Sufism Hermeneutics Has Gained A Prominent Place Religion Essay Example

Sufism Hermeneutics Has Gained A Prominent Place Religion Essay Example Sufism Hermeneutics Has Gained A Prominent Place Religion Essay Sufism Hermeneutics Has Gained A Prominent Place Religion Essay Although, from the last few old ages the term Sufism Hermeneutics has gained a outstanding topographic point but it is non something which is modern or unusual. Many philosophers in the yesteryear used to analyse the Greek, Latin and Sanskrit texts as they got cognizant of the importance of philosophical and interpretative surveies. In Sufism Hermeneutics, two stairss are needed to be followed: the first measure is the finding of existent context of some text, word or any sentence while the 2nd measure is the critical apprehension of messages and meanings in the symbolic signifiers. Sufism Hermeneutics has contributed a batch as it has provided a great trade of survey to the history of Sufism, development in the rare attacks to the Quran, influential facets of Iranian poesy and Quri?anic accounts which are critical to be understood. Sufism Hermeneutics has gained a broad scope importance. It is being taught in assorted European and American universities from many old ages. Sufism provides a huge field of research in Islamic surveies, anthropology, history and political relations. Different Sufis have done their occupation with regard to Hermeneutics. They have explained their readings. For illustration many Sufis have interpreted Quran, Persian poesy, Arabic etc. The major work is done by the celebrated Sufi Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Arabi who was born in 1165 at the metropolis of Murica ( Andalusia ) . He is called as Muhyi-al-din ( the energizer of faith ) in the Islamic field where few of the Sufis have a clasp on the issues. He is the Ash-Sheikh Al-akbar ( the greatest maestro ) among many Sufis of the yesteryear. His infinite parts like Futuhat al-Makkiya and Fusus al Hikam are widely noticeable. Futuhat al Hikam has been made as an encyclopaedia of the well known Sufi philosophies. He is celebrated for the subject of Wahdat-al-Wajood which means as the Oneness of being. But Sirdar Kapur Singh, another philosopher and a civil retainer considered this close to the spirit of Sikhism ( Because of the fact that many bookmans interlinked Sufism with Sikhism ) . Hermeneutics which is referred as Twil in Islam is non merely the reading or theoretical work but besides iti?s like a scientific discipline of psyche in the Sufism field harmonizing to Ib n Arabi ( Arabi, 2004 ) . Although, Ibn Arabi has a wont of mentioning abstracts but, his plants have the quality and ranges from poetical, geometrical and mathematical. Therefore, he adds all the signifiers of symbolism in his hermeneutics. His original definition of Hermeneutics or Tawil is based on the basic usage of symbolism. The expert of Islamic scientific discipline and spiritualty, Syed Hossein Hasr has said that this is harmonizing to Ibn Arabi that a complete procedure of Hermeneutics includes the symbols which should be used in an appropriate mode by utilizing the rudimentss symbolisation in that text. Hasr has told that Arabi considers that Tawil is something which starts everything from its beginning. This he elaborates by the fact that there is nil in this universe which is merely precisely like what it seems to be. This can be clarified by another common observation that world can non be wholly determined by the outer visual aspect. Every clip one needs to hold an interior penetration every bi t good. Similarly, in Islam, it is said that if there is the exterior ( Zahir ) of anything or facet than it must besides hold the inside ( Batin ) . Ibn Arabi is of the position that Tawil or Spiritual Hermeneutics is anything which describes the Zahir and the Batin as good i.e. world from the outward to the inward. Immanuel Kant, another deliberated philosopher nevertheless, denied this thought of Zahir and Batin but it can be served as a message for him by which he can recognize the construct which has been noticed and experienced ( Arabi, 2004 ) . Every Sufi has given importance to symbolism in the Hermeneutics. They considered that symbolism is used as a linguistic communication around the universe and the full land consists of the things which besides their outer worth have the symbolic importance every bit good. Ibn Arabi has included in his Hermeneutics the nature and all the things which a adult male experience in his life. It can be said that it is really near to the modern idea, the idea particularly depicted by Martin Heideggerian through his Existentialism who ab initio studied priesthood. Mary Warnock, writes about Existentialism that i?the universe is thought of as a codification, or set of symbols, and the intent of the phenomenology is to construe iti? ( The Sikh Review, 1996 ) . Therefore, holding this thought under consideration Heidegger used the term i?Hermeneutic Phenomenologyi? . Further, the codification of belief of faith and different events which are observed by the mani?s head can besides be considered as a portion in the procedure of construing the interior side of a text ( Arabi, 2004 ) . The basic purpose of all the Sufis behind making the Hermeneutics is to depict, construe and measure the message of God and the sermon of holy texts or any other text. If the Hermeneutics of Quran is taken into observation so it will be concluded that all the Sufis find the symbolisation used in the Quri?anic Ayat which serve as the interior provinces of psyche of the Quri?an. They have an ability to compare the universe and Quri?an and complect the higher provinces of relation to the psyche with those significances of Quri?an which can be merely determined by the expertness. There had been categorized seven degrees of readings of the Quri?an by the Sufis like the seven degrees of psyche being and the construct of seven celestial spheres. The procedure starts when a Sufi digs out the worlds and significances of Islam and during this procedure of finding he gets able to research his ain psyche and so he is compelled to detect a religious nucleus for which these worlds have so many sym bols to convey a peculiar message. Ibn Arabi shows a proper application of symbolisation in his work to all the texts whether it is a Macrocosm Quri?anic text, the full universe that has this Holy book which serves as a complete beginning of counsel for them or it is the application of symbolisation in his microcosmic psyche which is cognizant of all the truths of this universe. So, Ibn Arabi has provided the construct of macrocosmic every bit good as the microcosmic facets of exposure in his Hagiographas ( Arabi, 2004 ) . Whereas, in the Futuhat, Ibn Arabi has shown the astrological symbolisation and he has besides combined it with the scientific discipline of names and letters. One should look up to his work if he notice his intellectualism by which he made it certain that the 20 eight Stationss of Moon correspond with the 20 eight Arabic Alphabets. He besides depicted the correspondence among each planet to one of the Prophetss and each zodiac mark to one of the celestial qualities so as to do the Universe Muslimized and to do the procedure of celestial spheres revolution an act in which visible radiation of a godly personality is scattered from the Universe due to the legion enormous qualities and polarise the visible radiation of Moon ( Almond, 2004 ) . Therefore, universe can be taken as the great illustration for the finding of Macrocosmic Quri?an. This is due to the ground that the religious qualities which are described merely like the religious names mentioned in Quri?an are so much inherent in this Universe merely like the original reverent possibilities by which God clarifies himself in the World like the manner in which he has described himself in the Quri?an. Cosmos boundlessly display the Ayat or marks. Through this one can easy place the truth of one God. So, we can reason that through the Tawil or Spiritual Hermeneutics the Sufis come to cognize about the world of God ( Almond, 2004 ) . If the procedure of Hermeneutics of Ibn Arabi is observed than it must be noticed that he was keen in his thought of construing anything. He was good in analysing the history and linguistic communication of the texts. Although, he had a deep emphasize on symbolisation and many other philosophers have besides showed its importance but symbolisation sometimes appears to be critical to understand by the people. The symbols are normally found hard to recognize. Although, it is considered as an effectual manner for the procedure of Hermeneuticss but the convenience of understanding the symbolisation used in the readings is merely limited to the Sufis or philosophers. But the readers should look up to Ibn Arabii?s construct of exterior and interior facets as it follows the original practicality and it tells the people about a outstanding manner to measure different things and his work with regard to Futuhat and his overall Hermeneutics ( Arabi, 2004 ) . Other than this, a western linguistic communication survey has been besides done with the Rashid al-Din Maybudii?s Persian commentary on Quri?an, Kashf al-asrarwa i?uddat al-abrar which is really the Unveiling of Mysteries and Provision of the Righteous ( Keeler, 2006 ) . The book trades with the interlinking of Hermeneutics and philosophy in Sufi composing which is really can be considered as the commentary on Quri?an and which besides presents the Iranian Tafsir to the audiences ( Keeler, Sufi Hermeneutics: The Quran Commentary of Rashid al-Din Maybudi. Vol 11, 2009 ) . In the past epoch when people used to hold a really small thought about the Iranian speech production universe, Maybudii?s Kashf al-asrar has now gained a broad importance and is taken into a outstanding consideration. It had defined non merely the advancement in the Sufi Hermeneutics but besides it has depicted the cognition of Sufis gained through tradition. It besides contains those subdivisions of the commentary which are hard to be understood by the audience, the infinite expressions and the short history of incidents in the Islamic divinity. These incidents were related to the of import figures of that Islamic divinity. Besides, the Maybudii?s kashf al-asrar has the Sufi philosophies in item ( Keeler, Sufi Hermeneutics: The Quran Commentary of Rashid al-Din Maybudi. Vol 11, 2009 ) . Now an illustration of the book can be taken which is related to the Sufism Hermeneutics by Rashid al-Din Maybudi who has discussed the religious hermeneutics and the thoughts related to it. The writer starts the description with a wide debut of Kashf al-asrar and himself. Then the intellectualism is discussed from which all the thoughts are extracted. There is a division in specifying the thoughts. The first treatment by the writer is the analysis of Hermeneutics of Kashf al-asrar which is offered to the readers and which includes the theory, standards, purposes and methods by which Quri?anic reading is done. At this point the writer has made compartments which include the chapters and in those chapters the writer gives and presents the different constructs. Chapter two and three are at that place in the authori?s head among which chapter two is the Hermeneutics portion of Kashf al-asrar. These Hermeneuticss are harmonizing to Meybudii?s ain statements and texts which explain his gr ounds of complecting those readings which are suited for the populace to read or which are really critical for the normal existences to understand. Besides through this he besides explained the ground of composing his commentary in Iranian linguistic communication. Now chapter three discusses Kashf al-asrar with those hermeneutics which are related to mystics. It begins with theories. The theories are fundamentally the theories of degrees of significance in the Quri?an which discuss their connexion to the traditions which have the written readings. Great advantage is taken by this Maybudii?s combination of exoteric and esoteric readings in Kashf al-asrar. There is a comparing between his Nawbat II and Nawbat III commentaries on specific paragraph of Quri?an. This is an effectual manner to show the Hermeneutics of Mystical reading. The chapter moves to an terminal by demoing the methods of mystical reading and by giving illustrations which are related from Qushavrii?s Latai?if-ishara t and from Kashf al-asrar ( Keeler, 2006 ) . Then the Maybudi has derived the attending of people to another portion of his political orientation. In this portion the philosophies of mystical philosophies which are mentioned in the Kashf al-israr are discussed. There is besides a treatment of general background of the Sufism at the clip of Maybudi. It focuses on the development of love divinity. Then Maybudi gives an overview on the chief mystical instructions of Kashf al-asrar. He besides tells about the relationship with the philosophies of Abd Allah al-Ansari. Now Maybudii?s another idea arises by the treatment on the constructs of Ontology and Cosmology which are related to the treatment of God and treatment about creative activity. The other facets which he references are: Muhammand Light and the creative activity of Adam. Besides the autumn of Adam and the understanding of Alast are briefly discussed. Chapter six of the book explores different facets. These facets are related to the religious counsel which nowadays in Kas hf al-asrar. This counsel includes religious psychological science of Maybudi, the instructions on the penetration of human, religious Stationss, religious hierarchy and eventually the different attacks to the numinous way. In the last subdivision of 2nd the mystical divinity of Kashf al-asrar and the integrating which deals with the philosophies of the mystical way of love are defined ( Keeler, 2006 ) . These chapters fundamentally deal with Maybudii?s ways of conveying his instructions by agencies of his mystical readings made on the narratives of Prophetss like Abraham, Moses and Joseph. The ground of concentrating on the narratives of these Prophetss is fundamentally the involvements of all the Sufis in the topic. By this the readers realize the gravitation of Maybudii?s composing in which he portrays the Prophetss as the paradigms of the religious nomad. Besides, he defines and interprets the life events of Prophetss in such a manner as they are the provinces and Stationss of a Sufi way ( Keeler, 2006 ) . Therefore, Maybudi has provided the cognition to the people by doing the complexnesss of the Persian texts easy. He has besides given the illustrations of other Sufi literature in his Hagiographas. These illustrations depict the appropriate reading of Kashf al-asrar. By conveying and explicating different facets of different texts by the fantastic work of Maybudi, the audience has come to cognize about the philosophies of Sufism and the linguistic communication of Sufi literature. Equally far as the rating of the Maybudii?s work is concerned so it can be said that he has shown many thoughts through his statements about Hermeneuticss of the texts. If a comparing is made between Ibn Arabi and Maybudii?s work so it can be said that Maybudi has given a better literature. He has given importance to easy text for the readers. Means, he has reduced the complexnesss of texts and presented an easy linguistic communication to the people. While, Ibn Arabi has given importance to symbolisation which can be find as a hard manner to find. Other than the positiveness and superb work of construing the Quri?anic poetries many other bookmans and intellectuals have opposed the thoughts of construing Quri?anic poetries. We can take illustration of Professor Kristin Zahra Sands ( Specialized in Sufism, Quri?anic, Islam and Media surveies ) who has criticized the construct by holding an sentiment that for the Muslims Quri?an is the Godi?s word for them which was specially revealed to Muhammad. If they are holding this position than they should besides hold the bravery of understanding the readings which I have made. Her statements are: How can one construe the Godi?s words? How the readings are done on single footing? Is the reading is any accomplishment or art? But these statements once more answered by different Sufis in an effectual and alone manner. They answered these inquiries by taking into consideration a broad scope of facets. They say that readings are fundamentally done on the premises sing the nature of Quri?anic text, the beginning of cognition which is normally necessary for the reading procedure and the endowment required for the ego seeking the cognition. These commentaries were different from the past Sufi commentaries and had an advanced Sufi manner ( Noorani, 2006 ) . For illustration, there is book written by Mohamed Charfi who has profoundly analyzed the past misinterpretations about Islam. In that book the writer has clarified the positions of different Muslims and non-Muslims who had non a clear thought about Islam. In Tunis, a jurisprudence professor helped Charfi in spread outing his message but he was opposed excessively and sentenced to imprisonment. Although he was a progressive Minister but he had to vacate merely to travel up against the inordinate security forces which were at that place to battle against the motions which were introduced by him. Scholars like Bayram in the nineteenth century have enormously presented the analysis and acquisition in an astonishing mode. It was written in French and was translated by Patrick Camiller into English. The writers analyzed on the footing of Quri?an. Many Arab and European authors wrote the same book in Gallic but were non noticed and cited in the English books ( Noorani, 2006 ) . Apart from the sentiments from the different Sufis and philosophers, it is a general belief of the Muslim community that sermon is conveyed to every member of the society now it is up to the person that whether he/she obeys it or non. This can be clarified by an illustration that sun light appears on every mirror but it is reflected in an effectual manner on to that mirror which has a smooth surface. So, the people who have strong believe and have a clean idea merely those can merely obey the orders of God. By this, it can be concluded that unfavorable judgment of Kristin Zahra Sands can be wholly denied. Sufis are the godly people who have the ability to construe the words of God. They are the knowing people who have a clasp on faith. Their accomplishments and art of reading is different from a common adult male. So their virtuous workss are merely understood by those people who have a deep penetration. From the Hermeneutics of Quri?an and religious poesy, another spiritual subject had been discussed by different Sufis and bookmans i.e. the Hermeneutics of Suspicion. Intuition can be defined as the province of suspect which makes a individual to happen out different other facets or constructs of life which are unnoticed and unobserved by the people. Surush has identified the Hermenutics of Suspicion and besides the jobs which are created by the world of religion or difference in religions. After detecting inability of homo of specifying the worlds of life Surush took the aid of intervention of the best account. He had explained by maintaining it under observation that different truth claims can non be combined as different people possess different ideas with regard to the faith. He had besides discussed the ground behind this that as there is a diverseness of religions so people have different constructs which can make struggles ( Abu-Rabi, 2006 ) . These struggles are raised by the distinctions in truths and the apprehension of truth. He so introduced a comparing of indexical strategies and faith which consist a great trade of different hypothesis which are on their portion related to the individuali?s outlook. Surush considers this thought of truth as a metaphysical truth which is absolute and timeless. He had explained the nature of indexical truth is merely concerned with a peculiar experience of homo. These experiences can be held the two facts together and which is besides determined by the indexical truth. Surush suggests that truth and genuineness of indexical hypothesis both are interrelated in a sense that they have the general facet of i?For mei? and i?For youi? ( Sonn, A brief history of Islam, 2004 ) . Surush had this thought that difference in sentiments reveals the assorted experiences of people. in the presence of conflicting truth claims, he holds the realist attack and faces an internal incompatibility. He clarifies it by giving the illustrations of assorted believe. Like Christians say that Jesus was a Trinity member and a God incarnate. While contradictory to this belief Muslims and Jews are of the position that Jesus was non a God incarnate and there is no Three that exists. Another position which a Christian has is that Jesus was died on the cross but Muslims say that he was non crucified. Surush had claimed that both the religionsi? constructs are right. His thought generates a dissension in logic. It violets the jurisprudence of individuality and by this he ends up the treatment in a rational mode. Harmonizing to Surush, this is a neer stoping argument and we can non alter peoplei?s belief as everyone acts harmonizing to their political orientation and no 1 will of all t ime accept each otheri?s positions and due to which the world of religion will stay unsorted ( Sonn, A brief history of Islam, 2004 ) The thought of Suspicion Hermeneutics is different from other Fieldss as it does non construe a text but it interprets the heads of assorted people, the heads of assorted beliefs. We can see Surushi?s thought as it is a common observation in this epoch that people are free to believe, they are free to pattern their faith, they are obstinate with regard to their religions and beliefs and their readings. So they will non listen to any other individual as it does non do any difference to them and as they have to follow their spiritual norms and values. So a portion of it can be considered as a fact that the battle of religions will be continued for of all time and no 1 has the quality of picturing the worlds. The celebrated Sufi Jalal al-Din Rumi has besides contributed in the field of Quri?anic Hermeneutics. He has depicted a Quri?anic character Pharaoh in his Hagiographas. However, Rumi has non presented the traditional readings of Quri?anic versus but a outstanding part of his poesy is dedicated to the Quri?anic readings. In his Hagiographas related to the Quri?anic readings, he foremost gives a complete description to his Quri?anic readings. He tells about the qualities and genre of his readings fundamentally. There is a contemplation of binary differentiation in his Hagiographas. These differentiations are between the outer and interior significance of the poetries. But it does non intend that his work is Manichaean. He has made it non double by encircling the outer significance by the inner. His readings show that he conceives Quri?an non that he merely understands it. This is claimed by the readers really who feel that he has a power to convey. Harmonizing to Rumi Quri?an is that t ext which has an ability to read the heads of readers. He considers that fundamentally the texts make up ones mind that how much cognition a reader has? If the authorship is understood by the reader than it can be said that he has a sense of understanding the Quri?anic poetries as he has a clasp on Quri?anic cognition ( Amer, 2009 ) . Rumi has given a brief description of the Quri?anic character Pharaoh. He is of the position that Pharaohi?s word picture is first and first psychological. It fundamentally focuses the highlighting of the motives behind Pharaohi?s actions. Then Rumi has presented his readings on Pharaohi?s character. He has interpreted the Quri?anic narration of Moses and Pharaoh ( Amer, 2009 ) . In short, Rumi has emphasized on the affair that the procedure of reading and understanding different Hagiographas is simply related to the reading and apprehension of ego. It can be said that Rumii?s Hermeneutics are unitary in which the outer and interior i.e. the cosmology and psychological science have gained a different places of a world ( Ashrof, 2005 ) . If Sufism Hermeneutics is exactly discussed than it can be concluded that it is something which is done by the mind of a Sufi. Sufis are born to construe as they are provided with a great trade of endowment and mind. They can convey the two universes of cosmology and psychological science by the aid of their adept heads. Sufism is although considered near to Sikhism as the Sufis like the Sikhs follow their saints and construe in such a mode that the original significance of the text remains as it is. Therefore, Sufism Hermeneutics has a critical importance in the Sufi literature by which people get to cognize about the different facets of Islam and the significance of Godi?s word.

The Black Civil Rights Movement is Back

The Black Civil Rights Movement is Back It has risen to the surface periodically over the last couple of decades, always in the turbulent wake of racist events and violence. It rose when Rodney King was beaten by police on a Los Angeles street in 1991, and when Abner Louima was brutalized by NYPD officers in 1997. It rose again two years later, when the unarmed Amadou Diallo was shot 19 times by NYPD. Then again in 2004, when, following the great flood, the majority-black city of New Orleans was left to fend for itself as police, the National Guard, and vigilantes murdered citizens at will. It rose when it became apparent in the late aughts that NYPD was systemically racially profiling black and brown boys and men with its Stop-N-Frisk policy. More recently, it rose when George Zimmerman murdered 17 year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012, and then got away with it, and when, within two months in 2013, Jonathan Ferrell and Renisha McBride were shot and killed while seeking help after surviving car accidents. There are countless ot her instances that could be included in this list. The Black Civil Rights Movement has never gone anywhere. Despite the legislative gains and the (limited) social progress that followed its peak in 1964, it has continued to exist in the minds, lives, and politics of many; and, in important national institutions like the NAACP, the ACLU, and in research and activist organizations that work tirelessly to track and call attention to systemic and everyday racism. But a mass movement, it has not been since the late 60s. From 1968 until the present, the Black Civil Rights Movement has been in a cycle of what sociologist and social movements expert Verta Taylor refers to as abeyance. Oxford English Dictionary defines abeyance as a state of temporary disuse or suspension. Taylor developed and popularized the sociological use of the term in the late 1980s in her studies of the US womens movement. In 2013, writing with Alison Dahl Crossley, Taylor described social movement abeyance as  a holding pattern in which a social movement manages to sustain itself and mount a challenge to authorities in a hostile political and cultural environment, thereby providing continuity from one stage of mobilization to another. Taylor and Crossley explain, When a movement declines, it does not necessary disappear. Rather, pockets of movement activity may continue to exist and can serve as starting points of a new cycle of the same or a new movement at a later point in time. Sociologist Kevin C. Winstead used the concept of abeyance as developed by Taylor to describe  the Black Civil Rights Movement from the period of 1968 through 2011 (the time of his studys publication). Citing the work of sociologist Douglas McAdam, Winstead details how the passing of Civil Rights legislation and the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. left the mainstream Black Civil Rights Movement without a sense of direction, momentum, or clear objectives. Simultaneously, the more radical members of the movement split off into the Black Power movement. This resulted in a fractured movement with disparate camps aligned with distinct organizations, including the NAACP, the SCLC, and Black Power working with different strategies on different goals (also a marker of a movement in abeyance). Winstead uses historical research to show how following the passage of Civil Rights legislation, and the false believe that racism had been vanquished by it, activists against racism were increasingly framed as criminals and deviants by the mainstream press. The racist caricature of the Reverend Al Shaprton as a lunatic and the racist stereotype of the angry black man/woman are common examples of this trend. But now, things have changed. State sanctioned extra-judicial police and vigilante killings of black people, most of them unarmed, are unifying black people and their allies across the US and around the world. The reemergence of the movement has been building for years, but it would seem that the technological developments that enable social media and widespread adoption of it has proved pivotal. Now, people across the nation know when a black person is unjustly killed anywhere in the US, regardless of the size and location of the crime, thanks to the sharing of news stories and the strategic use of hash tags. Since Michael Brown was killed by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, MO on August 9, 2014, protests have surged across the nation, and have only increased in frequency and grown in size as the killing of unarmed black children and adults has continued since Browns death. The hash tags #BlackLivesMatter and #ICantBreathreferencing the police choke-hold murder of Eric Garnerhave become the slogans and rally cries of the movement. These words and their messages now course through US society, plastered on signs held by protesters in the 60,000 strong Millions March held in NYC on December 13, and in the marches featuring tens of thousands more in Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Boston; San Francisco and Oakland, California; and other cities and towns across the US. The Black Civil Rights Movement thrives now in the solidarity forged by frequent die-ins staged nationwide in public spaces and on college campuses, in the workplace protests of members of Congress and black professional athletes, and in the protest songs recently released by John Legend and Lauryn Hill. It thrives in the scholarly activism of teachers at all levels of the education system who have taught from The Ferguson Syllabus, and in the public promotion of research that proves that racism is real, and that it has deadly consequences. The Black Civil Rights Movement is no longer in abeyance. It is back with righteous passion, commitment, and focus. Though I am devastated by the recent events that have called it out of abeyance, I see hope in its very public and widespread return. I say to all members of the Black Civil Rights Movement, and all black people of the US (paraphrasing Kara Brown of Jezebel): I do not feel this pain the way you feel this pain. I do not fear the way you fear. But I too seethe at the vicious scourge of racism, and I pledge to fight it, always, in whatever ways you deem worthy.

Organizational Structure Paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational Structure - Term Paper Example The firm’s cost leadership strategy has played an important role in its worldwide success as a mass retailer. Corporate Functions Wal-Mart adopts the separation of roles between the CEO and the Chairman of the Board. Under the board of directors come corporate functions specifically for finance; governance; human resources; legal affairs; replenishment, pricing, and planning; and global logistics. These are highly centralized functions that provide support to all business units and operations. Business Units Wal-Mart has three global business units: â€Å"Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart US; and Wal-Mart International† (Wal-Mart, 2009, n.pag.). Under these business units are corresponding functional divisions such as the marketing, administration, merchandising, logistics, etc. Sam’s Club is a supplier for small retailers requiring a form of membership to avail of Wal-Mart’s promotions and other services. In the United States, Wal-Mart operates â€Å"discount stores, supercenters, and neighborhood markets† (Wal-Mart, 2009, n.pag.).

Communication Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Communication Management - Essay Example This creates strong discontent with the job as well as disengages the employee from the functional aspect of the job. Secondly, employee's who have access to information of interest about the organization are able to give more informed inputs about the job and functionality. Lack of resource access "could lead to frustration and lack of motivation and ultimately failure" (Kaliprasad 2006, p. 22). These issues in communication are directly related to Hobby's mission, core values and culture as a top-end model manufacturer. The company's mission statement is well known as being "smaller but better." To this, we must ask ourselves how we can develop better communication and gain an entrepreneurial spirit that encourages taking the initiative to produce changes. The proposed change is entering the electronic market, which traditionalists in the company are concerned with as it may directly affect who we are as a company. There is no doubt that employees follow Hobby because they trust our leadership. It is now time that Hobby enter into a communication initiative in preparation for entering differing global (and electronic) markets. As a large firm, however, Hobby is often imbued with strategic processes and policies disseminated from a formal planning system (Pearce and Robinson 2004). Hobby has traditionally held high employee morale but is currently faced with low production and changes should be approached by open communication. In this, the "ideal strategic management team includes decision-makers from all three company levels (the corporate, business, and functional)" (Pearce and Robinson 2004, p. 15). For example, some Canadian firms have implemented an every employee is a leader program, where all employees have equal and viable inputs towards the organization (Noe et al 2002). As leadership incorporates communication into the organization to allow employees too openly and without fear of retribution deliver questions, concerns and ideas, the value of leadership increases. Employee's commitment and trust towards the organization's leaders grow as their voices are heard (Noe et al 2002). The

Trends in Healthcare Essay Example for Free

Trends in Healthcare Essay In the history of the United States there have been an overall transformation of the way the public experiences health care. Paul Starr eloquently explains trends that have affected the health care system in his books The Social Transformation of American Medicine and Remedy and Reaction. An in depth overview of the history of medicine gives a greater understanding of the trends that shape the system we experience today. The first major trend that shaped medicine is the delivery of medicine to the public from the 1800s to present. In the early 1800s individuals received medical care by individuals that were not properly trained and did not have proper knowledge of sanitary care for patients. In the 1850s the invention of the stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, laryngoscope, microscope x-ray, and EKG provided a transforming medical community that began relying on technology of care to provide better diagnoses and care. With the invention of these medical devices, patients moved from caring for individuals in their homes to the hospital facilities and contributed to a higher survival rate. With the development of more hospitals to care for the sick, we also began to see the formation of multiple hospitals to tailor to multiple religious denominations. The next major trend discussed in the trend in the way we finance health care. Financing for health care in the private sector began to change in 1929 when Blue Cross was formed at Baylor University for school teachers in Dallas, TX. There was a dual purpose for this program. It provided coverage for individuals so that there would not be financial consequences as a result of hospital care. In essence it was a safety net to also ensure hospitals received payment for services rendered. The insurance company assumed the risk, based on the profitability of a claim. In 1939 another program was developed called Blue Shield. Blue Shield was designed by a group of physicians as a way of reimbursing physicians services and medical and surgical services. The coverage did not include coverage for pharmaceuticals. Monetary payment was made to an insured which could be assigned to a provider. We also saw the development of the Federal  Government third party payers such as Medicaid or Medicare. Especially today we are seeing the move toward more regulation and the possibility of requiring health coverage for all with a penalty if the coverage is not purchased. The third trend we see in health care is the utilization of health care. In the early 1800s care was primarily provided to patients who were likely facing a detrimental condition for which there was no care. Methods were not in place to provide surgeries that were sanitary and technology had yet to provide equipment to diagnosis conditions. In the 21st century we see a trend to move toward preventative care. More and more health insurance companies are offering incentives on deductibles as a way to encourage annual visits so as to possibly lower health care costs for major illnesses that could arise and could possibly be prevented in identified earlier. Health care is a field that is forever changing, and it could not be truer than when we turn on the news to see the latest headlines regarding Obamacare. There has long been a struggle on how to best provide coverage availability to Americans without infringing on their freedom of choice. Health care continues to be one of the most costly challenges we face, and as we have seen in the past decades, it is a topic that is ever transforming.

Mending Wall :: essays research papers

â€Å"Mending Wall† is a poem that presents two opposing attitudes towards keeping barriers up between people. Each neighbor has a different opinion. One neighbor wants a visible line to separate their property lines and the other sees no reason for it. The poem implies a lack of security and trust one person may have towards another, even when it may not seem illogical or necessary. Each year the two neighbors meet annually at the adjoining wall. Both men walk the length of the wall to assess and repair the year’s wear and tear. Frost’ writing style invites the reader to probe the need for communication or, more precisely, the way people put up walls to create barriers between themselves. The visual imagery of the wall helps the reader to shift from just seeing the wall as a basic, natural setting to an abstract consideration of human behavior. In the first stanza of the poem it establishes the sense of mystery, a true color of atmosphere, â€Å"something† that does not want the wall to be there. Whatever it is, it’s a powerful force and it creates a â€Å" frozen ground swell† that disrupts the wall from underneath, forcing stones on top to tumble off. Damage appears each year so the neighbors walk along the wall to repair the gaps and fallen stones that have not been created by either of the two neighbors. Frost then gives the reader an uncertain question as to why should neighbors need walls anyway. Why do good fences make good neighbors? If one or both neighbors had cattle or something that could do possible damage then a fence would be reasonable. However, it is pointed out in the poem that there are no cattle. So, there must be some sort of human distrust between one of the neighbors. What is the distrust? Frost doesn’t let the reader know. Perhaps it is an age difference that results in extreme points of view or tradition. Or maybe there is a religious bias about the other. One neighbor wants to separate and possibly his family. The wall prevents the evil of indifference from entering. The phantom of discomfort seems to be kept in check by this rock structure. Frost gives us the impression that he doesn’t agree with separating people. The poem might have something to do with racism. Maybe one neighbor is black and the other is Caucasian.

Christmas Celebration Essay

As Christmas arrives, instead of just opening presents, my family celebrates it by throwing a fun and exciting party. The events we plan are way to thrilling than any ordinary Christmas celebration because it’s our family’s tradition. For example, each year we make American style food and Vietnamese food, open presents under the Christmas tree, eat at the dining table, and sing! Most of my family members could not control their excitement and have broken one of the family’s traditions of opening presents by age. While we do celebrate Christmas like any other family does, we tend to celebrate it differently each year to change it up. Opening presents under the Christmas tree first, helps organize everything from causing chaos. Most of the time it’s our last event because it’s worth the wait, but most of us can’t help and take a peek at ours first. My family open presents uniquely different than other families because we wait for our turns. Our family has a tradition of opening of opening presents from youngest to oldest. We have been following this tradition for as long as I can remember. While, waiting, it’s hard for me to watch because I get extremely impatient, I’m always at the couch watching TV. Next, we heard over to the mall Christmas tree and take a Chinese red envelope filled with money. The envelope contains bills that vary from $1,$5,$10,$20 and $50. This is the most exciting part after opening presents because who wouldn’t want to test out their luck? I have the worst luck when it comes to picking an envelope off the tree. Every year, I always get $1 bills or $5 bills! This changed last year, when I hit the jackpot and won $50! Overall everyone not only receive presents, but goes home with money in their pockets. After opening presents and selecting our red envelopes off the tree, we take family pictures. The first picture is always serious because it has to be perfect. My cousin Michael, and I try our best to hold in our laugher, but we never successfully do. If the first shot isn’t perfect or if we joke around, then we all have to stand there until a perfect picture has been taken. After that we change into our Christmas sweaters and take silly photos. Nobody ever wants to see just serious Christmas photos in the family scrapbook! We take silly pictures to make it a fun and funny experience. Next we head over to the dining table to eat as much food as our hearts desire! Last, we brace ourselves again, for the serious karaoke competition! This is my favorite part of the day because it’s always funny to watch people mess up the lyrics. Each year, the competition gets more and more competitive; people take it way too seriously! My aunt thinks she is better than everyone else, but to our ears, that isn’t true. My aunts and uncles always fight over to see whose turn it is to go next because they love to have fun and show off their skills. When it’s my turn to sing, I remain calm and try my best to get a good score. Singing in chorus in high school for two years really pays off! Anyway, we all compare our scores at the end of the competition to see who wins a gift card to any store of their choice. The thing is, not everyone goes home empty – handed. Everyone wins a gift card too, but those don’t hold as much money as the grand prize. My family’s Christmas celebrations are the best! It’s great to see everyone having fun for once, rather than arguing about problems! I love the aura that everyone gives off with the smiles and laughter in the atmosphere! It’s the only time of the year where everyone can relax without causing any uproar. Overall, my Christmas celebrations are fun moments that I look forward to each year.

The Financial Performance of Microsoft

In 2009, Microsoft felt the impact of the recession and the difficulties that all businesses faced in responding to one of the most challenging economic environments in the past 100 years. The fiscal 2010 was a year of remarkable accomplishments with record revenue earnings per share reported. Outstanding determination across all businesses, maintained a disciplined approach to controlling costs, and proved deep commitment to smart investments in technology innovation. Since the company was created in 1975, Microsoft has created technology that transformed the way people worked, played, and even communicated all over the world. Their services and developments in hardware, and other solutions has opened new opportunities, greater convenience, and enhanced value to people’s lives. Microsoft profits from software licenses, and web based services like Bing, Windows Live, and Xbox Live services. In reviewing the year performance from 2009 and 2010 it is clear that revenue increased. Microsoft had much success in 2010 with the release of Windows 7, as well as PC market improvements. Operating income increased reflecting the change in revenue, offset in part by higher operating expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased $335 million. This could be expected because of the increased advertising and marketing of Bing and Windows 7. General and administrative expenses increased $304 million and cost of revenue increased $240 million, primarily reflecting increased online costs and charges resulting from the discontinuation of the KIN phone, offset in part by decreased Xbox 360 console costs and reductions in other costs due to resource management efforts. Research and development expenses decreased $296 million, because of a decrease in third-party development and programming costs and increased capitalization of certain software development costs. Microsoft year ending 2010 reflects 380 million shares repurchased, an increase in earnings per share and an increase of net income. When viewing the performance of 2008 compared to 2009 it is clear that revenue declined across most segments due to the weak economic environment, which directly affected all markets. Many business experienced cut backs and layoffs, which caused a decline in demand for PC. According to Microsoft financial results the company had an increased server and server application revenue, reflecting recognition of deferred revenue from previously signed agreements and continued adoption of the Windows Server Platform and applications through SQL Server, Enterprise CAL Suites, and System Center products. Foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact of $486 million on revenue. In reference to the decreased operating income, it reflected decreased revenue. Operating expenses were flat with decreased general and administrative and sales and marketing expenses offset by increased headcount-related expenses, cost of revenue and employee severance charges. According to Microsoft’s calendar for first quarter results ending March 2011, financial performance dropped from the record-setting calendar fourth quarter results 2010. Earnings per share of $0. 61 were a 3-quarter low. First quarter has been an annual cyclical low for Microsoft for 3 years. Gross margin increased slightly but net margin decreased. Financial position continues strong, very liquid, and total assets are now just below $100 billion. Microsoft’s website has financial reports stating total revenues of $16. 43B, net income of $5. 71B, and earnings per share of $0. 61. From 2010 the fourth quarter total revenues were down -17. 67%, net income down -21. 13%, and earnings per share down -20. 78%. These results are shocking when compared to that same year’s fourth quarter, which these were up +13. 27%, +30. 60%, and +35. 56%, respectively. Financial reports state that first quarter of 2011, gross margin increased quarter over quarter to 76. 28%, but is still below historical 80+% range. Operating margin dropped quarter over quarter to 34. 75%, which is a 6-quarter low. Net margin dipped to 31. 85%, but is the 3rd consecutive quarter above 30%. Cash flow from operations per share increased dramatically to $1. 02 from the prior year’s fourth quarter (2010) of $0. 49. Most of the increase in cash flow was attributable to a decrease in accounts receivable. Total assets increased quarter over quarter +8. 4% to a record $99. 7B from the prior quarter of $92. 3B. The capital to assets ratio increased quarter over quarter to 53. 60%. The current ratio is a very liquid 66. 44%, which is a multi-year high. Microsoft reaffirmed operating expense guidance of $26. 9 billion to $27. 3 billion for the full year ending June 30, 2011. Microsoft also offered preliminary operating expense guidance of $28. 0 billion to $28. 6 billion for the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. Microsoft’s growth rates for total revenues show a decrease of -17. 7% in March 2011 first quarter results, after increasing for 3 consecutive quarters, by +10. 59%, +0. 97%, and now +23. 20%. Earnings per Share decreased -20. 78% in March 2011 first quarter, after increasing for 3 consecutive quarters, by +13. 33%, +21. 57%, and now +24. 19%. This first quarter has started Microsoft is starting out 2011 with a weak quarter, especially after the 2010 fourth quarter peak. It is important for Microsoft to direct the business focus towards the continuation of technological advancements and high-quality products and services to customers. Peter Klein said, â€Å"We delivered strong financial results despite a mixed PC environment, which demonstrates the strength and breadth of our businesses,† as chief financial officer at Microsoft he continues by saying, â€Å"Consumers are purchasing Office 2010, Xbox and Kinect at tremendous rates, and businesses of all sizes are purchasing Microsoft platforms and applications†. Microsoft must continue 2011 with their trend of developing innovative software applications and solutions to enhance and improve communication and aid business intelligence, with special attention to innovations for small businesses.

Free Essays on Family Member

â€Å"A family is one's back bone; one cannot follow a straight path without them.† In every person’s life, there are certain people who are the most significant†¦ people who just seem to stick out more over a crowd. Many may not feel the same way, but in my point of view, family comes first. Who is there for me when the world turns its back? Who supports me and worries about my grades in school and about my future? Who is always there to provide unconditional love for me when no one else is around? Some people still might answer this question with â€Å"friends†, but in my case, I would have to disagree and say that family is the most important in my life. My parents are the only people in the world who will want me to achieve the highest. They are the only ones who encourage me to do my best and to not settle for less. They are also the only people who will tell me the truth about what is happening in my life and how to cope with it. No matter how long one has been friends with certain people, those friends will not want that person to excel much higher than them in everything they do. They will not necessarily let the person know what he/she should be doing at certain points of their life. Parents, on the other hand, will always provide the utmost truth availabl e to their child. I have been brought up to believe that I can achieve anything I put my heart into and that nobody can hold me back from my dreams. My parents have clearly taught me the difference between right and wrong, and good and bad, just like every other parent, but I apply it to my everyday life. Even though I do not have a 4.0 GPA or a 1450 on SAT scores, I still always work my hardest in everything. This does not only go for school, but in everyday situations, even if it as easy as deciding if I should make my bed in the morning or not, and this is all because of my parents. When I was a freshman in high school, I was invited to what was the so called â€Å"biggest ... Free Essays on Family Member Free Essays on Family Member â€Å"A family is one's back bone; one cannot follow a straight path without them.† In every person’s life, there are certain people who are the most significant†¦ people who just seem to stick out more over a crowd. Many may not feel the same way, but in my point of view, family comes first. Who is there for me when the world turns its back? Who supports me and worries about my grades in school and about my future? Who is always there to provide unconditional love for me when no one else is around? Some people still might answer this question with â€Å"friends†, but in my case, I would have to disagree and say that family is the most important in my life. My parents are the only people in the world who will want me to achieve the highest. They are the only ones who encourage me to do my best and to not settle for less. They are also the only people who will tell me the truth about what is happening in my life and how to cope with it. No matter how long one has been friends with certain people, those friends will not want that person to excel much higher than them in everything they do. They will not necessarily let the person know what he/she should be doing at certain points of their life. Parents, on the other hand, will always provide the utmost truth availabl e to their child. I have been brought up to believe that I can achieve anything I put my heart into and that nobody can hold me back from my dreams. My parents have clearly taught me the difference between right and wrong, and good and bad, just like every other parent, but I apply it to my everyday life. Even though I do not have a 4.0 GPA or a 1450 on SAT scores, I still always work my hardest in everything. This does not only go for school, but in everyday situations, even if it as easy as deciding if I should make my bed in the morning or not, and this is all because of my parents. When I was a freshman in high school, I was invited to what was the so called â€Å"biggest ...

HMS Dreadnought - The 1906 Battleship that Changed Everything

HMS Dreadnought - The 1906 Battleship that Changed Everything In the early years of the 20th century, naval visionaries such as Admiral Sir John Jackie Fisher of the Royal Navy and Vittorio Cuniberti of the Regia Marnia began advocating for the design of all-big-gun battleships. Such a vessel would only feature the largest guns, at this point in time 12, and would largely dispense with the ships secondary armament. Writing for Janes Fighting Ships in 1903, Cuniberti argued that the ideal battleship would possess twelve 12-inch guns in six turrets, armor 12 thick, displace 17,000 tons, and be capable of 24 knots. He foresaw this colossus of the seas as being capable of destroying any existing foe though recognized that the construction of such vessels could only be afforded by the worlds leading navies. A New Approach A year after Cunibertis article, Fisher convened an informal group to begin assessing these types of designs. The all-big gun approach was validated during Admiral Heihachiro Togos victory at the Battle of Tsushima (1905) in which the main guns of Japanese battleships inflicted the bulk of the damage on the Russian Baltic Fleet. British observers aboard Japanese ships reported this to Fisher, now First Sea Lord, with the further observation that the Imperial Japanese Navys 12 guns were particularly effective. Receiving this data, Fisher immediately pressed ahead with an all-big-gun design. The lessons learned at Tsushima were also embraced by the United States which began work on an all-big-gun class (the South Carolina-class) and the Japanese who commenced building the battleship Satsuma. While planning and construction for the South Carolina-class and Satsuma began prior to British efforts, they soon fell behind for a variety of reason. In addition to the increased firepower of an all-big-gun ship, the elimination of the secondary battery made adjusting fire during battle easier as it allowed spotters to know which type of gun was making the splashes near an enemy vessel. The removal of the secondary battery also made the new type more efficient to operate as fewer types of shells were needed. Moving Forward This reduction in cost greatly aided Fisher in securing Parliamentary approval for his new ship. Working with his Committee on Designs, Fisher developed his all-big-gun ship which was dubbed HMS Dreadnought. Centered on a main armament of 12 guns and a minimum top speed of 21 knots, the committee evaluated a variety of different designs and layouts. The group also served to deflect criticism away from Fisher and the Admiralty.    Propulsion Including the latest technology, Dreadnoughts power plant utilized steam turbines, recently developed by Charles A. Parsons, in lieu of the standard triple-expansion steam engines. Mounting two paired sets of Parsons direct-drive turbines powered by eighteen Babcock Wilcox water-tube boilers, Dreadnought was driven by four three-bladed propellers. The use of the Parsons turbines greatly increased the speed of the vessel and allowed it to outrun any existing battleship. The vessel was also fitted with a series of longitudinal bulkheads to protect the magazines and shell rooms from underwater explosions. Armor To protect Dreadnought the designers elected to use Krupp cemented armor which was produced at William Beardmores mill in Dalmuir, Scotland. The main armor belt measured 11 thick at the waterline and tapered to 7 at its lower edge. This was supported by an 8 belt that ran from the waterline up to the main deck. Protection for the turrets included 11 of Krupp cemented armor on the faces and sides while the roofs were covered with 3 of Krupp non-cemented armor.   The conning tower utilized a similar arrangement to the turrets. Armament For its main armament, Dreadnought mounted ten 12 guns in five twin turrets. Three of these were mounted along the centerline, one forward and two aft, with the other two in wing positions on either side of the bridge. As a result, Dreadnought could only bring eight of its ten guns to bear on a single target. In laying out the turrets, the committee rejected superfiring (one turret firing over another) arrangements due to concerns that the muzzle blast of the upper turret would cause issues with the open sighting hoods of the one below. Dreadnoughts ten 45-calibre BL 12-inch Mark X guns were capable of firing two rounds per minute at a maximum range of around 20,435 yards. The vessels shell rooms possessed space to store 80 rounds per gun. Supplementing the 12 guns were 27 12-pdr guns intended for close defense against torpedo boats and destroyers. For fire control, the ship incorporated some of the first instruments for electronically transmitting range, deflection, and order directly to the turrets. HMS Dreadnought - Overview Nation: Great BritainType: BattleshipShipyard: HM Dockyard, PortsmouthLaid Down: October 2, 1905Launched: February 10, 1906Commissioned: December 2, 1906Fate: Broken up in 1923 Specifications: Displacement: 18,410  tonsLength: 527 ft.Beam: 82 ft.Draft: 26 ft.Propulsion: 18 Babcock Wilcox 3-drum water-tube boilers w/ Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbinesSpeed: 21 knotsComplement: 695-773 men Armament: Guns 10 x BL 12 in. L/45 Mk.X guns mounted in 5 twin B Mk.VIII turrets27 Ãâ€" 12-pdr 18 cwt L/50 Mk.I guns, single mountings P Mk.IV5 Ãâ€" 18 in. submerged torpedo tubes Construction Anticipating approval of the design, Fisher began stockpiling steel for Dreadnought at the Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth and ordered that many parts be prefabricated. Laid down on October 2, 1905, work on Dreadnought proceeded at a frenetic pace with the vessel being launched by King Edward VII on February 10, 1906, after only four months on the ways. Deemed complete on October 3, 1906, Fisher claimed that the ship had been built in a year and a day. In actuality, it took an additional two months to finish the ship and Dreadnought was not commissioned until December 2. Regardless, the speed of the ships construction startled the world as much as its military capabilities. Early Service Sailing for the Mediterranean and Caribbean in January 1907, with Captain Sir Reginald Bacon in command, Dreadnought performed admirably during its trials and testing. Closely watched by the worlds navies, Dreadnought inspired a revolution in battleship design and future all-big-gun ships were henceforth referred to as dreadnoughts. Designated flagship of the Home Fleet, minor problems with Dreadnought were detected such as the location of the fire control platforms and the arrangement of the armor. These were corrected in the follow-on classes of dreadnoughts. World War I Dreadnought was soon eclipsed by the Orion-class battleships which featured 13.5 guns and began entering service in 1912. Due to their greater firepower, these new ships were dubbed super-dreadnoughts. With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Dreadnought was serving as flagship of the Fourth Battle Squadron based at Scapa Flow. In this capacity, it saw its only action of the conflict when it rammed and sank U-29 on March 18, 1915. Refitted in early 1916, Dreadnought shifted south and became part of the Third Battle Squadron at Sheerness. Ironically, due to this transfer, it did not participate in the 1916 Battle of Jutland, which saw the largest confrontation of battleships whose design had been inspired by Dreadnought. Returning to the Fourth Battle Squadron in March 1918, Dreadnought was paid off in July and placed in reserve at Rosyth the following February. Remaining in reserve, Dreadnought was later sold and scrapped at Inverkeithing in 1923. Impact While Dreadnoughts career was largely uneventful, the ship initiated one of the largest arms races in history which ultimately culminated with World War I. Though Fisher had intended to use Dreadnought to demonstrate British naval power, the revolutionary nature of its design immediately reduced Britains 25-ship superiority in battleships to 1. Following the design parameters set forth by Dreadnought, both Britain and Germany embarked on battleship building programs of unprecedented size and scope, with each seeking to build larger, more powerfully armed ships. As a result, Dreadnought and its early sisters were soon out-classed as the Royal Navy and Kaiserliche Marine quickly expanded their ranks with increasingly modern warships. The battleships inspired by Dreadnought served as the backbone of the worlds navies until the rise of the aircraft carrier during World War II.

Summary of an article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Summary of an article - Essay Example It is remarkable that all 3 games reviewed by the authors are strictly place-specific (namely, they are about the city of Madison and its surroundings) and with the domination of reality over fantasy. The ludological analysis and the positive feedback from the pupils, the users and even the designers of the games, testify that such augmented reality simulations actively engage learners in their present-day environment and develop awareness of surrounding space by locating the cognition in social and spatial contexts (Squire et. al., 2007, p. 269). Several key challenges and principles of interactive games of this kind are defined: firstly, the notion of space as contested (when the interaction with space is undermined by certain conflict that has to be resolved, be this the conflict of past and present, as in The Greenbush Game, or the one that is based on â€Å"the political control over space†) (Squire et. al., 2007, p. 287); secondly, role-playing narration, or interactive storytelling (p. 288); thirdly, the usage of memorable moments and experiences (when knowledge is gained through the active absorption of the strategies that have worked in certain contexts, which, by the way, makes game-based learning radically different from more traditional ways of transmitting knowledge) (p. 289); and last, the â€Å"potential of linking games-for-learning into other inquiry activities† (p. 270), like in the case when the students have collected the information and brain-stormed for the design of The Greenbush Game. Overall, the article is full of pedagogical insights, as it offers an optimistic outlook on the game-based learning with the emphasis on interactivity and the role of place. However, game theory covers much more aspects that need to be addressed in the context of learning. One of them is the limits of the ideological construction of games (Squire et. al., 2007, p. 267), as all games have conventions