Race Crime Essay Example

Race Crime Essay There have been many studies conducted by both academics and government organisations to gain further insight into the reasons why, when compared to their representation as members of the population as a whole, people from black minority ethnic backgrounds, widely referred to as BME groups, are massively overrepresented in the criminal justice system in England and Wales (Webster, 2007;111). However, Feilzer and Hood have warned that all research has failed to conclusively prove whether different outcomes for minority ethnic people have been due to discrimination or as a result of other factors (Webster, 2007;112). This essay aims to critically account for the disproportionate presence of BME groups in the criminal justice system, in particular the police, the prison service and the courts, exploring possible reasons for the overrepresentation such as social exclusion and socio-economic disadvantage. The essay will also draw comparisons with other countries such as the United States of America and Australia. Criticism of the police and their relationship with BME groups is nothing new, and tensions within British society were exacerbated with the influx of West Indian immigrants in the 1950s. A study conducted in the 1960s compared urban and rural policing and described the negative stereotype that police officers held of members of the black community (Spalek, 2002;77). More recently, the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the subsequent Lawrence Inquiry produced a startling insight into the degree of, what Lord Macpherson termed, institutional racism within the criminal justice system (Macpherson, 1999). Recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice (MJ) illustrate the overrepresentation of BME groups in the criminal justice system. We will write a custom essay sample on Race Crime specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Race Crime specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Race Crime specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Ministry of Justice report, Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 2008/2009 (MJ, 2010) highlights some of the substantial differences that exist between the experiences of people from BME groups compared with those from a white background (MJ, 2010). The report illustrates that BME groups are disproportionately represented at every stage of the criminal justice system but specifically in stop and search, arrests and the prison population. However, this is not simply an issue in England and Wales, but reflects problems faced by criminal justice systems in other countries around the world (Bhui, 2009;50). It has been well established by many authors and studies that the use of stop and search powers by the police has been the most controversial issue (Bowling and Phillips, 2003;534) when dealing with the topic of policing minority ethnic communities. Stop and search powers are governed by section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, which requires the police to have reasonable suspicion. It is this concept that gives rise to concerns about discrimination and racial profiling (Davies et al, 2005;170). People from BME backgrounds are also more likely to be stopped under the stop and search powers of section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and are less likely to be given a reason for being stopped (Davies et al, 2005;171). Black and Asian people are 26. 6 and 6. 3 times more likely to be stopped and searched respectively than white people, under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (Townsend, 2010). This is a higher stop and search ratio than that recorded before the publication in 1999 of the Inquiry report into the murder of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence. Section 60 powers enabled the police to use such stop and search in exceptional circumstances but has subsequently allowed the abuse of such powers through increased stereotyping, further alienating the most affected communities (Townsend, 2010). The report concluded that the overuse of stop and search had created significant mistrust in minority ethnic communities (Travis, 2010), and contributes to the idea that the system is institutionally racist. The Ministry of Justice report found that there has been a 70 per cent rise in BME being stopped and searched over the past 5 years. In England and Wales as a whole it was recorded that 18 people of a white background and 135 of a BME background per 1000 of the population were subject to the use of Stop and Search by the police under section 1 of PACE 1984 (MJ, 2010). The statistics show that under PACE, Black people were 7. 2 times more likely, and Asian people were 2. 1 times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people (MJ, 2010). It could therefore be argued that stop and searches are disproportionately carried out on people from BME backgrounds, under both PACE and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. However, there was a large variation in the number of stop and searches throughout England and Wales. In London the number per 1000 of the population was 47 white and 210 black. This variation is a result of several factors. Firstly, 54 percent of the black population of England and Wales live in London, and are therefore more likely to be stopped and searched than any other area. Secondly, 42 percent of all stop and searches are carried out by the Metropolitan Police Service, which only serve 14 percent of the whole population of England and Wales (MJ, 2010). In contrast, there are other areas within England and Wales such as Cumbria and Durham where the rate of stop and searches per 1000 of the population for those from black backgrounds compared to white backgrounds was 0. 7. This means that more white people are stopped and searched per 1000 of the population than black people (MJ, 2010). Findings from the report Offending, Crime and Justice Survey 2003-06 suggested that an individuals ethnic group was not significantly associated with increased or reduced likelihood of offending (MJ, 2010). It is however, believed that BME communities are considered to be suspect populations (Webster, 2010;95) with the tendency for black and Asian communities to receive greatly inferior treatment by the police, leading to their involvement with the criminal justice system. Similar to the stop and search statistics, people from BME groups experienced more arrests per 1000 of the population than people of white backgrounds, and black people were 3. 3 times more likely to get arrested than white people (MJ, 2010). However, Phillips and Browns study in 1998 found that of the cases that went to the Crown Prosecution Service, the proportions that were terminated were 27 per cent for Asians, 20 per cent for black people and 12 per cent for white people (Bhui, 2009;35). This strongly suggests that black and Asian people were more likely to be arrested and charged without sufficient evidence to prosecute. Despite the conviction rates being substantially higher for white people compared to those from BME groups (MJ, 2010) in 2008, the percentage of white adults sentenced to immediate custody for indictable offences was under 29 percent, while BME groups ranged from 42 to 52 percent (MJ, 2010). This higher percentage is not necessarily due to discrimination, but rather a number of other factors, such as the seriousness of the offence committed, mitigating or aggravating factors and whether or not the defendant pleads guilty. Research has shown that people from BME backgrounds are more likely to plead not guilty, and hence be tried in a Crown court (MJ, 2010). In fact 48 per cent of black offenders plead not guilty compared to 30 per cent of white offenders. If offenders are found guilty after pleading not guilty, they are often given heavier and longer sentences (Marsh et al, 2010;178) and this may be a reason why there are more black offenders in prison. Although people from BME backgrounds account for less than 11 per cent of the British population, they account for a much higher proportion of the prison population. On the 30th June 2009, 20 percent of prisoners identified themselves as being from BME groups (MJ, 2010). The total prison population excluding foreign nationals has experienced increased numbers from all ethnic backgrounds since 2005, but most notably from Asian and Mixed groups. Those from a white ethnic background had the smallest increase (MJ, 2010). The result of such overrepresentation of people from BME backgrounds, in particular black people, is that there are some prisons in the south east of England that are now virtually all black (Ramesh, 2010). The disproportionate presence of people from BME groups could mean one of two things. People from BME groups may be discriminated against at the point of entry into the criminal justice system and this subsequently continues to the point of imprisonment. Alternatively, the groups are actually more involved in crime than others for reasons particular to that group (Hale et al, 2009;419). It is of common belief that the true answer lies somewhere between the two theories, yet self report studies have indicated that white people commit just as much or even more crime than those from BME groups (Kalunta-Crumpton, 2010). Evidence from several studies has shown that there are three overarching causes for the overrepresentation of BME groups in the Criminal Justice System, all of which compound each other. Firstly, social exclusion is a longstanding primary cause (House of Commons; Home Affairs Committee (HC), 2007). Secondly, factors specific to the black community such as family patterns and cultures amongst black people, both fuel and compound socio-economic deprivation. Thirdly, the structure and the way the criminal justice system operates mean more young BME people come into contact, and stay in contact, with the system (HC, 2010). There is considerable racial inequality in the criminal justice system with a massive underrepresentation of people from BME backgrounds in judiciary and court positions (Marsh et al, 2010;179). A recent report by the Ministry of Justice found that, as of April 2009 in the courts based judiciary, a mere 4. 5 per cent of judges were from BME backgrounds, and represented just 3 of the 163 High Court judges (MJ, 2010). This is a point that was highlighted in the Lawrence Inquiry, and in particular the failure of the police service to recruit minority ethnic officers. Recommendation 65 of the Lawrence Report stated that the police service ought to develop more initiatives to increase the number of minority ethnic recruits (Bhui, 2009;54). Despite such attempts to recruit more people from BME groups, the police force is still a predominantly white institution with only 4. 4 percent of officers in post coming from a BME background (Hansard, 2010), and this is reflected in the feelings of people from BME groups. A study conducted by Shute et al showed that one fifth of black defendants felt that their treatment had been influenced by racial bias (Marsh et al, 2010). Of the black and Asian defendants who thought that they had been given longer custodial sentences, over half put it down to their ethnicity rather than what they had done or said in court (Marsh et al, 2010), indicating the feeling amongst people from BME groups that institutional racism still exists within the criminal justice system. Such thoughts of institutional racism within the criminal justice system were again identified with the tragic incident in March 2000 when Zahid Mubarek, a 19 year old Asian prisoner at Feltham young offender institution, was murdered by a cell mate with a history of racist and violent behaviour (Nacro, 2003). It is regarded that social exclusion is the key reason for the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system. BME groups are socially and economically disadvantaged compared with white people and are more likely to come to police attention (Bhui, 2009;34). This socio-economic disadvantage stretches back to the post-war period when the first settlers from the Caribbean were forced into ghettoes because of racial prejudice and restricted access to accommodation, resulting in them being stacked in deprived areas where schools were substandard, employment opportunities were minimal and long-term prospects to hold the family together were limited (HC, 2010). It is believed that the disproportional presence of ethnic minorities has arisen due to the idea that policing bares down more heavily on those that frequent public spaces more often (Maguire et al, 2007;437). This happens to be black and Asian people as they are still subjected to high rates of unemployment, homelessness and nocturnal shift work. It is noted that 80 per cent of black African and black Caribbean communities live in particularly deprived, high crime urban areas such as Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas (Bhui, 2009;32). It is the combination of all of these factors that place such individuals at greater risk of being stopped and searched (Maguire et al, 2007;437). The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee found that in 2007, all the minority ethnic groups within the black category are consistently below the national average across all Key Stages, at GCSE and equivalent and Post-16. At GCSE and equivalent, 45 per cent of black Caribbean pupils, and 51 per cent of black African pupils achieved 5 or more A*-C grades compared to 57 per cent nationally (HC, 2007). The committee concluded that the failure of the education system to educate our black boys provides a breeding ground for disaffection that undoubtedly leads many to seek alternative means to obtain a good standard of living or gain respect from their peers (HC, 2007). Conversely, the recent report How Fair is Britain produced by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), shows that ethnic differences are narrowing at GCSE level, except for the top two highest performing groups; Chinese and Indian (EHRC, 2010). Educational underachievement is fed by rates of exclusion, which is higher for black young people than any other ethnic group. The 2006 Department for Education Skills (DfES) report shows that 9. 6 per cent of black Caribbean young people had had a fixed period exclusion compared with a national average for all pupils of 5 per cent (DfES, 2006). Excluded young people, regardless of ethnicity, are twice as likely to commit offences as children in mainstream school according to the Youth Justice Boards (YJB) survey completed by MORI. In a recent survey 23 per cent of young people in mainstream school said they had committed an offence in the last 12 months, while 60per cent of excluded young people say they had committed an offence over the same period (YJB, 2009). This is a clear indication that young black people are more likely to be excluded from school, and subsequently more likely to offend. Asian children on the other hand had the lowest exclusion rates, followed by children with one white and one Asian parent (EHRC, 2010). The success of Asian children in education ties in with their low offending rates. Such traits have traditionally been explained as the result of strong informal controls said to inhere in Asian culture and family life (Webster, 2010;97). In 2007, at a time of growing gun and knife crime, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, insisted that we needed to stop pretending it was a problem for the general population (Blair, 2007), but rather an issue for the black community to resolve (Hale et al, 2009). This idea has been reaffirmed in statistics such as the figures from Operation Trident, a Metropolitan Police Service operation intended to deal with shootings among black people living in London in 2006. The operations findings detailed in the Home Affairs Committee report showed that, of all the firearms homicides and shootings in 2006 in London, 75 per cent of victims and 79 per cent of suspects were black (HC, 2010). These statistics reflect the idea that the majority of offending by people from minority ethnic backgrounds is intra-racial. It was also found that the boroughs with the highest firearms offences such as Hackney and Lambeth had the highest density of black population in London, as well as being some of the most deprived (HC, 2010). Furthermore, recent research in the UK suggests that homicide rates are associated with levels of poverty and deprivation (HC, 2010). It is this level of involvement and overrepresentation that is the greatest cause for concern for some sections of black and minority ethnic communities. The Director of Equalities and Policing at the Greater London Authority, Lee Jasper said of the situation we have, quite literally, a crisis in the black community among our young black people (HC, 2010). Self report studies ask some general questions about the respondents social and economic situation and then they are asked to describe any offences that they have committed. This technique relies solely upon the honesty of interviewees to reveal their offending behaviour. Self report surveys have produced controversial findings and in particular have suggested that race differences usually observed in official records are either absent or much reduced (Bowling and Phillips, 2002;99). The 2003 Offending, Crime and Justice Study found that in actual fact, white respondents were more likely than black or Asian respondents to say that they had offended (Bhui, 2009;32). The findings of such studies have indicated that the dark figure of crime is more likely to be committed by white people than those from BME backgrounds (Kalunta-Crumpton, 2010). In Australia, they face a slightly different issue, in that the indigenous population of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people are massively overrepresented in the justice system, and it is a result of historical discrimination, over-regulation and unfair treatment (Australian Law Reform Commission, 2006). Indigenous people make up 2. 5 per cent of the population in Australia, yet in 2008 they accounted for 29. 3 per cent and 24. 1 per cent of the female and male prisoners respectively (Bartels, 2010); a rate 17 times higher than that for non-indigenous people (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2010). These figures varied throughout the different territories of Australia. For example, in Victoria, Indigenous people accounted for 6 per cent of the prison population, much lower but still overrepresented compared to their presence in the general population. In the Northern Territories however, the situation is much worse, with Indigenous people representing 83 per cent of the prison population. This is a startling illustration of the massive overrepresentation of Indigenous population in the criminal justice system. One explanation considered by some authors such as Bartels, is that the Indigenous population is significantly younger than the non-indigenous population. A census in 2006 found that the median age for both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous populations was 21 and 37 respectively (Australian Government, 2008), and thus a reason for the high number of Indigenous people coming into contact with the criminal justice system. In the United States of America, they face a similar if not more extreme situation than in Britain and most Western European countries. The Washington DC based research group, The Sentencing Project reported that today there are more African American men in prison and jail than in college (Walker et al, 2007;xiii). Despite black people only representing 12 per cent of the United States population, nearly half of all prisoners in the USA are African-American (Webster, 2007), and it is predicted that nearly one third of African-American males born today will go to prison (Ramesh, 2010). The US Justice Department have released statistics that suggest approximately 40 to 45 per cent of the US prison population is black (Ramesh, 2010), and that black people represent 31 per cent of arrests and 37 per cent of all violent arrests. Walker et al concluded in The Color of Justice, that the US criminal justice system is contextually discriminatory, in that discrimination does occur within certain parts of the system but not all parts, all of the time (Walker et al, 2007;419). The recent statistics from the Ministry of Justice paint a very clear picture as to the substantial differences that exist between the experiences of BME groups compared with white people, and in particular the experiences of black people. The central problem with the disproportionate presence of ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system is their under-representation in criminal justice professions coupled with their overrepresentation as suspects, defendants and prisoners (Newburn, 2007). Longstanding tension between the police and ethnic minorities still plays a significant part in the discrimination of ethnic minorities and is demonstrated in such documentaries as The Secret Policeman (Daly, 2003), highlighting that racism within the police force still occurs. Although many positive steps have been taken to eliminate institutional racism within the police force since the Lawrence Inquiry, there is still more that needs to be done. The police are not the only institution criticised of being discriminatory, with the Prison service also displaying such traits. It could be argued that the criminal justice system as a whole is still considered institutionally racist. Minority ethnic communities around the world are suffering from the same issues faced by those in England and Wales. The Australian prison population figures illustrate the startling discrimination the indigenous population of Australia face. The United States of America have a justice system described as contextually discriminatory (Walker et al, 2007;419), with an increasing population of black prisoners, many of which have committed violent or drug related offences. Despite numerous studies by academics and government departments, it has been considered that all research has failed to conclusively prove whether the disproportionate presence of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in the criminal justice system is through discrimination or other factors (Webster, 2007). It would appear however, that BME groups are most definitely overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice system. From the findings of self report studies it can be inferred that the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities is not a result of disproportionate offending, but rather a combination of different factors. Similarly, the issue is not one solely of institutional racism within the criminal justice system. Unfortunately people from minority ethnic backgrounds live in the most deprived urban areas, with the highest crime rates, and therefore are undoubtedly over-policed. Young people from BME backgrounds are consistently underachieving in education and are almost twice as likely to have a fixed period of exclusion compared to the national average, and subsequently twice as likely to offend. Upon being charged for an offence, people from BME backgrounds are more likely to plead not guilty, and hence tried in the Crown court, where if found guilty, will receive a heavier sentence. It is the compounded effect of these factors that are the major cause of the disproportionate presence of ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system, and without addressing these issues first and foremost, their presence will simply increase.

Business Strategies For A Media Company

Business Strategies For A Media Company Business strategies and opportunities in the global T.V. industry for Aston Media Ltd S.U. Business Consultants.Report author: Sapheer Ullah(Bsc hons.) Date of submission: Table of contents: Summary Introduction Summary The objective of this report is to select a generic strategy most suited to Aston Media. In order to develop such a strategy we need to develop a concise analysis of the company in question and the environment it operates in. It is questioned whether the next step for the company in question is to diversify and enter into new markets.Findings are divided under the headings: The generic strategy chosen as most appropriate for Aston Media is outlined, followed by the appropriate justification of the choice. A generic strategy is also identified should Aston Media decide to enter the niche market. The three general generic strategies that will be considered are cost leadership, differentiation and focus/niche.Introduction Since its inception, television broadcasting has been a class example of a "‹ÂÅ"public good' with a distinctive financial sector and special regulatory arrangements.English: Porter Generic StrategiesFor many years the industry was characterised by stable nationally-bound spheres of activity that were clearly circumscribed by regulation, markets that tended towards the oligopolistic, processes that were rooted in well-established technologies, strong organisational cultures derived from the confluence of a variety of professional, national and individual influences, and audiences who clearly understood their role in the broadcasting process.However starting in the late 80's a series of tremors, including market liberalisation, the introduction of new transmission technologies, and changing social attitudes, triggered the beginnings of an industry restructuring.As in practically every other industry, demographic changes, new technology, evolving financial structures and globalisation are creating chaos and forging new trends in the entertainment and media business. HDTV, DSB, cellular cable TV, fiber optics, cable modems, DVD""there will...

Wind and Solar Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Necessity of Philosophy of Education for Teachers or Educators Essay

Necessity of Philosophy of Education for Teachers or Educators - Essay Example There are essential differences between man and animal, which makes â€Å"education’ possible for man and one can only train animal (Vargas, 1994, p.273). It makes possible The philosophy of education can be of forms as realism, idealism, existentialism or pragmatism and implications can be drawn by one for teaching, education, curriculum, learning or other important issues of education (Orteza and Miranda, 2001, p.3). There are four major educational philosophies on the properties of knowledge and the way of knowing it within the frame of epistemology. These approaches of educational philosophy are recently used in the classrooms widely all over the world. These philosophies are Perennialism, Essentialism, Progressivism and Reconstructionism. These philosophical issues concentrate heavily on the curriculum aspects of WHAT should be taught (Crookes, 2009, p.85). The aim of this education is to consolidate the fact that teachers or educators gain knowledge of great Western civ ilization ideas. The ways to solve problems in any era is hidden in these ideas. The aim is to share ideas that are everlasting, to search for enduring truth that are constant, as the human and natural world at the most essential level remain unchanged (Ornstein, 2012, p. 431). Essentialism: It is believed by the essentialists that there is a common cluster of knowledge that should be transmitted to teachers in a constructive way. Intellectual and moral standards are the two bases in the conservative perspective on which emphasis is given. Essential knowledge and academic rigor and skills are the major arena of the curriculum. Essentialists accept the idea of probable changes in the core curriculum (Ornstein, 2012, p.431) Progressivists: Progressivists believes that the whole child should be focused for the education, rather than focusing on the content or the teacher. Reconstructionism: Social Reconstructionism, a philosophy that put stress on the quest and addressing of social que stions to construct worldwide democracy and better society (Cohen, 1999). Teachers do teaching and the institutions where they work have a purpose that deeply concerns education (Langford, 1978, p.3). Successful teachers do have their respective philosophies and they are quite strong ones. Sometimes, the teachers themselves are not aware of their own philosophy or the reason behind their success. But it is the philosophy that affects everything they do all the day. It would be amazing if all teachers â€Å"flowed through the day† to handle all our tasks with great ease and naturally, but it is us who have to do all our appointed works. Today in several occasions, the beliefs of parents and students are really strong and presume an important influence on what a teacher can do and cannot do. A part of those beliefs are cultural, some are religious and some others are utter nonsense, but all of them must be confronted, handled and addressed individually. A teacher could face a s ituation in the class to which might have no clue and probably he is not going to learn about how to handle them. This is where an essentiality for philosophy lies for the educators. If teachers make too many hard and fast rules for which they are not willing, ready or able to back up, consequence might push them right into a corner. Because there will always be someone to test the teachers regarding their rules to see if they really mean it. A teacher will be tested everyday, in fact many a times in a day. If they do not follow through, they are not only going to lose the battle, but also a lot of respect as well. Among the first things that teachers need to do first is to determine the kind of things that are important enough to have a strong philosophy about. New teachers build up their philosophy slowly at first, as they start gaining confidence and strength they will make choices and changes in their beliefs that are well thought out, based on good judgments, innovated in exper ience and beneficial to

Lessons taught by Sonny and Cher Essay Example for Free

Lessons taught by Sonny and Cher Essay My parents to me have always been well, mom and dad. We lived in a world of routine where mornings would be filled with rushed breakfasts of bagels, cereal, coffee and juice. A hurried hi mom and dad, bye mom and dad! was all I could squeeze out while grabbing some toast before heading out the door. Dinner conversations were usually Hows school? and Fine. I had just entered high school then and I had many important things on the days agenda. I never quite realized how much my fixation on everything me, myself and I almost led me to miss out on knowing two of the most remarkable people Ive ever had the honor of knowing. I came home from school early one afternoon to find my mom leafing through some albums in the den. She mustnt have heard me come in for she fairly jumped out of her skin when I asked her what she was doing. Oh geez! You scared me! she said. These albums? Oh nothing, I was just looking at some photos of your dad and I from the old days. I picked up one album and was surprised to find myself staring at a photo of mom and dad dressed as Sonny and Cher at what looked like a Halloween party†¦the shocking thing was that Dad was the one dressed as Cher. Sure, I know how normal it is for some couples to dress up like that for costume parties and all but you see, my parents were not like that (at least I thought they werent. ) Here was a guy who was usually hidden behind the morning paper at breakfast and was usually quietly parked in front of the evening news after dinner dressed in a long blond wig and shiny dress. It was†¦well, shocking! Mom must have noticed some reaction in me for she cocked her head at me and with a quizzical eyebrow asked Whats the matter? You look like youve seen a ghost! Is that really you and dad? I asked Yep, and believe me, it took a lot of effort to find a dress that fit your dad, mom said blushing to the roots of her graying hair. Sensing my incredulity, she looked at me and grinned What? Oh come on, you didnt really think we started life on this earth as mom and dad did you? Well, yeah! I said. Oh all right, that may have sounded a bit stupid but hey, I think its a fairly normal thought for kids who come into this world and knowing people a just mom or dad. I spent the rest of the afternoon with mom leafing through the rest of the albums. I dont know if it was just beautiful weather outside or maybe the effect of afternoon sunlight filtering through the window shades but it seemed to me that mom looked younger and certainly more relaxed as we drank the Kool-aid she prepared and munched on some cookies while we looked at some more pictures. She showed me albums from her and dads college days. I never knew that dad actually played basketball in college or that mom was one of those hippies with long fringed vests and flowing hair. Looking at dad with his very proper business attire and glasses and mom whose hair has always been neatly pulled back since I could remember, I could hardly make the connection between them and the two grinning faces on the photographs. Another things is that while I knew my parents loved each other, to sit there and look at photos of a younger mom smiling up at my dads face just brought made that love real for me. I asked Dad seems to be a lot of fun in those days. How come he seems so serious now? What happened? Honey, nothing changed. You are hardly ever around to observe us let alone talk to us, mom pointed out. Perhaps Dad may seem quiet in those times that you are around but believe me, hes still got that devilish sense of humor I fell in love with and married him for. Maybe if you spent a little more time with us rather than talking on the phone or rushing out of the house, youd get to know us more, she added. Ouch. That evening I watched Dad as he prepared to take his usual place in front of the TV. He must have sensed something was up for he looked up at me and asked, What are you skulking around in the dark for? Out with it. Clutching the Sonny and Cher photo in my hand, I timidly made my way to him and held out the picture. Dad, I said. Is that really you? He stared at the picture gravely and let out a huge sigh. Yeah, that was me†¦and boy do I remember how much the high heels that went with that crazy dress cut into my feet! and he just burst out laughing. A giggling mom soon joined us and they regaled me with stories of how that particular party went and how moms sonny beard kept slipping and falling into her wine. Dad was laughing himself silly as he recounted the horror on his dads face as he came down the stairs of their home with the long wig, strappy heels, false lashes and all. I thought the old man was going to have a heart attack! Dad managed to get in between snickers. I dont think Ive ever seen my dad so animated or mom so carefree before that night. Since that day, I began to look at my parents in a different light. I realized that I have forgotten how my parents were actually two unique individuals who had their own lives and personalities outside of their roles as mom and dad. I dont know if this was just because I was too prejudiced against the parental institution (as most teens are) or just too preoccupied with my own things to notice them. But that soon changed. From that day on, I started noticing small cues they shared such as mom having a special way of tucking her hair behind her ear whenever dad gave her a compliment and how dad would sort of twitch his nose when hes about to beg off from accompanying mom to the sales. I also observed how mom could be much easier to talk to in the mornings while dad would be grumpy until he has had his usual two cups of coffee for breakfast. Afternoons would see mom winding down while dad would be more relaxed in the evenings. Since then I can honestly say that my relationship with my parents became much closer. While theyre still mom and dad, I learned to recognize and respect them for the individuals they are. I realize how people and personal identities can get so lost in the titles and roles that people play in life. Since what happened with my parents, Ive been able to look at other people I came in contact with as who and not what they are. I began to pay closer attention to people. For instance, I noticed how one cashier at the 7-11 near my house would pay extra attention to her elderly customers, always sending them off with their purchases with a smile†¦a smile that would be returned by the patrons whose day she has brightened up with that simple gesture. The doorman at one of the buildings I usually passed on my way to school would usually have a fresh flower at his lapel and would cheerily greet everyone And how are you doing today? I must admit that even I felt buoyed by such cheerfulness. Quite a few years have passed since that fateful day with the albums. My parents are looking more mature (mom would kill me if I said older) and some things in the old neighborhood have certainly changed. But I will never forget the valuable lesson that a simple photo has taught me in looking beyond the roles people play and recognizing people for the individuals that they are. I truly owe Sonny and Cher a lot.

It’s Time for Cities to Reject the Welfare Mentality :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

It’s Time for Cities to Reject the Welfare Mentality All over the nation-from New York to Los Angeles, from San Diego to Milwaukee-cities are on the rebound. Each successful city has accomplished its renaissance in its own particular way, with its own special twist. But if you look across the spectrum of flourishing cities, you can discern a clear set of principles that leads to urban health. To start with, there is a total rejection of the old municipal welfare state ideology, whose decades of failed policies led the nation's cities to the brink. Urban government, that idea went, was above all to achieve social justice and the uplift of the poor. It seemed to make sense: Cities always had big concentrations both of poor people to help and of wealth to tax. So cities piled on welfare benefits and social services, created huge bureaucracies to administer them, and taxed heavily to fund them. But things didn't work out as expected. With the information revolution, all those companies whose great skyscrapers made them look eternally rooted there no longer had to be in the cities to be near their suppliers, customers, or bankers. And global competition required them to get efficient and cut costs. No more could they justify paying high corporate income taxes, commercial rent taxes, inflated utility taxes. So the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in New York fell f rom 140 in 1947 to 31 now. And the new, smaller businesses that have generated all of the new jobs of the past decade or more never started up in many of the old cities. Result: A city like New York has created not one single net new job since World War II. Worse, the costly municipal welfare state turned out not to work. All the indicators are worse, not better, than when the whole rescue effort began. The inner city illegitimacy rate is way up, the urban high school graduation rate way down. The poverty rate hasn't dropped and, until the new-paradigm reforms, the welfare dependency rate had soared. All these billions of dollars made things worse, because, we learned, if communities don't make their citizens personally responsible for themselves and their families, but instead tell them they're victims, they will become dependent and demoralized. If the welfare state tells people that it's fine to have illegitimate children, that poverty excuses crime, that welfare payments are appropriate reparations for historical victimization, and that working in "dead-end" jobs for "chump change" is undignified-what can possibly result but illegitimacy, crime, welfare dependency, and non-work?

Manager And Leader Essay

Serious political and economical changes, which we experienced during the last 10 years, influenced not only psychology of a man, but basic tendencies of development in economical system as well. As a result of those changes, modern educational system must prepare managers, who will be effective in any enterprise. But the good manager should be a good leader, shouldn’t he? Is it really a big difference to be a manager and to be a leader? First of all, ‘manager’ is a person, who has legal power and usually regulates sphere of business relations, whereas ‘leader’ more often is informal person, who is the most influential individual in the sphere of emotional relations inside group. Leader can be the manager, but not always. A good manager should be a good leader (Stever Robbins, p.1). To be a manager, you need to have special skills, abilities and qualities. When you are a manager, you aren’t only a person, receiving tasks but you are a person, who should influence separate people and groups of people as well, stimulating them to work to achieve definite aim. He should act effectively, he should be a leader. Still, leader is a member of some group, who possesses the most valuable potential, which gives to him leading position in this group. First of all effective manager must show his qualities of leader. When manager becomes a leader, he executes his managerial functions (planning, organization, motivation, control, etc) through the prism of informal leader. Leadership is the most significant component of manager’s activity, which relates to ability to motivate and influence behavior of some definite workers and working team as a whole. Skills of communication and personal qualities of manager, corresponding to external and internal demands of group, can be the instruments of such influence. Being a manager means using more formal way of organizing people, whereas being a leader means having more emotional approach of influence (‘The Difference’, p.1). When manager gives orders, people obey to him (because he has legal authority), whereas leader in the group unites people (they follow him or his ideas by their own will and choice). Usually people are more loyal to leader, because he is more emotional. Works Cited: 1. The Difference Between Management And Leadership [online] http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/~gerard/MENG/ME96/Documents/Intro/leader.html 2. Stever Robbins, The Difference Between Managing and Leading. Understanding people will help you make the shift from managing to leading a business. November 18, 2002 [online] http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,304743,00.html