Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Principle Of Good Governance In Islam

Guideline Of Good Governance In Islam Both the Quran and Sunnah have given some investigation the standards in the territories of sacred issues that can't be excluded from any administration framework. The Quran doesn't make reference to the specifics and subtleties and have been left for the Muslim Ummah to plan as indicated by time and spot. In the utilization of sacred standards or rules of Islamic political framework, general guidelines or crucial standards which are considered as the most elevated qualities majorly affect the development of the Islamic idea of the express, its capacities and its arrangement of government. The essential standards, ideas and rules are talked about beneath. The Concept of Sovereignty in the Islamic System The sway in Islam has a place with God. The Quran reveals to us that Allah (SWT) is the maker and Lord of the whole universe, including the mankind and all related with them. Thusly, Allah (SWT) is the person who has all the forces and characteristics of power and nothing whatever that has a place all over. Subsequently, nobody else can share the sway of the whole universe as it just has a place with Allah (SWT). Order is just for Allah. He has instructed that you don't submit to anyone however him. This is the Right Way of life, yet most men comprehend not. The standard of law in the Islamic System The standard of the standard of law in the Islamic framework is considered as a base or foundation where Islam was established on a stake and Shariah, since Islam came to evacuate treachery and oppression and battled to thump down a definitive force shaft. Hence, the fundamental standards contained in the Quran, Sunnah and accord (ijma) even in the century battling with oppression. Allah (SWT) says: O ye who accept! Obey Allah, and comply with the Messenger, and those accused of power among you. In the event that ye contrast in anything among yourselves, allude to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do have confidence in Allah and the most recent Day: that is ideal, and generally appropriate for last determinationâ [1]â . In another stanza Allah (SWT) says: O ye who accept! Obey Allah. Also, comply with the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!â [2]â In this manner, the Islamic adjudicator must execute the Quran and Sunnah in all questions brought before him. On the off chance that he doesn't perform it, his conduct isn't satisfactory on the grounds that he neglected to satisfy the obligations of an adjudicator as indicated by Sharia. The Sunnah came to help, accentuate and explain these Quranic refrains. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said that: Submission of an individual is denied, on the off chance that it is viewed as noncompliance to the maker (Allah)â [3]â . Prophet Muhammad (SAW) additionally said that: Each demonstration that doesn't adjust to our request is rejectedâ [4]â . In the Islamic framework, everybody, from heads of state, government and individuals, are dependent upon the law. The Prophet (SAW) himself is dependent upon, and is the most devoted to the Quran. He was Abd Allah wa rasuluh, the worker of God and his flag-bearer. The head of state and the head of government can't summon any insusceptibility from prosecution. The rule, Be you high, the law is above you has consistently been there in Islamic law, to incorporate the Prophet (SAW) himself. Not long before he kicked the bucket, the Prophet (SAW) gave the accompanying short discourse: I depend on God that I have made legitimate just those things that the Quran caused legal and I to have made unlawful just those things that the Quran made unlawful. On the off chance that I have taken the cash of any of you, here is my cash, let him come and take it, and in the event that I have lashed the body of any, here is my body, let him reclaim his rightâ [5]â . Similarly, Abu Bakr, the primary replacement and caliph of the Muslim state, in his acknowledgment discourse stated: O individuals! I have been delegated over you, yet I am not the best of you. Bolster me in the event that I did great and evacuate me on the off chance that I did severely a frail individual of you is solid before me as long as I keep up his ideal for him. What's more, a solid one of you is powerless before me until I reclaim a privilege from him Obey me as long as I obeyed Allah and his Messenger. On the off chance that I defied them there is no compliance of me upon youâ [6]â . The past stanzas bolstered by the hadith shows that each debate inside the Muslim people group between people, gatherings of individuals, or among individuals and the legislature, or among the parts the administration and individuals, must be decided by the essential law we got from Allah (SWT) and His Messenger. As per this standard, the nation must have an establishment that decided among the individuals of the Quran and Sunnah, and the foundation is a legal power. The Doctrine of the Separation of Powers and Independence of the Judiciary Separate parts of government have various capacities isn't a thought that is in opposition to the Shariah. There is no point by point remedy about the type of government in the Quran. What is clear is the objective of the state and the rules that ought to be trailed by the administration. Subsequently the plan to advance great administration, composed by the Shariah, is good with Islam. Moreover, the teaching of legal autonomy is an established rule in Islamic constitution. Judges are free and dependent upon no other position however the law. In Islam, there are various perceived foundations may share for all intents and purpose with equitable types of government. For instance, the emir might be compared to the Prime Minister or President who is the main government or official body; get together, which is perceived in both Islam and vote based system as a way to talk about the laws and strategies made à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ã£ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹by the administration, which perceived both Islam and popular government, and to wrap things up, the legal executive. Thusly, in Islam, the standard of check and equalization as rehearsed under the principle of partition of forces can be worked out. Besides, it has been asserted that the convention of division of forces has been utilized at the hour of the Prophet in the city state. As-shura As-shura is one of the most significant sacred standards in the Islamic constitution. The verification of the significance of shura is to be found in the Quran and Sunnah. In one of the two clear stanzas on it in the Quran, shura is referenced as compulsory and in the other refrain, it is referenced that the individuals who practice it are adulated. The entire arrangement of the Islamic state from its origin to the determination of the leader of the state and each one of those in places of intensity just as its dealings must be led by shura, regardless of whether it is helped out legitimately or in a roundabout way through chose or chose agents. The Quran expresses that: The individuals who notice to their Lord, and build up ordinary Prayer; who (direct) their issues by shared Consultation; who spend out of what We present on them for Sustenance.â [7]â Indeed, even the Prophet, despite the fact that he was the beneficiary of direct direction from the Supreme Allah, was order ed. Allah says: Counsel them in undertakings (of second). At that point, when thou hast taken a choice put thy trust in Allah. For Allah adores the individuals who put their trust (in Him).â [8]â Following this exhortation and lead, Caliph Umar scolded that: There is no khilafah without consultation.â [9]â Consequently, the act of shura is the instrument followed at all phases in the choice of political initiative by Muhammad and his adherents. It was the primary Muslim chosen four khulafah direction, in spite of the fact that the choice and endorsement process changes. The significant standard is reality and responsibility and open trust in those chosen by the network. Much after that when creeping genetic principle disregarding this network right, veil loyalty, or acknowledgment of government despite everything held. Equity Islam has given to the equity position is so notable as the law may have past arrangement of law, old or new, that had given him. There are numerous sections of the Quran that talk and appreciate equity, general request incorporating every single human issue. In one of the refrains of the Quran in which getting a charge out of equity has been for the most part and unqualifiedly requested, Allah says: Allah orders equity, the doing of good, and charity to friends and relatives, and He precludes every single disgraceful deed, and bad form and resistance: He teaches you, that ye may get admonition.â [10]â In another refrain of the Quran, it is expressed that: Allah doth order you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are expected; And when ye judge among man and man, that ye judge with equity: Verily how great is the showing which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things.â [11]â Equity in the Islamic political framework, including social equity, which implies that the legislature ought to orchestrate to address and fulfill the issues and wants of the considerable number of individuals as they have a legitimate piece of the state and the wellspring of true blue residents of the nation. This incorporates the arrangement of occupation, methods for means and financial equity. This thus proposes it is the duty of the administration to give food, haven and garments for all the individuals in the state. Monetary equity focused on fair conveyance of way of life and checks the centralization of riches in a couple of hands. That is the reason the second Caliph Umar would not partition land among the Muslim warriors and officers in regions vanquished by Muslims in Iraq, Iran and Syria. No one but equity can make discipline in life of the individuals. It is additionally significant that the organization of equity, which implies that all state officials are likewise dependent upon responsibility and they don't have to consider and regard the individual as a slave or individual colleague. They ought not affront the individuals in any way. They ought to be straightforward and effectively in direct open undertakings. It ought to be guaranteed that the grouping of riches in a single class or not many hands didn't occur. There is positively no uncertainty, that the administering rule of Islam is a lot of the most far reaching logical and standards of productive organization. Opportunity Co

Saturday, August 22, 2020

The AT T Breakup free essay sample

Reasons for divestiture impacts on firm open. Foundation, rivalry, five fragments after separation, merger action, publicizing advancement, financial matters administrations. ATT (once in the past American Telephone and Telegraph) is the universes biggest media communications organization offering types of assistance, items and frameworks to customers, organizations, governments and other telecom organizations. At once, AT had the broadest, most progressive correspondences organize on the planet, and made Bell Labs, a chief maker of media communications hardware. In 1984, AT had to strip into discrete organizations; the organization remade its business to incorporate significant distance, PCs and assembling. In late 1995, the organization declared that it would strip into three separate organizations along its specialty unit lines. This exploration inspects the conditions which prompted the 1984 separation, and whether that divestiture profited the American open.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Birmingham

Birmingham Birmingham bûr ´mingham? [key] 1 City (1990 pop. 265,968), seat of Jefferson co., N central Ala., in the Jones Valley near the southern end of the Appalachian system; founded and inc. 1871. The largest city in the state, it was long a leading iron and steel center, the Pittsburgh of the South. Industry has diversified since the 1970s to include textiles, chemicals, automotive parts, and aircraft production. Health-care services, commerce, banking, insurance, research, and government are also important. A leading New South city, Birmingham developed rapidly with the expansion of railroads and, connected with the Gulf of Mexico by canal, became a trade and communications center. The city was the scene of unrest during the civil-rights struggles of the 1960s; on Sept. 15, 1963, four young black girls were killed in a church bombing. In 1979 the city elected its first African-American mayor. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, comprising a museum, archives of the period, and r esearch facilities, opened in 1992. Local educational institutions include the Univ. of Alabama Medical Center, Birmingham-Southern College, Miles College, and Samford Univ. Overlooking the city, on nearby Red Mt., is a huge iron statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of the forge. 2 City (1990 pop. 19,997), Oakland co., SE Mich., on the River Rouge; settled 1819, inc. as a village 1864, as a city 1933. It is largely residential. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Political Geography

Saturday, May 23, 2020

How to Homeschool Art Instruction

Are you one of those adults who claims to be unable to draw a stick figure? If so, you may be perplexed when thinking of how to homeschool art instruction. Many parents feel they can handle reading, writing, and arithmetic, but when it comes to more creative pursuits such as art or music instruction, they may find themselves at a loss. Adding creative expression to your homeschool doesn’t have to be difficult, even if you don’t feel particularly creative yourself. As a matter of fact, art (and music) can be one of the most exciting and relaxing homeschool subjects to learn alongside your student. Types of Art Instruction As with music instruction, it helps to define exactly what you plan to teach within the broad subject of art. Some areas to consider include: Visual arts. Visual arts are probably what  come to  mind first for most people when thinking of art. These are the art pieces created for visual perception and include artforms such as: PaintingDrawingSculptureCeramics Visual arts  also includes other artistic disciplines that we may not initially consider when thinking of art, such as jewelry-making, filmmaking, photography, and architecture. Art appreciation. Art appreciation is developing a knowledge and appreciation of the qualities that comprise great and  timeless works of art. It includes the study of the different eras and styles of art, along with the techniques of various artists. It will include study of various works of art and training the eye to see the nuances of each. Art history. Art history is the study of the development of art  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ or human expression  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  through history. It will  include a study of artistic expression  throughout various periods in history and how the artists of the period were influenced by the culture around them  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ and perhaps how the culture was influenced by the artists. Where to Find Art Instruction With so many different types of artistic expression, finding art instruction is usually just a matter of asking around. Community classes. It’s not difficult to find art lessons within the community. We’ve found city recreation centers and hobby shops often offer art or pottery classes. Churches and synagogues may also have resident artists who will offer art classes to their members or to the community. Check these sources for classes: Library, church, or community center bulletin boardsArt studios and art supply shopsHomeschool newsletter classifiedsFriends and relatives - word-of-mouth among  homeschooling families is second to noneChildren’s museums Art studios and museums. Check with local art studios and museums to see if they offer classes or workshops. This is especially likely during the summer months when art day camps may be available. Continuing education classes. Inquire at your local community college or check their website for continuing education classes  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ online or on campus  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ that may be available to the community. Homeschool co-ops. Homeschool co-ops are often an excellent source for art classes since many co-ops focus on electives, rather than core classes. Local artists are often willing to teach such classes if your co-op is willing to host them. Online lessons. There are many online sources available for art lessons  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ everything from drawing to cartooning, watercolor to mixed media art. There are countless art lessons of all varieties on YouTube. Book and DVD lessons. Check your local library, bookseller, or art supply store for book and DVD art lessons. Friends and relatives. Do you have artistic friends and relatives? We have some friends who own a pottery studio. We once took art lessons from the friend of a friend who was a watercolor artist. A friend or relative may be willing to teach art to your children or a small group of students. How to Include Art in Your Homeschool With a few simple adjustments, you can seamlessly weave art into the other activities in your homeschool day. Keep a nature journal. Nature journals provide a low-key way to encourage artistic expression in your homeschool. Nature study gives you and your family an opportunity to get outside for some sunshine and fresh air while providing plenty of creative inspiration in the form of trees, flowers, and wildlife. Include art in other courses, such as history, science, and geography. Include art and art history in your history and geography studies. Learn about the artists and type of art that were popular during the time period you’re studying. Learn about the style of art associated with the geographic region you’re studying since most regions have a particular style for which they are known. Draw illustrations of the scientific concepts you’re studying, such as an atom or an illustration of the human heart. If you’re studying biology, you might draw and label a flower or a member of the animal kingdom. Purchase curriculum. There is a wide variety of homeschool curriculum available to teach all aspects of art  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ visual art, art appreciation, and art history. Shop around, read reviews, ask your homeschool friends for recommendations, then, make art a regular part of your homeschool day (or week). You may wish to choose loop scheduling to include it or make some simple adjustments to make time for art in your homeschool day. Include creative time each day. Offer your children time to be creative each school day. You don’t have to do anything structured. Simply make art and craft supplies accessible and see where your creativity takes you. Get in on the fun by sitting down and creating with your children during this time. Studies have suggested that coloring helps adults combat stress, making adult coloring books wildly popular right now. So, spend some time coloring with your children. You could also paint, draw, sculpt with clay, or recycle old magazines into creative collages. Do art while doing other things. If your kids have trouble sitting quietly during read-aloud time, occupy their hands with art. Most types of artistic expression are relatively quiet activities, so your children can create as they listen. Combine your study of art with your study of music by listening to your favorite composers during your art time. Online Resources for Homeschool Art Instruction There are a wide variety of resources for art instruction available on line. Following are just a few to get you started. NGAkids Art Zone by the National Gallery of Art offers a variety of interactive tools and games to introduce kids to art and art history. Met Kids The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers interactive games and videos to help kids explore art. Tate Kids  offers kids games, videos, and fresh ideas for creating art. Google Art Project  provides the opportunity for users to explore artists, mediums, and much more. Art History Basics  by Kahn Academy  introduces students to art history with a variety of video lessons. Art for Kids Hub  offers free videos along with a variety of art lessons in different media, such as drawing, sculpting, and Origami. Mixed Media Art Workshops by Alisha Gratehouse features a variety of mixed media art workshops. Homeschooling art instruction doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. On the contrary, it should be fun for the whole family! With the right resources and a little planning, it’s easy to learn how to homeschool art instruction and include a bit of creative expression in your homeschool day.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Why was the Supreme Court built in 2010 and how effective has it been at upholding civil liberties Free Essays

The Supreme Court was introduced in 2010 as a replacement for the House of Lords as the top law court of justice in the UK, Wales and Northern Ireland. This court has cost approximately 59 million pounds to build and was officially open on 1st October 2009. The enactment of the Supreme Court came about under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (The Supreme Court [Online], 2010) and currently stands as the chief justice in the UK. We will write a custom essay sample on Why was the Supreme Court built in 2010 and how effective has it been at upholding civil liberties? or any similar topic only for you Order Now The main focus of this essay is to examine how The Supreme Court prioritises in the development of the United Kingdom Law thus playing an important task at maintaining fundamental individual rights. Being the most prominent judiciary in the UK, it is also vital to see the difference between The Supreme Court and the previous House of Lords Committee in which The Supreme Court has replaced. The major differences are visible in terms of power and the impact it has on the British Constitution. The main reason The Supreme Court was built is due to the Government’s decision on separating the judicial making functions and the legislative duty of the House of Lords, making this the last step in separation of powers. Lord Philip, 2009) stated that it has come to a situation where the adjudicator are absolutely separated from the Legislature and Parliament. (Raynsford, 2010) claimed that it was right for the Prime Minister, prior consultation from the Parliament, to relocate the Ultimate Court of Appeal (The Supreme Court) from the House of Lords as to avoid confusion between the role of the House of Lords and the role of the Court of Appeal. In addition, this separation of power avoids the judiciary from holding absolute power, thus discouraging corruption and bias from the judiciary through politics and media. (Casciani, 2010) stated that after the running of the Supreme Court, 12 Law chancellor from the House of Lords who were hearing appeals in the Parliament is now the Justices of the Supreme Court and are no more partaking in the House of Lord’s affair. Before the enactment of the Supreme Court, senior judges that are currently in the House of Lords were nlightened to apprehend cases that are of great significant to the public and constitution inside the House of Lords itself (The Supreme Court [Online], 2010). They were eligible to vote for the outcome of the cases and sometimes, if any, would have a major relation to personal political interest. However, with a new key reform in place, Parliament will be responsible for making law on favour of the electorate whilst the judges from the Supreme Court focus on the fairness of the new law when applied to cases (BBC News, 2010). Lord Falconer, 2009) suggested that this new reform would strengthen the judiciary, making it possible for the judiciary to go against the executive’s decisions (Prime Minister and his Cabinet) Moreover, a leading judge has told BBC that Britain’s Supreme Court could be more authoritative than the House of Lords department and Lord Neuberger anticipate that the new court of appeal could hold more power than the government (Rozenberg, 2009). It is believed that the judgment of the justices from the Supreme Court will affect the decisions in the lower courts which, in this case, apply to all the courts in the UK (BBC News, 2010). The Supreme Court also emphasise on corruption issues involving governing authorities in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, making sure that they abide and commit within the powers granted to them or whether they successfully complete the duty given to the authoritative government in each state. Lord Neuberger argued that there is a real danger that judges will seize more power than what they currently have (Rozenberg, 2009). Therefore, it is likely that the Supreme Court operates the way the United State’s Supreme Court functions which, upon the Court’s decisions, bind every local law in individual states. For instance, if The Supreme Court decides to change the laws in London (the Capital city), other cities have to follow. (Lord Philips, 2009) stated that such situation is ‘possible’ but is ‘not probable’. However, although the Supreme Court has shown many advantages so far in America, criticisms have arisen on the decisions made by the Supreme Court claiming that it weakens the Court as an institution where the institution is the ultimate guardian under the Constitution of the rights and liberties (Fraenkel, 1960). Lord Phillips who has commented on various contentious subjects in the past states that there was no reason to why Sharia law could not be used to resolve disputes amongst Muslims provided that the sanctions complied with the laws of England and Wales. Furthermore, he openly defended the Human Rights Act, calling it â€Å"a crucial constituent of the basic of our fight against terrorism† and was responsible for handing down the judgement requiring the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify with certainty the law on assisted suicide (Mitchell, 2011). Lord Phillips added that the decree of the Human Rights Act by the previous administration was an absolute contribution to the maintenance of the rule of law in this country and one for which it deserves great credit (Rothwell, 2010). The Human Rights Act 1998 has played its part since the World War on protecting civil rights and allowing immigrants into the UK where Human Rights are not considered vital in their own country. (Lord Philips, 2009) emphasised on the importance of Human Rights, claiming that the rise and support of terrorism lies in the feelings of discrimination in individuals. Therefore, the need to protect every individual’s family members from discrimination in their foster country is vital. However, Charles Clarke criticised the Supreme Court, claiming that the judiciary do not hold inconsiderable accountability for defending the public and occasionally ignorant about their decisions on how it would affect the public society (Rothwell, 2010). Lord Philips defended the liberty of The Supreme Court stating that the judiciary is only responsible for applying the laws that have been constitute by Parliament, not creating it (Rothwell, 2010). Another case reported in BBC news where the Supreme Court is proven to be effective in its duty to defend individual rights is shown when two homosexual men who said they faced persecution in their homeland have the right to asylum in the UK as ruled by the Supreme Court. According to the judgment made by Lord Hope in the case, to restrain a homosexual person to act that his state does not suppress the attitude by which to distinct itself is to deny his domestic right to be who he is hence homosexuals are as much entitled to the freedom which are given to the people who are traight (BBC, 2010). Ultimately, this essay has thoroughly examined the historic foundation of The Supreme Court, its motive to why the government took a stand on separating the Court of Appeal (The Supreme Court) from the House of Lords as well as the colossal impact it has ranging from the public society to the British Constitution. Even though the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, some disadvantages should be considered such as one stated by Charles Clarke, the previous Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords, claiming that the judiciary does not consider the public’s well being. I am very conscious that I have failed to spot on a few vital and intriguing points and other matters on this subject. The Supreme Court is credibly to be not perfect and widely opens itself to criticism, Although the Supreme Court is new (2010) it may seem to remain as the highest court of appeal for all UK’s domestic cases and criminal cases from Wales, Northern Ireland and England, flourishing as the top court in the UK and uphold its liberty as the forefront in the case law world (The Supreme Court, 2010). Biblography * Casciani, D., 2010. Supreme Court quashes Treasury terror assets order. [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8482630.stm Assessed on May 1st 2011 * Fraenkel, O.S., 1960. The Supreme Court and Civil Liberties: How the Court has protected the Bill of Rights. p.4. * Mitchell, N., 2011. Pen Portraits – Lord Phillips. UKSC Blog. [Online] Available at: http://ukscblog.com/pen-portraits-lord-phillips Assessed on May 1st 2011 * Raynsford, N, 2009. Creation of the Supreme Court [Online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ojsQA2W81I Assessed on May 2nd 2011 * Rothwell, R., 2010. Lord Phillips defends Human Rights Act. Law Society Gazette. [Online] Available at: http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/lord-phillips-defends-human-rights-act Assessed on April 25th 2011 * Rozenberg, J., 2009. Fear over Supreme Court impact. BBC News UK. [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8237855.stm Assessed on May 2nd 2011 * Supreme Court, 2010. Gay asylum seekers from Iran and Cameroon win appeal. BBC News UK. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10180564 Assessed on May 4th 2011 * Supreme Court, 2010. Role of the Supreme Court, [Online] Available at: http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk/about/role-of-the-supreme-court.html Assessed on May 4th 2011 How to cite Why was the Supreme Court built in 2010 and how effective has it been at upholding civil liberties?, Papers

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Management of Mental Illnesses Is Significant To Clinical Practice

Question: How Management Of Mental Illnesses to Clinical Practice ? Answer: Introduction The theories of nursing are structured pieces of ideas that present a systematic method of a situation in nursing (Alligood, 2013). The various actions in the profession of nursing is based on set of theories. Theory offers an individual with perspective to view a particular situation and act on it purposefully and systematically. Nurses use theory to gain a perspective to view a client situation, organise relevant data of clients encountered on a day-to-day care, and to analyse and interpret the information (King, 1981). Theories include general proposition as a principle of explanation that ensures clarity in action and patient outcomes. In nursing practice, Mid-range nursing theories, are commonly used. These theories are more concrete in nature and presents concepts at a specific level and lower level of abstraction. These theories hold great promise in nursing profession in promoting theory based research. These theories improve nursing practice strategies (Riegel et al., 2012). These theories explain specific patient care phenomena such as pain management, and explain the concepts related to the phenomena. The applicability of the theory depends on the clarity of concepts, simplicity, and generalisability such that it can easily fit into practice (Townsend, 2014). Management of mental illnesses is significant to clinical practice. According to Rogers and Pilgrim, (2014) mental illness can be defined as any condition or disease that influences an individuals ability to think, behave, feel, relate to others and surrounding. Serious mental illnesses can lead to severe distress and disability which detoriates the quality of life. The syndromes, which are considered as serious mental illnesses, includes eating disorder, schizophrenia spectrum, personality and anxiety disorders (O'Donnell et al., 2011). There are range of factors causing mental illness including genetic, environmental stressors, biology and psychological trauma. Mental illness is the matter of grave concern due to its rapidly increasing rate worldwide. One-third worlds population is comprised of childrens and adolescents. It was reported by Kieling, (2011, p.1515) that neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading cause of health related burden. Mental illness accounts for disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost in 15-30% of the cases the first thirty years of life. The report by Kieling, (2011, pp.1518) mentioned that universal interventions both selective and indicated are directed at all children particularly focusing on those who are at high risk for developing mental disorders either due to the proximal risk factors or other clinical symptoms. However, the challenges of these interventions are the characterisation of the patients at whom the interventions will be targeted. Kieling, (2011) suggested that the children and adolescents can be benefitted both concurrently as well as in the long run by early interventions for their mental il lness. According to Doornbos, (2002, p.2) Doorknobs Family Health Theory, families can provide substantial amount of care for their young adults with persistent mental illness more than a mental health care professionals. It was mentioned by Sieloff Frey (2007) that family members undergo severe stress dealing with their young adults having mental illness, which in effects their own mental health. Therefore, Family Health Theory suggests identification of the factors predicting family health. This action will assist in developing interventions for promoting the family health and support them in critical work of caregiving. Corrigan et al. (2014) explained that the effect of family-perceived stigma on care seeking may be mediated by family burden, and includes both subjective (mental distress due to illness ) and objective (daily constraints life) components. There is a lack of adequate government mental health policies for children worldwide. Therefore, it hampers guiding the system implem entation, service development and undermines efforts to ensure the accountability of the allocated resources for programme development. Therefore on World Fit For Children the UN resolution endorses the commitment that every child has the right to develop to its maximum potential in order to gain sound physical, emotional and mental health (Kieling, 2011). This report particularly deals with Doorknobs Family Health Theory (FHT) (2000). The theory is critically analyzed using the guidelines of Chinn and Krammers (2015). The critical analysis of the theory is provided in terms of clarity of concept, accessibility and strength and weakness of the theory for improving nursing performance. The analysis will reveal possible interventions for adults with persistent mental illness and ways to enhance family caregiving. Purpose of the theory Dr. Mary Molewyk Doorknobs proposed the Family Health Theory (FHT) in the families of adults with persistent mental illness.The propositions of the theory highlight the importance of the role played by the family in caregiving and its impact on the health of the family system. This middle range theory developed from the Kings systems framework of family health in these families (Mary, 2000). As a family struggles to manage the mental illness of their young adults, they undergo a change in their own health system. This theory predicted some of the factors directly related to the familys health. It includes familys perception of the clients symptomatology, coping, professional communication, stressors, and time since diagnosis of the mental illness. Thus, the goal of the theory is to develop nursing interventions to assist family in their role of care giving (Doornbos, 2002). Relationships This section deals with different concepts and relationships that are to be taken into consideration, as nurses tend to develop effective interventions to reach one goal that is management of mental illness and assistance to the family. It includes three dynamic interacting systems mentioned by King, (1995) - personal, interpersonal and social. The theory of family health emphasise on the role of family in understanding the clients illness. It explains the relationship between the family functioning and the client symptoms. It is crucial in nursing practice to consider the family perception and verify together with the perception of the nurses to specific goals. This is an essential step as it pertains to the familys perception of the client symptomatology (King, 1981). For instance, in a case of schizophrenia one family is burdened with the members distortion of the normal function whereas some other family is burdened with the loss of function symptom in the member. Therefore, King, (1983) stated that the family burden is increased to a greater level with the perceived degree and the frequency of the symptomatology. The variable of time in families of adults with persistent mental illness, plays an important role in understanding the responses of the family to the illness over time (King, 1990). The time variable helps in assisting the family member by understanding their cumulative experience since the time of diagnosis of illness. FHT emphasise the nurses to help the family members to cope up with the event of the mental health problem by categorising their various coping methods into positive or negative. Implementing FHT in nursing practice requires nurses to be effective in identifying and addressing family and client stressors by effective intervention. Stressors are common in family burdened with the mental illness of their member which include employment, marital, intrafamily, financial, grief, loss, legal, and mental health (Lazarus Folkman, 1984). The vital concept in the nursing practice is professional communication. It is essential to meet the greatest need of the families of person with persistent mental illness which is communication between themselves and health care professionals. Nurses can decrease the family burden by attending and actively listening their concerns, supporting them in their efforts to cope up with the members mental disorder (Alligood, 2010). Educational interventions and providing critical information increases family functioning and client outcome, which is the major goal for nursing practice (Webb et al., 2016). As the family members undergoes tremendous stress dealing with the mental illness. Therefore, the goal of the nurses is to help and restore families health according to Kings theory (1990) and enhance their adaptive capabilities and strengths. Assumptions of the theory According to Doornbos, (2002) the theory is based on the following assumptions- There is a positive association between the family stressors and the familys perception of the clients symptomatology There is negative relation of the time since diagnosis of the mental illness with the family stressors The familys capacity to cope up with the young adults mental illness is positively associated with the family health The family health and the level of the family stressors is negatively associated The family health and the amount of professional communication is positively associated Changes occurring over time FHT was developed from the Kings conceptual system using a deductive approach. In 1981, Kings framework was developed based on the concept of three interacting system which are- personal, interpersonal and social system. FHT has selected six of these concepts, which are perceptions, coping, time, stressors, communication and health. Each of these was then applied to address the families of young adults suffering from persistent mental illness. The theory was empirically tested twice and underwent several changes. First concept was changed from familys perception of client level of health to familys perception of clients symptomatology keeping the concept of perception consistent from the Kings theory. There was a change in the theoretical definition of the term family health maintaining consistency with the Kings conceptualisation. It presently emphasises more on the familys satisfaction rather than their ability with their functioning. After the first empirical testing, the concept of professional communication was added to FHT realising this essential and informational component of the human interactions. Clarity of theory Doorknobs Family Health Theory (2000) utilizes comprehensive terminologies, and the ideas applicable to understand the focal theme was quite rational. She made use of the primary variables constituting a range of factors to assess the outcomes of health in family members of the adults suffering from persistent mental health illness. Each of the five variables comprising of the family perception of clients symptomatology, family coping, professional communication, family stressors and time since diagnosis of mental illness has been discussed in elaboration. All the three potential vulnerable population including the client, the family and the professional intervention has been well addressed. The understanding of the sociology of mental health and illness in connection with the immediate responses from the family members is imperative to foster quality healthcare service to the patient and necessary support to the family as well. Prevention of mental disorder and promotion of mental h ealth has been unanimously accepted as the best remedy to cure the ensuing illness (Rogers pilgrim, 2014). The theme of perceptions and beliefs associated with the persons with mental health disorder has been identified as essential to ensure better recovery (Lvvik eta l., 2014). The variability to ones reaction to a particular condition, different adaptive mechanisms and professional intervention are further highlighted as important determinants of mental health outcomes (Furnham Kirkcaldy, 2015). The theory further corroborated with the ideas of predicting the health status of the family members relating to the stressors in the concerned members that is very much realistic. Overall, all the propositions are discussed in an impeccable and easy manner that aids to the understanding of the key issues and thereby has implications for translation into research. Simplicity of theory Management of mental illness is a vast and complicated subject. Therefore, theories related to this subject are also complicated for a reader. FHT is a complex theory with six components that is familys perception of client symptomatology, coping, stressors, time since diagnosis of the mental illness, professional communication and family health. The difficulty lies in execution of the guidelines of the theory. There is a lack of clear establishment of the linkage between the family health and family care giving efforts. Therefore, it is difficult for the nurses to develop interventions without understanding the mutual relationship between these concepts (Chinn Kramer, 2015). Some of the concepts are well understood such as the need of professional communication between the nurses and the family and its significance in achieving health related goals. In addition, there is also a direct relationship between the familys perception of the clients health and stressors and consequently t he experience of family health. Overall, it is a complex theory involving six concepts which may prevent development of supporting interventions to sustain familys health. A theory with two to three concepts would have been ensured simplicity and uts applicability in nursing practice and research. Generalisability of theory Family health theory is generalisable to apply to families with different mentally ill members. The theory signifies the role of family in caregiving their members with persistent mental illness. This theory . However, this theory is not generalisable to other settings such as rehabilitation and primary care where the goal is to encourage mentally ill patients to self-care and be independent. This theory cannot be generalised for various populations who might experience mental illness such as older adults. Moreover, the linkage between the family health and family care giving efforts is not well understood. In addition, there is lack of more representative sample in terms of familys socioeconomic status, gender of the household respondents, and cultural diversity which is also limiting factor in the generality of the theory. The proponent of the theory recommends further investigations for future practice. Mental health nurses can apply this theory in research and practice to see it effects on families who can provide better care to their loved ones with mental illness based on this theory. Additional research can be carried out to develop instrumental and supporting interventions for families to deal with mentally ill. Thus, this theory influences the caregiving abilities of the families by addressing their basic needs (Doornbos, 2002). Accessibility of theory The reach of the family health theory is very far as it effectively addresses the empiric indicators of health outcomes of the adult family members with persistent mental illness patient. The health outcome predictors as suggested in the theory are both quite easily detectable and accessible. In the theory three pivotal dynamic and interacting systems comprising of personal, interpersonal and social. The battle of the family with persistent mental illness has been the topic of research for many in the past few decades. Green et al. (2014) have suggested guidelines for the future patient centered treatment and empirical research in connection with the patient with serious mental illness within a learning mental health care system that might be liked with this theory. Further research has indicated that the response of the family to critical illness might affect the carergiving actions rendered by them to the ill person (Davidson, Jones Bienvenu 2012). Thus the manner in which these f amily members are incorporated into decision making and care regime through adequate support and professional communication of the healthcare workers will cause a great impact upon the health outcomes as well. Thus verification of the information regarding the beliefs and notions of the concerned family members starting from the time since diagnosis of mental illness is necessary to forecast the health outcomes. The healthcare practitioners has immense scope of applying the assumptions as discussed in the theory to harbor better clinical outcomes and foster holistic mode of care to the desired population without encountering any significant issues whatsoever. With the rising global burden for mental disorders consideration of all the aspects of the family health theory shows promise in rendering quality delivery of care. The prioritization of the physical health problem over mental health issue has added to the agony of the family and hence increasing the stress component in them. H owever, case appropriate and prudent intervention mostly through education and awareness from the healthcare workers and nursing professionals ends might alter the situation. The improvement in the caregivers health can be directly correlated with the alleviation of the probable stress factors. Thus prevention programs as designed by the healthcare personnel might relive the economic burden of mental illness for the family as well and creating a positive impact on them (Ditton, 2013). The propositions of the theory are thus relatable to the nurses and other healthcare workers engaged in mental health care setting. The explanation of the ideas and concepts is very much consistent and may be suitable for predicting and providing beneficial health outcomes in the family with persistent mental health illness patient. Importance of theory The family health theory in the context of families of adults with persistent mental health illness has got great implication in terms of estimating the health outcomes and recommending necessary measures to mitigate the perpetual and nagging issues due to mental health illness. There lie immense opportunities for the nursing professional to undertake both verbal and non-verbal mode of communication as mentioned in the theory to effectively interact and extract optimum benefit out of such communication and alleviate the stress levels in the vulnerable family members who are endowed with the negative thoughts and perceptions. The health related goals can be further effectively addressed by means of following the useful propositions of the theory. Taking clues from the theory derived ideas similar studies pertinent to the recent times may be referred to where adequate emphasis has been laid upon strengthening the family resilience in order to achieve the expected clinical outcome. Faci litation of the family resilience by virtue of passage through crisis, transition and persistent challenges has been the focus of such research in an effort to combat the highly demanding situations due to mental health illness (Walsh, 2015). Hence the nursing schools and institutes must arrange for relevant learning modules and teaching strategies that will empower the nursing students to effectively apply the ideas retrieved from the family health theory into clinical practice. The knowledge regarding appropriate professional intervention through either interactive approach or other psychotherapeutic techniques will enable them to better understand and act accordingly for the caregivers who are encountering issues due to mental illness in the patient in the family. The greatest significance of the theory may be perceived from the fact that it takes into consideration multiple issues that probably undermines the dormant factors causing adversity for the caregivers to care for the patients with mental illness. The stigma linked to mental illness often impedes the caregivers and other people associated to provide care for the patient to seek and participate in mental health program. Stigma has been defined as a complex constructs that encompass self, public and structural constituents influencing the mental illness victim, their supporting team consisting of the family members, healthcare network and community resources. Advocacy of mental health literacy in conjunction with cultural competence and family recruitment in the care regime will therefore lessen the impact of mental health issue and associated health costs in case of the caregivers due to prolonged association with the problem. In this respect policy change is encouraged to address the issue and promote mental health awareness program (Corrigan, Druss, Perlick, 2014). The fundamental goal of nursing to help out individuals and groups with their distinct needs to attain, maintain and restore health may be achieved through this theory by paying attention to the circumstances of the family members of patients with persistent mental health illness. A study examined the efficacy of the family intervention program to educate the relatives of the patients with schizophrenia and thereby helping them to cope better with the situations generated positive outcomes. The findings indicated that the relapse rate could be effectively minimized by incorporating the family into the treatment program and hence accounted for decreasing the load of mental pressure on the caregivers to a large extent (Pitschel-Walz et al., 2015). Thus the theory has the potential to enable the nursing professionals with enough training and expertise to deal with the family members of persistently me ntally ill patients that might add to their improved health outcomes and quicker recuperation from the distressed state. Strengths and weakness of theory The family health theory is a distinguished and holistic theory that is driven by the fundamental principles that can very reasonably attend to the family health outcomes in the concerned population where persisting mental health illness is a prevalent issue. One of the vital strength of the theory arises from the attention being laid upon the independent predictors of family health ranging from the adaptive mechanisms of the family, perceptions of the family regarding the symptoms in the patient, stressors affecting the situation and other associated factors. The propositions of the theory may be corroborated with the research findings that lay importance in collaborative trail of progress including the family members together with the client and the therapist to ensure that the goals of clinical intervention has been attained (Bitter, 2013). Thus, this theory may be implemented in nursing practice in the form of succinct guidelines to facilitate rapid learning outcomes among the nu rsing students. Unlike any other theory, the family health theory also has its own limitations and loopholes. The foremost identifiable drawback is concerned with the factor that consider the time since diagnosis of mental illness for the family to predict their health outcomes. The impact of this variable has generated contradictory responses through empirical research findings that relate the variation in results due to passage of time with either increased or decreased burden of mental health illness in the client. The cumulative experience of the family has not been addressed satisfactorily in the theory and therefore requires further extrapolation and elaboration for future consideration. Another less understood aspect of the theory attribute to the concept of stressors that underpin the family health outcomes. Although certain specific type of stressors such as the ones including intrafamily, financial, employment, marital, illness related, grief and loss, legal transition and mental healthcar e system stressors have been mentioned, yet the degree and exact impact of this factor has not been well assessed (Bush et al., 2015). Therefore psychiatric mental health nursing with the concepts matching evidence based practice to devise suitable nursing intervention is of utmost necessity to resolve the issues because of the impact of stress (Townsend, 2014). However, careful consideration of all the confounding factors can help to mitigate the negative health outcomes in the family of patients with persistent mental health illness thereby promoting health and wellness among them (Riegel, Jaarsma, Strmberg 2012). The specific mental health issues those are likely to impact the behaviors and health outcomes of the family also need to be appropriately identified in order to render quality healthcare facility in such cases. Implications for refinement research and practice The propositions and assumptions of the theory attended to the causes for the burden among the family caregivers with patients of persisting mental health illness. In real life situations the degrees and frequencies of the onset of symptoms related to mental illness may further affect the stress generation of the family members or caregivers. The orientation and working of the family gets severely affected due to presence of such perpetual problems. The various novel coping methods as carried out by the family members culminate in producing either positive or negative effects that might cause easier management or subsequent deterioration of health as per the given circumstance. In this regard the refinement of the theory is appreciable to identify the accurate and case appropriate remedy that may be applied to treat the condition holistically. Hence design of suitable interventions is absolutely necessary to alleviate the hazards and improvise education and consultation including the patient and the family together. Research has revealed that certain serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression may be effectively addressed through family incorporation into treatment protocol for making informed decisions (Burden, 2013). The theory may be well utilized under such circumstance to analyze the feasibility of the prospective interventional technique. The three chief factors in the family health theory consisted of the client, family and professional component. Careful analysis and due importance given to each of the component will therefore ensure better health outcomes for the family as a whole. The theory may be used by the nurses to test the reliability and validity of the theoretical framework provided. Comparison of the efficacy of this theory with respect to other theories can hence highlight about the actual benefits of using the theory. Numerous current and previous empirical researches have brought to the forefront the importance of family accommodation representing clinical data that are worth evaluating, supervising and identifying in clinical care setting. Family health in such cases may be positively affected due to implementation of therapies targeting family accommodation (Lebowitz et al., 2014). The applicability of the theory into real life practice has not been indicated anywhere. However, considering the utilities and clarity of the propositions mentioned in the theory itself it is expected that the nurses will abide by the theoretical guidelines to allow for the generation of positive outcomes. Prior to the actual trial of the theory into clinical practice the nurses may need to do a thorough and in depth investigation so as to be on guard against the possible drawbacks that might negatively impact the health outcomes in the family members having patients with persistent mental illness. In this context the reference may be cited for a study that inferred that need based short term psycho educational intervention meant for the family members of the schizophrenic patients might extract advance outcomes for both the family as well as the patient (Sharif, Shaygan, Mani, 2012). Therefore, utilization of the family health theory into clinical practice will enhance the profess ional competency as well as pave the way for consecutive research on this topic. Conclusion Management of mental illness is debilitating for the family and other caregivers. It requires a holistic approach for the nurses to assist the family to maintain their health and ensure client outcomes. Implementing theory-based practice is a hallmark of professional discipline like nursing. The central theme of nursing mid range theories revolves around physical and social environment around the human beings with the goal of the health. The major element of the Family Health Theory is identified in the interpersonal system where the family and the health care professionals interact to seek help in restoring their health and in turn care for the young adults with the persistent mental illness. After careful analysis of the FHT using the guidelines provided by Chinn Kramer, (2015) it can be concluded that FHT is a clear theory constituting a range of factors to assess the outcomes of health in family members of the adults suffering from persistent mental health illness. The health care professionals, nurses and adult patients can all use this theory to harbor better clinical outcomes and foster holistic mode of care to the desired population. Although the theory has drawbacks it is significant to be applied in research and practice. The theory is important for nurse to understand their practice and develop best interventions necessary to alleviate the hazards and improvise education and consultation including the patient and the family together. The strength of the theory is the enhancement of the family caregiving role and their health as they struggle to cope with the illness. However, the complexity of the theory due to six concepts limits its applicability. This middle range theory provides a framework for this initiative as it integrates the client, family and professional components into the practice. Thus, it is an important initiative in nursing practice to protect the health of the families struggling with the mentally ill member. Formulation of such theory accompanied by empirical testing is promising to the science of nursing. References Alligood, M. R. (2013).Nursing theory: Utilization application. Elsevier Health Sciences. Bitter, J. R. (2013). Theory and practice of family therapy and counseling. Cengage Learning. Burden, T. O. F. (2013). Current issues in family research: can the burden of mental illness be relieved?. Helping families cope with mental illness, 2, 309. Bush, P. W., Drake, R. E., Xie, H., McHugo, G. J., Haslett, W. R. (2015). The long-term impact of employment on mental health service use and costs for persons with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Services. Chinn, P., Kramer, M. (2015). Knowledge development in nursing: Theory and process (9th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-31652-1 Corrigan, P. W., Druss, B. G., Perlick, D. A. (2014). The impact of mental illness stigma on seeking and participating in mental health care. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 15(2), 37-70. Davidson, J. E., Jones, C., Bienvenu, O. J. (2012). Family response to critical illness: Postintensive care syndromefamily. Critical care medicine, 40(2), 618-624. Ditton, M. (2013). Quality in Delivery of Mental Health Services. INTECH Open Access Publisher. Doornbos, M. M. (2002). Predicting family health in families of young adults with severe mental illness. Journal of Family Nursing, 8(3), 241-263. doi:10.1177/10740702008003006 Furnham, A., Kirkcaldy, B. (2015). Lay Peoples Knowledge of Mental and Physical Illness. InPromoting Psychological Well-Being in Children and Families(pp. 14-32). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Geary, C. R., Schumacher, K. L. (2012). Care transitions: Integrating transition theory and complexity science concepts.Advances in nursing science,35(3), 236-248. Green, C. A., Estroff, S. E., Yarborough, B. J., Spofford, M., Solloway, M. R., Kitson, R. S., Perrin, N. A. (2014). Directions for future patient-centered and comparative effectiveness research for people with serious mental illness in a learning mental health care system. Schizophr Bull, 40(Suppl 1), S1-94. Kieling, C., Baker-Henningham, H., Belfer, M., Conti, G., Ertem, I., Omigbodun, O., ... Rahman, A. (2011). Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action.The Lancet,378(9801), 1515-1525. King, I. (1981). A theory for nursing: Systems, concepts, process. New York: John Wiley. King, I. (1983). Kings theory of nursing. In I.W. ClementsF. B. Roberts (Eds.), Family health: A theoretical approach to nursing care. New York: John Wiley. 87-99. King, I. (1990). Health as the goal for nursing. Nursing Science Quarterly, 3, 123-128. King, I. (1995). A systems framework for nursing. In M. A. Frey C. L. Sieloff (Eds.), Advancing Kings systems framework and theory of nursing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 14-21. Lazarus, R., Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer. Lebowitz, E. R., Panza, K. E., Su, J., Bloch, M. H. (2014). Family accommodation in obsessivecompulsive disorder. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. Lindgren, E., Sderberg, S., Skr, L. (2016). Being a parent to a young adult with mental illness in transition to adulthood. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37(2), 98-105. doi:10.3109/01612840.2015.1092621 Lvvik, C., verland, S., Hysing, M., Broadbent, E., Reme, S. E. (2014). Association between illness perceptions and return-to-work expectations in workers with common mental health symptoms.Journal of occupational rehabilitation,24(1), 160-170. Mary, M. D. (2000). King's systems framework and family health: The derivation and testing of the theory. Journal of Theory Construction Testing, 4(1), 20. Retrieved from https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/ezpauthn.cgi?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/219180388?accountid=15115 O'Donnell, E. M., Ertel, K. A., Berkman, L. F. (2011). Depressive symptoms in extended-care employees: Children, social support, and work-family conditions. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 32(12), 752-765. doi:10.3109/01612840.2011.609958 Pitschel-Walz, G., Leucht, S., Buml, J., Kissling, W., Engel, R. R. (2015). The effect of family interventions on relapse and rehospitalization in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Focus. Riegel, B., Jaarsma, T., Strmberg, A. (2012). A middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness. Advances in Nursing Science, 35(3), 194-204. Rogers, A., Pilgrim, D. (2014).A sociology of mental health and illness. McGraw-Hill Education (UK). Sharif, F., Shaygan, M., Mani, A. (2012). Effect of a psycho-educational intervention for family members on caregiver burdens and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in Shiraz, Iran. BMC psychiatry, 12(1), 1. Sieloff, C. L., Frey, M. A. (Eds.). (2007).Middle range theory development using King's conceptual system. Springer Publishing Company. Suresky, M. J., Zauszniewski, J. A., Bekhet, A. K. (2014). Factors affecting disruption in families of adults with mental illness. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 50(4), 235-242. doi:10.1111/ppc.12047 Townsend, M. C. (2014). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. FA Davis. Walsh, F. (2015). Strengthening family resilience. Guilford Publications. Walton-Moss, B., Gerson, L., Rose, L. (2005). EFFECTS OF MENTAL ILLNESS ON FAMILY QUALITY OF LIFE. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 26(6), 627-642. doi:10.1080/01612840590959506 Webb, M., Peterson, J., Willis, S. C., Rodney, H., Siebert, E., Carlile, J. A., Stinar, L. (2016). The role of empathy and adult attachment in predicting stigma toward severe and persistent mental illness and other psychosocial or health conditions. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 38(1), 62-78. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.17744/mehc.38.l.05 Wei, S., Cooke, M., Moyle, W., Creedy, D. (2010). Health education needs of family caregivers supporting an adolescent relative with schizophrenia or a mood disorder in taiwan. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2010.04.003

Friday, March 6, 2020

Cotton Industry Essays

Cotton Industry Essays Cotton Industry Essay Cotton Industry Essay Cotton Industry Through the beginning of evolution of humans one of the most common utilities used were cotton for clothing and other things. As trading became popular through Asia and machines were invented the owners would usually use many workers and get a low wage out of their work just as in Japan and India. The cotton industries throughout Japan and India became a great success in the period 1880s to the 1930s. A similarity of these countries was that they both recruited laborers who worked at farms. A difference between these two countries were the type of workers they had working for their cotton industries. Another difference was their production of Yarn. An additional type of document could have been about further explanation of the production of yarn of both cotton industries of Japan and India. First of all, Japan and India mostly had farm workers who worked in the cotton industry. As in for Japan, they would recruit farm laborers because they were cheap workers. These farmers would usually send their children to work at the cotton industries. Usually the worker would earn enough for them to live (Doc. 5). However, even though they would get a low income in working at the cotton industries, they would get a greater amount of wage of a year than working as a farmer. During the 1900, they had to turn over sixty percent of the crops they grew to the landlord. So at to their advantage they had cotton industries (Doc. 4). As well in India, they had workers from agriculture programs and also they had unemployed hand weavers. They usually worked for less than two year and their wages never increased nor decreased, it would usually stay the same (Doc. ). Also, even as were they’re workers had come from were the same, the type of sex was a huge difference. In Japan, they had a higher percentage of workers who were women than in India. During the 1920 the percentage of Female cotton workers was eighty percent which increased to eighty point sixty percent in the year 1930. In India their percentage in the year 1909 was a twent y-two point one percent which decrease to eighteen point nine in the year 1934 (Doc. 7). While Japans use of female cotton workers increased in India their female cotton workers decreased. Furthermore, the female workers in the cotton industries of Japan often were young girls who were sent from families to help them survive. They would always work from morning till dark; however their first year working they did not get payed till their second year and so forth. Unlike India, in Japan, the cotton workers would get an increase in their pay each year starting off with 35 yen (Doc. 3). Last, mostly in India their workers had to work standing up and weaving using the machines. In Japan, they were capable of sitting down and weave using machines or handmade. Last, India’s yarn production differed from Japan’s yarn production. Another difference of India was that they not only made yarn but also produced cloth. This was because throughout India there seemed to be a competition of the machine manufactures which cause local textiles of making their manufactures a huge success through shareholders, investors, and financiers (Doc. 6). Also, the production of cotton yarn and cloth in India through the years 1884 to 1914 seemed to increase except for their hand spun yarn that went from one-hundred fifty millions of pounds to ninety millions of pounds. For the machine spun yarn it began with one-hundred fifty-one million of pounds increasing to six-hundred fifty-two million of pounds. Furthermore, for Hand-woven cloth one thousand millions of yards started off increasing to one thousand four hundred five millions of yards. As for, machine-made cloth, it began with two hundred thirty-eight increasing to one thousand one hundred forty (Doc. 1). In Japan, they had a lower production of yarn and they did not make cotton cloth just simply yarn. In the year 1884, five millions of pounds were made both hand spun and machine spun. In the year 1894, they had quickly increase to one hundred seventeen millions of pounds. Last, through to the year 1914, they had made six hundred sixty-six millions of pounds of yarn. In conclusion, using farm workers to work for the countries Japan and India was a similarity they had especially how farm workers were peasants. However, the differences of their workers were that Japan had a greater percentage of female workers than India had. Statistics had showed that the used of female worked in India decreased while the use of female workers increased in Japan. Japan and India also differed of each other of their roduction or yarn especially of the percentages. Of the yarn, there is lack of information and there should have been another necessary document of why Japan did not produce cloth and how long it took to make it. Other of the differences and similarities, another purpose of the things the author gave was to show how cruel the things were before and how much the peasants h ad to work with little amount of payment. His reason might have been that he informed us this because the author wanted to show how it was before to reflect on how much things have changed from before to now.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Critical Perspectives on HRM in Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Critical Perspectives on HRM in Britain - Essay Example Research shows that when an organisation is able to achieve a cohesive and unified organisational culture, it improves problem-solving capacity within a firm and leads to enhanced organisational performance (Yilmaz and Ergun 2008). Furthermore, a longitudinal study conducted by Kotter and Heskett (1992) discovered that having a cohesive organisational culture was correlated with a 765 percent improvement of business incomes for the investigated organisations occurring between 1977 and the year 1988. With such evidence of organisational improvement and enhanced problem-solving capacity as a result of developing a cohesive organisational culture, it would appear that it is, indeed, desirable for senior managers to seek to change their organisational cultures if it is determined that existing culture in insufficient for enhancing organisational performance. However, change resistance is commonplace in many organisations in which managers become the victims of illogical and irrational employee responses when organisational members are faced with change (Ford, Ford and D’Amelio 2009). Hence, it might not be feasible to seek change of culture as a result of the intensity of psychological retaliation imparted upon management when attempting to elicit cultural change. There appears to be significant evidence that seeking to change organisational culture maintains a variety of benefits for an organisation. O’Donnell (2006) asserts that when an organisation maintains a cohesive culture, culture can facilitate development of innovations that support an organisation’s goals. For many organisations, especially those that operate in saturated competitive markets, the capability of an organisation in achieving many innovative outputs serves as a predictor of competitive advantage and holistic organisational performance. Kalyanaram and Gurumurthy (2008) describe an example of being a first mover in a new market where a firm

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Bio Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bio Ethics - Essay Example The numerous aspects affecting application of bioethics continue to be identified as major debates of human enquiry. The allocation of scarce healthcare resources continues to be an increasingly discussed element of bioethics. As opposed to other ethical values of humans, bioethics concerns the application of ethical values in biological and medical practice. Commonly discussed bioethical values include aspects dealing with life, like abortion, surrogacy among others. Bioethics seeks to achieve biomedical practices exhibiting human dignity (Jonsen, p198). Though they cannot be considered as moral values, the application of bioethics ensures proper undertaking of biomedical operations. Organ transplant falls among the scarce healthcare resources that continue to be identified as essential bioethical elements. Organ transplant could be defined as biological tissue or organ donation from one person to another (Jonsen, p295). The person offering the biological tissues is referred as dono r and the person receiving, a recipient. The biological dilemma in organ transplant remains the ability for the donor to receive reimbursements for the donated biological tissues. Necessary legislation regarding the issue of conducting organ transplants differs within different countries. The various legislations existing in this field concern the availability of consent from the donating party. In opt-in system the requirement remains for donors to give consent, while in opt-out system the requirement remains for donor not to refuse. In the latter system, failure to refuse indicates a probable donor, while the former system offering consent confirms an individual as a donor. The fundamental issues regarding organ transplant remain naturally semantic. This follows the confusing definition of essential clinical terminologies. The translation of several clinical terminologies in the legal platform continues to be a debatable point within the aspect of organ transplant. The controversi es revolving around the legal definition of terms like death, life, among others continue to create immense confusion within the medical profession regarding organ donation (Rachels, p176). The legal determination of the qualifications of donors differs from the medical identification of donors. While an individual might meet all required specifications of donors legally, the same individual might not meet the medical requirement. While the law requires donors to provide consents regarding acceptance to donate, medical testing might reveal the possibility of transplant rejection. Following the legalization of organ selling, transplants continue to be viewed by many as treatment methods for the rich. Stereotypes continue to develop leading to donating individuals being perceived as extremely impoverished. Attaching commercial and financial values to biological organs essentially creates a controversial situation surrounding the transplant (Rachels, p189). In the developed nations, fo r example, the demand for biological tissues surpasses the supply. In third-world countries the situation occurs in the opposite of the developed nations. Discussions continue to elicit mixed reactions among concerned parties. Within the underdeveloped countries, concerns continue to be mounted regarding exploitation of the poor by the rich. Introduction of financial reimbursement for donors appears as attractive to poor people as a method of improving economic status. In one case involving Ruth Sparrow, the woman experienced financial constraint following gall bladder surgery. Having a medical bill of $20,000, the woman sought to trade her kidney on condition the hospital clears her pending bill. The administration refused the offer,

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Continuous Improvement in Software Development

Continuous Improvement in Software Development The above principle concerns the close, daily collaboration between business people and customers is an important one for Agile as it ensures the usability of the product and consequently quality of work to fulfil the customers requirement in the best way possible (Cohn, 2005). The principle reflects the agile value of customer collaboration over contract negotiation. Schwaber (2004) highlights the importance of this principle as during the last decades with the increasing complexity of IT project, developers and customers have been drifting apart due to unsuitable methodologies that obstruct effective customer collaboration. Requirement collection following this agile principle goes beyond the requirement collection of traditional project management methodologies (Cobb, 2011). Beck (2000) suggests that when using XP, there should always be a customer on site to be able to answer all arising questions instantaneously. Customers often have different or no expectations from a project which emphasizes the need of close collaboration to detect any discrepancies (Cohn, 2005). Cohn (2005) further argues that through daily meetings changing requirements originating in rapidly evolving business environment can be addressed immediately and realignment of the strategy and deliverables is possible. However, the practice of daily customer meetings was not achievable during the wiki project; nonetheless, the team was able to consult with the customer frequently through email and very short response times allowed areas of unclarity to be resolved promptly. This close collaboration was often used to clarify small details in the requirements to increase the customer satisfaction through implementing change request without delay. When this principle is applied cautiously and thoroughly, a high level of trust can be developed between the two parties involved (Schwaber, 2004). Highsmith (2009) further argues that trust is a very important issue to be valued as it enhances the team cohesion and quality of collaborative work. This is supported by the experienced Group Green has made during the wiki project. During iteration 1 and 2, all requirements have been comprehensively discussed and clarified within the team and with the customer during iteration planning and initial customer consultation. After the team has started developing the iterations product, the customer was consulted again to resolve any remaining unclarities. Through this practice of close collaboration the quality of the product was at a very high level which was reflected through the outstanding feedback from the customer. However, during iteration 3 this high level of cooperation with the customer was neglected by the team which was been reflected in the iteration review meeting. The customer was not as satisfied with the product as in the previous two iterations, because the team failed to fulfill the customers requirements and specifications. In the subsequent iteration it was the Scrum Masters top priority to involve the customer again in more detail to enhance communication and idea exchange, removing impediment between the customer and the development team as suggested by Schwaber (2004). To adhere and to apply this principle might be one of the most valuable lessons learned in this project, as the close collaboration ensures a high quality of work and subsequently high customer satisfaction. The principle of sustainable development relates to the aim of developing the product in a constant pace without any perks in development velocity. Sustainability has a great significance, as the whole process of agile development is aimed to be a sustainable approach (Augustine, 2005). Poppendieck and Poppendieck (2003) note that companies which have adopted lean thinking have achieved a significant sustainable performance improvement. Stellman and Greene (2014) highlight that the breaking down of the whole project into smaller more manageable chunks facilitates the process of determining realistic durations of every story point or piece of work that is to be developed. The ability of estimating realistic durations enables the project team to give accurate predictions of the development time of the whole product. This supports a very steady flow of product development and the team can work in a constant and sustainable pace (Cohn, 2005). In software development, this constant flow leads to a higher quality of code and fewer inconsistencies in the source code. In consequence, less time is needed to address bug fixing, which make the whole concept more sustainable and viable (Cohn, 2005). Bug fixing, improving flaws and making corrections often lead to a higher work load for the project team and consequently lowers the motivation and increases the stress the team experiences. The stress primarily results from the still existing deadline at the end of the short iteration which still needs to be met, despite the amount of required re-work. Cohn (2005) further stipulates that over time, the customer realises and acknowledges the high quality, which subsequently enables trust to be developed between the customer and the project team. Cobb (2011) further points out that all team members, not just developers, need to keep pace with each other throughout the whole duration of the project. In agile development, the iterations prevent team members to step in or out of the project in different phases. As a result, the development of the product is much more fluent, as all team member can built up trust and develop a high team cohesion (Cobb, 2011). Cohn (2005) further argues that this can lead to a higher motivation for the project team as they feel empowered and are more willing to achieve better results. Whitworth and Biddle (2007) conclude that agile planning reduces tensions and conflicts and the consecutive development of small tasks promotes motivation in the team, which altogether which leads to an overall quality improvement. In practice, Team Green has experienced the value of this principle, however, not in as much detail as in real-life practice. The project was already divided into weekly iterations, which established the grounds of sustainable development. However, the team experienced the value of dividing the whole project deliverables into smaller parts as this practice greatly improves transparency and clearness of what requirements need to be fulfilled and how this can be achieved. The internally agreed deadlines did not drastically change during the whole project duration. This way the team was able to realise a routine of weekly development, which greatly helped and supported in developing a high-quality product. Trust among the team has been developed at the same time, which facilitated the sustainable development. An important lesson learned in this regard is the necessity of splitting the workload and thoroughly planning durations of the single pieces of work. This greatly benefits a sustainable, constant pace of development and consequently increases the product quality and customer satisfaction. The last agile principle states that the team should regularly reflect on how to become more effective and adopt their work processes accordingly. Through the alignment of the overall approach and the strategy of development, the project team aims to increase the quality baseline of the developed work. Stellman and Greene (2014) note that it is important to include retrospectives to evaluate and assess performance to figure out ways on how to become more effective in future projects. This retrospective should not be limited to one meeting at the end of a project but should be implemented immediately when any possible improvements are recognised. According to Beck (2000) the project team should use daily stand up meetings to get discuss any areas of general development improvement. If this is not possible, the team should try to incorporate a retrospective at least after finishing every iteration (Smith and Upton, 2015). Cobb (2011) elaborates on this in saying that sprints in agile a re generally much shorter than the development duration of traditional approaches, which facilitates the reflecting process. The concept of continuous improvement is linked to lean software development and based on the Kaizen philosophy and re-engineering approach to heighten the standard of status quo to achieve better quality products (Bond, 1999). Kaizen and re-engineering philosophy were originally deduced from operational management in logistics, but can be applied to other improvement processes such as Agile product development. Typically, the improvement process can be divided into four consecutive stages: 1. maintaining process status quo 2. process improvement 3. process re-engineering 4. achieving process stability. Group Green applied this principle during most of the wiki project. In the first two iterations, the team held one retrospective at the end of each iteration to identify areas of improvement and ways to implement more agile principles than the ones that were already used. This practice lead to a high quality of product and customer satisfaction. However, during iteration 3 this principle was neglected and the team did not pursue the strive of further improvement. This was reflected in reduced customer satisfaction in comparison to the previous iterations. In response, the team decided to add an additional retrospective reflect on how to further improve their development process to retrieve the higher quality standard and customer satisfaction of previous iterations. Based on this positive experience of reinforcing this principle it was agreed that an additional retrospective is being held at the end of the wiki project to ensure a high quality of final assignment report. Reflecting t he whole development process, it can be said with certainty that lessons learned includes the necessity of consequently applying this principle. Only by doing so, the prerequisite is fulfilled to continuously deliver high quality products and achiever customer satisfaction.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

It530

Assignment Grading Rubric Course: IT530 Unit: 5 Points: 120 Copyright Kaplan University Unit 5 Assignment Outcomes addressed in this activity: Unit Outcomes: Explain flow control and congestion management and their significance to overall network performance Evaluate standard routing techniques and their application to a business’ internet connectivity Recommend a comprehensive security plan Plan and describe methods to secure data including encryption techniques and security protocols Assess LAN communications and management protocols and examine their significance in business environmentsCourse Outcomes: IT530-5: Analyze issues surrounding the connectivity and administration of networks. Assignment Instructions: 1. In recent years, the concept of â€Å"ethical† hacking has grown in importance as more companies consider hiring â€Å"black hat† hackers as security consultants. Research the elements that comprise â€Å"ethical† hacking. In what ways does et hical hacking differ from â€Å"black hat† hacking? Put yourself into the position of a system administrator considering hiring a hacker.How would you ensure that this individual was actually strengthening your company’s network security rather than hacking into your company’s sensitive data? Would you even consider hiring a hacker in the first place? Why or why not? Try to find at least one example of a real world â€Å"ethical† hacker being hired; was it a good or bad decision on the part of the company? 2. Based on your research, write an 8 to 10 page paper that researches the concept of â€Å"ethical† hacking, as well as the ethical dilemmas inherent in hiring a hacker as a security consultant. Preparing your AssignmentThe written essay/paragraph formatted paper should be 8 – 10 pages long NOT including cover page and references. As you research ethical hacking, ALL of the pages must have citations and references. No more than one direct quotation (of 40 words or more) is allowed per page and bullet lists without substantial narrative included are strongly discouraged. There should be no spelling or grammar errors. All written assignments should be in APA format. APA formatted in-text citations and references are required for all sources, and all figures and tables must be captioned in APA format.If you are unfamiliar with APA formatting, please see the Kaplan Writing Center for more information on how to work with APA. Directions for Submitting Your Assignment: Compose your assignment in a Microsoft Word  ® document and save it as Username-IT530 Assignment – Unit#. doc (Example: TAllen- IT530 Assignment-Unit5. doc). Submit your file by selecting the Unit 5: Assignment Dropbox by the end of Unit 5. Assignment Grading Rubric Course: IT530 Unit: 5 Points: 120 Copyright Kaplan University Assignment requirements:All papers must meet these standard requirements: Paper follows APA formatting Length is 8-10 pages long not including references and cover page No more than three bulleted or listed points per paper. No more than one direct quote per page from a reference source and those quotes must be properly cited within the body and in the references at the end of the paper Title page Reference page No spelling errors No grammar errors *2 points will be deducted from grade for each occurrence of not meeting these requirements.Review the grading rubric below before beginning this activity. Unit 5 Assignment Grading Rubric = 120 points Assignment Requirements Points possible Points earned by student Document includes introductory paragraph discussing the general concepts of ethical hacking as opposed to black hat hacking. 0-30 Document includes well supported argument pro or con for hiring a hacker as security consultant. 0-30 Document includes example of â€Å"real world† hiring of hacker and discusses the outcome. 0-30 Discussion of ethical hacking considerations should be substantia l nd flow logically. 0-30 Total (Sum of all points) Less: Standard Requirements points deductedAssignment Grading Rubric Course: IT530 Unit: 5 Points: 120 Copyright Kaplan University Assignment Total For more information and example of APA formatting, see the resources in Doc sharing or visit the KU Writing Center from the KU Homepage. Also review the KU Policy on Plagiarism. This policy will be strictly enforced on all applicable assignments and discussion posts. If you have any questions, please contact your professor.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Strangers on a train

Big Ben had just struck midnight when Helen and her friends joyfully burst through the doors of the Westminster Academy. ‘What an amazing concert', she cried. ‘We should definitely go and watch another one soon!' replied Tom. ‘Guys, I think we should just forget about the concert for one split second and actually think about our journey home at such a ridiculous hour!' said Sarah. ‘True, look I'll go with you Helen and Jim, you go with Sarah' said Tom. As the couple waited anxiously for the last train to approach, they silently reminisced over what had really been a well and truly, unforgettable night. After a long wait of what felt like an hour, the last train clumsily slid along the rail tracks and hesitantly pulled up to a halt at Westminster station. Its rickety doors, lethargically slid open and wickedly beckoned the two friends into its carriage of mystery. As Helen looked directly in front of her to look through the pane of glass on the other side of the carriage, she caught a glimpse of a strange looking girl sitting in between two puny but psychotic looking boys. Helen always felt uncomfortable making any form of eye contact with strangers as she had heard of various incidents concerning people in the same situation as her. However, it was as if some strong wave of curiosity was encouraging her face to keep on studying these characters and as she did this, she noticed the vibrant blue veins ridged into the girl's skin and the trembling hands of the boys. All through this, the girl stayed unmoving. ‘Tom look over to the other side but try to make it as discreet as possible', Helen said to her friend. ‘You mean that dodgy looking bunch opposite us yeah?' he replied. ‘Yeah, they're really starting to creep me out; please do something!' ‘Ok,right I've got a plan.' he said, ‘Now, Helen listen to me very carefully, when I get off at my stop, come with me and pretend that it's also your stop and just try and cleverly change carriages ok?' When the train ground to a halt at Paddington station, the two got off and indeed executed the plan of action. ‘Are you sure you're going to be alright Helen?' Tom worriedly gasped, ‘you can always come back to mine and then I'll drive you back home instead.' ‘Oh come on Tom, when exactly are you going to stop treating me like a baby and realize that I'm a 25 year old grown woman' she proclaimed, ‘Look, I think I can deal with a couple of freaks who have nothing better to do than put fear into the hearts of innocent people!' However, as she settled into her new seat, three familiar faces could be made out from the far seats of the carriage and by now it was too late as the sliding doors banged shut. ‘Just keep calm', she thought but in reality she was extremely hysterical. As she subtly tried to gaze over to the far side of the carriage, the boys suddenly began to shift uncomfortably in their seats and almost seemed nervous. The boys with their eyes bloodshot and their faces flushed gave the impression that they were under the influence of drugs, alcohol or perhaps both. The boy on the right of the girl had on a crumpled white t-shirt that was stained with heavy blotches of brown. A bruise lay on his left eye and his lip had a small cut in it. He seemed the more nervous of the two and was literally trembling. However, the boy on the left of the girl seemed to be quite serene and composed in comparison to his companion who was quite the opposite. He had a severe expression and wore a thick jacket of fur. He had a heavy gash on his right arm and his nose was bleeding. Still. The girl stayed still, unmoving as a statue in a garden. Her face almost death like and as pale as a white sheet of paper. Her bright, vast, ginger bob of curls heavily contrasted with this strange and ghostly complexion. Her eyes, piercing like the rays of a bright sun. Her jaw, fully agape as though it were an opening into a mysterious cavern. Her shirt was slashed across the torso and her underwear lay exposed due to this. Great slashes lay from her upper arm right down to her wrist. The boys had entwined their arms around that of the girl's and seemed to be making a great effort to sustain her in a sedentary position. At this moment in time, Helen decided to turn her face away from this ghastly, frightening sight towards the other side of the carriage. She really didn't understand why these strange beings that she was trying to get away from had followed her into the new carriage. However, she then spotted a man that looked officious but overpowering at the same time moving over towards the seat next to her. By now Helen was really starting to lose her calm and collected aura.Suddenly,he started mumbling something but Helen felt that this was just another unfamiliar being that was just trying to get her attention. Nevertheless, he persisted and finally got through to Helen by writing something on the newspaper he was reading and showed it to Helen. ‘GET OFF AT THE NEXT STOP!' it read, ‘YOU'RE IN SERIOUS DANGER-THAT GIRL YOU SEE IS DEAD-THIS IS NO JOKE-I AM A DOCTOR AND I KNOW THIS FOR SURE, SO HELP YOURSELF WHILE THERE'S STILL TIME!!' By this time, Helen was well and truly in a hysterical state and it was almost as if her heart was about to leap out of her body. However she still managed to keep a cool cover as the train approached Hammersmith station. She then got up, stood, walked through the sliding doors and made her final exit off the train. As she did all these actions, she made sure that she acted as if she were the most innocent and unsuspecting creature in the whole world. When the train moved slowly away, she first of all turned around to see whether she could spot the man that saved her and give her his thanks, but the station lay empty. Lifeless. Dead. Before she even had time to think her legs had turned into that of a professional sprinter and carried her out of the station at the speed of lightning. Never again would she be so reckless and try to prove herself tough, by encountering such a life threatening ordeal at such a perilous hour.

Thursday, January 2, 2020

A Guide to the Origins and Celebration of Kwanzaa

Unlike Christmas, Ramadan, or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa is unaffiliated with a major religion. One of the newer American holidays, Kwanzaa originated in the turbulent 1960s to instill racial pride and unity in the black community. Now, fully recognized in mainstream America, Kwanzaa is widely celebrated. The U.S. Postal Service debuted its first Kwanzaa stamp in 1997, releasing a second commemorative stamp in 2004. In addition, former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush recognized the day while in office. But Kwanzaa has its share of critics, despite its mainstream status. Are you considering celebrating Kwanzaa this year? Discover the arguments for and against it, whether all blacks (and any non-blacks) celebrate it and the impact of Kwanzaa on American culture. What Is Kwanzaa? Established in 1966 by the African-American professor, activist and author Ron Karenga (or Maulana Karenga), Kwanzaa aims to reconnect black Americans to their African roots and recognize their struggles as a people by building community. It is observed every year between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Derived from the Swahili term, â€Å"matunda ya kwanza,† which means â€Å"first-fruits,† Kwanzaa is based on African harvest celebrations such as the seven-day Umkhost of Zululand. According to the official Kwanzaa website, â€Å"Kwanzaa was created out of the philosophy of Kawaida, which is a cultural nationalist philosophy that argues that the key challenge in black people’s [lives] is the challenge of culture, and that what Africans must do is to discover and bring forth the best of their culture, both ancient and current, and use it as a foundation to bring into being models of human excellence and possibilities to enrich and expand our lives.† Just as many African harvest celebrations run for seven days, Kwanzaa has seven principles known as the Nguzo Saba. They are: umoja (unity); kujichagulia (self-determination); ujima (collective work and responsibility); ujamaa (cooperative economics); nia (purpose); kuumba (creativity); and imani (faith). Celebrating Kwanzaa During Kwanzaa celebrations, a mkeka (straw mat) rests on a table covered by kente cloth, or another African fabric. On top of the mkeka sits a kinara (candleholder) in which the mishumaa saba (seven candles) go. The colors of Kwanzaa are black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle, according to the official Kwanzaa website. Mazao (crops) and the kikombe cha umoja (the unity cup) also sit on the mkeka. The unity cup is used to pour tambiko (libation) in remembrance of ancestors. Lastly, African art objects and books about the life and culture of African people sit on the mat to symbolize commitment to heritage and learning. Do All Blacks Observe Kwanzaa? Although Kwanzaa celebrates African roots and culture, the National Retail Foundation found that just 13 percent of African Americans observe the holiday, or approximately 4.7 million. Some blacks have made a conscious decision to avoid the day because of religious beliefs, the origins of the day and the history of Kwanzaa’s founder (all of which will be covered later). If you’re curious about whether a black person in your life observes Kwanzaa because you want to get him or her a related card, gift, or another item, simply ask. Don’t make assumptions. Can Non-Blacks Celebrate Kwanzaa? While Kwanzaa focuses on the black community and African Diaspora, people from other racial groups may join in the celebration. Just as people from a range of backgrounds partake in cultural celebrations such as Cinco de Mayo, Chinese New Year or Native American powwows, those who aren’t of African descent may celebrate Kwanzaa. As the Kwanzaa Web site explains, â€Å"The principles of Kwanzaa and the message of Kwanzaa has a universal message for all people of good will. It is rooted in African culture, and we speak as Africans must speak, not just to ourselves, but to the world.† New York Times  reporter Sewell Chan grew up celebrating the day. â€Å"As a child growing up in Queens, I remember attending Kwanzaa celebrations at the American Museum of Natural History with relatives and friends who, like me, were Chinese-American,† he  said. â€Å"The holiday seemed fun and inclusive (and, I admit, a bit exotic), and I eagerly committed to memory the Nguzo Saba, or seven principles†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Check local newspaper listings, black churches, cultural centers or museums to find out where to celebrate Kwanzaa in your community. If an acquaintance of yours celebrates Kwanzaa, ask for permission to attend a celebration with her. However, it would be offensive to go as a voyeur who doesn’t care about the day itself but is curious to see what it’s about. Go because you agree with the principles of the day and are committed to implementing them in your own life and community. After all, Kwanzaa is a day of tremendous significance for millions of people. Objections to Kwanzaa Who opposes Kwanzaa? Certain Christian groups who regard the holiday as pagan, individuals who question its authenticity and those who object to founder Ron Karenga’s personal history. A group called the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND), for one, labeled the holiday as racist and anti-Christian. In an article in the self-avowed right-wing anti-muslim magazine FrontPage, BOND founder the Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson takes issue with the trend of preachers incorporating Kwanzaa into their messages, calling the move â€Å"a horrible mistake† which distances blacks from Christmas. â€Å"First of all, as we’ve seen, the whole holiday is made up,† Peterson argues. â€Å"Christians who celebrate or incorporate Kwanzaa are moving their attention away from Christmas, the birth of our Savior, and the simple message of salvation: love for God through his Son.† The Kwanzaa Web site explains that Kwanzaa isn’t religious or designed to replace religious holidays. â€Å"Africans of all faiths can and do celebrate Kwanzaa, i.e., Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists†¦,† the site says. â€Å"For what Kwanzaa offers is not an alternative to their religion or faith but a common ground of African culture which they all share and cherish.† African Roots? and a Troubled Founder Even those who don’t oppose Kwanzaa on religious grounds may take issue with it because Kwanzaa is not an actual holiday in Africa and, furthermore, the customs founder Ron Karenga based the holiday on roots in Eastern Africa. During the  transatlantic slave trade, however, blacks were taken from Western Africa, meaning that Kwanzaa and its  Swahili  terminology aren’t part of most African Americans’ heritage. Another reason people choose not to observe Kwanzaa is the background of Ron Karenga. In the 1970s, Karenga was  convicted  of felony assault and false imprisonment. Two black women from the Organization Us, a black nationalist group with which he’s still affiliated, were reportedly victimized during the attack. Critics question how Karenga can be an advocate for unity within the black community when he himself was allegedly involved in an attack on black women. Wrapping Up While Kwanzaa and its founder are sometimes subject to criticism, journalists such as Afi-Odelia E. Scruggs celebrate the holiday because they believe in the principles it espouses. In particular, the values Kwanzaa gives to children and to the black community at large are why Scruggs observes the day. Initially, Scruggs thought Kwanzaa was contrived, but seeing its principles at work changed her mind. In a  Washington Post  column, she wrote, â€Å"I’ve seen Kwanzaa’s ethical principles work in many little ways. When I remind the fifth-graders I teach that they aren’t practicing ‘umoja’ when they disturb their friends, they quiet down. †¦When I see neighbors turning vacant lots into community gardens, I’m watching a practical application of both ‘nia’ and ‘kuumba.’† In short, while Kwanzaa has inconsistencies and its founder a troubled history, the holiday aims to unify and uplift those who observe it. Like other holidays, Kwanzaa can be used as a positive force in the community. Some believe this outweighs any concerns about authenticity.