Shooting an Elephant A critical appreciation Essay Example

Shooting an Elephant: A critical appreciation Essay George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant is one of the best short stories to have appeared during the last days of British colonialism. Partly autobiographical in its content, the short story narrates the difficulties encountered by a colonial officer in Burma, as is sent on a mission to shoot down a rampaging Elephant which has already killed an Indian coolie. The story is portraiture on the effects of imperialism on those who perpetrate the system. This essay will argue how the story shows this role reversal, that the oppressor becomes the oppressed in the functioning of imperialism. As Orwell notes very poignantly in the story, when the imperialists use force and authority to suppress the locals, it is the imperialists who suffer more. This is so due to two reasons. First, the imperial officer is forced to carry out acts which were to merely prove his bravado and power. Second, the unrelenting hatred directed against him by the locals takes away mental peace and equity. In the story, there is an insightful passage toward the end, where the author describes the climactic scene in the open fields. Having come near shooting range of the wild beast, the officer suddenly finds himself followed by a few thousand Burmese natives. They all wait in eager anticipation of the impending finality – indeed the only possible outcome in the circumstance. It is at this moment that he officer realizes how powerless he is. The all powerful, rifle wielding member of the ruling clan is faced with the compulsion of expectation from the Burmese locals following his pursuit. In an observation that is applicable universally to the entire institution of colonialism, the author can see not only the irony of power but also its reversal. As the author admits after having killed the Elephant, he merely completed the act to not appear a fool to the imposing audience. There were no other weighty considerations behind this. Indeed, neither the death of the innocent Indian co olie, nor the slow, painful murder of the majestic Elephant had struck the officer as unfortunate or unfair. Sadly, for a colonialist, the foremost thought is his display of power, even when it often manifests at the cost of justice, prudence or poise in judgment. The biggest of ironies in the story is how the institution of imperialism, based on express display of military might for the purpose of economic and geo-political gain, crushes the agents along with the subjects. We will write a custom essay sample on Shooting an Elephant: A critical appreciation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Shooting an Elephant: A critical appreciation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Shooting an Elephant: A critical appreciation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer One of the trademark features of Orwell’s works (either biographical or fictional) is his admission and respect for hard facts. In Shooting an Elephant, the central fact is that of the inherent evilness and immorality of the imperialist project. The narrator of the story could not have been less discreet when he says that his job as a police officer allowed him to witness â€Å"the dirty work of Empire at close quarters†. There is another insight offered by the story, namely, that the servants of the empire, who are on deputation to various colonies, are themselves victims. They are subject to long journeys across the seas and spend a lot of time in alien lands, away from their home and family. In this sense, the condition of colonial officers is far more pitiable than those of their subjects. Reference: Orwell, George (1968) [1958]. Selected Writings. Heinemann Educational Books. ISBN 0-435-13675-5. George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant is one of the best short stories to have appeared during the last days of British colonialism. Partly autobiographical in its content, the short story narrates the difficulties encountered by a colonial officer in Burma, as is sent on a mission to shoot down a rampaging Elephant which has already killed an Indian coolie. The story is portraiture on the effects of imperialism on those who perpetrate the system. This essay will argue how the story shows this role reversal, that the oppressor becomes the oppressed in the functioning of imperialism. As Orwell notes very poignantly in the story, when the imperialists use force and authority to suppress the locals, it is the imperialists who suffer more. This is so due to two reasons. First, the imperial officer is forced to carry out acts which were to merely prove his bravado and power. Second, the unrelenting hatred directed against him by the locals takes away mental peace and .

Free Essays on E-mail

In his article â€Å"We’ve Got Mail-Always,† Andrew Leonard points out both the positive and negative aspects of having e-mail. Leonard states that after sorting through all of the junk mail, he finds only a couple of e-mails worth opening from friends as well as an array of important information from strangers across the globe. E-mail is beneficial in many ways, but it is also unfavorable at the same time (Leonard 230). Eric Allen, the developer of the e-mail program which was created by accident, was trying to create an application that would make life easier in the workplace (Leonard 230). The e-mail application had such an impact on communication and technology that it opened new doors for everyone, from the disabled to the working professional (Leonard 231). It enables people to communicate with each other using little or no effort and it also serves as a buffer zone by making those hard-to-say things easier (Leonard 231). Unfortunately, e-mail is abused by t hose who insist on advertising objectionable material and sending disgusting and offensive messages which clog up your mailbox (Leonard 232). Even though people are spending less time in front of the television and more time on the computer, our grammar and composition skills are being replaced by abbreviations and shortcuts (Leonard 232). Overall, e-mail plays an important part of many lives by allowing people to communicate jointly together without being physically present (Leonard 233). Ultimately, e-mail knows no boundaries which, depending on the situation, could be a blessing or a curse (Leonard 233).... Free Essays on E-mail Free Essays on E-mail In his article â€Å"We’ve Got Mail-Always,† Andrew Leonard points out both the positive and negative aspects of having e-mail. Leonard states that after sorting through all of the junk mail, he finds only a couple of e-mails worth opening from friends as well as an array of important information from strangers across the globe. E-mail is beneficial in many ways, but it is also unfavorable at the same time (Leonard 230). Eric Allen, the developer of the e-mail program which was created by accident, was trying to create an application that would make life easier in the workplace (Leonard 230). The e-mail application had such an impact on communication and technology that it opened new doors for everyone, from the disabled to the working professional (Leonard 231). It enables people to communicate with each other using little or no effort and it also serves as a buffer zone by making those hard-to-say things easier (Leonard 231). Unfortunately, e-mail is abused by t hose who insist on advertising objectionable material and sending disgusting and offensive messages which clog up your mailbox (Leonard 232). Even though people are spending less time in front of the television and more time on the computer, our grammar and composition skills are being replaced by abbreviations and shortcuts (Leonard 232). Overall, e-mail plays an important part of many lives by allowing people to communicate jointly together without being physically present (Leonard 233). Ultimately, e-mail knows no boundaries which, depending on the situation, could be a blessing or a curse (Leonard 233)....

Kempinski Hotels in United Arab Emirates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Kempinski Hotels in United Arab Emirates - Essay Example At the moment the Kempinski Hotel of Ajman is in its growth period and it is expected that it will soon reach its zenith in the hospitality industry. (Sen, 448-50) 2) It is always difficult to enter any industry and the hospitality industry in UAE was no different. However with proper execution of five forces it becomes logically viable for a new company enter into a specified market Michael Porter in his famous idea of the Five Forces condenses his theory regarding the 5 separate forces, which, according to him, influence any given industry. These forces include the force of Rivalry, rampant between all the firms in the industry. Threat of substitutes is another force i.e. the threat posed by outside products which do not belong to the same industry as the product it tends to threaten. Buyer Power Barriers is another which, if high, can even set the price for things available in the market. The next one is the Supplier Power which, if high, can even bite of a good chunk of the manufacturers profit by simply supplying raw materials at a higher price. The last one is the Barriers to Entry, which is the principle key in the hands of the old firm s to keep new firms from entering the market. Porter's five forces train a new competitor to scrutinize these 5 important forces before taking decisions pertaining to strategies your firm might be keen to pursue. Porter is quick to provide antidotes to deal with each of the force he so carefully describes. To combat either of the forces he outlines 3 different types of strategies; the corporate level strategy, the business unit level strategy and the functional or departmental level strategy. These strategies ought to be utilized for successfully confronting and overpowering the problems posed by any of the 5 forces he outlines. From the parameter of the paper it could be stated that Kempinski Hotels did exactly this and thus the entry was made possible with comparative smoothness. 3) In the context of hospitality industry in UAE it can be stated that the Kempinski Hotels made a late movement into the market of UAE. It is a certainty that the first movers enjoy a considerable advantage of over the late movers and in this case hotels like Marco Polo Hotel, Millennium Hotel, Landmark Suites Hotel, Lotus Grand Hotel and Rimal Rotana all penetrated the UAE hospitality market on an earlier date than the Kempinski Hotels. However, with their brand equity of the mother concern and with the incorporation of the effective business strategies the Kempinski Hotels compromised the disadvantages of late entry and came out as winners in the long term. (King, 34-5) 4) Kempinski Hotels started their campaigns in UAE in a high note. Like all successful organizations they followed the path of strategic management and became successful. With the boom of tourism industry in UAE it was logical that there would be a heady demand for accommodation and thus the market can be stated as well secured. It has been reported that the average room occupancy in 5 and 6 star hotels range from 75% to 90% which is extremely high under all conditions. Under such circumstances it would relevant to mention that the basics of the product are already well positioned as the Kempinski Hot

Human Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Human Rights - Essay Example The UDHR first sentence recognizes the inherent dignity and the rights of the human family and this shows that by genocide, the human rights are being violated (Snarr & Michael, 36). In the first article of the UDHR I says that all human being are born free and equal in dignity and rights. In case of a genocide the right explained in this article is violated since the lives of the people are taken which is against the article. All people are supposed to be free to live in any part of the world provided they have the legal documents that are needed to be at that specific part. Alienating some people by the basis of their race, ethnicity or religion. Some of the famous genocide cases include the Rwanda genocide in 1994 which culminated as a result of ethnic differences between two communities. The Holocaust was also one of the factors that led to the setting up of the UDHR. In conclusion, the UDHR has been significant in safeguarding the rights of the people against atrocities such as genocide, human trafficking and female genital mutilation. This has been implanted as a result of the articles set in its statutes well elaborated in the text book cited. By following the rules set in its article it has been possible to prosecute and file legal suits against those people especially political leaders who have been active in castigating hatred among different communities which can lead to similar genocide cases such as the one in

Developing a Medical and Fitness Standard Essay

Developing a Medical and Fitness Standard - Essay Example As the paper stresses the medical and fitness standards within every department is essential. Its necessity is to monitor and promote safety when working. The job for the firefighters is a physical one and there is need to keep the employs fit. Ways of keeping the employees fit is through physical exercises. Just imagine how it would be if an athlete went to a running competition without trainings and exercises? It would be a mess because the athlete will not be physically fit and will tire quickly and may not finish the race. If the athlete wants to win a race, then rigorous exercises must be incorporated. According to the report findings when responding to a fire, sometimes the fire fighters may be involved in a physical injury. Therefore, after every firefighting response, they should be cross-examined by a medical practitioner to ensure that they are well. Where they have been hurt, medication should begin immediately. The regular check will even motivate the employees to perform well when working because they have peace of mind and their health is being taken care of by the management. When developing the medical and fitness standards, there should be injury programs to check on the overall health of the employees and their wellbeing. Eating habits and diet should be monitored. Health can be determined by the types of foods the officers take. Also, it predicts the physical fitness of an individual. The officers should be flexible and it should be youthful.

Women in Islam

Women in Islam Islamic religion began in Arabia as a revelation to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad. This was in stages over a period of twenty three years. Believers of Islam are known as Muslims. Muslims believe that there is only one God. The Arabic word for God is Allah. In Islam the Holy book Known as the Quran serves as a guide to the Islam beliefs, morals and behaviors. In Islam, there are several behaviors that are expected of the women. Women are expected to be modest and respectful. More so, Islam has always appreciated the femininity of the woman and regarded her as playing a role integral to that of the man, and similarly regarded the man as playing a role integral to that of the woman. Neither of them is an adversary or a competitor to the other. Rather, each is a help to the other in attaining the relative perfection of his or her person. The most significant character in women is their dressing. Islam women are required to follow the Hijab. According to Roald (p.14), the Hijab is the principle of modesty and includes behavior as well as dress for both males and females. The most visible form of Hijab is the head covering that many Muslim women wear. Hijab however goes beyond the head scarf. In one popular school of Islamic thought, Hijab refers to the complete covering of everything except the hands, face and feet in long, loose and non see-through garments. A woman who wears Hijab is called Muhaajaba. Muslim women are required to observe the Hijab in front of any man they could theoretically marry. In the earlier times, the status of women in Islam has always been a contentious one with women being considered as being lesser beings than their male counterparts. Indeed, this draws back to the early times when women were only represented by their husbands in public places. Moreover, Islam does not allow women to mix freely with men. A country that still practices this form of gender segregation is Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, women sit separately from men even in meetings and other social events. They learn in different learning and educational institutions. They also have their own recreational facilities such as the swimming pools among others. In fact, Nieuwkerk (p.32) reveals that the earlier Islamic teachings encouraged the oppression of women in the Islamic context. This has however changed with the western civilization as the Islamic women are given voice and their opinions respected even in public forums. The critics of women rights in the Islam context use the Quran as their point of argument that women should be oppressed though there is no such direct statement made in the Quran. There are certain aspects that were traditional poised towards a certain direction but have however changed due to the incorporation of the western civilization. For instance, women in Islam were supposed to be extremely submissive to their husbands while at the same time ensuring that they have no voice in matter of marriage. They were traditionally married off to their suitors. This has changed in the modern world with the women being allowed to negotiate their way out. In fact, women in the modern world in the Islam context fall in love with the man of their choice before they are proposed to, making the entire process a real process. Furthermore, the womens dress code famously known as the Hijab has been a major bone of contention among modern Muslims. Traditionally, Muslim women were never allowed to walk out in public without the full attire comprising of the Hijab. This seems to be less strict with most Hijabs taking a new avenue of fashion where they are not just black veils, big and bulky on the women. Todays Hijabs are designed to accentuate the womans figure and therefore celebrate women as an imperative being. In addition, traditionally, women especially girls were given less priority when it came to education than their male counterparts in Islam. This was because, nobody really believed in educating girls since they would eventually be married off to capable and able men. However, in the modern times, this has changed drastically with many women opting to pursue career challenges and eventually becoming career women just like the rest of them. Critics have viewed this as a U-turn to the traditional perception. There continues to be growing misunderstanding in the way women should be treated in the modern context. Just recently, France was in the spotlight with its president refusing girls to wear headgears while attending class. This threatened to get out of hand until the law was relaxed. Islam on the other hand, is to blame for it has viewed women as incapable persons. In the employment circles, women were preferred for jobs that were not so demanding as such. This has prompted several protests until employers had to discard some of the Islam teachings that prohibited the employment of Islamic women. For instance, the famous international Muslim TV station, Al-Jazeera has employed a sizeable number of female presenters. Consequently, women were never allowed in Islam to take a political lead in the society. More often than not, the women were merely left to be house wives with very little to call their own in terms of authority and possessions. The introduction of the western civilization has rescued women from the fathomless non political participation as more and more women take up political responsibility, perhaps devoid of what used to be of them before then. Finally, women in Islam were traditionally not allowed to own or possess material assets such as land and the like. This therefore hampered the way in which the women could grow financially. Similarly, inheritance was strictly a preserve of the male dependants (Asgharali, p.17). This meant that women were never allowed to inherit a thing from their deceased relatives or parents. However, things have changed with the advent of the western civilization as more and more women have become heirs in very clearly acknowledged circumstances. Works Cited Asgharali, Engineer. The rights of women in Islam. Edinburgh: C. Hurst Co. Publishers, 1992. Nieuwkerk, Karin van. Women embracing Islam: gender and conversion in the West. Berlin: University of Texas Press, 2006. Roald, Anne Sofie. Women in Islam: the Western experience. New York: Routledge, 2001. â€Å"Women in Islam.† Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm

The Role Played by the International Force for East Timor in the East T

The Role Played by the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) in the East Timorese Efforts to Achieve Independence Introduction East Timor (also called Timor-Leste in Portuguese) is a country in Southeast Asia. It was a Portuguese colony from the 16th century up until Portugal’s decolonisation in 1975. In 1976 Timor-Leste was invaded by Indonesia who sought to expand its territory. This lead to the development of long guerrilla warfare between the East Timorese who wanted their independence and the Indonesian troops who suppressed the East Timorese efforts to independence. This struggle for independence lasted from 1976 until 1999. This led to the deaths of a third of the East Timorese population due to conflict related causes. Following the fall of Indonesian President Suharto, the UN endorsed an agreement between Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Indonesia agreed to, albeit reluctantly, hold a referendum in Timor-Leste for independence or integration into Indonesia. This referendum was held in August 1999 and it was supervised by the UN. The votes in favour of independence were in the majority. However, th e referendum was followed by a violent reaction by the pro-integrationist East Timorese population, which were supported by Indonesian elements. The international community was very much appalled by the violence following the referendum and there was a change in the international climate in terms of humanitarian intervention following NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, the UN’s failure to act in Rwanda, and also the inaction of the international community in Bosnia. The change of international climate led to decisive action for Timor-Leste. Under the aegis of Australia, Indonesia reluctantly consented to the international pe... ...tribution to Asia-Pacific security architecture, Pacific Review: St Antony's College, Oxford, 2003. 2. Taylor, John G. East Timor: the price of freedom ( Zed Books) 1999 3. Vincent, R. J. Non-intervention and International Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1974. Online sources 1. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country/economy fact sheet on East Timor, Canberra, (Website). www.dfat.gov.au. 2. Kofi Annan, ‘Two concepts of sovereignty’, The Economist, 18 Sept. 1999, pp81-2 at p. 82. 3. "Operation Astute, Timor-Leste," Department of Defence, Canberra, (Website) www.defence.gov.au. 4. Security Council Authorizes Multinational forces In East Timor http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1999/19990915.sc6727.doc.html. 5. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272 S-RES-1272(1999) in 1999 (retrieved 2008-04-12)