Death And Enlightenment By Augustine - 1313 Words

Death and Enlightenment It may seem reasonable that Augustine accepted, at the time of his friend’s death, that God is unchangeable and humans are a temporary creation and just a part of the whole. However, by paying close attention to the text Augustine is writing the Confessions retrospectively. He ends up recognizing the directionality of his love and the change in his grieving in the future, after the deaths of his friend and Monica. Augustine is looking back on his life and is noticing where his ideas of love and grief were wrong. Only after Monica’s death, Augustine understands that humans are a temporary creation and God alone is never changing. When he looks back in retrospect he also sees the change in his grieving. He ends up accepting that grief is a human sin that God can forgive. When Augustine was a Manichean his passionate attachment to his friends shows how he failed to recognize that the love of friends is good, but friends must be loved in God. Humans cannot be loved in themselves alone because only God does not change. The death of Augustine s childhood friend in Thagaste acts as a message from God. His friend s Catholic family has him baptized before his death, which was almost done to Augustine. Augustine, being a Manichean at the time, no longer believes baptism is essential to life, but his friend, also a Manichean, refuses to share in his disapproval for the Catholic Sacrament and rejects Augustine s attention. Whether the baptism had anShow MoreRelatedSt. Augustine s Confessions And Dante s Inferno1746 Words   |  7 Pagestowards life and passion. In Book VIII.xi (29) the reader finds St. Augustine in a state of despair and anguish because of his ongoing internal struggle between his mind and body. Afterwards, he undergoes a surreal experience that ultimately leads to the climax of Confessions, his conversion to Christianity. The catalyst for his conversion rests upon none other than â€Å"a boy or a girl† who might be chanting, per St. Augustine, â€Å"some sort of children’s game†(152). The chant is a meager four wordsRead MoreSaint Augustine Of Hippo And Saint Thomas Aquinas1590 Words   |  7 Pagesphilosophy and religion have transformed, faded, and attempted to bring concrete answers to questions regarding human life. Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Thomas Aquinas are considered to be the greatest of their times, and are influential in understanding current Christian Church teachings along with philosophical teachings in general. The keystone work of Saint Augustine must be his very personal Confessions while Saint Thomas Aquinas’s keystone work must be his renowned Summa Theologiae. TheseRead MoreTrue Knowledge Is Blinded By Ignorance1658 Words   |  7 Pagesaverage human does not use the soul with the rest of its body, to allow oneself to successfully access the full knowledge, all humans are capable of. The Gospel of Luke teaches one not to cherish material items, because they do not provide true enlightenment. Jesus went around all of Galilee performing miracles, and doing good deeds for the poor. He always stressed that one should not be concerned with material possessions in life, but rather doing good for others. In the Gospel of Luke it says â€Å"TakeRead MoreAugustine s Confessions By Augustine1137 Words   |  5 PagesIn Augustine s Confessions, Augustine tells his entire life story leading up to his conversion to Christianity. Throughout his life, he experiences a vast amount of events, both that had major impacts and minor impacts. In the Confessions, Augustine called these events â€Å"episodes. The episodes supported his transformation of who he was into who he wanted to be after his conversion to Christianity. Certain episodes in Augustine’s life led to inspiring moments, while others lead to grief and painRead MorePlato V. Augustine Essay1107 Words   |  5 Pagesparallel to those found in the former. Despite the differences in time, men are hindered from their pursuit of goodness, truth, etcetera, by similar, if not entirely identical, desires. That being said, of all of the speeches found in the Symposium, Augustine would connect most deeply to that of Alcibiades. Alcibiades is depicted as a prominent Athenian statesman, a successful orator, and a well accomplished military general. On top of such admirable prestige, he is also quite physically handsome. WithRead MoreMy Life Experience At Holy Trinity Church Of Murree Essay945 Words   |  4 PagesIn my own life experience, I became aware of my state of sin in my early teenage years. Through the ministry of the Word at Holy Trinity Church of Murree in Pakistan, I had a clear understanding of the saving grace provided by the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I embraced that grace in my youth and began a lifelong spiritual journey. I was baptized as an infant but was confirmed as a teen ager which helped me reflect on my sinful nature and the pardoning and loving natureRead MoreConfessions : The Role Of Friendship On St. Augustine s Spiritual Journey Essay2131 Words   |  9 Pagesis arguably Augustine’s most important text, it continues to influence theologic al discussion even today. Through writing Confessions, Augustine proves himself to be a professional scrutinizer. He analyzes every aspect of his own existence in pertinence to his purpose on Earth and relationship with God. Amongst the numerous topics covered in Confessions, Augustine makes exceptional mention to the role that friendship plays in his spiritual journey. In St. Augustine’s Confessions, the role of friendshipRead MoreAnalysis of Socrates Definition of Justice in The Republic2604 Words   |  10 Pagesat the top of the mountain up which the philosopher climbs after leaving the cave, it must be realized that the journey toward justice is one of labor but not one that is implausible. Context Plato founded the Academy at Athens after Socrates death and preserved the lessons that Socrates had taught, essentially laying a foundation for the study of philosophy in Western Civilization. Platos Republic seeks to unite the lessons of the Academy with the circle of politics that occupied much of PlatosRead MoreAugustine’S Literary Style In Confessions Was Very Effective1712 Words   |  7 Pageschanged over the course of his life as he began to combine Neoplatonic thought with metaphorical analysis of the bible. This journey, later in life, of reflecting upon our relationships to others—and to God—is relatable to most humans, however, Augustine does take it to a much higher level. I found it to be particularly poignant, as so many of us who reach a certain age tend to reassess our lives, seeing how our errant thoughts, ideology, and behavior—and even the material world—have created a barrierRead More Skepticism Essays1139 Words   |  5 Pagesthis case, that the speaker did not really know what they claimed to know. If an assertion can be worked into a contradiction, that means that the original assertion was wrong. While Socrates never claimed that knowledge is impossible, still, at his death, he never claimed to have discovered any piece of knowledge whatsoever. After its introduction into Greek culture at the end of the fourth century BC, skepticism influenced nearly all other Greek philosophies. Both Hellenistic and Roman philosophies

Sleep On It ! By Robert Stickgold - 749 Words

Alantis Seckal CHM1010 Doctor Pearsall February,8, 2017 Summary of SLEEP ON IT! SLEEP ON IT! is written by Robert Stickgold, director of the Center for Sleep, who explains the research done on the importance of sleep. The article begins by asking whether we really need to sleep? Stickgold explains how everyone needs to sleep because it is driven physiologically to be done. Allan Rechtschaffen, the world`s greatest sleep researchers of the 70’s, says that sleep is the most vital function of life. Where as J. Allan Hobson, also a great sleep researcher in the 90’s, says that the only way to cure sleepiness is to sleep. Sleep serves a benefit in a number of biological processes. Some examples of the biological processes are helping the immune†¦show more content†¦There was a study on how sleep deprivation effects the immune system. In the studies shown, people who were well rested had a high percentage of antibodies than that of a person who loses sleep. Also, fifty-six percent of the people who slept well had an increase in their antibody le vel for every additional hour of sleep. So, when one does sleep like they should they are risking their immune system from working correctly and fighting off diseases. In the central nervous system lost of sleep causes the brain functions such as memory, emotion, regulation of appetite, and learning to be affected negatively. It makes you very forgetful and ruins your eating cycle. Furthermore, lost of sleep causes the endocrine system to act up too. The body starts to act unresponsive to the hormone Insulin produced in the endocrine system. With the body acting unresponsive to the hormone insulin has the person more at risk for being obese. In the future, the lost of the sleep on society will affect it heavily. There are so many different things affecting sleep as a whole. For example there is social media, video games, television, jobs, and etc. This being said, sleep deprivation will have more sick people in the world. They won’t be able to fight off diseases. This is why new diseases keep forming because everyone’s immune system is shot from the lack of sleep. If vaccines were given it still would not be able to prevent theShow MoreRelatedDreams and Memory Consolidation Essay1297 Words   |  6 Pages Sleep is an extremely interesting phenomenon in which the mind almost completely departs from the usual realm of consciousness. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness and a decreased ability to react to stimuli where we become less aware of our surroundings. However, it is more easily reversed than being in hibernation or a coma. It is a function that has been extensively researched by many. After al l, we would not have evolved a mechanism that forces us to spend one-third of our lives sleepingRead MoreWhy Do We Sleep?1540 Words   |  7 PagesWhy do we sleep? As we all know, one third of our life is spent to sleep, but very few people intend to lay bare the secret of that. There would be a question: why do we sleep? According to the video The Function of Sleep, Tyson states that people are not very clear about the purpose of sleep, but some researchers believe that sleep could enhance memory. MIT researcher Matthew Wilson also illustrates the thoughts of a rat can be read by implanted the electric wire into its brain. According toRead MoreThe Importance of Sleep Essay1681 Words   |  7 PagesSleep is an extremely interesting phenomenon in which the mind almost completely departs from the usual realm of consciousness. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness and a decreased ability to react to stimuli where we become less aware of our surroundings. However, it is more easily reversed than being in hibernation or a coma. It is a function that has been extensively researched by many. After all, we would not have evolved a mechanism that forces us to spend one-third of our lives sleepingRead MoreA Study On The Cognitive And Physiological Aspects Of The Hippocampus921 Words   |  4 Pagesknowledge are vital for survival, as both sleep and recollection of events: the study of how both are combined is of distinct interest. Tests demonstrate that the hippocampus is the main cortical region active during memory tasks, as well as during states of unconsciousness. It is suggested that memories are somehow integrated and reverberated during the sleep state. Findings like these lead to a greater interest in studying the hippocampus, specifically during sleep. Many tests have been administeredRead MoreEssay on The Benefits of Naps1275 Words   |  6 Pagesthe full benefits of the nap, there are certain â€Å"rules† that need to be followed. Following these guidelines will ensure maximum effectiveness. One condition is that naps should be taken in the early afternoon. Naps can interfere with the nighttime sleep if taken after 4 p.m. (Jacobs). They should also be short in length. Research suggests taking a fifteen to thirty five minute â€Å"power nap†. This is the time necessary for the body to rest and enables brain neurons to recuperate (â€Å"Unknown Benefits†)Read MoreThe Importance of Sleep for College Students1617 Words   |  7 PagesSleep is a necessity of life, it is not an option, the human body needs it, but not many people know the importance of sleep. Sleep is important for the mind and body to function properly; it is required for survival (Global Sleep). According to the national sleep foundation, about 40 million American suffer from sleep disorders (NSF). Sleep deprivation affect woman more than man. Also, woman who work night shift are more likely to get less sleep than those who work morning shift; and have moreRead MoreEssay on Rise and Shine: The Debate Over High School Starting Times1640 Words   |  7 PagesSpecifically in high school, one such aspe ct is when the day is scheduled to start. There are have been major strides in the research of sleep, and many of them find that the common first bell for adolescents negatively coincides with their sleep schedule. The traditional time for high schools to start is based off of outdated factors. Scientific evidence on adolescents’ sleep needs and studies conducted on the results after changes were made show that the major benefits to delaying the beginning of schoolRead More The Roles of NREM and REM Sleep On Memory Consolidation Essay example1836 Words   |  8 PagesThe Roles of NREM and REM Sleep On Memory Consolidation All mammals exhibit Rapid-Eye-Movement, or REM, sleep, and yet on certain levels this type of sleep would seem to be disadvantageous. During REM sleep, which is when most dreams occur, the brain uses much more energy than during non-REM (NREM) sleep. (1) This waste of energy coupled with the increased vulnerability of this state on account of the bodys paralysis at this time suggests that there must be a very important reason, orRead MoreTerm Paper - Dreams3514 Words   |  15 PagesDreams 1. Dream Intensity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..10 2. Interest†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.10 3. Dream Composition†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.....10 Conclusion: Dreams as a guide†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 To sleep or perchance to dream (Shakespeare, 1599). As you succumb to closing your eyes and dozing off, little do you know of the dream activity that will go on in your brain that night. Although some people argue that they don’t ever dream, there are thoseRead MoreAn Exploration of Sleeps Effects on the Brain2411 Words   |  10 PagesComing from a teenager, sleep is a beautiful thing that when I wake up at noon it allows me to feel fully revived and ready to seize what is left of the day. The great historic, Benjamin Franklin, once said of sleep, â€Å"Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.† Nobody every really needed to prove the healthy part of his saying because most people know that after sleeping the body seems to gain energy. The second part to his statement probably could use a bit of proving because

The Odyssey And The Pearl Loyalty Essay free essay sample

The Odyssey And The Pearl: Loyalty Essay, Research Paper The Odyssey and The Pearl: Loyalty Loyalty to another individual or to a cause may be an admirable trait, but it can take to either positive or negative effects. In Homer # 8217 ; s epic The Odyssey and John Steinbeck # 8217 ; s novel The Pearl there are characters that show great illustrations of this trait. Penelope in The Odyssey and Juana in The Pearl are the most obvious, although there are many. Penelope stayed loyal to Odysseus while he was on his twenty-year journey and Juana stayed by her hubby through his clip of hurt. Penelope stayed loyal to Odysseus while he was on his twenty-year journey. To guard off suers that were waving for her manus, she made them a promise that every bit shortly as she finished weaving a gift for her male parent, she would take one of their custodies in matrimony. We will write a custom essay sample on The Odyssey And The Pearl Loyalty Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Nightly, unbeknownst to the suers, she would unravel her work, so that she could stay faithful to Odysseus. Besides, Penelope promised her manus to the suer who could run into a trial. Penelope # 8217 ; s trial was to threading Odysseus # 8217 ; bow and so hit an pointer through the oculus of 12 ax grips. Penelope knew that merely Odysseus could carry through this undertaking. By making this, she avoided holding to get married one of the suers. Staying loyal to Odysseus brought approximately positive effects to Penelope. She was reunited with her beloved hubby Odysseus. Kino # 8217 ; s married woman Juana stayed by her hubby through his clip of hurt. Although it was her belief that the pearl was an portent of immorality, she loyally stayed at her hubby # 8217 ; s side. Juana remained loyal to Kino even after he had viciously beaten her. She knew that she had brought it upon herself and it was her topographic point to accept the whipping. Besides, Juana vowed non to go forth her hubby # 8217 ; s side when he decided to fly from the town after slaying one of the townsfolk. She made the unreliable journey with her hubby across a desert seeking to outrun the work forces that pursued them. Negative effects were the result of Juana # 8217 ; s trueness to Kino. Her trueness caused her to lose all that was common and beloved to her, including her lone kid. Loyalty to another individual or to a cause may be an admirable trait, but it can take to either positive or negative effects. Penelope stayed loyal to Odysseus while he was on his twenty-year journey and Juana stayed by her hubby through his clip of hurt. Penelope refused to remarry while Odysseus was on his long absence, and Juana neer left Kino # 8217 ; s side. Loyalty is a trait found in most worlds, and if used in moderateness can hold really positive effects.

Latino Assimilation to American Culture free essay sample

The Struggle with the American Melting Pot The year is 1776. In an act of defiance of the oppressive rule of the powerful nation of Great Britain, the political leaders of the British-American colonies sign into existence the United States of America. Even before this inception of the United States, North America had been seen as a place where one could move to start a new life and reap the full rewards for ones work. These opportunities combined with the new United States government founded on the ideals of freedom and equity have attracted countless amilies from all over the world, making the United States truly a country of immigrants. Immigrants from European nations coming to America both assimilated and helped to shape the culture of the nation. Others, either immigrants or those forced to come to the United States, were marked with distinguishable differences from the European majority. The Africans and Asians are examples of some of these minorities, but, in my belief, one of the groups that has had the most unique struggle to become part of the great melting pot of America is the Latino culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Latino Assimilation to American Culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For many ifferent reasons Latin Americans have struggled to assimilate with the American culture for hundreds of years. In todays America Latinos face challenges and inequities because of their ethnicity, which has been made even more evident by the current anti-immigration political climate. It is obvious that Latinos in America, even those born on United States soil, have fewer opportunities for success than their white counterparts. Unfortunately, these injustices are minor compared to the overwhelming discrimination their forefathers were subjected to. As with many cases here a society is oppressed, an underground literature serving to vent raw emotions thrived. This literature documents the day to day struggle of Latinos in America, and can give us a picture of what it must have been like to be a Latin American years ago. It is through this literature that we can analyze how and why Latin Americans work to blend into American culture. One such scholar is Pedro Pietri, a Puerto Rican who came to New York with his family. Pietris family was one of thousands to move to New York in the nineteen-forties seeking wealth and a slice of the American dream. Pietris first and most significant piece, Puerto Rican Obituary gave a profound insight into what life was like for the so called Nuyoricans. Nuyoricans were considered second class citizens and mostly worked in Jobs that required unskilled labor (Velez, 193). This was in part due to the fact that most Puerto Ricans coming to New York lacked skills which made them employable, but mostly because cheap migrant labor was easy for New York businesses to take advantage of. In response many Nuyorican workers would do everything they could to imitate their white counterparts, because they associated the white culture with success. Part of the poem, Puerto Rican Obituary exemplifies this, They are dead and will not return from the dead until they stop neglecting the art of their dialogue for broken English lessons to impress the mister goldsteins (Pietri, 217). In many cases parents would make their children adopt white culture as well with the hope that they will have the lives they themselves could not. Veronica Chambers is a Latinegra, or dark skinned Latina, who grew up in America and is now an accomplished writer in Latin American Studies. To all appearances Veronica was another Atrican American growing up in Brooklyn and as a child she was encouraged to be nothing more than that. Later in life she found strong ties to her native country, but as a child her father reinforced the idea of integration with comments such as; are American and Speak English (Chambers). He even went so far as to name her brother Malcolm X to increase his familys likeness to African Americans. Unfortunately, trying to adopt American culture changed the social status of Latinos very little because they were judged by their ethnicity not the quality of their English or how well they could keep up with modern fashion. No amount of cultural assimilation would give them the American dream they sought, but who can blame them for hoping? The human brain is designed to gain meaning from the world in patterns, and the pattern that stood out most clearly to them was; Those who dont stand out from American society get what they want out of life. Economic gain was a strong motivation for many Latinos to integrate, but others had more socially driven incentives. Latin Americans who have spent their whole lives stateside inevitably learn how to act American in order to fit in at school and in public. A good example is Cherrie Moraga. Moraga is a Chicana, who grew up in California as the daughter of her two fairly well off Hispanic parents. She was considered a GÃ'Ëœera, or fair skinned Hispanic, meaning that she could pass as a person of white ethnicity. In some ways Moraga had all of the opportunities that came with being in the ethnic majority, but having these opportunities required that she hide her Hispanic cultural roots. In her essay, La GÃ'Ëœera, she explained the decision she was faced with; For years, I had berated myself for not being as free as my classmates. I completely bought that they simply had more guts than I did White was right. Period. I could pass. If I got educated enough, there would never be any telling (Moraga 251). Youth of all nationalities tend to undervalue the worth of rich heretical tradition, in the face of the daily struggle to find identity and fit in with their peers (Masci, 887). Sadly, faced with the same choice that Moraga had, an opportunity to assimilate and fit in as another typical American, most Latino youth make the same decision. Human beings are social creatures, we all share an inherent urge to be accepted by others, and this is the reason that assimilation will always occur. The merging of cultures is not always a negative thing, in fact, traditions and customs have been exchanged between different societies for as long as civilization has existed. In many ways, adopting a way of life from the people around ones self is a natural phenomenon. The problem with Latino assimilation in America is that the majority views their culture as superior and discriminates against those who do not fit this mold. Even worse, our majority is keen to have others conform to their norms, but is reluctant to adopt traits from other cultures. Change is being unintentionally forced pon our Latin Americans so it is no surprise that so many Latinos strive to assimilate with the American culture. When we as United States citizens can finally learn to freely exchange the traits that make our ethnicities rich, then we can rise above our separate races and be united as one race, the human race. In the words of Gloria Anzaldua, a leading Latino studies scholar, One day the inner struggle will cease and a true integration take place. In the meantime tenemos que hacer la lucha.

Essay on The Civil War and Reconstruction

Essay on The Civil War and Reconstruction Essay on The Civil War and Reconstruction Essay on The Civil War and ReconstructionThe Civil War was the turning point in the US history, while the Reconstruction era has completed the achievements of the Civil War and changes launched by the war. At the same time, the outcomes of the Civil War and Reconstruction were disappointing to a large part of the US population, especially slave, whose liberation was one of the major drivers of the Civil War, but the Reconstruction granted them with basic rights and liberties. However, the position of African Americans did not change much. Nevertheless, the Civil War and Reconstruction have laid the foundation to the further development of the US as one nation but, at the same time, the Civil War and Reconstruction have laid the foundation to the further controversies between different social groups in the US society, such as the social tension between different racial groups.Causes of the Civil WarThe major cause of the Civil was slavery and attempts of its abolition triggered Southe rn states to protect their economic interests and traditional social order based on the exploitation of slaves. The slave labor comprised the core of Southern economy since slaves were employed on cotton plantations and other fields which allowed Southern states to boost their export of cotton mainly. In such a situation, the abolition of slavery would undermine the Southern economyFurthermore, the growing disparity between industrialized North and Agricultural South misbalanced the power of Northern and Southern states. Slavery prevented South from radical changes and rapid industrialization, while the North needed resources available on the South and wanted to export capital to continue the industrialization of the nation.Political struggle between abolitionist and proponents of slavery at the top political level laid the political ground for the Civil War. In this regard, attempts of Southern states to preserve larger rights and liberties that provided them with the larger autono my and sovereignty confronted the growing pressure from the part of the federal government that attempted to take broader control over states.Civil WarLincoln’s election as the President of the US triggered the secession of Southern states, who opposed to his policy of the abolition of slavery in the US. Southern states were unwilling to remain in the union with states opposing slavery, while the election of the President A. Lincoln meant the high probability of the abolition of slavery and Lincoln had started this policy since the beginning of his Presidency, as he took the office.In response to the election of Lincoln, Southern states declared the secession from the US. Hence, the attempts of the North to regain the unity of the nation resulted in the outbreak of active military actions in the course of the Civil War (Epperson 192). The major developments of the Civil War included the Naval war which resulted in the blockade of Southern states but the superior navy of North ern states.As the major ports were blocked, Southern states had grown exhausted and running out of resources essential for the maintenance of the struggle against the union forces. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the North attempted to undermine the situation in Southern states, declaring the abolition of slavery and freeing all slaves, as the Northern army advanced southward (Norton 159). In such a way, they gained the support of slaves, who were eager to set themselves free. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by Lincoln in 1863 guaranteed the liberation of all slaves in rebellious states.In addition, the Northern army recruited African Americans, who joined Northerners in their struggle against Southern states. Eventually, the South had proved to be unable to restrain the assaults of the North and the war ended up in 1865 after four consecutive years of struggle and battles (Watson 125). At this point, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that slaver y and policies conducted by the North in relation to slavery had had a considerable impact on the development and outcome of the war. The attempts to abolish slavery triggered the outbreak of the Civil War. During the War, Northern states undermined the economic situation in the South encouraging slaves to rebel against their masters in the South and join the Northern army which they perceived as the liberation army. In such a way, Northern states destabilized the situation in Southern states, undermined their economy and used slaves and their liberation as an important part of their strategy that led them to the overall success in the war. In such a situation, they used their technological superiority and naval blockade to complete the defeat of the South and finally declared the official abolition of slavery nationwide as the result of the war to show that the war had reached its major goal that actually became the primary cause of the war.Outcomes of the Civil War and Reconstruct ionFurthermore, by the end of the war, the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was implemented and granted slaves with freedom making the Emancipation Proclamation norms universal and permanent. In such a way, the Thirteenth Amendment brought freedom to slaves nationwide and formally abolished slavery in the US.At first glance, the major goal of the Civil War was achieved but the abolition of slavery alone was not enough to integrate former slaves into the US society and make them a part of the nation. Instead, further legislative changes were needed since slaves should have equal rights and opportunities to exercise their freedom (Watson 175). Otherwise, they would have changed nothing but their formal status to freemen.In response to the urgent need of changing the legal and socioeconomic status of former slaves, the US Congress implemented the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the US Constitution in 1868 and 1870 respectively (Epperson 188). These amendments formally guaranteed African Americans with equal rights and liberties compared to white Americans and eliminated the existing semi-slavery which persisted shortly after the Civil War, when slaves were freed but had not got equal rights and liberties and their legal status was uncertain.At the same time, the Reconstruction had failed to bring the consistent improvement to the socioeconomic status of former slaves. African Americans had equal rights and liberties just like other citizens of the US but they did not have economic opportunities to enhance their position in the society. For instance, they did not have opportunities to find a good employment and high wages because they were low-qualified labor force but the main problem was their desperate poverty, which forced them to agree to work for next to nothing simply to survive (Norton 182). In such a situation, they turned out to be in a desperate position and held the lowest socioeconomic standing in the US society.Nevertheless, the lib eration of African Americans still resulted in the tightening competition in the labor market, especially in the South which suffered from considerable economic losses. In fact, the Civil War had disastrous effects which had affected the development of Southern states of the US for a long time (Epperson 211). The export of cotton was almost ruined by the end of the war. The liberation of slaves undermined the economy of South because landowners could not exploit the free labor force. Instead, they had to hire freedmen or poor whites. In such a situation, Southern states needed a lot of time to recover.However, the poor economic situation in the South caused the social unrest, racial discrimination and oppression of African Americans, whom white Americans kept treating in the South as mere commodities. In such a situation, the whites opposed to the liberation of slaves. To ensure the protection of rights and liberties of African Americans and defeat any attempts of reviving Confedera te mood in the South, Lincoln introduced Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865 which was the government agency aiming at the protection of rights of African Americans. The Freedmen Bureau helped African Americans to get freedom and find employment and urged former slave owners to liberate their slaves and rebuilding their plantations to create jobs for African Americans.However, the post-war resistance of Southern states was so strong that the government had to deploy the army to make land and slave owners to liberate slaves and protect their basic rights and liberties. In such a way, the government attempted to protect African Americans and helped them to improve their position in the society but these efforts were insufficient and short-running. More important, in response to such protectionist government policies, white Southerners launched their organization which aimed at the maintenance of the white supremacy and ongoing oppression of African Americans as second-class citizens. For instance, Ku Klux Klan emerged during the Reconstruction and cases of lynching of African Americans in Southern states of the US were quire frequent that justified the deployment of the army to protect African Americans shortly after the Civil War.  At the same time, the abolition of slavery, the liberation of slaves and their integration into the US society were not the only goals of the government policy during the Reconstruction. In fact, one of the main goals of the government was to regain control over all states and preserve the US as one nation, as a united country. In such a situation, even the deployment of the army in Southern states during the Reconstruction had dubious goals (Richardson 164). Along with the protection of African American population, the army maintained the authority of the federal government and minimized any risk of the attempt of the new rebel which could outbreak easily, if there were no government troops that could oppress any rebellion fast.Moreo ver, the focus of the federal government on needs of African Americans and their integration into the US society was short run. In fact, as soon as the federal government had managed to take control over all states and establish socioeconomic and political stability, the government had started to complete the Reconstruction and refuse from any additional policies, government agencies and other strategies that required additional resources to protect rights and liberties of African Americans and their socioeconomic position in the US society (Norton 188). In fact, by the end of the Reconstruction, millions of African Americans were left on their own with their economic and social problems, stumbling through their life in desperate poverty and their position in the US society had not changed much since the Civil War.ConclusionThus, the Civil War and Reconstruction contributed to consistent changes in the US society among which the abolition of slavery was the main change that took pla ce in the US in that time. However, the abolition of slavery, as the primary goal of the Civil War, brought African Americans freedom but not equal rights, liberties and opportunities. In fact, their rights and liberties were expanded as they got equal rights and liberties after the implementation of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the US Constitution (Watson 215). However, efforts of the federal government to provide African Americans with jobs and better life, they still remained in a disadvantageous position by the end of the Reconstruction, as the Freedmen’s Bureau folded up its operations and the federal government distanced from the support of African Americans. At the same time, the American Civil War and Reconstruction had achieved successfully another goal, which was not declared openly. The war and Reconstruction completed the profound economic change abolition the outdated mode of production, slavery, and expanding opportunities for the rapid industrialization of the entire nation, from the North to South. In addition, the war and Reconstruction had enhanced the role of the federal government, its authority and decreased the sovereignty of people and autonomy of states.

Discuss the role of Marketing and the Marketing department Essay Example

Discuss the role of Marketing and the Marketing department Essay Example Discuss the role of Marketing and the Marketing department Essay Discuss the role of Marketing and the Marketing department Essay What is marketing? There are many definitions to what marketing is, of which one is Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, services, organizations, and events to create and maintain relationships that will satisfy individual and organizational objectives.Marketing is therefore much more than just advertising selling. The marketing concept requires commitment to customers satisfaction, by providing what they want and need..Within market research, there are two types of researches used. There is primary and secondary research. Primary research is gathering information from the consumer directly. Research can be done in various type of questionnaires i.e. telephone, internet and face-to-face. A supermarket as tescos conducts face-to-face questionnaire when customers come into the store and those of who have joined the club card get sent email questionnaires. Whereas secondary information is using external companies information already gathered, although theres a drawback which is that the research can be old hence not reliable.What the customer needs and wants is found out in market research, it then goes to the marketing mix. Marketing mix includes product, price, place and promotion, formally known as the 4Ps which are key concepts in marketing. These are a very important part of every firms marketing strategy and are also interlinked with some aspects of market research.The product/service is what the company is selling or offering to a market for use or consumption. The product could be tescos selling its own brand bread or service could be tescos car insurance. Tescos, as the leading supermarket in UK, offers a large variety of products, from household goods as groceries and toiletries, to furniture, finance and insurance.Tescos has launched Green products in which it offers healthy eating, including fruits and vegetables at lower prices. It also has clear labelling to provide customers with nutritional information e.g. guidelines for daily amounts.Pricing is a key element in a firms success the reason being that firms have to price in accordance to the market and to what the customers are willing to pay. The loss of revenue is important because if the production costs are high and the company isnt selling the product it will lose revenue.Tescos is known as the cheapest but good quality service around. It has a price check in which majority of its products are cheaper then its competitors, also allows its customer to see products and its prices compared to its competitors which is independently collected.The real success to Tescos is in its efforts in promotion. Promoting is communicating with the potential customers and trying to persuade them to buy their product. Tescos reaches its potential customers through television, newspaper and the internet. Tescos club card is a type of marketing promotion. It gives the customer the opportunity to earn points e very time they go shopping at Tescos. In return they can spend their collected points on reducing their shopping bill or receive vouchers for hotels etc. Also tescos promotes green products which involve environmental friendly services as re-cycling bags, mobile phones etc and also by promoting healthily eating e.g. buying fruits and vegetables. They have promoted this by offering green club card points which are same as the normal points however more points are offered as it is helping the environment. This is very successful with its public relations as well as its customers.Tescos try to attract customers by having advertisements sent through the post in form of leaflets stating which products are on offer; they send this across by having the offers in big red, bold lettering to grasp the customers attention. Also they try to get customers for the future as children in the sense they have all the kids products on the lower shelves of the supermarket so that they can see them. Als o tescos has delivery service in which they would deliver shopping to customers homes that order online or even in store; this is popular with its customers.Another aspect important to marketing is place. Tescos is the largest chain in the UK and is aiming at the global market. They have stores all around the UK so that their customers dont need to travel miles to go to their local store. Tescos has about 1897 stores including tescos express and extra, also they have hundreds of stores world wide, and planning on opening more stores in USA.Also with online shopping, tescos products and services are available all over the UK and also many other countries worldwide.Overall, marketing is very important for the business. The basic role of marketing is the need and wants of its customers, the marketing concept. With investing in marketing the business can go from strength to strength as they will know what is required by the public and can provide it. Especially in the modern world as th ere is so much available to the public that the marketing department need to react quickly and get up to date. To conclude we can say that every business needs a marketing department to develop and promote their products. Without this they would not be able to supply the customer with its needs and wants. As a business, it needs profit to put into its marketing activities and most importantly its survival. Without the profit and a marketing department it could lead to a businesses downfall.

Will China revalue its currencyCauses of devaluation Mechanisms Essay

Will China revalue its currencyCauses of devaluation Mechanisms Implications - Essay Example It follows the laws of the fixed exchange regime where the currency is devalued and revalued at will. For years, China maintained a fixed exchange rate; allowing to appreciate at its will. It has, now and again, manipulated its currency to gain a competitive advantage in the global trade market; and it has allowed China to maintain supreme dominance over the world markets. Nonetheless, the country has been facing immense pressure since a decade to float the currency in the open market and allow the currency to appreciate to a free rate. China did allow appreciation for a while, but at a gradual pace with interruptions. (Murphy 2009) The world continues to ask: will China revalue its currency? The essay will provide justifications for both sides; it will provide the reasons behind the devaluation, the mechanisms used as well as implications on an undervalued Yuan. The essay will end with a strong conclusion followed by recommendations. At present, economists believe that the Chinese c urrency is still undervalued by 15 to 20 percent. They opine that the revaluation will benefit the global economies and help reduce the increasing trade deficits. However, the Chinese politicians believe that the revaluation will hurt their economy and growth; as well as their political control. (Johnson 2013) Causes of Devaluation In the domestic sphere, analysts, in the Chinese circle, believe that revaluation will make their exports expensive compared to today. This consequential drop in Chinese exports will lead to several immediate factory shutdowns; while many others will shift to the low wage economies such as Vietnam and Sri Lanka. (Johnson 2010) This will upset the economy as a whole especially the working class. The resulting unemployed from the layoffs and shutdowns in the remote areas will not easily be absorbed into the economy. This will create anti government sentiments and result in isolated mass incidents around China. (Johnson 2010) â€Å"Any significant appreciat ion of the renminbi will erode China’s export competitiveness overnight and impact the livelihood of tens of millions of workers1,† states an editor at China Daily media agency. Likewise, Chinese politicians strongly believe that the currency reforms, pushed by the US and other global powers, are only means to slowdown its economy and contain growing Chinese power. These politicians refer to similar US policies towards Japan in 1980s. Japan stills reels from the effects of the real estate bubble burst caused by the forced US policies. Therefore, the Chinese are eager not to repeat the same episode. (Lee 2010) (Murphy 2009) Similarly, China thinks alike all the economic powers of the world. It first thinks about the domestic affairs especially employment figures before working towards rebalancing of the macroeconomic indicators around the world. In the aftermath of the financial crisis 2008, the Chinese lost 20 to 40 million jobs related to the export oriented industries . This forced Chinese to put an to the revaluation thoughts for some time. (Lee 2010) A research conducted by the Chinese authorities on the streets showed that a percent appreciation in the value of Yuan will lead to a percent decline in the tiny profit margins of the small export oriented companies. Economists opine that an undervalue Yuan is critical for sustaining the Chinese growth; therefore, all the intimidating by the world leaders will not change the Chinese policy. Revaluation will benefit China in the Long Run Other economists believe that the revaluation of Yuan will benefit China in the long run. It will do more good than harm. Economists know that, at present, the Chinese economy is heavily depending on exports and fixed investment; and not on the local consumption. It must revalue its