Monday, December 30, 2019

The theme of Symbolism and War in Persepolis - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1490 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Literature Essay Level High school Topics: Persepolis Essay Did you like this example? Every war has millions of stories, and people who lived through it all tell the best ones. Persepolis refers to the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, published in the United States in 2003, is a graphic autobiography novel by the Iranian author, Marjane Satrapi. Satrapi details her experience and life before, during and after the Iranian Revolution and the Iran and Iraq war. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The theme of Symbolism and War in Persepolis" essay for you Create order Satrapi also includes political and cultural events that helped shape her into the women she is today. The novel begins after the Islamic revolution had started, when Satrapi is only 10 years old. Women were forced to wear the Veil, girls and boys were placed in separate schools, and entertainment activities such as music, playing cards or even having posters of singers were banned. Satrapi, goes by Marji in the book, and her family werent happy about all the changes. Her family was considered modern and secular. Satrapi got in trouble many times throughout the first chapters because of her rebellious acts so her family sent her to Austria. After going through tough times in Austria, Satrapi went back to Iran. She got married and shortly after getting divorced then moved to France for good. Satrapis Persepolis is a fascinating book that illustrates many rhetorical strategies, but the four that affected me the most were her use of imagery, syntax, irony and symbolism. The use of these devices made her story come to life. One of the many rhetorical devices Satrapi uses is Imagery; she uses both visual and verbal imagery. Satrapi uses many visual imagery examples throughout the story since its a graphic novel but the strongest example is when her hometown, Tahran, got bombed. Satrapi was out with a friend shopping when she heard it on the radio. She ran as fast as possible to get home and make sure her house and family were okay. When she made it home, she found out that her mother was home alone at the time and the bomb didnt hit their house. Her mother told her that the bomb destroyed their neighbors house, Baba-Levys. While walking home with her mother, Satrapi looks at the destroyed house and sees an arm with a purple bracelet under a pile of bricks. Starapi immediately remembers her neighbors daughter Neda and looks away, then says, No scream in the world could have relieved my suffering and anger. (Strapi 142) Starapi chose to draw this panel with nothing but a black image to describe her overwhe lming pain and sadness. An example of verbal imagery is when Satrapis parents come home after a long day of protesting against the shah, she describes her parents by saying, After marching and throwing stones all day, by evening they had aches all over, even in their heads.(Satrapi 18) This quote shows how worn out and exhausted her parent were due to all the horrible changes in their country. A second rhetorical technique Satrapi uses is Syntax. Syntax is the grammatical use of words to make well-formed sentences. An example of syntax in Persepolis is when Satrapi was a young girl and realized the differences between the social classes, she said, The reason for my shame and for the revolution is the same: the difference between social classes. (Satrapi 33) Satrapi uses a colon to make her readers feel as if they have made the realization with her. Another use of syntax is when Satrapi was explaining how Iranian felt about the shah, she wanted to create a playful tone by using a colon, she said, The people wanted only one thing: his departure! So finally.. (Satrapi 41) then we see a picture of the Shah, his soldiers and protesters indicating that he left. A third rhetorical device Satrapi uses in Persepolis is irony. Irony is used to describe how things seem and how they really are. There are three different types of Irony, verbal Irony, situational irony and dramatic irony. An example of dramatic irony in Persepolis is when the shah gets dethroned; the United States refused to give him a shelter when they were his biggest supporters when he was still a ruler. Satrapi also uses situational irony when she told the story of her parents and wine in the The Wine chapter. She explains that during the Islamic revolution, people were not allowed to party or drink but her family and friends still did it. One day, her family went to celebrate her newborn cousin. On the way back home, the police stopped them and asked them if they have been drinking, Satrapis father denied it. The police decided to follow them home and search it for any banned items. So when the family got home, Satrapi and her grandmother ran upstairs and got rid of all the wi ne. Satrapis father ended up bribing the police officer and made him leave. After the police had left, Satrapis father wanted alcohol badly but ironically, Satrapi and her grandmother got rid of it all. Another use of situational irony is in the The Passport chapter. Satrapi and her family went to visit her aunt. While they were there, her aunts husband started smoking so his wife got mad at him and asked him to stop smoking because he has had two heart attacks in the past, but her aunts husband said, The stress I get from every gunshot I hear is much worse for me than the cigarettes. (Satrapi 118) Ironically, he gets hospitalized few days later due to his fear from a grenade that his neighborhood and dies. The last and the most important rhetorical device Satrapi uses in Persepolis is Symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols to illustrate ideas by giving them important meanings that are different from their natural or exact definition. Starapi uses many examples of symbolism in her novel. One of the most important symbols is her bed. Satrapi mentions her bed many times throughout her story. Its where she does most of her thinking in the novel. We see it through her moments of change and maturing. The bed could symbolize a better world for Satrapi as well as her mind and thoughts. The cigarette in the The Cigarette chapter is also a great use of symbolism. In this chapter, Satrapi makes new friends and ends up skipping class with them. Her mother finds out and gets mad at Satrapi. Satrapi being upset goes down to the basement. While Satrapi is in the basement thinking about all the horrible things going on in her country; she finds a cigarette and smokes it then she says, With this fi rst cigarette I kiss childhood goodbye. (Satrpai 117) The cigarette symbolizes Satrapis independence but it also symbolizes her own act of rebellion against whats going on in her country as well as against her mother who thinks Satrapi was a child still. Another important use of symbolism in Persepolis is the veil. We are introduced to the veil in the very first chapter The Veil. The chapter explains how women and young girls were forced to wear the veils. Satrapi as a young girl, and her friends didnt like wearing the veil simply because they didnt understand why they had to wear it. Wearing the veil wasnt a choice, it was obligated and a set law by the government, all females had to wear it. Satrapis family was modern and didnt like to wear the veil. Satrapi and her mother would only wear it when they go out to avoid getting in trouble, but would not wear it at home. She says, I really didnt know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious, but as a family we were very modern and avant-garde. (Satrapi 6) As time went by, the veil became even more of a big of a deal to the government. Satrapis mother went through an awful and terrible experience because of it. Satrapis mothers car broke down, while waiting for Satra pi and her father to come and get her, she was stopped and insulted by two men because she wasnt wearing the veil. Satrapis mother said, They insulted me. They said that women like me should be pushed up against a wall and raped then thrown in the garbage, and that if I didnt want that to happen, I should wear the veil. (Satrapi 74) The veil in Persepolis symbolizes the abuse and persecution of women and covering their freedom and voice. It also symbolizes the oppressive Iranian government. Satrapis Persepolis is a great book filled with cheerfulness, sorrow and moments of childhood in a world where children were forced to do things they didnt want to do and didnt understand why they had to do it. Where kids had to grow up sooner than the rest of the world. War is a hard subject to write about, but with Satrapis great use of rhetorical strategies, such as imagery, irony, syntax and symbolism, it gave the novel a playful and cheerful tone.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Macbeth -Schizophrenia in Macbeth Essay example - 987 Words

In Shakespeares Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both show signs of what would today be diagnosed as symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is defined as a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioning in everyday life, and by disintegration of personality expressed as disorder of feeling, thought, and conduct. There are three major symptoms of the disorder; not being able to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality, incoherent conversations, and withdrawal physically and emotionally. The most common and most well known symptom of schizophrenia is when people cannot distinguish between what is real and what is not. Schizophrenics often†¦show more content†¦It became all they thought about and their whole being revolved around it. When Lady Macbeth finds that Macbeth has been prophesized to be king, she does not believe he is capable of fulfilling the prophecy alone. So, she s ays to herself, Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the valor of my tongue which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal. (I.5.23-28) Macbeth becomes so passionate about becoming the king that he killed anyone who could possibly take the throne away from him, even the king, Duncan. I have done the deed. he said to his wife after killing him. (II.2.14) Macbeth shows several symptoms of schizophrenia. These symptoms are techniques that Shakespeare uses to create the idea that Macbeth has a mental illness. Macbeths main symptom is detachment from reality. While contemplating killing Banquo to secure his fate, Macbeth begins to see an imaginary dagger in front of him. He asks, Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight, or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain? (II.2.35-39) Then after Banquo is dead, Macbeth believes he sees his ghost during a dinner with the countrys nobility. Macbeth says, The tables full. (III.4.46) Lennox points to the seat where Macbeth sees Banqos ghost sitting and tells him that it is empty. Puzzled, Macbeth asks, Where? (III.4.48) HeShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Macbeth And Macbeth1510 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern english texts. While living through the 1500s-1600s, and having very little knowledge of psychological issues, Shakespeare po rtrayed mental illnesses in Macbeth fairly accurately. The characters in the tragedy of Macbeth show many characteristics and warning signs of mental disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia and depression. Since there is scarce evidence of medical testing and research with the mind during the 1500s and 1600s, Shakespeare most likely didn’t understandRead MoreMacbeth Essay819 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth Essay In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth undergoes many psychological tribulations. There is no doubt that he is insane, but the specifics of his conditions help explain the peculiarities of the play. Macbeth’s character was perhaps the culmination of all the psychological disorders known at Shakespeare’s day. He experienced disorders such as split personality, schizophrenia, and post traumatic stress. These disorders could be caused by stress on the battlefield and a poor spousalRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Tragedy Of Macbeth Essay958 Words   |  4 PagesThing That Lady Macbeth Might Have William Shakespeare had tragedy in Macbeth. Macbeth had been a Thane, which is a noble. Lady Macbeth wants to be Queen of Scotland in Macbeth wants to be king no matter what it takes Macbeth was going be king an Lady Macbeth was going to be queen. Lady Macbeth was a very strong mind person. Lady Macbeth surfed the effect of bipolar and schizophrenia. First lady Macbeth showed bipolar disorder by showing the symptoms of inflated or self-esteem grandiosity. LadyRead More Macbeth: Schizophrenic? Essay1101 Words   |  5 Pages Macbeth’s tragic downfall into insanity could be modernly diagnosed as the mental disorder schizophrenia. Many of the actions carried out by Macbeth during the play lead the reader to believe that Macbeth is crazy. However, by today’s medical standards, Macbeth falls into several of the categories under the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is defined as, quot;a psychotic disorder characterized by loss of contact with the environment, by noticeable deterioration in the level of functioningRead MoreMacbeth Mental Essay1536 Words   |  7 PagesMacbeth Research Paper Dontee L. Sessoms 3rd period Macbeth With anger, illusions, stress and so much more I will analyze Macbeth and lady Macbeth for their problems and disorders. In my research I will decipher between certain diseases such as bipolar disease, anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, sleeping disorder, and paranoia to see exactly which one ofRead MoreMacbeth Mental Illness Paper1012 Words   |  5 PagesIn Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both show signs of what would today be diagnosed as symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is defined as â€Å"long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation†. There are three major symptoms of this disorder:Read MoreEssay about Macbeths ambition907 Words   |  4 Pageswish for, because that power might be exactly what causes their downfall. In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare ambition plays a great role and is also a main theme. Ambition is often the motivating force in ones life. It is supposed to be the motivating factor that drives one towards success. The main character, Macbeth has ambition even though it leads him to his downfall. In contrast, Lady Macbeth pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of withstandingRead MoreMacbeth Mental Illness Essay746 Words   |  3 Pages In the beginning of the play, Macbeth was in a great state of mind, he won the war for the people of Scotland, and was seen as a hero. On the way home from war, Macbeth meets three witches who prophesied that he will become The King of Scotland, which led to the ultimate downfall of his mental health. Throughout the rest of the play, you start to see him struggle with insomnia, hyperarousal, hallucinations, paranormal schizophrenia, and anxiety which we see throughout the play, that graduallyRead MoreTheme Of Violence In Macbeth1186 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, violence is a recurring theme much appreciated by the audience of the 16th to 17th century, yet it is much more than just sword fight and action. Violence is a tool that Shakespeare uses to reveals the psychological state of the characters. Throughout the piece, different levels of dishonourable violent actions reflect a character’s sanity level. Honourable violence shows a sane mind, whereas dishonourable physical violence starts the descent toward madnessRead MoreMacbeth Analysis1293 Words   |  6 Pages Sigmund Freud displayed heavy interest in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Holland 66). Just like Freud, multiple psychoanalysts explore Macbeth’s mental state. William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, devel ops a character who begins as a soldier and becomes a corrupted leader. Readers of Macbeth begin to notice the psychological deterioration of Macbeth as he gains more power. Rollo May, a writer and existential psychologist, distinguishes the five levels of intrapsychic power levels. May argues that the

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Bloodsucking Fiends A Love Story Chapter 32 Free Essays

Chapter 32 All for One, and†¦ Well, You Know They might have been the Magnificent Seven or the Seven Samurai. If each of them had been a trained professional, a gunfighter with a character flaw, or a broken warrior with a past – or if each had a secret reason for joining a suicide mission, an antihero’s sense of justice, and a burning desire to put things right – they might have become an elite fighting unit whose resourcefulness and courage would lead them to victory over those who would oppose or oppress. But the fact was, they were a disorganized bunch of perpetual adolescents, untrained and unprepared for anything but throwing stock and having fun: the Animals. We will write a custom essay sample on Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 32 or any similar topic only for you Order Now They sat on the registers as Tommy paced before them telling them about the vampire, about Simon’s death, and giving them the call to action while the Emperor stood by quoting passages from Henry the Fifth’s speech at the Battle of Agincourt. â€Å"The cops aren’t going to believe it, and I can’t do it alone,† Tommy said. The Emperor said, â€Å"‘We few, we lucky few†¦ â€Å" â€Å"So who’s with me?† The Animals didn’t say a word. â€Å"Barry,† Tommy said, â€Å"you’re a scuba diver. You’ve got some balls, right? Sure, you’re balding and going to fat, but this is a chance to make a difference.† Barry looked at this shoes. Tommy jumped to Drew, who hung his head so that his greasy blond hair covered his face. â€Å"Drew, you have the most complete knowledge of chemistry of anyone I’ve ever met. It’s time to use it.† â€Å"We’ve got a truck to unload,† Drew said. Tommy moved to Clint; stared into his thick glasses, ruffled his curly black hair. â€Å"Clint, God wants you to do this. This vampire is evil incarnate. Sure, you’re a little burned out, but you can still strike a blow for righteousness.† â€Å"Blessed are the meek,† said Clint. â€Å"Jeff!† Tommy said. The big jock looked up, as if the key to the universe lay in the fluorescent lights. â€Å"Jeff, you’re big, you’re dumb, your knee is blown out, but hey, man, you look good. We might be able to use that.† Jeff began whistling. Tommy moved on. â€Å"Lash, your people have been oppressed for hundreds of years. It’s time to strike back. Look, you don’t have your MBA yet – they haven’t completely juiced you of your usefulness yet. Would Martin Luther King back down from this challenge? Malcolm X? James Brown? Don’t you have a dream? Don’t you feel good, like you knew that you would, now?† Lash shook his head. â€Å"I have to study in the morning, man.† â€Å"Troy Lee? Samurai tradition? You’re the only trained fighter here.† â€Å"I’m Chinese, not Japanese.† â€Å"Whatever. You’re a kung-fu guy. You can reach into a guy’s pocket and take his wallet before he knows it’s gone. No one has reflexes like you.† â€Å"Okay,† Troy said. Tommy stopped on his way to the next man. â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Sure, I’ll help you. Simon was a good friend.† â€Å"Wow,† Tommy said. He looked to Gustavo. â€Å"Well?† Gustavo shook his head. â€Å"Viva Zapata!† Tommy said. â€Å"Leave him alone,† Troy Lee said. â€Å"He’s got a family.† â€Å"You’re right,† Tommy said. â€Å"Sorry, Gustavo.† Troy Lee got up and stood in front of the other Animals. â€Å"But you fuckers. You worthless bags of dog meat. If Simon could see you he’d shoot every one of you. This could be the best party we ever had.† Drew looked up. â€Å"Party?† â€Å"Yeah,† Troy Lee said, â€Å"party. We drink some brews, kick some ass, dismember some monsters – maybe pick up some babes. Christ, Drew, who knows what kind of shit we could get into. And you’re going to miss it.† â€Å"I’m in,† said Drew. â€Å"Me too,† said Barry. Troy looked at Jeff and Clint. â€Å"Well?† They nodded. â€Å"Lash, you in?† â€Å"Okay,† Lash said without conviction. â€Å"Okay,† Tommy said. â€Å"Let’s throw the truck. We can’t start until morning anyway. We’ll figure out a plan and get some weapons then.† Troy Lee held up a finger. â€Å"One thing. How do we find the vampire?† Tommy said, â€Å"Okay, let’s get to work.† Morning found the Animals in the Safeway parking lot, drinking beer and discussing the strategy for finding and disposing of a monster. â€Å"So, as far as you know, drugs don’t affect them?† Drew asked. â€Å"I don’t think so,† Tommy said. â€Å"Well, no wonder he’s pissed off,† Drew said. â€Å"What about guns?† Jeff asked. â€Å"I’ve got Simon’s shotgun at my house.† Tommy thought for a moment before answering. â€Å"They can be hurt; I mean, damaged. But Jody heals incredibly fast – this guy might even be faster. Still, I’d rather have a twelve-gauge against him than nothing.† Barry said, â€Å"A stake through the heart always works in the movies.† Tommy nodded. â€Å"It might work. We could try it. If we get that far, we can cut him up, too.† â€Å"Spearguns,† Barry said. â€Å"I’ve got three of them. A CO2 model and two that use elastics. They won’t shoot far, but they might pin him down while we cut him up.† â€Å"I’ve got a couple of short fighting swords,† Troy Lee interjected. â€Å"Razor sharp.† â€Å"Good,† Tommy said. â€Å"Bring ’em.† â€Å"I’ll bring the Word,† Glint said. He’d been shouting â€Å"Get thee behind me, Satan,† all night, putting the Animals on edge. â€Å"Why don’t you just go home and pray,† Lash said, giving Glint a push. â€Å"We need some action here.† He turned from Glint and addressed the group. â€Å"Look, guys, spearguns and swords are great, but how do we find this guy? The cops have been looking for him for three months, and they obviously haven’t had any luck. If he’s really after Tommy, then the best thing we can do is ambush him at Tommy’s apartment. And I’m not sure I want to face him when he’s awake. Simon was my friend too, but he was also one of the quickest people I ever met and the vampire took him out like he was a baby. And the paper said that he was armed. I don’t know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He’s right,† Drew said. â€Å"We’re fucked. Anyone want to catch the ferry to Sausalito and terrorize some yuppie artists? I’ve got mushrooms.† â€Å"Shrooms! Shrooms! Shrooms!† the Animals chanted. Suddenly there was a staccato clanging, like someone banging on a garbage-can lid with a stick, which is pretty much what it was. The Emperor, who had been silent all night, stepped into the circle. â€Å"Before your spines go to jelly, men, take heart. I’ve been thinking.† â€Å"Oh, no!† someone shouted. â€Å"I think I have a way to find the fiend and dispose of him before sundown.† â€Å"Right,† Drew said sarcastically. â€Å"How?† The Emperor picked up Bummer and held out the little dog as if he were displaying the Holy Grail. â€Å"Pound for pound, a better soldier never marched, and a better tracker never sniffed out a sewer rat. I’ve been so stupid.† â€Å"Beg your pardon, Your Majesty,† Tommy said. â€Å"But what the fuck are you talking about?† â€Å"Until last night I didn’t know that the lovely young woman with whom you share your abode was a vampire. Yet every time we passed your building Bummer went into a frenzy. He’s been the same each time we’ve encountered the fiend himself. I believe he has a special sensitivity for the smell of vampires.† They all stared at him, waiting. â€Å"Gather your courage and your weapons, good fellows. We’ll meet here in two hours and remove this evil from my city. And a little dog shall lead us.† The Animals looked at Tommy, who shrugged and nodded. They had a new leader now. â€Å"Two hours, guys,† Tommy said. â€Å"The Emperor’s in charge.† Cavuto watched the Animals disperse though his field glasses. He was sitting in the parking lot at Fort Mason, a hundred yards from the Safeway. He put down the binoculars and dialed Rivera’s number on his cellular phone. â€Å"Rivera.† â€Å"Anything happening there?† Cavuto asked. â€Å"No, I don’t think that anything will now that it’s daylight. The lights stayed off after the kid left, but I could hear a vacuum cleaner running. The girl’s up there but she didn’t turn on the light.† â€Å"So she likes to clean in the dark.† â€Å"I think she can see in the dark.† â€Å"I don’t want to talk about it,† Cavuto said. â€Å"Anything else?† â€Å"Not much. Some kids were dropping pebbles on me from the roof. The guys in the foundry below the kid’s apartment are moving around now. A couple of bums are doing some close-order public urinating in the alley. What’s happening there?† â€Å"The kid worked all night, drank some beers with the crew; they just split up but the kid and the wacko are still here.† â€Å"Why don’t you call in some relief?† â€Å"I don’t want this out of our hands until we know more. Stay by the phone.† â€Å"Anything from the coroner?† â€Å"Yeah, just got off the phone with him. Massive blood loss from the guy in the truck. None from the guy in the morgue. Heart attack. They still haven’t found the girl’s body.† â€Å"That’s because she was cleaning house all night.† â€Å"Gotta go,† Cavuto said. Tommy and the Emperor were waiting in the parking lot when the Animals returned in Troy Lee’s Toyota and began unloading equipment. â€Å"Stop, stop, stop,† Tommy said. â€Å"We can’t run all over the City with spearguns and swords.† â€Å"And shotguns,† Jeff said proudly, jacking a shell into the chamber of Simon’s shotgun. â€Å"Put that back in the car.† â€Å"No problem,† Drew said, holding up a roll of Christmas wrap. â€Å"Dallas, November 22, 1963.† â€Å"What?† Tommy said. â€Å"Lee Harvey Oswald walks into the book depository with a Venetian blind. Minutes later Jackie’s scooping brains off the trunk of a Lincoln. Anybody asks, we’re all giving Venetian blinds to our moms for Christmas.† â€Å"Oh,† Tommy said. â€Å"Okay.† Clint climbed out of the Toyota wearing a choir robe, a half dozen crosses hung around his neck. He held a Baggie full of crackers in one hand, a squirt gun in the other. â€Å"I’m ready,† he said to Tommy and the Emperor. â€Å"Snacks,† Tommy said, nodding to the Baggie. â€Å"Good thinking.† â€Å"The Heavenly Host,† Clint said. He brandished the squirt gun. â€Å"Loaded with holy water.† â€Å"That stuff doesn’t work, Clint.† â€Å"O ye of little faith,† Clint said. Bummer and Lazarus had left the Emperor’s side and were nosing up to Clint. â€Å"See, they know the power of the Spirit.† Just then Bummer jumped and snatched the Baggie, then took off around the corner of the store, followed closely by Lazarus, Clint, and the Emperor. â€Å"Stop him,† Clint shouted at an old man coming out of the store. â€Å"He’s taken the body of Christ.† â€Å"Don’t hurt him,† the Emperor shouted. â€Å"He’s the only hope for saving the City.† Tommy took off after them. As he passed the bewildered old man, Tommy said, â€Å"Last week they were playing cards with Elvis.What can I say?† The old man seemed to accept this and hurried off. Tommy caught up with them behind the store, where the Emperor was holding Bummer in one hand and fending off Clint with his wooden sword with the other, while Lazarus licked the last few crumbs out of the torn plastic bag. â€Å"He ate the blessed Savior!† Clint wailed. â€Å"He ate the blessed Savior!† Tommy caught Clint around the waist and pulled him away. â€Å"It’s okay, Clint. Bummer’s a Christian.† Jeff rounded the corner, his size-fourteen Reeboks clomping like a quarter horse. He looked at the empty Baggie. â€Å"Oh, I get it. They freeze-dried him, right?† Drew came around the corner, followed by Lash and Troy Lee. â€Å"Do we have a partying platoon, or what?† Drew said. Jeff said, â€Å"I never knew that they freeze-dried Jesus, did you?† Lash checked his watch. â€Å"We’ve got less than six hours before it gets dark. Maybe we should get started.† Tommy released Clint and the Emperor lowered his sword. â€Å"We need something to give Bummer the scent,† the Emperor said. â€Å"Something that the fiend has touched.† Tommy dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out one of the hundreds that Jody had given him. â€Å"I’m pretty sure that he touched this, but it’s been a while.† The Emperor took the hundred and held it to Bummer’s nose. â€Å"It shouldn’t matter. His senses are keen and his heart is righteous.† To Bummer he said, â€Å"This is the scent, little one. Find this scent.† He put Bummer down and the little dog was off with a yap and a snort. The vampire hunters followed, losing sight of Bummer as he rounded the store. When they came around to the front of the store, the manager was coming out, holding a snarling Bummer in his arms. â€Å"Flood, is this your dog?† â€Å"He’s his own man,† the Emperor said. â€Å"Well, he just ran in and blew snot all over the cash in register eight. You train him to find money?† The Emperor looked down to the hundred-dollar bill in his hand, then at Tommy. â€Å"Perhaps we should find something else to put him on the scent.† â€Å"Where was the last place you saw the vampire?† Tommy asked. The gate guard at the Saint Francis Yacht Club wasn’t buying a word of it. â€Å"Really,† Tommy said. â€Å"We’re here to decorate for the Christmas party.† The Animals waved their gaily wrapped weapons to illustrate the point. â€Å"And the Archbishop has come along to perform midnight mass.† Tommy pointed to Clint, who grinned and winked through his thick glasses. â€Å"Deus ex machina,† Clint said, exhausting his Latin. â€Å"Shalom,† he added for good measure. The guard tapped his clipboard. â€Å"I’m sorry, gentlemen, I can’t let you through without a membership or a guest pass.† The Emperor cleared his throat royally. â€Å"Good man, each moment you delay may be paid for with human suffering.† The guard thought that he might have just been threatened, hoped, in fact, that he had, so he could pull his gun, and was just letting his hand drop to his gun belt when the phone in the gate booth rang. â€Å"Stay here,† he instructed the vampire hunters. He answered the phone and nodded at it, then looked across Marina Boulevard to where a brown Dodge was parked. He hung up the phone and came out of the booth. â€Å"Go on in,† he said, obviously not happy about it. He pushed a button, the gate rose, and the Animals went in, headed for the East Harbor. Two minutes later the brown Dodge pulled up and stopped by the gate. Cavuto rolled down the window and flashed his badge. â€Å"Thanks,† he said to the guard. â€Å"I’ll keep an eye on them for you.† â€Å"No problem,† said the guard. â€Å"You ever get to shoot anyone?† â€Å"Not today.† Cavuto said. He drove though the gate, staying just out of sight of the Animals. At the end of the dock the Animals and the Emperor stared forlornly at the big white motor yacht moored a hundred yards out into the harbor. Bummer was in the midst of a yapping fit. â€Å"You see,† said the Emperor, â€Å"he knows that the fiend is aboard.† â€Å"You’re sure that’s the boat that he came off of?† â€Å"Most definitely. It chills my spine to think of it – the mist forming into a monster.† â€Å"That’s great,† Tommy said, â€Å"but how do we get aboard?† He turned to Barry, who was applying sunscreen to his bald spot. â€Å"Can you swim it?† â€Å"We could all swim it,† Barry said. â€Å"But how do we keep the gun dry? I could go get my Zodiac and take us all out there, but it’ll take a while.† â€Å"How long?† â€Å"Maybe an hour.† â€Å"We’ve got four, maybe five hours until sunset,† Lash said. â€Å"Go,† Tommy said. â€Å"Get it.† â€Å"No, wait,† said Drew, looking at the rows of yachts in the nearby slips. â€Å"Jeff, can you swim?† The big power forward shook his head. â€Å"Nope.† â€Å"Good,† Drew said. He took the Christmas-paper-wrapped shotgun from Jeff, then grabbed him by the arm and threw him into the water. â€Å"Man overboard! Man overboard! We need a boat.† The few owners and crew members who were performing maintenance on the nearby boats looked up. Drew spotted a good-sized life raft on the stern of a sixty-footer. â€Å"There, you guys, get that.† The Animals scrambled after the raft. The yacht’s crew helped them get it over the side into the water. Jeff, flailing in the water, had slapped his way back to the dock. Drew pushed him away with the shotgun. â€Å"Not yet, big guy.† Over his shoulder he shouted, â€Å"Hurry, you guys! He’s drowning!† Tommy, Barry, and Lash were paddling the rubber raft for all they were worth. The yachtsmen and the Emperor shouted instructions, while Drew and Troy Lee watched their friend trying not to drown. â€Å"He’s doing really well for a non-swimmer,† Drew said calmly. â€Å"Doesn’t want to get his hair wet,† said Troy with Taoist simplicity. â€Å"Yeah, can’t waste that two hours of blow-drying.† Tommy moved to the front of the raft and held his paddle out to Jeff. â€Å"Grab it.† Jeff flailed and thrashed, but didn’t grab the paddle. â€Å"If he stops paddling his head will go under,† Troy called. â€Å"You’ll have to grab him.† Tommy whacked Jeff on the head with the plastic paddle. â€Å"Grab it!† The power forward slipped under for a second and bobbed to the surface again. â€Å"That’s one!† Drew called. â€Å"Now grab it,† Tommy yelled. He raised the paddle as if to strike again. Jeff shook his head violently and reached for the paddle as he went under again. â€Å"That’s two!† Tommy pulled the paddle up with Jeff on the end while Barry and Lash wrestled the big man into the boat. â€Å"Well done, men,† the Emperor said. The yachtsmen stood at the end of the dock, watching in amazement. Drew turned to them. â€Å"We’re going to need that raft for a while, okay?† One of the crewmen started to protest and Drew jacked a shell into the shotgun, ripping the wrapping paper. â€Å"Big shark hunt. We need the raft.† The crewman nodded and backed away. â€Å"Sure, as long as you need it.† â€Å"Okay,† Tommy called. â€Å"Everybody in the raft.† Drew and Troy Lee helped the Emperor get into the raft, then handed over Bummer and Lazarus and climbed in themselves. The Emperor stood at the front of the raft as they made their way across the harbor to the Sanguine II. Twenty yards from the yacht Bummer began barking and bouncing around the raft. â€Å"The fiend is definitely on board,† the Emperor said. He picked up Bummer and shoved him into his pocket. â€Å"Well done, little one.† It took five minutes to get everyone on board and the life raft secured to the stern. â€Å"How we doing on time, Lash?† Tommy asked. â€Å"We’re looking at four, maybe four and a half hours of daylight. Will he wake up at sunset or dark?† â€Å"Jody usually wakes up right at sunset. So let’s say four.† â€Å"Okay, everybody,† Tommy said, â€Å"let’s spread out and find the vampire.† â€Å"I don’t know if that’s a good idea,† said Jeff. He was dripping and his lips had gone blue with the cold. The Animals looked at him. He was embarrassed by the attention. â€Å"Well, in all of the horror movies, the people split up and the monster picks them off one by one.† â€Å"Good point,† Tommy said. â€Å"Everybody stay together; find this fucker and get it over with.† He raised a gift-wrapped spear-gun in salute. â€Å"For Simon!† â€Å"For Simon!† the Animals shouted as they followed Tommy below. How to cite Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 32, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Learning From Others Essay Example For Students

Learning From Others Essay Learning From OthersBy: Me!There is something I have observed as I have grown, and that is, if we value our own lives and generations after us, we must learn from others to better our future. There are many things from which we can learn throughout our lives. In particular, we can learn from the past, present, and our future generations. In the past we have had many horrific tragedies including the Holocaust which occurred during World War II in 1945, and the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. The pain and suffering that the Jewish people had to endure while they were in concentration camps during the Holocaust was immeasurable. They were included in experimental drug testing which had life threatening effects. They had to go through the pain of being separated from their family members and friends. Also, nobody can possibly forget about the Nazi gas chambers which killed millions upon millions of innocent Jewish people. The bombing of Hiroshima was also another terrible tragedy. We can learn from the pain which the people in Hiroshima had to endure. There is not one humane reason why these people had to be bombed with a nuclear device. The only reason America bombed Hiroshima was because Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. It was not self-defence. It was a chain reaction. We, the world as a whole, must never bomb each other wi th nuclear weapons again. The nuclear weapons we have today are much stronger than the ones used way back in 1945. If this did happen, the result could be the destruction of the entire planet. We are not stupid enough to do that, or are we? Some of us must have learned something from those two mistakes. If nobody did learn anything, then you will be taught right now: We must rethink and reconsider how our actions will affect others, before we carry them out. We must do this with deep thought and concern. If we do this, we can strive to work together for a future which excludes torture, discrimination, and nuclear weapons. The one thing we can relate most to during present times is our contemporaries. People of the same age can better understand each other because they go through the same things, often at the same time. One of the best examples would be teenagers. They go through so many of the same problems including drinking, smoking, doing drugs, peer pressure, and relationship problems. Speaking from a teenagers perspective, there is one particular incident which comes to mind. I have a friend who drinks a lot, to be more exact, he drinks excessively. We were at a party on a Saturday night. Everybody had been drinking. As the party was coming to an end, I noticed my friend get into the passenger seat of his car. I went over to ask him who was driving. He told me not to worry because a sober friend of his was going to drive him home. I had seen the person he named about a half hour before this and that person was sober, so I felt reassured. However, the next day I learned that my friend was involved in a car accident. It turned out that the person driving my friend home had taken some illegal drugs. This had caused the person to have a slower reaction time and he made a left turn right into an oncoming truck. My friend was crushed by the passenger door. He was killed instantly. I learned a valuable lesson from my friends death. You must never trust the judgement of someone who has been drinking. I should have taken the responsibility of sending him home in a cab. Hopefully, with our future technology we can create a device to put into cars which tests the drug and alcohol levels of the drivers blood before the car ignition is able to start. This would prevent the injuries and deaths caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It would save many lives. .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e , .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .postImageUrl , .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e , .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:hover , .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:visited , .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:active { border:0!important; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:active , .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u78d7a307eeacdbc6dbe16cc801a4c43e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Hamlet10 EssayLastly, we can all learn a lot from children. In a way, they are our future generations. They have such an innocence which surrounds them compared to elderly people who have had more

Friday, November 29, 2019

3 Cases of Confusion with Introductory Adverbial Phrases

3 Cases of Confusion with Introductory Adverbial Phrases 3 Cases of Confusion with Introductory Adverbial Phrases 3 Cases of Confusion with Introductory Adverbial Phrases By Mark Nichol When an adverb or a phrase serving an adverbial function begins a sentence, the writer must take care not to introduce a simple punctuation mistake that erroneously associates that introductory word or phrase with the subject rather than the object. These three examples illustrate the problem and provide solutions. 1. â€Å"Eventually, I hope we’ll be able to exploit such opportunities.† Eventually means â€Å"at some point in the future,† and this sentence expresses the writer’s sentiment that at some point in the future, he or she will hope. What the writer means, however, is that he or she hopes that at some point in the future, exploitation may occur. To accurately convey this meaning, â€Å"I hope† should either begin the sentence (â€Å"I hope that eventually, we’ll be able to exploit such opportunities†) or should be bracketed with a second comma to form a parenthetical (â€Å"Eventually, I hope, we’ll be able to exploit such opportunities†). 2. â€Å"By the end of the quarter, we are sure that productivity will improve.† This sentence reads as if the writer were attempting to mention that he or she and others will be certain at the end of the period stated, but if that were true, the sentence should read, â€Å"By the end of the quarter, we will be sure that productivity will improve.† More likely, however, the statement has the same problem as the first example. For the sake of clarity, the sentence should begin with the subject: â€Å"We are sure that by the end of the quarter, productivity will improve.† Alternatively, â€Å"We are sure,† to remove it from the chronological reference, should be parenthetical: â€Å"By the end of the quarter, we are sure, productivity will improve.† 3. â€Å"With some additional effort, they are confident that he will be successful.† Again, the writer is erroneously associating the subject represented by the pronoun with the introductory phrase. The solution, as before, is to start with the subject (â€Å"They are confident that with some additional effort, he will be successful†) or to make the phrase containing the pronoun a parenthetical phrase (â€Å"With some additional effort, they are confident, he will be successful†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a UK Business LetterExpanded and ExtendedComment, Suggestion, and Feedback

Monday, November 25, 2019

Apush Dbq 3 Essays

Apush Dbq 3 Essays Apush Dbq 3 Paper Apush Dbq 3 Paper Carson Mayes DBQ APUSH During the election of 1800, Jefferson ran for the Democratic-Republic party. His philosophy on government had always been to have a strict interpretation of the Constitution along with the strong belief in state rights over a strong central government that his opposing Federalist party wanted. His beliefs on a frugal and limited government, reduced army and navy, and the repeal of taxes were all issues that helped maintain his philosophy of government as well as alter it. One way Thomas Jefferson was able to keep his beliefs in tact was by the repealing of the excise tax. Jefferson’s view on the excise tax of whiskey (Doc A) was that it was an infernal one and will break apart the Union. This excise tax on whiskey had already caused much trouble during the time of George Washington’s presidency. When Alexander Hamilton first established the tax, farmers in Pennsylvania were not happy. The result was the Whiskey Rebellion. Outraged by the tax they had to pay on whiskey, a group of people in Pennsylvania formed a rebellion to prevent from having to pay any tax collectors. George Washington and his men were able to stop the rebellion quickly and prove to colonists the power of the federal government. Another way Thomas Jefferson portrayed his values as an anti-federalists was his opposition to a National Bank. He thought that all the powers that were not reserved for the federal government in the Constitution were reserved to the States (Doc G). Despite what his opinion was, Alexander Hamilton succeeded in the creation of a National Bank for the better of America’s economy. Jefferson supported his ideas of a Republic government with the creation of the Kentucky Resolutions (Doc A). In order to get rid of the Alien and Sedition Acts that, pro federalist, John Adams created, Jefferson developed these resolutions to restore self-government to each state itself. The Compact Theory was the main basis for the Kentucky Resolutions. This theory stated that the individual states were the final judge of the federal governments actions. In Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address, held in Washington D. C (Doc H), he stated, â€Å"We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. † This shows that no matter what your opinion was, America was still one country with the same principles. Jefferson knew that despite the Federalist opinions, everyone possesses the same equal rights. Not only was he able to change the presidency from a strong Federalist party to a Republic-Democratic party, he also demonstrated new ways to act as president. For example, instead of bowing to guests he introduced the custom of shaking hands with one another. He placed his guests at a round table to show that there was no seat more important than the other. Also, instead of addressing Congress in person, he simply sent a message. He strived to get as far away from acting like a monarch as possible. Although Jefferson for the most part applied his values to his presidency, there were also times where he grew farther away from these beliefs of his. Before becoming president, Jefferson’s philosophy on the Constitution was to have strict interpretation rather than loose, which allowed it to be amended at any time. By purchasing the Louisiana Territory ( Doc E and F), he was going against his first beliefs on strict interpretation. Nowhere in the Constitution did it state that the United States could seize foreign territory. By purchasing this territory Jefferson had to deal with foreign affairs with both France and Britain. Jefferson went against his earlier philosophy of a small army and navy with the Barbary Coast War (Doc D). During 1805, pirates from North Africa attacked American ships in attempt to take all of their goods on board. Because of this, Jefferson expands the US Navy to prevent any more attacks from happening. This was a major federalist view to expand the army and against Jefferson’s initial view on 3,000 soldiers and 172 officers. The Embargo Act (Doc J) was a low point for Jefferson in his presidency. The cause of this act was Impressment, which is when the British would take Americans from their ships and force them into joining their Navy. The Embargo Act restricted all foreign trade for the United States. This led to a major downfall In America’s economy and ruined New England’s trading system. In the end it proved to be more beneficial for France and England whom we were stopping all trading with. While being in the White House, Jefferson proved himself to both maintain and alter his philosophy of government. With issues of a decreased navy, limited government, and repeal of taxes, Jefferson was able to realize that some of his initial beliefs might not work out when the time came that he would become president. Many of his philosophies were easier said than done. Being on the outside of the White House made his anti-federalists beliefs much more strong than his time spent inside of it. Jefferson may be looked to people as someone who completely altered all of his beliefs about government but in the end he was able to do it for the better of his country.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing report based on industrial analysis Essay

Marketing report based on industrial analysis - Essay Example wing issue that needs to be addressed: due to the high competition in local market managers in Burger King should have alternative marketing tools available. This means that if the positioning of the firm’s products/ services in India is not successful then the re-positioning of the firm should be attempted by emphasizing on different market segments, as explained analytically below. Marketing, as a process, is rather complex. In the literature, emphasis is given to three elements of this process: ‘a) the marketing mix; these are the elements of each firm’s marketing plan; b) the market forces and c) the matching process’ (Payne & Frow 2013, p.12). The above elements of the marketing process interact in the following way: in the context of the marketing mix each organization identifies the criteria that its marketing plan has to meet. Then, the marketing plan is structured accordingly, i.e. it is designed in such way that these criteria can be met. At the next level, the forces that the organization has to face in each market are identified; emphasis is given to those forces that can affect the organization’s marketing plan. Finally, using the matching process the managers of the organization are able to align the marketing plan with the market forces, so that the success of the plan is secured, as possible. Marketing orientation is a term used for showing the alignment of ‘all the activities of each organization with the needs of its customers’ (McCabe 2010, p.117). According to Palmer (2012) in order for a business to promote marketing orientation the following term needs to be met: the business should be fully aware of the needs of its customers, of the performance of its competitors and of the capabilities of its employees. By focusing on marketing orientation Burger King would be able to attract many customers and to set the basis for significant growth in the Indian market. Moreover, the costs of marketing orientation for Burger King could be

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Nitendo case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nitendo case - Essay Example Barrier to entry is observed due to the requirement of a large user base. ii) Demand and Supply Analysis: The lower the price, the higher is the demand. The achievement of profit maximization point prevails in the suppliers’ minds. iii) Economies of Scale: Difficult to reap advantages from economies of scale due to low selling price of consoles and sophisticated technology. iv) Core Competencies: Modernized console and controller design, marketing and attractive game designs lifted up Nintendo. Nintendo is a participant of oligopoly market and along with few strong competitors like Sony and Microsoft it occupies around 96% of the market. Its three focal competencies: excellent marketing skills, modernized consoles and dynamic game designs, provide it with perennial demand by its consumers thereby, placing it much ahead of its competitors in the market. Nintendo’s expertise in attractive consoles, controller designs, handhelds and games are its tools which are precious to the consumer and can neither be imitated nor substituted. On July 7, 2006, Nintendo opened a South Korean subsidiary in Seoul (â€Å"Nintendo†, 2006). Nintendo’s performance has been appropriately measured by depicting the Net Income and Revenue, the Stock Value, the Net Profit Margin and the Earning per Share. The behavior of the consumer and the industry, the market structure, the extent of competition along with the core competencies like innovativeness, marketing and attractive game designs provide ample scope for evaluating Nintendo’s performance. Financial difficulties need to be overcome. Market to a lifetime consumer should be the target. For Mario game, aim should be to capture consumers of 28 years of age by redesigning it. The Nintendo Revolution is ideal at the moment. Price of the new console should be $ 200 which is much lower than others. This low cost will reap benefits of market domination thereby

Monday, November 18, 2019

The meaning of word forgetfulness in works of Bill Collins Essay

The meaning of word forgetfulness in works of Bill Collins - Essay Example This is very much the case in Billy Collins pointed â€Å"forgetfulness†. As a means of identifying the subject and theme of this point, discussing the logical development of ideas, analyzing the language, and measuring the degree of imagery metaphors and symbolism, it is the hope of this author that this brief analysis will be able to shed a particular level of light upon direct and indirect meaning that Collins necessarily sought to integrate with the reader. Firstly, with regards the subject in one, this is quite busy stated within its title, â€Å"forgetfulness†. Rather than discussing such a topic in a nuanced and ultimately nonlinear way, the author delves directly into the subject matter and forces the reader to realize that no matter what countermeasures that might take, they too are ultimately doomed to follow the same universal path of losing one’s memories, the ability to recollect, and ultimately the means by which ones reality is defined. As such, th e logical development on takes begins by discussing the way in which certain memories are lost. This of course proceeds within the constructs of discussing how additional memory with respect to activities of varying importance is also lost as an individual grows and develops. The logical and linear way in which this is presented begins by discussing the way in which the young adult first begins to lose sight an understanding of the importance of quadratic equations learned in high school. However, the logical progression that this takes in his with the individual getting up late into the night seeking to look up curious aspects of dates facts and figures that should have otherwise been remembered. Although it is not expressly referenced, the reader can gain the understanding of the fact that, due to the universal nature of the elements of forgetfulness, as well is the way in which the poet describes it, the author and the reality which defines his own life is equally effective. One of the most effective ways in which the subject matter integrates with reader is with respect to the way in which simplistic and Standard English is utilized. One of the reasons why this might have been done with regards to the fact the entire point is related with regards to how the punches might speak to the individual to convince them of the fact that their memory and ability to recall is ultimately failing. Within such a context, it would be no need for elevated language as conversation within the inner self would necessarily be some plastic and straightforward. Similarly, symbolism and imagery are heavily utilized throughout one as a means of presenting the reader with the understanding that old age and forget not only give but are also unavoidable. Says the poet, â€Å"as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor/decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain/to a little fishing village where there are no  phones† (Collins 1). Furthermore, the poet st ates concerning memories, â€Å"It has floated away down a dark mythological river/whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall/well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those/who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle† (Collins 1). By utilizing such imagery and symbolism, the author is able to paint a vivid picture of the way in which old age is related to retirement; and how forgetfulness and old age are irrevocably linked to the decline and death that awaits everyone. Though no formal rhyming mechanism was utilized, appointment nonetheless held a level of integrity due to the fact that it observed the justifiable structure. With regards to personal thoughts and takeaways, it is the understanding of this student that the particular point in question had the

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Malaysias Tourism Industry: An Analysis

Malaysias Tourism Industry: An Analysis 1.0 Introduction The Malaysian tourism industry seems to represent an increasingly important sector and it palys a major role within the Malaysian economy and has been responsible for the growth of the economy over the years. This industry has become a very important source of revenue for the overall economic development of the country. For an industry that is very important, it is empirical that the government take steps to make tourism a strategic economic and employment priority. Logistics is a practice that has been used in several other industries but now is appearing to be very helpful and applicable in the tourist and recreation sector. It is observed here that the travel and tourism industry in Malaysia has continued to improve over the years and this particular industry has managed to make a significant contribution to Malaysias revenue. What is known   here is that the Malaysian travel and tourism industry does continue to remain to be one of the main income earners that continue to help to strengthen Malaysias balance of payment. The tourism industry of Malaysia is capable of being classified into about seven categories ande these are as follows: Edu-tourism Domestic tourism Shopping tourism Medic-toursm Eco-tourism Agro-Tourism Sports tourism In this research, there will be an examination of the issues and problems relating to the logistics practices by firms in various relevant industries that are related to the Malaysain tourism industry and the way that these firms carry out their logistics practices. In essence, the main focus would be on devising essential strategies that would enable these firms to be able to enahnce their practices relating to logistics for the benefit of all of the industry. There are a number of strategies that can be adopted by these firms in order to enhance their performance in this research will be concentrated on identifying one strategy that can help the firms in the tourist industry in Malaysia to enhance their logistics practices. In particular, the viability of the logistics cost analysis strategy will be examined here and a theorization will be made about the viability of the utilization of this strategy to enhance the performance of firms in the tourism industry in Malaysia and the per formance of the industry itself. This research will be capable of producing efficient outputs that will make it possible for conclusions to be drawn about the logistics efficiency of the firms operating within the tourism industry in Malaysia and the possible ways to increase the efficiency of a firms logistics operations in order to ensure enhanced and efficient performance within the industry. After all relevant matter has been factored in, the researcher will be able to highlight all the logistic factors affecting travel and tourism industry in Malaysia and would be able to arrive at a conclusion that can then be used to devise a strategy or framework that can be used by firms in the industry to perfect their logistics practices. 1.1 Problem Statement As noted, there are a number of factors that have been identified as being factors that have caused for the tourism industry to experience setbacks and it is these kinds of setbacks thatt have the impact of reducing the performance of the firms within this industry. Logistical factors are the kinds of factors that could determine the efficiency at which the an organisation within the indsutry is able to operate at maximum efficiency. For a very profitable industry like the Malaysian tourism industry, it is very essential for any kind of factor within the industry that might cause for issues to be faced by the Malaysian tourism sector to be identified and addressed, in order to ensure that this industry continues to be a able to bring in revenue for Malaysia. Problems relating to logistics can always be an impediment to the progress of a firm and even an industry, if all the firms do not have an efficient logistics strategy. Among the relevant firms that are impacted by logistics in t his industry include firms from the services, hospitality, tour operating, tourism oriented and recreation oriented firms. All of these firms are able to utlize various logistics strategies in order to reduce costs and improve their services. These firms are suffering from logistics management issues that are in turn reducing the performance of the entire industry and hence it is essential that these firms adopt a strategy that would improve logistics practices. 1.2 Significance of the Research This research is signficant because it addresses a very essential issue relating to logistics and the way that the logistical practices of an organisation within the tourism industry can affect the way that the firm performs. This research will determine the state of the logistical practices of firms in the industry and the output will be used to determine if there is a deficiency in the logistics practices of firms in the industry. The research will then attempt to make a proposal of strategies in order to perfect the logistics practices of firms in the organisation through the use of strategies and frameworks. 1.3 Scope of Research This research will be focused primarily on examining the logistics practices of firms in the Malaysian tourism industry and the efficiency at which they carry out their logistics practices. The scope would be on examining the logistics practices of firms only from the tourism industry in Malaysia and to propose a strategy within the sphere of logistics that is capable of solving these inefficiencies and issues faced by these firms. 1.4 Research Objectives The main research objectives of the project will be outlined here. The main objective here will be to determine the logistic factors affecting travel and tourism industry in Malaysia. So as to be able. To be able to achieve the primary objective of this research paper, there are a few secondary objectives that have to be determined, among them are as follows: Examining the logistics performance of the tourism industry in Malaysia Determining if Malaysia firms in the tourism industry are suffering from a deficiency in logistcal performance Examining the strategies that can be adopted in order for logistics performance of to be capable of being enhanced in firms operating within the tourism industry, in order to enhance the overall performance of the Malaysian tourism industry. 1.5 Research Questions What is the level of logistics performance of the tourism industry in Malaysia? Is firms in the Malaysian tourism industry suffering from a deficiency in logistcal performance? What are the strategies that can be adopted in order for logistics performance to be capable of being enhanced in firms operating within the tourism industry so as to enhance the overall performance of the Malaysian tourism industry? 2.0   Literature Review In this chapter, there will be a literature review that will be carried out on this research topic and hence this means that there will be a review of literature relating tourism and logistical infrastructure. The review commences with an review of literature that relates to the description of the tourism product, the benefits of investing in tourism, a review of literature concerning tourism management, the charactertistics of the tourism industry, the opinions of past researchers about the strategies that can be used to enahnce the logistics practices within the industry to deliver value, the value chain of the tourism industry. 2.1 Characteristics of the Tourism Industy According to Dwyer and Forsyth, (1997), the tourism industry does have a number of characteristics of a competitive market. Essentially, there are very few barriers to entry into the market, the market can be described as being a truly global market that have a few unnatural barriers to trade, there are a large number of firms within the industry and the prices are set on the sole basis of market expectations, essentially. Within a highly competitive market like tourism, there does not seem to be any difference, when it comes to the yield from different types of tourists. Within this kind of a competitive market, resources have to be deployed at a level that does reflect their opportunity cost. What this mean here is that they will be employed at a level that makes it possible to provides a sufficient return to investors when talking in terms of the cost of capital. If there are resources which provide above normal profits they are bid up in price and any abnormal profit is dissipated into the cost of capital (Dwyer and Forsyth, 1997). 2.2 The Tourism Product Described 2.2.1 Features of the Tourism Product It has been stated that Yilmaz and Bititci, (2006), that the tourism product is said to carry the characteristics pertaining to the service product as well as the characteristics that are special to the tourism industry, and it is this that tends to make the   tourism product to be much different from physical goods. What can be said here is that these characteristics are very effective when it relates to the performance of the tourism establishments and they have to be taken into consideration when performance measurement and management systems are being designed. A very special and distinctive features of the tourism product can eb said as it being unable to be seen and touched physically before being purchased, and which means that it is intangible. It is appreicated here that this kind of intangibility does essentially make it harder to buy but easier to be able to distribute (Evans et al., 2003). It does also make tourism to be dependent on the representations as well as the descriptions that are within printed or audio-visual forms, and, hence, it is theorized here that information is the vital tool which makes it possible to bind producers within the travel industry (Ujma, 2001). The main role of travel information that is for consumers can be siad to be very significant as visitors tend become exposed to trhe risk in buying vacations that they believe to be able to satisfy their various needs and wants that are said to be very important to them (Mill and Morrison, 2002) and (Yilmaz and Bititci, 2006). The next feature of the tourism product is its perishability and what can be stated here is that the   tourism product, like an airplane seat or hotel bed, is incapable of being stored for future sale. This can be decribed as being a differences that is present between tourism and manufacturing products. It is this kind of characteristic of the tourism product that does haev an impact on the marketing efforts as well as the operations of the tourism businesses. The main marketing challenge here would be to operate at full capacity for as long as possible and the company would have to design various kinds of marketing strategies for the ultimate purpose of stimulating the demand (Callaghan et al., 1994) and (Yilmaz and Bititci, 2006). 2.2.2 The Value Chain of the Tourism Industry This industry is one that has been analysed in a holistic manner through a number of distribution channel perspective by a number of authors and researchers (Middleton and Clark, 2001), (Mill and Morrison, 2002), (Halloway, 1998) and (Laws, 1997). A common theme that has been noted among a number of researchers is that there seems to be a lack of customer-oriented approach within the end-to-end value chain. It is noted that customers tend to view the tourism product as something that is a seamless product and that needs to be handled from the view point of the customer in order to be able to measure the tourism value chain in an efficient way. There has been a great amount of emphasis that has been given to service, quality, and customer satisfaction issues, and within the connection to the business performance within the tourism industry, it is quite surprising not to find a customer-oriented approach present within the tourism value chain (Yilmaz and Bititci, 2006). The tourism value chain is noted to commence with the customer order and more often than not, customers or tourists do have a few alternatives when it comes to purchasing the tourism product and it is noted here that they are capable of either arranging their travel plan with the assistence of tour operators or even outbound travel agents, which does have an advantage of taking professional advice in relation to all of the holiday package without any kind of thinking; or arranging it themselves and this permits them to be very flexible when it comes to their travel experience. It can be said here that incoming travel agents is capable of being used to make transfer arrangements from/to the airport to/from the hotel and for daily excursions as well as   other activities that are normally held at the destination (Yilmaz and Bititci, 2006). The delivery of the services is capable of being dvided into three sub sectors and these include accommodation, transportation and incoming travel services. The performance of the delivery stage is one that is affected by the various relations between these main industry players. Hence, it can be said here that performance measures would be required to reflect the interdependency features of the industry (Yilmaz and Bititci, 2006). The transportation part of the service is where logistics really come into play and the existance of bad infrastructure would damage the entire service offering. 2.3 The Concept of Tourism Yield Dwyer and Forsyth, (1997) state here that tourism yield can be said to be the net benefit that accrues to the host country from international visitors and this means that it is the benefits minus the costs of tourism activity. This particular definition does believe the complexity of identifying, at the national level, all of the costs and the benefits of tourism, and every one of these has different kinds of patterns of activity and impact At the firm level, a measure like this is very critically important as it is a measure of survival. In essence, Tisdell (1993) has provided a list of target variables of possible importance to governments when it comes to formulating policy in terms of foreign tourism and these are listed out below: foreign exchange earnings net national economic benefits that are obatined from foreign tourists as being measured by changes that take place within the economic surpluses employment generation; cultural and sociological impact in regards to the host population conservational or environmental impact promotion of international understanding and co-operation income distribution consequences. (Dwyer andForsyth, 1997) 2.4 Market for Tourism and Recreational Services It is noted here that the market of tourist and recreational services is composed of the following: hospitality services catering services tour operating services tourism oriented services recreation oriented services (Kordel, 2008) It is these segments of the market where a large number of firms, business entities and also incorporated companies are said to operate easily and are able to successfully adopt the concept of logistics. Essentially speaking, the science of logistics is said to combine theoretical and practical issues and each and every one of its theories is capable of being easily implemented as well as confronted with realityfor the purposes of verifying that they are efficient and applicable in real life (Kordel, 2008) 2.5 Logistics and Cost Analysis Issues For instance, taking into account the hospitality services sector, it is noted that   there are some areas where logistics play a vital role and it is noted here that the efficiency as well as the quality of hospitality services is capable of being improved via efficient logistics management of the following: hotel management quality management information management marketing (Kordel, 2008) In looking at the hospitality sector from a very comprehensive point of view, a number of different processes are observed to take place and these include the following: supply processes service production processes distribution processes storage and warehousing processes information transmission processes (Kordel, 2008) 2.5.1 Minimalization of Costs These areas that have been outlined above have to be referred to when it comes to searching for minimalization of costs as well as to locate the most appropriate solutions that are possible for the purposes of gaining a strong, a very competitive and very leading position within the market (Kordel, 2008) . All of these processes have to be examined from the view point of costs that they are bringing about   and then be classified according to genre and amount. This would permit for the calculation of total and unit logistics cost, and these are noted to be very essential factors that impact the competitiveness of companies. Total logistics costs analysis can be described as being the main key to managing the logistics function and this is why it is essential that the management take into consideration all logistics cost (Kordel, 2008) With the hotel industry, for instance, the total amount of logistics cost is said to include the following: cost of supply activities cost of information cost of operation cost of marketing cost of distribution cost of additional services cost of insurance cost of transport activities cost of personnel other financial costs (Kordel, 2008) 2.5.2 Utilization of Costs Analysis to Improve Logistics Practices In essence, the issue of costs is said to be an essential problem and due to the fact that its role in todays economy can be said to continue to grow, they have to be brought up to everyones attention, they have to be properly classified, diagnosed, analyzed and then utilized for the purposes of decision making process. However, most of the companies can be said to be fitted with basic financial and accounting systems and it is noted here that these do not register the logistics costs and it makes it hard to which makes it difficult to diagnose and analyze them (Kordel, 2008). The processes noted above have to eb examined from the point of view of costs. The utlization of cost analysis is noted to be carried out accroding to these above specifications and could help when it comes to calculating all of the logistics cost concerning the particular firm in the tourism industry and it will also indicate the kind of components that are able to generate the most costs and hence are required to be minimized. It is appreciated here that companies can easily enhance their market competitiveness by reducing their logistics costs abnd this eventually results in lowering the total costs of goods and services (Kordel, 2008). Because it might be hard to make a determination of the individual component of logistics costs that have to be reduced, companies need to make attempts to integrate the logistics system as opposed to lowering total logistics costs. This kind of solution can be said to be very safe especially that wrong diagnosis of individual costs may lead to an increase of total logistics costs. Hence, it is essential to remember that in tourism and hospitality business, the effective cost reduction as well as the ability to manage the total logistics costs in the right way can be said to be very helpful when it comes to building a strong position in the market (Kordel, 2008). In essence, keeping track of all logistics costs that are said to be borne by companies from tourist and recreation sector could be easier if only these companies are equipped with additional software that are dedicated towards logistics costs registration and these companies are able to carry out regular research by themselves concerning their very own initial costs.m In general terms, for the hospitality sector to be capable of operating properly and without any sort of objections, there are some issues that have to be taken into account and these are as follows: Modern logistics solutions have to be constantly updated and implemented There needs to be an analysis of supply chain costs There has to be a much wider spectrum of controlling system that has to be implemented Essential decisions that are made have to be consulted with professionals. (Kordel, 2008) For the purposes of having a better understand of the concept that is trying to be presented here, the following matters need attention: Services that are provided by these firms need to meet certain quality standards. Customer are to be considered as being merchandise and all the costs that are borne need to be   classified as being according to the logistics processes. Realization costs related to controlling systems that are orne in logistics processes need to be implemented There has to be accurate and prompt decisions that need to be made in relation to logistics processes being executed. (Kordel, 2008) 2.6 The Role of Information Technology in the Tourism Industry and its Impact of Logistics The information technologies are said to play a very significant role within the tourism industry and it is appreicated here that the impacts of the internet (Wynee et al., 2001) and (Dambro and Wilson, 2004) and the computer reservation systems (Duliba and Kauffman, 2001) and (Alamdari, 2002) within the distribution value channel of tourism are subjects of thorough discussion. Information technologies do permit the suppliers, like the   airlines and hotels, to be capable of monitoring, managing and controling their capacity via communicating with the intermediaries together with the end consumers. For instance, it is noted here that authorized tour operators are able to access a dedicated part of a hotel companys intranet in order to be able to view room rates and the availability of these rooms for their customers. Such kind of transparency as well as interactivity makes it possible to increases the efficiency as well as the productivity of all of the value chain (Buhalis, 2003). It can be theorized here that IT does enhance logistics very well and it enhanced speed, efficiency and dependability within the entire tourism industry. 3.0 Methodology In this chapter, the methodology of the research will be outlined very comprehensively. This means that there will be an elaboration of the various methodological tools that will be used in this research for the purposes of collecting data. These are the tools that will be used to gather information that will then be subjected to analysis and for conclusions to be drawn. For this research, there would be the use of primary and secondary research tools that will be utilized in conjunction with each other. The use of both these tools will ensure that quality data will be obtained for the puposes of the research. The research design and the theoretical framework for the research will also be outlined in this chapter. 3.1 Methodological Tools Utlized As noted previously, the methodological tools that will be utlized here will comprise of a combination of primary and secondary research tools. Below will be an identification and description of the types of tools that are to be used. 3.1.1 Primary Research Tools Primary research does essentially involves the collection of data concerning a given subject directly from the real world. Here, there will be a description of what primary research is, the ethics that are involved with primary research and different types of research that can be done (Driscoll and Brizee, 2010). In essence, primary research is any sort of research that can be done through the use of surveys and interviews. A researcher that is very talented will be one that will be able to use both primary and secondary research sources and to be able to integrate them in a very cohesive fashion. The ability to perform primary research can be said to be a useful skill as it is able to acquire information that can supplement ones research in secondary sources (Purdue.Edu -Primary Research, 2010). It is appreicated here that the primary data that has been collected via the methods that have been described above are generally qualitative in nature or in some cases, quantitative (TVU.AC.UK   -Primar Research Methodologies, 2010). For this research, the types of primary research that will be carried out will be as follows: 1. Interviews 2. Questionnaires 3.1.2 Primary Research Tool 1 Interviews Interviews can be described as being one-on-one or small group question and answer sessions that will be carried out by the researcher and the interviewees. These interviews will be abel to provide a great amount of information from a few persons and they are essential when it comes to getting expert or knowledgeable opinion in relation to a particular subject, like logistics in the Malaysian tourism industry (Purdue.Edu -Primary Research, 2010) and (Driscoll and Brizee, 2010). The advantages of interviews are as follows: Able to get accurate information. High response rate. Able to be completed immediately Ability for interviewer to help if they is problems Ability to investigate motives and feelings. Ability to use recording equipment (TVU.AC.UK   -Primar Research Methodologies, 2010) In essence,   a total of 5 interviews will be carried out with managers from firms within the tourism industry in Malaysia. The researcher aims to get a wealth of information from these managers about their thoughts and perspectives about the performance of the firms in the tourism industry in Malaysia, the issues that are reducing its performance and the strategies that can be used to improve its performance. These interviews will be vital towards the satisfying of the research objectives. 3.1.3 Primary Research Tool 2- Questionnaire Questionnaires will be the next kind of primary research source that will be utilized here and in this questionnaire can be described as a type of questioning that is far more rigid as opposed to interviews and it also tends to involve much larger groups of people. In essence, these surveys are likely to   provide a limited amount of information from a very large group of persons but they are very useful when it comes to having an understanding about what a larger population thinks about the issue concerned (Purdue.Edu -Primary Research, 2010) and (Driscoll and Brizee, 2010). The main advantages of using questionnaires are as follows: Able to be used in its own right Able to be posted, e-mailed or faxed and this increases speed and saves time Able to cover a large number of persons Very wide geographic coverage. Inexpensive Respondent has the chance to consider responses. There is anonymity of respondent. Absence of interviewer bias (TVU.AC.UK   -Primar Research Methodologies, 2010) A total of 110 questionnaires will be distributed to members of the target group and these essentiall comprise of persons from firms within the tourism industry in Malaysia. The researcher proposes to collect a large amount of information from this target group in order to determine the issues facing the tourism industry, the practices of these firms, what they are doing to improve themselves and the strategies that they can adopt in order to improve their practices for the benefit of their firm as well as the industry. 3.1.4 Secondary Research Tools Secondary research methods are research methods that are used to collect information from sources that have already been researched on before. Secondary research would involve the processing of data that has already been collected by researcher previously and it makes reference to the consultation of previous studies as well as findings and these include reports, press articles as well as previous market research projects so as to be able to reach a conclusion. A secondary research method would be premised on information that has been collected from studies previously performed and hence it is a reseaerch method that is not very expensive in contrast to primary research because it does not require new research methods. The main disadvantage of this research type is that the information that has been collected might be old and obsolete and this might mean that the results of analysis could be inaccurate (Business Teacher -Primary-Secondary Market Research, 2010). There are a number of secondary research sources that can be used to collect information and the ones that will be utlized for this research invovle the following below: Published texts concerning theoretical work and aslo secondary analyses that have been carried out by ‘experts and reports Various media like the internet, television and radio that act as sources of information (Secondary Research Methods, 2010) Below would be the main advantages of secondary reseaerch: Inexpensive and highly accessible Only method of examining large-scale trends Abilit to gather a large amount of date especially from the internet (Secondary Research Methods, 2010) 3.2 Research Design In relation to to reseach design for this project, this relates to the decision making selections that are rational and here there will be an elaboration of the type of study that will be carried out, the level of control and other issues related to the project. This research typically involves making a research of the logistics practices and conditions in the Malaysia tourism industry and what improvements that need to be made to enhance the logistics so as to bring positive enhancements to the industry. Concerning the kind of study invovled, this will be an exploratory study as they has been very little research that has been carried out on the logistics of the Malaysian tourism industry and the approaches that have been taken by the Malaysian government to improve it. The level of interference by the researcher was kept minimal so as to ensure that it does not have a bad impact on the research and that the completion of the project is not delayed. Practically, there are a number of sampling techniques that can be used for a research like this and these are discussed now. The first of these is cluster sampling and this is the kind of sampling that can be used where the larger population has been divided into much smaller clusters and they are selected randomly for the study. The next type of sampling is systematic sampling and this is a technique whereby the researcher is able to sele

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Reconciliation for 9/11 Terrorism Essay -- September 11th Terrorist At

Since the horrible tragedy on September 11th, Americans have been brainstorming for ideas on how to fight terrorism. Minds are collaborating on what can be done to reconcile the West in the minds of Islamic nations. Many strategies for attaining peace have been introduced, and steps are being made toward the appeasement of differences. The ideas for peacemaking that have already been set in motion will be discussed along with new suggestions for reconciliation. Both political and private associations in the United States have introduced wonderful solutions that have begun the process of reconciliation between Islam and the West. On the political side, President Bush visited a mosque after the terrorist attacks to depict support for American Muslims. He stated that terrorism "is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace-they represent evil and war." (http://www.beliefnet.com/). This act helped President Bush gain the support of American Muslims who had been mistreated since the attacks. It also served as a demonstration for other Muslim countries that religion was not involved in the war. Unfortunately, since President Bush's exposure, Osama bin Laden has misled Muslims into believing that religion is a significant part of the war. In a speech he gave on November 3rd, he declares, "It is a question of faith, not a war against terrorism, as Bush and Blair try to depict it" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/). A top lieutenant to Osama Bin Laden said, "The root of terrorism is in the conflict in Palestine." Some believe that if war ends in the Middle East, a majority of the fight against terrorism will be accomplished. formerly, the United States has sided wit... ...gout place, the Arabic version of a pizza restaurant, and chat about the game, life, and whatever. Most of all, what Muslim people need to know about Americans is that we love them. Terrorism is an act of hate, and hate can be conquered only by love. God exemplified evil-dispelling love by sending his son to earth. As American Christians, we are being called to follow God's example and show our love to our neighbors, the Muslims. I will agree with the Beatles and say that in reconciliation efforts with the Muslims, "All we need is love." Now the brainstorming is done and these ideas have been introduced. It is time to act. As students of reconciliation, we must remember that Muslims and their positions can change. However, reconciliation first requires risk and sacrifice. We must take up the challenge and walk through the door of reconciliation while it is open. Reconciliation for 9/11 Terrorism Essay -- September 11th Terrorist At Since the horrible tragedy on September 11th, Americans have been brainstorming for ideas on how to fight terrorism. Minds are collaborating on what can be done to reconcile the West in the minds of Islamic nations. Many strategies for attaining peace have been introduced, and steps are being made toward the appeasement of differences. The ideas for peacemaking that have already been set in motion will be discussed along with new suggestions for reconciliation. Both political and private associations in the United States have introduced wonderful solutions that have begun the process of reconciliation between Islam and the West. On the political side, President Bush visited a mosque after the terrorist attacks to depict support for American Muslims. He stated that terrorism "is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace-they represent evil and war." (http://www.beliefnet.com/). This act helped President Bush gain the support of American Muslims who had been mistreated since the attacks. It also served as a demonstration for other Muslim countries that religion was not involved in the war. Unfortunately, since President Bush's exposure, Osama bin Laden has misled Muslims into believing that religion is a significant part of the war. In a speech he gave on November 3rd, he declares, "It is a question of faith, not a war against terrorism, as Bush and Blair try to depict it" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/). A top lieutenant to Osama Bin Laden said, "The root of terrorism is in the conflict in Palestine." Some believe that if war ends in the Middle East, a majority of the fight against terrorism will be accomplished. formerly, the United States has sided wit... ...gout place, the Arabic version of a pizza restaurant, and chat about the game, life, and whatever. Most of all, what Muslim people need to know about Americans is that we love them. Terrorism is an act of hate, and hate can be conquered only by love. God exemplified evil-dispelling love by sending his son to earth. As American Christians, we are being called to follow God's example and show our love to our neighbors, the Muslims. I will agree with the Beatles and say that in reconciliation efforts with the Muslims, "All we need is love." Now the brainstorming is done and these ideas have been introduced. It is time to act. As students of reconciliation, we must remember that Muslims and their positions can change. However, reconciliation first requires risk and sacrifice. We must take up the challenge and walk through the door of reconciliation while it is open.