Thursday, December 26, 2019

Nietzsche and Gandhi, Society - 1414 Words

Friedrich Nietzsche and Mahatma Gandhi, two mammoth political figures of their time, attack the current trend of society. Their individual philosophies and concepts suggest a fundamental problem: if civilization is so diseased, can we overcome this state of society and the sickness that plagues the minds of the masses in order to advance? Gandhi and Nietzsche attain to answer the same proposition of sickness within civilization, and although the topic of unrest among both may be dissimilar, they have parallel means of finding a cure to such an illness as the one that plagues society. Nietzsche’s vision of spiritual health correlates directly with Gandhi’s image of industrialism and the self-sufficiency. This correlation prevails by†¦show more content†¦This situation exemplifies everything that Gandhi was attempting to convey about the over indulgence of man as aided by doctors. Because of the doctoral profession, Nietzsche states, â€Å"my body†¦ fe lt more at ease; but my mind became weakened† (Nietzsche 33). By weakening the minds of the public, doctors are directly contributing to the sickness of civilization. Nietzsche reveals slave and master morality as a paramount concept, conveying the power of the wealthy and prominent over the poor and downtrodden. Nietzsche states that â€Å"In order to exist, slave morality always first needs a hostile external world; it needs†¦ external stimuli in order to act at all- its action is fundamentally reaction† (Nietzsche 37). The weak, passive, cowardly, and sick are reacting to the overbearing nature of the nobility. The lower, sickened class is insecure and unable to act because they know that they are weak. They have the fundamental drive in the universe, the will to power, yet they are unable to act, rather they can merely react to the harsh and unjust situations that external world is placing on them. They harbor a ressentiment towards the elite The cure of such a sickness in civilization would not come easily. Nietzsche’s treatment would be to capitalize on the will to power. Every person is driven by a force to overcome their oppression, and find the â€Å"happiness in â€Å"slight superiority,† involvedShow MoreRelatedNietzsche versus Gandhi Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesFriedrich Nietzsche and Mahatma Gandhi, two mammoth political figures of their time, attack the current trend of society. Their individual philosophies and concepts suggest a fundamental problem: if civilization is so diseased, can we overcome this state of society and the sickness that plagues the minds of the masses in order to advance? Gandhi and Nietzsche attain to answer the same proposition of sickness within civilization, and although the topic of unrest among both may be dissimilar, theyRead MoreGodards Breathless Essay Questions1553 Words   |  7 PagesVanishree Gandhi Godard’s Breathless 4. In a world where there are no ultimate reasons for action, how does Michel find freedom to act and to live creatively? Why does Patricia, who shares Michel’s nihilistic world-view, draw the opposite conclusion from it? Why is she only capable of negative freedom expressed as independence in the course of the film? In the movie Breathless, written and produced by Jean-Luc Godard, is a French film about a thief named Michel Poiccard, who spends his time in ParisRead MoreSimpsons and Philosophy1886 Words   |  8 PagesSimpsons and Philosophy In the chapter Thus Spake Bart: On Nietzsche and the Virtues of Being Bad, Mark T. Conard shows us why people believe Bart Simpson is similar to a philosophical theorist named Friedrich Nietzsche. Bart being the bad boy of the Simpsons and Nietzsche being the bad boy of Philosophy. Conard says that Bart does not take on the chaos like Nietzsche says but he is just an empty being of bad actions. This argument is ridiculous; Bart Simpson is as creative as creative getsRead MoreThe Western Forecast Of The Post World War1408 Words   |  6 Pagesdown south, Mahatma Gandhi and his followers stand adamantly in a show of nonviolent resistance. Regardless of their approach, both Mao and Gandhi were freedom fighters whose anti-imperialist attitudes were shaped by western thinkers and approaches to revolution were somewhat governed by their surrounding environment. Mao was influenced namely by Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, but Chinese political climate at the time mainly made him take a sym pathetic revolutionary approach. Gandhi was impacted namelyRead MoreWhat Does Ethics Mean? Essay824 Words   |  4 Pagesgroup had several different answers: â€Å"Ethics has to do with my religious beliefs.† â€Å"Ethics has to do with what my feelings tell me is right or wrong.† â€Å"Being ethical is doing what the law requires.† â€Å"Ethics consist of the standards of behavior our society accepts.† â€Å"I don’t know what the word means.† The answers of the test group may be representative of how most Americans would respond to this question on ethics. The truth is, most people in general don’t understand ethics, or their view is limitedRead MoreGandhi : An Indian Philosopher1981 Words   |  8 PagesMohandas Karamchand Gandhi, otherwise known as â€Å"Mahatma,† meaning â€Å"great soul,† is an Indian philosopher, teacher, author, vegetarian, simple-living advocate, and the creator of the effective method of protest, â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† He helped contribute to the liberation of India from the British government, as well as aid the countless lives of others by teaching them to live in harmony, despite religious differences. Known in India as Bapu, translating to â€Å"Father of India,† Gandhi also helped in alleviatingRead MoreThe Health Benefits Of Vegetarian Diet1295 Words   |  6 Pagesbenefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet (Albert Einstein)†.The vegetarian diet has been proposed by many, from philosophers like Plato and Nietzsche to political leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and Gandhi, and modern idols like Paul McCartney and Bob Marley. Science also supports the vegetarian diet, there are many studies demonstrating its health benefits. Being vegetarian means not eating any animal products, includingRead MoreIs Power Central to Understanding Politics?2270 Words   |  10 Pagesproblem of power† 1. This view was confirmed by William A. Robson 2 who suggested: â€Å"It is with the power in society that political science is primarily concerned- its nature, basis, processes, scope and results’ The significance of power in political phenomenon can be traced in the works of traditional thinkers like Aristotle (427-322 BC), Machiavelli (1469-1679), Hobbes (1588-1679) and Nietzsche (1844-1900) as well as modern writers like Max Webber, Lasswell, A. Kaplan , Hans Morgenthau, Michel FoucaultRead MoreThe Classic Greek Discourse On Leadership Essay1948 Words   |  8 Pages(Carlyle, 1993). The popular notion being that in times of distress somewhere out of magic a leader would emerge to guide people into safety and success. The mythology behind the some of the world’s finest leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Alexander the great, contributed to the opinion of good breeding and leaders being born and not made (Carlyle, 1993). This theory was propounded by Thomas Carlyle and dealt primarily with men; great women have not been addressed in the context ofRead MoreDiscipline And Punish By Nietzsche, Structuralism And Foucault s Political Activism Essay1933 Words   |  8 Pagesprison, the book is in many ways an attempt to give a theoretical grounding to what Foucault had seen, to explain the conditions and structures of the places he visited in terms of the operation of power in society. Three influences are pa rticularly important in Discipline and Punish: Nietzsche, structuralism and Foucault s political activism. None entirely explain his project, however. There has been a shift in types of punishment for criminals. Once these tended to focus on torture are dismemberment

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Essay On Serial Keys - 1320 Words

Find Product/Serial Keys for your Favorite Games Software Product Keys Serial Numbers Product/serial keys are unique, alphanumeric codes of any length which are required by software programs and games during installation. Sometimes, they’re also referred to as key codes, software keys, CD keys, licenses, installation keys, or product codes. A serial key enables software manufacturers and game developers to ensure each copy of the game/software was legally purchased. Most games and software, including various operating systems and games from popular developers, require product keys. If you come across a certain program/game that requires payment to use it, then it’s likely to prompt for a product key when installing it. Besides†¦show more content†¦You might also be forced to stay on hold with the program’s customer service for very long. In another possible case, you might come across a message informing you that the program’s trial period has expired. You’ll subsequently be prompted to register/pay a certain amount to continue using it. In such instances, most users tend to pursue cracked versions of the program they’re using or seek a serial number/product key for the same. Another common practice among others is making use of timer-lock software or key-gens to evade such scenarios. The chances are that you’d ‘Google’ in an attempt to find the code or crack you need. But, making use of Google is rarely effective in such cases. Thankfully, you need not repurchase the software/game. Instead, you can just find the key you had used when the program/game was first installed. In most cases, the unique key entered for an OS or a software application is stored in Windows (or right in the Windows Registry). However, it can be quite difficult to find a particular key, especially if you’re doing it on your own. Making Use of Serial/Product Key Finders and Crack/Hack Generators A key finder/search engine application is a special type of software tool. It’s undoubtedly the best and simplest way to go in case you’ve lost or misplaced a serial key for a particular program. Before, most product key and crack finder programs wereShow MoreRelatedThe Psychology of Serial Killers Today Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesindividual. In the case of serial killers, there has been some debate on whether the evil ones are made or born; does it happen because of a genetic factor, environmental factor, or is it simply they addicted to the feeling of slaughtering another individual’s life? Although, the most important key in finding the truth deals with the past and shapes the outcome of the future. Upon viewing in a psychological stance, there is no clear understanding of why one aspect that most serial killers share, namelyRead MoreA Research Study On Serial Killers1710 Words   |  7 PagesPreliminary research identified that serial killers are people who have committed two or more discrete murders, either acting alone or with another person. A number of secondary sources present information stating that serial killers usually fall into the following catego ries: Visionary, Mission-Oriented, Hedonistic and Power/Control. The outcome is in the form of an essay explaining the most common serial killers motives. The key finding from my research is that serial killers are not motivated by oneRead MoreAnalysis: Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments1575 Words   |  7 PagesGreen. Quotes like these have become a commonality in todays age. We all are familiar with the large efforts to help preserve the environment. In Ideals of Human Excellence and Preserving Natural Environments, Thomas E. Hill Jr. sums up his essay by stating, The point is not to insinuate that all anti-environmentalists are defective, but to see that those who value such traits as humility, gratitude, and sensitivity to others have reason to promote the love of nature (688; par. 4) This excerptRead MoreA Profile Report By Eric W1570 Words   |  7 PagesAileen Carol Wournos A profile Report by Eric W. Hickey (2015) described Aileen Carol Wuornos was a serial executioner who had murdered seven men, broadly accepted to be the United States first female serial executioner. She was indicted six for the killings and sentenced to death, at last meeting her end through execution by deadly infusion. The result of an exceptionally broken marriage, Aileen had been subjected to terrible torments as a young lady. Her dad was a psychopathic pedophile whoRead MoreMorality Is The Correct Definition From Definition871 Words   |  4 PagesMany people have many ideas of what morality is. Most of the time morality is what makes a person make good choices therefore having good morals. But what is morality really? This essay will work to define morality as the correct definition from definition.com, also defining it as what different religions think about morality. We will also see if people who execute their morals, and if it is an advantage over other people. The definition from definition.com is of, relating to, or concerned with theRead MorePatrick Suskinds Perfume Character Analysis1124 Words   |  5 Pagespersonality traits that can be easily be distinguished to an actual serial killer. He has also been more in-depth within Grenouille’s personality by adding common mental disabilities and psychological abuse that the majority of infamous killers faced throughout their lives. Out of the interminable list of serial killers, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille in Patrick Suskind novel, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is similar to the notorious serial killer from the 20th century, Ed Gein. Edward Theodore Ed GeinRead MoreRelationship Between Monetary Policy And The Stock Market1228 Words   |  5 PagesAsset boom will easily lead to bubbles and often followed by busts which will cause serious economic problems. So, there is a fierce debate on whether the monetary authorities should use policy to prevent the busts happen. (Lane Bordo, 2 012)This essay will mainly use hypothesis tests and use the results to discuss the empirical evidence about the importance of asset price volatility in influencing monetary policy and central bank decisions. The country I choose to analyse is USA because USA isRead Morethe five enduring issues Essay902 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ The Five Enduring Issues Essay Number 1 Psychology is a science that has different fields and subfields. It’s also an evolving science that keeps changing and many fields are added to constantly. What holds these fields and unifies them is something called â€Å"the five enduring issues.† The five Enduring issues are the backbone that holds psychology together. These issues are shared by all psychologists as a common interest and overlap in all fields andRead MoreDeveloping Good Work Habits1022 Words   |  5 Pagestime. Taking the appropriate amount of time for a task is largely dependent upon both a student’s temporal-sequential skills and his/her attentional abilities. Temporal-sequential skills help us interpret, retain, or create information that is in serial order. These skills are related to a student’s ability to appreciate time in general and estimate time appropriately. Tempo control (a facet of attention) helps students regulate the allocation of time to the task at hand, and predict the time requiredRead MoreSkill Acquisition1216 Words   |  5 PagesPDHPE ESSAY Skill acquisition refers to the process that athletes use to learn or acquire a new skill. A skill can be defined as an act or task such as typing or drawing, or in the instance of sport, catching, throwing, and running. Skill acquisition is a gradual developmental process that requires our cognitive (thinking) processes to work with our physical abilities to learn how to perform movements that we were previously unfamiliar with. For performers and coaches to produce peak performance

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Problems Of Quality Of Education In China - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Problems Of Quality Of Education In China. Answer: Introduction The reason behind choosing this topic Education for all: The problem of quality of education in China' is because education policies in China have been among the most discussed issues since annual sessions of National People's Congress (NPC) and Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress (CPPCC) which took place in March 2010. However, it was also observed in China that just before this annual session, the first draft from the Ministry of Education consisting of the middle as well as long-term educational reforms and development plan was released so that public can give their feedback (Thomas Postlethwaite, 2014). The guidelines were finalised and the draft was discharged in that very year which holds a number of strategies for the betterment of the education industry in China in the upcoming 10years. This topic is a valid area for investigation because though China has developed as one of the most impactful economies in the world but little has been known reg arding their education system or how their students get to learn (Helms, 2015). Therefore, this essay can help in highlighting the mechanism that China utilizes to regulate their education for all. Thus, the aim of this essay is to review the literature of the education system in China, and further investigate if there is any issue related to the quality of education there. Education system in China China consists of a huge education system in comparison with other countries. As estimated by National Bureau of statistics of China (2014) which says that there are around 260 million students as well as well more than 15 million teachers in almost 514000 schools, eliminating the graduate education institutions makes China's education system to be vast and diversified (Lai et al., 2014). In China, as observed by Zhao (2014), that the education is said to be mainly regulated by the state, which has very little participation of private, contributors in the school sectors and are progressively decentralized. It further stated that government of China has the main responsibility for managing as well as delivering school education to its citizens. In recent times, it has been found that the Education Ministry in China has switched from the direct control towards the macro-level supervision of the education system. However, as per the National Centre for Education Development Research, th e Education Ministry of China guides the improvement in education through laws, plans, allocation of budgets, information services, policy enlightenment and means of education. Moreover, as listed by Chen (2014), there are various types of educations which are imparted at different stages of the study to children as well as adults and they are preschool education, primary education, secondary education, higher education, vocational education, adult education and special education. Apart from the educational facilities, the schools in China also provide a training program, which includes training in languages, professional certificate training, early childhood educational training as well as special educations for international students. As stated by Li Ranieri (2013), that maximum of the students in China is found to spend almost six years in the primary school, which is followed by three to four years of secondary education. Thus, for all people residing in China, it is compulsory to attain nine years of education. Moreover, as soon as the students complete their compulsory education there is a chance that they can choose whether they want to pursue senior secondary education, which takes around 3years. In contradiction to this, in recent times it has also been observed by Yi et al., (2013), that China has made important moves in order to broaden the participation of their students in the senior secondary school of vocation so that China can effectively meet their fast-growing economic as well as needs of labour. Teichler, Arimoto Cummings (2013), has also said that not only compulsory primary and secondary education but also tertiary education systems in China has become more diversified in this 21st century. This tertiary education programs, however, guides the Chinese students to get themselves enrolled in the professional programs of higher education that usually takes three years to complete. Problems regarding quality of education system in China Being a country where education is for all is not at all easy. As Bolton Graddol (2012), says that China has been facing several challenges like the schools need to switch to English in order to keep up with their students of Hong Kong's economic competitiveness and so their students need to get bilingual or trilingual. Thus, to meet this policy in China their schools have to take the extra burden of resources, which has resulted from shifting towards English. According to Cao et al., (2014), China is facing severe land shortage issue for which they are unable to provide an adequate place for tertiary institutions who want to develop themselves in the private universities. On the contradiction, Chung Mason (2012), has argued that though the education system in China has modernized itself still there are areas which are so remote that their students are still having difficulty in entering school. Therefore, here the local, as well as national government, needs to provide more opport unities so that the children from those areas can also afford to school. China is rapidly developing economically as well as socially for which the demand for higher education and better quality of education is also increasing than ever. Thus, Fang (2012), has said that another major problem of China can be the need for enrollment all of their students in higher quality education. Duffy, Douglass Autin (2015), argued that apart from all these another issue will be related to the post-graduation employment because after completing graduation due to economic and social development in China the general people will have a demand of higher living standards which is another problem which the government needs to take care. Therefore, for this, the Chinese government needs to provide appropriate employment to the graduates so that they can earn enough to afford a high standard living. However, education to all not only mean that education is accessible to all but rather it means that every child should get equal as well as quality education. Therefore, equal acc ess to education to all is another important problem that China faces. Chen Feng (2013) has highlighted another issue, which is upon their equal accesses of education to the migrant children. He has further stated that due to a large number of internal migration in China another challenge is providing them an equal education. Educational policies in China Chen (2014), stated that initially it was found that education in China was mainly restricted to few people like the workers, peasants and few selective others and was not open to all but after the new Communist government came in the forefront the education system improvised and was available for all. The policies that China followed so that they can make education accessible to all, they simplified their characters so that their people can rapidly learn them. Moreover, China started training their people with those skills that they use overall to grow. They further included basic medical training practices in their educational policies along with spreading the awareness of the disadvantages of foot binding and female infanticides in the remotest areas where these practices are continuing. Scott (2013), has discussed educational reform policy in China which was adopted by the Chinese government that included all stages of the educational system mainly focuses to narrow down the gap among China and other growing countries. Contradiction to the above data L (2014), has suggested that in Chinas educational policy is also their social policy. This is because the rapid development of China in the recent past has been also accompanied by a sequence of social as well as environmental issues. These issues are of unequal income, health care, housing as well as employment and an approach to the overall range of opportunities in educational systems is a key to an inclusive, impactful as well as socially just system. Lee (2012)has stated another effective policy that was taken by China government way back in 1979 is known as one child policy and their early education. This policy though old but have helped China in a much positive way in their economic growth until 2015. Settles et al., (2013), stated in contradiction to this statement that there are many parents in China who felt that their only child is being lonely and is getting deprived of valuable social interactions. Thus, from 2016 the two-child policy ca me in action. Key educational initiatives in China As stated by Li, Whalley Xing (2014), since 2009 onwards the central government of China was observed to have expended 198 billion on their educational sectors, which actually represented 4.5 percent of their overall central government expenditure for those very years. However, following that every year it has been observed that their budget further increased to 9 percent to 216 billion in the education system. As per Obukhova (2012), who has outlined that as the numbers of graduates are increasing every year that is why the Ministry of Education in China along with other governmental authorities are working together on different initiatives so that they can guide the graduates to find employment. A number of measures have already been implemented like the graduate internship schemes for which Chinas employment rate has increased by 17%. On the other hand, Salik et al., (2014), has also stated that not only the internship scheme has helped China to have tackled their employment issu e. However, they have also brought certain improvisations in their education system along with developing additional goals for their students like improving the quality of education that is being provided which helped them further at the primary level. The Government has further motivated the graduates to join their army or teach in the remote areas and they have further given the small companies loan incentives so that they get the motivation to hire graduates. Fang et al., (2012), states that another important initiative that the Chinese government took regarding their educational industry is that they also came forward to distribute education to all by actively improvising the quality of their education system in the rural areas. Therefore, China perceived education was for all and not limited to any one or two areas. To help students who reside in the most disadvantageous areas the government came up with distance education programs. Hansen Woronov (2013), stated that central government of China has further invested 10 billion Yuan so that they can build boarding schools in the rural areas. This money has supported over 22,000 primary as well as secondary schools to rebuilt, redecorate, extent as well as a construct which has hugely enhanced the conditions of schools in the remotest areas in western China. On the other hand, Hu (2012), has said that Chinese government has not only focused regarding the students of their own country but to provide education to all they have also adopted the principle so that they can impart compulsory education to the migrant students as well who have moved from the rural areas to the cities. Therefore, the local, as well as central government, has further accepted education and custody systems so that the rural children who are mainly "stay-at-home" can also avail compulsory education. Moreover, Kritzer (2012), said that since 2007 the number of special education schools has also increased as China has also focused on their initiative to enhance the minority and special education systems. As the statistics suggest that since 2007, there has been an increase of 67.11% every year in the special classes has been enrolled in the total number of special education schools. Along with this the statistics also reflect upon the fact that Chinese girls also have their access to the education system because as per statistics the net enrollment rates of the boys are 99.46% whereas girls are 9 9.52%. Therefore, Jones-Smith et al., (2012) have concluded that the gender differences in avail education are no more a barrier in China. Laws and other regulations concerning education system in China The Ministry of Education of Peoples Republic is an agency of State Council that observes educational policy throughout the country. There are 27 departments in education. At the county level, bureaus of education are in charge and policies set by the Ministry of Education are implemented by these bureaus. In China, Ministry of Education manages 32 educational organisations and promote various ranges of educational services. As stated by Zhao (2014), some of the regulatory bodies play significant roles in operating the educational system in China. The Chinese government has always assigned a high value for education. The Chinese government has always believed that education is the threshold of national development and modernisation. Equality of Education for All (EFA) can be reflected in China's adoption of reform and reveal the policy 40 years ago. Compulsory education has taken shape in China and it is impressive till now as they have made achievements in adult's literacy education also (Blanchard Giavazzi 2016). China government has taken initiative in vocational education and technical learning skills for the adult people, these types of education help the people to take steady progress in life and career. For children, pre-school education helps the children to have quality education as China government made nine-year compulsory education in the country. As mentioned by Hou et al., (2016), in 3200 counties, more than 98% of the total in China, nine-year compulsory education has been universalised. In addition, in the year 2016, there were more than 340,000 primary schools which enrolled more than 17,430,300 students. Between 2014 and 2017, the central government of China invested more than 12 billion Yuan for implementing of constructing schools, boarding schools in rural areas. Several schools and colleges have been reconstructed, extend and renovated and the government provides financial aiding for compulsory education. In most of the rural schools, the government provides free textbooks and government exempts fees from the students. In China, there are laws and regulations regarding education and they are seen as effective ways of monitoring and steering implementation of the complex and large system. Helms (2015) supported this by saying that Ministry of Education in China drafts the law and it has to pass through National People's Congress. Law on Compulsory Education first enacted in the year 1986 and it was a milestone for China. All school-age children who have Chinese nationality must attend to school and parents must take responsibility to enrol them in school. This law plays a comprehensive role in describing schools, teaching, teacher and legal responsibilities in educational sectors. In addition, according to Price (2017), Regulations on Qualifications of Teachers have been issued as Teachers Law and in this set of laws; it is clearly mentioned about teaching qualification, examinations prerequisite for the implementation of education. In last past two decades, massive reforms have been undertaken in o rder to improve the education system in China as this country has observed rapid economic growth and social transformation. Recommendation China outperformed other countries during the economic crisis and it optimised the country's progress. However, China needs to reform the education system as not a single university in the top list across the world is from China. Many of the multinational companies cannot find enough skills from China as skilled white-collar workers because China government is focusing to implement education for all sections. It can be recommended to improve the condition: Education funding The Chinese government has been spending a significant amount of money in education as it is their national priority. The funding of the government must be focussed to promote the education in remote, rural, minorities and poor sections. Primary education in rural areas is needed with vocation training and the government needs to focus on giving high-quality teachers to the schools and colleges. Educational funding is basic for government-aided schools and funding is needed to develop a comprehensive and public supervision system. 80% of the funding for education comes from the government. The government of China can build a department to check the performance appraisals of other state-level educational departments and resource allocations. Administrative departments should submit their budget for public scrutiny in order to make the system transparent. Teacher training and professional development An educational system may not succeed greatly on the merits of a few teachers who are mostly trained in research, patents and rewards in abroad. However, the great teachers are needed to improve the educational system. The government started a new policy that teachers must take 360 class hours in five years. National Teacher Training Programme is also needed to deliver the better teaching to all. The government needs to take initiative to send the faculties to rural areas that have professional development training. Training and professional development must be given to the teachers to ensure that it must meet the requirement. Financial aid for students In order to ensure compulsory education in the country, the government needs to provide financial aid to the children who are below the poverty line. The Chinese government has started to provide financial aid since 2006 and this exemption of the fees has provided benefits to more than 48 million poor students. The government needs to choose the students accurately to provide help to economically disadvantaged children. The government needs to grant loan for higher education so that children can endeavour for higher education. Basic education curriculum reform Basic education for all must focus on the all-round development of a student. The Ministry of Education should emphasis on intellectual, physical and moral development in order to cultivate disciplines, virtues and ideals. The basic education system needs to shift towards the all-around education to support the skill development through a holistic approach. The emphasis should be made on basic education as well as value development with retaining the skills to all-aged people. Conclusion It has been observed that education system in China has been well maintained. The government takes the educational policy seriously and there are wide ranges of laws and regulation governs the education system in China. In China, the government has taken the initiative of compulsory education for all under nine-years of age. In addition, the government has been facing the issue of migrant children as the government tries to focus on each of the children to access compulsory education. The electronic system has been implemented by the government to ensure the impartial enrolment to provide education for all. The education system can be improved through balancing development through groups, introducing education resources and improving teachers' skills and technology-based education. References Blanchard, O., Giavazzi, F. (2016). Rebalancing growth in China: A three-handed approach. Inseeking changes: The Economic Development in Contemporary China, 4(4), 49-84. Bolton, K., Graddol, D. (2012). English in China today.English Today,28(3), 3. comparative study. In The Changing Academic Profession(pp. 25-35). Springer Netherlands. Cao, S., Lv, Y., Zheng, H., Wang, X. (2014). Challenges facing China's unbalanced urbanization strategy.Land Use Policy,39, 412-415. Chen, T. H. E. (2014).Chinese education since 1949: Academic and revolutionary models. Elsevier. Chen, Y., Feng, S. (2013). Access to public schools and the education of migrant children in China.China Economic Review,26, 75-88. Chung, C., Mason, M. (2012). Why do primary school students drop out in poor, rural China? A portrait sketched in a remote mountain village.International Journal of Educational Development,32(4), 537-545. Duffy, R. D., Douglass, R. P., Autin, K. L. (2015). Career adaptability and academic satisfaction: Examining work volition and self efficacy as mediators.Journal of Vocational Behavior,90, 46-54. Fang, H., Eggleston, K. N., Rizzo, J. A., Rozelle, S., Zeckhauser, R. J. (2012).The returns to education in China: Evidence from the 1986 compulsory education law(No. w18189). National Bureau of Economic Research. Fang, W. (2012). The development of transnational higher education in China: A comparative study of research universities and teaching universities.Journal of Studies in International Education,16(1), 5-23. Hansen, M. H., Woronov, T. E. (2013). Demanding and resisting vocational education: A comparative study of schools in rural and urban China.Comparative Education,49(2), 242-259. Helms, R. (2015). Transnational education in China.International Higher Education, (53), 34-45. Helms, R. (2015). Transnational education in China.International Higher Education, (53). Hou, J., Michaud, C., Li, Z., Dong, Z., Sun, B., Zhang, J., ... Tao, L. (2014). Transformation of the education of health professionals in China: progress and challenges.The Lancet,384(45), 819-827. Hu, F. (2012). Migration, remittances, and children's high school attendance: The case of rural China.International Journal of Educational Development,32(3), 401-411. Jones-Smith, J. C., Gordon-Larsen, P., Siddiqi, A., Popkin, B. M. (2012). Emerging disparities in overweight by educational attainment in Chinese adults (19892006).International Journal of Obesity,36(6), 866-875. Kritzer, J. B. (2012). Comparing Special Education in the United States and China.International Journal of Special Education,27(2), 52-56. Lai, F., Liu, C., Luo, R., Zhang, L., Ma, X., Bai, Y., ... Rozelle, S. (2014). The education of China's migrant children: The missing link in China's education system.International Journal of Educational Development,37, 68-77. Lee, M. H. (2012). The one-child policy and gender equality in education in China: Evidence from household data.Journal of family and economic issues,33(1), 41-52. Li, S., Whalley, J., Xing, C. (2014). China's higher education expansion and unemployment of college graduates.China Economic Review,30, 567-582. Li, Y., Ranieri, M. (2013). Educational and social correlates of the digital divide for rural and urban children: A study on primary school students in a provincial city of China.Computers Education,60(1), 197-209. L, X. (2014). Social policy and regime legitimacy: The effects of education reform in China.American Political Science Review,108(2), 423-437. Obukhova, E. (2012). Motivation vs. relevance: Using strong ties to find a job in Urban China.Social Science Research,41(3), 570-580. Price, R. F. (2017).Education in communist China(Vol. 8). Abingdon: Routledge. Salik, M., Zhiyong, Z., Guoyuan, S., Jiayong, L. (2014). Making People Employable: Reforming Higher Education in China.Academic Research International,5(2), 277. Scott, A. (Ed.). (2013).The limits of globalization. Abingdon: Routledge. Teichler, U., Arimoto, A., Cummings, W. K. (2013). The design and methods of the comparative study. InThe Changing Academic Profession(pp. 25-35). Springer Netherlands. Thomas, R. M., Postlethwaite, T. N. (Eds.). (2014).Schooling in East Asia, Forces of Change: Formal and Nonformal Education in Japan, The Republic of China, the Peoples Republic of China, South Korea, North Korea, Hong Kong, and Macau. Elsevier. Yi, H., Zhang, L., Liu, C., Chu, J., Loyalka, P., Maani, M., Wei, J. (2013). How are secondary vocational schools in China measuring up to government benchmarks?.China World Economy,21(3), 98-120. Zhao, Y. (2014).Who's afraid of the big bad dragon?: Why China has the best (and worst) education system in the world. New York: John Wiley Sons.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Surrogate Advertising Essay Example

Surrogate Advertising Essay Surrogate Advertising-Enforced Innovation: An inside-out overview of Indian Liquor and Tobacco industry Presented by: SUBHABRATA BANERJEE MBA – DAY INDIAN INSTITUE OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMNT ROLL NO: 107/MBA/080004 REGN NO: 19779 of 2001-2002 Acknowledgement I deem it a privilege and pleasure in submitting the dissertation paper â€Å"Surrogate Advertising-Enforced Innovation : An inside-out overview of Indian Liquor and Tobacco industry† which is in partial fulfillment of the requirements of MBA program of Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and profound thanks to Dr. S. N Roy (Head of the Department, MBA (Day), Dr. Tanima Roy (Faculty, MBA (Day)) and Dr. Archana Sharma (Faculty,MBA(Day)) for their guidance, co-operation and valuable feedback extended to me to complete the dissertation paper. I also would extend my gratitude towards Mr Shubhadeep Nag(Brand partner, rediffusion D Y R), Mr Kaustuv Bhadra (Vice-president and Branch-head, Mudra communications,kolkata) and Mr Sudarshan Banerjee (Vice-president and branch-head, Genesis Advertising, Mumbai) for their valuable suggestions which enriched this study. Besides this, I would also like to place on record my thanks towards the number of people that I met during the course of research study. Due to constraints of space, it would not be possible to name all of them. Date SUBHABRATA BANERJEE ABSTRACT We live in a complex world where we respond in extreme ways to what we view as extreme pressures. The ethical debate rages around surrogate mothers. Yet it is difficult to deny they perform a great service for those who use them. We will write a custom essay sample on Surrogate Advertising specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Surrogate Advertising specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Surrogate Advertising specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Closer home, surrogate advertising has been around ever since someone decided that certain things were probably not good in the interests of the community at large. It is really difficult to express an opinion, leave alone pass judgment on matters that are personal. There is also the question of personal rights and many of them are happily enshrined in Constitutions of progressive nations the world over. Who is anyone to decide whether I can sip my daily quota of what started off as eau de vie, or the water of life and then rapidly transformed itself into its present day avatar, Scotch? People have spent years perfecting a heavenly blend of spirits, and imparted to it the smoky flavour that could come only from the peat of Scotland and the pristine Highland water. Several others have made methode champenoise into a fine art and have succeeded in bottling the very soul of France in green bottles that, when uncorked, seem to scream celebration. Who has the right to decide if I can deeply inhale the rich aroma and full-bodied flavour of carefully rolled Virginia tobacco? Every time I nonchalantly put one of those sticks to my lips I feel I have mounted a wild mustang and I am riding down the lonely mountain trails of Colorado. Forget the hype. Forget the imagery we have all grown up with. The Government has the right, invested in it by you, to decide whether you will get transported to the chalky fields of Champagne or the misty heights of Scotland, or for that matter the Wild West. And the Government in its wisdom has decided that advertising for tobacco and liquor is a big no-no. So does that mean you lose the right to tipple or smoke? Certainly not. The wisdom of the Government extends only to banning the advertising of tobacco or liquor. Not to the manufacture or marketing of these supposedly deadly substances. It is legal to manufacture liquor and cigarettes or bidis. It is legal to sell cigarettes at every roadside stall, even to unsuspecting children. It is illegal to advertise it. And that is precisely why you have to live with surrogate advertising. The literal meaning of ‘Surrogate advertising is copying the brand image of one product to promote another product of the same brand. It can be defined as the strategy used by manufacturers and advertisers to promote a product surreptitiously, the advertisement of which is banned by the law of the land. In this study, I have tried to found out the impact of Surrogate Advertising not only on the brand-recall but also on the consumer psychological traits which affect our daily lives. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY The basic objective of this study is not only to understand the loopholes of the acts or measure the effect of surrogate advertising on brand recall, but to gain an inside-out overview of how effective surrogate advertisings are in Indian scenario as far as tobacco and liquor industry in concerned. METHODOLOGY The understanding of the subject took not only secondary research or help of books, white papers and journals, but also for the better understanding, primary research had been conducted to get the first-hand understanding of the consumers. Questionnaires were made as qualitative as possible so that every respondent enjoys the space of expressing his or her own opinion. Those opinions were then mapped on a Brand-performance matrix, being precise, a brand-scorecard which allowed the comparison between the original brand and the surrogate brand. To conclude, expert opinion is also taken from nearly 10 senior people in advertising and media, as they have seen the makeover and had been a part of it Surrogate Advertising: Enforced Innovation Recent series of hoardings led me to delve into a very unique trend specific to Indian advertising – Surrogate advertising†¦ a trend which is fast catching up and has suddenly attracted a lot of innovative and creative brains around the country. Reason? On one hand, the government cannot allow public advertising of liquor companies. But ironically, liquor and cigarette sales are the biggest revenue generators in terms of taxes and duties on these items. That’s why an overt acceptance of the marketing in these sectors is not legally acceptable. This has led to one of the biggest ironies of the country – Sales of these items are not banned, yet advertising on the same has strictly been prohibited! Talking about the market size and the different segments would not be pertinent to the discussion (for the records, it is more than 100 million cases in India! ). But what is the significance of this trend vis-a-vis the entry points for new players and sustainability of existing ones? Multinationals which would like to explore the Indian markets find the double-faced attitude of the government as an impediment to their ventures. Since no policy has been formalized in this regard, foreign companies continue to be sceptical about their entry. Domestically, it has led to innovative ways and methods of spending on different media for Advertising from the companies, where companies do more of a brand building exercise than direct advertising. Be it promotions for brand building, or sponsoring events that can be mapped with the â€Å"showbiz† and â€Å"glamour† of the brand, advertisers don’t leave many avenues to enhance their visibility. The rule says, â€Å"Advertisements which lead to sale, consumption and promotion of liquor should not be allowed. † So, in Surrogate Marketing, a product which is different from the main product is advertised, and has the same brand name as the main product. The product is called as â€Å"surrogate† and advertising through this channel is called â€Å"Surrogate Advertising†! It may include CDs, water, clothing, Apple juice, fashion accessories, sports goods or even events sponsoring! These gimmicks, in turn, help the consumers build a strong equity of the parent brand, and with the enhanced visibility, the equity of the brand would definitely become higher! Liquor companies were forced to look at innovative ways of building their brands. With an objective of enhancing brand recall, companies either engage into â€Å"surrogate advertising† or displaying â€Å"socially responsible messages†. Again, out of the two viable options for Advertising, Surrogate Advertising has been surrounded by controversies and legalities for a long time. There is no clear policy from the government for obvious reasons and companies do not want to risk their investments on Ads, which might not be screened after a while. So, a safer choice available where companies can exercise their grey cells is advertising â€Å"socially responsible† messages. Origin of Surrogate Advertising As a reaction to the directive of Government, the liquor tobacco majors sought other ways of endorsing their products. They have found an alternative path of advertising through which they can keep on reminding their liquor brands to their customers. They have introduced various other products with the same brand name. Launching new products with common brand name is known as brand extension, which can be carried out for related products (e. g. : Tata Salt and Tata Tea) or unrelated products (e. g. : Tata Tea and Tata Indica). Prima facie, there is nothing wrong with brand extension. The problem occurs when brand extension is carried out in response to the ban on advertisement of one product category. In this case, the companies launch other products with the same brand name for the purpose of reminding their old customers. Heavy advertising is done so that the customers do not forget their liquor tobacco brands, for which advertisements are banned. The advertisements for such new products are placed under the category of Surrogate Advertisements. Their only objective is to compensate the losses arising out of the ban on advertisements of one particular product (i. e. liquor). According to dictionary surrogate means substitute. Many of us have come across this word in connection with surrogate motherhood. This time it has come in a new avatar Surrogate Advertisement. This is a loophole challenging the Governments action. However, the companies can claim that the order is being implemented and advertisements of liquor are banned, but the objective of the Government behind imposing the ban is not fulfilled. Its a new weapon of Proxy War. Literally surrogate advertisement means duplicating the brand image of one product extensively to promote another product of the same brand. The ban: Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, (CTNRA), Rule 7(2)(viii)(A) of the Advertising Code states that no advertisement shall be permitted which promotes, directly or indirectly, the production, sale or consumption of cigarette, tobacco products, wine, alcohol, liquor or other intoxicants. SURROGATE ADVERTISEMENTS PROMOTED BY LIQUOR AND TOBACCO INDUSTRY The liquor industry is a prominent player in this game. Few surrogate advertisements shown in print, electronic and outdoor media are Bagpiper soda and cassettes CDs, Hayward’s soda, Derby special soda, Gilbey green aqua, Royal Challenge golf accessories and mineral water, Kingfisher mineral water, White Mischief holidays, Smirnoff cassettes CDs, Imperial Blue cassettes CDs, Teachers achievement awards etc. These products bear exactly the same brand name and logo, which we had seen earlier in liquor advertisements. It was little surprising to know that liquor giants like McDowells and Seagrams have entered into new segments like cassettes CDs, mineral water, sports accessories etc. Later it was found that the basic aim of these surrogate advertisements was to promote their liquor brands like beer, wine, vodka etc. This brand extension is an act of bypassing the advertisement ban. A similar trend is followed by companies making Cigarettes, Paan Masala and Gutkha. Few examples of surrogate advertisements in this category are Red White bravery awards, Wills lifestyle, Four Square white water rafting, Manikchand awards etc. Though a ban has been imposed on advertisements endorsing tobacco products, this industry has resorted to surrogate advertising a few years ago. The Health Ministry has recently implemented the tobacco control legislation which will imply a complete ban on advertisements and all direct indirect promotional campaigns for tobacco products. In 2001, Indian Tobacco Company (ITC) had voluntary withdrawn the Wills Sports sponsorship of the Indian cricket team when the Government had first proposed a ban on advertising through legislation. THE CORPORATE STANDPOINT The industry segment has its own standpoint in defence. The liquor lobby claims that everything is in accordance to the Government regulations. If a brand has equity, why shouldnt it be allowed to advertise? Also, brand extension is an industry practice adopted by different product categories, comments Alok Gupta of UB group. When we advertise our products, we follow all the guidelines, declares president, sales marketing, Radico Khaitan. They clarify that they have stopped showing liquor advertisements and they are free to use the brand name for any other products. Even the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverages Companies (CIABC) advertising code maintains that advertisement of products (real brand extensions) by the liquor industry must be allowed. From a laymans point of view, their claims seem to be justified. But this is a clear example of taking advantage of the loopholes. There is a point to ponder. When they have stopped showing liquor advertisements, why the same brand name and logo is used to promote products like cassettes CDs or mineral water? They could have assigned different brand names. It seems they have a hidden agenda of highlighting the liquor or tobacco brand. A similar tussle over the issue of surrogate advertisements in politics was raised in April 2004 on the eve of Lok Sabha elections. Complaints of slanderous and offensive advertisements were raised by two major political parties BJP and Congress against each other. The issue became so serious that the Supreme Court had to interfere in this affair. Finally on 13 April 2004, the Court gave a verdict to curb smear advertisements on electronic media. By appointing Election Commission as referee, the court has tried to put an end to surrogate advertising in politics. According to the Cable Act under the ministry of information and broadcasting,- no broadcaster is permitted to show an advertisement which promotes directly or indirectly, sale or consumption of cigarettes, tobacco products, wine, alcohol, liquor or other intoxicants†¦ Now a new clause has been added under the act stating that any advertisement for a product that uses a brand name which is also used for cigarette, tobacco product, wine, alcohol, liquor or any other intoxicant will not be permitted. Finally, in April 2005, the ministry resorted to a ban on surrogate advertisements of liquor and tobacco products on television. After this directive, the surrogate advertisements are seldom shown on television. Now the companies will have to reframe their policies. But who will take care of print and outdoor media is not certain. According to ASCI (Advertising Standards Council of India), surrogate advertisements are harmful. Now it will be up to the ASCI to take up the matter with the respective companies. . [pic] Tobacco Advertising and Promotional Activities: The Global Scenario Tobacco advertising boosts consumption. A report prepared with the co-operation of the tobacco industry concludes advertising was found to have a statistically significant impact on industry sales. The tobacco industry commented that a recent rise in tobacco consumption in Greece was basically due to advertising. In 1988, Philip Morris paid US$350,000 so that their brand of cigarettes would be shown in a new James Bond movie Licensed to Kill. In 1979, Philip Morris paid US$42,500 to have its Marlboro cigarette appear in the movie Superman II while in 1983, another cigarette manufacturer, Liggett, paid US$30,000 to have its cigarettes appear in the movie, Super girl. These are movies with major child and adolescent audiences. Children smoke the most heavily advertised brands of cigarettes. Tobacco sponsorship of sport acts as cigarette advertising to children. The children who watch the sporting events on television readily recognize those cigarette brands which sponsored the event. Within six years of the tobacco companies introduction of feminine cigarettes and accompanying advertisement, the number of girls smoking increased by 110 per cent. The tobacco industry constitutes of the largest advertisers in the world. In 1996, Philip Morris, the worlds largest multinational cigarette company, spent $ 3. billion advertising its tobacco and food products, while the British American Tobacco spent $459 million on advertising its cigarettes alone. Tobacco Advertising in India Tobacco advertising contributes Rs. 300-400 crore to the Rs. 8000 crore-strong Indian advertising industry. With an increase in the number of tobacco advertisements, manufacturers of Gutkha and other tobacco products have raised their advertising budgets . The following table indicates the astronomical figures cigarette companies spent annually on advertising their brands against the proven health and social problems that they raise: Cigarette Brand Advertising Expenditure In India | |Gold Flake |Rs. 50 crore | |555 |Rs. 10 crore | |BH |Rs. 10 crore | | Other ITC brands |Rs. 40 crore | Forms of Tobacco Advertising in Indias Direct Advertising Newspapers and Magazines There is no net figure available on the expenditure incurred by cigarette and Gutkha companies on advertising. Of late, cigarette companies have started sponsoring the sports page of different newspapers. This trend was started in the wake of the proposed ban on tobacco sponsorship of sports events. Except for magazines on health-related issues, few newspapers or magazines have any policy prohibiting advertisement of tobacco products. There have been reports of Gutkha advertisements on the cover pages of school notebooks from Nagpur District in Maharashtra. Outdoor Advertising International and domestic cigarette brands compete with each other in billboard advertising while oral tobacco brands resort to transport vehicles. Point of sale advertising flourishes adjacent to schools and colleges as also in restaurants and kiosks. Promotional Activities Sponsorship of Sports and Cultural Events The Nineties witnessed tobacco companies fighting for sponsorship rights of various sports and cultural events. Subsequently, the Indian cricket team came to be sponsored by Wills, the flagship brand of ITC until its withdrawal in March 2001. For every test match that India played, Wills (ITC) doled out Rs. 33 lakh; for every one-day match, it paid Rs. 32 lakh. The major tennis tournaments, Gold flake open, in the country were sponsored by Gold Flake whereas boat racing was sponsored by Four Square cigarette. On the cultural front, Manikchand, manufacturers of Gutkha, patronizes the Film fare Awards in the country. Ironically, the national bravery award recognizing heroes for courage, adventure and spontaneous physical action is sponsored by Red and White cigarettes, Red White Bravery Awards, capitalizing on the positive image and the good will the event fetches. In several parts of India, major state festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri have come to be celebrated with great fanfare at the behest of Gutkha companies. Surrogate Advertising on Television Gutkha companies like Simla, Goa 1000 and Pan Parag skirt the ban on tobacco advertising in Television channels by resorting to surrogate advertising in the name of pan masala bearing the same brand name. Cigarette companies resort to tobacco sponsored cultural events like the Red White Bravery Awards Contests The Wills Made for Each Other campaign of the Eighties with lucrative offers, including a holiday abroad, had courted much controversy over glamorizing and minimizing the dangers of smoking filter cigarettes. In December 1999, Four Square of Godfrey Philips India, an affiliate of Philip Morris Inc. ran the Gold in Gold Contest offering gold gift options, on the stipulation that entrants in the contest, besides being tobacco users, were to collect 4 inserts from Four Square Gold Cigarette packs. There was the Charminar Challenge as well. Product Placement in Movies Several leading filmmakers and popular film stars have indirectly promoted cigarette brands by consciously placing cigarette packs or brand names/ logos in movie scenes as was observed in movies like God Mother, Tere Mere Sapne, Chasme Baddur and Katha. Free Sampling Earlier, this tactic of initiating the young into tobacco was restricted to handing out free samples of cigarettes. Recent press reports from Nagpur indicate that Gutka sachets are given out for free near schools and colleges. Strategically, youth in outfits bearing tobacco brand names and logos are engaged in these promotional campaigns. In Mumbai, several discotheques and restaurants witness regular Benson Hedges promotional activities, including giving free samples. Brand Stretching and Diversification Perceiving an imminent ban on tobacco advertising, several tobacco companies are promoting other consumer products, which bear the same brand name or logo as their popular tobacco products. These logos or brand names can easily be spotted on clothing, sports apparel, hats, trays, posters and stickers affixed to sports vehicles and backpacks. The ITC, holding investments in the hotel and tourism sector has also set up 125 lifestyle stores selling apparels in the country in the immediate future. The plan includes spreading out to greeting cards business and experimental kitchens. Manikchand, the domestic Gutkha major, has diversified to tea, windmills and construction industry. Corporate Philanthropy and Public Relations The earthquake that ravaged parts of Gujarat was fully exploited by Gutkha manufacturers; they distributed food packets with Gutkha sachets to build up their social image. All the major Gutkha firms are actively engaged in supporting local youth clubs in organizing their annual sports events and religious festivities. The Indian Tobacco Company claims that they invest in education, immunization and family planning programmes in communities near to their factories. State-patronized Tobacco Promotion Though lamentable, the State responsible for the health and well being of its citizens, also often acts as a vehicle for tobacco promotion. The obvious examples were the BEST buses plying in Maharashtra and the railway stations and bus stops across the country displaying huge tobacco hoardings. Doordarshan, the national television channel, transmitted advertisements of Cavenders Cigarette brand disguised as adventure gear. Sports and cultural events on the channel were often sponsored by tobacco companies. Trends in Tobacco Advertising Following the announcement of the Tobacco Products Bill proposing a ban on tobacco advertising, there has been an upsurge in surrogate advertising and sponsorship of entertainment events. Marketing figures indicated that the market spending on tobacco products declined by 2 % over the year, while the spending on tobacco brands grew by 28 %. That was illustrative of the increasing reliance of tobacco companies on sponsorships, restaurant and hotel programmes, public relations and direct marketing programmes those days. Impact of Tobacco Advertising and Promotional Activities In a study conducted in Goa among students immediately after watching tobacco-sponsored cricket matches, 15-20 per cent students surveyed felt that smoking and chewing tobacco improves memory. Some students even felt that if you smoke, you will become a better cricketer. A 1992 review of 19 studies of cigarette advertising by the British Department of Health revealed that advertising does have a positive impact on consumption. A 1995 study indicates that advertising is more likely to influence teenagers to smoke than even peer pressure, while a 1996 study published in the Journal of Marketing found that teenagers are three times as sensitive as adults to cigarette advertising. The escalating annual advertising budgets of tobacco companies are enough proof of the impact this component of marketing has on increasing consumption rates. Existing Advertising Regulations in India The Cigarettes Act, 1975, merely stipulates the statutory warning on cigarette packets. The Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Act, 2000-prohibits direct and indirect tobacco advertising on Cable Channels. Advertising Standards Council of India Voluntary Code, 1998-envisages prohibition of advertising targeting underage consumers; suggests that using tobacco products is safe, healthy or popular; enhancing courage; or featuring the young. Being a voluntary code, it has little enforcement value. The Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertising and Regulation of Trade, Commerce and Supply) Bill, 2001, announced by the Cabinet, pending nactment in Parliament provides for banning direct and indirect tobacco advertising in media, prohibition of tobacco sponsorship of sports and cultural events, banning smoking in public places, banning sale of tobacco products to persons below 18 years of age and repeats the existing labelling provision. The States of Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal had agreed to adopt the Bill. Goa has an Act prohibiting smoking in public places, but it is poorly enforced. The same fate has been suffered by the Maharashtra Government Resolution banning sale of Gutkha within 100 meters of schools, hospitals and government offices. Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka have a ban in place on smoking in public places. FCTC and Tobacco Advertising Advertising being a translational issue in the information age, beyond the regulatory scope of individual countries, the efficacy of stringent provisions thereof in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is undisputable. Efforts should therefore be geared at motivating geographical regions en masse to opt for tight provisions in the Convention. Individual nations could also be prevailed upon to tighten their national laws to match with International standards to be set out in FCTC. Interventions Effective lobbying strategies to enable the enactment of the Tobacco Products Bill, 2001: Activating State level advocacy to overcome the jurisdictional restrictions on policies regulating oral tobacco products and Bidi. Building a vigilant civil society to provide effective monitoring and prompt reporting of violations under the existing laws. Addressing trans-national advertising through strong provisions in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Mobilizing Support from Entertainment-Celebrity endorsements of Anti- Tobacco policies. Industry speaks With the blanket ban on tobacco advertising through all media come into effect from May 1, 2004. The advertising industry was set to lose nearly Rs 250 crore (Rs 2,500 million). Tobacco companies too were then banking on aggressive customer contact programmes to get access to their buyers. We support the ban and such pressures are not new for the industry. We will have to look at the point of sales promotion and go for innovative inserts in cigarette packs, said a Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) spokesperson. GPI, the second largest cigarette manufacturer in the country, spent roughly Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) on advertising in 2003-04. Market leader ITC refused to comment on the issue, but the ad industry estimated that it will lose business worth Rs 80-90 crore (Rs 800-900 million) that year when ITC pulls out its ads. International cigarette giant Phillip Morris which started marketing the Marlboro brand directly in the country earlier in 2004, had gone on an outdoor advertising overdrive to make the most of the remaining few weeks before the ban takes effect. We deal with such regulations in various markets internationally. But the good thing is that this regulation is uniform and there is a level playing field, said Ajit Sahgal, GM Philip Morris (India). But Ashok Aggarwal, president DS Group, the largest chewing tobacco company in India said that it will be very difficult to monitor surrogate advertising. Let us have a look at some of the advertisements that were shown before the ban: [pic] This advertisement was published in 1930. It clearly shows that the need to communicate about tobacco products existed in Indian market from long back. pic] Product: Filter Wills- navy cut Manufacturer: ITC [pic] These advertisements directly show the product and communicate about it. It actually talked about the bondage between he product and the consumer and the â€Å"made for each other† punch-line signified that the bond between the product and the smoker is as sweet as the relationship between a man and a woman; moreover the visuals showed the closeness and joy that a consumer is supposed to have by consuming the product. [pic] Product: Gold Flake Manufacturer: ITC Agency: Bates India Pvt. Ltd. [pic] Product: Gold Flake Manufacturer: ITC Agency: Bates India Pvt. Ltd. [pic] Product: Gold Flake Manufacturer: ITC Agency: Bates India Pvt. Ltd. All these three advertisements shown above talks about the product quality and conveys a message which psychologically counters the fear of consumers of having a throat-problem because of smoking. By using the term â€Å"honeydew† the communication is focused not only to establish a superior product quality but the word honey also reduces the fear of throat-problems as we ll know that honey is used to cure throat problems, being widely used in Indian context. [pic] Wills Insignia is also another product from the house of ITC. In this piece of advertisement, the packaging, colour scheme, copy and the visual used talk about the superior quality and thus positions the product as a symbol of social status. The visual is based on black back-ground, as black is considered as the colour of power and dignity. [pic] Four Square is a well-known cigarette brand of the global tobacco giant Godfrey Phillips. This advertisement talks about the macho-image of a man, essentially a consumer of Four-Square, and his abilities to impress woman. This advertisement influences the customer by showing macho-man image. There has been a complete change in terms of communications in tobacco industry after the ban came into play: [pic] Above shown is an advertisement by Godfrey Phillips, which simply talks about lifestyle or philoosophies. But the position of the fingers, the placing of the content and the words used like â€Å"fire† and â€Å"passion† readily allows the consumer to relate with a cigarette. The most interesting thing that had happened in this entire surrogate scenario is the brand-extension of ITC as WILLS LIFESTLES, a chain of lifestyle stores that offer premium quality apparels. Some of the communications or advertisements that were published in print media to advertise WILLS LIFESTYLE are shown below: [pic] This advertisement of wills lifestyles exhibits the premium quality clothing using up-market models and ambience. [pic] In this piece of communication, high-end luxurious lifestyle was flaunted to communicate that people who wear will lifestyle apparels live a wealthy and luxurious life like shown above. This advertisement directly influences the aspiration level of the consumers and they feel like trying it. [pic] In all those advertisements shown above, of Wills Lifestyle, there is no direct communication about the cloth-quality or the price factors which are usually found in case of garment advertisements. Instead of that, all these advertisements focus on the lifestyle, achievements and aspirations. The colour scheme, the logo-type and the font used are just look-alike to the cigarette brands. More interestingly, the product ranges are named after the cigarette brand WILLS CLASSIC, which directly reminds the consumer about the original product. The name ‘Wills’ stands for the red and white packet of cigarettes and also perfume, soap, apparels, lifestyle store et all†¦. This is a classic example of brand extension that borders on surrogate advertising. [pic] The show-down The Information Broadcasting Ministry, under the Cable Network Rules, 1994 had imposed a ban on advertisements of tobacco and liquor products on satellite channels effective from 6 October, 200O. The governments aim obviously was reducing the exposure of such ads to teenagers in habit forming years. While advertising on Doordarshan had always been banned, the restriction on private channels had done away with one of the most effective channel of communication for the players in those industries. The ban includes both direct as well as surrogate advertisements in its am

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Fahrenheit 451 Study Guide

Fahrenheit 451 Study Guide Fahrenheit 451 is a novel by Ray Bradbury. Published in 1953, the book takes place in a dystopian future world where the job of a firefighter is to burn books, rather than put out fires. The main character, Guy Montag, is one such fireman, who slowly begins to perceive the world around him as perverse and superficial even as it slides inexorably towards a nuclear war. A commentary on the power of literacy and critical thought, Fahrenheit 451 remains a potent reminder of how quickly a society can fall apart. Fast Facts: Fahrenheit 451 Author: Ray BradburyPublisher: Ballantine BooksYear Published: 1953Genre: Science FictionType of Work: NovelOriginal Language: EnglishThemes: Censorship, technology, conformityCharacters: Guy Montag, Mildred Montag, Clarisse McClellan, Captain Beatty, Professor Faber, GrangerNotable Adaptations: 1966 film by Franà §ois Truffaut; 2018 HBO adaptation by Ramin BahraniFun Fact: Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 on rented typewriters at his local library, spending $9.80 to write the book. Plot Summary The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman whose job is to burn hidden caches of books, which are forbidden in this unspecified future society. At first, he goes about his job fairly mindlessly, but a conversation with a non-conforming teenager spurs him to question society. He develops a restless dissatisfaction that cannot be quashed. Montag steals a Bible and smuggles it into his home. When he reveals the book (and the others hes stolen) to his wife Mildred, she panics at the thought of losing their income and thus the huge wall-sized televisions she watches constantly. Montag’s boss, Captain Beatty, gives him 24 hours to burn the book or face the consequences. Montag eventually buries his book collection with help from Faber, a former professor. Soon, however, a call comes in for the Firemen to burn a new book cache- and the address is Montag’s house. Beatty insists that Montag do the burning; in response, Montag kills him and flees into the countryside. There, he meets a group of drifters who tell him of their mission to memorize books in order to eventually rebuild society. At the end of the book, there is a nuclear attack on the city, and Montag and the drifters head out to begin rebuilding. Major Characters Guy Montag. The protagonist of the story, Guy is a fireman who has been illegally hoarding and reading books. His blind faith in society erodes and opens his eyes to the decline of civilization. His efforts to resist conformity make him a criminal. Mildred Montag. Guy’s wife. Mildred has retreated entirely into a fantasy world stoked television. Mildred is unable to comprehend Guy’s dissatisfaction and behaves in a childish, superficial manner throughout the story. Her behavior represents society at large. Clarisse McClellan. A teenage girl who lives in Guy Montag’s neighborhood. She is curious and non-comformist, representing the nature of youth before the corrupting effects of society and materialism. She is the catalyst for Montag’s mental awakening. Captain Beatty. Montag’s boss. Beatty is a former intellectual whose disappointment in books’ inability to truly solve problems has turned him into an anti-intellectual. Beatty tells Montag that books must be burned because they make people unhappy without offering real solutions. Professor Faber. Once a professor of English, Faber is a meek, timid man who deplores what society has become but lacks the bravery to do anything about it. Faber embodies Bradbury’s belief that knowledge without the willingness to use it is useless. Granger. The leader of a group of drifters who have escaped society. Granger and the drifters preserve knowledge and wisdom by memorizing books. He explains to Montag that history is cyclical, and that a new age of wisdom will follow the current age of ignorance. Major Themes Freedom of Thought vs. Censorship. The novel is set in a society where the state forbids certain kinds of thought. Books contain the collected wisdom of humanity; denied access to them, people lack the mental skills to resist their government. The Dark Side of Technology. Passive pastimes like watching TV are portrayed as harmful purveyors of passive consumption. Technology in the book is consistently used to punish, oppress, and otherwise harm the characters. Obedience vs. Rebellion. Humanity assists in its own oppression. As Captain Beatty explains, banning books didn’t require effort- people chose to ban books, because the knowledge in them made them think, which made them unhappy. Literary Style Bradbury uses rich language filled with metaphors, similes, and figurative speech throughout the book. Even Montag, who has no formal education, thinks in terms of animal images and poetic, deeply beautiful symbols. Captain Beatty and Professor Faber frequently quote poets and great writers. Bradbury also uses animal imagery throughout to associate technology with dangerous predators. About the Author Born in 1920, Ray Bradbury was one of the most important writers of the 20th century, particularly in the science fiction genre. Bradbury framed technology and supernatural forces as dangerous and foreboding, which reflected the anxious, uneasy atmosphere of the newly atomic post-World War II world.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The Shocking Aspects of Theater in Ancient Rome

The Shocking Aspects of Theater in Ancient Rome Roman theater began before Roman culture began to emulate the Greeks. However, very little is known of early theater produced by Etruscans and other ancient cultures. The Roman plays that live on in written form were produced in Greek-style amphitheaters, and many of the plays were essentially rewritten versions of Greek stories. In ancient Greece, plays were unlikely to contain graphic violence or sexuality, but the opposite was true in Rome. The Roman Theater and Violence The Roman public loved a good spectacle. They loved to watch combat and admired blood sports and gladiator competition. As a result, there was plenty of gore in most Roman theater. Roman audiences also preferred less subtlety than the Greeks when it came to sexuality on stage. In fact, according to  the book Living Theater by Edwin Wilson, one Roman emperor ordered an entire troupe of mimes to engage in actual intercourse on stage. The fact that this event was recorded for posterity suggests that it wasnt the norm, but it may not have been an isolated event. Famous Roman Playwrights Fewer plays were written in ancient Rome than in Greece. Many of those that were written seemed to be retreads  of old Greek myths (transplanted with the very similar Roman Gods). Perhaps the noted exception to this rule would be the domestic comedies of Plautus and Terence. And of course, Seneca - perhaps Romes best-known tragedian. There were hundreds more playwrights besides the three mentioned below. The Roman Republic and its subsequent empire greatly enjoyed the arts and entertainment. However, while there were many playwrights in ancient Rome, only a small percentage of their works  have survived the passage of time. Plautus If you have ever seen Stephen Sondheims A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, then you have experienced a taste, albeit with a corny 1960s flavor, of the Roman comedy master Plautus. A founder of the comedic theater, he created over a hundred plays in his remarkable career, many of which lampooned iconic figures within Roman society: the soldier, the politician, the clever slave, the philandering husband, and the wise but nagging wife. Terence Terences life story is an ancient tale of rags to riches. Terence was the slave of a Roman senator. Apparently, his master was so impressed with young Terences intellect that he released him from his service and even funded Terences education. During his adult years, Terence crafted comedies which were primarily Roman-style adaptations of Greek plays by Hellenistic writers, such as Menander. Seneca In addition to being a playwright, Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a lawyer and a Roman senator. He witnessed some of the darkest days of Romes empire, as he served under the sadistic Emperor Caligula. The next emperor in line, Claudius, banished Seneca, sending him away from Rome for over eight years. After returning from exile, Seneca became the advisor to the infamous Emperor Nero.  According to dramaturg William S. Turney, Nero ordered the assassination of his own mother and then commissioned Seneca to write a speech that excused Neros crimes. During the playwrights lifetime, he wrote tragedies, many of them re-inventions of Greek myths of decadence and self-destruction. For example, his play Phaedra details the sensual depravity of Theseus lonely wife who lusts after her step-son, Hippolytus. Seneca also adapted the Greek myth of Thyestes, a sordid tale of adultery, fratricide, incest, and cannibalism, with enough carnage to make even modern audiences cringe. Seneca retired from public life assuming that he might spend his elder years writing and relaxing, but the suspicious Nero ordered Seneca to commit suicide. Seneca complied, slashing his wrists and arms, slowly bleeding out. Apparently, it was too slow, because according to the ancient historian Tacitus, Seneca called for poison, and when that failed him, he was placed in a hot bath to be suffocated by the steam. Source Wilson, Edwin. Living Theatre: A History of Theatre. Alvin Goldfarb President, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, January 10, 2011.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Britains Control Over Industrialization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Britains Control Over Industrialization - Essay Example The industrial revolution brought about the invention of iron and textile industries as well as the steam engine that were the central roles of the revolution. Britain is known to be the leader in the industrial revolution as most of the industrial revolution revolves around it. It is also known that Britain maintained much authority over the revolution period and controlled the economic and political structures of many states. From this perspective, it is clear that Britain had much control over the industrial revolution due to various reasons. A number of reasons have been tabled down backing up Britain’s dominance in the Industrial Revolution. Some are geographical while others seem to e social-political in nature. On the geographical factors, Britain had huge coal deposits that were used to power the newly invented machines (Dunn and Laura, 25-28). The other geographical factor was that Britain had many waterways. Most of the rivers in the country were navigable, and much of the coal deposits were near these rivers. Also, the country had many and long coastlines that made transportation easier through the water. Therefore, the availability of both coal and waterways enabled extra coal extraction and transportation in the country possible. The other factor that made Britain dominate during the Industrial Revolution was the fact that it had created a huge empire for itself overseas. All British Empire were used to provide raw materials that were used in the Britain mills. On the other hand, these empires had been m ade captive markets by the Britain for its finished products. For instance, the British had captured most of the Asian countries creating a free market for raw materials. Also, it had made it impossible for these countries to build their industries so that it could dominate the market (Dunn and Laura, 28-33). Any country that resisted Britain’s dominance faced the risk

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Justification write up for nominating for Environment, Health & Safety Term Paper

Justification write up for nominating for Environment, Health & Safety award - Term Paper Example Central Operations is committed to creating and sustaining an accident free culture for our employees and customers, as well as the public. Each operating system is responsible for integrating EH&S considerations, aimed at minimizing and controlling potential risks and hazards, into the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the company’s energy delivery system and facilities. Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) was performing the design of the East Side Access (ESA) project, which is intended to bring Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to the Grand Central Terminal. As part of this project, blasting was performed to break their wall adjacent to the existing steam delivery system. This blasting created vibrations below ground which damaged the steam support components. As a result of the blast, a 16† steam pipe shifted and fell off the supports. Engineering, in collaboration with Operations, determined the risks, scope of work, performed stress analysis, layout, and field inspections to resolve this problem. SDE and Steam Operations made field visits, identified the potential risks, and acted urgently to maintain safety, reliability, and to restore the system. In an effort to restore the system, the team inspected the affected site and recommended installing 4 special beam guides at the pipe offsets to accommodate for unusual pipe stress. Due to limited drilling depth, as a result of city sewer pathways crossing below our structures, the guides were designed to have a special base plate and anchor bolts. Field inspections found asbestos containing material insulating the original steam pipe. The abatement crew removed the asbestos insulation, using procedure 11924-5, and prior to doing any construction work to re-align the main. They then took measurements submitting them to contracted engineers selected to begin work on the repairs. Next, our

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Martin Yan’s Biography Essay Example for Free

Martin Yan’s Biography Essay Culinary Arts is widely acknowledged today as the art of cooking, and its popularity is increasing all over the world. There are numerous renowned and skilled chefs who have become well-known for their knowledge, creativity, and passion on culinary arts. Today, a lot of gifted chefs are getting famous for their cooking shows, cook books, and different contributions to the world of culinary arts. One of the famous and respectable chefs in the world is Martin Yan. Martin Yan is a Chinese-American chef; he was born in Guangzhou China on the year 1948. His father was a restaurateur, and his mother operates a grocery store. Martin started and learned how to cook at the age of 12. He decided to move and live in Hong Kong when he reached the age of 13 years old and studied in Kowloon City in Munsang College. Martin experienced working for his uncle’s Chinese restaurant and learned a lot of traditional methods of Chinese cooking. He then got the opportunity to study in Canada and later got his masters degree in food science in University of California in Davis on 1975. He finally got the passion for teaching and became a professor in the university’s extension program, and he also appeared on a local TV talk show in Calgary, Canada in the year 1978 (Yan Can Cook, 2008). Since then, he has been hosting different cooking shows. Among these shows is â€Å"Yan Can Cook,† now a popular cooking show which started in the year 1982 (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). He became a celebrity indeed, winning different awards from his enthusiasm, talent, interest, and creativity as a culinary chef. He received the â€Å"James Bean Award for best television cooking show† in 1994, and two years later, he was granted an award for â€Å"best television food journalism† by the same award-giving body (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). In 1998, he won an â€Å"Emmy Award for the best cooking show† (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). In addition, he also received an award from the â€Å"Chef’s Association of the Pacific Coast† and the â€Å"Courvoisier Leadership Award† on the Antonin Award (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p.). He also sometimes appears on a cartoon talk show called â€Å"Space Ghost† which is now currently airing in the Cartoon Network show â€Å"Adult Swim† (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). He was also a part of the Singaporean movie â€Å"Rice Rhapsody† during the year 2005. He currently hosts his own show entitled â€Å"Martin Yan Quick and Easy† and can be seen sometimes as one of the judges in the popular show â€Å"Iron Chef of America† (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). Nowadays, he is also hosting â€Å"Martin Yan’s Chinatown Cooking,† a show wherein he tours different Chinatowns all over the world (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). The format of his shows encompasses the different approaches and styles in Asian cooking; he travels in different places all over the world to introduce a certain local cuisine on TV (Yan Can Cook, 2008). Aside from hosting and having different cooking shows, Martin Yan has published several cookbooks as well, wherein he introduces Chinese American culinary arts all over the world. He wrote about 25 different cookbooks, which include â€Å"Martin Yan’s Chinatown Cooking† and â€Å"Chinese Cooking for Dummies† which also won an award (â€Å"Martin Yan Biography,† 2008, n. p. ). His main objective is to represent the Asian culture and culinary arts not only in the western part of the world but around the globe as well (â€Å"Martin Yan Biography,† 2008). Martin Yan is one of the most famous guest instructors at different culinary institutions and academies mostly in the Western and Asian part of the world such as the â€Å"Wales University, California Culinary Academy, Chinese Cuisine Institute in Hong Kong, the Culinary Institute in America, University of San Francisco and the Chinese chef training programs in North America† (â€Å"Martin Yan Biography,† 2008, n. p. ). Furthermore, Martin Yan also founded his own culinary school in San Francisco California named â€Å"Yan Can International Cooking School† (Martin Yan Biography, 2008, n. p. ). Like his father, he also became a restaurateur; he opened the Yan Can Restaurant in 2002 in San Francisco bay area in California. His restaurant offers Asian menu, and it is more likely to have different branches all over the world in the years to come (â€Å"Martin Yan Biography,† 2008). Martin Yan has greatly contributed in the culinary industry. He became a culinary diplomat for the American Culinary Federation. He received a doctorate degree in culinary arts for his contribution to the food and hospitality industry. Moreover, he also received a doctorate degree in humane letters from the Colorado Institute of Art. Aside from that, he also received an exceptional recognition from his peers as a master chef. In 2001, he became an inductee of â€Å"James Beard Foundation’s DArtagnan Cervena Whos Who of Food and Beverage,† which honors food and beverage professionals for their significant and lasting achievements (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). Thus, due to his success in the culinary arts industry, he became a respected professional chef and a member of different prestigious organizations such as the â€Å"American Institute of Wine and Food, American Culinary Federation, Chinese Cuisine Research Institute, Chefs Association of the Pacific Coast, Association of Chinese Cooking Teachers, Institute of Food Technologists, International Association of Culinary Professionals, and American Authors Guild† (Yan Can Cook, 2008, n. p. ). There are vast number of chefs that people can watch on TV and different cookbooks made available for everyone, but Martin Yan has become exceptional because of the distinct Asian influence he brought in the industry of culinary arts. With all the awards and honors Martin Yan received, he is regarded as one of the top famous culinary chef all over the world. He has made a lot of worldwide remarks on the culinary arts and greatly influenced countless chefs, professionals, and people with his passion and knowledge in the art of culinary. He has shaped a lot of people to become a good chef. He teaches and passes his knowledge to other people so that he will always be reminded with his own style and contributions in the culinary world. Hence, with his cooking shows, cookbooks, and teachings that focus on the Asian culinary arts and culture, Martin Yan is continuously inspiring people to pursue their passion. References Martin Yan Biography. (2008). American Entertainment International Speakers Bureau. Retrieved December 8, 2008 from http://www. aeispeakers. com/print. php? SpeakerID=1103 Yan Can Cook. (2008). Meet the chef. Retrieved December 8, 2008 from http://yancancook. com/mybio. htm

Friday, November 15, 2019

Bobby Knight Essay -- Coach Coaching Bobby Knight Essays

Bobby Knight In the San Juan heat of 1984, coaching legend Bobby Knight became infamous for his assault on a Puerto Rican security guard over a practice time during the Olympic preliminaries (Biography 2). Headlines of one of the most famous college basketball coaches of all time haven’t come to an end since. The veteran coach from the state of Ohio has since thrown a chair across a gym floor, been video taped choking a player, and assaulted school employees and fellow students on the campus of Indiana. He has been in heated arguments with anyone from school presidents to the media after heart breaking losses. Scrutiny and controversy have followed Bobby Knight ever since he brought his disciplined style of basketball to the scene of college athletics. Love him or hate him, Bobby Knight is one of the most controversial and talked about coaches of all time. He steals the headlines and spotlight no matter where he is which leaves a fine line in public opinion. The criticism of Knight and actions were displayed very strongly by J.C. Watts in the Sporting News magazine. J.C. Watts is a well respected and known Republican Representative of the state of Oklahoma. He was an All-American college football player at the University of Oklahoma and has been around strong traditional athletic programs ever since his collegiate career (Watts 1). In his article My Turn which appeared in the January 12, 2004 edition of the Sporting News, Watts voices his opinion on Bobby Knight as an outsider looking in with strong incite. Watts, like many individuals, feel that the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the general public have seen enough antics from Bobby Knight. He believes the tirades and disruptions of coll... ...an most coaches could even dream of. The guy is a winner, competitor, disciplinarian, and most importantly a great individual. Oh, and he may just be the greatest college basketball coach of all-time! Works Cited Caldwell, Christopher. â€Å"Knight Falls.† National Review 9 Oct. 2000: 30. Ebsco Host. Academic Search Premier. Indiana University. 14 Apr 2004 . Watts, J.C. â€Å"Knight’s Act is Old, Even in a New Year.† The Sporting News 12 Jan 2004: 7. Lexis Nexis. Academic Search Premiere. 14 Apr 2004 . Outside the Lines. College Athletics. ESPN. Bristol, CN. 2001. Biography of Bobby Knight. 2000. A&E Biography., .

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Kite Runner

The kite runner: Literacy Essay A single event can shape the rest of a lifetime. Redemption is a way that makes up for the cause of the guilt. The Kite Runner  is very much a â€Å"novel of redemption. † The main character, Amir, has to find a way to redeem himself after having betrayed Hassan. Sanaubar, likewise, must find redemption. Baba resolves his past guilty by doing good deeds First, Amir redeems himself by steps into courage and rescues the son of his brother Hassan Redemption is the act of saying or being saved from sin, error or evil, which the main character Amir seems to need the most.Amir lives with the guilt he has built up over the years because of one incident from his childhood. Amir's father’s words still echo through his head  Ã¢â‚¬Å"A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything. † Pg (24). Although Amir destroyed the lives of many people, and he has had more than one opportunity to redeem himself of his guilt, he is not the selfish little boy he once was. Before Amir can go on the road to redemption, Amir must realize that he can't go back and change what he has done as a child, and he must find inner peace.Although if it was not for Amir's actions as a child, Sohrab never would have needed to be saved in the first place but by saving Sohrab, the last piece of Hassan's life, does make a difference. From the moment he chose to turn his back on Hassan, there were many chances where  Ã¢â‚¬Å"There's a way to be good again† (238). For all his wrongdoings, but he chose not to take any of these. Sohrab was his last and only chance for redemption. â€Å"I have a wife in America, a home, a career and a family†.But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things? And what Rahim Khan revealed to me changed things. Made me see how my entire life, long before the winter of 1975, dating back to when that singing Hazara w oman was still nursing me, had been a cycle of lies betrayals and secrets† (238). Amir finally became the man who stood up for himself and his sins. Throughout his childhood, Amir looked for his father's affection and he never could get it. His father had said  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I'm telling you, Rahim, there is something missing in that boy (24).Amir's father would have been proud of him at this very moment because that was all he had wanted from him. The guilt that was built over the years was finally put to rest at the safety of Sohrab. In Afghanistan when Amir stood up for Sohrab and Assef aggressively beat him up, Amir had said  Ã¢â‚¬Å"My body was broken just how badly I wouldn't find out until later but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. † (289) which showed Amir had come to terms with what he had done as a child and was finally felt relieved.Although he was getting beat up, it did not matter anymore, he just wished he had stood up to Assef years ago, and maybe he w ould have earned his redemption in that alley. Second,  In the novel Baba Seeks redemption by treating Hassan well and always remembering his birthday. Amir and Baba were planting tulips, when Amir had asked Baba if he'd ever consider getting new servants And Baba said ‘’Hassan's not going anywhere, he'd barked. He’s staying right here with us, where he belongs. This is his home and we're his family. He had wept, wept, when Ali announced he and Hassan were leaving us. † (237) Kite Runner Human beings are morally ambiguous people. We are neither purely evil nor purely good, but often a mix. And maybe that’s why many of us are attracted to literature works with morally ambiguous characters such as The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner was set in Kabul, Afghanistan, proceeds to United States during the Soviet Union invasion, and then the setting goes back to Kabul when the Taliban rises in power. In this novel, Amir, to whom the whole story of the book is centered around, is a morally ambiguous character.Amir is a Pashtun boy; he betrays his friendship with Hassan, a Hazara son of Amir’s father’s servant. Guilt haunts Amir for years even after he had left Kabul and moved to United States. Amir is a morally ambiguous character because he’s a coward, he’s selfish, he betrays his friend and lies, but he also finds courage to face what he had done wrong and finds salvation. The first part of the book The Kite Runner proves ho w Amir is not a purely good character.Amir often hangs out with the Hazara boy, Hassan and would tell Hassan that they are friends, but he still feels he’s above Hassan because Amir is Pashtun and Hazara people are considered below the Pashtun people. Amir wouldn’t hang out with Hassan when other Pashtun boys are with him, he also mocks the fact that Hassan can’t read, not considering the fact that Hassan doesn’t have the opportunity to get an education. Amir couldn’t stand Hassan’s intelligence: Amir had written a story about how a man’s tears turn into pearls when they fall into this magic cup, and the story ended with man’s wife dead in his arms on a mountain pile of pearls.When Hassan heard the story, he had enjoyed it, but he also raised a few questions that angered Amir, â€Å"Why did the man kill his wife? In fact, why did he ever have to be sad to shed tears? Couldn’t he have just smelled an onion? † (p. 3 4). Amir was angry because a mere Hazara boy who couldn’t read had taught Amir something he, an educated boy, didn’t figure out. These few examples that show how Amir is mean and arrogant are nothing compared to what he does to Hassan later on.Assef is a Pashtun boy that truly hates Hazaras and believes that Hazaras should all disappear. When Amir catches Assef raping Hassan, instead of stepping in, Amir runs away and pretends nothing had happened. When guilt started eating Amir up and he couldn’t stand facing Hassan because Hassan reminds him of his cowardly action, he pinned a crime of thievery on Hassan in order to have Hassan evicted from his house. The second part of the book shows that Amir isn’t purely evil despite what he has done.For a while, Amir’s life is filled with the guilt of not saving Hassan from the rape and it kept Amir from being completely happy, even though he found the love of his life in America and got married. Then one day , Amir’s father’s friend, Rhahim, called him to give him a chance to redeem himself. â€Å"There’s a way to be good again† (p. 226). Amir did find a way to be good again. Amir went back to Afghan to find Hassan’s son, Sohrab, to take him with Amir because Hassan and his wife had been shot to death on the street by the Taliban.Amir finds Sohrab with Assef and ends up getting into a physical fight with Assef. Amir basically lets Assef beat him up and while being beat up, Amir feels relieved. â€Å"My body was broken – just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later – but I felt healed. Healed at last† (p. 289). Amir felt that he was being healed from the guilt that has been crawling beneath his skin every single day. He had betrayed his one and only friend, Hassan, lied, and destroyed a chance where Hassan might have left to United States with him and would still be alive.Amir felt that he finally got what he deserved and h e felt much better, he had found salvation. And he had afterwards taken in Sohrab as his own son. Amir had been a coward; he had made selfish decisions and ruined Hassan’s live, but if he had been purely evil then he would not have felt guilt, nor would he have risked his life to bring back a mere Hazara’s son. But he had been filled with guilt and he had gone to find Sohrab and redeemed himself. And thus, Amir is a perfect example of a morally ambiguous character. Kite Runner In â€Å"The Kite Runner,† written by Khaled Hosseini, tells a vivid story that demonstrates the political and religious discrimination in Afghan society. Concerns about discrimination are reminded to the reader as one reads about the story of two Afghan boys. A major struggle is evident between the two groups in Afghanistan, the Pashtuns, and the Hazaras. Discrimination sets into place as we learn about the history between the two family lines. On page 9, Amir read from a book that says â€Å"Pashtuns had persecuted and oppressed the Hazaras †¦ the reason was that Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims, while Hazaras were Shi’a.This sets in the idea that the Pashtuns killed the Hazaras simply because they were not Sunni Muslims, resulting in the discrimination in society against the Hazaras. Throughout the novel, there were many scenes of discrimination such as how Hassan was never invited to Amir’s birthday parties, Assef constantly picking on Ali and Hassan as they are from a different class, and especially when Assef was raping Hassan. Assef believed that it was his right to rape Hassan because in his eyes, he was only a Hazara, an object which he can own and control.The Author Khaled Hosseini also used many literary devices to emphasize the effects of discrimination in society. This is shown on page 298 when Assef says â€Å"Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage. † This is a metaphoric device where Khaled Hosseini had Assef regard the garbage as the Hazaras. He also clearly portrayed Assef in terms of being Hitler by having the same ethnic and political views.Another technique the author used to show discrimination was on page 380 when General Taheri says â€Å"they will want to know why there is a Hazara boy living with my daughter. † This is when the General begins to question Amir’s actions. This shows that even a likeable character like the General, ha s a nastier side and that even he would show discrimination. More importantly, this depicts the common prejudice in society. Discrimination, racism, prejudice, these are themes that people tend to avoid discussing about.Discrimination is everywhere; everybody knows about it as it is happening, yet nobody says anything to stop it. This reminds me of a book I once read called â€Å"How To Kill A Mockingbird. † To sum it all up, a black man was accused of raping a white daughter, and although the man was clearly innocent, the jury ultimately decided to convict the man, because he was an African American descent. This illustrates how discrimination is like a poison gas; it is easily contagious and affects everybody in the community, clouding our judgments.In the novel, I read a passage that I found very bizarre. It was on page 27 when Amir says â€Å"the curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either†¦ but we were kids who had learned to crawl togethe r, and no history, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either. † I found this to be strange because Amir seems to be contradicting himself, making this a paradox because no amount of history, ethnicity, or society, can change the fact that Amir and Hassan practically spent all their childhood moments together, making them friends, if not, best friends.Another powerful passage in the novel was on page 169 when Baba says â€Å"we may be hardheaded and I know we’re far too proud, but, in the hour of need, believe me that there’s no one you’d rather have at your side than a Pashtun. † This perplexing reference makes me wonder if even Baba represents prejudice in civilization. This also makes me think that Baba believes you want a Pashtun at your side only if you’re a Pashtun and likewise to Hazaras. This shows the segregation and ethnic problems that constantly crawl its way up to the surface.Year after year, discrimination o nce again sets foot into society. We’ve all believed discrimination would disappear after Martin Luther King’s speech, but unmistakably, discrimination is like a spark of flame that refuses to go out. In the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini used many tactics to show that every character discriminates against others, representing society. This is evident on page 27 when Amir says â€Å"in the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara.I was Sunni, and he was a Shi’a, and nothing was going to change that. † This shows that despite the fact that Amir and Hassan are really close, social prejudice sets foot once again, demonstrating that it can even influence children. I wonder why society discriminates against other cultures. Is it because it makes them feel that their culture is superior? Or perhaps it satisfies people by seeing others in emotional pain. From this point forward, I understand that the world is filled with discrimination, which must now be stopped.People have believed that as long as there are people of different background and culture, discrimination would live on. I believe that discrimination only lives because we want it to. People are afraid of others from different cultures simply because they might not share the same customs, which scares some of us. However, if people can look past the differences disconnecting us all, then civilization would be able to coexist harmoniously with others from a different race, thus, ending this long lasting chain of discrimination. Kite Runner In â€Å"The Kite Runner,† written by Khaled Hosseini, tells a vivid story that demonstrates the political and religious discrimination in Afghan society. Concerns about discrimination are reminded to the reader as one reads about the story of two Afghan boys. A major struggle is evident between the two groups in Afghanistan, the Pashtuns, and the Hazaras. Discrimination sets into place as we learn about the history between the two family lines. On page 9, Amir read from a book that says â€Å"Pashtuns had persecuted and oppressed the Hazaras †¦ the reason was that Pashtuns were Sunni Muslims, while Hazaras were Shi’a.This sets in the idea that the Pashtuns killed the Hazaras simply because they were not Sunni Muslims, resulting in the discrimination in society against the Hazaras. Throughout the novel, there were many scenes of discrimination such as how Hassan was never invited to Amir’s birthday parties, Assef constantly picking on Ali and Hassan as they are from a different class, and especially when Assef was raping Hassan. Assef believed that it was his right to rape Hassan because in his eyes, he was only a Hazara, an object which he can own and control.The Author Khaled Hosseini also used many literary devices to emphasize the effects of discrimination in society. This is shown on page 298 when Assef says â€Å"Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage. † This is a metaphoric device where Khaled Hosseini had Assef regard the garbage as the Hazaras. He also clearly portrayed Assef in terms of being Hitler by having the same ethnic and political views.Another technique the author used to show discrimination was on page 380 when General Taheri says â€Å"they will want to know why there is a Hazara boy living with my daughter. † This is when the General begins to question Amir’s actions. This shows that even a likeable character like the General, ha s a nastier side and that even he would show discrimination. More importantly, this depicts the common prejudice in society. Discrimination, racism, prejudice, these are themes that people tend to avoid discussing about.Discrimination is everywhere; everybody knows about it as it is happening, yet nobody says anything to stop it. This reminds me of a book I once read called â€Å"How To Kill A Mockingbird. † To sum it all up, a black man was accused of raping a white daughter, and although the man was clearly innocent, the jury ultimately decided to convict the man, because he was an African American descent. This illustrates how discrimination is like a poison gas; it is easily contagious and affects everybody in the community, clouding our judgments.In the novel, I read a passage that I found very bizarre. It was on page 27 when Amir says â€Å"the curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either†¦ but we were kids who had learned to crawl togethe r, and no history, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either. † I found this to be strange because Amir seems to be contradicting himself, making this a paradox because no amount of history, ethnicity, or society, can change the fact that Amir and Hassan practically spent all their childhood moments together, making them friends, if not, best friends.Another powerful passage in the novel was on page 169 when Baba says â€Å"we may be hardheaded and I know we’re far too proud, but, in the hour of need, believe me that there’s no one you’d rather have at your side than a Pashtun. † This perplexing reference makes me wonder if even Baba represents prejudice in civilization. This also makes me think that Baba believes you want a Pashtun at your side only if you’re a Pashtun and likewise to Hazaras. This shows the segregation and ethnic problems that constantly crawl its way up to the surface.Year after year, discrimination o nce again sets foot into society. We’ve all believed discrimination would disappear after Martin Luther King’s speech, but unmistakably, discrimination is like a spark of flame that refuses to go out. In the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini used many tactics to show that every character discriminates against others, representing society. This is evident on page 27 when Amir says â€Å"in the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara.I was Sunni, and he was a Shi’a, and nothing was going to change that. † This shows that despite the fact that Amir and Hassan are really close, social prejudice sets foot once again, demonstrating that it can even influence children. I wonder why society discriminates against other cultures. Is it because it makes them feel that their culture is superior? Or perhaps it satisfies people by seeing others in emotional pain. From this point forward, I understand that the world is filled with discrimination, which must now be stopped.People have believed that as long as there are people of different background and culture, discrimination would live on. I believe that discrimination only lives because we want it to. People are afraid of others from different cultures simply because they might not share the same customs, which scares some of us. However, if people can look past the differences disconnecting us all, then civilization would be able to coexist harmoniously with others from a different race, thus, ending this long lasting chain of discrimination. Kite Runner Friendship Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbor's one-eyed German shepherd. Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldn't deny me. Hassan never denied me anything. And he was deadly with his slingshot. Hassan's father, Ali, used to catch us and get mad, or as mad as someone as gentle as Ali could ever get. He would wag his finger and wave us down from the tree. He would take the mirror and tell us what his mother had told him, that the devil shone mirrors too, shone them to distract Muslims during prayer. And he laughs while he does it,† he always added, scowling at his son. â€Å"Yes, Father,† Hassan would mumble, looking down at his feet. But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbor's dog, was always my idea. But we were kids who had learned to crawl together, and no history, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either. I spent most of the first twelve years of my life playing with Hassan.Sometimes, my entire childhood seems like one long lazy summer day with Hassan, chasing each other between tangles of trees in my father's yard, playing hide-and-seek, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, insect torture – with our crowning achievement undeniably the time we plucked the stinger off a bee and tied a string around the poor thing to yank it back every time it took flight â€Å"Think of something good,† Baba said in my ear. â€Å"Something happy. † Something good. Something happy. I let my mind wander. I let it come: Friday afternoon in Paghman.An open field of grass speckled with mulberry trees in blossom. Hassan and I stand ankle-deep in untamed grass, I am tugging on the line, the spool spinning in Hassan's calloused hands, our eyes turned up to the kite in the sky. Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don't have to say anything †“ that's how it is between people who are each other's first memories, people who have fed from the same breast. A breeze stirs the grass and Hassan lets the spool roll. The kite spins, dips, steadies. Our twin shadows dance on the rippling grass.From somewhere over the low brick wall at the other end of the field, we hear chatter and laughter and the chirping of a water fountain. And music, some thing old and familiar, I think it's Ya Mowlah on rubab strings. Someone calls our names over the wall, says it's time for tea and cake Next to me, Sohrab was breathing rapidly through his nose. The spool rolled in his palms, the tendons in his scarred wrists like rubab strings. Then I blinked and, for just a moment, the hands holding the spool were the chipped-nailed, calloused hands of a harelipped boy.I heard a crow cawing somewhere and I looked up. The park shimmered with snow so fresh, so dazzling white, it burned my eyes. It sprinkled soundlessly from the branches of white-clad tree s. I smelled turnip qurma now. Dried mulberries. Sour oranges. Sawdust and walnuts. The muffled quiet, snow-quiet, was deafening. Then far away, across the stillness, a voice calling us home, the voice of a man who dragged his right leg Quote #1Sometimes, up in those trees, I talked Hassan into firing walnuts with his slingshot at the neighbour’s one-eyed German shepherd.Hassan never wanted to, but if I asked, really asked, he wouldn't deny me. Hassan never denied me anything. And he was deadly with his slingshot. Hassan's father, Ali, used to catch us and get mad, or as mad as someone as gentle as Ali could ever get. He would wag his finger and wave us down from the tree. He would take the mirror and tell us what his mother had told him, that the devil shone mirrors too, shone them to distract Muslims during prayer. â€Å"And he laughs while he does it,† he always added, scowling at his son. â€Å"Yes, Father,† Hassan would mumble, looking down at his feet.But he never told on me. Never told that the mirror, like shooting walnuts at the neighbor's dog, was always my idea. (2. 2-3)| This passage shows up early in the novel and really tells us quite a bit about Amir and Hassan's friendship. Hassan protects and defends Amir and, foreshadowing later events in the novel, refuses to tell on Amir. (Hassan will later take the blame for the wad of cash and the watch. ) We should also note that Amir seems like the gang leader in this passage, getting the two boys into trouble. Does Amir control the relationship? Is this why Hassan often takes the blame for things?Does Amir ever take responsibility for anything in the novel? Quote #2Then he [Ali] would remind us that there was a brotherhood between people who had fled from the same breast, a kinship that not even time could break. Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His w as Amir. My name. | There's a primal closeness between Amir and Hassan. Later, we'll find out the two boys have the same father, but notice how Hosseini is laying the groundwork for that revelation.The two boys might as well be brothers: they learn to walk together, they learn to speak together, and they feed from the same breast. Which brings up an interesting question: What does Rahim Khan's revelation – that Amir and Hassan are half-brothers – really change? Aren't the two already brothers in everything? Or does â€Å"blood† fundamentally change Amir's relationship with Hassan? Quote #3Ali and Baba grew up together as childhood playmates – at least until polio crippled Ali's leg – just like Hassan and I grew up a generation later.Baba was always telling us about the mischief he and Ali used to cause, and Ali would shake his head and say, â€Å"But, Agha sahib, tell them who was the architect of the mischief and who the poor laborer? † Bab a would laugh and throw his arm around Ali. But in none of his stories did Baba ever refer to Ali as his friend. (4. 2-3)| Baba and Ali's friendship parallels Amir and Hassan's on a number of levels. First, as this passage indicates, there's a similar pattern of leadership (and power): both Baba and Amir have dominant roles in each friendship.And, lest you forget, Baba betrays Ali much like Amir betrays Hassan. As they say, two peas in a pod. Or, maybe it would be four peas in a pod. We're not sure. Anyways, after Amir learns that Baba lied to him for years, he says: â€Å"Baba and I were more alike than I'd ever known. We had both betrayed the people who would have given their lives for us† (18. 7). Four peas in a pod. Quote #4But we were kids who had learned to crawl together, and no history, ethnicity, society, or religion was going to change that either. I spent most of the first twelve years of my life playing with Hassan.Sometimes, my entire childhood seems like one lon g lazy summer day with Hassan, chasing each other between tangles of trees in my father's yard, playing hide-and-seek, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, insect torture – with our crowning achievement undeniably the time we plucked the stinger off a bee and tied a string around the poor thing to yank it back every time it took flight. (4. 6)| Amir lays out the opposing argument just prior to this paragraph. In it, he says ethnicity will always define a relationship.We believe Hosseini really wants us to grapple with Amir's contradictory stances: Does Amir's friendship with Hassan ever get past history, ethnicity, society, and religion? Later, Amir will justify his cowardice in the alleyway by asking himself if he really has to defend Hassan (since Hassan is a Hazara). Does Amir ever get past his prejudices? We're really not sure about this one. Hosseini devotes the entire novel to this question. Quote 5†³I know,† he said, breaking our embrace. â€Å"Inshallah, we'll celebrate later. Right now, I'm going to run that blue kite for you,† he said.He dropped the spool and took off running, the hem of his green chapan dragging in the snow behind him. â€Å"Hassan! † I called. â€Å"Come back with it! † He was already turning the street corner, his rubber boots kicking up snow. He stopped, turned. He cupped his hands around his mouth. â€Å"For you a thousand times over! † he said. Then he smiled his Hassan smile and disappeared around the corner. The next time I saw him smile unabashedly like that was twenty-six years later, in a faded Polaroid photograph. (7. 52-54)| Yet again, Hassan demonstrates his loyalty and devotion to Amir.If we were to judge Amir and Hassan's friendship by actions and not simply expressions of loyalty, the score would be pretty lopsided. (Of course, Amir saves Hassan's son at the end of the book from a pathological pedophile so that counts for something. ) We also want to point out the irony in Hassan's reply: â€Å"For you a thousand times over! † Amir will develop a pretty nasty case of insomnia as the guilt piles up inside him. Really, Amir returns to the alleyway thousands of times in his memory before he comes to peace with his cowardice.And so the phrase â€Å"a thousand times over† is colored with some pretty devastating irony. Yes, Hosseini is using irony again. Quote #6[Assef:] â€Å"But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for you? Have you ever wondered why he never includes you in games when he has guests? Why he only plays with you when no one else is around? I'll tell you why, Hazara. Because to him, you're nothing but an ugly pet. Something he can play with when he's bored, something he can kick when he's angry. Don't ever fool yourself and think you're something more. † Amir agha and I are friends,† Hassan said. He looked flushed. â€Å"Friends? † Assef said, laughing. â€Å"You pathetic fool! Someday you'll wake up from your little fantasy and learn just how good of a friend he is. Now, bas! Enough of this. Give us that kite. † (7. 106-108)| This is a fairly complex scene. Assef, before he assaults and rapes Hassan, asks Hassan whether he really wants to sacrifice himself for Amir. We know Amir is listening in – and watching – this exchange between Assef and Hassan. In a way, Assef's speech is not prophetic but descriptive: Amir is abandoning Hassan right now.However, we wonder if Assef's description is inaccurate. Is Assef describing his own relationship with Hazaras or Amir's with Hassan? Sure, sometimes Amir does cruel things to Hassan, but he also reads to Hassan and spends almost all his free time with Hassan. Amir may hesitate to call Hassan his friend, but perhaps that's because neither â€Å"friend† nor â€Å"servant† really describes Hassan. â€Å"Brother† might do the trick, but Amir has no idea at this p oint. Quote #7†³Think of something good,† Baba said in my ear. â€Å"Something happy. † Something good. Something happy.I let my mind wander. I let it come: Friday afternoon in Paghman. An open field of grass speckled with mulberry trees in blossom. Hassan and I stand ankle-deep in untamed grass, I am tugging on the line, the spool spinning in Hassan's calloused hands, our eyes turned up to the kite in the sky. Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don't have to say anything – that's how it is between people who are each other's first memories, people who have fed from the same breast. A breeze stirs the grass and Hassan lets the spool roll.The kite spins, dips, steadies. Our twin shadows dance on the rippling grass. From somewhere over the low brick wall at the other end of the field, we hear chatter and laughter and the chirping of a water fountain. And music, some thing old and familiar, I think it's Ya Mowlah on rubab strings. Someone calls our names over the wall, says it's time for tea and cake. (10. 73-75)| You need some context for this quote. Baba and Amir are on their way to Pakistan, but they're not traveling by taxi or bus. They're in the belly of an oil tanker along with dozens of other Afghans.Baba tells Amir to think of something â€Å"good,† something â€Å"happy. † So what does Amir think of? His childhood with Hassan. We believe this passage proves Amir's (brotherly) love for Hassan. Notice that Amir doesn't recall a special moment with Baba, or even his books or poetry. He thinks of Hassan. Quote #8Lying awake in bed that night, I thought of Soraya Taheri's sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently hooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held mine. My heart stuttered at the thought of her. (11. 104)| Soraya doesn't sound that hot here.From Hosseini's description, we picture the witch in â€Å"Sleeping Beauty†: her nose is hooked like a scythe , and her eyes are glowing in a potion-induced mania. However, we do think Soraya's sickle-shaped birthmark should remind you of someone else in the book. Give up? That's right: Hassan. (Hassan has a harelip. ) Why do you think Hosseini compare these two characters through their physical features? What else do they have in common? Quote #9When we got to Kabul, I [Rahim Khan] discovered that Hassan had no intention of moving into the house. â€Å"But all these rooms are mpty, Hassan jan. No one is going to live in them,† I said. But he would not. He said it was a matter of ihtiram, a matter of respect. He and Farzana moved their things into the hut in the backyard, where he was born. I pleaded for them to move into one of the guest bedrooms upstairs, but Hassan would hear nothing of it. â€Å"What will Amir agha think? † he said to me. â€Å"What will he think when he comes back to Kabul after the war and finds that I have assumed his place in the house? † Then, in mourning for your father, Hassan wore black for the next forty days. (16. 4-25)| You may be confused by the voice here. It's actually not Amir – Rahim Khan gets one chapter in the book. Rahim Khan recounts his trip to Hazarajat to find Hassan and bring him back to the house in Kabul. When Hassan does move back to the house with Rahim Khan, he refuses to live where Baba and Amir lived. Does Hassan's refusal suggest that Hassan is only Amir's servant and the two never achieved an equal friendship? (Side question: Does Hassan sense – on some unconscious level – Baba's true relationship to him? Is that why he mourns Baba for forty days? )Quote #10Next to me, Sohrab was breathing rapidly through his nose. The spool rolled in his palms, the tendons in his scarred wrists like rubab strings. Then I blinked and, for just a moment, the hands holding the spool were the chipped-nailed, calloused hands of a harelipped boy. I heard a crow cawing somewhere and I looked up. The park shimmered with snow so fresh, so dazzling white, it burned my eyes. It sprinkled soundlessly from the branches of white-clad trees. I smelled turnip qurma now. Dried mulberries. Sour oranges. Sawdust and walnuts. The muffled quiet, snow-quiet, was deafening.Then far away, across the stillness, a voice calling us home, the voice of a man who dragged his right leg. (25. 150)| We think this is one of the most beautiful passages in the book. Hosseini moves effortlessly between the past and present. Sohrab becomes Hassan, and the park in Fremont, California becomes a snow-quiet Kabul. The smells of Kabul mix with the smells of the New Year celebration in the park. Perhaps, at least in the space of this passage, Amir does find peace. America allowed Amir to escape his past for so many years; but, in this moment, the two homelands merge.Ali calls Amir home, and Amir doesn't seem to mind. ROAD TO AMIR'S REDEMPTION† – THE KITE RUNNER REVISION ———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€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Top of Form zainboThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Author: Zain Mehdi | Edited by: zainbo Mar 11, 2012, 12:58pm #1| The topic of the Essay is â€Å"After reading the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, do you think Amir has found redemption in things he's done. If so, please explain how† I wrote this essay based on the events that took place in the novel. Each paragraph must have a quote from the book and I've included that.I just need to see if my essay is well written, correct grammar and other little mistakes. Please and thank you. â€Å"ROAD TO AMIR'S REDEMPTION In a lifetime, everyone will face personal battles and guilt, some large and some small. Such as guilt over sneaking out, not doing homework, or telling your parents a little white lie. People find peace of mind through redeeming themselves, in other words, we do something that makes up for the cause of guilt. Khaled H osseini's novel The Kite Runner revolves around betrayal and redemption.Redemption is the act of saying or being saved from sin, error or evil, which the main character Amir seems to need the most. Amir lives with the guilt he has built up over the years because of one incident from his childhood. Amir's fathers words still echo through his head â€Å"A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything. † ? pg. 24 Although Amir destroyed the lives of many people, and he has had more than one opportunity to redeem himself of his guilt, he is not the selfish little boy he once was. How often does one stop and think, â€Å"How will this affect everyone else in my life? Amir had a chance in the alley, to put Hassan first and change the path of both their lives, but he made the decision to turn around and run because it was what he thought was best for him: â€Å"I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was goi ng to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan ? the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past ? and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran. I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me.I was afraid of getting hurt. That's what I told myself as I turned my back to the alley, to Hassan. That's what I made myself believe. I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. † ? pg. 77 Amir's selfish ways were a result of the lack of his father's affection in his life. As a young boy, he was forced to deal with his father's disinterest in him, which made him incredibly jealous of Hassan.Amir could not understand at the time, why his father adored his servant's son more than his own son. As the tension increases between Amir and Hassan, Amir can no longer stand to see Hassan everyday because of what Amir had not stopped and he could not bare seeing his father showing Hassan love and not him. Hassan and his father are forced to leave their home after Amir places his watch under Hassan's pillow and accuses him of stealing it. Hassan did not even deny the accusations because he had figured out what Amir was doing. â€Å"Hassan knew.He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time. † ? pg. 111 Even after the alleged theft of the watch, Amir's father is willing to forgive Hassan, which stunned Amir, and made him see that the love his father has for Hassan is greater than he imagined. Amir did not just ruin Hassan's life; he also ruined the lives of many people with his decisions after the incident in the alley. Baba lost a chance to watch his son, Hassan, grow up and also lost the chance to bring him to America so he could start a new life.Sohrab lost both his parents to war because they were still living in Afghanistan, lost his childhood to war, and tried to commit suicide as a result of Amir going back on his promise to keep him safe from orphanages. Soraya lost her right to the truth when Amir kept his past a secret even though she opened up to him about hers. It is one thing to destroy your own life with guilt, but it is a completely different issue when you destroy the lives of others. Before Amir can go on the road to redemption, Amir must realize that he can't go back and change what he has done as a child, and he must find inner peace.Although if it was not for Amir's actions as a child, Sohrab never would have needed to be saved in the first place but by saving Sohrab, the last piece of Hassan's life, does make a difference. From the moment he chose to turn his back on Hassan, there were many chances where â€Å"There's a way to be good again† ? pg. 238 for all his wrongdoings, but he chose not to take any of these. Sohr ab was his last and only chance for redemption. â€Å"I have a wife in America, a home, a career and a family†. But how could I pack up and go back home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?And what Rahim Khan revealed to me changed things. Made me see how my entire life, long before the winter of 1975, dating back to when that singing Hazara woman was still nursing me, had been a cycle of lies betrayals and secrets. † ? pg. 238 Amir admits that he cost Hassan a chance at a good life and that he had many opportunities to change the outcome of Hassan's life. But at this moment he realized he could lose everything he has built in America, but for the first time in his life, Amir did not care about only himself, he came to terms with what he had done, and he was ready to redeem himself at any cost.Amir finally became the man who stood up for himself and his sins. Throughout his childhood, Amir looked for his father's affection and he neve r could get it. His father had said â€Å"I'm telling you, Rahim, there is something missing in that boy. † ? pg. 24 Amir's father would have been proud of him at this very moment because that was all he had wanted from him. The guilt that was built over the years was finally put to rest at the safety of Sohrab. In Afghanistan when Amir stood up for Sohrab and Assef aggressively beat him up, Amir had said â€Å"My body was broken? ust how badly I wouldn't find out until later? but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. † ? pg. 289 which showed Amir had come to terms with what he had done as a child and was finally felt relieved. Although he was getting beat up, it did not matter anymore, he just wished he had stood up to Assef years ago, and maybe he would have earned his redemption in that alley. | | Jennyflower81Threads: – Posts: 884 Author: Jennifer Reeves 85 | Mar 11, 2012, 02:17pm #2| Such as guilt over sneaking out, not doing homework, or telling your p arents a little white lie. Not a full sentence.You could start this sentence with: â€Å"Guilt can stem from†¦ † People find peace of mind when they redeem themselves, in other words, they do something that makes up for the cause of their guilt. Amir had a chance in the alley, to put Hassan first and change the path of both their lives, but he made the decision to turn around and run because it was what he thought was best for him: I would break up this sentence into 2 sentences, because it is a bit too long, it would be easier to read if it was in 2 shorter sentences. Amir's selfish ways resulted from the lack of his father's affection in his life.At the time, Amir could not understand why his father adored his servant's son more than his own son. As the tension increases between Amir and Hassan, Amir can no longer stand to see Hassan everyday because of what Amir had not stopped and he could not bare seeing his father showing Hassan love and not him. Right here, you be gin writing in present tense, when the beginning of the essay is written in past tense, be sure to stay consistent with this, it makes your paper easier to read that way. | | zainboThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Author: Zain Mehdi | | Thank you, any more updates? | Jennyflower81Threads: – Posts: 884 Author: Jennifer Reeves 85 | Mar 11, 2012, 05:04pm #4| Amir did not just ruin Hassan's life; he also ruined the lives of many people with his decisions after the incident in the alley Can you be more specific about how exactly did he ruin Hassan's life? This is kinda vague. Another example of a life ruined is that of Soraya- you say: Soraya lost her right to the truth when Amir kept his past a secret even though she opened up to him about hers I don't know if this is her life being ruined, although she was wronged.How did this ruin her life? Clarify this. †¦ but it is a completely different problem when you destroy the lives of others. Although if it was not for Amir's actions as a chil d, Sohrab never would have needed to be saved in the first place but by saving Sohrab, the last piece of Hassan's life, does make a difference. This sentence is long and confusing, I would make it into 2 shorter sentences. Amir admits that he cost Hassan the chance at a good life and that he had many opportunities to change the outcome of Hassan's life.At this moment, he realizes he could lose everything he has built in America, but for the first time in his life, Amir did not only care about himself, he came to terms with what he had done, and he was ready to redeem himself at any cost. | | chalumeau | | ROAD TO AMIR'S REDEMPTION? â€Å"During their lifetime, most people face guilt: some appropriate some inappropriate. Redemption is a way that makes up for the cause of the guilt. In Khaled Hosseini's novel, The Kite Runner, the theme revolves around betrayal and redemption. † I looked up the word â€Å"redemption† in The Kite Runner: p. 5, â€Å"All I saw was the blu e kite. All I smelled was victory. Salvation. Redemption. If Baba was wrong and there was a God like they said in school, then He'd let me win. I didn't know what the other guy was playing for, maybe just bragging rights. † Important quote. p 231, â€Å"And from this one last chance at redemption. † What is going on here? â€Å"My body was broken? just how badly I wouldn't find out until later? but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed. † ? pg. 289 Good quote you found. Salvation is when God saves you. Redemption may be part of salvation, but redemption also has a place separate from the Divine.After doing a wrong, a person may be redeemed by performing some act, or saying something, or fighting for (or against) someone. You know how they say, â€Å"beauty is in the eye of the beholder? † Redemption is in the eye of the wronged party. It's why you hear phrases such as, â€Å"redeemed in her eyes. † You can't be redeemed without permission. Hopefu lly, the wronged party accuses the right person, and the right person knows what wrong was committed. Otherwise, you have a very confusing situation for all parties. One that cannot be redeemed. Ever. Try writing your essay again with the theme of redemption as the main focus.Try to answer these questions: 1) What wrongs were committed? Pick the best 3 wrongs he committed. You partially explained these. 2) What does Amir think about redemption? Why does he seek it? Usually a person feels badly about something, or the other party is making his life miserable enough to cause him to cry,† ___! † 3) What action or words support him receiving redemption? 4) What action or words deny him redemption? 5) At the end is he redeemed? In the eyes of the wronged party? Did the wronged party (parties) know the truth that the reader knows? Does he feel redeemed?Did he know the same truth as everyone else? For the record, I've never read The Kite Runner. I don't have a copy of the novel either. I wanted to try to help you focus and organize your essay. I've written many A-essays over the years. | | zainboThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Author: Zain Mehdi | Mar 12, 2012, 08:37pm #6| thanks, ill try to work on it| | Essay Forum / Literature Review /| Unanswered [this forum] / Featured / Similar| Bottom of Form Similar discussions: * Michigan Supplement. Kite Runner * The Kite Runner: A Marxist Perspective * The Kite Runner Thesis Statement * HELP! Kite Runner Essay on Father/Son relationship * Persuasive essay on The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini + The Devil in the White City * The redemption of Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities * Run after the kite –common app essay * UC Essay — I am a runner, track and cross-country * Developing Runner's Mindset — Common App Essay for Stanford * Morality and Responsibility essay (connection between Frankenstein and Blade runner) Random: MSW Essay on Parent Advocacy- Child Protective Services The discrimination theme in The Kite Runner helps explain? DiscriminationThe Kite Runner tackles the issue of ethnic discrimination in Afghanistan with an example of the relationship between Pashtuns and Hazaras. Baba's father sets an example for him of being kind to Hazara people, even though they are historically demeaned and persecuted. He could have easily sent Ali to an orphanage after his parents' death, but chose to raise him in his household. Baba does the same with Hassan, although this is complicated by the fact that Hassan is actually his son. Even in Baba's house, the house of best intentions, the class barrier between the Pashtuns and Hazaras endures.Ali is as dear to Baba as a brother; he calls him â€Å"family. † But Ali still lives in a hut and sleeps on a mattress on the floor. He tends the garden, cooks, and cleans up after Baba, and raises Hassan to do the same. So strong is Hassan's identity as a servant that even as an adult, when Baba is gone, he has no sense of entitlement. He insists on staying in the hut and doing housework. When Hassan dies defending Baba's house, he does so not because he feels it belongs to him, but because he is being loyal to Baba and Amir.In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, discrimination is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. On the one hand, the Taliban do not seem to care whom they are beating, torturing, or executing. Children like Sohrab and grandmothers like Sanaubar are all susceptible to the Taliban's cruelty. In this way, the Talibs discriminate against everyone but themselves. As Amir notices, Assef forces Sohrab to dance to music for his enjoyment dancing and listening to music have long been banned. Amir thinks, â€Å"I guessed music wasn't sinful as long as it played to Taliban ears. On another level, the Taliban discriminate specifically against the Hazara people. They massacre the Hazaras not only in Mazar-i-Sharif, but in the region of Hazarajat and nearly anywhere else they can find them. Assef and his fellow s do not see the Hazaras' lives as worthwhile; they barely see them as human. Assef tells Amir, â€Å"Afghanistan is like a beautiful mansion littered with garbage, and someone has to take out the garbage. † Like his idol, Hitler, he feels entitled to killing those he deems unworthy of living in his land.He even relishes the term â€Å"ethnic cleansing† because it goes so well with his garbage metaphor. Hosseini has mentioned in interviews that his focus on discrimination in The Kite Runner angers some Afghans, who feel it is inappropriate. Like Baba, many people do not mention the Hazaras' history of persecution. Perhaps these people are so uncomfortable with this topic because by having Assef appear in pre-Taliban times and emerge as a leading Talib, Hosseini shows that the Taliban's persecution of the Hazaras and other Shiites is not new, but a greatly intensified outgrowth of long-held discrimination.In The Kite Runner friendship is a recurring theme, particularly in terms of how friendship is experienced between different social classes and castes. This is explored in the relationships between Baba and Amir who are Pashtun and Ali and Hassan who are Hazara. A central issue in the novel is how friendship is experienced, understood and expressed between social unequals when they have been pushed together by circumstances (Baba’s father’s adoption of Ali meant he and Baba grew up from boyhood together, followed by Amir and Hassan sharing their entire childhoods in the same house, despite their very different status within the household. Amir constantly reflects on the question of friendship: ‘But in none of his stories did Baba ever refer to Ali as his friend. The curious thing was, I never thought of Hassan and me as friends either. Not in the usual sense anyhow†¦Because history isn’t easy to overcome. Neither is religion. In the end, I was a Pashtun and he was a Hazara, I was Sunni and he was Shi’a and n othing was ever going to change that. Nothing. ’ When questioned by Assef about his friendship with a Hazara Amir admits: â€Å"But he’s not my friend! † I almost blurted. â€Å"He’s my servant! Had I really thought that? Of course I hadn’t. I hadn’t. I treated Hassan well, just like a friend, better even, more like a brother. ’ Hassan regards Amir as his friend and shows it by his unfailing loyalty which is indicative of his awareness of the unequal power in the relationship. Amir is bothered by Hassan’s unfailing loyalty and self denial on his behalf. ‘For you a thousand times over’ is the repeated phrase expressive of this loyalty – and we note how it is this phrase which finally comes from Amir himself at the end of the novel.Hassan’s loyalty is brought out by Assef’s remarks before he assaults him: ‘Before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this: Would he do the same for yo u? †¦ to him, you’re nothing more but an ugly pet. Something he can play with when he’s bored, something he can kick when he’s angry†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Hassan then says that he and Amir are friends, a remark which is again cynically rebuffed. The retrieved kite symbolises the strength of Hassan’s loyalty; this is in sharp contrast to the cowardice and disloyalty that Amir is about to show. However, Hassan never ceases to regard Amir as his friend as his letter confirms. Kite Runner Human beings are morally ambiguous people. We are neither purely evil nor purely good, but often a mix. And maybe that’s why many of us are attracted to literature works with morally ambiguous characters such as The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner was set in Kabul, Afghanistan, proceeds to United States during the Soviet Union invasion, and then the setting goes back to Kabul when the Taliban rises in power. In this novel, Amir, to whom the whole story of the book is centered around, is a morally ambiguous character.Amir is a Pashtun boy; he betrays his friendship with Hassan, a Hazara son of Amir’s father’s servant. Guilt haunts Amir for years even after he had left Kabul and moved to United States. Amir is a morally ambiguous character because he’s a coward, he’s selfish, he betrays his friend and lies, but he also finds courage to face what he had done wrong and finds salvation. The first part of the book The Kite Runner proves ho w Amir is not a purely good character.Amir often hangs out with the Hazara boy, Hassan and would tell Hassan that they are friends, but he still feels he’s above Hassan because Amir is Pashtun and Hazara people are considered below the Pashtun people. Amir wouldn’t hang out with Hassan when other Pashtun boys are with him, he also mocks the fact that Hassan can’t read, not considering the fact that Hassan doesn’t have the opportunity to get an education. Amir couldn’t stand Hassan’s intelligence: Amir had written a story about how a man’s tears turn into pearls when they fall into this magic cup, and the story ended with man’s wife dead in his arms on a mountain pile of pearls.When Hassan heard the story, he had enjoyed it, but he also raised a few questions that angered Amir, â€Å"Why did the man kill his wife? In fact, why did he ever have to be sad to shed tears? Couldn’t he have just smelled an onion? † (p. 3 4). Amir was angry because a mere Hazara boy who couldn’t read had taught Amir something he, an educated boy, didn’t figure out. These few examples that show how Amir is mean and arrogant are nothing compared to what he does to Hassan later on.Assef is a Pashtun boy that truly hates Hazaras and believes that Hazaras should all disappear. When Amir catches Assef raping Hassan, instead of stepping in, Amir runs away and pretends nothing had happened. When guilt started eating Amir up and he couldn’t stand facing Hassan because Hassan reminds him of his cowardly action, he pinned a crime of thievery on Hassan in order to have Hassan evicted from his house. The second part of the book shows that Amir isn’t purely evil despite what he has done.For a while, Amir’s life is filled with the guilt of not saving Hassan from the rape and it kept Amir from being completely happy, even though he found the love of his life in America and got married. Then one day , Amir’s father’s friend, Rhahim, called him to give him a chance to redeem himself. â€Å"There’s a way to be good again† (p. 226). Amir did find a way to be good again. Amir went back to Afghan to find Hassan’s son, Sohrab, to take him with Amir because Hassan and his wife had been shot to death on the street by the Taliban.Amir finds Sohrab with Assef and ends up getting into a physical fight with Assef. Amir basically lets Assef beat him up and while being beat up, Amir feels relieved. â€Å"My body was broken – just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later – but I felt healed. Healed at last† (p. 289). Amir felt that he was being healed from the guilt that has been crawling beneath his skin every single day. He had betrayed his one and only friend, Hassan, lied, and destroyed a chance where Hassan might have left to United States with him and would still be alive.Amir felt that he finally got what he deserved and h e felt much better, he had found salvation. And he had afterwards taken in Sohrab as his own son. Amir had been a coward; he had made selfish decisions and ruined Hassan’s live, but if he had been purely evil then he would not have felt guilt, nor would he have risked his life to bring back a mere Hazara’s son. But he had been filled with guilt and he had gone to find Sohrab and redeemed himself. And thus, Amir is a perfect example of a morally ambiguous character.