The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Essay Example For Students

The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Essay Mrs. Mary RowlandsonThe Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson is a personal account, written by Mary Rowlandson in 1682, of what life in captivity was like. Her narrative of her captivity by Indians became popular in both American and English literature. Mary Rowlandson basically lost everything by an Indian attack on her town Lancaster, Massachusetts in 1675; where she is then held prisoner and spends eleven weeks with the Wampanoag Indians as they travel to safety. What made this piece so popular in both England and America was not only because of the great narrative skill used be Mary Rowlandson, but also the intriguing personality shown by the complicated character who has a struggle in recognizing her identity. The reoccurring idea of food and the word remove, used as metaphors throughout the narrative, could be observed to lead to Mary Rowlandsons repression of anger, depression, and realization of change throughout her journey and more so at the en d of it. We will write a custom essay on The Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The idea of food is constantly used throughout the Mary Rowlandsons narrative, because it was the only essential need that she was concerned everyday to survive. Before the captivity, Mary Rowlandson was an innocent housewife that knew nothing of what suffering was like. She has always had plenty of food, shelter, and clothing. As a reader, you can see how her views towards the Indians choice of food gradually changes throughout her journey, and how it is related to the change in her own self. After tragically losing all of her family and her home, she had to repress her feelings to move on with the Indians to survive. She described the Wampanoag Indians at Ravenous beasts when she was captivated, which shows the anger that she felt towards the Indians at that time. The Indians diet was really different from the whites. Rowlandson hardly ate a thing the first week she was held captive. She described the Indians food as filthy trash, and she could starve and die before she ate such th ings (306). As Rowlandsons hunger began to eat her up inside out, she had to repress her spoiled taste and anger in order to survive. During the seventh remove you can see her views of the Indians food change as she got two ears of Indian corn (307) and didnt want to give it up. When one Indian asked her can you eat horse liver? (307), Rowlandson replied that she would try if he would give a piece (307). As she ate it, she described the horse liver as a savory bit it was to me. She explain to herself that for to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet (307). You can see that Rowlandson has experienced a change in her view towards the Indians food. She began being disgusted with their food then gradually precious it. There were many times where Rowlandson felt like she could just lay down and die right there, but as the journey goes on she says I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord (308). Her desire to live was encouraged through her dependence on God, which in turn helped repress her true feelings of depression because of the sufferings she was enduring. As Rowlandsons travels goes on you could see that she has learned to accept the Indians culture. In the eight remove she says I boiled my peas and bear together, and invited my master and mistress to dinner,(309). That statement by Rowlandson does not seem like shes in captivity and that shes actually suffering. She also made clothes for the Indians, which they very much appreciated. Rowlandson realizes as she thinks to herself that throughout her time with the Indians not one of them offered the least imaginable miscarriage to me(310). She has fit herself into the Wampanoag Indian society by suppressing her true feelings of anger and depression towards the Indians in order to survive. During the eighteenth remove she stole a piece of horse feet from a child. Then she claims that the things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat(318). Rowlandson seems to be willing to do anything to fill her hunger, and she knew that she would have never done anything like that before her captivity. She had to restrain her true honorable self and past ideals in order survive. Rowlandson realized at the end of her captivity that amazingly all the time she was among them one man, woman, or child die with hunger(324). She realized that the Indians were not picky and spoiled, they were resourceful and ate whatever they could get their hands on to survive. Rowlandson knew that she had changed after learning this fact about food. Her views of life were different after her experience with the Indians. Rowlandson says, the Lord has showed me the vanity of these outward things(329). Therefore, the metaphor of food could be related to how Mary Rowlandsons identity has changed from what it was before the captivity. Although she does not truly admit her anger and depression throughout the journey, her language itself can hint to the reader that she had to repress these feeli ngs in order to survive. Throughout this narrative the word remove is used regularly. The word can be seen in a figurative and literal way, both having metaphoric meanings to them. Every time Rowlandson and the Indians move to a new destination from their original place, she titles it a remove. There are twenty removes in her narrative, which literally means that her and the Indians traveled to twenty different places. The irony of the word remove is that she is actually moving closer to home and freedom instead of being removed from it. She has also actually been removed from what she use to be, fitting into another world with a different culture. Rowlandson from the beginning has had to remove her self from the ideas and values she use to believe in and also things that has had great value to her such as her dead baby. Again, events like this could lead to much depression and anger. But, she removed herself from those feelings through the words of God. She states in the fourth rem ove that Thus saith the Lord, refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, for thy work shall be rewarded, and they shall come again from the land of the enemy(305). Another way to describe the figurative meaning of the word remove can also be thought to mean the move of her spiritual life towards God. In each remove some incident she experiences was related to a passage in the bible. Mary Rowlandson learns something new in each remove by gathering proof that supports Gods words. Therefore, each remove could mean her own self moving one step closer to God, and being removed from her original state of innocence and not truly understanding the scripture. All this can come down to the theory that the last and only way Rowlandson could have the will to go on and survive was through repression of her feelings using the words of God as an excuse. Mary Rowlandson endures a great amount of pain throughout the whole story. She had many reasons to be angry, hurt, and depressed a s she lost everything in her life. Towards the end of the book she admits, when everybody is sleeping, my eyes are weeping(329). We can see the repression she experiences at the end when she cant even sleep because of all the sufferings she had experience. There she basically admits that she was not truly happy. This could have been the crucial point in the narrative where her feelings of being angry, hurt, and depressed throughout the whole journey have been build up so long and so much inside of her that she finally has a nervous break down. Therefore, Rowlandson is seen through the metaphoric ideas of food and the word remove to have not only repressed her feelings of anger and depression, but more importantly that at the end her ideals and identity have changed from before the captivity.

9 Insane Office Rules No One Should Have To Follow

9 Insane Office Rules No One Should Have To Follow Office Rules are important. And companies have them for a reason. However, too often a company seeks to correct the bad behavior of a very few employees by making big, sweeping (and often overreaching) rules that affect everyone. Here are 9 examples of the worst kinds of overmanagement–the sorts of rules that can really alienate a workforce.1. Restricting the InternetJust because one idiot looked at, ahem, objectionable  content  on a work computer  or spent more time refreshing Twitter than answering vital emails,  that doesn’t mean everyone should be punished by having their internet usage restricted. Responsible adult employees should be allowed to check personal email and even Facebook in their breaks. As long as work doesn’t suffer, it should never be a management concern. Besides, policies like these can prevent employees from doing valuable research online when the Internet could be a useful tool.2. Time PolicingYes, employees are supposed to work their predetermined hours. But they’re hired and paid for the work they do, not the sum of all the minutes they sit in their desk chairs. Draconian late policies or strict documentation requirements for sick days are just unnecessary and will breed distrust and discontent in employees who would otherwise be happy to do good work and care about their jobs.3. Email PolicingHeard of companies that require you to select a pre-approved subject before able to send an email through the company’s email client? That’s completely ridiculous. A little trust in one’s employees to communicate effectively about their tasks can go a long way to making sure everyone isn’t  totally miserable.4. Bathroom PolicingSeriously. This isn’t kindergarten. Limiting people’s trips to the bathroom is only going to give them UTIs and a healthy case of rage. If your job does this, find a new job. Seriously.5. Stinginess with MilesCompanies that require employees to travel for work should always let them  accumulate personal miles on work trips. This is one of the few perks for having to constantly be on the go, or in the air. There’s no reason to hoard them, unless a company is actively looking to breed resentment.6. Policing All LanguageIt’s one thing to have an emphasis on diversity and tolerance in the workplace and a low tolerance for inappropriate or hateful comments. That’s mandatory. But getting too involved in every potential microaggression, such as denouncing someone for saying â€Å"bless you† to a colleague when they sneeze? Overkill.7. Rigid RankingIt’s one thing to track performance. It is another thing entirely to force employees to be evaluated on the same rigid curve. Everyone ends up feeling  dehumanized and undervalued, and honestly  ends up underperforming as a result. Companies should evaluate their employees individually. Every time.8. Banning Cell PhonesBanning mobile phones en tirely only penalizes the good employees who use their phones only on breaks or in emergencies. If someone  is on their phone all day, that’s a conversation for their supervisor to undertake with that person only! No one else needs to be punished with a sweeping, overreaching rule.9. Limiting Self ExpressionNo personal items on the desk? No water bottles? Restrictive dress policy? These kinds of policies just make employees feel like cogs in an assembly line. Surely there’s a better way to handle employees who aren’t sure how to decorate or dress in a professional manner.Bottom line: Employees   should be trusted to do the job. We’re all adults who should be left  alone unless underperformance is an issue. Everyone shouldn’t be punished for the infractions of a few.

Story Pitch assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Story Pitch assignment - Essay Example Only one artist will be representing the entire State of Indiana in the show. This artist is Indiana University’s art professor, Jawshing Arthur Liou. His masterwork, â€Å"Kora,† is unique in so many ways that it made it to this highly competitive show as the sole representative of Indiana. ‘State of the Art’ Show at Crystal Bridges Museum comprehensively surveys contemporary art. Here, only the best, unique, and competitive artworks make it to the museum. The selecting process was highly competitive. This process encompassed the participation of regional curators and art insiders. The idea was to identify fresh talent and compelling art that would feature in this year’s show. Liou was selected for his work that features the sacred Mount Kailash from an artist’s point of view. Professor Liou’s story, and more so his artwork, is captivating as far as ‘State of the Art’ Show at Crystal Bridges Museum is concerned. Understanding Liou’s inspiration and motivation to do the â€Å"Kora† is fundamental. On the same note, it is critical to connect this work to his career as a University professor. Given that not all details could be captured in this brief, I would like to offer Indianapolis Monthly Magazine exclusive access to professor Liou’s story. The story will highlight events leading to Liou’s selection, and most importantly vivid details about the â€Å"Kora.† A number of reasons inform the choice to offer exclusive access to Indianapolis Monthly Magazine. To start with, Indianapolis Monthly Magazine is central to contemporary developments in Indiana. The Magazine reaches different audiences in the State, who in turn share the Magazine’s story with other people. Secondly, the magazine offers an exclusive segment that deals with art and culture. New art developments constitute a priority story in Indiana, especially when only a select group is at the top of

The benefits of using the Smart Phones Assignment

The benefits of using the Smart Phones - Assignment Example In addition, the report has some visual effects that would enable the audience to clearly understand its content. Abstract The use of smartphones is the latest world trend with people of different ages opting to adopt the use of these gadgets in their everyday lives. This is because smart phones assist in informal learning, distance learning, increase quality and efficiency in health care, increase voter participations in elections, and also increased professional engagement in work. However, the use of smart phones has some disadvantages such as reduced social life and access to obscene adult content from the internet by teenagers. In general, the use of smart phones has played an important role in making the world a better and comfortable place to leave in. Benefits of Using Smartphones 1. Introduction Mobile phones and smartphones are both used with the primary function of being able to make and receive phone calls and send and receive text messages, but the smartphone has certain qualities that distinguish it from any usual mobile phones. Smartphones have additional features such as online gaming, online video watching, route tracking, GPS system and several other added features, which differentiate it from other usual mobile phones and, are more preferred than mobile phones. ... The research center further figured out that there are various benefits that can be obtained through smartphones, and these benefits are the primary reason for the high demand of smartphones in the US. Smartphones are not limited to the access of adults; they are even owned and used by several teenagers and the younger generation. Smartphones have gained immense popularity among the youth population because of the several benefits offered by these phones. On one end are those who propose that smartphones are a smart invention and are assisting the society in several ways; on the other end are those who are against the use of smartphones due to various negative effects associated with these phones. This writing will focus on the argument of whether the smartphones are beneficial for the society or not while defending the stance that smartphones have several more benefits to offer than costs. The writing will especially focus on the benefits offered by smartphones to both the adult as well as the youth population. Smartphones benefit both the adults and the youth in obtaining both formal as well as informal educations. They have become a major tool of in distance learning. They are used by users to satisfy their personal need, helps employees in remaining involved with their businesses, are assisting in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of health care services, and are elevating the quality of health care, and can even help in increasing voter turnout during different elections. 2. Background The development of Smart phones evolved from the traditional mobile phones. Though both of them perform nearly the same functions, the Smart phones are

Comparing the Logistics Hubs of Worldwide Markets Research Paper

Comparing the Logistics Hubs of Worldwide Markets - Research Paper Example The potential for logistic hubs are studied, gaps in the logistic system are identified and recommended measures are suggested. The various trend and innovations in the logistics industry are considered in this report and suitable recommendation is given as to the strategies that the logistic hubs should take up to maintain their position in the fast-evolving logistics industry. Keywords The following keywords are used: logistics management, globalization, logistic hubs, logistics technologies, outsourcing. Introduction The advent of globalization, innovations in technology, mergers and acquisitions, consolidations and the boom of outsourcing have led to a huge growth in the logistics industry throughout the world. The logistics service providers are designing and implementing new services and capabilities to meet the new demands and expectations of the customers. With the evolution of a sophisticated logistics framework, the major logistics hubs in countries like Singapore, Hong Kon g, and New York are focusing on strategic approaches based on information rather than on the goods oriented commoditized approach. The customers are looking for all the services integrated into one point so as to avoid the complexities of involving a number of parties across the supply chain process. A single point of contact is preferred in today’s logistics market. The logistics market all around the globe has started adopting new models and new technologies to address the changing requirements of the market. The models are based on the levels of assets, collaborations, Information technology capabilities, and the scope of the services offered across the supply chain. The logistics model has evolved to a specialized function to fourth party logistics and Fifth party logistics. The third party logistics model has added capabilities and integration of the different operations in their model. The first party logistics and the second party logistics handle the storage of the as sets. Thus, they have higher asset intensity levels and lower barriers to entry. The fourth party logistics is an integrating model that puts together all the capabilities, resources and technologies to design and implement an enhanced supply chain service. The factors that create the highest opportunity for the logistics service providers are as follows: management of complex supply chains, comparatively high-value products, increased spending on logistics processes, decentralized logistics management, time sensitivity of the supply chain process and logistics management across multiple modes. The status of the logistics industry has considerably improved over the last few years. This improvement has been done due to the proper recognition of the following factors impacting the industry: High level of competition for both the users and the service providers which drives the continuous improvement in the operations. Increase in logistics opportunities and costs driving huge savings. Innovation in operational processes such as total quality management (TQM), just in time (JIT), time compression, flexible processes etc. (Carlson, 1989, p. 315). Growing need for adopting new technologies in order to identify and track goods.     

Advantages Or Disadvantages To Popular Tourist Areas

Advantages Or Disadvantages To Popular Tourist Areas There is no doubt that modern tourism has become one of the biggest popular industries in the world nowadays. It is an activity in which people can recreate and relax themselves. Furthermore, it seems that tourism not only can improve the transportation and most public facilities of a country, but also it can improve local services such as entertainment, accommodation, catering and hospital for tourists and local people. For another thing, tourism stimulates the growth of local economy. Even more, large numbers of organizations and governments invest much money in this industry at present. However, this essay will elaborate advantages and disadvantages of the way in which modern tourism affects the popular tourist areas in relations to the local services, local economy and environment and the local people. For one thing, one major advantage of tourism is the fact that developing travel industry can stimulate the popular tourist areas consumption ability and economy. According to the OVTA, there are 12 million visitors who travel to Ottawa and consume 128million dollars each year. Moreover, the development of tourism leads to generating 45 million dollars income for the local government per year (Chase, 2011). In addition, China National Tourism Administration showed that there is a 15 percent increase of the price level of products which selling in the Middle East and Europe during the New Year holidays, compared to their daily price. However, these increases give some impacts on ecnomy and it is reported that in 2010, 52 million Chinese people travelled abroad (Lixia, 2011). For another thing, tourism industry either can increase peoples income and the rate of employment. As David Cameron says in Barnett (2010), if the UK tourism industry can attract 0.5% more international tourists, this could generate 50,000 new jobs for local citizens. Thus, it is obvious that tourism directly increase the employment rate because those industries like accommodation, tour, travel operations and factories manufacturing can provide large numbers of employment opportunities for the local people (Nworisara, 2011). These business operations invisibly generate large revenue to the government. Therefore, most countries or investors make huge investments in the tourism industry because of its potential of boosting economic growth. Thus, developing tourism industry is the main contributor of the stimulation of the local economy. Furthermore, tourism plays an important role on improving the living standards of the local people by improving communitys facilities and services. It can be seen that Hong Kong has become a famous and popular attraction, whether for mainland people or international people nowadays. What is more, it is reported that the Tourism Commission invested HK$50 million to improve the tourism infrastructural. For example, it would improve the scenic square, the public facilities at Lantau Ngong Ping 360, the pedestrian bridge at the east of Tsim Sha Tsui, and upgrade some tourism signboards for tourists. Besides that, Hong Kong would improve the services of online ticket-selling, which make more convenient for tourists (Mercier, 2009). There is no doubt that these kinds of infrastructures and facilities will considerably benefit for the local people and improve their living standards. Besides that, the transportation and public services have an impact on the tourism industry, which also influ ence the local peoples living standards and the tourism industry itself. Take Beijing as an example: in order to welcome the Olympics Games, the government of China made regulations to improve environment and repair the tourism resources, public services and facilities. During the period of Olympics Games, ten million tourists visited Beijing and there was no complaint or dissatisfaction with the hotels, public services and attractions (Alcantara, 2010). If facilities or services are not improved and cause tourists lots of inconvenient, this will easily push them to give up or change their travel plans. Finally, it seems that it is a good opportunity to protect the culture and heritage when developing modern tourism. The WTO estimates that there would be an increase of 15% in the areas of cultural tourism each year (Nworisara, 2011). Most tourists are willing to spend money to learn and understand different cultures and customs of different countries. Taking the European tourism industry as an example, a growing number of people prefer to visit Europe, especially Italy, France, Spain and so on. The main reason is that the governments of those countries understand the importance of the heritage and history of a country. It is a character or symbol of that country. Thus, the government is willing to spend money remodeling and restoring the heritage. For instance, the Indian government regarded Jammu and Kashmir as a heritage attraction for visitors. Thus, it foucused on it and started to protect it to attract tourists (Naseem, 2009). It is well know that protecting a countrys culture and heritage is a big challenge, but it is very important because they represent the identity of the country. Moreover, visitors can understand deeply the local culture only by visiting it. Thus, in order to attract more tourists to popular tourist areas, both the government and the tourism industry have a responsibility to preserve the local heritage and culture. However, firstly, it must be admitted that tourism brings many disadvantages. Without doubt the most obvious disadvantage is that tourism has negative effects on the local environment and the eco-system. For instance, it is well known that the Hawaiian eco-system is the most diverse in the world. Nevertheless, due to the development of tourism industry, a large number of infrastructures such as hotels and restaurants were built, leading to the local environments deterioration. Besides that, it is reported that 60% of animal and plant species are dying out in Hawaii (Darowski, Strilchuk, Sorochuk Provost, 2006). Bali is another example: it has been found that six tourist beaches, which include Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Tanjung Benoa and Canggue are contaminated. This is because the waste from hotels, restaurants and other hospitality and tourist-related businesses cannot be dealt with effectively (Kencana A., 2010). It is obvious that a lot of businessmen do not care if the e nvironment becomes bad, they just consider whether they can earn money or not. In addition, a number of tourists have the bad habit of throwing waste everywhere. Thus, the local environment becomes worse and influences the eco-systems. Secondly, tourism has a bad impact on the society and culture of the popular tourist areas. For example, it is well known that Indonesia is a special country which has a special cultural history. However, in order to attract more tourists and meet their needs, some original customs have changed, such as dances performed only in every 60 years while nowadays they are performed weekly. Besides that, original temples used to be quiet places while today they are always overcrowded with tourists. In addition, masks, costumes and jewelry which were used for religious rituals, have a special and unique meaning. In order to earn money, companies produce these productions largely and sell them in antique shops. Even more, most arts forms such as paintings and sculptures have been adjusted according to the taste of the current market. Furthermore, it seems that these cultural and social changes not only influence the local people, but also it may lead people to forget the original culture due to the commercial influences. For instance, in order to earn more money, investors have driven local communities out of their lands and even beaches, which influence the temples and local people of Bali. The resorts also would threaten the temples cosmological primacy (Wijaya, 2008). Thirdly, although the development of tourism has lots of advantages, however, it often do some unethical behaviors from local people and industry. For instance, when they lack employees in the peak season, some hotels and restaurants recruit low skilled people or people who are under 18 years old. Even more, lots of illegal migrants are working in tourism and hospitality industry. It is reported that there are around 12 million illegal immigrant people in the United States, and the American Tourism and Hospitality industry employed them because they would pay them a lower wage. In fact, it is argued that these illegal immigrants are substitutes for low-skilled workers (Fedeli, 2010). It seems that recruiting employees who are low-skilled and unprofessional is only benefit to the companies because they get low salaries. Actually, this is not good for the tourists because it easily causes troubles as these employees cannot deal with at urgent situations. Thus, it gives unsafe feeling t o the tourists and that leads to hinder the development of tourism industry and also gives a bad imagine to this popular tourist areas. In conclusion, it is clear that there could be great benefits to develop the tourist industry if governments and companies take the local environment into consideration. Furthermore, if all tourists obeyed the local rules and culture, the beautiful attractions will not be contaminated. What is more, if each person is aware of the importance of protecting our history and culture, the tourism industry can develop better and more and more people can have the opportunity to explore the history of the popular tourist areas. There is no doubt that developing tourism industry is essential and one of the reasons for this is that people can learn more about this world. Therefore, each person has a responsibility to protect the popular tourist areas. Word count: 1526

The Womans Roles during the Depression Era Essay -- Great Depression

The Woman's Roles during the Depression Era The U.S. experienced a Depression in 1929. The American economy collapsed and millions of people were out of jobs. The government's role during this time of economic crisis was to assist the citizens of this country in any way possible. This sometimes led to the development of experimental programs and projects. Greenbelt, Maryland, can be characterized as such. Greenbelt was a planned community designed to house low- to middle-income families. It attempted to provide a safe and cooperative environment where parents and children alike could live safely and harmoniously. It was built in 1936. The Greenbelt museum is a model of the homes built after the Great Depression struck. It is a two-story cinderblock house and one of more than 800 homes. I will be taking a close look at the kitchen of the Greenbelt museum. First, I will examine a few of the various artifacts in the kitchen. Naturally, many of these artifacts have been replaced with new and improved models, thanks to technology. Secondly, I will talk about the woman's role in the kitchen and how this has obviously changed with modern times. I will be linking to Nicole Richardson's examination of the role of women in Greenbelt in the post-Depression era. I will also be linking to Neil Zuckerman's analysis of the bathroom. This is a picture of the kitchen in Greenbelt. As you can see, the cabinet is built into the wall and the kitchen tools are neatly arranged and displayed on the counter top. There is additional drawer space below the counter. There is a small closet on the left. Before and during the time of the Great Depression, in the 1920s and the 1930s, the kitchen was a small space dedicated solely to the pr... ... just as their husbands do. At the same time they take care of children, through the help of child care and or nannies and baby-sitters. Women are slowly gaining equal rights and having the same advantages as men. At the same time they are balancing the household work and the children. Works Cited Mitchell, Broadus. Depression Decade: From New Era through New Deal 1929-1941. New York: Rinehart & Company, Inc.,1947 (HC106.M51) Lifshey, Earl. The Housewares Story: A History of the American Housewares Industry. Chicago: National Housewares Manufacturers Association, 1973 (HD9773.U5L5) Campbell, Susan. Cooks' Tools: The Complete Manual of Kitchen Implements and How to Use Them. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1980 (TX656.C3) Plante, Ellen M. The American Kitchen 1700 to the Present. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1995 (TX653.P56 1995)

Greek victory over the Persians in 490 to 480/479 BC Essay

Assess the reasons for the Greek victory over the Persians in 490 to 480/479 BC. Make a judgement based on outcome, results and values. The reasons for the Greek victory against the Persians in 490 to 480/479 BC was a mixture of exceptional leadership, skilful tactics and strategy, superior weapons and soldiers, and Greek unity. Strong leadership was the most important aspect of the Greek defence, as without the intelligence and bravery of the leaders, the Greeks would have been easily defeated. As a result of the excellent leadership; Greek tactics, strategy, and unity were greatly strengthened. Combined with their better weapons and soldiers, the Greeks held the advantage and seized opportunities at the perfect moment. Also, with each victory the Greeks grew more confident of success and defiant of the Persian attempts to invade. The poor organisation and disarray of their enemy led to an undermining of the Persian might and further improved Greece’s chances of success. Despite the lack of official unity throughout Greece, many brilliant leaders from individual cities combined their skills and abilities to defeat the Persians. Greek leadership developed from weak and conflicting to united and strong, directly contributing to a Greek victory over the Persians as they promoted unity, strategy and a determination to defend their homeland. Without this firm leadership, the other reasons for Greek success would not exist as strongly. Despite the Greeks strong defiance of Persia, Darius and many of his council still foolishly believed that they could easily overcome the Greeks. They were short sighted as they saw only personal fame and glory to be gained, and as a result, did not prepare for the possibility of difficulties, and certainly not defeat. This arrogance reflects the poor leadership from the Persian side, which aided the Greeks in defeating them. When Darius invaded, there was conflicting debate at Athens as to whether they should defend the city walls or meet the enemy. However Miltiades’ excellent leadership persuaded the council to take supplies and leave the city if the Persians landed. This is seen in the ‘Miltiades’ Decree.’  Despite being the Polemarch, Callimachus relied on advice from Miltiades who had in depth experience in Persian combat. As opposed to the Persians, the Greeks were willing to co operate in the defence of their country which directly lead to their success. Both Callimachus and Miltiades convinced the Athenian Assembly to send an army to Marathon. At Marathon, the 10 strategoi were equally divided in decision as to whether to attack the Persians or retreat, as they were heavily outnumbered. A decision was made to attack, and each of the generals was given one day to hold in command. Aristides and three other leaders gave their leadership command to Miltiades. This meant that Miltiades was in command for five out of the ten days of battle, and due to the generosity of the other generals, was able to carefully plan a much more effective attack over five days instead of one. When Miltiades was informed that the Persian calvary was absent, he timed the attack to surprise the Persians. â€Å"We know enough to realise the brilliance of Miltiades’ generalship at every stage: his decision to march to Marathon, his determination to attack, his grasp of the suitable opportunity, and his tactical disposition of the infantry line.† (Hammond) It was this brilliance that allowed the Greeks to win at Marathon, which directly increased their confidence and improved future chances of defeating the Persians. The Persian leaders Datis, Hippias, and Artaphernes were confident of a victory over Athens after their defeat of Eretria. â€Å"Their experience at Eretria will have encouraged them to believe that there would be divisions among the Athenians at Athens, and possibly on the field.† (Bury& Meiggs) They therefore did not predict the Athenians to challenge them at Marathon, and dismissed their own cavalry. This foolish decision costed them the battle as the Athenians would have been intimidated by the excellent Persian cavalry, which could have easily defended a Greek attack. It is this arrogance and poor insight from the Persian leaders that added to a Greek victory. After the death of Darius, his son Xerxes was persuaded by his overconfident advisor Mardonius to attack the Greeks, and in doing so, Mardonius exaggerated Greek weaknesses and character. Even when Damaratus repeatedly told Xerxes that the Spartans were the bravest and best fighters of Greece, Xerxes still mocked them for their appearance and actions. â€Å"For four whole days he suffered to go by, expecting that the Greeks would run away.† (Herodotus) Contrasting with Persia’s arrogant and assuming leaders, Greece produced the finest leadership after Marathon. Themistokles was an example of excellent leadership, as he prepared for the possibility of renewed attacks from Persia. He fortified the Piraeus bay, and used surplus to build 100 new triremes to fight against the Persians. â€Å"The pre eminent importance of his statesmanship was due in the first place to his insight in discerning the potentialities of his city and in grasping her situation before any one else had grasped it; and then to his energy in initiating, and his adroitness and perseverance in following, a policy which raised his city, and could alone have raised her, to the position which she attained before his death.† (Bury& Meiggs) Themistokles’ clever tactics and strategy emerged from his high quality leadership, as he carefully selected the positions and methods for the Greek defence. Themistokles persuaded the Greek navy to battle against the Persians despite being outnumbered as Artemisium. Herodotus says that Themistokles even bribed some of the navy leaders to keep the Greek unity together. He again exhibited his leadership skills when he planned the attack on the Greek navy. Themistokles chose excellent timing and precision in attacking the Persians where the weather, tide, and narrow straits made it difficult for the enemy. At Artemisium, â€Å"The Persian admirals did not know the coastal waters of the Greek peninsula, and they were comparatively inexperienced in naval warfare†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hammomd) The Persians were unorganised as they did not  expect attack and disadvantaged because of their lack of competent leaders. At Thermopylae, Leonidas was a responsible, respected, and courageous leader; and despite facing inevitable death, he continued to fight for the Greek cause, whilst dismissing many of the other soldiers from battle because â€Å"he tendered their safety†. (Herodotus) Sparta was given overall command but did not abuse her powers as a leader. â€Å"The fact that Sparta did not seek to extend her own Alliance and assert her own supremacy, but preferred to treat as an equal with the other states and let them choose their leader, is an outstanding mark of her far sighted statesmanship.† (Hammond). This again contrasted with the competitive and all-for-one nature of the Persian leaders, as the Greek leaders promoted unity and alliance. Themistokles also cleverly chose the position of the battle at Salamis so that the Greeks few numbers would be placed at the biggest advantage- â€Å"Themistokles had managed that a naval battle should be fought at Salamis, and under the conditions most favourable to the Greeks.† (Bury& Meiggs). However the Persians were â€Å"badly generalled† and this spread chaos throughout the Persian navy. Themistokles made an extremely clever and daring plan to fool the Persians at Salamis. He sent a slave to tell Xerxes that the Greeks would attempt to escape during the night through the straits. The Persians wasted their energy guarding the exits and in the morning the Greeks successfully attacked them. Themistokles’ ingenious plan lead to the defeat of the weary Persians at Salamis, and once again proved that the main reason for the Greek victory was the insightful and daring leadership shown at that time. Pausanius â€Å"won the most splendid victory which history records† (Herodotus) at Plataea. He found it necessary to withdraw from Plataea as the battle had developed into a stalemate. Whilst the Persian leader Mardonius assumed that the Greeks would be weak whilst they were changing position, the Greeks counter attacked. â€Å"But when the main body of Persians had drawn up within  bowshot behind their fence of wicker shields, the order to charge was given, and the heavy Peloponnesian infantry dashed at a run upon the enemy’s line†¦The result was decisive.† (Kagan) The clever strategies used by the Greeks were a direct result of their qualified leaders, and lead to the defeat of Persia. All the locations and tactics chosen by the Greeks contributed immensely to their victory and was the second most important reason for the Greek triumph. Miltiades chose Marathon as a strategic site for the battle- the high lands surrounded both roads to Athens and hid the Athenians until the perfect moment to attack. Due to Miltiades’ former knowledge, he knew that the Persians would be strong towards the centre, and so he placed the skilled Athenian infantry into wings to encircle the Greeks. Miltiades aimed at surprising the Persians and â€Å"the men charged at the double and hurled themselves upon the Persian infantry†. (Hammond) This was the first time such an attack had been attempted, and the creativity and excellent strategy was all due to the amazing ability of the leaders, Miltiades and Callimachus. The run created fear and confusion in the Persian ranks and allowed the Greeks to close in before the Persian bowmen could release their arrows. Despite the Persians breaking through the middle Greek troops, the Greek wings wheeled around to attack the Persians from the rear, as Miltiades planned. He had even organised the attack so that the Persians could only flee north towards a difficult marsh, where many died. The Persians did not realise the Greek tactics and strategy, as they underestimated their ability. Instead they believed that â€Å"the Athenians were bereft of their senses, and bent upon their own destruction: for they saw a mere handful of men coming on at a run without either horsemen or archers.† (Herodotus) As they were caught unaware, the Persians had little time to adopt new tactics for battle. Their strategic preparation was poor. At Thermopylae, Leonidas selected his position carefully, and fought in a narrow pass in which the Persians had difficulty in passing through. This greatly advantaged the Greeks, as the narrow space could only admit a small  portion of the Persian army. They also had a stone wall to protect the army camp. In addition, the Persian cavalry were unable to fight in the small area, which would increase the Greek chances of winning dramatically. The Spartans planned strategies on drawing the Persians into the pass and would then wheel around and attack them. Themistokles understood that the Greeks were unable to fully defeat the Persians over land and selected Artemisium as the ideal location to battle their navy. At Artemisium the Greek leaders developed strategy of combining the triremes to form a circle facing outwards to attack the Persians. This plan overcame the disadvantage of being greatly outnumbered. Themistokles carefully chose the timing and position of the battle. The strategy of drawing in the Persian fleet into narrow waters meant that the enemy ships began to collide with each other. Themistokles waited until the tide rose and began to push the Persian ships off course, â€Å"the low-built Athenian triremes, which were less affected by the swell, rowed in to the charge and rammed their opponents, shearing their oars or holing their sides†¦A great victory had been won by tactical skill, by the use of the ram, and by the fighting quality of the Greek marines.† (Hammond) Despite using citizen troops, the Greek hoplites were better trained and equipped than the Persians. The hoplites wore bronze visored helmets, solid bronze breast plates, and carried longer shields and javelins. On the contrary, the Persians wore light armour, wicker shields and used bows and arrows, which became useless in close contact. The discipline in which the hoplites were famous for was shown through their ability to encircle the Persians and attack from the rear. â€Å"In hand to hand fighting their defeat of a more numerous enemy was due to their courage, spearmanship, general and the finest infantry force in her whole history.† (Hammond) At Artemisium, the navy was extremely well disciplined whilst facing many Persian ships surrounding them. They responded to two signals and successfully formed a close circle to attack the Persians. This shows the exceptional skill from the sailors that contributed to their victory. Both the Spartan hoplites and the Tegeans were acknowledged as having great fighting skills and discipline at Plataea- â€Å"by the superb spirit and skill of the Spartan hoplites, who proved themselves to be the finest infantrymen not of Greece alone but of the civilised world.† (Plutarch, Aristides) Thus the incredible skill and ability of the Greek soldiers, combined with their superior weapons contributed immensely to their victory. The battle at Marathon was to be a direct planned attack by the Persians on Athens. After the downfall of Eretria, Athens united under their leaders like Miltiades and planned on how to save the city. Their appeal to Sparta for aid was reluctantly refused as the Spartans had an important religious festival to attend to. Despite Sparta’s inability, the Plataeans sent help â€Å"in full force† (Herodotus), and 2000 Spartans did arrive soon after the battle and congratulated the Athenians on their defeat. â€Å"No one in antiquity doubted the sincerity of the religious scruples which had prevented them from participating in the battle.† (Kagan?) Sparta and Athens â€Å"now joined hands to resist the invasion† as they were singled out by Persia as the Greek leaders. (Bury& Meiggs) In 481 BC the congress at Isthmus united 31 Greek states to discuss the possible Persian threat. Athens discarded her claim to leadership, knowing that the other states would prefer Sparta to lead. In doing so, a quarrel that may have divided the union was avoided. All past disputes were ended, and deadly enemies Athens and Aegina combined their naval superiority. The meeting of the Greeks was â€Å"an attempt to combine all the scattered cities of the Greek world to withstand the power of Persia.† (Grote) Themistokles issued the Troezen decree so that â€Å"all Athenians may in unity ward off the Barbarian† (Troezen Decree) by calling back Greek exiles. This plan was clever, as the exiles like Xanthippus and Aristides combined their efforts to resist the Persians, despite being previously forced to leave their own country. At Thermopylae â€Å"the Thespians stayed entirely for their own accord, refusing to retreat and declaring that they would not forsake Leonidas and his followers.† (Herodotus) Despite the number of forces joining the army at Thermopylae, many of them, including the Spartans were unwilling to provide full assistance as they did not think it was feasible to defend the northern states. Thus unity was at times strained and lacked the full force it potentially had. Mardonius attempted to offer peace with the Athenians in an attempt to undermine Greek unity and overpower the Spartans. However the Athenians angrily refused, displaying their courage and alliance with the Greek cause. Mardonius made a second offering, and he even believed they would change their minds. The underestimating of the Greek unity and Athenian determination was one reason why Persia failed to defeat Greece. â€Å"Artistides declared that, so long as the sun continued in his course, the Athenians would attack the Persians with the aid of the gods†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kagan) â€Å"The campaign of Plataea was the finest achievement of Greek unity.† (Kagan) 23 states took an oath of comradeship to fight together until the Persians were defeated, and over 100 000 Greeks joined the battles. In comparison with the Greeks, the Persians were ominously competitive. Pausanius and his second in command Artabazus were rivals and schemed to take control and glory from each other. The strongest reason for a Greek victory against the Persians in 490 to 480/79 was the extraordinary ability of the leaders. This led to the next most important reason- the cunning tactics and strategies used by the Greeks. The skill of the Greek soldiers and their superior armour also  greatly contributed to their victory, as only their bravery and aptitude would help them overcome the size of the Persian army. Unity was the least contributing factor throughout the battles as it was inconsistent and was only really significant when Athens and Sparta joined forces.

Mccaskey Case Essays

Mccaskey Case Essays Mccaskey Case Paper Mccaskey Case Paper Analysis: Martha McCaskey Harvard Business Review The Issue: This case focuses on Martha McCaskey. McCaskey is a relatively recent Harvard B-School grad on the fast track at Seleris Associates. She is a consultant who specializes in competitive analysis for corporations. McCaskey has been assigned as lead on project Silicon 6. She has a strong track record for delivering quality on her projects, which is why she was chosen as lead for this project. The focus of the project is to reverse engineer cost structure and manufacturing processes for the competitor of a key client of Seleris. This unnamed client is responsible for 20% of the revenue for this division. Therefore, the head of the division is invested in making this customer happy. The top managers promised McCaskey a promotion if she could successfully complete the project to the satisfaction of the client. McCaskey is extremely resourceful, but in the case of Silicon 6, she was having trouble gaining access to the required information. That is, until she tripped across an ex-employee of the competitor company who was eager to share proprietary information. McCaskey found this unethical. McCaskey brought the situation to the attention of her management. The managers, eager to please the clients, have encouraged McCaskey to â€Å"pay off† the ex-employee in exchange for the necessary information. Management has challenged her to come up with an action plan for the project and to meet with the head of the division to review the plan. Analysis and Opinion: McCaskey is faced with an ethical dilemma. In this case, she must decide whether to accept proprietary information, which will result in a satisfied lient and a promotion or follow her moral compass and attain the information using ethically acceptable industry standards. This is a clear case of an organization with a questionable ethical climate. An organization with high ethical standards encourages and shapes the behavior of its employees through policies, procedures and behavior. It is the responsibility of the management staff to build an environment with low tolerance for an y activities that can be deemed unethical. Management must focus on the means as well as the outcomes to ensure that they are operating not only within legal boundaries, but socially acceptable and responsible boundaries as well. Malone, McCaskey’s superior, is heavily directing her approach. When McCaskey went into the presentation with the clients, Malone was the one to make the promises to deliver through access from the ex-employee. Malone also authorized the increase in â€Å"pay† to the ex-employee. McCaskey cannot look to her immediate management to resolve ethical issues. The saving grace for McCaskey is, hopefully, Richardson, Malone’s manager. Senior associates often discuss case status directly with Malone and Richardson. McCaskey should use this to her advantage to go directly to Richardson with this dilemma to gain his buy-in to resolve the issues in a more ethical manner. In the past, Richardson has communicated his ethical expectations to the staff via lunchtime talks. Therefore, McCaskey may find a worthwhile advocate in Richardson. It is not clear if Richardson really believes in building an ethical culture as he has given direct management responsibilities to Malone. Richardson has to be aware of Malone’s practices, but has not taken a firm stand on stating and shaping the organization’s values and conduct by providing visible role models who exhibit ethical behavior. However, Kaufmann, an associate who publicly acknowledges unethical behavior, is not being rewarded, as he is one of the lowest paid associates. This leads the reader to believe that Richardson does not support Kaufmann’s actions. At the same time, however, Richardson has turned a blind eye to his practices and has reaped the benefits from his questionable behavior. McCaskey, to this point, has done everything correct. She has operated within ethical boundaries and has raised issues to her management. The true failure is with Richardson who has not fostered a culture rooted in prioritizing and rewarding ethical behavior. Unfortunately, he is McCaskey’s only hope to resolve this issue. McCaskey’s next steps are to raise the situation to Richardson in hopes he can direct her to move forward in a more ethical manner. With so much at stake, including fines and personal imprisonment, McCaskey should not do anything that could endanger the company or her personal well being.

Free Essays on Risk Management

Today’s Internet economy has forever changed the way the world conducts business. At no other time in history has technology opened the doors to new markets at a faster pace. While e-Commerce presents tremendous opportunities, it also introduces an enormous amount of risk. After all, the same technology that connects companies to the global marketplace also makes their systems vulnerable to attack. As organizations leverage computer networks and the Internet to scale their businesses and be more competitive, directors and managers must understand the new risks introduced and the responsibilities assumed by opening their critical business systems and data to a public network. Regulations, guidelines, and standards are emerging to help companies define and implement appropriate security and privacy practices. However, without a reliable mechanism for frequently assessing and improving compliance with these standards, there is no prudent way to strike the appropriate balance between the risks assumed and the additional opportunity realized through e-Business initiatives. Security can only be evaluated by better understanding the tools and processes that dynamically interact to protect the computing environment. This interaction should occur in a way that is appropriate for the sensitivity of the environment’s data or the function it provides. Preventive controls stop inappropriate activity before it occurs. Detective controls track security events after they occur and provide information for investigations when an incident is noticed or data is missing or corrupted. Assessment controls identify weaknesses in the environment by evaluating system configurations, security settings, access control lists, and other security elements of a particular system or layer. Corrective controls are measures that strengthen a computer resource or environment. Enhancement controls are structures and frameworks that are put into place to assist in m... Free Essays on Risk Management Free Essays on Risk Management Today’s Internet economy has forever changed the way the world conducts business. At no other time in history has technology opened the doors to new markets at a faster pace. While e-Commerce presents tremendous opportunities, it also introduces an enormous amount of risk. After all, the same technology that connects companies to the global marketplace also makes their systems vulnerable to attack. As organizations leverage computer networks and the Internet to scale their businesses and be more competitive, directors and managers must understand the new risks introduced and the responsibilities assumed by opening their critical business systems and data to a public network. Regulations, guidelines, and standards are emerging to help companies define and implement appropriate security and privacy practices. However, without a reliable mechanism for frequently assessing and improving compliance with these standards, there is no prudent way to strike the appropriate balance between the risks assumed and the additional opportunity realized through e-Business initiatives. Security can only be evaluated by better understanding the tools and processes that dynamically interact to protect the computing environment. This interaction should occur in a way that is appropriate for the sensitivity of the environment’s data or the function it provides. Preventive controls stop inappropriate activity before it occurs. Detective controls track security events after they occur and provide information for investigations when an incident is noticed or data is missing or corrupted. Assessment controls identify weaknesses in the environment by evaluating system configurations, security settings, access control lists, and other security elements of a particular system or layer. Corrective controls are measures that strengthen a computer resource or environment. Enhancement controls are structures and frameworks that are put into place to assist in m...

People, Power, and Politics in Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

People, Power, and Politics in Canada - Essay Example McRobert profoundly disagrees with Trudeau, who offered to get rid of the villagers in Canada outside Quebec. In the process, they left the poor and the local people in the worst and most pathetic conditions. McRobert disagrees stating that before Trudeau came into the lime light, there was a veritable ambiguity about the Canadian deal. He says Trudeau never improved the asymmetrical arrangements for the Quebec in any way. He claims that Trudeau ruined Quebec social economic status. Democracy Reforms Democracy is a fundamental aspect in every state. The people defined it as the rule for the people and with the people. The perception that ordinary citizens have about the government and those who are in should substantially change (Robert & Doreen, 2009). With these reforms in place, various parties will conduct themselves in a good manner. It will also provide an opportunity for people to select their preferred leaders. In most cases, people often evade engaging in the government-initiated processes like elections since they believe that it is a waste of time. Therefore, the basic advantage of these reforms will be to enable different citizens to exercise their legal rights. Common citizens will also be free to compete for various political posts in the government. Whether these are federal, senate, or other elective posts, democracy is a very crucial aspect and warrants priority. The electoral reforms are also necessary as they determine the mode of carrying out elections. This implies that people competing for various positions need to have guidelines to aid them. The electoral body should be selected wisely and democratically to ensure free and fair elections. The political parties also need to have policies governing the manner by which campaigns are done. The reforms of elections also need to touch on areas like setting the exact date for the elections as well as appointing watchdogs to oversee the entire process (Robert & Doreen, 2009). The electoral body should also train and enlighten individuals as for the importance of carrying out elections. The electoral reforms should touch on various aspects like the number of women to be elected to the Senate seats. This will ensure fairness in the state elections and the members elected

What is the main categories of Helel's argument in Part One of the Essay

What is the main categories of Helel's argument in Part One of the Philosophy of Right and how are they logically connected - Essay Example Brooks, on the other hand, identifies two great debates on the Philosophy of Right, as the work is more commonly known, namely one over its political sympathies and another on its relationship to metaphysics (2007). Thus, the first debate is thought to have arisen since the book’s first appearance, where the Philosophy of Right had been charged with â€Å"a dangerous conservatism† (Brooks, 2007) and the earliest reviews written by those Hegel had considered friends of him were nearly uniformly negative (Wood, 1991). These early attacks, however, viewed the book in relation to the immediate political situation, which may account for the reason why it was read as a blessing on the political status quo; not surprisingly, commentators and scholars in the liberal tradition followed that interpretation (Wood, 1991). The second debate, according to Brooks (2007), divided the scholarship into two camps – adherents of the â€Å"metaphysical approach to the study of Hegel’s work† and such of the â€Å"non-metaphysical approach to Hegel’s work†. Whereas the first debate, about the nature of Hegel’s political philosophy, is believed to be over, with the assertion that Hegel’s views lie in between the extremities of conservatism and liberalism, the second one has developed into an argument about â€Å"how strongly metaphysical† is Hegel’s Philosophy of Right (Brooks, 2007). This paper is intended to review Hegel’s Philosophy of Right’, namely its Part one – â€Å"Abstract Right†, in order to establish which are the main categories of Hegel’s argument and how they logically connect with each other. The paper argues that it is the philosophical method of Hegel, which holds the key to the understanding of his logic. There are two main categories of Hegel’s argument in Part One of the Philosophy of Right, as follows – the concept of ‘Abstract Right’ and the