Is King Lear Nihilistic or Hopeful?

Is King Lear nihilistic or hopeful? Satisfying, hopeful, and redemptive: some critics would say that these adjectives belong nowhere near a description of King Lear. One critic, Thomas Roche, even states that the play’s ending is â€Å"as bleak and unrewarding as man can reach outside the gates of hell† (164). Certainly, Roche’s pessimistic interpretation has merit; after all, Lear has seen nearly everyone he once cared for die before dying himself. Although this aspect of the play is true, agreeing with this negative view requires a person to believe that Lear learns nothing and that he suffers and dies in vain.Indeed, this is exactly what Roche believes when he states that at the play’s end, â€Å"Lear still cannot tell good from evil . . . or true from false† (164). This nihilistic approach, however, not only disregards many of the play’s moments of philosophical insight, but it also completely misinterprets Shakespeare’s intent. Th at is not to say that Lear is without fault at the end of the play; as Shakespeare surely understood, Lear is still human, and as such, he is subject to human frailty. What is most important about Lear, however, is not that he dies a flawed man but that he dies an improved man.Therefore, although King Lear might first appear â€Å"bleak,† Shakespeare suggests that Lear’s life, and human life in general, is worth all of its misery because it is often through suffering that people gain knowledge about the true nature of their individual selves and about the nature of all humanity (Roche 164). From the very beginning of the play, Shakespeare suggests that King Lear has much to learn. As Maynard Mack explains in his essay â€Å"Action and World in King Lear,† the reader/audience is immediately invited to sense that Lear is â€Å"too deeply . . . omfortable and secure in his ‘robes and furr’d gowns’, in his rituals of authority and deference . . . and in his childish charades† (170). In other words, there is an immediate sense that Lear is not truly aware of the harsh realities of human life. For instance, when Lear says that he has divided his kingdom into thirds for each daughter so that he can retire and â€Å"Unburthened crawl toward death,† he shows that he is completely lacking in common sense by assuming that his plan will go according to his will and that the transition of power will run smoothly (1. . 43). Almost instantly, Lear is proven foolish when Regan and Goneril â€Å"hit together† and agree to â€Å"do something, and in the heat† to strip their father of any power that he has remaining (1. 1. 306, 311). Mack calls this rapid string of events that follow Lear’s hasty abdication â€Å"the waiting coil of consequences [that] leaps into threatening life,† bringing with it the unmistakable message that Lear was terribly wrong in choosing to reward his false-flattering dau ghters with the gift of his kingdom (170).Lear’s gift to Goneril and Regan, whose quick deception shows the falseness of their affections toward their father, proves that Lear is unable to see the love, or lack thereof, that others have for him. Likewise, when he becomes enraged at Cordelia after she refuses to flatter him, Lear reveals that he, like Goneril and Regan, is unable to have altruistic love for another person when he says to Cordelia that it would have been â€Å"Better thou/ Hadst not been born than not t’ have pleased me† (1. . 235-236). In essence, his â€Å". . . power [and his love] to flattery bows† and he is only able to love another person when that person appeals to his sense of vanity, so when those who truly do love Lear, namely Cordelia and Kent, refuse to appease his vain nature, Lear banishes them, â€Å"Without grace . . . love . . . or benison† (1. 1. 149, 266). This inability to accept love and relationships â€Å"as t heir own reward,† Mack states, is Lear’s fatal flaw (170).Mack argues that relationships can lead to happiness but that they lead to heartache and despair equally as often; in order to have any good relationships, then, a person must accept others for who they are, which is something that Lear is unable and unwilling to do (Mack 170). Indeed, Lear would have been very happy living his remaining years without any meaningful knowledge about love or relationships, surrounding himself in a â€Å"childish charade† of false love and false truth; from this point forward, however, Lear will have to learn the consequences of his blindingly ignorant actions (Mack 170).The ignorance about life and human nature that Lear demonstrates in the play’s first scene, then, leads to his largest mistake, the mistake that serves as a turning point from which all other actions are the direct consequence. As Mack explains, because Shakespeare put the turning point at the beginnin g of the play, â€Å"The meaning of action [in Lear] lies rather in effects than in antecedents, and particularly in its capacity, as with Lear in the opening scene, to generate energies that will hurl themselves . . . in reverberations of disorder† (170). That is, because Lear’s fatal flaw resents itself early rather than later on in the play—as is customary for Shakespearean tragedy—the meanings and consequences of his actions, as well as Lear’s own thoughts/awareness, have a longer time to evolve. How the early turning point in Lear helps to emphasize Lear’s learning experience is clarified by comparing the play with another Shakespearean tragedy; the turning point in Othello, for example, occurs in act 3, scene 3 when the seeds of jealousy that Iago has planted throughout the first three acts finally take root inside of Othello’s mind.It is not until this time that Othello’s fatal flaw emerges, when, in a jealous rage, he v ows that his bloody thoughts â€Å"Shall nev’r look back . . . / Till a capable and wide revenge / Swallow them [Desdemona and Cassio] up† (3. 3. 454-457). The play is already half over before Shakespeare reveals Othello’s fatal flaw, and it is not until the final scene that Othello learns how gullible he has been. In essence, Othello learns nothing from his experience; he dies in vain, humiliated and heartbroken.In Lear, on the other hand, the main action throughout the entire play revolves around Lear’s painful suffering and his purgatorial learning experience, all stemming, of course, from his rash, ignorant behavior in the first act. In order for Lear to learn from his selfish and ignorant ways, he must first realize that he has been blind to the truth. Lear is served a cold dish of reality when Goneril and Regan disrespectfully refuse to allow their father the privilege of his noble knights, which of course, are the last symbol of his past authority and his kingly pride: GONERIL. Hear me, my lord.What needs you five and twenty? Ten? Or five? To follow in a house where twice so many   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Have a command to tend you? REGAN. What need one? (2. 4. 259-263) Not only do these lines represent how Lear’s daughters have contemptuously taken away his remaining power, but they also represent the loss of Lear’s dignity by leaving him a shell of his former self, without a single conciliatory knight left to appease his sense of self-importance. Once this happens, Lear is left enraged and desperate, pridefully stating that even â€Å"our basest beggars / Are in the poorest superfluous† and that he needs â€Å". . . ore than nature needs,† else â€Å"Man’s life is cheap as beast’s† (2. 4. 263-266). In other words, Lear feels that his daughters are treating him like an animal by depriving him of his royal train. Clearly, Lear still clings to t he pompous supposition that his needs are above the needs of the â€Å"basest beggar†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and he still feels like the innocent victim of his daughters’ cruel behavior (2. 4. 263). Even with all of Lear’s continuing faults, however, the seeds of knowledge are beginning to grab hold; it has been painful, but he finally sees that Goneril and Regan’s false tongues had blinded him from their true, unloving natures.That is, when he calls them â€Å"unnatural hags† and  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å". . . a disease that’s in my flesh,† he finally sees what love is not (2. 4. 277, 221). In this way, Lear has had his idealized vision of the truth—one where he is flattered, pampered, and adored—painfully stripped away from him; even still, it will take a purgatorial storm and subsequent repentance before Lear learns what the true meaning of love is. Fittingly, as Lear storms out of the castle and into the harsh weather, Regan states tha t â€Å"the injuries† that â€Å"willful men† do â€Å"themselves procure / Must be their own schoolmasters† (2. . 301-303). What Regan means by this is that the storm will teach Lear that he must swallow his pride, but the statement also foreshadows how Lear will learn something much more important about human nature while he suffers from the elements. In fact, it is in the rage of the storm, interspersed with his own rage, that Lear has his first unselfish thoughts, as is evident when he asks the Fool â€Å"How dost my boy? Art cold? † and he (Lear) says to him â€Å"Poor Fool and knave, I have one part in my heart / That’s sorry for you yet† (3. 2. 68, 72-73).Lear further portrays the empathy that he has for others when he stands alone on the heath and, in a moment of heartfelt lucidness, laments over the houseless masses:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Poor naked wretches, wheresoe’er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless s torm, How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From seasons such as these? (3. 4. 28-33) Not only does Lear express sincere concern for others during this soliloquy, but he also expresses regret for the way that he has treated his subjects when he says that â€Å"O, I have ta’en / Too little care of this! (3. 4. 33-34). Indeed, this is the first time in the play that Lear admits any kind of wrongdoing, and as such, it is the first time that he looks inside himself at his own soul and sees that it, like his eldest daughters’ souls, is far from spotless. Following Lear’s profound insight on the heath, he moves into the hovel where, after meeting Edgar, who is disguised as the beggar Poor Tom, he begins to question the nature of all humanity.When Lear sees Edgar’s cold, shivering, and â€Å"uncovered body,† he asks the eternal question †Å"Is man no more than this? † (3. 4. 105). When Lear says that â€Å"The unaccomodated man is no more / but such a poor, bare, forked animal,† he is essentially saying that human beings, like their naked bodies, are pitiable creatures (3. 4. 109-110). Likewise, when he proceeds to strip of his garments, he is making the symbolic gesture that he is no better than Poor Tom; that is, he realizes that he, too, is pitiable.Lear’s recognition that his own body is pathetic, the literary critic Paul Jorgensen argues in his book Lear’s Self-Discovery, is Lear’s first insight. Jorgensen argues, â€Å"self-knowledge means understanding the vileness of the flesh†; in order to attain wisdom, he asserts, people must be willing to recognize that they â€Å"are born of the seed of Adam† and as such, are â€Å"impure . . . and abominable before God† (26). Shakespeare, however, does not suggest that Lear is necessarily doomed because he is the So n of Adam.Rather, the episode with Poor Tom in the hovel simply suggests that all of humanity, including its royalty, is flawed; using Lear’s insight as an example, Shakespeare suggests that in order for people to be redeemed by God, they must first realize humankind’s shortcomings and learn to pity one and all. Lear’s compassion toward Edgar’s frailty and his insistence that he have the company of the naked, â€Å"noble philosopher† proves that he has learned more than just empathy and self-awareness; he has also learned to value his relationships with people despite their flaws, regardless of what he might gain from these relationships (3. . 175). Another example of Lear learning altruistic acceptance comes from his relationship with the Fool, who, as A. C. Bradley explains, makes â€Å"incessant and cutting reminders of [Lear’s] folly and wrong†; indeed, Lear gets nothing from the Fool other than insults, such as when the Fool sugg ests that Lear has â€Å"a little tiny wit† (Bradley 24; 3. 2. 74). Yet despite his lack of reward, Bradley argues, â€Å"Lear comes in his affliction to think of others first, and to seek, in tender solicitude for his ‘poor boy,’ the shelter he scorns for his own bare head† (24).In essence, Lear has learned how to accept his relationships as â€Å"their own reward,† which, as surely Mack would agree, is the first step in learning how to love (Mack 170). Clearly, the relationship that Lear has with his Fool is unusual; in fact, the Fool’s role in the play is so unusual that one critic, Jan Kott, argues in his essay â€Å"King Lear, or Endgame† that the Fool’s character represents the theme of the entire play, namely, â€Å"the decay and fall of the world† (152).In an absurd world where no action has any real meaning, Kott states, the Fool is the only character to realize that â€Å"the only true madness is to regard this world as rational† (167). Certainly, what Kott says about the Fool is correct, to a point. The soliloquy he gives while in the hovel in which he prophesizes that â€Å"the realm of Albion† will â€Å"come to great confusion† certainly proves that the Fool does represent an absurdist viewpoint, but Kott misinterprets Shakespeare’s intent when he states that the play is itself absurd (3. 2. 91-92). One must remember that Shakespeare makes the Fool disappear at the end of act 3 for a reason.Surely, life is meaningless during the first half of the play when Lear blindly lives his life without truly learning anything about the nature of humanity, but as Lear suffers in the third act, he also learns how to feel for the weak and houseless poor, to â€Å"discern the falseness of flattery and the brutality of authority,† and to â€Å"pierce through rank and raiment to the common humanity beneath† (Bradley 24). As a result of learning, Shakespeare sug gests, the world—and Lear’s part in it—ceases to be absurd; consequently, the Fool, and his philosophy, quietly disappear.It is by no coincidence that Lear’s suffering and subsequent learning in the third act occur during a miserable storm. In fact, Shakespeare uses the storm as a physical representation of the raging storm of emotions that occurs in Lear’s mind; that is, the â€Å"contentious storm† symbolizes and embellishes what Lear himself calls â€Å"The tempest in my mind† (3. 4. 6,12). Likewise, it is by no coincidence that Goneril, Regan and Cornwall grow worse from their success; they all remain warm, dry, and comfortable during the storm and they have all gained great power, but not one of them learns anything during the course of the play.Indeed, as Bradley explains, â€Å"The warm castle becomes a room in hell and the storm swept heath a sanctuary† (33). The power of comfort to corrupt is apparent several times dur ing the play, but it is perhaps most shocking when Cornwall gouges out Gloucester’s eyes and proceeds to stomp on them, telling the old man that â€Å"Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot† (3. 7. 69). It is in these lines that the reader/audience sees how powerful, and indeed untouchable, people feel when they have all of the comforts of the world to support them (3. . 69). Cornwall, like Lear at the beginning of the play, feels invincible, but unlike Lear, he never learns that he is â€Å"not ague / proof† (4. 6. 105-106). Therefore, by contrasting Cornwall, and the other â€Å"bad† characters, to Lear, Shakespeare not only reinforces the idea that knowledge and redemption come to those who suffer through physical and emotional storms, but he also suggests that people who have power and comfort often feel that they are superhuman and have nothing left to learn (Bradley 33).Of course, the eventual demise of all of the wickedly comfortable prov es otherwise. In addition to the evil characters acting as foils to Lear, Gloucester’s symbolic blindness and subsequent literal blindness also help to emphasize how Lear gains knowledge through suffering. Indeed, Gloucester acts as a foil to Lear throughout the play: both are initially blind to the actions of their wicked children, both disown their loyal children, and, in turn, both learn the truth in very painful ways.Until his blinding, Gloucester believes that Edgar is a â€Å"strange and fastened villain† who has betrayed him and that Edmund is a â€Å"loyal . . . boy,† but the quickness with which Gloucester realizes Edmund’s true intent after Cornwall has blinded him, screaming â€Å"O my follies! Then Edgar was abused† strongly implies that, like Lear, Gloucester had to suffer in order to see the light (2. 1. 79-86; 3. 7. 92-93). In this way, Shakespeare uses irony to reinforce the idea that those who have eyes are often blind to the truth and those who suffer often see more truth than their bodies and minds can handle.Yet another person one might compare Lear to is his loving and loyal daughter, Cordelia, who is so angelic that her tears are like â€Å"holy water† that from â€Å"heavenly eyes† flow (4. 3. 31). In essence, she is the â€Å"goodliest† of human figures and a model to which Lear can aspire to become more like (4. 3. 17). Indeed, Lear shows that he has become more like his blessed daughter after he reconciles with her and tells her that â€Å"When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll kneel down / And ask of thee forgiveness . . .† (5. 3. 10-11).This humble, indeed shameful statement seems not to have come from the same selfish, egotistical king who banishes his daughter for not proving her love to him, and in fact, it does not. Lear is a changed man. What his purgatory has prepared him for, his reunion with Cordelia, the play’s Christ-figure, has set in stone. Lear h as finally and completely learned how to love, and for that, he is forgiven and completely redeemed. There are some critics, of course, who believe that Lear does not learn how to love, or learn anything else for that matter.In his essay â€Å"‘Nothing Almost Sees Miracles’: Tragic Knowledge in King Lear,† Roche even argues that Shakespeare intended Lear to be a â€Å"total failure, in fact and in vision† (168). Roche continues by stating that at the end of the play, Lear â€Å"sees nothing† because â€Å"every gesture of his love is countered by an equal and opposite gesture of hatred† (164). Indeed, Roche is correct when he states that Lear is still flawed at the end of the play.After all, he still feels like a victim to Goneril and Regan’s cruel behavior and he is still vengeful, as is evident when he proudly states to Cordelia’s corpse that â€Å"I killed the slave that was a-hanging thee† (5. 3. 276). Even in his def ense of Lear’s knowledge, Jorgensen states that â€Å"Lear is still pathetically unwise in worldly matters at the end of the play,† but he continues by stating that none of this matters because Lear â€Å"has learned that which, especially for a dying man, is all-important† (7).That is, Lear has learned about the meaning of love, the pitiable frailty of the human form, and the miseries of the unfortunate. In essence, he has learned what it means to be a human instead of a king. Therefore, it does not matter that Lear still has faults because his suffering has taught him eternal truths—truths that are worthy of his redemption. In the end, King Lear almost ceases to be tragic (Bradley 32). Certainly, Lear’s suffering is severe, but Shakespeare shows that it is Lear’s suffering that leads to his learning and his subsequent redemption.Prior to Lear’s painful banishment, he is a pampered, flattered king living a false life, full of false l ove. It is excruciating for Lear to face that his life has been 80 years of lies, but in order to learn the truth, he must first suffer through the pain, and as Shakespeare clearly shows, it is better to learn through suffering than to remain comfortable and ignorant. Therefore, Lear’s life is worth all of the agonies it incurs; after all, it is only after Lear begins to suffer that he truly begins to live.

American society Essay

Childcare and early childcare education must be a priority for parents. It can be the difference between success and failure in American society. High quality early childhood education prepare children to succeed and become better citizens, they make higher wages, pay more taxes, and commit fewer crimes. Early education strengthens the foundations of lifelong learning of all children and supporting the educational and social needs for family. Researchers indicate that children who participate in early education programs make significant short-term and long-term gains in cognitive development. Consistency in preschool can impact a child’s cognitive development preschools that provide a curriculum allows children to develop cognitive skills. The curricula build on the Childs existing skills and allow them to acquire new skills. Make believe is also another impact on cognitive and social skills. The preschooler who spend more time in sociodramatic play are seen as more socially competent by their teachers (Connolly & Doyle, 1984). Many studies reveal that make believe strengthens a wide variety of mental abilities, including sustained attention, memory, logical reasoning,  language and literacy, imagination, creativity, and the ability to reflect on ones own thinking, behavior, and take another’s perspective (Bergen & Mauer, 2000; Berk. Mann, & Organ, 2006; Elisa & Berk, 2002; Hirsh-Psek et al. , 2009; Lindsey & Colwell, 2003; Organ & Berk, 2009; Ruff & Capozzoli, 2003). Having the child in the same preschool throughout the year allows them to develop relationship with adults and children, which provide a sense of security. A child that is Benefits of Early Childhood Education 3 comfortable with the willing to learn and participate in learning opportunities. Preschoolers gain  in emotional understanding. Preschooler who spend more time engaged in sociodramatics play are better at taking personal responsibilities for following classroom rules and at regulating emotions ( Berk, Mann, & Organ 2006; Lemche et al. 2003). Parents who take responsibilities to make sure their kids are in a quality childcare/preschool reap the benefits in the long run. Children start learning at an early age, and when they feel confident around the people they are around the more comfortable they will be at enhancing their education. Early education affects: social, physical, intellectual, creative and emotional  developments. A child who starts early education has the benefits of completing high school, having above average test scores and positive attitudes towards school among children and parents. Early education seems like a winner to me. Benefits of Early Childhood Education 4 References Berk, L. E. (2002) Tnfants and children: Prenatal through middlehood (7th ed. ). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN:9780205831913 Retrieved August 1, 2014, from http://www. kueducation. com/early-chldhood/benefits-early- childhood-education Retrieved August 1, 2014, from http://www. Nowforlater. org/files/2013/03/The- Facts. pdf.   

DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THECARRIBEAN JAMAICA AND TRINIDAD Thesis

DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THECARRIBEAN JAMAICA AND TRINIDAD - Thesis Example The cultural values and the social economic problems have also acted as catalysts towards the crime. To deal with the problem, it is essential that these nations adopt a comprehensive policy to eliminate the problem for once and for all. Introduction A drug is defined to as any substance that alters the normal functioning of the body if absorbed by an individual (Forsyth et al, 1993; Lavelle et al, 1991).). There are many types of drugs, and therefore its definition can be varied depending on the context. It may be viewed from the pharmaceutical context or the recreational point of view. One may also look at it from the contexts of legal versus the illegal drugs. Despite the different contexts, drugs will always cause harm when overly used. From here, the word drug abuse is coined. The major concern is usually on the illegal drugs, which include heroine, marijuana, and cocaine among others The normal functioning of the mind and body is always altered, causing great concerns in the me dical contexts (Johnston et al, 2008). Surveys indicate that many people, across the genders and ages are addicted to drugs. They are sometimes unable to have full control of their lives, sometimes necessitating the immediate friends and family to assist them in every aspect of their lives. The measures to curb these behaviors are faced with setbacks due to the lucrative business that continues to grow in many parts of the world. The drugs are always made available to anybody who wills to use them. Therefore, many lives are destroyed due to this easy access and lack of policy to deal with the problem. Psychological problems may well be blamed for the rampant drug usage and abuse (Purvis and McInnis, 2009). However, their very presence is also to blame. Without their availability, people have no choice but deal with their problems in many other ways. The global world looks at the problem as criminal, and a problem that needs to be dealt with urgently. Many lives have already been los t, and we can no longer watch as the young people lose their future. The old have become unproductive and a burden to the family in every home due to the use of drugs. The solution lies with the people who would expose such crimes and bring sanity to the world. The problem is no longer confined to specific region, but it affects the whole world in general. It is therefore a global problem. There are regions that are well known for drug trafficking; majorly acting as the supply base for the rest of the world. The best thing is that the regions are well known by the general public. Drug trafficking became rampant in 1970’s, affecting many parts of the world. Among the worst affected areas were West Indian islands, the Caribbean basin and the South American states. In particular, the Caribbean basin region became the supply base for the drugs, meeting demands of the majority in many parts of the world. The business gained popularity, with the majority earning good money from the business. This may explain why many people were attracted to the business, with the consideration of the poverty that faced these regions. The socio economic problems pushed more people into the drug supply deals din the Caribbean, and a strong alliance was formed between the states that were involved in the transactions. Surveys indicate that twenty percent of drugs that are demanded in the US are supplied through the Caribbean region (Purvis and McInn

The Cosmology Theory and Sikhism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

The Cosmology Theory and Sikhism - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that cosmology is the study of the universe, otherwise known as the cosmos to evaluate its origin, evolution and its fate in the face of different environmental, political, religious and social forces. Cosmology theory has for years fronted an argument that the existence of the universe is enough evidence that a supreme being who created it exists. However, atheist continue to ask questions on the roles of a supernatural power in the existence of the universe and the role that god play in the entire issue of cosmos existence. The cosmological theory provides one of the only logical explanations for the existence of the universe and the presence of God who controls everything that happens within. Otherwise referred to as the first cause argument about the origin of the universe and a supreme being, the cosmological theory has been adopted by other religious organizations across the globe. The cosmological theory has also embraced an atheist point of views by providing arguments that explain how the universe began, the creative process and the person who was in charge of the creation. The cosmological argument was developed from various philosophical arguments including the positions taken by Plato, Aristotle, and the Neoplatonic traditions. Common Muslim thinkers like Al-Ghazali, Jewish philosophers like Maimonides and Christian scholastic thinkers like Aquinas and Scotus contributed to the development of the cosmological arguments. Â  

Economics and Business of the Asia-Pacific Region and Emerging Markets Essay

Economics and Business of the Asia-Pacific Region and Emerging Markets - Essay Example As the paper highlights the measurement of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is principally viewed to be one of the decisive parameters in determining the economy of a nation. In this regard, it is observed that the economy of China has developed significantly during the post Mao period in terms of GDP. This has been more prominent after the economic liberation witnessed by the nation in the 1990s. Further development in the economy of the nation occurred during 21st century, wherein the rate of GDP is mostly found to be in double-digits. The GDP rate of China in post Mao period can be better understood from the below depicted graphical representation.This discussion stresses that  there are certain nations in Asia that have grown extensively during the same period. These nations include Japan, South Korea and India among others. It is important to note that Japan and South Korea are the nations that have shown constant growth in GDP rates during the post Mao period. Moreover, it is wor th mentioning that China has also grown extensively after liberation and more prominently in the 21st century. However, these countries i.e. South Korea and Japan could not grow in higher rates as compared to China. One of the prime reasons for China to experience higher GDP is the liberation in the economy. The open economy in the region has led to the creation of equal and fair opportunities to the traders.

Should the US gets itself involved in everything going on in the Research Paper

Should the US gets itself involved in everything going on in the middle east - Research Paper Example 78). This piece of research paper attempts to address how dangerously United States has been playing its diplomatic roles in the Middle East and explains five reasons why the US shouldn’t get involved in everything that go on in the region. This paper analyzes how the political languages the US repeatedly has been using like peace-making, anti-terrorism and weapon proliferation have but shown that they were absolutely meaningless due to the ongoing conflicts in the region, ever-increasing terrorism and devastating weaponry-political ideologies. Five reasons why the US shouldn’t involve in the Middle East United States shouldn’t play its diplomatic roles in military, political and all other activities that go on in the Middle East mainly for the following factors: 1. The main interest behind US’s involvement in the Middle East is to get wider access to oil-resources, which in turn can never be justified in terms of business or international politics. 2. Mid dle East is basically an Islamic region and therefore any involvement from the US side will be seen as an unnecessary involvement especially in religious affairs, and its interest in wars will be merely unjust. 3. As widely known, or as widely being debated in media worldwide, one of the main reason why US involves in the Middle East is to preserve the security and well-being of Israel (Pelletreau, p. 21), and therefore it will have a devastating impact on Middle East people’s perception of the US creating more hatred towards the US. 4. US involvement in Middle East will cause nothing more than giving excitement to the terrorists and thus making the region more vulnerable to ongoing conflicts and political instabilities. 5. The more the US gets involved in the Middle East, the highest the numbers of people, civilians and troops being killed in regions like Palestine, Iraq and other countries. Based on literatures and experts’ opinion, these reasons are detailed below: The US Interest in oil-resources When it comes to the case of recent war between Iraq and the US, for instance, the US gained full of oil resources that can help it fulfill its oil-requirements for years, where as Iraq lost their political and social stability in the country. As Krasner (p. 189) noted, the second World War has actually brought greater demand for oil and that bringing US attention to the Middle East as well. From 1940 onwards, America has been taking serious foreign policies to help it access oil from the Gulf countries. Pauly (p. 160) observed that Middle East has been a vital source for greater access to oil resources and this has brought the attention of the US foreign policy too. Without oil, many countries and many economies would face major disruptions. Similarly, the standard of living even will be greatly impacted if the US lacks oil resources and therefore America has increasingly intervened diplomatically, economically and militarily in the region. The ethi cal and moral sides of this intention and military operation can never be justified and therefore America should stop involving in the affairs OF Middle East. Involvement unjust Economical, diplomatic and military involvement of the US in the Middle Eas

Data analyses & Findings Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Data analyses & Findings - Dissertation Example However, student response rate was poor even though they had been informed of the purpose of the research. Anonymity too was assured but due to reasons unknown to the researcher, the students were not too willing to participate in the study. The findings from the survey are presented separately and then the interview findings is discussed and compared along with relevant theories. Some of the important data from the survey has been presented in the form of bar charts for convenience of understanding. The interview finding is not presented separately as there was just one interview taken. 4.2 Student Survey Questionnaires Distributed: 250 Responses received: 23 Response Rate: 8% It must be noted that 8% is considered a poor response rate. 4.2.1 Marketing efforts of the College The first set of responses reveals the marketing efforts made by the college. Student demographics Out of the 23 responses received, the highest number of students is from Nigeria (17%) but countries such as Ind ia, China and Pakistan too have a strong presence (Chart I). Chart I Country of Origin Source of information Students have cited different sources of information but an equal weightage has been found for recommendation from ex-students, word-of-mouth from friends or relatives and many have even come to know of the college through overseas seminars conducted by the college (Chart II). A very small percentage of respondents have obtained information through the internet. Chart II Source of information Various reasons have been cited for selecting this particular college. Almost 37% of the respondents selected the college because of the affordable fees while other prominent reasons include recommendation from others, reputation and the courses on offer (Chart III). Some have decided to study at this college because there were representatives of the college in their own country (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka). In fact 91% of the respondents have found the fees affordable and the others t hat did not find it affordable, opted for the college because of support in visa process. The college does not offer scholarships and despite this, students have decided to study at this college. This only demonstrates that fees are affordable as has been admitted by 91% of the respondents. Chart III Factors influencing college selection College website Eighty three percent of the respondents accessed the college website to gather information although only 61% were satisfied with the available information (Chart IV). Many (22%) were not satisfied with the information and details on hostel accommodation, faculty, and overview of London and college life in general, were found to be lacking. However, some even found that course details and affiliations with universities helped them decide for this college. Chart IV Information through website 4.2.2 Student experience during and after the admission process Many students (39%) faced immigration and visa problems. People from countries su ch as India, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan and Mongolia faced problems. They all found the process very lengthy and involving too much of paper work. They found it ‘painfully complicated’ and ‘time-consuming’. Upon arrival also only 61% of the respondents admitted that their expectations were met. The others faced problems as they were not allotted accommodation

A CATHOLIC WOMAN IN THE AMERICAS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A CATHOLIC WOMAN IN THE AMERICAS - Essay Example econdly, the climate and available natural resources distinctly differ from those found in other parts of the country (‘New England,’ Wikipedia.org). In the 1700s, the New England population was served by merchants, artisans and shopkeepers. Shops bartered imported goods from Britain for crops and other local products like shingles and potash which were then transported to port towns like Boston, Salem, Newport and Providence from where they were exported by merchants to the West Indies on barter trade in exchange for sugar, molasses, gold coins and bills of exchange. Some merchants owned fishing vessels, which they used to transport catches of mackerel and cod to the West Indies and European countries. Other merchants owned saw-mills that used the huge, easily available timber wealth to provide cheap wood that was used to build houses and ships, the latter being sold to American and English merchants (‘Colonial America,’ Wikipedia.org). New England’s Black River Valley located in Rhode Island is credited with being the cradle of the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. on account of the famous Slater Mill, the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in the country that made cloth from cotton. The Slater Mill, set up in 1793, was primarily responsible for making New England a leader in textile production (‘Rhode Island,’ Wikipedia.org). The drawback in the New England economy during the 1700s was that agriculture cultivation was greatly hampered by the region’s rocky soil and unsuitable climate (‘New England,’ Wikipedia.org). As a result, the farmers were able to only grow potatoes and grass like red clover and timothy-grass, the two varieties of grass serving as fodder for cattle. Farming families tried their best to ease their problems by loaning livestock and exchanging surplus goods and labor with one another (‘Colonial America,’ Wikipedia.org). On the political scenario, New England in the 1700s is credited with spawning direct

Corporate Strategy - HBOS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Strategy - HBOS - Essay Example It was the HBOS Group Reorganisation Act 2006, a private Act of Parliament, which gives more operational freedom to the group. With this Bank of Scotland has become its principal banking subsidiary. It has three more subsidiaries such as Halifax plc, HBOS Australia and HBOS Insurance and Investment Group Limited. While Halifax operates as retail banking division in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, Bank of Scotland is main retail banking division in Scotland. Formed in 2004, HBOS Australia is a consolidation of group's companies in Australia. HBOS Insurance and Investment group manages insurance and investment products in UK and Europe. HBOS is launched as a 'New Force' in banking and claimed as a major and distinctive new competitor in the UK financial service markets. It has about 22 million customers all over the world and unique expertise of the global banking scenario. It has three strong divisions of retail banking, corporate banking and investment. It is believed that su ccessful acquisition and integration of many banking units has helped HBOS to emerge as a major financial conglomerate in Europe. Its average growth is around 10 percent. It operates under a number of well known brands. Businesses that actively pursue innovation generate more growth and profits than those that do not. This process will give the institution higher brand awareness and appeal. Last few years HBOS has been introducing innovative and customer oriented measures to achieve this goal. This has given it an upper hand in the industry. In its long years of existence it has been adding up more products and services to cater to the different needs of the people. The globalization, liberalization and privatization process has opened up new opportunities and challenges for the bank. The bank has entered into new markets with a global vision. In the recent period, it has grown to become a leading financial mall and global finance retail network. The market capitalization of the group is the fourth largest in UK. With assets of over 400 billion, HBOS is UK's largest mortgage and savings provider. It has several high profile brands including Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Birmingham Midshires, Intellige nt Finance and Clerical Medical. But with globalization is turning to new trajectory challenges and opportunities before banks such as HBOS are crucial and thought provoking. Financial sphere of the world has changed a lot with free flow of fund and resources from continent to continent or countries to countries. Financial institutions are now compelled to find new models of growth. There are lot of pressure from investors, shareholders, promoters and customers for fulfilling growing expectations. But squeezing margins, impact of technology and increasing competition are compelling banks to reduce cost as low as possible. Today's banking has more global behavior than local flavour. The management has to taken into consideration lot of global and demographic issues before giving shape to a product, service or strategy. The risk management has got more concentration among bankers. Also expectations of customers are growing more with peer bank competition. Most of the banks in Western countries have now entered into hi gh potential new destinations such as India, China and North American countries. They are also adapting both organic and inorganic growth models to survive in the new context. Today's financial service industry is facing lot of problems. While they have to drive the business

Is There a Biodiversity Crisis Essay Example for Free

Is There a Biodiversity Crisis Essay Most commonly, biodiversity is referred to as the differences in the forms of life inside an ecosystem. There are different definitions regarding to the scope and to whoever has defined the word biodiversity. The first definition which the most common definition of the word states that biodiversity is the variation of life at levels of biological organization. This definition simply states that biodiversity claims the general differences in the living organisms that exist in an ecosystem. The second definition characterizes biodiversity as an assessment of the overall health of an ecosystem. The health of an ecosystem is relatively based on the number of species that thrives in an ecosystem. Thus, biodiversity is also measure of the relative physical condition of the different organisms alive in an ecosystem. Another definition, which is most commonly used by ecologists, describes biodiversity as the entirety of the genes, species and ecosystems of a certain region. This third definition relates the three basic levels that identify biodiversity: (1) genetic diversity, (2) species diversity and, (3) ecosystem diversity. In the main, biodiversity for ecologists also relates the interactions of species to species and also the interaction of the species to the environment they are in. Therefore, it is not only the species of organism that are interacting with one another but also the organism are interacting with the air, soil, water and the factors that constitutes the totality of the environment. The environment is very essential to all the living forms in the planet. Clearly, it is the provider of our most basic needs: food, water and air. It gives us water for drinking, air for breathing, food to supply as with energy and other necessities. Humans are pat of a very big ecosystem – the earth. With all the animals and the other forms of living things in the earth interacting with one another, surely, one kind of species needs the other in order to survive. Such as the way the spider needs its web and the horse needs the grass, all the organisms, need the planet’s wealth in order to survive. The collection of plants and animals are the ones that keep an ecosystem stable. The more diverse an ecosystem is, the more that it is stable and the more that it is likely to survive. Biodiversity crisis is one of the threats that lead to the extinction of certain species of animals and plants. Still, nobody knows the importance of each and every living thing on earth. However, their loss can be equated to a loss in medicine, technology and balance in nature, which in turn mar risk the lives of humans. Factors There are so many factors that contribute to the weakening and deterioration of biodiversity. It includes too much use and over exploitation, physical and chemical modification of the areas which serves as habitats for certain organism, introduction of foreign species of organisms to an area and modifications in the conditions of habitats. Some factors that contribute to the total fall of biodiversity in an area are also socially based. This includes rapid population growth, over exploitation of resources, useless and ineffective knowledge, unworthy management and increasing demand for areas to be modified into industrial and technological spots. Human activity is a large fraction of the causes of biodiversity crisis of the world. The diverse activities of humans can be accounted as the primary cause of the degradation of the diversity of life of the planet. Certain human activities create a huge impact to the environment. Two of which are human population and the level of consumption of humankind. These two factors constitutes to the major environmental changes that are happening in the planet. Also, the principal activities of humans for the purpose of his survival in the planet such as agriculture, fishing, hunting, manufacturing, trade, industry, and even recreational activities such as hiking, mountaineering and tours are directly and indirectly creating a major effect on the environmental balance. Records show that hunting and sever use and exploitation of the animal life and environment are the most cases that can be observed in the word today. These activities are the biggest threats to the existence of various kinds of animals not only in Tibet but also in other countries such as Thailand and Philippines. In Tibet, exploitation of animals is a major environmental problem. Animals are being killed for commercial reasons. Skin of rare animals, antlers of deer, heads of various animals mostly the Tibetan gazelle and fur of wild animals such as leopards can be seen in the market and are sold openly without penalties and forced restrictions by the authorities. More to that, hunters are not only free to kill animals in the wild but also, they can get their own permit to hunt in the wild. They are given permit to kill animals for the purpose of producing income and for the purpose of causing a rapid decrease in the population of the animals that they use for commercial purposes. Also, another major cause of biodiversity crisis in the world and still, an example of human activity is forest degradation and transformation of habitats to industrial sites. Forest degradation does not only concern the loss of trees in the rainforests but also the loss of the animals that depends on these trees for survival. Wide exploitation of the forests has been recorded in most of the countries in the world as early as human population began to rapidly increase. The act of cutting trees to be used either for construction of houses or for the purpose of selling to companies and other groups and for the purpose of having a new site wherein industries, houses, subdivisions and chemical plants are to be erected, all constitutes to the improper and over utilization of resources. These activities are the roots of extensive migration of birds and animals to other areas which causes over crowding of species in an area and wide losses in certain species that eventually dies due to the loss of trees and the loss of the existence of rainforests which serves as their habitat. Losses These human activities in effect, cause enormous impact to the environment. Effects incorporate land transformations, rapid decrease in the population of specie which mostly results to extinction and immense changes in the patterns of weather, water cycle, nutrient accumulation and chemical introduction. In the long run, these direct effects of human activities consequently are the ones that cause various changes in the global climate, patterns of migration, reproduction and habitat and an overall irreversible loss form the environment and consequently a loss to the humankind. On the whole, human activities have brought changes not only to the other living organism in the planet but also to the planet itself. Accordingly, human activities have caused the environment to weaken inducing a less stable planet that could less support existence of life. The world is rapidly loosing its wealth and richness. Due to the acts of man, not only he and the other forms of life are at risk but also the whole world. Man’s activities constitute much of the factors that contribute to this hasty decline. As man continues to increase its population and greedy concept of living, the diversity of life is steadily going to a point of fall. As this happens, lakes and rivers are transformed to highways and canals, forests will soon be out of trees and animals and will be turned to deserts. Natural diversity will be continuously raped and will make way for the rise of towering buildings, winding roads, infrastructures, houses, villages, factories, mines, schools, shopping malls and gardens. Existence of the technological advancements will soon interfere with the usual patterns of the weather and global climate as well as the lives of different species. In turn, they will be extinct and will never be enjoyed again by the coming generations. Eventually, the works of man today will weaken and continuously exploit the wealth of planet until comes to a point where it can no longer hold for the existence of man and his doings. References Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. (2007). Biodiversity in Crisis?. Retrieved December 6, 2007, from http://cbc.amnh. org/crisis/crisis. html. Simberloff, Daniel. (2007). Habitat Change, Population Growth, and the Biodiversity Crisis: Getting Ahead of the Extinction Curve. Retrieved, December 5, 2007, from http://www. angelo. edu/events/university_symposium/93_Simberloff. html. Shah, Anup. (2007) Biodiversity. Retrieved, December 5, 2007, from http://www. globalissues. org/EnvIssues/Biodiversity. asp. The Fruitarian Foundation. (2000). The Biodiversity Crisis. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from http://www. fruitarian. com/ab/TheBiodiversityCrisis. htm.

Smartphone Market Trends With Pest Analysis In Korea

Smartphone Market Trends With Pest Analysis In Korea The Korean telecom company called KT has published that the major customer of smart phone is men and women in their 20s and 30s who live in capital area. They have a need to buy new mobile phone when their existing phone is out of order or behind in fashion. Even some Macolytes who is enthusiastic in apple products tend to be dissatisfied at not getting new iPhone. After recognizing problems, they get loads of information about new mobile phone from their friends, relatives, internet community and media. As the number of smartphone users is increasing, many smart phone companies have been trying to penetrate Koreas smartphone market. Apples biggest direct competitor is Samsung. While Apple sells only iPhone series, Samsung keeps a rich assortment of goods. Samsung sells cheaper mobile phone targeted at teenagers or a little bit expensive mobile phone which includes a lot of functions aimed at adult and CEO. Like this, Samsung does not overwhelm with material superiority but targets segment market. Therefore, customers can make a choice what they want in their price category. As I mentioned earlier, Samsung sells various kinds of smartphone for different age groups. The Left targets at teenager and the Right aims at adults. Contrary to existing galaxy series smartphone, galaxy pop offers various color and it can satisfy young peoples desires and their personality with inexpensive price. A celebrity who is popular with teenagers appears in commercial advertisement, and the ad encourages young customer to buy it. On the other hand, galaxy s4 is equipped with the latest and the best performance. Samsung installs a lot of billboards to advertise the product. The company offers flip cover with discounted price only for several days and even gives voucher which can enjoy mobile TV. Smartphone market Trends with PEST analysis in Korea. Political Factor Abolition of WIPI obligation WIPI (Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability) is a platform used in South Korea. It is basic software which is same function as OS used in personal computer. Korean mobile communication companies made their own wireless internet platform in a different ways and lots of contents manufacturers had to make same contents in various ways. Therefore it caused unnecessary waste. Government carried out regulation to reduce waste to a minimum. However, Apple, Nokia and other companies made their mobile phones with their own platform. So that companies had to change their platform to entry Korean mobile phone market. With these difficulties, many companies are reluctant to penetrate Korean market. Eventually, Korea government abolished the WIPI obligation. After Multinational manufacturer entering Korean market, mobile market became more competitive. Especially, Apple affected various positive effects for existing apple customer and this affirmative response continued. Economic Factor Consumption Promotion With the smart phone, more and more people use mobile contents which called application program. In application market, there are lots of categories so consumers are able to buy what they want. As people are using smartphone, loads of applications are activated naturally. Even some people develop their own application program and create profits. At the same time, they make a great contribution to mobile contents market. Eventually smartphone is one of the main factor which promotes application consumption and makes mobile market more active. Social Factor consumer trend, various age groups Originally, only young people who can accept change quickly prefer to use smartphone. As time goes by, however, various age people started to use smartphone. At first, they are not familiar with using smartphone and application, but now many people get accustomed to utilizing their smartphone. Another factor is consumer trend. Many people want to get loads of information in real time. Even in public transportations like metro or bus, consumer search latest information. Customers want to get a lot of information as soon as possible. Technology Factor Camera, GPS, People consider Camera as important factor in smartphone. They dont have to carry their own camera when they want to take pictures and they can just take pictures with high pixel camera in smartphone. With GPS, consumer can know where they are now and how to go to their destination. Consumers are no longer afraid of getting lost due to GPS. Apple Analysis Organization Figure Apple organization structure. Apple organization is so simple and not conventional. It is vastly different from other companies organization chart. At first, Apple doesnt have committee and organization management. The company only has CFO which controls profit and loss. Most of companies tend to regard profit and loss as ultimate result of management responsibility however, in Apple, only CFO pays attention to their profit and loss. As a result, workers can share their ideas with bottom up not top down. Brand Strength Figure Apple ranked as Worlds most valuable brand Apples strengths are retail stores, customer service, leading innovator and financial reports, First of all, Apple opened own retail stores all over the world. It is estimated that about 280 stores in 10 countries. Most of retail stores are a success because consumers have an opportunity to learn and use about the product in stores. Second, Apple is known for good customer service. Apple is home to many sales representatives who are trained customer service and information. Apple also offers free online chat function and replies the answer to consumers inquiry. The Third strength is leading innovator. Apple is regarded as most innovative company. The company can produce innovative products and its innovation affects another mobile company. Final strength is financial reports. The financial performance of apple is better than many companies. It has high gross profit margin. Positioning Apple offers various applications and service through iTunes and app store. This is main positioning of apple and thats why the companys main consumers are in their 20s and 30s who have strong purchasing power. Figure Past iPhone campaign history The iphone3 campaign is simple. Apple just emphasizes price and speed. Actually many people thought that there is no big difference between iPhone3 and iPod. But after releasing iPhone 4, the campaign is totally different. Apple introduced new function which called face-time. iPhone4 users could call their family or friends with face to face. The most important factor that apple emphasizes about iPhone 4s is Siri. Consumers can order action with their voice and the product takes an action. Like this, the past iPhone campaign is quite innovative but it isnt useful in real life. For example, Siri is not offered on the Korean iPhone therefore it is hard to use Siri for Korean consumer. Another failure is face time. Because lots of Korean mobile phones have already offered video call, Korean didnt think it is special. Therefore considering this failure, the most important iPhone 5 campaign slogan is Innovative but Practical iPhone 5 communications objectives. Make iphone5 faster than before. Add the ability to watch TV in everywhere. Extend the battery life Make up for yellow gate and camera. Target audiences The existing target audience is men aged 18-35 however now it would be changed. The main iPhone 5 target audiences are in their early 20s and mid-30s. These groups of people have strong purchasing power and they are very sensitive to the changes. The reason that I exclude teenagers from target audiences is they tend to buy their mobile phone according to the situation and they dont have any income so it is hard to make them as long-term customers. Many people including existing users were dissatisfied at the short battery life. Showing the main problem-solving, Apple persuade consumer to buy the product. This is helpful to leave positive images which Apple is trying to communicate with consumer. Consumer in their 20s and 30s are very sensitive to the latest trends and sometimes they feel depressed when they cannot have latest product. People want to buy not only products but also the brands name. Apple has to understand the character of target audiences, and make them feel .superior. Promotional tools Advertising Media broadcast, print, outdoor, in store Blogs upload information about new iPhone and draw intention. Broadcast emphasize the iPhone 5 speed. Print Print new slogan Public relations Press release updates every month Video news Make iPhone channel at Youtube and upload regularly Direct Marketing Email Send emails to all apple consumers with introduction of iPhone 5 Personal selling Trained sales person provides information and spend time with new customers. Create long relationships between seller and buyer Persuade to purchase new product Sales Promotions Discounting price Offer discounted price to student and existing users who bring their iPhone series. Samples Retail stores allow consumers to try the iPhone5 Voucher When customers buy iPhone 5, Apple give voucher Suggestions for relevant media Social Network Media According to the research graph, more and more Korean people are getting use their own social network. With using social network, the company can attract a lot of social network users. For example, on Facebook, most of users age is from 18 to 35 which is our main target audience. So If the company target on Social Media such as facebook, twitter etc, the company can attract a lot of main target consumer. Customers will be interested in new iPhone, and they could express their own opinion on Social network. The best advantage using this media is the company can communicate with the consumers and advertise effectively with a small charge. TV commercial advertisement. The TV commercial is the easiest way for customers to get new information about iPhone. During for only 2-30 seconds, the commercial could effect on customers. Nowadays, it becomes more and more important to choose advertising background music. With using TV ad music, it also can emphasize the products various advantages. TV commercial advertising expenditure is most expensive than other advertisement, but it is one of effective means to inform the public. Creative Strategy Emphasize the better battery and offer portable chargers. Many Korean people think that the most disadvantage of iPhone is the battery. Contrary to other competitors, iPhone has a built-in battery. So the company has to extend the battery life, and emphasize the major improvement. And the company will offer free portable chargers for consumer during specific period. Apple sticks to make iPhone with built-in battery. Instead of making portable battery, offering portable chargers could be differentiation strategy and it also conserves iPhones unique design. Like this, if the battery life is longer, lots of customers would satisfy the new iPhone and they will also suggest their friends or family. Advertising with new function The new function of iPhone is DMB(Digital Multimedia Broadcasting). As I target at Korean mobile market, launching iPhone with DMB could draw consumers interest. In Korea, during commuting hours, lots of workers tend to spend their time with watching TV in metro or buses. Previously, because Apple didnt add this features, many Korean apple users used to experience discomfort. Combining with 4:3 screen ratios and Apples Retina Display, the company would provide target audience with crystal clear images. In summary, new slogan of iPhone is practical and unique. I will adhere to existing unique design and make up for shortcomings. The main objectives of iPhone 5 marketing is to emphasize the better battery life, new DMB functions and higher speed than before. To target main audience, I will advertise on Social Media and TV commercial advertisement in priority. With this advertising, the company is able to attract major consumers. I also want to stretch more budgets for advertising and sales promotions than before. With promoting consumers about the extended battery life, the company can offer free portable battery charges as sales promotions. Using this promotional tool appropriately, the company would be successful on iPhone5.

Glory Essay -- essays research papers

Glory: A Look From Within It is the evening before a powerful and epic battle with more than victory at stake. Tomorrow, the 54th regiment will forever stamp themselves as a symbol of hope and freedom in a new world during an attack on Fort Wagner as soldiers for the North. Dozens of men with young children, wives, and an idealistic dream of a free world will die in a matter of hours. As the Northern soldiers gather on this night before war, there are no tears of fear to be shed. The din in the air is that of song and the feeling is that of an inspirational victory. On this night before their death, slaves turned soldiers have put aside their personal differences and become one; a metaphoric battle has been won. This is one of the final scenes from the movie Glory, a power depiction of the heroic efforts of the first African American regiment during the Civil War. The deep, multiple plot layers, and moving acting performances in Glory create a captivating viewing experience. The story leads up to the summer of 1863, during which the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment led an unsuccessful attack on the Confederate’s Fort Wagner in South Carolina. The 54th regiment was the Nation's first black regiment and because of their skill, courage, and determination, they were credited with paving the way for the successful entry of other black soldiers into the ranks of the Union. In addition, these brave men demonstrated that black men were willing to fight and die both for their country and for their freedom. The setting was primarily outdoors and on the battle ground. There was some rain during training, but mostly the weather was mild in climate. The setting also alluded to the camaraderie of the regiment, and what was most memorable was the manner in which the men, who were once divided, came together for the common goal and good of all men regardless of the color of their skin. Glory did not use make-up for the purpose of beautifying or improving the looks of the actors. Make-up was used to intensify the conditions and the severity of the wounds of soldiers who fought in the â€Å"Battle of the States.† The make-up helped to illuminate the emotional intensity of the soldiers and their roles in the war. The composition of the wounds brought reality to the movie and the human aspects of the soldiers. The make-up had a tremendous impact on how the viewer experience t... ... historical significance of this film. When the film was made, it might have been considered a risk to cast Matthew Broderick as a valiant civil war leader. His past performances included childhood roles in movies such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, War Games, and Project X. In his first feature role as a serious actor, Broderick is believable and has just the right amount of emotion and dramatic resonance. Morgan Freeman is also well-cast as the patriarch of the group soldiers. His calm, yet powerful soliloquies of life as a hopeful slave painted many of the films non-battle scenes. Glory had all the elements of a great motion picture. There were moving performances by both lead and supporting actors. There was great historical significance. The casting, setting, and writing were as close to perfection as I have seen in years. Most importantly, the depth of layers in Glory’s plot left many layers of theme for the viewer to absorb. The conflict associated with the basic human struggles of the characters defined this movie for me. Private Trip said it best on the night before the final epic battle: â€Å"Ain’t much matter what happens tomorrow, cause we men, ain’t we? We men, ain’t we?†

Egyptian And Mexican Pyramids Essay -- essays research papers fc

Mysteries of the Ancient World   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For many centuries people have been fascinated by ancient cultures and treasures. During the last two centuries the science of archeology and modern inventions allowed people to get inside of the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids and discover the treasures of Egyptian pharaohs and Mayan rulers. Most of what we know about Egypt we owe to the pyramids. Thanks to Egyptian belief in the afterlife we can now find out about the civilization that existed nearly five thousand years ago. Egyptian culture is not the only culture that left us its heritage in pyramids. In America we find pyramids build by civilizations of Olmec and Maya about 7th century CE. These pyramids had different purposes and usage then the ones in Egypt but they stand as memorials to ancient civilizations as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Egyptian people believed in life after death. One of the way pharaohs prepared themselves for the afterlife journey was by building a pyramid and putting there all their belongings and riches. Egyptian people believed that pharaoh is the closest person to the God and treated him accordingly. That is the reason for Egyptian tombs being full with the golden jewelry, precious stones and art objects. Most of the time art objects were not considered a treasury but they played their particular role in religious rituals. Jars were holding food and drinks for pharaoh’s journey, so he would not get hungry and would have food and drinks to offer to the Gods. The figurative sculptures were suppose to accompany Ka ( spiritual entity) in its lonely stay or serve as a twin for the mummy. If something happens to the mummy the ka could use the sculpture of the pharaoh for the revelation. As well as for Egyptians religion was an everyday concern for many of the Maya, whether the dynastic ruler, the zealous priest, or the humble believer. Maya has an extensive religion structure which we can not know in details. Chac and Itzamna are the most famous gods of Mayan culture. Hunahpu and Xbalanque are among the most interesting mythical characters. One of the most crucial gods was Tlaloc, who was worshiped in various guises by the culture of Teotihuacan, the Toltec of Tula, and later Aztecs. The Maya received the cult of Tlaloc during the 4th century more or less. The Cauac Monster, also known as the Witz monster, is a... ...ties of the ancient Maya†. Mystery of Maya. CMCC. May 1999. http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/civiliz/maya/mmc01eng.html â€Å"Herodotus Reports on Mummification.† May 1999. http://pluto.clinch.edu/history/wciv1/civ1ref/mummy.html â€Å"Life in Ancient Egypt. Shabtis.† Ed. Craig Patch. Exc. from Reflections of Greatness: Ancient Egypt at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 1990. http://www.yahoo.com/egypt/ â€Å"Maya Civilization.† Mystery of Maya. CMCC. May 1999. http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/civiliz/maya/mmc01eng.html Newby, P.H. The Egypt story, its art, its monuments, its people, its history. Italy: Abbreville Press: 1979. Payne, Elizabeth. The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. New York: Random House, Inc. 1984. â€Å"Photographs of Maya ruins of Tikal showing how Hasselblad cameras and Zeiss lenses result in better pictures†. Maya Art & books. International Photographic Archive of Maya Art. June 1998. http://www.maya-art-books.org/html/New_photos.html â€Å"The First Egyptian Mummies†. Corkankhamun explains mummification. May 1999. http://members.aol.com/mumifyddog/first.html â€Å"Why Egyptians Made Mummies†. Corkankhamun explains mummification. May 1999. http://members.aol.com/mumifyddog/first.html

Analysis of the Gempei War Essay -- Gempei War Japanese History Essays

Analysis of the Gempei War In May 1180 Prince Mochihito, the son of Retired emperor Go-Shirakawa, issued a statement urging the Minamoto to rise against the Taira. While Mochihito would be killed in June and Minamoto Yorimasa crushed at the Battle of the Uji, a fire had been set. In September Minamoto Yoritomo, who had recieved Mochihito's call from Miyoshi Yasukiyo, set about raising an army in the Province of Izu, where he had been in exile. There was an irony in the preceeding events, as Taira Kiyomori had himself sown the seeds of the war, so the poetic tale goes. His great error, we are told, had been to spare the sons of Minamoto Yoshitomo in the wake of the Heiji disturbance, allowing these three boys - Yoritomo, Noriyori, and Yoshitsune - to mature and form the leadership of a new and dangerous threat. In fact, Yoritomo's own call to arms in the east was recieved cautiously at best. He did manage to kill the local Taira governor, but was defeated at the Battle of Ishibashiyama by Oba Kagechika. In the wake of this hard setback, however, Yoritomo did recieve the valuable additon of Kajiwara Kagetoki to his staff. Elsewhere in the Kanto, local families began to respond to Yoritomo in varying degrees and in Shimosa and elsewhere set about eliminating Kyoto-appointed officals. This often provoked inter-province and occasionally inter-clan civil war, a common and oft-overlooked element of the Gempei War. By the Spring of the following year, Yoritomo could count on at least the tacit support of most of the notable families in the Kanto, although the Chubu, though by now nominally Minamoto dominated, existed beyond his immediate control. Yoritomo's Kanto domain is occasionally referred to as the TÃ ´gaku, and rather then surge forward against the Taira, he contented himself for the time being with consolidating his hold locally. The Taira response to the violence was mixed and uncertain. Kiyomori dispatched his grandson Koremori with an army eastward, but he turned back at the Fuji River in Suruga Province. Closer to home, Taira Tomomori - who would prove the most able of the Taira - had defeated the combined forces of old Minamoto Yorimasa and the warrior monks of the Miidera at the Uji River in late June. To punish the monks for their involvement thus far in the fledgling conflict, Kiyomori ordered the Miidera burned and, a few months later, a nu... ...ted to a degree for the benefit of the audience. In a sense, the specifics of the Gempei War - the battles, armies, and tactics - were secondary to the political arena. The only truly decisive battle, from a 'war-winning' standpoint, was Kurikawa. The famous fights at Ichi no Tani, Yashima, and Dan no Ura were 'nails in the coffin', conducted while Yoritomo himself was busy consolidating his hold over Minamoto occupied Japan. One might even argue daringly that Dan no Ura, which looms so large in Japanese history, was essentially a 'mopping up' operation given legendary and almost Homeric (for lack of a better word) dimensions by the Heike Monogatari's prose. Any one of the three battles mentioned probably paled in significance to the 1184 Court-Minamoto agreement that, if nothing else, paved the way for the Kamakura Bakufu. In the final analysis, many of our questions about the Gempei War - and the years preceding it - will never be conclusively answered due to a simple lack of full historical documentation. At the same time, the 20th Century saw a long-overdue reevaluation of the events leading up to the foundation of the Kamakura Bakufu. Happily, this is an ongoing endeavor.

A Minor’s Right to Confidentiality Essay

In August of 1996 congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) patients began to see an improvement in the access and consistency of the health insurance coverage. It was not until April 14, 2003 that the privacy portion was passed protection personal health information. Many states have individual laws that were already in place to protect the health information of patients. HIPAA was not intended to eliminate the state law but to cover that which was not addressed by state laws. The state law will prevail providing it is more stringent than the HIPAA policy. In general, the passing of the HIPAA gave patients additional information and greater access to personal medical information while protecting that same information from inappropriate disclosure. Some of the protected information that has raised controversial concerns is regarding a minor’s right to privacy and parental access. Minor’s Rights versus Parental Rights HIPAA rules regulate the authorized individuals that legally can obtain a person’s private health information. HIPAA recognizes parents and guardians as â€Å"personal representatives,† which permits authorization and access as appropriate with the regulations. The guidelines provide that person that has legal authority over another adult or emancipated minor shall be considered the personal representative and afforded such authority as relevant to the law. The second part addresses unemancipated minors and parents or guardians, shall be regarded as personal representation and give the appropriate authority for decisions regarding a patients PHI (Mary Beth Kirven & Daniel J. Hall, 2003). There are exceptions as with any rules and those exceptions are as follows: 1. The minor consents to such health care service; no other consent to such health care service is required by law, regardless of whether the consent of another person has also been obtained; and the minor has not requested that such person be treated as the personal representative. 2. The minor may lawfully obtain such health care service without the consent of a parent, guardian or other person acting in loco parentis, and the minor, a court, or another person authorized by law consents to such health care service. 3. A parent, guardian, or other person acting in loco parentis assents to an agreement of confidentiality between a covered health care provider and the minor with respect to such health care service (Mary Beth Kirven & Daniel J. Hall, 2003). These exceptions provide for a minor, the ability to keep only specific health information as confidential from any individual which the minor chooses. In the state of Michigan, this information is protected only if for treatment of pregnancy, HIV or venereal disease and substance abuse (FindLaw, 2011). Benefits could be made by adding contraception to the protected information in the HIPAA policy as well in an effort to protect minors that reside in states that have no laws or public policy that address such issues. Teens have a right to conceal medical information only regarding pregnancy or infection of a sexually transmitted disease or actively addicted to drugs, which will then allow the privilege of privacy. This teaches teenagers that poor decision making will be rewarded with the opportunity to make more decisions. Promiscuous Adolescent Behavior Since the early 1970’s adolescent sexual activity has been in the public eye, the actual rate of activity had not changed, it only become more obvious. The average age of marriage was increasing along with the estimated life expectancy. The population was simply waiting longer to get married but not waiting to have sex. The media have placed these topics to the front of this nation with the various stories that seem to glamorize both sex and teen pregnancy. The United States is a nation that has sex everywhere, most entertainment media and many marketing tools use sexuality to attract the consumer and sell the products. Society needs education and accessibility to counter balance the exposure that is forced upon them from marketers in an effort to keep the sexual content to a minimum and to have the ability to see beyond the sexual nature of the actual products’ uses and its benefits’. Speculation is that the awareness created through these controversial television series (Teen Mom, 16 and pregnant) has contributed to the decrease in teen pregnancy. According to Women’s Health and Health Care Reform, â€Å"The United States continues to have the highest teen pregnancy rate of developed countries (Chavkin, Rosenbaum, Jones & Rosenfield, 2010).† The alternative is that adolescents may feel more comfortable with the ability to obtain appropriate supplies and education, both of which have become more accessible because of state and federal laws. Legal Entanglements Unfortunately, a recent attempt was made by Indiana Republican Representative Mike Pence, offering an amendment to eliminate the Title X program. This â€Å"Pence Bill† is an attempt to prevent programs such as Planned Parenthood from obtaining federal funds for any reason (Miller, LaVaute & Heritage Media, 2011). The primary focus of this amendment was the use of pro-life tax-payers money to fund and promote abortion. A debate over this is still ongoing now at the national level, yet here locally there are still health clinics providing the necessary services to many adolescents, including prenatal care when needed (Miller, LaVaute & Heritage Media, 2011). The controversy over the abortion service is the main factor in the attempt to remove the funding. â€Å"According to Planned Parenthood, abortions that are performed in its clinics make up less than 3 percent of its services. There were 332,278 abortion procedures performed in 2009. There were also 830,000 breast exams, a nd nearly 4 million were tested and/or treated for sexually transmitted diseases (Miller, LaVaute & Heritage Media, 2011).† Public Policy Public policy is the only protections that adolescents have to depend on. It will allow protection from both diseases and unwanted pregnancy, and this is limited to only specific minors in the State of Michigan. HIPAA does not pre-empt this policy as it is more stringent in some states than the HIPAA law, this is one limitation to the policy. An excerpt in the Guttmacher Institute report on public policy indicates, â€Å"Although the public remains ambivalent, professional organizations familiar with the scientific evidence uniformly support the provision of reproductive health care to minors on a confidential basis. Public policy developments at the state and federal level, however, suggest that teenagers’ access to confidential services will remain under attack in the months and years to come (2005).† Conclusion History has proven that children will continue to have sex and contract disease and become pregnant; therefore laws protecting the privacy of reproductive health can actually diminish the barriers and increase access to protection for many patients. Planned Parenthood has played an intricate role in providing access to education and protection for millions of adolescents. Removing the funding for programs such as this also reduces access to education, treatment and supplies, resulting in increased diseases and increases in unwanted pregnancies that subsequently lead to a higher poverty rate. Ideally abstinence is the preferred method to prevent unwanted pregnancy and disease, however, reality shows that this is generally not the practiced method. Protection for adolescents is needed in all societies to promote responsibility and growth for every individual. It is a mature and responsible decision to pursue the protection and education that is needed even when access is limited. Laws are passed to protect mankind, not adults or parents or any one population; laws are created to protect any person that needs protecting, including minors. References Chavkin, W., Rosenbaum, S., Jones, J., & Rosenfield, A. (2010). Women’s health and health care reform [The key role of comprehensive reproductive health care]. Retrieved from http://www.mailmanschool.org/facultypubs/womenshealthcarereform.pdf FindLaw. (2011). Michigan medical records law. Retrieved from http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/minors-and-the-law/michigan/, http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/minors-and-the-law/michigan/ Guttmacher Institute. (2005, November). Teenagers’ access to confidential reproductive health services [The Guttmacher report on public policy]. Retrieved from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/tgr/08/4/gr080406.html Mary Beth Kirven, E., & Daniel J. Hall. (2003, June). Health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 [Applicability to the courts: an initial assessment]. Retrieved from http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/Publications/CS_PriPubHIPPA96Pub.pdf Miller, J., LaVaute, G., & Heritage Media. (2011, March). Washtenaw county: Young and pregnant [Part 1: Prevention]. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/03/01/life/doc4d6d5ec57105e610360187.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Discipleship Counseling and Helping Others Find Healing Through Christ

This was a paper for the Christian Counseling course I took earlier this year. Abstract This paper identifies what some causes of thinking errors are, how they develop and affect an individual on a day to day basis. It will also review how some defense mechanisms are used to survive a traumatic event and ways that these can be overcome. Ultimately, it will examine the importance of a relationship with and learning trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and how this integrates into the healing process.It will review how individuals may learn to form a bond with God and thereby overcome the negative situations and experiences they have had in life. Additionally it will clarify how neglecting to forgive offenses can hold an individual back from a true and fulfilling relationship with God, self, and others. The intent is to create a clear overview of the healing process from a walled-up state to an individual on the road to recovery, thereby identifying and learning healthy coping skills and so und thinking processes while building new core beliefs of self-worth and value.Discipleship Counseling and Helping Others Find Healing Through Christ The way a child is raised will determine their disposition towards positive or negative habits, thoughts and behaviors (Anderson, 2003 p. 330). They will treat others, including their own children, as their parents taught them. In time, they may come to see the errors in the behaviors, or at minimum feel that something is not quite right and wish to change but are unsure where to go or what those changes should be. There are many factors which lead a person to seek help or guidance from a counselor, therapist, or clergy.A life-changing event may have occurred, such as a death in the family, or an upcoming marriage. For many it is that they have come to the end of their rope and just cannot handle the stressors anymore (Myers, 2002 p. 520). They are looking for hope, help, and a way to resolve the hidden skeletons in the closet (Anderso n, 2003). Faulty Thinking and Thinking Errors Everyone has thoughts, or a progression of thoughts, which may or may not follow a healthy or typical pattern. Thoughts are the basis of all decision making.How a person chooses to act or react to any situation is indicative of the underlying thought. Actions are a result of the attitude and perception of the environment, or world that surrounds them. These actions have the potential to change when the thought which supports the attitude is changed (Myers, 2002 p. 139). A person needs to be guided to understand that their choices are not merely an act but also an â€Å"attitude that reflects a belief† (Anderson, 2003 p. 291). Three major areas of concern in counseling are: a dysfunctional family background, personal problems, and spiritual problems (Anderson, 2003).After a traumatizing experience, an individual is prone to develop thinking errors or â€Å"faulty thinking† (Anderson, 2003). The trauma could be something as s imple as a child losing a favorite toy or even a helium balloon, as severe as what a soldier experiences in the throes of war, or a battered woman or man experiences over the course of years in a problematic or abusive relationship. According to Wheeler (2007) trauma is a natural part of the human or physical experience (p. 132-141) and it is important to note that it affects all aspects of the individual.Sometimes a thinking error is all a matter of perspective, and reality checks can help provide a change of perspective. It can be challenging to step back from the situation to identify that there is more than one solution to a problem. Thinking errors can also come from a lie that someone has been told multiple times, from someone they respect or look to as an authority figure, which they believe as a real truth. These false concepts will lead the individual to form a wall of defense using various methods (Anderson, 2003).Cognitive distortions are identifiable errors in thinking a nd include: â€Å"all-or-nothing thinking; overgeneralization; mental filter; discounting the positive; jumping to conclusions; magnification; emotional reasoning; should statements; labeling; and personalization and blame† (Yurica & DiTomasso, 2005). The counselee needs to be made aware of the cognitive distortions they are using, so they can change their way of thinking. By so doing, they will be able to cease using thinking errors and in time develop a healthier set of thought processes.The end goal of treatment is to successfully help the counselee understand cognitively and emotionally that they no longer need to listen to the committee in their mind (Anderson, 2003 p. 308). Coping Mechanisms and Dissociation Coping mechanisms can help an individual survive trauma, but in general the individual needs to be trained away from using them during the healing process. The mind has in place a defense mechanism when the original trauma occurred; in some cases it leaves a lapse i n the individual’s memory (Anderson, 2003).The body remembers what has been blocked temporarily from the mind and as situations occur in life, the individual will recall the associated emotion, situation or actual physical pain (Copeland & Harris, 2000, p. 115). For some this occurs as they dissociate from where they are at the present, and are essentially in a split-level of conscious (Myers, 2002). In a sense, this means that the person is physically in one place while their mind is disconnected and seemingly elsewhere. When they reconnect, they have no recollection of what happened in their physical state.As a victim justifies the actions of their abuser, they are minimizing the abuse which has occurred (Anderson, 2003 p. 273). If they make it seem less, then in their mind, it does not feel as bad as it actually was. By doing this, they are using codependency to cope with their current circumstance, and have written their life script to take on the role of caretaker (Ander son, 2003 p. 280 & Jones, 1997). They live each day with the hope that the person they are codependent with will finally change and they themselves will be accepted, and of value and worth. These people will ever find true happiness until they are lead to understand their true value and worth as individuals, through their divine nature as children of God. It is important to note that the defense mechanisms and coping skills which are used to survive trauma and its after effects are not instantly changed. The individual cannot even begin the process of healing until they have identified what coping/defense mechanisms they are using. While it is possible to educate someone about the tools they have used, it will take time as they heal and rediscover who they are in Christ, before they can fully let the behaviors (Anderson, 2003 p. 18). Any crisis a person experiences can lead them to unify or divide, to progress or regress, and bring them closer to or farther away from God. Every pers on needs to be helped to the point that they are able to cope with the experiences of life without reverting to using their damaging coping mechanisms or codependency (Dockery, 2000 p. 41). Guiding them to let go of the crutch of the coping skills can be done by helping them to learn to forgive offenses, whether real or perceived. Forgiving Perceived OffensesWhen someone does something which is hurtful, or perceived as hurtful, it is in the best interest of the person hurt to forgive the offense. The connection between forgiveness and moral anger is essentially solid and cannot be broken (Griswold, 2007 p. 67). There are two levels of forgiving: Cognitive and Emotional. A cognitive decision to forgive is a choice made in one’s mind, whether coerced or not. In many cases, as an individual forgives because they feel compelled to forgive, they retain the negative feelings and complete only a cognitive or decisional forgiveness.Unfortunately, this leaves the emotional hurt within the injured person. As long as the offense goes unresolved, the feelings associated with it, will â€Å"eat at the person who does not reduce those negative emotions in some way† (Clinton, Hart & Ohschlager, 2005 p. 122). The scriptures clearly instruct mankind to forgive others until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22) and to take a Christ-like approach by forgiving as Christ has forgiven (Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness not only means letting go of the offense, but to also overcome any negative emotions associated with it.This includes feelings (including resentment) such as contempt and scorn as they are also forms of â€Å"moral hatred† (Griswold, 2007 p. 69). While it is relatively easy to discuss forgiveness, it is another thing altogether to accomplish it. The injured party may feel that the wrong-doing needs more recompense than was achieved. As they learn to empathize with the offender, some of the negative emotions may be released over time (Clinton et al, 200 5 p. 127). Forgiveness is not a habit that can be formed in a day; it takes practice and a will to achieve it.Some suggestions for improving one’s ability to forgive are: meditate on forgiveness-specific scriptures daily, start a journal and record thoughts each day on forgiveness, and find a good book about forgiveness and use it for morning and evening devotions (Clinton et al, 2005 p. 133). Often forgotten is the need of the injured to forgive themselves for past failures. This is something which they will need to apply to their lives moving forward, keeping in mind that only God can forgive their sins (Anderson, 2003 p. 259).As they practice forgiving their own failures and shortcomings, they will more readily forgive the failures of others which they may have perceived as an offense. It is best put by Anderson,( 2003) â€Å"Forgiving ourselves is actually receiving forgiveness from God† (p. 260). One thing the injured individual needs to come to better understand is that Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sins and transgressions of all mankind. This act made it His option to forgive, and a requirement for all mankind as it says in D&C 64:10 â€Å"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. Forgiving others is a choice that is made individually, and by choosing to forgive completely, one is choosing to live with joy. God is on the journey with us, through the grief and pain and He supplies the joy and hope during struggles, and laughter in times of pain (Dockery, 2000 p. 202). Core Needs/Beliefs (biblical view/self-worth) An individual’s core belief of self-worth can and will affect how they choose to respond to offenses they receive, whether intentional or inadvertent.If they are of a Christian persuasion, they will more readily accept that Christ is their Redeemer and has already suffered for the sins which they are required to forgive of others. With this background, the inju red party can be guided to acknowledge their divine nature as a child of God. Satan was allowed into the individual’s life through openings he was given, either by them or as a result of circumstances (Anderson, 2003). As it says in Myers, 2002, â€Å"Character, it is said, is reflected in what we do when we think no one is looking† (p. 43). This is a spiritual battle for the mind, as the Prince of Darkness also has a hold on the individual. They will likely have thoughts that they are of no worth, do not deserve the Savior’s sacrifice, and that God does not love them (Anderson, 2003). They need to be reminded that these thoughts are lies, as God would never stop loving His children. This is reiterated in the scriptures Isaiah 49:15 as God will remember and have compassion on His children much like a woman who cannot forget her sucking child.Accepting the truth, and choosing to have faith, because it is a choice, may be challenging at first as the counselee has believed a lie for so long. â€Å"Satan hates the truth and deplores the light, and unfortunately, so do people who have something to hide† (Anderson, 2003 p. 358). This is also reiterated in 1 Nephi 16:2 â€Å"The guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center† as well as in John 3:20 â€Å"For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. †By believing a lie and allowing it to perpetuate itself in their mind, they have effectively abandoned themselves. They need to be reminded that God is there, cares for and expects them to cooperate by caring for themselves (Beattie, 1992 p. 108). The individual will need to identify the false thoughts, and renounce them, to cast aside the devil. It is crucial they understand that to have true faith means they must let go of the lie, as it says in Luke 16:13, â€Å"Ye cannot serve God and Mammon†. It is not possible to â€Å"beli eve the truth and the lie at the same time and still experience your freedom in Christ† (Anderson, 2003 p. 21). As the believer chooses to exercise God’s authority by obeying His commands, they will come to see that they are able to utilize the authority of Christ to keep the devil at bay. By so doing they are taking their place with Christ and standing for the right (Anderson, 2003 p. 224). They also need to come to the understanding that they can (and need) to take accountability for their thoughts. If they choose to banish the negative and doubting thoughts, their minds can become a safe haven for them and for God.This was the purpose of the atonement of Christ (Anderson, 2003 p. 230). The individual can take control of their thoughts by stating â€Å"I am a child of God† and commanding the bad spirits, by the authority of Christ, to leave them (Anderson, 2003). The more they practice this, the greater their belief will become, and in the long run will make it possible to maintain freedom from the negative thoughts. Only through acknowledging that they are truly loved and of worth by their Heavenly Father can they obtain a real sense of self-worth (Anderson, 2003 p. 299). DiscussionWhile the ways that people choose to address and cope with their life experiences differ, the process towards resolution is essentially the same. When a person experiences trauma or crisis, they tend to find a way of coping with things as best they can. They need to address the problem, identify how they are coping, and completely turn it over to God. The cognitive distortions which people use to handle the early stressors can lead them to continue the same patterns as occurred during the initial crisis because this feels familiar. These can lead to the use of thinking errors as well as coping mechanisms.While both of these seem helpful while they are in crisis, the trauma event must eventually be worked through. As they come to recognize the coping mechanisms for what they are, they will eventually, come to see the damage it is causing in their lives. They will desire a change, which change of heart can only come through forgiveness and true repentance (from the Greek word â€Å"metanoeo† which means â€Å"change your mind†) through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Part of the process of working through that event is learning to truly forgive and turn things over to Christ.As they learn to let things go, and release the emotional bindings, they will gain a stronger sense of self-worth. They will also come to truly see and acknowledge their value in the sight of God. They will accept their divine nature and desire to maintain and ever improve that bond. References Anderson, N. T. (2003). Discipleship Counseling: The Complete Guide to Helping Others Walk in Freedom and Grow in Christ. Ventura, CA: Regal Books. Beattie, M. (1992). Codependent No More. Center City, MN: Hazelden . Clinton, T. E. , Hart, A. D. , & Ohschlager, G .W. (2005). Caring for people God's way: Personal and Emotional Issues, Addictions, Grief, and Trauma . Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.. Copeland, M. E. , ; Harris, M. (2000). Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A women's Workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.. Dockery, K. (2000). When A Hug Won't Fix The Hurt. Birmingham, AL: New Hope. Griswold, C. L. (2007). Forgiveness: a philosophical exploration. Cambridge, GBR: Cambridge University Press. Jones, J. J. (1997). Let's Fix The Kids! A Parenting Resource Manual. (6th ed. ).Westminster, CA: J. J. Jones. Myers, D. G. (2002). Exploring Psychology. (5th ed. ). USA: Worth Publishers. Yurica, C. L. , & DiTomasso, R. A. (2005). Cognitive Distortions. In Encyclopedia of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. (Part 3, pp. 117-122). Wheeler, K. (2007), Psychotherapeutic Strategies for Healing Trauma. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 43: 132–141. doi: 10. 1111/j. 1744-6163. 2007. 00122. x Scriptures are from the Holy Bible King Jame s Version as well as from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants as published by the LDS Church.