Anti Oppression Pcs Model Essay Example

Anti Oppression Pcs Model Paper Evaluate the importance of anti oppressive practice in social work. Illustrate your answer using the PCS model. Within this essay the areas in which discrimination and oppression occur will be highlighted and then evaluated to show how ‘good’ anti oppressive/ discriminative practice within social work can ‘aid’ and empower service users who are in groups that experience oppression and discrimination to overcome their problems. Gil (1994) states that â€Å"the conditions that cause people to seek help from social services are usually direct or indirect consequences of social, economic, and political institutions, and he profession of social work is ethically committed to promote social justice. Insights into oppression and social justice, and into ways of overcoming them, are therefore essential aspects of the foundations of social work knowledge†. In addition to this, this essay will discuss the importance for social workers to have a clear understand ing that â€Å"discrimination is the process (or a set of processes) that leads to oppression† and that in order â€Å"To challenge oppression, it is therefore necessary to challenge discrimination. (Thompson 2001) This essay will draw attention to the importance of this understanding as within social work practice there is a danger that social workers could reinforce the oppression and discrimination against their service user, â€Å" There is no middle ground: intervention either adds to oppression (or at least condones it) or goes some small way towards easing or breaking such oppression. † (Thompson 1992) Thompson’s PCS model is extremely useful in aiding social workers to accurately examine and understand the impact that oppression, discrimination and inequality has on the â€Å"social circumstances of clients† and on the â€Å"interactions between clients and the welfare state. † (Thompson, 2001) The first level of Thompson’s PCS model ‘P’ relates to the importance that the personal â€Å"thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions† (Thompson, 2001) of the service user are and it also represents how the service user’s interests and ideas should be at the centre of good anti-discriminatory/oppressive social work practice. This level also demonstrates how personal prejudices (such as stereotyping) can influence the way in which social workers relate to their service user and can prevent social workers from practicing in an anti-discriminatory/oppressive manner. It therefore is vital that social workers understand the importance of eliminating oppression and discrimination from their lives as well as their practice as â€Å"There would seem to be little point in developing anti-discriminatory practice within a work context if we contribute to the continuation of discrimination and oppression through our actions and attitudes in our private lives. (Thompson, Men and Anti-Sexism, 1995). Social workers should remain aware that our personal â€Å"thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions are to a certain extent unique and individualised, but we must also recognise the powerful role of culture in forming our opinions and guiding our actions† (Thompson, 2001) through tools such as the â€Å"media and political propaganda† (Thompson, 2001) which can cause social workers to form personal prejudices and prevent them from remaining neutral, as their opinions will be influenced and this will inevitably impact on how they relate to certain service users when practising. We will write a custom essay sample on Anti Oppression Pcs Model specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Anti Oppression Pcs Model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Anti Oppression Pcs Model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Whitehouse (1986) supports this view, as he suggests that â€Å"if the social worker has stereotypical expectations and attitudes then he or she will tend to select information to confirm them. † He further suggests that this will have implications on the assessment as, if a social worker does make the â€Å"persons under assessment perceive themselves to be the object of a categorical or stereotypical assessment, they will tend to withdraw from interaction, to give as little information and collaboration as possible. † (Thompson, 2001) The second level of Thompson’s PCS model ‘C’ is the ‘cultural level’ and represents how society (through socialisation) influences the way we think and behave by enforcing shared social values and cultural norms; â€Å"Society not only controls our movements, but shapes our identity, our thoughts and our emotions. The structures of society become the structure of our own consciousness. Society does not stop at the surface our skins. Society penetrates us† (Berger, 1966). Social workers must be aware about how â€Å"discriminatory culture can subtly but powerfully influence† (Thompson, 2001) them. They therefore should ensure that they are culturally aware and also prevent their own social values and culture norms from attempting to influence, discriminate or oppress any service user. In addition to this, social workers must appreciate and avoid whenever possible ‘light-hearted’ discriminatory humour as it may influence their practice and illustrate to their service user that they are supporting and reinforcing societies oppressive ideologies; which for many service users may be seen as offensive and may cause communication and trust between the social worker and service user to deteriorate. The third level of Thompson’s PCS model ‘S’ is the ‘structural level’ which â€Å"relates to the ways in which oppression and discrimination are institutionalised and thus ‘sewn in’ to the fabric of society. † (Thompson, 2001) â€Å"Racism is oppression based on colour. † (Bishop,1994) therefore social workers must be aware of the extent and impact that racism has on the wide range of ethnic minorities that they work with. They must be culturally aware and promote ethnically sensitive social work practice to ensure that the minority groups that they work with do not feel oppressed or discriminated against in any way. Therefore to develop a strong anti racist social work practice base, social workers must first have a clear understanding of the concepts that underpin racism. Racism is â€Å"a social system in which one group of people exercises power over another group on the basis of skin colour† because of â€Å"an implicit set of beliefs, erroneous assumptions, and actions based on an ideology of inherent superiority of one racial group over another† (Henry, Tator, Mattis and Rees 1995: pg 10) (Thompson,1997). Dalrymple and Burke, (1995) support this view as they suggest that â€Å"Oppression itself is a powerful force. On a personal level it can lead to demoralisation and lack of self-esteem, while at a structural level it can lead to denial of rights†. Thompson’s PCS model also effectively stresses the complex nature surrounding the issue of racism within society and social work. Thompson’s ‘P’ level suggests that â€Å"personal prejudices†¦ manifests itself much more subtly and we are not likely to be aware of it unless or until we are confronted†. Thompson, 2001) Thompson further implies that social workers may sometimes unintentionally perform racist acts simply by â€Å"reflecting dominant cultural values or carrying out routine institutional practices† (Thompson, 2001). Macpherson (1999) draws attention to this point even further, suggesting that â€Å"collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people. † Another form of discrimination is sexism and â€Å"is the belief that one sex is superior to the other† (Dubois and Miley,1996) and this notion is based upon â€Å"a deep-rooted, often unconscious system of beliefs, attitudes and institutions in which distinctions between people’s intrinsic worth are made on the grounds of their sex and sexual roles (Bullock and Stallybrass,1977). Thompson’s PCS model reflects the extent in which sexism can oppress women (at all three levels, personal, cultural and structural) through â€Å"The beliefs and actions of individuals, the cultural values and norms and the institutional or structural patterns† which â€Å"all tend to display inherent bias against women† (Thompson, 2001). It is therefore vital that as social workers we ensure that we do not reinforce these sexist stereotypes and aim to work anti-oppressively; to do this we must understand that â€Å"It is not possible to understand the personal or social world without taking a gendered perspective. We are not able as professionals to intervene appropriately or justly in people’s lives unless we perceive the ways in which women are disadvantaged by an unequal dispersal of power and in which both men and women are constrained by over rigid and falsely dichotomised role and relationship expectations. † (Thompson, 2001). Examples to which sexist stereotypes can lead to oppression can be seen in child abuse and neglect cases. The stereotypical response would be to direct all the questions towards the mother however this can lead to â€Å"mother blaming and reinforcing the notion that women carry the primary responsibility for the family. Therefore in two parent families social workers should address both of the parents to avoid any discriminatory and oppressive practice. Another example where social work reinforces sexist stereotypes is within community care, where women are encouraged to fill caring positions as â€Å"sexist ideology leads us to believe that it is â €˜natural’ for women to be carers†. (Thompson, 2001). In addition to this as Rojek et al (1988) suggests, it common knowledge that social workers often represent women as â€Å"helpless and not coping in order to gain additional resources for them. Social workers should avoid this method as it can lead to the service user becoming dependant on this strategy of acting ‘helpless’ as a means of coping with any problem that they are presented with and therefore this is extremely oppressive and not empowering to the service user. Within the PCS model it is clear that in order to practice in an anti-sexist manner, social workers must challenge â€Å"dominant discriminatory attitudes, practices and structures† (Thompson, 2001) and highlight sexism in order to combat discrimination and oppression based on gender. In addition to this, yet another area in which social workers must practice in an anti-oppressive manner is when working with the elderly. Thompson (1993) defines ageism as a â€Å"tendency to devalue older people and overemphasize the negative aspects of later life† Thompson (1993) and suggests that it is a â€Å"social process through which negative images of and attitudes towards older people, based solely on the characteristics of old age itself, result in discrimination. † (Thompson, 2001). Butler (Phillipson, 2000) suggests that oppression occurs at all three levels of Thompson’s PCS model through â€Å"stereotypes†¦discriminatory practices in housing and employment† and a â€Å"defined retirement age. † Ontology explains the relationship between old age with the loss of meaning and selfhood in life. Through anti-oppressive social work practice it is vital that we allow old persons to keep their own values and dignity, and empower the individual (regardless of their age) to be independent and think for themselves whenever possible and encourage them to partake in outside activities that stimulate their minds and create a purpose in life. Disablism relates to the â€Å"combination of social forces, cultural values and personal prejudices which marginalises disabled people, portrays them in a negative light and thus oppresses them† (Thompson, 2001). Oliver (1989) supports this argument when defining the social model that underpins the concept of disablism he suggests that, â€Å"The rise of the disabled peoples movement and, especially, its definition of the problems of disability as a social oppression has given rise to the concept of disablism, which simply means any ideas or practices which contribute to oppression of disabled people rather than their emancipation. The individual model of disability, both as a set of idea and as a basis for practice, is itself disabilist in that it furthers the existing oppression of disabled people. † Using Thompson’s PCS analysis, disablism can be seen to operate at all three levels. At the personal level, personal prejudice toward disabled people is an everyday occurrence and is reflected through the attitudes and assumptions that are made about disabled people. At the cultural level, â€Å"Dominant cultural norms are usually geared towards the able bodied majority and popular notions present disabled people as either misfits or pathetic victims of personal tragedy† (Thompson, 2001) and as social workers we must not allow ourselves to participate in ‘light-hearted’ discriminatory humour (which is extremely discriminatory, oppressive, abusive and offensive) that reinforces these negative stereotypes. At the structural level the lack of consideration for people with disabilities with regards to access to public services and buildings leads to disabled people feeling â€Å"structurally/institutionally defined as a marginalised group ; that is, they do not feel as part of the ‘general public’. † (Thompson, 2001). Shearer (1981) argues that â€Å"the focus should be less on how disabled people can or should adjust to their impairment and more on how society can adjust to the needs of disabled people. † (Thompson, 1997). Traditional social work practice focuses primarily on practically â€Å"matching available services to assessed need† (Thompson, 1997). Oliver (1983) supports this view as he suggests that the practical approach is simply â€Å"the matching of resources within a legal and statutory framework. Social workers should therefore not simply use just the practical method without understanding the needs of the service user, as this can contribute enormously towards the discrimination and oppression of those with disabilities and therefore acts as â€Å"an additional form of oppression that is instrumental in constructing and image of disabled people as helpless and not able to contribute to mainstream society† (Thompson, 1997). Oliver (1987) goes onto further crit icise â€Å"the ‘professionalism’ of service for disabled people, on the assumption that the professionals know best what disabled people need and are in charge. The provision of services in such a way is at best at patronising, and at worst further disabling, since disabled people may be pushed into becoming passive recipients of the kinds of services other people think they ought to have. † Therefore to work anti oppressively when working with service users with disabilities, social workers should create a partnership with their service users instead of treating them as â€Å"dependent or childlike† they should see them as â€Å"an oppressed group who are denied the assistance they need† (Thompson,1997). In conclusion, the way forward for social work with regards to anti oppressive and discriminatory practice is to not follow the traditional social work guidelines which focus mainly on the â€Å"individual level with limited recognition to culture, values and shared meanings† (Thompson,1997); and to instead work in an anti discriminatory manner which focuses and is inclusive of all of Thompson’s (PCS model) three levels (personal, cultural and structural) and highlights and explains how they impact on one another and on the service user. Social workers should understand the importance of having a wide sophisticated knowledge base when it comes to working with oppressed groups as they can either be seen to be â€Å"challenging and undermining†¦ the discrimination that their clients are subject; or tactically condoning and thus reinforcing such discrimination. There is no middle road. † (Thompson,1997) Therefore it is key that all social workers partake in awareness training so that social workers can at the P level be aware and identify their personal prejudices etc and at the C level work towards challenging oppressive culture. Awareness training therefore begins the process of challenging and confronting discrimination† (Thompson,1997). References: Neil Thompson (1993), Anti-discriminatory practice, Palgrave Neil Thompson (1997), Anti-discriminatory practice, 2nd edition, Palgrave Neil Thompson (2001), Anti-discriminatory practice, 3rd edition, Palgrave Berger P. L (1966), Invitation to Sociology, Harmondsworth, Penguin Bullock and Stallybrass (1977), Cited from Thompson Anti discriminatory practice/ Neil Thompson, 3rd ed, Palgrave, 2001, Date accessed: December 21st 2009 Dalrymple and Burke, (1995), Anti Oppressive, Social Care and the Law, Buckingham, Open University Press Dubois and Miley, (1996), Cited from: http://aosw. socialwork. dal. ca/theory. html, Date accessed: December 29th 2009, December 21st 2009 Gil (1994), Cited from: http://aosw. socialwork. dal. ca/theory. html, Date accessed: December 29th 2009 Henry, F. , Tator, C. , Mathis, W. Rees, T. (1995), Cited from: http://aosw. socialwork. dal. ca/theory. tml, Date accessed: December 29th 2009 Macpherson (1999), Cited from: Anti-discriminatory practice / Neil Thompson, 3rd edition, Palgrave, 2001, Date accessed: December 22nd 2009 Oliver (1983), Shearer (1981), Cited from Thompson Anti discriminatory practice/ Neil Thompson, 2nd ed, Palgrave, 1997, Date accessed: January 10th 2010 Oliver (1987), Cited from Thompson Anti discriminatory practice/ Neil Thompson, 2nd ed, Palgrave, 1997, Date accessed: January 10th 2010 Oliver (1989), Cited from Thompson Anti discriminatory practice/ Neil Thompson, 3rd ed, Palgrave, 2001, Date accessed: December 23rd 2009 Phillipson (2000), Cited from: Anti-discriminatory practice / Neil Thompson, 3rd edition, Palgrave, 2001, Date accessed: December 24th 2009 Rojek et al (1988), Cited from Thompson Anti discriminatory practice/ Neil Thompson, 3rd ed, Palgrave, 2001, Date accessed: December 26th 2009 Shearer (1981), Cited from Thompson Anti discriminatory practice/ Neil Thompson, 2nd ed, Palgrave, 1997, Date accessed: January 10th 2010 Thompson, Men and Anti-Sexism, (1995), Cited from http://bjsw. oxfordjournals. org/cgi/reprint/25/4/459, Date accessed: 22nd December 2009 Whitehouse. P, (1986), Cited from: Anti-discriminatory practice / Neil Thompson, 3rd edition, Palgrave, 2001, Date accessed: December 24th 2009 Bibliography: Neil Thompson (1993), Anti-discriminatory practice, Palgrave Neil Thompson (1997), Anti-discriminatory practice, 2nd edition, Palgrave Neil Thompson (2001), Anti-discriminatory practice, 3rd edition, Palgrave Berger P. L (1966), Invitation to Sociology, Harmondsworth, Penguin Bullock and Stallybrass (1977), Dictionary of Modern Thought, London, Fontana Davies (2000), The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Social Work, Oxford, Blackwell Dalrymple and Burke, (1995), Anti Oppressive, Social Care and the Law, Buckingham, Open University Press Henry, F. , Tator, C. , Mathis, W. Rees, T. (1995). The Colour of Democracy:Racism in Canadian Society. Toronto: Harcourt Press. Macpherson Report (1999), The Stephen Lawerence Inquiry, http://www. archive. official-documents. co. k/document/cm42/4262/4262. htm, Date accessed: December 30th 2009 Peter Burke and Jonathan Parker (2007), Rojek et al (1988), Social Work and Received Ideas, London, Routledge Social work and disadvantage: addressing the roots of stigma through association (2007), Peter Burke and Jonathan Parker, Jessica Kingsley Publishers Thompson, Men and Anti-Sexism, (1995), Cited from http://bjsw. oxfordjournals. org/cgi/reprint/25/4/459, Date accessed: 22 nd December 2009 Whitehouse. P, (1986), Race and the Criminal Justice System, in Coobe and Little (1986)

Globalization news article essays

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Bandura (1990) further argues that political diversity and the toleration of public expressions of scepticism create the conditions that allow the emergence of challenges to suspect moral appeals, such that if societies are to safeguard against the occurrence of terrorism, they must establish social safeguards against the misuse of institutional justificatory pow ers for ends which are exploitative and destructive. As such, Bandura (1990) seems to be arguing that it is the fault of the state, which has not ensured a proper, functioning, framework for the non-appearance of terrorism, which allows terrorism to grow, not that terrorists themselves are at fault. This type of argument does not require an appeal to moral consistency or moral frameworks on the part of the terrorist, but rather argues that terrorists are a product of a dysfunctional society, which is responsible for the appearance of terrorists. Further to this, Atram (2006) concludes that suicide terrorism cannot be explained by a single political root cause, such as the presence of foreign military forces or the absence of democracy, as other factors such as psychological motivations, or religious inspirations can also contribute to the desire to undertake terrorist acts. As Atram (2006) argues, any simplistic accounts of terrorism, why it happens and what leads people to become terrorists, are bound to failure as terrorists have underlying moral values and group dynamics which are complex themselves and also intertwined in a complex manner. Only when these root causes are fully understood by decision-makers will organisational and ideological solutions that could defuse the threat of terrorism be found (Atram, 2006). As such, as Atram (2006) argues, terrorists have a consistent moral framework within which they work, allowing them to unilaterally act, in concert, to achieve their ends. There have been many terrorist acts in recent history, including the Munich massacre in 1972, during the Olympic Games, bombing of flights including Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, gas attacks in Tokyo, bombing campaigns in Ireland by the IRA, the 9/11 attacks on the United States and, following this, the Bali bombings, the London and Madrid bombings. Terrorism is a tactic that has been used for a long time to achieve political ends, but it has recently come to the fore through the massive loss of life in the 9/11 bombings, and the subsequent wars, as this was an attack against the currently most powerful nation on Earth, on home soil, killing thousands of innocents. Terrorism, as a political tool, has therefore come to be used almost as a daily term, in the media, by academics, in family homes, and, indeed, the populace is scared, perhaps by hyper coverage of terrorism in the media, perhaps by the attacks themselves, but, for whatever reason, the populace is scared, and so the ter rorists are winning, under the definitions of terrorism which have been discussed herein. The current paper will discuss two examples of terrorist groups in order to assess the moral framework to which they adhere, to assess whether this framework is consistent, and, if, indeed, it can ever be argued that terrorists can appeal to a consistent moral framework. Colombia has been involved in what is termed an ‘armed struggle’ for the past four decades, since the death of Gaitan in the 1960s, when the FARC and the ELN were founded, ironically, as a call to stop La Violencia which had begun following Gaitan’s death. At this time, these two guerrilla groups campaigned for peace, for free elections and for the return of a leftist government. The FARC and the ELN have, however, in recent decades, become embroiled in the drugs trade, gaining money through the drugs trade in order to fund their ‘war’ on the Colombian government, and their fight for peace in Colombia. In response to this, it is known that the current administration funded paramilitary groups to fight against the guerrillas[1], although the paramilitary groups have themselves become embroiled in the drugs trade and are known to have committed acts of terrorism against civilians and non-combatants, such that there is now a war between the guerrillas an d the paramilitaries. Thus, the situation in Colombia is extremely complex. FARC and ELN guerrillas began with the stated aim of returning Colombia to peace, through the instigation of free elections, seeking a solid political end to La Violencia. Their moral framework was just that: a moral framework through which they were seeking to return Colombia to some semblance of normality. However, as we have seen, and because it is so easy, in a country where it is so difficult to earn a living any other way, the guerrilla groups became embroiled in the drugs trade, and, as such, their moral framework for committing terrorist acts has changed, and indeed, the way in which they commit their terrorist acts has changed, with IRA terrorists training the guerrillas in bombing tactics, and these being used on Colombian military targets, unfortunately to great effect, with the concomitant loss of many lives. Thus, the Colombian case is extremely complex, with guerrilla groups starting out with mainly political aims, b ut with these same groups now largely fighting to retain control of their share of the drugs trade, causing armed combat between members of these guerrilla groups and government-backed paramilitaries whenever they come in to contact. Thus, the FARC and the ELN, although they started out as political terrorists are now seen as groups which use their skills to dominate the drugs trade, through the taking of national territory and the submission of hundreds of thousands of farmers in the regions in which they hold territory. The moral framework that these terrorist groups adhere to has, therefore, firstly, radically changed over the period of activity, and has taken a far less ‘helpful’ turn, in terms of terrorising a whole country and causing problems for Colombia in terms of international relations, economic development and human rights issues. The FARC and ELN, if they adhere to any framework at all, for their actions, certainly cannot argue that this framework is in any way moral and it certainly has not been consistent. As such, for these groups of terrorists, who literally hold a country to ransom, there can be no argument of a consistent moral framework that is in place, and there can be no argum ent for the existence of any consistent moral framework for the human rights abuses they cause and the economic and political havoc they create for Colombia. The next terrorist group we shall look at is the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) of Peru, which was formed as a political guerrilla group, in response to Peru’s military dictatorship, with the stated aim of achieving free elections within Peru and placing a communist party in control of Peru, through the Pensamiento Gonzalo ideology (named after the thinking of Guzman, the Shining Path’s leader). The Shining Path took to violent means as a way of achieving its stated aims, and, indeed, is known to be responsible for some of the worst massacres in Peruvian history, with Peru’s human rights record being atrocious, on account of the atrocities committed by the Shining Path. The Shining Path seized control of large areas of Peru, but their communist ideas were never popular with the Peruvian populace, and so their guerrilla war began to lose support and its base began to falter. The Shining Path support fell dramatically following Guzman’s capture in 1992, and the capture of his successor several years later, with its successor movement, Proseguir, having very few supporters and arguing mainly for the release of former Shining Path members. In terms of the moral framework of the Shining Path, their aims were very clear and political in scope, although the situation was complicated as Fujimori, the Peruvian Prime Minister at the time, branded anyone who spoke against the government a terrorist (see Burt, 2006). Even though the Shining Path were obviously terrorists who, it has been proven, were responsible for many civilian deaths, the Shining Path had a consistent moral framework to which they subscribed and which dictated their actions: the installation of communism within Peru. This framework was the reason for the establishment of the group, and was consistent across the time during which the Shining Path was active within Peru. Thus, in this guerrilla group, unlike in the guerrilla groups active in Colombia, the moral framework for the Shining Path’s actions was very clear and fixed, and consistent across the history of the Shining Path. We have therefore discussed two cases, of three guerrilla groups, two in Colombia, one in Peru, two of which (the FARC and the ELN) have evolved in their ideology and moral framework as they moved through time, and one of which (the Shining Path) had a consistent moral framework in place for their actions, which informed, supported and dictated their actions in terms of achieving their stated aims (i.e., the installation of communism within Peru). Thus, terrorists, and terrorist groups, as we have seen in the case of the FARC and ELN, can evolve and change, in terms of their aims and their objectives, and the means used to achieve these aims. As such, their moral frameworks also change and move with the new orientation. Under this analysis, it is implicit that terrorists have a moral conscience, that although this moral conscience allows them to commit acts that are considered terrorist acts by society, they do have a moral conscience, and one that can be called upon to support their objectives and their aims, and which can be used as a way of justifying any terrorist acts that they commit. As we have seen, as Atram (2006) concludes, the emergence of terrorism cannot be explained by a single political root cause, such as the presence of foreign military forces or the absence of democracy, as other factors such as psychological motivations, or religious inspirations can also contribute to the desire to undertake terrorist acts. As Atram (2006) argues, any simplistic accounts of terrorism, why it happens and what leads people to become terrorists, are bound to failure as terrorists have underlying moral values and group dynamics which are complex themselves and also intertwined in a complex manner. On ly when these root causes are fully understood by decision-makers will organisational and ideological solutions that could defuse the threat of terrorism be found (Atram, 2006). As such, as Atram (2006) argues, terrorists have a consistent moral framework within which they work, allowing them to unilaterally act, in concert, to achieve their ends. Thus, the FARC and the ELN, and the Shining Path, although, as we have seen, they have, and continue to, commit terrorist acts, they can call upon a moral framework for these acts, in terms of having justifiable reasons for their objectives and aims, and the way in which these objectives are achieved, such that these acts are perpetuated under what they consider to be a moral framework. That the rest of society does not see this framework as moral, under normal societal definitions of moral, is beyond them, beyond their understanding for, as Bandura (1990) argues, moral standards do not function as fixed internal regulators of conduct, but rather, self-regulatory mechanisms do not engage until they are activated, and there are many ways in which these regulatory mechanisms can be disengaged, allowing the emergence of different types of conduct with the same moral standards. This paper has discussed the issue of whether terrorists can appeal to a consistent moral framework. As we have seen, there are many definitions of terrorism in use in the literature, as there are disagreements as to the definition of terrorism[2], as some academics argue that the motives that fuel some terrorists are politically valid. Indeed, ‘terrorist’ and ‘terrorism’ seem to have been, and be, somewhat flexible terms, depending on the political affiliation of the terrorist/terrorist act; many people would call the acts committed by the Israeli’s against the Palestinians, for example, terrorist acts, but these seem to be supported by the United States government, as Israel is currently one of the highest recipients of United States foreign aid. Similarly, as we have seen, Nelson Mandela, ex-President of South Africa, and Nobel Laureate, was once branded a terrorist and was imprisoned for decades for his terrorist acts; a definition for terrorism, and the word terrorist thus seems to be flexible, depending on the political context and the aims that are trying to be achieved by the people supporting the country in which the terrorist is present. Although the word ‘terrorist’ and the term ‘terrorism’ are open to interpretation, by politicians, and under international law, as we have seen[3], terrorists do subscribe to what they consider to be a moral framework for their objectives, and to support their acts to achieve these objectives. As we have seen from the two examples used here, these moral frameworks can stay static throughout the history of the terrorist group (as with the Shining Path) or can change over time in response to external factors or political events (as with the FARC and the ELN). Thus, the issue of whether terrorists can appeal to a consistent moral framework, I will argue, is valid: indeed, although this framework may be seen as amoral by the rest of society, the terrorist defines their objectives as moral, under a moral framework, which for them is consistent in terms of leading to desired objectives. Whether this framework is consistent across time is a matter for discussion, f or, as we have seen, some terrorist groups find their objectives changing with shifting external circumstances, and, as such, their framework, whilst remaining internally morally consistent, in terms of the objectives, is not externally consistent over time. As Atram (2006) argues, terrorists have a consistent moral framework within which they work, allowing them to unilaterally act, in concert, to achieve their ends: it is this framework which allows them to function, as a unit, in order to achieve their aims and objectives. References Annan, K., 2005. Larger Freedom. Speech given to the United Nations at the Security Council Meeting on 17th March 2005. Atram, S., 2006. The moral logic and growth of suicide terrorism. The Washington Quarterly 29(2), pp.127-147. Bandura, A., 1990. Mechanisms of moral disengagement. In Reich, W. (ed.), Origins of terrorism: psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind (pp.161-191). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Burt, J-M., 2006. Quien habla es terrorista: the political use of fear in Fujimori’s Peru. Latin American Research Review 41(3), pp.32-62. Saul, B., 2006. Two justifications for terrorism: a moral legal response. Foreign Policy in Focus, FPIF Policy Report. January 10th 2006. Available from http://www.fpif.org/pdf/papers/0601justifications.pdf Accessed on 30th April 2007. 1 Footnotes [1] As part of their efforts to secure, and retain, money from the United States, through their War on Drugs programme. [2] Although, as we have seen, the definition of terrorism currently in use by the UN is, â€Å"any act†¦intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organisation to do, or abstain from doing, any act.† (Annan, 2005). This definition is also used by the International Criminal Court, and by most human rights lawyers who are involved in prosecuting terrorist acts. [3] with, as we have seen, for example, the war in Afghanistan bringing back many memories for the United States government, who supported the Afghan Mujahideen as ‘freedom fighters’ during the United States war with the Soviet Union, but recently, the United States government branding breakaway Afghan groups as terrorists, and launching a war in Afghanistan to stop them in their terrorist acts.

Use of Symbolism in Hawthornes The House of the Seven Gables Essay

Use of Symbolism in Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables In the novel The House of the Seven Gables, Hawthorne portrays Alice Pyncheon as a unique and compelling character, placing her in contrast with a story full of greed, lies and betrayal. Hawthorne reveals her fantastic character to us in numerous uses of symbolism throughout the novel. By painting a picture of a gentle yet proud woman, Hawthorne chooses to represent Alice's impressive characteristics using images that come up repeatedly in his novel such as the nature and flowers in the garden as well as Alice's Posies. Hawthorne also makes reference to the Maule "mastery" and its power over Alice and the playing of the harpsichord during a Pyncheon death. All the symbols culminated above, lead to an in depth analysis of Alice Pyncheon's character, her innocence, pride, beauty and mournful sorrow. According to Hawthorne, Alice had an uncanny resemblance to the flowers of the Pyncheon garden represented by her beauty and presence. Just as flowers hold a purity and freedom in their appearance, Alice was described as a "lady that was born and set apart from the world's vulgar mass by a certain gentle and cold stateliness" (178). Her strong appearance, as Hawthorne states, was "combined of beauty, high, unsullied purity, and the preservative force of womanhood" (180). Hawthorne shows that Alice represents the beauty of a flower as well as its scent when he says "the fragrance of her rich and delightful character still lingered . . . as a dried rosebud scents the drawer where it has withered and perished" (79). Even after her death, the "scent" of Alice's character still haunts the House of the Seven Gables with its beauty and tenderness like that of the flo... ... on a note from Alice's harpsichord off a new sheet of music for the Pyncheon family. By using the nature of the garden to prolong the tenderness and purity of Alice's character and spirit even after death, Hawthorne entices the reader to dig deeper into the character of Alice Pyncheon and search for the symbols present that shape her undying character. With her loss of pride to the Maule "mastery" and the sorrow expressed through her untimely and unnecessary death, there is no question as to why Alice's harpsichord plays such a mournful tune throughout the novel. It is only in the end that her life and her happiness are rewarded and her long awaiting spirit is drawn towards the heavens to have her spirit rest in peace. Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The House of the Seven Gables. New York: The New American Library of World Literature, Inc, 1961. Use of Symbolism in Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables Essay Use of Symbolism in Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables In the novel The House of the Seven Gables, Hawthorne portrays Alice Pyncheon as a unique and compelling character, placing her in contrast with a story full of greed, lies and betrayal. Hawthorne reveals her fantastic character to us in numerous uses of symbolism throughout the novel. By painting a picture of a gentle yet proud woman, Hawthorne chooses to represent Alice's impressive characteristics using images that come up repeatedly in his novel such as the nature and flowers in the garden as well as Alice's Posies. Hawthorne also makes reference to the Maule "mastery" and its power over Alice and the playing of the harpsichord during a Pyncheon death. All the symbols culminated above, lead to an in depth analysis of Alice Pyncheon's character, her innocence, pride, beauty and mournful sorrow. According to Hawthorne, Alice had an uncanny resemblance to the flowers of the Pyncheon garden represented by her beauty and presence. Just as flowers hold a purity and freedom in their appearance, Alice was described as a "lady that was born and set apart from the world's vulgar mass by a certain gentle and cold stateliness" (178). Her strong appearance, as Hawthorne states, was "combined of beauty, high, unsullied purity, and the preservative force of womanhood" (180). Hawthorne shows that Alice represents the beauty of a flower as well as its scent when he says "the fragrance of her rich and delightful character still lingered . . . as a dried rosebud scents the drawer where it has withered and perished" (79). Even after her death, the "scent" of Alice's character still haunts the House of the Seven Gables with its beauty and tenderness like that of the flo... ... on a note from Alice's harpsichord off a new sheet of music for the Pyncheon family. By using the nature of the garden to prolong the tenderness and purity of Alice's character and spirit even after death, Hawthorne entices the reader to dig deeper into the character of Alice Pyncheon and search for the symbols present that shape her undying character. With her loss of pride to the Maule "mastery" and the sorrow expressed through her untimely and unnecessary death, there is no question as to why Alice's harpsichord plays such a mournful tune throughout the novel. It is only in the end that her life and her happiness are rewarded and her long awaiting spirit is drawn towards the heavens to have her spirit rest in peace. Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The House of the Seven Gables. New York: The New American Library of World Literature, Inc, 1961.

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay

Mixed Racial and Cultural Groups is increased by a marginal number in the United States. The growth of these multiracial groups started to surface through migration of different ethnics and raised most of their families in the United States even through marriage. These are some of the issues that have been raised by individual people of having an entity separation of mixed race and cultural or to considered them as Americans without a hyphen. Thinking about this issue myself, and thinking of my two children who married to a different ethnic rather than Samoans. These questions come to mind about this issue: How, Why, and what the three words that needs a big explanation about this matter. According to multiracial Americans, Americans whose identity as two or more races identifies with just one group culturally and socially. From statistics that I got from online, stated that about 2. 9% of the population in the year 2010 are self-identified as multiracial. The identity or the classification of the people’s identification is generally according to the culture they were raised in. Social segregation in many areas of the country is forming interracial unions or cultural group. The diversity of social conditions through migrations brought new groups of people to the United States. Through these migrations, mixed races started to rise when interracial marriage were born and started to increase in the United States. The movement of multiracial identity by more than one ethnicity has taken place and strong. Statistics from the year 2010 census in the United States shows that the largest multiracial groups were white and black which is 1. 8 million. The other 1. 7 millions are white and some other race, white and Asian is 1. 6, white and American Indian and Alaskan Native is 1. 4 million. I have learned that the largest growing group in multiracial is white and black which is about 134%. That is more than 1 million people. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP According to Susan Saulny of the New York Times, title Race Remixed, said that â€Å"sea of change is how we think about race, ethnicity and its place in society†. I believe that a challenge to trend towards multiracial from a sociological perspective is a leap that we should take. The understanding of racial and ethnic categories of their boundaries can be a problem to other multiracial groups. I think that ancestry is the biggest influence in identities through a number of generations through migrations. I also believe that each multi mix or racial group should be treated the same regardless of their identity. If they are legally citizens of the United States, they have the right to be treated equally. I believe that they have contributed to the wellbeing and welfare of the United States through their services in employment within the government, military or private companies. Regardless of the race and ethnicity, they should be treated and considered Americans. President Obama is good example of what I mean about treating them the same no matter what color of their skin or where they are from. I know that some of these mix race entities are trying to separate themselves with-in the United States but when they travel to other countries of the world, they considered be call Americans. As a citizen of New Zealand, I am proud to call myself to be an American and I respect the land that my children were born. What can the United States or these multiracial groups gain from wanting to be separated from their identity. Through my search online, I came across Mrs. Karissa Sulliva’s draft and she said that ancestry influences identities. She said that socialization is the crucible of racial and ethnic identity formation. Farley in 2002, construct racial and ethnic classifications which was adopted by the government for each race or reconsidered themselves to either refuse to identify their own race and ethnic category. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP. I believe that mix racial and cultural groups are increasing daily by the number throughout the United States. However, research shows that children with an original multiracial identity grow up to be happier than those of single-race identity. Some of the statistics shows that another addition to the growth of mix race is through adoption of children from countries outside of the United States. According to Fact’s for Families 2010, parents are coping with these pressures in having open communications with the families about their culture and race. Encouragement and support in every multicultural group for families to be familiar with their language, traditions and customs within their families. They have to support and try to establish a good relationship by creating a network for their children, parents, family member, relatives and the community. In conclusion, the separation and classifications between mix racial and multicultural groups is not an easy task or thing to do. Two of my children are married to different ethnic. My oldest daughter is married to an African American and my son is married to a girl who is beautiful and white but has about four or five mix blood in her. I believe in democracy and the United States is nowhere in having a separation of any mix race and cultural group who are living in the United States. God Bless America, God bless the people of the United States. References: Perez, Anthony Daniel, Hirschman, Charles. The Changing Racial and Ethnic. http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882688/ The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March-2011). Facts for Families, no. 71 Multiracial Children. http://www. aacap. org/galleries/FactsForFamilies/71_multiracial_children. pdf Dr. Nicole Martinez and Mrs. Karissa Sullivan. May 6, 2013 .docx.

Anne Frank Good at Heart

Good at Heart I believe people are truly good at heart. Despite what has happened with every bad thing in this world. Everyone knows knows there are still good people. Anyone can tell me that I can't comprehend the loss and hurt and destruction that the world and the people of it are willing to dish out. And in a way, that is right. I'm blessed with such a lack in my experience. Loving and praying for something good is the strongest thing we can do to help make a change to a better world. This world is blessed with the fact that humans can forgive. Another dead body or revenge will not heal the past, even though it may cushion it.But people are truly good at heart. The bad boys aren't born bad and don't die bad. Most of the time they are forced to portray a character, different and distinct from what they are, sadly they adapt that character and forgot who they really are. â€Å"It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. † from the Diary of Anne Frank (last entry). I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to be that daughter or sister or mother of someone killed in cold blood.And I still can’t say another dead body would soothe my pain. The last time Anne was seen by two of her friends, most of her precious family were dead. She was bald, emaciated and shivering. In February, 1945 she told her friends that she didn't want to live any longer. In March of the same year, she tragically died. But I think that no matter what happens to me, what kind of hurt I see, despite everything, I will still believe that people are generally good and beautiful and wonderful and lovable. And people do things that are destructive and horrific and cruel and monstrous, but I still can’t do it.Matthew 5:44 says: ? †But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you ma y be sons of your Father in heaven. † If we want to grow as individuals and as a country, we have to realize how precious forgiveness is. We are not only blessed to receive forgiveness, but we are also blessed with the capability to forgive. Our hearts are bigger than we will ever let them be, because we are too red-blooded and proud to let us love someone who was hurt us. Despite everything, I still believe that loving a person, forgiving a person, praying for a person, is stronger than anything else we could do.This is how I feel still tonight. A dead body can’t heal the wounds our country has had for the past ten years. A dead body doesn’t give us back all the fear as the airplane wheels left the ground. It doesn’t give us back lost men and women of the military. It doesn’t give me back my hours debating our presence in Afghanistan even. As I see my Facebook feed fill with chanting cries of victory and God Bless Americas, I fell it’s all i n vain. Deep down people are truly good. Rather, you choose not to believe that God is rich in mercy, and because of that, you end up with a revolting image that you have created in your own mind.Don't forget that when Anne Frank said that she believed that people were truly good at heart, she was still in hiding with her family. Her naive faith in human goodness may have been shaken when she and her family were taken to Auschwitz in 1944, and her father was separated from her. At 15 years old, she was then forced to strip naked, disinfected, had her head shaved, and was tattooed with an identifying number on her arm. She was then used as slave labor until disease caused her skin to became badly infected by scabies. But, I still can’t condemn someone when I know myself what little things I have done.Especially when the the world is full of billions of people who are good at heart. As a person, you would consider yourself good right? Even though we all have made mistakes we ar e not bad people. Truly we are all good. The surest sign of our faith is our ability to love those who have crossed against us if we are incapable of this, we may need to look at ourselves a little closer. I just hope that those I have crossed will not celebrate at my death, but rather release the pain I have caused them along with me, and go forward in love.

Civil engineering construction

Civil engineering construction Ambrose notes that the railway was constructed after the American Civil War where the union had won it. Furthermore, there was no slavery meaning that workers had to volunteer in constructing the railway. The writer notes that the construction of transcontinental railroad from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacramento, California was the greatest achievement of the American people (Ambrose 17).Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Civil engineering construction specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The writer attributes the success to good governance of Lincoln regime and skilled engineers who had graduated from American colleges. The war played an important role because people had learned to obey orders and work in a team. Ambrose comments that the railway benefited from a large workforce of immigrants who had escaped from China and other places seeking for good fortunes. The writer compares the construction of transcontinental rai lway with Russian trans-Siberian railway, which benefited from slaves. Great men such as Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant and William Sherman supervised railway construction. The leaders played an important role because they held the union together. They had a huge following from both the south and the north. One funny thing was that the first man was the president, the second became the president later and the third turned down the offer of presidency. Strongmen such as Jack and Casement, who had served as army generals during the civil war, supported the leaders. Financiers trusted the activities of the leaders and they could not delay funds, which promoted the railway. The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific funded the railway. They were the two largest corporations at the time. The author observes that it took imagination, intelligence, fortitude, hard work and enthusiasm to complete construction of the railway. The railway construction encountered several problems including hos tility from the natives and unavailability of building materials. The writer asserts in page 19 that the Indians, who never wanted their lives to be interfered with by the presence of the railway, attacked surveyors. It is also observed that wild animals such as buffalos attacked builders. The same problem could be encountered in modern America although with a different form. It is difficult to convince the locals and politicians that a particular infrastructural facility would benefit them. Currently, there is no space for building a railway. Private investors who would demand too much to dispose land to the state are in control of resources. During the construction of transcontinental railway, it took the effort of intelligent men to convince politicians to support the project. The same problem would resurface today in case the same project is proposed. Politicians are reluctant to support projects that do not benefit them directly.Advertising Looking for book review on hi story? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ambrose posits that leaders had to import building materials from east through Panama, around South America. This was costly and time consuming, something that could be faced in modern America. The state is not endowed with building materials meaning that they must be imported from elsewhere. In the modern world, it would even be more costly to import building materials because of high demand of materials. It is a complex process to inquire about building materials, leave alone acquiring them. In this regard, the state prefers other means of transportation to using railway transport. In fact, the writer observes that the railway was the last great railroad project to be erected in the United States. It is impossible to come up with a project that can match transcontinental railway. Ambrose, Stephen. Nothing like it in the world: the men who built the transcontinental. New York, NY: Sim on and Schuster, 2000.

Trade Dispute between China and the U.S Research Proposal

Trade Dispute between China and the U.S - Research Proposal Example According to Morrison, the U.S. has employed protection of its energy manufacturing firms so that they can spearhead the production of energy (15). This has been executed by the use of subsidies to all firms producing energy in the country. For instance, U.S. President Obama favors the initiation of tax treatment for wind power and solar power as well as an increase in the expenditure of the federal government on the energy sources. The U.S. government has also set aside $50 billion as loans to firms producing nuclear power.  According to Morrison, the U.S. has employed protection of its energy manufacturing firms so that they can spearhead the production of energy (15). This has been executed by the use of subsidies to all firms producing energy in the country. For instance, U.S. President Obama favors the initiation of tax treatment for wind power and solar power as well as an increase in the expenditure of the federal government on the energy sources. The U.S. government has als o set aside $50 billion as loans to firms producing nuclear power.  The U.S. president also seeks to increase the electricity produced from cleaner sources twice by 2035. Such a policy would manipulate the energy markets. Therefore, the U.S. has clear cut goals regarding an increase of clean energy while letting utilities achieve them.  On its part, China has also undertaken various measures toward the manufacture of clean energy. China’s rapid economic growth was fueled by the decision made by the leadership of the country to embrace a capitalist approach to the growth of the economy. This leadership also adapted economic policies that opened up China to foreign investments and implemented free-market reforms in 1979 thereby making it a major global economic and trade power (Morrison 1). Despite its growth, China enforced methods and policies on its people to bolster and maintain the economic growth bordered on dictatorship. Changes in policy and property ownership right s made the Chinese people lose their properties and investments. Economic reforms made much Chinese change their jobs and habitual lifestyles. Redistribution of land to poor peasants and prioritization of agriculture stabilized the agricultural production making it possible for the country to feed its whole population (Thomas 23). The Chinese government owns and controls major industrial and economic sectors in areas such as transport, communication, energy and financial services (Thomas 26). The government regulates the economy by gearing its reforms towards higher productivity, better living standards and exemplary technological quality without aggravating joblessness or inflation.  

Marketing Planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Marketing Planning - Assignment Example Some dangled the benefit, some the direct offer, some contained a pricing cut, some concentrated on branding and gave away free items such as T-shirts. The goal was to determine the best motivation for customers that would make them purchase the car or, at the very least, show some interest on the product. They determined that the price discount is the best motivation. The $0 down offer resulted to 71 percent more direct responses than all of the other marketing offers they’ve launched in the past. He also went further by getting looking at where the customers came from, what they do, and their gender (Clifford, 2009). Mr. Herman used the data to convince Vespa that the $0 down is the most effective marketing offer and it is what should carried by the advertising agency. From the glory days of the glamorous Madison avenue, marketing has always been about creative images and catchy taglines but the current utilities available to businesses are allowing the collection of data to predict behaviour, determine climate of marketing environment and discover the most effective business strategy that to increase branding and revenues (Brennan, 2008). Such innovation could readily allow Starbucks to change its marketing strategy as dictated by the market. It is a true market – led strategic change. ... The Social assessment is a critical aspect because it examines the mainstream culture and how society will react to a product. Technology also affects the business. As new equipment and processes are developed, creating new products and producing the existing line becomes easier and more efficient. All these factors play a part in the marketing and affect the profitability of the company. b) Apply organisational and environmental auditing techniques to Starbucks. Starbucks is one of the very few companies who have the opportunity to establish an intimate relationship with its consumers (See figure 2 to see how Starbucks uses its IT) because of the different government policies that allowed it foster. It was able to advance its products, exercise freedom on designing marketing problems, advertising materials, and design its retail stores to reflect the image of freedom it projects. It is necessary to determine exactly how the US government was able to support this growth through the p olicies it set up such as business laws, taxes, employee rights, and others. For example, Starbucks enjoy big tax breaks on its environmental efforts. It has long supported recycling and the use of sustainable materials. It also provides incentives to customers who use their own cup when they go to Starbucks. Such efforts earn Starbucks as much $5,000 tax incentives for every $100,000 investment. The rate changes from state to state but nearly every State in America provides incentives. It can also enjoy tax incentives provided to big corporations. It is possible for Starbucks to measure the effects of these policies further by setting up a data-centered