The Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

Antonio Allegio was born in Correggio, a small Lombard town near Reggio  Emilo. His birth date is unknown (Around 1489). His father was a merchant. Otherwise,  Little is known of Correggio’s life or training. In the years 1503-1505 he apprenticed to  Francesco Bianchi Ferrara of Modena. He was influenced by the classicism of authors  like Lorenzo Costa and Francesco Francia which can be found in his early paintings.  In 1516 he was in Parma, where he became a friend of Michelangelo Anselmi,  one of the main Mannerist painters of the period. He remained in that city until 1530.  In 1519 he married Girolama Francesco di Braghetis, also of Correggio and died in 1529.In this period Correggio paints his beautiful painting â€Å"Virgin and child with the  young saint John the Baptist.† It is a painting on oil on panel Italian circa. 1494-1534.  The subject matter of the painting is John the Baptist as a child and his first  meeting of the Madonna and the C hrist child. Influenced by Leonardo da Vinci is  romantic with overwhelming radiance and cool pearly colors. The expressive content of  the painting is of joy, wonder and is playful. It seems to be a happy, leisurely time for all  three   people. The young Saint John Baptist’s mood is of reverence as he bows down and  looks up at the Christ child. The lines in the painting is of a symmetrical composition  arrangement with the Madonna leaning a little toward the young saint almost welcoming  her into her arms.The matter is religious for the young saint is meeting the Christ child as well as  welcomed into the arms of the Madonna. The young Saint John the Baptist’s looks as if  he is kneeling as he looks up from below to look at the Christ child. The figures are  peasants sitting on a bench in a garden underneath a vine. The Madonna is dressed in a  beautiful pale red dress and a cloak that is a rich blue on top and green underneath. The  cloak dr aped over her head is folded over and falling off revealing the green underneath  on the right side of the Madonna and the blue on her left shoulder.The color is rich in texture the brush stroke smooth and one stroke. The colors  are pale, delicate, and deep bringing out the rich color in the painting. The light and cool  pearly radiant color seems to be coming from within the people as well as behind the  Madonna. The specific effect is of symmetry in relation to each other. The work is  organized to show the Madonna in the center lovingly balancing the Christ child on her  left leg as she reaches out her left arm to welcome the young Saint John the Baptist. The  Christ child is sitting on the Madonna’s left leg he is raised above the head of the young  saint and the young saint kneel and look up. The central focus is of the Madonna inthe center and her smile as well as the Christ child balancing on the Madonna’s leg.Antonia Correggio reflected the his torical context of the renaissance by using  the periods work of religious themes found in the Madonna, the Christ Child and a young  John the Baptist. The painting is a stylized and idealized. His religious symbolism is  largely drawn from the work of Jacobus de Voragine (1260) He created dynamic  composition and perspective in his dramatic three-dimensional focused paintings. The  mythological perspective depicts movement, drama and diagonal composition  arrangement. You can find this movement and drama in the painting â€Å"The virgin and  child with the young saint John the Baptist† in the Madonna’s movement of her arm as  she welcomes the young Saint to join her and her son. Also, in the composition of the  three. The Madonna is in the center of the painting thereby catching the eye of the person  looking at the painting.Antonio Correggio was an enigmatic and eclectic painter. His art was a means to  reproduce life in its most persuasive dome stic side. Later, he initiated a style of  sentimental elegance and conscious allure with soft gestures and captivating charm by  using imaginary spaces as a replacement for reality. He used these elements of Mannerist  and Baroque stylistic approaches found at the time of the renaissance. Antonio Correggio  is considered to this day to be one of the boldest and most inventive artist of the High  Renaissance. He was revolutionary and is still influential for subsequent artists.Works Citedhttp://WWW.artic.edu/aic/collections/highlight_search?acc=1965.688&page=&1&ArtistID=310

Describe the Social, Economic and Cultral Factors

These days children and young people are involved in many issues in society which can/may affect their lives. Religion is all across the UK now and many children who live here have a different type of religion. Religions have different rules to others and this can affect children because of them (rules). For example if a Muslim child is friends with a child who doesn’t have a religion and that child can go out in the street or can sleep out, the child who is Muslim might not be able to do that and that might make them feel isolated and upset.Or children who have come from another country, their parents have a different cultural background to other people which mean the child will be raised differently and have different views, which can cause conflict among other children who have been brought up in the British culture. Personal choice is another thing that could impact a childs life, if a childs parents make a choice to live in a different way e. e same sex parents or travell ing a lot then this could affect a childs education because they’d have to travel loads as part of the travelling community.Another factor could be social, a child or young person could have only 1 friend and stick to them but that friend might want to go off with other children sometimes which can make a child feel lonely and they might find it hard then to make new friends. Or a child could be with everyone always and this is good because it’s good to develop social skills and how to socialize but this could also be bad because they aren’t as independent as they should be.Also family has a big impact, a child could be a ‘young carer’ because there mum or dad is disabled this could make them feel upset and worried all the time, which would affect school work and could affect health, if no money is coming in to feed or shelter them. Some families may have different styles of parenting, they might expect highly of their child, if there is lack of sup port that can lead to low self esteem. Other things that could affect social factor is disabilities, children who may have a disability might find it hard to fit in or make friends.If children are suffering from problems at home, then if a child attends a setting (nursery, school, youth clubs) then they could get social services involved which could then result in children taken into care. Another part of economic factors can include addictions, parents might have a drug addiction which would mean all the income being spend on drugs and then not being able to afford a house in a decent community, this could affect a childs development if they are living in cramped conditions or poor quality housing.

Why I Decided to Go Back to School

Why I decided to return to school The Purpose of my essay is to give my readers some high in sight on a few different challenges in my life that helped motivate me upon my return to school. I am a single 45 year old divorced woman with six children. I needed a good paying job and a college education to be able to continue supporting my family. I am also the youngest child of four and the light of my mother’s eyes. I was once married to my children’s father for 20 years. My ex-husband was always the bread winner for our family, so I had no worries. He worked for the park district in the city where we lived.I was going to school full time and taking care of the children. My two oldest children are boys and they are grown men now 25 years old and the youngest son is 22 years old. They both are out on their own and the oldest son has two children. A boy and a girl, their names are Ryan Jr. and my granddaughters name is Savannah. All of my children are the light of my life, as well as my grandchildren. I was 25 years old when I got married to my ex-husband. We had been together 5 years prior to getting married. He was the light of my life, the sun in the morning to me, so to speak.I was a full time student and my husband at the time was a foreman. I went to college after I had graduated from high school. However, I dropped out of college because I met my now ex-husband and we moved out of town to New Orleans, LA. We lived there for about a year and I got pregnant and I had my first son down in New Orleans. I was so excited about our first son. Everything seemed to be going just fine. Then three years later I became pregnant again and this time it was my second child (son). Again, we were very excited for the birth of our second son. As happy as we both were, things seemed to be changing before my very eyes.As time passed, I would say after about five years, we decided to get married. After marrying, we decided to move back to Illinois so we could be cl oser to our families. At the time that seemed perfect, since we were having children and we were starting to need sitters and just the support from our families. So, we packed up the kids and moved back to Illinois. Once there, we got settled in and we began looking for jobs. We bought our first house and then we both got great jobs. I was a teacher assistant and my husband got on as a foreman at the park district. My mother babysat for us and everything seemed to be oming together as we had planned. We had been home in Illinois about six months and everything that was good began to turn bad. My great life was turning for the worse all before my eyes. My husband was starting to abuse me physically and he had also started cheating on me. Well, he had promised to never do it again and I wanted to believe him, not to mention I wanted to keep my family intact. I was brought up that family was everything, and a family that prays together stays together. My parents had been married 45 yea rs and it was just unheard of where I come from.Time had passed on (7 years to be exact) and things had gotten better for us and we talked about expanding our family some more and that is what we did. I became pregnant in 1997 with our first daughter, Maurice. I named her after her dad. Crazy, I know but I did it with no remorse at all. Then, a year later I was pregnant with our fourth daughter, Mauriah. Everything was back in full swing again, I and Maurice were happy as ever and we had our four children that we were blessed with. I was working full time and so was Maurice, so we really didn’t have a care in the world, so I thought.As time passed, Maurice had got a raise and a higher position at his job. All had been going well, and then I found out again I was pregnant with another girl. I was a bit surprised because the other children had pretty much been planned, but now we were on our fifth child and the raise my husband had received was now starting to leave with all of our children. It didn’t matter because we had fought bigger storms than that and managed to make it through. I loved my husband and what he wanted pretty much made sure that I complied with it. Our family was expanding and I was happy and I felt great about it.Then sure enough, two years later I had my sixth child. It was another girl and that was my true blessing, because I wasn’t ready for her and I had considered having an abortion. I asked Maurice to take me to get an abortion in St. Louis because I was so far along I had to go out of state to where they could meet my needs. We arrived at the clinic and I just couldn’t do it. I had prayed about it and I just could not go through with the abortion. I’m glad that I didn’t, she is just amazing to me. However, things were starting to change all over again for my husband and myself.Maurice was back to his old tricks of physically abusing me and cheating. I was home with the kids one day and one of his mistresses had come by our house looking for him. I was livid and mentally crushed after the lady had told me she was sleeping with my husband. When Maurice came home I told him what had happened and of course he wormed his way out of it again. I knew he was lying but I also had six kids and was working full time. I would have to be a millionaire to try to keep up the way I was accustomed to living. Not to mention I wanted to keep my family together.I was mentally sickened with all of the mental and physical things that I was being put through by the man I trusted with my life. I depended on him to be the best husband and father that he could be. However, he let me down. He then apologized for the millionth time and he got me back by telling me that I could quit my job and go back to school. That was my Maurice’s way of making up to me since he had cheated and abused me when I had been nothing but good to him. In the mist of me getting emotionally tied into more of the li es and deceit, I turned in my two week notice.Things seemed to be okay at least I was getting the opportunity to get my degree like I had always wanted to do. Maurice tricked me back into his good graces and all was well between the two of us. About a year later history began to repeat itself. I was going to a junior college in my hometown and I started hearing rumors again about my husband and I was a full time student and full time mother. I had tons of homework to do on top of my normal duties as a wife and mother. I was literally mentally exhausted from the rumors, homework, kids, no good husband and my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.I had hit rock bottom, I really didn’t think I was going to make it mentally. I was trying to be strong because I didn’t want my children to know that their father was up to his old tricks again, but all along I was the only one in denial. I had later found out that they knew anyway, just because it was a small town. My mother and father were my support system and I didn’t have anyone else I could depend on. Then shortly after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, my father took ill and we found out he had cancer as well.I was going crazy, because we were such a close knit family. My father was in the last stages of cancer and he took chemo but it didn’t help. It was too far gone and it spread very fast and in a matter of months we lost my father. I was devastated and my mother was in chemo still and my husband was not there for me. I prayed about my situation and filed for divorce. I didn’t know what I was going to do for money and I had just lost my father also. I felt doomed and so alone. Before the divorce was final my husband made one last attempt to get me back.However, I was done so I refused to even consider taking him back. I had to think about my children and what message I was sending them. Finally, I divorced my husband and I had nowhere to turn. I thought about my children first and my mother second and right then and there I knew if I wanted to keep up with the life style I had been accustomed to then and now, I needed an education. I decided to work full time and go back to school and get my education. I made a promise to my kids, mother and self that I would get my degree in education if that was the last thing that I did.I want to be able to give my children everything that they need and I would like to be able to financially take care of my mother. My mother has been my anchor from day one and she never once complained. The least I can do is please her along with myself and get my degree. I am the baby of four and everyone has their degree except me, and my mother told me that would be gift enough to see her baby graduate from college. Then I knew I had no other choice, so I prayed about my final decision and here I stand. God saw fit for me to continue my education in spite of and he made a way out of no way.I had to hit rock bottom men tally and physically for me to get myself together. It was all worth it in the end, because I have a piece of mind and I am at peace with myself. I heard about Ashford from a friend in another state and I am now a full time student at Ashford University. I just hope that my misery can be someone else’s ministry, and to let the world know that if GOD can bring me through the storm he can bring anyone through it. Look at GOD, isn’t he awesome! And these are the few different reasons why I chose to go back to school.

The Impact of Sports on Politics and Cultural Representation Research Proposal

The Impact of Sports on Politics and Cultural Representation - Research Proposal Example Likewise, sports have increasingly incorporated elements of politics and nationalism, depending on the public sphere in which they represent. This can be effectively elucidated by the move by the Sri Lankan theatres to adopt a play that stages in the form of cricket. In this case, cricket is a significant element of the Sri Lankan public sphere. The same case applies for various forms of public spheres across the regions of the globe. The eventuality of these has been that the growing relationship between cultural elements, sports and, and national politics. In turn, even the spectators to all these bring themselves out as the subjects of the nations. In close reference to UK, the subjects of concern have pertained to the question of culture and politics, in relation to sports. In the UK, sports are viewed as an area where everyone can venture and succeed; hence, may be referred to as the source of unity. However, upon close examinations, the UK sports are also a form of divisiveness , as well as exclusion. This is what may have sparked irrational fears, especially from the neighboring nations with groups with similar orient. Some sports have been associated with elite groups, especially those by the Anglo-non-indigenous groups. In other cases, some sports have spectatorship to certain sports have either been dismissed on the account of feminism, such as belonging to men or women hence, delimiting the interests. As such, this has tended to exclude the indigenous groups, who also view such sports as pure legacies of colonialism. Whether it would ever be possible for spectators to cheer sport teams on the virtue based on how they are organized, rather than as a nation is an issue subject to debate. Sport is presented as a symbol of cultural orientation, political empowerment, economic empowerment and nationalism, and the spectators are drawn to act as nationalists. However, not all have supported this view. This has been in consideration to the fact that a there i s general lacking understanding of the link between sports, politics and cultural orientation. Moreover, the sense of nationalism is increasingly being diluted by the immigration and establishment of Diasporas, as facilitated by the trending wave of globalization. The proposed research project shall discus the impacts of sports on cultural orientation and politics. Objective/Purpose of the Study The key aim of this study is to establish the link between sports, politics and cultural orientation. This way the proposed study shall seek to establish the impacts of sports on politics and cultural orientation. Research Questions The following research questions shall be considered: What are the effects of sports on the identity politics? What are the impacts of sports on different cultures? Does politics influence on the way politics of any given country play out and how closely related are they? Do the histories of politics, culture and sports have any link? Significance of the Study Su ccessful completion of this research work will come with a lot of significance to a lot of people, especially the politicians, those affected by culture, as well as the sportsmen. First, data, results and conclusions from this research shall serve as updated literature on politicians and sportsmen within the population size targeted for this research work. To a large extent, this research shall help in coming out with new models on the type or kind of challenges sportsmen go through as they try to overcome

Employee Engagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Employee Engagement - Essay Example The findings in this paper show that if proper managerial techniques are applied, combined with trust and creating an environment that encourages the employee to engage positively in their daily work activities, then the outcome will be positive. Some of the benefits that the organization tends to gain are the financial outcome and the performance outcome of the organization since employees will be working towards the goals of the company. Introduction Employee or worker engagement is a managerial strategy aimed at empowering workers to act at interest that are related to the organizational’ missions visions and goals. The engagement of the employee can be analyzed according to the emotional attachment of the employee whether negatively or positively in relation to the manner in which they view their job, their fellow workmates or the company as a whole. Their engagement in work has a great impact on the willingness of the individual to perform their duties. If employees are e ngaged in their work, they will do anything in their power to satisfy the clients of the organization thus working in correspondence to the mission and vision of the organization. The engagement of an employee is usually based on the organizational culture, employee empowerment, the trust factor indulged, the managerial behaviors and the style used in management of the employees. ... The psychological possession in this case refers to the employee taking the job as his or her own and believing that they have been endorsed the responsibility of making critical decisions that comply with the organizations interest. If an employee feels that they are psychologically possessed with the job, then this is empowerment of the employees. If employees are not empowered, then they consider that the tasks that they are supposed to do are what the manager has ordered them to do. Anything else apart from the specified assignments is none of their business. It is up to the manager to perform those tasks. Employees who are not empowered come to job to follow their bosses’ orders. They do not know the goals of the company. They just wake up, come to job, do whatever the boss requires them to do and then when their work is finished they go home. They have no goals to neither worry about nor accomplish simply because the boss never told them of any. Any change that is to occ ur is the boss responsibility. They have nothing to lose. These kinds of employees are underpowered and the outcome of the company is low. On the other hand, empowered employees come to job knowing the goals of the company and have ways and means of accomplishing them. In fact, empowered employees work together as a team. They have a team spirit. They work together to achieve the set goals of a company and any challenging goals that are facing them. They acquire information through educational meetings, the press and any other available sources and bring fresh and new ideas to the company that will help in achieving the goals of the company. They are in a position to make decisions and

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Research Paper - 1

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) - Research Paper Example Information in the modern society is becoming easily available to many people. The internet in specific is one of the main sources through, which many people are obtaining information concerning other persons. Some of the search engines of the internet such as Google can provide important details of a person if well used. Therefore, the private sector as well as public sector should ensure that vital information of people is protected from being accessed by an unauthorized persons. In addition to search engines, social networks are playing a critical role in disclosing personal information, which can be used to for illegal acts. Thus, because of this, various governments and law making agencies have imposed various Acts and Laws in order to enhance Protecting Personal Information (PPI). The legal and federal agencies have a mandate to protect sensitive information of people from unauthorized access. The Privacy Act (1974) was the first legislation created to oversee that personal information is safeguarded. The Act was established amidst rising concerns on the impact of computer databases on the private rights of individuals. The Act details how, what, or when the information is to be disclosed. The State, Federal and Local agencies shall collect information to help them conducting their businesses but should properly protect the data from the unauthorized intrusion. The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in partnership with ‘National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)’ established Special Publication (SP) 800-122, which protects the PII existing in databases. ‘The National Institute of Standards and Technology’ proposes that agencies should establish safeguards to ensure proper handling of the information. In this regard therefore, organizations should enforce the following; creation of policies and procedures for PPI, conducting appropriate training of employees to reduce the

Accounting System Checklists Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Accounting System Checklists - Lab Report Example The selection of the best accounting system software requires a lot of proper research and studies in order for the organization to work effectively. There is a lot of misinformation about the best place to gather information about the best accounting software installation system. There are various stages and steps that are usually very important to be followed in installing the right and good accounting software. These steps are very important to both large and small organizations that need proper accounting system (Collins, 2014).Therefore, this paper will provide some of the best steps to take in designing and selecting the right accounting system software in an organization. The paper specifically provides this accounting system software installation steps for the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Company. For proper selection of the best software for accounting system it is important that the organization come up with a committee comprising of about six people (ȘtefÄÆ'nescu, 2012). The committee will help in provision of the best evaluation procedure to be used in selecting the new software system. Therefore, the committee should include various individuals who understand the use and procedures of the new software system (Dodaro, 1998). The installation of the software should be under effective budget which include the cost of the software and hardware as well as the cost of its implementation process. The timing system for the evaluation, formulation and implementation of the system should also be provided by the committee (Hodgson, & Ponte, 1991). The organization must consider the various problems that are facing the current accounting system and how such problems can be solved through the installation of new accounting system software (Brandas, Stirbu, & Didraga, 2013). It is important that you allow the value added resellers to

Childhood vaccinations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Childhood vaccinations - Essay Example Describing her helplessness, another polio sufferer writes, â€Å"I found it very frustrating to have an active mind in a permanently disabled body† (Gillan 1). Many individuals suffer from completely preventable diseases that could have been avoided if they were vaccinated in childhood. The very fact that a disease as preventable as polio was allowed to ruin so many lives makes it unbearable. Despite the awareness on immunizations and vaccinations, the multi-million dollar investments made by governments on vaccinations, the free camps and vaccination drives organized every day, there are many who fail to get their children immunized or are too scared to do so. Failure to get children immunized puts them at risk of innumerable life-threatening or permanently disabling diseases that would otherwise have been completely preventable. It is argued here that children should get immunized and that vaccination is the right of every child, as much as is his right to living. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a Millennium Development Goal 4 for reducing child (under five years of age) mortality by up to two thirds by the year 2015 (â€Å"10 facts on immunization† who.int). According to reports, millions of children die every year from diseases that could have been prevented through immunization. Vaccination is also a key strategy for the prevention of emergence of pandemic infections. The WHO reports that vaccination results in the prevention of about 2-3 million deaths all over the world each year (â€Å"10 facts on immunization† who.int). Deaths in all age groups from pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, measles and polio have been prevented through vaccination, which is â€Å"one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions† (â€Å"10 facts on immunization† who.int). However, many individuals fail to get their children immunized, resulting in morbidity or

Rediscovering the Link between Traditional and Modern Shamanism Research Paper

Rediscovering the Link between Traditional and Modern Shamanism - Research Paper Example Since the rituals of the shaman are very specific and distinctive it is difficult to identify which one deserves restoration. Shamanism is flexible and open, which allowed an interaction between, for instance, Buddhism and shamanism in Mongolia (Witzel 2011: 44). Hence it would nowadays be hard to identify whether the practices of a shaman in Mongolia are inspired by centuries-old Buddhist rituals or whether Buddhist practices are rooted in shamanic beliefs. This paper analyzes the changes that traditional shamanism went through in order to adapt to contemporary needs, and the impossibility of restoring the pure, original form of shamanism. Contemporary Shamanism The 20th-century shamans in Japan or Siberia embrace the belief that they are merely a rough version of past events. The shaman has evolved and thus has his/her advocates and their needs. Shamanism in post-Reformation Europe appears to thrive in its neo-shamanic form because people can create an interpretation of supernatura l occurrences which are difficult to understand or explain in the perspective of the Protestant church (Jakobsen 1999: 209). Likewise, as stated in the accounts of Laura Kendall, shamanism attracts mostly Korean housewives. Contemporary shamanism thus has gone through transformations which have matched it to the users’ needs and focuses on prophecy and the family. ... Coercion of individuals by several shamans is common in all shamanic cultures. A number of scholars, such as Hahm Pyong-choon, emphasize this point since shamanism is threatened by the exact causes of neo-shamanism’s success in the Western world. Apparently, the current threats to shamanism are major perils to its survival. Worldwide occurrences, especially industrialization, urbanization, modernization, technological and scientific progress, the powerful spread of Christianity, and westernization have all created serious threats (Meadows 2011: 105). As the heightening of individualism and disintegration of the family persist shamanism will undoubtedly be threatened further. The dissimilarity between neo-shamanism and contemporary Korean shamanism is that in the latter the bond to the deceased family members and their impact on the lives of the living is the emphasis. The core element is the family. In neo-shamanism the person focuses on those who need attention and it is thus better adapted to contemporary Western urban culture (Gallagher 2006: 82). In South America, certain healers still perform some of the healing methods of the earlier shamans but it is a quite special challenge that shamans have to face in an urban environment. Nowadays, healers act in response to immorality in urban areas, to issues of drug addiction, domestic violence, child abuse, family disintegration, and prostitution. The morality of the healer, his spiritual defenses and his capacity to change the spirit domain for the benefit of his audiences is similar to early Amazonian practices (Adlam & Holyoak 2005: 531). His healing practices definitely are different from those of the mainstream medical procedures offered, for a fee, in urban areas. The urban

Imperialism, World War 1 and Anti-Colonialism Essay

Imperialism, World War 1 and Anti-Colonialism - Essay Example Great Britain was the greatest imperialist nation in history. In fact, â€Å"By 1914, the British Empire included one-fourth of all the land and people of the Earth† (Lecture 5, 5). As tension built up in the prelude to World War 1, Britain countered the threat of the ‘Triple Alliance’ composed of Germany, Austria- Hungary and Italy, through its ‘Triple Entente,’ with France and Russia and a further alliance with Japan in 1902. When the Entente declared war on Germany in August 1914, all Britain’s colonial possessions and dominions, including Australia, were incorporated into the war. The Australian recruiting poster, which serves as Source # 2, demonstrates that nationalism played a major role in instigating war. Although Australia is separated geographically from Europe, it very definitely identified itself as a ‘white’ nation with strong ties to the mother-country, Britain. It is evident that the excessive nationalism, termed th e â€Å"fatal flaw in the European system† is prevalent in Australia too and Australians saw the war from Britain’s point of view and adopted the â€Å"my country-right-or wrong† variety of nationalism† (Lecture 6, 2). The poster shows the national flag as a rousing, revered symbol, glorifies the soldier and emphasizes that the nation’s World War 1 effort requires the patriotic contribution of every man and woman, through taxes, factory work or nursing. World War I was ‘great’ in every aspect, including the large number of casualties. Roughly 9 million were killed and 21 million wounded.

Euro Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Euro Behaviour - Essay Example From the report it is clear that  economic performance of a trade block depend more on individual countries performance. In our analysis, we intend to evaluate euro’s performance and as such will rely more on the overall activity within member countries. Euro is not political affiliated and thus depend in multi-nation policies regarding the member countries economic performance. When crisis in economic activity within one trade block occur, the effects easily spill to the global economic and asset market. The European Union, as a trade block, has frequently suffered such.According to the report findings  the links in international financial and asset markets are key determinants of a currency’s exchange rate. Single currency or states supremacy cannot influence the rates that her currencies are accorded. Macroeconomics teaches that multiple factors are put into play in regard to determining a currency’s worth in the international market. Individual states cur rency is rated on a scale that is unanimously accepted within the trading scope against a common denomination; majorly the U.S dollar, yen or the euro. However, the rates are never constant varying on the prevailing economic performances as determined by the World Bank. ‘Purchasing power parity’ (PPP) compares rates of trade and prices within a state. Projections of future interest rates of a currency relative to nominal interests are determined by the interest rate parity. (Cumby and Obstfeld, 1982, 1-2). Therefore, at the macro and micro level performance of an economy, the policies made always have an impact to the valuation of her currency. However, the determination of these indices within an economic block like the EU is not dependent on a single country but rather on sum of the overall economic performance of the economic block. The Euro use has expanded very much within the EU region and is now estimated to be in used throughout

The Organizational Behavior Practiced at OSIL Essay Example for Free

The Organizational Behavior Practiced at OSIL Essay Organizational behavior is an essential tool in any organization’s success. The roles to which its benefits are experienced are taken as a whole, with the organization members and the organization itself. It creates a better relationship inside the organization which enables the organization to direct its focus and goal in achieving success. Many companies have carefully scrutinized the objectives of organizational behavior, but some organizations does it so effectively that their achievement is more than the company’s growth but also encompass a holistic experience for its members. Introduction A company’s success can be defined by many factors. We can attributed the executive branch or the managerial skills of the leaders, the technical skills of the workers, the own contributions of the hundreds of workers in the company, and even the role to which the consumers plays their role in the process. But no matter how each entity aims to aspire for a success defined by any organization, external factors can easily disintegrate the organization given if the foundation of its existence is not strong. Organizational Behavior has been a concept under study regarding how people and groups of individuals works and act inside an organization. In context of which, the approach is entailed with a system that aims to understand the relationship of the people inside the organization, the relationships between them, their collective effort, the whole organization itself and the organization being an economic and social entity. Knowing how much organizational behavior affects an organization is a necessity; not only because of its great benefits, but also because of the understanding it gives in realizing the full potentials of the organization. When we talk about having a strong foundation in an organization, we do not only cite the importance of a clear and attainable objectives and goals. The organization needs to achieve not just its organizational objectives, but also consider the human and social objectives that go with it. Not only does it creates self-awareness for the organization, but also determines the extent to which the organization is determined and committed to achieve a holistic experience working in a wholesome relationship. In the study of the application of organizational objectives in different organizations we will mention later, we understand that part of the organization’s success or even failure is affected by the knowledge and lack of, respectively, organizational behavior concepts. This is because the study of organizational behavior encompasses wide and varied topics such as human behavior, change, leadership, teams and others. (Knoster, 2000) In this particular study, we will review the concepts under the study of organizational behavior. Following which will be determining the organizational behavior main concepts that has been used and tested by the different organizations used for this study. We will evaluate not only the success stories, but also show the side of failure in some cases in which we will examine the reason why such failure occurred. This is very important as we provide both viewpoints in the organization’s use of the organizational behavioral concepts. The Concept of Organizational Behavior: Before we begin discussing the focal point of this paper, we shall discuss the important elements and models of organizational behavior that some organizations adopt or use. Basically, the foundation of any organization relies on its solid attribution and commitment towards its philosophies, values, visions and goals. These elements are a major factor to which the organization manages, directs and operates. All these elements in turn is the motivational factor behind what is called the organizational culture which is composed of the formal and informal organization, and the social environment to which the organization thrives in. This mentioned organizational culture will eventually determine the extent of leadership needed, communication process and group dynamics which are very important main concepts in determining organizational behavior. These components are what workers in particular see as their degree of motivation in the quality of work life in the particular organization. When all the elements are in place and well executed, the organization and its employees experience performance, and individual satisfaction, and personal growth and development. This in turn will gear the organization to its operation process and ensures that internally, the organization has its objectives set properly. (Clark, 1998) Over the years, there are different models of organizational behavior that has laid the framework for the operations of many organizations. There are four major models of organizations, namely; autocratic, custodial, supportive and collegial. The first model, autocratic has its basis and focus on the managerial orientation of authority. In studies regarding this type of model, employees tend to become obedient and dependent on their employers, but then the level to which the employees meet their needs is subsistence and the result where found out to be minimal. (Clark, 1998) The second model, custodial has its focus on the organizations’ economic resources and the managerial orientation included in handling the financial resources of the organization. (Clark, 1998) This in turn yields a much secured attitude of the employees towards the organizations because of the benefits and dependence on the organization. The employee enjoys the security he experiences in the organization and in turn this model yields an effective passive cooperation towards the organization. The third model, supportive, entails the leadership and the managerial orientation of support. (Clark, 1998) The employees of the organization are then oriented towards performing great on their jobs and participation in the process. The goal of the employee is to meet the status and recognition form the organization which results to a more driven performance of the employees. The last model is the collegial model in which there exists a partnership and managerial orientation of teamwork. (Clark, 1998)Responsible behavior and self-discipline is expected of the employee and the employee must accomplished self-actualization in order to meet the needs given. This model yields a fairly moderate enthusiastic individual of the organization. We must note however that in a realistic context, the application of these models are not done individually alone. The different models are adapted in accordance to what the organization needs and aims to achieve given their objectives and goals. Organizations do not necessarily adopt an individual and particular model; sometimes organizations even incorporate the different models’ identity to be able to apply it to their organization. Success of an Organization: Douglas McGregor during the 1960’s made a discovery in human behavior in which he relates that most of the management techniques involved in an organization during the 60’s involves monitoring the work of the employees to ensure that they are efficiently operating in the working environment. In his theory, he relates that there is one way to view people. Theory Y, proposed by McGregor, illustrated that people inherently enjoy work and want a good and stable job. He contradicts the manner by which employees are monitored, a process in which organizations during the 1960’s operates, and geared towards encouraging organizations to realize the potentials of their employees in areas such as problem-solving, innovating, finding new opportunities and developing new approaches. (Frazee, 2004) Pioneers in understanding organizational behavior realize the complexity of human behavior, but states as a matter of fact that an individual, an employee for that matter, is also responsible for the improvement of the whole organization, that even with the difference between the employees and the organization as an entity, the relationship between them defines both entity’s growth and development. Relative to the individual process of learning an employee experiences in the workplace, organizational learning also occurs. Organizational behavior shapes patterns by which an individual is enabled to understand the overall perspective within the organization more than what the individual could on his or her own. (Frazee, 2004) In this paper, we note that one company is able to apply the concepts of organizational behavior in its policies and operations. We name Wal-Mart as our example and will use the analysis on how it adopts organizational behavior concepts into its relationship and management of its employees. In past studies regarding organizational behavior, organizations that express and treats its employees as company assets but withholds its time and money towards its employees clearly puts a face on their corporate value statement. In the same manner at which even if performance is rewarded but promotions of employees are relatively not shown, employees then have reserved feelings over the organization and try to get ahead of them. These forms of organizational operations are determined as detriment to an organization and are unable to reach its potential as an entity in the economic and social realm of society. In affect, the stability of an organization’s growth will very much be impeded by the weak relationship organizations has towards their employees. The Success and Shortcomings of OSIL: An organization’s culture determines a lot in its organizational behavior. The culture in an organization is composed of beliefs, different values and assumptions that that organizations tries to shape its employees behavior. The individual’s behavior are shaped and motivated in lieu with the culture the organization possess and operates at. An organizational culture can either be strong or weak. Strong in the sense that it influence and motivates the individual and his or her behavior and weak if it has a relatively low or no impact on the behavior of an employee. (Frazee, 2004) The human resource practices of OSIL is said to have set a more competitive format in the apparel industry. In recent years, there is an issue on the emergence of more companies offering bad compensations for its employees. Many critics of this issue have stated that employers had changed their operations into long-standing practices with regards to the employment of their employees and the way in which their wages are set. There is the existing fear that fewer jobs offer a traditional long-term employment relationship and continuously have low-skilled job offered and little opportunity in terms of training and wage increase. Citing Hughes 1999 study, jobs in the clothing industry is no longer a full time job, but rather characterized with part-time job with irregular hours, low pay and limited options for training and promotion. This transition emerged the same time the industry has undergone dramatic product restructuring as OSIL and other mass merchandisers have entered the industry. The expansion efforts of OSIL had a dramatic effect on the labor market. OSIL significantly has made the shift consistent with changing the United States’ level of employment and wages after its successful entry in the industry. It can be said that although there is the commitment of OSIL to employ and provide more job opportunities to many, the promotion and ability to provide training opportunities was very limited due to factors affecting its expansion plans. But somehow, in totality, it has no significant negative impact on OSIL being a successful organization. OSIL hitherto had expressed its desire to devise a new communication plan in order for the company to address several issues in recent years. OSIL is now working on integrating a multi-tiered communication plan into the business. In a statement of Sue Oliver, citing the article of Millerwood Communications, the senior vice president of the OSIL Stores Division envisioned this plan to reduce the turnover and to comply with the increasing and more complex demands and trends of the consumers. (Miller, 2007) The new communication plan they are also planning is to be able to react to the negative publicity they have been receiving the past years. In the formatted communication plan, OSIL intends to hire more than 300 human resource managers to work for them, and ensure the stability and efficient hiring, training and performance practices to be applied. The new communication plan also aims to increase the morale of their employees by communicating business objectives and opportunities for growth. The objective to communicate among its employees and consumers is implemented together with a strengthened human resource practice that will ensure that employees are benefitting the growth. The communication plans also includes updating its websites to address controversial topics, and to give senior management the responsibility to address the issues immediately as it arises. (Miller, 2007) Conclusion: OSIL is an apt example to explain the dynamics to which organizational behavior can be very useful in determining the success of a company. in the study, we analyze that organizational behavior encompass the relationship to which employees play a vital role in determining the success of an organization and how individual realization of potentials is a great asset to an organization. We examine the positive and negative outcome of the adoption of organizational concepts that enabled OSIL to become relatively successful in the industry. As mentioned, the organizational culture of OSIL is significantly strong in context that its founder has a clear intention to include its employees with its success. OSIL was accused of paying low wage to workers, having low training opportunities and promotion options for its employees. The lack of a strong human resource practices has led to several changes the company aimed its communication plan. The proposed communication plan objectively clarifies OSIL’s position with its employees and organization. The company is also suing technology, like its websites to address these matters immediately. OSIL as a developing and expanding company is applying several main concepts of organizational behavior in its operations. We can only hope that effectively and efficiently it can maintain its commitment and passion not only towards the business, but most especially with its employees. Why are people leaving from one company to another? A wide variety of reasons why are people leaving their jobs to find new companies includes: expectations were not satisfactorily fulfilled, unsuitable for the role, do not fit with the company’s culture, insufficient opportunities for growth and development, inadequate acknowledgment and admiration, problems with a manager or supervisor, not satisfied with the compensation, stress, lack of work and life balance, and lack of confidence in the company and leadership (Meyers). According to Susan Heathfield (Heathfield, 2007), most employees are leaving their work for reasons of searching new opportunities with other companies. Three top reasons were identified by Heathfield: fifty three percent of employees look for better rewards and benefits, thirty five percent were discontented with prospects of career growth and development, and thirty two percent were ready for a new experience and new environment. The motivating factors that can enhance the continuous stay of employees were examined by Bob Losyk on his article, here are the different factors that he stated: dignity and respect, involvement and participation, pay above the industry average, showcase superior workers, and by showing support to employees (Losyk). Giving dignity and respect is one of the most important key elements in satisfying the employees, harsh words, shouting, insults, and abuse of power will only result to demoralization, low morale, increase possibilities of absenteeism, and in turn resignation. Losyk added that employers should be treated with high respect, worth and goodness, let them relax, be independent and empowered. Do not crash on people who make mistakes instead make it more constructive and let them learn from it. Involvement and participation is also a significant factor in dealing with employees’ motivation to stay in the company, by listening to their suggestions, aspirations, and ideas can make them more involved and active much as with belongingness and partnership. Paying above the industry average will surely and literally compensate the best employee thus giving and making more money for you. Great employees should be compensated for what they gave back to the company and it should not be as simple as paying back but to reward and constantly recognize their efforts. For sure, companies who have the best employees will have more satisfied clients because of the excellent services they receive and in return a greater chance of repeat business will likely to come. Another tip from Losyk is to highlight and draw attention to outstanding employees by giving awards, certificates, extra remuneration, dinners as well as posting their photos on bulletin boards or company newsletters. To share and show support, to listen and know their personal and family problems can be a key factor for lasting relationship with employees. It will create a positive and motivating atmosphere resulting to a more productive and high-quality employees (Losyk). Human Resource Retaining Strategies: The Training Delivery / Communication Options The training delivery to be used is participative which simulates real scenarios (Schein, 1987). This will be a workshop type of training. Experiential learning should be employed in the training components of the human resources planning program aimed at maintaining work effectiveness, retaining employees and create organizational success where employee development is critical. The communication option to be used in the delivery of training should be simple yet effective. This type of training program will fit the workforce of the Belfarm Hotel to refine their training skills. Also, this training program will provide comprehensive information and techniques to develop critical competencies. Training activities will focus on the design and approach to facilitate effective delivery of functions and responsibilities. The training materials to be used should assist trainers in enhancing their training presentations with materials that are professionally designed and written. Group facilitation skills of the trainers should be maximized to effect intervention strategies needed to maintain effective group relationships and direct groups towards productive goals. Aside from the evaluation of the Human Resources Directors from available data and observations, a Training Needs Assessment and Evaluation conducted prior to the actual training proper help trainers understand and use selected needs assessment and evaluation tools as part of the design and delivery of training. Human Resource Issues and Challenges to Consider Including Suggested Solutions The challenge to have a trained and skilled workforce is the ultimate competitive advantage for any organization (Cowling Mailer, 1998). The rapidly expanding base of new information and technologies affects every one of us, from factory floor to business office. No matter how capable or successful an organization is, if staff training and continuing education is overlooked, there will be problems in the organization. The challenge is to get the best value for the training dollars spent by choosing training that suits the needs of the company and least impacts the bottom line (Storey Sisson, 1993). In order to meet the challenge, comprehensive approach to employee development can be adopted. Set goals and reach them, identifying the needs, developing the right intervention, and delivering a practical, results-oriented solution. Interactive training is designed for the adult learner, requiring involvement in the learning process. Handle specialized workplace challenges with customized group training. Handle challenges specific to the organization. A good approach is to maximize training dollars spent by tailoring content to the organization’s explicit situation to produce the results needed. The NLC should source top-notch trainers who can combine their experiences with the latest in learning techniques for interactive sessions that emphasize skill development and application (RBA Training, 2006).

Definition Of Corporate Social Responsibility Commerce Essay

Definition Of Corporate Social Responsibility Commerce Essay There is no single authoritative definition of CSR (ISO COPOLCO, 2002). Various definitions embracing a vast number of concepts traditionally frames as environmental concerns, public relations, human resources management and community relations were used to defined CSR. One of the most referred definition is by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development( WBCSD) ( 1999) that defines CSR as the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large Businesses not only have the economic responsibility of being profitable and the legal responsibility to follow the laws or ground rules that guide their ability to achieve their economic requirements, but they also have ethical responsibilities that include a range of societal norms, or standards (Carroll, 2000). CSR has been around for more than two decades. During the later half of twentieth century there arose the idea of the corporate social contract, which today underlies the CSR concept. Given the sometimes adverse effects of business decision making on society as well as corporate reliance on society, the notion of an implied corporate social contract was conceived by social and economic theorists. This contract spells out societys expectations of business as well as (although much less discussed) businesss expectations of society (Bowie, 1983). CSR means being a good steward of societys economic and human resources ( Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2001). In summary, CSR entails the obligation stemming from the implicit social contract between business and society for firms to be responsive to societys long-run needs and wants, optimizing the positive effects and minimizing the negative effects of its actions on society. To synchronize that organizational social responsibility concerns are treated in the same routine manner in which legal, financial, and marketing concerns are addressed, four theories of corporate social responsibility have been advanced in the literature. The four positions are the classical, stakeholder, social demandingness, and social activist theories. The classical theory is the oldest of the four, and is grounded in classical economic theory. Firstly business executives are said to be primarily responsible to the shareholders of the corporation and their primary goal is to promote efficiency and secure effective economic performance. Secondly managers are said to be responsible to respond to the shareholders demands. These views are often thought to coincide with each other, because it is usually assumed that the main demand of shareholders is to maximize economic performance. In addition, both versions agree that managers are to perform their corporate function according to the laws and, thus, to avoid such things as fraud and deception. Friedman (1970), points out Here the businessman self-selected or appointed directly or indirectly by stockholders is to be simultaneously legislator, executive, or jurist. He becomes in effect a public employee, a civil servant and even though he remains in name an employee of a private enter prise. This theory, albeit the oldest of the four theories, is still well and alive; it has many supporters and proponents among academicians and practitioners. The second theory is the stakeholder theory which integrates the main idea of classical theory, that is, corporate executives are responsible to stockholders. Nevertheless, what differs it from classical theory is that other groups are directly affected by the conduct and decision of the firm. These groups can employees, consumers, creditors, suppliers, and legal sub-systems who have a stake in the organisation and who might affect, in one way or another, the corporate decision making process. Furthermore, corporate executives have a direct responsibility to promote the interests of these groups. The main disagreement among stakeholder theorists, however, over whether stakeholder interests of these groups take precedence over the financial interests of stockholders or the stakeholder interests are the overriding ones. Social demandingness theorists argue that corporations have a responsibility to protect and promote certain interests of the general public. They agree with the stakeholder theorists that the interests of stakeholder groups are important, but they believe that these interests do not override non-stakeholders interests or demands for such things as safety, health, freedom, and prosperity. As with the stakeholder theory, this theory repudiates the notion that there is some balanced or sensible list of tangible responsibilities that corporate executives always have toward society. The list varies as the nature and ranking of the interests or demands of the public change. The fourth and final theory is the social activist theory which is distinctively the most socially and morally demanding of the four theories. While agreeing with the stakeholders and social demandingness theories that executives have responsibilities toward stakeholders groups and the general public, social activists theorists argue that corporate managers should sometimes strive to undertake projects that advance the interests of the public even when these undertakings are neither expected nor demanded by them. Social activists theorists contend that such projects should, for the most part, be in the area of corporate know-how, but they sometimes urge that executives deliberately take on social projects for which they have no special training or expertise 2.1 Types of CSR and Corporate Governance The notion that business has duties to society is firmly entrenched, although in the past several decades there has been a revolution in the way people view the relationship between business and society. Carroll (1979) and other researchers believe that we should judge corporations not just on their economic success, but also on non-economic criteria. Carroll (1979) proposed a popular four-part definition of CSR, suggesting that corporations have four responsibilities or four faces (Carroll, 2000b, p. 187) to fulfill to be good corporate citizens: economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic: Economic responsibility. Economic responsibility is to be profitable for principals, by delivering a good quality product, at a fair price, is due to customers. Legal responsibilities. Legal duties entail complying with the law and playing by the rules of the game Ethical responsibilities. Ethical duties overcome the limitations of legal duties. They entail being moral, doing what is right, just, and fair; respecting peoples moral rights; and avoiding harm or social injury as well as preventing harm caused by others (Smith and Quelch, 1993). Philanthropic responsibility. Interest in doing good for society, regardless of its impact on the bottom line is what is called altruistic, humanitarian or philanthropic CSR. Giving back time and money in the forms of voluntary service, voluntary association and voluntary giving is where most of the controversy over the legitimacy of CSR lies. CORPORATE GOUVERNANCE (CG) Moreover, CSR is closely linked with the Corporate Governance of the organization, be it hotel organization. Any of those types of CSR should start in the hotel organizations first and then move to external environment. The key people should be taken into consideration so the CSR practices should be geared towards the internal customers who will in turn become CSR delegates to reach the external customers and environment. Companies must improve their business models by bringing CSR and sustainability into their strategy. Shleifer and Vishny (1997) define Corporate Governance as the ways in which suppliers of finance to organisations assure themselves of getting a return on investment. Over the years, Corporate Governance has evolved from the traditional profit-centered model. By incorporating the community in which firms operate, the political environment, laws and regulations, and more generally the markets in which firms are involved. 2.3 Vision of the Government Concerning CSR For the past decades, CSR activities were practice by many organizations, but it was done on an unequal proportion. To this effect, The Minister of Finance, in his 2009 budget speech announced the legal creation of the CSR Fund. After amendments, the Income Tax Act (1995 Consolidated) stipulates, any company making a profit is required as per Section 50K and 50L to contribute 2% of its book profit. This helped to create a CSR Fund so as to finance the different CSR activities in which the company is involved. The Government of Mauritius designed a framework with the objective of mandating registered companies to pay 2% of their book profit towards CSR programs that contribute to the social and environmental development of the country. 2.4 Legal framework of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) The legalization of CSR, has designed a new framework whereby, any company adopting a CSR activity, should first seek for approval from the CSR Committee so as the program be accredited as an eligible one. Below, are the different changes brought in the legislation so as ease CSR practitioners. Key areas can be found in the Amended Income Tax Act (1995 Consolidated, Section 50K and 50L) which are as follows; Approved non governmental organization (NGO). The NGO should follow certain criteria. These criteria can be summarized as follows; The NGO should have a legal locus stand The NGO should be run on a non-profit basis. The cost involved in implementing the CSR program should not exceed 15% of the total cost. Proper records and books should be kept by the NGO and must summit certified audit reports. Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). Any company whose CSR Fund exceeds Rs. 2 million can use a Special Vehicle to implement its CSR programs. The criteria for Special Purpose Vehicle and an approved NGO are the same. Corporate Partners. Sometime, companies call upon organizations which conduct CSR activities on behalf of the company. These organizations should follow the same criteria as above, to the exception that companies with a CSR budget less than Rs. 2 million, using a corporate partner should not spend more than 25% of the 2% CSR value budget in implementing the CSR programs. The CSR Committee has adopted two categories of CSR Fund: The 2% of the book profit is equal to Rs.2 million or above, that is, CSR programs are conducted with a CSR Fund of equal Rs 2 million or above. The 2% of the book profit is less than the Rs. 2 million, that is, CSR programsare conducted with a CSR Fund of less than Rs 2 million. Figure 1 and 2 below shows how fund are being channeled so as to harmonize CSR practices. Figure 1(Modalities for a company with book profit less than Rs 100 million) Figure 2(Modalities for a company with book profit above Rs 100 million) As seen above, figure 1 and 2 shows clearly, if any amount of unused fund from the CSR Fund should be remitted to the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA). All companies, remitting their return at the end of a tax year should submit a return on the different CSR activities undertaken by the company during the tax year. 2.5 CSR Fund This refers to the amount collected for implementing CSR activities. As seen above, in Figure 1and 2, programs can be either corporate or national. Corporate CSR programs are those activities internal to a company. The usual beneficiaries are the company employees. It may vary from size of the company to the number of employee within. Corporate programs are financed by the of the 2% book profit. National program are those programs, which are perceived as national inequalities. Example of National program can be: Socio Economic Development( fight against gender and human rights) Health Education and training( empowering women) Leisure and sports Environment Calamities intervention and support Eradicating absolute poverty Any amount left, unused in the corporate CSR Fund, is remitted to the MRA. This amount is deposited in the National CSR Fund which will be used to combat the above mention inequalities. The National CSR Fund is approximately of Rs 2 billion( CSO,2010). 2.6 The Hospitality Industry -Definitions Definitions of the hospitality have been approached from a number of different perspectives. Most of them combine physiological and psychological elements with security and levels of service. Hospitality is concerned with the provision of physiological and psychological comfort with defined levels of service. The satisfactions may be physiological (thirst, bed, warmth), economic (value for money), social (company, service) and psychological (self-esteem, status, security). C. Cooper, R. shepherd, J.Westlake (1994) Even if the approach to defining hospitality may shift according to the authors, there are a number of integral elements that are common to all. These are: Hospitality is a complex combination of tangible and intangible features and benefits Hospitality involves a satisfying interaction between the service provider and the customer Hospitality provides guests with security, psychological and physiological comfort by offering food, beverage and accommodation. Therefore, bearing in mind the above characteristics, a simpler definition of the hospitality industry may be: The Hospitality Industry is involved with providing accommodations, food, beverage, entertainment, comfort and recreation for travelers away from their usual residences and normal surroundings. The industry also naturally look forward to meet the customers needs for safety and support of their persons, property, modes of transportation, and even the varying purpose of their travel. Speaking generally, those who make use of hospitality services demand attainment of a professional level of quality consistent with world standards, although perhaps adjusted for local conditions. They anticipate the facilities will be clean, comfortable, safe and secure. They expect good food and beverage at a reasonable rate. Furthermore, they look for courtesy, friendliness, respect and identification from the host. Perhaps more importantly they demand honesty, truth and equity in their dealings with the operator and his employees. 2.7 Hospitality Industry In Mauritius HISTORICAL BACKGROUND In Mauritius, the first hotel was the Park Hotel in 1952 so as to accommodate the crew members coming at that time. Then came the Mauritius Hotel, the first beach hotel, built in 1954 at Le Morne followed by Le Chaland, another beach hotel in 1961. But the real development of tourism took place soon after Mauritius got its independence from the British. In early 1970`s the creation of Trou aux Biches Hotel by the Mauritius Hotels, the setting up of the Club Medità ©ranà ©e and the Saint Gà ©ran Hotel by the Southern Sun Hotels as well as the Merville Beach Hotel by the ex-British Colons who wanted to come back here during the winter months of England. The Mauritius Hotel is now the Beachcomber group and the Southern Sun Hotels is the Sun International Resorts Limited. At present there are 105 hotels in Mauritius (operational) and there are not less than 5 more under construction as per the registered list set by the Ministry of Tourism. The numbers of hotels, rooms and bed places have increased constantly from 1991. Moreover the Prime Minister has announced his vision to reach 2 million tourists in 2015. Consequently an average annual growth of 10% in tourist arrival is expected. In order to reach this target, an approximate number of 18500 rooms should be made available. This will bring about the creation of around 37000 direct jobs and double the amount in terms of indirect jobs. Due to the rapid growth of tourism and hospitality industry, government has introduced incentives for the private sector to bring in a sustainable development, namely by corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. This is achievable through proper public-private sector partnership. Overview of the Hotel industry IN MAURITIUS The hospitality industry in Mauritius has developed rapidly during the past 25 years. The coastal regions as well as the interior part of the island are constantly changing with the construction of the hotels and the increasing number of vehicles being used for the tourism industry. In 2007, the tourism industry was considered the third pillar of the economy after Sugar and Textile, and currently it plays a vital role in the economic growth of the country. The undoubted fall of 35% in the price of sugar and the removal of preference agreement with the EU market, has earmarked the tourism industry as the main industry capable of boosting the Mauritian economy. In April 2010, according to the last bulletin published by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), Mauritius welcomed 249,971 tourists as compared to 232,908 in corresponding quarter in 2009, registering a 7.3% growth. Net receipt of Rs 11,021 million, that is, a growth of 7.4% compared to Rs 10,265 million for the same period last year. Figure 3 below show the arrival of tourist compared to the same period last year. Figure 3; table of arrival of tourist till the end of March Source: CSO data dated April 2010 But after two decades of impressive growth, the need for responsible corporate governance has been felt in the country as the attitudes; mentality and knowledge of those working in that industry have not evolved at the same pace in terms of social responsibility and environmental awareness. Impacts of this rapid and somehow unplanned development are being experienced in the environment at large. Still, a lot has to be done to meet the competitive edge through proper campaign and involvement of all stakeholders so as to contribute towards sustainable development of the hospitality sector. In order to support its continuous growth, the Mauritian Tourism and Hospitality industry needs well-trained staff with full knowledge of their product while respecting the socio-economic and cultural environment in which the Mauritian tourism product is evolving. It is really important to maintain a high standard of efficiency and service so as to meet the requirements of an increasingly competitive and sophisticated global market. 2.8 CSR in the hotel industry In Mauritius Within the hospitality industry it has been agreed that there are increasing environmental and societal concerns. The big question is how to manage our environmental impact as demand grows against a backdrop of increasing vulnerability. As a result of demand for more sustainable destinations and travel preferences, management policies are being felt. Hotels practicing CSR look at the following areas: Workplace (where employees are treated equally and fairly) Marketplace (stakeholders) Environment (which has to be sustained for the future generation) Community Ethics Human rights Many hotels are now aware of CSR practices and have begun to use environmental-friendly products. Hotels in Mauritius are reducing the use of hazardous or non-degradable chemicals. Big hotel chains like Oberoi Mauritius recycle oil, water and plastic bottles while all hotels with more than 50 rooms are compel to recycle water as per the legislation. Hotels tend to purchase products that have a reduced environmental impact during their life cycle, from suppliers that demonstrate environmental and social responsibility to their customers and the society. Furthermore, Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de L`Ile Maurice (AHRIM), is fully supporting the CSR initiatives initiated by the Mauritian Government. Through its members, they are actively putting forward the CSR activities on a regional basis all over the island. Stakeholders (employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, business partners, government) are getting more and more involved the hotels CSR activities. Hotel employees are educated to make a conscious decision in favour of environment and social issues in their private and business lives. Hotel guests are informed about CSR activities and are asked to participate in responsible business activities within the hotels and to work together to find innovative solutions that satisfy the hotels economic, environmental and social objectives. Managers are asked to abide by local and EU legislation especially on labour laws, health and safety, human rights and the environment. A great deal can be done when developing a hotel property in order to make both the development process and the eventual operation more environmentally sustainable. One of the aims of CSR is to make the community benefit from the hotel industry. 2.9 Benefits of CSR in the hotel industry Hotels who adopt CSR into their operations and public image depend on the following factors: Size Level of diversification Research and Development Advertising Government Intervention Consumer Income Labour market conditions Stage of the industry life cycle However this differs for different hotel organization, for example, larger hotels like international hotel chains may operate a CSR program at a lower cost than a small hotel because of economies of scale. It is a method for organization to distinguish themselves from their competitors Firstly, hotels benefit from CSR as it helps to reduce operating cost such as implementing of recycling and energy saving programs. Secondly, their brand image and reputation are enhanced as consumers prefer companies with CSR programs. Another benefit derived by hotels is in terms of productivity and quality since productivity goes up whenever working conditions improve. Other beneficiaries of the CSR programs are immediate environment in which the company is evolving. It comprises of the local community, neighboring villages, employees who usually live in those areas, the hotel guests and the host country at large. Hotels are expected to have ethical and social commitments, valued connections with partners and consistency over time to build trust with the stakeholders. In doing so, the hotel organizations are also developing societal marketing concept, therefore beneficiate from it.

French Essays Egalitarian Political Regimes

French Essays Egalitarian Political Regimes Explain and Discuss the Fragility of Egalitarian Political Regimes, as Represented in BOTH the Lettres Persanes AND the Contrat Social. Though The Spirit of Laws is probably the best-known work of Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, his Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters) is another famous work in which he explores, with perhaps more depth, the notion of equality and egalitarian political rule. A generation later, John Jacques Rousseau would appear on the political landscape and present his own ideas on the same topic. Chief to be explored among his writings will be the Contrat Social (Social Contract) in which Rousseau lays out with some detail a discussion of the nature of egalitarian political regimes and explores various strengths and weaknesses of them. Montesquieu and the Fragility of Egalitarianism In the beginning of the 89th letter, Montesquieu claims that â€Å"A Paris rà ¨gnent la libertà © et l’à ©galità ©.† Birthrights, social ranks, and even military victories did not set men apart (in terms of class distinctions) in Paris during his writing. This was a thing to be praised by Montesquieu. He saw too much in the world that lent itself away from egalitarianism, at least insofar as the right of persons to be equal is concerned. It will be beneficial here to take a moment to set up Montesquieu’s views on the republic to better lay a foundation for his comments on equality. In Book 11 of the Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu explores the (then) unique situation in England of a monarchy controlled, to an extent, by a constitution, and it that portion of the Spirit of the Laws Montesquieu is chiefly impressed by and concerned with the Englishman’s â€Å"liberty.† As regards the very nature of a republic, Montesquieu argues in the Spirit of t he Laws that there are three basic types of governmental systems. The despot rules by inculcating fear in the people. The monarch does better and rules by a sense of honor and by â€Å"fixed established laws.† Both of these types of governing are fairly stable. One does not need to necessarily think of them as intrinsically fragile in the sense in which, say, the last political option (i.e., the republic) may be thought to be fragile. The despot, so long as he maintains fear amongst the peoples, has nothing to fear himself. Apparently for Montesquieu, it is the monarchy which is the first and primary type of government. He writes in Letter 131 of the Lettres Persanes, â€Å"Les premiers gouvernements du monde furent monarchiques.† Coming on the heels of this original type of government would be both the despotic rule and the republic, the latter of which comes by â€Å"chance,† he indicates. Apparently, despotism amounts to little more than a degeneration of an original monarchy. But, the republic is a genuine advancement of the Greeks. However, this advancement brings with it an intrinsic tendency toward reversion to that which preceded it, either monarchy or despotism, and this fact may be due to the complexity of the republic in both its nature and principles. For Montesquieu, one of the things that may typify the fragile nature of the republic is that it â€Å"cannot survive without what Montesquieu calls political virtue.† It is this requirement that the citizens must embody this political virtue (without which the republic could not endure) that lends to the fragile nature of republics. If the people cease persisting in this virtue, the republic could not endure, for the republic exists and continues only so long as the habits and eventual character of political virtue are exemplified in the people. In the republic, there is no one-to-one correspondence with what exists in despotism or a monarchy: a strong central authority. Therefore, the people must, by loving egalitarianism and the laws, arrange a situation for themselves wherein the needs of the good are served, even if at the expense of the needs of the many. This is exactly what Greece did, he argues, and it is incumbent upon any subsequent attempts at a republic to do the same. â€Å"L’amour de la libertà ©, la haine des rois, conserva longtemps la Grà ¨ce dans l’indà ©pendance, et à ©tendit au loin le gouvernement rà ©publicain.† Rousseau and the Fragility of Egalitarianism One could hardly resist beginning the discussion on Rousseau with his famous opening to chapter one of the Contrat Social. â€Å"Lhomme est nà © libre, et partout il est dans les fers.† How this particular situation came to be, Rousseau does not attempt to answer. Rather, he focuses his attention on how it is that man can get back to his original (or perhaps â€Å"primal†) state of freedom. If man in a state of servitude obeys his masters, he does well. However, if he can break free from that state, he does better still because to be free is man’s natural and original state, seen most evidently within the rites of passage intrinsic to family life. Although it could not be rightly said that Rousseau takes no points of departure from the thought of Montesquieu, there are nevertheless significant points of agreement between them on the idea of the republic. Rousseah offers as his main contribution to the discussion over the republic that a return to the ancient (i.e., Greek) polis is the most advisable course of action. Yet, an intrinsic tension to this suggestion is that Rousseau simultaneously advocates the idea of the â€Å"natural law† quite strongly. According to Helena Rosenblatt, for Rousseau the natural law is a very self-interested concept, which is at least prima facie at odds with the republican ideal of each person being grounded in virtue and community as that which adheres the republic together and maintains it. The more refined concept of the â€Å"general will† complicates the matter further and makes egalitarianism a la republicanism an even more fragile thing. Rousseau’s â€Å"General Will† In his writings prior to the Social Contract, Rousseau had explicitly indicated that he denied that man was naturally and easily a sociable creature. No, man’s first inclinations are not toward the public good, but in the direction of particular self-interests and this is evident by the historical facts that â€Å"les longs dà ©bats, les dissensions, le tumulte, annoncent lascendant des intà ©rà ªts particuliers et le dà ©clin de lEtat.† So, what takes place amidst the social contract is the necessity of all citizens when laying down public policy to not act in merely self-interested ways. The good of the many, the common good, was to be the overriding concern of all citizens in this regard, and this is the â€Å"general will† of Roussea, which he explores and elaborates in great throughout the Social Contract. But, what makes this concept of the â€Å"general will† even more tense and lending to the creation of a fragile situation for egalitarianism i s the paradoxical idea related to literally enforcing that citizens act in accord with the general will. The general will is not merely reducible to the â€Å"will of all people combined.† No, it is the â€Å"right† will which ever seeks the good of the whole State and never acts in a merely self-interested way. It is basically the will of God then, which must ever be right and, since God is omnibenevolent and always has the interests of everyone in mind, this is in line with the general will as Rousseau explicates it here. He writes, â€Å"Afin donc que le pacte social ne soit pas un vain formulaire, il renferme tacitement cet engagement qui seul peut donner de la force aux autres, que quiconque refusera dobà ©ir à   la volontà © gà ©nà ©rale y sera contraint par tout le corps: ce qui ne signifie autre chose sinon quon le forcera dà ªtre libre.† This is the key to the whole enterprise. It prevents the social contract from becoming, as he says, â€Å"un vain formulaire† (an empty formula). But, of course, although such an aspect of the overall contract is certainly sensible, how it is appropriated lends itself to fragility. The line is not always so clear when one is acting merely in his own self-interest and when he is acting in respect to the common good (or both simultaneously, which would apparently not violate the general will). It is not necessarily contradictory in its premise, but it is certainly paradoxical, as Rousseau surely felt. Conclusion Both Montesquieu and Rousseau in their respective days were vastly aware with the attending problems associated with the reintroduction of the ancient ideas of the republic and egalitarianism. However, they each firmly believed that whatever problems may accompany the advent of such in Modernity, it would certainly be worth it. For both of them, as most Westerners today would greatly sympathize, any form of egalitarianism via a republic, whatever fragility may accompany it, would be greatly preferable to either a monarchy or (especially) a despotic State. Works Consulted Krause, Sharon. The Politics of Distinction and Disobedience: Honor and the Defense of Liberty in Montesquieu, Polity 31, 3 (1999): 469-99. Grant, Ruth Weissbourd. Hypocrisy and Integrity : Machiavelli, Rousseau, and the Ethics of Politics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999. Morris, Christopher W. The Social Contract Theorists : Critical Essays On Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Lanham, Md.: Rowman Littlefield, 1999. Riesenberg, Peter N. Citizenship in the Western Tradition : Plato to Rousseau. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1992. Rosenblatt, Helena. Rousseau and Geneva : From the First Discourse to the Social Contract, 1749-1762. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Shklar, Judith. The Spirit of the Laws: necessity and freedom. In Montesquieu, pp. 93-110. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.

Why I Love My Mac :: Personal Narrative Writing

Why I Love My Mac I have always loved computers. In school they fascinated me and were fun to play with. When I grew up and became a secretary, I delighted in recreating print documents and forms on my computer using WordPerfect for DOS. My daily success was measured by how little I used my typewriter. The only thing I didn't like was how ugly the programs were on the screen. The backgrounds were always black or royal blue, with (full-bodied shudder) red or green type. Some programs allowed a modicum of visual customization, but the danger of damaging your eyesight was prevalent (imagine red type on a royal blue background!). Still, computers were way more fun than typewriters. No more using calculators either! Each time I had to perform a calculation repetitively, I created a spreadsheet that would do it for me. Although I was "Suzy Super Computer-Using Secretary," I had no clue how the computer actually functioned, nor did I care. When I saw my first Macintosh, my eyes were wide as saucers. It was colorful! It had little pictures on the desktop! No more black or royal blue screen and funky colored type! (Although with some tweaking in the customization settings you could attain that horrid look.) I don't know how but that little Mac exuded a feeling of friendliness and ease of use. Even the cables in the back were "picture-coded" to the plugs in which they belonged! As far as the software, I could poke around in any folder on the hard drive, double-click on anything, and the computer told me what that item was used for. If it was something I shouldn't be messing with, a dialogue box would appear stating, "This extension is used by the system and cannot be opened." When I wanted to delete something I threw it in the trashcan. How logical! And wow, I could open several documents at once, move the windows around, and a word processing document actually looked on screen exactly like it would print. The Mac seemed logical, pure and simply, and it seemed interesting. I knew at that moment when the time came for me to buy a home computer, I would buy a Macintosh. It would be something I could operate, maintain, and upgrade myself. No need to call the geeky, scary, and expensive PC technician to come fix my computer. I could install new software, attach new peripherals, and even upgrade the memory all by myself.

Little Women - Movie vs. Book :: Movie Film comparison compare contrast

Little Women - Movie vs. Book According to the Internet Movie Database's exhaustive records, Louisa May Alcott's novel "Little Women" has seen itself recreated in four TV series, four made for TV movies and five feature length movies since 1918. The most recent version appeared in 1994 and features Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Samantha Mathis, Eric Stoltz, Susan Sarandon, and Gabriel Byrne. As a long time fan of the novel, who has happily carted her large leather bound gold-gilded unabridged edition whenever she has moved, I find that I was disappointed in this newest movie version. As a movie lover, however, I found the movie to be an enjoyable experience. The decision of the screenwriter and director to cut out what I felt were several story arcs and scenes from the novel was very disappointing. For example, in the movie there is no mention of Beth's shyness, or of her overcoming that shyness to become friends with Mr. Lawrence. The scene in the novel where she gathers her courage to walk over to his house and thank him for giving her his piano is one of the most defining moments for Beth. Overall I found Beth and Mr. Lawrence to both be sadly underdeveloped in the movie. Mr. Lawrence appears in only three scenes, while many of Beth's key moments also vanished. Jo's wonderful tomboyish nature is also severely tone-down for this version. She does not say "Christopher Columbus"; nor any of her other slang words. We never see the scene where she longs to go be a soldier fighting in the war and wishes she were a man. They transformed the character of Meg from someone who longs for finer things and tends to be snobbish into the wise older sister who does not care about such things. Lacking is the wonderful moment when she realizes that she does not care about Mr. Brook's poverty as she staunchly defends her love of him against Aunt March. While Amy's quest for a perfect nose is mentioned twice, there is never a scene showing some of her efforts such as her wearing the clothespin on it at night to make is straight, nor do we get enjoy watching her artistic endeavors such as her attempts to make a plaster cast of her foot.

Harry S. Truman’s Early Political Career & Its effects Essay

Preface This Research paper is meant for the academicians, students and those concerned with the international politics.   The complicated international politics is well understood by the prevailing American politics which has great bearings.   This report gives a brief insight of the Truman presidency and its impact. An Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This report delves into the early political career of 33rd President of the USA.   His presidency is analyzed briefly concerning New Deal, World War and the Cold War.   A brief conclusion is appended at the end. Rationale of the Study The motivation of this study is to draw a fair conclusion about Truman’s early political career and the effect that his policies had on the America people up to the end of World War II. Truman, Harry S. (1884-1972): His Early Political Career With the demise of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 12, 1945, Vice President Harry S. Truman took over the Oval Office.   He knew he faced a difficult set of challenges.   However Truman’s most frightening task perhaps was following his predecessor, Roosevelt, who had restructured American governance, the Democratic Party, and the office of the presidency during his twelve years in office. Truman’s appointees were mostly undistinguished and contributed little to his presidency.   Ã‚  He inherited Roosevelt’s staff of presidential advisers.   By the mid-1940s, the President’s staff included administrative assistants, appointments and press secretaries, and counsels to the President.   It also included the Bureau of the Budget, formerly a part of the Treasury Department but, owing to the Executive Reorganization Act of 1939, now housed in the Executive Office of the President.   The New Deal and the war years focused the increasingly important and powerful role that a President’s staff played in policy-making. During the Truman years, the President’s staff continued to grow in size.   On the domestic side, the most important addition was the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). The Employment Act of 1946 created the CEA to help the President make economic policy; liberal Democrats in Congress particularly wanted the CEA to be a preserve for progressives and liberal New Dealers.   Truman instead staffed the CEA with a mix of conservatives and liberals,   Truman treated the CEA as a set of presidential advisers, rather than as an independent body, and made sure that it remained under his control. Depression, New Deal, & World War Truman took office just as World War II entered its final stages.   His main task, then, was to outline to Americans his vision for the country’s future.   Ã‚  Two related issues — the future of New Deal liberalism and the re-conversion of the American economy from a war-time to a peace-time footing topped his agenda. With the war’s end, Truman needed to restructure the nation’s financial system towards consumer production and spell out the government’s future role in the economy. Truman presented to Congress a detailed twenty-one point message that nevertheless attempted to set the post-war political and economic agenda.   Truman called for new public works programs, legislation guaranteeing â€Å"full employment,† a higher minimum wage, extension of the Fair Employment Practices Committee, a larger Social Security System, and a national health insurance system. Overall, these requests showed an interest in maintaining and building upon the New Deal.   On reconversion, Truman pushed for quick demobilization of the military — a political necessity as the troops and their families clamored for a quick return to civilian life and the temporary extension of governmental economic controls. Truman’s program went nowhere.   Republicans and conservative southern Democrats in Congress were dead-set against many of the other proposed reforms, including an extension of FEPC, national health insurance, and a higher minimum wage.   The public, in addition, divided over the prospects of an enlarged social welfare state and continued government intervention in the economy; liberal Democrats and key constituents of the Democratic Party supported them, but many other Americans did not. Reconversion was rejected and stalled and Truman received the blame.   As a matter of fact, rapid reconversion would have been difficult for any President, because of the variety and challenge of its objectives: increased production of consumer goods, full employment, higher wages, lower prices, and peace between labor unions and industrial management. Paradoxically, a key Democratic constituency namely labor gave Truman the most headaches.   In August 1945, Truman stated that he would maintain price controls however that unions could pursue higher wages.   Ã‚  Beginning in late 1945 and lasting throughout 1946, a wave of strikes hit the steel, coal, auto, and railroad industries, and devastating key sectors of the American economy and stifling production of certain consumer goods. To end the strikes and restore industrial peace, he recommended compulsory mediation and arbitration, warned that the U.S. government would draft striking railroad workers, and even took a union — the United Mine Workers to court.   However by taking such a hard line, Truman had damaged his relationship with an important element of the party coalition. Truman’s other major economic problem was the time it took to convert from military to civilian production.   Consumer goods in high demand were slow to appear on the nation’s shelves and in its showrooms, frustrating Americans who desperately wanted to purchase items they had forsaken during the war. Price controls proved a principally difficult problem.   Ã‚  As controls began to disappear in mid-1946, prices shot upward; the rise in the price of meat which doubled over a two-week period in the summer, received the most attention.   In response, the government reinstituted price controls, angering meat producers who then withheld meat from the market. The combination of high prices and shortage infuriated consumers and voters, who often criticized the President.   By September of 1946, Truman’s popularity rating had sunk to 32 percent.   Many Americans, including the President’s supposed Democratic allies, wondered if Truman could successfully lead the nation. In his State of the Union address, he identified the need for legislation to solve the persistent problems of labor unrest and strikes. He offered no solution of his own, nevertheless, proposing only a temporary commission to study the issue and a declaration that he would sign no bill attacking organized labor. Republicans in Congress took up Truman’s challenge and passed the Taft-Hartley bill, which limited the power of labor unions by curbing union participation in politics, by approving state â€Å"right to work† laws, and by allowing the President to block strikes through a judicially mandated eighty day â€Å"cooling-off† period.   Truman vetoed Taft-Hartley in June 1947, declaring that it â€Å"would take fundamental rights away from our working people.† Congress superseded the veto; Truman, in turn, declared to accomplish the law’s provisions and he even applied several of them including the court injunction to bring an end to some strikes.  Ã‚   However, in opposing Taft-Hartley, Truman mustered the support of organized labor. Inflation continued to be a problem in 1947 and 1948 too, although prices did not rise as sharply as they had in 1946.   Food prices, especially, continued to rise.     Truman suggested a return to price controls, although with the knowledge that congressional Republicans would reject such a measure and which they did. Finally, in 1947, Truman reaffirmed his support for liberal initiatives like housing for the poor and federal assistance for education. He vetoed Republican tax bills perceived as favoring the rich and rejected a Republican effort to raise tariffs on imported wool, a measure he deemed isolationist.   These positions, combined with his veto of Taft-Hartley and his sympathy toward price controls, situated Truman as the chief defender of the New Deal against Republican encroachments. Truman also took a stand in 1947 on civil rights.   Ã‚  His failed 1945 proposal to extend FEPC was, partially, an effort to woo black voters so important to the Democratic Party.   In the summer of 1947, Truman became the first President to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), to whom he declared his forthright support of African-American civil rights.   Speaking to a crowd of 10,000, Truman declared that â€Å"The only limit to an American’s achievement should be his ability, his industry, and his character.† Truman however, proceeded warily on Civil rights front.   In early 1948, he sent his civil rights proposals to Congress, but did little to urge their passage.   He also announced that he would issue executive orders in the future to integrate the armed forces and to ban discrimination in the civil service.   Ã‚  By early 1948, therefore, his support for civil rights was more rhetorical than substantive.   However, as he followed this strategy with increasing skill throughout the year, Truman stood poised to win Democratic votes. In his 1948 State of the Union address, Truman again called for civil rights legislation, national health insurance, a housing program, and a higher minimum wage. On a cross-country train tour in early 1948 dubbed a â€Å"whistle stop† tour by Republican Senator Robert Taft.   Truman used a new extemporaneous speaking style.   Audiences warmed to this new public persona: the plain-spoken, hard-fighting Harry Truman from Missouri.   Still, most political observers and many Democrats thought Truman would not win re-election in 1948. Truman also embraced more fully the cause of black civil rights by issuing executive orders desegregating the military and outlawing discrimination in the civil service.   Ã‚  He won an upset victory that fall over his Republican opponent, Governor Thomas Dewey of New York. Fair Deal Propped up by his dramatic victory, Truman announced an agenda in early 1949, which he called the â€Å"Fair Deal.†   It was a collection of policies and programs much desired by liberals in the Democratic Party: economic controls, repeal of Taft-Hartley, an increase in the minimum wage, expansion of the Social Security program, a housing bill, national health insurance, development projects modeled on the New Deal’s Tennessee Valley Authority, liberalized immigration laws, and ambitious civil rights legislation for African-Americans. Conservatives in the Republican and Democratic parties had little use for Truman’s Fair Deal.   National health insurance and repeal of Taft-Hartley went nowhere in Congress.   Ã‚  Moreover Truman’s agricultural program, the â€Å"Brannan Plan,† designed to aid the family farmer by providing income support, had difficulties; it was replaced by a program that continued price supports.   Congress did approve parts of the Fair Deal; Truman won passage of a moderately effective public housing and slum-clearance bill in 1949, Noticeably, Truman had misjudged in reading his electoral victory as a mandate to enact a liberal political, social, and economic agenda. Just as important, Truman believed the â€Å"Fair Deal† as an opportunity to transform the Democratic Party into an alliance of urban dwellers, small farmers, labor, and African-Americans.   Absent from this proposed coalition were white conservative southern Democrats. In addition, public opinion polls showed that most Americans wanted Truman to protect the New Deal, not expand it.   Ã‚  Similarly, Truman misjudged congressional opposition to a larger social welfare state — opposition strengthened by the public’s lack of support for the Truman agenda.   Whatever enthusiasm remained for the Fair Deal was lost, after the summer of 1950, amidst preoccupations with the Korean War. Economic Growth At the same time as Truman fought for the Fair Deal in 1949, he also encountered a rather severe economic retardation.   Ã‚  Both unemployment and price increases rose during the first six months of that year, reinforcing fears that the nation’s post-war economic boom was over.   Truman’s economic policy sought to balance the federal budget through a combination of high taxes and limited spending; any budget surplus would be applied to the national debt.   As the economy slowed down, Truman in mid-1949 abandoned his hope for a balanced budget and gave some tax breaks to businesses. The economy responded by perking up in 1950. Frum states candidly: â€Å"No American president ever proposed worse economic policies than Harry Truman. The great post-war economic boom that began in 1945 appalled and disgusted Truman, and he exerted all his political power in an attempt to shut it down. Truman wanted to impose a permanent war economy on the United States† (p. 85). (1) Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan & The Cold War: An Analysis The Truman Doctrine was the drive for the change in United States foreign policy, from isolationist to internationalists; thus Americans were drawn into two wars of containment and into world affairs.   The Truman Doctrine led to a major change in U.S. foreign policy from its inception. The outcome of World War II inspired the U.S. to issue a proclamation that would stop Communist influence all over the world.   Nevertheless, zeal in that achievement sent American soldiers to die in Vietnam and Korea for an apparently pointless cause. A direct result from the Truman Doctrine was the Marshall Plan. This came about when Truman appointed General Marshall as Secretary of State. In that position, he observed â€Å"Europe’s economic plight.† Marshall proposed a plan that would offer aid to all nations â€Å"West of the Urals.† (p. 355) (2). The Truman Doctrine has impacted everyone in the U.S. and nearly every country in the world since its declaration in 1947.   Some critics castigate the Doctrine: â€Å"Critics blamed involvement in Korea and Vietnam on the Truman Doctrine. Without the Doctrine . . . the U.S. might have minded its own business.† (p. 571) (3). Moreover, in 1949 the Soviet Union dared to acquire a nuclear capability, and so the Cold War started because the West had to respond to this sudden threat.   On July 25, 1945, the day Truman recorded in his diary, â€Å"We have discovered the most terrible bomb in the history of the world,† adding, â€Å"It is certainly a good thing that Hitler’s crowd or Stalin’s did not discover the atomic bomb.†(4).  Ã‚   It seems that the Cold War developed in the mind of a skeptic Truman.   It has been argued that his dropping two nuclear bombs on Japan was to some extent motivated by a desire to intimidate Russia–as Cold War strategists often said, Russia respects nothing but power and force (5)(6). Conclusions Almost as soon as World War II ended the United States found itself entangled in a somewhat subtler and more complex Cold War with the Soviet Union.   This ideological conflict was an overwhelming influence in the formulation of American foreign and domestic policies for the next 45 years and redefined the America’s role in the world community.   American foreign policy that was founded upon George Washington’s warning to â€Å"beware foreign entanglements† soon found itself rebuilding Europe through the Marshall Plan, defending it under NATO, and eventually struggling to contain communism on a worldwide scale. Accusations of corruption troubled Truman since his earliest days in politics.  Ã‚   During his presidency, the corruption charges proliferated, in part because they were effective political weapons for Truman’s opponents. However these charges also resonated as some members of the administration did participate in ethically questionable, if not illegal, activities. End Notes Frum, David. What’s Right: The New Conservative Majority And The Remaking Of America, 1996, Basic Books. Truman, Margaret. Harry S. Truman, 1973, New York: William Morrow and Co., Inc., 344-372. McCullough, David. Truman, 1992, New York: Simon and Schuster, 550-575. Truman quoted in Robert H. Ferrell, Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman, 1980, New York: Harper and Row, 55-56. Williams, Appleman William. The Cold War Revisionist, 1967, The Nation, 13 November, 492-495. Lerner, Mitchell. Review of Dennis D. Wainstock, The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb, 1997, H-PCAACA, H-Net Reviews.