Personal Health Lab Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Health Lab - Essay Example The issue of financial benefit from Lacks’s cells continues to be raised. Her heirs are the antithesis of a Norman Rockwell American family. Since many of them live at a subsistence level and often without health care, there is considerable irony in the fact that millions of dollars have been made on Lacks’s genetic material. Those who carry her genes have not seen one cent of that windfall. Decades passed before the family even knew of the continued existence of their mother, in her extraordinary cells. Not only is this famous woman buried in an unmarked grave, but also her family is â€Å"unmarked† with the monies her cells have generated. One of the incidents Skloot relates concerns her ongoing relationship with Lacks’s youngest daughter, Deborah. When Skloot began her research, Deborah was in her sixties. Deborah’s approach to the revelation about her mother was mixed. On one hand, she had many sober questions about her mother’s illness, her ongoing â€Å"life,† and its contributions to science as well as about the implications for her own health. On the other hand, she feared that her mother’s cells felt the effects of the diseases they were employed to study. At times Deborah believed her mother to be, in some sense, alive and capable of feeling the pain and other accompanying effects of AIDS, Ebola, and other diseases. She had read that her mother’s cells had been used for researching cures for these diseases. She vacillated between a cooperative and friendly attitude toward the author and a paranoid and distrustful stance. Skloot stuck with Deborah through her bouts with depression, hysteria, and severe cases of hives. The author once even came to blows with Lacks’s daughter, and she was present when Deborah was exorcized. By the time the book was published, Deborah had died.  

The Pursuit of Happyness Essay Example for Free

The Pursuit of Happyness Essay The Pursuit of Happyness is a story of a man, Mr. Chris Gardner, who invests his savings to portable bone density scanners. He had a five year old son named Christopher. Chris introduces these scanners to the doctors which he believed much better to X-rays. But along his journey of being a salesman, their financial condition gets worse. To him selling one is can be used for buying their needs so he treasured these scanners very much. He tried to figure out on how to sell these scanners but unfortunately he loses everything. His wife leaves him, he loses his house, bank accounts and credit cards and earning money became difficult for him. Experiencing this trouble, Mr. Chris decided to become a professional endeavour after meeting his friend at Dean Witter. It is not easy for him because he needs to become an intern for six months without any pay but Mr. Gardner is determined because he believed that this will help him to rise again and support his son. His passion to be a stock broker can be seen through his determination. He became homeless, go to office in a messed up clothes and even slept in bathrooms, and community shelters. But despite of all these, he is really willing to sacrifice everything just to achieve his goals. And this sacrifice was worth it because he was chosen by the firm to work for them. Now, Chris has been working hard to support the needs of his son. Lesson learned: The movie â€Å"The Pursuit of Happiness’ is really inspiring that made me realize the following thoughts: * It’s not enough for you to work instead it is better if you work hard for you to achieve your goals in life. Just always do your best and think that it is your last chance to prove your worth. * Be yourself. Don’t fake yourself just to impress anyone. As what this line says, â€Å"We cannot please everyone†, so just be yourself. We are all unique in our own ways and this uniqueness is your asset. * It’s worth the wait. Not all things you want will be favorable to you. It’s not like a blink of an eye then you get it, definitely it’s not. We must learn that achieving your dreams corresponds to a big responsibility, right time and off course working on it. You are dreaming because you want it to happen because it will lead us to our greatest achievements. * Big things come from small things. It’s like a step by step process. Before we reach our goals we need to undergo a lot of hindrances and difficulties because it’s part of our lives. But we need to face. Just believe that one day, you will be able to reach the top and the bigger dreams of yours. * Stay focus. Despite of the obstacles that you encountered, stay focused. Look for inspiration that will serve as your motivation to pursue. * My family is my inspiration. All the things I’m doing is not just for myself but for my family. They give me strength and motivation to pursue my dreams. Our family is someone whom we can be with in times of happiness and sadness. We should treasure them. * Perseverance and patience is needed if you want to become something. Be patient because everything will happen at the right time. Just learn how to wait. Entrepreneurial values/behavior executed by the main character and its application to our lives: The attitude that Mr. Chris Gardner, main character, executed in the movie is the following: Being a risk-taker. Mr Gardner was able to risk his investments to that portable bone density scanner and stick to selling this despite of their financial condition. He needs to sell at least one because this means money to them. As of today, a lot of entrepreneurs are becoming risk takers. This is one the entrepreneurial traits that we must possess. Risks are everywhere, the greater the risk the higher the return depending on how are you going to handle it. Being an opportunity seeker. Always look for possibilities. Be an observant and look for opportunities. As to what happened in the movie, Mr. Gardner found it difficult to earn money that will support their needs. Being a salesman is not enough so he looks for another job which is being a stock broker. If he was able to achieve it, a lot of opportunity will come along the way. As entrepreneurs, we must look for the opportunities and use this to come up with a good idea. For example, recently the use of social media is emerging so you may use this as one of your marketing strategies. Be optimistic. Despite of everything that happened to Mr. Gardner, he still looks at the positive side. He once felt unappreciated by the people but he tried her best to overcome these trials and determined to pursue his dreams. As entrepreneurs, we must not easily give up. In some instances, your business will undergo downs but you should take this as a challenge for you to pursue. Don’t let anyone antagonize you because you know yourself better than anyone. You should know your strengths and weaknesses. So be a positive thinker and believe that you will find yourself reaching your goals. Invest in yourself. Mr. Gardner accepts the internship for six months despite of not receiving pay. It is an indication that he wanted to learn more because learning doesn’t stop. We must think of ways on how we are going to improve ourselves. This case is also applicable to those who wanted their business to be known and succeed. They are conducting research and development studies so that they can go with the new trends. Look for solutions. Don’t let your problem hanging and find for possible solutions because problems are never ending. Favorite lines in the movie: â€Å"Don’t ever let somebody tell you can’t do something†¦you got a dream, you gotta protect it† This is one of my favorite lines in the movie because it reminds me that it is free to dream so dream big and do your best to let it happen. I am always dreaming to become successful in life and how am I going to achieve this? Well, I’m studying hard because this is the only way that I can repay the sacrifices of my parents. As entrepreneurs, we must believe in ourselves. Just don’t let others make you down. Be creative, innovative, work hard, possess entrepreneurial traits then you can do something. Take risks and conquer you weaknesses. Use your strength and don’t stop learning then you are protecting your dreams. â€Å"I know how to find the answer†¦ I will find the answer† Don’t say that you don’t know the answer instead look for the possible answers. As entrepreneurs, we are always looking for opportunities and we are looking for problems that our market had been encountered. And from these we need to find solutions because this can be our key to success. Just know how we are going to establish a good process to come up with a good solution. â€Å"How do we know the pursuit in it? † We all have different definitions of happiness. It is how we are going to achieve the happiness we are aiming for us to be contented. As long as you know that you’ve tried your best and you are satisfied, then you’re happy. As entrepreneurs we must find our own happiness because this may help in achieving your short and long term objectives. Important resource that the character used: Mr. Gardner uses his skills in dealing with numbers. He tried to become good to people and be friends with them. He tried to give time to the internship because he knows that it is worth the wait. He learned a lot. And this learning helps them to achieve his goal to pursue his own happiness. Mr. Gardner finds inspiration through his son that also helped him to overcome his troubles in life. It is inspiring that the main character used all the possible resources to pursue his happiness. My own resources and how I will pursue my own happiness: In my case, the resources I have are my efforts and perseverance to do such things. I’m always determined to fulfil a task. I’m always willing to learn because this can help me to achieve my goals in life. I may not have a lot of money but I have a lot of friends. They are the one who guides and supports me in everything I go through. Also, I have my family who is always there to support me through thick and thin. They are my inspiration. I want to be equipped with skills so that it will be not that difficult if I need to do something. Happiness for me is a very broad word. I am happy as long as I am satisfied. In pursuing my happiness, I use my resources. I will always try to do my best to achieve my goal and make others happy as well.

My Friend Hamilton -Who I shot Essay -- essays research papers fc

A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton holds a significant relevance in American history and should be examined within the context of early American culture and politics. The recent historiography of the incident provides us with a complex, evolving web of conflicting interpretations. Since the day of this tragic duel, contemporaries and historians have puzzled over why these two prominent American statesmen confronted each other on the Plains of Weehawken. What circumstances or events could have motivated two of the most brilliant political minds in America to endanger their lives and reputations by taking aim at each other on that dismal day? The recent historiography of the event can be divided into two schools which I shall denote as the â€Å"contextual† school and the â€Å"psycho-historical† school. These differing â€Å"schools† demonstrate the complexity of history and the extent to which a variety of factors, including bias and changing frames of reference can influence interpretive study and conclusions. It is the object of this discussion, therefore, to examine the heretofore mentioned interpretations, and to critically analyze the differing ideas concerning the Burr-Hamilton duel. The most succinct version of the event, as told by Joseph J. Ellis reads On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were rowed across the Hudson River in separate boats to a secluded spot near Weehawken, New Jersey. There, in accord with the customs of the code duello, they exchanged pistol shots at ten paces. Hamilton was struck on his right side and died the following day. Though unhurt, Burr found that his reputation suffered an equally fatal wound. In this, the most famous duel in American history, both participants were casualties.1 Almost every American is familiar with this most famous—and deadly—of American duels. Hamilton was celebrated and hailed as a martyr, and Burr was labeled a murderer and went on to undertake many strange adventures in the American west, eventually tried for treason for his purported conspiratorial intentions. Before engaging further in this discussion, one must first differentiate between what I have denoted as â€Å"contextual† history and â€Å"psycho-historical† history. I contend that â€Å"contextual† ... ...no. 1 (1995): 1-23. Schachner, Nathan. Aaron Burr: A Biography. New York, NY: A.S. & Barnes Company, 1961. Shalhope, Robert E. Review of Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic, by Joanne B. Freeman. The Journal of American History 89, no. 2 (2002): 620-621. Schneidman, J. Lee and Conalee Levin-Schneidman. â€Å"Suicide or Murder? The Burr-Hamilton Duel.† Journal of Psychohistory 8, no. 2 (1980): 159-181. Stevens, William Oliver. Pistols at Ten Paces: The Story of the Code of Honor in America. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. Ward, Allen Mason. A History of the Roman People. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NY: Prentice Hall, 2003. Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 5th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001. Wood, Gordon S. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1991. Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. Southern Honor: Ethics and Behavior in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1982. ----------. Honor and Violence in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1986. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1980. My Friend Hamilton -Who I shot Essay -- essays research papers fc A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton holds a significant relevance in American history and should be examined within the context of early American culture and politics. The recent historiography of the incident provides us with a complex, evolving web of conflicting interpretations. Since the day of this tragic duel, contemporaries and historians have puzzled over why these two prominent American statesmen confronted each other on the Plains of Weehawken. What circumstances or events could have motivated two of the most brilliant political minds in America to endanger their lives and reputations by taking aim at each other on that dismal day? The recent historiography of the event can be divided into two schools which I shall denote as the â€Å"contextual† school and the â€Å"psycho-historical† school. These differing â€Å"schools† demonstrate the complexity of history and the extent to which a variety of factors, including bias and changing frames of reference can influence interpretive study and conclusions. It is the object of this discussion, therefore, to examine the heretofore mentioned interpretations, and to critically analyze the differing ideas concerning the Burr-Hamilton duel. The most succinct version of the event, as told by Joseph J. Ellis reads On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were rowed across the Hudson River in separate boats to a secluded spot near Weehawken, New Jersey. There, in accord with the customs of the code duello, they exchanged pistol shots at ten paces. Hamilton was struck on his right side and died the following day. Though unhurt, Burr found that his reputation suffered an equally fatal wound. In this, the most famous duel in American history, both participants were casualties.1 Almost every American is familiar with this most famous—and deadly—of American duels. Hamilton was celebrated and hailed as a martyr, and Burr was labeled a murderer and went on to undertake many strange adventures in the American west, eventually tried for treason for his purported conspiratorial intentions. Before engaging further in this discussion, one must first differentiate between what I have denoted as â€Å"contextual† history and â€Å"psycho-historical† history. I contend that â€Å"contextual† ... ...no. 1 (1995): 1-23. Schachner, Nathan. Aaron Burr: A Biography. New York, NY: A.S. & Barnes Company, 1961. Shalhope, Robert E. Review of Affairs of Honor: National Politics in the New Republic, by Joanne B. Freeman. The Journal of American History 89, no. 2 (2002): 620-621. Schneidman, J. Lee and Conalee Levin-Schneidman. â€Å"Suicide or Murder? The Burr-Hamilton Duel.† Journal of Psychohistory 8, no. 2 (1980): 159-181. Stevens, William Oliver. Pistols at Ten Paces: The Story of the Code of Honor in America. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1940. Ward, Allen Mason. A History of the Roman People. 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NY: Prentice Hall, 2003. Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 5th Ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001. Wood, Gordon S. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1991. Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. Southern Honor: Ethics and Behavior in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1982. ----------. Honor and Violence in the Old South. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1986. Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States: 1492-Present. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1980.

Creating Tension and Drama in the Courtroom in The Crucible Essay

Creating Tension and Drama in the Courtroom in The Crucible The crucible is about a mass hysteria which led to the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials. A group of young girls are caught dancing in the woods and are suspected to of been calling out to the devil. Strange things begin to happen around the local village which are then suspected to be the work of the devil. Everyone in the village is to appear in court and faced with a death sentence. This fantastic and extremely tense play is written by Arthur Miller. Throughout Act Three Danforth; the deputy governor, who is in his sixties and plays an important part, is introduced. He is very sophisticated and respectful. Danforth plays the part of a very loyal man in which he makes antagonising decisions. However he is a very strong character and has his own opinions without being easily persuaded. Danforth has high expectations of both himself and his people. ’ I judge nothing of no one’ This tells the audience what Danforth’s character is like; a strong and noble man, and he will be looked upon as loyal man who has pride in which he can make his mind up for himself without listening to what others have to say. During Act Three Mary Warren plays a main part of a quiet girl who is made to confess by John Proctor that they girls are faking it and being over powered by the devil. Mary Warren who works for the Proctors has a good reputation. She has never done wrong, and is a hard working quiet girl. Mary is forced into court by Proctor to confess the truth. She speaks short words which shows fear. ‘ it were pretence sir’ ‘ aye, sir.’ Mary’s weakness causes tension as she is a weak character being forced to speak out by Proctor. Proctor mainly speaks... ...tly leaving the reader in suspense. My favourite scene was when Elizabeth was called into the court to justify Proctors accusation of lechery against Abigail. It gave the reader an unsure feeling of what the turn out would be like and what was going to happen next, this created more tension in this particular scene. I thought the ending was good and Act 3 was a fantastic build up for this dramatic ending. I think Miller’s intention of scene 3 being so dramatic was to build of for the ending which was not what I would have expected to of been like. This is good because it makes the reader want to read on. Miller was definatly successful in writing this play, he gave me the message, of what it was like back then, very strict and strong about there beliefs and witch craft. I think people would have definatly learnt from this story which is very strong.

Coffee Benefits Essay

Several studies comparing moderate coffee drinkers (about 2 cups a day) with light coffee drinkers (less than one cup a day) found that those who drank more coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life. [2][3] [edit] Reduced risk of gallstone disease Drinking caffeinated coffee has been correlated with a lower incidence of gallstones and gallbladder disease in both men[4] and women[5] in two studies performed by the Harvard School of Public Health. A lessened risk was not seen in those who drank decaffeinated coffee. [edit] Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease A study comparing heavy coffee drinkers (3. 5 cups a day) with non-drinkers found that the coffee drinkers were significantly less likely to contract Parkinson’s Disease later in life. [6]. Likewise, a second study found an inverse relationship between the amount of coffee regularly drunk and the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s Disease. [7] [edit] Cognitive performance Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short term recall and increase IQ[8]. Likewise, in tests of simple reaction time, choice reaction time, incidental verbal memory, and visuospatial reasoning, participants who regularly drank coffee were found to perform better on all tests, with a positive relationship between test scores and the amount of coffee regularly drunk. Elderly participants were found to have the largest effect associated with regular coffee drinking. [9] Another study found that women over the age of 80 performed significantly better on cognitive tests if they had regularly drunk coffee over their lifetimes. [10] [edit] Analgesic enhancement Coffee contains caffeine, which increases the effectiveness of pain killers, especially migraine and headache medications. [11] For this reason, many over-the-counter headache drugs include caffeine in their formula. [edit] Antidiabetic Coffee intake may reduce one’s risk of diabetes mellitus type 2 by up to half. While this was originally noticed in patients who consumed high amounts (7 cups a day), the relationship was later shown to be linear. [12] [edit] Liver disease Coffee can also reduce the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver[13] and has been linked to a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary liver cancer that usually arises in patients with preexisting cirrhosis. [14] The exact mechanism and the amount of coffee needed to achieve a beneficial effect are as yet unclear. [15] [edit] Cancer Coffee consumption is also correlated to a reduced risk of oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer. [16][17] In ovarian cancer, no benefit was found. [18] In the Nurses Health Study, a modest reduction in breast cancer was observed in postmenopausal women only, which was not confirmed in decaffeinated coffee. [19] [edit] Cardioprotective Coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease, though whether this is simply because it rids the blood of excess lipids or because of its stimulant effect is unknown. [citation needed] [edit] Laxative/diuretic Coffee is also a powerful stimulant for peristalsis and is sometimes considered to prevent constipation; it is also a diuretic. However, coffee can also cause loose bowel movements. Practitioners in alternative medicine often recommend coffee enemas for â€Å"cleansing of the colon† due to its stimulus of peristalsis, although mainstream medicine has not proved any benefits of the practice. [edit] Antioxidant Coffee contains the anticancer compound methylpyridinium. This compound is not present in significant amounts in other food materials. Methylpyridinium is not present in raw coffee beans but is formed during the roasting process from trigonelline, which is common in raw coffee beans. It is present in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and even in instant coffee. [20] http://ezinearticles. com/? Coffee-and-Its-Antioxidants-Healthier-Than-You-May-Realize&id=1235899 Did you know that coffee is chock full of antioxidants, an anticancer agent? If you’ve always thought coffee is bad for you, think again. Aside from keeping you alert and awake, coffee can also keep you young and fighting cancer. So, continue reading for answers to some frequently asked questions about coffee and its antioxidants. What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are any vitamin or nutrient that can help prevent cancer or damage to the heart and other tissues caused by free radicals. By neutralizing free radicals, they prevent cell degradation. Antioxidant rich foods include blueberries, raspberries, dates, chocolate and, of course, coffee. What type of antioxidants are in coffee? The antioxidants found in coffee are called polyphenols. More specifically, the compound is methylpridinium. The antioxidant isn’t present in raw, green coffee beans, but is actually created during the roasting process. How much coffee is enough? Research has shown that people who drink one to two coffees a day have half the risk of developing liver cancer when compared to people who didn’t drink coffee. Meanwhile, drinking 4 to 6 cups of coffee can reduce your risk for type-2 diabetes by as much as 50 percent. However, despite the reduced risk for these diseases and other cancers, like oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer, doctors don’t recommend you start drinking 10 cups a day. Coffee is still a stimulant and a diuretic and if drunk in excess can cause heart problems, anxiety and possible dangerously elevated blood pressure. Can I get these antioxidants from other sources? The specific antioxidant compound of methylpridinium is only found in substantial amounts in coffee. While other food sources like cranberries, dates and other antioxidant-rich foods contain different types of antioxidants, coffee is the primary source for this particular compound. (For other sources of antioxidants try bananas, dry beans, blueberries, pomegranates, lychees and the other foods listed above.) A recent study also found that the vast majority of North Americans get most of their antioxidants from beverages and, in particular, coffee. The average adult takes in about 1300 milligrams per day through coffee and the next source is tea at a mere 294 milligrams per day. Again, while coffee is one of our highest sources of antioxidants – a great cancer-fighting and prevention agent – coffee drinkers should always practice moderation. A cup or two a day may keep a number of common diseases away, but too much coffee can also cause problems. So balance is always a necessity.

Tracing the Journey of Madness in Jonathon Swifts Gullivers Travels essays

Tracing the Journey of Madness in Jonathon Swifts Gullivers Travels essays Jonathon Swift is notorious for his satire and nothing illustrates his ability to prove appoint than his novel, Gullivers Travels. In this novel, Gulliver experiences many things on his journeys and is driven to madness in the final segment of his adventure. Gullivers madness stems from the fact that he cannot accept himself for who he is Gulliver wants to be like the Houyhnhnms, a species that he considers to be perfect. Their rejection of him causes Gulliver to break down because he cannot and will not ever see himself as a Yahoo. The first step into madness begins with an inability to control events. Over the course of his stay with the Houyhnhnms, Gulliver is filled with pride and when he is exiled from Houyhnhnm-land, he is distraught. He descends further into madness because he cannot (and does not want to) think clearly. Finally, Gullivers madness is a result of pride. Gulliver refuses to accept the truth about his race because it means accepting the truth about hims elf. He would rather live a lie. Madness begins in small doses and unless it is tempered with rationality, it will reign. Gullivers final adventures illustrate this clearly. Gullivers madness occurs from a series of events of which he cannot control. His madness occurs slowly and only after his interaction with the Houyhnhnms and the Yahoos. In a sense, his madness is the result of his inability to accept and discern what he has encountered. He knows what is happening but he cannot make real sense of it other than wants he wants. Gullivers madness becomes evident when he begins to think of his own kind as less than acceptable. Spending time with the Houyhnhnms caused Gulliver to admire them far too much. He tells us that their opinions opened my eyes and enlarged my understanding, that I began to view the actions and passions of man in a very different light (250). He admires the...

PC Bang essays

PC Bang essays According to the dictionary, banging means hitting noisily or bumping. However, among Korean Americans, banging means going to PC Bang. Bang means a room in Korean and PC Bang simply means the place where people can use personal computers to play games or surf Internet with faster speed. PC Bang was started in Korea and it came to America by Korean Americans few years ago and only few months ago to Irvine. PC Bang became popular among not only young Korean Americans but also among some who arent used to this Korean culture. After PC Bang became popular, I have been spending numerous times in PC Bang playing Counter Strike, which is one of the most famous computer games played on net. After church, my friend told me Lets go banging. At first, I didnt understand what he was saying, but when he explained that he meant to say Lets go to PC Bang to play games, I found out that this expression is in fact used quite often among the patrons of PC Bang. Since then, I too started to use this expression when I want to ask my friends to go to PC Bang. Just few days ago, I told my friend Lets go banging and he didnt understand just like me when I first heard that expression, so I told him what it meant. Now, almost all my friends are familiar with the term banging. The dictionary meaning of word slang is a vocabulary of casual or playful, often short-lived expressions used especially for humor, irreverence, or striking effect. Some people are against the use of slang expressions insisting that slang expressions damage the right use of English. However, I think the use of slang expressions give liveliness to the usual everyday dialogue, since slang expressions are usually interesti ...

Battle of North Point in the War of 1812

Battle of North Point in the War of 1812 The Battle of North Point was fought as the British attacked Baltimore, MD on September 12, 1814, during the War of 1812. As 1813 came to an end, the British started to shift their attention from the Napoleonic Wars to the conflict with the United States. This commenced with a surge in naval strength which saw the Royal Navy widen and tighten their full commercial blockade of the American coast. This crippled American commerce and led to inflation and shortages of goods. The American position continued to decline with the fall of Napoleon in March 1814. Though initially cheered by some in the United States, the implications of the French defeat soon became clear as the British were now freed to enlarge their military presence in North America. Having failed to capture Canada or compel the British to seek peace during the wars first two years, these new events put the Americans on the defensive and changed the conflict into one of national survival. To the Chesapeake As fighting continued along the Canadian border, the Royal Navy, led by Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, mounted attacks along the American coast and endeavored to tighten the blockade. Already eager to inflict destruction on the United States, Cochrane was further encouraged in July 1814 after getting a letter from Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost. This asked him to help avenge the American burnings of several Canadian towns. To oversee these attacks, Cochrane turned to Rear Admiral George Cockburn who had spent much of 1813 raiding up and down the Chesapeake Bay. To support this mission, a brigade of Napoleonic veterans, commanded by Major General Robert Ross, was ordered to the region. On to Washington On August 15, Ross transports entered the Chesapeake and pushed up the bay to join with Cochrane and Cockburn. Assessing their options, the three men decided to attempt a strike on Washington DC. This combined force soon cornered Commodore Joshua Barneys gunboat flotilla in the Patuxent River. Moving up the river, they eliminated Barneys force and landed Rosss 3,400 men and 700 marines on August 19. In Washington, President James Madisons administration struggled to meet the threat. Unwilling to believe that the capital would be a target, little had been done in terms of preparing defenses. Overseeing the defense of Washington was Brigadier General William Winder, a political appointee from Baltimore who had been captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek in June 1813. As the bulk of the US Armys regulars were occupied in the north, Winder s force was largely comprised of militia. Meeting no resistance, Ross and Cockburn marched quickly from Benedict to Upper Marlborough. There the two elected to approach Washington from the northeast and cross the East Branch of the Potomac at Bladensburg. Following the defeat of American forces at the Battle of Bladensburg on August 24, they entered Washington and burned several government buildings. This done, British forces under Cochrane and Ross turned their attention north towards Baltimore. The British Plan A vital port city, Baltimore was believed by the British to be the base of many of the American privateers that were preying on their shipping. To take Baltimore, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the latter attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Arriving in the Patapsco River, Ross landed 4,500 men at the tip of North Point on the morning of September 12, 1814. Anticipating Ross actions and needing more time to complete the citys defenses, the American commander at Baltimore, American Revolution veteran Major General Samuel Smith, dispatched 3,200 men and six cannon under Brigadier General John Stricker to delay the British advance. Marching to North Point, Stricker arrayed his men across Long Log Lane at a point where the peninsula narrowed. Marching north, Ross rode ahead with his advance guard. Armies Commanders: United States Major General Samuel SmithBrigadier General John Stricker3,200 men Britain Major General Robert RossColonel Arthur Brooke4,500 men The Americans Make a Stand Shortly after being warned about being too far forward by Rear Admiral George Cockburn, Ross party encountered a group of American skirmishers. Opening fire, the Americans critically wounded Ross in arm and chest before retreating. Placed on a cart to carry him back to the fleet, Ross died a short time later. With Ross dead, command devolved to Colonel Arthur Brooke. Pressing forward, Brookes men soon encountered Strickers line. Nearing, both sides exchanged musket and cannon fire for over an hour, with the British attempting flank the Americans. Around 4:00 PM, with the British getting better of the fight, Stricker ordered a deliberate retreat north and reformed his line near Bread and Cheese Creek. From this position Stricker waited for the next British assault, which never came. Having suffered over 300 casualties, Brooke elected not to pursue the Americans and ordered his men to camp on the battlefield. With his mission of delaying the British accomplished, Stricker and men retired to Baltimores defenses. The following day, Brooke conducted two demonstrations along the citys fortifications, but found them too strong to attack and halted his advance. Aftermath Impact In the fighting, the Americans lost 163 killed and wounded and 200 captured. British casualties numbered 46 killed and 273 wounded. While a tactical loss, the Battle of North Point proved to be a strategic victory for the Americans. The battle allowed Smith to complete his preparations for defending the city, which halted Brookes advance. Unable to penetrate the earthworks, Brooke was forced to await the outcome of Cochranes naval attack on Fort McHenry. Beginning at dusk on September 13, Cochranes bombardment of the fort failed, and Brooke was forced to withdraw his men back to the fleet.

Behaviorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Behaviorism - Essay Example It is built upon certain observed characteristics of adults, which affect the way in which they learn and relate new information (Knowles et al, 2005). Due to the distinguishing characteristics of adult learners, certain psychological theories must be applied in order to maximise on learning potential which requires several actions to be taken, such as assessing the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and creating a systematic instructional format based upon this. To succeed, it is dependent upon pedagogically tested psychological theories, the principal approaches being behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism. Primarily characterised by their individual interpretations of what constitutes ‘learning’ and how it occurs, these approaches provide instructors with verified strategies and techniques for facilitating learning. This essay will discuss the defining characteristics and necessary conditions for adult learning as postu lated by theorist Malcolm Knowles. It will then examine behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism as general approaches to learning with particular emphasis on the superiority of constructivism in this context and how it can be applied to adult learning. One of the central principles which surround the teaching of adult learners is that of individual experience. â€Å"As a person matures he accumulates a growing reservoir of experience that becomes an increasing resource for learning† (Smith, 2011). Unlike children, adults have inevitably built up a wealth of personal experience which can be utilized in a way which can help learning, such as relating new information to previous experience, recalling previous experience, and/or using familiar examples to apply learning to unfamiliar concepts. Teaching strategies which build upon experiential learning will be an extension of everyday life (Knowles et al, 2005). Adult learners partake in a process which sees them reflect, dra w inference from and conceptualize, based upon previous individual experience. As this wealth of experience is seen as the richest resource of information for the learner, it must be pointed out that individual experience is fundamentally biased and of an entirely subjective nature. This implies that new information may be interpreted in different ways, which can be advantageous as it allows for new ideas and opinions, but can also have its disadvantages regarding personal bias. A second principle which is determined to be of special significance to adult learning is that of the self-concept. Within the paradigm of learning, self-concept relates to the movement of an individual’s perception of themselves as a self-directed person rather than being dependent upon others. Adults are viewed as being responsible and fully accountable for their own decisions and therefore must be treated as autonomous learners. Due to this perspective, autonomy is seen as vitally important for thi s theory. In its broadest sense, self-directed learning describes a set of actions in which potential learners take the initiative in identifying their learning needs and goals, and evaluating learning outcomes. The steps involved in working through such a process have generated several model which have since been re-imagined into a more interactive design which takes into account the nature and contextual elements of the learning (Cooper, 2009). Readiness to learn, or motivation to learn, is another

Managing Change and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managing Change and Innovation - Essay Example This discussion stresses that change management is undertaken in organizations as being a structural approach towards shifting or transitioning the organizations, teams and individuals from their present state to a desired state in the future. It accounts for an organizational process which is aimed at the empowerment of the employees towards accepting or embracing a change in their organizational or business environment. The strategy begins with a systematic approach for diagnosing the present situation for determining both the need for change and also the capacity of the organization to implement changes. However, at the beginning of the plan the purpose, objective and process of the change must be specified to every member of the organization. Most organizations have acknowledged the idea of managing innovation in their organizations. In fact the performance of innovation varies greatly across organizations which suggest that both the organizational and structural factors affect t he influence of innovation on performance. As the report declares the change management strategies are explained in terms of Kotter’s eight steps to change. The theory is one of the most important and most widely accepted texts in modern organizations. It defines eight steps in which changes can be implemented in organizations effectively. Although the steps are primarily meant for organizations, they also find application in personal change initiatives. Successful change management is also explained in terms of the Lewin’s model of organizational change.... It defines eight steps in which changes can be implemented in organizations effectively. Although the steps are primarily meant for organizations, they also find application in personal change initiatives. Successful change management is also explained in terms of the Lewin’s model of organizational change. The model is responsible for the introduction of the force field analysis which identifies both the driving forces and the resisting forces for a given change situation. Explanation of Theories John Kotter’s eight steps model for change John Kotter’s eight steps begin with the creation of a sense of urgency, which is required for initiating a change process. This would draw the people’s focus towards the process of change. This is followed by placing a guiding team for directing the change process in order to confront with any difficulty collectively. This can be in the form of a coaching team or a team of experts. They would be responsible for creating the vision or the strategy which would be the driving factor for the change. The change process must be repeatedly communicated to people to keep the context in the minds of people. People must also be empowered to undertake the change. The change must include short term visions to make the process real and enthusiastic. This would effectively build the momentum for the change process. The consecutive steps must be designed and implemented carefully to increase the momentum and confidence of people. Finally a new culture must be nurtured to ensure that the change lasts for long and awareness prevails (Rock & Page, 2009, â€Å"John Kotter’s eight steps to change†). Lewin- Three step model Lewin has proposed which is based on three

Economic Analysis of Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic Analysis of Pollution - Essay Example Many individuals as well as international organisations have been involved in advocating for ethical ways of conducting human activities geared towards mitigating the effects of these activities to the environment. It is important to consider the fact that, economists have also been involved in this advocacy. This paper contrasts the relative merit of taxes, legal regulatory limits and tradable emissions in controlling pollution using an economic analysis. Taxes In an economics perspective, taxes can be used as mechanisms or tools for the control of pollution. Levies known as green taxes can be imposed in an attempt to prevent and as well mitigate the consequences of pollution. These taxes can also be referred to as environmental taxes. In definition, green taxes are defined as levies and can be imposed on industries and countries or nations that produce high levels of emissions. The extent of damage to the environment is a significant factor in considering and determining the amount of levies that a country should impose. Unleaded petrol and use of vehicles amounts to the highest levels of environmental pollution hence industrialised countries generate a higher amount of revenues from taxes imposed on these commodities. Commodities that have less impact on the environment in terms of emissions generate low or decreased amounts of revenue. Emissions in terms of green taxes are easier to monitor and quantify as compared to tradable permits (Norregaard and Reppelin-Hill, 2000). Imposing green taxes in these developed and industrialised countries have significantly contributed to the decrease in the amount of emissions that leads to the warming of the environment. In the industrial sector, green taxes have focused on levies imposed based on the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a specific industry. Due to the fact that it is very hard to quantify the amount or level of carbon dioxide produced by a certain industry, estimates are used. The higher the carbon diox ide produced and released to the atmosphere, the higher the taxes. This helps in discouraging industries to use fuels that generate large volumes of gases particularly carbon dioxide and subsequently adapt cleaner sources of energy. Studies done over the recent past have indicated the fact that imposing green taxes can change consumption patterns of most commodities. Imposing high taxes on unleaded petrol force individuals to change to cleaner fuels as they attract fewer taxes. This in the long run cuts significantly the amount of dangerous gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Taxes and tradable permits have divergent merits. According to Norregaard and Reppelin-Hill (2000:7), â€Å"Taxes minimise ex-post efficiency losses if the marginal cost function is steeper than the marginal damage function, while tradable permits are better if the damage function is steeper† Tradable permits Some countries some as the US have adapted the incorporation of tradable permits in the fight against environmental pollution. In contrast to green taxes, permits do not attain better and enhanced results on pollution control as they encourage industries to connive. In general, tradable permits are used with the main objective of managing and regulating the use of substances that contribute to increase in the level of emissions in the atmosphere. It is important for countries adapting this system to ensure they assess the significance and objective of these tradable permits and the benefits they will bring to the management of the environment. Plans of actions also need to be implemented to observe and monitor these emissions to the atmosphere. Permits should not be granted in a manner that would lead to

Life Expectancy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Life Expectancy - Essay Example Statistics reveal that life expectancy at birth, presently, has increased so much that on an average, it â€Å"exceeds 79 years† across the OECD, with a â€Å"nine year gap† between Japan and Turkey, the countries with highest and lowest life expectancy respectively (OECD, 2011, p. 78). This difference in the level of increase in life expectancy in developed and developing countries is a result of the varied factors and conditions present in both categories of countries. However, extensive studies that have been conducted over the past several years have identified that medical innovation, with respect to advancements in medicines and treatment, is the main reason behind increase in life expectancy in both developed and developing countries. Contrary to popular notion that growth in income level or income inequality affects life expectancy, OECD social indicators have evidenced that between the â€Å"mid-80s and mid-2000s,† there is â€Å"no relationship† between increasing life expectancy and income growth or between â€Å"rising† life expectancy and income inequality changes (OECD, 2011, p. 79). Furthermore, lower â€Å"infant mortality rates† and the fact of older people being able to live â€Å"longer† have characterized the increase in life expectancy, and this has been possible only due to the various medical innovations that took place over the past decades. Thus, this underlines the fact that medical innovation is directly responsible for the increase in life expectancy not only by decreasing infant mortality rates, but also by prolonging life of aged people. For instance, death rates arising from â€Å"coronary heart diseases† in the US have declined by â€Å"three-fou rths† since the 1960s, cancer survival rate has increased from â€Å"49%† to â€Å"67%† and deaths from HIV/AIDS have decreased by an astounding â€Å"80%† (Lilly USA, LLC, 2012, p. 2). However, in order to

Human Resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Human Resources - Essay Example 13 Marchington, M., Wilkinson, A., and Sargeant, M. 2002. People Management and Development: Human Resource Management at Work. London: CIPD Publishing. 13 Mayock, P. 2011. 28 best practices for hotel operators. [online] Hotel News Now. Available at http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/5800/28-best-practices-for-hotel-operators [Accessed 19 October 2013]. 14 McKay, M. n.d. What Is the HR Business Partner Model? [online] Chron. Available at [Accessed 19 October 2013]. 14 Price Waters Cooper. 2011. Shared service centres: opportunities and challenges in HR transformation. [online] Price Waters Cooper. Available at http://www.pwc.ch/user_content/editor/files/publ_hrs/pwc_shared_service_centres_hr_exec_summ_e.pdf Accessed 19 October 2013]. 14 Reilly, P. 2000. HR Shared Services and the Realignment of HR. [online] IES. Available at [Accessed 19 October 2013]. 14 Reilly, P and Williams, T. 2003. How to Get Best Value from HR: The Shared Services Option. London: Gower Publishing Ltd. 14 Snel l, S and Bohlander, G. ed., 2011. Managing Human Resources. Hampshire: Cengage Learning EMEA. 14 Snider, M. 2003. Compatibility Breeds Success: How to Manage Your Relationship with Your Business Partner. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. 15 Storey, J. 2002. Human Resource Management: A Critical Text. Hampshire: Cengage Learning EMEA. 15 University of Michigan. 2013. Administrative Services Transformation Overview Presentation for Shared Services. [online] University of Michigan. Available at: http://ast.umich.edu/pdfs/Awareness-Presentation.pdf [Accessed 19 October 2013]. 15 Wenderoth, M. 2009. Change...On the other hand, when there are challenges facing the human resources department, profitability of the business cannot be guaranteed. Some of the challenges the human resources department can face include tension with the business owners, lack of proper power flow within the department. There are several ways these challenges can be addressed leading to regaining of business pr ofitability and success in its respective sector (Snell and Bohlander, 2011). The Snow mountain hotel has hotels and resorts across America, including Canada, United States, Bermuda, Mexico and Barbados. The hotel’s human resources department is in crisis. The department responsibilities and chores are not well-organized and structured and there has been tension between the owners of the hotel and the human resources management. They have varying perspectives and viewpoints on how the hotel should be run. Business leaders and owners have weight when it comes to making decisions, putting the human resources department between a hard rock and a wall. While they have the strategies on how to do their work, they cannot disregard the instructions from the leaders and owners. This paper will provide a number of propositions on how the human resources management should do to organize the department, agree with the owners and share responsibility. This is a human-resource strategy in which the company leaders and owners work together with the human resources department.

Life Expectancy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Life Expectancy - Essay Example Statistics reveal that life expectancy at birth, presently, has increased so much that on an average, it â€Å"exceeds 79 years† across the OECD, with a â€Å"nine year gap† between Japan and Turkey, the countries with highest and lowest life expectancy respectively (OECD, 2011, p. 78). This difference in the level of increase in life expectancy in developed and developing countries is a result of the varied factors and conditions present in both categories of countries. However, extensive studies that have been conducted over the past several years have identified that medical innovation, with respect to advancements in medicines and treatment, is the main reason behind increase in life expectancy in both developed and developing countries. Contrary to popular notion that growth in income level or income inequality affects life expectancy, OECD social indicators have evidenced that between the â€Å"mid-80s and mid-2000s,† there is â€Å"no relationship† between increasing life expectancy and income growth or between â€Å"rising† life expectancy and income inequality changes (OECD, 2011, p. 79). Furthermore, lower â€Å"infant mortality rates† and the fact of older people being able to live â€Å"longer† have characterized the increase in life expectancy, and this has been possible only due to the various medical innovations that took place over the past decades. Thus, this underlines the fact that medical innovation is directly responsible for the increase in life expectancy not only by decreasing infant mortality rates, but also by prolonging life of aged people. For instance, death rates arising from â€Å"coronary heart diseases† in the US have declined by â€Å"three-fou rths† since the 1960s, cancer survival rate has increased from â€Å"49%† to â€Å"67%† and deaths from HIV/AIDS have decreased by an astounding â€Å"80%† (Lilly USA, LLC, 2012, p. 2). However, in order to

Qualifications of arbitrator 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Qualifications of arbitrator 1 - Essay Example But the case may be different in the laws of other countries. The English Arbitration Act 1996 (EAA 1996) is distinctive from most other national arbitration laws, say, in comparison with its predecessor, the former Act 1950. The law does not provide for any general qualifications for an arbitrator. In Saudi Arabia, there is a quite detailed set of qualifications for the arbitrator taking into consideration the elements of the Saudi Arbitration Law 2012 (SAL 2012) and also the Islamic Sharia (Sharia). Under Sharia, the scholars’ views may vary due to the absence of such provision either in Quran or Sunnah (the two main sources of Sharia). Whilst it is seen by some scholars that it is necessary for strict requirements to be stipulated for whom is selected as an arbitrator, all of these requirements are not mandatory according to the view of some contemporary scholars. The essential aim for this section is to analyse and discuss two aspects. First, the qualifications of arbitrat or stipulated by law. Second, the freedom of parties to determine additional qualifications. This will be carried out in the context of the EAA 1996, Sharia, and the SAL 2012. 1. Qualifications of Arbitrator as Stipulated by Law The English Arbitration Act 1996, like many Western arbitration laws, provides a high degree of freedom for arbitration parties3. This is the case as long as the impartiality of the arbitrator is established. Under this Act, the only restriction is if the chosen arbitrator is a judge of the Commercial Court or Technology and Construction Court of England and Wales. In this instance, an additional approval from the Lord Chief Justice is required.4 The prescribed qualifications, hence, are simple and straightforward, which is markedly different from Sharia or the SAL 2012. Sharia prescribes several qualifications that should be met in the chosen arbitrator. This provides for a system that are bound to have different interpretations. Scholars, for instance, hav e different opinions regarding the qualifications that should be met in an arbitrator based on whether the requirements of an arbitrator are those for the judge or not. Most scholars of the four schools (Maliki, Shafi', Hanafi and Hanbali) see that the qualifications for the arbitrator are those required for a judge.5 This view is dominant on account of the fact that the arbitrator carries out the same function as that of a judge, which includes hearing the litigants and issuing the Judgement. 6 78 In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, due to the dominance of Sharia on its laws as it is the constitution of the Kingdom,9 many writers believe that the Saudi courts require the arbitrator to meet the qualifications of a judge as it is the view of the majority doctrine in Sharia.10 This is in addition to the qualifications stated by the SAL 2012.11 On the other hand, some scholars as Ibn Taimiyah12 and Ibn Hazm Aldhaheri 13 maintain the position that the qualifications of a judge are not neces sarily required for an arbitrator. Therefore, they believe any Muslim can be an arbitrator. The differences, hence, becomes problematic especially in the event of a challenge to an arbitration decision or its implementation. The Sharia law in this paper will refer to the Saudi Law for purposes of clarification. As what has

Free

Free Market and Market Character Essay The main difficulty in tackling this question is squaring moral means with moral ends, (Wilkinson, 2008). Moral character, or virtue, is a means to achieving moral ends. As the socioeconomic structure changes so do the means of achieving moral ends. Free markets flourishes along fast socioeconomic change, and therefore market cultures are most likely to see a mismatch between the traits of moral character valued by the culture and the traits of character actually effective as means within the existing structure for achieving moral ends. Due to the indifference of each individual, perspectives vary according to the superannuated standards of our lagging moral culture while the system simultaneously delivers moral goods more effectively than at any time in human history. So, the correct answer to the question is: Yes, market societies corrode traditional moral norms, although this corrosion is an integral part of moral progress. John gray in his view of the effect of free market on market character suggests comparison of realistic alternatives and understanding how different systems promote divergent types of human character. His definition of a free market sidelines the view that free markets emerge spontaneously when state interference in the economy is removed, or simply free markets the ‘absence of government’. Instead markets in his view depend on systems of law to decide what can be traded as a commodity and what cannot. Therefore, free markets not only contain some moral restraints which are policed by the government, but also rely on property rights mostly created and enforced by the government. The free market as in the past mid-Victorian England came about not because the state withdrew from the economy, but rather because state power was used to privatize land that had been under various forms of common ownership, or not owned at all. Historically, it is evident that economic systems are living things, and rarely do free markets operate according to the established economic models; except in economics textbooks where markets are self-regulating. On the contrary, the relation between economics and ethics can be seen more clearly in the light that traits of character most rewarded by free markets are entrepreneurial boldness, the willingness to speculate and gamble, and the ability to seize new opportunities. In order to survive and prosper in free market economies one has to embrace such skills and risk-taking actions as retooling one’s skills, relocating and switching careers. According to Adam Smith, one of the originators of free-market economics, markets cannot be confined to the marketplace because free markets demand a high degree of mobility and an ingrained readiness to exit from relationships that are no longer profitable; a direct reflection of the humanity in our lives. Adam’s fear and Gray’s perception matter the least when it has been proved that though free markets reward some moral traits, they also undermine others. The moral hazards of free markets do not mean that other economic systems are any better. Therefore, no economic system can fully attend to every aspect of moral character; instead all rely on motives that are morally questionable. A sensible combination cannot be achieved by applying an ideal model of how the economy should work. Different mixes will be best in different historical contexts. But one thing is clear: a modern market economy cannot do without a measure of moral corrosion. Tyler (2008) is of the opinion that free markets operate like amplifiers; the abundance placed in our disposal tends to boost and accentuate whatever character tendencies we already possess. He believes that other features of the free market also encourage the better angels of our nature and discourage our destructive impulses; thus allowing people to realize a range of good intentions. Market-friendly societies are attractive to immigrants. Transparency International annually issues an index of the most corrupt places in the world to do business. The countries topping last year’s list were Iraq, Myanmar, and Somalia, while the least corrupt countries were Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand, all of which have active market economies. In relation to such a report, it is obvious that the rise of markets and the decline of corruption are part of a common and consistent thread of progress. Markets purpose to create a consensus around certain moral expectations: that agreements should be binding, that honesty is expected in transactions, and that economic actors are held accountable for broken promises. However not all markets are ‘free’ because ‘corrupt’ markets do not meet the above standards, as a similarly in a variety of other human imperfections. By making more social activity of every kind possible, the market creates greater scope for these vices. As observers of economic life, many of us focus too often on these sorts of negative examples. But we need to take a wider view of human progress. In the midst of our own long era of economic growth and expansion, it is obvious that the positive features of markets decisively outweigh their negative features. This is true not only because of the practical and material benefits of wealth creation but because of its beneficial effect on personal morality as well. Irrespective of the side taken by each market analyst, a common ground runs through in the aspects of moral and social issues. In his judgment, Globalization, leads not only to the creation and spread of wealth but to ethical outcomes and to better moral character among its participants. In contrast Hymowitz believes that market economies weaken the cultural conspiracy in three powerful ways. First, they introduce novelty, which tests established cultural habits and moral verities. Second, they provoke individual desire in ways that can easily weaken the self-discipline and moral obligations that make free markets flourish. And lastly, as they advance, market economies become more likely to treat the yet-to-be-socialized child as an autonomous, adult-like actor rather than as an undeveloped dependent. On the hand, subscribes to the liberal school of thought as pioneered by Adam Smith or Milton Friedman. According to this school of thought, freedom of the individual is the highest aim, and the ultimate test of a ones character is his ability to pursue his own chosen goals in life without infringing upon the freedom of others pursuit of their own goals. From this perspective, free economic activity among individuals, corporations, and nations boosts such desirable qualities as trust, honesty, and hard work. Other panelists on the same big question, has each faithfully attested to his or her view but at one point came to the conclusion that the answer to this question depends on how one conceives the good life; prescribing that at all times we should ensure to take a wider view of human progress. ? References Jagdish, Bhagwati. Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character? London. 2008 December 3, 2008. 3 March 2009 http://www. templeton. org/market/PDF/Cowen. pdf Tyler, Cowen. Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character? London. 2008 December 3, 2008. 3 March 2009 http://www. templeton. org/market/PDF/ Bhagwati. pdf Will, Wilkinson. Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character, London. 2008 October 6, 2008. 3 March 2009 http://www. willwilkinson. net/flybottle/2008/10/06/does-the-free- market-corrode-moral-character/ John, Templeton Foundation. â€Å"Supporting Science-Investing in the Big Questions: An interview with leading scientists, scholars, and public figures,† Does the Free Market Corrode Moral Character. 3 December 2008. 3 March 2009 http://www. templeton. org/market/ Lockwood, Anne Turnbaugh. Community Collaboration and Social Capital: An Interview with Gary G. Wehlage. Leaders for Tomorrows Schools. 2 May 2001. 19 July 2001 http://www. ncrel. org/cscd/pubs/lead21/2-1m. htm.

Chinese Kongsi Clan

Chinese Kongsi Clan Chapter 1 Introduction The Chinese of South China came to Malaya in the great numbers. Today, they comprise about the Hokkien dialect, and they quickly established their clan houses or kongsi, in Georgetown. These kongsi are actually clan temples for ancestor worship. They are set like jewels in courtyards, guarded by great stone lions. However, the role of the Chinese kongsi changes very rapid in Malaya since the late 1900s, and hence their impact on the Chinese community was very significance. The Chinese kongsi were district associations was organized on a district (of China) or clan (surname) basis. Chinese kongsi also were mutual-benefit societies whose membership was drawn from particular village and prefectures in China. In China they were originally religious or benevolent â€Å"self help† associations, which assumed a political or anti-dynastic character at the time of the Manchu conquest, and later degenerated into organizations of criminals for exploiting and intimidating the community. Their rivalries, especially regarding control and limits of the â€Å"protection areas† into which they parceled towns and districts, brought them into collision. Their objects were to help needy members carry out various religious rites, and help in settling disputes among their members or between their members and others. Chinese kongsi are organizations of popular origin found among overseas Chinese communities for individuals with the same surname in Malaya. In the opinion of contemporary Europeans, kongsi was quite distinct from the hui or secret society, but the fact is that kongsi was the inclusive term including the benevolent associations, pure and simple, and the hui that was both â€Å"self-help† and criminal in its scope. When the hui were finally suppressed, the kongsi survived and they continue their work of benevolence and mutual assistance.But the maritime province of China from which the Straits Chinese were drawn was notorious in Chinese history for their turbulence and for generations various districts had carried on bloody feuds. When the natives of these districts came to Malaya they brought their feuds with them. To understand how British colonialism affected the Chinese community in Penang to form an association or Chinese kongsi, we have to look into the implications of the colonization of the island by Francis Light an English country trader. 1.1 Background Pulau Pinang or Penang is name of an island in the Straits Malacca and also is a small mountainous island off the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, 15 miles long by nine miles wide. The east coast of the island is the site of Penang’s harbor, formed by the narrow channel that separates the island from the mainland. The name of Penang as called by Chinese as Binlang Xu (means island of Penang) in navigational drawings used by the maritime voyages of Imperial (Ming dynasty China) envoy Admiral Cheng Ho. Penang was already identified in the chart of  Cheng Hos voyage to the South Sea in the 15th century. However, the urban development of Penang only started when Francis Light established the trading base of the East India Company in 1786, for the voyage between China and India. All the varied flavours of both worlds- in the faces, languages, customs and costumer- are blended, yet distinct. Penang was founded for trade, and trade remains the hearts of its economy. In time Penang earned a reputation for having â€Å"the sweetest water in the east†. Similarly, the Chinese settlement in Tanjong Tokong pre-dates the English settlement by several decades. There were also Chinese planters living in Krian and along the Kedah coast, opposite the island. The main urban settlement on the island, George Town, sits close to this harbor on the northeastern promontory of the island. George Town was named by Francis Light on August 10th 1786, and is thus as old as the Settlement itself. Light had occupied the island on (July 17th) that clearing the jungle on Penaga Point and going on to mark out what are still the central thoroughfares viz. Having named the island after the Prince of Wales, Light evidently made amends by naming the town after George III, quickly adding name to commemorate and conciliate the Primer Minister (William Pitt), and the Governor-General (Cornwallis). 1.1.1 Founding Penang Penang was part of the sultanate Kedah until it became a British possession in 1786, gaining independence as part of the Federation of Malaya in 1957. In 1786, Captain Francis Light established Penang to serve as an English trading emporium in the Straits of Malacca, an area strategically located between India and China. At that time, the British had no port between Calcutta and Canton, a matter for concern when monsoon storms drove British ship to seek supplies or repair. These scenario had changed dramatically on 17 July 1786 when Lieutenant Gray, under the command of Captain Francis Light, led a pioneer landing party and proceeded to supervise an orderly disembarkation. Captain Light, who was on board the Eliza, had chosen Penaga Point, a cover on the northeast finger of the island, to set-up his headquarters. The Eliza, accompanied by the Prince Henry and the Speed well, had left Kedah port on the 14th of July after having reached an understanding with the Sultan to establish a trading port on behalf of the English East India Company. After Francis Light introduced the idea of a free port, which in sharp contrast to the established practice in the area. The result was dramatic. Small trades who had been sailing to several small Malayan and Dutch ports turned more and more toward Penang. Soon a steady stream of permanent Asian settlers followed. At the same time, Penang also attracted Chinese traders and merited from India subcontinent and the neighboring Malay States. Light reported to the East India Company that trades came from as far as Arabia in the West and Makasaar in the East. Light successfully negotiated an agreement with the Sultan of Kedah that Penang would be ceded to the East India Company in exchange for  £6,000 per annum and the promise that the company would station an armed vessel in the Straits to guard Penang and the Kedah coast. They agreed that free trade would be allowed, and that anyone could trade on the Kedah coast without restriction. Despite having written reports to his superiors in Calcutta about the helpfulness of the natives on the island, Captain Francis Light and subsequent East India Company officers considered the island â€Å"virtually uninhabited† .Thus Light went on to claim the island for the English Crown and christened it Princes of Wales Island. Its capital was Georgetown, named after George III while the fort itself was named after the Governor-General of India, Charles, Marrquis Cornwallis. Through this second treaty signed in 1800, the English gained control of the coastline stretching from Kuala Kedah in the north to the Krian estuary in the south. This was named Province Wellesley, after Richard, Earl of Mornington, later Marquis of Wellesley, Governor-General of India. Once the agreement was concluded, the British boats landed. The next day, a Chinese from Kedah, together with some Indian Christians, brought Light a welcoming gift of fishing nets. Most agree that this man was Koh Lay Huan, a Chinese from Fujian province whom Light described as â€Å"the most respectable member of the Chinese,† and whom he appointed as Penang’s first Chinese community leader or kapitan (a word borrowed from Dutch into English, Chinese and Malay to refer to the appointed leaders of ethnic groups). Penang quickly became a cosmopolitan commercial center, and among the many who flocked to Penang to seek the â€Å"protection of the British flag† were â€Å"Europeans, Chooliahs (Tamils), Bengalis, Chinese, Burmese, Arabs, Malays and Portugese†. By 1789, there were ten thousand residents, and this number doubled by 1795. 1.1.2 Founding Chinese Kongsi As the majority of Chinese immigrants came from the southern maritime provinces of China (Fukien, Kwangtung and Kwangsi) where the Triad Society had prospered, it is not surprising to find therefore that many of them were in fact Triad members who had brought the secret organization with them to Singapore and Malaya. The available evidence suggests that the Triad was firmly established in the Straits Settlements by the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was first recorded in Penang in 1799 as a source of trouble to the local government. By 1825 there were at least four secret societies- the Ghee Hin, the Ho Seng, the Hai San and the Wah Sang- firmly entrenched on the island. When waves of Chinese immigrants deluged Malaya during the second half of the nineteenth century, they had no intentions of making the country their permanent home. They were hua chiao who left China to find their fortune and having found it, and then they intended to return to the motherland. While the Chinese immigrants lived in Malaya, they wanted Chinese social to comforts for their â€Å"home-away-from-home†. As they increased in number their need for closer identification and security drove to set up associations and societies similar to hose in China. So, while the kongsi administration in Penang at defiance as early as 1799: in 1825 they actually plotted an insurrection in league with the Siamese to overthrow the Government; in 1826 Newbold notes the Triad Society in Malacca as being 4,000 strong. In the meantime, the Chinese immigrant also established the association (or hui kuan) which formed on a provincial basis, there were the Hokkien (Fukien) and Kwangtung Associations. The principal functions of this hui kuan were to keep alive links with their home provinces by making available to members reading materials on their home regions, and to provide mutual aid such as subsidies for funerals of members, education aid include scholarships and loans. While the organizations of the nineteenth century catered primarily to the socio-economic needs of the overseas Chinese, during the twentieth century, as the latter became increasingly politically conscious, these organizations also sought to generate concern for motherland among their members. There were also fully aware that China’s future depended rot on caring for regional interest alone but for those of the whole nation. Socially, the dialect associations offered opportunities for sharing news and reminiscences about the home districts as well as for recreation. However, the mains functions of the associations were to provide social welfare services and protection to the new immigrants and those who needed material help when they first come to Malaya. Basically, the immigrant will join the associations as a member to make sure they get the protection and the rich merchants were usually elected as the leaders of their respective dialect groups. They contributed large sums of money to keep the association going, and in return, they commanded respect in their own dialect groups. Through the dialect associations or even hui kuan, many Chinese leaders were able to influence the attitudes of the members towards practically any matter. Thus, as well be seen later, both the revolutionaries and the reformists competed for the support of the leaders of the dialect groups. In a period of about forty years (1846-89), a series of riots, twelve of which were serious, had occurred in the Straits Settlements. Most of these involved heavy loss of life and property, and were serious threats to public security. The Penang riot of 1867, for example, involved some 30,000 Chinese and 4,000 Malays (about a quarter of the total population of Penang and Province Wellesley) in a bloody fight which lasted for about a month, and damage was estimated at $ 60,000 (Spanish). Like the dialect groups and the clan organizations, the secret societies formed an important part of the social fabric of the Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaya in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Before their suppression in 1890, the secret societies constituted a semi-legal of self-government in the Chinese communities, protecting life and property, allocating jobs and settling disputes among their members. Because of the lenient policy of the government of the Straits Settlements, the secret societies came to assume considerable control over the Chinese by intimidation, blackmail and violence. They sometimes recruited newly-arrived immigrants by force and protected opium and gambling houses and brothels. Personal feuds and factional quarrels over spheres of influence frequently led to armed clashes which affected the safety of all the Chinese, and threatened public security as a whole. Significant of study Rational, significance, or need for the study The topic of the Chinese kongsi of Penang has been the basis of many studies. It has also formed part of wider studies encompassing British Malaya and Southeast Asia. Most of these studies, however, are concerned with the origin of kongsi and limited studies have been made on the major role and role reversal of the Chinese kongsi in Penang. The present study represents an attempt to fill this gap. Penang became a centre of regional trade in the early 19th century. Its status as an entrepot was over-shadowed after 1819 by Singapore, which also took over as the administrative centre of the Straits Settlements in 1832. Nevertheless its economic base was strengthened from the second half of the 19th century by the growth of the tin and later rubber industries in the Malay Peninsula. Then Penang became part of the global political economy of colonial capitalism. The newly-immigrant Chinese, who were legally ‘aliens’ and whose ties to their ancestral homeland remained strong. Leaders of both groups sometimes came together in the Chinese Town Hall and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce as well as various organizations, based on clan, district, and occupation, which were the main channels of Chinese social and political life, but the English and Chinese-educated Chinese were ‘virtually separate communities’. The Chinese secret societies, they began as self-help Chinese associations that provided protection and assistance to members.Chinese do want to remain culturally distinguishable, and hat they are drawn in this century both towards nationalism in China and towards embracing local loyalties by the same forces, that is by he pressures of modernization and the erosion of traditional values. Nevertheless, this study has not tried to evaluate the quality of Chinese political life in Penang. The significance of this study is to prove that the role of the Chinese kongsi have been changed between the period of the study. The subject of Chinese amalgamations-kongsi or hui kuan and secret societies which are such an outstanding feature of Chinese life in the Straits-has not been fully dealt with here because it is thought of enough importance to merit a separate chapter, but now that references has been made to the policing of the Chinese in the first decades of Penang’s story, mention of them cannot be avoided if only in a bare reference. This study has been chosen to discuss the problems in terms of politics because politics can be more volatile and more susceptible to radical change. It may not be as deep as social and culture change, nor as fundamental as economic innovation, but I hope to show that similar questions are worth asking about social and economic change and that the answers these produce would provide a sound basis for evaluating the role of the Chinese kongsi in Penang. Statement of the problem The term for secret society and hui, is often interchangeable with the terms like kongsi or Chinese clan (hui kuan), all roughly translating to the meaning of â€Å"brotherhood†. The term kongsi is more widely know in Southeast Asia, whereas in Penang, the secret societies were simply known as hui or tong. Kongsi or â€Å"clan halls†, are benevolent organizations of popular origin found among overseas Chinese communities for individuals with the same surname. This type of social practice arose, it is held in Penang since 19th century. The term of kongsi is synonymous with the contemporary Chinese word for a commercial firm or business enterprise. The kongsi resembled a miniature Chinese village, with its own self-government as well as educational, financial, welfare and social organizations. However, the establishments of the Chinese kongsi not only cause tenseness among the Chinese communities but also with other group including the Malay and India. This is because of Chinese kongsi only help the member with the same surname but not all Chinese community or other race. Like the Penang Riots of 1867 which were nine days of heavy street fighting and bloodshed among the secret societies of Penang which spiraled out of the British control. However, Chinese kongsi still play a very important role as a benevolent organization of Chinese community in Penang. But, the role of the Chinese kongsi in Penang also changing slowly just as a symbolic of the Chinese culture after 1960. Meanwhile, Chinese kongsi also make distinction between secret societies with Chinese kongsi. That will has to be subject of more detailed in this study. Elements, hypotheses, or research questions to be investigated Chinese community is the second-largest ethnic group in Malaysia, where Chinese groups are allowed to maintain their own cultures, which then fit into a large dominant Malay national pattern. Associational activities had always been an integral part of Chinese life necessitated by economic needs and cultural predilections. Exactly how were these Chinese kongsi originally formed? How did they function? To what extent did these kongsi reflect to the social organization and patterns of the Chinese community? I decide to seek the answer for two questions. The first was how Penang Chinese kongsi attitudes towards the region did and local people change over time, and how this might has influenced their perspective and play the important role on the Chinese groups in Penang? What are their present roles and functions regarding nation-building? In addition, what factors reflected in the general process change of Chinese kongsi’s role? My second question and the more difficult one was whether the alleged similarities between the Chinese secret societies and Chinese kongsi were the result of contact and mutual influence between them in the colonial period. Has the raison d’à ªtre of the Chinese kongsi changed? None of the answers for these questions are self-evident nor could they be adduced from mere observation. I think that such questions should be best subjected to empirical inquiry (as far as is attainable) and treated dispassionately rather than on conjectural or speculative bases. Definition of terms Having thus obtained a general view of the subject matter of this and the following study, it is necessary trace as far as possible from time of its foundation in each Settlement in the Straits, up to year 1867, the history and fortune of each chapter of the local Chinese secret societies and kongsi which collectively are known as the Triad society and upon that evidence to attempt to separate the several societies into the two rival camps of Triad-Hui (secret societies) and Kongsi (benevolent societies). The use of the term â€Å"Chinese kongsi† naturally raises the question: what is a Chinese kongsi and what different between hui(secret society) and kongsi? To prevent conceptual confusion, I shall make a preliminary hypothesis of what a Chinese kongsi is? The word kongsi so frequently made use in the evidence, means â€Å"company†, and the word hui or hoeys means â€Å"Brotherhood†, â€Å"Society†Ã¢â‚¬ , or â€Å"Association†. A hui is a secret society. But the word kongsi is frequently made use of to denote a hui. In Chinese the term kongsi conveys the meaning of secret and illegal society, only when used after the name such illegal society e.g. Ghee Hin Kongsi. While the word kongsi in Malay terms means a partnership or association of any sort, or a barrack or house occupied by Chinese laborers. But when the word kongsi used in conjunction with the Malay word â€Å"gelap†, it means secret society (kongsi gelap). While Barbara Ward defines Chinese kongsi as â€Å"the large political groups in the mining districts†, which seems rather vague. J.C. Jackson’s points are much more specific because he uses the term kongsi to signify alliances of mining unions and their farming and mining members. Wang Tai Peng defines it neither simply as partnership or brotherhood, nor a combination of both. Rather, definition of kongsi is that it was a form of open government, based on an enlarged partnership and brotherhood. Its purpose was to protect economic gains as well as to resist outside powers. This new political organization provided a foundation for the social and economic life of the overseas Chinese. As Wang Tai Peng made a definition of Chinese kongsi in his study: Kongsi is a Chinese world which indicates a firm partnership or society in a very broad sense. The word has been commonly used in the archipelago over centuries and has become current in both Dutch and various native languages. Literally it means government by a general public or administration of public affairs. The world, kongsi, is derived from the dialect of the Hokkien people who have established themselves throughout Java and commercial ports of the outer islands. In the Hakka dialect, it reads as kung-sze. In Riouw and Jawa, administrations of a firm are customarily addressed and referred to as kongsi. Chinese officials also used this title. Owing to the untiring pursuit of the Chinese of the means to raise capital, the Chinese kongsi is numerous not only in our colony but also in the Malay Peninsula, in the outer islands of Indonesia and in the Philippines. The significance of the kongsi for the flowering and development of Chinese industry, commerce and navigation is hard to underestimate. The kongsi were entirely established to hold people of the same home countries and clans in closer tie or relationship. In the family kongsi, no one, because of the tradition, could have private fortune so long as their father lived. All the family capital were at the disposal of the patriarch. Undoubtedly, if under closer examination, many kongsi would no longer be family kongsi as they at first seem to be. The Chinese kongsi have, however, become more and more divorced from the above-mentioned origins over time, more especially recently. (Beknopte Encyclopaedià « van Nederlandsche Oost-Indià «) In fact, almost every Chinese institution during the early nineteenth century was called kongsi. A temple patron god, a clan society or a provincial club of the Chinese overseas was often named kongsi on foundation. Nevertheless, during the later part of the nineteenth century, they became better know as hui-kuan, a name that was actually much older than kongsi, appearing in the sixteenth century. On the other hand, what exactly is meant by the term secret societies? It does not apply to all groups forced into clandestine activities. Rather, it designates associations whose policies are characterized by a particular kind of religious, political, and social dissent from the established order, such as the White Lotus Sect and the Triad Society. And indeed such present-day terms for secret society as mi-mi hsieh-hui and mi-mi she-hui are neologisms, literal translations of the Western term â€Å"secret society† used from the mid-nineteenth century on by such men as Schlegel, Gà ¼tzlaff, and Wylie in describing these Chinese groups as analogous to the Freemasons, the Carbonari and Sainte-Vehme. The groups known in the West as secret societies were classified by the literal of imperial China as hsieh-chiao (perverse, aberrant, or heterodox sects), yin-chiao (depraved sects), mo-chiao (demoniac sects), fei-chiao (rebel sects), yao-chiao (witchcraft sects), etc. Worth noting is the fact that each of these Chinese terms contain an allusion to the religious character of the secret societies, a character discernible in all these groups whether one speaks of the chiao-men, religious sects in the strict sense that propagated a special religious doctrine, or the hui-t’ang, seditious associations or bands in which the religious elements were restricted to the rites of initiation, to the sacred area called Mu-yang Ch’eng (City of Willows), to the oaths of fidelity made by invoking the gods, and to other Para religious acts. The Chinese language at that time had no accepted term for secret society. The modern term pi-mi she-hui was apparently introduced by the Japanese. Of two authors writing in the same period about the corporation between the Republicans and the secret societies around 1910, the Japanese, Hirayama Amane, spoke of pi-mi she-hui, whereas the Chinese, T’ao Ch’eng-chang, retained the traditional distinction between chiao-men and hui-tang. However, other scholar also called Chinese kongsi as secret societies. This had caused much of confusion in the mind of the colonial authorities. The British administration in the Straits Settlements, for example, had been confusing hui-kuan with hui or â€Å"secret† societies until 1892 when it began to draw a clear-cut line between them. Hui or brotherhood is more proper a term to the vehicle of Chinese self-government as it was then the term secret society. The term secret society† is all the more misleading for the objection raised by Purcell, whatever the precise implication of secrecy may have been: â€Å"All Chinese social organization was necessarily â€Å"secret† whilst it was not recognized or was banned by the Government. The Chinese municipal organizations in Borneo, the kongsis, were, and are, referred to as â€Å"secret societies†, as are all Chinese political organization in Siam where they are illegal.† Some of the Chinese kongsi in Southeast Asia may have carried over the ritual oath-taking ceremony and even the name of T’ien-Ti Hui, they generally evolved from a small partnership, either in commerce or mining. On foundation, they were called hui or union, after which was commonly misused in early colonial days to mean a â€Å"secret society†. Later, when they grew into large organizations with hundreds or thousands of members, they were known as kongsi. The T’ien- Ti Hui in Penang was a partnership in origin. In this study, it should be mentioned here that a distinction should be made between the bona fide kongsi which were, and are, benevolent associations, and the dangerous secret societies whose object was extortion and opposition to the law but in these early days it is debatable whether all the associations did not in some measure adopts similar lines of behavior. Europeans have made a distinction between the huis (as the secret societies were called) and the Chinese kongsi, or district or clan associations, labeling the former as secret and subversive, and the latter as open and beneficial. Even thought hui (secret society) is different with kongsi from perceptive of term, but from the social aspects, both associations are formed by overseas Chinese based on dialect group or same family names to look after their member’s affairs and welfare. As what Blythe mentioned, who writers as follows: â€Å"This attempt to distinguish between kongsi and hui is quite arbitrary-based, I imagine, on the uninformed writings of early Europeans. For example, the Ghee Hin Society was normally known as the Ghee Hin Kung Si. On the other side, most purely benevolent societies are know as hui, even down to the Tontine type of monthly subscription and monthly draw (Cantonese Ngan Wui). In 1928, I was in charge of Cantonese secret societies work in Singapore, and although these were not of the caliber of the old Triad Societies (we could only average one murder a day), quite a number of these societies (descended from branches of the Triad) were XX kongsi. And, as we know, the normal term for a business partnership or for a coolie-lines is â€Å"kongsi†, The Clan kongsi of Penang are quite unique. They do not exist elsewhere in Malaya.† In Chinese usage, Mr. Blythe has concluded that the kongsi are includes hui because this both of the Chinese associations are no distinction is made between good and bad. Blythe also defines kongsi as any partnership or group with a common interest. 1.3 Objective Social and linguistic background and the nature of Chinese immigration determined the form of early Chinese social organizations. The surname differences and a strong sense of regional identity encouraged Chinese immigrants to form their respective surname associations or kongsi. The Chinese kongsi had played a major role in socials and economy in Malaya since the early days of British. However, the role of Chinese kongsi has being change after Penang Riots 1867. The objectives of this study have been first, to describe and analyses the Chinese kongsi activities in Penang between 1820 and 1957 to show how the movement grew and developed in these areas, and later became one mainstreams of the Chinese associations; second, to analyses the responses of various social groups among Chinese community in Penang to the Chinese kongsi, and third, to estimate the importance role of the Chinese kongsi in Penang. This study has been chosen to discuss the problems in terms of politics because politics can be more volatile and more susceptible to radical change. It may not be as deep as social and culture change, nor as fundamental as economic innovation, but I hope to show that similar questions are worth asking about social and economic change and that the answers these produce would provide a sound basis for evaluating the role of the Chinese kongsi in Penang.Nevertheless, this study has not tried to evaluate the quality of Chinese political life in Penang. The significance of this study is to prove and report the role of the Chinese kongsi have been changed between the period of the study. 1.4 Literature review The existing studies cover a wide range of themes including administration, the economy as well as social and political aspects. Even thought many scholar show that various kinds of overseas Chinese organizations set up for purpose of trade, protection and management were not merely copies of earlier form in China, but some have been given much attention; others remain neglected or have not been subjected to fresh critical inquiry. While most historians concentrated on the controlling forces of Chinese secret societies during and after the pre-war period. Although secret societies were not politically inclined and tended to maintain their traditional roles in running protection and extortion rackets. Secret societies, on the other hand, recruited across such barriers and members were bound together by the rituals of sworn brotherhood around a charismatic and semi-mystical head. Being tightly knit and glorifying martial prowess, they were particularly well suited to the task of colonization and self-protection demanded of a pioneering community. Mak Lau Fong observes in his sociological study of secret societies in Peninsular Malaysia: â€Å"When sworn brotherhood binds Triad membership together, dialect differences are naturally de-emphasized, and the clan system is consigned to a secondary position†. For the aspect of the Chinese kongsi origins, the study by M.L Wynne, Wang Tai Peng and W. Blythe is the most comprehensive, and the best account to date. Wang Tai Peng’s study, original part of a Ph.D. dissertation, depends heavily on Chinese and Japanese materials in both the Menzies Library and the National Library. The question also led him to consider the historical place of the kongsi, and original

Nazi Olympics Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Nazi Olympics The 1936 Olympics in Berlin, also known as the â€Å"Nazi Olympics†, was a milestone in the history of the world. All of the attention of the Olympics that year was focused on Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. In 1933, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler became leader of Germany and quickly turned the nation's democracy into a one-party dictatorship. He took thousands of political opponents, holding them without trial in concentration camps. The Nazis also set up a program to strengthen the Germanic Aryan population. They began to exclude all one-half million Jews from the population, and German life. As part of the drive to "purify" and strengthen the German population, a 1933 law permitted physicians to perform forced sterilizations of psychiatric patients and congenitally handicapped persons, Gypsies, and Blacks (Encarta Encyclopedia 1996 [CD-ROM]). The 1936 Olympics in Berlin caused many worries, problems, and questions for America and other countries throughout the world. On 13 May 1931, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1936 Summer Olympics to Berlin. The choice seemed to signal Germany's return to the world community after defeat in World War I. Berlin had forty-three votes, and Barcelona, Spain, the other option, had sixteen. The choice showed that Germany was being included once more in the world community. It also showed the International Olympic committee’s respect for Dr. Theodor Lewald, and Carl Diem, German sports leaders. Both men had been the planners for the 1916 Olympics that was scheduled, but was cancelled. Since then, they have been urging the Olympics to attempt to go back to Germany. Both Lewald and Diem were very pleased with the results (Mandell The Nazi Olympics 39). On 30 January 1933, the German president, Paul von Hindenburg, selected Adolf Hitler to be the head of the government. This was very unexpected. Hitler was the leader of an extreme right-wing political party, the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party. Hitler sought to expand Germany with new territories and boundaries. Hitler also focused on rebuilding Germany’s military strength. In many speeches Hitler made, he spoke often about the value of â€Å"racial purity† and the dominance of the Aryan master race. The Nazi’s spread their racist beliefs in schools through textbooks, radios, new... ...oft Encarta The 1936 Olympics [CD-ROM] Microsoft, 1996 Sirracose, Constantine. History of the Olympic Games Seaburn Books, 15 March 2000 Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games HRH The Princess Royal, January 2000 Bibliography Bachrach, Susan D. The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936 Boston, MA : Little, Brown and Company, 2000 Green, Robert. â€Å"Berlin Olympics exhibition opens in Washington† Dateline: WASHINGTON 19 July 1996 Hoadley, Johanna. â€Å"’36 Olympic Hopefuls Remember Nazi Past† Scripps Howard News Service,as provided by SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE 19 July 1996 Kastor, Elisabeth. â€Å"Olympic History† The Washington Post 19 September 2000 : C15 Kindersly, Dorling. The Olympic Games: Athens 1896-Sydney 2000 Chronicle of the Games, 1 July 2000 Mandell, Richard. The Nazi Olympics Illinois : Sports and Society, 1987 Martin, David. The Olympic Marathon Human Kinetics, May 2000 Microsoft Encarta 1996 The 1936 Olympics [CD-ROM] Microsoft, 1996 Microsoft Encarta 2001 The 1936 Olympics (The Nazi Olympics) [CD-ROM] Microsoft, 2001 Sirracose, Constantine. History of the Olympic Games Seaburn Books, 15 March 2000 Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games HRH The Princess Royal, January 2000