Empowering and delegating Essay Example for Free

Empowering and delegating Essay Delegation is the method of giving decision-making authority to lower-level employees. For the process to be successful, a worker must be able to obtain the resources and cooperation needed for successful completion of the delegated task. Empowerment of the workforce and task delegation is closely interrelated. Empowerment occurs when upper-level employees share power with lower-level employees. This involves providing the training, tools and management support that employees need to accomplish a task. Thus, the employee has both the authority and the means to accomplish the work. Even though authority can be delegated, responsibility cannot; the person who delegates a task is held responsible for its success in the end. Thus the assigned worker is liable for meeting the goals and objectives of the assignment (Camp 2006). Using successful delegation benefits management and subordinates within the organization. Possibly the most significant advantage for the company is a higher quality of work. At my workplace, delegation can improve quality of work by permitting the employees who have direct knowledge of the laws, regulations and procedures governing the administration of public assistance grants and programs and of interviewing and record keeping techniques to make decisions and complete tasks. Employees may do their work better because they may feel a personal liability for the ending result, even though responsibility ultimately rests with the person who made the delegation. Motivation should also be enhanced as delegation enriches the workers job by expanding the types of tasks that are involved in it (Camp 2006). â€Å"Effective delegation leverages the manager’s energy and talent and those of his or her subordinates. It allows managers to accomplish much more than they would be able to do on their own. Conversely, lack of delegation, or ineffective delegation, sharply reduces what a manager can achieve. The manager also saves one of his or her most valuable assets, time by giving some of his or her responsibility to somebody else. He or she is then free to devote energy to important, higher-level activities such as planning, setting objectives, and monitoring performance† (Bateman and Snell 2007). Empowered delegation can increase the coordination and integration of work by funneling information and final accountability through a single source (Whitten ump; Cameron, 2007, p. 467). Managers who delegate effectively also receive several personal benefits; most importantly, they have more time to do their own jobs when they assign tasks to others. Working in management can be chaotic and hectic at times, so time is very precious. The use of delegation gives management freedom to focus on managerial tasks such as planning, organizing and control. Managers can also benefit from the skill development of lower-level employees. With a more highly skilled workforce, they have more flexibility in making assignments and are more efficient decision makers. â€Å"Managers who develop their workforce are also likely to have high personal power with their staff and to be highly valued by their organization† (Camp 2006). Effective delegation is actually crucial for effective succession. The main task of a manager in a prosperous organization is ultimately to develop a successor. When this happens, everyone within the organization can progress to higher things. â€Å"As a giver of delegated tasks you must ensure delegation happens properly. Just as significantly, as the recipient of delegated tasks, you have the opportunity to manage upwards and suggest improvements to the delegation process and understanding especially if your boss could use the help† (Chatman 2008). Three behaviors to be practiced by a manager to enhance their skills in Delegating and Empowering are: Good Communicator Knowing what you want accomplished may seem clear in your head, but if you try to explain it to someone else and are met with a blank expression, you know there is a problem. Being able to clearly and succinctly describe what you want done is extremely important. If you can’t relate your vision to your team, you won’t all be working towards the same goal. The ability to communicate with people at all levels is a very important skill managers need to possess. Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations and feedback. There is a great deal of value placed on openness and directness. The manager is also the teams link to the larger organization. The leader must have the ability to effectively negotiate and use persuasion when necessary to ensure the success of the team and project. Through effective communication, project leaders support individual and team achievements by creating explicit guidelines for accomplishing results and for the career advancement of team members. Training new members and creating a productive work environment all depend on healthy lines of communication. Whether that stems from an open door policy to your office, or making it a point to talk to your staff on a daily basis, making yourself available to discuss interoffice issues is vital. Your team will learn to trust and depend on you, and will be less hesitant to work harder. Ability to Inspire An effective manager is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it. Visionaries thrive on change and being able to draw new boundaries. It was once said that a leader is someone who lifts us up, gives us a reason for being and gives the vision and spirit to change. Visionary leaders enable people to feel they have a real stake in the project. They empower people to experience the vision on their own. According to Bennis They offer people opportunities to create their own vision, to explore what the vision will mean to their jobs and lives, and to envision their future as part of the vision for the organization. (Bennis, 1997). Being Organized Organization is an obvious characteristic of a manager, but it manifests itself in a variety of ways, including in an ability to stay focused on the big picture and to prioritize competing responsibilities. In most projects, there are so many things that have to get done that its hard to stay on top of everything and in control of everything, says Kondo. Being able to prioritize work for your team is a critical aspect of what a manager has to do with respect to delegating and empowering. Conclusion In conclusion, allowing management to dedicate more time to important decision-making tasks while lower-level employees carry out assignments means that assignments are done in a more well-organized and lucrative manner. Additionally, as employees develop and progress in their own line of work, their skills to contribute to the company enhances also. Throughout the delegation process, management and employees must work together and communicate about the project. The manager should know the ideas at the beginning and inquire about progress or problems at periodic meetings and review sessions. Thus, even though the employee executes the task, management is available and currently aware of what’s going on. Many projects and issues are complex; therefore, managers will be pressed for times to address issues in a timely manner. The manager does not have to do it alone. The manager can delegate work. An effective manager does not mind delegating, for it can maximize the organization success, empower employees, and increase productivity. When a manager can delegate effectively it demonstrate leadership, and it maximizes the manager success. Without delegation and the empowerment that must accompany it, no organization and no manager can enjoy long-term success† (Whitten ump; Cameron, 2007, p. 467). Management within an organization that wants to find out how to successfully delegate should keep this quote in mind: â€Å"If you are not delegating, you are merely doing things; but the more you delegate, the more you are truly building and managing an organization† (Bateman and Snell 2007). References: Bateman, Thomas S. and Snell, Scott A. Management: Leading and Collaborating in a Competitive World, Seventh Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2007 pages 266-269 Camp, Richard R. (2006). Delegation: Benefits of Delegation, Drawbacks of Delegation, Planning, Process. Retrieved from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/De-Ele/Delegation.html February 20, 2008 Chatman, Alan (2008). Effective Delegating Authority Skills, Tasks and the Process of Effective Delegation. Retrieved from http://www.businessballs.com/delegation.htm February 21, 2008 Chatman, Alan (2008). Goal planning – Personal Aims, Targets, Goals, Visions, and Life-Changes – Making Things Happen. Retrieved from http://www.businessballs.com/goal_planning.htm February 21, 2008 Bennis, W., 1997. Learning to Lead, Addison-Wesley, MA.

Democratic and Republican Party History

Democratic and Republican Party History The Democratic Party came from the Anti-federalists before Americas independence from Britain rule. The party was organized by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, along with other influential opponents of the Federalists in 1792. The Republicans party is the younger of the two parties, founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists and modernizers. The party rose to prominence with the election of Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president. Over the past years the two major political parties have been given colors, to which we can associate them with in the election. Republicans have been given the color red and Democrats the color blue. The Republican (red states) are strongest in the South and West, and weakest in the Northeast and the Pacific Coast. The strongest of the red states are Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, and in the western states of Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho. The Democrats (blue states) once were strongest in the Southeast but now they are strongest in the Northeast, Great Lakes and along the Pacific Coast. Dominating in California and Hawaii. The Democratic Party and Republican Party dominate America but differ greatly in their philosophies and ideas. Democrats have a philosophy that is Liberal. Founded on the idea of liberty and equality. Generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of religion, free trade, and a right to life, liberty, and property. Republicans believe in a social philosophy, which reflects American Conservatism in the U.S. Political Spectrum. Republicans support a pro-business platform, with the further foundations in economic libertarianism and a brand of social conservatism increasingly based on the viewpoints of the Religious Right. Both parties differ in their Economic ideas. Democrats favor minimum wage and progressive taxation Higher tax rates for higher income people. Republicans believe taxes shouldnt be increased for anyone and that wages should be set by the free market. Military is a big topic, Democrats want to decrease spending and Republicans want to increase spending on military. Stand on gay marriage is another big topic, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. Its a never ending battle. Stands on the Death Penalty differ also. Democrats, while support for the death penalty is strong among Democrats, opponents of the death penalty are a substantial fraction of the Democratic base. A large majority of Republicans support the Death Penalty. Abortion has been a big topic for decades and they still differ in their beliefs. Democrats believe it should be legal, supporting Roe v. Wade. Republicans believe it should not be legal, opposing Roe v. Wade. This is where Pro-Life and Pro-Choice come from. Another belief the two parties disagree on is Social and Human Ideas. Democrats are based on a community and social responsibility and Republicans are based on individual rights and justice. Social democratic views improves public service by creating a government system that is able to discover citizens that suffer from unequal circumstances that make it more difficult to fulfill their ambitions. Once this is discovered, the government provides the service to help these individu als. Social conservatism is a political idea that focuses on traditional values. General principles: favor pro-life, opposes euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, and abortion. Now not all Republicans and Democrats believe what their party believes. There are plenty of people that go both ways and other that are directly in the middle. That is why we have so many undecided or independent voters in our elections. Influences that third parties have on American politics are that they bring more light to the issues. Third party voters will mostly go with the party that is closet to independent values. Even though third parties dont win elections, a lot of people vote for them. Taking votes away from the other parties, which has an Impact in the election. John McCain would have won in 2008 if it wasnt for third parties. Many laws were first introduced and then raised by third parties. One example would be prohibition, the legal act of prohibiting the manufacturing of alcohol. I identify with the Republican Party, Im conservative. First off I do not believe in distribution of wealth. I dont see how you can take money away from people that work hard and give it to the people that wont work, sit around all day, or use drugs. Living off the Government shouldnt be a choice for a career in our Nation. Even if the Government taxed the rich they wouldnt even come close to touching our national debt. Small businesses and the wealthy actually help the economy a lot, by purchasing goods from local businesses or running a business and giving jobs to the American People. I believe the Democrats want to tax the rich more and give back to the poor so they look good and get the votes, just my two cents. Increase spending on Military, why wouldnt you? We have the strongest military in the world and the Democrats want to decrease spending? It shows weakness, we have to be strong. Now I dont mean we need to be in every country in the world and be protecting all our allies. We need to keep our military strong because we never know when someone will try to attack us. This has been proven in 2001 with 9/11 and also the attack in Benghazi on 9/11/12. If we let the world know we are decreasing spending on our military they might not think twice about attacking. My stand on abortion, first I will let you know I am very religious. So my opinions will come from religious beliefs and also how I feel about abortion. I support abortion in the case of rape or if it is harmful to the women. If a 12 year old is raped then she should be allowed to have an abortion because she is too young and birth could potentially result in death. In the case of just rape the women should go to the hospital and get a rap kit from a doctor. If you do choose to wait months before an abortion then I do not support it in that case. I oppose gay marriage; I dont think it should be legal for the same sex to marry. I dont see any positives that could come from it. It wouldnt help our economy; it wouldnt help our states or government. I feel the Democrats are for it just to get votes; even President Obama came out in an interview and said he supports gay marriage. Thats one of the main reasons I feel its getting harder for Republicans to get a person in the white house cause the Democrats support almost everything the Republicans dont, abortion, gay marriage, Immigration, Etc. Since the division of the Republican Party in the election of 1912, the Democratic Party has consistently positioned itself to the left of the Republican Party in economic as well as social matters. The two parties, in my mind, will never come to a compromise. They are too far apart in their belief, thats why we continue to refer to them as left and right. The third parties will always be around, though they may never win. They will continue to propose new laws and take away votes from the two major parties. I identify with the Republican Party because I feel they are right, their beliefs align with mine.

Child Labour in Malawi

Child Labour in Malawi Theories of child labour rely on the universal concept of a child and a set age limit of responsibility and working life, however in many developing countries this concept does not exist or cannot exist because of poverty and lack of education.. Work can also not be limited to paid employment, as many children often help out in domestic work at home, a phenomenon not limited to the developing world, as it can be seen in the responsibilities of children who are carers in the UK. So with the differences in the social aspects between the countries in the developed and developing worlds, can we apply the theories of development, modernisation and dependency to the concept of child labour in the Malawi province when it is a largely western construct- this paper will discuss child labour in relation to these theories and attempt to draw conclusions on the notion of child labour in a developing countries. A child according to UNCIEF is a person under the age of 18 years and the convention states that international law that state parties must maintain that all children benefit from special protection measures and assistance (www.unicief.org). It goes on to state that a child must have access to education and health care and must be knowledgeable about and contribute to the process of attaining their rights. Conversely, the notion of a child is a challenging one according to James et al, in their book Constructing and Reconstruction Childhood, the writers go on to state how childhood is a social construction, and has different forms in different societies. (Prout et al, 1967). This view is in contrast to that of the western notion of child that appears to adopt the blanket view of the child and one size fits all. Children globally should be protected and remain in the family unit until they reach the age of 18years. It does not however allow for different cultural approach, or whether a child contributes to the household due to poverty, or indeed the child needs to fund their education (Leonard, 2009). To define a child is a difficult and emotive issue, and definitions and norms surrounding childhood vary over time and place, and within developing societies the move from childhood to adulthood may not be based on age (Johnson, 2012). According to the University of Malawi Centre for Social Research child labour has existed in Malawi for a long time. It goes on to state that it part of the Malawian culture to have children assist their parents in the home, and it was not until the late 1890s that child labour formalised (University of Malawi). In developing countries such as Malawi children are integrated into the household economy at an early age, where according to the International Labour Orginastition where 93.7% of girls and 90% of boys between the ages of 5-14 are unpaid family workers. Paid labour is 3.8% for girls and 4.7% for boys, self-employed is 2.6% for girls and 5.3% for boys (www.ilo.org). In to Whites consortium the writer argues that cultural doctrine in relation to child work appears to be a more general issue when it is raised on the international level of debate. White goes on to say that ethical issues are raised, and he raises the question as to whether the rights of different cultures should be recognised when debating child labour (white, 1999). The discussion continues in Whites paper where globalisation is concerned and takes the form of international debates regarding taking the child labour subject across borders, cultures and political worlds (Kent, 1995: 80). This according to White results in a debate that will never be resolved (Alston, 1994: 16). White believes that with regard to universalism of which he states there are three; cultural relativism that cultures cannot be compared, resulting in according to White cultures that can only be understood in their own terms. The second is cultural relativism as an ethical and political belief, in that culture is immune from critism from outsiders. Whites third cultural relativism pertains to developed worlds view of developing world and how we need to learn and observe and not change (White, Ben. 1999). This would tie in with the notion that west is not always best where the majority countries are concerned. The western notion could be misunderstood an issue raised by Leonard when she notes that children work in many types of work in developing or majority world countries and its the minority that work in the production of goods for the global market (Leonard, 2009). The estimate of child work involved in family based work is 70% (ODonnell et al. 2002). Leonard also argues that targeting child labour will categorises all child work and has a negative effect on the economics of the child and their nation state (Leonard, 2009). This further the debate on Whites third cultural relativism and the need to learn and respect for different cultures and to understand what other cultures define as child work as opposed to child labour and how western notions are not the best way to future development (White, 1999). In the now developed countries of the world millions of children once worked in mines, mills agriculture and on the streets, often in similar conditions to that of todays developing world, but yet the developed countries took several generations to address the issue of child labour according to Hindman. (Hindmand, 2009). It is this western notion of childhood that is imposed on the now developing countries that are sometimes viewed as deviant or backward when they dont adapt the west is best approach to childhood. It is this western notion of development that Frank argues developing countries could never adopt as developed countries have never experienced colonialism. He goes on to argue that many countries such as China and India were quite advanced before they were colonised in the eighteenth century how a peripheral account of development for developing countries would be that the deviancy of developing countries cannot be explained feudalism of traditionalism ( Frank, 1967:1969). It is according to Frank past experience of colonialism and domination that have reversed the development of what he term advanced developing countries and forced them to become economically regressive, and he terms this the development of underdevelopment this he writes signifies as unnatural and was created by historical colonialism (Frank, 1967: 1969). Defining development according to storey, 2009 was for many years straightforward and was seen as equivalent to economic growth of which Gross National Product (GNP) was used as the main indicator and is used in determining the individual total or per capita. This equation is used to determine the development or under development of a country (Storey, 2009). Social scientists Walt Rostow developed the idea that growth consists of five stages in which developing countries moved from traditional society to an age of high mass consumption. But the concept of growth without development came into question in the 1960s and 1970s (Storey, 2009). It was not until 1990 that Human Development Index (HDI) was introduced to accurately measure whether people were better off in terms of health, freedom, education and other aspects of life that were not measured by Gross National Product (GDP). Human Development Index was an alternative to Gross National Product; it does not however include the cultural features that make up a society (Lopez, 2009). There have been critism of HDI no more so than Storey when he states how the Human Development Index is extremely motivated by Western notions (Sen. 1981). Developing countries according to Frank 1990 became a urbanised western areas that are drained of their natural resources. This was prevalent as a result of colonialism and according to Baran 1957 India was at the fore of development in the world in the eighteen century. Their economy was seen as comparatively progressive and their production was the best in the world (Baran, 1957). The policies forced onto India were to result in India becoming dutiful to Britain and resulting in India becoming dependant on Britain and moving backwards from a moderately progressive industrial nation to a regressive agricultural nation (Baran, 1957) According to Frank this was a dependency theory with regard to international capitalism, and resulted in the division of labour that was responsible for the underdevelopment of many countries. The division of labour is the reason for poverty and capitalism regards the division of labour as essential when it comes to the distribution of resources (Frank, 1967). In 1963 an agreement was reached between European Community and its former colonies to address the underdevelopment of the former colonies and to contribute to a equally useful trading scheme with a range of trading measures. But in 1986 the European Union repositioned itself with regard to global economic position. This was followed by the Maastricht Treaty (1992) saw policy changes to include the smooth and slow incorporation of developing countries world into the world economy, this saw the change in the method in which governments approached support and trading treaties, this according to Mc Cann lead to a more globalising focus on the type of help that developing countries would receive. Mc Cann believes that the EU has the capacity and the financial means to give more help to developing countries. But he notes that after 50 years after the first help from the EU under the Treaty of Rome, developing countries continue to experience social and economic marginalisation, and these further impacts on the poorest and most helpless in developing countries (Mc Cann, 2009). The overseas Development Institute briefing paper for 1973 state that the International Munirity Fund (IMF) has become more interested a better balance between supply-side and demand-management, and the progress of economic growth within the said nation. It goes on to say how the IMF insist on reforming info-structure to encourage growth in the economy and this results in cuts to education and hospital which impact directly on children who may as a result of these measures need to work to help their family or themselves (www.odi.org.uk). In an International Monetary Fund (IMF) working paper by de Carvalho Filho 2008, on Household Income Determinant on Income on Child Labour and School Enrolment. The discussion focuses on household income as a problem where child labour and school enrolment is concerned. This plays back to the need for children to work as opposed attending school. It goes on to note the importance of policies that will improve the human capital of poor children and cut inequality in developing countries (www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2008/wp08241.pdf). The paper does not however focus on the determination of the IMF to ensure that the country seeking aid is required to restructure and to cut spending in order to get financial help from IMF in the first instance. According to Aide Internationale Pour Lenfance a nongovernmental organisation, the IMF contribute to child labour when they insist that countries severely indebted to them reduce their spending on education and healthcare increasing poverty and child labour www.aipe-cci.org/en/en-index.html . World Bank Global Child Labour Program was established in 2003 to research child poverty, and to actively address child labour within its lending and non-lending procedures. Another topic within this programme is for the World Bank Organisation to enable greater support between multilateral agencies (www.worldbank.org). In Malawi according to the World Bank Oginasation has a poverty level of 67.34% the WBO plans to transform Malawi form being an importing and consuming economy to a mainly manufacturing and exporting one (www.worldbank.org). Malawi gained its independence from colomlism in 1962, with a history of corruption and high interest loans it is according to an article in the economy watch dated 9th April 2010,one of the poorest countries in the world. It relays mainly on agriculture and its main crop it tobacco that employs a high percentage of children, and has been criticised by the International Labour Organisation for its use of child labour with some children as young as 11 years working sorting tobacco leave ( www.economywatch). . Tabaco growers are worried as the World Health Organisation Agreement on tobacco that will see governments move their economies away from tobacco growing, leaving the poorest vauranable and unsure of what crop they can grow to sell on the world market (www.bbcnew.co). Malawi gets significant financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank. The drive to reduce loans has led to server economic policies being implanted by the current government that has imposed severe hardship on the poorest of Malawi

The Economic Viability of American Agriculture Essay -- Agricultural E

The Economic Viability of American Agriculture â€Å"Hey mom, what is for supper tonight?† â€Å"Oh I don’t know son, what do you feel like eating?† â€Å"Well, I think I would really like to eat some steak and mashed potatoes and maybe some green beans; but first off we could start with a nice fresh salad and finish up with a rhubarb pie.† â€Å"That all sounds great son, but unfortunately all we have here is the steak; I’ll have to go to the store and see what I can find.† Later that evening the supper the family had was exactly how the son wanted it to be: the steak, potatoes, green beans and the rhubarb pie to top it off. Where do you think all of these products come from? They all can be traced back to the very importance of the world’s agriculture. We sometimes may take for granted that whenever we want a specific product we can just go to the store and purchase it. All we do is buy it and then consume without even thinking of all the hard work and time that went into the making of that specific product. This proves how valuable agriculture is to the American population; it is basically the sole provider as a food source, no matter what size the farm is. Nowadays farming is starting to become harder and harder for the men and women who call it their jobs. They have less land and fewer resources to use and they have more mouths to supply. This poses a major question; is agriculture still economically viable? Through out the rest of this paper there will be certain points that will be able to prove if agriculture really is economically viable. Such points will include the size of the farm and the types of crops that are grown there. Another point that will be touched on is how well agriculture is publicized and how well the surro... ... same time. As an American attitude, agriculture needs to stay economically viable because of its importance to the human race. Bibliograhpy Sonja Brodt, Gail Feenstra, Robin Kozloff, Karen Klonsky, Laura Tourte, â€Å"Farmer-Community Connections and the Future of Ecological Agriculture in California†, Agriculture and Human Values (2006) Vol. 23 Pg. 75-88 Charles A. Francis, â€Å"Greening of Agriculture for Long-Term Sustainability†, Agronomy Journal September-October 2004 Vol. 96 Num. 5 Steven C. Blank, â€Å"Producers Get Squeezed up the Farming Food Chain: A Theory of Crop Portfolio Composition and Land Use†, Review of Agricultural Economics Vol. 23 Num. 2 Pg. 404-422 James W. Richardson, David P. Anderson, Edward G. Smith, â€Å"Can We Save the Traditional Family Farm?† Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Department of Agricultural Economics. February 2001.

Spanish Languages Influence on the Puerto Rican Identity Essay

Spanish Language's Influence on the Puerto Rican Identity The initial occupation of Puerto Rico by the Spaniards carries an important implication for language as part of the Puerto Rican identity. The Spanish language was imposed upon the inhabitants of the island, the Tainos, in the sixteenth century, when the Spanish inhabited the island in 1502, after the Spanish conquerors claimed the island in the name of Spain in 1493. Eventually, the Spanish had moved out or taken over the ways of the old and their culture infiltrated that of the Taino to create a new dimension of the first storey, where the Spanish language was incorporated as the building blocks of the foundation of the Puerto Rican identity (Figueroa, Sept.15). The Spanish maintained control over the island until 1898, when Spain relinquished Puerto Rico to the United States as a result of the Spanish American War. This change begins the construction of the third storey (the second storey involved the economic and political growth of the island under Spanish rule). The 400 years of Spanish history and influence on the island caused conflict for notions of identity and has great impact on Puerto Rican identity. Although the Spanish had come to the island and taken over, decimating the entire Taino population, Puerto Ricans now take pride in the fact that the Spanish contributes to their identity (a result of acculturation), and that they are a (mainly) Spanish speaking nation. Although it wasn't initially intended to be, the acquisition of Puerto Rico resulted in the island becoming an unincorporated territory (http://Welcome.ToPuertoRico.org/history.htm). The passing of various acts, such as the English Only Act (1902), the Foraker Law (1900- establishing un... ...". From Negrà ³n-Muntaner and Grosfoguel (Eds.), Puerto Rican Jam: Essays on Culture and Politics. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 257-285. Rivera, Angel, Q. "Music, Social Classes, and the National Question in Puerto Rico". In Glasser. Scarano, Francisco. "Sugar and Slavery in Puerto Rico, 1815-1849: An Overview," from Scarano, 1984, Sugar and Slavery in Puerto Rico: The Plantation Economy of Ponce, 1800-1850. Madison: U of Wisconsin Press. pp.3-34 Trà ­as-Monge, J. (1997). "The Shaping of a Colonial Policy". From Trà ­as-Monge, Puerto Rico: the Trials of the Oldest Colony of the World. New Haven: Yale University Press, 36-51. Walker, Rich. (1998). A Multicultural Alternative to Language and Nationalism. Http://frontpage.trincoll.edu/rwalker. Waxer, Lise. (October 29, 1998). Puerto Rican Music Between Rafael Hernandez and Rafael Cortijo.

Is It Necessary to Have a Debut?

They say, when you reach the age of eighteen, you will be on the legal age. You are free to decide everything that you want; free to go on adults places and be who you wanted to be. It is also in this age that every teenagers long for. That is why; having a debut is one way of celebrating this occasion. But is it really necessary for us to have this? For my own perspective, having a debut on your legal day is something that is not necessary in our life. I understand that we celebrate our 18th birthday through because you have this reason that is your way of showing you are very grateful that you have finally reached this age. But isn’t it too expensive to have this? Is it really important that you have these 18 candles and 18 roses on that day? Can we just show our gratitude in just a simple dinner shared with our family? Don’t get wrong, when I was on this age. I was also grateful that I celebrated my birthday having a debut party with my friends. To tell you honestly, it was not me or my family who organized it. It was my college friends. It was a surprise for me. And just by being frank, that was the first birthday in my life that I wasn’t with my family but it was very unforgettable day. I never planned to have a debut nor ever dreamed of having one. It’s just that God might put me into a place where I am being valued. And it is something that I am thankful of. For the details of my debut, I have also these 18 candles and 18 roses. Instead of having a dance with these 18 handsome boys, who are my friends, they sang a song which will represent our love and friendship for each other. They planned everything on my birthday. From the dress I wore on that day to the car I rode on that place and to the food we’ve ate. Everything was so perfect. Except that my family is not there. Oh I forgot to tell you. They’ve also invited some of my High school friends. That was really surprising. Though they don’t know each other, they still managed to plan everything for a surprise. One year later, it was my birthday again; I will be on the age of 19. But what I realized is that being 19 have no difference when you are 18. Except that you have added 1 more year in your life. Some of my friends have already forgotten my birthday. They will no longer remember it unless they’ve seen it on Facebook. At this point, I thought about having a debut is not necessary. We can be as grateful as we are in our everyday life. We can thank everyone not only in our 18th birthday but we can have it every day. We may not have everything that we want on our birthday but at least we may have nothing.

Native American Religions Essay

Native American Religions happen to be one of the oldest and most enduring forms of religion. They comprise a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups. Native Americans arrived on the North American Continent fifth-teen thousand to twenty thousand years ago. Native Americans have literally sources that exist from only the last four hundred years even though Native American life covers perhaps twenty thousand years. Over three hundred tribes have been recognized by the United States government. Native Americans are the only known ethnic group in the United States requiring a federal permit to practice their religion. In the state of Virginia, Native Americans face a unique problem. Virginia has no federally recognized tribes. Native American Religions have also been known as American Indians, Amerindians, Amerinds, Aboriginal, Indians, Indigenous, Original Americans, Red Indians, or Red Men. Native Americans religions are polytheistic. Native American Religions are remarkably free of priesthood. Native Americans are very personal in that they encourage Page 2 individuals to contact the spirit world alone. Native Americans believe that many levels of Gods and Spirits exist in the universe. They think of the High God or Great Spirits as a personal God. They believe in the Supreme Being in a manner found in many basic religions. Native religions have some of the qualities of monotheism, polytheism, and monism. Native American has been exposed to Christian eschatology for more than four hundred years. The influence of Christianity has been so strong that today most Native Americans are Christians. They are interested in the day-to-day life among the multiple spirits found in the world. Native Americans have a reverent attitude toward the land, trees, rivers, and mountains. Native Americans who practiced agriculture revere the soil, plants, and tree. Hunting was an important part of life within many Native American Cultures. The hunter would pray to the spirit of the animal before the hunt. Hunting was a religious pursuit in which the hunters saw the animal as a fellow creature, with a similar spirit. After all hunting’s one would ask the animal for forgiveness. They would basically perform a taboo. A religious action that enables people to avoid doing things that would offend the spirits of nature and the ancestors. This was one of the ways the Native American would protect themselves from possible danger from the spirit world. Another widely observed taboo is the avoidance of the dead. Taboo concerning about Page 3 the dead led Native Americans to be greatly concerned about their final resting places. There is no heaven for those who have been righteous and no hell for those who have been wicked. Native Americans often seek to control the forces of spirit world with ceremonies. The purpose of their ceremonies, rituals, songs, and dances is not necessarily worship. They are a mean of renewing the partnership between humans and the spirit world. Long hours of dancing in this atmosphere prepare the participants for contact with the spirit world. Holy week is also celebrated a song and dance. Native Americans often gain special powers by seeking visions that may place them in connection with the spirit world. Visions are sought by Native Americans at other times in life. The spirit may appear after a period of fasting and prayer, or sometimes without any preparation. The Sweat Lodge is probably the most important Native Ritual. The sweat lodge usually occurs before and after every other major ritual like the â€Å"Sundance† and â€Å"Vision Quest†. It is also a â€Å"stand alone† ritual meaning that it occurs whenever it is needed. Its original purpose was to cleanse or purify individuals. Mother sweat lodge essentially translates in to returning to the womb. The Sun Dance last from four to eight days starting at the sunset of the final day of preparation and ending at sunset. It showed continuity between life and death – regeneration. It shows that there is no true end to life, but a cycle of symbolic and true deaths and rebirths. All of nature is intertwined and dependent on one another. This gives an equal ground to everything on the Earth. The sun dance was a significant part of the Crow Indian people’s Page 4 spirituality. It was a spiritual retreat in which a large number of participants would fast, pray and dance for a period of days. They asked for answers to events going on in their lives. Traditional Native Americans seem to believe in two souls, neither of which is considered immortal. One soul is the life, or the breath, that accompanies the body. The other soul is known as the free soul. One of the most common elements of Native American Religions is the use of tobacco and the sacred pipe in religious ceremonies. Tobacco was originally grown and used only for religious purposes by Native Americans. The tobacco used in religious ceremonies is stronger than the tobacco used in cigarettes. The ritual tobacco is occasionally smoked in rolled from corn husks. Most Native American tribes had traditional gender roles. Men hunted, traded and made war, while women gathered plants, cared for the young and the elderly. Women ever had the task of making weapons and tools, they took care of the roofs of their homes and often helped their men hunt buffalos. Many Native American people believed in the unusual power of a woman at these times in life. During a women menstruation she was kept away from ordinary society. Native Americans today have a special relationship with the United States of America. In conclusion, Native Americans can be found as nations, tribes, or bands of Native Americans who have sovereignty or independence from the government of the United Statesry society. Like other religions, Native American belief systems include many sacred Page 5 narratives. Such spiritual stories are deeply based in Nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, earth, water, sky and fire. The idea of an all powerful Great Spirit, a connection to the Earth, diverse creation narratives and collective memories of ancient ancestors are common. Traditional worship practices are often a part of tribal gatherings with dance, rhythm, songs and trance.