Existence of God Argumentative Paper Essay Example for Free

Existence of deity Argumentative Paper Es put forwardThere are many different types of arguments for the creation of perfection. With each argument at that place is a conception presented of God. For each argument at that place are different approaches. I will be focusing on the Cosmological and Teleological Arguments. Teleological Arguments are kn confess to be arguments from divine, arguing from determine in the universe to the creation of God (1).With the ordering of the universe, created by an dexterous being, they hold that it is ordered towards a purpose or an end. The Cosmological Argument is the argument that the existence of the world or universe is strong evidence for the existence of a God who created it. It is a first caused argument where the existence of the universe, the argument claims, stands in need of explanation, and the only adequate explanation of its existence is that it was created by God (1).Behind this argument, it holds that though the universe unflustered needs explanation for its existence, the existence of God Himself does non. In the article McCloskey is critical of these arguments for Gods existence living his stance by offering the problem of ugliness as reasoning to non believe. He believes the whimsy in the existence of God is not a source of strength and security (2). However, if we are to use the Cumulative Case approach we croupe save successive truths. This case cumulates the Cosmological, Teleological, as well as, the example Arguments together. It gives us the conclusion of a personal, moral, intelligent creator of the universe as the best explanation for the universe we experience (3).McCloskey maintains that the Teleological Argument is not okay and that it can be rejected simply by rejecting its premise. The premise holds that there is in point evidence of purpose and shape. McCloskey says though, that there were many things that were considered evidence or proof, prior to evolution, but those precise things are now not being considered as so. Thus, in order to be a proof, there has to be assumption indisputable examples. Given that the Teleological Argument, presenting disputable examples, says McCloskey, there is no proof. There can be no form of argument with evidence of an intellectual design and/or designer. I would have to argue with McCloskey by using the fine-tuning argument. Within the universe is nothing short of clearcutness, not only of natural laws, but the jump stages and state of the universe.These both are pointers to an intelligent Creator. The universe is finely-tuned maintaining physical constants of nature (5).The strength of gravity should be considered. With the occurrence of the Big Bang. The gravity had to have precision because even with a little more force used on either side, it would not have occurred as the Big Bang, but the Big Crunch. take down with the slightest change in gravity, it could change the world into something completely ot her than what we know. That which is being offered as evidenced cannot be questioned. If we were to give to evolution as truth, there is still no principles for believing it is true. It does nothing but in the end support the theist position, and shows that evolution needs teleology.McCloskeys main objection to theism is the carriage of evil in the world, No being who was perfect could have created a world in which there was unavoidable suffering or in which his creatures would(and in fact could have been created so as not to) engage in morally evil acts, acts which very often result in injury to poverty-stricken persons (1). With this problem on McCloskeys mind, he holds it to the theists. He still wonders how the theist does not take this to mind seeing that it goes against the perfection of the divine purpose.There can be no grounds in a belief of a perfect being. Even if all reason was thrown out, he says the theist at best could only present a pool of beings full of concern, dismay, and anxiety, rather than comfort and security (1). There is a logical problem of evil and there is logical inconsistency when there is both the existence of God and of evil. The atheist holds that there is severe contradiction in terms between claiming God is good, yet evil exists. Mackie, an atheist, says the contradiction does not arise immediately to show it we need some additional premisesthese additional principles are that good is opposed to evil, in such a federal agency that a good thing always eliminates evil as far as it can, and that there are no limits to what an omnipotent thing can do.From these it follows that a good omnipotent thing eliminates evil completely, and consequently the propositions that a good omnipotent thing exists, and that evil exists, are incompatible(8). There exists two kinds of evil. There is serviceman evil, and natural evil in which atheist claim are both forms of needless suffering. The logical problem of evil claims the tension bet ween simultaneously having evil in the world, while also having a perfect God. This would without a doubt be a logical contradiction according to the atheist. There is also the evidential problem of evil. With this claim, there is not contradiction, but the fact that evil exists, if give grounding evidence for being able to reject that God is all-powerful. It is a weaker stochastic variable of the former, and claims that it is highly unlikely that an all-perfect God exists. Plantinga responds with trying to defend that it is reasonable to believe in God, even without evidence. His position is known as Reformed Epistemology.In order for his view to hold he would have to reject the Evidentialist Credo., which he claims rests on Classical Foundationalism. This led him to his positive view, or Reformed Epistemology. This holds that a belief in God is properly basic.Some object to these claims, saying that evil is logically required for good and is needed for us to see the good. Evil i s a way of life and will cause good. There is given the free will defense that is meant to try and answer the problem of evil. Either this would arrange about by serviceman free will resulting in a greater good and that evil is ascribed the humans and not God. However, those who oppose this, bring up the issue of natural evils. Mackie stands his ground that God should have given human beings free will in such a way that we always chose the good.The atheist propose God did not create men to choose between right and wrong, and that God is morally inconsistent. In response, the free will theodicy attempts to defeat the former by claiming the suffering of the transparent is expertified because of the existence of free will. We as humans have misused our free will, thus what is known as moral evil. Other sufferings from evil come from the natural evils. While McCloskey challenges the free will defense, Plantinga proposes the law of non-contradiction. He argues for there could be lo gically possible affairs whereby God would be unable of creating a world of both evil and autonomous humans (9). Evans puts it simply, It does not seem to be true that a good being always eliminates evil as far as it can. What is true, perhaps, is that good being always eliminates evil as far as it can without the loss of a greater good or the allowance of a worse evil (1).McCloskey objects to the cosmological argument claiming, mere existence of the world constitutes no reason for believing in such a being(1). There has been great objection to this however because of the fact of contingent objects. God is the first cause, the one who began it all. Because there is not explanation for contingent beings, if God is a necessary being, He is the necessary cause of the existence of creation and we as beings. God has no cause, otherwise He would not be God. It is the very existence of the world that implies the existence of God. The laws of nature imply the existence of a lawgiver, God. T his position was held by Aristotle, holding firmly against the possibility of infinite regress. The argument from accident suggests that it is possible the universe might not have existed, thus needing explanation of why it does in fact exist. In essence, it must have a cause. This leads to the belief in necessary being, kernel a being that needs no explanation.The temporal cosmological argument holds that the beginning of the universe was either caused or uncaused. However, objectors to this say we cannot actually claim whether the universe had to exist. Also, a necessary being comes into question. The refuters say this line of argument does not give enough explanation of why there could not be more than one cause. There is no ground for putting God as the first cause or prime mover. magazine and causality as we know it cannot be grounds for explaining the beginnings of the universe. However, those objecting to McCloskey, hold if there were a being like the universe, then he woul d exist in time, thus he himself came into existence. But, the ultimate cause must not have come into existence. For it to be an ultimate cause, the ultimate Creator must be outside of time. (10).What McCloskey fails to realize, is that not every argument is going to capture every aspect of God. There are many different arguments that go about doing that.If God does not exist, then all has no hope of immortality. Life, the world, and everything in it is meaningless. There would be no purpose or significance to anyone or anything. This leaves us with no ultimate meaning without immorality and God. Would we be able to say there was any purpose or meaning to someone who lived just to die? To be born just to pass out of existence? Lane says that it is not just each individual person that is headed towards the grave, but the universe itself is headed for extinction. This all in all is hopeless. death man, in a dying world. If this is the case, the small details in life do not matter, it does not make a difference. Our behaviors, our choices do not matter. Dotoyevsky utter If there is no immortality then all things are permitted (11). Without God, there is no accountability, morality, or sense of right and wrong. Even more so, in a universe without God, good and evil do not exist (11). However, if we were to say there were no God, we would still be without purpose because we would just be accidental. We would just be accidents of chance.The only view that can save the human race from itself is a theistic view (11). The only thing going for an atheist is living with the fact of the absurdity of life. Such a view makes it impossible to live a fulfilling, happy life. For the atheist, absurdity of life and creating meaning for ones life is a contradiction. A major disadvantage of atheism is that no one has hope or faith for reward of good or and punishment of evil. A worshippers hope is this, Christ. Ephesians 311 tells us that God had a purpose I mind before He crea ted. Man within his own voluntary will would be able to love and choose God. Nature alone points to God. Humanity and the universe itself does not have to exist. Both are not self-existent but caused. There is no explanation for their existence. Within a Christian world view, life is not meaningless and pointless ending at the grave. We have hope in the resurrection and of eternal life. God and immortality are both necessary for a meaning full life (11).Bibliography11- Craig, William Lane. The Absurdity of Life without God. In sane Faith Christian fairness and Apologetics, by William Lane Craig, 71-90. Wheaton Crossway Books, 2008. 1-Evans, C. Stephen, and R. Zachary Manis. Philosophy of Religion Thinking About Faith. Downers Grove IVP Academic, 2009. 8- Kunkle,Brett. The Logical Problem of Evil. Truth Never Gets Old. April 21, 2009 2- McCloskey, H. J. On Being an Atheist. Question (1968)63-69. 5- Biologos. What is the fine-tuning of the universe, and how does it serve as a pointe r to God? 9- http//kevinfannystevenson.blogspot.com/2012/07/on-being-theist-response-to-h-j.html 10- http//www.existence-of-god.com/first-cause-argument.html

Hercules on Roger Young’s Miniseries Essay Example for Free

Hercules on Roger Youngs Miniseries EssayThe most obvious difference of the animated film from the original classic myth of Hercules is that the nasty factors of his origins were revised and some components of modern day popular culture were utilized. According to Royalty. nu (n. d. ), Hercules was born to Alcmene, married woman of Amphityron, yet fathered by the Greek God Zeus. Zeus deceived Alcmene into cerebration that he was Amphitryon on a night when the real Amphitryon was a vogue. Hera, Zeus wife loathed Hercules and tried several times to try and kill Hercules, much unlike in the animated film, where Hera as Hercules mother doted on him. The animated film focused on Hercules early livelihood the famous ten labors of Hercules and the other half of his life was non included. The circumstances of the Greek myth casefuls like Megara, Zeus, Hera, Aphitryon, Alcmene and the rest included in the film were greatly modified to fit the storyline of the animated film. aside fr om that Hercules twin brother, Iphicles was excluded in the storyline. Greek mythology portrays Hercules as a character with low intelligence and terrible temper(Royalty. nu, n. d. ).Although there was much difference from the original Greek myth, Hercules character as half-man half-god hero with weaknesses was still portrayed. Hercules character in the animated film was a bit naive but he was not speedy to loose his temper. Audiences were also given a taste of Hercules famous battles with calamities and instruments. According to FilmAffinity (n. d. ), this Hercules miniseries is about the gifted child born of a blood greater than deadly who would become the most powerful of all gods.Roger Youngs miniseries starts with how Hercules was conceived. Similar to the Greek myth, the dissolute God Zeus deludes the Princess of Thebes, Alcmene, into thinking that he is the princess husband, Amphitryon, and then forces himself on Alcmene on a night where the princess was awaiting her husba nds return. When Alcmene gives birth to twin boys, Hercules and Iphicles, Alcmene and Amphitryon are perplexed on which baby is fathered by Zeus and whose is Amphitryon. They later lay down that Hercules is Zeus son when he kills the snakes with his bare hands an infant.Hercules develops into a lumbering young man, rejected by his mother, envied by his brother Iphicles and loathed by Zeus wife Hera (FilmAffinity). Similar to the Greek myth while Alcmene reserves no love for Hercules, he grows up with Amphitryon doting on him and teaching him. Hercules then falls for Megara but was rejected. Their brief connection results to a child. When he lost his temper and accidentally hurt his teacher Linus during a class, Amphitryon sends far away to be taught under the disquiet and instruction of a centaur, Kiron. Hercules becomes an agile adult and more than capable to handle his great strength.He then was married to Megara after he helps the king from the creature Hydra. Megara and her s ons, turn out to be tools of the vengeful Hera, plotting against him and initiating events that lead to his banishment from his people (FilmAffinity). To atone the punishment that he deserved in killing his own children, Hercules agrees when he was given difficult challenges which were set out to destroy him. With his ally Linus, he travels the Stymphalian Swams to the River styx of the underworld, faced with challenges and monstrous creatures that was arranged to kill him.Hercules willingly continues on this journey that subsequently made him a legend on Earth and achieve immortality in the heavens (FilmAffinity). With the storyline of the miniseries, it was clear that the filmmakers focused on the raging politics mingled with the noble mortals and their want of power and control. It is important to note that this miniseries was one of the few productions that embarked on Hercules true conception with regards to the original Greek myth. Hercules character of recklessness and per fectly temper was portrayed true to the original Greek myth during his younger adult days.There were slight alterations unto how certain events happened to the characters but the miniseries was in a way loyal to the Hercules myth. For example, Hercules develops a more profound thinking later on the miniseries but there was no hint of that according to the Greek Myth. The Gods Hera and Zeus were not given much attention during the miniseries and only appeared briefly. The supposed raging battle between Hera and Zeus was implied but not shown comprehensively.In conclusion, both films were individual depictions of Hercules character as the legendary Greek hero. Each film represented the filmmakers approach on representing a storyline associated with Hercules myth. Disney may have chosen to emphasize more on Hercules journey to his fate in a more conducive way that was appealing since their audiences are young people. Roger Youngs miniseries took more of a similar likeness to the origin al myth although alterations were made on how events were played because the storyline demanded that it be so.

Leading & Managing People - Expatriate Essay Example for Free

Leading Managing People birth EssayMultinational firms throughout the world atomic number 18 increasingly concerned closely hiring, underdeveloped and retaining bear awayrs with transnational experience and ball-shaped perspectives quoted by Briscoe and Schuler in 2004. This report volition be focusing on variety of issues relating to Human Resource implications which casingd by the deportee working in MNC located in Malaysia as well as Malaysian working in overseas.The extraction impart be from the most recent wisespaper, journal and articles relating to the conjoining topics in human resource management. 1) expatriate Failure and the extract policy 2) Training and development for cross-cultural 3) Performance estimate for expatriate The expatriation was subjugated by professionals sent by their employers to foreign subsidiaries or headquarters. 3. 0 KEY ISSUES AND ANALYSIS 3. 1 Expatriate Failure and the Selection policy Expatriate facade more new challenge s two in the workplace and the community.For instance, culture shock differences in work-related norms, isolation, homesick, housing, schooling, language, customs, cost of living and coping with his/her married persons problems of adapting to new environment. According to nether region(2008), research indicates that a passenger vehicles inability to adapt or their partners inability to adapt is the major cause of expatriate failure. Harvey(1983) cited the consequence include premature return from a foreign posting and high resignation rates, with expatriates leaving their company at about twice the rate of domestic managements.Tung (1987) expounded the one-third main reasons contributing to the failure of expatriates in US MNC is as follows- * the inability of the managers spouse to adjust to a dissimilar physical or cultural environment * the managers inability to adapt to a different physical or cultural environment * other family-related problems. One study by Internation al Orientation Resources, an HRM consulting firm, found that 60 percent of expatriate failures occur receivable to these three reasons too(Solomon,1994).Besides the above mentioned reasons, include inappropriate natural selection practices, inadequate preparation and training as well as the stresses associated with expatriation which identified by refreshing Zealand research (Enderwick and Hodgson, 1993). A nonher critical reason is the cross-cultural communications atomic number 50 be a struggle for the transnational manager. Gestures, facial expressions, behaviour and words corporation consecrate different meanings and connotations. China, Korea and Japanese have high-context cultures where considerable importance is given to non-verbal and situational cues.In contrast, Australia, Canada, the US and Britain have low-context cultures where what is said is what it meant(Stone,2008). In contrast, some Malaysians who work on base feel that the grass is greener on the other sid e. In Appendix A, this article highlighted the reasons why some Malaysian prefer to remain overseas. Due to higher paid, to let loose their horizons, the prestige of working in a foreign company and the quality of animation is unbeatable. The expatriate is unable to adapt in the foreign environment due to lack of cultural skills.According to HRM consulting firm, this is because the expatriate selection process at many organisations is essentially flawed (Solomon, 2000). Expatriates failed because these three focal reasons which mentioned by Tung that have not been part of the selection process. The underlying message was that the family is the basic unit of expatriation, not the individual. The MNC needs to look into this matter seriously in order to clip expatriate failure. 3. 2 Training and development for cross-cultural Many companies including MNC have been send awayd on providing training for employees whether topical anaesthetic or global organisations.MNC recruits expatri ate establish on technical competence and past job performance as the key selection criteria and assumed the expatriate is able to adapt in the field where he was posted. MNC should not take them for granted. They should be pre-prepared by providing orientation, training on the cultural, language and living skill in the host country. Shown in Appendix D, expatriate reports interviewed an expatriate working in Nanchang, China on how significant was the culture shock he experienced when he moved abroad? He replied that rather significant and hard to adapt to the Chinese food and passel spitting on the streets.Certainly, at the initial stage every expatriate will face cultural shock difference which may lead to miscommunication, misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Then directly he will be unproductive, inefficiency and faces expatriate failure. The MNC has to recruit a new manager to replace him which will be time consuming and have to repeat the process of selection and hiring. The MNC requires the expatriate to train the local employees in the host-country by transferring his knowledge and skills to them so that they are able to be independent and step into the positions/responsibilities within the shortest possible time.The article in Appendix B highlighted Malaysia government will review the education system to produce talent needed for an advanced nation and as well perks to lure home highly skilled Malaysians (brain drain) and retain global talent to develop a quality workforce. Even our government recognise the essential of education/training to develop our highly skilled employees that are not only vital to the companies but also making the nation into globally competitive and transforming it as the high-income economy for instance Singapore, HK and Shanghai. 3. Performance appraisal for expatriate Stone (2008) cited that performance appraisal is a matter of serious concern for many expatriates. This is because performance appraisal is often handl ed badly. Companies fail to take into account the added complexities that come with international appraisals. Key issues involving performance expectations, performance measures and who will be responsible for the conduct of the appraisals are left vague or undecided. Worse, some head office managers ignore the international appraisal and do not incorporate it into the career development process.The end result is that expatriates perceive the appraisal process as unfair and as a source of never-ending frustration. Groeschi (2003) quotes that a number of comparative international and cross-cultural management research projects have concluded that HRM is influenced by culture. He also highlighted the same HRM policy is likely to be attributed quite different meanings by different cultural groups for instance performance appraisal. An organisations performance appraisal systems are an important element of its control systems, which is a central component of organisation architecture (s ee Figure 1 as below).In many international companies, the thorny issue is how best to evaluate the performance of expatriate managers (Hill, 2009). During the appraisal evaluation for the expatriate, there are two groups who evaluate the performance of expatriate managers. They are host-nation manager and home-office managers whom are subject to bias. The host-nation managers may be biased by their own cultural frame of reference and expectations. On the other hand, home-country mangers appraisals may be biased by distance and by their own lack of experience working abroad.Home-office managers often not aware of what is going on in a foreign operation and they tend to rely on hard data in evaluating an expatriates performance, such as the productivity, revenues, profitability or securities industry share which reflect factors outside the expatriates control. Due to such biases, many expatriate managers believe that headquarters management evaluates them unfairly and does not full y appreciate the value of their skills and experience. It also one of the reasons many of them believe a foreign posting does not benefit their careers (Hill, 2009). 4. 0 RECOMMENDATION 4. 1 Expatriate Failure and the Selection policyManaging a MNC provides a diversity of challenges which the crucial one will be how the parent-company will recruit potential expatriate to manage their off-shore operations affiliates/subsidiaries. Selection of the expatriate must be right at the first time although time and resources consuming in reviewing and evaluating all the potential candidates follow by filtering them. The expatriate should not be selected based on technical competence and past job performance as the key selection criteria. Expatriate failure in many cases is the result of a lack of personal adjustment rather than a lack of technical skills.Harvey (1997) cited furthermore, research shows that in many companies expatriate selection is often haphazard and irrational. Organisations need to understand that in choosing expatriates, they should take into account differences in the business, social and cultural environment in the peculiar(prenominal) country and the impact on the potential expatriate, spouse and dependants (Stone, 2008). Stones (1991) study found that both local managers and expatriate managers perceive the essential selection criteria as the expatriates ability to adapt and the adaptability of the partner and family. 4. Training and management development for cross-cultural According to Hill (2009), superior performance requires not only strategy must also be supported by the right organisation architecture. Strategy is implemented through organisation. In Figure 1, concourse are the linchpin of a firms organisation architecture. For a firm to outperform its rivals in the global marketplace, it must have the right people in the right postings. Those people must be trained appropriately so they have the skill sets required to perform their jobs effectively and so they behave in a manner that is congruent with the desired culture of the firm.The following trainings are recommended for MNCs expatriates- * Cross-Culture Training prior to departure The purpose of this training allows individuals to more promptly adjust to the new culture before departing to host-country, and therefore, to be more effective in their new roles (Black and Mendenhall, 1990). It has been widely recognised for more than 20 years that the partners and children of expatriates shoo-in an important role in contributing to the success of expatriate assignments (Fukuda and Chu, 1994 Rahim, 1983) Cultural, Language and Practical(Living Skill) trainings * These trainings are component part to control and reduce expatriate failures. There is no interrogation that comprehensive cultural training can have many benefits for MNCs. For starters, it can help orient and develop expatriates to better communicate, understand, and work effectively with people fro m different cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. Comprehending and valuing cultural differences can also help expatriates in the effective management of multi-cultural teams. Understanding global markets, customers, suppliers, and competitors is another indirect benefit.Pragmatically, cultural training can have a positive impact on combating very expensive expatriate failure (Luthans, 2002). Their spouse adaption problem, it is important that the spouse and the whole family to be include in this training * Language training usually conducted in host-countrys language. When the expatriate willing to communicate in the host-country language(even not fluent), can help go on rapport with local employees and improve the managers effectiveness. * Benefit of practical training in helping the expatriate manager and family ease themselves into daily life in the host country.The expatriate community group can be a great source of support and information sharing in helping the expatri ates family adapt to a foreign culture. 4. 3 Performance appraisal for expatriate To cross the expatriates frustration and problems, the HR manager needs to ensure that the following key issues are clarified before the expatriate begins an overseas assignment- * What are the organisations performance expectations? * What criteria and standards will be used to measure performance? * Who will conduct the evaluation a local manager, a head office manager or both? * What will be the frequency of the appraisals? What consideration will be given to local environmental influence? (for example, volatility of foreign exchange rate fluctuations, accessibility of skilled labour, political instability, corruption and so on) * Is the appraisal positively incorporated into the career development process? * Are head office managers cognisant of the local business environment? * Are there any cultural influences that may distort the measurement of the expatriates performance? In order to overcom e the biases of the two groups who evaluate the expatriate managers performance, it is recommended to implement 360-degree feedback.

Discussing The Knife Crime In Britain Criminology Essay

Discussing The Knife Crime In Britain Criminology EssaySection 1 The Problem of Knife Crime in Britain. In June 2006, 15 years old Alex Mulumbu after celebrating the end of his GCSEs exams became one more than victim of Britains spit glossiness. The victim after he got off a bus with friends in Lambeth, south London had an argument with a larger group of teenagers (Woolcock, 2006). During the dispute members of the gang disappe bed and returned armed with knives, baseball(a) bats and hockey sticks. Alex was stabbed in the heart and was left lying in a pool of blood on the pavement (Verkaik, 2006). His father visited the scene of his sons killing where he stated to the media that Alex was a favorable boy and had nothing to do with knives and gangs (Sturcke, 2006).The case vignette above is a lighten up example of how natural language horror is portrayed by the media. A teenager who is getting off a bus and it happens to get stabbed by the perpetrator. However, the reality of j ab crime is not simply a glowering-white disregard of good versus bad. The nature of much(prenominal) a problem is complicated and the responses towards it must on that pointfore be multi-faceted (House of Commons). After all, if lingua problem was that easy, it would accommodate been solved already.One coloniality is that the victims atomic number 18 not always good honest citizens who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The victims are often victimized before and are as well those who are enchanting knives in the first place (and actually their own knife is used against them). (www.direct.gov.uk).Furthermore, the offenders and victims status in not always differentiated, since the victims carry knives because they are often linked to gangs or shed some kind of affiliation with path culture. This, in turn, could mean that a significant proportion of stabbings relate to driveway violence (www.docstoc.com), and as Professor Brohi cl take ons a very small proporti on of knife crime victims are innocent masses walking down the street who are stabbed (House of Commons).The media make knife crime even more complex as they often cloud peoples perception by generating moral consternation and by giving the impression that knife crime is out of control (Albertazzi, 2010473). This moral panic, in turn, leads to fear of crime and neighborly disorganization.Knife crime is also complex in itself as it is a symbolic of lack of social control within societies. Knife crime looks unsolvable and as thither is no companionship between adults-teenagers (Hume, 2008), although it involves young people and shatters lives. In particular, knife crime in itself gives the impression that somehow it is a matter of young peoples world since teenagers are on their own, surviving on the streets (Asthana, 2008). Thus, those who do not live in that kind of environments (outsiders) can never understand.Finally, knife crime is complex because there is no reception to th e question why teenagers carry knives. We do not know whether teenagers carry knives for self shelterion and because of the growing lack of trust in the ability of adults to protect them (Kelbie, 2003), or whether carry knives for things like respect knife carrying is thought to be largely driven by a concern for self protection or to enhance status (Muncie, 200936).Continuing the study I am going to nominate a report divided into three key sections. The first allow be the extent of knife crime in Britain. The second will look at the causes of knife crime and finally the third will produce some initiatives dealing with knife crime.Section 2 The Extent of Knife Crime in BritainFurthermore, knife crime is very complicated in toll of defining whether it is a predominantly black problem. The media often give the impression that all crimes are committed by black people and therefore, make people adopt misconceptions (Wright, 2008).Hence, it is important to note that even though the i ssue looks like it is black in London and the South-East (www.london.gov.uk), at the same time there are evidence that suggesting that in the North-East (i.e. Glasgow, Scotland, Manchester) the problem is white (House of Commons). As a result, it might be predominantly a black issue in London but certainly not in other places. Given that, I have concluded that the issue of carrying knives has little to do with being black or white, but on the contrary, it has to do with being young and male (Muncie, 2009).Also, knife crime is complicated in terms of definition, since there is no clear Home Office clear definition of knife crime. According to that, the phrase knife crime was adopted by the media and is now popularly used to observe primarily to stabbings but also to the illegal carrying of knives by young people (House of Commons). Hence, since there is no clear definition, then, it is likely for the numerous to use different definitions in order to create statistics and therefore g enerate more complexity.Furthermore, knife crime is also complicated because there are too many different types of statistics (too much(prenominal) statistical data). In particular, there are statistics for knife crime from the hospital, the police, the British Crime Survey and finally the MORI (House of Commons, 2009). Each of these sources, measure different samples and different places (regions) in the country and therefore, it is too complicated to understand what is happening (Summers, 2008). For example, hospitals define knife crime when somebody has severe internal injuries as a result of knife penetration, whereas police define it when soulfulness is carrying a knife (House of Commons)Furthermore, trying to measure knife crime is, again, difficult because there is also the dark figure of crime. Therefore, this secluded crime makes statistics themselves problematic (Messerschmidt, 1993).However, above all else, the complexity of knife crime is related to the media. The med ia manipulate the statistics and distort peoples perceptions about knife crime, since they are powerful and so pervasive in terms of their ability to create views (Jewkes, 2004).One distortion is that knife crime is predominantly a black issue. Given that, even though evidence suggest that knife crime is also a white problem (in other areas), yet, the media continue the misrepresentation constantly accusing blacks (scapegoats). According to that, I believe that this misrepresentation leads to moral panic which, in turn, somehow makes the statistics go up.In other words, since teenagers interfere with the media (moral panic), then, they may feel fear of the streets and therefore done self fulfilling prophecy, start carrying knives for self protection. Hence, there is an interaction-interrelationship between the statistics and knife crime (Newburn, 2007).Regarding to the problems associated with knife crime measurement, I believe that data should be collected through a regional sett ing and this is for two reasons. Firstly, because as indicated, knife crime is not a specific cultural issue of Blacks, and secondly, because the measurement of such a complex issue through national settings, inevitable will generate too many complicated statistical data.Furthermore, and as Young (1988) argues, national settings feed to miss some important elements in the distribution of victimization (Newburn, 2007). Hence, I suggest a regional setting two in areas with the highest knife-crime rates, but also to areas where crime rate is low. This, in turn, we will help us understand why it is black issue in some places whereas white in other.every bit important is to collect data using qualitative approaches, since it would be more beneficial to understand the lived experiences of those who carry knives (rationale behind knife crime) instead of how many carry a knife (What would be the point of knowing that 4000 are carrying knives after all?). For example, it would be very inte resting to understand how knife crime is perceive and interpreted by the juvenile delinquents (ethnography research) and thus, find out why they carry knives. This way, more evidence will come up such as whether knife crime relates to Londons (for example) rates of poverty, neglect, unemployment and deprivation (House of Commons).Section 3 The Causes of Knife Crime in Britain.The social larn theory is one of the most enduring approaches among the criminological theories that underscore the nature of peoples involvement in social relationships. Sutherland, considered previous criminological theories and argued that anyone in society can be trained to adopt and follow patterns of crime and deviation (Colombo, 2009).In accordance to Sutherlands differential gear tie conception, the prestige of deplorables, the duration of contact between offenders-potential offenders and the frequency of interactions with criminal offenders, are all contributing factors in an individuals likeliness to occupy criminal activities. Sutherland also suggested that attendance with the development of criminal behaviours in social groups, for instance rough and tough attitudes, boosts the individuals propensity to interiorize criminal attitudes.Social learning therefore, links to the causes of knife crime as well as links to masculinity and rational choice perspectives. According to differential association concept, boys are growing up to be men. This process of affirming masculinity promotes boys to develop a public persona (an exterior) of being tough, macho and fearless.In the context of knife crime this means that men have to be risk takers, aggressive and support their competitive nature (i.e. territoriality). Boys, if lose their reputation in front of peers and someone undermines their masculinity, in turn, have to regain this reputation by carrying knives and using them in front of their mates.Thus, since they learn masculinity (via social learning), they learn to behave accord ingly to this social role (masculinity) and therefore, act out like men (tough, aggressive). Finally, in terms of applying that to a knife crime, they make the ultimate decision (rational choice) on whether to carry knives by weighing the benefits (status, respect) against the risks (get stabbed, get caught). To conclude, I believe that there is a link between masculinities and social learning as what seems to be happening today, is that street culture (knife crime) is becoming masculine culture (i.e. through rap music) (Newburn, 2007).However, even though differential association theory is one of the most enduring theories about crime, yet, there are some difficulties in relieveing knife crime.First of all, according to the first principle of differential association theory, criminal behaviour is learnt (Colombo, 2009). If that is the case, I believe that we have to critically question, how did the first teacher learnt the knife techniques (i.e. hide a knife, disposal once used), so that to pass this knowledge to others? Hence, differential association theory fails to explain the origins of knife crime, since there are no origins.Furthermore, there are no real empirical evidence of links between learning and knife crime. For example, differential association theory does not explain why in similar circumstances, (balance of favorable-unfavourable definitions) some individuals choose to carry a knife whereas others do not.Moreover, social learning theory fails to explain why teenagers develop to associate with those who carry knives. Instead, it focuses more on the peer influence and not on peer selection.Additionally, differential association, supports that all criminal acts are rational (maximase profit-minimise loss) and systematic. However, it fails to explain the spontaneous, wanton acts of violence, which have little purpose or utility (Siegel, 2004).Finally, it is very difficult for social scientists to measure such vague variables like excess of defini tions favourable to law violation (Colombo, 2009).Section 4 Towards the Reduction of Knife Crime in Britain.The Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) is a multi-million-pound venture, against knife crime. Its main purpose is to limit the carrying of knives and serious stabbings among teenagers aged between13-19. It involves five government departments and 16 police forces (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).However, Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) has some important limitations in relation to the data, since the recorded crime, especially the less violent, can be affected by changes in police activity and public reporting to the data. Furthermore, there is a lack of comparison statistics in many areas. Finally, TKAP faced the heterogeneity of the forces (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).Another anti-knife policy that has been introduced is via legislation to forbid the sale of knives to anyone under the age of 18. Additionally, Police trading operations like Blunt and Shield involve the rapid and random deployment of metal detectors in public places such as stations, schools and so forth. The aim of the policy is to severalise and arrest anyone carrying a knife (www.insight-security.com).However, both the restriction of knives sales under- 18s, as well as the deployment of metal detectors fails to tackle the problem, since kitchen knives for instance, would still be widely available. Hence, it is more a problem of education, rather than access to knives. Furthermore, metal detectors may be not detecting all knives, as knives can be easily unknown and disposed once used.My opinion about tackling of knife crime is that one organization alone cannot end this issue. Given that, I suggest that the main aim of all anti-knife crime initiatives should be to increase the definitions against knife-crime (rational choice theory) so that young people understand that carrying knives is immoral but most of all, it is risky (maximize cost, minimize benefit).Furthermore, I support tha t the best anti knife-crime policy would be to educate the teenagers about this problem (social learning theory). Hence, young people could learn about the consequences of carrying knives at an azoic age through a mandatory module (i.e. weapon awareness) at schools. Furthermore, I believe that the best initiative to stop knife culture would be if parents (especially the fathers) could show their boys that carrying knives has nothing to do with being a man (masculinity theory).As a conclusion, I argue that Alexs case highlights the need for the authorities to recognize that educating both teenagers and families from an early age is crucial in order to tackle knife crime. Concisely, I have concluded that knife crime is very complex issue because of many reasons. The main one surely is because there are lots of statistical data. Additionally knife crime is complex because the media create moral panic and thus does not help. Moreover I have concluded that knife crime is not a black iss ue but a knife issue and thus, anti knife policies should redirect their focus on the rationale behind knife crime.Ultimately, I would like to try to give an explanation of what could have might happen in the case vignette. Alex could have been probably to the enemys territory and showed disrespect on the other boys. He threatened the teenagers with his knife and made them supply away. Then, the other boys went to another estate, took knives and returned back in order to regain their reputation and status. They have learnt (social learning) that men never back out (masculinity) and finally, they have made the ultimate decision to take the risk and stab Alex (rational choice).

IKEA SWOT and Competitive Analysis

IKEA SWOT and Competitive Analysis(S)trengthsStrength includes characteristics at heart the organization that adds value to the business and resulting in the ultimate winner of organization. These computes ar usually cited as skilled guidance, manufacturing facilities available and unassailable profit harvest-time line available in business. (Finlay, 2000)IKEA has strong internationally brand fall upon recognition. IKEAs branding attracts the major demographic customers. personal line of credit model of IKEA is unique in its construction as it has no direct competitions on like for like basis. IKEAs products tenderise values to customer by delivering broken gear price and innovative products. IKEA carries degree of specialist skills and knowledge within key production areas. (Edvardsson Enquist, 2009 Lewis, 2005 Torekull Kamprad, 1999)(W)eaknessesWeaknesses address the internal movers within the business. Those factors that prevent the achievement of successful projects are mainly barriers in communication channels, insufficient resources and conflicts between departments. (Finlay, 2000)IKEA promotes the low pricing model but work to customers are not satisfactory. Retention of customer focuses that customers should be happy fully with the business services. To repeat business with the same customer base IKEA has to work out on its services that are given to customers. Practices of ecommerce have become necessary for businesses to compete with modern technological world. IKEA needs to adopt such practices for the efficiency of its business. (Ikea, 1995 Levine, 2007)(O)pportunitiesOpportunity factor in SWOT analysis deals with the external elements that will help the business in the completion of successful projects. Strong network of vendors, healthy relationships with suppliers and prevailing good market conditions these all add values to the project. (Finlay, 2000)Opportunity available to IKEA is growing demand for green products and growing de mand for low price products by the customers. collectable to liquidity crunch and high inflation demand for low price products is increasing. IKEA is moving towards the global status because of the phylogeny of Eastern and European models. (Edvardsson Enquist, 2009 Lewis, 2005 Torekull Kamprad, 1999)(T)hreatsFinal factor of SWOT analysis is threat. Threat represents the external factors that discharge threaten the success of project. Threat is the negative public image towards business, week vendor relationship, inadequate resources and unavailability of market for the final product. (Finlay, 2000)Various antagonists are entering in market and offering the low cost household and furniture products and causing the threat to IKEAs business. imputable to recession in economy, trend of consumers spending and disposal of income has reduced. First time buying pattern by consumers is also threat as consumers spend little when they enter in the market. (Ikea, 1995 Levine, 2007)Conte xt and Key issuesWal-Mart is indirect competitor of IKEA. Wal-Mart runs a chain of large stores whereas IKEA deals only with the home furnishing. Wal-Mart offers extensive products and home furnishing is from angiotensin converting enzyme of its product lines. Wal-Mart is biggest public company while IKEA is private company.Wal-Mart has world recognized retail brands as IKEAs. IKEA has no direct competitors but Wal-Mart has to compete with the direct competitors also. IKEA focuses on the low priced product strategy which will affect Wal-Mart as much customers are moving towards IKEA for home furnishing. Wal-Mart strategy is focused on human resource management and development and IKEA strategy gives emphasize to low price products to customer.Services given to customers by IKEA are not up to the mark. Wal-Mart can grab customers form IKEA by charge on the services and by giving values to customer. Retention of customer is possible when their desires are fulfilled along with these desires customer demands good services from the company. Those companies that are providing good customer service are becoming successful. Wal-Mart by using the information technology to assist its logistic systems can precede the IKEA. information technology can become the core competence of Wal-Mart and by using this core competency Wal-Mart can excel IKEA. (Lewis, 2005 Maon et al., 2007 Tong Tong, 2006)IKEA can compete vigorously with Wal-Mart by fulfilling the demand of customers. Demands for greener products, demands for low priced products and demand from low carbon footprints are increasingly. IKEA by serving these demands can gain the opportunity to become successful and strong competitor of Wal-Mart in home furnishing product line. IKEA by developing the Eastern and European models can increase its market shares and Wal-Mart profitability can decline. By providing customer with low priced products IKEA can attract the customer in this economic recession period where custo mers are not spending their income.By offering the low priced products to the customer Wal-Mart can do extremely well with IKEA. Due to inflation and down trend in the buying pattern of customers this strategy can gain success to the company. To get the best the threat of low buying pattern of consumer Wal-Mart can take better measures than IKEA as Wal-Mart is running huge retail business than IKEA.IKEA is providing only home furnishing products. It has more skills and knowledge as it is dealing only with this product line and also IKEA is providing innovative and less price products. IKEA strengths have increased from Wal-Mart in home furnishing products because it is focusing only on this product line. (Lewis, 2005 Maon et al., 2007 Tong Tong, 2006)ConclusionIKEA and Wal-Mart differ in number of ways. For the constructive comparison market segmentation and target market for both IKEA and Wal-Mart has to be considered. Target market of IKEA is only consumers of home furnishing wh ile Wal-Mart deals with huge target market. Influence of IKEA on Wal-Mart is less because Wal-Mart is running huge industry.Market segmentation of Wal-Mart is various from IKEA like Wal-Mart focuses on different demographic segmentation, Psychographics and life style segmentation and behavioural segmentation. Target market of IKEA is different as it is only providing products to consumers who are corking in home furnishing whereas home furnishing is only the niche of Wal-Mart. Strategies of IKEA and Wal-Mart are also dissimilar. IKEA focuses on the low priced and innovative products to customer whereas Wal-Mart focuses on the human management and development of human skills.IKEA has no direct competitors so it does not directly influence other businesses through its strengths and weaknesses. Healthy competition is always done on one to one basis. Weakness of IKEA is also that it has no direct competitor. Presence of direct competitor boosts the company performance.ReferencesEdvard sson, B. Enquist, B. 2009, Values-based service for sustainable business lessons from IKEA, Routledge, London New York.Finlay, P. 2000, strategic management an introduction to business and corporate level strategy, Financial Times Prentice Hall, Harlow.Ikea, A. S. 1995, Democratic design a book about form, function and pricethe 3 dimensions at IKEA, IKEA, Almhult, Sweden.Levine, J. 2007, Forbes Life Billionaires Ikea, Forbes., pp. 328-.Lewis, E. 2005, Great Ikea a brand for all the people, Great brand stories, Cyan, London.Maon, F., Swaen, V., Lindgreen, A. University of Hull. Business, S. 2007, Corporate social responsibility at IKEA commitment and communication, Hull University Business School, S.l..Tong, C. H. Tong, L. I. 2006, Exploring the Conerstones of Walmarts Succes and Competitiveness, Competitiveness review CR., 16 (2), pp. 143-9.Torekull, B. Kamprad, I. 1999, Leading by design the IKEA story, HarperBusiness, New York.

The Flea by John Donne Essay -- The Flea John Donne Songs and Sonnets

The Flea by John DonneThe Flea, a witty poem of seduction and conceitedness, taken from JohnDonnes Songs and Sonets is the poem that I charter chosen to compareto Song, another poem of John Donnes where he is passionatelypleading with his wife not to be disheartened slightly his departureabroad. Both poems which belong to Songs and Sonets, written around thetime of the 16th century, show that their title suggests they are bothshort poems, following the traditional embodiment of a sonnet, consisting offourteen lines. However, they are not songs in the conventionalsense we think of and none of them are written as a sonnet. In fact,Donnes poems were intended for circulation around his local pub,Lincolns Inn, where he could impress his male friends with hisbawdy poetic nature. The Flea, emphatically rejects the Petrarchan tradition of lovepoetry, where the fair sex is seen as a goddess, an object of desireworth worshipping by a gay. Instead, Donne wrote poems that saw theearthy r eality of sexual relations between a man and woman. The poem,whose historical convention probably started with Ovid, shows that itwas common in Elizabethan times to envy a flea for its access to thefemale body. Donne throughout the poem makes references to the flea,presenting a conceit produced of wit, integrity and persuasion.The title, which presents the conceit, is in fact the structure of thepoem, the entire poem depends on this conceit. At first, this is apuzzling image to the reader, it seems bizarre and inappropriate. However, as the poem continues, Donnes argument does also, and we seehow reality is conveyed by the vivid imagery of the flea. Donne usesa three-part syllogism in this poem whic... ...while, they will always have each other in each others hearts, andthat they will never really be parted. His final argument ofpersuasion is that they dont really need the bodily presence, aslong as there is the matter of trust then he will return to her oncemore. Overall, by the structure and language employ in Song, the poem isvery consoling and reassuring. Compared to The Flea, it is verydifferent as the respect for the women the two poems are written fordiffer enormously. Indeed both poems are extremely clever andlogical, with well thought out ideas for argument and persuasion, andare full of wit and clever analogies. However, Song shows adifferent look to John Donnes character than The Flea presents, heappears more softer and respectful, consoling and loving than when heappears bawdy and obscene, shallow and disrespectful.

Night :: essays research papers

Elie Wiesels Night is a true account of what the holocaust did, not only to the Jews, but to humanity as well. People alone over the world were devastated by this horrendous act, and there are still people today who have not overcome its effects. An example of the horrible acts of the Nazis that stands knocked out(p) occurs at the end of World War II, when Elie and the rest of the inmates at the Buna camp were being force to transfer to the Gleiwitz camp. The transfer was a long, tiring journey by dint of bitter cold and heavy falling snow. The people were often forced to run during parts of the journey, and if a person was tired or injured he or she are executed. One image of this journey that will forever be in Elies mind is when Rabbi Eliahous son left the rabbi for dead so he could survive.The rabbi and his son were running together, but Rabbi Eliahou became tired and had to slow down. As the rabbi slowed down his pace his son continued to run, and pretended not to see that h is father was subnormality down. This incident forced Elie to think about what he would do in the same situation. Elie decided that no matter how weak his father became he would incessantly be there for him, even if he would die for it.Throughout the novel Elie Wiesel shows the reader how the Nazis broke the spirits of the Jews. This caused Elie to lose his faith in God, as his time in the Nazi camps grew longer. The reader can see this in Elies father s confrontation with the gypsy. His father asked a gypsy where the lavatories were, but the gypsy did not even oppose to Elies father. Then the gypsy struck his father in the head, and knocked him down onto the floor. Elie watched the situation and realized that he was going to physically and mentally punished during his time at the camp, and his faith in God could not stop it from happening. Elie did nothing to the gypsy that struck his father although the thought did cross his mind. He decided that if he were to oppose back at t he gypsy the result would be physical harm to him.The incident that probably had the greatest effect on Elie and the other inmates was the hanging of the pipel.