Courage Under Fire

The film â€Å"Courage Under Fire† tackles ethical issues and moral dilemmas. Here an officer during the course of his investigation, searches for the truth in the different accounts regarding a Desert Storm mission while struggling with his own demons. Wildland Fire Leadership Values and Principles espouses three main merits in a leader; Duty, Respect and Integrity. In the film, the characters display such characteristics under different circumstances.Perhaps one of the main principles that can be observed in the film is the choice of the two key characters to choose the difficult right over the easy wrong. Rather than leave their crash site in the middle of night, where darkness will provide them good cover and a good chance to escape safely, Captain Karen Walden did otherwise for the sake of her injured co-pilot. She took into consideration the safety of all the members of her team and tried to save what could be saved. When Monfriez tried to stage a mutiny to push the team to escape, Cpt.Walden asserted herself; demonstrating her prowess as a capable leader, who earlier in the day effectively put to use all their available resources to assemble a make-shift fort to keep them safe and make good use of their ammunition until rescue arrives. As for Colonel Nat Serling, he accepted full responsibility of his actions and their consequences during the attack which took the life of his closest friend. Though there was visible stress after he realized his action, it was brief and he rallied his men to finish the mission.His decisions and his alertness during the event prevented major loss in their part. In the Monfriez’s false account, his description of Capt. Walden was of characters contradictory to those of the values and principles mentioned above. This characterization devoid of notions of integrity, respect and duty produces a person unfit for such a job that required leadership and proficiency. Along with demonstrating the leadership principles and values, the characters also perform actions that they consider fitting in their given situations.To arrive at these actions, they relied on their own capacities rather than waiting for the orders of outside forces; like what Colonel Serling did when he ordered the tanks to turn on their lights to distinguish their own forces from that of the enemies’. Though command was asking him to relay the conditions, he preferred not to focus on the question and proceeded to give orders based on his analysis of the situation. Amidst pressure Capt. Walden stood by her decision, having confidence in her capabilities.Her ability to translate her bravery into actions and also her leadership skills to the men, resorting only to drastic measures when circumstances call for it, display her influence over the people around her. This influence should not be interpreted as something overbearing; the abilities of Walden and Serling to communicate their desires and convince others to do it, suc h as General Hershberg agreeing to extensions and allowing Serling time to explain and Capt. Walden’s command over her troops, are qualities of good and effective leaders.Only when it is abused or used incorrectly does it become overbearing and unbecoming of a good leader. However, the feedback they get as people with position are not the same. A hint of gender bias appears in the film; Walden was the first woman to be awarded a medal already handed to numerous men, such a ruckus was made in the decision to do so stemming from existing ideals that as Eagly et al. states; â€Å"in explicit leadership roles, women tend to be viewed less positively than men (qtd. in Unger 253), and Monfriez weakens Walden’s character by emphasizing on her emotional attributes.While Serling kept on with the mission even though Boylar had died, Walden chose to remain in the site for her injured co-pilot. This might be attributed to differences in leadership due to dispositions but other co ntrasting elements should also be taken into account. While the tank has been confirmed hit, thus its crew dead, Walden’s co-pilot was still alive and as a leader bound by moral duties, Walden chose to stay. Steven Covey in his foreword to Greenleaf, Spears and Covey’s (4) book, wrote that â€Å"†¦the essential quality that sets servant-leaders apart from others is that they live by their conscience- the inward moral sense of what is right and what is wrongâ€Å". Though not directly, the conscience that exists in member-oriented leaders is a factor of moral courage which according to Hildreth (96) â€Å"consists in enduring, through the force of the moral sentiment, those numerous pains which spring from the malevolence of others to whom our conduct gives offence; particularly those pains which we are subject through the sentiment of self-comparison, pains of obloquy, mortification, and disgrace†.Aside from conscience, moral courage is similar to other f acets of ethical leadership such as â€Å"judicious use of incentives, astute ordering of priorities and allocating resources where they count the most† (Greenleaf, Spears and Covey’s 73). Both these values can be observed in the key characters. Courage Under Fire not only showed the bravery of its characters in the field of battle but in the midst of people and their peers as well.It is in this film several embodiments of leadership virtues can be seen and perhaps learned by those who choose to watch this. Courage Under Fire. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perf. Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Matt Damon. 1996. DVD. 20th Century Fox, 2000. Greenleaf, Robert K. , Spears, Larry C. , & Stephen R. Covey. Servant leadership: a journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness. 25th ed. New Jersey: Paulist Press.2002. Hildreth, Richard. Theory of Morals: An Inquiry Concerning the Law of Moral Distinctions and the Variations and Contradictions of Ethical Codes . Boston: Published by C. C. Little & J. Brown. 1844. Unger, Rhoda. Handbook of the Psychology of Women and Gender. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons. 2004. â€Å"Values and Principles. † fireleadership. gov. 3 June 2009. < http://www. fireleadership. gov/ values_principles. html>

Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management - Assignment Example Personality is described in different ways by various theorists. Freud described theories according to psychic determinism in the sense that he declares how our early life dictates behaviour and unconscious reactions (Dakota, 2003). Freud also believed that individuals have their drives which direct behaviour; he believes that eros is the life instinct which preserves the species; the libido is the sexual energy; and thanatos is the people’s desire to go back to the womb, one which manifests in the person as aggressive behaviour (Dakota, 2003). Jung, believed that personality was made up of the conscious ego – what we present to the outside world; personal unconscious – which refers to a person’s motives which are unique to an individual; and collective unconscious – which refers to how people understand a person’s past (Dakota, 2003). Jung also believed that personality traits were within a continuum and people usually fell within such a con tinuum. Based on the psychodynamic theorists like Adler (Dakota, 2003), individuals already have basic qualities which define their personality. Karen Horney, also another psychodynamic theorist, believed that anxiety is a major motivator in people’s actions. ... For the infant, he usually gains trust in his surroundings based on how his basic needs are met (Dakota, 2003). As the toddler gains control of his bladder and bowel, he also learns to be more independent; as he reaches the pre-school years, he learns to initiate activities, most often during playtime. He later competes with his peers during his school age years. As a teenager, he also establishes a sense of self and comes up with his own goals (Dakota, 2003). During his adult years, he finds a sense of belonging with friends or through a significant other. The theories and explanations above can be used in order to understand behaviour in the workplace. By understanding how personality types and qualities can vary, the appropriate actions can be expected of individuals. The personality match to the organization is an important element of effective management. Without such match, the organization activities would not succeed and blend well with the workers. There are five major perso nalities which are often considered within an organization. Extroverts manifest as sociable and assertive individuals; those who are agreeable are good-natured and cooperative; the conscientious ones usually reliable and organized; emotional stability manifests in those who are calm and secure; finally, openness is usually seen in terms of their sensitivity and curiosity (Ahmed, et.al., 2010). Extroversion, agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness are usually favourably related to collaboration in conflict management. For managers, managing different personalities is highly based on how he understands each personality for each of the various workers. Behaviour can

Housing for Aboriginal Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Housing for Aboriginal Australia - Essay Example Indigenous architecture necessarily identifies with the otherwise inexplicable participatory and consultative design methodologies (Memmott, 2008). Such methodologies or techniques are presumed to be not-so-well calculated or inarticulate though. Australian aboriginals have been known for their indefatigable behavioral tendencies in relation to habitat building efforts (Glascott, 1985). Despite their indigenous qualitative outcomes, a series of deficiencies too has been noted by analysts. The following dimensional analysis of the Australian aboriginals' abode building experience illustrates the whole process of community house building efforts of an indigenous community and their related outcomes (Vulker, 1990). The impact of indigenous culture on the design and construction processes of abodes or dwellings has received much wider attention, especially with emphasis on indigenous people's gregarious behavioral tendency. The community feeling or congregational behavior in indigenous communities such as aboriginals has been investigated with reference to many other aspects though it has very little been studied with reference to their effort to build structures for living (Trewin and ABS, 2006). Indigenous culture of Australian aboriginals has been necessarily associated with their community living experience that presupposes societal interaction at each and every level of social transformation. For instance the aboriginal houses built at Broken Hills in Mutawintji have communal living rooms, bigger cooking areas for preparation of hunted animals, dormitory-like bedrooms and huge compounds (www.heritage.nsw.gov.au, see Appendix).For instance despite the larger impact of migration on these cul tures, still these indigenous populations have managed to remain relatively uninfluenced by exogenous forces of change. However the dichotomy between the traditional culture and the contemporary culture being absorbed by them cannot be emphasized too much. Under exceptional circumstances this dichotomy can be taken to identify a clash of sorts, viz. the contemporary culture might seek to influence the traditional culture to such an extent that societal transformation of the indigenous populations would acquire a heterogeneous element of identity (Flood, 2007). Thus Australian aboriginals have recognized the all too important dichotomy to be a phase just preceding the fluid situation (Burke, 2004). In fact Australian aboriginals have seen how their own culture in housing design and construction has been influenced by the contemporary culture of the heterogeneous diversity. This is an inevitable influence on structure, design and materials. (2). Indigenous design dimensionIndigenous populations like the Australian aboriginals have particularly been able to develop their own design parameters and above all the participatory and consultative paradigms that have been essentially associated with such design processes occupy a still more significant place. Australian aboriginals have been noted for their exotic structural design perspectives in housing (Read, 2000). While autochthonous design traits persist to a greater extent there are also some exogenous characteristics that permeate through the design and construction process. For instance desp

Discussion question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Discussion question - Essay Example It has an updated A5X processor bringing quad-core graphics on the rear with a VGA sensor on the front. It has a sharper screen, powered by high-speed A5x chip, and has the capability of viewing high-powered 3D games. Additionally, the new product can accommodate films on iTunes Store in Full HD, and has a clear and crispy picture resolution. Moreover, the new iPad 3 can play HD films and in the U.S., the iPad 3 connects to fast cellular networks. Most significantly, the new iPad 3 has roaming possibilities over HSPA networks making it the best product in the market (Apple, 2012). The marketing trend of this product is very affirmative. Indeed, Apple has adopted various marketing strategies like marketing mix and e-marketing. In using the e-marketing strategy, the company involves product configuration, product price valuation of the market mix, product and sales promotions, and availing the product in various markets physically and online (Kalyanam and Mclyntyre, 2002). A company’s success involves articulating all aspects of marketing, customer service and customer relationships, value creation, and strategic management. Strategic marketing management can be defined as an intensive and comprehensive program used by organization managers seeking to develop a more strategic and disciplined approach to the marketing process of a reference organization (The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, 2011). Better strategic marketing management guarantees competitive advantage and subsequent increase in turnovers. According to the article â€Å"Unleashing the power of Marketing† and in relation to strategic marketing management, there is need to refocus strategic management in line with the new technological advancements, stronger customer relations, innovations, and global markets. This requires a marketing engine that will lead to a more direct interaction with the customers thus creating new markets using standard finance and h uman resources.

Morality is Not Relative Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Morality is Not Relative - Research Paper Example Moral definition by a society is highly dependent on the perception, attitudes and preferences of a society in the day to day interactions of people that make up that society. According to James Rachels, morality is not relative. Morality and resultant issues can be looked from different points of view. Rachels is well aware of this fact. In his discussion, cultural relativism is considered, alongside moral absolutism. The idea here is to point out the shortcomings associated with cultural relativism in the subject matter; morality. Use of real life examples enhances Rachels’ ideas, bringing out the natural and social picture that is easily applicable to societies. This is easy to understand and relate with, given the activities that define a given society. A good example used is that of infants and the explanation of how the society would fail to support itself following a cultural relativism application in that society. Specifically, people are socially responsible for bring ing up infants under the best available conditions. If such social responsibilities were not a central focus of the society, then the survival of the infants could be threatened (Pojman 411). On the same note, the society regenerates itself through reproduction, replacing the dead with the newborns. Such a social activity occurs generally without the imposition of rules to govern it. This is evidenced by the fact that a society that would chose not to replace their dead is not by rules fixed to that. However, social responsibility has it that the society should ensure its continuity. This way, even without rules to govern how infants are brought up, the society does its best to ensure that infants survive and the society ensures its presence over generations. There exists a universal interconnectedness of societies around the world. Universally accepted orders that define the differences between and among societies have been found to link these societies. Societal differences may no t be of the magnitude that is thought to exist. Rachels notes this and provides examples that show evidence of this claim. The example used relate to a society that fails to eat cows while another does, due to various reasons known to these societies (Pojman 410). This is just but example in numerous social contexts around the world. Different societies fail to do something based on reasons unique to them. However, the fail-to-practice code of one society is practice code for another, portraying just how much societies are connected universally. Fixed lifestyles that do not uphold this factor are presented by cultural relativism. Moral absolutism plays a fundamental role in assessing social interconnectedness. Societies are characterized by both rights and wrongs. In other words, different societies accept the fact that there exits both right and wrong between and among social interactions. However, what is considered right by one society is not necessarily right to other societies. Right and wrongdoings are confined to a specific societal definition by a particular society. On the same note, one society can make strong grounds that another society is right in doing something, while others may refute the right to constitute a wrong. Although morality is defined uniquely by the concept of right and wrong from one society to another, there are instances that stand out to interest all societies in being within the norms or against such norms. Such an instance is that given by Rachels about

African American Cultures Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

African American Cultures - Research Proposal Example Through the nuance of the Black culture, the African Americans are reminded of their past especially during slavery. The bifurcations in the trajectory remind the black American persons of their past and the conditions that unite them (Anderson, 1977, p.4). The aura of the Black spirituals is also credited for uniting the Blacks. The church also boosted the culture, creativity of the African American Music, in relation to Huggins (2007, p.xiv –xx) and the depictions in African American poems (Graham & Vard, 2011, p.535). Anderson, E. (1977). The Use of the Black Folk Oral Tradition and Other Black Rhetorical and Verbal Strategies in the Teaching of Composition. Retrieved on 2 August, 2012. From: http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED145425.pdf Hamlet, J. (2011).Word! The African American Oral Tradition and its Rhetorical Impact on American Popular Culture, 74 (1), p27-31. Retrieved on 2 August, 2012.

(AP STYLE) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

(AP STYLE) - Essay Example Many have included it as a popular destination and metaphor for the social issues. This paper delves into how the ‘cradle of life’ has been depicted in different films. One of the many popular movies is Edward Zwick’s Blood Diamond. Zwick commented: â€Å"[w]hen I first read about Sierra Leone, I was shocked. I’d read books about the colonial scramble for Africa, about the exploitation of its ivory, rubber and gold, but to learn the history of diamonds was to learn the history of Africa all over again† (2006, p.1). The story shows meaningful concepts on the continent’s background, human rights violations, and rich natural resources. Included in its themes is the violence that has been happening in the territories of Africa. For instance, the main character (Danny Archer) states â€Å"[o]ut here, people kill each other as a way of life. It’s always been like that†. The story line shows that many Africans may have already accepted the cruel nature of humanity. Their history has been perforated with subjugations from different oppressors. The aforementioned line of Archer may represent several ruthless mortalities, such as the genocide in Rwanda, slaughter of Muslims in Godhra, and the tribal cleansing in Bosnia. Furthermore, some acts from the picture exhibited hands being hacked off to stop people from practicing their right to vote. The scenes have shown gory details on how Africans get hurt and mercilessly killed. Comparably, White Material is a drama that centers on a French woman who chose to stay in Africa. The director Claire Denis utilized artistic imagery in revealing the nation as ravaged by war. The protagonist, Maria, is an owner of a coffee plantation amidst a civil war. In the story the continent was regarded as a very unpleasant place. This is particularly intuited when Maria’s son gazed at a vat full of blood-red coffee beans. Consequently, he looked at his mother. This scene implies th e young man’s hatred toward his mother for choosing to stay in such an iniquitous environment. Probably, Denis wanted to show that the land can be both hated and loved. The violence in Africa has also been presented in other pictures, such as Cry Freetown, Tsotsi, and Battle of Algiers. The first is a 1999 documentary film by Sorious Samura. It was quite informative regarding the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone. Similarly, Tsotsi is a 2005 picture set in the locale of Soweto, South Africa. It became well known especially when it won an Oscar award for best foreign film. It is about one of the crime infested towns. Battle of Algiers is a 1965 movie that depicts the fight for independence in Algeria during the 1950s. It was banned in France for 5 years after its release. These films showcase guerilla revolutions, mass-killing by authorities, and coups. Peoples in different nations have perceived Africa as a very troublesome place. Numerous of them have come to this conclusion because of the bloody and pugnacious scenes in big screens and in the news. However, as compared to the present and actual situations, vicious local conflict is not that much of an everyday occurrence. Though there are indeed some territories that have gone through civil wars, most of the borders were established without ferocious social unrest. The most usual kind of struggle is amongst government militias and rebels. In contrast to the general conception, wars between state armies are quite rare. The vast continent is composed of 54 states. With