The Cathedral by Raymond Carver

Raymond Carver, the author of Cathedral was born in Oregon in 1938. He came from a poor family. At the age of 40 he was one of the most promising writers of his generation and was also near ruin in everyway from alcoholism. He quit drinking but lung cancer took over- taking his life at the age of 50. He wrote 3 collections of stories: â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love†,â€Å" Cathedral† and â€Å"Elephant†, poems and essays. He was considered a minimalist until Cathedral where he started changing his style. Cathedral like many of Carver’s other stories portray individuals isolated from each other for a variety of reasons.In this story he creates a realistic human picture. He wants us to see the narrator’s character as figuratively blind. By the title we think the story is about a cathedral, but it is really about two man who are blind, on physically and the other psychologically. The Narrator looks at life from a very narrow-minded po int of view, for example he seems to believe that the most important thing to women is being complimented on their looks: second he is unable to imagine his wife’s friend as a person, only as a blind man. The narrator does not understand that what blind people cannot see they can experience by feeling and hearing.He does not see what is underneath the skin or what is behind a face. He sees people and things at face value. In Contrast, the blind man sees things with his ears, his hands and his heart. As the story opens the narrator gives a short background about his wife and the blind man’s relationship. We can sense his disgust and unwillingness to understand what it is like to be blind. He feels threatened by the blind man. This story shows that you don’t have to see someone or something in order to appreciate them for who or what they are. This story does follow typical dramatic development, which helps develop the theme.In the beginning, Carver, gives you an idea of what type of characters you are working with. He then forms the rising action with conversation among the 3 characters. The climax is when Robert, the blind man, and the narrator begin to draw the Cathedral together, two hands moving together- one guided by sight the other not, which lead us to the resolution of how the narrator becomes changed and learns a valuable lesson, which is overall the theme of the story. Several things bring out the theme: One is the point of view from which the story is told. The narrator talks from a first person point of view.Throughout the story he describes people by their outer appearance. He is amazed that the blind man has a beard. He only sees people for what they are outside, but is blind to appreciate the true beauty of a person’s inner self. You begin to understand this better when he goes to Pray† Pray that the phone wont ring and the food doesn’t get cold†. Prayers normally are said to show appreciation to al l that God has blessed us with. He prays in a cold type of way because he cannot believe in God if he does not appreciate the beauty of ones inner self, including the soul.The characterization of the story brings out the message too. There are 3 characters: Robert, The blind friend of the wife, who is the most important character. Unlike the narrator Robert can’t physically see, but has a clear vision of appreciating the person’s true inner self. â€Å"Talking about the miserable life the blind man’s wife must have had†. These two characters are complete opposites. The narrator cant understand that Robert probably loved his wife deeply for the person she was inside. The setting also plays a big part in the theme, because tells you about the characters personalities.Once again the narrator describes everything in great detail. Like the part where they are getting ready to watch the tape Robert sent. This shows us the type of character he is. There are two symbols in this story: the cathedral and Robert’s inability to see. The Cathedral is important because even though Robert has never seen the building he still knows the true and special meaning behind it. The narrator starts to change his attitude towards Robert at dinner, when he watches Robert use his fork and knife on the meat.This is when the narrator starts to see Robert for who he is inside instead of just seeing his handicap. At the end the narrator fully appreciates Robert when he learns the valuable lesson: that you don’t have to literally see someone to know how beautiful a person truly is. â€Å"Like the saying says: to never judge a book by its cover†. Cathedral ends with hope, although there is no proof that the narrator will overcome his isolation, for the moment he is in communion with himself and another human being. Robert teaches the narrator to imagine and feel like a blind man.The story is about one man’s prejudice which is overcome by another man’s gift. This story is about revelation and prejudice, but has a unfolding of marital drama. The story tells of how a close outside friendship can threaten marriage by provoking insecurities, creating feelings of invasion of privacy and aggravating communication barriers. The narrator feels jealous that they talk about everything. He feels left out when his wife and Robert recall the years they spent together. The narrator feels that the visit of the blind man is an invasion of his privacy and to his private relationship with his wife.It seems that the couple has a failure of communication Most criticism about this story focuses on how Robert helps the narrator overcome his prejudice, but we can to see that in certain marriages â€Å"outside relationships† can either cultivate or destroy lives depending on the relationship shared by a married couple. The outside Friendship can threaten a couple by provoking insecurities, creating feelings of invasion of pri vacy and aggravating communication barriers. Robert here I believe brings the couple’s marital problems up to the surface. Is Cathedral a religious revelation too? The Cathedral by Raymond Carver Raymond Carver, the author of Cathedral was born in Oregon in 1938. He came from a poor family. At the age of 40 he was one of the most promising writers of his generation and was also near ruin in everyway from alcoholism. He quit drinking but lung cancer took over- taking his life at the age of 50. He wrote 3 collections of stories: â€Å"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love†,â€Å" Cathedral† and â€Å"Elephant†, poems and essays. He was considered a minimalist until Cathedral where he started changing his style.Cathedral like many of Carver’s other stories portray individuals isolated from each other for a variety of reasons. In this story he creates a realistic human picture. He wants us to see the narrator’s character as figuratively blind. By the title we think the story is about a cathedral, but it is really about two man who are blind, on physically and the other psychologically.The Narrator looks at life from a very narrow-minded poi nt of view, for example he seems to believe that the most important thing to women is being complimented on their looks: second he is unable to imagine his wife’s friend as a person, only as a blind man. The narrator does not understand that what blind people cannot see they can experience by feeling and hearing. He does not see what is underneath the skin or what is behind a face. He sees people and things at face value. In Contrast, the blind man sees things with his ears, his hands and his heart.As the story opens the narrator gives a short background about his wife and the blind man’s relationship. We can sense his disgust and unwillingness to understand what it is like to be blind. He feels threatened by the blind man.This story shows that you don’t have to see someone or something in order to appreciate them for who or what they are. This story does follow typical dramatic development, which helps develop the theme.In the beginning, Carver, gives you an id ea of what type of characters you are working with. He then forms the rising action with conversation among  the 3 characters. The climax is when Robert, the blind man, and the narrator begin to draw the Cathedral together, two hands moving together- one guided by sight the other not, which lead us to the resolution of how the narrator becomes changed and learns a valuable lesson, which is overall the theme of the story.Several things bring out the theme:One is the point of view from which the story is told. The narrator talks from a first person point of view. Throughout the story he describes people by their outer appearance. He is amazed that the blind man has a beard. He only sees people for what they are outside, but is blind to appreciate the true beauty of a person’s inner self. You begin to understand this better when he goes to Pray† Pray that the phone wont ring and the food doesn’t get cold†. Prayers normally are said to show appreciation to al l that God has blessed us with. He prays in a cold type of way because he cannot believe in God if he does not appreciate the beauty of ones inner self, including the soul.The characterization of the story brings out the message too. There are 3 characters: Robert, The blind friend of the wife, who is the most important character. Unlike the narrator Robert can’t physically see, but has a clear vision of appreciating the person’s true inner self. â€Å"Talking about the miserable life the blind man’s wife must have had†. These two characters are complete opposites. The narrator cant understand that Robert probably loved his wife deeply for the person she was inside.The setting also plays a big part in the theme, because tells you about the characters personalities. Once again the narrator describes everything in great detail. Like the part where they are getting ready to watch the tape Robert sent. This shows us the type of character he is.There are two s ymbols in this story: the cathedral and Robert’s inability to see. The Cathedral is important because even though Robert has never seen the building he still knows the true and special meaning behind it.The narrator starts to change his attitude towards Robert at dinner, when he watches Robert use his fork and knife on the meat. This is when the narrator starts to see Robert for who he is inside instead of just seeing his handicap. At the end the narrator fully appreciates Robert when he learns the valuable lesson: that you don’t have to literally see someone to know how beautiful a person truly is. â€Å"Like the saying says: to never judge a book by its cover†.Cathedral ends with hope, although there is no proof that the narrator will overcome his isolation, for the moment he is in communion with himself and another human being.Robert teaches the narrator to imagine and feel like a blind man. The story is about one man’s prejudice which is overcome by a nother man’s gift.This story is about revelation and prejudice, but has a unfolding of marital drama. The story tells of how a close outside friendship can threaten marriage by provoking insecurities, creating feelings of invasion of privacy and aggravating communication barriers.The narrator feels jealous that they talk about everything. He feels left out when his wife and Robert recall the years they spent together. The narrator feels that the visit of the blind man is an invasion of his privacy and to his private relationship with his wife. It seems that the couple has a failure of communicationMost criticism about this story focuses on how Robert helps the narrator overcome his prejudice, but we can to see that in certain marriages â€Å"outside relationships† can either cultivate or destroy lives depending on the relationship shared by a married couple. The outside Friendship can threaten a couple by provoking insecurities, creating feelings of invasion of privacy and aggravating communication barriers. Robert here I believe brings the couple’s marital problems up to the surface.Is Cathedral a religious revelation too?Minimalist: Movement in art, music, etc. in which only the simplest design, forms, etc, are used often repetiously.

Chapter 10 Study Guide Apush

1. 1. Describe the financial situation of the United States in 1791. †¢The revenue had declined and the public debt was huge. †¢The American people were brashly (*hastily, rash) at temping to erect a republic on an immense scale. 2. 2. Characterize the American population at the time of the ratification of the Constitution. †¢The American population was doubling about every twenty-five years and the first census in 1790 recorded about 4 million people. †¢The population was still 90 percent rural though even though the cities were doing very well and growing.About five percent of the population lived east of the Appalachian Mountains 3. 3. When was Vermont admitted to the Union? †¢ Vermont become the 14th state in 1791. 4. 4. Who did the Electoral College elect first president of the United States in 1789? †¢George Washington was unanimously drafted the first president by the Electoral College in 1789. 5. 5. Philadelphia was the first capital of the new n ation. What was the second? †¢New York was the temporary capital. 6. 6. Name the members of Washington’s cabinet and the positions they held. †¢The secretary of state was Thomas Jefferson. Secretary of the Treasury was Alexander Hamilton. †¢The Secretary of War was Henry Knox. Attorney General Edmund Randolf 7. 7. Who wrote the bill of Rights? When were they adopted by the states? †¢The Bill of rights was adopted in 1791 and was drafted by James Madison. 8. 8. Read the Bill of Rights. 9. 9. How was the judicial branch organized under the Judiciary Act of 1789? †¢The branch had a chief justice and five associates. It also had federal district and circuit courts and established the office of attorney general. 10. 10 Who was the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court? John Jay was the first supreme court Justice. 11. 11. Explain Hamilton’s financial plan †¢His plan was to shape the fiscal policies of the administration in a wa y to favor the wealthier groups. †¢By doing the above, the wealthy would lend the government monetary and political support. †¢Hamilton also planned to pay back the nations debt at face value, meaning everything they owed plus accumulated interest (a total of more than 54 million dollars) 12. 12. How did Hamilton get his way in Congress? †¢Hamilton persuaded Jefferson to line up enough votes in Congress for assumption.In return Virginia would have the federal district on the Potomac. 13. 13. Why did Hamilton see the national debt as a â€Å"national blessing? † †¢He believed it to be a national blessing because it was a kind of union adhesive. The more people the government owed money to, the more people there would be with a personal state in the success of Hamilton’s ideas. †¢He made a debt an asset for vitalizing the financial system as well as the government itself. 14. 14. How did Hamilton plan to raise the money to pay off the national de bt? †¢Hamilton’s first plan was custom duties (imposing taxes on imports) which ould be derived from a tariff. †¢Revenues from tariff’s required a heavy foreign trade which was another major part of Hamilton’s strategy. 15. 15. What was Hamilton’s vision for a national bank? †¢Hamilton wanted a national bank that was a powerful institution and would hold the federal treasuries money. †¢By having a national bank, federal funds would stimulate business by remaining in circulation †¢The bank would also print paper money and provide a sound and stable national currency. 16. 16. Why did Jefferson argue against the national bank? Jefferson argued that such financial power should be left to the states. He argued that the states, not Congress, had the power to charter banks. â€Å"Whatever the constitution does not permit, it forbids† 17. 17. How did Hamilton answer Jefferson’s recommendations to Washington? †¢Hamilton used the example in the constitution which gave congress the power to pass any laws which seemed proper or necessary. He argued since the government was empowered to collect taxes and regulate trade, a national bank would be both proper and necessary to help perform these basically functions. HAMILTONS PLAN Pay off states debt – Tariffs – Exsize tax – Sell bonds – Create a national bank 18. The Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania in 1794 was lead by distillers who strongly opposed the 1791 excise tax on whiskey. 19. The rebellion was ended when President Washington sent in federal troops. Although the troops faced no opposition, a strong message was sent by the government stating that it would enforce the law. 20. N/A 21. Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans wanted to get into the French and British War to fight for France. 22. Washington did not want to enter the French and British War 23.Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 stating the cou ntry's neutrality from the Britain-France war. He was backed by Hamilton 24. 25. For years, the British had retained the frontier posts on U. S. soil, all in defiance of the peace treaty of 1783. 26. 27. The London government did not want to abandon the valuable fur trade in the Great Lakes region, and British agents openly sold firearms to the Miami Confederacy, an alliance of 8 Indian nations who terrorized Americans. 18. Why did distillers in Pennsylvania rebel in 1794? †¢Hamilton’s high excise tax weighted heavily on the homespun pioneer folk in the south. They thought of it as a tax on a grat luxury but as a burden on an economic necessity and a medium of exchange. 2. `9. Why was Washington’s action regarding the whiskey rebellion significant? †¢It was significant because Washington brought to gather a group of militia to crush a rebellion in another state. Most people didn’t think they would have the guts to attack another state. †¢Washingto n’s government commanded a new respect after the rebellion. 3. Understand the differences between the federalists and democratic-Republicans. †¢Federelalists: Ruled by the â€Å"best people† and wanted a powerful central government.They had a loose interpretation of the Constitution. †¢Democratic-Republican: Wanted a weak central government but power within the states. They had a strict interpretation of the Constitution. 4. What was the Democratic-Republican position on the French Revolution? †¢They thought that if a few thousand aristocratic people had to die for freedom then it was a fair price to pay. 5. What was Washington’s position on the war in Europe? †¢Washington, who was backed by Hamilton, believed that war should be avoided at all costs if it can be. 6. What was the Neutrality proclamation and how did the Jeffersonian react to it? This document proclaimed the government’s official neutrality in the conflict in Europe †¢It also sternly warned American citizens to be impartial toward both armed camps. †¢The Jeffersonians were enraged by the neutrality proclamation and they were also angry towards how he presented the proclamation, how he didn’t even conult Congress. 7. Who is Citizen Genet? †¢He is a 30 year old Representative of the French Republic. †¢He took advantage of the new French American alliance and undertook to fit out privateers. 8. How did Great Britain violate the Peace of Paris of 1783? They have been holding the chain of northern frontier posts on U. S soil for ten years. 26. Who was Mad Anthony Wayne? What were the terms of the Treaty of Grenville? †¢Mad Anthony Wayne was an army general. †¢The treaty of Grenville was signed in August 1795. †¢The confederacy gave up vast tracts of the Old Northwest and in exchange the Indians received a lump-sum payment of $20,000 and an annual annuity of $9,000. Also the rights to hunt in any lands they wanted and recognition of their sovereignty. 27. What action did the British take against American ships in the Caribbean? The British ships attacked the French West Indies and seized about three hundred American merchant ships in the West Indies. 28. Explain the terms of Jay’s Treaty and the Jeffersonian’s reaction to it. †¢The British agreed to evacuate their posts in the U. S and also to pay for the damages caused in the recent seizures of American ships. The British didn’t speak of any future attacks however. †¢The Jeffersonian’s were filled with rage because the treaty seemed like an abject surrender to Britain. 29. What was Pinckney’s Treaty? †¢This treated with Spain gave the U.S basically everything they wanted including navigation throughout the Mississippi and the large disputed territory of north Florida. 13. What did Washington warn of in his farewell address? †¢Washington strongly suggested staying away from permanent all iances such as the Franco-American alliance. †¢Washington did not oppose alliances but simply believed temporary alliances were best. 14. Who ran for President in 1796? What was the result of the election? †¢John Adams and Thomas Jefferson ran for President. †¢John Adams won the election by a small margin and therefore Jefferson became vice president since he was runner up. 5. Explain the XYZ affair †¢This was a political and diplomatic episode where Adams’s envoys were approached secretly by here go-betweens. 16. How did the United States prepare for war with France? †¢They worked very fast, creating a navy department and expanding the three-ship navy. †¢The Marine Corps was reestablished and a new army of ten thousand men was authorized. 17. What was the Convention of 1800? †¢A treaty was signed in Paris where France agreed to annul the twenty-two-year-old marriage of convenience but the United States agreed to pay the damage claims of Ame rican shippers. 8. Explain the Alien and Sedition Acts. †¢The Sedition act basically took away freedom of speech and press from citizens. The law provided that anyone who impeded the policies of the government or falsely defamed its officials such as the president was to be fined and imprisoned. †¢The Alien acts consists of the federalist Congress created a disheartening barrier for the â€Å"dregs† wanting to come in from Europe. Also one of the laws hit hard on immigrants, it allowed the president to deport dangerous foreigners in time of peace and to deport or imprison them in times of hostility.

White-Nosed Syndrome in Hibernating Bats. Chelsea Essay

White-Nosed Syndrome in Hibernating Bats. Chelsea - Essay Example This is shown by studies of bat species in Europe and America. None of these species is similar. The reasons for lack of the disease in Europe may be because the bats in Europe may be carriers or it may be due to their habitat characteristics where they roost in small clusters or alone. (Kocer, 2012). The confirmation test for White – Nose syndrome is done by taking samples of fungal lesions on the muzzles of bats. UV fluorescence is also used as a screening tool for the presence of the causative agent of WNS. On been undertaken through the process of UV fluorescence, the wings of infected bats fluorescence with a yellow speckling pattern on their wings. False positives are produced by the fluorescence of the muzzle area (Kocer, 2012). There is hope for treatment of WNS. Laboratory tests have shown the causative agent of WNS is susceptible to various axole antifundal drugs. The fungus is also temperature dependant that is the reason why it infects hibernating bats. Optimal functioning temperature for the fungus is 12.5 15.8 0C. Current research is ongoing to slow its progression over long distance by reducing human transmission. A national WNS plan has been set up to tackle the disease (Kocer,

Human Relations Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Relations Case Study - Essay Example Introduction: Organizations are very important in the day to day life. One of the most basic and fundamental aspects of organizations is that it involves human resources. The word â€Å"organization† comes from the word â€Å"organize†. This word suggests a sense of order and management of human resources to bring about or achieve an intended result. Literature review Management is an umbrella word. It means controlling and harmonizing resources so that the organization can achieve its goals and targets. The word management clearly points to leadership of the organization. This is where the human resource begins. Leadership determines the quality of the organization almost directly. This is because it is charged with the responsibility of coming up with decisions that shall lift the quality of the organization. Poor leadership leads to unnecessary mistakes which end up in costing the organization a lot of resources. The quality of leadership is reflected through the org anizational leadership structure. Under the leadership structure various managers are assigned with different responsibilities which are viewed as pillars to the organization. This is to make sure that the growth of an organization is all round and evenly distributed. ... This includes coming up with the required standard of qualifications of the prospective workers. This also includes developing skills through training and creation of incentives. The aim of these activities is to come up with a strong workforce that shall work with high level of professionalism. The reward system of the organization is one of the most sensitive areas to the workers. This is because it can nurture talent or even demoralize the workers. This department does not exclude dealing with the cases of indiscipline among workers. In some large organizations, the human resource department is divided into many other smaller departments. These departments deal with specific matters within the organization. While still having a look at the human resource department of an organization, there are times when highly trained workers become involved in cases of indiscipline. These manifest in multiple ways. Some workers are fond of over drinking. This causes many of them to come to work when they are drunk. To illustrate this, our case involves a management trainee called Gary. Although he has full potential, he is not able to be fully helpful to the organization because of his drinking habit. Those who know Gary when he was studying at the university, say he was used to drinking a little too much. He was always late for classes and sometimes never showed up for classes at all. When called upon to be accountable, he had convincing excuses that left the lecturers and other concerned people with satisfaction. Somehow, that was able to cushion him from trouble as long as he was a student. However, when he joined the professional field as a management trainee, he initially thought the same excuses would work in the new work place. However, his bosses became

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Read one artical from texasisd.com regarding upcoming legislative Article

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Motives for the voyages of discovery Research Paper

Motives for the voyages of discovery - Research Paper Example Thesis statement: The research work on the film Conquest of Paradise proves that the protagonist’s motives for his voyages of discovery include his personal motive to prove his worthiness as a sailor, to quench the renaissance spirit by going beyond national boundaries, to find out new lands, to extend European influence to new lands, to plunder gold and wealth from the natives, to find out new sea routes, colonization under the crown, to spread Christianity, and to expand trade and commerce in future years. This section is broadly divided into: personal motive, renaissance spirit, to find out new lands, expansion of European influence, to plunder wealth, to find out sea routes, colonization, religious purposes, and expansion of trade. Personal motive: In the movie, the director makes use of the protagonist’s personal motive (say, to prove his value as a sailor) to unearth the importance of the expeditions of discovery. To be specific, the protagonist decides to fulfil his personal aim by conducting a voyage to unseen lands. Deanne Schultz opines that, â€Å"Despite weak condescension to the counter discourse, the film argues that Columbus deserves restoration to a legacy of greatness.†1 One can see that the protagonist tries to convince Queen Isabella I that he is worthy enough to conduct an expedition. This personal motive to prove oneself as a worthy sailor is inherent in almost all sailors. Still, the protagonist fails to convince the queen because the proposed expedition will result in economic burden. But the protagonist does not give up his personal interest/aim. Instead, he tires his level best to gain a ship and crew members. This proves that the protagonist is so obsessed with his personal motive/interest. So, one can see that the director sheds light into the protagonist’s inner mind and unveils the reason behind his passion towards sailing. Renaissance spirit: The protagonist’s expeditions of discovery in the film are symbolic of the influence of Renaissance that urges individuals to go beyond national boundaries. To be specific, the protagonist represents the spirit of Renaissance to explore the unknown. One can see that Renaissance resulted in geographical discoveries. The protagonist is aware that his expedition can help him to gain glory. But, he does not possess a ship or crew members. Still, his unending passion towards adventure forces him to approach the queen. This passion towards adventure is the essence of Renaissance. Somehow, the protagonist convinces the queen and starts his expedition. The director makes use of the protagonist’s effort to portray the human passion to know the unknown. The protagonist is aware that he cannot fulfil his dreams without seeking help from the queen. Besides, he knew that his voyage can help him to be on the pinnacle of success. The protagonist does not like to an idle individual because his destiny is interconnected with the revolutionary spi rit of Renaissance. One can see that the protagonist’s passion towards his profession and its relationship with the rapid change in European mindset helped him to be victorious in the end. So, the director convinces the viewers and proves that Renaissance spirit guides the protagonist towards his expeditions of discovery. To find out new lands: In the movie, the director makes use of historical facts to prove that the protagonist’s aim was not to reach the mainland of America, but to reach Asia. To be

He Desire to Change the Subservient Role Essay Example for Free

He Desire to Change the Subservient Role Essay The Desire to Change the Subservient Role of Women in Old Chinese Society Chinese women stayed in an unequal status with men in old Chinese Society. Shen Congwen’s â€Å"Xiao Xiao† and Ding ling’s â€Å"When I Was in Xia Village† are two stories about village women’s lives during modern time in China. The stories in both of these works present an important traditional Chinese belief that it is profitable to raise geese than to raise daughter. In â€Å"Xiao Xiao†, she is a twelve-year-old girl who is married with a two-year-old husband, Chunguan, and as his caretaker in her youth. While â€Å"When I was in Xia Village† is a period when narrator spends his/her time in Xia village and make friends with a village girl Zhenzhen. She is sent to Japan to spy Japanese government after she is raped by Japanese soldiers. When she goes back village due to her disease, people look down upon her and laugh at her. Finally she runs away from Xiao Dabao’s propose and seeks for a fresh life in city. Xiaoxiao and Zhenzhen have something in common that they are both independent-minded woman; also they are from village and ever desired to live in city to find new life and to have education; they live under the tradition of gender discrimination in old China. While their experiences are different, and, at the end, Zhenzhen is seeking for her new life in another place, yet we see Xiaoxiao and her husband’s family is still within traditions in their small village. In men’s world, women are like a tool which they can use to make their life good, but we see some of women have desire to change their subservient role to become independent in Chinese society. Xiaoxiao and Zhenzhen are independent-minded women compared to other women at that time in Chinese society. They are not afraid of break down the present life and live in their owns. When Xiaoxiao’s grandpa and other relatives make joke on her about figuring out her should become a coed when she grows up. Then she has thinking that how coeds’ life is, â€Å"†¦she felt vague stirrings of unrest, and took to imagining herself as a ‘coed’. Would she behave like the ‘coed’ Grandfather talked about? In any case, there was nothing frightful about these ‘coeds’ and so these notions began to occupy this smile girl’s thoughts for the first time† (Shen 86). Although the author does not mention Xiaoxiao’s desire to become a coed directly in the story, I feel that Xiaoxiao wants to have a different life from her present life as a caretaker in village. She is young and hopes her life to be colorful and meaningful. After her stomach gets bigger, she wants to have a new life in city, â€Å"After a while, Xiaoxiao would finger her snakelike black braid, and, thinking of life in the city, she said: ‘Brother Motley, why don’t we go where we can be free in the city and find work there? What do you say? ’† (Shen 91). She knows if she keeps living with her husband’s family, she would go to dead. No more clearly than herself that she knows her situation is worse. If she elopes with Brother Motley, she could be same as those coeds in the school and live her own life with a normal marriage. Obviously, Xiaoxiao has her idea what her life she wants. In â€Å"When I was in Xia Village†, Zhenzhen is an independent-mind woman as well. Even though she has been raped and treated unrespectable. Zhenzhen does not care about surrounding people’s misunderstandings. For others’ sneer, she thinks she need to find another life but not surrender to marry Xiao Dabao, so she said to narrator â€Å"I feel that living among strangers and keeping busy would be better than living at home where people know me†¦ It’s better for each of us to go our own separate ways than it is to have everyone stay together in one place. I’m doing this for myself, but I’m doing it for the others â€Å" (Ding 146). Just like Xiaoxiao, Zhenzhen wants a new life in city and to start over. She hopes in a new place where not many people know her, so she could start over, â€Å"A person’s life is not just for one’s father and mother, or even for oneself. Some have called me young, inexperienced, and bad-tempered. I don’t dispute it. There are some things that I just have to keep to myself† (Ding 146). From these two stories, Xiaoxiao and Zhenzhen are two women who have their own thought instead of under control of traditions. Xiaoxiao and Zhenzhen have the same desire which moving from village to city. On one hand, Xiaoxiao wants to escape from her offence, on the other hand, she has desire to have sex with a real man, she cannot wait her little husband to grow up when she is twenty years old. So she cheats on her little husband â€Å"involuntarily† on surface. In addition, her husband’s families take her in but she never drops the idea to be like a coed, â€Å"One day, word spread that the coeds were back again. When Xiaoxiaoheard this, she eyes stared out unseeing, as if in a daze, her gaze fixed on the eastern horizon for some time† (Shen 93). She bent on joining the coeds on their way to the big city in search of freedom, unfortunately she is discovered. I guess Xiaoxiao does not have any ideas about having education in the city; she just has to get away from village. However, from her grandpa’s description on coed, she is interested in coed’s life and she thinks if she becomes a member of coed, she has holidays and does not need to do farm works. Zhenzhen is different. Although she is from village too, she has live in Japan many years. So she knows she goes to city because she wants a bright future and escape the sad village then to be educated in order to get a job with other communists, â€Å"What I do feel is that after I go to [Yan’an], I’ll be in a new situation. I will be in a new situation. I will be able to start life fresh† (Ding 146). Their movements illustrate that new Chinese women are changing people’s views and have sense of education is more and more important. Life in city is realistic and bright for them. Gender roles is very similar between â€Å"Xiaoxiao† and â€Å"When I Was in Xia Village†, they both present that women stand subservient role in society. Starting from Xiaoxiao’s marriage, her marriage is arranged by her uncle when she is only twelve. People at that time set this tradition because they think girl is useless because daughters will be others’ sooner or later, so it is better to send her earlier to save family’s food. To the bride’s family, accept a girl into their family is not only a way to take care of children, but also add a worker to help farming as a free labor. That’s why to be contrast with other female students in town, Xiaoxiao is adulterer. To punish Xiaoxiao’s cheating on her husband and families, Xiaoxiao is arranged to wait for her second marriage but no one come. Nevertheless, Xiaoxiao is lucky that her child turns out is a boy; she does not have to be married off after all. This tradition does not change after Xiaoxiao, then her son who is ten-year-old and have his wedding ceremony. Women in tradition could not hold any position of power. In the other story, people in Xia village are uneducated, so when Zhenzhen came back from Japan, they laughed at her and think she is dirty. Women have physical disadvantage than man, therefore, chastity becomes extremely crucial especially at that time. People in the village can not understand her grievance, this is one of the reason why Zhenzhen wants to go to [Xi’an] where most people are educated, at least not so care about her background. No matter from which aspect, Xiaoxiao and Zhenzhen seems like a tool in men ruled the world. Xiaoxiao is portrayed as â€Å"object† sold from a place to another. She could not have her own happiness because she belongs to her husband’s family. Zhenzhen looks like more freedom than Xiaoxiao physically, but in fact, she is slaved by internal. Something she cannot shake off is her hatred and interiority, â€Å"†¦in a very calm voice, she said, ‘I can’t say that I hate him. I just feel now that I’m someone who’s diseased. It’s a fact that I was abused by a large number of Jap devils. I don’t remember that exact number. In any case, I’m unclean, and with such a black mark I don’t expect any good fortune to come my way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ding 146). Zhenzhen is used to her reputation and body to help Chinese government but at the end, she could not get any sympathy. These things always happened to women, but not men. In conclusion, Xiaoxiao and Zhenzhen are two uneducated women living in old Chinese society where unbalanced gender roles and old traditions exist. They both from village and dream to move to city meanwhile they have â€Å"sins† could not be excused. Through their different experience, they have similarities that they both independent-minded to change their lives to take education in big city. The ending of stories are different that Zhenzhen’s regardless of objection enable her goes to city as she wants, but Xiaoxiao still stays in village and keeps her original life. In old Chinese society, woman is absolutely not profitable than men. So people use women like a functional object to help working or take care of family. I think women are living a hard life and very powerless in society. Even thought they want to take education to change their lives, reality makes them difficult. However, women play many different roles which cannot be ignored. The authors express their thought and show the current situation through these good works.

Federalists Essay Example for Free

Federalists Essay Linda Kerber described the predicaments of the Federalists, a political party whose members feared that popular democracy might spin out of control. Although they both fostered economic development, the Federalists were aware that an urban grassroots would result. The believers of the Federalist Party believed that Jefferson’s approach to politics was naive. The early stages of industrialization and urban growth were providing the ingredients of a working class; already existing was an unpredictable class of permanently poor who might well be available for mob action. The God or the religious beliefs of the Federalists often appeared to behave like a fourth branch of Government. They believed that religious obligation would reinforce moral obligation and would make popular government orderly and stable. On the other hand the Jeffersonian supporters felt they should break down the barrier of habitual morality (religion), with the interruption of education, habit and superstitions they were confident they would have a more positive vice. Drew R. McCoy spoke of â€Å"The Fears of the Jeffersonian Republicans†. Jefferson and his supporters predicted the challenges for the future of the United States. They were fearful of creating a dependent class; he envisioned huge tracts of land being farmed by righteous residents of the young republic. In keeping their independence from the British they encouraged production â€Å"within our families†, but for the finer manufactures, they would continue to rely on importations from abroad. New forms of employment needed to be created in order to keep the moral and political advantages of America up. The largest fears were of an uprising of the working class people and independent revolutions. Ben Franklin recognized that corruption could result from both natural and artificial causes. Jefferson was always faced with the reality of his plan failing constantly reminded by the thought of the decline of the Roman Empire. I found this Chapter to be the hardest to read, I researched other sources to understand and get through the politics of this chapter. I found the internet website www. answers. com/topic/republicans-jeffersonian to be most helpful. The reading and rational was made for the freshman U.  S. History student. I was able to acknowledge the fact that the Federalists Convention was the process of breaking free from the British Empire. By the mid-eighteenth century a large proportion of adult white males in the colonies possessed the suffrage while also enjoying the privileges of a free press and some freedom of religious worship The colonies in other words, had grown apart from the mother country, their inhabitants had begun to think of themselves as Americans, and, not surprisingly, they proved unreceptive to attempts to bring them to strengthen.

Mills The Power Elite Analysis

Mills The Power Elite Analysis   Rudenko Viacheslav   The ruling elite consists of people occupying such positions that give them the opportunity to rise above the environment of ordinary people and make decisions that have the greatest consequences. Whether they make these decisions or not- it is less important than the fact of owning such key positions; their avoidance of known actions and decisions is in itself an action that often entails more important consequences than the decisions they make. This is due to the fact that they command the most important institutions and organisations of modern society. For us, it is important that the activities of the elite not only can provide a stabilising function for the whole society or its subsystems, but can also destabilise its condition. In the work The Power Elite, Mills carried out an institutional analysis of Americas contemporary. As he points out, among all spheres of the life of the society, there are three most important: economic, political and military. It is here where we must look for the roots of the real elite of society. Mills concluded that at the head of America more or less permanent group of families. Representatives of this ruling elite have so much in common (beginning with religion and education and ending with membership in the same clubs) that they represent a single group that gradually concentrates in their hands full power. Although these people consist in different parties, they also have similar interests and views. Because of this, it leads to that the election of the president or congressmen, in fact, a fiction that has no significant meaning. Thus, the country is governed by a narrow ruling elite, which occupies the highest level in the power structure. The lower level in this structure is occupied by the majority of citizens who allegedly are the reliance of democracy, but in reality, they are subordinate to the will of the elite. The single rule of the ruling elite, as C. Mills asserted, not only poses a threat to democracy, but can also provoke a third world war. Sharply criticising the dominance of the elite, Charles Mills posited positive hopes for intellectuals, which, in his opinion, should become the core that will strengthen American society, returning it to democratic origins. The book The Power Elite contains a comprehensive analysis of the American ruling elite:   Ã‚   its composition and main characteristics; mechanisms of its formation; its place in society; its historical evolution; etc. The research itself is a visual example of how a practical embodiment of the style of thinking should look like, which called by Mills as sociological imagination,. The ruling elite: consists of people occupying positions that give them the opportunity to rise above the environment of ordinary people and make decisions that have the greatest consequences. C. Mills believed that there are three distinct levels of power. The first the highest level is occupied by the ruling elite, which formally and informally accepts the most important political decisions and removes the popular masses from governing the country; The second level is an intermediate level of power reflecting group interests in local and regional authorities, whose influence on the adoption of fundamental decisions is limited; The third level is the level of the actual lack of rights of the masses, on which the main part of society is located, which does not exert any influence on the decision-making. This naturally leads to the conclusion that in fact American democracy and peoples democracy is nothing more than a deception. The main fact: the possession of command positions in the social system, in which effective means are concentrated, providing power, wealth, prestige, fame. The ruling elite has a national character:Analysing the provincial upper classes of the old and new formations and the upper strata of the central cities (the so-called layer of four hundred families), and Mills showed that their power capabilities are limited, and their decisions do not have a decisive influence on social processes. Higher positions in local hierarchies have lost the importance they had before. This is due to the institutional development of society, its enlargement and the formation of national social networks. Many members of the ruling elite came out from the local tops; But those who occupy the highest positions in the local hierarchies do not belong to it. The key to understanding the power of the elite must be sought in the social structure of modern society, its most important institutions. That is: (1) economic institutions: corporations; (2) political institutions: the state; (3) military institutions: the army. These institutions in American society dominate and subordinate all other institutions (school, family, church, science, etc.), turning them into tools for the realisation of their goals. There have been processes of enlargement and centralisation in these three areas: Economy: instead of a lot of small entrepreneurs 200-300 large corporations; Public administration: instead of a decentralised structure of state and municipal governments, a centralised government; Military: instead of a decentralised structure of means of violence, a centralised military department that has become the largest and the most expensive government agency. The ruling elite is effectively closed from foreign: through the working mechanisms of selection and recruitment, predominance of appointees and the role of subjective evaluation in appointments. Staying in the elite gives you direct access to the valuable benefits of life: wealth, power, prestige. Access to these benefits depends not so much on the personal qualities of a person, but on the positions in power. Disappearance of the public: The questions that determine the fate of people are not put and are not solved by the general public. Key decisions for society are made by the elite, often without any regard for the public. Also, there is a growing gap between the elite and the managed population. A huge role here is played by the media: in place of democratic discussion and decision-making, authoritarian decision-making mechanisms based on the technologies of propaganda processing and the formation of public opinion come. The market of opinions is monopolised: several large monopolists came to the place of numerous independent producers of opinions. Outcome: universal spiritual ignorance, stupor, loss of life guides and criteria, the triumph of immorality, the collapse of the mind, the general atmosphere of insecurity and impotence. A similar function is also performed by the education system. Immorality at the top: a structural problem. The society itself is arranged in such way that to achieve success person must drop moral. Moral orientations are often become disastrous for a career. In the lower classes a similar structural problem is philistine Machiavellianism. In a society where money is the only indisputable measure of prosperity (and human value), it cannot be otherwise. The main Elite-forming sign is not outstanding individual qualities, but possession of command positions, leading positions. The ruling elite, writes Mills, consists of people, occupying such positions that give them the opportunity to rise above the environment of ordinary people and make decisions that have major consequences. This is due to the fact that they command the most important hierarchical institutions and organizations of modern society. They occupy strategic command posts in the social system, in which effective means are concentrated, ensuring the power, wealth and fame that they use. It is the occupation of key positions in the economy, politics, military and other institutions that provides power and thereby constitutes the elite. Such an understanding of the elite distinguishes left-liberal concepts from Machiavellian and other theories that lead to elitism from special qualities of people. Group cohesion and the diversity of the composition of the ruling elite, which is not limited to the elite of the political, directly taking state decisions, but includes the leaders of corporations, politicians, senior civil servants and higher officers. They are supported by intellectuals, well-established within the existing system. The unifying factor of the ruling elite is not only the common interest of the constituent groups in preserving their privileged position and the social order that provides it, but also the proximity of the social status, educational and cultural level, the range of interests and spiritual values, lifestyle, and personal and family ties. There is also profound difference between the elite and the masses. Natives of the people can enter the elite only by occupying high positions in the social hierarchy. However, they have few real chances for this. The possibilities for the influence of the masses on the elite through elections and other democratic institutions are very limited. With the help of money, knowledge, the sophisticated mechanism of manipulating consciousness, the ruling elite controls the masses virtually uncontrollably. The recruiting of the elite is carried out mainly from its own environment based on acceptance of its social and political values. The most important criteria for selection are the possession of resources of influence, as well as business qualities and a conformist social position. The first and main function of the ruling elite in society is to ensure its own domination. Exactly this function by which decision of administrative tasks is subordinated. Mills denies the inevitability of the elitism of society, criticizes it from consistently democratic positions. Mills comments on the popular ideas about the managerial revolution, according to which, the power in the enterprises passed to the managers from the bottom, rational managers who care about both the profits for the owners and the dignity of the workers. Mills argues that in fact, managers are divided into two classes: those who are engaged in executive organisational work, and those who make key decisions. So, the second, higher class of managers is not separate from the owners of the group. As a rule, they have part in the shares of the enterprise. In fact, their interests do not differ from the interests of owners, as in their position they make money. At the very top of the social structure of the United States is the ruling elite, and below it is a politically formless inert society. If you look at it objectively, there is not so widely praised by the liberals the public, which discusses various issues, and then implements decisions directly or through representatives. The place of a reasonable and free personality envisaged by such a model is now occupied by the crowd man, and a mass society takes the place of a politically active organisation organised into grassroots associations of civil society. As We see large corporations instead small shopkeepers today, and instead of communicating between the buyer and the seller, we see mass advertising, as well in politics: instead of exchanging views, we see mass ideological processing. From what has been said it is clear that an inert society is the result of the influence of the mass media. The basis of resistance to them may be the comprehension of their experience, but the problem is that even our experience we perceive through the prism created by the mass media. Also, these media divert us from knowing the world through communication with loved ones. Probably, this function is performed by the TV bursting into the kitchen? Media does not only form our view of the world, but also our view of ourselves, imposing desires, dreams, and a vision of our position in society. The way out of this situation is to create and maintain alternative media that are not monopolised by the powers that be. This will allow us to see a real clash of opinions and analyse them. The education system has an effect similar to the mass media. In modern educational institutions, instead of political goals (the ability to link personal experience with social processes and to be active in public life), dominate market goals (the desire to become a steep specialist and move along the career ladder) which go together with ideologic propaganda of ruling class. The structure of an inert society is this: we are alienated from each other and closed in our own world, to which we look through the prism created by the mass media and the education system. We cannot relate our position to a real social structure. As a result, we become non-initiative and politically inert. Above the mass of such disunited people rises the organised elite, making the most important decisions, concerning all. Such pessimistic picture drawn by Mills. Pessimistic, because it does not contain a hint of a strategy of liberation. Perhaps Mills simply did not set the goal of this book to reflect on liberation strategies, or maybe he did not really see the opportunity to change society for the better, who knows? The concept of elite within the framework of the proposed cultural-institutional approach which historically defined (along with aristocracy and nomenclature) as a form of existence of power groups that define institutional boundaries. In other words, the elites are groups that perform, first of all, stabilising functions on the scale of the whole society, as well as its individual subsystems. And within the framework of this function, the elites consider the limits of the existence of other institutions and individuals. In this sense, they are institutionalising institutions. The existence of the elite is connected with the bourgeois industrial society. This means that they are the product of the social relations of this particular society. In this context, there are three characteristics of the modern society which are important: openness of the society, openness of power and openness of politics. In connection with these changes, the elites are institutionalised. The study of the ruling elite of the US did not go unnoticed. Later, the conclusions of C. Mills were reflected in the ideology of the new left throughout the world. In addition, the modern English sociologist A. Giddens who has convincingly shown that the term ruling elite, invented by C. Mills in relation to the United States, can rightly be attributed to the Soviet Union. Mills carried out an institutional analysis of Americas contemporary. He pointed out that among all spheres of the life of society the leading place is occupied by three economic, political and military. Mills believes that power elites represent only their own interests, which include maintaining an eternal economic war to control American capitalism, and masking manipulative control of social and political order with the help of the mass media. Mills concluded that at the head of America is more or less the permanent group of families. This leads to the fact that the election of the president or congressmen is a fiction, which has no essential meaning. The lower level in this structure is occupied by the majority of citizens who allegedly to the reliance of democracy, but in reality they are subordinate to the will of the elite. Mills saw the main social danger in increasing rationality without reason, that is, in using ruling elite rational means ,developed by scientists, to achi eve irrational goals.

Auschwitz Essay -- Essays Papers

Auschwitz Auschwitz was one of the most infamous and largest concentration camp known during World War II. It was located in the southwestern part of Poland commanded by Rudolf HÃ ¶ss. Auschwitz was first opened on June 14, 1940, much later than most of the other camps. It was in Auschwitz that the lives of so many were taken by methods of the gas chamber, crematoriums, and even from starvation and disease. These methods took "several hundreds and sometimes more than a thousand" lives a day. The majority of the lives killed were those of Jews although Gypsies, Yugoslavs, Poles, and many others of different ethnic backgrounds as well. The things most known about Auschwitz are the process people went through when entering the camp and throughout their time there, the conditions at the camp, and the experiments performed by Dr. Josef Mengele. In the concentration camp, Auschwitz, there was an elaborate process that the people went through when they arrived. Freight cars filled with people arrived daily in the camp. From that point the people were ordered to unload any of their belongings that they brought with them. At that point they are immediately told to line up to go through the first selection. Those were old or unfit to work, such as children, were automatically sent to the gas chambers. The others were then tattooed with a specific identification numbers, had their hair cut off, and were given prisoner uniforms to work in. These who passed the first selection then were forced to perform excruciating labor jobs. Each morning and afternoon a roll call was held and yet another selection was made. The SS, German soldiers and doctors, would make the prisoner’s strip from their clothes in order to make a full examination of t... ... march out of Auschwitz to different camps. The SS feared that liberation was coming. They told the prisoners that if any fell behind or stopped that they would be killed. Only a small number remained at Auschwitz. On January 27, 1945, the Soviet Army finally liberated Auschwitz. There were over one million lives that perished at this camp, only sixty-five thousand people survived. Many of these lives died by the gas chambers, crematoriums, effects of experimenting, torture, starvation, and many more reasons. Auschwitz will always be seen as a place that shall be remembered throughout history. Lives were taken but the memories shall prevail. Works Cited 1. Adler, Jerry. "The Last Days of Auschwitz." Newsweek (1995): 46-59. 2. Fischel, Jack R. The Holocaust. London: Greenwood Press, 1998. 3. Swiebocka, Teresa. Auschwitz. Indiana University Press, 1993.

Autonomy and Responsibility: The United States involvement in the Persian Gulf :: Essays Papers

Autonomy and Responsibility: The United States' involvement in the Persian Gulf The United States' involvement in the Persian Gulf War showed the responsibility of the country to maintain peace and order, but more importantly, the conflict showed that the United States has a responsibility to oversee control of the world's natural resources. â€Å"On Aug. 2, 1990, Iraqi military forces, on orders from President Saddam Hussein, invaded and occupied the small country of Kuwait.†1 Kuwait, a small country in the Middle East, contains a large amount of oil that Iraq wished to take control of to help solve the economic problems of their country. A very important decision faced the United States, whether or not to risk lives of American soldiers to free Kuwait. By freeing Kuwait, the United States would be able to maintain Kuwait’s control over oil prices in the United States. The United States, fearing Iraqi control of Kuwait’s oil supply, initiated an offensive military action on January 16, 1991, over five months after Iraq’s in itial invasion.2 Thus beginning a conflict known as the Persian Gulf War. The United States, standing â€Å"for law and order and justice,† had a responsibility to free Kuwait after peaceful negotiations failed and the economic future of Kuwait, Iraq, United States, and the rest of the world was in danger pending Iraq’s control of the regions natural resources.3 So that citizens would be peaceful and supportive, the United States' use of military action was justified by the helpless Kuwait citizens and the fear of Iraqi control of oil prices in America. The public opinion on the United States’ responsibility to join the war involved several complex arguments and counter-arguments. One such argument involved the United States being the world’s police force. Since the United States controls most of the world power, many feel as though the United States should maintain order throughout the world. Unfortunately, this maintenance of order is not at a cheap cost. The United States spends billions of dollars to support its military forces and figures increase during war times. This created a huge dilemma among the nations leaders. The cost of war may or may not have been worth the cost of the government being involved in the Persian Gulf War. The government made the tough decision to engage in offensive military actions to free Kuwait on the basis that the price of war was less than the apparent price of allowing Iraq to control Kuwait and their oil supply.

Ronald Takaki’s A Different Mirror

Dr. Ronald Takaki, a professor in the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of California, Berkeley, describes America’s immigrant history from the perspective of the minority group in the time period from Colonial America to the Los Angeles riots of 1992 (the year before the book was published).The author examines the historical experiences of different immigrant groups upon arrival in America, their reasons and expectations for coming, and the impact of such immigrations upon the Native American tribes who were already living in America and thought they possessed the land.The groups discussed include African Americans, Chinese, Japanese and other Southeast Asians, Irish, European Jews, and Hispanics, each of whom tended to originally settle in different parts of the country and perform different types of work that was available.   This is an enormous undertaking in a book of 428 pages.The book is extremely useful to both readers and teachers through its explanation o f the reasons ethnic groups immigrated into the   parts of the country in which each settled.   For example,   Chinese immigrants were usually husbands with wives and children left in China to ensure the men would continue to send money home.The site of immigration often determined the available work and jobs.   The Chinese came to the West Coast and became railroad workers, virtually building the Central Pacific Railroad in 1869 and uniting the country.   Then they went into the agricultural industry of California and into small businesses requiring a minimal cash outlay to start.   By the 1850’s, the Chinese quarter of San Francisco existed with small stores, Chinese societies and traditions, and gangs.The Japanese family unit migrated because the Japanese government encouraged this means of maintaining Japan’s national honor.   Most came with wives or imported them to work in businesses as unpaid family labor.   The Japanese, being 2% of Californiaâ €™s population, were disliked but incorporated into a paternalistic, racial hierarchy, where they also helped to build the railroad, became farmers, and worked in canneries.Since the book is written from the ethnic groups’ perspective, the leaders of the United States, being primarily Caucasian men whose opinions reflected those of the times, often appear short-sighted and ignorant of the consequences of their actions.Dr. Takaki is particularly harsh on Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Jackson, and Thomas Jefferson, all fairly well regarded during their lives.   He also omits important women   in American history, except for writers.   The first woman mentioned is Phyllis Wheatly, an African American poetess of the Colonial Era.There were other important women in that era, as discussed in Our Founding Mothers, by Cokie Roberts.   He also does not mention any of the women involved in the Abolitionist Movement, the Women’s Suffrage Movement, or any other womenâ€⠄¢s movement.     Towards the end of the book, he mentions several female writers and their works, including Gloria Anzaldua, Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, and Toni Morrison, all cultural minority writers.There are no stereotypes.   The settings of the book are authentic and describe in detail the way the minorities lived, the areas in which they lived, and the work they did.   Dr. Takaki discusses in detail the immigration of European Jews from Russia and Eastern Europe as refugees from the Pale, a part of Russia set apart for them, who could not return to their homelands without being killed.The Jews were typically educated, had middle class values, worked hard, and were socioeconomic mobile.   Their skin was white, they spoke English, and most changed their names to fit into existing American culture.   They settled   primarily on the East Coast and started work in the garment industry and opened small shops.All made certain that their children were well-educated an d did not have to work at such menial positions.   African-Americans began as slaves in the original American colonies.   The author mentions several famous Abolitionist men – Frederick Douglas, John Brown and Martin Delany (the leading Black Nationalist of the 19th Century, who was admitted to Harvard Medical School and told he would have to practice in Africa).He discusses how World War I created a labor shortage when European immigration was closed, creating a need for African-Americans to migrate to the northern cities where work and housing was plentiful.   The Harlem Renaissance he dismisses as imagined (page 357) by the white intellectuals.He mentions some individual African Americans of significance including Marcus Garvey (who wanted to establish a Black nation in Africa); Adam Clayton Powell (Congressman); and Zora Neal Hurston (author of Their Eyes Were Watching God).Dr. Takaki’s discussion of the Hispanic revolution is sketchy.   Part of California was settled by upper class Spaniards who created their own hierarchy by ranking darkening skin color, with pure Indians and laborers being on the bottom.     There is so much information available on how badly the government treated the Native Americans that his discussion of this material was brief by necessity.

How Global Trends Influence the Strategies Used by Samsung in the Communications Market Essay

As global trends shape the business landscape, they will certainly influence competition among companies; and just as companies frequently fail to examine global trends in details, they can also fall short in their analysis of the competitive factors those trends create. Czinkota, Ronkainen,and Kotabe, (2010) carried out a survey that showed that â€Å"competition is becoming more intense: 85% of them [executives] describe the business environment of their companies as more competitive. † As such organizations to include the owners and staff have to continually make changes to supplement the ever changing demands of their target market as well as the total market. Samsung has felt the negative effects associated with changes in global trends and as such have developed strategies to compliment those changes in the communication market. Overview of Samsung In the present unpredictable business trade, marketing plays a fundamental and considerable role and it is a course of action or means to create, deliver, exchange and communicate with customers and clients which is now more pronounce because of globalization. Globalization according to Hamilton (2009) is not a new phenomenon. Nonetheless, within the last few decades, the improvements in technology, international trade and communication have rocketed. However, before we move on to discuss this great phenomenon, it is imperative that we define the terms globalization and marketing. Bilton, Bonnett, and Jones, et al. (1996) argued that globalization can be defined as â€Å"the process whereby political, social, economic and cultural relations increasingly take on a global scale, and which has profound consequences for individuals’ local experiences and everyday lives. † Hamilton (2009), in view of some of these profound consequences of globalization aptly states, â€Å"International trade through globalization can have many benefits. Trade helps increase economic wealth and establishes good political relationships with trading partners. Globalization also promotes free trade and competition between corporations which in turn gives consumers throughout the world more options and cheaper products from which to choose. † Therefore, the increase in trade, as well as technological communication and transportation advancements have allowed societies to become more connected. The term globalization signifies the combination of the marketing process with global business requirements. The globalization of marketing has made marketing processes more intricate, unwieldy and costly to deal with. Ferrell (2011) postulates that marketing may be defined as â€Å"an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating, and delivering values to customers and for managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders. † Global sourcing and hostile global competition, pooled with growing customer demand, are drastically affecting the supply chain. To battle these new globalization challenges, many companies are moving away from a â€Å"push† supply chain model to a demand-driven, customer focus model. The desire to become demand-driven requires sophisticated, flexible responsiveness at every point along the supply chain, from sourcing and obtaining to use. One such company is Samsung; founded in 1938. From its foundation as a petite export company in Taegu, Korea, Samsung has developed into one of the world’s top electronics companies, specializing in digital appliances and media, semiconductors, memory, and system integration. For over three decades Samsung has defended developments in the business and played a fundamental part in the advancement of the mobile telecom sector. Their powerful past performance in invention and manufacturing is in line with a history of financial stability, and an extensive globally distributed, skilled employee base. This combination of factors has lead to Samsung being the favored partner of top-tier operators around the world. In 1980, Samsung joined the telecommunications hardware industry with the purchase of Hanguk Jenja Tongsin. Originally building telephone switchboards, Samsung expanded in to telephone and fax systems which ultimately moved to mobile phone manufacturing. The mobile phone business was grouped together with Samsung Electronics (Burris, 2013). Kumar (2004) opines that in the contemporary information age, mobile communications has enabled us to use laptop personal computers linked to the internet without a ‘wired’ local area network (LAN). Simply put, if the internet gave us the ability to access any web address on a desktop, mobiles have given us the access at any time and from anywhere. This capability, derived from modern telecommunication technology, is crucial in conducting international business operations. Samsung Telecommunications is one of five business units within Samsung Electronics. This unit has been influenced by global trends, causing the company to use marketing strategies in order to stay on top in the communications market. Samsung’s Marketing Strategy Developing a clear and profitable strategy relies on balancing the business’ competencies and abilities against the market opportunities into the future. The marketing strategy of a business includes a definition of the business, a description of the products or services, an outline of the target market, and defines the business’ role in relationship to the competition. In other words, marketing strategy is a synopsis of the business’ products and position in relation to the competition; the sales and marketing plans are the exact actions the business will assume to attain the goals of the marketing strategy. According to Materson and Pickton (2010), constructing and using a marketing strategy has a strong positive impact on profitability. This is because companies that utilize a marketing strategy tend to focus on their customers and markets, integrate their marketing responses and work out in advance where their profits will come from. Operating a flourishing business can be challenging; business operators can build a business but they might not materialize. Marketing is all about informing the public about the product or service the business offers, and influencing them to purchase or use it. Thus, Samsung zoomed in on strategies that will improve the company’s communication market. The company also used SWOT analysis in order to keep up with the global trends in the communication market. Like every other businesses, Samsung is very much aware that information is an important resource essential just like money, machinery and manpower. Information is considered one of the most fundamental necessities for the continued existence of the organization. In the past, before the computer era, it was not easy for the businesses to gather, store, maintain, organize and distribute enormous volumes of information and data. Nowadays, managers are competent in getting contemporary information at the required time in a precise manner. Consequently, as a powerful business leader, Samsung accepted the fact and had given precedence to the process of information throughout the organization at every stage. â€Å"To gain from its Managing Information System and Information Technology, Samsung addressed information needs not only in its environment but also in their relationships with customers, suppliers, trade partners, production systems, work processes, skills and labor requirement. These advancements of Samsung have created huge and complex processes and information systems, thereby creating a requirement to align them to have a universal overview of the complete information system setting it as a strategic tool† (Unknown). Ultimately, a manager evaluates the information gathered for accuracy. Evaluating this information enabled Samsung to identify potential threats and opportunities linked to environmental changes, which bring us to another market strategy, the market environment. Understanding the present state of the market environment and recognizing threats and opportunities that might arises from changes within it helped Samsung to assess the performance of their present marketing efforts and develop future marketing strategies (Pride & Ferrell, 2012). This is so because the global marketing environment is becoming increasingly competitive to an extent that requires companies to target their products and services at markets regardless of national boundaries (Hassan & Erdener, 1994). SWOT Analysis Samsung’s SWOT analysis was used to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the business, determining the long term objectives of the business and aid in the design of the new strategies to assist in the process of achieving targets set by the organization. The SWOT analysis also include the processes to determine the investment direction, the business markets to be addressed, extension of the operations of the business and limitations faced by the business in order to undertake the business activities. In essence, Samsung used SWOT to help identify possible strategies by building on strengths, resolving weaknesses, exploiting opportunities and avoiding threats. An opportunity is a major favorable situation in a firm’s environment. Key trends are one source of opportunities. An evaluation needs to be completed drawing conclusions about how the opportunities may affect the firm whether positive or negative. However, changes in competitive situations, technological changes and improve buyer or supplier relationships could symbolize positive opportunities for businesses. In this case, Samsung capitalized on their opportunities by designing new technology, sponsoring the 2012 Olympics, offered more models with stylish and individuality and giving the consumer real entertainment for their money; offering plenty opportunity to get more sales. Threat refers to challenges posed by an unfavorable trend or development that could lead to deterioration in profits or sales, in absence of a defensive marketing action. Threats are the main obstructions to the business’ existing or preferred position. Changes in technology, decrease in market growth, increase in bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, new or revised regulation could pose threats to the achievement of businesses. From the information gathered and evaluated, Samsung recognized that there is new and existing competition, price volatility, economic recession, and extremely huge competition for customers and resources. The internal analysis of strengths and weaknesses focuses on internal factors that give businesses certain advantages and disadvantages in meeting the requirements of its intended market. Strengths refer to core capabilities that give the business an advantage in meeting the requirements of its intended markets. Any analysis of company strengths should be market oriented and customer focused because strengths are only meaningful when they assist the business in meeting customer needs. Weaknesses refer to any limitations a company faces in developing or implementing a strategy. Weaknesses should also be examined from a customer perspective because customers often perceive weaknesses that a company cannot see. Being market focused when analyzing strengths and weaknesses does not mean that non-market oriented strengths and weaknesses should be forgotten. Rather, it suggests that all businesses should bind their strengths and weaknesses to customer requirements. Samsung’s strengths: 1. Strong international experiences 2. Strong global business network 3. Vast credibility of brand name 4. International documented accomplishments (awards received and nominated for) Samsung’s weaknesses: 1. Perception of high prices 2. Loss of customers’ interest in products 3. Buyer sophistication and knowledge 4. Substitute products or technologies and limited availability of 3D viewing Conclusion Marketing has changed in focus over the past twenty years. Nowadays, marketing stresses value and customer relationships (Ferrell, 2011). However, it is imperative to note that marketing is parallel to other business functions such as production, research, management, human resources, and accounting. The fundamental function of marketing is to connect the company to its customers. As such it shapes the objectives of companies to include Samsung, through which it is able to delivery top of the line communications while superbly satisfying the market. Reference Bilton T. , Bonnett, K. , Jones, P. , Skinner, D. Stanworth, M. & Webster, A. (1996). Introductory sociology. (MacMillan Press Ltd. , Ed. ). Great Britain: MacMillan Press Ltd. Burris M. (2013). The history of Samsung. About. com. Retrieved March 29, 2013 from http://components. about. com/od/Companies/p/The-History-Of-Samsung. htm Collins, J. , & Porras, J. (1996). Building your company’s vision. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved March 29, 2013 from http://www. tecker. com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/07/CollinsBuildingVisionSept96. pdf Czinkota M. , Ronkainen, I. , & Kotabe, M. (2010). Emerging trends, threats and opportunities in international marketing: What executives need to know. New York, NY:Business Expert Press, LLC. Ferrell, O. (2011). Marketing strategy (Hartline M. , Ed. ). Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. Hamilton S. (2009). Globalization. Edina, Minnesota: ABDO Publishing

Nosocomial Infections

Remember your mother always reminding you to wash your hands? We have all been told to do so at one point in our lives or another. As children we grudgingly obeyed, not really appreciating the wisdom and love behind the statement. For most of us, the value of hand hygiene is superficial; a means to clean soiled, unsightly hands. We were not aware that washing our hands regularly was a primary defense against many types of diseases.As a child it was imposed upon us by our parents, but as we grew older, we realize its true value but no longer practice it on a regular basis, finding it inconvenient and a waste of time. The truth is that hand hygiene is one of our best defenses against diseases. The simple act of washing and rubbing our hands vigorously with soap and running water is an effective shield against bacteria-borne infections. And this is especially true for health care professionals who are exposed to bacteria on a regular basis.People go to hospitals and other healthcare ins titutions for medical attention and treatment of their ailments. However, while most people get well after a trip to the hospital, there are cases where people get worse because of exposure to harmful microorganisms that abound in these hospitals. In hospitals, bacteria proliferate because of the high concentration of ill people at one place at any one given time, and they can cause secondary infections to people going to the hospital. These types of infections are caught secondary to a hospital visit or stay, and are called nosocomial infections.The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defined nosocomial infections or healthcare-acquired infections as â€Å"infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving treatment.† (Boyce, 2002, 29) And because these patients did not initially harbor these nosocomial infections, they could only have been acquired while in the hospital, while in contact with doctors and nurses who go from one sick patient to another. These health care professionals become the main mode of transmission for nosocomial infections, and this is made even worse especially if doctors and nurses do not practice proper hand hygiene.It does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out. In hospitals, most patients are bed-ridden, not allowed to go from one place to another. Therefore, the risk of them directly infecting another patient is slim. Only doctors and nurses move about from one patient to another, in constant physical contact with the patients. Because the hands are their main point of contact, the hands become the main vehicle of microbes as well. They â€Å"stick† to the doctors and nurses hands, and remain there until they are â€Å"dropped off† somewhere else.This process goes on and on until the bacteria find a suitable host, which is almost always, the human body. Inside the human body, these microbes will colonize and proliferate, causing many types of health problems. These transient, disease causing ba cteria use the skin as temporary vehicles to get from one point to another. However, because these microbes are transient and non-colonizing on the skin surface, they are easily removed by proper and rigorous hand washing with an anti-microbial soap and water. Therefore, proper hand washing can halt the spread of disease-causing bacteria in their tracks. If doctors and nurses fail to clean their hands, they become virtual havens for microbes, transmitting and causing nosocomial infections.The figures are alarming. Studies have shown that one out of every 20 patients contract nosocomial infections because of inadequate hygiene practices in most American hospitals. These nosocomial infections â€Å"kill an estimated 103,000 people in the United States a year, as many as AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined.† (McCaughey, 2005, 1) The World Health Organization says that nosocomial or healthcare acquired infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortalit y rates worldwide. (Ducel, 2002, 7) And all of this because of dirty hands. And all of these deaths and suffering are unnecessary. They can be easily remedied. If every healthcare worker would faithfully practice proper hand hygiene as they move from one patient to another, â€Å"there would be an immediate and profound reduction in the spread of resistant bacteria.†(Goldmann, 2006, 122)From every point of contact with patients, the hands of doctors and nurses are dirty, carrying infection-causing microbes; and as doctors and nurses attend to their patients’ needs, these bacteria move into the patients. While most of these bacteria can normally be fought off by the body, the compromised bodies of patients already weakened by an existing sickness become easy targets for these parasites, and nosocomial infections can easily set in. And because these infections attack a weak immune system, these can lead to more serious complications and even death.As the main vectors of nosocomial infections, doctors and nurses can prevent the spread through appropriate hand-sanitizing procedures. Hand hygiene is the single most important patient care practice that health care providers can do to prevent cross contamination and nosocomial infection. Some may say that hand hygiene is made redundant by wearing of antiseptic gloves on a regular basis. However, even if doctors and nurses wear gloves, it will also be contaminated if the hands are not clean in the first place. These gloves must be worn and removed using the hands, and so the cycle of contamination perpetuates itself in the hands of doctors and nurses with dirty hands.The premise of hand washing is very simple and very effective. Microbes are parasites. They depend on a host to live and reproduce themselves. However, bacteria are not mobile; they do have the means to move from one place to another. As such, they depend on outside help to move about and find new hosts to infect. This help comes in the form of doctors and nurse, who because of their many responsibilities, forget to clean their hands, or do so incorrectly. The anti-microbial property of soaps plus the rigorous friction of the rubbing of the hands can easily remove, weaken, or even kill these transient, infection-causing microbes before they can cause anyone any more harm. As such, a system-wide must be enforced, making proper hand hygiene mandatory for all doctors and nurses. Hand hygiene stations must be installed all over hospitals to make it easy for healthcare workers to clean their hands anytime.Indeed nosocomial infections can exact a high price. But what is even more unfortunate about nosocomial infections is the fact that it can be avoided. These healthcare associated infections are unnecessary tragedies that can be easily prevented with proper sanitation and hygiene procedures.Of course it is important to note that hand hygiene or hand washing is not enough. It must be done properly, following certain guidelin es. It is not enough to clean the hands; they must be disinfected. Normal or ordinary hand washing is the same as no hand hygiene at all. This means that hand washing must be done right, or not at all because it does not make any difference to harmful microbes or the health of the patients. Hand hygiene depends on the case and the area of the hospital involved. Normal hand hygiene should be done for at least a minute, with vigorous rubbing of the two hands against each other. Plain soap has been proven to effective against microorganism because the soap lifts the microbes off the surface of the skin to be rinsed off by running water.Hand hygiene need not be complicated or costly. All it takes is soap, running water, and friction, and the discipline to do it regularly and properly. The key is to make it a habit. There is no dearth of evidence showing that hand washing is effective in halting the spread of infections; the problem is that very few people in the health care industry pra ctice hand hygiene in compliance with regulations. Most wash their hands but do so inappropriately, which is useless in itself.While stopping the spread of nosocomial infections is complex, there is no denying the fact that the first line of defense against nosocomial infections is hand hygiene for nurses and doctors. Simple adherence to proper cleaning/disinfecting procedures is all that is needed to prevent needless infections from spreading any further and causing more harm. It is simply a matter of discipline.First do no harm†¦ that is the adage that all health workers swear by. It is ironic that nurses and doctors should also be the main vectors of nosocomial infections. These nosocomial infections are the shame of the healthcare system because it can be prevented with faithful compliance to proper hygiene procedures. The solution lies literally in our hands. If we don’t clean our hands, then it is dirty with the needless suffering and death of patients from nosocom ial infections. Our dirty hands are guilty hands.Works CitedGoldmann, Donald. â€Å"System Failure Versus Personal Accoutability–The Case for Clean Hands. New England Journal of Medicine. 355:121-3. 13 July 2006. 22 May 2007. https://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/355/2/121.pdfCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).  Ã‚   Retrieved March 17, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/healthDis.htmlDucel, G., et al., eds. Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections-A Practical Guide. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2002. 21 May 2007.   http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/drugresist/whocdscsreph200212.pdfGorman, Christine. â€Å"Wash Those Hands† How doctors and nurses can make you sick — and what you can do about it. TIME. 163. 1. 29 March 2004: Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomas Gale. Pasco-Hernando Community College Lib., New Port Richey, FL. 23 May 2007. http://www.time.com/time/magazi ne/article/0,9171,993710,00.htmlâ€Å"Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings† Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. 51. 25. Oct. 2002: 1-44. Boyce, John and Diddier, Pittet. Het.comps Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR. Retrieved on 23 May 2007.   http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5116a1.htmMcCaughey, Betsy. â€Å"Coming Clean. (Editorial Desk) (Hospital Hygiene and Infections).† The New York Times. 6 June 2005: Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomas Gale. Pasco-Hernando Community College Lib., New Port Richey, FL. 23 May 2007. http://hospitalinfection.org/press/060505ny_times.pdf Nosocomial Infections Remember your mother always reminding you to wash your hands? We have all been told to do so at one point in our lives or another. As children we grudgingly obeyed, not really appreciating the wisdom and love behind the statement. For most of us, the value of hand hygiene is superficial; a means to clean soiled, unsightly hands. We were not aware that washing our hands regularly was a primary defense against many types of diseases. As a child it was imposed upon us by our parents, but as we grew older, we realize its true value but no longer practice it on a regular basis, finding it inconvenient and a waste of time.The truth is that hand hygiene is one of our best defenses against diseases. The simple act of washing and rubbing our hands vigorously with soap and running water is an effective shield against bacteria-borne infections. And this is especially true for health care professionals who are exposed to bacteria on a regular basis.People go to hospitals and other healthcare ins titutions for medical attention and treatment of their ailments. However, while most people get well after a trip to the hospital, there are cases where people get worse because of exposure to harmful microorganisms that abound in these hospitals. In hospitals, bacteria proliferate because of the high concentration of ill people at one place at any one given time, and they can cause secondary infections to people going to the hospital.These types of infections are caught secondary to a hospital visit or stay, and are called nosocomial infections. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defined nosocomial infections or healthcare-acquired infections as â€Å"infections that patients acquire during the course of receiving treatment.† (Boyce, 2002, 29) And because these patients did not initially harbor these nosocomial infections, they could only have been acquired while in the hospital, while in contact with doctors and nurses who go from one sick patient to another. These health care professionals become the main mode of transmission for nosocomial infections, and this is made even worse especially if doctors and nurses do not practice proper hand hygiene.It does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out. In hospitals, most patients are bed-ridden, not allowed to go from one place to another. Therefore, the risk of them directly infecting another patient is slim. Only doctors and nurses move about from one patient to another, in constant physical contact with the patients. Because the hands are their main point of contact, the hands become the main vehicle of microbes as well. They â€Å"stick† to the doctors and nurses hands, and remain there until they are â€Å"dropped off† somewhere else. This process goes on and on until the bacteria find a suitable host, which is almost always, the human body. Inside the human body, these microbes will colonize and proliferate, causing many types of health problems.These transient, disease causing ba cteria use the skin as temporary vehicles to get from one point to another. However, because these microbes are transient and non-colonizing on the skin surface, they are easily removed by proper and rigorous hand washing with an anti-microbial soap and water. Therefore, proper hand washing can halt the spread of disease-causing bacteria in their tracks. If doctors and nurses fail to clean their hands, they become virtual havens for microbes, transmitting and causing nosocomial infections.The figures are alarming. Studies have shown that one out of every 20 patients contract nosocomial infections because of inadequate hygiene practices in most American hospitals. These nosocomial infections â€Å"kill an estimated 103,000 people in the United States a year, as many as AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined.† (McCaughey, 2005, 1) The World Health Organization says that nosocomial or healthcare acquired infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortalit y rates worldwide. (Ducel, 2002, 7) And all of this because of dirty hands. And all of these deaths and suffering are unnecessary. They can be easily remedied. If every healthcare worker would faithfully practice proper hand hygiene as they move from one patient to another, â€Å"there would be an immediate and profound reduction in the spread of resistant bacteria.†(Goldmann, 2006, 122)From every point of contact with patients, the hands of doctors and nurses are dirty, carrying infection-causing microbes; and as doctors and nurses attend to their patients’ needs, these bacteria move into the patients. While most of these bacteria can normally be fought off by the body, the compromised bodies of patients already weakened by an existing sickness become easy targets for these parasites, and nosocomial infections can easily set in. And because these infections attack a weak immune system, these can lead to more serious complications and even death.As the main vectors of nosocomial infections, doctors and nurses can prevent the spread through appropriate hand-sanitizing procedures. Hand hygiene is the single most important patient care practice that health care providers can do to prevent cross contamination and nosocomial infection. Some may say that hand hygiene is made redundant by wearing of antiseptic gloves on a regular basis. However, even if doctors and nurses wear gloves, it will also be contaminated if the hands are not clean in the first place. These gloves must be worn and removed using the hands, and so the cycle of contamination perpetuates itself in the hands of doctors and nurses with dirty hands.The premise of hand washing is very simple and very effective. Microbes are parasites. They depend on a host to live and reproduce themselves. However, bacteria are not mobile; they do have the means to move from one place to another. As such, they depend on outside help to move about and find new hosts to infect. This help comes in the form of doctors and nurse, who because of their many responsibilities, forget to clean their hands, or do so incorrectly. The anti-microbial property of soaps plus the rigorous friction of the rubbing of the hands can easily remove, weaken, or even kill these transient, infection-causing microbes before they can cause anyone any more harm. As such, a system-wide must be enforced, making proper hand hygiene mandatory for all doctors and nurses. Hand hygiene stations must be installed all over hospitals to make it easy for healthcare workers to clean their hands anytime.Indeed nosocomial infections can exact a high price. But what is even more unfortunate about nosocomial infections is the fact that it can be avoided. These healthcare associated infections are unnecessary tragedies that can be easily prevented with proper sanitation and hygiene procedures.Of course it is important to note that hand hygiene or hand washing is not enough. It must be done properly, following certain guidelin es. It is not enough to clean the hands; they must be disinfected. Normal or ordinary hand washing is the same as no hand hygiene at all. This means that hand washing must be done right, or not at all because it does not make any difference to harmful microbes or the health of the patients. Hand hygiene depends on the case and the area of the hospital involved. Normal hand hygiene should be done for at least a minute, with vigorous rubbing of the two hands against each other. Plain soap has been proven to effective against microorganism because the soap lifts the microbes off the surface of the skin to be rinsed off by running water.Hand hygiene need not be complicated or costly. All it takes is soap, running water, and friction, and the discipline to do it regularly and properly. The key is to make it a habit. There is no dearth of evidence showing that hand washing is effective in halting the spread of infections; the problem is that very few people in the health care industry pra ctice hand hygiene in compliance with regulations. Most wash their hands but do so inappropriately, which is useless in itself.While stopping the spread of nosocomial infections is complex, there is no denying the fact that the first line of defense against nosocomial infections is hand hygiene for nurses and doctors. Simple adherence to proper cleaning/disinfecting procedures is all that is needed to prevent needless infections from spreading any further and causing more harm. It is simply a matter of discipline.First do no harm†¦ that is the adage that all health workers swear by. It is ironic that nurses and doctors should also be the main vectors of nosocomial infections. These nosocomial infections are the shame of the healthcare system because it can be prevented with faithful compliance to proper hygiene procedures. The solution lies literally in our hands. If we don’t clean our hands, then it is dirty with the needless suffering and death of patients from nosocom ial infections. Our dirty hands are guilty hands.Works CitedGoldmann, Donald. â€Å"System Failure Versus Personal Accoutability–The Case for Clean Hands. New England Journal of Medicine. 355:121-3. 13 July 2006. 22 May 2007. https://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/355/2/121.pdfCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).  Ã‚   Retrieved March 17, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/healthDis.htmlDucel, G., et al., eds. Prevention of Hospital Acquired Infections-A Practical Guide. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2002. 21 May 2007.   http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/drugresist/whocdscsreph200212.pdfGorman, Christine. â€Å"Wash Those Hands† How doctors and nurses can make you sick — and what you can do about it. TIME. 163. 1. 29 March 2004: Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomas Gale. Pasco-Hernando Community College Lib., New Port Richey, FL. 23 May 2007. http://www.time.com/time/magazi ne/article/0,9171,993710,00.htmlâ€Å"Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings† Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. 51. 25. Oct. 2002: 1-44. Boyce, John and Diddier, Pittet. Het.comps Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR. Retrieved on 23 May 2007.   http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5116a1.htmMcCaughey, Betsy. â€Å"Coming Clean. (Editorial Desk) (Hospital Hygiene and Infections).† The New York Times. 6 June 2005: Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomas Gale. Pasco-Hernando Community College Lib., New Port Richey, FL. 23 May 2007. http://hospitalinfection.org/press/060505ny_times.pdf