Culture of Jamaica

The first settlers of Jamaica called the land â€Å"Xaymaca† which means â€Å"Land of springs† (Pillai, 2013). It is said that this is where the name of the country came from. Jamaica is known for many things like its beaches, wildlife, and reggae music. Jamaica has a mix of people from different races, religions, and countries so its culture is varied. Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1494, but people have in habited the island for thousands of years before.The Arawaks and Tainos are said to be the first ribes to settle on the island, between 4000 B. C. AND 1000 B. C. (Pillai, 2013). From 1494 to 1655, Jamaica was a Spanish colony. It was a British colony from 1655 to 1962. Jamaica was granted a new constitution in 1944 and gained universal suffrage. The country gained independence August 6, 1962 (Purcell, 2013). The population of Jamaica is 2,909,714 (FindTheData, 2013). 16. 5% of the population lives below the poverty line. Africans make up most of the Jam aican population. After Africans, many of the Jamaicans are multiracial and from Indian or Chinese decent (Pillai, 2013).English is the official language of Jamaica (Purcell, 2013). Jamaican Patois is the de facto national language of Jamaica, which is a Creole language (Pillai, 2013). It is the most commonly spoken language in the country. Many religions are practiced in Jamaica. Tainos, the first settlers, worshipped forces of nature like plants and animals. They believed in the God Yucahu and Goddess Atabey. They also worshipped good and evil spirits to prevent natural disasters (Pillai, 2013). Christianity made its way to the island with the colonizers. About 80% of Jamaicans are Christians.Rastafari developed in the 1920s in Jamaica. It is a â€Å"blend of Old Testament Christian faith, mystic beliefs, and African fundamentalist ideology. † The Rastas keep their hair long in dreadlocks, reject western society, and use marijuana spiritually (Pillai, 2013). Jamaicans have certain traditions and beliefs. A common birth rite is to bury the umbilical cord of a newborn baby, and usually a tree is planted over it, signifying that they are always connected to their birth place. Funerals are an important ritual to the Jamaicans. A big funeral is a sign ofa good life (Purcell, 2013).Nine Night is a Jamaican ceremony or funeral where friends and family sing, dance, and drink for eight nights then sing farewell songs on the ninth night. They rearrange the room of the deceased so their spirit will not recognize it and return. A last meal is set out under the silk-cotton tree, a hiding place for the spirits, for the diseased spirit (Pillai, 2013). Jamaican weddings are big, lavish, and family-oriented. Both families of the bride and groom meet before the wedding and friends start sending gifts like eggs for the cake (Pillai, 2013). Jamaican foods are usually hot and spicy.Their strong spices and herbs make heir dishes popular around the world. The national dish is the Ackee and Saltflsh. Spicy Jerk pork and Jerk chicken are very popular Jamaican cuisines. The national drink is Jamaican rum (Pillai, 2013). Rice is a ceremonial food. Curried goat meat is the main meal at parties, weddings, and tunerals (Purcell, 2 Jamaican attire is a combination of European and African style. Jamaican women wear brightly colored outfits of a skirt, top, and headscarf. Men wear brightly colored western-style clothes with short sleeves. Due to the humid weather, Jamaicans don't wear heavy clothing; they prefer cotton clothing.Rastafarians wear clothes made of natural fibers. These clothes are always in their sacred colors of red, yellow, and green. â€Å"According to the Rastafarians, Red signifies the blood of the black people, Yellow stands for the gold that was stolen from Africa, and Green symbolizes the lost African lands† (Pillai, 2013). The also wear a tam or hat to go over their dreadlocks. The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dolla r (FindTheData, 2013). Manufacturing and services are the main sources of economy. Service includes tourism, which is a great contributor to the economy.Jamaica's main trade allies are the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Caribbean Economic Community. Major imports are consumer goods, construction hardware, electrical and telecommunication equipment, food, fuel, machinery, and transportation equipment. Jamaica's major exports are bauxite and alumina, apparel, sugar, bananas, coffee, citrus and citrus products, rum, cocoa, and labor (Purcell, 2013). Jamaica's gross domestic product (GDP) is $25,620,000,000. Their GDP per capita is $8,900, which is also the world average. Jamaica has a high inflation rate of 6. 9%.They also have a high unemployment rate of 14% (FindTheData, 2013). The country is in a bad economic situation. Jamaica has a bicameral parliamentary legislative system. They are a member of the British Commonwealth. The British monarch, the governor genera l, the prime minister and deputy prime minister, and the cabinet make up the executive branch. The Senate and the sixty members elected to the House of Representatives make up the legislative branch. The Judicial branch is the Supreme Court and lower courts. The main political parties are the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labor Party Purcell, 2013).Sociologists would need to know about Jamaican custom to know what not to say or do around Jamaicans to not offend them. They would need to know some of Jamaican history which would let them know that there was much slavery and oppression during the colonial period. Jamaicans might get offended if this subject is brought up in the wrong manner. It would be wise for sociologists to know that the Jamaican Patois language is a symbol of defiance from European cultural authority (Purcell, 2013). Their Jamaican identity is very important to them. Their identity ncludes many things like their religion traditions and customs.

Blitzkrieg Essay Research Paper The foundation of

Blitzkrieg Essay, Research PaperThe foundation of Mobile warfare has its roots in Ancient and Medieval World. The German Army tardily in World War I ab initio developed basic tactics that finally evolved into modern nomadic warfare. Germans developed those tactics in an effort to get the better of the inactive trench warfare on the Western Front. Elite # 8220 ; Sturmtruppen # 8221 ; infantry units were created to assail enemy places utilizing the impulse of velocity and surpass but finally failed because of the deficiency of mobility and support needed in order to go on progressing farther into enemy controlled district. During 1920s, British military philosophers Captain Sir Basil Liddell Hart, General J.F.C. Fuller and General Martell farther developed tactics of nomadic warfare. They all postulated that armored combat vehicles could non merely prehend land by beastly strength, but could besides be the cardinal factor in a new scheme of warfare. If moved quickly plenty, of armore d combat vehicles could nail through enemy lines and into the enemy # 8217 ; s rear, destructing supplies and heavy weapon places and diminishing the enemy # 8217 ; s will to defy. All of them found armored combat vehicle to be an ultimate arm able to perforate deep into enemy district while followed by foot and supported by heavy weapon and airfare. In late 1920s and early 1930s, Charles De Gaulle, Hans von Seekt, Heinz Guderian and many others became interested in the construct of nomadic warfare and tried to implement it in an organisational construction of their ground forcess. Heinz Guderian organized Panzers into self-contained Panzer Divisions working with the close support of foot, motorized foot, heavy weapon and airfare. From 1933 to 1939, Germany was on a pursuit to to the full mechanise their ground forces for an approaching struggle.German High Command used Spanish Civil War ( 1936-38 ) as a testing land for Blitzkrieg tactics, which proved to be a formidable combinat ion of land and air action. In September of 1939, Germany invaded Poland utilizing mechanized land force ( Wehrmacht ) working with the close support of the airfare ( Luftwaffe ) to breakthrough and perforate deep behind Polish lines of defence # 8211 ; Polish Campaign. In May of 1940, during the invasion of the Low Countries and France, the Germans one time once more used same tactics ( including the usage of Fallschirmjaeger # 8211 ; paratroops ) to floor and disorganise the guardians. From October of 1940 to March of 1941, Germans conquered Balkans utilizing the same proved tactics. When in June of 1941, Germany invaded Russia ; tactics of Blitzkrieg allowed them to make the outskirts of Moscow in December of 1941. Erwin Rommel in North Africa ( 1941-1943 ) besides implemented tactics of Blitzkrieg with great success. Since late 1942, outnumbered German Army was contending a defensive war on two foreparts and was unable to establish any major offenses with excepti on of Kursk ( June of 1943 ) and Ardennes ( December of 1944 ) offense. Overall, tactics of Blitzkrieg were the chief subscriber of early German triumphs ( 1939-1942 ) , when German supply base and logistics were able to keep the velocity of the progressing units. This was non the instance on the Eastern Front and in the North Africa, when limited German supply base and logistics were unable to get by with transit and conditions conditions diminishing effectivity of German onslaughts and armed forces in general. At the same clip, potency of Blitzkrieg was to the full appreciated by the Allies, who implemented its tactics on all foreparts. US Army General George Patton used Blitzkrieg tactics in his European operations of 1944. After World War II, tactics of Blitzkrieg were used by Israeli forces during their legion struggles with the Arab Nations every bit good as by American forces during the Operation Desert Storm.Overall, tactics of Blitzkrieg are based on co-ordinated, concentrated and precise air and land onslaughts to supply a rapid and powerful clout through the enemy lines in order to finally encircle the enemy. Important factor behind nomadic warfare was communicating between the HQ and field units and vice-versa, every bit good as prepared get downing points along with supply base and logistics to keep the velocity of the initial onslaught. Although, it is frequently forgotten that surpass was besides really of import to the success of Blitzkrieg and that is why Germany neer declar ed war on any state that it attacked. The radical tactics of Blitzkrieg formed a base for future development of arms and warfare.Concepts of Blitzkrieg1. Airfare attacks enemy front-line and rear places, chief roads, landing fields and communicating centres. At the same clip foot onslaughts on the full front-line ( or at least at chief topographic points ) and engages enemy. This restrains the enemy from cognizing where the chief force will assail.2. Concentrated armored combat vehicle unit # 8217 ; s breakthrough chief lines of defence and progress deeper into enemy district, while following mechanised unit # 8217 ; s chase and engage guardians forestalling them from set uping defensive places. Infantry continues to prosecute enemy to mislead and maintain enemy forces from retreating and set uping effectual defence.3. Infantry and other support units attack enemy wings in order to associate up with other groups to finish the onslaught and finally encircle the enemy.4. Mechanized groups spearhead deeper into the enemy district go arounding the enemy places and paralysing the rear forestalling retreating military personnels and guardians from set uping effectual defensive places.5. Main force links up with other units encircling and cutting off the enemy.

Realism vs. Phenomenalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Realism vs. Phenomenalism - Essay Example It is also possible for people to perceive qualities under conditions whereby no physical object exists at all. However, Barnes does not agree with this point of view and terms the sense-data argument a myth. According to Barnes, people have the capacity to perceive by seeing, tasting, smelling, feeling, and hearing; it is an indisputable fact. He proceeds to give three arguments that dispel the existence of sense data. For instance, he gives the example of a penny placed on a table. When observed from above, the penny appears circular, but when viewed from miles away, it appears elliptical. The elliptical and circular appearances are not the aspects of the penny, but entities of some kind. Another example is a stick that appears straight in the air, but bent in water. This is an aspect of sense-data. The third argument Barnes presents is that people seem to see objects which do not exist in reality. For example, mirages that appear in the desert (Barnes 92). This suggests that what people observe in some cases are not physical entities. The non-physical entities are what phenomenalists refer to as sense-data. Barnes arguments favor realism. Realism asserts that the existence of physical objects is independent of the human mind; therefore, the universe exists independent of the human mind. Barnes argument is convincing as it follows the tenets of logical reasoning. Therefore, physical objects exist whether human beings perceive them or

Finance 550 24hours Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Teaching masculinity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Teaching masculinity - Essay Example This paper caters to the question of development of masculinity in young boys through the system of education, and discusses how the concept of gender shapes the existing pedagogy and the democracy of the country. Nature of masculinity The social position of women has been a debatable topic all around the world. The topics on the system of education for girls, their social status and the availability of facilities for them have been put on the table. This issue has an obvious counterpart. If the system of relations is questioned form one side, the other side comes under focus automatically. The question could not inevitably â€Å"be confined to women and girls† (Connell, 2008, pp. 131). The established concept of ‘manhood’ is subject to the changes of time. ‘Manhood’ is bound by the nature of masculinity, practices that are seen as gender specific and deemed appropriate for the male and the preset ideologies. But while the social relations are questio ned, different aspects come under the circumference of the debate. Educational issues are a major part of the debate. The concept of gender has been a part of the pedagogical experiences of the schools and other educational institutions. The pedagogy is based upon the society that houses and rears the boys to make them become what they are. In this concept a vast range of concerns have to be addressed, starting from â€Å"men’s and boys’ health to men’s domestic and military violence† (Connell, 2008, pp. 1

Financial Ratios Project Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial Ratios Project - Case Study Example The figure in Wal-Mart is lesser than one though higher than that in Target (Marketwatch.com). The receivables turnover ratio measures a companies’ effectiveness in collecting debt. Target’s ratio increases by a bigger margin than that of Wal-Mart over the three years. However, the receivables turnover ratio of Wal-Mart is still higher than that of Target. The inventory turnover ratio measures the effectiveness of a company in converting its inventory to sales. The ratio in Target decreases slightly over the three-year period while that in Wal-Mart increases. The asset turnover measures the management’s effectiveness in utilizing the company assets to produce sales. This ratio increases by a bigger in margin over the three years in Target than in Wal-Mart though Wal-Mart still has a higher a ratio. The profit margin indicates how much profit is generated from a company’s sales. This ratio fluctuates in Target over the three years while it remains constant with slight changes in Wal-Mart. Return on assets ratio measures a company’s effectiveness in utilizing assets to generate profits. Target’s return on assets ratio fluctuates over the three years. Wal-Mart’s ratio is higher than that of Target despite it decreasing slightly. The return on equity measures a company’s effectiveness in utilizing shareholder equity to generate profit. This ratio fluctuates in Target as it decreases slightly in Wal-Mart. Despite this, Wal-Mart ratio is still higher than that of Target (Marketwatch.com). The debt to assets ratio measures the leverage level of the company in relation to its assets. Target’s debt to assets ratio is higher than that of Wal-Mart over the three years. Free cash flows ratio shows the amount of cash flow, which is attributable to the equity holders and debt holders of a company. The ratio fluctuates in both the companies though the one in Wal-Mart is higher. Times interest, earned ratio shows the ability of

EmotionaI Intelligence (EI), Management, and Leadership-Sheila Essay

EmotionaI Intelligence (EI), Management, and Leadership-Sheila - Essay Example This is not an easy task since the current generation is full of competition. People are ever competing against one another for things such as promotions, jobs and resources (Bateman & Snell, 2007). Hence, in a move to achieve my objective, I ought to perform much better than my competitors. Apart from providing an analysis of emotional intelligence on leadership, the study attempts to relay some of the requirements that one ought to have in a move to succeed in the world of business. Leadership is quite dynamic and in order for one to be a good leader, he or she ought to be as dynamic as leadership itself. During the 20th century, for an organization to achieve success, managers were to focus mainly on the company’s organization scale in addition to properly defining the levels of authority (Ashkenas et al., 2002). This is not the case anymore since when the 21st century set in, so did a number of changes, for instance technology. In relation to studies conducted by Ashkenas et al.(2002), it is because of technology that there was rapid change in the ways of doing business. This is because unlike in the past, not only is there quick customer response but also flexible strategies in addition to rapid product development. Due to this analysis, it is evident that in the next five years there will be certain changes as well. Hence, in order to achieve my objective, I have to be up to date with the current changes as they take place. In my opinion, once I become the vice president of a hospital, my roles would not be quite difficult. This is because my current profession is quite similar to that of a vice president of a health organization; the only difference is that there will be more staff to manage and delegate duties. This is because just like the vice president, in my current profession I am also in charge of the organization’s