Intersex People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Intersex People - Essay Example We live in a two- sex world and it is considered normal to be either male or female. The tag of abnormality is also attached to those individuals whose sex or gender identity is ambiguous. This paper focuses on whether the ideas of normalcy along with the theory of Cartesian dualism shape the construction of intersex, intersex therapies and sex reassignment surger.y. The concluding section discusses how modern day intersex management is largely based on culturally perceived notions of normalcy. The need for an attitudinal shift with a view to accepting differences and historical understanding of intersex are discussed. The alliance between bodies (male or female) and gender identity (man or woman) is taken for granted in our society. However Milton Diamond estimates at nearly 1.7% of the population is both with genitals that are not clearly male or female. (Hird, 2003). While this is an extreme condition, variations in sexual and gender development are not unusual. Some of the major types of variation have been elaborated in Fig 1. This paper focuses on people with intersex condition. Intersex is a biological condition. The Australian Medical Association states that a person born with intersex conditions has "sex chromosomes, external genitalia or an internal reproductive system that is not exclusively either male or female." (Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) Support Group website) On t... This paper focuses on people with intersex condition. Intersex is a biological condition. The Australian Medical Association states that a person born with intersex conditions has "sex chromosomes, external genitalia or an internal reproductive system that is not exclusively either male or female." (Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) Support Group website) On the other hand there are transsexuals who are different from pople with intersex condition because they are biologically normal men and women. Transsexuals usually are people who feel they they are in the wrong body.The World Health Organisaton define transsexuals as people ," who have a desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by a sense of discomfort with, or inappropriateness of, one's anatomical sex, and a wish to have surgery and hormonal treatment to make one's body as congruent as possible with one's preferred sex." (Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) Support Group website) Many of the problems faced by people with intersex condition and transsexuals are rather similar. Often both are subject to sex reassignment surgeries. How did Intersex become a medical Problem In the 19th Century intersex was not regarded as a medical problem. Dr. Jorge J. Daaboul, Director, Pediatric Endocrinology Children's Hospital of Oakland in his paper presented at the American Association for the History of Medicine, May 19, 2000, refers to Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex by Alice Dreger. He says that this book highlights how intersexed individuals led normal undistinguished lives until the late 19th century. Psychologically healthy and well adjusted, the genital peculiarities of these people were accepted as the variations caused by nature.

A Camping Trip By Bridget Andersen | Short Story

A Camping Trip By Bridget Andersen | Short Story When I say the words breakfast burrito, I bet that an outdoor camping trip in the wilderness doesnt come to mind. My story begins with three friends trying to spend more time together. After several months of heavy duty school, sports obligations, church requirements, and other pressures in their lives, they decided it was time to take a break. One friend wanted to go to Busch Gardens so that she could scream out her frustrations and enjoy the roller coaster rides. Another wanted to go to the beach, where she could relax in the sun and play in the waves. Yet another friend, who was a girl scout, knew the tranquility and solitude of a camping trip. She wanted to go camping in the quiet wilderness of southern Virginia. Therefore, the group of friends put their minds together and came up with a plan for a wonderful camping adventure. They imagined it would be just like the old days when they camped in their back yard, ate kitchen-cooked food, and had the luxuries of the house at their d isposal. They looked forward to a fantastic camping trip of friendship and fun. As the day finally came, it was time to depart. Having spent most of the previous week packing their clothes and supplies, it was a miracle that they could fit all of their provisions in the car. They had even considered strapping a friend to the roof in order to fit in an extra food cooler. Because the trip was going to be long and they wanted to be entertained the whole way, so they also brought their cell phones, DVD players, and snacks to keep them satisfied. When they arrived at the campsite, they expected to see lodges and cabins that had air conditioning and plumbing. What they actually found was far below their expectations. There were no cabins: only small, flat, gravel surfaces on which they were suppose to set up their tents and a charred fire pit, full of leaves, camper trash and other debris. However, this did not dampen the girls spirits; they just got to work unpacking their various supplies from the car. The only trouble that they encountered while setting up camp was pitching the tent. The Girl Scout borrowed the tent from her brother, who was a boy scout. On his many trips the instructions for setting up the tent became water stained and ripped so that the words and diagrams were incomprehensible. None of the girls had much experience setting up a tent so they just had to try their best. When they were done, the tent could stand by itself, but it looked nothing like the tent on the front of the package in which it came. There was also a piece of cloth leftover for which they could not find a use. The girls dismissed these observations and figured that if the tent stood, it was good enough for them. After setting up camp, the three friends decided to go for a relaxing hike to a nearby lake, where they would go for a canoe outing. Unfortunately, one of the campers had forgotten to bring a water bottle. She also happened to be in horrible physical condition. Because of her condition, the short hike to the waterfront became very challenging, as the two campers urged and eventually supported their friend. After resting for a short while at the waterfront, the girls found enough energy to push off the canoes into the water. While doing this, one girl accidentally stepped onto a muddy rock and fell head first into the water. She rose from the lake looking like a wet dog, but she was still good-natured with a smile on her face. The three friends sat there and laughed until they were having trouble breathing. Then they went out on the water. For a while, they explored the shores and docks around the lake. However, due to their exhaustion and poor paddling skills, the canoe flipped over. Again, the friends found some smile in this experience and had fun climbing back into the canoe. Eventually, the friends decided that it was time to finish their canoe outing, and they made their way back to camp. After an afternoon of fun on the water, they had built up quite an appetite. On arrival at the campsite, however, they were in for a very big surprise! The local camp raccoon, Joe Raccoon as he was widely known, had outsmarted them by sneaking into their camp in broad daylight while they were away on their canoeing trip and getting into their food, bins, and buckets! As they looked over the supplies, they found half-eaten fruit pies, opened containers of coffee grounds, missing popcorn kernels, sandwich makings thrown about, and tons of empty candy wrappers. At one point, one of the campers happened to catch a brief glimpse of Joe Raccoon as he scampered away from the campsite with an enormous belly, fingers full of goodies, and wearing a mischievous grin. The girls sat in a circle in great dismay wondering what they were thinking when they had decided to go camping. W ithout food, empty-stomached, exhausted, and frustrated, this camping trip was turning into a not-so-fun outing. Moreover, it was only early afternoon. Even after they arduously cleaned up the campsite, they were still soaked from their dip in the lake. Since the girls had packed a surplus of clothes, they decided that they could risk using up another outfit in order to get dry. However, when they got inside the tent, they all screamed at the sight to behold. There were bugs and spiders of every shape and size crawling around in their sleeping bags. Lions and tigers and bugs, oh my! They had forgotten to close the tent flap when they left for their canoe trip! Rather than going into the tent, they decided that it would be better to remain in their wet clothes than face the creepy crawlies. Eventually they drew straws to decide who would sweep out the tent. What a horrible decision the canoeing trip was turning out to be! They were hungry and miserable and decided to cook dinner over the fire with the supplies that Joe Raccoon had left behind. Maybe their clothes would dry off beside the fire too? They had planned on making spaghetti and meat sauce. None of them envisioned how hard it would be to cook it. They had to make sure that the grate that they placed over the fire was the right distance away, that the heat from the fire was evenly spaced out, and that they did not spill the hot water on themselves. After a while, they finally succeeded in putting the noodles on the fire and letting it stew. However, none of them had ever cooked spaghetti before and they did not know that you have to stir it continuously. As a result, when they took the spaghetti out of the pot, it was clumped at the bottom and burned in such a way that it was inedible. The girls had to satisfy their hunger with the Cheerios and fruit that they had planned on eating in the morning. They finished their meager dinner in silence a nd then grumpily went to bed. Yelling and snapping at each other the whole time. This camping trip was causing more stress than they had originally planned. The next morning two of the girls woke up to find that it had rained in the middle of the night. Their tent was completely soaked, and they were practically swimming in the water that was lining the bottom of the tent (they forgot to put their rain jacket on when they pitched the tent). However, after they got over their frustration with the dampness, they opened their tent and smelled the tantalizing aroma of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..Potatoes, oh for the love of potatoes! After being hungry and cold all night, the warm, delicious scent of the potatoes was like heaven to their noses! Visions of mashed and baked potatoes danced in their heads. They quickly went in search of the source and found the remaining girl (who was the Girl Scout) cooking hash browns on the fire. She had set up a table that was already filled with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, sour crà ¨me, salsa, and warm tortillas. The Girl Scout greeted them and told them that she was making one of her traditional camping foods: breakfast burritos. They nodded and sat down in folding chairs by the fire. They sang and laughed around the fire while the Girl Scout finished roasting the potatoes. The fire crackled and gave off warm waves of heat that the girls savored. When the girl was done cooking, she put the potatoes on the table, and the girls filled their own burritos with the main ingredients along with sour crà ¨me, onions, and salsa in order to make it more flavorful and sat down at the campfire again. At first, the other campers were wary. What if the burritos ended up being a mistake like the rest of their camping trip? But as they watched the other girl dig in, the warm smell of the food overpowered their sense of caution, and they each took a bite. The burrito was fantastic! The potatoes were cooked to golden-brown perfection, and the eggs were simmered just right so that the combination was incredible! The breakfast burritos awakened their five senses. They could see the golden brown potatoes and the yellow of the perfect eggs. They could feel the nice crispy warmth of the tortilla in their hands and the soft feel of the potatoes and eggs as they took each bite. They could still smell the scent of the potatoes, but now it was joined with the satisfying smell of the eggs and onions, mixing together to create the ultimate aroma. They closed their eyes and heard the sound of satisfaction as the other girls enjoyed their own burrito. The burritos tasted like no other food on earth. The combination of all the ingredients created the perfect blend of flavors. Each girl gobbled up two burritos in a flash. Once they were full and content, they all sat around the campfire and eventually took a nap. They woke up and started packing up their things. They had much less to pack, thanks to Joe Raccoon. Once they were done, they set out on the road again. While driving home, the friends reflected on their short camping trip and decided that it wasnt that bad. The breakfast burritos that day had definitely brightened the trip! Plus, it was a good experience for them. Next time they went on a camping trip, they would know what to watch out for so that they would not make the same mistakes that they made this year. They even considered coming back next year to the same place! If they did, then they would certainly remember to eat breakfast burritos! Breakfast Burritos*: Things You Will Need: 1 box hash browns Salt and pepper Garlic powder 8 eggs Oil and butter 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese Sour cream Salsa 14 flour tortillas A pan A spatula Procedure: Put oil in a pan to prevent the food from sticking to the sides. Place hash browns and butter into the pan and cook them over the fire until they start to brown. Flip them every once and in a while to make sure that they dont burn. Scramble eggs and add to hash browns. Continue to cook and flip until all solid. Add salt and pepper to taste and cook until done. Place in heated tortilla. Add cheese, sour cream, and salsa in the burrito (optional). *I received this recipe from: Carrie Clark, leader of Girl Scout troop 2659

African American Social Standings Essay -- Slavery Afircan Americans E

This research paper will discuss the African American social standing in America throughout history. It will discuss the highs and lows and the pros and cons of the progression and also the different periods that African Americans lived through since they were brought to America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The progression of African Americans in America began with a practice called slavery. Slavery is the state of a person who is the chattel of another. It began in 1441 when Portuguese men kidnapped 12 black Africans from Cabo Blanco and moved them to Portugal. This opened the door to slavery in the Americas. A British statesman stated that 'Slavery is a weed that grows on every soil.' The first African Americans slaves in America were brought to Jamestown, Virginia as servants and or slaves in August 1619. In order for slavery to work Africans had to made to seem inferior, one of the main an most common ways to show this was through religious racism ( Aretha, David pg. 21 ) The practice of slavery was then sent to the south were they were put on plantations. Plantations consisted of a large mansion like home surrounded by a large farm where slaves planted and harvested crops and performed other jobs which they weren?t paid for. While on the plantation the slaves ca lled the owner Master or Mistress, they provided the slaves with food housing and clothing.( David Brion Davis, World Book online... Slavery) While on these plantations many of the slaves faced severe consequence for disobedience. They received consequences for not working hard or fast enough, they would also be used as an example in order to control the others. Their harsh punishment would include branding, whipping, mutilation, chaining and sometimes the harshest punishment of all cold blooded murder. Slavery was one of the worst periods in American history. During this period of slavery there were few revolts but many runaways. While slavery continued to spread and get more brutal in the South, the North disagreed with the idea of free labor. Their difference fueled the abolitionist movement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Abolitionist Movement was the first movement that lead to the African Americans? political and physical freedoms from slavery. ?Antislavery activity began in colonial days. During the 1680's, Quakers in Pennsylvania condemned slavery on moral grounds. In the late 1700's, several leaders of the American revolut... ...han the Non Violent Movement. Front runners like Malcolm X and other influential faces such as Huey P. Newton and Bud Siegel who together formed the Black Panthers all believed that the white man was the problem and that in order to win equal rights that African Americans needed to start fighting fire with fire and bullets with bullets instead of the more passive ways of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. ( Aretha, Chronicles pr. 261-300)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion I believe that the law has provided African Americans with equal rights as whites but I believe that they may still appear not to be equal. In the 21st century I belive and know that there are many laws that seem to make African Americans and white equals but there is still much discrimination in the world. I also believe that the racism is not as bad but still exist, it just isn?t as blatant and in your face as it was in the past. African Americans still have trouble getting jobs, being accepted into organizations and colleges or university, But I do believe that we have made a 900 degree turn from the time where ?Colored? and ?White? signs decorated the front of every doorway, restroom and waterfountian in the southern U.S

The Definition: Marketing Management

Marketing is not Just about advertising and promotional work. People perceive it as such because promotional work, whether it be advertising, PR or sales promotional activity, is often the most visible part of a marketing team's effort to the outside world. The second myth that needs dispelling, one most people, even those who work in business often believe, is that marketing is Just a function of business that merely churns out 4 Develop your marketing skills products, free gifts and advertising matter from employees who work in the marketing department.However, marketing is much deeper and significantly more profound than this. If marketing is used and truly understood and implemented erectly in a business, it becomes a philosophy, a way of doing business – a whole approach, which should and must permeate throughout an entire organization. Hence, marketing is everybody responsibility, not Just the specialist marketers who work in the marketing department. Why is it everybody responsibility? Well, think about it logically. How many times have you phoned an organization and been cut off, or not spoken to in a professional manner, or not been given the answers you deserve?How many times have you visited organizations as a customer and your feet stick to the floors because they haven't been cleaned ropey, or you meet staff who haven't been trained to deal with questions and queries? The reason marketing is everybody responsibility is quite simple, yet incredibly important – it is because we all play a part in creating the ‘customer experience'. So – what actually is it? If one word had to be chosen to encapsulate the central focus of marketing it would be ‘customer'.Marketing is about understanding who your customers are, being able to anticipate what they require now and in the future and, ultimately, satisfying their every need. All the work your organization undertakes not Just the marketing department) should therefore be crea ted and implemented to serve the customer. The definition put forward by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (see wry. Jim. Co. UK) is a sound one; it describes marketing as the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.This definition is useful in understanding the key facets Marketing: separating fact from fiction 5 of what marketing is truly all about as it is direct, concise and almost every word means something that is critical to understanding exactly what the marketing philosophy entails. The first three words of this definition are particularly important in understanding marketing. First, marketing is now seen as being of senior management importance, being strategic as well as tactical and operational.For it to be truly embedded into the culture and heart of an organization, it needs commitment from top management, and in many organizations today a marketing director will be on the board to lead the organiz ation forwards with a marketing-based awareness. Secondly, marketing is a process. There is no clinical start and end. It isn't linear. It's continual – a process – it never stops or ends. As the world changes, so do our customers, hence our businesses adapt and evolve to move with the times. Before we can satisfy the customer we must truly understand who they are as well as we possibly can – we must identify them.Marketing isn't Just about the here and now either. It is also about the future. Marketers must ‘anticipate' customer wants and needs. Why? Again, think about it logically. It may take your organization years to develop a new product (or service) and launch it into the market. Therefore, you must think into the future in terms of the customers' desires and needs and not Just their rent requirements. If your organization can identify and anticipate customer requirements, you can move to try and satisfy them. But, once again, there is an added comp lication. Most organizations have limited resources: financial, staff, equipment, etc.Therefore, an organization must seek to satisfy its customers efficiently (with as little wastage as possible) and profitably. However, now more than ever, business activities should also be undertaken and managed in an ethical and socially responsible manner. 6 Develop your marketing skills The marketing concept Your organization's most important ‘asset' is your customers. Irrespective of whether your company is a product- or serviceable organization or indeed a charity, you must place the customer at the heart of all the decision making and planning (not just the marketing) decisions.Where customer needs drive all the business decisions a marketing philosophy has been truly adopted and implemented. This is generally known as the ‘marketing concept'. This can only be achieved by entering into regular, honest dialogue with your customers. Every time you receive customer feedback your or ganization grows stronger, as shown in Figure 1. 1 . Communication Client Supplier Time Figure 1. 1 Healthy dialogue with clients benefits all parties An organization that adopts the marketing concept into its business practices is therefore said to be ‘marketing-oriented'.Marketing: separating fact from fiction 7 Are all organizations marketing-oriented? Unfortunately not! There are a number of different business orientations that organizations tend to follow. Have a look at them below. Production orientation This is where the managers are focused not upon the customer but upon production techniques, reduced costs and efficiency issues. Typically it involves high volume, low margin business with low R&D or innovation. To use an analogy, if China were a company, it would be production-oriented. Is this approach to running a business incorrect?Not necessarily, but it is very inward-looking. What if the market, competition and customers change? How will an organization following this nonworking approach know to change accordingly? In reality, it probably wouldn't, which is a major disadvantage of this approach if adopted in today's highly competitive, fast-paced marketplace. Product orientation This is where an organization focuses upon the product it produces: the features, quality, cost and brand, etc – not the customer. Typically these companies look to augment existing products or improve on competitors' products.Again, is this a suitable approach and philosophy for running a business? Well, yes, for some. The Apple pod is a simply brilliant concept but many of its components have existed for decades (displays, hard disks, etc) and it wasn't the first AMP player to market. The Virgin organization has had huge success at taking on major players in new markets and doing it in its own Virgin way. That said, Virgin and Apple are exceptions to the rule and most product-oriented organizations adopt an inward focus at their own aril!Again, it has to be acknowledged that even with an inward-looking 8 Develop your marketing skills approach to running a business, the product may be successful initially, but what if newer, more innovative and competitive products appear in the market? What if the initial customer response to the new product is negative? Will product-oriented businesses be best positioned to respond? Arguably not. Sales orientation This approach is where an organization introduces sales techniques to sell its products; basically it sells whatever it produces.This approach became popular in the asses, when customers ere starting to be given a choice of products and services – in other words, when competition started to really appear in the marketplace. Hard-sell techniques were often used in this approach to help persuade the customer to buy one particular product or service rather than that of the competition. A useful approach? Yes it certainly can be but again, organizations must be cautious if they use this sole approach today. A more enlightened example of a sales-oriented company is Dell.Anyone who takes a subscription, say, to The Times can't help but notice Dell's massive investment in advertising. Hundreds of days every year there are half- and full-page ads, not to mention ads on TV, radio and other media. A straw poll of our classes over the last few years has never failed to produce a cluster of students who have bought Dell machines. Dell didn't invent the PC, it's probably not the cheapest unit in the market but you have to go a long way to find a company that advertises its PC's more effectively than Dell. These orientations are summarizes in Table 1. . The benefits of being inordinateness By embracing the marketing concept and placing the customer at the heart of all planning and decision making you should Marketing: separating fact from fiction 9 Table 1. 1 Attributes of different orientations Orientation Nature Motivation to change Marketing activities oriented Production Stack ‘me high sell ‘me cheap – high volume, low margin, risk, D and innovation Internal Take share by cost leadership Yes Often target late majority and laggards (see Chapter 5) No Product Add to existing ideas. Some tailoring of product offer.Medium volume, occasionally high margins Look to improve on internal or external rivals Target early adopters and niche markets Sales We sell what we produce. ‘ Not necessarily the iris nor the best. Can take large market share Look to take share from competitors by having higher Single transactions Heavy reliance on promotion – some use of mass media, others through sales teams. Strong branding We sell what our customers want'. Often end up market leaders. Seek to innovate with products and services External Seek to identify customer needs that aren't satisfied by rivals and provide solutions. Evolve relationships Heavy reliance on market research. Promote loyalty schemes. Seek to sell benefits and add value customers 10 Develop your marketing skills Profit Market hare Customer Satisfaction Loyalty Retention Word-of-mouth Staff Job Relations Rewards Figure 1. 2 Benefits of adopting a marketing orientation attain a number of key advantages, as shown in Figure 1. 2 and listed below: increase in market share; increase in turnover; increase in profitability; increase in customer satisfaction; increase in customer loyalty; increase in the number of new users; creating a competitive advantage.Put quite simply, if you continually give customers what they want, the chances are that they will come back, time and time again to purchase your product or services, Hereford enhancing sales, turnover and profitability as well as gaining customer satisfaction and loyalty. Satisfied customers tend to not only return to purchase for themselves once again, they also tend to tell their friends, families and colleagues. Conversely, if they Marketing: separating fact from fiction 11 have a poor experience, t hey tend to tell even more people about it! Why does my company need to be marketing-oriented? Consider the world we live in today.For many organizations, the marketplace is a difficult, dynamic, dangerous and highly competitive place to be. To be more successful, your organization must be externally focused, not Just internally focused upon production techniques, products and sales issues. A much wider view is needed. You certainly need excellent production techniques, products and sales initiatives but an awareness of the customer and other factors at play in the wider environment is paramount. Wherever and whenever you see changes in the market or environment, you must change and adapt, otherwise you risk being left behind and could suffer quite serious repercussions.Many organizations develop a tunnel-like vision to their business activities. This condition is often referred to as ‘marketing myopia' – a short-sightedness that can often result in the loss of customer s and eventually loss of the business. Nowadays many academics and practitioners subscribe to the view that the business environment is changing at such a rate that we're all working in permanent turbulence and our planned strategies have little chance of reaching their intended goals without deflection.It is easy to get ensnared into analyzing and crunching sales and market share figures, focusing upon staffing issues, buying in new capital equipment and other such internal matters. However, one of the central issues to developing a marketing philosophy and culture throughout an organization is to place Just as much emphasis on external matters. Why focus upon the customer and not concentrate on core organizational strengths? Simply put, it is the customer that purchases products and services from an organization in exchange for money.This 12 Develop your marketing skills exchange process brings the organization and the customer together. If customers have a positive experience wit h the product or service, or with the overall experience, they will tell their family, friends ND colleagues, and if they have a bad experience the chances are that they will tell even more people about it. This applies now more than ever with the advent of the internet. Web 2. 0 has seen an explosion in the number of user websites (see whim. Midi. Com), blobs and social network sites such as Faceable.In 2007 Catbird re-launched its Wisps bar as a result of a campaign on Faceable for bringing it back. Good for Catbird for monitoring the external environment. As electronic exchanges can bring the two parties together, a relationship is formed and many marketers today try to capitalist upon that initial relationship by finding UT as much as they can about the customers and their needs. Customers are also constantly changing and technology is enabling quicker, easier decision making – for instance by using cost-comparison websites such as Keelson or Precompiled. Mom. As customer s change, their desires, needs and wants also change and if an organization doesn't change and adapt with them, the chances are that they will dissatisfy the customer and start to lose their customers to the competition. Another myth that also requires dispelling is that the whole marketing effort is only used by large organizations with huge budgets. On the contrary, it can be argued hat the marketing philosophy is even more important for a small business to engage in than it is for a global or multinational player.Small businesses don't have the low cost base or the huge pool of investment funds that are available to a large business. However, they often have an advantage in their ability to move much closer to customers, to form a strong alliance with them and make them feel incredibly important. They can also move flexibly and quickly with changing customer needs and market dynamics. Therefore the marketing philosophy can be embraced and implemented in any size or type of organi zation.Indeed it's worth reiterating that irrespective of your organizational size or type, it is imperative that you monitor the external forces that can impact on the customer. Marketing: separating fact from fiction 13 What are these external factors? Basically, as the world constantly evolves and changes, so customers change what they require. Organizations that don't adapt and change with the times are often those that eventually have to fight for their very survival. Marketing is about not only satisfying customers but delighting them. It's about adding value, quality and innovation to their experiences but in an ethical and

Bill Gates Speech at Harvard

President Bok, former President Rudenstine, incoming President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, members of the faculty, parents, and especially, the graduates: I've been waiting more than 30 years to say this: â€Å"Dad, I always told you I'd come back and get my degree. † I want to thank Harvard for this honour. I'll be changing my job next year †¦ and it will be nice to finally have a college degree on my resume. I applaud the graduates today for taking a much more direct route to your degrees. For my part, I'm just happy that the Crimson has called me â€Å"Harvard's most successful dropout. I guess that makes me valedictorian of my own special class †¦ I did the best of everyone who failed. One of my biggest memories of Harvard came in January 1975, when I made a call from Currier House to a company in Albuquerque that had begun making the world's first personal computers. I offered to sell them software. I worried that they would realise I was just a student in a dorm and hang up on me. Instead they said: â€Å"We're not quite ready, come see us in a month,† which was a good thing, because we hadn't written the software yet.From that moment, I worked day and night on this little extra credit project that marked the end of my college education and the beginning of a remarkable journey with Microsoft. Members of the Harvard Family: Here in the Yard is one of the great collections of intellectual talent in the world. For what purpose? There is no question that the faculty, the alumni, the students, and the benefactors of Harvard have used their power to improve the lives of people here and around the world. But can we do more?Can Harvard dedicate its intellect to improving the lives of people who will never even hear its name? Let me make a request of the deans and the professors – the intellectual leaders here at Harvard: As you hire new faculty, award tenure, review curriculum, and determi ne degree requirements, please ask yourselves: Should our best minds be dedicated to solving our biggest problems? Should Harvard encourage its faculty to take on the world's worst inequities? Should Harvard students learn about the depth of global poverty †¦ the prevalence of world hunger †¦ he scarcity of clean water †¦ the girls kept out of school †¦ the children who die from diseases we can cure? My mother, who was filled with pride the day I was admitted here – never stopped pressing me to do more for others.A few days before my wedding, she hosted a bridal event, at which she read aloud a letter about marriage that she had written to Melinda. My mother was very ill with cancer at the time, but she saw one more opportunity to deliver her message, and at the close of the letter she said: â€Å"From those to whom much is given, much is expected. In line with the promise of this age, I want to exhort each of the graduates here to take on an issue â€⠀œ a complex problem, a deep inequity, and become a specialist on it. If you make it the focus of your career, that would be phenomenal. But you don't have to do that to make an impact. For a few hours every week, you can use the growing power of the Internet to get informed, find others with the same interests, see the barriers, and find ways to cut through them. Don't let complexity stop you.Be activists. Take on the big inequities. It will be one of the great experiences of your lives. And I hope you will come back here to Harvard 30 years from now and reflect on what you have done with your talent and your energy. I hope you will judge yourselves not on your professional accomplishments alone, but also on how well you have addressed the world's deepest inequities †¦ on how well you treated people a world away who have nothing in common with you but their humanity.

White King Red Rubber Black Death Essays

White King Red Rubber Black Death Essays White King Red Rubber Black Death Essay White King Red Rubber Black Death Essay All throughout history, monarchies from all over Europe have been known to exert their power and reign over African countries as well as other southern countries. In most cases, such reign has resulted to the abuse and mistreatment of the native people of the said countries. The film produced and directed by Peter Bates, â€Å"White King, Red Rubber, Black Death,† features a story that follows the said trend. In particular, the film is a showcase of how Leopold II, a Belgian monarch exerted his power brought down terror upon the people of Congo. The story documents King Leopold II’s reign over Congo and the wrath that he brought with him. Between 1885 and1908, Leopold II turned Congo into a labor camp and brutalized the people of Congo, all for the sake of rubber. Congo was rich in rubber, and during that time, rubber was highly in demand as the production of bicycles and cars was increasing rapidly. Every individual in Congo was subjected to Leopold’s abuse. Men who could not produce the required amount of rubber saw their families being held as hostages and starved to death. Even children were not spared from his wrath. Children worked as laborers and late deliveries meant that their hands would be cut off. During the reign of Leopold, it was said that over 10 million people in Congo were killed. It was only through the efforts of a courageous British journalist that such human rights abuses were brought to attention and was finally ended. In a way, the film serves as one of those films that help people understand better the ins and outs of European relations with Africa. Historical accounts often times leave out such events. Such painful truths are often forgotten, ignored or simply hidden. Bates story brings an example of such painful truths to the limelight and orients its viewers to the plight of the people of Congo in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bates’ depiction of the story shows his passion for human rights and the abuses committed against such rights. He reveals a reality that has long been ignored. He succeeded in making viewers see that Leopold II is accountable for his actions that led to the multitude of deaths in Congo. More importantly, Bates’ production is one which will leave viewers who are unaware of such abuses in utter shock and pity for the Congolese who suffered in the hand of an oppressor. It is informative and at the same time, it touches the hearts of its viewers and makes people realize the value of their human rights and the protection of such rights. If there is one thing wrong with the manner by which the story was portrayed. It was that it was full of rage. There were certain scenes that were too dramatic that may have made the story a bit too sensationalized. Even the narration was too dramatic. Although such style was utilized to make people realize better the extent of the abuse, it may have dampened the integrity of the film. Understandably, there is indeed bias in Bates’ production. Indeed, Bates’ goal is to show the world the plight of the Congolese under Leopold’s rule. However, the film could have been better if a less passionate portrayal was used. The sensationalism in the film was unnecessary for the story is enough for viewers to see the horror in Congo during the said time. The story speaks for itself and there was no need to add more drama to it. In general, the film was a true eye-opener. It would certainly touch the hearts of people who watch it. Finally, it teaches people to value and protect the human rights of every individual more.

British Naval Fleet essays

British Naval Fleet essays The Up and Coming against the Established Britain had the greatest naval fleet in the world. Even when challenged by the best Spain had to offer, she was able to uphold her reputation. Now this was a lot to say since, Spain in the sixteenth century was at the height of her power.(Marx 11) Philip II was on a conquering massacre and Britain was the next to fall victim. Now with Elizabeth I trying to hold her unstable, internally conflicting country together, Spain thought it would be simple. Well, that is what they thought. Britain was having major problems within herself. Elizabeth I, being a female, did not have complete support from her country. Scotland, Wales and Ireland were in constantly in Elizabeths face with a threat of revolt. On top of that the small country had no wealth with the taxes being brought in late or being never brought in at all. Now to get an idea of how poor Britain actually was, British land owners were forced to sell their land and personal belongings to buy food when the small amount of taxes were not in on time. The Protestant Elizabeth was an easy target for the Spanish conquest. Charles V was the father of Philip II and he had an idealist dream. He wanted to wipe clean all other religions besides Christianity. He did in fact accomplish this dream until his created Christendom was split. Charles V was able to conquer all of the land around the Mediterranean and turn all conquered lands into Christianity; this was called Christendom. This was all good for Charles V until the Protestant Reformation ripped his ideal world in half. Now his son Philip II was going to do everything in his power to share in his fathers dream. Nothing was going to stop Philip II from having Christianity all throughout the New World. However, the scary thing about Philip II was that he would use everything and anything in is power until he got what he wanted and so far it was working....