On National Prejudices, by Oliver Goldsmith - Classic Essays

On National Prejudices, by Oliver Goldsmith - Classic Essays Irish poet, essayist, and dramatist Oliver Goldsmith is best known for the comic play She Stoops to Conquer, the long poem The Deserted Village, and the novel The Vicar of Wakefield. In his essay On National Prejudices (first published in the British Magazine, August 1760), Goldsmith argues that it is possible to love  ones own country without hating the natives of other countries. Compare Goldsmiths thoughts on patriotism with Max Eastmans extended definition in What Is Patriotism? and with Alexis de Tocquevilles discussion of patriotism in Democracy in America (1835). On National Prejudices by Oliver Goldsmith As I am one of that sauntering tribe of mortals, who spend the greatest part of their time in taverns, coffee houses, and other places of public resort, I have thereby an opportunity of observing an infinite variety of characters, which, to a person of a contemplative turn, is a much higher entertainment than a view of all the curiosities of art or nature. In one of these, my late rambles, I accidentally fell into the company of half a dozen gentlemen, who were engaged in a warm dispute about some political affair; the decision of which, as they were equally divided in their sentiments, they thought proper to refer to me, which naturally drew me in for a share of the conversation. Amongst a multiplicity of other topics, we took occasion to talk of the different characters of the several nations of Europe; when one of the gentlemen, cocking his hat, and assuming such an air of importance as if he had possessed all the merit of the English nation in his own person, declared that the Dutch were a parcel of avaricious wretches; the French a set of flattering sycophants; that the Germans were drunken sots, and beastly gluttons; and the Spaniards proud, haughty, and surly tyrants; but that in bravery, generosity, clemency, and in every other virtue, the English excelled all the world. This very learned and judicious remark was received with a general smile of approbation by all the companyall, I mean, but your humble servant; who, endeavoring to keep my gravity as well as I could, I reclined my head upon my arm, continued for some time  in a posture of affected thoughtfulness, as if I had been musing on something else, and did not seem to attend to the subject of conversation; hoping by these means to avoid the disagreeable necessity of explaining myself, and thereby depriving the gentlemen of his imaginary happiness. But my pseudo-patriot had no mind to let me escape so easily. Not satisfied that his opinion should pass without contradiction, he was determined to have it ratified by the suffrage of every one in the company; for which purpose addressing himself to me with an air of inexpressible confidence, he asked me if I was not in the same way of thinking. As I am never forward in giving my opinion, especially when I have reason to believe that it will not be agreeable; so, when I am obliged to give it, I always hold it for a maxim to speak my real sentiments. I therefore told him that, for my own part, I should not have ventured to talk in such a peremptory strain, unless I had made the tour of Europe, and examined the manners of these several nations with great care and accuracy: that, perhaps, a more impartial judge would not scruple to affirm that the Dutch were more frugal and industrious, the French more temperate and polite, the Germans more hardy and patient of labour and fatigue, and the Spaniards more staid and sedate, than the English; who, though undoubtedly brave and generous, were at the same time rash, headstrong, and impetuous; too apt to be elated with prosperity, and to despond in adversity. I could easily perceive that all of the company began to regard me with a jealous eye before I had finished my answer, which I had no sooner done, than the patriotic gentleman observed, with a contemptuous sneer, that he was greatly surprised how some people could have the conscience to live in a country which they did not love, and to enjoy the protection of a government, to which in their hearts they were inveterate enemies. Finding that by this modest declaration of my sentiments, I had forfeited the good opinion of my companions, and given them occasion to call my political principles in question, and well knowing that it was in vain to argue with men who were so very full of themselves, I threw down my reckoning and retired to my own lodgings, reflecting on the absurd and ridiculous nature of national prejudice and prepossession. Philosphers of Antiquity Among all the famous sayings of antiquity, there is none that does greater honour to the author, or affords greater pleasure to the reader (at least if he be a person of a generous and benevolent heart) than that of the philosopher, who, being asked what countryman he was, replied that he was a citizen of the world. How few there are to be found in modern times who can say the same, or whose conduct is consistent with such a profession! We are now become so much Englishmen, Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Spaniards, or Germans, that we are no longer citizens of the world; so much the natives of one particular spot, or members of one petty society, that we no longer consider ourselves as the general inhabitants of the globe, or members of that grand society which comprehends the whole human kind. Did these prejudices prevail only among the meanest and lowest of the people, perhaps they might be excused, as they have few, if any, opportunities of correcting them by reading, traveling, or conversing with foreigners; but the misfortune is, that they infect the minds, and influence the conduct even of our gentlemen; of those, I mean, who have every title to this appellation but an exemption from prejudice, which, however, in my opinion, ought to be regarded as the characteristical mark of a gentleman: for let a mans birth be ever so high, his station ever so exalted, or his fortune ever so large, yet if he is not free from national and other prejudices, I should make bold to tell him, that he had a low and vulgar mind, and had no just claim to the character of a gentleman. And in fact, you will always find that those are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or no merit of their own to depend on, than which, to be sure, nothing is more natural: the slender vine twi sts around the sturdy oak for no other reason in the world but because it has not  strength  sufficient to support itself. Should it be alleged in  defense  of national prejudice, that it is the natural and necessary growth of love to our country, and that therefore the former cannot be destroyed without hurting the latter, I answer, that this is a gross  fallacy  and delusion. That it is the growth of love to our country, I will allow; but that it is the natural and necessary growth of it, I absolutely deny. Superstition and enthusiasm too are the growth of religion; but  who ever  took it in his head to affirm that they are the necessary growth of this noble principle? They are, if you will, the bastard sprouts of this heavenly plant; but not its natural and genuine branches, and may safely enough be lopped off, without doing any harm to the parent stock; nay, perhaps, till once they are lopped off, this goodly tree can never flourish in perfect health and vigour. Citizen of the World Is it not very possible that I may love my own country, without hating the natives of other countries? that I may exert the most heroic bravery, the most undaunted resolution, in defending its laws and liberty, without despising all the rest of the world as cowards and poltroons? Most certainly it is: and if it were notBut why need I suppose what is absolutely impossible?but if it were not, I must own, I should prefer the title of the ancient philosopher, namely, a citizen of the world, to that of an Englishman, a Frenchman, a European, or to any other appellation whatever. Continued from page oneDid these prejudices prevail only among the meanest and lowest of the people, perhaps they might be excused, as they have few, if any, opportunities of correcting them by reading, traveling, or conversing with foreigners; but the misfortune is, that they infect the minds, and influence the conduct even of our gentlemen; of those, I mean, who have every title to this appellation but an exemption from prejudice, which, however, in my opinion, ought to be regarded as the characteristical mark of a gentleman: for let a mans birth be ever so high, his station ever so exalted, or his fortune ever so large, yet if he is not free from national and other prejudices, I should make bold to tell him, that he had a low and vulgar mind, and had no just claim to the character of a gentleman. And in fact, you will always find that those are most apt to boast of national merit, who have little or no merit of their own to depend on, than which, to be sure, nothing is more natura l: the slender vine twists around the sturdy oak for no other reason in the world but because it has not strength sufficient to support itself. Should it be alleged in defense of national prejudice, that it is the natural and necessary growth of love to our country, and that therefore the former cannot be destroyed without hurting the latter, I answer, that this is a gross fallacy and delusion. That it is the growth of love to our country, I will allow; but that it is the natural and necessary growth of it, I absolutely deny. Superstition and enthusiasm too are the growth of religion; but who ever took it in his head to affirm that they are the necessary growth of this noble principle? They are, if you will, the bastard sprouts of this heavenly plant; but not its natural and genuine branches, and may safely enough be lopped off, without doing any harm to the parent stock; nay, perhaps, till once they are lopped off, this goodly tree can never flourish in perfect health and vigour. Is it not very possible that I may love my own country, without hating the natives of other countries? that I may exert the most heroic bravery, the most undaunted resolution, in defending its laws and liberty, without despising all the rest of the world as cowards and poltroons? Most certainly it is: and if it were notBut why need I suppose what is absolutely impossible?but if it were not, I must own, I should prefer the title of the ancient philosopher, namely, a citizen of the world, to that of an Englishman, a Frenchman, a European, or to any other appellation whatever.

The Bank War Waged by President Andrew Jackson

The Bank War Waged by President Andrew Jackson The Bank War was a long and bitter struggle waged by President Andrew Jackson in the 1830s against the Second Bank of the United States, a federal institution which Jackson sought to destroy. Jacksons stubborn skepticism about banks escalated into a highly personal battle between the president of the United States and the president of the bank, Nicholas Biddle. The conflict over the bank became an issue in the presidential election of 1832, in which Jackson defeated Henry Clay. Following his reelection, Jackson sought to destroy the bank and engaged in controversial tactics which included firing treasury secretaries opposed to his grudge against the bank.   The Bank War created conflicts which resonated for years. And the heated controversy created by Jackson came at a very bad time for the country. Economic problems which reverberated through the economy eventually led to major depression in the Panic of 1837 (which occurred during the term of Jacksons successor, Martin Van Buren). Jacksons campaign against the Second Bank of the United States did ultimately cripple the institution. Background on the Second Bank of the United States The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in April 1816, in part to manage debts the federal government had taken on during the War of 1812. The bank filled a void left when the Bank of the United States, which had been created by Alexander Hamilton, did not have its 20-year charter renewed by Congress in 1811. Various scandals and controversies plagued the Second Bank of the United States in the first years of its existence, and it was blamed for helping to cause the Panic of 1819, a major economic crisis in the United States. By the time Andrew Jackson became president in 1829, the problems of the bank had been rectified. The institution was headed by Nicholas Biddle, who, as bank president, exercised considerable influence over the financial affairs of the nation. Jackson and Biddle clashed repeatedly, and cartoons of the time depicted them in a boxing match, with Biddle cheered on by city dwellers as frontiersmen rooted for Jackson. The Controversy Over Renewing the Charter of the Second Bank of the United States By most standards, the Second Bank of the United States was doing a good job of stabilizing the nations banking system. But Andrew Jackson viewed it with resentment, considering it a tool of an economic elite in the East that took unfair advantage of farmers and working people. The charter for the Second Bank of the United States would expire, and thus be up for renewal, in 1836. However, four years earlier, in 1832, prominent senator Henry Clay pushed forward a bill that would renew the banks charter. The charter renewal was a calculated political move. If Jackson signed the bill into law, it might alienate voters in the West and South and jeopardize Jacksons bid for a second presidential term. If he vetoed the bill, the controversy might alienate voters in the Northeast. Andrew Jackson vetoed the renewal of the charter of the Second Bank of the United States in dramatic fashion. He issued a lengthy statement on July 10, 1832, providing the reasoning behind his veto. Along with his arguments claiming the bank was unconstitutional, Jackson unleashed some blistering attacks, including this comment near the end of his statement: Many of our rich men have not been content with equal protection and equal benefits, but have besought us to make them richer by act of Congress.Henry Clay ran against Jackson in the election of 1832. Jacksons veto of the banks charter was an election issue, but Jackson was reelected by a wide margin. Andrew Jackson Continued His Attacks on the Bank At the beginning of his second term, believing he had a mandate from the American people, Jackson instructed his treasury secretary to remove assets from the Second Bank of the United States and transfer them to state banks, which became known as pet banks. Jacksons war with the bank placed him in bitter conflict with the banks president Nicholas Biddle, who was as determined as Jackson. The two men sparred, sparking a series of economic problems for the country. In 1836, his last year in office, Jackson issued a presidential order known as the Specie Circular, which required that purchases of federal lands (such as lands being sold in the West) be paid for in cash (which was known as species). The Specie Circular was Jacksons last major move in the bank war, and it did succeed in virtually ruining the credit system of the Second Bank of the United States. The clashes between Jackson and Biddle likely contributed to the Panic of 1837, a major economic crisis which impacted the United States and doomed the presidency of Jacksons successor, Martin Van Buren. Disruptions caused by the economic crisis which began in 1837 resonated for years, so Jacksons suspicion of banks and banking had an effect that outlived his presidency.

How Far External Auditors are Committed to Code of Conduct in Saudi Thesis

How Far External Auditors are Committed to Code of Conduct in Saudi Arabia, and the Ways which Encourage them to Follow Professional Behaviour - Thesis Example Scope of the study: The study will cover a wide area of auditors’ ethics. This research will involve a detailed study of the accounting and external auditing standards of Saudi Arabia. The code of conduct of the country’s accounting standards will also be studied. Study about the external auditor’s commitment to such code of ethics is the major area of study. Finally, this research will suggest a set of important recommendations that might help to improve the professional behaviour of external auditors in Saudi Arabia, and encourage them to commit code of conduct. World over very few studies were conducted in the field of personal values and accounting ethics. One among such few studies is ‘Effects of personal values on auditors’ ethical decisions.’ The study was mainly conducted among practicing auditors. The study however revealed that personal values and preferences do not influence the ethical decisions in accounting. It explains that other than personal values it is contextual factors that promote unethical behavior in accounting. Another study on ethics and auditing is, ‘Testing the bases of ethical decision-making: a study of the New Zealand auditing profession.’ The study showed that most of the auditors did not avoid a difficult situation. The study also showed that demographic factors like age, gender, job profile, etc. did not influence a person’s ethical behavior in their profession. There was another study that was done to find the relationship between cultural influences on professional ju dgment and auditor client-conflict resolution. The study was focused on auditing professionals of Australia, China, Malaysia and India. There was clear difference witnessed in the behavior of Australian auditors compared to that of the Asian counterparts. This is a slightly different view than the study, ‘Effects of personal values on auditors’ ethical decisions.’ â€Å"New corporate governance rules

Preparing People to Manage, Support and Use of ERP systems Dissertation

Preparing People to Manage, Support and Use of ERP systems - Dissertation Example , the quantitative and qualitative data were subjected to both statistical and thematic analysis. The study has found that the employees who were investigated expressed that loss of control of the organisation and complexity of ERP were acceptable in their present organisation along with the effectiveness of the alignment of ERP to business process and strategy and the resistance of users. In addition, the study likewise found that Planning was a key enabler of ERP implementation, along with management of the project and education and training. The variable of culture has particularly been disagreed upon as an enabler of successful ERP implementation. In addition, it was also found that management of the project, education and training and involvement of users are all significant, positive predictors of effectiveness of ERP deployment. As such, a number of recommendations had been presented. Acknowledgements Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. Background 9 1.2. Project Rationale 1 2 1.3.Project Aims and Objectives 13 1.3.1. Project Aims 13 1.3.2. Project Objectives 13 2. Literature Review 2.1. Introduction 14 2.2. ERP systems: A Brief Overview 14 2.2.1. The Importance of ERP systems 15 2.3. Obstacles to the Effective Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning 19 2.4. Factors that Positively Affect Effective ERP Implementation 25 2.5. Empirical Studies 32 2.6. Conclusions 37 2.6.1. Key Conclusions 38 2.6.2. Refined Research Questions 40 3. Research Methodology 3.1. Introduction 41 3.2. Research Philosophy 41 3.3. Research Strategy 42 3.4. Data Generation Methods 43 3.5. Data Analysis 46 3.6. Sampling 46 3.7. Ethics 47 3.8. Limitations 48 3.9. Conclusions 48 4. Results and Discussion 4.1. Introduction 50 4.2. Questionnaire Analysis 50 4.3. Interviews Analysis 74 4.3.1. Business Process and Strategy 74 4.3.2. Loss of Control of the Organisation 74 4.3.3. Complexity of ERP 75 4.3.4. User Acceptance/ Resistance of Users 75 4.3.5. Planning and Management of the Project 76 4.3.6. Teamwork 76 4.3.7. Support from Top Management 77 4.3.8. Communication 78 4.3.9. Management of Change/Culture 78 4.3.10. Education and Training 79 4.3.11. Overall Effectiveness of the ERP Implementation 79 4.4. Discussion 4.4.1. Introduction 80 4.4.2. Obstacles in ERP Implementation 80 4.4.3. Enablers in ERP Implementation 83 4.5. Conclusions 85 5. Conclusions and Recommendations 5.1. Conclusions 87 5.1.1. Conclusion 1 87 5.1.2. Conclusion 2 88 5.2. Recommendations 5.2.1 Recommendations 1 89 5.2.2. Recommendations 2 89 6. Personal Reflection 90 Bibliography 91 Appendices 97 List of Tables Table 1. Items measuring obstacles in ERP implementation 46 Table 2. Items measuring enablers in ERP implementation. 49 Table 3. Gender: Frequency and percentage breakdown. 50 Table 4.. Age: Frequency and percentage breakdown. 51 Table 5. Level: Frequency and percentage breakdown. 52 Table 6. Tenure: Frequency and percentage breakdown. 59 Table 7. Descriptive statistics:

John Brown Essay Example for Free

John Brown Essay John Brown was from Connecticut, born in strict religious family in 1800. At 12, after seeing a slave being brutally beaten, swore to never forget that day. In the mid 1800’s he decided to campaign against slavery in Kansas and Nebraska, so did the pro-slavery who campaigned for the continuation of slavery. With the murder of six anti-slaverists and that slave who was beaten many years ago, he decided that: â€Å"In order to end slavery, violence must be applied† (John Brown). In 1956, at the town of Lawrence, Pro slavery members destroyed the anti slavery head quarters and killed 6 of its members. John Brown observed the violence that erupted at Lawrence town. John Brown was set on revenge and on May 24th he and 6 of his followers pulled 5 men from the Pro slavery camps at Pottawatomie Creek and killed them. To avoid charges, John Brown went to New England to charge and raised money for 2  ½ years in order to purchase weapons. He was financially supplied by a secret group of six wealthy men who supported his ideas. In October 16, 1859, John Brown and 21 followers decided to take the weapons of the military arsenal in Harpers Ferry. John Brown hoped that giving the slaves weapons, they would revolt against slavery but they didn’t show up in the battle. John Brown was intercepted by the US. Marines led by Robert E. Lee. The Marines were victorious and John Brown was captured. He faced charges in Virginia and he was hanged. The execution of John Brown led the nation to divide itself into two polars, one believed that all men are born free and another who believed that Black people should be slaves. Some say that John Brown was martyr and others say that he was a terrorist and his efforts were in vain. John was a martyr who fought and died for his beliefs, and his sacrifice leaded to the abolition of slavery, so yes John Brown was a courageous abolitionist who died for a cause he believed in.

Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton :: Cry, The Beloved Country Essays

The novel â€Å"Cry the Beloved Country† is based on the true-life story of South African apartheid, and the native’s struggle for equality. During the book, Stephen Kumalo goes on a journey to find his sister, and his son, for they have left the tribal land of KwaZulu-Natal a long time ago, and neither Kumalo nor his wife have heard of the whereabouts of either family members. As he goes on his journey, the things that he sees, and experiences tell the much greater story of Apartheid in South Africa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Kumalo arrives in the city, he is in the midst of the poverty and confusion that is the great city of Johannesburg where people from all the native tribes go to find jobs, money, and housing among other things. He sees everything that is going on around him, all the oppression that his people have to go through, and the way they are treated. When he went and found his sister, she was living in horrible conditions, and this really was the way that most black people lived. They had their own part of the city, with their own schools, and their own busses, because the apartheid issue was so strong. By going along with Kumalo we, the reader, see how harsh everyday life is for the natives of South Africa. While Kumalo was on his journey, he passed through the shantytowns where only black South Africans lived, and the busses that they were striking against. We see how difficult it is to go through everyday life as a black person, and how hard it is to get from place to place if you do not know all the right people. This is the way that true South African life was for most people who lived there. It was not a good situation for anyone to be in. There was much disease being spread throughout, and in the awfully crowded living conditions it was hard to escape it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another example of the apartheid that was shown through Kumalo’s journey was the example of the bus strike. None of the natives agreed to take the bus for as long as they would have to pay outrageous rates.

World Hunger

We will often hear of people’s desire to solve world hunger, or to help feed and alleviate the suffering associated with it. However, meaningful long-term alleviation is rooted in the alleviation of poverty, as poverty has always led to hunger. As our efforts have only been directed at providing food, and improving food production or distribution, we then generate the structural root causes that create hunger, poverty and dependency to still remain. Along with this; continuous effort, recourses and energies are given to relieve the pains of hunger in our world. There are many inter-related issues that are the cause of hunger; these are also the same factors that are known to cause poverty. Agricultural practices, war, drought, overfishing and the wasting of food; are some of the many causes of both world hunger and poverty. Because they are connected in a way; solving world hunger becomes hard and nearly impossible to stop. Both hunger and poverty have always led to each other in the end; making the issue uncontrollable and unstoppable. In order for one of these issues to be solved, would require the alleviation of the other; causing a long, endless chain of continuation. Hunger and poverty are very serious issues, and in no way should just be swept under the rug. The amount of food that gets thrown away each day is shocking; and could probably feed 100 people. We don’t do this intentionally; but we waste pounds of food each day, by taking more than what we truly need. World Hunger is something that shouldn’t be such a big problem; but the truth is-it is, it always has been, probably always will be. We’ve got to stand our ground and fight hunger and poverty, cause they can’t do it alone, no one can. We must begin to think a little less about ourselves, and a little more about each other. World hunger and poverty have become very important to me because I have helped out at a homeless shelter, and I have seen the faces of these people; I’ve had the oppertunity to make a connection with them, a connection that most people wouldn’t understand. These people are fighters, you can see it in their eyes. They are survivors of the biggest battle, a battle that they shouldn’t have to fight, a battle that most people don’t even have to think about; and the amazing thing is, they haven’t stopped; their still fighting. They shouldn’t have to do this alone, I am one out of probably a million people who are trying to help them fight this battle; cause I care. All it took was one day, and it has completly changed my life. Seeing all these people, looking into their eyes, feeling their pain; yet seeing a heart full of hope and joy. It has become a life-changing experience that I will never forget. In conclusion, there are a lot of people in our world, with enough food to provide everyone twice a day, yet there are still so many people that are suffering and dying of hunger. We have to face this problem, not turn away from it. I have personally grown to love these people with all my heart, because what they have gone through is truly amazing. They have changed my life forever, and I hope a can help change theirs.

Great-Man Theory Essay

Introduction As I have read about it, a particular interest in my has been raising about the wonderful way many people has utilized their natural abilities as a medium of reunion and leadership. I found a string link between this gifts or skills these men had and their particular behavior in the time they lived. I would like to talk about the special characteristics that had to be present; more specific the building process of a divine individual, a prophet capable of guiding its people and the importance they have represented to humanity, whether realistic or not, since the theory has been around ever since. Great-Man Theory In order to get to know more about the theory of the great man, we should not ignore that this is a theory based on leadership. So, what is leadership? Scholars have defined leadership as â€Å" the process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task†. To my personal beliefs, leadership is: a medium to an end, it is a very particular tool with which gifted individuals in the interpersonal field can either alone or together command, guide, and lead another group of people towards completing an established goal by cheering, supporting and setting a relation with the subordinates based on a strong dose of trustworthiness. Now, the Great-Man theory of leadership according to Winston & Patterson (2006) refers â€Å"to the idea that leaders possess innately superior qualities that distinguish them from other people, including the ability to capture the imagination and loyalty of the masses.† In other few words, that leaders are born, not made. Winston & Patterson (2006) also quote that â€Å"a leader achieves influence by humbly conveying a prophetic vision of the future† meaning that he resonates with the follower beliefs and values in such a way that the follower can understand and interpret the future into present-time action steps. According to Leadership Central (2012) Dr. Thomas Carlyle a true believer of this theory would say that â€Å"effective leaders were a package of Godly motivation and the right personality.† Under this definition, the same Dr. Thomas Carlyle, this time quoted by Lapham’s Quarterly (2012) included as great-man leaders historical characters such as â€Å"Muhammad, Shakespeare, Luther, Rousseau, and Napoleon† undoubtedly amazing leaders that shaped their time. But, other many scholars – and I think I am going to take their side – refute this theory. Although Cherry (2012) gives a different definition, and I quote â€Å"the great man theory is a conjecture aimed at explaining the history of the effect of the great born men or heroes: people of great authority, thanks to their charisma, intelligence and wisdom have used their power in such a way as to leave a decisive historical impact† there is a powerful contradictory hypothesis quoted by Leadership Central (2012) in which they say â€Å"Herbert Spencer one the most forceful critics of the theory explains that the great-man theory is a nativist hypothesis of leadership† and in this approach, leaders cannot be made, but just born. Of course, the leader nativism is highly refutable, cultural skills are by definition highly refutable and acquirable only through human interaction and an environment conducive to the transmission of knowledge. Leadership Central (2012) focuses in that â€Å"many factors in life shape the individual’s skills to lead† and I believe their in the right position, since leaders are a product of society, which means leaders are shaped by the time they live in and not the way around. Let’s take another example of a another so called â€Å"great-man’ leader. This time we have John Fitzgerald Kennedy, a famous character not only in his home country, but around the globe. His incredible abilities as a leader are not put in doubt, though the fact that he was this good just because he was born that way for sure are. Although factors such as â€Å"your up-bringing, education, experiences are only modeling your leadership abilities† says Lapham’s Quarterly (2012), a person’s background and circumstances may have influenced what they are, it is only in their hands the responsibility of what they want to be. Other examples to refute this nativism theory are Stephen R. Covey’s paradigms shifts and rescripting. Since a paradigm is the way an individual perceives, understands, and interprets the surrounding world, â€Å"a paradigm shift is a change in thinking when we gain additional insight and understandings† (Covey, 1989). Anything could influence the way a individual thinks, and this individual could perform a rescripting process, proving that a person does not have to be born with superior skills to acquire a leader scheme, but he can obtain them throughout lived experiences. Cherry (2012) explains that the term â€Å"Great Man† was used â€Å"because, at the time, leadership was thought of primarily as a male quality, especially in terms of military leadership†. To make it clear, this leadership theory leaves behind women despite they could have innate abilities (I’m not saying this is the only ability they have) which is the basis of the â€Å"great-man† theory. For example, we have had great women capable of leading people, on the one hand the ex-prime minister of Britain, Margaret Thatcher also known as the â€Å"Iron Lady† which is the longest-serving British prime minister of the last century. We also find Oprah Winfrey, who not only is one of the most richest women in the world, but named also as the most influential women in it. So, was Dr. Carlyle in the right position, or is it the time he lived that did not allow women to arise as great leaders? Earlier when I gave my own definition of leadership and said that leadership is a matter of persons who can either alone or together exercise their leadership skills, I knew it was not only me, it results that Winston & Patterson (2006) think similar to me, since they say that â€Å"leadership may be provided by a group of persons†. Having said that, we can now refute another focus of this great-man theory concentrated in that leadership â€Å"can only be exercised by one person, the great man† (Cawthon, 1996). While some might say this is true, because most of companies, countries, or firms have one person as it’s head leader, well this is true. But, let’s face it there can not be more than one president in a nation, there can not be more than one president in a firm o company. Although there is the board of directors, which is the group in charge of every decision the company should take. All in all, yes, according to Cherry (2012) â€Å"you can find more individuals as leaders than groups as leaders†, but that does not mean, groups don’t exist, to the contrary, they exist more than ever, and a good example of that is the music group â€Å"The Beatles† which you can say was the most influential band of the last century leading into a simple cause millions of people. You can find also groups leading millions of people to manifest against the violation of human rights, more recently the group called Invisible Children Inc. who â€Å"only employs 43 people but with its movement has encouraged thousands more† to spread the word about Joseph Kony’s crimes (ICU, 2012). â€Å"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has† (Mead, 1970). I completely agree with Cawthon (1996) when he says that many people, of course â€Å"scoff at the theory, because it is anecdotal and unscientific†. At the end, the great-man theory does not have any credibility, because even though the ability to lead is directly linked to one’s personality, the belief that leaders are born and not made finds no veracity. In our times, it is meaningless to think of it as a viable explanation for a person’s skills in guiding, since it’s been proved that the this theory popularized in the 1840’s but suggested much earlier, only took into consideration men born in a social status that would allow them to lead regardless of their abilities, from there the hypothesis of the innate leader. Nowadays that particular matter has been changed, since a person’s background is not judged but instead their ability to be a leader is highly paid. As Cawthon (1996) says â€Å"Individuals in every society posses different degrees of energy, moral force and intelligence, and in whatever direction the masses might be influenced to go, they are always led by the superior few†. In the managerial world, Winston & Patterson (2006) say â€Å"a growing number of leaders from different parts of the world are being formed† so do not let people fool you when they say someone was born to be a leader, because given today’s uncertainty many so called traditional leaders are being superseded by those with best abilities to manage people. So, you better base your leadership skills in what you have learned, most importantly in what you truly are and let other people influence you before you can exercise a bigger influence on them, because leadership is doing the right things. Do not ever live upon other’s expectations, you are what you choose to be, for that, being a leader is not being born a leader living what others have scripted, but rescripting your life and forging yourself through stimulating yourself from experiences and knowledge acquired in life. After all If your actions inspire others to learn more, dream more, become more and do more, you are a leader. REFERENCES Cawthon, D.L (1996). Leadership: The great man theory revisited. Business Horizons, 39(3), 1-4. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from Academic Search Premiere. Cherry, K. (2012). The great man theory of leadership. Journal of Effective Management, 3(2), 10-17. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from Academic Search Premiere. Covey, S.R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people. Provo: Free Press. Invisible Children (2012). More about us. Retrieved April 14, 2012, from www.invisiblechildren.com Lapham’s Quarterly. (2012). Great man theory. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/voices-in-time/great-man-theory.php Leadership Central. (2012). Great man theory. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from www.leadership-central.com Mead, M. (1970). Culture and commitment. San Francisco: Natural History Press. Winston, B. & Patterson, K. (2006). An integrative definition of leadership. International Journal of Leadership Studies, 1(2), 7-14. Retrieved April 7, 2012, from Academic Search Premiere.

The presence of racism in Hemi essays

The presence of racism in Hemi essays There are many questions that Hemingway's novel raises in the reader, but I'm only going to talk about the presence of racism in it. At first reading one might not notice the signs of racism, and might not understand why the young Indian man killed himself while his wife was giving birth to their baby. These questions cannot be fully answered of course, because we do not know the writer's intentions. Every statement I'm going to make is based on my own opinion, other people might have different interpretations of this novel. I think Nick's father and Uncle George were aware of their racist attitude, but they tried to hide it even from themselves. They tried to act as if they looked at the Indians as equal, for example when Uncle George gave both Indians (who were rowing the boats) cigars. This gesture is particularly important, because of the special meaning of "smoking" in the Native American culture. I also think that the lack of Nick's father's self esteem can partly be caused by his bad conscience. This is why he needs Uncle George to reassure him: "Oh, you're a great man, all right." On the contrary to the above, they sometimes fall out of this "role". For example when Nick asks his father to give anaesthetic to the Indian lady who is in labour, the father answers the following? "...her screams are not important. I don't hear them, because they are not important." This statement clearly shows that Nick's father does not pay attention to the suffering of an Indian woman, because she is simply "not important". I believe that this is not the right attitude for a doctor, who is supposed to help anyone without considering the person's skin colour. And couldn't the sentence : "I don't hear them, because they are not important." refer to all Indians? Uncle George also shows absolute lack of sympathy when the woman- who is in great pain- bites his arm. He says the following: "Damn squaw bitch!"- which indicates the he does not re ...

Word Choice Adapt vs Adopt - Proofeds Writing Tips Blog

Word Choice Adapt vs Adopt Word Choice: Adapt vs. Adopt There are many English words which are spelled similarly but have completely different meanings. The words adapt and adopt, for instance, are separated by a single vowel in terms of spelling but differ significantly in use. In cases like this, it is important to use each word properly. Doing so will help you to avoid easily preventable mistakes and ensure that you communicate your ideas clearly. As such, we’ve prepared the following guide to help you know when to adapt and when to adopt. Adapt (Change to Suit a Specific Purpose) The term â€Å"adapt† means to make something suitable for a specific situation or purpose. You might therefore want to â€Å"adapt† a novel into a film or a recipe to make it gluten-free. It can also refer to the ability to adjust to new circumstances: Being able to adapt was important for survival in the jungle. In either case, â€Å"adapt† refers to making an adjustment of some kind. Adopt (Make Ones Own) The word â€Å"adopt† means to take something on as one’s own. There are numerous contexts in which this can be used, including taking on the legal responsibilities of a parent: Jenny and Jane decided to adopt the orphan child. However, adopt can also be used more broadly to describe following a course of action or appropriating an idea. For example: After reading de Saussure, Kim adopted a structuralist approach. In both cases, the key to understanding â€Å"adopt† is that someone is choosing to make something their own. Adapt or Adopt? Since these words have very different meanings, the main thing is remembering how each one is spelled. If you are having trouble with this, you might want to focus on just one of the words: if you remember that â€Å"adapt† is spelled with an â€Å"a† and means â€Å"to change,† you will then know that â€Å"adopt† (with an â€Å"o†) means to appropriate something as one’s own. But it can be easy to overlook these things, so to make sure that your writing is free from unfortunate mistakes, you can send academic papers, business reports or any other document you might need checking to the expert proofreaders at Proofed. We’ll even check a 500-word sample for free! And if you need more guidance on vocabulary, don’t forget to check out the word choice archive in our academic blog.

How might a constructionist approach to gay, lesbian, bisexual or Essay

How might a constructionist approach to gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans persons differ from both a biological essentialist and a - Essay Example This paper analyses three approaches used understand these sexual orientations, namely constructionist approach, biological essentialist and a religious essentialist. Sexuality is an instinct or a natural drive that becomes inevitable a person’s biological make-up and seeks fulfillment through sexual activity. All essentialist approaches take the view that all genders, both male and female, have an essential nature as opposed to differing by various contingent or accidental features that result from social forces. These include biological essentialist and a religious essentialist approaches. From the perspective of the essential nature of a person, it is taken that the sexual preference of a person is natural and important/essential to the personality of the person. The essential nature entails caring and nurturing. This means that being a gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans person is a sign of aggression and selfishness (Clare 28). Biological essentialists take sex as a natural i nstinct required for reproduction purposes. This means that there is a relationship between the biological sex/gender and the sexuality of a person. This approach therefore considers being heterosexual as normal but considers gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans persons as unnatural and deviant.