Monday, September 30, 2019
Definitions of Justice in the Melian Dialogue
Amidst an interlude in the fierce struggle for power between the two dominant Greek poleis, Athens and Sparta, the Peloponnesian war, there was unrest. Despite the Peace of Nicias, belligerence between the two states did not cease, but rather took on a new face. While careful to remain within the parameters set several years before in the peace treaty, Athens moved cautiously, but aggressively in establishing alliances, albeit coerced, and strengthening its empire. It was at this juncture that it made its move toward securing the small, weak island-state of Melos, which in its neutral independence suggested danger to the Athenian empire.In a move not of fairness, but of survival, Athens offered the Melians an ultimatum: to be subjugated under Athenian rule as a colony, or be utterly destroyed. It is the Melian dialogue which follows and presents the presumed diplomatic debate between the two nations; the Melian peopleââ¬â¢s argument for their own neutrality, and the Athenian peopl eââ¬â¢s attempt to persuade them to submit. The issue which arises in light of the events at Melos remains to be whether it is the people of Melosââ¬â¢ views of justice which is correct, or if it is Athensââ¬â¢ definition which is truer.By examining each city-stateââ¬â¢s contributions to the Melian dialogue, each respective interpretation becomes clear, enabling further judgement on the eventââ¬â¢s outcome. The Athenians offer the Melians a choice in their own fate, both of which result in Athensââ¬â¢ domination; essentially, this boils down to the Athenianââ¬â¢s definition of justice lying in expediency for those in power. Not a question of fairness, for them, justice lies in survival, and that which results in the most certain preservation of both the subduer and the subdued is just, ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ t would involve your submitting before suffering the worst possible fate, and we would profit from not destroying you,â⬠(Thuc, V, 91). For the Athenians, thei r own pursuit of power, and that which enables its acquisition, is paramount to survival, and as heirs to this mentality, they believe it only natural and therefore not reprehensible, ââ¬Å"divinityâ⬠¦ and mankindâ⬠¦ are under an innate compulsion to rule wherever empowered. Without being either the ones who made this law or the first to apply it after it was laid down, we applied it as one in existenceâ⬠¦ and one that will endure for all time,â⬠(Thuc. V, 105). The Athenians see no injustice in doing simply as their nature impels them to do. In fact, the Athenians see their offer of subjugation to the Melian people as more than reasonable, ââ¬Å"What we will demonstrate is that we are here to help our empire and that there is salvation for your city in what we are now about to say, since we hope to rule over you without trouble and let both parties benefit as you are saved,â⬠(Thuc. , V, 91). Following their belief in doing what is necessary to strengthen th emselves, even at the expense of others, is what brings Athens to Melos.The Melians, contrarilly, see justice as grounded in fairness. They contend that action based in reason is the true definition of justice. ââ¬Å"There is every advantage in your not destroying a universal benefit, but that at all times there be fairness and justice for those in danger,â⬠(Thuc. ,V, 90). This belief in abstinence from aggression without cause is what defines the fundamental differences in the Athenianââ¬â¢s and the Melianââ¬â¢s philosophies. As a neutral state, Melos remained impartial up until it was confronted by Athens, and it is this confrontation which violates the Melian definition of justice.Having not been harmed by the Melians, nor threatened, they had no right, in the Melianââ¬â¢s eyes, to act toward them with hostility. Desiring only to be left alone, the Melians wanted Athens to accept their neutrality and depart, ââ¬Å"You would not tolerate our staying neutral, frien ds not enemies, but allies of neither side? â⬠(Thuc. , V, 94). According to the Melian definition of justice, Athens has no reason or right to inflict any harm upon them, nor to coerce them into the loss of their independence.Having had no desire to take part in the war between Athens and Sparta, Melosââ¬â¢ conception of justice was disregarded as Athens imposed their own definition of justice upon the island-state, at which point, Melos was forced to fight. The results of Athenianââ¬â¢s view on justice are exemplified its being an empire state holding power over many and acting with aggression when the opportunity for greatness is before it. Holding justice to be that which benefits the strong, the building of an empire serves to allow the mother nation-state to collect monetary benefits and resources from those states which it dominates.This collection enables the powerful polis to become more so and then further its sphere of influence. Additionally, this definition o f justice permits an ambitious city-state to spread, conquering not only the states which stand in direct opposition, but also any that could serve as a barrier to reaching absolute greatness. The Melianââ¬â¢s definition of greatness, likewise, serves to explain its position as an isolationism island city-state. In order to act justly, in accordance with Melian belief, a nation-state must act with aggression only in instances where it is necessary for the safety and welfare of its citizens and only as defensive.Justice would require the respect of a peaceable stateââ¬â¢s existence, and the humane treatment of all wartime participants. A just state could not openly provoke another state without cause, nor upset its independence. Ultimately, it was not only a question of justice which lead to the genocide at Melos, but also one of power. It was the Athenianââ¬â¢s drive for power, especially control over others, which lead to its provocation of the Melians, and in fact, their definition of justice nearly demanded it.Under the belief in that which served its own benefit as justice, Athens was spurred toward the indispensable pursuit of power, specifically power over the Melians. The Melian philosophy of neutrality and fairness is in direct opposition to this bellicose ideology. At its heart, the fundamentals of Melian justice conflict with the pursuit of power, i. e. , dominance over others and therefore with Athens, resulting in an insurmountable discrepancy over which their negotiations are futile to transcend.Though the Melian dialogue is a primarily fictional account of a conversation written by a former Athenian, it is clear that the definition of justice that is favored in Thucydidesââ¬â¢ account is that of the Melians. Logical and noble, it is the Melianââ¬â¢s defenses of their own interests that wins out as the stronger, while leaving the Atheniansââ¬â¢ assertions of justice sounding brutish, pessimistic, and altogether contrary to modern conceptions of justice. It is the Melianââ¬â¢s definition which wins out as truly virtuous and altruistic, exactly what justice should be.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Negotiation Report Pakistani Prunes Essay
The case is about a negotiation with a competitor to buy Pakistani prunes in order to use them to save lives. In fact, being a world leader of genetic engineering processes, I need Pakistani prunes to work on people. However, my direct competitor needs Pakistani prunes too and we have to find a deal before the day after. The outcome has been buying fifty-fifty in the short term. In fact, we agreed to share the limited resources on the short term, and then find another agreement 5 years after because each 5 years there are lots of changes thanks to progress of researches etc. we decided during the auction to offer 2 millions as our first offer, and to make our maximum as 4 millions. I thought that it was a good deal because we could each save lots of lives and keep a good reputation. However, Dr Sanchez and I said me how much we were able to spend, and at this moment I should have realise that I had much more power than Dr Sanchez and that maybe I would be able to buy a little more prunes than him in order to have an advantage. This outcome is finally not as satisfactory as it could be because I knew that I had much more money to spend and I could be able to be much more effective. However, in this situation that was an integrative negotiation situation, the best thing could be to cooperate in order t o both win at the end. So the outcome is satisfactory even if it could be better for me if I decided to compete and take all the prunes but that was not fair in my opinion because we were defending the same cause. We first discussed about the cause we were defending, about why do we need the fruit, what we are doing with. We discussed about the fact that we both need prunes to save lives so we play on emotions of the other party. Then, I said that maybe it could be a good idea to share in order to keep our good reputation and that we are complementary organization and for that reason maybe it could be better to both continue our activities than to compete and fail to save some lives. Then, before finding an agreement to how much we will each buy, Dr Sanchez told me how much he was able to spend on the prunes. At this time, he asked me to do fifty-fifty, I agreed on that statement because I thought that he will spend all his money and I will save some if I need it in the future. The other issue was to agree on a short term and a long-term agreement because thanks to researches and progress, things are changing each five years. So we agreed on a fifty-fifty share in the sort term but we also sig ned to review our agreement in few years, depending on the progress and changes. My strategy was firstly to try to know more about the other partyââ¬â¢s ambitions, goals, strategy etc. Dr Sanchez told me a lot about what he wanted to do with prunes, how much he wanted to spend, what he wanted in the short term and long-term since the beginning of the discussion so I decided to trust what he said to me, even if I was maybe wrong doing that, I had the feeling that he was trustful, he was open to me and didnââ¬â¢t seem to lie. His strategy was to expose the all situation in order to obtain the maximum he could have from me. I think he knew that he had a really limited budget and that the best thing would be to cooperate and not to compete. The critical moments has been firstly the moment when he told how much he had to spend on it because he gave me an important information, the second one has been when I learnt about his goals because I could analyse the long-term and short-term strategies we had to use and I was able to identify that we had the same goals, we were acting for the same cause and we had positive feelings so this situation could be an integrative situation so a ââ¬Å"win-winâ⬠situation, and the last one has been the agreements we agreed on. This case was very interesting and has been very important for me because I did some mistakes but thanks to thank I learnt a lot about negotiation and integrative negotiation situation. The first mistake has been when we identified the interests. In fact, I didnââ¬â¢t realise that we were not interested in the same part of the prune, if I realised that, we would be able to maximize our profits. So we fail in identifying our interests. However, the good thing is that we had the same goal (save lives), and we were trustful in each other. Since the beginning we had positive feelings towards each other so each of us told the trust and we wanted to share, cooperate and help each other because we directly saw that cooperate will be better than compete if we wanted to act together for the same and good cause. In my opinion, the best skill I applied during this case was to identify the positive feelings there were between us, and the emotions we exchanged about the causes we defended. However, I have to be careful about feelings and truth because maybe, the other party could be much more dishonest and I could loose everything. The most important thing I learnt is that cooperating could be a very good deal in this kind of cases when it concern health, peopleââ¬â¢s safety etc. because we can do much more positive things when we are two than when we are alone. However, I have to keep in mind, even if I did well by sharing and cooperating, that we failed by identifying that we didnââ¬â¢t need the same part of the fruit, and that is a shame because we will be able to save half of the lives we could be able to do!!
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Adaptive memory
Adaptive memory Memory is one of the intriguing topics to study in cognitive psychology; it is something we rely on for our daily activities i.e. we use memory remember/recollect information relevant to our day to day activities. Whereas there are traditional approaches to study memory by conducting researches on the framework of levels of processing model and so on. This study has tried to investigate factors of memory from an evolutionary point of view. According to the adaptive memory concept, memory systems are tuned to retain information having survival fitness value. A crucial feature of adaptive memory is that the notion memory has evolved (over the period of time) to increase survival by better retaining information having fitness value. In the recent years, James S Nairne-et-al. research on adaptive memory has interested a lot of other researchers of evolutionary psychology to study this topic. Nairne and colleagues conducted a series of experiment to test the phenomenon of adaptive memory. Central to the school of thought in human memory research is the assumption that human memory systems are functionally designed and like other biological systems, memory is likely evolved to enhance fitness (survival and reproduction). Thinking about the relevance of information to a survival situation produces excellent long-term retention. A few seconds of survival processing produces better free recall than virtually all other known memory-enhancement techniques. Memory is essential to adaptive behavior because it allows past experience to guide choices. In the experiment conducted by Narine-et-al., participants are asked to imagine that theyââ¬â¢re a part of a small tribe living in grassland of a foreign land. Theyââ¬â¢re asked to gather or hunt food items in order to help their and their tribesââ¬â¢ survival. Next a list of words are presented, and participants are asked to rate the relevance of each word to the imagined scenario. In a later surprise memory test, participants typically remember the words rated for relevance to this fitness-relevant scenario better than they remember words that are not fitness relevant (to the scenario). This can be explained through the theory of natural selection. Human memory is evolved because it enhanced survival and fitness in environments that were present during the extended period of human evolution. Anderson Schooler (1991, 2000) suggested that certain mnemonic characteristics, such as the general form of the retention function, mimic the way events tend to occur and recur in the environment. It has been suggested that sex differences in spatial abilities, including a memory for object locations, may have an evolutionary basis. Silverman Eals (1992) suggested that the division of labor typically found in hunter-gatherer societies-men hunt and women gather-may have led to unique foraging-related cognitive specializations of the sexes. Men generally outperform women on tasks thought to be related to hunting skills (e.g. navigation and orientation), whereas women often show an advantage on tasks requiring memory for objects stored in fixed locales. The experiment conducted is based on the study done by Narine-et-al. (2009), here the participants are randomly divided into three groups; hunter, gatherer, and scavenger. Participants in the experiments were asked to rate the relevance of words to scenarios that were specifically designed to mimic prototypical hunting and gathering activities. Following the rating task, participants received a surprise recall test on the rated words. Participants always rated the relevance of the target words to hunting or to gathering food, but under conditions that were either fitness relevant or not. The purpose of this study was to learn whether or not memory systems have evolved to better retain information related to fitness-survival value. Rationale: According to past studies (Narine, Klein, Cosmides, Tooby Chance,2002) suggest that human memory systems are ââ¬Å"tunedâ⬠to remember information that is processed in terms of fitness value. Hence it is predicted that when a person is asked to rate the relevance of words to a survival scenario the performance is better on recall scores.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Judaism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Judaism - Research Paper Example It would not be an exaggeration to point out that the human civilization possesses a considerable number of peculiarities that make it a rather unique formation. Indeed, while it is quite easy to point out things like generating verbal interaction, there is not doubt that they reflect only superficial differences. On a much deeper level the mankind might be defined by other aspect, one of which is highly developed spiritual world. This paper will analyze a particular religion, namely Judaism, focusing on different its elements. First of all, it would be rather advantageous to provide a general description of this spiritual tradition. Thus, Judaism, may be viewed in different aspects which does not make it a religion in a strict sense of the word. On the one hand, it is a set of philosophic as well as ethical principles that might be adopted by a person who considers them to be correct (the religious aspect of it); on the other hand, it is closely connected to the development of the Jews as a nation, making it an irreplaceable part of their lifestyle and national identity (the ethnic aspect). Judaism is a monotheistic religion that belongs to the group of the so called Abrahamic religions (Hughes 11). It may quite important to point out the sacred texts that Judaism is based on.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Child maltreatment and abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Child maltreatment and abuse - Essay Example Psychologists have concluded that many children who have been facing abuse and maltreatment from a very early age tend to suffer these diseases along with other mental health problems as they grow up. Child abuse has been regarded as one of the reasons for arising mental problems. During early days of childhood, the brain is developing and the child is learning new things. If the system of the brain is disrupted at this age and the child goes through unusual events, it affects the mental health of the child as time passes. If a child is abused at the hands of adults, he tends to lose trust in the people around him and thus, is never able to develop qualities such as love, trust and care for others around him (Regehr and Glancy, 2010). In the documentary we see that Beth wants to kill her brother, mother and father because she has lost trust at a very early age. She was tortured and sexually abused because of which she was never able to develop the qualities of loving and caring for others. She wanted to see others around her in pain as she never learned to bond with people. Such children face trauma and abuse in the early days of life and thus, they do not develop a conscious because of which they can easily hurt or even kill other people. These children do not have the ability to love or accept love. They treat others the way they have been treated in their lives (Child of Rage, 1992). Welsh (2012) explains that the abuse in childhood may shrink some of the important sides of the brain. This reduced volume of the brain explains the problems that these children face at the later stages of their life such as depression, addiction of drugs and other mental disorders. Survivors of child abuse can be treated in many ways as science has concluded. The development in the research study of these survivors shows that there are better ways in which these children can
How a person should be internationlly Research Paper
How a person should be internationlly - Research Paper Example The idea of an international person is derived from international law. In other words, it is a person who is subject to international law. Furthermore, an international person has powers established in international law; they enjoy the rights, duties and powers established in international law. They also have the ability to act on the international plane (definitions.uslegal.com/i/international-person). This is clearly illustrated in the Kiobel v, Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. 2010 as the court described an international person as a person subjected to the international law. A person internationally should be understanding, patience, and accommodative to all the cultures and interests of people (Boas, 155). Other sources imply that to become a person international is more about applying cross-continental wisdom and kindness. It involves the ability to apply basic human goodness on a boarder spectrum, all around the world. Moreover, someone who has travelled to a lot of places has an outl ook, which is not limited by national boundaries, is tolerant and accepting all cultures and is adaptable, to an extent, to many cultural surroundings. Others say one can become a person internationally, by being a person of the people by either being an activist or a leader (roots-int.com/S-T/14/nora-e.html>.) Being an activist of human rights, disabled people or other issues that are sensitive in the world of today. Some of the people who have become person internationally include; Political leaders, some sportsmen and women, some celebrities, human right laws among other professions. The biggest role models internationally include; President Obama, Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Micheal Jackson to name just a few. The fact that these people relate to people from all walks of life make them people who are known internationally. Being an international person is beneficial as the idea of internationalizing the world because of unification. Internationalizing promotes world peace, it makes one understand the language, religion and culture of other people thus resulting to a unified group of people (roots-int.com/S-T/14/nora-e.html>). . Ways to become an international person. They are many ways to become an international person; one can be an international student, an international business person, and international programs. Here is a case study of Martin who has become an international person through being a student. Martin joined J.F Oberlin as an exchange student he was interested in Japanese traditional things and culture, he had heard about how great Japan is and this made him curious to know about Japanese culture. Martinââ¬â¢s homeland is Slovakia where he studied Marketing in University of Silesia, he joined Japan as he thought of it as an exotic country and he expected so much difference with Asian countries. For martin, going for studies in Japan would make him an international person as he saw it as a good environment for studying as he would lear n different languages. Being an international person by studying out of the home country has many advantages compared to studying in home universities. First, as an international student Martin is bale to learn about other countriesââ¬â¢ culture as well as Japan. At J.F Oberlin martin is able to meet people from other countries like China, Korea, America as
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Guatemalan civil war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Guatemalan civil war - Essay Example Guatemalan civil war It is important to undertake a critical investigation into the cause-effect of this civil war and the input of cultural structure of Latin America in this war (Natella 176). Many scholars have explored the cultural factors within the context of Latin America region and how this contributed to the long standing economic oppression and political instability that was the order of the day in Guatemala from early 1960s. Political structure is always derived from the traditions of any community in their ancient socio-political organization and the way of governance and culture of loyalty defines success of any leadership. It would equally be important to consider the foreign influence into the civil war and what they sought to gain. It is also worth to take a look at the community that suffered the full brunt of this civil war and the consequences this had on its relationship with the governing authority to date. Maya community and Indians were particularly tortured, displaced and killed. Further inquiry would also be important in regard to the civil warââ¬â¢s contribution towards present day modernization and democratization and its cost in Guatemala. Critical analysis of the civil war in Guatemala indicates that there were real social problems that compelled some people to revolt against the government. . Research findings establish that there was massive oppression, widespread racism and mass violence which left many people displaced, maimed and killed. The question that many people would ask is the relationship that existed between the government of the day and its citizens in regard to the violent clashes between Neoliberal and Leftist (Coerver, et al.259). To answer this question, it would be important to find the other factors that contributed to this historic civil war almost likened to genocide. United States had a hand in the clashes through their push for capitalism in Latin America. It is therefore evident that there involvement fuelled the problem and explains its length of existence I terms of years. They supplied the government military wing with resources that were used against the leftists. This was a tactical approach towards forcing the citizens to adhere to the government oppressive economic ideologies and promote their interest in the country. This explains the US installation of Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas by Central intelligence agency against the democratically-elected president, Jacobo Arbenz. The later was considered communist threat and acted in the interest of the citizens. At the height of confrontation between the leftist and the government forces, the citizens suffered more in many ways and this soured their relationship with the government between 1960ââ¬â¢s and the 1990s (Davies and Fredric 211). Government sought to favor foreigners by taking local peopleââ¬â¢s land and allocating to the foreigners, dividing to political cronies and completely ignored the plight of common citizens through autocratic leadership. The leftist represented the people as they fought to regain lost property to the dictatorial governments. The neoliberal forces were for the idea of capitalism that promoted extremes in form of wealth and poverty and therefore got much hatred from the citizens. Despite several negotiations and international communityââ¬â¢s intervention in Guatemala crisis, citizens still had no confidence in the government and its socio-economic and political pursuits. It is important to note that
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
The Choice of Music in Any Film and the Meanings of the Actions Research Paper
The Choice of Music in Any Film and the Meanings of the Actions Performed in the Film - Research Paper Example In the Pianist, the horror story of the Nazi holocaust is told through the story of Wladyslaw Szpilman. He is a Polish-Jewish Pianist cum composer trapped in the evil objective of the Nazi manifesto to degrade the Jewish people of the world (Akhtar, Rogers & Plotkin, 2002). Music in both films is used to achieve different emotions to viewers in order to convey different messages to them. While ââ¬Å"The Pianistâ⬠starts with a low note of the piano The GodFather begins in the centre of the underworld which is Don Corleoneââ¬â¢s office as he listens to requests in his role as The GodFather; the leader of the crime world. Dressed in a dark suit and a white shirt The GodFather epitomizes the cadre of his profession which is a raw crime. Outside the dark tense office of Don Corleone, there is an ongoing wedding full of pomp and music; it is the wedding of his only daughter. This is meant from the onset to show the two different worlds in a mafia family. While the women and the c hildren are spared the intricacies of mafia operations the men such as Sony and his father are the kingpins of the underworld. The Pianist begins in the streets of Warsaw in 1939 at the onset of the world war. Szpilman is behind his keyboard in the studios of the polish state radio playing Chopin 's Nocturne in C-sharp minor Lento con gran espressione. The calm composition signifies the pieced prevailing in Warsaw before it is attacked by the Nazi thugs. As Stillman plays the piano the first sounds of the raging war outside are heard presumably from the window behind his producer in the studio.
Monday, September 23, 2019
American Airlines Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
American Airlines - Assignment Example This can lead to unethical activities when the senior management and organization can gain significant rewards because of the short-term concentration on stock price (Machan, 2007). The senior management may tolerate organizational conflict of interest, abusing a number of rules of fair conduct or normal decency, gaming the rules of the society, and turning to cronyism as a means of making the most of their self-interest. Senior management troubled with the stock price of the company also concentrates on performance events that are short-term, often earnings. As a result, the senior management holds a commonly emphasizing fascination with short-term performance of stock prices. The senior management can engage in unethical behavior because profits are presumed as the most extensively conventional metric. Senior managers who have the capacity to consistently and correctly forecast the stock prices can gain tremendous profits. This prediction may make the senior management use unfounde d profit assessment. They may view the logical model of analysis as theoretically adequate but sensibly not connected from the anticipated earnings. The senior management may refer to the activities of market players to make a case out of their short-term focus on stock price (Machan, 2007). Encouraged by the view that stakeholders look at the current stock prices to determine value, they may repurchase shares even when they may be overvalued or fairly valued. Question 2 The conduct of American Airline controlling its finances by postponing the maintenance of its aircrafts may be unethical to both the stakeholders and clients. Shareholders are perceived as a unit that endures a kind of danger as a result of investing some kind of capital, financial or human based shares in a company. On the other hand, clients are presumed to be a group that endures some form of risk during their travels. When stakeholders and clients suppose that finances are being manipulated, a company consequent ly decreases worth on the stock market. The credit rating of the company will go down making the issued bonds to decrease in worth (Capozzi, 2001). Consequently, this will have a negative impact on the wealth of bondholders. American Airlines has had recurring issues with regard to maintenance of its aircrafts. The expenditure connected with operating these aircrafts has a negative impact on both stakeholders and clients. American Airlines has an ethical obligation to both stakeholders and clients to ensure that its aircrafts are well maintained. The airline also has an obligation to give correct details on the states of their aircrafts to both stakeholders and clients. When American Airlines postpones the maintenance of its aircrafts thereby influencing earnings, it means the company is not giving the true picture about its financial situation. In addition, the behavior is unethical towards the clients because aircrafts may pose risks that the clients are not aware of. The company also canceled a number of flights due to postponing aircraft maintenance in 2008. The company
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Marketing Techniques Essay Example for Free
Marketing Techniques Essay The main thing behind marketing in a business is finding the customerââ¬â¢s needs and produce the product/ services to satisfy their needs, this way the customer can choose what they would want included in their product/ service. A business that follows this rule is market-orientated. There is alternatives orientation for businesses, these are; The production concept: This is where the business produces in large quantities and distribute in bulk, this is so the customer/ business get the products cheaper as they will be bulk buying. A business that would do this is Walkers. They make thousands of packets and then sells them to large business such as Tesco, Tesco would be able to buy it for cheaper as they will be buying in a very large amount as they can stock allot of products. However charity shops will sell their products and with the entire surplus they send it off to the charity. An example of this is Oxfam, they will sell their products to the public and with all the surplus is sent off to the project they are currently on. The sales concept: Businesses need to know how to sell their products/ services. If they donââ¬â¢t know how to the business is likely to fail but if a business knows how to sell its goods/ sieves then it is likely to be successful. A type of sales technique is hard selling nor Tesco or Oxfam hard sell but businesses such as Anglian, Everest and Safestyle are usually hard sellers trying to get you to buy double glazing. As you can see some of the sales reps in these businesses have lied about the business just so they can close sales with people on the spot. The marketing Concept: Marketing concept is different to sales and production as it has to take every step with keeping customers in mind as marketing is based around customerââ¬â¢s needs and wishes. An example for this is Tesco they do this with their Tesco Club card every time you shop you swipe your card and the system knows what the customer purchased, so to bring back the customer they will mail you some vouchers which then makes the customer want to come back into the store and shop again. Another business that uses marketing is Curryââ¬â¢s when you purchase something the sales assistant take down your home address so if they have any offers which are similar to what you bought will send you letter informing you about any offers. Marketing definitions: Basic definition of marketing is meeting customer needs and wants profitably. Marketing consists of identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably. Objectives: Private sector The objectives for a private sector business are to maximise profits and expand all over the world. An example for a private sector business is Tesco. They have businesses in the UK and in America called Fresh Easy. In the screen shot you can see Tescoââ¬â¢s objectives. Public sector The objectives for a public sector business are to provide quality service for the public. An example for this is the NHS as they provide health care for everyone. In the screenshot you can see NHSââ¬â¢s objectives. Voluntary sector The voluntary sector businesses objectives are to raise money for good causes. An example of this is Oxfam they aid anyone to donate any goods so they can sell them and send the money they produce from the goods they sell given to the public to projects they are currently on. As you can see this is one of Oxfamââ¬â¢s shops where they sell goods that have been donated by the public. Organisational objective This is a target for the whole business no matter how big it is. A good example of this is Tesco, Tescoââ¬â¢s objective may be to increase market share to 51%. Marketing objective This is how you are going to achieve it e.g. increase Tesco value products Tesco can produce their own products such as Ben Jerry ice-cream they can produce a Tesco value version as some people may not be able to afford à £4 ice-cream so the people can buy the alternative which would help Tesco increase their profits. Link between organisational objectives and marketing objectives Marketing objectives shouldnââ¬â¢t be contradicting a businessââ¬â¢s main objective, but should be contributing in achieving that. A business will not succeed if itââ¬â¢s been pulled apart in two different directions. An example of this is if Tesco want to increase their sales by a certain percentage then different functional areas have to contribute to achieve this such as advertising they may advertise products that are on offer or any seasonal products e.g. Christmas, new years or valentines. Tescoââ¬â¢s could also send out more offers with their Club Card meaning more customers may shop in the business. By this way Tesco will be informing a lot more people that they have sales on which might bring more customers into the business. Market leadership This is where a business has the most market share in a given product or service, this could be measured by the amount of goods sold or the value of those goods. If a business wants to become a market leader they need to be 51% or more in sales for it to become a market leader. For example, Tesco is the leading supermarket in the supermarket market place as you can see in this screenshot (January 2012). Charity do no compete with market share as they all have similar aims and objectives but need maximum funds to stay in operation. Some charities will be more valuable then others depending on how much donations they receive. Oxfam is at the top along with cancer research UK, British Heart Foundation and many more. Brand awareness Brand awareness is making people aware of the business and what they do/ sell. Brand awareness is the NHSââ¬â¢s number one objective, they want all of Great Britainââ¬â¢s public to know what they do. Brand awareness may be an individual product or the whole business itself. Tesco may advertise their Tesco club card so people are more aware of the club card you can get when you sign up with them. Perceptions of customers A customerââ¬â¢s perception of a business or a brand often affects their purchasing decision. An example of this is a business might have a lot of brand awareness but their products might not be of the highest quality. This will make the customer not want to come back into the store as they are paying for a cheap quality product. Tesco has a reputation of selling goods a cheap price to everyone, if they start selling their products higher than their competitors then they are likely to lose out on customers and sales which are why they try keep their prices as low as possible. People may also decide to shop at Oxfam for clothes rather than buying clothes from the high street as they know their money goes to good use. Techniques: Growth strategies Businesses grow through their products/ services every time they put a product on the market more and more people will find out about the product. For example Tesco have been using growth strategies as they are expanding with their services, such as Tesco Money, you can now have a credit card with Tesco which people who may donââ¬â¢t normally do not shop at Tesco may have their Tesco credit card. Oxfam use growth strategies through advertising. Every time they advertise someone new will hear about Oxfam and how they are helping to take people out of poverty in third world countries. Survival strategies This is important for all business if they want to keep operating. The reason why Tesco are expanding into different markets is in case one market fails them they have other services which will help them keep out of making a loss for example if Tesco started making cars and sold a few thousand but then was not successful. They are likely to start making a loss but as they are successful in other markets they are unlikely that they would shut down. With Oxfam with all their stores open they can use them stores to survive. Branding Business need to have a strong brand image in order for them to survive. Providing high customer service will increase the brand image. Advertising is also a factor to increase the brand image. Tesco and Oxfam both have a very strong brand image as they are at the top of their tables Tesco is globally a very well known business and Oxfam is also globally well know as they operate in the UK and in third world countries. Relationship marketing Building a relationship with customers is very important for the business as they will think that the business cares about them. Tesco can build relationships with its customers at the tills, the cashier can communicate with the customer building a positive relationship. This is also the same with Oxfam when people buy products from the stores they are building a relationship with the business or if you support Oxfam through direct debit you will receive a welcome pack with updates every month about what the persons many is doing and how they are helping people in poverty.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Does Hong Kong Need VAT/GST?
Does Hong Kong Need VAT/GST? Is it necessary to have VAT/GST in Hong Kong? More than 120 countries have imposed Goods and Services Tax, the only developed country that has not imposed this tax is Hong Kong. VAT or GST has been introduced by France in 1954(Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry). All the developed countries (except Hong Kong) and most of thedeveloping countries have followed France in imposing VAT/GST becausethis tax is considered: 1- Fair: VAT/GST is considered a fair tax because it relates theamount of collected tax to the amount of consumption; the more you consume, the more you pay VAT. 2- Simplicity: unlike any other taxes, VAT/GST is considered a straightforward tax; it is imposed according to a known percentage onthe value of the products and services 3- Efficiency: this tax is very efficient, it is very easy to collect it and it is very difficult to avoid it. Chapter2: Objectives: The purpose of this research is to find out whether VAT/GST is a suitable tax for Hong Kong or not. The research has covered very large material and literature about Hong Kong and similar economies to Hong Kong such as Singapore. The research also aimed to show that most of the governments of theworld are broadening their budgets by imposing VAT/GST on customers while they are trying to reduce income and corporate taxes. Chapter3: Literature consulted: The research has covered a large part of literature publishedby global accredited organizations such as Price Waterhouse coopers,Ernest Young and the government of Hong Kong. The major text books have been used to give us a broad idea about the issue in research while the specialized working papers, Internet articles and government websites have been used in order to give us a clear idea about the issue in research. The research consulted working papers published by several universities and bodies in order to explain the theoretical principles behind imposing VAT/GST (Hubbard,G,R(1997)and the impact of VAT/GST on theinformal sector in developed countries. Chapter4: Proposed Methodology: We can see from the above chart the deficit that have faced HongKong from 1997 until 2003, the revenue was very low compared to thespending which proved to be steady. â⬠During the same year, about 70% of the total revenue collected by the Inland Revenue Department came from profits tax and salaries tax.Nevertheless, the profits and salaries tax nets are very narrow andshrinking. Less than 40% of our workforce of 3.2 million people pay anysalaries tax, and only 10,000 people pay the maximum salaries tax rateof 15%. About 5% of the payers of profits tax contribute to 80% of the profits tax revenue. Further loss of profits could occur as a result of globalisation. Besides, the spread of e-commerce will have implications on all governments abilities to assess and collect business-related taxes. In this regard, both the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for the Treasury expressed their concerns on the impact of the exponential growth of e-commerce on Hong Kongs territorial-based tax system. The Government will set up a Task Force to review publicfinances and an independent committee on new broad-based taxesâ⬠, Wong,J(no date given) The research has depended on major questionnaire that have beendistributed to citizens and companies in Hong Kong in order to gettheir opinion about VAT/GST tax. The response that I have got from this questionnaire has been used in predicting the change in consumption behavior by the citizens of Hong Kong. The research has also depended on comparative analysis in order to seehow Hong Kong economy will be affected and how the whole tax system will be redesigned. The research depended on some graphs to illustrate the topic further. Chapter 5: Data and Information needs and sources: This research needs theortical as well as practical data and comparative analysis. This research is different because it assesses the potential of something that might happen in the future. The researcher has conducted a questionnaire in order to measure theacceptance of the people to VAT and their views about the fiscal position of their country. The researcher tried to make sure that the sample is random, so the results are random too and not biased. The research required me to use some theoretical concepts in order to assess the impact of VAT. The research also depended on comparative analysis in order to see whathappened to similar economies that have implemented VAT/GST. Chapter6: Chapter Plan: Understanding the principles behind using an expenditure tax like GST/VAT: Definition of GST: Goods and Services tax is imposed on: Goods and Services tax is broad-based and equitable and is capable of yielding sizeable and steady revenues. VAT or GST is a consumption tax, it is paid by the consumer of the product or the service as a percentage of the final price. It is related to all commercial activities involving the production and distribution of services; it is not charged on companies which mean that companies can deduct from their VAT liabilities the amount of tax they have paid to other taxable persons on purchases for their business activities. Hong Kong government is considering introducing VAT/GST tax in 2009(Hong Kongââ¬â¢s Inland Revenue). Difference between VAT and Sales Tax: VAT is imposed on every stage of production while Sales tax is actually collected in the form of extra charge by the retailer, who remits thetax to the government. VAT and the Theory of Economics: There have been a long debate between different economic schools of thought around the world about tax reform. Some economists prefer income tax to VAT/GST because it provides fair treatment to the citizens of the country while others prefer VAT/GST. According to Hubbard,G,R(1997), some economists support VAT for the following reasons: 1- Imposing VAT instead of income tax will encourage capital accumulation and savings. 2- Removing income and profit taxes will remove distortions in the allocation of capital among different economic sectors. 3- A broad based consumption tax would avoid potential costly distortions of firmââ¬â¢s financial structures. Importance of VAT: Today it is a key source of government revenue in over 120 countries. About 4 billion people, 70 percent of the worldspopulation, now live in countries with a VAT, and it raises about $18trillion in tax revenue, Liam E., Michael K., Jean-Paul B. and VictoriaS(1991) VAT has advantages and disadvantages: Disadvantages of imposing VAT: * VAT discourages specialist economic activity and fragmentation inthe production because VAT will be fragmented; VAT encourages integration in order to avoid compounded VAT. * VAT encourages financing big governments: in the 1960s, the size of governments in the US and the UK were approximately equal, in theyear 2002, the size of the government in Europe have exceeded the size of the US government, many analysts attribute the difference betweenthe sizes of the two governments to VAT, The expansion of the government will lead to higher prices and inefficient production, thething that will lead to more taxes in the future. Advantages of imposing VAT: * VAT could finance the debt of the government because it provides stable and steady stream of income that is capable of financing development projects. * VAT could reduce consumption and make the citizens of any country save and invest more money. * By encouraging integration, VAT could push the economy towards mergers that will reduce the stages of production; VAT simply tends to encourage big businesses to get bigger by buying other companies, this could yield economies of scale and generate synergies.. * Selectivity: the government can select the products and services that it needs to impose VAT on, for example, most government exclude food from VAT, by using VAT governments could take into its consideration the difficult economic situation of the poor and decidethe exclusions that apply to them. * VAT is a secure way to finance the governmentââ¬â¢s structura ldeficit, VAT covers most of the economic segments in the economy and it is very difficult to evade it. Introduce a his torical background, economy and tax system in Hong Kong: The Modern History of Hong Kong: Hong Kong was a British dependency from the 1840s until July 1, 1997,when it passed to Chinese sovereignty as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Pannell,C(1998). The British control of Hong Kong began in 1842, when China was forced to cede Hong Kong Island to Great Britain after the First Opium War. In1984 Great Britain and China signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration,which stipulated that Hong Kong return to Chinese rule in 1997 as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. The Joint Declaration and a Chinese law called the Basic Law, which followed in 1990, provide for the SAR to operate with a high degree of economic autonomy for 50 years beyond 1997, Reference: China Connection. In the Fifties of the last century, the threat of the cold world was looming over the world. Investors were looking for a safe heaven to locate their businesses andinvestments in a neutral place away from the eastern and the westerncamps, investors found in Hong Kong a promising co untry that is able todeliver good business environment that could foster growth and political stability at the same time. Growth in Hong Kong depends on several other economies such as the growth in the US economy and the growth in China and Southeast Asia in general. Growth in Hong Kong is related to oil prices and world wide prices;Hong Kong is a small island with very little raw resources, it depends on exporting raw materials from abroad in order to manufacture them onits land and re-export them again to other parts of the world. Manufacturing: In 1950s, Hong Kong attracted manufacturing jobs and the vast majority of its work force where working in factories. In 1980s, Hong Kong had about 905,000 manufacturing workers and manufacturing was the most important economic sector, Economist Intelligence Unit (2003). Until 1990s, Factories were manufacturing products that depended on labour intensive work force, after that manufacturing jobs started dropping because of the climbing costs of labour and land. In 1990s, the number of manufacturing jobs was about 575,000 jobs. In 2001, the manufacturing sector contributed to less than 5% of the GDP, Economist Intelligence Unit (2003). Like most of the developed nations, Manufacturing in Hong Kong is becoming concentrated on manufacturing hi-tech products and services. The manufacturing sector has been replaced by rapidly expanding service sector, in 1991; the service sector has generated 72.3% of the GDP in Hong Kong and in 2002, the service sector has generated about 83.9% ofthe GDP, Economist Intelligence Unit (2003). Services: A- Banking: The banking sector is now the most important economic sector in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is currently the fifth largest banking centre inthe world. Hong Kong offered investors a very good opportunity to invest in a growing emerging economy. Investors benefited from tax free capital gains and high dividends. B- Tourism: Tourism is a significant source of economic growth in Hong Kong; nearly 9 million people visit Hong Kong every year, Tourists spend around $7billion every year. Tourism is the third source of foreign exchange reserves in Hong Kong. The banking and the tourism sectors have delivered a very good growth to the Hong Kong economy. In 1996, Hong Kongs per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was secondto Japan and Singapore in Asia and exceeded that of the United Kingdom,Canada, and Australia, Reference: internet article: Marimari (no dategiven). Sources of Success: Hong Kong offered investors business-friendly laws and gave complete freedom to the movement of capital in order to encourage investments and promote growth. Hong Kong is duty free zone and there are few barriers to trade goods and services; this has made the country an important link ring between the east and the west. Hong Kong left market forces decide wages and prices; the government did not legislate any minimum wage requirement or anti-trust laws. Competition in Hong Kong: The decline of the manufacturing sector has caused the decline of competition in Hong Kong. Competition is considered an essential part of the market system. Competition benefits consumers and businesses, it benefits consumer by lowering prices and it benefits businesses by allocating resources in amore efficient ways. Competition is very important to the health of Hong Kong economy,competition gives world economies the flexibility to adjust its pricesin the case of external shock (macro-economic shock) Sturm,P,Jahangir,A, Breuer,P, Nishigaki,Y (2000). Emerging economies that depend on fixed exchange rates usually suffer from real exchange rate appreciation. The real exchange rate appreciation could be treated by either: 1- Switching to a flexible exchange rate: according to the ââ¬Å"law ofone priceâ⬠flexible exchange rate will adjust exchange rates in orderto make tradable products have the same price everywhere in the world. 2- Lowering prices: lowering prices of products is an important toll in avoiding international competition, lowering prices could onlyhappen if the structure of the market is competitive. Having a competitive market structure in lowering prices and keeping international capital flows coming to Hong Kong. Tax Regime in Hong Kong: Hong Kong tax regime is based on a territorial-based tax regime; the tax is imposed on incomes that arise from Hong Kong, Hong Kongââ¬â¢ Inland Revenue. The economy of Hong Kong has gained a competitive advantage because it imposes no taxes on capital gains and dividends; this has encouraged many investors to invest in that country and established an important financial centre in Asia. Hong Kong has the following simple tax structure: 1- Property Tax: Property tax is levied on rental income from land and buildings situated in Hong Kong. 2- Salaries Tax: Salaries tax is imposed on incomes derived from working in Hong Kong or if incomes derived from services rendered fromHong Kong. 3- Profits Tax: profits that are generated in Hong Kong aresubject to taxes, profits of unincorporated business stands at a rateof 15% and corporations at 16.5%. The relationship between Hong Kong and the foreign exchange rate: The currency in Hong Kong is Hong Kong dollar which is pegged to the USdollar, if Hong Kong government wanted that peg to continue, it shouldtighten its fiscal deficit. The currency of Hong Kong is an investment asset, many investorsdiversify their currency allocations, this diversified allocation tothe funds of the global investors results in an important cash inflowto Hong Kong. For the Hong Kong dollar to get part of the allocation, Hong Kongshould stabilize its budget in order to attract more foreign investment. Analyze why the government considers launching a broad-based tax. Narrow tax base: Hong Kong has very narrow tax base, narrow tax base means that thecollected revenues do not provide enough revenue to cover theexpenditure of the country. If we compare TAX/GDP ratio in Hong Kong compared to other Asia Pacificand OECD countries we find out that Hong Kong has the lowest ratio ofTAX/GDP. Hong Kong has a narrow tax base because the tax base is shrinkingsince 1998; sound tax systems are based on growing and stable (notvolatile) tax base. Hong Kong has the lowest corporate tax rate among the OECD countries, the current corporate tax stands at 16%. Erosion of Tax Base: The erosion of tax base is actually a result of several factors,such as: sliding house prices, illegal betting, e-commerce and onlinestock trading. In the following section I will explain each of these factors separately: 1- sliding house prices: For a long time, Hong Kong depended on land and property transactions to contribute to government revenue of Hong Kong. Collected tax from property in Hong Kong(stamp duty, rates and sharesand estate duties) is well above the international benchmarks as apercentage of GDP, Property from taxes/GDP=24% for Hong Kong against 5%for the OECD and 10% for the Asia Pacific countries), Reference: HongKong Government, Tax Base Study. Hong Kong depends on Land sales revenues in financing its budget,this has made Hong Kong increasingly dependent on non-tax revenues. In the tax base study that has been conducted by the government of Hong Kong and KPMG consultancy, the study reports the fact that HongKongââ¬â¢s non-tax revenue is about 80% of its tax revenues against 16% forOECD benchmark. Because Hong Kong has enjoyed a buoyant business environment for years, banks started granting credit very easily to businesses, the expansion of credit was accompanied by rising house prices, land prices started going up sharply from 1984 to 1997, Gerlach, S Peng,W(2002). Many companies found working in the construction sector very profitable because they can make profit from two sources: * Net profits from building new houses and buildings. * Profits from capital gains resulting from continuous increase in house prices. The construction sector was one the most attractive economic sectors in the country. Foreign and national banks expanded credit to companies whichoperate in the construction sector; the banking sector played anââ¬Å"acceleratorâ⬠role in the run-up of the property prices. The government in Hong Kong has constructed its tax system around thefact that land prices are going up all the time because they are indemand. Because of the financial crises of August 1997 that hit south east Asiaand also because of the government policy on housing, Revenues fromland sales and land utilization(lease, rent) dropped dramatically,suddenly the government found its huge revenues from land dwindling. On the 16th of January 2000, the secretary for the treasury stated that: ââ¬Å"The other significant factor supporting our finances, in recent years,has been the high levels of revenue from land and propertytransactions. But as property prices stabilize, the huge windfalls areunlikely to recur in the futureâ⬠. 2- illegal betting: Hong Kongââ¬â¢s treasury depended on revenues from betting activities in the country. Hefty taxes has made too many people start thinking about illegal betting, Schuman,M(2004). On the 16th of January 2000, the secretary for the treasury stated that: ââ¬Å"The impact of illegal gambling and the rise of gambling through the Internet threaten to erode our income from betting taxâ⬠Hong Kongââ¬â¢s Home Affairs bureau said handle plunged 30% from 1996-97 to65 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$8.3 billion; euro6.5 billion) in2003-04, while government revenue from betting dropped from HK$12.3billion (US$1.6 billion; euro1.24 billion) to HK$8.78 billion (US$1.13billion; euro882 million). Meanwhile, the amount of cash and betting slips seized from illegalsoccer and horse gambling operators jumped from HK$9.38 million(US$1.20 million; euro942,000) in 2001 to HK$19.7 million (US$2.53million; euro1.98 million) in 2004, according to the government. The government said handle is project ed to drop another 30% by 2007-08if no action is taken, Reference: the associated press (2005).
Friday, September 20, 2019
US foreign Policy 1865-1914, expansionist or isolationist Essay
Was the foreign policy of the United States primarily isolationist or expansionist through 1865-1914? Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã At the turn of the century, and after gaining our independence, the United States land mass more than doubled through the use of purchasing, annexing, and war. However, the foreign policy of our government took a predominately isolationist stand. This was a national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries. General Washington shaped these values by upholding and encouraging the use of these principles by warning to avoid alliances in his farewell speech. The reasoning behind these actions was that the Republic was a new nation. We did not have the resources or the means to worry about other countries and foreign affairs; our immediate efforts were internal. Our goals that were of primary importance were setting up a democratic government and jump-starting a nation. The United States foreign policy up to and directly preceding the Civil War was mainly Isolationist. After the war, the government helped bring together a nation t orn apart by war, helped improved our industrialization, and helped further populate our continent. We were isolationist in foreign affairs, while expanding domestically into the west and into the north through the purchase of Alaska. However, around 1890 the expansionism that had taken place was a far cry from what was about to happen. Expansionism is the nations practice or policy ...
Thursday, September 19, 2019
The Epic Poem, Beowulf - Beowulf and Christianity :: Epic of Beowulf Essay
Beowulf and Christianity It was a dark time and the devastating effects of war had taken their toll. Many had given up hope entirely that things would ever get better, that the land of present day England would cease its bloodshed. From the conquests of the Romans, to the Germanic tribes, to the Vikings, the people of the British Isles had been battered. They needed a hero, someone who represented strength, decency, and bravery. So came the story of Beowulf. Beowulf is a fictional hero of this time. He is not only a hero, but also a man of faith. His exploits are described as events that are ordained of God to bless the people. Beowulf is an instrument of God, an instrument of righteousness called by God to perform His will for the Danes. In stark contrast to his good, is the enemy, Grendel, the incarnation of pure evil. He is an enemy of the people, and according to the text even an enemy of God. Grendel is a destructive and murderous "creature" that is completely opposed to all that is good. Fr om certain passages we can see that the writers or editors of Beowulf intended to draw a religious parallel between these two characters of Beowulf and Grendel and the religious ones. The premise of good versus evil is quite easy to surmise, but the writers intended to use the Bible to elevate the tone of the story to a more spiritual than natural one. There are a few passages that this can be seen in. The first is passages describing Grendel and his beginnings. The second is selected dialogue from the Danes and Beowulf. Below is a passage at the beginning of the story describing Grendel: This gruesome creature was called Grendel, notorious prowler of the borderland, ranger of the moors, the fen and the fastness; this cursed creature lived in a monster's lair for a time after the Creator had condemned him as one of the seed of Cain - the Everlasting Lord avenged Abel's murder. Cain had no satisfaction from that feud, but the Creator sent him into exile, far from mankind because of his crime. He could no longer approach the throne of grace, that precious place in God's presence, nor did he feel God's love. (102-113) Grendel is likened to Cain in this passage, but he seems to show characteristics of the devil as well.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Bigger Thomas as Americaââ¬â¢s Native Son :: Essays Papers
Bigger Thomas as Americaââ¬â¢s Native Son In the novel the Native Son, the author Richard Wright explores racism and oppression in American society. Wright skillfully merges his narrative voice into Bigger Thomas so that the reader can also feel how the pressure and racism affects the feelings, thoughts, self-image, and life of a Negro person. Bigger is a tragic product of American imperialism and exploitation in a modern world. Bigger embodies one of humankindââ¬â¢s greatest tragedies of how mass oppression permeates all aspects of the lives of the oppressed and the oppressor, creating a world of misunderstanding, ignorance, and suffering. The novel is loaded with a plethora of imageries of a hostile white world. Wright shows how white racism affects the behavior, feelings, and thoughts of Bigger. ââ¬Å"Everytime I think about it I feel like somebodyââ¬â¢s poking a red-hot iron down my throatâ⬠¦We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we ainââ¬â¢t. They do things and we canââ¬â¢tâ⬠¦I feel like Iââ¬â¢m on the outside the world peeping in through a knot-hole in the fenceâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (20). Biggerââ¬â¢s sense of constriction and of confinement is very palpable to the reader. Wright also uses a more articulate voice to accurately describe the oppressive conditions of a Negro person. An anonymous black cellmate, a university student cries out, â⬠You make us live in such crowded conditionsâ⬠¦that one out of every ten of us is insaneâ⬠¦you dump all stale foods into the Black Belt and sell them for more than you can get anywhere elseâ⬠¦You tax us, but you wont build hospitalsâ⬠¦the schools are so crowded that they breed pervertsâ⬠¦you hire us last and fire us firstâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (318). Biggerââ¬â¢s sense of constriction by the white world is so strong that he has no doubt that ââ¬Å"something awfulââ¬â¢s going to happen to meâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (21). Nowhere in this novel can the reader see a greater example of Biggerââ¬â¢s fear and sense of constriction than in the accidental death of Mary Dalton. The all-encompassing fear that the white world has bred in Bigger takes over when he is in Maryââ¬â¢s room and in danger of being discovered by Mrs. Dalton. This internalized social oppression literally forces his hands to hold the pillow over Maryââ¬â¢s face, suffocating her. Bigger believes that a white person would assume that he was in the room to rape the white girl.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Eight
And so he kissed her. He couldn't help it. No, he couldn't stop it. His hand was on her arm, and he could feel her skin, feel the soft warmth of it, and then when he looked down, her face was tilted toward his, and her eyes, deep and blue but so completely unmysterious, were gazing up at him, and in truth there was no way ââ¬â simply no way ââ¬â he could do anything in that moment but kiss her. Anything else would have been a tragedy. There was an art to kissing ââ¬â he'd long known that, and he'd been told he was an expert. But this kiss, with this woman ââ¬â the one time it should have been art, it was all breathless nerves, because never in his life had he wanted someone in quite the manner he wanted Miss Grace Eversleigh. And never had he wanted quite so much to get it all right. He couldn't scare her. He had to please her. He wanted her to want him, and he wanted her to want to know him. He wanted her to cling to him, to need him, to whisper in his ear that he was her hero and she'd never want to so much as breathe the air near another man. He wanted to taste her. He wanted to devour her. He wanted to drink in whatever it was that made her her, and see if it would transform him into the man he sometimes thought he ought to be. In that moment she was his salvation. And his temptation. And everything in between. ââ¬Å"Grace,â⬠he whispered, his voice brushing across her lips. ââ¬Å"Grace,â⬠he said again, because he loved saying it. She moaned in response, a soft whimpering sound that told him everything he wanted to know. He kissed her softly. Thoroughly. His lips and tongue found every corner of her soul, and then he wanted more. ââ¬Å"Grace,â⬠he said again, his voice hoarser now. His hands slid around to her back, pressing her against him so he could feel her body as a part of the kiss. She was not corseted under her gown, and every lush curve became known to him, every warm contour. He wanted more than the shape of her, though. He wanted the taste, the smell, the touch. The kiss was seduction. And he was the one being seduced. ââ¬Å"Grace,â⬠he said again, and this time she whispered ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Jack.â⬠It was his undoing. The sound of his name on her lips, the single, soft syllable ââ¬â it shot through him like no Mr. Audley ever could. His mouth grew urgent and he pressed her more tightly to his body, too far gone to care that he'd gone hard against her. He kissed her cheek, her ear, her neck, moving down to the hollow of her collarbone. One of his hands moved along the side of her rib cage, the pressure plumping her breast up until the upper curve was so close to his lips, so tantalizingly ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Noâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ It was more of a whisper than anything else, but still, she pushed him away. He stared at her, his breath rushed and heavy. Her eyes were dazed, and her lips looked wet and well-kissed. His body was thrumming with need, and his eyes slid down to her belly, as if he could somehow see through the folds of her dress, down, down to the V where her legs met. Whatever he'd been feeling just then ââ¬â it tripled. Dear God, he hurt with it. With a shuddering groan, he tore his gaze back up to her face. ââ¬Å"Miss Eversleigh,â⬠he said, since the moment called for some thing, and there was no way he was going to apologize. Not for something that good. ââ¬Å"Mr. Audley,â⬠she replied, touching her lips. And he realized, in a single blinding moment of pure terror, that everything he saw on her face, every stunned blink of her eyes ââ¬â he felt it, too. But no, that was impossible. He'd just met her, and beyond that, he did not do love. Amendment: he did not do the heart-pounding, mind-fogging, overabundance of lust that was so often confused with love. He loved women, of course. He liked them, too, which he was aware made him rather unique among men. He loved the way they moved, and he loved the sounds they made, whether they were melting in his arms or clucking their disapproval. He loved how each one smelled different, and how each moved differently, and how even so, there was something about them all as a group that seemed to brand them together. I am woman, the air around them seemed to say. I am most definitely not you. And thank heavens for that. But he had never loved a woman. And he did not have any inclination to do so. Attachments were messy things, given to all sorts of unpleasantries. He preferred to move from affaire to affaire. It fit his life ââ¬â and his soul ââ¬â much better. He smiled. Just a little one. Exactly the sort one would expect from a man like him at a time like this. Perhaps with a little extra tilt in one corner. Just enough to lend some wry wit to his tone when he said, ââ¬Å"You stepped into my room.â⬠She nodded, but the motion was so slow he couldn't be sure she even realized she was doing it. When she spoke, there was a certain dazedness to it, as if perhaps she was talking to herself. ââ¬Å"I won't do it again.â⬠Now, that would be a tragedy. ââ¬Å"I wish you would,â⬠he said, offering her his most disarming smile. He reached out, and before she could guess his intentions, took her hand and raised it to his lips. ââ¬Å"It was certainly,â⬠he murmured, ââ¬Å"the most pleasant welcome of my day here at Belgrave.â⬠He did not let go of her fingers as he added, ââ¬Å"I very much enjoyed discussing that painting with you.â⬠It was true. He had always liked the smart women best. ââ¬Å"As did I,â⬠she answered, and then she gave her hand a gentle tug, forcing him to relinquish his hold. She took a few steps toward the door, then paused, turning partway around as she said, ââ¬Å"The collection here rivals any of the great museums.â⬠ââ¬Å"I look forward to viewing it with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"We shall begin in the gallery.â⬠He smiled. She was clever. But just before she reached the door, he called out, ââ¬Å"Are there nudes?â⬠She froze. ââ¬Å"I was wondering,â⬠he said innocently. ââ¬Å"There are,â⬠she replied, but she did not turn around. He longed to see the color of her cheeks. Vermillion, or merely pink? ââ¬Å"In the gallery?â⬠he asked, because surely it would be impolite to ignore his query. He wanted to see her face. One last time. ââ¬Å"Not in the gallery, no,â⬠she said, and she did turn then. Just enough so he could see the sparkle in her eyes. ââ¬Å"It is a portrait gallery.â⬠ââ¬Å"I see.â⬠He made his expression appropriately grave. ââ¬Å"No nudes, then, please. I confess to a lack of desire to see Great-Grandfather Cavendish au naturel.â⬠Her lips pressed together, and he knew it was with humor, not disapproval. He wondered just what it would take to nudge her further, to dislodge the laughter that was surely bubbling at the base of her throat. ââ¬Å"Or, good heavens,â⬠he murmured, ââ¬Å"the dowager.â⬠She sputtered at that. He brought a hand to his forehead. ââ¬Å"My eyes,â⬠he moaned. ââ¬Å"My eyes.â⬠And then, bloody hell, he missed it. She laughed. He was sure that she did, even though it was more of a choking sound than anything else. But he had his hand over his eyes. ââ¬Å"Good night, Mr. Audley.â⬠He returned his hand to its proper place at his side. ââ¬Å"Good night, Miss Eversleigh.â⬠And then ââ¬â and he would have sworn he'd been prepared to allow her to depart ââ¬â he heard himself call out, ââ¬Å"Will I see you at breakfast?â⬠She paused, her hand on the outer doorknob. ââ¬Å"I expect so, if you are an early riser.â⬠He absolutely was not. ââ¬Å"Absolutely I am.â⬠ââ¬Å"It is the dowager's favorite meal,â⬠she explained. ââ¬Å"Not the chocolate and the newspaper?â⬠He wondered if he remembered everything she'd said that day. Quite possibly. She shook her head. ââ¬Å"That is at six. Breakfast is laid at seven.â⬠ââ¬Å"In the breakfast room?â⬠ââ¬Å"You know where it is, then?â⬠ââ¬Å"Haven't a clue,â⬠he admitted. ââ¬Å"But it seemed a likely choice. Will you meet me here, to escort me down?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠she said, her voice dipping slightly with amusement (Or exasperation? He couldn't be sure), ââ¬Å"but I will arrange to have someone else lead you there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Pity.â⬠He sighed. ââ¬Å"It won't be the same.â⬠ââ¬Å"I should hope not,â⬠she said, slowly shutting the door between them. And then, through the wood, he heard, ââ¬Å"I plan to send a footman.â⬠He laughed at that. He loved a woman with a sense of humor. At precisely six the following morning, Grace entered the dowager's bedroom, holding the heavy door open for the maid who had followed her with the tray from the kitchen. The dowager was awake, which was no great surprise. She always woke early, whether the summer sun was slipping in around the curtain edges, or the winter gloom hung heavy on the morning. Grace, on the other hand, would have gladly slept until noon if permitted. She'd taken to sleeping with her drapes open since her arrival at Belgrave ââ¬â the better to let the sunlight batter her eyelids open every morning. It didn't work very well, nor did the chiming clock she'd installed upon her bedside table years earlier. She thought she would have adapted to the dowager's schedule by this point, but apparently her inner timepiece was her one rebellion ââ¬â the last little bit of her that refused to believe that she was, and forever would be, companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. All in all, it was a good thing she'd befriended the housemaids. The dowager might have Grace to start her day, but Grace had the maids, who took turns each morning, slipping into her room and shaking her shoulder until she moaned, ââ¬Å"Enoughâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ How strange about Mr. Audley. She would never have pegged him for a morning person. ââ¬Å"Good morning, your grace,â⬠Grace said, moving to the windows. She pulled open the heavy velvet curtains. It was overcast, with a light mist, but the sun seemed to be making a good effort. Perhaps the clouds would burn off by afternoon. The dowager sat up straight against her pillows, queenly in her elaborately styled, domed canopy bed. She was nearly done with her series of morning exercises, which consisted of a flexing of the fingers, followed by a pointing of the toes, finishing with a twisting of her neck to the left and right. She never stretched it side to side, Grace had noticed. ââ¬Å"My chocolate,â⬠she said tersely. ââ¬Å"Right here, ma'am.â⬠Grace moved to the desk, where the maid had left the tray before hurrying off. ââ¬Å"Be careful, ma'am. It's hot.â⬠The dowager waited while Grace arranged the tray on her lap, then smoothed out the newspaper. It was only two days old (three was standard in this region) and had been neatly ironed by the butler. ââ¬Å"My reading glasses.â⬠They were already in Grace's hand. The dowager perched them on the tip of her nose, taking a gingerly sip of her chocolate as she perused the paper. Grace sat in the straight-back chair by the desk. It was not the most convenient location ââ¬â the dowager was as demanding in the morning as she was the rest of the day, and would surely have her hopping up and down and across the room to her bed. But Grace was not permitted to actually sit next to the bed. The dowager complained that it felt as if Grace were trying to read over her shoulder. Which was true, of course. Grace now had the newspaper transferred to her room once the dowager was through with it. It was still only two and a half days old when she read it, which was twelve hours better than anyone else in the district. It was strange, really, the things that made one feel superior. ââ¬Å"Hmmm.â⬠Grace tilted her head but did not inquire. If she inquired, the dowager would never tell. ââ¬Å"There was a fire at Howath Hall,â⬠the dowager said. Grace was not certain where that was. ââ¬Å"I do hope no one was injured.â⬠The dowager read a few more lines, then answered, ââ¬Å"Just a footman. And two maids.â⬠And then a moment later: ââ¬Å"The dog perished. Oh my, that is a shame.â⬠Grace did not comment. She did not trust herself to engage in early morning conversations until she'd had her own cup of chocolate, which she was generally not able to do until breakfast at seven. Her stomach rumbled at the thought. For someone who detested mornings as she did, she'd come to adore breakfast fare. If they could only serve kippers and eggs for supper each evening, she'd have been in heaven. She glanced at the clock. Only fifty-five more minutes. She wondered if Mr. Audley was awake. Probably. Morning people never awoke with only ten minutes to spare before breakfast. She wondered what he looked like, all sleepy and rumpled. ââ¬Å"Is something wrong, Miss Eversleigh?â⬠the dowager sharply inquired. Grace blinked. ââ¬Å"Wrong, ma'am?â⬠ââ¬Å"Youâ⬠¦ chirped.â⬠She said this with considerable distaste, as if handling something with a particularly foul smell. ââ¬Å"I'm so sorry, ma'am,â⬠Grace said quickly, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. She could feel her cheeks growing warm, and she had a feeling that even in the morning light and with the dowager's diminished vision, her blush would be clearly visible. Really, she should not be imagining Mr. Audley, and especially not in any state of dishabille. Heaven only knew what sorts of inappropriate sounds she would make the next time. But he was handsome. Even when all she'd seen of him was the lower half of his face and his mask, that much had been clear. His lips were the sort that always held a touch of humor. She wondered if he even knew how to frown. And his eyesâ⬠¦Well, she hadn't been able to see those that first night, and that was almost certainly a good thing. She'd never seen anything quite so emerald. They far outshone the dowager's emeralds, which, Grace was still chagrined to remember, she'd risked her life (in theory, at least) to keep safe. ââ¬Å"Miss Eversleigh!â⬠Grace jerked upright. ââ¬Å"Ma'am?â⬠The dowager pierced with a stare. ââ¬Å"You snorted.â⬠ââ¬Å"I did?â⬠ââ¬Å"Are you questioning my hearing?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course not, ma'am.â⬠The dowager abhorred the notion that any part of her might be susceptible to the usual impairments of age. Grace cleared her throat. ââ¬Å"I apologize, ma'am. I was not aware. I must have, ehrm, breathed heavily.â⬠ââ¬Å"Breathed heavily.â⬠The dowager appeared to find that as appealing as she had Grace's earlier chirp. Grace touched a hand lightly to her chest. ââ¬Å"A bit of congestion, I'm afraid.â⬠The dowager's nostrils flared as she peered down at the cup in her hands. ââ¬Å"I do hope you did not breathe on my chocolate.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course not, ma'am. The kitchen maids always carry the tray up.â⬠The dowager evidently did not find any reason to ponder that further, and she turned back to her newspaper, leaving Grace alone once more with her thoughts of Mr. Audley. Mr. Audley. ââ¬Å"Miss Eversleigh!â⬠At that Grace stood. This was getting ridiculous. ââ¬Å"Yes, ma'am?â⬠ââ¬Å"You sighed.â⬠ââ¬Å"I sighed?â⬠ââ¬Å"Do you deny it?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠Grace replied. ââ¬Å"That is to say, I did not notice that I sighed, but I certainly allow that I could have done so.â⬠The dowager waved an irritated hand in her direction. ââ¬Å"You are most distracting this morning.â⬠Grace felt her eyes light up. Did this mean she'd escape early? ââ¬Å"Sit down, Miss Eversleigh.â⬠She sat. Apparently not. The dowager set down her newspaper and pressed her lips together. ââ¬Å"Tell me about my grandson.â⬠And the blush returned. ââ¬Å"I beg your pardon?â⬠The dowager's right eyebrow did a rather good imitation of a parasol top. ââ¬Å"You did show him to his room last night, didn't you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course, ma'am. At your directive.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well? What did he say? I am eager to learn what sort of man he is. The future of the family may very well rest in his hands.â⬠Grace thought guiltily of Thomas, whom she'd somehow forgotten in the past twelve hours. He was everything a duke ought to be, and no one knew the castle as he did. Not even the dowager. ââ¬Å"Er, don't you think that might be a bit premature, your grace?â⬠ââ¬Å"Defending my other grandson, are we?â⬠Grace's eyes widened. Something about the dowager's tone sounded positively malevolent. ââ¬Å"I consider his grace a friend,â⬠she said carefully. ââ¬Å"I would never wish him ill.â⬠ââ¬Å"Pfft. If Mr. Cavendish ââ¬â and don't you dare call him Mr. Audley ââ¬â really is the legitimate issue of my John, then you are hardly wishing Wyndham ill. The man ought to be grateful.â⬠ââ¬Å"For having his title pulled from beneath his feet?â⬠ââ¬Å"For having had the good fortune to have had it for as long as he did,â⬠the dowager retorted. ââ¬Å"If Mr. ââ¬â oh, bloody hell, I'm going to call him John ââ¬â ââ¬Å" Jack, Grace thought. ââ¬Å"If John really is my John's legitimate son, then Wyndham never really had the title to begin with. So one could hardly call it stripping.â⬠ââ¬Å"Except that he has been told since birth that it is his.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's not my fault, is it?â⬠scoffed the dowager. ââ¬Å"And it has hardly been since birth.â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠Grace allowed. Thomas had ascended to the title at the age of twenty, when his father perished of a lung ailment. ââ¬Å"But he has known since birth that it would one day be his, which is much the same thing.â⬠The dowager grumbled a bit about that, using the same peevish undertone she always used when presented with an argument to which she had no ready contradiction. She gave Grace one final glare and then picked up her newspaper again, snapping it upright in front of her face. Grace took advantage of the moment to let her posture slip. She did not dare close her eyes. And sure enough, only ten seconds passed before the dowager brought the paper back down and asked sharply, ââ¬Å"Do you think he will make a good duke?â⬠ââ¬Å"Mr. Au ââ¬â â⬠Grace caught herself just in time. ââ¬Å"Er, our new guest?â⬠The dowager rolled her eyes at her verbal acrobatics. ââ¬Å"Call him Mr. Cavendish. It is his name.â⬠ââ¬Å"But it is not what he wishes to be called.â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't give a damn what he wishes to be called. He is who he is.â⬠The dowager took a long gulp of her chocolate. ââ¬Å"We all are. And it's a good thing, too.â⬠Grace said nothing. She'd been forced to endure the dowager's lectures on the natural order of man far too many times to risk provoking a repeat performance. ââ¬Å"You did not answer my question, Miss Eversleigh.â⬠Grace took a moment to decide upon her reply. ââ¬Å"I really could not say, ma'am. Not on such a short acquaintance.â⬠It was mostly true. It was difficult to think of anyone besides Thomas holding the title, but Mr. Audley ââ¬â for all his lovely friendliness and humor ââ¬â seemed to lack a certain gravitas. He was intelligent, certainly, but did he possess the acumen and judgment necessary to run an estate the size of Wyndham? Belgrave might have been the family's primary domicile, but there were countless other holdings, both in England and abroad. Thomas employed at least a dozen secretaries and managers to aid him in his stewardship, but he was no absentee landlord. If he had not walked every inch of the Belgrave lands, she would wager that he'd come close. And Grace had substituted for the dowager on enough of her duties around the estate to know that Thomas knew nearly all of his tenants by name. Grace had always thought that a remarkable achievement for one brought up as he had been, with a constant emphasis on the Wyndham place in the hierarchy of man. (Just below the king, and well above you, thank you very much.) Thomas liked to present to the world the image of a slightly bored, sophisticated man of the ton, but there was quite a bit more to him. It was why he was so very good at what he did, she supposed. And why it was so callous of the dowager to treat him with such a lack of regard. Grace supposed that one had to possess feelings in order to have a care for those of others, but really, the dowager had quite gone beyond her usual selfishness. Grace had no idea whether Thomas had returned the night before, but if he hadn'tâ⬠¦well, she wouldn't blame him. ââ¬Å"More chocolate, Miss Eversleigh.â⬠Grace stood and refilled the dowager's cup from the pot she'd left on the bedside table. ââ¬Å"What did you talk about last night?â⬠Grace decided to feign obtuseness. ââ¬Å"I retired early.â⬠She tilted the pot back, careful not to drip. ââ¬Å"With your very kind permission.â⬠The dowager scowled. Grace avoided the expression by returning the chocolate pot to its spot on the table. It took her an impressively long time to get it just so. ââ¬Å"Did he speak of me?â⬠the dowager asked. ââ¬Å"Er, not so very much,â⬠Grace hedged. ââ¬Å"Not very much or not at all?â⬠Grace turned. There was only so much interrogation she could avoid before the dowager lost her temper. ââ¬Å"I'm certain he mentioned you.â⬠ââ¬Å"What did he say?â⬠Good heavens. How was she meant to say that he'd called her an old bat? And if he hadn't called her that, then he'd probably called her something worse. ââ¬Å"I don't recall precisely, ma'am,â⬠Grace said. ââ¬Å"I'm terribly sorry. I was not aware you wished for me to take note of his words.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, next time, do so,â⬠the dowager muttered. She turned to her newspaper, then looked up toward the window, her mouth in a straight, recalcitrant line. Grace stood still, her hands clasped in front of her, and waited patiently while the dowager fussed and turned and sipped and ground her teeth, and then ââ¬â it was hard to believe, but Grace thought she might actually feel sorry for the older woman. ââ¬Å"He reminds me of you,â⬠she said, before she could think the better of it. The dowager turned to her with delighted eyes. ââ¬Å"He does? How?â⬠Grace felt her stomach drop, although she was not certain if this was due to the uncharacteristic happiness on the dowager's face or the fact that she had no idea what to say. ââ¬Å"Well, not completely, of course,â⬠she stalled, ââ¬Å"but there is something in the expression.â⬠But after about ten seconds of smiling blandly, it became apparent to Grace that the dowager was waiting for more. ââ¬Å"His eyebrow,â⬠she said, in what she thought was a stroke of genius. ââ¬Å"He lifts it like you do.â⬠ââ¬Å"Like this?â⬠The dowager's left brow shot up so fast Grace was surprised it did not fly off her face. ââ¬Å"Er, yes. Somewhat like that. His areâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Grace made awkward motions near her own brows. ââ¬Å"Bushier?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, he is a man.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes.â⬠Oh, yes. ââ¬Å"Can he do both?â⬠Grace stared at her blankly. ââ¬Å"Both, ma'am?â⬠The dowager began lifting and dropping her brows in alternation. Left, right, left, right. It was a singularly bizarre spectacle. ââ¬Å"I do not know,â⬠Grace said. Quickly. To cut her off. ââ¬Å"Very strange,â⬠the dowager said, returning both of her brows back to where Grace hoped she'd keep them. ââ¬Å"My John could not do it.â⬠ââ¬Å"Heredity is very mysterious,â⬠Grace agreed. ââ¬Å"My father could not do thisâ⬠ââ¬â she took her thumb and bent it back until it touched her forearm ââ¬â ââ¬Å"but he said his father could.â⬠ââ¬Å"Aah!â⬠The dowager turned aside in disgust. ââ¬Å"Put it back! Put it back!â⬠Grace smiled and said with perfect mildness, ââ¬Å"You will not wish to see what I can do with my elbow, then.â⬠ââ¬Å"Good Lord, no.â⬠The dowager snorted and waved toward the door. ââ¬Å"I am through with you. Go see to breakfast.â⬠ââ¬Å"Shall I have Nancy help you dress?â⬠The dowager let out the most amazingly long-suffering sigh, as if a lifetime of aristocratic privilege was just too much. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠she agreed gracelessly, ââ¬Å"if only because I can't bear to look at your thumb.â⬠Grace chuckled. And she must have been feeling especially bold, because she did not even attempt to stifle it. ââ¬Å"Are you laughing at me, Miss Eversleigh?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course not!â⬠ââ¬Å"Don't,â⬠the dowager said sharply, ââ¬Å"even think about saying you're laughing with me.â⬠ââ¬Å"I was just laughing, ma'am,â⬠Grace said, her face twitching with the smile she could not keep contained. ââ¬Å"I do that sometimes.â⬠ââ¬Å"I have never witnessed it.â⬠Said as if this meant it couldn't possibly be true. Grace could not say any of the three rejoinders that immediately sprang to mind ââ¬â That is because you are not listening, your grace. That is because I rarely have cause to laugh in your presence. or What of it? So instead she smiled ââ¬â warmly, even. Now this was strange. She'd spent so much of her time swallowing her retorts, and it always left a bitter taste in her mouth. But not this time. This time she felt light. Unfettered. If she could not speak her mind to the dowager, she didn't much care. She had too much to look forward to this morning. Breakfast. Bacon and eggs. Kippers. Toast with butter and marmalade, too, andâ⬠¦ And him. Mr. Audley. Jack.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Action Plan of the cooperative food Essay
What do they do about their plan.The plan will take according to year ahead. That means when any employee join in the organization they will be sitting with the manager they have to make a plan about their targets. Target means what is their vision and objectives. When they set their plan they would be planning on that.After that they do. Do refers what r u going to do and how are u going to do? So its like whatever their vision and objective. Accordingly their employee they have to do their work and they done their vision and objective. Next they will be reviwed that means where are they and what trac are they? And are they satisfying their customer or customers giving feedback. Those things are rivewed. And later it will be evaluated. On evaluation overall performance will be evaluated. According to how they have treat customers support and customers satisfaction. Every company has some strengths and weekness. Cooperative has also some proble. In Amstrong theory we find that compan y concentrate on their mission,vision and objective. In cooperative they have vision and objective but they donââ¬â¢t have mission. They calculate vision is a mission. Because they donââ¬â¢t know what is their mission? They have something lacking. They donââ¬â¢t care of their employee they always concern about their company that means customers. If we consider Blake Mouton Theory we will find that manager never follow middle of the road management. Manager follow impoverished management. In this particular theory company gives more concentrate on production not on the employee. Amstrong want to manageing people but cooperative follow their own style,because their thing is customer is more important than employee. They want to be best cooperative store in the uk. Thatââ¬â¢s what they want to expand their company. They concernless about their employee. For example. If any employee are going to out of the org they wont identified him or they wont recognized him. If any employee claim that,I stayed here three years,but I did not get any promossion or I did not get anything. They will said ok,if u r not happy u can go out. They never consider about their employees hardwork only they consider how employees cooperative with cus tomer. And what are the feedback from the customer and the productivity.They always want to finish their work just on time. They always gives emphasis on service and availability so that customer offer and great service is delivered.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Analysis of ââ¬ÅAl Gore on Climate Crisis and Global Powerââ¬Â
Former Vice President Al Gore was the featured ââ¬Å"My Turnâ⬠opinion writer for the December 18, 2006 issue of Newsweek Magazine. This opinion article was a part of Goreââ¬â¢s environmental awareness campaign which began with the publication of his book An Inconvenient Truth.à Gore presents a very well written argument advocating the necessity for massive change in the use of energy. According to Gore, ââ¬Å"we are now faced with an urgent crisisââ¬âa crisis that is altering the very nature of the earthââ¬â¢s climate.â⬠Gore makes his compelling argument without preaching, scolding, or frightening. This is extremely rare, and valuable, given the highly volatile nature of any debate involving energy sources and environmental concern. The article is interesting for what is said as well as for what is omitted.The piece is devoid of the usual ââ¬Å"doomsdayâ⬠statistics and anecdotes projecting a critical problem without a solution. Instead, Gore portrays t he world at a crossroads, the beginning of ââ¬Å"a new ageâ⬠where ââ¬Å"crisisâ⬠should be defined as the Chinese write it: ââ¬Å"dangerâ⬠and ââ¬Å"opportunityâ⬠. He does not need to elaborate on the well-known and documented dangers facing the world regarding climate change. Instead, he illustrates several of the opportunities he visualizes in the future.His first example is the development of an ââ¬Å"electranetâ⬠distribution network for electrical power. Instead of massive coal, oil, or nuclear fuel power plants, smaller suppliers, including wind and solar power generators, will be widespread.Additionally, anyone on the ââ¬Å"electranetâ⬠who can generate electricity, from small home solar units to larger industrial generators, will be able to sell their surplus power to the grid. Other changes envisioned include ââ¬Å"smartâ⬠buildings ââ¬Å"constructed with breakthrough solar and nanotechnologiesâ⬠and super-high mileage vehicl es.Gore is optimistic because ââ¬Å"market forces that are now in motionââ¬â driven by visionaries at companies as diverse as Wal-Mart, British Petroleum and General Electricâ⬠à are having an effect. But, more must be done: governments must ââ¬Å"exert real leadershipâ⬠in agreement to the Kyoto treaty and then beyond in order to meet the crisis. With optimism Gore closes by stating it is ââ¬Å"a rare opportunity for our generation to unite behind a historic mission.â⬠I share Goreââ¬â¢s attitude and opinions regarding energy and the environment; however, I believe I am not alone in feeling very apprehensive. A day does not pass without more evidence documenting incredible damage and change in the global environment.It is easy to fear that the world of our children and grandchildren will be terribly damaged. It is difficult to focus on what one individual can do when there is a fear of it being ââ¬Å"too little too late.â⬠As Gore believes market for ces will cause the beneficial change, I believe we must examine how ââ¬Å"we the peopleâ⬠can be a significant part of that force.To paraphrase Gore, the immediate future will be incredibly challenging. I believe he frames the issue perfectly as ââ¬Å"a historic missionâ⬠in which we must all play a significant role. In unity there will be success; the environment does not have the luxury of time for divisiveness or finger-pointing.Although it is very likely we will be able to see the reward of collective action, if not, it is certain future generations will see the result of our action or inaction.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Moliere’s Tartuffe and Rousseau’s Confessions
Each character Is guilty of stealing something for their personal gain. However, when analyzing their actions of theft, there Is clear evidence of contrast. In ââ¬Å"Confessionsâ⬠Rousseau Is a mere child and steals Males ribbons simply because she Is the first name that floats Into his head. When asked how he got the ribbon, Rousseau blames the cook. ââ¬Å"They Inquired how I got hold of It. I grew confused, stammered, and said with a blush It was Maroon. The fact that Rousseau is a child and demonstrates when he is scared when asked about the ribbon helps lessen the severity of the crime and helps ease the burden for future forgiveness. This greatly contrasts from Tartuffe who can be described as an undermining hypocrite throughout the play and steals solely for personal gain. The face that Tartuffe is a grown man and understands his actions greatly contradicts with Rousseau childish mistakes. Tartuffe displays a heinous crime in contradiction to the trivial crime of Roussea u.When comparing the aftermath of the crimes, the two works differ in the shared theme, regret. In ââ¬Å"Confessionsâ⬠Rousseau does lie when asked if he stole the ribbon, but Rousseau is constantly haunted with this crime throughout his life. ââ¬Å"There ended the serenity of my childish life. From that moment I never again enjoyed pure happiness. â⬠Rousseau is feeling so guilty of small rime he committed as a child he writes an entire confession, this greatly differs from Tartuffe.When Tartuffe is handcuffed by the officer, Tartuffe displays the same hypocritical attitude that was evident throughout the play. The last words of Tartuffe, ââ¬Å"To prison? This can't be true! â⬠sum up perfectly the zero regret that Tartuffe shows even though he knows he has been caught. If looking the two works as a whole based solely on regret there is clear distinction. Rousseau, a child, committed a crime that he Is obviously regretful about. Then there Is Tartuffe, where there is no sign of regret and deserves to be imprisoned forever.
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