The Lost Symbol Chapter 7-11

CHAPTER 7 Katherine Solomon hurried across the parking lot through the cold rain, wishing she had worn more than jeans and a cashmere sweater. As she neared the building's main entrance, the roar of the giant air purifiers got louder. She barely heard them, her ears still ringing from the phone call she'd just received. That which your brother believes is hidden in D.C. . . . it can be found. Katherine found the notion almost impossible to believe. She and the caller still had much to discuss and had agreed to do so later that evening. Reaching the main doors, she felt the same sense of excitement she always felt upon entering the gargantuan building. Nobody knows this place is here. The sign on the door announced: SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM SUPPORT CENTER (SMSC) The Smithsonian Institution, despite having more than a dozen massive museums on the National Mall, had a collection so huge that only 2 percent of it could be on display at any one time. The other 98 percent of the collection had to be stored somewhere. And that somewhere . . . was here. Not surprisingly, this building was home to an astonishingly diverse array of artifacts–giant Buddhas, handwritten codices, poisoned darts from New Guinea, jewel-encrusted knives, a kayak made of baleen. Equally mind-boggling were the building's natural treasures–plesiosaur skeletons, a priceless meteorite collection, a giant squid, even a collection of elephant skulls brought back from an African safari by Teddy Roosevelt. But none of this was why the Smithsonian secretary, Peter Solomon, had introduced his sister to the SMSC three years ago. He had brought her to this place not to behold scientific marvels, but rather to create them. And that was exactly what Katherine had been doing. Deep within this building, in the darkness of the most remote recesses, was a small scientific laboratory unlike any other in the world. The recent breakthroughs Katherine had made here in the field of Noetic Science had ramifications across every discipline–from physics, to history, to philosophy, to religion. Soon everything will change, she thought. As Katherine entered the lobby, the front desk guard quickly stashed his radio and yanked the earplugs from his ears. â€Å"Ms. Solomon!† He smiled broadly. â€Å"Redskins?† He blushed, looking guilty. â€Å"Pregame.† She smiled. â€Å"I won't tell.† She walked to the metal detector and emptied her pockets. When she slid the gold Cartier watch from her wrist, she felt the usual pang of sadness. The timepiece had been a gift from her mother for Katherine's eighteenth birthday. Almost ten years had now passed since her mother had died violently . . . passing away in Katherine's arms. â€Å"So, Ms. Solomon?† the guard whispered jokingly. â€Å"Are you ever gonna tell anybody what you're doing back there?† She glanced up. â€Å"Someday, Kyle. Not tonight.† â€Å"Come on,† he pressed. â€Å"A secret lab . . . in a secret museum? You must be doing something cool.† Miles beyond cool, Katherine thought as she collected her things. The truth was that Katherine was doing science so advanced that it no longer even resembled science. CHAPTER 8 Robert Langdon stood frozen in the doorway of the National Statuary Hall and studied the startling scene before him. The room was precisely as he remembered it–a balanced semicircle built in the style of a Greek amphitheater. The graceful arched walls of sandstone and Italian plaster were punctuated by columns of variegated breccia, interspersed with the nation's statuary collection–life-size statues of thirty-eight great Americans standing in a semicircle on a stark expanse of black-and-white marble tile. It was exactly as Langdon had recalled from the lecture he had once attended here. Except for one thing. Tonight, the room was empty. No chairs. No audience. No Peter Solomon. Just a handful of tourists milling around aimlessly, oblivious to Langdon's grand entrance. Did Peter mean the Rotunda? He peered down the south corridor toward the Rotunda and could see tourists milling around in there, too. The echoes of the clock chime had faded. Langdon was now officially late. He hurried back into the hallway and found a docent. â€Å"Excuse me, the lecture for the Smithsonian event tonight? Where is that being held?† The docent hesitated. â€Å"I'm not sure, sir. When does it start?† â€Å"Now!† The man shook his head. â€Å"I don't know about any Smithsonian event this evening–not here, at least.† Bewildered, Langdon hurried back toward the center of the room, scanning the entire space. Is Solomon playing some kind of joke? Langdon couldn't imagine it. He pulled out his cell phone and the fax page from this morning and dialed Peter's number. His phone took a moment to locate a signal inside the enormous building. Finally, it began to ring. The familiar southern accent answered. â€Å"Peter Solomon's office, this is Anthony. May I help you?† â€Å"Anthony!† Langdon said with relief. â€Å"I'm glad you're still there. This is Robert Langdon. There seems to be some confusion about the lecture. I'm standing in the Statuary Hall, but there's nobody here. Has the lecture been moved to a different room?† â€Å"I don't believe so, sir. Let me check.† His assistant paused a moment. â€Å"Did you confirm with Mr. Solomon directly?† Langdon was confused. â€Å"No, I confirmed with you, Anthony. This morning!† â€Å"Yes, I recall that.† There was a silence on the line. â€Å"That was a bit careless of you, don't you think, Professor?† Langdon was now fully alert. â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"Consider this . . .† the man said. â€Å"You received a fax asking you to call a number, which you did. You spoke to a total stranger who said he was Peter Solomon's assistant. Then you willingly boarded a private plane to Washington and climbed into a waiting car. Is that right?† Langdon felt a chill race through his body. â€Å"Who the hell is this? Where is Peter?† â€Å"I'm afraid Peter Solomon has no idea you're in Washington today.† The man's southern accent disappeared, and his voice morphed into a deeper, mellifluous whisper. â€Å"You are here, Mr. Langdon, because I want you here.† CHAPTER 9 Inside the Statuary Hall, Robert Langdon clutched his cell phone to his ear and paced in a tight circle. â€Å"Who the hell are you?† The man's reply was a silky calm whisper. â€Å"Do not be alarmed, Professor. You have been summoned here for a reason.† â€Å"Summoned?† Langdon felt like a caged animal. â€Å"Try kidnapped!† â€Å"Hardly.† The man's voice was eerily serene. â€Å"If I wanted to harm you, you would be dead in your Town Car right now.† He let the words hang for a moment. â€Å"My intentions are purely noble, I assure you. I would simply like to offer you an invitation.† No thanks. Ever since his experiences in Europe over the last several years, Langdon's unwanted celebrity had made him a magnet for nut-cases, and this one had just crossed a very serious line. â€Å"Look, I don't know what the hell is going on here, but I'm hanging up–â€Å" â€Å"Unwise,† said the man. â€Å"Your window of opportunity is very small if you want to save Peter Solomon's soul.† Langdon drew a sharp breath. â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"I'm sure you heard me.† The way this man had uttered Peter's name had stopped Langdon cold. â€Å"What do you know about Peter?† â€Å"At this point, I know his deepest secrets. Mr. Solomon is my guest, and I can be a persuasive host.† This can't be happening. â€Å"You don't have Peter.† â€Å"I answered his private cell phone. That should give you pause.† â€Å"I'm calling the police.† â€Å"No need,† the man said. â€Å"The authorities will join you momentarily.† What is this lunatic talking about? Langdon's tone hardened. â€Å"If you have Peter, put him on the phone right now.† â€Å" â€Å"That's impossible. Mr. Solomon is trapped in an unfortunate place.† The man paused. â€Å"He is in the Araf.† â€Å"Where?† Langdon realized he was clutching his phone so tightly his fingers were going numb. â€Å"The Araf? Hamistagan? That place to which Dante devoted the canticle immediately following his legendary Inferno?† The man's religious and literary references solidified Langdon's suspicion that he was dealing with a madman. The second canticle. Langdon knew it well; nobody escaped Phillips Exeter Academy without reading Dante. â€Å"You're saying you think Peter Solomon is . . . in purgatory?† â€Å"A crude word you Christians use, but yes, Mr. Solomon is in the in-between.† The man's words hung in Langdon's ear. â€Å"Are you saying Peter is . . . dead?† â€Å"Not exactly, no.† â€Å"Not exactly?!† Langdon yelled, his voice echoing sharply in the hall. A family of tourists looked over at him. He turned away and lowered his voice. â€Å"Death is usually an all-or-nothing thing!† â€Å"You surprise me, Professor. I expected you to have a better understanding of the mysteries of life and death. There is a world in between–a world in which Peter Solomon is hovering at the moment. He can either return to your world, or he can move on to the next . . . depending on your actions right now.† Langdon tried to process this. â€Å"What do you want from me?† â€Å"It's simple. You have been given access to something quite ancient. And tonight, you will share it with me.† â€Å"I have no idea what you're talking about.† â€Å"No? You pretend not to understand the ancient secrets that have been entrusted to you?† Langdon felt a sudden sinking sensation, now guessing what this was probably about. Ancient secrets. He had not uttered a word to anyone about his experiences in Paris several years earlier, but Grail fanatics had followed the media coverage closely, some connecting the dots and believing Langdon was now privy to secret information regarding the Holy Grail–perhaps even its location. â€Å"Look,† Langdon said, â€Å"if this is about the Holy Grail, I can assure you I know nothing more than–â€Å" â€Å"Don't insult my intelligence, Mr. Langdon,† the man snapped. â€Å"I have no interest in anything so frivolous as the Holy Grail or mankind's pathetic debate over whose version of history is correct. Circular arguments over the semantics of faith hold no interest for me. Those are questions answered only through death.† The stark words left Langdon confused. â€Å"Then what the hell is this about?† The man paused for several seconds. â€Å"As you may know, there exists within this city an ancient portal.† An ancient portal? â€Å"And tonight, Professor, you will unlock it for me. You should be honored I contacted you–this is the invitation of your lifetime. You alone have been chosen.† And you have lost your mind. â€Å"I'm sorry, but you've chosen poorly,† Langdon said. â€Å"I don't know anything about any ancient portal.† â€Å"You don't understand, Professor. It was not I who chose you . . . it was Peter Solomon.† â€Å"What?† Langdon replied, his voice barely a whisper. â€Å"Mr. Solomon told me how to find the portal, and he confessed to me that only one man on earth could unlock it. And he said that man is you.† â€Å"If Peter said that, he was mistaken . . . or lying.† â€Å"I think not. He was in a fragile state when he confessed that fact, and I am inclined to believe him.† Langdon felt a stab of anger. â€Å"I'm warning you, if you hurt Peter in any–â€Å" â€Å"It's far too late for that,† the man said in an amused tone. â€Å"I've already taken what I need from Peter Solomon. But for his sake, I suggest you provide what I need from you. Time is of the essence . . . for both of you. I suggest you find the portal and unlock it. Peter will point the way.† Peter? â€Å"I thought you said Peter was in `purgatory.'† â€Å"As above, so below,† the man said. Langdon felt a deepening chill. This strange response was an ancient Hermetic adage that proclaimed a belief in the physical connection between heaven and earth. As above, so below. Langdon eyed the vast room and wondered how everything had veered so suddenly out of control tonight. â€Å"Look, I don't know how to find any ancient portal. I'm calling the police.† â€Å"It really hasn't dawned on you yet, has it? Why you were chosen?† â€Å"No,† Langdon said. â€Å"It will,† he replied, chuckling. â€Å"Any moment now.† Then the line went dead. Langdon stood rigid for several terrifying moments, trying to process what had just happened. Suddenly, in the distance, he heard an unexpected sound. It was coming from the Rotunda. Someone was screaming. CHAPTER 10 Robert Langdon had entered the Capitol Rotunda many times in his life, but never at a full sprint. As he ran through the north entrance, he spotted a group of tourists clustered in the center of the room. A small boy was screaming, and his parents were trying to console him. Others were crowding around, and several security guards were doing their best to restore order. â€Å"He pulled it out of his sling,† someone said frantically, â€Å"and just left it there!† As Langdon drew nearer, he got his first glimpse of what was causing all the commotion. Admittedly, the object on the Capitol floor was odd, but its presence hardly warranted screaming. The device on the floor was one Langdon had seen many times. The Harvard art department had dozens of these–life-size plastic models used by sculptors and painters to help them render the human body's most complex feature, which, surprisingly, was not the human face but rather the human hand. Someone left a mannequin hand in the Rotunda? Mannequin hands, or handequins as some called them, had articulated fingers enabling an artist to pose the hand in whatever position he wanted, which for sophomoric college students was often with the middle finger extended straight up in the air. This handequin, however, had been positioned with its index finger and thumb pointing up toward the ceiling. As Langdon drew nearer, though, he realized this handequin was unusual. Its plastic surface was not smooth like most. Instead, the surface was mottled and slightly wrinkled, and appeared almost . . . Like real skin. Langdon stopped abruptly. Now he saw the blood. My God! The severed wrist appeared to have been skewered onto a spiked wooden base so that it would stand up. A wave of nausea rushed over him. Langdon inched closer, unable to breathe, seeing now that the tips of the index finger and thumb had been decorated with tiny tattoos. The tattoos, however, were not what held Langdon's attention. His gaze moved instantly to the familiar golden ring on the fourth finger. No. Langdon recoiled. His world began to spin as he realized he was looking at the severed right hand of Peter Solomon. CHAPTER 11 Why isn't Peter answering? Katherine Solomon wondered as she hung up her cell phone. Where is he? For three years, Peter Solomon had always been the first to arrive for their weekly seven P.M. Sunday-night meetings. It was their private family ritual, a way to remain connected before the start of a new week, and for Peter to stay up-to-date on Katherine's work at the lab. He's never late, she thought, and he always answers his phone. To make matters worse, Katherine was still not sure what she was going to say to him when he did finally arrive. How do I even begin to ask him about what I found out today? Her footsteps clicked rhythmically down the cement corridor that ran like a spine through the SMSC. Known as â€Å"The Street,† the corridor connected the building's five massive storage pods. Forty feet overhead, a circulatory system of orange ductwork throbbed with the heartbeat of the building–the pulsing sounds of thousands of cubic feet of filtered air being circulated. Normally, during her nearly quarter-mile walk to her lab, Katherine felt calmed by the breathing sounds of the building. Tonight, however, the pulsing had her on edge. What she had learned about her brother today would have troubled anyone, and yet because Peter was the only family she had in the world, Katherine felt especially disturbed to think he might be keeping secrets from her. As far as she knew, he had kept a secret from her only once . . . a wonderful secret that was hidden at the end of this very hallway. Three years ago, her brother had walked Katherine down this corridor, introducing her to the SMSC by proudly showing off some of the building's more unusual items–the Mars meteorite ALH-84001, the handwritten pictographic diary of Sitting Bull, a collection of wax-sealed Ball jars containing original specimens collected by Charles Darwin. At one point, they walked past a heavy door with a small window. Katherine caught a glimpse of what lay beyond and gasped. â€Å"What in the world is that?!† Her brother chuckled and kept walking. â€Å"Pod Three. It's called Wet Pod. Pretty unusual sight, isn't it?† Terrifying is more like it. Katherine hurried after him. This building was like another planet. â€Å"What I really want to show you is in Pod Five,† her brother said, guiding her down the seemingly endless corridor. â€Å"It's our newest addition. It was built to house artifacts from the basement of the National Museum of Natural History. That collection is scheduled for relocation here in about five years, which means Pod Five is sitting empty at the moment.† Katherine glanced over. â€Å"Empty? So why are we looking at it?† Her brother's gray eyes flashed a familiar mischief. â€Å"It occurred to me that because nobody is using the space, maybe you could use it.† â€Å"Me?† â€Å"Sure. I thought maybe you could use a dedicated lab space–a facility where you can actually perform some of the theoretical experiments you've been developing for all these years.† Katherine stared at her brother in shock. â€Å"But, Peter, those experiments are theoretical! To actually perform them would be almost impossible.† â€Å"Nothing is impossible, Katherine, and this building is perfect for you. The SMSC is not just a warehouse of treasures; it's one of the world's most advanced scientific research facilities. We're constantly taking pieces from the collection and examining them with the best quantitative technologies money can buy. All the equipment you could possibly need would be here at your disposal.† â€Å"Peter, the technologies required to run these experiments are–â€Å" â€Å"Already in place.† He smiled broadly. â€Å"The lab is done.† Katherine stopped short. Her brother pointed down the long corridor. â€Å"We're going to see it now.† Katherine could barely speak. â€Å"You . . . you built me a lab?† â€Å"It's my job. The Smithsonian was established to advance scientific knowledge. As secretary, I must take that charge seriously. I believe the experiments you've proposed have the potential to push the boundaries of science into uncharted territory.† Peter stopped and looked her squarely in the eyes. â€Å"Whether or not you were my sister, I would feel obliged to support this research. Your ideas are brilliant. The world deserves to see where they lead.† â€Å"Peter, I can't possibly–â€Å" â€Å"Okay, relax . . . it was my own money, and nobody's using Pod Five right now. When you're done with your experiments, you'll move out. Besides, Pod Five has some unique properties that will be perfect for your work.† Katherine could not imagine what a massive, empty pod might offer that would serve her research, but she sensed she was about to find out. They had just reached a steel door with boldly stenciled letters: POD 5 Her brother inserted his key card into a slot and an electronic keypad lit up. He raised his finger to type his access code, but paused, arching his eyebrows in the same mischievous way he always had as a boy. â€Å"You sure you're ready?† She nodded. My brother, always the showman. â€Å"Stand back.† Peter hit the keys. The steel door hissed loudly open. Beyond the threshold was only inky blackness . . . a yawning void. A hollow moan seemed to echo out of the depths. Katherine felt a cold blast of air emanating from within. It was like staring into the Grand Canyon at night. â€Å"Picture an empty airline hangar waiting for a fleet of Airbuses,† her brother said, â€Å"and you get the basic idea.† Katherine felt herself take a step backward. â€Å"The pod itself is far too voluminous to be heated, but your lab is a thermally insulated cinder- block room, roughly a cube, located in the farthest corner of the pod for maximum separation.† Katherine tried to picture it. A box inside a box. She strained to see into the darkness, but it was absolute. â€Å"How far back?† â€Å"Pretty far . . . a football field would fit easily in here. I should warn you, though, the walk is a little unnerving. It's exceptionally dark.† Katherine peered tentatively around the corner. â€Å"No light switch?† â€Å"Pod Five is not yet wired for electricity.† â€Å"But . . . then how can a lab function?† He winked. â€Å"Hydrogen fuel cell.† Katherine's jaw dropped. â€Å"You're kidding, right?† â€Å"Enough clean power to run a small town. Your lab enjoys full radio-frequency separation from the rest of the building. What's more, all pod exteriors are sealed with photo-resistant membranes to protect the artifacts inside from solar radiation. Essentially, this pod is a sealed, energy-neutral environment.† Katherine was starting to comprehend the appeal of Pod 5. Because much of her work centered on quantifying previously unknown energy fields, her experiments needed to be performed in a location isolated from any extraneous radiation or â€Å"white noise.† This included interference as subtle as â€Å"brain radiation† or â€Å"thought emissions† generated by people nearby. For this reason, a university campus or hospital lab wouldn't work, but a deserted pod at the SMSC could not have been more perfect. â€Å"Let's go back and have a look.† Her brother was grinning as he stepped into the vast darkness. â€Å"Just follow me.† Katherine stalled at the threshold. Over a hundred yards in total darkness? She wanted to suggest a flashlight, but her brother had already disappeared into the abyss. â€Å"Peter?† she called. â€Å"Leap of faith,† he called back, his voice already fading away. â€Å"You'll find your way. Trust me.† He's kidding, right? Katherine's heart was pounding as she stepped a few feet over the threshold, trying to peer into the darkness. I can't see a thing! Suddenly the steel door hissed and slammed shut behind her, plunging her into total blackness. Not a speck of light anywhere. â€Å"Peter?!† Silence. You'll find your way. Trust me. Tentative, she inched forward blindly. Leap of faith? Katherine could not even see her hand directly in front of her face. She kept moving forward, but within a matter of seconds, she was entirely lost. Where am I going? That was three years ago. Now, as Katherine arrived at the same heavy metal door, she realized how far she had come since that first night. Her lab–nicknamed the Cube–had become her home, a sanctuary within the depths of Pod 5. Exactly as her brother had predicted, she had found her way through the darkness that night, and every day since–thanks to an ingeniously simple guidance system that her brother had let her discover for herself. Far more important, her brother's other prediction had come true as well: Katherine's experiments had produced astonishing results, particularly in the last six months, breakthroughs that would alter entire paradigms of thinking. Katherine and her brother had agreed to keep her results absolutely secret until the implications were more fully understood. One day soon, however, Katherine knew she would publish some of the most transformative scientific revelations in human history. A secret lab in a secret museum, she thought, inserting her key card into the Pod 5 door. The keypad lit up, and Katherine typed her PIN. The steel door hissed open. The familiar hollow moan was accompanied by the same blast of cold air. As always, Katherine felt her pulse rate start to climb. Strangest commute on earth. Steeling herself for the journey, Katherine Solomon glanced at her watch as she stepped into the void. Tonight, however, a troubled thought followed her inside. Where is Peter?

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Essay

A critic has written that a family at the centre of the party â€Å"is clothed with the atmosphere of the south as with a garment. † How important is the setting of â€Å"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof† to the play’s dramatic impact? You may consider: – The bed sitting room of the stage set – The wider, geographical setting of the Mississippi Delta – The values of the play of the society revealed in the play In my opinion, the setting of the play is vital to the level of dramatic impact for a number of reasons. The main themes behind â€Å"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof† are represented and shown through the setting of the play. For example, the whole play is situated around the bedroom sitting area to put forward a key theme of the play: sexuality. If the setting wasn’t relevant to themes of the play, the audience would find it difficult to fully understand key elements of the play that Tennessee Williams was trying to put across. The bed sitting room in which the play is based around belongs to Brick and Maggie, two main characters. The irony of this being that bedrooms are assumed to be private and personal, yet it’s the most invaded room in the house. A prime example being when Big Mama, Brick’s mother enters the bedroom, commenting on how she â€Å"hates locked doors in a house†¦ † Maggie’s responds lightly by stating that â€Å"†¦ people have got to have some moments of privacy,† only to receive the invasive and ignorant reply â€Å"No, ma’am, not in my house. † Even as early as Act One, we witness the couple’s privacy being denied. The bed sitting room is also where many secrets of the family are eavesdropped on and later revealed. Again, as early as the start of Act One, Maggie reveals that â€Å"The walls in this place have ears,† clearly, it’s not only Big Mama being prying into the couple’s affairs. It’s also greatly ironic that the scorching heat outside is completely conflicting to the â€Å"heat† inside Maggie and Brick’s bedroom. It becomes increasingly apparent as the play develops that there are blatant problems facing the couple’s sexual relationship, again emphasising the recurring themes of sexuality, homosexuality and mendacity. The fact that the play is based around the bedroom of Brick and Maggie also helps the audience gain a better understanding of their characters, especially Brick’s. Not once throughout the entire script does Brick approach another character; it’s always the other characters that approach him. This shows the audience how reserved Brick is and how he likes to keep himself to himself, despite him being in such high demand with his fellow family members. These qualities of Brick are vital in the understanding of the play’s plot. The geographical setting of the play also greatly affects the dramatic impact. The play is set in the irritatingly hot Mississippi Delta, symbolising both the argumentative tension between characters such as Mae and Maggie and also the sexual tension between characters like Maggie and Brick. The plantation itself is relevant to meanings behind the play and its dramatic impact. Being built on very fertile land, the plantation shows the irony of Maggie’s great desire to become pregnant, contrasting with Mae who has six, irritating children. It also reinforces that the family are staying on Big Daddy’s property. Big Daddy has the power over both his wife and his sons, for it’s his decision as to who will inherit the land. â€Å"I’ll tell you what they’re up to, boy of mine! – They’re up to cutting you out of your father’s estate†¦ † The question of which son gains Big Daddy’s estate occurs regularly, causing conflict between the two couples. Whilst enhancing dramatic impact, it also represents the themes of mendacity and money. The history of the plantation itself relates strongly to the theme of homosexuality. Two homosexual men (Peter Ochello and Jack Straw) used to own and live on the plantation whilst Big Daddy worked there. With no family to pass the land onto, they handed it over to their loyal employee, Big Daddy. Knowing the history behind the place, the audience almost expects the theme of homosexuality to occur once again and indeed it does, this time with Brick and his friend Skipper. The South itself is also relevant to the play’s dramatic impact and putting it into context. With knowledge of the Civil War, slavery and enormous amounts of racism that took place in the South which was to some extent still very much present in the time the play was set, the audience is able to gain a better understanding of smaller characters and their relevance. Language is used for example that today would be considered racist such as when it says â€Å"A negro voice answers. † The black servants are mere voices in the play because of the script’s context. The South’s battle to cling onto slavery is reflected in the characters when some try desperately to cling onto their past. For example when Brick tells Big Daddy â€Å"†¦ Skipper and I went into pro-football after we left ‘Ole Miss’ because we were scared to grow up†¦ † The family values in which the play is set on is responsible for a lot of dramatic impact. Mae and Gooper’s lack of family values and determination to do whatever it takes to inherit Big Daddy’s plantation contrasts wonderfully with Big Mama’s determination for everybody to get along with one another, â€Å"We must all love each other†¦ † The great contrast allows the audience to delve, even further into the themes of money and family. It’s shown through the play’s entirety that money values only destroy families. The sexual values of the time were to have lots of babies as May and Maggie show us. May is constantly competing with Maggie, using the fact that she’s childless to win arguments, â€Å"Maggie , honey, if you had children of you own you’d know how funny that is†¦ † Maggie also feels the need to lie at the very end of the play by telling her family that she’s pregnant. The homosexual value of the play is quite relevant as Brick finds refuge in his bedroom and by drinking large amounts of alcohol to escape his homosexual feelings. Both women being expected to have lots of children and Brick having to turn to drink in an attempt to block out unwanted feelings are due to the time that the play was set and what was expected in society. The religious values of the play are to reflect Williams’ own feelings on the matter, creating great dramatic impact at the same time. Reverent Tucher, the family’s local reverent doesn’t even take religion seriously. He says â€Å"Did you all know that Halsey Bank’s widow put air-conditioning in the church†¦ † The reverend’s main worries are of money and his personal comfort in the church which contradicts everything Christianity stands for. Williams illustrates the characters of Brick and Big Daddy as being intelligent men, with lots of general knowledge and common sense. Therefore when he makes it apparent that neither of them believes in religion, he’s making a very controversial statement, especially among the outwardly religious society of 1950s Southern America. To conclude, the overall setting of the play has proven to affect the plot of the play, hidden symbolism, qualities of the characters and the key themes behind the play. Without specific references to the setting, the amount of dramatic impact would be absolutely minimal, probably resulting in the audience not fully understanding the points that Williams most wanted to stress and losing interest in the play altogether. So yes, the setting of the play is imperative to the play’s dramatic impact.

Canterbury Tales Analysis Essay Example for Free

Canterbury Tales Analysis Essay Physically the two characters appear extremely different. The knight is dressed in a fustian tunic, â€Å"Stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left mark† (Chaucer 5). Although he is a distinguished man, he dresses humbly and does not give the appearance of arrogance. It is also apparent that he carries a sword, which would match his profession as a knight because he is able to fight. The Sea Captain’s attire matches his occupation. He wears a â€Å"Woollen gown that [reaches] his knee† (Chaucer 15); he is tan and has a large beard. He carries a dagger, implying that he knows how to fight and defend himself like the Knight. Considering their occupations, one can find many similarities. They are both very proficient at their jobs. The Sea Captain is described as having no competition: â€Å"None from Hull to Carthage was his match† (Chaucer 16). He is experienced and knows the seas better than any captain. He is known for his skill at commanding his ship, the Maudelayne. He frequently travels the sea. Similarly, the knight is a traveler, except on land. He is an experienced fighter, as he has been in many battles. He was present at the battle where Alexandria was taken in 1365 by the King of Cyprus. In fifteen mortal battles he had been† (Chaucer 5). According to the examples of battles given in the text, the knight rarely loses a battle. He owns fine horses and is skilled at riding horseback. However, behavior is what really sets these two characters apart. The knight is a chivalrous man. He believes in truth, honor, and generosity. People look up to him; he is â€Å"Ever honoured for his noble graces† (Chaucer 4). A Christian and a virtuous man, he is even more humbled by his position as a knight. His many victories did not permit him to lose his modesty; instead, they led him to be wise and honorable. The Sea Captain, in contrast, is a fearsome character. When dealing with prisoners, â€Å"The nicer rules of conscience he ignored† (Chaucer 16); they walked the plank. Not a virtuous man by any means, he has a reputation of stealing goods from traders while they sleep. Those who fight him fear him. He does not have a high position in society, but his brutality and prudence make him successful in battle. He is revered for his skill and success, but people do not look up to him. In summary, the use of foil by Chaucer enables the reader to notice differences and similarities between the Knight and the Sea Captain. They have similar occupations, but different roles in society as well as nearly opposite personalities. The foil emphasizes their characteristics to make them even more prominent to the reader. For example, the knight’s Christian values make the Sea Captain seem extremely harsh and lowly in comparison. The reader will be able to gain more out of the story these characters tell because of how detailed their character sketches are. Specifically, the characters are given more depth by their similarities and differences to other characters in the tale. Canterbury Tales Analysis. (2018, Oct 17).

Innovation and Strategic Management Annotated Bibliography - 1

Innovation and Strategic Management - Annotated Bibliography Example Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 6(2), 14-39. In this article, the researchers present their findings on how innovation is shaping general business management practices. They took an in-depth analysis of the impacts of embracing innovation and adapting it to business management practices. They also establish how governments, businesses and other development organizations incorporate innovation in their budget decisions and analyze the impact of innovation on long term performance of businesses and government departments. The authors argue that firm’s profitability and market competitiveness is dependent on how well they make use of innovation in their strategic planning and management. They propose a model that can be used to not only audit but also classify different types of strategic management practices that use innovation as the driving force. SÃ ¡nchez et al studied a relatively broad sample of firms in the electronics industry in Spain to arrive at empirical results. They established that those firms that embraced innovation in their strategic management generally witnessed significant growth in their revenues. On the contrary, firms that did not incorporate innovation in their management practices witnessed reduced revenues and made perpetual losses. SÃ ¡nchez et al proposed a comprehensive model that links companies’ performance to innovation-directed strategic management. In this model, businesses make management decisions that are informed by innovations that aim at cutting costs of production, improve resource competence and create new portfolios in the market. The innovation based strategic management in this model links environmental changes, strategic innovation and business results. In this article, the authors argue that the kind of innovation that has led to improved business performance is not necessarily that which is based on the technological changes. They

Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage Essay

Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage - Essay Example In the business environment of the air industry there are various challenges to be faced in order to achieve a positive mark. This paper is analyses Case of Scandinavian Airline System. 1. Briefly analyze external environment of and internal strategic capabilities of the company. The knowledge of business external environment is important because it influences entry approach into the market. Scandinavian Airline System external environment consisted of competitors from other airline companies. These competitors were a threat to SAS because they competed for the same segment of customers. SAS had customers scattered in various locations making its operation very costly. Political system favored business environment for SAS because SAS could easily conduct its operation in America and European countries. This enabled the business to expand its market share. SAS realized that it had to redefine its strategic capabilities if it had to meet the needs of its customers in these locations. T he airlines decided to integrate its customers’ needs as a means of serving their interest. It followed that the business had to define its product refinement, process innovation, and service delivery. The arrival of new technology in the airline industry acted as an opportunity for the business to increase its profit. Currier services in Europe led to the introduction of SAS cargo air, which enhanced market grip of the airlines. Internal strategic reformatting of the company included reorganization of the company by decentralizing responsibility. Fragmentation helps in reducing cost while enhancing business performance. When a business becomes very large the management becomes a problem. In this case, Scandinavian Air System decided to decentralize its management body, thus reducing risks that occur due to centralized management system. The decentralization of management was to reduce cost of operation, which was a great threat to the success of the business. Operating cost of the airliner was a threat to its success because high operation cost reduces profit margin. 2. Describe the strategic choices made. SAS divided its market into various zones such as Europe, Latin America and Scandinavian countries. This strategy took into consideration factors such as cultural trends, economic trends, legal conditions, technological changes, demographic trends, and specific international events. SAS developed relationship with other airlines such as KLM and Swissair and strengthened technological cooperation in this industry. Business analysts believe that external growth strategy in business tends to root for horizontal integratio

Applied management project Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 15000 words

Applied management project - Dissertation Example The emergence of corporate communication was brought about by the need of organisations to build and maintain relationships with its key stakeholders in order to sustain the survival of the organisation's business in its respective industry. The management of communication functions has evolved from fragmented disciplines into a holistic setting. Previously, organisations have made use of communication disciplines as individual units that would serve its distinct purpose in line with the employed strategies. Through the course of communication development, organisations have realized the importance of an integrated approach towards managing communication functions. ... Aims and Objectives Communication is not just an integral factor between personal relationships and groups, it also applies to organisations. Success cannot simply be measured by performance and quality; it can be culminated through proper communication to form a clear and lucid relationship between firms and its publics. Most companies fail to see the importance of what integrated corporate communication can do to improve their businesses (Van Ruler & de Lange 2003). At present, the prevailing principle in regards to the basis of an organisation's survival in the industry depends on how it is perceived by its key stakeholders, which comprises of both internal and external publics. Internal audiences are investors, stockholders, shareholders and employees; whereas external audiences are the consumers and other members of the community such as the government, institutions and media (Argenti, Howell & Beck 2005). Such principle had been further proved by recent events such as corporate crises, recession, financial crisis and the liberalism of trade. These have led to the decisions of senior executives among leading organisations to fortify the reputation of their firms and place significant emphasis on it as one of their key strategic goals. This goal entails the process of formulating, maintaining and protecting the reputation of the firm. Such objectives are the core tasks of a corporate communication specialist. In spite of significance highlighted on the organisation's image and reputation, the purpose and the benefits provided by corporate communication is yet to be fully grasped (Marchand 1998; Van Ruler & de Lange 2003; Argenti et. al 2005). This concern has made specialists

Clinical Reasoning Assessment Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Clinical Reasoning Assessment Scenario - Essay Example Diagnosis is an abstraction of signs, symptoms, and inferences based on the patient assessment and scientific knowledge of the attending nurse (Malen, 1986). This paper will provide the nursing diagnosis and the supporting evidence for postoperative cholecystitis and cholylithiasis patient. The patient is Cicek Olcay, 53 years old, Turkish, and admitted at Day Procedure Unit or DPU (Bullock and Henze, 1999). All admission requirements had been collected and indicated, the checklist completed. Her gall bladder has been removed and pain was only experienced during a transition or transfer to the ward from the post anaesthetic recovery room or P.A.R.U. Pathophysiology of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis – it is an acute inflammation of the gall bladder associated with obstruction of by the gall stones. The causes can be that common bile duct stones were formed in the bile duct, or they may be formed in and transported from the gall bladder (Doenges et al, 2010). It was suggested that Cholelithiasis is usually asymptomatic while Cholecystitis can result if stone becomes lodged in one of the ducts (Cuschieri, Dubios, Mouiel, Mouret, Becker, Buess, G, et al, 1991). Etiology The stones usually develop in and obstruct the common bile duct or the cystic duct; it is also found in the hepatic, small bile, and pancreatic ducts. 90% of cases involve stones in the cystic duct or calculous cholecystitis, and the other 10% involve cholecystitis without stones or acalculous cholecystitis according to Gladden & Migala (2007). The stones are made up of cholesterol, calcium bilirubinate, or a mixture caused by changes in the bile composition. Bile cultures are positive for bacteria in 50% to 75% of cases but bacterial proliferation may be a result or consequence of cholecystitis, but never the cause (Gladden & Migala, 2007). Other causes include stasis of bile or bacterial infection or ischemia of the gallbladder. The failure to remove impacted stone can lead to bile stasis or bacteremia and septicemia causing cholangitis which is considered a medical emergency. The statistics for morbidity of gallstones are two to three times more frequent in females than in males. The perforation occurs in 10% to 15% of cases, and 25% to 30% of clients either require surgery or develop complications (Gladden & Migala, 2007). Mortality was indicated that about 10,000 deaths occur annually; about 7,000 deaths result from gallstone complications, such as acute pancreatitis. There is 4% mortality rate for calculous cholecystitis and about 10-50% rate for acalculous cholecystitis. Care Setting Severe acute attacks of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis usually require brief hospitalization. This type of care is applicable for the acutely ill, hospitalized client and surgery is usually performed after symptoms for the illness have subsided (Bisgaard et al, 1999). Nursing Priorities The priority for the nurse during the care for patient with cholecystitis and cholelithiasis i s to relieve pain and promote rest. In addition, the patient should be assisted to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, prevent complications, and provided with information about disease process, prognosis, and treatment needs (Doenges et al, 2010, 498). The following are subjective data, objective data, vital sign, nursing

Just assignment and current event Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Just assignment and current event - Coursework Example The society is aware that sugary, salty, fatty foods in large quantities cause diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Consumers are highly sensitive to taste, color, and packaging of products and this is what attracts them to the products despite their unhealthy nature. Evolving marketing strategies focus on making sales, rather than nutrition and health needs of consumers. It is difficult to address the issue because of the different players, the public health community and industries that manufacture the product. Even so, it is clear that immediate action is necessary to address the issue of unhealthy foods and its relationship to obesity. â€Å"Food Systems and Public Health: Linkages to Achieve Healthier Diets and Healthier Communities† by Mary Story, Michael Hamm & David Wallinga discusses methods Americans can use to promote healthy and sustainable food consumption that are aligned with national nutritional and health precedence. It advices on governance practices and policies that can help create this change. Agricultural, health, and marketing leaders met at the Airlie Conference Center in Warrenton, Virginia to discuss the promotion of sustainable and healthy food production and consumption. The conference produced two broad principles. Firstly, the nation’s food system must align with the physical health and well-being of citizens, agricultural economic and environmental factors, and the need for public policy to support a health-based food system. Secondly, agricultural policies must relate to USDA/DHHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other national guidelines for healthy eating and good he alth, and sustain public health goals of averting obesity and chronic ailments. â€Å"Intestinal bacteria can be used to classify effects of different diseases† by the Asociacion RUVID discusses the effects of obesity and other ailments on the composition of gut bacteria. Current scientific advancements allow researchers to measure and categorize the effects

EXTERNAL OR ADVOCACY WRITTEN MEMORANDUM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

EXTERNAL OR ADVOCACY WRITTEN MEMORANDUM - Essay Example Later in the night, the defendant Kerry Knight, the varsity basketball coach arrived bringing with him a keg of beer. Although there was a note which said â€Å"Do not drink if under 21† on the keg, most of the guests, 21 or not, drank anyway and the defendant did not stop any of them. The plaintiff was initially offered a cup of beer by his friend Richards and later went to the keg himself for a refill. The defendant left the party at one time leaving the guests drinking and finishing up the keg. The plaintiff had several more cups and when the keg was almost empty was about to leave Devin’s house when the defendant reappeared. He asked the plaintiff if he had drunk beer and the latter said he had a cup. The plaintiff then got his jeep key from near the TV where the coach kept all car keys and took off with his friend Taylor who asked for a ride home. The defendant did not at any time stop the plaintiff from leaving with his jeep key. On the way home, the defendant hit a tree and broke a leg. He spent the entire summer in cast and missed the next basketball season. As a consequence, his team lost that season and so did the plaintiff’s hope for a Division scholarship. The plaintiff is frustrated over the fact that although he can eventually still play basketball, he can never be as brilliant as it used to be in playing basketball. To decide whether or not the defendant is liable for the plaintiff’s injuries, it is necessary to prove that the defendant was negligent and that if so found, it was this same negligence that was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. Negligence is defined in the case of Manning v. Andy 454 Pa. 237, 310 A. 2d 75 (1973) as â€Å"the want of due care which a reasonable man would apply under the circumstances. Conduct is negligent only if the harmful consequences thereof could reasonably be foreseen and prevented by the exercise of reasonable care.† Moreover, the elements of cause of action for negligence had been

Investment in Libyan Oil Industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Investment in Libyan Oil Industry - Case Study Example But owing to reforms being undertaken in the country and improvement in relations with other nations, opportunities are now being explored to take up investments in the country and take advantage of the emerging situation. Libya on its part appears to be making all the right moves. Colonel Qaddafi too has expressed his opinion in favour of reforms together with the vision of applied socialism and popular democracy. Multinational companies and foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are now being given encouraging signals to invest in the country. Prime Minister Shukri Ghanem, supported by Seif al-Islam, the son of Col Qaddafi has started the reforms process. The ban put on the imports of Libyan oil and some exports to Libya in 1982 by some nations has also been subsumed in the emerging scenario. Libya has the largest reserve of crude oil, but despite such a great wealth and a population of just about 6 Million the country could not progress much during all these years (The Economist, 2007). With the improvement in geo-political equations and a conducive atmosphere for investments, the oil sector seems to have become quite attractive in Libya. The main intention of the study is to develop a better understanding of the manner in which Libya has charted the reform course for itself in the past and the investment opportunities being presented to the world. The oil is sector is one which offers huge opportunities from a long term perspective. During the study an effort would be made to analyse the process of reform in Libya. In addition some of the major oil companies will also be analysed to explore how these companies are preparing themselves to take on the global players. In particular the study will try to seek answers to the following key objectives. To analyze the economic condition of Libya and how the sanctions have impacted the economic condition of the country. To study the oil industry of the country and the levels of competition amongst the oil companies. Determine the factors assisting the upward movement of Libyan economy in the rect past. To identify the behavioural patterns of some of the oil majors, investment bankers, etc. During the course of the study efforts would be made to evaluate how these investors respond to the introduction of economic reforms and how the oil industry in general is being affected by these reforms. Analyze some of the fast developing economies and compare their growth vis--vis the economy of a country like Libya. This will be an effort to point out some areas which require attention in order to open up the investments on a larger scale. Oil exploration is more of a technical field requiring skilled workers and managers. During the study an effort would be made to study the HR scenario in the country in general for taking up the challenge of increased activities in the fields of oil exploration etc. Scope of the Report Scope and context of this study will include; 1. Analysis of an overall picture of the Libyan economy and its oil industry particularly after the new regime has come into effect 2. Analysis of some of the major oil companies in Libya. 3. Growing curiosity about the Libyan market and the interest of many

Ethiopia Essay Example for Free

Ethiopia Essay Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations of this world, dating back to almost 3000 years BC. The recent history of Ethiopia proves that it is a land which is cursed with natural and human miseries. Its geographic position also underlies the miserable state of affairs that this country has been through in the recent past. Taking inspiration from the air of human freedom which blew over the world in the twentieth century, Ethiopia has witnessed a change from the Marxist form of authoritarian governance to a free, emocratic form. The penetration of western concepts of education, science and technology, which was very fast in other third world countries like India and South Korea, is very slow over here. Ethiopia is highly underdeveloped and one of the poorest country on this world because of its geographic position, natural circumstances and human mistakes. Ethiopia is the land where the oldest human ancestors, dating back to almost 5 million years, used to exist. Today, it is a land-locked nation surrounded by countries like Sudan n the west, Kenya in the south, Somalia in the east and Eritrea in the north. With a total land area of about 43. 5 thousand square miles, it has a population of about 75 million people, in 2005. Islam is the major religion followed by 45 to 50 percent of the population which has almost 9 ethnic groups and speaks more than 75 different languages. The literacy rate was 43% in 2003 and the GDP stood at $ 60. 34 billion. The per capita income was a meager $ 80 in 2005. Only 11% of the total land is arable, and Platinum, Potash, Copper, natural gas and some traces of gold are its natural resources. Its exports touched $ 612 million in 2005 against a huge import bill of $ 2. 72 billion in 2005. The major industries of Ethiopia are cement, textiles, beverages, chemicals, and metal processing. In telecommunications, Ethiopia has 435 thousand main line users, followed by about 97 thousand cell phone users and 75 thousand internet users in 2003. The total rail network was of 681 kms in 2004, and the total distance covered by the highways was bout 33 thousand kms. in 2002 ( Ethiopia ) The progress of any nation is dependent on its agriculture, industrial output, infrastructure development and education. A strong economy is the biggest sign of a healthy nation. The current status of Ethiopia, as revealed by the figures in the above paragraph, is really poor. This necessitates investigation of the recent past history of the nation, to judge upon the parameters which contributed to the current state of affairs. The recent history of Ethiopia reveals the political transition from a military uthoritarian rule to a democratic republic nation. It tells about the devastating famines and the wars with Eritrea and the prolonged border dispute with it, and the military confrontation with Somalia. In addition, Ethiopia witnessed frequent rebellions from within the country, demonstrating the high level of dissatisfaction of the people with the military ruler and his policies. The famine, the wars and the rebellions have resulted in loss of lives for millions of Ethiopians. This is the darkest spot on the recent history of Ethiopia. The major events in the recent history are briefly described in the following paragraphs. Famines : Ethiopia witnessed two devastating famines in 1984 and 2002. BBC cites the words of Prime Minister Zenavi, â€Å" If the famine of 1984 was a nightmare, then this will be too ghastly to contemplate†. The 1984 famine killed nearly one million people. Another famine, much worse than that of 1984, struck the nation in 2002. Zenavi revealed to the BBC that nearly 15 million people faced starvation, and the international Red cross estimated that $ 11 million were needed to aid the suffering people of Ethiopia in 2002. This BBC report also cites Georgia Shaver, the World Food Program Director in Ethiopia, saying that about 14 million people needed food across the six countries in South Africa, the same number needs food in just one country, Ethiopia. Prime Minister Zenavi admits that they do not have any system to store the rain water. In the same report, BBC also cites Andrew Pendleton, Advisor to Christian aid to Ethiopia, s saying that Ethiopia’s continuing foreign debt, which is almost 10% of the state’s revenues, is the biggest hurdle in its efforts to cope with the famines. ( Massive famine stalks Ethiopia) Ethiopia and Eritrea have been fighting for the past many decades. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, after a long guerrilla warfare. At this juncture, the border lines were never identified, marked or mapped. The dispute about the border resulted in frequent clashes, which heightened in 1998, resulting into a full fledged war or almost two years, till a peace treaty was signed between the two nations in 2000. This long, armed confrontation has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives on wither side, and ruptured the economies of both the nations. Almost 40 thousand soldiers have been killed in this war and armed troops to the number of 300 thousand remain engaged in guarding the 800 km border. All the civilians residing in the affected areas have fled, and both the armies are guarding empty villages. ( Pike John ) On the other hand, the warring factions of the Islamic fundamentalists have drawn attention from both Ethiopia and Eritrea. While Eritrea supports one faction with arms and troops, with an intention to prompt them to attack Ethiopia from its south east border, Ethiopia supports the other faction in all ways possible, to counter the move. (Pike John ) Such never ending warlike situations have taken a very heavy toll on the development of Ethiopia. The political status of Ethiopia has also undergone a sea-change in the recent past. In 1974, the Emperor was overthrown by a military coup, and Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam became country’s ruler in 1977. The policies of the military rule were widely unpopular and many rebellion groups became active in the country. These forces formed a coalition known as Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) which took control over the capital city of Addis Ababa on 28 May 1991. A transitional charter was approved in 1991, and since then Ethiopia is a democratic republic country. (History, politics, administration) The events of the recent history of Ethiopia prove that the country is hit with chronic problems, and options before the government are very few. The complexity of the situation created by these problems is so complex that a permanent solution seems impossible. The government is faced with political, military, geographic, and economic problems, the magnitude of which is mind blowing. The situation is not only tough, but seems to be so grim that only downward trend can be perceived with little or no hopes or improvement for a better future. The multiple characteristics of the problems, has almost ruptured the nation. It is beyond the scope of the government to handle the situation single handed. Ethiopia has been lucky to get the required aid from foreign countries, and international agencies. As a matter of fact, Ethiopia has been able to counter the problems , largely due to these foreign aid, which very often is generous also. Many agencies are functional in Ethiopia to help the local government and the local population. The military rule during the 1970s and 80s tried to revamp the economy by declaring radical measures. These measures vested total control of the economy in the hands of the state. Nationalization of all major industrial, financial and commercial companies took place in 1975. Villagization† was one more, most unpopular directive from the military ruler, under which people were compelled to move away from highland to lowland areas. The policy had to be abandoned in 1986. The democratic rulers were more sensible in their approach. Ever since it came into existence in 1991, it has been facing many serious challenges. Its first success is in offering political stability and forming strategies which appeal to the foreign help agencies. While no tangible results are seen at the ground level so far, the democratic government has demonstrated its resolve to fight with the chronic problems, and pursue the helping hands to get help. Today, many agencies are working in close co-ordination with the government to help implement the various strategies. The economy is still very ragile, and weak, the condition of people is still miserable, but the efforts put in by the government and the foreign agencies in the recent years, is likely to bring better results in the future. For example the schools and colleges established in the last ten years will present educated adults to the society after another 10 or 20 years. Strong development is not seen in any area not because the government or the people lack the will, but because of the enormity and complexity of the situation and the lack of resources to ackle them. The areas that need to be addressed on topmost priority are : 1. Food : Ethiopia needs to feed the millions of hungry people 2. Increase agricultural output: maybe by improvement in ways of farming. 3. Health care : Increase health care facilities to reach the remote areas also. 4. Water and irrigation : Water is a scarce commodity here, and technological advances have to be brought in to preserve water and utilize it appropriately. This is a very crucial sector which will help in fighting the devastating famines. 5. Reduction of poverty: In 2003, about 44% of the estimated 67 million people of Ethiopia lived below the poverty line, according to a World Bank report. ( Ethiopia) 6.  Strengthen the economy: By devising and effective implementation of schemes to increase the GDP and the Per Capita Income and decrease the huge gap between export and import bills. These are the areas where the state has been lacking, to a great extent. It has only made a beginning by devising plans and schemes in conjunction with foreign agencies. The role of the state in the development of Ethiopia is very limited, because the state treasury is always burdened with other issues, and has little or nothing to spare for the development projects. The UNDP example, cited below proves this point. One of the many sectors in which UNDP works in Ethiopia is poverty reduction. Agricultural development is a priority area in this program. It targets at : 1. Promotion of access and utilization of technological improvements in farming and up gradation of facilities for result oriented research. 2. Use of ICT for agricultural information management by establishing connectivity between federal and regional states. 3. Implement use of small scale irrigation. 4. Provide service to rural communities by effective implementation of small scale finance institutions. The following results were achieved : 1. Nearly 10,000 farmers and 4,000 farmers were trained on how to use the technologies in farming. On a national scale nearly 3. million farmers benefited and the agricultural yields were almost doubled in areas where the rainfall was adequate. 2. A study on national computerized agricultural system was conducted and its pilot phase is started in 2001. This is likely to benefit the sector by giving timely information. ( Agricultural development program ) Ethiopia faces many impediments which tend to strangle its development. In an interview, Michael Glantz, a political scientist working with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, says that if he had the liberty to add one more word to the title page of â€Å"Time’ magazine issue on Africa in 1984, he would say, â€Å" coup, corruption , onflict and climate’, are the main obstacles to development in Africa. Glantz Michael ) The same holds true for Ethiopia also. She is land locked in the horns of the African continent with two chronic enemies as her neighbors. Only 45% of the total land is arable and a meager 3% is irrigated. She does not have a port of her own, and the rainfall is totally unpredictable. There is no access to the vast seas or oceans. She is connected to the Red Sea through a neighboring country. The geographic position and the climate of Ethiopia is surely one of he biggest obstacles to the development of Ethiopia. Geography) Military aggressions have hit Ethiopia very hard. Ethiopia has to face it on two fronts, Eritrea in north and Somalia in south. Prolonged warfare with these nations, for many decades, has made a severe dent in the economy of the nation. Perhaps, this dent is permanent and irreparable. The country is already under immense debt pressure and there seems to be no end to the disputes with Eritrea. A report of International Monetary Fund suggests that if Ethiopia needs to maintain a growth level of 7% . Given the current state of affairs, this report raises serious doubts whether this is an achievable target or not. ( Andrews David, Erasmus Lodewyk Powell Robert ) Human mistakes, especially by the political leadership account for the third obstacle to the development of Ethiopia. The denial to accept the peace treaty with Eritrea, after signing it, is one example which proves this point. ( Ethiopia and Eritrea) All the attention, energy and finances have been focused on fights, coups and confrontations. The leadership as not advocated the uselessness of war, and concentrating on socio-economic issues instead. Conclusively it can be said that Ethiopia is cursed country in true sense, facing problems of famines, military confrontations geographic conditions and natural forces, which are colossal. This has already crippled the nations economy, and there seems to be no end to the misery of this nation. Elevation of Ethiopia from one of the poorest country to a middle level economy seems an uphill task. Will she be able to perform this task? Only time can tell. References http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107505.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2440093.stm http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/eritrea.htm http://www.et.undp.org/ethiopia/intro.htm#History http://www.et.undp.org/poverty/poverty.htm http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Obstacles_Development.html http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/ethindex.htm

Technology Solution for Promoting E-Banking in Bangladesh Essay Example for Free

Technology Solution for Promoting E-Banking in Bangladesh Essay E-banking has revolutionised the way business istransacted by globalising the business enterprise. E-banking technologies have proliferated in recent years, and the availability of a wide range of products has led to increasing adoption among consumers. These technologies include direct deposit, computer banking, stored value cards, and debit cards. Consumers are attracted to these technologies because of convenience, increasing ease of use, and in some instances cost savings. E-banking, in particular, has grown at impressive rates. Between 1995 and 2003, e-banking increased eightfold. Between late 2002 and early 2005, use of online banking increased 47%, a clear evidence that e-banking is associated with better household financial management. All businesses, including small and medium scale industries, no matter their geographical locations, are all beneficiaries of e-banking. It encompasses all kinds of commercial transaction that is conducted on an electronic medium, mostly through the internet. E-banking links business to customers no matter their geographical location. It allows companies to make new business contacts from different global business alliances, test new products and services, and make market research and other enquiries all at a minimal cost both financial and otherwise. Smaller community banks, among others, are more interested in the application of e-banking to gain certain competitive edges over their larger counterparts. In addition to previous e-banking delivery systems, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and telephone transaction processing centres, online banking provides banks a new and more efficient electronic delivery tool. While ATMs were first introduced in early 1980s and initially an attempt to reduce operating costs, telephone call centres were developed in the 1990s to handle simple transactions and provide added customer services from a remote location. E-banking has been viewed as an upgrading from previous electronic delivery systems to open new business opportunities for the banking induetry. Electronic banking does not mean only 24- hours access to cash through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or Direct Deposit of pay checks into checking or savings accounts as many consumers may think. Electronic banking (e-banking) involves many different types of transactions; it is a form of banking where funds are transferred through an exchange of electronic signals between financial institution, rather than exchange of cash, cheques or other negotiable instruments. With the expansion of global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and the internet, e-banking is set to play a pivotal role in the national economic development of any country. But appropriate software, technology, infrastructure, skilled manpower and cyber law are crucial for the implementation of e-banking in the country. This paper reviewed the issues associated with various forms of e-banking accompanied by a field survey and explored the challenges and prospect of e-banking in Bangladesh. Chapter 1 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY The primary objective of the report is to find out a technology solution for the banking system of Bangladesh using a nation-wide network. Implementing a nation-wide electronic banking system requires huge investment especially for the establishment of a backbone network. It really matters for a country like ours.

Gender Equality In Politics

Gender Equality In Politics The initiation of women into influential politics has the potential to greatly benefit society. There are a number of theoretical reasons women would be doing the world a favour by entering into politics. Basic statistics demonstrate that equality would benefit the economy. In the West, the perception towards women is positive: they are mostly on equal ground with men regarding capabilities (Pew Research Center [PRC, 2008]. Moreover, because most female politicians have to juggle professional, private, and sometimes family lives, their resulting ability to multi-task should allow them better management skills and more sensible political priorities. Now, these theories regarding womens abilities and inclinations do have some factual basis. There are already successful females in high positions of power within government (e.g. Angela Merkel; Scandinavian Parliament). A survey carried out in India had results illustrating that where women were in charge, villagers were much better off ( Beaman, 2007). Surprisingly, Southeast Asia is where the most women have reached the highest governmental positions (Fleschenberg, 2008). One can argue that, whether there is a positive or ineffectual upshot to womens involvement in politics, merely achieving equality and effectively rendering most prejudices null would be a tremendous benefit to society. However, while the women of the West have far more opportunity and are reluctant to take advantage of it, there are still the women of developing countries, where bias against women is still quite distinct (Beaman, 2007). In the meantime, there is the Middle East, where progress in gender equality is practically nonexistent (Akande, 2007). But despite the emphasis given to creating equality for women, there are still very few females in high-level decision making positions. (McDermott, 2009). If gender inequality can be overcome, it can open the doorway to alleviating a significant amount of the dilemmas the world faces. Opening the Doorway: Gender Equality in Politics If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost. Whether or not Aristotle meant to include females in his definition of persons, this quote of his basically supports the idea that there is no real equality until individuals of every possible variance are not only involved in government, but have the same say in proceedings. Equality is an abstract term; it has evaded human beings since the time we came into existence, and remains indomitably out of reach due to our own inherent prejudices. It is only very recently that real attempts have been successful in overcoming these imbalances in social order; but naturally, those at the top want to stay that way-and with their power comes the ability to maintain their position. Therefore, we still have a long way to go before humans can declare themselves a race of egalitarianism. Gender inequality is probably the most prevalent form of discrimination, due to the fact that it exists, unfailingly-not only in all societies-but within the classes and castes within those societies (Jamal, 2009/2010). The superiority of men has been a given through the ages, both through formal laws and unwritten, shared understandings (Jamal, 2009/2010). These days, women have come far along the road to equality, but-as modern feminists complain-women still have to work twice as hard to get half as far as men in their careers. There is no argument that, thanks to or despite this, women are underrepresented in many areas, most notably those of power. But politics, which has the most potential to influence culture and civilization, is the most notable area of all. Whether or not women are better than men is not the question here-the question is, would gender equality in politics have a substantial effect on global affairs? And would this effect be favourable or detrimental? Because gender is the key to the organization of product and reproduction, women are at the crossroads between economic growth and human development. (Jamal, 2009/2010, p. 5) The initiation of women into influential politics has the potential to greatly benefit society. There are a number of theoretical reasons women would be doing the world a favour by entering into politics. According to Akande, women are the worlds most under-utilised resource; getting more of them into work is part of the solution to many economic woes, including shrinking populations and poverty. (2007, p. 10) Basic statistics even demonstrate that equality would benefit the economy- women put in 67% of the hours of work done on Earth, yet they earn 10% of salaries and possess 1% of all goods (Career Womens Forum, 2006). So women have already proven themselves diligent, and take up around 50% of a population-on this note, Akande reasons that their lack of active participation (2007) in all influential fields, including the workforce, intellectual or academic spheres, or politics, basically deprives a country of valuable human resources. This applies more directly to developing countries where gender discrimination completely obstructs womens chances to achieve anything, let alo ne politics; however, it bolsters equality in general. Perception is the basis of social context, and negative social context is womans biggest obstacle towards achieving anything, let alone a career in politics. In the West, the universal perception towards female leaders is changing for the better. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center reveals the proletarian opinion on why women are still underrepresented in politics: gender discrimination, resistance to change, and a self-serving old boys club' (PRC, 2008). The public also believes that women are held back by the pressure of juggling family (which, as women, they are still meant to take care of) or personal life, and professional life; lack of the necessary skill is cited by few as a potential cause (PRC, 2008). In the same survey, women were rated higher than men on the majority of traits considered important to leadership (e.g. honesty, intelligence, compassion) (PRC, 2008). Women are believed by the populace to be more inclined towards dealing with civic issues such as health care and education (PRC, 2008); men, however, are more disposed towards eradicating crime, public safety, defence, and national security (PRC, 2008). This has been backed up by actual studies, though they put mens priorities in a less favourable light: Studies show that women are more likely to spend money on improving health, education, infrastructure and poverty and less likely to waste it on tanks and bombs. (Akande, 2007) The results of the survey continued by rating women higher than men in other areas believed to be important for a leader: holding firm to their principles even in the face of political strain; in negotiation and compromise; in instilling honesty in the government; and relating to the general public (PRC, 2008). Despite all this, only 6% actually claim women make better political leaders than men, which would be the natural progression (PRC, 2008). However, 69% rate men and women as equal, so this is probably, essentially, an even bigger step towards equality than if the reverse imbalance was presented (PRC, 2008). Even more theoretical reasoning can back up this claim: because most female politicians have to juggle professional, private, and sometimes family lives, their ability to multi-task is forcibly but finely honed (Career Womens Forum [CWF], 2006). This in turn allows them better management skills and more sensible political priorities. Now, these theories regarding womens abilities and inclinations do have factual basis. There are already successful females in high positions of power within government, such as Angela Merkel, Germanys first female Chancellor. Scandinavian countries, according to Career Womens Forum, are of the better-managed countries of the world, the most imaginative and prosperous (2008); the article goes on to correlate this fact with one stating their Parliaments are made up of 40% women, the highest percentage in the world. A Millenial Survey was carried out by a non-governmental organization in India in the year 2000 (Beaman, Duflo, Pande Topalova, 2007). It focused on subjective and objective measures of both the quantity and quality of five basic public services: drinking water and sanitation, health, education and child care, road transport and the public distribution system (Beaman, 2007). Though the survey was not undertaken for the express purpose of comparing male and female leadership performances, this-in accordance with the simultaneously subjective and objective nature of the survey-afforded the surveyors a lack of predetermined bias towards the results (Beaman, 2007). The results illustrated that where women were in charge, there was a higher investment in clean drinking water, leading to the avoidance of water-borne diseases and overall improvement of health (Beaman, 2007). Also, children were more likely to be immunized, and where women were in charge the gender gap in schooling was less by almost 13%; women were also less likely to accept bribes (Beaman, 2007). Despite all this, villagers reported dissatisfaction with their female leaders; Beaman found this rational, though, due to the inherent bias of the society (2007). Though the Nordic area can claim the highest percentage of women in Parliament, it is, surprisingly, Asia where the most women have reached the highest governmental positions (Fleschenberg, 2008). The first female Prime Minister in history was Sirimavo Bandaranaike, of Sri Lanka; she had power three times, beginning in 1960, and when she died in office in the year 2000, she was succeeded by her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga (Fleschenberg, 2008). Indira Gandhi, India, is possibly the most famous female politician, with the most influence and positive impact thanks to her campaign for progress in India-a recent BBC poll named her the greatest woman of the last 1,000 years (Fleschenberg, 2008). Aung San Suu Kyi is the accepted leader of democratic Burma despite her continuing house arrest (Fleschenberg, 2008). In Malaysia, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail freed her husband, Anwar Ibrahim, and has headed the parliamentary opposition party in Malaysia since the late 1990s (Fleschenberg, 2008). The re are more notable names, from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines; though all of these cultures are undoubtedly patriarchal and paternalistic in political and ideological terms, women have achieved the position of prime minister or president in all of them (Fleschenberg, 2008). These countries have little in common in terms of economic development, culture, religion, and political systems (Fleschenberg, 2008). The one defining commonality between these women involves their education: no different from influential politicians in general, but exceptional for their own locale, where often education cannot proceed past the secondary or tertiary level (Fleschenberg, 2008). In addition, many of them gained reputations and political experience against backdrops of political turmoil and/or transition (Fleschenberg, 2008, p. 33) as leaders of opposition movements, effectively classifying them as transformational leaders, (Fleschenberg, 2008, p. 33) valuable to their country from day one. As for their terms in office, analysis proves that none of these countries deteriorated [. . .] as a direct consequence of female governance (Fleschenberg, 2008, p. 5). In fact, any declines were caused by male-led interventions (Fleschenberg, 2008). These leaderships are made even more interesting by the fact that these women came into power by proving themselves worthy, rather than just to promote equality, are recognized as capable, self-reliant leaders with no limits on their power due to their gender (Fleschenberg, 2008). On the other hand, their governments are still not gender balanced; Fleschenberg admits that they are the exception, and their rise to power should not be confused with increased womens participation in politics (2008). One can argue that, whether there is a positive or ineffectual upshot to womens involvement in politics, merely achieving equality and effectively rendering most prejudices null would be a tremendous benefit to society. Women are generally fighting an uphill battle in this respect-or, at least, some of them are. Interestingly, a report comparing the victory rates of male and female candidates yielded the result that when women run for office, they win just as often as men do. (Bowman, 2008) Since this included mostly small-time political positions in already developed countries, it is not as provocative as it may appear; it basically only reveals that, at least in the West, there is less interest in politics. The surveyed women were not enthusiastic about running for office, or the process required, such as raising campaign cash or balancing familial responsibilities (Bowman, 2008). Still, Akande says, Women are more likely to organize in other politics, such as social movements, and in non-governmental organizations. (2007, p. 16) So, while the women of the West have far more opportunity and are reluctant to take advantage of it, there are still the women of developing countries, where bias against women is still quite distinct (Beaman, 2007). Because women are generally assumed, not to lack leadership skills so much as have less than men-even those with similar personality traits-if a woman is fulfilling a normally male role, she will be judged more ruthlessly (Beaman, 2007). For example, a bad decision, or merely an unpopular one despite advantageous ends, would gain them a harsher level of criticism than if they were male (Beaman, 2007). This social backlash for violating stereotypes dissuades all but the most determined women; indeed, where the Western woman shuns politics for the stress it promises, or mere lack of interest (Bowman, 2008), a woman in a developing country shuns it to avoid the extra controversy that would top that stress (Beaman, 2007). In the meantime, there is the Middle East, where progress in gender equality is practically nonexistent (Akande, 2007). Akande attributes this to the ongoing political upheaval, citing the near civil-war situation in Iraq, the murky future of the Palestinians, Irans nuclear ambitions, or the future of democracy in the region. (2007, p. 10) The female in the Middle East is generally far worse off than those of other developing countries, due to being in a society that is either indifferent (Akande, 2007, p. 17) to them, or downright hostile. (Akande, 2007, p. 17). The principles of the predominant religion of Islam cannot directly take the blame for this (Akande, 2007), as women have gained political prominence in every Islamic country of South-eastern Asia apart from Brunei (Fleschenberg, 2008). However, the combination of religion and culture do play a big part in the viewpoints that support this maltreatment of women (Akande, 2007). This goes not just for the Muslim women of the Arab world, but for other religions that undermine the weaker sex, such as Sikhs, Hindus, and Native Americans (Akande, 2007). He stresses the Middle East, however, because the predicament of the regions women essentially has a direct effect on world affairs; he believes that much of the strife in the Middle East (i.e. underdevelopment, domestic and regional instability [. . .], ethnic frictions (Akande, 2007, p. 9)) could be mitigated, if not outright halted, if women had more of a voice in government (2007). If the results of the studies referenced by Akande earlier on, as well as the beliefs presented by the Pew Research Center survey are any indication, even a gradual move towards gender equality-in politics and otherwise-would be a big step towards eventual stability. At any rate, gender equality is a worldwide goal, and there are measures in place meant to promote womens involvement in Parliaments, etc (McDermott, 2009). In India, one third of parliamentary seats are reserved for women (Atkins, 2008). Though some see these enactments as a step backwards merely because they appear as a chauvinistic inability to allow women a true sense of accomplishment (Atkins, 2008), there is a much more considerable reason they can be seen as such. Despite the emphasis given to creating equality for women, there are still very few females in high-level decision making positions. (McDermott, 2009) This even goes for the previously-praised Nordic countries where there is an almost-balanced level of genders within the government (McDermott, 2009). Still, when it comes to decision-making, the women have limited say. Gwaze points out that in Zimbabwe, women appointed to seemingly important positions only have real significance at voting time; otherwise, they are little more than puppets for the males with real power (2007). What we see now is a faà §ade of equality that prevents women from making the change that they are capable of. With all the previously described obstacles that women have to overcome, only for women to be rendered utterly inconsequential by males who continue to wield more power, it is no wonder that gender inequality prevails in government. Successful female politicians often take pride in not only their achievements in public service, but the fact that they are positive role models for younger girls (Campbell Wolbrecht, 2005). Males do not bother to see themselves as role models, reflecting the fact that men and boys need little additional evidence that the halls of power are open to them. (Campbell, 2005) The only way to change points-of-view on female politicians is for them to continue in this vein-its a snowball effect. Women already proven the positive impact they are capable of; as more gradually get into politics and gradually become more successful at it, the window of politics as a career is opened to more and more women. And as these women prove their value within government proceedings, attitudes towards them will change for the better, the way they already are (Beaman, 2007). Gender equality is not the biggest problem face by society, and it is not the only discrimination human beings must cope with. However, if this most profound and prevailing prejudice can be overcome, it can open the doorway to alleviating a significant amount of the dilemmas faced by the world.

Americas Foreign Aid Policy Essay -- Foreign Policy Politics Politica

It's Time for America's Foreign Aid Policy to Follow Thomas Malthus’ Prescriptions During the late 1700s, Adam Smith and Thomas Malthus each entered their predictions on the future of the world’s economies into the history books. In his writings in An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Smith theorized that national economies could be continuously improved by means of the division of labor, efficient production of goods, and international trade. In An Essay on the Principle of Population, Thomas Malthus predicted that the sustainable production of food in relation to population was vital to the mere existence of national economies in order to ensure an able labor force. Smith believed that the success or failure of a nation to progress toward development was dependent upon the quantity of labor and money invested in the production of manufactured goods. Malthus calculated that labor and funds would better serve a country if invested in agricultural enterprises aimed at feeding its own people. Their vast differences in viewpoints concerning development make it interesting to examine each author in the context of the United States’ reactions to the plight of the Third World. It seems that since the end of World War II, U.S. foreign aid policy has been largely based on the principles set forth by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations. However, while Adam Smith has seemingly been the U.S. foreign aid advisor of the past, it may be time for U.S. policymakers to turn their attention to the prescriptions of Thomas Malthus in order to resolve the worsening plight of the world’s poorest. This paper will first examine the implications and consequences of Adam Smith’s influence on U.S. foreign aid policy si... ...s Census Bureau. United States Trade Development Association. 1999. "Promoting U.S. Technology in Mining and Minerals." January, 1999. Arlington, Virginia: The United States Trade Development Association. http://www.tda.gov/region/sectoral/mining.html. Vockrodt, Christopher M. "Debt Crisis and the Third World: A Look Into the Growing Inequality Between The North and The South." http://www.ucsub.colorado.edu/~vockrodt/debt.html. Wattenberg, Ben. 1997. "The Population Explosion is Over." The New York Times. (November 23, 1997), Section 6, page 60. World Bank. 1985. Developing Industrial Technology: Lessons for Policy and Practice. Report Number 14983. Washington, D.C: The World Bank. http://www.worldbank.org/html/oed/14983.htm#technology problem. World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987. Our Common Future. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Plato :: essays research papers

Few definite details are known of Plato's life. He was born in Athens c. 427 BC and was the youngest son of Ariston, of an old and wealthy family. It is claimed that his real name was Aristocles, with "Plato" (meaning "the broad") being a nickname given to him because of his wrestler's physique. He served in the last years of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, and after democracy was restored in Athens in 403 BC he hoped to enter politics. However, the realities of political life as well as the execution of his mentor Socrates in 399 BC drove him to abandon this goal. After the death of Socrates, Plato left Athens and traveled in Italy, Sicily and Egypt, where he learned the function of a water clock. In Italy he came in contact with the ideas of Pythagoras, which gave him a new appreciation of mathematics. After serving again in the military, he returned to Athens in 387 BC and founded his Academy, which he presided over until his death in 347 BC and which survived for nearly a thousand years after. His works include discussions of mathematics, ethics, science and philosophy, usually in the form of dialogues. Some of the most famous are the Republic, Phaedo, and Symposium. Famous quotations by Plato: A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men. All men are by nature equal, made all of the same earth by one Workman; and however we deceive ourselves, as dear unto God is the poor peasant as the mighty prince. Courage is a kind of salvation. Courage is knowing what not to fear. Cunning... is but the low mimic of wisdom. Democracy... is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder; and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike. Democracy passes into despotism. Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws. He was a wise man who invented beer. He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden. Honesty is for the most part less profitable than dishonesty. Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.

NAT TURNER Essay -- essays research papers

Nat Turner   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early in the morning of August 22,1831, a band of black slaves, led by a lay preacher named Nat Turner, entered the Travis house in Southampton County, Virginia and killed five members of the Travis family. This was the beginning of a slave uprising that was to become known as Nat Turner’s rebellion. Over a thirty-six hour period, this band of slaves grew sixty or seventy in number and slew fifty-eight white persons in and around Jerusalem, Virginia (seventy miles east of Richmond) before the local community could act to stop them. This rebellion raised southern fears of a general slave uprising and had a profound influence on the attitude of Southerners towards slavery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nat Turner was born a slave in Virginia in 1800, owned by a southern man, named Ben Turner. It was common during this time for the slave to be given the last name of their owner. In this relatively easygoing atmosphere at this particular plantation, Nat was allowed to learn to read and write. growing up, Nat played with his owners’ son until the age of twelve. He was then put to work as a field hand. He believed that that God had chosen him to lead the blacks to freedom. After seeing a halo around the sun on August 13, 1831, Turner believed this to be a sign from god to begin the revolt. Beginning on August 22 and lasting for two days, Turner and seventy recruits went on a rampage. They killed Turner’s master and fifty-eight more men,...

Biggest Impact on Todays Society: Religion Essay

Religion has played a role in peoples life’s ever since ancient times. Whether it be God, Allah, Zeus etc. Even those who do not believe or practice a certain are affected by it in one way or another. Among all religions I believe that the creation of Christianity has had the largest impact on modern day society. The three main reasons I believe that this has such a great impact is because peoples everyday life and culture is defined by Christianity, it can play a role in eduction and school and there is always disputes between Christians and other religions. Contrary to popular belief that the birth of Jesus Christ was the the birth of Christianity it was actually the death of Jesus was the birth of Christianity. After the resurrection of Jesus his apostles began the Christian movement and established Christian communities throughout Asia Minor and along the shores of the Aegean Sea. Jesus brought with him the â€Å"revised† version of the bible, the New Testament. The ten commandments began to make Christians to try live a holy live and steer clear of sin as much as possible. Current day practicing Christians such as Seventh day Adventists have days of worship on a weekly basis Seventh Day Adventists are just one of the many branches of Christianity that encourage a certain lifestyle. Practicing Seventh Day Adventists lives their everyday lives based on their interpretations of the bible. Communities that are largely populated by Seventh Day Adventists are mostly vegetarian . It is very common to see whole foods and vegan markets in these ares. The believe in living a healthy life and encourage being vegetarians because they believe in following the â€Å"original diet plan,† that was given when Adam and Eve were excluded from the garden of Eden. This can be seen in Genesis, â€Å"and you will eat the plants of the field† {Genesis 3:18}. Seventh Day Adventists are allowed to eat red meat such as beef since it is not restricted unlike pork. Diet restrictions can be seen in Leviticus. Some of these restriction include pork and shellfish. Many offices and schools that are Seventh Day Adventists close early on Fridays to prepare for Sabbath. The observe the seventh day of the week, Saturday as a holy day. Sabbath is observed from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Sabbath is a day of rest and only necessary work must. This practice derives from the creation story, it is said that God created the Earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Practicing Christians are non-Christians alike are affect by Christianity in one way or another. Since ancient times people have been fighting over religion. Many wars over religion involve disputes between Muslims, pagans etc. s. Christianity. Unfortunately lots of blood has been shed due to religions disputes. These disputes do not always involve bloodshed. Often times people get into heated arguments over religion. For this reason people often try to avoid even discussing matters of religion. I believe that the creation of Christianity has played the biggest impact in modern day society. It plays a role in people lives whether they are Christians or not. Without the creation of Christianity history would have not been the same.