Human Indifference Essay Example for Free

Human Indifference Essay In the article â€Å"Americans are shopping while Iraq burns†, Bob Herbert implies that Americans are deeply absorbed in their own interests and are therefore apathetic to developments in Iraq, and by extension the developments in any other place where the United States is at war like in Afghanistan. On the contrary, renowned photojournalist James Natchwey is of the opinion that Americans would like to be informed of what really is happening so that they can act responsively. This must have been his conviction before embarking on his mission to film footage for the documentary â€Å"War Photographer†. A number of credible sources underline this apathetic stance adapted by many Americans regarding the suffering that emanates from wars waged by their nation in their name. This research paper aims to identify both their stances in detail with the aim of establishing which perspective is closer to the truth. It also pays a tribute to James Natchwey’s exemplary journalism. The State of the American Society Bob Herbert creates a reference for his argument on Thanksgiving Day here in the U. S. Shopping malls opened at midnight as Americans gleefully spend on the celebration. In the meantime, over 200 civilians had been killed by car bombs in the Iraqi city of Sadr. This is just one incident: a majority of Americans go about their business oblivious of the suffering Iraqi civilians endure on a daily basis or the fatalities American troops encounter at the battlefields. If indeed they were conscious of the repercussions of the war, we would be up in protest opposing these wars whose benefits to the American society cannot be ascertained. The apathy demonstrated by Americans may originate from the fact that very few Americans are concerned with the nation’s foreign policy. As Ole R. Holsti points out, there is â€Å"absence of sustained public attention to international issues† (Holsti 2004, 285). This is demonstrated in the circumstances that led to the invasion of Iraq: the Bush administration alleged without sufficient proof that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (Smith 2005) and connected the Baghdad regime with the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, and the American public was ready to believe these charges in the pretext that Iraq really was a threat to national security (Holsti 2004). Media in the U. S. as made it hard for Americans to know what to believe in or what to value. There is insufficient coverage of the destructiveness of the war as media executives strive to make profits in an overly commercialized industry. The importance of news is diluted as news is â€Å"stripped of its credibility and the audience will have no ability to differentiate between the values of news and other forms of entertainment† (Dadge Schechter 2006, 103). As Bob Herbert points out, most Americans have no personal stake in the Iraqi war and are consequently indifferent to its outcomes. A short survey reveals that very few citizens would be willing to join the military, no wonder most go about their business bearing indifference to the effects of the war on Iraqi civilians whose lives are shattered by war (Gott 2002) and U. S marines who die in the line of duty. The suggestion by Representative Charles Rangel that the Draft be reinstated implies that American politicians would be reluctant to approve of war if the possibility of their constituents being called into active service was real. With these facts out in the open, Herbert’s position is obviously more credible. Media apathy, domestic lack of interest in foreign policy and general disinterest have all contributed to the absence of a collective sacrifice and sharing of the burden of responsibility on the war. This is supported by the other sources cited in this paper. Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy is a comprehensive text describing in detail American foreign policy since September 11th. Why War: The Cultural Logic of Iraq, the Gulf War, and Suez is a thought-provoking text which pushes a reader beyond the periphery of conventional sociological thought. David Dadge and Danny Schechter’s book exposes the ease with which the American public is in most case willing to acknowledge intelligence reports without the desire to validate the background information. War Photographer James Natchwey demonstrates true heroism as he delves deep into some of the most dangerous and desolate spots on earth to bring pictures of what really goes on here to viewers. His work captivates audiences and instills empathy by relaying the destruction and heartbreak occasioned by conflict. He is an embodiment of courage, professional dedication and humanitarianism.

Internet Gambling Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Abstract:   Internet gambling has become one of the hottest areas of the web, both in the sheer volume of sites and quantity of money involved.   Increasing controversy is accompanying this new industry, as federal and state government officials scramble to update legislation that restricts interstate wagering.   This paper examines the roots of Internet gambling and exposes some of the motivations driving the heated debate over its legitimacy. The business-to-consumer sector of the Internet commerce arena contains the most lucrative and fastest growing web-based industry: online gambling, which includes sports wagering, casino-style games and lotteries [1].   In a September 11th article from last year, Wired on-line reported statistics from Websense, which tallied over 21, 000 websites devoted to gambling - a figure up 169% from the total just six months prior [2].   Later in the article, web research specialists Christiansen Capital Advisors predict that Internet gambling sites will earn $2.2 billion in 2000, double the figure from 1999 and four times the 1997 sum [3].   The number of Internet gamblers continues to rise above its 1998 mark of 14.5 million [4]. Not surprisingly, the increasing presence of the Internet gambling industry has generated tremendous legal controversy, since residents of states that outlaw gambling partially or entirely can access gaming servers located anywhere.   In 1998, Republican Senator Jon Kyl from Arizona brought the controversial Internet Gambling Prohibition Act to the Senate, which would "make it unlawful for any person engaged in a gambling business to knowingly use the Internet or any other interactive computer service to: (1) place, receive, or otherwise make a bet... ...From http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-344707.html?tag=rltdnws) [12]. Marinaccio, Wendy.   New York gambling ruling sets precedent.   July 29, 1999.   (From http://cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-345504.html) [13]. Krigel, Beth Lipton.   New York court rules Net gambling illegal.   July 26, 1999.   (From http://news.cnet.com/news/0,10000,0-1005-200-345356,00.html) [14]. Farmer, Melanie Austria.   Nevada to permit sports gambling on the Web.   October 13, 2000.   (From http://cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-3183887.html?tag=st.ne.1002.bgif.ni) [15]. Mariano, Gwendolyn.   Atlantic City makes a gamble for online betting.   January 19, 2001.   (From http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-4537570.html) [16]. Beyer, Andrew.   Internet Gambling Bill: All Bets Are Off.   July 25, 1998.   (From http://washingtonpost.com/wpsrv/national/longterm/intgambling/stories/opinion072598.htm)

Blue Nile case study Essay

How strong are the competitive forces confronting Blue Nile and other online retail jewelers? Do a five-force analysis to support your answer. The competition among the competing sellers in the industry is strong. Competitors for Blue Nile not only include the online jewelry sellers such as Diamonds.com, Whiteflash.com, Ice.com and JamesAllen.com, but also include brick-and-mortar jewelers, chain department stores, mass merchants, local jewelry shop, and large jewelry chains such as Zale and Tiffany. The competitive force from new entrants is moderate to weak. The new entrants of the traditional jewelry industry will need a large amount of capital for inventory, established brands to attract customers, and a strong sales team. For new online jewelry sellers, they also need to find ways to build their brand awareness, establish partnership with suppliers, and to keep the operation costs low to ensure attractive prices. The competition from substitute products for jewelry sellers is also moderate to weak. There are synthetic diamonds, manmade jewels and alternative jewels. But for engagement rings and wedding bands, people would still choose those real and precious diamonds and materials. Thus, from this aspect, there could not be substitutes for diamonds and expensive jewels. The bargaining power from the buyers is strong since there are many choices for them to purchase jewelry from. It is easy for customers to change their source for purchase. The bargaining power from the suppliers is strong for the prices for diamond and precious metals depend more on the exchange market in the world. There are limited suppliers creating an established oligopoly over the years. 2. What key factors will determine a company’s success in the online jewelry business in the next 3-5 years? Key success factors in the online jewelry business include the following ones: 1) Lower operation costs to keep prices lower than rivals 2) Partnership with suppliers to reduce inventory 3) Build customers’ trust and loyalty 4) Strong e-commerce capabilities 5) Manufacture customized products 3. What is Blue Nile’s strategy? Which of the five generic competitive strategies discussed in Chapter 5 most closely fit the competitive approach that Blue Nile is taking? What type of competitive advantage is Blue Nile trying to achieve? Blue Nile’s strategy is to be the Best Cost Provider. It provides the customer high quality engagement rings, wedding bands and jewelry with low prices to value seeking customers. Blue Nile tries to achieve low costs of its operation and marketing thus maintain its competitive advantage in prices. 4. What do you like and dislike about Blue Nile’s business model? Blue Nile’s business model is to make profits through its online sale of high-quality jewelry at competitive low prices with trusted guidance throughout the purchasing process. The model I like is that it provides value to its suppliers and customers which in return bring about their profits. The lean costs and supply chain efficiency enable them to achieve this goal. Another aspect of the model I like is that they provide a high level of customer service and was continuously engaged in refining the customer service aspects in every step of the purchase order. The business model places great importance on customers’ satisfaction which would help their business to grow. The model I don’t like is that they don’t have their own brand of jewelry established and they depend too much on the jewelry of their suppliers. Quality of their jewelry as well as the brand effects could not be competitive with other well-known brands. 5. What does a SWOT analysis of Blue Nile reveal about the overall attractiveness of its situation? Strengths: 1). Offer high-quality jewelry at competitive prices 2). Provide great customer services 3). Efficient supply chain management 4). Good financial condition with a positive amount of cash flows Weakness: 1). Brand name not widely recognized as Zale and Tiffany 2). only sell online 3). Restricted to US, UK and Canada. Opportunities: 1). Growing jewelry market in US 2).Many recognitions in the online jewelry industry Threats: 1). Competitors from online and offline jewelry retailers 2). Seasonal sale of jewelry 6. What is your appraisal of Blue Nile’s financial performance based on the data in case Exhibit 4? How well is the company doing financially? Is there evidence that Blue Nile’s strategy is working—what is the story of the numbers in case Exhibit 4? Use the financial ratios in Table 4.1 of Chapter 4 as a guide in doing the calculations needed to arrive at an analysis-based answer to your assessment of Blue Nile’s recent financial performance. Blue Nile has adequate competitive strength to compete with its online rivals. It has already created brand awareness and brand loyalty among most of its customers. It also has a large number of jewelry selections thanks to its extensive partnership with jewelry suppliers. The efficient supply management also ensures the low prices of their products. It has built a sustainable competitive advantage in the online retail jewelry business. For offline competitors, Blue Nile should work on putting more marketing efforts to make more people know about their brand and build its brand into a reliable high-quality image. 8. What strategic issues and problems does Blue Nile management need to address? Issues and problems Blue Nile Management need to address: 1). Lack of marketing and advertising makes Blue Nile still unknown to many potential customers. Blue Nile should explore more advertising channels to promote its brand image. 2). International efforts to reach the global market are slow. They currently only reach out to UK and Canada. Blue Nile should try to tap more potential global market and explore new markets. 9. What recommendations would you make to Blue Nile management to strengthen its competitive position and future strategic and financial performance? Blue Nile management should keep on providing customers jewelry at low costs while maintain its high quality of jewelry and customer services. Reducing the costs would help ensure the low prices and continuous efforts on educating the customers and assuring their purchase decisions would help Blue Nile to strengthen its competitive position.

The Machinery in Dracula - 752 Words

The machinery in Dracula becomes important to the plot as a whole, but also important to Victorian society too. For the sake of the Empire, factories were increasing the size of Britain’s economy and cities were growing, the military was gaining strength, Britain was at the forefront of modern technology during the time. In fact, the way technology is described and used in the novel, it can be viewed as a subliminal compliment from Stoker about the lengths in which society has developed in that regard. Most effectively the Crew of Light gets to utilize technology whereas Dracula is painfully unaware of the advancements of recent sciences. â€Å"Well, you know what we have to contend against; but we, too, are not without strength†¦we have the resources of science† (Stoker 282). The utilization of modern technology and Bram Stoker’s constant reference to trains paints a vivid image of two things. One, science has improved and is praiseworthy, and two, that Vic torian society finds itself superior partially because of the technology it possesses. The author was a very inquisitive person consequentially the main characters all seem to share a fascination with modern machinery. As the economy developed under Queen Victoria’s rule, trade ships ended up becoming navies, and towns became thriving cities. Even in communication with each other they used a phonograph, a recording device. This expanse of growth due to modern technology kept England ahead of other countries, and so societyShow MoreRelatedDracula vs Blade1516 Words   |  7 Pagespeople perceive other’s at a time also contributes majorly to the development of modernity. Bram Stoker’s novel ‘Dracula’ and David Goyer’s film ‘Blade Trinity’ contrast significantly as a result of difference in context. Weaponry had developed immensely over the two stories to cater for the advancements from one classic vampire to a fresh, modern, powerful one. The story of ‘Dracula’, set in Victorian times, consists of the simple, almost primitive weaponry, particularly ones of a superstitiousRead MoreThe King Of Gothic Literature1321 Words   |  6 Pagesvery well, is Salem’s Lot. Salem’s Lot is the story of a modern day Dracula that takes over the town of Jerusalem’s Lot in Maine. The setting itself is a key part of gothic literature due to the fact that it is a small resort town, easily capable of being run over. The small setting gives the reader a gothic sense of fear of what is to come next, or what has been hiding right in front of you the entire time. The fusion of Dracula, and the young setting is the main example of King’s gothic fusion withRead MoreSummary Of The Night Essay1439 Words   |  6 Pagesvirginity, now being able to get almost anyon e he wants, but I have not slept with him, and maybe that is why I am still a goddess in his eyes. â€Å"I don’t have a daytime job; the sun bothers me. So, I just stay indoors and sleep, I’m basically a Count Dracula himself,† He jokes. Adelaide laughs warmly, she looks over at me and asks me, â€Å"what about you?† â€Å"I work for the police department in here in Los Angeles, I catch a few bad guys here and there, nothing too crazy,† I reply as I sip on my iced teaRead MoreBook Review : Harper Kill A Mockingbird 3913 Words   |  16 Pagesfictional old town, Maycomb, ALabama. The kids met Dill in Maycomb when he comes and visits his Aunt Rachel, which happens to be their neighbor only during the summer time. Dill is from Meridian. Jem respected him when Dill told him he had seen the Dracula movie. The Radley place fascinated Dill because it was a mysterious place that was home to the Radleys. Everyone wanted to know what Arthur (Boo) Radley looked like and was always curious about the house. Dill dares Jem to run up to the Radley houseRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagestired of following Ricardo’s advice. Every time he has recommended a film for her to see, she has been disappointed in the film. Once she even walked out before the film had ended. She decides that this time she is not going to go see â€Å"The Rise of Dracula† which Ricardo’s has just recommended. In Hannah’s reasoning, what percentage of the items in the past have had the property in question that she is considering projecting into the future? ï  ¡Ã¯â‚¬ ® ï  ¢Ã¯â‚¬ ® ï  £Ã¯â‚¬ ® ï  ¤Ã¯â‚¬ ® ï  ¥Ã¯â‚¬ ® 334 25% 20% 100% 0% can’t