Changing Current Marketing Strategy for Cruise Line Essay -- business

STRATEGIES REJECTED Sea Goddess Cruises, Limited (SGC) is obviously not accomplishing what it needs to financially to obtain a fair share of the market. There are a number of current strategies that will be reconsidered and rejected. Segmentation The first of these strategies that will be rejected deals with segmentation. Sea Goddess Cruises has not adequately considered enough segments in the market, which has been a major contributor to the lack of market share. SGC should eliminate all plans for monosegmenting. As stated in earlier reports, the segment that SGC is trying to target (i.e. lawyers, doctors, CEOs, etc.) is not large enough to make consistent profit. SGC must look at some other segments to a greater variety of passengers, which may then lead to increased market share and revenue. We have found that the current segment is far too narrow and complex. SGC may want to try and market more to the upper-middle class or middle class portion of the population. In addition to this rejected strategy, it is important that SGC does not oversegment in their efforts to improve the company. Oversegmentation is extremely expensive and a majority of segments do not have the financial abilities it takes to enjoy a Sea Goddess cru ise. Also, the current facilities are very limited, considering SGC only employs to ships. Advertising A second strategy that has been rejected is one concerned with the consumer awareness of SGC. Currently, SGC is only advertising to travel agencies. Coupled with segmentation, SGC’s current advertising strategy has hurt SGC in the sense that consumer awareness is considerably low. Only a small portion of the population even knows that Sea Goddess exists. SGC is only targeting those who travel frequently. They may want to target the portion of the population that wants to travel, but is unsure of where to go or what to do. In order for SGC to reach the consumer, new efforts must be made in the advertising plan. Mere travel agency recommendations are not going to be enough to keep SGC alive in the marketplace. Other vehicles are going to be necessary to spread SGC’s message about the luxuries and benefits of this extraordinary cruise. At the present time, only a small number of all travel agencies have the sufficient knowledge that it takes to make an informative sell to the consumer. It may be profitable for SGC to employ some hi... ...lavishness of the cruise. The End of Autonomy Currently, Sea Goddess Cruises is alone in a business sense. They are not associated or affiliated with any larger cruise lines. It may be lucrative or profitable for Sea Goddess to lose this autonomy. SGC should attempt to merge with a larger company, such as Carnival. A larger company might want to â€Å"adopt† SGC as a smaller, â€Å"little sister† type of company. This could boost customer awareness greatly. For example, if a couple is looking to take an expensive, private cruise, they may look to Carnival. Carnival Cruise Lines or the travel agent may view Sea Goddess as more fitting for this couple. They could recommend to the couple they might be more suited for a Sea Goddess cruise. The relationship could be reciprocal, because Sea Goddess or a travel agent could, in return, refer a family of six to a Carnival cruise. They could also cooperate together in advertising schemes. As you can see, Sea Goddess needs to undergo some major changes. These changes could help lead to a more positive business image. The strategies that have been rejected in this report will help lead SGC to increased profits and customer awareness.

Comparing Middletons A Chaste Maid in Cheapside and Beaumonts Knight

Upturning Social Tradition in Middleton's A Chaste Maid in Cheapside and Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle Satirical dramatic works from early seventeenth-century England provide invaluable information about the society that spawned them through their comical and critical insights. Recurring themes from these works enhance one's knowledge of the culture in which they first appeared. The ascension of the lower and middle classes into social prestige and nobility emerges among the most prevalent dramatic themes of the time. Capitalizing upon the subsequent social confusion, seventeenth-century playwrights convey the uncertainty of whether to follow the dictum of flagging traditions or to purchase a higher place in society. To understand the nuances of how social change affected England, one needs only to glance at Thomas Middleton's A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, which illustrates the struggle of the English aristocracy to survive as lower-born citizens triumphantly rise into its ranks. A Chaste Maid in Cheapside's sister drama, Francis Beaumont's The Knight of the Burning Pestle, also depicts this situation in England despite its differing plot and structure. Moreover, both plays feature similar resolutions that subtly contribute to the aura of social confusion. To emphasize the prevalence of upward mobility, Middleton's A Chaste Maid in Cheapside and Beaumont's The Knight of the Burning Pestle feature women who overcome sexually-motivated male suitors by feigning death, an action that symbolically exemplifies the quavering social boundaries and the diminishing... ...h works. One inconspicuous ripple of the numerous social shock waves appears as women overcome their insolent suitors by feigning death: a figurative upheaval of orthodox social values. In addition, the unfulfilled eroticism of the suitors suggests the future deterioration of their belief that they must marry a woman for propagation and not for love. After the women escape subjection to this lifestyle by faking their deaths, the consequences of their resurrection demonstrate the inconstancy of cultural certainties in their society. Works Cited Beaumont, Francis. The Knight of the Burning Pestle. Ed. John Doebler. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1967. Middleton, Thomas. A Chaste Maid in Cheapside. Ed. Alan Brissenden. New York: WW Norton & Company, Inc., 1997.

The Real Inspector Hound

Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound, which was written between 1961 and 1962 and premiered on June 17th 1968, is an absurd play that comments on the role of the critic in relation to the play he or she critiques and comments on the interdependent relationship that is formed between critic and actor. The Real Inspector Hound’s plot revolves around a couple of critics, Moon and Birdboot, who become embroiled in a murder mystery while watching a play about a murder mystery; in this sense, The Real Inspector Hound is a play-within-a-play.Through the play’s plot and theme, Stoppard not only comments on the interdependent and mutually beneficial relationship critics have with the theatre, but also on how the theatre and critic must remain separate entities. The Real Inspector Hound is an absurdist play that is highly self-aware, or self-reflexive, of its premise and structure. For the purposes of this analysis, the play Moon and Birdboot are attending will be refer red to as â€Å"the play,† whereas Stoddard’s play (in which â€Å"the play† is contained will be referred to as The Real Inspector Hound.In establishing the play’s and The Real Inspector Hound’s general theme of a murder mystery, Stoppard not only comments on the absurdity of whodunit tales—in this case Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap—but provides a meta-critique of the genre through Moon and Birdboot who attempt to decipher the play they are watching’s plot. In the process, Stoppard also forces The Real Inspector Hound’s audience to attempt to decipher the events within the play—and within the play’s play—as they unfold, thus creating a tertiary level of meta-criticism.Through this approach, Stoppard demonstrates that critics and criticism are not formal roles, but rather that assuming the role of a critic can be done by anybody and that people actively engage in criticism even if they are n ot aware of it. Through his criticism of theatre and the whodunit genre, Stoppard forces the reader, and consequently the critic, to recognize the interdependent and mutually beneficial relationship that is formed between the theatre and the critic.One of the basic premises Stoppard comments on is how critics are dependent on the theatre and how it not only provides them with a source of income and allows them to attain some sort of fame, but also how it allows them to gain insight into some aspect of their lives. One of Moon’s most self-reflexive meta-comments allows the reader to understand Stoppard’s personal concept of the purpose of theatre. Moon comments, â€Å"There are moments, and I would not begrudge it this, when the play, if we can call it that, and I think on balance we can, aligns itself uncompromisingly on the side of life† (Stoppard 31).When deconstructed, Moon’s observation can be applied on two different levels. The first level Moon†™s comment can be applied is to his personal observation of the play he and Birdboot are watching. In The Real Inspector Hound, it is revealed the action taking place within the play’s play mirrors the action that is taking place within The Real Inspector Hound. For instance, in the play it is revealed that Simon is leaving Felicity because he has fallen in love with Cynthia.This ironically parallels Birdboot’s behavior as he has been having an affair with the actress that plays Felicity and has pushed his own wife to the side. It is ironic to not only see how the play mirrors Birdboot’s life, but also how the issue is not so absurd that it does not occur in everyday life. By commenting on the how theatre is a mirror of real life, Moon, as a critic and observer, forces the reader—and his followers—to take note of the messages conveyed through theatre.By analyzing the themes conveyed through theatre, it becomes much more than a simple entertainmen t venue and is transformed into a means for self-reflection. In addition to the parallels created by the adulterous couple in the play and Birdboot, Moon observes and paradoxically foreshadows what occurs in the play by commenting on his role within the critic world. In The Real Inspector Hound, the only reason Moon is given the opportunity to attend and critique the play is because his superior, Higgs, has mysteriously failed to show up.As Moon contemplates about his role and life, and about what will be written on his epitaph, he comments, â€Å"Sometimes I dream of revolution, a bloody coup d’etat by the second rank—troupes of actors slaughtered by their under-studies†¦Sometimes I dream of Higgs† (7). In The Real Inspector Hound it is not the actors that are slaughtered by their underappreciated understudies, but rather the critics who are killed off. By referring to the role of the critic as being one of power, Moon not only comments on the impact the c ritic can potentially have, but also on the necessity for evolution in terms of theatre as an art form. The critic’s livelihood is dependent on artistic revolution and innovation. If a critic is only critiquing the same element or genre, then their input becomes moot and they outlive their purpose as they have lost any power they may have had when their critiques actually influenced people. A critic not only has the power to influence people to attend or avoid a theatre production, but also the critic’s power also lies in how he or she influences the theatre. In The Real Inspector Hound, Birdboot is having an adulterous affair with the actress who plays Felicity in the play.In his defense, Birdboot contends, â€Å"My wife Myrtle understands perfectly well that a man of my critical standing is obliged occasionally to mingle with the world of the foot lights, simply by way of keeping au fait with the latest,† that is to say, that in order to understand and keep up with the ever-changing world of theatre, a person needs to be actively involved in it (10). If a critic is not up-to-date with what is going on in the realm of theatre, it is difficult for him or her to impact either the audience or potential theatre-goer, or to make an impact on the world of theatre.Birdboot also asserts that it is necessary to maintain a certain level of integrity (even if he engages in illicit behavior himself) and is offended when Moon insinuates Birdboot uses his position of power to influence the realm of theatre and promote any actress that is willing to trade (sexual) favors. Birdboot exclaims, â€Å"[To] suggest that my good opinion in a journal of unimpeachable integrity is at the disposal of the first coquette who gives me what I want† is considered to be more of an insult than a statement of truth, despite the fact that it is not intended to question his integrity as a critic, but rather his integrity as a man.Through The Real Inspector Hound, St oppard provides commentary on the thin line that divides critics from actors by highlighting how the theatre becomes irrevocably changed when critics interfere with a production. For instance, when Moon crosses the play’s fourth wall and jumps into the action in medias res, he not only disrupts the action on stage, but also breaks down the wall between critic and actor and becomes part of a world he is merely charged with observing.By breaking the rules of theatre and becoming actively engaged in the action, Moon can no longer provide an unbiased opinion on the play and thus outlives his purpose. His objectivity is removed and as such, so must he be from his position. While the theatre and critic are interdependent on each other for survival, the theatre cannot serve to criticize its audience and can only provide them with a mirror into who they are.Likewise, a critic cannot become part of the theatre without losing his or her reputation; the critic has to remain constantly s eparated from the action while attempting to remain informed about the artists, themes, and artistic movements that are constantly in flux. Through Moon’s and Birdboot’s monologues, Stoppard investigates the role of the critic and demonstrates how critics are constantly fighting to survive within their own industry and how the theatre is dependent on critics to not only influence audiences, but also to secure employment within the industry.In a way, critics are the people who have the most control in the world of theatre and as such, they are constantly in danger as other critics actively fight to be the most respected and influential critic, the one who holds all the power, and the one who gets all the â€Å"perks. † Works Cited Stoppard, Tom. The Real Inspector Hound. Scribd. Web. 14 December 2012, from http://www. scribd. com/doc/92063145/The-Real-Inspector-Hound-Full-Text

Pocket Money Should Be Given to the Teenagers or Not

With the development of our modern society, peoples living conditions become much more comfortable. But along with intense competition, parents have less time to consider children needs in all-round. One method to solve this contradiction is to give children some pocket money. Pocket money is useful to children. But whether the children are considerable enough to make correct use of these money. There are two viewpoints about the pocket money. Some people think that giving children pocket money will make them become luxurious. Others think that will not lead to such disadvantage. In my opinion, both of them are partially reasonable. Nowadays teenagers are moving to independence and it will help them if they have some practice in managing money. Giving pocket money teaches teenagers to manage money while they are still young and parents can still guide them. Also, it help teenagers to make choices and to see that sometimes people have to wait and save up some money to get what they really want. The important predicament of pocket money must have certainly flashed your mind either during your childhood or as a parent now. Of course, the dilemma is always much more grave if you are a parent. Parents extensively differ in their perspectives of upbringing children in a system of granting pocket money to take care of their petty expenses. At first, the definite expenses that should be termed as petty is pretty much subjective in nature and needs to be well-defined to start with. The second question you need to ask is what is the extent to which a child be given freedom to spend money which is deemed as pocket money? While lot of parentaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s concerns revolves around promoting unhealthy competition amongst children on the amount of money they get and loss of control on a childaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s spending habits, there are also some positive lessons for teenagers such as inculcating money management skills and making tough decision regarding spending desires that offer less value to their lifestyle. Some peoples believe that giving children pocket money really has many advantages. With pocket money, children can buy their daily necessities such as pencils, little toys, and snack food they like. It will give children a certain freedom to select what they want, make them aware rules of the equivalent exchange. Since time to parents is very precious, giving pocket money to children help them to save time spent in shopping, but used in busy working and earning money. Children can get the value of the money when they are responsible to pay for their purchases and they will become more responsible with money matters. It can also lead the children pay for their things from their pocket money itself, so that they get to know how grownups set up a budget when salary comes and pay for living expenses. Some parents think that giving pocket money to their children can saves a lot of time for grownups to buy small things for them. Parents can utilize this time for other important tasks. Once start giving pocket money to children, they have to begin make important decision regarding spending money themselves, this will gives them the sense of purpose and achievement. Besides that, children feel a sense of independence and responsibility towards spending the money in the right way. They learn to understand the value of money. Children will get into the habit of planned income and expenditure. They also learn about saving & budgeting. Giving pocket money to children makes them feel an important part of the family since they know that they get a part of the family's monthly income. Therefore, the way of giving pocket money will develop a sense to children of how much has to be done to earn money, learn that ‘money doesn't grow on trees', learn what money can buy, how much they need to buy and what they need to buy. They can have their own money to spend and helping them develop self control and understanding the value of money, and learn to save money. Others insist that there are undoubtedly some disadvantages in spending pocket money. First, young children do not know how to use pocket money appropriately, they possibly consume all the money to buy expensive merchandise that they like, and then ask for extra money from their parents. Some parents cosset their children, and always give them a large amount of pocket money. Such conditions will make children become more and more prodigal. Second, since adults do not supervise the procedure of shopping, children could probably buy something that is not suitable for their age, such as adult magazines. The aâ‚ ¬? Current Pocket Money Trends in Malaysiaaâ‚ ¬? survey has cited that metropolitan children in the 12-20 ages group get as much as RM500 to over RM1500 a month of pocket money to spend on apparels, physical appearance, cell phone and other lifestyle products. A child may not be cautious in spending money, he or she can easily spend on frivolous unnecessary items. Children are not expected to know the value of money so they are never expected to make a wise decision regarding money. A child can easily get into trouble if there is no supervision with regards to money matters. He or she can be the prey to the bullies at school or play area if they are carrying lots of pocket money. Children may always think they will get paid for everything they do to help, you have to find the money to pay them regularly, it is hard to know what the pocket money is supposed to pay for and there will always seems to be something more. Although children learn to understand that amount of money is limited and they need to always choose between their various desires to ensure correct use of their pocket money. Some parents believe that pocket money should not be given since that will make the child feel that ‘parents money is not his/her money', it could lead to unhealthy competition amongst children on the amount of pocket money they get, and they will loss of control on where children spend the money. By judging these two viewpoints above that I mentioned, I think that parents should give their children a limited amount of pocket money and there must always exist some preconditions such as the amount of pocket money must be finite; parents should instruct their children how to use the money moderately and what is suitable to them; for a costly merchandise, parents themselves should take children to buy it. With these preconditions, pocket money will do no harm to their children. Parents need to explain to them where the money is to be used. For example when you first give the amount to your daughter, you need to explain that this money is to cover her school special lunch; candies or soft drinks requirements for a week. If the child is given money without any direction, you could run the risk of the child using the money is a way that does not agree with you. In such cases, parents need to be very careful in not micro- managing where the child spends the pocket money, else the child will get irritated and will not get the aâ‚ ¬? sense of independenceaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ that parents want to instill in the child. Once children start spending, sometimes away from their parents in going to school, sports classes, tuitions, and they need to carry some amount of money on them. In the beginning, the amount of money should be small and should be periodically reviewed as the child grows. For example parents could decide that every birthday, they will give an increment to your childaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s pocket money. If your child excels in academics or sports, they could get higher pocket money increments! How much is the best as the pocket money? Parents must always ensure that they give comparable pocket money to their children. It should neither be too much or too little compared to friends. Giving more pocket money than friends will make your child spend more and consider money as frivolous and easily available. If your child gets less pocket money than his/her friends, it will lead to an inferiority complex and the child might start resenting you. An idea might be to give your child a set amount each week, putting half in a savings account. At the end of a time agreed on by you both, perhaps three months and the child can spend the saved money exactly as they wish. If they choose to ‘waste' it on lollies they can do so. However most children want something special and usually prefer to save for that particular thing and not waste it on a brief pleasure. This helps teach them the value of saving. Another way treat pocket money as a way of punishment. Parents must be careful not to use pocket money as a way of punishment to their children. Often, parents use aâ‚ ¬? suspension of pocket moneyaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ as an easy way of punishing their children. This format of punishment is not wrong to use but must be applied carefully. For example if the child has a broken a beautiful vase and you want him/ her to understand the value of the same, you can penalize the child by deducting/ taking away the monthaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s pocket money. But you cannot start using pocket money as a weapon to get the child to abide by all your wishes. For example you might want your child to have two glasses of milk everyday which he may not want to; in such cases by incentivizing the child for more pocket money will be wrong to do since such a format of giving money is not pocket money but aâ‚ ¬? bribeaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Similarly, pocket money penalty cannot be used as a blanket punishment to all wrong-doings. If the child starts feeling that he/she will never really get pocket money due to some punishment, he/she might be tempted to steal money from parents. If you decide to give pocket money you need to work out, how much is reasonable, whether the money will be paid for doing chores, how much must be done to earn it, and how much is simply because aâ‚ ¬? you are a member of the familyaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢, how much each job is worth, whether all children get the same amount or the older child gets more, how much control parents will have over the use of pocket money or do they have to save some, what can they buy with it, when you will pay? Because the children won't learn about the responsibility of money if parents don't honor the agreement.

Proposal “Violence Against Women”

Shantel Jones Professor Sara Yu Eng. 121-111 15 April 2013 â€Å"Violence Against Women† The research proposal I am preparing is going to be addressing violence against women and the challenges they face when children are involved in the household. The aim of the research is to view how these challenges are overcome and give way to women rights and their political rights (nineteenth amendment). In the early 1990’s over half a million American women were raped.In 1994 congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which forbids the state from interfering with women’s citizenship and political rights. Starting from domestic abuse to rape as a weapon of war, violence against women is a gross violation of their human rights. Global issues of violence against women not only does it frighten women's health and their social and economic health, violence also hinders global efforts to reduce poverty. Violence against women falls in several different categories.Do mestic violence occurs between man and women. Domestic violence is one of the main issues in most parental abduction cases. The article also talks about custody battles and how visitation should go when it comes to the children. Domestic violence has been defined in various ways in the legal, social science, and psychology fields. Within the legal field alone, the term carries a different meaning depending on whether state or federal law governs and whether a case arises in the criminal or civil sphere.According to Deborah Goelman under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), â€Å"domestic violence includes the following: [F]elony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction rece iving grant monies, or by any other adult person against a victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant monies. † This topic is of interest to me because as a woman studying the laws on women’s right helps you to become more knowledgeable in society. If the world does not address the issue, it stands to suppress the enormous potential of women and girls. When they feel safe, when they are empowered, women and girls can be game-changers. What I hope to gain from this research project is different ways to deal with domestic violence if I was to ever come in contact with a violent individual.

Nursing as a career

Nursing as a profession has fascinated me as a child.   I derive a lot of inner satisfaction in helping people, especially the sick, the needy and elderly people.   I do feel happy once I am able to observe the reaction and the gratefulness they suggest to me in their own humble way, once they have received help.   I consider this to be the most beautiful thing about the nursing profession.   I feel that nursing is a combination of science and technology, and the art of caring. I was able to witness the distinctiveness of nursing frequently, when a family member or a friend was admitted in a nursing care facility.   I felt that the nurses who provided care did a great job.   They were able to give all the love and affection to their patients, which really helped quicken recovery.   Frequently, patients who received care admired their nurses for developing a positive attitude and relationship during their stay in the hospital.   This according to me is the greatest reward that nurses get for their work. Nurses develop a bonding with their patients within a very short period, through interactions and common emotions shared following medical problems.   This relationship usually ends on a positive note, with recovery and discharge of the patient.   The patients have long-lasting memories of their nurses who helped them during traumatic periods. Nursing is one of the noblest professions, and I am very excited that I am going to be a part of it.   Besides specialized training, knowledge and skill required for nursing, I feel that the most important thing is to develop compassion, kindness, patience, conscience and understanding while providing professional care.   These issues according to me remain the most important characteristics of nursing, and all other things come second. My goals in life include helping humanity to the best of my knowledge, skill and competence, particularly in my field of specialization that is nursing.   Once I am able to complete my undergraduate course, I would like pursue masters, and even do research work, along with nursing practice in a community hospital.   A degree in nursing would be a stepping stone at fulfilling my goals in life.   Through masters and higher education, I would be in a better position to provide care and assistance to my patients. References: Maryland Health Careers (2007). Nursing Careers. Retrieved 3 February, 2007, from Maryland Health Careers Web site: http://www.marylandhealthcareers.org/html/student/nursing.html         

Religion a tool of oppression Essay

Religion is an important aspect of life; it influences a high proportion of many things. The odd part is that many people are not actually clear on what a religion is. There are several key aspects that make something a religion although the exact details can vary. In reality there is no firm agreement on just what a religion is. Religion is defined by the online dictionary as‘a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs’, ‘The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs’. Religion is a belief system that uses symbols to allow people to explore their spirituality. Religions usually rely on narratives and symbols that are used to offer a meaning to life or to explain things like who or how the universe was created. In addition most religions have an ethical component that teaches people how they are expected to live. There is a lot of variation within this as can be seen by the number of religions that exist in the world. In fact there is no firm agreement about what constitutes a religion and what does not. One aspect of religion that applies in all cases is that it is a public process. Having a personal belief system does not make it a religion. By definition a religion is an organized activity that involves other people. Most religions have a hierarchical system for example with priests and bishops and so on but this is not required. Most religions also have a specific place of worship and there are usually sermons, festivals and many other activities that are part of the process. None of this is strictly required; the only requirement is that the religion be a belief system that is held by a group of people who publicly share that religion. However in practice the vast majority of religions have some aspect of these things. A lot of religions have been established in drastically different ways with the differences largely being cultural. The largest difference in most cases is that some religions put the importance on belief whiles others put the emphasis on practice. Basically this means that in some cases the most important thing is that you believe the doctrines of the religion while in other cases it is more important what you do than that you actually believe what is being taught. It’s a known fact that religion is used to emphasise the importance of peace and harmony between individuals for example some of the laws made by the government is influenced by Christianity’s ’10 Commandment’. All Religions teach parents how to train or discipline their children, how to overcome certain obstacles and also what to and what not to do, religion does these things by promising a reward and punishments in the afterlife, paradise for the righteous followers and condemnationfor the people which disobey Discussion However, religion is criticised of being a tool of oppression, a sociologist, Karl Marx famously stated that â€Å"Religion is the opiate of the people† that statement clearly shows that he’s thought that religion was a lie by the ruling powers for example, the kings presidents etc., to keep their subjects submissive and obedient, and to give them hope for the next life so they would not revolt in this life. Also, another Marxists sociologist, Louis Althusser, brought forth the idea that religion serves the society by being the ideological state apparatuses, this basically means that the higher class rule over the working class by controlling people’s ideas, values and beliefs. This means that the higher class just brought forth religion as a way to control the massed that all their hard work will be rewarded in the next life or will be punished if they try to rebel the higher class’s control over them. The medieval theology presented the culture of the time a concept called ‘the divine right of kings’ this therefore basically means that whatever the king said were directly from God and should be treated as the decisions of God. This was just the latest of manifestation of the tendency of ancient dictators to place themselves as identical with God, as the Roman Emperors would do, having the citizens bow in worship of them. In actual fact, history swarms with examples of power starved governments and individuals using God, gods and religion as a mean of justification for their thoughtless and self-aggrandizing use of political power. So then, is religions especially precisely the Christian faith, then, simply another scheme imposed upon the masses to keep them obedient to the law of the land, no matter how unfair the law may be to stop them retaliating? A quote from the Bible, Hebrew 11:1 states that ‘To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see’if this passage is clearly and carefully looked at with the thought of it being used by the government or higher ruling classes as a tool of oppression, then it’s clear that this is used as a reassurance to its followers not to doubt the passages in the book and have faith that all the deceit they are exposed to is for their own good. In the Bible, the passage Matthew 10, talks about Jesus sending out his disciples out into the world, instructing them to preach his gospel no matter what the subsequences may be as well as warning them of the resistance and acts of hatred they will encounter just because of their message, Jesus says‘ Think not that I have come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household’ When the disciples went forth and began to teach, they were arrested repeatedly. At one court hearing they were asked if they had not understood that they were not allowed to teach the Gospel of Jesus, to which they replied, â€Å"We ought to obey God rather than men.†So therefore the real question is has religion been used as a tool for governments and authorities to control the masses? Absolutely. However, there is one element found in all such religions that is conspicuously absent in proper Christianity. That is the idea that true religion consists of obeying a set of laws in order to gain eternal reward.In ancient Egypt the deceased are judged by their deeds in life, their souls being weighed against a feather. If the soul is not weighed down with wickedness, they pass into the realm of the gods. In modern day Islam there is a similar belief where Allah judges the dead, weighing their adherence to the laws set forth in the Quran against their evil deeds. If Allah deems that the person’s obedience was greater than their disobedience, they pass into paradise.Even in Roman Catholicism, a person must constantly confess and make amends for their evil, following the various rituals of the Church in order to gain salvation. When a religion forces constant performance from its followers, promising the highest reward for obedience and the most monstrouspenalties for failure to execute, that religion has a controlling effect that cannot be overstated. The followers of the religion become absolute slaves to the performance demanded by their faith. There is also a strong tendency to hypocrisy in such religions, since the followers tend to overestimate their own righteous performance while looking down on others. Proper Christianity, however, is no such faith. While every other religion offers only enslavement to law, Christianity offers freedom from law and laws. This is why Christians have always obeyed a power that transcends government, often to the violation of those governments. Because those who must follow laws in order to obtain God’s favour come to resent those laws, but those who are freely forgiven and adopted have a loyalty that surpasses compulsory obedience. They have a loyalty to God that stems from bottomless gratitude On the other hand religion is not all gloom and doom, religion is inevitable in our day to day life. Religion is an important part of life for many people. Even people who are not all that religious by nature consider it to be important. The question is why do they feel this way? The reason is largely down to the belief that society needs religion. As a society we benefit from our collective religious beliefs. In fact there are many people who would argue that we could not function without religion. The biggest reason that society needs religion is to regulate behaviour. Most of the laws that we follow today have their basis in religious teachings. There is considerable debate as to whether or not religion is required to make us good people but what is beyond dispute is that the rules for what is acceptable for society are largely based on religion. Without religion we would almost certainly live in a different type of society, it can be debated whether it would be better or worse but it would certainly be different. Since a major change like that would be impractical it is important that we maintain religion. The other big reason that society needs religion is that it teaches self-sufficiency. Virtually all religions that teach that you are responsible for taking care of yourself. While they all support the idea of charity, none of them teach that accepting charity should be desirable. This has helped to encourage the work ethic that is needed to make society successful. Therefore it is important that people continue to desire to do the work that is necessary. Society is largely based on the idea of cooperation. This can be a bit of a tricky issue since as humans we are selfish by nature. There is an obvious problem here; we need to work together to be successful but for the most part we can benefit personally by being selfish. Religion has proven to be an effective way to get around this problem. Religion teaches that we should work together and help each other and it discourages the kind of selfish behaviour that would make a functioning society impossible. Certainly there are selfish people who are willing to take advantage of others for their own benefit. However the fact that the people who do this are in the minority is largely down to religion.

Critical review of Nokia case support Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical review of Nokia case support - Essay Example The project, which covers the aspect of elderly population in Finland, primarily, focuses on the rural areas, since the country’s population is more rural oriented (89% of the territory dominated by the rural areas in Finland). Besides, decreasing the dependency ratios of the elderly people within the rural municipalities, the project also aims to facilitate in the delivery of better health services and assuring a sustained economic growth. The project, which includes both a literature review on the issue, and an evaluation of the present conditions through discussions, questionnaires, and interviews, will help us to understand the subject matter better by giving us a clear insight into the Finnish health care system, and the use of the technological innovations within this sector. The research question, suitably framed, takes into account the elderly population and the medical services in rural Finland, examines the entire field of medicine and innovative technology. The basi c motivation behind this project is the viability of the Health book, is an â€Å"easy to use online medical networking service aimed at senior citizens, communities, hospitals and doctors† (Nokia Corporation Case for Support, 2011, 3). The elderly population living within rural communities will benefit from this online health service by getting direct access to medical and social support without having to go out of their houses. The hypotheses that says ‘quality performing telecommunication connections and broadband accessibility make it possible for people in rural areas to live and work despite long distances’ (ibid, 4) is measurable both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitatively the data can be collected through theoretical studies of books, journals, and articles on the relationship between improved health care facilities, and innovative technologies and communications. Quantitatively, it is possible to measure the outcomes and implications through the different performance indicators, assessment tests, patient surveys, discussions, interviews, and questionnaires with people in the medical sector and patients, which allows the reader to get a complete overview of their opinions and views, on the present situation and future implications of the issue. Thus, the proposed form of methodology that takes into account both qualitative and quantitative methods, is suitable for this project. The proposed form of data collection makes the project viable, as it aims to explore the variables where the structures will be related to the activities and digital platform of the HealthBook (online medical networking service). The results will then be referred to the â€Å"accessibility and user friendliness of the platform for both elders and medical professionals† (ibid, 11). Lastly, the results would be measured, based on Donabedian’s guidelines (1980), and compared with the results of the preceding health care, thus, providing a clear picture of the present results and the future implications. 2. a. What is the likelihood of the project making a substantial advance in our understanding and knowledge of the subject area?   b. How strong is the impact statement; how will impact be achieved?   The project has chances of making a substantial improvement in the comprehension of the subject are

Magic, Superstition, and Fetishism in the Movie The Natural Essay

Magic, Superstition, and Fetishism in the Movie The Natural - Essay Example The researcher states that fetishism is clearly depicted right from the start of the movie. As such, this character has a craze for success in baseball. This is evidenced by Hobbs designing a wooden bat and naming it â€Å"WonderBoy†. He ensures that he carries it with him to the city. Despite the mysterious shooting by the woman, Hobbs goes under and according to the events; he re-emerges, from baseball leagues unknown to anyone, and surprisingly, appear in the lineup of a fictional baseball team in the name New York Knights. It happens that he turns up with his boyhood â€Å"Wonderboy† This is a clear evidence of fetishism and as such, it is undeniable. Furthermore, he has an obsession with women. This starts from the point where he decided to pursue his dreams. He first fell for a mysterious woman, Harriet Bird, who sidetracks his dream. A further manifestation of the craze for women is where, after becoming a star player, he is attracted to a beautiful woman called Memo Paris, and a niece to the manager of the team he plays for. He is aware that, the woman is a mistress to a character acting as a gambler. Once again, the crave attempts to destroy his career. This introduces another character of whom we come to know that he had a relationship with since his boyhood. There are events entailed in this movie that a critic can consider as superstitious. For instance, Hobbs falls in love with Memo. As such, he puts more concentration on this woman in an effort to solidify and further this relationship. In response to this, Memo’s Uncle, guided by an aspect of superstition, issues a warning statement to Hobbs that, Memo imparts a bad luck on any person who seems to associate with her. In reality, a belief is a subject to superstition and if taken into account, it is deemed to happen. This is evident as this belief by Pop resulted in a slump hit. As such, after ignoring this warning, he tried to resolve this slump and no matter how many instanc es he tried to do so, none of his efforts succeeded.

Compare two poetry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Compare two poetry - Essay Example As â€Å"The Snow Man† opens with lines â€Å"One must have a mind of winter / To regard the frost and the boughs / Of the pine-trees crusted with snow†, the speaker in the third person viewpoint seemingly expresses personal belief on what snow or winter is about. To him, it is essential to have a ‘mind of winter’ so that one perceives more than the feeling of cold. During cold season, our natural tendency is to respond by covering ourselves with thick hides or cloth to be protected from the extremes of low icy temperatures but the poet indicates through the speaker that we ought to recognize the strength born by the pine trees ‘crusted with snow’. Paying regard to the boughs of the trees that remain unbreakable despite the frost summons us to the thought that no matter how intense the degree of coldness is of the snowy winter, a ‘snow man’ that becomes of us would know and acknowledge the climate’s heart. So instead of prev enting the snowiness, we would rather be among the pines that hold and keep the wintry sensation of burning cold without putting on fire or any opposite element against it. Through the second stanza which consists of the lines â€Å"And have been cold a long time / To behold the junipers shagged with ice, / The spruces rough in the distant glitter†, our critical reading is further brought to realize the significance of ‘cold’ in our lives. ‘Cold’ being that which stands for loneliness, suffering, emptiness, or any similar condition of distress is something that can refine a man to a resolute state of well-being having a kind of beauty that radiates in and out. Equivalently, a person who values hardships and perseverance for the sake of establishing a meaningful existence, in the process, walks a path that leads to wonder. The terms ‘shagged’ and ‘rough’ may be associated with an unfavorable load or burden yet either the â₠¬Ëœjunipers’ or the ‘spruces’ occur to bear a proud imagery of delight that can sparkle even from a distance. This scenario is quite symbolic of a manner by which an individual takes good pride upon earning dignity and respect made firm via continuous deeds of righteousness and constant struggle to avoid the complacent ways of evil in the world. Good acts may be often unseen but the fruit of pure joy and the absence of guilt are adequate signs of one’s glowing beauty from within just like the coniferous plants of winter which are altogether a sight of marvel. Stevens’ â€Å"The Snow Man† proceeds with â€Å"and not to think / Of any misery in the sound of the wind, / In the sound of a few leaves, / Which is the sound of the land / Full of the same wind / That is blowing in the same bare place†. To this extent, the speaker likely conveys for us to distinguish between the snow and the sound of the wind under the sun’s heat which i s capable of swaying merely ‘few leaves’ that embody the petty worries of living. It is not quite worth our precious time to be toiling for things of material composition or those that are perishable in nature for we can never count on them to build an inner foundation of courage and reason to work out concerns based on several aspects of life. What the wind causes turns out to be a plain influence of breeze which everyone in our planet can cope with at any rate or level. In reality, for instance, working to achieve a