Little Buddha The Path of the Enlightenment

Despite the fact that Bertolucci’s movie has a number of flaws, historical inaccuracies and a rather jumbled plot, it can still be considered a rather impressive and memorable interpretation of Siddhartha and the Four Noble Truths. The first noble truth, i.e., the truth of dukkha, or suffering and anxiety, is shown in Siddhartha’s battle with Mara, i.e., the demon representing the ego.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Little Buddha: The Path of the Enlightenment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the process, Jesse practically defeats himself; thus, through the denial of his self, he learns the nature of non-self, which leads him to the Enlightenment. The Second Truth, i.e., the origin of dukkha, is represented by Jesse’s parents, whose ignorance prevents them from letting Jesse join the ranks of the Buddhist monks. The representation of the Third Truth i.e., the cessation of dukkha, can be t raced in Jesse’s way from a Buddhist to a Buddha. Eventually, the movie unwraps the secret of the Fourth Truth, which is the path to the cessation of dukkha, as the leading character fights his personal demons to become the Enlightened One. The movie follows the source material very closely, representing each part of The Dhammapada in a unique and original way. Pairs: Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is a law eternal (The Dhammapada). In the scene with the serpent, the latter embodies hatred. Just as rain does not break through a well-thatched house, so passion never penetrates a well-developed mind (The Dhammapada). The given concept is shown through Siddhartha’s fight with the serpent. Heedfulness: Heedlessness is the path to death (The Dhammapada).Advertising We wil l write a custom essay sample on Little Buddha: The Path of the Enlightenment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ever grows the glory of him who is energetic mindful and pure in conduct, discerning and self-controlled, righteous and heedful (The Dhammapada). As Siddhartha acquires new skills and learns new ideas, he fights his heedlessness. The mind: As a fish when pulled out of waterAdvertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More and cast on land throbs and quivers, even so is this mind agitated. Hence should one abandon the realm of Mara (The Dhammapada). Whatever harm an enemy may do to an enemy, or a hater to a hater, an ill-directed mind inflicts on oneself a greater harm (The Dhammapada). Again, the scene with the snake represents the pitfall of hatred. Flowers: As a mighty flood sweeps away the sleeping village, so death carries away the person of distracted mind who only plucks the flowers (of pleasure) (The Dhammapada). Upon a heap of rubbish in the road-side ditch blooms a lotus, fragrant and pleasing (The Dhammapada). With lotuses representing pleasures, the movie portrays the dangers of indulging into pleasures well enough. The fool: A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent, but a fool who thinks himself wise is a fool indeed (The Dhammapada). Fools of little wit are enemies unto themselves (The Dhammapada) The concept of a fool is introduced by Siddhartha’s parents, who are at first unwilling to let their son become Sidhartha. The wise: On hearing the Teachings, the wise become perfectly purified, like a lake deep, clear and still (The Dhammapada). Those whose minds have reached full excellence in the factors of enlightenment, who, having renounced acquisitiveness, rejoice in not clinging to things — rid of cankers, glowing with wisdom, they have attained Nibbana in this very life (The Dhammapada). Wisdom, on the contrary, is introduced in the scenes with the monks. The arahant: The fever of passion exists not for him who has completed the journey (The Dhammapada) Inspiring, indeed, is that place where Arahants dwell, be it a village, a forest, a vale, or a hill (The Dhammapada) In the scene when the lead becomes Siddhartha, the latter is shown as a person who yet has much to learn. The thousands: Better than a thousand useless words is one useful word (The Dhammapada) Better it is to live one day strenuous and resolute than to live a h undred years sluggish and dissipated (The Dhammapada). The scene in which Siddhartha turns thousands of flaming arrows into flowers can be considered an allusion for Thousands. Evil: Hasten to do good; restrain your mind from evil. He who is slow in doing good, his mind delights in evil. (The Dhammapada) The snake in the movie represents evil. Some are born in the womb; the wicked are born in hell; the devout go to heaven; the stainless pass into Nibbana. (The Dhammapada) Siddhartha’s path to wisdom represents a progression from evil to stainless. Violence: Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill. (The Dhammapada) Speak not harshly to anyone, for those thus spoken to might retort. (The Dhammapada) In the movie, Siddhartha is intrinsically kind. Old Age: The man of little learning grows old like a bull. He grows only in bulk, but, his wisdom does not grow. (The Dhammapada) Those who in youth have not led the holy life, or have fai led to acquire wealth, languish like old cranes in the pond without fish. (The Dhammapada) The silly monks in the movie show that there are few links between age and wisdom. The self: One should first establish oneself in what is proper; then only should one instruct others. Thus the wise man will not be reproached. (The Dhammapada) By oneself is evil done; by oneself is one defiled. (The Dhammapada) By defeating his self, Siddhartha reaches his dhamma in the movie. The world: Lead a righteous life; lead not a base life. (The Dhammapada) Blind is the world; here only a few possess insight. Only a few, like birds escaping from the net, go to realms of bliss. (The Dhammapada) The world is depicted as a very secular place in the movie. The Buddha: Hard is it to be born a man; hard is the life of mortals. (The Dhammapada) Enduring patience is the highest austerity. â€Å"Nibbana is supreme,† say the Buddhas. He is not a true monk who harms another, nor a true renunciate who oppre sses others. (The Dhammapada) As the movie explains, â€Å"the gods often betray the wishes of mortal men† (Bertolucci). Happiness: Happy indeed we live, we who possess nothing. Feeders on joy we shall be, like the Radiant Gods. (The Dhammapada) There is no fire like lust and no crime like hatred (The Dhammapada). The movie declares that the happiness is an unattainable goal, which is still worth striving for: â€Å"In the end, happiness to us all, My Lord† (Bertolucci). Affection: From affection springs grief, from affection springs fear. (The Dhammapada) From craving springs grief, from craving springs fear. (The Dhammapada) Siddhartha is taught to take control of his passions in the movie. Anger: Overcome the angry by non-anger (The Dhammapada). Let a man guard himself against irritability in speech; let him be controlled in speech. (The Dhammapada) The training that the leading character undergoes represent the process of fighting anger. Impurity: Make an island un to yourself! Strive hard and become wise! (The Dhammapada) Unchastity is the taint in a woman; niggardliness is the taint in a giver. (The Dhammapada) The concept of purity is expressed through using the pronoun â€Å"he† when talking about the female llama: â€Å"Llama Dorje wasn’t a woman. He was the abbessof a convent† (Bertolucci). The just: Not by mere eloquence nor by beauty of form does a man become accomplished, if he is jealous, selfish and deceitful. (The Dhammapada) The sage (thus) rejecting the evil, is truly a sage. (The Dhammapada) The movie shows that being just is the ultimate path to Enlightenment. The path: Of all the paths the Eightfold Path is the best; of all the truths the Four Noble Truths are the best; of all things passionlessness is the best: of men the Seeing One (the Buddha) is the best. (The Dhammapada) The eight folds of the oath are shown through the stages of Siddhartha’s enlightenment. â€Å"All conditioned things are uns atisfactory† (The Dhammapada) Miscellaneous: If by renouncing a lesser happiness one may realize a greater happiness, let the wise man renounce the lesser, having regard for the greater. (The Dhammapada) Therefore, be not an aimless wanderer, be not a pursuer of suffering. (The Dhammapada) Suffering is mentioned several times in the movie as both the path to dhamma and something to free the world from: â€Å"I have been born to reach Enlightenment†¦ and free all creatures from suffering† (Bertolucci). Hell: There are many evil characters and uncontrolled men wearing the saffron robe. (The Dhammapada) Any loose act, any corrupt observance, any life of questionable celibacy — none of these bear much fruit. (The Dhammapada) Weirdly enough, the idea of hell does not occur in the movie. The elephant: Best among men is the subdued one who endures abuse. (The Dhammapada) Better it is to live alone; there is no fellowship with a fool. (The Dhammapada) By being able to withstand the arrogance of the rest of the world, he is able to reach dhamma. Craving: Whoever is overcome by this wretched and sticky craving, his sorrows grow like grass after the rains. (The Dhammapada) Beset by craving, people run about like an entrapped hare. (The Dhammapada) Siddhartha’s enemies are displayed in the movie as the people with wretched cravings. The monk: The monk who abides in the Dhamma, delights in the Dhamma, meditates on the Dhamma, and bears the Dhamma well in mind — he does not fall away from the sublime Dhamma. (The Dhammapada) Empty this boat, O monk! Emptied, it will sail lightly. Rid of lust and hatred, you shall reach Nibbana. (The Dhammapada) The final scene in the movie shows Siddhartha reaching Dhamma. The holy man: He who is free of cares and is unfettered — him do I call a holy man. (The Dhammapada) Because he has discarded evil, he is called a holy man. (The Dhammapada) Both verses can be referred to Siddhartha’s p ath of becoming a holy man. Two scenes stand out especially in the movie. To start with, Siddhartha’s first encounter with his demons is worth mentioning. Another impressive scene comes at the very end of the movie, when the sand mandala, which must have been representing the passage from the secular life to the Enlightenment. The given scenes represent the key Dhammapada postulates, i.e., the pursuit of wisdom and the completeness of the Path.  Finally, the showdown between Mara and Siddhartha deserves a mentioning. Though shot in a typically Hollywood traditions, it still carries the flair of the original story. The fight with Mara can also be considered an attempt to cease dukkha, i.e., access the Fourth Truth, seeing how Mara clearly represents Siddhartha’s tortures: â€Å"You are pure illusion, you do not exist. The earth is my witness† (Bertolucci). Works Cited Bertolucci, Bernardo (Dir.) and Jeremy Thomas (Ex. Prod.). Little Buddha. Keanu Reeves, Bridge t Fonda, Chris Isaac (Perf.). New York, NY: Miramax Films. 1993. Web. Netflix. The Dhammapada. n. d. Web. This essay on Little Buddha: The Path of the Enlightenment was written and submitted by user Hayley T. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Critical Analysis of Your Own Writing

Critical Analysis of Your Own Writing Critical Analysis of Your Own Writing Critical Analysis of Your Own Writing By Guest Author This is a guest post by Alice Peterson . If you want to write for Daily Writing Tips check the guidelines here. So you think you have something to say? How do you get past the stymieing effect of self-analysis? Is this good enough? Will your target audience be provoked to the point of discomfort? Are you â€Å"okay with that?† American literature today is in danger of being hampered by the three-minute attention span. Educators are being taught that that there is a â€Å"generational culture† (isn’t that an oxymoron? I’ll save that for a later article) wherein our audience no longer has the abstract-thinking ability to solve a complex problem. Our literary contributions are bound to suffer. How can we sidestep this problem and improve our critical thinking skills for writing? Here is I challenge I have for you: attempt to read the passage below and answer the following questions in four minutes. Are the characters consistent with their time and place? Is the dialogue appropriate to both the audience of the writer and the character? Is the writing original and thought-provoking? Some might call Big J a megalomaniac. Although a tradesman by day, he threw lavish outdoor parties on weekends in his fishing village of Golly Me for anyone who would listen to his bombastic diatribes against the status quo. He was known for preparing local cuisine with few calories but full satiety, for this strategy ever-expanded his circle of close friends. Tonight, with a full belly and the feeling of being in an exclusive club, I felt a sense of purpose and renewed energy in my middle age. I was ready to hear Big J’s pronouncements for the week. â€Å"I am the alpha and the omega,† he broadcast to 5,000 of us with only a megaphone to help his voice carry. Heads in the crowd restlessly turned right-to-left and left-to-right. Confused faces repeated the words in their native English. Sure, Big J is the smartest guy in the room. Few of us had been to college and studied foreign languages. What was he talking about? It was Greek to me. 1. â€Å"Why here, why now?† This is the simplest tool of critical thinking. Why did I have the character suddenly speak in a language foreign to his fictional audience? No one in my story was well-travelled, or had been to college yet. They might not even read well or at all. Perhaps it was to establish J as â€Å"the smartest guy in the room,† well-travelled and culturally astute. I have to determine if this anachronism detracts from the scene, or if it is worth it so I can later sell simple fish trinkets that are coincidentally shaped like the Greek letter alpha. 2. What about the first paragraph? Is it realistic to say low-calorie, highly satisfying food is a crowd pleaser? We are in a fishing village, so the local cuisine is fish. We know most fish contains protein and healthy fats which do produce a full feeling for fewer calories than meals heavy in carbohydrates. 3. What about the megaphone? Have I ever been at an outdoor event at the back of a crowd of 5,000 and heard the entertainment clearly over a megaphone? Personally, I am not a fan of the outdoor concerts with sophisticated electronic s and speakers. Just a few hundred people or so between myself and the stage will greatly reduce my acoustical enjoyment. Although we all look for time-savers throughout our day, practice is truly the best way to improve skills. This exercise probably took you between four and five minutes to complete. Keep applying this tool to everything you read and write, and you will be rewarded with expert skills, and maybe a little discomfort. Alice Peterson serves on the editorial review board for the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to Use â€Å"That,† â€Å"Which,† and â€Å"Who†"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?Glimpse and Glance: Same or Different?

Women and Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Women and Politics - Essay Example Policy decisions in such circumstances are necessarily to be meticulous at least for the time being. American deregulation of genetically engineered food products such as Geep meat (a cross between a sheep and a goat) and certain forms of new vegetables into Canadian market is the best example of the like situation. Media analysis on this issue had critically assumed that the decision should have been of Canadian origin.(Joel Schalit, 1994 ). Going back in centuries, we can have an overall idea of politics through Aristotle2. His science of politics encompasses two different fields namely ethics and political philosophy. As regards ethics his contention that practical wisdom could not be acquired solely by learning general rules is noteworthy. Answers to the abstract question of whether egoistic behaviour serves the general good can be got from general equilibrium theory with respect to some idealized circumstances. This theory does not matter if people are in fact egoistic3. The conventional alienation of women in politics has almost disappeared. The gender gap has become the defining feature of the US elections since the previous two and a half decades. In fact the gender differences were apparent in many races since 2006 and still continue to be long-term trends. Women as voters have developed themselves as an efficient controlling factor in elections. This showed their knowledge of politics would set trends in politics. (Susan J. Carroll, 2006). The recent voting trend in the Super Tuesday Races of February 5, 2008 confirms the gender gap. In California and Masachusettes, where Hilary Clinton won the gender gap was just 14 while in Utah where Obama won the gap was 204. The role of media that is considered to be a formative pillar in any democracy still lacks its interest in propagating the achievements of women politicians. The Round Table conducted by IPU in 1997 made efforts to its fullest strength to bring the women politicians more in

Media Relations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Media Relations - Assignment Example There are several significant values that are attached to the Ramadan festivities in the Islam calendar, and being the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims are mostly expected to fast from dawn till sunset for about 29 or 30 days. Given that the Islamic calendar is determined by the lunar cycle including the Ramadan that comes after the ninth month, with the glimpsing of the new moon (Murray, 2012). Taken from the Arabic word ar-ramad implying dryness or scotching heat, Ramadan signifies a mandatory fasting season for the adult Muslims in which in the entire ‘blessed month’ they are required to abstain from foods, drinks and other physical needs. Ramadan is intended to be a time for cleansing the soul, focusing attention on God and enthusiastic self-sacrifice. Eating begins after sunset, taking into consideration the aspect of cleansing the soul for God. Hence, Ramadan can be perceived as a period when Muslims are educated on matters of spirituality, patience and humility (Murray, 2012). Persons are required not to engage in defiling activities that may hinder their purity. In other aspects Muslims are required to restrain their bodies, particularly the tongue from aspects of gossip and backbiting. Immediately after Ramadan, follows the celebrations for the holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr. Non-Muslims should perceive this month as a highlighting of the Muslim brotherhood customs, and brings a special feeling of closeness (Murray, 2012). â€Å"The philosophy of fasting calls upon us to know ourselves, to master ourselves, and to discipline ourselves the better to free ourselves. To fast is to identify our dependencies, and free ourselves from them.†- Tariq

Film Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Film Analysis - Essay Example He joined a Neo- Kazi movement where he befriended the leaders of that group, and started his mission with rage. When in the movement he killed two black men who were members of the gang. Before he killed them he found them trying to break into the truck that his father had left for him. Later he was imprisoned for three years as a result of manslaughter. As the film starts, there is a flashback, where Danny is trying to get some sleep but he cannot sleep because he was disturbed by the noise coming out from his brothers’ room. The brother was having sex with his girlfriend. He then hears another voice from outside, when he peeped through the window he saw a black man who was trying to break into his brothers’ truck. Danny ran into his brothers’ room to inform him about what he had seen. Derrick ran out with his pistol and started firing at the black men, and he managed to kill all of them. After that incidence Derrick is sentenced for three years imprisonment. I n prison, he was raped by the fellow skinheads but later was befriended by a black man whom he had to work for, just for his security in prison. The experience that Derrick went through, when in prison changed him forever. On his return home he realized that his younger brother Danny had started to involve himself with the group of white supremacy. Danny was spitting the racial slurs right and left, the same way that Derrick used to do before he was imprisoned (Smith, 2007). Derrick was in dismay when he realized that his family was torn apart, due to his violent action. Immediately after his release he goes to try and see if he can bring the family together. He wanted to reconcile with his sisters and mother, and also to change Danny from his behaviors that were disturbing. Towards the end of the film, it was clear that Derrick was able to change Danny to be the boy that he ones. To distance themselves from the white supremacy the boys had to tear down the pro-Nazi and racist propa ganda that were on the walls in Danny’s bedroom. After he stripped off the hate that was in his room Danny embarked working on his schoolwork paper. The initial intention of that paper was to share about hi Derrick’s lifestyle when in the Neo-Kazi movement (Christopher, 2008). But when he saw how his brother had transformed, his paper took another direction. He wrote a paper full of hope, telling how he and his brother were freed from bondage of rage and bigotry. Towards the end of the film Derrick escorts his brother to school and he bid him bye. After a short while when he went Derrick heard gun shots when he ran to the site he saw his brother lying on the floor with the essay next to him. The film American history X shows some incivility. The emotions of incivility are created in the film because there is a group in the film that is known as the white supremacy. Derrick was in the group and his rage to the blacks is shown when he kills the three black men. He murder ed them brutally because he considered the blacks, an inferior race. Another emotion of incivility is by that instance in the film American history, where Danny was shot by a black (Parfit, 2008). This boy killed him because he was filled with hatred against the whites. The other incidence that shows incivility is when Derricks’ father was murdered by a black man who was a drug dealer. When Danny died Derrick ran to him and started mourning as he asked himself what he had done that led to his

Crisis Of Governance In Pakistan Politics Essay

Crisis Of Governance In Pakistan Politics Essay The concept of governance is as old as human civilization. The word governance has its origin in Greek and it means to steer. In simple words the governance is the process of decision making and the process by which it is implemented (or not implemented). Good governance means that the affairs of the state are managed honestly, with every system in place, where merit is never ignored, rules are meticulously followed and where everyone is equal before law. This could only be achieved if public institutions are strong, independent and responsive to the sentiments of the public. Governance is generally conceived as the exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to improve the quality of life of the people. Governance is a continuous process where divergent opinions and desires are satisfied through compromise and tolerance in a spirit of cooperative action for the mutual benefit of the masses. The basic objective of good governance is to improve the quality of life of people, to ensure that their needs are met equitably. Politics is about the creation and distribution of power among organizations, tribes, communities or society at large. Governance is the mechanism, which controls the relationship between the two extremes the governed and the governors. The political process lies at the core of governance and this can be said to be efficient only if elections are free and fair, the elected are accountable, whereas authority is divided between the legislature, the bureaucracy and the judiciary with decentralization of power. 1.2 Why did I select this topic? Although there are a number of studies on the subject, yet they are generalized in nature and only a few researches have been made relevant to Pakistan. Therefore, emphasis of thesis would be on crisis of governance in Pakistan with special reference to the alien perception (to me, a misperception) of as a failed state because of its bad or misgovernance and its legal aspects. It will include the current situation, its causes and effects, its socio-economic and strategic aspect, the plight of common man and the causality between bad governance and incapacities of the state apparatus responsible for public service delivery and criminal justice system, as well as prospects of course of correction through reforms and institution building. For the preparation of this paper, numbers of research articles, journals and books written by national and international researchers and authors, and different case laws of the apex courts have been consulted. The concept of governance and crisis of governance have been discussed at length in these write-ups. Since the concept of governance in Pakistan has very recently gained focus, there are a few studies on this subject, available in public libraries. Some of the significant studies are briefly reviewed here. The Crisis of Governance and Human Development in South Asia  [2]  explains some of the main crisis of governance in South Asia, its causes and suggests ways to eradicate them. Panandiker has explained the main problems faced by the South Asian countries specially India and Pakistan relating to governance system  [3]  . Ehsan Niaz has discussed cultural aspect of the country right from 1947 and its affects upon governance. He has also explained the role of civil soci ety, politicians and bureaucracy to solve the problems of governance  [4]  . Jan Mohammad Dawood has explained the role and function of superior judiciary in the politics of Pakistan  [5]  . These views will be discussed with special reference to Pakistan. 1.3 Hypothesis/Research Question? Root cause of the crisis of governance in Pakistan is the failure on the part of our successive governments who did not focus their attention on institutional development. Instead, they weakened, corrupted and politicized the existing institutions to an extent that they have become almost non-functional. Research Questions What are the root causes of crisis of governance in Pakistan? What is good Governance and absence of it in Pakistan? Is the state willing to restrict itself to the sovereign functions and to restructure and reform the institutions of governance? What are the controls over Governance? How governance can be improved in Pakistan? 1.4 Scheme of the thesis The research has been divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 is introductory which explains the whole paper with its national and international context, its importance and objects etc. Chapter 2 explains how Pakistan has been facing governance problems right from its beginning. These problems were due to many reasons such as incompetent civil bureaucracy, frequent military interventions, incompetent politicians, lack of accountability system, and non independent judiciary. All these problems have not allowed to flourish Pakistan to become a developed state irrespective of that it has been blessed with both human and natural resources. Chapter 3 deals with the consequences of bad governance and problem of governance. Chapter 4 deals with the role of civil society, judiciary, media and other state building institutions. Chapter 5 deals with the conclusion and recommendations to improve the good governance. Pakistan has faced governance problem right from its very beginning. While most of the comparable countries of Asia which have prospered, started from a comparable low initial level of socio-economic conditions, but have over the period of several decades, created much more sound and stable social conditions. Even India has managed to come out of the classic image of low performance and governance ills, while Pakistan deteriorates on a continuing basis, despite claims of good performance and success. 1.5 Statement of the Problem Problems of governance have been endemic in our country ever since the unfortunate death of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, only a year after the creation of Pakistan. Problems of governance seem to emanate from the unholy alliance between the then so-called political elite and the bureaucrats involved in politics. 4 This state of affairs has adversely affected the quality of life of over 180 million people of this country, making their life and liberty miserable. This situation warrants an in-depth study of the causes and their effects on lives and liberties of our people to establish objective face of current crisis of governance and the prospects of reforms and institutions building. 1.6 INTRODUCTION TO GOOD GOVERNANCE Recently the terms governance and good governance are being increasingly used in modern literature. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly making their aid and loans depending on the condition that such reforms should be made that ensure good governance. Following paragraphs will try to explain, as simply as possible, what governance and good governance means. 1.7 Governance Meanings of governance: The World Bank defines governance as; The exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources to manage societys problems and affairs. 6 An alternate definition suggests that governance is; The use of institutions, structures of authority and even collaboration to allocate resources and coordinate or control activity in society or the economy. English-speakers sometimes erroneously confuse the term governance with the term government. 6 David Bigman oxford publication ed:2011 The exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources, p.1 5 According to the UNDPs Regional Project on Local Governance for Latin America: Governance has been defined as the rules of the political system to solve conflicts between actors and adopt decision (legality). It has also been used to describe the proper functioning of institutions and theft acceptance by the public (legitimacy), and it has been used to invoke the efficacy of government and the achievement of consensus by democratic means (participation). The concept of governance is not new, it is as old as human civilization. Simply put governance means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance7. Since governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis of governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made by the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision. Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of government that is under discussion. In rural areas, for example, other actors may include influential landlords, associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, finance institutions, political parties and the military etc. The situation in urban areas is much more complex. 7. Khan, Hamid Carvan publication ed: March 4th 2004 Constitutional and Political History of Pakistan, p.1 6 At the national level, in addition to the above actors, media, lobbyists, international donors, multi-national corporations, etc., may play a role in decision-making or in influencing the decision-making process. All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the civil society. In some countries in addition to the civil society, organized crime syndicates also influence decision-making, particularly in urban areas and at the national level. . Similarly formal government structures are one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented. At the national level, informal decision-making structures, such as kitchen cabinets or informal advisors may exist. In urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as the Land Mafia may influence decision-making. In some rural areas locally powerful families may make or influence decision-making. Such, informal decision- making is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices. 8 1.8 Good Governance Good governance has eight major characteristics. It is participatory consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective, efficient, equitable, inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. 9 8 http://www.unescap.org/pdd/prs/ProjectActivities/Ongoing/gg/governance.asp accessed on 23rd October 2012 9 Ibid. 7 1.8.1 Participation is key cornerstone of good governance Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision-making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand. 10 1.8.2 Rule of Law Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force. The rule of law is the principle that governmental authority is legitimately exercised only in accordance with written, publicly disclosed laws adopted and enforced in accordance with established procedure. The principle is intended to be a safeguard against arbitrary governance. In continental European legal thinking, rule of law is associated with a Rechtsstaat. According to Anglo-American thinking, hallmarks of adherence to the rule of law commonly include a clear separation of powers, legal certainty the principle of legitimate expectation and equality of all before the law.11 10. G.W.Chaudhary Oxford publications Ed:2007 Constitutional Development in Pakistan, p.180 11. Sir Henry Wheeler, Report of the Government of India Secretariat Committee, ( Delhi: Government of India Press, 1937), p.1 8 Some authors, as J. Shklar, claims that the phrase the Rule of Law has become meaningless due to ideological abuse and general over-use. Samuel Rutherford was one of the first modem authors to give the principle theoretical foundations in Lex, Rex (1644), and later Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws (1748). Rule of law is opposed by authoritarian and totalitarian states. The explicit policy of those governments, as evidenced in the Night and Fog decrees of Nazi Germany, is that the government possesses the inherent authority to act purely on its own volition and without being subject to any checks or limitations. Dictatorships generally establish secret police forces, which are not accountable to established laws, which can suppress threats to state authority. 12 Critiques on rule of law The rule of law, i.e., the application of the body of law to the government, does not restrict the government in any way since any desired government privilege can be made by the government into a legal provision. The rule of law should be seen as a bureaucratic hope for the government to jump through, rather than as a material restriction on government power. This criticism is though mostly relevant where the principle of the separation of powers is not respected (i.e., where the legislative power and the executive power the government-are held by the same body). When the government is not also the legislative body, the principle of the rule of law may hold. Another critique is that the principle of legal equality can be easily subverted since many laws affect different people in different ways. 12. Rowland Egger, Pub: Karachi: The Inter-Services Press, 1953 The Improvement of Public Administration in Pakistan; p.10 9 A law giving the legislators a raise, for example, affects the legislators in a different way than it affects the rest of the public. But since such laws are not necessarily made in accordance with the rule of law, it remains unclear if this criticism is really aimed at the principle of the rule of law itself rather than to actual legislatures. Marxist theory analyzed the capitalist state as an instrument of oppression of the people at the hands of the bourgeoisie, which set the laws to suit it. Following this, some critical theorists analyze the rule of law as a judicial fiction which aims at disguising the reality of violence and, in Marxist terminology class struggle. This theory presumes that the bourgeoisie holds the power to set the laws13. The Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben argues that the state of exception is at the core of the concept of sovereignty, and not the rule of law as liberal thinkers have it. While the sovereign claims to follow the rule of law, any protection the people have, however fundamental, can be thrown away once the government finds it convenient to do so.14 1.8.3 Transparency Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and media. 13. Rowland Egger, Pub: Karachi: The Inter-Services Press, 1953 The Improvement of Public Administration in Pakistan; p.18 14. Rowland Egger, Pub: Karachi: The Inter-Services Press, 1953 The Improvement of Public Administration in Pakistan; p.10 10 1.8.4 Responsiveness Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe. 1.8.5 Consensus oriented society There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community15. 1.8.6 Equity and Inclusiveness A societys well-being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being. 1.8.7 Effective and efficient administration Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment. 16 15. Syed Mujawar Hussain Shah, Pub: West view Press, Ed: 1995 Religion and Politics in Pakistan, p.68 16. Ibid 11 1.8.8 Accountability Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Not only public institutions but also the private sector and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is accountable to who varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization or institution. In general an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law17. Now it should be clear that good governance is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality. Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality. 1.9 Good governance: an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal. Major donors and international financial institutions, like the IMF or World Bank, are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that those reforms ensuring good governance are undertaken13. 1.10 What does Good Governance Ensures? Governance ensures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account, and the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. 17. Dr. Rafique Ahmad, Pub: Asia Publishing House, 1964 Pakistan: Political History, p.102 12 It also makes certain, the participation by both men and women, participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. Participation also means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand, other factors that good governance guarantees are full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities, independent judiciary, an impartial and incorruptible police force. 1.11 International Pledges: Through United Nations Convention against corruption in its resolution 55/61, the General Assembly recognized that an effective international legal instrument against corruption, independent of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime was desirable. The text of the Convention was negotiated during seven sessions held between 21 January 2002 and 1 October 2003. The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly on 31 October 2003, and Pakistan is signatory of it. 18 18. http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/ accessed on 26th October 2012 13 CHAPTER 2 PROBLEMS OF GOVERNANCE IN PAKISTAN Pakistan inherited a well functioning structure of judiciary, civil service and military but a relatively weak legislative oversight at the time of its independence. Over time the domination of civil service and military in the affairs of the state disrupted the evolution of the democratic political processes and further weakened the legislative organ of the state. The judicial arm, with a few exceptions, clump along to purify the dominant role of the military and the civil service. 2.1 Constitutional Aspects Criterion of governance, as provided in the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 is incorporated in the following articles. Article 4 of the constitution guarantees rule of law in Pakistan and it makes Government duty bound to deal with the rights of the individuals in accordance with law, it is to be noted that the article uses the word in accordance with law not in accordance with the law which means the framer of the Constitution wished to give this rule of law clause a wider scope rather than to be limited to some specified laws. Articles 8 to 28 provided in the Constitution are not only rights provided to the citizen but auto-limitations in these rights also provide guiding principles to the Government to go for Good Governance remaining within the auto limits of these Fundamental Rights. For instance in Benazir Bhutto vs. Federation of Pakistan19 it was held that the Constitution has provided auto-limitations, or in-built restraints, on the exercise of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed the Constitution. 19. PLD 1988 SC 416 14 Such auto-limitations or inbuilt restraints not only provide protection to the rights themselves, but also further the interest of social solidarity, sought to be achieved by the makers of the Constitution. Articles 78 to 88, and Articles 118 to 127 and Articles 160 to 171 provides practical procedure for the Financial Governance of the Government both at the Federal and Provincial level, the exact follow-up of the procedure results in Good Financial Governance. 2.2 Kinds of governance in Pakistan. Governance by Federal Government The Constitution provides Articles 90 to 100 for the Federal Governance for Federal Government. Governance by Provincial Government The Constitution provides Articles 129 to 140 for the Provincial Governance for Provincial Government. III- Governance by Local Government The Constitution provides Articles 140/A for the Local Body Governance for Local Government. 2.3 Conflict of Governance and their Constitutional Solutions: The conflict of governance and their solution are dealt in Articles 141 to 144, and article 143 especially deals with Federal, Provincial and District governance Article 152/A, and articles 153 to 159 also provide means to resolve conflict of governance. Here the council of common interest is worth mentioning. It also provides a plane to resolve conflict of Governance amount Federal and Provincial Governments. 15 The Council of Common Interest is a vital constitutional body. Its main object is to care for the common interest of all the provinces. It is the best tool available to resolve the differences, problems and disputes between the Provinces and the Federation. It regulates the policies in relation to the matters in Part II of the Federal Legislative list. The limits of the Council of Common Interest can be understood by the following Case Law. Shamsuddin Qurashi Vs. Finance Member, Railway Board20 It was held that functions of the Council of Common Interests is to formulate and regulate policies with regard to the matters relating to the affairs of the Federation. It has nothing to do with power of the Parliament to legislate or the executive authority of the Federal Government to deal with the employees of the Federal Government. 2.4 The Quran as a Guide line for Good Governance read with Article 227 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973: O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Qist (justice), as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts {of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do. [4/135] And O my people! Give measure and weight in Qist (justice) and reduce not the things that are due to the people, and do not commit mischief in the land causing corruption. [Prophet Shoaib (PBUH) to the people of Madyan 11:85] 20. 1980 PLC (C.S) 207 16 2.5 Civil Bureaucracy and Governance Civil Service in Pakistan is a permanent institution and has to be above party politics. Bureaucracy as a whole remains unchanged with the change of political governments barring transfers with the Ministries / Departments. The history of bureaucracy is not up to the mark, the years in which an elected civilian executive exercised control over bureaucracy. Later on the civilian bureaucracy more or less dominated at all levels of governance. After that the military bureaucracy assumed more or less direct command of all policy making. Then there were years when nobody was really in charge. In terms of performance, the period between 1947 to 1969 was probably the best. Pakistan overcame severe initial challenges and embarked upon an impressive modernization program. The Ayubs regime was better in terms of the countrys economic conditions but bureaucracy take over the key positions of the country which mostly proved to be corrupt and they adversely affected the governance of the country2 1. During the Zia era, bureaucracy was little comfortable with him and a marginal recovery of the conditions of service brought some stabilization in civil service. Bureaucracy was in line with government but it totally failed to provide justice, fair play and merit to the people of Pakistan. In both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif era bureaucracy was fully involved in politics and merit was totally ignored, Corruption was at its peak. As mostly bureaucrats were incompetent so they failed to deliver good governance in the country. During post 1999 era, bureaucracy was the worst hit segment of state apparatus. Musharraf in pursuit of perpetuation of his illegitimate rule tried to bulldoze anything and everything that he thought may hinder his adventure for power. 21. Panandiker, Sudha publishers Ed: 2009 Problems of Governance in South Asia, p 212-213 17 By introducing PCO judges in superior judiciary, he involved his military in routine administrative matters ranging from collection of electricity bills to managing state owned public enterprises. He introduced the Devolution of Power Plan 2000, doing away with the centuries old time-tested administrative service, without realizing its adverse consequences. Placing the civil bureaucracy subordinate to a local government representative namely Nazim of the district was an attempt to put the cart before the horse, which did not work22. 2.6 Frequent Military Interventions From the ancient centers of civilizations in China, Egypt, India and Persia to the classical Hellenic and Roman empires, feudal domains, medieval aristocracies and more recent enlightened despotisms of Europe, it was the sword that dominated the spirit18. It shows that whenever military interfered in the civil government, it has destroyed the whole system of governance the same holds truth for Pakistan. Military has interfered the country many times, much to the destruction of whole democratic system and governance. It has never allowed the state building institutions to flourish so that they could help to maintain good governance in the country. Had military not frequently intervened in the internal administration of the country, we would have a fully developed system of administration in the country and we would have not faced the governance problem. Once the military acquainted itself with the taste of political power, the entire fabric of the constitutional development came crashing down. 23 22. Ilhan Niaz, Karachi: Oxford University Press, Ed: 2010, The Culture of Power and Governance of Pakistan p138-141 23 Ibid 18 Due to clash of legitimacy and prudence, Pakistan has been trapped in a cycle of instability with the military and civilian political leadership destabilizing each other24. The age old Doctrine of necessity has paved the way for military for martial laws. The history of these doctrines can be traced in following cases. Dosso Vs. Federation of Pakistan25, In Dossos case (1958), the Pakistan Supreme Court used jurist Hans Kelsens theory that a revolution can be justified when the basic norm underlying a Constitution disappears and a new system is put in its place. Molvi Tamiz-ud-din Khan Case26, in Molvi Tamizuddin Khan case, the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Mohammad Munir backed Governor General Ghulam Mohammads action to dissolve the first Constitutional Assembly. This judgement of the Supreme Court is always strongly criticized by all democratic parties of Pakistan and is referred to as a root-cause of unstable democracy in Pakistan. Nusrat Bhutto Vs. Chief of Army staff and Federation of Pakistan27 On November 10, 1977 the Supreme Court unanimously validated the imposition of the martial law, under the doctrine of necessity. The law of necessity recognized and upheld by Pakistans highest judicial body, has proved an honorable protection for military adventure in civil government. 24. Shahrukh Rafi Khan, Fozia Sadik Khan and Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Initiating Devolution for Service Delivery in Pakistan: Ignoring the Power Structure (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2007), 4 25. PLD 1958 SC 533 26. PLD 1955 F.C 24 27. PLD 1977 SC 657 19 2.7 End of Doctrine of Necessity in Pakistan a good sign for governance in Pakistan In PCO Judges case on July 31, 2009, the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, decided once and for all that the doctrine of necessity is absolutely inapplicable in Pakistan and such precedent can never be cited in

One Nation Under God Essay -- essays research papers

Would God categorize his children? That is a question that I believe most would give a simple and direct answer: No. Would the United States categorize their citizens? Although the Amendment suggests that all men and women are equal, the fact is, the people of the United States are continuously being classified. So, if indeed the United States is one nation under God, why do we continue to sort ourselves through unreasonable and unethical factors? The misinterpretation of race has shattered the American society and for all that it stands. We should correct America’s immoral actions and assumptions that separate God’s children in hope of reforming the United States toward true equality. The United States is supposed to be a nation of equal beings, yet the government, companies, and organizations in America use race in questionnaires and forms. For example, ******************* admissions form asks to check one of the boxes containing the following: African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, White, Other, and Prefer not to answer. Prefer not to answer should be the most logical choice, but still, the question of race in general, should not be of any concern, especially for filing purposes. Despite the fact, we are haunted by the categorization of our "ethnic background," which vaguely describes our personality. Many other organizations... One Nation Under God Essay -- essays research papers Would God categorize his children? That is a question that I believe most would give a simple and direct answer: No. Would the United States categorize their citizens? Although the Amendment suggests that all men and women are equal, the fact is, the people of the United States are continuously being classified. So, if indeed the United States is one nation under God, why do we continue to sort ourselves through unreasonable and unethical factors? The misinterpretation of race has shattered the American society and for all that it stands. We should correct America’s immoral actions and assumptions that separate God’s children in hope of reforming the United States toward true equality. The United States is supposed to be a nation of equal beings, yet the government, companies, and organizations in America use race in questionnaires and forms. For example, ******************* admissions form asks to check one of the boxes containing the following: African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, White, Other, and Prefer not to answer. Prefer not to answer should be the most logical choice, but still, the question of race in general, should not be of any concern, especially for filing purposes. Despite the fact, we are haunted by the categorization of our "ethnic background," which vaguely describes our personality. Many other organizations...

A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty-five

Eddard Pain is a gift from the gods, Lord Eddard,† Grand Maester Pycelle told him. â€Å"It means the bone is knitting, the flesh healing itself. Be thankful.† â€Å"I will be thankful when my leg stops throbbing.† Pycelle set a stoppered flask on the table by the bed. â€Å"The milk of the poppy, for when the pain grows too onerous.† â€Å"I sleep too much already.† â€Å"Sleep is the great healer.† â€Å"I had hoped that was you.† Pycelle smiled wanly. â€Å"It is good to see you in such a fierce humor, my lord.† He leaned close and lowered his voice. â€Å"There was a raven this morning, a letter for the queen from her lord father. I thought you had best know.† â€Å"Dark wings, dark words,† Ned said grimly. â€Å"What of it?† â€Å"Lord Tywin is greatly wroth about the men you sent after Ser Gregor Clegane,† the maester confided. â€Å"I feared he would be. You will recall, I said as much in council.† â€Å"Let him be wroth,† Ned said. Every time his leg throbbed, he remembered Jaime Lannister's smile, and Jory dead in his arms. â€Å"Let him write all the letters to the queen he likes. Lord Beric rides beneath the king's own banner. If Lord Tywin attempts to interfere with the king's justice, he will have Robert to answer to. The only thing His Grace enjoys more than hunting is making war on lords who defy him.† Pycelle pulled back, his maester's chain jangling. â€Å"As you say. I shall visit again on the morrow.† The old man hurriedly gathered up his things and took his leave. Ned had little doubt that he was bound straight for the royal apartments, to whisper at the queen. I thought you had best know, indeed . . . as if Cersei had not instructed him to pass along her father's threats. He hoped his response rattled those perfect teeth of hers. Ned was not near as confident of Robert as he pretended, but there was no reason Cersei need know that. When Pycelle was gone, Ned called for a cup of honeyed wine. That clouded the mind as well, yet not as badly. He needed to be able to think. A thousand times, he asked himself what Jon Arryn might have done, had he lived long enough to act on what he'd learned. Or perhaps he had acted, and died for it. It was queer how sometimes a child's innocent eyes can see things that grown men are blind to. Someday, when Sansa was grown, he would have to tell her how she had made it all come clear for him. He's not the least bit like that old drunken king, she had declared, angry and unknowing, and the simple truth of it had twisted inside him, cold as death. This was the sword that killed Jon Arryn, Ned thought then, and it will kill Robert as well, a slower death but full as certain. Shattered legs may heal in time, but some betrayals fester and poison the soul. Littlefinger came calling an hour after the Grand Maester had left, clad in a plum-colored doublet with a mockingbird embroidered on the breast in black thread, and a striped cloak of black and white. â€Å"I cannot visit long, my lord,† he announced. â€Å"Lady Tanda expects me to lunch with her. No doubt she will roast me a fatted calf. If it's near as fatted as her daughter, I'm like to rupture and die. And how is your leg?† â€Å"Inflamed and painful, with an itch that is driving me mad.† Littlefinger lifted an eyebrow. â€Å"In future, try not to let any horses fall on it. I would urge you to heal quickly. The realm grows restive. Varys has heard ominous whispers from the west. Freeriders and sellswords have been flocking to Casterly Rock, and not for the thin pleasure of Lord Tywin's conversation.† â€Å"Is there word of the king?† Ned demanded. â€Å"Just how long does Robert intend to hunt?† â€Å"Given his preferences, I believe he'd stay in the forest until you and the queen both die of old age,† Lord Petyr replied with a faint smile. â€Å"Lacking that, I imagine he'll return as soon as he's killed something. They found the white hart, it seems . . . or rather, what remained of it. Some wolves found it first, and left His Grace scarcely more than a hoof and a horn. Robert was in a fury, until he heard talk of some monstrous boar deeper in the forest. Then nothing would do but he must have it. Prince Joffrey returned this morning, with the Royces, Ser Balon Swann, and some twenty others of the party. The rest are still with the king.† â€Å"The Hound?† Ned asked, frowning. Of all the Lannister party, Sandor Clegane was the one who concerned him the most, now that Ser Jaime had fled the city to join his father. â€Å"Oh, returned with Joffrey, and went straight to the queen.† Littlefinger smiled. â€Å"I would have given a hundred silver stags to have been a roach in the rushes when he learned that Lord Beric was off to behead his brother.† â€Å"Even a blind man could see the Hound loathed his brother.† â€Å"Ah, but Gregor was his to loathe, not yours to kill. Once Dondarrion lops the summit off our Mountain, the Clegane lands and incomes will pass to Sandor, but I wouldn't hold my water waiting for his thanks, not that one. And now you must forgive me. Lady Tanda awaits with her fatted calves.† On the way to the door, Lord Petyr spied Grand Maester Malleon's massive tome on the table and paused to idly flip open the cover. â€Å"The Lineages and Histories of the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms, With Descriptions of Many High Lords and Noble Ladies and Their Children,† he read. â€Å"Now there is tedious reading if ever I saw it. A sleeping potion, my lord?† For a brief moment Ned considered telling him all of it, but there was something in Littlefinger's japes that irked him. The man was too clever by half, a mocking smile never far from his lips. â€Å"Jon Arryn was studying this volume when he was taken sick,† Ned said in a careful tone, to see how he might respond. And he responded as he always did: with a quip. â€Å"In that case,† he said, â€Å"death must have come as a blessed relief.† Lord Petyr Baelish bowed and took his leave. Eddard Stark allowed himself a curse. Aside from his own retainers, there was scarcely a man in this city he trusted. Littlefinger had concealed Catelyn and helped Ned in his inquiries, yet his haste to save his own skin when Jaime and his swords had come out of the rain still rankled. Varys was worse. For all his protestations of loyalty, the eunuch knew too much and did too little. Grand Maester Pycelle seemed more Cersei's creature with every passing day, and Ser Barristan was an old man, and rigid. He would tell Ned to do his duty. Time was perilously short. The king would return from his hunt soon, and honor would require Ned to go to him with all he had learned. Vayon Poole had arranged for Sansa and Arya to sail on the Wind Witch out of Braavos, three days hence. They would be back at Winterfell before the harvest. Ned could no longer use his concern for their safety to excuse his delay. Yet last night he had dreamt of Rhaegar's children. Lord Tywin had laid the bodies beneath the Iron Throne, wrapped in the crimson cloaks of his house guard. That was clever of him; the blood did not show so badly against the red cloth. The little princess had been barefoot, still dressed in her bed gown, and the boy . . . the boy . . . Ned could not let that happen again. The realm could not withstand a second mad king, another dance of blood and vengeance. He must find some way to save the children. Robert could be merciful. Ser Barristan was scarcely the only man he had pardoned. Grand Maester Pycelle, Varys the Spider, Lord Balon Greyjoy; each had been counted an enemy to Robert once, and each had been welcomed into friendship and allowed to retain honors and office for a pledge of fealty. So long as a man was brave and honest, Robert would treat him with all the honor and respect due a valiant enemy. This was something else: poison in the dark, a knife thrust to the soul. This he could never forgive, no more than he had forgiven Rhaegar. He will kill them all, Ned realized. And yet, he knew he could not keep silent. He had a duty to Robert, to the realm, to the shade of Jon Arryn . . . and to Bran, who surely must have stumbled on some part of the truth. Why else would they have tried to slay him? Late that afternoon he summoned Tomard, the portly guardsman with the ginger-colored whiskers his children called Fat Tom. With Jory dead and Alyn gone, Fat Tom had command of his household guard. The thought filled Ned with vague disquiet. Tomard was a solid man; affable, loyal, tireless, capable in a limited way, but he was near fifty, and even in his youth he had never been energetic. Perhaps Ned should not have been so quick to send off half his guard, and all his best swords among them. â€Å"I shall require your help,† Ned said when Tomard appeared, looking faintly apprehensive, as he always did when called before his lord. â€Å"Take me to the godswood.† â€Å"Is that wise, Lord Eddard? With your leg and all?† â€Å"Perhaps not. But necessary.† Tomard summoned Varly. With one arm around each man's shoulders, Ned managed to descend the steep tower steps and hobble across the bailey. â€Å"I want the guard doubled,† he told Fat Tom. â€Å"No one enters or leaves the Tower of the Hand without my leave.† Tom blinked. â€Å"M'lord, with Alyn and the others away, we are hard-pressed already—† â€Å"It will only be a short while. Lengthen the watches.† â€Å"As you say, m'lord,† Tom answered. â€Å"Might I ask why—† â€Å"Best not,† Ned answered crisply. The godswood was empty, as it always was here in this citadel of the southron gods. Ned's leg was screaming as they lowered him to the grass beside the heart tree. â€Å"Thank you.† He drew a paper from his sleeve, sealed with the sigil of his House. â€Å"Kindly deliver this at once.† Tomard looked at the name Ned had written on the paper and licked his lips anxiously. â€Å"My lord . . . â€Å" â€Å"Do as I bid you, Tom,† Ned said. How long he waited in the quiet of the godswood, he could not say. It was peaceful here. The thick walls shut out the clamor of the castle, and he could hear birds singing, the murmur of crickets, leaves rustling in a gentle wind. The heart tree was an oak, brown and faceless, yet Ned Stark still felt the presence of his gods. His leg did not seem to hurt so much. She came to him at sunset, as the clouds reddened above the walls and towers. She came alone, as he had bid her. For once she was dressed simply, in leather boots and hunting greens. When she drew back the hood of her brown cloak, he saw the bruise where the king had struck her. The angry plum color had faded to yellow, and the swelling was down, but there was no mistaking it for anything but what it was. â€Å"Why here?† Cersei Lannister asked as she stood over him. â€Å"So the gods can see.† She sat beside him on the grass. Her every move was graceful. Her curling blond hair moved in the wind, and her eyes were green as the leaves of summer. It had been a long time since Ned Stark had seen her beauty, but he saw it now. â€Å"I know the truth Jon Arryn died for,† he told her. â€Å"Do you?† The queen watched his face, wary as a cat. â€Å"Is that why you called me here, Lord Stark? To pose me riddles? Or is it your intent to seize me, as your wife seized my brother?† â€Å"If you truly believed that, you would never have come.† Ned touched her cheek gently. â€Å"Has he done this before?† â€Å"Once or twice.† She shied away from his hand. â€Å"Never on the face before. Jaime would have killed him, even if it meant his own life.† Cersei looked at him defiantly. â€Å"My brother is worth a hundred of your friend.† â€Å"Your brother?† Ned said. â€Å"Or your lover?† â€Å"Both.† She did not flinch from the truth. â€Å"Since we were children together. And why not? The Targaryens wed brother to sister for three hundred years, to keep the bloodlines pure. And Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We are one person in two bodies. We shared a womb together. He came into this world holding my foot, our old maester said. When he is in me, I feel . . . whole.† The ghost of a smile flitted over her lips. â€Å"My son Bran . . . â€Å" To her credit, Cersei did not look away. â€Å"He saw us. You love your children, do you not?† Robert had asked him the very same question, the morning of the melee. He gave her the same answer. â€Å"With all my heart.† â€Å"No less do I love mine.† Ned thought, If it came to that, the life of some child I did not know, against Robb and Sansa and Arya and Bran and Rickon, what would I do? Even more so, what would Catelyn do, if it were Jon's life, against the children of her body? He did not know. He prayed he never would. â€Å"All three are Jaime's,† he said. It was not a question. â€Å"Thank the gods.† The seed is strong, Jon Arryn had cried on his deathbed, and so it was. All those bastards, all with hair as black as night. Grand Maester Malleon recorded the last mating between stag and lion, some ninety years ago, when Tya Lannister wed Gowen Baratheon, third son of the reigning lord. Their only issue, an unnamed boy described in Malleon's tome as a large and lusty lad born with a full head of black hair, died in infancy. Thirty years before that a male Lannister had taken a Baratheon maid to wife. She had given him three daughters and a son, each black-haired. No matter how far back Ned searched in the brittle yellowed pages, always he found the gold yielding before the coal. â€Å"A dozen years,† Ned said. â€Å"How is it that you have had no children by the king?† She lifted her head, defiant. â€Å"Your Robert got me with child once,† she said, her voice thick with contempt. â€Å"My brother found a woman to cleanse me. He never knew. If truth be told, I can scarcely bear for him to touch me, and I have not let him inside me for years. I know other ways to pleasure him, when he leaves his whores long enough to stagger up to my bedchamber. Whatever we do, the king is usually so drunk that he's forgotten it all by the next morning.† How could they have all been so blind? The truth was there in front of them all the time, written on the children's faces. Ned felt sick. â€Å"I remember Robert as he was the day he took the throne, every inch a king,† he said quietly. â€Å"A thousand other women might have loved him with all their hearts. What did he do to make you hate him so?† Her eyes burned, green fire in the dusk, like the lioness that was her sigil. â€Å"The night of our wedding feast, the first time we shared a bed, he called me by your sister's name. He was on top of me, in me, stinking of wine, and he whispered Lyanna.† Ned Stark thought of pale blue roses, and for a moment he wanted to weep. â€Å"I do not know which of you I pity most.† The queen seemed amused by that. â€Å"Save your pity for yourself, Lord Stark. I want none of it.† â€Å"You know what I must do.† â€Å"Must?† She put her hand on his good leg, just above the knee. â€Å"A true man does what he will, not what he must.† Her fingers brushed lightly against his thigh, the gentlest of promises. â€Å"The realm needs a strong Hand. Joff will not come of age for years. No one wants war again, least of all me.† Her hand touched his face, his hair. â€Å"If friends can turn to enemies, enemies can become friends. Your wife is a thousand leagues away, and my brother has fled. Be kind to me, Ned. I swear to you, you shall never regret it.† â€Å"Did you make the same offer to Jon Arryn?† She slapped him. â€Å"I shall wear that as a badge of honor,† Ned said dryly. â€Å"Honor,† she spat. â€Å"How dare you play the noble lord with me! What do you take me for? You've a bastard of your own, I've seen him. Who was the mother, I wonder? Some Dornish peasant you raped while her holdfast burned? A whore? Or was it the grieving sister, the Lady Ashara? She threw herself into the sea, I'm told. Why was that? For the brother you slew, or the child you stole? Tell me, my honorable Lord Eddard, how are you any different from Robert, or me, or Jaime?† â€Å"For a start,† said Ned, â€Å"I do not kill children. You would do well to listen, my lady. I shall say this only once. When the king returns from his hunt, I intend to lay the truth before him. You must be gone by then. You and your children, all three, and not to Casterly Rock. If I were you, I should take ship for the Free Cities, or even farther, to the Summer Isles or the Port of Ibben. As far as the winds blow.† â€Å"Exile,† she said. â€Å"A bitter cup to drink from.† â€Å"A sweeter cup than your father served Rhaegar's children,† Ned said, â€Å"and kinder than you deserve. Your father and your brothers would do well to go with you. Lord Tywin's gold will buy you comfort and hire swords to keep you safe. You shall need them. I promise you, no matter where you flee, Robert's wrath will follow you, to the back of beyond if need be.† The queen stood. â€Å"And what of my wrath, Lord Stark?† she asked softly. Her eyes searched his face. â€Å"You should have taken the realm for yourself. It was there for the taking. Jaime told me how you found him on the Iron Throne the day King's Landing fell, and made him yield it up. That was your moment. All you needed to do was climb those steps, and sit. Such a sad mistake.† â€Å"I have made more mistakes than you can possibly imagine,† Ned said, â€Å"but that was not one of them.† â€Å"Oh, but it was, my lord,† Cersei insisted. â€Å"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.† She turned up her hood to hide her swollen face and left him there in the dark beneath the oak, amidst the quiet of the godswood, under a blue-black sky. The stars were coming out.

The Davids A Comparison essays

The Davids A Comparison essays From 1430 to 1623A.D., four sculptures of the Biblical David were created. From the master artists Bernini, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Verrocchio came the most famous Davids of the world. Even though infinitely many were made, these surpass the others to become marvels that will live forever. The earliest of the Davids, is the work of Donatello(c.1430). This magnificent work is a life-size, nude, bronze, figure of David. The sculpture is portraying the scene after David has cut off the head of Goliath. His foot is raised on the severed head in a stance of contropposto. His sword is in the right hand with the stone in the left. This very smooth and natural looking sculpture was originally part of Medici courtyard and is the only David of the four created for a private collection. There are a few symbolic ingredients to this David. The style of the figure refers to antiquity for the balance and composition of the nude. Energy in the sculpture animates the emotions and is a new technique used in this David, once again showing qualities from antiquity. This energy is not used in the other figures. In addition, Donatellos David is said to host homosexual overtones, in the feministic appearance of the body and the stance. Overall, this version of the biblical hero is elegantly designed and the originality is fascinating. Verrocchios David (c.1473-75A.D.) greatly differs from those of the other artists. This statue was commissioned by the Medici family, like that of Donatellos. However, it was created for public display. It was in the Palazzo Vecchio, where it gained almost a republican or city-related meaning similar to the reputation that the David of Donatello gained, after it was also moved to the same site. The similarity stops here. The proudness shows that the hero was well capable of slaying the ...

Humanities Today Essays

Humanities Today Essays Humanities Today Essay Humanities Today Essay For every bit long as world has existed so have art. music. architecture. literature. and doctrine. The University of Phoenix ( 2009 ) defines humanistic disciplines as an attack to analyze that emphasizes thoughts and values through analysis of manners of cultural look. philosophical and spiritual idea. and manners of human communication ( University of Phoenix. Week One Supplement ) . Gloria K. Fiero ( 2006 ) further defines humanistic disciplines as literature. doctrine. history. architecture. ocular humanistic disciplines. music. and dance ( p. 4 ) . Humanistic disciplines impact day-to-day life without many people being cognizant of their presence. What distinguishes humanistic disciplines from other manners of human enquiry and look is that they focus on thoughts and values. non merely the production or consequence of an action. This paper will supply current illustrations of ocular art. music. architecture. doctrine. and literature and analyse how they reflect current developments in political relations. socioeconomics. and engineering. Ocular art can be. but is non limited to. picture. sculpture. and picture taking. Authoritative pictures by celebrated creative persons such as Leonardo district attorney Vinci. Claude Monet. Vincent Van Gogh. and Pablo Picasso are still considered chef-doeuvres in today’s society but are non enjoyed by the common population the manner that in writing and digital art have in the past century. Graphic and digital engineering have become the agencies by which ocular art is to be viewed and cherished among the mass population in a manner that has neer been available in history. Today’s society has become focused on instant satisfaction. Changes are expected to be made in political relations nightlong. battles in socioeconomics demand rectification within hebdomads ( even though they took old ages to make ) . and promotions in engineering provenders society’s dependance on better. faster. and stronger tools. Unfortunately. ocular art has become victim to this demand for instant satisfaction. No longer are individual chef-doeuvres created by the flow of an artist’s custodies. defining and modeling art into a creative activity of his or her psyche. Alternatively. art is generated digitally by the chink of a mouse and a choice of colour and size from a predefined chart. The art can so be mass-distributed and mass-produced around the universe in the affair of proceedingss. The creativeness is still at that place. but the love generated through the clip and forbearance required to build that art by manus is no longer at that place. With the inundation of self-help books saturating the market. literature besides reflects society’s demand for instant satisfaction. Self-help books are a contemplation of the current socioeconomic province in which everyone is looking for a manner to break his or her life immediately. Politicians have indirectly supported this literary genre by concentrating and advancing what is incorrect in the state and in each other. For illustration. if a politician has shortcomings in his or her public speech production abilities. the opposing political party will roast that individual publically. Citizens who feel they besides do non hold strong speech production accomplishments and fright being mocked may so be compelled to buy a self-help book on public speech production. As engineering has advanced. self-help books have become a fantastic tool for persons fighting to larn how to utilize the newest electronic devices. One popular engineering self-help series is the For Dummies books. The books began in 1991 with DOS for Dummies ( Johnson. 2006. parity. 3 ) . but they have now sold over 150 million Dummies books in 39 linguistic communications. Many people have benefited from the simple. helpful linguistic communication used in these books. but non all self-help books are created equal. Some self-help books offer a speedy solution that frequently leaves persons experiencing worse than when they began. Endeavoring for self-reformation is first-class ; nevertheless. self-help books can sometimes make more injury than good. Music in today’s society can besides make more injury than good when presented to an waxy head. Music has ever been used as a agency of creatively reflecting political and socioeconomic issues. but since the origin of the Rap and Heavy Metal music genres. discontent. choler. and defeat have become common and wide-spread in music over the past 50 old ages. Songs about drug usage. self-destruction. slaying. and colza and those that use expressed linguistic communication are common in these two genres of music and hold begun to pervade other signifiers of music. This reflects non merely society’s discontent with the current political and socioeconomic province. but it besides reflects society’s tolerance and credence of freedom of address. The sound of music. the production of music. and the enjoyment of music have evolved as engineering evolves. New sounds that have neer been possible before are now available through engineering. Music is now available anyplace through the usage of an MP3 participant or cell phone. No longer does a individual have to halt and listen to a instrumentalist ; music can be played at any clip. This fills society’s demand for instant satisfaction. Today’s architecture besides caters to the on-the-go life styles of society. Bigger. stronger. smarter. and faster are all thoughts and values visibly manifested in current architecture. The aesthetic entreaty of a edifice has given manner to plan which feat chances to acquire the most for the money. A recent tendency which reflects a alteration of political and socioeconomic enterprises is constructing environmentally-friendly constructions. That means making a edifice that produces small waste. uses alternate power solutions. and emits minimal nursery toxins. Progresss in engineering have made these constructions possible ; nevertheless. they cost extra money to concept. and concerns and persons are charged more money to utilize them than a traditionally built construction. Instantaneous satisfaction. the battle for self-reformation. tolerance and credence. and the thought of doing every bit much money as possible are all doctrines in today’s society. Each is reflected in art. literature. music. and architecture. but as a whole. they make up the doctrine of society through their thoughts and values. Developments in political relations. socioeconomics. and engineering have all played a portion in making these doctrines. but they are visibly manifested in the humanistic disciplines. One can merely inquire how the current humanistic disciplines will be viewed and analyzed 50 or 100 old ages from now. The illustrations this paper has provided of ocular art. music. architecture. doctrine. and literature show how current developments in political relations. socioeconomics. and engineering are reflected. As political relations. socioeconomics. and engineering alteration so excessively will art. music. architecture. doctrine. and literature. They are a contemplation of one another and intertwined in their development. Mentions Fiero. Gloria K. ( 2007 ) . The humanistic tradition ( 5th erectile dysfunction ) . New York. New york: McGraw-Hill. Johnson. Doug ( 2006. October ) . For silent persons books are popular learning AIDSs. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. voanews. com/specialenglish/archive/2006-10/2006-10-12-voa1. cfm University of Phoenix ( 2009 ) . Week One addendum: Humanities Terminology. Retrieved from University of Phoenix. Week One. HUM102 – Introduction to the Humanities web site.

Enterprise information systems For Microsoft Assignment

Enterprise information systems For Microsoft - Assignment Example Rolls-Royce is a motor and energy producing company, which resumed its operations in the private sector in 1987. The company grew and acquired new other firms (Rolls-Royce 43). Today the company is global business enterprise offering solutions in power and motor supplies. Economic growth and internationalization of the enterprise’s operations necessitated an installation of ERP. The company chose to use an ERP software package called SAP R/3 (Yusuf, Angappa, and Mark 251). Such a move by the company targeted to internalize its operations and manage data flow for efficient operations. The firm also attained corporate management of its operations and integrated individual functional units in the finance and manufacturing sectors (Yusuf, Angappa, and Mark 252). The business had used more than 1500 systems before it installed the EPR project, most of which the firm developed internally (Yusuf, Angappa, and Mark 255). The initial units were expensive in terms of operations as well as difficult to maintain and improve. The systems did not provide consistent, accurate, and accessible information needed for timely decision-making. The old systems were also not suitable for modern operations in the corporate world. As a result, the business unit sold some of the aging systems and replaced it with a new one. Implementation of the project required an intervention of a team of experts outsourced from EDS. During the process, the team met with a number of challenges, which may fall into three categories. The first was cultural, which meant that the firm was to overhaul the whole old system with a new one considerably because they could not suit each other. Some departments within the company did not find it easy and consequently, they needed training (Yusuf, Angappa, and Mark 256). The next problem related to corporate operations. The new system required a rigid plan of business for a successful working. It means that the workers had to adjust their modes of working to

Intercultural management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Intercultural management - Essay Example Then different types of corruption and its effects on the MNCs will be evaluated. Finally, probable solutions or measures will be analyzed which the government, regulatory bodies, or organizations are adopting to curb corruption and deal with such situations (Wei, 2000, p. 5). There are various forms of corruption: bribery, fraud, embezzlement, etc. In this work we will only include the issue of corruption which affects operational investment costs. According to Macrae (1982), corruption is an arrangement involving a private exchange between two or more parties. It also influences the resource allocation and makes people neglect their responsibilities. In case of FDI, the foreign investors have to pay extra cost in form of bribes for getting licenses or the permit from the government. Therefore, corruption in the countries has also raised the cost of investment there. These unnecessary costs have also reduced the margin of profitability of the investment being done. It has also been noticed that corruption adversely affects the economic performance of a country. Since the 1980s, debts have fuelled the consumption of the US and drove the global economy and its growth. However, in 2008 this economic paradigm collapsed and resulted in an economic breakdown. The government shortage expenditure, backed with paper money formation, has been replaced by debt-funded confidential expenditure as a major source of global development. The US came out of depression of $4 trillion because of Federal Reserves’ support of $2 trillion. These issues will be discussed in detail later in this study. Types of Corruption In this section we will discuss various types or forms of corruption that prevail in the global market: a) petty corruption, b) gifts, c) big corruption. It can be said that quantitative distinction can be drawn between big and small corruption and a qualitative distinction can be made between the illicit and legal aspects of these kinds of corruption. Petty c orruption means small corruption such as taking small bribes, etc. In poor countries, petty corruption prevails in every level of society. Gifts given as signs of gratitude for some official favor can be considered as petty corruption. Giving gifts is offering goods or services of some value to a person or organization with a view to some benefit from this person or organization. Various organizations have clearly specified guidelines regarding acceptance of gifts from clients. When those guidelines are overlooked, it is considered a case of corruption. Lastly, money laundering cases can be the examples of big corruption, as well as taking bribes from MNCs who wanted to invest in the country, tax evasion, etc. Corruption was also responsible for the global economic crisis of 2008. Even unnecessarily inflating the prices of products and services for earning supernormal profits is also a form of huge corruption. Effects of Corruption on MNCs The types of corruption have been mentioned in the section above. In this section the effects of such corruption on the MNCs will be discussed. The kinds of corruptions are being explained in the sequence of their entry modes. In case of forming joint ventures vs. wholly owned subsidiaries, most of the firms face the corruption of bribes from the state officials. In cases of franchising or master franchising,