Comitatus & Chivalry

Comitatus and Chivalry are two concepts that resounded all throughout the Medieval Ages. However, while the two are closely related, there is a clear difference between them. Between the two, Chivalry is perhaps more recognized, but not necessarily more widely-practiced. Bennett in his book, Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare, traces the origin of Comitatus to reign of Emperor Diocletian where Germanic and Roman commanders were assigned a comitatus, soldiers who held â€Å"direct allegiance to their individual commander, rather than to the army as a whole.(2001, 81)The term later on evolved to describe the dynamics that exists between a warrior and his Lord. Comitatus holds that while both are still in the battlefield, actively fighting, neither lord nor warrior can leave the scene of battle for any reason. Both entered the battle, and both should leave at the same time. This may be where the â€Å"leave no man behind† phrase comes from. This agreement that exists betwe en Germanic Lords and his subordinates is believed to have given rise to the feudal system, where the serfs owed loyalty to their feudal lord.Some scholars maintain that there is no break between the original comitatus of the Roman Empire and the vassals of the Middle Ages (Powicke, 1949, 92) Chivalry describes the virtues practiced by the knights of the Middle Ages. It is hard to place a specific definition to chivalry, but it is a moral and social code which advocated honor, courage, and respect. When we talk of chivalry, we conjure images of a knight in shining armor, ready and able to rescue us from our dire circumstances (Frantzen, 204, 1)Comitatus is a code that binds soldiers to their commanders, while chivalry is a code that binds men to the principles of honor and virtue, wherever they may be. While both concepts refer to relationships and values, comitatus is more about loyalty and courage in battle, while chivalry is more about loyalty and courage in all aspects of life. Chivalry presupposes comitatus, but comitatus does not necessarily mean chivalry.

Charles Martin in Uganda Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Charles Martin in Uganda - Case Study Example Or is it more appropriate to appoint another person in his place? We analyze the case and recommend that Green should retain Martin because of his knowledge of the local business conditions. He has developed a good network with key people in the Government. Besides he would be able to induct any new entrants who may be deputed by HG into the Ugandan project. However, we need to issue a cautionary note to Martin. He should be immediately asked to refrain from all unethical practices and he needs to report any unfair demands directly to Green so that the issues can be tackled with due regard to the cultural sensitivity. Additionally, Martin needs to develop the role of a functional manager who can cross fertilize ideas and transplant best practices from the host nation to the local country. Introduction The case discusses the cultural issues that Hydro Generation (HG) has faced in Uganda and the decision point faced by the vice-president Green. Martin as the liaison officer for HG has proved to be extremely capable and has completed all the tasks on time. At this juncture, Green ponders over some of the methods adopted by Martin. While some of them seem to go against the stronger views held by American companies, some of the approaches seem to be completely unethical and unfair. Under these circumstances, Green needs to decide on the next crucial phase of the project: should he continue to retain Martin as the chief liaison officer overseeing the entire project? Case Analysis Question 1 has to do with an understanding of cultural aspects of doing business in Uganda. We have insights from the case here. Uganda has largely been a developing nation thus far with the progress not percolating down to the lower strata of society. It has not had a stable government though Multinational companies and their operations are well encouraged. Some of the cultural aspects points to a backward, superstitious nature wherein tribal sacrifices and soothsayers seem to hold sway ove r cold logic and reasoning. Culture could be defined as a system of knowledge and standards adopted for perceiving, believing, evaluating and acting (Allaire & Firsirotu, 1984). Culture is a system of socially transmitted patterns of behavior that helps people relate to their environment. It develops gradually over time and is often influenced by social and economic progress also. A simpler definition has been put forward by Hofstede (1984) who described it as a collective programming of the mind that helps distinguish one category of people from another. From the case, we also observe certain patterns of Ugandan society. They tend to favor nepotism and are largely driven by a commitment to their family and kin. A stronger bonding and accountability towards the social circle seems to take precedence over business commitments. Both attributes could affect the operations of a multinational company interested in doing business in Uganda. Firstly, superstitious beliefs could hamper usua l logical decisions that rely on business judgment and analytical outcomes. Obviously, multinational companies would be driven by logic and rationale. They would be offended if superstitious beliefs posed hurdles to business commitments and operations. Martin has however tried to blend in with the locals by adopting their cultural practices and participating in their rituals. This makes a strong point in his favor for he has understood the cultural diversity and sensitivity (Trompenaars,

Quiz Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Quiz - Research Paper Example Allen transferred the possession of the car to the parking garage, while he retained the ownership of the car. The relationship established between Mr. Allen and the Hyatt Regency-Nashville parking garage is not a gift relationship. This is because, it is only the possession of the car which was transferred from Mr. Allen to the parking garage, while the formation of a gift relationship requires that both the ownership of the chattel or property is also transferred, when the possession is transferred from the owner of the property to the trustee (Powell, 273). There are several conditions that must be fulfilled for the establishment of a bailment relationship between the owner and the possessor of the property, for the relationship to qualify as a bailment. First, it is required that the bailee (possessor) of the property must intend to posses the property or the chattel (Powell, 272). Secondly, it is required that the bailee(possessor ) must actually and physically possess the property or chattel that has been transferred from the owner, as opposed to the gift relationship, where the physical chattel can remain with the owner, but the rights and ownership transferred to the trustee (Powell, 272). Therefore, according to the facts of the case Allen V Hyatt Regency-Nashville, a bailment relationship was created between Mr. Allen and the Hyatt Regency-Nashville parking garage, considering the fact that the parking garage had indicated the intention to possess the car parked by Mr. Allen, through the notice "Welcome to Hyatt Regency-Nashville" together with a sign marked "Parking." This way, the public was invited to utilize the parking, an indication of the intent of the commercial parking garage to possess the car. Secondly, the facts of the case meets the second requirement of the law for the fulfillment of a bailment providing that the property or the chattel must be physically possessed by the

Environmental Geochemistry and Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Essay Example Unleaded gasoline has at least 15 hazardous substances including toluene (35%) and is classified as highly volatile and will result in vapour lock where combustion does not take place1. When mixed in water, most of the gasoline could evaporate if the water is open, but much of it cannot evaporate in underground water making a big proportion to dissolve and this will be absorbed by sediments. For aquatic organisms, this product will be quite toxic, depending on their size and resistance capability. Corrective action is necessary starting with site investigation. Hydrocarbon contamination with the groundwater should be stopped immediately. Its discharging point should be plugged and the nearest drains, water bodies should be sealed off, so that further contamination to distant water bodies does not happen. Residents could be evacuated if gasoline has already spread into drinking, using and sewage water or if that is not the case, water supply should be disconnected immediately and alternative water source should be provided. Complete groundwater monitoring should start immediately. Instead of one single action, it is better to perform by-monthly actions to remove all traces of gasoline from ground water, to ensure that dissolved contaminants are effectively vanishing. And groundwater sampling should be done on a regular basis through tracer testing. If widespread presence is detected, human exposure to it should be suspended immediately. Dissolved contamination level should be identified and ecological profile should be drawn, followed by remedial programme identified with the Corrective Action Plan. Public participation may be necessary in the entire operation to some extent. http://www-1.llnl.gov/IPandC/technology/profile/environment/DynamicUndergroundStripping/index.php This method is called Dynamic Underwater Stripping, in which steam drives contaminated water towards extraction wells. Where steam cannot penetrate, electrical heating dries and distils the clays, volcanic rocks and limestone. Heating of the soil also could do the same. It is very difficult to clean the underground contamination and this process is accepted as cost worthy, less cumbersome and minimum time consuming. Cleaning has to be done both above and below the water table. Clay has very low permeability, and the usual pump-and-treat method would be time consuming and more expensive and might not work below water level. Dynamic stripping could work even below water table, and by vacuum extraction, it could remove the gasoline and contaminated water2. This method relies on Steam Injection, Electrical heating, and underground imaging and all have proved very effective and reasonably cheaper. It has many additional advantages like being effective in low permeable soils, being capable of removing contaminant below and above water table. It is not risky to population, because the action is quick and decisive. Question 2: Gasoline (one of the Volatile Organic Compounds) contamination in ground water can cause major health hazards to people and ruin the river and water bodies' ecosystems completely. It can contaminate soil with hazardous results. MTBE in it creates alarming tension whenever leaks happen. Health of all 5,000 populations could be at risk by this environmental hazard, while the

Position Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Position Paper - Essay Example There are a number of causes to such a feeling for example family problems, loss of a loved one, losing faith in your ideal person, underestimating boss or colleagues, neglecting society, or merely moving away from your house. I’m narrating this story according to my experience as a victim of this undesired eradicator ‘Alienation’. Out of many reasons as philosophers suggest, I was suffering from the neglecting attitude of my colleagues at work place from the time I joined in. Being a student, I took a part time job to cover my expenses. Not being part of the permanent staff, I was mostly excluded from conversations and group discussions. Not having anyone to talk to for the entire day frustrated me regardless of my purpose of joining the workplace which was merely to gain work experience and make a little money for myself. I started wondering why such discrimination? What is the actual reason for their unresponsiveness? I never thought I would do this, but I started questioning my purpose of life. I used to ask myself often, who am I? Why am I here? Who am I supposed to be? I couldn’t discuss this with anyone as I, myself was unsure as to what was happening to me. I lost focus from both, my studies as well as work when one of my teachers realized the despair I was going through. He was the one who figured out that I was suffering from the syndrome of alienation. I was made to leave the job and start community work for the time being. According to Amitai Etzioni, a sociology professor from George Washington University, one such social solution of getting rid of the feeling of alienation is the idea of communitarianism (Etzioni, 1990). Along with the community service, I started to study few subjects like art and culture to keep my mind occupied. Soon I became so fond of it, I started to bring my thoughts and ideas on the paper. My interest grew towards the subjects of humanities and I thought of taking it up as my

Cat's Paw Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cat's Paw Theory - Research Paper Example Once the cat burns his paws the monkey runs off with all the chestnuts they had picked up together. Cat’s paw can be defined as a person that uses another person as a tool or dope. This concept was recently used by a judge to make a ruling regarding a human resource issue in courts. A company had fired an employee claiming that the firing was based on bad performance when in reality the motivation was based on discrimination against military personnel. The employee had taken several leaves due to military obligations. The cat paw theory comes in into effect because the supervisors duped the human resource manager into thinking the firing was based on legit reasons when in reality it was based on discrimination. The termination was illegal because it violated the Uniformed Services Employment Rights Act. In order to avoid a ruling against a company based on Theory HR resource managers can take measures to prevent its occurrence. The HR manager should educate himself on all the current anti-discrimination laws and he should ensure that the company’s policies are aligned with the law. Whenever an HR manager is faced with a termination decision the person should never take the word of the supervisor at face value. He is supposed to investigate the situation and eliminate the possibility that the incentive for the termination is based on discriminatory practices. The use of employee evaluations to be performed on a recurrent basis can help an HR manager determine whether the claims of a supervisor are true.

A Focus on the Different Economic Principles and Theories of John M Term Paper

A Focus on the Different Economic Principles and Theories of John M. Keynes - Term Paper Example Keynesian economic principles promote mixed economies in which both the state as well as the private sector will play significant roles. The emergence of Keynesian economics closed the curtain on laissez-faire economics that were based on the idea that markets as well as the private sectors could be able to operate independently without government intervention (Keynes, 1936). Keynesian economists believe in the government's role to level the business environment. State intervention may take the form of tax breaks and government spending with a view of stimulating the economy. In good economic times, government expenditure cuts as well as tax hikes would help curb inflation (Blinder, 2006). This paper advances Keynes’s theory that the best way to ensure economic stability and growth is by active government intervention in the marketplace and monetary policy. Keynesian Principles Keynes differed with the Classical economic theories posing various arguments to disapprove them. Basically, Keynes believed that markets could not automatically attain full-employment equilibrium, but rather, the economy would settle in equilibrium at any given level of unemployment (Blinder, 2006). This implies that the classical principles of non-intervention by government would not apply. For the economy to grow in the correct direction, it would require prodding and this means active government intervention in order to manage the demand level. The Keynesian principles are illustrated on the basis of circular income flow. In case of disequilibrium between income injections and leakages, then, according to classical economists, prices would move to appropriately restore the equilibrium. However, Keynes principles that the output level (National Income) will adjust appropriately in attempt to restore equilibrium (Keynes, 1936). For instance, if, for some reason, there is a rise in income injections, say due to increased government expenditure, an imbalance would result between injections and leakages. Following the resulting extra aggregate demand, firms will tend to employ more persons and this would result in more income within the economy. Some of this income could be spent while some would be saved or remitted in tax. The extra expenditure is likely to prompt most of the firms in that economy to increase their production further creating even more employment opportunities and in turn increasing income within the economy. This process will continue until it finally comes to a stop. It would finally stop since with every increase in income, leakages’ levels also increase (tax, savings and imports). When income injections finally equal the leakages, equilibrium will be restored. This process, according to Keynes is referred to as the Multiplier effect (Blinder, 2006). Keynesian Theories Keynes suggested that it was not a perfect idea to rely on market s in order to attain full employment in the economy. He believed strongly in his view that economies can settle at any given equilibrium. As a result, there couldn’t be automatic changes that could correct equilibrium in the markets. The main theories used to justify the Keynesian view are: The labor market theory (the monetarist theory), the money market theory (market for loan-able fund theory), the Multiplier effect theory and the Keynesian Inflation Theory (Keynes, 1936). Monetarist Theory: The Labor Market To Keynes, wage determination is more complex. First, he pointed out that it nominal wages but not real wages that are often subjected to negotiations between workers and their employers such as in barter relationship. In the first place, it is very difficult to effect nominal wage cuts due