Critique of Transformational Leadership - 1754 Words

PAPER: Journal Article | Arnold, K.A. and Loughlin, C. (2010) Individually considerate transformational leadership behavior and self sacrifice. Leadership amp; Organization Development Journal, 31(8) pp.670-686 | UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PAPER AIM/PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER | The aim/purpose of this paper is:a) To investigate how and to which extent leaders engage in individually considerate transformational leadership behavior with focus on the developmental, supportive and self sacrificial aspects of this behavior. b) To investigate the degree of Developmental versus Supportive aspects of Individual Consideration as a major component of transformational leadership style. | METHODS USED IN THE RESEARCH Research Methodology used: |†¦show more content†¦* No form of real life scenario examples where provided in the literature review to give the readers a greater insight of what transformational leadership involves. * Individual consideration has been characterised as behavior that allows transformation to occur in this article. This has shown a dysfunction as it takes more than consideration but also involves influence and stimulation as seen in Mullins (2005). * Key authors who have contributed in one form of the order to this field of knowledge has been referred to however the one man who first brought about the Knowledge of transformational leadership James Burns (1978) wasn’t referred to. * The word Leaders was used interchangeably with managers in some instances. To the researchers do both terms mean the same? In actual fact leaders are different from managers. * Semi structured interviews used to gather data. This approach used is rather a subjective one because it is based on how the leaders understands issues that is what the leaders or key informants view as important in explaining. Secondly there is a tendency for the leaders to digress away from what is expected of them. * The research also display another form of subjectivity as the use of the semi structured approach depends on the skills of the interviewer in conducting theShow MoreRelatedCritique of Transformational Transactional Leadership1806 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Critique of Transformational Leadership Transactional Leadership â€Å"Leadership without perspective and point of view isn’t leadership-and of course it must be your own perspective, your own point of view. You cannot borrow a point of view any more than you can borrow someone else’s eyes. It must be authentic, and if it is, it will be original, because you are original†. (Bennis, 1992, p.122) Introduction This paper assesses two popular leadership theories: Transformational Leadership TransactionalRead MoreCharacteristics Of A Transformational Leadership963 Words   |  4 PagesCharacteristics of Good Leadership Leadership comes in many facets. It is important to pick the right leadership depending on the situation. In this paper the key leadership that will be discussed is transformational leadership. Transformational leadership is a leadership style that has been adopted by a lot of individuals in the 21st Century. It is also a leadership style that leaders in the military have utilized to effectively train new Soldiers. Throughout this paper I will speak about theRead MoreManagers Emotional Intelligence Effect On Followers Performance1577 Words   |  7 Pagesemotional intelligence. There is too much over lap in the concepts brought by the models (Cherniss et al., 2006; Locke, 2005). They state that this makes it hard to understand what emotional intelligence is (Cherniss et al., 2006). Locke (2005), critiques the definition of emotional intelligence given by Mayer and Salovey, stating that emotional intelligence means â€Å"the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information† (p. 425).Read MoreThe Effects Of Leadership Characteristics On Pediatric Registered Nurses Job Satisfaction844 Words   |  4 PagesResearch Critique: Effects of Leadership Characteristics on Pediatric Registered Nurses’ Job Satisfaction Nursing job satisfaction continues to rank high as an area of concern for Nurse Executives. Dissatisfied nurses can lead to a decreased ability to recruit nurses and increased turnover (Ruggiero, 2005), leading to lower patient satisfaction. The costs of nursing turnover has been hard to measure and varies from study to study (Li Jones, 2013), however Brewer, et al. (2011) estimates $856Read MoreThe Core Elements Of Transformational Leadership1282 Words   |  6 Pages2 The core elements of transformational leadership Now that we’ve explored the concepts and contexts around transformational leadership, we can turn our attention to the core elements of the model. The key elements include Bass’ four transformational components and the test he developed for analysing your leadership style. Bass’ four components The core idea of Bass’ transformational theory focused on the ways a leader can change the organisational structures around him or her and to ensure theRead MoreTransformational Leadership And Guest Satisfaction Ratings Within The Hospitality Industry1101 Words   |  5 Pagessubject matter. Leadership in any industry has been an object of study for centuries. As the name implies, transformational leadership is a leadership style in which the leader attempts to better understand the goals of the followers and inspires a transformation geared towards achieving those goals. In the book Leadership: Theory and Practice, Northouse explains that transformational leadership is â€Å"An encompassing approach, [that] can be used to describe a wide range of leadership, from very specificRead MoreInfluence Of Transformational Leadership And Job Burnout On Child Protective Services Essay1029 Words   |  5 PagesFortunato, V. J. (2016). The Influence of Transformational Leadership and Job Burnout on Child Protective Services Case Managers Commitment and Intent to Quit. Journal Of Social Service Research, 42(3), 372-385. doi 10.1080/01488376.2015.1101047 Introduction According to Rittschof and Fortunato (2016), there has been little research conducted about the correlation between child protective service worker burnout rates and supportive supervisors and leadership personnel. The objective of this quantitativeRead MoreMalaysian Leadership Style and Employees Organizational Commitment 953 Words   |  4 PagesBibliographical Entry Lo, M.C., Ramayah, T., and Min, H.W., (2009). Leadership styles and organizational commitment: a test on Malaysia manufacturing industry. African Journal of Marketing Management, 1 (6), 133-139. Problem In Malaysia it was a common complaint that employees were no more loyal as they used to be in the passed. Employees would tend to leave their companies for slightly better pay due to low commitment. Hence, the biggest challenge for Malaysian organizations was to provoke aRead MoreThe Timeless Quality of the Foundations of Excellent Leadership1177 Words   |  5 PagesFoundations of Excellent Leadership Are Timeless Introduction It is often said that a manager is what one does and leader is who one is. This is especially the case during times of turbulent economic, social and political change. In the debate of whether the effectiveness of a leaders communication skills is dependent on their age or generation, one must take into account one of the most critical skills in any leaders skill set, and that is emotional intelligence (EI) (Avolio, Yammarino, 2002)Read MoreThe Transformational Leadership Model Of A Business Environment1426 Words   |  6 PagesThere are several different theories that can be applied to leadership. Hence, there are no right or wrong theories, purely just diverse perceptions. The trait theory of leadership believes that leaders are born and not made. This theory claims that leadership is inherited, and great leaders are born with natural leadership traits. Zaccaro, S. J. (2007) defines this as a â€Å"unique property of extraordinary individuals whose decisions are capable of someti mes radically changing the streams of history†[Pg6]

The Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Gilman - 958 Words

The birth of a baby can generate a lot of powerful emotions. Emotions like excitement, joy, fear, and anxiety. It can also result in something you might not expect. In the early 1800’s postpartum depression was misdiagnosed by a physician and calling it â€Å"hysteria†. In this time period, physicians were only males so they were more dominant; and females were looked down upon. Postpartum depression is what a mother suffers from after giving birth. It is a combination of hormonal changes and psychological adjustment to motherhood. Mothers who develop postpartum depression are at greater risk of developing other major depressions later on in life, and have difficulty bonding with their babies. 100 years ago this wasn’t a diagnosis, it was very common and plenty of women went through it. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Gilman, talks about how the main character in the story was suffering from postpartum depression, schizophrenia and obsession. Thes e depressions led her to write this story to expose physician’s misdiagnoses and lack of understanding. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born in 1860 in Hartford Connecticut, her childhood led to depression and her suicide. Her father abandoned the family when she was a child only leaving her mother and relative to help raise her. Her childhood and family situation was damaged by her father leaving and that helped her to learn and gain independence. She got married in 1884 and then she was diagnosed with depression. She was prescribedShow MoreRelatedThe Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman1116 Words   |  5 PagesThe Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† written by Charlotte Gilman is a chilling portrayal of a woman’s downward spiral towards madness after undergoing treatment for postpartum depression in the 1800’s. The narrator, whose name remains nameless, represents the hundreds of middle to upper- class women who were diagnosed with â€Å"hysteria† and prescribed a â€Å"rest† treatment. Although Gilman’s story was a heroic attempt to â€Å"save people from being driven crazy† (GilmanRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Gilman992 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The yellow wallpaper† The Yellow Wallpaper is a story about women’s repression in the 19th century. This story shows an immense difference between men and women inside society. While the men are the one making the decisions and taking responsibility, women must accept their obligations. The protagonist is repressed and appear for the effect of the oppression of women in society. This effect is develop by the use of complex symbols such as, the room, the wallpaper, the window which facilitates herRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Gilman1381 Words   |  6 PagesThe Yellow Wallpaper, written by the famous Charlotte Perkins, is a captivating short story published in 1892 that presents the story from the perspective of the narrator. This story is quite fascinating and readers may easily view it from different perspectives. For example, some readers may interpret it as a medical critique while others may view it as feminist allegory. In this short story, Charlotte Gilman uses her personal exp eriences with pregnancy, especially the depression and anxiety thatRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Gilman1574 Words   |  7 PagesThe yellow wallpaper by charlotte Gilman is about a woman who slowly descends into madness trying to please herself and have a voice even though she is a woman in a time that is is expected for her to obey her husband and be the wife he wants her to be. This short story took many years to be published, one publisher even wrote in a rejection letter to Gillman that stated â€Å"I could not forgive myself if I made others as miserable as I have made myself by reading this† (Stephens, 1997). The commentRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Gilman1542 Words   |  7 PagesThe short story, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, written by Charlotte Gilman, presents as a feminist text written in protest to the treatment of women by a male dominated society. The story is told from the narrator’s perspective, a woman who’s na me we never learn. A woman suffering from post-natal-depression who is prescribed the remedy of the day, a course of treatment known as â€Å"rest cure†, in which the sufferer is confined to bed and not allowed to partake in the activities of daily life. This extendedRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Gilman Essay1205 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Gilman examines the negative effects of the â€Å"rest cure†, a common approach used in the nineteenth century to treat women suffering from severe nervous symptoms (Bassuk 245). The text not only condemns the callous, medical treatment that the narrator endures, but, it also addresses the misogynistic beliefs and the resulting gender inequalities that endorse the use of such treatments. This theme is made explicit in the narrator’s persistent attempts to escape theRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Gilman1582 Words   |  7 Pageshusbands want them to do, as we ll as what society wants them to do. Charlotte Gilman published The Yellow Wallpaper in 1892 and wrote this short story because she experienced the same confinement that the narrator did. The narrator s role in the family in the short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, represents the ideals and attitudes toward gender roles in the Victorian Era which will evolve into present-day ideas and roles. Gilman s use of confinement throughout the story provides context as to howRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Gilman964 Words   |  4 Pageslearn from this experience. Reading scholarly articles was not easy at all. They were long and had many words I did not understand; it was actually the first time I had ever read scholarly articles. I choose the story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Gilman. The Yellow Wallpaper was a good story to write about because it was challenging and interesting. Writing a research paper could be challenging in so many level; it test your knowledge and skills. For example, having to fully understand theRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman1362 Words   |  6 Pagesas freaks. In the short story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, both of these elements are present. Gilman did a wonderful job portraying how women are not taken seriously and how lightly mental illnesses are taken. Gilman had, too, had firsthand experience with the physician in the story. Charlotte Perkins Gilman s believes that there really was no difference in means of way of thinking between men or women is strongly. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is a short story about a woman whoRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman1547 Words   |  7 PagesCharlotte Perkins Gilman s career as a leading feminists and social activist translated into her writing as did her personal life. Gilman s treatment for her sever e depression and feelings of confinement in her marriage were paralleled by the narrator in her shorty story, The Yellow Wallpaper. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her parents, Mary Fitch Perkins and Fredrick Beecher Perkins, divorced in 1869. Her dad, a distinguished librarian and magazine editor

The Learning Processes and Teaching Roles in Native Education

Question: Discuss about the Learning Processes and Teaching Roles in Native Education for Cultural Base and Cultural Brokerage. Answer: Introduction Relevance There is a fundamental difference in the context of world-view as advocated in the Aboriginal culture as against the mainstream culture represented by the English language. While, the traditional culture is symbolised by Aboriginal culture and modern being represented by mainstream culture, there are stark contrasts between the two. In order to ensure that the penetration of education is enhanced amongst the Aboriginal population in Canada, this cultural difference plays a vital role. This is primarily because on one hand the native education seeks to safeguard the rich cultural base and heritage of the Aborigines but at the same time they ought to imbibe some of the mainstream education. The teachers from native population tends to act as cultural brokers in this regard since they act as a bridge between the native education and mainstream education and thereby seek to bring about a harmonious and desirable integration of the two. This would successfully bring about a sustainable ch ange in the educational status of these people and thus enhance their development (Battiste and Barman). Cultural Brokerage and Significance The teachers engaged in Native education need to make important choices in order to enhance the learning outcome and most importantly to gain acceptability amongst the Aboriginal community. Failure to do the above, leads to dissatisfaction and high drop out amongst the community and native education receives a huge setback(White, Peters and Beavon). The concept of Cultural Brokerage in context of Aboriginal education was brought forward by Arlene Stairs in the context of tensions experienced with regards to teaching experiences of North Baffin communities. He indicates that there are two models (Traditional education and mainstream education) that are adopted in parallel which are starkly different. He opined that to enhance the education outcomes, the native teachers must act as cultural brokers and must enhance the modern concepts through traditional tales and keep the essence of the culture intact. However, he indicated that this integration has not happened in the past which has quashed all hopes in these native communities of bringing about educational change. This lack of integration has been at display at all levels of education and a significant contributory factor to the continued backwardness of the native communities in Canada (Stairs). Issues and Corrective Measures As per a survey in Ontario schools by Mackay Miles, it has been found that the major factor which tends to lead to dropouts and failure of youths from native communities is the overall failure of the process used for education of these students. It was found that in educational institutions which fostered a partnership with native communities and had respect for their culture, the outcomes in terms of learning were much higher while at the same time dropout ratio was considerably lower. Hesch conducted a review of the SUNTEP i.e. Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program and found a host of issues with regards to teaching practices and the associated curriculum. This gave rise to an inefficient educational system where the teachers and Native students were pulled in different directions, thus leading to unsatisfactory outcomes(White, Peters and Beavon). Thus, research scholars in this domain suggest that such tensions need to be minimised for enhancing learning outcomes. F urther, in order to enhance credibility and act as a successful cultural broker, participation of elders belonging to native communities is also highly helpful. The inclusion of elders is highly helpful in enhancing learning outcomes especially because amongst the native populations also, there is high diversity with regards to beliefs and culture(Leavitt). It has been also suggested that the mainstream evaluation model should be substituted with alternate self-evaluation and assessment models that could be more effective. Additionally, the non-native teachers need to develop an understanding of the native culture so that the professional and social expectations of the teachers and students can integrate (Kitchen, Cherubini and Trudeau). Conclusion It may be concluded from the above discussion that the education in the native population should be propagated in a manner which safeguards their culture. Additionally, the processes and curriculum should be designed in a manner so that the teachers can act as cultural brokers. In this process, the government is a critical stakeholder which needs to ensure mandatory training of non-native teachers with regards to native culture and traditional values. Further, the professional and social outcomes should be defined in congruence with the aboriginal population who need to act as active partners in this process. Only then can the process of educational change bring about inclusive progress in these communities and enhance their development without harming their cultural identity. References Battiste, M and J Barman. First Nations education in Canada: The circle unfolds. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1995. Kitchen, J, et al. " Weeding out or developing capacity? Challenges for Aboriginal teacher education." Alberta Journal of Educational Research (2010): 102-110. Leavitt, R. " Language and cultural content in Native education." Battiste, M and J Barman. First Nations education in Canada: The circle unfolds. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1995. 124-138. Stairs, Andre. "Learning processes and teaching roles in native education: Cultural base and Cultural Brokerage." Battiste, M and J Barman. First Nations education in Canada: The circle. Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1995. 139-153. White, JP, et al. Aboriginal education: Current crisis and future alternatives . Toronto: Thompson Educational Publishing, 2009.

Student Essay Example

Student Essay Prabowo, Aburizal score poorly for human rights A survey published by the human rights watchdog group the Setara Institute on Monday found that Lt. Gen. (ret. ) Prabowo Subianto, chief patron of the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party and Aburizal Bakrie, Golkar Party chairman, had the worst human rights records among politicians tapped to run in the 2014 presidential election. The survey found that only 0. percent of 200 respondents †comprising activists, academics, community leaders, Journalists, lawyers and researchers † from 20 rovinces, were convinced that if Prabowo was elected he would be committed to the protection of human rights. An equal number of respondents also doubted Aburizals commitment to human rights. He, as owner of oil and gas company PT Lapindo Brantas, was deemed responsible for the Lapindo mudflow in SidoarJo, East Java, which displaced thousands of people in 2006. National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced the Lapindo mudflow was a human rights violation and Lapindo Brantas was responsible for the man-made disaster. On the other extreme, the survey found that popular Jakarta Governor Joko Jokowi Widodo was considered to be committed to protecting the basic rights of the people. Jokowi got the nod from 39 percent of respondents, followed by former Constitutional Court Justice chief Mahfud MD with 20 percent. The study cited Prabowos dark past as the main reason behind the respondents poor assessment of him. It is obvious that certain segments of society remember his record, Ismail Hasan, a Setara researcher said. Setara Institute chairman Hendardi, however, said that as more people forget † or are not aware of † Prabowos past deeds, it was the responsibility of rights group to ducate them. The majority of the public, especially young voters, lack knowledge. It is our Job to evaluate and publish our findings on how co mmitted these fgures are to protecting and upholding the rights of the people, Hendardi said Monday. We will write a custom essay sample on Student specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Student specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Student specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Prabowo will always be associated with the 1998 May riots in Jakarta, which precipitated the end of former Soehartos authoritarian regime. rights violations during the extensive riots, other leading military fgures were also responsible including then Army commander Gen. (ret. ) Wiranto, who currently chairs the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura). The House of Representatives issued a recommendation for the establishment of a human rights tribunal on the case in September 2009, but nothing has been done yet. According to the Setara survey, 53. percent of the respondents said that Prabowos reputation would influence voters. However, 46 percent said that it would not affect their preference. A member of Gerindras board, Martin Hutabarat, said the pattern was predictable: as the election neared, attacks on Prabowo would intensify. l understand people will bring the discussion to the table every time we approach the election. We do consider this a serious matter but it will not affect us because we are focusing on the future instead of the past, Martin told The Jakarta Post. Martin, a member of the House Commission Ill overseeing law and human rights, further defended Prabowo, saying that the former Army Special Forces (Kopassus) chief was fully committed to fghting for human rights. He said that Prabowos latest efforts evidenced this: He set up a legal team and traveled with them to Malaysia to defend the rights of Indonesian migrant worker Wilfrida Soik, who was on trial for murder and was facing the death sentence. Crash exposes gaps in rail safety The railroad crossing collision between an electric commuter train and a gasoline tanker in Pondok Betung, Bintaro, South Jakarta, on Monday has raised concerns about passenger safety and the imminent threat posed by unofficial crossings in the capital. At least five people died and 91 were injured, nine of whom suffered burn injuries. Based on eyewitness accounts, the state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina tanker hauling 24,000 liters of fuel slipped past a closing crossing barrier as a train on the Serpong- Tanah Abang line headed through the intersection at about 1 1 a. . The tanker failed to get across the tracks and the train slammed into it. There was an explosion on impact and flames engulfed the front part of the train, which was Though some passengers on the train said they had not heard the crossing alarm, a passer-by, Maryati, said that the crossing alarm had definitely gone off. There was even an officer who warned [the driver] not to pass t hrough the gate. Such an accident is not unprecedented. Most of them have been caused by drivers who neglected to heed the warning alarm, she said. Other witnesses said that there was a pak ogah, a person who directs motorists for mall change,encouraging the truck driver to move forward through the crossing. The intersection in Pondok Betung, which is located between the Pondok Ran] and Kebayoran Lama stations, is known as a dangerous crossing. According to data from state train operator PT KAIS Jakarta office, most of the train accidents that took place in the capital this year as of mid-November were related to crossing collisions. That period had seen 68 such accidents, mainly occurring when motorists forced their way through the barriers to try and beat the train. Currently, there are 549 train crossings in the capital, 197 of which are unofficial † ot meant for public access but used by locals as shortcuts and lack barriers. Ronaldo, Messi, Ribery up for Ballon dOr Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery are in the running for the Ballon dOr. FIFA announced the shortlist Monday after voting rules changes made Ronaldo the favorite after helping Portugal qualify for the World Cup last month. FIFA gave voters † national team captains and coaches, plus selected Journalists † two extra weeks to choose from 23 candidates, and even change preference. Ronaldos hat trick against Sweden helped lift his tally to 67 goals for Portugal and Real Madrid 2013. Messi, who has won the last four player of the year awards, scored 45 goals for Argentina and Barcelona before being injured. Ribery was already named Europes best player for helping Bayern Munich win the The award ceremony is Jan. 13. Ribery had been the favorite until FIFAs surprising announcement to re-open voting the morning after Portugals playoff victory in Stockholm. Speculation about FIFAs motives was fuelled by a bizarre public spat weeks earlier between Ronaldo and FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Blatter offended the 2008 award winner with comments and mimicry when ddressing students at Oxford University in England. Contrasting Messis humble, low-key personality with Ronaldos apparent vanity, Blatter then stood to act out what he described as the Portugal wingers commander in the field stature. Ronaldo responded in a barbed statement on his Facebook page and celebrated a goal in his next match with a mock military salute gesture. The Portuguese government got involved to defend its national hero, and the dispute seemed to confirm to Madrid fans and media that FIFA is biased toward Barcelona, even though Ballon dOr ballots are cast independently. Messi has won the world player award each year since 2009, and three times Ronaldo has been runner-up. In the 2010 award, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta completed an all-Barcelona podium. In January 2012, Ronaldo and then-Madrid coach Jose Mourinho skipped the gala ceremony in Zurich despite being on the shortlists, citing a clash with preparation for a Copa del Rey match. Ronaldo attended last January and impressed with his gracious attitude despite losing again to Messi. Messi was runner-up when Ronaldo won his first and only award for 2008 after helping Manchester United win the Champions League title. Ronaldo did not win a trophy in 2013 despite an astonishing, prolific scoring rate of better than one goal per game. His World Cup playoff displays could be key, having scored all of Portugals goals in a 4-2 aggregate victory over Sweden. Messi scored 45 goals in 46 games but his playing year was ended by his third injury, The Ballon dOr was created by France Football magazine in 1956 and, three years ago, merged with FIFAs world player of the year award, which had been presented since 1991. The finalists for the womens world player award are Abby Wambach of the United States, five-time winner Marta of Brazil and Nadine Angerer of Germany. The ceremony will also give awards to the best coaches in mens and womens football. The mens list is headed by Alex Ferguson, who retired as Manchester United manager in May after more than 26 years. World leaders, South Africans honor Mandela World leaders and Joyous, singing South Africans honored Nelson Mandela on Tuesday at a rainy Soweto soccer stadium where U. S. President Barack Obama praised him as a giant of history and the last great liberator of the 20th century. Over thirty years ago, while still a student, I learned of Mandela and the struggles in this land. It stirred something in me. It woke me up to my responsibilities † to others, and to myself † and set me on an improbable Journey that finds me here today. said Obama, who like Mandela became the first black president of his country. Those in the stadium gave roars of approval to Obamas speech. South African President Jacob Zuma, however, was booed. Many South Africans are unhappy with Zuma because of state corruption scandals, though his ruling African National Congress, once led by Mandela, remains the front-runner ahead of elections next year. Amid heavy rains, crowds came to FNB Stadium in Soweto, the Johannesburg township that was a stronghold of support for the anti-apartheid struggle that Mandela embodied as a prisoner of white rule for 27 years and then during a peril- fraught transition to the all-race elections that made him president. But the weather and public transportation problems rain kept many people away. The 95,000-capacity stadium was only two-thirds full. Some of the dozens of trains reserved to ferry people to the stadium were delayed ue to a power failure. A Metrorail services spokeswoman, Lilian Mofokeng, said more than 30,000 mourners were successfully transported by train. attendance. As Obama walked to the podium, he and Cuban President Raul Castro shook hands. Thabo Mbeki, the former South African president who succeeded Mandela, got a rousing cheer as he entered the stands. French President Francois Hollande and his predecessor and rival, Nicolas Sarkozy, arrived together. United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon waved and bowed to spectators who sang praise for Mandela, seen by many South Africans as the father of the nation.

A New Spin on the Old Controve essays

A New Spin on the Old Controve essays The Da Vinci Code and its Role in Religious Society Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has caused infinite controversy in its thrilling account of conspiracies by the Catholic Church. In the novel, Teabing states, ...Almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false(Brown 235). The novel has been the source of much criticism by Christians and officials of the Catholic Church. Reverend John Sewell says of The Da Vinci Code, It is filled with delicious Christian heresies (Sewell 3). As critic Cathleen Falsani reminds readers, Heres the thing about Browns novel: Its a novel. Fiction, not fact (Falsani 2). While this novel may be just fiction, it has caused many to reconsider everything they think they know about their religion. The novel is introduced by a page stating, All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate (Brown ix). Dan Brown was born to a math professor and scientist who gave him his early interests in religion and scientific paradoxes. Later he went on to study art history at the University of Seville that he says first got him interested in Leonardo Da Vinci and the many irregularities in his paintings, especially The Last Supper. The Da Vinci Code required a lot of research and history, which his wife, an art historian and painter, helped him with by accompanying Brown to the Louvre (Morris 1). Before becoming an author, Brown began his career as an English teacher. He later began to focus fully on his writing (Brown Site). The Da Vinci Code is a thrilling murder mystery in which the protagonists, Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu, explore France and England on a search for the widely coveted Holy Grail. While most people believe the Grail to be a chalice, Langdon and old friend Leigh Teabing believe the Grail to be the ancient bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. In anci...

World War II in the Pacific - New Guinea, Burma, China

World War II in the Pacific - New Guinea, Burma, China Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory The Japanese Land in New Guinea In early 1942, following their occupation of Rabaul on New Britain, Japanese troops began landing on the north coast of New Guinea. Their objective was to secure the island and its capital, Port Moresby, in order to consolidate their position in the South Pacific and provide a springboard for attacking the Allies in Australia. That May, the Japanese prepared an invasion fleet with the goal of attacking Port Moresby directly. This was turned back by Allied naval forces at the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 4-8. With the naval approaches to Port Moresby closed, the Japanese focused on attacking overland. To accomplish this, they began landing troops along the islands northeast coast on July 21. Coming ashore at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda, Japanese forces began pressing inland and soon captured the airfield at Kokoda after heavy fighting. Battle for the Kokoda Trail The Japanese landings preempted Supreme Allied Commander, Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) General Douglas MacArthurs plans for using New Guinea as a platform for attacking the Japanese at Rabaul. Instead, MacArthur built up his forces on New Guinea with the goal of expelling the Japanese. With the fall of Kokoda, the only way to supply Allied troops north of the Owen Stanley Mountains was over the single-file Kokoda Trail. Running from Port Moresby over the mountains to Kokoda, the trail was a treacherous path that was seen as an avenue of advance for both sides. Pushing his men forward, Major General Tomitaro Horii was able to slowly drive the Australian defenders back up the trail. Fighting in terrible conditions, both sides were plagued by disease and a lack of food. Upon reaching Ioribaiwa, the Japanese could see the lights of Port Moresby but were forced to halt due to a lack of supplies and reinforcements. With his supply situation desperate, Horii was ordered to withdraw back to Kokoda and the beachhead at Buna. This coupled with the repulse of Japanese attacks on the base at Milne Bay, ended the threat to Port Moresby. Allied Counterattacks on New Guinea Reinforced by the arrival fresh American and Australian troops, the Allies launched a counteroffensive in the wake of the Japanese retreat. Pushing over the mountains, Allied forces pursued the Japanese to their heavily defended coastal bases at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda. Beginning on November 16, Allied troops assaulted the Japanese positions and in bitter, close-quarters, fighting slowly overcame them. The final Japanese strongpoint at Sanananda fell on January 22, 1943. Conditions in the Japanese base were horrific as their supplies had run out and many had resorted to cannibalism. After successfully defending the airstrip at Wau in late January, the Allies scored a major victory at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on March 2-4. Attacking Japanese troop transports, aircraft from SWPAs air forces managed to sink eight, killing over 5,000 soldiers that were en route to New Guinea. With momentum shifting, MacArthur planned a major offensive against the Japanese bases at Salamaua and Lae. This attack was to be part of Operation Cartwheel, an Allied strategy for isolating Rabaul. Moving forward in April 1943, Allied forces advanced towards Salamaua from Wau and were later supported by landings to the south at Nassau Bay in late June. While fighting continued around Salamaua, a second front was opened around Lae. Named Operation Postern, the attack on Lae began with airborne landings at Nadzab to the west and amphibious operations to the east. With the Allies threatening Lae, the Japanese abandoned Salamaua on September 11. After heavy fighting around the town, Lae fel l four days later. While fighting continued on New Guinea for the rest of the war, it became a secondary theater as SWPA shifted its attention to planning the invasion of the Philippines. The Early War in Southeast Asia Following the destruction of Allied naval forces at the Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942, the Japanese Fast Carrier Strike Force, under Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, raided into the Indian Ocean. Hitting targets on Ceylon, the Japanese sank the aging carrier HMS Hermes and forced the British to relocate their forward naval base in the Indian Ocean to Kilindini, Kenya. The Japanese also seized the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ashore, Japanese troops began entering Burma in January 1942, to protect the flank of their operations in Malaya. Pushing north towards the port of Rangoon, the Japanese pushed aside British opposition and forced them to abandon the city on March 7. The Allies sought to stabilize their lines in the northern part of the country and Chinese troops rushed south to aid in the fight. This attempt failed and the Japanese advance continued, with the British retreating to Imphal, India and the Chinese falling back to the north. The loss of Burma severed the Burma Road by which Allied military aid had been reaching China. As a result, the Allies began flying supplies over the Himalayas to bases in China. Known as The Hump, the route saw over 7,000 tons of supplies cross it each month. Due to the hazardous conditions over the mountains, The Hump claimed 1,500 Allied aviators during the war. Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory The Burmese Front Allied operations in Southeast Asia were perpetually hampered by a lack of supplies and the low priority given the theater by Allied commanders. In late 1942, the British launched their first offensive into Burma. Moving along the coast, it was quickly defeated by the Japanese. To the north, Major General Orde Wingate began a series of deep penetration raids designed to wreak havoc on the Japanese behind the lines. Known as Chindits, these columns were supplied entirely by air and, though they suffered heavy casualties, succeeded in keeping the Japanese on edge. Chindit raids continued throughout the war and in 1943, a similar American unit was formed under Brigadier General Frank Merrill. In August 1943, the Allies formed the Southeast Asia Command (SEAC) to handle operations in the region and named Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten as its commander. Seeking to regain the initiative, Mountbatten planned a series of amphibious landings as part of a new offensive, but had to cancel them when his landing craft were withdrawn for use in the Normandy invasion. In March 1944, the Japanese, led by Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi, launched a major offensive to take the British base at Imphal. Surging forward they encircled the town, forcing General William Slim to shift forces north to rescue the situation. Over the next few months heavy fighting raged around Imphal and Kohima. Having suffered high numbers of casualties and unable to break the British defenses, the Japanese broke off the offensive and began retreating in July. While the Japanese focus was on Imphal, US and Chinese troops, directed by General Joseph Stilwell made progress in northern Burma. Retaking Burma With India defended, Mountbatten and Slim began offensive operations into Burma. With his forces weakened and lacking equipment, the new Japanese commander in Burma, General Hyotaro Kimura fell back to the Irrawaddy River in the central part of the country. Pushing on all fronts, Allied forces met with success as the Japanese began giving ground. Driving hard through central Burma, British forces liberated Meiktila and Mandalay, while US and Chinese forces linked up in the north. Due to a need to take Rangoon before the monsoon season washed away the overland supply routes, Slim turned south and fought through determined Japanese resistance to take the city on April 30, 1945. Retreating east, the Kimuras forces were hammered on July 17 when many attempted to cross the Sittang River. Attacked by the British, the Japanese suffered nearly 10,000 casualties. The fighting along the Sittang was the last of the campaign in Burma. The War in China Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched a major offensive in China against the city of Changsha. Attacking with 120,000 men, Chiang Kai-Sheks Nationalist Army responded with 300,000 forcing the Japanese to withdrawal. In the wake of the failed offensive, the situation in China returned to the stalemate that had existed since 1940. To support the war effort in China, the Allies dispatched large amounts of Lend-Lease equipment and supplies over the Burma Road. Following the capture of the road by the Japanese, these supplies were flown in over The Hump. To ensure that China remained in the war, President Franklin Roosevelt dispatched General Joseph Stilwell to serve as Chiang Kai-Sheks chief of staff and as commander of the US China-Burma-India Theater. Chinas survival was of paramount concern for the Allies as the Chinese front tied down large numbers of Japanese troops, preventing them from being used elsewhere. Roosevelt also made the decision that US troops would not serve in large numbers in the Chinese theater, and that American involvement would be limited to air support and logistics. A largely political assignment, Stilwell soon became frustrated by the extreme corruption of Chiangs regime and his unwillingness to engage in offensive operations against the Japanese. This hesitancy was largely the result of Chiangs desire to reserve his forces for fighting Mao Zedongs Chinese Communists after the war. While Maos forces were nominally allied with Chiang during the war, they operated independently under Communist control. Issues Between Chiang, Stilwell, Chennault Stilwell also butted heads with Major General Claire Chennault, the former commander of the Flying Tigers, who now led the US Fourteenth Air Force. A friend of Chiangs, Chennault believed that the war could be won through air power alone. Wishing to conserve his infantry, Chiang became an active advocate of Chennaults approach. Stilwell countered Chennault by pointing out that large numbers of troops would still be required to defend US airbases. Operating parallel to Chennault was Operation Matterhorn, which called for the basing of new B-29 Superfortress bombers in China with the task of striking the Japanese home islands. In April 1944, the Japanese launched Operation Ichigo which opened a rail route from Beijing to Indochina and captured many of Chennaults ill-defended airbases. Due to the Japanese offensive and the difficulty in obtaining supplies over The Hump, the B-29s were re-based to the Marianas Islands in early 1945. Endgame in China Despite having been proven correct, in October 1944, Stilwell was recalled to the US at Chiangs request. He was replaced by Major General Albert Wedemeyer. With the Japanese position eroding, Chiang became more willing to resume offensive operations. Chinese forces first aided in evicting the Japanese from northern Burma, and then, led by General Sun Li-jen, attacked into Guangxi and southwestern China. With Burma retaken, supplies began to flow into China allowing Wedemeyer to consider larger operations. He soon planned Operation Carbonado for the summer of 1945, which called for an assault to take the port of Guandong. This plan was cancelled following the dropping of the atomic bombs and Japans surrender. Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory

Political Socialization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Political Socialization - Essay Example They do not depend on corporate sponsorship and their main aim is to fight for the right of the oppressed many. One of the slogans they use to air their grievance is â€Å"I am 99% and I have a voice†. On the other hand, The Tea Party is an Astro Turf of people with corporate sponsorship and the members are usually in mid life or above 60 years. According to Gitlin (2011), Occupy Wall Street protests grew tremendously in October 2011 especially in Manhattan triggering comparisons with The Tea parties. Joe Biden explained the Occupy Wall Street protests as expression of grass root frustration by Tea Party Members. According to him, the protests were brought about by the breech of bargain that resulted to unfair levels of incomes. In his article â€Å"The Left Declares Its Independence†, Gitlin (2011) postulate that the â€Å"We Are The 99%† chant words that were used by Occupy Wall Street protesters was directed to the country’s 1% rich, that is composed of ‘financial predators and confident gamers’ who crashed the global economy without concern for anyone. The statement â€Å"We Are The 99%† was synonymous to The Tea Party; it clearly exposed the intense differences. Both the Occupy Wall Street and The Tea Party abominated the elite but their goals and passions, which acted as their driving forces clearly differed. Most Tea Party members follow Amy Kremer’s idea that there exists an overlap between their movement and Occupy Wall Street. According to Brendan Steinhauser of freedom works, a Washington based group that runs national wide networks for The Tea Party â€Å"off-shoots†, Tea Party came into existence as a result of the opposition to the Occupy Wall Street bail-outs in the year 2008. According to Kibbe (2011) in an article in the Forbes Magazine, the Occupy Wall Street is in dire need of comparison with Tea Party, as this will