Needs and Wants in American Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Needs and Wants in American Society - Essay Example One reason why there seems to be a discrepancy in the definition of need in American society is that people do not seem to care even if such a so-called â€Å"need† would actually â€Å"[reach] the point of being physically harmful† (Sowell 189). One would basically whine that he â€Å"needs† more chocolate although he has just consumed five bars of Mars in an hour. Perhaps, for a lack of a more appropriate word or for some problem with semantics, the English language would simply let us use the word â€Å"need† for anything that we want including desires, cravings and addictions. Indeed, Americans have â€Å"an addiction to consumption† that may even qualify as a â€Å"sickness† (Quindlen 508). This â€Å"sickness† is more like a neurosis about having the latest Marc Jacobs bag, or a paranoia about not having an iPhone 5. The phrase â€Å"I need something† can now therefore be replaced with â€Å"I am paranoid about this† or simply â€Å"I am sick.† Moreover, part of this sickening addiction to consumption which American consumers conveniently call â€Å"need† is the idea of overusing credit. ... American consumer continues to rationalize, what he believes he â€Å"needs† are actually only his â€Å"wants.† Second, there is a problem with how the word â€Å"need† is defined because American consumers do not seem to recognize the idea behind trade-offs. Understanding and doing a trade-off is simply a making that small sacrifice of giving up the purchase of one thing considered to have an advantage for another which is actually truly desirable. The problem with the average American consumer nowadays is that he does not realize that â€Å"at other prices [he] can get along with what [he has]† (Sowell 190). A huge factor in this lack of ability or responsibility to do trade-offs is the addiction caused by the media, but an equally great factor is the laziness on the part of the consumer in filtering out various product information from the media. Consumers who do not think will naturally adopt the â€Å"acquisition habits of a 7-year-old† and a 7-year-old definitely has the faintest idea of what a â€Å"need’ is (Quindlen 509). One can therefore not expect that a 7-year-old has any idea about good trade-offs. Naturally, if all consumers were of this age, then tons of useless â€Å"trifles† would replace good and useful products that could have resulted from sensible trade-offs (509). In short, those who perpetuate the misuse of the word â€Å"need† are actually those who not only believe that â€Å"Marc Jacobs is God† but especially those who have not realized that â€Å"stuff does not bring about salvation† (509). If one considers shopping and consumption as religion, then it follows that he is very much willing to heed its gospel and even do everything to attain enlightenment and salvation with it. Anything proclaimed by this gospel as important is therefore merely a

Business Policy and Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Business Policy and Strategic Management - Essay Example Starbucks will have to re-think the assumptions on which they based their pre-recession strategies: environmental and industry factors have changed. Strategic surveillance Starbucks follows a differentiation strategy where its basic aim is to produce a brand image within the eyes of its customer through the unique taste of coffee and the exclusivity of all its other products. Currently, Starbuck’s competitors are being favored by a global economy that is slowly recovering from a recession. How the effect of the recession will play out in the long run is difficult to project now, therefore Starbucks must increase its vigilance especially with regards to its day to day activities and their overall impact on its corporate strategy. Special alert control A special alert control is the thorough, and often rapid, reconsideration of the firm’s strategy because of a sudden, unexpected event (Pearce II and Robinson, â€Å"Chapter 13: Strategic Control† Slide 13-10). The economic and financial recession of 2008 greatly affected Starbuck’s key market segments in America and Europe. Surprisingly, the Asian markets were fairly more stable and have continued to grow.

Life of Being an African American Essay Example for Free

Life of Being an African American Essay Throughout my life, I have had to battle with my own identity, as many people do. It is not just a black thing, I’m sure. I know people from all different ethnicities, who struggle to find themselves, but this has little to do with the way they look on the outside – it is the quest to find out who they are on the inside. I found that person when I was thirteen years old, but then when I moved to the United States from Chicago eight years ago, I underwent another sort of struggle with identity. This time it was because of the way I looked, and it was less than a personal struggle than it was a fight against discrimination. I had never really experienced any form of racial discrimination in Chicago; almost everyone who lived in our area was African American, with a few exceptions. There were a few white people, but they apparently were not indicative of the general population in America, as I never received any mistreatment or discrimination from them, and likewise, I do not believe they suffered any discrimination by my fellow African Americans. Everyone sort of just fit in and carried on with their daily lives. I am ashamed to admit that this is how I thought that my life would be in Texas as well. I did expect things to be different. I knew that Dallas were more affluent and I knew that there were buildings as big as some of our smaller towns. The buildings in the brochures seemed to reach the sky. I believed that the sky would be bluer, the air cleaner, and the people would be as friendly as they seemed to be on television and in the brochures. All of these shiny, smiling white faces would greet me with open arms and assist me in any way possible to make my stay wonderful. However, the exact opposite has happened to me. Although I am not the only African American by far to come to Dallas, I certainly felt all alone my first six months here. While I did meet other African Americans, and they welcomed me, they were all busy struggling to make a living or to learn the language just as much as the next. It seemed even the older African Americans who had lived here for over ten years still never managed to fit in. I have been called â€Å"stupid†, â€Å"ignorant† and â€Å"dumb† despite the fact that I am more intelligent than many of the people calling me this. .One of the things that annoys me the most is when I try to talk to someone and they talk back to me with a slang accent. I have had people speak very slowly and with raised volume and exaggerated hand movements when they are trying to talk to me. I guess they think that deaf and dumb. Stereotypes exist, I understand this, and it really doesn’t affect me as much as being discriminated against does. For example, I can take people assuming that I work at a chicken place or even asking â€Å"what are you†. But when I take the time to talk to people and explain and let them into my life a little, I expect a bit more than from someone on the street, but I don’t often get it. In my small group of friends, which is mainly white people, they don’t think I’m stupid or ignorant, unlike those strangers I meet on the street, and they don’t think I’m deaf and dumb; they actually think that I’m of the most caring person, and will do anything for them. Living in America is a dream for many, and while there are so many opportunities here, I have to say that it is a struggle for an African American to fit in. I can only hope that future employers will not discriminate or that the only jobs that I can find will be dishwashing and working for a place that sells chicken. While these jobs are suitable for some, they are not why I came to America. In essence, I am chasing the American dream, and while many Americans have discriminated against me, I can only hope that the dream will not.

The Leadership Theories Of Machiavelli

The Leadership Theories Of Machiavelli Machiavelli, born on the 3rd day of May 1469, acquired his university education in the University of Florence. He wrote a famous book entitled the Prince. This book is famous for its break down on the issue of attributes of leadership and as such has become a guideline for leaders. He wrote the book based on his earlier experiences, addressing how a prince (leader) should rule. Although the book gained a lot of popularity, his views on the attributes of good leadership had a lot of flaws. In The Prince he advocates mean rule instead of liberalism. He talks of the benefits of being a dictator or exercising the autocratic style of leadership. There are a lot of leaders who have and are following the Machiavellian style of leadership as he had described in The Prince. Examples of such leaders who exercised or exhibited this type of leadership style were Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi of Libya and Idi Amin of Uganda. Muammar Gaddafi being a Machiavellian according to his leadership style has been the leader of Libya since he staged a military coup on the 1st of September 1969.  [2]  With the strict fellowship he has in the Machiavellian style of leadership, he has sought to maintain the power he has had ever since. In a recent article Gaddafi made a statement saying, I will fight to the last man and the last bullet  [3]  This goes a long way to emphasize on one of the shortfalls of Machiavelli when he talked about the fact that a leader has to gain power and should be able to maintain it by any means possible. In the same way, Gaddafi promises to maintain his power even if it means he has to kill. This action is affecting Libya in a negative manner since the world is pushing for democracy and finding all means to eradicate autocratic system of governance and as such it is affecting the economy of the state due to the current instability the country is facing now. As such, most investors w ould not be willing to invest in a country where peace does not prevail. Also, with growing rate of civilization, killing just to maintain power is barbaric and this would then send the state to a state of regression. Idi Amin was an autocratic leader who sought to exercise his power through military means. In his era, he created the situation whereby he was the only one who had the final say and no one could voice out their values in any way he or she deemed fit. He created and environment which had and still has a traumatizing effect on the people of Uganda now. During his reign as military dictator, there were issues of the abuse of ethnic affiliations, cases of the abuse of human rights and potent radical control, Asians faced expulsion from Uganda and killed outside normal legal proceedings.  [4]  Ugandans have still not devised the means of changing their government through undisturbed measures. Violence has become an option for which their voices could be heard. Again, Machiavelli talked about the situation whereby the prince did not have to possess any thoughts apart from that of war. He describes meanness as an attribute of a good leader. He says liberality would lead a prince or leader to be despised and hated whiles meanness would lead to reproach without hatred hence, being mean is the answer to greater leadership.  [5]   Moreover, Machiavelli allowed the hatred he had in him to take the greater side of him when he was imprisoned because of suspicion of his involvement in a conspiracy where he lost the trust he had in humans. A typical example of such a leader who exhibited Machiavellian traits in his style of leadership was Ghanas former president, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. Just as it is of human nature to seek revenge for every pain inflicted upon him, Rawlings came into power through military means to seek revenge for all the pain inflicted upon him in the past. He knew gaining power would be the only way to show his hatred and have his revenge best served.  [6]  This is because having the power he needs, all he has to do is to order for the people responsible for his pain to either be killed or assassinated. As a result of this shortfall of Machiavelli which Rawlings also exhibited, most affected Ghanaians even after the change from a military government to democratic governance still cann ot find it in their hearts to forgive him for his actions. It is for this reason that the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) was set up. In addition, Machiavellis concept makes mention of the fact that the end justifies the means. He says that if the action a leader takes brings about catastrophe in an area of specialization or nationwide despair then the action taken should not be regarded as a good one.  [7]  Combining this concept to the idea of establishing fear amongst ones followers, some Machiavellian leaders tend to modify this act by protecting the citizens by any means possible so as to be loved by them. When the Americans annexed Iraq, the Iraqis tried to resist their forces even though they were technologically more competent and outstripped them in terms of their quantity, Saddam Hussein having inculcated a great amount of fear in and hatred for Americans in his followers. He made himself an adherent of the Machiavellian style of leadership. Also, as a result of the fear the Tunisian president drum in his people, the only way they could show they were fed up with all his activities was have someone st art the protest and this was done by the unemployed and frustrated young man who felt the only way his voice could be heard was to set himself on fire. Again, this action did not just end there. Egyptians under the rule of Hosni Mubarak saw this as a platform to also voice out their values. Therefore one can say that all these people were simply quiet because of the brutal fear they had for their various leaders and were thus waiting for the right moment to retaliate. Furthermore, Machiavelli in his book wrote about a leader (the prince) being feared rather than loved by his people. Here, this situation would not work in a democratic society where the people decide how long one should be a leader but in the communist society like China, the leader could in his own discretion decide to practice the Machiavellian style of leadership and it would work perfectly for him since he has to instill fear in his followers due to the fact that it is less likely for them to revolt against the government or protest by defying authority.  [8]   In conclusion, these Machiavellian leaders mentioned above, considering the good and bad sides of Machiavellis thoughts on good leadership has led them to impact their nations in a negative manner. Most of the countries like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, among others are still in a state of unrest and this posses as a threat to the surrounding nations since there is the fear that such actions could be transferred.

Science and the Judicial System Essay -- Biology Essays Research Paper

Science and the Judicial System Science and the Judicial System are two concepts that at face value seem to be very distinct and unique in their own nature, but at their cores they share interesting similarities and connections. They each propose a different way of understanding how we comprehend and place order. In this paper I'll address my understanding of both concepts, analyze their theories, backbones and failures, and then bring them both together through connections hopefully to support my idea that they are both inextricably connected to what we call life and its relationship to the human mind. Science is a controversial subject very much like Judicial System. Although Science is largely composed of observation, experiments and their results, it raises controversy because imagination and perspective play a key role in those interpretations. As we know that imagination and perspective vary with each person due to education, background, and experience; how is it possible that we can assign a concrete truth to such a varied conceptualization. Thus, we cannot formulate any concrete truth. In this sense I see Scientists more as Philosophers. Another issue I find when dealing with traditional scientific theories is that Science often fails to provide theories and explanations for phenomenon's that hold truth and validation in both a scientific context and the context of the human mind. I feel that Science often caters to a "black and white" way of formulating answers; it fails to recognize the gray areas. Often times people try to find the most common and accepted ways to support their theories and in doing so they adapt to the standard and more traditional ways of viewing the world. This leaves less room for creativit... ...ly in value but also politics. Both science and the judicial system produce gray areas when trying to understand and rationalize. Science and the judicial system are inextricably connected to life. We systematically try to put life in a box to create order, order insures a comfort, and that comfort often gets in the way of open-mindedness. The human mind by itself is a convoluted vast universe. We as scholars, scientists, and human kind need to understand and that by assigning truths, right or wrongs we are limiting the extend of our intellectual capacities. References 1)The Truth of Science, Physical Theories and Reality, An article from Harvard University Press http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/NEWTRU.html 2)An Overview of American Abortion Laws, A thorough explanation of the laws concerning abortions http://hometown.ao.com/abrtbng/overview.htm

charant Character Changes in Sophocles Antigone :: Antigone essays

Character Changes in Antigone In Sophocles' Greek tragedy, Antigone, two characters undergo character changes. During the play the audience sees these two characters' attitudes change from close-minded to open-minded. It is their close-minded, stubborn attitudes, which lead to their decline in the play, and ultimately to a series of deaths. In the beginning Antigone is a close minded character who later becomes open minded. After the death of her brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, Creon becomes the ruler of Thebes. He decides that Eteocles will receive a funeral with military honors because he fought for his country. However, Polyneices, who broke his exile to " spill the blood of his father and sell his own people into slavery", will have no burial. Antigone disagrees with Creon's unjust actions and says, " Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way." She vows to bury her brother so that his soul may gain the peace of the underworld. Antigone is torn between the law placed against burying her brother and her own thoughts of doing what she feels should be done for her family. Her intent is simply to give her brother, Polyneices, a proper burial so that she will follow "the laws of the gods." Antigone knows that she is in danger of being killed for her actions and she says, "I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me." Her own laws, or morals, drive her to break Creon's law placed against Polyneices burial. Even after she realizes that she will have to bury Polyneices without the help of her sister, Ismene, she says: Go away, Ismene: I shall be hating you soon, and the dead will too, For your words are hateful. Leave me my foolish plan: I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, It will not be the worst of deaths-death without honor. Here Ismene is trying to reason with Antigone by saying that she cannot disobey the law because of the consequences. Antigone is close-minded when she immediately tells her to go away an d refuses to listen to her. Later in the play, Antigone is sorrowful for her actions and the consequences yet she is not regretful for her crime. She says her crime is just, yet she does regret being forced to commit it.

Million Dollar Baby

The theme of this story is achieving the American Dream of riches and fame, it’s also about the need for love and support. Frankie is a brilliant but unsuccessful boxing trainer who train a lot of excellent boxers but lack of success. Maggie is a natural boxer who tirelessly trains each day in Frankie’s gym even though he has rejected her requests that he trains her. She is at the age of 32 believes she has one last chance to make a life for herself in boxing. They are the loneness people that try to find meaning in their life. Both of them want success! Frankie is estranged from his daughter, who returns his many letters that all are unopened. Beneath his crusty exterior is a man crying for the love and acceptance of his daughter, so he goes to church every single day. There is an aching void in his heart. Maggie is a waitress from a white trash family. Her mother only cares about her welfare. Nobody cares about her in the family. She also lack of family love but she treats her family very well because of her strong will. Maggie dedication and hard work influence Frankie’s mind and he agrees to train her, but only in the basic and then he will turn her over to another trainer. At this point Frankie is still afraid to open himself up to Maggie who follows every word of his advice. As Maggie fights her way up in her boxing, Frankie establishes a parental relationship with Maggie. While Maggie’s mother ridicules her success is the ring, Frankie eventually arranges a million dollar fight for Maggie and they actually success. Also the movie always mentions the guy who is called Danger. He is a innocent and optimistic young boy who always come to Frankie’s gym to practice but is not a nature boxer. Being successful in boxing is also his dream. The remorseless fact blows him into the depth of despair. Although he comes to the gym every day to practice, he can’t even fight back to the black guy. Now he know boxing is not as easy as his imagination. For this reason he disappears some days. But eventually, he comes back with his confidence. This is the irony in this story, even though you work hard, it’s not always a good outcome. He realized that he is not suit in boxing but the worshipful part is he still coming to practice tireless when he is awakened by Mr. Scrap. At least he flights for his dream and doesn't live in a ordinary life like Maggie’s mother. Maggie’s mother doesn’t have a job because she is lazy and she lives on the welfare. She doesn't have a dream and doesn't care about her own daughter. The only thing she concerns is money even though her own daughter is on the verge of death. At the top of the life of Maggie’s boxing, she is being a paralytic by the accident. The pain is intolerable for Maggie, she ask for ending her life. She does the most valuable thing in her life that she is satisfied with the brilliant achievements in the twinkling of an eye. She enjoys the process of boxing that she has never ever been regret of being a boxer. Lying on the bed is against to her believe – never have a original life. People in the world all are never and ever be the same because of difference dreams. They are finding the meaning of their lives. Maggie chooses to end of her life to wind up her finally dream. This story tell us, everyone has a right to pursue the dream. Just go for it, it might be failure but at least we try and our life will be unordinary. If we keep proceeding in the way of our dream, even though we fail we still get more than the other who live in an ordinary life.