside the college quotas. Similarly, the constant interaction leads to broadening one’s perception about life and its pitfalls. Another fundamental reason is the need to create both male and female quotas to attain proximity of college materials and facilities (Franceschet, et al 157). Moreover, this reduces the expenses of transportation that could be apportioned in other areas. Moreover, when the college establishes both male and female quotas together, students are able to seek extra comfort such as buying of kitchen facilities, laundry services and TV set. Others include purchasing of Wi-Fi systems for male students where they are safe within the college. In the same context, when there are quotas for both genders within the college one can make meals using the electricity without any interference. Quotas also accord the students the privilege of having private lockers that the y can use for personal items such as books, clothes and shoes among others (Engelstad & Teigen 114). On the same context, rubbing shoulders with students of different customs and cultures in the college quotas expands the minds of the students to think in different perspectives. Furthermore, quotas established within the college provide both the male and female students with the ability to prolong their stay as long as they are students in the school. This is unlike if there were quotas outside hence forcing students to hire rooms outside the college compound. Another crucial reason for colleges establishing male and female quotas is to deter students from falling to the temptations of the
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Discussion Board 4-2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Discussion Board 4-2 - Assignment Example Credit cards can be used as well. Once the Board recommends the issuance of a license, the license issuance fee of $100 or $250 should be submitted. Also, A copy of one’s driver’s license or social security card and current fingerprint clearance from the Department of Public Safety must be provided as well as one’s Social Security number on the application form. An official copy of any required examination and a self-query form acquired from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) and the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) should be submitted in their unopened envelopes with the application packet. To meet these requirements, I would need to study hard and review well for my board exam. I would also need to ensure I do not commit any criminal acts in order to have a clean result when I get my fingerprint clearance. I should also make sure that I have enough money saved up to pay for the required fees. Most importantly, I would need to make myself emotionally, physically and psychologically ready going through these steps because this is really the start of my
Monday, July 22, 2019
Bleak House Commentary Essay Example for Free
Bleak House Commentary Essay The following is an analysis of a passage from Charles Dickens novel, Bleak House, in which a bleak and dreary atmosphere is conveyed. The first thing that is mentioned by the narrator in the first paragraph of the passage is mud, and this plays a significant part in the depiction of a filthy, dirty environment. The beginning line, As much mud in the streetsand it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus, forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn Hill uses hyperbole to suggest that the streets are so muddy that its almost like the beginning of the world, and it wouldnt be strange to see a dinosaur roaming around because of that. Also, the line Dogs, undistinguishable in mire. Horses, scarcely better; splashed to their very blinkers is an exaggeration of how the streets are so dirty that one cannot tell the different between the mud and the dogs, and even horses are up to their eyes in it. This shows us just how much mud and grime there is, and how dirty everything is. Another aspect in this passage is the dreariness and the bleak environment. This is expressed in the line Foot-passengers, jostling one anothers umbrellas, in a general infection of ill temper, and losing their foot-hold at street-corners, where tens of thousands of other foot passengers have been slipping and sliding since the day broke (if this day ever broke), adding new deposits to the crust upon crust of mud Firstly, the line jostling one anothers umbrellas suggests that the place is so overcrowded and uncomfortable that people are all bumping into each other, and that their ill temper is spread like a disease every time they come into contact, and it stirs in us a sense of claustrophobia because the people are all packed together. This adds to the implication that its a miserable and unpleasant place to be. Also, the fact that the foot-passengers are using umbrellas suggests that it is or has been raining, strengthening the general feeling of gloominess. Furthermore, the fact that the part of the line slipping and sliding since the day broke (if this day ever broke) is written in parenthesis suggests the sarcastic voice of the narrator, that he is mocking the foot-passengers ill temper and derisively commenting on the cold and depressing atmosphere, and this in turn reinforces that very fact. The use of sibilance in slipping and sliding further increases the effect of the dismal environment. The following line, Smoke lowering down from chimney-pots, making a soft black drizzle with flakes of soot in it as big as full-grown snowflakes gone into mourning, one might imagine, for the death of the sun is very effective in expressing how unpleasant the place is. The fact that the smoke is lowering down, instead of drifting upwards as it normally does, implies that the atmosphere is so oppressive that even smoke cant escape and is being pushed down. In addition, there is a personification of the soot and snow, as they have gone into mourning for the death of the sun. This could be an implication that the place is so gloomy and polluted that you can no longer see the sun, and that is why it has died, and is also why everything is black. This effectively intensifies the feeling of despair and dreariness that is hanging over the city, and the bleakness of the environment. The second paragraph of this passage concentrates mainly on fog and how it has been personified into a shadowy demon from which there is no escape. The first line of the second paragraph begins with Fog everywhere, and this alone is a very abrupt, aggressive statement that makes us feel, once again, slightly claustrophobic, as though there is fog pressing in all around us and that there is no escape from it. Subsequently, the lines Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners, wheezing by the firesides, and Fog cruelly pinching the toes and fingers of his shivering little prentice boy on deck are examples of how the fog is personified, and made to seem sinister, omnipresent, like an oppressor that takes pleasure in attacking weak, vulnerable people like ancient Greenwich pensioners and the shivering little prentice boy. Another very effectual line is Chance people on the bridges peeping over the parapets into a nether sky of fog, with fog all round them, as if they were up in a balloon, and hanging in the misty clouds. The use of the verb peeping is very interesting because it means the people are looking quickly or secretly over the bridges, and it creates a sense of nervousness and apprehension, as though the people are frightened of the fog, thus making the fog seem all the more threatening. In addition to this, the use of parapets may not be just a reference to the sides of the bridge, as it also makes us think of castles, and so people peeping over parapets makes it seem as though they are under siege or under attack from an army of fog, which goes back to the allusion that the fog attacks weak or vulnerable people. Furthermore, the last part of the line, as if they were up in a balloon, and hanging in the misty clouds conveys a sense of helplessness, because when youre in a balloon you have very limited control, and this has been used as a metaphor to suggest how the people have no control over the fog and that they are trapped by it. Once again, this creates the feeling of claustrophobia and makes it seem overwhelming as there is so much fog and theres no way out. The structure of these this passage is very interesting to note. The first paragraph is almost conversational, as though the narrator is describing to us the many events of the day, while the second paragraph suddenly switches to more somber, grave narrative of the fog, and this affects us and makes us feel uneasy of the fog. This is also partly because the passage is written in the present, and so it involves us, makes us feel as if we are there in the dreary environment. Additionally, the elongated syntax of the sentences mirrors the long, miserable day and the never-ending fog, and this intensifies the gloomy feeling we get from it. In conclusion, this passage from Bleak House uses many different techniques such as personification, hyperbole and tone of voice to effectively express the dirty and gloomy environment and the general feeling of misery and despair.
British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces Management now are aware of the importance of employees, hence using the correct recruitment and selection methods are crucial part of management functions. The success of any organisation depends largely on acquiring the right balance of employees, with the right skills and abilities. Most companies have an established personnel department responsible for this function. (Armstrong, M. 2009) Poor recruitment and selection techniques can result in rise in cost, lower morale, and a rise in labour turnover. As a result of these, the aim of management is to reduce cost and maximise productivity. This assignment looks at recruitment and selection methods used in the British Armed Forces, selection methods, reliability and validity. (Noe, R.A. et al, 2004) However, interviews and its benefits and types are also dealt with in details. The different types and drawbacks of test, and government legislation form the basis of employment and organisation has to follow set procedures as such. These are all discussed in subsequent chapters. (Noe, R.A. et al, 2004) This assignment focuses on recruitment and methods of selection processes. These systems may be the first formal interaction which candidates have with the organisation. Their impact may extend across a range of stages in the pre-employment relationship with the organisation, not only during the initial attraction, the selection process and the offer of employment, but also in the subsequent attrition, and decision by existing staff to leave. Example Toyotas recruitment and selection practices are tailored to find the best possible applicants to hire. (Beardwell, J., and Claydon, T. 2007) 1.2 Recruitment and selection in the British Armed Forces The British Armed Forces described recruiting as the measures taken in order to attract a pool of candidates for selection. Recruits are then taking in for training in order to prepare them for their careers in the Army. The training is a continuous process throughout a soldiers career. (www.armedforces.co.uk, 2011) 1.2.1 Army Recruiting and Training Directorate (ARTD) This body is in charge of the step by step progress of potential recruits from the initial recruitment through to the selection process, specialist training and deployment in the army field. (www.armedforces.co.uk, 2011) The ARTD has an estimated annual budget approximately  £700m in which they have enlist 13000 potential candidates, and train 100000 soldiers and officers. The ARTD functions operations are categorised into three phases; such are, general training, Specialist training and Career training. (www.bbc.co.uk, 2011) 1.2.2 Soldier Selection The selection process requires all potential recruit to do an entry assessment at the Armys Careers Office. Here potential recruits will undertake a touch screen British Army Recruit Battery (BARB) test, psychometric test all computer based designed to see which area in the Army is best suited for the recruit. The tests also include a numeric and literacy test.. (www.armedforces.co.uk, 2011) Candidates who successfully passed both the tests and interviews will be booked for further test. This test is normally a two days course at an Army Development and Selection Centre (ADSC). Here candidates will undergo a thorough medical examination, physical assessment tests, and fitness checks to determine the suitability for an Army career. (www.armedforces.co.uk, 2011) At the end of the two days course, candidates will be informed whether they are success or not, hence, if successful candidates can be given a place in any of the trade they wish to undertake, a Phase 1 training, which is a 14 weeks course, designed to give candidates all the required skills to be a soldier. At the first day of training, recruits will formally enlist in the British Army, and Phase 2 specialised training will begin at the Army Training Regiment, Pirbright, Surrey. (www.armedforces.co.uk, 2011) 3.1 Methods of Selection Selection is the process of identifying the suitability of applicants from a given pool of candidates. The main reasons of carrying out selection are: (Dessler, G. 2011) To gather relevant information about jobs, applicants and organisations in order to ensure a better quality decisions. To change information and predict future behaviour To facilitate cost-benefits for the investment made in an employee To check, recruit and place job candidates in the best interests of organisation and applicants. (Dessler, G. 2011) 3.1.1 Reliability For employers to ensure that selection has been free of any kind of bias the reliability of the tests has to be demonstrated. Reliability refers to the logical coherence of scores collected by the same person when tested over time on the same test. If test outcomes are not consistent, it will be unethical to take any measures on the basis of the test. It shows the extent to which similarities or differences in scores could be associate with errors. Dunnette (1966) has identified four sources of errors. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) Errors due to inadequate sampling of contents indicating that the items for the two tests may have been slightly different. Errors due to chance response tendencies indicating guessing or random responding to the items. Errors due to changes in the testing environment indicating the effect of physical conditions such as light, temperature, time of the day. Errors due to the changes in the person taking the test indicating the influence of health, fatigue, mood, and practice. The different types of reliability can be found in the appendix sections. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) 3.1.2 Validity This is the most important requirement of a test. Validity means degree to which a test measures what it claims to measure. A test with a high validity means it is nearly comparable to the tests objective. A test with a weak validity means it does not measure what it intend to measure. As a results, there is no prove to use the test outcomes for their primary objective. There are different ways to establish the validity of a test. The different types of validity can be found in the appendix sections. (Legge, K. 2004) 3.2 Ability Tests These are designed to measure individuals capabilities to carry out a task in a specific and unique manner. There are many different types of ability test; (Milmore, M. 2003) 3.2.1 Cognitive ability tests This measures a persons thinking, memory, reasoning, verbal and numerical capabilities. This can be used to show applicants knowledge of terminology and concepts, word fluency, comprehension, spatial orientation, conceptual reason, general and mutual ability. Organisation should ensure that these tests determine cognitive abilities than a job related. (Armstrong, M. 2009) 3.2.2 Physical Ability Tests This measures what a person can do with his/her strength, endurance, and flexibility. For example 1, the British Armed Forces uses this type of test to assess new recruits to ascertain the suitability for a career in the Army. (www.thearmedforces.co.uk, 2011) Another Example 2 is Ford Motor Company, where line workers regularly lift and carry equipment, climbs ladders and performs other physical tasks.(Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) Another example 3, Township Fire Department also uses physical ability test (PAT) in assessing potential applicant and highlighted the importance of physical fitness of fire fighters. (Armstrong, M. 2009) Example 4 Portland police bureau uses this to determine the suitability of professional police officers. (Armstrong, M. 2009) 3.3 Personality Tests This is a unique mixture of individual characteristics that can affect how an individual interacts in his/her work environment. As a result, a large number of organisations use different personality tests that determine the extent to which applicants characteristics suits specific job criteria. (Torrington, D., Hall, L., and Taylor, S., 2008) Example 6, the Finish Line, a large retail chain specialising in sporting products, offers job applicants a web-based test which evaluates their personal tendencies and test scores are use to group individuals for the hiring decision. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) Another example 7 is Blockbuster and Sports Authority also uses similar tools in their pre-employment screening. (The Economist, 2011) Example 8 a California based technology firm also found that the use of personality tests enhanced the selection decision made in the company. (Financial Times, 2010) 3.4 Assessment Centres This consists of various selection techniques, and group selection methods which are considered as a major element, as with work simulation programs and presentation. Assessment centres are used to assess, in depth, a group of broadly similar applicants, using a set of competencies required for the post on offer and a series of behavioural statements which indicate how these competencies are played out in practice. Example 5, Cadbury Schweppes. (Beardwell, J., and Claydon, T. 2007) Example, Energis utilises a series of assessment centres. 3.5 Honesty tests and Drug test Many organizations formerly employed polygraph tests, or lie detectors, to evaluate job applicants, but this changed with the passage of the Polygraph Act in 1988. This act prohibited the use of polygraphs in employment screening for most organizations. A new technique known as the honesty paper-and-pencil tests was born. This typically ask candidates directly about their attitude towards theft or their past experiences with theft. (Noe, R.A., et al 2004) For example 9, Nordstorm, the large department store chain, uses Reid Survey to screen for violent tendencies, drug use and dishonesty. (The New York Times, 2010) As with theft, there is a growing perception of the problems caused by drug use among employees. For example 10, Fortune 1000 chief executives cited substance abuse as a significant problem in their organization. (Noe, R.A., et al 2004) 3.6 Polygraphs This is more generally and incorrectly termed as the â€Å"lie detector†which is a mechanical device that measures a persons heart rate, galvanic skin responses and breathing rate. The ideology of this device is that if a person answers a question wrongly, the bodys physiological responses will â€Å"show†that a person gave an incorrect response through the polygraphs recording machine. They play a vital role in criminal investigations and background checks. For examples 11,companies such as Pick n Pay, KFC and First National Bank all uses the polygraph to assess the trustworthiness of potential candidates. (Brown, C. (2010) 3.7 References and Biographical Data References are information that an employer gets from other people who know the applicant, either through friends or previous employer. The evidence on the reliability and validity of reference checks suggests that these are, at best, weak predictors of future success on the job. One major reason for this is that most reference letters are so positive that it is difficult to differential applicants. (Van den Brink, et al, 2010) For example 14,Northwestern Bells district manager of management employment notes â€Å"They all say, ‘This is the greatest individual the world have ever seen, the next president, at least..It is not always accurate. (Noe, R.A. et al, 2004) For example 15, Intuit Corporation tries to get around these problems by requesting references in bulk sometimes asking for as many as 12 letters of reference. The evidence on the utility of biographical information gathered from candidates is far more accurate. The biographical information form also provides a written document that the organisation can verify via outside checks. (Pollitt, D. 2007) For example 16, APCOA Inc. conducts a battery of checks depending on the position, and such investigation may include driving records, credit history and criminal record. (Ordanini, A., and Silvestri, G. 2008) 3.8 Problems with using test There are a number of problems associated with using tests. (Brown, G. T. L. 2008) In most cases, tests may not always be fair as there may be an element of racial, social and sexual bias in the questions and scoring system. For instance, some cultures may be unused to ‘working against the clock. (Hao, Z., and Liden, R.C. 2011) Validation procedures take a lot of time, but yet still are essential to the use of tests. Issues such as the use of web testing, new types of tests, like emotional intelligence tests, are being developed without sufficient validation. (Tulip 2002) The criteria used in defining good job performance are usually inadequate, hence such criteria are subjective and to some extent for the mediocre correlations between job performance and test results. (Collings, D.G., and Wood, G. 2009) Most tests are job specific and unique. Therefore, when the job for which the test is used changes, then the test can no longer be said to relate with job performance in the same manner. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) 4.1 Government Policy and Legislation The final standard that any form of selection method should adhere to is the law. Legislation has a vital role in the recruitment and selection process especially in preventing discrimination on the grounds of disability, sex, race and age. (Noe, R.A. et al, 2004) The Civil Rights Act of 1991, an extension of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 protects individuals from discrimination based on race, colour, sex, religion, and national origin with respect to hiring as well as compensation and working conditions. There are three major differences between the two Acts. (CIPD, 2010). One recent example 12 can be seen at Coca-Cola and this is highlighted in the â€Å"Competing by Meeting Stakeholders Needs†box; (Lavigna, R.J, and Hays S.W. 2004) Sex and Race DiscriminationThe Sex Discrimination Act (1975) was introduced to protect people and made it unlawful to discriminate based on sex or marital status either directly or indirectly in the field of employment. However, the Race Relations Act (1976) also prohibits employers from discriminating individuals on the grounds of race, colour and nationality. (Torrington, D., Hall, L., and Taylor, S., 2008) Age Discrimination In the UK, age discrimination was introduced in 2006 and makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate based on age in recruiting, promotion and training. (Noe, R.A. et al, 2004) Examples 13 of companies sued under this act include CBS Inc., McDonnell Douglas, Northwest Airlines, Disney, and Martin Marietta. (Noe, R.A. et al, 2004) 5.1 Selection Interviews An interview is a discussion between and employer and a potential candidate for the benefit of both parties to get to know each other for the purpose of filling a vacant position within a company. There are two major reasons for conducting an interview; as an initial screening, and to ascertain that the individual has met minimum qualifications required, and then an in depth interview with HR staff. (Singh, P. 2008) 5.2 Types of selection interviews 5.3 Structured Interviews This conducted by using standardised questions for all candidates to ensure comparisons can be done easily. It provides the opportunity for the interviewer to design relevant questions and also to facilitate a standardised interviewee evaluation. It is useful in the initial screening process because many applicants can be effectively evaluated and compared. (Valentinis, L., et al 2009) 5.3.1 Behavioural Interview The interviewers often use an experiential type of structured interview. This is a method in which the interviewer will give applicants a job scenario (in which he/she will be looking for certain skills be it multi tasking, flexibility, diplomacy, patience, marketing tactics, and so on) and ask for the candidates opinion in exact steps. (Holtbrugge, D., et al 2010) Example, ATT and Accenture have been using behavioural interviewing for about 15 years now, and because increasing numbers of employers are using behaviour-based methods to screen job candidates, understanding how to excel in this interview environment is becoming a crucial job-hunting skill. Example 17,Capital one uses tests that assist in the evaluation of important behavioural and cultural-fit job criteria. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) Example Century 18, Theatre also made use of this test and finds it to be saving them money and resources. A recent study indicated that â€Å"past behaviour†structured-type interviews are better at identifying achievement at work than are situational interviews, hence showing the efficacy of this interview strategy. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) For example 19,the Struder Group consulting firm, after working with a multitude of health care firms across the nation, identified the use of behavioural interviews as a positive practice in organisations. (Gump, S.E. 2006) 5.3.2 Competency Interview This type of interview is similar to the behavioural interview except that the questions are designed to provide the interviewer with something to measure the applicants response against. Competency-based interviews are structured, with questions that relate directly to the essential criteria and competencies required for the post. Using competencies as a benchmark to predict job candidate success is useful because interviewers can identify the factors needed in specific jobs. (Doherty, R. (2010) However, this interview takes time and sometimes is of more benefit to management-oriented people. However, it is also important that you fit in with the team, and with the employers culture and style. A competency-based interview is designed to ask you additional questions about your character, soft skills and personal attributes that let both you and the employer determine whether you fit their needs. (Cardy. R.L., et al 2002) 5.3.3 Situational interview In situational interviewing, job-seekers are asked to respond to a specific situation they may face on the job, and some aspects of it are similar to behavioural interviews. These types of questions are designed to draw out more of your analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as how you handle problems with short notice and minimal preparation. (Dessler, G. 2011) For example 20, a variation of situational format that is used by companies such as GE and Microsoft is termed the case study interview, which requires a job applicant to find out and correct organisational challenges during the meeting. (Beardwell, J., and Claydon, T. 2007) 5.4 Unstructured or Less-structured interview An unstructured interview is one where there may be a script to get the process started, but once the interview gets going the interviewer will start to follow her own points of interest and stop following any script. (Searle, R.H. 2003) An unstructured interview occurs when the interviewer improvises by asking questions that are not predetermined. A semi structured interview is a guided conversation in which broad questions are asked and new questions arise as a result of the discussion. (Searle, R.H. 2003) 5.4.1 Stress Job Interviews The stress interviewing technique is typically used only for positions in which the job-seeker will be facing stress on the job, and the interviewer wants to see how well you can handle the pressure. The key to surviving stress interviews is to remain calm, keep a sense of humor, and avoid getting angry or defensive. (Ball, F.W., and Ball, B. 2010) 6.1 Advantages of interviews The following are the advantages of using interview as a method of selection: Interviews provide opportunities for interviewers to ask probing questions about the candidates experience and to explore the extent to which the candidates competences match those specified for the job; it enable interviewers to describe the job and the organisation in more detail, suggesting some of the terms of the psychological contract; provide opportunities for candidates to ask questions about the job and to clarify issues concerning training, career prospects, the organisation and terms conditions of employment; The interviewer may try to stress you in one of several ways, such as asking four or five questions in a row, acting rude or sarcastic, disagreeing with you, or simply keeping you waiting for a long period. (Armstrong, M. 2009) 6.2 Disadvantages of interview Snap judgments: some interviewers decide whether an applicant is suitable withing the first two to four minutes of the interview, and spend the rest of the time searching for crucial evidence to support their judgement. Negative emphasis: when evaluating suitability, the unfavourable information regarding a candidate is often more emphasised than the information that favours the candidate. Biases and stereotyping: a bias can be describe as a situation where the interviewer favours or select people that they consider to be the same as them based on various personal factors. However, candidates ethnic names and accents can negatively impact personal evaluations. Also, older candidates are most of the time less likely to be interviewed and hired compared to younger applicants. (Mathis, R.L. and Jackson, J.H. 2007) 7.1 Conclusions A year and a half ago, organisations such as investment banks example HSBC, blue chips and consulting firms were competing with dotcoms companies for example Amazon, and Facebookover recruiting the best people. But in the present environment, there are waves of redundancies hence many are grateful that they have a job. However, boom or bust, good recruitment and selection practices are essential. In conclusions, this assignment agrees with the statement; â€Å"the most efficient solution to the problem of interview is to do away with interview and substitute paper-and-pencil measures†This is because research has demonstrated that interviews are an inefficient method of predicting future success in a job. According to Smart (1983) argues that only 94 out of 1000 interviewee respond honestly in conventional interviews. (Armstrong, M. 2009) Factors such as poor reliability and validity of test scores are also major problems of interviews. Different interviewers have their own different styles and approaches, inconsistent handling of different candidates, variation in assessment criteria, biases, and errors are all factors that limits the use of interviews as a method of selection. (Armstrong, M. 2009)
Sunday, July 21, 2019
What Is The Takwa Settlement History Essay
What Is The Takwa Settlement History Essay The Takwa settlement is situated on the south side of Manda Island, in the Lamu District in the coastal province of Kenya. They are the ruins of a Muslim town which was abandoned around the 18th century. The Takwa site can be easely reached from Lamu town. The ruins were first excavated by James Kirkman in 1951. In 1972 the site was cleared again under the supervision of James de Vere Allen, the Curator of the Lamu Museum. Takwa was never a large place. It was founded around year 1500, and probably abandoned around 1700. Kirkman thought that it was perhaps a place were holy men or religious people retreated. The Great Mosque at Takwa is relatively well preserved. The other structure remaining of importance is the Pillar Tomb, which has an inscription with the date of 1681-1682. It is reported that when Takwa was abandoned, its inhabitants settled just across the bay at Shela on Lamu Island. Twice a year the people of Shela come to the Pillar Tomb in Takwa to pray for rain. (Martin, p. 27) The Takwa Ruins were designated a Kenyan National Monument in 1982. mu Archipelago From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lamu Archipelago Map of Kenya showing the islands Lamu Island Lamu Town à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Shela Matondoni Kipangani Manda Island Manda Town à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Takwa à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Manda Airport Pate Island Faza à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Pate Town Rulers of Pate - Bwana Mkuu - Bwana Tamu - Fumo Madi Siyu Kizingitini Shanga à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Kiwayu Island à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Administrative Centre à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡Ã‚ Archaeological site à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚ World Heritage Site The Lamu Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean close to the northern coast of Kenya, to which it belongs. The islands lie between the towns of Lame and Kiunga, close to the border with Somalia, and is a part of Lamu District. The largest of the islands are Pate Island, Manda Island and Lamu Island. Smaller islands include Kiwayu, which lies in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve, and Manda Toto. Today the largest town in the archipelago is Lamu Town, on Lamu Island. The town is on the World Heritage List. The archipelago contains several archaeological/historical sites of great significance, such as Takwa and Manda Town (both on Manda Island) and Shanga (on Pate Island). Some have been partially excavated in later years, shedding important new light on Swahili history and culture. The islands are reputed to be one of the westernmost ports of call of the great Chinese fleet of Zheng He, or even to be the resting place of a wreck of one of his ships. No direct evidence has yet been discovered of his visit, although it is known that he visited Mombasa, further down the Kenyan coast, in around 1415. [edit]References Allen, James de Vere: Lamu, with an appendix on Archaeological finds from the region of Lamu by H. Neville Chittick. Nairobi: Kenya National Museums. Lamu town is the oldest living Swahili town in Kenya, comparable to others such as Zanzibar in Tanzania. The town dates back to at least the 12th century. Since this time Lamu has flourished as a maritime trading centre whose main population, the Swahili, engaged in international trade, fishing and farming. The architecture of Lamu is uniquely Swahili, with its narrow streets, storied buildings, intricately carved wooden doors and numerous mosques. Lamu is also unique in that it is host to three museums and a Fort with an impressive exhibition space, namely: Lamu Museum, Lamu Fort ,German Post Office Museum, and Swahili House Museum. Lamu Museum can arrange guided tours to various archaeological and historical sites, whether to neighbouring Manda Island or further afield to Pate Island, where the ruins of the earliest known Swahili settlement of Shanga dated to the 8th century AD can be visited. Lamu Society The Lamu Society was formed in the early 1980s to offer a forum for ideas and projects that would encourage the conservation of the island communitys historic material culture. The Society has been instrumental in raising funds and assisting in the work required to document, preserve and restore aspects of earlier time periods and hence in the development of the Lamu Museum. The Societys publications focus on the history and preservation of the islands cultural heritage, whilst its periodic newsletter informs members about events and ongoing aspects of interest. Religious Centre Since the 19th century Lamu has been regarded as an important religious centre in East Africa. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from the region flock to Lamu town for the famous Maulidi, or Milad-un-Nabi, celebrations that are held during the third month of the Muslim calendar to mark the birth of the Prophet Muhammed. The East AfricanMaulidi is believed to have been started by Habib Swaleh Jamalely, a Comorian Arab who emigrated to Lamu and established himself as a scholar and doctor of traditional Arabic medicine. He was a pious man whose deeds are still emulated today, as exemplified by Maulidi. The Maulidi celebrations are known to bring people from as far as the Comoros, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. Lamu Heritage Attractions Lamu is a dominant cultural centre reputable for its historic past and traditional socio-cultural traditions. As such visitors to Lamu can enjoy a large and diverse collection of heritage and cultural attractions. At the district level, Lamu has the remains of many heritage sites. These range from towns, like Shanga, Patà © and Manda to hundreds of monuments, like Siyu Fort. Some of these sites, such as Manda, are easily accessible, while others are located in thick vegetation making access difficult. The development of access to these areas is currently being addressed by the sites management team. Lamu was listed as a World Heritage Site on the 14 December 2001. This landmark status came after 28 years of strict conservation of Lamu Old Town. As a national monument the town has many fascinating architectural characteristics, unrivalled by any other Swahili town along the East African littoral. The old town has approximately 532 houses. About 496 of these houses are privately owned, 23 are considered public and 13 are religious buildings mainly mosques. The town has survived the pressure of modern destruction and development by both government and private developers. The towns well-conserved architectural setting of narrow streets, divided by blocks of lined houses, has fascinated many visitors. Perhaps of most appeal are the stone walled houses in which flat roofs are supported by painted mangrove poles. The interior of a typical Lamu house is divided by two or three long galleries, with at least one or two self-contained rooms. The walls are covered with geometric plaster designs and wall niches. Lamu town has several buildings of importance including the Lamu Fort and Yumbe the former house of a Lamu Sultan. Aside from Lamus physical heritage the town has a rich living culture. For almost a century, each calendar year sees Lamu flooded with religious tourists from across the globe, here to attend the popular Maulidi Festival. About 20,000 religious tourists come to the town to attend this Festival, during the Islamic month of Rabil awal. The climax of the Maulidi celebrations comes in the final week of this month. At this time various traditional Swahili dances from the neighbouring towns of Patà ©, Siyu, Ndau, Faza and Matondoni are hosted at the Riadha Mosque grounds to entertain the pilgrims. Taking advantage of the sombre week of mfungo sita, (Rabil awal) Lamu Museum also arranges a series of cultural events, such as traditional dhow races, bao games, donkey races, henna painting and Islamic calligraphy competitions. Typically during the month of August, though occasionally occurring later in the year, Lamus second large festival is held. The Lamu Cultural Festival is organised by the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group. It is a three-day Swahili cultural festival that combines traditional dances, indoor and outdoor cultural activities and an exhibition of Lamus rich material culture. The Cultural Festival, like the Maulidi, also draws crowds as large as 20,000. Lamu Old Towns museums and fort are maintained and managed by the National Museums of Kenya. These are: the Lamu Museum, known for its exquisite Swahili ethnography exhibits; the Swahili House Museum, a restored 18th century house, reflecting the life of privileged Lamu Swahilis; the Lamu Fort, built in 1814 by Bwana Zeid Ngumi the last Sultan of Lamu; and the German Post Office Museum, showing the post office when it was operational in the late 19-20 th Century. Lamus material culture is best shown by its carved doors and traditional furniture which can be viewed all over the town. There are almost 18 woodcarving workshops in Lamu mainly producing Swahili doors, furniture and smaller artefacts, such as the miniature dhows that are popular with tourists. One of the busiest workshops in the town is the Skanda Woodcarving Workshop, this was opened about 50 years ago and is credited with having trained hundreds of woodcarvers who are now scattered all over Kenyas major towns. Visitors are welcome to view woodcarving classes at the workshops. There are also gift and curio shops scattered around the Old Town, selling quality local items. One of the reasons for Lamus inscription on the UNESCO heritage list is its unique social-cultural life, which has remained relatively unchanged for centuries. A traditionally conservative lifestyle is still maintained by many Lamu households. Lamus female Muslim population still predominately wear bui buis, and donkeys remain the major form of transport in the town. The ruins of Takwa are located on Manda Island, a 30 minute boat ride from Lamu town. Here one can witness the remains of a thriving 16th century Swahili trading post. Among the more notable features at Takwa is the unique Friday Mosque with a large pillar atop the qibla wall; while the significance of the pillar is not known with certainty, some believe it to symbolise the burial of a Sheikh below the wall. A days visit is quite a unique experience, and can be complimented by a picnic or overnight camping. Location The ruins of Takwa are located on the southeastern corner of Manda Island opposite Lamu. A 30 minute boat ride from Lamu Town. Its geographical location on map is at Grid Reference 186 476, Sheet 180/4. Historical background Takwa ruins are the remains of a thriving 15th and 16th century Swahili trading town before it was abandoned in the seventeenth century. It is not only important because of its period of occupation but also because of its dense settlement and its relatively well preserved remains. The unique Friday Mosque with a large pillar a top the qibla wall is among the most notable features. This pillar is believed to symbolize the burial of a Sheikh be low the wall. The position of the site at the narrowest location on the whole island, was most probably a strategy. Takwas position/location with shallow waters must have been of considerable importance especially during its peak, when many of the sails that came into view were likely to be hostile. Therefore access to the site must have been primarily from the shallow channel which could only admit vessels of shallow draft. Takwa eventual abandonment in the 17th century was due to salination of the once fresh water and endless fighting between Takwa and Pate people. These ruins were gazetted as a National Monument in 1982 in Gazette notice No. 1514. At present, Takwa is open daily to the Public. It is a very pleasant place for a casual visit, which can be complimented by a picnic and overnight camping. Takwa is a settlement between three hundred and five hundred years old unmodified by subsequent constructions. The remains of the walled stone town of Takwa are located at a point where Manda Island is almost bisected by a tidal channel flanked by mangroves. Although Takwa is located only few hundred meters from the sea, there is neither a good harbour nor protected anchorage on the ocean side. The shallow channel was likely the best access to the site, as it is today, although only for vessels of shallow draft when the tides are favourable. A major aspect of the settlement is the town wall, of coral rag construction, which rose to a full height of about three meters and is best viewed intact in the southern areas of the site. The remains of Takwa within the wall cover about 5 hectares and consist of a mosque, houses, a well and structures with perhaps religious or commercial functions. In addition, there are the spaces created by the location of structures, such as courtyards, streets and other open areas. All structures were built of coral rag, quarried locally, and set in mortar made of earth, sand and lime. The street, although obscured by rubble today, is significant for the amount of town planning involved: at least five houses with sides on the street are directly aligned with it, and all in the plan are affected by it. Likewise the street leading south directly to the mosque is orientated with an error of less than one degree off contemporary magnetic north hardly an accident. It is interesting to consider that upon leaving the mosque, the faithful stepped onto a street aimed directly at Mecca. Pillar tombs are one of the unique architectural features of the East African coast, and Takwa is justifiably known for its fine example, located just a few meters past the north gate. An inscribed block is set into the north face of the tomb wall. The block calls to Allah, Muhammed, and the first four caliphs, AbuBakar, Umar, Uthman and Ali. At the bottom of the inscription is the Arabic date 1094, which measures that many years from Muhammeds hijrah, or move, from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622. As the Muslim year 1094 began on December 31, 1682, this date corresponds to the Christian year 1683. The tomb is still considered sacred to the Muslim people of Shela, some of whom are believed to have come from Takwa and who visit the tomb twice a year to pray for rain. The Takwa mosque is located near the geographical centre of the site, reflecting the central place of Islam in the religious and social life of many in the community. The mosque is characterized by an unusual and striking pillar, which rises from the centre of its north wall. It is possible that the mosque is located on the site of the tomb of a revered person. The pillar, as a characteristic feature of the coast, may have been placed on the mosque in commemoration of the burial site. The ruined remains of about 55 structures occur north of the mosque, with about an equal number to the south. Takwa may have been abandoned due to hostility from nearby Pate, whose ascendancy began about three hundred years ago. Perhaps trade competition contributed to the site abandonment, or possibly Takwa became involved in the rivalry between Lamu and Pate, which might explain why some of the Takwa people asked to settle at Shela on Lamu Island. Another likely cause for abandonment was the inferior water supply, for the wells at the mosque and near the pillar tomb are salty today. It might have been easier for the Takwans to resist hostility from Pate than to endure the increasing salinity of their life-sustaining wells. Artefacts found during excavations in the 1979s include numerous pottery vessels both locally produced and imported for cooking and storage, a bread oven, glass beads, spindle whorls, a glass flask of unknown use, fragments of a smoking pipe, fish and mammal bones suggesting a varied diet, and finished iron implements and iron slag indicating blacksmithing on site. This is a rich inventory of artefacts but it nevertheless only reflects what has not perished in the archaeological record. No cotton or other cloth has survived. Almost all wood is gone, probably moved to Shela, which, considering contemporary woodcarving is likely quite a loss. Leather products such as purses, belts and sandals have all decayed, and particularly valuable items would have been removed as the people left Takwa. Even with the interesting picture of Takwa known from archaeological research, we are still unable to gain a complete piciture of the sites history. A safari to Takwa A visit to Takwa National Monument is a very pleasant way to spend a morning or afternoon, or even an entire day with overnight camping. Visitors may leave Lamu or Shela by sailing dhow or motorboat, cross Lamu Harbour to Manda Island and enter a narrow channel flanked by mangroves. Although at high tide boats and dhows can reach the very end of the channel, it is best to be prepared to wade a few meters through ankle or knee deep salt water. Far from being dangerous or uncomfortable, this approach makes you feel like an explorer, setting the mood for entrance into the serene and majestic ruins. Physical description and climate The Lamu Archipelago is a small group of island situated on Kenyas northern coast line, near Somalia. It is made up of Lamu, Manda, Pate and Kiwayu Islands. Lamu Town is the headquarters of Lamu District, one of the six districts of Kenyas Coastal Province, which borders the Indian Ocean to the east, the Tana River District to the south-west, the Garissa District to the north and the Republic of Somalia to the north-east. Temperatures range from 23 to 30 degrees celsius throughout the year. The hottest months are form December to April, while the coolest are from May to July. There are also long rains from mid-April to the end of June. Commerce brought the East African coast into contact with distant peoples and cultures as early as two thousand years ago. The earliest known historical records the 1st Century ADPtolemys Geography talk of the coast, its inhabitants, and the trade. Arab merchants began to settle permanently between the 9th and 12th centuries, bringing with them a new religion, Islam. They referred to the people they found there by various names, including Swahili, which meant people from the coast. Over the years, the traders intermarried with the local people and some Swahilis trace their origins to the Arab world. The Old Town of Lamu is first mentioned by the Arab writer/traveller, Abu al Mahasini, who met a Qadhi (Muslim Judge) from Lamu when visiting Meca in 1441. Lamu flourished as an independent city-state and remained a thriving seaport through the turbulent Portuguese invasions, its Omani domination during the 17th century and battles with the neighbouring islands of Pate and Manda. Under Omani protection and with a slave based economy, Lamu remained prosperous for over two hundred years until the 19th century. It was during this period that Lamus inhabitants built most of the traditional coral stone houses and mosques that still stand today, using coral stone and mangrove timber from the archipelago, and employing skilled craftsmen from India. To the Muslim world the word Maulid (the Arabic word for birth) is often spoken in reference to the Prophet Muhammeds (Peace Be Upon Him) birth. However, in Eastern African and the Indian Ocean region, Maulidi or Milad-un-Nabii (Birth of the Prophet Muhammed, PBUH) is the holy celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammed, which lasts the full month of Rabi al-Awal and a few weeks before and after. A Maulid itself is any ceremony in which the Prophet is venerated. For that reason, it is understandable why there is controversy over when and where the first Maulid was recited. The most consistent record states that the first public celebration took place in Egypt 400 years after the death of the Prophet in the eighth century during the Fatimid dynasty, after which Maulidi was celebrated in Mecca and since has caught on in many other countries in this part of the world. Again there is no precise record of when it began in East Africa, but it is clear Maulidi has been here for centuries. The person who is responsible for how Maulidi is presently celebrated is Swaleh ibn Alwy ibn Abdullah Jamal al-Lail or Habib Swaleh. Born in the Comoros Islands of an Arab father and Comorian mother, Swalehs family are Sharifs. He was the first to include instruments at the Maulids he hosted and was criticized for it. After some years, Swaleh was recognized as a man of the people and a respected leader in the community, and they began to follow his example and join in his celebration. At that time no Mosque allowed instruments to be played inside, so he founded the Riyada Mosque and the Mosque College in 1901. To this day, the students of Riyada College lead the recitation, and the Riyada itself is the heart of the festival continuing his legacy. Though it is a month-long celebration, the most important and observed time is sunset on the 11th of Rabi-al-Awal until dawn on the 12th. The Maulid is recited for that entire span of time, as it is on the actual date of the Prophets birth. During the last week of the month, in Lamu, there is a four-day long festival. This begins on the Tuesday and ends on Friday. Since 1990, the National Museums of Kenya has sponsored the gala in Lamu. They organize various community building competitions such as swimming, dhow races, henna competition, tug-of war, and donkey races. Amidst the festival, in homes and in mosques, the people of Lamu recite one of four Maulids: Sharaful-Anam, Maulid ya Dibei (ya Rama), Baranzanji, and Simt-al-Durar (String of Pearls). The Maulid ya Rama is written and recited in Kiswahili, the others in Arabic. The most commonly read are the Baranzaji, written by Imam as-Sayyid Jafar ibn Hassan ibn Abdal Karim al-Barazanji (1690-1766), and the Simt-al-Durar, the most recent, written by Khatib Habib Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Habshy (?-1915) from Saudi Arabia. These Maulids can best be described as religious poetry, based on the history and life of the Prophet, with lines and concepts from the Hadith and the Quran. A Maulid can be read at any important event or milestone. In the Swahili tradition, it may be read one to two weeks after the birth of a child, during the shaving ceremony. They are also performed at weddings and less frequently at funerals. Muslims all of the world add their own variations and culture to the recitation. Of all of the major cities and ports in this part of the world, East African Muslims choose Lamu to visit and observe this special time. The uniquely Swahili music, dance, and rituals here are unlike any others. Lamu is a town rich in culture, history, and traditions and will most likely continue to host the biggest Maulidi on the East African coast. Lamu From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lamu Old Town* UNESCO World Heritage Site View of the seaside, Lamu Town State Party  Kenya Type Cultural Criteria ii, iv, vi Reference 1055 Region** Africa Inscription history Inscription 2001  (25th Session) * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. Lamu Archipelago Map of Kenya showing the islands Lamu Island Lamu Town à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Shela Matondoni Kipangani Manda Island Manda Town à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Takwa à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Manda Airport Pate Island Faza à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Pate Town Rulers of Pate - Bwana Mkuu - Bwana Tamu - Fumo Madi Siyu Kizingitini Shanga à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡ Kiwayu Island à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Administrative Centre à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¡Ã‚ Archaeological site à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Ã‚ World Heritage Site Lamu town is the largest town on Lamu Island, which in turn is a part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya. Lamu town is also the headquarters of Lamu District and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Contents  [hide] 1 History 2 Economy 3 Sights 4 See also
Saturday, July 20, 2019
tuesday with morrie :: essays research papers
How to give a summary of such a powerful book seems to me to be beyond comprehension. The book has left me so full of life, so committed to changing the way I behave, the way I think, the way I feel about life, death, how I treat others, and how I spend the hours of everyday. The book has left me with thousands of zooming thoughts in my head, like moths circling a light bulb, just trying to feel the soothing heat being radiated from it’s ember glow. The way I feel after reading this book, must be how an immigrant felt when taking those first steps onto American soil. Extremely overwhelmed yet so filled with anticipation for the new life they can lead, if only they make the right choices for themselves, and not fall into the pitfalls of society’s culture, but make a culture of their own. â€Å" Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a community of those you love and who love you†The main character of the book is a College professor at Brandeis University in the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. His name is Morrie Schwartz. One of his students (who he hasn’t seen in sixteen years) has just heard the news of his favorite professors, battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL), Lou Gehrig’s disease, a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system with no known cure. The student, Mitch Albom, (also the author) decides to fulfill the promise he had made to Morrie after graduation, of keeping in contact. He catches a flight to Massachusetts on a Tuesday and does this for the next several Tuesdays till the death of Morrie. On those Tuesdays, classes were being held, not in the all too familiar classrooms of the college, but in the intimate setting of Morrie’s home. They would write their final thesis paper on â€Å"The Meaning of Life.†The paper was to include but not be limited to the following topics: Death, Fear, Aging, Greed, Marriage, Family, Society, Forgiveness, and A Meaningful Life. Every Tuesday when Mitch would arrive he could see the brutal deterring of Morrie’s small disease infested body. Yet the spirit of this small dying man was bigger than life itself. This confused Mitch, but as the story progresses Mitch begins to comprehend why this man with only months to live is still so filled with life. tuesday with morrie :: essays research papers How to give a summary of such a powerful book seems to me to be beyond comprehension. The book has left me so full of life, so committed to changing the way I behave, the way I think, the way I feel about life, death, how I treat others, and how I spend the hours of everyday. The book has left me with thousands of zooming thoughts in my head, like moths circling a light bulb, just trying to feel the soothing heat being radiated from it’s ember glow. The way I feel after reading this book, must be how an immigrant felt when taking those first steps onto American soil. Extremely overwhelmed yet so filled with anticipation for the new life they can lead, if only they make the right choices for themselves, and not fall into the pitfalls of society’s culture, but make a culture of their own. â€Å" Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a community of those you love and who love you†The main character of the book is a College professor at Brandeis University in the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. His name is Morrie Schwartz. One of his students (who he hasn’t seen in sixteen years) has just heard the news of his favorite professors, battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL), Lou Gehrig’s disease, a brutal, unforgiving illness of the neurological system with no known cure. The student, Mitch Albom, (also the author) decides to fulfill the promise he had made to Morrie after graduation, of keeping in contact. He catches a flight to Massachusetts on a Tuesday and does this for the next several Tuesdays till the death of Morrie. On those Tuesdays, classes were being held, not in the all too familiar classrooms of the college, but in the intimate setting of Morrie’s home. They would write their final thesis paper on â€Å"The Meaning of Life.†The paper was to include but not be limited to the following topics: Death, Fear, Aging, Greed, Marriage, Family, Society, Forgiveness, and A Meaningful Life. Every Tuesday when Mitch would arrive he could see the brutal deterring of Morrie’s small disease infested body. Yet the spirit of this small dying man was bigger than life itself. This confused Mitch, but as the story progresses Mitch begins to comprehend why this man with only months to live is still so filled with life.
Friday, July 19, 2019
America Needs a Strong Military Industrial Complex Essay -- War Army D
America Needs a Strong Military Industrial Complex By mid-1942, World War II was looking bleak for the Allied powers. The German Wehrmacht was blitzing through Soviet Russia, the Luftwaffe had laid waste to much of London, Rommel was about to take Africa, and the Japanese nearly had control of the Pacific. Fortunately, as the Axis started running low on materiel, America was increasing the Allied supply dramatically. This enormous production capacity displayed by the U.S. was the product of their new military-industrial complex, as plants across the country geared up production of weapons and combat vehicles and the government began pumping resources into the creation of new military-oriented production facilities. The American industrial surge turned out to be not only the deciding factor in World War II, but also the greatest protection against the Soviet threat during the Cold War that followed.      In the wake of his defeat at El Alamein, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel declared, â€Å"The bravest men can do nothing without guns, the guns nothing without plenty of ammunition, and neither guns nor ammunition are of much use in mobile warfare unless there are vehicles with sufficient petrol to haul them around†. While Germany and Japan struggled to reproduce materiel at the speed at which it was being lostâ€â€leading to shortages for the Afrika Korps in the African desert and the Wehrmacht during Operation Barbarossaâ€â€the U.S. began producing it almost as quickly as it could be shipped out. There was virtually no military-industrial complex to speak of before 1940, and America went woefully under prepared into conflict after its losses at Pearl Harbor. However, by 1944 America was turning out 8 aircraft carriers a month, 50 merchant ships a day, one fighter plane every five minutes, and 150 tons of steel every sixty seconds (Walton 540).      While other factors certainly aided in the momentum switch that occurred in late 1942 and 1943 and accelerated to the cessation of hostilities, historian Francis Walton writes that, For the reduction in bloodshed much credit must go to the miraculous tools of war, most of which, in the hands of the victors, were ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ It is the considered judgment of the military experts that in World War II ‘our victories were the product of massed materiel rather than the highest military skill’(4). Walton i... ... the United States is the undisputed military, economic, cultural, and political leader of the world, a title it earned for the most part with relatively little bloodshed. The military-industrial complex formed in the early stages of World War II can be thanked for this, as its extraordinary capacity for churning out weapons almost single-handedly preserved the Allied cause, and its ability to do so without exorbitant burden on the U.S. economy eventually won it the Cold War. Those who today consistently advocate cutting the defense budget in accordance with a policy of isolationism and pacifism and decry the profits made by military contractors would do well to remember the roots of America’s current superiority before making too rash a decision. Bibliography Walton, Francis. Miracle of World War II: How American Industry Made Victory Possible. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1956. Hickman, Martin B. The Military and American Society. Beverly Hills: Glencoe Press, 1971. Koistinen, Paul A.C. The Military-Industrial Complex: A Historical Perspective. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1980. Strachey, John. On The Prevention of War. London: Macmillan & Co Ltd., 1962.
Abortion is Seriously Wrong Essay -- essays research papers
Abortion is Seriously Wrong Many clinics provide abortion services for women with unplanned or uncontrollable pregnancies. Some women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy rather than an uncontrollable one. Unplanned in fact that a contraceptive failed, or may not have been easily accessible: uncontrolled in the sense of factors being greater than limited contraception. Abortion has been performed in many clinics as a treatment for unfit or unhealthy women, and for women who may have been molested or raped. Abortion shouldn’t be used as a form of contraception, nor should women’s lives be sacrificed to bear an infant before morally ready to commit. If a woman is raped, and the outcome incurs pregnancy, then abortion is an alternate form of controlling the unwanted pregnancy. Abortion should stand as only the woman’s choice, never as a decision adverse to Pro-Life activists. Pro-Choice advocates seem to vindicate abortion, accepting that abortion is not considered a form of birth contr ol, but merely a method of controlling the woman and fetus future. Women are the sole determinate persons in stating if they are capable of withholding a full term pregnancy. As an advocate of women’s right’s to Pro choice, I am extending my viewpoints to you in this proposition. Many people have their opinions on abortion, usually being one extreme or the other. Advocates or Pro choice often finds themselves swaying their opinions of when abortion is morally ethical dependent upon the controlling factors. Advocates of Pro Life are consistently perusing abortion, stating that it is morally wrong, and unethical in all matters, even if the pregnancy is inadvertent. There are factors remaining in today’s society that are very forthcoming and are unanticipated by women in the prevention of pregnancy. If medical doctors abolished the procedure, or if the government made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion, we wouldn’t be supporting the righteousness of many women in the U.S. today. If contraception, in all forms, were 100% effective, then abortion could be abolished. Until medical research and testing finds a foolproof cont raceptive, abortion is morally permissible because of obvious factors that are uncontrollable. For those whom agree that abortion is an ethical procedure, there are some instances where it is morally questionable. Does an inopportune pregnancy al... ...fective means of birth control available yet, to the public. If there were, then abortion could be abolished, and unwanted pregnancies wouldn’t occur. In conclusion, abortion is the intentional termination of pregnancy resulting in the death of the fetus. A fetus is a person and has a right to life. I believe Immanuel Kant would suggest that maybe a woman has a duty to abort a child for the mere fact that she has a duty not to bring that child into the world. On the other hand, he might state that she has a duty to give that child the right to live life to the fullest. The child may lead a prosperous life that leads to happiness and aborting it would deprive that. We as people have a moral duty to do what is ethically correct for the greatest amount of people. Utilitarianism is acting so as to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions according to John Stuart Mill (51). Legalizing abortion affects us all. If no one were able to have an abortion, then everyone would have an equal right to life. Who is to say that is not for the greatest balance of good over bad for everyone. Abortion is seriously wrong except perhaps in rare cases. Abortion is Seriously Wrong Essay -- essays research papers Abortion is Seriously Wrong Many clinics provide abortion services for women with unplanned or uncontrollable pregnancies. Some women find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy rather than an uncontrollable one. Unplanned in fact that a contraceptive failed, or may not have been easily accessible: uncontrolled in the sense of factors being greater than limited contraception. Abortion has been performed in many clinics as a treatment for unfit or unhealthy women, and for women who may have been molested or raped. Abortion shouldn’t be used as a form of contraception, nor should women’s lives be sacrificed to bear an infant before morally ready to commit. If a woman is raped, and the outcome incurs pregnancy, then abortion is an alternate form of controlling the unwanted pregnancy. Abortion should stand as only the woman’s choice, never as a decision adverse to Pro-Life activists. Pro-Choice advocates seem to vindicate abortion, accepting that abortion is not considered a form of birth contr ol, but merely a method of controlling the woman and fetus future. Women are the sole determinate persons in stating if they are capable of withholding a full term pregnancy. As an advocate of women’s right’s to Pro choice, I am extending my viewpoints to you in this proposition. Many people have their opinions on abortion, usually being one extreme or the other. Advocates or Pro choice often finds themselves swaying their opinions of when abortion is morally ethical dependent upon the controlling factors. Advocates of Pro Life are consistently perusing abortion, stating that it is morally wrong, and unethical in all matters, even if the pregnancy is inadvertent. There are factors remaining in today’s society that are very forthcoming and are unanticipated by women in the prevention of pregnancy. If medical doctors abolished the procedure, or if the government made it even more difficult to obtain an abortion, we wouldn’t be supporting the righteousness of many women in the U.S. today. If contraception, in all forms, were 100% effective, then abortion could be abolished. Until medical research and testing finds a foolproof cont raceptive, abortion is morally permissible because of obvious factors that are uncontrollable. For those whom agree that abortion is an ethical procedure, there are some instances where it is morally questionable. Does an inopportune pregnancy al... ...fective means of birth control available yet, to the public. If there were, then abortion could be abolished, and unwanted pregnancies wouldn’t occur. In conclusion, abortion is the intentional termination of pregnancy resulting in the death of the fetus. A fetus is a person and has a right to life. I believe Immanuel Kant would suggest that maybe a woman has a duty to abort a child for the mere fact that she has a duty not to bring that child into the world. On the other hand, he might state that she has a duty to give that child the right to live life to the fullest. The child may lead a prosperous life that leads to happiness and aborting it would deprive that. We as people have a moral duty to do what is ethically correct for the greatest amount of people. Utilitarianism is acting so as to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions according to John Stuart Mill (51). Legalizing abortion affects us all. If no one were able to have an abortion, then everyone would have an equal right to life. Who is to say that is not for the greatest balance of good over bad for everyone. Abortion is seriously wrong except perhaps in rare cases.
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