Surah Al Fatina Guide

INTRODUCTION OF SURAH AL FATIHAThe word â€Å"Fatiha† comes from the verb â€Å"Fataha†, which means in this text â€Å"to open†. â€Å"Al† is a defined article and Fatiha means the opening Surah, which opens the Quran. Some Muslims interpret it as this surah has ability to open a person's faith in Allah. It is the Mecci Surah of the Holy Quran, which means that it was discovered on the Prophet of God while He was in Makah, It also has the honor of being the very first Surah that is made known completely. Although it consists of 7 Ayahsonly, but it still explains the Veneration of the Almighty in a very comprehensive fashion and also is a great means of supplication of asking Allah for keeping one on the right path. It is also named Umm al-Qur'an, the Mother of the Qur'an, and Umm al-Kitab, the Mother of the Book because it summarizes the meaning of whole Quran. It is also named Sab'ul-Mathani, (the Seven Often Repeated Verses), Al-Hamd, (the Praise), Al-Shifa (The Cure) and Ar-Ruqya, the Spiritual Cure. Its recitation is a condition for the effectiveness of the prayer.VIRTUES OF SURAH FATIHASurah Al Fatiha has many virtues. Some of them are briefly defined here:It is cure of diseases such as Snake sting, Epilepsy or any otherillness. A companion once recited Al-Fatihah over a scorpion bite, to which the Prophet commanded him saying:†How did you know it was a Ruqyah (cure)?†(Sahih Al Bukhari)It is the greatest chapter of Quran.It is pillar of the prayer as Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) said: â€Å"Whoever does not recite SurahAl Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid†.†(Sahih Al Bukhari)It is the seven oft-repeated verses because it is repeated in everyunit of prayer.It is mother of Quran.It was sent from Heaven as a light. An Angel addressed the Prophet(SAW) saying:â€Å"Rejoice in two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you, Al-Fatihah and the last verses of Al- Baqarah†It is cure for heart as it protects heart from offensive motives.THEME OF SURAH FATIHAIt declares that God alone is the maintainer of all the known and the unknown worlds, ultimate source of mercy, justice and guidance for mankind. Only He can guide man to the way of life acceptable to him though he doesn't compel anyone to follow that way. Instead, in the words of the Quran, it is man's duty to beg before Him for guidance: Allah said in Quran that: call on Me,I shall answer your supplication† (40:60). He also tells man the consequences of following this code of conduct or going astray. Therefore, man needs to praise and worship him and resort to him alone. AsHe is the supreme justice and everybody will have to answer Him on the day of Judgement for his worldly deeds.TAFSEER OF SURAH ALFATIHA1. In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.This statement is also known as the basmala.Baa means In the name of Allah or seeking help or blessing with the name of ALLAH.As in Arabic language it has three different meanings.The Meaning of al-Rahman and al-Raheem:Both these names are derived from the same root letters: raa, haa, meem; which means to have mercy. They are thus similar in meaning and both are connected to Allah's (SWT) Mercy. Allah has started the first surah with his names of mercy rather than might and power that shows that how important this characteristic is.And there also exist a difference between Al Rahman and AL Raheem. Al-RahmanIt is Allah's mercy to all the creation as in one of hadith it is mentioned that Allah has divided his mercy into 100 parts and only one part is sent down to this dunia.It is from this one part of His Mercy that animals show mercy to their offspring (Sahih Muslim)Allah says in QURAN: My Mercy encompasses all things. (Al-A'raf: 156) Al-RaheemAl-Raheem indicated the Mercy of Allah which is specific for the believers. It indicated the doing of action that only those people have mercy who believes in Allah.Allah says in Quran: He is full of mercy to the believers (Al-Ahzab:43)2. [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worldsAccording to scholarsHamd and shukar has same meaning i.e.Thankfulness or gratitude. But in actual they have some difference i.e.Hamd is something which must be done with love and reverence, but shukr does not need this. Shukr is done in response to a favour which is done to a person but hamd is done simply because the one being praised and thanked is wor thy of that.Rabb:Rabb comes from the root letter Raa; Baa, Baa means one having control over something. SoRaab means one who controls or cherishes everything and is the king and master of everything. In case of ALLAH; He is alone the master whole universe and cherishes it.Aa'lameen means everything that exists other than ALLAH TALA which includes those things which have an intellect, and they are four i.e. mankind, Jins, angels and devils. It also includes those things which have souls. But it is believed that the view about everything that exists other than Allah is best because of proofs being ayah 23 and 24 of Surah Shu'ara.Said Pharaoh, â€Å"And what is the Lord of the worlds?† (23)[Moses] said, â€Å"The Lord of the heavens and earth and that between them, if you should be convinced.†(24)3. The Entirely Merciful, and beneficial Here these two names are repeated to again emphasis on two important attributes of Allah that is mercy. When something is repeated in Quran pak we see ayah before it and after it to see how they are related. Here the previous ayah told the power of Allah that He has the control over everything yet again here Allah defined Himself as the most merciful as well and tells that His taking of and sustaining and providing for us is all part of his mercy towards us. 4. Master of the Day of Judgment The first word of this ayah can be recited in two ways: either as â€Å"Maalik† (with a madd after the meem) or as â€Å"Malik† (without the madd). Maalik means master, and it refers to â€Å"milk† – the ownership of something. Malik means king, and it refers to â€Å"mulk† – the dominion of a person. It is the Day of Recompense for deeds. Everyone will be gathered on this day. Some will be rewarded through His Mercy while others punished through His Justice. Allah specifically mentions His sovereignty alone on the Day of Judgment in this verse because no one will claim anything on that day and no one will be allowed to speak except by His permission. For some scholars it is the most alarming ayah of Quran whereas some scholars says it's the most calmest ayah of Quran which gives ry of hope to people that there would be day of justice. 5. It is You we worship and You we ask for help.At this point, there is a shift in the Surah from informing us about Allah (SWT) and praising Him, to addressing Him.â€Å"We worship† means we obey. Worship is obedience and self-abasement. It means to humble yourself before Allah (SWT) and to submit to His Will. Outwardly it is self-abasement, but in reality, it is glory and beautification. The ayah affirms the Lordship of Allah and affirms that worship is due to Him.â€Å"Iyyaakanasta'een† means we seek help, support and success.It also refers the status of the slave and his worship which is lower so it will come after mentioning the Lord, Allah (SWT).This verse is a proof that the slave is not allowed to divert any type of worship to other than Allah. The verse also contains remedy for the hearts from the illness of being attached to other than Allah. There is also a cure in it against spiritual diseases of showing off, self-admiration, and arrogance. 6. Guide us to the straight pathThis part of Surah Al-Fatiha is dua in which we asks ALLAH to show us right path so that we do good deeds to get closer to Allah. We need to struggle towards Allah (SWT) by doing good deeds and by staying away from all bad deeds which will distance us from Him.The word â€Å"siraat† in ayah means path. But it is not any other ordinary path rather it has certain conditions which has to be fullfilled.Theseconditions are that it must be straight path. It must reach the goal and it must be shortest route to achieve the goal. Otherwise it would be called something else such as tareeq or sabeel.The word â€Å"Mustaqeem† in ayah is derived from istaqaama, which means to be straight, upright, and correct. We already said that for a road to be a sirat it must be straight, so this adjective of mustaqeem again emphasis the straightness of this Path. Another meaning of mustaqeem is to remain firm or to stand firm without tilting. For example, a tree that is firmly grounded when the wind blows it is not affected by it. So, the Straight Path is a path on which people are firmly grounded.7. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray. Who are the people who have been blessed by Allah (SWT) and whose Path we ask to guide to? This is explained by Allah (SWT) in another ayah where He says: † Whosoever obeys Allah, and the Messenger, they are with those whom Allah has favored, the Prophets, the sincere, the martyrs and the righteous, and these are the best company. â€Å"(Al-Nisa': 69) So, the favored and blessed people are the Prophets, the righteous, the martyrs and the pious. And who are the people with anger on them and those who are astray? This is explained by the Prophet. ‘AdiibnHatim (RA) asked him about those with anger on them and he replied that it refers to the Jews. He then asked him about those who are astray and he replied that it refers to the Christians. This is reported by al-Tirmidhi and is authentic.IMPACT OF SURAH AL FATIHA ON MUSLIMSSurah Fatiha has great impact on Muslims. According to some scholars this surah opens the faith of people. And repeatedly recitation of Surah Fatiha brin gs one closer to Allah. It drive us to ensure that we are sincere to the meaning of words that You alone we worship and to You alone we ask for help. This Surah gives Muslims ray of hope that they will have justice on the day of judgment as ALLAH has said He is the Master of the day ofjudgement.And this Surah helps us to seek guidance from Allah and thank Allah always when we have something from all. Muslims have great belief that by reciting Surah Fatiha they can cure diseases. Apart of that, This Surah always remind us through reciting that all praises belongs to ALLAH and He is the only one who worth worshiping. And it reminds Muslims that they have to return back to Allah one day and He will ask about their worldly deeds so they try not to commit bad deeds and act upon the commands of Allah.

A passage to India †Symbolism Essay

Analyse the symbol of the mosque to bring out the complex picture of Islam in the novel A Passage to India. Mosque is the holy place for all Mohammedans, and in the Novel ‘A Passage to India’ it has a greater significance. The first part of the novel is named as Mosque. E M Foster has a unique technique to use symbolism to convey the way society, religion, caste and treatment of different class of people. Foster uses mysticism and complexity throughout the novel, yet he also has real interpretation of the journey the characters take from beginning till the end. Similarly, he brings out the qualities which transpire â€Å"what Islam is, and what it means to Aziz?† using mosque as the symbolism. For this purpose, Mosque is not just portrayed as a religious building but also the significance it has to Islam. As a religion which is against iconography, Mosque is unlike the place of worship compared to Christians or Hindus, where there is a painting or idol is present for worship. Instead, in a mausoleum there is none and just a courtyard that points towards Medina. The Mosque and Muslim faith point out that â€Å"There is no God but God†. The complexities build further when Foster writes about Aziz and his attachment to the Mosque in the beginning of the story. When we read that Aziz is walking down the lane towards the Mosque and is thinking of the place, and in his mind the attachment what it bring to him. The Mosque serves as a place in his heart which no one can take it, the place where his mind and soul can rest and be at ease. With all tensions with British in India and the way the religions were colliding leading to multiple ideas, the educated were starting to question the olden ways of the religion. Here the attachment to Mosque and its symbolism provided not only a sense of how the religion stood in current world of Aziz, but it also provided happiness. The Islamic doctrine dictated equality towards all worshippers under God. There was no priesthood hierarchy in the Mosque, but rather the place provided each person with one’s own way of worship. The house of God also designates an unreachable friendship with the God with every follower of Islam. Foster describes using Aziz, as the mosque has indeterminate sentiments towards the faith.

Sentencing and Corrections System Research Paper

Sentencing and Corrections System - Research Paper Example Sentencing and Corrections System Even though rehabilitation is one of the listed purposes of sentencing, its capability to achieve the goals has been questioned at length. On the contrary, incapacitation unlike the other retribution methods is the severest form of punishment that reduces the possibility of the criminal’s reversion for a specific period of time. According to Mackenzie (2001), the world has been witnessing enormous changes in the philosophy and practice of sentencing and corrections during the last thirty years. The early twentieth century justice systems emphasized more on rehabilitation, whereas, by the end of the century emphasis was given on fairness and justice, considering sentences as necessary. With the changes of time, the concept of sentencing was altered into a crime-control method that focused on incarceration intending to reduce the amount of crime in the community. According to Mackenzie (2001), the four essential and fundamental goals attributed to the sentencing process are retr ibution, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation. Retribution is based on the basic principle that those who break the law must be prosecuted. However, deterrence focuses the hardness of punishment. As a result, offenders are discouraged to commit any further crimes considering rationally the cost of punishment which is too hard. The process of Incapacitation physically confines the person into prison, providing him no further chance o commit any crime. On the other hand, rehabilitation tries to develop the offender’s behavior thinking which may prevent persons from continuing to commit crimes. The sentences frequently meet several of these objectives in practice emphasizing the priority of them. However, emphasis of the methods is given to protect the public and the mechanisms are expected to provide public safety. The objectives and goals of punishment have been changing with the passage of time; and the number of persons under the correctional supervision in the Uni ted States has been enlarging rapidly. Variations in the philosophy and practice of sentencing and corrections can create significant impacts on the imprisonment rates. In the opinion of Mackenzie (2001), some of the issues during the mid twentieth century were the arguments for abandoning the rehabilitation model as well the demand for increased crime control through incapacitation and deterrence. Proponents asked for limitation off the authority of judges and correctional administrators on moderate criminal offences and to bring minimum mandatory sentences. However, everyone agree with the notion that crime prevention with the help of incapacitations is a major justification of justice. The overall impact also considers the impact on individual offenders, who are restricted by several Federal and State laws that deny the right to vote, hold offices, and engage in particular occupations. Sentencing has been affecting the state and federal corrections system throughout the years. Th e sentencing principle focused more on incarceration, having greater impacts on the total legal structure of the nation. As Blumstein (n.d) pints out, 12 percent of the increase in incarceration rates was due to more offenses being committed. Variations in the philosophy of sentencing and correction have a dramatic impact on the criminal judicial system. Even when some States did not alter to a determinate sentencing procedure, they undertook the changes to

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USABILITY EVALUATION - Essay Example Navision then began to offer Navision Financials 1.0, an accounting and enterprise-resource planning solution application in 1990s. This application was then offered for Microsoft’s Windows 2000 Professional operating system, and Navision later in 2000 emerged with rival Damgaard. In 2002, Microsoft acquired Navision or $1.45 billion after acquisition of Great Plains of Software in 2000. While still using the same name, Microsoft continued to be innovative and eventually came up with a new department called Microsoft Business Solutions. The name Microsoft Dynamics then came to be in 2006 after Microsoft decided to rebrand Navision when it realized that it needed to have stronger brand for its several product brands that were equally under Microsoft Business Solutions. The Microsoft Dynamics ERP as an enterprise resource planning product is an initiative meant for the middle size organizations, subsidiaries and divisions of major organizations. Microsoft Dynamic ERP is composed of; The Dynamic CRM 2011 is remarked for being the Microsoft’s recent Customer Relationship Management application software which is geared towards the small to medium sized business markets (Dennison, 2011). With the increasing technological innovations and inventions, the hardware platforms upon which Microsoft Dynamics can be run have evolved from the initial stand along computers to laptops, palmtops and current into simple electronic devices such and the iphones. For the purpose of this usability evaluation on the effectiveness of Microsoft Dynamics, four participants were used. Two out of the four people used as the sample population were business operators while the other two were clients. All these individuals shared characteristics of using the Microsoft Dynamics in their operations of selling, buying, and window shopping for items that are available in the markets. The arrows indicate the direction of flow of tasks and

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Roles and responsibilities of community health Essay

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INTERNATIONAL LITIGATION law 2010 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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Management finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

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Benchmarking for Performance Evaluation Essay Example for Free

Benchmarking for Performance Evaluation Essay IntroductIon In September 2004, Wendy Wiley, the Northlake Bookstore manager, was considering the implications of a shocking development. For the first time in her seven years as the Bookstore manager, textbook sales for this fall had decreased from the prior fall sales. The sales decrease was approximately $180,000, or 3% of annual textbook sales. Wendy wanted to address this problem before it got worse. She found that this sales decrease was due to two emerging technology problems, possibly of equal magnitude: 1) the students’ increasing use of online textbook vendors, and 2) the professors’ increasing use of online textbook publishers. Wendy reported the bad sales news to her boss, Chuck Irwin, the Vice Chancellor of Finance at Northlake University. After commiserating with her, Chuck told her that he was not surprised by this sales problem and that she should consider how to deal with these emerging technologies in her next performance evaluation report by comparing the performance of the Northlake Bookstore against competitors using benchmarking analysis. This analysis would help Wendy find the strengths and weaknesses of the Bookstore. Additionally, Chuck wanted Wendy to develop a few key related short-term performance goals and related measures that could be used in future performance evaluations. He wanted to discuss the situation at their meeting next week, which was the annual review of the Bookstore’s performance for the prior fiscal year 2004 (July 2003 through June 2004). A benchmarking analysis was required by Chuck for the annual review of all the nonacademic departments under his management. Northlake is a private university, located in a major metropolitan area in the Midwest, with an annual enrollment of 12 ,700 students, mostly undergraduates. Northlake is quite dependent upon student tuition, which typically accounts for 60% of its total revenues. However, the Chancellor was concerned because donations and gifts to the University were down, possibly due to uncertain economic conditions and erratic stock market performance. Prior to becoming the Northlake Bookstore manager, Wendy had spent 15 years in retail sales, most recently as a Wal-Mart sales manager. She was an outgoing, supportive individual who really liked being a retail sales manager and enjoyed working with her employees. She strongly believed in continuous improvement of any sales department that she managed. Despite her extensive retail experience in the for-profit sector, this was her first experience working in an academic environment. Wendy occasionally became frustrated working with faculty due to their late or inaccurate book orders. However, she liked helping students and enjoyed working in an academic environment without all the pressures of a for-prof it business with aggressive sales and earnings targets like Wal-Mart. China Case Competition 2009 To prepare her benchmarking analysis report required for the upcoming annual performance evaluation of the Bookstore, Wendy had collected income statement, product line, and other performance measures for the last three fiscal years. To aid evaluation, she summarized the various Bookstore operations into five product lines: textbooks, supplies and sundries, clothing, software and accessories, and computers. The textbook product line included new texts, used texts, class notes (course packs), and general reference books. The supply and sundry line included school and office supplies, electronics, food, sundries, greeting cards, and miscellaneous campus department sales. The clothing line included all insignia clothing, gifts, and memorabilia. Wendy knew she needed to act fast to thoroughly analyze all the information needed for the Bookstore’s annual benchmarking analysis that Chuck and the Chancellor required. She had a lot of historical information and was wondering how to analyze this financial information for her benchmarking analysis report. BEncHMArKInG Benchmarking is the process of identifying superior performance of other organizations for products, services, and processes, and then attempting to improve necessary areas with the goal of achieving similar excellence. The benchmarking process first became popular in 1989 after Xerox advertised its success with the tool; however, the tool was initially employed by Xerox in 1972. In fact, more than 70% of the Fortune 500 companies—which includes ATT, Ford Motor Company, IBM, and Eastman Kodak—reported using benchmarking regularly. Benchmarking is useful in countless decision-making settings including performance evaluation, health and safety management, and supply chain management. To reach for greater standards of excellence, Ford would likely consider foreign automobile manufacturers that have been well known for high efficiency and quality, such as Toyota, the current world-wide leader in automobile sales. Wendy currently benchmarked the performance of the bookstore against other college bookstores and major booksellers. In performing a benchmarking analysis, it was imperative for Wendy to benchmark processes that were aligned with organizational strategic objectives. Since the Bookstore was a profit center, it was imperative that she compare the profitability of the various product lines with other universities. The Bookstore also had an objective to provide service excellence. Thus, if available, it would be beneficial for Wendy to benchmark customer satisfaction data with other universities. Once processes that were consistent with strategic objectives were identified, it was necessary to collect and analyze internal information vis-Ã ¡-vis external information from competitors. The benchmarking process did not stop once areas of excellence and inferior performance were identified. Rather, it was imperative for Wendy to identify how to sustain the areas of excellence and improve the areas of inferior performance. In determining how to improve poor performance, she needed to understand the reason behind the poor performance. Once that was attained, it would be possible to determine a long-term plan for improvement. A key role of the Bookstore was to supply the Northlake University communitywhich included but was not limited to faculty, students, alumni and parentswith textbooks, supplies, clothing and gifts, computers and software, and much more. The Bookstore’s formal mission statement was as follows: The Northlake Bookstore is an academic resource for the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests of the University. The Bookstore serves the University with a business presence dedicated to providing service excellence that meets or exceeds the needs of each customer and University department. The Bookstore played a significant role in enabling parents of freshmen to participate in getting their children ready for the first day of class. Additional temporary staff was hired to ensure there was adequate assistance available for new students and returning students who were purchasing their textbooks. These staff members were readily available and happy to answer any question that new parents or students might have regarding textbooks or the University in general. Also, congruent with the University laptop requirement for all students, the Bookstore sold computers and software. This was a great way for parents to enjoy onestop back-to-school shopping. Additionally, the Bookstore tried to promote the University as a brand name by selling clothing and accessories with the University logo and/or name. Availability of clothing and accessories was also a service provided to students, parents, and alumni who wanted to show their support for the school. Sales of merchandise with the University logo indirectly promoted the University, but the Bookstore did not try to formally create alumni support nor was that a formal goal. This was the function of the University Alumni Advancement (funding) office. As indicated by the mission statement, by the role taken to familiarize new parents and students, and by the sale of merchandise with the University logo, the Bookstore operated in a manner aimed at achieving high customer satisfaction. To measure customer satisfaction the Bookstore conducted an annual customer satisfaction survey and a separate faculty satisfaction survey. Customer suggestion forms were also readily available on the Bookstore website. In her years as the Bookstore manager, Wendy had developed various financial performance measures to help assess the performance of the Bookstore. Over the last few years, she had used these measures as part of her benchmarking analysis. She felt fortunate to have a fairly comprehensive benchmarking database available to her. It was provided annually to all bookstore members free of charge by the National Association of College Stores (NACS). The only requirement was that each bookstore had to contribute its own data to the benchmarking database in order to use it. The NACS database included income statement, product line, and other types of benchmarks. With the looming threat from online textbook vendors, Wendy had started to benchmark Northlake’s textbook prices against the major online textbook vendors. She also tracked mail orders and Web orders from Northlake’s own website (started in 2000). Her task now was how best to use this benchmark information. She believed that her first step was to compare her current financial and operating results with the benchmark data to pinpoint areas in need of improvement. This analysis would likely uncover some areas that needed her attention, which would be useful in identifying areas in need of improvement.

Movement Towards Decolinization Essay Example for Free

Movement Towards Decolinization Essay Introduction â€Å"Movement Towards Decolonization .† Before I start the basic part of my coursework introduction I would like to define these words and the meaning of this statement . Movement an act of changing location or position . Towards moving or coming to a particular direction . Decolonization to grant independence to a colony . With my understanding the statement â€Å"Movement Towards Decolonization † is literally meaning that The Bahamas was making a change in government and the rights for Bahamians in their own society . They know what they needed to accomplish and where they were headed to become not only independent people but an independent nation to better our Bahamian Society from a colony . In this history coursework I’m going to write a detailed account of the Burma Road Riot in Nassau, Bahamas in 1942 . What effects the Burma Road Riot had on the development of political parties and trade unions of The Bahamas . Also act as a member of the Taxi Cab Union during the General Strike of 1958, where I’m speaking about what I’ve experienced . Lastly is to give an explanation of the sources given which I consider to be true and prove that the 1942 riot was responsible for the political changes that took place during the 1950’s and 1960’s . Question 1 a) Write a detailed account of the Burma Road Riot in Nassau, Bahamas. The Burma Road Riot occurred in the year of 1942 due to unfair wages . During 1942, with the Americans being at war, the US decided to expand Oakes Field to establish new air bases . The Pleasantville Company was responsible for the construction . As a result of the expansion, three hundred jobs became available to Bahamians and Americans who were hired to work on this project . However the Americans were paid more than the Bahamian workers even though they performed the same work . Discontent arose among the Bahamian workers and resulted in a riot, and Bahamians also thought this was because racial discrimination because the Americans were white . Hundreds of workers left their jobs at the Oakes Field Airport and marched onto Bay Street . On Monday morning June 1st , hundreds of workers, who carried machetes, sticks or clubs marched into town and gathered in the vicinity of the public buildings which rioting and looting took place where five persons died and many were wounded . The rioters were addressed by few officials who urged peaceful demonstrations . In the main time, however other demonstrations were surging up Bay Street from the West, smashing windows and looting shops . Fire was set to a shop on Bay Street, which had threatened the entire district . Police Officers made an attempt to restore order . The Riot Act was read and a curfew was strictly enforced that same day prohibiting anyone who isn’t a member of arm forces or police from being outdoors between 8pm and 6am . On June 8th the curfew was revoked . Another reason for the riot taken place was economic depression . Bahamians were poorly represented in Parliament which at the time highlighted racial discrimination . As a result of the riot, the governor announced that the wage of the unskilled workers would be raised from 4 shillings to 5 shillings a day . In addition there was a free meal provided . Reforms were seen as a necessity in the field of taxation of representation . There was a need for modern labor legislation to be impacted in the field of trade unionism and workers compensation . It is interesting to note that Randol Fawkes was known as the father of labor . b) What factors contributed to the social unrest of the 1930’s and the 1940’s? Their is a history of Trade Unions Movement in The Bahamas during the 1930’s and the 1940’s . It is closely associated with the struggle for social and economic justice for the people of The Bahamas . Before independence in 1973 The Bahamas was controlled by the colony of Great Britain an even though Trade Unions were operating in Britain at the time, the Trade Unions that were in existence in The Bahamas before 1943 were operating illegally . The earliest attempt to form a Trade Union in The Bahamas was recorded in 1866 when employees of The Morton Salt Company in Inagua formed the Salt Workers Union . This union soon became an in-house union and because of the small size of the operation of the company was dissolved . There were two other unsuccessful attempts to form unions here in The Bahamas . In 1935 the Associated Bahamas Car Owners and Taxi Cab Drivers Union was formed . The Modern Trade Union movement in The Bahamas began early in the 1930’s with the formation of the Taxi Cab Union . Trade Unions have played a balance role in the development of the country . The first benefits of Workers in The Bahamas began with the riots of 1942 (Black Tuesday) . Also there was no form of Bahamian government to represent the people of the nation . Question 2 What effects did the social unrest of the 1930’s and the 1940’s have on the development of trade unions and political parties in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas? Using Source B, â€Å"As a consequence of the riot, the first awakenings of a new political awareness began to be felt in the hearts of black people, time and remarkable foresight, courage and initiative of a few dedicated members of that majority were all that were required to crystallize this awareness into a mighty political force.† Prior to 1953, there were no political parties in The Bahamas . The Bahamas was governed by a small group of merchants known as the Bay Street Boys . The Bahamas was not represented equally until they organized a political party, forcing the proprietary to do the same . In October 1953 when the Progressive Liberal Party was formed by Black Bahamians . The Progressive Liberal Party was established by William W. Cartwright . The Progressive Liberal Party fought against racial discrimination, also being able to allow women to vote . In 1956 anti-discrimination resolution was introduced in the House of Assembly and was easily passed opening restaurants, hotels and the theatres to those who were once not allowed because of their skin color . Another effect was in the growth and development of the Trade Union Movements occurred in January 1958, and was known as the General Strike of 1958 . The strike is known to be one of the three significant events that heralded the Labor Movement and solidified its place in history as the catalyst for social economic justice for the Bahamian workers. The primary dispute of the General Strike was between the Government and the Taxi Cab Union . It began on November 1st, 1957 as a result of the Government granting contracts to white tour companies and because of this the Taxi Cab Union was informed that their services were no longer needed . Under the leadership of Sir Clifford Darling and others, the Taxi Cab Union blocked all traffic to and from Nassau International Airport and the Commissioner and his policemen could not do anything about this situation . After several weeks of negotiation an no agreement or settlement was taken place, the Taxi Cab Union called on The Bahamas Federation of Labor led by Sir Randol Fawkes and asked for assistance . The strike was around tourist season . Sir Randol Fawkes responded that a General Strike should be called, not only for the Taxi Cab Union but also to dramatize the fight for all Bahamians for greater dignity and self-respect on the jobsite through decent wages and better working conditions . There was no violence carried out by the striking workers and leaded Bay Street businesses . On 29th January, 1958, His Excellency Sir Raynor Arthur brought representatives of the Taxi Cab Union and the Tour Companies together at a conference where they signed a detailed agreement providing equal division of transportation to an from the airport . Mr. Randol Fawkes was elected to the House of Assembly in 1956 and was the only member of the Labor Party in Parliament . Due to the 1958 strike the pressure was put on by the opposition and the Government of The Bahamas called an election in 1962 . When the opposition could not correct the faults because of the United Bahamian Party’s control in Parliament, the Labor Movement and the opposition went to the International Community . The corrupt charges brought against the United Bahamian Party involved the Casino Industry which suddenly got an reaction from many persons around the World. During election in 1967, and because the Labor Party made sure the word of corruption in Government was spread this made them play a major role . In the 1967 elections there were four candidates from the Labor Party but only Randol Fawkes was successful . There were only 38 seats in the House of Assembly, and the United Bahamian Party and the Progressive Liberal Party 18 seats so because of this the each representative had to make a decision to join together . Randol Fawkes paved the way for Black Majority Rule in The Bahamas . Under the Progressive Liberal Party Government, Sir Randol Fawkes became the first Minister of Labor and embarked on a mission to adopt new Labor legislation that would change the scope of The Bahamas for many years . However, in 1967 the Trade Union Movement was the major factor in the Progressive Liberal Party becoming Government of The Bahamas as a result causing Majority Rule in the Country . Since 1967, the Trade Union Movement has been able to have a powerful effect in the election of both the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement Government . There are four major events in the history of The Bahamas that mean something to the critical role to the Trade Union Movement played in the growth and development of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas . Also the Trade Union Movement played a significant role in the fight for independence of The Bahamas . Sir Randol Fawkes, who was the member of Parliament and leader of the Bahamas Federation of Labor made the first move in trying to put in place the lead to independence . On September 10th, 1966 Sir Randol Fawkes made a motion on the floor of House of Assembly for a select committee to invite the Government of The United Kingdom to convene a Constitutional Conference to establish the guidelines for the independence of The Bahamas . A wise person once said, â€Å"The Labor Movement is the bedrock of the Bahamian economy. If there are no workers in the hotels, no teachers in schools, no nurses in the hospitals, no workers in civil service and corporations, the country would come to a stand still.† Question 3 You are a member of the Taxi Cab Union during the General Strike of 1958. Give an account of your experiences during the strike. When the Nassau International Airport had opened, we thought this meant better days to come . Being apart of the Taxi Cab Union our hopes were high because this meant more tourist coming to Nassau, New Providence where this meant we would be able to provide for our families and still could buy a nice watch from the money left, well we thought wrong! It all started in 1957 when the Government had granted the white tour companies the exclusive right to operate transportation services between the Nassau International Airport and the city . Therefore we, the taxi cab drivers were not needed . The Taxi Cab Union officers thought this may cost their company to be out of business . It also threatened our lively hood, wondering how would be able to provide for our families . When my wife heard about this she asked what will I do because there wasn’t any money coming in . I told her I really loved my job, so others and I would push the issue . Our leader of the Taxi Cab Union, Sir Clifford Darling told us, the taxi cab drivers to block all traffic to and from the Nassau International Airport and he took the keys for the taxi’s so we wouldn’t be able to move the vehicles when asked to do so . No one could of control this situation . After several weeks of negotiations that failed the matter erupted again in January 1958 . This came to the height of the tourist season . The officers of the Taxi Cab Union called on Sir Randol Fawkes who led the Bahamas Federation of Labor and asked him to help us with the situation . He responded and said that we should held a â€Å"General Strike† with other Bahamian workers who were treated unfair on their jobsites, fighting for self-respect, decent wages and better working conditions . I couldn’t believe the amount of Bahamian workers who not only supported the Taxi Cab Union but other workers and themselves . There was both men and women up and down the West and East of Bay Street . I also remembered British Troops were sent to try get control of the situation but was unsuccessful . At the end of the month of January the Governor brought one of the Tour Company representatives and one of the Taxi Cab Union representatives together to make a deal for equal division of transportation of tourists to and from the Nassau International Airport . Order and peace was brought back at the airport and everyone had a fair chance even the other Bahamian workers, which was a success by getting wage incensement and fair treatment . Question 4 Study ALL the sources . â€Å"The 1942 riot was ultimately responsible for the political changes that took place during the 1950’s and 1960’s . Do these sources prove this view to be true? Explain your answer fully . Yes the 1942 riot was ultimately responsible for the political changes that took place during the 1950’s and 1960’s, but only Sources A, B, and D I find to be true . Source A says that, â€Å"The 1942 riot in Nassau was a short-lived spontaneous outburst by a group of disgruntled laborers, and occurred against a background of narrow socio-economic and political parties .† This statement I find to be true because the Burma Road Riot occurred because of unhappy workers who were obviously treated unfairly, different from the White American workers, the Black Bahamian men were payed less than the white workers . Therefore I feel as if it was racial discrimination taken place . About 16 years later there was a General Strike in 1958, where unions were unpleased and because of this these events played a major role in society . They decided someone had to stand out for Bahamian rights . This is where political parties came into place to represent Black Bahamians and not only the workers . The first political party formed in The Bahamas was in October 1953 known as the Progressive Liberal Party, which can be understood in Source B where it is stated that, â€Å"As a consequence of the riot, the first awakenings of a new political awareness began to be felt in the hearts of black people, time and the remarkable foresight, courage and initiative of a few dedicated members of that majority were all that to crystallize this awareness into a mighty political force . Someone had opened there eyes and see that the Bahamians were facing major problems not amongst each other but amongst the people they worked around and worked for . They needed to be defended and one person couldn’t have done it alone, so brave men who were dedicated to their country and own people came together and formed something that I won’t call a political party but of leading fathers of our nation who made it better for not only their generation but for future generations . Some like Sir Randol Fawkes, Sir Lynden O. Pindling, Arthur Hanna, Sir Milo Butler, Curtis McMillan, Clarence A. Bain, Sir Clement Maynard, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Carlton Francis, Sir Alvin Braynen, Warren Levarity and Geoffrey Thompson . However Source D I also find to be true because after the riot and the strike there was an improvement of the Government, where they stood up for all Bahamians and Sir Lynden O. Pindling stated and I quote, â€Å"When the great heroes of our struggle stood on Burma Road, he intoned, they did not stand alone . When they stood in the General Strike against the property vote they did not stand alone .† Therefore he was right because a political party stepped in and defended the rights of the Bahamian labor unions, where this was a great achievement because if a political party hadn’t stepped in The Bahamas would of probably be the same before the year of 1942, where we would’ve got treated unfairly . Conclusion This coursework have open my eyes, to see that Bahamians fought for their rights and the great people who did it from the Progressive Liberal Party, the Taxi Cab Union, the Bahamas Federation of Labor and the Labor Party . Also this helped me to read and understand . Understanding the history of The Bahamas and what great deed those legends did for The Bahamas . Which they made it better not only for their generation but for my generation and generations to come . If it wasn’t for Black Bahamians fighting for their rights, Black Bahamians would’ve of probably still be treated unfairly, some may have live in poverty, lack of non-racial government and no independence from England . This coursework has helped me a lot to understand history and its meanings .

Social Work And Aboriginal Australians Social Work Essay

Social Work And Aboriginal Australians Social Work Essay In the reading by Bennett and Zubrzycki (2003) they write about themselves, a Polish-Australian and an Indigenous Australian who collaborated in a research project about Indigenous social work. They interviewed 6 Indigenous social workers and give details of the difficulties faced in contemporary social work practice. Those interviewed face many obstacles in their practice due to cultural issues in a profession that is dominated by another culture. Green and Baldry (2008) argue that even though Australian social work clients are made up of many Indigenous people, the workers they deal with have their practice rooted in theories taken from European, British and Euro-American social theory. They talk about the role of social workers in past injustices inflicted on Indigenous people and the fledgling movement among social workers, especially Indigenous ones, to develop theory and practice specifically targeting the needs of Indigenous Australians. The reading by Briskman (2007) looks at developing frameworks in response to the deficits of contemporary social work practice in five areas experienced by Indigenous Australians. These are social constructs of whiteness and othering, colonialist practice, racism and institutional racism, citizenship and human rights. Wilson (1997) explores the failure of welfare departments in understanding Indigenous kinship systems and the removal of children from their extended families and lands. Wilson argues that the removal of children and placing them away from extended family is tantamount to child abuse in itself. It is also stated that welfare related interventions are best handled by Indigenous organisations as mainstream organisations use the term culturally appropriate without really knowing what it means. Analysis The readings show that despite the many definitions of social work, Indigenous Australians do not receive the service delivery they should. Although Australia has moved away from using British and American models of social work to reflect our own history (Napier George 2001, p.79) we are still lacking in our practice frameworks with Indigenous people. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1997 (cited in OConnor, Wilson, Setterlund Hughes, 2008, p.25) states that the historic colonisation, seen as invasion by Indigenous people, destroyed them, their culture and their land along with the imposing of alien laws, religion and social and economic arrangements upon them. The results of this have seen Indigenous people as the most marginalised people in Australia with many social problems including domestic violence, child care and poverty that needed to be responded to by the government (OConnor et al. 2008, p.40). Goldlust (cited in Briskman 2007, p.37) states that Indigenous Australians were not citizens of their country until the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948 granted them automatic citizenship but even so they were not given the right to vote until 1962. Anderson (cited in Whiteside, Tsey Earles, 2011, p.114) states that even though Australia was a world leader in its welfare entitlement arrangements, Indigenous people were not able to access these benefits until the late 1960s. When the Whitlam Labour government came into power in 1972 major social reforms took place which saw a large injection of funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs along with the dismantling of the White Australia Policy through the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (OConnor, Wilson, Setterlund Hughes, 2008, p.27). One of the major problems in Indigenous communities has been the historic removal of children and their over representation in the child welfare system. It was not until the release of the Bringing Them Home: report of the national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission [HREOC] (1997) that this issue began to be addressed. There is a conflict of values among welfare workers in the child protection system. Western society see differences in the way indigenous people live as abnormal and therefore this signals to them that there is a problem within the family (Wilson 1997, p.452). They have no understanding of the indigenous kinship system which then results in the removal of many children unnecessarily. Wilson argues that neglect is the primary reason for welfare intervention in Indigenous communities and that social inequality directly causes neglect. Racism in schools, hou sing problems, general poverty and structural factors also resulted in interventions (1997, p.453). Furthermore Wilson states that welfare departments fail to consult with Indigenous families, communities and organisations regarding interventions and that culturally appropriate welfare services should be provided by Indigenous organisations (1997, pages 453-458). There is a need for more Indigenous and culturally competent social workers in Australia today. Green and Baldry contend that social work in the past has been involved in racist, patronising and unjust practices toward Indigenous people and having now apologised is seeking to learn from Indigenous Australians how to work with their communities and individuals (2008, p.389). Bennett, Zubrzycki, and Bacon (2011, p.34) discuss that there is still much to be done in teaching social work students to be culturally sensitive to Indigenous Australians: Social work practice with Aboriginal people and communities requires significant resources and development. While some schools of social work (e.g., University of Western Australia and University of New South Wales) offer students core units on working with Indigenous Australians, there is still no national core curriculum that requires this important subject to be included across all Australian schools of social work. Theories of Whiteness, knowledge about the ongoing practices of colonisation, knowledge of Aboriginal English, Aboriginal languages, and Aboriginal world views are just some of the areas that remain marginal in social work education. Yet the social justice outcomes for Aboriginal people indicate that these communities are the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Australia. This means that social workers, who have a central role in the delivery of welfare services, need to be educated and supported to work in ways that are culturally respectful, courageous, and hopeful. (Bennett, Zubrzycki Bacon 2011, p.34) This advice should be followed in order for social work to address the needs of Indigenous Australians adequately. Indigenous people make up a small percentage of the Australian population. Therefore the number of Indigenous social workers is minute in terms of being able to service their people and communities. They also face challenges in their role as social workers due to the very fact that they are Indigenous. Soong (cited in Bennett and Zubrzycki 2003, p.62) contends that these workers are often seen as culture brokers who mediate between two cultures. This results in them experiencing tensions caused by being caught between professional and cultural expectations that are in conflict with each other. This dichotomy should not be and Indigenous social workers need a lot more support from their peers in practice. Reflection As I reflect on what I have learnt in this unit I am reminded of the enormity of what will be expected of me in order to become a competent social worker in the future. The readings I have done in my chosen topic about Indigenous Australians have been of particular interest to me due to the fact that I manage an Indigenous Out of Home Care / Kinship Care service and am the mother of Indigenous children. The past injustices that have been visited upon the Indigenous communities in Australia are something that can never be changed nor forgotten but we can learn from this and move on to a future that will embrace social justice and human rights on a large scale rather than the way it is now, in a stage of infancy. I have learnt that there is a lot more to being a social worker than you would expect and that it takes a lot of grit and determination to practice justly and fairly. My beliefs and values have been challenged, especially around the whiteness theories and the position of privi lege that I hold just because of the colour of my skin. The unit has raised awareness in me of the predicaments people find themselves in through no fault of their own and it has given me more compassion and the desire to go out and help those who are marginalised and in poverty. I am a natural advocator, it is something that I like to do along with it being part of my profession and I have been challenged to go out and advocate for those that are less well off more often. In regards to future learning this unit has spurred me on to want to know a lot more as this is only the start of my course. I would like to learn more about politics and sociology. Human rights is a subject that I would like to do a lot more study on as it is something that really inspires me. By the end of the course I fully expect to be a competent social worker with a strong foundation in theories both past and present. The readings I have read in the unit are able to be put to good use already in my workplace and in my life and as I go on I am expecting to change and be a better person because of what I have learnt. Additional Reading The reading I have chosen is called How White is Social Work in Australia and the full reference for this reading is as follows: Walter, M, Taylor, S Habibis, D (2011) How White is Social Work in Australia?, Australian Social Work, 64: 1, 6 19. I got the reading from the Deakin Library under the journal section after doing a search on Australian Social Work. This reading sheds light on my topic as it enables white people to see that there is a world of difference between them and Indigenous Australians. It also brings an awareness of how we practice othering, even if unconsciously so.

A Language Barrier Essay example -- Personal Narrative

A Language Barrier From my experience, bilingual education was a disadvantage during my childhood. At the age of twelve, I was introduced into a bilingual classroom for the first time. The crowded classroom was a combination of seventh and eighth grade Spanish-speaking students, who ranged from the ages of twelve to fifteen. The idea of bilingual education was to help students who weren’t fluent in the English language. The main focus of bilingual education was to teach English and, at the same time, teach a very basic knowledge of the core curriculum subjects: Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Unfortunately, bilingual education had academic, psychological, and social disadvantages for me. A disadvantage is something that makes a situation worse or that makes somebody less effective. This is exactly what happened to me when I was part of bilingual education. Instead of learning challenging material, I was presented with material I already had learned when I was younger. English was never spoken in the classroom. Instead, different Spanish accents were heard: Colombian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, among others. I was labeled a â€Å"bilingual kid.† As a result, I couldn’t be part of the â€Å"regular kids’† groups. Therefore, I had to reinforce my family language and traditions instead of assimilating into the American culture. All these situations were disadvantages that played against the development of my education. The academic disadvantage was a delay in learning the English language. The crowded classroom had thirty to thirty-five students who came from a variety of Latin American nations. As a result, I used to speak Spanish with them. I didn’t want to make mistakes using incorrect words. Also... ...ents, and my English problem. I didn’t even have control of my own identity at that point. In the bilingual classroom my education depended upon the teachers and the system. I couldn’t express my viewpoints to faculty members like I do now in college. For instance, in college when I need help in a certain class, I can just go and talk to the professor or even to my counselor. Unfortunately, in grammar school, I didn’t know how to talk about the situation. As a result, in college I have been determined to change my study habits and take back control of my identity because I see how a student cannot survive with inefficient study habits. I realize now that, as a child, I was disadvantaged in many ways. Today, I have to be prepared to do extra to make up for a poor educational background by spending more time studying, focusing on school, and controlling my life.

The Significance of Public Relations Essay -- Exploratory Essays Resea

The Significance of Public Relations It’s about noon, you just got out of class, or perhaps you are on lunch break, and you are absolutely starving. While your stomach is churning all you can think about is a juicy double cheeseburger from McDonald’s. Finally, you see the golden arches and your mouth begins to water as you wait in line for your overdue meal. As you grow increasingly impatient for your number nine extra value meal you’re dying to see if you’ll have the final piece to the ever so famous McDonald’s Monopoly game. You’re convinced there are no real winners in this game, and you leave the restaurant with your fifteenth free small fries â€Å"prize† in two weeks. Well, it has recently been discovered that their may have been some truth to your unwavering opinion that there are no real â€Å"big winners† to this McDonald’s Monopoly game. According to the ABC news website, as early as 1995, the game has been rigged. Pierre Thomas, the au thor of this ABC news report, states that â€Å"No employees of McDonald's were involved in the scam. Attorney General John Ashcroft said that employees of Simon Marketing Inc., the Los Angeles-based company hired to run the games for McDonald's, allegedly figured out how to direct accomplices to pick up big prize tickets and then split the winnings with them.† This alerting situation and tricky scam immediately became McDonald’s public relations department’s job to fix as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, before finding out how and why the McDonald’s PR department came to a quick solution in mending this situation, it is important to understand exactly what the public relations department does within any company, organization, or government. This single department possesse... ...n direct correlation to the success of any business, organization, or government. Without the skills of well trained public relations specialists, any group is doomed for failure. Currently, public relation specialists working for the government are putting forth huge efforts to maintain support from United States citizens as well as global support for the military actions taking place in Afghanistan. Will they succeed? Only time will tell. Works Cited McDonald's Home Page. 29 Oct. 2001 press/corporate/2001/08212001/>. Straubhaar, Joseph , and Robert LaRose. Media Now: Communication Media in the Information Age. 3rd ed. United States: Wadsworth Group, 2001. 349-351. Thomas, Pierre. "McTheft?" ABC News 21 Aug. 2001. 29 Oct. 2001 .