The Vinaya Pitaka

The Vinaya Pitaka The Buddhist Canon is called the Tipitaka (literally ‘3 baskets’) and consists of three distinct collections of the teachings of the Buddha designated, respectively, Sutta Pitaka (SP), Vinaya Pitaka (VP) and the Abhidhamma Pitaka (ABP). The SP contains the discourses of the Buddha while ABP deals with the metaphysical aspects of Buddha’s teaching. VP embodies a comprehensive account of the rules of monastic discipline framed for the conduct and guidance of Bhikkus and Bhikkunis.Buddha personally supervised the Bhikkus and Bhikkunis for 20 years without any specific rules and framed rules only when the numbers increased and rules became necessary. Buddha at Parinibbana nominated no successor and directed that whatever Dhamma and Vinaya was preached by Him, that will be the Teacher. All the rules were recited with reference to their subject, background and application and codified as the Vinaya Pitaka at the 1st council. The VP is divided and sub-d ivided in the following manner : 1. Sutta Vibhanga a)Maha Vibhanga (Bhikku Vibhanga) b)Bhikkuni Vibhanga 2. Kandhaka a)Mahavagga b)Cullavagga 3.Parivara Sutta Vibhanga contains the Pratimoksha Sutta (Principal rules of Discipline) which is the nucleus of the Vinaya. Rules are framed in the form of offences and failures to observe norms of conduct. Sikkhapada rules (220 for Bhikkus & 304 for Bhikkunis) are classified according to their seriousness under different categories in the following manner : CategoryNo. for BhikkusNo. for Bhikkunis Parajika48 Sanghadisesa1317 Nissagiya pacittiya3030 Aniyata20 Pacittiya92166 Patidesaniya48 Sekhiya7575 220304 Adhikarana samatha77 (Disciplinary action procedures) †¢Parajika are the most grave offences and are inexcusable.The offending monk is expelled from the sasana. Sanghadisesa offender can be restored after he has undergone certain penalties and maintained good behaviour. Other offences can be excused after making a confession. Sekhiya rules are norms of conduct for a descent life and are not treated as offences. Mahavagga opens with a historical account of the development of the Buddha sasana from Buddha’s enlightenment up to the conversion of Kolita and Upatissa (chief disciples) and deals with the following subjects in the other chapters. (a)Procedures for the fortnight assembly (uposatha kamma) b)Residence during the rainy season (vassana and pavarana) (c)Rules for ecclesiastical acts (vinaya kamma) and for personal hygiene. Cullavagga is a continuation of the Mahavagga and deals with the following subjects : (a)Punishment for violation of rules (b)Hospitality towards visiting monks from other monasteries (c)The dissention caused by Devadatta (d)Establishment of the Bhikkuni order (e)1st and 2nd Buddhist councils. Parivara is the 5th volume of the VP and is of secondary importance. This text is believed to be a compilation made in Sri Lanka after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

The Bible Among Myth

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY A BOOK SUMMARY THE BIBLE AMONG THE MYTHS: BY AUTHOR JOHN N. OSWALT NAME OF STUDENT: FABIOLA REID STUDENT ID: 22379938 CLASS: OBST 590 INSTRUCTOR’S NAME: DR. ALVIN THOMPSON DATE SUBMITTED: 03/03/2013 INTRODUTION The author, John N. Oswalt, begins his introduction, speaking in regards to the differences between the Old Testament, religions and cultures of the people from the Ancient Near East. As The Bible Among the Myths begins it is the assumption that while there has been no change since the 1960’s, there has been a shifted.Before then, Scholars believed that the Old Testament was true and not compared to any other, however, now scholars questioned this belief and have begun to believe that the Old Testament writings are similar to the other religions of its day. [1] Oswalt continues by discussing a most important philosophical difference within the Old Testament and its contemporaries. He states that there is a clear distinction between â€Å"essen ce† and â€Å"accident. † [2] Oswalt states that an accident can be something as similar as hair, while self-consciousness is an essential.To remove an accident will not cause change but to remove an essential, this thing will cease to be itself. [3] ————————————————- The author establishes to the reader the conception of myth also imitating the option that scholars continue to differ greatly on this definition; Oswalt insists that this ought to not dissuade the individual from seeking a good definition of the word. In order for him to define this word, he list four basic characteristics of a myth. 1. John N. Oswalt, The Bible Among the Myths, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009, 11-12 2.Ibid, 13. 3. Ibid. The first characteristic; mankind having little or no intrinsic value and the second characteristic was the relative lack of interest in historical studies. T he third is the practice of magic and involvement with the occult. The fourth is the refusal to accept responsibility for individual actions. [4] Oswalt concludes his introduction with a substantial claim. He emphasizes that theological claims are inseparable from historical claims. [5] Oswalt states that trustworthiness must be contingent upon both the theological and historical claims.If the historical claims are patently false, then no credence ought to be given to the theological decrees, In the end, I am not advocating a â€Å"the Bible says it, and I believe it, and that settles it† point of view, although those who disagree with me may argue that to be the case. What I am advocating is a willingness to allow the Bible to determine the starting place of the investigation. [6] CHAPTER ONE ————————————————- The first chapter discusses the Bible in milieu of its surroundings and contribution to society as a whole.Oswalt mentions that there are many contributions to way the Western world views reality. The Bible, however, is the most important contributor. [7] 4. Ibid, 14. 5. Ibid, 16. 6. Ibid, 17. 7. Ibid, 21. Greek Thought: The Greek philosophers of the early centuries brought in this way of thinking that was to have a profound effect on the western world. The belief, in a â€Å"universe† instead of a â€Å"polyverse,† adding, simple cause and effect, as well as non-contradiction were three of their most significant contributions. [8] Hebrew Thought:While the Greek philosophers were struggling to express their point of view, the Hebrews were also articulating their beliefs by way of the prophets. Their beliefs were as follows: There is only one God, God is the sole Creator of all that is, God exist apart from creation, God has made himself known to his people, God has made his will known to his people, and God rewards and pun ishes people for following or disobeying his will. [9] Combing Greek and Hebrew Thought: ————————————————-Oswalt states; when the Gospel of Jesus presupposed the Israelite worldview, penetrated into the Greco-Roman world, this set the stage for the combination of the Greek and the Hebrew worldviews in the distinctively Christian way. The Greeks’ rational thought combined with Hebrew people’s belief in monotheism. [10] 8. Ibid, 22. 9. Ibid, 23. 10. Ibid, 25 Oswalt argues that logic was not completely developed until after people realized that God not only was the sole creator of the universe, but was also completely separate from the creation.What is most important is that science and logic cannot stand on their own and if they attempt to then this will lead to self-destruction. Oswalt gives an example; Hiroshima and the Buchenwald concentration camp and human ity’s achievements when it is devoid of God’s influence. [11] CHAPTER TWO In this second chapter, Oswalt discusses his definition of myth. However before Oswalt begins this definition he begins to argue the very question with regard to the myth and why it is questioned at this time. Oswalt mentions that fifty years ago there would not be such a question.However by the 1960’s and as more scholars begin to research the Bible, more questions aroused. [12] ————————————————- Oswalt wishes to apply the appropriate classification to the Bible. Unequivocally, he describes whether or not the Bible should be considered a myth or not. In order to properly answer the question, Oswalt list several definitions posed by scholars today. As Oswalt listed these definitions, he also explains why he feels that they are inadequate. 11. Ibid, 27. 12. Ibid, 29-30. The catego ry of definitions falls under one group known ashistorical-Philosophical and they are as follows; 1.Etymological – based on a false and fictitious deity or event. 2. Sociological-Theological – the truth is seen as relative and something is seen as true if it is seen by others. 3. Literary – the events are not seen as right or wrong. Instead, the narrative employs heavy use of symbolism to express its meaning. [13] ————————————————- These definitions all have one thing in common which is at their core; they all believe in the philosophy of continuity. Oswalt states that continuity is a philosophical principle that asserts that all things are continuous with each other.Oswalt uses an example of a person being â€Å"one with the tree. † Not merely symbolically or spiritually, but actually. The tree is me; I am the tree. [14] 13. Ibid, 33, 36, 38. 1 4. Ibid, 43. CHAPTER THREE Chapter three discusses Continuity as the center of topic. Carrying over from chapter two the one thing that myths have in common at their core is the presence of continuity. This way of thinking is viewed as all things are viewed as related in some form or fashion. There are three major forces (humanity, nature, and the divine) this is where everything exists within the circle. 15] The effects of continuity are numerous and varied in accordance. One of these effects is looking at signs in nature. The effects are attempted to be explained by weather patterns, floods, fire, plagues and the celestial beings. Other examples are the effects of fertility and potency and the preoccupation of the people thereof. Oswalt uses the example of how sexuality is so central to people’s lives today is a reason for this effect of continuity. [16] ———————————————à ¢â‚¬â€- Finally, Oswalt deals straightforwardly with what he feels are the common features of myth.Excluding a few exceptions, myths all share the belief that their existence is based on Polytheism. Which is the belief of more than one god or and many gods. The second is these gods in the form of images. The use of symbols and icons are believed strongly in order to interact with nature and the divine. The gods themselves are not view highly in fact view lowly, they are not seen as actual beings. Confliction is what is needed in order for the universe to evolve and myths have a low view of mankind. [17] 15. Ibid, 48. 16. Ibid, 50-56. 17. Ibid, 57-59.CHAPTER FOUR In chapter four Oswalt reverts back to characteristics of the Bible. Here he argues with the topic of transcendence, where God (who has been in existence before the universe) interacts with all things thereof. In this Biblical thought process there is uniqueness with regard to the modern-day belief systems in many ways. How ever one must bear in mind that the Old Testament is remarkably self-consistent regarding the things it maintains about the nature of reality. [18] Oswalt provides the reader with a broaden list of some common characteristics.Monotheism, of course one of the most obvious characteristics of the Bible that stands out among other religions. With the exception of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam which are all directly correlated from the Bible. Most other religions are polytheistic. The existence of Yahweh being the only God was a defining characteristic for the Old Testament and the Bible as a whole. [19] ————————————————- Another characteristic of the Old Testament theory is that God was in existence prior to the all creation. All that exist is after God and God created it.Oswalt states that if the world is full of chaos that it is not due to God but the spirits of this worl d. Oswalt mentions that the Bible is a position to insist that the problem of humanity is not a tragic fatedness to evil, but a spirit that prefers evil to good. [20] 18. Ibid, 63. 19. Ibid, 64-65. 20. Ibid, 66. CHAPTER FIVE In chapter five Oswalt argues that the Bible is totally different from other religious writings and is unique in its self. Oswalt further discusses the issues of ethics, In the Ancient Near East; the non-biblical worldviews held two sets of ethics.One set is related to how people interacted with each other. The other set of ethics is related to how people acted upon the deities. In Bible ethics behavior was defined by God and God alone and not subject to the social changes in society, they obey God. [21] Oswalt discusses some of the similarities between Israelites and non-Israelites. Some of the practices were quite similar. The sacrificial ceremonial, the manner of their offerings, the layout of the tabernacle and temple and also the decoration of the temple al l seem similar to those of the Israelite and non-Israelite people.Their practices of expression and thought pattern were similar to where Oswalt indorses his belief that these areas are incidental and not essential to the basic identities of the people. [22] CHAPTER SIX ————————————————- Chapter six introduces the Bible and History, Oswalt points out the there is a distinction, between myths and the Bible, whereas the myths are based on many gods, the Bible is based on one God. History and the Bible run parallel to each other. Oswalt argues the idea that to state the Bible is not â€Å"historical â€Å"is something of an oxymoron. 23] 21. Ibid, 85-87. 22. Ibid, 91-97. 23. Ibid, 112. Oswalt uses Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language to describe the definition that he feels would best fit history. History functions on different levels. Its connecti ons could be to someone or something or both. Yet the Bible is its own form of history correlated with mankind and their surroundings. [24] CHAPTER SEVEN AND EIGHT Oswalt attempts to address some of the issues that were used against the Bible concerning its historical stance.Oswalt does mentions some gaps, progress and lack of progress, whether the Bible is â€Å"history-like† or â€Å"historical fiction† as well as how it relates to revelation and supernatural events and whether Israel is unique in these areas. [25] Oswalt makes the case in the eight chapter that the Bible is historical and completely accurate. Oswalt states this matter is of the utmost importance. While one would state that there are sections of the Bible that are not historical for example; poetic and wisdom, these too are historical because they describe people, relationships weaknesses and failures.The entire Bible is historical especially when it pertains to the history of the Jesus Christ. †”———————————————- The author states that one could argue German distinction between Historie (defining what happen) and Geschichte (telling what is going on) as being valid. [26] 24. Ibid, 112-115. 25. Ibid, 138-141. 26. Ibid, 157-168. The conclusion of this section determines that history is inseparable from theology in the Bible. Theology is in relation to the historical events. The author uses an exceptional example with regard to the resurrection to support this conclusion.He directs the reader to one of the epistles written by the Apostle Paul to the church of Corinth. The Apostle Paul states that one’s faith cannot exist without a historical belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. [27] If Christ was not raised then your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Cor. 15:17) CHAPTER NINE AND TEN ———————â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- In chapter nine the author discusses alternative views pertaining to the biblical narrative as it is known today. He began with the arguments of John Van Seters.Professor Van Seters emphasizes that the Bible had to have been altered by Jewish priest after Babylonian exile. [28] Oswalt mentions that the second is Frank Cross who assumes that the Bible used to be an epic poem, however was changed into the Old Testament’s current state at some point. [29] The third is William Dever who believes that Israel’s belief systems were identical to Canaanite beliefs and the Christian scholars have overlooked certain facts throughout history to portray an inaccurate account of ancient Israel. 30] Then, finally, Oswalt discusses Mark Smith and his opinion of Israel’s belief system. Mark Smith argues that Israel’s beliefs are directly originated from the Canaanite’s polytheistic beliefs. [31] 27. Ibid, 170. 28. Ibid, 173. 29. Ibid, 175. 30. Ibid, 177-180. 31. Ibid, 181-184. The author concludes this book in chapter ten where he reiterates his main points taken from previous chapters. He stresses the major theme is that contrast between biblical and non-biblical views of reality. The biblical view is deep-seated in transcendence and the non-biblical view is deep-seated in continuity. 31] In the end, we may differ on the biblical worldview and theology, given to them, but what matters in the end is how we answer the following questions: Is there a God? Does he have a will for our lives? Has he made known that will to us in intelligible actions and speech in time and space? If we answer â€Å"no† then the entire enterprise is bootless. However, if our answer is â€Å"yes† the question of what God’s will is and how he has chosen to reveal it becomes one of absolutely ultimate significance. [32] ———————â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- 31. Ibid, 185. 32. Ibid, 194.REFERENCES 1. Oswalt, John, N. , The Bible Among the Myths Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009, 11-12 2. Ibid, 13. 3. Ibid. 4. Ibid, 14. 5. Ibid, 16. 6. Ibid, 17. 7. Ibid, 21. 8. Ibid, 22. 9. Ibid, 23. 10. Ibid, 25. 11. Ibid, 27. 12. Ibid, 29-30. 13. Ibid, 33, 36, 38. 14. Ibid, 43. 15. Ibid, 48. 16. Ibid, 50-56. 17. Ibid, 57-59. 18. Ibid, 63. 19. Ibid, 64-65. 20. Ibid, 66. 21. Ibid, 85-87. 22. Ibid, 91-97. 23. Ibid, 112. 24. Ibid, 112-115. 25. Ibid, 138-141. 26. Ibid, 157-168. 27. Ibid, 170. 28. Ibid, 172. 29. Ibid, 175. 30. Ibid, 177-180. 31. Ibid, 181-184. 32. Ibid, 185 33. Ibid, 194

Indigenous Health Essay

The poor health position of Indigenous Australians is a contemporary reflection of their historical treatment as Australia’s traditional owners. This treatment has led to Indigenous Australians experiencing social disadvantages, significantly low socio-economic status, dispossession, poverty and powerlessness as a direct result of the institutionalised racism inherent in contemporary Australian society. Indigenous populations have been the carers and custodians of Australia and the Torres Strait for a period in excess of 60,000 years before being invaded/colonialised by the British on January 26, 1788 (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). Before this time, it is suggested that Indigenous Australians lived relatively affluent lives and enjoyed generally better health than most people living in Europe (Hampton & Toombs, Indigenous Australian concepts of health and well-being, 2013). The arrival of introduced diseases, especially smallpox, caused considerable loss of life among Indigenous Australians. The impact of this is loss extended far beyond the immediate victims of disease, affecting the very fabric of Indigenous societies through depopulation and social disruption (MacRae, et al. , 2012). Whilst introduced diseases were the most substantial part of the Indigenous Australians mortality, death caused by direct conflict also contributed significantly (Elder, 2003). Traditionally, Indigenous Australians had complete autonomy over all parts of their lives such as, ceremonies, spiritual practices, medicine, social relationships, management of land and law and economic undertakings (Saggers & Gray, 1991). In addition to the impacts of introduced diseases and conflict, Indigenous Australians also experienced ill effects related to disconnection from Country due to the spread of colonists and their subsequent political policies. For an Indigenous Australian, Country is not just physical territory but the central aspect of their identity (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). Occupation and colonialism impacted far beyond the physical, as Indigenous Australians had their culture devalued, traditional food sources destroyed, and were separated from their families and in some cases entire communities were dispossessed. This led to disruption or loss of languages, beliefs and social structures which form the underlying basis of Indigenous cultures. These impacts, prompted British colonists to develop several different political policies of institutionalised racism to address the real and perceived issues regarding Indigenous Australians. The first of these policies was Protectionism (1788 – 1890’s). Prior to Protectionism British colonies practiced exclusion as they assumed ‘Terra Nullius’ and seized control of the land, evicting Indigenous Australians from their traditional Country. The negative impacts this had on Indigenous Australians eventually forced colonial authorities to establish â€Å"Aboriginal ‘protection’ boards† (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). The first was established in Victoria by the Aboriginal Protection Act of 1869, with the other colonies following with similar legislation, to ‘protect’ Indigenous populations within their boundaries (Parliament of Victoria, 1869). The ‘protection’ provided under the various Acts imposed enormous restrictions on the lives of many Indigenous Australians. These restrictions included dictating where Indigenous Australians could live and not live, and set out limitations on movement, marriage, employment, earnings and ownership of property. The child welfare provisions of the Acts underpinned the removal of Aboriginal children from their families and communities ‘by compulsion, duress or undue influence’ (State Library of Victoria, 2014). The National Inquiry into the separation of the children concluded that ‘between one-in-three and one-in-ten Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities in the period from approximately 1910 until 1970’ (Wilkie, 1997). It was the 1960s, at the earliest, when the various ‘protection’ Acts were either abolished or discontinued. In the early 1890’s, protectionism gave way to state and commonwealth government regimes of segregation. In the development of the constitution, politicians included sections specifically excluding Indigenous Australians, such as the white Australia policy, ensuring that racism became entrenched in the new nation’s future. Reserves and missions were set up far from white settlements, to exclude and control Indigenous Australians, especially those of mixed descent (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). By the 1950’s all state governments invoked a new policy called assimilation (1950’s – 1960’s), which aimed to eliminate Indigenous cultures, religion and languages. Assimilation was based on the belief that if living conditions were improved, Indigenous Australians were to be absorbed into White Australian society (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). After the failure of the assimilation policy, governments aimed their sights towards Integration (1960’s – 1980’s). Integration was a step towards multiculturalism by allowing Indigenous Australians and non-Anglo European immigrants to keep certain aspects of their culture whilst conforming to mainstream white Australian society. During 1970’s Indigenous Australians were beginning to become acknowledged as Australian citizens, this led to the development of the self-determination and self-management (1970’s-1990’s) programs (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). These policies were based on the slow acceptance of multiculturalism and the beginnings of Indigenous Australians involvement in Australian politics, although the actual amount of self-determination available to them was limited. When these polices were found to be ineffective the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) was established in 1992 to overcome differences and inequities between Indigenous Australians and the wider Australian community (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). The Reconciliation movement (1990’s-present) seeks to advocate for Indigenous Australians rights, their place in our shared history and to establish economic independence among Indigenous Australians in order to promote equality for all Australians (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). Whilst government policy appears to be moving in the right direction, we are still a long way away from Indigenous autonomy and self-determination. All of these policies had a very detrimental effect on the health of Indigenous Australians both in terms of physical and mental health issues, many of which have continued through to contemporary times. Perhaps the most poignant of these impacts are those that have resulted from the Stolen Generations. There is much dispute surrounding when colonial authorities began removing Indigenous children from their families and communities, although many experts believe that it was very soon after the establishment of the British colony in Australia (Duffy, 2000). Children with Indigenous mothers were seen to be legally ‘neglected’ at birth, and removed from their families, communities and in most cases their culture, to be ‘raised right’ up until the latter part of the 20th Century (Hampton & Toombs, Racism, colonisation/colonialism and impacts on indigenous people, 2013). Because of these practises, many Indigenous Australians have deep psychological and mental health issues that continue to plague them today. Modern literature tells of many instances of suicide and ongoing identity issues, emerging from the torment of being disconnected from family, culture and country. The status of Indigenous Health has been impacted severely by the Stolen Generations and other past Government practises. For many Indigenous Australians, the ongoing effects of ‘protection’ and the forced separation of children from their families compound other social, emotional and physical disadvantages (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). These disadvantages are embodied by the Social determinants of health, including; economic opportunity, physical infrastructure, and social conditions that influence the health of individuals, communities, and societies as a whole. Inequalities in these are especially evident in education, employment, income, housing, access to services, social networks, connection with land, racism, and incarceration rates (McDonald, 2010). In all of these factors, Indigenous Australians experience substantially lower rates than non-Indigenous Australians, with the most worrying being that Indigenous Australians have a significantly lower life expectancy rate and overall health status, than their non-Indigenous counter-parts. These inequalities, combined with the social attitudes towards Indigenous Australians and their health in contemporary Australian society, contribute to the difficulties Indigenous Australians have accessing adequate healthcare. It is also difficult to provide adequate healthcare for Indigenous Australians as many service providers do not understand how Indigenous Australians conceptualise health. Until recently, there was no separate term in Indigenous languages for health as it is understood in western society (Eckermann, 2010). The traditional Indigenous perspective of health is holistic. It encompasses everything important in a person’s life, including land, environment, physical body, community, relationships, and law. Health is the social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing of the whole community and the concept is therefore linked to the sense of being an Indigenous Australian. This conceptualisation of health has much in common with the social determinants model and has crucial implications for the simple application of a medical model as a means of improving Indigenous health. Whilst the purely medical approach is undoubtedly useful in identifying and reducing disease in individuals, but its limitations in addressing population-wide health disadvantages, such as those experienced by Indigenous people, must be recognised. It is important to remember that policies and practises of the past have had major adverse impacts on the health of contemporary Indigenous Australians, and these impacts have contributed significantly to the inequalities present in Indigenous and non-Indigenous health status. However, whilst health disadvantages experienced by Indigenous Australians are considered to be historical in origin, the perpetuation of the disadvantages relies heavily on contemporary structural and social factors.

Ten Key Qualities of Law Enforcement Leaders Essay

Ten Key Qualities of Law Enforcement Leaders - Essay Example Most people who call themselves leaders act as bosses rather than being leaders. A boss will give orders while a true leader gives instructions to a task and shows the way to do it. Effective leadership ought to be coupled with good planning and participation. A good leader should not only direct the task but should go further to participating in the activity. Leaders should understand that leadership is not all about instilling fear to the subjects but rather good leadership should instill enthusiasm. Indeed, effective Leadership must produce motivation to the subjects. Gonzalez indicates that leaders are gifted to make enthusiasm and real pride in accomplishing a purpose. In adding up to inspiration, some make regular references to the care and wellbeing of subordinates. Actually, excellent leaders watch over their workers. Effective leaders learn to set an example; they own an indisputable sympathy for others; are not afraid to admit accountability; and mind about the people they lead. True leaders readily take responsibility for all their actions and never fear owning up their deeds. Responsibility also means taking risks of everything that they do. Fundamentally, effective leaders are quick to accept the mistakes that they make in their course of actions. Leaders should embrace the idea of accountability and accept penalties whenever they fail and are held answerable. Additionally, a sense of certainty pervades the thoughts of effective leaders. This enables them to get things through and to shun from fear of making mistakes. One fact that effe ctive leaders accept is that mistakes are a component of the job they do. In effect, leaders usually prevail against the odds, regardless of having numerous impediments (Gonzalez 2). Good leaders have a high self worth and self esteem. These help them to motivate the people they lead because they (subjects) always look upon their leader.

The term paper is mostly a critique of Graddy's paper Essay

The term paper is mostly a critique of Graddy's paper - Essay Example The study that was undertaken by Graddy focused on over 400 restaurants from franchises that included Wendy’s, Burger King, Roy Rodger’s, and KFC. The pricing data was collected by using the result of studies done by Card and Krueger from 1994, with the income and race information coming from the census information of 1990. As the Graddy work is dated 1997, the time period for which the data is collected is appropriate, but will reflect the 1990s rather than looking towards the future. The reasons for using the data from fast food restaurants seems to be sound as it was an industry chosen for its product duplication across markets inside the United States. Graddy notes that previous studies of a similar type were done in reference to supermarket prices, but did not distinguish between the observable differences between race and income. Graddy dates the last study of that type to have been done in 1982, thus suggesting further that this area of inquiry has been neglected . In more recent studies to the date of the Graddy work, the topic of racial differences in price points was discussed concerning difference in automobile prices where Caucasian and African American customers were concerned where identical automobiles were quoted with different prices where one race was compared to another. African American buyers were routinely quoted a significantly higher price than Caucasian buyers. The nature of the way in which prices are determined, it seems, often has a relationship to race. In the Graddy study, she points out that this point is proven according to the work that she has done due to her work that shows that meal prices are at a difference of 5% when the population of a neighborhood is at 50% or more for an African American population. The initial study from which Graddy gathers her data from is based upon the work of Card and Krueger who surveyed restaurants in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania in February and March of 1992 and then once mo re in November and December 1992. The survey questioned 473 stores with only 410 stores responding which gave a 87% response rate. For the first set, valid responses were gathered from 387 stores, with the second phase having success with 376 stores. Grady correlated this information with zip codes, first calling the individual stores, and then verifying that information with zip code directories. This information was then correlated with the information from the census in order to create valid information about place and price information in regard to race distribution in the areas of study. The information that was correlated for the race and price distribution section was then correlated in such a way as to add dimension to the study. The data was correlated with information from the 1992 Uniform Crime Reports Crime in New Jersey and Crime in Pennsylvania that was gathered from both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania police departments. After all the data was collected and correlate d, 322 restaurants had provided enough information to make the necessary relationships within the study which included information about starting wage, number of employees, and crime rates. The first table in the

Management of a Health Care Staff Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management of a Health Care Staff Group - Essay Example A respiratory therapy division involves culmination of multi-disciplinary professionals with the overlapping of daily duties of therapists and technicians. Methodology/Sequence of events: The behavior and method of performing duties of a set of employees in the respiratory therapy division was observed. The set of employees under observation included three respiratory therapists, an intern, an administrative staff member and a supervisory head managing their activities. Also, factors such as personal characteristics, likes and dislikes, professional motive and so on, which determine the behavior of employees were studied and noted down. The degree of complication involved in the situation was analyzed. The problem issues were listed followed with possible solutions. Outcomes: It was observed that there were varied activities going on within a single division. Some performed the activities directly related to respiratory therapy and the others were performing supporting activities. However, each activity seemed indispensable to the overall performance of the division. Among the respiratory therapists, one of them was young, extremely enthusiastic and high spirited. The other one was slightly older, calm, calculative and procedure oriented. The third therapist was as young as the first one, but lacked the enthusiasm, but anyway continued to perform his duties without complains. These therapists mainly performed duties such as analysis of the problem on hand, performing tests, setting up equipments and ventilators as well as educating the patients and their family members. The intern was new in the hospital premises. He only assisted the therapists by taking down the patients' explanations and acting only when instructed. The administrative staff member was responsible for helping the patients fix appointments, preparation of doctors' schedules, managing physical documents and attending phone calls. Though the number of duties the administrative staff member was assigned with was very few, her hands seemed to be full all the time. She showed a few signs of frustration, but nevertheless continued to work vigorously. The supervisory head only handled unusual or exceptional cases, and in the meantime supervised the work performed by the therapists, managed involvement of technicians and resolved conflicts, if any. The supervisory head had very few years of experience in supervision and management. Problems/Conflicts/Constraints: The therapists worked under constant pressure. They were often required in ICUs and ERs. Their duties were crucial to the well being of the patients. Their patience too was of great importance to keep the patients at ease. They attended to wide variety of patients from infants to the elderly. The young enthusiastic therapist seemed to get along well with patients belonging to all age groups. He was extremely friendly and the patients seemed to be at ease in his company. The slightly older therapist was more formal in his approach. He did put the patients at ease through his self confidence and strong belief in the system, but at the same time kept a distance from the patients by not going beyond the medical problem on hand. He treated all patients the same, whether infants, young, or old. The third therapist was always untouched by what was going on. He performed his duties quiet

International Trade and Financial Markets Assignment

International Trade and Financial Markets - Assignment Example For instance, assume UK can experience vast harvest of grapes as compared to Brazil. On the other hand, Brazil thrives in rubber production than any other country. The concept of comparative advantage, therefore, requires the UK to engage more resources in producing grapes. On the other hand, Brazil would better engage in the mass production of rubber. The two countries would, therefore, export their abundant products to the foreign markets. That is; rubber would be exported to the UK and grapes would be exported to Brazil. The mentioned exchange process is referred to as the international trade, which is regulated by trade policies (Suranovic 2012). Trade policies are rules that regulate the exchange of goods, services and other assets between two or more countries. Trade policies also encompass the tax rules, government incentives, and subsidies. The flow of goods, services, and other assets from one country to another is significant for the following reasons: first, it improves economic and social ties between countries. Second, international trade avails a wide variety of goods and services for the consumers. It therefore, enhances the consumer sovereignty, which is the free will of the customers to consume products and services of their interest. Third, international trade improves a country’s economic performance among other importance. The paper seeks to present a critical evaluation of the appropriateness of the trade policies in the United Kingdom (Trade Policy 2015). The link between the United Kingdom and the international communities, specially the developing countries, is based on the following: the export and import of goods and services between UK and the developing countries, the investments activities in the developing countries, relocation to and from development countries, and offering aid to developing countries. The goods exported to the UK from the developing countries in the year 2014

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Ethics - Essay Example Severance packages or early retirement options as a method of reducing payroll costs can have severe consequences on the organization, especially in terms of motivation to work to business expectations. Even though the package was tempting to the exiting employee and they decided to take it, there are members of the organization who have worked with these exiting colleagues each and every workday. Socialization is bound to be impacted, in relation to the employees’ sense of belonging in the organization, creating difficulty in adjustment for the remaining workers. The HR manager is often the person who develops and offers these early retirement plans, under pressure at the highest levels, and they must also balance their regular job role as the employee champion responsible for issues of motivation and performance. Sudden drops in employee volume, due to the need to cut payroll costs, can over-burden the workers with consolidated jobs roles and create rifts where positive soci alization used to exist. â€Å"Layoffs can send shock waves through a local economy when a company that downsizes is large and when several firms choose to downsize at the same time, in the same region† (Piturro, 1999, p.39). These shock waves can be measured by the higher levels of unemployment in the local area, along with less-quality consumer lifestyles caused by income reductions, as well as loss of commerce at multiple levels, consumer and business-to-business. Early retirement packages are attempts at avoiding situations where local economies suffer, where employees are given incentives to take the option (as far as satisfying their emotional needs), and to improve the company’s bottom line. This is a major benefit, rather than the disadvantages which were discussed earlier, because it reduces the shock waves which often occur when

Boeing negotiation with labor unions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Boeing negotiation with labor unions - Essay Example This paper seeks to examine the construct of power disparity in negotiation, within the context of Boeing versus the machinists’ labor union, in the latter’s recent project of building the Boeing 777X plane. In November of 2013, Boeing made an announcement that the company was launching an expansion project, which was to entail construction of its newest line of 777X planes. Being located in Puget Sound, Washington, the State’s legislature accorded Boeing the biggest tax subsidy ever allotted to a company not just in the state, but also nationally. Washington State gave Boeing the grant with the primary intention of making sure that the company did not transfer its operations to another state. The company then offered its workers a deal, which required them to accept reduced retirement benefits, take about sixteen years before reaching the maximum wage level, as opposed to the usual six year period and adopt a contribution savings structure instead of the retirement pension. Boeing required the International Association of Machinists (IAM), which represents machinists, to convince its members to accept this offer or they would not be involved in making the 777X planes, since oper ations would be shifted to another state with more favorable terms. The machinists union first turned down Boeing’s offer and the company consequently began seeking out other states that would be willing to offer more public money, while accepting its offer. At least twenty states responded to Boeing including South Carolina, Missouri and Alabama, all eagerly willing to offer the company lucrative subsidy packages (Gates n.pg). To efficiently address the different challenges posed by power differences in negotiation, it is imperative for one to first comprehend power as basic concept. From the most encompassing and elemental perspective, power refers to the ability of a person or

Money and banking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Money and banking - Essay Example In mid 1998, Brazil's consolidated fiscal position was showing primary deficit, as the government expenditure exceeded its income. The current account deficit was approaching 5% of GDP, even as the economy was sliding into recession. The situation was further aggravated when Russia defaulted on its debt payment and external capital flow came to a halt (Fraga, 2000). Floating of Real was the course of action taken by the government in January 1999 with the consequence that the exchange value of Real plunge to an all time low R$2.15. The government realised that any drastic step taken out of distress rather than alleviating the problem could create further imbalances by fuelling inflation. The government was contemplating whether to float, peg and initiate a fixed- rate regime. After looking through all the possibilities the government had announced in March 1999 that the full inflation targeting system would come into force in June 1999. The Brazilian government could have taken recourse to many instruments at its disposal to implement country's economic policy but the government had assigned to the Central Bank the task of keeping the rate of inflation at a low level. ... Another reason for choosing the inflation targeting regime is its' near immunity to political influence in policy decisions. Another purpose of the regime is to coordinate the prospects of inflation. While this contributes towards achieving the target, at the same time, it may enhance the credibility and transparency. The inflation targeting regime helps to buffer the shocks hitting the economy. Due to the flexibility of the system, it can absorb these shocks. Brazil is a country that is still dependent on foreign capital. Introduction of floating exchange rate as a part of the inflation targeting regime will directly absorb part of external shocks. The key points of the inflation targeted regime can be summarized as follows: Inflation target will be established on the basis of variations of a widely known price index The inflation targets as well as the tolerance intervals will be set by the National Monetary Council on a basis of a proposal by the Finance Minister The price index that would be adopted for the purpose of inflation targeting framework will be chosen by the National Monetary Council on the basis of a proposal by the Finance Minister The targets will be considered to have been met whenever the observed accumulated inflation during the period of January-December of each year falls within the tolerance interval In case the targets are breached, the Central bank's Governor needs to issue an open letter addressed to the Finance Minister explaining the causes of the breach, the measures to be adopted to ensure that the inflation returns to the tolerance levels, and the period of time that will be needed for these measures to have effect,

Examine the factors that led to the formation of the first Labour Essay

Examine the factors that led to the formation of the first Labour Government in 1924 - Essay Example While the MacDonald government was transitory, the first labor government was a vital sign of the achievements of Labor since its establishment as the Labor Representation Committee. First labor government was an essential landmark by which the Party could evaluate its advancement and policies. The party could also improve its administrative skills and approaches for the future. The first labor government substantiated its ability to govern (Murphy1946 p. 530). It is necessary to discuss some of the reasons why the first Labor Government was created in 1924. The platform used by the Conservative Party to win previous elections was reducing the rate of unemployment. The British waited for the formulation and implementation of the necessary strategies. However, the rate of unemployment became serious after Conservative Party came into power. According to Daleand Iain (45), the number of people who were not employed before Conservative Party came to power was 1,153,600. Within ten months of their rule, the figure increased to 1,198,800 (Dale and Iain 45). The rate of unemployment was still increasing when the survey was being conducted. During this time, the wages decreased in Britain by close to a third. The policy introduced by Conservative Party to address this important question was indecisive. There was nothing new and operational that the government had done. In addition, the party had not kept their electoral pledges and promises yet the country was preparing for another election. Consequently, the first labor government had to solv e these problems. The Conservative Party supported the restoration of economic and commercial associations with the Russian people. However, the country needed to restore their credit and prepare the British industry to dominate foreign trade. The Conservative Party Minister decided to inform parliament to amend a treaty that made the British to guarantee credit to a government whose ideologies reject

What I Have Learned Essay Example for Free

What I Have Learned Essay There are many life lessons that I have learned the hard way from this situation. I have learned who my true friends are, what a real family is, drugs are just a mask for feelings inside, what people really think about me, and I’ve learned the right way to live a life. The sad part of all this is it took something this significant for me to have a reality check. In life there are two types of friends, true friends who actually care about you and the ones who are fake and just want to use you to get high. To deviate whether a person is a real or fake friend you must look at what you guys do when you hangout, where you go, what you spend your money on and how you act with them. If when you hangout you have to lie to your parents then obviously what you are doing isn’t right. If you and your friends are afraid of getting in trouble from the activities you guys are partaking in then why do it? Why put yourself in that situation? Why more importantly put your family in the situation of having to come and take you out of the cop’s custody? If you don’t care about the people who brought you into this world enough to put them in that situation then there is something wrong with you and you need help like I am currently getting. Read more: Essay About Most Important Lesson Learned in Life   If you go and spend your money on food with a couple of buddies then that is a true friend but if you and your friends have to go and act like they are 18 to get a cigarillo and then have to go wherever you need to go to get your drugs then that is not the type of people you want to be around and you need to take yourself out of that situation as soon as possible because that is detrimental to your true potential. If you can act like your true self than that is a true friend, someone that you have to try to act â€Å"cool† with then that isn’t someone to be around because if you aren’t acting like yourself than who exactly are you? Someone who is just as fake as the people they are hanging out with that’s who. I recently stood in front of my football team (Family) and explained to them my whole entire life/family situation because that was my plead for help because I was lost for a while but I found my way back that day. A family is someone who you can tell anything too and not feel weird about doing. Family  members are people who if you cry in front of them (like I did that day) there is going to be zero judgment from them only more love and understanding because they now know what you deal with on a daily basis. Family is someone who you can call and they will completely drop what they are doing and they will go wherever you are or do whatever you need without any questions or complaints because they care for you that much. Someone who has your back no matter what, no matter how big the person is, no matter what the odds are they will be there 10 times out of 10 by your side protecting you. The Northeast Football team is one of the tightest families there are in the world because every play there is someone on the other side of the ball looking to bring harm to you and they will do whatever it takes to stop that person from even laying a hand on you. Through this experience I have realized that drugs are just a mask for how you really feel. They make you get your mind off of what is really bothering you. At first you may think this is a good thing but really it’s the worst because all those feelings stay inside of you and will be brought up to the surface and they will come back to haunt you. You will end up having a meltdown and not know what to do with yourself so you go and smoke some more to get it off your mind and the process just repeats itself till you get caught up. Most importantly through this experience I have now realized what I have made people think of me. I have made people think I’m a pothead that has no future in life. I have made people think they will end up seeing me over the counter asking them â€Å"May I take your order?† My image to people is fogged up now and I must prove to people that I’m completely different from what they have heard and what they think. That’s my job now. Lastly I have realized the way to live a happy life the right way. Without drugs I have seen all the pain I have caused my family. I don’t have to ask for money, I don’t have to lie, and most importantly I don’t have to argue with my grandparents anymore. I can finally make them proud by going off to college and hopefully playing baseball by earning a scholarship. I can help my grandparents live the rest of their life the way they want too without  stress and having to worry about me constantly. I owe them more than that but I’m going to get there eventually by doing the right things like I have been doing recently. I must thank Corporal McAddams for this because without him I wouldn’t have found my way back to the path I’m on right now, I would probably be making the same old stupid mistakes I made before and for that I must give him the credit for doing his job. I also must thank my two families for constantly loving and caring for me and always being there for me because the without them I would still be lost doing the wrong things with the wrong people.

The Punk Rock Movement | Essay

The Punk Rock Movement | Essay More than a quarter century ago the punk, hippie, mod and skinhead movement had an enormous impact and played an integral part of popular music along with the social messages and persuasive tactics that they used to gain popularity of their movement. This has been an attempt to gain attention of our society to engage in the issues at hand on a global scale. The strategies that were implemented played a vital role in the punk rock movement and gained legitimacy through its use of coactive and extremely confrontational tactics. These extreme tactics ultimately gained attention to bring about social change and to resist the status quo. It has been said that the punk rock movement is an association of people that serve to refute social attitudes that have been perpetuated through willful ignorance of human nature. (Graffin, 2010) Greg Graffin considers himself the poster boy for the punk rock movement that started in the 1970s. Graffin is the lead singer of the world famous punk bank Bad Religion, one of the most influential bands connected to the punk rock movement. The punk rock movement started between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, The United Kingdom and Australia as a youth movement through music against mainstream society. They created fast hard-edged music and the songs were usually short and very often politically motivated with an anti-establishment theme. The punk rock movements ethic was DIY (do it yourself).The punk rock movements in these countries had varying histories and cultures of their own but their messages held a similar goal; that of freedom to express their discontent and concerns. The punk rock movement spread quickly around the world and became a major cultural phenomenon which characterized anti-authoritarian ideologies, youthful rebellion and were characterized by a very distinctive style of clothing. When our ancestors first migrated to cities and started very distinctive societies which were basically from the dawn of human history, certain issues have inevitably plagued all civilizations. Many predicaments such as war, famine and disease have all been an integral part in changing the ebb and flow of history. As VanDorston (2001) explains, many of the most significant movements and revolutions in our history have occurred because the less fortunate, poor and downtrodden masses were forced to tolerate, bear and deal with unreasonable and cruel measures as a result of the corrupt establishment which played a major part in the punk rock movement as well and this will be pointed out in my analysis. The British punk rock movement was very different and distinctive than the American punk rock movement and came about because of the social environment at the time. After the end of World War II Britain was in economic despair and the people were extremely dissatisfied. There were many immigrants, a huge unemployment rate and an overall declining economy which also led to racial tensions and ultimately race riots. This background created an atmosphere of discontent and along with restlessness the emergence of the punk rock movement evolved. The Sex Pistols flourished in this new scene and they had huge following of fans and inspired members of future bands such as the Clash. The Sex Pistols with their style of dress and performance set the tone for the entire punk rock movement in Britain and they became an overnight sensation. The most important contribution to the punk rock movement was their condemnation of society and their anti-establishment views such as their anthem Anarchy in the U.K. This was very different than the American punk rock movement which began with The Ramones who sang mostly about the issues of the youth. In the dark era of the United States, the Ramones came of age. The Vietnam War was ending after more than a decade of fighting a vicious war that the punk rock movement detested. As a result, there were many demonstrations one of the worst which was when race riots erupted on a college campus. Kent State and the National Guardsmen shot and killed four protesting students. Along with the Watergate scandal during President Nixons reign he was forced to resign which left our nation disgraced. The violence and social unrest at home just inspired a stronger punk rock movement and it confirmed their feelings that it was a time of change as the government was certainly not working on behalf of the people. Very early in the twentieth century i.e. 1905, a mass media developed and began to expend, punk rock music became an increasingly admired and popular mode of influence and communication. In an effort to make the punk rock movement heard, the confrontational tactics and strategies used brought about social change but not without resistance. Taking into account that even trough social movements were separated by geography, time and style of music, the next to the last messages sounded across these boundaries to establish and enact change and reform by using these persuasive tactics. During this time, labor disputes were coming to a boiling point which was predicated by low wages, despicable working conditions and extremely oppressive management. Some working class Americans lacked their own means of production and was thus turning to radical groups like the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). By 1908 the IWW was also commonly referred to as the Wobblies and their message was to spread the message through the contents of their songs e.g. Little Red Song Book and they wrote intense ballads of revolt and then would print the words and music. They would then get them out to the public for a small fee by spreading the words and raising much needed funds to continue to influence their movement in order to make an impact. The Wobblies strongly encouraged and advocated a massive class war that would then end with the entire overthrow of the petty bourgeois or better known as the middle class. The IWWs ideas, objective and goals were to encourage radical revolution suggesting that the working folk of all countries gain solidarity and unite against their oppressors and be together as one for the world and its wealth. Political and economic issues were not enough for punk rockers to revolt against therefore they revolted against anything and everything. They even rebelled against their very name punk which implied that the movement was worthy only of ridicule. All of culture, all of living, all of reality was complete garbage in their eyes. Punk rock music was a reckless, atonal beat with in comprehendible monotone vocals that the sad and misunderstood youth of America and Europe could voice their troubles. Their style of dance pogo now moshing was merely jumping straight up and down like a stick. It was basically a non-dance. One thing is certain; punk rockers were and still are staunch non conformists. They didnt just embrace convention instead they turned it upside down as well as inside out. For instance, instead of dying their hair unusual but safe shades, they went for absurd, bizarre and unnatural colors like pink or green. Their out of the ordinary haircuts, many tattoos and piercings, and excessive use of leather all collaborate to make one interesting and controversial combination. In reality, punk rockers were amongst the original to truly acquire the modern Primitive idea. All in all, the punk rock movement has aged quite well. While it saw its peak of success in the late 70s as well as early 80s, just as the hippie movement, it got displaced, but has never really gone away. Today, punk rock bands are still there who continue making music in the original style, and its not awfully strange to see somebody walking around with a spiked Mohawk haircut. The more modern Gothic movement, with its own visual ethic of pale white skin and dark black hair and clothing, has taken the terrible desperation to another, even more fatalistic level. Goths are more concerned in calmer nihilistic poetry than the gratuitous anarchy of Punk Rock, although they share countless ideals. Even though the IWWs goals and their militant messages ultimately led to their decline because of troubles with the government the struggle for economic and social equality has continued to this day through its absence. The history of the United States and Europe has certainly been an account of social movements striving for emancipation, fairness, non conformism, and a less biased social system. Institutions and movements address and sometimes repress the discontent to sustain the system already in place. Social movements such as the punk rock form to tackle a variety of causes: to end military battles, to conserve the environment, to acquire human rights, to question abortion, and to regulate the power of commercial, legislative, spiritual, and educational bureaucracies. Disagreements over ethical, religious, social, political, and economic ideals stimulate social movements and counter movements (Haenfler, 2004). Globalization and the constantly increasing availability of technological means of communication have assisted social movements to counter perceived threats to identity, principles, and culture. A variety of theories have tried to elaborate on the emergence, climax and decline of the Punk rock movement. They often try to explain the ways in which they attempted to bring about or resist social change, how the protagonists believed they were advocating for positive social change and how they gained legitimacy through their movement strategies. The punk rock movement as discussed came about due to political and general societal differences within the Caucasian societies. During the post war period, it is apparent that the government sought to take control of the entire system with strict bureaucratic legislations to all citizens. The youth mostly were hardly hit with harsh laws placed upon the education system. Many affected youth and activists in general were unhappy and coalesced to form the Punk rock movement and change the status quo. This community hit the ground running with demonstrations and strikes against the government and most of the issues they raised were felt by many. This connection caused the movement to increase its fan base and therefore grew to become a force to be reckoned with. Haenfler (2004) argues that the movement used various ways to deliver their messages, these include; bombs, vandalism, theft, kidnappings not to mention their striking mode of dressing. The government rejected violence as a way of communication, but sought co-operation with protagonists and other activists who preferred aggressive and violent protests. To thousands of hippies around the United States, they personified revolution. They were able to appeal to thousands of youth and to understand the disappointment and frustration many of them felt. Above all, they signified unyielding defiance and resistance in the face of prejudice, discrimination and repression. The groups believed that they were doing more good than wrong. This is true in a sense that they actively conveyed their issues but the mode in which they did was somewhat questionable with violent killings and processions around America and Europe. Charles (2001) reveals how these punks used dangerous drugs to symbolize life in the moment and their self destructive, narcissistic attitudes. Straight edge emerged relatively early in the punk scene and has shared certain values and styles with punks, hippies, and skins ever since. While some punks today are similar, the two scenes have become relatively distinct, and the movement has replaced many of the original antisocial punk values with pro social ideals. With the decline of the movement, the punk lifestyle lived on to date with many youth around the globe still imitating the dressing and attitude without the violence. Cooper (2010) confirms that the punk music and lifestyle has led to the birth of numerous rock bands like Blink 182 and Sum41 which adapted much of their essence and style from the likes of Ramones (Charles, 2002). These bands have adopted the softer nature of these earlier bands contrary to other bands which have adopted a harder more grunge genre e.g. Avenged sevenfold (VanDorston,2001) It would have been thought that the movement would lead to a literary historical account but on the contrary led to a lifestyle many today follow. This movement cannot be compared to those such as the Civil rights movement, the Feminist movement, and the Environment movement because it was in particular a more romanticized movement as compared to most. It did not seek redress and change like the others but simply was an avenue for yout h to vent out their anger and in turn be themselves. The Punk movement to date has successfully provided a hypothetical structure which challenges the organization of Western capitalism and completely inverts all logic as the conventional understands. But not only did the Punk movement challenge all forms of traditional institutions such as government and religion they also had their own culture, values, structure and attitudes (Cooper, 2010). They sought to unearth the world in its natural state without the fraud and ideology of the parent culture. Punk culture and technique was highly arranged and consistent. Rock music provided the opportunity to reinforce Punk ideologies and clubs provided a place to come together. The music translates the clothing style; it is raucous, untidy and focuses on the underlying message and rhythm rather than the obvious chords. The music demonstrates a longing for change, it demands not to live as an entity in the conformist world but rather to live as a subject of history and yet feel that DIY ideology can make a difference. On the contrary, the punk culture has still been largely accused of conforming to the conventional with bands such as Sex pistol and Clash reaching the top of contemporary billboard charts. Punks do not bluntly reject capitalism, they particularly how its become mass culture and lost its sense of skill and hard work. They want to go back to character, authenticity and truth. Thus their focus on authenticity both places the individual front and centre and yet negates any individual manifestations of punk identity outside hardcore punk values. From a neutral perspective, there is a contradiction where as Punks pursue authenticity they are setting a criteria for belonging to their subculture and thus discriminating against poseur or inauthentic Punks who have style of dressing but not the cultural sentiment (Charles, 2001). Thus their focus on authenticity both places the individual front and centre and yet negates any individual manifestations of punk identity outside hardcore punk val ues. But from a Punk perspective this makes sense. In true DIY norm, Punk culture successfully inverts mainstream hierarchies by placing Punk culture as better than the individual which are in turn both greater than civilization. As soon as any form of Punk culture is taken up by the mainstream the Punks alter themselves and make the mainstream version anti-fashion (VanDorston, 2001). They constantly work to maintain their own unique style. This creates a constant source of legitimacy for the mainstream and at the same time a constant insertion of Punk culture and values into mainstream culture. Staunch Punks argue that being a Punk has allowed them to move past the conventional and experience utter freedom. Punks foster what mainstream civilization rejects. The pursuit for realness is maintained within the movement through internal policing and dialogues. These mechanisms of observation are enacted through the continual monitoring of dedication of younger and older members by the subculture itself. This is further adopted within individual members as they all believe the movement to symbolize a kind of essence of nature, and yet practice drug abuse, self-mutilation and loathing exhibiting their mortality From the 2001 book, Persuasion and social movements, Charles explains that the Punk subculture has in fact emulated a subset of the conventional ethics of normal society. The Punk subculture views itself as being outer society while theory informs us that it is rather inside society right at the very epicenter. In this sense, the Punk movement has created a kind of shell maintaining modern capitalist systems but without the general cultural aspects of post modern world. This can be confirmed by the levels of power that exist within the punk movement through gender inequality and patriarchy which exists also in the mainstream society for example, female Punks tend to reside only on the periphery of the culture by still living at home with their parents and performing nursing or housekeeping duties for the male Punks who are at the epicenter of the movement (Banshee, 2008). The Punk subculture has cleverly offered a speculative framework which challenges the system of Western capitalis m and completely transforms all forms of logic as the society understands it. It is clear that the society profit from an objective approach to studies and that the inclusion of the social order is essential to gain a more complete picture of the community. Such an approach utilizes a broader scale of available information. It is clear that the punk rock movement has made an impact not only in US and European society but around the globe. The Punk culture contribution to the scholarly community is absolute and they have done it their way because in order to analyze various phenomena we cannot help but become involved in it. The Punk movement informs us, from an objective perspective, that the wealthier the data the more we lose our purpose. The Punk subculture is evidence of the numerous assets of data available which can inform theory through an unbiased approach to research. Conclusion The punk rock movement is a notable event in our society that has withstood the changes of society. The very ideologies that conceived the entire movement is what still stand to date. Despite the internal mayhem in the punk movement and entire body, punk rock made several things clear to mainstream audiences and observers; punk Rock, in essence successfully managed to break down many barriers of appearance and language. It furthermore has left a mark in the commercial music industry. It provided a fresh substitute to a boring, dormant music industry. Punk rock is inadvertently the mainstream genre of music in America, Europe, Australia and notable parts of Asia and Africa. The look and style together with the doctrines and philosophies of this sub culture have been widely embraced and it has proven to be a tall order to erase it. The punk rock movement is no doubt a force to be reckoned with, not only that but a lifestyle indeed.

Journal Writing and Adult Learning Essay -- Teaching Writers Authors E

Journal Writing and Adult Learning The value of journal writing to a course with adult students cannot be overemphasized. (Sommer 1989, p. 115) Journals and diaries have a long history as a means of self-expression. Several themes prevalent in adult learning--coming to voice, developing the capacity for critical reflection, and making meaning--are reflected in the way journals can be used in adult education. Journals are useful learning tools in a variety of adult education settings. Dialog journals, for example, have become popular in adult literacy and English as a second language classrooms. This digest focuses on several types of journals, exploring their value in assisting adults through their learning journey and summarizing advice from the literature on effective ways to use journals. Types of Journals One type is the reader response journal or literature log, in which learners record their responses to readings. Used on all levels from adult basic education through graduate study, such logs enable readers to enter the literature in their own voice (Perham 1992), placing themselves in relation to the text and discovering what they think about it. Over time, the log itself becomes another primary text to which they can respond (Perl 1994). Usually, entries are shared with the class, stimulating discussion. In one variation described by Perham, a looseleaf notebook accessible to the whole class becomes a collaborative journal in which learners and teacher make ongoing comments. Both Perham and Perl feel that these response journals have the power to build a community of learners though the process of critical co-reading and co-writing. The learning journal is a systematic way of documenting learning and col... ...462) Roe, M. F., and Stallman, A. C. "A Comparative Study of Dialogue and Response Journals." Presented at the American Educational Research Association conference, 1993. (ED 359 242) Schatzberg-Smith, K. "Dialogue Journal Writing and the Initial College Experience of Academically Underprepared Students." Presented at the American Educational Research Association conference, 1989. (ED 308 737) Schneider, P. The Writer as an Artist. Los Angeles: Lowell House, 1994. Sommer, R. F. Teaching Writing to Adults. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1989. Surbeck, E.; Han, E. P.; and Moyer, J. "Assessing Reflective Responses in Journals." Educational Leadership 48 (March 1991): 25-27. (EJ 422 850) \ Walden, P. "Journal Writing: A Tool for Women Developing as Knowers." New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education no. 65 (Spring 1995): 13-20. (EJ 502 496)

The Digital Divide Essays -- essays papers

The Digital Divide Abstract: Around the world 429 million people are connected to the Internet. Forty-one percent of those people can be found in North America. Although 429 million seems like a large number it is only 6 percent of the global population (Fact Sheet, 2004). Numbers like this reflect the digital divide that has grown since the creation of the computer and more recently, the ‘Information Super Highway’ called, the Internet. The digital divide describes the issue that some people have access to and use computers and the Internet while others do not. There are several factors that play into those that do not have access and there are programs that have been created to close the gap between these people and those that have access. Full Text: Bridges.org (2003) describes the digital divide as â€Å"the wide division between those who have access to ICT [information and communications technologies] and are using it effectively and those who do not.† These groups are labeled the â€Å"have† and the â€Å"have-nots.† As technology increases the importance of having access to it grows also. Those who do not have access to technology lag behind and end up in the ‘gap’ of the digital divide. Usually the majority of people that fall in the ‘have-nots† category are in developing countries around the world, but a large number can be found right in the United States. Several factors seem to play a part in who becomes a victim of the digital divide. These include race, socioeconomic status, education, location, age and gender. The statistics for race and access to Internet access in the home show that 46.1% of white households are online and 56.8% of Asian American and Pacific Islanders have access to the Internet in th... ...e Network. (2004). Digital Divide Basics Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 18, 2004 from http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/stories/index.cfm?key=168 6.) Hillebrand, M. (1999). US Government Attempts to Bridge Digital Divide. E-Commerce Times. Retrieved April 12, 2004 from http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/1086.html. 7.)Holmes, S. (2000). NMSU project aims to bridge ‘digital divide.’ Retrieved April 24, 2004 from http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/070600/usn_nmsu.shtml. 8.) PBS.org. (2001). Outreach Activities. Retrieved April 18, 2004 from http://www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/news.html. 9.) Steele-Carrin, S. (2000). Caught in the Digital Divide. Education World. Retrieved April 27, 2004 from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech041.shtml. 10.) Vail, K. (2003). Next Generation Divide. American School Board Journal, 190, 23-25.

Basketball Needs To Be Fixed Essay -- essays research papers

Basketball Needs to Be Fixed   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Professional and college basketball have become very popular in the hearts and minds of many Americans. Millions of dollars a year are spent on apparel, tickets, and television all generated by people's love for basketball. But in the last couple of years, both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and college basketball have lost a substantial amount of their competition and have caught much criticizim for it. At the heart of this problem is a single cause, greed. The game of basketball has become all about money instead of the game and its fans. This problem needs to be addressed, and the best place to start is with the college players, or more specifically, the NBA draft. The rules and guidelines that pertain to the draft are greatly at fault for the down slide of both college and NBA basketball and they need to be changed before the game down slides into nothing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The changes that need to be made are simple, underclassmen should not be eligible for the NBA draft; or in other words, if you have years of eligibility left, you should not be eligible to be drafted by an NBA team. What problems would this solve? The answer is most problems in basketball today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, college basketball has paid greatly by losing its most talented players to the NBA as many as three years early. This has resulted in not only an overall lessening of the game, but in certain circumstances caused the downfall of once great basketball programs. This is how it happens, colleges recruit players based on what their needs are or what they will need shortly in the future. So let us say that one school has a great core of sophomore and junior players for an upcoming season. The coaches do not have the need or the room for many new top notch players. So all of the top recruits find other schools to go to. Then, let us say that the great core of players leaves for the NBA, leaving the team with mediocre players and a horrible season to look forward to. By the next recruiting period comes around, the school's reputation has been hurt, and so has their chances of landing the top recruits. This continues until the school's once proud basketball tradition is a thing of the past. This situation is not only hypothetical, schools like UNLV, Georgetown, Seton Hall, and Hous... ...ard spiral. That is how players' salaries have rose to absurd limits. No one noticed the problem while it was happening, but now that it is a problem there is no real way to fix it. In 1996, a rookie salary cap was put into effect by the NBA to put a limit on beginning salaries, so some measures are being taken. This is a start, but it is not the answer to the problem. If underclassmen were not allowed to come out early, high rookie salaries would not have to be as high, and the players would probably be more accepting of less money than most rookies are getting now, and this would help solve the all- around money problem in the NBA.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both the NBA and college basketball seem to be in a rut. And as stated before, they reason is the underclassmen leaving school early to make money in the NBA. So what's the solution? Easy, do not let the college players enter the NBA draft early. It would benefit everyone in the future. Of course there would be a transitional period, but the losses would be short and the effects of the change would be evident very quickly. Let the game be played the way it was meant to be played, for the competition and not for the money.

Is Social Networking an Effective Marketing Tool Essay

Marketing Strategies Many businesses have started to incorporate market strategies as a way of increasing profitability. Small business can create market strategies to target their market more effectively and have a competitive edge over competition. Lyndon Simkin, (2000) stated â€Å"If the â€Å"right† opportunities are pursued, customers are properly probed, the â€Å"right† customers targeted with a marketing proposition designed to give a business an edge over its rivals, it is highly likely that customers will be satisfied, market share will rise in core target markets and profitability will accordingly support a viable future.† Having a strategy in place will allow you to set objectives such as increasing your share of the market that your business currently is in. Market strategies for small businesses are to develop the growth of the company. Analysing you target market and introducing a way in which you can target this market. The following are how marketing strategy allows business to set objectives Current product/current market Market penetration is a strategy of increasing your share of existing markets. You might achieve this by raising customers’ awareness of your products and services or finding new customers. Current product/new market Market development is a strategy of finding and entering new markets with your current product or service range. The new market could be a new region, a new country or a new segment of the market. New product/current market Product development is a strategy for enhancing benefits you deliver to customers by improving your existing products and services or developing new ones. New product/new market Diversification is a strategy that usually carries high costs and high risks. It often requires firms to adopt new ways of doing business and so has consequences far beyond simply offering new products/services in a new market. It is therefore usually a strategy to be adopted when other options are not feasible. http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/sales-marketing/marketing-strategy.html Marketing Tools Online There are many marketing tools available for businesses to use and utilising the best one to fully create brand awareness for your product is vital. Geoffrey J. Simmons, (2007) realises â€Å"Companies are finding that they are having to redefine their marketing and branding strategies due to the unique characteristics of the internet and its capacity to change old rules.†. Due to the growth of users using internet, marketing tools have been developed so that businesses can market their products online. Marketing online has been as an important way for business to create brand awareness and target customers effectively. Online advertisement is now seen as the most effective way of marketing therefore many different ways have been introduced to advertise on the internet. Amalesh Sharma, (2011) stated â€Å"The development of data intensive instruments, transformation of societal and relationship management, optimization of Search engine marketing, exclusive networking and other online resources are eliminating the traditional form of marketing.† Search Engine Optimization Marketing Search engines are seen as essential way of companies to be seen by potential customers. Kristin Kennedy, Bonnie Brayton Kennedy, (2008) stated â€Å"The key to being found by the right people at the right time lies with search engines. There are essentially two ways a customer will find a business site via a search engine, through an organic or a pay-per-click (PPC) listing.† Using a search engine you are allowing yourself to be found new customers but search engines don’t offer differentiation so many of your competitors can be listed alongside you therefore not giving your business the competitive edge. Search engine optimization can be a less effective way for small business as it is marketed alongside big companies which was found out by Kristin Kennedy, Bonnie Brayton Kennedy, (2008) they stated a â€Å"small manufacturer of gold jewelry will probably not get top billing over Tiffany’s on the organic list, unless they spend a significant amount of time and money on developing their web site design and advertising.† E-mail Marketing Small businesses have been using email marketing as a way of marketing their products and reaching out to the target market. Anita Jackson, Ray DeCormier,stated â€Å"E-mail offers a promising tool to enhance brand loyalty as it helps marketers keep in touch with their customers on a regular basis at low cost.† Small businesses are using this method to create and reach out to their target market. Using this mthod to market their business and product to create more brand awareness. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0263-4503&volume=17&issue=3&articleid=854456&show=html http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1061-0421&volume=13&issue=7&articleid=857868&show=html http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1751-5637&volume=12&issue=4&articleid=1937676&show=html Do you feel other ways of online marketing would benefit your company more? http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0263-4503&volume=18&issue=3&articleid=854495&show=html ) Lyndon Simkin, (2000) (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0263-4503&volume=25&issue=6&articleid=1628110&show=html#idb72) Geoffrey J. Simmons, (2007) .†( http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1751-5637&volume=12&issue=4&articleid=1937676&show=html ). Amalesh Sharma, (2011) Kristin Kennedy, Bonnie Brayton Kennedy, (2008) (http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0140-9174&volume=31&issue=10&articleid=1746719&show=html)

Military Culture

The Veteran Culture Mikaela Barnett Chaltas School of Professional Counseling Lindsey Wilson College Author Note Mikaela Barnett Chaltas, The School of Professional Counseling, Lindsey Wilson College. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mikaela Barnett Chaltas, Ashland, Kentucky campus. Email: [email  protected] com Abstract The ever changing and evolving culture of Veterans is reviewed and discussed in this paper. This paper has five main parts which include: description of the culture, historical information, stereotypes, important values and beliefs, and counseling approaches.Keywords: veterans, culture, stereotypes, values, beliefs, counseling The Veteran Culture The Veteran Culture is discussed in this paper. The paper is divided into five sections which include: a. ) description of the culture; b. ) historical information; c. ) stereotypes; d. ) Important values and beliefs; and e. ) counseling approaches. Description of Culture A Veteran is defined by Dictionary. com (2011, Nov. 11) as a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like, or as a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war and experienced direct combat.Culture, as defined by J. P. Lederach, is, â€Å"the shared knowledge and schemes created by a set of people for perceiving, interpreting, expressing, and responding to the social realities around them† (p. 9). All definitions aside, Veterans are, as the VA proudly and courageously states on their website, â€Å"Men and women who, for many reasons, donned the uniform of our country to stand between freedom and tyranny; to take up the sword of justice in defense of the liberties we hold dear; to preserve peace and to calm the winds of war. † The United States Military is comprised of many cultures and individuals rom various backgrounds with various belief systems that have put their health and their lives on the line to serve ou r country and preserve our freedom, as well as the freedom of their families. As stated previously, this group is extremely diverse. They spread across ethnic and socioeconomic lines, which include people from all parts of the United States (Hobbs, 2008). There are approximately 22. 7 million Veterans who have served in the United States Military, aged seventeen and older, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (www. a. gov, 2010). Many other elements of culture within the Military take effect when one moves from civilian into military culture. Individuals are expected to move fluently from civilian to military life with ease. They must learn and live up to military expectations which impact their family life. They must absorb military acronyms and terms, learn and utilize the military chain of command and protocol, must practice military customs and courtesies, and deal with the endless transitions that enter their lives.Military personnel and their families are expected t o easily adjust to new or temporary family configurations, properly manage their â€Å"suddenly military† lifestyle, accommodate physical changes, make new contacts, and cope with any emotional issues that arise from these changes. These men and women are drilled and taught to work together, support one another, and protect each other, as if they become one with their fellow soldiers. They develop a sense of belonging that is hard for them to find outside of their military family.Military culture also places emphasis on being able to cope mentally and physically when dealing with ones own stress regarding the changes to ones culture and the experiences that also occur within the military, both personal and professional. Both active and inactive military members are trained to â€Å"suck†¦. up† their own problems or difficulties (Bryan & Morrow, 2011). They share a common combat experience and are part of the â€Å"warrior culture† (Bryan & Morrow, 2011). Me ntal health issues and instability are also common in the Veteran culture.Many veterans are likely to suffer from Depression, Substance Abuse and/or Dependence, various phobias, sleeplessness, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Palmer, 2011). Some Veterans also have physical disabilities from combat wounds and it isn’t unlikely to manage such pains with pharmaceuticals that also lead to addiction. The stigma that permeates the military culture surrounding mental health and the ability to adjust to any condition within the military is always present, often making seeking treatment taboo (Jarvis, 2009).Historical Information The United States Military was established in 1775, which coincided with the Revolutionary War. In 1776, the government boosted enlistments into the military for the Revolutionary War by providing pensions to disabled soldiers. In 1789, the Department of War was established, which would later be renamed the Department of Defense in 1949 (www. defens e. gov/about/). The establishment of the military brought on the development of the veteran culture. As stated before, Veterans span many cultures and generations (Hobbs, 2008).The Veterans still alive today have served in the most recent wars being; World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq-Desert Storm, Iraq-Operation Freedom, and Afghanistan. Many older generations of Veterans have expressed their understanding of the younger veterans returning home from war and seem familiar with the problems they face (Hobbs, 2008). Simply speaking, the older generations of veterans can enlighten one to the keen awareness of issues that are present in the Veteran Culture that non-veteran civilians do not have. After World War II, the U.S. Military began taking the issue of mental illness seriously (Jarvis, 2009). The â€Å"breaking down† under the stress of military strains and stressors, and the psychiatric casualty, exposed the emotional side of men and challenged the â€Å"warrior† cu lture which had been built upon bravery, self-mastery, control, and courage under fire (Jarvis, 2009). The military would use the term â€Å"exhaustion† when referring to soldiers who experienced mental health issues, hoping this would be a less stigmatizing term when they returned home (Jarvis, 2009. President Roosevelt expressed concern for the men in the military and those coming home from war. He expressed that the â€Å"ultimate be done for them† (Jarvis, 2009). The overwhelming number of vets after WWII diagnosed with â€Å"neuropsychiatric disabilities† lead to media attention, then ultimately, to screening and better treatment of mental illness. Soldiers were expected to serve shorter tours of duty and provided with readily available psychiatric care on the front lines (Jarvis, 2009. ) Then, post-Vietnam, a major shift occurred in funding the treatment of mental illness within the military.This continues to be a focus and an area of concern for our veter ans and military personal to this very day. Stereotypes As with any culture, stereotypes are common. The media plays a part in stereotyping military veterans and the military culture. Commercials focusing on, â€Å"Be all you can be, Army Strong†; empowering people to be one of, â€Å"The Few, The Proud†; and to, â€Å"Do something amazing† are just a few of those stereotypes that are engrained into the minds of people (Bryan & Morrow, 2011). All of these focus on the strength and agility of the military culture.Barbara Safani (2011, April 15) pointed out and debunked several common stereotypes used to describe veterans and others within the military culture. She reported that many believe that the people who serve our country are â€Å"rigid† and â€Å"they don’t think. † We must always remember that even though there are incidents which may lead the civilian population to trust in these stereotypes, we must all identify that the majority o f the military culture love their country and those to which they serve. Important Values As individuals, Veteran’s have varying values due to having come from an array of backgrounds all across the United States.It would take an enormous amount of time and energy to discuss individual personal values within the veteran culture. As a whole, however, the military helps instill several core values into those who choose to serve this country. The United States Army listed their 7 Core Values on their website, (http://www. army. mil/values/). As with many cultures, they hold these values and practices dear to their hearts. The U. S. Military Values consist of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage (www. va. ov, 2010). Taking a moment to explain these values in terms of â€Å"military language† may help civilians understand the culture in a way that they may not otherwise. †¢ Loyalty: Bear true faith and allegiance to the U. S. Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers. †¢ Duty: Fulfill your obligations. †¢ Respect: Treat people as they should be treated. †¢ Selfless Service: Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own. †¢ Honor: Live up to all the Army Values. †¢ Integrity: Do what’s right, legally and morally. Personal Courage: Face fear, danger, and adversity, both physical and moral. These vast groups of individuals share a common bond as they experience the inner culture of the US Military. Veterans share a common â€Å"language, symbols, and gathering places† that people who are not Veterans do not understand (Hobbs, 2008). Counseling approach issues There are several approaches to counseling veterans and others within the military cultures that have proven successful. These often depend upon what type of treatment and the severity of the issue being treated.Many therapists use Reality Therapy, Choice Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and medication to treat symptoms related to various mental health concerns within the military/veteran culture (Palmer, 2011). It is common knowledge in the mental health profession, that many mental health issues within this culture are often co-morbid with others. This makes treating the mental illness complicated at times. The Department of Veterans Affairs (Feb, 2010) has a vast database of information for treatments and places that provide treatment, depending on the depth of the presenting issues.There are Outpatient Services offered for Veterans where mental health counselors are available (Department of Veterans Affairs, Feb, 2010). Suicide prevention programs with a hotline available for those on the verge of self-harm, along with information on the warning signs associated with suicide. There are also a vast number of peer support groups available for those needing a regular outlet for processing of the issues they face. According to Nick Palmer (Oct. 2011) the most important aspect of treatment is the support system.He stated that the people and professionals close to the veteran or active duty soldier can help them recognize their symptoms and reinforce therapeutic interventions needed for them to seek assistance if and when it is needed. He also stressed that individual therapy sessions were of utmost importance, as well as marital or relationship counseling, and systematic family interventions, which could make the difference between life and death for many veterans from this culture experiencing mental health issues. References Bryan, C. J. , & Morrow, C. E. (2011).Circumventing mental health stigma by embracing the warrior culture: Lessons learned from the defender. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice,  42(1), 16-23. Culture. (n. d. ). Dictionary. com Unabridged. Retrieved November 09, 2011, from Dictionary. com website: http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/culture Department of Veterans Affair s. (2008, Aug. ) Suicide prevention: men and women veterans: know the warning signs of suicide. [Brochure]. Department of Veterans Affairs. Department of Veterans Affairs. (September 2011). The Veterans Day Teacher Resource Guide.Office of National Programs and Special Events. Website: http://www. va. gov/vetsday Hobbs, K. (2008). Reflections on the culture of veterans. AAOHN Journal: Official Journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, 56(8), 337-341. Jarvis, C. (2009). â€Å"If he comes home nervous†: U. s. world war II neuropsychiatric casualties and postwar masculinities. The Journal of Men's Studies,  17(2), 97-115. Lederach, J. P. (1995). Preparing for peace: Conflict transformation across cultures. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. Palmer, Nick. (2011, October 28).Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Understanding and Treating Veterans. Ashland, KY. United States Army. (n. d. ). Living the army values. United States Army. Retrieved November 7 , 2011, from: http://www. goarmy. com/soldier-life/being-a-soldier/living-the-army-values. html# Veteran. (n. d. ). Dictionary. com Unabridged. Retrieved November 09, 2011, from Dictionary. com website: http://dictionary. reference. com/browse/veteran Veterans Affairs National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (n. d. ) Recovery: a guide for Veterans, family members, and healthcare providers. [Brochure]. Veterans Affairs National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.