Apartheid in South Africa

Apartheid in South Africa Introduction South Africa is one of the countries with rich and fascinating history in the world. It is regarded as the most developed state in Africa and among the last to have an elected black president towards the end of the 20th century. Besides its rich history, the South African state has abundant natural resources, fertile farms and a wide range of minerals including gold.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Apartheid in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The country is the world’s leading miner of diamonds and gold with several metal ores distributed around the country like platinum (Rosmarin Rissik, 2004). South Africa experiences a mild climate that resembles that of San Francisco bay. With its geographical location and development, South Africa is one of the most accessible African countries. All these factors contribute to South Africa’s global prominence, especially before and after the reign of its first black President, Nelson Mandela in 1994. However, these alone do not add up to what the country’s history. In fact, South Africa’s history sounds incomplete without the mention of Apartheid, a system that significantly shaped and transformed the country in what it is today. Without apartheid, many argue that South Africa would have probably been a different country with unique ideologies, politics and overall identity. In other words, apartheid greatly affected South Africa in all spheres of a country’s operation. From segregation to all forms of unfairness, apartheid system negatively affected South Africans and the entire country (Pfister, 2005). On the other hand, some people argue that apartheid positively affected South Africa in countless ways. This essay gives a detailed coverage of the issue of apartheid in South Africa and its impact to the economy, politics and social life of South Africans. To achieve this task, the analysis is divided into useful sections, which give concise and authentic information concerning the topic. Up to date sources were consulted in researching the topic to ensure that data and information used in describing the concept is up to date, from reputable and recommended authors.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Among important segments of the essay include but not limited to the literature review, history, background information and recommendations. Research questions In addressing the issue of Apartheid in South Africa, this essay intends to provide answers to the following questions: What was apartheid system? What are the factors that led to the apartheid system? What were the negative effects of the apartheid system? What were the positive effects of the apartheid system? Why was it necessary to end apartheid in South Africa? Literature Review Apartheid in South Africa is one of the topics which have received massive literature coverage even after the end of the regime. Most of the documented information describes life before 1994 and what transpired after Nelson Mandela took leadership as the first black African President of the state. This segment, therefore, explores the concept concerning what authors, scholars and researchers have recorded in books, journals and on websites as expounded in the following analytical sections. Apartheid in South Africa Apartheid refers to a South African system that propagated racial discrimination imposed between 1948 and 1994 by National Party regimes. During this period of decades, the rights of the majority â€Å"blacks† were undermined as white minority settlers maintained their supremacy and rule through suppressive tactics. Apartheid was primarily developed after the Second World War by the Broederbond and Afrikaner organizations and was extended to other parts of South West Africa, currently known as Namibia until it became an independent state four years before the end of apartheid. According to Allen 2005, discrimination of black people in South Africa began long before apartheid was born during the colonial era. In his survey, Allen noted that apartheid was ratified after the general election which was held in 1948.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Apartheid in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The new legislation that the governments adopted classified all South African inhabitants into four groups based on their racial identity (Allen, 2005). These groups were Asians, whites, natives and colored. This led to all manners of segregation that ensured complete distinction among these groups, achieved through forced displacement of the oppressed groups without necessarily thinking about their rights. The practice continued throughout the period, reaching heightened moments when non-whites were depriv ed of political representation in 1970, the year when blacks were denied citizenship right causing them to become members of Bantustans who belonged to self-governing homes (Allen, 2005). Besides residential removal and displacement, other forms of discrimination dominated in public institutions like education centers, hospitals and beaches among other places which were legally meant for everybody regardless of their skin color, gender or country of origin. In rare cases where black accessed these services, they were provided with inferior options as compared to what whites received (Allen, 2005). As a result, there was significant violence witnessed across the country, accompanied by internal resistance from people who believed that they were being exploited and languishing in poverty at the expense of white minorities. Consequently, the country suffered trade embargoes as other countries around the world distanced themselves from South African rule as a way of condemning it and ra ising their voices in support for those who were considered less human in their own country. Overwhelmed by the desire for equality, South Africa witnessed countless uprisings and revolts, which were welcomed with imprisoning of political and human rights activists who were strongly opposed to the apartheid rule. Banning of opposition politics was also adopted in order to suppress leaders who believed in justice for humanity (Edwards Hecht, 2010). As violence escalated around the country, several state organizations responded by sponsoring violence and increasing the intensity of oppression.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The peak of apartheid opposition was in 1980s when attempts to amend apartheid legislation failed to calm black people forcing President Frederik Willem de Klerk to enter into negotiations with black leaders to end apartheid in 1990. The culmination of the negotiations was in 1994 when a multi-racial and democratic election was held with Nelson Mandela of African National Congress emerging the winner and the first black president in South Africa (Edwards Hecht, 2010). Although apartheid ended more than a decade ago, it is important to note its impact and ruins are still evident in South Africa. Background Information Segregation took shape in the Union of South Africa in order to suppress the black people’s participation in politics and economic life. White rulers believed that the only way of maintaining their rule was to ensure that black people do not have opportunities to organize themselves into groups that would augment their ability to systematize themselves and fight back for their rights. However, despite these efforts, black people in South Africa became integrated into the economic and industrial society than any other group of people in Africa during the 20th century (Edwards Hecht, 2010). Clerics, educations and other professionals grew up to be key players as the influence of blacks sprouted with Mission Christianity significantly influencing the political landscape of the union. Studying in abroad also played a major role as blacks gained the momentum to fight for their rights as the move received support from other parts of the world (Burger, 2011). There were continuous attempts from the government to control and manipulate black people through skewed policies, which were aimed at benefiting whites at the expense of the majority. The year 1902 saw the formation of the first political organization by Dr Abdurrahman which was mainly based in Cape Province. However, the formation of the African National Congress in 1912 was a milestone a s it brought together traditional authorities, educationists and Christian leaders (Burger, 2011). Its initial concern was defined by constitutional protests as its leaders demanded recognition and representation of the blacks. Efforts by union workers to form organizations for the purpose of voicing their concerns were short-lived as their efforts were short down by white authorities. This led to strikes and militancy, which was experienced throughout 1920s. The formation of the Communist Party proved to be a force to last as it united workers’ organizations and non-racialism individuals (Beinart Dubow, 1995). Segregation of blacks was also witnessed in job regulations as skilled job opportunities remained reserved for white people. The introduction of pass-laws further aimed at restricting African mobility thus limiting their chances of getting organized. These laws were also designed to have all blacks participate in forced labor as they did not have a clear channel to ai r their views. According to historic findings, all these efforts were inclined towards laying the foundation for apartheid in later years. Noteworthy, there were divisions among whites as they differed with regard to certain ideologies and stances. For instance, they could not agree on their involvement in First World War I as the National Party dislodged from the South African Party (Beinart Dubow, 1995). Conversely, allocation of skilled jobs to whites targeted high productivity from people who had experience while pass-laws prevented aimless movement. Labor issues continued to emerge through organized strikes though these efforts were constantly thwarted by the government using brutal and inhumane ways like seclusion of migrant residential houses using compounds. Miners also protested against low payment and poor living standards, conditions which promoted hostility between black and white labor forces, culminating into a bloody rebellion in 1922 (Beinart Dubow, 1995). Intensif ied discrimination against blacks mounted to serve the interests of white rulers through reinforcement of the unfair government policies and employment bar in certain areas like the railway and postal service to address the infamous â€Å"poor-white problem†. The world depression of early 1930s led to the union of major white parties which was closely followed by the breakaway by a new Afrikaner led by Dr. DF Malan. The entrenchment of the white domination led to the elimination of Africans from the voters’ role in 1936 (Burger, 2011). These continued up to the end of the Second World War when the government intensified segregation rules in 1948 that led to the conception and birth of Apartheid in South Africa. Desmond Tutu against Apartheid As mentioned above, Mission Christianity played a major role in the fight against apartheid and restoration of justice in South Africa. This saw several leaders rise to the limelight as they emerged to be the voice of the voiceless in the South African State. One of these Christian leaders was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who has remained in the history of South Africa, featuring prominently in the reign of apartheid (BBC, 2010). He is well known worldwide for his anti-apartheid role and for boldly speaking for the blacks. He served a very important role, especially during the entire time when Nelson Mandela was serving his prison term making him nominated for the highly coveted and prestigious Nobel Peace Prize award in 1984 for his relentless anti-apartheid efforts. This was a real implication that the world had not only observed Tutu’s efforts but also raised its voice against the discriminatory rule in South Africa. After Nelson Mandela was elected democratically in 1984, he appointed Archbishop Desmond Tutu to steer the South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was mandated to investigate all forms of crimes committed by blacks and whites during the whole period of apartheid. Alth ough Tutu was a teacher by training, he dropped the career after the adoption of the Bantu Education Act in 1953 (BBC, 2010). The act was meant to extend apartheid to black schools around the country, causing several schools to close down due to lack of finances after the government discontinued subsidized programs for those that did not comply. To confirm and affirm that apartheid was not the best regime option in South Africa, Desmond Tutu was highly influenced by white clergymen like Bishop Trevor Huddleston, who strongly opposed the idea of racial discrimination that was being propagated by the white government (BBC, 2010). Although he was closely involved in active politics, he remained focused on religious motivation, arguing that racialism was not the will of God, and that it was not to live forever. His appointment as the head of the Anglican church in 1986 did not deter him from fighting apartheid as he risked being jailed after he called the public to boycott municipal ele ctions that were held in 1988. He welcomed President FW De Klerk’s reforms in 1989, which included the release of the one who was later to become the first black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela and the reinstatement of the African National Congress (BBC, 2010). Nelson Mandela against Apartheid Nelson Mandela is regarded as a key player in the fight against apartheid in South Africa as he led black people together with other activists to publicly denounce and condemn the discriminatory regimes of the time. As a way of demonstrating his dissatisfaction and criticism of apartheid, Mandela publicly burnt his â€Å"pass†. All blacks were required to carry their passes as the government prohibited the movement of people to other districts (Atlas College, 2011). While working with ANC, Mandela’s involvement in anti-apartheid efforts was increased as he realized the need to have active resistance in dealing with apartheid. He was severally charged with treason and acquitted although in 1964, Mandela was life imprisoned a move that was considered to be ill-motivated to maintain the white rule supremacy. He continued his fight while in prison as his message penetrated every village and district in the country. Although he acted together with like-minded people, Nelson Mandela’s name stands high as the leader of the anti-apartheid campaign which culminated in his election as the first black president of South Africa in 1994 (Atlas College, 2011). Opposing opinion Although apartheid was highly condemned and still receives high-charged criticism, some people view it from a different perspective. Did apartheid have any benefit to the people of South Africa and to the nation at large? Apart from propagating injustices across the country, apartheid is one of the economic drivers of South Africa with some of the policies and strategies used during that time still under active implementation by the government. For instance, the Reconstructi on and Development Programme (RDP) was orchestrated by ANC and served as the core platform during the elections that were held in 1994 (Lundahl Petersson, 2009). The programme focused on improvement of infrastructure, improvement of housing facilities, free schooling, sharing of land to the landless, clean water and affordable health facilities among others. This led to the improvement of social amenities in the country. RDP also continued financing the budget revenue. It therefore suffices to mention that those who support apartheid base their argument on the status of the country after 1994 when subsequent governments chose to adopt some strategies from apartheid to drive the reconstruction agenda (Lundahl Petersson, 2009). As one of the leading economies in Africa, some of the institutions, factories and companies which were established during apartheid significantly contribute to development in the country. Even though new plans have been adopted, majority have their foundatio ns rocked on apartheid. As a result of these development initiatives, a lot has changed in South Africa. There has been substantive economic growth augmented by several factors which relate to apartheid (Lundahl Petersson, 2009). Improved living standards among South Africans cannot also be ignored in any discussion of apartheid. Many jobs have been created for the skilled people who never found an opportunity to work when the regime was at its operational peak. South Africa also prides on some of the most prestigious learning institutions in the region which are highly ranked on the world list. It therefore suffices to mention that apartheid had several advantages which cannot be overshadowed by its disadvantages. Against Apartheid Despite the advantages of apartheid discussed above, there is no doubt that the system negatively impacted South Africans in a myriad of ways. From undermining of human rights to promotion of hostility and violence among residents, there is enough evide nce to condemn the regime. It affected several social structures people were not allowed to freely intermarry and interact. This was coupled with limited expression rights as they were believed not to have rights. Movement was highly restricted as black people were to walk with passes and restricted to move within one district. Additionally, forceful evacuation was a norm as black people never owned land and houses permanently (Burger, 2011). What about employment? Many skilled jobs were strictly reserved for whites as black people survived on manual duties with little or no pay. This contributed to low living standards and inability to meet their needs, manifested through labor strikes which were continuously witnessed in several organizations. Consequently, violence escalated with police brutality hitting high levels and several people losing their lives as others spent the rest of their lives in jail. It was a system that needed more condemnation than just protesting in order to allow justice to prevail (Pfister, 2005). Conclusion Apartheid in South Africa is one of the most outstanding in the history of the country with millions of people with painful and remarkable memories. With its culmination in 1994 democratic elections which saw Nelson Mandela rise to power, the regime had severe negative effects, which necessitated the need to end it and pave the way for a fair nation that respects humanity regardless of skin color, ethnicity, country of origin and gender (Pfister, 2005). Based on the above analysis, it is important for a number of lessons to be learnt from it. World leaders need to establish and implement leadership mechanisms that would prevent recurrence of apartheid in South Africa or in other parts of the world. To the millions who suffered under rule, reconciliation efforts are essential in allowing them to accept themselves and move on with life as they mingle with thousands of white settlers who continue owning parcels of land in the country . It should however to be forgotten that apartheid was important in transforming South Africa into what it is today. From factories and infrastructure to a stable economy, it had lifetime merits that ought to be acknowledged throughout in history. References Allen, J. (2005). Apartheid South Africa: An Insiders Overview of the Origin and Effects of Separate Development. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. Atlas College. (2011). Nelson Mandela and Apartheid. Atlas College. Web. BBC. (2010). Profile: Archbishop Desmond Tutu. BBC News. Web. Beinart, W., Dubow, S. (1995). Segregation and apartheid in twentieth-century South Africa. London: Routledge. Burger, D. (2011). History. South African Government Information. Web. Edwards, P., Hecht, G. (2010). History and the Techno politics of Identity: The Case of Apartheid South Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies, 36(3), p. 619-639. Lundahl, M., Petersson, L. (2009). Post-Apartheid South Africa; an Economic Success Story? United Natio ns University. Web. Pfister, R. (2005). Apartheid South Africa and African states: from pariah to middle power, 1961-1994. London: I.B.Tauris. Rosmarin, I., Rissik, D. (2004). South Africa. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.

Black Power Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Black Power Movement - Essay Example It is not possible to comprehend the reason for the formation of the BPP or attempt to explain its violent tendencies without first examining the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s and the specific events leading up to its establishment. This discussion will give a brief synopsis of those historic events and the people that laid the foundation for the forming of the BPP; provide an overview of the party and then delve more deeply into the inner-workings of the organization. Malcolm X (Little) became a powerful speaker in the movement and became more important to the cause by his death than he was in life. As Martin Luther King had secured the character of the Southern black, Malcolm had become the messiah of city slums in the North, Midwest and West. The semi-militant organization he headed, the Nation, grew quickly under his leadership. Malcolm was most remembered for his passionate anti-white speeches. This was an idea that was emulated by other pro-autono my organizations. He was the target of many death threats, one of which, in 1965, was successful. Soon after Malcolm’s death, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale began forming the Black Panthers (Black Panther Party, 2011). The South was the epicenter for the civil rights movement but racial problems had no regional boundaries. As blacks in the south were working to eradicate segregation, blacks in places such as Chicago, Detroit and Oakland were engaged in their own fight for equal treatment. By the mid-1960’s hostility between Oakland’s black community and the police, a long and ever escalating problem, had reached its apex. Because blacks, being seemingly constantly under an increasing intimidation by the police, Newton and Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in October 1966. The pair had been intensely influenced by the teachings of Malcolm X and structured the organization similar to the Black Muslim program except with no pretenses of religious practice. In contrast to Martin Luther King’s methods and teachings of nonviolent protest, the BPP claimed that they needed to equip themselves with weapons for use as self-defense against police brutality. Arming the group did provide the intended protection but, predictably, led to confrontations with the police that often times concluded with a bloody altercation. The Panthers also volunteered their time and efforts performing various activities that helped people in the community. The group made the rounds throughout neighborhoods in Oakland carrying arms, recorders, and various books so as to teach black history, counsel welfare recipients, and effectively protest rent evictions through the court system. The Panthers could be easily distinguished by their uniform dress of black jackets, pants and berets with blue shirts (Jones, 2000). In 1967, Eldridge Cleaver joined the Black Panther Party. At the time, Cleaver was working as a writer for Ramparts magazine and was the c reator of Black House, a political organization in San Francisco. â€Å"Cleaver served as the Panthers’ minister of information. In this position he was in charge of the publication of the Black Panther newspaper. On April 25, 1967, the first issue of the paper was published and

Employee Retention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Employee Retention - Essay Example ty of a company to entice their work force to maintain allegiance and exhibit superior performance delivery in order to satisfy the organization’s clientele. A compromise on the latter may be equated to increased staff turnover and decreased employee retention which can, thus, rescind the organization’s services and customer care (Mohr et al., 2008). Several studies and researches have aimed to analyze the marketing impacts, causes and financial aspects that govern employee retention in order to make an accurate prediction and overall formula to help organizations maximize their human resources capital, minimize the negative feedback from the consumers of their goods or services and continually improve the quality of service that a company offers. However, despite these efforts, there may be no universal policy that can accurately predict employee turnover. In most cases, it is affected by the individual characteristics, nature and environment unique to a particular field of work and the labor environment it is subject to. Nonetheless, these researches have served as a basis for designing developing programs that can aid any human resources group to come up with a suitable plan to fit their diverse objectives and eventually execute a pioneering human resources program that benefits workers without endangering incomes (Etchings, 2005). This paper aims to consolidate the recent results of these studies and, eventually, come up with a general theme that can assess employee retention in work places. One of the major concerns of a company that elicits these kinds of researches on job retention and turnover is the balance in the expenditures incurred while maintaining new and old personnel. The reason being that low employee retention results in increased costs to the company due to the increasing costs of separation pay, job announcements, staff rehiring and employee training and upgrading. Estimated values show that these costs may be in the range $3000 to

A History of Art Movements and Styles

A History of Art Movements and Styles Neoclassism was an art and style developed during the late 1700s in the French revolution. It has various visual characteristics: It is solidly modeled using strong direct lights and darks to show form, the compositions are rational in that they are balanced and orderly, presence of strong acidic colors, there are no marks left by the artist since brush strokes are carefully controlled to hide individual strokes and it stresses virtues of classical civilizations of the Greeks and Romans such as discipline, athleticism, education, and moral principles, honesty and charity. Angular and sculptural shapes are normally assigned to males while soft and curvilinear forms depict women. Neoclassical themes are normally centered on classical stories heroic acts and virtues carried out by males who are depicted as gallant and stoic. Felinity in women, on the other hand, is depicted and confined to the domestic and private realm. Neoclassicism is therefore depicted as masculine whereby the male body depicts topical issues on politics, society and sexual attributes. The Neoclassic painting of the famous violinist Paganini by Ingres shows this form perfectly. Romanticism was an art style during the mid 1800s that was a resultant of the revolt against Neoclassicism. The major characteristics of Romanticism are: It attempts to display ideal beauty through dramatic scenes, individual marks of the artist can be viewed, it is a form of art that is based on feelings basically of love rather than thoughts hence gets the viewer to experience strong emotions and it is based on an exotic subject matter. In its theme, it is normally based on atmospheric landscapes with a nostalgic depiction of the past especially the Gothic with a bias towards the primitive such as traditional folk culture, cult of individual heroic figures who are often revolutionaries in art or politics, mysticism, the cult of sensibility that emphasizes on women and children, passion for romance and a fascination with death. The romantic painting of Paganini by Turner attempts to show the feeling of his music through the emotional qualities of the man and physical traits of the c omposer. Impressionism is an art movement or style that started in the mid 1800s in France. There are various characteristics of Impressionism such as: Asymmetrical balance whereby the plunging perspective, cropped forms and art work compositions are balanced asymmetrically; use of pure color whereby pure, prismatic colors fresh from the new tin tubes unmixed on the palette are laid directly on the canvas; use of Impasto or thick paint applied in thick raised strokes to create a roughened uneven texture; use of a high horizon line in order to create a plunging perspective; use of colored shadows and the use of broken color and broken brushstrokes. The theme expresses perceptions of nature by covering rural landscapes, maritime landscapes, pastoral landscapes, bucolic visions of nature and aquatic art. Neo-Impressionist paintings have gone further to entail urban scenes and joyous modern life in working class scenes. One of the famous pieces of art was Girl with a Hoop done by Pierre-Auguste R enoir in 1885. Surrealism is a form of art and a cultural movement that started in the 1920s which drew elements from both Cubism and Expressionism. Over the years, the members have produced great works in visual artworks and writings. There are various characteristics of this style which entail a blend of the depictive, the abstract, and the psychological. Some devices applied are levitation, changing of scale in an object, transparency and use of repetition in creating a typical art form. The juxtaposition of objects that would otherwise not be grouped together is also used in order to convey a certain message or show a metaphor. Most artworks have simple titles that simply state the subject matter for easy comprehensibility. The major theme is the ability of love to overcome reason which has been widely depicted by the French surrealist Desnoss in Deuil pour Deuil whereby the narrator is in a ruined desert city close to a river yet he insists on us. This illustrates a blind quest for love. Other themes covered are sexuality as depicted by Metamorphosis of Narcissus painted in 1937; artistic intention, chance and fatalism; relation between dream and reality and taboos. The basics of cubism can be seen in another art movement such as pointillism and fauvism. Cubism is the art form entailing creation of abstract shapes in three dimension on a two dimensional surface. Artists such as Pablo Picasso have popularized this art form. The artists attempt to show several views on multiple planes of a particular subject is the most distinguishable feature. Cubist art forms are also shallow in depth and perception. It preserves a warped two-dimensional look via a presentation of subjects that are broken up along geometric planes. Analytic Cubist art applies monochromatic color scheme while synthetic cubism adopts multiple color schemes. The most popular theme is still life as depicted by the Still Life with Open Window painting by Rue Ravignan in 1915. This is a work of art that depicts inanimate subject content, commonplace objects such as flowers and manmade objects such as jewellery. Religious and allegorical symbolism is attached to the art. Futurism is an art form that emerged in Italy under the Italian poet, Filippo Marinetti . There are various essential characteristics of futurism such as it includes irregular, agitated lines communicating the movements energy and images being displayed as if in perpetual motion. Futurism is based on a theme of violence, war, anarchy, technology and speed based on an urban background which is conveyed through the artworks energy. Paintings and sculptures glorify life and the changes in technology that transforms objects. Carrà  s Funeral of the Anarchist Galli displays police attacks and the riot aftermath in 1904 Italy. Broken panes and diagonals rendered energetically distinguish this art form. Post-Impressionism is a resultant art form as a widely felt reaction against impressionism. These paintings apply the bright Impressionist palette but create art in a formalized order and structure. Paint application technique applied enables the viewer to see the image from multiple angles. In the art work, one can easily see brushstrokes, the style used and the personal experience of the painter over fidelity, multiple viewing angles and the personal expressiveness of the painter. Paintings are based on realistic scenes of modern life which are displayed by visual effects rather than inclusion of details. This is particularly the case in Alfred Sisleys 1872 painting Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne. Realism is an art form that aims at faithfully representing reality and various aspects of actualities in life. It mainly represents the middle class without any prejudice, romance or idealism. It is characterized by a representation of reality in comprehensive detail with characters being of more importance than the action or plot. There is a complex relationship between characters, nature, social class and their past. The diction applied in the compositions is natural but poetic. This art form deals with ethical issues and choices in its themes. The socio-economic class conflict is addressed in these compositions as a major theme. The widening gaps between rich and poor are depicted by the characters used. Charles Dickens work on David Copperfield, the suffering of impoverished children who have to work in industries illustrates realism explicitly.

Bill Gates :: essays research papers fc

Bill Gates went from an upper middle-class family to the one of the richest men in the world; who owns the largest software company, Microsoft. Neither Bill, nor Microsoft have reached their peak, but many events helped to lead them to where they are today. In the beginning, Bill Gates, a skinny, shy awkward boy born on October 28, 1955 to Mary and William Gates. As a teenager, Bill seemed an unlikely successor to his overachieving parents. His father, an attorney and his mother a teacher, University of Washington regent, and chairwoman of the United Way placed him in Lakeside. This is a very elite private school. It was there, that Bill was first introduced to computers. The following year, he wrote his first computer program, then a scheduling program for the school - which coincidentally placed him and his best friend, Paul Allen, in the same classes as the prettiest girls in the school. Bill was accepted to Harvard University in the fall of 1973. Bill did not willingly venture to parties as most college students do, unless dragged there by his friend Steve Ballmer, whom he later repaid by naming him president of Microsoft. He slacked off a bit always trying to get the highest grades by putting in the least amount of energy. In his second year he dropped out, he and Paul Allen founded a company called Traf-O-Data, which analyzed city traffic data. Though a good idea, there was not much need for it. After reading an article in Popular Mechanics, Gates and Allen contacted M.I.T.S. in regards to providing software for the new computer Altair 8800. They were soon contracted for programming languages and moved to New Mexico and started Micro-soft (the hyphen would later be dropped). Soon IBM contacted the two asking for an operating system for their first personal computer. Bill told them he would be happy to make an operating system, although that’s not exactly wh at he did. Gates purchased a system QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) for $50,000 from another company, changed the named to MS-DOS and sold it to IBM. So on the contrary to public opinion, Bill Gates did not write MS-DOS, he bought it, changed it slightly, and put his name on it. In order for Microsoft to get to the top, they had to have a very good business strategy. Their strategy is to sell software at low prices, until people are hooked.

How does Jane Austen ensure that Lizzy and Darcy are the most attractive couple in the novel? Essay

We are introduced to the character of Lizzy early on, and in such away that we are immediately given a positive impression of her. We first hear of her in a conversation between Mr and Mrs Bennet when discussing the arrival of Mr Bingley. â€Å"I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy† Mr Bennet says, â€Å"Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters† This is the first impression that we have of Lizzy. To introduce her character in this way means that even before meeting her, we are already thinking of her character and already have an image of her in our minds. We see that Mr Bennet points out Lizzy’s ‘quickness’, showing that she is clever and not absent minded and dull. By hearing his praise of her, we can not dislike her unless we see something that we disapprove, which never occurs, as such. In order for Darcy and Elizabeth to be attractive as a couple, they also need to be attractive as individuals. Their attractiveness, not just of looks but of personality, are hinted to us throughout the novel. Lizzy is strong-willed, witty, bright and intelligent. â€Å"Really, ma’am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement, because the elderly may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last born has a good a right to the pleasures of youth as the first.† This is from the conversation between Lizzy and Lady Catherine about Lydia’s marriage, which shows how Lizzy is happy to speak her mind and show her point of view. To the reader this is admirable, perhaps especially at the time when in society she would have kept it to herself due to her age, position and feminism. We see also, that various people, like her father, have much more respect for her due to it. This leads to influence us to see her in the same way. Darcy originally appears to us in a different manner. While the first impression we get of Lizzy is positive, the impression we get of Darcy is soon considerably negative. However, Jane Austen does not immediately influence us to dislike him. â€Å"his friend Mr Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a-year.† The quote is taken from when Darcy first enters the story at the Meryton ball. He is talked of with much approval and very much admired. However, this view is soon altered when we witness his conversation with Bingley at the dance. Bingley is attempting to persuade Darcy to participate and to dance with Lizzy. â€Å"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.† This insults Lizzy, being in her earshot, and yet she can laugh at how ridiculous his manner was. His rudeness also influences the reader of how we perceive him. With additional incidents similar, we are for a long time under the impression that Darcy is a very proud and rude man and so it takes a long time to change our views. However, with the image of the very first description of Darcy, there is something slightly attractive in his character to grow on. It is interesting to note that although Darcy is handsome and very rich, we do not base his attractiveness individually on this. There are also other attractive features of Darcy that develop later on in the novel. This is interesting as it is opposite to an incident in the book concerning Wickham. â€Å"She could have added, â€Å"A young man, too, like you, whose very countenance may vouch for your being amiable†.† Here Lizzy has mistaken the good looks of Wickham for goodness. While Wickham is attractive in the face, his personality is not so. We are not only drawn to Darcy for his looks, however, but also look for something more attractive than physical attraction and wealth. â€Å"He is the best landlord, and the best master,† she said, â€Å"that ever lived; not like the wild young men nowadays, who think nothing but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but what will give him a good name.† This report of Darcy from his housekeeper demonstrates the character we see developing. By such information, it is suggested that what we originally presumed of him to be proud and rude, may actually, in some ways, be misunderstandings of his character, as we learn that he is merely the strong, silent type. The improvement of Darcy’s character, as well as the less obvious improvement of Elizabeth’s, is one of the attractive features of their partnership. The way that they work on their relationship is attractive because they do not just settle with an easy option but admit mistakes and amend problems. They both realise faults in themselves due to each other. Darcy’s pride and Lizzy’s prejudice. Darcy’s pride we have already seen at the ball. This is shown to us in an obvious manner and even stated and talked about. It is often Lizzy who complains about it and is the reason that she despises Darcy so much and for so long. This also demonstrates her prejudice. Although it is noticeable in many occasions, her prejudice is less public. However, she still learns from her mistakes. These two aspects of their characters do not mix and so is not until they can overcome them, that they realise how right they are for each other. The development of their partnership in this way is attractive, rising it above other couples in the novel. We can look at the marriage of Bingley and Jane, for instance, for comparison. Jane and Bingley’s marriage is the only other in the book that we are happy for, however, the marriage of Lizzy and Darcy still improves on it. While the former is very simple and ‘pretty’, the latter is a lot deeper, with the way it was developed forming interesting layers of characters. Other couples are a lot more obviously unsuited. Mr and Mrs Bennet are one such example. When their marriage took place, Mrs Bennet married up in society, while Mr Bennet married down. Mrs Bennet was attractive but vacuous and she didn’t improve in intelligence. We can presume that Mr Bennet regretted the marriage. We see an inclination of this when he is advising Lizzy on her marriage to Darcy. â€Å"My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about.† We can suggest from this that Mr Bennet is reflecting on himself, and the mistake that he carried out in marrying Mrs Bennet, as he appears to be talking from experience. We see many examples where he is not happy with his marriage and not happy with Mrs Bennet. â€Å"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor† This is Mr Bennet’s reply to a conversation with Mrs Bennet about what would happen to their property when he died. We see how he has no respect for her as he is continually mocking her in this cruel way throughout the book. The amount of sarcasm and irony he uses suggests that he is merely taking it all as a joke, as if were he to take it seriously, he would not be able to handle it. We see also in the novel how, to get away from it, he spends a lot of his time by himself in his library where Mrs Bennet and the rest of the family can not disturb him. Lizzy and Darcy’s marriage however, already proves to be more successful. As a couple, they are good for each other. They can succeed in the development of each others character. They are both intelligent people, unlike Mrs Bennet, who can carry out intellectual conversations and discussions. We can see this in an earlier conversation. â€Å"To yield readily – easily – persuasion of a friend is no merit with you.† â€Å"To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either.† â€Å"You appear to me, Mr Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of friendship and affection† This is one such example of Darcy and Lizzy exchanging and debating opinions. We can also compare this to the marriage of Charlotte Lucas and Mr Collins. â€Å"When Mr Collins could be forgotten, there was a great air of comfort throughout, and by Charlotte’s evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must often be forgotten.† This was taken from Lizzy’s visit to Hunsford to visit Mr and Mrs Collins. It shows how happier Charlotte is when her husband isn’t there, and that this is often the case. Lizzy and Darcy however, enjoy each other’s company immensely and do not tire of it. We see that the Collins’ marriage is a marriage of convenience. It is stable, they have money and their own space from each other, but there is no love. They would never sit and enjoy a conversation but would much rather be separate from each other, similarly to Mr and Mrs Bennet, but right from the start of their marriage. Darcy and Lizzy as a couple are attractive because they are so meant to be. Jane Austen has written us a Romantic novel where the well matched always end up living happily ever after. They are not bad like Lydia and Wickham and so we feel a great love for them and believe that they deserve to be happy together. By being able to compare them to many other couples in the book we see even more clearly how they, as a couple, are the most attractive.

My Speech On Faith And Faith - 1491 Words

The wind whispers into my ear his name, sitting down on my front porch looking up into the sky thinking what it would feel like to be part of something that is out of this world. But for me, faith is something you can’t change or just even something you cannot force to happen. Until he came along, he wasn’t one of those boys that was annoying and that was after every girl that was passing by. We all think of every boys and girls the same, but we have to truly see who this person is. My uncle surprisingly called me to go for a driving as we went for a drive, I told my uncle â€Å"it’s hard to find someone who will stick by your side forever†, my uncle agrees to what I told him the only thing he told me is â€Å"Faith† is the key to your path to help†¦show more content†¦At this point I knew that something you found or that was in your path to find you has found you and this was my path. Fights after fights is like you fight a lion over and over to just be the winner. Every relationship is never perfect, there is no such thing as perfect, if you live in a world that’s perfect well you need to start living the real world. I’m tired of arguing, I’m tired of these lies. But there is one thing I can only do is to let you go, they are movies, songs and story of two people becoming one. This one song that caught my attention I’ve paid attention to songs that has to be about love or breaking up, but this one song caught my attention like a dog wearing a coat. â€Å"How did we†? Who names a song how did us? A name of song may sound weird or may look like the artist was just too lazy to come with a title, it made me wonder how did we ended up where we are right now in the battle where we are not supposed to be. To grow as a person or to get to know who you are we need gain from the fights we build together, we can’t run from yourself sometimes we have to risk what we have. â€Å"How did we become greater than we are† †¦I wish I could open my chest and show you everything. Most people don’t know exactly how to express their feelings towards others battles are not always easy to fight but battle helps the relationship grow. It’s been a year and 3 months is that enough? â€Å"No† I said there is moreShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of I Have A Dream Speech900 Words   |  4 PagesWashington, where King delivered his I Have A Dream speech. He followed what he believed in, doing the right thing fighting for the civil rights, and even though terrorists started to bomb King’s home and wanted to force him to give up his fight for equal rights. His speech changed the world, without his address King’s opinions of freedom wouldn’t touch peoples hearts, and they wouldn’t stand up as a whole family to fight for themselves. Throughout the speech, King successfully declares his opinions, andRead More Faith in E. M. Forster’s What I Believe Essay521 Words   |  3 PagesFaith in E. M. Forster’s What I Believe E. M. Forster’s â€Å"What I Believe† is interesting in that it reflects a moderated idealism. Throughout the essay, Forster will make a proclamation, such as rationality is good, and subsequently retreat half a step, in this case insisting on the continued necessity of faith. It is an interesting technique and demonstrates much of the complexity of his positions, and arguably those of Bloomsbury insofar as they are a whole. Particularly interestingRead MoreJohn F. Kennedys Inaugural Address1049 Words   |  5 PagesJohn F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address Ceremonial speeches are given to mark ceremonial events and help a society move beyond their differences. John F. Kennedy gave a ceremonial speech, his inaugural address, on January 20th, 1961, marking one of the most historic speeches in time. In John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address speech, that is being evaluated today, the author uses social cohesion as a call for the nation to give back to the country, as we should do of course, and to ask, and expect less fromRead MoreI Accepted Salvation And Became A Member Of The Christian1165 Words   |  5 PagesI accepted salvation and became a member of the Christian community since I was nine years old. I grew up learning about the Bible and how it applied to me as a Christian. I was confident in my faith. One of the most important lessons taught to me was the scripture in Matthew 22:36-40 â€Å"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandmentRead MoreThe Book Of James For My Reflection On One Of Paul s Letters1551 Words   |  7 PagesI chose to read the book of James for my reflection on one of Paul’s letters included in the New Testament. I decided upon the New International Version because this is the version I usually use in church and prefer. Reading James in one sitting was very enjoyable and not too challenging. The book is not very lengthy so it did not take a long period of time to read. Reading it without interruption also caused me to see things in a new way. My interest was sparked and I was enticed to continue readingRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis847 Words   |  4 Pagesstory Cairo: My City, Our Revolution, Ahdaf Soueif goes and fights for her country. In the speech I Have a Dream, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was influencing people to go and protest to get their rights and in the speech A Eulogy for Dr. Martin Lut her King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy influences people to change and do as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The last two people were speaking to influence people. They made a change, they did something and hope something will change. First, the speech I Have a DreamRead MoreBarack Obama 2004 Keynote Speech800 Words   |  4 PagesDuring his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama introduced himself as a skinny kid with a funny name. The rising star of Illinois politics was elected to the U.S. Senate three months later. His delivery, using rhetoric, was full of fervid sentiment that reminds us of what we love about the United States of America. His passionate speech inspired Americans to renew their faith in their country and persist their individual dreams and yet still come together as oneRead MoreSpeech Essay in Speech Format.1514 Words   |  7 PagesYou have been invited to give a speech to the Australian Speaking Society on the topic ‘great speeches – the secret of success.’ Write the transcript for the speech including references to at least three speeches set for study. *** Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer and poet of the mid-19th century once said: â€Å"Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel,† and how correct is he even today. 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He addresses both his accuser, who suggested that Obamas views disrespect his faith as a Christian, and his liberal supporters, who urged him to ignore these statements because â€Å"a literalist reading of the Bible was folly† (2). In his speech, Obama recommends a middle ground between these two views, in which â€Å"the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values†