Monday, September 2, 2019

Black Theology & Black Power According to James H. Cone Essay -- Black

I believe the best place to start this essay would be with an explanation of Black Power. Black Power according to James H. Cone â€Å"is an emotionally charged term that can evoke either angry rejection or passionate acceptance.† Critics see it as blacks hating whites, while advocates see Black Power as the only viable option for black people. Advocates see Black Power meaning black people are taking a dominate role in deciding what the black-white relationship should be in American Society. Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. is preaching this right now. He sees that blacks need to go back to their blackness and no longer live their lives as the white society wants them to. What these two men are encouraging can be very difficult for most people to understand. Most of us see this as a call to violence. What Cone is really saying is that Black Power means the complete emancipation of black people from white oppression by whatever means black people deem necessary. The methods to reach this can include selective buying, boycotting, marching, and even rebellion. Black Power means black freedom, black self-determination, where black people no longer see themselves as without human dignity, but as people, human beings with the ability to carve out their own destiny. Paul Tillich’s analysis of â€Å"the courage to be† further clarifies the meaning of Black Power. He says that â€Å"the courage to be† â€Å"is the ethical act in which man affirms his being in spite of those elements of his existence which conflict with his essential self-affirmation† Black Power is then a humanizing force because it the black man’s attempt to be recognized as a â€Å"thou† in spite of the â€Å"other,† the white power which dehumanizes him. The courage they feel gives them the... ... What it really means is that your heart, your soul, your mind, and your body are where the dispossessed are. Your mind, soul, and heart need to be reconciled to God. Cone ends his book, Black Theology & Black Power with this thought, â€Å"The real questions are: Where is your identity? Where is your being? Does it lie with the oppressed blacks or with the oppressors? Let us hope that there are enough to answer this question correctly so that America will not be compelled to acknowledge a common humanity by see that blood is always one color.† We need to put aside our pasts and try to find the common ground we share in Christ and become reconciled to each other that neither black or white is superior, but we are just the same in God’s eyes and we all bleed in the same color. Work Cited James H. Cone . "Black Theology and Black Power" Orbis Books, 1997

Sunday, September 1, 2019

How Is the Power of Dreams and Dreaming in the Novel of Mice and Men Essay

The idea of moving from one place to another, working hard and trying to raise the quality of life for you and your loved ones is known as ‘The American Dream’. Steinbeck invites us to understand how having this dream keeps them going despite the challenging life that each character faces. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck makes this ‘dream’ the main focus of the story for both the reader and characters. George’s dream is to have independence and to â€Å"go into town and get whatever I want† but most importantly he dreams of being â€Å"somebody†. On the other hand, Lennie aspires to be with George and to â€Å"tend the rabbits†. Ultimately, George and Lennie both wanted to â€Å"have a little house and couple of acres an’ a cow and some pigs† however, George only tells Lennie about their dream to comfort Lennie. This is shown when Lennie says â€Å"No†¦ You tell it. It ain’t the same if I tell it. Go on†¦ George. How do I get to tend the rabbits. † It is only after they all realised that together, â€Å"this thing they never believed in was coming true† Even though the dream is very important to George as well, Steinbeck portrays Lennie as someone who wants the dream a lot more. This is shown through Lennie’s angry or upset feelings when he feels like he has done something that would jeopardise their dream. George uses this to his advantage to threaten and control Lennie by blackmailing him, â€Å"If you do, I won’t let you tend the rabbits. † Consequently, Lennie tries to please George and to gain his approval as much as possible. Another way in which Steinbeck shows the power of dreams and dreaming in the novel is through how much they want it. Steinbeck portrays each character’s desperation through their lifestyle. The dream that each character has reflects what is missing from their life. George and Crooks are both very desperate about this dream because they both want their current lives to be like their past. This is shown when, for a second, George loses track of the present and says â€Å"we’d keep a few pigeons to go flyin’ around the win’mill like they done when I was a kid† which is referring back to his childhood. Similarly, Crooks wants to return to his past. â€Å"The white kids used to play at our place, an’ sometimes I went to play with them. † This shows that Crooks used to be well respected and equal within his community. After all, Crooks â€Å"ain’t a southern negro†; however, he is not treated well at the ranch, therefore, the dream provides comfort for Crooks. Although George wants to return to his childhood, there is a deeper meaning to his dream. George wants to â€Å"just say the hell with goin’ to work† because unlike Candy, George doesn’t want to stay at the ranch too long so he would get ‘canned’. For George, the dream means that â€Å"nobody could can us† Furthermore, George doesn’t want to have to keep moving because he would â€Å"jus’ live there† and â€Å"belong there. There wouldn’t be no more runnin’ round the country and gettin’ fed by a Jap cook. † This suggests that he’ll be his own boss. A result of being a migrant worker, no one at the ranch has any friends, which is why Crooks was surprised to hear that Lennie had George. For George and Lennie, the dream of having their own land provides a stable home that will eventually gain them friends and family. On the other hand, Crooks is very pessimistic about the possibility of a dream becoming a reality because he has been segregated in the ranch for as long as he can remember. His cynicism has led him to believe â€Å"It’s just in their head. They’re all the time talkin’ about it, but it’s jus’ in their head†. This suggests that his past experiences have affected his power to dream. Steinbeck reinforces the power of dreaming within the novel, as he shows every character’s reaction when they all realise that there is a possibility of George and Lennie’s dream becoming reality. â€Å"They looked at each other, amazed. This thing they had never really believed in was coming true. Once they believed that the dream is a possibility, the tension is ramped up. Suddenly there is something to lose and something to fight for. This massively enhances the power that the dream has over each character and for a while the feeling of doom is lessened. The reader wants to know if each character can escape the curse they seem to be under and reach their goals. For Lennie and candy the dream would provide an exciting o pportunity, as both characters are not worth much in the real world. The dream would provide them a chance of appreciation. To Lennie, the dream is an antidote to disappointment and loneliness, and he often asks George to recite the description of the farm to him for comfort. Like a child, he loved the hear George telling him to â€Å"tend the rabbits† correspondingly for Candy it would make him feel more important as he can â€Å"cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some† Even though Curley’s Wife was the reason that the dream fell apart, she had big dreams to be in â€Å"pitchers† Unsatisfied by her surly husband, she constantly lurks around the barn, trying to engage the workers in conversation. However, although she may come across as very flirtatious, she only flirts with the men for attention. Which is what her dream would have provided her if she didn’t marry Curley. Shes so lonely, and so desparate for the attention of the men at the ranch that she even flirts with Lennie as she leans â€Å"closely† at him to â€Å"see if she was impressing him† To look in more detail about how Steinbeck shows the power of the dreams, take each individual character and how they all act to their dreams ending. For example, Steinbeck has made Curley very bitter after the realisation of his dreams ending when Candy’s wife is killed by Lennie. His bitterness shows how much the dream meant to him and how he needed it because he is old and disabled so he will probably get ‘canned’ soon, He shuffles out of the barn which that he has given up all hope, almost given up on life.

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Decentralisation of Retailing Essay

Decentralisation is the process in which the population, retail and industry moves from urban CBD’s to the outer city. An out of town shopping centre is a group of shops and facilities that are located away from a town’s CBD. This movement will have positive and negative impacts on both the urban area and the outer city, where the out of town centres are built. The decentralisation of retailing and other services is happening because In order to sell goods, shops need to be located where people can get to them easily and its seen as easier to go to an out of town shopping centre than go to the CBD of a city. An advantage of this includes the social advantage is that there are many more free car parking spaces at out of town centres, whereas in a CBD parking is usually very hard to find and when it is found it is far away from the shops. This encourages shoppers to go to the out of town shopping centres as it is either more convenient, or cheaper. This also encourages fa milies to go as the shops and facilities are a lot closer to the car parking spaces and their children and the elderly have less distance to walk. An economic advantage is that as a lot of shops and facilities open, more jobs will become available for the local people. This would help the local area because it would lower the amount of people claiming benefits from the government. This would also positively impact the government because they’d receive more money from taxes and have to pay out less in benefits. Another social advantage is that there is a variety of shops that are all in one area. This benefits the people who go there because they won’t have to spend a long time walking to different shops. Also due to all of the facilities in the area, it makes a day out more enjoyable because the customers have more available activities, such as cinemas, coffee shops and in some cases mini golf. There are also many disadvantages of out of town shopping centres. A disadvantage to the economy and environment is that the out of town shopping centres take customers away from the CBD, which would lead to some shops being forced to close. This often leads to the city centre becoming run down. This would harm the environment because it would look unappealing and it becomes a waste of green space. The closure of these shops also would mean that a lot of people would lose their jobs, which means that the government would receive less money through taxes and would even lose money if the unemployed people went on benefits. An economic disadvantage is that along with the shops in the CBD, the small businesses  that are near the out of town shopping centre will suffer and possibly be forced to close. This would also lead to people losing their jobs and would mean that the government get less money through taxes. A social disadvantage is that the construction of the centre may upset some residents, due to the high levels of noise and the inevitable road congestion. An environmental disadvantage is that the shopping centre could be built on green-belt land. Also the construction could destroy wildlife habitats. Another social disadvantage is that the crime rate in the CBD will increase as it becomes more run down and people lose their jobs. This will give the area a bad reputation, lowering the chances of further investments from the government and also lowering the chances of more people buying houses there, meaning that less money goes into the economy. The decentralisation of retailing and other services also has positive and negative impacts on the city centre. A negative impact is that urban deprivation could occur. Urban deprivation is when the standard of living in an urban area drops due to the area becoming run down. This could happen to the area because the shops lose customers to the out of town shopping centre. This causes the shops in the CBD to close and the people who worked there become unemployed, then these people are forced to claim benefits from the government, which means that the government don’t have the money to invest in the CBD. This then leads to an increase in crime, which makes the area look far more unappealing and gives it a poor reputation. Some of the shops in the CBD are also unable to compete with the out of town shopping centre because they can’t offer free parking, whereas the centre can. This free parking can have a massive influence on where the customers go. However, a positive impact is that the area has a lot less cars running through it, which leads to little congestion and little noise and air pollution. This would ensure that the environment of the area would be less polluted then what it would be if the shops were still successful. It also makes the area a lot more peaceful for the locals who live there. I strongly agree with this statement because the above shows some of the positive and negative impacts it can have on urban areas, which are major impacts so therefore, out of tow shopping centres are affecting the CBDs in many ways.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Ethics Essay

1. What is/are John’s ethical issues? I do not know the exact definition of ethical but I believe it to be related to our behavior and the decisions we make and if they are considered right or wrong by society. I am sure there are times when a situation may be perfectly legal but we may not think it is okay. Keeping this in mind, John’s ethical issues include thoroughly researching IPOs and using this information to his advantage, pocketing profits from the shorting process, disregarding the non-compete clause and allowing mailings to be sent to his clients prior to resigning, indirectly letting his clients know he was personally paying for their expenses instead of charging them to the firm, buying and selling stocks without the client’s knowledge, and not giving the time and attention needed to properly train new hires. 2. Are there any legal considerations for John? I think he could be held legally liable for all of the actions mentioned above if they are illegal. I am not sure if indirectly letting clients know he paid for their expenses and buying and selling their stocks without their knowledge is illegal. Obviously he is doing something illegal if the SEC is investigating. I guess he could be fined and/or be taken to trial depending on the severity of his actions and the amount of money involved. 3. Discuss the implications of each decision John has made and will make. I am not a risk taker and I know I would question his character based on the decisions he has made and I would not trust him. However, it sounds as if this type of behavior may be the norm with stock brokers who are willing to take risks. The Sharks would probably be more accepting of his behavior because they are risk takers but the Cessna and Turtles would be less accepting because of being more conservative. I think John should cooperate with the SEC with the hopes of reducing the severity of punishment for his actions. Resolving Ethical Business Challenges – Questions/Exercises 1. What are the potential ethical issues faced by Acme Corporation? I think the potential ethical issues are giving the client season tickets and a vacation in return for purchasing additional inventory, taking the best accounts to Vegas for a thank you party with all expenses paid including adult entertainment and keeping it quiet. 2. What should Acme do if there is a desire to make ethics part of its core organizational values? Acme needs to communicate core values to their employees. Ethics programs need be created and overseen by appointed ethics officers. The ethical component relates to the values, beliefs and established and enforced patterns of conduct that employees use to identify and respond to ethical issues. 3. Identify the ethical issues of which Frank needs to be aware. He should be concerned about the fact he agreed to give the client season tickets and a vacation in return for an increase inventory which resulted in a personal bonus for Frank and achievement recognition. Amber offered the thank you trip but Frank would be telling the client adult entertainment is okay per Amber and it would not get out. Each time he goes to this client with a recommendation to increase inventory, the client is going to expect to get something in return. If other clients find out about this, they may expect the same treatment or they may take their business elsewhere. 4. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each decision that Frank could make. Each time he goes to this client with a recommendation to increase inventory, the client is going to expect to get something in return. If other clients find out about this, they may expect the same treatment or they may take their business elsewhere. I think every client is important to a business regardless of the size of their account and they should each be treated equally but it does not happen this way in the real world.

As I Get Older, My Toys Cost More Essay

As I mature, pursue my education, expand my interests, and become more involved in the working world, I am introduced to more technology and different types of people.   As my education is increased, the need and desire for technology to accompany this education increases as well, i.e., computers, lap tops, DVD burners, etc.   With these expanding horizons and increased contacts come responsibilities for higher priced socializing. Technological advancements and improvements occur at incremental rates compared to just 5-10 years ago. Technological advances are centered in transportation, medicine, and entertainment categories.   Examples of entertainment technology that have been introduced in just the last 3 years include Apple’s IPOD and all the existing technological paraphernalia that accompany it.   With innovation and improvement come higher price tags.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a woman who values education, I desire to purchase books rather than rent from the library in many instances.   Purchasing titles by classics writers are relatively inexpensive, but the investment is more costly than buying the teen magazine or weekly magazine that I have now outgrown.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a part of the working world, I am continually introduced to new people, making new friends along the way   As I get older, my interests naturally are more involved and intricate and therefore cost more money.   Examples of this are the theater, ballet, symphonies, etc.   These are all more expensive than a weekend movie, or even buying a new movie DVD on the market. . New friends introduce me to their interests.   Therefore, socializing and participating in these events can cost more money than a quick lunch at Taco Bell when I was in high school.   In comparison, when I was younger, playing at the park or playground cost nothing.   Shopping with a pre-teen friend meant insignificant little purchases, i.e., gum, candy, inexpensive jewelry. Naturally, as I continue throughout my lifetime in the working world in the career of my choice, my success will naturally bring with it a higher income.   The higher income will allow me the freedom to buy â€Å"toys† I would not have been able to consider as a younger woman.   Economic freedom frequently comes with age, continued education, and experience.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

The New York Stock Exchange Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The New York Stock Exchange - Essay Example The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is a non profit organization whose ownership is composed of 1300 members or â€Å"seats†. Richard Grasso was the Chairman of NYSE for several years during the first decade of the 21st century. He did a good job of as chairman of the NYSE increasing the productivity of the stock exchange. Some of his major accomplishments included tripling seat prices, investing $2 billion in information technology upgrades, and achieved record volume of business in a bad economy and tough competitive environment. The problem with his tenured as chairman is that he took advantage of his position to benefit economically beyond what he deserved. He also colluded with the board of directors creating agency issues that help him inflate his total compensation. For instance the Board of Directors was handpicked by Mr. Grasso. They were his puppets and would approve without debating the outrageous bonuses Richard Grasso paid himself. In 2003 when they scandal was rev ealed Richard Grasso received $2.3 million dollars in salary. The previous four years his total compensation ranged between $9.9 million and $24.2 million. Grasso was a greedy executive that acted in an unethical manner. Upon his resignation due to public pressures Grasso received a lump sum payout which included liquidation of pension plan of $140 million. The NYSE is most powerful and influential stock exchange in the world.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Democracy Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy Today - Essay Example Before I go on into this paper, I want to make it clear that it is not my intent to "bash" President Bush but in order to look at whether democracy is still working, we have to look at the highest office because that is where the laws and programs for the country are started. Since President Bush took office, the state of the nation has changed drastically and it has put the American people in a state of shock. There are many factors that have contributed to the demise of our democratic system. In a sense, covertly, things began to change after 9/11 and the bombing of the World Trade Center. This put the United States "on alert" and plans were made to find the people who had assaulted the country. Although no one ever took real responsibility for that act, most people attributed the attack to Osama Ben Laden. The United States never really found him nor made him responsible for this attack. Depending on who you talk to about this situation, the Bush Administration knew about this or they did not. According to Michael Moores video, "Fahrenheit 9/11" information is presented that says that President Bush knew about the attack. Whether he did or didnt, it set off some challenges in the country that eventually went to the War in Iraq. The President went against the judgment of the United Nations and went to War in the guise of finding Sad am Hussein. We found Sadam, he was executed and six yea rs later we are still fighting the War under the guise that it is protecting our freedom in America. However, according to the video, "Why We Fight," by Eugene Jarecki, we are fighting over oil, not for freedom. These are all matters that the American people are upset about but they are not sure what to do. I bring these events together because life as we know it began to change with these events and others. President Bush was elected twice under circumstances that the American people suspected were not on the "up and