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T’ien-an-men Square massacre

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Review of Diary of a Young Girl by Frank, Anne

This is an engaging real life story and account of and by a young Jewish girl who spend a lot of her time hiding in small and squeezed quarters from the Nazis during the Second World War. The author of the novel is Anne frank who begins putting together her diary on her thirteenth birthday when she receives it as a present and keeps on writing it for two more years until her story is shortened by her capture by the Nazi troops. At a level that is surprisingly intimate, the young writer reveals in her story how many people of Jewish descent tries to cope with the new reality of the oppressive Nazi regime.

Through her story, the readers are able to see how members of the well- educated and affluent Jewish families are forced to spare their lives with the rest of the Jewish people in cramped quarters. Facilities become rare, food becomes scarce and the environments outside become inaccessible. In such scary and bleak circumstances, the young writer attempts to stay spirited occupying herself with several activities. This paper will analyze and review the major themes in this book to indicate whether it is worth reading or not.

Several themes become evident upon reading of this book. Some of the main ones include suffering, war and duty. Suffering is an obvious theme in this book. All of the residents of the annex struggle with guilt feelings for those of them they have left outside to suffer under the persecution of the Nazi troops. While some of them try to forget or ignore it like Mrs. Van Daan. Other feel bad and suffer for it but choose to remain cheerful like the young writer, the issue of how these residents deal with their feelings about the suffering going on outside of the annex is intimately associated with their own fear of suffering the same fate as the others who have been captured.

All of these residents also struggle with the idea of duty, the duty they have to their country, fellow residents, and friends. Life in the annex is marred with petty conflicts most of which have to do with feelings of sense of duty towards fellow residents. War is also another major theme in the story. Though most of the Jewish families try hard to ignore politics, they are eventually caught up in the war. The war is responsible for the way the annex residents are living. The phrase ‘after war’ is repeatedly used by the adults to indicate a wish of the annex residents that is never fulfilled.

When I read this book, I could not help it but empathize with the Jewish families caught up in the war. The book has a voice of itself and it gives one a new perspective or view of the happenings of the Second World War, other than the one we know. This is a true story of a number of individuals living in unspeakable fear and hoping that soon the war will be over. Although the writer is young, her observations are also intelligent and mature. The book is highly recommendable especially for those individuals with an interest in the events that happened during this war. The book is a firsthand retell of experiences of people who lived those events, it could, therefore, be extremely knowledgeable and intriguing.

Response to Peer Articles

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Response to Peer Articles

The first article on western and eastern educational philosophies implies that both the eastern and western sides differ greatly in their educational philosophies. The author implies that the eastern educational philosophies are mainly based on the role of the teacher being built on power and authority. Schools in the western side do not necessarily require their students to comply with the authority and power of their tutors and school. I agree with the author when he says that teachers are in a position and power to conform societies through education. What the author did not add is that teachers must not focus on this power and authority rather they should focus on the ability to instill knowledge in their students.

The second response is by Suzan who writes in response to an article by Ford whose main argument is that education in the west is the best. The author uses the kind of discrimination that occurred between the poor and the rich in the past to make a point. She argues that the eastern and western cultures are still divided by the fact that many people usually deem the west to have the best of everything from education to food to lifestyle than the east. I agree with the argument she makes that though the wall that divides these two cultures has been brought down, there still remains an imaginary wall that indicates that the west is better than the eastern cultures. I agree with the argument made in this response that prejudice can be done with if people did not view each other in the light of wealth, and if people viewed each other as equals. It is extremely true that the gap can be closed through education, though the probability of discrimination and prejudice being reduced to zero is extremely low.

Laura responds to an article on differences in culture and gender in Internet use, which explores the differences in ways in which students from China and Britain utilize the Internet. The article concludes that there are differences in the way the British and the Chinese students use the Internet. The British students were found to have more Internet experience, usage, attitude and self confidence than the Chinese students because they had been using the internet for a longer time. The boys in Britain were found to utilize the Internet more. I agree with the author when she concludes that different individuals have different expertise and experiences when it comes to the Internet.

The forth article is by Cassandra which indicates that the education system in the US has several shortcomings. The country was ranked 19 out of 24 nations in a study that aimed to find out the educational standings of various countries. The author expresses concerns that the future generations might be affected by the current educational standing of the country. I agree with the argument of Cassandra that more focus should be put on education because if children perform poor then adult learners will not be available at the post- secondary education levels. I also agree with her argument that it is the responsibility of educators to ensure that children have a renewed interest in studies. Cassandra argues truthfully that it is there is a communication gap between the homes of the students; the schools and the students which make the student perform poorly.

Response Paper. Why believe Mary Toft

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Response Paper: Why believe Mary Toft

In the 1720s, a number of authors took part in a pamphlet disagreement over the power maternal imagination had on the outcomes of a pregnancy. Some of these authors were James Blondel and Daniel Turner. Turner agreed with the traditional conviction that the imagination of a woman with child could be reflected in her unborn child, imprinting the resulting fetus with numerous deformities. Blondel, however, did not see how this would happen, and, as a result, tried hard to refute this argument with anatomical and rational arguments (Wilson 63-85). The issue that sparked this argument and brought it to a new level was the matter of Mary Toft, and her claims of birthing rabbits. Mary Toft was a pregnant woman who lost her child in a miscarriage. The woman managed to convince a number of physicians including the surgeon to the King that she had given birth to various body parts of a rabbit and a cat. The woman craved fortune and fame, which she eventually achieved from her, accounts (The several depositions of Edward Costen 6- 10).

Mary’s story came up in 1726, and King George the first was the king then. The woman was aided by her accomplices to insert the body parts of a rabbit and a cat in her womb after her miscarriage and summoned John Howard, a local surgeon to witness the events. The surgeon was completely fooled and was convinced that he had participated in an extraordinary medical occurrence worthy of widespread fame. Eventually, the events that followed made the king sent his surgeon St. Andre to investigate what was happening. Toft told them of her story and how she had given birth to rabbit parts after she became obsessed with the animals. She told the king’s surgeon and secretary how she craved of rabbit meat; how she dreamed of them and the time, she spent trying to catch them in the garden (The several depositions of Edward Costen 6- 10).

To fully carry out such a hoax apparently did not require a lot of technicalities just immense ingenuity, and the ability to act, on the part of Mary. She kept on lying even after she was brought to London for further examination, but eventually she admitted to her lies and was later sent to prison for lying and fooling people (The several depositions of Edward Costen 6- 10). Though this is a strange and an extraordinary story, one is inclined to believe in it. There are numerous reasons as to why one might be inclined to believe the story of Mary Toft.

For instance, Mary managed to fool medical professionals who also became convinced that the woman had conceived and given birth to rabbits. Howard, the local surgeon was the first to see the woman giving birth to body parts of a rabbit. He later reviewed this in his letters in which he wrote that he had delivered the woman of other three rabbits from the fourth instance to the sixth. He claimed that the last of the rabbits leapt in the woman’s belly for about 18 hours before it died and that after it was taken away, another was struggling for birth (Saint André 9). Though the act of a human being giving birth to a rabbit is utterly unlikely, one is likely to believe Mary’s story because the rabbits were coming out of her womb as if she was giving birth to them. She gave birth to rabbit parts. Another reason why we are inclined to believe her story is the fact that the authorities let her go without prosecution after a short while. She was not prosecuted for her crimes, and for this one might argue that the authorities would not have let her go if there had been any reason to prosecute her. These two arguments show how one might be tricked into believing Mary’s story.

Works cited

Saint André, Nathanael. A short narrative of an extraordinary delivery of rabbets, perform’d by Mr. John Howard surgeon at Guilford. Published by Mr. St. Andre. The second edition. London: Printed for John Clarke, 1727. Print.

The several depositions of Edward Costen, Richard Stedman, John Sweetapple, Mary Peytoe, Elizabeth Mason, and Mary Costen; relating to the affair of Mary Toft, of Godalming in the county of Surrey, being deliver’d of several rabbits. London: Printed for J. Pemberton, 1727. Print.

Wilson, Philip K. “‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind?’ The Daniel Turner-James Blondel Dispute Over the Power of the Maternal Imagination,” Annals of Science 49.1 (1992): 63-85. Print.

Religious Studies- TRS

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Religious Studies- TRS

Chapter 2 Questions:

Totem

According to the author, a totem is a living thing or an object like an animal, bird, or plant that a certain group views with a special reference awe, and respect. It can also be said to be a symbol, an expression through material of something. It is an object of worship.

Taboo

Something that is forbidden or should not be done

Polytheism

Believe in more than one Supreme Being. The religion believes in more than one god.

Animism

This is the belief that every nature has life and is filled with spirits that are unseen that may be placated and even worshipped. Followers of this belief see self or soul- existing in stones, trees, heavenly bodies and rivers.

Shaman

A term derived from the eastern Siberia language that refers to one who is possessed by spirits of gods and can even foretell the future.

Monotheism

This describes the belief in one god. Believers’ belief is that there is only one supreme god.

Monism

Describes the view that there is unity in any field of inquiry; it is opposed to pluralism and dualism.

Polytheistic monism

Describes the view that there is unity in any field of inquiry; it is opposed to pluralism and dualism.

Rites of passage

Any kind of ritual that is used to mark the passage of an individual from one stage of life to another; for example, puberty rites, circumcision, death rituals.

Chapter 2 Questions

Can you name the elements found in common when studying Native American religion?

There are numerous elements commonly found when studying the Native American religions. They include the spirit world, animism, sacrifice, taboos, ceremonies and rituals

Can you explain each of them?

In the Native American religion it is believed that all nature is made alive by the presence of spirits. In general Native Americans are polytheistic when it comes to religion; they believe that numerous god levels exist and also in the presence of spirits in the world.

Animism is used to describe the belief in the spirits that are in existence in nature; these spirits have the power to harm or help individuals. Native American religions, therefore, view the world, stones, trees, animals and land with a different view from other religions.

Sacrifice is also important in these religions as it is used to show thanks or to please the gods.

Taboos and applying them in everyday life is the way these religions protect themselves from potential danger from the spirits. Taboos are circumstances, actions, objects or persons who because of their dangerousness fall outside the normal way of life. Ceremonies and rituals are also essential in these religions together with taboos. Native Americans usually look for ways to control the spirit forces in the world through these rituals and ceremonies. They are used for renewal of the associations between humans and spirits as well as for worship.

Can you explain some of the problems in studying Native American religion and what cautions must be exercised when making conclusions about these religions and the elements they seem to have in common (i.e., why can’t we say that all native American people have all these elements in religion?

One of the main problems when it comes to studying the Native American religions is discrimination and racism as well as modernism. Because of the past history some generalizations about these individuals must be avoided as they can be taken as elements of discrimination or racism. Some Native Americans have also modernized and adopted other religions with some elements of their cultures still present. Care should be taken not to generalize all people.

Chapter 3 Vocabulary

Ancestor veneration

This can be defined as the veneration of a member of family who has passed away. This process frequently involves care of and upkeep of graves, name memorization of people from the past, sacrifices and prayers to honor those who have passed on.

Orisha

This is used in African mythologies that are used to describe lesser deities who participated in the world’s creation.

Chapter 3 Questions

Can you name the elements found in common among African native religions?

There are a few elements related to African religions like high God, lesser spirits, ancestors, rites of passage, sacrifice, and religious leaders.

Can you explain them?

The high God in African religions is extremely essential. Hey believe that there is one Supreme Being in control of all forces. They also believe that there were lesser spirits who were involved in the creation story. Ancestors form a big part of the religion as well. They believe that the departed have power to help and control them. Rites of passage are also valued in the religion; they mark the passage of an individual from one stage of life to another. Sacrifice is used to appease gods and to ask them for more blessings or help. Religious leaders are highly respected and they are regarded as the closest connections to gods and spirits.

Can you explain some of the problems in studying African native religions and what cautions must be exercised when making conclusions about these religions and the elements they seem to have in common?

Just like in Native American religions, studying African religions can also have several problems which also have to do with discrimination, racism and modernization issues. Because of the history, studying African religions has to be done carefully so as to avoid looking discriminatory or racist. Influence from colonizers has also affected African religions and caused many to modernize. Therefore, generalizations should not be made.

Chapter 4 Vocabulary

Mohenjo- daro and Harappa

A term used to describe the religious events and rituals of Hinduism.

Aryans; monism

Aryan is a Sanskrit term that is used to mean those who are noble and it is applied to migrants who migrated from Persia to the Indus valley in BCE, the second millennium.

Brahaman

The term used by Upanishads to show and define their impersonal god who is taken as the total reality.

Atman

Souls

Maya

This is a term used to define false knowledge used by Upanishads. It describes all that which is not Brahman, all individuality, all perception.

Samsara

The term is used in Buddhism and Upanishads to describe the continuous cycle of life, death, birth and rebirth that all humans experience.

Karma

In Indian culture this word is used to mean that which connects or binds one to the continuous life cycles like rebirth and death.

Dharma

This is a term used to describe duties given to a person in the traditional life of Hindus, and is based on station and caste in life; the teachings of Buddha in Buddhism.

Brahma

A term used in the Indian society to mean one of the three significant gods in the worship of the Hindu. The god is seen as the world’s creator.

Vishnu

It is a term used in Hinduism used to describe one of the most popular deities in postclassical Hindu, called the god of love.

Shiva

This term describes the most popular god in the period of postclassical Hinduism that regarded the god of destruction and death but also of reproduction and rebirth.

Avatar

This can be used to mean the deity’s incarnation. In Hinduism, a god named Vishnu is believed to have often assumed other forms in life like human form and other types of forms.

Vedas

A collection of Aryan gods’ hymns; the entire collection of the sacred literature of Indians

Upanishads

Vedic literature philosophical material

Bhagavad gita

This is a poem in the religion and culture of Indians called the song of the blessed lord.

Krishna

This term is used to refer to the incarnation of Vishnu, who is a god in Hinduism who appears as a key contributor and participator in Bhagavad Gita.

Arjuna

This is a term used to describe a god. It is a name given to a key character in the event of Bhagavad Gita.

Trimurti

This describes the three most significant gods in Hindu; Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu.

Yoga

A philosophical system used to teach a world view that is dualistic in postclassical Hinduism.

Moksha

It describes the process of releasing individuals from the death cycle and also rebirth in Indian religions.

Bhakti

This word is used to define the devotion Hindus have in their religion.

Puja

Describes the view that there is unity in any field of inquiry; it is opposed to pluralism and dualism.

Harijans

A word used to describe those who participated in the Muhammad migration.

Chapter 4 questions

Can you name each of the 3 main periods in the historical development of Hinduism?

The large Hindu community’s emergence outside India, huge numbers of untouchables convert to Christianity and Buddhism; independence of India, partition into Pakistan and India; and growth of Hindu nationals which leads to growth in Hinduism/Christian/Muslim tensions.

Can you give the dates for each

19th and 20th, 1947, late 20th and early 21st centuries respectively

Can you explain what took place in each of them that significantly shaped the modern Hinduism?

The large Hindu community’s emergence outside India, huge numbers of untouchables convert to Christianity and Buddhism; independence of India, partition into Pakistan and India; and growth of Hindu nationals which leads to growth in Hinduism/Christian/Muslim tensions

Can you identify which set of scriptures was developed in which periods and explain why that is important in the religious development of Hinduism?

Vedas are the oldest sacred books in Hinduism. There is dispute over the period when these books were written. Some believe that they were written before 2000 BC while others argue that they were written between the periods of 1500 and 400 BC. These books are important in Hinduism because they help Hindus form an understanding of the universe.

Can you explain the concept of Brahman?

The Upanishads believe that only one reality exists, and that the impersonal god- being is referred to as Brahman. They believe that anything that is considered not Brahman is not real.

Can you name the three main gods who together manifest Brahman?

Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu

Can you explain the significance of each of these three main gods and explain why they must be seen as working together?

Brahma is the creator, Shiva is the destroyer and Vishnu preserves. The three works together to bring about balance in the world

Can you explain what Samsara is?

This is a term basically used to mean wandering across. To Hindus, the force of life of a person never dies when a person die, rather it wanders across.

Can you explain why the gods are also subject to the laws of samsara

Because their spirits as well wonder across to possess other bodies or objects.

Can you name the three main paths which Hinduism teaches are ways to salvation?

Middle way which lies between the extreme forms of asceticism and worldly life, salvation based on individual efforts, and salvation through Vedas

Can you explain each of them?

Middle way which lies between the extreme forms of asceticism and worldly life, salvation based on individual efforts, and salvation through Vedas

Can you define moksha and explain how one could eventually achieve moksha on each of these paths?

Moksha is breaking away from life. One can achieve this through the middle path by getting to the place in this path, through Vedas by reading and fulfilling the scriptures, and by individual fighting towards moksha.

A philosophical system used to teach a world view that is dualistic in postclassical Hinduism.

Can you explain what yoga means and how it is connected to each path?

Can you explain what dharma is and how it is connected to each path?

This is a term used to describe duties given to a person in the traditional life of Hindus, and is based on station and caste in life; the teachings of Buddha in Buddhism.

Can you explain what moya is and how it can keep one from achieving moksha?

This is knowledge that is false. Having false knowledge can make one not obtain moksha because it prevents one from breaking away from life.

Comparative Analysis

A). can you name and explain elements which native American and African native religions have in common and which are greatly similar?

The two religions have several elements in common such as sacrifices, rite of passage and religious deities.

B). can you name and explain elements which native Americans and African native religions have in common but which they approach in different ways and explain how they are unique in each group?

Rites of passage are different in the two cases. The African religions have such rites of passage as passage to womanhood and manhood through circumcision. Native Americans approach these rites differently; they do not practice circumcision.

2. Can you compare the Apache Girl’s rite of passage and the Fulani Initiation rite, i e., the videos we watched in class in the areas of

a). symbols used in each

The Fulani community has marks, tattoos, while the apache has white dresses, pollen

b). who participates

In the apache community girls and religious leader participate while in the Fulani community girls and boys’ initiates participate together with tattooing artists

c). actions

In the Fulani community tattooing, marking of the skin, beating of boys happens while in the apache community painting face with pollen, dancing, is practiced

1. Done by individuals

Dancing, and getting blessed by elders, enduring the beating

2. Done by groups

The cooking, celebrating and celebrations, beating boys

Specifically performed by each gender

The men in the apache bless the girls while women cook and prepare for celebrations. In the Fulani community the men beat the initiates while the women watch and cheer the initiates on

D. the underlying connections to spirituality and culture

These rituals all have underlying connections to spirituality and culture through a number of symbols and actions. The spilling of blood shows connection to spirituality while the beating indicates connections to culture. In the apache initiation the covering of the girls face with pollen shows connectivity to spirits, while dancing is a connection to culture.

Reflections of the Old Testament

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Reflections of the Old Testament

The two sources of information to be reviewed in this paper are the session 6 audio class and the class text by Barry Bandstra. The two sources of information are about the Old Testament and the periods defined in the texts. As the audio lecture makes it clear, there are two sides of scholars who argue about the events narrated in the Old Testament. According to the lecture, some scholars on extreme believe that the stories narrated in the texts of the Old Testament are true reflections of what happened during those times, as evidenced by the bible. On the other extreme, are the other scholars who believe that the stories narrated in the Old Testament are fabrications that have no truth in them. Some examples of the stories the lecture gives that are the basis of argument in this case are the stories such as women who got married to their close relatives, something that society treated as taboo, and women providing servants to their husbands in case they were barren for the purposes of reproduction. The lecture gives examples of women like Sara who were not able to give birth to children, and as required by law, had to provide their husbands with maids with whom they would reproduce (Prof. Hayes).

The lecture also gives a timeline of when these vents happened, and I realized that they took place between all throughout the middle bronze period to the three phases of the middle bronze era. The bronze period, as it becomes clear, has three periods. The class textbook confirms this accurately by providing us with a timeline of when these events took place. According to the author of the textbook, Abraham lived in the first phase of the middle bronze period, and so did his wife. Rebecca and Isaac existed in the same period, with Jacob being born at the beginning of the second phase of the middle bronze period. Joseph came much later, almost after Jacob. The Hebrew in Egypt existed from the second phase of the bronze era to the late bronze era.

According to the text, the Egyptian 12th dynasty existed in the second phase of the middle bronze period, with the Hyksons rule coming in the third phase of the middle bronze era. The new kingdom of Egypt is shown to have come during the late bronze period and it lasted to the second phase of the late bronze period (Bandstra 78- 80).

Generally, as the two course materials indicate, the ancestral story does not have the same timeline or history as the primeval story. The ancestral story, which we learned in this course, has three main saga sets. Scholars refer to each of the three sets as a cycle because all of the ancestral stories of that period revolve around a key figure in the history of these individuals, Abraham, Joseph, and Jacob. Individuals see these three cycles as separated by short genealogical notices of the two main ancestral off springs that came from the Israel trajectory, called Esau and Ishmael (Bandstra 78- 113).

As I later discovered from the audio lecture, the literary shape of this story is less complicated to establish than the relationship these individuals had with history. There clearly are not any references about these historical figures anywhere in the bible so individuals have to fill up in the voids for themselves. The course was extremely informative and enjoyed learning new, ancestral subjects immensely (Prof. Hayes).

Works cited

Bandstra, Barry L. Reading the Old Testament: an Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. (4th Ed.). New York: Cengage Learning, 2008.

Prof. Hayes, Christine. RLST 145- Lecture 6. Web. 4 November 2011.

Reasons for Transferring and Objective

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Reasons for Transferring and Objective

United States is a realm that upholds the truths that all men are to be treated equal as they are created equal, that all men were given by their creator different kinds of undisputable rights, and that among these rights are the rights to pursue happiness, the freedom of liberty and the rights to life. It was always one of my imaginings that, in the future, I will be able to obtain my higher education in the United States of America, a country packed with numerous opportunities. So when I moved from Indonesia to the US, the first thing that I took in was the seemingly infinite amount of opportunities and chances that this nation had to offer. Coming from a relatively underprivileged background, I realized that my life had turned for the better and that I was fortunate enough to exploit all the opportunities my new country gave me I found myself wanting to explore one of my childhood dreams, to get a bachelor degree in communication, majoring in public relations.

Since my childhood, I had watched one of my increasingly successful aunt become an excellent public relations expert, and I promised myself that public relation was to be my vocation when I came of age. So I enrolled in Shoreline Community college for the degree. As time went by, I realized that though the community college was doing as best as it could to offer us the best education, it did not have enough resources to mould me into a successful person I wanted. I looked around for options and found that the only place I could get such molding was at the university. I am a second year student at the community college now and am looking to transfer to the university as a third year student. I am sure with the opportunities and resources the university commits to this department I will become the successful individuals I dreamt of, and eventually own my own public relations agency.

Statement of Intent

Back home, I always watched the most successful people around me for inspiration and for motivation. As I mentioned before, opportunities for success back in Indonesia are quite rare, and, therefore, becoming a successful person in such conditions is quite an achievement. One of my aunts was one such successful individual who had worked extra hard to achieve a lot of accomplishment in the turf of public relations. As a child, whenever I went visiting I could see a lot of affluence around her, and her home and she always looked extremely sophisticated. I vowed to myself that I wanted build myself and reach her level one day.

I would work hard and go to whatever lengths to attain a degree in public relations so that I become successful and in the end open an agency of my own. It was not just looking up to my aunt that enticed me to the career. During my school holidays back home after high school, I worked for awhile at my aunt’s agency and I liked everything about the career. I found that I enjoyed the work immensely and that I was excellent on the job. This motivated me, and I realized that I could work to be successful at something that I liked to do. So here I am in the US trying to fulfill that dream.

Perceptions of Security and Guest Hotel Selection- Part 2

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Perceptions of Security and Guest Hotel Selection- Part 2

Hotel security and safety is one of the most essential elements in the concerns of most travelers. Most of the travelers in the world usually have to worry about being crime victims while they are away from home. One only has to review and look at the negative effects on hotel booking when a tourist attacks happens and is publicized to see how essential the perceptions of security is to the hotel guests. When they have a choice, hotel guests will always look for hotels that have superior security provisions. Initially, most guests and travelers would choose a hotel that satisfies their balance and criteria of price, location and food service. However, after visiting the hotel, its security amenities might determine the continued loyalty of the guests (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

According to a survey conducted recently, the primary chance to present a constructive notion about the standard security and safety of a hotel is usually at its perimeter. For maximum efficiency and effectiveness, the study indicated that there has to be an obvious and notable design transition as guests enter the hotel from the outside. Solid and visible deterrent cues include essential barriers like decorative fencing, perimeter walls, landscaped terraces and well- defined main entrance and driveway. According to the guests of a number of hotels, a strong transition sends a quiet but strong message to criminals that such a hotel is private property and that it is put aside for the private use of the guests only (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

According to other guests interviewed in the study, excellent exterior lighting should be designed to fill the gap between the boundary of the hotel and its entrance, and it is the most significant security amenity during the night. When bathed with light, public areas are both a powerful deterrent to crime and inviting to travelers and guests. Excellent exterior lighting allows guests to identify potential threats if there are any. This is a minimum level of visibility that offers guests enough time to respond to the threat before it confronts them. Guests indicated that they would choose a hotel that had balanced and even lighting. Lighting that is balanced appears comfortable and warm, and as they argued, makes the hotel feel safe and secure (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

The study also looked at the perceptions of the hotel guests and travelers on security most hotels offer in their parking lots. The study pointed out that security at most hotel parking lots is the most overlooked and underestimated area on hotels. Crimes by strangers against guest were found to be more apt to occur in the parking lots than any other places in hotels. This was found to be because parking lots offer criminals the best places to hide, with few witnesses and with the quickest routes for escaping. Parking lot surveillance is relatively cheap as one only needs to install a video camera, or even visible uniformed security personnel that are capable of responding rapidly to a crime and sermon for help (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

Hotel guests implied that they would be more comfortable checking into hotels with a live person on the job that is hires to look out for their safety and security. Guests indicated that they would feel safer in hotels that had highly visible valet parking and door attendants as these two security amenities worked excellently as a crime deterrent. Guests felt that nothing instills in them more confidence in a hotel than a capable door attendant who makes eye contact with them and greets them as they enter hotels. Criminals do not like door attendants, as they fear that they will be identified as trespassers. Guests argued that without curbside security that is competent and capable, crimes like car theft, purse snatches and luggage thefts would increase more significantly in most hotels, and, therefore, they would rather choose those hotels that had excellent curbside security (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

In addition to physical barriers, the study also found that access control also is essential in hotel guests’ decisions in selecting hotels. Access control involves the use of personnel, electronic equipment and procedures to make the property safe and secure. For instance, the whole of a hotel’s staff should be trained to be attentive to all reports of suspicious activity and to all suspicious persons and report suspicions to the manager. Most of the hotel guests interviewed in this study indicated that they love this high level of staff attentiveness and courtesy, and they were positive that criminals did not like it at all. Hotel criminals prefer to remain anonymous and unnoticed. A number of staff contacts will make them feel unsecure and uncomfortable, and in most cases, this is usually enough to make them leave hotel guests alone (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

Guestroom security is another security feature most guests looked at while making decisions as to which hotel they would stay. The guestroom represents the inner circle of the security plan of a hotel. Hotel guests treat the guestroom as their sanctuary, and they expect to be safe in their rooms. The guestroom windows and doors have to be fortified to deter criminals from accessing entry into the rooms. Hotel guests implied that they preferred hotels rooms that had these basic security amenities and that they would feel more comfortable in hotel rooms with doors that were made of solid metal or wood, and those doors that were self- locking and self- closing (Wuest 77- 93). According to the guests, the locks on the door must have a deadbolt of high quality with at least a bolt of one inch. The strike plate of the lock must be securely bolted to a metal doorframe or by making use of screws of three inches when attached to a doorjamb. In addition to this, guests found hotels with accessible sliding widows with secondary devices attached to them to prevent forced entry more appealing as opposed to those windows without.

The study predicted that the demand for hotels that promote and ensure enhanced security would increase in the coming years especially with the increase concern and fear about terrorism all over the world. The researchers pointed out that security amenities are more essential to travelers, especially those elderly people and women travelling by themselves. The study predicts that only those hotels that are more conscious to the security and safety of guests staying in their property will gain more advantage over those hotels that fail to acknowledge and recognize the need for this new trend (Shanahan and Hyman 107- 118).

Another study carried out in 1999 identifies the perceptions of travelers and hotel guests of quality of services and security facilities among the three hotel categories in most parts of the world. High Tariff A, B and Medium Tariff hotels. The study came up with seven hotel elements using a factor analysis procedure from 33 hotel attributes identified by a number of hotel guests. These seven hotel elements were IDD and security facilities, room quality, staff service quality, general amenities, value and business service. Results of the study showed that the ranking of these seven hotel elements was considerably distinct in the three categories of hotels. The mean ratings of travelers of their perceptions of hotel elements increased positively according to the higher category of the hotel (Choi and Chu 176-189).

The findings of the study are typical, in the sense that when hotel guests pay more, they expect to get better and higher quality services. The three most essential hotel elements perceived by the guests of the High Tariff A hotel category and the High Tariff B hotel category included staff service quality, security and room quality. However, the topmost priority for those guests staying at Medium Tariff hotel category was security. Guests found it difficult to live in hotel rooms that did not provide them with enough provisions for safety and security. Whichever, category or rank of hotels the guests were staying, they all had one thing in common, and that is they only chose to stay in a hotel because it had superior security amenities as compared to another hotel of the same rank or category (Choi and Chu 176-189).

Another set of researchers carried out a study in 2002 to find the distinctions that subsist between the views of accommodation management and the views of potential hotel guests when it comes to the elements that influence the selection of accommodation in hotels by hotel guests. The researchers also wanted to demonstrate the close similarities in the elements that potential hotel guests indicated as essential with previous research like cleanliness of the hotel rooms and the safety of the environment as some of the most essential factors. According to the results of the study, one can generally state that managers rate those items and elements that they have daily working influence on more highly that possible hotel guests, who rate the actual hotel and its amenities more highly. In addition to this, there were also some certain needs of female guests like security and safety while for male guests there were other elements of significance like flexible hours of walking into the hotel, and of opening (Lockyer 294- 300).

The acknowledgement of these elements helps with the process of planning for resources and other amenities to maintain or attract these groups of hotel guests. Differences between the management and the hotel guests is also reflected in the results of the study where for the accommodation management there is a reliable relationship between price, location, staff and facility. On the part of the hotel guest, there is a strong relationship between safety, location, friendly, restaurant and service. In addition, the potential hotel guests have associations between clean and price, money and value, indicating an awareness of the value and cost of the hotel accommodation. The question that aurally arises has to do with the reasons behind the differences between the potential hotel guest and accommodation management (Lockyer 294- 300).

According to the study, some answers may come from considering the kind of duties accommodation management assume, which in most cases, involve constant attention to the average room rate and occupancy rate using yield management, and working together with the rest of the stuff. As a result, these elements are salient to the duties accomplished by accommodation managers. According to the researchers, saliency is a term used to refer to the fact that not all of the beliefs of a man stand out or are unique with equal prominence in the man’s cognitive field. Such a person may be more acutely away of some specific beliefs than others may, such believes might enter his thoughts readily and might be verbalized more frequently by the individual, and they are, therefore, salient (Lockyer 294- 300).

The study, therefore, suggests that saliency has an influence or effect of the elements that accommodation management feels are more critical. The study does not indicate that there is a less understanding of the needs of hotel guests by management, but rather that their concentration may be overly directed most of the times and that additional time spent in examining the needs of their guests can help motivate the operation more in the proper direction. Therefore, as a natural consequence of the involvement of managers with daily activities with certain areas of accommodation, it is their belief that certain elements are more critical to hotel guests than the guests themselves show. This brings about an essential question, one that cannot be solved by simply arguing that one is right and the other is not. However, accommodation management should carefully consider the results of the study and evaluate their views according to the researchers (Lockyer 294- 300).

As the researchers argue, at certain stages of the guest selection and purchase decision of accommodation certain elements may prove to be more essential than others are. For instance, the first contact by a potential guest is when they contact a possible hotel and enquire about price, and availability. As this is usually the first contact between a potential guest and the hotel, there usually is a temptation to assume that this is for the most part the vital item to the potential guest. Nevertheless, by the time of the guest makes that contact they might have made many more other considerations. The accommodation management needs to ask the question of where they are investing their resources, and whether the hotel is utilizing the resources of the guest to the best of the guest’s advantage. This study implies that there is a significant misunderstanding by most hotel management as to the needs of their guests, and that careful consideration has to be taken before simply assuming what elements influence potential guests best (Lockyer 294- 300).

Another study carried out to determine which attributes affected accommodation decisions in guests indicated that security scored the top marks as rated by leisure guests and travelers in making decisions about which hotels to stay in followed by front and room desks and the quality of service. Leisure guests and travelers gave a higher mean significance score on the security element than their business counterparts. In fact, security and safety were reported to be one of the key concerns of leisure guests and travelers when patronizing a hotel. This study conducted a survey on 210 businesswomen hotel guests and travelers who indicated that for this market segment, safety and security was their key concern, for example, security chains, peepholes, and training front office employees not to give out the room numbers of the hotel’s guests (Tunstall 26- 40).

Works cited

Choi, Tat and Chu, Raymond. ‘Consumer perceptions of the quality of services in three hotel categories in Hong Kong.’ Journal of Vacation Marketing 5. 2 (1999): 176- 189. Print.

Lockyer, Tim. ‘Business guests’ accommodation selection: the view from both sides.’ International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality 14.6 (2002): 294- 300. Print.

Shanahan, Kevin and Hyman, Michael. ‘An exploratory study of desired hotel attributes for American tourists vacationing in China and Ireland.’ Journal of Vacation Marketing 13. 2 (2007): 107- 118. Print.

Tunstall, R., ‘Hotels’ Accommodation-catering for the Female Business Travelers.’ E.I.U. Travel & Tourism Analyst, 5 (1989): 26-40. Print.

Wuest, S., Tas, F., Emenheiser, A. ‘What do mature travelers perceive as important hotel/motel customer service?’ Hospitality Research Journal 20. 2 (1996): 77- 93. Print.

Operation Management

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(Instructors’ name)

(Course)

(Date)

Operation Management

Question 1a: using examples discuss customer influence on performance objectives in operations and explain how different competitive factors imply different performance objectives.

Of all the influences on an organization’s priorities offers to its objectives of performance, the most significant and immediate are its customers. Operations in any organization seek to satisfy and meet the needs of the customers through the development of the organization’s five performance objectives. For instance, if customers specifically value products and services that cost less, the operation will impose more emphasis in its performance of cost. On the other hand, if they insist on products and services that are free of error, then an organization will focus more on its performance of quality. An emphasis of customers on rapid delivery will make speed essential with the organizations quality, while an emphasis from customers on delivery that is reliable will make dependability an essential operation to a company. The factors that define the requirements of a customer are what are referred to as competitive factors. How well a company meets the requirements of its customers is depended on how well its functions of operation excel at the performance objectives, which also determine the competitive factors (Pycraft, 2000).

Question 1b: using examples explain what is meant by ‘operations strategy’ and how it differs from operations management.

Operations strategy is a term used to refer to the business strategies in operations to make them efficient, successful and competitive. This term is different from operations management in that management of operation is used to mean the processes, tactics, and strategies a firm uses to make sure that its operations run smoothly (Chase et al., 2001).

Questions 2a: using examples discuss the application of inventory management tools in operations management.

Inventory management utilizes network definition information and other tools like local configuration databases, vital product data, and in other cases discovery applications for the purposes of arriving at inventory data and information. There are numerous ways these tools can be utilized in operations management to make processes efficient and effective. There is also a number of inventory management tools used in management operations. Some of these include VTAM and Net View, which are responsible for maintaining those linkages that are necessary to physical assets, whether they are within the system or out of the level of the server on the network. Another tool commonly used in operation management is centralized databases, which are used to store all the assets of an organization and their related information. The tool offers the user browsing and editing capability through a front end that is driven by an online menu, and it offers the user security access that is restricted. Network configuration application is another inventory tool that is used for moving stand- alone databases for inventory control to format that are based on the host. These are just a few examples of the available inventory management tools useful in operations management (Piasecki, 2003).

Question 2b: explain what vendor Management Inventory means and discuss fully how the application of VMI can help in reduction of demand implication.

Vendor managed inventory is a term used to mean a set of business models which are used by companies to derive information from their customers about a certain product after which the supplier assumes the full responsibility for maintaining an agreed material inventory, usually at the consumption location of the client. The vendor managed inventory makes the chances lesser for a business to become out of stock unintentionally, and at the same time decreases the available inventory in the business’ supply chain (Franke, 2010). Additionally, the supplier or the vendor representatives in the company benefit the supplier by making sure that the product or service is appropriately displayed and the sales staffs are familiar with the characteristics and features of the product, all while helping in the organization and cleaning of the product line in the business. It has been indicated that the key to making this inventory work is through shared risk. In certain cases when the inventory fails to sell, the supplier or the vendor can repurchase the product from the retailer or the customer. In some other cases, the product might be with the retailer but the ownership is never complete until purchases happen (Tempelmeier, 2006).

Question 3a: discuss the role of 4PL companies in supply chain operations. Critically examine how they differ from 3PL companies.

A 4PL can be defined as an integrator that uses its own technical expertise and capabilities in human resource, and technology solutions to leverage those of other companies, like providers of logistics that are third- party, so as to manage and design supply chains for their clients.4PLs have evolved to become alternatives for outsourcing in business process. These service providers make it possible for firms to manage a crucial part of their supply chain by offering them integration and visibility across a number of enterprises. These logistics service providers manage with three major elements of people, process and technology. Users of this service can emphasize on main competencies and better utilize and manage company resources and assets, as to personnel and inventory (Bauknight & Miller, 1999).

These are different from 3PL logistics service providers in that 4PLs are considered non- asset based, which is they are more of consultants as opposed to operators. They are also different from third party logistic providers because the 3PLs are considered to be experts in management of operations, transportation and warehousing services. In addition, using a 4Pl logistics services provider is different than using a 3PL one. The 4PL is a business process outsourcing provider. It will bring a new approach and value to the needs of the customer. The provider is neutral and has the ability to manage the process of logistics, regardless of the kind of forwarders, carriers and warehouses are utilized (JSI Logistics, n.d).

Question 3b: using examples discuss the factors for success and failure in outsourcing in the manufacturing and the service sector operations to Asia.

Asia to Us is considered the dominant lane or path of trade. One of the more complex and troublesome issues in logistics is Asia’s inbound supply chain. The question of how this critical supply chain can be managed and how the suppliers who are miles away can be managed is a challenge that has been limiting success of outsourcing. Managing this essential part of the supply chain can consume a lot of time and can be frustrating. Changing and expending orders, shipping dates of vendors, giving directions to the 3PLs and to consolidators as to the requirements of delivery are just some of the issues that can affect the success or failure of outsourcing processes. Suppliers from Asia often seek inexpensive rates of freight without necessarily coming into terms with the supply chain, as well as, the time demands of the purchasers of order – to- delivery. This is usually a challenge for most companies in the US with such complex, critical and dynamic part of their business processes. The difference in time limits communication through emails, brief calls, and faxes made at night made by either one of the parties, and this can lead to failure of outsourcing process. However, pulling of inventory, management of suppliers and purchase orders, management of forwarders of freight and ocean carriers of 3PL can proof to beneficial in enhancing the success of outsourcing processes (Bauknight & Miller, 1999).

Question 4: using examples discuss the recent trends in operations and supply chain management.

Supply chain management is continually changing and there usually are new issues and trends that must be of interest to businesses. There are a number of trends that constantly undergo changes, and, as a result, cause essential effects, and alter the design and performance of the supply chain. The main ones include planning of demand, increase in price pressures and competition, globalization, outsourcing, product life cycles that are more complex and shorter, and closer collaboration and integration with suppliers (Pilkington & Meredith, 2009). Manufacturing, developing and selling products can be complex and difficult even to the best-accomplished businesses in the best of the times. As the business drivers of a company change, as well as, processes in business, the general approach to the management of the supply chain in companies must also change. This is because a supply chain that is poor in functioning and one that is inefficient can jeopardize the performance and success of a company in long- term (Hitachi Consulting, 2009).

Part 2

Question 1a: discuss how products and services are differentiated in operations management. Using examples discuss the use of batch processing and continuous processing in operations.

In operations management, the main difference between services and goods is based on their tangibility nature. As a result, if there is a characteristic of tangibility in manufacturing, then the outcome becomes a good or a product. However, when the outcome of a business process has an intangible aspect, then it is said to be a service. Tangibility of the outcome of a business process is the main way in which businesses differentiate between a good and a service. In production, there are two methods of production used; the continuous production and the batch production processes. The continuous manufacturing process is the process used to produce, manufacture, and process raw materials continuously, without interruption. On the other hand, batch production involves interruptions. There are a number of uses for each. For example, continuous manufacturing is used in cases where the products are needed in bulk, or in large amounts, or when the demand for a product is insatiable. Batch production, however, is used only when the market for a certain product is low, and when the products needed are lesser (Wilson, 1995).

Questions 2a: using examples discus the applications of mass customization and postponement in supply chain management

The objectives of mass customization are to produce goods that are customized at a cheaper cost. Postponement strategies, on the other hand, emphasizes on delaying processes of customization as near to the consumers as possible. The extent to which postponement and customization processes of products are rooted in the modulation of the architecture of the product design. The customization of products can take place either depended on a platform that is common with amore options or depended on mixing and matching and combining modules to attain a wide variety of product attributes. It also needs a strategy in supply chain to facilitate logistics, assembly and outsourcing decisions. For companies to satisfy the increasing demands of customers for product offerings that are more diverse, companies are revising their structures of supply chains to allow mass customization. These new structures usually involve the delaying of the product delivery until after the orders of the customers arrive, known as time postponement; or delaying of the product differentiation until later stages in production called form postponement (Su, Chang. & Ferguson, 2005).

Question 2b: explain what is meant by factory gate pricing and discuss its application in the retail sector

The term factory gate pricing can be used to mean a basic price that uses the gate of the factory as the point of pricing that is the product’s price made available at the factory, exclusive of any delivery or transport that is charged or billed separately. One of the major applications of the concept is within the grocery sector. Starting in 2001, it is one of the series of initiatives in the past few years that have resulted to the transformation in the operation and organization of the distribution of groceries in most markets. The focus of the concept and other related concepts has led to the increase in transport efficiency, and a further reduction in costs. Some examples of the strategies involved include improvement in transport scheduling and consolidation of loads (Potter, Mason & Lalwani, 2006).

Question 4a: discuss the reasons for imbalance between the rates of supply and demand at different points in any operation. Using examples discuss how bullwhip effect can be reduced in supply chains.

Inventory only exists because of the difference that occurs between the rate or timing of demand and supply. Therefore, when the rate of supply increases and surpasses the rate of demand, increases in inventory are seen. Inventory decreases with an increase in demand and decrease in supply. However, imbalances do occur between the rates of demand and rates of supply at different points in business operations. Some of the reasons that affect those balance by affecting supply include the number of suppliers, costs of production, the production technology used, the prices of associated goods, and the expectations of the firm about prices in the future. Factors that affect demand can also cause imbalances in the rates of demand and supply. Some of the factors might include income, preferences and tastes, number of possible customers, prices of associated goods and the expectations of the customers of the prices in future (Slack, Johnston & Chambers, 2007).

If these imbalances are not controlled then the bullwhip effect results, this is a phenomenon that arises in the management of supply chains when customers overbuy, products and services, regardless of the needs and wants they have of the good and services. This can be reduced through better knowledge and information either through forecasts or from the supply chain. Another way one can reduce the effect is through the elimination or reduction of the delays that occur in the supply chain (Cannella & Ciancimino, 2010). This ensures that customers are well supplied with goods and services such that they do not feel the need to overbuy. Other solutions include allocation of demand between customers based on past purchases and orders, and maintenance of stable prices for goods and services. These solutions ensure that customers do not feel that the supply of the products and goods are threatened, and, as a result, they will not need to buy extra products for bad days (Lee, 2010).

References

Bauknight, D. & Miller, J. (1999). Fourth Party Logistics: The Evolution of Supply Chain Outsourcing. CALM Supply Chain & Logistics Journal.

Cannella S. & Ciancimino E. (2010). On the bullwhip avoidance phase: supply chain collaboration and order smoothing. International Journal of Production Research, 48 (22), 6739-6776.

Chase, R. F. et al. (2001) Operations Management for Competitive Advantage. New York: Wiley.

Franke, P. D. (2010). Vendor-Managed Inventory for High Value Parts. Results from a survey among leading international manufacturing firms.

Hitachi Consulting. (2009). Six trends changing supply chain management today. Choosing the optimal strategy for your business. Hitachi Consulting Corporation.

JSI Logistics. (n.d). 4P – A business process outsourcing option for international supply chain management. JSI.

Lee, H.L. (2010). Taming the bullwhip. Journal of Supply Chain Management 46 (1), pp. 7–7.

Piasecki, D. J. (2003). Inventory accuracy: people, processes & technology. New York: OPS Publishing.

Pilkington, A. & Meredith, J. (2009). The Evolution of the Intellectual Structure of Operations Management. Journal of Operations Management, 27(3), 185-202.

Potter, A., Mason, R. & Lalwani, C. (2006). Analysis of Factory Gate Pricing in the UK Grocery Supply Chain. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management.

Pycraft, M. (2000). Operations management. Cape Town: Pearson South Africa.

Slack, N., Johnston, R. & Chambers, S. (2007). Operations management. New York: Prentice Hall.

Su, J., Chang, Y. & Ferguson, M. (2005). Evaluation of postponement structures to accommodate mass customization. Journal of Operations Management 23 (3-4), 305- 318.

Tempelmeier, H. (2006). Inventory Management in Supply Networks—Problems, Models, Solutions. Norderstedt: Books on Demand.

Wilson, M. (1995). An historical perspective on Operations Management. Production and Inventory Management Journal.

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

(Name)

(Instructors’ name)

(Course)

(Date)

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

The book is about war, and one of the main characters is Joe Bonham. He awakens in a hospital bed after he gets hit by a shell at war; he is a young man who serves in the 2nd world war. After he awakens, he is hit by realities of war. His condition is pitiful as he has lost his limbs including his legs and arms. He does not even have teeth, eyes, tongue or even ears. However, he later realizes that his mind is fine, and that puts him in an extremely difficult position. The first thing that comes to Joe’s mind is death. He cannot bear to live like this and he attempts to suffocate himself to death something he fails at because he has a tracheotomy which he does not have control over. His first desire to die quickly evaporates and he decides to serve as a true example of how war can be torturous. He asks to be put in a glass box and be carried around his society to show how horrible war is. He also finds a way to communicate with his doctors. Joe constantly drifts between fantasy and reality, and his thoughts carry the readers to different scenes in his old life and in his life at war. This book is one of the greatest books of war that almost reflects clearly the horrors of war. This paper will review this book for the purposes of analyzing a number of these horrors so that the audience can realize that war can almost never result to desirable outcomes, and if it does, many soldiers pay heavily the price of desirable outcomes.

This is an extremely powerful novel. The story is narrated in the view point of one soldier who participated in war, Joe. The soldier is horrifically injured at war and completely disabled. The only functional thing left in him is his brain. As he tries to understand and cope with his current situation, he wanders back and forth between his old life and life at war, and his current situation. As a result of this, we are able to fully understand and get a complete picture of all of his life. One of the most notable things about the author’s prose is that it lives an unforgettable picture in the minds of the readers. The author is extremely direct and at times blunt when he describes the experiences soldiers like Joe had in the war. However, one later realizes that the way the author tells his story is a way to show the terrible human cost and horrible injuries associated with war. It is clear from the way the author describes these events that he is against war; but who would not. After reading these experiences one cannot help but feel that there really are no benefits of war because no matter the outcomes, numerous lives are going to lost and others are going to be horribly interrupted.

There are various things associated with war and the readers of this novel were no exception. There were times when war was considered noble, and veterans were treated as kings for their participation; they were referred as the American heroes. During these times in history, wars ended with parades that were extravagant with lovers being united. The novel by Trumbo is nothing like this, there are no heroes and there is no triumph at the end of the war. While the book is about the same eras there are evidently no heroes associated with this particular war, neither are there triumphs or reunions; the book is simply chilling and to the point about the most horrible experiences anyone can ever witness in a war. The story does not involve any romantic homecomings either as the readers would expect. The book is simply about horrific reality of war usually covered by the glitzy Hollywood renditions of warfare. The man in Trumbo’s book is fatally injured and disabled. He comes to know such isolation and loneliness no man has ever known. He is technically a living dead man who has not limbs like arms, face, legs or even a tongue. The despair in him is tremendous as he describes his past, and his present. There are notably no commas in the book. This gives the reader the impression that the thoughts emanating from Joe are never ending; they just flow and flow.

Though the war is supposed to make the world a better place by establishing democracy, one cannot help but wonder whether the outcome is worth the loss of human life and functionality among numerous soldiers who participate in the war. Through its horrible, disturbing, graphic, brutal and gruesome descriptions of how horrible a war can get, the reader is convinced that war is really not that good. One can also identify with the later argument by the author about rising against those who would want to send young people to war for any reason.

The book made a highly commendable impression on me. I enjoyed the book extremely. The author in his descriptions was clever, insightful, and told and narrated experiences and events that were gripping. The book was impressive in its stand against the war. It was noted that the book made its point without necessarily having to describe the war overly much. Actually, much of the anecdotes describing times at or near the war were almost whimsical and at times amusing in a dark way. The horror of the war described in the novel, therefore, was not in the war or the battlefields themselves, but in the results and the outcomes of the war that were isolated and terrible. The horror of the war was also implied in the fact that young people were send to war even after such terrors had been witnessed. At the end of the novel, one is left with the impression that Joe is extremely desperate to be heard or to talk to someone.

This book is an amazing piece of work for its amazing descriptions of the thoughts of a mind locked in a cruel prison- its owners dead body, tortured by the most horrible thought and mental tortures one can ever imagine- without any output or input and movement; and having been put in this condition by the most prolific dispenser of punishment and torture that is unjust- warfare. It is obvious to conclude that the book will have a great influence on the ideas many readers have on war. with the kind of horror the book associates with war, much of it which is true, I am positive that war, to the eyes of most readers of the book, will be looked at with disgust and disdain.

References

Trumbo, Dalton. Johnny Got His Gun. New York:  Citadel Press, 2000. Print