Adolph Hitler essays

Adolph Hitler essays Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, at 6:30 P.M in the small Austrian village of Braunau, just across the border from German Bavaria. A World War I hero Hitler eventually became the leader of the Nazi party. He was responsible for the biggest mass murder the world has known. Commonly called the Holocaust, the Nazis gained control of power in Germany and quickly wanted to create a single master race. Therefore Jews as well as many others including the disabled were rounded up and killed. As many as 6 million died at the hands of Hitlers men. Hitler was born into a middle class family and achieved much military success during WWI, but he was not happy and that brings me to his wish. As Hitler sits at the dinner table surrounded by friends and family, it is April 20, 1931 and Adolph has decided to apply for Art School. His wish is to make it as an artist. He has been making money-painting postcards by hand and hopes to attend art school in Austria where he can make more money. In reality Hitler sends his application to the Architecture department on accident and they dont know what to do with it so they send him a response that basically says that he didnt get in and he should try again next year. Well instead of becoming an artist he gets into politics and soon it leads to destruction of the world in WWII. So for his 42nd birthday he wishes for his acceptance into the art school and this time he gets in. He is widely renowned for his work in the school and quickly gains acceptance. He graduates with honors and earns an honest living and lives a simple life. Hitler is very satisfied with his life and Germany remains under control by the Kaiser. If his wish comes true, it would mean some remarkable changes in the history of the world. The U.S., instead of entering a war that had been raging and boosting themselves as a world power would continue to suf ...

Importance of Values in a Religious Pluralist World

Importance of Values in a Religious Pluralist World Introduction There are certain values that are esteemed universally. Moreover the different religions of the world are deemed to be in support of these values. These human values are several and comprise of such attributes such as peace, respect of human life and dignity, freedom of worship and speech and tolerance.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Importance of Values in a Religious Pluralist World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A human being is valued in the world and should have the right to justice and peace. All people have the right to security and legal recognition. Human rights ensure that the people are protected from arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. As time has passed, there has been an increase in the different religions making it a religious pluralistic world. How do the different religions practice and adhere to these values? Are there times there are contradictions in the way people pract ice these values? Family Values There are times when religious pluralism in a country causes disagreements in the area of family life. In Australia, there have been Muslims who have desired a sharia court so that they can be granted divorce according to their religion. The national courts are able to give them divorce however they feel they are not adhering to their faith when they do not go to their own court. Recently, human rights have touched on the freedom of one choosing who they will marry and giving birth. Previously the State had focused on the freedom of speech and expression but there has been conflict in the issue of same sex marriages and abortion especially when it comes to the teenage pregnancies and health risks in abortion. There has been a shift or a change in the values esteemed in various states especially when it comes to the family values. Traditionally there was a long process to be followed when one wanted a divorce especially in the Christian set up however the State made it possible for the people to be able to get divorce quickly. There are other contentious issues such as abortion and same sex marriages where the church and the people in other religions have not been in agreement as the clergy perceive the acts to be going against the Christian values (Lupu and Tuttle, 480). In the traditional Christian set up especially the Catholic churches there has been the expectation that the people will value life and that is why there had been so many debates on abortion before certain countries legalised the process. There was concern that legalising same sex marriages would be a threat to the usual family set up where there is a female male relationship. As time has progressed, the pluralist religious views have caused many to greatly analyse and even question their beliefs when it comes to marriage, divorce and abortion. It is therefore a tough call for the State to manoeuvre through all these viewpoints.Advertising Looking for re search paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are religious people who will not agree to oversee or coordinate same sex marriages or have anything to do it. However at the same time, there can be no discrimination or insensitivity towards these people of different beliefs as it would be going against the universal values of equality and freedom of expression. It is therefore important for all the people to ensure that they practice the universal values otherwise they will find themselves arrested and paying damages. Even as most people agree that peace is a great value, there are times that religious pluralism causes a lot of conflict in the world (Gopin, 15). There have been disagreements and even serious civil wars and conflicts between the Christians and Muslims in African countries such as Nigeria and Sudan. As much as different governments respect human rights there is also an increase in eth nic and religious conflict. When it comes to issues of religion it touches the core of the person and it gets highly sensitive. The people at times refuse to observe the universal views of human rights and freedom of expression all in the name of defending their religion. The question that remains however is what is more important, defending one’s religion or obeying the rules of the religion which advocate for peace and love with one’s neighbours? Universal Values In Islam, there is emphasis on the community and when the religious people teach the people the law, they emphasize that Allah looks at the community and expects the society to be just. The individual’s rights are protected under the society’s collective responsibility. In Christianity especially the protestant faith, an individual is responsible for his actions and is expected to be fair and just. In the traditional Confucianism religion, the ruler is expected to take care of his subject and m anage property matters. If he mistreats his subjects he loses the mandate to rule them which was given to him from heaven. What about the freedom of worship and speech? In most religions there are certain dressings or ornaments that the individuals wear. It is not a matter of choice but it is an act of religious duty and obedience. The Catholics have the crucifix while the Muslim women have the hijab. In Eastern Europe especially France the wearing of religious symbols in public schools has been prohibited.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Importance of Values in a Religious Pluralist World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Lately, there has been intolerance, xenophobia and great fear towards Muslims. When they wear their religious clothes it is perceived to increase the risk of violence and threats that go against the democratic values and institutions of the State (Danchin, 6). There have been arguments aga inst this view. When a woman or man wears their hijab it does not mean they are extremists or fundamentalists or they are against the liberal institutions and processes of the state. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, there arose great debate on the issue of racial profiling in the United States as the people felt that the Muslims were being discriminated against and their privacy was being invaded. The truth is that the people were afraid of their lives and they were concerned that the Muslims did not respect the universal human values of peace and harmony between the people. If anyone had the highest probability to be a terrorist, he would be an individual of Middle Eastern origin who was a practicing Muslim. There were employers who were hesitant to employ people of Middle Eastern descent. Choosing to act on these feelings however would be wrong since one is not allowed to discriminate against others on the basis of their religion. One of the universal values in the world is equality when it comes to opportunities. No one should be discriminated when it comes to what they desire to achieve in terms of their work and family because of their religion. Ever since the terrorist attacks of September 9/11, the Muslim women’s dressing in Australia has come to be perceived as a form of women’s subjugation instead of the expression of their faith. The French government has the view that wearing religious symbols may infringe upon the rights of others. The freedom of others to worship and express them would be adversely affected. The religious symbols may work to pressure people towards a certain religion. It may also be a channel for propaganda and provocation. The government is also concerned about the women in the nation. It does not want the occurrence of any event where women and girls are discriminated against. The question however is whether wearing the hijab causes any harm to the girls or the society. They wear the hijab for their own pr ivate reasons.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Political Values There are values that deal with man’s relationship with others. For leaders, more is expected as they are expected to carry out their responsibility well in the society. They are expected to be accountable and have integrity. These are values that are agreed on by all the people even in the face of increasing religious pluralism. The people are expected to live in peace and harmony respecting each other’s belongings and property (Spickard., 8) There are people who view democracy as a value that should be upheld. In the countries where there are fundamental Muslims, they may perceive concepts such as democracy as a Western influence which they do not want to be associated with (Esposito and James, 428). There are those values such as democracy which may actually take time to take root in some cultures or religions. There are countries which do not want to be under cultural imperialism. Even the most repressive cultures however realize the importance of human rights. However they do not want to practice the values under the Western human rights notion. They have chosen to use alternative philosophies of socialism and community development. When it comes to ensuring that there is harmony and peace, the different governments have been trying to separate religion and the state. Religion should be regarded as someone’s private affair. This is what is known as secularism. It is liberal democracy that is regarded to be the optimal environment where equality can be observed (Norris and Inglehart, 40). However when religion is used as an excuse to attack other people or other countries, it is wrong. In the 2001 terrorist attacks, President Bush spoke of the fight between good and evil and the way good has to triumph (Aly and Green, 5). There will be no tolerance for the fundamentalists, extremists and radicals who use Islam as an excuse to terrorize the nationals of a different country. The people of America whether Christian, Hindu or Buddhist stood to defend the sanctity of life. The nationalistic unity came to the front to ensure that human lives are respected. Conclusion With the rise in religious pluralism, there is increasing growth in secularism where the family values in the religious setting will not be practiced in the country by all the people. There will be a shift towards the universal and political values with a great emphasis on human rights as stipulated by the United Nations. Those religions that encourage contrary beliefs will have a hard time interacting with other countries. Aly, Ann and Lelia Green. â€Å"Less than Equal Secularism, Religious Pluralism and Privilege† Media and Culture Journal, 11.2 (2008), 1-16. Print. Danchin, Peter. â€Å"Suspect Symbols: Value Pluralism as a Theory of Religious Freedom in International Law† The Yale Journal of International Law, 33: (2008)1: 2-61. Print. Esposito, John and James Piscatori â€Å"Democratization and Islam†. Middle Ea st  Journal, 45.3 (1991) :427-440. Print. Gopin, Marc. â€Å"Religion, Violence and Conflict Resolution† Peace and Change, 22.1(1997):1-31. Print. Lupu, Ira and Robert Tuttle â€Å"Same-Sex Family Equality and Religious Freedom†. Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy, 5(2010): 275-305. Print. Norris, Pippa and Ronald Inglehart. â€Å"Uneven Secularization in the United States and Western Europe† Democracy and the New Religious Pluralism. Ed Thomas. Banchoff. UK: Oxford Publishers. 2006. 31-58. Print. Spickard, James. â€Å"Human Rights, Religious Conflict, and Globalization – Ultimate Values in a New World Order†. International Journal on Multicultural Societies, 1.1(1999): 2-19. Print.

Negotiation and communication skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Negotiation and communication skills - Essay Example This discussion presented a strategizing negotiation on the part of Chris as exemplified by his offer to possibly develop Mark’s involvement in the CI project at Jordan Tectonics. There is also an aspect of planning in the discussion as evident in Chris’ remarks to coordinate with both Vincent and Frank Edwards, who are both keen on the project of broadening the computer base of their company with the mentioned CI project. This is an interesting case presented in a concise manner. The temperamental talent definitely speaks of Mark, Jordan Tectonic’s lead software designer. The problem stems from Mark’s diverse characteristics bordering on genius and hard to manage (temperamental). He possesses an attitude problem but also possesses an exemplary talent needed by the company to work on the required tasks. Further, in the point of view of Chris, the Head for Research and Development, the company could not afford to lose Mark – knowing that their competitors are luring him to join their team. Actually, this case presented facts which provide a good discourse for identifying negotiation and communication skills. However, other than that, I honestly believe that this scenario is also a good material for a case in human behaviour in organizations. The firm would have to decide which to prioritize – depending on their mission and vision statements, as well as their code of discipline – talent or attitude. Further, this case made me reflect on Chris’ remark that the company cannot afford to lose Mark. There are ethical issues involved as well as the concept of indispensability. Is there really such thing as being indispensable? Could Jordan utilize other alternatives like recruiting and training other personnel as software designer to be better equipped and who has a better personality in terms of possessing people-relation skills. If not, should the

Housing Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Housing Policy - Essay Example This ccontact count housing policy redresses nearly all facets of homelessness (Davis, 2010) For example, Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) in Buckinghamshire County is surrounded by hundred smaller villages like Buckingham, Haddenham, Winslow, Wendover and more, covering approximately 900 square kilometers. The Vale has approximately 69 258 households and a population of 174 100 people according to the 2011 Census (AVDC 2011). AVDC’s population and houses continue to increase in number. For instance, in the last ten years up to 8600 new houses have been built with 50% of the new builds from urban extensions According to the South Midlands Sub-Region study (2002) and the Milton Keynes Sub-Regional Strategy (2005). In addition, The Vale’s population is expected to go up to 213 000 by 2026 (AVDC Housing and Homelessness Strategy, 2008-2013). The contact housing policy was grounded on specific areas such as Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, and West midlands, Oxford, Devon and Newcastle. The specificity of the policy program was to help provide information on the level of homelessness in the mentioned areas and Identify the additional housing options and the help need to cater for the needs. Moreover, the contact housing policy also /had key areas such as, Housing Options prevention service, social justice strategy, social Impact Bond and Localism Act (Ambrose, 2008) There have been impediments to the sound execution of the cont housing policy from different quarters namely, The government, Mayor of London Local housing, Authorities, Chartered Institute of Housing, Health and wellbeing Boards, Hospitals such as St Mungo’s as well as the Ministerial Working Group which initiated the No Second Night Out model. (Wilcox, 2011) The above essay is an elaborate explanation on the housing problem in the United Kingdom and the subsequent

The Aims and Objectives of an Islamic Bank

The Aims and Objectives of an Islamic Bank Islamic banking is becoming increasingly popular and plays a prominent role in the financial services sector in Malaysia. According to latest statistics shown, the Muslim population of Malaysia is approximately 25 million. There is definitely a strong demand and strong growth potential in this sector. In Malaysia, the banking sector is mainly dominated by the conventional banking system whereby interest is not being prohibited. It is because the Islamic banking system is relatively new and there are insufficient regulations at present to govern them. If these obstacles are being resolved, the Islamic Banking sector will blossom given the influence of Malaysia in the international Muslim community. The primary aim of this research is to examine and understand in depth the development of Islamic banking in the world of finance. This piece of research can be divided into three sections. The first section looks at significant differences between conventional banking and Islamic banking. Products and services offered by these financial institutions will be marked to comparison. The second section looks at how the practice of Islamic banking started and how it has emerged to become a vial force in the economy. The final part of the research will focus on how the Islamic banks penetrated the Malaysian market and the challenges faced. 1.1 Structure of Dissertation This dissertation is divided into a few topics and each topic covers different areas of research. This is to give readers a clearer view of the research and make it more user-friendly. It is well thought and designed to ensure the smooth flow of the reading. The structure of the dissertation can be summarized as follows: Chapter 1: This chapter describes the aims and objectives of this research. Chapter 2: This chapter discusses the principles and fundamentals of Islamic banking Chapter 3: This chapter explains in detailed the state and scope of Islamic banking industry in Malaysia. I have also mentioned to objectives and roles the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre Initiatives plays in the industry. Chapter 4: Research methodologies and strategies that were being adopted for this paper was discussed. Chapter 5: I have marked two Islamic banks in Malaysia for side by side comparison. I have drawn up a table to compare their financial performance and position over the past two years. Chapter 6: I have interviewed two Islamic bankers from Malaysia. On top of that, I have also provided my personal analysis of their answers. Chapter 7: Competition and globalization of the Islamic banking industry. Moreover, I have also discussed opportunities and challenges faced in the world and in Malaysia. Chapter 8: A summary of the paper was included with recommendations and limitations to research. 2 INTRODUCTION So, what exactly is Islamic Banking? Islamic Banking is banking based on Islamic laws (Shariah). The Shariah principles are derived from the Quran and the Sunnah (sayings of Prophet Muhammad). Moreover, secondary sources of Islamic laws such as opinions collectively agreed among Shariah scholars, analogy and personal reasoning are also adopted in the rules and practices of Islamic banks (Al-Omar, 1996). The research then looks at the differences between conventional banking and Islamic banking. There governing principles of Islamic banks are: Riba Absence of interest-based transactions. Charging of interest is prohibited under Shariah principles. Money itself does not have inherent value and should not be used to create more money. Wealth can only be generated through legitimate trade and investment. Ghirar Acts of speculation are not accepted under Islamic principles. For instance, buying goods now at lower price in the hope of selling them at higher price in future. The reason being speculators make private gains at the expense of society at large. Zakat Introduction of Islamic tax for the purpose of wealth distribution so that every Muslim is guaranteed a fair standard of living. Haram It is forbidden for Islamic banks to finance activities forbidden in Islam such as prok meat and alcoholic beverage. In order to ensure that the trading activities do not contradict with Shariah principles, all Islamic banks are required to set up Shariah Committee, who acts as advisor to the banks. On the other hand, conventional banks charge interest on transactions. These interests are widely seen as price of credit. Furthermore, conventional banks focuses on elimination of risks and thus do not share any liabilities with the borrower. (Figure 1) Islamic Bank Vs Conventional Bank Based on Shariahprinciples. Based on best economic principles. Bank should not take advantage of borrower. No interest charged. Charges interest to reflect price of credit. Does not allow involvement in haramactivities such as pork meat and alcoholic beverage. Aims at maximizing profit without restrictions other than compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks. Intoduction of zakat. Non-existence of zakat. Promotes risk sharing between providers of credit and borrower. Interest is assured to providers of credit. No liabilities borne by the bank. Emphasis placed on viability and feasibility of projects. Emphasis placed on credit-worthiness of customers. Only provide guarantee for deposit account (al-wadiah). If funds placed under mudarabah accounts, customers shares profit or loss incurred by bank. Provides guarantee to all its depositors. www.learn islamicfinance.com 2.1 Fundamentals of Islamic Banking Finance Islamic commercial law is based on a few major principles. They will be discussed in detailed as follows: Musharakah (Partnership Finance) Musharakah is a contract in which the bank and the client contribute jointly to the capital of a specific project or deal to make a profit. Therefore, risks of profits and losses are being shared between these two parties according to terms and conditions stipulated in the contract. This principle exposes bank to the risks of the project, in other words protecting the interests of the community. This will prevent banks from yielding their unfair influence and sells disadvantage products to clients. Mudarabah (Trust Financing) Mudarabah is a contract in which the banks provides all the capital required whilst the partner contributes in terms of skills, experiences and efforts. The bank receives a pre-determined share of profits as agreed by both parties upon commencement of the project. The major difference between mudarabah and musharakah is that in this case, the bank bears all financial loss whilst the client goes unrewarded. Therefore, it is also the banks responsibilities to assess the feasibility and viability of the project. As such, it is vital for the bank to have a good and credible credit system to evaluate all its exposures on these projects. In short, this principle encourages individuals to participate in financial activities It also gives individuals without sufficient resources an opportunity and platform to prove themselves in the society. Murabaha (Cost-plus Financing) Murabaha is a contract in which the banks informs their client about the acquisition price of certain goods and products and sells them with a margin. It requires the bank to declare an honest price of acquisition. It is one of the most common principles adopted in Islamic banking system to promote interest-free transactions. It is widely practiced in asset financing and both commodity import and export. Bai-Muajjal (Deferred Payment Sale) It is a contract in which the seller sells a certain goods or products to the buyer at an agreed fixed price to be paid later at a specific date by the buyer. In short, it is a sale on credit. The bank merely acts as the financier by deferring the receipt of the sale price of goods it sells. Ijara (Leasing) In this case, the bank buys capital equipment or property and leases it out under instalment to clients. Similar to conventional leasing, the client has the option to purchase the goods at the end of the lease period. The fact that there is real good to be financed means that it is Shariah compliant. A very common product adopting this principle is Islamic mortgage whereby the buyer buys the property on an instalment basis. Qard Hassan Islamic teachings promote brotherhood amongst Muslims. Qard Hassan is seen as a gratuitous loan that helps fellow Muslims who need financial assistance. It can be defined as a loan to be repaid at a later date without incurring any interests. According to Rob (1992), Islamic banks may raise funds through sale of shares to public and main deposit accounts. Therefore, the bank has a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those in desperate situation without taking of their advantaged position. 2.2 Compatibility of Islamic Banking with Conventional Banking Islamic banking system has very similar features to conventional banking except that Islamic banks operate in compliant to Shariah laws and principles. Both banking systems have common features and common products. The main differences being prohibition of interests being incurred and sharing of profits and losses between banks and their clients (Abdur Rahim, 2009). They have the same objectives except interpretation of interest. Islamic banks fall into realms of the economic world as well. They try to ensure all their operations comply with Shariah laws yet at the same time conform to rules set by international bodies such as International Accounting Standards Board and Audit Practices Board. This is to ensure they remain relevant to the society and at the same time conform to their religious principles. Islamic banks sell products such as mortgages, savings accounts, insurance which is also sold by all conventional banks across the world. According to Nienhaus (1995), Islamic banks offer facilities more or less the same as conventional banks, in compliance with the welfare principles of Islam. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW A literature review is a process in which published articles or information are studied as part of the research for the preparation of a dissertation. For the purpose of this project, I have gathered information from books and articles from various sources. I have studied the concept of Islamic banking, having limited understanding about this topic previously. Further, I have also included discussion about the development of Islamic banking in the world, and in particular, Malaysia. This paper allows readers to have a good grasp of Islamic banking in general. It gives readers the opportunity to study about Islamic banking in greater detail when the interest of this industry gathering strong momentum. This is of particular importance because Islamic banking has a huge impact of the world economy because of the strong influence of the oil-rich Gulf States. 3.1 Introduction Since a few decades ago, Islamic banking has emerged as a new reality in the world economy. Its philosophies and principles are however, not new, having been outlined in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) more than 1,400 years ago. The emergence of Islamic banking is often related to the revival of Islam and the desire of Muslims to live all aspects of their live in accordance with the teachings of Islam (Siddiqi, 1983). This chapter provides a brief overview of how Islamic Banking was introduced in the World and how it penetrated the Malaysian market. Islamic banking today has proven to be a popular and reliable financial system in the world. It is widely seen as a viable alternative to the conventional banking system over last 3 decades. Islamic banking was described by scholars as wishful thinking when the idea was first mooted almost thirty years ago (Iqbal and Philip, 2006). Many conferences and discussions were carried out at that time to work on the finer details of this system. Several blueprints were drafted by Islamic scholars from all over the world to ensure a detailed system is created. The first international conference on Islamic Economics was organized by Kings Abdul Aziz University in Makkah marked an important milestone in the history of Islamic banking (Iqbal, 2005). Financial gurus, economic experts and Islamic leaders were invited to present their view and opinions. Following this, the first Islamic bank, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) was established in the United Arab Emirates in 1975. Since its formation, it has established itself as the leader in the industry and has won several accolades internationally. In 2009, it recorded net profit of  £200 million with assets worth over  £14 billion. Islamic banking has gained tremendous momentum and has been growing rapidly over the years. Islamic banks now offer products in various areas such as banking, insurance, mortgage and asset management with annual growth of 10% for many years. 3.2 History of Islamic Banking in Malaysia Islamic banking industry in Malaysia is growing at a moderate pace. It is a unique market because Islamic banks in Malaysia are allowed to operate in parallel to conventional banks (interest-based). The multi-ethnic population of Malaysia makes the entire change of financial system to follow the Shariah system not viable. Government of Malaysia opted for gradual way of introducing Islamic banking by allowing conventional banks to sell Islamic banking products and services such as sukuk (Arif, 1989). The dual banking system has been recognised by both West and East leaders and it is seen to be the model of the future. In fact, many central bankers have visited Malaysia to see the effectiveness of this dual system first hand. Furthermore, this dual system also eliminates the wrong concept of general public that Islamic banking products are sold exclusively to Muslims. The history of Islamic banking industry goes back to as far as 1963, when the foresighted government set up the Lembaga Tabung Haji also known as the Pilgrims Management and Fund Board. It was set-up primarily to encourage Muslims in the country to save up on their income in order to perform pilgrimage in Mecca (Kamarulzaman Bhupalan, 1983). Besides, the fund was also created to provide a platform for participation in the economic and investment activities. Based on the success of the Lembaga Tabung Haji, coupled with the consultation of Shariah experts and economic gurus, government then proceeded to set up the first ever Islamic Bank in 1983. Setting up of Bank Islam Berhad Malaysia (BIMB) marked a milestone in the banking industry. It proved to be hugely popular because over half the Malaysian population are Islam followers. What followed through was the listing of the bank in the stock exchange of Malaysia in the early 1990s. As of today, the bank has 100 braches located all ove r Malaysia. With the fairytale of BIMB, central bank decided to allow commercial banks and merchant banks to offer Islamic banking products under the Islamic Banking Scheme. It was not long after that the central bank set up the National Shariah Advisory Council to oversee all issues pertaining to Islamic Banking. Due to the economic liberalisation, central bank finally grants licenses to foreign Islamic banks to operate in Malaysia in 2004. Al-Rahji Bank and Kuwait Finance House took full advantage of this ruling and step foot into the Malaysian banking industry. The last count of Islamic banks operating in Malaysia stood at 21. 3.3 Scope of Islamic Banking in Malaysia Islamic Banking started out as mere deposit taking and lending facility has since transformed into all aspects of banking, money and capital market operations. In Malaysia, the central bank is in favour of a dual banking system, whereby Islamic banks are allowed to co-exist with conventional banks. It is at the consumers choice to select which services they prefer that cater to their needs. This is in stark contrast with the scenario in Iran and Pakistan, where conventional banking system is abolished completely to make way for Islamic banking. They claim to be devoid of conventional interest based financial transactions. Today, the Malaysian Islamic banking sector is blossoming as reflected in the extensive distribution networks comprising 152 full-fledged Islamic banking branches. The ability of these Islamic banks to offer competitive products with attractive and innovative features has attracted both Muslim and non-Muslim population in the country. This has also spurred non banking institutions such as savings institutions to introduce Shariah compliance product to appeal to a wider consumer base. According to Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia, there are 21 Islamic banks who have subscribed to their membership. The list of Islamic banks is provided as follows: Affin Islamic Bank Berhad Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad Al-Rajhi Banking Investment Corporation Berhad AmIslamic Bank Berhad Asian Finance Bank Berhad Bank Islam Malaysia Bank Berhad Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bank Berhad Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bank Berhad Bank Simpanan Malaysia Berhad CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad EONCAP Islamic Bank Berhad Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Berhad Maybank Islamic Bank Berhad OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia Public Islamic Bank Berhad RHB Islamic Bank Berhad Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad Unicorn International Islamic Bank Berhad As evident from the list above, there are 21 banks offering Islamic products in the Malaysian market. Confidence is clearly shown on the Malaysian market with international banking powerhouse presence such as Standard Chartered group and Kuwait Finance House. The Governor of Central Bank Malaysia recently declared the central banks intention to lure larger overseas banks to provided services that comply with Muslim tenets. As a sweetener to any potential deal, the central bank has raised foreign ownership limits at local Islamic banks and insurance companies to 70%. Rising oil wealth has turned the Islamic banking into an industry with assets with $1 trillion in assets globally. The central bank is doing its utmost, implementing initiatives to explore this relatively untapped market. In addition to the changes in foreign ownership limits, the central bank is also offering tax breaks for Islamic products and has relaxed rules for Islamic banks to trade in foreign currencies (Aziz, 2006). This is seen as a major breakthrough because the foreign currencies dealing is tightly regulated due to the impact Malaysian market suffered in the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. In July 2010, Khazanah, Malaysia sovereign wealth fund made its debut in Singapore debt market issuing sukuk or Islamic bonds worth $1.5 billion, three times the size of Singapore sukuk market until now. This further strengthened the Malaysian government efforts to promote Islamic banking products both domestically and internationally.

Miss Saigon Essay

Miss Saigon is a tragic story of love that is set in 1970’s Saigon during the Vietnam War. It is based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. The story begins in a shady Vietnamese club called â€Å"Dreamland†. The audience is introduced to Kim who is on her first day as a bargirl. Upon entering the stage, she is greeted by the Engineer who owns the club. In the back, the audience can see the other bargirls getting ready for that night and laughing at Kim’s inexperience. It goes back to the front to show U.S. Marines spending time with some prostitutes. The audience is then introduced to Chris Scott and his friend John Thomas who tries very hard to persuade Chris to spend some â€Å"quality time† with one of the girls. In this bar, there is a Miss Saigon title that all of the bar girls vie for, and the winner is given to a soldier for the night. This is the chance for the bar girls to make an American fall in love with them and take them away from Saigon. It is during this contest that Chris first sees Kim. He perceives innocence in her that all of the other girls don’t have. Although a different girl is crowned Miss Saigon, John sees that his friend liked Kim, and so he buys a room from the engineer for Chris and Kim. After some reluctance, they both enter the room. After spending a night together, Chris realizes that he has fallen in love with Kim. It is apparent that she has fallen in love with him too because when he tries to give her money, she refuses it. They both promise their love to each other and Chris tells her that he will take care of her. Chris takes some time off to spend with Kim. They get married, but during the wedding Thuy who is Kim’s cousin comes in and is very angry because he was engaged since they were thirteen. She lets him know that she does not have any feelings for him and that their arranged marriage no longer exists because her parents are dead. Chris then promises Kim to take her with him when he leaves to return to America. Three years late r there is a street parade in Ho Chi Ming City which used to be Saigon. Thuy tells his soldiers to find Kim. She has been hiding in a poor area waiting for Chris to come back. The audience then sees Chris in America with his new wife Ellen. Both Ellen and Kim are very much in love with Chris. Thuy has ordered the Engineer to find Kim, and he brings her to him. He proposes to marry her again, but she refuses. She shows Tam, Chris’s son to him, and Thuy becomes very angry. He is about to kill Tam with a knife but Kim kills him and runs away with Tum. She runs to the Engineer and tells him what she did, he is very unhelpful until he realizes that Tum is Chris’s son. The Engineer’s main mission during the whole play is to get a passport to the United States. He sees Tum as his perfect chance. Thus, he agrees to help Kim and the boy. In the second part of Miss Saigon, the audience is reintroduced to John who is now working with an organization that reconnects children made during the war to their American fathers. John informs Chris that Kim is still alive and this relieves him. John also lets Chris know that he has a little boy and that he should go to Bangkok with Ellen. Because of this, Chris tells Ellen about Tam and Kim. Once again, the Engineer has a shady club in which Kim dances. This is where John finds her and tells her that Chris is back. He attempts to tell her that Chris is married, but Kim is too happy to listen to him and tells her small boy that his father is back. She truly believes that Chris will take them back to America with him. John can’t bear to tell her the truth and instead swears to bring Chris back. The Engineer doubts Chris will come and tells Kim to go find him herself. Thuy’s ghost appears to Kim and he tells her that Chris will betray her as she was betrayed on the night of the fall of Saigon. With this, Kim has a flashback to what actually happened last night. Chris was called to the embassy, and after telling her to pack and leaving his gun with her, he leaves. After entering the embassy the gates are closed and there is a call from Washington for the instant evacuation of the Americans that remained. No more Vietnamese are allowed into the gates. Chris tries very hard to leave the embassy to look for Kim, but John ultimately punches him and he is put into the last helicopter leaving. Kim promises to wait for him. After the flashback, the audience see’s Kim excitedly dressed in her wedding clothes and she goes to where Chris is staying. She finds Ellen and thinks it is John’s wife, but Ellen tells her she is Chris’s wife. Kim, however, does not believe her. She pleads with Ellen to take her boy so that he won’t grow up in the streets. Ellen does not agree, and tells her that they will help him, but that she wants her own children with Chris. Devastated, Kim runs out of the room. Afterwards, John and Chris arrive to find Ellen and she tells them that Kim has visited and knows everything. Chris and John feel terrible that they weren’t able to break it less painfully to her. Ellen makes Chris choose her or Kim, and he reassures her that what they have was much stronger than what he had with Kim. He decides to support his son and estranged wife by sending them money from America, but not actually taking them with him. John cautions that Kim will not let them leave without Tam. They leave to tell Kim what they have decided. Back in her room, the audience sees Kim speaking to Tam. She tells him he has a father now and should be really happy. In her room, Kim tells Tam that he should be happy because he now has a father. She tells him that she cannot go with him but will be watching over him (â€Å"The Sacred Bird†/†Little God Of My Heart†/†This Is The Hour (reprise)†). Chris, Ellen, John, and the Engineer arrive just outside her room. The Engineer comes in to take Tam outside to introduce Tam to his father. While this is happening, Kim steps behind a curtain and shoots herself. As she falls to the floor, everyone rushes into the room at the sound of the gunshot and find Kim mortally wounded. Chris holds Kim in his arms and asks what she has done and why she did this, as she explains that the gods have guided him to his son. Chris begs her not to die, as she asks him to hold her one last time. After sharing one final kiss, Kim says her final words to Chris, echoing what he said to her from the song â€Å"Sun and Moon† (â€Å"How in one night have we come so far?†) and she dies in his arms (â€Å"Finale†).

How War Is Necessary Essay

Mr.Weirzbowski-English 10 War has been with mankind for many millenniums. The reasons for wars in mankind’s history have all been various, however one big reason for war is that countries want to grow bigger, by taking over one another. Throughout history, rulers would not be satisfied with the amount of land that they had or wanted to spread their beliefs around the world. So, they did it by trying to take over others. However, some didn’t want to give up their land or change, so they fought. Fighting these wars are, however, necessary no matter what people believe. This is because fighting them and winning will stop them from controlling others. Some wars that stopped countries from controlling others are the second world war, the war in Vietnam, and the Revolutionary war. However, there are claims that the Vietnam war could’ve been avoided, but there would’ve been consequences for going to war. War is necessary because it’s a way to try to stop countries from dominating o ver others and controlling them. There are many ways that war has stopped countries from controlling one another. Firstly, the Vietnamese war was necessary because, the war would’ve stopped the spreading of communism to neighboring asian countries, also known as the â€Å"domino theory†. The idea of communism started with the election of Ho Chi Minh in North Vietnam. Kennedy wasn’t concerned with Vietnam until Lyndon B Johnson called Ngo Dinh Diem the â€Å"Winston Churchill of Asia† because, Diem was the only one trying to resist the communists and Johnson promised to help him. Noam Chomsky, a US philosopher, stated that if a country better its economy due to communism, neighboring countries would try to improve their economy using communism, as seen when China influenced North Vietnam. Had communism been successfully spread to South Vietnam, then Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. Also, other countries would’ve lost faith in the US for not prote cting S.Vietnam in their time of need. This shows that the US needed to fight this war to stop the communistic ideals from spreading to countries and to keep the confidence of other countries around the world, so that they could help the US when the US needs them. The second world war as necessary  because, it showed how the world responds to a fascist ruler controlling a major country, trying to claim the world. It also showed how the US would react when attacked by another major country. Hitler want to create a â€Å"master race†, which was blonde-haired, blue-eyed people. So when he came into power, he had convinced the german people that jewish people were less than humans and should be treated as such. Thus he started taking over various countries in Europe and started killing jewish people to start his plan. While that was happening, the US was maintaining neutrality and supplying Britain, Russia, and China with weapons until the japanese attacked pearl harbor on December 1941. The US then declared war on Japan and fought in the Pacific theater until August 15th, 1945. Had the axis powers won World War II, North America and South America would be surrounded by dictators ready to destroy democracy and take over the world. Also, H itler’s plan would’ve probably been completed and the world would’ve been comprised of blonde, blue-eyed people. However, the war told us that when we are concerned with individualism, we become selfish and corrupted or under the influence of corrupted selfish nations. This war was needed because, when one tries to dominate and take over another country, we become blinded and end falling. We need teamwork to stay strong in the world. Finally, the Revolutionary War was necessary because, it allowed rights normally granted by the king, to be for every single individual. It also sparked other revolutions, along with stopping Britian from controlling the colonies. When the French Indian War concluded, King George III made the Proclamation of 1763, which stated that no colonists may settle west of the Appalachian and anyone other than Indians there had to move from the area. The Boston Massacre also brought them closer to the revolution, because British soldiers killed 5 civilians for calling them names. The Stamp Act of 1765, Townshend Act of 1767, and the Tea Act of 1773, were all attempt of Britian to try and control the colonies in North America. However after the war, the Declaration of Independence was signed and Britian let the colonies rule themselves. With this newfound freedom, the colonists were allowed to trade with anyone they wanted, colonize past the Appalachian Mountains, set up a new government and th e British moved out of the colonies. Had the colonists lost the war, the US would probably still be under British rule to this day. Even with all this evidence that war is necessary, people still see war as a terrible thing. Going back to the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese War could’ve been avoided because the US could’ve stayed neutral and let the problem in Vietnam blow over, instead of sacrificing 50,000 men. The war would’ve been avoided and Vietnam would’ve became a communist country along with possibly, part of Asia. Robert McNamara, defense chief under John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson, says that he doubted Vietnam would let China or Russia use them as a base, but that’s the US had feared at the time. The US had feared that China or Russia would use them as a base they could use to control more parts of Asia. The Vietnamese could’ve probably fought the war themselves and probably resisted the communistic ways of China and/or Russia. The belief about if war is needed in the world or not cuts both ways. Either that it helps bring everlasting peace in the world closer or it’s useless and all it does is kill off innocent people. War is a big thing that stops countries from trying to gain total global domination or keeping them at bay until they give up. Until that happens, there will be allies who will attack at a moments notice when a country is trying to bite off more than it can chew.There are so many more examples of how war is necessary in the world that this would be a lot longer than it is already. The concept of war may seem bad, but in the end, it’s all worth it.