Left In The Lurch Essay Example for Free

Left In The Lurch Essay Jim showed up at work today and found out that Sara called in sick but Jim thought he saw Sara at the gas station on his way to work this morning. It was a car like hers and he’s pretty sure that it was her license plate. Jim and Sara were supposed to give a big presentation to the CEO today and Sara never sent him her slides for the PowerPoint show. What are Jim’s options? Jim should call Sara to see if she would answer the phone to check on her. If she answers he could then ask if she would send the power point slides by email. Or Jim could try to postpone the meeting to a later time until he can get the power point slides from Sara or she could be there for the presentation. What does he actually know and what does he think he knows? Does it matter? Jim knows that Sara called in sick and they were to give a big presentation to the CEO and he also knows he doesn’t have her slides for the Power Point show. Jim thinks he saw Sara at the gas station because he saw a car that looked like hers and he thought the license plate was her number. It doesn’t matter why she called in sick or if it was her at the gas station. Jim still needs to find a solution to his problem before the presentation. How could he apply the character qualities you’ve learned about so far (persistence, enthusiasm, optimism, and self-control) in this situation? Being positive in this state of affairs and having the determination to get through this presentation. Being optimistic will help him give the performance without Sara. Jim can exhibit self-control by not getting upset and blaming everything on Sara, when he should be focusing on the presentation. Jim exhibiting self-control, being optimistic, being persistent and enthusiastic all plays a major role in the way he is going handle this problem. These qualities will help Jim to make new slides for his presentation and overcome the urge to be upset with Sara. His ability to show enthusiasm will help him to deliver his presentation to the CEO. What should he do? Jim should try and call Sara to see if she can email the slides. If he can’t get a hold of Sara, Jim can do the slides himself and go into the meeting with confidence and enthusiasm. Jim should focus on getting through the meeting by doing the best that he can do in this type of situation by, showing that he can overcome and adapt to the situation he is facing.

Banquos Virtue in Shakespeares Macbeth :: Free Essay Writer

Banquo's Virtue in Macbeth      Ã‚   The Bard of Avon creates some truly mean and ugly characters in the persons of the Macbeths, but he creates a counterpart to them in the character of Banquo. This military man will be the subject of this essay.    In Everybody's Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies, Maynard Mack explains how the Bard upgraded the Holinshed version of Banquo:    His [King James] family, the Stuarts, claimed descent from Banquo, and it is perhaps on this account that Shakespeare departs from Holinshed, in whose narrative Banquo is Macbeth's accomplice in the assassination of Duncan, to insist on his "royalty of nature" and the "dauntless temper of his mind" (3.1.50). Many critics see a notable compliment to James in the dumb show of kings descending from Banquo ("What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom?" (186)    Blanche Coles states in Shakespeare's Four Giants that Banquo is "a man to be feared" by Macbeth:    Besides Lady Macbeth, the one who knows how much Macbeth is acting is Banquo. In the scene where Banquo is starting for his afternoon ride, the conversation between the new King and his "chief guest" is artificial on both sides. In pretending that he is about to seek advice from Banquo, Macbeth [. . .] is relying on the security of his office to prevent a contradiction from Banquo. A few lines farther on he says that his fears in Banquo sink deep. In the long soliloquy, beginning "To be thus is nothing," he reflects that Banquo would dare a great deal, and yet his daring is accompanied by a certain wisdom that would guide him to act safely. So he is a man to be feared. (56-57)    Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare comment that Banquo is a force of good in the play, set in opposition to Macbeth:    Banquo, the loyal soldier, praying for restraint against evil thoughts which enter his mind as they had entered Macbeth's, but which work no evil there, is set over against Macbeth, as virtue is set over against disloyalty.   (792)    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye explains the rationale behind Banquo's ghost in this play:    Except for the episode of Hercules leaving Antony, where mysterious music is heard again, there is nothing really supernatural in Shakespeare's tragedies that is not connected with the murder of the order-figures. Banquo's Virtue in Shakespeare's Macbeth :: Free Essay Writer Banquo's Virtue in Macbeth      Ã‚   The Bard of Avon creates some truly mean and ugly characters in the persons of the Macbeths, but he creates a counterpart to them in the character of Banquo. This military man will be the subject of this essay.    In Everybody's Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies, Maynard Mack explains how the Bard upgraded the Holinshed version of Banquo:    His [King James] family, the Stuarts, claimed descent from Banquo, and it is perhaps on this account that Shakespeare departs from Holinshed, in whose narrative Banquo is Macbeth's accomplice in the assassination of Duncan, to insist on his "royalty of nature" and the "dauntless temper of his mind" (3.1.50). Many critics see a notable compliment to James in the dumb show of kings descending from Banquo ("What, will the line stretch out to th' crack of doom?" (186)    Blanche Coles states in Shakespeare's Four Giants that Banquo is "a man to be feared" by Macbeth:    Besides Lady Macbeth, the one who knows how much Macbeth is acting is Banquo. In the scene where Banquo is starting for his afternoon ride, the conversation between the new King and his "chief guest" is artificial on both sides. In pretending that he is about to seek advice from Banquo, Macbeth [. . .] is relying on the security of his office to prevent a contradiction from Banquo. A few lines farther on he says that his fears in Banquo sink deep. In the long soliloquy, beginning "To be thus is nothing," he reflects that Banquo would dare a great deal, and yet his daring is accompanied by a certain wisdom that would guide him to act safely. So he is a man to be feared. (56-57)    Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare comment that Banquo is a force of good in the play, set in opposition to Macbeth:    Banquo, the loyal soldier, praying for restraint against evil thoughts which enter his mind as they had entered Macbeth's, but which work no evil there, is set over against Macbeth, as virtue is set over against disloyalty.   (792)    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye explains the rationale behind Banquo's ghost in this play:    Except for the episode of Hercules leaving Antony, where mysterious music is heard again, there is nothing really supernatural in Shakespeare's tragedies that is not connected with the murder of the order-figures.

Project Cycle Essay

In this essay, I will outline the TRADITIONAL PROJRCT CYCLE, Macarthur’s PROJECT SEQUENCE MODEL and the PARTICIPATORY PROJECT MANAGEMENT CYCLE by giving their main features and general principles. There after I will discuss which one of them is the best suited to ensure learning takes place and those projects planning are improved. First we need to understand what project cycle is. The planning and managing of the project indicate the cyclic process of the project (Conyers and Hills 1985: 73-61) which opposes Katz’s (1975) ideology of a spiral process. Here in the project cycle, the planning consists of a number of linking phases which exist depending on one another. The project cycle has different phases during its cycle process, namely being phase1: Decision to engage in planning and the creation of an organization  framework. Phase2: The identification of planning objectives and targets. Phase3: Data collection and processing. Phase4: Identifying alternatives courses of action. Phase5: Appraisal plans and projects Phase6: Implementation and lastly Phase7: Monitoring and evaluation. Though the initial decision to engage in Planning and creation of an organizational framework is stated as phase 1, according to Conyers and Hills, phase 1 is placed at the outer edge of the cycle planning process because this decision is only made once in each country and does not form part of a regular cycle. This step is there to ensure the availability of the necessary human and financial resources to carry out the planning and implementation effectively. The identification of planning objectives and targets which is phase2. This phase is often regarded as political therefore the decision is taken by government leaders. It is stated by (Conyers and Hills: 1984) that during this phase, general rules are laid down to show the course of the country’s development and the set of principles or ideas used as a basis for one’s decisions within which development planners can formulate more specific objectives. These general rules are usually sketched in a broad description and indicate medium-term and long-term priorities. Another phase included in the traditional project cycle is Phase3: Data collection and processing. This phase is regarded as the important phase in the development planning of any country. The availability of information is absolutely essential for determining the nature and scope of development problems and resulting in designing alternative course of action to relieve or solving problems. Stated by (Conyers a nd Hills: 1984) The following phase is Phase4: Identifying alternative courses of action. Here is where time is given to identify and specifying alternative courses of action which may be adopted to solve development problems and achieve objectives. These identified courses of action may take form of either a written planning document or a series of projects. Said by (Conyers and Hills: 1984) Phase5: Appraising plans and projects is the phase during which stated by Conyers and Hills that different proposed alternatives are  weighted one another and appraised or assessed the value or quality of their nature. The advantages and disadvantages of alternative courses of action are decided firmly and submitted to those who will ultimately choose between the alternatives. Implementation is Phase 6, though the implementation of plans and projects is part of the project cycle, it is not considered to be part of the planning process mainly because the professional planners are not directly involved the implementation of plans, stated by (Conyers and Hills: 1984). This part is left to the technicians and administrative staff. This does not mean that the planners are free to ignore the implementation process. The implementation phase can not proceed without the other phase of planning or the other cycle and during this period it is actually the development planner’s job to consider how the plans is to be operationalised. The last phase of the traditional project cycle stated by (Conyers and Hills: 1984) is Phase7: Monitoring and evaluation. What is monitored ad evaluated here is the implementation of the planning. The monitoring and evaluation are undertaken on a continuous basis and not only once, making it part of the implementation process. This phase is intended to establish what takes place during the implementation phase, to determine to what extent objective has been realized, and lastly to formulate the lessons learnt from the experience of the implementation and to solve problems as they arise. This step is said to be the last step of the process, but the actual fact is that the process starts all over again. There is another form of project planning called the Macarthur’ project sequence. This project is a somewhat an opposite of the traditional project cycle. The difference between the project plans will be visible during my description of Macarthur’ project sequence. The Macarthur’ project sequence demonstrates how much more it is complex to plan a project than Conyers and Hills portray it to be. Even though that’s the case, their cycle is said it does give good idea of the main phases or stages of project planning (Macarthur 1994a: 137) Here in Macarthur’s project sequence diagram, he demonstrates how his model  is an improvement and more realistic reflection of reality than the simplified academic model. The Macarthur’s project sequence model has three phases which also within it consists of stages or events in the life of the project (Macarthur 1994a: 137) The first phase is the Pre-Investment, where the project is still a set of ideas and proposals. The second phase is the investment Phase, here is where the financial commitment has been made and the fixed productive assets are obtained (Macarthur 1994a:137). He proceed by saying the third phase is the Operation Phase, where the created investments are used to generate the output whose availability in the economy is the main justification of the project (Macarthur 1994a:137) Macarthur does not allow to be the fourth phase in the diagram (even though he admits it would make sense to do so) consisting of box 18-21, but he thinks this will make the diagram too complex. He also did not include the eight possible sources of project ideas (which are listed above box 1) as part of the project sequence because he feels that they form part of outside project activities such as broader policy formulation and the government activities and planning (Macarthur 1994a:137) (Macarthur 1994a:137) also stated that his diagram differs from the Conyers and Hills cycle because it has ‘’exit’’ routes where are alluded as ‘’abandonment’’. This allows a project to continue from one step to the next when it fails. He also says that this allows projects to enter at places other that the identification stage. Allowance of more entrances enables projects to be pat of larger programs rather than being just a mere stand-alone project. It allows the proposals to be ‘’sent back’’ for reconsideration or refinement of the first phase which is the Pre-Investment Phase didn’t go well. Macarthur lastly explains the last Phase 3 which is the Operations Phase. He states that this is where the improvements on the other project cycle diagram are presented since they make no mansion of this phase in their diagram. Box16 of Macarthur’s diagram (which is the transmission to normal  administration) reflects the importance of this phase. He says this part indicates the point at which a new project stops to have a special identity as a unique or different set of activities and becomes part of the responsibility of a section in the organization that is responsible for the operation of productive facilities (Macarthur 1994a: 137) In Macarthur (1994a:137) sequence diagram, evaluation immediately takes place after implementation of the project in order to reflect on the experiences during implementation and to take note of any lessons learnt in order to feed these back into similar project that may be undertaken later (Box 18) The aim of the evaluation that takes place after years of the operation has been done is to make more proper assessment of the rates of return received on the money initially invested in the project (Macarthur 1994a: 147-148) Both Macarthur (1994) sequence planning and Conyers and Hills cyclic planning show a blueprint approach are inflexible and difficult to change. The projects are systematically and carefully planned in advance and implemented strictly according to the formulated plan. Their design is to the provision of a large physical infrastructure like industrial projects. The infrastructure that regard is easy to obtain in which to the base the project. The Macarthur (1994a: 137) sequence and Conyers and Hills cycle project plans got criticized by Rondinelli (1983) in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. Rondinelli (1983: viii) says that the problems that come with a strict blueprint approach can be minimized by using â€Å"Adaptive approach that relies on adjustive and strategic planning, on administrative procedures that facilitate innovation, responsiveness and experimentation on decision making processes that join learning with action†. An adaptive approach is also known as the learning process planning mode. It provides for successive stages of EXPERIMENTATION, PILOT, and DEMONTRATION AND REPLICATION OR PRODUCTION. The important statement in this approach is that there is little certainty about which technique will work in the long  term for a particular country (Rondinelli 1983: viii). Selected techniques are applied and exposed to regular field tests, after which activities are designed in accordance with what was learnt in the field. The outcome is that project planning is made more flexible by modifying and adapting project as more knowledge is obtained about environment. One of the statements about learning process approach is that there should be continual communication between project planners, implementers and the inhabitants of the area affected by the project (Korten 1980: 480-511), (Sweets and Weisel 1979: 127-130). Long (2001: 64-79) also supported this by explaining why participation is so important on development effort. He stated that poor people know their economic and social problems best and have insights and ideas about what could be done to solve them. Lane (2005) also supported Rondinelli (1983) criticism by making a critique of his own of various planning Models among which is the blueprint approach like those discussed previously. Lane (2005) stated that there are more flexible approaches like SYNOPTIC APPROACH which he feels allows for what he calls â€Å"tokenistic† participation. He also mentioned other flexible planning approaches such as â€Å"mixed planning†, â€Å"incrementalism† as well as approaches like â€Å"transitive† planning and communication theories. Lane (2007: 296) argues that â€Å"whereas participation was previously viewed as a decision making adjust, all schools of contemporary era view participation as a basic and important element of planning and decision making. Even though the traditional project cycle of Conyers and Hills was criticized by other models. It has an advantage of providing for a number of phases designed in such a way as to link the formulation of basic policy guidelines to specific projects and programs; this ensures that the lessons learnt from the implementation of each phase will be in corporate into the next cycle. Because in this cyclic project planning the process usually starts all over again after the last phase which is phase 7, it gives the planners an opportunity to learn from the lessons of the past. The Macarthur (1994a:  137) project planning sequence has its advantage of having the allowance of â€Å"exit† route, which is referred to as â€Å"Abandonment†. When a project fails to continue from one stage to the next. Another advantage of Macarthur’s sequence is that it allows for â€Å"projects to enter at places other than the identification stage (1994a: 138). He also adds that by allow ing for more entrance, enables Macarthur to make provision of other projects that may be part of a larger programs, rather than mere stand alone projects. Thirdly project proposals can be â€Å"sent back† for reconsideration or refinement. The participatory project management cycle’s adoptive approach has its own advantage of consisting of continuous cycle of action, reflection and adaptation, which Den Heyer (2002: 525) refers as â€Å"learning loops†. Even though all three of the project planning models has advantages, there are some disadvantages that come with them that make them to be not applicable for use in some project planning. The disadvantage of traditional cyclic model as pointed by Macarthur (1994a: 135) is that Conyers and Hills traditional cyclic model omits certain key moments in the life of a project, which means that we do not really get an adequate description of all the actual phases or stages through which large projects in particular, move. Macarthur’s (1994) project sequence also has its disadvantage. It is criticized by Rondinelli (1983: viii) and Lane (2005) that the sequence is a blueprint approach, and blueprint approaches are too strict and inflexible. Which they feel blueprint approaches don’t allow for participation. Long  (2001: 74) also agrees with this critique that blueprint approaches do not allow participation and flexibility needed to carry out the project.  As much as participation approach has a lot to criticize on other approaches, it also has its disadvantage, which is by the point of view of (Lane 2007: 296) is that participation is a remedy for the inadequacies or weakness of the more rigid blueprint approaches. In my opinion, I think the participatory approach is the best approach that ensures that learning during implementation takes place because it is flexible and includes the techniques use in both the cyclic and the sequential approaches. It does not  only accommodate infr astructural projects but also the people centered projects that will benefit the people. Just like the Tanzania Participatory Poverty Assessment project. Where PPA was designed to complete a natural Human Resource Development (HRD) survey on 1993 by focusing on gathering information on poverty as defined by local people in their own terms (Moriiti and Crawford 2009: 296). BIBLIOGRAPHY. Biggs & Smith; Hart, Burgess, Beukes & Hart; Lane.2009. Only study guide for DVA2602.Pretoria: University of South Africa PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES AS INSTITUTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT: a reader, 2009: contributed by Muriithi and Crawford. Pretoria: University of South Africa.

San Diego City College - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2226 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/03/19 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Gun Control Essay Did you like this example? Professor Daveed Department chair of history and political science at San Diego City College. Views the United States gun rights/reform from both sides. Neutral, more informative view. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "San Diego City College" essay for you Create order Not opposed to or for gun control/rights. Kristin Brown Co President and Chief Strategy Officer of the Brady Campaign. The Brady campaign aims at preventing gun violence by promoting policies that will keep guns out of the hands of Americans. It was founded by Jim and Sarah Brady in 1974. Jim was Ronald Reagans press secretary and after he was shot, he and his wife devoted the rest of their lives to do something about gun violence. In 1993 the Brady bill was passed. It required background checks on people purchasing firearms, along with a five-day waiting period on purchases. Kris Brown started her career on Capitol Hill working for congressman, Jim Moran. She then earned her law degree and worked as a regulatory and litigation lawyer. Now, she oversees strategy and management of the Brady Campaign. Working towards expanding background checks, limiting gun dealers, and educating the public on gun dangers. Correa 2 Wayne LaPierre Executive vice president of the National Rifle Association. The NRA is a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun rights and advocates for and against gun legislation. After obtaining a masters degree in government from Boston College, LaPierre entered the lobbying industry and in 1977, joined the NRA as a 28-year-old. LaPierre has also served on the boards of directors of the American Association of Political Consultants, American Conservative Union, and Center for the Study of Popular Culture and the National Fish Wildlife Foundation. He is also the author of Safe: How to Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Home, The Global War on Your Guns: Inside the UN Plan to Destroy the Bill of Rights and The Essential Second Amendment Guide (Garrett). Introduction San Diego City College is hosting a panel event. They have invited Kris Brown from the Brady campaign, a gun control activist. Along with Wayne LaPierre, head of the NRA, and a gun rights activist. We have head of history and political science, professor Daveed as a guest as well as a student named, Gabriel as our mediator. The guests will be giving their thoughts and opinions on where the United States currently stands on gun control/gun rights and what we should be doing differently to prevent gun violence. Gabriel [Walks onto stage and sits on the right of Wayne LaPierre, Professor Daveed, and Kristin Brown, who are sitting in that order] Hello, San Diego City College! How are you guys? [Response from crowd] Good, good. The turnout is amazing, I can see people squeezed in all   around the sides of the room and along the walls, while that might not be too comfortable, its great in terms of numbers and the amount of people that have come out to listen to this very   Correa 3 important debate, which does make sense because we have our very own Professor Daveed on the panel today. He is our department chair of History and Political Science. We have Kris Brown with us, Co President of the Brady Campaign and Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle Association. [Turns his attention toward guests] Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be here today. It is very much appreciated and I think were all equally as excited for the conversation we are having today. Professor Daveed Thank you, Gabe for thinking of me and bringing me into this panel. Im honored to be sitting here with the both of you (Kris and Wayne) who are the faces of two of the largest gun nonprofits. Also Gabe, I appreciate the shout-out. Thank you for not making me feel like a meager participation trophy next to these two. Gabe- ha-ha, youre so much more than that Professor, I would never Also, theres still time for my grade to be brought down, so I couldnt. Professor Daveed Funny. Kris Brown [Interjects] Ive got to say Gabriel, I feel just as honored to be here. To be able to share my thoughts and opinions on gun control in a room full of young men and women is really something. So, thank you for reaching out and having me. Wayne LaPierre Yes, I too appreciate the opportunity. We have serious discussions ahead and serious issues that impact each and every one of us. Correa 4 Gabe Yes, we definitely do. We have all heard of the mass shootings and the rallies, the protests, and calls for stricter gun laws, some even going as far as changing the Second Amendment or creating additional gun rights. There has been extensive media coverage on the issue, as well as in schools, making sure kids know the procedure if a shooting were to occur. It seems the debate hasnt settled down, it has only been fueled by more gun violence, those who are hungry for change, and others who strongly disagree with the proposed additions and/or restrictions to gun laws. So, my question for you guys is: Would universal background checks and a ban on assault-style rifles reduce gun violence in the United States? Professor Daveed Ill go first. I really like your question. I feel like its come the closest to actually being a part of the real conversation, and could eventually lead to passing legislation. I say this, because earlier like you mentioned, many people speak about rewriting the second amendment and I feel that that will never in a million years happen. Heres why. Americans are very proud. As Americans, I think we pride ourselves in having the Constitution and having rights that set us apart from other countries, so much so that sometimes we let that get in the way of realizing when something just isnt working. Im not saying that I am against gun rights, because Im not, but I do think that the laws we have set in place are letting ill people slip through the cracks, leading to many casualties and hurt families. So, to answer your question I would say that stricter gun laws would be a fair compromise for people who do depend on hunting or even enjoy sport shooting. There wont be a buyback program stripping individuals of their firearms or a change in the Bill of Rights, just a lengthier process to purchase a gun.   Correa 5 is how it should be if you know the severity that a bullet can cause, and if you are in fact only using a gun for the right reasons, you should be just fine. Wayne LaPierre Its not that Americans are proud, Professor. We are simply standing up for our rights, the same rights that have stood for hundreds of years. The Second Amendment clearly states that A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Now, in the 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller case, the Supreme Court translated the Second Amendment into its intended meaning, ruling that it protects an individuals right to bear arms, and not just a National Guards (Berman). The dilemma here is that its a fact that blame is being shifted onto the NRA and guns instead of the people committing the acts. It is society that is fundamentally flawed. It is our values and morals, not guns. Guns are not committing crimes, people are. Kris Brown I think that that is precisely the problem Mr. LaPierre, the second amendment has been in place since 1791. Times have changed, we no longer use muskets or revolvers that hold less than six rounds. Technology has surged forward, I dont have to tell you how many kinds of guns we have now or how many bullets can be held in a single magazine with bump stocks that allow bullets to fire at twice the speed, allowing for mass casualties. But, changing the second amendment isnt apart of the conversation. So, I wont go any farther than that. The real question is about more restrictions and making the process of purchasing a gun more accurate and safe. Thats apart of the Brady three tier goal. Our goal is to cut gun deaths in half. How we plan on doing that is through expanding the Brady bill to cover all gun sales. Something that   Correa 6 about 94% of American agree with, because currently 1 in 5 guns are sold without background checks. Also, for those who dont know the Brady bill mandated background checks. The   second goal is to ban the sale of all assault-style weapons and large capacity ammunition magazines. The third is to enact extreme risk laws. Meaning laws that allow family members and law enforcement to seek a protective order to remove firearms from someone at risk of hurting themselves or others. Professor Daveed Im very curious, What is stopping us from being able to expand the Brady bill? As you mentioned before 94% of Americans agree with that, so whats the hold up? Kris Brown Unfortunately, we have our answer in the politics of America today. The NRA contributed or lobbied about $50 million to get President Trump elected under a pro NRA agenda and many members of Congress, so although the polls clearly show support, Congress just isnt acting. What we have done over time, has been to get the states approval. We now have twenty states that have passed expansions of the Brady background through ballets, not their legislatures. Wayne LaPierre Yes Mrs. Brown, we do lobby. It is our way of giving back and supporting congressmen and women who deserve a seat in Senate and the House of Representatives. The NRA spends money, but so do dozens of organizations and causes. NRA money is not why gun control efforts are failing. We have only spent about $203 million since 1998. T hat figure is even smaller than it looks when you consider 30 percent of Americans, or about 100 million people, own a gun. By contrast, Wall Street and the broader financial industrial shelled out more than   Correa 7 $1.1 billion in the 2016 election cycle alone. The bulk of that $203 million doesnt actually go to candidates. Its spent on those issue ads that you see mostly on cable news channels during election years. Fewer than 20 percent of American gun owners are even NRA members. We give the beliefs of gun owners a voice, rather than frame what they should believe. The real power is with those voting gun owners, not the lobby group. We support regulations on bump stocks. However, we do not support expanding firearm background checks or banning certain guns. We instead urge Congress to loosen gun restrictions, along with passing the Concealed Carry Reciprocity, which would require states to recognize concealed carry permits from other states. Banning guns from law-abiding Americans based on the criminal act of a madman will do nothing to prevent future attacks. If we have more good people armed, then we could stop the crazy people with guns. Professor Daveed You dont think stricter gun laws would prevent future attacks? What about Australia? Or the U.K.? Just entertain the thought, because many countries have had mass shootings, and tightened their gun laws shortly after in order to prevent any further losses. The 1996 Port Arthur Massacre in Australia resulted in a man killing 35 people, and wounding over 24 with a semi-automatic rifle. Two weeks later firearms were regulated. The National Agreement on Firearms was put into effect, which prohibited automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles, mandated licensing and registration, and instituted a temporary buyback program that took about 650,000 assault weapons out of public circulation. It also required licenses to   Correa 8 demonstrate a genuine need for a particular type of gun, as well as taking a firearm safety course. In the U.K. something similar happened, as well as in Canada and Norway. When tragedy struck it was followed by change. Right now in the U.S. at the age of 18 you can purchase rifles, shotguns, and ammunition but have to be over 21 to purchase all other firearms like handguns. And, in most states you can even carry a concealed gun in public. Did you also know that (speaking to audience) background checks are only required in eleven states since the Brady Bill expired in (1968-) 1998 and was never picked up by most states. Same with the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons ban that expired in 2004. The ban was signed by President Bill Clinton and outlawed nineteen kinds of military style-assault weapons, never being signed by Congress again. Furthermore, most states do bar selling guns to high risk individuals, including felons, people with a mental illness history, fugitives, drug users, individuals with restraining orders against them, people who have given up their citizenship, dishonorably discharged military personnel, unauthorized migrants, and tourists. The U.S. depends on the NICS/FBI database for these background checks, which many times exclude crucial information that could indicate a risk. Last bit of information, I promise. There have been over 93 mass shootings since 1982, 42 of those occurring after Sandy Hook. The other 51 never exceeded 32 deaths in one case, while a single shooting in 2017 caused 58 fatalities, exceeding Columbine, Sandy Hook, Texas Baptist Church, Parkland High School, A Thousand Oaks nightclub, and the Orlando nightclub massacre that killed 49 people.

Uner Tan Syndrome The Ulas Family Essay - 1653 Words

In 2005, a Turkish neuroscientist and evolutionary biologist named Dr. Uner Tan discovered a family with a very unique condition: five of them walk on all fours with a quadrupedal gait. In addition to quadrupedalism, affected individuals showed severe mental retardation and what he described as â€Å"primitive speech.† The presence of these three characteristic symptoms became known as Uner Tan Syndrome. The Ulas family was discovered in a small village near Iskenderun in southern Turkey. At the time of their identification, there were 12 normal children and 7 disabled children, one of whom died. Of the 6 remaining affected children, 5 of them displayed habitual quadrupedal walking. The Ulas family is highly consanguineous (second†¦show more content†¦Humans, due to a highly developed cerebellum, have an unparalleled sense of balance that is specially adapted to bipedalism. MRI scans of all members of the Ulas family showed that the individuals with Uner Tan Sy ndrome had grossly underdeveloped cerebellar vermis, which is responsible for balance and locomotion (See figure 1). Since the discovery of the Ulas family, three additional consanguineous families in Turkey have shown segregation for Uner Tan Syndrome to varying degrees. All together, these families were labeled A, B, C, and D. Families A and D had regular access to medical attention, and both sought treatment for the quadrupedal locomotion. In fact, family A actively discouraged quadrupedal walking. Attempts in both families were unsuccessful, which led researchers to conclude that social factors did not contribute to this behavior (Ozcelik et al. 4234). Although Uner Tan Syndrome is described as a collection of symptoms, the implications of the quadrupedal locomotion has caused it to receive the greatest amount of attention since its discovery. In 2008, Turkish scientists claimed to have found one of the genes responsible, at least in part, to this particular phenotype. Affected individuals in families A and D were homozygous for either deletions or nonsense mutations in the VLDLR gene on chromosome 9. This gene transcribes a very low-density

The Spanish Colonization Of Latin America Essay - 1270 Words

Because the Indians and Spanish lived in different areas in Latin America, the Indian culture and society did not change significantly. Or did there society change? The Spanish colonizers had a huge influence on the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Peru’s, culture, language, traditions, religion, even on their native food. One can say that this came into being shortly after Columbus discovered the New World. The Spanish conquistadors, who sailed with Columbus to the New World, were the first to leave their mark on the new territory. We still see some of these traditions in today’s society. The Spanish taught the Indians of their oral traditions of legends and jokes, music, food, beliefs, and customs. The Indians even picked up on their native tongue, Spanish, and used it as their own and still do to this day. There are many things in the Mexican culture which have contributed to the shaping and molding of the modern Latino society, such as the Mexican history, culture, language, religion, and traditions. The Indigenous culture is not simply a blend of Mexico used to be, but the results of a unique historical process that developed with an originality all its own. This culture was divided into many different social classes after the Spanish took the reins. Like they started to develop a governmental system for the Indigenous people and they started to tax them with the Bourbon Reforms. Many Indigenous people hated the thought of this so they took matters in to their ownShow MoreRelatedThe Spanish Colonization Of Latin America1270 Words   |  6 PagesBecause the Indians and Spanish lived in different areas in Latin America, the Indian culture and society did not change significantly. Or did there society change? The Spanish colonizers had a huge influence on the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Peru’s, culture, language, traditions, religion, even on their native food. One can say that this came into being shortly after Columbus discovered the New World. The Spanish conquistadors, who sailed with Columbus to the New World, were the first toRead MoreThe Inequality Of Latin America1673 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"In the 1500s, Spanish and Portuguese colonizers imposed their language, their religion, and their social institutions on the indigenous Americans and enslaved Africans, people who labored for them in mines and fields and who served them, too, at table and in bed† (Chasteen 5). Many people would say this is where inequality in Latin America began, with colonization. However, colonization is just a small piece of the roots of inequality of the region, which actually started with the natives of theRead MoreThe Conflict Between Aztecs And Incas1745 Words   |  7 Pagesco nsolidation of a system of states in Latin America, it is necessary to to back in history and analyze the distribution of power within the period even before the colonization. Despite our post Columbus state formation history of Latin America that has taught that the â€Å"real order† was established after the colonization, we have to understand that there already existed a consolidated power and order in the region, which in fact, it was a key factor for the widespread of Spanish power. As Charles Jones establishedRead MoreThe Importance Of Globalization In Latin America1276 Words   |  6 Pages Latin America is rich in indigenous diversity and cultural traditions. There are hundreds of dialects spoken by indigenous communities in many regions of Latin America. Language is important because it is the way its speaker view the world and the culture that surrounds them. In Latin American indigenous communities language is also very important because it is the way cultures save memories, express emotions, share traditions, and pass on knowledge(Kung, Sherzer). All over the world language, ofRead MoreReligion in Latin America; the Age of Discovery and Conquest (1492-1597)1058 Words   |  5 Pages and conduct of the Spanish during the Age of Discovery and Conquest (1492-1579). The colonial church provided control and a standard of conduct and living for the new world. In fact, the colonial church had even more power in Spanish America then it did in Spain. Why this is important though, is because it limited the possibility of rebellion and opposition. As long as the church was i n place, there was Spanish order, and as long as there was Spanish order, the colonization process could continueRead MoreEffects Of The Age Of Exploration1195 Words   |  5 Pagesothers, their land were invaded and lost many lives. The Spanish and the Portuguese are two main leaders of Europe that began the movement of exploration and colonization. Because of their actions, regions like Latin America and West Africa were at a deep disadvantage, being control by other country. But because of the age of exploration, new things are discovered that prosper other places. The interactions during the age of exploration in Latin Africa redefined the identities of Europeans by the fallRead MoreEssay on Ethnicity and Latin America1140 Words   |  5 PagesEthnicity and Latin America Latin America and the American colonies were â€Å"tamed† based on completely different ideologies. From a Latin American perspective, the most important of the European explorers were of course, the Spanish and the Portuguese. These explorers arrived in Christopher Columbus’ â€Å"new world† with the express goal of bringing glory and prestige to their homeland. In stark contrast, settlers came to the colonies seeking freedom from the religious persecution in Europe. TheRead MoreThe Culture Of Latin America Essay1630 Words   |  7 Pagesculture of Latin America is multi-faceted and rich. More than 300 million Spanish speakers reside in Latin America and are spread across a vast geographic region; this makes it tough at times to explain Latin American culture. Though, there are some living standards and ways of observing life which is in common all over the majority of the area. Latin America comprises of 21 main countries. Major languages spoken in Latin Amer ica are French, Portuguese, and Spanish. The Latin America region is aRead MoreEuropean Exploration And Conquest Of Latin America1277 Words   |  6 PagesBefore European exploration and conquest in Latin America the indigenous people lived off the land working mainly to support themselves. Despite having conflicts of their own, most Latin American tribes would coexist peacefully relative to what was to come. Some, more advanced civilizations, such as the Aztec, did have conditions somewhat similar to those that would soon spread to the rest of Latin America. When European settlers started to take over the Americas, however, conditions got markedly worseRead MoreThe Effects of Westernization Essay example934 Words   |  4 PagesAsia, Africa, and Latin America have all been influenced by the transmission of Western cultural values through direct as well as indirect contact. By means of colonization Asia, Africa and Latin America were particularly affected as Western values were e nforced upon the populations by colonial assault. During this era traditional cultural pursuits declined and stagnated in the face of Western conquests. The attitude is much the same now as it was then, â€Å"However disagreeable the â€Å"medicine† may

The Collision of Two Cultures free essay sample

The Collision of Two Cultures Implications of Cultural Values and Beliefs on Caring Concepts Abstract This paper is a personal response to Anne Fadiman’s book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. The paper includes a summary of the book, an overall impression of the reader, a discussion of three major themes evident in the book, and a description of a situation from the book and how the situation could be handled differently using references and material learned in 3020 Transcultural Nursing. Keywords: culture, cultural barriers, values and beliefs, language barrier, assimilation process The Collision of Two Cultures – Implications of Cultural Values and Beliefs on Caring Concepts After I finished my second summer semester this year I had 3 weeks break before starting fall semester, where I enrolled for this class. I had acquired my books already from a fellow student and went home to enjoy my three weeks of not studying; just working. We will write a custom essay sample on The Collision of Two Cultures or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As I was putting the books away at home, I started reading the back of Anne Fadiman’s book â€Å"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down† where a journalist of The Washington Post referred to the book as utterly engaging, readable, and a superb piece of writing. Instead of storing the book I carried it upstairs and put it on my night table. That evening after I snuggled up in my bed I got to know Lia Lee, her parents, her doctors, and I learned about the struggles that were involved in caring for an ill child that sat between two cultures; the Hmong culture and the culture of American health care professionals. Anne Fadiman takes the reader on a cultural journey where she describes the case of Lia Lee, a Hmong infant that suffers from epilepsy. As she tells the story of Lia and her immigrant family that had to flee from their home country and eventually gained entrance into the United States, she reveals the history and cultural traditions of the Hmong people. Moreover, she describes how her parents and the medical community of Merced Medical Center in California strive to help Lia as they try to treat and care for the epileptic child each in their own way. The values and beliefs that both sides hold seem to be irreconcilable at the time because the two sides do not know enough about each other to even try to understand that both sides mean well and try their best to help Lea in her struggles to regain her health or control the condition. Fadiman details the misunderstandings that arise when two cultures come face-to-face but cannot understand each other. Lia arrives in the hospital with epileptic seizures which her parents blamed on a slammed door, a spirit catching Lia, and subsequent soul loss. To the western doctors, who know little about the Hmong people and their culture, Lia’s seizure was caused by dysfunction in her brain which can be treated with medication. The doctors are unaware of the fact that the Lee’s diagnosed Lia with â€Å"qaug dab peg† which is the Hmong word for epilepsy, though considered potentially dangerous in Hmong culture it also distinguishes a person and may be indicative of a possible future as a shaman. The Hmong, like American Indians, are circular thinkers who see universal connections in all things. The Hmong, unlike Americans, don’t split the mind and the body. To the Cartesian, linear thinking doctors, medical health cannot be restored by bargaining with spiritual powers and offering animal sacrifices. The book also touches on historical and political events which have shaped the character traits of Hmong and Americans. For centuries the Hmong have resisted persecution, manipulation, and domination by other Asian groups. They are a proud people and cherish their independence. The Hmong’s challenge of authority frustrated the American doctors who aren’t used to having their authority questioned. The Lees non compliance with the western medical treatment was rooted in their belief that the family makes the decisions for their children which in their culture is in the best interest of the child. The Lees were convinced that the medication regimen only made Lia more ill and refused or altered the medication regiment. The doctors retaliated and showed their power by removing Lia from her parent’s home to foster care where they hoped Lia’s condition would stabilize. However, there was that fear that lingered over the medical community in the Merced hospital that Lia would one day come in â€Å"with the big one†, the doctors called a grand mal seizure that would deprive the child of vital oxygen to her brain and either take her life or leave her in a vegetative state. Inevitably the day came that Lia suffered a grand mal seizure. Since, her higher brain function has ceased and she was left in a state that the western doctors described as dead, however, for the Lees it was the soul that had now left her body with no return. Lia was taken home from the hospital where the medical team thought she would die soon after. However, the Lees loving competent care kept her alive, a life that in western value and belief system is not worth living, whereas the Hmong see it as a variation of nature and care for Lia even more, still hoping that her soul may return to her body one day. After finishing the book, I caught myself thinking that maybe Lia’s soul would one day return to her body. I truly enjoyed reading this cross-cultural account that is full of knowledge and derives wisdom from people of different life-ways. Somehow, the book allows the reader to step out of one’s own culture and look at the world like a Hmong. Recognition of cultural differences is important in a country that consists of mostly immigrants. As people of one country we want to take care of each other, understand each other, and live with each other. Therefore, people need to get to know each other and understand the cultural backgrounds, value and belief systems. That is my opinion as a person. Looking at the book from the perspective of a nurse makes it even more valuable. I have always liked the idea of culturally congruent care and have tried to incorporate it in my daily practice as a nurse. After reading this book, however, my perception of cultural care has changed. Anne Fadiman has spent years on her research on Hmong culture and her goal to make people understand the vast differences in values and beliefs of people from cultures that are different than main stream culture here in America. Her efforts make it possible for other people to embrace the knowledge she has collected and hopefully people are able to use the knowledge to make a difference in somebody else’s life; somebody else, like Lia. Fadimans book illustrates how much time, commitment, and energy is necessary to understand another cultures perspective on health and wellness and to translate that understanding into the day-to-day practice of medicine and caring. Incorporating cultural beliefs into medical care can go a long way to help people cope with illnesses. â€Å"A little medicine and a little neeb†, is what Nao Kao, Lia’s Dad said. In these simple words is hidden much of the truth that would have helped the Lees to cope better and comply more with Lia’s medication regimen. If the outcome would have been different is questionable, however, the cultural aspect of Lia’s care was disregarded by the medical staff, both nurses and doctors and led to more complication than necessary. The involvement of a twix neeb would not have harmed Lia’s medical treatment; it would have enhanced it. The twix neeb, a shaman conducts his work on a metaphysical plane. He usually mediates between the earthly and the spiritual world, however, there is no evidence that this treatment hurts anybody (Fadiman, 1997, p. 267). According to Dwight Conquergood, who has seen medication bottles on the altars of neebs, they do not resist medications, rather they incorporate it in the heeling process (Fadiman, 1991, p. 268). The book delivers much food for thought for whom ever is hungry for it, but it is especially useful for medical staff and doctors who dedicate their work to helping others. Anne Fadiman makes clear that we treat people and not diseases or body parts. On that note, she quotes William Osler who said â€Å"Ask not what disease the person has, but rather what person has the disease† (Fadiman, 1997, p. 75). The major theme in Fadiman’s book is cultural barriers. Language, cultural values and beliefs, and immigration status play an extensive role in assimilation and acculturation to a new society. The language barrier that the Lee’s experienced along with their different values and beliefs made it difficult for the Lees and the Merced medical staff to communicate with each oth er to navigate the treatment for Lia. Through Fadiman’s book, it becomes clear that language is an expression of cultural beliefs. In Hmong language epilepsy is explained in spiritual terms and is, therefore, an expression of their culture that is rooted in the natural and spiritual world. In English epilepsy is explained as a disturbance of brain function, which expresses western values and beliefs that are based on knowledge derived from science. The use of translators only added to the miscommunication of the two sides, especially the use of unskilled people like a janitor or an aid which they used in this case. Fadiman states that cultural brokers are needed to help a situation where the divide between cultures is extensive. In one of his interviews with Fadiman, Neil Ernst, the pediatrician involved in Lia’s care describes the cultural barrier as being a layer of saran wrap between the Lee’s and the medical staff of Merced Medical Center. He states that, you could get somehow into the area where you thought you reached them but you could never be sure that they understood. In 1980 when the Lee’s came to America cross-cultural medicine and care concepts were perceived by the medical community as form of political bamboozlement. Physicians felt that these ideas were an assault on their rationality rather than a potentially lifesaving therapy (Fadiman, 1997, p. 273). Fadiman’s book was a necessity to open the road for cultural congruent care concepts. It serves as a testimony that ethnocentrism on behalf of a majority culture could prohibit people from seeking care or negatively influence the outcome. The description of birth practices and beliefs in Hmong culture is a good example for inhibiting people to seek care. Prenatal care is highly valued in western culture, however, in Hmong culture where our understanding of medical care is nonexistent women take care of their needs. Even in the process of giving birth, as Fadiman describes in the first chapter they deliver their babies by themselves. If help is needed, the husband is utilized to aid in the birth of a Hmong baby. The Hmong women came to the hospital to give birth only because they had heard that if they do not deliver the baby in the hospital it will not be accepted as American citizen and they could not collect money from the government. If it wasn’t for this misconception, the women would have avoided the hospitalization. The Hmong people were political refugees. Fadiman pictures the Hmong as extremely different from typical immigrants who are grateful and happy to have landed in America, the land of opportunity and freedom. As a group, the Hmong have a history of vehemently resisting assimilation. The Hmong refugees were not here because they wanted to be; they were here because they had no other choice. The CIA-led â€Å"quiet war† in Laos had destroyed their homeland villages and made life as they knew it impossible. The life that the refugees found in the United States was strikingly different from their life in the mountains or in the refugee camp in Thailand. The culture shock caused many to cling more zealously to the old ways and to one another. This explains, at least in part, why after being in the United States for a number of years, the Lees appeared to speak virtually no English. Fadiman claims that Lia’s mother, even after being in the U. S. for several years, had no idea how to operate the family telephone. In Transcultural Concepts in Nursing Care, Andrews and Boyle list many factors that affect the process of assimilation and acculturation to a new culture. As first generation immigrants, the Lees came to this country as a middle aged couple with their children. Whereas, Foua, Nao Kao and their peers had many difficulties getting used to the new life the book reveals that their children embraced the new experience and grew up to be bicultural. As involuntary immigrants the first wave of Hmong people clung more to their cultural traditions as voluntary immigrants would do. Fadiman chronicles migration patterns of Hmong people inside the United States. After landing here the Hmong were dispersed across many states to divide the financial burden among the communities. However, the Hmong did not want to live apart from each other in this strange new environment. So against governmental plans they settled in large groups to practice their traditions and help each other. Therefore, the assimilation to the new culture was slowed and delayed. Educational status is another factor that slows assimilation. The Hmong’s educational level was not comparable to western standards. As an indigenous mountain tribe who lived off their land knowledge was limited to what was necessary to survive in that environment. However, when the Hmong came to the United States the pattern of knowledge that was needed to survive changed drastically. To gain entrance into a society different than your own a new set of knowledge needs to be acquired to compete for resources. Caring for people from a culture that has a different set of values and beliefs takes understanding and knowledge on the behalf of the professional that delivers the care. In nursing delivering cultural congruent care is a concept that was established by Madeleine Leininger who developed the theory of Cultural Care Diversity and Universality (George, 2010, p. 404). In their care practice nurses need to consider the interrelationship of cultural care, well-being, health, illness, and death as it is viewed by people from different cultures (George, 2010, p. 11). The approach should be holistic and explore multidimensional ways of caring. The nurse should seek to discover cultural care universalities and diversities and be able to apply it. Cultural care preservation, accommodation, and restructuring are key concepts of cultural congruent care delivery. Applying my knowledge from this class to the care of Lia I would have tried to establish a working relationship with the family and the ir twix neeb to preserve and maintain their values and beliefs. The involvement of the neeb would have shown Lia’s family that their values and beliefs were acknowledged and not disregarded. Moreover, the twix neeb could have acted as negotiator to ensure that the Lee’s adhered to the medication regiment. Fadiman describes situations in the hospital where Lia was put in restraints to not interrupt her medical treatment by pulling on tubes and IV lines. The Lees were enraged about the restraints and tried to free her from the coercion of force that was administered by the medical professional at Merced Medical Center. Involving a cultural broker like Fadiman terms it would have helped to concert the different views of treatment. The Lees wanted to care for her daughter by holding her and having her close, however, the medical staff wanted to maintain their treatment modalities to get Lia the medical treatment that she needed. A holistic approach is of utmost importance and maybe some agreement could be made to how the parents could have held and be close to Lia without interfering with the treatment modalities. Restructuring Lia’s environment and treatment would have been a matter of more sensitivity on behalf of the medical professionals involved. Foster care did not improve Lia’s condition and the coercion of power on the Lee’s did not improve their compliance or strengthen their beliefs in western medicine and treatments. A more sensitive approach through home care services might have been more effective in the treatment of Lia’s epilepsy. Teaching the Lees how to read a clock, how to use the Gregorian calendar, would have been a useful approach to improve Lia’s condition. Community classes on western values and beliefs would also be of interest to help people from different cultures to assimilate to main stream culture. The tragedy is that both the doctors and the family genuinely wanted to help Lia, but their lack of communication and inability to understand each other, culturally, and linguistically, made mutual efforts impossible. Anne Fadiman’s research effort created a valuable resource for people in curing and caring professions. Understanding the importance of incorporating cultural values and beliefs in the deliverance of care can make a difference in somebody else’s life.