Ithaca :: Religion Greece Greeks Essays

Ithaca When you set out on your journey to Ithaca pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.' Constantinos Kavafis, Ithaca (1911) Ithaca, a Greek island in the lonean Sea, was the island that gave birth to Ulysses, one of the smartest Greek commanders, who through his invention of the `Trojan Horse' led the Greeks to a victory over the Trojans. Immediately after this victory, Ulysses set out on his journey to return to Ithaca. To return home, to kiss his wife, to see his now grown-up son, to meet his friends and his parents, all these were Ulysses' goals. 'To arrive there is your ultimate goal' as Kavafis states later in the poem. Like Ulysses, every person has his or her own goals and therefore is immersed in a journey towards the accomplishment of this goal. However, it is possible for someone to be in a journey without an `ultimate goal' in mind. More often than not, this goal will appear in the way. It was during Christmas 1992, that I received a very special present from my grandmother, Orthodoxia. She had knitted a sweater especially for me. She had started knitting this sweater, as I later found out, because she wanted me to have something from her. And what's better than a hand-knitted sweater? It could keep me warm during chilly winter nights while reminding me of my relationship with my grandmother. Having as her goal to offer me a present to remember her, she created an original sweater, which for me will always be unique. On the blue background of the sweater, two familiar figures are shaped, the figures of a grandmother holding her grandson in her warm embrace. I have it in my wardrobe at home, even though it is way too small for me to wear, and whenever I see it, it reminds me of my beloved grandmother. I remember her smile whenever she saw me, the way her face lit up when she recognized I was happy and the worry and eagerness to help when I was feeling dispirited. Alt hough my grandmother passed away six years ago, her memory is still alive through this sweater. Having a goal is not, however, a necessary condition for creation. In the documentary 'Dancemaker', for example, the featured dancer does not always start dancing with a goal in his mind, as Ulysses and my grandmother both did.

Weber and Marx: Inequality

Marx vs. Weber in today’s society Marx and Weber have not lived within the same social conditions we are facing today, and one question that may arise is, whose approach to social class and inequality is more compatible with today’s society? Taking a closer look at Weber’s analogy, and the concept of â€Å"life chances†, one may attempt to conclude that his approach is more flexible and fitting in today’s society. Weber offers a micro level analysis of inequality at the individual’s level, which makes his approach more versatile.Furthermore this approach can explain the changes in regards to class determination by the market situation over time through the concept of life chances. Marx is known for putting forth a theory of classes that is centered on economical grounds where â€Å"society [†¦] is [†¦] splitting up into two great hostile camps [†¦]: bourgeoisie and proletariat † (Marx, 1978, p. 474). Belonging to either class will depend on whether you own the means of production or not; from this system stems inequality.Weber takes a step further then Marx, and discusses other social forces then economical one, that influences social class and inequality. Weber put central importance to the concept of power, â€Å"the chance of a man or a number of men to realize their own will in a communal action even against the resistance of other who are participating in the action† (Weber, 2003, p. 95). The way power is distributed creates â€Å"three discrete but interrelated realms [classes, status groups and parties]† (Weber, 2003, p. 94).These three dimensions in relation to power are used to explain inequality. Distribution of power among classes leads to unequal access to material resources since classes are â€Å"purely economically determined† (Weber, 2003, p. 99). As for status power, one’s â€Å"social estimation of honor† (Weber, 2003, p. 99) determines the capac ity to exercise power upon those who view him or her as a superior. Class and Status power â€Å"influence one another and they influence the legal order and are in turn influence by it† (Weber, 2003, p. 99).Parties on the other hand, focus on gaining social power that enables them to have influence on decision-making. From Marx’s Manifesto of the communist party (1978) one can concluded that the Bourgeois and the proletariat are mutually dependent on one another, but this does not make them equal in a capitalist society. Weber does agree that the capitalist society and the â€Å"economy has a particularly determinative impact on the social order and power† (Weber, 2003, p. 94). However Weber points out that individual still have agency and â€Å"a relative autonomy to culture and politics† (Weber, 2003, p. 94).Hence, the determination of class-situation by the market situation cannot be exclusive to Marx view based on the relationship to the means of pro duction. Weber’s puts forth a concept of â€Å"life chances† which entails that even the dominated still have a scoop of choices. In today’s society, these choices have expanded and become more equal. For example, today’s market is seen to be a knowledge-based market, where higher education and skill set is given more value. Those in lower classes also have a possibility to compete in the labour market since higher education is becoming more accessible to everyone.Weber’s approach gains versatility by looking at the role of social action and therefore takes into consideration an individual’s â€Å"rationally motivated adjustments of interest† (Weber, 2003, p. 97). Marx’s approach focuses too much on the economical conditions, and although it may still be relevant today economy, it fails to accurately predicted other dimensions of life that have influenced social class and inequality. A shift to a knowledge base labour market an d increase in higher education accessibility has improved individuals â€Å"life chance†.However upon putting forth the argument that individuals have more choices now then before, one may questions the true intention of these choices. It could be, as Marx may suggest, an illusion of choice set forth by the dominant classes to prevent a revolution from the dominated class. Reference: Marx, K. and Friedrich E. (1978). Manifestation of the Communist Party. The Marx-Engels Reader, (2nd ed), edited by Robert C. Tuker. 473-483. Weber, M. (2003) Class, Status, Party. Social Theory: the Roots and Branches, edited by Peter Kivisto. 95-100.

Essay on Customer Intimacy Mancinis Char House - 610 Words

Mancinis Char House off West 7th Street in St. Paul, Minnesota has been a local tradition for over 65 years, what is their secret? Customer intimacy. The founder of Mancinis Char House, Nick Mancini believed in excelling in customer intimacy. This kept people coming back week after week for over 65 years. Throughout my paper I will give you a little history of Mancinis and how customer intimacy, target marketing, competitive advantage and distinctive competence advantage kept Mancinis in business for over 65 years. In 1948 Nick Mancini decided to open up a 3.2 bar with the help of his parents, Mancinis of St. Paul. He served a couple hot Italian dishes along with 3.2 alcohols for the first 20 years of business. He decided in 1968 to†¦show more content†¦Paul natives that are of Nicks generation or the next of kin; this is the target market for Mancini’s Char House. He treated everyone like a friend no matter who they were a celebrity, politician or someone who lived down the street. If you were in the mood for a little pasta topped with parmesan cheese he would go back to the kitchen and boil you pasta even though it wasnt on the menu. Customer-intimate companies dont deliver what the market wants but what a specific customer wants. The customer-intimate company makes a business of knowing the people it sells to and the products and services they need. Nick Mancini made a very successful business out of knowing what his customers specifically wanted. Mancinis has always offered choice grade steaks at competitive prices. An eight ounce sirloin steak dinner is $21.95 (includes a side) at Mancinis. Some other popular steak houses throughout St. Paul today are Kincaids they offers a petite filet mignon for $39.95. The Strip Club offers a six ounce filet for $42.00. Bennetts Chop Rail house offers a ten ounce choice grilled sirloin for $19.00. Mancinis prices give them a competitive advantage over the competition. Nick Mancini and his sons Pat and John Mancini who helped their father run the family business gives Mancinis a distinctive competence advantage over the competition. Everyone that comes to Mancini’s receives the Mancini treatment. No one is