Saturday, August 31, 2019

Critical Analysis of The Business Strategies

Offensive and defensive strategies are by products or results of the corporate strategies. A corporate strategy is a comprehensive set of activities developed by top management to aid an organization achieve its corporate objectives. Involving all parts of an organization, these strategies consider both internal and external environments. As the name suggests these strategies are aimed at placing the organization in a ‘attack mode' of sorts. Organizations employing such strategies generally believe in acting before their opponent. Such strategies are usually achieved through internal growth, though some like mergers and acquisition, etc are external. Concentration on a single product or service The firm chooses to specialize in a single product, product line, or service. It plans to do one thing with great effectiveness and efficiency. This specialization allows an organization to do whatever it does extremely well, perhaps even better than other organizations. Used mostly by small organizations, it reduces the amount of resources required and as such is a low risk strategy. However, it ties up all of the firm's resources on a single product, service, or product line. The firm's success and growth is dependent entirely on that particular product with nothing to fall back on were that product to fail. Also, coupled with the facts that this strategy limits an organization's growth and opportunities, it can be considered a high-risk strategy as well. E.g. a company deciding to specialize only in the production and distribution of a particular brand of chocolate will find their chances for growth and profits tied inexorably with the market acceptance of that chocolate. Failure of the product will spell doom for the company. Despite these pitfalls, the concentration strategy has nevertheless borne fruit for organizations like Holiday Inns. Considered one of the largest hotel chains in the world with 1800inns, Holiday Inns have achieved unparalleled success by focusing on the hospitality industry. Put plainly concentric diversification is said to be when a firm originally concentrating on one specific product, service, or product line decides to add related products or services to its already existing retinue. These new products or services are added internally (i.e. it can be a management decision) or may be acquired through acquisitions. A good example is Cadbury. Though initially focusing on biscuits, the company today has an impressive line-up that includes not only biscuits, but also chocolates and ice cream as well. One of the major reasons why companies choose to follow such a strategy is the potential for faster growth, and the lure of establishing a diverse if related product line. This ensures that if one product were to fail, there would still be something to fall back on. Vertical integration occurs when one firm acquires another that is involved either in an earlier stage of the production process (backward integration) or a later stage of the production process (forward integration). The firm that is acquired usually follows the same line of business as that of the parent company. While backward integration will give the firm more control over the quality and quantity of its raw materials, forward integration will ensure that the firm's products will enjoy a good demand. This occurs when a firm decides to branch out and add products or services that are unrelated to its existing products and services. Conglomerate diversification can occur through acquisitions or it may be based on management decisions. The purpose in employing such a strategy is to increase sales and earnings, spread risks, or in the case of acquisitions simply to make an attractive investment. An example is the heavy vehicles and industrial equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, who have branched out into the production of boots and accessories. A merger involves combining the operations of two companies to form a new and unified organization. Acquisitions on the other hand is the taking over of another firm but allowing the acquired firm to function as a independent division or subsidiary of the acquiring firm. The main aim of this strategy is to achieve growth both in sales and earnings, which it does more quickly than any internal strategies. An accurate example would be the recent merger of carmakers Chrysler and Mercedes Benz. An example of acquisition would be BMW's takeover of Rolls Royce. Joint venture is when two or more firms combine resources to accomplish a task that an individual firm could not have done alone, or to do a job more efficiently. Considered as a means to implement a strategy rather than a strategy, joint ventures offer a way for organizations to undertake projects and spread any risks as well as operate more efficiently. General Motor's collaboration with Toyota is an example of a joint venture. Usually adopted by companies, who follow a wait and watch attitude, these strategies nevertheless help an organization achieve a good foothold in the market. Reducing the scope of operations or activities to improve effectiveness and efficiency is retrenchment. Organizations adopting such a strategy generally believe that making the organization more effective and efficient will give it a better chance to return to a higher level of profitability. In some cases a firm may simply cut costs, reduce personnel, etc, but will decide to maintain all its current line of business, whereas, in extreme cases a firm may decide to get rid of certain product lines or services. Divestment is when a firm spins off or sells segments of its operations. The main reasons for such a situation to arise are: a firm may have acquired another firm that either interferes or does not contribute to its current organization mission, a segment may not be functioning satisfactorily enough to justify the resources invested in it, or the segment might be earning a profit but the management decides its resources are better utilized elsewhere. Stopping the decline in a firm's performance and bringing a return to successful performance involves turnaround. It combines a defensive strategy (retrenchment or divestment) with a growth strategy. The turnaround of Chrysler Corporation in early 1980's from a failing enterprise to a successful one is a good example. Usually a last resort strategy, it involves selling or disposing of the organization assets. The entire organization or only part of it may be sold. It occurs when turnaround was a failure or may not have been viable. Undertaken mainly to provide the stockholders a return on their investment, it is one of the most unpleasant strategies. The various offensive and defensive strategies are not separate, and are used in complement with one another. Most firms employ a variation or a mixture of the various strategies. The only important factor is deciding which strategy will better suit the conditions presently being faced by the firm.

High School and Advance Placement Classes

Ever since I can remember, my ambitions were to make this world a better place by solving crimes and putting criminals behind bars. I am truly motivated to contribute to this patriotic country. I will risk my life for it if that is what it takes. My commitment, dedication and effort in my academic and extra-curricular activities will help guide me into my lifetime goals of becoming a criminal psychology, and getting a degree combined with law and psychology. High schools provide students with the chance to prepare for the real world and I refuse not to take advantage of it. For example, the activities that are fostering me into my future are extra-activities and core courses.Drill team has given me the power to adequately deal with the demands and challenges of daily life. All that was expected of me I excelled in. Being a member has helped me flourish into a mature individual. Throughout all of the experiences on drill team, I have developed leadership and social skills that are ben eficial in majoring in criminal justice. My director pushed me to the limit to help me grow in the same way they would in criminal justice. In any career they want to excel in.I was able to stay committed and not give up during all those stressful times. Therefore, proving I am ready for what college has in stores for me no matter how hard it gets. In dance, it has helped me become fit from having to dance year round. In most careers in criminal justice it is required that you pass timed test for physical activities. In dance I discovered how passionate I feel about working out.Taking psychology and sociology, will aid me in my lifetime goals because those classes are required in my career path. In completing these courses during high school, it will be a big advantage in helping me to comprehend them in college. I will have prior knowledge. When taking that class in college, I will be prepared for it and I also could take my notes from high school to refer to. It helps me with crim inal profiling and provides strategies and suggestions that can be used in the interviewing process of finding the killer or kidnapper.I have been taking Pre-Advance placement and Advance Placement classes since freshman year. Taking advanced placement classes by far has really helped me  get a better understanding of what to expect from college courses. My teachers act like professors therefore I know that professors will treat me like an adult. My instructors teach the way university instructors would and I am still able to obtain exceptional grades in my classes. Advance placement classes boosted my grade point average therefore it will help me get into a wonderful college of my choice.In high school, I am dedicated towards my long time goals. I want to say I was someone in life. I have learned how to balance a job, extra-curricular activities, and my academic performance. These skills will guide me tremendously in my long term goals. My ambitions are to keep this world a safer place. Even if it means not having fun and focusing on my future I am driven enough to do it. If I want to be successful and get a good education and career I must have determination, encouragement, and fulfillment. Success is finding your way to reach your goals in life.It is a journey which has several peaks that build on one another. It comes from within while realizing what my own strengths and weaknesses are to determine my accomplishments. In high school I am given this opportunity that will help me with any barrier in life. I want to be my children`s role model one day. I want to be someone they can look up to and I am willing to work for it.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Patton-Fuller Hospital Essay

Patton-Fuller Hospital is a community hospital that has remained aiding the community since the year 1975. Yearly examinations have been conducted by self-governing audits to review this year’s financial performance in comparison to preceding years. The financial statement review highpoints the alteration between the audited and unaudited reports classifies the association amongst revenue resources and expenses, despite the fact defining the assets of revenue sources on recording. Financial statement assessments subsidize an excessive level accounting of the statistics controlled in the audit. Financial statements of audited and unaudited statements contain the same type of statistics. Patton-Fuller Community hospital conducts audits agreement with auditing ethics in the United States. Self-governing Auditors ensure audited the balance sheet of Patton-Fuller Community Hospital as of December 31 of 2009 and 2008. The audited balance sheet reports the assets for 2009 which a sum of $587,767. The audited balance sheet reports the whole assets for 2008 of a total $548,535. The upsurge from 2008 to 2009 is 39,232. Liability total for 2009 is $ 462,153. The liability volume for the year 2008 is $213,450. This was a rise from 2008 to 2009 and the amount of the growth is $248,703. The entire equity and liabilities for 2009 is $587,767 and 2008 $548,535. This is an upturn from 2008 to 2009 with $ 39,232. In 2009 the total revenues show for $ 462,982 and then for 2008 $ 42,314. This total increase from 20o8 and 2009 is $41,668 according to the audited revenue and expenses annual report. The increase of $25,869 from 2008 to 2009 is shown from the audited revenue and expenses annual report. The year 2009 had $463,293 and 2008 had $437,424. The effects of revenue can be seen on the financial reporting by the fluctuations versus the expenses. From year to year you can see the fluctuation in revenue for the hospital. The revenues and expenses are grouped together by total revenues, total expenses, and net income. The total revenues include net patient revenues and other revenues. The total expenses include salaries and benefits, supplies, utilities, and depreciation. The net income shows the non-operating income (loss) as well as the investment income. By grouping the revenues and expenses it will help with separation and looking at the reports. The Patton – Fuller Community Hospital’s revenue comes from a  variety of sources, this includes net patient revenue and other different types of revenue. The revenue has definitely increased from 2008. When comparing the revenue received by the hospital to its operating expenses the difference lies in what revenue items are included in each ratio formula. In 2008 the total operating revenue is less than the total operating expenses therefore; the hospital operated at a loss and gave them a negative operating margin. In 2009 the total operating revenue exceeds the total operating expenses therefore; the hospital had a profit that year. As a result there was a positive operating margin. The way in which a hospital’s revenues and expenses are grouped for planning and control varies from hospital to hospital. At Patton-Fuller Community Hospital, the expenses are grouped by salaries and benefits, supplies, interest, and a lot more. During salaries, the staff of the hospital must be paid for the work they do. Members of the staff (therapist or surgeons) have a highly qualified job in which they have spent more time in education which causes them to have higher wages. During benefits, there are hospitals who offer benefits for the employee and their family with a discount. This can be very expensive for the hospital. The hospital needs supplies in order to fulfill their duty and many of the supplies are expensive as well as cheap. Because the hospital has to order the supplies in large quantities, it becomes very expensive. Interest is another expensive thing that the owners of the hospital have to deal with. With the hospital building costing so much, it leads to the owners taking a big mortgage out to pay for the building. When a mortgage is being taking out, interest develops. Another reason for an interest to develop is a loan to buy high price technology or machinery. There are many ways that Patton- Fuller Community Hospital grouped for planning and control for revenues and expenses. Inclusive the analysis of the financial statement originate many constructive results and the audited information and unaudited information enclosed the equivalent data. The revenue sources ensured a confident influence on the hospital and will lead to forthcoming development. Patton-Fuller Hospital Revenue review did not disclose any concealed problems. Financial managers need to carry on making assessments of the daily actions. Reference Patton-Fuller Community Hospital. Retrieved July 14, 2014 from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/Healthcare/PFCH/isoverview.asp?subgroup=hr

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Apollo Hospital Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Apollo Hospital - Case Study Example The conditions in the industry have been tough and Apollo has to make certain strategic decisions to expand its network. However, despite its strong leadership and financial position it does aim to increase its financial risks in expansion due to high competition and initial investment requirements. Therefore, it must adopt a different strategy through diversification, licensing, partnerships or even making it a public limited company that could bring in new capital from shareholders. Apollo Hospital is a profit generating organization and it reported profits for consecutive ten years. Despite tough competition in the Indian healthcare industry the hospital was able to generate strong demand for its services. The revenue grew almost six times from INR57.192 million to INR374.426 million in 1994. The bed occupancy of Apollo Hospital has improved from 40.4% in 1990 to 70% 1994. All other performance indicator reflected a strong business model implemented by Apollo Hospitals that allowed the organization to remain ahead of its competitors in these years. The current case study analysis combines examination of external factors with the organization’s internal analysis to form a discussion of critical success factors (CSF) of Apollo Hospitals. The reason for choosing PESTEL, Porter’s Five Forces, and SWOT analysis tools for this case study is that they allow a better understanding of the strategy followed by Apollo Hospital to be the first to address healthcare needs of Indian population and its ability to outperform other companies. In addition, this report includes important conclusions from the case study and set forth recommendations for the organization to deal with the growing demand of high quality healthcare in India and tough competition from other corporate hospitals that followed Apollo Hospitals by making their entry with huge investments. There is not threat of substitutes as healthcare is the basis need of humans.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

California budget cuts Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

California budget cuts - Assignment Example These are results articulated to the witnessed economic crisis with more students reported to access admission into the system. The facilities in the CSU and UC need maintenance, and without the right funding value, the university will be prompted to increase their accommodation value to compete with the changes. This value is expected to stay on the high with limited change expected with the forced budget cuts. The proposed cuts by brown will be witnessed to limit the constraints witnessed by the Californians with the unemployment doubling and further constraints witnessed in the health services. The revenues recorded have fallen to a record low of 2.2 billion dollars, and an added $1 billion dollars has to be reduced to level the budget for the financial year. This value will include a recorded $328 million deducted from the K-12 program (Baron, K. & Baron, J.). This value affects the system with the state claiming that it would not include spending of a value that it lacks, and there needs to be an accommodation to balance the resources. The economic crisis will dampen the efforts to sustain the budget cuts with minimal progress realized in reducing the tuition

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Reflection & Reaction Activity 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflection & Reaction Activity 3 - Essay Example Bearing in mind that we still had a mortgage to pay for, things took a turn for the worst after my father had lost his business, a restaurant. The first stressor that we had to incur was the loss of our status and financial sources of income. However, my father had stashed away some of his income had a sizeable savings account that would facilitate us to survive for another few months before my father got back on his feet. However, the main problem was that my father did not want to be employed, yet he wanted to start another business venture. He had already come to terms with the fact that he had failed as a restaurant owner, but was not willing to give up his freedom and seek employment. This reluctance to get a job, even as friends and family offered many to him, almost led to his divorce with my mother. Mum could not understand why dad was refusing to take the various options that his friends suggested. My father was still adamantly arguing that he is a businessperson and not an employee and he insisted to let things stay that way. Meanwhile, my mother was almost having a breakdown, as she did not know what to do so she went out and started looking for a job as well. My father would always say that we would be back on our feet soon and should not be worried too much. I believed him, but my mother did not see the logic behind his choices. As such, my mother became physically present but psychologically absent. The aspect of being physically present but absent means that one is within the family but is emotionally distant (Lamanna, Riedmann & Stewart, 2014). With her time spent looking for jobs, which was rather hard for her as she had minimum experience, she ended up taking jobs that included being a server at a local eatery and other similar jobs before she would get that corporate job that she thought would be sufficient to keep the family running. Meanwhile my father looked like a depressed person, but he would consistently

Monday, August 26, 2019

Operations management and organizational improvement Assignment

Operations management and organizational improvement - Assignment Example Tesco initially began as a food and drink store, but it now offers a wide range of products through its diversified operations including, but not limited to, clothing and consumer electronics, as well as services such as telecoms, health, internet, in addition to, insurance and financial services. In addition to the conventional physical stores, Tesco operates online stores that provide, among other things, groceries, home retailing, and music downloads. The operating processes at Tesco have undergone massive transformations since its inception to date (Kelly, 2000); for instance, the firm’s operating processes are centered on the customers, the suppliers, the employees, the community, as well as the shareholders. The customers are highly valued by Tesco, as the only people that bring revenue to the organization, the suppliers ensure the success of the firm’s operations; Tesco is interested in attracting employees with the relevant skills to carry out the firm’s operations to achieve its goals and objectives (Chubb, 2007). The firm has adopted a customer centered business approach that aims to enhance value creation by focusing on providing products and services that adequately satisfy the particular needs of their customers at affordable costs and convenience accordingly. Tesco is currently exploring new spaces, reaching over to non-food retail services (Tesco Corporation SWOT Analysis, 2012), extending existing stores, as well as, adopting a multi-format approach, and it heavily relies on its ICT infrastructure to deliver consistent and profitable business operations. Operating through group skill is a great part of Tesco’s operation processes as the firm constantly tries to identify the best practice in each market to improve its offerings for the group as seen in the US’s Fresh and Easy models, which have also been introduced in the UK and China (Tesco PLC, 2012). Nevertheless, it should not be assumed that the firm believ es in the â€Å"one size fits them all† strategy, because it also recognizes that customer tastes and lifestyles are not uniform, and it focuses on contextualizing the customer experiences. Tesco adeptly creates value for its customers by developing its people because it is great service that can enhance customers’ satisfaction; Tesco’s success is built on its people’s commitment to their core values of ‘No one tries harder for customers’ and ‘Treat people how we like to be treated’ (Marr, 2009). In return, the people side of Tesco operations ensures they are awarded great job and career opportunities through training, to enhance their engagement, motivation, and commitment to value creation and quality performance. Tesco prides in the best-located and best-designed stores, which in international markets are mostly whole malls that are anchored by a Tesco hypermarket; this makes the firm one of the greatest mall operators in the world. The company is keen on enhancing its sustainability by operating responsibly by bringing real benefits to the communities in which it operates through good, affordable, quality and safe products to the customers, as well as, responsible

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Business Strategy and Policy Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Strategy and Policy - Case Study Example ents are readily available, a majority of those afflicted with the disease go untreated because health insurance companies refuse to pay at all or just part a certain percentage (Walters & Rotgers, 2012).  This makes some of the victims to end up being homeless, while others may die an early death in response to a missed opportunity for treatment due to the health insurance companies’ neglect and discrimination on the issue (Walters & Rotgers, 2012).   Substance abuse comprises of two main types of addictions namely drug addiction and alcoholism.   Drug addiction refers to the dependence on a street drug or on an over the counter medication while alcoholism is the dependence on alcohol. In this context, alcohol is referred to as a drug since it fits the description of a drug, which is defined as any substance that alters normal human homeostasis.   Once an individual is addicted to a substance, he or she cannot avoid using it irrespective of their desires to stop the habit because of the harm it might be causing to them. The American Medical Association (AMA) defines drug addiction and alcoholism as some of the major lifestyle diseases in the 21st century that may be a result of genetics, environment, or upbringing. There are numerous approaches that are applied in administering substance abuse treatment. However, some of these treatment methods are ineffective because they neglect not only the substance abuse dependency but also other causative factors such as comorbid mental illness and or any previous traumatic events that may have occurred in the individuals past that may have contributed to the substance abuse. Applications of such ineffective strategies leave substance abuse victims still struggling to maintain sobriety and have a successful life with stability and security in all aspects. An effective substance abuse treatment in individuals with any other causative factors must be inclusive of all factors and illnesses to be effective not only

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Poll 211 Wek 8 Dis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Poll 211 Wek 8 Dis - Essay Example s member-states include the normalization and balance of economic policies to ensure that member states are uniformly represented in the conduction of business within the Eurozone. Among the institutions that make up the European Union include the Council of European Union, European Council, Monetary Union, European Commission, European Central Bank, and the Court of Auditors in addition to others. The overall functions of the European Union are related to the individual functions of the comprising institutions (Hahari, 2014). The causes of the Eurozone Crisis are cumulative and form from the economic and financial decisions the members of the EU made as well as the corresponding effects on the economy. In the development of the Euro as the legal tender for the EU, member states had to decide on how to balance states with a larger economies with those with lower economies. In doing so, the value of the Euro was set averagely low value which affected large economies and small ones as well. Since large economies, like Germany, developed slower than smaller economies, like Greece, the low value of the Euro increased the chances of developing states to borrow cheaply (Jordan, and Adelle, 2012). In addition, nations such as Greece had high public debt of â‚ ¬240 billion while Ireland’s was â‚ ¬85-billion debt, Portugal’s was â‚ ¬78-billion public debt, Spain’s was â‚ ¬41-billion in loans, and Cyprus’s was â‚ ¬10-billion contributing and integrated with the collapse of the banking system. Provided that majority of the loans involved in the Eurozone crisis were funded by other members of the Eurozone, it was inevitable that the union would not sustain its operations as financial constrains were

Friday, August 23, 2019

Athletes versus Non-Athletes on Academic Performance Research Paper

Athletes versus Non-Athletes on Academic Performance - Research Paper Example The reason behind selecting the topic of the research includes the popular misconception that sports and games cause the wastage of student’s time by diverting their focus from studies. The critics are of the view that the students, interested and involved in athletics and other games, consume large part of their time and energies in the playgrounds, and consequently become too tired and exhausted to pay any heed to their academic obligations. As a result, they lag far behind than their classmates in educational activities, and thus are unable to complete their studies in order to become the proficient and successful professionals for the future years to come. One school of thought observes that sport activities deflect time away from the classroom, and children always keep sports and play in mind, and neglect their classroom responsibilities and assignments. Somehow, the other school of thought disregards the very idea that athletics keep children away from their studies. The y are of the opinion that schools are not established to mere bestow certificates and degrees upon the students; on the contrary, people send their children to various educational institutions in order to make them capable of comprehending with the challenges life offers to man on the one hand, and for the growth and development of all aspects of their personality on the other. The researcher have selected small north Georgia schools as the population for the present study, where he aim to select one hundred and sixty respondents for the research process; one hundred and twenty of which would be students, while twenty each would consist of teachers and parents of the students. Interview schedule will be the tool for data collection in the present study. After the collection of data, the findings will be analyzed and results will be interpreted subsequently. Hence, the study will present a balanced report on the influence of athletics and games on the overall academic performance of the students. In addition, the data relevant to the North Georgia schools available at various websites will also be consulted for the study. Identification of the Problem: It has aptly been observed that sports and games maintain significant place in social life of the individuals. Sports not only perk up the physical strength of the people, but also pave the way towards the enhancement of intelligence level and sharpness in them. Thus, participation in sports improves mental and physical health and raises IQ level of humans. â€Å"Some of the factors to consider in assessing the significance of mental health relative to other influences are evident in reflecting on a familiar scenario: the long haul flight† (Lynch et al. 2000). Since all parents are determined to see their children healthy and intelligent, they make adequate arrangements for the studies and recreational activities of the children, where participation in sports is given particular attention. In addition, political authorities and social establishment also promote and project the opportunities of physical games of various kinds for adolescents and adults in order to make society healthy, strong and vigorous. Researches reveal the very fact that healthy people can work harder than

Auditory Hallucination in Schizophrenic Illness Essay - 1

Auditory Hallucination in Schizophrenic Illness - Essay Example Paranoid thinking or psychotic symptoms which are symptoms of schizophrenia could also be experienced with high levels of dopamine in the brain. When the brain recognizes that there is excessive dopamine, symptoms which are schizophrenic appear. Schizophrenic patients also have more dopamine receptors than people without it (Barkus et al., 2007). Glutamate is also associated with schizophrenia. It has a major role in the forming and encoding of memory. It is also thought to have a function in learning. When glutamate receptors are blocked for instance when one takes PCP, there is reported paranoia that is also a symptom of schizophrenia. Schizophrenic patients have been found to possess lower levels of glutamate compared to normal people. The two neurotransmitters interaction is said to be at the core of schizophrenia since the production of many dopamine receptors affects the glutamate receptors by blocking them and thus reducing their action (Spencer et al., 2009). The dopamine hypothesis is generally the best explanation for the cause of schizophrenia at the neurotransmitter level. It is the most etiologic theory in psychotherapy. Its proposal that certain pathways of dopamine are overactive in schizophrenia could be true because when one takes drugs that increase dopamine, they induce positive symptoms but when the drugs that block its receptors are taken they reduce the positive symptoms. In other words, the experiences and behaviors associated with schizophrenia could be fully made clear by the transformations of dopamine function in the brain (Ven, 2006). Auditory hallucinations could be said to be a false perception of sound or experiencing internal voices and noises that do not originate from the external world and are seen to be separate from the normal brain processes.  

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Chinese History Essay Example for Free

Chinese History Essay The Tang dynasty came into existence after the collapsed of emperor Yangdi’s imperialist reign which unified China, and his death in the hands of his own trusted aid in 618 A. D. From the rubbles of rebellion and war against the emperor, a powerful General named Li Yuan; Duke of Tang and chief officer of Taiyuan City, emerged as the man of the hour. General Yuan joined the rebellion against the emperor and reestablished order and the authority of the central government when the smoke of rebellion had cleared. He became the founder of the Tang dynasty and reign as Tang Gaozu. Li Shimin (Tang Gaozong) on the other hand is the second son of General Li Yuan. Being thoroughly trained in martial skills and was very much acquainted of the administrative procedures he has acquired primarily from his exposure when his father was the principal commander of the Sue dynasty, appointed to command the army facing the Sue remaining forces, at the age of only nineteen. David Graff described his military skills as â€Å"one case where the use of the word genius does not seem at all inappropriate† Li Shimin was highly successful in his career as a military general and his military strategy according to Graff â€Å"is worth noting. † Before he became emperor in 626, he has displayed contrasting behavior with regard to his strategy, which was extremely cautious, and when he is in combat in which he always places himself â€Å"at the head of the final, decisive cavalry charge†¦. † How Well the Respective Career of the first two Tang Emperors fit to the Chinese Proverbs on Empire Building and Governance and Model to this Proverb. The proverb maybe fits rightfully to the first two Tang emperors in terms of the way they acquired the empire and how they built it to become the most prosperous and most powerful country in the world during this time. It was during the reign of these two emperors that China experienced its glorious period as their economy, culture, politics and military might attained an unequaled superiority level. Tang Gaozu seized the imperial power after a bloody rebellion that took the life of emperor Yang that mark the end of Sue dynasty, while it heralded the coming of a new dynasty under the able military leadership of Li Yuan. The reign of Tang Gaozu as the first emperor of the Tang dynasty spent its reign mostly in subduing the remaining forces loyal to Emperor Yang in different provinces and cities of the whole country. All throughout his reign he was facing major problems relating to the threat of war by the Eastern Turks and the Tibetans who posed serious challenges to China’s security, and major invasion was a constant possibility. Until his last moment in power however, Tang Gaozu’s hold in China was not sufficiently secure to risk committing the forces to war against the Turks, thus, his reign can be characterized as more on military maneuvering in order to survived the different challenges the empire were facing. The Emperor then being the chief of the military forces assigned his sons and relatives to command forces numbering thousands, and all throughout his reign, the empire did not perform political and economic activities; it was purely military that characterized this particular reign. That means, Emperor Tang Gaozu ‘conquer the empire on horseback’ but it was his son Li Shimin who ‘built the empire from horse back. ’ Tang Gaozu spent his reign in conquering the whole empire that was broken into many independent forces loyal to the former emperor. This situation has indeed proved to be difficult as the empire was unable to wage war against the Turks and the Tibetans. According to Warren Cohen, â€Å"Gaozu had little choice but to buy peace;† however, what Tang Gaozu had failed to accomplished, his son did. Tang Gaozong also known to most Chinese historians as Tang Taizong, came into power in 627. His ascendancy to the throne was not at all smooth and easy, rather marked by his murderous scheme in connivance with some of the high-ranking military officials particularly those in-charge of the palace gates. Xueshi Guo noted that Li Shimin found himself at a â€Å"disadvantage in challenging his brothers,† to be heir to throne. After getting support from some powerful military generals, he staged a military coup against his brothers in 626 after which he killed both his brothers. According Guo, bare two months after the successful coup, â€Å"Gaozu was forced to to appoint Li Shimin as his successor and two months later he handed over his power completely to Li Shimen. † Taizong Ascended to the throne in 627, which marked a new era for the Chinese society. Having warned by the officials who recalled the disastrous consequence of Sui Imperialism, they urged the new emperor to concentrate on domestic affairs. Warren Cohen noted that Taizong or Gaozong listened to their advice and implements a more diplomatic policy in relation to the Turks. Because of this diplomatic policies, Cohen Pointed out â€Å"in due course China was prosperous again, its people well fed and responsive to his rule. † Taizong was indeed a great leader but he was moderate in his expansion policies compared to his father who. Taizong had more time to economic activities that bolstered China’s growing prosperity, he re opened trade routes, and the eliminations of tolls once exacted by those who had previously controlled passage across central Asia. Cohen further noted, â€Å"Student of Tang history will note the peaceful expansion of China’s contacts with rest of the world during Taizong’s days on the throne and China’s power and wealth attracted people from all over Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. † Based on these historical accounts, the implication of the Chinese proverbs rightly fits these first two Tang emperors. They were both powerful military ruler. Li Yuan curved out the empire on ‘horseback’, that is; through rebellion and war, and reestablishing the empire through conquering every forces that challenges the new power, while Tang Gaozong or Tang Taizong, the successor, strengthened the empire and brings more prosperity, stability and peace through a more enlightened civil and military administration. They may have some difficulty to be model of this Chinese proverb, for some reason. Both had acquired imperial power through violent means. Li Yuan had staged a rebellion against the emperor Yang and had perhaps connived with some palace officials to murder the emperor. Tang Gaozong on the other hand, conspired with some powerful military generals and orchestrated a coup against his own brothers and killing them and forcing his own father to hand over to him imperial throne. Nevertheless, on the ground of their accomplishment, they can fit to be model of this proverb. Gaozu was able to curve out a new empire that has more regard to its citizens, unlike with its predecessor who was ruthless and oppressive. An empire that was willing to take on new economic challenges that brought stability, peace and prosperity to its citizens. These two Tang emperors must be credited in their efforts that has brought enormous prosperity, and respect to Chinese people all over Asia, and to the world and if making them heroes will be a compensation of their achievements for the Chinese society, then they were very much deserving of such compensation. They deserved to be model of the proverb.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Consumer Perspectives on Internet Banking

Consumer Perspectives on Internet Banking Research report Project title Some[MG2] problems about internet banking and consumers perspectives on internet banking[MG3]. Introduction Similar to the adopting of automatic teller machine, pay attention to economics change , coupled with advancements in technology, banks begin to think their use of traditional branches again and are looking at online banking services as the next new technology to reduce costs while maintaining or enhancing services to the customer[MG4]. However, whether all of people want to use internet banking[MG5]. A series of factors, such as the security of personal data, the difficult of using the internet and others are sure to play an important role in consumer’s attitude to internet banking. In this paper[MG6], i try to investigate the factors that affect an individual’s decisions to use online services and some problems that internet banking[MG7] has met by far. Critical Review of literature Security for internet banking[MG8] While it is acknowledged that Australian banks have a great record related to security of customer information, surveys shows that individual who using internet banking are weary about privacy issues such as data or code collected by hackers, whether personal information could be disclosure and use. Therefore, security is a big issue and it should be focus on. And haw to solve decrease the risk of security? According to NOIE[MG9], the security protections offered by banks and which customers participate should include careful reference to their Web sites in their publication Verification by the use of digital certificate Evidence of security protection displayed on the screen Protections of PINs and passwords On-screen and mouse operated keypads for sensitive information Virus protection At least 128-bin encryption Firewall implementation Stated limits to customer liability for unauthorised use of access codes In fact, the security framework has been investigated[MG10]. According to Labuschange[MG11], a developed framework for security is consists of a defined six-step process. Step1. List all the security requirements for an internet banking environment in general. Step2. Identify all participants and stakeholders involved in the internet banking process. Step3. Break down transaction into different autonomous actions. Step4. Map these identified actions on to the participants involved, which serve as o model for the internet banking. Step5. Use the information obtained in step 4 to determine the security requirements for a secure internet banking environment. Step6. Use these security requirements to develop the security architecture, comprising suitable security procedures, mechanisms and policy[MG12]. And it also[MG13] says Internet banking including three main areas of security which are the the user’s computer, banks and the internet , Actually, i think mobile should also put into because nowadays , mobile phone is also a functional devices which can also conduct many applications including e-banking. And many hackers have transfer their attention to the mobile[MG14]. Individual’s perspectives on internet banking Above all, we can see that the security of internet play an important role on people’s decision to choose internet banking. However, if it is the most important reason which affect people to use internet banking and if people still trust internet banking[MG15]. Actually, the following table embedded within the trust model can ensure the perspective of an individual about the issue of trust . [MG16] On the other hand, some studies have[MG17] investigated other factors why individuals select a specific bank. Important consumer selection factors include convenience, service facilities, reputation and interest rates. According to Delvin[MG18] , customers spend less time on activities such as go to a bank and therefore they want more convenience and accessibility. According to International Journal of Customer Studies, although the Internet is becoming more and more popular, it is still a new products to which lead to distrust by customers. It has six hypotheses of the customer’s attitude to internet banking. H1.speed of transaction of electronic delivery channels provides a competitive advantage for them H2. Difficulties in the use of the new technology prevent some customers from using it. H3. Many people believe that the traditional banking system work well and therefore the online presence of the bank is characterized as not necessary. H4.Internet banking costs include those associated with Internet as well as bank costs and charges. Cost influences consumers’ attitudes towards electronic services. H5. People who use electronic banking services have a higher education level than others. Education may be another factor that is characterized as important in a customer’s decision to use or not to use online services. H6. Many people complain about the lack of information concerning the new electronic channels that financial institutions use today. In conclusion, it identified that the most significant factors that affect the customers’ decisions are security, individual’s age, the difficulties of using internet, the lack of information concerning products and services provide to customers. Factors such as the speed of transactions or the cost of using the internet have little impact on an individual’s decision. Actually, with the development of technology, the use of internet is no longer a problem, as increasing number of people own their pc and start to use computer and internet. In addition, the information which can provide to customers by electrical channels such as email or message. Methodology I will use data collection[MG19] to analysis why people choose internet or not use it and i will do a survey research because this kind of research is determined as the systematic collection of data in order to explain or forecast the behaviours and decisions of a certain population. Furthermore, i will use a generalized regression model and tried to estimate the probability of an individual using or not using internet banking. This kind of methodology is to determine the important factors that affect an individual’s decision to use or not to use internet banking. Research plan[MG20] References[MG21] Department of Management Science Technology, Management Sciences Laboratory, Athens University of Economics Business, Athens, Greece,2006 Bomil, S. Ingoo, H. (2002) Effect of trust on customer acceptance of Internet banking. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 1, 247–263. Dobson, A. (2002) An Introduction to Generalized Linear Models, 2nd edn. Chapman Hall, London. Kambil, A., Kamis, M., Koufaris, M. Lucas, C.H. (2000) Influences on the corporate adoption of web technology Damien HutchinsonMatthew Warren, (2003),Security for Internet banking: a framework, Logistics Information Management, Vol. 16 Iss 1 pp. 64 73 Understanding Security in Consumer Adoption of Internet Banking 293-306. [CrossRef] Normalini M. K., T. RamayahUnderstanding Security in Consumer Adoption of Internet Banking: 685-698. [CrossRef] [MG1]Your title is very vague. Need to make it more focused. Your introduction is very vague. What is your main question? In your literature section. You are just listing different studies. Need to make some links and also why you have chosen them. Need to work on your writing skills. Learn Harvard method of referencing. Try to look at the examples that Tesfa has left on your course’s Moodle site. [MG2]Need to be more specific. Issues and concerns with internet baking †¦.. [MG3]Which country, what is your time period [MG4]Your first sentence is very long and confusing. Break it down to at least two sentences and clearly state what you intend to say. You are talking about the background? [MG5]Incomplete [MG6]research [MG7]which country and where. If you are looking at consumer behavior then it does vary from country to country; location to location; and different groups. [MG8]It would be better to state which range of theories or models you are going to look at, then try to develop different components such as security and others. [MG9]Publication date – Need to use Harvard in-text referencing. [MG10]Incomplete, not clear what you mean [MG11]Year of publication [MG12]Why have you used these two models/theories? How would they help you? [MG13]Who says? [MG14]This section is very confusing and muddled. It looks as if you can just copied a section from a textbook. You need to link it to your research question. [MG15]incomplete [MG16]where is the source? Very poor referencing. [MG17]Name them [MG18]Year of publication [MG19]This doesn’t make sense. Don’t just copy from textbooks. [MG20]Where is your word count? [MG21]Learn to use Harvard method/style of referencing

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Constitutional Monarchy and the Third Way in UK

Constitutional Monarchy and the Third Way in UK A constitutional monarchy is a type of a constitutional government, where either an elected or hereditary monarch is a head of state, unlike in an absolute monarchy where the king or queen is an absolute ruler not bound by the constitution. Most of the constitutional monarchs have a parliamentary system where legislation is passed and the monarch is the head of state with a prime minister as the head of government elected directly by parliament or appointed by the monarchy. This generally separates the official and head of state duties of the monarchy from party politics making the monarchy politically neutral thus can not vote. This provides political stability, continuity and national focus despite a change in government. The sovereign head governs according to the national laws and regulations stipulated in the constitution. However the UK does not have a written constitution but its governed by convections which are non statutory rules and are equally binding.   The monarch is advised by ministers who hail from parliament and it appoints the prime minister, approves legislation and confers honors. As a head of state the monarch is the head of the armed forces. The British monarch (the queen) today has two roles that of head of state and as head of the nation. As the head of sate for Britain she plays an important role in undertaking important constitutional and representational duties. E.g. opening of parliament, approving of the orders in of council, signing acts of parliament plus meeting and conversing with the prime minister and ministers concerning state matters. Other duties include those of representing the state of Britain to the outside world In relation to the government of UK that is headed by a prime minister. The British parliament consists of the monarchy as where the queen is the head, the House of Lords and the House of Commons-which posses the dominant political power hence always supports the government of the day. Her maje sty duties involve the opening of new sessions of parliament and addressing it through the queens speech. (Drafted by the government and outlines the government agenda), issuance of prorogue, dissolving parliament, assenting to bills and approving orders and proclamations through the Privy Council. Parliament can only meet without a royal summon if the sovereign head has died and parliament is not running. Other duties concern the devolve units of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. On April 10th 1998 the Northern Ireland assembly was formed as part of the Good Friday agreement. It has authority over all devolved responsibilities. The assembly has full legislative authority over education, agriculture, health, social services and on wealth creation. Scotland on the other hand has two parliaments. The Westminster assembly legislates on matters that touch on the whole UK as a state while the one in Edinburgh legislates for the devolved domestic matters. The legislation for legislation was taken from Scotland in 1707 and taken to London till the 21st century on September 1997 when the majority of the Scots voted for a Scottish parliament in a plebiscite. The parliament was official opened by the queen on July 1999 and the new building officially opened by the queen in 2004. It has jurisdiction over primary legislation on matters that concern education, police, environment, economic development law and sets the basic rate of income tax among others. The members of p arliament of the Scottish parliament take the oath of allegiance to the crown. The parliaments first minister is appointed by the queen and receives weekly report from the Scottish parliament. This is done under the statutory law that established the parliament. Waless power on legislation was devolved in 2006 where the Wales assembly has had power and authority to pass laws to address the local issues in Wales such as on health and education. These acts are passed without the approval of the UK-Parliament. These actions of devolution are clearly in line with the intension to bring the government closer to the people so as to be able to empower the people to be able to govern themselves more closely, a proposition that is in line with the third way philosophers in Britain. Socialism involves various economic and political theories that advocate for a collective ownership and administration of the means and factors of production as well as the distribution of goods and services through the state. The system has no private ownership of property. Its a step in the transition of the society between capitalism and socialism according to the Marxist theory. In socialism economic activity is carried out to maximize use value as opposed to exchange value. Socialist are antagonistic to capitalism which they view as concentrating power and wealth to a few elites and it exploits labor leading to formation of a stratified society (class). In recent years there is the notion of democratic socialism that is used to denote the democratic character of the socialist movement. It involves the active participation of the society as whole through workers management of the economy through ideals such as  Ã‚   democratic socialism. It proposes the radical reorganization o f the state through social and economic order through public ownership.   Neo liberalism on the other hand is about economic liberalization based on the neo classical economic theories. Which minimizes the role of the state in the economy  Ã‚   to maintenance of law and order and maximizes the private sectors role? The proponents of this school of thought are referred to as the leftist. Its major effect is seen through the rich growing richer and the poor growing poorer. Third way in UKs politics is about the renewal of the social democracy whose vision and mission is to move the state of Britain from the political limbo that it has been in between the leftist who favor the free market ideologies and the right those who favor the state.   There quest is a new form of political ideology that concentrates on adapting economies and the society in general to the forces of globalization (an advanced form of capitalism). Globalization- a step in capitalism development has resulted in inequalities, the misfortunes of social exclusion, isolation, despair, uncertainty, and politics of the extremes under democracy.   This has put pressure on the leftist to re think there stand politically and socially in these age of knowledge economy. Third way proponents advocate for new progressive values that has three premises i.e. the need for the government to promote equality, to all while safeguarding the underprivileged, a set of moral standards and principles t hat promotes mutual responsibility, while resisting the politics of entitlement and the politics of social abandonment. And finally it advocates for a new approach to governance that empowers the people to act for themselves. The party that was championing this was the new labor party under Tony Blair that shifted from its leftist position and won the British elections of 1997 with a landslide. hence the name new. Today its under Gordon brown. leaving the only leftist party to be the British Fabian society. Third way has been stated to be centrism where it has combined the traditions of the European democrats and the ways of the American economic liberals (proponents of the free market ideology) combining the new right approach to governance and Keynesian theories of economics. The government of the new labor party has been formulating its policies from a number of both leftist think tank bodies like the Fabian society and Demos plus neo liberal think tank bodies coming up with policies that touch on issues like welfare and work etc. This clearly shows that the third way was a compromise between the two. Reference Anthony G, 1998,  The third way: the renewal of social democracy  , Wiley-Blackwell.

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Role of Women in Religion :: Religion Religious Females Gender Essays

The Role of Women in Religion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The role of women in religious scripture dictates an inferior position in society. Beginning with the creation of Adam and then Eve, as his helpmate. Her purpose was that Adam would not be lonely. This origin provides the ground work for inequality of genders on the basis of religious scripture. The roles prescribed determined that women should be in a subordinate position to man. The female role and relationship with God is defined by the various books of the Old and New Testaments, the reported actions of Jesus Christ, and finally the Qur'an.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Initially, Old Testament describes women as the corrupter of man. However, through interpreting the action of Jesus Christ, we see that he holds women in equal roles as men, to include mention of female apostles. The New Testament does not promote equality but does mention the acts of Jesus. Finally, the Qur'an places women in a subservient role allowing men to keep their under control, by any means. Interpretations of the Gods word under the disguise of organized religion are the product of the gender discrimination of the time and continue to paint women as lesser creatures in the eyes of God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The books of the Old Testament, and variations, are recognized by the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Each paint women as the temptress responsible for the mistakes of men. Women were the cause of the first punishment given to mankind. Eve persuaded Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, from the tree of knowledge. For this act, inspired by woman, mankind was forever punished and expelled from paradise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many examples of woman’s negative influence in the Old Testament. In Genesis 19:30-36, Lot's two daughters made their father drunk with wine on two successive nights. Each daughter committed incest with her father, and became pregnant.8 This is illogical, if Lot was so drunk he probably could not have performed physically and it occurred over two separate nights. He could have been unwitting the first night but not the second. Again in Judges 16, Delilah seduced Sampson in order to find out the secret of his great strength. This ultimately led to Samson's death.8 1 Kings 11 describes how Solomon's many foreign wives and concubines convinced him to worship other gods and build Pagan temples. This led to his downfall.8 The moral to these stories seem to be that women are responsible for the mistakes and men are easily corruptible by women.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The Ambiguity of Shakespeares Ambiguous Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare H

Ambiguity of Hamlet  Ã‚        Ã‚   In Shakespeare’s dramatic tragedy Hamlet, the reader finds ambiguity of one type and another here and there throughout the play. The protagonist himself is an especially ambiguous character is his own rite.    Harold Bloom in the Introduction to Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet expounds on the ambiguity and mysterious conduct of the hero during the final act:    When Horatio responds that Claudius will hear shortly from, presumably that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been executed, Hamlet rather ambiguously [my italics] makes what might be read as a final vow of revenge:    It will be short. The interim is mine. And a man’s life’s no more than to say â€Å"one.† (2)    The play begins with the changing of the sentinels on a guard platform of the castle of Elsinore in Denmark. Recently the spectral likeness of dead King Hamlet has appeared to the sentinels for no definite purpose. Tonight the ghost appears again, for no apparent reason, to Barnardo, Marcellus and Horatio, a very close friend of Hamlet. Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet, who is home from school, dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† of his mother to his uncle less than two months after the funeral of Hamlet’s father (Gordon 128). There is a social gathering of the court, where Claudius pays tribute to the memory of his deceased brother, the former king, and then, along with Queen Gertrude, conducts some items of business, for example dispatching Cornelius and Voltemand to Norway to settle the Fortinbras affair, addressing Polonius and Laertes on the subject of the latter’s return to school abroad.    Hamlet is present at the court gat... ...est Young Aristocrat.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p.: Pocket Books, 1958.      

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Essay

Sigmund Freud, born in 1856 was an Austrian neurologist who would later go on to found the discipline of psychoanalysis. He is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and repression and his concept of the dynamic unconscious suggesting that it is our unconscious mind that determines how we as individuals behave, Freud also believed that the unconscious mind established sexual drives as the dominant motivation of human life. He considered the unconscious mind as being the source of mental energy which determined behaviour, basing his findings on the results of his use of hypnosis where he found that he was able to produce and remove symptoms of hysteria. There have been numerous approaches in the field of psychology that have put forward the belief that behaviour is directed by an individual’s goals but the idea behind a goal-directed unconscious is an original Freudian concept. The main underlying belief of this theory is that any individuals’ behaviour is the direct result of the influences that prior experiences have had on them where these influences have an even greater effect if they are from our childhood. Freud believed that our early experiences formed the solid foundations on which we would build the structure of our life and that the adult personality is indeed formed in childhood according to the situations, treatment and feelings experienced as a child. Freud defined the human psyche as comprising of three parts, the unconscious or sub-conscious containing material that we are unable to bring into our conscious awareness and therefore unknowable. The preconscious which consists of information that is not at the present moment in our conscious awareness but is stored in our memory and can if need be easily recalled to the conscious level; and the conscious part of our mind which is where all current and new incoming content is processed. Within these parts operate the Id, the Ego and the Super Ego that work together to create complex human behaviours. The Id is the only part of our personality that is present from birth and is entirely unconscious, seeking instant gratification and fulfilling instinctive human needs. The Id is governed by the pleasure principle desiring the fulfilment of all desires, needs and wants. If these are not immediately satisfied this results in a state of anxiety or tension. The Id serves of great importance early on in life, a child will cry as a  result of their Id if they are hungry or in discomfort and ensures that their needs are met. Later on in life it is not always realistic or indeed possible to immediately satisfy such needs, it would be morally and socially unacceptable for us to just help ourselves to other people’s things in order to satisfy our own needs and wants and so later in childhood our Ego comes in to play. The Ego is responsible for dealing with reality and acts to ensure that the impulses of the Id are satisfied in a way that is acceptable to the real world and functions in the conscious, preconscious and unconscious parts of our mind. The reality principle weighs up the pro’s and con’s of an action before deciding whether or not to act upon the impulse. Often the impulses of the Id can be satisfied but through delayed gratification with the Ego allowing the behaviour at an appropriate time and place. The Eg o is a part of the Id that has been somewhat modified and rounded by external factors in the environment in which we live. Freud originally used the word Ego to mean a sense of self but later revised it to represent a set of psychic functions such as judgement, control, intellectual functioning and memory. Finally we develop our Super Ego. The Super Ego is the part of our personality that holds our morals and ideals that we have acquired from our parents and environment and acts as a voice for right and wrong. As with the Ego it is present in the conscious, preconscious and unconscious parts of our mind. The Super Ego consists of two parts, the Ego ideal which sets out the rules and standards for good behaviour. Conformity to behaviours that are approved of by our parents and people in positions of authority give us feelings of pride and accomplishment. The second part of the Ego is the Conscience which holds information on all the things that are viewed as being bad by our parents and the society in which we live. Behaviours that are forbidden or at the very least frowned upon and fill us with feelings of guilt and remorse. The perfection principle of the Super Ego strives to suppress any unacceptable desires of the Id and to make our Ego act upon idealistic rather than realistic standards. One of Freud’s better known theories and also one of the most controversial is that of psycho-sexual development. He proposed that an instinctual libido is present in all of us from birth and develops in five stages. First is the oral stage which occurs from birth up until around the age of eighteen months. The main focus here being the  gratification and pleasures the infant receives through feeding. Children in this stage place objects into their mouths in order to orally explore their environment. At this young age the child is entirely dependent on their carers and thus develops a sense of trust and comfort in relation to those carers. This stage is dominated by the Id as at this point the Ego and Superego have not yet fully developed and all actions are based on the â€Å"Pleasure Principle†. The key experience for a child in the oral stage of development is weaning, allowing the child to become less dependent on their caretakers. Freud said that too much or too little gratification may lead to an oral fixation, which Freud claimed could result in them developing a passive, immature, manipulative personality. This fixation could present in an adult as issues with eating, smoking, nail biting and aggression. The second stage of psycho-sexual development is the anal stage taking place between around 18 months to three years old. Freud believed at this stage that the primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel movements. Toilet training is the key experience here which brings into conflict the Id that demands immediate gratification and the Ego that demands delayed gratification. The resulting outcome of this conflict is heavily influenced by the parenting style that a child receives during toilet training. The ideal resolution of this conflict is a gradual adjustment whereby the child adjusts to moderate parental demands, learning the values of physical cleanliness and self control. Freud suggested that if parents over-emphasized toilet training or punished accidents then the child may develop what we term as an anally retentive personality, with the potential to become obsessively concerned with neatness and order. On the other hand if the parents were too lenient then the child may develop an anally expulsive and destructive personality whereby they are self-indulgent, messy and wasteful. Faeces and money are often linked in psychodynamic literature and according to Freudian theory; attitudes to money can reveal what the individual experienced during toilet training. The third stage of psycho-sexual development is the phallic stage taking place between the ages of three and six. During this time a child begins to gain awareness of its body and also the bodies of their parents and other  children, in particular genitalia. They begin to explore their genitals and learn the physical differences between male and female. During this stage boys experience what Freud termed as the Oedipus complex whereby the child wishes to remove his father in order to gain full attention of his mother’s affections. This urge to eliminate the father is controlled by what he termed as castration anxiety and so instead the child learns to imitate the father. Girls experience what Carl Jung in 1913 termed as the Electra complex where instead she wishes to remove the mother in order to gain full possession of her father. Freud however rejected this term as being psycho-analytically inaccurate believing that the reasoning behind the Oedipus complex applied only to male children and that it was wrong to share this analogy between the two sexes. He did however believe that girls experienced what he termed as penis envy and that initially the child experiences a lot of anger towards their mother for not sharing the same appendage as their father but in time they learn to identify with their mother in order to possess their father. Freud was very much influenced by the death of his father in 1896. In the three years following the death of his father, Freud became preoccupied with self-analysis where he realised that he had repressed feelings of anger and resentment against his father. He believed that as a small boy he had been in love with his mother and was jealous of his father. Freud based his theory of early sexual development on personal theory instead of exploring further using empirical methods. The fourth stage of psycho-sexual development is the latency stage taking place from around the age of six up until puberty. During this stage the child enters into a sexually dormant period, consolidating the habits of the previous three stages. The Ego and Superego take precedence over the Id due to the child’s defence mechanisms repressing its instinctual drives during the phallic stage. Now that gratification is delayed, the child is driven to derive pleasure from external activities such as friendships, education and hobbies. Any neuroses established during this fourth stage of psycho-sexual development may be due to the unresolved issues of the Oedipus complex or the Ego’s failure to focus on socially acceptable activities. The fifth and final stage of psycho-sexual development is the genital stage  that spans from puberty throughout the remainder of adult life. As with the phallic stage the genital stage is focussed upon genitalia but in this instance the sexuality is consensual and more often involving another adult in the form of a relationship rather than being solitary and infantile. This is due to the establishment of the Ego which shifts attention away from primary-drive gratification to secondary process thinking and to satisfy desire in a more symbolic and intellectual way through loving relationships, friendships and family. The genital stage is the time when a person is able to resolve any psycho-sexual childhood conflicts that they may have and allows psychological detachment and independence from their parents. In previous stages focus was placed solely on individual needs, now the welfare of others comes strongly into play and if all stages have been completed successfully then Freud believed that the individual should be a well-balanced and fully functioning person. Unfortunately it isn’t all that simple and the Id, the Ego and the Super Ego continuously come into conflict with one another. The Ego has to work to control the demands of the Id whilst at the same time having regard for the restrictions placed upon it by the Super Ego. At times these desires and constraints cause conflict that our Ego is unable to deal with resulting in anxiety and stress. Freud identified three types of anxiety, firstly neurotic anxiety which occurs through fear that we will lose control of the Id’s urges and the resulting punishment for inappropriate behaviour. Secondly reality anxiety which is a fear of external events often culminating in phobias, we are able to reduce such anxiety by avoiding the threatening object or situation. Thirdly is moral anxiety from a fear of violating our own moral principles and values that have been set down by our Super Ego. Neurosis also figured heavily in Freud’s psycho-analytical theory. He proposed that neurosis occurs when the Ego is unable to deal with desires that produce feelings of guilt and a sense of wrong. Through repression these thoughts manifest themselves through symptoms that have no physical dysfunction. The mental illness acts as a replacement for the guilt ridden desires of the Id allowing the Ego to avoid the conflict between itself and the Id. Such symptoms however are worse than the conflict they set out to hide, not only stopping the individual from being accepting of their repressed desires but  also causing them to become socially incapable of enjoying a happy and healthy life. He also believed that neurosis can be triggered by a traumatic childhood event that the individual is unable to handle. Often such experiences give rise to feelings of guilt that we seek to repress through use of various displacement mechanisms. Sometimes these repressed memories make their way back into our conscious minds in a different form producing a great amount of anxiety in turn triggering psychological disorders that seek to block out the real cause. Psychoanalytical therapy has proved productive in being able to help a client uncover unconscious defence mechanisms and help them find better ways of dealing with their anxiety or removing it all together. Psycho-analysis opened up a new view regarding the treatment of mental illness, suggesting that psychological distress could be reduced through talking about their problems with a therapist. The work of Freud was responsible for bringing about a greater understanding of behaviour that was unusual and differences were no longer automatically equated as unacceptable, with understanding comes greater tolerance. He radically changed the view of sexuality making it an acceptable topic of conversation and a natural part of a healthy, happy life. The approach is also credited with highlighting the importance of childhood and our unconscious mind. Despite the influential effect of his theories Freud is open to numerous criticisms. Many psychologists have adopted his ideas but there has been a great deal of modernisation on his original views. Carl Jung who was a pupil of Freud’s even disagreed with certain aspects of his theories; in particular Freud’s reliance on sex as the answer to many problems. Jung went on to develop his own theories known as Analytical Psychology. Erich Fromm rejected Freud’s view that the drives of the human being are solely biological, believing instead that it was down to our freedom of choice and ability to choose our own destiny. He believed any conflict arose as a result of the fear or uncertainty which that freedom entailed. Feminists are particularly critical of the work of Freud due to the sexist nature of many of his ideas. Neo-Freudian Karen Horney proposed that instead of penis envy girls in fact developed power envy and that in their inability to bear  children men develop womb and vagina envy. Scientifically the validity of Freud’s theory of psycho-sexual development is brought in to question due to his perceived personal fixation on human sexuality and the phallic stage of development proved controversial for being based upon clinical observations of the Oedipus complex. Many were critical of the fact that a lot of Freud’s ideas were based on case studies or clinical observations rather than empirical, scientific research. Contemporary criticism questions the universality of Freud’s theory of personality and psycho-sexual development. Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski studied the matriarchal society of the Trobriand where young boys are punished by their maternal uncles not their fathers and thus suggested that in this case power is the source of Oedipal conflict not sexual jealousy. Contemporary research has also confirmed that although personality traits corresponding to the oral, anal, phallic, latent and genital stages are observable they are not necessarily fixed stages of childhood or indeed adult personality traits that were derived from childhood. While there is no denying that Freud is of great historical significance and he developed many ground breaking theories and ideas some of which still hold relevance today although many over time have been discredited. It must then be said that Freud’s theory of psychosexual development may in some cases offer us a limited understanding of a client’s issue it would not be ethical practice to rely entirely on this theory when working with a client. Due to its lack of credibility in many areas, Freud’s theory cannot be implemented as a full explanation or means with which to begin the process of understanding and healing. Bibliography Frankland, A. and Sanders, P. 1995. Next steps in counselling. Manchester: PCCS Books. pp.70-76 Hough, M. 2006. Counselling Skills and Theory. 2nd ed. London: Hodder Arnold, pp. 59-86. Malinowski, B. 1927. Sex and repression in savage society. [e-book] London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. http://openlibrary.org/books/OL17967917M/Sex_and_repression_in_savage_society [Accessed: 1st July 2013]. Cherry, K. n.d.. Freud’s Stages of Psychosexual Development. [online] Available at: http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/ss/psychosexualdev.htm [Accessed: 19 Jun 2013]. Copperwiki.org. 1950. Human Centred Psychotherapy – CopperWiki. [online] Available at: http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php?title=Human_Centred_Psychotherapy [Accessed: 01 Jul 2013] En.wikipedia.org. 2013. Psychosexual development – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosexual_development [Accessed: 01 Jul 2013]. http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0072969806/286620/fei69806_ch02

How Has the Personification of India and the Indian Woman Been Reflected in the Various Paintings of Mother India? Essay

â€Å"I am India. The Indian nation is my body. Kanyakumari is my foot and the Himalayas my head. The Ganges flows from my thighs. My left leg is the Coromandal Coast, my right is the Coast of Malabar. I am this entire land. East and West are my arms. How wondrous is my form! When I walk I sense all India moves with me. When I speak, India speaks with me. I am India. I am Truth, I am God, I am Beauty.† These lines, written below the Hindu right wing organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s poster of â€Å"Bharat Mata†, shows how the anthropomorphic form of the nation as well as India’s cartographic form coalesce together into one single entity in the form of art. And with this paper, I will attempt to do an analysis on how India as well as the Indian Woman has been personified in the form of various paintings of the Bharat Mata in India. In 1905, Abanindranath Tagore painted the above iconic image of Mother India. Clad in a saffron sari, resembling a Sadhvi, the imagery of Mother India over here depicts that of a holy woman radiating peace and calm. On observing the painting carefully, one notices the celestial nimbus behind her head, the lotus pond next to which she is standing, and the four arms each carrying an item of symbolic significance. A manuscript, a sheaf of foliage, rosary beads and a piece of fabric – I personify her here as a goddess. She emits grace, serenity on her face, conferring boons; she is the epitome of the Goddesses Sita, Savitri, Saraswati and Lakshmi. On analyzing Nargis’ role of Radha in the film Mother India, one can see that the ideals that Radha entered her marriage can be mirrored in Abanindranath Tagore’s painting. Sita, being the embodiment of purity, Savitri, exemplarily devoted wife, and Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune (brides are customarily likened to Lakshmi and to whom Sukhilal explicitly, and somewhat ironically, likens Radha). In the beginning of the film, we see a timid Radha, entering her marriage with the ideals of being a perfect wife, devoting herself to her husband, exhibiting loyalty and chastity. These basic ideals don’t change throughout the film. We see her sacrificing her food for her husband and children; we see her maintaining her chastity even though she could have foregone the debt by having sexual relations with Sukhilal. As personified by the image as well, she maintains this image of being a â€Å"pure† woman, displaying devotion to her homeland and abstemiousness towards her marriage. As Sister Nivedita aptly puts it, what Tagore sees in Her is made clear to all of us. â€Å"Spirit of the motherland, giver of all good, yet eternally virgin†¦. The misty lotuses and the white light set Her apart from the common world, as much as the four arms, and Her infinite love. And yet in every detail, of â€Å"Shankha† bracelet, and close veiling garment, of bare feet, and open, sincere expression, is she not after all, our very own, heart of our heart, at once mother and daughter of the Indian land, even as to the Rishis of old was Ushabala , in her Indian girlhood, daughter of the dawn?† During the independence period, there was a drastic change in the imagery of Mother India. From the pre-independence view of Bharat Mata as a serene, holy woman radiating peace and calm, the images that soon followed were that of strength, anger, wit, and innovation. Images of Gandhi being held by Mother India, Mother India surrounded by freedom fighters, Subhash Chandra Bose cutting off his head and offering it to the Mother on a platter. Even though the visuals managed to captivate the audience, it wasn’t about the art form represented – but the message. On looking at the first image presented here, on the RSS poster, one can see how the personification of Mother India changed immensely from the passive figure that she once was. We see a woman occupying the map of the nation, giving the nation as body a very tangible female form. We have here an image which takes its meanings from a wide range of cultural signifiers: the smiling face of the goddess standing in front of her lion, looking directly into the gaze of onlookers. This particular image, very famous throughout the country, continues to look at people from posters and calendars everywhere. Aggressive and self-assured, she no longer resembles the way Abanindranath Tagore represented her. The title Mother India immediately situates the film within the discourse of the Freedom Movement, and the film is seen to be as much about nationhood as womanhood. In the painting, I view the Bharat Mata depicted as a symbol of female empowerment – the confidence in her eyes, the lion besides her. Radha, in the film Mother India is symbolized in the same way. She is confronted by the choice to either display loyalty towards her land or let her motherly love overpower it. But she chooses her land and goes against her familial instincts to fight for it. The transition from the painting by Abanindranath Tagore’s Bharat Mata to the poster by the RSS can be seen as a vision of a new Utopia that integrates features from both societies. The traditional society, fundamentally morally sound. A woman, whose integrity never left her side. Yet this society (in our analogy, India) was vulnerable to the vagaries of nature (the west). Mother India became a symbol of empowerment. Rema ining strong to her ethics, she opened herself up to modernity, letting herself become influenced by the west. As mentioned by Rosie Thomas, â€Å"Power in the new society is generated by control of both: oppression is ousted and the hazards of nature overcome with modern technology, but the purity of traditional values — symbolized by female chastity — must still bless, and ultimately legitimize, technological advance.† And Mother India did open the dam. As depicted by the RSS poster, India transitioned from a traditional Mother to that of a symbol of woman’s strength. The final painting that I will attempt to analyze is M.F. Hussain’s Bharat Mata. A nude woman, depicted in red, spread over the soil of this country with a man observing her and the various city names strewn in the background. Unlike the previous two paintings, which depict serenity and empowerment, this depicts oppression. And probably, the one painting that captures the essence of being a woman in India – male dominance in a society where a woman has no voice, this is what the painting speaks to me. Taking references from the film Mother India, at the beginning of the film she is forced into marriage without voicing her own opinion. Her head is covered by a shroud, eyes looking down – a sad and subdued figure. She listens to her Mother-in-law without a peep, submits to her husband. When there are references to Radha and her husband being parents of sons, she just smiles. And even after the loss of her youngest child, a daughter, hardly any emphasis is given on the emotions of the situation. The woman is also viewed as an object of sexual desire, apparent when Sukhilal makes sexual advances towards her. This shifts our focus to the objectification of a woman in Indian Society. Objectification is known to be those portrayals of women in ways and contexts which suggest that women are objects to be looked at, ogled, even touched, or used. From ancient scriptures, a revolted Sita (from the epic Ramayana) to a modern day Delhi gang rape victim, there are countless examples of how women are commoditized. Even in Bollywood, nowadays rather than celebrating a women’s sensuality, they are portrayed as an object or a toy of the Hero’s antics or to celebrate his success or his dreams. Or as a product that has been marketed by the catchy medium called media. Taking instances from the Hindu epics, in the story of Parashuram, his mother, Renuka, exper iences a momentary desire for another man. For this crime of ‘thought’, her own son beheads her on the orders of her husband, Jamadagni. She eventually comes to be associated with the goddess Yellamma, who is associated with prostitution. In the story of Ram, Sita’s abduction by Ravan so taints her reputation, and makes her the subject of such gossip, that Ram eventually abandons her. In neither story is the woman actually assaulted. It does not matter. In Devdutt Pattanaik’s words, the idea of being violated is terrible enough. The idea that what is yours has claimed another in ‘thought’ (Renuka’s story) or has been claimed by another in ‘thought’ (Sita’s story) is enough to deflate honor. The personification of the Nation and the Indian Woman represented in Abanindranath Tagore, the RSS poster and M.F. Hussain’s paintings gives us a single window of insight of the various perceptions of the same. Sacredness, empowerment and oppression – three concepts depicted by three unique paintings representing the same ideology. And as it is often quoted, â€Å"A picture is worth a thousand words.† ——————————————– [ 1 ]. The Goddess and the Nation, mapping Mother India – Sumathi Ramaswamy [ 2 ]. Many Avatars of Bharat Mata – BN Goswamy, The Tribune [ 3 ]. Mythology of Mother India – Rosie Thomas [ 4 ]. The Life and Times of Bharat Mata – Sadan Jha, Manushi – issue 142 [ 5 ]. Mythology of Mother India – Rosie Thomas [ 6 ]. Essay, A Woman’s Body – Devdutt Pattanaik

Friday, August 16, 2019

Culture of Cherokee American Indians Essay

Scholars differ on where the Cherokee subculture came from and when they arrived on their traditional lands in the Southeast. The archaeological record of human occupancy of the Southeast goes back to at least 10,000 B. C. (Muller, 1978, p. 283; Canouts and Goodyear, 1985, p. 181), but this does not mean the Cherokees, or even their very distant ancestors, were there that early. Cherokees, as Cherokees, did not exist nearly so far back in time, nor did they necessarily emerge from the first or even from early occupants of the Southeast. The Cherokees as a more or less distinct American Indian people seem to be at the very most only one or two thousand years old. They may have developed from other American Indian peoples already in the Southeast, or they may have migrated there from another region. The Cherokees say they and other human beings were created after plants and animals were made. Plants and animals were told by the creator–the Cherokees do not know who he or she was–to stay awake for seven nights and watch the world. Most could not do so. Of the plants, only the spruce, cedar, pine, holly, and laurel trees were able to watch so long: that is why they are now green all year. Of the animals, only the owl, the panther, and a few others were able to stay awake: that is why they see at night and prey on those who must sleep. Human beings were then created: â€Å"At first there were only a brother and sister until he struck her with a fish and told her to multiply, and so it was. † Seven days afterward the girl had a child; another came seven days later, then another, and so forth, and the human beings â€Å"increased very fast until there was danger that the world could not keep them. Then it was made that a woman should have only one child in a year, and it has been so ever since† (Mooney, 1982, p. 240). The Cherokees do not now know when or how some humans first became Cherokees. Almost certainly they had their origins in an ancient time, distinct from the present, when things were not as they are now. The Cherokees think they may even have emerged from the ground after other human beings were created, for it is said there is another world under the surface, identical except that the seasons are different. According to the Cherokees, â€Å"The streams that come down from the mountains are the trails by which we reach this underworld, and the springs at the heads are the doorways by which we enter it, but to do this one must fast and go to water and have one of the underground people for a guide† ( Mooney, 1982, p. 240). Some scholars have asserted that this is where the name Cherokee came from–given them by their neighbours. The scholars have argued that Cherokee means â€Å"cave people,† for the Cherokees are said to have come from under the ground (Reid, 1970, p. 3) and also lived in a mountainous land full of caves. The eighteenth-century trader James Adair asserted that the name came from the (apparently Cherokee) word chee-ra, meaning (sacred) fire, forming cheera-tahge, or â€Å"men possessed of the divine fire† (Adair, 1930, p. 237). Probably the name is from the Creek chilokee, â€Å"people of a different speech,† as John W. Swanton has stated; perhaps it is the name from which the form Chalaque was derived (Swanton, 1985, p. 49-50). The anthropologist John Witthoft supported this interpretation, based on his work with Eastern Cherokee â€Å"informants†: â€Å"The name came from the Creek, Celokokalke, ‘people of another language’. † He asserted, â€Å"The Creek name by which the Cherokee were first known to Europeans became the general name for them in the Southeast, and was soon accepted even by the Cherokee themselves; names for other tribal groups have come into existence after a similar fashion† (Witthoft, 1947, p. 305). The Cherokees commonly called themselves Tsalagi or, in the plural, Ani-Tsalagi, perhaps â€Å"corrupted† to form the name Cherokee or perhaps derived from the same word as Cherokee. According to James Mooney, their proper name for themselves was Yunwiya or, in the plural, Ani-Yunwiya. It means, more or less, â€Å"the people,† â€Å"the real people,† or â€Å"the principal people† (Mooney, 1982, p. 15). Tradition played an important role in Cherokee clans. It made sure certain elements of a culture from generation to generation were passed down. Such as, the traditional matrilineal Cherokee family structure, which means descent, is traced through the female line (Conley, 2002). The children belonged to the mother and her family clan. There was not any relatedness with the father and he’s family clan. This family structure provided a safe and secure environment for women and children. Also, it meant the man lived in the wife’s house, surrounded by her clan’s people, so he would not dare to abuse her unless he wanted a tribal beating. Women were largely incorporated into the tribes. Not only was she the head of her domain with mutually respected power and authority, she had equal say in the affairs of war and peace. She was also in charge of the household and nourishment of her family. The women were involved in many functions of daily life. It seems as if the women were the tribe, but not for long. Years after the first American contact, European traders living amongst would marry Cherokee women. European traders could not accept that fact of tracing descent through the female line, but slowly the clan system gave into the European style bilateral family, which traced descent through both male and female (Conley, 2002). The Cherokee were not too happy with this movement. It jeopardized the Cherokee’s clan traditional ways of a matrilineal family structure carried on for many centuries. Nevertheless, the Cherokees could do nothing about it. Before the first known contacts, life of the Cherokee nation had grown and thrived for many years in the south-eastern United States in the lower Appalachian Mountains in states such as: Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and parts of Kentucky and Alabama. However, in less than thirty years, after the first recorded contact with outsiders, in particular with Hernado De Soto in his expedition of 1540, the Cherokee Indians reformed their culture. Many adaptations took place which resembled similar American cultures. The Cherokee soon built schools and court systems. This infuriated Andrew Jackson, a supporter of the Indian removal policy. After awhile, George Gist, also known as Sequoyah, established a Cherokee written language, utilizing an ingenious alphabet of 86 characters in 1821 (Ehle, 1925). Soon, this was adopted into Cherokee culture and a newspaper was formed. Again, Andrew Jackson grew more furious. He wanted the Cherokees removed off their lands. In 1830, United States Congress passed an Indian Removal Act pushed by President Andrew Jackson following the recommendation of former President James Monroe in his final address to Congress in 1825 (King, 1979). This act enforced the previous Georgia Compact of 1802, since many were ignoring that removal act. But, many opposed this Indian Removal Act ratified by congress. After debates over this issue, the oppositionist won. However, Andrew Jackson was able to reinforce the act, due to the Treaty of New Echota on Dec. 29, 1875 (Conley, 2002). The signing of the Treaty of New Echota set the stage for the beginning of Cherokee extermination. The treaty signed away the entire remaining tribal territory east of the Mississippi in exchange for five million dollars and the right to occupy lands west of the Mississippi (King, 1979). Major Ridge, John Ridge, Elies Boudinot, and the rest of the Treaty Party doomed the whole Cherokee Nation when they agreed to sign a fraudulent treaty with the federal government, which did not represent the Cherokee Nation as a whole (Martin, 2001). The Ross Party, people who oppose the removal treaty, tried to resist, but nothing else could be done. This removal process started what was to be known as the â€Å"Trail of Tears† or â€Å"Trail where they cried. † This forced migration journey consisted of thirteen groups of consecutive waves led by Cherokee captions that lasted from August 28, 1838 to March 18, 1839 (Conley, 2002). Over the journey many Cherokees died, approximately, four thousand out of sixteen thousand, due to diseases, exposure, or fatigue (Martin, 2001). The history of the Cherokee people is one of defeat and despair. After the first encounters with Americans, the Cherokee Nation was deteriorating. For instance, Cherokee family structures were changing, vast amounts of lands were being ceded to Americans, and Cherokee Indians were forced from their lands. Overtime, this constant chipping away at the Cherokee Nation, lead to the final Indian removal from homelands and the demise of the Cherokee Nation in southeastern United States. References Adair, James. (1930). Adair’s history of the American Indians. Johnson City, Tenn. : Watauga Press. Canouts, Veletta, and Goodyear, Albert C. (1985). Lithic scatters in the South Carolina Piedmont. In Structure and process in southeastern archaeology, ed. Roy S. Dickens Jr. , and H. Trawick Ward, (pp. 180-94). University: University of Alabama Press. Conley, Robert, J. (2002). Cherokee. Portland: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co. pp. 24-5, 44. Ehle, John. (1925). Trail of tears. New York: Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. King, Duane, H. (1979). The Cherokee Indian Nation. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press. pp. 16, 129. Martin, Ken. (2001). History of the Cherokee. Retrieved February 13, 2006 from cherokeehistory. com Mooney James. (1982). Myths of the Cherokee and sacred formulas of the Cherokees. Nashville: Charles and Randy Elder. Muller Jon D. (1978). The Southeast. In Ancient Native Americans, ed. Jesse D. Jennings, (pp. 281-325). San Francisco: W. H. Freeman. Reid, John P. (1970). A law of blood: The primitive law of the Cherokee Nation. New York: New York University Press. Swanton, John R. (1985). Final report of the United States De Soto Expedition Commission. Washington, D. C. : Smithsonian Institution Press. Witthoft, John. (1947). Notes on a Cherokee migration story. Communicated by W. N. Fenton. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 37, 304-5.