The Death Penalty, A Reason for Recidivism Essay - 913 Words

The legal definition of the death penalty is a sentence of execution for the crime including murder and some other capital crimes; serious crimes, especially murder, which are punishable by death. The earliest proof of the death penalty dates back to the Eighteenth Century B.C. in the Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon in which 25 crimes were codified. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment, and stated in the eighth amendment would mean it was unconstitutional. The opinion of current methods of execution such as hanging, electrocution, and facing a firing were thought to be painfully slow, some sort of torture. In 1976 the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision they had found a new†¦show more content†¦And even though only three people have been executed under the federal death penalty in the modern era, two of them have been racial minorities. Next, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People had th e biggest argument against the death penalty they said it is handed out in a biased, racially disparate manner. Within the group of these individuals there are more women than men and they are typically in their twenties. It is said that poverty breeds crime, and the poor are disproportionately minority, then it must follow that minorities will be overrepresented among criminals. Capital punishment in the United States is administered in an economically discriminatory way (Johnson). The wealth disparity between those murderers who live and those who die constitutes a serious constitutional challenge to the permissibility of the death penalty. Furthermore, our society fails to ensure some impression of economic equality within this harsh penalty and is inconsistent with the Eighth Amendment. Our U.S. Supreme Court has not responded to considering the issues of the social class and their wealth. Racial or ethnic threat theories suggest that enhanced minority presence leads to repress ion (Jacobs). Racial groups that are dominant are unsettled by large minority a population in which threatens the middle working class whites position as superior. Research suggests that theShow MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Should Be Abolished Essay1634 Words   |  7 Pagesonly crime punishable by death in New Zealand is treason, the death penalty for murder and piracy having been abolished in 1961, but none the less there were no death sentences known given because of treason 1. Then on 26th December 1989 when a private members bill was pushed into effect, marking New Zealand as a country where no crimes warrants a death punishment 2. Over the years crimes that once would be given death penalty has increased so reintroducing the death penalty should be considered, benefitsRead MorePersuasive Essay On The Death Penalty1187 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the history, the death penalty is considered to be the ultimate punishment for criminals. There are many arguments that the dea th penalty should be abolished because it is cruel and inhumane. Many nations have abolished it, but our country, is one of those fifty-eight nations that still practice the death penalty. Therefore, it must be maintained throughout society as a final resort against malevolent criminals, who do not fear other punishments. However, I do not advocate the use ofRead MoreThe Juvenile Death Penalty: A Case For It1583 Words   |  7 Pagescommit non-serious and non-violent crimes are completely able to be rehabilitated. However, in accordance with the law, the death penalty should be a sentencing option in juvenile criminal cases. It should only be an option when the crime committed is violent, premeditated, and malicious, because these offenders are beyond the possibility of rehabilitation and the risk of recidivism is too great. Rehabilitation is defined as â€Å"to bring a criminal into a healthy state of mind and an attitude which wouldRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Capital Punishment1223 Words   |  5 PagesCapital punishment has been a debated issue for many years and is commonly thought to be only sought out upon by extremists. Henceforth, the death penalty has been extremely problematic and widely disputed issue for centuries. Since the start of civilization, individuals who commit a criminal act have been subjected to capital punishment. The punishment itself is carried out in the most humane way possible; thusly, the issue is whether the citizens accept it as a sensible punishment. In contrastRead MoreTeens And Gang Violence1447 Words   |  6 PagesThus, resulting in imprisonment. The question is how we punish these teens. Should they receive the death penalty for committing an act of murder? Or should they spend the rest of their lives in prison with a chance of being released back into societ y. What is the value of their lives? Understand they are in the prime of their lives. The age of teens in gangs range from 13-22. There are several reasons why teenagers join gangs. Gangs make teens feel as if they have a sense of security, easy access toRead MoreThe Deterrence Of Death Penalty1160 Words   |  5 PagesThe Deterrence of Death Penalty in Texas Almost a month ago, I accidently came across the Stanford Prison Experiment documentary, which is available to view on Youtube. The document based on real event in Stanford University. It is an experiment to study psychology of imprisonment on prisoners and guards by dividing selected Stanford students into two groups. As the time passed, the researchers have discovered some drastically changes in both groups within days. At the end, Dr. Philip ZimbardoRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of The Death Penalty1331 Words   |  6 PagesThe death penalty has always been an issue or debate in the United States, typically being asked if it should be illegal or not. As of right now there are thirty-one states, including Ohio in which I live, that still use the death penalty as it is illegal in the rest. There are many supporters of it, there is also a huge amount of opposition. There are things included in both sides that can make the argument harder to be one-sided but I believe that the deat h penalty should be legal throughout theRead MoreThe United States Prison System Essay1562 Words   |  7 Pagesplan to persuade the other side (politicians and society) into seeing that the way the prison system is now, is not ethical nor economical and it must change. We have one of the world’s largest prison population, but also a very high rate of recidivism. Recidivism is when the prisoners continuously return to prison without being reformed. They return for the same things that they were doing before. So, this leads us to ask what exactly are we doing wrong? When this happens, we as a nation must continuouslyRead More The Death Penalty Essay1740 Words   |  7 PagesThe Death Penalty The Death Penalty seems to haunt the US mindset. While more countries are dropping the procedure as cruel the US still holds on. Eighty percent of Americans are still for the Death Penalty, citing revenge as the main reason, which is why families are allowed to watch the execution . Organizations like Amnesty International condemn the US regularly, as well as most Democratic nations. What I want to address is why the dialogue is ineffective. The proponents of the DeathRead MoreBenefits Of Reforming The Death Penalty Policy1296 Words   |  6 Pages1970’s, prison population has been on the rise, which has had a direct effect on taxpayers, more than any other group. In this paper, I will explain the benefits of reforming the death penalty policy, which, if applied to all felons convicted of first-degree murder, would benefit the economy and society as a whole. Economic reasons The data In the year 2010, Vera Institute of Justice’s Center on Sentencing and Corrections performed a thorough survey on forty states’ prison system, which includes budget

The Boston Matrix A Product Portfolio - 1668 Words

Business that provide a wide range of products and services should regularly study their product portfolio. According to Lewis and Trevitt (2007) a product portfolio may be defined as â€Å"the range of products sold or produced by a business†. Businesses who strive for success should regularly study their product portfolio as it could show where the firm stands within the market, this would help a firm decide whether a product or service should be introduced or whether it should be taken off the market (Wolinski, and Coates,2015; 184). A way to analyse a product portfolio is through the use of the Boston matrix a tool that analyses â€Å"the position of a firm’s products in terms of their market share and the growth of the markets they operate in† (Surrdidge, Gillespie; 2002:66). For this assignment the Boston matrix will be analysed and evaluated. By first looking in depth at the Boston matrix, then by exploring the different components of the Boston matrix, a nd finally determining its usefulness for any business. The Boston matrix could be seen as a 2x2 matrix that consists of 4 different divisions also known as: stars, cash cows, the problem child and dogs Scholes, and Johnson (2001). The x-axis of the matrix shows the market share compared to the largest competitor and the y-axis shows the growth in the market (Lewis, and Trevitt, 2007:137). McDonald (2007:211) explains that products and services are evaluated by market share because it would indicate whether the product orShow MoreRelatedThe Boston Matrix A Product Portfolio1623 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness that provide a wide range of products and services should regularly study their product portfolio. According to Lewis and Trevitt (2007) a product portfolio may be defined as â€Å"the range of products sold or produced by a business†. Businesses who strive for success should regularly study their product portfolio as it could show where the firm stands within the market, this would help a firm decide whether a product or servi ce should be introduced or whether it should be taken off the marketRead More Analyse The Streingths and Weaknesses Of The Boston Matrix As An Aid T910 Words   |  4 Pagesthis essay I will look at the strengths and weaknesses of using the Boston Matrix to help make decisions in business. I will first briefly explain the Boston Matrix and then analyse its effectiveness as an aid to making a marketing strategy. Like Ansoffs matrix, the Boston Matrix is a well known tool for marketing managers. It was developed by the large US consulting group and is a way that a business can compare all of its products. The two aspects it looks at are market share (relative to that ofRead More1. Critically Analyse the Relative Merits of the Strategic Marketing Planning Tools Offered by the Boston Consulting Group770 Words   |  4 Pages1. Critically analyse the relative merits of the strategic marketing planning tools offered by Porter, the Boston Consulting Group and Ansoff. Use a different marketing example for each tool to illustrate your understanding. Strategic marketing involves the management of the process of determining the marketing strategy that is to be followed, and of making sure the strategy is followed correctly, in order for a firm to successfully compete against its rivals; it can be defined as a systematicRead MoreGe Matrix1190 Words   |  5 PagesThe GE matrix is an alternative technique used in brand marketing and product management to help a company decide what product(s) to add to its product portfolio, and which market opportunities are worthy of continued investment. Also known as the Directional Policy Matrix, the GE multi-factor model was first developed by General Electric in the 1970s. Conceptually, the GE Matrix is similar to the Boston Box as it is plotted on a two-dimensional grid. In most versions of the matrix: * theRead MoreStrategic Business Unit ( Sbu )1439 Words   |  6 Pagesstrategy by parent company. The main goal of this report is to provide an in-depth analysis about the products of PepsiCo. In addition, these will also analysis the marketing strategies used by the company Features: The key features for a company to considered as SBU’s are: †¢ Located within the organizational structure, †¢ Organizational units without legal personality, †¢ Utilize formula product-market, †¢ Activities performed by them is of crucial and decisive important for the parent company, †¢Read MoreHow Do Customer Relationships Give Companies A Competitive Edge? Essay1288 Words   |  6 Pagesfulfill their necessities. Through the consumer associations, companies get the response regarding their services and products from the consumers. From this response, companies get the difficulties or the concerns of the consumers as regards to their product such as quality concerns, difficulty to usage, and etc. From the response of the consumers, companies make enhancements in their products as per the necessities of the consumers. From the approach or the associations with the consumers, companies getRead MoreAn Organization s Strategic Business Units1361 Words   |  6 PagesTo evaluate an organization s Strategic Business Units (SBU), the Boston Consulting Group developed a portfolio performance framework. Initially starting with the firm’s organizational mission and its need to make necessary steps towards making strategies for its SBU to run smoothly with equal importance it gets on the basis of its output generation and few other aspects. A firm takes series of steps to make its strategies successful. At first firm clearly define its organizational mission—ItRead MoreBCG matrix Essay4376 Words   |  18 PagesWidely used in the practice of strategic choice has received a two-dimensional matrix , developed by the Boston Consulting Group. Therefore, this matrix is ​​a matrix known as Boston Consulting Group or BCG matrix . This matrix allows the company to classify the products in its market share relative to its main competitors and the rate of annual growth in the industry. Matrix enables us to determine which products company occupies a leading position compared to competitors , what is the dynamicsRead MoreEssay about The Boston Matrix Market Analysis526 Words   |  3 PagesThe Boston Matrix Market Analysis 1) Following further Market Research it is established the PLP LTD is seen as a company that is not very adventurous and it has nothing set to itself apart from its competitors. In order to change its image with its customer base suggest how the company could move from its present market to a new niche market I would suggest that this company should go into a market niche as their current product lines are not doing to well. TheyRead MorePortfolio Analysis5153 Words   |  21 Pageschapter two PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION Organizations market a mix of products or services or both. These constitute the offering that is made through the strategic window. Central to the success or failure of a business is the health of its product (or service) mix. A starting point is the product life cycle concept. This is a useful conceptual framework within which to study how firms can vary their marketing strategies—though of course as we shall see in later chapters they do have to

Development of Communities Free Essays

Communities, like tribes, were traditionally considered to be the second stage of human grouping, right after families. They however now mean different things to different people, making the definition of community too broad and incapable of clear description. The notion of community, as per the Oxford English Dictionary, is defined to be â€Å"the people of a country (or district) as a whole; the general body to which all alike belong. We will write a custom essay sample on Development of Communities or any similar topic only for you Order Now † This definition is however largely inadequate, considering the many contexts in which the word is used today. At one level communities stand for clusters of persons, larger than families, who are related by specific common features like the language they speak, the gods they worship, the ethnicity they belong to, the traditions they practice and the place they stay in. Again whilst communities represent human groupings that are more populous than families, many extended families like the tribes that people the islands of the Indian Ocean can easily qualify to be treated as communities. Communities are further known to have the same social standards, plainly discernible structures and come from specific locations. Communities are powerful entities and have on many occasions achieved remarkable goals in self determination and the pursuit of autonomy, ergo the many struggles for independence in Asia and Africa in recent decades. The sustained struggle of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka in the face of the most horrendous deprivation captures the essential resilience of community feeling and the extent to which it binds community members. Much of this internal strength comes from the sense of solidarity, identification and support that exists within these structures, the instilling of social values, and the development of attitudes and common strengths. The growth of terrorism is clearly linked to the influence of community attitudes and values; the London bombers, for example, owe their religious fanaticism to community feelings, which superseded the influence of factors like education and financial and social well being and led them to take plainly irrational decisions. Whilst the notion of community has attracted attention and debate from the time of Aristotle, the social, economic, and political developments that have occurred on the global platform since the 1980s have put the relevance of community into sharper focus. Globalization, a phenomenon that took off in the 1980s after the collapse of the Soviet Union and entailed the breakdown of physical, economic, and trade barriers between peoples of different regions has truly made the world a much smaller place. Apart from the much greater interconnectedness that has happened in areas of business, trade, economics, education, travel and other areas of human activity, globalization has also led to substantial migrations of peoples from their native lands, Bangladeshis into India, East Europeans into the UK, people from South and Southeast Asia into the US and UK, and an ever increasing stream of Mexicans into the US. Spurred on by the desire for better living standards, people from economically backward and politically unstable countries are moving into neighboring or distant areas, putting up base, and settling down, changing local demographic structures, interacting with the original inhabitants, bringing their culture and tradition with them, influencing and being influenced by their adopted lands. By no means is this phenomenon restricted to the affluent countries, (viz.  global magnets like the USA and the UK), which have traditionally attracted the deprived with their economic affluence and individual freedoms. Bangladeshis, Tibetans and Nepalese, for instance, have crossed their porous borders with neighboring India and spread out all over the country, offering cheap labor at construction sites, restaurants, and to security companies, changing local equations, provoking sympathy as well as hostility and resentment. The United States, which has for long been known to be a multicultural and welcoming haven for the poor and needy of the world is now home to millions of people from the Latin speaking countries of South America, Asia and the Pacific Rim, who have settled down in large numbers and significantly changed what was essentially a society dominated by whites, with peripheral roles played by African Americans. The inflow of these outsiders has led to the establishment of communities, where people with commonalities cluster together, sustaining and supporting each other, and interacting in various ways with the larger society around them. This study examines the issue of survival of such communities in the era of globalization, using readings from two distinguished and well known books, â€Å"Becoming neighbors in a Mexican American Community† (2004) by Gilda L. Ochoa and â€Å"The Politics of Diversity: Immigration, Resistance and Change in Monterey Park, California† (1997) by John Horton. Commentary and Analysis Gilda Ochoa, a professor of sociology at the California State University at Los Angeles picks up an intriguing subject, the relationships and interaction between Mexican Americans, for detailed investigation and analysis. Referring to a variety of sources like direct interviews, observations from participating in group discussion sessions, minutes of board meetings of local schools, and other relevant papers, Ochoa presents a vivid and disturbing picture of the relationships that are emerging between established Mexican Americans and the new immigrants from Mexico, who are pouring in, legally and illegally, from across the southern border of the United States in hundreds of thousands every year. Whilst the two communities of Mexican origin do have common historical, cultural, ethnic and religious traditions, their relationships and interaction are characterized by a number of contradictions and insecurities that include sympathy, helpfulness, and cooperativeness, as well as resentment, fear, and mistrust. Apart from emphasizing the role played by women in the construction of communities, Ochoa deals with issues pertaining to the use of Spanish at home and English in the outside world, the formation of identity and the dynamics of group working during the interactions of the two communities in commonly frequented public places in the small and predominantly working class city of La Puente, 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. John Horton’s book focuses on the small (just 60,000 inhabitants) town of Monterey Park; which in recent years has generated substantial media and researcher interest. At one time Monterey Park was a suburb located some distance east from downtown Los Angeles. Immigration from China, Hong Kong and other Pacific Rim countries that began in the early 1970s and gained momentum thereafter led to the city becoming the first in the United States with a majority of Asian inhabitants. Horton’s book is actually one of a duo on the subject, the other being authored by Timothy Fong. The evolution of Monterey Park into an Asian majority city in the United States is important for the social and economic ramifications that arise out of the coming together of people of different races, different ethnic backgrounds and different classes in a nation that is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of cultures, languages, religions and income groups. Horton refuses to see Monterey Park as another Chinatown and views it in terms of a bustling and diverse location that has witnessed the political changes that arose from the interaction of immigrants and earlier residents of Asian, Latino and Anglo American lineage; he uniquely showcases the political battles that started off on the basis of ethnicity and race, which were thereafter gradually abandoned in favor of accord and harmony. The steady evolution of a multicultural, multiracial, and multiethnic society in the United States has led to significant demographic shifts and political changes. With the Latina/o population in Los Angeles expected to outstrip the white population by 2 million by 2010, the city is already known as the Chicano capital of the US. Such events have led to the development of complex relationships between the original inhabitants and newcomers and to the emergence of feelings of conflict as well as solidarity between different population segments. Whilst the entry of large numbers of migrants is bound to lead to the development of complex local relationships, the impact of globalization on the modern day economy and the consequent migration of industries and jobs to low wage areas in South America and from other parts of the world have also led to escalation in hostility, resentment and the tendency to lay the blame for difficulties arising out of such events on the influx of immigrants. Ochoa uses a number of research techniques to investigate the evolution of the Mexican immigrant community in La Puente in the face of white resentment and hostility, the many obstacles and difficulties that characterized their lives in the city and the strange and complex relationships that developed between the incoming Mexican immigrants and the established Mexican Americans who had arrived earlier, put down their roots, brought up their children, and built their homes in the face of white resistance. Her investigations lead to the development of a piquant tale, warm and heartbreaking, and documents events that often go completely unnoticed by members of the majority and older community, for whom the newcomers often represent nothing more than unwelcome intrusions who clutter residential areas, litter streets, strain existing infrastructure, and take away jobs. Ochoa recounts, through a number of personal interviews, the travails of the Mexican community in the face of a dominant white population that felt strongly enough about immigration to enact laws seeking to deny undocumented Mexicans â€Å"access to public services, such as excluding children from the public school system, another that denied affirmative action in schools and workplaces, and a third that stemmed from the larger English-only movement and aimed to eliminate bilingual education† (Ochoa, 2004, 3). Ochoa’s work is unique in the sense that most studies on the Mexican community until now have been quantitative in nature, have focused on demographic and work related issues and have not, like her study, taken cognizance of the impact of the environment and local interaction on the evolution of the Mexican community. Working purely within the confines of La Puente, Ochoa addresses issues that affect the evolution of the Mexican American community and the complex attitudes and behaviors that characterize the relations between Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrant newcomers. Her investigation also throws up the impact of the dominant culture on immigrant cultures and the probability of new cultures and new communities becoming assimilated in the culture of the majority community. With most assimilative and integrative methods practiced through local schools, Ochoa’s work focuses strongly on the working of schools and school boards, on the attitudes and impressions of local parents and how control of schooling provides the dominant community with strong weapons to suppress the expression of newer communities, take away from them the language of their forefathers and break their links with their ancestors. Apart from the pernicious effect of schooling on the latent aspirations of incoming communities, Ochoa’s investigation of interaction between Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants brings out the areas of conflict as well as solidarity and the extent to which the constant flow of immigrants can affect the assimilation process of older and established inhabitants from the same ethnic and geographical background. Immigrant communities from different cultures have to often face resistance to their traditions, language, and customs in their adopted homes from members of the home community. A phenomenon that has repeatedly expressed itself in the past in various settings, it has led to the immigrant community assimilating itself with the culture of the local community, adopting their way of life, language, customs and traditions. The United States has itself played host to impoverished immigrants from Ireland and other countries of Europe like Poland and Germany, who have over decades learnt English, Anglo traditions and customs, conformed to local expectations and become Americans. Assimilation of foreigners is not restricted to the United States and expresses itself in all societies that play host to immigrants. The United Kingdom for example is redrawing immigration procedures that now require all immigrants to take tests on their knowledge of England, English, and English society. Much of this assimilation is carried out at the level of local schools, where school policies are predominantly weighed in favor of maintaining the local language and local culture to the exclusion of alien languages and cultural influences. Ochoa makes the point that with schools being reproductions of the larger surrounding society, their structure, policies, procedures, and regulations, in La Puente, work towards strengthening the established values, attitudes, ideologies and inherent discriminatory attitudes of the American way of life; their socialization process emphasizes the integration of children of immigrants and other colored people by teaching and inculcating values, norms, attitudes and expectations of the dominant class. The emphasis on English to the exclusion of all other languages, including Spanish, is one of the most important tools for the gradual elimination of Mexican identity and the assimilation of children of different communities into the Anglo way of life that characterizes American society. La Puente’s investigations also lead to the inescapable conclusion of immigrant communities having to do with poorer school quality and the routing of their children to inferior career paths, conditions that tend to perpetuate existing hierarchical and power structures. Such discomfort, which is supposedly normal in the early years of immigrant arrival in terms of the assimilationist paradigm, (Ochoa, 2004, 21) is expected to gradually lead to a betterment of conditions; the Mexicans are expected to follow in the footsteps of the Irish, Jewish, and Italian communities who came before them and gradually shed their community attributes and adopted the American way of life, i. e. entered into the activities and general life of the dominant community. The assimilationist paradigm further postulates that with immigrant communities expected to become less distinguishable from the dominant community with the passage of generations, such assimilation leads to greater acceptance and lesser hostility and a gradual easing of difficult living conditions. Apart from the tactics of assimilation practiced in schools, Ochoa also documents the complex and dichotomous relationships that exist between Mexican Americans and immigrant Mexicans, with the reactions of Mexican Americans moving from feelings of distaste, shame and rejection to cooperation, assistance and solidarity. With the responses of Mexican Americans being shaped by (a) their feelings about California once being part of Mexico and now occupied by Americans, (b) their experiences in La Puente, their adopted homeland, their struggles and the hostility they faced in their efforts to settle down in La Puente (c) their affinity towards their people from Mexico, and (d) their feelings of embarrassment arising out of the backwardness of the new entrants, their reactions are contradictory and, going by the interviews with Mexican immigrants, veer from goodwill and cooperation to rejection and hostility. Much of the negative attitudes can presumably be put down to insecurity that could stem from feeling that their acceptance in American society could be adversely affected by the buildup of negative perceptions in the face of continuing influx. Ochoa also documents the struggles the Mexican community has faced and is facing in preserving their language and culture from established institutional and social culture and their need for preservation of their cultural and social identity. Horton’s book focuses on the emergence of diversity in politics in Monterey Park from one and a half decades (mid 1980s to late 1990s) of interaction between immigrants and native residents. Employing techniques like ethnography, the use of exit polls and interviews, Horton is able to represent the process of change, which encompasses the giving way of established networks of loyalty, the increasing importance of women, minorities and newcomers, and the makeover of identities. Horton examines the municipal elections of 1988, 1990 and 1992 to show that voters made their election choices in the first 2 elections mostly on the basis of ethnicity. By 1992 feelings of ethnic solidarity appeared to have diluted significantly and voting patterns did not appear to move along ethnic lines. Horton furthermore also investigates areas other than those concerning politics like civic organizations and social events to assess the results of interaction between the city’s multi-ethnic residents, and seeks to show that whilst ethnicity was an important political force, it was in a state of fluidity and was mined and modified for political advantage. Elaborating on the divisive and essentially racist approach of the Slow-Growth and the Official-English movements, (Horton, 1997, 121) Horton also points out the importance of class stating that integration at Monterey Park was furthered because both native inhabitants and immigrants belonged to the middle class. The middle class resources of the newcomers and the middle class status of the established inhabitants helped in reducing differences between the two groups. This point is extremely valid; it reinforces the force of class as a divisive factor in society and its power to overcome differences in culture, traditions and ethnicity. Based upon a wide range of data that comprised of reviews of newspapers, exit polls, interviews and eyewitness accounts, Horton compares the issues of ethnicity, immigration and race in Monterey Park with larger regional, national, and global contexts. Opposing the view that that cultural diversity will lead to disunity among American people, Horton makes the point that diversity does not inescapably lead to lasting competition and conflict (Horton, 1997, 182) and that moreover the politics of diversity based on alliances between different ethnic groups can bring about unity and harmony. His effort is important for the analysis that interethnic politics lead to the redefinition of ethnic identities. A community is far more than a collection of individual humans with some common bonds or purposes, such groups being more appropriately described as associations. Communities develop mores and are characterized by a sense of self identity that comes about from a common and shared past as well as a collective vision of the future, an identification with the concept of â€Å"us† and â€Å"them†, and finally of collective thought and attitudes, (features of community characteristics that are brought out very clearly both by Ochoa and Horton). Again communities need individuals to be integrated by principles, be active, and participate strongly in the pursuit of its interests. Communities, experts say, are united by an identifying principle, which represents the value, the ideal, and the good that the community revolves around for its sustained survival, and shapes the processes for assessing such principle. With the establishment of the values and principles and the organization of the community requiring its members to participate in such processes, interaction between community members is dependent upon communication, an essential feature of community life that is destroyed through negation of the use of ethnic languages by assimilative processes. Communities require communicating to grow and consolidate. With humans living in communities by virtue of the things they share and possess, ideal communities are restricted in size and distinguished by strong communication between its members. Globalization, migration, and assimilation of traits of other cultures obviously work against the strengthening of communication bonds between community members and affect its furtherance. The subject of globalization and its repercussions have come to the vanguard of socio-political debate and discussion, there being a growing concern that globalization, through its various manifestations, is wiping out communities and cultures and creating an ugly similarity all over the world. Events like the protests against the WTO in Seattle during 1999, the objection to the entry of McDonald’s in various parts of the world and other insurrections, suggest that the concept of a unified world is not just difficult but also unwanted by many peoples. It however needs to be realized that the personal and cultural impact that globalization is having all over the world is as important as its economic impact. The creation of a global society actually needs diversity in its constituents, the diversity in a society adding to its novelty and, hopefully, to its ability to be flexible. The integrating principle of a global society should not just reject sameness but should try to represent the views of all those involved in its creation and maintenance There is an increasing feeling that globalization can lead to the destruction of a myriad ethnic cultures in favor of one common culture, which most people feel will be predominantly Euro-American, considering the soft and hard powers of the western nations and their domination of global media. In both La Puente and Monterey Park, the cultures of ethnic communities have been subjected to a fierce assault by the dominant culture, much of which is played out in schools and by the imposition of the English language. The all pervasive effect of American advertising and television programs is also seen as a strong culturally invasive force, not just with immigrant communities in the US but all over the world; the concern about loss of cultural identity and local uniqueness is substantial and is caused by the perception of the imposition of cultural hegemony through all possible means. With globalization impacting the world at all levels, society, community, and individual, it is not difficult to foresee that the assimilation of individual cultures and unique community traits into the folds of the dominant community can have a negative impact upon community life. It however remains a fact that the homogenization of the world, as also of different communities in the United States, is happening at a fast clip, a phenomenon that is adversely affecting the independence, growth and sustenance of a myriad communities. A number of reasons are behind this decline in community life. With globalization involving travel and migration of labor forces in large volumes from areas of deprivation and excess labor availability to those deficient in workforce and willing to pay for the same, it is become progressively difficult for communities to retain their distinguishing characteristics in the new areas that some of their members decide to make their homes in. Whilst increases in communication technology and cheaper air travel are making communication cheap and easy between people in different areas, the absence of direct face to face communication that existed in the past is bound to affect the integrity of community life. Limited communication will not allow for the development of relationships to levels that are needed for the continuance of communities. Apart from the deterioration in 121 relationships, community spirits are also hurt by cultures of consumption, market cultures and the cultures of dominant communities, all of which lead community members, especially those who are young to conform to what they feel to be the most popular, acceptable and esteemed culture. Market cultures affect community life adversely, leading to the dominance of commodification and the decline of neighborhoods, communities and common links of history and tradition. The adoption of the cultural mores and ways of life of the dominant community by immigrant communities is, in many cases, as highlighted by Ochoa, due to need for increasing the self esteem and self worth of members of immigrant communities. Such feelings in the minds of new immigrants are moreover reinforced by seeing people of the same community, who had come earlier, having already adopted the culture of sameness, and consequently lead to greater assimilation with dominant communities and submersion of individual community traits. Homogenization of individuals into persons with similar behavioral and cultural norms arises from (a) environmental forces that do not appreciate and do not tolerate any deviation from accepted norms and (b) the erroneous notion that social or national unity requires all individuals to follow the same culture; much like the concept of organizational culture in the private sector. A nation or a society is however significantly different from a private sector corporation and such notions lead to the creation of utmost confusion over concepts of homogeneity and unity. Strong unity, most policymakers and intellectuals assert, comes from the affirmation of diversity in the context of similar objectives. Homogeneity in fact leads to dogma, intolerance, prejudice, and divisiveness and works against the concept of unity and effective progress towards common goals. Diversity has time and again been shown to be associated with the successful working and goal attainment of most groups of people. Communities and larger societies thrive on diversity and the underlying objective for the achievement and establishment of a beneficial structure, concepts and ideas that cannot progress in the absence of tolerance for other ideas and perspectives. The necessity of changing with the times is critical for all communities and larger societies. Globalization is also steadily eliminating the sense of responsibility necessary for the growth, purpose and consolidation of community life, with most community affairs being decided by state or national governmental bodies, and even by large corporate organizations. All this as well as the process of assimilation is leading to the steady deterioration of community life and the construction of associations that are characterized by sameness to the exclusion of oneness in the reinforcing presence of diversity. Lack of diversity, tolerance, and communication, leads to the stifling of communities. In actual fact, the concept of a truly global society allows communities to grow and flourish; it takes strength and sustenance from their various inputs and features, even as it strives for the achievement of common and not selective good. Such a society will work optimally only after the striking of a proper balance between the needs of globalization and the dominant and minority communities in areas of political, social and economic activity. Whilst globalization does not appear to be a reversible phenomenon, actions need to be taken to ensure that it is not allowed to destroy the notion of community. Both the studies, by Ochoa and Horton, reveal that whilst immigrant communities come under enormous pressure in early years, such strains disappear with the progress of assimilation. Although most community members show mixed approaches to the process of assimilation, resenting the taking away of the characteristic features of their life and at the same time wishing to be held in esteem by members of the dominant host community, the preservation of communities depends greatly upon the tolerance and openness of establishment members and the extent to which they are ready to respect the uniqueness of newcomers in their midst. Assimilation can actually instead of leading to unity result in a false sense of sameness, and such societies, which press for the establishment of sameness rather than diversity, can lead to the suppression of growth and sustenance of communities. Conclusion The continuance of communities in a fast globalizing world, as is evidenced from the foregoing discussion, depends to a large extent upon the tolerance and open-mindedness of dominant communities. Whilst most communities are formed over the ages and are by nature extremely resilient, excessive fragmentation, migration and exposure to more politically and economically powerful cultures that are furthermore negatively disposed towards alien communities can put such communities under immense strain and lead to irreversible changes. Horton makes the point that modern day society, whilst containing elements of dogma and intolerance, are by nature receptive to the concept of multi ethnic structures; they are open to being shaped by and responding to external influences, and to the creation of freer and more vibrant social structures. The concept of a globalized world allows communities to retain their distinguishing and reinforcing features, even while it strives for the betterment of the common good. The successful progression of such social structures work towards the advantage and benefit of the many communities that sustain its diversity and multifaceted nature and it becomes the responsibility of all individuals to ensure that diversity is not sacrificed at the altar of sameness. Communities are critical to the successful progression of human society; they facilitate the establishment and sustenance of bonds between humans at elemental levels, lead to joint and cooperative action for the betterment of society and to the continuation of different identities and cultures that have grown over centuries. Such features of diverse and multiethnic societies need to be valued and not extinguished by narrow and insecure parochialism and the desire to create a globally similar society. Unthinking efforts to assimilate separate cultures and extinguish their unique characteristics in favor of the establishment of uniformity can lead to nothing but the detriment of globalization efforts and society needs to be ever vigilant against such regressive tendencies. Recognizing the impact of globalization on communities and making of concerted efforts to preserve them is an imperative for the establishment of a truly globalized society and should be a priority of leading world societies. Globalization need not lead to the decline of community. Shifting of short sighted perspectives will help in the preservation, sustenance and growth of unique communities and to the diversity and strength of a truly globalized society. References Ochoa, G.L, (2004), Becoming Neighbors in a Mexican American Community: Power, Conflict, and Solidarity, University of Texas Press Horton, J, (1997), The Politics of Diversity: Immigration, Resistance, and Change in Monterey Park, California, Temple University Press How to cite Development of Communities, Papers

Residential Tenancies Act and Law

Question: Discuss about the Residential Tenancies Act and Law. Answer: Introduction In Alberta, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) governs the tenancy law. The Act sets out the rights and obligations of the landlord and the tenants and governs people who rent their apartment, room, boarding house or a house (Butt, 2013). A lease contract, also known as, rental contracts or residential tenancy, is a contract between a landlord and a tenant. Leases in Alberta may be a fixed term lease and periodic lease. A fixed term lease has a fixed tenancy tenure period whereas a periodic lease is a lease where there is no specific tenure of tenancy (Easthope, 2014). A fixed term tenancy terminates on the date specified in the tenancy agreement but a periodic tenancy terminates when either of the parties gives notice to terminate the tenancy. Both the landlord and the tenant must sign the tenancy agreement after reading all the terms of the agreement and perform their respective statutory obligations. Application of Legal Principles The RTA in Alberta states that the tenants are required to pay a certain amount as damage or security deposit to the landlord before moving into the rental premises. Section 43 of the Act stipulates that the security deposit shall not exceed the rent amount for one month. The landlord is entitled to make deductions from the amount on the following grounds: If the tenant has caused damage to the rental place; If the landlord has finished the inspection reports and the tenants has failed to keep the property clean; or If the tenant has not given the keys; Section 19 of the Act mandates the landlord and the tenant to undertake an investigation of the rental premises before moving in and after moving out of the rental place. The investigation report describes the state of the rental premises and both the parties shall keep copy of the report (Soederberg, 2017). No deduction shall be made from the security deposit if the rental place has not been investigated before or after, the tenant moves into the premises. The RTA and public health laws in Alberta requires the landlord to ensure that the rented premises is safe and hygienic and that the structure of the apartment including the home appliances are well maintained and working properly. The tenant is responsible for making repairs but before or after moving in, the tenant must thoroughly check the premises and inform the landlord about any damages within the premises (Hulse Milligan, 2014). Conclusion In this case, Sally should have inspected the apartment with the landlord within a week, before or after moving into the premises and must have kept a copy of such investigation report. She should have checked the entire premises and informed the landlord about the holes in the wall immediately in writing. However, the landlord is under legal obligation to ensure that the rental premises is safe and and the structure of the apartment is well-maintained and the home appliances are working properly. In case of making repairs in the property, Sally is responsible for making repairs only if she has caused any damage to the property whereas in this case, there were holes in the walls before she moved in, therefore the landlord is responsible for making necessary repairs in the property as requested by Sally. Moreover, the security deposit amount must not exceed the one-months rent amount; therefore, the landlord is legally not entitled to charge $2000 from Sally as damage deposit. Reference list Butt, P. (2013).Modern legal drafting: A guide to using clearer language. Cambridge University Hulse, K., Milligan, V. (2014). Secure occupancy: a new framework for analysing security in rental housing.Housing Studies,29(5), 638-656. Press.Easthope, H. (2014). Making a rental property home.Housing Studies,29(5), 579-596. Soederberg, S. (2017). The rental housing question: Exploitation, eviction and erasures.Geoforum.

Residential Tenancies Act and Law

Question: Discuss about the Residential Tenancies Act and Law. Answer: Introduction In Alberta, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) governs the tenancy law. The Act sets out the rights and obligations of the landlord and the tenants and governs people who rent their apartment, room, boarding house or a house (Butt, 2013). A lease contract, also known as, rental contracts or residential tenancy, is a contract between a landlord and a tenant. Leases in Alberta may be a fixed term lease and periodic lease. A fixed term lease has a fixed tenancy tenure period whereas a periodic lease is a lease where there is no specific tenure of tenancy (Easthope, 2014). A fixed term tenancy terminates on the date specified in the tenancy agreement but a periodic tenancy terminates when either of the parties gives notice to terminate the tenancy. Both the landlord and the tenant must sign the tenancy agreement after reading all the terms of the agreement and perform their respective statutory obligations. Application of Legal Principles The RTA in Alberta states that the tenants are required to pay a certain amount as damage or security deposit to the landlord before moving into the rental premises. Section 43 of the Act stipulates that the security deposit shall not exceed the rent amount for one month. The landlord is entitled to make deductions from the amount on the following grounds: If the tenant has caused damage to the rental place; If the landlord has finished the inspection reports and the tenants has failed to keep the property clean; or If the tenant has not given the keys; Section 19 of the Act mandates the landlord and the tenant to undertake an investigation of the rental premises before moving in and after moving out of the rental place. The investigation report describes the state of the rental premises and both the parties shall keep copy of the report (Soederberg, 2017). No deduction shall be made from the security deposit if the rental place has not been investigated before or after, the tenant moves into the premises. The RTA and public health laws in Alberta requires the landlord to ensure that the rented premises is safe and hygienic and that the structure of the apartment including the home appliances are well maintained and working properly. The tenant is responsible for making repairs but before or after moving in, the tenant must thoroughly check the premises and inform the landlord about any damages within the premises (Hulse Milligan, 2014). Conclusion In this case, Sally should have inspected the apartment with the landlord within a week, before or after moving into the premises and must have kept a copy of such investigation report. She should have checked the entire premises and informed the landlord about the holes in the wall immediately in writing. However, the landlord is under legal obligation to ensure that the rental premises is safe and and the structure of the apartment is well-maintained and the home appliances are working properly. In case of making repairs in the property, Sally is responsible for making repairs only if she has caused any damage to the property whereas in this case, there were holes in the walls before she moved in, therefore the landlord is responsible for making necessary repairs in the property as requested by Sally. Moreover, the security deposit amount must not exceed the one-months rent amount; therefore, the landlord is legally not entitled to charge $2000 from Sally as damage deposit. Reference list Butt, P. (2013).Modern legal drafting: A guide to using clearer language. Cambridge University Hulse, K., Milligan, V. (2014). Secure occupancy: a new framework for analysing security in rental housing.Housing Studies,29(5), 638-656. Press.Easthope, H. (2014). Making a rental property home.Housing Studies,29(5), 579-596. Soederberg, S. (2017). The rental housing question: Exploitation, eviction and erasures.Geoforum.

Fridays. Analytical Paper

Plot Shiva Arastui’s short story â€Å"Fridays† is a must-read chef-d’oeuvre describing the events as they unfold one Friday, as a family whose father is under arrest following his inciting of people against the government, waits to see the proceedings of the case on the TV. The Friday is abnormal for the Iranian family as described by the writer.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Fridays. Analytical Paper specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The family would spend a Friday like this watching the movies. As described by the writer, anxiety and tension dominates the place as the clock ticks towards the hour of the reading of the news. The author features several literary devices like personification, symbolism, and repetition among others, which in turn makes the piece as informative as it is. Literary Devices The writer of this short story uses personification when describing the stealthy movement of time towards the reading of the news. This is more so when she describes the behavior of the clock. She says, â€Å"At every tic tack, an eye with an artificial eyelash, winked near the face of the clock, at the corner above. A red mouth, with big lips laughed at the bottom of the plate. When the hour struck, the eye remained open, the lip gathered and whistled† (Arastui, 2002, Para. 1). The reader through the device realizes the heightened tension in the story depicting the anxiety as it is at that point when a single minute seems like ages. The writer uses symbolism to depict the slow movement of time. The anxiety that the family has and the optimism portrayed after getting at least a chance to see its father under arrest on the charges of inciting people against the government through his poetry stands out through the slow movement of events and time. In another instance, the writer portrays the two women who beg for their lives in the courtroom as â€Å"heads†. This gives the indication that as opposed to the father’s friend who would not compromise his stand for the simple reason of sparing his head, the women were cowards and what matters is their heads that they intend to take to the saloons even when they are facing oppression. In displaying the extent of brutality, the writer uses euphemism to conceal the threats of rape that the three men issues to Sharzard’s father the day they arrested him. One of the three men says, â€Å"†You would be human, when your daughter turns into woman, in front of you† (Aratsui, 2002, Para.13).Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Repetition too assumes a good share in the story. For example, the writer refers to the woman who being attended to in the salon as ‘the Colonel’s Wife† emphasizing or rather depicting the woman as different from the other people in the story. She seems so relaxed as opposed to the others who appear eagerly waiting for her exit to get the chance to watch the news. Her husband is a prominent person in the government and so she has nothing to fear (Dickens, 2000, p. 36). She further seems concerned with her beauty and is taking her time to visit the salon as opposed to the others in the story who offer the services and never find time for their beauty. The constant repetition depicts the difference between the woman and the family both physically and politically. Overall Performance Aratsui strategically allocates different roles to different characters whose performance successfully drives home the intended moral lessons, specifically political and social issues. For instance, the hairdressers in the salon reveal the issue of discrimination properly through the way they treat one woman differently from the others. However, the overall story depicts the political events that shape the Iranian society where Sh iva Aratsui achieves in her quest to reveal the perspective of these events through the experiences of a family actively involved. The author’s presentation deserves comments through the way she employs the aforementioned literary devices purposely to highlight serious political issues without any token of biasness of supporting a particular political affiliation in the country. Reference List Aratsui, S. (2002). Fridays. Tehran: Markaz publications. Print. Dickens, T. (2000). Literary Devices and Politics. New York; Penguin Books. Print. This essay on Fridays. Analytical Paper was written and submitted by user Charleigh C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Why Should We Vote essays

Why Should We Vote essays The word vote causes many different reactions from people. Some become aggressive and begin to express their opinions on various political issues while others try to avoid the topic completely. However, there is a vast majority who rely on pat answers to support their neglect in voting. They use excuses such as, it doesnt matter if they vote or not because their one vote couldnt possibly make a difference. They say they dont understand politics its just too confusing. Some feel that politicians are crooks so they need not bother voting at all. These are just a few of the common excuses heard from people who do not vote. All of these excuses surely wont make a difference in an election but one vote definitely will. There have been many close elections in history that would have had a different outcome if only one percent more had voted. The Presidential election of Kennedy vs. Nixon is a good example. That election was decided by Illinois with an average of only two voters per precinct. This small percentage of voters gave Kennedy victory over his opponent and put him in office. Many politicians spend millions of dollars on their campaign in an attempt to get as many votes as possible. There are many politicians like Ross Perot who do not think twice about spending money to attract prospective voters. In the 1992 presidential election Perot spent a phenomenal 71 million dollars to campaign for President. So, it is evident that politicians know that every vote they can attract will make a difference in the outcome of elections. Our society seems to have lost interest in politics for several reasons, some feel that our present leaders dont attempt to accomplish anything while in office and others feel they have been lied to so often they have forfeited their right to be trusted all together. What they dont understand is that voting and politic ...

A Close Analysis for a Single Scene in the Film Farewell My Concubine Movie Review

A Close Analysis for a Single Scene in the Film Farewell My Concubine - Movie Review Example 10. Camera shifts back to Douzi in a close-up shot. He pauses as he realizes his error. This is a one second shot. 11. The next is a medium shot that is taken from behind Douzi as it shows his back. The camera focuses a medium shot at Mister Na as he gets up from his bench. The scene shows Mister Na deliberately walking past Douzi and progressing forward. 12. A close-up shot of Xiaolou standing with other performers with a very annoyed expression on his face. 1 second. 13. The camera shows medium shot in natural light as Mister Na progresses towards the veranda followed by Guan and performers. It also shows Douzi moving towards him as well. Mister Na progresses out of the frame. Xiaolou snatches a tobacco pipe from Master Lian’s hand. The camera now focuses on Xiaolou who spots Douzi and grabs him by the collar and shakes him. 14. The music becomes loud as Xiaolou keeps on shaking Douzi and drags him forward. 15. A 1 second shot of Mister Na, Guan and other elders stopping and looking at what is causing the commotion. 16. Another close-up shot of Douzi being shoved into a chair. 1 second 17. A sharp close-up shot of Xiaolou‘s face very angry and covered in tears. 2 seconds 18. A close-up of Douzi being shaken. Loud music with Xiaolou screaming at Douzi and asking him to open his mouth. Xiaolou shoves the hooked tip of the tobacco pipe towards it. 19. A medium 1 second shot of Mister Na and others staring horrified at the camera. 20. Next is a close-up of Douzi as he opens his mouth. A single frame shot of Xiaolou with his teeth clenched. The tobacco pipe is rammed into Douzi’s mouth and shoved back and forth like a toothbrush on the tongue. Douzi closes his eyes and tilts his head backward. 6 seconds 21. 1 second shot of Xiaolou struggling with the tobacco...Another character Mister Na is introduced in this scene who has been appointed to evaluate the performers of the opera for Zhag’s birthday celebration.The acting done by the boys at this age is very impressive and natural. Especially young Douzi’s role involved a lot of gestures and face expressions, which were delivered to perfection. The character Douzi appears to be central in this scene. However, character movement in this scene involves three central figures Mister Na, Douzi and Xiaolou. Mister Na’s character requires for him to move very rapidly in the scene with little attention to his surroundings, he appears to be a busy man who does not want to spare the time of the day for boys in Peking Opera. Xialou appears to be the bossy and ruthless character in this scene, his movement is purposeful and almost cruel as he attempts to protect the reputation of the Peking Opera. Douzi’s character shows a range of emotions. While delivering his lines as dan, he acts with the poise and gentleness that the role demands. Yet when Xiaolou punishes him for his error, Douzi shows extreme strength and tolerance and accepts the punishments as his f ate.

Hedge accounting under IAS 39 and IFRS 9 - A critical comparison Research Proposal

Hedge accounting under IAS 39 and IFRS 9 - A critical comparison - Research Proposal Example The second section  reviews  the literature related to IAS 39 and IFRS 9 as financial instruments used in hedge accounting. The next section outlines the methodology used in this study, including a conceptual framework of research variables, data sources, data collection and data analysis methods. The last section of this study discusses the ethical issues ethical issues arising from the proposed research and techniques to address these issues. Introduction Hedge accounting is a technique utilized in accounting where entries for the rights of a security and the opposing hedge are treated simultaneously. Hedge accounting endeavors to ease the volatility generated by the repetitive adjustment of the value of a financial instrument. This reduced volatility is done by combining the hedge and the instrument as one entry, which balances the opposing movements (GUPTA, 2008). IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement are a global accounting standard for financial instrume nts released by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) which summarizes the requirements for the recognition and measurement of financial liabilities, financial assets, and some contracts to buy or sell non-financial items. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is a complete, internationally recognized set of accounting standards using an  approach  based on principles  with a bigger emphasis on elucidation and relevance of those principles, intending at best replicating the economic substance of transactions. IFRS 9 Financial Instruments outlines the recognition and measurement requirements for fiscal  instruments and contracts to buy or sell non-financial items set to eventually form a comprehensive substitution for IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. It was initially published in November 2009, reissued in October 2010 with requirements for financial liabilities, and pertains to annual periods commencing on or after 1st Jan uary 2015 (MIRZA & NANDAKUMAR, 2013). What makes IFRS 9 to be the most preferred than IAS 39 is its top preference of financial information which is a prerequisite for the evolution of capital markets as it has been argued that the structure informational environment plays a principal role in helping investors come up with decisions. Regulators will also have a lot of power with them to order a financial body to act whenever an instance is deemed to not be adequate (DICK & MISSIONIER-PIERA, 2010). In conclusion therefore, this is a complex issue that will need to be tackled carefully by experts in this field. In as much as the IAS 39 was greatly deemed unreliable and IASB went to great lengths to come up with a better standard that they thought would be suitable, these efforts may have not paid as it is not yet clear if most companies are going to readily adopt this new standard (IFRS 9). Although it has been termed as better than the previous one, still concerns have been raised th at more amendments should be done on the yet not completed IFRS 9. The major complaint launched being that financial reporting be carried out in a specific context before any standard is imposed. This is actually hard to achieve and may continue to delay the completion of the IFRS 9 which is in fact still underway and has already suffered great delays. IFRS 9 is a 'work in progress' and will eventually replace IAS 39 in its entirety and is subject to

How could HMV survive in digital word Literature review

How could HMV survive in digital word - Literature review Example At the same time, presence of a large population of suppliers has their bargaining power related to packaging materials and recording disks (Watson and Spence, 2007). The bargaining power of retail music customers have increased substantially. Customers in the UK music sector can be divided as corporate and individual. With evolution of download services and legal streaming, the e-shops and streaming services, such as, iTunes, have become popular among consumers. As a result of rise in illegal streaming, people are currently buying lesser number of records (Wikstro, 2005). Corporate consumers in this industry include offline and online retailers involved in bulk purchases of albums from the music labels. These entities include stores like, Game and HMV, as well as online stores like, AmazonMP3, iTunes and Zune. Stringent contracts, along with increasing sources where consumers can download songs and videos illegally, have lowered the bargaining power of corporate customers (Rust, Kannan and Peng, 2002). Established and branded music labels are spending millions in test marketing, recording as well as image-development campaigns so as to ensure competency and quality of the artist, before making a public launch. These areas need implementation of special skills as well as huge access to money. Furthermore, these campaigns are supported by exhaustive distribution network and wide reach in terms of online distributing partners (Michel, 2006). These online partners are also helpful for immediate album distribution to exact locations. Also, the bigger brands can easily use their industry contacts during concert organisation, album promotion shows or for creating buzz for different artists. As these facilities are not available to newer brands, initial risks as well as capital expenditures are higher compared to that of the established brands. Then again,

Descartes Method of Doubt

Descartes Method of Doubt Explain Descartes Method of doubt; what does he hope to accomplish from this method; is Descartes a skeptic? Descartes began Meditation One of his classic Meditation on First Philosophy by saying that throughout his life, he had acquired several opinions and beliefs which he later discovered to be false (17-18). The main goal of Descartes was to find a foundation on which knowledge can be built. That is Descartes wanted to find a certainty or truth which could not be doubted beyond dispute. He agrees with Plato that knowledge requires certainty, but reject Plato idea that physical world is not knowable. What does it means to be certainty? Descartes main problem was how to achieve this certainty. In order to achieve this aim, Descartes adopted a systematic method known as the method of doubt. The method of doubt teaches us to take our beliefs and subject them to doubt. If it is possible to doubt, then we treat them as false, and we need to repeat this process until we are unable to find something to doubt on. The main point is that we treat all our beliefs as false until we find a foundation which is undoubtable, and we used the undoubtable things to build up everything on it. The method of doubt will be elaborated based on: doubting the senses, doubting the physical world (dream), and imagining that there exists an evil genius. Descartes begins by pointing out that our senses are unreliable. He questions all knowledge that he had acquired either from the senses or through the senses. He noticed that if the senses had deceived him even once, they were no more trustworthy. It is a mark of prudence never to place our complete trust in those who have deceived us even once. (18-19). For example, He often mistook what he saw at a distance such as straight thing look bent, round thing look oval, square thing look round, and mountains look purple (). In addition, even the impression Descartes received in the moment he was directly looking the fire before him while he was writing proved not to be reliable (19). How did Descartes know that he was not really in insane or dreaming? He answers this question by saying that our immediate impressions are so vivid that they must be real. However, Descartes contradict his answer by saying that he always dreamed of sitting before the fire while writing (19), and some of these dreams becomes visible to him quite vividly. Hence, he could not be sure that he was not dreaming at that moment. According to this doubt, Descartes confirmed that all the knowledge receivedthrough the senses must be temporarily prevented from continuing because there are not certain. In addition, we can doubt that what our senses give us is accurate, but they cannot be the foundation of building true knowledge or certainty. In addition, Descartes continues his method of doubt by assuming for the sake of argument that we are dreaming about everything. If we are dreaming about everything, there is still some knowledge that is acquired within the dream itself. This means that although we can doubt that all the images and ideas that we see in our dreams refer to some outward reality. However, we can consider these images and ideas in their simple components in order to see if any of images and ideas might be true in themselves. After rejecting all simple components of images and ideas which are based on senses such as color, sound, etc., Descartes came to the simple truth of mathematics. Which is that one plus two equals three does not depends on any sensible experience, but is gotten entirely from our minds despites of whether we are asleep or awake. Descartes used this principle to reach at a clear and distinct idea which is beyond all doubt. Therefore, we can say in words that one plus three equals four, but we cannot actually think in our minds that it equals four but three. Furthermore, Descartes took his search for the truth that is beyond any doubt to the extreme by imagining that there is an evil genius. Descartes consider the evil genius to be someone who has the power of God, but who is not good. The evil genius is determined to deceive us into thinking that there is a physical world when in fact there is none. For example, using the famous Matrix movie, the machines that are used in the movie would be considered as the evil geniuses. Everything would seem to us to be real just like in the matrix, but none of it would be real. However, Descartes does not actually believe that this evil genius exists, but there is no way to ruled it out based on our sensory experience. Hence, how can we doubt that one plus two does not equals three when our minds necessarily admit that it equals three? Descartes used the concept of the evil genuis to hypothesize that maybe there is an evil god who is deceiving us from getting the correct answer. Even though, we alwa ys think that one plus two equals three. Maybe this god is actually tricking us, and in reality it equals four. Descartes linked this circumstance where we are absolutely confident about our belief toward a certain fact, but despite this confident we often discover later that we had mistaken about the fact. This might be the case for our mathematical truths in which an evil god is deceiving us from getting the correct solution to a problem every time we count or do the mathematics. Moreover, Descartes main objective of using the method of doubt was to find a foundation on which truth or true knowledge can be built. Descartes wanted to find a certainty or truth which could not be doubted beyond dispute. The question what does it means to be certainty? as posed in above introduction can be define as being unable to doubt what we know. Something that cannot be possibly be doubted is certain. By possible to doubt, Descartes means any possibility what so ever. This will guarantee that whatever cannot be doubted really is certain. Therefore, if one could find something that was truly undoubted in this sense, we could use it in a valid argument like a syllogism. The conclusion of which would be that the world exists in the way that we think it does. In addition, Descartes was skeptical in his arguments. This is he apply reasoning and critical thinking to determine validity of his arguments. He was able to find supported conclusion and not the justification of a precon ceived conclusion. To conclude, Descartes developed the method of doubt to find certainty. For the purpose of this method, if we can doubt a belief then we treat that belief as false. He applies this method systemically. He doubts that the world is the way it appear to be, he doubts that there is a physical world at all, and finally he doubts the mathematical truths. However, the one thing that Descartes cannot doubt is that while he doubts, he must exist. Even if there was an evil genius and if he was deceiving me in to thinking that there was a physical world when in fact there is none, it could not be the case that I think that there is a physical world if there werent a me to deceived. Therefore, when I am thinking, I know I exist and this cannot be doubted. Using this method of doubt, Descartes finally found certainty which is he exist as a thinking thing, whether there is a physical world or not he cannot doubt he exists. This is the foundation he plans to build back all of the stuff he previousl y doubted as cited in the introduction.

The Pilgrimage to Cathedral of Compostela :: Religion

The Pilgrimage to Cathedral of Compostela In the twelfth century one the most popular destinations for pilgrimages was to the city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The shrine of St. James the Great is in the Cathedral of Compostela and it is what attracted so many people. The saint's shrine was believed to be a healing shrine for all sorts of problems. The religious relics that the Cathedral contained held a special power for the pilgrims by curing them of their problems. The pilgrims used the road to Santiago as a test of their faith and love for God. At the same time that they were testing their religious devotion they were also contributing to generating massive information. The pilgrims were creating and recycling information and taking that information on the road to more people. Two ways that the pilgrims were putting information out was by visiting the shrines on the way to the cathedral and at the actual Cathedral of Compostela and through the book of Codex Calixtinus. A pilgrimage was essentially a course of movement along a sequence of shrines along a road until one reached a final destination (usually a large cathedral or religious site). Besides the remission of sin, a reason for a person to go on a pilgrimage was to search for the renewal of physical or mental health. In the twelfth century, there was a deeply rooted belief in Christians that plague, leprosy, fever, migraines; even toothaches were all caused by sins. A doctor did not heal the person as well as saint could and thus, pilgrimages were occurring all the time. Not just people who were ill went on the pilgrimage, people seeking religion or adventure also set out on the road of Compostela. The pilgrims that were on the road to Santiago came from a wide variety of backgrounds. The route of Compostela became literally a cultural highway. The pilgrims "founded churches, monasteries, and hospitals; they robbed and killed, composed stories, legends, poems and songs, and slept rough in the hostels provided for them" (Tate, Pg. 1). Most importantly, the pilgrims talked. They talked about St. James, about the church, and about their different ideas and beliefs. By doing so they were exchanging information that otherwise would not be available to them. They talked about the history pertaining to St. James and at the same time learned through the shrines themselves at the Cathedral about the Moors, Charlemagne and other historical figures. The Pilgrimage to Cathedral of Compostela :: Religion The Pilgrimage to Cathedral of Compostela In the twelfth century one the most popular destinations for pilgrimages was to the city of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. The shrine of St. James the Great is in the Cathedral of Compostela and it is what attracted so many people. The saint's shrine was believed to be a healing shrine for all sorts of problems. The religious relics that the Cathedral contained held a special power for the pilgrims by curing them of their problems. The pilgrims used the road to Santiago as a test of their faith and love for God. At the same time that they were testing their religious devotion they were also contributing to generating massive information. The pilgrims were creating and recycling information and taking that information on the road to more people. Two ways that the pilgrims were putting information out was by visiting the shrines on the way to the cathedral and at the actual Cathedral of Compostela and through the book of Codex Calixtinus. A pilgrimage was essentially a course of movement along a sequence of shrines along a road until one reached a final destination (usually a large cathedral or religious site). Besides the remission of sin, a reason for a person to go on a pilgrimage was to search for the renewal of physical or mental health. In the twelfth century, there was a deeply rooted belief in Christians that plague, leprosy, fever, migraines; even toothaches were all caused by sins. A doctor did not heal the person as well as saint could and thus, pilgrimages were occurring all the time. Not just people who were ill went on the pilgrimage, people seeking religion or adventure also set out on the road of Compostela. The pilgrims that were on the road to Santiago came from a wide variety of backgrounds. The route of Compostela became literally a cultural highway. The pilgrims "founded churches, monasteries, and hospitals; they robbed and killed, composed stories, legends, poems and songs, and slept rough in the hostels provided for them" (Tate, Pg. 1). Most importantly, the pilgrims talked. They talked about St. James, about the church, and about their different ideas and beliefs. By doing so they were exchanging information that otherwise would not be available to them. They talked about the history pertaining to St. James and at the same time learned through the shrines themselves at the Cathedral about the Moors, Charlemagne and other historical figures.

A Research Proposal on the International Branding

Elite branded products try to catch the attention of the public by attempting to sell a dream, which is done by attempting to discern the most common inner desires of the targeted consumer market; once this is done, the brand tries to enlist the services of a highly admired or a highly controversial individual to add effect to the aura or concept being portrayed by the brand.Hiring a celebrity is a venture that a known fashion brand has every capability of doing. Celebrity endorsement of luxury fashion is understood to be of great importance nowadays since when a celebrity is linked to a specific brand, the concept being created projects to have the approval of an icon, hence creating an image that it is classy; and any consumer who will buy that product will end up being closely similar to that particular icon or role model.The endorsement of luxury brands by icons is undoubtedly a trump card which could be used, if the said asset is efficiently utilized the resulting outcome almost always results to long term benefits like brand loyalty and brand equity. This phenomenon would in the long run produce a higher profitability and an increased brand value (Ukonkwo, 2007).However, it should be remembered that whoever the celebrity endorser the verdict of the consumer concerning their decision to buy or not to buy merchandise would all rest on the quality of the merchandise being sold.If the merchandise does not have anything that would sustain the initial impression created by the celebrity endorsement, like when the merchandise has poor quality or lacks the concept of genuineness then what would happen is that the clientele would no longer patronize the product. In order for a fashion brand to stay on top it has to be more than a symbol of greatness, it also has to be great if it is to withstand the stiff competition in the market.Statement of the ProblemFor the purpose of this research, the study aims to answer this question:What are the international branding st rategies of elite branded products in the United Kingdom?Definition of the Research QuestionElite designer brands are distinguished by their unique innovations which are almost always the first of its kind, their expertise, and their exclusive position in the market.   Elite fashion brands such as Giorgio Armani, Gucci, and the likes have a significant market share due to their clever marketing that allows them to present their merchandise in an attractive â€Å"must have† commodity.To maintain the continuity of   their   operations, famous clothing brands tend to attend to the concept of â€Å"customer focus† instead of concentrating on the idea of a timeless, spaceless and emotionally-charged ideas that fix meanings to intangible personal attributes like freedom, love, or family although these ideas have in their own right a universal functionality; known Fashion brands have the capability to somehow ensure the stability of current fashion trends by exerting co ntrol over consumer valuations.Research ObjectivesFor the purpose of this study, the research aims to:To provide a theoretical foundation of international branding. To provide a theoretical foundation of international branding strategies of elite branded products. To identify the international branding strategies of Giorgio Armani and Gucci. To provide recommendations in order to improve the international branding strategies of Giorgio Armani and Gucci. A Research Proposal on the International Branding Elite branded products try to catch the attention of the public by attempting to sell a dream, which is done by attempting to discern the most common inner desires of the targeted consumer market; once this is done, the brand tries to enlist the services of a highly admired or a highly controversial individual to add effect to the aura or concept being portrayed by the brand.Hiring a celebrity is a venture that a known fashion brand has every capability of doing. Celebrity endorsement of luxury fashion is understood to be of great importance nowadays since when a celebrity is linked to a specific brand, the concept being created projects to have the approval of an icon, hence creating an image that it is classy; and any consumer who will buy that product will end up being closely similar to that particular icon or role model.The endorsement of luxury brands by icons is undoubtedly a trump card which could be used, if the said asset is efficiently utilized the resulting outcome almost always results to long term benefits like brand loyalty and brand equity. This phenomenon would in the long run produce a higher profitability and an increased brand value (Ukonkwo, 2007).However, it should be remembered that whoever the celebrity endorser the verdict of the consumer concerning their decision to buy or not to buy merchandise would all rest on the quality of the merchandise being sold.If the merchandise does not have anything that would sustain the initial impression created by the celebrity endorsement, like when the merchandise has poor quality or lacks the concept of genuineness then what would happen is that the clientele would no longer patronize the product.In order for a fashion brand to stay on top it has to be more than a symbol of greatness, it also has to be great if it is to withstand the stiff competition in the market.Statement of the ProblemFor the purpose of this research, the study aims to answer this question:What are the international branding str ategies of elite branded products in the United Kingdom?Definition of the Research QuestionElite designer brands are distinguished by their unique innovations which are almost always the first of its kind, their expertise, and their exclusive position in the market.   Elite fashion brands such as Giorgio Armani, Gucci, and the likes have a significant market share due to their clever marketing that allows them to present their merchandise in an attractive â€Å"must have† commodity.To maintain the continuity of   their   operations, famous clothing brands tend to attend to the concept of â€Å"customer focus† instead of concentrating on the idea of a timeless, spaceless and emotionally-charged ideas that fix meanings to intangible personal attributes like freedom, love, or family although these ideas have in their own right a universal functionality; known Fashion brands have the capability to somehow ensure the stability of current fashion trends by exerting con trol over consumer valuations.

About Vipers, Family Viperidae

About Vipers, Family Viperidae Vipers (Viperidae) are a group of snakes known for their long fangs and venomous bite. Vipers include true vipers, bush vipers, rattlesnakes, pit vipers, adders and night adders. Venomous Fangs The fangs of vipers are long and hollow and enable the snake to inject venom into animals that it bites. Venom is produced by and stored in glands located at the back of the snakes upper jaw. When the snakes mouth is closed, the fangs recede into a thin membrane and fold against the roof of the snakes mouth. When a viper bites its victim, the bones of the jaw rotate and flex so that the mouth opens at a wide gape angle and the fangs unfold at the last moment. When the snake bites down, muscles that encase the venom glands contract, squeezing venom out through ducts in the fangs and into their prey. Types of Venom Several different types of venom are produced by the various species of vipers. Proteases consist of enzymes that break down proteins. These enzymes cause a variety of effects in bite victims including pain, swelling, bleeding, necrosis, and disruption of the clotting system. Elapid venoms contain neurotoxins. These substances disable prey by disabling muscle control and causing paralysis. Proteolytic venoms contain neurotoxins to immobilize prey as well as enzymes that break down molecules in the victims body. Head Shape Vipers have a triangular-shaped head. This shape accommodates the venom glands at the back of the jaw. Most vipers are slender to stout-bodied snakes with a short tail. Most species have eyes with elliptical pupils that can open wide or close down very narrowly. This enables the snakes to see in a wide range of light conditions. Some vipers have keeled scales- scales with a ridge in their center- while others have smooth scales. 26 Types There are currently about 26 species of vipers that are considered vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. Some of the rarest vipers include the golden lancehead and the Mt. Bulgar viper. Like most snakes, vipers appear not to care for young after hatching. Most species of vipers give birth to live young but there are a few species that lay eggs. Vipers occur in terrestrial habitats throughout North, Central and South America as well as in Africa, Europe, and Asia. There are no vipers native to Madagascar or Australia. They prefer terrestrial and arboreal habitats. The range of vipers extends further north and further south than any other group of snakes. Vipers feed on a variety of small animal prey including small mammals and birds. Classification Vipers belong to the snake family. Snakes are among the most recently evolved of the main reptile lineages alive today. Their evolutionary history remains somewhat murky, though- their delicate skeletons do not preserve well and as a result, few fossil remains of ancient snakes have been recovered. The earliest known snake is Lapparentophis defense which is estimated to have lived about 130 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous. The viper family includes about 265 species. Vipers are classified into one of four groups: Azemiopinae: Feas viperCausinae: night addersCrotalinae: pit vipersViperinae: true vipers The Viperinae, also known as the Old World vipers, are short and stocky snakes. They have a wide, triangular head and rough, keeled scales. Their coloration is dull or cryptic providing them with good camouflage. Most members of this group give birth to live young. Pit vipers are distinct from other vipers due to a pair of heat-sensitive pits located on either side their face between the eyes and nostrils. Pit vipers include the worlds largest viper, the bushmaster, a snake native to Central and South American rainforests. The bushmaster can grow as long as 10 feet. Of all vipers, the rattlesnakes are among the most easily recognized. Rattlesnakes have a rattle-like structure at the end of their tail formed out of old layers of the terminal scale that do not fall off when the snake molts. When shaken, the rattle serves as a warning signal to other animals.

buy custom Transformations in the USA essay

buy custom Transformations in the USA essay For a long time, the issue of gender discrimination, class and race have been rampant in the United States. As indicated in the book Ragged Dick, written by Haratio Alger, the immigrants, majority of whom were from Africa, Europe and Asia communities were categorized by the dominant white race as minorities. The main aim of this paper is to compare the issues that are covered by Alger with other sources, both primary and secondary, with the basic aim of understanding life in the U.S. during as well as after the Civil War. Alger offers three distinct theories that help the reader understand the inequality that existed in the United States. This includes cultural deficiency, bias theory, and structural theory. The cultural deficiencies define the minority groups as inferior and having inappropriate ways of thinking, reasoning, and acting. It is notable that transformation that occurred in the U.S. resulted to industrialization and growth in commerce, although there were no any profound changes that took place until urbanization. For instance, Ragged Dick was involved into a shoe shining business that he highly considered his professional business, a factor that indicates the hard life faced by many immigrants, especially those from Canada, Latin America, Japan, Europe, and China. Most of the population in the inner cities was represented by immigrant, majority of who were living in deplorable conditions simply known as immigrant ghettos. Tales were also told in local languages, thus maintaining a close connection between the immigrants with the communities that they left in their home countries. There was the second-generation of immigrants, who demanded for equal rights, especially in the work places, a factor that significantly reduced discrimination in many places. Due to urbanization and industrialization, the immigrants were faced with various disturbing issues, such as frequency of great fires, diseases, plague, and overcrowding of the working class neighborhoods. Violence was also rampant leading to the establishment of larger and more professional police force. As explained by Alger, there were class divisions, which influenced growing interests in leisure. In conclusion one can see that, immigration resulted to overcrowding, corruption, among other vices, which have affected the U.S. society up to date. Transformations in the USA Alger discusses the issues of race, class, and gender in his book Ragged Dick. In the history of the United States, race, class and gender discrimination have been rampant during the past centuries. The migrants who were mainly the minority groups were categorized by the dominant white race representatives as minorities. This explains the transformations that have occurred in the history of the USA; thus, it is important to compare the issues covered by Alger and other primary and secondary sources in order to understand life in the United States during and after the Civil War. Alger brings up the issues of race, class, gender in his art and life. He provides readers with different ways to understand gender, racial, and class discrimination against then African immigrants in the US. There are many ways of understanding these inequalities because many people have different views on these topics. The USA is a state of many immigrants, groups, as well as cultures in its populations, and has experienced various problems considering the dominant minority relationships that have made the society increasingly diverse. Alger provides an understanding of the three important popular theories including cultural deficiency, bias theory, and structural theory. In this essay, I will explain the similarities of the issues covered by Alger in the Ragged Dick and various materials that describe different theories on class, racial, and gender discrimination. Cultural deficiencies have been used to define the minority groups as inferior and having inappropriate ways of thinking, reasoning, and acting. By this, I refer to the immigrants who are the minority in the US. These minority groups feel and act as if they are discriminated against. The ideas of discrimination are imparted to the younger generation because the minority group teaches these ideas to their children through their actions and words. In the 19th century, society typically associated race with ethnic identity and skin color as well as national identity. During the 19th century, the emergence of different races in the US made Italians to be seen as a different race then the Irish, for example; however, both were different from the Germans and the English. In Ragged Dick, Frank Whitneys father tells Dick to Remember that your future position depends mainly upon yourself, and that it will be high or low as you choose to make it1.Yet, the path to economic security and social mobility in the United States in the 19th century was seldom simple as seen from these statements and provided in the writings of Alger. Transformations that occurred in the United States of America occurred in several ways and led to industrialization and growth of commerce. However, there were no profound changes until the urbanization. US started as an agrarian economy, but advanced into an urban nation in the late 19th century. During the Civil War, the urban population increased at a high rate. Death and infant mortality rates grew in number while fertility rate decreased. However, urbanization was accelerated by immigration. During the 19th century, American citizens moved from areas with declining agricultural productivity to the cities of the East and Midwest. Most migrants were of African origin and were escaping poverty, conflicts, debt, and discrimination that they faced in the rural south. Discrimination was evident in the work places, particularly in the factories, since the black-skinned were only qualified to do unskilled labor as cooks or domestic servants. For example, Ragged Dick was involved into a shoe shining business that he considered his professional business2. Many African Americans were involved in hard labor as well as unskilled labor. The immigrants were also staying in absolute poverty, as explained by Ragged Dick that General Washington provided his pants and coats to him because he did not have any of his own. This also contributed to gender inequality in the work places because most of the unskilled labor was work undertaken by women. Foreign immigrants who migrated in large numbers influenced urban population; for instance, some of the immigrants were from Canada, Latin America, China, and Japan. The greatest number of new comers arrived from Europe. In the earlier years, some of the immigrants from Europe brought wealth with them. The ones who appeared later lacked capital to buy land and headed west. In addition, before the Civil War, Irish immigrants settled in the industrial areas where most of them got absorbed into unskilled labor3 Most of the population in the inner cities was represented by immigrants. This led to racism due to the diversity of the populace. Thus, by 1890, no single race dominated in the US. Most immigrants were rural people greatly affected by culture shock. Some of them managed to recover from culture shock by forming close-knit ethnic groupings within the inner cities and the neighborhood, commonly referred to as immigrant ghettos. These ethnic grouping offered new comers vital information from newspapers and theatres in native languages. There were also tales told in their local languages. This led to the emergence of community organizations where the immigrants maintained close ties with their native nations. They maintained close connections with the communities that they left in their home countries; some even returned within a very short term. On the other hand, other immigrants even assisted their communities to migrate to the US. Thus, the cultural cohesiveness helped to ease the pa in of separation from the immigrants native countries. This enabled them to adapt to the American economic life. The migrations that transformed the American society formed part of great global movement that influenced the entire world4. The major impact was provided by population growth and industrialization. The ethnic neighborhoods and the immigrant groups reinforced the cultural values that were well suited to economic development. However, discrimination by the whites made it difficult for some immigrants to advance. Among those affected are immigrants who had valuable skills as well as capital5. The immigrants who occupied the inner cities came to dominate due to assimilation and exclusion. Most of these occupants were young people who shared the experience of living in the inner cities. Hence, most of the immigrants with foreign-born ethnic ties were involved in a competition against the desire for assimilation. Second-geeneration immigrants decided to come with new ways of socialization; for instance, women demanded for their rights as a way of preventing forced marriages or gender discrimination in the workplace. The natives also influenced assimilation by requiring English to be included in the curriculum in public schools, and employers demanded that workers use English at the workplace. Church leaders were usually native born Americans or more assimilated immigrants who encouraged the new comers to adopt American lifestyle. Other reforms were made to conform to the norms of the new country. Consequently, many immigrants maintained their ethnic cultures and led to the creation of distinctive communities. There were restrictions that led to the screening of immigrants through standards like literacy tests; however, these restrictions kept away only a small number of aliens because the immigrants provided cheap and plentiful labor to the rapidly growing economy that accelerated the industrial development of the US5. Class system was very rampant because wealthy citizens were the principal force behind the creation of great art museum and other social and recreation facilities such as parks. As the material and social aspirations of the wealthy grew, they required the public life and demanded the city to provide them with amenities that would match their expectations. Due to urbanization and industrialization, the immigrants were faced with various disturbing facts including the frequency of great fires, diseases, plague, and overcrowding of the working class neighborhoods. The immigrants were exposed to improper disposal of human and industrial waste, air pollution. Above all, urban po verty, crime, and violence accelerated with little success due to the involvement of middle-class people who believed that a lot of assistance would contribute to dependency. They grew particularly alarmed over the increasing number of children in the inner cities that attracted a lot of attention among the reformers. However, the attention never lasted for long. Poverty and overcrowding led into crime and violence. The native-born Americans believed that immigrants committed crimes because of the violence proclivities among their populations. This led to the creation of larger and more professional police force. The immigrants could only seek protection from the political machine that owed its existence to the power vacuum that the growth of the cities created for the political voting power. Class divisions influenced the growing interest in leisure where members of the middle class spent a lot of time. Leisure life bridged the differences of class, race, and gender. For instance, saloons and certain sporting events were male activities6. According to Alger, Ragged Dick, like other immigrants, could socialize in gambling houses that were overcrowded by young boys who misused their hard earnings. At these meetings, the juveniles would take refreshments at two cents a glass. Shopping and attending the tearooms were associated with women. This is in contrast to the cafeteria attended by the immigrants. Alger explains that the tearoom that Ragged Dick attended was a small apartment with a few plain tables without tablecloths; the class of clients who attended it was not very familiar. The meals provided were substandard. On the other hand, popular forms of entertainment developed in the cities whereby many ethnic communities maintained their own style. The Media opened few entertainments to the black performers due to racial discrimination. In addition, performers of both races tailored their acts to prevailing white prejudices in a manner that ridiculed the blac ks. Discrimination was also prevalent in the schooling system. Even though compulsory school attendance laws existed, the rural school lagged behind the urban schools. In the South, most immigrants had no access to the public schools, but for the whites opportunities for schooling expanded drastically. In addition, during the post-Civil War era, there were important educational opportunities open for women, they were less for men and denied to black women7. In conclusion, immigration led to the development of cities characterized by corruption, filth, overcrowding, and diseases. The city governments were dominated by political machines and ruled by party bosses that were the major source of inefficiencies as well as corruption. These cities brought together races, ethnic groups, and class systems. Hence, the immigrants were greatly affected by racial, class and gender discrimination8. Buy custom Transformations in the USA essay