Acting Against Personal Belief to Comply With Other’s Expectations Essay

It is impossible to find a situation in which the individual is not faced with having to act according to the expectations of others. Children react to the expectations of their parents, students must respond to the expectations of fellow students and teachers, employees are guided by the expectations of the employer, and coming full circle, parents feel the expectations of their children. The individual’s moral response to acting in accordance with other’s expectations is very situational. In some circumstances the response is minor. An adolescent may firmly believe good grades are pointless, yet comply with the expectations of parents and teachers. In some cases the response may be much greater. An otherwise honest college student may feel a great deal of remorse when he or she gives in to the demands of a â€Å"significant other† or fraternity to â€Å"share† answers on a take-home exam. The worst-case scenario is the life or death situation. A true pacifist draftee must make the decision to kill someone as the expectations of his fellow soldiers are to obviously protect them from injury or death. Fortunately I have not had to face this sort of dire quandary. The qualifying question is whether the expectation of others goes to what they think is best for me or what is best for the group. Presuming that others honestly have my best interest in mind, I would certainly give weight to their thoughts. This is particularly important when their wisdom and knowledge of a situation is greater than mine. My â€Å"moral compass† has developed from the examples of my family and greater environment, and I alone will have the satisfaction or shame in either living up to or abandoning my beliefs. This was not always easy. I remember breaking a neighbor’s garage window playing ball. I could have run with the other kids, but I told him what had happened because I knew from my parents that it was the right thing to do, an ideal to live up to, and short of endangering the lives of others, I would never give up my ideals. The idea of giving up my ideals is repugnant. I live by my principals and I respect others ideals and principals. Similarly I cannot force my beliefs on anyone, although someone may learn from my example as I have learned from others. I do not believe in bending my ideals to make others happy, besides I could not live with my conscience knowing that I gave up what I believe in to make someone else or an institution happy. Honesty and morality is really all one has; once one compromises up their beliefs and ideals, one loses his sense of self. Perfection is something few, if any of us will ever achieve. At some point in our lives we may succumb to temptation or other factors and temporarily place our sense of morality â€Å"on the shelf†. For instance I may firmly believe in doing the best job possible yet be forced to cut corners by an employer who is under pressure to make a production deadline. I do not have the luxury of quitting and finding another job, and in truth my work is of adequate quality as opposed to the excellent quality I want to produce. My work output will affect the entire company. If I hold up production to meet what I believe is a â€Å"better† standard of quality other workers will suffer the consequences of my decision and make less money because of the slowdown. Similarly, I may have family and teachers who expect me to maintain an excellent GPA. Instead, I find it more important to work to defray the costs of tuition and thus have time to only produce a â€Å"C+† average. In this situation I am the only one affected by my decision. Ethical decisions are not made in a vacuum. In the first example I may have â€Å"compromised† my strong belief in producing quality, and act according to others’ expectations but I can live with it because my actions affect others and my compromise did no harm. In the second situation I cannot live to others expectations particularly when my actions have no effect on them. In either situation the beliefs may differ; what will be important will be my response. Ultimately I must make my decisions based on the effect upon my sense of self as well as what I believe to be the common welfare.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-Four

Giggling, Bonnie tripped on her way down the stairs, her foot coming right out of her high-heeled shoe. â€Å"Here you go, Cinderel a,† Zander said, picking up the shoe and kneeling in front of her. He helped slip her foot back into it, his fingers warm and steady against her instep. Bonnie gave a mock curtsy, muffling her laughter. â€Å"Thank you, m'lord,† she said flirtatiously. She felt fabulous, so sil y and happy. It was almost as if she was drunk, but she'd only had a few sips of beer. No, she was drunk. Drunk on Zander, on his kisses, his gentle hands, and his big blue eyes. She took his hand, and he smiled down at her, that long slow smile, and Bonnie just absolutely quivered. â€Å"Seems like the party's wrapping up,† she said, as they hit the first floor. It was real y getting late, almost two o'clock. There were only a few groups of hard-core partiers left: a bunch of frat boys by the keg, some theater-department girls dancing with great wide swoops of their arms, a couple sitting hand in hand at the bottom of the stairs in deep conversation. Meredith, Stefan, Samantha, and Matt had disappeared, and if Elena had ever shown up, she had left, too. Zander's friends had gone, or been kicked out. â€Å"Good-bye, good-bye,† Bonnie caroled to the few people who remained. She hadn't real y gotten a chance to talk to any of them, but they al looked perfectly nice. Maybe next time she went to a party, she'd stay longer and real y bond with people she hadn't met before. Look at al the new friends her friends had made on campus. Bonnie gave a special wave to a couple of people she'd seen Matt with lately – a shortish guy whose name she thought was Ethan and that girl with the dark curls and dimples. Not freshmen. She loved everyone tonight, but they deserved it most, because they had seen what a wonderful guy Matt was. They waved back at her, a little hesitantly, and the girl smiled, her dimples deepening. â€Å"They seem real y nice,† Bonnie told Zander, and he glanced back at them as he opened the door. â€Å"Hmmm,† he said noncommittal y, and the look in his eyes, just for a minute, made Bonnie shiver. â€Å"Aren't they?† she said nervously. Zander looked away from them, back toward her, and his warm bril iant smile spread across his face. Bonnie relaxed; the coldness she'd seen in Zander's eyes must have been just a trick of the light. â€Å"Of course they are, Bonnie,† he said. â€Å"I just got distracted for a sec.† He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pul ing her close, and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. She sighed contentedly, cuddling up against his side. They walked together companionably for a while. â€Å"Look at the stars,† Bonnie said softly. The night was clear and the stars hung bright in the sky. â€Å"It's because it's starting to get colder at night that we can see them so Well.† Zander didn't answer, only made a hmming sound deep in his throat again, and Bonnie glanced up at him through her eyelashes. â€Å"Do you want to get breakfast with me in the morning?† she asked. â€Å"On Sundays, the cafeteria does make-your-own waffles, with lots of different toppings. Delicious.† Zander was staring off into the distance with that same half-listening expression he had the last time they walked across campus together. â€Å"Zander?† Bonnie asked cautiously, and he frowned down at her, biting his lip thoughtful y. â€Å"Sorry,† he said. He took his arm off of Bonnie's shoulders and backed away a few steps, smiling stiffly. His whole body was tense, as if he was about to take off running. â€Å"Zander?† she asked again, confused. â€Å"I forgot something,† Zander said, avoiding her eyes. â€Å"I have to go back to the party.† â€Å"Oh. I'l come with you,† Bonnie offered. â€Å"No, that's okay.† Zander was shifting from foot to foot, glancing over Bonnie's shoulders as if, suddenly, he'd rather be anywhere than with her. Abruptly, he surged forward and kissed her awkwardly, their teeth knocking together, and then he stepped backward and turned, walking in the other direction. His strides lengthened, and soon he was running away from her, disappearing into the night. Again. He didn't look back. Bonnie, suddenly alone, shivered and looked around, peering into the darkness on al sides. She had been so happy a minute ago, and now she felt cold and dismayed, as if she had been hit with a splash of freezing cold water. â€Å"You have got to be kidding me,† she said aloud. Elena was shaking so hard that Damon was afraid she might just shake herself apart. He wrapped his arms around her comfortingly, and she glanced up at him without real y seeming to see him, her eyes glassy. â€Å"Stefan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she moaned softly, and Damon had to fight down a sharp stab of irritation. So Stefan was overreacting. What else was new? Damon was here, Damon was with her and supporting her, and Elena needed to realize that. He was tempted to grab Elena firmly by the chin and make her real y look at him. In the old days, he would have done just that. Hel , in the old days, he would have sent a blast of Power at Elena until she was docile in his hands, until she didn't even remember Stefan's name. His canines prickled longingly just thinking of it. Her blood was like wine. Not that expecting Elena to give in to his Power meekly had ever worked particularly Well, he admitted to himself, his mouth curling into a smile. But he wasn't like that anymore. And he didn't want her that way. He was trying so hard, although he hated to admit it even to himself, to be worthy of Elena. To be worthy of Stefan, even, if it came right down to it. It had been comforting to final y have his baby brother looking at him with something other than hatred and disgust. Well, that was over. The tentative truce, the beginnings of friendship, the brotherhood, whatever it had been between him and Stefan, was gone. â€Å"Come on, princess,† he murmured to Elena, helping her up the stairs toward her door. â€Å"Just a little farther.† He couldn't be sorry they kissed. She was so beautiful, so alive and vibrant in his arms. And she tasted so good. And he loved her, he did, as far as his hard heart was capable of it. His mouth curled again, and he could taste his own bitterness. Elena was never going to be his, was she? Even when Stefan turned his back on her, the self-righteous idiot, he was al she thought about. Damon's free hand, the one that wasn't cupping Elena's shoulder protectively, tightened into a fist. They'd reached Elena's room, and Damon fished in her purse for her keys, unlocking the door for her. â€Å"Damon,† she said, turning in the doorway to look him straight in the eyes for the first time since before Stefan caught them kissing. She looked pale stil , but resolute, her mouth a straight line. â€Å"Damon, it was a mistake.† Damon's heart dropped like a stone, but he held her gaze. â€Å"I know,† he said, his voice steady. â€Å"Everything wil work out in the end, princess, you'l see.† He forced his lips to turn up in a reassuring, supportive smile. The smile of a friend. Then Elena was gone, the door to her room shutting firmly behind her. Damon spun in his tracks, cursing, and kicked at the wal behind him. It cracked, and he kicked it again with a sour satisfaction at the feeling of the plaster splitting. There was a muted grumbling coming from behind the other doors on the floor, and Damon could hear footsteps approaching, someone coming to investigate the noise. If he had to deal with anyone now, he'd probably kil him. That wouldn't be a good idea, no matter how much he might enjoy it for the moment, not with Elena right here. Launching himself toward an open hal window, Damon smoothly transitioned to a crow in midair. It was a relief to stretch his wings, to pick up the rhythm of flying and feel the breeze against his feathers, lifting and supporting him. He flew through the window with a few strong beats of his wings and flung himself out into the night. Catching the wind, he soared recklessly high despite the darkness of the night. He needed the rush of the wind against his body, needed the distraction.

The Need for Market Research in Contemporary Business Environment Essay

The Need for Market Research in Contemporary Business Environment - Essay Example Today the customers demand the best worth out of each penny that they spend and this is because of the growing globalization and the increasing competition. Today customers have as many alternatives for a single product as they never have had in the past. This phenomenon has empowered the customers to a great extent and has given rise to the need for research. Companies spend major chunks of their budgets on research today. Research does not only reveal facts about customer psyche but also guide the researchers and the sponsors to the gaps and unidentified niches in the market, thus opening new horizons of opportunities and profitability to be taken advantage of (Stearns, 2006). Research outcomes serve as guidelines to the researchers in order to lay down a road map for future decision making of the business/organization. In today’s’ world businesses cannot afford to base their decisions on gut feeling and guesses. It’s time to be precise and accurate. The cause and effect relationship needs to be studied while making even the smallest of decisions. Research provides the decision makers to base their decision making on solid basis and rational grounds. The outcomes of researches help businesses build strategies and also monitor the anticipated performance by comparing it with the actual and studying the lapses incurred and the probable corrective measures that can be adopted before it’s too late (Sekaran, 2010). Dependable and solid outcomes do not come voluntarily in fact research is a whole world of technical analysis and execution and thus it is required to be conducted in great depth with a predetermined plan and objective in mind. Research is a delicate and sensitive art, because the outcomes of research are used for future... This essay discusses that with the advancement of technology and emergence of the concept of consumerism to the surface, customers have become ever more dominant and powerful in the marketplace. Nowadays all the companies shed off myopic ideas and try to incorporate consumer’s will in the decision making process. This is particularly important because customer satisfaction is the ultimate objective that leads to profitability and endurance in organizations. To attain stability, organizations spend millions of dollars today on their Research and Development departments to get the best and most accurate knowledge regarding consumer behaviour and expectations. This knowledge and information is utilized by organizations in improving their processes to meet the demands and requirements of the customers and thus deliver a â€Å"wow experience† every time the customer interacts with the offering. In other words, this shall not be exaggeration to state that, research is one of the key pillars to success of an organization, in the contemporary market dimensions. Any idea or tactic backed up by research findinngs is more durable and dependable then something that is implemented out of the blue. Research does not only assist organizations in deciding which route to success shall be adopted, in fact contingency measures and sporadic adjustments to deviations and evaluation of the implementation are some of the broad areas that are addressed at length by researches

World War II, Cold War and Post-War America Essay

World War II, Cold War and Post-War America - Essay Example United States became an ally with British and French and became involved in the war by supplying them with the military assistance. America offered weapons and other military support to those countries under the Land Lease Act and Cash and Carry Act. This allowed the renting of American military equipments during the tough war time. This was the crucial time when America was indirectly involved in the war with the other countries to overcome the Axis powers. During the early stages of World War II, America remained a neutral force which aimed its goal in providing sources and military assistance to all the other countries. Such countries were bound to come all the way to America to get their military supplies. However, America was under strict surveillance of Germany, for providing military assistance to Britain. As a result, Germany failed to defeat England in the war and moved its interest towards Soviet Union due to the presence of different resources available there. On the other hand, Japan was another state that was aggressively gaining control over Asia. Somehow, we understand that Japan was also under ‘steel deals’ with America. United States of America understood the Japanese motive behind their expansion which was greatly influenced by the Germany ideals. This moved the United States to place an Embargo on Japan for using its Steel. This adversely affected the Japanese manufacturing of military weapons and fueled the fire between Japan and US. We know that Japan was seeking to increase its power and influence in the Asian region to set the image as a main regional super power and to acquire the raw materials that the country lacked. Japan believed that it was the right time for the small county to grow and to maintain its dominance over China and other Pacific lands. Nationalism was the basic factor that was growing in Japan during 1930 just the way it was growing in Germany. The young generation of Japan was under heavily influenced of t heir leader, Hirohito. When Japan attacked China, it realized the fact that the country is fighting with two strong political wings; the Nationalists and the Communists. However, America supported the Nationalist wing but remained neutral till the very end. During the WWII, America emerged as a super power that can hold supremacy and dominancy on any nation. WWII was the war of technology and improved war-weapons. The American interests in WWII were comprised of different factors. Americans wanted to make sure about the flow of communism and at the same time, America was nervous about Japan’s increasing power in the region and about its move towards South-East Asia. American Foreign Policy would have been damaged if Japan had attacked and took over Philippine. For Americans to safeguard their interest in the region, they thought it is highly important to deploy the atomic bomb. At the same time, America was also worried about the expansionist plans of Hitler. The main interes t lied in the maintaining its supremacy and dominancy on greater part of the world. World War II has played a key role I the formation of several factors that established the foundation of modern America. It shaped the entire country in a new transition. World War II helped America to get out of economic depression, political isolation and social conservatism. The World War II also enabled America to revive its domestic policies, foreign relations and to expand itself in both social and cultural arenas in a different manner. World War I was America’s first involvement in the Europe, however, during World War II, America maintained its supremacy on the greater part of the world, expressed its military power, cultivated new alliances and shaped new diplomatic relations with the major powers. Part 2: America and