Houseboy Summary free essay sample

What does it mean to be too Green? That is the question I am asking about the character Tonic in the novel Houseboy by Ferdinand Non. You cant look up the term Being Green because it has no academic meaning, it is a metaphor. Being too Green is being too naive, new, young, not wanting to accept your reality. The character Tonic is all of these, until he is hit with the reality of his life of his place in society, his ultimate fate. In the novel Houseboy we see Tonic, as he comes to this realization after he rejects his father and is then rejected by both cultures. He goes room a less established culture to what he believes that is more established culture which he comes to comprehend is a complete ruse. Is it possible that his lack of looking at the dark ugly truth of his society, prevent him from seeing the truth and maturing as a person. We will write a custom essay sample on Houseboy Summary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thus leaving him stuck in a childlike state. His greenness leaves him constantly vulnerable and open to others impressions upon him. Body: The story starts out with Tonic and he is carrying a dying man, he feels a certain sadness. Tonic doesnt understand why he is feeling sad for a man he doesnt know or care about. The dying man says to Tonic Brother, what are we? What are we Blackman who are French? peg. 4 Tonic seems to not know the answer to this question, unfortunately he will never know the answer to this question. He fails to understand what is happening around him, until it is too late. His character refuses to see the changes and twisted lies people are telling him, or the scheme that is being run. How the Europeans make fun of the little African children by watching them fight over sugar cubes. He does not recognize that the Europeans think that the little African children fighting over sugar cubes is funny, its purely a game for them. Still I am glad Im dying well away from where they are. My mother always used to say what my greediness would bring me in the end If I had known it would bring me to my grave she was right, my poor mother. Peg. 4. This advice the dying man is giving Tonic, fails to hit home with him and Just goes to the wind. That greediness in life will bring you nothing but death and that Just because something seems superior then what you have it actually isnt. As Tonic grows and gets older he still fails to take others advice to him, regarding greediness. He refuses to grow-up and face the facts. That he is African and will never be accepted by the Europeans no matter who educates him or Catholic he becomes. Tonic believed that running away from his father who he believed was an evil man and going to go live with Father Gilbert would bring him more sugar cubes that glorious treat he craved so much. He believed that he would be welcomed amongst the Europeans, that they will treat him as if he is their equal. Instead Tonic is abused treated like nothing more than a savage. He is told that if he is a good Christian all will be fine, that if he does his work well he will be accepted. Tonic tries his very hardest to fit in; he continues his hunt for a greener pasture. His faith in Father Gilbert, his sugar cubes, and the Catholic Church are Just too be. Tonic becomes a Catechist, he becomes someone who swallows others culture and spits out what he thinks they want to see he is not authentic. He thinks that by being a good Christian he will be accepted by the Europeans. When Tonic is first assigned to the Commandant as his new houseboy, the Commandant says to him as he is looking him over mourner a clean lad No Jiggers. Your shirt is clean, No scabies Your intelligent. The priest speak very well of you. So say I can count on little Joseph, eh peg. 22 He hears this and thinks that he is going to be on the same level as the Commandant; Naive, to him looking at him as if he was a priced cattle or some kind of livestock. The Priests that he so looks up to dont even view will as a grown man, Just as a child they call him Little Joseph. Not only have they taken his name his heritage, but he has let them he put up no fight he went from Tonic Undone the Son of Zamia to Joseph a Catholic Houseboy for the Commandant. They have taken everything from him and given him nothing in return. Throughout the novel, there are many instances of irony involving the Catholic Church that go acknowledge but misunderstood by Tonic. Case in point when Tonic is out with the Commandant and his wife, he over hears a conversation between the doctors wife and the school master. She makes a comment about how there are no morals at all in this country peg. 50 she speaks this as if Africa is lawless and immoral. That they do not know right from wrong. She uses the words this country striping the Africans of all right to their country calling it an UN-owned country, taking their power and respect. She goes off on another rant about Father Vandenberg Saintly ma, devoting his life to ungrateful savages peg. 2 This statement in and of its self is shocking she is supposed to be a good Christian by treating others the way you want to be treated. WSDL she want to be called a savage, immoral, lawless? Why does this make her believe she is better? Father Vandenberg is known to be vicious to the Africans; he is supposed to be a priest but acts like a scoundrel Sunday after Mass has become a terrible time for everyone who has Fa ther Vandenberg as a spiritual director peg. 5 Mass supposed to be a peaceful time, when you leave youre supposed to feel rejuvenated, Joyful. Instead he is terrorizing these poor Africans he is supposed to be directing. Tonic is under the impression that the Catholic Church is a supposed to be a place of ethics and purity turns out to be the opposite. From the day he stepped into the Catholic Church Tonic has been told that he needs to be a good Christian, do what he is told and he will be rewarded. What he instead receives is cruelty and discrimination; he is told his race is incapable of doing anything. Africans are ruthless; his church which he puts all his faith into seems to have abandoned him. He is not even able to sit in a decent place in the church, the races are constantly segregated. Tonic is told that he should get a wife and have children it is gods wish but he knows they will never be treated the like the white children. You must be serious. Everyone has their position in life. You are a houseboy, my husband is the Who is she to say that is supposed to stay his position, what makes him different why can he not be a Commandant. The way the Europeans use God and Religion to goon hold the Africans in their place is despicable. As if being a good Christian has anything to do with his social class, about him listening and taking orders from people or making anyones race superior to anothers. While the Europeans sit upon their high horse and Judge the native Africans on their religion, customs and tradition because they do not understand them. For instance the commandants wife preaches about how the Africans are barbaric and deviants. She is sleeping around on her husband. She is openly committing adultery with no fear the Africans will spill to any of the other Europeans leaving you with two hints. The first being that she doesnt hold them in any regard, doesnt view them having a say in society that they are nothing Just mire workers passing through. The second is this goes against the catholic teachings, they speak so highly of having to be a good Christian but adultery is cardinal sin, one of the worst. When looking in retro spec who is the barbaric one, the primitive one, the deviant the native African or the promiscuous European? What is your identity? When asked this question can you give an instant answer? When you are growing up this is the most important thing to you. Will you be like your mother your father or even your uncle; not knowing your identity can leave you vulnerable to others impressions on you they say in the village that I was the cause of my fathers death because I ran away to a white priest on the day before initiation when I should have met the famous serpent who watches over all the men of my race. peg. 9 These few lines tell Tonics whole life story, of how because as a child he was always told he was of bad blood, his father abused him. No one really cared about him, and on the day he was to become someone a man, he ran away. He shed his responsibility, he shed his faith, he shed his tradition, he shamed his father for eternity. So Tonic was forced to find his identity elsewhere. In the Catholic Church, in there little compound, he was told it by the Europeans; he was told it by the other Africans. Tonic was a Native African, he was a savage, a man with no laws, a man with nothing, he was not even a man he was a Houseboy. When he is alone with other Africans he knows not what to say. He doesnt believe in their gossip about the white man for he doesnt want to anger them. Tonic soonest speak up about anything; he never raises his voice even at the natives. He is content with being a good houseboy what a man you are! Really, Vive never come across a man like you. You are shut up all night with in a hut with a woman and you say your mouth is tired. When I tell people they wont believe me. Theyll say, perhaps, its because his knife is not very sharp he prefers to keep it in its sheath. Page she insults his man hood call him a coward and yet does nothing. He does not strike her as would be custom, he does not even raise his voice at her, he Just takes it. Tonic is not a ma, not Just because he has not seen the serpent, but because he Tonic has yet to marry and have a family he says it is because he cannot afford the bride price. But in reality it is because he knows he is not a man yet, he knows no woman will take him the way he is. It is not only that, it is because he is doesnt see the African women as someone who deserves to be married Madame but my wife and children will never be able to eat and dress like Madame or like white children. Peg. 56 1 believe this statement sums up why he will not fully take up a bride. He is attracted to the French way of life, to the all of their shiny things. He wishes he could be Just good enough, that someday if he does not betray the white man they will accept him. If he shows them how strong he is they will see that. Even as he is taken into custody at the police station he refuses to scream out in pain, he doesnt understand his circumstance. Scream for Gods sake carryout. Theyll never let me stop while you wont cry peg. 113 Tonic is clinging to the fact that his Commandant will come to his add that he will take him back because he is a good houseboy. Till the very end Tonic continues to cling to the Europeans, he still continues to compare himself where there is no need for it. His lack of knowing, which he felt was pride, by not shaming his Commandant and not screaming he felt was redemption. He felt that by not cowering he was able to prove a point I felt pleased to think that neither the Commandant nor M. More nor Sophies lover. Nor any other European in Dang could have stood up to like we did peg. 115 Conclusion: What does it mean to be too Green? What it meaner to be too green is you lack, knowledge of your circumstance no matter how dyer they are. You are aware that there is something thing better you Just have to work hard and be patient. You must not wait till it is too late to make your leap. This novel has taught me a lot about what I should apply to my own life, that everything that glitters isnt gold. Speak up for what I feel and know is wrong no matter what the consequences. That everyone should be equal because there is always a Hippocrates out there. I must take my chance. But its a slim one. That chance Just may change your life. Dont be a fool and ignore what is happening around you be open.

Andew Jackson essays

Andew Jackson essays Andrew Jacksons Reign as President Andrew Jackson radically changed democracy in U.S. to what it is today. Although he was the first president to active role in the government doesnt mean he was an effective president. His actions and policies may have been successful short term, but his actions and his refusal on other issues had a ripple effect I history which can not be over looked. Andrew Jackson was not inadequate president, but he was an unsuccessful president in his actions and policies. Jackson changed democracy as was known at the time, he and his associates comprised what is notorious today as dirty politics. The masses were starting to come out to vote, and it was increasingly essential to win by any means necessary. The spoils system was implemented under Jackson, which is a way to make sure you can have a greater control of the government. Jackson tried to replace civil service workers in the government with people under his control, in doing, removing possible opponents to his policies. This greatly increased the risk of possible failure in the government, by putting incompetent, illiterate, and unfit people in positions just because he is a supporter of Jackson. Under the change called Jacksonian Democracy, the way elections were, was transformed greatly. Elections became big, over 78 % of population voted, and negative campaigning was initiated during his campaign, this is something, which unfortunately is still felt today. This hurts the nation because they dont debate the issues and policies, but slander each other. The better official is not always elected under this; its just who could dig up the most trash on the opponent. Andrew Jackson was not a failure. He tended not to deter away from problems; he addressed them and took them head on. Jackson confronting of the actions of South Carolina. They nullified a law passed by congress, and this was an unconst...

Admissability of Independent Expert Reports Essay

Admissability of Independent Expert Reports - Essay Example This paper discusses the admissibility of an independent expert report in a court of law or other judicial forums. It identifies and explains concerns or issues about the characteristics that a witness must possess in order for a court Royal Commission or other duplicate resolution forum to accept him or her as an expert. It also discusses the factors that mark an expert report as either admissible or inadmissible as evidence, the factors that make a witness and expert evidence credible and the factors that limit the credibility of a witness and/or expert evidence tendered. The paper meets its objectives by citing major cases and case laws, literature, judicial surveys among others. An expert is one who concerning any question, is knowledgeable or experienced on that question in such a way that in evidence; his or her view would be admissible on that question. An expert witness therefore is an expert who in proceedings or proposed proceedings, gives opinion evidence or provides a report with regard to his or her opinion to act as evidence. If technical, scientific or other special line of knowledge will help the judge to determine a truth in issue or understand the evidence, a witness who qualifies as an expert through education, knowledge, training, experience or skill may give evidence thereto either in form of an opinion or otherwise (RichmondTrial Lawyer.com 2009). It is hackneyed law that witnesses who possess a relevant degree of expertise have the competency to give evidence on the factual matters lying within their specialty to offer assistance or guidance to the judges in their ruling of the factual issues in dispute. Indeed, the adduction of expert evidence is sometimes mandatory in criminal proceedings. The courts recognize experts per se either for the reason that they possess relevant qualifications professionally or due to their relevant practical experience, or

Hunger Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hunger - Term Paper Example Animals that have lesions in ventromedial hypothalamus become obese. Further studies revealed that even though these hypothalamic centers are crucial in managing hunger and satiety, they are not absolutely responsible for the hunger behavior. Environmental factors considerably affect hunger or food intake. Pregastric Factors are also crucial here. Visual appearance of food and taste or odor of food influence hunger and food intake. Learned aversions and preferences also affect food intake. Psychological factors like  sadness, fear, anxiety, depression, happiness and social interactions can also influence food intake. Gastrointestinal and Postabsorptive factors also control hunger and eating behavior. The amount of gastrointestinal fill is a key factor that describes the behavior of digestive tract. A full intestine or a full stomach brings satiety. This is through the vagus nerve that sends the information back to the hypothalamus. Apart from that, the enteric hormone cholecystokin in is set to stimulate satiety. When nutrients like amino acids and glucose are properly absorbed, their levels rise in blood. This also makes the hormone levels increase in concentration in blood. Concentrations of hormones like insulin, glucagons and cholecystokinin increase. These changes influence the feeling of hunger and satiety. Obesity is considered genetic to a certain extent. Not every obesity case is caused by genetics. Overeating and lack of exercise can cause obesity. There are several other factors that cause obesity. However, the chief culprit of obesity is genetics. Relation between genetics and obesity has been proved by a research performed on twins who were brought up in different places. The research analyzed the influence of environmental factors and genetic factors that influence obesity. Studies brought the results that genetic factors account for more than forty percent of obesity reasons in children and adults. Even though genetic factors are not

LOGISTICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

LOGISTICS - Essay Example In addition to the basic forwarding operations, BLC is specialized in customs clearance, packing, warehousing, and transportation of all incoming and outgoing, air and sea shipments, as well as household goods and personal effects. The company’s objective has always been to satisfy the needs of all customers by offering a personalized transport service for any volume of goods and any destination. BLC has a Quality Policy as well a well publicized Mission Statement. For developing and delivering business excellence the company has obtained ISO 9001:2000 certifications in pursuance of providing "best-in-class" service via a quality management system. The company was awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2004. As part of the Quality Policy, BLC regularly monitors customer satisfaction as one of the measurements of performance. It also monitors information relating to customer perception as to whether we met their expectations. BLC business has much to do with organizing and synergizing transportation and warehousing, so its supply chain structure is similar to its competitors with concentration on physical distribution. The red line represents material flow; the blue line represents information flow. While apparently the business model of BCL is sound and it appears to be well managed, its performance lacks behind its competition and certainly does not achieve its goals for it was for which it was founded over a decade ago. It is just another mediocre company, despite its obtaining the ISO 9001:2000 certification. It has high aims but has fallen short in results. To date its annualized growth is just 10% while the industry average is about 13%. The best in class companies are however achieving an annualized growth rate of 25%. The problem areas of BLC can be enumerated as under. 1. BLC lacks in warehousing. Its current warehouses are small and not well organized. It moves the frozen cargo

Anti-Abortion Statement

Anti-Abortion Statement Jai-lan Ewell The Murder of the Innocent Abortion is the murder of innocent children. Abortion has been performed for thousands of years, and has been studied in every society. These unborn humans do not deserve to die. There have been many debates on whether or not abortion should be illegal. Most doctors allow this process because its the familys choice. Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy (fetus), not a baby (lifenews). However, this process is the killing of innocent, unborn humans. An honorable innocent child has never harmed a fly in this world. Killing babies that are little bundles of joy, is just wrong on all levels. Abortion should be made illegal in the United States because of the trauma it causes to those who are involved. Abortion should be illegal after a certain point. Abortion is legal all the way up to 6 months. This should not be allowed to happen. The government has a limit on how long you can wait before you have an abortion. The bad thing about having abortion all the way up to 6 months is that a baby already has a heart beat and can feel pain. Imagine you as a baby and was aborted, you wouldnt be here right now. Abortion should be made illegal after anything past 2 months. The baby has not developed as much and it wouldnt be as harsh on the baby because the baby cant feel pain up to this point. The time you can wait before you have an abortion should be lowered significantly. Abortion violates the rights of the unborn children that are involved in this terrible act. These babys are already alive and have rights just like everybody else in the world. They shouldnt be deprived of their lives (Abortion). Unborn children have civil rights even before they come out of their mothers womb. Killing these non guilty children is a discriminatory, inhuman, and cruel act. The most basic civil right in this world is the right to live. If you keep abortion legal, youre leaving behind this civil right. In this world nobody should be allowed to take a innocent life away. Abortion has claimed the lives of over 58 million unborn children (Sierra Club). People in the world know abortion is wrong. Every day an abortion happens it is a tragedy for the babies that are dieing and for the mothers. Innocent, unborn children should not have their basic rights to live taken away. Women who have abortions are emotionally, physically, and mentally harmed. Some women in the world actually die during having an abortion. They can also experience the loss of their fertility or an increase in miscarriages after an abortion.(Natural abortion federation). On the other hand some women feel a sense of relief after an abortion. Emotionally some women feel guilt and loneliness after a abortion. They can physically have pain also. They can experience abdominal pain, vomiting, and they can have damage to some of their organs after an abortion. Some women mentally have suicidal thoughts and feelings. They have depression and can start to use drugs after an abortion. Abortions causes numerous problems for the women and especially for the baby. Abortion is an ongoing problem in the world today and should be made illegal because it takes innocent lives, it violates civil rights, and can emotionally and mentally harm women. Abortion kills unguilty babies and may harm the women also. Nobody in the world deserves to die. Unborn babies shouldnt die either. Abortion should be made illegal because it is unhuman and hurts everybody involved with it. Allowing abortion to remain legal cause more and more babies to die due to irresponsible people. Having abortion causes a lot of trauma for everybody. Abortions should be made illegal to stop the killing of innocent babies. Work Cited History of Abortion National Abortion Federation. National Abortion Federation, prochoice.org/education-and-advocacy/about-abortion/history-of-abortion/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. Sierra Club Pushes Abortion to Reach Sustainable Population Goals. NaturalNews.com, www.naturalnews.com/2017-02-08-sierra-club-pushes-abortion-to-reach-sustainable-population-goals.html. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. Abortion: A Violation of Human Rights Haven Bradford Gow. Abortion: A Violation of Human Rights Haven Bradford Gow, www.tparents.org/Library/Unification/Talks/Gow/Gow_Abortion.htm. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017. 58,586,256 Abortions in America Since Roe v. Wade in 1973. LifeNews.com, 18 Jan. 2016, www.lifenews.com/2016/01/14/58586256-abortions-in-america-since-roe-v-wade-in-1973/. Accessed 21 Mar. 2017.

The Crucible: Evil And Greed In Man :: Essay on The Crucible

The Crucible: Evil and Greed In Man High personal, acquisitions, evil desires and massive greed took part in shortening the fuse of the chaotic corruption of the Salem witch trials. Amidst the quiet and peaceful period of the Puritan era in America, not everything seemed as they were. Disorder and sin heightened the animosity and deteriorated the very center of a solemn and strong virtuous society. The Puritan belief in the basic evil of man is evident in Arthur Millers The Crucible through the actions of Abigail Williams and Reverend Parris. The main character who first brings forth this ruckus is Abigail Williams. Her desire directs towards John Procter, a married man, and she does anything to win his heart. She even tries to put a hex on his wife, Elizabeth Procter. When Betty awakens and confronts Abigail, about the spell, "You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Procters wife" (Miller 19). This quote allows the reader to become aware of the severity of Abbys ruthlessness. Her loathing of Mrs. Procter goes to such great lengths that she would go beyond the point of extremities. An example of her demonic acts, is when she mutilates her stomach with a sewing needle and claims it to be Elizabeth Procters voodoo spell. "and struck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle outshe testify it were your familiar spirit pushed it in." (Miller 71). From this, it can be conceived that she would disastrously knock down any obstacle to get what she wanted. Another character who brings greed upon themselves is the Reverend Parris. He uses his high social status as a priest as an excuse to obtain that of which he considers is a requirement for such a prestigious man as he believes to be. In an argument between Reverend Parris and Giles Cory, Giles disagrees on Parris having ownership of the chapel house and the amount of money he gets for his services. "Mr. Cory, you will look far for a man of my kind at sixty pound a year!" (Miller 28). His selfish self-centered ways are so perverse that he would take advantage of the Lord for his own prerogative. Reverend Parriss voracity overtakes him so much that it consumes him into callow motives. In a quarrel between John Procter and Reverend Parris, John brought up past preachings of Reverend Parris repeatedly demanding things of small detail. "But Parris came, and for twenty week he preachin nothin but golden candlesticks until he had

Positive Organizational Scholarship Essay

Positive organizational scholarship is an emerging discipline in organizational behavior and is about positivity in organization. The need for it emerged to bridge the gap between moral and rational objectives. It is not a new science, it is the new way of looking at things, it’s like you have just changed your glasses. In today’s world, society is facing extremely tough challenges in the form of global warming, natural disasters, economic recession, unprecedented homelessness, terrorism and the draining continuation of war. So at this moment of extreme negative happenings and uncertainty, what is needed to be emphasized and brought up is positive. With all this sadness and horror, where in the world does a science based on testing happiness, wellbeing, personal growth and ‘the good life’ ? t into the modern-day agenda? So, Positive psychology; is the study of topics such as happiness, optimism, personal growth and subjective well being. It promotes the factors that allow the groups and communities to thrive or flourish. At the current stage in this world of negativity, positive psychology focuses on positive experiences at three time points a) past centering contentment; b) present focusing current happiness c) future including optimism and hope. We should know that what a good life is ? Aristotle and Plato used to believe that when people carried out a virtuous life they would become authentically happy. The happiness are of two types in positive psychology according to Seligman, one is hedonic happiness which is high level of positive affect and low levels of negative effect, in addition to high subjective life satisfaction. See more: how to start a scholarship essay Other is eudemonic wellbeing which focuses more on creation of meaning and purpose in life. (Hefferon & Boniwell, 2011) A science of positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions promises to improve quality of life and prevent the pathologies that arise when life is barren and meaningless. The model of Seligman of Positive psychology is divided into three parts: The pleasurable life, the good life, and the meaningful life. The â€Å"pleasurable life† is about things like shopping, eating, drugging, meaningless sex, etc. The research is finding that having more pleasures does not increase life satisfaction. The â€Å"good life† as defined by Seligman is about understanding and using one’s core strengths/virtues in work and love and play. He, in conjunction with Chris Peterson, developed a VIA Signature Strengths Survey found that Having a life of high absorption does correlate to life satisfaction measures according to Seligman. Lastly, the â€Å"meaningful life† is when a person uses his/her strengths for the purpose of something larger than him/herself. Choosing to live a life of faith, purpose, meaning, correlates to life satisfaction measures. Marty also sees this aspect of his model directly related to Positive Institutions—those organizations that promote positive character development and/or meaning. He’s mostly focused on non-profits and religious organizations but others are applying it to for-profit organizations. (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000) An approach that is positive to selection, development, and management of human resources in organizations has been emphasized by both scholars and professionals over the years. A wide variety of positively oriented high-performance work practices in placement, compensation, and motivation and their underlying strategies, structures, and cultures have also been extensively studied and supported for their contributions to organizational performance and competitiveness. Research and consulting by the Gallup Organization also supports the importance of positive, strength-based organizational cultures and human resource practices . (Buckingham & Clifton, 2001). For example, factors such as effective selection and placement practices that capitalize on employees’ talents, clear and aligned goals and expectations, social support and recognition, and opportunities for growth, development, and self actualization have been found to significantly contribute to employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and ultimately organizational profitability and growth(Harter, Schmidt, & Keynes, 2003) On the academic side, the positive organizational scholarship or POS movement has been instrumental in providing macro-level scholars with a conceptual framework for organizing and integrating their research on positive organizations (Cameron et al. , 2003). Positive refers to the elevating processes and outcomes in organizations. Organizational refers to the interpersonal and structural dynamics activated in and through organizations, specifically taking into account the context in which positive phenomena occur. Scholarship refers to the scientific, theoretically derived, and rigorous investigation of that which is positive in organizational setting. (KIM S. CAMERON & CAZA, 2004). Positive organizational scholarship (POS) is considered an alternative approach to studying organizations; it is argued that POS plays a critical theory role in contemporary organizational scholarship. By using essays on critical theory in organizational science to consider POS research, and drawing from the principles of Gestalt psychology, it is argued that the important distinctions between POS and traditional organizational scholarship lie in POS’s emphasis on positive processes, on value transparency, and on extending the range of what constitutes a positive organizational outcome. In doing so, it is concluded that the primary contribution of POS is that it offers an alternative to the deficit model that shapes the design and conduct of organizational research. (Caza. & Caza. , 2008) There are several reasons that exist for the neglect of positive phenomena in organizational science. They include a) Lack of valid and reliable measuring devices b) the association of positivity with uncritical science c) the fact that negative events have greater impact on people than positive events(Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer, & Vohs, 2001) The first reason for the neglect towards POS concerning measurement and instrumentation, most positively focused at work up to now has been at the psychological level. For example only surveys had been used up till now for finding out anything related to it. Most scholarly work in POS has been conceptual and definitional rather than empirical. Little empirical work has been published. (Cameron, Dutton, & Quinn, 2003). The article by Losada and Heaphy uses a model to estimate team effectiveness. Communication patterns in 60 top management teams were observed and coded in day long strategic planning sessions. The ratio of positive to negative communication was ranging among high, medium and low performing teams. Positive teams performed significantly better Similarly Cameron, Bright and Caza’s study in which they surveyed organizations across a number of industry types, and eventually they found out that the organizations scoring higher on virtuousness had a better performance than the other ones. The second reason to the neglect towards POS is that the topics related to it have sometimes been associated with non scholarly prescriptions. Hope and optimism for example have been interpreted as wishful thinking. POS uses the word scholarship to identify its scientific and theoretical foundations. It is committed to documenting, measuring, and explaining usually positive human experiences in organizations. The third reason for the dearth of POS illustrated by Baumeisteret et al’s concluded that the events that are negative for example losing money or receiving criticism will always have a greater impact on the individual than the positive events such as winning money or receiving praise. Many good events can overcome the psychological effects of a single bad one. In case the numbers of good and bad events are equal then the psychological effects of bad ones always outweigh the good ones. This tells us that the neglect of problems and challenges might threaten the survival of individual. And the neglect of positive might only result into regret or disappointment. (KIM S.  CAMERON & CAZA, 2004) Identifying the factors that lead to joy and happiness, hope and faith, and â€Å"what makes life worth living† represents a shift from reparative psychology to a psychology of positive experience. Similarly, Positive organizational scholarship examines the positive side of organizational performance. It investigates positive deviance, or the ways in which organizations and their members flourish and prosper in especially humane and extraordinary ways. It investigates virtuous elements in organizations such as compassion, forgiveness, dignity, respectful encounters, optimism and positive effect, integrity, and wisdom. This emphasis parallels a new movement in psychology that is shifting from the traditional focus on illness and pathology (e. g.  , deviancy, abnormality, and therapy) toward a positive psychology that focuses on human strengths and virtues. (Dinnah Pladott, 2003) Pos is concerned with understanding the integration of positive and negative conditions. Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) and Positive Psychology are focused on understanding the conditions and processes that explain flourishing. What differentiates POS is an explicit interest in understanding and explaining flourishing in organizational contexts (including individuals, groups, units and whole organizations). Flourishing refers to being in an optimal range of human functioning and is indicated at the individual level by goodness, generatively, growth and resilience. At  the collective level of groups and organizations, flourishing may be indicated by creativity, innovation, growth, resilience, thriving virtuousness or other markers that a collective is healthy and is performing in an â€Å"above normal† or positively deviant range. POS also focuses on the development of individual, group and collective strengths that represent forms of individual and collective excellence. POS unites existing domains of organizational inquiry focused on flourishing. This includes work on flourishing indicators such as creativity, engagement, flow, growth, health and well-being, as well as contributors to flourishing that consider features of the organization, group and job contexts.

Comparision of the French and German Political Systems essays

Comparision of the French and German Political Systems essays France and Germany are two of the most powerful nations in Europe. At one time bitter rivals, recently these two nations have come to a time of cooperation. Both nations are members of the European Union (EU), both are proactive and modern states, with strong economies. This paper will discuss the similarities and differences of the French and German political systems. Areas to be discussed will be the branches of government that is to say the executive, legislative and judiciary levels of government. Their will also be brief discussions on the history of the development of the present states of France and Germany. The country of France is governed by a presidential republic with a centralized national government (capital Paris). The French Republic has been living under the same constitutional regime since 1958, with the introduction of the Fifth Republic as introduced by President Charles Degaulle. The constitutional amendments increased the powers of the president and decreased the control of the parliament. More on the roles of the executive branch and legislative branch in later sections. With a bicameral parliament legislature powers are divided between the National Assembly and the Senate. Frances judicial functions are controlled by the Supreme Court of Appeals (Cour de Cassation). France is divided into 22 adminstrative divisions known as regions, these regions are illustrated in the following map. The country of Germany is governed by a parliamentary republic with a centralized national government (capital Berlin). The Federal Republic of Germany has been living under their constitution known as Basic Law since October 1990, though the constitution was introduced in Western Germany in 1949 and then became the constitution of the united Germany. Like France Germany has a bicameral legislative branch, with the excusive branch represented by the President (chief of state) and the Chancellor (head of go...

Epicenter vs. Center

Epicenter vs. Center Epicenter vs. Center Epicenter vs. Center By Simon Kewin In an article on the BBC website just recently, the head of a computer game industry body described the city of Dundee as the epicentre for the industry in Scotland. A little earlier, in an article about renewable energy on the same site, the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, described the city of Glasgow as the epicentre for renewable energy engineering. Now, either someone has been secretly building a network of vast tunnels underneath Scottish cities, or these are two examples of a widely misused and misunderstood word. Epicenter (epicentre in British English) refers to a point over or above the centre of something. It is most commonly used to identify the point on the Earths surface that lies directly above the focus of an earthquake. Increasingly, however, the term is used in a vague and lazy way to make the word center seem more dramatic and interesting. Reporters are forever standing at the epicenter of something, apparently unaware that the events they describe must, logically, be happening underground. Of course, you could argue that epicenter is a word whose meaning is in transition; that it is acquiring a secondary sense of, simply, center (especially the center of something dramatic or calamitous.) For now, the best advice is not to confuse the two. Center and epicenter are two perfectly good words, meaning two different things. You can read more from Simon on his blog, Spellmaking. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Bare or Bear With Me?Writing the CenturyEnglish Grammar 101: Sentences, Clauses and Phrases

Second Chance Act of 2007 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Second Chance Act of 2007 - Research Paper Example The legislation was passed under pressure from the criminal justice system, which releases nearly 650,000 men and women each year from state and federal prisons. The United States Congress deemed it necessary for the federal government to provide protections and services to these individuals such that the costs of providing such public interest services outweigh the costs of unsuccessful transitions back into society. The legislation, until repealed or changed, will provide useful for former members of prison populations attempting to make a successful reentry into their respective communities. The social justice aspect of the legislation revolves around the concept of disadvantage for one part of the population: namely, recently released prisoners. In the past and the present, when individuals are released from prison or jail, they are at a distinct disadvantage. Because it is society that puts these individuals at a disadvantage, it is perceived social justice responsibility of soc iety to give them that advantage in proportion to what was lost.

The Life of Jean-Paul Sartre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Life of Jean-Paul Sartre - Essay Example The years that followed marked the life of a man with great creativity, talent in writing, deep thinker and a man of strong political will and persuasion. All these characteristics coupled with his childhood experiences led to his astounding achievements through his plays, novels, books, essays and lectures. Sartre's childhood was filled with much bitterness and confusion. The first natural pain to deal with was having no father, after the first fifteen months of his life. Sartre was clearly hurt by the fact that he never had a chance to be acquainted with his father, and was never told anything significant about the relationship they had; whether his father had ever taken him "in his arms," or if he had even loved him (The Words 20). Sartre then grew up with his grandparents who were rather fond of him, or at least depicted that in their mannerisms (Experiential Influences, par. 5). However, he felt that it was just family "play-acting," and a "system" that "horrified" him. (The Words 84; 112; 222). Sartre also faced an identity crisis. Despite his family's claim of him being the "miracle child" and "wonder child," he saw himself as ugly. His peers had also given him that impression. He was short, small-built cross-eyed and awkward in stature. Added to this, his mother treated him like a girl, not allowing him to play the seemingly rough games that other males would play, and keeping his hair long. It was his belief that she had silently prayed for a girl (Experiential Experiences, par. 7). He also felt forced into a lifestyle of reading and writing, because that was what his grandfather Charles admired, having been a writer himself. It however became a pleasant escape for him from the unhappiness he experienced at home. In his autobiography The Words, he states that "By writing I was existing. I was escaping from the grown-ups." It also positively affected his intellectual development as he became familiar with famous authors of his time (qtd in Experiential Influences, par. 11). As if this was not enough for Sartre to deal with, he also suffered from ill health. He notes in his autobiography, The Words: Things would have been fine if my body and I had got on well together. But the fact is that we were an odd couple [] If he suffers bodily as a result of needs and sickness, his unjustifiable state justifies his existence. His right to live is based on hunger, on the constant danger of death. Breathing, digesting, defecating unconcernedly, I lived because I had begun to live. I was unaware of the violence and savage demands of that gorged companion, my body, which made itself known by a series of mild disturbances, much in demand among grown-ups [] I had almost died at birth (88). His father had actually been quite ill himself when he met Ann-Marie in 1904. At that time he was suffering from entercolitis, which he developed when he visited China. He however married her and soon after she became pregnant with his child, Jean-Paul Sartre. Sartre feels that his father's illness had a major role to play in his own illness. He describes in The Words how his mother had stayed up many nights worrying and had stopped breastfeeding him very soon because "her milk dried" (16). He was thus sent away nearby to be nursed. He meanwhile was ailing from enteritis. His mother's re-marriage had a negative effect on him as well. He felt alienated and lonely. Moreover, he was unhappy about having had to