Hispanic American Diversity Essay Example for Free

Hispanic American Diversity Essay In identifying the linguistic, political, social, economic, religious, and familial conventions and statuses of Hispanic groups living in the United States (US); the following remain as the center of attention: Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Columbians. While there is distinctiveness in each groups culture, their language categorizes them in one of two large groups known as Latino or Hispanic Americans. The Spanish language is communal between these groups, though all have exclusive dialects that set them apart. The commonalities and differences are not limited to just language, but span across every aspect of Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Columbian way of life. Today in the US millions of people classify themselves as Mexican Americans (2005). The intricate and affluent Mexican American multicultural heritage is a direct reflection of influences from such places as Spain and Mexico (2005). The unique language of Mexican Americans is no exception to influences as it is derived from a combination of Mexicos national language, Spanish, and the national language of the US, English. Although sometimes described as an under-represented group in US politics, Mexican Americans were very active in the Mexican American Civil Rights movement. This movement included a wide-rang of issues, from rights for farm workers to the right to vote (2000). As with their political status, socially Mexican Americans continually battle to fit in. Their want of having the American dream burns bright within the hearts and minds of all Mexican Americans and makes their social battle seem that much more important. Throughout the immigration history of Mexican Americans, little advancement has been made for progress from immigrant standing to mainstream social status. This is largely due to the lack of education provided and the vast amount of discrimination they received (2006). In education, another battle for Mexican Americans arises. Richard Alba (2006) stated, Huntington presents data that appear to show very low levels of Mexican-American educational advancement beyond high school, regardless of generation. A full comparison of high school education completion broken down by Hispanic origin. Note. From Bernstein, R. Bergman, M. (2005). Young, diverse, urban. United States Department of Commerce News. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from http://www. census. gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-100. html Similar to the struggle noted with education, economically, Mexican Americans struggle for fair pay. During the Mexican American Civil Rights movement Mexican American economics came from the shadows to become one of the many issues faced. Today this harsh reality still burdens most all Mexican Americans. The one bright light may be their religious beliefs. Although, not always true, most churches today deliver separate mass for Spanish speaking parishioners. Religion remains a very strong factor in Mexican American family and culture. As with their religion, family remains quite strong in the lives of Mexican Americans. They have strong ties to not only immediate family in the US but family living in Mexico as well. This bond is so deep that some families continue to send money to their loved ones in Mexico. Similar to Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans speak a derivative of Spanish as their main language. Politically, Puerto Ricans like Mexican Americans are under-represented in US politics. In fact their start in politics held them back from individualizing themselves. The progression of politics into Puerto Rican life in the US has gone from focusing on social and cultural issues in the 1950s to electoral participation and lobbying becoming the mainstay of their political ground (2003, p. 6). With all the strides Puerto Ricans have made politically, socially they have grown as well. They have integrated themselves into society, by fighting the same battles all Latinos fought: racism and discrimination. Although, they have a higher percentage of people graduating high school than Mexican Americans, they still maintain less than three quarters of Hispanic origin people. As with education and politics struggles with economics also faced most Puerto Ricans. They struggled for fair wages and equal opportunities just as all Latinos did. Today that struggle has become less but still lingers in areas where there is still racism and discrimination. Very similar to Mexican Americans, religion remains a very strong factor in the family and culture of Puerto Ricans. Again most churches conduct separate mass for Spanish speaking parishioners, making it easier for Puerto Ricans to practice their faith. As with their religion, family remains quite strong in the lives of Puerto Ricans. They have strong ties to not only immediate family in the US but family living in Puerto Rico as well. The fact that all Puerto Ricans are US citizens makes family all that more important. As with Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans main language is Spanish. Similar to Mexican Americans politically Cubans are under-represented in US politics. Most are just so happy to get out of the Dictatorship they lived in Cuba they would rather not get caught up in politics at all. The strides they have made politically have helped to advance them socially, economically and in their education. Out of the Hispanic origins Cubans are the second highest only being beat by other Hispanics for High school completion. According to Jason Cato (2003), In rising to dominate the centers of power in Miami, Cuban-Americans have reversed the traditional cycles of assimilation and acculturation. Seeking freedom from the oppression of Cuba has not removed the strong ties they have to their homeland. These ties have caused Cuban Americans to adapt parts of the US culture to their own. Striving for conventional culture is not a focus. Religiously, Cuban Americans like both Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans are devout to their religion as it is a very strong factor in their family and culture. Again most churches conduct separate mass for Spanish speaking parishioners, making it easier for Cubans to practice their faith. As with their religion, family remains quite strong in the lives of Cubans. Family is their way of holding on to cultures and traditions from Cuba. As with Mexican American, Puerto Rican and Cuban, Columbians also speak Spanish as their principal language. Columbian Americans are a very poor. Most migrated to the US to flee war and poverty seen within Columbia. They are often looking for work so that they can send money to their family still living in Columbia. Columbians rarely get involved in politics as they are very focused on family and making money. Work related interaction is the limit, except for other Columbians, of their social standing in the US. As with politics Columbians have very little interest in US culture. Most are here to work to send money home. With work being their main objective while in the US, they do not have time for anything else. They live on very little money and scrape to send as much over to Columbia as possible. Their wages are very low and they work long and mostly very hard hours just to get by. Similar to Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans, Columbians are very strong in their religion. They have an opportunity to go to mass that is conducted in Spanish as well as practice their religion on their own. Family is so very important in a Columbian Americans life. Everything they do is to better their familys life. They have deep ties to family not only in the US but in Columbia as well. This helps them to keep their culture and heritage as strong today as it was yesterday. Everything in their culture revolves around their religion and family. When comparing different Hispanic groups, the commonalities out way the differences in almost every scenario. The Similarities range from language, religion, and family to the reasons they came to the US. They also all care deeply and have very strong ties to their homeland and continue to focus on that rich heritage. The differences are few but stem more from social status and the want to be part of the mainstream. Politics, economic and social standings all differ for each group. This is largely due to assimilation and the different level of strides that have been made over time. The groups that have had more success politically have had the opportunity to advance socially and economically. These three combined in any order lead to an opportunity of the other. The strides and struggles that these four Hispanic groups have made has cleared a path for other Hispanic origin groups to make the same journey. References Alba, R. (2006). Mexican Americans and the American Dream. Political Science Politics. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from www. apsanet. org/imgtest/PerspectivesJun06Alba. pdf Bernstein, R. Bergman, M. (2005). Young, diverse, urban. United States Department of Commerce News. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from http://www. census. gov/PressRelease/www/2003/cb03-100. html Cruz, J. (2003). Puerto Rican politics in the United States. Centro Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from http://redalyc. uaemex. mx/redalyc/pdf/377/37715101. pdf. Cato, J. (2004). Becoming American in Miami: reconsidering immigration, race and ethnic relations. Center for Latin American Studies. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from socrates. berkeley. edu:7001/Events/fall2003/11-20-03-stepick/index. html Mendoza, V. , Chicano! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. (2000). , The Journal for Multimedia History. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from www. albany. edu/jmmh/vol3/chicano/chicano. html.

A War America Could have Won :: American America History

A War America Could have Won North Vietnam was battling for ownership of South Vietnam, so they could be a unified communist nation. To prevent the domino effect and further spread of communism, the USA troops in 1965 went into action against the Viet Cong until 1975. Not only did the greatest superpower in the world get bested by a third world nation, but also lost badly. Perhaps this war could have been won, or prevented in the first place. The USA could have and should have won this war, with a combination of better weapons usage, better tactics and better support from their home country. The First American combat troops in Vietnam landed at Da Nang in 8 March 1965 to defend the air base. With the exception of the nuclear weapon, every piece of equipment in America's mighty arsenal was used in the war. The USA President Lyndon Johnson said "Our goal was to deter and diminish the strength of the North Vietnamese aggressors and try to convince them to leave South Vietnam alone"#. Johnson limited the conflict to an air war at first, hoping to pound away and push the Viet Cong into giving in. He used planes such as the B-52 bomber to try to win the war as quickly as possible. So he unleashed a continuous bombing raid on North Vietnam. This was the raid known as 'Operation Rolling Thunder'. American scientist created an array of ultra-sensitive devices to detect the army. THE B-52 dropped bombs in large amounts of the defoliating gas, Agent Orange. Hundreds of millions of acres of jungle were destroyed and even fields of rice paddies were poisoned because of Agent Orange. Agent Orange was supposed to eliminate the Viet Cong's advantageous hiding places, but it only turned the people the American's were fighting for against them even more. Yet another type of bomb was used. Napalm was also another mistake. By using a flammable jelly to literally burn up all of North Vietnam, the USA not only killed more civilians than soldiers, but also raised several ethnical questions. Weighing the consequences of using weapons such as napalm and Agent Orange, the USA quite possibly could have won the Vietnam War completely through the use of air power. More tonnage of ordinance was dropped in any given week during Vietnam than during all other wars in the history of the world combined.

Cango

In the introduction video, Liz outlines the mission as being an â€Å"online entertainments company that sales primary music and books with the intention of branching out to online gaming and e books†. LIZ does a good Job by defining the mission at its most basic level and making it clear. Transformational Leadership â€Å"is the ability to get people to want to change, Improve. And to be led. (Morehouse, 2001 r' Liz uses Transformational Leadership as a great strength when trying to convey her ideas of online gaming to her directing management team.She was able to motivate them to commit to her vision, and encourage innovation/creativity through challenging the normal beliefs of the group. Liz weakness Is her Inability to effectively communicate with the production staff members. She chose the time to tell them about an important new initiative of online gaming while walking to a meeting. This meeting should have been an opportunity to introduce her new idea, open the floor to her associates for their input, needs and values on this project. Instead she made them question the timeline of the project and feel disenfranchised.Motivation plans a valuable role in any organization. It is a trait that should be Instilled In every member of Congo despite their designation or responsibilities. Warren shows strength with his ability to outline the talent and possibility of growth room within his department with the new online gaming Imitative. He looking for ways to increase his team motivation by developing internal talent, empowering his team to do what is best for the organization while Increasing revenue and market growth for the organization.Warren also does a great job with team motivation with his team by assigning roles, seeking their opinion through reporting and allowing their contribution to play a role in the decision making process. Warren should try using Job rotation. Job rotation Is the â€Å"practice as the periodic shifting of an employee roo m one task to another. â€Å"(Robbins, PIG. 73) Warren's team seemed to fall into the same roles within their group. By practicing rotation, this will allow them to do other lobs and challenge themselves with new responsibilities.I recommend Congo try to understand individual's strengths and weakness and how these strengths and weakness affect the person within a team. All while building the teams self esteem. Human Resource within the Congo organization can have a remarkable impact across all other functions, If is positions itself as a leader and partner In the business. Maria head of HER as aligned herself as a key player within the senior management team. She has done a great Job outlining the staffing needs and policy 1 OFF developing and a defined performance appraisal.She may have isolated Nick by blowing off his ideas in the group and team vignette. Maria must recognize Nicks radical behavior/characteristics and be skilful enough to allow him to be himself as long as he has a positive contribution to the team. In another situation she suggests him as a candidate for a promotion. At last, the appraisal. Warren should have had he tools to Judge, weather Nick had the skills and qualities to do his Job effectively. Instead, Nick left the meeting feeling like he has done a great Job with his performance.In reality, Nick has a lot of work to do as to his contribution to Congo I recommend Congo provide a clear developing plan that â€Å"clearly communicate the organization's goals and future strategies along with time for employees to learn a new position, and establish a formal performance . â€Å"(Robbins, PIG. 253) Organization structure is â€Å"how Job tasks are formally divided, grouped and coordinated. â€Å"(Robbins, PIG. 11) Liz uses the Initiating Structure, â€Å"refers to the extent to which a leader is likely to define and structure his or her role and those of subordinates in the search for goal attainment. (Robbins, PIG. 158) Congo does a great Job outlining their department. They use differentiations by grouping people by functions performed. The strengths in departmental is having the expertise in within your department. Everyone on the team seems to have similar ideas and thoughts. Maybe, Congo can implement a team structure. This will allow a representative from all five departments to share ideas and â€Å"decentralized decision aging to the level of the work team. â€Å"(Robbins, PIG. 220) The current environment is a relaxed structure.Liz wants to implement a formal culture with the upcoming Initial Public Offering. The strength of the current culture has been great moral and enthusiasms. This has lead to growth and expansion for Congo. As Congo embark on a new formal culture. This Culture change can bring turnover in leadership. I recommend Liz to take into consideration of the demographic of her team when applying culture change. â€Å"Culture change is more likely to take if the organization is both you ng and small. â€Å"(Robbins, PIG. 239) CanGo After evaluating CanGo for the last 4 weeks, we feel there are some issues that stand out that should be considered before moving forward with this new on-line gaming venture. The following are what we consider the issues that CanGo needs to be aware of and recommendations to address each. The angle that the marketing department is taking needs to be fully evaluated. The type(s) of customer CanGo will be taking on should be fully understood. The customer service department should be highly considered. The current inventory management system needs to be rethought. The phone system that is presently in place needs to be updated. The proposed second ASRS system many not be necessary at this point. CanGo’s gaming customer base is the X and the Y Generation also known at the Millennial Generation. These two segments of the buying population â€Å"will outnumber Baby Boomers in 2010† ( (Henderson, 2006). They are also referred to at the NextGen, GenY and Echo Boomers. The generation born 1961 to 1981 (several different opinions on the actual date range) is called Generation X (Gen X) and is considered the X Generation are the most over indulged generation so far. They were doted on by their parents due to having extra money in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Along with the divorced parents that double incomes, remarried and sub placing the divorce guilt. Generation Y (Gen Y) dates from 1982 to 2003, again no definitive dates have been set, but widely believed. They are the premier generation to fully grow up with all cell phones and computers in use over land lines and no home computers. They are â€Å"experiential and exploratory learners†¦(and) strongly prefer learning by doing† (Sweeney, 2006). According to Sweeney, â€Å"they almost never read the directions; love to learn†¦multiplayer gaming, computer simulations, and social networks (that) provide little penalty for trial and error learning†. As little as four years ago, this generation was being noted for its extensive use of gaming and how it has had â€Å"a very significant impact upon their expectations for learning†¦(because it) offers thrills, competition, engagement and a rich array of emotional stimuli that also enhance learning†, by having already spent thousands of hours playing electronic, computer and video games. (Sweeney, 2006). CanGo’s marketing team will need to educate the executive team all the way through management and each mployee, so they will better understand their customer base and how important it is to have the proper procedures in place to accommodate their needs. This generation will tell you if you are getting it wrong and they will take their business somewhere else. One of the best ways for any company to achieve success is through considering their customer’s needs and making improvements on service quality. There are several ways that this can be accomplished. A company can best serve its customers by understanding the type of issues the customers have before they have them. By obtaining some baseline data and implementing changes with that information, they will decrease the number of calls and returns. When they are provided with a complaint from a customer, they should retain that information so that they can decrease the number of issues even further. They should also look at ways to bridge the gap between happy, loyal customers and angry, transient customers such as with surveys. The first is through customer satisfaction surveys which helps get to the heart of critical relationships in ways that help companies move their business forward. The satisfaction, loyalty, and reference-ability of their customers directly affect growth and profitability. The next is a customer service survey which can provide management with valuable input on both short-term and long-term decision-making, offering critical operational and strategic advantages over the competition. These are flexible enough that they can be conducted online, by phone, or through regular mail. The last is a customer loss review survey that would help to identify the root causes of defections so that direct action can be taken to minimize the loss of customers in the future. Keeping new customers will be a top priority for CanGo. This will require that the current staff be retrained and any employee that will not comply with the new process will be replaced. Their skills on the phone will leave a lasting impression on the customer as to how responsive CanGo is to their perceived issues. In order for the CanGo to get their products to the right place on time, with the right quantity and highest quality, it is imperative that we choose the best possible way to approach inventory management. Since CanGo does have several centers to work out of, it is essential to identify where the supply or products are to be physically located. It should be determined which has the most benefit: storing inventory close to the supplier, the customer, or in house. This could mean that the inventory will be spread out at various CanGo distribution centers and vendor sites. In order to track this inventory we recommend incorporating a PAR method for easy and quick tracking on all supply transactions at POS (Point of Sale) and POU (Point of Use) locations. This will allow us to keep track of all of the products on a more realistic time basis, thus insuring we have the right product ready to order from a third party vendor or available in stock at one of CanGo’s distribution centers to fulfill the customer order. Another aspect is insuring inventory integrity through the use Data Collection technology. To support the proposed shop floor inventory control system or ASRS (Automatic Storage and Retrieval) solution, we need to be able to integrate how the technicians, customer service representatives, and internal and external account managers do business. This means that the inventory management solution must incorporate and interface with a materials management system, a billing system, an ADT (Admission, Discharge, & Transfer) system, as well as a cost accounting system. Getting the product to customers when and where they want it is critical to marketing success. This is why we need to include in our cost effective solution a way to monitor and keep track of all supply transactions. To do this we will maintain a library of transaction records that will give us the ability to better predict our customers buying behaviors. If we can do this, we can insure the most desired products are available and ready to ship in a more expeditious manner. Customer Service issues at CanGo: Our Team feels that one of the major areas to consider in this expansion to on line gaming is expanding and updating customer service systems, processes, and service personnel. We feel that CanGo can not overlook putting in to motion action plans early to handle the expected 400% increase in business they are forecasting. The entire phone system needs to be updated to add more trunks and roll over lines to be able to handle the increase in call volume. It is important that when a customer does take the time to call in with an issue, that they do not get a busy signal or be placed on hold too long. This will just cause them to become more irritated. A new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system should be purchased and installed at least six months before the expected call volume increase. A VoIP system is secure, takes almost no space since it is stored in a current sever rack, and will only require one or two employees to maintain and update it. Another advantage is that this type of system allows for unlimited users, mailboxes, voicemail, and auto-attendant. There will be extra room for expansion since the current large phone cabinets will be removed and sold which could help fund the new VoIP purchase. The entire phone tree/auto-attendant needs to be reprogrammed with updated company and customer service level choices along with a choice in language option. The first choice in product help should be updated to online gaming. This is the new product of the company and will be free advertising. The new call volume will be linked to the online gaming and those customers need to have that as a first choice. The gaming demographic, Gen Y, is known to be impatient and having their choice second could be perceived as not showing respect for their business. Also, listing it first is free advertising to customers that do not know that CanGo has started an online gaming (gaming) division. While most book readers are not the gaming target market, they will most likely know someone that is and word of mouth is the best advertising. All subsequent levels would be updated to match the switch between gaming and books on the call tree. The choices for each would be similar: 1. New Account 2. New Games/Books available 3. Returns/Issues 4. Technical Help a. Gaming b. Online Return Material Authorization (RMA)/Returns page The last choice on the tree would be for vendors and courier assistance. The current RMA system is not working. The customer needs to be able to request RMA number and materials on the website. Currently, the website does not allow this action, nor does it list the current process which is to call the service center to obtain the number materials. This must be automated and the return labels will need to be printable by the customer. The current process of sending shipping labels via the courier is time consuming, not efficient, and is not environmentally friendly. This will allow for less paper and trucks out on the road to deliver the labels; (maybe two attempts) and a third to pick up the package. The Green aspect would also be pointed out on the website to explain to those that may want labels shipped to them. This is also a good promotion point for the company. With the new ASRS system that has been proposed, a second ASRS will be added in the plan. Getting some more information on the necessity of this second system is crucial to making a proper decision about its importance. If the first was implemented and the second held till the volume increased, the chance of failure would decrease. It would also allow time to work out bugs with the setup, making it easier for subsequent systems to be implemented. Integration of software would be easier since only one system would be worked on at a time. Furthermore, this would allow time for everyone to have a better understanding of how to use the system and what information to look for. With these recommendations, we feel that CanGo has a very good chance of not only making a smooth transition to the gaming world, but also become a better, more responsive company overall.

Brief History of Cod Fishing

The cods importance to American history is undeniable. It was cod that attracted Europeans to North America for short-term fishing trips and eventually enticed them to stay. The cod became one of the most sought-after fish in the North Atlantic, and it was its popularity that caused its enormous decline and the precarious situation today. Native Americans Long before Europeans arrived and discovered America, Native Americans fished along its shores, using hooks they made from bones and nets made from natural fibers. Cod bones such as otoliths (an ear bone) are plentiful in Native American middens, indicating they were an important part of the Native American diet. Earliest Europeans The Vikings and Basques were some of the first Europeans to travel to the coast of North America and harvest and cure cod. Cod was dried until it was hard, or cured using salt so that it was preserved for a long period of time. Eventually, explorers such as Columbus and Cabot discovered the New World. Descriptions of the fish indicate that cod were as big as men, and some say that fishermen could scoop the fish out of the sea in baskets. Europeans concentrated their cod fishing efforts in Iceland for awhile, but as conflicts grew, they began fishing along the coast of Newfoundland and what is now New England. Pilgrims and Cod In the early 1600s, John Smith charted out New England. When determining where to flee, the Pilgrims studied Smiths map and were intrigued by the label Cape Cod. They were determined to profit from fishing, although according to Mark Kurlansky, in his book Cod: a Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, they knew nothing about fishing, (p. 68) and while the Pilgrims were starving in 1621, there were British ships filling their holds with fish off the New England coast. Believing they would receive blessings if they took pity on the Pilgrims and assisted them, the local Native Americans showed them how to catch cod and use the parts not eaten as fertilizer. They also introduced the Pilgrims to quahogs, steamers, and lobster, which they eventually ate in desperation. Negotiations with the Native Americans led to our modern-day celebration of Thanksgiving, which would not have occurred if the Pilgrims did not sustain their stomachs and farms with cod. The Pilgrims eventually established fishing stations in Gloucester, Salem, Dorchester, and Marblehead, Massachusetts, and Penobscot Bay, in what is now Maine. Cod was caught using handlines, with larger vessels sailing out to fishing grounds and then sending two men in dories to drop a line in the water. When a cod was caught, it was pulled up by hand. Triangle Trade Fish were cured by drying and salting and marketed in Europe. Then a triangle trade developed that linked  cod to slavery and rum. High-quality cod was sold in Europe, with the colonists purchased European wine, fruit and other products. Then traders then went to the Caribbean, where they sold a low-end cod product called West India cure to feed the burgeoning slave population, and bought sugar, molasses (used to make rum in the colonies), cotton, tobacco, and salt. Eventually, New Englanders also transported slaves to the Caribbean. Cod fishing continued and made the colonies prosperous. Modernization of Fishing In the 1920s-1930s, more sophisticated and effective methods, such as gillnets and draggers were used. Commercial cod catches increased throughout the 1950s. Fish processing techniques also expanded. Freezing techniques and filleting machinery eventually led to the development of fish sticks, marketed as a healthy convenience food. Factory ships started catching fish and freezing it out at sea. Fishing Collapse Technology improved and fishing grounds became more competitive. In the U.S., the Magnuson Act of 1976 prohibited foreign fisheries from entering the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - 200 miles around the U.S. With the absence of foreign fleets, the optimistic U.S. fleet expanded, causing a greater decline in fisheries. Today, New England cod fishermen face strict regulations on their catch. Cod Today The commercial cod catch has decreased greatly since the 1990s due to strict regulations on cod fishing. This has led to an increase in cod populations. According to NMFS, cod stocks on Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine are rebuilding to target levels, and the Gulf of Maine stock is no longer considered overfished. Still, the cod you eat in seafood restaurants may no longer be Atlantic cod, and fishsticks are now more commonly made of other fish such as pollock. Sources CC Today. 2008. Deconstructing Thanksgiving: A Native American View. (Online). Cape Cod Today. Accessed November 23, 2009. Kurlansky, Mark. 1997. Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World. Walker and Company, New York. Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Brief History of the Groundfishing Industry of New England (Online). Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Accessed November 23, 2009.