Diversity: Discrimination and Service Users

It is your role and responsibility to ensure that all staff promote equality, diversity and inclusion, whether dealing with service users directly or indirectly. This can be done in the following ways: Dignity and respect – respect individual’s need for privacy and dignity in the way that service is provided and the way that information is handled. Treat service users with tolerance and have a non-judgemental attitude Information and Communication – providing information in different formats for example large print, Braille, video, tape, total communication, other languages, providing an interpreter. Value the contribution – that each individual can make. Create a productive environment in which everybody feels valued, their talents are fully utilised and services meet the requirements of diverse service users. Embrace difference as a way of attracting and retaining staff and improving customer satisfaction. Provide relevant and appropriate access for the participation, development and advancement of all individuals and groups. Remove physical barriers – overcome physical features by removing them, altering them, avoiding them or providing access to work or service by an alternative method. Stereotypes, assumptions and bias – avoid using negative or offensive language and images which convey stereotypes. Avoid making assumptions about people’s ability to do things or not do things, their attitudes and their persona; circumstances. Don’t assume that you understand their needs and requirements. Don’t allow bias to affect decisions you make about recruitment, training, policies or procedures. Tailor services to needs – Provide auxiliary aids such as an induction loop, prayer room. It is important that staff attend relevant training meetings and supervision so they are aware of their role and accountability with regards equality and diversity. Here they are able to learn the principles of good practice and keep up to date with new developments and changes to relevant legislations. During supervision you should ensure staff are fully aware of the complaints procedure and they should be encouraged to report any issues they feel need to be challenged regarding discrimination. 2. Challenge discrimination and exclusion in policy and practice Adult social care is a complex world of diverse organisations, dispersed responsibilities and growing user empowerment. As a provider of care and support you will need to ensure that you understand the legal framework regarding equality, diversity, discrimination and rights and be able to relate this to your everyday role. Managers at all levels and in all settings, should be seeking to ensure equality and eliminate discrimination by: engage people using services and their families in shaping future support, †¢ present staff with a vision of a fair and equal service, †¢ create cultures which support equality and challenge discrimination, †¢ capture the commitment of the workforce and raise their awareness of the importance of equality †¢ equip them through training, standards and supervision to recognise and tackle discrimination, and enhance equality. †¢ work across boundaries with other agenci es and services to raise the profile of equality and promote informed debate and commitment to change. It is also about challenging others if necessary and speaking up for the individuals you support when they cannot speak up for themselves. It can be di?cult to challenge discrimination, particularly if it is institutional or practised by a colleague, so it is important that you consider how to deal with di?erent and often di?cult situations. To be able to challenge discrimination you require knowledge of policy, procedures and practice. If you feel con?dent about what is good practice, you will be able to deal more e?ectively with incidents that arise. When discrimination happens it may be intentional, but it can also be because of ignorance and lack of understanding. It is not easy to change the views of others but you must challenge discriminatory comments and actions. It is important to learn assertiveness strategies that can help when you recognise discrimination. When challenging discrimination, you should: 1. explain what has happened or what has been said that is discriminatory 2. state the e?ect of this on the individual, group and others 3. suggest or model ways to ensure anti-discriminatory practice. In my job role, you have a duty of care to challenge discrimination in a positive way and promote inclusion. When you are concerned about anti-discriminatory practice, whether by sta? or by service users, you should challenge it effectively so that future incidents of discrimination can be prevented. This will also empower individuals to understand their rights. When you are concerned about anti-discriminatory practice, whether by sta? or by service users, you should: †¢ Always act fairly and try to see things from the other person’s point of view. Consider that there could be different pressures, needs and cultures. †¢ Always use positive language and never use words or phrases that could be disrespectful towards another person. †¢ Do not allow prejudices and stereotyping to influence you and do not accept any type of discriminatory behaviour. 2. 3 Provide others with information about: †¢ the effects of discrimination As a manager the best way to provide staff with information about the effects of discrimination is to ensure they regularly attend the appropriate quality, diversity and inclusion training. You could also discuss this area during team meetings, supervision and appraisal. You should ensure all staff are aware of the procedures to follow if they suspect discrimination is taking place or they are themselves the subject of any form of discrimination. All staff and service users should be aware of their rights. An easily accessible complaints procedure should be in use which can be accessed if they feel their rights are not being observed. Studies have found that discrimination, racism and harassment may have significant mental and physical health consequences such as frustration, stress, anxiety, depression, possible nervous breakdown, or high blood pressure that can cause heart attacks. Negative effects of discrimination physically and emotionally: †¢ Depression †¢ Anger †¢ Loss of self-esteem †¢ Isolation †¢ Feeling stressed or unable to cope The long-term effects could include: †¢ Loss of motivation †¢ Reduced individual rights †¢ Restricted opportunities †¢ Limited access to services †¢ Mental illness caused by stress the impact of inclusion Research has suggested that the feeling of inclusion is a critical factor in bridging individuals’ differences in age, race and gender in the workplace. In terms of the workforce, inclusion may lead to the feeling of acceptance in an organization which links to satisfaction with the organization and commitment to it. Thi s in turn leads to increased productivity and more effective team and partnership working. In respect of the service users, by considering their needs and then designing the services to meet those needs inclusion can be attained. By enabling people to access services and informing and supporting them, developing their self-help skills and developing meaningful services. This improves health and wellbeing, reduces discrimination and increases inclusion in mainstream services. †¢ the value of diversity Having a diverse group of workers and service users simply means recognizing that all the people are unique in their own way. Their differences could consist of their athletic ability, cultural background, personality, religious beliefs, and the list goes on. There has always been diversity in the workplace, but in today society it is important to value and embrace it and make positive use of it. When people value diversity, they recognize and respect the fact that people are different and that these differences is generally a good thing. For example, when attempting to solve a problem, it is better to assemble a diverse team with many skills and many different ways of approaching the problem than it is to assemble a team that has all their strength concentrated in one area. This in turn will not only benefit both your organisation and the team as a whole but also the service users who use your services. 2. 4 Support others to challenge discrimination and exclusion In your role as Manager one of your most important responsibility, with regards discriminations and exclusion is to ensure all staff have attended the respective training and are fully aware of the workplace policies and procedures in this area. By ensuring staff have this information, knowledge and skills they will then be more able to identify situations where discrimination is taking place and will be aware of the correct procedures to follow in the event. Supporting both staff and service users to challenge discrimination and make a complaint will also be part of your responsibility. Service users should also be supported and encouraged to complain if they feel discriminated against or excluded. By providing service users with details of where they can seek further support and advice egarding discrimination, will allow them to feel they have more choice and control over their lives. Every workplace should have the following in place to aid both service users and staff to complain; †¢ Whistle blowing policy †¢ Complaint procedure †¢ Appeals procedure Once a complaint has been made it is important to monitor and review the situation periodically to ensure no reoccurrence happens. Some complaints may result i n a review of practice and a change to the workplace policies which you would need to oversee. This would ensure that there is a clear directive for future similar events, should they occur.

Adolescent Identity Development Essay

Lord of the Flies Novel by William Golding: The Importance of Self-Discovery Lord Of Flies( The Importance of self-discovery) 1 Human should understand the importance of self-discovery. In the Lord of the Flies, Ralph, Simon and Samneric learned the weaknesses and darkness within the human hearts. People grows up when they faces a challenge. Ralph Ds challenge is how to be a good and responsible leader. Simon’s challenge is how to speak at front of people. Samneric’s challenge is how to make right choice. The truth about self-discovery may be cruel, but it is worth to learn from it. Ralph is being a playful, innocent child in the beginning of the story, but towards the end he matures significantly. Excluding Piggy, Ralph is the most mature and responsible member of the boys, for he is concerned throughout the book with keeping the fire on the mountain going, and building shelter. † If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire. † pg,37 Ralph always has the strong belief that all the children will be saved from the island sooner or later, but at middle part of the story he begins to doubting it. At end of the story, after the death of Piggy, Ralph’s encounter with the Lord of the Flies, he knocks over the pig’s skull. † A sick tear and rage swept him. Fiercely he hit out at the filthy thing in front of him that bobbed like a toy and came back, still grinning into his face, so that he lashed and cried out in loathing. † pg206 Ralph realize the evil is part of him and just as to other boys. However, he is the only person who acknowledges the importance of being responsible, and he takes over as a true leader even though he is not necessarily good at it.    3Sam and Eric represents the crowd in modern society, Just like every ordinary human. They are faithful and mostly good. They can be described as loyalist in the story. Their rule is to serve whomever is the leader. For example when Jack says † Grab them! No one moved. Jack shouted angrily. I said † grab them†! † Samneric finally give into his threats on their travel to Castle Rock. Later, then betray Ralph, by showing his hiding place to Jack. † You’re sure he meant in there? The twin moaned faintly and then squealed again. † † He meant he’d hide in there? † pg. 214 In this way, Samneric symbolize the weakness of human nature. They have lose any real sense of loyalty to others.

Citizens for Democracy

A democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving free elections that are periodically held. The necessary moral and intellectual characteristics the citizens of a democracy must possess for the survival and the prosperity of such a form of government include: respect for laws, respect for rights, respect for authority, equal mental worth, and opportunity for all citizens. Some other scholars have argued another notion pertaining to the success of a democracy. Those scholars have suggested the presence of certain economic conditions is necessary for a democracy to continue to exist and to flourish. A democracy will go as far as the citizens of that democracy will take it. Therefore, the moral and intellectual characteristics that those citizens possess are pivotal. Moral characteristics are those in which help the citizens set a standard of what is right and good for the country. These include respect for laws, rights, and authority. The citizens must respect the laws for many reasons, mainly for fear of punishment that usually entails a loss of freedom. The citizens must also have a respect for the rights they and others have. This gives each citizen a sense of equality to one and other, they all have the same rights under the law, which allows freedom to be put into action. Besides these characteristics, the citizens of a democracy must have a respect for authority. Those in authority are the ones protecting the laws and the rights of the citizens. If the citizens value their freedom and liberty, then they must respect the protectors of those freedoms and liberties. Intellectual characteristics are necessary because the citizen's ability for rational or intelligent thought adds to the prosperity of the democracy. The citizens must be able to, as Tocqueville states, â€Å"educate democracy; to put, if possible, new life into its beliefs; to purify its mores; to control its actions; gradually to substitute understanding of statecraft for present inexperience and knowledge of its true interest for blind instincts; to adapt government to the needs of time and place; and to modify it as men and circumstances require. The citizens of a democracy must see each other as having equal mental worth. All citizens should understand that the opportunity for education should be present. But, the amount of education should not be what is most important: the citizens must understand it's what you do with the education that matters most. Intellectually everyone is different; some are more educated than others, and others less. The citizens must have the insight to understand that everyone is equal under the law and in the rights that are bestowed upon them. These characteristics are all very important to the survival of a democracy. Theodore Roosevelt explains this best when he stated, â€Å"A democracy must consist of men who are intellectually, morally, and materially fit to be their own masters. † There are, however, other scholars who believe that certain economic conditions must be also present for the continued survivability of a democracy. The characteristics of the citizens are very important to the success of a democracy, but groups of people known as progressives, believe that economic situations in a democracy play just as important of a role. The economic situation that they claim is needed is economic equality. As Franklin Roosevelt, a progressive and former President of the United States, stated, â€Å"Our government, formal and informal, political and economic, owes to everyone an avenue to possess himself of a portion of that plenty sufficient for his needs, through his own work. † It is the government's responsibility to ensure economic equality to all citizens, which is important, because, the prosperity of a democracy depends on the prosperity of its citizens. Theodore Roosevelt, another progressive and President, furthers this notion by contending, â€Å"there is no point in having prosperity unless there can be an equitable division of prosperity. † This must therefore be extended to economics: for the democracy to move forward and provide for its citizens, the citizens themselves must have the economic stability. If there were not an equal distribution of prosperity, in the economic sense, the government would have to create programs to â€Å"level the playing field. Examples of these programs are welfare and affirmative action. While these programs are different, they have the same purpose: to help those in need which would, in turn, level the playing field. A democracy is faced with many challenges that it must be able to adjust to, including the economic growth of its citizens and the security of that growth. L. B. Johnson stated, â€Å"The challenge of the next half of the century is whether we have the wisdom to use that wealth to enrich and elevate our national life, and to advance the quality of our American civilization. Therefore, for a democracy to survive, that democracy and the citizens of the democracy must have the ability to move forward and shape their own future to assure prosperity and survival. This is the link between the economic and the political. In conclusion, the citizens of a democracy must possess for it to succeed and survive. Others believe economic conditions affect the prosperity of a democracy. While there are other characteristics that generally impact a democracy, the ones explained are seen as the most important.

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Nineteen

The drive to Butlersbridge was everything Jack remembered. The trees, the birds, the precise shade of green as the wind ruffled the grass†¦These were the sights and sounds of his childhood. Nothing had changed. It ought to have been comforting. It wasn't. When he opened his eyes that morning, Grace had already slipped from the bed and made her way back to her own room. He was disappointed, of course; he'd been awakened by his own love and desire for her, and wanted nothing more than to gather her back into his arms. But he had understood. Life was not as free for a woman as for a man, even a woman of independent means. Grace had her reputation to consider. Thomas and Amelia would never say a word against her, but Jack did not know Lord Crowland well enough to guess what he might do if Grace were caught in his bed. And as for the dowager†¦ Well, it went without saying that she'd happily destroy Grace now, if given the chance. The traveling party – minus the dowager, to everyone's relief – met up in the inn's dining room for breakfast. Jack knew he'd been unable to keep his heart from his eyes when he saw Grace enter the room. Would it always be this way, he wondered. Would he see her and feel this indescribable, overwhelming rush of feeling? It wasn't even desire. It was far more than that. It was love. Love. With a capital L and swirly script and hearts and flowers and whatever else the angels – and yes, all those annoying little cupids – wished to use for embellishment. Love. It could be nothing else. He saw Grace and he felt joy. Not just his joy, but everyone's. The stranger seated behind him. The acquaintance across the room. He saw it all. He felt it all. It was amazing. Humbling. Grace looked at him, and he was a better man. And she thought he would allow anyone to keep them apart. It would not happen. He would not let it happen. Throughout breakfast she did not precisely avoid him – there were far too many shared glances and secret smiles for that. But she had been careful not to seek him out, and indeed, he'd not had an opportunity to speak with her even once. He probably wouldn't have been able to do so even if Grace was not so inclined to be circumspect; Amelia slipped her hand in Grace's right after breakfast and did not let go. Safety in numbers, Jack decided. The two ladies were stuck in the coach all day with the dowager. He would have been blindly reaching for a hand if forced to endure the same. The three gentlemen rode on horseback, taking advantage of the fine weather. Lord Crowland decided to take a seat in the carriage after their first stop to water the horses, but thirty minutes later he was staggering back out, declaring the ride far less exhausting than the dowager. â€Å"You would abandon your daughter to the dowager's venom?† Jack asked mildly. Crowland did not even try to make excuses. â€Å"I did not say I was proud of myself.† â€Å"The Outer Hebrides,† Thomas said, trotting by. â€Å"I'm telling you, Audley, it's the key to your happiness. The Outer Hebrides.† â€Å"The Outer Hebrides?† Crowland echoed, looking from man to man for explanation. â€Å"Almost as far as the Orkneys,† Thomas said cheerfully. â€Å"And much more fun to say.† â€Å"Have you holdings there?† Crowland asked. â€Å"Not yet,† Thomas replied. He looked over at Jack. â€Å"Perhaps you can restore a nunnery. Something with insurmountable walls.† Jack found himself enjoying the mental picture. â€Å"How have you lived with her for so long?† he asked. Thomas shook his head. â€Å"I have no idea.† They were talking as if it were already decided, Jack realized. They were talking as if he had already been named the duke. And Thomas did not seem to mind. If anything, he appeared to be looking forward to his imminent dispossession. Jack looked back at the carriage. Grace had insisted that she could not marry him if he was the duke. And yet, he could not imagine doing it without her. He was unprepared for the duties that came with the title. Astoundingly so. But she knew what to do, didn't she? She'd lived at Belgrave for five years. She had to know how the place was run. She knew the name of every last servant, and as far as he could tell, their birthdays, too. She was kind. She was gracious. She was innately fair, of impeccable judgment, and far more intelligent than he. He could not imagine a more perfect duchess. But he did not want to be the duke. He truly didn't. He'd gone over it in his mind countless times, reminding himself of all of the reasons why he'd make a very bad Duke of Wyndham, but had he ever actually come out and said it plainly? He did not want to be the duke. He looked over at Thomas, who was looking up at the sun, shading his eyes with his hand. â€Å"It must be past noon,† Lord Crowland said. â€Å"Shall we stop for lunch?† Jack shrugged. It did not matter to him. â€Å"For the sake of the ladies,† Crowland said. As one, they turned and looked over their shoulders toward the carriage. Jack thought he saw Crowland cringe. â€Å"It's not pretty in there,† he said in a low voice. Jack quirked a brow. â€Å"The dowager,† Crowland said, shuddering. â€Å"Amelia begged me to let her ride after we watered the horses.† â€Å"That would be too cruel to Grace,† Jack said. â€Å"That's what I told Amelia.† â€Å"As you were fleeing the carriage,† Thomas murmured, smiling just a little. Crowland cocked his head. â€Å"I would never claim otherwise.† â€Å"And I would never chastise you for it.† Jack listened to the exchange with little interest. By his estimation, they were about halfway to Butlersbridge, and it was growing increasingly difficult to find humor in the inane. â€Å"There is a clearing a mile or so ahead,† he said. â€Å"I've stopped there before. It's suitable for a picnic.† The two other men nodded their agreement, and about five minutes later they'd found the spot. Jack dismounted and went immediately to the carriage. A groom was helping the ladies down, but as Grace would be the last to alight, it was easy enough for him to position himself so he might take her hand when she emerged. â€Å"Mr. Audley,† Grace said. She was nothing but polite, but her eyes shone with a secret warmth. â€Å"Miss Eversleigh.† He looked down at her mouth. The corners were moving slightly†¦very slightly. She wanted to smile. He could see it. He could feel it. â€Å"I will eat in the carriage,† the dowager announced sharply. â€Å"Only heathens eat on the ground.† Jack tapped his chest and grinned. â€Å"Proud to be a heathen.† He quirked his head toward Grace. â€Å"And you?† â€Å"Very proud.† The dowager marched once around the perimeter of the field – to stretch her legs, she said – and then disappeared back inside the carriage. â€Å"That must have been very difficult for her,† Jack commented, watching her go. Grace had been examining the contents of a picnic basket, but at that she looked up. â€Å"Difficult?† â€Å"There is no one to harass in the carriage,† he explained. â€Å"I think she feels that we have all ganged up upon her.† â€Å"We have.† Grace looked conflicted. â€Å"Yes, but – â€Å" Oh†¦ no. He was not going to listen to her make excuses for the dowager. â€Å"Don't tell me that you harbor any sympathy toward her.† â€Å"No.† Grace shook her head. â€Å"I wouldn't say that, but – â€Å" â€Å"You are far too softhearted.† At that she smiled. Sheepishly. â€Å"Perhaps.† Once the blankets were laid out, Jack maneuvered them so they were seated a bit apart from the others. It was not very difficult – or very obvious – to do so; Amelia had sat down next to her father, who appeared to be delivering some sort of lecture, and Thomas had wandered off, probably in search of a tree that needed watering. â€Å"Is this the road you traveled when you went to school in Dublin?† Grace asked, reaching for a slice of bread and cheese. â€Å"Yes.† He'd tried to keep the tightness out of his voice, but he must not have succeeded, because when he looked at her, she was regarding him in that unsettling way of hers. â€Å"Why don't you want to go home?† she asked. It was on the tip of his tongue to say that her imagination was too active, or, since he really ought to be reverting to form, something clever and grandiose, involving sunshine, twittering birds, and milk of human kindness. Statements like that had got him out of far more delicate situations than this. But he hadn't the energy just now, nor the will. And, anyway, Grace knew better. She knew him better. He could be his usual flip and funny self, and most of the time – he hoped – she would love him for it. But not when he was trying to hide the truth. Or hide from the truth. â€Å"It's complicated,† he said, because at least that wasn't a lie. She nodded and turned to her lunch. He waited for another question, but none were forthcoming. So he picked up an apple. He looked over. She was cutting into a slice of roast chicken, her eyes on her utensils. He opened his mouth to speak, then decided not to, then brought the apple to his mouth. Then didn't bite into it. â€Å"It's been over five years,† he blurted out. She looked up. â€Å"Since you've been home?† He nodded. â€Å"That's a long time.† â€Å"Very long.† â€Å"Too long?† His fingers tightened around the apple. â€Å"No.† She took a few bites of her meal, then looked up. â€Å"Would you like me to slice that apple for you?† He handed it over, mostly because he'd forgotten he was holding it. â€Å"I had a cousin, you know.† Bloody hell, where had that come from? He hadn't meant to say anything about Arthur. He'd spent the last five years trying not to think about him, trying to make sure that Arthur's was not the last face he saw before he fell asleep at night. â€Å"I thought you'd said you had three cousins,† Grace said. She wasn't looking at him; she gave every sign of giving her complete focus to the apple and knife in her hands. â€Å"Only two now.† She looked up, her eyes large with sympathy. â€Å"I am sorry.† â€Å"Arthur died in France.† The words sounded rusty. He realized it had been a long time since he'd said Arthur's name aloud. Five years, probably. â€Å"With you?† Grace asked softly. He nodded. She looked down at the apple slices, now neatly arranged on a plate. She didn't seem to know what to do with them. â€Å"You're not going to say that it wasn't my fault?† he said, and he hated the sound of his voice. It was hollow, and pained, and sarcastic, and desperate, and he couldn't believe what he'd just said. â€Å"I wasn't there,† she said. His eyes flew to her face. â€Å"I can't imagine how it would have been your fault, but I wasn't there.† She reached across the food and laid her hand briefly atop his. â€Å"I'm sorry. Were you close?† He nodded, turning away and pretending to look at the trees. â€Å"Not so much when we were young. But after we left for school†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering how to explain just what Arthur had done for him. â€Å"†¦we found much more in common.† Her fingers tightened around his, and then she let go. â€Å"It is difficult to lose someone you love.† He looked back at her once he was satisfied that his eyes would remain dry. â€Å"When you lost your parents†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It was horrible,† she answered. Her lips moved at the corners, but not into a smile. It was one of those flashes of movement – a tiny, little rush of emotion, escaping almost without notice. â€Å"I didn't think I should die,† Grace said softly, â€Å"but I did not know how I would live.† â€Å"I wish†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But he didn't know what he wished. That he could have been there for her? What good would he have been? Five years ago he'd been broken, too. â€Å"The dowager saved me,† she said. She smiled wryly. â€Å"Isn't that funny?† His brows rose. â€Å"Oh, come now. The dowager does nothing out of the goodness of her heart.† â€Å"I did not say why she did it, just that she did. I should have been forced to marry my cousin if she had not taken me in.† He took her hand and brought it to his lips. â€Å"I am glad you did not.† â€Å"So am I,† she said, without any trace of tenderness. â€Å"He is awful.† Jack chuckled. â€Å"And here I'd hoped you were relieved to have waited for me.† She gave him an arch look and withdrew her hand. â€Å"You have not met my cousin.† He finally took one of the apple pieces and bit into it. â€Å"We have an overabundance of odious relations, you and I.† Her lips twisted in thought, and then her body twisted so that she could look back toward the carriage. â€Å"I should go to her,† she said. â€Å"No, you shouldn't,† Jack said firmly. Grace sighed. She did not want to feel sorry for the dowager, not after what the dowager had said to her the night before. But her conversation with Jack had brought back memories†¦and reminded her just how very much she was indebted to her. She turned back to Jack. â€Å"She is all alone.† â€Å"She deserves to be alone.† He said this with great conviction, and more than a touch of surprise, as if he could not believe the matter might be under discussion. â€Å"No one deserves to be alone.† â€Å"Do you really believe that?† She didn't, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬ I want to believe it.† He looked at her dubiously. Grace started to rise. She looked this way and that, making sure no one could hear, and said, â€Å"You should not have been kissing my hand where people can see, anyway.† She stood then, stepping quickly away, before he had a chance to make a reply. â€Å"Have you finished your lunch?† Amelia called out as she passed. Grace nodded. â€Å"Yes. I am going to the carriage to see if the dowager needs anything.† Amelia looked at her as if she'd gone mad. Grace gave a little shrug. â€Å"Everybody deserves a second chance.† She thought about that, then added, mostly to herself, â€Å"That, I really do believe.† She marched over to the carriage. It was too high for her to climb up herself, and the grooms were nowhere in sight, so she called out, â€Å"Your grace! Your grace!† There was no reply, so she said, a little louder, â€Å"Ma'am!† The dowager's irate visage appeared in the open doorway. â€Å"What do you want?† Grace reminded herself that she had not spent a lifetime of Sunday mornings in church for nothing. â€Å"I wished to inquire if you needed anything, your grace.† â€Å"Why?† Good heavens, she was suspicious. â€Å"Because I am a nice person,† Grace said, somewhat impatiently. And then she crossed her arms, waiting to see what the dowager said to that. The dowager stared down at her for several moments, then said, â€Å"It is my experience that nice people don't need to advertise themselves as such.† Grace wanted to inquire what sort of experience the dowager had with nice people, since it was her own experience that most nice people fled the dowager's presence. But that seemed catty. She took a breath. She did not have to do this. She did not have to help the dowager in any way. She was her own woman now, and she did not need to worry over her security. But she was, as she had noted, a nice person. And she was determined to remain a nice person, regardless of her improved circumstances. She had waited upon the dowager for the last five years because she'd had to, not because she wanted to. And now†¦ Well, she still didn't want to. But she'd do it. Whatever the dowager's motives five years ago, she had saved Grace from a lifetime of unhappiness. And for that, she could spend an hour attending to the dowager. But more than that, she could choose to spend an hour attending to her. It was amazing what a difference that made. â€Å"Ma'am?† Grace said. That was all. Just ma'am. She'd said enough. It was up to the dowager now. â€Å"Oh, very well,† she said irritably. â€Å"If you feel you must.† Grace kept her face utterly serene as she allowed Lord Crowland (who had caught the latter half of the conversation and told Grace she was mad) to help her up. She took her prescribed seat – facing backward, as far from the dowager as possible – and folded her hands neatly in her lap. She did not know how long they would be sitting here; the others had not seemed quite ready to quit their lunch. The dowager was looking out the window; Grace kept her eyes on her hands. Every now and then she'd steal a glance up, and every time, the dowager was still turned away, her posture hard and stiff, her lips pinched tight. And then – perhaps the fifth time Grace looked up – the dowager was staring straight at her. â€Å"You disappoint me,† she said, her voice low – not quite hiss, but something close to it. Grace held her silence. She held everything, it seemed – her posture, her breath. She did not know what to say, except that she would not apologize. Not for having the audacity to reach out for happiness. â€Å"You were not supposed to leave.† â€Å"I was but a servant, ma'am.† â€Å"You were not supposed to leave,† the dowager said again, but this time something within her seemed to shake. Not quite her body, and not quite her voice. Her heart, Grace realized with a shock. Her heart was shaking. â€Å"He is not what I expected,† the dowager said. Grace blinked, trying to follow. â€Å"Mr. Audley?† â€Å"Cavendish,† the dowager said sharply. â€Å"You did not know that he existed,† Grace said, as gently as she was able. â€Å"How could you have expected anything?† The dowager did not answer. Not that question, anyway. â€Å"Do you know why I took you into my home?† she asked instead. â€Å"No,† Grace said softly. The dowager's lips pressed together for a moment before she said, â€Å"It was not right. A person should not be alone in this world.† â€Å"No,† Grace said again. And she believed it, with her whole heart. â€Å"It was for the both of us. I took a terrible thing and turned it into good. For both of us.† Her eyes narrowed, boring into Grace's. â€Å"You were not supposed to leave.† And then – good heavens, Grace could not believe she was saying it, but: â€Å"I will come visit you, should you wish.† The dowager swallowed, and she looked straight ahead when she said, â€Å"That would be acceptable.† Grace was saved from further reply by the arrival of Amelia, who informed them that they would depart momentarily. And indeed, she'd had barely enough time to settle into her seat when the carriage wheels creaked into motion, and they began to roll forward. No one spoke. It was better that way. Several hours later, Grace opened her eyes. Amelia was staring at her. â€Å"You fell asleep,† she said quietly, then put her finger to her lips as she motioned to the dowager, who had also dozed off. Grace covered a yawn, then asked, â€Å"How much longer do you think we have until we get there?† â€Å"I don't know.† Amelia gave a little shrug. â€Å"Perhaps an hour? Two?† She sighed then, and leaned back. She looked tired, Grace thought. They were all tired. And scared. â€Å"What will you do?† Grace asked, before she had the chance to think better of it. Amelia did not open her eyes. â€Å"I don't know.† It was not much of an answer, but then again, it hadn't been a fair question. â€Å"Do you know what the funniest part of it is?† Amelia asked quite suddenly. Grace shook her head, then remembered that Amelia's eyes were still closed and said, â€Å"No.† â€Å"I keep thinking to myself, ‘This isn't fair. I should have a choice. I should not have to be traded and bartered like some sort of commodity.' But then I think, ‘How is this any different? I was given to Wyndham years ago. I never made a complaint.'† â€Å"You were just a baby,† Grace said. Still, Amelia did not open her eyes, and when she spoke, her voice was quiet and full of recrimination. â€Å"I have had many years to lodge a complaint.† â€Å"Amelia – â€Å" â€Å"I have no one to blame but myself.† â€Å"That's not true.† Amelia finally opened her eyes. One of them, at least. â€Å"You're just saying that.† â€Å"No, I'm not. I would,† Grace admitted, because it was true. â€Å"But as it happens, I am telling the truth. It isn't your fault. It's not anyone's fault, really.† She took a breath. Let it out. â€Å"I wish it were. It would be so much easier that way.† â€Å"To have someone to blame?† â€Å"Yes.† And then Amelia whispered, â€Å"I don't want to marry him.† â€Å"Thomas?† Grace asked. Amelia had spent so long as his fiancee, and they did not seem to have any great affection for one another. Amelia looked at her curiously. â€Å"No. Mr. Audley.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"You sound so shocked.† â€Å"No, of course not,† Grace said hurriedly. What was she to say to Amelia – that she was so desperately in love with him herself that she could not imagine anyone not wanting him? â€Å"It's just that he's so handsome,† she improvised. Amelia gave a little shrug. â€Å"I suppose.† She supposed? Hadn't she ever seen him smile? But then Amelia said, â€Å"Don't you find him a little too charming?† â€Å"No.† Grace immediately looked down at her hands, because her no had come out in not at all the tone of voice she'd intended. And indeed, Amelia must have heard it, too, because her next words were – â€Å"Grace Eversleigh, do you fancy Mr. Audley?† Grace stammered and stumbled, and managed a rather croaky, â€Å"I – † before Amelia cut in with – â€Å"You do.† â€Å"It does not signify,† Grace said, because what was she supposed to say? To Amelia, who might or might not be engaged to marry him. â€Å"Of course it signifies. Does he fancy you?† Grace wanted to melt into the seat. â€Å"No,† Amelia said, sounding highly amused. â€Å"Don't answer. I can see from your face that he does. Well. I certainly shall not marry him now.† Grace swallowed. Her throat tasted bitter. â€Å"You should not refuse him on my account.† â€Å"What did you just say?† â€Å"I can't marry him if he's the duke.† â€Å"Why not?† Grace tried to smile, because really, it was sweet of Amelia to ignore the difference in their positions. But she could not quite manage it. â€Å"If he is the duke, he will need to marry someone suitable. Of your rank.† â€Å"Oh, don't be silly,† Amelia scoffed. â€Å"It's not as if you grew up in an orphanage.† â€Å"There will be scandal enough. He must not add to it with a sensational marriage.† â€Å"An actress would be sensational. You will merely be a week's worth of gossip.† It would be more than that, but Grace saw no point in arguing further. But then Amelia said – â€Å"I do not know Mr. Audley's mind, or his intentions, but if he is prepared to dare everything for love, then you should be, too.† Grace looked at her. How was it that Amelia suddenly looked so very wise? When had that happened? When had she stopped being Elizabeth's little sister and become†¦herself? Amelia reached out and squeezed her hand. â€Å"Be a woman of courage, Grace.† She smiled then, murmuring something to herself as she turned and looked out the window. Grace stared straight ahead, thinking†¦wondering†¦was Amelia right? Or was it just that she had never faced hardship? It was easy to talk about being courageous when one had never come face-to-face with desperation. What would happen if a woman of her background married a duke? Thomas's mother had not been an aristocrat, but when she married his father, he was only third in line to inherit, and no one had expected her to become a duchess. By all accounts, she had been dreadfully unhappy. Miserable, even. But Thomas's parents had not loved each other. They had not even liked each other, from what Grace had heard. But she loved Jack. And he loved her. Still, it would all be so much simpler if he turned out not to be the legitimate son of John Cavendish. And then, out of nowhere, Amelia whispered, â€Å"We could blame the dowager.† As Grace turned to her in confusion, Amelia clarified, â€Å"For this. You said it would be easier if we had someone to blame.† Grace looked over at the dowager, who was seated across from Amelia. She was snoring softly, and her head was perched at what had to be an uncomfortable angle. It was remarkable, but even in repose her mouth was pinched and unpleasant. â€Å"It's certainly more her fault than anyone else's,† Amelia added, but Grace noted that she tossed a nervous glance at the dowager as she spoke. Grace nodded, murmuring, â€Å"I cannot disagree with that.† Amelia stared off into space for several seconds, and then, just when Grace was convinced that she did not plan to respond, she said, â€Å"It didn't make me feel any better.† â€Å"Blaming the dowager?† â€Å"Yes.† Amelia's shoulders slumped a bit. â€Å"It's still horrible. The whole thing.† â€Å"Dreadful,† Grace agreed. Amelia turned and looked at her directly. â€Å"Sodding bad.† Grace gasped. â€Å"Amelia!† Amelia's face wrinkled in thought. â€Å"Did I use that correctly?† â€Å"I wouldn't know.† â€Å"Oh, come now, don't tell me you haven't thought something just as unladylike.† â€Å"I wouldn't say it.† The look Amelia gave her was as clear as a dare. â€Å"But you thought it.† Grace felt her lips twitch. â€Å"It's a damned shame.† â€Å"A bloody inconvenience, if you ask me,† Amelia responded, fast enough so Grace knew she'd been saving that one. â€Å"I have an advantage, you know,† Grace said archly. â€Å"Oh, really?† â€Å"Indeed. I am privy to the servants' talk.† â€Å"Oh, come now, you won't be convincing me that the housemaids at Belgrave talk like the fishmonger.† â€Å"No, but sometimes the footmen do.† â€Å"In front of you?† â€Å"Not on purpose,† Grace admitted, â€Å"but it happens.† â€Å"Very well.† Amelia turned to her with quirked lips and humor in her eyes. â€Å"Do your worst.† Grace thought for a moment and then, after darting a quick glance across the carriage to make sure that the dowager was still asleep, she leaned forward and whispered in Amelia's ear. When she was through, Amelia drew back and stared at her, blinking three times before saying, â€Å"I'm not sure I know what that means.† Grace frowned. â€Å"I don't think I do, either.† â€Å"It sounds bad, though.† â€Å"Sodding bad,† Grace said with a smile, and she patted Amelia's hand. Amelia sighed. â€Å"A damned shame.† â€Å"We're repeating ourselves,† Grace pointed out. â€Å"I know,† Amelia said, with a fair bit of feeling. â€Å"But whose fault is it? Not ours. We've been far too sheltered.† â€Å"Now that,† Grace announced with flair, â€Å"really is a damned shame.† â€Å"A bloody inconvenience, if you ask me.† â€Å"What the devil are the two of you talking about?† Grace gulped, and she stole a glance at Amelia, who was staring at the now quite awake dowager with a similar look of horror. â€Å"Well?† the dowager demanded. â€Å"Nothing,† Grace chirped. The dowager regarded her with a most unpleasant expression, then turned her icy attentions to Amelia. â€Å"And you, Lady Amelia. Where is your breeding?† And then Amelia – oh, dear heavens – she shrugged her shoulders and said, â€Å"Damned if I know.† Grace tried to hold still, but her shock positively burst out of her, and she rather feared she spat upon the dowager. Which did seem ironic, that the first time she did such a thing, it should be accidental. â€Å"You are disgusting,† the dowager hissed. â€Å"I cannot believe I considered forgiving you.† â€Å"Stop picking on Grace,† Amelia said. With surprising force. Grace turned to Amelia in surprise. The dowager, however, was furious. â€Å"I beg your pardon.† â€Å"I said, stop picking on Grace.† â€Å"And who do you think you are, to order me about?† As Grace watched Amelia, she would have sworn she changed right before her very eyes. Gone was the unsure girl, in her place was: â€Å"The future Duchess of Wyndham, or so I'm told.† Grace's lips parted in shock. And admiration. â€Å"Because really,† Amelia added disdainfully, â€Å"if I'm not, what the devil am I doing here, halfway across Ireland?† Grace's eyes darted from Amelia to the dowager and back. And then back again. And then – Well, suffice it to say, it was a monstrously long moment of silence. â€Å"Do not speak again,† the dowager finally said. â€Å"I cannot tolerate the sound of your voices.† And indeed, they all remained silent for the rest of the journey. Even the dowager.

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 23

Education - Essay Example All this can be attributed to the grade inflation taking place in the countrys education system where students are credited with honours they do not deserve if the standard grading system was to be used. For example, according to a study done in1993, more students received grade A, while fewer students received grade B (Alfie, 2002). This was in comparison to the grading of graduates from the year 1969 and 1976. Does this mean that students graduating in1993 studied harder than those students of 1969 and 1976? This is not the case. This simply shows the diminishing quality of education over the years in the United States of America. This paper will examine the report of the committee on raising standards by establishing the fact that indeed grade inflation is present in the United States Education System It is evident that there is an increase in students grades while there is lacking a corresponding shift on achievement. However, the main issues concerning motivation and grading are being ignored or obscured. One major issue that contributes to grade inflation is the fact that substantiating such claims has been difficult. This is because reports revealing grade inflation are often self-reports, which are rendered unreliable by the government and stakeholders in the education sector. For example, in the study done to study the grades in 1993 and those in 1969 and 1976, the survey did not substantiate the grades that were gotten in 1969 and 1976, thus they cannot be compared to establish the true facts (Alfie 2002). However, other researches done have been used by the government and stakeholders to show the â€Å"accurate† scenario with regard to grade inflation. Clifford Adelman conducted such a study where, he compared over 3000 transcripts (Alfie 2002). According to this research, grades had actually dropped in the past two decades. The main question here is

People Attitude Toward Death and God in the Holocaust Essay

People Attitude Toward Death and God in the Holocaust - Essay Example Over this issue God is autocratic and no leniency is shown to anyone. The meaning and impact of death needs to be known from the spiritual aspect to understand its implications properly. The greatest 'incarnation' of genocide-evil ever to be born on this Plant Earth, Adolph Hitler-did he not say when he finally realized that suicide was the only alternative for him, "Brutal force has not won anything durable" Death is the ultimate prerogative of the human being. It is the unavoidable inevitability. Let us understand it from the point of view of action-reaction theory. Every action has the reaction and the intensity of the reaction is in proportion to the intensity of the action. Over this no dispute exists between the scientists and the spiritualists. One of the rare agreements between the two contending forces; the two opposing forces; the forces that normally do not see eye to eye with each other! As per this theory, death happens to one individual or one million individuals at a t ime, not without a reason. Death is an act of divine retribution. Suddenness involved in the death, one must admit, is the grace of God! Awaiting death is tortuous and leads to serious psychological maladjustments. During war-time, prisoners of war, and the people live in fear of death. Simon Wiesenthal, in his book, "The Sunflower," describes such a situation thus: "And one piece of bad news followed another, each more alarming than the last. Today's news was worse than yesterday's, and tomorrow's would be worse still."(Wiesenthal, 1998, p. 4) The book by Anna Porter deals with the preventive measures to stall holocaust. Many in Israel were jealous of the honest attempts made by Kasztner to save the lives of Jews from certain death in the concentration camps. The man who accused him was Malchiel Greenwad, He "was a disappointed, angry, toothless old man with a black yarmulke and a small beard; his one ambition had been to become a journalist. ...Few people took Grnwald or his frequent outpourings of hate seriously. He was particularly hysterical in his attacks on the ruling Labor Party..." (Porter, 2007, p.375) Kasztner, who negotiated the deal with the Nazis, knew how tough the job was! Porter writes, "Kasztner looked out the window at the bare, grimy bricks of the courtyard. The sun lit up a corner where someone had hung a small basket of blue flowers, now withered. Perhaps the woman who had tended them had been dragged away to the Srvr prison, or Kistarcsa, or was already on her way to Auschwitz-Birkenau. "Because, Herr Hofrat, it was the best I could do. And we have to supply everything: medicines, baby food, blankets if -- God forbid -- winter comes and we are still waiting [for the war to end]Stern nodded."(Porter, 2007, p.203) Anna's book is about tough negotiations of Kasztner to save the lives of Jews and this aspect needs to be viewed from the point of view of political negotiations, for a great humanitarian cause. How can a 14 year old digest the intricacies of philosophical logic related to death The devastating novel by Imre Kertesz, "Fateless" is about the life in concentration camp, of Gyorgy Koves, a Hungarian Jew .He writes, " At the destination station under his feet was

Nietzsches Critique of Liberalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nietzsches Critique of Liberalism - Essay Example Against the backdrop of liberalism movement that was taking place in the late 17th century and early 18th century, Nietzsche claimed that democracy only worked to protect the rights of the majority, which included the general population compared to the liberal idea that democracy worked to protect the rights and interests of individual people (Ansell-Pearson, 1994). This view on liberalism strikes the right chord because, in every sense, democracy in the modern world is based on the rights of the majority against the rights of individuals. This means most constitutions, the world over, claim to protect the rights and privileges of individuals yet, on the other hand, the rights of the majority overrules. It is only in exceptional cases, which often involve the affluent in society, that this view is applied. The rich are always given their rights when they demand them. The idea of liberalism emphasized on protecting the rights of every individual, but according to Nietzsche, these individuals’ are usually the rich people in society. The liberals did not protect the rights of the general citizenry as they claimed. Instead, they were clustered in one group and their rights were determined as a whole’. Nevertheless, the rights of the majority came in as a second priority since the liberals focused on securing the rights of the affluent in society. This means that the poor or middle income had no say; since the rich people were the main decision and policy makers because only their voice counted in key decision making. This notion created a slave mentality among such liberal states. According to Peters, et al (2003), Nietzsche also believed in the mastery of oneself. He believed that human beings should define their live according to themselves and rid themselves pity of the weak members of the society. In order for an individual to succeed in a society, he should not be tied to any equality standards, but be allowed to go grow beyond boarders in tandem with their abilities. This means that liberalism hindered the growth of individuals since it placed standards and emphasized on equality among individuals, yet each individual has the ability to grow beyond the average. He believed that liberalism emphasized on equality among members of the society, yet in the real sense not every human being has the same potential as the other. He envisioned a society where, individuals would have their own independence and