Affirmative Action is Racism

Affirmative Action is Racism Free Online Research Papers Affirmative action refers to a collection of policies intended to promote access to education and employment for minorities and women. In an attempt to guarantee such opportunities, government enforced and voluntary programs impose an assortment of racial criteria on businesses, public offices and universities. Compliance with these programs can often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal and consultant fees as well as significant opportunity costs when organizations are forced make decisions based on race and gender instead of merit. The underlying evil of all affirmative action programs is that individuals are categorized by their race. This principle inevitably prolongs racism. This is why an anxiety of appearing racist amongst white males is very common in the United States compared to their European counterparts, and why corporations desperately seek to present themselves as non-discriminating and careers are shattered by unjust accusations of racism. Affirmative Action hurts employers There are two kinds of jobs affected by affirmative action policies. The first are employment opportunities which seek individuals who possess a minimum set of skills. Some examples include factory workers, cashiers and food service workers. Such affirmative action policies make it more difficult for individuals from non-protected groups to be considered for a position. Another kind of employment opportunity seeks the best possible candidate for the job. This category includes professorships, managerial and engineering jobs. In order to avoid the appearance of racism, consultancy groups may reluctantly employ an analyst who they know will not produce as many great ideas, hospitals may reluctantly employ a surgeon who they know will not be as effective in the ER, and universities will admit students who they know will not be as diligent. Because employment opportunities are given to less qualified, there will be less remaining opportunities awarded to the most qualified. Thus, applicants who don’t belong to a legally protected â€Å"under-represented† group compete for fewer positions and therefore face more exclusive standards for selection. As many high school graduates know, SAT scores and GPA requirements for admission to the most competitive of universities are seemingly higher for students of East Asian or East Indian descent. A high school student with a below average academic record is likely to be a below average college student. Thus, students admitted through minority recruiting programs often end up in remedial classes with mediocre academic performance. Through simple cause and effect, affirmative action programs prolong the stereotype of minority students finishing near the bottom of their class by encouraging enrollment in universities beyond an appropriate level of difficulty. According to a federal study, just 39% of enrolled black students finish their degrees compared to 54% of white students. 2 Attending a university where the pace of learning is too difficult is just as counterproductive as attempting to lift too much weight at the gym. The insistence on relaxed admission standards for minority students insinuates that such students are incapable of succeeding without such programs. This insult casts a permanent doubt on the real achievements of high-achieving minorities. Affirmative Action must end Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed that one day we would live in a society where individuals would be judged by their character and not the color of their skin. The affirmative action policies of today are both unnecessary and detrimental to minority success. Moreover, they are significant barriers to the establishment of a racially-blind meritocratic society. Justice for all requires the end of affirmative action. Research Papers on Affirmative Action is RacismStandardized TestingWhere Wild and West MeetOpen Architechture a white paperPETSTEL analysis of IndiaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andHip-Hop is ArtInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionEffects of Television Violence on Children

Farewell My Concubine essays

Farewell My Concubine essays There are many themes that permeate Chen Kaiges film, Farewell My Concubine. Fore the purposes of this paper they will be presented in three parts: historical perspective, sexual identity and relationships, and social commentary/criticism. Although some critics of the film make the argument that the film is not about a historical perspective, but rather on sexual identity and human relationships, it is not possible to altogether excuse the historical elements of the film, because there are few and the ones shown are extremely critical to the other themes the movie presents. So then one must question not whether these historical scenes are important in analyzing the film, but why was each historical event selected to be used, and how does it add to the other themes of sexual identity, relationship interaction, and social commentary and criticism? While the films main plot follows the relationship between two Beijing Opera stars, Duan Xiaolou and Cheng Dieyi, from their childhood to old age, there are also many subplots, such as the fragmentation of their relationship as a result of Duans marriage to Juxian and the historical events that challenged their loyalty to each other in the face of physical and emotional torture. It is the combination of all of these plots in the context of the three thematic approaches presented in this paper that the full effect of Chen Kaiges film may be realized. Historically, Farewell My Concubine covers the time period from the late Qing dynasty to the post-Mao era, mainly focusing on two key events in Chinese history, the Japanese invasion and the Cultural Revolution. The Japanese invaded China and entered the capital of Beijing in 1937. This invasion launched the pacific front of the Second World War whose fighting didnt end until 1945 with the Americans atomic bombing of Japan. The atrocities committed by the Japanese are shown in the scenes following Duan ...

Literature and Film Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Literature and Film - Coursework Example Sile finds a wife and Stride faces his opponents and overthrowss them. However, both the stories do not end in the hero's glorifications. While Sile gets a wife, his other conflict is a notorious boy in debt of him and while Stride gets pass the cowboys, he still needs to avenge himself from those wanting him dead. This is concluded by someone else's dignity or courage being sacrificed to actually uphold the hero's glory. Sile's wife decides to finish off once and for all someone in debt of him through beating him up, thus gaining the fear of being in debt to Sile by the entire Zongo steet. Stride on the one-hand, held bait the Greer's by letting them go into town as his messenger, only to find Mr. Greer dead, but his enemies in hot pursuit of him, falling into his bait of luring them into the desert. In the end of both stories, one is left thinking if both heroes actually deserve to be called the heroes. Because, inasmuch as they altogether attained self actualization and peace of m ind in the end, the underdogs and the people they have outwitted actually did the dirty job for them. The difference between Mallam Sile and Seven Men From Now is their portrayal of a strong hero. In Mallam Sile, the hero is ironically puny and small, almost helpless, but gets his way at the end. In Seven Men From Now, he is a brave cowboy, dashing, fearless and wise but also is brave enough to face a cowboy "duel". The conclusions also vary by Sile getting his peace and restoration, while Stride, chasing after his sheriff position, in which the audience is left hanging if Stride actually makes it or not. Sile's love interest also becomes his wife while Stride's was left hanging in the end. Was there retribution at the end Definitely, and that is the biggest similarity of both the film and the story. It is a matter of the good guys finishing on top while the bad guys die, perish, or made to pay debts. Where is That Voice Coming From and Bullitt The overpowering similarity in the film and in the story, is again in the character. Although the dilemmas, the means of killing and the moral compasses of the stories were also similar, one justification boils down to the characters' essential trait: Indifference. Both characters are indifferent to the fact that what they are doing is actually getting a human life. They have been indifferent, to a certain point, so as they do their job well, achieve their goal and actually affirm themselves, whatever the means they do it so, and without consideration of the people involve. Of course, both means were by shooting. The essential difference of the two, is that Bullitt actually contemplates his guilt at the end, but, does he repent We do not really know for sure. On the one-hand, the protagonist of Where is That Voice Coming From actually owns up to his killing and is actually happy about doing so. Their drives and motives for killing are also very different. In Where is that Voice Comi ng From, the actual motive could be deeply rooted through hatred and envy, it could even be a racial slur. But in Bullit, the motive to kill was actually to do his job, and to bring about justice to the other people criminals have killed in turn. Second-guessing oneself is an essential theme in both the stories as well. In Bullitt, it literally is second guessing-that is having the wrong person accused of

Evaluation of Business Globalisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Evaluation of Business Globalisation - Essay Example This approach supported business to expand operations and gain high profit margins. Globalizing process has affected work organization, business, socio-cultural resources, natural environment and economics. There are four different aspects of globalization identified by International Monetary Fund such as trade and transactions, people movement and migration, knowledge dissemination, and investment and capital movements. In this study some examples shall be portrayed to provide a clear understanding about advantages and disadvantages of globalization. Globalization of business refers to shifting of operations from one region to wide array of geographical regions. The impact of globalization in relation to business environment is divided into broad categories like product globalization and market globalization. Product globalization can be stated as service or product sourcing from other countries in order to gain competitive advantage. Price differences across the globe enables a company to gain long term advantage. The cost of production also reduces due to such globalization of business and in turn low prices are charged from customers. Market globalization refers to barrier decline in terms of selling products or services to other countries apart from home country. Companies are able to operate internationally due to emergence of globalization. Business strategies and marketing programs are designed by companies taken into consideration other cultures. Multinational firms should be able to understand the trend of developing na tions, mainly strategies adopted by government to redefine policies and interests. Globalization brings forth risks for companies and firms need to manage it appropriately (Doku and Oppong, 2011). This trend has benefited business operations since market opportunities can be explored of a wider segment, along with achieving competitive advantage in global market place. Technological advancements

PESTEL five forces and SWOT analysis of Apple

PESTEL five forces and SWOT analysis of Apple Introduction This study is an analysis of the business environment of Apple, Inc., which is typically undertaken as part of the strategic analysis of Apple’s operations for the medium and long term. The aim of this analysis is to assess the prospects of Apple, Inc. as a potential investment for consideration. There are three aspects of environmental assessment that are undertaken: the macro-environmental analysis makes use of the PESTEL model, industry analysis employs Porter’s Five Forces model, and the organisational analysis is performed using the SWOT model. PESTEL Analysis The business of Apple shall be evaluated within the context of its operations in the UK. Investor sentiment attached to the country plays a major role in determining the level of confidence reposed by investors in the country itself. Negative sentiment in the country overall may cause an investor shift that would affect stock prices even for companies in industries normally unaffected by the particular events or developments, thus consideration should be extended to indirect repercussions or contagion effects due to perceived weaknesses in the country environment (Chittedi, 2014; Haß, et al., 2014; Ioan, et al., 2013; Liu et al., 2014, Syriopoulos, 2014; Trenca Dezsi, 2013; Yaqing Hongbing, 2013). 2.1 Political The United Kingdom is a democratic country with a stable governance system, and maintains strong influence over the laws and customs of those countries that were formerly part of the British Empire, and now comprise the Commonwealth of Nations. The UK thus holds a strong and enviable position in global politics. However, there are risks posed by terrorist elements such as members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) recruited from among the British nationals. Current political challenges include the increasing tensions in the ruling coalition and the sagging government popularity (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.2 Economic The UK is a world economic power, with a highly developed economy that gained its footing after the Second World War. According to the World Bank’s assessment, as of 2003 the UK is the seventh best country to invest in or do business with. It is however burdened by a growing government debt problem (currently at  £1.38 trillion) and a huge budget deficit. In order to strengthen the financial system, the Bank of England (BoE) was given the authority to oversee the macro-prudential health and stability of the financial system. The BoE coordinates interest rate movements with the European Central Bank during times of crisis, however Britain still remains outside the European Economic and Monetary Union (CEEDR, 2012; UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.3 Social The standard of living of UK citizens is comparable with other First World countries. The education and health care systems are among the world’s best, and the social goals of the government include the alleviation of income inequality and eradication of child poverty. As a member of the European market, the UK benefits from the free flow of young people into the country to offset the problems posed by an aging population. Demographically, the population is aging (i.e., 35% of the population are 55 years and older, only 30% are below 25 years), with average life expectancy reaching 82 years for women and 78 year for men (CEEDR, 2012; UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.4 Technology The United Kingdom is renowned worldwide for its scientific expertise and cutting-edge research and development (RD). Intellectual property rights are stringently protected by legislation. Among the challenges to the UK with respect to technology is the increasing shortage of RD workforce, a trend that has persisted since 2008. The number of engineers and technicians in the physical and life sciences, as well as IT and telecom specialists, continue to decline. The lack of technical personnel and RD specialists is a serious threat to the continued competitiveness of UK industry. Patent applications have also been on the decline, meaning that innovations may slow down, further compromising competitiveness (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.5 Environmental The UK is a strong participant in the formulation of global policies, particularly with respect to agreements dealing with the environment, emission reduction, and sustainable energy source. However, the UK is also known to have a high level of air pollution. The European Commission issued a final warning to UK for the poor quality of its air, prompting the country to expedite a solution to the problem (BBC, 2014; Mathiesen, 2014). High air pollution, due to exhaust fumes and emissions from power stations and factories, prevails in London, while dangerous levels of NO2 have been recorded in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester (BBC, 2014; Dugan, 2013; Mathiesen, 2014; UK Country Profile, 2013). Government policies, however, will continue to tread the middle ground between environmental protection and economic development (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). 2.6 Legal The UK has a legal system that is organised, transparent and efficient, and efforts are being exerted to make the processes in the courts simpler and more efficient and transparent (Great Britain Ministry of Justice, 2011). The legislative system favours a high level of freedom in business, primarily to enable investor trust and confidence. There is effective enforcement of the law; in the World Bank’s Doing Business indicators 2013, UK ranks at the 21st position among 185 countries with regard to enforcement of contracts. Challenges remain, however, in terms of tax evasion, and balancing personal liberties against the threat of terrorism. These challenges are being addressed by current proposals to amend legislation (UK Country Profile, 2013; USCIA, 2014). Porter’s Five Forces Porter’s Five Forces analysis is a model used for industry analysis. Apple plays a significant role in four businesses, namely the communication equipment industry, the music and video industry, the mobile phones industry, and the personal computer (PC) industry. Because its participation in the overall PC industry is comparatively small compared to its other products, only the first three industries shall be analysed here. Apple’s overall business includes eight product lines: iPhone, its related products and services; iPad and related products and services, Mac portables and other music related products and services, Mac desktops, iPod, software, services and other hardware (Apple, Inc., 2014; GCEIP, 2014). 3.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers Communication Equipment Industry Buyer power is moderate. Apple communications equipment caters to individual buyers, but each buyer has little bargaining power as he/she bargains for him/herself alone. If the company loses just one consumer, the effect on the company will be insignificant. Collectively, however, buyer power may be more significant, as switching costs are low. Fixed line telecommunication devices have a low degree of differentiation and there is little innovation taking place in this area, for which reason buyers are sensitive to price levels and could easily transfer from one supplier to another. Apple’s major competitors in this market include Lenovo, Nokia, and Samsung (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The bargaining power of buyers is moderate. As with the communications equipment industry, there are many buyers in this market, thus reducing their bargaining power. Offsetting this, however, is the low switching costs that enables customers to transfer brands quite easily. Also, there is a trend towards greater preference for online retail channels and digital download sales due to their greater convenience. Buyers are therefore sensitive to price, recommendations, availability, loyalty schemes, and brand image. In the global music and video industry, Apple’s key competitors are Amazon, Tesco, and Wal-Mart Stores (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry The bargaining power of buyers is moderate. There are two types of buyers in this market, the retail outlets (e.g. Europe’s Carphone Warehouse, Walmart) which purchase handsets for sale to consumers, and the mobile network operators that now make their own retail sales bundled with the service they offer. The large retailers are at a disadvantage because they need to stock up on the latest innovations to meet end-user demand. When new innovations or models appear, unsold inventory of earlier models become obsolete. Apple is at an advantage because the firm is capable of forward integration – i.e., they conduct their own retail operations. As a result, buyer power is diluted. Apple’s closest competitors in this industry are LG Electronics, Nokia, and Samsung (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Communication Equipment Industry Mobile Phones Industry Supplier power is moderate. There are only a relatively small number of large multinationals who supply parts and components to this market, reducing market players’ options when sourcing for products. While backward integration is difficult due to high costs of telecommunication manufacturing, it is however not impossible; for instance, British supermarket brand Tesco will launch its own smart phone device, which if successful and followed by other retailers will reduce supplier power. Aside from their scarcity, suppliers are also benefitted by the level of customer loyalty that firms develop for their manufacturers. Apple, however, is one of those few companies which sell their products online and which operate their own retail shops (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry Supplier power is relatively high in the music and video industry. The suppliers in this industry pertain to the purveyors of content, such as the record companies, TV studios and film studios. End-user tastes drive demand, and when the particular content is specifically in demand then market players are compelled to stock on popular products so as not to miss out on revenues for songs, movies, or shows that have high appeal. Also, suppliers such as large film and TV studios tend to integrate forward, that is, they sell directly to the retail market through their own websites. In these situations, there is strong supplier bargaining power (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phone Industry Supplier power is moderate in the mobile phone industry. Mobile phone manufacturers are much larger than their suppliers, and are therefore in a position to better influence supply contracts. Operating systems are vital components to smartphone manufacturers, but in the case of Apple and Blackberry the operating systems are developed by the manufacturers themselves, and therefore one element of supplier power is diminished (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.3 Threat of Substitutes Communication Equipment Industry The threat of substitutes is moderate to strong, as product substitution may potential exist within the market. Landline phones and mobile devices are substitutes for each other, although mobile devices have the advantage of flexibility, portability and mobility. In developing countries, counterfeits may proliferate, drawing demand away from legitimate retailers, but such risk is gradually being eroded by regulation, law enforcement, and security measures. Cheaper second-hand products are also substitutes for new models, which may challenge the higher-priced Apple products in certain market segments (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The threat of substitutes, particularly from counterfeit media, is very strong; this becomes apparent when one considers that digital video and audio content are easily duplicated. Pirated titles appear online, on CDs, and more recently through streaming and file sharing websites. While lawsuits have been filed and litigation pursued in some cases, the lawsuits are so slow that by the time they take effect, damage has already been done that cannot be undone for the titles thus distributed. The same contents made legally accessible online also act as substitutes for the same content formatted on CDs and DVDs. Although demand for the latter may decline, there will still remain buyers who prefer their music or shows on a physical device (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014) Mobile Phones Industry The threat of substitutes is low. The threat posed by landline telephones as substitute for cellular phones is weak, due to the greater flexibility, portability and wide area coverage offered by mobile phone usage. Neither are laptops a strong substitute due to disadvantages in size, weight, and the capacity for outward calls (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.4 Threat of New Entrants Communication Equipment Industry The threat of new entrants is moderate. There is a low degree of differentiation among the products and services that players in this industry can offer; this signifies that customer loyalty is low, and customers tend more to follow the brand of the manufacturer rather than the retailer. Since buyers can easily switch retailers, low cost entry into the market is possible. Entry barriers are thus low, and threats of new entrants is strong, despite the fact that more established and larger-sale retailers would have developed better relationships with their suppliers as well as enjoy economies of scale (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry The threat of new entrants is strong, and entry barriers to this market are low. If the prospective player already runs a retail business, then entry into the market becomes easy. Switching costs among vendors is low, and enables customers to transfer among players depending on the price, stock or brand image. Larger players carry strong brand images; however, this alone will not be sufficient basis to draw market share away from new entrants (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry The threat of new entrants is moderate. The popularity of smartphones continue to attract new players which offer the same features as the established brands, such as Apple and HTC. A good number of the more mature mobile phone manufacturers offer their own smartphones. A market for cheap feature phones thrives in developing economies. New entrants are nevertheless faced with challenges, such as the huge amount and the specialist skills and experience required for capital outlay for RD in which Apple is well entrenched (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). 3.5 Internal rivalry Communication Equipment Industry Internal rivalry in this market is low to moderate. The market for global communications equipment is highly fragmented; market participants are numerous and diverse, including large foreign companies as well as local independent shops. Competition is slightly more intense among specialty shops than it is for the larger firms that have a presence in several markets. Even so, competition tends to ease because the demand for digital communications products is still expanding, enabling all firms to acquire a reasonable share of the market (GCEIP, 2014; CEIPUK, 2014). Music and Video Industry Internal rivalry is strong, mainly due to the similar choice of products offered by competing players and the low switching costs among market players. Unless the content is originally produced or published by the player, it would not be able to sustain any long-term competitive advantage over its rivals as content and processes are common and indistinguishable (GMVIP, 2014; MVIPUK, 2014). Mobile Phones Industry Internal rivalry among mobile phone manufacturers is moderate, with the lion’s share of the market being shared among a few large and well-known firms (i.e. Apple, Nokia, LG, Samsung). A second tier of smaller manufacturers are directed towards specific niches and do not really pose strong competition to the larger firms (GMPIP, 2014; MPIPUK, 2014). SWOT Analysis (Datamonitor, 2011; MarketLine, 2014) 4.1 Strengths Apple’s several businesses are the result of a combined horizontal and vertical integration. Horizontal integration is comprised of its wide range of products, while the interconnectivity among such products is the result of the vertical integration. This has enabled the firm to create strong competitive advantages that competitors find difficult to challenge. Apple continues to enjoy strong growth rates and cash flows, as sales remain brisk particularly on its online stores. Apple commands high Application Service Providers (ASPs) which continue to perform well in the market while demand for ASPs of other company providers has declined. 4.2 Weaknesses Apple failed to anticipate certain product categories such as phablets, and therefore was a later entrant into them. Until recently, Apple had not launched a larger screen phone, despite having invented the tablet. Samsung outperformed Apple in this respect, having pioneered in the phablet with Galaxy Note in 2011, and now has a commanding presence in the phablet market. Apple positions itself in the premium category and prices itself at a single price point. Consumers who could not afford the premium price therefore turn to Samsung and other brands that have a range of differentially priced products for different markets. Apple has an overdependence on the iPad and iPhone for its revenues and growth rates; the revenues from these two products comprise 72.1% of its total revenues for 2013. Eventual decline in the sales of these products will threaten the company’s sustainability and viability. 4.3 Opportunities The iPhone and iPad remain popular in the personal gadgets market, and further growth in their sales could still be explored in the corporate arena. A trend known as bring-your-own-device has become popular in the workplace, as people have appropriated these personal devices for their business purposes. Companies have only begun to exploit mobility strategies to offer better choices to the customers, and iPads may be tapped for this. Apple has yet to fully tap the growth prospects in the emerging markets. There is a rising middle class in India in which Apple may carve out a greater market share. It should be recalled that India is a member of the Commonwealth with which the UK is developing increasingly closer ties. The vast market in emerging countries is far from saturation, and Apple in UK is in a position of take advantage of it. 4.4 Threats One of the weaknesses of Apple cited is its premium pricing policy. This policy shall prove detrimental to any efforts to penetrate an emerging market, because few if any will be able to afford it. Therefore, in the event of any economic downturns that tend to erode the buying power of consumers, demand may shift from Apple’s more expensive products to lower-priced competitors like Samsung. The complex environment of electronic communication devices is constantly innovating and poses a serious challenge to Apple’s position in the market. Players are aggressively competitive, principally because of the fluidity of this disruptive innovation that allows for constant redesigning and modification. Conclusion The business of Apple, Inc. is a viable investment in the UK, although recommendation of entry stock price will have to await a valuation analysis of the stock based on financial and economic models. Being an investment that relies in technological innovation, Apple will have to be a growth buy, that is, it may not have long-term prospects but it will continue to have a strong market presence in the medium term. The principal concern of investors will be the sustainability of Apple’s cutting-edge innovations in the post-Steve Jobs era. Apple should continue to maintain its core competence in technological innovation and its competitive advantage in its horizontal and vertical integration to remain a viable investment. References Apple Inc.: The Steve Jobs Effect (2012) Apple Case Study: The Steve Jobs Effect, pp. 1-16 Apple, Inc. (2014) ‘Apple Info.’ Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.apple.com/about/ BBC News (2014) ‘Air pollution needs more monitoring, says GMB union.’ BBC News UK. 8 June. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27753072 Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research (CEEDR) (2012, May) Early Assessment of the UK Innovation Investment Fund. Department for Business Innovation Skills. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32236/12-815-early-assessment-uk-innovation-investment-fund.pdf Chittedi, KR (2014) Global Financial Crisis And Contagion: Evidence For The Bric Economies, Journal of Developing Areas, 48, 4, pp. 243-264 Communications Equipment Industry Profile: United Kingdom (CEIPUK) (2014) Communications Equipment Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-37 Datamonitor: Apple Inc (2011) Apple, Inc. SWOT Analysis, pp. 1-10 Department for International Development (2013) Multilateral Aid Review: Assessment of Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multilateral-aid-review-assessment-of-climate-investment-funds-cifs Dugan, E (2013) ‘Government fights Europe over air pollution reduction.’ The Independent, 2 March. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/government-fights-europe-over-air-pollution-reduction-8517922.html Global Communications Equipment Industry Profile (GCEIP) (2014) Communications Equipment Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-35 Global Mobile Phones Industry Profile (GMPIP) (2014) Mobile Phones Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-34 Global Music Video Industry Profile (GMVIP) (2014) Music Video Industry Profile: Global, pp. 1-34 Great Britain Ministry of Justice (2011) Legal Aid Reform in England and Wales: The Government Response. London: Ministry of Justice Haß, L, Koziol, C, Schweizer, D (2014) What Drives Contagion in Financial Markets? Liquidity Effects versus Information Spill- Over, European Financial Management, 20, 3, pp. 548-573 Ioan, T, Nicolae, P, Eva, D (2013) An Inquiry Into Contagion Transmission And Spillover Effects In Stock Markets, Annals Of The University Of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 22, 2, pp. 472-482 Liu, Y, Ouyang, H (2014) Spillover and Comovement: The Contagion Mechanism of Systemic Risks Between the U.S. and Chinese Stock Markets, Emerging Markets Finance Trade, 50, pp. 109-121 Mallin, M, Finkle, T (2011) Apple Inc.: product portfolio analysis, Journal of The International Academy For Case Studies, 7, p. 63 MarketLine (2014) Apple Inc. SWOT Analysis, MarketLine, pp. 1-10 Mathiesen, K (2014) ‘Does London have the worst NO2 pollution on Earth?’ The Guardian: The Eco Audit. 10 July. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/10/london-worst-no2-pollution-earth Mobile Phones Industry Profile: United Kingdom (MPIPUK) (2014) Mobile Phones Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-37 Music Video Industry Profiles: the United Kingdom (MVIPUK) (2014) Music Video Industry Profile: United Kingdom, pp. 1-32 Syriopoulos, T (2014) Stock Market Volatility and Contagion Effects in the Financial Crisis: The Case Of South-Eastern Europe, n.p. EBSCO Trenca, I, Dezsi, E (2013) Connections Between the European Stock Markets, Review of Economic Studies Research Virgil Madgearu, 6, 2, pp. 151-171 United Kingdom Country Profile (2013) UK Country Profile, pp. 1-67 US Central Intelligence Agency (USCIA) (2014) ‘United Kingdom’ The World Factbook. Retrieved 25 October 2014 from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print/country/countrypdf_uk.pdf Yaqing, L, Hongbing, O (2013) Identification and Measurement of Contagion Effects Among Main Markets in Financial Crisis, Pakistan Journal of Statistics, 29, 6, pp. 1105-1116

Juliet is the Better Lover Essay

Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s greatest love story. With all the characters mixed up in love, hate, war and friendship, the bard’s tale spearheads a current debate on whether Romeo or Juliet was the better lover. This paper attempts to prove why Juliet is by far the better lover compared to Romeo. Experts have reason to believe that Romeo and Juliet were actually juveniles. Romeo was fourteen and Juliet was thirteen. This was evident in Elizabethan royalties where sons and daughters of the rich found themselves pre-arranged to sons and daughter of the same class. Girls were allowed to marry as young as 12. Between Romeo and Juliet, Juliet sacrificed more because she had to pursue her love to Romeo given the fact that she was a girl and was the younger of lover. Being a woman, much less a girl during the Elizabethan times meant following very strict rules. Breaking of these rules meant dishonor, disgrace and punishment from her parents. Although the Romeo deserves the same fate from his parents, the gender difference makes all the difference. â€Å"Elizabethan Women were totally dominated by the male members of their family. They were expected to instantly obey not only their father but also their brothers and any other male members of the family. The punishment for disobey was the whipping stool – the Elizabethan girls were beaten into submission and disobedience was seen as a crime against their religion. † (2005) Of the many definitions of love, Scott Peck describes it in his book The Road Less Traveled as; â€Å"The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth. † (Peck, 1978) In this definition between Juliet and Romeo, it is Juliet who has extended herself. Trusting her life to the poison of the priest, she totally follows the plan hoping that through her sacrifice, Romeo and herself can live happily ever after. During those times when total faith is expected and practiced in society, the belief in earthly concoctions is almost equal to belief in witches’ ways. But because of her love for Romeo, Juliet allows her heartbeat to stop for three days choosing a life with her Romeo than a well-off life with her parents and Paris. Compared to the sacrifice of Romeo and Juliet, it is Juliet’s sacrifice that can be considered weighty because she became consistent with her selflessness for her lover. Romeo couldn’t sacrifice his vengeance for his friend who was killed by Juliet’s cousin which made the turns in the story. If love is self-sacrifice then Romeo is a better lover because he killed himself for the love of Juliet but love is not self-sacrifice per se. Love is the act of expanding oneself so that one could evolve from something to something better. To note, Juliet died twice for her Romeo. The first time was when she drank the poison and the second time was when she stabbed herself. So in the matter of the number of times the lovers tried to kill themselves for the love of the lover, it is still Juliet that outnumbered Romeo. She not only outnumbered Romeo in the time she killed herself but in the ways she did it. Romeo only used the poison once but Juliet used the poison and used the dagger to lead her to bleed to death upon her realization that her Romeo was dead. Juliet is the better lover because she was the first one who had to endure a lover’s loss. When Romeo was banished, she grieved for her Romeo more than for her cousin. If Romeo did not instantly grieve the death of his friend, maybe Juliet’s cousin would still be alive, but then again the greatest love story would not have been told. Romeo grieved for Juliet only upon knowing of her death, which made very dramatic and weighty due to his committing suicide. However, the drama did not climax at the end of his suicide but it further gained heights when Juliet took the dagger and impaled it into her chest. â€Å"Suicide is not something that happens for a simple reason. It is impossible to rap up in a nutshell the many reasons a person may want to die. The reasons for suicide range from critical injury and fatal illness to momentary sadness or a sudden and emotionally jarring shock. Some reasons may seem logical (if you are in pain and dying anyway, why prolong the suffering? ) while others seem ridiculous (a crush dumped on you in front of friends and you feel humiliated) but whatever the reason, to the person thinking of suicide, they are unbearable. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of suicides are the result of a complex combination of circumstances, emotions and a psyche in turmoil. † (Hardcastle, 2007) For Juliet, it was definitely a combination of perplexities during that very moment. But surely among them, she had the option of just continuing her life free of anything and everything. She could start anew because she was dead to her parents and families anyway. However, since she was also young and in shock about the death of her Romeo, the dagger was a quick solution to make her be eternally together with Romeo. Juliet definitely chose love. Physiologically, Juliet is more capable of being the better lover. At fourteen, boys will be boys as could be proven by the rage Romeo had when his enemy killed his friend. The clouding of the mind, never mind if he was about to kill his bride’s cousin but the rage of testosterone controlled Romeo. There are physiological differences between girls and boys that would prove their capability of experiencing true and mature love, as explained by Dr. Gurian, 1999. 1. Adolescent boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed as emotionally disturbed than adolescent girls. Given this, Romeo most likely had decided to kill himself but that decision may have been influenced with disturbed thoughts. 2. Adolescent males are four times as likely to commit suicide as adolescent females. Given this data, the suicide of Romeo would not count so much as Juliet’s suicide due to gender difference. 3. Adolescent males are routinely found to channel other primary feelings; hurt, pain, grief, into anger. Given this, there would be a possibility for Romeo to have committed suicide due to anger at the whole world than due to love for Juliet. 4. Adolescent boys are 15 times as likely as adolescent females to be victims of violent crime. Adolescent boys commit violent crime at a higher rate than adult offenders. Given this data, the suicide of Romeo does not count more in intensity than Juliet in terms of the violence confronting the adolescents. The shock, fear, courage and other emotions of putting the dagger towards her heart has more weight due to the gender difference. 5. Millions of adolescent boys experience post-traumatic stress due to family, cultural, and socio-economic situations. A post-traumatic boy is ten times more likely than his female peer to act out in a way that is dangerous to another person. Proving who the better lover is most difficult but like in any debate, the definitions must be stated clearly. For this paper, love has been defined as the act of self-sacrifice in the most mature circumstances. Love is an act where a person would consistently show in her actions and decisions that she is bound to another because she wishes the other person expansion of himself with her along with him. The sacrifice of Juliet comes early on in the play as can be taken from the excerpt; â€Å"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet. † The line illustrates that Juliet will decide not to be Capulet if Romeo do not relinquish his name. This decision also illustrates how Juliet was ready to sacrifice her whole identity just for the sake of her lover. Maybe, for Romeo to become the better lover, he should have been more mature than Juliet. Meantime, the bard’s tale is a unique example of truly big women’s capacity to love is. References: †¦. , 2007. Elizabethan Women. http://www. william-shakespeare. info/elizabethan-women. htm Peck, Scott. M. MD. 1978. The Road Less Travelled. P. 81. Touchstone New York Hardcastle, Mike. 2007. Teen Advice. http://teenadvice. about. com/mbiopage. htm Gurian, Michael. PhD. 1999. Ten things each of us should know about adolescent boys.

Poetry can bring to life experiences and ideas Essay

Q. â€Å"Poetry can bring to life experiences and ideas which are otherwise difficult for us to understand what is your response to this view?† My personal response of poetry being the â€Å"subject and formulae†, for individuals helping them to understand complicated life matters, which are difficult for us to understand is shown by comparing the two poems ‘London’ by William Blake and ‘Prayer before birth’ by Louis MacNeice. We can begin to comprehend the authors individual thoughts and feelings by analysing them through our own interpretation of language, form and structure of the poem. â€Å"Prayer before birth† is written in 1944 which is at the end of the second world war. This poem reflects the innocence of a child in the mothers womb being brought into a world of experience and temptation. It is quite ironic to have a an unborn baby â€Å"knowing† of the outside world and experiences as of yet not being born. But MacNeice uses clever imagery â€Å"†¦Let not the bloodsucking bat or the rat or the stoat or the club – footed ghoul come near me.† This gives us more of an image of how both innocence and experience differ from one another. This poem is a prayer which is to protect the innocence of the unborn child – to nurture them constructively against the pressures they might experience in the twentieth century. The way that MacNeice has constructed the poem is by conologically going through life experiences as we keep on reading. This is taken from the second stanza by asking God to not allow people to influence him into bad doings, where here he has a choice from early on in life to make the right decisions and choose the right pathway, however if he doesn’t this is related to the seventh stanza where his doings now turn into something which he has no control over and that it is â€Å"leathal automation†, due to the experience he is accustomed to. Even the structure of the poem visually illustrates the beginning to the ending of his â€Å"life† as each stanza gets narrower. But by looking at the seventh Stanza, also its the language of the poem becoming quicker,as we proceed toward the end of the poem altogether â€Å"†¦hither and thither or hither and thither..† This in comparison to the poem ‘London’ by Wiliam Blake. Where by the poem is of the Romanics which tends to attack the form of experience as it is alongside innocence due to nature not nurture. A poem of social protest, against the suffering of all who live in a world such as this. Written in 1789 (during the french revolution, and also the british industrial revolution). It’s about misery and human despair, the â€Å"mind forg’d manacles† of depression imprisoning people. The rapidly indutrialising economy and society corrupt and poisin all those who live in it. This poem is about how people may disfunctionally go through experience and end up passing their knowledge through to the next innocent generation. Blake tends to use the imagery of cjildren a lot as they symbolise purity and power. His argument is that if childhood is reacked then so is the the adult that they become. Throught every stage of his poem he uses a more innocent imagery of a child from â€Å"infant† to â€Å"new born infant†. Also he uses clever imagery of purity contrasted against impurity. Quite a few oximorons are used to contast imagery in the poem. Showing how the worldof experience can quickly corruptand destroy the innocence. â€Å"†¦Every black’ning Church appals;† â€Å"Black’ning† meaning dirty metaphorically and also literally. This also shows the church which is appuled by the conditions but turns a blind eye, â€Å"black’ning† is contrasted with purity which is supposed to be of the church , but the chuch is blackned by turning a blind eye. This imagery is used to show the state of human nature which people usually turn a blind eye. â€Å"†¦How the youthful Harlot’s curse† Blake uses his imagery of a young prosititute, which here is also contrasted with innocence which is corrupted. â€Å"†¦chimey-sweepers cry† is exploiting innocence. Becoming black,dark and tained. Also the dying breath of the solider,which is infact the last dying breath of the solider, this is about ordinary people killing ordinary people for causes which may not benefit them,thihs maybe could be connected to revolution. Therefore the running of blood down place walls,shows the guilt on the monarchy. â€Å"†¦Runs in blood down place walls† London is about how the controlling nature takes over innocence and the experience is now of automation. He shows this in the first stanza where theart of mapping, controlling, and resitricting are contrasted against the â€Å"flow† of the Thames. Not a poem of observed factual detail but Blake’s perception of London, he uses the traditional form of alternate rhyming lines to imitate the repititive predictability of the circle of suffering. Blake has experience of London so he is able to reflect back from when he was an innocent child to now of what he holds the knowledge of experience. This is shown in the first line of the poem: â€Å"†¦I wander thro’ each charter’d street,† The lyrical quality is quite simplistic it is not a performance based poem. Alliteration is used to addto the imagery Blake is trying to create of London. The words â€Å"weakness,† and â€Å"Woe† makes the poem sound of a feeble minded and gives the feeling of a spiritual lack of strengh of character. In the second stanza â€Å"every† is used to add imact which is used constanmtly through the first, second and third lines. The poem it self is quite short and in every stanza thereis four lines, the imagery is also quite strong in the short space Blake has used to give us an idea of what he feels London is all about. This could be due to having to get his point across to people Both these poems, in my opinion, share feelings of concern and disgust for experience. If i had to pick which one I prefered I would choose the Blake poem. This is because the meaning of the words is more clearcut. I accept that the point of the MacNeice poem may be to leave it up to the reader to decide whether or not the poem is sarcastic or not. But I dont consider this device to be particularly effective ; thought provoking maybe but not effective. The Blake poem is also more emotionally charged and melodramatic it is almost scary as the poem relates to London which is a mere 10-15 miles away and sadly corruption and sexually transmitted diseases are still relevant themes today.