The Landscape of Financial Institutions in Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a major international financial center. The banking sector takes the 2nd place in the country’s economy and provides approximately 27% of GDP. Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) is the main financial institution in the country since 2006, when it was proclaimed the new central bank. Today, it is responsible for control, inspection and licensing of the financial institutions. Its regulatory and monitoring framework plays an important role in relieving the international banks of limitations.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Landscape of Financial Institutions in Bahrain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the report of CBB (30 September 2011) there were licensed 24 conventional banks (Retail), 56 conventional banks (wholesale), 26 Islamic banks, 27 locally incorporated insurance firms, 11overseas insurance firms, 48 investment firms, 33 insurance brokers, 3 insuranc e managers, 5 insurance consultants, 32 insurance firms (restricted to business outside Bahrain), 4 insurance brokers (restricted to business outside Bahrain), 2 insurance consultants (restricted to business outside Bahrain), 11 loss adjusters, 2 insurance pools and syndicates offices, 18 money changers, 4 administrators, 8 financing companies, 16 banking representative offices, 5 insurance representative offices, 11 investment firm representative offices, 2 microfinance institutions, 10 capital markets. The total amount of banks and financial institutions licensed by CBB makes 408 (Central Bank of Bahrain). There are over 180 banks in Bahrain. Banks are divided into wholesale and retail banks. Wholesale banks dominate in the region. The leading wholesale bank is ABC (Arab Banking Corporation). Leading foreign banks are: BNP Paribas Bahrain, HSBC Bahrain and Citi Bank. Wholesale banks made approximately 88 % of the total banking assets during the period 2003-2006. The leading retail banks of Bahrain are: Ahli United Bank – assets US$ 29.0 billion (the second largest bank after CBB), National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), BMI Bank, Futurebank. Market investments of retail banks made only 12.3% of total assets. The retail banks share in the market was within the limits of 11.8% – 12.3% for the same period. These statistics demonstrates that the growth of the banking assets was applied to all banks; it means that both retail and wholesale banks indicated approximately the same progress for the same period (Table 1, 2). A total value of assets in Bahrain banking sector is $199.4 billion. Today Bahrain hosts more than 171 insurance companies from all over the world. They are both: conventional and Islamic, onshore and offshore institutions. Here is the list of the largest insurance companies in Bahrain according to the value of assets:Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can hel p you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Iran Insurance Gosi Bahrain National Insurance Company BSC (c) (BNI) Oryx Insurance Protection Insurance Services WLL Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company Trust International Insurance Company Arab Insurance Group Fakhro Insurance Services The creation of financial centers in Bahrain contributed to significant development of the insurance, reinsurance and brokerage business in the country. The branches of personal/family and motor insurance are the leading ones in Bahrain. Bahrain has long-term plans to increase the gross premiums of compulsory medical insurance to BD 190 million by 2015.† The Islamic Insurance market (T’akaful and ReT’akaful) contributions as a percentage of Total Premiums written is estimated to increase to 31.2% by 2015; the highest increase in the Gulf States (source; Swiss Re)† (Rose 701). Bahrain attracts a large number of financial companies and world-famous resellers because of its obvious tax advantages, effective system of state regulation and ultra-modern infrastructure. There are several great Bahrain companies: Arab Financial Services (provides card processing and electronic banking services), Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company (short, medium and long term consumer finance), Securities Investment Company BSC (SICO), Bahrain Financing Company (foreign exchange and money transfer services). Banks are interested in industries that supplying rapidly growing population of the region, such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare and education. The economies of the Gulf thrived, thanks to a fivefold increase of oil prices since 2002. Considerable income to the treasury brings Bahrain Refinery Company, which is the second great company in the Middle East (after the Abadan refinery in Iran). In addition to the local oil the refinery processes crude oil that comes from an underwater pipeline from Saudi Arabia (more than 10 million tons annually). The second larg est industrial facility in Bahrain is an aluminum-smelting plant â€Å"Aluminum Bahrain† (ALBA). All financial institutions and services in this country must be licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain. CBB licensing is composed of six major categories of licenses. â€Å"Some of the activities can be carried out only for specific types of licenses, and to qualify for a certain type of license, certain activities must be carried out† (Central Bank of Bahrain). According to the Rulebook, CBB points out new basic license categories with license sub-categories: conventional banks (retail and wholesale banks); Islamic banks (retail and wholesale), insurance licensee (insurance and re-insurance firms and captive insurance companies), insurance actuaries and brokers (insurance consultants, insurance actuaries, loss adjusters, insurance managers, insurance brokers, insurance entities); specialized firms (financing firms (conventional and Islamic); leasing firms (conventional an d Islamic); money exchange firms, representative offices of foreign companies which provide regulated services, ancillary services providers for the financial sector, portfolio management services providers, special-purpose company for issuance of bonds and sukuk, special purpose company for establishment of private retirement funds and savings funds and trustee.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Landscape of Financial Institutions in Bahrain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Capital markets subdivided into securities exchanges and precious metal exchanges and mutual funds (Central Bank of Bahrain). Table 1: Wholesale and retail – banking assets Table 2: Consolidated Balance Sheet: Retail and Wholesale Banks Works Cited Central Bank of Bahrain. CBB Rulebook. Aug. 2006. Web. http://cbb.complinet.com/cbb/microsite/cbb_rulebook.html. Peter S. Rose, Sylvia C. Hudgins, Sylvia Hudgins. Bank Manageme nt Financial Services W/SP Bind-in Card. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2009.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This research paper on The Landscape of Financial Institutions in Bahrain was written and submitted by user Meggan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Issues, Problems and Risks in Construction Projects and Ways of Mitigating Them The WritePass Journal

Issues, Problems and Risks in Construction Projects and Ways of Mitigating Them Introduction Issues, Problems and Risks in Construction Projects and Ways of Mitigating Them ). Even though this might not be very accurate, it reduced the gap between the estimated and the actual expenditure. When acquiring the plans for the construction project it is necessary for the project manger to ensure that the architect or engineer involved has exhaustively broken down all the specifications involved (Whitfield, 2012). In addition to saving on costs for expert assistance, it will also save on the overall construction time. It is also vital for suppliers to be exhaustively evaluated by referring to previous projects to which they have supplied materials. This will enable the project managers to select the most reliable suppliers, avoiding extra costs due to delays in delivery of materials. Whilst the mentioned issues can be solved by project managers through effective co-ordination of the general requirements, there exist other factors that cause cost overrides, which project managers may not be able to avoid regardless of how efficiently they manage their systems. These include unanticipated rises in market prices of materials needed in the construction project, unpredictable technical or human-resource issues, inaccurate estimation of costs in comparison to actual construction costs (Kubba, 2010). Delays Time issues that affect construction often lead to delays in completion of the project (Keane Caletka, 2009). This issue is closely related to cost overrides because extension of project completion time in most cases leads to incurrence of extra costs. One of the leading causes of time issues in construction projects is untimely delivery of equipment and materials by suppliers (Munier, 2012; Forsman et al., 2011). Government restraints also contribute to delays experienced in construction projects because it is important for project managers get clearance form construction regulatory bodies before starting projects (Best Valence, 2012). This factor especially affects companies that are in the construction industry and dealing with large construction projects. Other factors that may cause delays in commencement or completion of construction projects include changes that are made in design and construction schedules. Most of the measures that can be taken by project managers to limit the negative impacts of delays in projects are closely related to those that ought to be undertaken to reduce cost overrides (Kubba, 2010). Other measures include ensuring that designs and materials to be used in the construction project are within the standards that are specified by the government.   This helps to limit delays caused by government agencies that verify if the structure to be constructed is in adherence to the set standards. Delays that can be caused because of schedule changes can be avoided by ensuring that a thorough consideration of other indirect factors is factored when planning to implement the construction project (Best Valence, 2012). However, there still exist factors that cannot be avoided by project managers in minimizing delays. These include naturally occurring disasters like extreme weather conditions. Project Quality Issues Even though project managers are always expected to ensure that construction project are of the highest quality, there are some factors that may limit attainment of high quality in their projects. Quality in construction projects affects a wide range of components, from structural support to plumbing. According to Best and Valence (2012), quality in construction can be compromised if project managers or supervisors fail to carry out adequate inspection in the course of the process. The challenge is even higher when workers o laborers taking part in the project do not possess the adequate skills needed. Another issue that is likely to affect quality is acquisition of low quality materials with the objective of saving costs (Olawale Sun, 2010). Whereas it is advantageous to reduce unnecessary costs of construction, purchasing of sub-standard materials for such projects poses long-term dangers to people who will inhabit the structure or even valuables that may be stored in them. The impacts of quality issues in construction can be minimized by the project managers by ensuring strict adherence to the use of standard equipment and materials that have been specified for construction. In addition, incompetence can be avoided by ensuring that the workers recruited to take part in the project have the ideal skills, experience and qualifications (McCarthy, 2010). By so doing, project managers will be assured that even with minimal supervision, they are capable of doing a quality job. Inspections required in every step of the construction project should be diligently carried out by supervisors and project managers to ensure that mistakes are avoided at all costs (Muir, 2005). Project managers should convince their clients to provide sufficient funds to purchase quality construction materials. Even though it might drive the construction costs higher, risks that are associated with poor quality construction will be evaded (Harris McCaffer, 2013). Unlike delays and co st override issues, there are no situations where poor quality is inevitable. Therefore, project managers have to ensure that they strictly adhere to quality materials and practices. Peripheral Issues/Challenges These are challenges that affect construction processes indirectly. These are classified into environmental, legal and socio-political issues. Environmental issues Since the 1970’s, there has been a reasonable increase in the levels of environmental impacts caused by construction projects (Barrie Paulson, 1992). This has prompted environment conservation bodies and governments to set regulations that have to be adhered to by constructors. Lack of compliance to these regulations may result into termination of the project, imposition of fines on the firm, and in other cases, criminal prosecutions. To avoid inconvenienced caused by ignorant non-adherence, project managers have to ensure that they are up-to-date about all the permits requires and environmental regulations (Shen et al., 2010; Winch, 2010). Some of the factors that that raise environmental concern in construction project include soil erosion and sedimentation, hazardous waste materials and noise pollution, among others. Socio-political and legal Issues These include pressures that emanate from owners of properties that are adjacent to the construction project, community and civic organizations. According to Scott et al. (2011), present-day construction managers are supposed to be accountable to the public through ensuring that the location or design of the structure being constructed does not interfere with other property owners (Muir, 2005). Legal challenges in construction projects are caused by issues like liabilities, avoidance, claims and mitigations, government issued permits, as well as safety and labor laws. The mentioned peripheral challenges can be avoided by ensuring that they are all addressed in the planning phase of the project. For instance, socio-political challenges can be avoided by seeking alternative sites where the mentioned challenges are inexistent (Scott et al., 2011). The legal issues, on the other hand, can be addressed through seeking services of a strong legal team or through simple strict adherence to t he construction policies that have been set by the respective governing authorities (Sears et al., 2010). Risks in Construction Projects Weeks (2011) posits that the major risks that are associated with construction projects are posed to human resource forces. These include health and safety risks, which may have catastrophic impacts if not promptly and effectively managed. Another risk in construction projects arises from hiring non-skilled or poorly skilled workers. These are referred to as work-force risks (McCarthy, 2010). Health and Safety Risks In any construction project, safety and health remains one of the leading concerns of managers and workers involved. Typically, construction projects are quite dangerous, and the possibility of accidents happening is high. According to Rozenfeld et al. (2010), the effect of accidents in construction projects is quite costly in terms of finances, legal settlements and human suffering. However, these costs can be avoided if the standard safety measures for each identified risk are taken. In the construction industry, health and safety risks are classified into chemical and physical hazards. Risks that are posed by chemical hazards are usually from fumes, liquid or powder. In most cased these substances are ingested, inhaled or are absorbed when they get in contact with skins of workers (Fewings, 2013). Whilst the effects of some of these chemicals might be quite mild or even unnoticeable, some chemicals are known to cause serious illnesses. These include bronchitis, silicosis, asbestos is and severe skin allergies (Weeks, 2011). Physical health and safety risks in construction projects include falling objects, trucks that materials and equipment in the construction site, noise pollution, vibrations and extreme weather conditions, among others. Risks of falling objects usually increase with the height of the construction project (Harris McCaffer, 2013). Whereas these objects are often building materials, in some isolated cases, workers may also fall from elevated heights. Even with the imminent risks that are posed by chemical hazards in construction projects, they cannot be eliminated in construction projects. Therefore, measures need to be taken reduce their adverse impacts. One of the measures that can help in reducing such risks is by substituting materials with high toxicity levels with those whose toxicities are relatively lower (Weeks, 2011). In the case of physical hazards, equipments that pose less risk can be substituted with those associated with high risks. For instance, pneumatic hammers could be replaced by impact hammers to reduce noise pollution. Another measure that can be taken is by ensuring that workers are supplies with personal protective equipment to counter any possible risk that they might face. Some of these include helmets for protection against falling objects, safety belts for those working on high structures and masks to protect workers from inhaling chemicals (Harris McCaffer, 2013). Other equipments include safety boot s to protect feet and ear plugs to limit impacts of noise-pollution (Rozenfeld et al., 2010). Workforce Risks The workforce in construction projects, just like in any other project, is the most valuable resources. This is because the quality with which construction projects are carried out depends on the workers’ levels of skill in planning and execution of the project. However, Muir (2005) argues that construction is one of the industries that are viewed by many as being the least desirable to work in. This is because of the dangers associated with and the fact that it is quite physically exhausting (Muir, 2005). As opposed to other jobs, the construction industry is considered to be dirty. These are some of the factors that are attracting skilled youth to other industries, away from the construction industry (Murray Dainty, 2013). With such shortages, project managers in construction often end up selecting less qualified individuals to take up such positions. With reference to the United States, most of the construction workers are immigrants who, apart from not being competent, ar e faced with language and cultural barrier issues (Muir, 2005). One of the major risks that are posed by using a workforce that is not adequately skilled is that without proper intensive supervision, the quality of the structure may be compromised. Mitigation of this risk depends on how companies in the construction industry will attract more skilled individuals. Some of the ways in which this can be done include setting competitive compensation rates for workers in the industry and utilizing technological advancements to reduce the physical strain that construction projects usually have on workers (Murray Dainty, 2013). Technological advancements can also be used to make construction jobs more interesting. In cases where inadequately skilled workers are hired to help in implementation of construction projects, it is important to sufficiently invest in training them before allowing them to take part in the project (Liebing, 2011). Conclusion Construction projects have been instrumental for a long time and have contributed toward making life easier. However, they are regarded as being among those with the highest levels of risk to workers. Therefore, to ensure that such projects are successfully implemented and completed, it is necessary for project managers to be keen when planning and implementing the process. This will help in identifying the possible risk that may be faced during the project and formulating the most ideal approach to cope with such challenges or risks. This paper has presented an in-depth discussion of some of the key issues, challenges and risks that are associated with such projects. Some of the key issues that have been identified include cost overruns, delays, quality, environmental, legal and socio-political issues. Risks that have been discussed include health and safety risks, as well as the risk posed by hiring unskilled workers. Some of the ways in which these challenges or risks can be mitig ated have also been discussed. To emphasize on the risks associated with construction projects, it is recommended that future research should compare and contrast risks that exist in construction projects with those existing other projects. Bibliography Barrie, D.S. Paulson, B.C., 1992. Professional Construction Management. London: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Best, R. Valence, G‎., 2012. Design and Construction. Oxford: Routledge. Fewings, P., 2013. Construction Project Management: An Integrated Approach. Oxon: Routledge. Forsman, S., Bystedt, A. Ãâ€"hman, M., 2011. Interaction in the construction process–system effects for a joinery products supplier. Lean Construction Journal, pp.1-18. Harris, F. McCaffer, R., 2013. Modern construction management. London: John Wiley Sons. Huemann, M., 2010. Considering human resource management when developing a project-oriented company: case study of a telecommunication company. International Journal of Project Management, 28(4), pp.361–69. Keane, P.J. Caletka, A.F., 2009. Delay Analysis in Construction Contracts. west Sussex: John Wiley Sons. Kubba, S., 2010. Green Construction Project Management and Cost Oversight. Oxford: Taylor Francis. Liebing, R.W., 2011. Construction of Architecture: From Design to Built. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. McCarthy, J., 2010. Construction Project Management: A Managerial Approach. Westchester: Pareto. Muir, B., 2005. Challenges Facing Today’s Construction Manager. [Online] Available at: ce.udel.edu/courses/CIEG%20486/Challenges%20Facing%20Todays%20CM.pdf [Accessed 8 November 2013]. Munier, N., 2012. Project Management for Environmental, Construction and Manufacturing Engineers. London: Springer. Murray, M. Dainty, ‎A., 2013. Corporate Social Responsibility in the Construction Industry. Oxon: Routledge. Olawale, Y. Sun, M., 2010. Cost and time control of construction projects: inhibiting factors and mitigating measures in practice. Construction Management and Economics, 28(5), pp.509-26. Richbell, D., 2009. Mediation of Construction Disputes. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Ross, A. Williams, P‎., 2012. Financial Management in Construction Contracting. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Rounds, J.L. Segner, ‎R.O., 2011. Construction Supervision. New Jersey: John wiley. Rozenfeld, O., Sacks, R., Rosenfeld, Y. Baum, H., 2010. Construction job safety analysis. Safety Science, 48(4), pp.491–98. Schwalbe, K., 2010. Information Technology Project Management. Mason: Cengage learning. Scott, W.R., Raymond, E. Levitt, ‎.J., 2011. Global Projects: Institutional and Political Challenges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Sears, S.K., Sears, G‎.A. Clough, R‎.H., 2010. Construction Project Management. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Shen, L., Tam, V.W.Y., Tam, L. Ji, Y., 2010. Project feasibility study: the key to successful implementation of sustainable and socially responsible construction management practice. Journal of Cleaner Production, 18(3), pp.254–59. Weeks, J.L., 2011. Health and Safety Hazards in the Construction Industry. [Online] Available at: ilo.org/oshenc/part-xvi/construction/health-prevention-and-management/item/518-health-and-safety-hazards-in-the-construction-industry [Accessed 8 November 2013]. Whitfield, J., 2012. Conflict in Construction. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Winch, G., 2010. Managing construction projects. Iowa: John Wley Sons.

Opportunities and Challenges of E-commerce Development in China Essay

Opportunities and Challenges of E-commerce Development in China - Essay Example China has the potential to be the largest market for about everything and e-commerce is no exception. E-commerce is the trend which is opening an opportunity for companies if they capture the quickly changing marketplace. It is not very hard to estimate how big this market can be. In 2010, Chinas e-commerce sales exceeded RMB 460 billion. The expectations are that this figure will triple in the next three years and exceed RMB 1.5 trillion. China might overtake the US in three years as the world’s largest e-commerce marketplace. Its online market would grow to 7% of all retail trade. In 2011 this trade was only 3% which lags the e-commerce activity in the US and Europe. Taobao.com dominates the marketplace in the consumer to consumer (C2C) trade. It holds 80% market share compared to 20% of business to consumer activity. But rapid activity regarding business to consumer (B2C) is underway. And this will have a huge impact on the e-commerce industry in China. Big businesses are realizing the potential of e-commerce and names such as Walmart are gearing up to seize this opportunity. They have already opened the China e-commerce headquarters in Shanghai. To understand how the dynamics of e-commerce work in China a study by Bain & Company surveyed 600 Chinese shoppers. It inquired what motivated them to online buying and what the drawbacks of this trend were. The survey suggested that convenience was the second most important factor in price that motivated them to shop online. The majority also showed their interest in the product variety they got while shopping online. In fact, 19% of the participants stated that convenience was their primary reason for shopping online and 15% stated that variety inspired them to shop online.

Stooge Concept Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stooge Concept - Essay Example n of heaping torture upon one individual, it is a necessity for the mental well being of the many, in order that the utopian condition of the city might be preserved. In a similar manner, Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† is based upon the same theme of one individual becoming a scapegoat to bear the brunt of frustration and anger that others feel – the sacrifice of the one to preserve the happiness of the many. Crane’s â€Å"The Blue Hotel† also reiterates this theme of selection of a scapegoat elected to suffer in order that the happiness of others and their utopian existing state can be maintained. LeGuin’s story progresses through there phases – the first shows suggests an idyllic existence, fortunate that the citizens of Omelas enjoy. But the dark undertones to the story are revealed in the second half of the story where the existence of the one child locked in filthy, miserable conditions within a broom closet is revealed to the reader – it has become imbecile through fear, malnutrition and neglect.† (LeGuin 281). The existence of the child is known to the citizens of the town – it sometimes begs for release and promises to be good, because it is suffering so much from being naked, covered with sores and left to sit in its own excrement. Most of the citizens view the child and are shocked at its pitiable state, however although they would like to do something to help the child, they cannot because â€Å"to throw away the happiness of thousands for the chance for the happiness of one: that would be to let guilt within the walls indeed.† (LeGuin 282). Therefore, many of them try to rationalize the suffering to themselves by arguing that after so long, the child would not even appreciate freedom – â€Å"it would probably be wretched without walls about it to protect it, and dakness for its eyes and its own excrement to sit in.† (LeGuin 283). The third part of the story deals with the reaction to this revelation, and how some people walk away from the

Effect of video games on children Essay Example for Free

Effect of video games on children Essay Technology had evolved very fast from generation to generation. Young and adults are both into what we call video games and techie gadgets. Nowadays, we can normally see computers, gaming consoles and etc. at home and in schools. Video games are entertaining and effective motivation for children. They engage them to skillful play depending on the game design. There have even been studies with adults showing that experience with video games is related to better surgical skills. Research also suggests that people can learn iconic, spatial, and visual attention skills from video games. Although this fad benefits to all but on the other hand, it also give negative effects especially to those children who are getting addicted to it. Studies show that children’s video game habits are contributing to the risk factors for health, behavior and poor academic performance. It was also reported that girls and boys play for an average of about 5-13 hrs/ week. Some children spend more hours that what is reported. There were negative effects of video games on childrens physical health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as nerve compression, and carpal tunnel syndrome that were documented by the research. However, these effects are not likely to occur for most children. Parents should be most concerned about two things: the amount of time that children play, and the content of the games that they play. The amount of time that the children play lessens the amount of time and focus allotted for his academics. The content of the games that he/she plays leads to increased physiological arousal, increased aggressive thoughts, increased aggressive feelings, increased aggressive behaviors, and decreased pro-social helping. Children must not spend more than one to two hours per day in front of all electronic screens, including TV, DVDs, videos, video games, and computers (The American Academy of Pediatrics, 2004). Regarding content, educational games are likely to have positive effects and violent games are likely to have negative effects. We must limit them from violent games and introduce to them educational games, consoles and etc. The conclusion that Gentile (2004) drew from the accumulated research is that the question of whether video games are good or bad for children is oversimplified. Playing a violent game for hours every day could decrease school performance, increase aggressive behaviors, and improve visual attention skills. Instead, parents should recognize that video games can have powerful effects on children, and should therefore set limits on the amount and content of games their children play. In this way, we can realize the potential benefits while minimizing the potential harms. Source: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0816/is_6_21/ai_n9772319/ Article by: Dr. Douglas Gentile is a developmental psychologist, and is assistant professor of psychology at Iowa State University and the director of research for the National Institute on Media and the Family where he conducts research with children and adults. COPYRIGHT 2004 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group.

Free Affirmative Action Essays - Affirmative Action is Against the Bibl

Affirmative Action is Against the Bible America was known as the Land of Opportunity. Then it became evident that "opportunity" was only available to white men. Later, laws were passed to ensure equal opportunity regardless of race, sex, or religion. These Affirmative Action laws were set in place by our government with the intent of correcting the social evil know as prejudice; but in doing so, they created a monster. Affirmative action has become an ineffective, outdated, and socially harmful policy that is weakening our great nation. "The adoption of Affirmative Action programs in the 1960s reflected our national aspiration to overcome long-entrenched injustices and become a society where equal opportunity, or at least a fair opportunity, was a reality for more of our citizens. These programs were a response to economic, political and cultural circumstances that demanded, then encouraged, and then tolerated widespread discrimination on the basis of such factors as color, gender and ethnic background. The common hope was that these programs would be transitory in nature and would enable us as a society to reach a point, at some future date, when they would no longer be needed" (Shapiro). It is my opinion that we have now reached that date. Continued use of the policy is much like continued use of a strong medication. When a patient is suffering from a terrible disease, as was the United States suffering from discrimination, strong medication is sometimes needed to cure the problem. But once the disease is taken care of, further use of the medication does not help... ...e right course of action. This is an ideal that has always been true, but is quite often broken, resulting is negative effects and more problems. A course of action that is morally wrong, ethically wrong, and economically wrong, is not the correct way, but an easier way. Often, the correct way is more difficult and requires more work, but nevertheless, it is the correct way. Two wrongs do not make a right, but they do make more problems and prolong an actual resolution to the problem. Works Cited Shapiro, Harold. "Affirmative Action: A continuing discussion / A continuing commitment" Internet Source. Available at: http://humanitas.ucsb.edu/projects/aa/docs/shapiro.html Websters Dictionary Harbor House Publishers Inc. Baltimore. 1984

„Reconciliation“ by Polly Clark Essay

„Reconciliationâ€Å" is a short story and is written by Polly Clark. The story takes place in an office. The main character of the story is a woman, her name is Laura, and she is also the narrator of the story. Basically is the story about the fear of loosing someone, changes of persons and a marriage and a relationship after many years. It is difficult to find out how old the narrator of the story is. But because of the fact that she is married for a long time, in the text she said, â€Å"We began our relationship half my life ago.â€Å", I would say she probably is in her midlife maybe a bit younger. The fact that the main character is also the narrator makes it easier to see the proceedings form her angle and we are able to know how she thinks and feels – even when she doesn’t know it herself. The reader of this story receives an impression of a completely normal person when it comes to her appearance. But when the reader gets deeper into the story and sees how she thinks about things and the way of handling things, makes her look like she has some smaller mental issues. This can be caused because she is loosing her husband, his name is Vernon, she also calls him Mr. Pringle, whom she wants to stay with and stood with for many years. For months she and her husband have not spoken that much to each other. In the text she says: â€Å"We regard each other over months of frozen silence.â€Å" You can easily notice that she is afflicted with the silence between Vernon, her husband, and her. She mentions it with following sentence: â€Å"We began our relationship in a bar, and those were our best times, telling each other the truth of our lives in the warm light. I might be defective in every other way, defective enough to mean that I must be divorced, defective enough to mean that silence is actually my lot, but it doesn’t mean it comes naturally to me. News and questions bubble up in my throat, but I cannot speak.† She does not want to give up on their marriage and relationship. She has been used to having her husband and being with him, so if he is gone, she does not know what to do with herself and the things around her. The reader could get the impression that she doesn’t have a very high self-esteem, because she sees herself as faraway from perfect. This fact could explain why she is so afraid of loosing her husband, because if he doesn’t want to have her who then would like to have her with all her faults.? â€Å"I am your wife. That is everything that I am. Help me.† Laura applies for a job in her husband’s office just to be more in contact with Vernon and be with him together. On her first day in the office and at her new job, her actions disclose that she is very nervous. In the text you can find following examples for her tension: â€Å"I have forgotten my shoes†, â€Å"I bite my lip as I reach the desk† and â€Å"I slide one foot over the otherâ€Å". The fact that she has forgotten her shoes could be a sign that she is unable to think clearly. To describe the relationship between Laura and Vernon you can only use Laura’s point of view. So, it is difficult to understand their relationship and their marriage if you don’t know Vernon’s point of view. It is obvious that she wants her husband back. For the reader it is not quite clear how Vernon thinks about it. It seems that her husband doesn’t feel the same way and it seems that he doesn’t want to go back to her and move on with his â€Å"old† life. She says about him: â€Å"He looks so like my husband, and yet†¦How has he managed to remain himself, to become -dare I say it- even more himself, with not even a scar and even a brand new blue shirt?† Laura’s husband Vernon has already moved on. It is difficult for Laura, the narrator, to understand and recognize this fact.