The Battle of Fort Donelson During the Civil War

The Battle of Fort Donelson During the Civil War The Battle of Fort Donelson was an early battle in the American Civil War (1861-1865). Grants operations against Fort Donelson lasted from February 11-16, 1862. Pushing south into Tennessee with assistance from Flag Officer Andrew Footes gunboats, Union troops under Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant captured Fort Henry on February 6, 1862. This success opened the Tennessee River to Union shipping. Before moving upstream, Grant began shifting his command east to take Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. The capture of the fort would be a key victory for the Union and would clear the way to Nashville. The day after the loss of Fort Henry, the Confederate commander in the West, General Albert Sidney Johnston, called a council of war to determine their next step. Strung out along a wide front in Kentucky and Tennessee, Johnston was confronted by Grants 25,000 men at Fort Henry and Major General Don Carlos Buells 45,000-man army at Louisville, KY. Realizing that his position in Kentucky was compromised, he began withdrawing to positions south of the Cumberland River. After discussions with General P.G.T. Beauregard, he reluctantly agreed that Fort Donelson should be reinforced and dispatched 12,000 men to the garrison. At the fort, the command was held by Brigadier General John B. Floyd. Formerly the US Secretary of War, Floyd was wanted in the North for graft. Union Commanders Brigadier General Ulysses S. GrantFlag Officer Andrew H. Foote24,541 men Confederate Commanders Brigadier General John B. FloydBrigadier General Gideon PillowBrigadier General Simon B. Buckner16,171 men The Next Moves At Fort Henry, Grant held a council of war (his last of the Civil War) and resolved to attack Fort Donelson. Traveling over twelve miles of frozen roads, the Union troops moved out on February 12 but were delayed by a Confederate cavalry screen led by Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest. As Grant marched overland, Foote shifted his four ironclads and three timberclads to Cumberland River. Arriving off Fort Donelson, USS Carondelet approached and tested the forts defenses while Grants troops moved into positions outside the fort. The Noose Tightens The next day, several small probing attacks were launched to determine the strength of the Confederate works. That night, Floyd met with his senior commanders, Brigadier-Generals Gideon Pillow and Simon B. Buckner, to discuss their options. Believing the fort was untenable, they decided that Pillow should lead a breakout attempt the next day and began shifting troops. During this process, one of Pillows aides was killed by a Union sharpshooter. Losing his nerve, Pillow postponed the attack. Irate at Pillows decision, Floyd ordered the attack to commence, however it was too late in the day to begin. While these events were occurring inside the fort, Grant was receiving reinforcement in his lines. With the arrival of troops led by Brigadier General Lew Wallace, Grant placed the division of Brigadier General John McClernand on the right, Brigadier General C.F. Smith on the left, and the new arrivals in the center. Around 3:00 PM, Foote approached the fort with his fleet and opened fire. His attack was met with fierce resistance from Donelsons gunners and Footes gunboats were forced to withdraw with heavy damage. The Confederates Attempt a Breakout The following morning, Grant departed before dawn to meet with Foote. Prior to leaving, he instructed his commanders not to initiate a general engagement but failed to designate a second-in-command. In the fort, Floyd had rescheduled the breakout attempt for that morning. Attacking McClernands men on the Union right, Floyds plan called for Pillows men to open a gap while Buckners division protected their rear. Surging out of their lines, the Confederate troops succeeded in driving back McClernands men and turning their right flank. While not routed, McClernands situation was desperate as his men were running low on ammunition. Finally reinforced by a brigade from Wallaces division, the Union right began to stabilize however confusion reigned as no one Union leader was in command on the field. By 12:30 the Confederate advance was stopped by a strong Union position astride Wynns Ferry Road. Unable to breakthrough, the Confederates withdrew back to a low ridge as they prepared to abandon the fort. Learning of the fighting, Grant raced back to Fort Donelson and arrived around 1:00 PM. Grant Strikes Back Realizing that the Confederates were attempting to escape rather than seeking a battlefield victory, he immediately prepared to launch a counterattack. Though their escape route was open, Pillow ordered his men back to their trenches to re-supply before departing. As this was happening, Floyd lost his nerve and believing that Smith was about to attack the Union left, ordered his entire command back into the fort. Taking advantage of the Confederate indecisiveness, Grant ordered Smith to attack the left, while Wallace moved forward on the right. Storming forward, Smiths men succeeded in gaining a foothold in the Confederate lines while Wallace reclaimed much of the ground lost in the morning. Fighting ended at nightfall and Grant planned to resume the attack in the morning. That night, believing the situation hopeless, Floyd and Pillow turned command over to Buckner and departed the fort by water. They were followed by Forrest and 700 of his men who waded through the shallows to avoid Union troops. On the morning of February 16, Buckner sent Grant a note requesting terms of surrender. Friends before the war, Buckner was hoping to receive generous terms. Grant famously replied: Sir: Yours of this date proposing Armistice, and appointment of Commissioners, to settle terms of Capitulation is just received. No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works. This curt response earned Grant the nickname Unconditional Surrender Grant. Though displeased by his friends response, Buckner had no choice but to comply. Later that day, he surrendered the fort and its garrison became the first of three Confederate armies to be captured by Grant during the course of the war. The Aftermath The Battle of Fort Donelson cost Grant 507 killed, 1,976 wounded, and 208 captured/missing. Confederate losses were much higher due to the surrender and numbered 327 killed, 1,127 wounded, and 12,392 captured. The twin victories at Forts Henry Donelson were the first major Union successes of the war and opened Tennessee to Union invasion. In the battle, Grant had captured nearly one-third of Johnstons available forces (more men than all previous US generals combined) and was rewarded with a promotion to major general.

Word Choice Comprise vs. Compose

Word Choice Comprise vs. Compose Word Choice: Comprise vs. Compose At this rate, it won’t be long before even pedants  give up on the difference between â€Å"comprise† and â€Å"compose.† After all, â€Å"comprise† is frequently misused, particularly by people writing â€Å"comprised of† when they mean â€Å"composed of.† But it’s our job as Guardians of Language (it sounds snazzier than â€Å"proofreaders†) to defend against grammatical abuses. So, in this post, we explain  how â€Å"comprise† and â€Å"compose† should be used. Comprise (To Contain or Include) The verb â€Å"comprise† means â€Å"contain† or â€Å"consist of,† so it is used when describing a whole that includes multiple parts or components: The United States comprises fifty states. Here, â€Å"comprises† shows that the United States (as a whole) includes fifty individual states. Typically, when using â€Å"comprise,† the whole should come before the parts in the sentence. Compose (To Make Up or Constitute) While also a verb, â€Å"compose† means â€Å"make up† or â€Å"constitute.† As such, we could invert the example above to say: Together, fifty states compose the United States as a republic. In this sentence, the focus is on how the fifty individual states combine to form the United States as a country. Those stars arent just there to look pretty. [Photo: Jnn13]We also see why â€Å"composed of† is acceptable while â€Å"comprised of† isn’t, since â€Å"compose† focuses on the parts that constitute the whole. We can therefore rewrite the example sentence again as: The United States is composed of fifty states. More generally, â€Å"compose† can also mean â€Å"create an artistic work† (particularly music or a painting), or even â€Å"calm oneself† (where its a variation of â€Å"composure,† meaning tranquility). Comprise or Compose? The problem with â€Å"comprised of† is that â€Å"comprise† is the opposite of â€Å"compose,† not a synonym. In short, they can’t be used interchangeably. One good way to remember this is the following: The whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole. Here we see how both terms refer to how something is constituted, but from opposite directions; while â€Å"comprise† describes the components as belonging to a whole, â€Å"compose† describes the whole as constituted by its parts.

Hero's Journey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hero's Journey - Essay Example Pericles and Alexander the Great are two historical figures that are exemplary of the culture from which they came. Pericles was an influential statesman, speaker, and general during the Persian and Peloponnesian war. Much of the reputation of Athens for being a place of learning and culture came from Pericles’ promotion of the arts and literature. Though he did not record his speeches himself, the Greek historian Thucydides recreated many of them in his works. In Pericles’ funeral oration, he uses the occasion to not only praise those that died in the war, but to â€Å"celebrate Athens and its democratic ideas† (Western 865). He was such a prominent figure that this time period was referred to as the â€Å"Age of Pericles.† Being the prominent figure that he was, his main interest was in promoting the society of the Greeks: â€Å"Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favours the many instead of the few; this is why it is called democracy† (867). As we can see, Pericles takes pride in his country and the ideals which he believes in and is trying to instill in other people. Alexander the Great was more ambitious than his fellow Greek Pericles. Indeed, he went undefeated in battle and conquered most of the world that was known to the Greeks by the age of thirty-two. Alexander also did not record his own life; once again the fellow Greek Plutarch took that task upon himself. As was often the case in the ancient world, if someone was to accomplish an amazing feat, then it was considered that the gods must be somehow involved and favoring the individual. This idea is present in Plutarch’s history: By this means, as it would seem, it was suggested to Dareius from Heaven that the exploits of the Macedonians would be conspicuous and brilliant,

Country Profile of France Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Country Profile of France - Article Example In 1999, France made the euro its official currency, and this has allowed France to further integrate itself into the core of the European economy. France is also playing a central role in the development of the European Union’s military (cia.gov). The seat of the French Revolution, which is the source of much of the thoughts and writing on democracy, France is now currently a republic, and it has had a mixture of a presidential and parliamentary administration since legislation was passed in 1958. The current president is Nikolas Sarkozy, and he won the election with 51% of the vote. Sarkozy is serving a five-year term as president of France. In 2000 the French constitution was amended in order to change the term of the presidency from seven years to five years (cia.gov) In size, France is slightly smaller in area than the state of Texas with 260,558 square mileage. This figure includes all of its territories overseas and including its claim in Antarctica. This makes it the largest European nation, just slightly ahead of Spain in total size (cia.gov) France has always been central to scientific development. For example, France was home to Marie and Pierre Curie who are famous for their theories and work on radioactivity. In more recent scientific efforts, France is among the leaders in various fields, including mathematics, astrophysics, biology, medicine, genetics, and physics. To put this in perspective, it should be mentioned that French scientists have been awarded a total of twenty-six Nobel prizes over the past ninety years (francethisway.com) There are many research institutions throughout France. Some of these include the National Centre for Scientific Research, the National Institute for Health and Medical Research, and the National Institute for Agronomical Research. The institutions are public research institutions.  

Hospitality Industry Essay Example for Free

Hospitality Industry Essay Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers and tourists. The word hospitality derives from the Latin hospes, which is formed from hostis, which originally meant to have power. In the West today hospitality is rarely a matter of protection and survival, and is more associated with etiquette and entertainment. However, it still involves showing respect for ones guests, providing for their needs, and treating them as equals. Cultures and subcultures vary in the extent to which one is expected to show hospitality to strangers, as opposed to personal friends or members of ones in-group. The hospitality service industry includes hotels, casinos, and resorts, which offer comfort and guidance to strangers, whether it be commercial (for monetary gain) or non-commercial (not for profit). The terms hospital, hospice, and hostel also derive from hospitality, and these institutions preserve more of the connotation of personal care. Hospitality ethics is a discipline that studies this usage of hospitality. The Pakhtun people of South-Central Asia, pre-dominant in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and Afghanistan have a strong code of hospitality. They are a people characterized by their use of Pakhtunwali, an ancient set of ethics, the first principle of which is Milmastiya or Hospitality. The general area of Pakhtunistan is also nicknamed The Land of Hospitality. To the ancient Greeks, hospitality was a divine right. The host was expected to make sure the needs of his guests were seen to. The ancient Greek term xenia, or theoxenia when a god was involved, expressed this ritualized guest-friendship relation. In Greek society a persons ability to abide the laws to hospitality determined nobility and social standing. Celtic societies also valued the concept of hospitality, especially in terms of protection. A host who granted a persons request for refuge was expected not only to provide food and shelter to his/her guest, but to make sure they did not come to harm while under their care. [2] In India, hospitality is based on the principle Atithi Devo Bhava, meaning the guest is God. This principle is shown in a number of stories where a guest is literally a god who rewards the provider of hospitality. From this stems the Indian approach of graciousness towards guests at home, and in all social situations. Hospitality as a cultural norm or value is an established sociological phenomenon that people study and write papers about (see references, and Hospitality ethics). Some regions have become stereotyped as exhibiting a particular style of hospitality. Hospitality management is the academic study of the hospitality industry. A degree in Hospitality management is often conferred from either a university college dedicated to the studies of hospitality management or a business school with a department in hospitality management studies. Degrees in hospitality management may also be referred to as hotel management, hotel and tourism management, or hotel administration. Degrees conferred in this academic field include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy. Hospitality management studies provides a focus on management of hospitality operations including hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, amusement parks, destination marketing organizations, convention centers, country clubs, and related industries. The hospitality industry consists of land category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a several billion dollar industry that mostly depends on the availability of leisure time and disposable income. A hospitality unit such as a restaurant, hotel, or even an amusement park consists of multiple groups such as facility maintenance, direct operations (servers, housekeepers, porters, kitchen workers, bartenders, etc. , management, marketing, and human resources. The hospitality industry covers a wide range of organizations offering food service and accommodation. The industry is divided into sectors according to the skill-sets required for the work involved. Sectors include accommodation, food and beverage, meeting and events, gaming, entertainment and recreation, tourism services, and visitor information. Usage rate or its inverse vacancy rate is an important variable for the hospitality industry. Just as a factory owner ould wish a productive asset to be in use as much as possible (as opposed to having to pay fixed costs while the factory isnt producing), so do restaurants, hotels, and theme parks seek to maximize the number of customers they process in all sectors. This led to formation of services with the aim to increase usage rate provided by hotel consolidators. Information about required or offered products are brokered on business networks used by vendors as well as purchasers. In viewing various industries, barriers to entry by newcomers and competitive advantages between current players are very important. Among other things, hospitality industry players find advantage in old classics (location), initial and ongoing investment support (reflected in the material upkeep of facilities and the luxuries located therein), and particular themes adopted by the marketing arm of the organization in question (for example at theme restaurants). Very important is also the characteristics of the personnel working in direct contact with the customers. The authenticity, professionalism, and actual concern for the happiness and well-being of the customers that is communicated by successful organizations is a clear competitive advantage.

Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Maxwell Perkins Essay -- Hemingway Fitzgeral

Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Maxwell Perkins Although not a writer himself, Maxwell Evarts Perkins holds an auspicious place in the history of American literature. Perkins served as editor for such well-acclaimed authors as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, Ezra Pound, Ring Lardner, James Jones and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Through his advocacy of these modernist writers, he played an important role in the success of that movement. Perkins association with Thomas Wolfe is perhaps his most famous, but his relationships with Fitzgerald and Hemingway are equally note-worthy. He was, at different times, their editor, friend, creditor and the link between them. Born in 1884, Perkins was a Harvard graduate of the class of 1907. He worked as a reporter for the New York Times for several years, but a desire for greater stability led him to a job at Charles’ Scribner’s Sons publishing house in 1910. He began as an advertising manager, but by 1914 Perkins was promoted to the editorial department.[1] There he became known for his ability to recognize upcoming authors, and in 1932 he was made a vice president.[2] When Perkins died in June of 1947, he was considered the most important editor in America.[3] Perkins first learned of F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1919. Another author, Shane Leslie, regretted that Scribners had been sued for libel because of his works, and to make amends Leslie forwarded a promising manuscript to Perkins. The manuscript was â€Å"The Romantic Egotist,† written by Fitzgerald before his entrance into World War I.[4] Perkins was stunned by the vitality of the piece, but he did not feel that it was complete enough for publication. After two more versions a... ...s.htm [2] Malcolm Cowley, Unshaken Friend: A Profile of Maxwell Perkins (Boulder, CO: R. Rinehart, Inc., 1985), 24. [3] A. Scott Berg, Max Perkins: Editor of Genius (New York: Dutton, 1978), 5. [4] Cowley, 30. [5] Berg, 15-16. [6] Ibid., 16. [7] Ibid., 63. [8] Malcolm Cowley, Unshaken Friend: A Profile of Maxwell Perkins (Boulder, CO: R. Rinehart, Inc., 1985), 32. [9] â€Å"Maxwell Perkins,† www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/wolfe/perkins.htm [10] John Hall Wheelock, Editor to Author, the Letters of Maxwell E. Perkins (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1979), 30. [11] Berg, 6. [12] Ibid., 4. [13] Ibid., 324. [14] Ibid., 41-2. [15] Ibid., 389. [16] Ibid., 392. [17] Ibid., 395. [18] Ibid., 390. [19] Ibid., 67. [20] â€Å"Maxwell Perkins,† www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/wolfe/perkins.htm [21] Berg, 449-50. Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Maxwell Perkins Essay -- Hemingway Fitzgeral Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Maxwell Perkins Although not a writer himself, Maxwell Evarts Perkins holds an auspicious place in the history of American literature. Perkins served as editor for such well-acclaimed authors as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, Ezra Pound, Ring Lardner, James Jones and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Through his advocacy of these modernist writers, he played an important role in the success of that movement. Perkins association with Thomas Wolfe is perhaps his most famous, but his relationships with Fitzgerald and Hemingway are equally note-worthy. He was, at different times, their editor, friend, creditor and the link between them. Born in 1884, Perkins was a Harvard graduate of the class of 1907. He worked as a reporter for the New York Times for several years, but a desire for greater stability led him to a job at Charles’ Scribner’s Sons publishing house in 1910. He began as an advertising manager, but by 1914 Perkins was promoted to the editorial department.[1] There he became known for his ability to recognize upcoming authors, and in 1932 he was made a vice president.[2] When Perkins died in June of 1947, he was considered the most important editor in America.[3] Perkins first learned of F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1919. Another author, Shane Leslie, regretted that Scribners had been sued for libel because of his works, and to make amends Leslie forwarded a promising manuscript to Perkins. The manuscript was â€Å"The Romantic Egotist,† written by Fitzgerald before his entrance into World War I.[4] Perkins was stunned by the vitality of the piece, but he did not feel that it was complete enough for publication. After two more versions a... ...s.htm [2] Malcolm Cowley, Unshaken Friend: A Profile of Maxwell Perkins (Boulder, CO: R. Rinehart, Inc., 1985), 24. [3] A. Scott Berg, Max Perkins: Editor of Genius (New York: Dutton, 1978), 5. [4] Cowley, 30. [5] Berg, 15-16. [6] Ibid., 16. [7] Ibid., 63. [8] Malcolm Cowley, Unshaken Friend: A Profile of Maxwell Perkins (Boulder, CO: R. Rinehart, Inc., 1985), 32. [9] â€Å"Maxwell Perkins,† www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/wolfe/perkins.htm [10] John Hall Wheelock, Editor to Author, the Letters of Maxwell E. Perkins (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1979), 30. [11] Berg, 6. [12] Ibid., 4. [13] Ibid., 324. [14] Ibid., 41-2. [15] Ibid., 389. [16] Ibid., 392. [17] Ibid., 395. [18] Ibid., 390. [19] Ibid., 67. [20] â€Å"Maxwell Perkins,† www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/wolfe/perkins.htm [21] Berg, 449-50.

Killing Without Emotions

Shaharyar khan Michael Miller CW 1 Date: 05/02/13 Killing Without Emotions â€Å"In World War Two it is fact that only 15 to 20 percent of the solider fired at the enemy. That is one in five soldiers actually shooting at a Nazi when he sees one. † (Frisbee Jr) This surprising fact clearly indicates how hard it is to kill without emotions. The guilt or the feeling one gets after he has killed somebody is the worst feeling of his/her life. This fact also indicates our human nature. Emotions are the essential and necessary part of humans. In one way, humans are differentiated from animals and emotionless machines.This human nature of ours makes us think or stops us in order to kill without emotions. When humans are hardwired to be empathetic and compassionate not to kill, it is hard to understand why there is so much killing in the world? How, with empathy and compassion, can people kill? They must override their emotions with stronger emotions of hate and notions of purpose base d on their beliefs. In the following paragraphs will present few examples that will indicate why and how some people override their emotions with stronger emotions based on their purpose.A common example of this is of a suicide bomber. So how these suicide bombers are formed or what is the psychology involved behind suicide bombing. . Often the suicide bombers arrested in Pakistan are usually teenagers and are from a poor background. They are usually kidnapped on their way to school or madraassa (religious school) and then brainwashed. Research and Today’s media reveals that suicide bombers using their religion as a shield justifies what they are doing are right.During brainwashing they are kept isolated and given misleading information on the name of the religion. They are told by the corrupt religious leaders that killing of the non Muslims are justified according to their religion. In addition to this they are also told that dying in the name of their religion will earn th em the rank of a martyred. They are also brainwashed that they will earn a high rank in the heavens and rivers of milk and honey and beautiful virgins await. (Yusufzai and Jamal). They are offered high price to get the job done.They are assured that their family will live wealthy life after their job is done. Almost 90% of the suicide bombers are normal humans but, after knowing the position they can earn by dying in the name of their religion, change their emotions to kill hundreds of innocent humans. From this above example it can be concluded that they simple overcome their emotions with stronger emotions of earning high rank in Heavens by dying in the name of the religion, securing the lives of their family and obeying the orders of God.Another type of the people who override their emotions to kill are the soldiers. Soldiers override their emotions for certain reasons that they learn during the training. During the training there are told that they are the protectors of the land . The lives of their families and their countrymen depend on them. Moreover, they are trained with the fact that what they are doing is right and justified and God is with them. The training for the soldiers keeps on the changing with time to time. The soldiers are given complete training/ practicing area. The soldiers are desensitized by making them shoot at human shaped paper targets, drill and then to moving targets and pop up targets look kind of human shape making their response automatic and focused†. (Dwyer). The training areas includes all kinds of difficult pathways, underground tunnels and sudden appearance of the human shaped targets which they have shoot at and take them down. They are also congratulated on their first kill which increases their confidence to override their emotions more easily â€Å"In addition to this there are addressed directly making them believe that they actually have to kill. (Robinson). â€Å"Often a times the present the enemies in way that does not even feel like a human; for instance they will call their enemies by those names that even don’t look familiar. Names like â€Å"gook† who knows what is gook? It does not sound like a human or a person. Half of the desensitizing and dehumanizing is made easier in presenting a person that does not even to our class or kind. In addition, saying that God is with us, we are fighting for the sake of our country and the people and God is proud of us.A lot of killing is made easier in this for the soldiers presenting these as a reason. † (Pomerantz) So, with this kind of training and lessons of patriotism being given to the soldiers makes it easier to override to their emotions. In the conclusion I would restate again that killing without emotions is really hard unless you have you don’t overcome your emotions. It takes a lot of nerve and heart to kill without emotions. Works cited Dwyer, Gwynne. â€Å"Soldiers trained to kill and post-traumatic ps ycho-babble. Thuppahi's blog, 29 April 2011. Web. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Yusufzai, Asfaq, and Amna Nasir Jamal. â€Å"Teenagers recruited, trained as suicide bombers. †Ã‚  Central online Asia. N. p. , 11 04 2011. Web. 18 Feb 2013. Robinson, Steve. â€Å"The impact of killing and how to prepare the soldiers . †Ã‚  Frontline. Frontline, 01 Mar 2001. Web. 18 Feb 2013. Pomerantz, Andrew. â€Å"The impact of killing and how to prepare the soldiers . †Ã‚  Frontline. Frontline, 01 Mar 2001. Web. 18 Feb 2013.

The Better Self in Ourselves

The influx of self-help books in today’s ultra-modern world is by no means an accident. They are by-products of a world that has become more complicated and complex as the ways in which it has to be lived in. This complexity coincides with the development of more complex thought processes that seek to find meanings in life and how everyone fits into that life. That search for meaning and the process of meaning-making involve attempts to make sense of the existence of one’s self as a tiny spot relative to the vastness of the cosmic universe.This has led many social scientists to develop theories that attempt to explain ways through which the self can be understood in its multi-faceted contexts. John Locke underscored the importance of the â€Å"continuity of consciousness† through an enabled memory and imagination (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007). He believed that a person can understand his/her self by examining the past and imagining the future. Jean- Jacques Rousseau, on the other hand, stressed the significance of the society as a necessary and yet corruptible element in understanding one’s self (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2008).The former emphasizes the objective self-examination while the latter stresses the subjective self-expression. Sigmund Freud believed that human beings have irrational, primitive and animalistic instincts that should be repressed for the betterment of one’s self and the society at large (Curtis, 2002); while Wilhelm Reich claimed that it is the repression of the society of the â€Å"original† forces and emotions within human beings that makes human beings irrational (The Wilhelm Reich Museum).And quite contemporarily, Ian Hacking advances the practice of disciplinary psychology as a means to define selfhood in its socio-cultural contexts (Hacking, 2002). It has offered individuals the tools through which they can take a deeper look at their inner selves in relation to the society and the world they live in. Towards a Better Understanding of the Self in Ourselves All the psychological theories and practices cited thus far have only one aim: to make us understand ourselves more than how we understand ourselves now.They provide us tools so we can acquire skills to help us learn more about ourselves and to nurture that self within ourselves for a better us. Their primary objective is to illuminate the existence of one’s self and give us enlightenment to enable us to view that self in new and better perspectives and vantage points with the hope that we can be better for ourselves, the people around us and the society we live in. Disciplinary psychology posits that if we could understand our psychological self better, we can understand the kind of person that we are.Doing so, we can be that person we aspire to be. We can be astronauts, airline pilots, NBA superstars, forensic scientists, geologists, etc. There are infinite possibilities of being who we want to be if we just indeed are able to understand ourselves better. Truly, while there are infinite possibilities of being ourselves, there are also infinite questions that needed to be answered about ourselves. As time changes and as the world becomes more modernized, the concepts of personhood and selfhood become even more complicated.Questions about humanity become more apparent. When we question why we are driven by this desire to succeed and gain more material wealth, we turn to become pseudo-psychoanalysts in trying to understand this desire and how it can manipulate us if not tempered with reason. And as our consciousness is feed with the commercialism we see around us, engendered by the consumerism in the media, we are guided by the fact that advertisements use psychoanalysis to manipulate human minds to become infatuated with manufactured desires.We are reminded of the â€Å"police within our heads that needs to be destroyed† (Curtis, 2002). When we question ou r temperaments and attitudes towards love, life and work, we may turn to looking back at how we were brought up, the environment we grew up with and the kind of upbringing that we had. Disciplinary psychology guides us to look back and look forward and struggle to find meanings in those acts. Indeed, while disciplinary psychology offers us tools to gain better understanding of ourselves, the synthesis depends on our own willingness to analyze.While it can provide us maps to where we could finally go, the choices of directions we take remain our own pre-occupation. And while it gives us patterns through which we could build our own conceptions about ourselves, our self-concept remains our own decision. In the final analysis, disciplinary psychology can provide us proper guidance, but the path towards better understanding of one’s self depends on our own will to tread that path forcefully and purposefully. And as always, that willingness can be questioned psychologically.

Government Use of Media to Advance Foreign Policy Agenda

Government Use of Media to Advance Foreign Policy Agenda Abstract The following essay analyzes the relationship between the media and the government. The paper provides evidence that many governments, particularly those that exist in established democracies, openly employ media propaganda to advance their agendas in foreign policy. The different methods of research employed in this essay include content analysis, polls and surveys and the uses and gratifications model.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Government Use of Media to Advance Foreign Policy Agenda specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Introduction While the original intention of the media was to provide an independent, bipartisan check to the power of any individual government, the power base of any established democracy relies on the media to communicate to its followers. This is especially true in the case of foreign policy. Various media outlets interpret international events and their effects on foreign policy acco rding to the political interests they serve. According to McCormick (2009), the media play an important role in foreign policy by virtue of what foreign policy issues they chose to report. Thus media coverage has a direct â€Å"influence on public’s attention to foreign policy,† as well as an enormous impact on what foreign policy issues become newsworthy (p. 546). The essential first step in foreign policy is to decide what information the public has access to, thus the role of the media as information gatekeepers becomes paramount (McCormick 2009; Spanier Hook 2009). Governments in established democracies therefore employ media propaganda to advance their agendas in foreign policy. Content Analysis Content analysis refers to the methodology used to examine the specific content of a given communication tool. For the purposes of this essay, content analysis focuses on the texts used by the government as they relate to the cycle of voting in established democracies suc h as the United States. As Krippendorff (2004) observes, â€Å"in governments in which succession is†¦regulated politically†¦predicting the succession of leadership†¦is a favorite game of political analysts and important to foreign policy decision makers† (p. 175). Content analysis remains a pivotal instrument that researchers use to â€Å"expose propaganda techniques† employed by the media (Krippendorff, 2004, p. 45). Perceived successes in foreign policy may be advertised via the media to engender support during an election drive. An example is the May 2011 coverage of the death of Osama bin Laden, utilized by the Democrats in a partisan manner, as well as by the Republicans, who argued that it was the policies of the George W. Bush administration that allowed Obama to capture the fugitive Al Qaeda leader (Adams 2011).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Surveys (Polls) The proliferation of online media outlets leads to a more informal method of polling for governments to use in addition to the standard polls such as Gallup – monitoring online chat of a political through Twitter and Facebook, as well as reading the prevailing moods conveyed in the media blogosphere. Bucy (2005) argues that the media will facilitate change on both sides however, not simply as a tool for swaying votes; â€Å"since people will communicate their views on government more directly, rulers and representatives will become more sensitive†¦and, perhaps, more responsive†¦to lobbying and public-opinion polls, especially in established democracies† (Bucy, 2005, p. 9). Uses Gratification Model The uses and gratification model refers to a central tenet of media analysis – the effect of any given media depend entirely on who uses them, for what purpose and how often (Bucy 2009). As Bucy (2009) explains, â€Å"how a person is affected by a given communications medium depends on that person’s reasons and goals for using that medium†¦People use the Internet for a variety of reasons and motivations†¦and will thus use it differently and it will have different effects on them accordingly. There is, in short, no simple sound bite for how using the Internet will affect an individual (Bucy, 2009, p. 196). Thus, any government’s use of the media to advance foreign policy propaganda will only have impact insofar as it reaches its intended targets and gratifies them in some way, be it through affirming their current belief system or adhering to existing prejudices and knowledge. The media must be consumed in order to have its desired impact; therefore people who do not engage with any given media outlet’s coverage of a particular foreign policy issue will feel little or no affinity to the message. Similarly, certain media appeal to certain mindsets; media consumers typical ly choose media outlets which conform to their view of the world. Conclusion One thing that can be ascertained from the research, the media remains a central player in any political outcome, particularly in a democracy where voters are free to identify with the media outlets of their choice. The vast network of media also acquires more power in the political climate political system, according to Sparks (2006), because the system itself is â€Å"more unstable. There are fewer people who identify strongly with a single party, more people who call themselves independents, and more people splitting their ticket at the polls. In such a volatile climate, scholars expect that the media might have more impact on the political process† (Sparks, 2006, p. 55).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Government Use of Media to Advance Foreign Policy Agenda specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Governments can certainly be expected t o continue to deploy propaganda via various channels to sway voters however; voters, like consumers, develop media savvy in the same way that governments do. Media consumers actively engage with the media that affirms their existing worldview, thus the propaganda will likely be more readily sniffed out and either accepted or cast aside. References Adams, R. (2011, May 2). Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck: Thank God for President Obama. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/international. Bucy, E. (2005). Living in the information age: A new media reader(2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. McCormick, J. (2009). American Foreign Policy and Process. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing. Spanier, J. and Hook, S. (2009). American Foreign Policy since World War II. Washington: CQ Press. Sparks, G. (2006). Media effects research.Belmont: CA: Thomson/Wadsworth P ublishing.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Assigning Classroom Jobs to Teach Students Responsibility

Assigning Classroom Jobs to Teach Students Responsibility If we want to teach children to be responsible, we have to trust them with responsibilities. Classroom jobs are an effective way to enlist students in the duties of running a classroom. You can even have them fill out a Classroom Job Application. There are many different jobs you can choose from  for use in your classroom. The First Step - Pitch Your Idea Tell the students that, soon, they will have the opportunity to apply for classroom jobs. Give them a few examples of the types of jobs that are available and watch their eyes light up as they imagine themselves as the little rulers of a certain domain of the classroom. Make it clear that when they accept a job they will have to take it very seriously, and if they do not meet their commitments they can be fired from the job. Make this announcement a few days before your plan to formally introduce the job program so that you can build anticipation. Decide on the Duties There are hundreds of things that need to be done to run a successful and efficient classroom, but only a couple dozen that you can trust the students to handle. Thus, you need to decide how many and which jobs to have available. Ideally, you should have one job for each student in your class. In classes of 20 or fewer, this will be relatively easy. If you have many more students, it will be more challenging and you may decide to have a few students without jobs at any given time. You will be rotating jobs on a regular basis, so everyone will have a chance to participate eventually. You also have to consider your own personal comfort level, the maturity level of your class, and other factors when you decide how much responsibility you ready to give your students. Use a Classroom Jobs List to get ideas for which jobs, in particular, will work in your classroom. Design an Application Using a formal job application is a fun opportunity for you to get each students commitment in writing that they will perform any job to the best of their abilities. Ask students to list their first, second, and third choice jobs.   Make the Assignments Before you assign the jobs in your classroom, hold a class meeting where you announce and describe each job, collect applications, and emphasize the importance of each and every duty. Promise to give each child his or her first or second choice job some time throughout the school year. You will need to decide and announce how often the jobs will be changing. After you assign the jobs, give each student a job description for their assignment. They will use this to learn what they need to do, so be explicit! Monitor their Job Performance Just because your students now have jobs doesnt mean you can just sit back and take it easy while they perform their duties. Watch their behavior closely. If a student is not performing the job properly, conference with him or her and tell the student exactly what you need to see in their performance. If things dont improve, it might be time to consider firing them. If their job is essential, you will need to find a replacement. Otherwise, simply give the fired student another chance during the next cycle of job assignments. Dont forget to schedule a certain time each day for the jobs to be performed.

Research Methods & Methodologies in Accounting and Management Essay - 2

Research Methods & Methodologies in Accounting and Management - Essay Example The UK has become an attractive destination for higher education for many nations. Nowadays, the highest inflow of foreign students to the UK comes from China. The number of Chinese students taking higher education courses in the UK has shown dramatic increase during past decades. In 1998-1999 the number of Chinese students in UK was 4000 (Ianelli and Huang, 2014). By 2001, the number rose by 71% to nearly 18,000 students and by 2009-2010 to almost 57,000 (Gittings, 2002; Ianelli and Huang, 2014). There are many papers which aimed to explore the determinants of the choice of UK universities by overseas students. Soo & Elliot (2010) have carried out such research, analysing key determinants of popularity of the UK universities among international students. They have found that fee cost, quality of education, as well as the existing popularity of a university among home applicants were some of the most significant factors (Soo & Elliot, 2010). Thus, prestige and quality of higher educa tion are recognized to be the most common reasons. However, the inflow of Chinese students can be hardly explained only with these aspects. With the growth of the middle class and market orientation of China, Chinese families seek value for money (Gittings, 2002). Obviously, that decision of a Chinese student to study in the UK is more likely to be sponsored by their parents, and therefore, parents also are important decision-makers in the process. Ianelli and Huang (2014) have tried to analyze how the patterns of attainment of Chinese graduates have changed during the last decade. The findings have shown that science, engineering, business, and social sciences were the courses in great among the Chinese students in UK (Ianelli and Huang, 2014). Also, the study has shown that Russel Group universities are increasingly popular among Chinese students studying in

Localisation of the prostate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Localisation of the prostate - Essay Example The prostate is one of the organs in the male reproductive system responsible in releasing a fluid to alkalinise the semen (Hugging, Scott & Heinen, 1942) in order for the sperms to survive in the acidic environment of the female vagina. It is divided into four zones, namely the peripheral, central, transition and anterior fibromuscular zones (Meyers, 2000), while it can also be divided more commonly into four lobes, namely the anterior, posterior, lateral and middle lobes. The prostate is located superior to the anus, anal sphincter, bulbourethral gland, testes, penis and the urogenital diaphragm. It is inferior to the urinary bladder and the seminal vesicle. It is anterior to the rectum, coccyx, common ejaculatory duct and also the seminal vesicles. It is posterior to the symphysis pubis. On the medial part of the prostate lies the prostatic urethra. Its proximity to the rectum allows the prostate to be palpable in rectal examinations. Among those structures commonly harmed by ineffective localisation of prostate radiotherapy is the rectum, bones (symphysis pubis, pubic bones, and the coccyx) and the seminal vesicles. The veins where the blood flows away from the prostate are the prostatic venous plexus, pudcordal plexus, vesicle plexus and the internal iliac vein. Lymph nodes around the prostate are the external iliac lymph nodes, internal iliac lymph nodes and the sacral lymph nodes. These venous and lymphatic structures are responsible for the possible metastasis of malignant prostate cells to the surrounding structures beyond the prostate. Radiotherapy beyond the prostate, especially to the lymph nodes is necessary as the cancer reaches beyond stage 2, while the venous system will allow the predictability of metastasis to other organs. The cancer of the prostate begins with genetic changes within the prostate cells triggered by different possible risk factors such as genes, aging, race, environmental, increased