McDonough’s Purpose in Writing the Book Free Essays

Of all of the events in American history, few would argue that the Civil War is the most debated, written about and discussed event. While it is beyond the scope of this research to pinpoint the all of the reasons why the Civil War still captures the imagination of historic scholars to this very day, but it is possible to take one of the many books written on the topic and provide a thorough review. In this research, Shiloh-In Hell before Night by James L. We will write a custom essay sample on McDonough’s Purpose in Writing the Book or any similar topic only for you Order Now McDonough will be the work reviewed from several different vantage points. McDonough’s Purpose in Writing the Book. It would be easy to simply say that McDonough’s purpose in writing his book was to depict the people and events of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, which took place in the Tennessee Valley on April 6, 1862, when hundreds of thousands of Union and Confederate troops clashed, fought and died (McDonough, 1977). Upon a closer reading of the work, however, a larger purpose becomes apparent. Within the pages of the book, McDonough uses the writing style of the great fiction writers of all time to create an historic account that reads like a novel. Moreover, through the use of quotes from many of those who were involved in the battle, these people come back to life in a way and tell their own story, lending credibility and accuracy to the work. The Main Argument of the Work James L. McDonough’s main argument in this work is that the Civil War was not just a series of battles, wins and losses, but rather was a struggle for opposing people to try to direct a way of life for everyone to follow. He does this by using actual quotes from the main individuals involved in the battle of Shiloh which show how they felt and what lengths they would go to in order to put forth those beliefs. Was the Goal of the Book Accomplished? Generally speaking, the goal of the book was accomplished in that McDonough was able to make the point that even in defeat, there is honor to a certain extent, and also that the cause of the Confederate States of America was as much a commitment to the preservation of a way of life that had existed for generations and hundreds of years as much as it was a fight to break away from a government that was seen as oppressive and dictatorial. McDonough, in his vivid characterizations and flowing style, makes the point that even when a decisive victory is not gained, even the act of fighting for one’s beliefs is in itself a form of victory. By doing this, McDonough shows that the Civil War was a far more complex event in American history than simply two sides fighting to win battles. This most certainly contributes to the ongoing fascination with the Civil War that was mentioned as this research began, and it is authors like McDonough that both satisfy the reader’s thirst for more information about the Civil War and sparks additional interest at the same time, which is quite a feat for any book about any historic period. Strengths/Weaknesses of the Book In fairness, McDonough’s book has its share of relative strengths and weaknesses which became clear in reading the book and are worthwhile to present and discuss in this review. An overall strength of the book which became apparent from the very first paragraph was the realization that this was not the usual, dry historic text. Rather, McDonough took on a narrative style that made the presentation of the necessary elements of any historic account something that the reader would in fact look forward to reading, and as such, the more that was read, the more that was learned. In this sense, it could also be cited as a strength that this book serves to educate, as well as entertain the reader. Weaknesses also exist in the book. Understandably, McDonough wrote the book from a southern point of view, and while there is no way to ethically change the result of the battle- a Confederate retreat which can fairly be seen in retrospect as a defeat- it is fair to say that McDonough’s narrative style and attempt to make the key players in the battle come to life tends to glorify even those who ultimately failed to perform up to standards in the battle, and of course, in the end, were not victorious. This is not to say that McDonough distorted any facts, but he did tend in some ways to over dramatize unsuccessful leaders like Beauregard and others. Is McDonough’s Book a Valuable Contribution to the Study of the American Civil War? In conclusion, the remaining point to be discussed is whether or not McDonough’s book is a valuable contribution to the study of the Civil War. The point has already been made that the book is able to both provide information and spark a desire to learn more, all in an entertaining and vivid style. Also, it was discussed that McDonough was able to convey something far beyond history- the mindset and tradition which led to the Civil War and inspired thousands on both sides of the conflict to make the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs. Based on all of this, it can fairly be said that this book is a valuable study of the Civil War, for anytime that facts and figures from the past can be brought to life and spark the imagination of the reader, the work is most worthwhile, and this work is no exception. Therefore, in closing, let it be said that Shiloh-In Hell before Night, decades after its publication, is still deserving of high continued review. Works Cited McDonough, James Lee. 1977. Shiloh: In Hell before Night. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. How to cite McDonough’s Purpose in Writing the Book, Papers

Shearwater Case Study free essay sample

Shearwater Adventures is an adventures tour operator in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. It specializes in rafting, canoeing, and kayaking on the Zambezi River. This river is the fourth largest river in the African continent. The company grew to dominate the â€Å"Adventure† market in Victoria Falls. As a result of this expansion, Shearwater Adventures became the most well known adventure-tour operator in the continent of Africa. This expansion occurred while the company was under the leadership of Robert Allen who joined Shearwater ten years ago. He began as a photographer with friend Mark Davis taking pictures and videos of the rafting trips. He went on to become Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Davis’ departure. Shearwater was number one in the market. Regardless of their dominance in the Victoria Falls area and their position as leaders in the market, Shearwater adventures had to face the competition. They had to continue dominating while maintaining their reputation as a successful and profitable outdoor adventures operators. To achieve their established goals, Allen Roberts and his management team created different strategies in order to compete efficiently and to maintain their leader position. QUESTION 1: The fundamental strategies in 2006: First of all, the company was counting on its name and reputation since the word of mouth played an important role in new sales. Also, the goal of the Shearwater Adventures was to achieve repeat bookings from satisfied customers, maximize profit and increase their market share. Shearwater Adventures established partnerships and acquisitions with leading Tour Operators such as Jenman African Safaris to boost their reputation and to gain business. Acquisitions that have increased their competitive scope and profitability in the long run. Advertising is obviously key to attracting tourists who are confused about their choice concerning an adventure activity. The continuation of an advertising program was primordial for the company. The fundamental fact of their success and strength that made the company is the level of differentiation. Indeed, in comparison to their competitors, Shearwater Adventures differentiate themselves by offering far more activities than the competitors. This allows customers to have a wide range of choices from rafting trips to lion encounters. Meanwhile, most competitors offer more or less 3 options: white water rafting, boating and elephant riding. By offering more than the competitors, Shearwater created a competitive advantage by bringing customers what competitors could not. As a result, Shearwater remains a leader in the market and competitors will have no other choice than to design and create a new adventure. Otherwise, they could also copy Shearwaters products and services. In addition to its several activities, Shearwater offers packages allowing customers to choose from a selection of activities for one price. Through a differentiation strategy, and by distinguishing itself, Shearwater obtained a competitive advantage. This allowed Roberts to maintain his position in the market. As a result of these strategies, from 2004 to 2006 the number of guests increased from 26,351 to 41,868 as well as the revenue. QUESTION 2: Perform a 5-forces analysis of Shearwater’s competitive environment. FORCE 1: Rivalry among competing sellers The industry is ranges from around $400 $500 million, however this industry is fragmented: that is to say, it is spread worldwide in relation to areas offering the chance to perform such activities. There are many competitors: Over 40 areas of activities (i. e. kayaking, safari trips, extreme sports). Locations are all over the world and there are over 250,000 operators that compete in the same â€Å"outdoor activity† market. Yet, operators, such as Shearwater, focus on the local level when it comes to competing. Zimbabwe’s political and economical instability. Though Zimbabwe’s tourism had declined by 75% and inflation was at 1,200% Shearwater continued to be the market leader in the area with an 80% share market. It had managed to increase sales by 22 and 39% percent in the last couple of years. Shearwater dominates in Victoria Falls and become the most well known adventure tour in all of Africa. Even though Shearwater is the leader, companies have partnered up in acquisitions, associations and networks with other businesses in order to increase their market share. Rivalry among competitors is high. FORCE 2: Threat of New Entry For small businesses to enter the industry, the cost may be as low as $20,000 for a single activity operation. For larger, full-service operations a large entry cost of $200,000 is estimated. It may be difficult to start an operation in the U. S. because of cost of permits and government, state or municipal regulations. However, installing a new company is Southern Africa (for example Zimbabwe and other surrounding countries) is quite feasible for new operators in the market. We must continue to take into consideration the current economical and political instability of Zimbabwe for those organizations attempting to enter this market There is a certain â€Å"Experience Curve† path that a new company may experience. It is important for management to be thoroughly aware of every detail concerning operations and financial matters, as well as the local market. This experience may take some time to acquire. On top of that, a new competitor should realize that it would be competing with other brands (especially Shearwater) that have an already established notoriety, a client list and advertising distributors. Threat of entry is relatively moderate. FORCE 3: Threat of Substitute Products This is an â€Å"Outdoors/ Extreme Activities† Market. The necessary ingredients to create this service involve irreplaceable factors such as: waterfalls, natural water rapids, mountains, fresh air, nature, scenery, etc. There are new activities that may be though of, however those would go directly into competition, and would not be considered as substitutes. Threat of Substitute Products is low. FORCE 4: Bargaining Power of Suppliers The nature of the service supplied is not a commodity, and cannot be reproduced or duplicated. Even though suppliers reach the 250,000 mark worldwide, these operators are vastly spread out concerning the nature of the activity. White water rafting for instance, requires a location with a water body, waterfalls, rapids, wild outdoors settings and beautiful sceneries, among other things. The company can only go as far as supplying the equipment needed to ride these waters. The only way operators may integrate backwards is if they decide to produce their own equipment and trained professionals. However, this would only be a good strategy if the costs were less than what they already pay to suppliers. Given the type of activity offered, there is a small chance of supply shortage. The Bargaining Power of Suppliers is moderately high. FORCE 5: Bargaining Power of Buyers The demand for this industry is moderately sized. The target age in the industry was from mid 40’s to early 50’s. These people had the drive to stay â€Å"young at heart† and the available income to fulfill these desires. Until recently, the media has created an awareness of adventurous locations, and their desire to explore them increased. They may only integrate backwards by buying their own equipment and training themselves on outdoor skills. However, since most of the consumers are over the age of 40, this seems to be a bit of a challenge. Although Shearwater advertised locally and partnering with tour operators, the local community seems to have a certain amount of power over the promotion of this company. It has progressively gained notoriety, and Roberts should be mindful that should he upset the community, they may bad mouth his business. The Bargaining Power of Buyers is moderate. QUESTION 3: What are the KSFs for competing in the Extreme Adventure Sporting Industry? There are several variables that have had a direct impact on the effectiveness of Shearwater’s business. The specific factors that underlie the success of Shearwater Adventures are: Brand Recognition. The company relied on its name to achieve their goal of repeat bookings, and cooperation with other companies (e. g., tour operators) for cross-selling opportunities could offer them a higher probability to gain exposure and business. Strong Leadership Management: Mike Davis and Allen Roberts were excellent entrepreneurs. Their leadership, particularly Roberts’ role as Shearwater’s CEO after Davis left, played a critical role in enabling Shearwater to dominate the outdoor adventure market. Favorable Destination: Opening an outdoor adventure company in the United States is difficult due to the cost of permits, so opening an adventure operation in South Africa was more attractive and cost-effective. Strategic Partnerships: Strategic partnerships played an important role in Shearwater’s successful growth, since â€Å"Industry leaders were partnering through acquisitions, organized associations, and reseller networks in order to increase repeat bookings from satisfied customers. † Strategic Advertising Marketing: Their goal was to target and direct customers at the start of their vacation. Shearwater engaged in intense local advertising to attract a large number of newly arriving tourists who had not chosen an adventure. This allowed it to attract a large share of newly arriving, non-committed tourists. Variety of Activities Offered: Larger variety of outdoor adventures activities was a strong differentiation for Shearwater. Most competitors had a limited number of activities, making Shearwater superior in the local market. Companies that could offer a variety of activities had a much higher probability of gaining repeat business. Pricing Strategy: Bundling activities that allowed customers to choose from a selection of activities for one price was highly attractive and added to the company’s value and success. Cross-Selling Opportunities: Shearwater’s expansion into related business activities, like tourist transportation, lodging, and video photos, allowed the company to cross-sell and increase its sales revenue through these related business segments. Community Support: Support from locals was also an important reason for the company’s success, as it added credibility to the company. It enabled smooth operations for Shearwater, increased its reputation, and thus increasing its strength in the industry. Skilled Qualified Team: Through Allen Roberts’ leadership, he continued to build a solid management team due to his knack for attracting the right person for the right job. These 10 Key Success Factors have contributed to the growth and success of Shearwater Adventures, and has continued to make them a current market leader in the outdoor adventures industry in the Victoria Falls area. 4. SWOT Analysis Strengths: Located in the touristic area of the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Shearwater is considered to be the giant leader of the area (with 80% market share), in fact leader of all Africa. Company driven by a knowledgeable and experienced  manager, Allen Roberts â€Å"Industry image†, extreme sports are seen as a way to enjoy time away from hectic lives (average age of customers between 40s and 50s) Shearwater Adventures LTD. offers a wider range of activities then competitors (at least 11 activities against 3 for competitors) Possibility to organize both individual trips and packages (e. g. â€Å"Ticket to Adventure† package, where you can make huge savings and choose what you want to do and when) Strong local level awareness, â€Å"Word Of Mouth† has helped increase sales Entertainment Media helps increase popularity of the industry (Fear Factor, ESPN, Survivor etc. Improved equipment quality Weaknesses: Although Shearwater Adventures have 80% of the market share, competition is tough enough for company to worry about continuing market domination while maintaining its reputation as a â€Å"successful outdoor adventures operator† The company clearly has a tight budget, â€Å"Roberts and his management team had already cut Shearwater’s expenses to the bone and had given up their company cars for motorbikes†. Weak global level awareness, as companies looked to grow their market share and increase customer base on a local level (global level seemed ore of an obstacle) It appears that outdoor activities companies must deal with aging equipment and older owners when company reaches its maturity Opportunities: The Shearwater Adventures LTD. can link up with international travel companies for purposes such as gaining international awareness and prepaid guaranteed reservation Implement a better advertising plan for repeat bookings and cross-selling Maybe the business should consider acquiring other companies? Creating a new venture to attract a younger crowd Threats: Zimbabwe’s economical and political instability has caused a 75% decrease of the country’s tourism and inflation was 1200% causing prices to double every 22 days Competitors might offer a wider range of activities as it is relatively inexpensive and there are enough ventures to copy Shearwater or add new adventures 5. Provide recommendations concerning Shearwaters future strategy As we know Shearwater is already the leading company in the adventure/extreme industry for the contient, logically, the main question will be how to improve when you are already the number one or at least, how to stay number one? Buying Companies the idea of buying companies was from Allen Roberts himself and was, from my point of view, one of the most intresting. Buying companies allow you to kill the competition (within the area) and in the meantime to increase your market share by absorbing the competitors. In the other hand Shearwater will need a substantial amount of money for this type of investments, money that they may not be able to collect. Despite the financial factors, integrating competitors to the company will allow Mr Roberts to create his own rivalry in the Victorias fall area, allowing to expend, generate more revenues while controlling the all business. Targeting Market Segment The actual targeted segment, people who are â€Å"mid 40s to early 50† are certainly interested in lion encounter or safary but maybe less by more extreme sports such as kayaking or rafting. By focusing on this market segment they completely forget generation who grew up witth that kind of sports. Enhance by the media and famous energy drinks ( https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=mFo-HKKOsXchd=1 ) adventure or extreme sports have become a very important trend for the 20-30 years old. It would be a shame to miss such an opportunity to increase the market share when the only effort you have to make is to make people aware of your complex. Developing the companys assets A wide range of activities, affordables prices, but do they really focus on the essential? People around 50 are attracted by this healthy way of living so why dont they develop a healthy/fitness programme. Mixing sports and dietetic/healthy food as it is the trend nowdays. This strategy is using the current assets of the company in a different way that could be a lot more appealing for customers. Worldwide vision Advertising on a local/national level would be useless for Shearwater as it is already recognize as the number one. What they neeed is a worldwide vision, let people know that they are providing one of the best experience in the adventur industry, and if people are not interested in sport why wont they come for the location in itself. The use of new type of communication such as facebook twitter or threw sponsors (Red bull, Monsters.. ) have already helped the cause of extreme sports and pointed out the fact that people are more than intrested in that kind of leisure. Be a precursor In every single industry, leading companies overcome difficulties by creating their own product and/or creating the demand. In the past few years a lot of new sports have immerged, creating one, could be the chance of an international recognition and healthy finance. Their status of number one is not immutable, they should use their monopoly on the market to create what they think would be the adventure industry of tomorrow. As a reminder, the main question of the case study was â€Å"how to continue to dominate the market while maintaining the reputation as a successful outdoor adventures operator†. The difficulty of chosing a strategy is emphasis by their status of number one, with no comparable company all over the continent the only reasonable choice seems to completely create the wanted path. They got the recognition, the infrastructures as well as a strong leadership. By having a step ahead of the competitions they can maintain their reputation but for how long? To conclude, strenghen by their position, they should choke the competition by redifining what aventure industry means in their own words.

Policies in Canada to Enhance Economics

For some time, during and after Canada’s financial crisis in 2008, it was considered fashionable to refer to the country as a regulatory and fiscal prudence paragon. In the years preceding the crisis, the government in Canada involved in budget surpluses. This enabled the country to grow the economy, while avoiding huge debt loads.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Policies in Canada to Enhance Economics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Extremely high debt loads are experienced in Spain and Greece. Moreover, the banking system in Canada underwent critical capital requirements. It is also worth noting that they were more averse to risks, as opposed to the counterparts in Europe and America (Von Hagen, Schuknecht Wolswijk, 2011). Maybe the most vital aspect is that Canada did not engage in the kind of real estate experiences as is the case in Great Britain and the United States. This is as a result of the str ingent lending standards. In addition, there is no mortgage interest deductibility. The financial crisis experienced worldwide paralyses financial institutions in the developed countries. In addition, it led to bailouts in countries, as well as banks. It is worth noting that the financial sector in Canada was not greatly affected by the financial crisis, even in the absence of taxpayer- financed bailouts. Moreover, the banking sector in Canada remained extremely well capitalized and stable. There are several measures that Canada took to safeguard the stability in its financial system (Reinhart Rogoff, 2008). It is worth mentioning that slightly before the crisis, the bank funding structure was extremely favourable. This is because banks depended more on depository as opposed to wholesale funding. The second strategy is that Canada possesses extremely restrictive capital sufficiency regulatory measures globally. This is in regard to the allowed capital deductions, risk- weighting, a s well as permissible regulatory capital definitions. Furthermore, the banking system’s structure in Canada is attributable for making the sector more solid. In the country, tight measures as well as heavy regulation upon entry resulted to extremely concentrated banking systems. These were dominated by five of the biggest competitors.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Whereas this system is responsible for making the sector slightly less competitive, the sector became more regulatory. This, consequently, reduced the banking sector’s shadow size. The dilemma concerning regulators is a trade- off, which supervisors regularly face as far as stability and competitiveness are concerned. In my opinion, the performance of the economy prior to the crisis, the 2-4 % yearly GDP growth rate in 1999- 2008, as well as the banking sector while the crisis was on going indicate that the country has a perfect balance (Afonso, Kovner Schoar, 2011). As mentioned earlier, the funding structure in Canada was extremely favourable. This is as a result of the Canadian banks reliance on depository as opposed to wholesale funding. Huang and Ratnovski (2009) argue that in banks where funding was dependent on deposits, there was great resilience during the financial crisis. This was the opposite for banks that had a greater reliance on wholesale funding. The liquidity ratios and capitalization were a source of strength for the banks in Canada. This is irrespective of the fact that they were not more in OECD jurisdiction. It is worth noting with keen concern that the exposure Canada to the mortgage assets in the United States was minimal. According to Erkens, Hung and Matos (2012), this is in comparison to the other countries in OECD. In addition, domestic mortgage lending was considered keenly in US. The regulatory framework gave limits to the risks that the banking sector undertook. Traditionally, the nation possesses stringent capital sufficiency regulatory measures as opposed to other more developed economies. This is even before the Basel Accord. Studies indicate that Canada possessed the tightest supervisory capital strategies prior to the financial crisis. 15% of capital is as a result of attractive financial instruments. On the other hand, seventy five percent results from common equity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Policies in Canada to Enhance Economics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, the regulatory framework acts as a restriction for maximum multiple assets. These regulations were responsible for preventing the Canadian banks from assets that eventually turned out to be toxic. Another idea is that the regulations were responsible for the great capital requirements, which were past the requirements stated by Basel Accords. The banking system arrangeme nt is conventionally attributable to the stability experienced in the sector. The stringent precincts and heavy protocols upon entry, resulted to a banking system, which was highly focused. While the sector was rendered less competitive, regulating the sector was made easier. It is the reason why the Canadian system is attributed to great equity returns. The financial system in Canada offers several insights in regard to the creation of firm banking system (Financial Post, 2012). This refer to banks that are well- capitalized and have little leverage, transparency in the systems, risks have links, reward, performance, and an acceptable culture. The Canadian banks were extremely successful since they never engaged in sophisticated financial trades, compared to the counterparts in the United States. Consequently, the financial system was capable of withstanding the turmoil and avoiding bailouts. According to Mark Carney, â€Å"Wholesale reforms of regulation, changes to policy and ad justment of private behaviour are required. We should all approach these tasks with a measure of humility.† References Afonso, G., Kovner, A., Schoar, A. (2011). Stressed, not frozen: The federal funds market in the financial crisis, The Journal of Finance, 66(4), 1109-1139. Erkens, D. H., Hung, M., Matos, P. (2012). Corporate governance in the 2007–2008 financial crisis: Evidence from financial institutions worldwide, Journal of Corporate Finance, 18(2), 389-411. Financial Post. (2012). Mark Carney’s Most Memorable Quotes. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reinhart, C. M., Rogoff, K. S. (2008). Is the 2007 US sub-prime financial crisis so different? An international historical comparison (No. w13761). National Bureau of Economic Research, 21(2), 1- 92. Von Hagen, J., Schuknecht, L., Wolswijk, G. (2011). Government bond risk premiums in the EU revisited: The Impact of the financial crisis. European Journal of Political Economy, 27(1), 36-43. This essay on Policies in Canada to Enhance Economics was written and submitted by user GitHoskins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Parable - Definition and Examples of Parables

Parable s of Parables A story, usually short and simple, that illustrates a lesson. The parable is related to the exemplum in classical rhetoric. Parables And The New Testament Some of the best known parables are those in the New Testament. Certain longer works of modern literaturesuch as Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and the fiction of Franz Kafkaare sometimes regarded as secular parables. Biblical Parables The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.(Proverbs 26:7, The Bible) Secular Parables The Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe There were six men of Hindustan,to learning much inclined,Who went to see an elephant,though all of them were blind,That each by observationmight satisfy his mind.The first approached the elephant,and happening to fallAgainst his broad and sturdy side,at once began to bawl,This mystery of an elephantis very like a wall.The second, feeling of the tusk,cried, Ho, what have we here,So very round and smooth and sharp?To me ’tis mighty clear,This wonder of an elephantis very like a spear.The third approached the elephant,and happening to takeThe squirming trunk within his hands,thus boldly up and spake,I see, quoth he,the elephant is very like a snake.The fourth reached out an eager hand,and felt above the knee,What this most wondrous beastis like is very plain, said he.Tis clear enough the elephantis very like a tree.The fifth who chanced to touch the earsaid, E’en the blindest manCan tell what this resembles most;deny the fact who can;This marvel of an elephantis very like a fan.The sixth no sooner had begunabout the beast to grope,Than seizing on the swinging tailthat fell within his scope;I see, said he, the elephantis very like a rope.So six blind men of Hindustandisputed loud and long,Each in his own opinionexceeding stiff and strong;Though each was partly in the right,they all were in the wrong! MORAL:So oft in theologic wars,The disputants, I ween,Rail on in utter ignoranceOf what each other mean,And prate about an ElephantNot one of them has seen! The Invention of Letters SOCRATES: I heard, then, that at Naucratis, in Egypt, was one of the ancient gods of that country, the one whose sacred bird is called the ibis, and the name of the god himself was Theuth. He it was who invented numbers and arithmetic and geometry and astronomy, also draughts and dice, and, most important of all, letters. Now the king of all Egypt at that time was the god Thamus, who lived in the great city of the upper region, which the Greeks call the Egyptian Thebes, and they call the god himself Ammon. To him came Theuth to show his inventions, saying that they ought to be imparted to the other Egyptians. But Thamus asked what use there was in each, and as Theuth enumerated their uses, expressed praise or blame, according as he approved or disapproved. The story goes that Thamus said many things to Theuth in praise or blame of the various arts, which it would take too long to repeat; but when they came to the letters, This invention, O king, said Theuth, will make the Egyptians w iser and will improve their memories; for it is an elixir of memory and wisdom that I have discovered. But Thamus replied, Most ingenious Theuth, one man has the ability to beget arts, but the ability to judge of their usefulness or harmfulness to their users belongs to another; and now you, who are the father of letters, have been led by your affection to ascribe to them a power the opposite of that which they really possess. For this invention will produce forgetfulness in the minds of those who learn to use it, because they will not practice their memory. Their trust in writing, produced by external characters which are no part of themselves, will discourage the use of their own memory within them. You have invented an elixir not of memory, but of reminding; and you offer your pupils the appearance of wisdom, not true wisdom, for they will read many things without instruction and will therefore seem to know many things, when they are for the most part ignorant and hard to get along with, since they are not wise, but only appear wise. PHAEDRUS: Socrates, you easily make up stories o f Egypt or any country you please. (Plato, Phaedrus, translated by H. N. Fowler) Parable of the Scorpion Theres a story I heard as a child, a parable, and I never forgot it. A scorpion was walking along the bank of a river, wondering how to get to the other side. Suddenly he saw a fox. He asked the fox to take him on his back across the river.The fox said, No. If I do that, youll sting me, and Ill drown.The scorpion assured him, If I did that, wed both drown.The fox thought about it, finally agreed. So the scorpion climbed up on his back, and the fox began to swim. But halfway across the river, the scorpion stung him.As the poison filled his veins, the fox turned to the scorpion and said, Why did you do that? Now youll drown, too. I couldnt help it, said the scorpion. Its my nature.(Robert Beltran as Commander Chakotay in Scorpion. Star Trek: Voyager, 1997) David Foster Wallaces Fish Story There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, Morning, boys, hows the water? And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, What the hell is water? . . .None of this is about morality, or religion, or dogma, or big fancy questions of life after death. The capital-T Truth is about life before death. It is about making it to 30, or maybe 50, without wanting to shoot yourself in the head. It is about simple awarenessawareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, that we have to keep reminding ourselves, over and over: This is water, this is water.(David Foster Wallace, commencement speech at Kenyon College, Ohio. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006, ed. by Dave Eggers. Mariner Books, 2006) Parables in Politics Right now, as [Elizabeth] Warren and [Scott] Brown meet voters, they are telling their stories as political parables, loaded with ideas about opportunity versus just deserts, social investment versus making your own way, fairness versus the free market. The ordinary Massachusetts voterthe kind who doesn’t tune in until the last minutewill have to choose between two story lines. They will talk about it this way: he’s a small-town Wrentham boy who solves problems based on facts, while she’s a leftist ideologue from Harvard. Or they will talk about it this way: he’s a lightweight with a pretty face and a truck; she’s a real person who will fight off the banks and others trying to ruin the middle class. They will assess which one is more likable and sincere. They will (or won’t) be pulled to the polls by more politically motivated neighbors. In such haphazard ways, Massachusetts independents will decide one of the most closely watched and possibl y most expensive races of the 2012 campaign, outside the presidency.(E.J. Graff, Elizabeth Warren: Yes She Can? The Nation, April 23, 2012) Etymology From the Greek, to compare Also see: AllegoryAnecdoteExemplumFableHomileticsThe Little Girl in Lavender Spats by Don MarquisNarration  and  NarrativeVignetteThe Whistle by Benjamin Franklin   Pronunciation: PAR-uh-bul Also Known As: exemplum, fable

Torture is necessary for gaining valuable information to keep america Research Paper

Torture is necessary for gaining valuable information to keep america and its allies safe in the war on terrorism - Research Paper Example In the recent geo-political context, the fight against terrorism has reopened this debate. The United States’ military personnel, with permission/instructions from higher authorities (going as high up as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld), have tortured suspected terrorists since the beginning of its War on Terror operations. While some of the methods employed in eliciting important information from suspects is degrading and inhuman, one has to understand prevailing political contexts in which such actions become inevitable. For example, â€Å"to counter an enemy who relies on stealth and surprise, the most valuable tool is information, and often the only source of that information is the enemy himself. Men like Sheikh Mohammed who have been taken alive in this war are classic candidates for the most cunning practices of this dark art. Intellectual, sophisticated, deeply religious, and well trained, they present a perfect challenge for the interrogator. Getting at the info rmation they possess could allow us to thwart major attacks, unravel their organization, and save thousands of lives. They and their situation pose one of the strongest arguments in modern times for the use of  torture.† (Bowden, 2003, p.52) The rest of this essay will try and present more points in support of torture as a key interrogative tool, and show why its continued employment will save thousands of innocent lives in the future. Foremost among the rationales for usage of torture techniques is the current era of warfare we are living through. The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and other targets within the United States had illustrated clearly the scope and magnitude of jihadist terrorism. (Bowden, 2003, p.52) This event showed to leaders of democratic nations that terrorism has indeed come of age. In this new era of warfare, battles are no longer waged between symmetrical power entities – one state upon another. Rather, in the asy mmetrical military engagements of today, conventional states confront non-state enemies â€Å"who are palpably post-modern: trans-national, decentralized, more closely resembling a fog or that mythic beast with multiple and multiplying heads, the hydra, than the traditional more or less well-defined and (at least potentially) containable national enemy. Moreover, this hydra is one given particularly to living amongst and preying upon civilians. In other words, as the smoldering ruins of Ground Zero reminded us, this is an enemy who does not respect the traditional moral parameters of warfare. Accompanying this recognition is the suspicion that these developments have finally rendered the just war tradition obsolete, irrelevant, impossible.† (Bell, 2006, p.34) Hence, in these uncertain and insecure times, traditional criteria of measuring fairness and justice no longer apply. Waging the War on Terror successfully requires rejection of antiquarian views of â€Å"legitimate aut hority, last resort, and the possibility of distinguishing between combatant and non-combatant.† (Bell, 2006, p.34) Our leaders no longer have the luxury of â€Å"moral purity or clean hands† that the just war tradition requires. Moreover, one has to make a distinction between acting morally and acting foolishly. It would amount to acting foolishly if key protections of the Bill of Rights are extended to ruthless enemies who do not share America’s vision of war, justice and morality. The key question to ask is whether the imperative to destroy the

The onsent of eating disorders during adolescence is common. Discuss Essay

The onsent of eating disorders during adolescence is common. Discuss some of the causes and risk factors and long term effects of these disorders - Essay Example (Steinhaussen, H., 1995) Due to the intense and demanding lifestyle of high school, nutritious foods may be replaced with high calorie fast food, which often leads to weight gain. This weight gain, and remarks made by parents can reinforce self conscious images into some teens, which can result in developing eating disorders such as the sometimes fatal eating disorder anorexia nervosa. Eating disorders come in a variety of ways, such as eating large quantities of food and obsessing with thinness. These conditions affect many children, teens, and adults around the world. (Bryan, L., 2000)They are real, complex, and devastating situations, which can have serious consequences. There are three types of eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that results in an avoidance of eating because of a cluster of specific emotional issues in adolescence. It is an eating disorder that mostly occurs (about 59%) in adolescent girls, but it can also occur among teenage boys and adult men and women. Usually, anorexia begins between the ages of 14 to 18 when young teenagers go trough puberty (Ruuska, 2003). Anorexia is characterized by extreme and irrational fear of becoming fat, significant weight loss of 15% or more of the normal weight, distorted body image and amenorrhea or absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. Excessive weight loss is accomplished by restricting food intake of less than 1,000 calories per day, excessive exercise, diet pills or even self-induced. The patients constantly exercise, move food around the plate, wear oversized clothes to hide their appearance, and worry about their figure all the time. They also have a fear of eating in front of others; sometimes they feel depressed, have problems socializing and starve themselves, even if they have a normal figure. They also spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, pay too much attention to their weight, and accumulate food in

Healthy School Lunches for all Children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Healthy School Lunches for all Children - Essay Example The main activities this campaign involves itself in is advising and educating the government, school administration, parents, food service workers, and the overall public on the benefits of healthy food choices for children for their short-term and long-term health benefits. Most schools serve children food that is high in cholesterol and low in fibre. However, the Healthy School Lunch Campaign encourages more schools to serve children food high in fibre, cholesterol free, and with low fat. The campaign includes presentations in schools, advertisements in the media, posters, among others. This will help reduce the rising obesity rates in America, especially child obesity. The Healthy School Lunches campaign in one of their posters, reaches out to the public by portraying a beautiful young girl thinking, â€Å"President Obama’s daughters get healthy school lunches. Why don’t I?† In this poster, the healthy school lunches organization wants to bring the public the message that healthy eating is important for children. If the daughters of the president do not eat unhealthily, then why should the citizens let unhealthy food to be served to their children? This message creates emphasis to the audience, as it portrays their children as less special, for their continued eating of unhealthy food, compared to Obama’s Sasha and Malia, to whom healthy eating is a priority. The creators of this poster have used different techniques and have skilfully developed a convincing message for the public about healthy eating for children in schools (â€Å"Healthy School Lunches Organization†). The use of an image in this poster is meant to attract people’s attention to reading the poster. In this case, the image is that of a young girl. She is a beautiful, smiling, and innocent-looking young girl, of around 10 years of age. This girl is shown thinking about how the presidents’ daughters eat healthily while she does not eat in the sa me healthy manner at school. When people see such an image, it draws them into thinking about the addressed issue of unhealthy eating. They will feel sorry for the young girl, considering it is not her mistake to be served unhealthy lunc