Sample MBA Leadership Recommendation Letter

As part of the admissions process, most MBA programs ask students to submit recommendation letters from a current or former employer. The admissions committee wants to know more about your work ethic, teamwork capability, leadership ability, and work experience. This information helps them to determine whether you would be a good fit for their business program. Tips for a Great MBA Recommendation Letter The  best MBA recommendation letters  support the rest of your business school application by providing details about your work experience, leadership, and personal qualities. They can push borderline candidates into the acceptance stack. Choose your recommenders wisely.  Business schools would rather see professional recommendations than academic recommendations, preferably from your current supervisor. Your MBA recommenders should be able to speak in detail about your qualifications, supporting the points you made in your essays.  If you dont know many people who can do this, start cultivating some. Prepare your recommenders well.  While its not advised to write your own recommendations for others to sign, you should provide your recommenders with the necessary background information to write compelling letters.  This should include: The resume you plan to submit with your application.A statement of purpose indicating how you’re presenting yourself in your application. If you havent written it, provide a rough outline of what you plan to say.Talking points. Remind them of projects you managed that they can use to highlight your skills.A list of schools to which you are applying.A list of deadlines.  Ask for recommendations well in advance of deadlines.Instructions for how to submit letters, through  the school’s online system or by mail. If your schools require mailed letters, include envelopes and postage. Send a thank-you note.  Send it two weeks before the deadline, which will also provide a gentle reminder if the recommendation  hasnt been written. Once you get your decisions,  let your recommenders know how it turned out. Sample Leadership Recommendation Letter This sample letter of recommendation was written for an MBA applicant. The letter writer made an effort to discuss the applicants leadership and management experience. To Whom It May Concern:Janet Doe has worked for me as a resident manager for the past three years. Her responsibilities have included leasing, inspecting apartments, hiring maintenance staff, taking tenants complaints, making sure common areas look presentable, and keeping track of the property budget.During her time here, she has had an amazing impact on the appearance and financial turnaround at the property. The property was near bankruptcy when Janet took over. She turned things around almost immediately. As a result, we are expecting our second year of profit.Janet is highly respected by her co-workers for her willingness to help anyone anytime she can. She has been instrumental in helping institute new companywide cost-saving procedures. She is very well organized, diligent in her paperwork, easily reachable, and always on time.Janet has real leadership potential. I would highly recommend her for your MBA program.Sincerely,Joe SmithRegional Property Manager Source How to Get A Great MBA Letter of Recommendation. The Princeton Review, TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC, 2019.

How Video Games Affect The Minds, Behavior And Health Of...

How do video games affect the minds, behavior and health of children and teens? This article will discuss this matter to inform people about the dangers of this type of entertainment. Ever since video games have become more advanced, this problem has come up countless times, ranging from government officials to the parents of these children. Parents should take this into consideration with their children when playing video games: too much exposure to violent video games can lead to aggressive behavior, poor grades in school, and changes in physical appearance. Past or current medical conditions in children also will be affected by video games. While calling video games dangerous, it may also be beneficial or have no effect whatsoever on children. This will all be explained using other scholarly sources and my own observations to help me come to a conclusion and consensus on the matter. It is commonly assumed that videogames cause violence. But, what do video game violence studies say about this? Are teenagers and adults affected by violence in video games? What can we say about how violent video games affect children in the real world? Despite three decades of research on the effects of violent video and computer games on children, there seems to be as much confusion as ever. Do video games lead to increased aggression and violence? Do video games cause violence, or do those already with a propensity for violence choose to play games with aggressive themes? If you are aShow MoreRelatedVideo Games Affecting Youth1177 Words   |  5 Pages The violence that children execute in today’s modern time could have a new factor that parents could not even imagine. Many children today spend most of their time playing video games and this could reflect a negative role in a child’s bad behaviors. Nearly all children, especially in the United States, have or have had a video game console or some type of electronic device that contain video games. Video games in general are not to be blamed but a certain category that majority of the gamers playRead MoreVideo Game And Violent Video Games1574 Words   |  7 PagesAlong with the rapid development of the internet in recent years, game and violence game have become companions of young people. We could not deny the fact that video game already has strong attraction for many people. Especially in today’s society, when work pressure is growing, gaming is an effective solution to relieve tension, dispel feeling of fatigue, anxiety. Playing the normal video game, which it not include any violence scenes, plus regulatory reasonable playing time can help players relaxedRead MoreMedia s Effect On Society1286 Words   |  6 Pagesto â€Å"influence opinion and belief, change habits of life, and actively mold behavior.† Unfortunately, media affects the public in a way that it could control what a person does or thinks. More and more people see in media the preferable image that they w ant to be themselves. As viewers see this pastime to be designed for enjoyment, media greatly affects the audience’s morality, security, and health. Many children and teens are exposed to sex and violence while watching television. That is why manyRead More Children, Media, and Violence Essay1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe evidence is overwhelming. To argue against it, the link between media violence and teen violence is like arguing against gravity, said Jeffrey McIntyre, legislative and federal affairs officer for the American Psychological Association. As children are exposed to acts of violence in the media through television, video games, music, movies, etc. alarming results are occurring. The main negative effect being an increase in aggression among youth who are regularly exposed to the media and anRead MoreMultimedia Violence : A Grave Threat Of Teens Of The New Generation. Craig A. Anderson1585 Words   |  7 PagesMultimedia Violence : A Grave Threat to Teens of the New Generation Craig A. Anderson, an eminent director of the Center for the Study of Violence at Iowa State University, commented on multimedia violence saying, â€Å"Exposing children and adolescents (or ‘youth’) to violent visual media increases the likelihood that they will engage in physical aggression against another person. By ‘physical aggression’ we mean behavior that is intended to harm another person physically, such as hitting with a fistRead MoreThe Influence of Pop Culture on our Teenagers1419 Words   |  6 PagesAt a young age, the minds of teenagers are easily influenced by pop culture. They are easily misguided by the portrayals in pop culture as well as the media. Both pup culture and media use this to their advantage to manipulate their young minds. Teenagers are notorious for mimicking violent activities as shown in video games. This violence transmits from videogames to the top story on the local news. Equally important, alcohol portrayals in pop cu lture are generally positive as they direct teenagersRead MoreVideo Games And Its Effects On Children924 Words   |  4 PagesM for Mature Video games have come a long way since first becoming popular in the 1970s. Electronic gaming has become one of the most common forms of entertainment among kids today. The games marketed to younger audiences are becoming less family friendly then when they were originally introduced. While many games are rated to be played by those eighteen and older many parents allow their children to take part in such games. From running around with a gun shooting everything in sight to survivingRead MoreVideo Game Addiction Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesabout video game addiction. Life is full of many stages and milestones that everyone must encounter one of the largest and most important ones is the teenage stage of people’s life. During our teen years we usually figure out who we are and who we want to be. Do you want to be the gamer who stays home all day and play video games or go out with friends? Some people would rather spend a beautiful weekend inside playing video games instead of going out. Just like most other things video games can affectRead MoreViolent Video Games Are Numbing the Minds of Children Essays1986 Words   |  8 Pages Violent video games are undoubtedly a legalized drug to children and teens, numbing their thoughts and reprogramming their minds. Like a drug, it desensitizes them, and makes them more prone to violence. This idea of violent video games was not a phenomenon until the later 20th century, and evolved from racing into enemies, to free-for-all drug abuse and sexual/physical violence that most youth know and play today. These games have a detrimental impact on teens, making them eat more, become moreRead MoreThe Affect of Censorship Essay993 Words   |  4 PagesMore literature and media should be censored for the public’s eyes. Children of recent years have been subjected to crude television that isn’t properly censored and could potentially influence them to act in unacceptable manners. Censorship is the act of suppressing unacceptable parts of literature and media. It is very often that censorship is used with literature or media because many people see parts of them that are inappropriate in their perspective. When people see them, they are disgusted

Case Study Report Corporate Social Responsibility

Questions: 1. Using the example of the chosen company, assess the 3 Corporate Social Responsibility factors that influence corporate activities of your chosen company in the area of ecological sustainability. They are: economic, ethical and discretionary (week 3 reading) 2.Based on Readings (Weeks 1 to 10), design a sustainability plan for that company (for example you can focus on clean technology, sustainability vision, pollution prevention, product stewardship, etc). While creating the plan remember to include aims, objectives, strategies, tactics and evaluation. If the company already has a clear sustainability portfolio, analyse it according to the above criteria and suggest possible improvements for each. 3. Examine the possible advantages and difficulties in integrating your sustainability portfolio into the companys strategy. Answers: PART 1 Pacific Brands Limited is an age old company which started its operations by manufacturing just Dunlop Bicycle tyres. Since then it has come a long way and today it is a big brand having its offices in Australia, New Zealand, China, United Kingdom and Indonesia. Its brand mark is enough to attract customers to buy their products. The company is listed in the Australian Stock Exchange and has discharged its corporate social responsibilities diligently and with utmost dedication and priority. The three Corporate Social Responsibility factors , economic, ethical and discretionary influence the corporate activities undertaken by Pacific Brands in the area of ecological sustainability (De Broeck, 2009). Pacific Brands Limited is well applauded by the people for discharging their duties towards ethical , financial as well as sustainable business practices while keeping in mind the responsibility towards meeting higher standards of corporate social responsibilities. The company works on this belief only that success can be achieved only if the end users are highly satisfied after using their products and services and thus this is the most apt and acceptable method of conducting a business. The companies CSR policies basically focuses on reduction of negative impact on the environment and addressing the socio economic issues of the areas in which the company operates. The three CSR factors have affected the activities to be undertaken by the company. The same is enumerated as under: It is the companys discretion to ensure that its employees are provided a good and a stable environment to work. The company aims at working as a team and for the same it is very important to work for the people also within the company. The company eyes upon the health and safety standards of its employees as a priority. It has an integrated system within the working area which helps to work in a more defined and strategic manner along with an aim to improvise upon its acts on a continuous basis. It has been conducting and participating into various health and safety related programs and also encouraged its employees to be a part of it as well. Pacific Brand has incorporated the employees benefit activities into its corporate social responsibility agenda very comprehensively. It has conducted annual influenza vaccination programs, employees insurances in private hospitals at discounted rates, free health check ups within the organization and accessibility to the internal SOS support for employees who are travelling so that they can get emergency medical help. Addressing environmental issues is a top priority for Pacific Brands Limited. It has an environmental management system which is certified within the ISO 14001. The company thrives upon one notion i.e. to reduce the impact on the environment due to its manufacturing, packaging , handling processes, reuse and recycle the waste and replacement of the existing processes with more environmental friendly process. It has taken steps to address its responsibility towards protection of the environment keeping in mind the corporate activities simultaneously. It has been continuously focussing upon working with the various environmental partners so as to reduce the waste and utilize it for the betterment of the environment it caters to. It has been committing to the Australian Packaging Covenant that the effects of the packaging work will be least on the environment. The company has been judiciously utilizing the natural resources and has also been in talks with the external suppliers for usin g rail transport over and above the road transport. The company is always on the wheels in meeting the social responsibilities and adhering to ethical ways and means and complying to various labour laws, safety rules and environmental protection strategies. The policy is simple that governing the complex supply chain is difficult hence focus is shifted towards inculcating the ethics within the internal processes which would allow the company to address its external factors as well. The company has ensured that the animals as a sourcing material is to be used by its suppliers only if it is a by product and does not lead to live plucking. So as to ensure its applicability the company has stopped using rabbit angora fibre in its products. Another very crucial step taken by the company is the ban on the usage of cotton supplied from Uzbekistan as it uses child labour. Even though the raw material is not used directly in the manufacturing process even then it has showed its strong resistance to the suppliers for the usage of Uzbekistan cot ton (www.pacificbrands.com, 2016). Thus Pacific Brands Limited is appreciated worldwide because it undertakes the corporate social responsibility not only as an embossed duty by the government but a self imposed responsibility. Thus it aims at performing its corporate activities keeping in mind the ecological sustainability. PART 2 Pacific Brands Limited has been suffering huge losses from the past four years now. This 120 year old company soon needs to design a sustainability plan else it will lead to the dissolution of the same. The new CEO John Pollaers strategies are simple. It believes in creating a company which thinks out of the box and aims that becoming known amongst the masses for its innovative techniques and designs. The company has mainly eyed upon costs reduction more than being a profit oriented entity. Although news and the other agencies state that the new CEOs strategies and vision will definitely enable to drive the company back to its older state of affairs and profits yet it needs to design a sustainability plan setting out its aims and objectives clearly and communicating the same internally as for any company to succeed it needs to motivate and regain the lost confidence of its employees to work as a team. The companys sustainability plan should dig into areas such as the cleaner technolo gies, pollution free environment and product stewardship (Maltzman, Shirley, 2010). Clean technology aim at using such a technology in the production, manufacturing and packaging process which calls for minimal usage of the non renewable sources of energy as well as produces lesser waste products. For any entity to fall under the cadre of a sustainable business approach and practice it is very much required to shift its views from the native processes to a more developed process which addresses some of the urgent issues such as pollution control, reduction in emission of wastes into the environment, optimum utilization of the resources as well as earn profits. The said technology will enable to produce environment friendly products at lesser costs and thus help to build a greater brand in the eyes of the public(www.McKinsey.com, 2015). The communities have spelt out clearly that they are interested in products which are not produced as a result of any harm caused to any community in the society. Pacific Brands Limited has been able to address this issue to some exte nt. Its environmental policy which includes four basic ideas of reduce, reuse, recycle and replace has gone a long way in addressing the clean technology issue. Also it redresses the environmental impact across all stages of a product life cycle by supporting the Australian Packaging Covenant. It has stated clearly in its policies that all the wastes generated in the organization should be reused as far as possible. The possibilities of using the waste products again is explored across its varied business lines on a continuous basis (Hart, 1995). The present plan that it has in vogue is accredited to ISO 14001. The company on a regular basis collects data related to the energy consumption and the waste that is let out, measures and monitors its performance from the previous results and strives to improve further. The employees and the management are trained on a regular basis and issues regarding the environment and ways to resolve the same is discussed in an open forum within the organization. It has a National Environment Sustainability Committee that meets six times in a year to address these issues. The companys vision is to excavate deeper and greater chances of recycling within the organization , hence it has various programs and training sessions for the employees (Walter, 2013). Pacific Brand as always known to adhere to the directives of the countries with which it works. Such as the company exports in Europe wherein it adheres to its directives of recycling of packaging products and produce minimum of wastage (Siegel, 2013). The company has changed its suppliers or have asked its suppliers to provide raw materials which are more environmental friendly and in way harm any part of the living being or the niche. Thus it has clearly imbibed the formula that competitive advantage can be attained only by bridging the gap between the internal capabilities of the firm and the changing external circumstances (Mitchell, 2015). However even though Pacific Brands Limited is adhering to various stances of using a cleaner technology, pollution preventive methods and has a long vision of sustaining in this environment focussed scenario yet it is suffering losses simply because its products are being manufactured off shore. This even though would give the company an edge towards cost reduction yet the brand loyalty as per the consumers is taking a hit. Also the company has always concentrated on one geographical area of the globe, Australia. Further the company should enlarge its sustainability vision and try to explore other areas by managing the dollar fluctuations (Gareis et al. 2013). Thus the company should try to improve on the various areas so as to ensure that its sustainability plan is a success. It should concentrate on using a cleaner technology and continue with its policy of reduce, reuse, recycle and replace, yet following the policy blind-folded will not achieve anything. The cost involved cannot be ignored and the same is required to be inculcated in the prices of the products produced . This in turn would lead to decreasing profits if the consumers are not made aware of the technology used and how the same is benefitting the entire civilization on the whole. A brand loyalty is increased if the products are more and more manufactured indigenously. Pacific Brands Limited has expanded its manufacturing units across the globe which has led to a negativity amongst the Australians with regards loyalty towards the brand. Although a more developed process is being used yet the cost factors are not being addressed carefully which is posing a threat to the sust enance of the company (Belaluddin et al. 2008). Thus it should ensure to take into consideration the various foreign factors which is affecting the companys bottom line. The awareness about the consumer and environmental friendly products as well as the cost involved should be marketed in a better manner so as to drive the sentiments of the consumers. The companys vision and mission towards the society is clear but the formula to cover the gap between the increased cost yet maintaining the brand value in the eyes of the end users needs to be formed in a stronger manner. The medium used for conveying the message is not strong enough to shake the masses towards buying the products offered by Pacific Brands Limited. Thus its marketing strategies needs to undergo a revolution (www.pacificbrands.com, 2013). PART 3 The possible advantages and difficulties in integrating the sustainability portfolio into the strategies of Pacific Brand Limited is manifolds. No path is a smooth one hence it offers both advantages as well as disadvantages of integrations. The advantages are enumerated as under: Integration of sustainability portfolio would enable to bring universality in the ideas, experiences, expertise and goals. Uniformity can be achieved which would in turn enable us to achieve economies of production, thus reducing the costs and increasing the margins. Further the company also fails to address the growing competition which would then be addresses maturely. The said integration will enable the entities to maintain a growing pace with the changing needs of the consumers. The company operates in a mature environment hence this would enable it to come out of isolation and adapt new methods of production and distribution thus cutting out the competitive edge easily (Mohr. Et. al. 2001). The employees become highly motivated and dedicated towards their work. The company provides adequate training so as to update the employees with the changing circumstances. Also it incorporates in its corporate social responsibility the health and safety standards for the benefit of the employees which also give adequate advantage to the company (Rogers, 2016). Proper integration will always help in adequate implementation of theories and policies designed by any entity. Thus once the sustainability portfolio is well integrated within the system of the company, implementing changes and action plans will give fruitful results. The efficiency and the efficacy of the workers and managers at all the levels of Pacific Brands Limited will increase more than the standards set out. It will help the company to gain economically also (Bonini, Swartz, 2014). The difficulties in integrating the sustainability portfolio into the strategies of Pacific Brands Limited howsoever cannot be ignored in total. The same is enlisted below: The outcome is felt at a very latter stage by the companies which may give an upper edge to its competitors in the short term and affect their own bottom line. Implementing integration in all sectors can be a costly affair for the company. If it poses restrictions on its supply chain and tries to dominate as to what kind of products they should supply, the composition of the product supplied should be changed as per standards , then this may end up putting the company in a disadvantageous position (Bonini, Gorner, 2011). There is still an unclear vision with regards the value addition that such an integration does to the shareholders value. Quantification of benefits derived via such a process is still at a developing stage. Thus until and unless the same is addressed their is always a resistance from the promoters and owners of the company who ultimately are concerned about the return on their respective investments in the company. The inculcation of this concept has made a forced shift of the vision and mission of entities while trying to inculcate the same within their organizational process. Lack of any set practice and theory in place has led to struggle amongst the entities in imbibing the same in its supply chain and relevant budgets. Thus this is one of the main difficulties that Pacific Brands Limited has been facing. It has addressed to the issues of environment and safety standards but while concentrating on these areas, there has been a significant shift in the actual vision and mission of the entity. It has left behind the fact that it is a profit oriented entity and its main goal should be maximization of shareholders wealth (Carroll, 1991). Thus in a nut shell it can be concluded by stating that the integration of sustainability portfolio in Pacific Brands Limited strategy will give it an upper edge across its competitors but at the same time integration should be done at such a level so as not to divulge it from its main goals and mission. References: Belaluddin, M., Hassan, M.R., Tarique, K.M., 2008, Three dimensional aspects of Corporate Social responsibility, Daffodil International University, Journal of Business and Economics, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 199-211 Bonini, S., Gorner, S., 2011, The Business of Sustainability : McKinsey Global Survey Results, viewed on 08th June 2016.survey-results Bonini, S., Swartz, S., 2014, Profits with Purpose: How Organizing for sustainability can benefit the bottom line, viewed on 08th June 2016. Carroll, A.B., 1991, The pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility : Toward the Moral management or Organizational Stakeholders. Gareis, R., Huemann, M., Martinuzzi, A., 2013, Project Management Sustainable Development Principles , Project management institute : New Town Square. Hart, S.L., 1995, A Natural Resource Based View of the Firm, Academy of Management Review, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 996-1014. Maltzman, R., Shirley, D., 2010, Green Project Management, CRC Press: USA.

King Naram-Sin V. King Narmer in Art History free essay sample

King Narmer In this essay we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between two pieces of art from different civilizations. One difference that we’ll take note of beforehand is that the Stele of Naram-Sin is an Akkadian piece while the Palette of King Narmer is Egyptian. Now just because they’re from different cultures, you’d be surprised what they have in common. And thus, we start with the similarities of both pieces. Both the Stele and Palette were narrative relief sculptures that depicted the kings beheading someone, whether it was an enemy or . The people were depicted in composite view (head in profile view, body in frontal view) so that we’d see the most human features only. Hierarchy of scale was applied so that the king would be the first figure you look at in both works. The gods of the two cultures are also present, being associated with the rulers. We will write a custom essay sample on King Naram-Sin V. King Narmer in Art History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Both kings are depicted with crown-like structures on their head, standing on ground lines. Lastly both works were made in the River Valley Civilization Era. Even though the both had ground lines and hierarchy of scale you could find yourself staring bottom to top or top to bottom at the Stele of Naram-Sin because it depicted soldiers marching up a slanted ground line with some landscape shown. The Palette’s lines were more flat and split the piece into three registers. Naram-Sin was shown as the only king but there are actually two kings shown in the Palette of Narmer (King Narmer and the king of lower Egypt), showing a union between two sides of the country. The gods in the Stele were depicted as stars whereas the Palette’s gods and the king himself were shown as bulls. The Palette of Narmer also had the long necked lions that signified the union between upper and lower Egypt. All in all it can be said there are about as many similarities as there are differences. For two separate cultures, some parts were very alike when narrating the king’s life and other parts were different, like how the kings were depicted. It’s obvious that both civilizations held their kings in high respect as well as their gods, who influence the rule some way or another. And since these civilizations are so close, it makes you wonder if trade was happening for art styles to affect nearby regions (something to consider).

Free Essays on Impact Of The Puritan Setting Upon The Characters In The Scarlet Letter And The Ministers Black Veil

Impact of the Puritan Setting Upon the Characters in The Scarlet Letter and The Minister's Black Veil This essay will examine the thematic relevance to the Puritan setting and its impact upon the characters and their development in both "The Scarlet Letter" and the short story, "The Minister's Black Veil." These two texts detail an accurate portrayal of what I assume the Puritan community to represent. This is partly because of the Puritan background within the works, but also considering that the main characters of these are deeply rooted within the Puritan faith and are, in different ways, in the public eye and are under separate scrutiny as a result of such. Mr. Hooper, being a minister, is considered a beacon and an exemplar of faith and righteousness in his community. One bright Sunday morning, Reverend Hooper dons a black veil to his congregation and lectures on sin and its appearance, or lack thereof. His congregation is outraged but intrigued by his use of the symbolic sheath. Since his sermon focuses on the "secret sin" of his parishoners and the entire community, they are d rawn to assume that Mr. Hooper, himself, carries with his a "secret sin" which he is hiding from underneath his veil. Now Hawthorne titles this short story as a parable which leads one to conclude that the veil is used a not only a symbol of "secret sin" but a paradox. His congregation is so concerned and obsessed with his personal sins that they forget about their own; this was the intent of Mr. Hooper's veil: to cause them to reflect upon their own spiritual status and to confess their sins. But the Puritans, notorious for their pride within practice and fallacy within faith, ignore this allegorical costume and sensationalize his message. Because, after all, Mr. Hooper must be hiding SOMETHING underneath that veil of his... The second character under scrutiny by their community and this English major is Hester Prynne, a young wom... Free Essays on Impact Of The Puritan Setting Upon The Characters In The Scarlet Letter And The Minister's Black Veil Free Essays on Impact Of The Puritan Setting Upon The Characters In The Scarlet Letter And The Minister's Black Veil Impact of the Puritan Setting Upon the Characters in The Scarlet Letter and The Minister's Black Veil This essay will examine the thematic relevance to the Puritan setting and its impact upon the characters and their development in both "The Scarlet Letter" and the short story, "The Minister's Black Veil." These two texts detail an accurate portrayal of what I assume the Puritan community to represent. This is partly because of the Puritan background within the works, but also considering that the main characters of these are deeply rooted within the Puritan faith and are, in different ways, in the public eye and are under separate scrutiny as a result of such. Mr. Hooper, being a minister, is considered a beacon and an exemplar of faith and righteousness in his community. One bright Sunday morning, Reverend Hooper dons a black veil to his congregation and lectures on sin and its appearance, or lack thereof. His congregation is outraged but intrigued by his use of the symbolic sheath. Since his sermon focuses on the "secret sin" of his parishoners and the entire community, they are d rawn to assume that Mr. Hooper, himself, carries with his a "secret sin" which he is hiding from underneath his veil. Now Hawthorne titles this short story as a parable which leads one to conclude that the veil is used a not only a symbol of "secret sin" but a paradox. His congregation is so concerned and obsessed with his personal sins that they forget about their own; this was the intent of Mr. Hooper's veil: to cause them to reflect upon their own spiritual status and to confess their sins. But the Puritans, notorious for their pride within practice and fallacy within faith, ignore this allegorical costume and sensationalize his message. Because, after all, Mr. Hooper must be hiding SOMETHING underneath that veil of his... The second character under scrutiny by their community and this English major is Hester Prynne, a young wom...

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Status of His Dream Today

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Status of His Dream Today On August 28, 1963, a quarter of a million people, mostly African Americans, gathered at the National Mall for The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. They came to express their discontent with the persistent racism of the nation, particularly that of the southern states where Jim Crow laws maintained racially separate and unequal societies. This gathering is considered a major event within the Civil Rights movement, and a catalyst for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, for subsequent protests that followed, and for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This day is most well remembered, though, for a spontaneous description of a better future given by The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during his famous I Have a Dream speech. Prompted by Mahalia Jackson, who urged him to break from his prepared words to tell the crowd about his dream, King said: I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.  I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.  I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.  I have a dream today.  I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, w ith its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. The Philosophy and Practicalities of Dr. Kings Dream Dr. Kings dream of a society no longer plagued by racism reflected the one he and other members of the Civil Rights movement hoped would be the result of collective efforts to end systemic racism. Taking account of the many initiatives that Dr. King was a part of, and leader to, during his life, one can see the components and bigger picture of this dream. The dream included an end to racial segregation; an unimpeded right to vote and protection from racial discrimination in electoral processes; equal labor rights and protection from racial discrimination in the workplace; an end to police brutality; an end to racial discrimination in the housing market; minimum wage for all;  and economic reparations for all people hurt by the nations history of racism. The foundation of Dr. Kings work was an understanding of the connection between racism and economic inequality. He knew that Civil Rights legislation, useful though it would be, would not erase 500 years of economic injustice. So, his vision of a just society was premised on economic justice writ-large. This manifested in the Poor Peoples Campaign, and his critique of government funding of wars instead of public services and social welfare programs. A virulent critic of capitalism, he advocated for a systemic redistribution of resources. The Status of the Dream Today: Educational Segregation More than fifty years later, if we take stock of the various aspects of Dr. Kings dream, it is clear that it remains largely unrealized.  Though the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed racial segregation in schools, and a painful and bloody process of desegregation followed,  a May 2014 report from The Civil Rights Project at the University of California-Los Angeles found that schools have regressed to racial segregation over the last couple of decades. The study found that most white students attend schools that are 73 percent white, that the percentage of Black students in mostly minority schools has risen over the last two decades, that Black and Latino students are mostly sharing the same schools, and that the rise in segregation has been most dramatic for Latino students.  The study also found that segregation plays out across both race and class lines, with white and Asian students primarily attending middle-class schools, while black and Latino students are relegated to po or schools. Other studies show that black students face discrimination within schools that leads to them receiving more frequent and harsher discipline than their peers, which disrupts their educational process. The Status of the Dream Today: Voter Disenfranchisement Despite voter protections, racism still prohibits equal participation in democracy. As A. Gordon, a civil rights attorney wrote for The Root, passage of strict voter ID laws in 16 states are likely to bar many Black people from voting, as they are less likely to have state issued ID than persons of other races, and are more likely to be asked for ID than are white voters. Cuts to early voting opportunities are also likely to impact the Black population, who are more likely to take advantage of this service. Gordon also points out that implicit racial bias is likely to impact decisions made by those serving voters when issues of eligibility come up, and noted that a recent study found that legislators in support of stricter voter ID laws were more likely to respond to questions from a constituent when that person had a white name versus a name signaling Latino or African American heritage. The Status of the Dream Today: Workplace Discrimination While de jure  discrimination in the work place and hiring processes has been outlawed, de facto  racism has been documented by numerous studies over the years. Findings include that potential employers are more likely to respond to applicants with names they believe signal white race than those of other races; employers are  more likely to promote white men over all others;  and, faculty at universities are more likely to respond to prospective graduate students when they believe that person is a white male. Further, the persistent racial wage gap continues to show that the labor of white people is valued more than that of blacks and Latinos. The Status of the Dream Today: Housing Segregation Like education, the housing market remains segregated on the basis of race and class.  A 2012 study by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development  and the Urban Institute found that, though overt discrimination is mostly a thing of the past, subtle forms persist, and have clear negative consequences. The study found that real estate agents and housing providers routinely and systemically show more available properties to white people than they do to persons of all other races, and that this occurs across the nation. Because they have fewer options to choose from, racial minorities face higher housing costs. Other studies have found that Black and Latino homebuyers were disproportionately directed to unstable subprime mortgages, and as a result, were  far more likely than whites to lose their homes during the home mortgage foreclosure crisis. The Status of the Dream Today: Police Brutality In terms of police violence, since 2014, nationwide attention has turned to this deadly problem. Protests against the killing of unarmed and innocent black men and boys prompted many social scientists to revisit and republish data that show unequivocally that Black men and boys are racially profiled by police, and arrested, assaulted, and killed by officers at rates that far exceed those of other races. Critical work by the Department of Justice has brought improvements to many police departments across the nation, but the unending news of police killings of Black men and boys shows that the problem is widespread and persistent. The Status of the Dream Today: Economic Inequality Finally, Dr. Kings dream of economic justice for our nation is equally unrealized. Though we have minimum wage laws, the shift in work from stable, full-time jobs to contract and part-time work with minimum pay has left half of all Americans in or on the brink of poverty. The nightmare that King saw in the discrepancy between spending on war and spending on public services and social welfare has only gotten worse since then. And, instead of economic restructuring in the name of justice, we now live in the most economically unequal time in modern history, with the richest one percent controlling about half of all the worlds wealth. Black and Latino people continue to lag far behind white people and Asian Americans in terms of income and family wealth, which negatively impacts their quality of life, health, access to education, and overall life chances. We All Must Fight for the Dream The resurgent black Civil Rights movement, operating under the slogan Black Lives Matter, seeks to raise awareness of and combat these problems. But making Dr. Kings dream into a reality is not the work of black people alone, and it will never be a reality so long as those of us who are not burdened by racism continue to ignore its existence and consequences. Fighting racism, and creating a just society, are things for which each and every one of us bears responsibility- especially those of us who have been its beneficiaries.

The Poor and Vulnerable in the Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Poor and Vulnerable in the Society - Essay Example The above examples illustrate how much God cares for the poor. Christians have the responsibility to emulate these examples because they represent God on earth. Justice in the society is measured by how the poor and vulnerable are treated. If they are sidelined or treated as second citizens, it is because such a society lacks morals and the ethical responsibility needed for fairness to reign. However, when the poor are given a voice, justice flows. Therefore, Christians should be in the forefront defending the rights of the disadvantaged in society, as this is what is meant by true religion. People blame the poor and vulnerable for their states. These societies equate wealth with hard work. The affluent are praised for their possession. They are considered as superiors because of the material gains they have. On the other hand, the poor are treated as inferior because they do not have wealth acquisitions (Sellers 124-127). They are regarded as worthless or given difficult tasks to perform because they do not have any other option. However, with such treatment, the rich secure their future while worsening matters for the poor (Ark 55-59). It becomes difficult for the poor to break the cycle of poverty because they are overloaded with work for little pay. Their condition is prolonged not because they are lazy, but because they are not given equal opportunities as their fellow wealthy counterparts. They have to struggle to survive yet the rich glide through life. However, when chances are provided equally for all, the poor get the opportunity to improve their circumstances. The elite has the advantage to better education. Knowledge puts them ahead in life. It provides them the probability of securing a well-paying job. It puts them ahead in the corporate world. In third world countries, a good education is a huge privilege for many. Illiteracy has been a huge cause of poverty. However, there are countries that have abolished  school fees in public schools. In such institutions, the class turns up is high.