World War II German Panther Medium Tank

Armored vehicles known as tanks became crucial to the  efforts of France, Russia, and Britain to defeat the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy in World War I. Tanks made it possible to shift the advantage from defensive maneuvers to offensive, and their use completely caught the Alliance off guard. Germany eventually developed a tank of their own, the A7V, but after the Armistice, all tanks in German hands  were confiscated  and  scrapped, and Germany was forbidden by various treaties to possess or build armored vehicles. All that changed with the rise to power by Adolph Hitler and the start of World War II. Design Development Development of the Panther began in 1941, following Germanys encounters with Soviet T-34 tanks in the opening days of Operation Barbarossa. Proving superior to their current tanks, the Panzer IV and Panzer III, the T-34 inflicted heavy casualties on German armored formations. That fall, following the capture of a T-34, a team was sent east to study the Soviet tank as a precursor to designing one superior to it. Returning with the results, Daimler-Benz (DB) and Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nà ¼rnberg AG (MAN) were ordered to design new tanks based on the study. In assessing the T-34, the German team found that the keys to its effectiveness were its 76.2 mm gun, wide road wheels, and sloping armor. Utilizing this data, DB and MAN delivered proposals to the Wehrmacht in April 1942. While the DB design was largely an improved copy of the T-34, MANs incorporated the T-34s strengths into a more traditional German design. Using a three-man turret (the T-34s fit two), the MAN design was higher and wider than the T-34 and was powered by a 690 hp gasoline engine. Though Hitler initially preferred the DB design, MANs was chosen because it used an existing turret design that would be quicker to produce. Once built, the Panther would be 22.5 feet long, 11.2 feet wide, and 9.8 feet high. Weighing around 50 tons, it was propelled by a V-12 Maybach gasoline-powered engine of about 690 hp. It reached a top speed of 34 mph, with a range of 155 miles, and held a crew of five men, which included the driver, radio-operator, commander, gunner, and loader. Its primary gun was a Rheinmetall-Borsig 1 x 7.5 cm KwK 42 L/70, with 2 x 7.92 mm Maschinengewehr 34 machine guns as the secondary armaments. It was built as a medium tank, a classification that stood somewhere between light, mobility-oriented tanks and heavily armored protection tanks. Production Following prototype trials at Kummersdorf in the fall of 1942, the new tank, dubbed Panzerkampfwagen V Panther, was moved into production. Due to the need for the new tank on the Eastern Front, production was rushed with the first units being completed that December. As a result of this haste, early Panthers were plagued by mechanical and reliability issues. At the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, more Panthers were lost to engine problems than to enemy action. Common issues included overheated engines, connecting rod and bearing failures, and fuel leaks. Additionally, the type suffered from frequent transmission and final drive breakdowns that proved difficult to repair. As a result, all Panthers underwent rebuilds at Falkensee in April and May 1943.  Subsequent upgrades to the design helped reduce or eliminate many of these issues.   While initial production of the Panther was assigned to MAN, demand for the type soon overwhelmed the companys resources.  As a result, DB, Maschinenfabrik Niedersachsen-Hannover, and Henschel Sohn all received contracts to build the Panther.  During the course of the war, around 6,000 Panthers would be constructed, making the tank the third most-produced vehicle for the Wehrmacht behind the Sturmgeschà ¼tz III and Panzer IV. At its peak in September 1944, 2,304 Panthers were operational on all fronts. Though the German government set ambitious production goals for Panther construction, these were seldom met due to Allied bombing raids repeatedly targeting key aspects of the supply chain, such as the Maybach engine plant and a  number of Panther factories themselves. Introduction The Panther entered service in January 1943 with the formation of Panzer Abteilung (Battalion) 51. After equipping Panzer Abteilung 52 the following month, increased numbers of the type were sent to frontline units early that spring. Viewed as a key element of Operation Citadel on the Eastern Front, the Germans delayed opening the Battle of Kursk until sufficient numbers of the tank were available. First seeing major combat during the fighting, the Panther initially proved ineffective due to numerous mechanical issues. With the correction of the production-related mechanical difficulties, the Panther became highly popular with German tankers and a fearsome weapon on the battlefield. While the Panther was initially intended to only equip one tank battalion per panzer division, by June 1944, it accounted for nearly half of German tank strength on both the eastern and western fronts. The Panther was first used against US and British forces at Anzio in early 1944. As it only appeared in small numbers, US and British commanders believed it to be a heavy tank that would not be built in large numbers. When Allied troops landed in Normandy that June, they were shocked to find that half the German tanks in the area were Panthers. Greatly outclassing the M4 Sherman, the Panther with its high-velocity 75mm gun inflicted heavy casualties on Allied armored units and could engage at a longer range than its foes. Allied tankers soon found that their 75mm guns were incapable of penetrating the Panthers frontal armor and that flanking tactics were required. Allied Response To combat the Panther, US forces began deploying Shermans with 76mm guns, as well as the M26 Pershing heavy tank and tank destroyers carrying 90mm guns. British units frequently fitted Shermans with 17-pdr guns (Sherman Fireflies) and deployed increasing numbers of towed anti-tank guns. Another solution was found with the introduction of the Comet cruiser tank, featuring a 77mm high-velocity gun, in December 1944. The Soviet response to the Panther was faster and more uniform, with the introduction of the T-34-85. Featuring an 85mm gun, the improved T-34 was nearly the equal of the Panther. Though the Panther remained slightly superior, high Soviet production levels quickly allowed large numbers of T-34-85s to dominate the battlefield. In addition, the Soviets developed the heavy IS-2 tank (122mm gun) and the SU-85 and SU-100 anti-tank vehicles to deal with the newer German tanks. Despite the Allies efforts, the Panther remained arguably the best medium tank in use by either side. This was largely due to its thick armor and ability to pierce the armor of enemy tanks at ranges up to 2,200 yards. Postwar The Panther remained in German service until the end of the war. In 1943, efforts were made to develop the Panther II. While similar to the original, the Panther II was intended to utilize the same parts as the Tiger II heavy tank to ease maintenance for both vehicles. Following the war, captured Panthers were briefly used by the French 503e Rà ©giment de Chars de Combat. One of the iconic tanks of World War II, the Panther influenced a number of postwar tank designs, such as the French AMX 50.

Political Socialization Religious Values Vs. Personal...

Political Socialization: Religious Values vs. Personal Relationships I grew up around a wide variety of environments and an array of people from all walks of life. I was born on the island of Guam, a small US territory in the Pacific. When I was just a baby we moved to Claremore, Oklahoma. My dad was in the Navy and had been put on recruiting duty around Northeast Oklahoma. We would later move on to live in a few more small towns in Oklahoma shortly after. I don’t remember much outside of a few key elements of our house, our big back yard and bits and pieces from my first school in Mustang. I do, however, recall a strong religious influence particularly in the small towns of Inola and Claremore. My parents did not attend church regularly†¦show more content†¦By that point in time nothing really shocked me anymore. I felt open to new ideas, new people and found it easy to adapt to whatever surroundings I found in. This was only solidified with two humanitarian deployments to Africa and Eastern Asia before I finally finished my five-year contract and decided to move back to Tulsa, Oklahoma. So, with my social influences varying heavily depending on which chapter of my life I look at it’s hard to pin point where my political preferences stem. It seems the easiest way would be to start with a topic I have a strong view point on and look at what I see what parts of my life had the most significant impact. The first topic being abortion. Throughout my adult life this is one of the few major political viewpoints that has remained un-wavered. I believe that each human life is precious and the act of casual abortion is immoral. I can trace this ideal to when I was a teenager living in Tulsa. We started as a family of six, but after my older siblings moved out and my mom took my sister after the divorce, it was just me and my dad. 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Analyzing the Economic and Health of Smoking in Australia

Question: Discuss and Analyzing the Economic and Health of Smoking in Australia. Answer: Introduction: Smoking is a destructive act, destroying the smokers' and passive smokers' health and taking an unfortunate turn in their economic conditions. The financial burden falls on both the government and the individuals. There are many diseases which are preventable yet killed many people were originated from smoking. Smoking not only harms the person who is doing it. The individuals who are being the victims of passive smoking are also sharing the same fate as the smokers. The statistics have shown a significant number of child mortality cases are attached to smoking. Pregnant mothers smoking caused many diseases to their babies and themselves too. Smoking costs the governments of each country a lump sum amount of money. Many countries are trying to fight back to this evil habit of human kind. Australia is leading this fight from the front row. The government of Australia has introduced many policies in order to reduce tobacco consumption in the country. These policies taken have reduced the numbers of smokers significantly. It was seen that the contribution of smoking to hospitalization was significantly higher than illicit drug abuse and alcohol abused, combined. The rate of smoking in the disadvantaged groups of Australia is quite high even after the introductions of the policy measures by the government. The smoking rate among the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginals double the smoking rate among non-indigenous people. This has caused the disadva ntaged groups of the country more deaths and reduced their life expectancy. The complications during child births also have increased during smoking in the pregnancy periods. The government of Australia has taken several measures to inform the mothers of the disadvantaged groups the effects of smoking on their children and unborn. The results of these efforts are yet to show up. Problem statement: The problem statement in this research work is to determine the impact of smoking on health and economy of the people of the country. Objective of the study The primary objectives of the study are: To investigate the economic and health effect of smoking both on individual and government and then provide a comprehensive analysis to discourage or quit smoking. To explore the impact of smoking on life expectancy on the smokers and non-smokers To examine the various government policies to reduce smoking and its effect since implementation. The main research questions asked in this survey are: Does smoking have any effect on economy and health in Australia? Is there any government policy that discourages smoking? What are the main effects of smoking on mortality rates? What is the functional relationship between smoking and health and economy? Significance: The study is to determine the impact of smoking o health and economy of Australia. The smoking is one of the major health issues in todays world. Smoking is prevalent among youngsters as well as older people. The study will help to determine new policies for the policy makers regarding smoking habit. The mortality rate of the country is increasing in arithmetic progression. The research will help the government officials, policy makers and other concerned authorities to take necessary step to stop this smoking among the people of the country. Literature review: The gender differences in smoking can be interpreted through culture. Countries with lower gender empowerment have more gender differences in smoking. Death, diseases and financial burden associated with smoking are expected to increase or double in less developed and developing countries as they are now remain the focus of tobacco industry worldwide. A lot of colleges and universities student begin to smoke being the simple focus for tobacco industry and young people are barraged with tobacco messages and in some cases offer free cigarette. The government of Australia has aggressively increased tax on Tobacco products. This has made the price for tobacco goods double and in some cases even more. The Australian government is the first to introduce plain packing. The cigarette packs just contain the brand name in small fonts and with a picture which discourages smokers. Apart from the real value of tobacco purchases, the cost of cigarette use have more far- reaching health and economic impacts on families, private individual, employers and taxpayers. This approach has its own results. It has discouraged the newcomers from taking up smoking. But it has failed to create any significant changes in the adult smoking population. Some reduced smoking due to this reason. Others simply increased their smoking habits as resistant. Some did for psychological needs. The government of Australia has done a lot for reducing smoking in the country, in the last decade. The government has introduced aggressive taxation on tobacco products. The cigarette packs have become uglier in the last few years due to plain packing. The government has also created rules for disallowing smoking in public places, especially near the children's playgrounds and public transports in South Australia. The bans in tobacco consumption have impacts on the country's health as well as in the economy. It is claimed that due to the aggressive and progressive control of tobacco in developed world, smoking rate have reduced to 50% over the past four decades and also the mortality rate of smoking related illness or diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases are no diminishing and in few of these countries smoke free programs are protecting non-smokers from inhaling smoke. Recommendations: The recommendations that follow from the study are as follows: The study suggests that the numbers of smokers are increasing rapidly and also the diseases due to smoking are increasing. Therefore, the government and the concerned authorities should take necessary steps to control the matter. The smoking habits of the people can be controlled by generating awareness among the people. The study had been conducted by taking a very small sample. The research aims to find the impact on health and economy due to smoking for the whole country Australia. Therefore, the study could have been better if a few more samples could have been considered. The dataset also has some missing values. The missing values could be substituted with the help of some effective statistical techniques like mean Results and discussions: The data has been analyzed using various statistical methods. The following conclusions can be drawn from the analysis of the data. The data analysis results shows that the tendency of smoking is more among the males than among the females The cross tabulation results shows that the frequency of male smokers are more than female smokers, most of the smokers are above the age of 60 years and has education level till college. The results of the regression study reveals that most of the education level does not have much effect on expense of smoking however gender has some effect on smoking habits. The secondary datasets shows that the deaths due to smoking are more than prevented. Conclusions: The research has been carried out by taking a sample of size 60. The data has been collected by the method of simple random sampling. The data analysis results show that the tendency of smoking is more among the males than among the females. The cross tabulation results shows that the frequency of male smokers are more than female smokers and most of the smokers are above the age of 60 years. The secondary datasets shows that the deaths due to smoking are more than prevented. This implies that smoking has some serious effect on health. There are certain limitations of the study which are discussed as follows: The study has been conducted by taking a very small sample. The size of the sample is only 60. This has been done due to limited amount of resources that used for the study. The survey has been conducted by using only simple random sampling. The study could have been better if some effective sampling methods like cluster sampling could have been used. The different regions of the country could have been taken as each cluster.

Nollan Vs. CCC Essays - Supreme Court Of The United States

Nollan vs. CCC Environmental Law Nollan vs. CCC Abstract of: 483 U.S. 825, 97 L. Ed.2d 677 James Patrick Nollan, et ux., Appellant v. California Coastal Commission. Case Definition: The case is Nollan versus the California Coastal Commission. The Nollans were the appellates against a decision made by the California Coastal Commission (CCC). The Nollans had been leasing a property on the California coast with which they had an option to buy. The property lies directly at the foot of the Pacific Ocean and is a prime piece of real estate on the California Coast. The property had been used by the Nollans to rent out during the summer months to vacationers. At the end of the Nollans' lease they took the option to purchase the land and began preparing for the terms of purchase by the previous land owner. Among those terms was the demolishing of the small deteriorating bungalow that the Nollans had been leasing. The Nollans had planned to expand the structure from the small bungalow that it was to a three bedroom house more complimentary to the surrounding homes and their needs. In order to begin destruction of the property and begin rebuilding the site the Nollans had to secure a permit from the California Coastal Commission. Upon submitting the permit application, the CCC found that the permit should be granted on the condition that the Nollans provide public access to the beach and to the local county park, which lay adjacent to the property. This provision called for the Nollans to use a portion of their land to be used as a public walkway to the beach and park. The Nollans protested to the condition, but the CCC overruled the objection and granted the permit with the condition intact. Case Decision: The Nollans filed a petition to the Ventura County Superior Court asking that the condition to supply easement be removed from their permit. The Nollans' argument was that there was not enough evidence to support the developments limiting of public access to the beach. The argument was agreed upon by the court and the case was remanded to the California Coastal Commission for a full evidentiary hearing on the issue of public access to the beach. The CCC held a public hearing which led to further factual findings which reaffirmed the need for the condition. The CCC's argument was that the building of the new structure would limit view of the ocean, and therefore limit access to the public who had full rights to use the beach. To compensate for the limitations on the public the Nollans would have to provide access to the beach from their property. The CCC also noted that all of the other developments on the same tract of land had been conditioned similarly in having to provide public access to the ocean. The Nollans filed a supplemental petition for a writ of administrative mandamus (a writ that would order a public official or body to comply with a specified duty issued by a superior court). The Nollans argument was that the permit condition violated the Takings Clause in the V Amendment, and also in the XIV Amendment of the Constitution. The court agreed that the administrative record did not provide for in showing the existence of adverse impact on the publics' access to the ocean. The court granted the writ of mandamus, and directed that the public access condition be removed from the permit. The CCC appealed the case in the California Court of Appeal and won the decision. The Court of Appeal found an error in the Supreme Courts interpretation of the Coastal Act which mandates public access to any category of developments on the coast. The Court of Appeal also found that the Takings claim was unsubstantiated by the Nollans. The permit condition did take from the value of the land, but did not restrict them of reasonable use of their property. The Nollans then appealed to the United States Supreme Court. The argument made by the Nollans continued to revolve around the Takings Clause in the V Amendment. The Supreme Court found that the requirement of the permit only put a restriction on the use of the property and not a ?taking? of the property. The Supreme Court also held the California State Constitution to have standing, and upheld the ruling made by the Court of Appeals. Reasoning for Decision: I believe that the reason the Supreme Court decided as it did was that its interpretation of the California State Constitution provided for the authority of the CCC's permit regulation. The part within the states constitution says that access to any

Your First Job Out of College

​Your First Job Out of College Congratulations! You are going to enter the professional environment and start your career. Now your whole life is stretching out before you and you will face a new world of challenges. Remember how big your campus seemed when you arrived as a freshman? There were a lot of unknown people, everything was unfamiliar and challenging. Be ready to feel like a freshman again, now at work. What to Expect from Your First Job You need to be ready that your first job after college wont be your dream career. Sure, it will teach you some immeasurable skills and you will get that so much needed real world experience, but it doesnt mean that youre going to do the things you enjoy most of all. You may not even know what your dream job is. There is a lot of pressure to get a position after graduation because you have such high expectations and not enough practice. Most likely youll have to deal with the routine tasks. Before you get the cool assignments, you need to show your employer that you can handle the simple operations. If you only start searching for a job, this post on how to write a resume with no job experience will be very useful for you. The payment may not also be as you are hoping to get because most entry-level jobs offer entry-level salaries. Thats why think carefully before accepting a job offer, this will be your income for the next year or at least several months. For this reason, you should get to know effective salary negotiation tactics for college students. All in all, you have to realize that the point of your first employment is to try out different responsibilities, types of work to understand what you absolutely love. Linkedin has recently posted the list of the most popular first jobs based on resumes. How to Make the Most of a New Workplace Experience Your attitude to a new job will determine whether your experience will be a positive and fruitful one. Here are some practical tips and strategies to take the mostrld of grown-up opportunities: Approach every task with enthusiasm. You need to deal with all the tasks and duties in a confident and efficient manner. Apply the â€Å"can do† approach on a regular basis, be attentive to details and dont forget to smile. Be a team player. Treat other people positively and demonstrate how well you can communicate. Youll work much better altogether and succeed faster which is essential for every business. Keep learning new things. Always look for the opportunities to improve your knowledge. Learn new things, develop essential skills and youll be amazed at how fast you grow. Join professional groups. Attend meetings, training sessions, join national and regional groups to share your experience and develop professionally. Find a mentor. A good mentor will greatly help you after graduation by keeping you motivated and focused all the time. Find someone you admire and ask them to help you at the early stages. Offer to help others. If you have some free time and know how to help your co-workers with some tasks, suggest your assistance. Youll cast yourself in a positive light. Building relationships at your first job is very important. Check out the ways to build relationships with colleagues at your first job. Make Sure to Avoid the Common Mistakes This is going to sound almost impossible, but try to make your first job experience ideal. New graduates always make the mistakes when they are facing a tough job market, so to have a better chance of success, you need to overcome the common problems. Here are some really useful pieces of advice that will turn your first job into a really effective and memorable â€Å"adventure†: Be proactive enough – dont sit back being casual in your work. Dont rely solely on the Internet, take advantage of networking and cooperation with colleagues. Never focus on searching a dream job, instead look for your first job. Try not to set expectations too high. Dont waste time and start making useful connections. Avoid looking unprofessional – delete all â€Å"three Bs† photos (beer, bongs, bikinis) from your profile page. Youll only have one first job, so make everything possible not to turn it into a nightmare. Remember to have fun, make new friends and youll have an exciting and positive professional experience!

Biography of Senator George McGovern

Biography of Senator George McGovern George McGovern was a South Dakota Democrat who represented liberal values in the United States Senate for decades and became widely known for his opposition to the Vietnam War. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972, and lost to Richard Nixon in a landslide. Fast Facts: George McGovern Full Name: George Stanley McGovernKnown For: 1972 Democratic nominee for president, longtime liberal icon represented South Dakota in the U.S. Senate from 1963 to 1980Born: July 19, 1922 in Avon, South DakotaDied: October 21, 2012 in Sioux Falls, South DakotaEducation: Dakota Wesleyan University and Northwestern University, where he received a Ph.D. in American historyParents: Rev. Joseph C. McGovern and Frances McLeanSpouse: Eleanor Stegeberg (m. 1943)Children: Teresa, Steven, Mary, Ann, and Susan Early Life George Stanley McGovern was born in Avon, South Dakota, on July 19, 1922. His father was a Methodist minister, and the family adhered to the typical small-town values of the time: hard work, self-discipline, and avoidance of alcohol, dancing, smoking, and other popular diversions. As a boy McGovern was a good student and received a scholarship to attend Dakota Wesleyan University. With Americas entry into World War II, McGovern enlisted and became a pilot. Military Service and Education McGovern saw combat service in Europe, flying a B-24 heavy bomber. He was decorated for valor, though he did not revel in his military experiences, considering it simply his duty as an American. Following the war, he resumed his college studies, focusing on history as well as his deep interest in religious matters. He went on to study American history at Northwestern University, eventually receiving a Ph.D. His dissertation studied the coal strikes in Colorado and the Ludlow Massacre of 1914. During his years at Northwestern, McGovern became politically active and began to see the Democratic Party as a vehicle to achieve social change. In 1953, McGovern became the executive secretary of the South Dakota Democratic Party. He began an energetic process of rebuilding the organization, traveling extensively throughout the state. Early Political Career In 1956, McGovern ran for office himself. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and was re-elected two years later. On Capitol Hill he supported a generally liberal agenda and established some important friendships, including with Senator John F. Kennedy and his younger brother, Robert F. Kennedy. McGovern ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 1960 and lost. His political career seemed to have reached an early end, but he was tapped by the new Kennedy administration for a job as director of the Food for Peace Program. The program, which was very much in keeping with McGoverns personal beliefs, sought to combat famine and food shortages around the world. President John F. Kennedy and George McGovern in the Oval Office. Getty Images   After running the Food For Peace Program for two years, McGovern ran for the Senate again in 1962. He won a narrow victory, and took his seat in January 1963. Opposing Involvement in Vietnam As the United States increased its involvement in Southeast Asia, McGovern expressed skepticism. He felt the conflict in Vietnam was essentially a civil war in which the United States should not be directly involved, and he believed the South Vietnamese government, which American forces were supporting, was hopelessly corrupt. McGovern openly expressed his views on Vietnam in late 1963. In January 1965, McGovern drew attention by delivering a speech on the Senate floor in which he said he did not believe the Americans could reach a military victory in Vietnam. He called for a political settlement with North Vietnam. McGoverns position was controversial, especially as it put him in opposition to a president of his own party, Lyndon Johnson. His opposition to the war, however, was not unique, as several other Democratic senators were expressing misgivings about American policy. As opposition to the war increased, McGoverns stance made him popular to a number of Americans, especially younger people. When opponents of the war sought a candidate to run against Lyndon Johnson in the 1968 Democratic Party primary elections, McGovern was an obvious choice. McGovern, planning to run for re-election for the Senate in 1968, chose not to enter the early running in 1968. However, after the assassination for Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968, McGovern attempted to enter the contest at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Hubert Humphrey became the nominee and went on to lose to Richard Nixon in the election of 1968. In the fall of 1968 McGovern easily won re-election to the Senate. Thinking of running for president, he began to utilize his old organizing skills, traveling the country, speaking at forums and urging an end to the war in Vietnam. The 1972 Campaign By late 1971, the Democratic challengers to Richard Nixon in the upcoming election seemed to be Hubert Humphrey, Maine senator Edmund Muskie, and McGovern. Early on, political reporters did not give McGovern much of a chance, but he showed surprising strength in the early primaries. In the first contest of 1972, the New Hampshire primary, McGovern finished a strong second to Muskie. He then went on to win the primaries in Wisconsin and Massachusetts, states where his strong support among college students boosted his campaign. George McGovern campaigning in the spring of 1972. Getty Images   McGovern secured enough delegates to assure himself the Democratic nomination on the first ballot at the Democratic National Convention, held in Miami Beach, Florida, in July 1972. However, when insurgent forces which had helped McGovern took control of the agenda, the convention quickly turned into a disorganized affair which put a deeply divided Democratic Party on full display. In a legendary example of how not to run a political convention, McGoverns acceptance speech was delayed by procedural squabbling. The nominee finally appeared on live television at 3:00 a.m, long after most of the viewing audience had gone to bed. A major crisis hit McGoverns campaign soon after the convention. His running mate, Thomas Eagleton, a little-known senator from Missouri, was revealed to have suffered from mental illness in his past. Eagleton had received electro-shock therapy, and a national debate about his fitness for high office dominated the news. McGovern, at first, stood by Eagleton, saying he supported him one thousand percent. But McGovern soon decided to replace Eagleton on the ticket, and was skewered for appearing indecisive. After a troubled search for a new running mate, as several prominent Democrats turned down the position, McGovern named Sargent Shriver, President Kennedys brother in law who had served as leader of the Peace Corps. Richard Nixon, running for re-election, had distinct advantages. The Watergate scandal had been kicked off by a break-in at Democratic headquarters in June 1972, but the extent of the affair was not yet known to the public. Nixon had been elected in the turbulent year of 1968, and the country, while still divided, seemed to have calmed during Nixons first term. In the November election McGovern was trounced. Nixon won a historic landslide, scoring 60 percent of the popular vote. The score in the electoral college was brutal: 520 for Nixon to McGoverns 17, represented only by the electoral votes of Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. Later Career Following the 1972 debacle, McGovern returned to his seat in the Senate. He continued to be an eloquent and unapologetic advocate for liberal positions. For decades, leaders in the Democratic Party argued over the 1972 campaign and election. It became standard among Democrats to distance oneself from the McGovern campaign (though a generation of Democrats, including Gary Hart, and Bill and Hillary Clinton, had worked on the campaign). McGovern served in the senate until 1980, when he lost a bid for reelection. He remained active in retirement, writing and speaking out on issues he believed important. In 1994 McGovern and his wife endured a tragedy when their adult daughter, Terry, who suffered from alcoholism, froze to death in her car. To cope with his grief, McGovern wrote a book, Terry: My Daughters Life and Death Struggle With Alcoholism. He then became an advocate, speaking out on alcohol and drug addiction. President Bill Clinton appointed McGovern as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. Thirty years after his work in the Kennedy administration, he was back advocating on food and hunger issues. McGovern and his wife moved back to South Dakota. His wife died in 2007. McGovern remained active in retirement, and went skydiving on his 88th birthday. He died on October 21, 2012, at the age of 90. Sources: George Stanley McGovern. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 10, Gale, 2004, pp. 412-414. Gale Virtual Reference Library.Kenworthy, E.W. U.S.-Hanoi Accord Urged By Senator. New York Times, 16 January 1965. p. A 3.Rosenbaum, David E. George McGovern Dies at 90, a Liberal Trounced But Never Silence. New York Times, 21 October 2012. p. A 1.

Impact of Internal Factors on Strategic Planning Essay

Impact of Internal Factors on Strategic Planning - Essay Example rt Macauley decided to rescue victims who survived during the crash and he started dealing with the mission of helping the victim, but he had to deal with the financial issues. The mission of starting the organization of providing disaster and other emergency relief took the stage. Therefore, with the help of Pope John Paul and financial aid from other people; the organization started operating in 1982. The mission of the organization is to restore health, save lives and offer relief services through delivering effective medicines during disaster period or any other emergence cases within America and across the globe. One of the key aspects of the AmeriCares in the internal environment is leadership aspects. Leadership is one of the effective aspects that are taken into consideration in the AmeriCares organization. The organization has varied leaders who are assigned different roles in a hierarchy manner. Marquis and Huston (2009) argue that leadership styles employed in an organization can impact organizational performance in case leaders does not take it into consideration. Different leaders employ leadership styles depending on the environment or leadership behaviors; hence, this might impact strategic planning in the organization (Harrison and Association of University Programs in Health Administration, 2010). AmeriCares  association  is  an independent and fair organization; thus, it recruits leaders with effective skills for managing the company. Thus, leadership skills, behaviors and styles employed by each leader may hinder effective decision making process; thus impacting strategic planning process. Another aspect is the organizational structure within the internal environment. The company is structured in a manner that enables leaders to make an effective decision process when handling significant issues. The flow of information is from the top management leaders to the bottom; thus, poor management and effective communication in the hierarchy may

Applied Construction Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Applied Construction Management - Coursework Example The car park will have the entrance the exit gates which will all face the main road. The entrance to the car parking will be from the side of Ragian Road with the exit being placed on the side of Rampart Road. The parking for the disabled people will be on the ground floor and to the left side of the entrance. The parking for other people will be on towards the right of the entrance and they will be able to park from the second to the third floor. Additionally, the car park will have surveillance cameras that will be placed on both the entrance towards Ragian and at the exit towards the Rampart road. Other surveillance cameras will be place at each parking section with the control room located at the third floor of the building (Oyedele, Ajayi and Kadiri, 2014). The building will have four floors. The last floor will act as offices for executives and other people. The car park apartment will be painted blue green which are the company colours. Barriers will also be placed at the entrance and the exit to control traffic as well as acting as security control. The barriers will be manned by the personnel at the control room as well as the personnel located at both the entrance and the exit. The painting will be done by the Solai painters with the lighting system being conducted by the Harold lights. The lighting system will be fixed to all floors as well as the parking sections. The lighting system will be raised to ensure that all the area in the park is well lit. The other issue that the contractor will take care of is the signage that will be located on the various sections of the park with an aim of giving direction to the people who will be visiting the park (Bennett and Ormerod, 2011). The park will have signs that will show directions a s well as the points of services. The contactor will ensure that the work

Professional Communication at the Workplace Essay Example for Free

Professional Communication at the Workplace Essay Interpersonal communication is essentially the exchange of communication between one person(s) and another. Like any other form of communication, interpersonal communication involves the sender of the message and the recipient of the message. The message can only be passed correctly if both the sender and the recipient pass it correctly and understand each other. I work for a voluntary group at the University. This group aims at reaching out to the less fortunate both in the institution and the society generally. We do not offer financial help as such but instead focus on the abilities of the people we interact with and give them the necessary counsel and advice they need. In this way, we give them ideas on how they can actually help themselves out financially. This organization involves a lot of interaction, both within ourselves as the members of the organization and also between us and the people we interact with. As such there is a lot of interpersonal communication that goes on. The group consists of a total of ten members, and as they say, we are like our fingers; we come in different sizes and lengths, not literally but in terms of age, personalities, gender, culture, spiritual orientation and physical abilities and disabilities. This whole structure of diversity makes communication, particularly interpersonal communication, an issue worth debate. This is because the way we choose to communicate within ourselves and others is bound to affect our service delivery either positively or n egatively. The following part of the paper will critically analyze each of these factors mentioned above that makes us diverse in our communication, interpersonal communication.CITATION Joh12 p 56 l 1033 (Johnson, 2012, p. 56)Age The voluntary group I work for is extremely diversified when it comes to age, with members from the extreme sides of the age spectrum. The oldest member in the group is aged forty seven, while the youngest is seventeen. Most of the members, about seventy percent, are aged between seventeen and twenty five. The main reason behind this is the fact that the organization requires the participation of both the old and young. For instance, the young and vibrant group, which forms the majority of the group, is required to move up and down and interact with the people we look forward to offering our help to. The older group is mostly involved ion critically analyzing our case studies and give direction on the best way forward. It is therefore not easy to hold a conversation between these two groups that are different in terms of age. For instance, young people will always base their ideas on what social media says. They will go with current trends since that are what they are familiar with a nd immediately make a decision. The older group will look at trends on a more historical point of view and analyze historical events in relation to the topic of discussion before coming up with a remedy. The young members, moreover, communicate with a lot of slang because as much as this organization is based on official business, it is also a social and interactive group as well. This way, the message at times is not passed effectively from one person(s) to another. The consequence of this communication gap is that the goals of the organizations are not at all times met and therefore efficiency is not achieved as well.CITATION Ric01 p 76 l 1033 (Pircadi, 2001, p. 76)Perceived Emotions, Relationships and Personality Our personalities define us. We have different personalities just as we are different in other aspects of our lives. The personality of a person is one thing that psychologists have proved beyond reasonable doubt that is very difficult to change. The personalities of a person will most of the time dictate the way in which they communicate. Some people are introverts and as such they tend to keep to themselves. They listen more than they speak. They think more and learn more from their surrounding and the people around them. Others are outspoken and will speak more. They express themselves through speech. The relationship between or among people also influences communication. CITATION Joh12 l 1033 (Johnson, 2012)This I have witnessed in my voluntary work group. People tend to open up to those they are close with and give less details to the people they are not that close to. One’s family tends to know them better because of the blood relationship that exists as compared to outs iders. Finally, people perceive and express their emotions very differently. Jerry, a member of my voluntary group tends to hide his low moments in smiles. It is therefore not easy to tell what he is going through. I, on the other hand will always show it. I have no way to hide and it is communicated through my emotions. The way we react to how we feel will determine the way we communicate. There are those of us like Jerry who will drown our sorrows in smiles and those like me who will communicate it just as it is. It is therefore very clear that we communicate our emotions very differently and this goes way back to our personalities.CITATION Joh02 p 94 l 1033 (Gray, 2002, p. 94)Spiritual Orientation The world is composed of people with very diverse spiritual backgrounds. Spiritual background forms the foundation of the life of a person. More often than not, the behavior of a person is well explained by their religious beliefs. This is also the case with communication most of the time. Spiritual diversity will create diversity in speech and in communication generally. For instance, Moslems do not shake hands as a sign of greeting. Their greetings are always in form of speech. This is unlike other religions where people are allowed to shake hands casually and even hug. People from strong religious backgrounds and those with high faith are also very cautious with their speech. They tend to taste their words before they spit them out, that is, they are sensitive in their speech so as not to hurt others. The voluntary group that I work with, or rather that I work for has all Christians but one Moslem, Rahima Nassir. She, in one way or another, communicates in a different way from the rest. Most of the time, she refers to the Allah, who is the Supreme Being according to her religion. This happens especially in cases where she tries to sound optimistic and give a hopeless situation hope. The voluntary group involves a lot of interaction and therefore we have to be warm as we interact with others. This is at times not very easy to achieve owing to the fact that some religious beliefs have certain strains. Rahima is not the only one that faces such challenges. Even along the Christian front, there are various denominations which uphold different values. These values make the approach to various situations very differently. CITATION Gai10 p 104 l 1033 (Forey, 2010, p. 104)Gender The gender of a person also affects communication, particularly interpersonal communication. The female species has a different way of passing a message from the male species. One thing I love the most about my voluntary group is that we are balanced when it comes to gender. Out of a group of ten, we have five ladies and five gentlemen. This gives a ratio of one to one. However, this gender difference can at timers be a major setback in terms of communication. The Ladies, for instance would like to be addressed in a more soft way even when it comes to simple aspects such as greetings. Important to note is that communication does not involve only speech, there is verbal and non-verbal communication, all of which should be considered. Throughout the time that I spend with members of my organization, I have observed that men and women have very different modes and methods of communication. Most of the time, male members are very radical in their speech as well as their illustrations. La dies have a different approach. They, more often than not, are very soft both in their speech and illustrations. It is for this reason that they (ladies) are extremely cautious in their speech. I also noted that the men speak fewer words as compared to the ladies. Ladies speak more, except in a few instances.CITATION Mar09 p 85 l 1033 (Gufey, 2009, p. 85)Person with Disability They say disability is not inability. However, this part of the paper will view disability as a hindrance to communication to an extent. People with disabilities, physical disabilities for that matter, face a lot of challenges when it comes to passing a message effectively. This bottleneck is faced by not only the sender of the message but the recipient as well. The voluntary group that I work for or rather the members of the group that I work with experiences such challenges. In the group, there are two people with physical disabilities. Jerry is a deaf while Geoffrey is visually impaired. Of the two, I think Geoffrey has the most difficult time when it comes to communication. For one reason or the other, Geoffrey happened to be the secretary of the organization at some point in time. He therefore took minutes during meetings and did all the secretarial work. This position, I can say he deserved. Geoffrey is very brilliant besides being very diligent in his work. The main challenge that group faced was the translation of the brail recorded minutes. No one in the group understood brail language apart from Geoffrey himself. He was the only one that could read and understand the minutes. Consequently, he had to step down as secretary after a fortnight of good leadership. Jerry on the other hand, cannot communicate easily and effectively. As a matter of facts, he is most of the time misunderstood and the group experiences a lot of instances with miscommunication. Sign language is not that easy to understand. This impacts negatively on the communication in the organization. Both Jerry and the rest of the members have a hard time in communicating. The importance of both Geoffrey and Jerry in the group can never be underestimated but then at times the challenges effective communication a tall order.CITATION Per08 p 119 l 1033 (Mcintosh, 2008, p. 119)Culture Culture is a very important aspect that should be put into consideration when it comes to effective communication. The culture of a member or members of a group determines how the message is conveyed and it also determines how the message is perceived. Culture affects communication to a very great extent simply because the culture of a person will dictate their style of communication. This means that the more diverse the cultures are, the more diverse their styles of communication. Though to a small extent, there is cultural diversity in our voluntary group. In essence we have people from diverse cultural group. For matters of convenience, I will describe the cultural diversity as high culture and low culture, not that any culture is more superior to another, but for explanatory purposes. For instance, Evelyn, the group’s organizing secretary, is from the high culture. This category mainly focuses their communication on arts and by arts I mean it is more of music, drama et cet era. This category will therefore involve people with a very high esteem since for one to be able to express themselves through arts; they have to be extremely bold, just typical of Evelyn. On the contrary, the low culture category involves large audiences. A good illustration of how culture can affect communication is that in some cultures for instance, it is very vital to maintain eye contact during communication while in others; eye contact can be seen as offensive and unacceptable. Barry, the chairman of our voluntary group and Miley, our secretary are most of the time caught up in such a situation due to their religious differences.CITATION Jos14 p 92 l 1033 (Chesobro, 2014, p. 92)Conclusion and Recommendations With over seven billion people in the world, it is expected that people will differ in relation to various aspects of life. Even people from the same family, people with the same cultures, same religious beliefs and people from the same age group will at one point or the other differ. Communication, on the other is also very important. Each and everything we do revolves around communication. No man is an island. This simply means we have to live harmoniously with each other. For this reason, communication is very important. This paper has not focused on intrapersonal communication but interpersonal communication since this is the way we interact with each other in our work places. Without effective interpersonal communication at our work places, it almost difficult to make any social and economic progress. However, I have learnt from my work experiences at my voluntary group that diversities will always be there, they are there to stay. These are some aspects of life that we should a ccept them just in the way they come. We can never be the same. It is therefore very important to understand and embrace each of our diversities, placing our differences aside. From my own case study it is clear that communication is very important. It is equally clear that challenges must arise due to the diversities in various life aspects. Therefore, from my own experience, I would recommend that we respect the fact that we are not and can never be the same but try as well to burn any bridges that might exist as a result of the differences amongst us. We are one and shall always be one, despite our differences. Let us let communication to make us and not break us. References 1033 Avery, C. (2001). The Flexible Workplace. New York: New York University Press. Chesobro, J. (2014). Professional Communication at the Workplace. New York: New York University Press. Eunson, B. (2009). Communication in the Workplace. New York: Edgeworth Publishers. Forey, G. (2010). Globalization, Communication in the Workplace. Oxford University Press. Gray, J. (2002). Mars and Venus in the Workplace. Oxford University Press. Gufey, M. E. (2009). Essentials of Business Communication. New York: New York University Press. Johnson, J. (2012). Solving Problems in Technical Communication. Oxford University Press. Mcintosh, P. (2008). Interpersonal Communication In The Workplace. New York : New York University Press. Muema, T. (2007). Effects of Poor Communication in the Workplace. Miley and Sons Publishers. Pircadi, R. (2001). Skills of Workplace Communication. New York: New York University Press. Source document

John Steinbecks East of Eden - Good Versus Evil Essay -- East Eden Es

Good Versus Evil in East of Eden    The idea of good versus evil is illustrated in several ways in John Steinbeck's East of Eden. This is seen through the external conflicts in the novel, the internal conflicts of the characters, and a universal understanding of the battle between good and evil.    External conflicts between the main characters, Cathy and Adam, reflect the idea of good versus evil in their relationship. Cathy, who is much like Satan, creates a huge fight between Adam and his brother Charles with her manipulations. Later, she ruins Adam's dreams and breaks his heart when she shoots him and leaves, sending Adam into a deep depression. After twelve years, Adam snaps out of his dream world and confronts Cathy. Cathy is now called Kate and works in a whore house called Faye's. Despite her actions, Adam realizes that he doesn't even hate Cathy for the hurt she has caused him. He finds peace with himself, renewing his once abandoned relationship with his sons. Then there is the relationship between Charles and Adam. Charles physically and mentally abuses Adam to the extent that he tries to kill him when Charles thinks that their father, Cyrus, loves Adam more. Throughout all this Adam still loves Charles, even after he finds out that Charles and Cathy had slept together and his sons may have even been fathered by Charles. Later in the novel, Adam forgives Charles and writes him a letter to try and put their differences aside, only to find out that Charles has died. Cal and Aron are Cathy's twin sons. In their relationship they too have many conflicts, Aron, the "good" son, studies religion and Cal, the "evil" son, gambles and visits whore houses. Aron tries to convert Cal, but Cal refuses to convert a... ...sin, while the second commands him to do so. The inconsistency results in Lee studying the original Hebrew text with his philosophical Chinese elders and a Rabbi. Together they find that the original Hebrew text uses the word timshel : thou mayest rule over sin. This verb emphasizes that a person has the power of free will, putting into his own hands the ultimate decision of whether he will do of good or evil deeds.    The idea that man's relationship with good and evil is not predestined is a central idea in this novel. The conflict between good and evil is a universal battle. Many characters in the novel, East of Eden, struggle both internally and externally with Good versus evil.    Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath, The Moon is Down, Cannery Row, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men. New York: Heinemann/Octopus, 1979. pp.475 - 896.

Research Paper Mark Twain

Isabella Thomaz Donna Hunter – Period 2 Research Paper – Mark Twain October 26, 2012 MARK TWAIN: A REMARKABLE MAN WHO PAINTED THE WORLD â€Å"Classic' – a book which people praise and don't read. † When Samuel L. Clemens (more often referred to as Mark Twain) said this, he meant it in a humorous sense, but he also wanted people to understand it’s meaning. People call books like Huck Finn and Gatsby classics, yet the idea that these books are actually read by everyone isn’t so. Twain isn’t just a classical writer because we deem him so, he is given that title for the political influence he managed to present to his readers.He wanted to show that the idea of romanticism was healthy for young children unless used excessively. He expressed this point by creating Tom Sawyer, a boy who idolized romanticism; a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy o f the individual. And to have a balancing opposite, Huckleberry Finn was added into the equation – a boy who had no education but grew up both mentally and physically quickly because of his poverty.Twain’s idea of this political influence was a major impact on the people in his time because of the segregation of the whites and blacks – which was such a very big issue in that time with protests and such – and so his views were very democratic. We still value his influence today, not just because of the slavery issue but because of the controversy between romantic dominance and peaceful intelligence, romanticism having a more imaginative effect and intelligence striking your knowledge and building it on facts.That is why The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are meant for different aged readers – to impact a certain influence at a younger age when you read Tom’s story which is widely more imaginative, and to see t he change of Twain’s attempt to get his point across of romanticism being unhealthy for people like Tom in Huck’s story. At the beginning of Huck’s story, there is a robber’s scene where the two boys and their friends try and create an environment such as in a wild west book and it is told in both boys’ perspectives, however they are viewed or seen entirely differently.William F. Byrne descbribes it as a change in Huck and Tom’s characters from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer to the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because where Tom describes them, â€Å"We ain’t burglars. That ain’t no sort of style. We are highwaymen. We stop stages and carriages on the road, with masks on, and kill the people and take their watches and money. † (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: 26-28) Huck chooses to call themselves robbers, and eliminate the imagination by saying that they don’t kill people and that he was only in it for the profit, to which he found none.And then as Byrne points out, â€Å" In the earlier book Huck was the odd man out on issues of the imagination; the other boys welcomed the opportunity to share Tom’s dreams. In this case, however, we are told that all the boys resigned; it is Tom who is the odd man out. The other boys are perhaps getting too old for this kind of imaginative play, but not Tom. He alone remains determined to re-enact the kinds of dramatic events he has read about in fiction. † (Byrne, William F. Things have changed in the boys life and this is how Twain begins to reveal his controversial conflicts with romantic imagination in both Tom and Huck’s stories. A further demonstration of Twain’s political implications is Huck’s response to both Tom’s and the ‘duke’ and ‘dauphin’s’ (two men who happen to hop onto Huck’s raft with Jim, an escaped slave) dominance of being in charge. Huck, in order to prev ent quarrels and maintain peace. He allows them to take charge and does whatever they say.The only difference between Tom’s dominance and the two men who hop on Jim and Huck’s raft is that Huck only follows Tom because he offered the poverty-stricken boy friendship. Also Tom’s fascination with romantic imaginations entertains Huck because it is the only bit of boyish quality he can attain to. The ‘duke’ and ‘dauphin’ have a sense of charge to the point that Huck actually has no say in the matter because even though he has grown up and craves more to the understanding of real-world problems, he is but a boy and Jim is an escaped slave.But there is something more Twain included to Huck’s behavior, and this is that because of his father’s physical dominance, he has shriveled into a sheep. He naturally allows himself to be put below someone else. â€Å"The silent assertion that nothing is going on which fair and intelligent m en are aware of and are engaged by their duty to try to stop. † (Mark Twain) Twain’s words describe Huck’s form of character simply and this is a fascinating idea that Twain uses to distinguish Huck’s realism to Tom’s romanticism cognitive thinking.Twain shows how people have become so much more involved in romanticism imagination without even knowing it. The technological advances in society drive man to a more dominant state of mind and that men value their strive for dominant success over things like a family member’s death. He uses the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, two families and neighbors with an ongoing feud that causes conflicts with the family members who want nothing to do with it, feud to express this for example when one from each family secretly gets married and this causes a battle that inevitably kills Huck’s friend, Buck.This is an influential topic more to present day society than from his time because everywhere you look, mankind is fighting with each other and we relentlessly regard what should be valued over money and political problems – our family’s well being and to look around our crumbling society that can only be reconstructed by everyone dropping their arms and helping one another out to become one with peace without having to give in to a dominant force as Huck Finn has allowed to be done to him.There is definitely a classical sense about Mark Twain, but it is not because someone just says ‘Oh hey this guy is a really good writer,’ it is a remarkable sense because he has a very powerful and political influence that was seen both in his time and ours, specifically with his books Tom Saywer and Huck Finn. Even if they are different. I believe his influence will continue to strive forward because if it’s one thing he made distinct, a part of mankind will always strive for dominance and those who see it and want to solve real-world problems will likely b e the sheep created by physically dominated men like Huckleberry Finn.But they won’t be alone. Because as Twain influence reaches more and more sheep, they will become the lions and end the dominant strive and will maintain peace through equality. Works Cited: – Marshall, Donald G. â€Å"Twain, Mark. † World Book Student. World Book, 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. – Foner, Eric, and John A. Garraty. â€Å"Twain, Mark. † The Reader's Companion to American History. Dec. 1 1991: n. p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 Oct 2012. – â€Å"Mark Twain. † Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. . – â€Å"Twain, Mark (1835-1910). † The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Abington: Helicon, 2010. Credo Reference. Web. 28 October 2012. – Byrne, William F,. â€Å"Realism, Romanticism, and Politics in Mark Twain. † Realism, Romanticism, and Politics in Mark Twain. National Hu manities Institute, 1 Nov. 1999. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. . – Twain, Mark. â€Å"Chapter 4. † Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Random House, 1996. 26-28. Print.

Key Symbol – Statue of Liberty

Lazarus inscribed on her base, â€Å"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tots to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! (Lazarus)† For in these words a key symbol of American pride became that which beckons to all who wish for more, for better, and for liberation from that which oppresses them. For Americans, the Statue of Liberty is a key symbol distinguishing liberty and freedom. She carries the Insurmountable burden of being the symbol for America's cantonal pride through Its accomplishments.Originally named â€Å"Liberty Enlightening the World†, the statue was constructed as an Icon celebrating America's victories over adversity. This was evident at the statue's Inauguration In 1886. Before a crowd of thousands and President Grover Cleveland, the American people intensified † almost immediately†¦ † That the statue â€Å"†¦ Was widely regarded as a symbol of the nation. † (Scorcher Arts and Entertainment) The people instantaneously accepted this magnificent work of art as a symbol of their power and strength.Furthermore, the eye symbolism can be felt through the emotions evoked through the interpretation of her â€Å"no-nonsense† facial attitude seen through all those who look upon. This is a representative of strength and resolve in the people of America. This is confirmed by the work of the sculptor Birthday, and his eloquent portrayal in the subtleties of expression, â€Å"Liberty serious demeanor underscores the Idea that liberty Itself comes at a cost and must not be taken lightly. † (Scorcher Arts and Entertainment) â€Å"Finally, almost covered by the drapery, Liberty left foot, which few viewers et to see, treads upon the broken shackles of tyranny.The receding position of her right leg makes the statue, when viewed from the south, seem to be striding onward to shed her lig ht before her. † (Scorcher Arts and Entertainment) Americans feel strongly about Lady Liberty and realize that having their personal freedom comes with cost, many times paid for in human lives and other sacrifices, but through it all as a nation of determined people, they will continue to break the shackles of tyranny and stride onward stronger than before.Furthermore, as a gift room France to the people of the united States to mark the Centennial of the American Declaration of Independence, the Statue of Liberty was given to recognize America for Its accomplishments and tribulations In Just one hundred short years of history. This key symbol was given in honor of the accomplishments the newly Torment unlace states Ana undergone since ten selling AT ten Declaration AT Independence: a Civil War and reconstruction of a nation, the overcoming of slavery, the death of a great leader, and a revolution not unlike the one experienced by theFrench. The people of France looked upon the United States as being triumphant over all odds and still remaining a strong independent nation; and from this, the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of national pride was born. The symbolism found in the Statue of Liberty is not exclusive to Just the people of America. Its representation of liberty and freedom is known throughout the world to those seeking safe harbor within her borders. The statue represents freedom, liberty for those immigrants that are in search of an opportunity and a new life.Immigrants re inspired to seek refuge in the United States through shared tales of how Lady Liberty stands at the doorway to this new life, and beckons them in with her colossal torch of light. The emotional perception and imagery is so intense that countless immigrants have been compelled to sell virtually all their worldly possessions, pack into ships like herds of cattle and make uncertain Journeys across stormy seas. The symbolism is further reinforced by those that have completed the Jo urney, as they share their tales of Lady Liberty with those souls seeking inspiration. For many the iris memory was the ‘lady with the torch'. † (Brownstone) A simple glimpse can conjure up an almost religious enchantment. It was not uncommon for passengers to weep or pray with gratitude upon seeing her verdigris face in the harbor. This is marked by the account of one immigrant, Celia Ripens as she recalls, â€Å"l saw the Statue of Liberty. And we all ran out and I prayed because I heard so much in Poland about it- the Statue of Liberty. (Brownstone) Moreover, another immigrant recalls being shown by her uncle the Statue of Liberty, and she notes that â€Å"That I will never forget. (Brownstone) Countless passengers on immigrant ships, many with their bodies wracked by illness and terrible seasickness, would rush up to the densely crowded decks, teeming with people to witness their first sight of the Statue of Liberty; a symbol proclaimed by the immigrating peoples a s their icon for success and newly afforded opportunities in a new land.Embodied in art work, and held as a cherished icon, Lady Liberty has appeared in countless renderings on American currency. The image of liberty has been seen on coins, Liberty Loan Bonds, and a number of commemorative coins. Her image stirs up the emotions that people relate to freedom and success, that her image has been endeared to financial freedoms as well. Liberty stands tall on a Liberty Loan Bond, issued during World War I to help boost the economy. Her likeness and images have graced the new dollar coins, giving an impression once again of triumph over adversity.As a key symbol not only to her nation, but to her home state of New York, her distinctive shape graces the small space of the US State Quarter, and after the events of September 1 1, 2001 her image has been shown on commemorative coins as symbol of triumph and solidarity over adversity against her nation. Lady Liberty is not only a key symbol, she is a work of art, having been represented in mediums from the copper of her frame to the renditions of many artists who endear her more and more in their works.She is truly a key symbol to the nation's people. As one AT ten most recognizable symbols AT American Justice Ana Treetop, Lay Liberty stands tall embodying Americans with national pride, as well as an intrinsic sense of personal pride. The statue continues to strengthen the American peoples' solve in their times of adversity. This strength continues to perpetuate through the stories and coinage passed from one generation to the next.The tales of the countless people that overcame unthinkable odds to simply pass before the lady with the torch, Liberty Enlightening the World is a reminder that Americans are those people. Americans are the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses that yearned to breathe free. Yet, through everything America endures, as a nation the people of the United States continue to draw on and find ref uge in the comfort and solidarity of his national key symbol, not to only guide them, but to serve as a reminder of their strength.

Ways of Seeing Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father

Ways of Seeing Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father The short stories Cathedral by Raymond Carver and A Conversation with My Father by Grace Paley, while they differ in characterization, both employ a detached narrative point of view to create an emotional experience of profound isolation in the reader.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ways of Seeing: Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In Carver’s (2006) story, we learn the emotional isolation experienced by the narrator almost immediately, through his description of his own wife’s attempted suicide, and his description of the death of Robert’s wife. Carver’s narrator maintains a cold distance from the emotional impact of having very nearly lost his wife before he met her. Carver’s narrator seems more engaged by the competition between himself and his wife’s first husband, as evidenced herein: â€Å"one night she got to feeling lonely and cut off from people she kept losing in that moving-around life. She got to feeling she couldnt go it another step. She went in and swallowed all the pills and capsules in the medicine chest†¦But instead of dying, she got sick. She threw up. Her officerwhy should he have a name? he was the childhood sweetheart, and what more does he want?† (Carver, 2006). As Bullock (1994) details, in the narrator’s account of his wifes attempted suicide, â€Å"the figures in the story- the wife, the officer, the blind man- seem a long distance away, tiny separated figures, observed by a detached, all-seeing eye. They might as well be figures on the screen of the television.† Similarly, when the narrator describes the loss of Beulah, Robert’s wife, he betrays an almost savage disregard for Robert’s emotions when he says, â€Å"Beulah’s health went into rapid decline. She died in a Seattle hospital room, the blind man sitting beside the bed and holding on to her hand. Theyd married, lived and worked together, slept togetherhad sex, sureand then the blind man had to bury her. All this without his having ever seen what the goddamned woman looked like. It was beyond my understanding† (Carver, 2006). Significantly, the narrator never names his wife. He identifies her only by role. This omission creates a distinct absence of personality in the woman. The narrator feels no real connection with her as a human being, aside from a mildly competitive instinct to assert his ownership over her body when she falls asleep and her robe opens in front of Robert. The point of view on display from Carver’s narrator reveals the vast emotional distance that exists between himself and other people, and he transmits and transfers this distance to us, the reader. The narrator feels nothing when describing intensely emotional events; he recounts them as though they were news.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, the reader’s own emotional experience comes to resemble his: muted, and disengaged. Carver’s use of point of view allows us to perceive the world from the same standoffish, sharply critical distance that the narrator does, and ironically, this brings us closer to him. The narrator in Grace Paley’s (2006) A Conversation with My Father follows a different characterization than Carver’s, however, the point of view contains the same chilled â€Å"distance between observer and observed† (Bullock, 1994). Paley’s narrator initially appears more animated, more engaged, than Carver’s. An example occurs in the story’s opening when she expresses â€Å"I want to please him, though I dont remember writing that way. I would like to try to tell such a story, if he means the kind that begins: There was a wom an followed by plot, the absolute line between two points which Ive always despised. Not for literary reasons, but because it takes all hope away. Everyone, real or invented, deserves the open destiny of life† (Paley, 2006). Such passages suggest that Paley’s narrator might be more sympathetic to the plight of other humans than Carver’s narrator, and therefore, more capable of true human emotional empathy, however, when we look closer, we see that Paley’s narrator, like Carver’s, identifies her father exclusively by role. He is never named in the story. Also, Paley’s narrator betrays the same disparaging judgmental point of view as Carver’s when she says, â€Å"people start out fantastic, you think theyre extraordinary, but it turns out as the work goes along, theyre just average with a good education† (Paley, 2006). Critics such as Wilde delineate this story’s meaning via gender roles, and link gender to ways of seeing. Wilde (1987) explains that in A Conversation with My Father, â€Å"the paternal world – encoded in the fathers request that his daughter compose a simple story Just recognizable people and then write down what happened to them next –- bases itself on unexamined and peremptory powers of discernment and identification. Defensively but still smugly, it prescribes an impossibly simple, stable, and objective mirror to reflect what it takes to be the inevitable, sequential trajectory of lifes beginnings, middles, and ends.† However, the narrator herself displays the same critical, arm’s length point of view as Carver’s, which results in a similar isolating emotional experience in the reader. The way that the narrator tells the story of the neighbor across the street barely conceals her disapproval of the woman’s choices, as we see here: â€Å"Although she was often high herself, certain good mothering reflexes remained, and she saw to it that th ere was lots of orange juice around and honey and milk and vitamin pills.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ways of Seeing: Similarities in Point of View in Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, she never cooked anything but chili, and that no more than once a week. She explained, when we talked to her, seriously, with neighborly concern, that it was her part in the youth culture and she would rather be with the young, it was an honor, than with her own generation† (Paley, 2006). In this passage we see real similarities between the dismissal of emotion portrayed by the Carver narrator when describing the death of Robert’s wife and the near death of his own. Similarly, Paley’s narrator passes judgment on the neighbor woman’s motivations, as we see in this section: â€Å"In order to keep him from feeling guilty (because guilt is the stony heart of nine tenths of all clinically diagnosed cancers in America today, she said), and because she had always believed in giving bad habits room at home where one could keep an eye on them, she too became a junkie. Her kitchen was famous for a while a center for intellectual addicts who knew what they were doing† (Paley, 2006). There is a sarcastic and dismissive undertone to Paley’s narrator’s description, which echo’s Carver’s narrator description, as seen here: â€Å"She could, if she wanted, wear green eye-shadow around one eye, a straight pin in her nostril, yellow slacks, and purple shoes, no matter. And then to slip off into death, the blind mans hand on her hand, his blind eyes streaming tearsIm imagining nowher last thought maybe this: that he never even knew what she looked like, and she on an express to the grave. Robert was left with a small insurance policy and a half of a twenty-peso Mexican coin. The other half of the coin went into th e box with her. Pathetic† (Carver, 2006). Within Paley’s narrator’s description of her neighbor lies the same biting judgment and fault finding as Carver’s, and the same dismissal of emotional context as it pertains to action. The short stories Cathedral and A Conversation with My Father, at first glance, appear very different, not only because the narrators differ in gender, but also as the writing styles feel opposite. Carver’s voice remains minimalist and monotonous throughout, while Paley’s contains more tonal shifts and humor. However, upon closer inspection the reader sees that both narrators employ the same superior, cold, remote approach to human interaction, both pass harsh judgment on others, and both refer to those closest to them – Carver’s narrator’s wife, and Paley’s narrator’s father – exclusively by role and function, as opposed to by name. Both stories thus create an isolating emotion al experience on the page and in the reader.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More References Bullock, C. J. (1994). From Castle to Cathedral: The Architecture of Masculinity in Raymond Carvers Cathedral. The Journal of Mens Studies, 4, 343-351. Carver, R. (2006). Cathedral. The Norton Introduction to Literature. A. Booth, J. P. Hunter, K. J. Mays (Eds.). New York: W. W. Norton Company. Paley, G. (2006). A Conversation with My Father. The Norton Introduction to Literature. A. Booth, J. P. Hunter, K. J. Mays (Eds.). New York: W. W. Norton Company. Wilde, A. (1987). Grace Paleys World-Inventing Words. Middle Grounds: Studies in Contemporary American Fiction. E. Elliot, (Ed.). Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Participant Observation -- Definition

Participant Observation Definition The participant observation method, also known as ethnographic research, is when a sociologist actually becomes a part of the group they are studying in order to  collect data and understand a social phenomenon or problem. During participant observation, the researcher works to play two separate roles at the same time: subjective participant and objective observer. Sometimes, though not always, the group is aware that the sociologist is studying them. The goal of participant observation is to gain a deep understanding and familiarity with a certain group of individuals, their values, beliefs, and way of life. Often the group in focus is a subculture of a greater society, like a religious, occupational, or particular community group. To conduct participant observation, the researcher often lives within the group, becomes a part of it, and lives as a group member for an extended period of time, allowing them access to the intimate details and goings-on of the group and their community. This research method was pioneered by anthropologists Bronislaw Malinowski and Franz Boas  but was adopted as a primary research method by many sociologists affiliated with the Chicago School of Sociology in the early twentieth century. Today, participant observation, or ethnography, is a primary research method practiced by qualitative sociologists around the world. Subjective Versus Objective Participation Participant observation requires the researcher to be a subjective participant in the sense that they use knowledge gained through personal involvement with the research subjects to interact with and gain further access to the group. This component supplies a dimension of information that is lacking in survey data. Participant observation research also requires the researcher to aim to be an objective observer and record everything that he or she has seen, not letting feelings and emotions influence their observations and findings. Yet, most researchers recognize that true objectivity is an ideal, not an actuality, given that the way in which we see the world and people in it is always shaped by our previous experiences and our positionality in the social structure relative to others. As such, a good participant observer will also maintain a critical self-reflexivity that allows her to recognize the way she herself might influence the field of research and the data she collects. Strengths and Weaknesses The strengths of participant observation include the depth of knowledge that it allows the researcher to obtain and the perspective of knowledge of social problems and phenomena generated from the level of the everyday lives of those experiencing them. Many consider this an egalitarian research method because it centers the experiences, perspectives, and knowledge of those studied. This type of research has been the source of some of the most striking and valuable studies in sociology. Some drawbacks or weaknesses of this method are that it is very time-consuming, with researchers spending months or years living in the place of study. Because of this, participant observation can yield a vast amount of data that might be overwhelming to comb through and analyze. And, researchers must be careful to remain somewhat detached as observers, especially as time passes and they become an accepted part of the group, adopting its habits, ways of life, and perspectives. Questions about objectivity and ethics were raised about sociologist Alice Goffmans research methods because some interpreted passages from her book  On the Run  as an admission of involvement in a murder conspiracy. Students wishing to conduct participant observation research should consult two excellent books on the subject:  Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes  by Emerson et al., and  Analyzing Social Settings, by Lofland and Lofland.

Crime in Perspective-105 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Crime in Perspective-105 - Essay Example One’s personal contention is that crime is the result of environmental conditions, such as poverty, urban pressures and a poor home life, which is consistent with social theories where society fails to control and monitor activities that could prevent criminal behavior. Crime is the result of failure to establish strong bonds with society: family, community, and productive peers. The strong attachment and appropriate support from parents and siblings could provide the initial and crucial bond to prevent tendencies for criminal behavior. Likewise, the involvement in rewarding activities, including pursuing continuing education and the recognition to contribute to society through employment would enable one to refrain from delinquent behavior. The circle of friends with positive backgrounds would provide one with a holistic and well balanced disposition in life. When society fails to provide an appropriate environment that would support and sustain humane living conditions and h as inefficiently implemented rules and legislations that would monitor and prevent deviant behavior, then, an environment of crime is initiated. References Reader's Digest.

Social Entreprenuerism Questions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Entreprenuerism Questions - Research Paper Example Communities play an intricate role in the development and growth of the social enterprise. The community creates the legitimacy for the enterprise by providing marketing and distribution channels. It is; therefore, correct to insinuate that they are donor-investors as they contribute to the growth of the enterprise (Dees et al., 2002). Analyzing performance in this enterprise in crucial since everybody needs to be well- prepared for the task at hand. Any failure or laxity may prove detrimental to the growth of the enterprise (Dees et al., 2002). The rapid growth of profit-maximization organizations may prove difficult to come back from such a decline. One vital characteristic is their ability to convince a customer of the possible nature of the seemingly impossible. Their confidence is a personal trait that sets them apart from the rest (Dees et al., 2002). Confident individuals who try to sell something always have an edge over their competitors. I met a street vendor selling action figures who convinced me to purchase one. It was his confidence that enabled him to grab my

How democracy caused the fall of athens greece Essay

How democracy caused the fall of athens greece - Essay Example The general standard of living became better, the poor earning more than before. The equality of rights for all, regardless of their class, was introduced. Later, great pieces of art and literature were produced. That period is called the ‘Golden Age’ of Athens. The people enjoyed being the ones helping out in creating new laws. The head went through their suggestions, so the city was ruled keeping everybody’s thoughts and wants in mind. The Athenians seemed to be happy in the way their city was governed. Several years later though, questions were raised and arguments arose regarding the democratic system. Greece produced many philosophers which are famous now like Socrates, his pupil Plato and Aristotle. They were great thinkers and had their own theories concerning the ruling of their city. Their questions and thoughts led to the rest of the general public raise their own queries until there was a general unrest. Nothing quite major, but the seeds of uncertainty were laid and one could easily imagine what the future could entail. There were several rulers who governed the state, Perciles being the most loved and greatest. But after his death, Athens did not remain to its former glory and that was partially due to the decision made by him whilst he was alive. Athens and Sparta were both powerful cities and great competitors. When the latter saw

Chinese culture Essay Example for Free

Chinese culture Essay 1. Executive Summary Business today is becoming more universal and it is common to travel around the world for business dealings. In order to clinch a business deal with parties of other countries, it is essential to do some research about the country first. This will provide critical information about their business tradition, etiquette issues and other factors that will allow easier acceptance of Singaporean business persons. China being the largest populated country of 1. 3 billion, with an area of 9,600,000 square kilometers, has a long history, unique culture and a wide variety of distinctive customs and traditions. She has been attracting foreigners to invest as there are plentiful resources and labour market, which are crucial in business dealings. Besides the factors that are mentioned above, other factors play essential roles as well. Guanxi and Mianzi are the foremost factors that Chinese businessmen take into account. Other factors include preparation for Chinese business meetings, knowledge of the Chinese Lijie, such as non-verbal communication and social relationships. Also, the Chinese banquet consisting table etiquette together with drinking and toasting. There will also be gift-giving, such as what should be considered to give and what should be avoided. Last but not least, different ways to negotiate with the Chinese for the best solution should be taken into consideration. In conclusion, having the knowledge of the Chinese etiquette will better help one to succeed in clinching more business dealings. At the same time, it also helps one to understand the culture and customs of Chinese. Therefore, this will not only do one good for business purposes, but also encourages common understanding amongst countries. 2. Introduction The Peoples Republic of China, has a largest population of 1. 3 billion and a GDP of US$2393 billion. Thus, it has been eyed by many business executives due to its big market share and a large pool of labour which provides many business opportunities. In order to carry out business transactions efficiently with the Chinese, it is important for us to know what the prohibitions, customs and taboos are in China. By understanding these, we will be more prepared to conduct business with the Chinese. 2. 1 Meeting the Chinese. To begin with, the Chinese are very particular about first impressions. They prefer to be introduced formally to people as they are reluctant to strike up conversations with people they are unfamiliar with. A proper handshake will be most appropriate upon introduction. If one is being introduced to a group, remember to shake everyone’s hands. Also, stand up throughout, when being introduced or when presenting self. Begin introductions with his/her name, followed by the company’s name and specify the country that he/she is from. 2. 2 Business Cards. It is polite to use two hands to hold both corners when presenting business card and to position it so that it is legible to the recipient. Try to have one side of the card being translated and print the Chinese letters using gold ink as this is an auspicious colour. It will be respectful to spend a few seconds reading the card upon receiving it and helps in remembering one’s name. It is demeaning to put it directly into your pocket without glancing. If it is a sit-down meeting, place the card on the table so that one can look at it. 2. 3Conversations. Most Chinese like to engage in conversations concerning topics which they have knowledge on, such as weather, geography, Chinese cuisine, Chinese scenery and landmarks. Topics related to politics should be avoided. Dismiss personal questions with a little humour if uncomfortable. The Chinese would often compliment the country of origin. However, accepting praise outright is not considered as good etiquette for them. Instead, one is expected to deflect compliments and pretend it is unworthy of receiving them. 2. 4 Greetings Surnames come first when addressing a Chinese. In business situations, one will seldom concern themselves with a Chinese person’s given name. It is advisable to get straight how one should address someone at the first meeting. For business purposes, it is traditionally acceptable to call a Chinese by the surname, together with a title such as Managing Director Toh. 2. 5On the telephone Although Chinese may make arrangements through the phone, most Chinese prefers face-to-face meetings. On the telephone, the standard greeting is the word â€Å"wei†, which means â€Å"hello† or â€Å"are you still there† in Mandarin. Chinese often do not furnish any identifying information upon answering the phone; hence it is good to verify that one has reached the organization he/she intended to dial. 3. GuanXi – Relationships Personal relationships play a vital part in the business world of Chinese. Chinese businessmen do not rush into discussions and negotiations, as they want to get familiar with their business partners before doing business. This is known as Guanxi, which means â€Å"relationships†. It is the network of relationships among various parties that cooperate together and support one another. Before doing business, Chinese will extend hospitality to demonstrate their respect for others and appreciation of the finer things in life so as to soften their visitors. There will be small talk during the first full day, where Chinese learns about his visitor and goals. The evening during the welcome banquet, they would learn more as foreign visitors will open up during casual talks. Also, the visitors may visit the residence of their acquaintances from other organizations and bring some gifts as it is important for building and creating Guanxi. Gifts like foreign cigarettes and quality wines are acceptable, which will be discussed more at the later part of the report. Trust is built during such situations and Chinese would then be more comfortable to work with them. Relationships are not only between companies but also personal levels. Establishing a sincere, supportive relationship based on mutual respect is a fundamental aspect of Chinese culture. In the world of business, possessing the right Guanxi is crucial for ensuring the minimization of difficulties and frustrations that are often encountered and it is also important to any successful business strategy in China. 4. Mian Zi Face Face, also known as Mianzi, is a mark of personal pride and forms the basis of an individual’s reputation and social status. Having face means having a high status in the eyes of ones peers, and is a mark of personal dignity. It is a prized commodity, which can be given, lost, taken away or earned. Face to a Chinese, holds more importance and encompasses a greater part of life. In order to establish all important interpersonal relationships, face must always be created and maintained at all times. Losing face may be caused by, for example, public insult, chastisement or contradicting someone in front of another, and also, by ourselves, such as losing temper or losing your own control in public. Furthermore, rescinding an order can also be constructed as losing face. This is why Chinese leaders would rather follow the policies even if there are events that prove them that it is irrelevant. Causing someone to lose face through public humiliation or inappropriate allocation of respect to individuals within the organization can seriously damage business discussions. On the other hand, praising someone in moderation before their colleagues is a form of giving face and can earn respect, loyalty and aid negotiations. Nevertheless, face is so important that it is justification for spending money even if the Chinese is not very rich. Money that may be set aside for emergency use may be used for buying gifts or accessories instead because of face. 5. Lijie- Art of Politeness Being polite is a type of basic courtesy one should possess. In China, personal feelings and hint of criticism should not be dealt with publicly as it might cause public embarrassment and unpleasantness. A glass of tea that is automatically set out in front of arriving guests is how the Chinese allows the guest to feel comfortable and appear gracious. 5. 1 Surface harmony Surface harmony is an essential skill because the world of Chinese etiquette is very insensitive to unpleasant genuine feelings as it concerns matter of â€Å"face†. To the Chinese, things are done more for show than for substance; for example, manners are tools which they use to maintain pleasantness at all times, even when it is not entirely felt. Surface harmony is disturbed when one expresses his/her disagreement. Therefore, it is advised to remain quiet and â€Å"give face† as it might result in sabotage, subversion or revenge as the Chinese are well capable of such actions. 5. 2Intermediaries Intermediaries can be useful in communicating something unpleasant to the Chinese, and they help to ask questions, as preservation of face and surface harmony is considered highly important to Chinese. Intermediaries are highly useful in negotiations as they provide back channels for information that might prove too sensitive or risky. However, anger may be expressed directly for strategic purposes. 5. 3 Social relationships Chinese manage their social relationships by an imaginary circle that surrounds them. Relatives, friends, neighbours, classmates and co-workers are within the circle. These people have relationships with one another and hence, bear some sort of obligation. Chinese tend to go all out for them, be it putting themselves at great inconvenience or even ethically questionable circumstances. The rest of the world, whom a Chinese treats like a stranger, remains outside of the circle to whom with no particular obligation. 5. 4 Non-verbal communication. Chinese have various non-verbal communications. Firstly, Chinese tends to have a shorter social distance compared to many western cultures, for example, a Chinese friend might stand a little close to you for comfort or breathing directly into your face when talking to you. Furthermore, if one steps backwards, his/her Chinese counterpart may advance accordingly. When dealing with a Chinese, particularly the older ones, one should not touch a member of the opposite sex you do not know extremely well as other types of physical contact can be misinterpreted. However, it is said to be perfectly acceptable for Chinese to be physical with members of the same sex. Traditionally, Chinese are seldom demonstrative with the opposite sex in public. Therefore, foreigners should keep in mind that they are well advised to avoid more passionate forms of contact besides holding hands with a companion. During a conversation, one should not slink down in chairs as they are deemed disrespectful. Furthermore, some Chinese will avoid meeting one’s eyes or smile. This is a sign of shyness or keeping feelings to themselves. Thus should not be confused with insincerity, unfriendliness or anger. Silence is a virtue for it represents reflection or a sign of politeness. Gestures such as â€Å"come here† by curling index finger upward, â€Å"okay† sign with thumb and forefinger forming a circle, and shrugging of shoulders showing â€Å"I don’t know† may not be understood by the Chinese. Nodding or shaking of head, thumbs-up and clapping of hands for applauding are universally accepted gestures. 5. 5 Ways to reject a Chinese Rejecting people or saying ‘no’ can result in losing face, therefore the Chinese devised a number of methods of refusing without saying ‘no’. Ways to reject are, saying to grant the wish would be â€Å"inconvenient† as it means there are political problems associated with fulfilling a request, or it is â€Å"under consideration† or â€Å"being discussed†. This generally means that something is unlikely to happen. Another way is to blame someone else for the roadblock by finding a scapegoat. Lastly, a Chinese may tell a lie such as inventing a story to get out of the uncomfortable position in which a person feels placed. 11. References and Acknowledgements 1. De Mente Boye. (2004). Chinese etiquette ethics in business. Boston: McGraw-Hill. 2. Scott D. Seligman. (1999). Chinese Business Etiquette: a guide to protocol, manners, and culture in the People’s Republic of China. United States of America: A Time Warner Company 3. About. com: China Online (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 13, 2007. http://chineseculture. about. com/od/businessculture/Chinese_Business_Culture. htm 4. Communicaid global communication: doing business in China. (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 13, 2007. http://www. communicaid. com/chinese-business-culture. asp 5. Chinese Culture. (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 13, 2007. http://www. chinese-culture. net/html/chinese_business_culture. html 6. Kwintessential- Language and culture specialists (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 13, 2007. http://www. kwintessential. co. uk/cultural-services/articles/china-business-culture. html 7. China’s GDP grows 10. 7% in 2006. (January 25, 2007). ChinaDaily. com. cn. Retrieved on June 25, 2007. from http://www. chinadaily. com. cn/china/2007-01/25/content_792311_2. htm 8. Economy – Economic Structure Trends. (2006). Retrieved on June 20, 2007. http://china-europe-usa. com/level_4_data/eco/042_3. htm 9. China – Business etiquette, manners and cross cultural communication. (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 15, 2007. http://www. cyborlink. com/besite/china. htm 10. China – Business Travel Etiquette. (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 15, 2007. http://www. crazycolour. com/os/china_02. shtml 11. Business Card Etiquette by Neil Payne. (n. d. ). Retrieved on June 15, 2007. http://www. sideroad. com/Business_Etiquette/business-card-etiquette. html.