This Blessed House free essay sample

A House is not a Home Religion is a state of who you are. It signifies a persons mental activities as well as their physical attributions to the world that surrounds them. Religion is a form of state that distinguish between different types of groups and cultures. While in a specific religious group, one must abide by all the rules and commit to what the religion has to offer. It is known that when a person disobeys their religious they get looked at as an outsider, or just as a person from another religious group. In This Blessed House written by Jhumpa Lahiri, she expresses how religion can be the cause of destroying a perfect romantic relationship. The couple in the story, Sanjeev and his wife Tanima, also known as Twinkle are both Hindus, which is a religion that was formulated in the country India. After only knowing each other for a few months they had got married and moved in with each other. We will write a custom essay sample on This Blessed House or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Rushing into things was what they did, and moved into a beautiful house, but had no idea what was really behind those walls. The conflict comes up when Twinkle begins finding Christian relics all over the house. Sanjeev wants to put out all the found relics, but Twinkle collects them on the mantlepiece and shows them off to everybody. Twinkle, so ecstatic about finding the Christian relics, she decided to keep them and put them up in the house. Why would she do this when she is definitely Hindi? Was there something behind her action? But,at that point Sanjeev was already upset about the relics being displayed in their household, with people knowing that they are Hindus, not Christians. Sanjeev stated, â€Å"Were not Christian† (146). Meaning, that they should not be affiliated with any type of things related to Christianity. One can see how this action would form a major conflict in Sanjeevs and Twinkles household. Jumpa Lahiris choice of words shows how weak Sanjeevs and Twinkles relationship was. She stated, â€Å"He was getting nowhere with her, whit this women whom he had known for only four months and whom he had married, this woman with whom he now shared his life with† (146). Sanjeev refers to his beloved wife as â€Å"this woman. † This shows that he has no respect for Twinkle, neither does he care that she cares. One would think, does he really love her? Respect play a huge role in a relationship, and that is what makes one strong. Sanjeev simply does not give Twinkle any kind of respect. For example, when Twinkle finds a Virgin Mary statue, she decided to put it on the front lawn. As Twinkle was taking a bath, she was further disrespect by her husband. As stated in the story, â€Å"he didn’t knock. he took s breath, and then he informed her very calmly that after finishing his drink he was going to put on his shoes and go outside and remove the virgin from the front lawn† (148). It is clear that he has no respect for her because if he did, he would try his hardest to make sure that his wife is happy. It is ironic because in Christian families that is what they do. Maybe that is why Twinkle is cherishing the Christian relics like she did. Maybe she is doubting her roll in the Hindi and is thinking about converting into christian. Every relationship has their own problems, but with Sanjeevs and Twinkles it is different. Its different because the both of them seem to have their doubts of loving each other. According to Lahiri, she said that, â€Å"though she did not say it herself, he assumed then that she loved him too, but now he was no longer sure† (147). If Twinkle really loved her husband Sanjeev, she would have said I love you back instantly, but she did not say a word. But as a couple they still had mutual friends who they had invited to their housewarming party. Twinkle wanted to display all the christian items that she had found around the house, but it seemed that Sanjeev was too embarrassed for anyone to see the items. It simply was not because he was Hindus and the relics were Christian. It was because he was self-conscious of what his friends and neighbors would think of them. For example, Sanjeev even stated, â€Å"All the neighbors will see. Theyll think were insane† (146). One can see how ashamed he is toward they things his wife does. This is another example of a conflict which deeply shows his feeling towards the women he supposed to to spend his life with. This can all related to how Sanjeev feels. In the story it seems that the only things he think about is what other people think. People who do that tend to drive themselves crazy and affect the people surrounded around them. For example, in this case Twinkle commits innocent actions just to express what she feels and Sanjeev downgrade everything she does. Sanjeev brought the conflicts of their relationship upon himself because he did not let go and express himself in the way that his wife did. If he were to let go and explore new things in his life he would understand why Twinkle did what she did. He does not understand that people want to see diversity in the world today. For example, if a christian would have came into their home, it would have made that person feel right at home because they would feel comfort around their surroundings. Perhaps this was not the only way to solve their marital problems. Apparently by the end of the story Sanjeev and Twinkles relationship was still rocky and still had a few problems to work on. Although the love was there, it was still confusing if they really loved each other, or was they with each other to fill in the gap of someone just being there everyday. Sanjeev and Twinkles problem will never be resolved if they do not communicate with each other because communication is the key in every relationship. Also, trust is another aspect of a relationship. In this case it seems that Sanjeev will never trust Twinkle. This is so because at the end of the story Twinkle promised to Sanjeev that she will put all the relics away in her study room. Lahiri implied, â€Å"She would never out it in her study, he knew† (157). the fact that Sanjeev knew Twinkle was not going to keep her word when she said that shows that all of their problems are still there and never got solved. Religion can sometimes affect a relationship or it can grow and become strong. Unlike Sanjeev and Twinkles relationship, there was a lot that was not understood between the too. Both of their minds were on two different levels. You have Sanjeev who cared what every one thought him, which would make ones life miserable. Then you have his wife Twinkle, who lived her life in the moment. She didn’t care what people thought of her, she just lived her life freely and with expression. This whole time Sanjeev never dislike the christian relics fully, he just was so afraid to what people would say about his family. Maybe his actions had a lot to do with the way his parents raised him. If Sanjeev and Twinkle too more time out getting to know each other, then their relationship would less confusing, on the simply fact that they would understand why each other act the way they act. Unfortunately, they will never understand each other until they take the time out to connects and share experience with each other, it will efinitely make the relationship stronger. At the end of This Blessed House, the author provides some tender moments between the husband and wife which signals a possible resolution of the deeper conflict in the story. After the narrator describes Sanjeev’s hate for all that his [Sanjeev’s] wife loves, Twinkle asks him to carry the bust of Jesus for her. Then, â€Å"Twinkle gave his elbow a little squeeze and headed for the living room. Sanjeev pressed the massive silver face to his ribs†¦and followed her† (157). When Sanjeev pressed the bust into his stomach, there is a sense of forbearance. He signals that even though he hates some of the things Twinkle enjoys, he was willing to deal with them because she is his wife, and they may actually love each other. It takes time for a couple to adjust to having a shared life through marriage, and because they are practically newlyweds, there is hope of a resolution to their deep conflict. That resolution can best be described as patience, growth, and love. When they become certain of their love for each other, then the minute things will no longer matter, and love will make them whole.

Cry the Beloved Country Essay

Cry the Beloved Country Essay Cry the Beloved Country Essay Stephen Kumalo And James Jarvis Two men, separated not only by race but also distance, come to share similar experiences in the classic novel â€Å"Cry, the Beloved Country†. The scene is South Africa and author Alan Paton depicts a story of its constant internal struggle between the whites and the blacks. Paton brings to light, not the difference between the races, but attempts to show equality among them. â€Å"The reader soon realizes it matters not a tinker’s dam what the color of their respective skins is.†(Schmitt 279). Stephen Kumalo, a Zulu priest, and James Jarvis, a wealthy plantation owner, are brought together by tragedy and exhibit similar traits and actions under the stress. This is done to easily draw distinction that the ethnic groups are very much the same and that they need to work together to save the country in which they live. The novels action begins with Stephen Kumalo, also referred to as umfundisi and his quest to find his lost family members. As he locates each one of them, he is stricken hard by what they have become. His sister, a prostitute, his son Absolom, an unwed father to be and future murderer, and his brother John, a corrupt politician, all strip away his innocence and test his morals. Stephen begins doubting himself as a father and a person. Not unlike Kumalo, James Jarvis is equally shaken emotionally. This comes as a death in the family, his son Arthur. More than the actual death itself, the writings of his son give insight about him and show a side James never knew Arthur had. Arthur states that his dad had not taught him anything. These are hard words for James to read, and like Kumalo, he also begins to doubt himself as a father. Later in the book Kumalo arrives a James Jarvis’s house. He goes to find where Sibeko is. When Jarvis answers the door, he senses in Kumalo that something very sad has happened to him. He treats the suffering native with kindness and courtesy, something he wouldn’t have bothered to do earlier, much like Kumalo treats the little girl in the first chapter. Stephen tells him that Absolom murdered his son, and Jarvis, quite shaken at the revelation, forgives Kumalo. Jarvis can now be seen influenced by his son and is beginning to overcome his prejudices toward the natives. The two men almost have sense of friendship and understanding despite the circumstances. They realize that they are on the same side, and that no good could come out of hostility between them. So far Jarvis has viewed the natives only as commodities.

7 Strategies for Getting a Raise

7 Strategies for Getting a Raise No one ever wrote a song about performance review time, calling it the â€Å"most wonderful tiiiiime of the year.† Nobody loves it, except maybe the most devoted members of Human Resources. It’s extra work for you, your boss, and your company. However, it’s worth it- it not only lets you know how you’re doing, but it also might net you a bonus or raise. The time to start thinking about that raise is not 10 minutes before your self-evaluation is due. Planning ahead can bring great rewards.1. Set goals  early. REALLY early.If possible, you can even set these goals  before you have the job. If you spend a lot of time discussing the skill-building and growth you expect to see in your first year in the job, it helps your new employer set a baseline for your performance. Of course, realism is the key here. If you say you’re going to increase revenue by X% and you don’t meet that, you’ve just set yourself up for failure. Instead, set your self up for success†¦ and future profit.2. Know your goalposts throughout the year.If your boss expects you’ll hit certain milestones or complete particular projects, take extra care with those- they’ll be the concrete proof of your raise-worthy year. Make sure you keep a paper trail for big projects to help remind you later what you accomplished. If you get glowing reviews from a colleague or a client, save them! You can casually bust those out during a year-end discussion, and use them to how just how valuable you are to the team. If you’re collecting data and keeping track of things all year, you won’t have to make a rushed pitch at the end of the year and risk forgetting accomplishments or projects that would make an excellent case for a raise.3. Don’t limit yourself to just your responsibilities  If your company has committees, join one. If there are employee social events, volunteer to help set up or clean up. If you see a way to provi de excellent service, but it would be a minor inconvenience to you, try to do it anyway. Things like these show that you’re willing to get your hands dirty in support of the company. You’re a team player who does what needs to be done, and doesn’t just wait around to be told what to do. If you want to look valuable, be valuable. You’d be surprised at how â€Å"small† things add up by the end of the year.4. Don’t lie or bluff about your accomplishments.Your boss will know if you are over-inflating numbers or making it look like you have a skill you don’t quite have. Be positive about your accomplishments and your skills, and talk them up as much as possible- just don’t feel the need to embellish. You don’t want anyone to question your integrity.5. Treat your review like a re-interview.Instead of letting your boss (or whoever is reviewing you) run through a monologue of your year while you sit quietly and sign the forms at the end, try to make sure it’s a dialogue. If she mentions a particular project, make sure the background and context are clear and that the takeaway- your success- is clear.6.  Turn your mistakes into accomplishments.If you didn’t have a perfect year (and who does?) it doesn’t mean you’ll be disqualified from a raise or that you don’t deserve one. Again, this is a chance to play up your strengths. If something didn’t go well and it comes up in your review, make sure you put some spin on it. Talk about what you learned from the process and how you’ve grown/what you’ve done to fix the issue after the fact.7. Don’t plead poverty.A discussion about a raise is a discussion about your work performance. That’s it. You may very well need the money, but your employer is not obligated to give raises out of pity or because you’re a nice person. Make sure the focus stays on the reasons Professional You deserves mor e compensation. Once you make it personal, you also give more leverage to your employer. If they know you really, really need more money for Fluffington McWhiskers’ plastic surgery, they can try to lowball you because they know you’ll take less than you might be able to negotiate for yourself as part of a neutral, job-data-only presentation.If you start preparing well before you’re scheduled to meet for a review- or if you’ve picked a time during the rest of the year to make your case for a raise- you’re in a great position. If you’ve built a careful and clear case about why you deserve more, you have also created some built-in confidence. All you need to do is cross the finish line, hopefully a little richer than you were before.

Nuclear Energy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nuclear Energy - Research Paper Example The most alarming factor concerning the rapid population growth around the world is their need to access to the resources which they use to make a living out of (Sovacool). Despite the growth and the increased demand on the natural resources by the increasing human population, these natural resources have not been appreciating in value but have been depreciating instead as the pressure is exerted on them due to increased human demands. Besides industrialization has been on the increase as well as many countries try to fight out for their survival within their niches with regard to the diminishing natural resources. The main driving force for economic development and the running of various industries around the globe is energy. This actually means that as the world’s industrial growth continues to expand, a lot of energy is required to run the industries as well as other sectors of economic productivity. It is however an amazing discovery made by the scientists concerning the p rovision of energy requirements for the increasing world populations with the diminishing trend in the natural resource endowments which is in contrary with the world population growth. This paper will look at the process of nuclear energy development around the globe and its implications for the global population. The aspect of increasing energy requirements and the need to plan adequately for the future generations with the diminishing natural resource base lead to the coining of the term sustainable development which cropped up during the earth summit in Rio De Jenairo in 1992 which aimed at striking a balance between the increasing human populations and the energy demands and call for the use of these natural resources in a sustainable manner (Wiberg). The summit, commonly known as the Rio Summit/the Rio declaration defined sustainable development as the type of development which caters for the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of the future gener ations to meet their own needs. This therefore meant that the present generation had to use her energy and other natural resources in such a way that they wouldn’t compromise the ability of the future generations to use the same resources to meet their own needs. The declaration made several countries to decide otherwise with regard to their protection of the natural resources hence the development of the nuclear energy as an alternative form to supplement and help sustain the non- renewable forms of energy such as hydro- electric energy, wood energy as well as the petroleum energy which is currently in high demand and widely used in the industrial sector but which is diminishing at a very high rate since it is non- renewable. Nuclear energy as Wiberg notes is that type of energy which is obtained by splitting the nucleus of certain radioactive atoms such as uranium, a process referred to as nuclear fission or nuclear tracking (Wiberg). The increasing demands on the requireme nts in the world has led to the overuse of the carbon related energy such as petroleum and coal energy which have only increased the extent of carbon gas emission in the atmosphere. Carbonic gas, which is known as a common and the most dangerous greenhouse gas resulting from emissions emanating from the extensive use of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal, has immensely contributed to extensive global warming

Australian Tourism and Hospitality Law Case Study - 1

Australian Tourism and Hospitality Law - Case Study Example The case was dismissed in the long run and the plaintiff sued the state after becoming a quadriplegic after diving into the rock pool. Larry’s case is not so much different from the previous case and he can sue against the National Park’s authority basing his argument on the different provisions of law. Larry can sue the authorities based on the provisions of the Civil Liability Act (CLA) that provides for safety measures in work places1. He can also sue for negligence and failure to observe the duty of care by the authorities. However, subject to the above ruling, the defendant is bound to claim that the rock pool was cited as a place of interest. Defenses available to the defendant are that he was not aware that Larry and his friend were within the vicinity so there was no negligence on his part since he did not see them as they used a different route to get the pool. Besides, it was their duty to exercise care considering it was a new environment and exposure to them. Common law provides that if a person is injured as a result of negligence, then the person is entitled to full compensation in terms of damages, based on the court ruling extent of negligence and duty of care2. On the basis of common practices, the case may be bound to be dismissed considering the rulings of other cases like it. However, under the civil liability legislation, Larry may be compensated for injuries he has sustained maintaining other provisions of law such as

Project Management for Information Systems Essay examples -- Business

Project Management for Information Systems Abstract Information systems (IS) projects are vulnerable to resource cutbacks and the increasing complexity of systems and advances in information technology make finding the right personnel difficult and the associated development costs high. Good project management is essential for success. Some alignment methodologies include IBM's business systems planning (BSP), Robert Holland's strategic systems planning, James Martin's (1989) information engineering and method/1 from Anderson Consulting. Critical success factors (Rockart, 1979) methodology focuses on identifying key information needs of senior executives and building information systems around those key needs. Williams, (1997) identified four steps to system planning. Earl (1989) proposed five alternate strategy frameworks which project managers should consider when deciding how the system will enhance the business function. Standard business strategy methods are used to identify such opportunities by using: value chains, application searching and information analysis (Earl 1989). Project managers may decide that major changes to business processes may be required. Change management is important for project managers and business leaders, starting at the project phase and continuing throughout the entire life cycle. Employees need training to understand how the system will change business processes. Technology factors relate to the system software, support for legacy systems and the IT infrastructure on which the system will be put on. Information systems are powered by information technologies which need to last throughout the system development life cycle. Introduction The responsibility for achievin... ...Manufacturing Systems, 5, 1, 31-8. - Rockart, J.F., 1979, "Chief executives define their own data needs", Harvard Business Review, 57, 2, 81-93. - Rosario, J.G, 2000, "On the leading edge: critical success factors in ERP implementation projects", BusinessWorld, Philippines. - Scheer, A, Habermann, F, 2000, "Making ERP a success", Communications of the ACM, 43 , 3, 57-61. - Sumner, M, 1999, "Critical success factors in enterprise wide information management systems projects", Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 232-4. - Wee, S, 2000, "Juggling toward ERP success: keep key success factors high", ERP News, http://www.erpnews.com/erpnews/erp904/02get.html. - Williams, L.T, 1997, â€Å"Planning and managing the information system - a manager's guide†, Industrial Management & Data Systems Volume 97 Number 5 1997 pp. 187-191 Project Management for Information Systems Essay examples -- Business Project Management for Information Systems Abstract Information systems (IS) projects are vulnerable to resource cutbacks and the increasing complexity of systems and advances in information technology make finding the right personnel difficult and the associated development costs high. Good project management is essential for success. Some alignment methodologies include IBM's business systems planning (BSP), Robert Holland's strategic systems planning, James Martin's (1989) information engineering and method/1 from Anderson Consulting. Critical success factors (Rockart, 1979) methodology focuses on identifying key information needs of senior executives and building information systems around those key needs. Williams, (1997) identified four steps to system planning. Earl (1989) proposed five alternate strategy frameworks which project managers should consider when deciding how the system will enhance the business function. Standard business strategy methods are used to identify such opportunities by using: value chains, application searching and information analysis (Earl 1989). Project managers may decide that major changes to business processes may be required. Change management is important for project managers and business leaders, starting at the project phase and continuing throughout the entire life cycle. Employees need training to understand how the system will change business processes. Technology factors relate to the system software, support for legacy systems and the IT infrastructure on which the system will be put on. Information systems are powered by information technologies which need to last throughout the system development life cycle. Introduction The responsibility for achievin... ...Manufacturing Systems, 5, 1, 31-8. - Rockart, J.F., 1979, "Chief executives define their own data needs", Harvard Business Review, 57, 2, 81-93. - Rosario, J.G, 2000, "On the leading edge: critical success factors in ERP implementation projects", BusinessWorld, Philippines. - Scheer, A, Habermann, F, 2000, "Making ERP a success", Communications of the ACM, 43 , 3, 57-61. - Sumner, M, 1999, "Critical success factors in enterprise wide information management systems projects", Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), 232-4. - Wee, S, 2000, "Juggling toward ERP success: keep key success factors high", ERP News, http://www.erpnews.com/erpnews/erp904/02get.html. - Williams, L.T, 1997, â€Å"Planning and managing the information system - a manager's guide†, Industrial Management & Data Systems Volume 97 Number 5 1997 pp. 187-191

Minority Groups

In quest for survival, men move from one country to another. This has become a rampant thing in our world today. Generally, there are a lot of reasons why people migrate for one their home country to another country. For instance, people who live in less developed or developing countries move to other countries in search of a better financial prospects. This kind of migration is voluntary as it is based primarily on the decision of the immigrant. Apart from this, people are forced to seek refuge or asylum in other countries due to the political unrest in their own home countries. This might be as a result of war or some other forms of political unrest. Also, people migrate to other countries because they want to be reunited with family members that they have seen in a long time.   Other reasons why people may want to migrate to other countries include among others; business, job relocation and overpopulation. Migration has its advantages and disadvantages. Although migration may help people achieve their goals and make their dreams come true, it is laden with its adverse effects. To begin with, the immigrant has little or no power in deciding how he/she will be seen by the people of the host nation because they constituted the minority in that country. Apart from this, we should understand that the immigrant’s culture will most likely be different from that of the host nation. This might lead to the loss of identity of the immigrant. Overtime, some terms have been connected with majority-minority interaction, some of which are assimilation, cultural pluralism and segregation. I will attempt a brief definition of these terms. Assimilation is a concept that is used in reference to the situation where a person is absorbed into another community as a result of constant interaction with the people of such community. Assimilation as a concept involves the assimilator, who usually belongs to the minority group blending into another culture, which is the majority group. The effect of assimilation is soon felt as the culture of the minority group faces the risk of going into extinction. The concept is claimed to have evolved from the notion of â€Å"melting pot† which implies that immigrants and other cultural group will naturally blend and be self-oriented into the American culture and way of life. Thus, the success of assimilation is the loss of the minority’s culture and the individual’s identity. Also, assimilation has led to individuals having a confused identity as they do not know which culture to embrace and are stuck in-between the two cultural identities. Furthermore, another term that has evolved in majority-minority interaction is cultural pluralism. As opposed to assimilation, this concept believes that minority groups could fit into the majority community while still retaining their individual culture. As a concept, it acknowledges the possibility of a pluralistic society and holds the idea that it is possible for people with different cultural backgrounds to coexist in the same society without one culture defacing the other. This term can be said to be built on the concept of ‘unity in diversity’. Historically, two American pragmatists namely Horace Meyer Kallen and Randolph Silliman Bourne have argued for the adoption of this concept. They argued that this became necessary during the World War 1 where some culturally different individuals were denied some fundamental human rights and liberty in America. This thought is accounted for in the book written by Horace Meyer Kallen titled â€Å"Democracy versus the Melting Pot†. In addition to these, majority-minority interaction has been criticized for promoting segregation in the society. The term â€Å"segregation† can be defined as a social situation where a particular group or race, usually minorities are discriminated in a society. For instance, for a long time, blacks were segregated in America. They were some laws that were made that showed that blacks were separated. Another typical example of a country where there was segregation, even on their homeland, is South Africa during the apartheid period. Generally, to say that America is a perfect nation devoid of separation is to believe in a myth. This has and is still a problem faced by different races in America. Although it is claimed that America is â€Å"God’s own country†, reality beholds us in the face as there are still cases of segregation in our nation. Terms like â€Å"DWB†, which means â€Å"driving while black†, depicts the fact that black people are still being discriminated against in America. Apart from blacks, another notable minority group that has been affected by issues that surround majority-minority interaction is the Polish people living in America. I will attempt to relate the three concepts discussed above to how it relates to the polish living in America. Going down the memory lane, the Polish had been living in America but their number increased between 1800’s to the beginning of World War II.   Basically, they migrated for a lot of reasons which varied from fear of recruitment to religious persecution and financial reasons. Notably, the Poles did not initially assimilate into the American culture. Because most of them are Roman Catholics, they lived together and built big churches where they could worship. This is due to the fact that they believed that they held they believe that their identity was hinged on these churches. The church served as an avenue for them to meet and discuss their individual and societal problems. As expected, they assimilated gradually into the American culture. They made their impact on America and a notable Polish that had a significant impact in the field of entertainment is Artur Rubinstein, one of American’s finest pianists. Through this time, they held on to their culture and stuck together, regardless of what Americans felt or said. Although latter generations that were born in America shelved their original culture and totally did things like the Americas. In addition to this, early poles that migrated into America operated a system of cultural pluralism. Although they participated in the activities of Americans, they held on to their own beliefs too. They were original and they believed so much in their heritage, which they considered the center of their identity. They knew who they were and were not ready to compromise that for anything. Therefore, the society that poles lived can be said to be culturally plural. During a campaign speech by the former US President, Ronald Reagan, he said â€Å"Did you know that the Polish Army bought 10,000 septic tanks? Once they learn how to use 'em they are going to invade Russia.† Poles were stereotyped in America and were seen as dirty, unkempt and rough. In fact, there was a film where they were greatly stereotyped titled â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire.† This does not include the various forms of discrimination they faced as a result of TV commercials, magazine cartoons, comedy show and lots more. In conclusion, majority-minority interaction is bound to create a problem because it is difficult to totally embrace a stranger from a different cultural background. It is also hard for immigrants to hold on to their original culture for ever because of socialization. Also, when we argue for cultural pluralism, we are allowing divisions in the society. Reference: Simon, J. L. (1989). The Economic Consequences of Immigration. London: Basil Blackwell, Ltd.