The World Is Flat Executive Summary Essay Example for Free

The World Is Flat Executive Summary Essay The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman is best described as an expos © of the realities of the present day business world and of the effects that certain advances in technology as well as political upheavals have had on capitalism during the past three decades. The flattening of the world is a metaphor used to describe an increasing interconnectivity among the citizens of the world. This increase in interconnectivity is ascribed to several events such as the fall of the Berlin wall, and most prominently, the advent of the internet. The point is stressed that for companies to survive in todays environment, they must keep pace with the constant advances in technology that are making previous ways of doing business no longer competitive. It is also noted that it is becoming less important that a company be subservient to a particular nation state. Outsourcing to countries where labour is cheaper such as India, will save companies money, establish business practices in foreign countries, and, ironically, produce better results. As a result we are left with he same capitalism as before, but Just a different (and ever changing), and much wider playing field. Its shocking to learn how backward the United States of America has become. To think that the country responsible for setting the pace of modern day capitalism has been able to educate its population so poorly is a troubling reflection of our value system. To quote the text, In China today, Bill Gates is Britney Spears. In America today, Britney Spears is Britney Spears and that is our problem. America is no longer motivated. Our youth have become lazy underachievers who will certainly be left at the bottom of the food chain where the upper rungs will be occupied by todays hardest workers who come from todays poorest countries. That is of course unless Americans have a drastic change in mentality. Unfortunately, I believe what will happen is that as a nation we will end up underpaid (or simply paid what we are worth) or unemployed. Essentially, being Ame rican is no longer a valuable thing. We are becoming worthless. As a nation we are apathetic to issues that are most mportant to the survival of our country; instead, we would prefer to focus our energies on fguring out how much pot Lindsey Lohan smokes and whether such and such a celebrity beats his wife or not. It is because of this media induced epidemic that I foresee an increasingly slimmer portion of the US population benefiting from globalization. The rest I see as being indefinitely underpaid if paid at all. The most important lesson to take away from this book is the importance of hard work. Also, it is very important to realize how to benefit, in business, from this hanging world and to adapt as quickly as possible to its parameters. It is those who are best equipped to adapt that will be able to stay afloat financially. The importance of networking also cannot be overlooked. Not only is networking in general going to be more and more important; with whom you network, and how you communicate with each other could make the difference between a successful business and a failure. Those who plan to adapt the best must establish vast and purposeful networks. Furthermore, in business we have to continue think globally, and we have o think about long term benefits. In America we have trouble thinking beyond the snort term. ts probably not uncommon to tind a businessman trom the other side of the world whose long term goals include the prosperity of generations underneath him, In America people increasingly dont even have their own prosperity in mind. So not only is it time to take into consideration our own prosperity, but it is also time to ensure that the generations that succeed us will also have the ability to prosper. Eric Snoddy

Origin and Fate of the Empire of Mali :: World History

Origin and Fate of the Empire of Mali Introduction In its peak, the people of Mali occupied land as far west as the Atlantic Ocean. They also traveled as far east as Gao, the capital of the Songhai, as far south as the Niger bend, and as far north as the Sahara desert. They built a great empire between 1240 and 1337 that underwent a course of slow decline until the seventeenth century. History The empire of Mali originated from a small country known as Kangaba. Its people where known as the Mandingo (they have also been called the Malinke and the Mandinka). After the breakup of Ghana, the Sosso, who had caused the breakup, were still in power. Apparently Sundiata, an heir to the Mandingo throne raised an army and defeated the Sosso in the battle of Kirina. Afterward, Sundiata established the empire of Mali. He converted to Islam for support of the Muslim peoples. When Mansa Musa came into power, in the early 1300s, the empire reached its height. Mansa Musa traveled through Cairo on his pilgrimage to Mecca. It is said that he gave away so much gold that it dropped in value in Cairo for 12 years. Afterward the empire slowly declined, until, in the 1600s it was no more than it had been originally when it originated: the small kingdom of Kangaba. Government The government of Mali was a dictatorship. The dictator, who had the title of Mansa, was the sole secular and religious leader of his people, though not he did not enjoy the same power as Egyptian Pharaohs did. The base of government was located in the capital, known as Niani. It was once written by a traveler that a person could travel safely without fear of harm, and that the people of Mali hated injustice and the Mansa did not tolerate injustice at all. The military branch of government was constant. There was a standing army of professional soldiers, so that Mali was ready for a battle without having to raise an army every time. Religion The religion in Mali was divided between two groups. The merchants, traders, and government officials, including the Mansa, were Islam, though, apparently, they did not adhere to it very well. Women were allowed freedom and even the Mansa still believed in the "spirit of the land." The basic peasant farmer believed in a "spirit of the land" to whom he prayed so that

Justice In “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee Essay

â€Å"†¦in this country our courts are the great levellers, and in our courts all men are created equal.† Describe and explain how justice and injustice are represented through events and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. Justice, what is right and fair by all of society’s standards and morals, is represented, along with injustice, through events and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. â€Å"†¦in this country our courts are the great levellers, and in our courts all men are created equal.† (Atticus, pg227). One type of justice is the legal kind, the kind in our courts, where men are found guilty or innocent. The other is any right or just act. â€Å"The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.† (Atticus, pg116). In To Kill a Mockingbird these justices and injustices are represented through Atticus, Tom Robinson, Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley, and through the prejudices of people. In To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch represents the epitome of justice, through his belief in equality. He has a great belief in the legal system, and a belief that it will be fair and equal to all. â€Å"Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levellers, and in our courts all men are created equal. ‘I’m no idealist to believe in the integrity of our courts and in the jury system – that is no ideal to me, it is a living, working reality.† (Atticus, pgs 226-227). Atticus Finch, a lawyer by profession, has a deep rooted belief that the court system will be just and fair, as that is what it stands for. Atticus is also just in that he is not prejudice; he does not think himself above another man based on skin colour. â€Å"‘The handful of people in this town who say that fair play is not marked White Only; the handful of people who say a fair trial is for everyone, not just us; the handful of people with enough humility to think, when they look at a negro, there but for the Lord’s kindness am I.'† (Miss Maudie, pg261). Miss Maudie shared the same beliefs as Atticus, the belief that everyone is equal. Through Atticus there is also an injustice shown, not in how he treats others, but by how he is treated. â€Å"‘Mr Cunningham is basically a good man,’ he [Atticus] said, ‘he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.’ Jem spoke. ‘Don’t call that a blind spot. He’da killed you last night when he first went there.'†Ã‚  (pg173). Because of his belief that Tom Robinson deserved a fair trial, he was a target for anger, which is an instance of injustice. Atticus shows that treating everyone equally is the right thing to do, and that is justice. On the other hand, Tom Robinson is a perfect example of injustice. He had a good character, and was a kind-hearted person who got accused, and convicted, of rape because of the basis that he was black. He tried to help Mayella Ewell, but was looked down upon because of this. â€Å"‘Yes suh. I felt sorry for her, she seemed to try more’n the rest of ’em -‘ ‘You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?’ Mr Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling.† (pg218). It was unheard of in the 1930’s white society that this book was set in to have a black man feel sorry for a white woman, and this added to the reason why Tom got convicted. â€Å"‘Given,’ said Atticus. ‘Tom Robinson’s a coloured man, Jem. No jury in this part of the world’s going to say, â€Å"We think you’re guilty, but not very,† on a charge like that. It was either straight acquittal or nothing.'† (pg242). Tom was found guilty on the sole account of him being black. As a result of this conviction, Tom gave up hope and lost all reason to live. â€Å"Atticus leaned against the refrigerator, pushed up his glasses, and rubbed his eyes. ‘We had such a good chance,’ he said. ‘I told him what I thought, but I couldn’t in truth say that we had more than a good chance. I guess Tom was tired of white men’s chances and preferred to take his own.'† (pg260). Tom couldn’t live with being found guilty of a crime he was innocent of solely based on the fact that he was black, so he decided to try escaping, ultimately resulting in his death. That is one of the greatest injustices shown in To Kill a Mockingbird. Prejudice, a main theme of To Kill a Mockingbird, is another representation of injustice in the novel. Racism is the most obvious type of prejudice, and this is shown through the trial and the outcome of it. â€Å"Well, coming out of the court-house that night Miss Gates was – she was goin’ down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her – she was talking to Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say that it’s time somebody taught ’em a lesson, they were getting way above themselves, an’ the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home – ?† (Scout, pg272). In the 1930’s, being  racist was seen as normal. Atticus, for example, was seen as unusual because he thought that whites weren’t above blacks. â€Å"‘Cry about the simple hell people give other people – without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give coloured folks, without even stopping to think that they’re people too.'† (Dolphus Raymond, pg222). The prejudice of racism is shown throughout the book, and because of Atticus’ views, Scout begins to see it as unfair and unjust. Another type of prejudice that is briefly touched upon is that of sexual discrimination. â€Å"For one thing, Miss Maudie can’t serve on a jury because she’s a woman.’ ‘You mean women in Alabama can’t – ?’ I was indignant.† (Atticus and Scout, pg244). Like racism, sexual discrimination is seen as common practice. The third type of prejudice is the most basic kind, the kind where one has formed an opinion of something or someone before knowing all the facts, such as what happened with Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley. â€Å"Inside the house lived a malevolent phantom. People said he existed but Jem and I had never seen him. People said he went out at night and when the moon was high, and peeped in windows.† (pg9). Jem and Scout had a preconceived idea of what Arthur was like because of what they had heard from other people, but they had never themselves met, or even seen him. The way in which he was seen was unjust; most people would not have accepted him because of their preconceptions. In the end, however, Scout and Jem realise what kind of person Arthur really is. â€Å"Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough.† (pg308). Whether or not Arthur getting away with killing Bob Ewell is justice or not is a debatable one. On one hand, Boo was protecting the children, so it was a right deed. â€Å"‘I never heard tell that’s against the law for a citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did,†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Heck Tate, pg 304). Arthur is also a solitary creature, so if the fact that he killed Bob Ewell came into light, he would be in the limelight. â€Å"To my way of thinkin’, Mr Finch, taking the one man [Arthur] who’s done you and this town a great service an’ dragging him with his shy ways into the limelight – to me, that’s a sin. It’s a sin and I’m not about  to have it on my head. If it were any other man it’d be different. But not this man, Mr Finch.'† (Heck Tate, pg 304). Even Scout seems to understand Heck Tate’s arguments. â€Å"‘Well, it’d be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?'† (Scout, pg304). On the other hand, Boo did kill a man, and according to the law he committed murder, even if it was in self-defence. â€Å"†¦it’s my duty to tell the town all about it and not hush it up.† (Heck Tate, pg304). In either case, the murder of Bob Ewell, and Arthur Radley being let off for it, is an example of justice, whether it is for the good of justice, or for injustice’s sake. Throughout To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus, Tom Robinson, his trial and subsequent death, the treatment of Arthur Radley and Bob Ewell’s death, and the prejudice of people, whether it be racial, sexual, or a misconception show the issues of justice, injustice, and how they are represented throughout the novel.

Analysis Of Gabriel Garcia Marquez s Life - 980 Words

Christina Sierra Brown Adv. Lit December 16, 2016 Gabriel Garcia Marquez Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a Colombian author and journalist. He was born in 1927 and died in 2014. Marquez grew up being the oldest of 12 siblings and lived with his grandparents so constantly heard different stories which inspired him to write. He went to school to pursue a career in law but began to write. His first story was published when he was in college. Gabriel has written novels, short stories, novellas, and films. International Prize for he also received the Neustadt Literature and the Nobel Prize in Literature. Gabriel Garcia Marquez grandparents were mentors to him during his career had the most influence in his writing. They were very implacable by encouraging him to continue his writing. This history of their forbidden love was one of the wonders of my youth† talking about his grandparents and parents. He uses different conflicts and cultural experiences in different countries to inspire his writing. The Garcia Marquez family relates a lot t o the different families in these short stories because of all the different traits his family has. His father s last name is Garcia and his Mother s last name is Marquez using both last names are spanish customs and his grandfather was a veteran of the War of 1000 days. The family constantly moved all over Colombia, the moves themselves were arduous but somehow together they got through them all. Being part migrant family takes a lot ofShow MoreRelatedChronicle Of A Death Foretold By Garcia Marquez1134 Words   |  5 PagesRealism through Setting in Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold Question: How far does setting serve to reinforce or emphasize meanings or themes within Chronicle of a Death Foretold? 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