The New Yorker July 21, 2008 Cover: Satire or Racist?

On the fourth week of July 2008, people were astonished as The New Yorker Magazine graced the stands. The cover page showed Barry Blitt’s illustration depicting Barrack Obama wearing a traditional Muslim outfit with a white cap or taqiyah, a white robe or thawb in light brown overtones covering a pair of black pants and brown sandals. Obama’s taqiyah covered a turban that showed his ear prominently unlike Middle Eastern Arab turbans that cover their ears. Moreover, his thawb length is midway between the knee and the ankle which reflects an orthodox Muslim dress code. Obama is also shown doing a knuckle greeting with his wife Michelle that â€Å"Fox News’ E. D. Hill calls a ‘terrorist fist jab’†¦ [that is] †¦usually seen used by other prominent terrorists†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (The Acropolis). Meanwhile, Michelle Obama was shown in an afro hairstyle, a black blouse, camouflage pants and combat shoes. She also has a bandolier and a grayish-greenish, banana-type assault rifle slung at her back. The rifle looked much like an AK47 variant without the AK’s trademark brown, wooden stock. Barrack and Michelle stood at the oval office in a happy demeanor. Barrack was portrayed with his usual serious, but smiling face while Michelle’s smile was more obvious that revealed her prominent cheekbones in a blush. Michelle stood by the left side while Barrack stood by the right side. At Barrack’s back is a golden framed half-faced portrait of Osama Bin Laden in pure white cap and robe and just below the portrait is a fireplace showing the American flag with flames but not yet burnt. The New Yorker’s cover page certainly had shock value yet after careful thought and research, the illustration was really a satire rather than a racist statement. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, a satire is â€Å"a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn; and trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly† (â€Å"satire†). The Encyclopedia Britannica further elaborates that a satire is an â€Å"artistic form, chiefly literary and dramatic, in which human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, parody, caricature, or other methods, sometimes with an intent to inspire social reform† (â€Å"satire†). Racism, on the other hand, is â€Å"a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race; and racial prejudice or discrimination† according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (â€Å"racism†). Racism is further elaborated as â€Å"any action, practice, or belief that [says]†¦that humans are divided into separate and exclusive biological entities†¦[and that]†¦a causal link between inherited physical traits,†¦personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural behavioral features†¦[make]†¦some races†¦innately superior† than others by the Encyclopedia Britannica (â€Å"racism†). As a satire, the illustration has a meaning behind it and should not be taken literally as what it is shown. However, some people will easily take the meaning of the illustration as a racist statement and think that the artist, Barry Blitt, thinks Barrack Obama and Michelle are not worthy to lead this country. The New Yorker Magazine has been published since February 21, 1925 and is sold nationwide. Its format deals with political commentary and cartoon covers that are somewhat ‘unreal’ yet funny. It is also quite proud of its Cartoon Bank and â€Å"sells prints of†¦cartoons and covers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A quick view on the contents of its July 20, 2009 issue show some topics as follows: a) Hendrik Hertzberg on Sarah Palin; b) John Colapinto on Senator Al Franken; and c) Elizabeth Colbert on America’s obesity problem, to name a few. The Obama cartoon was published on July 21, 2008 right at the heat of the US Presidential Election campaigns. Various rumors during that time have circulated accusing Barrack Obama as a â€Å"‘radical Muslim’ who ‘will not recite the pledge of allegiance’† (Snopes. om, â€Å"Barrack Obama†) and have sworn in on the Quran as Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison did (The Acropolis) (Snopes. com, â€Å"Who is Barrack Obama†). Issues also included President Barrack Hussein Obama Junior’s middle name ‘Hussein’ which was associated with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (Snopes. com, â€Å"Who is Barrack Obama†). Moreover, Obama’s wife, Michelle, was not spared from close public scrutiny. Her undergraduate thesis at the Princeton University in 1985 with the statement â€Å"blacks must join in solidarity to combat a white oppressor† has been quoted out of context (Snopes. om, â€Å"Michelle Obama’s Thesis†) and detractors have associated such statement with Black Panther Party for Self Defense political activist, Angela Yvonne Davis (Davis). The State of California charged Davis as an accomplice to conspiracy, kidnapping, and homicide for the shotgun registered to her name that killed Judge Harold Haley in an escape attempt of the ‘Soledad Brothers’ that the Black Panthers supported (Davis). Davis has been acquitted then she temporarily re located to Cuba before going back to the United States and ran as a candidate for the Communist Party USA (Davis). With these rumors, the Blitt cartoon cover for the New Yorker can now be more easily understood. Obama has been dressed as an orthodox Muslim to depict rumors about him as an Islamic radical. In addition, since Obama has been educated in Indonesia as a kid, his Muslim attire closely resembled Indonesian Muslim dress codes rather than the Middle Eastern Muslims’. Accusations against Obama for his ‘unpatriotic behavior’ have also been symbolized by the American flag thrown into the flames of the Oval Office’s fireplace. Michelle has also been portrayed in an Afro hairstyle that was synonymous to Angela Davis. Moreover, since Davis had ties to Cuba, Michelle was dressed as a Revolutionary in camouflage pants with an assault rifle at her back that looked like an AK47—a popular symbol among Communist revolutionaries. It can now also be easily discerned why Osama Bin Laden’s portrait was in the backdrop. First, Obama sounded like Osama. Second, Obama’s middle name ‘Hussein’ is the same as former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s. These two world figures tied Obama to the rumors that Barrack was a Muslim extremist. As John Aravosis of Weblog described the cartoon: â€Å"†¦New Yorker thinks it’s funny to make Mrs. Obama some radical black panther, Barrack Obama basically a terrorist†¦and they’re even burning the American flag in the Oval Office†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Stirland). The New Yorker cover on Barrack and Michelle Obama is a satire for the following reasons: a) the magazine has a reputation for satirical cartoons portraying political issues and personalities; b) the artist, Barry Blitt, is a known satirist and has made statements on the issues and rumors surrounding Obama; and c) the cartoon or artwork itself is full of symbolisms that convey irony and sarcasm. Following the same track, Blitt’s illustration is really not a racist statement against Barrack Obama because the New Yorker is a liberal, cosmopolitan publication and the symbolisms of the cartoon show otherwise. A quick look into the New Yorker archives show that the magazine has been consistent since 1925 on its satire, focus on American politics, and political humor. It has developed its reputation along these lines. In a pro-Obama blog entry in The Acropolis, Dylan the blogger has this to say: â€Å"Obviously, the New Yorker cover was satirical. It also elaborates that: â€Å"Even faithful Fox News watchers will have to see the cover and hear anchors admit that it is a satire—that the images it depicts are making fun of rumors that are not true. † Likewise, in an anti-Obama blog entry in the ‘Old Atlantic Lighthouse’ notes: â€Å"The New Yorker Magazine†¦is now in full retreat mode to say it was simply mocking Christianity, Israel, America, the West, white people, the Constitution, self rule, and the resistance to Islam. Most of all, New Yorker editor, David Remnick, explained the controversial cover: â€Å"The idea is to attack the lies and misconceptions and distortions about the Obama’s and their background and their politics† (Stirland). Also, Barry Blitt is a known satirist. He has nine illustrations in the New Yorker with the title â€Å"The Politics of Satire. † He has also made statements about the cover like: â€Å"I think the idea that the Obamas are branded as unpatriotic in certain sectors is preposterous,† and â€Å"It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is. Most of all, his illustration is titled:  "The Politics of Fear. † The title alone that Blitt has coined on his work conveys a message that certain politicians are playing on people’s fear that Obama was black, a Muslim, a terrorist and unpatriotic. Most importantly, the illustration was a satire because the artwork itself is full of symbolisms that convey irony and sarcasm. One, the Obamas were smiling. Two, Barrack’s thawb is not pure white unlike Osama Bin Laden’s pure white cap and robe at the backdrop portrait. A pure white cloth has unique symbolisms in the Islamic faith. Three, Michelle crossed her legs while standing up as if crossing her fingers in wishful thinking. Four, the assault rifle’s color did not really feel like the real AK47 with a brown, wooden stock and wooden barrel encasement. Finally, although the American flag was in the fireplace with flames, the flag was not in flames and is not burning. The flag stayed whole and was not even partially consumed by fire. Nevertheless, some people disagree and contend that the cover was an insult and racist. Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake observed: â€Å"†¦Most people who see this cover are just going to see the image of Obama in a turban. It reinforces a critical piece of misinformation that right wing propagandists have advanced in order to poison the political climate in this country and make it that much more difficult for a person of color to be elected president†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Stirland). Roger Simon noted: †It probably doesn’t encourage people to vote for him in America today. (Stirland). Likewise, John Aravosis of Weblog said: â€Å"†¦Is the New Yorker so out of touch that they don’t realize that much of America, or at least too much of America, harbors these very concerns about Obama and his wife? † (Stirland). Finally, Matt of The Acropolis, sarcastically observed: â€Å"†¦I’ve heard so many students at MSU tell me, ‘Aw, come on, man. Ever yone knows that guy’s a freaking Muslim. ’ Ok, maybe it was only, like two students, but I’ve heard even more adults say the same thing. It’s truly insane. † In conclusion, Blitt’s cartoon cover of The New Yorker magazine is a satire. The magazine is widely known for its criticisms and satires and literary views on social and political issues. This cartoon is not the first satire that The New Yorker had published or Blitt created. The magazine had no bad intentions for Obama’s political career or his personal life. The New Yorker was just trying to make business and doing what they were known for. Perhaps people should look more closely before making a judgment when they see something out of the ordinary.

Breaking Away from Stereotype

The United States of America has been called the â€Å"melting pot† of the world. It is a country that is open to diversity and welcomes culture, race and ethnicity of all sorts, for as long as it complies with its laws. United States become a nation rich in immigrants who found new home in a foreign land. Most of the big and key cities in the United States are culturally and racially diversified. This diversity is taught to be an asset of the society. If not understood well, this diversity may also lead to internal and external conflicts such as discrimination and stereotyping. Stereotyping can be as harmless as thinking that Chinese cooks the best orange chicken or Indians have the best chicken curry, but it can also be as destructive as stereotyping Muslims as potential terrorists or Mexicans as potential illegal aliens. Stereotypes come in different forms and it is also apparent in the news, media, television, songs and even literatures. Latino or Hispanic race, for example, has been a hot topic of racial stereotyping. A Latino man behind a cash register may often hear a customer asking â€Å"habla Ingles†. Failure to assimilate to American culture, including language, is one stereotype Latinos are facing. In the story â€Å"Rain of Gold†, written by Victor Villasenor, most of the characters spoke little or no English until they entered the United States. Another literary work, a poetry, written by Pat Mora entitled â€Å"Immigrants† contained lines that read â€Å"before the baby can even walk, speak to them in thick English, hallo, babe, hallo†. There may be some humor to the poem, but it stereotypes the Latino immigrants as having â€Å"thick English† accents. â€Å"Rain of Gold†, written by Victor Villasenor was about the three generations of two Mexican families whose hardship and adventures date back in the Mexican Revolution of 1910. The book chronicled the characters’ escape from Mexico and entry into the United States. It was entitled â€Å"Rain of Gold† because it is the English translation of the characters’ home town of â€Å"La Lluvia de Oro†. In the book, the characters spoke little or no English, which may still be apparent today in our society. However, from the book, we cannot generalize that Mexicans cannot assimilate the way of living or system of other culture. In the book, it was also written that the characters learned to use the survival techniques of Native Americans in order to survive the difficulties they were facing in their environment. The poem â€Å"Immigrants† by Pat Mora also wrote examples on how Mexican try to adapt the American culture by eating hot dogs and apple pie, by naming their children Bill and Daisy, or by buying their children football or blonde dolls with blue eyes. In the modern America, most stereotypes related to the Latino race are exaggerated in the movies or in the media. The movies would often depict Latinos as blue collared workers with little education, family with more than four children, or young Latino with literacy problem. Another stereotype that is attached to the Latino culture is the use of spiritual healing or magic. There are three literary works that took note of the Spiritual healing practice of the Latino culture. â€Å"Rain of Gold† by Victor Villasenor noted that during trying times, the character held on the belief of spirits and asked for their guidance and healing. â€Å"The Curing Woman† by Alejandro Morales was about the power of the traditional healers who use spiritual connection to heal physical ailments. It is about a Spanish woman named Marcelina who learned how to use â€Å"white magic† from her Spanish mother, Dona Marcelina Trujillo. â€Å"White magic† uses herbs, plants, minerals, chants and astrological formulas to cure diseases of the human body. â€Å"Curandera†, a poem written by Pat Mora describes the dependency of a Latino woman to the nature as means of survival and healing of the people. In the poem, the curandera (a woman who practices folk medicine), uses the elements found in the desert, plants, sunlight, and wind to heal other people to survive. Living in a modernized society and the availability of technology used as tools in medicine will create plenty of skepticism and mockery to spiritual healing as a form of cure. The use of spiritual healing will be rejected by most of American populations who grew up with vaccines, radiography, and antibiotics. It will be a challenge for any Latinos practicing this part of their culture to make someone else outside of their race to understand. Another Latino stereotype that affects most Latino men, is the machismo schema attached to Latino men. It is viewed that in Latino culture, men are the dominant gender, and women are submissive to their male counterparts. However, in â€Å"Rain of Gold† written by Victor Villasenor, the character of Dona Margarita, a wife and a mother, possessed strength that was even able to boldly reprimand the character of her husband. Dona Margarita’s strength and support was valued in the book as one of the reason of fulfilling the family’s dreams. She was able to express her anger and frustration on her husband, Don Victor, when he gambled and got drunk. Her family felt hope when she did not give-up her hope that her daughter, Sophia, was still alive. Although she wanted to give the leadership role to her husband Don Victor, the book made it apparent that she is the strength of her family. However, the story also depicted Dona Margarita as a housewife whose primary role is to raise her children and manage the household. Most Latino written works also depicted the common stereotype that Latinos mostly worked blue collar jobs. For example, in the â€Å"Rain of Gold† by Victor Villasenor, most men worked as miners, while some worked as soldiers. In the movies, most Latino females play characters such as nanny, cashier, waitress, or housekeeper. In conclusion, I believe that the Latino race does not only suffer from being stereotyped by people from another culture, but also from the literary works of Latino authors. Pat Mora, for example, used the â€Å"thick English† accent of Latinos to provide some humor to her poetry. In more than two literatures the â€Å"spiritual or magical healing† was also noted, providing a stronger connection between this practice and the Latino race. Personally, I believe that I am a victim of the movies and television programs who effectively instill cultural stereotypes in me. Fortunately, I was able to know numerous Latinos that proved that the stereotypes should not be used as a general depiction of their race. A research study survey noted that the stereotypical images of the Latinos in the media are not accurate and that most Latinos who participated in the survey were able to assimilate well into the US culture (Latino Professional Survey, 2006). The survey noted that 98% of the survey respondents were fluent in English and 80% were college graduate (Latino Professional Survey, 2006). This defies the common stereotyping that Latinos cannot speak English very well and mostly occupy blue collared jobs.

Accounting Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Accounting - Thesis Example The accounting standard deals with the disclosure of important accounting rules followed in presenting and preparing financial statements. In the early years, this activity was recommendatory in nature. Throughout this period, this was recommended for utilization by business firms listed on a familiar stock exchange, and other huge industrial, commercial and business enterprises in the private and public sectors. This accounting standard is accounting for fixed assets. In various enterprises these assets are grouped into different groups, for instance buildings, land, plant and machinery, furniture and fittings, vehicles, goodwill, patents, trade marks and designs. â€Å"This Standard deals with accounting for government grants. Government grants are sometimes called by other names such as subsidies, cash incentives, duty drawbacks, etc† (Accounting Standard (AS) 12: Accounting for Government Grants 125). FASB Statements and Standards. ICAEW: Library & Information Service. 2012. Web. 08 February 2012. < http://www.icaew.com/en/library/subject-gateways/accounting-standards/us-accounting-standards/fasb-statements-and-standards

The Focus Groups Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Focus Groups - Research Paper Example In the groups, questions are asked in an interactive way and the members are allowed to socialize among themselves in a free manner (Stewart et al 2006, p.55) There are a many of reasons that make focus groups different from one-to-one interviews. One of the differences is that focus groups give a room for a person to gain information from the society’s cross section. It also enables a person to obtain multiple views at once. On the other hand, in one on one interview the research is targeted on only one person and, therefore, the cross section of the society is not fully represented. The one on one interview only allows only single point of view at a particular time as opposed to focusing groups. One on one interview allows the interviewer to obtain deep information from a person. It can be very essential when a particular person has much knowledge about a particular aspect. However, the focus group limits the availability of deep information from the study participants (Rubin & Rubin 2005, p.67). Group interviews have numerous advantages over one on one interview. One of the benefits is that the focus groups give room for interaction among the group members. It gives an advantage of generation of new thinking concerning the topic in consideration. The focus groups are dynamic in nature. Due to this fact the moderator can be able to modify the topics. There is also the ability to utilize the nonverbal behaviors of the participants. However, there are issues that one needs to be aware of the focus groups. There are cases when they can be influenced by the dominant people. Secondly they cannot be effective when sensitive issues are concerned. The findings of the groups are not projectable. It means that this cannot be compared to the results achieved by other methods of research. The environment that is created by the groups is artificial and there are chances that

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Marketing Decicion Making - Essay Example Effective market communication requires an integrated promotional system that reaches from primary producer to ultimate consumer. Communications flow to markets through long, complex channels that include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, consumers, agencies, and media. Each unit can break the chain or pass on the information as it sees fit. The amount and quality of information, therefore, depends on the channel. IMC's most fundamental and perhaps most challenging task is trying to reach people who can conceivably purchase a client's product. Allin (2009). explains marketing communications as "the process by which the marketer develops and presents an appropriate set of communications stimuli to a defined target audience with the intention of eliciting a desired set of responses" (p.37). Formal channels, however, do not account for all marketing communications. Publicity, which is an integral part of many promotional campaigns and sometimes precedes the advertising and sales effort, lies outside them. Although it can be important in gaining market acceptance for products and companies, publicity, like word of mouth, is often a relatively low-grade communications channel with a high degree of interference, distortion, and noise. Marketing communications serve four basic management purposes. ... Third, they help adjust the system to customer and consumer requirements. Fourth, they adjust and help in adjusting the product to customer needs. The task of marketing communications is to get people or markets to progress from a state of unawareness, or even negative reaction, to one of positive action. The stages in this progression are unawareness, awareness, comprehension, conviction, and action (Steve 2009). The theory of information is one that holds promise for the measurement of marketing communications. To date, its primary application is in electrical engineering. It deals with measuring the information content of a message, self-information, bits of information, entropy, the value of average information, loose channels, and noisy and noiseless channels. It provides operational definitions, measures, and a different basis for thinking about marketing communications. The idea of measuring the information content of stimuli, though particularly relevant, is not yet tractable, and the application of this part communications theory to practical marketing situations remains unattained. The careful financial review now being given to investments in plant and equipment or to inventory purchases is destined to be extended to advertising expenditures. Advertising messages are meeting increasing competition from a plethora of other ads, from other media, from competitors, and from all the act ivities that vie for a person's attention. As output swells and communications facilities increase, more claims will be made on consumer time and the cost of marketing communications will skyrocket (Ng and Houston 2009). Pros and cons: advertising. The advantage of advertising is

Corporate Social Responsibility and Disclosure Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Disclosure - Essay Example The abstract summarises in a very few words the contents of the paper. It is well written and divulges important and necessary information that is important from a reader’s perspective to decide whether the paper is of his/her interest or not. In the introduction, the author does a good job introducing the research topic and the reason behind choosing this topic. The introduction clearly states the purpose of the research. The research topic chosen by the author is important, mainly because of the target country/sample – Companies in Saudi Arabia. Going forward Saudi Arabia will not only play an important role in Middle East economy but also in world economy. It is one of the most important emerging markets globally and hence, the author’s topic is justified and relevant. The literature review lacks depth as it only lists the studies/research conducted on the topic and its results but fails to discuss in depth the importance of the findings of those researches. T he author has just touched upon each variable wherein in-depth discussion could have been very effective. The sample chosen and the methodology have been designed carefully by the researcher taking into consideration various factors and the population of the research. The author has explained the reasons behind the chosen research strategy. The researcher finds through this research that firm size significantly positively affects the level of disclosure while the other variables are insignificant. The researcher could have again in detail discussed the reason behind the role of different variables but instead only briefly discusses them. This leaves an opportunity for further research, to understand how and why the variables affect disclosure in companies. Article 2 - Contexts and corporate social responsibility: The case of Saudi Arabia The article looks at the different kinds of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) related activities in Saudi Arabia. The content of the topic has been well chosen, as this area of the research has not been explored well in the near past. There are a number of the social determinants that need to be taken into the consideration in critiquing the various facets of the paper. As mentioned previously, this area of the research is very significant due to the implications of the research in this area. The definitive principle of this paper deals with the different kinds of the activities being carried out in the state. The title contents have been well chosen. The key words have been provided for the paper, which makes it easier in terms of referring to the relevant contents in terms of the key words. The credentials of the author have been given, but the previous experience in writing the papers is missing. It deals with the present area of the research. The contextual realities of the ground have been detailed. This paper has been written well in a number of the areas. But, on closer introspection; there are a number of areas that seem half-baked. The key drivers of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) have been mentioned, but the exhaustive definition of each of the levels has not been provided. The weak points of the stakeholder have been mentioned. The characterization of these points is missing. The explanation also seems very theoretical, failing to explain the mechanisms behind it. Overall, the paper has been very well written; but

Arnold Kling Competition in Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arnold Kling Competition in Education - Essay Example y talked about Google as being the new instructor, which answers all the questions that students have to ask and so when learning programming many people refer to Google and browse through some of the videos and get a good grasp of the subject. They also argued that no matter which way students find to study and educate themselves, nothing can actually replicate the original class environment. Whether there be an online lecture or an online study program, the things that students learn from going to college cannot be learnt through these things. They also talked about the demand and supply of college students, Arnold said that there is an increasing demand of post graduates but since many students don’t graduate and drop out of college, the supply is unable to meet this demand. This is the reason why now many people are hiring employees from other countries, giving them an unmatched opportunity. It was also discussed that many students who reach colleges are also not of the college level and need to work very hard to pass college, which is also one of the reasons for leaving college. If students start passing out, the demand is able to meet a potential supply; US can achieve economic benefits on a macro level. When majority of the people will work and US will not have to outsource workers from outside, the total GDP will raise. Since this not the case right now, and if this continues to happen then soon US will have international workers at all good posts and its own youth will be working under them, this is expected within the next 20 to 30 years. Arnold Kling also suggested some good ways of teaching students which will not de-motivate the students from studying itself. He suggested that students should not be lectured but instead should be taught in a way that they are able to understand the course well without thinking that it’s not necessary to study it. They should also be assessed properly through quizzes which should not be very easy that people think

Practical Guide to Effective Leadership for School Managers Essay

Practical Guide to Effective Leadership for School Managers - Essay Example One of the benefits that such a practical guide has is with relation to its ability to highlight key issues and problem areas that will likely remain for the duration of time in which the practical guide itself will be utilized. In such a way, a level of self analysis is needed to be performed that that once a task or approach has been completed, a level of inference can be drawn with regards to those areas that could be improved upon as well as noting and further improving those areas that proved to be key successes within the process (Avant, 2010). As a means of this, the following analysis will seek to provide a level of discussion onto the key areas in which the skills that will be noted developed as a function of individual growth as well as teamwork. Furthermore, the mistakes and difficulties that are doubtless to be experienced will also be discussed as a means of seeking to find ways in which personal and professional development can be promoted to a higher degree within the individual school of the current time as well as the future. Although an exhaustive study of these personal and professional factors would require a dissertation length response, this brief analysis will seek to hone in on three unique skills which can be developed through the course of everyday activities and seek to utilize these as a starting point for related difficulties and weaknesses that proved to be key roadblocks, although not insurmountable, in the process (Wilson, 1992). A primary skill that must be developed and leveraged at each and every stage is with regards to ensuring that lines of communication remain upon and healthy. Without this fundamental aspect, it is impossible for the flow of information to allow for a type of self-correcting entity to form that is capable of responding to threats and opportunities (Beccera & Gupta, 2003). Like any other institution/organization, it is the requirement of the educational organization to ensure that effective forms of commun ication be maintained and leveraged at each and every stage so that the entity can continue to express a degree of growth and development that is befitting of the times and demands upon which the environment consists (Elida-Tomita, 2010). Similarly, another key strength that must be sought to be engaged in order for effective communication to take place on any level is the ability of leadership to be able to interact with and gauge the needs that the organization puts forward; almost invariably accomplished via the process of self analysis and introspective means of measurement.

Pacific Northwest History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Pacific Northwest History - Essay Example nds west of the Missouri River that begun during the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and continued with the acquisitions of Texas, the Oregon territory, the Mexican Cessions and ended with the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. This history is written from a viewpoint of whites, with the Indian tribes living on the land previously for several centuries largely ignored, often mentioned only as footnotes. The Indians did not have much documentary records on this. Another important fact when considering the history of the US Pacific Northwest is to acknowledge the existence of the native peoples prior to the arrival of the European settlers to the area. Many history books hardly touch on the sensitive topic and if they do, only cursorily. The Indian peoples, especially in California, burned the foothills and valleys, increasing the spread of grasslands and the number of deer (White 3). In other words, they developed the land to generally make it habitable primarily through slash-and-burn tactics of clearing and this made their land attractive to the new settlers interested in cattle raising ventures. The US Pacific Northwest history is a story of conquests and the mixing of diverse racial groups and is generally conceded to have begun when Europeans first arrived there in 1528 (ibid. 5). Early travelers to the region noted the charred and blackened landscapes, a result of deliberate burning. An account by the peripatetic David Douglas, a Scot employed by the Horticultural Society of London, noted burned and charred terrain in the Willamette Valley in his 1826 journals. The natives said its purpose was to hunt deer easily (Robbins 24). Overton Johnson predicted the West, notwithstanding their wildness and danger, offer inducements for white mans stronger hand to subdue the present wild and implacable inhabitants (ibid. 50). Skirmishes gradually reduced Indian populations and diseases like malarial outbreaks further decimated the natives, illnesses Indians believed were brought

Higher education Essay Example for Free

Higher education Essay According to my knowledge, education helps empower people. I think education helps shape people; it affects how we act, think and respond. Sometimes education can help a person find their path in life. The process of getting a good education, however, may have its flaws. Most of the time, kids who are raised in a poor neighborhood doesn’t get the same opportunities as kids who are raised in a wealthier community. Like Mike Rose, I believed that everyone deserves a second chance in education. Remedial education was created mainly for that reason. It was created to help students who are underprepared and students who are immigrants. Remedial education also helps many immigrants by developing their basic education. Mike Rose pointed out the importance of remedial education in chapters 9 and 10 of his book â€Å"Why School? Reclaiming Education for All of Us†. Remedial education is the foundation of the education system in the United States because it helps ensure the success of many students. Remedial education helps prepare students who has received a bad education and also offers students a second chance to acquire the fundamental skills needed to get back on track. A student’s backgrounds always have a big impact in their education. Most of the time, students who are in remedial education are students who came from a poor background. Living in a poor neighborhood can affects a student’s education greatly because of all the distractions. In chapter 10, Mike Rose talked about a student of his name Kevin. Mike Rose stated â€Å"He was a good student in poor schools, schools with dated textbooks, scarce resources for enrichment, high teacher turnover. † A person future should not be decided because he or she was born in a lower class. If Universities doesn’t offered remedial education, Kevin would most likely dropout of school. After Kevin’s dropout, the chance of him earning a high salary is slim. The result of that creates a cycle that many Americans are struggling to get out of. I think remedial education helps give these students a chance to break that cycle. Like Mike Rose said, remedial education helps these students greatly by giving the students a second chance at education. In chapter 10, Mike Rose stated â€Å"†¦that is the remediation in nation that prides itself as being a ‘second-chance’ society. † Where this nation is the land where everyone is supposedly given the equal opportunities, students should get equal opportunity. The United States was built on the quote â€Å"the land of opportunities†. It is one of the main reasons why the United States is number one on immigrant’s population. Immigrants who immigrate to this country are mostly non-English speakers, they should be able to receive the same opportunity to success like others students. Remedial education helps many immigrants who may need a little extra help for prepare for college. Some colleges view remedial students as a hassle and a waste of college resources. In chapter 9, Mike Rose stated â€Å"Kick remediation off campus, and the primary thing you will achieve is the greater exclusion of American youth from higher education† (Rose 124). Dismissing remedial education is like denying education from the students. Rose’s statement helps reinforce the fact that remedial education helps Universities and Colleges to reach it highest potential. I think that Universities and Colleges should invest more resources in remedial education because it makes them look good. Show others institutions that they are capable of training underprepared students to be highly qualified graduate, now that is an impressive accomplishment. .Remedial education has always been very important in my family. My uncle has always been a person that I admired the most, simply because he worked hard to achieve his American dream. My uncle was a professor teaching at a University in Vietnam. He came to the United State in the year 2000. He spoke no English, yet the desire to learn and succeed had driven him to the land of opportunities. It was very tough at first, but slowly after settling down, he decided to attend a community college. As he recalled, remediation classes helps build his skills. It helped him learn the about the culture, the language, and the importance of communication. He learned that real education come from engaging courses. Courses that help students develop their thinking, as well as, challenge the instructors. He admitted that without remedial education, he would never be able to fully be prepared for higher education. Now my uncle has developed his own business by using the communication skills and networking he learned in his remedial classes. He is the living prove that remedial education are the core of the education system. Although remedial education shows how unprepared American students may be  for college, it also revealed the false in our educational system. As much as the government tries to reform education, there will always be a loophole. For many students who are affected by this, they rely on remedial education as there last hope to get a good education. Remedial education also acts as a review for many students who feel that they are in need to revisit the basics. No matter what nationality or history a student has, he or she deserves a second chance at education and a remedial education ensures this.

Environmental Sustainability in Hotel Industry

Environmental Sustainability in Hotel Industry The project is related to the sustainability of environment in the hotel industry on the basis of waste management, and by taking other concepts from existing hotel industries. The ultimate aim is dependent on many of the vital stages of the thesis like environmental practices in hotel industry, assessment of different tactics of waste reduction in kitchen area, their importance, need for environmental sustainability etc. Research was performed to understand closely the environmental concerns of the hotel industry and recent development and trends in the same. A deep literature review was performed to evaluate the current stages of sustainable development in the environment and it indicates a lot of work has been done and lot has to be done in the field of hospitality industry especially in the hotel segment. According to eco-hotels, concept of sustainable environment is becoming familiar as days go by. The analysis of hotel was purposefully done to get an idea about the preferences in customer demands so as to get the main drivers of the market. Waste management is very useful in identifying the weaker points related to the environmental concerns and impacts. It helps to prioritize different aspects of environmental study. INTRODUCTION: The concept of Sustainability is not new to us. It is the capacity to endure. Now a days because of global warming, tourism and hospitality industry are facing so many problems. It is essential for us to know each and every factor which affects hospitality industry positively or negatively. Now tourists are very concerned about environmental issues. They are demanding eco products, places which are managed in environmentally-aware or friendly manner. But again in hotel industry it is very difficult to convince guest to use eco products or recycled products. Because guests think if they pay a high price for one night stay, why should they compromise with the facilities provided. For example, if guest pays 150 GBP a day and hotel asks the guest to reuse same bed sheet or towel for 2 days then the hotel should reduce room rate. Again the customers reactions to the customer experiences are main concern for the service industry. This is all about environmental sustainability. Ryan (2002) states, future tourism must be concerned with more than just sustainability. Perhaps, after three decades of academics and planning literature on sustainability, we might change our view and speak of sustainable value creation for each of the tourist, the tourist industry and communities. Sustainability is not only about environment. There are four main types of sustainability: human, social, economical and environmental. Out of the four, concentrating on environmental sustainability is the need of the hour. United Nations defines it as: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Environmental sustainability maintains the balance between social and economical development keeping in mind environmental protection. As we all know that the hotels are a part of the tourism industry. For Tourism industry it is very essential to protect our environment i.e. Environmental Sustainability. So we can automatically sustain the hotel industry. The hotel industry is correctly managed in protected areas, and it can become an effective instrument and an economic resource towards conservation. The main factors affecting an organisation in its effort to improve its market share involve hoteliers, consumers and employees in ways that contribute to an eco friendly environment. This proposed study will serve to offer such an understanding of these environmental demands in regards to the Hotel industry and potential/existing organisational success based on proper focus surrounding them. There are a number of hotels which are participating in environmental programmes. Ecotourism destinations tend to be self destructive and risky due to improper audits and environmental assessments. Sustainable hotel operations are the once that aim at minimizing their impact on surrounding natural environment and society. Environmental management in hotels is that minimises the impact of hotel practices on environment such as. BACKGROUND OF STUDY: In the last decade of the 20th century, incorporation of environmental sustainability began in the hotel industry. This philosophy changed into an agenda. This was developed into Agenda 21 which is a programme run by the United Nations and is related to sustainable development. This was the first summit that discusses global warming issues. One of the projects launched in 1995 within the framework of Agenda 21 i.e. Sustainable Salen. The main aim of this project was to relate to the threat of erosion of some slope, waste management and waste water treatment within Salen area. With the adoption of Agenda 21, hotel industry was also encouraged to adopt practices which helped in environmental sustainability. [Halme M. [emailprotected] LEARNING FOR SUSTAINABILE DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM NETWORKS. JAN 2001.] Now more and more hotels are taking part in sustainability practices to reduce their impact on nature. *Around 80% of European hoteliers are involved in this environmental programme. Like promotion of eco products, energy conservation programme, waste management programme, recycling, reusing product etc. But again this helps in increasing the profit levels of the organisation by controlling the expenditures. This is for the organisations benefit. But looking for an environmental benefit what are the measures hotels take internally. Hotels should identify areas for improvement and innovation at the property level and support the efforts of the Green Teams at each of the departments. Work diligently to minimize the organisational waste stream and conserve natural resources like water, energy, and food as well. STUDY RATIONALE Environmental Sustainability is required for the protection of the natural resources. Because of pollution, population these resources are on the way of vanishing. Human activities are responsible for these problems. They are using these resources in an improper way which is the cause for global warming. It is a big issue in front of the world and because of those historic monuments are damaged and places of visit are polluted and the flow of visitors is decreasing. As studying about this industry it is very essential to know each and every factor which affects positively and negatively on hotel industry. As we all know that again the hotel industry is a part of environment. If hotel industry is correctly managed in protected areas it can become an effective instrument and an economic resource toward conservation. In terms of learning about sustainability development it seems that there need to be stakeholders to make wider understanding of it. So now hotels are also taking efforts t o improve its employees share in ways that they contribute for eco friendly environment. Kitchen is an area where the most of the waste is produced compared to the other departments of the hotel. This area was neglected some years ago but now most of the hoteliers are focusing to treat the waste in kitchen area. This proposed study will serve to offer such an understanding of these environmental demands in regards to the hotel industry and existing organisational successes in waste management programme in kitchen department based on proper focus surrounding them. 1.4. OBJECTIVES: Previous study has identified waste management as a key with respect to the environmental sustainability in hotel industry. Therefore waste management, which includes the recycling, reuse etc., plays a crucial role in the success of environmental sustainability in hotel industry. This study is concerned with the kitchen waste management practices in hotel sector. The selection of kitchen area particularly because a number of studies have noted a significant performance in other department like Housekeeping and Front Office etc. than kitchen. This lag has been largely attributed to the lack of attention or participation of staff in kitchen area. The dissertation is therefore concerned with the reasons for this lag and how they might be addressed based on investigation in this area. Following are some of the objectives which we have examine To assess the need for Environmental Policies and Management in the hotel sector. To evaluate the current situation with regard to environmental policies and actions in the hotel sector. To undertake a case study focusing on waste management in hotel kitchens in order to assess a. The effectiveness of current environmental management practices b. The barriers to further improvement in waste management practices c. The factors influencing attitudes of kitchen staff to waste management practices 4. To assess the contribution that waste management can make to environmental sustainability in the hotel sector 5. To make recommendations on how waste management practices in the hotel sector can be improved. 1.5 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE: This dissertation consists of six chapters in which main subjects about environmental sustainability are outlined and analysed. This dissertation starts with the execute summary in which the whole dissertation is explained briefly. First chapter is Introduction where the aims and objectives, background as well as the structure of this study are described which give a main scenario in this particular subject. Chapter two consists of Literature Review where the previous research is critically reviewed for the good understanding of environmental sustainability and waste management concept, theory and new trends which came into the hotel industry that are very essential and relevant with this study. Different authors research and thoughts serve very informative about environmental sustainability as well as their importance. This chapter represents the deep study and conceptual framework related topic leading to the research. Chapter three is the methodology of this dissertation. It is about how the research is done, what are the strategies used, sampling of data, case study approach with the evidence of case study and procedures of interviews are introduced in this chapter. Finally the research model is presented at the end of this chapter. Chapter four demonstrate the finding and analysis of the data collected from interviews. This analysis of data collection is the stem for conclusion and recommendation. Chapter five is about result of finding and analysis. This study outlines some important recommendation and limitations of the case study as well as some suggestions for future research. The flow of this study is illustrated in Figure 1. Identify Research topic and Research Questions Critically Review Literature Develop Conceptual Framework Selection of Methodology Data Collection Sample Selection Secondary Data Primary Data Analysis of Data Presenting Findings and Results Conclusion, recommendation, and Suggestions for Future Research 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this chapter is to identify and review the relevance of previous literature in order to better understand environmental sustainability and waste management programme in hotel industry. This chapter is divided into seven sections. The second section presents a brief summary of the Sustainable development in hotel industry. Third section focuses on environmental management in hotel sector. Section four argues about the motivation for ISO 14001 in hotels and other environmental certifications. Section five introduces the waste management definition and concept. Section six examines the role of waste management programme in hotel sector. And lastly chapter seven focuses on the kitchen department and waste management in kitchen area. 2.2 ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN HOTEL INDUSTRY: The term sustainability first came into existence used in 1970s when more attention was given to taking care of environment and overutilization of it. The most common used definition was named by the World Commission on Environment and development in 1983. Later in the year 1987, this report called as Brundtland report. According to Brundtland report, Sustainability Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is also explained by John Elkington in the book Cannibal with Forks that it is a triple bottom line which covers factors like economic, environmental and social. In practical terms, company should not only consider the financial benefits but also look at the environmental and social functioning. A Sustainability Development, though it is a vital component of profitability for hotel industry today and an opportunity for the industry, again it is about meeting the ever-increasing chal lenges due to environmental, social, economic and technological changes that are faced by hotel sectors. Sustainability is a crying need for hotel industry on the path of rapid economic growth. Practitioner should emphasise the efforts of hospitality business to promote sustainable development by conserving natural and cultural resources on which hospitality industry depend. The simple and easy to understand definition of Sustainability Development is the 3Ps acronym: Profit, People, and Planet. It means profit is for people on the planet. *But planet is at risk. Approximately 6 million people are at risk due to natural disasters like flooding and droughts. Climate change is a big problem which is concern for this risk. Our planets natural resources are on the way of vanishing. Human activities are responsible for overutilization of these resources. People should focus on renewable resources rather than non-renewable such as solar, water, etc. Now governments, consumer groups, non-g overnment organizations are taking part to make awareness of this programme and to educate people about this. In recent years, Sustainable Development has taken centre stage in the hospitality industry. So much has been written and spoken about sustainability, but not much has done for the implementation of sustainability practices. There are very few examples about sustainable initiatives There is a need of more critical evaluation of existing things and techniques in the area of sustainability. The main purpose of sustainability development is to secure economic development, social equity and environmental protection and they are interdependent on each other. As we are not sure about our future, but it should be preferably sustainable one. 2.3 An Overview of Environmental Management in Hotel Sector: There are currently a number of significant environmental threats which creating risk for future generation like the green house effect and depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, over-consumption of non-renewable resources and global air pollution, etc. The hotel industry discovers many of the conflicts which arise when carrying out environmental policies. Hotel is industry which comes more contact with people and can make more awareness of environmental management programme Environment Management is management of an organization in such a way that it will reduce or eliminate the negative impact on the environment without having any harmful impact on our future generation. In other words its fulfilling the present needs without harming the future generation needs. In this era of time all the different types of industries are trying to step forward and help prevent or minimize the negative impact on the environment for the betterment of the future. Our Hotel Sector is one of those industries which have been taking very active participation in this area. Hotel industry as compare to the other big production industries has a relatively less impact to the environment and as the people have started realizing the importance of the environment impact so its a kind of way to improve the image of the brand in front of the guests and also a way to help the environment. In order to carry out the environment management properties carry out an audit which helps them to understand the scope and areas where they can implement new standards. Many properties form a committee which meets on a periodical basis and discuss policies and standards to improve the system. Government have also started many rewards which motivates the properties to take active part in the environment management. As any rewards achieved will help to improve the brand image and as this generation is more interested towards the environment friendly things so it helps the property to improve their image and get more business. Some of the methods followed in our industries to help improve environment management are: Conserving natural resources Recycling Waste reduction Raising environment awareness among guests and the associates Reduction of pollution Importance of environment management: Focuses on continual improvement of the system Environment Management helps cost control. As many properties have implemented recycling policies for example glass, plastic, office paper, printer and copy machine toner cartridges. In guest rooms many hotels have a recycling container which gives the guest a opportunity to be a part of the good work. Provides a systematic way of managing an organizations environmental affairs Water conservation is a very good option in this management. Hotels have started to recycle the water with proper treatment and use of low flow. Restrictors on faucets and showerheads which help to save a lot of water. Use of low-flow fixtures saves a thousand of gallons per year. Training the staff in a proper way will help to carry out this process in effective way and awarding their efforts to help the environment will make the staff more interest in putting their efforts in to it. Encouraging the guests to take part in helping the environment by using good green choice programs which will make them interested to take part in to it will also help to reach our ultimate goal. Menu planning to reduce waste food It is a system which serves as a tool to improve environmental performance Gives order and consistency for organizations to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes 2.4 Motivation for ISO 14001 in the hotel industry: The 1SO 14001 is a standard for Environment Management System (EMS) which is developed by International Organization for Standardization. It is for all types of business and organization. It is a nongovernment organization launched in 1947. The ISO 14001 EMS is with the specification of guidance for use. According to Tibor Feldman (1996) T. Tibor and I. Feldman, ISO 14000: a guide to the new environmental management standards (pp. 237), Irwin Professional Publishing, Chicago (1996).Tibor Feldman, 1996, ISO 14000 standards were developed mainly in response to the development of national EMS standards in various countries, which forced companies to deal with dozens of potentially incompatible systems from each country in which they conducted business. There are number of hotels like Inter-Continental, Marriott, Hilton International, Ramada and Holiday Inn Worldwide have taken initiative by adopting environmental programmes to protect our planet. There are various reasons for to adopt this programme. Hotel sector can reduce their impact by implementing environmental programmes like water, energy and material conservation and reducing operating cost. By doing so, they could also achieve company image and customer satisfaction. 2.5 An introduction to waste management 2.5.1 Definition It is the collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal, and monitoring of waste materials. The term usually relates to materials produced by human activity, and is generally undertaken to reduce their effect on health, the environment or aesthetics. Waste management is also carried out to recover resources from it. Waste management can involve solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive substances, with different methods and fields of expertise for each 2.5.2 Concept of Waste Management There are a number of concepts about waste management which vary in their usage between countries or regions. Some of the most general, widely used concepts include: Waste Hierarchy: This hierarchy generally based upon the following 3R concept a} Reduce b} Reuse c} Recycle. This classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimization. This will use as a most useful technique in todays era and which is a cost effective too. The aim of the waste hierarchy is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste. Polluters Pay Principle: In this concept the waste generator has to bear the cost of waste disposal and generally he has to bear the cost which compensates the harm caused to the environment. According to the waste management, the producer of the waste has to pay/compensates against waste decomposition charges. Extended producer responsibility : Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a strategy designed to promote the integration of all costs associated with products throughout their life cycle (including end-of-life disposal costs) into the market price of the product. In this the manufacturer has to bear the all charges which are responsible for all waste produced during each phase of it like waste produced during manufacturing, packaging, selling. In this system producer has the liability of the waste generated throughout the life cycle of the product. According to the diagram which is above shows that the two approaches to the waste management: Most favoured option This contains the methods which are generally used so that it will make the waste disposal easy. They are Prevention Reduce or minimisation Reuse Recycle Least favoured option This contains the methods which are generally not used because of the expensiveness or not easily accessible or may be these methods are land, capital, time, and labour consuming. These are two viz energy recovery and disposal. 2.5.3 Procedure The few basic principles to reduce solid waste to be followed by every nation: (Jonkoping, Swedan, 1993) Reduce the amount of thrash discarded Reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging Adopt practices that reduce waste toxicity Reuse containers and products Consider reusable products Maintain and repair durable products Reuse bags, containers and other items Borrow, rent or share items used infrequently Sell or donate goods instead of throwing them Recycle -use recycled materials and compost Choose recycle products and recycle them Select products from recycled materials Compost yard trimmings and some food scraps Respond to the solid waste dilemma by reconsidering waste-producing activities and by expressing preferences for less waste Educate others on source reduction and recycling practices Make your preferences known to manufactures, merchants and community leaders Be -creativefind new ways to reduce waste quantity and toxicity 2.5.3 Importance 2.6 Role of Hotel industry in Waste Management Programmes 2.7 Hotel Waste Management in Kitchen area CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction: This chapter talks about the methodology used by the researcher for this study. This mainly focuses on the research objective and defines the specific guideline which helps to researcher for the research design, research methods and approach, process, strategy, sources of data collections, sampling issues and procedures for interviews, etc. In short this chapter illustrates the concept which used for primary and secondary data collection. According to Sekaran (1992), research has been defined as: An organised systematic, data based, critical, scientific enquiry and investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the objective of finding answers or solutions to it. -Sekaran (1992) The research methodology of the present dissertation is influenced and structured by the process onion, which was introduced by Saunders et al. (2003). In order to write the methodology this section divided into five sections which provides clear explanation about the dissertation research process. 3.1 Research Philosophy: A research philosophy represents a researchers perception of the way knowledge is constructed (Saunders et al., 2003). There are three philosophies which we can use for dissertation such as positivism, interpretivism and realism philosophies. It is very important to clear the research philosophy which is a base for methodological framework. The philosophy, which is used in this dissertation, is interpretivism philosophy. It means where researcher can focus on exploring the topic by the application of critical interpretations and gradually establishing research conclusions (Remenyi et al., 1998). 3.2 Research Approach: There are two distinctive research approaches such as inductive and deductive. This research usually associated with qualitative research method. This method is chosen in this study because it is good way to collect deep knowledge and detailed data to preserve the entire view of participant in the case study. Much of data is taken from the previous literature while to find out current trends primary research method is used like interviews and observation, etc. 3.3 Research Strategy: In research, we often refer to the two broad methods of reasoning as the deductive and inductive approaches. A research strategy is a tool which is uses for exploring a research questions. There are six strategies which uses in dissertation such as survey, grounded theory, action research, experiment, ethnography and case study (Saunders et al., 2003). The present research is a case study on Waste Management in Kitchen Area. According to Merriam (1998), if writers want to get an understanding of the situation in depth, a case study approach is a good choice. The case study approach is flexible to allow researcher to develop the research question during the research. This research is mainly focuses on extracting knowledge through literature review. Then the second step is taking in-depth interviews to collect data which is called primary research method. 3.4 Time Horizon: Another essential factor in research process is Time Horizon. There are two distinctive time horizons such as longitudinal and cross-sectional. The present dissertation has longitudinal time horizon as it is appropriate for case study approach research and data collection. A longitudinal research is a process which studies particular factor for given period of time as it constructs the ability to conduct a long term study. 3.5 Data Collection Method: In order to identify the waste management practices in the hotel industry, case study approach is used to explore the environmental programmes run by the hotel industry and their role in these practices. The present dissertation incorporates the case study research strategy and in-depth interviews. In this respect, it can be concluded that the present study is built on a combination of secondary and primary data. This both methods are depending upon each other as secondary data provides good theoretical framework whereas primary data leads to the address the most important issues in the present circumstance. 3.5.1 Secondary Data: The secondary data used described as multiple source of data collection. To identify the concept of environmental sustainability secondary data from journals, articles and hotels will be used. From this Waste management concept will be understood. Work by various accepted authors like Herve Houdre, Abraham Pizam, Philip Sloan, Joseph S. Chen, Willy Legrand, Sasikumar Gopi Krishna, etc. have been argue upon to reach an agreement. Thus, the researchers are investigating more into this matter to sustain the environment and hotel industry. 3.5.2 Primary Data: According to Sekaran (1902), primary data is a search for the information in order to build up the researchers understanding towards the area of the subject. This data is extracted through the taking in-depth interviews, survey and by observations. 3.5.2.1 The Researcher Observation Data: The researcher is also working in hotel sector and therefore able to collect data by practical experience and observation. Therefore, as employee of Hotel Crown Plaza, Wembley, London (Five star Hotel) and working in food and beverage department observer was able to collect data from kitchen area by observation. 3.5.2.2 Interviews: Interviews can be formalised and structured. It can be formal and informal conversation. According to Guion (2006, p1), an in-depth interview is an open-ended which is also known as unstructured interview. It is a common data collection method for discovery oriented study. For in-depth interviews analysis of different levels of hotels will be done. For that four types of hotels were studied like five star, four star, three star and private hotel. In this case study researcher has used unstructured and structured interviews. Due to some reasons like lack of acceptance from the five star hotel management, researcher couldnt take live interviews in each and every hotel; therefore researcher used the structured interview by email to interviewee. In four stars and in private hotels, researcher has taken live interviews which were unstructured. A questionnaire with both closed and open ended questions have used. Using a structured and unstructured interview, the roles of kitchen department in waste management programme in hotels industry will be identified. Interview was related to kitchen employee participation inside the hotel and attitude towards waste management programme outside the hotel. Are they keeping same attitude outside the hotel like when they are at work. The questionnaire made to discover the perspective of kitchen staff about environmental sustainability and waste management programme in hotel sector. Interview was conducted with head chef who is responsible for implementation and observation of the waste management programme in kitchen area. Interview is also conducted with two commi chef and one kitchen porter who are participating in this programme. On the basis of collected data the analysis and comparison was done which served the actual position of hotel industry in terms of environmental programme and what measures should be taken to improve this practice. The result of all this will help in analyzing the status of sustainability in hotel sector. Employees serve a vital important role in environmental programmes in hotels. Suitable education and training not only increases knowledge but also elevates their awareness of environment protection which supports resource conservation. 3.5.2.3 Survey: Survey is a detailed study about specific area

Hate crimes :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Victims of hate crimes vary in the indiscretions placed against them, whether it is from a simple slander to a vicious attack. But they all have the same mutual notion that the crimes that were committed against them are far above other crimes because they were carried out in hate. I believe that the idea of creating a separate punishment for crimes of this nature is absolutely nonsensical and inane in theory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the attached article, it states that â€Å"Congressional negotiators stripped a measure to strengthen 1960s-era hate crimes law from a massive defense bill, likely killing for this year the effort to broaden hate crimes protections for gay people and the disabled (Reuters, 2004).† This action, for some, it a disappointment and a big step back in their movement. â€Å"Backers of the hate crimes legislation, a top priority for gay rights and disabled advocacy groups (Reuters, 2004)† seem more interested in intensifying punishment that is only against them. Such cases that they believe deserved intensification are those like â€Å"the dragging death of a black man named James Byrd in Texas (Reuters, 2004)† and â€Å"the fatal beating of a young gay man named Matthew Shepard in Wyoming (Williams, 2004).†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But I believe the ideals that those kind of people are fighting for is a futile effort and a lost cause. Singling out crimes and criminals with the addition of â€Å"hate† has no added value in the context of the crime. A crime that has been committed in the essence of hate is only as valid as a crime that is not completely perpetrated out of hate. And yes, a hate crime is seen as more debauched in our growingly politically correct society, but under the scrutiny of law it should not be seen as a special crime in need of special punishment. In our legislation we should not make a special needs section to satisfy the victims of intolerance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In our society everything and everyone is suppose to be equal, and in classifying two different murderers as one being a hate murderer and the other simply a murderer is not acceptable. Now I am not trying to defend murders in my accusations but rather am trying to make a point. Crimes that are committed out of intolerance of one’s beliefs or actions are no different than a crime that is committed out of pure pleasure per se.

Discussion of Abortion Essay -- Social Issues Abortion Teen Pregnancy

Discussion of Abortion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abortion is the surgical termination of a pregnancy. How odd that people are able to define something, that is such a controversial issue, so easily. There are hundreds, thousands, and even millions of things to say about abortion. When it comes to abortion, I find myself thinking like a symbolic interactionist. Abortion is a personal social issue and it needs to be seen on a micro level first. Although abortion can also be seen on a macro level, seeing abortion on a micro level lets people see the different symbols of abortion. No social condition creates the same symbol. If abortion is seen on a macro level, all the myths and stereotypes of abortion seem more realistic. For example, some of those myths and stereotypes being, most abortions are from minorities and most people who have abortions are teen girls. If abortion were seen on a micro level it would be evident that these myths and stereotypes are simply not true. Every abortion that occurs has a story beh ind it or a reason behind it. Many of us automatically assume that the person who had the abortion is immoral without even knowing the reason for why the abortion took place in the fist place. And this brings up a series of questions. When is an abortion considered moral or immoral? What should the legal status of abortion be? Should the father have a say if one should have an abortion or not? The answer to these questions are within a persons own mind and how they view this social condition. My answers to these questions are as follows.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that when an abortion is considered moral or immoral all depends on the symbol. For instance, one of my family members had an abortion and I found her decision to have an abortion moral. The symbol behind my family members abortion is as follows. For the purpose of privacy I will refer to my family member as Kate and her first love as Sam. When Kate was fourteen years old, she met her first love. They both went to the same high school but Sam was two years older than Kate. Sam and Kate went out for the next two months and got closer with each passing date. Sam was one of the popular guys in school and could have any girl he wanted so Kate didn’t understand why he was setting his eyes on her. Kate was extremely flattered that Sam even considered going out with her. So as one of the popular guys in school and being... ... in our society for a long long time, maybe even forever. One to two percent of women who have had an abortion will have another one. Twenty percent of abortions are still back ally abortions and thirty nine percent of women that have back ally abortions become infernal. It is really hard for me to believe that there are one point five million abortions every year and that’s only counting the legal abortions. The number one thing that divides moral from immoral when it comes to abortion is the symbol. The symbol basically decides all opinions on abortion. If the symbol is of a woman with a life threatening pregnancy then people would consider this woman’s abortion moral. On the other hand, if the symbol is of a woman that just doesn’t feel like having a baby and wants to get an abortion then people would consider this woman’s abortion as immoral. Like I said before it all depends on the symbol. This is why, when it comes to abortion, I find myself thin king like a symbolic interactionist. There are just too many different symbols of abortion to think of it in a macro level. Symbolic interactionists are completely right when talking about abortion, well at least that’s my opinion.

Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club :: Essays Papers

Joy Luck Club Anaylsis In the movie "Joy Luck Club," four women are introduced. Their lives are described, their mother's lives are described, and their grandmother's. This movie shows three generations of Chinese women and how each of their lives have progressed and changed. Through every generation, there is a constant underlying tension between mother and daughter. The pressure that a mother applies to her daughter is described. In one incident the mom forced her daughter to play the piano. The daughter didn't even like playing the piano. However, the mother forced her daughter to practice daily, and perform in talent shows. When the daughter would complain, the mom would reply by saying, "don't be disobedient." It's sad when a mother forces their child to participate in something that the child doesn't feel in their heart. However, pressures like this aren't just applied by Chinese mothers. In America it is so common to see parents (mom and dad) forcing their child to do something against their will. My best friend, Rachel, is half black and half white. She is really tall and an incredible basketball player. Sadly she is so sick of playing basketball. Her mom forces her to practice everyday, attend basketball camps, play for the school team and a recreational team. Rachel's mom is making Rachel play basketball in college. Althou gh Rachel is amazing on the court, she doesn't like it. Similar to the scene in the "Joy Luck Club," both mothers are pressuring their daughters to do something that they have no desire to. This creates major tension between mother and daughter. Sadly, it seems that parents don't realize the pressure they apply. In the mean time their children are growing to hate the particular activity and dislike their parents. Another scene where tension between mother and daughter is shown is when the daughter breaks down and begins to cry because of not feeling accepted by her mother. The daughter complains that through her entire life, she has never met her mom's standards. Anything that she does or did, was inadequate and always in need of improvement. The decisions she makes in her life can never be perfect. The man she marries, the job she takes and anything else never satisfies her mom.

Political compromise Essay

Evaluate the extent to which political compromise contributed to maintaining continuity as well as fostering change concerning sectional tntions in the period of 1820-1861. Sectional tensions had always existed in America, however during the period of 1820-1861 differences in the North and South became so serious that the nation was on the verge of division. There were many attempts at compromise, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, but to no affect. Disunion and division could not be avoided and the Civil War began in 1861. There were many issues dividing the North and the South, the most controversial of which was slavery. Slavery was seen as a moral abomination in the North and revered as a way of life in the South. Northern reformers and others wanted slavery to end, while Southerners were devoted to its preservation. When Missouri applied for admission to the union as a slave state in 1819, the balance between non-slave states and slave states in the nation was threatened. There was violent debate until the Missouri Compromise was submitted by Henry Clay. Under this compromise, Maine was admitted as a free state, Missouri was admitted as slave state. However the compromise was later thrown away after the Supreme Court ruled in Dred Scott v. Stanford. Scott decided to sue for his freedom after his master had held him in a slave free state on multiple occasions. The Chief of Justice at the time, Roger Taney, disagreed with Dred Scott and even argued he had no right to sue for his freedom because he wasn’t technically a citizen. This lead to the court rule that congress had no right to ban slavery in any area in particular and the Missouri compromise was overturned. Northern fears of Southern Slave power grew, which further divided the nation. Another ultimately unsuccessful attempt at negotiation was the Compromise of 1850. California had experienced a huge population increase and was ready to apply for statehood as a free state. Southerners objected because the balance of Slave states vs. Free states would be tipped to the Free states. Once again, Henry Clay had a solution. He proposed compromise admitting California as a free state and banned the sale of slaves in Washington D.C., but strengthened the Fugitive Slave law to keep the South happy. Overall, sectional tensions were hardly decreased by any compromise. The divisions were too deep, and no political compromise could bridge them. The country was left with no solution and the tensions  exploded into the Civil War.

Prison makes bad people worse Essay

In the year 2002, there were just over 68,000 persons in prison in England and Wales, 6,000 in Scotland and 1,200 in Northern Ireland. In the case of England and Wales, this is a few thousand more than in 1999, but at this time the plateau stood in marked comparison to the trend up to 1997-8 and it was by no means certain that this could be maintained, (Morgan, 2002). These findings serve to highlight the progressive increase in rising prison numbers in the UK the causes of which are continually in debate and beg the question; what happens when there is no more room left in our prisons? For the purpose of this essay, this author assumes that the statement â€Å"prison makes bad people worse† infers that an offender, who serves a custodial sentence, is more likely to re-offend upon release. Before evaluating this statement and reaching a conclusion, this author will introduce a brief history of the prison system in an attempt to offer an understanding of how imprisonment has become the most severe penalty imposed on offenders in the UK today. Prisons all over the world have existed for many years for the purpose of confining those in society who have committed a crime serious enough to warrant such a sentence. The purpose of prison is now not only to inflict a punishment but also to attempt to rehabilitate offenders contrasting with the early days of imprisonment where little rehabilitative work was done. A custodial sentence is now the most severe penalty that an offender can be sentenced to in the UK following the abolition of the death penalty in 1965. Imprisonment is intended to punish offenders through restricting freedom and liberty as well as unfavourable living conditions in the name of ‘less eligibility’, (Morgan, 2002). This in no way is intended to suggest that conditions in prisons are inhumane although reports exist from previous investigations that would suggest otherwise. Punishment for offenders was served in a very different manner prior to the nineteenth century. Punishments at this time in the main consisted of physical punishment which would often involve torture, public humiliation and even execution. After decades of this type of punishment being administered, the torture and public humiliation elements ceased. The infliction of physical pain was replaced by the principle that the loss of rights and wealth would serve as an adequate deterrent for further offending. Although this altered form of punishment apparently focused on the mind of the individual, it could still be argued that custodial sentences still impose an element of physical torture indirectly by food rationing, sexual deprivation and solitary confinement. These aspects of punishments are still relevant within the penal system today, (Flynn, 1998). Many different explanations exist for why this change from physical punishment to imprisonment came about, one of which argues that the reason for the shift was due to humanitarianism and reform which would offer a more humane and civilised alternative to the methods of previous years, (Wilson, Ellis, Mikulski, & Nash, 2003). An opposing argument suggested that this was not the case and that the defining of a new age and more effective punishment by focusing on the reform of offenders into the ‘disciplined subject’ were the main reasons for this shift in operation, (Foucault, 1977). Despite this argument, one of the most influential factors associated with how prisons operate in the UK today is the concept of human rights. The 1998 Human Rights Act governs these rights. Along with this, the Prisons Inspectorate introduced guidelines on what factors should constitute a healthy custodial environment based on international human rights principles. Arising from the World Health Organisation’s influence, four tests are used to identify whether a healthy custodial environment is present. Firstly, prisoners must be held in safety. Secondly, they must be treated with respect and dignity as human beings. Thirdly, they must be able to engage in purposeful activity, and lastly, prisoners must be prepared for resettlement into the community prior to release, (Owers, 2003). Because of the unpleasantness of imprisonment it is necessary for this type of punishment to be justified. Prison can be very unpleasant for many offenders as their liberty is severely reduced, their contact with family and friends is minimised, and it can infer many social disadvantages that may lead to offenders becoming socially excluded upon their release from custody. In order to justify imprisonment as a viable punishment, numerous theories or arguments have been introduced in an attempt to support this sentencing option. One argument that attempts to justify imprisonment is the concept of Reductionism. This argument suggests that custodial sentences reduce the number of crimes committed. Those in agreement with this theory also argue that the number of crimes committed will be less if someone is punished in this manner, than there would be if no punishment were imposed at all, (Cavadino & Dignan, 1997). This theory also suggests that society as a whole, has a greater influence than the individual and therefore an offender would be powerless to justify not going to prison if he/she had committed a crime that endangered public safety, (Abercrombie, Hill, & Turner, 1988). However, it could be argued that this theory suggests that crimes are only committed by those who are in prison ignoring the concept that there are many in society committing crimes that have never been caught. Deterrence is another theory used to justify imprisonment as an appropriate punishment by arguing that people will not offend because they are too fearful of the consequences should they be caught as the punishment is seen as too severe. There are two elements to this theory, firstly there is individual deterrence which suggests that an offender will not re-offend because the punishment they received last time was so severe that it has deterred them from doing it again. Secondly, there is general deterrence which argues that a punishment imposed on one offender for a crime will deter others from offending, as they know exactly what the consequences are. At first glance, deterrence theory appears to hold validity, but in reality research findings have indicated that sentencing offenders to custodial sentences has a more influential effect. Once an offender has been in prison they may find themselves labelled by the rest of society and categorised into a stereotype with unfavourable connotations. This may hinder their attempts to live lawful lives for example; problems getting a job and even psychological effects, which may become apparent in their behaviour, (Cavadino & Dignan, 1997). This evidence could be used to support the argument that prison does make people worse. Rehabilitation theory suggests that some forms of punishment can actually reduce the likelihood of re-offending and alter an offender’s behaviour and attitude. Together the prison service and the probation service are heavily involved with rehabilitation as well as the treatment and training of offenders, (Wilson et al, 2003). As a main aim of the prison service to assist in the rehabilitation of offenders, the provision of accredited programmes such as PASRO (Prisons Addressing Substance Related Offending) and ETS (Enhanced Thinking Skills) attempt to address prisoners’ offending behaviour whilst in prison. However, a report by the Social Exclusion Unit found that the prison experience causes such damage to an offenders’ rehabilitation that it outweighs the effectiveness of the programmes, (Solomon, 2003). Another criticism of the penal system is that many offenders are sentenced to such short periods of custody that they are unable to gain access to any rehabilitative interventions. This evidence could also suggest that prison can make bad people worse. The theory of incapacitation implies more emphasis on public protection rather than the behaviour of offenders which coincidently is another main remit of the probation service. Quite simply, this theory argues that if an offender is in custody they are unable to commit crime and therefore ensuring public safety for the duration of the sentence giving piece of mind to members of society, (Ainsworth, 2000). It could be argued that this theory fails to recognise that crime often occurs within prisons including violence, bullying and drug offences. Another criticism of this theory is that as mentioned earlier, the public will only be protected in this manner for the duration of a sentence. Lastly, retribution theory holds that punishment is imposed on an offender to redress the balance between offenders and their victims in making sure that the offender suffers for their crime. Ainsworth (2000), recognises that seeing an offender incarcerated may make the victims feel that justice has been done. However, this is often not the case as many offenders receive sentences that the victim may feel does not reflect the harm that has been caused to them as a result of the offence. Now that some of the justifications for imprisonment have been discussed, it is now possible to explore conformity within prisons which may assist in reaching a conclusion on whether the statement â€Å"prison makes bad people worse† can be justified. Conformity, a theory closely linked with labelling theory, suggests that an individual may conform to social rules or may even assume a social role because it is recognised as the norm in their environment. Heavily influenced by the levels of power, social roles exist predominantly in the prison environment especially between prison officers and offenders. One study that attempted to explore power dynamics and how easy it is to assume a role was conducted in August 1971 by psychologist Philip Zimbardo and was named the Stanford Prison Experiment. Twenty-five male volunteers took part in the experiment and were taken to a mock prison where each person was assigned a role of either prisoner or guard. The guards had the authority to dictate 24 hour a day rules to the prisoners the results of which were shocking and are still referred to today. A number of prisoners had to be released due to mental health illnesses arising from the trauma of the situation. The experiment, which was intended to last for two weeks, was terminated after six days due to the pathological reactions of the prisoners who ironically had been selected for their normality. The findings were that the environment transformed the participants and after a few days, the role dominated the person, (Alexander, 2001). This experiment highlighted social power as the being the major factor in the participant’s behaviour as all the guards at some point displayed abuse, authoritarian attitudes, and appeared to enjoy being in control. Zimbardo argued that this abnormal behaviour is a product of transactions within an environment that supports this behaviour. The labels placed upon the participants became valid in this environment and pathological behaviour was the outcome, (Wilson et al, 2003). This experiment still has implications for the prison system today in that Zimbardo argued that the current prison system is guaranteed to cause severe pathological reactions within prisoners causing a debasement of their humanity, low self esteem and making it difficult to integrate into society outside of prison, (Wilson et al, 2003). This would suggest that labelling and conformity theories are a case for prison making bad people worse. Whilst in prison an offender may assume a role that could be continued upon their release. Zimbardos’ experiment provides an adequate basis for discussing the sociological theory of a prison subculture sometimes referred to as the inmate code. The prison society exists apart from the rest of society and therefore it is understandable that norms and values are very different between the two. Sykes (1958) found that the inmate code is something that may give a prisoner an identity and help them to cope with the effects of imprisonment. The code is thought to include certain rules such as not fraternising with staff, acquiring a position in the inmate ‘pecking order’, and giving the impression of toughness in emotion and physical appearance. Clemmer (1940) argued this to be part of the prisonisation process which arguably reinforces criminal behaviour as prisoners become used to opposing authority which is likely to continue in the outside world, (Cited in Morgan, 2002). Therefore, attempts at rehabilitation may be hindered by this and could be used to argue that prison makes bad people worse. So what statistical evidence is there to support the statement â€Å"prisons make bad people worse†? Reports into the subject have found that prisons have a poor record in reducing re-offending and that 59% of offenders are reconvicted within two years of release. For male youths under the age of twenty-one, the reconviction rate is 74% over the same period of time. Research findings from the Social Exclusion Unit have indicated that re-offending by ex-prisoners costs society approximately ? 11 billion each year and that they are responsible for one in five recorded crimes, (Solomon, 2003). This evidence would appear to suggest that people who have served custodial sentences have been made worse by the experience and that imprisonment is not an effective punishment. Contributing to this argument is the theory that these statistics are only obtained from recorded crime suggesting that the figures may in reality be significantly higher as many crimes are not recorded. In conclusion it would appear that there is much evidence to support the claim that prison makes bad people worse such as the statistical evidence revealing reconviction rates. On the other hand, there are also arguments for prison as an effective punishment such as the justifications for imprisonment including rehabilitation and deterrence theories. It would appear that prison does indeed have an influence on some prisoners re-offending but it would be difficult to assume that this is the case for all offenders who have served a custodial sentence. This would suggest that for some offenders prison is effective and for others it is not. Having said this, it is important to recognise that prison does ensure public safety from offenders who pose danger to society, but only for the period they are in custody unless they emerge from prison rehabilitated. For those offenders who could be dealt with in another manner, community penalties offer the versatility in sentencing options necessary to provide effective punishment without contributing to the growing problem of increasing prison numbers. It is therefore vital that the most appropriate punishment is imposed individually taking the crime and the offenders’ circumstances into account when sentencing.

Aisha Bint Abu Bakr

Aisha Bint Abu Bakr has a major and significant role in adjusting the Muslim Ummah. It was she who was named the mother of the believers, it was she who transmitted 2210 ahadeeth that we find in books of Prophetic narrations that we read today and it was she who memorised the amazing and glorious book of Allah (s. w. t) the Quran, but who is this decent women? Aisha Bint Abu Bakr was one of the wives of The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w). She has contributed a lot for the sake of Islam as many hadiths have been narrated from her. Aisha (R. A) was born in 614 CE in the well-known city of Mecca after both her parents had embraced Islam.This was an advantage for Aisha (R. A) as she was free from any polytheism since she was born. However her death took place in Medina when she was at the age of 65 in 678 CE during the blessed month of Ramadan. Aisha was born to Umm Ruman and Abu Bakr As-Sadiq who was the closest companion to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w) and had the significant rol e of being the first khalifa of Islam. Most scholars say that Aisha (r. a) was only 9 when The Prophet (s. a. w) asked for her hand in marriage and he was at the age of 43; however she only went to live with the prophet when she reached maturity at the age of 12.Aisha had a very amazing and astonishing personality that surprised Other women Aisha everyone. Aisha (r. a) had significant intelligence and was very knowledgeable. Aisha (RA) was a very brave person that wasn’t frightened of talking back to people in order to find out the truth. When she would beat someone in an argument, The Prophet (s. a. w) would display a smile upon his face and would comment ‘she is the daughter of Abu Bakr (R. A). It was once said that Aisha was so wise that if her knowledge was placed on one side of the scales and all of the other women on the other, Aisha’s side would outweigh the other.Aisha bint Abu Bakr (R. A) is undoubtedly one of the greatest teachers produced by Islam. She had an important role in education and social reform as many Muslim boys and girls were trained with her assistance. Therefore her house had become an Islamic Academy. As a successful teacher, she had a clear persuasive manner of speech. One of the early Muslims stated â€Å"I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr (R. A) and Umar (R. A), Uthman (R. A) and Ali (R. A) up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of Aisha (R.A)†. Aisha (R. A) was married to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w) for 9 years. During the period of time that they were married, many important events occurred that helped shape up the destiny of the first Muslim Community of Medina. It was during their progress of marriage that the qibla was changed from facing the direction of Jerusalem to the direction of the Kaa’bah. Not only did the qibla change, but drinking alcohol was completely forbidden and it also became essential for women to wear the hijab in public and during prayer.The guidance of how to fast was revealed, zakat had become compulsory on every Muslim and all rites of the hajj were purified and clarified during the course of her marriage to The Prophet (S. A. W). Most of Aisha’s life spent with The Prophet (S. A. W) was gaining knowledge from Allah’s two main sources of guidance; the Quran and the Sunnah of The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w). Aisha was one of the four people who transmitted more than 2000 hadiths. Many of these hadiths would be about The Prophet (S. A. W)’s personal behaviour or hygiene that only a person as close as Aisha could have learned about. During Aisha’s marriage, The Prophet (s. . w) married many other women for several reasons from strengthening ties between important families or tribes to relieving the adversity of women who had been divorced or widowed. However the most important reason for these marriages was because Allah willed them as they were righteous women . When Aisha (R. A) lived with The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w), a lasting and strong friendship was built between her and Sawda; who was also one of The Prophet (s. aw. )’s wives. Sawda took care of Aisha and the household. When Aisha grew up she was given the title of ‘Umm al –Mumineen’ meaning the ‘Mother of the Believers’.This title was given to all of The Prophet (s. a. w)’s wives as they were very respectable women. The Quran clearly states that it is forbidden for any man to marry any of the wives after The Prophet Muhammad (s. a. w) for: â€Å"The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are as their mothers. † (Qur'an: 33:6) â€Å"O you wives of the Prophet, if any of you is openly indecent, the punishment for her will be doubled – and that is easy for Allah. And whoever of you submits to Allah and His Messenger has right action, We shall give her a reward twice over and We have prepar ed a generous provision for her.O you wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women. If you are fearful of Allah then do not be soft in yspeech, lest someone whose heart is sick is attracted to you, but speak words that are wise. And stay quietly in your houses, do not make a dazzling display like that of the time of ignorance before and establish prayer and pay the Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Surely Allah wishes to remove impurity far from you, O People of the House, and to purify you completely. And remember that ayahs of Allah that are recited in your houses and the wisdom.Surely Allah is Alpervading, All Aware. † (Quran 33:30-34). In conclusion, Aisha (r. a)’s life is a significant example of how women should live. Before Islam, women had a very low status. However when islam was revealed, women were given an important and high position. We should learn from Aisha to be knowledgeable and modest Muslims. She had an important role in islam as she transmitted more than 2000 hadiths that we read today, and she taught many people about islam that is passed down from generation to generation. References: #http://www. isemuslimwomen. org/muslimwomen/bio/aisha_bint_abu_bakr/ #http://www. islamawareness. net/FAQ/aisha_new. html #www. smashwords. com/books/download/30155/†¦ /aisha-ra. rtf #http://harunyahya. com/en/works/114361/Our_mother_Hazrat_Aishas_(ra)_knowledge_ #http://southernmuslimah. wordpress. com/2007/09/06/great-women-in-islam-aisha-bint-abu-bakr/ #http://www. islamawareness. net/Muhammed/ibn_kathir_wives. html #http://magicalprincessdiaries. blogspot. com. au/2009/02/aisha-ra. html #http://almoltaqa. ps/english/showthread. php? t=4177