Bureaucracy, Intelligence and Homeland Security Essay

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 shook the nation to its core. Politicians felt a tremendous pressure not only to go on the attack against the terrorists, but also to secure the homeland. As a result the United States’ government responded the way it often does in a crisis – It created a huge new bureaucracy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was designed to consolidate dozens of agencies under one roof. Theoretically this would streamline the process of protecting the homeland. The Intelligence Act of 2004 was designed to better focus this process while also protecting the civil rights of Americans. Proponents of the DHS argue that there has not been a major attack on American soil since 2001. This presents an incomplete picture of the security landscape however. DHS is still very much a work in progress. It has been plagued by numerous well-publicized problems. The Department of Homeland Security has not met the strategic goals and objectives set forth in the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. Therefore, the DHS has not successfully provided national security. The Act and the Bureaucracy The consolidation of so many agencies under one roof was unprecedented in Washington. Early fears that the bureaucracy would be so unwieldy as to be out of control seemed to be justified. After 9/11 the government felt an intense pressure to do something. The lack of coordination between agencies was exposed by these attacks. Creation of the DHS was an attempt to remedy this problem, but the agency itself was a massive undertaking. In many ways it is an agency still trying to find its footing. The DHS began operations in 2003 with more than 180. 000 employees (Brzezinski, 2004). It oversees dozens of agencies with a dizzying array of responsibilities. From the start the agency has worked against long odds and excessive expectations. There is a gap between what the public expects of DHS and what DHS actually believes it can do. This makes it even more difficult for the DHS to operate effectively. A well known axiom within the intelligence community states that â€Å"The terrorists only have to be right once – we have to be right every time†. Meanwhile the American public is intolerant of failure. The reality that eventually the terrorists will succeed again is not well understood. In fact, â€Å"The very notion of trying to design a zero-terrorist-risk environment is dangerously futile† (Brzezinski, 2004). As the DHS scuffled through its first few years, Congress and the American people became impatient. In 2004 Congress took action to reform the DHS and the intelligence and security apparatus. In an effort to re-focus DHS activities to the modern threat environment, Congress passed the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. The Act revised a number of provisions of the National Security Act of 1947. It set guidelines for information sharing, inter-agency cooperation and covert operations. Five years later some of its provisions have been addressed; many have not. Prevention and Preparation The Department of Homeland Security is a vast organization with a vast number of duties. It is responsible for both day-to-day protection of the homeland and strategic long-term efforts to prevent terrorism in the future. Additionally it must respond to attacks already under way and is often called in on natural disaster situations. DHS duties on any given day include, but are not limited to: †¦ screening 1. 5 million airline passengers [and] inspecting 57,006 shipping containers†¦ very day DHS reviews 2200 intelligence reports. [It] stands watch over 8,000 federal facilities and pieces of critical infrastructure. (Brzezinski, 2004) The Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 was intended to further streamline inter-agency cooperation between the many departments of the DHS. In some cases, such as the apprehension of alleged terrorist cells in Buffalo, NY and Miami, FLA, better cooperation has been evident. However, reports of turf wars and lack of cooperation still surface periodically. In some cases the DHS has had a tin ear in regards to Congress and the American people. Frequent news stories have made the public aware of the vulnerability of U. S. ports. Only a tiny percentage of the cargo that passes through these ports is screened. Technology and manpower to do so thoroughly are still limited. In response to public pressure, Congress strengthened port security provisions in the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. The response from DHS was anything but urgent: The Department (Homeland Security) resisted 100 percent screening and offered a half measure involving known shippers†¦ Congress in 2007 mandated full inspection of shipping containers, which has not yet been implemented. (Clarke, 2008) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is primarily responsible for both passenger and cargo security. It defends its record by pointing to several accomplishments. These include: screening of 700,000 port workers and issuing of directives mandating 100% screening of â€Å"high risk† cargo (The Library of Congress, 2004). These efforts still fall short of what Congress has mandated. Much recent focus has gone into the issue of border security. DHS has made progress on, but not completed a border fence. Border Patrol personnel have been increased. Technology for detecting illegal entry is improving, including the use of Predator drones to detect illegal crossers so Border Patrol can then be deployed. In response to criticism the DHS and ICE, its immigration division, have been forced to end the â€Å"catch and release† policy that was in place for many years. According to the DHS, the number of illegal aliens interdicted at the border has decreased. DHS and the border patrol claim this as evidence that their efforts are successful. It is likely, however, that additional factors explain the decrease in interdictions. Events in Mexico, the downturn in the U.  S. economy and more sophisticated means of entering the country also play a role. The FBI and CIA in tandem with local police are employing more sophisticated surveillance and search tools as well as providing security at large events that could be inviting targets for terrorists. Infrastructure security has improved but many important locations still lack adequate security. These include local water/sewer plants, electrical grids, mass transit systems and energy facilities. In the process of trying to provide such protections the DHS has had to face criticism from civil libertarians. An ongoing debate continues about where national security crosses the line into being an erosion of hard-earned American civil rights. This debate is likely to continue in perpetuity. The changing landscapes of threat and fear alter the position of that line. After the 9/11 attacks, Americans were much more willing to trade civil rights for a perceived sense of security. In the years since many of the actions taken during that time, such as domestic warrantless wire tapping and random airport searches have come under heavy criticism. It is likely that the DHS is engaging in a number of unknown activities that would be highly disturbing to the general public. This has always been true of the American intelligence and security establishment. There is no evidence that these activities are any worse or more prevalent since the founding of the DHS. In defense of the DHS, the organization must toe a slippery line. It is expected to take extraordinary measures to protect the nation. What is too extraordinary is never well-defined or unchanging. Bang for the Buck? The Department of Homeland Security has not been without certain successes. The Science and Technology Directorate has been a standout among the many branches of DHS. Composed of some of the finest minds in the world, the Directorate has made significant advances in a number of different areas targeted toward fulfillment of the Intelligence Act of 2004. The US-VISIT program has made progress in the area of VISA overstays. Behavior spotting software is helping agents at ports of entry to identify and address suspicious behavior. DNA mapping technology is helping to more quickly identify biological agents and assess any potential threat. At the same time an early warning system for these agents is in development. All of these developments have both civilian and military applications. On the forefront of information security is the Einstein 3 project currently undergoing testing. A Washington Post report describes the initiative this way: â€Å"the plan called for telecommunications companies to route the Internet traffic of civilian agencies through a monitoring box that would search for and block computer codes designed to penetrate or otherwise compromise networks† (Nakashima, 2009). If successful, Einstein 3 could help ensure secrecy of vital infrastructure and security information. This is all the more important in light of recent reports of widespread hacking of government computers. Analysts suspect, but are still unable to prove, that North Korean or Chinese hackers are responsible for the repeated breaches in security. The American public may have assumed that the founding of DHS represented a massive financial investment in America’s security. In reality, the DHS budget is not substantially more than its individual agencies were already receiving. The truth of the matter is that Homeland Security is a shoestring operation† (Brzezinski, 2004). This explains a lot about why measures deemed critical and necessary in 2001, and again in 2004, still have not been implemented. The agency is supposed to be free of the turf wars that plagued the intelligence community in the past. Because the individual agencies still lobby for a limited amount of funds this is not the reality. The harshest critics of the agency believe that is too much about appearing to do something and not enough about actually doing something. The confusing color-coded terror warning system is one such example. Col. David Hunt (ret. ) writes of such efforts: â€Å"Colors, duct tape and wooden desks don’t stop 10 – kiloton bombs or terrorists† (2005). With a new administration in power the DHS is considering dropping or altering the color-code warning system. Each time the alert system is raised costs are incurred by local, state and federal governments. The public has become oblivious to the system since specific information about the threat or what to do are never given. The ability of Americans to travel freely is the key to its future prosperity. For that reason a great deal of attention has been given to transportation links such as railroads, subways and airlines. The results have been mixed. Airport security, perhaps the most visible of DHS efforts has come under withering criticism. Inevitably errors will make better news than successes. The errors are numerous however, and come not only in the execution of policy but in the policies themselves. For example: â€Å"Our government keeps no fewer than twelve watch lists that we can choose from. Mind you, not one consolidated list; that would be too easy† (Hunt, 2005). Much of airport security has been federalized, but that does not mean the system is operating smoothly. The watch lists are anything but accurate. Babies and young children have been flagged. Even a U. S. Representative, Sen. Edward Kennedy was stopped because he somehow appeared on a list. Random checks that result in searches of senior citizens, disabled people and children have been a public relations nightmare for the TSA, the organization within DHS responsible for travel safety. Coping with these problems makes the jobs of airport screeners, many of whom are still being trained, all the more difficult. The TSA has required airlines to make certain security changes like locking cabin doors. On a random number of flights an armed federal air marshal is seated in the cabin. The prevalence of these marshals is a secret held tightly by the TSA. Random security checks run by independent agencies still raise concerns about the ease of getting potentially dangerous material on board domestic aircraft. Meanwhile the lack of a terrorist incident since the attempted shoe bombing by Richard Reid has led to a false sense of security. Since the border issue reached critical mass during the second term of President George W. Bush spending on border security has increased. Critics worry that this increase has come at the expense of other critical DHS efforts. â€Å"Department officials concede that most of the Homeland Security money is being funneled into one mission – controlling the border with Mexico† (Alden, 2008). The DHS and border patrol are fulfilling mandates of the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. But lack funding to complete many other initiatives. Analysis and Conclusion The Department of Homeland Security was proposed as an organization free of political influence. The reality is much different. A giant organization with tentacles stretching in numerous directions is inevitably political when funding for it is limited. DHS has the problems of any other Washington bureaucracy. The organization has garnered mixed reviews from independent analysts. To date there has not been another serious terrorist attack in the United States since 2001. A number of Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda- inspired cells have been infiltrated and brought to justice. The DHS should be given credit where credit is due in that regard. At the same time the actions of DHS have raised concerns that the civil rights of Americans are being eroded. It is also misleading to assume that the lack of attacks since 2001 is a strong indicator that the country is safe. In fact it is dangerous to assume so. The efforts of U. S. forces overseas probably have had as much to do as anything with the lack of attacks on American soil. At the same time, the enemy who successfully executed the 9/11 attacks did so after years of planning. It is very likely that they, or some other enemy is studying the cracks in the Homeland Security apparatus in preparation for a future attack. This is a 21st century reality. DHS was given license after 9/11 to take shortcuts around the civil rights of individuals in the name of national security. Each successive generation of Americans will have to decide what they are willing to give up for a sense of security that may or may not be realistic. Has the DHS protected America from terrorist attacks? Yes and no. Some of the actions it has taken have had clear-cut results. Others have not. Can it protect the homeland for the foreseeable future? Probably not. The DHS has not met many of its original mandates, as well as the mandates from the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. In certain instances it has shown the kind of bureaucratic inflexibility that allowed for the 9/11 attacks to take place. The American government has to be right every time – The terrorists only have to be right once.

The Concept of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

The Concept of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft  are German words that mean community and society respectively. Introduced in classical social theory, they are used to discuss the different kinds of social ties that exist in small, rural, traditional societies versus large-scale, modern, industrial ones. Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft in Sociology Early German sociologist Ferdinand  Tà ¶nnies introduced the concepts of  Gemeinschaft (Gay-mine-shaft)  and  Gesellschaft  (Gay-zel-shaft) in his 1887 book  Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft. Tà ¶nnies presented these as analytic concepts which he found useful for studying the differences between the kinds of rural, peasant societies that were being replaced across Europe by modern, industrial ones.  Following this, Max Weber further developed these concepts as ideal types in his book  Economy and Society  (1921)  and in his essay Class, Status, and Party. For Weber, they were useful as ideal types for tracking and studying the changes in societies, social structure, and social order over time. The Personal and Moral Nature of Social Ties Within a  Gemeinschaft   According to  Tà ¶nnies,  Gemeinschaft, or community, is comprised of  personal social ties and in-person interactions that are defined by traditional social rules and result in an overall cooperative social organization. The values and beliefs common to a  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Gemeinschaft  are organized around appreciation for personal ties, and because of this, social interactions are personal in nature.  Tà ¶nnies believed that these kinds of interactions and social ties were driven by emotions and sentiments (Wesenwille), by a sense of moral obligation to others, and were common to rural, peasant, small-scale, homogenous societies.  When Weber wrote about these terms in  Economy and Society, he suggested that a  Gemeinschaft  is produced by the subjective feeling that is tied to affect and tradition. The Rational and Efficient Nature of Social Ties Within a  Gesellschaft On the other hand,  Gesellschaft, or society, is comprised of impersonal and indirect social ties and interactions that are not necessarily carried out face-to-face (they can be carried out via telegram, telephone, in written form, through a chain of command, etc.). The ties and interactions that characterize a  Gesellschaft  are guided by formal values and beliefs that are directed by rationality and efficiency, as well as by economic, political, and self-interests. While social interaction is guided by  Wesenwille, or seemingly naturally occurring emotions  in a  Gemeinschaft, in a  Gesellschaft,  Kà ¼rwille, or rational will, guides it. This kind of social organization is common to large-scale, modern, industrial, and cosmopolitan societies that are structured around large organizations of government and private enterprise, both of which often take the form of bureaucracies. Organizations and the social order as a whole are organized by a complex division of labor, roles, and tasks. As Weber explained, such a form of social order is the result of rational agreement by mutual consent, meaning members of society agree to participate and abide the given rules, norms, and practices because rationality tells them that they benefit by doing so. Tà ¶nnies observed that the traditional bonds of family, kinship, and religion that provide the basis for social ties, values, and interactions in a  Gemeinschaft  are displaced by scientific rationality and self-interest in a  Gesellschaft. While social relations are cooperative in a  Gemeinschaft  it is more common to find competition in a  Gesellschaft. Gemeinschaft  and  Gesellschaft  in Modern Times While it is true that one can observe distinctly different types of social organizations prior to and after the industrial age, and when comparing rural versus urban environments, its important to recognize that  Gemeinschaft  and  Gesellschaft are ideal types. This means that though they are useful conceptual tools for seeing and understanding how society works, they are rarely if ever observed exactly as they are defined, nor are they mutually exclusive. Instead, when you look at the social world around you, you are likely to see both forms of social order present. You may find that you are part of communities in which social ties and social interaction are guided by a sense of traditional and moral responsibility while simultaneously living within a complex, post-industrial society.

Maiolica Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War essayEssay Writing Service

Maiolica Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War essayEssay Writing Service Maiolica: Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War essay Maiolica: Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War essayMaiolica pottery was very popular, especially during the 16th century, when this art has reached the high level of development. In a way, maiolica pottery may be viewed as one of the first manifestations of the popular art because maiolica pottery was closer to people since conventional objects, such s dishes, were transformed into works of art. The Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War is one of such works which dates back to the mid-16th century and it was created by Guido Durantine as a decoration of the pottery. This work of art is particularly noteworthy as the work that refers to the Classical art of ancient Rome and Greece but also this maiolica pottery reveals the European vision of the Classical era through the eyes of the 16th century artist.The Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War, 1540-60, created by Guido Durantine is one of the maiolica pottery created in the 16th century. This dish is an example of the traditional maiolica pottery which depicts the scene that refers to the ancient time. In such a way, the artist pays a lot of attention to the classical art and philosophy which was the mainstream trend in the Renaissance era, when artists re-discovered the cultural and artistic heredity of the ancient world. At the same time, the Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War was not a mere painting depicting a classical plot but, on the contrary, this is the original work of art of the 16th century, while the accuracy of the depiction of the ancient story in accordance to traditions of the classical ancient Greek or Roman art just reveals the turn of the artist to the Classical art as a source of inspiration and creativity.The focus of the artist on the Classical story referring to the Second Punic war is not occasional. Ancient world as well as the classical art of Rome and Greece is the cradle of European civilization and Renaissance artists found the main source of inspiratio n in the ancient classical art. This is why references and episodes from Classical ancient Roman or Greek stories are frequent in maiolica pottery. In this regard, the Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War is not an exception. The artist was apparently inspired by the ancient history and he depicts ancient heroes and gods on the dish to revive the spirit of antiquity in the Renaissance era.The painting refers to one of the most important moments in the ancient history, the Second Punic War, which was the war between Rome and Carthage for the supremacy in the Western Mediterranean. Rome and Carthage were the major superpowers in that time and the theme of their Punic War was very strong in the ancient Roman art (Mussachio 182). At the same time, Guido Durantine could view the Second Punic War in broader terms than just the war between the Rome and Carthage. Instead, he could view the war as the clash of two civilizations, European and African one. During the Renaissance this th eme was very important and the clash of European powers, such as Spain and Italy, in a way, as well as all Europeans during the Crusades, with African and Asian powers was one of main issues in the life of Europeans of that time.In addition, African civilization was totally different from European one and the clash between them could evoke the author’s desire to reveal the origin of the conflict between them. In this regard, the depiction of the Second Punic war helps to understand the conflict between European countries and African ones as the historical conflict (Mussachio 188). However, the painting itself does not really depicts the war or battlefield. Instead, the painting depicts Roman headed by Gaius Flaminius in the center of the dish. They are in a turmoil because of the war on Carthage and they are probably preparing to win the war and defeat Hannibal. Gaius Flaminiys appeals to Romans and attempts to take everything under control. He wants to persuade Romans to car ry on the war and defeat Hannibal but Romans apparently refuse and prefer to leave. Gaius claims and appeals to Romans but they do not really listen to him, instead, they are busy with their own affairs and problems, while some of them have already started to retreat to escape probably the upcoming rage of Gaius. The face of Gaius manifests despair and hatred. He apparently hates Hannbal and wants his defeat. However, after Romans’ refusal to carry on the war and their attempts of retreating, he grows furious and seems to be ready to attack his fellow Romans. Some of his supporters to his right raise their hands to show their support. They also seem to be outraged by the refusal of Romans to carry on the war but the majority of Romans disagree with them and either have already turned their backs to them to go away or just ignore the exclamations and appeals of Gaius’ supporters. Â  The small Cupid in the low right part of the painting is looking downward as if looking for someone to shoot with his arrow, while all the other gods are busy with their own affairs and problems. The depiction of the Cupid seems to be ironic since he, being so small and helpless, turns out to be the only one, who is really ready to bear arms and use it. Alternatively, the role of Cupid may be different but still quite symbolic. For instance, Cupid could be depicted as the tribute of ancient Roman gods, on the one hand, and European traditions of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, where religious themes were traditionally very strong. However, the depict of Cupid as a symbol of divine presence is quite ironic, if not to say sarcastic, compared to large scale paintings created before, during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, which manifested worshipping of God, detailed and honorable depiction of angels and saints. In contrast, the Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War depicts a small Cupid as the only representative of Roman gods, who is present during the Roman council meeting on the future of Carthage and Hannibal. At this point, the view of the artist on ancient Roman and gods as well as god-man relationship is quite different from views of ancient Romans and artists and people of the Middle Ages. Ancient Romans believed that gods play an important part in their life and they worshiped and hoped for the gods’ assistance. Cupid played minor part in the hierarch of ancient Roman gods. This is why the creator of the Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War had minimized the role of gods in the decision making process shifting the focus on humans as key decision makers. In fact, this idea was new and challenging even for Guido Durantine’ contemporaries because this idea was unacceptable during the Middle Ages and Renaissance had just started to bring the new vision of man as a proactive agent but not a mere subject to God’s will and decisions. Therefore, Durantine rejects the fatum of ancient Romans as well as the overwhelming power of God over humans of his contemporary. Instead, he shows that people can take important decisions, regardless of the position of gods or their involvement in affairs of humans.In conclusion, taking into account all above mentioned, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that the Dish with a Scene from the Second Punic War by Guido Durantine created in 1540-60 depicts the council meeting of ancient Romans and the disagreement of Romans to attack Hannibal and Carthage that make Gaius Flaminius furious. This maiolica potter mirrors the increased interest of European artists of the Renaissance era to the classical art ancient Rome and Greece. The artist had challenged cultural norms of his time and intentionally decreased the role of gods in face of men, who become main decision makers and take a proactive position.

Supply Chain Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Supply Chain - Assignment Example This is due to the fact that all business operations are similar in that they are mostly concerned with the development of a product in the most cost effective way. Lean is hard to implement due to the simple reason that it is a change process just like any other and therefore employees and other players in the organisation may resist this change as it threatens the status quo. This is the main reason why lean has faced various challenges in implementation. In a lean system suppliers are important in that they help coordinate the delivery of raw materials and other inputs used in the production process. Customers on the other hand help the company in terms of suggestions of product enhancement as well as any other improvements that may be needed in order to ensure the success of the product. It is important to note that the lean philosophy is aimed at the maximisation of both the quality and productivity in order to ensure maximum value to the customer. These two therefore go hand in hand in order to ensure that the production process results in products of highest quality. The triple bottom line is also known as people planet and profits and is used to explain the fact that businesses are responsible to stakeholders and not shareholders. In the manufacturing sector, it is used to ensure that companies do not carry out any activities that may pollute the environment. In the service industry, this is used to ensure that any practices do not affect any stakeholders such as the suppliers or customers

Criminal law newspaper article anyleses Assignment

Criminal law newspaper article anyleses - Assignment Example laws concerns the jurisdiction of disputes between different parties and with which the jurisdiction’s law is applied, we have also the constitutional and administrative law which deals with the governing of the interactions within a state. The aim of this paper is to analyze the three articles concerning the criminal law and thereby analyzing them with regard to legal issues involved and thereby giving views concerning the press reports’ overall accuracy. If there are any inaccuracies, the paper will identify the common reasons for inaccuracies depicted by those reports. According to the article in the Daily mail on-line, 15 January 2011 about the jail for Sainsbury’s IT boss who stole 17 million Nectar points’ the fraud crime is identified. Fraud is said to be a deception made for personal gain that the intentions is either to hurt another individual. Fraud is a civil law violation that is punishable. According to the article about Sainsbury’s he was able to fraud the Nectar points because he had access to the internal administration systems there for fraud occurs when one have the authority or connections to the individual or the intended media of fraud. His fraud was motivated by persona l greed of money, after carefully planning he found a way which he could implicate the fraud, Stevenson had worked in the Sainsbury’s company for 20 years before he was arrested of the Nectar points fraud. During his prosecution he gave an explanation for the fraud, he admitted that he had found a loophole in the system of the company that he used to put points to his own card. Therefore a fraud occurs when there are loopholes in a company that reads to people to gain access and manipulate the resources also being trusted can lead to manipulation of resource. Stevenson said that he was trusted employee so no one was looking over his shoulder. In relation to this Mr. Stevenson was given a penalty of 20 months in jail for the fraud. The related law according to

Performance and Service Excellence in the Service Industry Case Study - 2

Performance and Service Excellence in the Service Industry - Case Study Example The Overnight Service delivers all packages by 8.00 AM to about 5000 zip code areas. Its Priority Overnight service delivers by 10.30 AM on the next business day in most US cities and by noon in other cities and regions. The standard overnight delivery delivers packages by 3 PM in most cities or by 4.30 PM in other areas. The air charter service accepts all commodities that will fit in an aircraft and provides the plane and the crew while the customer chooses the time, route and terms of service (FedEx para8). FedEx maintains a profitable commitment to excellence by applying the eleven management principles underlying its success. It makes customer satisfaction the central focus of business as this is good for business. The flat management structure minimizes a distance between leaders and front line workers while empowering employees and expanding their responsibilities. FedEx has been very committed to reasonable job security by cross-training employees for more flexibility allowing for a redistribution of work during low periods and hiring of part-time workers during peak workloads, thus eliminating the need for layoffs during off-peak times (FedEx para8). The human resources department designs thoughtful and creative compensation schemes, supple duty hours and permanent part-time work. Benefits are structured to accommodate personal preferences. FedEx has a policy of promotion from within, and problem resolution is given ultimate importance with the CEO sometimes intervening to resolve grievances. Open communication is enhanced through an internal broadcasting company, FXTV that reports and discusses all company news (Goldsack para 12). Even though everyone has their own responsibilities, the fences are low so that employees can help each other in case somebody is stuck. This is where cross-training comes in handy. The focus is customer satisfaction.

Take My Eyes Essay Example for Free

Take My Eyes Essay 1.Spousal abuse physically and mentally are obviously the central theme to this movie, there are however a few other underlying themes. First of the theme of reforming or not reforming is shown through the abused women ´s decision in whether or not to go to Madrid and start a career she loves or to stay home with an abusive husband. In the end, the main character finally chose not to reform to her cultures ways and leaves for Madrid. Unlike her mother who stayed with an abusive husband until he died. Another theme would be how abuse affects the entire family. This is really seen with the son of the abused mother and abusive father. Even though the father was never abusive towards his son, he was still gravely affected by the abuse. The sister of the abused women was also affected because she saw what was happening and tried to help but her sister wouldn’t listen. This would have definitely kept her up at night at least. 2.There is explicit and implicit violence throughout the film. The beginning starts out with a ransacked apartment and the abused mother and her son running to her sister’s house. This would be an example of implicit violence. On the other hand when the husband slams her against walls and throws her around that is an example of explicit violence. The director does a good job of not using too much explicit violence because it could cause the film to become hard to watch by some viewers. 3.It is said that the eyes are the portal to one’s soul. When the husband demands for his wife’s and sons eyes, he is attempting to force his control into their soul. The tittle â€Å"take my eyes† represents the husbands need to have everything of her even her soul. The sex scene when he says give me your arms, give me your legs, and so on, is meant to show that he has not changed at all and still sees her as an object. In that scene however, she followed his request by saying take my arms, take my legs, which means she must have enjoyed some of it. 4.Art plays the role of her increased freedom and confidence. It starts with a small job working as a cashier at a religious museum, then becoming a voluntary tour guide at the museum that described and told the religious story of the painting, all the way to getting a job interview in Madrid. The more she chased art the farther it pulled her out of the hell she was in. Another important role was the one of clothes. As she gained confidence she began to dress better and take pride in herself. This angered her husband but because of her work she had to keep it up dressing nice which gave her more and more self-worth. 5.This movie is a serious study of a serious social pathology. Only two men in the movie were portrayed to be abusive monsters. The rest of the males were good honest people who the women enjoyed. It would be ignorant to claim this as male bashing. It is a good tool to advocate for those women.