Jonestown and Jim Jones Essay Example for Free

Jonestown and Jim Jones Essay Jonestown and its leader, Jim Jones Behind every religious or social movement is the leader that created it. James â€Å"Jim† Warren Jones was the father of the â€Å"People’s Temple† turned â€Å"Jonestown†. The lifetime of the movement created by Jim Jones started with bright beginnings and concluded with a dark end. It was filled with impressive expressions of faith and sinister examples of control. One cannot help to ask what it was that created the man who started it all and how did it arrive at its abrupt end? Jim Jones was born on May 13, 1931 in a rural area of Randolph County, Indiana. His mother, Lynetta Putnam Jones, believed she had in fact given birth to a Messiah, foreshadowing Jones’ future as Reverend of the People’s Temple. She claims that her dead mother appeared to her in a dream telling her that she would bear a son who would right the wrongs of the world.[1] In order to keep her dreams of her son claiming his messiah-ship alive she raised him with Methodist beliefs. However, due to the economic difficulties of the Great Depression the Jones family had to move to nearby Lynn, Indiana where Jim grew up in a shack void of any indoor plumbing. With little else to do to ease his situation, Jim became an avid reader and studied the works and life of individuals such as Joseph Stalin, Karl Marx, Mahatma Gandhi and Adolf Hitler.[2] Shortly after graduating High School and marrying Marceline Baldwin Jones he became a member of the Communist Party of the USA in 1951. In 1960, Indianapolis Democratic Mayor Charles Boswell appointed Jones director of the Human Rights Commission. Jones however was not shy about trying to share his views on integration with the public. Some examples of his radical integrationist theories include Jones helping to integrate churches, restaurants, the telephone company, the police department, a theater, an amusement park, and the Methodist Hospital in his area.[3] Moreover, included in his efforts, was an incident occurring after swastikas were painted on the homes of two African American families in the surrounding neighborhood. Jones personally walked the area, comforting African Americans and counseling white families not to move out. Similarly, he set up variousstings to catch restaurants refusing to serve African American customers. He also wrote to American Nazi leaders then proce eded to leak their responses to the media. Finally, when Jones had accidentally been placed in the black ward of a hospital after he had collapsed, he refused to be moved and began to make the beds, and empty the bed pans of black patients in the ward. Boswell had advised Jones to keep a low profile, but he ignored these warning by finding new outlets for his views on local radio and television programs. When he was asked to cease his actions, he resisted and was cheered on at a meeting of the NAACP and Urban League.[4] Jim Jones became the subject of incredible amounts of criticism because of his beliefs.[5] For example, white-owned businesses and locals were very critical of him. Accounts of vandalism and terror inflicted on Jim Jones include a swastika being placed on the Temple, a stick of dynamite being left in a Temple coal pile, and a dead cat being thrown at Jones house after a threatening phone call. There is speculation that Jones himself may have been an accomplice to several of these acts.[6] It is clear that whether these acts were self-perpetuated or not, Jones met incredible amounts of opposition in his early years when trying to voice his views and opinions. He posed the problem to himself of how to demonstrate his Marxist views. His decision was to infiltrate the church when he had witnessed multiple faith healing ceremonies at a Baptist church. In 1952, Jones became the student pastor of Sommerset Southside Methodist Church. To his surprise, he was not only allowed in the church but was given a leadership position despite his political views.[7] Jones saw how the church drew in massive numbers of people no matter their current social situation or background. He also realized the need these people had for some sort of reassurance from whatever oppression they felt. Jim Jones would later feed on that weakness he saw in people to create his Temple. Jones sought to embody the characteristics that would appeal to the most people looking for comfort. He used his views of socialism, integration, and perceived oppression to gather a rather substantial  following. One way he embodied these views, especially of integration, was the creation of his so called â€Å"rainbow family†. Jim and Marceline Jones adopted several children of at least partial non-Caucasian ancestry. The two adopted three children of Korean-American descent. They were Lew, Suzanne and Stephanie. Jones had long been encouraging his Temple members to adopt orphans from war ravaged Korea. In 1954, he and his wife also adopted Agnes Jones, then 11 years old and partially of Native American descent. Suzanne Jones was adopted at the age of six 5 years later. In June 1959, the couple had their only biological child, Stephan Gandhi Jones. The couple also adopted another son, who was white, named Tim. Tim Jones’ birth mother was a member of the Peoples Temp le, was originally named Timothy Glen Tupper. Two years later, in 1961, the Jones family made history by becoming the first white couple in Indiana to adopt a black child, who they named James Warren Jones, Jr.[8] This act brought Jones’ integrationist views to complete embodiment. He said to his people that integration had become much more of a personal issue to him and his family; that it was a matter of their future in this world. Jones even translated this term over to the Temple as well by referring to them as a â€Å"rainbow family in their own way.[9] The People’s Temple was started in Indianapolis in the mid 1950’s. Some members recall that the Temple purported itself to practice what it called apostolic socialism.[10] After Jones had received a considerable amount of criticism in Indiana for his integrationist views, he journeyed to Brazil looking for a safe haven to move his Temple; this trip was also the first time that Jones had been to Guyana. After his return, Jones made wild claims that the world would soon be engulfed in a nuclear war. He even went so far as to predict a date. This would all happen on July 15, 1967. These events would inevitably then create a new socialist Eden on earth, and thus the Temple must move to be alive in order to take part in this wonderful utopia that was to come. Jones read in esquire magazine that the rural Redwood Valley of California was to be safe from nuclear war.[11] As a result of Jones’ instance, the members left their lives in Indiana behind and the Temple moved to Redwood Valley, California in 1965. The Temple’s popularity grew and in the early 1970s, the Peoples Temple opened other branches in a number of cities including San Fernando and San Francisco. In the mid-1970s, the Temple officially moved its headquarters to San Francisco, CA.[12] After the Temples relocation to San Francisco, it became increasingly more active in politics. For example, the People’s Temple is credited with a large part in the mayoral election of George Moscone in 1975. As a result of their efforts, Moscone appointed Jones as the Chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission.[13] Unique to Jones from other figures considered as cult leaders by the public is that Jones held the public support and had contact with some of the highest level politicians in the United States at the time. A few of these influential politicians include Vice President, later Presidential candidate, Walter Mondale and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. In September of 1976 Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, and Assemblyman Willie Brown, among others, attended a large testimonial dinner, in which Willie Brown served as the master of ceremonies, held in honor of Jones. Brown is quoted as saying, â€Å"Let me present to you what you sho uld see every day when you look in the mirror in the early morning hours†¦ Let me present to you a combination of Martin Luther, Angela Davis, Albert Einstein, and Chairman Mao.†[14] What was life like in the Temple that drew in such a large number of followers? For most members the life inside the Temple represented exactly what they wanted the world to become. Blacks and Whites were freely worshipping together. Jones’ son, Stephan Jones, said â€Å"You saw every walk of life†.[15] Everyone had their own reasons for joining the Temple; individuals each heard their own message. Another ex-member, Laura Johnston Kohl, stated her view as â€Å"People came to make a dramatic change in their lives, to make a dramatic change in the world†.[16] Terri Burford, yet another ex-member, recalls her first encounter with the temple. She says, â€Å"I had $20 to my name and I was hitchhiking up between Ukiah and Redwood Valley, where the Temple was. Somebody picked me up who was a member of the Temple and he said, ‘You know if you’re looking for a place to stay, a place to sleep, we’ll get some food, I’ve got the place for you. I belong to this wonderful church and they feed the hungry, they take care of the sick. Furthermore, the person who runs this thing is God’†.[17] This view of Jones as God was more than likely self-perpetuated and his followers latched on to it. In a recording of a sermon at the Temple Jones says, â€Å"Some people see me as the representative of the I am†¦ Some people see a great deal of God in my body. They see Christ in me, a hope of Glory.† Jones also asked his members to refer to his as â€Å"Dad† or â€Å"Father†. Members claimed that Jones had a special gift that no one else possessed, they were enchanted by him.[18] Even outsiders that visited the Temple found their own kind of sanctuary. Harvey Milk, who spoke at political rallies at the Temple and wrote to Jones after his visit to the Temple: Rev Jim, It may take me many a day to come back down from the high that I reached today. I found something dear today. I found a sense of being that makes up for all the hours and energy placed in a fight. I found what you wanted me to find. I shall be back; for I can never leave. The mentality so evide nt from Harvey Milk’s writing was not unique to him; it was shared among the members of the temple.[19] Life in the Temple was not as perfect as it was portrayed to be. The faith healings that were central to his ministry that Jones put on were a hoax. The individual’s that experienced these healings and claimed to have never met Jones had actually set up the whole act. Jones even played on the emotions of new members to strengthen his claims. Hue Fortson, JR. recounts the process of how these healings on new members were set up by Jones, â€Å"We had greeters at the front door and every time one entered the service they would take their name supposedly for the mailing list. But lo and behold they staff workers would take that same name on the card. They would go by people’s houses; sometimes they looked at trash cans, sometimes they’d knock on the doors, if they weren’t there they’d break a window and they’d go in. So when that person came back to church, if they decided, they would use that person as one of his healing services. But, basically that was part of the set up to get people into the room. That he had some kind of extra special gift that no one else had.†[20] Save for a few members that played a role in Jones set ups, everyone truly believed in these healings. â€Å"I didn’t know the healings were phony. I believed in spiritual healing and I am not the only person in the room that believed in it. A lot of people believed in spiritual healing† said Tim Carter.[21] When Chronicle reporter Marshall Kilduff got wind of the People’s Temple he made it his mission to write an exposà © on the group. Little did he know the kinds of stories and the number of people he would encounter. What Kilduff would come to find out stood with incredible contrast to the humanitarian image that Jones had created for his Temple and its members. Ex-members relayed stories of systematic abuse within the Temple. Terri Buford commented, â€Å"There were a lot of beatings in the Temple. People who strayed from the path one way or the other, talked to an outsider or had a relationship with an outsider or something like that. Or did something that was considered Capitalistic, they would get beaten in front of the church. You couldn’t just get up and leave; people would drag you back in. There wasn’t the choice of walking out and saying, ‘this isn’t tolerable’. You didn’t have that choice.† [22] A number of recordings from Temple services depict Jones as saying that individuals that were experiencing these beatings were getting exactly what they deserved; that they deserved it all. Jones is on record as telling his followers that he was the only true heterosexual. Yet, there is at least one account of his sexual abuse of a male member of his congregation in front of the followers, ostensibly to prove the mans own homosexual tendencies existed. Jones is also recorded as laughing during the proceedings of the abuse. He claims that it was something he needed to do in order to control the group, he deemed it necessary. In his mind and in the minds of the Temple members experiencing this, it was the idea that the end justified the means. It was all with the goal of a perfect utopian society in mind. Kilduff was taken aback by the number of accounts he had received. He reported that in the beginning it was hard to discern who was telling the truth and who was lying but by the end when multiple individuals came to him with the same stories of abuse he could no longer question its legitimacy. When Kilduff had compiled his findings into the exposà © of the decade he tried to go public with it. However, his magazine wouldn’t touch it and neither would many other magazines or newspapers. This was thanks to Jones’ political support from years of his humanitarian image. It wasn’t until Nine West magazine made the decision to pick up the story that Jones made the decision to uproot his entire Temple to the Guyanese land.[23] In the fall of 1973, Jones and an influential Temple member Timothy Stoen prepared an immediate action plan in order to respond quickly to a police or media scandal based on the acts of the Temple. The plan listed included many options for escape, one of which was a Caribbean missionary post. For this post, the Temple quickly chose Guyana because of its socialist politics and after it researched the Guyanese economy and extradition treaties with the United States. In October 1973, the directors of the Peoples Temple voted to pass a resolution to establish an agricultural mission project there. Former Temple member Tim Carter, who also traveled to Guyana with the migratory group, stated that the reasons for choosing Guyana were â€Å"the Temples view of creeping fascism, the perceived dominance of multinational corporations on the government, and perceived racism in the U.S. government.† Carter also said the Temple concluded that â€Å"Guyana, a predominantly Indian, English-s peaking socialist country, would afford black members of the Temple a peaceful place to live†. This peaceful life for all members but especially the black members of the Temple was central to Jones’ appeal. Later, Guyanese Prime Minister Forbes Burnham stated that what may have attracted Jones was that he wanted to use cooperatives as the basis for the establishment of socialism, and maybe his idea of setting up a commune meshed with that†.[24] Jones also thought it was important that Guyanas leadership consisted of several black leaders and that the country was small and poor enough for Jones to easily obtain influence and official protection just as he had done in the States. An initial group of approximately 500 members began the construction of Jonestown in their new Guyanese home. The Temple encouraged some of its members to move to Jonestown, formally named the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project. Jones and his Temple members viewed Jonestown as both their own socialist paradise and a sanctuary from the increasing media scrutiny they were under saying, â€Å"He believed we’re the purest communists there are†. His wife described Jonestown as â€Å"dedicated to live for socialism, total economic and racial and social equality. We are here living communally†.[25] The relatively large number of immigrants to Guyana overwhelmed the Guyanese governments comparatively small immigration system. Jones reached an agreement to guarantee that Guyana would permit Temple members mass migration. In order to accomplish this, he told officials that Temple members were skilled and progressive†, he also reportedly showed off an envelope that held a half of one million dollars. He told the officials that he would invest the majority of the churchs assets into Guyana. The Guyanese immigration procedures were also corrupted to inhibit the departure o f Temple defectors. Just like the emigration policies of the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea and other communist republics that the Temple wished to emulate, Jones did not permit members to leave Jonestown. He also bribed the officials to delay processing of the visas of any Temple opponents wishing to visit.[26] In the summer of 1977, Jones and several hundred more Temple members uprooted and moved to Jonestown with the hopes of escaping the building pressure from San Francisco media investigations like the exposà © from Kilduff. In fact, Jones is reported to have left the same night that the editor at New West magazine read Jones the article to be published by Kilduff that recounted the allegations by former Temple members.[27] An unprepared Jonestown quickly became overcrowded, buildings fell into disrepair and weeds encroached on fields after the arrival of Jones and his Temple members. The people’s lives in Jonestown significantly changed. Like many socialist countries, propaganda shorts detailing Soviet life given by the Soviet embassy as well as documentaries on the problems of the United States policies were viewed in place of the entertaining movies that the first group of Jonestown members enjoyed before Jones’ arrival. School study and night time lectures for adults became a discussion time about revolution and enemies for Jones. For the first several months, Temple members worked all but one day a week, from 6:00 in the morning until 6:00 at night, with only an hour for lunch in the midst of this 12 hour day. Thankfully In 1978, after Jones health took a turn for the worse his wife, Marciline, began managing more of Jonestowns operations. As a result, the work week was reduced to eight hours a day for only five days a week.[28] After the days work ended, Temple members would attend several hours of activities in a main pavilion. Among these activities were classes in socialism. Hugh Fortson, Jr. remembers these hours of studying simply, â€Å"It was always ‘America is going to fall’ and Armageddon is coming’’ he said.[29] Jones thought this system copied that of North Korea’s; 8 hours of work immediately following 8 hours of intensive study. This was combined with the Temples practice of gradually subjecting its followers to mind control and behavior-modification techniques. Jones would often read news and commentary. Jones recorded readings of the news were part of the majority of the constant broadcasts over Jonestowns speaker system in order for all members to hear them no matter the time. Jones news readings typically portrayed the United States as a capitalist and imperialist villain, meanwhile casting socialist leaders in a positive light. Terri Buford recalls, †Å"From 6 in the morning until 10 at night, we heard him†.[30] Evidence of Jim Jones’ knowledge of what he was doing to his followers is clear in his comments during an interview about an ensuing custody battle with one defector. Speaking of the child and if he was taken away he said, â€Å"That he’d be deprogrammed, that his mind be taken and used by their evil means and whatever chemicals to try to drain his mind.†[31] Among some of the controlling things that Jones subjected his followers to were the â€Å"White Nights†. Mass suicide had been previously discussed in simulated events on a regular basis. During at least one such prior White Night, members drank liquid that Jones falsely told them was poison. Grace Stoen recalls one such event. She states, â€Å"I can remember we were in a planning commission meeting and Jim says, ‘You know I really love you guys. I’m going to let you guys drink wine. You don’t think I love you.’ So we were all given this wine that was from the ranch. Jim said, ‘Has everybody drank their wine?’ And some people had said, ‘Well, I don’t want any.’ Then Jim said, ‘No everybody is going to drink this.’ So we all drank it and Jim asks, ‘Has everybody drank that wine?’ We all said yes. He says, ‘Okay, you all have 10 minutes to live.†[32] Laura Johnston Kohl, who was at that same meeting, finishes the account by saying, â€Å"Jim said, ‘That was poison, because we need to commit revolutionary suicide.’ We needed to be totally committed to this cause, period. And you can’t be part way; you can’t do it part way.†[33] Yet another example of Jones’ controlling nature is in his â€Å"special privileges†. While Jones banned sex among Temple members outside of marriage, he himself voraciously engaged in sexual relations with both male and female Temple members. Jones claimed that he detested engaging in homosexual activity and did so only for the male temple members’ own good, purportedly to connect them symbolically with him.[34] The majority of Jones political allies in the States severed their connections after Jones departure, however, some did not. Willie Brown spoke out in support at a rally at the Peoples Temple in San Francisco. More importantly though for Jones and the Temple, Moscones office issued a press release stating that Jones had broken no laws during his time in the US.[35] In the fall of 1977, relatives of Temple members in Jonestown formed a Concerned Relatives group. The group ventured to Washington D.C. in the winter of ‘78 to address their concerns for their family in Jonestown. The groups’ efforts raised the curiosity of Congressman Leo Ryan. There was growing pressure in the States to investigate the Temple. On April 11, 1978, the Concerned Relatives distributed documents, including letters and affidavits, that they en titled an Accusation of Human Rights Violations by Rev. James Warren Jones to the Peoples Temple, members of the press and members of Congress. In June 1978, escaped Temple member Deborah Layton provided the group with a further affidavit detailing alleged crimes by the Peoples Temple and substandard living conditions in Jonestown.[36] In November 1978, U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan led a venture to Jonestown to investigate allegations of human rights abuses from the documents distributed by the Concerned Relatives. Ryans traveling companions included relatives of Temple members, Don Harris, an NBC network news reporter, an NBC cameraman and reporters for various newspapers. The pack arrived in Georgetown on November 15. Then on November 17, Ryans delegation traveled by airplane to Jonestown. The delegation left hurriedly with a number of temple defectors on the afternoon of November 18 after Temple member Don Sly attacked Ryan with a knife. Congressman Ryan and his people succeeded in taking fifteen Peoples Temple members out of Jonestown to the airstrip where their planes were waiting. At the time, Jones had made no attempt to prevent their departure.[37] As members of Ryans delegation boarded two planes at the airstrip, Jones Red Brigade, his armed guards, arrived in a trailer and opened fire on the group of escaping individuals. Simultaneously, one of the supposed defectors, Larry Layton, drew a weapon and began firing on members of the party that had already boarded a small Cessna. Among those that the guards killed were Congressman Ryan; Don Harris, a reporter from NBC; Bob Brown, a cameraman from NBC; San Francisco Examiner photographer Greg Robinson; and Temple member Patricia Parks. Those that managed to survive the attack were future Congresswoman Jackie Speier, then a staff member for Ryan; Richard Dwyer, the Deputy Chief of Mission from the U.S. Embassy at Georgetown; Bob Flick, a producer for NBC News; Steve Sung, an NBC sound engineer; Tim Reiterman, a San Francisco Examiner reporter; Ron Javers, a San Francisco Chronicle reporter; Charles Krause, a Washington Post reporter; and several defecting Temple members.[38] Later that same day, 909 inhabitants of Jonestown, 303 of them children, died of apparent cyanide poisoning, mostly in and around the main pavilion. This became the single greatest loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster; that is until the September 11, 2001 attacks.[39] No video was taken during the mass suicide, although the FBI did recover a 45 minute audio recording of the suicide in progress. On that tape, Jones tells Temple members that the Soviet Union, with whom the Temple had been negotiating a potential exodus for months, would not take them after the Temple had murdered Ryan and four others at a nearby airstrip. Jones justified his actions by saying, â€Å"So my opinion is that we be kind to children and be kind to seniors and take the potion like they used to take in ancient Greece, and step over quietly because we are not committing suicide. Its a revolutionary act. We cant go back. They wont leave us alone. Theyre now going back to tell more lies which means more congressmen. And theres no way, no way we can survive.† Jones and several members argued that the group should commit revolutionary suicide by drinking cyanide-laced grape-flavored Flavor Aid. Jones put into his followers’ minds that there was no hope for anything anymore. This was their only way out; they might as well do it on their terms. He furthered the hopelessness of the situation by telling them that people were going to parachute in on them. They were going to shoot the bab ies and torture the members. Jones continually says how he has tried to prevent this from happening for months, how he has always had the people’s best interest in mind, and how he has never lied to them. He told them that this was the time to die, to die with some dignity. In the 45 minute recording a member, Christine Miller, opposed Jones’ radical proposition toward the beginning of the tape.[40] According to escaped Temple members, children were given the drink first and families were told to lie down together. Jones was later found dead in a deck chair with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. An autopsy of Jones body also showed levels of Pentobarbital, which may have been lethal to humans who had not developed physiological tolerance. His drug usage which included LSD and marijuana was confirmed by his son, Stephan Jones and their family doctor in San Francisco.[41] Jones can be compared with other radical religious leaders. One example of these leaders is David Koresch; the leader of the Heaven’s Gate group situated in Waco, Texas. Their time as a community also ended in tragedy. While Koresch had a set world view that he would not have compromised for anything in the world, Jones had more of an eclectic world view. His theology could be tailored to fit his social motivations. He picked the aspects of religions that he thought would favor the growth of a socialist society. He also viewed himself and his followers as the purest form of their kind. This purist society has apocalyptic undertones. The creations of their own utopia would lead to the ultimate utopia to come. Jones and Koresch were also the only individuals allowed access to outside information. As previously stated, Jones read the news and discussed the social issues of the day with his followers, but he was the keeper of knowledge. Both leaders spent hours on end with their followers conversing about their views on the world. Also, each leader was granted special privileges. Koresch and Jones shared their views of sexual relations; for the members it was restricted and for them it was unregulated. The apocalyptic nature of the Jonestown community is also very clear. The most notable is the constant pressure from outsiders. In their world they were oppressed for their beliefs and sought refuge with like-minded people. That brought them to Jonestown and the next example of their apocalyptic nature. The members of the Temple wished only for the purest of societies and they worked hard to achieve that utopia in Guyana. The move to Guyana was a result not only of the perceived persecution they were under but also on Jones’ play on social anxiety of the end of the world due to nuclear warfare. All of these situations exemplify the apocalyptic nature of the People’s Temples and Jonestown. In the years following the massacre the view of Jonestown has skewed from a religious group to a cult. The interest and investigation of the so-called cult has also weaned. A member of the Concerned Relatives group has said, â€Å"As soon as we label a religion a cult, we dismiss it. We no longer have to investigate it, what did they believe? It doesn’t matter.†[42] [1] Reiterman, Tom; Jacobs, John, The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People (Dutton: Raven, 1982) [2] Hall, John R., Gone from the Promised Land (Transaction publishers, 1987) [3] Wessinger, Catherine , How the Millennium Comes Violently: From Jonestown to Heavens Gate, (Seven Bridges Press, 2000) [4] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [5] Wessinger, Millennium Comes Violently [6] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [7] Wessinger, Millennium Comes Violently [8] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [9] Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple People Events PBS.org. 8 December 2012 [10] Dawson, Lorne L., Cults and new religious movements: a reader, (Wiley-Blackwell, 2003) [11] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [12] Layton, Deborah. Seductive Poison. (Anchor, 1999) [13] Jonestown: Life and Death [14] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [15] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [16] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [17] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [18] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [19] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [20] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [21] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [22] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [23] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [24] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [25] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [26] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [27] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [28] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [29] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [30] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [31] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [32] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [33] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [34] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [35] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [36] Reiterman; Jacobs, Untold Story [37] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [38] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [39] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012. [40] Jones, Jim. Death Tape, Jonestown, 8 12 12. Speech. [41] Wessinger, Millennium Comes Violently [42] Witness to Jonestown. 2008. Film. 8 Dec 2012.

An Adoption Of Ebusiness In Thai SMEs

An Adoption Of Ebusiness In Thai SMEs Chapter 1: Dissertation Introduction Background to research In order to increase business opportunities, many large companies invested in information systems (IS). Because the high return from investment have seen in many cases. Also, Porter (2001) claims that the e-business which one kind of information systems can term as the way to management business by applying the Internet to support business activities. However, in small and medium sized enterprises have only small amount of evidences to prove those benefits (Levy, Powell Yetton, 2002). However, presently the internet was changed the way of running business, the small and medium enterprise (SME) have higher opportunities to survive in various markets (Levy Powell, 2005). Consequently, these researches are inspired this research to explore how to improve SME in Thailand which is one of the most significant business sectors in the country. Therefore, the idea of improving Thai business by integrating an e-business into SMEs has been studied. Furthermore, there are some amount of resear ch for developing e-commerce in Thailand but rarely seen for e-business. In my opinion, e-business could change and improve the way of running business better than ever due to it supports the coordination between suppliers and partners, operation performance, and also included e-commerce (Beynon-Davies, 2004). Aims and objectives Research objectives To discover which kind of small and medium companies should integrate e-business and what are the critical success factors in adopting it. This research also aims to develop the road map of e-business integration for the case study company. Research questions How to adopt e-business to Thai SMEs? Why only some companies should integrate e-business? What are the characteristics that specify the appropriation? How e-business can improve the company performance? What are the critical success factors? What are the main barriers for these kinds of small size business? Do suppliers or customers of the company agree with integrating e-business? Do they have significant influent to change? What are the case study tell us about the literature? How the business can apply in the future? Area of Focus Structure Chapter 2: Literature Analysis and Dissertation Questions Value chain Dynamics of SMEs to information systems Important of e-business E-business integration Thailand SMEs Critical susses factors Chapter 3: Context and Methodology After the previous chapter critical analysed various relevant academic literatures. This chapter illustrates the qualitative research methodology applied in this dissertation in order to analyse and design the roadmap for adopting e-business system in SuperBag Company. In this context and methodology part is combined with three main sections: paradigm and research methodology, research design, and research ethic. The chapter explains the process of research planning in the same logical with the research onion in figure 3.1 (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2008 cited in Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2009, p.108). By the reason that this model possible to show the approach of management research clearly. Figure 3.1: The research onion (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009, p.108) As can be seen in figure 3.1 the research onion divided to two colours in order to distinguished the layer of thinking method. In the first two layers are philosophies and approaches which can be thought of as paradigm and research methodology. The next three levels are strategies, choices, and time horizontals. These three layers are concerning on research design process (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). In the innermost layer, data collection and data analysis are discussed in the next chapter. Paradigm and Research Methodology This research has the purpose to investigate the critical success factors in applying e-business in Thailand SMEs. Consequently, to get the richness of information and enhance the validity of the outcome, the research will utilise interpretive philosophy (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). In addition, the philosophy results in inductive approach. To begin with first layer, this qualitative research applied an interpretivist philosophy. Referred to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) explain that interpretivism suitable for the research topic that has some particular interests and difficult to understand such as human being. For this reason, to comprehend the case study is aligning with interpretivism that supports to view the situation in-depth. Additionally, Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) suggest three views to clarify the research philosophies including with ontology, epistemology and axiology. In interpretivism, ontology represents the nature of reality as subjective that varies to change. Next, epistemology explains that the details of subject contexts are important to the research implication. Lastly in interpretivism paradigm, axiology shows a value-laden and research is part of the research that might lead to biased outcome (Blackmon and Maylor, 2005). In conclusion, interpretivism is appropriate with this research as this philosophy demonstrates the richness of data and subjective as well as high validity (Harwood, 2010). Moreover, as Greener (2008, p.17) stated, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“an interpretivist researcher aims to see the world throught the eyes of the people being studied, allowing them multiple perspectives of reality, rather than the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“one realityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? of positivismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. This statement supports the idea that interpretivism is ultimate for business research which supports to generate the framework from the many participants views. In the second layer is inductive approach was used in this research as parallel way of interpretivism. This approach is more appropriate to deal with a small sample size. As it spotlights attention to the contexts of subject. In addition, a number of researches support inductive approach is closer understanding of social word than deductive approach (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). Research Design This sub section explains three layers of research onion; strategies, choices, and time horizontals. Firstly, as the dissertation topic analysed SuperBag Company, the research design was fixed as a case study. As well as the Research Philosophy and approach those were devised to find the most appropriate paradigm to produce the reliable outcome. The strategy used in the research is a single case study. According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) state that this strategy can be explained descriptive, explanatory and exploratory research types. However, this research is concerned as exploratory more than others because it discovered new knowledge for the case. More details about the case study company are described in the chapter 4. Secondly, reference to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) reveal that while using case study strategy, both qualitative and quantitative should be collected. This technique called as triangulation and it is possible to reduce the bias decision from the point of researchers view. Therefore, this research used mixed-method design in order to increase the research reliability. The qualitative data were collected by using semi-structured interviews and the quantitative data were gathered from internal and external company data resources. Thirdly, the time horizon that was used in this paper is cross-sectional study. Main reason of selecting the cross-sectional study instead of longitudinal study is the research question (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). The research question is about to develop the implementation plan in the particular time, so that cross-sectional study would be more suitable than longitudinal time horizontal. Moreover, as Greener (2008) point out, when the research faced with time limited same as this dissertation case, cross-sectional study would be more preferable too. Ethic Consideration The ethic is one of the main concerns in producing this research. As Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) have indicates that ethically research should be performed since the authority to access the participants, gathering process, analysis, and the way to present research data. For example, the voice record are started after the interviewees were consent to do. Moreover, researcher used the natural tone while interviewing in order to reduce the interviewees stress. In addition, interview time was selected by the interviewees to provide the most convenience time for them. Furthermore, both interviewees and companys name are anonymous due to the privacy concern. Hence, instead of its read name, this case study company referred as SuperBag. Chapter 4: Data Collection and Data Analysis As mentioned in previous section, this chapter explains in the innermost of the research onion that is techniques and procedures of the research. Those discussed in this chapter are highlighted as (1) case description, (2) sampling method, (3) Data collection; secondary data and primary data, and (4) data analysing technique. Case Description This dissertation focuses on SuperBag Company as a case study. This company was selected for examination since it is a Small and Medium Enterprises in Thailand. Thai SMEs is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. SuperBag Company is a filter bags manufacture. The company was established since 1983 and it is a first expert manufacture of filter bags in Thailand. As the first company and its size and profit are increasing continuously that made SuperBag is the leader of this market. Recently, the firm has a client base of over 100 companies including Thailand and some neighbour countries. Additional, the numbers of customers are constant growing. However, SuperBag has not converted to big company yet. The company was owner and formed by an enthusiastic entrepreneur. In addition, SuperBag operated as family business which has 40 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 50 employees. Also, the main communication ways are using the traditional ways such as fax and telephone The company provides a full range of associated filter products and accessories. The main product is filter bags which are using for dust control in various industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and mining quarrying cement. SuperBag offers an assortment of services included; designing suitable bags, onsite fitting, producing made to order products, maintenance, and advice for problem solving. Majority of the products SuperBag manufactured are mainly sold in Thailand. On the other hands, SuperBag imports raw material from many countries included; Germany, Taiwan, Korea, and China. The materials from different country of origin are significantly affected to the product quality and profit margin. The aims and visions of SuperBag are promised to high standard filter bags, fast service, made to order by specialist, concern the customer relationship, in order to achieve the highest customers satisfaction. (SuperBag, 2010) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“most management and organisational researchers suggest that you are more likely to gain access where you are able to use existing contactsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (Buchanan et al. 1988; Easterby-Smith et al. 2008; Johnson 1975 cited in Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2009, p.176) Sampling Method After the sample case was explained, this section describes the sampling technique that was applied to this research. According to the research question that what to know how to adopt e-business to Thai SMEs which are a numerous number of this kind of enterprise in Thailand. Therefore, the entire population cannot be collected and analysed, the sample case is necessary. Additionally, an alternative of probability, this dissertation decided to use non-probability sampling technique. As Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) indicate that non-probability sampling techniques are allowed to choose the sample purposively. With this reasons the research question could be answered from rich information that usually gains from small sample size. Finally, when combined various supported reasons and the opportunity to access the SuperBag Company data, made this research applied a non-probability with purposively selected SuperBag Company as a case study to simplify the general idea of how to ado pt e-business in Thai SMEs. Data Collection Data were collected from two major types included secondary data and primary data. Firstly, secondary data which are the existing data could be collect from either external or internal company database. Referred to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) internal data are data that can be obtained from the firm. External data could be conducted from many sources such as internet, library, and some publishing media (Harwood, 2010). Another data source is primary data which is data that first collect in the research. As mentioned in sampling method that the research will use a single case study, which will be the good source of primary data. Secondary data As McQuarrie (1996) suggested that before planning to spend time and money to collect data, the researchers should look for secondary data first. Even though the secondary data were gathered for different purposes, they were ready to be used. Moreover, secondary data can be the firm internal data such as investment plan, company annual report. Also, wide ranges of existing knowledge are provided, in this dissertation was focused in four areas consisted; information systems (IS) and information technology (IT), e-business adoption, Thai SMEs, and business strategy. There are a choice of sources to review such as public and university library, and opened online sectors. These secondary data were valuable to the research if they are related, reliability and validity (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009). Primary data This type of case study suits when the case provides authorities to access their data (Yin, 2003). The information was gathered from two interviewers that are the owner and the successor of the company. Furthermore, the interview will use face to face and virtual face techniques. In detailed, these qualitative interviews will be prepared as semi-structured interviews. According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), the semi-structured interviews useful when new aspect from the interviewers are very significant to the research outcome. Because new questions can be added or omitted depends on the conversation. Moreover, the conversions would be recorded by audio-recorders and paper notes. Data Analysis Technique Data Analysis All records will be transcribed into word files and then get through the data cleaning process. Next, these data will be answered the research questions. Nevertheless, the process of data collection and analysis will be repeated until all questions were answered. Resources Although, various secondary data can be found in opened online sector such as Webcat and TDnet, some of useful information has to pay for. Moreover, this research was prepared by individually, so the researcher has to pay for all cost which happens during this project. The free online articles and journals which involve in the topic will be used in this research that can find from intranet at Library of University such as TDnet, Webcat. Time management and location Location Location could have significant impact to the data that was collected, so this research will conduct the information as virtual face and face to face. For virtual face means the interviewee and interviewer can see each other and have real time communication (Skype, 2010). In this research will use the software called Skype. Also, international call will be used in emergency situation. An Adoption Of Ebusiness In Thai SMEs An Adoption Of Ebusiness In Thai SMEs Chapter 1: Dissertation Introduction Background to research In order to increase business opportunities, many large companies invested in information systems (IS). Because the high return from investment have seen in many cases. Also, Porter (2001) claims that the e-business which one kind of information systems can term as the way to management business by applying the Internet to support business activities. However, in small and medium sized enterprises have only small amount of evidences to prove those benefits (Levy, Powell Yetton, 2002). However, presently the internet was changed the way of running business, the small and medium enterprise (SME) have higher opportunities to survive in various markets (Levy Powell, 2005). Consequently, these researches are inspired this research to explore how to improve SME in Thailand which is one of the most significant business sectors in the country. Therefore, the idea of improving Thai business by integrating an e-business into SMEs has been studied. Furthermore, there are some amount of resear ch for developing e-commerce in Thailand but rarely seen for e-business. In my opinion, e-business could change and improve the way of running business better than ever due to it supports the coordination between suppliers and partners, operation performance, and also included e-commerce (Beynon-Davies, 2004). Aims and objectives Research objectives To discover which kind of small and medium companies should integrate e-business and what are the critical success factors in adopting it. This research also aims to develop the road map of e-business integration for the case study company. Research questions How to adopt e-business to Thai SMEs? Why only some companies should integrate e-business? What are the characteristics that specify the appropriation? How e-business can improve the company performance? What are the critical success factors? What are the main barriers for these kinds of small size business? Do suppliers or customers of the company agree with integrating e-business? Do they have significant influent to change? What are the case study tell us about the literature? How the business can apply in the future? Area of Focus Structure Chapter 2: Literature Analysis and Dissertation Questions Value chain Dynamics of SMEs to information systems Important of e-business E-business integration Thailand SMEs Critical susses factors Chapter 3: Context and Methodology After the previous chapter critical analysed various relevant academic literatures. This chapter illustrates the qualitative research methodology applied in this dissertation in order to analyse and design the roadmap for adopting e-business system in SuperBag Company. In this context and methodology part is combined with three main sections: paradigm and research methodology, research design, and research ethic. The chapter explains the process of research planning in the same logical with the research onion in figure 3.1 (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2008 cited in Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2009, p.108). By the reason that this model possible to show the approach of management research clearly. Figure 3.1: The research onion (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009, p.108) As can be seen in figure 3.1 the research onion divided to two colours in order to distinguished the layer of thinking method. In the first two layers are philosophies and approaches which can be thought of as paradigm and research methodology. The next three levels are strategies, choices, and time horizontals. These three layers are concerning on research design process (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). In the innermost layer, data collection and data analysis are discussed in the next chapter. Paradigm and Research Methodology This research has the purpose to investigate the critical success factors in applying e-business in Thailand SMEs. Consequently, to get the richness of information and enhance the validity of the outcome, the research will utilise interpretive philosophy (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). In addition, the philosophy results in inductive approach. To begin with first layer, this qualitative research applied an interpretivist philosophy. Referred to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) explain that interpretivism suitable for the research topic that has some particular interests and difficult to understand such as human being. For this reason, to comprehend the case study is aligning with interpretivism that supports to view the situation in-depth. Additionally, Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) suggest three views to clarify the research philosophies including with ontology, epistemology and axiology. In interpretivism, ontology represents the nature of reality as subjective that varies to change. Next, epistemology explains that the details of subject contexts are important to the research implication. Lastly in interpretivism paradigm, axiology shows a value-laden and research is part of the research that might lead to biased outcome (Blackmon and Maylor, 2005). In conclusion, interpretivism is appropriate with this research as this philosophy demonstrates the richness of data and subjective as well as high validity (Harwood, 2010). Moreover, as Greener (2008, p.17) stated, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“an interpretivist researcher aims to see the world throught the eyes of the people being studied, allowing them multiple perspectives of reality, rather than the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“one realityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? of positivismà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬?. This statement supports the idea that interpretivism is ultimate for business research which supports to generate the framework from the many participants views. In the second layer is inductive approach was used in this research as parallel way of interpretivism. This approach is more appropriate to deal with a small sample size. As it spotlights attention to the contexts of subject. In addition, a number of researches support inductive approach is closer understanding of social word than deductive approach (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). Research Design This sub section explains three layers of research onion; strategies, choices, and time horizontals. Firstly, as the dissertation topic analysed SuperBag Company, the research design was fixed as a case study. As well as the Research Philosophy and approach those were devised to find the most appropriate paradigm to produce the reliable outcome. The strategy used in the research is a single case study. According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) state that this strategy can be explained descriptive, explanatory and exploratory research types. However, this research is concerned as exploratory more than others because it discovered new knowledge for the case. More details about the case study company are described in the chapter 4. Secondly, reference to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) reveal that while using case study strategy, both qualitative and quantitative should be collected. This technique called as triangulation and it is possible to reduce the bias decision from the point of researchers view. Therefore, this research used mixed-method design in order to increase the research reliability. The qualitative data were collected by using semi-structured interviews and the quantitative data were gathered from internal and external company data resources. Thirdly, the time horizon that was used in this paper is cross-sectional study. Main reason of selecting the cross-sectional study instead of longitudinal study is the research question (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). The research question is about to develop the implementation plan in the particular time, so that cross-sectional study would be more suitable than longitudinal time horizontal. Moreover, as Greener (2008) point out, when the research faced with time limited same as this dissertation case, cross-sectional study would be more preferable too. Ethic Consideration The ethic is one of the main concerns in producing this research. As Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) have indicates that ethically research should be performed since the authority to access the participants, gathering process, analysis, and the way to present research data. For example, the voice record are started after the interviewees were consent to do. Moreover, researcher used the natural tone while interviewing in order to reduce the interviewees stress. In addition, interview time was selected by the interviewees to provide the most convenience time for them. Furthermore, both interviewees and companys name are anonymous due to the privacy concern. Hence, instead of its read name, this case study company referred as SuperBag. Chapter 4: Data Collection and Data Analysis As mentioned in previous section, this chapter explains in the innermost of the research onion that is techniques and procedures of the research. Those discussed in this chapter are highlighted as (1) case description, (2) sampling method, (3) Data collection; secondary data and primary data, and (4) data analysing technique. Case Description This dissertation focuses on SuperBag Company as a case study. This company was selected for examination since it is a Small and Medium Enterprises in Thailand. Thai SMEs is à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. SuperBag Company is a filter bags manufacture. The company was established since 1983 and it is a first expert manufacture of filter bags in Thailand. As the first company and its size and profit are increasing continuously that made SuperBag is the leader of this market. Recently, the firm has a client base of over 100 companies including Thailand and some neighbour countries. Additional, the numbers of customers are constant growing. However, SuperBag has not converted to big company yet. The company was owner and formed by an enthusiastic entrepreneur. In addition, SuperBag operated as family business which has 40 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 50 employees. Also, the main communication ways are using the traditional ways such as fax and telephone The company provides a full range of associated filter products and accessories. The main product is filter bags which are using for dust control in various industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and mining quarrying cement. SuperBag offers an assortment of services included; designing suitable bags, onsite fitting, producing made to order products, maintenance, and advice for problem solving. Majority of the products SuperBag manufactured are mainly sold in Thailand. On the other hands, SuperBag imports raw material from many countries included; Germany, Taiwan, Korea, and China. The materials from different country of origin are significantly affected to the product quality and profit margin. The aims and visions of SuperBag are promised to high standard filter bags, fast service, made to order by specialist, concern the customer relationship, in order to achieve the highest customers satisfaction. (SuperBag, 2010) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“most management and organisational researchers suggest that you are more likely to gain access where you are able to use existing contactsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? (Buchanan et al. 1988; Easterby-Smith et al. 2008; Johnson 1975 cited in Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2009, p.176) Sampling Method After the sample case was explained, this section describes the sampling technique that was applied to this research. According to the research question that what to know how to adopt e-business to Thai SMEs which are a numerous number of this kind of enterprise in Thailand. Therefore, the entire population cannot be collected and analysed, the sample case is necessary. Additionally, an alternative of probability, this dissertation decided to use non-probability sampling technique. As Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) indicate that non-probability sampling techniques are allowed to choose the sample purposively. With this reasons the research question could be answered from rich information that usually gains from small sample size. Finally, when combined various supported reasons and the opportunity to access the SuperBag Company data, made this research applied a non-probability with purposively selected SuperBag Company as a case study to simplify the general idea of how to ado pt e-business in Thai SMEs. Data Collection Data were collected from two major types included secondary data and primary data. Firstly, secondary data which are the existing data could be collect from either external or internal company database. Referred to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009) internal data are data that can be obtained from the firm. External data could be conducted from many sources such as internet, library, and some publishing media (Harwood, 2010). Another data source is primary data which is data that first collect in the research. As mentioned in sampling method that the research will use a single case study, which will be the good source of primary data. Secondary data As McQuarrie (1996) suggested that before planning to spend time and money to collect data, the researchers should look for secondary data first. Even though the secondary data were gathered for different purposes, they were ready to be used. Moreover, secondary data can be the firm internal data such as investment plan, company annual report. Also, wide ranges of existing knowledge are provided, in this dissertation was focused in four areas consisted; information systems (IS) and information technology (IT), e-business adoption, Thai SMEs, and business strategy. There are a choice of sources to review such as public and university library, and opened online sectors. These secondary data were valuable to the research if they are related, reliability and validity (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009). Primary data This type of case study suits when the case provides authorities to access their data (Yin, 2003). The information was gathered from two interviewers that are the owner and the successor of the company. Furthermore, the interview will use face to face and virtual face techniques. In detailed, these qualitative interviews will be prepared as semi-structured interviews. According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), the semi-structured interviews useful when new aspect from the interviewers are very significant to the research outcome. Because new questions can be added or omitted depends on the conversation. Moreover, the conversions would be recorded by audio-recorders and paper notes. Data Analysis Technique Data Analysis All records will be transcribed into word files and then get through the data cleaning process. Next, these data will be answered the research questions. Nevertheless, the process of data collection and analysis will be repeated until all questions were answered. Resources Although, various secondary data can be found in opened online sector such as Webcat and TDnet, some of useful information has to pay for. Moreover, this research was prepared by individually, so the researcher has to pay for all cost which happens during this project. The free online articles and journals which involve in the topic will be used in this research that can find from intranet at Library of University such as TDnet, Webcat. Time management and location Location Location could have significant impact to the data that was collected, so this research will conduct the information as virtual face and face to face. For virtual face means the interviewee and interviewer can see each other and have real time communication (Skype, 2010). In this research will use the software called Skype. Also, international call will be used in emergency situation.

Exploring Themes Of The Shawshank Redemption English Literature Essay

Exploring Themes Of The Shawshank Redemption English Literature Essay Life is a mystery for those who find it hard to live it their own way, for those who live it as if the fate has chosen it for them. That is more of a compromise rather than a choice that people make to their lives driven by the awful situations that life put on them. Few find it hard to survive, few find it hard to sail against and there are few who remain stagnant for a while busy preparing a ship all those days waiting to sail through the streams moving in the favorable direction one day leading to a way to a new life of their own choice. The movie portrays all the possible choices that someone may think of and act to implement one. No one actually could imagine what life has for him or her in the next moment. Things may be worse and even dreadful to imagine. Sometimes, we are bound to accept the thing that comes to our way. People left with no choices rather than to accept it as it comes. However, that is not the end of it. They are free to create an opportunity with their creative instinct. The lead character in the movie have actually proved it to many in there, The Shawshank Prison that in life irrespective of all awful situations, we do always have two choices either we get busy living or get busy dying. Life has several options for everyone. It is up to people to identify the options and be strong in their mind to find a way to get busy living. All that matters is the choice you make and implement your strategic moves silently and carefully to own your dream in reality. Freedom is not just the physical presence that we make in the outside world; it is as versatile in its nature as our mind or heart is. Music brings your soul to harmony as it stays in your mind as well as in your heart. Music provides you with a way to attach yourself to your soul, to listen to your mind and set yourself free inside away from all worries. The movie talks about the life in prison and the choice that prisoners do make. Few cage their minds forever in the dark of prison. It is because of the fear or most often because they lost their hope of living in real sense forever. They forget to trust their abilities or perhaps never realize that they have the potential to do different things. However, those who remain open to hope and do not let the fear of circumstances rolling over them, makes it worth out of their knowledge and cleverness. Part 2: Analysis of how the movie presents the message or theme: By creating the films solid groundwork, the carefully chiseled screenplay paved the way for this films success. Frank Darabont outdoes himself with the extraordinary adaptation of Stephen Kings equally noteworthy novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. In this novella, King demonstrates that he can break free from the genre he dominates and still produce a splendid piece of modern literature. The film mirrors the novella in many ways. While maintaining some of the poetic and touching dialogue of the novella, Darabont also proves that a films score can breed a great pact of emotional reaction from its audience, as dialogue does. The tale instigates with the trial of a young banker, Andy Dufrense, offended by incidental evidence, resulting in a conviction for the murder of his wife and her lover. After a quick conviction, Andy finds himself serving a life sentence at Shawshank prison, with no hope of promise. He exists in this prison only in outward show, keeping his mind free from the monotonous walls around him. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. His quite way about anything along with his professional excellence results in the gaining of respect from his fellow inmates as well as the Warden and security men, but most of all from Ellis Boyd Redding. Norten(the warden): You enjoy working in the laundry. Andy: No. Sir, not especially Norten: Perhaps you can find something more befitting a man of your education. (Andy associated Brooks in Shawshank prison library) The Shawshank Redemption. Dir. Frank Darabont. Wri. Stephen King, Prod. Niki Marvin.Columbia Pictures, 1994 Ellis, generally referred to as Red perhaps because he was an Irish, finds lucrative use of his commercial spirit within the drab walls of Shawshank by dealing in contraband and commodities rare to the boundaries of prison. Andys character and undeniable sense of hope causes Red to take a deeper look at himself, and the world around him. Andy proves to Red and the other inmates that he could thrill the conservative walls of Shawshank prison with music and at times with a hope to live and to drill a hole big enough to reach out as a freeman. Andy: I had  Mr. Mozart  to keep me company. [Points and taps his head.]  It was in here [Gestures over his heart]. That is the beauty of music. They cannot get that from you. Havent you ever felt that way about music? Red: Well, I played a mean harmonica as a younger man; Lost interest in it, though. Didnt make too much sense in here. Andy: No, here is where it makes the  most  sense. You need it so you do not forget. Red: Forget? Andy: That there are places in the world that arent made out of stone. They cannot get to something inside. They cannot touch. It is yours. Red: What are you talking about? Andy: Hope. The Shawshank Redemption. Dir. Frank Darabont. Wri. Stephen King, Prod. Niki Marvin.Columbia Pictures, 1994 While both Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman shine as Andy and Red, respectively, the true display of acting lies within the plethora of remarkable supports from actors who easily disappear into their roles. James Whitmore, who portrays the elderly Brooks Hatlen, a man imprisoned for an unstated crime for so long that he finds himself attached to the Shawshank and the daily life he has lead. He finds it hard to manage with the outside world when set free from the prison. He commits suicide. Andy Red had a conversation over this Andy concluded. I guess it comes down to a simple choice. Get busy living or get busy dying. The Shawshank Redemption. Dir. Frank Darabont. Wri. Stephen King, Prod. Niki Marvin.Columbia Pictures, 1994 Andy had secret dream of getting away from the life of prison and he was continually gaining faith of the security men for almost 20 years with his financial tax saving tips along with the revival of Shawshank prison library. Nobody would have ever dreamt of what plans he carries on his mind. For 20 years, he kept digging a passage in his cell in night using a rock hammer and everything he did in those 20 years actually was a part of a long-term plan with the only objective of freedom. To live as a freeman was his right as he was innocent. He made his choice and lived up to it. Not only he planned things for him but also he did have a lot on his mind for his friend Mr. Red. Red has not been able to convince Rehabilitation officer of his innocence for last 20 years but after Andy proved his dreams to him. Red realized his abilities and been able to convince the officer with his mighty words. Rehabilitation Officer: Ellis Boyd Redding: your file says you have served 40 years of a life sentence. Do you feel you have been `rehabilitated? Red: `Rehabilitated? Well, now, let me see. You know, I do not have any idea what that means. Rehabilitation Officer: Well, it means that you are ready to rejoin society, to- Red: I know what you think it means, sonny. To me it is just a made-up word. A politicians word, so that young fellas like you can wear a suit and a tie and have a job. What do you really wanna know? Am I sorry for what I did? Rehabilitation Officer: Well, are you? Red: There is not a day goes by I do not feel regret. Not because I am in here; or because you think, I  should.  I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try to talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are but I cannot. That kid is long gone and this old man is all that left. I have to live with that. `Rehabilitated? It is just a bullshit word. So go ahead and stamp your forms, sonny, and stop wasting my time. The Shawshank Redemption. Dir. Frank Darabont. Wri. Stephen King, Prod. Niki Marvin.Columbia Pictures, 1994 Part 3: Presentation of Analysis: An excellent piece of work by Mr. Frank Darabont, the proud director of a film with the name The Shawshank Redemption with a wonderful plot, a wonderful theme, the prominent music, visual script and acting. The Shawshank Redemption defines a genus, defies the odds, obliges the emotions, and brings an epoch of artistically high-ranking films.   To produce something of this scenery, a director must approach it in a most scrupulous manner, due to the delicacy of the process. Such an intimidating task requires an extremely capable artist with an indisputable managerial capacity and an acutely developed awareness of each element of art in the film to form a harmonious union, because this fusion determines the fate of the artists work. With work from vast display of talented scene designers, costume designers, composers, cinematographers, and various other Hollywood artists, the cast of The Shawshank Redemption had a muscular basis to work with. Anyone who trust his abilities and strongly desires to live his dreams and do have the courage to create an opportunity out of complex situations with the help of his skills win over the worst circumstances. The movie was a huge success as it got nomination for Oscars along with another 12 wins 13 nominations. In USA, the movie generated a gross income of $28,341,469.

Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck Finn was the main character. The story was told through his eyes, and most of the events that took place happened around him.   But some of these events would not have happened without other main characters as well, like Jim, Tom Sawyer, the King, or the Duke.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Huck’s personality at the start of the novel had changed gradually throughout the novel and until the end.   At first, Miss Watson tried to make him pray for things but Huck did not believe in praying because it brought him bad luck.   Later in the novel, Huck tries to pray for forgiveness and wants to erase his sin for stealing a nigger.   After he prays, he feels he can pray openly now and will not sin anymore (CH. 31).   Huck was also superstitious and believed that everything that went wrong was because of certain things he did, like the snake in Jim’s blanket.   And everything was blamed on the bad luck Huck and Jim had.   Huck also became kind, especially after the quarrel with his father, pap.   He learned that in order to get along with people (like the king and duke), you have to let them have their way, and Huck did.    Jim, at first, was looked upon as just an ordinary nigger.   But Huck and Tom soon realized that he was very smart and had helped Huck through most of his adventures.   But as a nigger, Jim was looked up to as a hero to other niggers.   For instance, Huck tells the reader when niggers from all over the country came to see Jim and hear of his heroic stories and every nigger wanted to be like Jim.   Jim was also very superstitious, especially in chapter eight when Jim talks about all of his superstitions, like counting the things for dinner and telling the bees that their owner had just died.   All of this supposedly brought bad luck.   Ã‚   Tom Sawyer was also a very influential character to the story.   He was the one who came up with all the solutions for things, which eventually made more of a disaster.   But that is because he followed stories too much.   For instance, in chapter 35, Jim is captured and Tom tries the most original and hardest way to get him out, thus creating more of a catastrophe.

the status of ancient egyptian women :: essays research papers

The Status of Women in Ancient Egyptian Society Unlike the position of women in most other ancient civilizations, including that of Greece, the Egyptian woman seems to have enjoyed the same legal and economic rights as the Egyptian man-- at least in theory. This notion is reflected in Egyptian art and historical inscriptions. It is uncertain why these rights existed for the woman in Egypt but no where else in the ancient world. It may well be that such rights were ultimately related to the theoretical role of the king in Egyptian society. If the pharaoh was the personification of Egypt, and he represented the corporate personality of the Egyptian state, then men and women might not have been seen in their familiar relationships, but rather, only in regard to this royal center of society. Since Egyptian national identity would have derived from all people sharing a common relationship with the king, then in this relationship, which all men and women shared equally, they were--in a sense--equal to each other. This is not to say that Egypt was an egalitarian society. It was not. Legal distinctions in Egypt were apparently based much more upon differences in the social classes, rather than differences in gender. Rights and privileges were not uniform from one class to another, but within the given classes, it seems that equal economic and legal rights were, for the most part, accorded to both men and women. Most of the textual and archaeological evidence for the role of women that survives from prior to the New Kingdom pertains to the elite, not the common folk. At this time, it is the elite, for the most part, who leave written records or who can afford tombs that contain such records. However, from the New Kingdom onward, and certainly by the Ptolemaic Period, such evidence pertains more and more to the non-elite, i.e., to women of the middle and lower classes. Actually, the bulk of the evidence for the economic freedom of Egyptian women derives from the Ptolemaic Period. The Greek domination of Egypt, which began with the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332 B.C., did not sweep away Egyptian social and political institutions. Both Egyptian and Greek systems of law and social traditions existed side-by-side in Egypt at that time. Greeks functioned within their system and Egyptians within theirs. Mixed parties of Greeks and Egyptians making contractual agreements or who were forced i nto court over legal disputes would choose which of the two legal systems in which they would base their settlements.

Improving homeland security: challenges and improvement Essay

The United States of America had its share of enemies since it was considered as the new military superpower. But with regards to intelligence work and the ability to thwart an attack by an external army nothing was as dramatic as the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. It was a painful lesson in intelligence failure and past presidents vowed it will never happen again. But when 9/11 shook the nation, with an attack closer to home, many are wondering who dropped the ball in terms of intelligence work. This paper will look at the major challenges faced by the US intelligence community and the subsequent changes and transformation initiated by government officials to bring upon a marked improvement when it comes to information gathering and preventing future attacks in the US homeland. Before going any further it is important to examine the historical background of US intelligence and how it was shaped by global events especially during World War II and the Cold War with the former Union Soviet Socialists Republic of Russia. The discussion will then come in sharp focus to the events surrounding the infamous September 11, 2001 attacks. Background At the turn of the century, the American government, buoyed by the economic progress from the Industrial Age began to rise as a superpower. It was considered by many in the global arena as a force to contend with. Yet it took an unprovoked attack from an Imperial Army of Japan to finally force into everyone’s consciousness that indeed America is both feared and respected. So, one Sunday morning, more than sixty years ago, Hawaii – part of the Union yet situated far away in the Pacific – was mercilessly bombed by Japanese planes. The former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was right in denouncing the surprise attack as a day of infamy. There was no doubt that it was a day of ill repute as America was rudely made aware of their fast rising status. And with it comes enemies who perceive America as a threat or a country guilty of exploiting others. Whatever the perception, the US government will have to defend itself from enemies both foreign and domestic. Intelligence Failure In the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, the U. S. intelligence community was severely criticized for failing to warn the nation of an impending attack from the Japanese aggressors. It was found out late that there was enough intelligence gathered to have alerted the army base there, but it was largely ignored. This is a classic example of intelligence failure and the consequence of which lingers on for a long time. The Pearl Harbor incident was the catalyst that transformed the US Intelligence community. From then on the intelligence gathering capability of the United States of America was forced to improve. And then again, complacency is the predictable effect of success. When America’s chief nemesis the USSR was toppled down, America finds itself in unfamiliar territory, a world where there is no one to challenge and serve as a counter-balance to America’s military superiority. When everything was quiet no one was able to anticipate that it was merely the calm before the storm so to speak. History eerily repeated itself, the infamy of Pearl Harbor was relived again and this time it was not a thousand miles away from the center of America but the enemy struck the economic nerve center of the nation. It was the same cowardly attack that stunned an unprepared government and its people. Predictably, just as it was in Pearl Harbor, there were also a great number of casualties. In spite of the previous changes and improvements, the US Intelligence community was again caught flat footed. Intelligent Work According to Michael Turner intelligence gathering can have a variety of definitions but for the professional it is encapsulated in the following statements: †¦intelligence is a particular kind of information that helps to inform, instruct, and educate the policy world. To consumers of intelligence – the policy makers – intelligence is that and more. To political leaders [†¦] a political liability, depending on whether intelligence information helps or hinders the fulfillment of political goals (2005, p. 3). Intelligence gathering is therefore a tool that helps create certainty in a very uncertain world. It follows therefore that intelligence gathering is not merely the action of collecting data but would also mean the interpretation of the same. This aspect of intelligence gathering requires attention and the neglect of which is the root of many intelligence failures. It is simply not enough to have data but there must also be an equally effective means of interpreting the said information. Adapting to Change For thousands of years the nature of warfare remained constant. Thus, two opposing camps fight it out in the battlefield. There was the effective use of troop movement and the use of military hardware. The commander who can utilize men and resources effectively wins the battle and ultimately the war. But since 9/11 the world has been rudely awakened to a different type of warfare. It is guerilla tactics brought into urban centers and far away from the traditional fields of war. If this is the new face of war then intelligence gathering must also be transformed to adapt to it. Intelligence gathering must now be geared towards an enemy led not by a traditional army but extremists who will fight for a cause that sometimes transcend national boundaries. Rendered Ineffective Aside from the guerilla tactics used by the members of the Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups another reason for the failure of the US response were the laws that prevented for a more thorough investigation of suspicious characters. The strength of America which is the significant number of civil liberties enjoyed by its citizens became the liability that was exploited by the terrorists. In fact the 9/11 Commission pointed out that there were laws that were enacted to curtail some of the investigative powers of the FBI. According to the 9/11 Commission, â€Å"The FBI was criticized, rightly, for the overzealous domestic intelligence investigations disclosed during the 1970s. The pendulum swung away from those types of investigations during the 1980s and 1990s† (see 9/11 Commission Report). The FBI was then forced to take on kids gloves when treating suspected terrorists. Al-Qaeda on the other hand perceived these new developments as weaknesses they can exploit. Aside from ineffective laws the US Intelligence community has to deal with a host of other problems that includes 1) the improper analysis of information and intelligence; 2) the lack of coordination between government agencies; and 3) the absence of system where law enforcement agencies as well as counter-terror groups can share information. Human Intelligence But the most significant intelligence source with regards to the topic is â€Å"HUMINT† or human intelligence. And the reason is easy to understand – there are a lot of problematic factors related to this type of intelligence. First of all most information gathered through this method can be considered as secondary. There must be a way of processing raw data in order to determine its accuracy. In this regard there is now a move to develop technical and human resources that will be able to fully analyze â€Å"humint† as expounded in the following statements: The very nature of the transnational threat demands that we have analysts with language capabilities and are knowledge to understand local situations in relationship to global, transnational, and international trends and impacts. Analysts need a professional network that transcends territorial borders, and they need to be comfortable turning to local as well as global information (Sands, 2005, p. 75).

Football the Good Essay

My favorite sport is foot ball. Foot ball is considered a contact sport. It allows you to meet other boys my age. But most of all it helps me to build physically and mentally. There is nothing like getting in to the uniform and out on the field. I like to look at the crowd and hope they are going to cheer for my team. Before we get on the field, we have to do a few exercises which keeps us limber and in shape. We do push up and run, there are other exercises we have to do in our practice sessions. Which is at least 4 times week? I believe in football you get more exercises than any other sport. I like the fact that we can play under the lights at night. This seems to be the best time to draw a crowd to cheer you on and parents aren’t so apt to be working so they can come and enjoy the game. Nothing makes me prouder than to have my dad tell me what a good job i did. My dad loves football as much as I do and it seems to bring us together more. We watch a lot of football on television. Yes, you can get hurt in football, which is why some kids don’t want to play. But, some hospital records show that you get hurt just as much or even more playing soccer. You can get hurt playing baseball and some of the other sports also. To be honest, I would not suggest playing a sport of any kind if you are afraid of getting hurt. Not only do you get the satisfaction of playing the sport, you can also get the attention of the cheerleaders. Who wouldn’t want that? I have played football since I was A young boy and I hope to play in college. Who knows I may get scouted for the major leagues. Yes football is my favorite sport whether I am playing or watching it on television.