NR

HERE LIES P/NR The alarming rate at which the semester flew by shocked me, and I had to sit down and recap: August holds sad memories, saying goodbye, and the heady ecstasy of MIT materializing out of an abstract dream into a dome-shaped reality in the smoldering heat of the summer. September holds my traumatic adjustment phase. Determination to push myself further than ever before, in the form of taking five classes in my first semester, to ‘hit the ground running.’ The painful struggle to get through the coursework, the realization that I had to drop a class, and the good sense to drop the right one. The feeling of failure that comes when you’re used to being an over-achiever, and MIT becomes the first place you can’t get exactly what you want. October? I have no idea what happened in October. That’s how fast it went. November. I looked up from my p-sets, exams and papers to realise that I actually had a life now. I had somehow found my niche and was growing more comfortable in it daily. I wasn’t just barely hanging on anymore. I also realized that it was REALLY COLD. Like, -5 °C cold. The sun now set at half past four. The world as I knew it was no longer the same. My body shut down four hours after sunset, as it was previously conditioned to when the sun set at 7 and I went to bed at 11. Only this time, at eight o’clock, I still had a ton of things to do and I couldn’t just afford to go to bed. Coffee became my new best friend. Around mid-November, I was waiting to cross Mass Ave when these funny-looking fluffy crystals landed on my jumper. I looked up in confusion to see the heavens glowing white and panicked a little just because I thought this was the end, the sky was falling in, and next would come Angel Gabriel’s horn. Then it hit me. Snow! I was so excited I made my roommate stay up with me past midnight trying (and failing) to build a snowman. I’m sorry, but where I come from, the closest you get to snow is shredded ice in the freezer. It made all the cold worth it. Snowscape between Building 6 and 18 If I could write a book on Freshman Fall, it would probably be called Adjustment is a Process. The subtitle would be Give Yourself Time. The first chapter would be Take It Easy. It really doesn’t matter if other people take six classes or test out of four of the six GIRs. This semester, I took Single Variable Calculus, Classical Mechanics, a writing class and Terrascope. All those are basic entry-level classes, and only two are technical heavy-workload classes. I had started off with an economics class in addition to everything else, and it was too much for me to handle because I had a really weak background in calculus. For other freshmen who were already good at calculus, the Economics class worked out really well. Does it matter that I didn’t do that class this semester? No, because I have seven more chances to take (and pass) it, the only difference being that I can’t do it on P/NR. I should talk about my writing class, because it was the best class I took this semester. Sometime in June, while in the heat of preparations of coming to school, I had to take a Freshman Essay Evaluation, which is meant to test writing and communication skills for prefrosh. I didn’t do too well and had to take a CI-HW which is a writing-intensive class. I went about choosing a CI-HW in an arbitrarily random way and ended up in one Reading and Writing Autobiographies class. It turned out to be  more of a critical thinking and analysis class where we used texts as references to discuss mostly social issues, sometimes scientific, sometimes philosophical. It was a small class, with fifteen students, and we had a small classroom, so we always ended up seated in a circle or similar parabolic shape which felt kind of warm and welcoming. At the risk of sounding partial, I will also mention that we had a fantastic professor who occasionally brought us fruit and dessert. I hear Elie Wiesel’s Night is a ninth-grade reading piece, but I had no idea this book even existed before we did close reading on it. In groups, we came up with arguments about several issues in the book; religion, family relationships, anything you felt could raise debate and had a point to be made out of. We were practicing coming up with evolved theses; where you don’t necessarily end up with the same argument you began with, but modify it to accommodate complicating evidence and evidence from other sources. It shook me that I hadn’t taken time before to learn about the Holocaust in all its gory detail- all I knew was that it was a war between the Germans and Jews that happened long ago, and was one of the worst forms of human abuse in the history of mankind. Its gravity was totally lost on me, until I read this book, and began getting an idea of what hate crimes were. We analyzed Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings a powerful, poignant book, packed with bittersweet emotion. In more cases than I’d like to admit, I had to take some minutes to regain composure before moving on with my reading. Darkness Visible by William Styron was an enlightening piece we read as a Thanksgiving break assignment. Back home, depression and mental health is not something people talk openly about. I’m not even sure it’s something that’s talked about at all. The excerpt we read from Darkness Visible shed so much light on exactly why it’s important to know about depression, and how to live with or around people with mental health disorders. The author, William Styron, battled with depression himself, and came very, very close to taking his own life while in the throes of the illness. He later made a full recovery and committed his efforts into debunking the mystery of mental illness. His journey was a rough one, and he is very systematic about breaking down the stages of his illness and speculating on what triggered his depression, though he issues a warning against trying to categorize it’s causes, terming the disorder a mystery both to the onlookers and the affected. Walden by Henry Thoreau was a triggering piece that’s slightly cynical but very contemplative. Thoreau starts by insulting his readers blatantly, criticizing their lifestyles that are spent chasing after wealth and implying that his seniors have nothing of value to add to young people. It’s a deeply philosophical book, and we took some time discussing Thoreau’s theories on the vanity of wealth, and the relevance of the influence of older generations on younger ones. We touched on excerpts from Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time and Salman Rushdie’s The First Blackbird. Another main takeaway from this semester would be the importance of being impulsive. Just do it! I spontaneously decided to audition for an acapella group- Crossproducts- which turned out to be an amazing decision. I tried out for admission blogging, and I love it. I tried out an interesting-sounding writing class and it ended up being one of the most worthwhile experiences of the semester. Sometimes things worked out really well, and other times I ended up in a class that was way over my current capabilities. Either way, it made for an exciting ride. Ironically, in spite of getting so busy, I read more books this semester than I did over the entirety of my gap year when I literally had nothing to do. In addition to my class readings, I managed to get through Michelle Obama’s Becoming,  Gabrielle Union’s We’re Going To Need More Wine,  and Dan Lyons Disrupted.  Becoming is honestly the most relatable book I’ve ever read, and I highly recommend it. Thanks, Michelle Obama, for releasing this the same semester I’m taking an autobiography class, because it was basically fodder for my term paper. Gabrielle Union’s is a lot more educative in the feminine side of things, if you get what I mean. Both these writers are women I greatly look up to in every aspect of their lives and reading their books is like stepping out of the haze of classes and exams and taking time to look at the bigger picture, why we’re doing what we’re doing. It’s a breath of fresh air. Robert Vunabandi 20 thinks so, too. To make time for books, I u ninstalled Instagram and Facebook- a good idea, except for the fact that I missed out on a lot of memes, and that I regret. The future doesnt look too bleak, especially because Class of 22 still get to take 3 GIRs on P/NR after Freshman Fall thanks to The Bold Experiment. So long, P/NR Paradise. You shall be missed. Boston sunset as captured by my sketchy phone camera Post Tagged ##freshmanfall

Social Justice Towards Music Education - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 545 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/04/05 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Social Justice Essay Did you like this example? Community works towards these ideals to better represent and provide a quality music education to all students. The first goal is to provide free and equal music education for all students (Bates, 2012). This includes access to high-quality instruments, private instruction from highly qualified teachers, free uniforms, funds for program-related trips, and transportation (Bates, 2012). Teachers need to revisit traditional music program structure to allow for beginning level instrumental and choral classes at multiple grade levels (Hoffman, 2013). Building relationships with music community members who can offer tutoring (during school) can enable more students to take private lessons (Hoffman, 2013). Teachers can downplay/eliminate types of competition often ingrained in music programs (seating, solos, solo/ensemble festivals) (Bates, 2012). Teachers need to take a critical look at the value of some of these practices. It is certainly important to keep what is valuable, but address it in a way that adds enrichment, not competition, and make sure any opportunities offered are equally accessible. Large-ensemble competitions and regional ensembles draw often unfair comparisons between schools and students (Bates, 2012). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Social Justice Towards Music Education" essay for you Create order A greater focus on more popular and less-expensive instruments can be beneficial as well (Bates, 2012). Orchestra is so much less expensive than band, yet orchestra programs almost always get cut before band programs, because band is such an American institution. Guitar, composition and popular music classes are other non-general music alternatives. These should be geared toward all students and not create a new form of tracking for students excluded from other ensembles (Hoffman, 2013). Teachers need to understand and respect each students cultural background (Bates, 2012). Social class is a form of cultural diversity and we shouldnt put deficit labels on students who come from different social/cultural backgrounds than our own (Bates, 2012). Teachers can acknowledge, attempt to understand, show appreciation for diverse musical preferences, and examine their own bias (Bates, 2012). Students can explore historical and social contexts and develop performance skills in their preferred music (Bates, 2012). In this way, all students gain access to diverse preferences and practices. Teachers need to understand what support students will need to be successful and continue to be involved in the music program (Hoffman, 2013). Teachers should recognize the social forces that perpetuate poverty (Bates, 2012). We must examine the ways structural and procedural decisions about classroom music may influence curricular and co-curricular musical opportunities for students from low-income homes. Intersections between SES and music education (Hoffman, 2013). Bias are perpetuated by beliefs that low-income students are lazy, socially deviant or intellectually inferior (Bates, 2012). Many songs in music curriculum address struggles of low-income and working classes (Bates, 2012). Need to actually critically examine these songs with students though. Being able to question requires having the knowledge or the access to knowledge of the way things are and the ability to develop ideas for creating change. Teachers and students need to develop the ability to enact change. The issues that Stevenson raises in Just Mercy stem from issues prevalent in American public education, as explained in Research Studies. These problems are just as relevant in music education as they are in other education programs. We cannot champion the arts as enabling creativity and music as the universal language unless these programs are observed with a critical lens. Doing so is vital to serving our community and saving the world as Bernstein called for.

The Impact Of Cell Phones On Health - 1551 Words

The Impact of Cell Phones on Health The invention of the cell phone and newer â€Å"smart† technology has brought about many positive uses and entertainment. But there are many downsides that aren’t as obvious. Cell phones, no matter how useful, still pose many hazards to our health such as: distracting us from other tasks and affecting our bodies. The everyday use of cell phones has many negative effects on individuals and society. Cell phones affect people in many physical ways. There have been many studies dedicated to finding if the use of cellphones can lead to cancer. This concept has been proved and disproved through the years as technology has improved and our understanding of the radio waves and what they do becomes clear. Recent studies have found that there may actually be a connection. â€Å"Yakymenko’s meta-study reveals many findings of previous researchers into how radiofrequency from your phone can damage DNA†( Engel).†Radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones is concentrated to the tissue closest to the handset, which includes the auditory nerve. If this type of exposure increases tumor risk, acoustic neuroma would be a potential concern.†( Stefan). Children are at higher risk because their brains are developing and are more sensitive to those frequencies. There have also been studies that show a correlation between cell phones and infertility in adults. A study in April of 2015 showed a significant decrease in sperm activity and mobility when exposed toShow MoreRelatedThe Impact of Cell Phone Radiation on Our Health3234 Words   |  13 Pages Cell phones represent a type of technology that has been around for more than over fifty years; it has only been recently that many people began to use cell phones as a major part of their everyday life. In the past cell phones were for business people to conduct their business, but in today’s society every one owns a cell phone. Cell phones are interesting, useful and also play a major role in our life’s bringing people closer and keeping in touch with one another. Most people do not know and understandRead MoreCell Phones Vs. Society1251 Words   |  6 PagesCell Phones Vs. Society: Have you ever seen a car accident caused by texting and driving? Have you ever had a conversation with someone where they pulled out their phone and completely disconnected? If so, you have felt a few of the many negative effects cell phones have on society. Today, technology is constantly evolving, taking new forms, updating, and finding its way into more and more of users lives. Most people are comfortable with this, especially the youth of today, as they have been aroundRead MoreImportance Of Cell Phone Safety Essay1056 Words   |  5 PagesThe cell phone safety In spite of the fact that cell phones convey a few expediency and advantages to our lives, they additionally have some possibly unsafe impacts. Disclosure of cell phones has been one of the critical technological progress lately. A portion of these effects has contributed emphatically to our lives, yet at the same time, others have affected contrarily. The cell phones have had a noticeable effect on the social life of individuals. In any case, cell phones have accompaniedRead MoreCell Phone Use A Social Addiction939 Words   |  4 PagesToday’s society is a generation that is being raised on conveniences, and with this generation, cell phone use has exploded. Millions of people are obsessed with their cell phones and literally will not leave their house without it. People center everything they do around their cell phone. People are checking their text messages and social media day and night. They face time, tweet, Pinterest, Instagram, and Snapchat. Teens on their smartphones. Photo Credit Highwaystarz-Photography/iStock/GettyRead Morecell phones: how have they changed us socially927 Words   |  4 Pages Cell phones: How Have They Changed Us Socially? Introduction Thesis Statement: Cell phones have socially changed our lifestyle and have greatly influenced our lives. Alternatively referred to as a cell, cellular, and cellular phone, a cell phone, which is also sometimes abbreviated as â€Å"cp† is a mobile phone or portable phone that enables a user to communicate almost anywhere in the world. The cell phone was invented by Dr. Martin Cooper who led a team of developers at Motorola and madeRead MoreThe Increasing Rate Of Mobile Phones1080 Words   |  5 Pagesincreasing rate of mobile phone use can be detrimental and can cause many health related issues among adolescents. According to WebMD (2016), children and kids spend more than seven hours a day on their phones, which is nearly fifty hours per week. Nowadays, many children and kids are exposed to cell phones as being part of their daily lives: texting, calling, using them as alarm clocks, listening to music, watching videos, playing games etc. The radioactive waves exposed from cell phones poses many potentialRead MoreEssay The Emotional Impact of Cell Phones on Teens789 Words   |  4 Pages People have cell phones everywhere, especially teenagers. Teenagers are glued to their cell phones; they need cell phones almost everywhere they go. Today teens are depending on their phones for everything. The number of cell phones users has increased and as of 2010, there were more than 303 million subscribers in the U.S., according to the cellular companies (Hanna). As a result of teenagers over using cell phones, teens are being impacted emotionally, socially, and physically. One wayRead MoreCell Phone As The Main Tool Of Communication1040 Words   |  5 Pagesincreasingly. Mobile phone as the main tool of communication comes into people s daily life. With the development of science and technology, cell phones provide people an easy, and fast way of communication. The cell phone is easy carry, and it helps people keep in touch with others. This is a reason why most people choose the cell phone as their main tool of communication. People rely on their phones. Cell phone has almost become an indispensable part of life. Mobile phones help people contact othersRead MoreGrowing Technology1448 Words   |  6 PagesJonathan Rowe’s essay, â€Å"Reach Out and Annoy Someone,† he illustrates his frustration with the new technology better known as a cell phone. He focuses on the negative impact cell phones have on people’s lives and how addicting it is. Cell phones have advanced so much to the point where it is giving a new life to society itse lf. Technology can leave both a positive and negative impact on the American families and society in general. To begin, current technology can increase a family’s communicationRead MoreImpact Of Cell Phones On Society1509 Words   |  7 PagesImpacts of Cellphones use in Society Advancements in technology have resulted in the invention of devices and machines that increase the efficiency and quality of life. Notably, the design of the cellphone and the internet highlights the latest technology that captivates both young and old. Mobile phones have become an integral part of our society. Primarily, the development of cellphones which combine different sophisticated features has made the device one of the necessities of life. So far, statistics

Resourcing Essay Free Essays

Introduction Hiring a customer care manager Human Resource Planning involves systematic forecasting organisational future demand and supply of human resources and development of an effective approach for ensuring the employees skills are utilized with reference to the organisational strategic objectives (Evans, 2001). Therefore, this is the avenue through which an organisation identifies its current and future needs in terms of human resources. Since the customer service manager is an employee of an organisation, this is the best approach that can be used in selecting an individual for that position. We will write a custom essay sample on Resourcing Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The fact that this approach is based on current and future prospects; it is the best avenue of ensuring the needs of an organisation are met in the current as well as future business environment (Conaty Ram, 2011). Since the current strategies of organisations are customer focused, selecting a customer service manager that will provide an effective link between the organisation’s present and future business aspects will help in sustaining competitiveness of an organisation. Hence, the use of human resource planning in the process of selecting a new customer service manager will ensure that the selected individual has skills and capabilities of meeting the current and future organisation’s strategies that relate to customer management. Several approaches are necessary in the process of selecting the best individual for such a job. First of all, the use of job analysis is one of the ways that a human resource manager can ensure an individual selected for a certain job is suitable. It involves the collection of information about the work environment, outcomes, necessary skills, responsibilities, and duties of a specific job (Evans, 2001). This is an important step in developing background information used for deciding on the qualities that should be searched for in an employee. Job analysis is divided into five stages that can be very effective in the identification of the requirements of a customer care manager. The initial stage is the planning stage, which enables effective setting of objectives of the job analysis. In this case, it will be used in recruitment of a human resource manager. This is then followed by preparation and introduction phase, which involves the identification of the job under review. The third phase is the actual process of job analysis. It is initiated once the preparatory stages are c ompleted. At the end of the job analysis, the fourth stage, which involves the development of a job description and specifications, is initiated. The final stage involves the periodic maintenance and updates of the job description and specifications environment, outcomes, necessary skills, responsibilities, and duties of a specific job (Evans, 2001). This is very essential in this case since the current customer care manager is yet to retire and changes to the job specifications may take place before a replacement is made. Furthermore, once job analysis comes to an end, the process of searching for a candidate for a job opening is initiated. It involves various approaches that are selected based on their effectiveness. In this incident, the use of internal and external advertising is the best approach of selecting passive candidates for the post. Advertising has been selected as the most appropriate approach in identification of candidates for the named job due to its wide applicability and accessibility (Evans, 2001). Internal communication channels such as notice boards and internal emails provide a cost effective way of ensuring all the employees of an organisation are aware of the job opening. Externally, advertisements can be done on numerous platforms such as the company’s website, newspapers, TV and many other online platforms. Advertising will enable the organisation to access a huge number of participants so as to have a multitude of participants who have varied expertise. This is impor tant in the process of selecting the best person that meets the job specifications and descriptions. Once a customer service manager has been selected, proper induction and retention strategies must be initiated to ensure the employee lasts long in the organisation and meets the organisation’s expectation. Induction allows an organisation to define its expectations clearly as far as the roles of a customer service manager are concerned (Evans, 2001). As much as effective induction serves as one of the major employee retention strategies, other strategies include a sense of involvement, recognition, setting out performance expectations, developing performance feedback and application of good leadership practices by the top management (Evans, 2001). This will ensure that the selected individual knows that what he/she is doing is correct and is appreciated by the organisation; a vital tool for employee motivation and hence retention. Moreover, the process of selecting a successful candidate for a job in an organisation is normally affected by external environmental factors. This company is located in the UAE and, consequently, the political and economic environment of UAE will directly influence the process of selecting a successful candidate for the named job. For instance, the UAE is currently undergoing Emiratization, which has increased the government pressure for organisations to select Emiratis as preferred candidates in meaningful organisational positions (UAEInteract, 2013). On the other hand, the UAE has one of the largest expatriate populations globally who are well skilled and capable of handling such challenging positions. Though the government offers the locals a competitive advantage for such lucrative positions, it is quite challenging to select an individual in such a competitive job market. Furthermore, the success of an employee in an organisation is based on long-term investment on the employe e by the organisation. The current labour laws in the UAE are very dynamic and are undergoing changes that may affect sustainability of an employee in an organisation especially in cases where a non-UAE national is to fill the post (UAEInteract, 2013). Such a case may result to short-lived career of an employee in the organisation thus destabilizing the performance of an organisation in such an important sector. Consequently, the process of selecting a candidate should not only focus on the experience and skills of the employee, but also future prospects with regard to labour laws and policies. In conclusion, the competitiveness of an organisation is founded on selecting a human capital that can effectively meet the strategies and objectives of an organisation and employing strategies that will ensure the lowest rate of employee turnover as it is very costly for an organisation to change its workforce periodically (Merkel, 2010). The above process has identified the main areas of concern that should I will focus on when selecting a suitable and sustainable customer service manager for an organization. It is evident that not only skills and competencies are assessed in selecting an individual, but also a country’s labour laws and policies. Accordingly, when selecting a suitable candidate who will drive an organisation’s future successes, the above selection procedures should be followed coupled with effective induction and retention strategies. References Evans, A., 2001. Staff recruitment and retention: strategies for effective action – Review, Oxford, UK: Chandos Publishing. UAEInteract, 2013. Social Development – Employment: UAE, Retrieved from http://www.uaeinteract.com/news/default3.aspID=39 Merkle, J. 2010. Management and Ideology. California. University of California Press. Conaty, B Ram C. 2011. The Talent Masters: Why Smart Leaders Put People before Numbers. London. Crown Publishing Group. How to cite Resourcing Essay, Essay examples

Kuwaits Opposition and the Freedom of Expression

Table of Contents Introduction Relevant Theory Literature Review Facts Backgrounding the Case The Outcome of Issue and Effect of Statute Conclusion References Introduction In many countries around the world, there have been attempts to champion for the freedom of expression. According to Kai (2007), countries in the West have achieved this freedom in accordance with the international standards. However, other countries are still struggling to achieve this freedom.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Kuwait’s Opposition and the Freedom of Expression specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In Kuwait, opposition leaders have criticized the government for what they term as close control of the public and private press. The state-run media companies are keen on pushing the agenda of the government while the private media are too afraid to act as a watchdog. Under the old media laws, censorship against media s tations seen to criticize the government was very common. However, the new media laws have granted the media more power. Social media has become an integral part of media due to the progress made in the telecommunication sector. In Kuwait, just like in many other GCC countries, the government still controls the media through various press laws. The recent arrest and subsequent jailing of the opposition leader when he was accused of abusing the Emir is a clear indication that any negative criticism against government officials or religion in this country is not tolerated. The government of Kuwait, which is made up of the royal family, has been keen on improving the economy of this country. The political system in the country has played a major role in limiting the freedom of media because the royal family is very keen on thwarting any form of rebellion against the government. This explains why the opposition has become very critical of the rulers and the government officials. They ha ve been demanding for the freedom of the press, sometimes resorting to violent protest in an attempt to achieve this aim (Wheeler, 2001). Fighting for media freedom is not wrong, but the approach used by the opposition leaders is not right.Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Freedom of press does not give anyone the power to abuse the royal family, government officials, or any other person in this country. The opposition leaders must understand that freedom comes with some share of responsibilities. Journalists must embrace positive journalism. In this paper, the researcher will focus on Kuwait’s opposition and the freedom of media in the country. Relevant Theory In is important to relate the concept of freedom of expression with a specific theory that can help in its analysis. The researcher considered Liberalism as the most appropriate political theory for t his concept. This theory holds that individuals in a society should have autonomy. People should be allowed to express their political and civil liberties. Governance should be based on written law and the governors should seek the consent of the governed before making important decisions that affect their lives. Liberalism also emphasizes on the need for the people to be protected from any arbitrary authority that may subject them to suffering (Casey, Thackeray Findling, 2007). The increased opposition against the government in this case was caused by total disregard to this theory. Those in power failed to act in natural goodness for their people when they started limiting freedom of expression. The government limited the autonomy of individuals to express their views about their feelings towards their government. This theory demands that the governors should seek the consent of the people before making important decisions. However, those in government often dismissed the views o f the governed, and this resulted into massive protests in the country as discussed in the sections below.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Kuwait’s Opposition and the Freedom of Expression specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Literature Review It is important to understand the background of the opposition in Kuwait and how it has been relating with the government. According to Kater (2011), Kuwait is one of the GCC countries that introduced a democratically elected parliament to work closely with the Emirs in government. Just like in the Western democracies, Kuwait has three arms of government, which function independently. The opposition that has been witnessed in the recent past began in 2006 when parliament removed from Office the then Emir, Saad al-Sabah because he was ill. This was something that had never happened before. It was seen as a direct attack on the leadership of the royal family. Thi s action created tension between parliament and the royal family. The tension worsened in 2011 when opposition leaders started organizing a series of street protests against the government for what they considered a deliberate attempt by the government to frustrate the freedom of speech. According to Kinninmont (2012), it is believed that Kuwait is one of the countries that have been affected by the Arab Spring. Although the country has not witnessed bloody protests such as those seen in Syria, Egypt and Libya, these protests have put too much pressure on the government. Kjetil (2011) says that it is not easy to say with certainty what the agenda of the opposition is at this time. To the public, the opposition has been insisting that the government should ensure that there is media freedom. The freedom of media in this country has been an issue for some time now. The opposition has been silent over the issue of freedom of media in the past. In fact, Casey, Thackeray and Findling (20 07) note that the Kuwaiti media freedom is better now than it was some years ago. The opposition did not come out strongly to criticize the government over the restrictive laws that limited media freedom.Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is strange that the opposition leaders have just realized that it is necessary to fight for the freedom of media at this point. It is also not easy to tell whether the opposition represents the Islamists or the liberals (Freedman, 2013). In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood posed as a more liberal option that was capable of transforming the country to a better place for Muslims and all other people belonging to other faiths. However, when they took leadership after ousting the regime of Hosni Mubarak, they almost turned the country into an exclusively Islamic state. This canning behavior of politicians makes it very challenging to determine their true agenda in their current war against the government. The Kuwait government has taken steps to respond to some of the demands of the opposition leaders. Media freedom in this country is better than it has ever been before. Although there are still some issues that need to be addressed, Barakat and Skelton (2014) argue that the current sta te of affairs is better than it was before. Noha (2014) says that despite the effort put in place by the government to try and change the state of affairs in this country, it is important to appreciate that it has made some mistakes. In July 2014, the government of Kuwait canceled licenses for television stations and newspapers owned by individuals seen to be supporters of the opposition leaders (Amaney, 2015). This was a strange move that demonstrated to the world that the government was intolerant to divergent views. Shutting down these stations sounded a warning to other media stations that the government will not tolerate any negative criticism against the government. This move came after the government had made a series of other arbitrary decisions against the media. The crackdown started in 2011 when the government started jailing bloggers who were believed to be championing the interests of the opposition. In 2012, a newspaper editor was sentenced to six months in prison for failing to stop a publication against the government (Al-Sabah, 2013). In April 2013, a draft law was introduced in parliament by the government that allowed the government to fine journalists one million dollars if they criticized the Emir. This was one of the most ridiculous laws that the government has ever introduced in parliament in the recent past. It was seen as an attempt by the government to make the position of the Emir above the law and above any form of criticism. These moves gave the opposition leaders moral authority to fight the government. According to Linde (2013), this may explain why the election in 2012 was won by the opposition. The emir once again reacted negatively to the governments loss to the opposition in the parliamentary elections. He modified the electoral decree and called for a re-election, a move that led to further protest in the country. The opposition boycotted the subsequent elections seen to favor the government. According to Colgan (2013), the government of Kuwait has failed to understand the prevailing political climate in the country. This was demonstrated when the government went ahead to dissolve the parliament following massive anti-government demonstrations spearheaded by the opposition leaders. According to Maloney (2012), the local media played a passive role in covering the events in this country. The state-owned stations either ignored the political turmoil in the country or made deliberate attempts to vilify opposition leaders. Private-owned media stations avoided reporting on issues that would be considered anti-government. The editors feared the one million dollar fine that the government imposed on those seen to criticize the emir and his government. The private media owners feared victimization from the government, and, therefore, instructed their editors to avoid reports that may raise political emotions in the country against the government. As Habeeb, Frankel and Al-Oraibi (2012) put it, the Kuwaiti medi a was reduced to a shell, an entertainment channel that turned a blind eye to the turmoil in the country. However, the international media did everything to bring these events to the attention of the international community. This forced the government to respond swiftly to deter foreign media from covering events or reporting on issues seen to vilify the government. In 2014, there was a royal decree to revoke citizenship of some individuals seen to facilitate anti-government protests. These individuals were forced to leave the country (Kumaraswamy, 2014). Tweeter and Facebook users who spread antigovernment sentiments were arrested and detained. According to Alkazemi and Wanta (2014), one of the factors which demonstrate the inability of the government to deal with the political issues in the country was the arrest and subsequent sentencing of Musllam al-Barrak to five years imprisonment. It all started in December 2012 when the government introduced a new law to govern election pro cesses as per the decree of the Emir. In a rally that was attended by the Emir, al-Barrak and many other leaders, Al-barrack addressed the emir and told him that the opposition will not allow him to practice autocratic rule. According to Alkazemi, Nashmi and Wanta (2013), this was a bold statement that had never been witnessed before, especially given the fact that he said it before the emir, other leaders and the public. The opposition leader was infuriated with the decision of the government to micromanage electoral process in order to dictate the people who are elected to the parliament. This was considered an insult to the ruler and it led to his arrest. A lower court sentenced him to five years in prison for insulting the emir. The prosecution was marred with irregularities as the defense team was not given proper audience. An appeal was launched by the defense team that led to his release from prison temporarily. However, he was summoned to the court for the retrial in Februar y 2015. His sentence was reduced to two years in jail. The sentencing of opposition leader to two years in jail by the highest court in the country tells a lot about the country’s freedom of expression. At this stage, it is important to analyze the exact words used by the opposition leader and determine if it amounts to abuse. As Rubin (2013) records, he said, â€Å"In the name of the nation, in the name of the people, we will not let you, your Highness, practice autocratic rule.† This is a very clear statement to the leader to avoid autocratic rule. It is a fact that the new law the ruler had introduced was autocratic. This is what the opposition leader was against. Such statement should not warrant an arrest and subsequent sentencing of the leader to several years in jail. It demonstrates that freedom of expression does not exist in this country. Any statement seen to be against the government is always responded to with intimidations and punishments. It also demonst rated how weak the country’s constitution was in defending the freedom of expression. The incident led to massive protests in various parts of the country, but as usual, the government responded by arbitrary arresting people seen to be championing for such protests. The local press that should be leading in the fight for freedom of expression has been silent over the issue. According to Marty (2013), these protests have led to a number of deaths, some of fatalities are children. This should be a wake-up call not only to the government, but also the opposition leaders. They should find a different way of demanding for the freedom of expression in a manner that will not result into any casualties. Facts Backgrounding the Case This research has given detailed accounts of the events that led to the arrest of the opposition leader. The political turmoil in the country has been accurately covered. It is important to give clear facts that will act as a background of the case to supp ort the arguments in this paper. This involves a clear explanation of the sources from which the content of the paper was written. Newspaper reports played an important role in informing the content of this paper. The Gurdian, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times were very instrumental. Reports from international bodies such as UNESCO also proved crucial in confirming some of the claims found in the newspapers. The researcher also found Reporters without Borders an important source of information. Journal articles and books were other important sources of information. These sources clearly outlined the political tension that existed between the government and opposition. These sources helped in shedding light on how the tension started to its highest point when the leader of opposition was sent to prison by the courts. The resulting chaos and arbitrary arrests by the government is also well documented. The Outcome of Issue and Effect of Statute The outcome of the fight for t he freedom of expression by the opposition was very dramatic. In November 2011, pressure was mounted on the government following claims that the prime minister was involved in corruption. He was accused of bribing some members of parliament to support government’s agenda in the house. He was also accused of colluding with other members of the royal family to steal public funds. This led to his resignation on November 28, 2011. This was an end result that many did not expect. This resignation did not calm political temperatures. The opposition leaders accused the Emir of coming up with electoral laws that were in favor of the government. The government failed to give in to the opposition demands. The protest continued, and this led to arrest of many people, especially those who participated in the demonstrations. Things went out of control in 2012 when the opposition leader, Musllam Al-Barrak, told the Emir to his face that the country will not accept his autocratic rule. This led to his arrest. He was sent to jail for insulting the ruler. Although the street protests have become less common, the opposition is still not contented with the approach taken by the government and the Emir in addressing freedom of expression. Conclusion The reports from the international media and the analysis of the events taking place in Kuwait demonstrate that the government is yet to grant its citizens freedom of expression. The government has been accused of highhandedness when addressing these issues (Wheeler, 2000). However, the outcome of the demonstrations that were led by the opposition shows that the approach the opposition has been using has been wrong all along. The researcher strongly opposes the approach that the opposition has been using to demand for the freedom of expression. As a responsible leader, al-Barrak should have approached the emir in a more candid manner to express his concerns instead of blasting him before the public. This was a sign of disrespec t. Even though the researcher accepts the fact that the government is wrong because it limits the freedom of expression, the approach used by the opposition is worrying. Creating chaos and leading the public to destroy properties is not an aspect of true leadership. The same approaches were used by other rebels in North Africa, but when they were given power, they turned out to be worse than the people they ousted. The researcher suggests that the opposition leaders should use a better approach in championing for the freedom of expression. References Alkazemi, M. Wanta, W. (2014). Kuwaiti political cartoons during the Arab Spring: Agenda setting and self censorship. Gainesville: University of Florida. Alkazemi, M., Nashmi, E. Wanta, W. (2013). Attitudes toward Journalism in Kuwait: The Educational Process of Students in an Emerging Democracy. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 13(3), 193-227. Al-Sabah, M. (2013). Gender and politics in Kuwait: Women and political particip ation in the Gulf. New Jersey: Wiley. Amaney, J. (2015). Becoming Jordan and Kuwait:The Making and Consolidating of U.S. Client Regimes. International Organization, 45(4), 565-591. Barakat, S Skelton, J. (2014). The reconstruction of post-war Kuwait: a missed opportunity. London: LSE. Casey, M. S., Thackeray, F. W., Findling, J. E. (2007). The history of Kuwait. Westport: Greenwood Press. Casey, M. S., Thackeray, F. W., Findling, J. E. (2007). The history of Kuwait. Westport: Greenwood Press. Colgan, J. (2013). Petro-aggression: When oil causes war. New York: Wiley Sons. Freedman, R. O. (2013). The Middle East after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Gainesville: Univ. Press of Florida. Habeeb, M., Frankel, D., Al-Oraibi, M. (2012). The Middle East in turmoil: Conflict, revolution, and change. Santa Barbara: Greenwood. Kai, H. (2007). Arab Mass Media: Newspapers, Radio, and Television in Arab Politics/The Making of Arab News. Political Communication, 24(1), 96-98. Kater, J. (201 1). Kuwait: Premier and Cabinet Resign Amid Scandal. New York: Cengage. Kinninmont, J. (2012). Kuwait’s Parliament: An Experiment in Semi-democracy. New York: Cengage. Kjetil, S. (2011). Elite Rivalry in a Semi-Democracy: The Kuwaiti Press Scene. Middle Eastern Studies, 47(3), 477-496. Kumaraswamy, P. R. (2014). Persian Gulf 2013: India’s relations with the region. London: McMillan. Linde, C. (2013). The State and the International Oil Market: Competition and the Changing Ownership of Crude Oil Assets. Boston: Springer. Maloney, S. (2012). Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE: The Nervous Bystanders. Middle East Journal, 50(3). 176-187. Marty, M. E. (2013). Accounting for fundamentalisms: The dynamic character of movements. Chicago.: Univ. of Chicago Press. Noha, M. (2014). The Two Faces of Media Liberalization. Mediterranean Politics, 19(2), 265-271. Rubin, B. M. (2013). Revolutionaries and reformers: Contemporary Islamist movements in the Middle East. Albany: State Univ. of New York Press. Wheeler, D. (2000). New Media, Globalization and Kuwaiti National Identity. Middle East Journal, 54(3), 432-444. Wheeler, D. (2001). International Communication Gazette: The Internet and Public Culture in Kuwait. New York: Sage. This research paper on Kuwait’s Opposition and the Freedom of Expression was written and submitted by user Edward Sullivan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Hackers

. This is where the hacker takes guesses at the password or has a crack program to crack the password protecting the system. 2) Finding back doors is another way in which the hacker may get access to the system. This is where the hacker tries to find flaws in the system they are trying to enter. 3) One other way in which a hacker may try to get into a system is by using a program called a WORM. This program is specially programmed to suit the need of the user. This programme continually tries to connect to a machine at over 100 times a second until eventually the system lets in and the worm executes its program. The program could be anything from getting password files to deleting files depending on what it has been programmed to do. Protection The only way that you or a company can stop a Hacker is by not having your computer connected to the net. This is the only sure fire way in which you can stop a hacker entering your system. This is mainly because hackers use a phone line to access the system. If it is possible for one person to access the system then it is possible for a hacker to gain access to the system. One of the main problems is that major companies need to be networked and accessible over the net so that employees can do overdue work or so that people can look up things on that c... Free Essays on Hackers Free Essays on Hackers A large group of people often called â€Å"hackers† have been characterized as unethical, irresponsible, and a serious danger to society for actions related to breaking into computer systems. This essay brings to construction a picture of what is a computer crime as well as a portray of hackers, their concerns and the way in which hacking takes place. What I intend to argue is that, in their majority, hackers are learners and explorers who want to help rather than cause damage. What is hacker? The term "hacker" of course has various meanings. Sometimes it implies a computer programmer who spends a lot of hours working on a personal computer, working on different types of coding, and creating technological â€Å"fixes† and â€Å"patches† for existing software. This kind of activity is not illegal and is encourage by the employers. In a different sense, the term hacking is used to signify criminal activity, the effort of the person to perpetrate through a personal computer for the purpose of unlawful activities. In other words, hackers are anyone who brakes into a computer without authorization. This type of hacking shows the necessity for new security systems and legislation to protect people and enterprises from these activities. Hacking really came into existence after 1980s as a result of telecommunication growth as well as high computer literacy. Hacking include a broad-range of computer-helped activities. Some of them are legal other unlawful and a lot are unethical. Some experts are saying: hacking is a phenomenon. One thing people get confused about is that hacking is totally different from fraud. Fraud is a human activity which one person tries to take advantage of others. Finally we can say that all hackers cannot be characterized as nasty or a nuisance. We should all bear in mind that it is very risky to connect a computer system to a network, especially the Internet, when there are not protected by all ... Free Essays on Hackers The meaning of Hacker is one who accesses a computer which is supposably not able to be accessed to non authorised people of the community. Hackers may use any type of system to access this information depending on what they intend on doing in the system. Methods Hackers may use a variety of ways to hack into a system. First if the hacker is experienced and smart the hacker will use telnet to access a shell on another machine so that the risk of getting caught is lower than doing it using their own system. Ways in which the hacker will break into the system are: 1) Guess/cracking passwords. This is where the hacker takes guesses at the password or has a crack program to crack the password protecting the system. 2) Finding back doors is another way in which the hacker may get access to the system. This is where the hacker tries to find flaws in the system they are trying to enter. 3) One other way in which a hacker may try to get into a system is by using a program called a WORM. This program is specially programmed to suit the need of the user. This programme continually tries to connect to a machine at over 100 times a second until eventually the system lets in and the worm executes its program. The program could be anything from getting password files to deleting files depending on what it has been programmed to do. Protection The only way that you or a company can stop a Hacker is by not having your computer connected to the net. This is the only sure fire way in which you can stop a hacker entering your system. This is mainly because hackers use a phone line to access the system. If it is possible for one person to access the system then it is possible for a hacker to gain access to the system. One of the main problems is that major companies need to be networked and accessible over the net so that employees can do overdue work or so that people can look up things on that c...

The Value of Fiction - The uses of fiction in bringing history to life

The Value of Fiction - The uses of fiction in bringing history to life We history buffs are a rare breed. Happy are the hours we spend poring through pages of dusty old books, wandering through museums full of armor and tapestries, and deciphering forgotten languages in primary sources. Those who have never been bitten by the history bug find it hard to understand what attracts us until they are bitten themselves. There are many different ways history lovers have been drawn into the fascinating world of the past, but perhaps the most common is through a good story. The moment we begin viewing history as stories about real human beings with human motivations instead of mere dates, places and statistics, history can take on a whole new luster. Period literature can help bring the past alive with an epic tale, and so can modern historical fiction. If you are a history buff hoping to get a friend to share your passion for the past, or if you are new to history as a hobby and are trying to understand what others see in it, the best introduction may very well be a historical novel or film. Entertainment has ways of opening the mind to ideas that even the friendliest or most erudite of straight historical texts can never hope to achieve. It helps, of course, when the book is well-written or the film well-directed, and unfortunately historical fiction, just like any other genre, has many more mediocre examples than it does splendid ones. Yet once you find a truly excellent piece of historical fiction, the results can be highly rewarding. However, the trouble with getting your history from fiction is that its, well, fiction. This may seem excruciatingly obvious, but its surprising how many intelligent, educated, well-read individuals take what they read in a historical novel or see in a period film as fact. The Trouble with Fiction When done really well, fiction leaves its audience thinking they know what the medieval world was really like. If the work is accurate, thats wonderful; but alas, novels and films have been known to present a skewed version of events and to perpetuate common misconceptions about the Middle Ages. Of course, most readers realize that much of the dialogue and the private moments of real historical figures that are captured in text or on film are only speculation. They may be aware on some level that events are open to interpretation, and that what they read or see is just one of many versions of what might have happened. Yet even readers who are acutely aware of these facets of historical fiction often ignore any question of accuracy concerning general historical background, settings and costumes, and the details of daily life, accepting as given that this much, at any rate, is authentic. This may be the most dangerous pitfall of using fiction as a doorway to the past. In order to enjoy the experience of fiction, we can (and should) suspend disbelief, and suspend as well any analysis of its veracity as history while reading the story or watching the film. But once you close the book or leave the theater, its time to think again. Even the most carefully-researched historical novel can contain errors of fact, and the sad truth is that many such novels arent carefully researched to begin with. Unlike a historian writing a scholarly treatise, novelists dont have to support every assertion with documentary, archaeological or even secondary evidence in order to get their work published;* they just have to write a good story. And films are so notorious for lacking accuracy that some moviegoers take particular delight in counting the mistakes. Furthermore, scholarly views of the medieval world are constantly evolving; what was considered a fairly accurate picture of the Middle Ages in, for example, the 1970s may be rendered much less authentic by the research and new evidence uncovered in the last few decades. You will sometimes find authors standing on the shoulders of earlier writers and passing along the erroneous or outdated details of their predecessors, with very few readers ever the wiser. Evaluating Fiction Fortunately, historical fiction doesnt always misrepresent the past. There is excellent fiction available, works that bring the Middle Ages to life in a wealth of accurate detail (and tell a good story, too). And more and more, modern historical novelists are making serious efforts to provide an accurate version of medieval times. But how do you know how much of whats presented in fiction is true to life? Do you take the word of the blurb on the back cover? Can film reviewers really tell you when a picture of the past is realistic? Theres only one way to know for sure: find out for yourself. Pick up a factual history book, visit some websites, go to a museum, join a discussion list, and start your journey into the fascinating world of historical discovery. If fiction is the trigger that launches you into the past, its value cannot be denied. Review a Medieval NovelShare your thoughts on a medieval-set historical novel good or bad at this review page. Note *Unfortunately, the same could be said of much popular history that gets published, as well. Guide Note: This feature was originally posted in May of 2000, and was updated in August of 2010.