The Golden Door to America Essay Example For Students

The Golden Door to America Essay I wrote this paper for Political Life 1110Should America Close the Golden Door? America has, is, and will always be a nation of immigrants: the great melting pot. In the years that have passed since Emma Lazarus poem was inscribed on the Statue of Liberty the golden door has seen times when it was open wide and times when it was closed shut to almost all immigrants. Many people tend to look at the present immigration problems as a purely modern dilemma. The truth is America has always struggled with the issue of immigration, both legal and illegal. Changing times however make it imperative that our government re-examine and adjust todays immigration laws to todays standards. Those standards however are not easily defined. All too often the issue of immigration is used as a political tool or is lost in heated moral debates. In any discussion about immigration you will have those who claim it is good for our nation and those who claim it is ruining the nation. More often than not the bottom line in any debate of this sort is money; will more or less immigration mean more or less money for those already in America. The moral debates come down to a question of who we are as a nation and how we want the rest of the world to perceive Americans. If this great country was forged and built by immigrants passing through the golden door , then how can this same country turn away new immigrants. We will write a custom essay on The Golden Door to America specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The inscription on the Statue of Liberty invites all to enter, yet not all are allowed to enter. Immigration has become a selective process with many gray areas. Now Americans are faced with a new dilemma; the nation must decide not whether it is willing to accept new immigrants, but whether it can afford new immigrants. All new immigrant, both legal and illegal must be considered in this equation. Congress can attempt to ease the burden of legal immigration by passing restrictive laws and only allowing in those who they believe will become self-sufficient. Congress must also find a way to slow the flow of illegal immigration by enforcing the laws already in place. What this paper will attempt to do is bring the immigration issue into perspective. America most certainly has immigration problems but they will not be fixed by eliminating immigration all together. In fact, America will never totally eliminate immigration, because no matter how tightly the door is closed some illegal immigrants will get through. As long as America continues to be seen as a nation of prosperity, opportunity, and freedom there will be those who wish to come to America. Immigrants have always come to America looking for a better life and Americans are always forgetting that their forefathers were once looking for that same life. As a nation there must be a decision on whether immigration is an issue of conscience or economics. History of Immigration Laws Though most Americans see immigration as a modern problem it has been heavily debated since the 19th century. Throughout most of Americas history immigration was seen as a natural process that benefited the nation (Divine 2). Until the 1890s there were no clearly defined policies on immigration. During this time the country started questioning the economic benefits of more immigrants, so things have note changed in that respect. In May 1921, the first bill in American history restricted European immigration and created the quota system (Divine 5). This turn toward restriction could be justified by the downward turn in the economy. Who could argue for more immigrants when the nations own citizens couldnt find work. The slowing economy and the spirit of intense nationalism in the United States at this time made immigration a hot topic (Divine 23). After the depression hit everyone was in agreement that there was a need to limit immigration, of course the extent of those limits were not easily agreed upon (Divine 77). World War II brought with it a new set of immigrants, and eventually the passing of the Displaced Persons Act of 1947. This allowed immigrants, displaced by the war to enter the country above quota limits (Divine 128). Since then our legislators have been faced with numerous proposals concerning immigration, too many in fact to mention. Those mentioned above are significant in the fact that they show a definite shift in Americas attitude toward immigration. Since the 1920s immigration has not been seen as a natural process, but a process that could overwhelm a nation if left unchecked. Current Immigration Laws and Issues As of this time there are no less than fifty proposed bills in Congress that can affect immigration, which proves that this is an ongoing battle with little chance of ending. In recent years the immigration policy has found itself in a state of flux; going back and forth between pro and anti immigration. The Immigration Act of 1990 is one of the more current policies to regulate immigration. This policy sets a flexible annual limit on immigration at a rate of 700,000 immigrants per year until 1994 when the number will drop to 675,000. This number of course does not include refugees and those seeking asylum (Immigration.. .). If these numbers seem staggering one must take into account the estimated 300,000 to 400,000 illegal immigrants added to the nations population each year (Suro 8). In the mid-90s there was a shift in Americas immigration policy to close the doors and end the current era of immigration (Suro 8). In fact in President Clintons 1995 State of the Union Message he said: It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and we must do more to stop it. (Immigration ) This attitude led to the Immigration Enforcement Improvements Act of 1995, which was meant to secure our borders, make deportation of illegal easier, and discourage the employment of illegal aliens (Immigration). In essence this was a proposal to enforce the laws already in place. This was a strong attempt by the government to limit illegal immigration while facilitating legal immigration. As of now, due to the lack of credible data, it is unclear if this legislation worked. What is clear is the continuing struggle to find a balance in the immigration system. Many citizens are concerned with such issues as overpopulation, lack of jobs, and the cost to tax payers if this mass wave of legal and illegal immigrants continues (Castro 198). Concerns America has established such an inherent open heart/open door policy that it seems the melting pot may be about to boil over. Some estimates put the United States population over capacity by as much as one-hundred million (Amselle 60). Americas lax attitude toward overpopulation may have turned to one of danger that must be avoided (Amselle 60). .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d , .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .postImageUrl , .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d , .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:hover , .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:visited , .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:active { border:0!important; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:active , .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8a8525e8d2f3e9051988394981f3b67d:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Animal Testing Essay Conclusion In the past immigration was somewhat balanced; a good economy meant more immigrants and a slower economy saw a decrease in immigration (Amselle 60). There are those who feel the United States has absorbed all the people it can (Amselle 60). Then you have those like Joel Kotkin of the Progressive Policy Institute who feel that the large numbers of immigrants are working age adults, that America needs to offset the growing number of pensioners (Amselle 60). Even if the immigrant population can offset the number of pensioners, the number of resources in the country will still be divide amongst a much larger population. One must also take into account the number of illegal immigrants added to the population. They will also be replacing those retiring pensioners at a lower wage with no taxes or social security payments. America has a large population of baby boomers and will need working-age persons to fill the void left by their retirements, but there must be a limit to the number of immigrants we become dependant upon and a dramatic decrease in illegal immigrants. During the 1980s when all other industrialized nations were making restrictions on immigration Americas doors were open and now the nation begins the daunting task of closing those doors (Briggs 5). There is some concern that closing the doors could heighten the feeling that the nation is under siege (Suro 15). Overpopulation is in itself a world wide issue but is not undisputed as a cause for concern in America. A lack of jobs is a major concern for most. Will there be enough jobs for everyone? Can our economy support its own citizens, immigrants, and illegal aliens. America is experiencing a period of economic health, but history shows that this upward economy will not last indefinitely. The working poor are concerned that illegal immigrants may be holding down wages and taking the few unskilled jobs that are available in some areas (Kirschten 16). These are legitimate fears that call into question the governments ability to regulate immigration. Tax paying citizens are also concerned that the tax dollars they pay each year are being used to help educate illegal immigrants and not those who are rightfully in this country (Amselle 60). When there is a large population of immigrants in an area citizens tend to view them in a hostile manner because of the perceived notion that illegal immigrants are using resource meant for legal residents (Bean 204). In reality illegal immigrants have never been eligible for welfare and other public services (Castro 180). Benefits of Immigration Immigrants help to relieve our nations labor shortage. The truth is that due to a decline in the fertility rate in the United States some leading demographers predict that without substantial immigration America will have a shrinking population (Briggs 127). A shrinking population would mean a higher cost of living and a slow decline in the economy. This alone does not diffuse the alarm of overpopulation but it does give a different view of the situation. Take into account the agricultural sector of American society which is heavily dependant upon immigrant workers, because non-immigrants are less willing to work on the farms (Mont 12). In terms of legal immigrants, America must find a way to make immigration work for the good of the nation as well as the best interest of the immigrants (Briggs 240). In the end a young immigrant population may very well save such programs as social security by increasing the number of workers in the market (Mont 18). These are all economic benefits, but the diversity the United States gains is a priceless commodity that future generations of Americans will need to succeed in a growing international job market. The Cost of Immigration The United States immigration policy does not allow people to immigrate if they are expected to be dependant on public services. Yet in 1993 approximately 12% of the 5. 9 million recipients of Supplemental Security Income benefits were immigrants, even though they only account for about 5% of the population (Mont 15). Statistics such as these add to the growing anti-immigrant sentiment among American citizens. This anti-immigrant attitude was clearly reflected in 1994 with the passing of Californias Proposition 187. Actions such as Proposition 187 can create a very hostile and possibly dangerous atmosphere for all immigrants. What it really boils down to is a belief among Americans that immigrants simply cost too much. Immigration means increased job competition, more money spent on welfare, and increased competition for educational funding. Although Proposition 187 was aimed at curbing the health care cost of illegal immigrants, most Americans simply see it as an immigrant issue and pay little attention to details concerning the status of those immigrants actually receiving benefits. Many believe that immigrant workers, both legal and illegal, hold down wages in low paying jobs. Especially in areas such as Californias Central Valley where most of the workers are immigrant and up to 40% are believed to be illegal (Kirschten 16). Illegal Immigration The main concern with illegal immigration is the strain it can place upon the economy. There are also concerns about the nations sovereignty, if America cant control its borders then America may not be perceived as a sovereign nation (Mont 16). Illegal immigration is not only bad for the nation, but for the illegal immigrant as well. The fact that illegal workers have no recourse in the law makes them susceptible to unscrupulous business people who will exploit them simply to make money. The supply of illegal workers has created a part of the United States business economy that works outside of government regulations (Suro 34). Illegal immigrants face lower wages, unsafe work environments, and a lack of benefits. This in turn keeps wages low and makes it difficult for legal residents to get these jobs. Most employers are looking at the bottom line and illegal immigrant workers mean less wages and benefits cost, which add up to more profit. The government of course passed laws in 1986 making it unlawful to hire illegal immigrants; then they failed to fund the enforcement of these same laws (Suro 32). In reality illegal aliens make up less than 2% of the population, but what seems like an insignificant number of people has had great impact on our nation (Suro 50). The irony of the entire situation is that while the nation is calling for an end to illegal immigration, no one is forcing illegal immigrants to leave (Suro 35). While illegal aliens violate the law with their presence, we guarantee their children access to public education and emergency medical care (Suro 35). This is just one example of the many contradictions in Americas immigration policies. These contradictions are what lead to the frustration many people feel toward a system that is no longer in control. Many citizens, especially the working poor, feel that illegal immigrants sometimes receive more benefits. .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 , .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .postImageUrl , .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 , .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:hover , .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:visited , .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:active { border:0!important; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:active , .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402 .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u7532afcd4583493de4b9039d50a3c402:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Staying Healthy and Eating Right Essay The reality of illegal immigration is that it has been an increasingly difficult problem to solve. For three decades now our government has been trying to find ways to alleviate the number of illegal immigrants in the nation. One attempt was the Amnesty program in the mid-90s for those who had been in the country since 1992 (Suro 40). Suro states that this covered only about 60% of the illegal population and drew much debate from California. Which is ironic seeing as how California is often at the forefront of the campaign against illegal immigration. Illegal immigration has become a familiar part of American society and will not likely see much improvement in the next millenium. The Future of Immigration INS has published a booklet called Strategic Plan: INS 200, Accepting the Challenge, which outlines their mission and objectives for the coming year. Most of these objectives are the same as they have always been: facilitate compliance with the law, create disincentives in the workplace, increase the security of INS documentation, and work with other agencies (U. S. Immigration ). This isnt the first time the INS has had good objectives, but it isnt likely that they will receive the necessary funding to implement these plans successfully. Our government has tried to curb the flow of illegal immigrants with such actions as the North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA, which is expected to reduce illegal migration from Mexico (U.S. Immigration 5). The problem is the timing of such policies; NAFTA is expected to work only after a decade in which Mexico can produce the jobs needed. The INS also reports that by the year 2000, the population of prime labor age in America will drop by 8.5 million. That is a large loss of labor and can only be offset by the immigrant population. The key is to make sure that this decrease is offset by a legal immigrant population. That is what the government attempted to do with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Marley 880). The intent was to cut back on crime, terrorism, and welfare fraud. They fell short of their intent because the inadvertently clumped all immigrants together, both legal and illegal (Marley 885). America will continue to allow immigrants to enter the country for numerous reasons; such as those who take up a common cause against a foreign foe, as a gesture of shame after some foreign debacle, for economic reasons, and for purely humanitarian purposes (United States). recently we saw our government agree to accept 20,000 Kosovar refugees, and financially help with 20,000 more in Albania. Now 20,000 is a tiny gesture in the big picture, but in a world of crises how many times can our government afford such gestures. Can America continue to play the role of the last true hope for the huddled masses of the world? Conclusion Illegal immigration must be curbed. If nothing else it is unfair to those who wait for years to come to America legally. Currently illegal immigrants can choose to leave on their own meaning they can come back legally if they choose. Our laws say that we can formally deport these illegal immigrants and bar them from legal entry. Why does our government continue to create loopholes in the laws they pass. I dont feel that those enter the country illegally should have a right to return; if they are willing to break immigration laws they are more likely to break other laws. What does this policy say to those who lawfully await entry? That in America youre only guilty if youre caught and then only if you dont agree to leave quietly. The lack of punishment for illegal migration is one of the reasons behind its increase. That however is just my opinion and the would not disappear even if strict punishments were the norm. It is clear that the debate and controversy over immigration will not go away anytime in the near future. What is not clear however is how the nation will fare in the midst of such debate. In the past Americans were proud to be that one shining hope in the world. They were willing to accept the tired and poor, but America has changed and immigration must change also. To those in underdeveloped countries the Statue of Liberty and her invitation to a better life must be hard to resist. What they dont see is what lies beyond her golden torch; a country teeming with people in fierce competition for that elusive dream of a better life. As a student of history and someone who is proud of my heritage I want to say let them come. Let all who need a better life come to America and try to build it here. As a realist I know that our country can only support so many people. There are only so many jobs, so much land for housing, and so forth. Maybe someday in the near future there will be a balance found between the economics and the humanitarianism. A balance that will allow those searching for a better life to come to America and know that they add to our nations success. The days of give me your tired, your poor may have to end but our door should always be open to those longing to work toward a better tomorrow in a land of freedom. Works Cited Amselle, Jorge. Immigrants: Helping or Harming the U.S. ?. The World I 10 (1995): 60. Bean, Frank D., Barry Edmonston, and Jefferey S. Passel. Undocumented Migration to the United States:IRCA and the Experience of the 1980s.Washington: The Urban Institute Press, 1990. Briggs, Vernon M. , Jr. Mass Immigration and the National Interest. 2nd ed. Armonk: Sharpe, 1996. Castro, Max J. Free Markets, Open Societies, Closed Borders? Trends in International Migration and Immigration Policy in the Americas. Coral Gables: North-South Center, 1999. Divine, Robert A. American Immigration Policy, 1924-1952. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1957. Immigration Enforcement Improvements Act of 1995:FAct Sheet. Lectric Law Library. 9 Nov. 1999 Kirschten, Dick. Supply and Demand. Government Executive 31 (May 1999): 16. Marley, Bruce Robert. Exiling the new felons:The consequences of the retroactive application of aggravated felony convictions to lawful permanent residents. San Diego Law Review 35 (1998 Summer): 855-895. Mont, Daniel. Welfare and Immigrants. Migration World 6 (1996): 8-20. Suro, Robert. Watching Americas Door: The Immigration Backlash and the New Policy Debate. New York: The Twentieth Century Fund Press, 1996. United States;The Next Masses. Economist 1 May 1999: 26-28. U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Strategic Plan: Toward INS 2000: Accepting the Challenge. Bibliography:

HRM practices worlwide Essays

HRM practices worlwide Essays HRM practices worlwide Essay HRM practices worlwide Essay Building the National HR Competency Model: The four pillars of Professionalism By Marius Meyer, CEO: SA Board for People Practices (SABPP) Last month we introduced you to the new national HR Competency Model of the SA Board for People Practices (SABPP). As the HR standards-setting and professional body for HR, the aim of the model is to set a national standard for HR competence, and to provide HR professionals with a common framework for developing the required competencies in meeting the national standard. The model recognises that HR professionals are at different levels, specialisations and stages in their careers, et a common framework is intended to provide focus, consistency and development opportunities. SA Board for People Practices www. sabpp. co. za The competency model consists of three broad competence areas: 1 . The four pillars of professionalism form the square shape of the house as the foundation for professional HR practice. 2. Five core competencies needed by HR professionals to do high quality HR work constitute the building blocks. 3. Five HR capabilities required to ensure strategic HR impact form the roof. In this article we focus on the pillars of professionalism, i. e. duty to society, ethics, rofessionalism, as well as HR and Business knowledge. The central argument is that for HR to have an impact at the strategic and governance levels of organisations, we first need to get the basics right, not only to be regarded as true professionals, but also to develop our competence at the basic entry level where any profession gains stature and credibility, as the foundation of competence in any profession. PILLARS OF HR PROFESSIONALISM Drawing on the doctoral study by Penny Abbott at the University of Johannesburg, and masters dissertation of Huma van Rensburg at the University of Pretoria, but eworked as part of the new national HR competency model, the four pillars of HR professionalism form the foundation of the HR Competency Model: 2 Duty to society: Penny Abbott highlighted the socio-economic role of HR in society. HR professionals have a duty to society in delivering high quality HR work that has an impact on society. As professionals it is our duty to ensure that employers comply with labour and other relevant legislation and codes of good practice. We also need to be the custodians for good people practices in organisations, and ensure that people are treated fairly, and with respect and dignity. Furthermore, HR competence in driving effective transformation, skills development, sustainability and BBBEE interventions contributes significantly in fulfilling our duty to society. In addition, meeting or exceeding international labour standards such as the guidelines of the International Labor Organization epitomises our commitment and duty to society. On the negative side, but consistent with the standards and approaches used by other professional bodies, SABPP needs to ensure that registered HR professionals who do not meet professional and ethical standards are scrapped from the HR register of rofessionals. In this way, we fulfill our duty to society by protecting society (employees, employers and broader society) against unprofessional and unethical practitioners. Ethics: HR professionals should contribute to ethics in organisations and drive ethics in accordance with the SABPP Ethical Code and HR Guide on Ethics. Hence, competence in the area of ethics enables HR professionals to support management teams in meeting the ethical requirements of the King Ill Code on Governance for South Africa, as well as the requirements of the Companies Act. On he one hand, we need to behave ethically as HR professionals and meet our own national professional code of ethics irrespective of where we do HR work. On the other hand, HR professionals have to play a proactive role in driving ethics and values within their organisations in accordance with the espoused values and principles of their companies. Thus, HR professionals become champions of ethics, integrity and honesty in the workplace. The real test of HR competence in the area of ethics is whether we can challenge and influence management in creating an ethical alues-driven organisational culture. Professionalism: HR professionals should manage themselves professionally in acting and behaving like true professionals in the standard of HR work they deliver. Competence as a professional constitutes two areas of competency, i. e. etting the basics of professionalism right, and secondly to provide professional approaches to HR problems and issues in the workplace. The ability to analyse problems in a professional and systematic way, and to deliver professionalism is all about. The basics of professionalism are to get the few ssential professional work skills right, for example doing your homework about an issue, preparing a high quality professional report or presentation, and providing appropriate feedback and measurements abou t the solutions implemented. HR and Business knowledge: HR professionals must have good HR and sound business knowledge if they want to be successful as professionals and strategic partners. HR professionals need sound HR knowledge of all aspects of HR, from HR planning and recruitment, right through to exit strategies. While functional experts such as organisation development or remuneration specialists require in-depth nowledge of their specialist areas, all HR generalists need to have sound knowledge of all HR functions in order to deliver integrated HR solutions. In 3 addition to HR knowledge, HR professionals must possess business knowledge to ensure alignment between HR work and the needs of the business. Therefore, the importance of sound business acumen to enable and compliment the execution of professional HR work can not be over-emphasised. CONCLUSION The new SABPP HR Competency model sets the benchmark for HR professionalism in the modern South African work environment. Considering the four pillars outlined in this article, one could say that our duty to society forms the foundation of the HR competency house. In essence, our duty to society compels us to answer the question: What difference do we make as HR professionals to our organisations and the society in which we operate? Ethics and professionalism are the walls. If the foundation and walls are not strong, the house will fall down. Furthermore, HR and business knowledge is the ceiling of the house, thus acquiring sound HR and business knowledge opens up opportunities for HR professionals to move to the trategic level of the HR house, i. e. the roof. Ultimately, all professions are guided by similar pillars, although the context differs from profession to profession. Building the HR profession on a strong foundation and grounded in the four pillars, HR professional competence does not only resolve around the need for getting its own house in order, it also positions HR at a comparable level of competence to other professions. However, our credibility as HR professionals will depend on our ability to continuously develop our competence in the four pillars of the HR profession in order o raise to the level of excellence expected from our stakeholders. Acknowledgements: SABPP acknowledges the masters dissertation of Huma van Rensburg completed at Johannesburg as the conceptual background to this article. We thank Alan Hosking for publishing the model in the countrys top HR magazine, HR Future. For more information about HR Future, go to www. hrfuture. net and for more information about SABPP, visit www. sabpp. co. za Comments about the new HR Competency model are very welcome and will be used for further refinement and development, please send your views to [emailprotected] co. za. 4

Miles Davis and Kind of Blue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Miles Davis and Kind of Blue - Essay Example This "Miles Davis and Kind of Blue" describes the career of Miles Davis, his contribution in jazz music and his album "Kind of Blue". The album in focus, Kind of Blue, was first released in 1959. The importance of this album lies apart from the importance of the innovations that it brought into the field of jazz, in the fact that it is the highest selling jazz album of all time. Its historical importance can be gauged from this fact itself. This album is unique as a result of the revolutionary impact of the chord changes that it effected in the structure of the jazz song. The melody of the song was earlier created through a structure that would be written earlier. However, with the introduction of modal jazz that was not exactly a Davis innovation, there was considerable scope for innovation as the melody was created through changes in the modes of the scale rather than the changes in chords. The dependence on chord was changed in a massive way when it came to Kind of Blue. This is t he reason as to why Davis is considered one of the greatest innovators of the genre. The technique of improvisation was built into the very structure of the composition and melody whereby the progression of the song could then happen through a process of improvisation on the part of the singer. Brought about by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, this revolution was brought to its logical conclusion by Miles Davis through Kind of Blue, his greatest album (Kaplan). One of the main genres of the twentieth century as far as music is concerned, is jazz. ... This album is unique as a result of the revolutionary impact of the chord changes that it effected in the structure of the jazz song. The melody of the song was earlier created through a structure that would be written earlier. However, with the introduction of modal jazz that was not exactly a Davis innovation, there was considerable scope for innovation as the melody was created through changes in the modes of the scale rather than the changes in chords. The dependence on chord was changed in a massive way when it came to Kind of Blue. This is the reason as to why Davis is considered one of the greatest innovators of the genre. The technique of improvisation was built into the very structure of the composition and melody whereby the progression of the song could then happen through a process of improvisation on the part of the singer. Brought about by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, this revolution was brought to its logical conclusion by Miles Davis through Kind of Blue, his g reatest album (Kaplan). One of the main genres of the twentieth century as far as music is concerned, is jazz. Apart from the innovations that it introduced into other forms of music, it is also significant for its political importance as a genre that represented the aspirations and cultures of African American communities. The genre provided a voice to several people over the ages, voices that had been marginalized in the schemes of things as they existed earlier. The importance of jazz also lies in the way in which it was used to talk of certain issues that failed to be highlighted earlier as a result of the lack of an appropriate form of music or art. The emergence of jazz gave Black musicians an outlet through its freewheeling style that did not impose any

IPAD VS TABLET Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IPAD VS TABLET - Essay Example This product has the best Ios application store which facilitates wider selection (Stanton's). IPad as compared to its competitors has continued to improve its products coming up with varieties. These generational have additional improvement and tweaks enabling it to being the best tablet. The existing and the prospective consumers always expect new and additional features on the IPad thus attributing to consolidated customer base and loyalty (Weinstein 62). The following are the key notable features which make IPad more distinct and better placed in the market with other competing products. Retina display IPad has a beautiful and large display thus making the user to have a better experience as compared with the display of other similar competing products (iPad). The IPad Retina display feature has remarkable resolution of 2048 by 1536 which is further enhanced by rich colour saturation and 3.1 million pixels. The pixels are a number of times more than other competing products scram bling for the same market. The IPad pixels are very close together thus enabling the viewer to be able to have a total different view of the photos, articles images and enabled record of HD video in full as well as the improved new Face Time HD camera. Improved device performance IPad have new generational products which are considered most powerful by its customers. It has a high speed delivery performance in both the CPU and its graphics performance (iPad). This makes IPad faster and more responsive compared with other competing products (Stanton's). IPad applications launch faster and they run smoothly, making it cool is the graphics-intensive games which are lifelike enhanced by the gorgeous Retina display. Also in built is the fast and improved image signal process which makes IPad camera sharper and a more clear display compared to other products. Built-in applications The IPad users find it more extraordinary in using IPad applications as compared to other products. These app lications are characterized with new adventures with easy performance of many tasks. IPad has more than 275000 apps from its apps store which are beautiful and immersive which have been designed to perform various tasks. This enhances performance of the many tasks on a single device and this is impossible in other devices. With these characteristics and attributes IPad has become a notable competitive product in its market and admired by its existing and potential customers. Market Segment Description Apple Company has constantly added more features and specifications on its major product iPad in order to appeal more prospective buyers. With the above mention key important features and characteristics this product is better position for the completion in the underlying market segments (Weinstein 108). The iPad mainly targets individual customers who want to perform tasks without being dependent on the keyboards. The target market segment for Apple’s iPad is majorly businessme n and professionals who need portable, accessible and easy to operate devices for the various tasks. Another key market segment is that of the young customers comprising mainly of the students, this is attributed by the trendy and innovative features and iPad design with variety of selections (Pickton 78). It is also notable that the market segment of the older people is emerging. This diversification of the market segment resulted into iPad gaining popularity and has become widely accepted in the global

Lab report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lab report - Essay Example The method of tensile testing is conducted by a ‘tensile testor’ in which the test specimen is clamped and loaded and subjected to a tensile force until the point of failure. ‘Stress-strain curves are an extremely important graphical measure of a material’s mechanical properties’ (Roylance, 2001). Stress is defined as the force of resistance offered against the deformation and Strain is defined as the ratio of the change in length to the original length of the member (Ramamrutham, 2003). The stress-strain curve for the specimen is an important method of characterizing the behavior of the material and adjudging its suitability as a material for any function. Almost all the materials, obey Hooke’s law in the early portion of the curve i.e. at low strain which states that stress is proportional to strain with the constant of proportionality being the Young’s modulus, E: Stress = Strain ? Young’s Modulus. As the strain increases, the linear proportionality comes to an end at a point termed as the proportional limit and marks the beginning of the plastic phase rearrangement of the specimen. Plasticity requires molecular mobility and materials lacking this mobility are usually brittle rather than ductile. â€Å"Polymeric materials behave both as viscous fluids as well as elastic solids. They are viscoelastic materials† (Koustos, 2002). The stress-strain curve of a polymer is different from those of other materials. The critical point in the stress-strain curve is the yield point beyond which the material enters the plastic deformation state. Experimentation The experiment was conducted to obtain the stress-strain curve of polymer samples and study their behavior under the application of tensile force. For this test, polymer samples were loaded and clamped in the tensile testing machine. The tensile testing machine that was used was Instron 1026. The tensile testing machine pulls the sample from both ends an d measures the force required to pull the specimen apart and how much the sample stretches before breaking. The testing was done on four different specimens: PE (polyethylene – from a shopping bag), PP (polypropylene – from plastic folder), Rubber (natural rubber – from a rubber band) and Acetate (cellulose acetate – from an overhead transparency). The specimens were obtained by cutting the polymer samples into appropriate lengths. The thickness and width of the samples were measured before stretching each one of them and putting them in the tensile tester. The dimensions of the specimens are taken with the aid of calipers for precision. Results and Discussion The stress-strain curves for the various test specimens are as follows: Figure 1: Stress-Strain Curve of Rubber (Poly-Isoprene) Figure 2: Stress-Strain Curve of Acetate (Cellulose Acetate) Figure 3: Stress-Strain Curve of PE (Polyethylene) Figure 4: Stress-Strain Curve of PP (Polypropylene) S. no. T est name Tensile Strength (MPa) Elongation at failure 1 PE 11.1 26% 2 PP 23.5 738% 3 Rubber 4.1 575% 4 Acetate 1 181.9 131% 5 Acetate 2 297.3 114% 6 Acetate 3 166.9 93% It can be observed from the graphs that the stress-strain curve of acetate was obtained thrice. The possible explanation for this can be that cellulose acetate exhibits different tensile strengths at different states – dry, wet & after being boiled (Stadlinger). The difference in

The Roles Of Social Workers Social Work Essay

The Roles Of Social Workers Social Work Essay This assignment is going to explain the role of the Social Worker in the Child Protection setting and consider what interventions they can delivery to safeguard a child. It is also going to be making links with anti-discriminatory practice, and show the importance of working in partnerships with service users and other professionals. I am going to focus this assignment on Children at Risk of Significant Harm. This is such a broad area, so I am going to particularly focus on children aged 0-3 years. Physical abuse may involve, hitting, shaking, throwing, suffocating, burning or scolding, poisoning, drowning, or causing deliberate illness. Child Abuse and Neglect cause personal misery for children and parents raise public concern and requires professional attention (Waterhouse, LÂ ¸2008) In all cases the Social Worker has to ensure that the childs welfare is paramount, the child must be safeguarded. The social worker has a duty to investigate if a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, as delay can be detrimental to the child (Children Act 1989). The Social Worker will receive a referral and from this information they should check to see if the child or family is already known to Social Services, if they are then the Social Worker can read through recorded case note and learn some background information before making a visit. If they are not known to Social Services then the Social Worker needs to make a visit to the family and investigate the referral. This is where they will need to try and find out some back ground information to build a picture of the family members. When the Social Worker arrives at the home they may find that the family are reluctant to speak to them or even let them into their home, so it is important that the Social Worker explains to them exactly who they are and that they have received a referral regarding the safety of the children. The visit is likely to be a shock to the caregivers and they may feel scared and intimidated, the Social Worker must assure them that they are here to make sure the children are safe and that the caregivers are ok, and then request that they come in and speak to them and try and make this visit is easy as they can. This will start to build the relationship. The Social Worker must be honest, clear and make sure all involved understand what happens to the information the users and carers give to the Social Worker, how it is recorded, who it will be shared with and how it might be used. (Lester Parrott 2008). It is important that the Social Worker is always aware of the child, as they are the main service user it is important that they see the child on visits and see that they are in good health with no obvious signs of physical abuse. It is the Social Workers job to advise, assist, and befriend the family, and must not portray themselves as being powerful and somebody that can force the family into doing thing, this kind of attitude can be oppressive and it is less likely that a family will be willing to cooperate with a Social Worker that demands the family do things. The family are more likely to work with the Social Worker if they can all work together. However it is the Social Workers duty to investigate who is at risk and see if they can identify what is the cause of the risk. Other people who have contact with children also have a responsibility to spot signs of abuse, these could be other family members, health visitors, GP, and nursery workers and for children of school age, teachers, school nurses and even dinner staff may be able to spot signs and any other person that has contact with them. Physical abuse causes misery, anxiety, fear, loneliness and many more feelings and when abuse is identified it requires professional attention. A baby at risk from, or suffering significant harm at this young age in the form of physical abuse will be unable to communicate with words so it is important that the Social Worker is always aware and looks for signs. They may do this at their visit. This can be done in an easy and non intrusive way perhaps by asking parent if they mind if they spend some time with the child and perhaps getting down on the floor with the child, and interacting with them through play, this also allows the Social Worker to see how the react to their presence. If the parent does not allow this then this may be a sign of a problem, however this may be because they have no trust and are not willing to cooperate, it is important for the Social Worker to remain open minded, aware and non-judgemental. There may also be obvious physical signs like bruising, cuts or burns, in this case if the Social Worker would talk with the care givers and if they believe this to be a genuine emergency then they must interv ene immediately and can request Police Protection Under Section 46 of Children Act 1989 where the Police have the power to remove or detain the child immediately. No child can be held for more than 72 hours, the Social Worker could also make an application to the Family Proceedings Court Courts for an Emergency Protection Order under section 44 of the Children Act 1989, which is an order providing immediate but temporary removal of the child in a genuine emergency. This is not to be used as a routine response to suspicion of abuse There is no absolute criteria to rely on when judging what constitutes significant harm. Where the question of whether harm suffered by a child is significant turns on the childs health and development, their health or development shall be compared with what could be reasonably expected of children at the same age. If the Social Worker has reasonable belief that a child is at risk of significant harm then Local Authorities have a duty to investigate and if necessary intervene. The intervention of Social Work can help families to achieve goals and allow them to better themselves and positively move forward with the help of professionals. When working to protect a child from significant harm it is important to work with the care givers as well as the child. It is important to learn the history of the child and the history of the caregivers. This can build a picture of background and any possible previous problems and can help towards working to reduce the risk of harm to the child. Also good communication between Social Worker and caregiver is important, as this will help identify possible causes of problems and also may help towards creating solutions. It is also important for the social worker to remember that their main service user is the child and they need to be aware that working with a child of such a young age it may become easy to over look the child and become more involved with the caregiver. When assessing a child and family the Social Worker mu st be confident in gathering information and may at times have to ask questions that may be uncomfortable for themselves or the service user, but it is important that these questions are asked as this can start to build a picture and also may help to identify problems and causes of problems. This can also help towards the start of putting together a plan for the family as to how to help to eliminate the causes and the problems. For example if the child is at risk of harm after the caregivers have been drinking then the cause is alcohol and the Social Worker would need make contact with services (such as) that are able to help with this issue, and advise the caregivers that in working with this service they can help to eliminate the problem and reduce the risk to the child, so this would go into the plan for the caregivers and the child. If the caregivers refuse this help then it is the Social Workers job to negotiate with the caregiver and encourage that these steps need to be taken if they are to overcome and move forward from their problems, they would advise that if the caregiver is not going to cooperate then they may have to start Child Protection proceedings which could lead to the child being put on the Child Protection Register. When in practice Social Workers needs to be aware of discrimination, it is important to see every service users as an individual in there own social context. It is important to be aware of the individual relating to their culture, sex, age, class and disabilities. The Social worker needs to be aware of these factors and take them into consideration when making an assessment. A Social Worker needs to go to every individual visit with an open mind and be sure to be non-judgemental. It is important at all times that the worker follows anti oppressive practice. The perception of the service user may be that you have power that you may use against him/her. It is important to be non judgemental and listen to those involved and work towards resolution with the client as opposed to condemning them and making decisions without consultation as this makes the service user feel disempowered and without a voice. Obviously if the risk to the child is great then intervention of an oppressive nature may be justified. True partnership working with service users and other professional can create empowerment. Social Workers can help to advices services users and signpost them to other service that they are entitle to. Social Workers can find themselves working with a number of different professionals such as police officers, doctors, school teacher, school nurses, nursery staff, connexions, Housing. These are just a few out of a long list of possible partnerships. It is important to work together for the Service User, different professionals may have different aims and resources and values, which can create partnership conflict. Good communication and understanding of one anothers jobs and services can help to ensure a positive partnership and create a valuable service for the Service user. It is important for all professional to be made aware of any information they need to be aware of, and for all involved in the partnership to be committed to Service Users and their needs. With good communication between Social Worker, the child the caregiver and other professionals involved can create a positive relationship in which they can work together to reduce risk and safeguard the child, it can also work towards helping the family move forward and create positive change. Working together can help empower the service users and help them forward with their lives and work towards keeping the child in the family home. This is the ideal option for the Local Authority as they want children to remain at the family home provided that they are safe. The childs safety is paramount. A good example of good Social Work Practice would be an assessment of a family being completed, and from the assessment the Social Worker and the family can discuss together different option available to the family and going through them and seeing what option is most appropriate and relevant for the family. The can set up any services the family made need for example Parenting Classes, and then set goals for the family to achieve. And the Social Worker would make regular visits to see that the goals set are being achieved and of they are not to find out why and help focus on achieving them. The ideal ending would be that the family needs a little help and after achieving their goals, no longer needs the input of a Social Worker. However there are many families that need more than a little help and often end up having the input of a Social Worker for a long time and in extreme case children get removed from the family home for their safety. Children Act 1989 Section 44 Children Act Section 46 Waterhouse, L(2008) The Blackwell Companion To Social Work. Third Edition. Blackwell Publishing; Parrott, L (2008) Values and Ethics in Social Work Practice. Learning Matters

Sarkar-Singer Hypothesis Essay -- International Trade

Sarkar-Singer Hypothesis Introduction Since terms of trade deterioration hypothesis was proposed by Prebisch and Singer in 1950, comparative advantage was doubted. Due to the export structure of developing countries (DCs) is dominated by primary products, and the export structure of industrialised countries (ICs) dominated by manufactured products; they compared primary products export of DCs and manufactured products export of ICs, and indicated that the terms of trade trend to deteriorate over time. This hypothesis is supported by many studies, such as Grilli and Yang (1998) and Spraos (1980); therefore the widening gap like existed. This hypothesis is confronted the traditional view, international trade and specialisation may not be better off. The Prebisch-Singer hypothesis also impacts on the trade policy of the majority of DCs to become inward looking. However, many studies appeal that the defected of Prebisch-Singer hypothesis, Sarkar and Singer analysis is the important appeal. Due to Singer (1958) views that the export structure of the DCs was dominated by primary products; export structure of the ICs by the manufactured products. Therefore, theearly studies use the terms of trade between primary products and manufactures as a proxy. Sarkar (1986) express that the growth of manufactured sectors, however, Singer (1987) proposes that even the change in the commodity composition of exports, the disadvantages in DCs lead the deterioration be continuous. Sarkar and Singer (1991) focuses on this subject, examines the impact of the shift in the commodity composition of exports of DCs. They proposed that the changes in commodity composition of exports are the important factor, as the primary sectors of DCs have a lower rat... ...ent, Vol. 19, No. 4, Page 333-340 Singer, H. W. (1950) The distribution of gains between investing and borrowing countries, American Economic Review, Vol. 40, No. 2, Page 473-485 Singer, H. W. (1958) Comment, Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 40, Page87-88 Singer, H. W. (1987) Terms of trade in John Eatwell, Murray Milgate and Peter Newman (Eds), The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics, London: Macmillan, Page 626-628 Singer H. W. (1998) The Terms of Trade Fifty Years Later – Convergence and Divergence, The South Letter (30) Sproas, J. (1980) The Statistical Debate on the Net Barter Terms of Trade Between Primary Commodities and Manufactures, Economic Journal, Vol. 90, Page 107-128 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (2005) Trade and Development Report Chapter III: Evolution of the Terms of Trade and its Impact on Developing Countries

Summary of Barbara Ehrenreich’s “What I’ve Learned from Men”

In â€Å"What I’ve Learned from Men† (215), Barbara Ehrenreich describes the things that women should try to learn from men. Through her serious and sarcastic notes, she explains that women should get tough and be able to take credit as men do. The author stresses that gender battles and arguments affect women’s desire to become tough. Women are willing to refuse being ladylike (216) putting themselves in front of men. Ehrenreich argues that women are discriminated as they viewed mentally weaker than men.During the course of Ehrenreich’s writing, she argues that some women used to view men as unclassy and selfish human beings who require the ability to give respect to women and to acknowledge the fact that women are able to take care of themselves and of others without their assistance. Thus, the stereotype of ladylikeness is something that should be broken. Ehrenreich continues her writing offering practical recommendations for women who are willing to be come tough.She writes (217) that small acts of deference must be cut back, and programs to perform ladylike must be re-shaped. Further, women must be encouraged not to take responsibility of every human interaction they are engaged with. However, men will view such deference as deliberate act of hostility (217). Finally, the author recommends learning from men how to deal with anger. She argues that the key difference is that men get mad, whereas women get irritated.Women are recommended to express justified anger clearly and colorfully. Ehrenreich arrives at her definitive conclusion with, â€Å"I stand up and announce coolly, ‘I’ve had enough of this crap’, then I walk out – slowly, deliberately, confidently. Just like men† (218). Works Cited Ehrenreich, Barbara. â€Å"What I’ve Learned from Men†. The Longman Reader. 8th Edition. Eds. Judith Nadell, John Langan, and Eliza A. Comodromos. Longman, 2007, pp. 215-218. .

The Best Strategy to Cure Your Marketing Team Collaboration Woes

The Best Strategy to Cure Your Marketing Team Collaboration Woes Marketing teams have it tough. You’re one of the few departments that are expected to have a pulse on what every other department in the company is up to. From sales to support you need to be plugged in to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and how to improve. BUT, how are you supposed to master cross-department collaboration when your own marketing team is struggling to collaborate amongst themselves? Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone on your team, regardless of specialty, knew what was on tap and how they could contribute to each other’s success? Yes, it would. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not impossible. Here are the best, best practice tips for improving your marketing team’s collaboration. The Best Strategy to Cure Your Marketing Team Collaboration WoesWhy It’s So Hard for Marketing Teams to Collaborate Silos are a big problem for marketing teams. We’ve got Content Marketing, Public Relations, SEM, Social Media, Marketing Automation, the list goes on. And each of these specialties has their own sub-department, which makes collaboration even more challenging. If you’re a Marketing Manager, you’re painfully aware that these silios cause major problems. Poor collaboration is likely causing†¦ †¦ missed deadlines †¦ underperforming campaigns †¦ last minute fire drills †¦ and tension between your team members. However, there is hope. With a bit of bravery, leadership, and a solid strategy in place, you can overcome these silos and start collaborating better. How to Improve Your Marketing Team Collaboration It’s clear that  *a lot* of marketing teams struggle to stay on the same page. But what are you supposed to do about it? *A lot* of marketing teams struggle to stay on the same page. Heres how to fix it.Set Clear Goals Wait†¦ what? You’re probably a little confused since this is a post about marketing team collaboration, not one about KPIs. But hear me out on this one†¦ You’d be surprised how many marketing teams have conflicting goals and no idea how their individual KPIs fit within the company’s wider strategy. In fact, 29% of respondents included in this study  said they found no clear relation between their role and the overarching company strategy. Each team/individual should undoubtedly have their own KPIs, but there should be clear and consistent communication regarding how these are all working together towards a common goal. Here’s an example: Company’s main goal:  $50 million in sales by 2020 Public Relations goal: Reach 2 million people per month Content Marketing’s goal: Bring in 10,000 prospects per month Paid Search goal:  $5 $8 ROAS Marketing Automation goal: Convert 15% of prospects into customers Simply giving everyone a clear idea of where the company is heading and how each team’s KPIs help contribute can lay the foundation for good collaboration. Sometimes it helps to have a visual to get everyone on the same page. Here’s an example of how everyone’s goals fit into the marketing funnel and contribute to the company’s overall goal. Improve Communication Research  shows that improving your team’s communication can increase productivity by a whopping 25%. Improving your team’s communication can increase productivity by a whopping 25%.Sounds great, right? But communication barriers are one of the biggest hurdles for any team to overcome. Why is communication so challenging? Here are a few theories Firstly, marketers rely on outdated technology like spreadsheets to manage project plans, due dates, and tasks. These spreadsheets spiral out of control and leave you wanting to wipe the slate clean and start fresh†¦ so you do. And it works for a while, but the spreadsheet inevitably returns to mass chaos. Secondly, each team has hacked together a way to manage their own projects without a central, cross-team tool. This exacerbates the silo effect. Responsibilities and daily tasks become murky because they are managed across multiple tools. No one knows what they should prioritize nor when things are due. And there are a ton of meetings to try to figure it all out. (Fun fact: An astonishing 62% of marketers say wasteful meetings get in the way of their work.) Yikes. So how can you improve the communication of your marketing team?

Red Guard Essays

Red Guard Essays Red Guard Paper Red Guard Paper It had been argued that one of the many aims of Maos Cultural Revolution had been that of the cleaning up of the economic, political, ideological, and organisational impurities of the rural peasants and basic-level cadres. 1 The initial intention of the Social Education Movement was to restore collectivisation which was damaged by the disasters after the Great Leap. However, it was soon revealed that corruption among the grass-roots rural cadres was rampant, resulting in the shift of focus from one of collectivisation to that of the village leadership. 2 Mao had released a resolution titled, Early Ten Points3 which essentially subjected the Party to criticisms from non-Party mechanisms. The target of this program was at elementary and middle high school children (i. e. aged 12-14). It was most active from 1933 till 1966 and would later form the majority of the membership of the Red Guards. Such a movement which essentially comprised of the indoctrination of Maos ideas to young people especially those in the rural countryside areas allowed the Party to plant trusted students into the Chinese villages as spies to report on the various activities in the rural villages. This form of indoctrination manifested the idea of class struggles amongst the students in the rural areas and been so successful that the students formed the organisation called the Red Guards with Maos authorisation and had declared themselves as Maos little generals4, indicating that their sole loyalty to Mao. The Red Guards, most of whom were the teenage children from the countryside, would be carrying out the numerous purges in all levels of the Party and government throughout China. It could be seen from the early beginnings of the Social Education Movement that Mao had been trying to nurture an organisation which would assist him in his future political purges. The activation of the Red Guards in the second half of August 1966 marked a watershed in the course of the Cultural Revolution in the countryside as well as in the cities. The Red Guards made their first public appearance with a rally of a million in Beijings Tiananmen Square in August 18, 1966. Battalions of youth, enlisting in the Cultural Revolution, marched by singing, Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman. Mao Zedong had given his approval during his review of the students and put on a Red Guard armband, emblazoned with the three characters Hong Wei Bing. 5 Mao signified his support of the Red Guards by being with them for the whole period that they were at the square. Maos support of the Red Guards meant a lot to the students. As mentioned previously, the personality of Mao had been so strong that any gifts from Mao himself would be worshipped and revered. A former Red Guard, An Xi Jiang, had admitted after the revolution that people worshipped him as a god6. Hence the fact that their Chairman was at the Tiananmen Square with the youths, encouraging and wearing the Red Guard armband had significant impact on the youths. Maos encouragement of their enthusiasm and critical questioning in a way gave the Red Guards some form of unlimited power to carry on the revolution within the revolution7. Had Mao not given his sanction to the Red Guards, the latter might not had gone to such extreme measures in the ideological cleansing of the so-called intellectuals to remove the bourgeois influences. Indeed, Mao encouraged the students to turn against their teachers, university professors. Most of these people were usually holding a position of authority and hence it would be reasonable to argue that the students were in effect a tool of Mao for his ideological purges of his opponents. Mao encouraged Red Guards to attack all traditional values and bourgeois items and to test party officials by publicly criticizing them. The officially sanctioned freedom of action of Maos migratory little generals gave them the virtual license to destroy the four olds. The Red Guards, most of whom were from the poor and lower-middle peasants families, set up their own Red Guard detachment, attacking the former landlords and rich peasants living on the commune. In this way, the students could be used as a tool to help Mao test the members loyalty to him. Mao believed that this measure would be beneficial both for the young people and for the party cadres that they attacked. Religion and superstition was also targeted by the students. The Red Guards went round smashing up the ancestral tablets, incense burners, religious icons, old books, old wall cloths, superstitious objects and the like in the countryside. Although the peasants eventually gave in the actions of the Red Guards, they did so out of fear of the repercussions of being labelled as counter-revolutionaries, rather than genuine enthusiasm. Mao had added in a personal letter: It is right to rebel against reactionaries. I offer you my warm support. Hence it could be inferred that the youth was being used by Mao as the tool against his opponents and in the class struggles between capitalism and socialism. One can conclude from this that the Cultural Revolution was indeed largely Maos initiative with the Red Guards being used as a force to get the rest of the country involved. One of the plausible explanations for the students obsessive following of Maos ideas had been the social indoctrination in the earlier period through the use of visual arts such as posters which had definitely appealed to the students. Closely related to this was the brain-washing campaign that Mao had implemented on the students. The result of such activities would probably be that of a senseless following of Maos ideas. The fact that Mao was worshipped till such an extent inevitably had to be accredited to his indoctrination and brain-washing campaigns. As former Red Guard, An Xi Jiang admitted, Thinking back, I think maybe we were brainwashed8. One can thus see the extent of the brain-washing campaign which Mao had instigated during his term as Chairman in the Communist Party.

The Theory of Value Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Theory of Value - Term Paper Example This will include the critique of the neoclassical economists and their theories and concepts. It will critique the marginalists and what they put forward in their theorization of Economics. Adam Smith & The Theory of Economics Adam Smith is widely accepted as the â€Å"father of Economics†. However, it appears that his view of Economics was steeped in a culture of treatises that were being written by philosophers and theorists who sought to explain how a modern and â€Å"civilized† nation should behave. This include a generation of writers who came before him like Hume, Locke and several others who put forward theories and views about various aspect of social organization. Adam Smith defined the theory of value and the creation of wealth in his book Wealth of Nations. In the book, he primarily defined the division of work as a fundamental element of creating value for nations and societies in his era (Smith, 2000a). According to Adam Smith, the division of work theory was meant to harness and bring together skills, dexterity and judgment to produce goods and services for consumers who needed them in the modern society. This was to involve the break down of manufacturing into separate parts. Thus, the production cycle was to be divided into different units whereby people would take up various duties, specialize and produce to meet specification. This proposition inevitably sought to promote an improved quality of work. Adam Smith's value creation system was to be controlled by individuals who would have access and control of the various production systems and factories. These entrepreneurs would seek to increase the quality of work and create value by breaking down work and allowing people to do it as jobs or employment rather than as slaves (Smith, 2000a). Instead of slaves being kept and fed, people would be allowed to work in exchange for wages and there could be a public sector that regulated some universal aspects of life. This include politi cs and government that would run the society and help things to run well. However, individuals had to do things in the right way and manner. According to Adam Smith, (2000b), the society with a private and property owning ideology had to be regulated with some degree of moral philosophies which he classified in four main classes: 1. Ethics of Virtue 2. Private rights and national liberty. 3. Familial rights (Economics) and 4. State and Individual rights (Politics) These systems could be said to have influenced the conceptualization of private enterprises, the public sector, rule of law and politics/government. Adam Smith's theories were the actualize and rationalize the concepts of Reverend Thomas Malthus which were primarily related to the need for some kind of controls and checks to promote humanity. In Malthus' theories and ideas, the world was on the verge of seeing a crisis. Until checks and controls were put forward, people were likely to suffer severely. Adam Smith's work was one of the first works that sought to provide a logical and structured view of how to deal with the impending social disasters with the rising numbers of people. The Classical Theorists David Ricardo read about Adam Smith's concepts and theories from his book Wealth of Nations in the late 1700s and he embraced his ideas systematically. Ricardo's book, Principles of Political Economy and Taxation released in 1817 was a

Comparison of the Microscopic Structure of Compact Bone Assignment

Comparison of the Microscopic Structure of Compact Bone - Assignment Example Spongy bones are found on the heads of the long bones such as femur, humerus, radius, tibia, and fibula, and in between flat bones such as the skull, while the compact bone forms the external surface of all bones (Saladin 172). Anatomically, joints are connections between distinct joints. They exist so the bones are interconnected, and can be one skeletal system. They can exponentially increase the range of movement of our extremities, just like our knee, elbow, shoulder and metacarpal joints, or they can strengthen the structure of our body, just like our pubic symphysis and skull sutures. Hyaline cartilage and synovial fluid lubricate joints and make movement easier. Fibrocartilage makes the joints strong against compression and shock. The enlarged epiphysis of the bones it connects also provide strength (Saladin 172-173). Once the action potential reaches the motor nerve endings on muscle fibers, the nerve secretes acetylcholine, which initiates the influx of sodium ions into the muscle fiber, causing an action potential at the membrane. This potential travels along the muscle fiber membrane, and in the process depolarizing in the membrane. This then causes the sarcoplasmic reticulum to release large quantities of calcium ions, which initiate the binding of actin and myosin filaments that occurs during the contraction. After muscle contraction, calcium ions are returned back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, causing muscle relaxation (Guyton and Hall 74). Upon receiving an impulse from the musculocutaneous nerve (Saladin 362), the biceps brachii (Saladin 328), exerts effort on the radius, with resistance contributed by the weight of the forearm or anything held in hand. Fulcrum is the elbow (Saladin 309).