Self-Discovery - 2530 Words

Self-discovery Throughout one’s lifetime changes in a person’s views toward life are inevitable. Those changes can be seen as either positive or negative based on the experiences a person goes through. Some changes are seen as internal while others are seen as external. For instance, in Monkey by Wu Cheng-en and Candide by Francois-Marie Arouet De Voltaire, both authors are using their characters to portray self-discovery by having them go through a series of obstacles. As a result the characters changed their attitude toward life through the many obstacles that they had to undergo. Self-discovery is an essential part of a person’s life which can be seen internally or externally through a person’s characteristics and†¦show more content†¦In the end when he finds out that Cunegonde is ugly, he still goes to search for her â€Å"†¦go search out Cunegonde on the shores of Propontis, however ugly she might be† (Voltaire, 574). This shows ext ernal changes in Candide’s character, and it shows that he still wants to fulfill his promise to marry Cunegonde. By the end of the story we can see that Candide has learned the true meaning of life through his experiences on this journey and he now has his own views and opinions towards the world. However, after all of his experiences on this journey, â€Å"Candide still doesn’t understand the key to happiness† (www.associatedcontent.com). At the beginning he followed the beliefs of Pangloss, even after he realized that the world doesn’t work like the philosopher once said it did and he lets go of those beliefs, he ignorantly throws his trust into the beliefs of another person. Candide discovers the Turks truth to life, â€Å"†¦and the work keeps us from three great evils, boredom, vice and poverty†¦I know†¦that we must cultivate our garden† (Voltaire, 580). Even though he now knows what to do now in order to reach a state of happin ess, which is people working together, he isn’t willing to change internally because he’s still holding on to the same essence of life and doesn’t show any beliefs of his own. Changing his philosophical belief from following Pangloss to following the TurkShow MoreRelatedThe Journey Of Self Discovery1932 Words   |  8 Pagesthe path of self discovery? The journey of self discovery is a journey that most people take at some point during their life, whether it is very early in life or rather late in life. In the novels, Billy Lynn s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald the three protagonists have all undergone a journey on the path of self discovery. These journey range in length, depth, and significance just as these self discovery journeys varyRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Self Discovery1012 Words   |  5 Pagesof my own ordinary situations to be seized momentarily whilst I let mind be fre e and my own imagination wander. The pursuit of self-discovery is present within many forms of literature and can be told through plots and central characters. I often discover new societal universal longings that arise from the novels pages which encourages me to reflect on my own sense of self. The unique interpretations and individual thoughts made by readers allows for a diverse range of reactions to literature. ItRead MoreSelf Discovery In Anita Nairs Ladiesbor1330 Words   |  6 PagesThe paper intends to explore the theme of self discovery through the act of journey in Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupe. Travel narratives are broad genres which illuminate mainly on people, place and culture. Journeys form the focal point of every travel narrative. In literature, the motif of journey is used as a distinctive idea or theme and is used to represent a character’s epiphany or self realization. It provides a personal assertion outside the compressed state of one’s li fe. Journey is seen as aRead MoreSelf-Discovery: Who Am I? Essay4271 Words   |  18 Pagesquestion is the heart of the quest for the Self. This is a quest which may take a lifetime, sometimes longer, to fulfill. One path, of self-discovery, is when people turn to their surroundings in their search. In turning to their surroundings, people are able to see their Selves by the things around them. In observing the surroundings, people may, not only, find their Selves, but establish their Selves. This path, however, is not the only way people search for the Self. Another path is when people turn toRead MoreSelf discovery787 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Ã¢â‚¬Å"I Need To Be Myself, I Can’t Be Anyone Else.† â€Å"I was born to be true and not to be perfect,† Epey said in his speech. Epey is the winner of the trending segment in It’s Showtime – That’s My Tomboy. In this segment, they (lesbians) let me, the madlang people and the world to see their worth as a lesbian and as a human. They also made me believe that all of us can be accepted in the society beyond our imperfections, because no matter how imperfect we are, there are still things that we must be proudRead MoreKnowing Self and Self Discovery1011 Words   |  5 PagesKnowing Self This semester, I had the privilege to experience unrestricted creativity in a structured writing class. Now, as I reflect upon the semester I come to realize how closed minded I really am. This semester, I was challenged as a student writer to draw upon something or find inspiration from within to constructively create a masterpiece with words. Often times, finding or even tapping into my creative nerve was very difficult. Then I came to realize, as a student writer, I am paralyzed byRead MoreEssay on Self-Actualization and Self-Discovery752 Words   |  4 Pagescreation, but the very second we are born it is our job to find out who we are. Life is described by some to be an epic journey of self-discovery and actualization, and that’s exactly what it is. Self-actualization is the term used to describe how individuals go their whole lives trying to reach their full potential. Now, what does this mean to an individual? Being self-actualized means that an individual knows who th ey are and what they want and what they were made for, and generally this notion isRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Self Discovery2522 Words   |  11 Pagesmez Dr. McCollister ENGL 3314 April 4, 2015 The Pursuit of Self-Discovery: A Psychoanalytic look at The Picture of Dorian Gray When one hears the title The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde a flash of Faustian images such as villains, tragedy, and worldly pleasures might come to mind. The reader might recall Lord Henry Wotton as the Mephistophelian presence of the novel, and his epigram that â€Å"All influence is immoral†¦because to influence a person is to give him one s own soul† (Wilde 19-20)Read MoreJanies Self-Discovery Essay1481 Words   |  6 Pagesblack communities and families. It also examines different issues such as, gender and class and these issues bring forth the theme of voice. In Janie’s attempt to find herself, she grows into a stronger woman through three marriages. Janie’s first discovery about herself comes when she is a child. She is around the age of six when she realizes that she is colored. Janie’s confusion about her race is based on the reasoning that all her peers and the kids she grows up with are white. Janie and her NannyRead MoreMy Journey Into Self Discovery1035 Words   |  5 Pageshopes of finding some powerful words of wisdom, you took a wrong turn. After 41 years, I find myself with even more questions and all the wrong answers. I am not here to enlighten or educate anyone. I m here to talk, to share my journey into self-discovery. So here s an overview of my life up to now. I was born in Barstow, California to a free-spirited, free-thinking, multi-talented artist father and a breath-taking, tragic beauty of a mother. Neither one should have ever had a child, but both

Should College Degree Be A High School - 1841 Words

College Degrees Just a few decades ago, having a high school education was considered a luxury and sometimes an unnecessary amount of education for some individuals. Once the amount of students attending high school rose, college seemed to be the next best course of action, however it still was not something that became absolutely necessary in our economy up until this decade. The amount of college graduates has risen, yet the number of students either dropping out of college or not even considering it at all is still high. However, with the recent recession, wages falling, and the number of adults being fired from their jobs, graduating from college and getting a degree has become almost necessary in order for any adult to not have†¦show more content†¦With our economy it seems as if no one wins in the end as the wages for everyone fall and the expenses of college rise, but the reason that degree owners have a more stable future is because â€Å"the fate of workers with le ss than a college education is deteriorating even more rapidly than the fate of their college educated peers† (Kurtz). Still, even if the wages for workers of all kinds are dropping, they are dropping at a higher rate for adults who have jobs without a college degree and workers who do have college degree s, whether it be doctorate s, master s, bachelor s, or even associate s, still earn around 75 percent more than highs school graduates (Kurtz). Within the next few years the demand for workers with college degrees is expected to only increase which will make it much harder for individuals with a high school diploma to find and maintain jobs that will pay enough to support their expenses (Azziz). Along with that, â€Å"over the next decade, jobs requiring at least an [associate s] degree are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience† (Cauthen). A college education has now become almost necessary in order to get at least a decent job (Cauthe n) which means â€Å"a college degree has become the new high school diploma – the bare minimal credential for entry into the workforce† (Snyder 31). Despite the recession affecting most adults with jobs,

International Business Foreign Direct Investment

Question: Discuss about the International Business for Foreign Direct Investment. Answer: Introduction: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a crucial role in the global or international world. It is a category of investment that reflects the objective of establishing a greater interest by a direct investor in a countrys economy (Singstat.gov.sg 2014). Singapore is making constant forward efforts to achieve FDI for greater support of the economic approach and develop a basis for multinational corporations. The stock of foreign direct investment in the corporate sector was $1235.4 billion in 2015 (Singstat.gov.sg 2016). The FDI in Singapore increased by 24911.40 SGD Million in the second quarter of 2016 (Tradingeconomics.com 2016). The investment sponsorship agency of Singapore, the Economic Development Board lays emphasis on significant investments, manufacturing activities and services. As Singapore is a small nation with no natural possessions, it is dependent on the leading multinationals not only to expand the economic base, but also in improvement of the skills and technological content of the industries. It is argued that FDI is the only way using which Singapore can strike the foreign technology for which substantial assets are necessary to help generate GDP. Further, the exchange rate plays a crucial role in shaping GDP. An increase in value of the Singapore dollar shall increase the confidence of the investors and therefore more investment can be generated. The imported inflation can also be curbed with an appreciation in the Singapore dollar (Chellaraj, Maskus and Mattoo 2013). The FDI in Singapore reflects the stock to GDP at 72% which is regarded as the highest ratio in the world (Singstat.gov.sg 2016). 90% value is added in the electronics industry of Singapore (Singstat.gov.sg 2016). FDI also account for two-thirds of the equity wealth in the manufacturing division (Singstat.gov.sg 2016). The productivity in Singapore has increased where FDI was concentrated. Singapore has a favorable investment climate and strategic geographical location that attracts FDI. Another reason is the small domestic market with low corporate taxes and no tariff on imports. Therefore, these factors make Singapore a low-risk high return destination for FDI. Overall, Singapore has a simple regulatory system with less corruption, high-quality industrial estate and tax incentives making it an attractive investment destination (Chellaraj, Maskus and Mattoo 2013). An extensive variety of incentives have been newly added for promoting the FDI inflows in Singapore. The policy and performance necessities for FDI can generate a handsome parcel of tax incentives. However, in Singapore, the regulations and restrictions govern the entry and operations of labor as well as foreign enterprises. Both the local and foreign investors experience a high level of freedom to attain maximum profitability. Singapore also has a large number of prevention of double taxation agreements that protect nations reciprocally against non-commercial risks of nationalization and expropriation (Chellaraj, Maskus and Mattoo 2013). There are four areas where the Singapore government regulations are applicable to overseas investors. Firstly, the foreign exchange administration allows remittance of dividends, profits, royalty payments, interests and technical licensing fees. The liberal regime also allows free importation of goods and services for production, investment and consumption purposes. Secondly, foreign involvement is permissible in almost every sector of the Singaporean economy. Full foreign equity ownership is also permissible. Thirdly, there is no performance requirement such as local sourcing of inputs, domestic value-added content and no restrictions on borrowing or transfer of technology. Lastly, there are very less restrictions on recruiting foreign employees. However, employment passes are required but they are issues by the government quite easily. Arguably, the Singapore government does not persuade foreign companies to lease local technical and managerial employees (Chellaraj, Maskus and Matt oo 2013). The strategic location of Singapore astride major air routes and sea routes make it rich in natural resources. It is an undisputed trade hub that facilitates import and export activities located in Singapore. Moreover, the time zone advantage straddling Western Europe and East Asia enhances the financial market while performing transactions with US, Europe and Japan in the working hours. The country makes significant investment in physical infrastructure. The land transportation is strong that connects several financial districts. The wide-ranging sea and air transport link the place with the world. Another major advantage of Singapore for its foreign investors is the socio-political stability and good governance. Singapore is one of the least corrupt countries in the world which makes the business environment favorable. However, high excise taxes are levied on gasoline, alcohol and motor vehicles (En.portal.santandertrade.com 2016). Conclusively, the strategies adopted by Singapore highly attract inward FDI. Overall, Singapore is an attractive destination for FDI. However, certain areas can be improved for maximizing economic growth, profitability and strategic development. Both the local and foreign investors experience a high level of freedom to attain maximum profitability. FDI is the only way using which Singapore can strike the foreign technology for which significant investment is necessary to help create GDP. Sectors such as legal, telecommunications, broadcasting, and manufacturing have fewer investment opportunities. References Chellaraj, G., Maskus, K. and Mattoo, A., 2013. Labor Skills and Foreign Investment in a Dynamic Economy: Estimating the Knowledge-capital Model for Singapore.Review of Development Economics, 17(4), pp.627-643. En.portal.santandertrade.com, 2016.Foreign investment in Singapore - Santandertrade.com. [online] En.portal.santandertrade.com. Available at: https://en.portal.santandertrade.com/establish-overseas/singapore/foreign-investment [Accessed 17 Dec. 2016]. Singstat.gov.sg, 2014.Foreign Direct Investment in Singapore. [online] Available at: https://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/investment/fdi2014.pdf [Accessed 17 Dec. 2016]. Singstat.gov.sg, 2016.Statistics Singapore - Foreign Direct Investment. [online] Singstat.gov.sg. Available at: https://www.singstat.gov.sg/statistics/visualising-data/charts/foreign-direct-investment [Accessed 17 Dec. 2016]. Singstat.gov.sg, 2016.Statistics Singapore - Latest Data. [online] Singstat.gov.sg. Available at: https://www.singstat.gov.sg/statistics/latest-data#15 [Accessed 17 Dec. 2016]. Tradingeconomics.com, 2016.Singapore Foreign Direct Investment - Net Inflows | 1995-2016 | Data. [online] Tradingeconomics.com. Available at: https://www.tradingeconomics.com/singapore/foreign-direct-investment [Accessed 17 Dec. 2016].

Christianity and Rastafarianism-a Discussion of Six Similarities free essay sample

Christianity and Rastafarianism A Discussion of Six Similarities Christianity and Rastafarianism are both rooted in Judaism and draw from the Hebrew sacred scriptures. Rastafarianism evolved as a reaction to the Christianity that was imposed upon African-American slaves and their descendents. There are several other aspects in which these two religions are similar, the purpose of this paper is to explore some of those similarities. The Christian religion began around 2000 years ago in Judea, which is now Israel. Christianity began with Jesus of Nazareth and his disciples. Jesus traveled from village to village, teaching in the synagogues, and healing those who were sick and suffering. He challenged the authorities to repent from their sin. Jesus teachings created instability, which the Jewish religious authorities feared. Soon, a faithful group of men began to follow Jesus and call him teacher. These men became His disciples. Jesus taught His disciples about the will of God and about the new covenant God will bring to humanity through Him. Jesus helped them to see that mankind is bound to the pain and futility of life as a result of sin. Because of sin, mankind lost his relationship with God. The purpose of the new covenant was to bring his followers a renewed fellowship of forgiveness and love with God. Jesus was crucified and three days later rose again. After which, the disciples continued to proclaim the gospel. And share the message of hope throughout the territories (The History of Christianity). The Rastafari movement began in the Jamaican slums in the 1920s and 30s. Marcus Garvey founded Rastafarianism, a black Jamaican who taught in the 1920s and whom some believed to be the second John the Baptist. He taught that Africans are the true Israelites and have been exiled to Jamaica and other parts of the world as divine punishment. Garvey encouraged pride in being black and worked to reverse the mindset of inferiority that centuries of enslavement had ingrained on the minds of blacks. The reggae music of Bob Marley, brought international recognition to the Jamaican movement. Bob Marley is likely the most famous Rastafarian. The Rastafarian movement is named for Ras Tafari Makonnen, who was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia in 1930. Followers of the movement are known as Rastafarians, Rastafaris, Rastas, or Ras Tafarians. Rastafaris dislike the term Rastafarianism because they reject the isms and schisms that characterize oppressive and corrupt white society (Rastafari). The Rastafari movement has a lot of variation and little formal organization. Most consider Rasta to be more a way of life than a religion. The belief in the divinity of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, the influence of Jamaican culture, resistance of oppression, and the great pride in their African heritage are the uniting factors of the Rastas. Rastafaris ritually use marijuana, they avoid alcohol, wear their hair in dreadlocks, and are usually either vegetarian or Vegan. In an environment of great poverty, depression, racism and class discrimination, the Rasta message of black pride, freedom from oppression, and the hope of return to the African homeland was gratefully received. (Rastafari) Even though these two religions are different in many aspects there are also several similarities. Six examples are provided below. First Similarity-The Divine Reality: Christians and Rastafarians both view their divine reality similarly, through the incarnation of God. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, part of the Trinity. What this means to them is that God came to this earth in the form of a man, in order to die on a cross for all humanity. Jesus is often referred to as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world because of His death on the cross. (History of Christianity) The Rasta movement accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as Jah. This is the Rastafarian name for God incarnate, taken from a shortened form of Jehovah. Jah is part of the Holy Trinity, the messiah promised to return in the Bible. Rastafari’s believe Tafari Makonnen, who was crowned Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia on November 2nd, 1930 is the living God incarnate, called Jah. He is the black Messiah that will lead the worlds people of African origin into the Promised Land of full emancipation and divine justice. This is partly because of his titles King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. These titles match those of the Messiah mentioned in the book of Revelation, in the Christian New Testament (Rastafari). Second Similarity-The Creation of the World: Just as the Christian Bible begins with, â€Å"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth†, (Holy Bible) The Holy Piby, the Rastafarian Bible, begins with, â€Å"From the beginning there was God and he spake and all things were made that are made†. Both of these sacred texts go on to state that God made man for his glory and then made woman for man, God called the man Adam and the woman Eve. (Holy Piby) Both of the sacred texts also agree that God rested on the seventh day and said that men should also use the seventh day as a day of rest. Third Similarity-Worship Practices: Christian worship centers on meetings or services held on Sunday. These services consist of Biblical readings, communion, and music either with or without instrumental accompaniment, prayer, a teaching from the Bible in the form of a sermon and a collection of tithes. Other forms of worship, such as individual meditation, prayer and study or small group prayer complement regular public worship (History of Christianity). Rastafarian ritual observances are largely based on the Old Testament. In their worship services Rastafarians, similar to Christian’s sermons, recite biblical passages and discuss their â€Å"reasonings† or understandings of them. The smoking of marijuana is essential to these sessions. Marijuana is described by Rastafarians as the mystical body and blood of â€Å"Jesus. † It enhances enlightenment and serves to bring him closer to God. In part Rastafarian religious services do not conform to the scheduled nature of religious services most Americans are used to. However Rasta religious services, including the use of ganja, (marijuana), do conform to specific rules and doctrines. The ganja pipes, for example, are considered to be holy objects (Norgren, Nanda, 142). Fourth Similarity-Rituals: Beginning in the 4th century Christians’ had their babies baptized as soon as possible after birth. This ritual began when many believed that infants who died before being baptized would not enter heaven. For most Christians baptism has become the means by which a baby becomes a member of the church. After the baptism, the priest holds the child up and says: -‘The servant of God (giving the child its name) is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen (Keene, 90). Similar to the Christian baptism, when a child is born into the Rastafari tradition he or she is blessed by the elders in the community. This ritual usually includes a session of drumming, chanting and prayer, at which time hild is named and given over to God (Rastafari). Another similar ritual in these religions is the observance of the birthdays of each religion’s Messiah. Christian’s celebration of Christmas for Jesus’ birthday, Rastafaris’ celebrate Selassie’s birthday on July 23rd of each year. Fifth Similarity-Belief about Human Soul: Ras tafarians and Christians both believe that humans have a soul that does not die but either goes to or awaits final judgement. Rastafarians believe that the human soul does not die but at the time of death the soul goes to judgement and is sent to heaven or hell (Chevannes, 28). Christians believe that although the body dies, the soul of both the believer and the unbeliever continues to live. Believers await the consummation of their redemption with the resurrection and glorification of their bodies, while the unbelievers await the eternal judgement of God (Sproul, 134). Sixth Similarity-Leadership Structure: Rastafarian meetings, called ‘groundations’ (a compound of ‘ground’ and ‘foundations’), almost always entail the use of ganja, (marijuana), which is held to be calming and conducive to cool reasoning. Such meetings are democratic, free debate is encouraged, and one may agree or disagree with the outcome. These meetings are one of the few times that leadership is seen in the Rastafarian movement. A ‘leading brother’-sometimes known as a ‘brother priest’-presides over them and he is assisted by a chaplain. Below the priest and chaplain are the ‘recording secretary’ and the treasurer. Sergeants at arms guard the meeting. The meetings tend to be male dominated, with little – if any – place for women, who may at most be assigned the role of ‘leader of songs’ (Chryssides, 276-77). In Christianity we also see the same type of leadership structure with the priest, deacon, and elders who all have different parts in leading the church services. Although these two religions appear to be very different at first glance, taking a closer look, we see they are similar in several aspects including: perception of the divine reality, the creation of the world, rituals, belief about the human soul, as well as their leadership structure. Works Cited Chevannes, Barry. Rastafari: roots and ideology. New York: Syracuse UP,1994. Chryssides, George D. Exploring New Religions. New York: Continuum, 1999. History of Christianity: fact based faith. All about religion. 02 Nov 2010. http://www. allaboutreligion. org/history-of-christianity. htm Holy Bible. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1994. Holy Piby. 2006. Keene, Michael. The Christian Experience. Cheltenham: Thornes, 1995. Norgren, Jill and Serina, Nanda. American Cultural: Pluralism and Law. Ed. 3 Westport: Praeger, 2006. Rastafari. Religion Facts: just the facts on religion. Ed. 02 Aug 2010. http://www. religionfacts. com/a-z-religion-index/rastafarianism. htm Sproul, R. C. Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. New York: Nelson Inc, 1992.