Black History Month and Lesser Known African-Americans

Black History Month and Lesser Known African-Americans The term little known black Americans can refer to all the people who have made contributions to America and to civilization, but whose names are not as well-known as many others or not known at all. For instance, we hear about Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, and many other famous Black Americans, but what have you heard about Edward Bouchet, or Bessie Coleman, or Matthew Alexander Henson? Black Americans have been making contributions to America from the start, but like countless other Americans whose achievements have altered and enriched our lives, these Black Americans remain unknown. Its important, though, to point out their contributions because too often people dont realize that Black Americans have been making contributions to our country from its inception. In many cases, what they accomplished they managed to do against all odds, in spite of overwhelming obstacles. These people are an inspiration to everyone who finds him or herself in circumstances that seem impossible to overcome. Early Contributions In 1607, English settlers arrived in what would later become Virginia and founded a settlement they named Jamestown. In 1619, a Dutch ship arrived in Jamestown and traded its cargo of slaves for food. Many of these slaves later were freemen with their own land, contributing to the success of the colony. We do know some of their names, like Anthony Johnson, and its a pretty interesting story. But Africans were involved in more than settling Jamestown. Some were part of the early explorations of the New World. For example, Estevanico, a slave from Morocco, was part of a group who had been asked by the Mexican Viceroy in 1536 to go on an expedition into the territories that are now Arizona and New Mexico. He went ahead of the groups leader and was the first non-native to set foot in those lands. While most Blacks originally arrived in America primarily as slaves, many were free by the time the Revolutionary War was fought. One of these was Crispus Attucks, the son of a slave. Most of them, though, like so many who fought in that war, remain relatively nameless to us. But anyone who thinks that it was only the white man who chose to fight for the principle of individual freedom might want to take a look at the Forgotten Patriots Project from the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). They have documented the names of thousands of African-Americans, Native Americans, and those of mixed heritage who fought against the British for freedom. Not-So-Famous Black Americans You Should Know George Washington Carver (1864-1943)Carver is a well-known African-American. Who isnt aware of his work with peanuts? Hes on this list, though, because of one of his contributions that we dont often hear about: The Tuskegee Institute Movable School. Carver established this school to introduce modern agricultural techniques and tools to farmers in Alabama. Movable schools are now used around the world.Edward Bouchet (1852-1918)Bouchet was the son of a former slave who had moved to New Haven, Connecticut. Only three schools there accepted Black students at the time, so Bouchets educational opportunities were limited. However, he managed to get admitted to Yale and became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. and the 6th American of any race to earn one in physics. Although segregation prevented him from attaining the kind of position he should have been able to get with his outstanding credentials (6th in his graduating class), he taught for 26 years at the Institute for Colored Y outh, serving as an inspiration to generations of young African-Americans. Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (1745?-1818)DuSable was a Black man from Haiti is who is credited with founding Chicago. His father was a Frenchman in Haiti and his mother was an African slave. Its not clear how he arrived in New Orleans from Haiti, but once he did, he traveled from there to what is now modern-day Peoria, Illinois. Although he was not the first to pass through the area, he was the first to establish a permanent settlement, where he lived for at least twenty years. He set up a trading post on the Chicago River, where it meets Lake Michigan, and became a wealthy man with a reputation as a man of good character and sound business acumen.Matthew Alexander Henson (1866-1955)Henson was the son of free-born tenant farmers, but his early life was difficult. He started his life as an explorer at the age of eleven when he ran away from an abusive home. In 1891, Henson went with Robert Peary on the first of several trips to Greenland. Peary was determined to find the geographic No rth Pole. In 1909, Peary and Henson went on what was to be their final trip, the one on which they reached the North Pole. Henson was actually the first to set foot on the North Pole, but when the two returned home, it was Peary who received all the credit. Because he was Black, Henson was virtually ignored. Bessie Coleman (1892 -1926)Bessie Coleman was one of 13 children born to a Native American father and an African-American mother. They lived in Texas and faced the kinds of difficulties many Black Americans faced at the time, including segregation and disenfranchisement. Bessie worked hard in her childhood, picking cotton and helping her mother with the laundry she took in. But Bessie didnt let any of it stop her. She educated herself and managed to graduate from high school. After seeing some newsreels on aviation, Bessie became interested in becoming a pilot, but no U.S flight schools would accept her because she was Black and because she was female. Undeterred, she saved enough money to go to France where she heard women could be pilots. In 1921, she became the first Black woman in the world to earn a pilots license.Lewis Latimer (1848-1928)Latimer was the son of runaway slaves who had settled in Chelsea, Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, Latimer got a job as an office boy in a patent office. Because of his ability to draw, he became a draftsman, eventually getting promoted to be the head draftsman. Although he has a large number of inventions to his name, including a safety elevator, perhaps his greatest achievement is his work on the electric light bulb. We can thank him for the success of Edisons lightbulb, which originally had a lifespan of just a few days. It was Latimer who found a way to create a filament system that prevented the carbon in the filament from breaking, thereby extending the life of the lightbulb. Thanks to Latimer, lightbulbs became cheaper and more efficient, which made it possible for them to be installed in homes and on the ​streets. Latimer was the only Black American on Edisons elite team of inventors. What we  love about the biographies of these six people is that not only did they have exceptional talent, but they did not allow the circumstances of their birth to determine who they were or what they could accomplish. That is certainly a lesson for all of us.

A Quick Introduction to Homeschooling

A Quick Introduction to Homeschooling Homeschooling is a type of education where children learn outside of a school setting under the supervision of their parents. The family determines what is to be learned and how it is to be taught while following whatever government regulations apply in that state or country. Today, homeschooling is a widely accepted educational alternative to traditional public or private schools, as well as a valuable method of learning in its own right. Homeschooling in America The roots of todays homeschooling movement go way back in American history. Up until the first compulsory education laws about 150 years ago, most children were taught at home. Wealthier families hired private tutors. Parents also taught their own children using books like the McGuffey Reader  or sent their children to a dame school where small groups of children were taught be a neighbor in exchange for chores. Famous homeschoolers from history include President John Adams, author Louisa May Alcott, and inventor Thomas Edison. Today, homeschooling parents have a wide range of curriculum, distance learning programs, and other educational resources to choose from. The movement also includes child-directed learning or unschooling, the philosophy made popular starting in the 1960s by education expert  John Holt. Who Homeschools and Why Its believed that between one to two percent of all school-age children are homeschooled -   although the statistics that exist on homeschooling in the United States are notoriously unreliable. Some of the reasons parents give for homeschooling include concern about safety, religious preference, and educational benefits. For many families, homeschooling is also a reflection of the importance they place on being together and a way to offset some of the pressures - in and out of school - to consume, acquire, and conform. In addition, families homeschool: to fit into parents work schedulesto travelto accommodate special needs and learning disabilitiesto provide gifted kids with more challenging material or allow them to work at a faster pace. Homeschooling Requirements in the U.S. Homeschooling comes under the authority of individual states, and each state has different requirements. In some parts of the country, all parents need to do is notify the school district that they are educating their children themselves. Other states require parents to submit lesson plans for approval, send in regular reports, prepare a portfolio for the district or peer review, allow home visits by district employees and have their children take standardized tests. Most states allow any competent parent or adult to homeschool a child, but a few demand a  teaching certification. For new homeschoolers, the important thing to know is that regardless of the local requirements, families have been able to work within them to achieve their own goals. Educational Styles One of homeschoolings advantages is that it is adaptable to many styles of teaching and learning. Some of the important ways in which homeschooling methods differ include: How much structure is preferred. There are homeschoolers who set up their environment like a classroom, right down to separate desks, textbooks, and a blackboard. Other families rarely or never do formal lessons, but dive into research materials, community resources and opportunities for hands-on exploration whenever a new topic catches someones interest. In between are homeschoolers who place varying amounts of importance on daily sit-down desk work, grades, tests, and covering topics in a particular order or time frame.What materials are used. Homeschoolers have the option to use an all-in-one curriculum, buy individual texts and workbooks from one or more publishers, or use picture books, nonfiction, and reference volumes instead. Most families also supplement whatever they use with alternative resources such as novels, videos, music, theater, art, and more.How much teaching is done by the parent. Parents can and do take on all the responsibility for teaching themselves. But other s choose to share teaching duties with other homeschooling families or pass it along to other educators. These can include distance learning (whether by mail, phone, or online), tutors and tutoring centers, as well as all the enrichment activities available to all children in the community, from sports teams to arts centers. Some private schools have also begun opening up their doors to part-time students. What About Public School at Home? Technically, homeschooling does not include the ever-increasing variations of public schooling that take place outside of school buildings. These can include online charter schools, independent study programs, and part-time or blended schools. To the parent and child at home, these may feel very similar to homeschooling. The difference is that public-school-at-home students are still under the authority of the school district, which determines what they must learn and when. Some homeschoolers feel these programs are missing the main ingredient that makes education at home work for them the freedom to change things as needed. Others find them a helpful way to allow their children to learn at home while still meeting the requirements of the school system. More Homeschooling Basics Homeschooling FAQWhat Homeschooling Really Looks Like5 Quick-Start Tips10 Positive Reasons to Homeschool

The latest technology has negative effects also Research Paper

The latest technology has negative effects also - Research Paper Example Their drawbacks associated with computers include the time that students and young generation waste playing games, chatting, listening to music and net surfing. In addition, the continuously changing software has made it impossible for older employees to continue working with the new technological advancements at their work places. This factor has led to an increase in unemployment. However, there is a technique available to solve this issue which involves the participation of employees in training programs but it would lead to higher costs for the businesses. The security issues that are linked to the data stored in computers are also counted as a drawback of computers (Haugen & Musser 2007). The technology has helped people in making it easier for the people to communicate, interact and share easily and speedily. Cell phones are one of the fastest ways of communication today. They have brought a great change in the communication means. People are now able to communicate each other from any part of the world. The benefit of the cell phones is that it is faster than other communication mediums and is available for the users all the time regardless of the place. The drawbacks, however, cannot be ignored. People often misuse cell phones. Younger generation wastes hours talking with friends mostly on useless topics. This does not only waste their time but also cost them in monetary terms. People also use it to send messages which include some disgracing jokes about religions, races and cultures. This fact is creating distances among the people and is posing a threat to the overall peace among the people belonging to different backgrounds (Castells, 2007). Video games are also another source through which it can be proved that technology is increasing our daily life problems. The popularity of video games has been increasing as shown by the investments made to meet the increasing demand. The innovations and technological advancements played a vital role in increasi ng the demand for video games. It has been observed that children of ages between 8 and 18 are found to have spent at least 40 hours per week in some form of media. This also includes the sharp rise in the exposure to video games by younger generation. The increasing popularity of video games has encouraged the exposure to video games to children aging 2 years with a minimum of 1 hour per day spent on games. Children falling in the age group of 8-13 years are observed to have played video games nearly 7.5 hours a week. Anderson’s (2001) research further illuminates the fact that children are exposed to video games which are never supervised by their parents or elders. Adams (2010) further explains the problem in terms of age-directed games that 85% of children play game which are designed and launched for adults. Adams’s argument points towards the heavy exposure of violence and negative exposure about female body, relationships and negative ideals in those games. Ande rson (2005) reveal the statistical data to explore the effects of media on individuals and the society. Anderson explains that by the age of 18, almost every American child is exposed to 40,000 killings by one or the other form of media. Violent games play a great role in altering the behaviors of the children. Early exposure to violence brings about a change in their viewpoints, habits and practices. Anderson’

Leadership and Managment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Leadership and Managment - Assignment Example This paper approves that the manager sees the existence of the conflict but deliberately tries to avoid it. The manager tries to ignore the sentiments raised by the team members. In as far as the aspect of accommodating is concerned, it can be seen that the other party tries to appease others through placing their priorities on top of his. The other aspect is related to compromising where each party tries to give up something as a way of resolving the conflict. this stage deals with behaviour where it can be seen that the conflict becomes visible in the organisation. In this case, the behaviour of the team members has negatively changed since there is low morale in the organization after the encounter described above. Communication involves the exchange of information between parties involved in a certain conflict. In order to solve group conflicts, there are certain steps that can be taken by the leaders. There are three ways of solving inter-group conflict namely: peaceful coexiste nce, compromise and problem solving. This essay makes a conclusion that in an organisation, it can be noted that conflict is inevitable but it can be solved amicably depending on the leader’s capability and interpersonal skills towards finding ways of resolving conflicts. In the scenario described above, it has been noted that the leader is too authoritarian hence he could not listen to the views of the members of the team. This created the conflict described above. Therefore, it is recommended that the leader should implement the following measures in order to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Pathophysiology of Obesity Essay Example for Free

Pathophysiology of Obesity Essay The composition of this research paper will concentrate on the topic about the pathophysiologic condition of the disorder called obesity. Thus, this would focus in the said topic to determine the functional changes that go along with such type of disorder that is seen to have developed as one of the prominent health problem in the society. Moreover, the paper would work in rendering fundamental information that is seen essential to further understand the condition of obesity. In addition to this, this research would also deal with the key areas that are seen to be of major concern with regard to battling and preventing obesity. Nonetheless, this holds on the purpose in rendering definite and essential information about obesity. The following will be discussed: †¢ A Brief Background: Obesity †¢ Pathophysiology of Obesity †¢ Causes of Obesity †¢ Medical Treatment and Nursing Intervention At the end of the paper, in intends to render facts and information about the pathophysiology of the obesity. Likewise, the completion of this research paper is also set to provide clear and evident information with regard to the possible medical treatments and nursing interventions that could be done to be able to battle and prevent obesity. A Brief Background: Obesity It can be said that the discussions over the subject of obesity is normally overlooked as one of the major health issues that is in need of accorded attention. Normally, the society would describe obesity as a state wherein an individual with such condition is seen to be ridiculous for having such abnormal and fatty body. In a sense, obesity must be regarded as a serious condition in which it is seen to be one of the most prominent health disorders that if not properly handled it can result to numerous severe health complications in the body. In general, obesity is characterized as a chronic condition that involves excessive amount body fat (Goroll, 2006). Although body fat is necessary for storing energy, heat insulation, shock absorption, and other essential functions, the normal amount of body fat should only be between 25-30% for women and 18-23% for men (Goroll, 2006). Thus, women with excessive body fat with over 30% and for men with over 25% body fat are already considered obese (Goroll, 2006). Moreover, the obesity is also seen to be one of the escalating health conditions in the society wherein the numbers of people with such disorder are rapidly increasing (â€Å"Obesity,† n. d. ). In the United States, the obesity has already reached epidemic extent in which it is seen that one in every three Americans is obese (â€Å"Obesity,† n. d. ). Thus, obesity, as a serious health condition, is also seen to be rapidly increasing in the global society that the occurrence of obesity has practically doubled up from the year 1991 up to 1998 (â€Å"Obesity,† n. . ). Pathophysiology of Obesity With the fact that obesity is a significant health threat, the extra weight or the excessive fat is inclined to create extraordinary stress in all parts of the body (â€Å"Causes, incidence, and risk factors,† n. d. ). Thus, the occurrence of obesity normally incorporates negative developments in the body that are seen as the acquisition of serious illnesses and raises the risk of individuals to having diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke and gallbladder disease (â€Å"Causes, incidence, and risk factors,† n. . ). Obesity also creates ill-health conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol that are normally seen among the adults, which is now believed to be seen in the children that are obese (â€Å"Pathophysiology of obesity,† n. d. ). In addition to this, the obesity also increases the risk of individual to acquire certain types of cancer. Also, obese individuals are seen to be more inclined to develop osteoarthritis and sleep apnea (â€Å"Pathophysiology of obesity,† n. d. ). Likewise, the obesity or the excessive fat is often accompanied by several symptoms such as breathlessness, tiredness, back pain, sweatiness, arthritis, menstrual disorders, poor sleeping and depression (â€Å"Pathophysiology of obesity,† n. d. ). Also, obesity increases the probability of myocardial infraction and heart failure (â€Å"Pathophysiology of obesity,† n. d. ). Hence, it is seen that biggest probable impact of obesity in health, more especially with that of the elderly, is the diversity of its effects with other systems in the body (â€Å"Pathophysiology of obesity’† n. d. ). Causes of Obesity In most circumstances, the majority of medical researchers agree that a combination of excessive calorie consumption and a inactive lifestyle are seen to be the primary causes of obesity (â€Å"Obesity,† n. d. ). Thus, the increased of food consumption is normally attributed as genetic, medical or psychiatric illness (â€Å"Obesity,† n. d. ). Likewise, it is also said that the other probable causes of obesity are hereditary influences, overeating, diet high in simple carbohydrates, slow metabolism, and frequency of eating, physical inactivity, medication such as antidepressants and psychological factors such as severe emotional distress (â€Å"Obesity,† n. . ). Moreover, in the review that is done in the year 2006, it is said that the most probable factors that have contribute in the rise of obesity are seen to be the cause of insufficient sleep, endocrine disruptors, decreased rates of smoking, increased use of medication that leads to weight gain, pregnancy at a later age, intrauterine and intergenerational effects, positive natural selection of people with a higher BMI (â€Å"10 Factors in Rise of Obesity,† n. d. ). Medical Treatment and Nursing Intervention Treatment through the help of a physician is seen to be necessary in obesity, more especially during the times wherein the person’s own efforts to lose weight is not working and when it is seen essential that simultaneous medical conditions make it vital for an obese person to lose weight (â€Å"Medical Treatment for Obesity,† n. d. ). Thus, prescription of medications may seem as necessary for those having people with obesity-related health problems (â€Å"Medical Treatment for Obesity,† n. . ). In addition to this, the prescriptions of over-the-counter supplements are also considered as essential in the medical treatment of obesity that could helpful for the people in effort to lose weight (â€Å"Medical Treatment for Obesity,† n. d. ). Behavioural strategies are also used in the treatment of obesity that could help modify dietary habits and increase activity levels of obese people (â€Å"Medical Treatment for Obesity,† n. . ). Likewise, psychotherapy for eating disorders with the therapist is also seen essential in the treatment process of obesity that may also require medication (â€Å"Medical Treatment for Obesity,† n. d. ). On the other hand, it is seen evident that the other probable nursing intervention that could be done to battle obesity is having a healthy and active lifestyle through the presence of exercise. As such, the involvement through healthy exercises is indeed helpful in treatment of obesity as these activities are good in burning calories and other excess fats in the body. In addition to this, a good healthy diet is also seen as another nursing intervention for obesity in which eating healthy foods with balanced diet are essential in maintaining and achieving healthy body. Nonetheless, the modified personal discipline with regard to adverse eating habits is also seen as probable nursing intervention for obesity. Conclusion  With the above written facts and information about the pathophysiology of obesity, it is seen evident that choosing such topic in this research paper is indeed significant and helpful for the people, more especially among the individuals with such condition, as this provides factual data of the probable negative results that comes with obesity. As such, this research paper also provides factual gathering of information in battling and treating obesity. Nonetheless, it is seen evident that the issue of obesity is one of the serious health problems that are in need of proper attention.

Self Discovery and Noel Perrins The Androgynous Man :: Androgynous Man Essays

Self Discovery and Noel Perrin's The Androgynous Man Reading The Androgynous Man by Noel Perrin1 sparked a number of thoughts. Our father's sperm and our mother's ovum are both necessary for fertilization and conception. For every human being seen walking the face of this planet, this formula has taken place of necessity. Without both genders, there would be no single gender; everyone is part mom and part dad. Therefore, the hormones that dominate in each gender are present in both genders in varying amounts. And since every individual derives being from both mom and dad, there is a wide range of possibilities in the niche that each person in each gender will be naturally inclined to, regardless of the stereotypical roles. Everyone is distinctive and unique. When I was in high school, for the first time in my life I developed a group of exceptionally close friends. We referred to ourselves as The Family. We were looking for meaning in life, meaning . . . and acceptance. We were a coed group consisting of about ten people-five girls and five guys-and we learned a lot about ourselves and life. One thing that we learned was the freedom to be who we were. We did all kinds of things together-we laughed, we cried, we talked, we fought, we loved, and we hated; we unselfishly supported one another through the storms of adolescence. In the process, we learned how to become truly whole persons. We were not afraid of our masculine or feminine sides, and self-discovery blossomed with the water of mutual acceptance. In some ways, I feel as though I have lost a part of what I had then. I have become so logical and analytical in my thinking that at times it seems as though I have no remaining emotional side left. And after all, what is it that matters most in life? Science will never be able to empirically demonstrate the love that bonds people together-logic will never be able to demonstrate the warm feeling you have from sharing yourself with someone else-analysis in itself will never offer up happiness, contentment, worth, and value. Above all, science, logic, and analysis will never be able to grasp the spiritual because they "insist on what is packaged and precise" as Christian singer/songwriter Nichole Nordeman so poignantly sings in "Who You Are." Can one ever package the mysteries of the universe and the awesome Creative force that spawned them?

Ethics in Business

The implications brought by the previous handling of international forces in the Middle East have obviously penetrated even the natural flow of commercial activities. Today, not only the Arab world is subject to facing problematic social structures but all other countries involved in the undertakings of the peace procedures. The sentiments brought by the media, unjustified discriminatory perception and biased presentation of facts have lead to a chaotic global structure of societies affecting commerce and politics. In the case of DWI, the primary legal infliction that the company can undertake is to generate a legally accepted action only for the case of its commercial credibility. Meaning it can only present in the courts that the justification of selecting non-Arab descent clients are only pre-conditions in order to sustain better services for its customers and to continue its business operations. Of course, the legal issue in this aspect is the discriminatory perspective against a specific group of clients. The court may face similar questioning about its own powers on how to manipulate commerce in favor of the complete rule against discrimination. There could possibly be a sentiment among the business community to align with the philosophy of DWI since the law basically rules over that of the Commerce Clause. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 intends to prohibit discriminatory acts in commercial establishments (Wikipedia, 2008). But in the case of DWI, it needs to embark on a decision to weigh its priorities. The profit losses the business may incur will send a message to the business sector that the government is incapable of protecting the welfare of the investors. On the ethical part, DWI has really committed a discriminatory act by limiting its guests to non-Arab descent individuals. Business establishments like hotels are supposed to be a public place in which any clients can check in and use the facilities. It was very unethical to filter out the Arab guests just because of isolated incidents which do not really provide credible correlations between violence and the presence of Arab descent individuals. What the company can do is to increase its security operations to protect the whole population of its clientele. An additional investment for this unit can hurt the asset management of DWI but it will let the company continue its profit generation in the long term. References Wikipedia. 2008. Civil Rights Act of 1964. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 17, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964. Â  

China Export Strategy

China's Export Strategy: What Can We Learn From It? Arvind Panagariya As much as by luck as by design, China stumbled onto an export and foreign investment strategy that has proved remarkably successful, helping the economy move quickly to a market-based system. experience serve as a model for other countries? But can the Chinese After three decades of inward-oriented trade and foreign investment policies, in 1979, China switched course and launched an â€Å"open-door† policy. During the 15 years that have elapsed since then, the country has ersistently, albeit gradually, liberalized its trade and foreign investment regime. This has been accompanied by a spectacular growth in GDP and During 1980-90, GDP grew annually at an impressive rate of Over the same period, exports grew at an annual rate of 11 foreign trade. 9. 5 percent. percent–more than twice as fast as world trade–and imports 9. 8 percent. More recently, in 1992 and 1993, GDP has shown annual growth rat es exceeding 13 percent. The annual growth in exports and imports during these two years has been 13 percent and 27 percent, respectively. What are the key trade and foreign investment policies that have led to this dramatic growth in China's foreign trade and GDP? And what lessons can we derive from China's experience for other economies in transition? (see box)? In the following, we examine the nature of reforms and why they worked well or poorly in particular cases. Though this study focuses on external economic policies, it is important to remember that the promotion of non-state enterprises has closely complemented China's outward-oriented – 2 strategy. These enterprises, owned collectively by local authorities in urban areas, townships or villages, enjoy a high degree of autonomy in their operations. Consequently, they have been most successful in taking advantage of the outward-oriented strategy. Promoting an â€Å"export culture† On the external front, three factors combined to give rise to China's success: adoption of an aggressive pro-export strategy by central authorities, active participation of local authorities and the presence of Hong Kong and Taiwanese investors looking for a source of cheap labor. With he beginning of the open-door policy, the central authorities began sending clear signals in favor of an export-oriented trade regime. A variety of instruments were employed to promote what may be called an â€Å"export culture†: geographical targeting, sectoral targeting, a liberal foreign investment regime, and liberal provision of export financing. Geographical targeting. China set up the so-called Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Open Cities within which economic activities– manufacturing, banking, exporting and importing, and foreign investment-took place in a more liberal environment than is available in the rest of the economy. These zones helped to serve as focal points for investment from both domestic and foreign sources and to allow China to develop links with the world market, brought in part, by Hong Kong and Taiwanese entrepreneurs. Originally there were only a handful of such zones, all in Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Over time, many features of SEZs were extended to other cities. Two features of SEZs distinguish them from the rest of the country. First, the SEZs enjoy considerable administrative autonomy in the – 3 areas of investment, pricing, taxation, housing, and labor and land management policies. require virtually no Most foreign investments can be approved locally and central clearance. Second, the SEZs offer many The economic incentives to investors not available in the inland provinces. corporate income tax, normally 33 percent for foreign funded enterprises and 55 percent for state owned enterprises, is 15 percent for all enterprises in the SEZs. All imported inputs used in exports or sold within the Zones are In addition, tax holidays free of import duty and other indirect taxes. available to foreign funded enterprises are more generous in the SEZs than those available under the national tax legislation. Depending on the amount of investment, nature of the technology, and duration of the project, tax holidays of up to five years are available. The SEZs and open cities exhibited spectacular economic performance. In 1979, the three SEZs in Guangdong were small fishing villages with virtually no industrial activity. transformed into modern cities. By the end of 1980s, they had been In 1990, the SEZs and open cities accounted for 52% of total realized investment and more than half of total exports. During 1985-90, industrial output in Guangdong and Fujian grew at annual rates of 16% and 14. % compared with 6. 9% in the rest of the economy. Sectoral targeting. Side by side with geographical targeting, China has also engaged in sectoral targeting for exports. Targeted sectors, chosen at a broad level, have included light industrial products, textiles, and machinery and electronic goods. The most important instruments of targeting were production networks for exports (PNEs) and higher excha nge retention rights to targeted sectors. – 4 The Seventh Five Year Plan (1986-90) provided for the creation of PNEs. The idea was to bring the leading factories within the targeted ector into a network and support them through subsidies for technological upgrading, guaranteed supplies of raw materials and power, preferential access to transportation, attractive purchase prices for their goods, and higher exchange-retention rights than other enterprises in the same industry. The aim of the networks was to expand both the quailty and quantity of exports of the participating factories. The first industry group to benefit from this scheme was machinery and electronic goods. PNEs have also been created in light industrial products and textiles, and farm and sideline products. Rights to foreign exchange generated by exports are shared between the central and provincial governments. For targeted sectors, the allocation of retention rights was more favorable to the province and the foreign trade corporations (FTCs), which procure and export more than 80 percent of China's exports. In the case of light industries, arts & craft, and knitwear, foreign exchange was divided in the ratio of 20:80 between the center and province. Similarly, in machinery and electronic goods, for within-quota exports, the split between the center and provinces was 35:65. Though the retention rights have been revised recently, the bias in favor of FTCs has been retained. From the available data, it is difficult to judge the impact of sectoral targeting primarily because it was broad based. textiles and light industrial products in total exports The share of did expand significantly after 1985. But the effect on machinery sector is less clear. – 5 Overall, one thing which is clear, however, is that the export share of labor intensive sector has gone up in the latter half of 1980s. export shares of heavy and light industries were 47. % In 1982, 37. 6%, and respectively, in 1982. 52. 9%. By 1989, these shares had changed to 31. 9% and Liberal foreign investment regime. China's striking export performance is related to the size of foreign direct investment flows into the country (see table). Foreign investors have been lured to the Chinese market for three reasons. First, both policies and procedures have been designed to facilitate foreign investm ent. A 25 percent foreign investment gives an enterprise the At status of a joint venture and qualifies it for various tax incentives. he same time, foreign equity investment can rise all the way up to 100 percent. Restrictions on the choice of sectors are minimal; any preferences, sectoral or otherwise, take the form of extra incentives. As a result, joint ventures have been established in sectors ranging from hightechnology to consumer goods, services, and raw materials. lower or upper limit on the amount of foreign investment. There is no In large open cities such as Shanghai, foreign investment projects up to $30 million can be approved by local authorities. The limit in smaller open cities is $10 This autonomy has illion while that in unopened cities is $3 million. greatly simplified the approval procedures. Second, employment, wage and pricing policies for joint ventures are flexible. contractual Joint ventures are free to employ any required personnel on a basis. Employees ar e subject to warnings, wage cuts and – 6 dismissal. Except for a few product categories for which prices are set by the state, joint ventures are free to set their prices both domestically and abroad. Products or services for which prices are fixed are of two types. In the first category, prices are completely fixed (e. . , products such as grain, oil, and fuel; and services such as electricity and rent). In the second category, prices are allowed to fluctuate within prespecified bands usually ranging from 10 to 30 percent (e. g. , steel, cement, timber, coal and other major capital goods). Finally, China has given extra incentives to joint ventures. As already discussed, these incentives are particularly generous in the SEZs and open cities. Since 1986, additional preferential treatment has been The available to export-oriented or technologically advanced projects. ncentives include: o Exemption from state subsidies paid to employees to cover the benefits provided by the gov ernment of China; o Priority in obtaining Bank of China loans; o Tax exemption on profits remitted abroad; o Longer tax holidays from corporate income tax; o Extra tax benefits on profits reinvested in export-oriented or technologically advanced projects; and o Further reduced land-use fees, priority in obtaining utilities, transport, and communication facilities. Duty exemptions. China has also instituted an elaborate system of Under these schemes, uty exemptions on imported inputs used in exports. the concessional share of imports was 35 percent in 1988 and rose to 50 – 7 percent in 1991. played an The schemes, introduced in 1984 or later, seem to have role in expanding China's exports. Total exports important associated with concessional import arrangements account for 64 percent of China's manufactured exports. These exports doubled between 1988 and 1991. The domestic value added of these exports is, of course, lower than of other exports. Export financing. Ready access t o export credits is believed to ontribute favorably to export performance. The Bank of China, which is the primary bank dealing in foreign exchange, provides trade credits. Credit, offered in domestic currency, is available for working capital as well as fixed investment for the production of exports and import substitutes. main beneficiaries of these credits are FTCs. of total trade credits in 1991. The They accounted for 85 percent The Bank of China also offers loans in terms of foreign exchange, primarily to enterprises in which foreigners have invested, for working capital and fixed investment. Though contributing favorably to exports, the liberal credit policy has led to a rapid expansion of outstanding loans. The total volume of outstanding trade loans at the end of 1991 was more than three time that at the end of 1985. In part, this expansion was due to the growth of exports. But perhaps it also reflects a rising ratio of export credit to total exports. According to one calculation, this ratio was 150 percent in 1988. The Hong Kong connection A key element in China's success in the world markets so-called â€Å"Hong Kong connection†. as been the In the mid-1980s, Hong Kong entrepreneurs began shifting manufacturing facilities to China, attracted by lower labor – 8 costs as wages rose rapidly at home. This link with Hong Kong has not only brought much needed capital to China but also supplied new technology, modern management practices and critical links to the world market. Today more than half of China's exports to the rest of the world are handled by Hong Kong. Of the $45 billion in cumulative foreign investment commitments to China through 1992, 70 percent came from Hong Kong. This investment went mainly to export-oriented joint ventures. A large proportion of Guangdong's export production is supervised under contract by firms in Hong Kong. Processing activity for exports in Guangdong is also carried out largely in collaboration with partners in Hong Kong who supply materials. Many items, particularly in the toy and clothing sectors, which were previously exported by Hong Kong are now exported by Guangdong. Local policies China's economic system is highly decentralized now and the implementation of policy is largely under the control of provinces. Hence, in the fast-growing provinces, provincial and local officials have been deeply involved in the development process in general and export promotion in particular. The role of local authorities in facilitating foreign investment has been described earlier. In addition, there are a number of ways in which local authorities promote exports. First, the center gives mandatory targets or export quotas for only a limited number of items or in limited volumes. But in some provinces, for Moreover, example Jiangsu, the export-quota-system is far more elaborate. aking advantage of their monopsony power, FTCs are able to buy goods from enterprises at prices well below the corresponding domestic prices. Though – 9 the economic desirability of â€Å"exports at any cost† has been questioned, the FTCs have certainly been able to operate profitably on account of the monopsony power. Second, operating within the center's guidelines, provincial authorities have been expanding Direct Export Rights (DERs) to enterprises. Because the criteria for obtaining such rights are stringent, the DERs have not expanded as rapidly as would have been desirable, however. ith DERs account for only 5% of China's exports. Third, within the State's guidelines, provincial and city governments decide the allocation of raw materials imported by using locally retained foreign exchange earnings among enterprises, collectives and TVEs and across different sectors. Provinces and cities also provide indirect export Enterprises subsidies through the provision of critical inputs such as electric power to export oriented enterprises. higher bonuses for Further incentives are provided in the form of and employees on the basis of export managers erformance. Within the guidelines laid down by the State, provinces can confer rights to trade directly upon enterprises and enterprise groups. Finally, local authorities establish joint ventures between FTCs and enterprises to promote exports. establ ished 160 of these ventures. establish another 200 such ventures. The central lesson Perhaps the most important lesson, also consistent with the experience of other East Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan Province of China, During the Seventh Plan, Wuxi City alone In the Eighth Plan, the city intended to 10 Singapore and now Thailand, is that the key to high GDP growth rates is export orientation and eventual success in the world market. The success in export expansion, in turn, depends on the policy package, which conveys a message in no uncertain terms that, rather than shelter import competing industries, the country will give priority to export oriented activities. China benefitted greatly from the clarity of signals sent by its policy reforms. Once the reform process began, there was rarely any doubt Despite occasional policy reversals, provincial and about its direction. ity governments, which implemented policies and enterprises, both state and nonstate, were convinced tha t the country was headed towards an export oriented regime. geographical In terms of static efficiency, virtually all policies-preferential treatment of foreign investment in targeting, general and in export sectors in particular, and discriminatory exchange retention rights–were highly distortionary. Yet, they combined to give a loud and clear signal that the government was determined to change the economy's orientation away from import substitution to export promotion. – 11 – Box Can India benefit from China's experience? Operationally, the Chinese model is not very applicable to the economies of Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union. These countries have largely rejected the planning model, which has remained an integral part of the Chinese development strategy. The countries in Eastern Europe The have already evolved far closer to the market model than China. countries emerging out of the former Soviet Union, on the other hand, are still struggling with the problem of macroeconomic stabilization. The country for which the Chinese experience is most relevant is India. Both are highly populous and, by developing-country standards, large economies. They began their development process approximately at the same time and stressed self-reliance. Both relied increasingly heavily on import substitution policies and ended up with a highly capital intensive production structure. China changed course in 1979 while India continued (with modest liberalization) on the old course. In 1991, in many ways, India stood where China stood in 1979. China's in 1979. Import and The trade-to-GDP ratio was the same as controls were rampant and the investment domestic currency was overvalued. Despite these similarities, even in India's case, lessons from China are limited. In addition to the obvious differences in political systems which lead to very different political-economy processes in the two countries, there are three reasons for this. has been highly interventionist. been in China and elsewhere in First, the Chinese approach This approach can be successful–as it has East Asia–provided the government can – 12 implement â€Å"right† interventions judiciously. India's experience during the Second, India's last four decades in this respect has not been encouraging. conomy has already evolved far closer to a market economy than that of China. have For instance, export targets and foreign exchange contracts, which helped create a pro-exports ethos in China are neither arguably desirable nor feasible in India. greater role in India than in China. Similarly, private sector plays a far Finally, India has already carried out For example, in the a rea of many reforms that China is still contemplating. exchange rate, China has a multiple exchange rate system and its exchange market is not organized along the lines of market economies. India has chieved virtual current account convertibility and its foreign exchange market is organized along modern lines. Of the lessons that have general relevance to India, the following points would seem to be the most pertinent. o First, creating a liberal and flexible economic environment along the lines of SEZs in China would stimulate greater foreign investment. The country can begin with a small number of cities–e. g. , Bombay, Bangalore, Cochin, and Madras–and, as in China, local governments may be given full authority to approve foreign investment up to a certain limit. Most important, rules of entry and exit in the zones can be made more flexible. Because these zones will be introduced in limited areas with a high growth potential, political consensus may be easier, even if this requires new legislation. Eventual success in the open zones may open the way for Currently, India does have export political consensus on a wider scale. processing zones. But the geographical area over which such zones operate – 13 is far too limited to allow for the full play of liberal policies and make them focal points of investment activity. Second, provision of infrastructure facilities through active In participation of local authorities in the reform process is critical. the fast growing provinces in China, local authorities–especially mayors of the cities–have been deeply involved in the process of development. They try to ensure that investors get speedy clearance with respect to land use, supply of electricity, water and other facilities. In India, so far, it seems that the enthusiasm for reforms has not filtered to state governments and the center may well have to take a lead in this regard, offering both carrot and stick. All incentives and reforms at the central level can be rendered ineffective if the state and local authorities, which must provide land, power, communications facilities, and environmental clearance, do not cooperate. There is an urgent need to study caefully how such bottlenecks can be removed. o Third, there is a need for a shift in the production structure towards more labor intensive industries. The share of capital goods imports in total imports is rather small in India when compared with China and other fast-growing countries in East Asia. This, combined with the fact that India's import-to-GDP ratio is small, suggests that India is far more deeply into the production of capital goods than China and other comparator countries. In late 1970s and early 1980s, China also suffered from this problem and adopted policies to change the structure of production in favor of labor intensive goods. An important part of this strategy was targeting of a few – 14 sectors, especially for exports. this route. For India, it is perhaps unwise to follow Given the country's generally neutral and rules-based approach to reforms, it is perhaps best to rely on the standard trade policy tools, particularly the structure of tariffs. Recent reduction in tariffs on capital goods should help move the economy towards more labor intensive goods. What is needed is resistance to policies that reverse the impact of this policy change. In particular, there is need for labor-market reforms. The country will not be able to take advantage of low wages of skilled and unskilled labor unless potential investors are sure that they can operate factories around the year without fears of recurrent labor disputes. This fear has been behind the highly capital intensive technologies chosen by investors in recent years. Fourth, duty exemptions for assembly type operations combined with rapid processing of imported inputs and materials by customs authorities made a significant contribution to China's export growth. In India, duty exemptions for exporters exist but an improvement in their administration and simplification of procedures leading to speedy processing by customs will help boost exports. Also, for small exporters who rely on duty drawbacks, delay in getting the drawback as well as in obtaining inputs from abroad are common. An improvement in this direction is also desirable. Fifth, it is important to note that China was welcoming of foreign investment for both domestic and foreign markets. Most of the incentives– tax holidays, lower fees on land use, flexibility in the employment of labor etc. ,–were available to all foreign investors. ventures, some extra incentives were provided. For export-oriented joint The lesson here is that – 15 fears of tariff-jumping type of foreign investment should not lead to erection of barriers. Instead, if the regime is to be tilted in favor of export-oriented foreign investments, it should be done through positive incentives. Imposition of barriers to foreign investment will only add noise to signals of openness that India has been sending. A final point concerns the importance of a â€Å"Hong Kong† connection. In India's case, there are no geographic neighbors that are as economically dynamic as Hong Kong or Taiwan, Province of China. But through cultural ties, the most India can do is to attract investments from Indians in Hong Kong and Non Resident Indians (NRIs) elsewhere in the world. While this is obviously worth doing, India has to rely on a more diversified base of foreign investors. It may be argued that to meet the East Asian challenge, investors in the United States and Europe will be increasingly looking for sources of cheap labor. With its vast pool of cheap unskilled to middleMoreover, level skilled labor, India clearly fulfills this requirement. India's economic and political institutions are also familiar to western investors. What is needed is more open policies, transparency, and infrastructure. If this can be accomplished, India may well become the primary export base for the United States and European Community in the 21st century. Arvind Panagariya an Indian national, was a Principal Economist in the Bank's Trade Policy Division and is a Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland. He earned his PhD from Princeton. – 16 Direct foreign investment into China (billion dollars) Commitment 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 (first half) Cumulative, end 1991 5. 3 5. 6 6. 6 12. 0 14. 5 48. 9 Actual n. a. 3. 4 3. 5 4. 4 3. 4 20. 3 ——————————————————————- Sources: China Statistics Yearbook 1990, 1991, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, China.

Mother Teresa Essays - Mother Teresa, Missionaries Of Charity

Mother Teresa Essays - Mother Teresa, Missionaries Of Charity Mother Teresa Mother Teresa was a wonderful woman and a great influence on the world today. She was born in 1910 in Macedonia with the name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was born into a family of deeply religious Catholics. Agnes felt she got the calling to work for God at the young age of fourteen. She joined the Loreto order and went to Bengal, India, to start her studies. In 1937, Agnes took her final vows to become a nun and has done much great work in the world since. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu was born on August 27, 1910 to Nikola and Drana Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia. Drana and Nikola were Albanian and both were very deeply religious Roman Catholics. Nikola was a popular merchant and a partner to an Italian merchant. He owned several houses and was a member of the Skopje town council. Whenever Agnes father would return from a trip, he would always bring his children presents. Also, he promoted his daughters education, which was uncommon in that time period. Nikola also was involved in an underground organization that worked to gain independence for the Albanians from the Ottoman Turks, who ruled Macedonia around the time Agnes was born. Agnes grew up around much fighting. When she was born, there were Albanian protests against the Turkish government. When she was two, she witnessed the First Balkan War. In that war, the Ottomans were defeated, but Macedonia was divided among the conquerors: Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegero, and Serbia. The city of Skopje was distributed to Serbia. Albania received its independence in 1912, but Nikola continued his nationalist work. He joined a movement determined to incorporate Serbia into the Albanian nation. In 1914, when Agnes was only four years old, World War I began. In 1918, her father was killed. Some people believe that he was poisoned by enemies. Many people mourned his death because of his kindness and generosity. Drana Bojaxhiu and the family were left with little money and no means of income. Drana worked hard to provide for her family. To get enough money, she became a dressmaker. Even though she had to work extra hard to make ends meet, Drana still found time and money to give to the lonely. When Agnes was young, she used to go on trips with her mother to visit the elderly, sick, and the poor. It is said that their mothers generosity may have had the greatest influence on Agnes, her sister, and her brother. Agnes was the youngest of the three children. Her older brother was named Lazar and her older sister was Aga. Aga was five years older than Agnes. Agnes loved reading books, saying prayers, and thinking. She also liked to sing and write poems about her faith. Agnes learned her faith from her mother. There was a sign in the front room of their house that read: In this house, no one must speak against another. Drana passed down to her children many values. She believed that the Lords work was reward enough in itself and that you should serve God in a practical, helpful way. Agnes had thought about being a teacher when she was younger, but at the age of twelve, she knew she wanted to lead a religious life. When Agnes was only fourteen, she knew she wanted to be a missionary nun. At age eighteen, Agnes joined the Loreto order of nuns. In September of 1928, she left her family and everything she knew to serve God at the Loreto Abbey in Dublin Ireland. There, she learned how to speak English. In November, she went to India to teach English in an Indian school. In 1929, Agnes started her novitiate in an Abbey in Darjeeling, and abbey in the foothills of the Himalayas. A novitiate is the time a nun spends studying, praying, and contemplating before she takes her vows. On May 24, 1931, Agnes took her first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She took her name after St. Therese, the patron saint of missionaries. On May 14, 1937, Teresa took her final vows, promising to serve God for the rest of her life. Teresa eventually became the principal of Loreto Entally, a school in Entally (a district

Definition and Examples of Grammatical Concord

Definition and Examples of Grammatical Concord The word concord is derived from the Latin for agreement. When applied to English grammar, the term is defined as the grammatical agreement between two words in a sentence. Some linguists use the terms concord and agreement interchangeably, although traditionally, concord is used in reference to the proper relationship between adjectives and the nouns they modify, while agreement refers to the proper relationship between verbs and their subjects or objects. Mixed concord, also known as discord, is the combination of a singular verb and a plural pronoun. This structure happens when theres a substantial distance between a noun and its modifier and shows up most frequently in informal or spoken language. Discord is motivated when the abstract preference for a phrases meaning to be in agreement outweighs the desire for the formal subject noun phrase to agree. Concord in English vs. Other Languages Concord is relatively limited in modern English.  Noun-pronoun concord calls for agreement between a pronoun and its antecedent in terms of number, person, and gender. Subject-verb concord, as it relates to numbers, is conventionally marked by inflections at the end of a word. In Romance languages such as French and Spanish, modifiers must agree with the nouns they modify in number. In English, however, only this and that change to these and those to signify agreement. In English, nouns do not have an assigned gender. A book that belongs to a boy is his book, while one belonging to a girl would be her book. The gender modifier agrees with the person who owns the book, not the book itself. In Romance languages, nouns are gender-specific. The French word for book, livre, is masculine and therefore, the pronoun that agrees with it- le- is also masculine. A feminine word, such as window (fenà ªtre), would take the feminine pronoun la to be in agreement. Plural nouns, on the other hand, become gender neutral and take the same pronoun of les. Gender-Neutral Pronouns Recently, with growing awareness with regard to LGBTQ equality, there has been a sociolinguistic shift to accommodate those seeking to identify with the use of gender-neutral pronouns. While its or their are becoming common substitutions for his and her, speaking strictly in terms of grammar, they are not in agreement. As a result, a lexicon of new gender-neutral pronouns has been introduced, although it has yet to be universally adopted. He/She: Zie, Sie, Ey, Ve, Tey, EHim/Her: Zim, Sie, Em, Ver, Ter, EmHis/Her: Zir, Hir, Eir, Vis, Tem, EirHis/Hers: Zis, Hirs, Eirs, Vers, Ters, EirsHimself/Herself: Zieself, Hirself, Eirself, Verself, Terself, Emself The Basics of Subject-Verb Concord In subject-verb concord, if the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. The window is open.The windows are open. Of course, these are easy examples but where people tend to get confused is when a phrase is containing another noun is inserted between the subject and the modifying verb and that noun has a different numeric value (singular or plural) than the subject noun. In this example, the first sentence is incorrect: The crates in the warehouse is ready to be loaded.The crates in the warehouse are ready to be loaded. While warehouse is singular, it is not the subject of the sentence. The second sentence is correct. The word crates is the subject of the sentence, so must take the plural form of the vowel (in this case, are) to be in agreement. When two singular subjects are linked in a sentence by either/or or neither/nor, correct usage requires the singular verb. Neither Mary or Walter is available at present. What happens when one subject is singular and the other is plural? Agreement depends on the subject placement in the sentence: Either the dog or the cats are in the basement.Either the twins or Mandy is waiting for you now. Two subjects connected by and take a plural verb. Orville and Wilbur are over by the fence.The rooster and the chickens are missing. There are two exceptions to these rules. The first is when a compound subject is connected with and but through popular use is considered a singular subject. While Bacon and eggs is my favorite breakfast is not grammatically correct, bacon and eggs is considered a singular item on the average American breakfast menu. The second exception is when both subjects are the same entity: The author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are is Maurice Sendak. Meanwhile, some plural subjects call for singular verbs: Fifty dollars is too much to pay for that dress.Twenty seconds is all you get before I scream. The following all take singular verbs: each, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, somebody, nobody, someone, none, and no-one. Each candle is burning.Everyone is having a good time.Nobody is going to mind if you get to the party on time.Someone is likely to know where the house is.None of us is to blame.

Democracy and Socialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Democracy and Socialism - Essay Example Since then, there have been turbulent times in a quest to achieve democracy with dictators and military coup leaders claiming to support it. However, in Athens, it followed a set of rules on who was legible to participate in politics, vote and the size of the society where democracy could be practiced. With this, the Athenians agreed that the people required population to be small so as to allow citizens access to debate attendances and vote on issues affecting them (History World, n.d). Over time, democracy has evolved with various societies that have implemented it. For example, with the Romans, representation in a legislative assembly came up so that selected few leaders could represent an entire population and their interests (History World, n.d). In addition, the Romans came up with the oral system of voting where citizens gave their answer of a specified question to a clerk who then recorded it. Moreover, with all the changes it has had to it, democracy has its positive and neg ative aspects that affect any society that embraces it. For example, the use of majority rule forces the minority who lost to be dictated upon by those who won (Cincotta, n.d). Therefore, it leads to the oppression of minority populations in a bid to enact the will of a majority. In addition, democratic rule puts its basis on a knowledgeable and educated citizen who is literate. This, in itself, is discriminative to the illiterate as they lose independence due to reliance on the learned to make decisions and implement policies that may not be known to them (Cincotta, n.d). As a result, democracy can be used for selfish gain, especially in the use of representatives. However, it is not all gloom for democracy as it bears positive aspects to it, as well. Democracy in exercising majority rule guarantees the protection of minority rights against violation in all aspects (Cincotta, n.d). This is because the rights of dissenters are not dependent on the goodwill of the majority who accent . Moreover, in democracy, the government only plays a minor role in the social organization that leads to pluralism (Cincotta, n.d). As a result, most social and private organizations and institutions remain free from the interference of the government. Socialism Socialism refers to a social system that advocates for liberty, equality and fraternity in its implementation (Cockshott & Cottrell, 2012). It traces its origins to a wide variety of influences that include its manifestation as a philosophy and the ideas of various scholars. Therefore, with its already established goals, it applied a hybrid of Christian communalism, feudalism and liberal capitalism to daily living (Daum, n.d). This made it utopian socialism and could be easily related to in the everyday life Socialism has a number of merits to it. This is because; it grants people liberty in the form of freedom from oppression and slavery, freedom of speech and association (Cockshott & Cottrell, 2012). In addition to this s ocialism grants freedom of conscience and separates the church form the state, as in traditional socialist states. In addition, socialism brings about equality in the society due to its nature in enforcing social values upon a society. Therefore, it allows for freedom in most social aspects in that all members of a society that practices socialism has access to the same opportunities (Cockshott &

Muscle Strength Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Muscle Strength Assessment - Essay Example Consider that the minute diameter afferent impacts efferents, hence, sensitivity of the muscle spindle and likely resulting to proprioceptive acuity that may not be attributed to the exhausted muscle. This could take place in different areas in the exercise region and likewise, contra laterally (Pedersen, 1999). Though, it is claimant that the clinicians must delay the process of the joint position sense evaluation because of the fatigue state, unless the assessment of the proprioceptive effects of fatigue is deliberate, it shows that there were no report about the presumptive effects of exercise that are non-exhausting. Even so, extreme non-exhausting exercises, like the strengthening and muscle evaluation, are likely to produce the said metabolic results that keeps the possibility of acute effects on the micro trauma in the spindle muscles, spindles of the muscle and changed in the neurone excitability of the spinal neurone. The chance to evaluate the effe... sults that keeps the possibility of acute effects on the micro trauma in the spindle muscles, spindles of the muscle and changed in the neurone excitability of the spinal neurone. The chance to evaluate the effects of the strength of the thigh muscle on the joint sense, most especially during sports activities, directs to the collaboration of research study with other groups who also wants to study the same subject. The joint position sense evaluation result on both knees was already published in by Stillman in 1998. Justification for Proprioceptive Treatments In 1996 Sports Medicine and Musculoskeletal Surgery, Joerosch & Prymka specified that: "In conservative therapy more focus should be put on exercising the proprioceptive capability. In surgical therapy we should identify procedures which not only restore the anatomy but also reconstruct the neurophysiological feedback mechanism. In preventive programmes, proprioceptive training should be included as well"(177). The similar observations were brought about by Safran and others, in 1994. In aid for the proceeding discussion, proprioceptive treatment pertain to any therapeutic operations that is assumed to rejuvenate, enhance or maintain proprioception. At present, however, it is still unknown if it yields. Moreover, surgeons have some grounds in the attempt of retaining much of the proprioceptively stimulated structures likely in the anterior cruciate ligament restoration and in the surgical replacement of the osteoarthritic joints ( Safran et al 1994, Insall et al 1981). Histological experimental studies in animals resulted in reconstituted mechanoreceptor in the reconstructed cruciate ligaments in the 6 to 12 months post operative ( Barrack et al 1997, Denti et al 1994, Tsujimoto et al 1993, Goertzen