Conflict in the Twilight :: history

Conflict in the Twilight When has war ever been fair, just or necessary? Yet, we all wage wars. In my opinion all wars are a result of the breakdown of the rules of society which leads to the polarization of sensibility and reason. The root cause of the problem is usually trivial compared to the consequential disaster. No reason can warrant the taking of precious innocent lives; yet wars take place despite the wisdom and the best efforts of the human race, almost as if they are preordained. I don’t believe they are preordained, but they are certainly bred. As we are taught right from wrong each one of us builds an ideology based on teachings and experiences. This ideology, which is ideally meant to make one a better human being, becomes the reason for conflict when one is rigid and applies one’s standards onto others. As soon as the first bullet is fired both sides are on a roller coaster and they live off a mixture of ego, righteousness, comradeship, strategies, victories, setbacks and revenge. The situation grows to obsession and desperation and soon the gloves are off - the nastier the better. During WW II the British were fighting the war as gentlemen but British parliamentarian, Mr. R. T. Bower, said, â€Å"when you are fighting for your life against a ruthless opponent you cannot be governed by Queensberry rules†- the code that governs boxing. Speaking about the government policy of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain he is claimed to have said â€Å"The government would rather lose the war under Queensberry rules than do anything unbecoming to an absolutely perfect gentleman†. â€Å"That kind of thing will not do† he said. Soon after Winston Churchill took over as Prime Minister the policy changed and covert operations were executed to set Europe ablaze by sabotage, assassinations and a host of other irregular warfare. It has happened in every war and on every side. In the twilight the right and the wrong look similar, such are the times that we live in. The ‘A’ bomb was invented and immediately used. It may have brought an end to the war but the Japanese people have yet to recover from the psychological trauma of the event. They shun violence and their constitution forbids them to send their troops out of Japan, not even for the United Nations, except, recently, as peace keepers. Their constitution was written for them by the Americans after the war but even after all these years of economic development, which has made them an economic super power, they are not willing to change that provision in their constitution.

Jig’s Decision in Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” Essay

Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† presents what is seemingly a pointless conversation between a man and a woman as they look at the hills in Spain which the woman considers to present the image of white elephants trailing each other across the valley. Although the main topic of their conversation is not explicitly mentioned in their conversation, it seems as if the man is encouraging the woman to commit an abortion. The story begins with a description of the place where both individuals are having their conversation. It states, â€Å"The hills across the valley of Ebro were long and white. On this side there was no shade and no trees and the station was between two lines of rails in the sun† (Hemingway, 2001, p. 563). The importance of the hills to the narrative is made evident in the later part of the text as the woman mentions that â€Å"the hills are like elephants† and the man considers it to be a good comparison (Hemingway, 2001, p. 563). Later on the woman repeats the same line however it was placed in a different context as she states, â€Å"If do it, then it will be nice again if I say things are like white elephants, and you’ll like it? † (Hemingway, 2001, p. 563). In this context, the woman is questioning whether their relationship will still be the same given that she is hesitant about committing abortion and the man is continuously trying to persuade her to commit it. The significance of Jig’s comparison of the hills to white elephants is thereby evident as Jig weighs the consequences of adhering to the man’s desire to abort their child since a part of Jig knows that if she does abort their child, there is a large possibility that their relationship will end since her feelings for the man will be changed as he was the one who persuaded her to abort their child. The end of their relationship, in this sense, may be seen as a result of the lost of love between the couple since their relationship will be tainted by the knowledge that the man failed to be accountable for his actions which led them to abort their child. Reference Hemingway, E. (2001). Hills Like White Elephants. Rites of Passage: A Thematic Reader. Eds. J. Rae & C. Fraga. Np: Heinle & Heinle.

Maslows Hierarchy of needs Essay

I am basing my Theory and Application on both Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory and Locke’s Goal Setting Theory. Theory and Application Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was first published by psychologist Abraham Maslow in his 1943 article, â€Å"A Theory of Human Motivation â€Å". Abraham Maslow believed that that as humans strive to meet our most basic needs, we also seek to satisfy a higher set of needs. Maslow presented these needs in a hierarchy that consisted of the following: 1. Physiological/bodily needs. 2. Safety needs. 3. Love/belonging needs. 4. Self-esteem. 5. Self-actualization. I am going to describe each level in the hierarchy of needs and evaluate them in terms of evidence that shows that they work and that they are useful for managers in understanding how they might motivate their staff. The example I am using is Understanding and motivating health care employees: integrating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, training and technology by Suzanne G. Benson PhD and Stephen P. Dundis JD, PhD. With all the challenges facing the health sector, there was a need to understand how the managers could motivate the staff. This was becoming increasingly concerning and this is where Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs proved useful. Maslow created a pyramid split into 5 levels, each containing one of the 5 needs. Level 1 Physiological needs: Physiological needs are the basic survival needs such as oxygen, food, water, shelter etc. Unless these basic needs are fulfilled, the individual will be unable to move to the next level, as these are these needs are needed for survival. In work terms, these basic needs would be wages. If an employee is being paid fairly he/she will be happy to move to the next level of the hierarchy. If not, they will be thinking about why they aren’t being paid fairly and the next levels won’t be in their mind. Level 2 Safety Needs: When physiological needs are fulfilled, safety needs come into consideration. This involves not only a safe working environment but mental safety. In this case training has a big influence because workers see training as a way of being safe. Managers must make employees realise that with new technology brings change. Employees feel that they are under pressure with the new technology leading to advancements in computers. They feel they are inadequately trained and this is where managers must spend resources, time and money on training. Level 3 Love/ Belonging Needs: Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and alienation and managers must understand this to ensure employee involvement, production and motivation, etc. With the new technology in healthcare, brings in the new ‘virtual teaming’. Some employees might feel a lack of social presence that face to face contact has. Managers must know this and that the opportunities to participate in new and different work groups can definitely expand an employee’s belongingness. Level 4 Self-Esteem: Self-esteem in a workplace is usually based on an employee’s successful performance appraisals, which helps employee’s feel valued and respected within an organisation. This boosts self-esteem. In the case of the healthcare problem, there was an issue with the technology because employees where not known by name anyone but by numbers. When employees are not being interacted with personally by managers and other group members they feel insulted and meaningless. Managers must take this into consideration. Level 5 Self-Actualisation: The need for self-actualisation is only relevant when all needs below Self-Actualisation are fulfilled. It is the need for an employee to do what he/she feels they are meant to do. In the healthcare training, an employee should be exposed to learning that affects every single part of his/her life. The new technology offers this training but a person must be shown the right path towards the correct training in order for it to become meaningful. Managers play a role in doing this. Locke’s Goal Setting Theory Dr Edwin Locke found from research that specific and difficult goals led to  better performance than easy goals. Easy goals are not a motivating force whereas if a goal is hard, you feel more accomplished after completing it. The harder the goal, the greater the effort. This helps motivate employees because they will grow in confidence once they complete a difficult task. Goals help push employees to goal-relevant actions rather than concentrating on irrelevant matters. I believe that this is true and to motivate goals must have: 1. Clarity. 2. Challenge. 3. Commitment. 4. Feedback. 5. Task complexity. Clarity When goals are clear and specific there is less chance that there will be a misunderstanding. Managers should make goals measurable with a definitive time set for completion, and this will in turn leave the task/goal a lot more precise. If an employee is set a clear objective he/she is then motivated towards one thing. If the goal is unclear employees will be less motivated. The goal should be Smart, Measureable and Time-bound (SMART acronym). Challenge Usually employees feel that if a goal is very challenging and they complete it, then the manager will be impressed. This motivates an employee because they will feel accomplished and important to the company. Rewards may also boost motivation because with greater challenges comes greater rewards, so therefore managers must give employees challenging but realistic goals in order to motivate their staff. Challenges must be realistic because employees will feel demotivated if they are unable to complete the challenge. The goal should be Achievable (SMART Acronym). Commitment Goals can be agreed upon between managers and employees. This gives the employee a sense of involvement and they are more likely to be committed to a goal if they have been involved in creating the goal and making decisions. Goals should be consistent and credible in order for the commitment to be there. If a goal is difficult it will require a lot more commitment compared  to and easy goal therefore employees will be motivated to get the goal completed. Agreed goals will lead to commitment (SMART Acronym). Feedback Employees must get feedback about their goals from their managers in order to clarify expectations and to gain recognition. Goals can be broken down into parts when it is going to take a particularly long time to reach a goal. Feedback can then be given after each part in order to get a task done efficiently. Regular encouragement will motivate employees to reaching a goal. Task Complexity When a goal is very difficult, employees should be given sufficient time to reach the goal. If the employee is stressed out then they will be demotivated. Employees should be given time to practice what is needed to reach the goal. Difficult tasks can frustrate employees and managers have to deal with this by giving them sufficient time and training needed to complete the task. Conclusion: I believe that both Maslow’s and Locke’s theories provide a useful knowledge into how to keep an employee motivated in the workplace. Goal setting is the best theory in my opinion because it is a simple step by step way on how to reach a goal without demotivating your employees. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows a manager how to make the employee feel secure, needed and appreciated in the workplace whilst also keeping them motivated to strive towards self-actualisation. Reflection and Application The theory that best explains my motivation to perform in DCU is the Goal Setting Theory. I feel this best describes my motivation to perform because I always set out goals in life, whether they are small goals or big goals. For example one of my goals in DCU is to finish with a Masters in Engineering after 5 years. This is a big goal and it requires a lot of motivation and time. My main goal at the moment is to pass all of my modules in my course. To do this my goal must have the 5 following steps: 1. Clarity. 2. Challenge. 3. Commitment. 4. Feedback. 5. Task complexity. In order to reach my goal I must evaluate the goal using these 5 steps. Clarity My goal is clear and measurable and has a specific date for completion. Moodle plays a vital part in reaching the goal as it assists me in my studies and help me keep track of my time limits for each task. I am motivated towards my goal of passing all my modules because I know what each module consists of. Challenge I am motivated towards finishing the first year of my course and passing each module because my course is difficult. When I finish my course I will feel accomplished in what I have done. I also know that if I do well, it will be well received at home because they also know that it is a difficult course. I see this as a reward because if the course was easy I would not be as motivated to do well. Commitment Getting involved in setting out goals also gets me motivated. It makes me feel more committed because I know I have to reach the goal because I helped set it. Although this isn’t the case in most of my modules, it is in one, that is Technical Drawing. I have to set the time for our project to be finished and this adds added pressure which helps motivate me. Feedback Feedback plays a massive role in motivating me to reach my goals. When I am told I am doing something correctly and that my work of a high standard, it motivates me because I know I am slowly reaching my goal. Feedback gives me an insight into how to do things correctly if I am doing them wrong, which is very useful when you don’t know if you are doing something correctly. It can also help me gain recognition. Task Complexity If the work load is too much or difficult for me, I usually need more time at the task in order to reach a goal. If this is the case I usually give up my spare time in order to work on the more complex and difficult parts of my  course. If I am under too much pressure I will be demotivated so this is why I carry out the goal setting theory in order to keep motivated and to ensure that I reach my goals. References www.mindtools.com http://www.unc.edu/courses/2007fall/nurs/379/960/module%209%20delegation%20perf%20appr/Benson%20unders%20and%20motiv.pdf http://home.ubalt.edu/tmitch/642/Articles%20syllabus/Locke%20et%20al%20New%20dir%20goal%20setting%2006.pdf

Recycling programs in NYC essays

Recycling programs in NYC essays Everyday millions of tons of trash gets dumped into Americas landfills. But soon those landfills will be full and we wont have anywhere to store our waste. Even our very own, Fresh Kills landfill has been closed. Now NYC garbage is shipped upstate New York and other states like Ohio and North Carolina. To reduce the amount of waste needed to be carted off, we must recycle what we can. New York City schools are not recycling their garbage, even though they have been mandated to do so. About 24,000 tons of waste is produced each day by New Yorkers and 60% of it goes to landfills, the rest is burned producing harmful pollution. To alleviate this problem, the waste budget has been increased by $400 million each year so that garbage can be shipped out of the city. Material such as fabrics, wood, rubber, and Styrofoam are non-recyclable so people should avoid using them as much as possible. New Yorkers recycles 20% of its waste, which is the national average but foreign countries such as Japan recycle up to 50% of their waste. Recycling in New York City public schools has been a real problem. This is especially true in our very own Brookyn Technical High School. In Tech, an estimated 50% to 80% of the waste that is produced can be recycled. In general, every household in America has the ability to recycle as much as Tech could which is up to 80% of there waste products. The problem of garbage can be solved if everyone would recycle all waste papers and recyclable plastics. Brooklyn Tech has to take on the problem of recycling very seriously. As of now all New York City Schools are under a mandate to recycle. Daily fines are issued to public schools, if they do not comply with the recycling initiative. Being the largest school in New York City, Tech should set an example by fully supporting the recycling program. By not recycling, it is only hurting the students more because funds are used to pay fines instead scho...

J. Hector St. John Crevecoeurs Letters From and American Fa essays

J. Hector St. John Crevecoeurs Letters From and American Fa essays During the 1700s, people from many different countries began to swarm to America, causing societies to form and new ideas and opportunities to come about. In The Autobiography of Ben Franklin and John Crevecoeurs Letters From an American Farmer, different ideas of American ideals are expressed. Both men discuss what they believed the duties and traits of an American citizen were, along with their views of religion and government in America. Although Ben Franklin and John Crevecoeur had different opinions about many issues, they had many similar ideas of how anyone could become prosperous in America. Ben Franklin had a strong belief that a respectable American was always open for self improvement. He believed that education was very important, and that it was sufficient to be self taught. Franklin felt that the most important aspect of education was being literate. He felt that if a person knew how to read, they could be self taught and they could defend their liberties and rights which would open many doors to success. Franklin stood behind a set of thirteen virtues that he formulated for himself and for anyone else who wanted to follow in his footsteps. He believed that if one could accomplish these virtues of temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility, they would be lead to moral perfection. However, he acknowledged that no one could be perfect, and therefore an honest attempt at living by these virtues was what made an idealistic American. John Crevecoeur also believed in a good, solid, independent personality, however he defined Americans as free and able to live their life the way they preferred. He focused a lot on how America was full of opportunity where people could practice equality, unlike Europe where there were solely Lords with tenants and servants. He felt that people tended to group themselves i...

Light a Candle with Smoke (Flame Science Trick)

Light a Candle with Smoke (Flame Science Trick) You know you can light a candle with another candle, but if you blow one of them out, did you know you can relight it from a distance? In this trick, youll blow out a candle and relight it by causing flame to travel along a path of smoke. How to Do the Traveling Flame Trick Light a candle. Have a second source of flame ready, such as another candle, a lighter, or a match.Blow out the candle and immediately place the other flame into the smoke.The flame will travel down the smoke and relight your candle. Tips for Success If you have trouble lighting the smoke, try moving your flame closer to the wick because thats where the concentration of vaporized wax is highest. Another tip is to make sure the air is still around the candle. Again, this is so you maximize the amount of wax vapor around the wick and have a clear smoke trail to follow. How the Traveling Flame Trick Works This fire trick is based on how candles work. When you light a candle, the heat from the flame vaporizes the candle wax. When you blow the candle out, vaporized wax briefly remains in the air. If you apply a heat source quickly enough, you can ignite the wax and use that reaction to relight the wick of the candle. Although it looks like youre lighting the candle with smoke, its really just the wax vapor that ignites. Soot and other debris from the flame isnt ignited. You can watch a YouTube video of this project to see a candle relight itself, but its even more fun to try it yourself. Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.

The Ideal Person Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Ideal Person - Essay Example An ideal person is truthful to others and is honest in his deeds. He never fails or gives up his efforts of self-cultivation. He gives little importance to earthly gains. In The Analects of Confucius, translated by Charles Muller, Confucius states that, â€Å"The Gentleman has nothing to compete for. But if he must compete, he does it in an archery match, wherein he ascends to his position, bowing in deference. Descending, he drinks the ritual cup. This is the competition of the Gentleman† (as cited in Muller, 2010, 3:7). So, we see that a true Confucius gentleman does not waste his time in planning for worldly gains like prizes, awards, and property; rather, he is a man of standards thinking high above the earthly possessions. He is a well-determined person and a good sport in himself. He places morals and virtues above everything else. He stays composed in hard times and is an inspiration for others around him. This makes him an important part of the society. This is the principle according to which an ideal person inculcates in him a sense of modesty and self-control. An ideal person is well-mannered and respects his elders. He acts honorably and is not self-centered. It is good for him to be ambitious but those ambitions should not be achieved through unjust means. Social etiquettes and mannerism matter a lot. According to this principle, a person should develop love for his family and then for the whole society. When parents love their children and vice versa, this strengthens the family bond and the whole society benefits in the