Native American Religions Essay

Native American Religions happen to be one of the oldest and most enduring forms of religion. They comprise a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups. Native Americans arrived on the North American Continent fifth-teen thousand to twenty thousand years ago. Native Americans have literally sources that exist from only the last four hundred years even though Native American life covers perhaps twenty thousand years. Over three hundred tribes have been recognized by the United States government. Native Americans are the only known ethnic group in the United States requiring a federal permit to practice their religion. In the state of Virginia, Native Americans face a unique problem. Virginia has no federally recognized tribes. Native American Religions have also been known as American Indians, Amerindians, Amerinds, Aboriginal, Indians, Indigenous, Original Americans, Red Indians, or Red Men. Native Americans religions are polytheistic. Native American Religions are remarkably free of priesthood. Native Americans are very personal in that they encourage Page 2 individuals to contact the spirit world alone. Native Americans believe that many levels of Gods and Spirits exist in the universe. They think of the High God or Great Spirits as a personal God. They believe in the Supreme Being in a manner found in many basic religions. Native religions have some of the qualities of monotheism, polytheism, and monism. Native American has been exposed to Christian eschatology for more than four hundred years. The influence of Christianity has been so strong that today most Native Americans are Christians. They are interested in the day-to-day life among the multiple spirits found in the world. Native Americans have a reverent attitude toward the land, trees, rivers, and mountains. Native Americans who practiced agriculture revere the soil, plants, and tree. Hunting was an important part of life within many Native American Cultures. The hunter would pray to the spirit of the animal before the hunt. Hunting was a religious pursuit in which the hunters saw the animal as a fellow creature, with a similar spirit. After all hunting’s one would ask the animal for forgiveness. They would basically perform a taboo. A religious action that enables people to avoid doing things that would offend the spirits of nature and the ancestors. This was one of the ways the Native American would protect themselves from possible danger from the spirit world. Another widely observed taboo is the avoidance of the dead. Taboo concerning about Page 3 the dead led Native Americans to be greatly concerned about their final resting places. There is no heaven for those who have been righteous and no hell for those who have been wicked. Native Americans often seek to control the forces of spirit world with ceremonies. The purpose of their ceremonies, rituals, songs, and dances is not necessarily worship. They are a mean of renewing the partnership between humans and the spirit world. Long hours of dancing in this atmosphere prepare the participants for contact with the spirit world. Holy week is also celebrated a song and dance. Native Americans often gain special powers by seeking visions that may place them in connection with the spirit world. Visions are sought by Native Americans at other times in life. The spirit may appear after a period of fasting and prayer, or sometimes without any preparation. The Sweat Lodge is probably the most important Native Ritual. The sweat lodge usually occurs before and after every other major ritual like the â€Å"Sundance† and â€Å"Vision Quest†. It is also a â€Å"stand alone† ritual meaning that it occurs whenever it is needed. Its original purpose was to cleanse or purify individuals. Mother sweat lodge essentially translates in to returning to the womb. The Sun Dance last from four to eight days starting at the sunset of the final day of preparation and ending at sunset. It showed continuity between life and death – regeneration. It shows that there is no true end to life, but a cycle of symbolic and true deaths and rebirths. All of nature is intertwined and dependent on one another. This gives an equal ground to everything on the Earth. The sun dance was a significant part of the Crow Indian people’s Page 4 spirituality. It was a spiritual retreat in which a large number of participants would fast, pray and dance for a period of days. They asked for answers to events going on in their lives. Traditional Native Americans seem to believe in two souls, neither of which is considered immortal. One soul is the life, or the breath, that accompanies the body. The other soul is known as the free soul. One of the most common elements of Native American Religions is the use of tobacco and the sacred pipe in religious ceremonies. Tobacco was originally grown and used only for religious purposes by Native Americans. The tobacco used in religious ceremonies is stronger than the tobacco used in cigarettes. The ritual tobacco is occasionally smoked in rolled from corn husks. Most Native American tribes had traditional gender roles. Men hunted, traded and made war, while women gathered plants, cared for the young and the elderly. Women ever had the task of making weapons and tools, they took care of the roofs of their homes and often helped their men hunt buffalos. Many Native American people believed in the unusual power of a woman at these times in life. During a women menstruation she was kept away from ordinary society. Native Americans today have a special relationship with the United States of America. In conclusion, Native Americans can be found as nations, tribes, or bands of Native Americans who have sovereignty or independence from the government of the United Statesry society. Like other religions, Native American belief systems include many sacred Page 5 narratives. Such spiritual stories are deeply based in Nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, earth, water, sky and fire. The idea of an all powerful Great Spirit, a connection to the Earth, diverse creation narratives and collective memories of ancient ancestors are common. Traditional worship practices are often a part of tribal gatherings with dance, rhythm, songs and trance.

What Impact Did the Major Political, Economic and Social Changes of the Meiji Restoration Have on Japan?

Japan’s goal of achieving fukoku kyohei, â€Å"rich country; strong military†, fuelled major political, economic and social changes during the Meiji Restoration. By the 20th century, Japan had a modern constitution and national parliament, though it was not truly democratic. The modernization of the nation also made Japan richer and more economically stable, with a structured education system. Japan, an impotent, closed feudal state, was transformed into a formidable nation focused on nationalism. In attempt to acquire strength and unity in the government, political changes focused on creating a centralized government and a western constitution. In consequence, the Japanese government became more united and organized. As the western nations were the most influential countries at the time, Japan believed that following a western example would prove most effective. In order to create a fully centralized government, feudalism was ended. The government was then able to establish power over all of the 260 feudal domains. The court nobles and the feudal lords were given the same rank†¦compelled to hand back (land). † (Miocevich, 25) The use of the word ‘compelled’ suggests that there was some dissension within the government. There was also argument over public voice and the style of the constitution. As a result, the first constitution was abandoned, leading to the creation of a second Meiji Constitution in 1889. Although the government was still under imper ial rule, it was slowly moving towards democracy, as a Prussian parliamentary system was adopted. Regardless, various parties were still excluded from political influence, as the oligarchy, ruling in the emperor’s name, continued to hold significant authority. The constitution did however foster a more organized and united government in Japan. During 1883, the Progressive Party founded by Okuma, which opposed the constitutional model, fell apart. All political parties eventually unified under one government. These changes provided Japan with the unity and strength it needed to transform itself, a victim, into one of the powerful aggressors. The economic changes that occurred in Japan focused on increasing revenue and in turn, helped Japan achieve its goal in becoming a richer nation with stronger defenses. With industrialization as a key aim in Japan’s economy, the shokusan koygo, a government policy that encouraged economic freedom, was developed. Infrastructure was also tightened, as a new banking system was developed, modern communications were constructed, and an official currency was adopted and issued. Lastly, in order to acquire more revenue, a new land tax was introduced, while the government also began allowing and promoting the purchase of certain industries from private companies in the Zaibatsu. By the end of the Meiji Restoration, Japan, as â€Å"one of the world’s largest produces of coal and exporters of copper† (Miocevich, 26), definitely possessed a progressive and prosperous economy. The land tax, which contributed to 78% of the nation’s income in 1868, had decreased to 30% by 1897. Miocevich, 27) This indicates that Japan was now receiving a constant flow of revenue by other means, such as the Zaibatsu. The nation was now economically stable, and had transitioned into an aggressive and successful nation. Japan’s triumph in both the Sino-Japanese War in 1894 and Russo-Japanese War in 1904 further confirmed Japan’s new and seemingly indestructible defenses. The Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) gave Japan â€Å"most-favored nation rights in China, a privilege long desired. †(Miocevich, 34) The Treaty of the Portsmouth (1905) gave Japan â€Å"the lease of the Liaotung Peninsula†. Miocevich, 37) Japan would have never been able to demand these advantages if it had not conquered China and Russia. By the end of the Meiji Restoration, Japan had taken its inevitable part in the international scene. As the government and economy adjusted, the society took on many changes as well, such as the adoption of the Western culture, a reform in the education system, and the instillation of nationalism in Japan. The desire to be perceived as an equal by Westerners resulted in the adoption of the Western culture in the Japanese society. There were changes in the fashion as well as food and cuisine. Western-style haircuts were ubiquitous in the Japanese streets during 1870, while the introduction to bread, beef and dairy products made their way to the community subsequently. With the aim of a modernized society, the Meiji government also found an organized education system a vital aspect, thus instituting the Terokoya system. This change in education also launched the establishment of the Ministry of Education, which had an aim of providing education for all people. In 1868, almost 13,000 terakoyas were constructed with 837,000 students. (Miocevich, 30) By 1910, an immense advancement was made, as 98% of Japanese students were given compulsory education. (Miocevich, 30) Clearly, the Japanese had made education a priority. Finally, nationalism was probably the most prominent change in the Japanese society during the Meiji Restoration. As Japan grew stronger as a nation, their citizens grew increasingly patriotic. This newfound patriotism was displayed in the actions of the soldiers, determined to risk their lives for the benefit of Japan. An excerpt by a Japanese official further reiterates this growing sense of nation pride. â€Å"To strengthen Japan by war is to show loyalty to our country†¦our guiding principle. † (Miocevich, 30). Japan’s modernization within the society had resulted in the adoption of western cultures, an increased literacy rate, and patriotism in the nation. The Meiji Restoration had made the dream of accomplishing fukoku kyohei a reality for Japan. The adoption of a western parliamentary model aided Japan in its development towards a stable rule, which in turn, created unity within the nation. With the focus of modernization, necessary changes were also made in Japan’s industry and society, such as the adoption of a new banking and education system. Moreover, Japan’s new stable economy allowed it to thrive financially and build stronger defenses. Accompanied by the growing nationalism within the Japanese, the soldiers of the military grew more tenacious, as proven by Japan’s growing victories in wars. By the end of the Meiji Restoration, Japan had proved to the other formidable nations that it had found its rightful position with the aggressors.

Summary and Reflection

The article contains a piece of history because in a way, it talks about how the Cold War started based on the point of view of an editor named Charles L. Mee.As can be readily ascertained from the title, the author is merely presenting his educated opinion pertaining to the contribution of different countries like the United States, Russia, Germany and other countries , their hidden conflict, how they acted and reacted, and how they each played their role in the beginning and ending of the Cold War.The author also discussed some of the so-called behind -the-scenes strategies that came into play which involved famous political figures, and he is leaning to the possibility that what these authorities did may have mitigated or aggravated the circumstances that further ignited the beginning of the Cold War (Mee, 2009).The author opens the article by painting a picture of two scenarios: The first one focuses on how President Truman expressed his uncensored sentiments about the Russians t o Foreign Minister Molotov who only arrived to pay his respects to the remains of President Roosevelt, and the second one talks about how Winston Churchill kept thousand of captured German troops and prepare them against Russia (Mee, 2009).In both of these pictures, the author is trying to illustrate sarcastically that the behavior of these people was a sure fire way to start a conflict. It is not unknown to many that the Cold War began after the World War II. Sensitivity should be exercised at all cost during these trying times when talking about matter relevant to national security and diplomatic relations and the author is trying to say that these political figures showed the exact opposite of being sensitive.The author goes on to discuss how the different countries picked the strategy that would work best for their country economic- and military- wise, and they also picked on the countries which they would deem as allies.The Cold War resulted in a battle between the strongest of countries, the east against the west. This view of the author is strengthen when he mentions that the Big Three does not care about what happens to other countries as long as they did their part right and make sure that they can have everything going in their direction.He further extends his argument when he said that these contenders were just using the weak ones as pawns because during these times, the power is up for grabs and they need all the help they can get. The Big Three that the author is referring to are Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill (Mee, 2009).

Performance Management Plan Essay

I have been gathering information to help analyze your business and to assist in giving you recommendations based on the business strategy you have compiled to increase performance of the employees and business. I will be looking at several objectives to help with the performance plan that your company will use to identify any area of improvement and to enhance on the areas of expertise. I understand that your expectations are as follows, Landslide Limousine will be at a negative $50,000 for the first year with the expectation of a growth of 5% over two years, and you are planning to have 25 employees with a turnover rate of 10%. To assist in explaining the plan I have in mind, I will break the plan into different subject topics for you to follow, and give explanations as well. A. Aligning performance to the business strategy When considering performance it is necessary to incorporate some type of performance appraisal program within the organization. This serves as a tool for the employees to work toward, with the proper appraisal program the employee will feel a since of ownership of their own behaviors and will have a benefit for achieving goals or objectives. This also gives the employee a  motivation to change positions and continue with a training program to enhance their own personal wealth within the organization. The employees will also feel more open in providing feedback to other employees, provide ideas and help to develop new employee’s skills as they learn the importance of enhancing their own skill set. Using a management by objective process will give the employees the objective to work toward, and will give the employee a standard of acceptable behaviors. Self-appraisals will be key in this realm, customer feedback, and continual monitoring will help to evaluate the performance of each individual. Immediate supervisors or managers will assist in the appraisal process, and you will be informed of the continual behavior of each employee on a regular basis. Customer feedback will be useful information as this will be one of the key elements in the appraisal as customer service is what will drive your business to the next level. Cascio, (2013). 2. Job analysis The skills necessary for the employee to have will be the basis of the job analysis. This is why it will be important to determine what skills are needed in this field. What measures will be used to evaluate each individual’s job or merit pay. We must define what job will require what skills and what will be the qualification for each position. By determining the job qualifications for each position will help in the selective process to find the right people for the right job. Mr. Stonefield, you will need to define the positions you will have within the organization by separating each skill set required and what each job title will need. This can be done with a job analysis; it should include the tasks required for each job by title. It will be necessary to determine what the limousine drivers will be expected to accomplish while transporting clients. The job can be also defined by how much lifting, long periods of downtime, ability to drive extended vehicles, and the skill set of the individual to navigate to different geographical areas within the region. The job must reflect the experience of the driver, their educational background, and what are their abilities or proven track records. 3. The organizational performance philosophy The rewards to excellence are the Landslide Limousine motto. The company  is committed to the best customer experience; this is measured by consistency, customer satisfaction, and continual development of the staff. 4. Measuring the employee’s abilities and continual skill enhancement Measuring employee skills is important to the performance of the individual; this provides continual feedback, coaching, and growth for the employee. The goals set for these individuals must be clear, concise, and obtainable, Cascio, (2013). Employees should have ongoing meetings with the management staff to reflect on achievements and goals set for future achievements. This setting should also encourage feedback from the employee; this will allow the employee to feel as though their suggestions count in the process of the growth of the organization. The objectives should have a clear vision of how each one will be achieved, using a graphic rating scale can assist in this process. The behavior anchored rating scale (BARS) can also help to analyze critical incidents and then compare these to the norm. Casico, (2013). 5. Addressing skill gaps within the organization A skills gap analysis identifies specific skills needed to complete any given task and then takes that information and compares it to the level of current requirements. This is completed by doing a skill assessment which will determine the skills needed for any of the particular jobs within the organization or job category (Cascio, 2013). Then by applying the assessment as a benchmark for the job you can develop a plan for the training process needed to assist the employees in their road to success. One must develop a list of skills per job and determine the knowledge needed for each role, and then once the skills are assessed and the training is planned out one must go through the skills needed to improve on these skills by reviewing with an appraisal review. According to (Lorri Freifield, 2014), transfer knowledge can assist in enhancing a technical talent through mentors helping employees to explore their best practices. 6. Delivering Performance through feedback Delivering performance is very important, I would suggest using a process of multi-rater or the 360-degree feedback. This uses observations from many aspects of a person in many roles. Cascio, (2013). The immediate supervisor or manager, co-worker and customers rate the employee through feedback form the performance of that individual that is observed. This will  assist with any self-evaluation error and the feedback from different areas will give a 360 view of the individual, this will assist in understanding how the employee is effective in their role. Observant views with others assist in keeping a fair and objective view of employees; this will also assist in continuing a fair and objective review process. Mr. Stonefield the performance management framework given outlines the steps necessary in reviewing standards of an individual and team by actual performance. When looking at the overall strategy of the company as a whole Landslide Limousine will need to minimize the turnover and enhance on the skill set to enhance the overall employee performance. It will be necessary to look into the best cost effective way to handle any performance management and by using the recommendations I have listed Landslide Limousine will be striving to the goal of being the best in the Austin Texas area. References Cascio, W. F. (2013). Managing Human Resources (9th ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw Hills Companies, Inc. Lorri Friefield. (2014). Training the Source for Professional Development Retrieved from http://www.trainingmag.com/solving-todays-skill-gaps

This is a research-based essay. Using at least 3 organizations in Research Paper

This is a -based essay. Using at least 3 organizations in hospitality industry, analyse staff tunrover, its cost and effects on the business and develop strategies to improve retention - Research Paper Example It should be noted that hospitality industry is struggling to find enough skilled personnel to cater to its employee needs. Under such circumstances, excessive amount of employee dropouts or turnover rate may not be desirable to the growth prospects of an organization. Many organizations in hospitality industry are spending too much money for the training, development and empowerment of its employees since the success and failures of an organization in hospitality industry rest in the hands of its employees. On the other hand, after getting enough training, employees usually look for better options outside their organization. All the organizations in the hospitality industry are looking for trained professionals to meet their employee needs. Thus, employees working in the hospitality industry are always getting better chances outside their organization. The words of Pinnacle’s managing director Wendy Mead are relevant here: â€Å"We are training up all these fantastic people to be so customer-centric and other industries are just coming and plucking them away from us† (Ryan, 2006). Organizations which lose employees may struggle to fill the vacancies because of the absence of enough skilled manpower in the hospitality industry. In America and European region manpower shortage is creating immense problems in all sectors. Shortage of manpower increases demand for employee in these countries and hence, the bargaining power of the employees in these countries is extremely high. This paper analyses the staff turnover, its cost and effects on the hospitality business and strategies to improve retention, taking Accor Hotels, Subway franchise organization, and Ritz Carlton as the examples. Accor Hotels is one of the leading companies in Australian hospitality industry. It is operating in all the major cities in Australia. Accor Hotels is looking for opportunities in overseas countries at present and they have already signed a contract with Dubai based EMAAR

Personal Selling and Customer Focus Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Selling and Customer Focus - Personal Statement Example In order for Studio Productions to improve the company’s well-being, it, therefore, needs to implement a customer service system that is first and foremost, customer focused. The goal of customer service is to â€Å"attract and keep customers who are satisfied, loyal and speak well of the company, but perhaps most importantly, to keep profitable customers† (Gustafsson, Ekdahl and Edvardsson 344). Hence, a customer service system must always ensure client satisfaction, and if possible, exceed client needs. Second, it must also be effective in achieving the company’s goals. While a satisfied client-base is in itself an advantageous end, for Studio Productions to benefit from service developments, the system it adopts must go beyond the minimums of customer satisfaction and reap additional benefits for the company. From a service perspective, these should include improved cross-sell and up-sell rates, higher problem resolution, and higher customer satisfaction and r e-purchase (Carlson Marketing Group 8). It should also improve sales through higher lead-to-close ratios, increased margins, and repeat business (8). Third, given the drastic changes occurring in today’s business environment, a customer service system must also be flexible in its ability to embrace change and adapt accordingly. And finally, a good customer service system must also be cost-effective, such that it must provide saving efficiencies and revenue enhancements for the company, improving the bottom-line.  In order for Studio Productions to improve the company’s well-being, it, therefore, needs to implement a customer service system that is first and foremost, customer focused. The goal of customer service is to â€Å"attract and keep customers who are satisfied, loyal and speak well of the company, but perhaps most importantly, to keep profitable customers† (Gustafsson, Ekdahl and Edvardsson 344). Hence, a customer service system must always ensure cli ent satisfaction, and if possible, exceed client needs. Second, it must also be effective in achieving the company’s goals. While a satisfied client-base is in itself an advantageous end, for Studio Productions to benefit from service developments, the system it adopts must go beyond the minimums of customer satisfaction and reap additional benefits for the company. From a service perspective, these should include improved cross-sell and up-sell rates, higher problem resolution, and higher customer satisfaction and re-purchase (Carlson Marketing Group 8). It should also improve sales through higher lead-to-close ratios, increased margins, and repeat business (8). Third, given the drastic changes occurring in today’s business environment, a customer service system must also be flexible in its ability to embrace change and adapt accordingly. And finally, a good customer service system must also be cost-effective, such that it must provide saving efficiencies and revenue enhancements for the company, improving the bottom-line.   For a customer service system to work, however, Studio Productions must conduct improvements in both internal and external customer service structures to improve client satisfaction and loyalty. Internally, this requires developing a â€Å"service culture† among all employees with a well-defined set of corporate values, a strong commitment to quality improvement, the ability to accept change, a strong sense of teamwork, and a clear understanding of their roles in improving customer relationships.

The Baroque Period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Baroque Period - Essay Example The art forms of the period are characterized as intense, immediate, and individualist (Sullivan). These characteristics were achieved through the manipulation of movement and energy of the paintings and sculptures. Most of the themes of the art forms were mainly of considerable action and lively momentum. For a case in point, consider Gianlorenzo Bernini’s David (1623). This marble sculpture was set at a dynamic point, the moment at which David was about to hurl the sling. At such point of action, Bernini added emotion by carving it out of David’s face, revealing enthusiasm, and fury out of the sculpture. As most of the figures of the Baroque, Bernini’s subject was a human figure. Naturalism was still a general attribute of baroque art, and science gradually influenced art pieces. This could be seen in David’s elaborate details of the body structure. In paintings, the same characteristics could be observed. In Caravaggio’s representation of Christ from the cross, Entombment (1603), the depicted scene shows a sense of movement and emotions. The painting engages the viewer into sympathizing with the subjects through the evident emotions depicted in the faces and movements of the figures. The emotion of the moment was captured as well through the manipulation of light, which is also an attribute of Baroque period. Such paintings were commissioned by the church to draw people into returning to the Catholic Church at the time of the Counter-Reformation.The architecture of the period was grand, like the energy.