Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Second World War Music Propaganda Music Essay

Second World War Music Propaganda Music Essay From Wilhelm Richard Wagner to Irving Berlin, the music of World War II was used on both sides of the conflict to gain support at home and give a feeling of patriotism and boost morale. Interestingly, it was also used as a vehicle to express a vision of government, to attract the enemy troops to propaganda, and encourage the home troops as well. Looking at the music of this time provides insight into the attitudes and cultural tone of the political leaders to all different levels of society Adolf was a fanatical admirer of Wagner since his teens. His passion for Wagner knew no bounds and a performance was almost like a religious experience to the young Adolph. Adolph was carried away by Wagners powerful musical dramas, the evocation of a heroic, sublimely and distant mystical Germanic past. Adolphs first and favorite Wagner opera was Lohengrin, which is the saga of a knight of the grail, the epitome of the Teutonic hero, who was sent from the castle of Monsalvat by his father Parzival to rescue Elsa who had been wrongly condemned, but ended up betraying her. Adolphs philosophy was built upon the works of Wagner which can be seen in his statement These criminals who wanted do away with me have no idea what would happen to the German people, they dont know the plans of our enemies, who want to annihilate Germany so that it never can rise again. If they think that the western powers are strong enough without Germany to hold Bolshevism in check, they are deceiving themselvesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I am the only one who knows the danger, and the only one who can prevent it. The author Ian Kershaw sums up Adolphs statement Such sentiments were redolent, through a distorting mirror, of the Wagnerian redeemer-figure, a hero who alone could save the holders of the Grail, indeed the world itself from disaster a latter-day Parsifal. (Page 851). Adolph thought he could save Germany and the world, but how wrong he was in his thinking that he was an epic hero. As fascinated with Wagner as Adolph was One cannot help but wonder what Richard Wagner would have thought about Adolf Hitler, one of his all-time biggest fans! (Ferguson). Would Wagner consider Adolph and epic hero? One has to think not, but one could be wrong. German Songs Due to Hitlers fascinating with Wagner and especially the Germanic culture that Wagner promoted, the Nazis took a strong interest in promoting the music and culture of their remote ancestors through the use of radio and at the same time promote their propaganda. As with most dictatorial governments the Nazis had an obsession with controlling and promoting the culture of the people and as a result the common peoples taste in music was kept secret, but many Germans were able to use their radios to listen to Jazz which was hated by Hitler but loved by the world. Soldiers in the German army were expected to learn a repertoire of marching songs and traditional songs that they could perform on demand. (Les Cleveland page 8). Which is a type of propaganda. One of the most popular songs of World War Two was Lili Marlene which was popular with both the German and British forces. Based on the German poem Das Mà ¤dchen unter der Laterne which was set to music in 1938. The song was recorded in both German and English versions. German English Vor der Kaserme vor dem großen Tor stand eine Lanterne und steht sie nach davor so wollen wir da uns wieder sehen bei der Lanterne wollen wir stehen wie einst Lili Marlen Unsere beide Schatten sahen wir einer aus daß wir so lieb uns hatten daß gleich man daraus und alle Leute sollen es sehen wie einst Lili Marlen Schon rief der Posten, sie blasen zapfenstreich es kann drei Tage kosten Kamrad, ich komm so gleich da sagten wir auf wiedersehen wie gerne wollt ich mit dir gehen mit dir Lili Marlen Deine Schritte kennt sie, deine Zierengang alle abend brennt sie, doch mich vergaß sie lang und sollten mir ein leids geschehen wer wird bei der Lanterne stehen mit dir Lili Marlen? Aus dem Stillen raume, aus der erder Grund heßt mich wie un Traà ¼me dein verliebster Mund wenn sich die Spaten nebel drehn werdich bei der Lanterne stehen wie einst Lili Marlen Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate, Darling I remember the way you used to wait, Twas there that you whispered tenderly, That you loved me, Youd always be, My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene. Time would come for roll call, Time for us to part, Darling Id caress you and press you to my heart, And there neath that far off lantern light, Id hold you tight, Wed kiss good-night, My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene. Orders came for sailing somewhere over there, All confined to barracks was more than I could bear; I knew you were waiting in the street, I heard your feet, But could not meet, My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene. Resting in a billet just behind the line, Even thowere parted your lips are close to mine; You wait where that lantern softly gleams, Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams, My Lili of the lamplight, My own Lili Marlene. Due to the popularity of the song it was used throughout the war not only as a popular song, but a propaganda tool. The best understanding of German Music from World War Two has to come from official Nazi government policy. Regrettably as the losers in the war, Nazi songs and German music from this time period has not been assigned the high heroic status as have British and American popular music of this time period. British Songs Although First World War poets [Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon] are often presented as the literature of wartime, popular songs were important in keeping up morale.   Those from World War II have become especially well known. Some songs were overtly nationalistic, such as ThereHYPERLINK #There%27ll%20Always%20Be%20An%20EnglandHYPERLINK #There%27ll%20Always%20Be%20An%20Englandll Always Be An England. Other music was popular because it evoked emotional states common in wartime, for instance a sense of nostalgic sadness and loss. ( Modern History Sourcebook: Therell Always Be An England and other War Music.) Without question the most popular vocalist of World War Two would be Vera Lynn who sang almost ever well known war time tune in her concerts including Lili Marlene and Therell always be an England but her best know songs were Well meet again and White cliffs of Dover. These songs just give a hint of the differing varieties of wartime songs, other popular music genres included music with lush instrumental compositions as well as just silly songs. American Songs During the war, many people in the US and Great Britain found an escape by listening to the radio. Hit songs were a nice form of catharsis for the public; the lyrics were often about situations the average person could relate to, and it helped the listeners to feel that they were not alone. So, naturally, songwriters wanted to provide music that would be uplifting, encouraging, and of course, patriotic American Songs. A list notable songs of World War Two from America would have to include hits such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy which was composed by Don Raye and Hughie Prince and was recorded on January 2, 1941, nearly a year before the United States entered the war The storyline of the song told about, a renowned Illinois street musician is drafted into the United States Army during the draft. In addition to being famous, the bugler was the top man at his craft, but the Army had little use for his talents and he was reduced to blowing Reveille in the morning, which caused the musician to become dejected. Other hits were: Dont Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me), Ill Be Home For Christmas, Juke Box Saturday Night, Kiss The Boys Goodbye , Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition, and God Bless America which was written by Irving Berlin in 1918 but made famous by Kate Smith in an Armistice Day radio broadcast in 1938. This list could go on with all the notable songs from this time period but space and time will not permit. Conclusion Music goes much deeper, and reaches into our psyches for reasons other than its initial sound. Music evokes emotions of patriotism, fear, jubilation, sadness and many more emotions. As well as invoking emotional responses, music is used as a propaganda tool to get people fired up for a certain cause whether in war or even politics. Was the music of World War Two patriotic or was it propaganda, or was it both? It all depends from which side you view the question. Usually the winning sides music was patriotic and the losers propaganda In closing Susan Burns states from the article War, music, and evolution. No doubt, its dismaying to realize that warfare is so deeply a part of our makeup that well never have the war to end all wars. Those war songs touch a deep, dark chord. Yet, I consider myself better off for having this perspective on warfare.(Burns 2003). What kind of music will be used as patriotic music in the next major war? What music will be used as a propaganda tool? We may have to wait for the answers to these questions, but one thing is certain, as with all past wars, music will have an influence.

Monday, August 19, 2019

the way of confucius Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Confucius is one of the most famous of the ancient Chinese philosophers. Confucius lived from 551 to 479 BC. He believed that Chinese culture had peaked during the height of the Zhou dynasty. During their reign, the Zhou rulers adhered to a set of practices referred to as the â€Å"li†, also called rites or rituals. These rites governed all aspects of Chinese culture. The rites told everything, from the way huge political ceremonies should be conducted, to what is the proper way to respond to the receiving of a gift. During Confucius’ life, the role of the Zhou kings was reduced to mere figureheads and many of the rites had been lost, forgotten, or reduced to a lesser role. Confucius decided that he was to revive the practice of the rites and show others back to the way of the â€Å"dao†, or the â€Å"way of heaven†. In an effort to accomplish this, Confucius would not only strive to strictly follow the rites himself, he would dedicate his life to teaching and spreading them to others as well. The teachings of Confucius cover a wide variety of topics, as they were meant to govern all aspects of one’s life. Some of the most important aspects of the rites taught by Confucius regard family relations, desirable traits of character, proper ways of governing, and aspects of â€Å"ren† or â€Å"true humaneness† or â€Å"humanity†. While some of his teachings are ideas specific to his time and culture, such as the proper colors to be worn by nobility, other teachings such as family relations and virtue of character are just as valuable to today’s society as it was for his own. One of the most important aspects of life for Confucius was family life and relationships. Many of his teachings are therefore related to such topics. The main points of Confucius’ teaching regarding family life have to do with filial obligations and respect among the family. He had become disheartened by the current state of family affairs as can be seen in Book 2.4 where he states â€Å"nowadays, filial is used to refer to anyone who is merely able to provide their parents with nourishment. But even dogs and horses are provided with nourishment. If you do not treat your parents with reverence, wherein lies the difference† (Ivanhoe, 5). Confucius believed that respect and reverence were the foundation of the family bonds and what separated people from the animals. Confucius believed the only cor... ...ims with the proper corresponding actions. Confucius also makes clear the distinction between a gentleman and a petty man. He gives examples such as in Book 4.16 when he states that a gentleman acts a certain way because he understands what the right thing to do is, where as a petty man acts a certain way only because it is to his advantage to do so. In Book 15.2 Confucius states that in times of hardship, such as a shortage of food or water, the gentleman remains firm and levelheaded, while the petty man becomes overwhelmed by the situation and acts improperly. He also states that in terms of everyday affairs, â€Å"the gentleman is relaxed and at ease, while the petty man is anxious and full of worry† (Ivanhoe, 23). As can be seen, Confucius was an extremely wise man. His appreciation for the past spurred the development of his teachings that have stood the test of time. While his work was intended to guide the masses of his day back to the glory that was once the Zhou dynasty, he instead managed to create a set of rites and teachings about the importance of family relations and strength of character that can be applied and appreciated as much today as they were over 2000 years ago.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The War :: essays research papers

The Persian Gulf War all started because of one country’s greed for oil. Iraq accused Kuwait of pumping oil and not sharing the benefits, and Kuwait was pumping more oil than allowed under quotas set by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, it decreased the price of oil, Iraq's main export. Iraq's complaints against Kuwait grew more and more harsh, but they were mostly about money. When Iraqi forces began to assemble near the Kuwaiti border in the summer of 1990, several Arab states tried to intervene the dispute. Kuwait did not want to look weak so they did not ask for any help from the United States or other non-Arab powers for support. Arab mediators convinced Iraq and Kuwait to negotiate their differences in Saudi Arabia, on August 1, 1990, but that meeting resulted only in charges and countercharges. A second meeting was planned to take place in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, but Iraq invaded Kuwait the next day, leading some people to think that Iraqi presiden t Saddam Hussein had planned the invasion all along.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Iraqi attack began shortly after midnight on August 2. About 150,000 Iraqi troops, many of them veterans of the Iran-Iraq War, easily overwhelmed the unprepared and inexperienced Kuwaiti forces, which numbered about 20,000. By dawn, Iraq had assumed control of Kuwait City, the capital, and was soon in complete control of the country. The United Nation Security Council and the Arab League immediately condemned the Iraqi invasion. Four days later, the Security Council forced an economic restriction on Iraq that forbidden nearly all trades with Iraq. Any armed attempt to roll back the Iraqi invasion depended on Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Iraq and Kuwait. Saudi Arabia did not have the power to fight Iraq alone .So Saudi rulers did eventually open the country to foreign forces, in mainly because they were worried by Iraq's aggressive negotiations also U.S. intelligence reports claimed that Iraqi forces were well positioned for a strike against Saudi A rabia. Beginning a week after the Iraqi take over of Kuwait and continuing for several months, a large international force called the â€Å"international coalition† gathered in Saudi Arabia. The United States sent more than 400,000 troops, and more than 200,000 additional troops came from Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, France, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Senegal, Niger, Morocco, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Looking at “The Withered Arm” by Thomas Hardy Essay

Looking at â€Å"The Withered Arm† and at least two other short stories, comment on how Thomas Hardy uses the female characters to influence the reader’s response To prepare for this essay I have read a selection of Thomas Hardy’s short stories: â€Å"The Withered Arm†, â€Å"The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion†, â€Å"The Distracted Preacher†, â€Å"Tony Kytes, the Arch Deceiver† and â€Å"Absent-mindedness in a Parish Choir†. The first three stories have been studied more closely than the latter two, and will be used to answer the essay title. Given that a reader’s response may be influenced by many factors, such as time of reading, gender, and personal values it is still clear how Hardy expects his readers to respond. Hardy has moulded the language in many ways, resulting in an intricately woven and complex idea of each character in the reader’s mind. There are certain similarities in each story. Hardy seems to use clever twists of coincidences which are not the fault of the unfortunate character/s involved. Tragedy and death also tend to characterise his stories, for example, Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us and Christoph are shot and Rhoda Brook’s son is hanged. The reputation of women plays a big part in all three of the short stories. â€Å"The Withered Arm† differs from the other two stories as it has two main women characters, who are naturally compared, in a subtle but effective manner. Rhoda Brook is first introduced into the story through another characters speech, as â€Å"she† and later in the sentence is described as a â€Å"thin worn milkmaid†. This gives the reader a clear picture of Rhoda before she even enters the story: she is shown as little more than a solitary victim of other people’s gossip. Hardy then presents Rhoda in her home, which is in the lonely and rural countryside. The house is made of mud-walls and is rather rundown and ramshackle: â€Å"in the thatch above a rafter showed like a bone protruding through the skin†. The house and Rhoda seem similar as their looks are both past their best. Rhoda is often presented in the context of a serious and lonely landscape: â€Å"thick clouds made the atmosphere dark†. Rhoda is never a happy character and Hardy shows this well, through descriptions of gloomy landscapes. Rhoda has broken social convention by having a son out of marriage and it seems as if she is being punished for this as the story unravels. Rhoda struggles to look after her son alone, and lives in near poverty. Rhoda does not seem particularly disturbed by her situation but it has cut her off from the rest of the small farming community. Hardy has cleverly associated Rhoda with sadness and superstition. Whenever Rhoda is being mentioned in the story the atmosphere is anxious, sad or tense, for example: â€Å"Brook felt like a guilty thing†. Initially, Hardy places Gertrude on the bright forefront, emphasizing her outgoing, carefree personality, while Rhoda is left as a figure in the background. Rhoda’s speech is limited but even when she does speak it is normally about Gertrude. Hardy uses Rhoda to show the harshness of social convention on women. Rhoda is eventually so excluded from her community that she moves away. Rhoda is threatened by her reputation as she does not want Gertrude to find out about her being the possible cause of the damaged arm. Overall, Rhoda’s situation provokes a sympathetic response from the reader. Gertrude is initially introduced into the story with the landscape in her favour: â€Å"the low sun was full in her face, rendering every feature, shade, and contour distinct†. She is shown as generous, caring, (helping those less fortunate than herself) gentle and innocent; emotionally and sexually. Her speech and behaviour are described with gentle language: â€Å"innocent young thing†. Gertrude changes considerably over time, and is slowly transformed into the spectre of Rhoda’s dream. Hardy prepares the reader by starting to taint Gertrude with Rhoda’s main associations, and gradually Gertrude becomes a darker and more sinister figure. This is shown clearly when Gertrude’s subconscious mind is praying: â€Å"O Lord, hang some innocent or guilty person soon†. She is described as â€Å"cunning†, â€Å"shrivelled† and â€Å"furtive†. Hardy shows what a monster an innocent young woman can become while trying to cope with the harsh world of the 1800’s when her marriage and reputation is all she has. Gertrude failed her marriage in two ways, firstly she did not have children, and secondly, Farmer Lodge no longer found her attractive because of her withered arm (and this was the main motive for her wanting to cure it). Hardy showed that without a respectable marriage and children, many women felt that their lives were inadequate. Social convention and reputation ruled many women’s lives. This makes the reader feel sympathetic towards women living in that time, and highlights the amount of freedom women have today. â€Å"The Melancholy Hussar†, contains one main female character, Phyllis Grove, who is presented as a figure of the past. Throughout the story Phyllis is rarely described physically; she is an invisible character. Hardy describes Phyllis’ feelings extensively through direct authorial comment, as she says very little. Phyllis is also closely connected with the landscape, and is part of its timelessness. At the beginning of the story, Phyllis’ seclusion is shown through this: â€Å"secluded old manor houses and hamlets lie in the ravines†. In addition, the landscape at this stage in the story is very bleak, symbolising the bleakness of Phyllis’ lifestyle. Phyllis spends most of the story outside, and words describing her are most energetic outside: â€Å"climbs†, â€Å"walks† and â€Å"clambers†. When Phyllis becomes dislocated from what makes her happiest, she becomes dislocated from her landscape; Phyllis was indoors for weeks after she saw Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us and Christoph being shot. To highlight Phyllis’ shyness, she uses the fog and mist to hide her away and protect her. Hardy uses Phyllis to show women’s isolation, which can be due to men; Phyllis’ father is unsympathetic towards her situation and Phyllis’ only hope of having a better life would be through marriage. Phyllis’ life seems to be mapped out before the story unravels because she is connected with men right at the beginning of the story, in this case her father. Phyllis’ only escape from her desperate isolation seems to be to marry, suitable Humphrey Gould, and their engagement is used by Hardy to convey the fact that marriages were seen as respectable and even an accomplishment. Hardy uses the York Hussars as a contrast to â€Å"suitable† and â€Å"ordinary† Humphrey; the Hussars are shown with excitement and passion â€Å"crowds of admirers† and â€Å"foreign air†. Hardy then uses contrast once again regarding Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us Tina; this man is different and catches Phyllis’ attention. When Phyllis is with Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us she is especially alive, as her speech is direct and not shown through reported speech or authorial comment. Also, this seems to be the only time she can actually be heard. In addition, she is described using the most animated language when she is with Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us: â€Å"flushed†, â€Å"agitation†, and â€Å"shaked†. The reader wants Phyllis and Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us’ relationship to survive, as Phyllis is obviously so happy with him. This is what makes the ending so tragic. The stone wall is the place of Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us and Phyllis’ meetings, and it symbolises an important boundary between them. This figurative language used by Hardy is not only showing the physical but also the moral boundary (Phyllis’ engagement) between the two lovers. Phyllis has a quiet independence, which Hardy shows through her willingness to elope with Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us; she is prepared to defy social convention. Hardy shows Phyllis as a victim of circumstance and coincidence, because when she hears that Humphrey has bought her a present, the only thing that holds her back from eloping is her conscience and honesty. Here Hardy indicates that one small, seemingly insignificant moment can change one’s life forever. This can make the reader feel quite insecure and that the world is unjust; Phyllis suffered for the rest of her life simply because she was a good person. Irony is used when Phyllis is buried near Christoph and Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us, near the wall where Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us and her met. The most well known marriage vow contains â€Å"until death do us part†, though ironically they failed to be together in life, and death brought them together. It is also ironic because marriage was meant to be Phyllis’ escape from her secluded life but in fact it was marriage that prevented her freedom. Hardy’s harsh world also extends to men: for example in â€Å"The Withered Arm† when Rhoda Brooks’ son is hanged. In fact, Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us and Christoph were subtly shown as heroes because they took the blame for the other two people found in the boat and as a result were shot. The final story â€Å"The Distracted Preacher† contains one main female character, Lizzy Newberry. Lizzy completely strays from the social conventions of the time. Lizzy, like Rhoda, is introduced to the reader through someone else’s speech, but in a completely different manner: â€Å"she won’t have† is used when Mr Stockdale is being informed about her, telling you immediately that she is confident and assertive. Lizzy’s personality is also shown through her leading Mr Stockdale to various destinations and giving him instructions. Hardy makes it clear that Mr Stockdale cannot take her for granted as he is always the one waiting for her and how he looks forward to seeing her: Mr Stockdale â€Å"longed for the morrow†. He cannot control her life as she is so independent and unpredictable. The environment surrounding Lizzy is â€Å"snug and cheerful†, unlike the rural countryside of Rhoda’s and Phyllis’. Other environments associated with Lizzy are smugglers caves such as â€Å"Daggers Grave†; these show her life as exciting and exhilarating. Hardy makes Lizzy the first to speak between her and Mr Stockdale; she is confident as she is the one that approaches him. Lizzy being a widow puts her in a good position as she can be sexually experienced yet single, without it being a scandal. Hardy uses very sophisticated language to describe Lizzy, this shows her subtle superiority and sophistication. He also uses animated language such as â€Å"ascended the hill† and â€Å"tripped at a quickening pace† to show her freedom. Hardy shows Mr Stockdale as rather naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve, by him automatically assuming that a conversation is about love or marriage, when Lizzy is talking to the miller. Also, it takes him a long time to understand what Lizzy does to make money, even after so many clues: Lizzy’s irregular sleeping patterns, her absence from her bedroom at night and him discovering a man’s freshly washed clothes in his room. Lizzy dresses like a man when going smuggling, symbolising her masculinity. In fact, Lizzy is like the man of the house; she makes all the choices and makes money. At one point, Lizzy handles money and this is very symbolic of her freedom. In the other two stories men are hurt physically and in this story Hardy uses this to show Lizzy as masculine; she was shot in the hand. In â€Å"The Withered Arm† Rhoda is jealous of Gertrude for being with Farmer Lodge, and in â€Å"The Melancholy Hussar† Phyllis stays inside for four weeks because she is so upset about Matthà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½us. In this story, however, Mr Stockdale gets upset about Lizzy. For a few days he becomes â€Å"sad† and â€Å"restrained† when he starts to suspect that there might be another man in Lizzy’s life. Also, there is a lack of choices for Mr Stockdale regarding his job â€Å"brought with a single eye to ministry†; in the previous stories the women tend to lack choices. Social convention expected women to centre their lives around men but Lizzy was not prepared to give up her life for a man. Lizzy even suggests that Mr Stockdale gives up his ministry to marry her. I think Hardy implies that money plays a big part in independence, because in the previous short stories women were restrained because of their lack of money, and in this story Lizzy is economically independent and has freedom. â€Å"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s† â€Å"†He’s dead,† she pouted.† This quote shows Lizzy’s rebelliousness but ironically, she ends up writing a book called â€Å"Render unto Caesar†. Lizzy’s marriage and apology to Mr Stockdale show that she eventually conformed to social convention. In the author’s note Hardy says he would have preferred Lizzy to marry Jim the smuggler, and emigrate to America, and that the other ending was only written because of the expectations of the time of publishing. So, even Hardy had to conform to the conventions of the day. The latter ending is more modern and clearly shows the influence of time on Hardy and his admiration of Lizzy. Throughout these short stories Hardy has shown a wide range of characters and has used different women in varying ways to achieve different purposes. Hardy is shown to have a good understanding of the women in that time through these stories. Even though all three of the short stories were written in the third person, Hardy has used language ingeniously. He has evoked many responses from the reader, but predominantly it is one of sympathy for the women.

Friday, August 16, 2019

New HR Strategy Makes Lloyd’s a “Best Company”

Bohlander discussed in chapter one. One of the biggest things I took from the chapter was evolution of HR managers from being a person consumed by company personnel matters to playing an active role in improving the business model a company has through innovation and providing advice to company executives. Ms. Black spoke of the need of Lloyd’s employees to be challenged in their work. In Human Behavior in Organizations, Sinclair, Cuttell, Vandeveer and Menefee write about how it is essential to provide employees with work that challenges them, because challenging work is viewed as being rewarding work, this in turn provides for an increase in employee motivation and makes them feel as though they are true stakeholders in the organization (pgs 50-51). Additionally, the workers cited community involvement and health incentives as reasons for their continued motivation. Clearly, these workers prove Snell and Bohlander to be correct when those authors wrote about the need for companies to be seen as being socially responsible and offer innovative incentives to keep their employees not only motivated, but wanting to work for a company (pgs 10,11,20,28). This ability to think outside the normal work paradigm of salary raises and promotions with regards to employee benefits backs up Blacks claim that HR managers will need to be able to see change and work within in that change. This is vital with the changing American demographics(Census Bureau) and the values that younger workers and different cultures have when it comes to work motivation and success. The idea of attracting these new workers highlights the concept of strategic thinking that Black spoke of to be successful in the new HR. From reading the case study, it appears as though Blacks strategy has been a success. It has been a success not only for Lloyds, but it appears as though it also successful for the employees. Often when one thinks about improving the company the image of layoffs, furloughs and other morale crushing decisions come to mind. It seems that these changes have positively changed worker attitudes, with Lloyds being ranked as one of the most desirable companies to work for. Even the website Payscale shows employees at Lloyds giving the company four out of five stars for workplace environment (Payscale). This recognition as a great place to work from respected media outlets like the Sunday Times can only help to recruit and retain the best talent for Lloyds. The ability for the employees to develop their career, and know that they can be rewarded for their work, has to provide incentive for those workers to make Lloyds a more successful company filled with happy, productive workers. Companies are finding that many advantages can be gained by going global. As with anything however, there are also pitfalls to entering into global markets to sell, or make items. If I were the HR manager for a company that is creating offices around the globe, I would lobby for each country to have separate culture specific HR policies. What works for American companies will not even work in many parts of France. Snell and Bohlander spoke of the French workers taking their managers hostage(pg 19). While such an action would be cause for termination without much protest in America, the French have a different attitude towards work relations. If another western nation has such a different outlook towards work issues, imagine the pitfalls inherit with going to Asia, Africa, or Latin America with totally different norms and societal expectations. Not only would it be a necessity to learn and become adroit in that cultures values and ways of work, you would need to ensure to meet compliance for all laws in that nation, which could be very different than our laws. The need for precise translations would be paramount to ensure that all employees know precisely what the companies expectations are and how the employees are expected to act and what they are expected to do. The power of â€Å"no† is immense. Employees, managers and executives alike need to be bound by the rules and regulations that run a company for that company to have success. Since I have not worked in an office environment, I am more limited in the potential conflicts that I could see arising where as an HR manager, I would have to be firm and follow the guidelines established by the company and their protocols. One instance I could see arising, that has happened in a school setting, is habitual employee tardiness. Many companies, in order to retain talent and keep their employees happy and motivated, have adapted flex time. The schools systems can not do this, as we have a set bell schedule. If an employee consistently asked to come in late, or leave early, the time would come when you would have to say no to the employee. Hopefully, the prior incidents had been documented so that you could prove you tried to accommodate the employee to the extent possible. If other workers notice what they see as another employee receiving preferential treatment, I imagine a cascading effect where the other workers would naturally insist upon being treated the same, or they may become resentful towards the company and the employee who seems to be treated differently. Any situation that violates company policy, or more importantly the law, must be told no. As an HR manager I am responsible for protecting the company, the executives and the employees. Recently at school we had an issue with coworker harassment and bullying. While I do not know the specifics of that incident, I do know that if the administrators or anyone from the Board of Education had received information about the issue, they would have to explain to the parties that such things are not acceptable, damage the school community and open the possibility of civil litigation. Whenever a potential conflict exists that could violate company procedure, or the law, HR must be firm and stand by their convictions and ensure that all workers are treated equitably and fairly.Works Cited Barnes, N.G. (2010, Spring). How do the most successful companies use social media? Marketing Research, (10). Retrieved June 1, 2013 from http://www.marketingpower.com/ResourceLibrary/Publications/MarketingResearch/2010/1/Tweeting.pdf Payscale. (2013). Retrieved on June 1, 2013, from Payscale website: http://www.payscale.com/reasearch/UK/Employer=Lloyds_of_London/Salary Reinhart, C. (2013). The Relationship between Marketing and Human Resources.Houston Chronicle. Retrieved June 1, 2013, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/relationship-between-marketing-human-resources-10287.html Sinclair, G., Cuttell, D., Vandeveer, R., & Menefee, M. (2002). Human Behavior in Organizations (4th ed.) Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing. Snell, Scott & Bohlander, George. (2013) Managing Human Resources. (16th ed.) Mason, OH: South-Western. U.S Census Bureau. (2013, May 15) Population Projections. Retrieved May 30, 2013 From the World Wide Web: http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012/summarytables.html

Critque Essay

In the story â€Å"The Operation,† by Pensri Kiengsiri , a story that has a third persons’ point of view. The reader learns that Kamjorn, the father of the kid, don’t have much affection to Danu because Danu is a victim of polio which made Danu a crippled kid. Its conspiracy leads the reader into having a feeling of sympathy for the boy. And the story’s setting, contributes well to the growing sympathy of the readers to Danu, as Kiengsiri’s treatment of timing cause the readers to anticipate a shocking things that’s to unfold.The time at which â€Å"The Operation† is set introduces an element of tension between the parents. Kamjorn informed the readers that when he taught about going to Bangkok he first wanted to see his best friend, rather to go to the hospital which is his main reason of going to Bangkok; it is â€Å"his mind strayed to other days in Bangkok, student days and to the old school mates, he would have a chance to look u p. † As the reader already knows that Kamjorn intends to catch up with his old friends, the very mention of â€Å"strayed to other days† evokes the sense of a plan that will certainly make sadness to the boy’s feelings.The added suggestion of â€Å"chance to look up† introduces an atmosphere of uncertainty: that planted to the reader’s mind is the notion that all is not normal and right to the world. The sense of uncertainty to Kamjorn that he will not go to his son and doesn’t show to his son it is a big factor to his son operation. Just as the time in which â€Å"The Operation† is set infuses the story with an atmosphere of sadness, so do the physical surrounding in which the bulk of plot unfolds. â€Å"When Kamjorn reached Bangkok, he went to meet his friend and to actually catch up with them.When his daughter haven’t seen any sign that either one of their parents arrived, she was worried and called to their house and someho w convinced her mother to travel. † Both things added to the reader’s sense that there’s something is not right and that something imminent is about to occur. This atmosphere of imminence increases as their mother went to the train and hasn’t heard anything from her until the operation is almost finished â€Å"an accident on an express train†¦fatalities†That’s the only words Kamjorn’s mind ever digested before he fainted. For it is only in the final conversation of the story. The imminence that happened to Kamjorn’s wife that caused him to faint. It has successfully concealed the true sense of Kamjorn tears last before he fainted. Hence, the manner Kiengsiri described the time and setting of â€Å"The Operation† serves to greatly enhance the effect of this tale upon the reader.In accompanying the story’s characters into a world thet grows steadily more gruesome at every turn, the reader’s feeling of sad ness and foreboding increases, the reader is doubly troubled the disturbing revelation made in the story’s final conversation. Kiengsiri’s use of setting and timing in this story mirrors the special effects employed in dramatic movies-effects that have the viewers wiping their tears, totally absorbed in plot and atmosphere. It is good that a 6 page short story can evoke with words the same response that movie makers use millions of dollars, efforts and truckloads of technology to create.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Should College Athletes Be Paid Essay

Why College Athletes Should Be Paid $53.4 Million the combined salary of the top 15 paid coaches in division 1 college football, $0 the combined salary of all student-athletes. Over the past few decades, college athletics have gained popularity across the United States. Whether it is football, basketball, or baseball, ever since the turn of the century, intercollegiate sports have brought in a surplus of revenue to their respective Universities. A recent study found that the University of Texas’ Athletic Program had the highest revenue of any other University at a little over $120 million. Yet with this large sum of money, NO college athletes are legally compensated for their work. According to NCAA rules, â€Å"You are not eligible for participation in a sport if you have ever: Taken pay or the promise of pay, for competing in that sport†. While it may seem odd and unjust to pay college athletes, the reality is that compensation of such athletes is a necessity not only to keep competition at a steady level in college athletics, but also to encourage students to graduate and get their college degrees. Student athletes should be compensated for their work, as they are the sole reason for the Athletic Program’s surplus in revenue. These athletes are working for the schools and are doing a service to the college that seems to go unnoticed. Colleges are using these athletes to boost their respective reputations and bring in revenue while not compensating these athletes for their work. Everywhere else athletes are paid, so why shouldn’t college students too? Some critics may argue that these student-athletes are amateurs, and if paid then are becoming professional athletes. The minor league for baseball could be considered an amateur sport, although they do receive pay according to the team’s revenue. Also, with all the time practicing and working in the classroom, how many athletes have time to actually get a job? Another argument that supports paying college athletes is that these â€Å"full-ride† scholarships given to the best athletes do not actually cover all their expenses. Many athletes still can’t afford to have their parents come to the stadium and watch the games. With all of the respect and publicity of these athletes, it goes unnoticed that a great deal of the players live very near to the poverty line. Due to this lack of money, black-markets are created. Here, boosters that represent the University give these playersâ€℠¢Ã‚  cars, spending money, or anything they truly want, and in return, these players go to their respective University. There have been many instances of this before, one prominent example is that of Reggie Bush, the running back for the University of Southern California from 2003-2005. Bush was paid by boosters to attend USC, which violated NCAA rules. Bush’s mother was having trouble paying rent for her apartment at the time in Pasadena. Bush felt obligated to take this offer, as there was no other way to make money and pay for his mother’s home. These boosters’ actions are not only are illegal, but create unfairness in competition amongst the NCAA. These universities that violate NCAA rules have an upper edge in recruiting top prospects. Schools are then tempted to violate such rules to even out the playing field. The last and arguably the most important reason to pay college athletes, is that it will ensure that most student-athletes will complete their college degrees. â€Å"Paying student-athletes would provide an incentive to stay in school and complete their degree programs, instead of leaving early for the professional leagues† Which brings me back to the question, â€Å"Should college athletes get paid?† If athletes are paid to play, not only can they cover some of their college expenses that scholarships couldn’t, but also now they will want to finish their education. NCAA prides itself on all student-athletes are students first and athletes second, however, it seems that more popular athletes leave early for the pros. In college basketball, many freshman stars are referred to as â€Å"one and done† players as they complete one year of college and go to the professional leagues early, as they want money and need it as soon as possible. The importance of their education is lost. The University seems to be hypocritical in its actions when it doesn’t pay its athletes, because it seems they support college athletes leaving for the Professional league early. One author suggests that every university pays the same flat rate to each college athlete for three years, and then offer a raise to senior athletes. This bonus will create that incentive for students to receive their degrees. While it may seem odd and unjust to pay college athletes, the reality is that compensation of such athletes is a necessity not only to keep competition at a steady level in college athletics, but also to encourage students to graduate and get their college degrees. The truth of the matter is that many college athletes are already being paid under the  table which creates a black-market that is not only illegal, but is also unfair to universities that abide by NCAA regulations. Universities are exploiting these students and allowing them not to receive any revenue that they clearly earned. College Athletes Should Be Paid! Works Cited â€Å"College Athletics.† Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_athletics. Transcript of Informational Hearing: College Athletes. Sacramento, CA, Senate Publications, 2003.