What Was the Million Man March

In 1995, Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan proposed a call to action for black men — this is historically referenced as the Million Man March. Farrakhan was assisted in organizing this event by Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., who was the former executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The call to action requested that the participants pay their own way to the Mall on Washington and allow their physical presence to illustrate a commitment to change in the black community. A History of Mistreatment Since their arrival in the country, black Americans have faced unfair treatment — often based on nothing other than the color of their skin. In the 1990s, the unemployment rate for black Americans was nearly double that of whites. Additionally, the black community was plagued by high rates of drug use, along with the high rates of imprisonment that can still be seen today. Seeking Atonement According to Minister Farrakhan, black men needed to seek forgiveness for allowing extraneous factors to come between them and their position as leaders of the black community and providers for their families. As a result, the theme for the Million Man March was â€Å"atonement.† Though this word has multiple definitions, two of them, in particular, illustrated the aim of the march. The first was â€Å"reparation for an offense or injury,† because in his eyes, black men had forsaken their community. The second was the reconciliation of God and humankind. He believed that black men had been ignoring the roles bestowed upon them by God and needed to restore that relationship. A Shocking Turnout On October 16, 1995, that dream became  a reality and hundreds of thousands of black men showed up to the Mall on Washington. Black community leaders were so touched by the image of black men making a commitment to their families that it was referred to as â€Å"a glimpse of heaven.† Farrakhan explicitly stated that there would be no violence or alcohol present. And according to the records, there were zero arrests or fights that day. The event is reported to have lasted 10 hours, and for each of those hours, black men stood listening, weeping, laughing, and simply being. Although Farrakhan is a controversial figure to many black and white Americans alike, most agree that this display of commitment to community change was a positive action. Those who did not support the march often did so based on accusations of a separatist agenda. While there were white people and women in attendance, the call to action was specifically targeted at black men, and some men felt this was both sexist and racist. Criticisms In addition to perspectives that saw the movement as separatist, many did not support the movement because they felt that while black men striving to do better was a good idea, there were many factors that were out of their control and no amount of effort would overcome. The systemic oppression that black Americans have experienced in the United States is not the fault of the black man. Farrakhan’s message lightly revisited â€Å"The Bootstrap Myth,† a common American perspective that believes we are all capable of rising to higher financial classes with hard work and dedication. However, this myth has been dispelled time and time again. Nevertheless, estimates of how many black men were actually in attendance that day range from 400,000 to 1.1 million. This is due to the difficulty of counting how many people are present in a wide area that is geographically structured like the Mall on Washington. A Potential for Change It’s difficult to measure the success that sort of event has over the long run. However, it’s believed that well over a million black Americans registered to vote shortly after and rates of adoption for black youth increased. Though not without criticism, the Million Man March was a significant moment in black history. It showed that black men would show up in droves to initiate efforts to support their community. In 2015, Farrakhan attempted to recreate this historic event on its 20th anniversary. On October 10, 2015, thousands gathered to attend â€Å"Justice or Else† which had core similarities to the original event but put increased focus on the issue of police brutality. It was also said to be directed to the black community as a whole instead of just black men. Echoing the message of two decades prior, Farrakhan emphasized the importance of guiding the youth. We who are getting older... what good are we if we dont prepare young people to carry that torch of liberation to the next step? What good are we if we think we can last forever and not prepare others to walk in our footsteps? he said. It’s hard to say how the events of October 16, 1995 changed the black community. However, it was, without a doubt, an act of solidarity and commitment in the black community that has been difficult to replicate.

Hero Is A Hero Essay - 1863 Words

â€Å"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself† (Joseph Campbell Quotes). Heroes impact other people’s lives by contributing to a cause that makes a positive change in the world. To me, a hero is somebody who believes in a significant cause, dedicates his entire life to improving the cause, and changes the world for the better. Heroism today can be found all over the world and in all different forms. It could be as small as standing up for a victim of bullying, voicing your opinions for an important cause, or helping someone in a dangerous situation. However, it could also be as big as finding the cure for a disease, saving people from a burning building, or inventing a life-saving device. The unifying†¦show more content†¦This drove her to take her education into her own hands and pave her own path to success. Since Britain did not permit her to earn a degree, she decided to move to France so she could earn it there. Whe n she returned to Britain, Garrett founded New Hospital for Women in London, which was staffed entirely by women. Later, Garrett continued to encourage women to go into medicine and helped found the London Medical College for Women, where she taught for several years. She later retired to Aldeburgh and made history by becoming the first female mayor in Britain. After a successful life, she passed away at age 81 in Suffolk. Garrett’s character traits that helped her achieve several accomplishments throughout her life resemble those of a hero; she is courageous, determined, and has a strong sense of purpose. These traits enable a hero to make a difference in the world and change many people’s lives. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson is a hero because of her determination to obtain a medical degree, her courage in pursuing a career in a field dominated by men, and because she made a positive change in the world that opened up opportunities for many others. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was determined to accomplish her goals and was willing to combat any obstacles that halted her efforts, which speaks to her heroic nature. In the earliest phases of her education, she immediately faced several hardships,Show MoreRelatedHero Essay : A Hero Is A True Hero805 Words   |  4 PagesReeve states, â€Å"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to preserve and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.† In other words, a hero is a everyday person that has the courage, bravery, and strength to overcome any challenge they are going through or as a challenge to help someone no matter what it takes. Even though there could be many struggles, a hero has to endure the strength to do anything to help in any way they can. Many people think they know what a hero is, but do theyRead MoreEssay On Hero Is A Hero1035 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure, in spite of overwhelming obstacles.† This quote, stated by Christopher Reed, best defines a hero in the simplest terms. A hero is someone whose job is to put others safety before their own and show perseverance in tough situations, even if they do not always get the recognition for it. Heroes choose to put others before themselves, and are willing to sacrifice their own lives, for the benefit of others. A great exampleRead MoreHero Essay About Hero1014 Words   |  5 PagesA hero can be many different types of people and have many different qualities. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a hero as a person admired for achievements and noble qualities. Tom Hanks said, â€Å"A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown†. Heroes are strong and courageous, but they can also be quiet and work behind the scenes. Eleanor Roosevelt once said â€Å"We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up... discovering we haveRead MoreHero Essay : What Makes A Hero A Hero?832 Words   |  4 PagesWhat Makes a Hero a Hero? As I have recently sat down with my grandmother, Mary, I asked her questions about a hero and herself being a hero. My grandmother has such an impact on me in daily life along with being a personal hero to me. She is such an inspiration to me in so many ways that I could never think of taking for granted. I chose my grandmother as my hero because of obstacles I have faced, she was the one to show me the love and support I was in need of at the time. Mary shows theRead MoreEssay on Hero-Anti Hero838 Words   |  4 Pagessaved. The word hero is passed around too much these days. A hero is not a football player that scores the game-winning touchdown or the goaltender who saves his team from a loss. A hero is usually an ordinary person that did extraordinary things. A true hero is really never a hero at all; at least not in their own mind. However, there are various cases today in which we see the exact opposites of these characters, the anti-heroes. The anti-hero is one who cannot be classified as a hero, for that saidRead MoreEssay on Hero831 Words   |  4 PagesHERO He Ever Regards Others   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is a hero? Is it someone that â€Å"saves the day and gets the girl?† This used to be my definition of a hero until I grew up and really learned what a hero is. The dictionary says a hero is â€Å"a man of great strength and courage, favored by the gods and in part descended from them, often regarded as a half-god and worshiped after his death.† Through society though we are disillusioned to the identity of real hero’s and instead praise celebrities as such. Over timeRead More HERO Essay567 Words   |  3 Pages HERO nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The true definition of hero is a man of distinguished valor. Bravery, courage, intrepidity, boldness, daring, and prowess in war are a heroes characteristics. However a hero is understood to be different to everyone. To one person he may be the greatest being who ever lived, but to another he may just be a normal, average man. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;For example, a child who has lost his poor puppy may think of it’s rescuer as a savior. His hero could beRead MoreBeowulf Is a Hero Essay877 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf Essay Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities:Read MoreEssay on A Hero649 Words   |  3 PagesA Hero What is a hero? Is it a rock star or an athlete? A famous speaker or activist? Or is it someone so ordinary that does extraordinary things? A hero can be someone who loves and cares for you, or someone you look up to. Someone that risks their life for others is definitely a hero, that someone is Oskar Schindler. Oskar is a hero to over 6,000 Jews currentlyRead MoreEssay Tragic Hero643 Words   |  3 Pages(about 5–7-pages) essay that addresses one of the plays from the Drama Unit.   A minimum of six citations, including the primary source and at least five secondary scholarly sources, is required for this assignment.   Before you begin writing the essay, carefully read the guidelines for developing your paper topic that are given below.   Review the research paper Grading Rubric to see how your submission will be graded. Gather all of your information, plan the direction of your essay, and organize your

Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunin’s God and the State Free Essays

string(134) " As a global community, we express daily outrage when acts of terror be they car bombings, hijackings, kidnappings and murders occur\." Mohit Mulani Prof. James Gilligan 22/12/12 â€Å"God and the State† The idea of malevolent terrorism is fundamentally rooted in an extremist interpretation of religion enabled and to a great extent encouraged by priests and political figures. To examine this closely with reference to historical situations and ideas, we can apply the notions bought forward by the Russian 19th century philosopher and nihilist Bakunin in his seminal book, â€Å"God and State. We will write a custom essay sample on Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunin’s God and the State or any similar topic only for you Order Now † In the book, doctinaires are critiqued quite heavily for their relentless imposition of impractical ideals upon the world. With regards to the, Bakunin states, â€Å"They are so jealous of the glory of their God and of the triumph of their idea that they have no heart left for the liberty or the dignity or even the sufferings of living men, of real men. Divine zeal, preoccupation with the idea, finally dry up the tenderest souls, the most compassionate hearts, the sources of human love. God the State, 65)† Comparing these 19th century doctinaires with modern day terrorists we see a group of people so completely enthralled by the superiority of their belief systems that they are more than willing to compromise the lives of non-believers to ‘persuade’ others. This follows in the line of a traditional process that requires the destruction and absolute overhaul of a current system and its institutions in order for a new one to establish itself and thrive. Referred to in the line, â€Å"Every development necessarily implies a negation,† the idea is the basis of aggressive and violent terrorism globally (God the State, 9). The September 11th attacks for instance were planned to include bombings of the Pentagon and White House, both symbolic locations representing the centers of Western imperialism and sources of resentment for the jihadis. This is particularly important given how modern day authors, journalists and thinkers have emphasized the peaceful nature of Islam when interpreted by its scriptures. Looking at the sheer organization and potency of terrorist rganizations, it seems as though the hyper-violent aspect of this otherwise ‘peaceful’ religion must have arisen from an understanding of this dogma. There must prevail the idea that without the destruction of certain reviled Western ideals, their preferred value systems cannot be secured across the world. Another aspect bought up in Bakunin’s statemen t about doctrinaires was the erasure of love and sympathy towards the victims of terrorist acts. The perpetrators here have been blinded by the aggressive, nationalistic rivalry between ideologies towards the pain and suffering of others. In some cases, the real or imagined suffering of their own people, often at the hands of the West is used as a tool to harden their emotional facilities towards demonized groups of people. Several recruitment communications and propaganda display in explicit detail the torture practices, prison camp conditions and drone attacks the Western nations have inflicted upon suspected terrorists. This intensifies the unbridled hatred that ultimately fuels the metaphorical terror machine-churning out thousands of graduates armed with suicide vests and destructive ideals that they wish to impose upon the world. An important point here is that the origin of such behaviour isn’t singularly caused by hate or resentment; it is rather the amalgamation of several factors including socio-political ones that in their totality create this belligerent section of the world. Bakunin speaks of, â€Å"the whole history of humanity, intellectual and moral, political and social, [being] but a reflection of its economic history (God the State, 9). † The fiscal nature of countries and their people often have direct consequences on the views and positions adopted by them. The effect of poverty on the terrorist world-view most directly can be two fold. In the first case, people join jihadist factions for direct monetary recompense to themselves or their family; a significant factor in desperately poor nations and villages. An instance of this was seen after the Mumbai train bombings of 2008 in which the prime suspect Ajmal Kassab confessed to expecting approximately US$3,352 after succeeding in his mission. According to police sources, he was unaware of any Islamic tenets or verses from the Quran but had a virulent message to send nonetheless. The other effect of a poor economic state is an increased susceptibility to false priests and their version of religion. Lower socio-economic groups when faced with inconsequential lives resort to belief systems that give them comfort, solace and often a sense of superiority with respect to ideology held. This often translates to more suicide bombers by means of greater anticipation for the afterlife. A fair amount of terrorists that go onto perform suicide missions do so after comparing their current lives with the ones they expect to lead in heaven or jannah. They see poverty, distress, debt and suffering as something they can leave behind to reach a land of fountains, gardens, angels and virgins if they do the right thing. Here is where opportunistic priests and politicians swoop in employing, â€Å"base and criminal means †¦ to keep the nations in perpetual slavery. (God the State, 11)† These self-proclaimed, â€Å"guardians and the fathers of the people,† clearly do not have their best interests at heart and see them rather as tools by which they can achieve their respective political and religious agendas. A preacher who sermonizes on the value of taking lives, leveling cities and particularly in Iran- the use of nuclear weapons, cannot possibly be representing to the people any interpretation of religious texts. Instead of performing his duties as the spiritual head of a community, he uses incendiary rhetoric to stir people who are repeatedly manipulated by their governments into believing serious propaganda against Western nations. Bakunin expresses particular outrage at such figures referring to their acts as, â€Å" this crime of treason against humanity committed daily, in broad day, over the whole surface of the civilized world. This is interesting mostly because it alters our perspective on ideas of terrorism and makes us look intensely at what goes into the formation of one. As a global community, we express daily outrage when acts of terror be they car bombings, hijackings, kidnappings and murders occur. You read "Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunin’s God and the State" in category "Essay examples" Caught up in these, it gets difficult to see the simultaneous crime being carried out throughout large tracts of the Middle East where the populace is systematically denied a real education in lieu of religious madrasas and indoctrination. Though vastly different, we can examine Bakunin’s analysis of 19th century education and modern day madrasas. â€Å"Such are the absurd tales that are told and the monstrous doctrines that are taught, in the full light of the nineteenth century, in all the public schools of Europe, at the express command of the government. They call this civilizing the people! Is it not plain that all these governments are systematic poisoners, interested stupefies of the masses? † ( God ; the State, 11) There is quite certainly a reason for the establishment of such schools. We can posit that due to a certain moral vacuum, created by the influx of Western/European morality which itself was a consequence of the Scientific Revolution, there exists a motive to enforce conservative and restrictive moral systems. These motives when taken to their extreme engender resentment towards other forms of thinking and see them as counterproductive or directly hostile to their own. In the case of Islamic theology, the teachings have been co-opted by a small, but active militant and extremist sector. This group opposes in principle all people who do not share their belief systems calling them indicatively; non-believers, infidels and heretics. Much like how in post war Europe this very moral vacuum was filled with branches of Totalitarianism and Fascism, the radical Middle East has adopted a similarly authoritarian system. This system is firstly authoritarian in the literal sense as most nations like Saudi Arabia have no free press, democratic governments or political parties. Secondly on a more abstract level, its religious tenets when exercised by extremists or the Mutaween are highly prohibitory and insular. An example of this sprung to international attention when in March of 2002, a girl’s school in Mecca caught on fire. Members of the Mutaween or the religious police were on hand to prevent improperly dressed girls from leaving the burning building. As school was in session with an entirely female population, for the sake of comfort most girls had seen fit to take of their confining abayas and headdresses. When attempting to escape, According to a civil defense officer, the girls were forced to return by use of force. This is one of many examples of religious confinement and how it is inherently parochial and inhibitory. The masses must indeed be stupefied, as Bakunin says if they consider it God’s will that girls burn to death for not being dressed appropriately. Though applicable to a wide range of scenarios, this example gives us insight into the aggressions of terrorist groups. It is clearly not enough that they follow the rigid principles set in the scriptures and interpreted by their mullahs, virtually everyone must do so as well. Some priests go so far as to imply that forcing or â€Å"converting† non-believers to the jihad proffers to them a place in heaven. With this tendency to make the world follow the teachings of Allah, it seems natural that they would resort to the means made popular by tradition and used quite frequently in history for such purposes; violence. Bakunin reprimands this agenda harshly in a letter to S. Nechayev: â€Å"You said that all men should be such, that a complete renunciation of self, of all personal wishes, pleasures, feelings affections and ties, should be a normal, natural, everyday condition to everybody without exception. You wished and still with to make your own selfless cruelty, your own truly extreme fanaticism, into a rule of common life. You wish for an absurdity, an impossibility, a total negation of nature, man and society†¦ no society however perfect its discipline and however powerful its organization can conquer nature(On Violence, 9). † This is precisely what the terrorists seem intent on doing, enforcing by means of violence their way of life upon the world. The term ‘nature’ is used here to reference the progress and advancement of society, morals and behaviour. The Scientific revolution occurred some 300 years ago and since then we have evolved, developing new systems of morality and using the social sciences to fill in the gaps left by religious dogma. These â€Å"science[s] of the future† like psychology and sociology are tools we use to fashion a new way of thinking and living(God ; the State, 61). Though they exist popular and normative definitions of good and evil, we have to a great extent outgrown them as new, more ethically complex situations arise and we approach them differently. Observing moral gray areas that we face everyday like bioethics in legislation for instance gives us an idea as to how we have been forced to evolve our moral ideas to keep up with out lifestyles. Though significant, bioethics is representative of a much larger and more pervasive phenomenon due to which we approach virtually all situations differently. For one, we refrain from moralizing a lot of issues that we would have historically used an ethical framework to describe. Our collective moral psychology as a whole has become more imaginative and we have a much larger scope to use morality in out lives. This broad, nonconservative approach has been interpreted as an empty, decadent and immoral (rather ironically) philosophy that is engendered by liberal Western culture and extends through its rather large sphere of influence. This perceived emptiness or moral vacuum is then filled by priests, zealots and a restrictive culture that is almost reactionary in its principles, formed so diametrically opposed to the ones it aims to eliminate. Bakunin explains to Nechayev that regardless of a particular society’s moral system, it is impossible to â€Å"conquer nature† or stop progress. This evolving of moral systems is the progress we’ve made in a past few centuries and various terrorist movements are largely the backlash experienced as a result of it. The abandonment of traditional value systems is understandably frightening and this very fear has been molded into a consequential, aggressive and parochial movement that uses undiscerning violence to erase centuries of moral advancement and replace it with a very specific, scripture-based morality that is reassuring in its decisiveness. Of note is the attempt made thereafter to brutally enforce this morality upon to world, to ensure that every woman, man and child follows the distinctive set of rules that govern radical Islamic morality. To see how truly regressive such a system is, we can examine the treatment of women in particular. The advance of feminism, especially at the turn of the century, led a revolution of ideas and social norms. The roles previously dictated by a predominantly patriarchal tradition changed and the restrictions placed on women were more or less eliminated. All terrorist groups share a contempt for women’s rights and this can be explained by their aversion to change and the reversal of traditional roles. Though this discomfort with feminism also involves an element of insecurity as male roles in these societies are so dependent and inverse to female roles, it cannot possibly by itself cause men to go around in trucks shooting schoolgirls; that requires priestly or political influence. What the terrorists fail to account is the nature of advancement and how it cannot be prevented from happening by beating people into submission. Everyday there is resistance in the ranks. Malala Yousafzai, an activist from Pakistan was shot on the 9th of October, 2012 while on a school-bus. This sort of advancement is likely to perpetuate itself amidst a large portion of the world and even killing everyone who noticeably advocates it will not prevent its growth. In Somalia, at the age of five, Ayaan Hirsi Ali underwent the torturous procedure of female circumcision (of genital mutilation as it is commonly and aptly called). This was one amongst several regressive traditions of her tribe and yet she emerged from the harshest of circumstances as an adamant feminist and atheist thinker. Man has emancipated himself; he has separated himself from animality and constituted himself a man; he has begun his distinctively human history and development by an act of disobedience and science-that is, by rebellion and by thought. (God the State, 12)† Herein lies the key to our humanity, the very feature that is being suppressed by terrorists in favour of a more convenient, s traightforward and primitive form of thinking. It is inherent in out nature to seek change, to ask questions and to doubt the dogmas we have been handed down. The fact that this leads to a complete social overhaul and the creation of multiple cognitive vacuums does not deter us from repeatedly being skeptical and thinking. The quote mentioned above refers to the Creation story of Genesis which showcases the act of disobedience, questioning of rules and the disastrous results that follow. At the end of it however, as humans we wouldn’t have it any other way. Doubting the doctrines we were brought up with reduces the strangle-hold religion has upon out society and the amount of influence clergymen can exert. This is an important motivation for the priests of the Middle East to carry on with their rabble-rousing diatribes. Doing so can maintain the last vestiges of power they have over people who no longer believe in their divine capacity anymore. By diverting attention from the actual tenets of Islam and bringing to the forefront firebrand phrases from other scriptures to spur people on, they engage in self-preservation rather than the progress of the human race. The key to our development has always been in thought and rebellion, by preventing it combatively, the terrorists hold back the world nd regress us to an age before we challenged conventions. In another section of the letter to S. Nechayev, Bakunin refers to what he observes as, â€Å"an enormous lack of critical sense without which it is impossible to evaluate people and situations, and to reconcile means with ends. (On Violence, 9)† These shortcomings of Russian nihilistic revolutionaries are now echoed by Islamic terro rists. Despite their explicable beliefs, what is truly terrifying about them is the raw violence and destruction jihadis seek to force upon the world. Their defensiveness towards tradition and resentment over past wars has been channeled into a form of nondiscriminatory havoc ceases to differentiate between military personnel and innocent citizens. This method is what is somewhat irreconcilable with the, â€Å"ends† it seeks to achieve. Though a destruction of the current system is required for any meaningful change to occur, it does not have to be gruesome and violent. It is however much harder for priests and politicians to spur their populace on towards peaceful goals than it is to make them favour blind violence. Speaking then about how to deal with an opposing civilization, Bakunin stats, â€Å"Societies which are inimical or positively harmful must be dissolved, and finally the government must be destroyed. All this cannot be achieved only by propagating the truth; cunning, diplomacy and deceit are necessary. (On Violence, 34)† Nowhere in the aforementioned advise does he mention violence as a useful way to achieve success. This is particularly important as there hasn’t as of yet been a noticeable conversion to the Islamic cause. Efficacy is a factor that the terrorists seem not to have consider seeking only to assuage their manufactured rage. â€Å"Hate, the negative side alone, does not create anything, does not even create the power necessary for destruction and thus destroys nothing. (On Violence, 29)† When four homegrown terrorists from London attacked the underground system, their primary motive was to avenge their fellow Muslims who had previously suffered as a result of actions undertaken by the Western governments. A large amount of bombings are becoming more about revenge and hatred than actually changing the status quo. This achieves nothing while a great deal is simultaneously sacrificed. Distinct from revenge, another cause for hatred is how the terrorists perceive the world. Bakunin refers to the source of our progress as, â€Å"Satan, the eternal rebel, the first freethinker and the emancipator of worlds. He makes man ashamed of his bestial ignorance and obedience; he emancipates him, stamps upon his brow the seal of liberty and humanity, in urging him to disobey and eat of the fruit of knowledge. God the State, 10)† It is fair to assume that they see the West and people such as Malala as Satanic and a corruptive influence. Both of these try to upend traditional thought and how we think about morality. By objecting to blind deference to a book or set of purportedly divine rules, democracies seek to alter people’s moral psychology. This procedure has seen a backlash even in Western countries themselves in the form of radical Christianity. Ironically though this branch of religion despises Islam and the jihadis, it seeks to achieve incredibly similar goals. Every time a pastor in some midwestern state pushes for the inscription of the Hebrew commandments in front of court-houses, as a species, we take a collective step backwards into the Middle Ages where people believed in a fixed set of dogmas that seemed more interested in who they worshipped than in how they behaved. Similarly with the feminist movements, with the objectives of terrorism being so inherently misogynistic, we risk living in a world where women don’t have the civil liberties we spent a good couple of centuries achieving. Though things in the past were straightforward and idealistic, they were also horrendously underdeveloped in modern concepts of liberty, freedom, thought, science and society. Reverting back to those circumstances involves necessarily having to deal with all its downfalls as well as the clarity of ethics it provides. We do not get to cherry-pick which part of the Middle Ages we’d like to being with us into this century as the terrorists have made amply clear. We will need to accept the oppression of women, religious minorities, homosexuals, transgenders and scientific thought as though we were actually living in the 16th century. This regression must be avoided at all costs. â€Å"Thus we come back to the essence of all religion–in other words, to the disparagement of humanity for the greater glory of divinity. (God the State, 37)† With this statement Bakunin sums up the thrust of the religious terrorist movements around the world. They seek to avenge a perceived disrespect of a divine being and are willing to kill for it. Though they wouldn’t do so spontaneously, this hatred ad murderous instinct has to be carefully cultivated from childhood by mullahs and other authoritative sources. These children then become people who are capable of leveling entire buildings for the glory of God whose existence they cannot be sure of and an afterlife they might never get to experience. Such is the power of, â€Å"collective insanity,† that drives a movement like this. (God the State, 68) Since the 200,000 years we’ve existed, we’ve spent quite a lot of it questioning, developing and doubting. Attempts to prevent this are shameful in that they send us hurtling back hundreds of years to less enlightened times of dogma and religious persecution. We’ve outgrown the juvenile need for extremely strict religious guidance and have as a society agreed upon a set of common sense laws that don’t vary significantly across national borders. We’ve developed social sciences to deal with the moral vacuum left after the removal of dogmas and are can deal with them without resorting to driving airplanes into skyscrapers. The existence of terrorism proves that for every collective step forward we take, there are elements that will be rendered irrelevant and have thus felt the need to make the loudest clamor possible. Though we cannot obviously devise a straightforward solution to a complex and varying problem, we can however seek to understand it. Bibliography Bakunin, Mikhail, â€Å"God and the State. † Dover Publications, Inc. , New York. 1970 Bakunin, Mikhail, â€Å"On Violence-letter to S Nechayev. † New York: Unity Press, [19–] How to cite Themes of Modern Terrorism Bakunin’s God and the State, Essay examples

Social Media Marketing Samples for Students MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: What Can be one to Minimise the Risk of Misunderstanding ofAccounting ? Answer: Introducation: Social media is considered as one of the key tool of every business organization to attract a large number of audiences (Beverungen, Bhm and Land 2015). The innovation of internet and other form of new media has influenced the growth of every business organization. The success of the business organization is highly dependent on the communication procedure that has been used by the business organizations. Social media marketing has become an integral part of the organizational strategy (Treem et al. 2015). In this online era, it has become very important for every organization to use new media for the promotion of the brand name. Almost all the leading organization is using social media to attract their potential buyer. It fosters the development of the organization. The social media in recent time are being used as the marketing agent of every business organization. People in recent time have become fond of social media. They often access their social media accounts to stay updated. This has provided a great opportunity to the business organization to use new media to as a weapon to draw the attention of buyers (Burleson 2016). The below mentioned article has discussed about the role of social media on the business organization. It has enlightened various aspects of social media to present a vivid picture on social media. Social media can be described as the technologies that are mobile and web-based, which allows effective communication over the internet. The information age in the modern world has made social media an integrative part in the daily lives of the people on a global scale. Conventional media such as radio and television and print media is limited to a certain extent whereas social media tends to reach more further locations within a short span of time and convey the information that the companies want. The fact that social media is comparatively new in the modern world but it has become an essential part in the marketing and the development of the customer base of the different firms has led to the popularity of this platform (Gensler et al. 2013). It can be seen that almost 95 percent of the companies that have a marketing and advertising department use the social media as a platform to market their products and services (Weinberg et al. 2013). Almost all the companies have their own s ocial media platforms where they can advertize their products and the services that can be seen by the customers that they want to target (Trainor et al. 2014). Since, the demand of the social media has been rising among the common people many business ventures have taken advantage of this trend in their business and corporate level strategies. Being a cheap and effective media, social media has become the most preferred and desired medium to promote the brand name or promote any product. The business organizations often use social media to collect the opinion of the customer over any products of service. The business organization often conducts several surveys on the social media to identify the impact of their product or service on the consumers. It helps the business organization to identify their mistakes (Tchape and Wilcox 2016). It helps the organizational management to improve the quality of its service. It helps the business organizations to carry out any new business ventur es smoothly, as being a marketing partner of the business organization social media draw the attention of a large number of mass on the behalf of the organizational management of the business organization. At a global level, it can be seen that social media has a huge impact on a multinational firms. Organizations on a global scale are accepting social media because it is a cheaper and a convenient way of achieving growth in the business. The use of social media has revolutionized the way the techniques of marketing on a global scale. These help in giving a positive impact on the company by building the customer relationship, retention of the customers, public relations and market research. The negative impacts of social media on the global scale for the companies are that thee productivity in the workplace is reduced largely, which results in loss of money by the organization (Lee et al. 2014). The people and the organizations in the modern world are all connected and the organizations keep them updated with the latest products and the services through sites like YouTube, Face book and Twitter and the different blogs that are run by the companies. The convenient use of the social media are also faced with technological and economical challenges as the internet has many hidden agendas that the common masses have to pass through to view the websites of the organization (Gritzalis et al. 2014). There are many example of how the innovation of modern communication techniques has changed the organizational structure of a business organization. One exemplary example of such business organization is Redfin. Redfin is an online brokerage firm that has recently faced massive crisis due to the tiff with real estate agents. The organization has started its journey on 20014. It is located in Washington. It deals with various lands, fresh and resale properties (Redfin.com, 2017). Redfin offers deals in lesser amount from the purchaser than the real estate agents. The real estate agents started blacklisting Redfin due to their loss. According to the real estate agents, they are responsible for the loss they are facing. It leads the organization to face massive crisis. Glenn Kelman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Redfin has taken an extra ordinary initiative to deal with the situation by using new media. The leader has chosen to interact with their buyers instead of keeping quiet. Glenn has started a company blog where he starts to discuss about the real issues that the organization is facing. The leader starts discussing about various issues that one real estate companies often faces. He has shared various obstacles that he and his company is experiencing in the market. He has shared about the struggles he is doing every now and then to survive in the race, criticism he is facing from the real estate agents and other rival companies. This has helped him to draw the attention of a large number of purchasers. The buyers come to know about the obstacles that Redfin is experiencing. Customers loved the transparency level that has been maintained by the CEO of Redfin Glenn Kelman (Varotto et al. 2016). It has helped the organization to gain the desired reputation in the society. The customers and rest of the society has appreciated the effort of Redfin and the team of Redfin. In this blog the CEO sometimes has made the fun of himself to reveal the truth of the r eal estate market. The society has appreciated such practice of the CEO. They have acknowledged the fact that how can someone make fun of own to uncovered any truth (Laroche, Habibi and Richard 2013). This has helped the organization to overcome all the challenges that has been faced by the CEO of Redfin and his team. The organizational management has set an example by using new media to communicate with the consumers to share their issues. After CEO has taken this innovative and unique step, Redfin has experienced massive progress in their profit margin. This incident has influenced the growth of the organization. The organization has overcome all the challenges it was facing earlier. The transparency level that has been maintained by the CEO and rest of the team of Redfin has affected the buyers and society in a significant manner. The organization has earned the faith of its stakeholders and society that has motivated the organization to provide more effective and efficient servi ce to its consumers (Grgoire, Salle and Tripp 2015). The organizational management of Redfin is aware of the fact that it is important to maintain healthy and transparent relation with the consumers to run a business organization successfully. By using new media Redfin has brought revolution in the real estate industry as well as in the entire world. Redfin is considered as one of the milestone in the real estate market not only for its efficient service. It has set an example by using new media in an effective manner. As per the previous discussion, it can be stated that communication is highly important for every business organization. In this competitive era, where every business organization is incorporating new strategies to improve the quality of the service, use of new media has become an integral part of the organizational strategy. In order to draw the attention of maximum number of audience, collect their opinion over an issue or promote the brand name of an organization, it has become very important for every business organization to seek the help new media. It helps the business organization to reach to a large number of consumers and puts a significant foot print on among the consumers. The innovation of various social networking sites has made the product marketing easier for the business organization. Almost all the leading business organization uses new media to influence the growth of the organization, match the satisfaction level of the consumers and earn huge revenue. Reference: Beverungen, A., Bhm, S. and Land, C., 2015. Free labour, social media, management: Challenging Marxist organization studies. Burleson, J.E., 2016. Organization-Stakeholder Interaction Through Social Media: A Tri-level Investigation, Categorization, and Research Agenda. Gensler, S., Vlckner, F., Liu-Thompkins, Y. and Wiertz, C., 2013. Managing brands in the social media environment.Journal of Interactive Marketing,27(4), pp.242-256. Grgoire, Y., Salle, A. and Tripp, T.M., 2015. Managing social media crises with your customers: The good, the bad, and the ugly.Business Horizons,58(2), pp.173-182. Gritzalis, D., Stavrou, V., Kandias, M. and Stergiopoulos, G., 2014, March. Insider threat: enhancing BPM through social media. InNew Technologies, Mobility and Security (NTMS), 2014 6th International Conference on(pp. 1-6). IEEE. Laroche, M., Habibi, M.R. and Richard, M.O., 2013. To be or not to be in social media: How brand loyalty is affected by social media?.International Journal of Information Management,33(1), pp.76-82. Lee, G., DeLone, W., Tan, M. and Corrales, M., 2014. Special issue Accounting on leveraging the IS organization for business value creation. Malthouse, E.C., Haenlein, M., Skiera, B., Wege, E. and Zhang, M., 2013. Managing customer relationships in the social media era: introducing the social CRM house.Journal of Interactive Marketing,27(4), pp.270-280. Redfin.com. (2017). Redfin.com. Tchape, P. and Wilcox, C., 2016. Social Media and the impact of business hierarchy on knowledge sharing within an organization: Case of SoftX. Trainor, K.J., Andzulis, J.M., Rapp, A. and Agnihotri, R., 2014. Social media technology usage and customer relationship performance: A capabilities-based examination of social CRM.Journal of Business Research,67(6), pp.1201-1208. Treem, J.W., Dailey, S.L., Pierce, C.S. and Leonardi, P.M., 2015. Bringing Technological Frames to Work: How Previous Experience with Social Media Shapes the Technology's Meaning in an Organization.Journal of Communication,65(2), pp.396-422. Varotto, A., Gamberini, L., Spagnolli, A., Martino, F. and Giovannardi, I., 2016. The Persuasive Effect of Social Network Feedback on Mediated Communication: A Case Study in a Real Organization.Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking,19(3), pp.193-201. Weinberg, B.D., de Ruyter, K., Dellarocas, C., Buck, M. and Keeling, D.I., 2013. Destination social business: Exploring an organization's journey with social media, collaborative community and expressive individuality.Journal of interactive marketing,27(4), pp.299-

Essentials of Negotiations

150 Other Words for Said To Supercharge Your Writing (Infographic)

150 Other Words for Said To Supercharge Your Writing (Infographic) 150+ Other Words for "Said" To Supercharge Your Writing â€Å"Dialogue tags† is one of those writerly terms that sounds more complicated than it actually is. You’ve almost certainly used tags (including "said" and all other words for said) in your writing at some point, even if you didn't realize it consciously!But how can you really use them when you’re not entirely sure how they work? If that sounds like you, don't worry; this article will sort you out. Read on for your ultimate guide to dialogue tags - with tips on how to use them in an effective manner and our curated list of 150+ other words for "said." We'll actually start with the latter, for those of you who already know how dialogue tags work and are looking for the perfect synonym.150+ other words for "said"â€Å"Said† is the most common dialogue tag in the English language, and for good reason: it gets the job done. But every so often, you want to kick your writing up a notch with a different tag - that's where this list comes in! Here are 150+ oth er words for said, divided by emotion and/or conversational context to help you find the right word.Or, if you want to take it with you, click on the "Infographic" section in the table of contents (to your left) and download a list of all these words for free! Without further ado, here is a veritable mountain of words to use instead of said.Neutral wordsEach of these words is basically a like-for-like replacement for "said. Infographic (to download)Simply enter your email below to get this infographic in your inbox within minutes.Luckily, figuring out your dialogue tags isn't  quite  this difficult. Image: Paramount Pictures4. Experiment with placementThis is something you can do to keep your dialogue tags fresh and interesting without resorting to overblown verbs. Though so far we’ve only used tags at the end of dialogue, you can also put them at the beginning or in the middle! It requires slightly different punctuation, but pretty much all you need to do is re-order your original phrase to accomplish this.Let’s return to our very first example: â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article,† Rita said. This could become:Rita said, â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article."Or, if you want it to sound more dramatic:â€Å"I can’t wait,† Rita said, â€Å"to read this article.†Again, it’s an easy fix for repetitive tags. Try to stay conscious of how you’re using them, and if you find that too many of your â€Å"he said, she said†s (so to speak) are landing at the end of your dialogue, feel free to mix it up!5. Use description as dialogue tagsThe final way to create dialogue tags in your writing is: don’t use them at all. Or rather, use something else to serve the same function - specifically, description.Using description to indicate who’s speaking is a subtle yet powerful means of tagging your dialogue. Experienced writers employ this technique frequently, and anyone can do so once they understand how! Here’s an example of how description might be used as a dialogue tag:Sara gazed around the room as she paced, trailing her fingers over the furniture. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Sam. â€Å"Are you sure this is a good idea?†We can clearly tell that Sara is the one talking based on the description: it’s all about her and what she’s doing. At the end, we also get a subject for her to address (Sam).You can also put the dialogue first, followed by the description to clarify:â€Å"We’ve got to catch him! Come on guys, hop in!† Jason hurriedly started the truck, which made a noise like a broken blender.Or you can even have the description in the middle of two pieces of dialogue:â€Å"Oh my God, what happened in here?† Alicia had just come through the doorway and stood frozen in her tracks. Her expression was a mask of horror. â€Å"It looks like a tornado hit!†Basically, you can put this descriptive â€Å"tag† anywhere you want in relation to the dialogue: before, after, or in the middle. As long as there’s something to demonstrate who’s speaking, as well as to what or whom they’re referring, that’s all you need.TakeawaysDialogue tags are a vital tool that every writer should know how to use correctly. Hopefully, this post has helped you understand how to use tags to clarify who’s speaking, as well as how to avoid distracting from what’s being said. Remember, the dialogue is the crown jewel here - but the tag is the solid pedestal that keeps it from falling. 💠ªWhat are your best tips for dialogue tags? Let us know in the comments! 150 Other Words for Said To Supercharge Your Writing (Infographic) 150+ Other Words for "Said" To Supercharge Your Writing â€Å"Dialogue tags† is one of those writerly terms that sounds more complicated than it actually is. You’ve almost certainly used tags (including "said" and all other words for said) in your writing at some point, even if you didn't realize it consciously!But how can you really use them when you’re not entirely sure how they work? If that sounds like you, don't worry; this article will sort you out. Read on for your ultimate guide to dialogue tags - with tips on how to use them in an effective manner and our curated list of 150+ other words for "said." We'll actually start with the latter, for those of you who already know how dialogue tags work and are looking for the perfect synonym.150+ other words for "said"â€Å"Said† is the most common dialogue tag in the English language, and for good reason: it gets the job done. But every so often, you want to kick your writing up a notch with a different tag - that's where this list comes in! Here are 150+ oth er words for said, divided by emotion and/or conversational context to help you find the right word.Or, if you want to take it with you, click on the "Infographic" section in the table of contents (to your left) and download a list of all these words for free! Without further ado, here is a veritable mountain of words to use instead of said.Neutral wordsEach of these words is basically a like-for-like replacement for "said. Simply enter your email below to get this infographic in your inbox within minutes.Luckily, figuring out your dialogue tags isn't  quite  this difficult. Image: Paramount Pictures4. Experiment with placementThis is something you can do to keep your dialogue tags fresh and interesting without resorting to overblown verbs. Though so far we’ve only used tags at the end of dialogue, you can also put them at the beginning or in the middle! It requires slightly different punctuation, but pretty much all you need to do is re-order your original phrase to accomplish this.Let’s return to our very first example: â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article,† Rita said. This could become:Rita said, â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article."Or, if you want it to sound more dramatic:â€Å"I can’t wait,† Rita said, â€Å"to read this article.†Again, it’s an easy fix for repetitive tags. Try to stay conscious of how you’re using t hem, and if you find that too many of your â€Å"he said, she said†s (so to speak) are landing at the end of your dialogue, feel free to mix it up!5. Use description as dialogue tagsThe final way to create dialogue tags in your writing is: don’t use them at all. Or rather, use something else to serve the same function - specifically, description.Using description to indicate who’s speaking is a subtle yet powerful means of tagging your dialogue. Experienced writers employ this technique frequently, and anyone can do so once they understand how! Here’s an example of how description might be used as a dialogue tag:Sara gazed around the room as she paced, trailing her fingers over the furniture. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Sam. â€Å"Are you sure this is a good idea?†We can clearly tell that Sara is the one talking based on the description: it’s all about her and what she’s doing. At the end, we also get a subject for he r to address (Sam).You can also put the dialogue first, followed by the description to clarify:â€Å"We’ve got to catch him! Come on guys, hop in!† Jason hurriedly started the truck, which made a noise like a broken blender.Or you can even have the description in the middle of two pieces of dialogue:â€Å"Oh my God, what happened in here?† Alicia had just come through the doorway and stood frozen in her tracks. Her expression was a mask of horror. â€Å"It looks like a tornado hit!†Basically, you can put this descriptive â€Å"tag† anywhere you want in relation to the dialogue: before, after, or in the middle. As long as there’s something to demonstrate who’s speaking, as well as to what or whom they’re referring, that’s all you need.TakeawaysDialogue tags are a vital tool that every writer should know how to use correctly. Hopefully, this post has helped you understand how to use tags to clarify who’s speaking, a s well as how to avoid distracting from what’s being said. Remember, the dialogue is the crown jewel here - but the tag is the solid pedestal that keeps it from falling. 💠ªWhat are your best tips for dialogue tags? Let us know in the comments!

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT - Essay Example This spurs up the controversy over the stratification of life, whether some lives are more important than others are. This paper analyses the various theoretical propositions for capital punishment as a primary to establishing the best theoretical explanation of its role in serving justice of both the perpetrator and the victim. Riemann argues that the application of capital punishment bear an inherent deprivation of human right to life. In his further proposition, Reiman counteracts this stance by the fact that the inalienability of life is subject to an individual’s ability to affirm rationality through responsible actions. In essence, Reiman postulates that the murderer, by the acts of murder, dehumanizes him or herself and proves to be unworthy of residing among human societies and therefore the deprivation of life is self-inflicted rather than induced. Reimann argues that in paying back the perpetrator with an injury equivalent to the one the victim suffered, the punishment brings the perpetrator back down to the understanding of equity of life. It would be re-establishing equality between the perpetrator and the victim. Reiman’s philosophy of capital punishment partly subscribes to its beneficial application but gives the conditions for its application that is the assurance of the attainment of the highest level of deterrence rather than the mere satisfaction of the victim. Reiman contradictorily casts aspersions on the substantiality of death penalty arguing that its effectiveness as a means of punishment should be subject to the worthiness of its application beyond the mere satisfaction of the victims. It startles however how easy it is to determine the satisfaction of the already immortalized victim of murder to weigh it against the effects of criminals’ subjection to death as a repatriation mechanism. Kant is recognizably the proponent of the retributivist theory of capital

Light peak( high speed opictal cable technology) Essay

Light peak( high speed opictal cable technology) - Essay Example Light Peak is defined to as a new interface technology of peripheral which enable nodes to connect devices of peripheral or other nodes through an optical connector. Use of optical technology has been in the industry for quite sometime. Telecom companies have used it for networking for years. Light, instead of a wire, is considered much more efficient means of relaying enormous data over long distances. The challenge is optical modules used in conversion of the electrical signals into optical were exceedingly large and expensive. By use of the newly come technology, there is a possibility for the firm to produce affordable and compact optical modules. There are several outstanding differences between optical cabling and electrical cabling. However, the major advantage of using Light Peak technology is seen in optical cabling substituting electrical cabling. Use of copper wire in inter-device communication has its demerits. The level of signal distortion increases with the increase in the distance and speed of transmission. Consequently, the interruption becomes too much that there is no reliable signal transmission between the peripheral and the computer. This explains the reason as to why peripheral cables have fixed lengths. Optical signals do not reflect the interruptions experienced when copper wire is used in signal transmission. This implies that optical cables can extend to serve longer distances compared to copper wire. Additionally, optical fibers are much thinner enabling more flexibility in cabling compared to bundles of copper wire. A recommended cable of Light Peak is almost of the same size of a strand of human hair. These optical cables can be increased up to a length of100 meters that will effectively serve every place within a household as well as enough for businesses. Light Peak technology has a close comparison with the allied USB technology. Although USB

Inquiry 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Inquiry 2 - Essay Example Although the main story for the MGM film adaptation of the book remained the same, some parts were altered for example the wicked witch of the east’s shoes (Rudolph, n.pag.). The film provided a graphical demonstration of the characters and the story which is why few years later, an article written by Henry Littlefield made it an allegory on populism (Littlefield, 47). The book and the film provide a rich cultural text to be analyzed for the presence of the economical and political parable many claim it to have. Littlefield was the first person to have interpreted The Wizard of Oz as having an economic parable after which many others also claimed the book and film to be riddled with political symbolism. Later Rockoff also made an effort to reveal the connections between the Populist movement, Baum’s views and the book as interpreted as an economic parable (1). Russel B. Nye and Martin Gardner also wrote a book in which they provided an appreciation for Baum’s wri ting (Winterich, 42) and uncovered how Baum incorporated hidden meanings to reflect the environment of the time. By effectively using symbolism, Baum represented Dorothy as the common American people (Taylor, 5) and the Witch of the East represented the monetary interest of the industrialist who were supported by their gold standard allies (Taylor, 6). Many other characters symbolize the various players and stakeholders involved in the Populist movement. Between 1897 and 1902, Baum had settled in South Dakota where he also started a journal called Saturday Pioneer (McGroarty, n.pag.). According to Littlefield, Baum noticed the hardships of the Western farmers who were now raising their voice against the hardships they were going through (48). As a result, Baum’s writing was influenced by the Populist movement that was started to protect the interests of the farmers. The Peoples Party or the Populist Party as it was more commonly known as was started by a group of farmers. The n in the 1930s America experienced the Great Depression which was the most severe and prolonged period of recession that damaged the economy. Followed by the great depression, World War II was approaching which meant that the government had to make an effort to improve the economy (Perseverance and Responsiveness: The Depression and War Years", 36). According to Littlefield’s interpretation, The Wizard of Oz has provided the younger generation with a benign analysis of the Populist movement (57). Hansen presents an argumentation in his article pointing out that the interpretations that link The Wizard of Oz and populism are flawed. The first reason he provides for his argument is the lack of an autonomous discovery of the allegorical interpretation of the book (Hansen, 257). The authors who have interpreted the story as an economical parable have not carried out any independent study. They have merely followed the lead of Henry Littlefield who first came up with the idea of t he allegorical interpretation. Also, those who support the interpretation mention that Baum was a democrat. Often his support for women’s suffrage has been linked with his populist-democrat affinity. However, Hansen points out that Baum was a Republican who regarded his paper the Saturday Pioneer as a Republican paper. He also presents another interpretation of the book as all the characters were monarchists and not democrats. Hansen interprets the film as representing symbolism through its use of colors and hues (262). While the

Corporate Policy of Starbucks Coffee

Corporate Policy of Starbucks Coffee Starbucks Corporation is a multinational corporation based in the United States and is the most famous and largest coffeehouse company in the world. It boasts of 15,000 stores in 45 countries. Starbucks specializes in coffee in all its forms: brewed, espresso, served hot or cold along with other related snacks and raw coffee beans. This conglomerate started in 1985 as a coffee bean roaster and retailer in Seattle, Washington where it still holds its corporate offices. From the 1900s up to now, a new store is opened every day. As of the last quarter of 2007, Starbucks owns 8,505 stores around the world, and 6,500 stores are franchised. As of last quarter of 2007, Starbucks reported a gross profit of $1.5 billion and a net income of $208 million. According to the financial report for Starbucks that is published in the web, Revenue and earnings have grown at roughly 25% annually for the past five years, and should continue at an above-average rate given Starbucks competitive position an d already proven record. Management is expecting 18% top-line annual growth and 20-22% in the bottom-line for the next several years. Domestic same-store sales have been stabilizing at around 4%, with transactions accounting for 1%. Internationally, same-store sales increased 7% for Q3 driven by 5% transaction growth. International comparable sales growth has been north of 5% every quarter. It would be wise to invest in shares of stock for Starbucks since it can be seen in their financial statements that since they have expanded their operations, there is a steady increase of revenues and profits. Starbucks have produced a more than average sales and earnings growth in the past years. The companys very impressive earnings growth projections are a good indicator to go ahead and invest. Starbucks still focuses on their expansion ventures across the United States and abroad in the companys owned stores and the franchises. Majority if not all exhibited a solid financial performance. The increase of revenue is caused by the opening of more and more stores across the globe to accomplish its vision to establish the most respected brand in coffeehouses. With 1,288 new stores in 2007 and a planned 2,400 more in the next months, revenues and sales would surely shoot up higher. According to the Starbucks Quarterly Report (Mary 2007), Global comparable store sales for Company-operated markets increased by 4% for the 13-week period ended April 1, 2007, and increased 5% over the first half of fiscal 2007. Comparable store sales growth for fiscal 2007 is expected to be in the target range of 3% to 7%. The Company purchased a 90% stake in its previously-licensed operations in Beijing and Tianjin, China. Starbucks in the United Kingdom It was in May 1998 that Starbucks gained foothold in the coffee shop market in Europe by acquiring 65 Seattle Coffee Company establishment in the United Kingdom. Starbucks and Seattle Coffee shared the same culture that centers on the desire to customize coffee. Moreover, they also have almost the same company values of respecting people and the environment. In the UK, the Starbucks store designs and ambiences are meant to be cozy and intimate, at the same giving its coffee drinkers a personal area to stay anytime. Tables, chairs, sofas, armchairs, and stools are specifically designed to make every customer feel important. Anyone who wants serenity apart from the home and solace after the chaos of office work can relax and stay deep in a book or magazine. Some even bring their work along and meet friends and prospects in Starbucks stores. Exclusive Starbucks music is made available in all its coffee shops around the  world. In the UK, the head office and support center of Starbucks is located in Chiswick in South West London. Starbucks Losing in the United Kingdom Costa Coffee is giving Starbucks a hard time in the UK. According to financial sources,  £10 million have been lost by Starbucks since 2009. The figure show a loss before taxes of over  £9 million for one year in the middle of this year compared to only  £2 million in 2009. This poor performance emphasizes the concerns of CEO Howard Schultz last year when he made an evaluation of the UK economy. He himself gave the reason for the companys bad financial showing in the UK: unemployment, mortgage crisis, and low consumer confidence. Value Chain Starbucks is synonymous to coffee. They are present in 41 countries except in Africa. Its mission statement: Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. Starbucks created a niche in the coffee culture. It has penetrated markets that are not coffee connoisseurs. Schultz envisioned coffee consciousness in his customers hoping that coffee drinkers would take coffee seriously as wine connoisseurs take fine wine. It developed unique coffee taste experiences through coffee blend concept which traditionally is a method done to mask off flavors contributed by mediocre to atrocious beans and to save money. The coffee brand which has penetrated the world sans few places, aimed to deliver high quality and consistent products to keep customers. To achieve this consistency, Starbucks entry to other markets was in the form  of licensing its brand and the technology it has developed through the years. This encompasses all areas in the operation of a coffee shop. Several international coffee shops like Brazilian Coffee Shops, House of Coffees, Seattle Coffee Shops have penetrated many countries through franchising. However, Starbucks opted to licensing agreements for store locations in areas where it did not have the capacity to put up its own outlets. This is handled by Starbucks Coffee International (SCI). It has opened stores in Japan, Singapore, Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan. It has opened its market also in Europe. Starbucks has yet to launch its coffee bars in an African country. Starbucks has become a byword in the global business. It has become an epitome of a corporation that has reached its zenith in corporate and service endeavors. Franchising styles and its marketing strategies merit the following of many other companies. It is sufficed to say that Starbucks has become one best examples of a corporation that has not only brewed up the world but created a good aroma for other businesses to emulate. Mission-Vision Statements In 1998, Starbucks announced its vision: 2000 stores in the year 2000. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. Its mission statement: Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. According to the financial report for Starbucks that is published in the web, there is a significant increase in the revenue and earnings in the last five years of up to 25%. A prediction by economic analysts that this trend will continue at an advantageous rate if the competitive position of the company stays  at par. It would be wise to invest in shares of stock for Starbucks since it can be seen in their financial statements that since they have expanded their operations, there is a steady increase of revenues and profits. Starbucks have produced a more than average sales and earnings growth in the past years. The companys very impressive ea rnings growth projections are a good indicator to go ahead and invest. Starbucks still focuses on their expansion ventures across the globe in the companys owned stores and the franchises. Majority if not all exhibited a solid financial performance (Michelli, 2007). Business Strategy The technology that Starbucks packaged includes real estate, store design, store planning and construction, product line, store ambiance, building a top management team, employee training, product supply, coffee roasting and its marketing strategies. It is called Starbuck System. All supplies will come from suppliers approved by Starbucks. These ensure control in all areas of the operation. Starbucks is an established business and its success in the domestic and global market can be derived from the socially responsible movement that they promote in their corporate behaviors. Business ethics has always been an integral part of Starbucks as management base their principles on the internal stakeholder issues like product quality, customer satisfaction, employee wages and benefits, and local community and environmental responsibilities. The leadership of Starbucks sees to it that all these responsibilities toward their internal stakeholders are taken care of since they are largely responsible for what Starbucks has achieved today. The internal stakeholders of Starbucks has created a collaboration that work closely with the  executives and business units to fully incorporate the companys values into developing and implementing its positions on key legislative and public policy issues.   Furthermore, it develops and maintains an extensive network of internal contact s (senior management, legal, marketing, category, QA, RD, regulatory, strategy and others) to align strategy, issues and business impact.   Among internal stakeholders, Starbucks sees to it that there is a uniform code of conduct to be followed in all its stores around the world. This is to make sure that the mission-vision of the company is upheld at all times. Internal stakeholders treat each other with professionalism as guided by these uniform codes of conduct. SWOT Analysis Strengths of Starbucks lies on their unique and chef-inspired menu and their market position which is remains in the top five, according to surveys. Unlike other big corporations and franchises, Starbucks has an enormous advertising budget that drives the business. Their comprehensive, award-winning training programs provide franchises and employees with the specific tools and skills that can be used for success in the competitive food industry. Weaknesses of Starbucks lie on some bad-for-the-business lawsuits on their franchising scheme. Another weakness would be the often criticized television advertisements and campaigns that seem to be intended to be funny and outrageous rather than sell their food. Another weakness could be their franchising scheme worldwide where they only allow one franchise holder for a particular country. For example, in China, only one franchise holder owns all the Starbucks stores there. This limits opportunities for other interested franchisers; thus, also limit the full expansion of Starbucks. Opportunities at Starbucks lie in their staff and crew to further develop and grow in their career at the company since a very comprehensive training and development is made available for store managers and staff. Threats come in the form of the existing competitions in the food industry. Problem Areas Advertising With a brand name such as Starbucks, who needs advertisement? Just very recently, Starbucks put on air their television advertisement. Critics say that it is too late for this since a company should start advertising (print and broadcast) when they need it most or when everything is iron hot. From a marketing perspective, this television ad came in late. Still, with a global brand that is popular enough that many think the name itself is enough advertisement, Starbucks do need advertisement. One just needs to look around and see how such immense and successful global brands can still be seen on billboards, television, and magazine. Starbucks advertising campaign continues from word of mouth especially. The logo is enough to persuade patrons and customers to partake of their products. Being the leading retailer and roaster of specialty coffee in the world, Starbucks has been criticized in the past for being very ambitious, expanding throughout the world at a fast speed. But Starbucks has been successful in making a name for itself in record time while achieving a 20% rise in earnings for 2008. Many articles came out written about how and why Starbucks decided to start a television advertisement when they do not really need one. Management of this conglomerate have their  reasons and the prime one is in order to reach across or convince those who have not tried sipping their coffee while lounging in their free WI-FI zone stores to come and see for themselves the difference of being in a Starbucks shop. More reasons are obvious just like what their other competitors would say. For Starbucks, there is no such thing as being late nor is there a set time when to advertise or not. This new ad is not purported to sell but to remind and create more impact to their captured market. Competition In the United Kingdom, Starbucks major rival is Costa, followed by Caffe Nero. The UK coffee shop market is actually being slowly dominated by these three competing brands. Fierce competition aggravated into a bitter fight this year when Starbucks filed a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the Costa advertising campaign that says: Starbucks drinkers prefer Costa and Seven out of ten coffee lovers prefer Costa. However, ASA came with a decision that favored Costa, saying that all these claims by the latter were based on blind tasting tests. Coffee is the second largest imported product of the United States and specialty coffee market is approximated to be $11 billion a year in worth. To lure coffee drinkers (and other variants of coffee) from Starbucks, competitors of the same product line have come up with all sorts of gimmicks and come-ons as well trying to make a niche in the coffeehouse industry. In a report written by Georgia Flight (2006), the top five competitors of Starbucks show how each is different from the other and identify some salient points in their competitions with the leading brand. Founded in 1981, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters that originated from Vermont has used the slogan Be Green to portray the kind of coffee they serve. Starting as a small cafe, it has stuck to its use of organic roots and organic coffees. Keep Innovating is the slogan of Coffee Bean Tea Leaf which is headquartered in Los Angeles. It has 400 outlets. The company is famous for the wide choice of coffees and teas and its reputation preceded its brand for its innovation. Furthermore, it has established branches in places/countries where Starbucks is absent like Israel. Costa coffee was founded in 1971 in London. Even with Starbucks abounding in that city, Costa is a lead ahead in India where it has adapted its coffee flavors to suit Indian taste. Their strategy? Head East. Having 120 outlets in the country, Peets of California uses the strategy: Go Upscale. Java connoisseurs love the strength of the taste of its coffee. The special and complicated process of working on the coffee makes the taste unique. Caribou Coffee coffee business based in Minneapolis was founded in 1992. The strategy to Sell a Lifestyle features their cafes and stores in a mountain-lodge-style decoration including the chairs and a fireplace. They have made a deal with some airlines and some other fitness establishments. Starbucks has got itself many competitors, many of which got their inspiration from it. Since the product is a beverage that many would patronize, it is no wonder that Starbucks as well as other related businesses are rising. Marketing: Franchising: Expanding in Africa Putting up a Starbucks coffee bar in South Africa guarantees presence of Starbucks in almost all of the continents in the future. As a gateway to the African continent, the country is convenient path for businesses to expand in the area. Since the first national elections in 1994, government policies have been enacted to encourage foreign investments. Granting a license to a local company or close corporation to operate Starbucks stores in the country would benefit both parties. This would allow transfer of Starbucks System technology that would benefit the employment program of the government through its program Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (BEE). The partnership of Starbucks and a local closed corporation can enjoy the economic incentives given to new foreign investments that are brought into the country. While there will plus and minuses for both the licensor and licensee, they will get benefits from the license agreement (Andover, 55.) However, because of different cultures, Starbucks will have to make adjustments in their marketing and strategies to achieve its growth. Several standards will have to be altered to accommodate the different palate and eating habits of the people. Whatever criteria in its service and product Starbucks has come up, changes have to be made to accommodate the new market. Starbucks has to consider also an important observation made by the franchise sector of South Africa that 90% of South Africas franchise opportunities are based on locally developed concepts which is in contrast to most countries outside the USA where foreign brands trend to dominate the market (Handsenn, 40). This is also true to the restaurant and fast food market where the business Starbucks can be compared. Most food brands (restaurant type) are franchised out in other countries. Recommendations On Advertising Problem Area Starbucks can save their millions by forgetting about putting up television advertisements and commercials. The company is so established that making a commercial now would not have that much impact. Moreover, the company should enjoy its business success by being contented with posters on their stores, occasional promotions and announcements of new products, etc. Business and advertising analysts say that Starbucks can live without such domineering advertisements on television. Actually, they do not need any. On Marketing/Franchising in Africa Problem Area This is also true to the restaurant and fast food market where the business Starbucks can be compared. Most food brands (restaurant type) are franchised out in other countries. Also, the following factors are as important from a prospective franchisees point of view: The advantage of operating under a local brand is that the product has been designed from scratch with the local conditions in mind. Only a professionally managed operation can be relied upon to deliver on the implied promise of franchising. This is considered a threat to Starbucks. With the experience of the local companies developing its market strategies, most likely, Starbucks will have difficulty in guarding its technology. Penetration in the market is also a challenge. Also, the company had encountered problems in its image, paying low price for coffee beans from another African country. Having a  local partner may help to quell the threat and open a huge market. Perhaps it would be wise to brainstorm on these possibilities. If the company wants to grow more and succeed more, then they should review their policies on franchising. Recommendations on Competition Problem Area It is a fact that all people eat in order to survive. However, not all people can afford the same food and luxuries that these businesses offer. While Starbucks is known to cater to class A and B market because of the prices of their products, Caribou Coffee grabs the C and D with a lot lower prices of the almost the same products. McDonalds, being the leader of fast foods and affordable prices, remains to top the market monopoly. People around the world are reported to patronize their products, thanks to the non-stop advertising and maintaining the quality of their food. Dunkin Donuts has a limited list of food, mostly sweet pastries and yes, doughnuts. The taste and type of food offered by this establishment continue to serve as a come on to many customers and a specified market. Starbucks should take seriously the growing number of rivals in the food industry, especially in the same products they are selling. Pricing is a very important aspect to take into consideration. With these hard times, people become practical. If they can have the same taste and quality coffee from another store, why go to Starbucks? Although the company wants to maintain its unique quality brand, it should consider their consumers satisfaction when it comes to expenditures.

Federalist 10 Essay -- essays papers

Federalist 10 Liberty. This word means many things to many people. There is no way to distinctly define the term without leaving someone's crucial point of view out of the equation. One person might say that anarchy would be the only way to have complete and utter freedom, while others would go as far as to believe a controlled communist government is the best route to achieving liberation. Factions (a group of people who agree on certain topics) are inevitable, due to the nature of man. As long as men hold different opinions, have different amounts of wealth, and own different amount of property, they will continue to fraternize with people who are most similar to them. In Federalist #10, James Madison summed up factions eloquently stating that â€Å"Liberty is faction, what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires.† The government created by the Constitution controls the damage caused by such factions. The likelihood that public office will be held by qualified men is greater in large countries because there will be more representative chosen by a greater number of citizens. Power is distributed in a checks and balance format, mak ing it difficult for factions to completely take over. Madison’s views on faction are still relevant and exercised frequently even after 200 years have passed. James Madison’s most amazing political prediction, contained within the pages of Federalist 10, was that the United States being so large and having such a wi... Federalist 10 Essay -- essays papers Federalist 10 Liberty. This word means many things to many people. There is no way to distinctly define the term without leaving someone's crucial point of view out of the equation. One person might say that anarchy would be the only way to have complete and utter freedom, while others would go as far as to believe a controlled communist government is the best route to achieving liberation. Factions (a group of people who agree on certain topics) are inevitable, due to the nature of man. As long as men hold different opinions, have different amounts of wealth, and own different amount of property, they will continue to fraternize with people who are most similar to them. In Federalist #10, James Madison summed up factions eloquently stating that â€Å"Liberty is faction, what air is to fire, an ailment without which it instantly expires.† The government created by the Constitution controls the damage caused by such factions. The likelihood that public office will be held by qualified men is greater in large countries because there will be more representative chosen by a greater number of citizens. Power is distributed in a checks and balance format, mak ing it difficult for factions to completely take over. Madison’s views on faction are still relevant and exercised frequently even after 200 years have passed. James Madison’s most amazing political prediction, contained within the pages of Federalist 10, was that the United States being so large and having such a wi...

Purpose and Meaning of Human Existence Essay

One of the great ironies with respect to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is that one of the world’s greatest plays is so poorly understood. There are, to be sure, many conflicting interpretations. Precise themes or intentions have been difficult to discern from the play’s text. These interpretive difficulties have been complicated by the fact that Beckett was often evasive when asked about the exact purpose of certain characters in the play or the meaning of the text. This is not meant to suggest that certain themes and intentions cannot be determined, for there certainly appear to be certain thematic patterns, but instead to suggest that the play does appear in certain ways to be open to different types of interpretations. A review of the scholarly texts and articles, for instance, reveals academic arguments to the effect that the play is about God, salvation, the French resistance to German occupation in the historical period in which the play was written, the purpose of human existence, and the meaningless of time. With such a variety of interpretations, supported by specific references to the play’s text and other historical circumstances, it would seem nearly impossible to identify an overarching or unifying theme. A careful examination of the play’s text, however, suggests that such a dominant thematic element can be found. The thesis of this paper, therefore, is that the dominant theme in Waiting for Godot is the human being’s search for purpose and meaning in a world that human beings either do not understand or cannot understand. In support of this thesis, this paper will attempt to harmonize the different critical interpretations and demonstrate that the main characters through their dialogue on a number of different subjects consistently illustrate the human quest for purpose and meaning in a world that seems hopelessly beyond their comprehension. Critical Confusion and Multiple Interpretations: Harmonizing Different Perspectives As an initial matter, before proceeding to an examination of the play’s text, it is useful to present the critical confusion that has arisen from multiple interpretations of the play. This is useful because even these different interpretations can be harmonized to some extant if the truly dominant theme of the play is said to be the human search for purpose and meaning in a complicated or complex world. It is well-established, for example, that the play presents a series of universal questions; specifically, as one academic has observed, â€Å"Waiting for Godot, in many ways, simply extends those uncertainties: Why are we here? Are we alone in an uncaring universe, or not? What are we to do while we are here? How can we know? And, ultimately, what does it matter? â€Å"(Hutchings x) These types of questions, to a large extant, transcend many of the conflicting interpretations. If Godot is God, as some have argued, then Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for God. They freely admit that they are not particularly familiar with Godot and this admission reflects and reinforces the fact that these two human beings do not have a perfect knowledge of the creator of their world. If Godot is not God, as some have argued, then Vladimir and Estragon are perhaps waiting for some type of intellectual spark in order to tell them why they are waiting, whether they should leave, or whether it might be better to leave their spot by the tree and take affirmative steps to go and find the mysterious Godot. In either event, whether Godot represents God or a figurative type of intellectual illumination, the core theme is one of two human beings who seem consistently unable to determine what to do. They engage in a series of superficial conversations, they consider suicide as a way of ending their confusion, and in the end they remain firmly planted on the country road much as the tree where they wait is firmly planted in the ground. Even if one is to assume, as some scholars have, that the play is really an artistic allusion to the French resistance or the onset of the Cold War, this does not necessarily undermine the notion that human beings are somehow trapped within a world or social circumstances in which they have little control or little understanding. The important point, for purposes of this paper’s thesis, is that the conflicting interpretations can be transcended if one assumes that the transcendental theme is one most specifically related to the human being’s search for purpose and meaning in a confusing physical world. Whether Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for God, a real person, intellectual knowledge of social circumstances, or the laws of the universe is fundamentally tangential to the fact that they are helpless in the circumstances that Beckett has created. They are petty, feeble, and passive. The rest of this paper therefore proceeds from the assumption that the conflicting interpretations can be unified by treating the fundamental theme as the search for purpose and meaning in life. This fundamental theme will be discussed in the following sections by referring to specific features of the play. Significance of Human Companionship: Pairs, Dependence, and Shared Searches One of the most important structural features of the play is the fact that human beings are portrayed as being extraordinarily dependent and unable to exist in isolation or individually. This is most evident in the fact that the play’s characters come in pairs and seem in many ways to be inseparable. The main characters, for instance, are Vladimir and Estragon. It would appear that they have arrived as a pair, they continue to wait as a pair, and although they never leave they do talk about leaving as a pair. They have different personalities, they would appear to have different backgrounds given the different stories that they tell, and yet they seem unwilling or unable to separate and go their own ways. This notion of human inseparability, a common fear or ignorance about the meaning of human existence, is particularly clear when Vladimir and Estragon are discussing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the two thieves on the cross next to Jesus. Specifically, the fear of being alone and the emphasis of human companionship is provided in the following passage VLADIMIR: Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember the story? ESTRAGON: No. VLADIMIR: Shall I tell it to you? ESTRAGON: No. VLADIMIR: It’ll pass the time. (Pause. ) Two thieves, crucified at the same time as our Saviour. One— ESTRAGON: Our what? VLADIMIR: Our Saviour. Two thieves. One is supposed to have been saved and the other . . . (he searches for the contrary of saved) . . . damned (Becket n. p. ) This passage illustrates the need for human companionship and also the need for human beings to depend on each other. This companionship is necessary because human beings must face the uncertainties of the world and human existence together. The dependence is thus caused by a fear that individuals will be unable to cope with these uncertainties whereas humans sharing these fears can at least confront these uncertainties together. This common bond, in short, helps human beings to deal with their confusion about the meaning of human existence better than if they pondered these questions alone. An examination of the entire play consistently reinforces these notions of companionship and dependence. Later on in the play, for example, Vladimir and Estragon are considering suicide and the pair again grow concerned that one will successfully commit suicide and the other will fail. The prospect that one of them will die and one will live is a frightening thought for both men because one will be unattended in death and the other will be unattended in life. Again, because the purpose and the meaning of human existence is unknown both in life and in death, the pair refuse to split up or pursue any action that might destroy their emotional and physical bonds. At another point in the play, Estragon states that â€Å"There are times when I wonder if it wouldn’t be better for us to part† to which Vladimir responds rather matter-of-factly â€Å"You wouldn’t go far. † (Beckett n. p. ). The play could not exist as it was intended if the pair ever did separate. The quest for purpose and the meaning of human existence is therefore a common human quest rather than an individual’s personal burden. These notions of human companionship and a shared quest are even more powerfully presented with the human pairing of Pozzo and Lucky. In their first appearance, Lucky is a slave and yet he prefers being a slave and being dependent to being set free. Lucky is ridiculed, he is called a pig, and yet he reacts angrily when someone other than Pozzo attempts to help him; more particularly, he kicks Estragon in the shins. A telling scene in this respect is when Lucky appears to faint after dancing and giving his rather incoherent speech; more particularly, Pozzo is deeply fearful at the prospect of losing his slave when he says Don’t let him go! (Vladimir and Estragon totter. ) Don’t move! (Pozzo fetches bag and basket and brings them towards Lucky. ) Hold him tight! (He puts the bag in Lucky’s hand. Lucky drops it immediately. ) Don’t let him go! (He puts back the bag in Lucky’s hand. Gradually, at the feel of the bag, Lucky recovers his senses and his fingers finally close round the handle. ) Hold him tight! (Beckett n. p. ) Even a human master is dependent on his slave, the companionship of master and slave is intimate because both fear facing the uncertainties of life alone, and like the bond that exists between Vladimir and Estragon, so too does a very real bond exist between Pozzo and Lucky. This bond is reinforced in the second act when Pozzo returns blind and his neck is tied to a rope being held by Lucky. Pozzo could not sell his slave and the slave is now leading the master. As if these two clues were not enough, Beckett included yet one more human pair to emphasize the common fears that human beings have about the purpose of their lives and the meaning of human existence. This final human pairing is the boy sent as Godot’s messenger. The boy and Godot constitute a final human pairing and the boy recounts to Vladimir and Estragon that Godot is real and that Godot â€Å"beats my brother. † (Beckett, n. p. ) Despite the beatings, the boy and his brother remain with Godot as is established at the end of the second act. This scene is also notable because it establishes that Godot exists and that the most essential human relationships are about the aforementioned human pairings rather than about Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot. The waiting, as it were, may simply be the context within which Beckett sought to establish the shared human bonds with respect to their confusion about the meaning of life. The question thus becomes how these dependent and mutually burdened companions ought to approach their lives. Function of Idleness: Fear of Action and Aversion to Failure In addition to their unwillingness to separate, Vladimir and Estragon seem also quite unwilling to commit to any action despite a great deal of conversation. To be sure, the play is marked almost exclusively by dialogue rather than action. The pair carry on a series of seemingly endless conversations, most of them rather childish and inane, and these conversations in the end seem to represent a rather firm commitment to making no commitments at all. Vladimir, for example, recognizes this fear of action or commitment when he says to Estragon Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we are personally needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! (Beckett qtd. in Brater 147) Vladimir and Estragon, for all of their apparent desire to actually meet Godot, are wholly unprepared to take any affirmative steps to actually go and locate him on their own initiative. They admit that time is passing, that they represent â€Å"all mankind†, and that it will be â€Å"too late† if they do not do something. It is this very inability to do something, an inability which they represent figuratively as all human beings, that characterizes their function in the play. There are several clues to the effect that they can find Godot if they were not inhibited or afraid in some way. First, Vladimir and Estragon have obviously followed a country road to the tree where they are waiting for Godot. The fact that they have walked this particular country road, and selected this particular tree, suggests that they know in which direction the mysterious Godot resides. Presumably, if their actions were not somehow constrained, they would simply continue walking along the same country road until they found Godot. They could ask for directions or assistance along the way and they could become more active in pursuit of their ultimate destination. The problem, however, is that both Vladimir and Estragon perhaps do not know their precise destination. The second clue to the effect that the waiting of Vladimir and Estragon is a product of their own doing rather than Godot’s apparent tardiness is the fact that a boy appears twice in the play as a messenger. The boy admits quite literally that he and his brother know Godot, that they are employed or otherwise beholden to him in certain respects, and that he will return to Godot as soon as his message has been provided to Vladimir and Estragon. Why, then, could they not have simply followed the boy home to Godot? Indeed, this is a curious question that can only be resolved if one assumes that Godot is irrelevant to the waiting. Some interpretations, it must be acknowledged, have suggested that Beckett intended Godot as God and that they boy messenger was intended as a type of angel ( Mercier 27); such an interpretation, whether accurate or not, does not undermine a thesis to the effect that the predominant theme remained man’s tentative quest to understand himself and the universe in which he lived. This is true for a couple of reasons. First, when asked whether he intended Godot as God, Beckett repeatedly stated that there was never intended to be any relationship between Godot and God. Presumably, the play’s author knows what was intended. That many interpretations have focused on Godot as God, however, is not surprising. The names are almost the same and the quest to understand the nature and the meaning of human existence necessarily implicates some questions related to God and how the universe was created. Thus, although these interpretations are somewhat rational, the evidence that can be derived from Beckett’s own statements and the play’s text taken as a whole counsel against such an interpretation. God is relevant, as one possible explanation for the meaning of human life, but Godot is no more God than Vladimir and Estragon are hoping for salvation. Godot is Godot and the human pair waiting by the tree are seeking understanding and illumination rather than salvation. Second, the play’s theme is more about the waiting and the rational underlying the waiting than it is about Godot. The entire play, to be sure, takes place in one setting. Other settings, including Godot’s, are tangential and not central features of the play’s structure. The waiting, in this respect, transcends the distant character vaguely known as Godot. One leading scholar of the play has noted how the waiting is more important than Godot by arguing that The play’s minimal plot and action are accurately described in its title: throughout the duration of the play, and throughout an undeterminable amount of time that elapses in their lives, the two central characters await an event that does not happen and may never happen. Meanwhile, necessarily, they pass away their time in some- times abrasive conversation, in chance encounters with a pair of odd passersby, and in expressions of mutual if sometimes exasperated compassion and the long-standing concern that can develop only between inseparable friends. (Hutchings 23) Taken together, the best argument that one can derive from the play’s text is that there is a dominant theme; that dominant theme, in turn, is that human beings are collectively and inseparably bound together by the fact that they do not know the purpose of the human race or the meaning of their own existence. Such a lack of knowledge encourages closer types of human dependence and simultaneously inspires caution, uncertainty, and fear. All the while, amidst this uncertainty and fear, time passes by and all human beings are faced with dying without ever having understood why they existed in the first place. Life is a tree to which we are all tethered much in the same way that Vladimir and Estragon were figuratively tethered. Conclusion In conclusion, Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is best read as an artistic rendition of the greatest human dilemma of all time. Human beings, in this respect, are born with an imperfect knowledge of themselves and of the universe in which they exist and are expected to function. This imperfect knowledge lends itself to much speculation of the purpose and meaning of human existence, as the many religions around the world forcefully attest to, but in the end it is nothing more than idle and meaningless speculation. Godot, whether he is God or not, is irrelevant in the play. It is the waiting, the search and the confusion that all human beings share, that is the play’s common lamentation. That all of the critics tend to characterize the play as tragedy or comedy somewhat misses the play’s essential nature as a lamentation for a quest for knowledge that can never be fulfilled. We are better advised to forget Godot and get on with living rather than waiting for divine inspiration that will probably never arrive. Works Cited Beckett, Samuel. â€Å"Waiting for Godot. † Samuel Beckett. net Brater, Enoch. â€Å"The Globalization of Beckett’s Godot. † Comparative Drama 37. 2 (2003): 145+. Questia. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. Hutchings, William. Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot: A Reference Guide. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2005. Questia. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. Mercier, Vivian. â€Å"The Uneventful Event. † The Critical Response to Samuel Beckett. Ed. Cathleen Culotta Andonian. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998. 95-96. Questia. Web. 10 Dec. 2009.