The Danger of Ignorance free essay sample

The Danger of Ignorance â€Å"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. † (Mandela) Mandela says that education is a best weapon but I also believe that it is the best defense. In George Orwell’s novella â€Å"Animal Farm†, a pig named Napoleon takes over and does as he pleases. There are so many animals that they could easily overthrow him if they were educated and united. Orwell warns his readers of the danger of ignorance and blindly following someone by using allegory in the form of a fable to cleverly hide a dark story of corruption and lies during the Russian Revolution. In the book, Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin. Stalin brutally takes control of Russia after the death of Nicolai Lenin, who led the Bolshevik Revolution to oust the corrupt regime of Czar Nicholas III. The farm animals take the farm from Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones represents Czar Nicholas III: greedy, selfish, and cruel. Czar Nicholas was overthrown by the Bolsheviks after many years of hard life, laborious work, and low wages. Mr. Jones was overthrown by his own animals after years of starvation, cruelty, toiling in the fields, and having their labors stolen from them. Jones, a drunkard, comes home late one night and the animals had not been fed all day. When the animals could stand their hunger no longer, they broke into the feed store where Jones and his men beat them for eating. This was the tipping point for the animals. The animals could no longer stand Jones’ mistreatment, so they rebelled. They drove the humans out of the farm. The animals were finally free. Another pig named Snowball, who was very intelligent, now wrote the seven concepts of animalism on the barn wall. Napoleon first began to lie and deceive the animals by taking the milk and apples. He got Squealer, a pig quite good at convincing others, to convince the animals that the pigs need the milk and apples to better run the farm, saying that they are â€Å"brain workers. † If the animals would have been smarter then they would have realized that the pigs didn’t need the milk and apples, but they just wanted them for themselves. Squealer represents the propaganda of television, newspapers, movies, and radio broadcasts during the Communist reign of Stalin. The media controlled everything that the people heard. When the animals questioned Napoleon, Squealer would ask, â€Å"You don’t want Jones to come back do you? † Every Sunday the animals would have a meeting in the barn to discuss things and vote. There, Snowball and Napoleon would argue their points and let the animals vote on the issues. In all of these debates Snowball and Napoleon seemed to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. If one was for it the other was against it. The worst of all of these arguments was over the windmill. Snowball paints an image of animal farm run more efficiently and with less work. He says that once they finish it that they will have may modern luxuries. Snowball says that it will be hard work but that when they are done it will pay off. Napoleon strongly opposes the windmill and tries to deter any animals from voting for it. When it is almost time for the animals to vote, and almost all animals are planning to vote for Snowball, Napoleon lets out a high pitched squeal and summons up his nine personal bodyguards. They are nine huge vicious dogs and he commands them to case Snowball off the farm. Later Napoleon reveals that they will proceed with building the windmill and that they will no longer have Sunday meetings and that he will make all the decisions. That night when the animals get over their initial shock over what happened, they begin to question why Napoleon ran Snowball off the farm and why they are still building the windmill, Squealer comes to the rescue. He says that the windmill had been Napoleon’s idea from the very start and that Snowball had stolen it from him saying that it was his own. Squealer then goes as far to say that Snowball was a traitor and that he was conspiring with the humans against the other animals. He also says that napoleon does not want to make all the decisions, but that he takes the extra labor so that the animals do not have to worry. Throughout the novella the uneducated animals are tricked, manipulated and hoodwinked into believing whatever napoleon says. If they had been just a little smarter than they would have realized what was really going on. They would have seen the corruption the lies and the manipulation of there minds. They could have put a stop to it. Works cited Orwell , George . Animal Farm. New York : 1946. Print.

Free Essays on Decision Making Process

â€Å"Analysis of the Decision-Making Process† We are constantly making decisions. We make decisions that affect how and what we do in our homes and at work. Our decisions can bear consequences that carry throughout the day, throughout our careers, and throughout our lives. This paper will explore a few scenarios and outline several steps of the decision-making process, particularly as it relates to management. Suppose that you and some friends are hiking along some mountain cliffs. As you are hiking you hear a growing noise and then feel a tremor. Looking above, you notice a rockslide coming down quickly. You all sprint until the sound has passed. Behind you, a large boulder has pinned the leg of a companion. Despite all your efforts, the boulder cannot be lifted or moved. The cliff that you are on may or may not give way from added weight of the debris. Unfortunately, you are miles away from any rescue assistance, and it appears that you only have two options. You can leave your friend, to the chance that the cliff might give way, and go for help. Or you can somehow detach the leg, rendering him disabled indefinitely, but sparing his life. Situations like these underline the understated importance of effective decision-making between alternatives, and bring to mind a few questions like these:  · Who is affected by these decisions?  · What are the long-term effects of these decisions?  · Am I prepared to handle the consequences?  · Are there any alternatives I have not considered? It can, at times, seem that the decisions we make are unimportant and do not carry long-lasting benefits and/or consequences. The decisions that face some of our nations top business leaders are not thought of as a life and death matters, but could they be? Could the results be the life or death of our businesses? Everyone makes decisions every single day. From the choice to get up or hit ‘snooze’ we make the decision to wake up. Next, we generall... Free Essays on Decision Making Process Free Essays on Decision Making Process â€Å"Analysis of the Decision-Making Process† We are constantly making decisions. We make decisions that affect how and what we do in our homes and at work. Our decisions can bear consequences that carry throughout the day, throughout our careers, and throughout our lives. This paper will explore a few scenarios and outline several steps of the decision-making process, particularly as it relates to management. Suppose that you and some friends are hiking along some mountain cliffs. As you are hiking you hear a growing noise and then feel a tremor. Looking above, you notice a rockslide coming down quickly. You all sprint until the sound has passed. Behind you, a large boulder has pinned the leg of a companion. Despite all your efforts, the boulder cannot be lifted or moved. The cliff that you are on may or may not give way from added weight of the debris. Unfortunately, you are miles away from any rescue assistance, and it appears that you only have two options. You can leave your friend, to the chance that the cliff might give way, and go for help. Or you can somehow detach the leg, rendering him disabled indefinitely, but sparing his life. Situations like these underline the understated importance of effective decision-making between alternatives, and bring to mind a few questions like these:  · Who is affected by these decisions?  · What are the long-term effects of these decisions?  · Am I prepared to handle the consequences?  · Are there any alternatives I have not considered? It can, at times, seem that the decisions we make are unimportant and do not carry long-lasting benefits and/or consequences. The decisions that face some of our nations top business leaders are not thought of as a life and death matters, but could they be? Could the results be the life or death of our businesses? Everyone makes decisions every single day. From the choice to get up or hit ‘snooze’ we make the decision to wake up. Next, we generall...

HRM Outsourcing Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HRM Outsourcing - Term Paper Example The question on what should be outsourced has always been a widely debated issue. This paper will explore the issues around human resource outsourcing, particularly those concerned with firm’s performance, strategic direction, ethics and corporate social responsibility. It will also evaluate these issues with regard to how they can be addressed and balanced to achieve the best performance, productivity, and efficiency. An Evaluation of HR Outsourcing One of the ultimate gains of outsourcing is the division of work and skill/expertise specialization, which results in a better outcome and performance. Business process outsourcing (BPO) including HR outsourcing is not only aimed at financial value; relevance of a strong relationship management is that it leads to value addition such as innovation and customer satisfaction (Enlow & Ertel, 2006). The importance of a healthy relationship management cannot be overlooked. According to McKinsey & Company, as quoted by Enlow and Ertel ( 2006), 50% of outsourced services fail to create the expected value. Firms find value when specialists, who can be more effective in providing services that were previously handled internally, are engaged because both the firm and the supplier can focus on what they do best to improve performance. HR outsourcing is beneficial to any firm and whatever the size of the organization, outsourcing must follow phases for it to succeed. According to Anonymous (2007, July), the use of outsourcing as a strategy proved beneficial in a large funeral and cemetery company, Service Corp. International. The company boasted of the workforce of 2,400 employees in 2,500 locations. The funeral company decided to outsource human resources services; through an advisory firm, various sources of outsourcing were used while focusing on the various phases of the outsourcing process. Because of the many administrative tasks of the company, HR outsourcing led to a reduction in costs. Outsourcing and shared ser vices provide avenues for reducing cost while enhancing efficiency in organizations. Cost cutting associated with outsourcing occurs when staff is assigned with other tasks through involvement of experts or by saving money (Anonymous, 2007, April). While outsourced members focus on their areas of expertise, organization’s staff members focus on core responsibilities. Information Technology investments may not yield results for a long time. Thus, outsourced IT services help to avoid colossal capital investment costs. Equally, the use of shared services appears to be advantageous to organizations by reducing the need for maintaining a massive workforce leading to a reduction in costs through sharing of talents and resources and enhancing productivity (Anonymous, 2007, April). Ethical issues that have been associated with HR outsourcing have included loss of employment in the host country where firms are outsourcing human resource. The practice of getting expertise and staff fro m other places in order to save costs has been perceived negatively from a social point of view by the local communities from which the outsourcing firm hails, particularly when outsourcing involves expertise or skills that are also available locally. Cultural differences are another concern of outsourcing, which has been mentioned especially among multicultural environments where different skill sets are in existence (Adobor, 2012, p.245). For example, there exist immense

Challeges ESOL Somali learner face when learning how to read Coursework

Challeges ESOL Somali learner face when learning how to read - Coursework Example Most educators teaching ESOL Somali learners assume that these students have prior knowledge of various literary genres such as myths and legends. As a result, teachers teaching ESOL Somali learners fail to develop a good background for basic vocabulary of the English language. Though ESOL learners may be able to read some vocabularies, it is quite difficult to fathom the content presented. In essence, ESOL learners face various challenges when learning how to read. The data for this report was corrected from a number of past studies regarding the challenges ESOL Somalis face when learning how to read. The paper explores the learning experience of Somalis with little or no formal education. ESOL Somali learners have challenges in hearing and speaking the English language. For instance, most ESOL students cannot speak or hear the language they are learning. Actually, since the ESOL students learn English as a second language, various difficulties are present. As a result, sound recognition and production of the second language becomes challenging for ESOL students. Phonics entails the understanding of written words and their corresponding literally sound. In other words, phonics refers to an approach employed to teach reading and writing of English words to non-English speakers. The approach involves developing the learner’s ability to identify and manipulate sounds in order to demonstrate the correspondence between different sounds and the spelling patterns that stand in their place. It is imperative to identify that sound production and manipulation is largely dependent on letter patterns. ESOL learners might have insufficient knowledge regarding their native language since they rarely interact with linguistics scholars. For people to understand all aspects of a particular language, interaction with other scholars is an imperative exercise. ESOL students should not only rely on the little skills

Confucius and Virtue Essay Example for Free

Confucius and Virtue Essay One word could garner every stroke of brilliance, every riddle composed and every thought that circled within the most influential sage, Confucius. The word â€Å"Shu: never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself,† expresses one rule that any individual could follow and practice (176). It encompasses areas of one’s life like intellect, relationships and behavior, but more importantly it begins to describe the concept of virtue and we can obtain it. In view with Confucius, virtue can be defined as morality possible within an individual. Virtue can be taught through the formation of habit and by respecting those around you as you would expect them to do as well—simultaneously garnering necessary traits such as honor and humanity that satisfy an individual’s life. To further extend the definition of virtue, morality should be defined. However, the exact definition of morality—just like virtue—will forever be contemplated. From Confucius, I gathered a few traits I believe to exemplify morality or Humanity as Confucius describes. One aspect is the ability to recognize what is good and then accomplishing these good things. Just as Confucius states, â€Å"Choose what is good and follow it,† comprehension and application in accordance to morality is vital to the definition of virtue (Confucius 72). Since virtue is something we, as erroneous humans, may never be able to obtain or reach, then the way to distinguish it is through experience or daily life. We observe virtue and are able to simply imitate it. Confucius himself exclaims that he â€Å"has no hope of meeting a truly virtuous person,† (73). Another aspect to define virtue is through gaining contentment in the individual’s life. Accepting one’s circumstances and finding peace in this leads an individual to Confucius’s Way, or true virtue. If someone had the ability to accept life as its handed to them, then their mind wouldn’t be concerned with things outside of their control. This is important to the acceleration of virtue because one’s own virtue is within their control, and if the focus is not outside of their control, it would be easier to observe virtue and then implement it into their lives. Security within the individual begins to form and â€Å"when the roots are secure, the Way is born,† (3). Both aspects, goodness and contentment, lead to observation and application of virtue, which is exactly how the individual can define of identify virtue. â€Å"but if you don’t put into practice the Ritual, then no good will come of it. † In order for virtue to be implemented into an individual’s life, the formation of habit must be derived from the application of virtue, or goodness. The formation indirectly helps to fulfill the completion of good behavior and intellect in an individual’s life. First, the connections of practice and teaching through behavior should be incorporated. For example, Confucius’s, The Analects, was gathered together by his followers. His great ideas about would have ever reached the people if he had not taught. More importantly, it shows how the applications of his writings are successful. Whatever he spoke of, he tried to implement in his life and that only supports the need for an individual to practice these items of virtue in their lives. The idea of practicing virtue is said to â€Å"never look [listen, speak or move] without Ritual,† and that would entail to constantly apply ritual, practice and procedural actions. In fact, Confucius’s concept of Ritual has more to do with habits and procedures than the religious aspects. Its respect of customs and practices allows individuals to become humane and honorable—which are aspects of virtue. This is demonstrated when Confucius says, â€Å"put what you have learned into practice,† (3). When that quote is connected with â€Å"the noble-minded are well versed in culture (culture also means learned in other translations) and well-grounded in Ritual, so how could they ever go wrong? † a clear purpose for practice is shown because learning in Ritual is viewed as a way of discipline to express those ideas (humanity and honorability) of virtue (61). Therefore, when this combination is practiced, virtue is then among the individual’s behavior satisfying that part of the soul. If they are able to control behaviors and practices through ritual and learning, then the intellect is challenged with virtue as well. Application infuses both behavior and intellect of the soul; practice is vital to obtaining and satisfying virtue within an individual’s life. Confucius’s â€Å"Golden Rule†Ã¢â‚¬â€respecting others as one wishes to be treated—is the key to a virtuous life because a way of obtaining virtue is through observation and practice. This is nearly impossible without the influence of another virtuous person. If virtue is exemplified through humans and our actions, then the observations made by an individual on the path to discovering virtue would be from another. This continuum is demonstrated through Confucius himself, as he teaches and â€Å"never refuse[s] to teach anyone,† but also through honor for elders (68). Parents, ancestors and elders are all crucial to the growth of a child and how he observes virtue. By implementing behavior, meaning regarding them with respect, the child learns necessary traits of virtue than can be further developed. To support the idea of respect Confucius boldly states that â€Å"everyone can feed their parents—but without reverence, they might as well be feeding animals,† (13). No one can observe and behave virtuous if they have no form of hearth for virtue. In addition to the necessity of observation and practice, the Golden Rule is also about finding virtue within love and humility. Both love and humility are selfless acts; their truest forms cannot be corrupted by greed, selfishness or inhumane ideals. Just as Confucius exclaims, â€Å"love the whole existence of things,† it brings forth connections and relationships that satisfy the soul (4). Virtue is expressed through these relationships by the respect and selfless acts because they are recognized as good. Good is synonymous with the idea of virtue, so it enforces the observations one can make of virtue in everyday life. Taking care of others creates one of the few truest bonds, and that represents virtue because of its truth and simply put: goodness. Being virtuous needs to be incorporated into everyday life/situations, and once you have begun virtue within yourself, the only other missing aspect of life is the life an individual shares with another; stringing together practice, relationships and intellect. Sharing virtue in life is accomplished through the Golden Rule by showing or being the example of virtue: â€Å"if you want to make a stand, help others make a stand,† (62). Virtue is not about oneself so by respecting others; one grows closer to understanding virtue. Treating others the way you want to be treated strings together behavior, relationships and intellect because others are involved: an individual observes and analyzes someone else’s virtuous actions, then begins to practice their own, and eventually respects and connects with others. This cycle is evolved through separate aspects of one’s life and in conjunction with others. If â€Å"only the humane can love people,† and humanity is a trait sprouted from virtue, then virtue must always be accompanied by some sort of interaction with others (33). Although Confucius’s idea of virtue incorporates how relationships, behavior and intellect are developed in an individual, it does not properly address emotion. Emotion can play a large role in how people think, act and connect; therefore, alter one’s ability to obtain virtue. Aristotle’s means of extreme seems to resonate well with emotion because it addresses the need for humans to stay balanced and in control—which would be beneficial to Confucius contentment and security in one’s self. Aristotle’s explains the men as â€Å"its character is to aim at what is intermediate in passions and in actions† (Aristotle 386). Aristotle’s idea of a moderation of emotions (passions) would allow an individual to stabilize themselves and stay focused on virtue. This is important because the foundation in which virtue begins to grow, according to Confucius, is when acceptance and contentment are present in one’s life. Once contentment occurs, the focus is more on loving others. This allows Confucius’s idea that â€Å"noble minded are never arrogant,† to become successful (Confucius 147). Through the use of balanced emotions, the individual can stay content and also stray from any arrogance, as emotions are focused on oneself. While virtue is true morality possible in humans, it can only be gained through practice and application of the Golden Rule—which leads to satisfaction within one’s life through concepts like humanity and Ritual. However, â€Å"Shu† will always be at the hearth of defining, applying and teaching virtue. Caring for others as we would want to care for us is vital to virtue in that it deals with a pure form of connection with others. Virtue is transported from individual to individual, and is therefore a large attribute to connections and relationships we have in life. With this, may Shu be with you.

David Wilmot and the Wilmot Proviso :: essays research papers

David Wilmot   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  David Wilmot was born in Bethany, Pennsylvania, on January 20, 1814. Wilmot received his academic education in Bethany and in Aurora, New York. He was later admitted to the bar at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, in 1834. He soon began practice at Towanda, where he afterward resided. He was first brought into public notice from his support of Martin Van Buren in the presidential race of 1836. He helped to found the Republican Party and was a Republican Senator from 1861 to 1863, filling out the unexpired term of Simon Cameron. He then became a judge of the U.S. Court of Claims in 1863.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  David Wilmot was an avid abolitionist. He became a part of the Free-Soil Party, which was made chiefly because of rising opposition to the extension of slavery into any of the territories newly acquired from Mexico. Not only was he opposed to the extension of slavery into â€Å"Texas,† he created the Wilmot Proviso. The Wilmot Proviso, which is obviously named after its creator, was an amendment to a bill put before the U.S. House of Representatives during the Mexican War; it provided an appropriation of $2 million to enable President Polk to negotiate a territorial settlement with Mexico. David Wilmot created this in response to the bill stipulating that none of the territory acquired in the Mexican War should be open to slavery. The amended bill was passed in the House, but the Senate adjourned without voting on it. In the next session of Congress (1847), a new bill providing for a $3-million appropriation was introduced, and Wilmot again proposed an anti slavery amendment to it. The amended bill passed the House, but the Senate drew up its own bill, which excluded the proviso. The Wilmot Proviso created great bitterness between North and South and helped take shape the conflict over the extension of slavery. In the election of 1848, the terms of the Wilmot Proviso, a definite challenge to proslavery groups, were ignored by the Whig and Democratic parties but were adopted by the Free-Soil party. Later, the Republican Party also favored excluding slavery from new territories.

Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 36-37

36 JENNY, ROBERT, RIVERA, AMANDA, TRAVIS, HOWARD, AND THE SPIDER Rivera drove Robert and Jennifer to their house. They sat in the back, holding each other the whole way, not saying a word until they thanked him when he dropped them off. On the drive back to the station Rivera tried to formulate a story that would save his career. Any version of the true story seemed like a sure ticket to a psychological disability retirement. In the end he decided to tell the story as far as the point where The Breeze disappeared. A month later Rivera was pumping Slush-Puppies at the Seven-Eleven, working undercover for the robbery division. However, with the arrest of a team of robbers that had terrorized convenience stores in the county for six months, he was promoted to lieutenant. Amanda and Travis rode with Howard. At Amanda's request, Gian Hen Gian saw that Effrom's body was turned to stone and placed inside the cave. When Howard stopped in front of Amanda's house, she invited Travis to come inside. He refused at first, wanting to leave her alone with her grief. â€Å"Have you completely missed the significance of all this, Travis?† she asked. â€Å"I guess so,† he said. â€Å"Did it occur to you that the presence of Catch and Gian Hen Gian proves that Effrom is not gone completely? I will miss him, but he goes on. And I don't want to be alone right now. I helped you when you needed it,† she said, and she waited. Travis went in. Howard went home to work on a new menu for his restaurant. Chief Technical Sergeant Nailsworth never found out what happened to Roxanne or who she really was, and he was heartbroken. Because of his grief he was unable to eat, lost a hundred and fifty pounds, met a girl at a computer user's meeting, and married her. He never had computer sex again outside the privacy of his home. 37 GOOD GUYS Augustus Brine declined offers for a ride home. He wanted to walk. He needed to think. Gian Hen Gian walked at his side. â€Å"I can repair your truck, make it fly if you wish,† the Djinn said. â€Å"I don't want it,† Brine said. â€Å"I'm not even sure I want to go home.† â€Å"You may do as you wish, Augustus Brine.† â€Å"I don't want to go back to the store either. I think I'll give the business to Robert and Jenny.† â€Å"Is it wise to put the drunkard in the wine barrel?† â€Å"He won't drink anymore. I want them to have the house, too. I'll start the paperwork in the morning.† â€Å"It is done.† â€Å"Just like that?† â€Å"You doubt the word of the King of the Djinn?† They walked in silence for a while before Brine spoke again. â€Å"It seems wrong that Travis has lived so long without having a life, without love.† â€Å"Like yourself, you mean?† â€Å"No, not like myself. I've had a good life.† â€Å"Would you have me make him young again?† Brine thought for a moment before he answered. â€Å"Could you make him age in reverse? For each year that passes he is a year younger?† â€Å"It can be done.† â€Å"And her, too?† â€Å"Her?† â€Å"Amanda. Could you make them grow young together?† â€Å"It can be done, if you command it.† â€Å"I do.† â€Å"It is done. Will you tell them?† â€Å"No, not right away. It will be a nice surprise.† â€Å"And what of yourself, Augustus Brine? What is it you wish?† â€Å"I don't know. I always thought I'd make a good madam.† Before the Djinn could say anything else, Rachel's van sputtered up beside them and stopped. She rolled down the window and said, â€Å"Do you need a ride, Gus?† â€Å"He is trying to think,† the Djinn snapped. â€Å"Don't be rude,† Brine said to the Djinn. â€Å"Which way are you going?† â€Å"I don't know for sure. I don't feel like going home – maybe ever.† Brine walked around the front of the van and slid open the cargo door. â€Å"Get in, Gian Hen Gian.† The Djinn got into the van. Brine slammed the cargo door and climbed into the passenger seat next to Rachel. â€Å"Well?† she said. â€Å"East,† Brine said. â€Å"Nevada.† It was called King's Lake. When it appeared in the desert, it simultaneously appeared on every map of Nevada that had ever been printed. People who had passed through that part of the state swore that they had never seen it before, yet there it was on the map. Above the tree-lined banks of King's Lake stood a palace with a hundred rooms. Atop the palace a massive electric sign read, BRINE'S BAIT, TACKLE, AND FINE WOMEN. Anyone who visited the palace was greeted by a beautiful, dark-haired woman, who took their money and led them to a room. On their way out a tiny brown man in a rumpled suit returned their money and wished them well. Upon returning home the visitors told of a white-haired man who sat all day in the lotus position at the end of a pier in front of the palace, fishing and smoking a pipe. They said that when evening approached, the dark-haired woman would join the man and together they would watch the sun go down. The visitors were never quite clear as to what had happened to them while they were at the palace. It didn't seem to matter. But after a visit they found that they appreciated the simple pleasures that life presented to them and they were happy. And although they recommended Brine's to their friends, they never returned themselves. What went on in the rooms is another story altogether.