Respect your elders Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Respect your elders - Article Example at consumers tend to find online advertising annoying and have become desensitized to the plethora of different banner ads serving as promotional tools for marketers in the digital environment. Traditional postcards, however, have much higher ratios of retention and consumers are more engaged with their content and purpose. Many businesses are finding a much higher return on marketing investment through traditional marketing practices and strategies which suggests that old-school marketing is still highly relevant in the process of gaining consumer interest and attention to a product, service or corporate brand identity. Modern methods of marketing are not always effective as compared to tried and tested traditional marketing activities. This does not seem highly surprising considering that the majority of Facebook users, as one example, utilize this service as a social recreational tool and not as a medium by which to engage companies and examine brand strategies. Marketers must remember that not all consumer demographics are actively engaged in social media and the Internet on a regular basis, such as Baby Boomers and those younger markets that maintain very busy social and professional lifestyles. Therefore, digital marketing is not always effective in reaching consumers on a regular basis. In fact, a 2012 study conducted by Nielsen and NM Incite found that only 12 percent of white consumers and 18 percent of African American consumers actually make purchases after witnessing online advertisements in a social network (Consoli, 2012). Though modern marketing theory indicates that building relationships with customers is a critical marketing task to build brand preference and loyalty, the majority of disparate market segments only utilize social media for a brief period of time each day or week. Traditional marketing efforts, such as sending direct mailing advertisements, actually reach into the consumer environment and can be sent with recurring price

1917 - 1970 World History Overview Research Paper

1917 - 1970 World History Overview - Research Paper Example The United States aimed at stopping communism at costs as seen in the Truman doctrine, Marshall Plan, Berlin airlift, and the Korean War. All these plans did, in fact, led to the end of cold war. Containment and cold were related in that the policy of containment aimed to stop the emerging tension between the two superpowers. The Marshall Plan and cold war The European recovery program or the Marshall plan was enacted at the Paris conference to enhance economic recovery in European countries after world war two. The plan was formulated to foster and promote European production and enhance internal trade in certain European countries during this period of heightened tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Marshall plan was enacted in order to contain the growing nature of Soviet influence, especially in Czechoslovakia. From the beginning, the Soviet Union opposed this plan while other Nations in Eastern Europe ignored or denounced it. The Marshall plan was an eleme nt of foreign aid plan of the United States and it led to the economic recovery of European states during the cold war period. Truman doctrine and cold war President Harry S.   The doctrine provided that it was the duty of the United States of America to assist those people who resisted subjugation from external or internal pressures. This doctrine led to an end of America’s policy of isolationism and embraced global leadership by assisting other nations to recover from the effects of the war. The cold war on the other influenced American local or domestic policy in that the consequences of the cold war affected positively on American people in America as they had an opportunity to expand their trading activities with other democratic nations in the world.  

Analyse Nestles Outsourcing Strategies Marketing Essay

Analyse Nestles Outsourcing Strategies Marketing Essay Nestle is world leading food and beverage company in the world. Nestle made up of merging with a number of food companies, Nestlà ©, the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company and Rowntrees of York. Henri Nestles story started in Switzerland in 1986 by milk producing for infant. Then the companys products have become successful so they expanded products and sales until in 1905 Nestle merged with the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company. In 1988 Nestlà © acquired Rowntrees, the famous British confectioners (Nestle, 2012).Nestle has produced a wide range of products and services, such as, baby foods, bottled water, cereals, chocolate and confectionery, coffee, culinary, chilled frozen food, dairy, drinks, food service healthcare nutrition, ice cream, pet care, sport nutrition, weight management. In addition, it has several brands, including Hà ¤agen-Dazs, Nescafà ©, Coffeemate, Maggi, Kitkat, Milo. Nestles headquarter is located in Vevey, Switzerland, but the company has 450 factories a nd operations in 86 countries (Nestle, 2012). In 2012, Nestles sales was 92.2 billion Swiss Franc (Martello And Child-Villiers 2012). Nestle sets their mission that Good Food, Good Life which means nestle offers their customers the excellence tasting and plentiful nutrition including healthy and wellness from every morning to night (Nestle, 2012). Because Nestle is a world company and produce a wide range of product, many processes are complicated, so the company cannot run all processes by itself. One of the supporters is outsourcing which help the company in several aspects such as cost reduction, unnecessary task reduction. In this report shows analyse Nestles outsourcing strategies in task 1 and demonstrates Nestles challenges and suggest solutions based on outsourcing theories in task 2. The final section is conclusion. Task 1 Analyse Nestles Outsourcing Strategies Information technology system outsourcing One of the significant tools of outsourcing to help business improve efficiency is information technology (IT). The Nestles objectives of outsourcing are cost reduction and reduce task which is not important, so the company can focus on their core processes.(Nestle, 2012) What Nestle uses to determine that the company should outsource or keep it in-house are how the processes or operations important and capacity of its own according McIvors theory (2008).McIvors theory (2008) explains that if any processes are the core processes of the company and the company is less potential, the company should consider that whether the processes can be copied. If the processes can be easy to replicate, the company should keep in-house, on the other hand, if they are difficult to copy, the company can outsource. Analysing Nestle, Nestle outsources IT system because Nestle which is the food company is less potential in this function when compare with the company which directly respond IT system, so the outsourcing from specialise outsourcing could provide better results. In addition, only IT system is not core competitive advantages for the food company, however, it is critical factor to support Nestle, so outsource IT help Nestle can focus on their core business such as food production. According Han and Mithas (2003) states Information technology (IT) provides the infrastructure for the management of information. IT also provides information visibility across the supply chain; furthermore, helps reduce supply chain information complexity. As a consequence, it brings about communicative reduction between buyer and supplier as well as accurate forecasting demand, improve responsiveness and cost reduction (Willcocks and Fitzgerald 1993). In case of Nestle, they have used OmPrompt EDI services which is an outsourced service that automates the processing of orders, invoices and proof of delivery documentation from any format to any format, no intervention required (OmPrompt, 2013) to improves supply chain efficiency. In addition, OmPrompt also establishes automating communication, connected communities between suppliers, retailers, logistics service provider and distribution centre. However, normally, almost huge manufactures or retailers usually have EDI system in operations, for smaller players about 80% of companies who represent 20% of volume, they cannot afford for EDI system, and so placing the orders from them is still the problem in term of demand forecasting, errors, delays, and unnecessary costs for all partners.To solve the problem for Nesltle by changing invisible data from small retailers to visible, The manufacturer has deployed OmPrompts Intelligent Message Management service to enable them to receive  orders  from smaller retailers in the same format and with the same degree of accuracy as they do from the UKs largest supermarkets (OmPrompt, 2013). David Walker (2013), Nestle customer services manager explains that the results of OmPrompt system were used to compare with the existing manual order entry processes. The output from new system shows that it was highly accurate without any mistake. As a consequence, Nestle has hugely developed accuracy of order replenishment processes. It has influenced on increasing customer satisfaction and the cost of reverse logistics reduction as well (OmPrompt, 2013). The next IT system is RFID. It is a popular technology which has been used to drive supply chain management. It does not only provide benefits as mentioned before but also helps the company can control and become more centralisation. In addition, From RFID is the automated systems; it can reduce a number of employees and tasks, such as receiving and putting away, picking and shipping goods. It also contributes to supply chain flow quicker and reduce risk of holding many of stocks. (Anderson, 2006) For example, Nestle Chile S.A. outsources Ryder to manage its distribution network in South American country. William Beltran (2006) said outsourcing Ryder help Nestle monitors their supply chain from centre easier because Ryder applied radio frequency identification (RFID) devices with transportations and two distribution centres which serve more than six hundreds customers and handle about sixty to eighty vehicles a day. The result was Nestle can see track their vehicles and manage wareho use better (RFID CENTER, 2013), so Nestle can reduce time to launch new product to the market and increase customer satisfaction. Moreover, Macfarlane and Sheffi (2003) describe that RFID can improve product security, track the problems, save cost and energy. For instance, in Italy, Nestle installed RFID tags with ice cream products and readers in trucks, distribution center and retailers freezers or refrigerators to check temperature that it is not too warm or too cold. The data is shown across of logistics process in real time. The company can know whenever any freezer or refrigerator is broken and can protect product spoilage which leads to lose revenue and stock (Wessel, 2008). In addition, RFID can reduce cost and energy. Nestle can identify some freezers and refrigerators they set too cold, so they cause wasting energy and cost. Marasi ,a supply chain ice cream and frozen food project and quality manager at Nestlà © Italy, states, we estimate that the cost for freezer energy across Italy is several million euros. If we just save 5 to 10 percent, this is a big savings and a boost to the environment (Wesse l, 2008). Furthermore, the data which is collected is used to send to improve the potential of the company by research and develop team (Wessel, 2008). Logistics and supply chain outsourcing Nestle outsources Geodis to manage its logistics and supply chain in France. Nestle target is reduced transportation cost which is about 10-15% of finished product (ElAmin, 2006).   In the beginning, Nestle assigned Geodis to study its supply chain flow to identify the area which will be improved. After six months, Geodis sent the result and recommendation solutions to Nestle. After considering the result, Nestle appointed Geodis as its logistics provider for three years for all it transportation flow. In return Geodis has made performance guarantees relating to quality, optimisation and total cost reduction. Geodis will be looking to improve Nestles transport and supply chain flows, logistics, management of service providers and invoice checking, among other factors (ElAmin, 2006)  . Following the agreement Geodis have to manage production flow for six Nestle France plants. The process made up of 17,000 transport orders per year from 182 suppliers and 250 contries (ElAmin, 2006). In term of contracting and relationship, we can notice that Nestle used a short term contract in the beginning to ensure the outsourcing company that can respond Nestles need by assigning the outsourcing company as a third party to identify the Nestle problems and solutions. This step shows relationship between Nestle and Geodis that they are unfamiliar, so Nestle had to measure Geodis performance before they offer larger jobs and long term contract. When Geodis can do the job well, so Nestle was satisfied the result and offer the long term contract and shift relationship with Geodis from 3PL to 4PL to manage its all supply chain. They become more close relationship. However, Renew contracting in the future also depends on Geodiss performance for Nestle. On the other hand, if the result from Geodis after six months is not done well, Nestle can change the company or give recommendation to improve the outsourcing performance. This choice is better than offering long term contract for u nfamiliar company. It also can reduce long term risk, if the outsourcing company is ineffective. In addition, expert outsourcing can support companys strategy and reduce company tasks. When the companys market is expanded, a number of facilities and equipments have to increase to support more inventories. In some aspects the company has to spend more money to support larger markets, therefore using expert outsourcing companies can be an option to reduce cost because they are usually ready in term of competency, equipments and resources. For Nestles example, in the past decade, Nestles products in Malaysia are increased demand several-fold. It is the Nestles reason to change pallet management from doing in-house to outsourcing to CHEP, the worlds leading experts in pallet pooling. Nestlà © Malaysias Group Operations Manager, Supply Chain Division, Zainal Malek Bapoo said CHEP specialises in pallets and the worry for Nestlà © Malaysia is gone, which allows us to concentrate on our core competency (CHEP, 2013). CHEPs strengths understand the processes and are ready to provide enough pallet volume for Nestles need. It helps Nestle get more flexibility in control in peak time such as in festivals or important events which usually has high demands. Nestle and CHEP also cooperate to find solution for the problem as a partner. Whats more, CHEP can support Nestles strategy such as lean management. Nestles lean strategic target is to reduce pallet losses to low level, optimising usage along the supply chain. CHEPs solution can increase supply chain efficiency, reduce cost and losses (CHEP, 2013). Task 2 Nestles Challenges and Solution Corporate social responsibility  (CSR)  and ethic challenge From Nestle is the world company, so ethic and responsibility for social and environment are important. For example, in February 2012 Nestle joined Fair Labour Association to create sustainable supply chain and prevent child labour on cocoa supply chain in Ivory Coast (CNN, 2012). As a result, when Nestle outsources any company, Nestle should identify this standard to the third party or set the criteria in the contract or agreement to the third party following the same way that Nestle responds to social otherwise Nestle might force problems from what outsource do. For instance, when independent investigator examines Nestles cocoa processes in Ivory Coast, they found that Nestles outsourcing using child labours to harvest raw cocoa for a long time (CNN, 2012, Thetimes100, n.d.B). Cost reduction in the supply chain is very critical, but taking advantages from child labour is the issue which many companies around the world such as Coke, KFC,Mcdonald are concerning is one of the CSR whic h the company should show responsibility.(Ronnie,2000 Lobe,2004 Farcic,2012 ). In this case, it also destroyed Nestles reputation and image although Nestle did not do that directly, but it came from what third party or supplier do. Although it is difficult to check all process of outsourcing, Nestle should prepare processes to cross-check outsourcings operation. For example, sending staff to visit the outsource processes and give recommendation to improve and find solution for the problems. The good case study which Nestle can use to be example is IKEA, home furnishing company focusing on sustainability and social responsibility from all processes of supply chain, so IKEA set its vision that to create a better everyday life for many people. IKEA uses suppliers to provide raw material in primary stage to produce products. IKEA checks the environmental impacts and keep an eye on responding to the social at suppliers. Furthermore, IKEA sets conditions such as no allowing child labour, emissions reduction, to the suppliers before sign the contract. Every condition help to develop sustainability and social. To control suppliers, IKEA also analyses documents and records and visit on-site on occasions to make sure its suppliers are still following the agreements. IKEA works with UNICEF to develop community program in India to prevent child and raise awareness (Thetimes100, n.d.A). In addition, Nestle can adapt the result from launch cocoa plan Indonesia, the worlds third largest coffee producing country (CNN, 2012). Nestle assigns research and develop team in France to study about how to improve productivity, and then send their staff to help the farmers improve lives. Nestlà © and partners to train farmers provide plant expertise and support supply chain transparency. It also aims to improve livelihoods by focusing on projects related to nutrition education, water and rural development (Badasha,K, 2012). Nestle can use this concept to launch in Ivory Coast as well. It can help the farmers improve effective and earn more money; on the other hand, Nestle will get more raw materials. It means win-win situation, which can cause sustainability to the supply chain. Supplier Selection Challenge In 2007 Nestle outsourced Barry Callebaut to manufacture its chocolate products while Hersheys and Cadbury which are chocolate companies also chose Barry Callebaut to produce their products. Until 2012 Nestle decided to stop outsourcing from any company and keep production at York where can produce 8000 tons of dark chocolate for Kit Kat (BarryCallebaut, 2012, Nieburg, 2012).   Before outsourcing should be carefully considered in many respects such as Nestles capacity, relationship between outsource company and competitors. When we consider the situation we can see that Nestle is large food company. Chocolate is the popular products and Nestle familiars with productive processes for a long time (Nestle, 2013). Producing chocolate can be the core process and strength of the company, so Nestles potential can support chocolate production by itself. Although outsourcing Barry Callebaut reduced Nestles tasks and boost Nestle performance up, Barrt Callebaut also is outsourced from Hershey and Cadbury which are Nestles competitors. As a result, Nestle should make sure that its important information will not be shared to competitors because many times competitors have close relationship with third party. When Nestle stop outsourcing from Barry Callebaut. Barry Callebaut use knowledge from Nestle to support competitors or create own products to challenge Nestles mar ket. In this case, Nestle should invest to develop its potential at the beginning to keep significant processes in-house or find effective companies which can rely on only Nestle and improve relationship with them, however, Nestle should study more about background of the outsource company including its customer or any company which they are supporting. Supply Chain Challenge Nestle establishes its huge logistics by using two largest UK distribution centre in York and Bardon in Leicestershire. In 2002 Nestle faced problems of over and under utilisation with two distribution centre because it sold off a critical part of Premier food business although Nestle outsourced TDG, one of the greatest supply chain providers to control operation in two hubs. Nestle assigns York to respond Nestlà ©s confectionery products, the rest of products including food section are handled by Bardon. After selling food part, it made Bardon be under utilisation, while York was supporting confectionery products over utilisation. It created unbalancing usage (Total-logistics. n.d.).   Re-engineering to solve the problem One of the possible solutions mitigate under utilisation affect of the food sectors by analyse and redesign function of two distribution centres to balance usage and improve to be regional centres by changing the existing responsibility for each hub from the old pattern to mix products in each distribution centre. It means each distribution centres should be assigned to carry the full range of products, so over utilisation from confectionery products could be shared to under utilisation in Bardon. In addition, it could reduce lead time in supply chain when shift distribution centres to be regional centres because in several cases Nestle negotiate with its customers to pick up the products at Nestles site (Total-logistics. n.d.)  , so Nestle could arrange the shortest distance between customers and its regional centres, on the other hand Nestle can also arrange its transportation and regional centres to suite the customers in each area. It makes Nestle increase responsiveness and save cost al well. However, the two hubs have to be linked in term of information system, processes and transportation. They should be generated by Nestle and TDG cooperation. For example, TDG at Bardon and also covered the AUTOSTORE warehouse management system (WMS) running all product movements at both sites. All of which would need to fit hand in glove with Nestlà ©s SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system located at the companys Croydon headquarters (Total-logistics. n.d.).   Conclusion As we can see, many things from outsourcing are support Nestle business such as IT, logistic and supply chain etc. The two main benefits from outsourcing are cost reduction and unnecessary operational reduction to help outsourcer can focus on the core operation of the business. As a result, many factors should be considered before outsource such as core competitive and potential of the company not only outsourcing but also the outsourcer to get the most value from outsourcing and not generate the bad impact to the company. Some perspectives from Nestle reflect and demonstrate outsourcing strategies and challenge from this report and can be studies more in the future.

Hispanic :: essays research papers

The Latin community in the area which I reside is weak. This is evident in the fact that less Hispanics are involved in community affairs than members of other ethnicity's. It would be rather interesting to be able to know what goes into government policy making. The enthusiasm that I would put forth on this topic would be exemplary. The experience that qualifies me to partake in this institute is my involvement in SALSA (Spanish And Latino Student Association), as well as the fact that I am an aware, young, Hispanic male who sees what really goes on in the Latin community.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It would be quite educational to learn what occurs during the process of the making of government policies which greatly affect our community. Perhaps if more teenagers were given the opportunity to be educated on these matters the community could be bettered. This would improve the community by enriching the lives of youths and pointing them in a direction to work for the people, not against them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The work as well as effort that would be put forth by me would have to be exemplary. This is so because one of my goals in life is to better myself so that I may in turn better my community, especially the Hispanic community. This is an opportunity that I have been waiting for to arise. This is my chance to make a difference.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The experiences that qualify me to take part in this institute's affairs are that I am an active member in the SALSA group, as well as the fact that I am a young, Hispanic male who sees how the Hispanic community works. My involvement in the SALSA club has given me a way to reach out to the Hispanic students in my school, in hopes that if I can inform these young individuals about how to better the community, as well as teach them a sense of self pride in themselves. Then hopefully when they go out into their towns they will also try to make a difference.

Jeremy Bentham versus John Stuart Mill

Utilitarianism speaks of pleasures, pain, quality, quantity, etcetera. This paper intends to reintroduce the definition, concepts, as well as, ideas provided by the greatest thinkers namely: Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. It also aims to state the differences between their concepts. Finally, its objective is to mention whose definition/concept/idea with regards to utilitarianism is more plausible. Utilitarianism According to Jeremy Bentham.Jeremy Bentham technically defines â€Å"utility† as â€Å"that property in any object, whereby it ends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness or to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered† (Bentham 1948, p. 126). Jeremy Bentham developed the aforementioned idea on utilitarianism through the following premises: First of all, that â€Å"pleasure, happiness, goodness, benefit, advantage, etcetera† are terms that equate to one another (Germi no 1972, pp. 235 – 236).Second is that the aforementioned terms in the first are actually measurable, thus, quantifiable as well (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236). Third, that an act of people, as well as, the government should be based upon the rule that take full advantage of pleasure and decrease pain (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236). Last but not least, â€Å"it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong† of human action in every situation, and in particular when governmental action is called for (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236).Utilitarianism According to John Stuart Mill John Stuart Mill, on the other hand, sees â€Å"utilitarianism† as the â€Å"foundation of morals† because it holds that, â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness† (Ebenstein & Ebenstein 1991, p. 580). What does John Stuart Mill mean w hen he mentions happiness and unhappiness, you may ask? Well, happiness he says is similar to pleasure and the non-existence of terrible pain or any kind of pain for that matter (Germino 1972, p.240). Unhappiness for John Stuart Mill, on the other hand, is akin to pain, as well as, the deprivation of enjoyment/pleasure (Germino 1972, p. 240). Differences This is where we see the first difference of his thoughts from that of Jeremy Bentham’s since at this point, he already rejects first premise, that all those terms aforementioned are all similar to each other or that the quality of pleasure is actually equivalent to each other (Germino 1972, p. 240).Deducing from that idea, if pleasures vary in superiority, as well as, in amount, and if only those men who have experienced the entire assortment of pleasures are capable of reflecting upon and comprehensibly articulating their experience are proficient of judging excellence, then the lawmaker/member of parliament can no longer e stablish/agree on governmental policy on the basis of â€Å"the greatest happiness of the greatest number† (Germino 1972, p. 240). Another difference is that, actually, John Stuart Mill is not focused on â€Å"the greatest happiness of the greatest number† but on the â€Å"greatest happiness† alone (Germino 1972, p.240). â€Å"Utility† is still equivalent to pleasure but now there is already an acknowledgment that there are various kinds because of excellence and greatness (Germino 1972, p. 240). Third, John Stuart Mill rejects the thought of Jeremy Bentham, which states that the motivations for humans to act can all be reduced to one’s own interest and to his own exploration for the utmost satisfaction (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95). John Stuart Mill negates this by saying that a human being may also get pleasure/satisfaction by joining or participating in someone else’s happiness (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p.95). Simply put, pleasure do es not only result from one’s own interest but also from what humankind and harmony is experiencing (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95). Last but not least, John Stuart Mill declines the idea of Jeremy Bentham, which reiterates that the individual is the only one capable of judging his or her own interest (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95). John Stuart Mill negates this by saying that there are several instances wherein a person needs the intervention/meddling of the government for his own good (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p.95). For example, the government should intervene if the issue is with regards to education, employment, social issues like poverty etcetera, since a person is not automatically the best judge of his or her interests as proven by the examples aforementioned (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95). The More Plausible Utilitarianism Now that we have seen how Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill define utilitarianism, it is now time to scrutinize what is more plausible, utilitarianism according to Jeremy Bentham or utilitarianism according to John Stuart Mill?If we alter their definition slightly, say, what is functional is high-quality and accordingly the principled value of conduct is â€Å"determined by the utility of its results† and that the utilitarian tradition sees that the ultimate purpose of honorable action is to reach the â€Å"greatest happiness for the greatest number† (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95). If the aforementioned is to become a general rule for our laws then the â€Å"greatest happiness for the greatest number† will certainly be reached (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p.95). At this point, we cannot still pinpoint what is more plausible since both Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill upholds that concept. I believe that John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism is more plausible than that of Jeremy Bentham’s because of the following reasons: First of all, the premise of Jeremy Bentham that â€Å"plea sure, happiness, goodness, benefit, advantage, etcetera† are terms that equate to one another is a little too vague (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236).It is a little confusing to utilize every term he has given interchangeably; it is as if all these terms have the same weight in terms of magnitude and excellence/superiority (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236). Second, Jeremy Bentham’s argument â€Å"it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong† of human action in every situation, and in particular when governmental action is called for may lead to an unnecessary abuse on the part of the government (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236).For me, this has flaws since it may be used to make it appear that there is always a need for the government; these parts of his idea should have certain restrictions, for instance, it should be added that, the government may intervene, however, the consent of the populace also should be taken into consideration (Germino 1972, pp. 235 – 236). Finally, Jeremy Bentham’s thinking with regards to an individual’s motivations for humans to act can all be reduced to one’s own interest and to his own exploration for the utmost satisfaction (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95).To me, it is a little bizarre since he is like undermining the capabilities of individuals to think of ways on how to make himself attain pleasure (Screpanti & Zamagni 1995, p. 95). References Bentham, J. 1948, An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Blackwell, Oxford. Ebenstein, W. and Ebenstein, A. 1991, Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the President. Harcourt Brace, Forth Worth. Germino, D. 1972, Machiavelli to Marx: Modern Western Political Thought. University of Chicago Press, Chicago. Screpanti, E. & Zamagni, S. 1995, An Outline of the History of Economic Thought. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues Essay

In James Baldwin’s â€Å"Sonny’s Blues,† the unsaid brotherly relationship amongst the speaker and his younger brother Sonny is illustrated throughout the narrator’s point of view. The two brothers have not spoken in time until the narrator receives a note from Sonny following his daughter’s death. He takes this moment as a vital indication from Sonny and feels the need to act in response. Despite the fact that both Sonny and the narrator reside in separate worlds, all Sonny desires is a brother to care for him while the narrator finds himself in the past, ultimately learning his responsibility as an older brother. The speaker and Sonny at last get a chance to have a word with each other following many years, they begin to gradually open up to each other the dismal reality that they faced. ’But there’s no way not to suffer–is there Sonny?’ ‘I believe not,’ he said and smiled, ‘but that’s never st opped anyone from trying.’ He looked at me. ‘Has it?’ I realized, with this mocking look, that there stood between us, forever, beyond the power of time of forgiveness, the fact that I had held silence†¦. so long! — When he had needed human speech to help him. (848) The narrator realizes that it was his responsibility to be at hand for his younger brother for all the years that Sonny looked for him, even if it was just to talk or listen. He doesn’t know if Sonny will be capable of forgiving him, or if too much time has passed to be any forgiveness. Even though the narrator is there for his brother now, he could have been an authority figure to him for his entire life, just as any brother should be. The two characters come to the appreciation that they do share a brotherly acquaintance, and that the narrator cares immensely for his brother, even after all the time of detachment. The narrator says, â€Å"I don’t give a damn what other people do, I don’t even care how they suffer. I just care how you suffer.’ And he looked at me, ‘Please believe me,’ I said, ‘I don’t want to see you–die–trying not to suffer†(848). He knows his brother has a drug addiction, but he does not de sire to witness him give up without a fight. He cares about his brother, which is what Sonny has desired all this time, an elder brother to tell him that he ought to not give up, that he must make smart decisions and make something of himself. Sonny’s brother is trying to make up for all the time apart from Sonny during his time of need. This will be his way of making himself feel better for abandoning his younger brother countless years beforehand. Sonny has had trouble with drugs for some time, which leads him having to serve a prison term. Sonny’s brother tries to stay unaware, which is part of the reason he turned his back on his younger brother for numerous years. â€Å"I couldn’t believe it: but what I mean by that is that I couldn’t find any room for it anywhere inside of me. I had kept it outside me for a long time. I hadn’t wanted to know. I had had suspicions, but I didn’t name them, I kept putting them away†(831). The way that he dealt with his younger brother’s problems was by turning his back on them. He knew that Sonny was dealing with heavy problems, but chose to look past them and live his own life. He also knows that leaving his brother during the time he needed him the most was wrong of him to do. The narrator goes on to say, â€Å"I didn’t wa nt to believe that I’d ever see my brother going down, coming to nothing, all that light in his face gone out, in the condition I’d already seen so many others†(831). The narrator has seen many kids around him in Harlem that went down the wrong road, but tried to convince himself that that would never happen to his brother. He was never there to steer him in the right direction, which could have possibly lead Sonny past drugs and jail, and onto a promising future. He knows that Sonny lives in a place where many kids make bad decisions with drugs and crime, but by turning his back on Sonny he was never there to protect him like an older brother should. Sonny tells the narrator that he has always had a dream of becoming a musician. As a natural instinct, the narrator objects by saying that he should finish school first. This important part in the story shows dialog from a protective older brother, a brother that Sonny has never had the chance to have in his life before and desperately needs now more than ever. ‘Sonny.’ I said, ‘I know how you feel. But if you don’t finish school now, you’re going to be sorry later th at you didn’t.’ I grabbed him by the shoulders. ‘And you only got another year. It isn’t so bad. And I’ll comeback and I swear I’ll help you do whatever you want to do. Just try to put up with it till I come back, Will you please do that? For me? (843). The narrator is finally coming to his senses; he knows that his younger brother needs him to be a role model and guide to set his life in the right path. The moment the narrator finally remembers that Sonny is a person who should be an important part of his life, not just a past memory, was the moment he saw a story in the newspaper about Sonny being arrested for peddling and using heroin. â€Å"Then perhaps I just started at it, at the newsprint spelling out his name, spelling out the story.† He goes on to say, â€Å"And at the same time I couldn’t doubt it. I was scared, scared for Sonny. He became real to me again†(830). This turning point in the narrator’s life is a crucial aspect of the story because it is the moment when he remembers his past, and the fact that his younger brother is dealing with serious problems. The reality of the imperfections of the world, especially the dangers of his hometown of Harlem come back to haunt him. He has put his pas t behind him for so many years that the reality of his brother being arrested for drugs to him is like â€Å"great block of ice got settled in my belly and kept melting there slowly all day long†(831). He began wondering what Sonny looked like, and if he still had his bright face. Although he does not respond to his brother right away, this moment strikes the beginning of the narrator’s memory of his younger brother. Harlem plays a major role in the narrator’s life and his relationship with Sonny because it is where they were both born and raised. It is not the best neighborhood for children to grow up in, which is associated with the reasons for Sonny’s poor decisions. â€Å"All this was carrying me some place I didn’t want to go. I certainly didn’t want to know how it felt. It filled everything, the people, the houses, the music, the dark, the quicksilver barmaid, with menace; and this menace was their reality†(833). The narrator realizes that Harlem is a main reason for why Sonny is going through such struggles. He does not want to go back and face his past life. He brings Sonny into his house, which reminds him of the house in which the y grew up in. â€Å"The same things happen, they’ll have the same things to remember. The moment Sonny and I started into the house I had the feeling that I was simply bringing him back into the danger he had almost died trying to escape†(836). The narrator is acting like the protective older brother that he should have been all along. After the narrator’s daughter dies he receives a condolence letter from Sonny, which leads him to keep in touch with him as often as possible and eventually see him. â€Å"When I saw him many things I thought I had forgotten came flooding back to me.† He goes on to say, â€Å"He looked very unlike my baby brother. Yet, when he smiled, when we shook hands, the baby brother I’d never known looked out from the depths of his private life, like an animal waiting to be coaxed into the light†(835). The narrator describes Sonny as somebody he has never known. All the years apart has turned the two brothers into complete strangers. This moment between the two men is very important to the central theme of the story, which is the importance of a bond between brothers. Throughout the story, the narrator learns how important it is to Sonny for him to care and listen to him. Sonny is vulnerable and in a state where he is getting into trouble with drugs and alcohol perhaps because he feels as though no one cares enough to help him. The narrator lives his life as a teacher while Sonny spends his days using drugs hoping someday to pursue his dreams of music. Both characters end up in a place they are meant to be; acting as family and leaning on each other for support, which is the true importance of an older brother.