Melting Pot or Mess Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Melting Pot or Mess - Essay Example To some, it may seem sensible to tighten American borders, to remove those from the country who are here illegally, and to enforce a stricter sense of security throughout the nation. However, there is no realistic way to do this. Immigration foes who realize this have then put forth another, easier barrier against the foreign hordes: proposing legislation to make English the official language of the United States. Mauro Mujica is one of the supporters of the movement to make English the American language. He cited in his research polls that show that, throughout the developed world, over 90% of adults believe that learning English is necessary for children to succeed. Because English is the "language of business, higher education, diplomacy, aviation, the Internet, [and] science"(Mujica 1) among other fields, it is something that every child must learn. Mujica asserts two reasons why such an already pervasive language should be made the official language of the United States. First, governments that provide bilingual services ultimately create linguistic ghettos that immigrants cannot escape. Mujica cites the 2000 census results that showed over 21 million Americans classified as "limited English proficient" - almost 8% of the population (Mujica 2). When children grow up in homes where they are not required to learn English, they struggle receiving a basic elementary education in American schools, and are relegated to the economic opportunities left to those who cannot speak English. Second, the cost of multilingual accommodation is an unfair burden on the rest of society. Mujica cites the billions of dollars spent annually on multilingual education; the fact that 15% of Los Angeles County's election budget goes to multilingual ballots and poll workers; traffic accidents caused by foreign drivers not understanding English instructions and warnings (Mujica 3-4). It would seem that accommodating other languages is not an option that Americans can afford. However, given the fact that immigrants are not going to just up and leave, just like their predecessors from Italy, Germany, Ireland and Poland did not leave in the face of prejudice in the early 1900's, it can be argued that denying speakers of other languages access to government services could be even more costly than accommodating them is. Thomas Ricento agrees with Mujica's assertion that English is the language of success: he asserts that immigrants want to learn English as a supplement to their own languages, not as a replacement. He sees the linguistic enclaves not as ghettos but as nurturing communities providing a link between the old culture and the American one, much like the old neighborhoods in Northeastern cities that used to be separated by varying European backgrounds (Ricento 3). Additionally, while short-term social costs might decline if multilingual services were removed, the longer-term costs would skyrocket. Immigrants would not leave the country but would in stead let health problems worsen, leading to higher medical costs; their children might be forced out of their schools but would then cause problems later on as unemployed, uneducated adults (Ricento 5). Governor William Dempster Hoard of Wisconsin had this to say about the right of children to education in English: "The child

Film Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Film Review - Essay Example lly based on the Hebrew book ‘Exodus’ which narrates the complete account of how an adopted Egyptian prince, Moses, who was Hebrew by birth, rescued the enslaved Jews from the clutches of a cruel ruler, Pharaoh. The movie was given a very realistic feel with its on location filming and very strong and appropriate cast, by the director De Mille. But it should be taken in consideration that the movie was told with its very intriguing storyline both to educate, in a religious manner, and to entertain, in a people friendly and aesthetic fashion too. There are some basic flaws or probably involuntary mistakes in the story line, for example it is shown in the movie that the infant Moses was rescued from the basket by Pharaoh’s sister, in fact, in biblical text, he was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and she knew it at that time too that he was a Hebrew. (Exodus; 2: 5-7). De Mille’s version of the Biblical story of Moses, is a class act, he has given it his own flavour where he deliberately emphasized on some of the aspects of this story right from the Exodus version. Like he portrays how the divine being of God engulfs Moses, how God speaks to Moses and a burning fire surround Moses which will not burn him, which in reality could easily overwhelm and tarnish a person in seconds. De Mille’s such metaphors are very clearly seen all through the movie, which shows the true heart of the film as biblical in nature. This Divine radiance of God which inhibits Moses is illustrated many times in the movie, which is seems to be the foundation of De Mille’s belief in the story. In contrast to above, a lot of biblical facts are altered just for the viewer’s better understanding and attraction, for example, there is a point in the original story where Moses killed an Egyptian for brutally beating a Hebrew slave, but in the movie that Egyptian was replaced by Pharaoh’s cruel master builder. It is understandable that such changes are made just to hook the audience and

Employee retention Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Employee retention - Term Paper Example When an employee leaves the organization, he along with him also takes the knowledge, company policies, and strategies along with him to the competitor. Moreover, selecting another candidate and aligning him to company culture add another cost to the organization. Although the problem of employee retention has been in existence since a long time, the problem is getting grimmer and serious with time. In this context, it is important for companies to retain their employees. This has led to an increased interest in research in the area of Employee Retention. Employee retention is the set of tools, processes and techniques that HR managers shall use to encourage employees to be in the organization for maximum amount of time. The main objective of employee retention processes is to reduce the voluntary turnover. It is important to note that these are not just a set of HR practices but it also requires an understanding of the psyche of the employees and their interrelationships with their subordinates and managers. This paper does a literature review of the various research papers that have been published in this area. The research focusing on reasons on voluntary turnover by employees has mainly pointed out two categories of reasons: family (personal) reasons or professional reasons. Often, employees leaving the organization leave it because they do not find a fit between the organizational goals and their own goals. One of the propositions on why employees leave is based on the fact that employees are having a psychological contract with the organization where each has a set of expected outcomes from the other party. If an employee feels that the organization is not fulfilling its duty in terms of what it owes to the employee, he is more likely to quit the job (Vos and Megank, 2007). Job dissatisfaction among an employee may be the result of job stress, repetitive work, ambiguous role or excessive workload. Economic factors such as pay, rewards, bonuses

Textual Evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Textual Evidence - Essay Example Ethnocentrism, also popularly referred to as the anthropological concept of cultural relativism does not imply that everything is equal, but is means that we must try to understand the behaviors of other people in the context of their culture before they are judged. Ethnocentrism is basically the belief that one thing which may be a nation, an ethnic group or culture as being superior compared to others. It is evident from the article that the mindset of Benjamin Franklin mirrors the ethnocentric attitude. The statement of Native Americans is purely ethnocentric on its own since Benjamin finds the Native Americans to be savages due to the fact that their manners differ significantly from those of the European race which Benjamin in his own words terms as â€Å"the perfection of civility† (1). The fact that it is general knowledge that manners are a cultural custom which has been found to differ from one group to another makes terming one’s way of doing things as the â⠂¬Å"perfection of civility† when compared to the custom of other cultures as being

Employee retention Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Employee retention - Term Paper Example When an employee leaves the organization, he along with him also takes the knowledge, company policies, and strategies along with him to the competitor. Moreover, selecting another candidate and aligning him to company culture add another cost to the organization. Although the problem of employee retention has been in existence since a long time, the problem is getting grimmer and serious with time. In this context, it is important for companies to retain their employees. This has led to an increased interest in research in the area of Employee Retention. Employee retention is the set of tools, processes and techniques that HR managers shall use to encourage employees to be in the organization for maximum amount of time. The main objective of employee retention processes is to reduce the voluntary turnover. It is important to note that these are not just a set of HR practices but it also requires an understanding of the psyche of the employees and their interrelationships with their subordinates and managers. This paper does a literature review of the various research papers that have been published in this area. The research focusing on reasons on voluntary turnover by employees has mainly pointed out two categories of reasons: family (personal) reasons or professional reasons. Often, employees leaving the organization leave it because they do not find a fit between the organizational goals and their own goals. One of the propositions on why employees leave is based on the fact that employees are having a psychological contract with the organization where each has a set of expected outcomes from the other party. If an employee feels that the organization is not fulfilling its duty in terms of what it owes to the employee, he is more likely to quit the job (Vos and Megank, 2007). Job dissatisfaction among an employee may be the result of job stress, repetitive work, ambiguous role or excessive workload. Economic factors such as pay, rewards, bonuses

Post disaster shelter reconstruction Coursework

Post disaster shelter reconstruction - Coursework Example Research has shown that sustainable post-disaster shelter reconstruction is crucial in strengthening resilience and provides full and equitable benefit (Ganapati & Ganapati, 2009 p.57). The principle of sustainable post-disaster shelter reconstruction requires that such reconstruction should meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the capacity of the coming generations to meet their needs (Ahmed, 2011 p.159). There are certain challenges hinder sustainability in post-disaster shelter reconstruction and they include: massive displacement crisis, extensive physical destruction and limited accessible land. Effective shelter reconstruction in urban setting must therefore balance between all interests including, social equity, environment, as well as the economy. Provision of shelter in urban setting after a disaster should be considered as an integrated approach where technical, socio-economical, institutional as well as environmental concerns are considered in each and every stage of the reconstruction process (2010 p.103). As indicated by Hayles (2010 p.104), post-disaster shelter reconstruction process should ensure sustainable results not only with regard to design and construction activities, but also in ensuring ease of access to supply of water, roads as well as sanitation systems. Integrated approach to shelter reconstruction is therefore very important and should include livelihood opportunities, social structures and safety opportunities. This paper focuses on post-disaster shelter reconstruction in urban environments with specific reference to shelter and settlement planning. It outlines the planning process for post-disaster shelter reconstruction within urban and critically analyses the roles of shelter practitioner including needs assessment, methodological approach, settlement planning & design and construction. While the aim of planning for shelter reconstruction process is

The significance of culture Essay Example for Free

The significance of culture Essay The significance of culture is highlighted not only in research but more importantly, everyday in every person’s life. From what I see in television alone, it is clear that there is greater cultural diversity. However, this also raises the question of whether what is being depicted in these shows are authentic cultural representatations even the question if accurate depictions of culture are possible. According to Oishi (2004), even when there is â€Å"consistency and homogeneity in cultural messages†, there are individual interpretations of cultural identities (p. 69). One has to wonder whether what one attribute to culture is actually outside of it and is simply a construct of one’s own perception and experience of it. This then leads one to question whether cultural products such as media and even social institutions directed to specific cultural groups are able to recognize culture and thus respond appropriately to it (Nicholson, 1998). On a more personal level, there is a need to understand oneself both in the context and independently from one’s culture as it is understood. Therefore, any study of culture should recognize this, otherwise, culture will not be understood in all of its significance. It makes one realize that culture is continually changing and that as much as it is a factor of society as a whole, individuals are integral parts of it. When a person then seems to not subscribe to a cultural characterization, it should not be assumed that it is going against culture but should be considered as part of the development of culture. Individual experience, interpretations and perceptions all influence what will be attribute as part of culture. References Nicholson, I. (1998). Gordon Allport, character, and the ‘culture of personality’, 1897-1937. History of Psychology, 1. pp 52-68 Oishi, Shigehiro (2004). Personality in culture: A neo-Allportian view. Journal of Research in Personality, 38(1), February. pp 68-74