Team America Essay Example for Free

Team America Essay World Police America is a nation notorious for certain attributes. Unilateralist policies have existed throughout much of American history and exist today, reflected in America’s war in Iraq, though the extent to which the agenda has disregarded other parties has seemingly increased. The word jingoism, defined as â€Å"extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy,† is often used to describe American foreign policy, and is rampantly displayed in American films, i. e. Rambo. America has been labeled imperialistic, hubristic, hegemonic, xenophobic, and/or shortsighted by many. Team America: World Police blatantly satirizes these American attributes and the modern day actions reflecting them. From liberal and conservative viewpoints on foreign affairs to national pride, Team America attacks all sides of the issue. The film’s satire of American themes begins in the title. The film’s main subject is the American government’s hubristic assumption that because America is the last remaining world superpower, it is America’s responsibility to maintain order and guard freedom in the world. The United States’ emerging unilateralism since the Cold War is highlighted and mocked. Team America’s military actions, such as destroying the Eiffel Tower and half of Cairo in reckless and bullish assaults on terrorists, exemplify the U. S. A. ’s pervasively destructive foreign policies. Americans and American government have an international reputation for a cocky, yee-haw attitude. This is on full display in Team America. The known penchant for xenophobia in the US is mocked in the film by portraying other cultures as simple stereotypes. America’s hegemony has not always been so selfishly nationalistic; during previous administrations, foreign policy was more based on instituted policies and relatively benign. However, The United States is seen as a nation whose very reason for existence is to maximize freedom. This widespread notion, one that has come into more intense scrutiny under the current American administration, is a core them satirized in Team America. The Bush Doctrine has led America’s unilateralism and imperialism to its extremes. Team America, while not directly naming or portraying George W. Bush, identifies and mocks the jingoistic regime. The blind and unquestioning self-justification with which Team America operates is intentionally reminiscent of the Bush administration’s Iraq-WMD fiasco. Also satirized is the left wing approach to the war in Iraq. Sean Penn, actor/activist, is portrayed as one of the radical left wingers, and says in reference to Iraq, â€Å"Before Team America showed up, it was a happy place. They had flowery meadows and rainbow skies, and rivers made of chocolate, where the children danced and laughed and played with gumdrop smiles. This satirizes the liberals’ reaction, and the hollowness of their peace movement. The film, however, is not merely a direct skewering of modern day political events; its satire is more broad and sweeping. The prevailing American attitude of having moral high ground due to its stated values and form of government, and the belief that America’s position of power and ethical superiority designates i t the world leader and justifies any and all political and/or military action, is attacked in the film. This attitude dates back to colonial times, and has puritanical roots. John Winthrop’s vision of America as a â€Å"city on a hill,† a shining beacon of light serving as a model of Christian society above all others, is a theme that has lingered in American national identity to present day, and has extended to hubris on some levels. Team America: World Police’s portrayal of Americans seeing their way as the only way and having an over-the-top sense of pride is based off of these original American themes. Team America certainly ridicules all sides of American politics, and America itself, without remorse or regard. The recurring themes of unilateralism and jingoism in particular are satirized through Team America’s incompetence, disregard, and general bullheadishness. American foreign policy has long been controversial with its imperialist parallels and sense of righteousness, especially under the Bush administration, and stems from its puritanical roots. America as â€Å"World Police† has connotations rife with controversy, something Trey Parker clearly embraces.

Assessment of The World is Flat and A Whole New Mind Essay -- Friedman

Assessment of The World is Flat and A Whole New Mind The widespread adoption of new technologies serves as the driver behind societal alteration. With few exceptions, changes in the framework of society from politics to the individual have been wrought by economic changes; that is, the onward march of societal progression can be traced to changes in the market. Thomas L. Friedman in The World is Flat argues that the recent â€Å"shrinking† of the world in terms of communications has weakened the traditional stronghold America has held over white-collar professions. A similar point (to a degree) is argued by Daniel H. Pink in A Whole New Mind, specifically that the weakening discussed by Friedman will give rise to a demand for a more creative, synergetic, whole-picture type of thought to which Americans are well capable of fulfilling. Ultimately, both works call for a shift of focus to a different set of skills and talent that Americans will need to not only survive, but thrive in the newly forming globalized or flat world. Ultimately, The World is Flat describes the effects technology, specifically the newabundance of cheap global telecommunications and the rapidly expanding and diversifying ways individuals and companies can take advantage of this cheap commodity, will have on the world as it moves into the 21stcentury. This newly created ability to effectively communicate globally in a cheap and high quality manner, Friedman argues, arose from the ashes of the dot-com bubble, and it has monumental effects for China, India, and other developing nations, to the potential detriment of Europe, Japan, and the United States. Since the United States et al can no longer compete with India and China or the ever more sophisticated sof... ...ld to a wide-range of differing groups of unique individuals; in a sense, I can grasp the bigger picture of these three skills. That being said, in order to take advantage of the flat-world platform, I will have to expand my knowledge of technology to make use of the ten flatteners. Flat or Conceptual, either way, our new globalized world spells change for the white-collared worker of the millennium. Our interconnectivity and the availability of cheap labor provide a medium to which new skills must be learned and improved upon if success is to be found. Works Cited Friedman, Thomas L. The World is Flat. New York, New York. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. 2006. National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Falling Through the Net: Defining the Digital Divide. 2005. Pink, Daniel H. A Whole New Mind. New York, New York. Penguin Group USA. 2005.

How childhood is socially constructed Essay

When asking ourselves the question ‘what is childhood? ’ and reading around the subject, it can be seen that there is no exact definition which can pinpoint an exact answer, this is because childhood is seen as socially constructed (McDowell, 2010). Continual varying ideas about children which has led to claims that childhood is a social construction highlights that childhoods are not the same everywhere and that while all societies acknowledge that children are different from adults, how they are different and what expectations are placed on them, change accordingly to the society in which they live (Greene et al, 2005). This highlights that it is not possible for childhood to be a biological state but is culturally specific and varies across time and location including taking into account economic factors (McDowell, 2010). This can be seen here in the contrast of how children are portrayed and look in western society compared to non-western. Children in Africa (non-western) Let the children play (Western) This view of social construction is supported in Bronfenbrenner’s sociocultural model of development which highlights how different environmental systems impact human development. The interrelated systems help us recognise the different contexts which impact on childhood (McDowell. 2010) Aries (1962) claimed that in medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist as the child did not occupy a social status (Green et al, 2005). This is argued by Archard (1993) as cited in Green et al (2005) who had the belief that they just had different ideas about it. This contrasts with the western society view of today which places children at centre stage taking on the romantic discourse that children are and have always been pure and innocent and entitled to nurturing (Newman, 2004). A loving family This picture highlights how the western perspective sees childhood, placing the child as central importance. Ideas about children and childhood also differ between different sectors in society, professional bodies and government departments which have come to be manifested in social policies. An example of this is age restraints. Legal classification of childhood is the main way in which society attempts to regulate and define childhood (McDowell, 2010). Age restraints for events in life such as marriage, the right to vote or drink, the school leaving age, ages in which you are criminally responsible and the age of sexual consent have developed over time but various legal constraints give children or young people different levels of responsibilities or how they should control their own actions which vary globally (Greene et al, 2005). Cunningham (2006) believes that a child can cease to be one over time which relates to age limits and laws but we are always a child to our parents. Western society, in particular its social policies, tends to focus on what children will become, rather than children’s being. The focus is on what they will become in the future rather than the here? and? now of childhood (Morrow, 2011). In many developing world countries however, children’s roles are very different. There is more crucial importance of children’s labour to many household economies (Morrow,2011). In some countries, child labour is prevalent and, for many children, education has to fit around work commitments. This contrasts with the developed West, where children’s work has to fit around their education commitments. The priorities for children are different, and thus their ‘childhoods’ are different. (Morrow, 2011). Overall it can be seen that there is no agreed definition of childhood without reference to the social perceptions within which it is experienced.

The Need For Strategic Alliances And Other Partners

The Need for Strategic Alliances and Other Partners The changing nature of work has accelerated the need to collaborate across departmental, company, advisor, and vendor boundaries. This increased focus on enterprise collaboration has required tight integration of EDI technology and communication. When CSI started to enter into strategic alliances, we developed ongoing relationships with our channel partners, in order to offer customers complete human resource solutions. CSI has developed multi-layered partnering programs which can offer clients noticeable business value. This global â€Å"ecosystem† of partners includes enrollment integration, banking technology, HR software solutions, as well as service providers that provide a range of consulting, resale, outsourcing, HR services, and technology which grants our clients access to a comprehensive collaboration strategy. 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