The Civil War Essays - Union, Medal Of Honor, Free Essays

The Civil War Essays - Union, Medal Of Honor, Free Essays The Civil War For minorities, as for other Americans, the Civil War was an opportunity to prove their valor and loyalty. Among the first mustered into the Union Army were a De Kalb regiment of German American clerks, the Garibakdi Guards made up of Italian Americans, a "Polish Legion," and hundreds of Irish American youths form Boston and New York. But in Ohio and Washington, D.C., African American volunteers were turned away from recruiting stations and told, "This is a white man's war." Some citizens questioned the loyalty of immigrants who lived in crowded city tenements until an Italian American from Brooklyn turned that around. In the New York Senate, Democrat Francis Spinola had been a vigorous foe of Republican policies and Lincoln. But now he swore his loyalty with stirring words, "This is my flag, which I will follow and defend." This speech gave great assurance that the masses in the great cities were devoted to the Union and ready to enlist for its defense. More than 400,000 European immigrants fought for the Union, including more than 170,00 Germans and more than 150,00 Irish. Many saw their services as a proud sacrifice. The first officer to die for the Union was Captain Constatin Blandowski, one of many immigrants who earlier had fought for freedom in Europe and then joined Lincoln's army. Born in Upper Silesia and trained at Dresden, Germany, he was a veteran of democratic struggles - a Polish revolt at Krakow, the Polish Legion's battles against Austria, and the Hungarian fight for independence. Some nationalities contributed more than their share of Union soldiers. Some immigrants earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. Italian American officer Louis di Cesnola, was the Colonel of the 4th Cavalry Regiment. At Aldie, Virginia, in 1863, he earned the Medal of Honor and was appointed a general. He charged unarmed at the foe, read his citation, "rallied his men ...until desperately wounded and taken prisoner in action." In 1879 Cesnola became director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum then became, wrote a critic, "a monument to his energy, enterprise, and rare executive skill." Italian American privates also won the Medal of Honor. Joseph Sova of the 8th Cavalry earned it for capturing the Confederate flag at Appomattox. Private Orlando Caruana of the 51st Infantry won it at Newburn, North Carolina. With bullets whizzing past him, he saved wounded men and rescued the U.S. flag. As 1865 came on, the feel of victory was in the Northern air. And so the Civil War was over. Yet even the ending of the war did not bring real peace. On Good Friday, April 14, 11 days after Union troops had entered Richmond, an actor named John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln as the President watched a play from his box in Ford's Theater, Washington, D.C. The one man who might have brought about a just peace was dead. The Civil War had solved some old problems for the United States. But it created some new problems as well. But many of the problems created by the Civil War have been solved. Towns have been rebuilt, new industries flourish, and new schools have been erected. Most of the damage of war has been long repaired. North and South both enjoy prosperity. But many of the human problems still remain.

Utopia by Thomas More essays

Utopia by Thomas More essays ****Writer's note: This paper dissects Thomas More's Utopia and Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince in an effort to discover their views on Human nature-This paper can easily be transformed from this topic****** Niccolo Machiavelli vs. Thomas More : Defining Human Nature It is difficult to determine Niccolo Machiavellis and Thomas Mores view on humans nature. Each took a different approach to the topic. Through Utopia, Thomas More attempted to change mans thinking by creating an ideological society. Niccolo Machiavelli, through The Prince, attempted to teach man how to deal with human nature. With this in mind, Machiavellis concept is much more realistic than Mores; therefore Machiavelli better represents human nature. Machiavellis view of human nature in The Prince, presents, on the surface, a view of governing a state drastically different for his time. Machaivelli believed that the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put into effect a policy which would serve his best interests. With this, Machiavelli uses the prince as man, and the state as the mans life. These interests were gaining, maintaining, and expanding his political power. Though in some cases Machiavelli may seem harsh and immoral, one must remember that his views were derived from concern of Italys unstable political condition in the 1500s. Machiavelli seems to be teaching the common man how to live his life so that their life is good and prosperous. Machiavelli generally distrusted citizens, stating that since men are a sorry lot and will not keep their promises to you, you likewise need not keep yours to them (Machiavelli 651). Furthermore, a prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promises when, such an observance of faith would be to his disadvantage; and when the reasons which made h...

'Information systems have revolutionised the way we work'. Critically Essay

'Information systems have revolutionised the way we work'. Critically discuss this statement using two concepts from the mod - Essay Example These are a few of the ways in which information systems have provided advantages to the regular activities (Morgan, 2006). Based on this aspect, the report describes how information systems have influenced and revolutionised the way people work. Furthermore, the report also illuminates two key aspects of information systems along with their impact on work. Defining Information Systems Information system is regarded as the technology which is used for storing, controlling, dispensing and generating information. This technology includes any mechanism capable of processing data of information systems. Information systems use certain tools in order to perform calculations, record information, manipulate data and communicate messages to people. On the other hand, the ways in which people work comprise procedures used for individuals and organisations. Individuals and organisations apply certain procedures in order to accomplish subjective task (Yu, 2004). Computer Have Revolutionised the Way We Work A vital example of information system is the development of computer. The work of every individual and organisation has completely changed with the advent of computer. Computer system actually arrived during 1930s and laid the foundation for numerous activities. The present world is completely revolutionised by computer systems. Computer is presently observed in every office of metropolitan areas and it is difficult to think about modern organisations without computers. Regular tasks would be extremely inefficient without using computers. For example, managing customer records in an organisation can be performed effortlessly with the use of computers. Computer systems have replaced manual management of customer records to electronic ways of management (Zammuto & et. al., 2007). In today’s information age, computers are regarded as a machine that can process information and provide the function of communication. The first thematic ritual in the history of computer took form with queries impersonated by experts and pioneers of digital computing. The second thematic tradition in the history of computer is shifting focus to historical roots of the information age and the third thematic tradition is pioneering machines that can be differentiated with the work of historians. The history of computing is a hybrid area that has increasingly drawn on diverse disciplines and methods. Researchers in the area of humanities and social sciences frequently demonstrate a form of hybrid vigour where a core area of discipline is invigorated by the exchange with neighbouring areas or disciplines. Historians of computing have positively looked outward to neighbouring areas and disciplines for conceptual inspiration. Various organisations, corporate cultures and industries have found importance of flow of information in order to carry out regular activities (Misa, 2007). Computer Revolutionised Workplace Activity Computer has changed the paradigm of

Financial analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial analysis - Assignment Example The steel company will have the lowest because steel production is very asset intensive, meaning the company will have to invest billions in equipment, plants, and property required for steel manufacturing. Additionally, equipment used will have a long lifetime. As a result of this high investment and its long lifetime, the sales for a steel company will be relatively low, leading to low asset turnover (Rodgers 23). While supermarkets have low sales margins, pharmaceutical companies, jewelry retailers, and software companies have high sales margins. Supermarkets have low sales margins because of the high intensity of competition in the sector. In addition, there is minimal product differentiation because they mainly carry similar brands. Consumers also have a high sensitivity to price changes and switch costs tend to be low. As a result, competition in the sector is mainly based on pricing, which results in extremely low margins (Rodgers 48). On the other hand, software companies have the highest sales margins because consumer-switching costs are high, while production costs tend to be relatively low. Finally, most costs for initial development of software are previously expensed. Thus, the sales margins are higher than for the rest. I disagree with James Broker’s assessment. While earning numbers and operating cash flow are essential in the evaluation of a company’s prospects, they will differ because of long and short-term accruals. Some current accruals like credit sales lead to higher earnings than operating cash flows. On the other hand, other current accruals like unpaid expenses result in lower earnings than operating cash-flows. Non-current accruals like deferred taxes and depreciation also result in differences between operating cash-flows and earnings. Understanding the difference between earnings and operating cash-flows, in this case, is more important than the fact that earnings are higher than

Marriage in Other Countries Essay Example for Free

Marriage in Other Countries Essay This paper will be about a traditional dress from my native land and other countries. The traditional dress I will be writing about is called a wedding dress. A wedding dress is used throughout the world in various countries including China, Japan, India, and Vietnam. This paper will also detail different cultures, religions, types and colors of wedding gowns that symbolize the bride or groom wealth, occupation and or belief. In the Americas, weddings performed during and immediately following the middle ages were often more than just a union between two people. They could be a union between two families, two businesses or even two countries. Many weddings were more a matter of business than love, particularly among the wealthy people. Brides were therefore expected to dress in a manner that made their family seem more presentable, for they were not representing only themselves during the ceremony. Brides from wealthy families often wore rich colors and exclusive fabrics. The amount of material a wedding dress contained also was a reflection of the brides social standing and indicated the extent of the familys wealth to wedding guests. In the 1920s, wedding dresses were typically short in the front with a longer train in the back and were worn with cloche-style wedding veils. Today, Americas traditional wedding color is white because of the marriage of Queen Victoria to Albert of Saxe-Coburg. Victoria wore a white gown for the event to incorporate some lace she prized. Before then, white was a mourning color, it represented a bride whom had recently lost a loved one. Black was actually a color that was worn by the lower class because it was more favorable and could be worn again on many occasions. In the eastern cultures, the traditional wedding color was red, the color red symbolizes good luck and favorable. In modern Chinese weddings, the bride will opt for Western style dresses and traditional costumes for the official tea ceremony. In India a choice for a bride is a wedding sari, which is a traditional garment for Indian women. Over time color options and wedding fabrics have changed throughout the eastern countries. Fabrics have expanded and today, fabrics like crepe, georgette, tissue, silk, and satin have been used. Colors such as gold, pink, maroon, brown and yellow have also expanded. It seems as if the other countries around the world are starting to adopt the western tradition. At Japanese weddings, brides will often wear three or more dresses throughout the ceremony and subsequent celebrations with a traditional kimono, white and color dress combination being popular. The Javanese people of Indonesia wear a kebaya, a traditional kind of blouse, along with batik. The Native Americans have traditions different from most other countries. A Hopi (A Native American tribe) bride traditionally would have her garments woven by the groom and any men in the village who wished to participate. The garments consisted of a large belt, two all-white wedding robes, a white wedding robe with red stripes at top and bottom, white buckskin leggings and moccasins, a string for tying the hair, and a reed mat in which to wrap the outfit. A Pueblo bride wore a cotton garment tied above the right shoulder, secured with a belt around the waist. In the traditions of the Delaware, a bride would wear a knee-length skirt of deerskin and a band of wampum beads around her forehead. Wedding dresses are very diverse and unique. There are a few things that all weddings dresses have in common among all cultures. The most important thing is that bride’s want to look and feel beautiful. The wedding dress is plays a significant part in the wedding ceremony. The wedding dress gives the bride the opportunity to stand out. A wedding dress represents one of the most precious garments that a woman will wear in her lifetime. It represents religions, cultures and family traditions. Although it’s just material, the wedding dress is very important because it symbolize marriage, the union of two people who love each other.

DaVinvi The last Supper Essay -- essays research papers

The Last Supper has been and will be one of the most talked about works of Leonardo Da Vinci’s work of art. The work of art was started in 1495 and was completed in 1498; it contained the event depicted in the bible as the final days when Jesus announced that he would be betrayed by one of his twelve disciples.† Leonardo had chosen to depict the moment when Jesus says, â€Å"One of you will betray me†.1 The painting is located in the dining hall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan Italy. The painting was commissioned by Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. The painting it self has a massive presence of 15 feet high by 29 feet wide. Even though most facts stated that the painted was not completed until three years after it was started. It was also well known that Da Vinci was a procrastinator, meaning the he did not consistently work on the art for a time period of three years but on and off when he had the time, subjects and motivation. It is said that most of his ti me with the painting was looking for model for the art work it is said that when he working on the picture it’s self he would stare at it for hours and then climb the ladder and paint for hours. Later he would not be seen for days and then show up paint a few stokes ad leave again. Much of the work was sporadically done. The painting was done on a large dry stone wall that was first treated with a base or primer. The stone wall was sealed with a layer of pitch, gesso and mastic. From there it was painted with tempera. U... DaVinvi The last Supper Essay -- essays research papers The Last Supper has been and will be one of the most talked about works of Leonardo Da Vinci’s work of art. The work of art was started in 1495 and was completed in 1498; it contained the event depicted in the bible as the final days when Jesus announced that he would be betrayed by one of his twelve disciples.† Leonardo had chosen to depict the moment when Jesus says, â€Å"One of you will betray me†.1 The painting is located in the dining hall of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan Italy. The painting was commissioned by Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. The painting it self has a massive presence of 15 feet high by 29 feet wide. Even though most facts stated that the painted was not completed until three years after it was started. It was also well known that Da Vinci was a procrastinator, meaning the he did not consistently work on the art for a time period of three years but on and off when he had the time, subjects and motivation. It is said that most of his ti me with the painting was looking for model for the art work it is said that when he working on the picture it’s self he would stare at it for hours and then climb the ladder and paint for hours. Later he would not be seen for days and then show up paint a few stokes ad leave again. Much of the work was sporadically done. The painting was done on a large dry stone wall that was first treated with a base or primer. The stone wall was sealed with a layer of pitch, gesso and mastic. From there it was painted with tempera. U...

A Dream of a Social Entrepreneur

â€Å"I have a dream that in the near future, Ecolife Cafe will become the bridge of knowledge for people in Phu Long and promote Community Ecotourism for the Protection of Mangrove so that tourists and foreigners will know and love the community initiatives to protect the green environment here, and then have a chance to experience life with local people in our island. Lying on the coastal island of Cat Hai, Hai Phong City, Phu Long commune’s population is consisted of 70% people earning their lives by small-scale aquaculture and rudimentary fishing – their lives depend much on the nature and they often suffer from crop failure during the flooding season. Phu Long does not have conditions for produce growth, thus the locals’ life totally depends on supply of produce from the outside. Phu Long is connected with Hai Phong City via Dinh Vu ferry. It takes up to 3-4 hours to transport passengers and goods over that less-than-30km distance. The difficulties in transportation make the living cost in Phu Long high. In the tough economic time, with unstable prices of seafood like the recent years, the lives of people have become tougher and riskier. Getting over the obstacles, the people here are seeking for the new livelihoods, specifically with the Community Ecotourism having flourished. People doing this work just have the simple wish of making more income for the family, feeding and educating their children, and at the same time caring and preserving the nature. This can be done by tours experiencing and plating mangroves to better off the biodiversity. Mangroves account for one-third of the Phu Long area. They are not only the â€Å"green walls† protecting people’s life and property from natural disasters, but the â€Å"green lung† providing fresh air for the city. Contributing to the effort of protecting humane values and the environment, Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) in coordination with Vietnet Information Technology and Communication Center (Vietnet) and the community’s representatives led by a social entrepreneur in Phu Long mobilize investment from personal capital and social capital to establish and open the Tourist Information Center and Environment Education Ecolife Cafe in Phu Long, Cat Ba in the summer 2012. Ecolife Cafe Phu Long is primitive, simple, environment-friendly and close to the people in the commune, which is located on the area of more than 200m2 on the family’s ground of the social entrepreneur Vu Hong Hung. He is the Head of the Cooperation and Operation Board of Phu Long’s Community Ecotourism. Initially, Ecolife Cafe has had a bookcase for community with more than 50 books on culture, environment, law, engineering, which partly met the reading demand of the people. Hung has also finished installing a wireless Internet connection here. Hung shares that his wish now is to facilitate Phu Long Ecolife Cafe a number of used computers which can connect to the Network that he has set up. Every day, people in the commune can drop by and connect to the internet to read the news and search information about the new farming techniques which are economically efficient and environment-friendly to preserve the green space here. In addition, households participating in his Community Ecotourism Board will have internet access to introduce the land to the domestic and foreign tourists. Talking about the cost, Hung expressed his willingness to pay for utilities and take time to ask for experts coming to the commune to teach IT for local people, especially the young. Since then, Phu Long can reach millions of people loving the sea, people in the coastal areas and the mangrove and they will come to this land. Summer 2013 is coming, this story intends to reach people loving sea nature and understand the difficulties of local people, with the hope to seek for the accompany with Social Entrepreneur Vu Hong Hung to realize the dream of Education Center, Phu Long Ecolife Cafe. Let wish that there will be more and more Ecolife Cafe like this presenting in every coastal areas throughout the country , with the spirit of social entrepreneur to enrich the knowledge, livelihoods and protect the environment for the future generations. Individual/organization willing to share with Phu Long Ecolife Cafe, please contact: – Entrepreneur VU HONG HUNG – Manager of Phu Long Ecolife Cafe Tel: (084)976 433 656 Address: Phu Long commune, Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city – Ms. Pham Tu Uyen – Vietnet Information Technology and Communication Center (Vietnet-ICT) Tel: (084)914 717 695 Email: [email  protected] org Address: Room 3104, Building 34T, Hoang Dao Thuy street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi

Effectiveness Of Monetary Policy Essay

Monetary policy is basically a stabilization policy adopted by a country to deal with various kinds of economic imbalances that occur in the country. It’s a flexible instrument which allows authorities to move quickly to achieve stabilization, since it deals with the monetary aspect of the general economic policy. It controls the supply of money and often targets a rate of interest and also controls exchange rate and influence credit conditions for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability. It is often termed to be as an expansionary or contractionary. It basically deals in open market operations, and basically controlling the money supply through buying and selling various financial instruments such as T-Bills, bonds etc. Control of money supply through an appropriate monetary policy is greatly effective in controlling inflation. Objectives: The main objective of the project is to understand the effectiveness of the RBI monetary policy for: * It is well used in stabilizing inflation in a country under the CPI index * Maintaining price stability i.e. a targeted price level can be reached over time * Maintaining desired growth rate over a period of time  * Understanding various monetary policy tools and its impact in short term as well as in long term. * Achieving a stable foreign exchange rate Issues or problems to be studied: High inflation usually has an adverse effect on grow. Distortion of relative prices which lowers economic efficiency, redistribution of wealth between debtors and creditors etc. are all factors that affect high inflation. There is always thrift as to increasing the financial stability of the country, but the main priority should be maintaining stability in the banking system. There is always a tradeoff between inflation and growth of the country so which policy should be implemented by RBI to curb inflation without hampering the growth rate of the country and the main issue is whether RBI is capable of controlling inflation while maintaining economic stability. Sources of Data: The data collected will be from the following secondary sources: * Books * RBI circulars from RBI website * Journals and publications * Other sources from internet Expected out-come of the project: The outcome of the project will be highlighted in the following areas: * How well the RBI has been successful in taming inflation * How all the different rates of interest i.e. the bank rate, CRR, SLR etc. is managed as to achieve a desired growth rate of the economy * Providing an in-depth analysis so as to how different monetary tools are used in short term as well as long term basis

Always Remember That Java Is A Case Sensitive Language

Always Remember That Java Is A Case Sensitive Language Java is a case-sensitive language, which means that the upper or lower case of letters in your Java programs matter. About Case Sensitivity Case sensitivity enforces capital or lower case in the text. For example, suppose you have created three variables called endLoop, Endloop, and EndLoop. Even though these variables are composed of the exact same letters in the same exact order, Java does not consider them equal. It will treat them all differently. This behavior has its roots in the programming language C and C, on which Java was based, but not all programming languages enforce case sensitivity. Those that do not include Fortran, COBOL, Pascal, and most BASIC languages. The Case For and Against Case Sensitivity The case for the value of case sensitivity in a programming language is debated among programmers, sometimes with an almost religious fervor.   Some argue that case sensitivity is necessary to ensure clarity and accuracy  - for example, there is a difference between Polish (being of Polish nationality) and polish (as in shoe polish), between SAP (an acronym for System Applications Products) and sap (as in tree sap), or between the name Hope and the feeling hope. Further, the argument goes, a compiler should not try to second-guess the intent of the user and should rather take strings and characters exactly as entered, to avoid unnecessary confusion and introduced errors.   Others argue against case sensitivity, citing that it is harder to work with and more likely to result in  mistakes while providing little gain.  Some argue that case-sensitive languages negatively impact productivity, forcing programmers to spend untold hours debugging issues that end up as simple as the difference between LogOn and logon. The jury is still out on the value of case-sensitivity and it may be able to pass final judgment. But for now,  case sensitivity is here to stay in Java. Case Sensitive Tips for Working in Java If you follow these tips when coding in Java you should avoid the most common case sensitive errors: Java keywords are always written in lowercase. You can find the full list of keywords in the reserved words list.Avoid using variable names that differ only in case. Like the example above, if you had three variables called â€Å"endLoop†, â€Å"Endloop†, and â€Å"EndLoop† it would not take long before you mistype one of their names. Then you might find your code changing the value of the wrong variable by mistake.Always make sure the class name in your code and java filename match.Follow the Java naming conventions. If you get into the habit of using the same case pattern for different identifier types, then you improve your chances of avoiding a typing mistake.When using a string to represent the path of a file name, i.e. C:\JavaCaseConfig.txt make sure you use the right case. Some operating systems are case insensitive and dont mind that the filename isnt exact. However, if your program is used on an operating system that is case sensitive it will produce a r untime error.

Capital Punishment3 essays

Capital Punishment3 essays In society today there are murders committed everyday. And everyday the people who commit these crimes are found guilty in a court of law and sentenced to like in prison. Some even get chances for parole. What the courts should do is take every murderer, give every one of them the death penalty, and follow through with it. The death penalty should be legal in all 50 states and carried through when given out as a sentence. Gary Gilmore faced a firing squad at the Utah State Prison on January 17, 1977. There have been 55 murders in that state during 1976. During 1977, in wake of the Gilmore execution, there were 44 murders: a 20 percent decrease. As you can see, the execution had some effect on the murder rate in Utah. There are very few proven facts about capital punishment deterring crime at this time. This is so because capital punishment is not used enough to actually have an effect on people. It is a fact that of all murder sentences that 38 percent get the death penalty. If that 38 percent only 0.1 percent are executed. If we use the death penalty more often and actually carry through with it will have an effect on the crime rate in the country. People will see that finally we have justice in this country and if they do this, there is a large chance they are going to be caught and they are going to receive the death penalty. We also need the death penalty in this country because if we execute the murderer that person has no chance to ever kill or harm another person again. The person will never have a chance for parole and there will never be a risk of this person ever ruining another familys life. It is not fair for a murderer to get life in prison. The murderer still can have a life, not much of one, but they do have one. He or she can still communicate with their families. The victim of the murder cannot. The victims family will never be ...

Reformation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reformation - Research Paper Example Luther, along with some other like-minded churchgoers, had become increasingly distraught about systematic corruption in the form of indulgences and simony (selling and buying clerical seats) that had apparently become rampant within the Roman Catholic Church. Luther observed these offenses in person during a previous trip to Rome. These concerns were compounded by disagreements about doctrine, the sacraments, celibacy, and the power of the Pope. At the same time as Luther’s uprising, a similar movement was forming in Switzerland led by Huldrych Zwingli. The two would not join forces however, as some disagreements kept them apart. The Reformation was condemned by the papacy and Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Following these events, Protestant groups throughout Europe would find common ground in the writings of John Calvin, and the movement would soon gain ground from the Roman Catholics. Major Beliefs and Practices Protestant is a broad term that app lies to Churches that protest the ways of the Roman Catholic Church (though some reject the label, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). While there are many different denominations of Protestantism, some beliefs do apply to virtually all of them. The doctrine of Sola Scriptura holds that the Bible itself, rather than traditions or interpretations, is the ultimate source of Christian authority. The doctrine of Sola Fide reserves salvation for the act of faith in Jesus, rather than as a result of personal actions or good deeds. Solus Christus refers to the holiness of Jesus and denounces the power of men assuming a similar position (such as the Pope), Sola Gratia argues that salvation cannot be gained by work, and Soli Deo Gloria, the belief that humans are not worthy of glory. Additionally, Reformed Churches typically have less elaborate periods of worship when compared to the Roman Catholic tradition, though exceptions do exist, and a concept known as the univer sal brotherhood imbues the duty to read the Bible regularly and to take part in all Church processes. This approach places all members on equal ground and opposes the hierarchy found in Roman Catholic systems. Categories and Demographics There are several categories that have been used to describe the many denominations of Protestantism. The â€Å"Mainline† Protestant group consists of churches that identify with Lutheranism, Calvinism, or Anglicanism. Churches in this group typically adhere to the original doctrines that came from the Reformation. Baptist Churches are identified by the lack of infant baptism rituals, but involve the regular baptism of adults. Also, Anabaptist worshipers are categorized based on the re-baptizing of converts. Denominations that fall in each of these categories can differ in any number of ways, including their belief in the nature of Christ’s presence at the Last Supper. Today, participation in Protestant religions is large throughout ma ny countries. A 2008 article by Michael Paulson states that over half of all Americans are members of Protestant religions. Other countries with a large number of Protestants include the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, and China (Central Intelligence Agency, 2008). Additionally, Protestantism practically dominates religious practices throughout the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland). Membership in the mainline sector of Protestantism has

Brandon Beaver Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Brandon Beaver - Essay Example The effect of the ERG in any firm can only be secondary, compared to the situations in the workplace which principally defines employee sentiment towards the corporate leadership. Therefore, where the underlying working relationship is essentially adversarial, any management-sponsored ERG initiative will be perceived with suspicion as a ploy by management to take advantage of the employees (Ashton & Sung, 2002). The post’s identification of possible drawbacks to the ERG is perceptive. Because the ERG, in order to be effective, will tend to focus on particular minority groups or their specific situations, their members tend to stand out more distinctly rather than blend in with the majority. This is, I think, the paradox of most diversity and inclusion efforts. The effort to more effectively create inclusion tends to deepen the demarcations. The challenge to management is how to sponsor the creation of ERGs in such a manner that employees come to view the ERG as more closely id entified with the needs and aspirations of the employees, rather than with the desires of management. If the ERG is identified more closely with management than it is with the workers, it may be seen as just another means of manipulating and controlling the work force to comply with managerial designs against their better interests. References Ashton, D N & Sung, J (2002) Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working. Geneva: International Labour Organization Catalyst (2008). Employee resource groups: valuable to employees; valuable to business. www.catalyst.org. Response to post of student 2: Christopher Gilbert The post mentions, strangely enough, the matter of the Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. I believe this has little bearing on the matter of diversity and inclusion in the workplace towards its employees, or in the company’s dealings with its customers and the public at large. The Chick-Fil-A issue was more about the inclusion working the other way around, th at of the right of a person to express an opinion and the guarantee attached to that right. The ERG cannot be empowered to dictate changes from above, or from external movements and elements that have little relevance to what happens in the workplace. Diversity and inclusion involves unity of action and goals, not necessarily unity of beliefs and the core principles of individuals (Herek, 2000). The ERG’s goal is to pave the way for tolerance and respect for the diversity of beliefs and opinions that are present in any group at any time. There is a difference between inclusion and uniformity. Inclusion allows for variety and amiable co-existence while retaining people’s innate individuality. Uniformity is intolerant of differences, and wishes to create a single likeness among people, therefore denying them their individuality. The use of employee reference groups should be clear on its objectives, which is to address the diversity and inclusion needs of the employee gr oup while maintaining strategic relevance to the firm’s business goals and objectives (Catalyst, 2008). The Chic-Fil-A issue does not have anything to do with the acceptance of people with different sexual orientations at the workplace and among consumers, it is about the political issue of the legalization of same-sex marriage. In actuality, ERGs should avoid getting themselves embroiled n political contests because they are divisive and have little bearing upon the form’s operations. For ERGs to be effective as tools of the organization, they must be careful not