Child abuse Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Child abuse - Research Paper Example Neglect means â€Å"failure to provide for a child’s basic needs† (Joint Commission Resources, 2002, p. 6). Physical abuse include inflicting harm or injury to a child via burning, biting, or punching whereas physical neglect means failure to provide the child with basic necessities like food and shelter (Joint Commission Resources, 2002, p. 6). Emotional abuse include verbal or non-verbal actions that can cause a child to suffer from emotional, behavioural, or mental injury. Other than incest, sexual abuse includes rape cases, sexual intercourse, or touching the child’s genital areas (Dickey, 2013). This Convention serves as the â€Å"first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights† (Unicef, 2005). This Convention aims to educate the people about the child’s right to live, become educated, receive medical care assistance, and be protected from abusive people and exploitation (Rasooldeen, 2011; Unicef, 2005). In Islam, each child has a â€Å"right to life and equal life chances† (Islamweb, 2013). In fact, part of the 3rd commandment in Islam highlighted the need to preserve the child’s life. On top of the Islamic rule, Saudi has ratified the said Convention in 1996 (Rasooldeen, 2011). However, it is sad to say that child abuse remain rampant in Saudi Arabia (Dickey, 2013). Despite the Islamic rule about child protection and signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child abuse still exists in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, people in this country should continuously fight for children’s rights to live in a safe environment. Dickey, C. (2013, February 8). The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 21, 2013, from Saudi Arabia’s Child-Rape Case: Female Activists Fight to Prevent Abuse:

What Makes Como Hotels And Resort Different Tourism Essay

What Makes Como Hotels And Resort Different Tourism Essay An Asian lady-Mrs Ong, the owner of the COMO group, dedicated and curious business woman who traveled a lot around the world was not really satisfied with the Londons most popular hotels. By 1991 Mrs Ong had already had well established fashion business because of which she traveled quite often to London. In 1991, in one of her visits to London she discovers that a building in Central London with perfect location is on sale. Immediately she decides to buy this building and turns into fantastic hotel and this Halkin Hotel consequently becomes an access for the COMO hotels and Resorts (Group Handbook, 2009). Thus starting her business to satisfy her expectations on her visits to London she builds a new business which fulfils the needs of higher expectations. According to COMO statistics of 2010 COMO hotels and resorts consists of three hotels (and 18 aprtments in Metropolitan Hotel), two resorts, two umas and one shambala estate. Two of the hotels are located in London and one in Bangkok. Parrot Cay (TurksCaicos) and Coco Irelands (The Maldives) are very unique resorts of COMO. But the main differentiator of COMO from any other hotels and resorts is its Umas(Uma Ubud(Bali) and Uma Paro(Bhutan)) and COMO Shambala Estate at Bagawan Giri(Bali) (Market share statistics 2010). With its distinguishing business approach COMO hotel resorts has been able to achieve uniqueness among its competitors over the past few years. Three hotels which are located in busy cities are developed to attract guest who travel to big cities for businesses. Because of this Sales and Marketing department of COMO hotels and resorts is located in London and correspondent office in Bangkok. These three five star hotels which are located in hart of the busy cities is the way how COMO attracts its customers. The main strategy of COMO is to build Resorts in the most rural, wild and unusual places of the world (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010). Focused differentiation strategies in Hotel industry seeks to provide high perceived service benefits justifying a substantial price premium product and are usually heavily branded and offer benefits different from those of its competitors and that are widely valued by buyers (Gerry et al, 2006). Implying this fact, because of its unique strategy and approach to its customers COMO can be named as a differentiator in Hotel and resort industry. Each COMO hotel and resort is very different, but it is not difficult to identify the most common aspect. As an owner of the group Mrs Ong pays a huge attention to the well being and health, as well as style. For instance in Vital statistics of COMO hotels and resorts (2010), Shambhala described as a health concept that has been built as centers of wellbeing at all estates. These include COMOs city hotel spas, known as COMO Shambhala Urban Escapes, as well as COMO Shambhala Retreats at the companys private islands and Uma resorts. Shambhala Yoga Centre in Singapore trains yoga teachers and therapists in order to create personalized, holistic solutions for the specific needs of different guests. It is a consultative rather than prescriptive approach, allowing consultants to respond to clients on a one-by-one, day-by-day basis. They demonstrate the best of ancient Asian traditions and, where it is appropriate, older techniques are combined with Western enhancements. Bodywork is also an other essential element of the COMO Shambhala experience. At all properties, yoga facilities are available. In addition, COMO Shambhala maintains on-going relationships with key health professionals, including nutritionists. COMO Shambhala cuisine, available at nearly all properties, focuses on energizing and organic products. The difference of these products is the emphasis paid on raw ingredients (more easily digested as well as richer in vitamins and sea minerals) is combined with old Asian influences. COMO Shambhala also generates a range of skin and body care products, which is made from all-natural ingredients (available in-room at every property), together with an Active Living clothing collection (COMO hotels and resorts Vital statistics, 2010). COMO Hotels and Resorts is developed by a unique Asian spirit: a peaceful commitment to servicing customers in order to ensure their break with pleasure. In contrary to many hotels COMO tries not to make a hotel like their home, instead it strives to bring the culture, along with all the aspects of the country to make sure that guests will remember the lodge as unforgettable. This aspect, passion and reliability makes each stay exclusive by defining not just the service norms but the hart of each property. All of this described by the essence of the destination which can be found in food, architecture, and the way COMO helps guests to explore and experience the sightseeings of the place. Because of these facts whether its a private island in the ocean or a hotel at the heart of UK, COMO Hotels and Resorts    an award winning, a private company    knows how to make memories of the guests last forever (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010). Internal and External analysis Chart 1: Source: Gerry J, Kevan S, Richard W, Exploring Corporate Strategy, texts and cases, (2006), pp. 64. The Chart 1 gives a clear view of frameworks for understanding the environment of COMO hotels and resorts with the aim of assisting to identify the key issues and ways of overcoming the challengers and complications. There are a lot of factors which influence COMO hotels and resorts, but mainly for the right assumptions and good analysis it is necessary to analyze those aspects by dividing them into internal and external factors. External- in other words environmental and competitive analysis-aim to identify opportunities and threats which affects the company. On the other hand internal analyses seek to identify strengths and weaknesses a COMO is facing in current competitive and challenging business environment. Environmental (PESTEL) Analysis. COMO Hotels and Resorts is competing in the hospitality industry, which has been effected enormously by the impact of war, terrorism attacks, political instability and visa regulations as well as economic crisis like 2009th credit crunch. It is also affected by technological innovations and globalization as well as environment. By using PESTEL framework COMO Hotels and Resorts can categorize environmental influences into six main forms: political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal. PESTEL provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible success or failure of the strategy of COMO Hotels and resorts. Many of these factors are linked together which is why it is crucial to identify the key drivers for change. And these key drivers for change are the high-impact factors likely to affect significantly the success or failure of strategy(Gerry et al, 2006). COMO Hotels and Resorts approach considers the impact on the economies, cultures, environment and communities of each destination in which it operates. Promise to sustainability is embedded in the fundamental COMO commitment to passion, creativity and style. Creating unforgettable journey experiences for guests go together with rewarding employees to maximize their prospective, targeted stewardship and contributing to the local economy (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010). Political/Legal Factors As a Global Industry COMO is hugely affected by political factors of the country where it operates. It is comprehensible that visa regulations effect dramatically on COMOs sales. For example it is more difficult to obtain visa to Bali which makes Uma less attractive for its guests. Nowadays people do not really want to fill extra paperwork and wait for results. All the Resorts and Umas as well as estate is located either in higher mountains or in islands which narrows its customer segmentation to a luxury holiday and leisure seeking guests. For example to travel Coco Irelands where one of the famous resorts is located a guest will need to feel extra paperwork proposed by the governments which affects the guest decision to visit the resort. As COMO operates in different countries it is very important to invest into the governmentally stable country. Another reason for that is the cost of closure of the business; this is due to costly assets. Taxation is another aspect of consideration for any global company. According to the experiences of some guests, some complaint that they were charged higher tax on their third visit to Uma Ubud, but this is due to the governmental taxation policies which does not necessarily affect COMO but discourages the trust of the customers (Trip Advisor, 2009). Economical Last year has been especially difficult for the tourism, hospitality and travel industry. War in Iraq, the rise of oil prices, the outbreak of different flu viruses because of which traveling was limited or dangerous to some destinations has had a devastating effect on the global hospitality industry. Those factors combined with the domestic situation in the UK, such as credit crunch, a declination in consumer spending, the weak job and closure of many businesses made the last year very challenging for businesses. As the economic downturn is slightly picking up, the hospitality and travel industry gains from increased business travels. And expectations for a more favorable hospitality and travel industries are in sight and are proclaimed by various sources for the 2010. According to the Profit and Loss statement of COMO Hotels and Resorts for 2009 RevPAR has generally declined for 2.3% but predicted Profit and Loss statement for 2010 looks much healthier than last year with 1,2% increase in RevPAR. Merrill Lynch analysts (10/30/2009) believe that the hotel industry has hit the lowest figures of present lodging cycle and is disillusioned for a huge rebound due to increasing demand, as a result of a strengthen economy, together with very low supply growth over the next a few years. These results consequently should translate into strong RevPAR. And followed by the improvement of RevPAR, RC(return on capital), ROCE and overall hotel evaluation is often followed. According to the Ghassan Aidi, President of International Hotels Restaurant Association, notes on U.N. World Tourism Organization Resilience Committee meeting in Berlin on September 2008, nearly in parallel with stock market turmoil, occupancy at luxury hotels start to go down 6% then 14% in October. Furthermore he mentioned RevPAR in 2009 fell by 17% for luxury market while as it was mentioned above COMO Hotels and Resorts was able to keep its business in -2.3%. Moreover Mr Ghassan Aidi (2009) concludes his speech mentioning that in general 2009 and early part of 2010 will be challenging for hotel industry, but he also believes that hospitality industry as a whole needs to become positive and explore unlimited opportunities. Please remember that our industry is the largest employer in the history and employ more than 950 million of workers and we are the last barrier and the major fighter against global poverty says Mr Ghassan Aidi on his report. Social and Environmental COMO has been investing and paying huge attention to the environmental factors such as global warming, poverty and discrimination. For example COMO foundation is specially designed program to support nonprofit organizations that tries to improve lives of women and girls. Without any geographical limitations to the foundation portfolio COMO was able to grant projects such as healthcare, skill development and education (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010). COMO has implemented different recycling projects in its hotels and resorts. Metropolitan Hotel in London was awarded as the best environmental caring hotel of 2009 (Employee handbook, 2010). Technological Factors To obtain bigger market share and to increase customer satisfaction, hotels and resorts are continuously trying to offer high-tech technology. In the past few years have shown huge effects on telephone revenues and an increased demand for high speed Internet access throughout hotels and resorts (Phillip et.al, 20/11/2003). The overall change in customer booking patterns was affected by the way customers are searching, reviewing and choosing hotels and resorts. Travel agents such as Travelodge have increased their large market share and are continuing to change the current status of the market. It is not difficult to observe how travel agents who offer vocational packages which include accommodation, airfare and transportation are growing over the past few years, but at the same time this affected negatively on revenues in the hospitality. Moreover Internet review web-sites such as interdependent hotel review web pages like www.cntraveller.com has impacted on customers choice and decisions. Online booking is rapidly increasing because of the customers behavioral changes. Moreover economical changes persuaded Hotels and Resorts to implement cost cutting techniques. On the second part of this report technological changes which are effecting COMO hotels and resorts will be discussed more briefly. SWOT analysis The key strategic messages from business environment and strategic capability can be summarized in the form of SWOT analysis. According to Mintzberg (1998, p.406) SWOT analysis summarizes the key issues from the business environment and the strategic capability of an organization that are most likely to impact on strategy development. The aim of these analyses is to identify the extent to which the current strengths and weaknesses are applicable to, and capable of, simultaneously dealing with the threats and capitalizing on the opportunities in the hospitality industry. COMO business structure and development as SWOT analysis important strengths and weaknesses within the industry and illustrates valuable opportunities and threats the hotel is facing currently: Strengths   COMO has gain a good reputation from its existing customers There is constant upgrading of COMO management Perfect and unique hotel locations Differentiating facilities Great hotel service and high customer value Cultural staff/personnel relations with guests Very popular restaurants located in each hotels and resorts COMO shambala health treatments Small chain which means better and easier management COMO Foundation Weaknesses Lack of profit maximization from other sources like for example, conferences and wedding venues revenues Low employment overhead revenue Lack of differentiation of reception from other hotels Difficulties to reach target customers Tough visa regulations in some locations of the resorts Lack of self owned online sales channels   Opportunities   The presence of enough basic facilities to improve quality Technological innovation   Refresh of hotel operators   The increase in sales due to customer loyalty   The ability to be efficient as knowledge curve is changing   Customer Growth Enhancement of Brand Name Threats Presence of better market positioning by hotel rivals Constantly raising and tough competition because all the Hotels are located in big cities Economic slowdown that may obstruct hotel development Implementation of newer technology tools by other hotels Unsuitable environment for keeping loyal customers Change in Technology Changes happen all over the world, every single minute there is something invented or improved and this lead to the fact that nowadays life cannot be imagined without technology. Some companies use technology in some part of the production procedure, while others consist whole from technology and hugely depend on it. One of the hugely dependant on technology and changes within technological industry is hospitality industry. Starting from reaching and making reservations for guests, all the way till making the customers loyal requires technology. The following paragraphs of this report highlight most important innovations and installations of technology in the COMO hotels and resorts. Technological influences on policies and decision making Starting from 1980s, strategy management scholars began to recognize technology as an important element of business definition and competitive strategy. (Robert Burgelman, 2004). For example Porter observes that technology is among the most prominent factors that determine the rules of competition. But according to one prescriptive school of strategy is that general managers need not have backgrounds in science or IT, but they do need to invest significant effort in learning to understand the technologies important to their business. But the most important fact for CEOs in todays constantly changing technological world is their ability to frame the key strategic questions in relation to technology (Robert Burgelman, 2004). The link between generic competitive strategies and technological strategies is described in details below in Chart 1. Chart 1 Technological Policies and Generic Competitive Strategy Generic Strategy Product technological change Overall cost leadership Overall differentiation Focus segment Cost leadership Focus segment differentiation Technological Policies COMOs new product offer to reduce product/service cost by lowering materials content. COMOs product development to enhance product quality COMOs product development to design enough performance for the segments needs COMOs new product offer to meet exactly the needs of the particular business segment application. Process technological change COMOs process development to enhance economies of scale COMOs process development to support greater quality control, faster response COMOs process development to tune production to segment needs in order to lower cost COMOs process development to tune the production to segment needs in order to improve performance. Source: Burgelman R., Christensen C., Wheelwright S., 2004, Strategic management of technology and innovation Being global means a lot of communication and quick respond to the changes. Having properties in different parts of the world is very difficult to manage without standardized property operating systems. The finance department in all of the properties of COMO uses the same system which in its turn enables head office to better control the finance of the company. All COMO hotels and resorts bank transactions exceeding 10.000 pounds are being processed by head office in UK. Due to technology this procedure is reached high outcomes, as a result of the availability of the internet any resorts or Umas at any time can scan the copy of the invoice and send to the head office. After this head office analyses the invoice and processes payment to the beneficiary on behalf of the resort or hotel. Effectiveness of COMOs response to change in technology COMO is constantly striving to be the first of new technological advances in the industry. According to Mr Orchard-regional general manager-a companys strength and competitive advantage is its ability to constantly update and keep up with technology. Mr orchared says: We were able to differentiate ourselves because of our passion, creativity and style. But the key behind this theory is our ability to be first in introducing new technological changes to our guests. COMO hotels and resorts have implemented different technological advances and those are being explored to increase its facilities within the lodge. For example, Metropolitan was the first hotel in London who offered free wireless internet within the hotel. Moreover it is the first hotel in London who installed 42 and 32 flat screen TV in all its bedrooms. Also it offers vary products such as iPod docking station, electronic do not disturb button in all its bedrooms. Due to change in technology COMO is able to offers more services to its customers than ever before, for example: IT Butler Limousines Foreign exchange Business Centre with high speed broadband internet service Secretarial service Laundry, dry cleaning and pressing services Express check-out Mobile phone rental Flat screen TV with 67 channels Extensive on demand music jukebox and movie selection WiFi and high speed internet access iPod docking station (in Studios and Suites) CD and DVD player Dual line, direct dial telephone with voice mail Air conditioning Electronic do not disturb sign Private fax machine with designated number UK and US modem points Video recorders, mobile phones and printers (on request) Sony widescreen TV Wall mounted plasma screen DVD player Hairdryer Iron and ironing board Mini bar In recent years the emerging of the internet as a new channel of distribution has presented some challenges to the lodging industry. In respond to this COMO partnered with e-commerce company which enabled better online reservation systems. With the installation of these new systems COMO was able to offer international customers use the local language to make a reservation. Of course internet is a great tool to reach customers globally but aim of the COMO is to tailor that distribution method to suit to each guest. And this recently developed e-commerce has and will further enable COMO to reduce the distribution costs, while promoting the brand name around the world. The main objective behind this is to make COMOs web site and online sales channels to reach more customers and to promote the brand name (Employee handbook, 2009). Areas for improvement as a response to the change in technology COMO is constantly looking and investigating for new technological improvements and advancements to satisfy the needs of its guests. But as it can be seen in any business because of the rapid change in technology it is too difficult to keep up with changes in technology all the time. There is always a gap or neglected part of the business which can be improved to turn weaknesses and threats in opportunities and strengths. For example to improve the distribution and increase customer loyalty COMO uses online sales channels. But in order to better compete, to have a better and stronger brand COMO needs to have its own online sales channels. COMO Hotels and Resorts needs to insure all its customers to get the best value by accessing the different distribution channels available. As an advertiser of COMO hotels and resorts it co-operates with Design Hotels Inc, this kind of companies advertise hundreds hotels and resorts. As some of its competitors are already aware and became ahead COMO by designing their own advertising web browser, COMO needs to keep up with this as well. Biometric clock in and clock out system allowed organizations to automate payroll processing, eliminate unauthorized overtime and accurately reports employee time/ attendance to HR. Right now COMO is implementing a time card which needs to be swiped to record the attendance. But biometric attendance recorder can help to eliminate early punch ins and hours of payroll calculation. It helps and eliminates the effort and time required by the HR to monitor the time-clock activity and reduces the manual involvement of payroll consequently leading to a cost savings and improved productivity. COMO hotels and resorts is very narrowly targeted to a very rich guests, but is not COMO distancing itself from other guest demographics? The effort to keep up with changing technology is working, but can COMO stay in line with further changes of technology and competition? Conclusion COMO hotels and resorts seems to be very well positioned and has made significant achievements and was able to expend very quickly by integrating of its brand name by accomplishing its strategic trend in such turbulent economic situation. Its culture, brand and global strategy are the key part of their success. While there are still huge opportunities, such as technological innovation, reinvigoration of hotel operators, the increase in sales due to customer loyalty, customer growth and enhancement of brand name these opportunities are also accessible over the period of time. Nevertheless, COMO has been able to accomplish huge success in less than 20 years by nurturing a culture and reputation based on style, creativity and passion to navigate though challenging markets and prosperous times. Thus the strength of COMO became a synonym of luxury.

The Ghost of King Hamlet Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework

The Ghost of King Hamlet      Ã‚   Many Shakespeare plays contain ghosts, perhaps most notably and most disturbingly in Macbeth and Hamlet. The ghost in Hamlet is the apparition of prince Hamlet's father, the dead King Hamlet.   However, up until the time when the ghost first appears to Hamlet, interrupting his speech and thoughts, it appears Hamlet is unaware that his father was murdered.   As the ghost intones, "I am thy father's spirit, / Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, / And for the day confined to fast in fires, / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / Are burnt and purged away" (Shakespeare I.v.9-13).   While more people in Shakespeare's audience were inclined to believe in the supernatural and fantastic, it is likely the appearance of the slain King still has quite an impact on modern audiences.   This is because the ghost of King Hamlet tells his son he was murdered and his murder must be avenged for him to rest in peace. We see that the ghost is a driving force for Hamlet on his way to conscious maturity.   There is something rotten in the State of Denmark but the something rotten exists in all places and in all people.   Anyone with intellect and a conscience would not tolerate it, as Hamlet does not by willfully going into a battle at the end of the play wherein he knows he will be killed.   Further, the ghost is just one more thing Hamlet must escape on the way to his mature self.   As Harold Bloom, noted Shakespearian critic, notes about this sea-change in Hamlet's character and its relation to the ghost, "In Act V, Hamlet is barely still in the play; like Whitman's 'real me' or 'me myself' the final Hamlet is both in and out of the game while watching and wondering at it.   We feel that if the Ghos... ... "Why, what should be the fear? / I do not set my life in a pin's fee; / And for my soul, what can it do to that, / Being a thing immortal as itself? / It waves me forth again: I'll follow it" (Shakespeare I.iv.151-55).   Hamlet will indeed follow the Ghost and it will cost him his life, but he retains his soul because he is of the constitution that cannot tolerate something "rotten" in Denmark or mankind.   Thus, we see that the Ghost creates a tremendous impact on audiences because of its great emotional significance in the play and in setting off the wheels of motion that seal Hamlet's tragic fate.    WORKS   CITED Anonymous.   The Ghost of Hamlet's Father.   Available: Bloom, H.   Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human.   New York; Riverhead Books, 1998. Shakespeare, W.   The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.   New York, Oxford Univ. Press, 1978. The Ghost of King Hamlet Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework The Ghost of King Hamlet      Ã‚   Many Shakespeare plays contain ghosts, perhaps most notably and most disturbingly in Macbeth and Hamlet. The ghost in Hamlet is the apparition of prince Hamlet's father, the dead King Hamlet.   However, up until the time when the ghost first appears to Hamlet, interrupting his speech and thoughts, it appears Hamlet is unaware that his father was murdered.   As the ghost intones, "I am thy father's spirit, / Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, / And for the day confined to fast in fires, / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / Are burnt and purged away" (Shakespeare I.v.9-13).   While more people in Shakespeare's audience were inclined to believe in the supernatural and fantastic, it is likely the appearance of the slain King still has quite an impact on modern audiences.   This is because the ghost of King Hamlet tells his son he was murdered and his murder must be avenged for him to rest in peace. We see that the ghost is a driving force for Hamlet on his way to conscious maturity.   There is something rotten in the State of Denmark but the something rotten exists in all places and in all people.   Anyone with intellect and a conscience would not tolerate it, as Hamlet does not by willfully going into a battle at the end of the play wherein he knows he will be killed.   Further, the ghost is just one more thing Hamlet must escape on the way to his mature self.   As Harold Bloom, noted Shakespearian critic, notes about this sea-change in Hamlet's character and its relation to the ghost, "In Act V, Hamlet is barely still in the play; like Whitman's 'real me' or 'me myself' the final Hamlet is both in and out of the game while watching and wondering at it.   We feel that if the Ghos... ... "Why, what should be the fear? / I do not set my life in a pin's fee; / And for my soul, what can it do to that, / Being a thing immortal as itself? / It waves me forth again: I'll follow it" (Shakespeare I.iv.151-55).   Hamlet will indeed follow the Ghost and it will cost him his life, but he retains his soul because he is of the constitution that cannot tolerate something "rotten" in Denmark or mankind.   Thus, we see that the Ghost creates a tremendous impact on audiences because of its great emotional significance in the play and in setting off the wheels of motion that seal Hamlet's tragic fate.    WORKS   CITED Anonymous.   The Ghost of Hamlet's Father.   Available: Bloom, H.   Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human.   New York; Riverhead Books, 1998. Shakespeare, W.   The Complete Works of William Shakespeare.   New York, Oxford Univ. Press, 1978.

Anselm’s Monologion

Anselm’s Monologion is at first a detailed expansion of his more famous ontology – the proof of the existence of God – as expressed elsewhere. In this proof God is first equated with the most perfect being, and then it is demonstrated that such a being necessarily exists. The Monologion is concerned more with the nature of the most perfect being, and what else can be predicated about it, in relation to itself, and to created beings. The same line of argument is followed, where the oneness and the perfection of the Supreme Being are emphasized, but after a point we notice that the effort is diverted into explaining the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, so that God is said to be three persons in one substance, and yet indivisibly one. It needs to be remembered that Anselm does not attempt to ‘prove’ the doctrine of the Trinity. Therefore the latter part of the Monologion is really persuasive rather than demonstrative. The aim is to convince us of the reasonableness of the doctrine of the Trinity. It will be instructive to recall Anselm’s ontology here. In order to divert any suspicion of sophism, Anselm introduces the argument as taking place in the head of a fool. This fool denies the existence of a Supreme and Perfect Being. But when he tries to imagine something of the kind in his head, he cannot. Whatever great thing he imagines, it is not final, because the mind soars inexorably past it and imagines something even greater. The mind tries to grasp perfection, but cannot do so. Anselm argues that if there were no perfect being, then the mind chases after nothing, which cannot be so. So there must be a thing called Perfection, at least as an idea. Next he supposes the case where the Perfection is only in the mind and not in reality. If this were the case then it would not be the most perfect thing, because being only in the mind, the mind would then try to imagine something even greater than it. Therefore the Perfect Being has real existence. The Monologion opens with a variation on this ontology, postulating that all things that are good, or great, or virtuous in any way, are so due to the goodness, greatness or virtue of the Supreme Being, which must necessarily exist as the abode or perfection and being whereby everything else derives its qualities and its existence. It then tries to fix the nature of this Supreme Being, and concludes that whatever qualities it possesses it does so by itself, from itself, and through itself. And at the same time all created beings possess their qualities and their existence by, from and through the Supreme Being. So that a person can be said to be just, which implies a comparison. He is just because he has more justice in him then the next person. But with God there is no comparison, so that He is Justice itself. He is said to exist in all places and in all times, and this sense exists in the truest sense. In comparison all created being can be said not to exist at all, and at best that they exist in a limited sense. They are mutable, so that whatever existence they have is fleeting – nothing is ever what it was a moment ago. Therefore, the Supreme Being not only brings them into existence, but sustains their existence too. These are things demonstrated in the first part of the Monologion, and all the arguments follow the same pattern as in the ontology, i. e. it employs the oneness and perfection of God. But then Anselm comes to consider the Expression of the Supreme Being. All created existence is but a manifestation of the Expression. We must next consider whether this Expression is also a creature. But it cannot be so, because all creatures come to existence through the Expression, and the Expression cannot come into being through itself. If it is not a creature then it can only consubstantial with the Supreme Being. Here it is established that the Expression of the Supreme Being cannot be anything distinct from it. It must therefore be sufficient in itself, and need not depend of created beings, having existence before creating things came into being, and even after the final dissolution of things. So we need to find a way to describe the Expression to relation to God alone. Anselm describes it as the understanding of God. It can be seen as a means by which God comes to understand Himself. It is plain that God cannot be in the dark about his own nature, says Anselm, and he points out that even the human mind understands itself. The mind is conscious of itself, can remember itself, can reason with itself. This is but the mind understanding itself. If the mind can understand itself to some extent, there is no doubt that the Supreme Being understands itself, and does so not partially, but wholly. It is indeed the aspect we know as divine wisdom. The next step is to equate the Expression with the Word. In truth, an analogy is here being drawn between â€Å"words†, which are the units of human language, and the essence of expression. In a word is the image of the thing as we sense it. Therefore, in words are the expressions of all things, and as words all things are represented in the human mind. There are, no doubt, other carriers of expression, for example, pictures, sculptures, tastes, smells, etc. But the word is the purest and most powerful medium. It is the building block of language, and thus is the bearer of culture and civilization. We have many words, and these exist so that all things may be represented in the mind, and even then it is inadequate to bring the whole diverse splendor of the universe to us. Anselm asks the question whether the divine expression employs many words. But quickly demonstrates that such diversity would detract from the perfection of the divine expression. If the Expression is one, and the word is made consubstantial to it, then the word is also one, and this is the Word. It is the supreme image of the divine, but it also forms an identity with the divine. From it is derived all other words, and indeed all other images. Since all things are created in the image of the divine, the Word is indeed the source of all Creation. Anselm thus far has arrived at the Biblical assertion, as found in the Gospel of John: â€Å"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God† (John 1:1). Anselm points out a possible difficulty at this point. If it is true that the Word brings all things into existence in the manner of lending to them its own image, then it must be somehow like the things which are created, being in its own image. He considers the three mutually exhaustive cases. Either the likeness is (1) exact, (2) partial, or (3) non-existent. It is obvious that there cannot be an exact likeness, because created things are mutable, and the Word is not. A partial likeness implies that some aspects of the creating being do not derive from the Word, which is also plainly false. If there no likeness at all then there is no creation either. Anselm suggests that we come over this difficulty by using the comparison the other way. This means that we should compare created beings to the Word, and not the other way round. All created things must compare to the Word is some degree. And the degree to which they do compare is the degree of their existence. To elaborate on the theme of ‘degrees of existence’, Anselm asks us to consider the gradated nature of all created things. The rational human mind is certainly superior to the sensual human body; the sensual animals are certainly superior to the non-sensual plants; the sentient plants are superior to the non-sentient and material substances. Each created being is an effulgence of the Word, and it must necessarily be so, because the Word is the expression of the divine. But there seems to be a gradation that rises to make the image of the divine truer and truer. When we arrive at the rational human mind we have self-reflexive understanding, which is an attribute we apply properly only to the divine mind. But then, human reason does not comprehend itself finally, and neither can it come to an understanding of what it sees as God and the universe. On the other hand, the Spirit that is God comprehends itself fully, and this through the means of the Word. Therefore we must conclude that the human mind is an effulgence of the Word, but it is not the Word itself. Through a multiplicity of ‘words’ the human mind can grapple with the infinite expanse that it finds before it, and can come to know of the existence of the Word, thus of God, though it cannot know the Word itself. We may assert that the rational mind is the greatest among all created things, and therefore bears the greatest likeness with the Word, and consequently possess more reality that anything else in the phenomenal world. Though none can deny that it is a created, and thus limited thing. This much Anselm attempts to prove. Much of the latter part of the Monologion is not proof but suggestion. The starting point of such suggestion is when Anselm insists that the Expression be construed as something distinct from the Supreme Being. Having already proved that there cannot be any distinction, Anselm seems to be taking liberties now. He wants to be reasonable instead of rational. It is as if he is encountering God as a person instead of a matter of logic. In the sense that we would not mistake the expression of a person with the person himself, so Anselm describes the Word as distinct from the Supreme Being, And further on he will give the description a more personal character by saying that the Word in begotten by the Supreme Being in the way that the son is begotten of the father. He is at pains to point out, though, that it is an â€Å"ineffable plurality. To be sure, ineffable—because although necessity compels that they be two, what two they are cannot at all be expressed† (Anselm 53). In the end it is an article of faith that he is espousing. To think in this way is to gain a glimpse into the deepest mysteries of the divine, and this is what increases devotion and strengthens faith. Once we admit two distinct beings in God, there issues by necessity a third, with is Love, which is that by which the Son is united with Father and the Father with the Son. This is the doctrine of the Trinity, that which Anselm has been aiming at from the beginning. We draw the following conclusion. In the Monologion it is Anselm’s task to prove the existence of God and to elaborate on the perfection of His nature. The proofs that he provides for the existence and perfection of God are thorough and irrefutable. He elaborates on the Expression of God as the source of all created existence. But even though he establishes that, in a strictly logical sense, we cannot apply predicates to God, he nevertheless goes on espouse the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. He is careful to point out that this latter assertion is not a proof, but is rather the most reasonable predicate that can be applied to God.

Elephant Man †Otherness Essay Essay

In Victorian London, Dr. Frederick Treves with the London Hospital comes across a circus sideshow attraction run by a man named Bytes called â€Å"The Elephant Man†. In actuality, the creature on display is indeed a man, twenty-one year old John Merrick who has several physical deformities, including an oversized and disfigured skull, and oversized and disfigured right shoulder. Brutish Bytes, his â€Å"owner†, only wants whatever he can get economically by presenting Merrick as a freak. Treves manages to bring Merrick under his care at the hospital – not without several of its own obstacles, including being questioned by those in authority since Merrick cannot be cured. Treves initially believes Bytes’ assertion that mute Merrick is an imbecile, but ultimately learns that Merrick can speak and is a well-read and articulate man. As news of Merrick hits the London newspapers, he becomes a celebrated curiosity amongst London’s upper class, including with Mrs. Kendal, a famed actress. Despite treated much more humanely, the question becomes whether Treves’ actions are a further exploitation of Merrick. And as Merrick becomes more famous, others try to get their two-cents worth from who still remains a curiosity and a freak to most, including to Bytes, who has since lost his meal ticket. The movie is loosely based on the real story of Joseph Merrick, known as â€Å"The Elephant Man†, who was thought to have suffered from elephantiasis and was perceived as being abnormal and different because of it. As portrayed in the movie, â€Å"The Elephant Man† was not classifyed as human but inhuman; a stranger to most. But who establishes what abnormal is? Do humans really believe they have that power? The Elephant Man† is just another example of someone different. To me he isn’t a monster, just misunderstood, and to label him like that suggest that there’s something within him that makes him less human that the rest of us. What I found hard to grasp was trying to understaning what lies in the concept of being abnormal in order to have an idea of what being no rmal means. I mean the notion of â€Å"us† suggests that there must be a majority to differ from; a range of normality that constitutes the abnormal. But who decides who’s normal and who’s not? What is normal anyways? I mean all it does is overrule, distort, and oppress everything that cannot meet it’s certain demands and qualifications. I rather be anything BUT normal. The main reason â€Å"The Elephan Man† was shund out of society was because of his physical features and â€Å"deformities†. But why should a physical difference come to mark a psychological one? In the movie the audience/spectators come to represent normality or the unit of ‘us’, standing in opposition to John Merrick. Because of his difference they see fit to classify themselves as ‘normal’ and different from him. And in a way they are. You see, unlike them, Merrick was highly capable of civilized behaviour. The characteristics of his physical appearance are not regarded as simple features but as deformities, as abnormal, even monstrous. Why do the spectators react so strongly towards something they find not to resemble themselves? Why do they, the unit of normality, need to point out that he is being different while they get to be normal? Why does the representation of normality feel an urge to define itself through what it is not? I believe that the process of othering in the movie could be explained by the simple idea that we don’t know what we are. I mean it seems that there is an infinity of things we could be as human beings, so why does society try and control something it has no power over? Is it affraid of what we can achieve, or does it not want us to achieve in the first place? I mean in Merricks case he wasn’t really classified as either one thing or the other. Just†¦ abnormal. In our world those we find not to fit into our group are left as objects of either exclusion, repulsion, repression, oppression; or of a kind of fetishism which nonetheless seems to limit the object of obsession. In â€Å"The Elephant Man’s† case he was neither desier nor wanted but feard. No one wanted to be-firend him, love him, see what he was like or even just say the odd hello. He was a freak, a caged spectical for people to point and laugh at. Treves, a doctor at London Hospital, stumbles upon and discovers â€Å"The Elephant Man† at a circus sideshow attraction run by the cruel and repulise Bytes and appoints himself the his owner so that he could present him to the members of his medical society. He’s given many detailed, scientific examination before being returned to his owner, but, being subject to his frequent beatings, he falls ill and is hospitalized in secret where Treves works. Treves discovers that â€Å"The Elephant Man† can talk and begins to referred to him as John Merrick. When the director of the hospital warns to have Merrick removed, Treves helps him and he is given permission to stay. Merrick’s stay in the hospital is mentioned in the papers, and soon curiosity leads a famous actress to visit him. The London nobility follows and Queen Victoria herself takes an interest in Merrick and starts protecting him. However, Merrick is not safe: his former owner forces Merrick back on the road with him and brings him to France. The dwarves and other â€Å"freaks† of this show free Merrick from his abusive owner. After being freed Merrick finds his way back to England and collapses in a train station, chased by a mob attracted by his deformity. Treves brings Merrick back to the hospital, which is now his home, and an actress who earlier showed her interest in him arranges the most beautiful night of his life: an attendance to the theatre where she works. After this experience, Merrick deliberatedly goes to sleep while lying down, though he knows this will suffocate him because of his condition. He dies in his sleep. From being â€Å"The Elephant Man† he’s turned into John Merrick, both characters who held the ability to frighten and horrify people by his mere look. In his appearance people recognize their own humanity, but apparently a distorted humanity. As the movie goes along, John Merrick is quietly humanized. He was dressed up, called upon by name (not nickname) and given conditions allowing him to show creativity. He read poetry, went to theatres, and drank tea like a true Englishman, you might say. Indeed, the monster more and more resembles a well taught pet. The recognition of Merrick as a human being, the terrible necessity to identify with this deformed edition of a human, makes us turn him into a monster; something we do to make the identification less obvious. It leads us to conclude that he is not human. He cannot be human, and if he is human, than he must be dumb, as the doctor assures his colleague. The doctor in this way removes Merrick from the field of humanity all over again. The doctor bases his notion of humanity on the presence of intellect, while according to the public it has to do with physical features. By saying this, the doctor distances Merrick from him just as the public does; there is only a small difference of procedure. But when Merrick starts talking and reciting the Bible he suddenly he belongs to our race again? How that makes sense, i’ll never know. Maybe, locked up behind the face of a monster, rests a human being. Reading Merriam-Webster dictionary defination of ‘normal’ it’s interesting to note how normality is also given a physical and mental connotation. And because of that we can therefore see how visible factors that differentiate an individual make him or her a possible target of othering.