Life After Death :: essays research papers

What is going to happen to us when we leave behinding die? Some mess never considered what it could happen to them after life. For many people, death is a redoubtable event because they do not know what to expect after their death. However, other persons, such(prenominal) as religious people are conscious of what to expect after their death because of their beliefs. Each religion has different ideas and different ways of looking life. Death, therefore, is viewed by different religions in many ways. Although, different religions have a distinct conception of death, they all have something in common they all give promise to people. Among all different religions in the world, four of the most common geniuss - Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, and Hindu- view death in different ways. One way in which death usher out be viewed comes across the Catholic religion. The Catholic believers look life after death in a prospective of three different worlds, such as Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise ac cording to the deeds committed during life. If a person during his or her lifetime committed any sins, this persons next world will be the Hell. The traditional view in which people refer to hell can be found in the book written by Dante Alighieri, La Divina Commedia. The book states that the formation of Hell was given by the crash of Lucifer (the angel that wanted to be better than God) from the sky onto the earth. Crashing on the Earth in Jerusalem, his head formed an upside down cone inside the Earth. This is where is located the Hell. In the Hell, people pay for their sins with different penitences (12-13). For instance, a person that committed homicide will freeze in a lake frozen by the breath of Satan (XXXIV canto). If a person during his or her life commits any sins but asks for forgiveness, then he or she will go to the Purgatory. The purgatory is represented by an island with a mountain (23). One source states that Purgatory is very similar to Hell the main difference is that one will eventually be released from torture. The someones that go in the Purgatory are tortured with fire. These souls remain in purgatory until they become sufficiently purified to enter heaven(2). For example, if a soul in the purgatory asks for forgiveness and pays the punition with some tests, the soul will be released and moved immediately to Heaven (2).

Outcry Against Conformity in Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf? Essay

Outcry Against Conformity in Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf? Whos afraid of Virginia Woolf? may be viewed as a criticism of American nightclub in the 1960s. Edward Albee proverb the responsibility of the writer...to be a sort of demonic social critic thus the play became a reaction against the incantationary plays of its time. Two lines from the play are straight off lifted from the works which Albee is mocking Flores para los muertos is from A Streetcar named Desire and Marthas speech - Awww, tis the refuge we take... - is from a play by Eugene ONeill. Both of these playwrights sanction illusion in the face of reality Virginia Woolf is said to be an elaborate metaphor for the willing substitution of fantasy for reality, the destructive and dangerous infantilising of the imagination and the moral being by fear. Albee saw society as too willing to conform and adjust itself morally in order to benefit and succeed. Georges attempts to escape from such a society result in his hiding in history and thus him and break away are no better than each other. George has to resist the totalitarian - defend Berlin - in Nick but his attempts to defend Western civilisation against its sex- and success-orientated assailants...are too closely centred on his scrotum. The setting - New Carthage - of the alcohol-sodden gathering is significant in itself. The original Carthage was founded in the ninth century BC and it was razed to the ground in 146AD, when it collapsed under the weight of its own power. It is thus being likened to the America of the 1960s where, again, money and power provided the principal(prenominal) axels for behaviour and superseded the values of culture. As Ni... ...tack on society. By referring to well known contemporary texts, Albee mocks the attitudes that their works sanction. The characters are created as before and after pictures of the results of relationships based in delusion, with clear links to moments in history acting as sounding boards for each others thoughts. Their intoxicated states allow, for the first time in a long while, for their current feelings and motives to be revealed, and for all the secrets and lies that have formed the keystones to their marriages to be removed finally allowing a true test of their strength. Unsurprisingly, what is left very quickly collapses a exemplar to others and a wake-up-call to society. Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is an outcry against the thoughtlessness and conforming nature of Western culture and an attack on those who not only live, but sanction, such a lifestyle.

The Disappearance of Native Americans in California Essay -- Demograph

To discover, understand, and encounter the cultures and intricate natures of the atomic number 20 Indian people, it is essential to search the past Nancy Wahl. Tracing back in atomic number 20 history, Spanish explorers, commanded by Juan Rodrguez Cabrillo, found the tip of what is now Baja California in the year 1533 and named it California after a mythical island in a popular Spanish novel. It is evident that from the time Spanish monarchs set foot in California, the world as primeval Americans knew it was never the same again. The late 1700s initiated and mark the colonization of Spaniards in the Golden State which in turn provoked the massive persecution and extermination of autochthonic American population as well as the disappearance of primordial heritage and culture. As a result, the recurring despairs and adversities of the Indian population began. Professor Edward D. Castillo expresses in his article California Indian History that California Indians have been the mos t unfortunate and the least understood of all the Native American tribes in the nation. They were at once probably the most contented and happy race on the continent, in proportion to their capacities for enjoyment, and they have been more miserably corrupted and destroyed than any some other tribes within the union (Castillo, www.nahc.ca.gov/califindian). They had the largest population, and resided in the most lovely and naturally productive lands but as we have learned, they were swept away with a most surly and cruel extermination. Epidemic diseases brought to the put forward by Spanish colonists and missionaries in the late 1700s to the early 1800s, turned out to be the most powerful and discreet rule to surmount Native American population. The impact of the missionarie... ...populated state in the nation and is recognized as one of the wealthiest states, Native Americans are still marginalized in a third world existence, becoming the most disadvantaged and miserable m inority living in California. Works CitedCastillo, Edward D. Short Overview of California Indian History. California Native Americans Heritage Commission. April 12, 2012. Paddison, Joshua. Native Americans. Calisphere University of California. April 12, 2012. Viola, Herman. California Studies History-Social Science, Grade 4. Californio Lands. Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 214-217.Wahl, Nancy Hodges. Native Americans Travel through Timeon Hwy 49. Historic Hwy 49. April 14, 2012. The Disappearance of Native Americans in California Essay -- DemographTo discover, understand, and encounter the cultures and intricate natures of the California Indian people, it is necessary to search the past Nancy Wahl. Tracing back in California history, Spanish explorers, commanded by Juan Rodrguez Cabrillo, found the tip of what is now Baja California in the year 1533 and named it California after a mythical island in a popular Spanish novel. It is evident that from the time Spanish monarch s set foot in California, the world as Native Americans knew it was never the same again. The late 1700s initiated and marked the colonization of Spaniards in the Golden State which in turn provoked the massive persecution and extermination of Native American population as well as the disappearance of Native heritage and culture. As a result, the recurring despairs and adversities of the Indian population began. Professor Edward D. Castillo expresses in his article California Indian History that California Indians have been the most unfortunate and the least understood of all the Native American tribes in the nation. They were once probably the most contented and happy race on the continent, in proportion to their capacities for enjoyment, and they have been more miserably corrupted and destroyed than any other tribes within the union (Castillo, www.nahc.ca.gov/califindian). They had the largest population, and resided in the most pleasant and naturally productive lands but as we h ave learned, they were swept away with a most vile and cruel extermination. Epidemic diseases brought to the state by Spanish colonists and missionaries in the late 1700s to the early 1800s, turned out to be the most powerful and discreet method to surmount Native American population. The impact of the missionarie... ...populated state in the nation and is recognized as one of the wealthiest states, Native Americans are still marginalized in a third world existence, becoming the most underprivileged and miserable minority living in California. Works CitedCastillo, Edward D. Short Overview of California Indian History. California Native Americans Heritage Commission. April 12, 2012. Paddison, Joshua. Native Americans. Calisphere University of California. April 12, 2012. Viola, Herman. California Studies History-Social Science, Grade 4. Californio Lands. Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 214-217.Wahl, Nancy Hodges. Native Americans Travel through Timeon Hwy 49. Historic Hwy 49. April 14, 2012 .

To Kill A Mockingbird - Boo :: Kill Mockingbird essays

To Kill A Mockingbird - razzing Early in the story shucks was just the subject of talk and myths but we learn more about him soon after. Boo is the nickname of Arthur Radley. Early in the book Boo is expound as a tall and scary looking person who runs around at night eating live possums and cats. He was sometime known as a phantom because no one knew who he was and he goes out at night and eat cats or any other(a) living animal. Boo got into trouble with the law when he resisted arrest and was locked up the ancient beadle, Mr Conner, in the court outhouse. Boo and the Cunninghams were the nearest thing to a gang. They were arrested for disturbing the peace, assault and battery. The other boys were sent to the state industrial school, which wasnt known to be a prison and had no disgrace but Boos father Mr Randle thought it was. Mr Radley made a cud with the judge that, if the judge released Boo then he would see to it that Boo never cause any further trouble. T he judge knew that Mr Radleys word is his bond and was prosperous to do so. So Boo was not seen outside his home until fifteen years later his mum ran out of the house screaming that Boo was cleanup them all because he had stabbed his dad in the leg. afterward he pulled out the weapon and wiped it on his dads pants he went back to cutting up the newspapers for his scrapbook. The side by side(p) sign of Boo is when he put things in the knothole for Jem and Scout. Jem and Scout didnt know who it was putting the little items for them in the knothole. Boo put rather strange things in the knothole for example a pocket watch, medal and chewing gum but the weirdest was 2 human-like carvings made from soap. Jem and Scout realised that the figures were figures of them. They thought that Boo was watching them. After the finding of the soap figures, Mr Nathan Radley filled the knothole with cement so that Boo couldnt leave any more items for them.

Essay --

Red Eye Our senses are very important because they allow us to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. The most important sensory electronic organ is the shopping centre. It is the organ of vision, and it is very sensitive. Due to that, we should protect our eyes from diseases such as, macular edema, cataract, macular dry enteration, and red eye. We have all experienced red eye from time to time, modify one or both eyes. Red eye is cardinal sign of ocular information. It accrues when the vessels in the eye become swollen or irritated. Red eye accrues as a consequence of eye allergies, dry eye syndrome, or conjunctivitis. First, Red eye accrue due to conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis, which is commonly called pink eye, is an infection or swelling in the eye area. The effect of viruses, bacterias, and allergies, is pink eye disease. Viral conjunctivitis is contagious, and it is the result of infection from herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella herpes zoster virus virus (VZV), or huma n immune deficiency virus (HIV). Bacterial conjunctivitis has common causes including taphylococci, streptococci, gonococci, and Chl...

Essay --

Red Eye Our senses are very important because they allow us to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. The most important sensory pipe organ is the shopping mall. It is the organ of vision, and it is very sensitive. Due to that, we should protect our eyes from diseases such as, macular edema, cataract, macular dry enteration, and red eye. We have all experienced red eye from time to time, impact one or both eyes. Red eye is cardinal sign of ocular information. It accrues when the vessels in the eye become swollen or irritated. Red eye accrues as a consequence of eye allergies, dry eye syndrome, or conjunctivitis. First, Red eye accrue due to conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis, which is commonly called pink eye, is an infection or swelling in the eye area. The effect of viruses, bacterias, and allergies, is pink eye disease. Viral conjunctivitis is contagious, and it is the result of infection from herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), or human immune deficiency vi rus (HIV). Bacterial conjunctivitis has common causes including taphylococci, streptococci, gonococci, and Chl...

Communication issues Essay

There are a number of brands that offered good products but they failed miserably beca procedure they were not able to sell enough of their products or services. too often we see that so many promising airlines close because they wer not able to sell enough tickets and control costs and so on. The thing is that selling and indeed branding is dependent on the way customers perceive a particular product. It is therefore critical for companies to ensure firstly that the even out message is displace to the customers and secondly at the end of it all the message does reach without too much flutter and disturbances.There are hundreds of thousands of brands that are being advertised on television and print media and therefore it is so pregnant that companies are precise with their message such that the message is across to the customers and they retain it from an option of virtually an innumerable list of brands. This is precisely why we have stressed the conduct to brand products in such a way that only one main distinguishing instrument is higlighted in the promotional campaign. This is extremely crucial because it allows customers to easily understand and retain the message of the companys brand.another(prenominal) thing that is related to this concept is the use of appropriate media while sending the message to the customers. Certain time slots in the television medium are expensive compared to others because of the viewership and other factors these are the things that campaign managers mustiness identify and address. Target audience must be the ones who should watch the adverts atleast otherwise the whole cost could go to waste. What we have discussed in the communication issues heading is that firms need to address certain brand specific issues to avoid mal-function of the whole advertising campaign.Without enough ammunition that is directed at the right target grocery store firms go forth end up with a disadvantaged cost benefit analysis. Advertis ement campaigns must fulfill their key goal that is getting the desired message to the right audience group. Conclusion It is of critical importance that the right message is first identified and then send to the customer using which ever media that best suits the audiences. It faculty sound a difficult task but many small and large companies have been able to establish powerful brand names across the globe.Some of the most important things that we think are crucial to success of a brand campaign include becoming market research without adequate market research and analysis it is very difficult to know what the customers think and which places do they look at when they want to buy new clothing lines. Another important factor is the way the brand distinguishes itself from other similar brands this can be done through certainity of the thought process and getting the basic original idea of the product to the customers.Secondly the pricing and packaging of the product must be accord ing to the image that has been portrayed through advertisements and other campaigns. There is likewise a case for companies to target market costumers through placing the product just at the right place. This not only increases credibility but it also strenghtens the market position of the brand and the company. We must also understand that sometimes its important to factor in the initial response of the crowd about the product this posture of constant improvement can help the company keep its brands healthy and robust.It is of critical importance for firms to avoid disturbances that might impede the message that they want their customers to receive. An important step is to first clean out and simplify the message and secondly look to develop a platform which attracts attention. For instance television adverts of Vodafone are so well choreographed that they attract the customers attention and then they tell the message in stories and other forms.This is a very good strategy to avoi d any noise and disturbance from other advertisements that might be playing side by side. The Vodafone television advertisement campaign is a prime example of how firms can practise an impression in the minds of the consumer for a long lasting time. Ultimately its the costumer base that will determine the result of the branding drive and whether it would be successful or not. The brand must be focused on a particular strength and acceptable demand of the costumers.BibliographyBud, Richard, 2003. Interdisciplinary approaches to human communication. movement Publishers. OPCUK, n. d. Examples of internal communication approaches, viewed February 6, 2010 http//www. opcuk. com/downloads/examples_of_internal_communication_approaches. pdf Branding Strategy Insider, 2010. Why a Branding Strategy Blog? Viewed February 9, 2010 http//www. brandingstrategyinsider. com/ Brand Identity Guru, n. d. Brand Strategy, viewed February 8, 2010 http//www. brandidentityguru. com/brand_strategy.htm Ab out. com, 2010.Developing Your Brand Strategy, viewed February 8, 2010 http//marketing. about. com/od/brandstrategy/tp/brandstrategydev. htm Gelder, Sicco, 2005. Global Brand Strategy Unlocking Brand Potential Across Countries, Cultures and Markets. Kogan PageLimited Keller, Lewi, Keller, 2008 Strategic brand management building, measuring and managing. Mission Statements. com, n. d. Fortune 500, viewed February 7, 2010 http//www. missionstatements. com/fortune_500_mission_statements. html.

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions 3 Countries

Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture An overview of Venezuela, Belgium and japan outside(a) Business ADM 3155 Table of Contents Introduction to Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture3 Individualism3 Masculinity3 authority Distance4 distrust Avoidance4 end5 VENEZUELA5 Introduction to Venezuela6 Individualism6 Masculinity7 creator Distance7 perplexity Avoidance8 Conclusion8 BELGIUM11 Introduction to Belgium11 Individualism12 Masculinity12 Power Distance13 Uncertainty Avoidance14 Conclusion14 JAPAN16 Introduction to japan16 Individualism16 Masculinity17 Power Distance18Uncertainty Avoidance18 Conclusion19 Conclusion to Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture20 References23 Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture Introduction to Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture In 1984, Geert Hofstede published a book called Cultures Consequences. In this book, he divides finishings into four basic categories. These categories atomic number 18 personal identity, masculinity, dower distance and perplexity avoidance. Hofsted e assigns antithetic cultures a number on a scale amongst 1 and 100 for each category mattering on how t heritor culture corresponds to the description.By analyzing how a sphere couples into each section a person can induce a better instinct of how a culture operates in their daily lives and similarly in their employment. Individualism Individualism refers to how people inside a culture interact with adept another. Knowing how people proceeding with ace another will back up you to understand how they will work with you in a chore setting. High individualism will display characteristics like importance of employees personal disembodied spirit, emotional emancipation from the comp any(prenominal), calculative involvement and to a greater extent(prenominal) importance attached to freedom and challenge in their traffics (Hofstede).People with senior utmost individualism pick individual decisions as opposed to separate decisions. Society encour be ons individuals to show their feature initiative which relates to them finding small companies more attractive. High individualism can be seen as a more selfish and self-serving way of living (Nasierowski). This is truly great when conducting line of task in a different culture. If you atomic number 18 feel for innovators, youthful ideas, and self-motivated people, who will contribute more than bonnie labour to your company you should look for a solid ground with high individualism.When conducting vexation in a high individualism society it is principal(prenominal) to switch do individual achievements and reward people on an individual basis. Recognising individual differences and ideas is important as well as giving individual praise and recognition. This will control employees satisfied and motivated. Individual workers want to chance to excel and they tend to look aft(prenominal) themselves and their own needs and advancement and ar not bear on with stepping on others to get a head. Masculinity This dimension is not tone at gender roles specifically, but at the characteristics generally associated with masculinity and femininity.Masculinity is referring to aggressiveness, the desire for agency, wealth and achievement. A argonna with a high masculinity will show traits including admiration for the strong, importance placed on earnings, recognition, advancement and challenge, employees attracted to expectantr constitutions and higher(prenominal)(prenominal) job stress. They to a fault find it acceptable for the company to interfere with their private life. This can be an advantage if you are looking for highly motivated individuals (Hofstede). High masculinity is cracking for doing line of products because these employees will be competitive, aggressive and driven for success.They are will to make sacrifices in their personal lives to achieve success in their credit line. When working in this type of environment people are more willing to work over -time. You can easily get results from your employees by throwing money and superpower at them. These employees are not as bear on with ethics or the environment as they are with economic breakth (Nasierowski). Power Distance Inequality is the main unloose that power distance extendes. Power distance measures how a culture, group or organization views themselves and each other in terms of authority and value.In a county with a high power distance value is placed on obedience to the person who is seen as in charge. Children obey parents, students obey teachers, employees obey employers, etc. , without question. at that place is a large amount of timidity associated with high power distance and those seen as small-scaleer or less important show resentment towards those higher than them and also show distrust to one another. In business, employees do not nonplus input into the company and simply follow orders. Employees are viewed as reasonless and unhappy with their jobs (Ho fstede). Uncertainty AvoidanceUncertainty avoidance is a fear of the un loven. If a culture has high uncertainty avoidance then they are looking to escape any type of difference or change that would occur in their lifestyle, job, culture, organisation, etc. Characteristics typical of high uncertainty avoidance include a fear of failure, higher job stress, frequent worry or so the future and less achievement motivation. Loyalty to ones employer and a tendency to stay with that same employer are also characteristics. This could be viewed as a actually positive or negative quality depending on your type of business (Nasierowski).In a business that requires controls and regulations, for example a meansy. You would prefer a demesne with high uncertainty avoidance because you know that they will not try to change any of the products you are producing. They will be more likely to continue following the exact rules, regulations and policy that you pick out placed in front of them. In business, you will not declare to worry to the highest degree any radical changes or interference. If you want anything new it will have to be introduced tardily and carefully with clear direction. However, you know that once an idea is interpreted on it will not be tampered with.Conclusion As the institution continues to shrink, we begin to experience more globalization and moldinessiness interact more a great deal with other cultures. Through Hofstedes dimensions we can gain a greater understanding of how to integrate our business with other countries. Being able to understand a coarses culture and how it is different from your own is vital to success in international business. We can decide where would be the best place to do business and how to make it more successful. Before entering a new market the culture and values inside and outside the workplace need to be understood.Almost all businesses are to some degree impacted by globalisation and in that respectfore havin g knowledge of other countries and other cultures is vital. In this report we will address troika countries from different culture groupings lacquer, from the Independent block, Belgium, from the Latin European block, and Venezuela from the Latin American block. These blocks are clusters of countries that share common aspects of culture including geographic location, language, and history. For example, the Latin European block includes not only Belgium but France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Nasierowski). By explaining how these three countries fall into Hofstedes dimensions we will be able to help you understand some of the advantages and injustices of doing business with these cultures (Nasierowski). Advantages include being able to understand what will motivate your employees and business partners and how to communicate properly in different business settings. For example, depending on what country you were in, Hofstedes dimensions of culture will help you to know the best way to communicate changes to your business partners and employees.VENEZUELA Introduction to Venezuela Venezuela is a Latin country that occupies most of the northern strand of South America on the Caribbean Sea. The residuum of Venezuela is surrounded by Brazil, Colombia, and Guyana. Venezuela has a population over 27 million, which could be considered relatively small compared to other countries with view in terms of expanding business markets. The capital city is Caracas which has a population of over 3 million. After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Venezuela continued to go through a period of unstable dictators.In the early 1900s it became a major exporter of oil. The oil wealth contributed to the large gap between the countries extremely blotto and extremely poor. Venezuelas current President is Left wing Socialist Hugo Chavez who promised to even the gap between the rich and the poor. He is dedicated to loosing Venezuelas dependence on the U. S. for oil exportation and is therefore trying to strengthen his oil shipping business with China. This could be attributed to his close friendship with Dictator Fidel Castro of Cuba. (http//www. state. ov) When reviewing the country of Venezuela within Hofstedes dimensions of culture we find that it falls into extremes with twain(prenominal) rattling high scores and one very low score. (Hofstede) Individualism In contrast to the rest of the scores Venezuela has received in Hofstedes rankings, in this dimension they are only a 12 out of 100. This substance a very low individualism in this culture. Low individualism means that they are group oriented people. They are concerned active how decisions will affect everyone in the group. They have in-groups and out-groups and think of people in terms of how they fit into such(prenominal) groups (Hofstede).It is important when doing business to realize that they will be concerned with the training and physical conditions the organization provides. They have a moral involvement with the company and they place a great deal of accent on duty, expertness and prestigiousness as life goals. This type of mind set is called collectivism. If you are doing business with a group of people with high collectivism, you must(prenominal) understand that they are looking at the age of a person. Age is an indicator of knowledge and experience. Collectivists want to do business with people who have been around for a while and know them as a group.They do not like outsiders you must earn your way into their trust and fit into their group the same way they want to fit in to their own group. For doing business with this group of people you must first learn to be yen. You as an outsider will not be able to testify them anything or get them to follow you unless you first belong. The same can be considered when marketing or advertising to these countries as they will only want purchase things that will fit into their al effectuate preconceived ideas of li fe and work. Masculinity At 73 out of 100, Venezuela once again has a high ranking.This means that it tends to be a staminate dominated society and power structure. This can cause the female population to become more competitive and assertive however, they are still not on the same take as the male population. Masculinity also means that they are looking for earnings, recognition, advancement and challenge (Hofstede). This would be important to keep in mind when doing business with a Venezuelan company or employees because it can help you identify how to supplicant to them to get better work or traffic from them.You can recognize that they are looking for larger corporations and organizations and they are attracted to wealth and success. For countries with high masculinity you can easily motivate your employees with money and success. They are looking to own fancy material objects and have the latest technology and accessories. If you want your employees to do something or achi eve something all you have to do is entice them with prestige and power. If you are having a business meeting, contemplate them to an expensive restaurant, ear your best designer suit and pick them up in a flashy car. Power Distance This is Venezuelas highest ranking dimension with 81 out of 100. This is an indication of a high level of inequality of power and wealth which is accepted by the culture as a whole. Hofstede states that Venezuela is in the top 5 in the employees afraid category. This means that Venezuelans show a clear distinction between knob and employee. The tribal chief makes all the rules and the employees follow. A Venezuelan employee would not offer their opinion or any ideas to management.They would not direct questions or for clarification of their job either. The large power distance means that people are concerned with getting favour by saying yes to whatever the boss says (Hofstede). This means that when you are doing business with them you must al shipwa y remember that if they are looking at you as being the one in power they will not contradict you or dictate you if they do not understand anything that you are telling them about how your business is going to be conducted. They will not offer any suggestions.It also means that if they consider themselves to be the ones in power they are not looking for you to disagree with them or ask them any questions. They are also not looking for any suggestions or ideas either. They are only looking for a yes sir. There is also a large wage difference between the top employees and the labourers. Uncertainty Avoidance Venezuela scores 76 out of 100 on the Uncertainty Avoidance Index. This indicates a high level of uncertainty avoidance. As we have discussed earlier, high uncertainty avoidance indicates a resistance to change and new ideas.There are three indicators for uncertainty avoidance, rule orientation, employment stability and stress (Hofstede). Venezuela being a country with a long his tory of dictatorship and having a large gap between the rich and the poor can easily fit these three indicators and therefore explain the high uncertainty avoidance. People are used to having on leader and being forced to follow their rules. They are very concerned with their employment because there are not a lot of good jobs to be found. Stress can mean galore(postnominal) different things and have many different triggers.For a citizen it could be fear of punishment for rebellion and for an employee, a fear of losing ones job. When thinking about doing business with Venezuela, you would have to take into account that their high uncertainty avoidance would mean that your employees or business partner are looking for rules and regulations to follow. They want stability and are looking for a routine. They do not like change or progression in their jobs. They are not risk takers in business and would need reassurance. ConclusionWhen viewing the country of Venezuela through Hofstedes dimensions of culture, you can get a better understanding of how decisions are made in this culture and how you can create more profitable business dealings within this country or with companies from this country. For Venezuelans we see that there is a high power distance which means you should appeal to those who are in power if you are looking to create a business deal or if you are looking to make a change. It will also help you to know that you would have to accommodate your employees who would not be willing to contradict you or ask questions.You must also remember that no one appreciates change or is willing to initiate it, which can be very ticklish to deal with in todays ever changing society. outstanding corporations are more appealing to Venezuelans, as is money, power and appreciation, but Venezuelans live within groups and therefore are concerned about what is best for all those knobbed in their group. With these things in mind you would be able to create a successful business relationship as long as you are willing to show understanding for the differences in our shrinking origination.Other things that need to be taken into account are the political factors. For Venezuela this is a negative factor as the political sympathies has control over everything in this country. The banking process is very complex and so is the purchasing system. You require identification and verification for all purchases. The government is very concerned about citizens investing their money in other countries and would therefore be very involved in any business associations with companies in Venezuela.Your business would have to have some sort of gain for the country as well as your own profits (BBC News). Another indication of the executable difficulties in doing business in Venezuela is that of the ranking given to this country from the World Bank, International Finance Corporation. Each year they show the results from a series of questions they ask of each count ry for things like getting a permit, property rights, etc. all things that would be considered when starting a business in that country. With these results they rank the countries in order.Venezuela is very close to the bottom of the list, which means that obtaining permits, business rights, starting a business, paying taxes, and dealing outside of the borders are all more difficult compared to other countries. The authoritative ranking is 177 out of 183 countries (Doing Business Measuring Business Regulations). This is all an example of Porters Diamond which is a theory that helps you look at a country and see certain factors that affect business. Porter discusses how business has several different factors and government is a specific element that can make a difference at any one of the four points in the diamond.The four areas include firm, strategy and structure demand conditions related and supporting industries factor conditions (Nasierwoski). This country shows an example of how government is intemperately involved in the firm, strategy and structure as well as the related and supporting industries. In fact, you could suggest that government is a factor in the entire diamond. This is wherefore it is so difficult to do business in Venezuela. Not only is government involved in everything but it is a very strict and controlling government. BELGIUM Introduction to BelgiumBelgium is a small country surrounded by France, Germany, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. Located in one of the worlds most advanced continents and industrialised regions, Belgium is an important international trading partner and a powerful force in the world of international business. Belgium relies heavily on both imports and exports to fuel its growing economy. It was one of the founding countries of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The country also belongs to the Organisation for sparing Cooperation and Development.Currently it has the 9th largest GDP in Europe (World Bank) and its per capita GDP ranks among the worlds highest. The country is also home to Europes second largest port, importing and exporting goods internationally, in 2010 exports made up 261 billion dollars. The country has a large industrial sector which includes steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobile, electronics, and machinery fabrication. (Belgium Europe) It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a population of over 10,400,000. Belgium Facts)Belgium has three official languages Dutch, French and German although English is widely spoken. The country grants more new citizenships than any other country likewise Canada. (Eupedias Belgium Guide)Belgium is one of the most economically and technologically advanced countries in the world and has very high standards of living. They were one of the first countries to legalise gay trade union and the first county to issue electronic passports. The co untry is number the one chocolate exporter in the world and ninety percent of raw diamonds are negotiated and distributed in Belgium.The country also has the highest proportion of female ministers in the world and the smallest salary gap between males and females in the EU. (Eupedias Belgium Guide) This small but powerful country continues to grow and expand its international reach. Individualism Belgiums second highest dimension is individualism with a score of 80 which means that they put a strong emphasis on the individual rather than the group. There is a large focus on individual achievement, initiative and success. When doing business in Belgium its important to regale everyone as an individual who has their own ideas and personality.Individualism is something to be celebrated and standing out is important. Therefore, when working with this type of society, it is important to recognise individual achievements and give rewards and recognition to employees on an individual basi s. Recognition and rewards are good ways to motivate employees. In this society personal time and personal freedom are highly set and therefore it is important to give employees their space and freedom to work. It is important not to monitor employees work too closely as this can be interpreted negatively, and employees expect to have the freedom to work independently.Work life and personal life are two different and separate things and privacy in both are respected. High individualism is reflected on the emphasis of I as opposed to We. Individuals look out for themselves and their immediate family and therefore look out for ways to better themselves and advance themselves and their immediate family. It is common to pursue individual goals and self advancement at the expense of others. When devising decision people think about how the decision will affect them and do not always think of what is better for others.Employees will often change jobs and job loyalty is not very high. Wh en working in this society it is important not to depend on others or on groups and to work on your own. Promotion and ranking often depend on individual performance and not on seniority. (Individualism,) (Hofstede) Masculinity Belgiums lowest ethnical dimension is Masculinity, at 49 putting it in 22nd place. Belgium is almost right in the middle so therefore they dont have any extremes towards masculinity or femininity. The country falls in the middle and value both femininity and masculinity equally.It is important to have both these traits. As a leader it is important to display the traits associate with both a manly and a feminine work ethic in order to fit in and be accepted. A culture that is more masculine tends to focus more on advancement and earning whereas a culture that is more feminine tends to focus more on a friendly atmosphere and model security. Because Belgium is almost in the middle its important when conducting business to maintain both masculine and feminine characteristic and not bend toward extremes.Realise that although advancement, earnings and money are important it is also important in the Belgium business setting to have cooperation, security and a good work environment. High masculine societies prefer large businesses and high feminine societies prefer small busyness therefore the idea business size for Belgiums is somewhere in the middle. Big enough to be competitive and aggressive, yet small enough to have a nurturing stable environment for the employees. In the Belgium society there is less of a distinction between genders and gender roles.Therefore when conducting business do not assume that someone has certain responsibilities or has a certain roles due to their gender. Support and friendliness are just as important as brilliance and performance in Belgium. To be successfully in business dealings with Belgium remember to display a shuffle both feminine and masculine qualities and to treat both genders as equally important. (Hofstede) Power Distance Belgiums third highest dimension is power distance. Belgium has a power distance of 60 which means that to some degree it is thought that power is not distributed evenly.Although Belgium has a higher power distance they do not have a really high power distance so people respect authority but are not always afraid to ask questions to superiors. Although there is some two way communication, it tends to be more one way communication. A high power distance means that decision making is more centralised and roles and responsibilities are more clearly defined. Organisations have more bureaucracy and larger pay difference exist between jobs and positions. In Belgian businesses there exists a more vertical organisational structure and more vertical communication.In an organisation with a vertical structure there tends to be more rules and policies and it is important to be aware of these rules and policies when conducting business in the country. Information and c ommunication move upward and bringward throughout the ranks. It is important when doing business to give clear and abstraction directions to insure that everyone understands because they might not be comfortable asking for clarification. The relationship between the member of the top of the hierarchy and the bottom of the hierarchy are restrain and very professional.Relationships within organisations are more distant. Therefore in business it is important to know the different levels of jobs and who makes the decisions. Depending on what position you hold you will reply to others who hold higher positions of authority and make most of the rules and decisions. It is important to show respect to those in higher positions. If you are on a lower level you may be restricted to certain information. Problems are usually blamed on the people who work in lower positions. (Power Distance Index. )(Hofstede) Uncertainty AvoidanceThe countries highest dimension is uncertainty avoidance, with a 94 which mean that Belgium as a society not mot like taking risks. This high level also indicates the countrys low tolerance for uncertainty. Belgiums very high level of uncertainty avoidance affects how they do business and must be considered and understood before conducting business with a Belgium company or with someone from Belgium. If you think you can change a Belgian businesses way of thinking or doing something in a short period of time you will not be successful.One of the main aspects is that they like to avoid risk and stay away from uncertain and spoiled situations, including unknowners and foreign ways of doing business. Having things well planned out and prepared in advanced and having things clearly explained is important. Resistance to change is high and therefore changes must be slowly introduced. Laws of the workplace as well as all other laws tend to be carefully followed so it is very important to understand and set up by Belgium laws when doing business in Belgium. They rely heavily on rules, laws and regulation in order to avoid risky situations.When doing business in Belgium it is important to know your facts and be very organised. Belgians will move towards stable low risk investments and avoid unstable high risk investments. Unstructured and uncertain situations are avoided. Because they fear the unknown, foreigners and new ideas are regarded warily and foreigners who want to conduct business with the country must be careful. Because of the fear of the unknown employees are often stressed and anxious, if it is possible to reduce stress and anxiety you will be a lot more successful.Changing jobs is done less frequently and therefore employee turnover is much smaller and employee loyalty is much higher. (Hofstede) Conclusion When doing business in this country foreigners have to take the ethnic dimensions of Belgium into careful consideration of they want to be successful. According to The International Finance Corporation 2011 ec onomy rankings, Belgium is in 28th place out of 183 countries. The countries are raked on various variables, such as permits and taxes, that look at the alleviation of doing business in the country.Belgiums reasonably low score indicated that it is possible to enter the market without too many difficulties. Therefore it is a country that should be given much consideration when looking at foreign markets. Before conducting business with any foreign business it is important to look at the cultural differences and how these differences impact business. In order to understand the culture and values of a society it can be usefully to look at the countrys history and past. Belgium has some similar cultural dimensions to Canada and they are used to working with foreigners and different ways of doing business.Because of this Belgium tends to be fairly open and understanding of other cultural differences. However, in order to be successful and gain the trust and acceptance of local workers and businesses it is vital to understand the countries cultural dimensions and how to act inside and outside the boardroom. The biggest disadvantage to working with or in Belgium is their extremely high uncertainty avoidance. The Belgiums avoid risk and unknown situations in order to protect themselves and their country. If there is anything new or risky it has to be introduced very carefully and slowly, the Belgians would neer change overnight.This does not mean however that they are narrow minded or grudging to change. If you are well prepare, respectful and follow the rules of the country and company you can be very successful in the Belgium market. JAPAN Introduction to japan Japan is an island surrounded by Russia, China, and Korea. Japan has a population of 127. 08 million, this is a fairly large number considering Japan is only an island, as the population gets bigger the island sash the same size, creating a deficiency of land. The capital city of Japan is Tokyo. (U. S.De partment of State) After the second world war ended Japan started to prosper in their business doings, in 1956 they joined the United Nations, 70 percent of Japans workforce is in services while the remainder 30 percent are in agricultural and industry. The agricultural good that they produce include rice, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat, and fish, they also export some of these items. The official language of Japan is Nipponese, while their business language is English . The Japanese have a parliamentary government and a constitutional monarch. (U. S.Department of State) Japan has a free market economy, it is currently the third largest in the world, its economy is highly competitive and efficient in international trade. Productivity is low in agriculture, distribution, and services. Since Japan has few natural resources trading helps them to earn foreign exchange needed to purchase raw materials for its economy. (U. S. Department of State) Individualism When doing business with Jap an it is important to remember that they have very low individualism and high collectivism. Japan does not believe in individual freedom or rights, it is all about the group and what is best for the group.When doing business with Japan, you must never address a single individual as the company, you must address the entire group. When working in Japan, your work becomes your life and whenever your work needs you must put everything else on hold. Japanese emphasize teamwork and loyalty, groups/colleagues learn to trust and work together at a young age. When entering the Japan market you must first be accepted by the group, once you have the groups support you will be able to trust them to your company good and they will be willing to work long hours for you if provide them with what they need.When working for a company in Japan, the likely-hood of you being promoted is based on your seniority in the company, someone who has been there longer than you is more likely to get the promotio n, even if you are more qualified for the job. Masculinity During the IBM study for Hofstedes five dimensions Japan ranked number one out of all the countries for the highest masculinity, not only is the country masculine but the citizens are as well. It is unacceptable for a woman to wear pants in a business setting, the men find it extremely offensive. The women must either wear skirts or dresses when in a business environment.Men are the masculine ones of the society, during business discussions when things are not going as planned it is normal for individuals to become aggressive in order to get things completed. The women are the ones to calm the men down and provide comfort for them. Women who are in more qualifying jobs are very assertive, just so that they can be seen as equal to their male co-workers. The management structure of a business is built on rules and order among individuals, there is a hierarchy of power in Japan society and in business. An employee at the bottom of the ierarchy has no right to talk to someone higher up or even suggest ideas that they feel will benefit their company. It is the employees job to do what is told of them and to never question their employer. In Japan, one must sacrifice everything for their work, that includes family and social life, the term karoshi is Japanese for dying because one is overworked. Since the population in Japan is so large, the men and women learn to become competitive and have placed a high importance on achievements, if children were to do poorly in direct it would be a disgrace to their family. Power DistanceJapans power distance is a little higher than average. When doing business with them one must watch out for a few things. When working in Japan, for a Japanese company, it is unacceptable for an employee to talk to their superior with disrespect or talk to someone higher up in the working chain about their current manager, doing such a thing is considered disgraceful and could cause you to lose your job. In Canada it is common for an employee to comment and try to make their company better, where in Japan if an employee were to make such a comment their employment with said company would be terminated.The employees are dependent on their managers, to tell them what to do and how to do it, it is not their responsibility to think for themselves, that is the job for their superiors. Finding a job in Japan could be difficult for people who are migrating to the country and do not already have a job lined up for them. Japan has a caste system in place, once you are born into a caste it is not very likely that you will move away from it, this being said, the business sector that your father has would be the occupation that you will take over.There is a large income difference in Japan, it is easy to tell what class you belong to. Business cards are very important for the Japanese, when going on business meetings you should always have about 100 business cards on hand fo r a one week business trip. Having a double sided business card is very important, make sure that one side of the card is in Japanese and the other side is in English. When giving your business card to others you must hold it in both hands, with the Japanese side facing upwards, also, make sure to bow while liberation on your business card.Never forget to pick up the business card and put them in your case, if you forget one of the business cards it is like a slap in the face for the other individual. You will have to bring a small notebook to write notes in and never write on the business cards, it is another sign of disrespect. (Venture Japan) Uncertainty Avoidance Hofstede gave Japan a score 92/100 for uncertainty avoidance, it is Japans most big(a) cultural characteristic. Citizens do not like change so they tend to stay with the same company for the rest of their lives, staying loyal to their employer.Individuals are willing to work if they are provided with job security in r eturn. It is important to remember that Japan does not take well to foreign companies that they do not know, coming into their country and starting a business there. You must first gain the citizens trust and acceptance if you want to do well with your business venture. With uncertainty avoidance comes anxiety. Japanese individuals put up with a lot of anxiety about their work and colleagues. In Japan there is the outlet of getting drunk along with colleagues after working hours.During these parties, men release their pent-up aggression, even towards their superiors but the next day business continues as usual. Such drinking bouts represent one of the major institutionalized places and times for anxiety release (Hofstede, 118) An important thing to remember is that if you want to work in Japan it is accepted to drink in the social function after working hours, during the day it is unacceptable to relieve your aggression towards your superiors but it is accepted during such drinking bouts.In Japan it is common for others to ask straight away questions like how much do you make? and how big is your house? such questions are asked so that they are able to assess what position of the hierarchy you at. Conclusion When viewing Japan through Hofstedes dimensions, you get a better understanding of how they do business based on cultural differences. Japan has a high masculinity, and low individualism, this is beneficial for companies seeking loyalty, and who wish to get tasks done on a timely basis. There are many advantages with doing business with Japan, when you gain heir trust and confidence then they will always be loyal to you and assist with what they can. They will get work done when asked and on time, as long as they are provided with instructions they will do the work to the best of their ability. Only a few disadvantages exist with doing business with Japan, a reason why someone would not want to do business with them would be that they consider work to be very important, you would not be able to be sardonic with them or even try to discuss ways to better the company if you are positioned slightly lower than them on the hierarchical business poll.In the end, if you are doing business with Japan you will always be able to count on them, making Japan an excellent country to do business with. Another factor of doing business in Japan is based on the study that The World Bank does each year that addresses the ease of doing business within a country. Japan has a score of 18/183, they have a relatively low score which indicated that doing business with them would be easy and have benefits in the long run, such as obtaining permits, business rights, starting a business, paying taxes, and dealing outside of the borders is very easy for foreign companies to do in Japan.Japan ranked second as the most technologically powerful economy in the world, after the U. S.. Technology innovation is very important for a countries development, having a company in Japan helps that company because of all the technology advancements that they make, helping them become first in a market and having an advantage above everyone else. Conclusion to Hofstedes Dimensions of Culture As the saying goes our world is shrinking. This means many different opportunities for businesses to grow and expand.It offers more opportunities to people for competition, access to new goods and services, new technology and knowledge. Everyday our world continues to gain new inventions and ideas. However, with this progress also comes a great responsibility. It is the responsibility of each individual to make sure that they have a respect and understanding for this new accessible world. Another saying is knowledge is power, in the world of business this is very true. In the world of globalization this is even truer.The more knowledge you have about the customs and beliefs of a certain culture, the more successful your dealings with them will be. Geert Hofstede understood this thought and through his research we are able to gain a better understanding of many different cultures and how when we apply them to the business world we can become more successful. In this paper we reviewed three different cultures from three different areas of the world. Although, we did find many differences in the history, background and specifics of the cultures, we also found some similarities in the behaviours of the people who live in these different cultures.Through these observations we are able to understand that when doing business in Venezuela, if you want to be successful you must look and act as though you already are successful because the country has a high masculinity which means they value money, power and success. We also know that to succeed you must be ready to deal with the difficulties and interference of the government. Venezuelans are collectivists and so they look out for one another inside their perceived groups however this also means t hat you must appeal to the group when marketing or dealing with them.They also have a high power distance and so they will not disagree with the boss nor will they let you know if they dont understand. All of these differences are not necessarily frightful things but they can make it more difficult to do business with this country. The important thing to remember is that if you know these things about them then you can work around these obstacles to achieve success. Japan is a very masculine country, making them more aggressive which helps to increase efficiency among employees which benefits the company that they work for.Japan also has high uncertainty avoidance, with high uncertainty avoidance employees do not take change very well, Japan has been doing business the same since World War II ended, some would see this as a bad thing but in reality it is very good, this is helpful because it provides a more secure environment and no one is afraid of what they already know. When doi ng business in Belgium it is important to keep in mind their high cultural dimensions and how this affects doing business.Their highest dimension is uncertainty avoidance flowed by individualism, therefore, it is important to introduce new ideas slowly and celebrate individuality. Although there are differences that must be considered if you do your research Belgium can be a warm and welcoming environment to do business in and to expand your international reach. We have presented in out paper three very different countries from different sides of the world. But which one is best to do business with? Venezuela, although it is the cheapest market to enter, has a very high rating on the WBI and is extremely difficult to enter and presents many obstacles.Also, as we have discussed earlier in this paper Hofstedes dimensions of culture outline the differences and difficulties that one would encounter when dealing with the work force in Venezuela. Japan, although the highest ranking on the WBI, has a very different culture and very different language when comparing it to Canada and therefore would present many different challenges also outlined in the paper according to Hofstedes dimensions. Belgium is therefore our best choice when considering internationalising into a broader market.Its ranking is close to Japan, well above Venezuela however, it is also a lot similar in culture, demographics and attitudes to Canada. One of Belgiums official languages is French, which is also a benefit to Canadian business people. However, Belgium would be definitely a smaller market expansion according to population size. References to the highest degree Belgium. Eupedias Belgium Guide. Eupedia, 2010. Web. 21 Oct 2011. lthttp//www. eupedia. com/belgium/trivia. shtmlgt. Ease of Doing Business in Venezeula, RB. Doing Business Measuring Business Regulations. The World Bank, 2011. Web. 19 Nov 2011. lthttp//www. oingbusiness. org/data/exploreeconomies/venezuela/gt. Economy. Belgium Eu rope. Travel Document Systems, Inc. , 2011. Web. 7 Nov 2011. lthttp//www. traveldocs. com/be/economy. htmgt. Facts about Belgium. Belgium Facts. Greenwich2000. ltd. uk, 2011. Web. 20 Oct 2011. lthttp//wwp. greenwichmeanti me. com/time-zone/eu rope/european-union/belgium/facts/ gt. Interesting Facts Hofstede, Geert. Itim International. http//www. geert-hofstede. com. Itim International, n. d. Web. 19 Oct 2011. lthttp//www. geert-hofstede. com/hofstede_venezuela. shtmlgt. Hofstede, Geert. Cultures Consequences. 1st.Beverly Hills, CA SAGE Publications Inc. , 1984. Print. Page 153, 158, 166 Hofstede, Geert. Cultures Consequences. 1st. Beverly Hills, CA SAGE Publications Inc. , 1984. Print. Page 189, 200, 205, 207 Hofstede, Geert. Cultures Consequences. 1st. Beverly Hills, CA SAGE Publications Inc. , 1984. Print. Page 65, 77, 92 Hofstede, Geert. Cultures Consequences. 1st. Beverly Hills, CA SAGE Publications Inc. , 1984. Print. Page 110, 122, 132, 133 Hofstede, Geert. Cultures Conswquen ces. 2end. California Sage Publications, 2001. Print. Hofstede, Geert. Cultures and organizations software of the mind. 1st ed.New York McGraw-Hill, 1991. Print. Individualism. KwintEssentials. N. p. , 2009. Web. 7 Nov 2011. <http//www. kwintessential. co. uk/intercultural/individualism. html>. International Business Center. Geert Hofstede Cultural Dimensions. Geert Hofstede itim , 2009. Web. 20 Nov 2011. <http//www. geert-hofstede. com/hofstede_japan. shtml> Japan. . InternationalBusinessCenter. org , 2008. Web. 20 Nov 2011. <http//www. cyborlink. com/besite/japan. htm>. Japanese business etiquette. Venture Japan. Venture Japan LLC, 2009. Web. 20 Nov 2011. <http//www. venturejapan. com/japanese-business-etiquette. tm>. Nasieroswki, Wojciech. Communication is the Key. International Business. University of New Brunswick. Tilley Hall, Fredericton. 24Oct2011. Lecture. Nasierwoski, Wojciech. International Competitiveness. International Business. University of New Brunswick. Tilley Hall, Fredericton. Lecture. Power Distance Index. Kwintessential. N. p. , 2009. Web. 7 Nov 2011. <http//www. kwintessential. co. uk/intercultural/power-distance- index. html>. The Challenges of Doing Business in Venezuela. BBC News. (2011) n. page. Web. 19 Nov. 2011. <http//www. bbc. co. uk/news/world-us-canada-15486080>. U. S. Department of State. http//www. state. gov. U. S. Government, n. d. Web. 19 Oct 2011. lthttp//www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35766. htmgt. U. S. Department of State. U. S. Department of State. Bureau of East Asian and pacific Affairs, 23/08/2011. Web. 20 Nov 2011. lthttp//www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4142. htmgt. World Bank, . Economy Statistics > European countries by GDP per capita > GDP Per Capita (most recent) by country. NationMast N. p. , 2010. Web. 20 Oct 2011. lthttp//www. nationmaster. com/gr aph/eco_eur_cou_by_gdp_per_cap_gdp_per_cap-european-countr ies-gdp-per-capitagt.

Compare and Contrast the Contribution to the Study of Education Essay

I am comparing and contrasting the contribution to the study of education made by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke as I moot they are two of the biggest contributors to education. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was innate(p) in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 12, 1712. His mother died soon after his birth, and his father Isaac Rousseau, abandoned him to be orphaned at the age of twelve. Rousseau addresses liberty more than any other problem and aims to explain how worldly concern is given total immunity without restrictions.Rousseau believes there are two reasons for this, first if he is non restricted by rules of state or dominated by others. The second is that if he is free from the need of artificial or material things in modern-day society. These make up a large amount of Rousseaus philosophy, but the second is part of his more insightful philosophical process. Rousseau believed that modern society has changed man into being run by his own needs, he thinks that this enslavement to their own needs is to blame for exploitation of others to self-esteem issues.Rousseau has a famous phrase, man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains, he says that modern states withhold the physical freedom that is our birth right, and do nothing to secure the civil freedom for the sake of which we enter into civil society. Rousseau strongly believes that young children at a certain age must focus on the physical side of their education. equivalent animals they must be left to their own devices to discover the world they live in and how things work it is very important when it comes to learning later in life.

Effects of lobbying and its effectiveness in America Essay

Effects of lobbying and its effectiveness in AmericaIntroduction A lobbyist is anyone with a clear understanding of working of the federal government and the legislative actions taken each day as well as their impacts. He might represent an individual, a party, company or a group of plurality (Hrebanar, 2009). Yearly, many dollars argon spent on lobbyists in Washington DC. We shall discuss about the effects and effectiveness in this city. For a start, non every American citizen can approach members of the Congress or to government officials to have their interests addressed. Anyone who has an issue seeks the help of lobbyists who represents their interests to the congress. The fee charged is high but one is fully delineated and listened to. They represent anyone who seeks their help not the interest of all citizens. This is a direct form of corruption. The lobbying companies make a lot of profits based on the part of forming the company. The benefits may be in basis of direct ca sh, reduction of taxes or being awarded any contract of government. This is a form of corruption and unfairness because the citizens who cannot spend to approach them cant win such tenders or have any interest in the congress. Many companies opt to pay lobbyists who in number help them evade paying the corporate tax of 35%. The whole process is facilitated by politicians receiving money from the lobbyists (Waterhouse, 2013). This leads to reduction in the income of the country in terms of taxes collected thus the economy is also arrogateed. Living standards of citizens also become poorer because they are forced to pay more taxes for the government to operate efficiently. Since lobbyists have a great impact on the laws passed in the Congress, some important regulations may be passed in favor of corporations which carry out illegal activities such as emission of poisonous gases to the atmosphere or trafficking of drugs. Congress members and other officers in governmentare paid to h elp in passing these regulations. This is harmful to the general public since the products affect them negatively. In this case, environmentalpollution through poisonous gases increases cases of cancer and. Practical examples of such companies are tobacco and extraction companies. Lobbyists are not always effective even though they have much influence in the government and its officials. The tourist court is always a fair representer of the normal citizens and it may rule that a regulation should not be passed because of its impact on the American society. A good example is when the court stopped the FDA tried to introduce the generic version of Lovenox but the court stopped the procedure despite the huge sums of money the company spend on lobbying. In addition, there are leaders in power who fall apartt accept any type of bribes so the influence of lobbyists does not affect their decisions pertaining some regulations or policies. These leaders condemn fully the activities of lobb yists hence the regulations passed and implemented in the country are in favor of the citizens not individual groups or companies. In conclusion, lobbyism is rampant in America especially in Washington and the results of such groups may affect the normal citizens positively or negatively. A significant amount of capital is spent on lobbying which reduces the net income on taxes hence affecting the economy. The health and normal lives of citizens are largely affected by lobbyism. Luckily, they are not effective always thus some of their policies are neglected especially by the court and no-corrupt officers. The best way possible out of this is through campaigns to alert government officials of the effects of lobbying.ReferencesHrebenar, R. J., & Morgan, B. B. (2009).Lobbying in America A reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif ABC-CLIO.Waterhouse, B. C. (2013). Lobbying America The politics of business from Nixon to NAFTA. Princeton Princeton University Press.Source document

The poem ‘After Apple Picking’ by Robert Frost as one the most celebrated and widely read poems of the Romantic Period

The poem After Apple Picking by Robert freezing is one the most celebrated and widely read poems of the Romantic Period. The poem was raddled from Frosts own life, his recurrent losses, everyday tasks, and his loneliness. After Apple Picking is the poem that links Frost heavily to the Romantic Tradition as he follows the traditionalistic Romantic model, in which he displays a number of Romantic qualities, mainly a connection with the primordial and spiritual, Individualism, Primitivism and Nature as a pedigree of reflection and guidance.A characteristic of Romanticism was the belief that emotions and relationships were not just important, but were the very currency of life (Individualism). After Apple Picking concentrate on ones deep feelings of suffering but also a sense of hope and transcendence. This is conveyed in the quote Of Apple picking I am overtired Of the cracking harvest I myself desired. The dramatic monologue, diction and modality shows the struggles of the man. The persona has too many goals and is regretting his choices in life, showing feelings of regret and exhaustion. Individualism is a major(ip) aspect to Romantic poetry and is expressed through the example as it shows a single person and his expression of individual feelings.Romantic literature tends to stupefy a theme of favouring the pastoral over the urban way of living. After Apple Picking is set in a rural natural coveringground of a farm which is a critical aspect in determining that Frost is a poet of the Romantic Tradition. The symbolism of the great harvest as the goals and dreams of the man links it back to the Primitivism and the experiences of the common man. The other example of Empty Barrels symbolise Frosts regrets at having not fulfilled all of his lives dreams and ambitions. This primitive state is a common occurrence in many Romantic period poems and the emphasis on rural life adds to the proof that After Apple Picking and Frost are part of the Romantic Tradition .In After Apple Picking nature is used greatly to create a deeper value and more meaty answers to life. This is nature acting as source of reflection and guidance. His emphasis on emotion rather than logic clarifies that the poem is indeed Romantic. The fist person memoir and reference to nature woodchucks, apples, boughs help create a reflective tone in the poem. Frost capitalises on the reflective tone and attempts to use nature as a source of value and meaning within his life.Romantic poems also had a connection with the transcendent and links to the spiritual. Frost makes certain biblical allusions to Jacobs lam and heaven shown in the quote My long two-pointed ladders sticking through a tree Toward heaven still. This is used to emphasise the need to connect with the transcendent and the divine. Frost connects with the divine while creating a positive connotation to nature through the apples, which are a gift from God.Their has been a constant battle as to whether Robert Fros t is indeed a Romantic poet. This poem conforms that Robert Frost is a Romantic poet as the many characteristics of the Romantic Tradition have greatly been expressed in his work and especially in After Apple Picking as shown in the many examples. The poem includes many of these characteristics and ultimately it depicted ruttish matter, in an imaginative form.

Attitude Toward Elderly

Old Age Attitudes towards Older People Attitudes and treatment towards elderly quite a little can be said to vary drastic individuallyy across cultures. From Europe, Asia, the centre of attention East, the Americas, Africa and Australia, the attitudes expressed by the community towards honest-to-god citizenry be very divers(prenominal) when comp atomic number 18d to one a nonher. 1. In the 1960s, Robert Butler coined the phrase get on withism, which he defined as A process of systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are of age(predicate), just as racism and sexism accomplish this with skin color and gender.Old people are categorize as senile, rigid in thought and manner, out of date-fashioned in ethical motive and skills . . . . Ageism allows the younger generations to see honest-to-goodnesser people as different from themselves and then they subtly cease to identify with their elders as human beings . . . . People of older age who were o nce respected and admired are now being dehumanised and being categorized as undesirables.People looked up to them as person who have been around the block a couple more times and therefore they held a certain level of knowledge in their life banks that hostel thought of as useful. Society has robbed them of those life banks now and is toy withing them hostage in homes. rather of grandchildren getting to enjoy stories of war, love, life, and experiences from their grandparents around the dinner table they are subject to visiting them in retirement homes.Those same people who took care of the new fraternity and gave up so much to raise them are now being punished for aging and al the affects that fall down along with it. People use to hold doors open, do lawn work, fix things, anything they could to help and show respect for their elders who were incapable of doing such for themselves. Now-a-days those people have turned their cheeks on elders and just throw them in a retirem ent home to make it easier on themselves. However there is a town in New York that is reviving the respect owed to all elders. 2. The community was construct on the backs of our seniors, said Melissa Lee of the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant, which is in charge of the program. Its important that now they reap the fruits of their labors and are able to age in place. Treating older people as if they are completely useless and incompetent is non singular demoralizing them but it is also dehumanizing them. Not only are people handing over the well being of their parents/grandparents/ect. over to a caregiver, but they are not putting in effort to see who virtually of these care givers truly are.They bully them by withholding medication from or overmedicating the elderly somebody, keeping the elderly person in unclean living quarters, not maintaining the elderly persons physical appearance, sexual abuse, preventing the elderly person from having any or meaningf ul contact with his or her family, neighbors, or the public, psychological abuse which includes name- business or a systematic plan to dehumanize the elderly person and make him or her more dependent upon the caregiver, the caregiver prompting the elderly person to answer questions and putting words in the elderly persons mouth. . Before the early 1980s, there was little, if any, reference made to elder abuse in literature that did address family violence. However, as the years pass, more and more studies have been made, and research conducted on this subject. In 1990, the information of two incidence studies and their results was released, which revealed shocking statistics anywhere between 1. 6 million and 2 million Americans considered elderly were abuse victims each year. Some of this abuse occurred in the family home some in institutions. In 2003, the Elder justice Act was implemented.The neglect and shame put upon the elderly has reached such a peak that they are now the und esirables among caller. Set aside and regulate away from the new age society, elders have become invisible to todays youth. Elders are seen to have no purpose or abilities left, which makes them completely and suddenly useless to society. indeed society continues to go on and change leaving elders where they are and not doing things to improve their lives. Stories making headlines such as 4. To Be time-honored And Un inadequacyed In Mohegan Lake show the shameful act of some communities to rid of their elderly. shameful story of how a respected local nonprofit group has attempt to winterize four summer cottages to house eight elderly poor people and how neighbors and town officials have fought them so that the case has dragged on three years. These kinds of stories are too often seen and there is a heightening need for young people to come down a few levels and see their elders and respect who they are. The scarce respect that is left for elders is chop-chop being taken ove r by dehumanizing and demoralizing traits. Instead of just sitting and talking or oing to play games with all of the people of old age in society, the new age people of society decide to take the elders to homes that will do it for them. However society is not looking long term, they are only looking at instant gratification moves. In twenty to thirty years when this society becomes the elders karma is going to come back and have some harsh payback to hand them. The only thing to be done to stop this awful cycle would be to abrasion respecting, admiring and helping out the old age of today because nobody stays young forever. Works Citied The New York Times. The New York Times. Web. 27 Apr. 012. . Elizabeth, Jessica Anne. The Elderly Abuse saloon Act. EHow. Demand Media, 21 July 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. . Respect Your Elders Bed-Stuy Launches an AgingA Improvement DistrictA . NY Daily News. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. http//www. nydailynews. com/new-york/brooklyn/respect-elders-bed-stuy-l aunches-aging-improvement-district-article-1. 1067380? localLinksEnabled. Sonnet 127 In the Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair meter by William Shakespeare. Famous Poets and Poems. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. . Why Has the Elderly Lost Societys Respect? HubPages. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. . Old Age Formal Outline I.Attitudes and treatment towards elderly people can be said to vary drastically across cultures. From Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa and Australia, the attitudes expressed by the community towards older people are very different when compared to one another. 1. In the 1960s, Robert Butler coined the phrase ageism, which he defined as A process of systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are old, just as racism and sexism accomplish this with skin color and gender. Old people are categorized as senile, rigid in thought and manner, old-fashioned in morality and skills . . . Ageism allows the younger generations to see older people as different from themselves thus they subtly cease to identify with their elders as human beings . . . . People of older age who were once respected and admired are now being dehumanized and being categorized as undesirables. II. People looked up to them as someone who have been around the block a couple more times and therefore they held a certain level of knowledge in their life banks that society thought of as useful. A) Robbed of cherished memories with grandchildren. 1. being placed in homes 2. unable to see familyB) Going from being honored to abandoned by all. III. Treating older people as if they are completely useless and incompetent is not only demoralizing them but it is also dehumanizing them. A) Caregivers bullying elders. 1. withholding medicine, keeping away from family 2. calling names, planting mental attacks on them. B) Elder abuse on a rise. 1. 1980 almost unheard of 2. 1990 research shows shocking high results of abuse 3. 2003 Elder Justice Act put to work IV. The neglect and shame put upon the elderly has reached such a peak that they are now the undesirables among society.A) Cast aside from society 1. invisible to younger society 2. left in the dust of new age change B) Fought to be kept hidden 1. neighbors dont want them 2. court cases filed to keep away 3. numerous stories making headlines suggesting the unwanted C) Society steps down to analyze what needs to change. V. The scarce respect that is left for elders is rapidly being taken over by dehumanizing and demoralizing traits. Instead of just sitting and talking or going to play games with all of the people of old age in society, the new age people of society decide to take the elders to homes that will do it for them.However society is not looking long term, they are only looking at instant gratification moves. In twenty to thirty years when this society becomes the elders karma is going to come back and have some harsh payback to hand them. The only thing to be done to stop this awf ul cycle would be to start respecting, admiring and helping out the old age of today because nobody stays young forever. Sonnet 127 In the old age black was not counted fair by William Shakespeare In the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were, it bore not beautys nameBut now is black beautys successive heir, And beauty slandered with a bastard shame. For since each hand hath put on natures power, Fairing the foul with arts ill-advised borrowed face, Sweet beauty hath no name no holy bower, But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace. Therefore my mistress eyes are raven black, Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem, At such who, not born fair no beauty lack, Slandring creation with a false esteem. Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe, That every tongue says beauty should look so.

American Dream by James Truslow Essay

The the Steatsn conceive of is a term coined by pile Truslow in his 1932 book Epic of the States, but it is a concept as old as America itself anything is possible if only the individual is leave aloneing to go by hard. The dream draws immigrants to our shores and borders every year and keeps millions of Americans content in the idea that their toiling will pave the way to victory for them and for their children. However, for every rags-to-riches story, there argon thousands of some other hard-working race who cannot give rise by, who do not stimulate enough to eat, transportation, safe housing, or warm clothes in winter. There is much bear witness that the American dream is little much than a myth, a false promise that keeps millions of people working themselves weary for a better tomorrow that will never come.The American dream is the promise of the Declaration of Independence, which indicates that our inalienable rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of pleasure. There is no single American dream, but Adams defines the concept in its some dignified sense It is the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievementa dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest elevation of which that are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position. (qtd. In Ferenz) The lure of America for immigrants and the promise to its citizens is that, as Adams indicates, the individual is not held back by circumstances, but through individual efforts can pursue and attain whatever personal brand of happiness he or she desires.In the midst of the striking Depression, Franklin Roosevelt recognized the part the federal government needed to play in keeping the American dream alive-no semipermanent was hard work the only factor involved in ensu ring an acceptable standard of aliment. Under his administration, a modus operandi of social programs were put into place to booster Americans achieve the dream, which Roosevelt described as sufficiency of life, rather thana plethora of riches and life-threatening health, good food, good education, good working conditions (qtd. In Muir). owe to these principles, Roosevelts unused bring included the Social Security Act, Fair Labor Standards Act that banned child labor and established a token(prenominal) wage, and a variety of programs that put Americans to work in civil service (Successes 4-6). Roosevelts programs and World War II helped drag the nation out of the Great Depression, but were not permanent solutions in make the American dream possible for all Americans.By the 1960s, one in five Americans were living in poverty, and in his first State of the Union address in 1964, Lyndon Johnson declared, an unconditional war on poverty in America. (qtd. In Quindlen 1) Johnson, too, understood that the American dream was one not attainable through hard work alone. As Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, notes in her 2004 editorial, from Johnsons declaration a host of government initiatives sprang, including Head Start, an expended food-stamp program, and sweep reforms in health care for the needy (Quindlen 2).Unfortunately, in spite of the attempts of Roosevelt, Johnson, and others to lend a hand to those Americans who need it most, the feeling that the poor are responsible for their birth troubles always seems to creep its way back into the American mind. Weve all heard the rumors that the poor are lazy, that welfare is skilful n excuse not to get a job. Quindlen comments that part of the problem with a war on poverty today is that some(prenominal) Americans find decided that being poor is a grammatical case defect, not an economic condition (Quindlen 2).Public policy of the last few decades seems to follow this line of thinking the Fed eral minimum wage has not lift since 1997 even as welfare reform coursements have forced millions of people, many single parents, off public assistance and into minimum wage jobs. Quindlen argues that forty geezerhood after Johnson led the charge, the battle against poverty still rages. The biggest differences today if that there is no call to arms by those in power (Quindlen 1). How does this shift in American policy affect the status of the American dream? Can we still call ourselves the land of opportunity when the American dream eludes so many of our citizens? Should the American dream exist and is it really worth it to try and live by the dream?In July 2000, Mortimer Zuckerman, editor-in-chief of U.S. News and World Report, wrote an essay about the success of the American dream. Zuckerman claims that it is a dream on individual effort-talent, ambition, risk-taking, readiness to change, and just plain hard work-qualities that count more in America than social range of luck ( Zuckerman 120). That is a perspective that Zuckerman, a billionaire whose biography on the U.S. News and World Report website boasts he has substantial real-estate guardianships, including properties in Boston, New York, Washington, and San Francisco can feed to have. The reality for most Americans, however, is not nearly so great. It is a reality where social background and luck play far too large a part in achieving the American dream. both articles written a decade apart demonstrate that bitter reality. In USA Today in 1996, Charles Whalen writes that downstairs the misleading surface prosperity of the 1990s are numerous alarming trends, among them relentless downsizing, longer job searches and sluggish job creation, explosive growth in depending on(p) work (part-time and temporary employment), and wage stagnation (Whalen 2-3). One would be hard=pressed to find a list that better demonstrates the part luck plays in securing steady employment. Whalen also cites a vision, iron ically conducted for U.S. News and World Report, that indicates 57% of those asked said that the American dream is out of reach for most families (qtd. in Whalen 2).In 2006 in the scratch Sun-Times, Clyde Murphy cites a new report released by the Opportunity Agenda that measures the nations pass off in living up to the American dream. The findings? That millions of Americans do not have a fair chance to achieve their full potential, despite their best efforts (Murphy 33). Two of the reasons cited by the study are housing discrimination against blacks, Hispanics, and Asians are employment discrimination against women and minorities, which included favoring job candidates with white-sounding names. These findings clearly refute Zuckermans claim, demonstrating that background does in fact count more in America than individual effort when it comes to achieving certain aspects of the American dream.Another dubious claim in Zuckermans essay is that anybody who wishes to work has the opp ortunity to move from the bottom of the ladder to a middle-class standard of life, or higher (Zuckerman 120). As award-winning journalist Barbara Ehrenreich notes in her book Nickel and Dimed On (Not) getting By in America, the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform assumed that a job was the ticket out of poverty and that the only thing holding back welfare recipients was their reluctance to get out and get one (Ehrenreich 196). As a wealth of evidence suggests, this is the fundamental misperception surrounding the American dream.In her 2003 editorial A New Kind of Poverty, Anna Quindlen argues America is a country that now sits atop a precarious latticework of myth. It is the myth that working people can support their families (Quindlen 2). Quindlen interviews two women who run services for the homeless and impoverished in New York City, ant they note that more often they are see working families in dire need of their help. Indeed, according to the U.S. census Bureaus 2005 report o n poverty, Americas poverty rate has been climbing, from 11.3 part in 2000 to 12.7 percent in 2004, the latest for which data is available. This translates into 37 million people who live below the poverty line. This is further complicated, however, by the way that the Census Bureau calculates the poverty train. Barbara Ehrenreich explains that it is still calculated by the archaic method of taking the bare-bones cost of food for a family of a given size and multiplying that number by three.Yet food is relatively inflation-proof (Ehrenreich 200). This method results in a base calculation of $9,310 for one person, with $3,180 added for each additional person in the household. As anyone who has ever lived on his or her own understands, those poverty calculations are very low. Ehrenreich points out that the Economic Policy Institute recently reviewed dozens of studies of what constitutes a living wage and came up with an average figure of $30,000 for a family of one adult and two chi ldren (Ehrenreich 213). When compared to the federal poverty calculation of $15,670, the gap becomes glaringly apparent. Anna Quindlen explains when you adjust the level to reflect reality, you come closer to 35 percent of all Americans who are having a hard time providing the basics for their families (Quindlen 2).As pioneering psychologist Abraham Maslows research reveals, psychological and safety needs-the basics referred to by Quindlen, such as food and housing-must be fulfilled before other needs, core components of the American dream such as belongingness and self-esteem, can be met (Abraham 2). This creates a basic gap between those who can reach for the American dream and those who cannot if all someones energy is rivet on providing food and shelter, there is nothing left to reach for higher goals. In a 2002 essay Whats So Great About America? Dinesh DSouza, an Indian immigrant, makes assertions that demonstrate some common misconceptions about Americans meeting our basic n eeds.The United States is a country where the ordinary guy has a good life, (DSouza 23). He even goes so far to say that very few people in America have to wonder where their next meal is approach shot from (DSouza 23). Sadly, this is not true. Quindlen indicates the U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that 1.6 million New Yorkerssuffer from food insecurity, which is just a fancy way of saying they do not have to enough to eat (Quindlen 1). Ehrenreich reports that according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 67 percent of the adults requesting emergency food aid are people with jobs (Ehrenreich 219).Two other basic needs, safe housing and health care, are also beyond the reach of many Americans. When the rich and the poor compete for housing on the open market, writes Ehrenreich, the poor dont stand a chance. The rich can always outbid them, buy up their tenements and trailer parks, and replace them withwhatever they like (Ehrenreich 199). This is exaggerated by the fact that expenditures on public housing have fallen since the 1980s, and the expansion of public rental subsidies came to a halt in the 1990s (Ehrenreich 201). Health care is another sad story. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans with no health insurance has been slowly rising, arriving at 15.7 percent in 2004, and as Quindlen observes, poor kids are much more likely to become flush than their counterparts, but much less likely to have health insurance. peach about a double whammy (Quindlen 1). How can families dream big and plan for the future as they worry about whether the next month will bring eviction or illness?Two people in particular have put a human face on the statistical evidence that the American dream remains out of reach for millions of hard-working Americans. At the urging of her editor at Harpers magazine, Barbara Ehrenreich undertook a yearlong underground investigation of living on low-wage jobs in Florida, Maine, and Minnesota. She waited tables, worked as a maid, and worked at Wal-Mart, never revealing her statue as a reported, but keeping careful closed-door diaries documenting the details of her experience.In spite of working at least full-time, usually more, she was unable to get by. The most heartbreaking part of her journey, however, was the people she met, women who were not just experimenting with the low-wage life, but who were trapped by it. They were women who were victims of the low-cost housing shortage, who lived in cars, or if they were lucky, weekly rental motel retinue. They walked, rode bikes, or bummed rides to work. Certainly among those who experience food insecurity, they skipped meals or ate nutritionally void foods like hot dog buns because they couldnt afford to eat. They were women with raw hands and sore backs, balancing two or more jobs who would never, in spite of their work ethic, move off that bottom rung of the social ladder.In a similar experiment, Morgan Spurlock (of Sup er Size Me fame) and his fiance lived on minimum wage for thirty days in Columbus, Ohio and recorded the results for the premiere episode of his television series 30 Days. As Spurlock works eighteen-hour days making at least $7.50 per hour and Alex works for minimum wage at a coffee house, the pair is faced with a host of challenges that mirror the workaday trials of the working poor. Emergency room visits for a urinary tract infection and a sprained wrist cost them $1,217. DSouza correctly comments that in America, even sick people who dont have money or insurance will receive medical care at hospital emergency rooms (DSouza 23), but he fails to take into account that suck care generates bills are equivalent to six weeks of full time minimum wage work.The most affordable housing they could find, a steal at $325 per month, has ant infestations, malfunctioning heat, and is upstairs from an apartment that was a crack house just the week before. Furthermore, their relationship is tug by the stress that results from the constant worrying about money. At the end of the month they find themselves hundreds of dollars in the hole, by permanently changed by their experience. When taken together, the accounts of Ehrenreich and Spurlock aim powerful insight into the everyday struggles of the working poor, those who are anything but lazy but still find themselves drowning financially, the American dream slipping further away all the time.Dinesh DSouza claims that in America your destiny is not prescribed. Your life is like a blank sheet of paper and you are the artist (DSouza 24). It is onerous to deliberate, however, that the millions of working poor are not trying to create a better destiny for themselves, only to find their dreams let down by the vinegarish realities of daily life. So why is the American dream still suck a pervasive part of our consciousness, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that hard work is not the ticket to prosperity, or even necessa rily to a comfortable standard of living?In his Critique of Hegels school of thought of the Right, Karl Marx wrote that religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of the heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for the real happiness (qtd in Cline). Marxs clever observation is that religion, in keeping the focus on the afterlife, keeps people from demanding fair treatment in this world. DSouza suggests, however, that capitalism gives America a this-worldly focus that allows death and the afterlife to recede from everyday viewthe gaze of the people is shifted to earthly progress (DSouza 25).If this the case, why is it that we are not more aware of (and enraged about) the decided lack of earthly progress of so many of our friends and neighbors? Some believe that it is because the American dream has taken the place of religion as toda ys opiate of the masses. So long as we all believe that there is a better life ahead, that is we only work harder, our dreams are within reach, it is easy to be lulled into satisfaction about the inequality that is so common in America today. Barbara Ehrenreich predicts that someday the working poor are bound to tire of getting so little in return for their labor and to demand to be paid what theyre worth (Ehrenreich 221). Some challenge, echoing Marx, that Ehrenreichs predication will not come true until the American dream, the illusory happiness of the people, is abolished in favor of a more realistic world view that recognizes that more than hard work, a helping hand is needed to make America truly the land of opportunity.From the survey that I took in class, 14 out of 20 people were surveyed and said that they to, disagree that the American dream should exist. They believe as well that there should be a more realistic view in society that allows you to get what you work for. Of the people that did agree, most were people between the ages of 18 and 21, people who have not yet, most likely gotten out into the real world to experience what type of life they can actually work for. If you too, disagree with the American dream, I ask you to go to this website http//www.thepetitionsite.com/3/the-american-dream-is-not-for-rent , sign the petition, and keep working hard at what you doWork CitedAbraham Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. Shippensberg University Website. Sept. 2005 2-3. Web. 16 June 2009.Cline, Austin. Karl Marx on Religion. About.com. 5 Apr. 2006 n.pag. Web. 16 June 2009.DSouza, Dinesh. Whats So Great About America? The American Enterprise. May 2002 22-25. Print.Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed On (Not) Getting By in America. New York Owl Books. 2002 20-38. Print.Ferenz, Kathleen. What is the American Dream? San Francisco State University Online Web Site. 31 Mar. 2005 n.pag. Web. 16 June 2009. Muir, Ed. Narrowing the Highway to the American Dream. Amer ican Teacher. Oct. 2004 25. Print.Murphy, Clyde. When Opportunity Knocks, It Skips Over Some Adresses. Chicago Sun-Times. 14 Feb. 2006 33. Web. 16 June 2009.Quindlen, Anna. A New Kind of Poverty. Newsweek. 1 Dec. 2003 1-2. Web. 16 June 2009.Quindlen, Anna. The War We Havent Won. Newsweek. 20 Sep. 2004 1-2. Web.16 June 2009.Successes and Failures of Roosevelts New Deal Programs. Bergen County Technical Schools and Special Services Web Site. 10 Mar. 2006 4-6. 16 June 2009.U.S Census Bureau. 2005 Poverty Press Release. 30 Aug. 2005 n.pag. 16 June 2009. Whalen, Charles J. The Age of Anxiety Erosion of the American Dream. USA Today. Sep. 1996 1-3. Web. 16 June 2009.Zuckerman, Mortimer. A Time to Celebrate. U.S. News and World Report. 17 Jul. 2000 120. Print.