The Battle for Latin American Hearts and Minds Essay Example For Students

The Battle for Latin American Hearts and Minds Essay The Battle for Latin American Hearts and Minds: JEFF and the Alliance for Progress By the asss, Latin America had seen its share to U. S. Policies with aims to improve inter-Armenian relations and regional stability. Especially after World War II, these policies were often unsuited for long-term development and served American interests before the basic needs of the people. President Eisenhower open support of military dictatorships left many Latin Americans Linden oppressive social conditions, and the rest were left with false hopes of economic and humanitarian aid. Military aid to Latin America, however, had doubled as the fear of communism overtook the hope for any long-term developmental efforts, resulting in a surge in anti-Americanism and inclinations toward non-democratic ideologies. President Kennedy was determined to change the course Of LIST. Policy toward Latin America with the Alliance for Progress, a ten-year plan with more than $20 billion in loans announced in 1961 _ This was a sharp contrast to the hard power approach of the Eisenhower administration, as the threat was now ideological in the form Of communism. We will write a custom essay on The Battle for Latin American Hearts and Minds specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Nevertheless, it is Widely held that he Alliance for Progress and its related programs, such as the Peace Corps, were unsuccessful in bringing about the development and colonization in Latin America that the U. S. Had hoped for in the asss. The Kennedy Administration was consumed with finding a way to fight communism in the Western Hemisphere through soft power, and he soon found out that democracy and social justice could not be easily imparted to poor countries. The revolutionary mentality of Latin America would no longer accept another US. Policy of intervention cloaked in goodwill efforts. Winning the hearts and minds of the people came down to cultural relativism and listening to what the people needed, not what the U. S. Thought they needed. The implementation of public diplomacy tools conflicted with American self-interest and the harsh realities of Latin American society, ultimately undermining the Alliance for Progress. President Kennedy introduced the Alliance for Progress as a way to satisfy the basic needs of the American people for homes, favor and land, health and schools through democracy, social and agrarian reforms. It also planned to solve deep problems such as economic integration and commodity market problems. Most importantly, it would assist in keeping conflicting ideologies, specifically Coatrooms, out of the region. Kennedy traveled to Puerco Rice, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Colombia that year to promote the Alliance for Progress. The Kennedys were hardly effective in communicating the plan in Latin America as John conducted the speeches in English and Jackie only spoke briefly in Spanish, but they were initially successful in advocating the plan. John rode on his charisma and reputation in the region to convince the masses that the aid they had waited for had now come, but the over idealistic nature of his plan exulted in disappointment. Kennedy overlooked the two major factors facing Latin America at the time: a rigid social system and a rapidly growing population. Even if the aid reached the poor after it had passed through the hands of the powerful elite, it was not creating the jobs and quality Of life that they had expected. According to Robert Kinsley, mass communications had caused high expectations for the Alliance for Progress, as the poor became aware of how the other half lived and desired that lifestyle in a less than realistic timeshare. Despite some measurable progress, it was not enough for the rowing population in terms of three of the most important factors: agrarian reform, employment and education. The Charter of Punt del Est. Outlined the objectives of the Alliance for Progress in more detail, covering expectations for economic growth, distribution of wealth and land, employment, productivity, education and health. Quantitative results showed slow rates of change as population growth worked against them, even back tracking in trends such as education where the percentage of children in primary school dropped considerably by the end of the decade. Agrarian retort and industrialization loud not keep up with the demand of the population either. .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec , .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .postImageUrl , .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec , .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:hover , .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:visited , .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:active { border:0!important; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:active , .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4a1257452f0ef8c60e96baf0dc16afec:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Picture Of Dorian Gray EssayThere were more mouths to feed and more peasants seeking further estate divisions than ever. Latin American political culture also prevented any sort of economic cooperation and mutual progress, as leaders were unwilling to work together. By and far the most hindering economic feature that was poorly thought out was the fact that many Latin American countries already had existing debt payments. There was huge risk involved for IIS investors to take their business to the region, Vichy success of the Alliance was dependent on. Therefore, repayment of debts was initially slow and hindering. The execution Of the Peace Corps during the asss is another example of how the Alliance for Progress was overly idealistic in anticipating the international communitys openness to American colonization. It was also in many instances a poor advocate for the Alliance. The Peace Corps provided trained volunteers to capacitate impoverished communities With the hope that a better interpersonal and intercultural understanding would ensue. It also allowed Earnings to feel like one part oftener foreign policy was helping the world. However, a few logistical aspects were overlooked that would affect the reciprocity. The first was organizational as it was unclear how much structure (or restrictions) the volunteers should be given in their host country. Basic training in language and history, and any behavioral guidelines were not given and therefore it was at the volunteers discretion. Cultural differences were also quite a shock to the volunteers who struggled to assimilate and therefore often remained secluded, which was the case in the early groups sent to Ethiopia. The second aspect that was overlooked was the presence or the further development f any anti-American sentiments, such is the case of Bolivia. The peace Corps volunteers work, although successful at the beginning, was too ambitious for the leftist government as they were promoting community reforms that threatened traditional social balance. As seen in the backlash to the distribution of birth control, proper training on the religious and social attitudes in the destination country, along with awareness of that countrys current tensions with the LIE. S. , is necessary to avoid upsetting a very fragile balance. Under such conditions, not much progress could be made to benefit local populations, and the volunteers ere expelled in 1971 _ George Keenan suggests that it is in Latin Americas best interest to listen to the advice of the u. S. , but this case study shows in fact that it must be the Opposite. Public diplomacy cannot be successful if listening is not conducted on either side, but particularly on the side of those who are implementing the policy. The Alliance for Progress also lost credibility in the fact that Kennedys lofty words did not always match the aggressive actions of the LIE. S. Abroad. The claim that it was acting Without self-interest in Latin America as deceitful, as some of the funds were quietly put toward counterinsurgency programs to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America. There was suspicion of U. S. Involvement in the assassination of the Dominican President Trujillo in 1961, but all that can be proven is that the CIA provided the assassins weapons. He also openly supported states run by oppressive dictators, such as Brazil and Guatemala, through the Mann Doctrines idea of non-discrimination in foreign investment. One of the pitfalls of the Alliance for Progress was that there was greater weight on economic performance than political or social improvements, This had unintended consequences of political instability for years to come. Meanwhile, highly publicized events such as the 1961 Bay of Pigs and the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis proved to the international community that the U. S. Was indeed willing to act forcefully and unilaterally in Latin America if necessary. .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 , .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .postImageUrl , .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 , .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:hover , .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:visited , .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:active { border:0!important; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:active , .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7 .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufa5a6c4f1d443c861f321041c009ffc7:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Don Juan EssayIn the minds of Latin American nationalists, the Alliance for progress was never able to overcome the idea of Yankee imperialism, despite the public diplomacy efforts in other sectors of society. Aggressive LLC. S_ policies were the ones that ever most commonly known, and the ones they resented the cost. The final question of legitimacy in the Alliance for Progress is the lack Of what Robert Kinsley calls business diplomacy. As mentioned, any economic development in Latin America through the Alliance for Progress funds would have to depend primarily on private investment. American business did not concern itself With combating the corruption that controlled the economies Of Latin America while working under the Mann Doctrine, and this contributed to the question of whether the LIST. Was truly working in the regions best interest. Business leaders failed to look at the actual realities of Latin America and what ACH country needed, using their work as a problem-solving tool for social justice, freedoms, and national identity. Kinsley suggests that this could have been the ideology that the U. S. Remoter as its own during this time economic progress through honest foreign investment as the affects of business can be felt virtually anywhere. Despite overwhelming support for his efforts upon his election and continued adoration tort his good intentions, Kennedys policies still tailed to win the hearts and minds of Latin Earnings by the end of the decade, His desire to help the or in Latin America conflicted with the obsession in Washington to combat comm unism from all sides. In this case, the soft power and public diplomacy efforts (and successes) went unnoticed as long as hard power was also at work. The legacy of hard power in the American foreign policy toolbox had led to very high expectations for other efforts. By the asss, no comprehensive Latin American development program was created despite the tens of billions of dollars that were committed to the region. In most cases, the Alliance for Progress continued to line the pockets of elites because the funds were poorly allocated. The actions of the Peace Corps demonstrated the continued inability to recognize Latin Americans cultural, historical and economic differences, and furthered sentiments of American arrogance. Y the early asss, the program was considered a failure and in 1973, the Organization Of American States disbanded the committee that implemented the Alliance for Progress. As G. John Snobbery suggests, true colonization is a long-term commitment Of external inducement or internal reconstruction. However, if the hegemony does not have legitimacy in those that it is socializing, colonization will only be successfu l through coercion. Kinsley states, Nothing has been more destructive of good inter. American relations than this smug sense of superiority of the Anglo-Saxon world and its implicitly material values, a useful lesson for the 21st century where relations with Latin America continue to be crucial. The effect past policies have on U. S. Soft power and public diplomacy in the region today are infinite. There must be a concerted effort to acknowledge and appreciate the differences between economic and social experiences, to follow through on promises and to make listening the first step in advancing positive relations in the region.

Humans Screwed Up essays

Humans Screwed Up essays PEOPLE ARE THE MOST DISGUSTING CREATURES ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. YET WE ARE CLASSIFIED AS ANIMALS. ANIMALS, IN THE SENSE THAT WE TEND TO THINK OF THEM IN, AS NON-HUMAN ANIMALS, ARE BEAUTIFUL WHERE WE COULD NEVER BE. HUMANS ARE THE ONLY ANIMALS THAT TRULY ALTER THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE THEMSELVES A COMPLETELY ARTIFICIAL LIVING SPACE. WE PAVE OVER OUR FIELDS AND PLOW DOWN OUT FORESTS. WE PILLAGE THE WORLD THAT WE MUST LIVE IN AND ESSENTIALLY TURN IT INTO A CEMENT AND TAR WASTELAND. PEOPLE KILL FOR NO REASON AND COMMIT MURDER, EVEN UNTO THEIR OWN KIND. ANIMALS ON THE OTHER HAND SIMPLY LIVE. THEY CONSUME ONLY WHAT THEY MUST TO SURVIVE AND THEY LEAVE THE REST ALONE. A LION THAT ISNT HUNGRY, FOR EXAMPLE, WONT KILL. ANIMALS MAY BUILD HOMES, BUT THEY ARE BIODEGRADABLE HOMES THAT DONT CLUTTER AND DESTROY THE LANDSCAPE. ANIMALS LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY AND THEY NATURALLY BALANCE EACH OTHER OUT. THERE IS A CIRCLE OF LIFE THAT WOULD BE MUCH MORE CIRCULAR IF HUMANS WERENT THERE TO STRETCH IT AND MOLD IT TO SUIT OUR FANCY. THE HUMAN IS BLOODTHIRSTY, IT DESTROYS ITS SURROUNDINGS AND EVENTUALLY ITSELF, AND YET WE CLAIM TO BE THE INTELLIGENT LIFE FORMS OF THE PLANET. THE GIFT OF A LARGER BRAIN CAPACITY HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A PANDORAS BOX, WE USE IT BECAUSE WE CANT HELP IT, AND IT CAUSES NO GOOD. MAYBE IT IS THAT THE CAPACITY TO THINK HASNT BEEN USED ENOUGH. OR PERHAPS IT IS THAT PEOPLE CANT THINK ANYMORE WHEN THEY LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THINKS FOR THEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE GIFTS GIVEN TO US HAVE CAUSED US TO BE CORRUPT DESTROYERS OF ALL LIFE. HUMANS COULD TURN AROUND AND BE THE FORCE THAT SAVES LIFE IF WE COULD CARE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE AND THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE CREATE AND WHAT EFFECT IT WILL HAVE. IF WE COULD CONSIDER THE LYNX THAT PATROLS THE WOODS AND RELIES ON THE SMALLER LIFE THEN MAYBE WE WOULD NOT BUILD A ROAD THERE WHERE POLLUTANTS AND TRAFFIC CAN KILL ALL ...

Using Reflexive Verbs in Spanish

Using Reflexive Verbs in Spanish A verb is used reflexively when the subject of the verb is also its object. An example of a simple sentence using a reflexive verb is Pedro se lava (Pedro is washing himself). In that sentence Pedro is both the subject (the one doing the washing) and the object (the person begin washed). Note that the reflexive pronoun (in this case se) typically precedes the verb (although it can be attached to infinitives). Key Takeaways: Spanish Reflexive Verbs The subject and object of a reflexive verb is the same. For example: She is watching herself in the mirror.Not all Spanish reflexive verbs are translated as reflexive in English.Reflexive verbs can be used for emphasis or to avoid saying who is performing the verbs action. Here are the main ways such verbs are used: Verb's Subject Acting on Itself As in the example above, this is the most straightforward use of reflexive verbs, and it is certainly the most common way they are used in English. In plural form the pronoun can often be translated as themselves or each other, depending on the context. Some examples: Puedo verme en el espejo. (I can see myself in the mirror.) ¿Quà © te compraste? (What did you buy for yourself?)Se estaban admirando. (They were admiring themselves. Or, they were admiring each other.)Pablo se habla. (Pablo talks to himself.) Verbs Used Only in Reflexive Form Some verbs in Spanish are used only in the reflexive form, and they may or may not be translated to English using a reflexive construction. In dictionaries, such verbs traditionally are listed with a se at the end of the infinitive, as in abstenerse, which means to abstain. Me abstengo de votar. (I am abstaining from voting.)Teresa se arrepentià ³ de sus errors. (Teresa regretted her errors.)Me resigno a no tener dinero. (I am resigning myself to having no money.) Reflexive Verbs Translated as Nonreflexive Verbs Some Spanish verbs make perfect sense when understood in a reflexive way, but we typically dont translate them that way into English. For example, levantar means to lift, while its reflexive counterpart, levantarse, could be understood to mean to lift oneself, but is usually translated as to get up. Quiero baà ±arme. (I want to take a bath. Literally, I want to bathe myself.) ¡Sià ©ntate! (Sit down! Literally, seat yourself!)Voy a vestirme. (I am going to get dressed. Literally, I am going to dress myself.)Me afeito cada maà ±ana. (I shave every morning. Literally, I shave myself every morning.)Patricia se acercà ³ la casa. (Patricia approached the house. Literally, Patricia brought herself closer to the house.)Se llama Eva. (Her name is Eva. Literally, she calls herself Eva.) Verbs Changing Meaning in Reflexive Form Making a verb reflexive can change its meaning in ways that arent always predictable. Sometimes the difference in meaning is subtle. Following are some common examples; not all possible meanings of the verbs are included. abonar, to pay money; abonarse, to subscribe (as to a periodical)abrir, to open; abrirse, to open up (in the sense of confiding in someone)acordar, to agree, to decide; acordarse, to rememberacusar, to accuse; acusarse, to confesscallar, to be quiet; callarse, to become quietcerrar, to close; cerrarse, to close oneself off emotionallycombinar, to combine; combinarse (plural forms), to take turnsdormir, to sleep; dormirse, to fall asleepir, to go; irse, to go awayllevar, to carry; llevarse, to take awayponer, to put; ponerse, to put on, to wearsalir, to leave; salirse, to leave unexpectedly, to leak Reflexive Verbs for Emphasis Some verbs can be used reflexively to add emphasis. The distinction isnt always readily translated to English. For example, comà ­ la hamburguesa, means I ate the hamburger, but the reflexive form, me comà ­ la hamburguesa, could be translated the same way, or perhaps as I ate up the hamburger or I ate the whole hamburger. Similarly, pià ©nsalo might be translated as think about it, whereas pià ©nsatelo might be translated the same way or as think about it thoroughly. The 'Reflexive Passive' Often, particularly with inanimate objects, the reflexive form is used to indicate an occurrence without indicating the person or thing responsible for that occurrence. Such uses of the reflexive are typically the equivalent of passive verb forms in English, as in the following examples: Se cerraron las puertas. (The doors were closed.)Se habla espaà ±ol aquà ­. (Spanish is spoken here.)Se venden recuerdos. (Souvenirs are sold, or souvenirs for sale.) Reflexive Forms for Emotional Reactions Emotional reactions are often indicated by reflexive verb forms. For example, enojar means to anger. In the reflexive form, enojarse means to become angry or to be angry. Thus, se enoja contra su amigo could be used to say, he gets angry at his friend. Among the many verbs used in such a way are aburrirse, to be bored; alegrarse, to be happy; dolerse, to be hurt; emocionarse, to be excited; horrizarse, to be horrified; and sorprenderse, to be surprised.

Critical Thinking and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking and Ethics - Essay Example However, personal ethics can change with a period of time and changing experiences though the morals and values forming the foundation of ethics may continue to be the same. Social responsibility is concerned with the behavior considering the society as well as variables surrounding the individual e.g. drinking or smoking decisions, decisions on bribery, decisions on city cleanliness etc. ("Personal Ethics and Life") Since, man is a social animal and cannot be divided from the society, it would be correct to say that the personal ethics need an evaluation as well as a serious thought for linking them with social responsibility. One needs to be very clear as to how personal ethical standards are related with the social background. It is necessary to analyze personal ethics as the actions of an individual in a wider context do have an indirect impact on the society at large. These are established in life's earlier stages from home, school, and church and later in life they influence the work place, city and nation too. Therefore, it is essential not to mistake personal opinions with universal principles in the light of thoughtful and socially accepted personal ethical standards. Here in this brief write up we would take an example that a project manager (PM) faces in his day to day life. Such an issue cannot be solved conveniently on the basis of theory or formal academic approach. It needs prudence, situational approach and morality to arrive at a solution which is ethically correct. Now, what is morality differs from person to person and is a debatable topic. Let us view the situation and the possible action as well as the basis for the action. Suppose the PM is uncomfortable as international project requirements contradict the domestic customs and laws, while they are well accepted in the foreign country. This leads to contradiction with the permissible practices in domestic environment. Here, the PM needs to decide what correct is ethically and what is not. Would the payment made to foreign officials be considered a bribe or "facilitation o0f business processes". Here is a way to solve the ethical dilemma. One can check himself on the ethics yardstick by setting out some standards to decide a right approach. Are the rules that are followed by you, usually understood as a part of the task Do you have sufficient comfort defending your action personally in front of public Would you be comfortable if your friends, relatives, and family are aware of your action Would you be ok if somebody does this same act with you or your loved ones Would the impact of a similar action be positive on the society, if everyone starts following the same practice Is the act not resulting in harm to any part, if not doing positive If the answers to all the above questions are yes, then the act can be considered ethically correct. (The manager and the negotiator) Conclusion The writings of "Critical Thinking and Ethics; From Theory to Application" give an insight on the ethical aspects of psychology. These writings highlight the importance of self evaluation and analysis of personal behavior with respect to the social circumstances making

VOLUME AND REVENUE PROJECT Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

VOLUME AND REVENUE PROJECT - Research Paper Example The costs are divided into fixed and variable costs. The marginal costs or the contribution is calculated by subtracting the variable costs from total revenues per unit. Medical spending with regards to private insurance spending is expected to grow in the year 2014 by an estimated 9.4% (National Health Expenditure Projections 2010-2020). Spending by the government is also expected to grow in Medicare and Medicaid by 6.2 and 300 percent respectively (National Health Expenditure Projections 2010-2020). Based on this estimated for the hospital to be profitable it either has to increase the volume of patients and or increase the revenue received per procedure. conservative figure for the projected revenue of $ 15,694,583, this is by using increments in number of procedures and cost per procedure to reflect the change estimates. The total expenses are estimated to be at $ 3,134,381 Looking at the expenses it could be noted that the physician contract services had a variance of -27.8% which affected the general result of the hospital. Other areas that should be focused on are the salaries and telephone costs. The hospital could consider employing more staff for its operations. National Health Expenditure Projections 2010-2020. 20 October 2013

Hawker Centres in Singapore

Hawker Centres in Singapore This paper examines how the success of the hawker centers in Singapore has to do with several factors that we can acknowledge as well in Colombia, even though the two countries are so diverse in cultural aspects. The Hawker Centers have been part of the Singaporean culture since 1950, making them a deeply rooted tradition; that must be adapted in order to fit into the Colombian complex and diverse culture. Here we intend to show how the concept can be implemented in Colombia in a successful way that allows us all to identify ourselves with our roots and matching points as Colombians. INTRODUCTION Hawkers Centers are open-air complexes with many stalls that sell a wide variety of inexpensive food, resembling a food mall. These centers are the most popular and an emblematic place to eat in Singapore; and since the population of the country is so diverse, the food offered includes all the cultures (Chinese, Malay and Indian). People generally go to these places to find something they like and to enjoy the multicultural pluralism of this country, in a context where cultural differences are converted into cultural match points. The Hawkers Centers are considered the CULTURAL METAPHOR of Singapore. According to Martin Gannon, in these places one can find 5 characteristics that described the culture, those being: Ethnic diversity but unity, Efficiency, the power of women, and, Safety and  Synthesizing traditional and new values. Colombia is a multicultural society, and is subdivided in what we can call micro-nations, the most of them are located in the natural geographical regions, The Caribbean Lowlands which culture is the result of a mixture between indigenous and Africans, the Pacific Lowlands where the roots of African culture are exposed, the Andean Highlands where people reflects the strong influence of their Europeans ancestors, and finally the Orinoco savanna and the Amazon rainforest two regions evidencing the pre-Columbian identity of this salad Bowl called Colombia. Mil Sabores, una Identidad Hawker center will be a place where the 5 geographical and cultural regions of Colombia will be represented, and Colombians coming from all around the country will find in food the way to make the cultural differences a reason for unity instead of conflict. COLOMBIAN CULTURE We consider that Colombia is a Salad Bowl, composed by different subcultures which are difficult to classify, Estanislado Zuleta says that Colombia is divided in 3 main groups of people, the coastal, the caribeans, and the people from the high plateaus (altiplanos).bajucol-colombia The multicultural and multiethnic character of Colombia is explained by its history, the Caucasians and the Africans races were brought by the conquest, and these new races get mixed with the indigenous, given birth to new ethnic groups, making possible that today Colombia counting on a population of approximately 44 Million with have an ethnic composition of 58 percent mestizos, 20 percent Europeans, 14 percent mulattos, and the remaining of African descent and mixed African-Amerindian. The geographical regions of Colombia are another way in which we can classify the cultural differences. Due to the difficult topographical situation of the country there is a geographical isolation, each region has developed unique and diverse characteristics, making even more difficult to describe Colombia as one culture. The complex cultural diversity of Colombia is reflected by the different traditions, values, believes but also by the diversity of the gastronomy, the aesthetics such as the music, architecture, painting, dancing, theater and many others. The Andean region for example is cultures where there are strong remains of the European ancestors, people on this region have a strong character and are usually hardworking and big entrepreneurs. inside the region there are also differences and we can divide the cultural groups in the Paisas from Antioquia and from the coffee Region, the Santandereanos from Santander and Norte de Santander, a part of the Vallunos from Valle del Cauca and Cauca, the Tolimenses , the cundiboyacenses from the interior part of the country, the Pastusos form Narià ±o and finally the Rolos from Bogota. The Caribbean Lowlands is the product of a mixture between Indigenous and Africans, in this region you can find tropical and outstanding way of life, the region located in the north of Colombia is composed by the Costeà ±os from the Atlantic coast and the savannas of the north, the Guajiros are also part of this region and are in their majority from the Guayu indigenous group. Then is in Pacific lowlands where we find the strongest roots of the Africans, the region of the Afro-Colombians is characterized by its flavors, colors and ancestral rituals that even other Colombians are not familiar with. This particular region ins composed by the chocuanos from Chocà ³ and the afro-Colombians from Narià ±o. The Orinoco savanna located in the east part of the country is also a different world like every region in Colombia. The terrific landscapes of an eternal green that get mixed with the sky in horizon, and the virgin jungles are the homeland of the llaneros and of many Indigenous tribes that are protected by the forest as their natural barrier. Finally the Amazon rainforest is the natural guardian of the most traditional and ancestral values and beliefs of the pre-Columbian tribes, this region whose population is mainly indigenous is an amazing place, that can be described in only one word DIVERSITY. The most of Colombians are not familiar with this region, maybe because due to our high uncertainty avoidance, our aversion to risk and to what is different, we dont even dare to cross this forest rich in bio- and cultural-diversity. Colombians are so different, regionalist and in a way ethnocentric, we are aware of our differences and the majority is deeply identified with their regional culture and defend it from the others influence; we are a kind of a salad bowl where people is together but never melted. But despite all those differences there are some things that we love about this multiculturalism, things that constitutes the match point of our cultures, making possible that we all feel and enjoy being Colombians, those things are Food, Music and art. Hofstedes analysis The analysis for Colombia is very similar to other Latin American countries; where societies are slow to accept changes, are risk-adverse and have a high concern for rules. This can be because in Colombia the population is mainly catholic, which promotes the idea that there is an absolute truth. According to the analysis that Hofstede made, Colombia has one of the highest rankings in Masculinity, what this means is that there is high degree of gender inequality, and that men are the dominant within the society. Colombia has high uncertainty avoidance, which explains the low level of tolerance for the unknown and the foreigners; this also explains the need for rules and laws. Collectivism is very important for our culture, the family is very influential on each individual, and loyalty is required in order to maintain the harmony. Finally the high power distance shows the huge inequality of power and wealth in the society, which explains the high level of poverty. SINGAPORE CULTURE Singapore is a City State with a population of 4,5 millions, the territory is divided in 65 islands. Singapore has become the way to get into the Asian countries and the place where most of the companies want to have their headquarters because of Singapores economic and political security. This high quality of life is thanks Thomas Stanford Raffles, the founder of Singapore and who created the port that nowadays is between the first by volume and the second by containers busiest port of the world and also created a neighborhood for each ethnic group where each region could be governed by itself. Then lee Kwan Yew, the father of the modern Singapore has implemented a system that implemented the western democratic values but always maintaining the Asian identity. In Singapore people live in harmony, they are usually well educated and really smart. Although there are from different neighborhoods, languages and cultures, the interaction among them is really common, Chinese can marry Indians, in a Hindu temple located in Chinatown, is like a salad bowl of Malays, Indians, Chinese and Europeans. Singapore is a pluralistic place, where they interact between each other, but dont create just one culture, they are Chinese Singaporean, Indian Singaporean, Malays Singaporean, etc., they dont change their roots, although the bulk of Singaporeans do think of themselves as Singaporeans, regardless of race or culture. Each still bears its own unique character  [1]  .worldmap-singapore Each ethnic group has its own religion and its own festivals, but anyone can attend. The tolerance is really important and there is not discrimination toward people from another religion. For example the Chinese are predominantly followers of Buddhism, Taoism, Shenism, Christians, Catholics and some considered as free-thinkers (Those who do not belong to any religion). Malays have the Muslims and Indians are Hindus. There is a sizeable  number of Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian population  [2]  . Singapore has four official languages: Mandarin (comes from china), Malay (comes from Malaysia), Tamil (comes from Indian) and English (comes from Europe). The last one is the most used for communication and business, the others are talk only in their homes in order to keep the roots and traditions of their home culture. In Singapore almost everyone speak more than 2 languages. They have a dialect called Singlish is like a symbol for many Singaporeans and its an influence of Malay and Chinese that have change some words in the informal English language. Whatever the race or religion, the countrys communities unite as one nation, where most religious or racial gaps are being bridged  [3]  . The Hawker centers are considered by Martin Gannon the cultural metaphor of Singapore. There are five features of the hawkers that let us to identify the culture in Singapore. First, Ethnic Diversity but Unity, as we already said, Singapore is composed by three ethnic groups, so Chinese , Indian and Malays live in harmony and are treated as Singaporeans provided with the same rights and Obligations. In the hawker centers the different ethnic groups are represented, each one has a number of stalls depending on their percentage on the total population. The unity between the different cultures in Singapore is highly explained by the five principles imposed by Lee Kwan Yew: Nation before community and society before the self. Family as the basic unit of society Community support and respect for the individual Consensus, not conflict Racial and religious harmony  [4]   Second, Efficiency, in hawker centers there is an unspoken rule, servers and customers must be quick and efficient. Efficiency in Singapore is evident in communication in which people usually prefer quick aswers, and also in the cutting-edge technology present in the different aspects of daily life. Third, the Power of Women is an evident factor in the centers; the number of men and women working in the center is the same and are treated in the same way. Women also play important roles in business, and there are a lot of policies promoting equal opportunities in the workplace. Fourth, the safety is one of the most important aspects of the social system in Singapore, there are rules and regulations governing the simplest aspects of the peoples life, these regulations are also strict regarding the Hawker Centers. Fifth and finally, synthesizing traditional and new values, Singapore is trying to maintain their traditional Asian values while implementing efficiency and practicality. The hawker centers represent this because they offer traditional food, but also western food. HOFSTEDES ANALYSIS According to Hofstede Singapore is a country with a high power distance, where the even if poor people is not so poor, there is a big gap between the rich and the poor. There is also a high power on the leaders, and population is forced to obey the law. The individualism is very low, due to the Confucian values there is a tendency to collectivism, the country cares a lot about family values and cooperativism. The country has male values such as people being worth for themselves and every person should take after themselves, but regarding the role of women, there is an equality of gender and they have an important role in society. Finally, uncertainty avoidance is low, due to the multiculturalism, people is no afraid of what is different. But if we take into account the extreme regulations it should be a little bit higher. SIMILARITIES Colombia and Singapore are as different as a western and an Asian country can be. But even if those differences are so marked culturally speaking, we find some similar situations or conditions in which the two countries have simililarities. First taking the Hofstede dimensions of both countries as reference, it can be seen that three out of the dimensions evaluated are quiet similar, Colombia and Singapore present a high level of Power distance, in both countries the gap between rich and poor people is so big, it has be taken into account that the dimensions and the concept of the richness or the poorness is different in both countries. Individualism is very similar too, the collectivism characteristic of the Asian countries is also present on the Colombian culture. Masculinity is also high, evidencing two goal oriented cultures, were success is synonymous of recognition, but in terms of the role of women in society we can say that even if Colombia is one of the countries of lain America with more women participating in high rank positions, Singapore has advanced more regarding the equality of genders. Finally the difference in the uncertainty avoidance is evident, while in Singapore there is not aversion to new, unknow n or different things, Colombians are pretty scared of change; but in terms of norms we can say that both countries have a huge amount of rules and regulations that evince a high uncertainty avoidance. Then when we talk about similar conditions, we are referring to the multiculturalism. With similar conditions, we mean, respecting the proportions, that in both countries there is a lot of people from different cultural backgrounds living within one state that is trying to build one cultural identity respecting differences and enforcing thins in common. IMPLEMENTATION Business idea We have chosen to bring and to adapt the concept of the HAWKER CENTERS of Singapore, into our country. (Bogotà ¡) The Hawker center is going to be called MIL SABORES, UNA IDENTIDAD. It is going to be located in the North of Bogotà ¡, and it is going to be more fashionable and delightful than the ones in Singapore; this is due to the fact that people in Bogota believe in status, in differentiation and they are willing to pay the price if you are offering something containing this characteristics. The idea is to create a place with different food stalls according to the five Colombian regions which are: The Caribbean Lowlands, Pacific Lowlands, Andean Highlands, Orinoco savanna and the Amazon rainforest. Bogotà ¡ is the capital of Colombia, this makes it the city in which the best universities, jobs and opportunities are found; for this same reason people from all over the country goes there to achieve their goals, and prepare for the future. We can consider Bogota as a the Singapore of Colombia, where people from different cultural backgrounds live an interact with each other in a pluralistic environment. According to the quantity of people from each region living in the capital, a proportionate number of stalls will be installed. And besides this, a small number of stalls will be dedicated to International food, such as Arab, Chinese and Italian. The idea is to offer our customers dishes from their regions but also to offer them dishes that otherwise they wouldnt find so easily. So the experience of going to MIL SABORES, UNA IDENTIDAD is planned to be like a trip trough Colombia, where the costumer can interact with people from different regions and get to know their gastronomy and their culture. The place is going to be decorated with the most typical objects of each region and music from our artist will be played. REASONS FOR POTENTIAL SUCCESS We believe that this project, if implemented, would have success because although we have high uncertainty avoidance (according to Hofstedes) .We do enjoy to try and to get to know different aspects of other cultures. We can say that we are selective in our integration, and that is why we love to go in vacations to the coast and eat excessively, because we enjoy their food, that is very hard to find when being in the interior. Since we are offering the experience of feeling in a trip through out Colombia, some of the difficulties that Colombia has as a state are creating opportunities for our business to thrive. For example: The hard mobilization through our country. The dangers of making a road trip. The difficult economic situation. The unsanitary conditions of the food in some places. The long distances and the poor infrastructure. DIFFERENCIATION Our main concern is for people to believe that MIL SABORES, UNA IDENTIDAD is just like any regular food mall, but as soon as the customer enters in the building it will discover that this innovative project, is nothing like a regular food mall it is an experience for all your senses that you cant find elsewhere in Colombia. The mix of music, food and entertainment will allow the customer to feel in different places at the same time and to experience the richness of our folklore. TURISTIC ATTRACTION As international negotiators we appreciate the foreigners that decide to visit our country and that are interested in getting to know us. Because of this, we have decided to integrate everything that represents us in one single place. Coffee is one of the things that we are known for, so it is clear that we are going to take advantage of this, and build a coffee stall, with a variety of products that contain coffee, such as: caramel, candies, drinks. Etc. Finally we believe that a souvenir store is also required for foreigners, where they can find hand-made stuff from our natives and artisans, such as hammocks, jewelry, musical instruments, clothes etc. CONCLUSIONS We have concluded that with the correct adaptation, the concept of Hawker Centers could have success in Colombia. The implementation is based on the different regions, making this an inclusive project, taking advantage of the contrasting influences that have gathered in the country. The experience in MIL SABORES, UNA IDENTIDAD is going to be like a trip into the different Cities, where all the family can enjoy dishes of the diverse cultures, creating them a sense of awareness for the other. Finally this project is going to awake the sense of a national identity and the patriotism of the people for their country by focusing in how our differences can bring us together instead on breaking us apart.

My Desires for and Commitment to a College Education Essay

Thirteen years ago my father came to America with no money or education believing that he would surely make something of himself. With his very low education he received a job washing dishes at a restaurant to put food on his plate and to pay for the one room apartment that he rented. After four years he was able to bring me along with my brother, two sisters and my mother to come stay with him. With all of us together he had to work two jobs to support all of us and that truly was difficult for him. He soon was able to send my mother to a school for adults so she have a diploma and help out with the bills and purchase some new attire for us to wear. Once I saw first hand how hard it was for my parents to survive with their low education my one desire and commitment was focused on my college education and coming from a family with does not receive much income I recognize how important it would be to me to receive my education which is why I will strive to receive it. My sister was also a big influence when I saw her graduate from FAMU with a bachelor’s degree and now is the credit manager of sears. Watching how successful she has become I knew I could do the same by going through any impediments which may stand in my way. After receiving a bachelor’s I will also head for a master’s to further open my education. As of right now I am currently employed as a student library for the Broward County Main Library in Florida. I was hired because of my integrity, intellectual personality, and my commitment to the job. This job has given me the opportunity to save up some money for college to pay for some of the books and tuition costs. Having this job has made my commitment toward my education the more important to me, as well as giving me a better understanding of hard work and dedication. I now feel confident that I have gained valuable experience with my work however, I now that earning a bachelor’s degree will further enhance the skills I need to work in my field of business. Once in college I will take the courses of Business Administration since IÂ  have always desired a career that requires innovation, educated risk, and foresight. I learned to respect these qualities from my father through his example I have learned firsthand the advantages and challenges of a person with a low education and a person with a high education -the reward to be gained and the total commitment required. Having a degree in Business Administration would be a significant asset in my account just in case if I were to plan on working for a business which involved management, finance, or marketing. Upon my second year in college I plan to enroll in the track courses of Entrepreneurial Studies. These classes will teach me advanced business techniques and their successful implementation. In addition, academic entrepreneurial organization would be both are both educational and enjoyable since I view these as an opportunity to meet students or teachers who share similar goals.