Rommel Rundstedt Controversy Essay -- War, Invasion of France, Normand

There are significant reasons why Field Marshal Rundstedt’s operational concept to defend against the Allied invasion of France was superior to Field Marshal Rommel’s and could have changed the course of the war. Geographically, Rundstedt’s concept provided the Germans the best chance to defeat the Allied advance. Operationally, he accounted for several military and intelligence assessment considerations that gave his plan the edge. From a strategic and political standpoint, had Hitler been willing to negotiate peace, a major Allied defeat in France offered by Rundstedt’s plan presented Germany its last chance to achieve victory. Had Rommel made a proper assessment of the French coastline and countryside, he would have probably sided with Rundstedt. â€Å"It was clear to von Rundstedt that 2,600 kilometers of coastline could not be made impregnable†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ose, 8) In Rundstedt’s view, the best strategy to defend the coast â€Å"called for using an offensive defensive by operating behind the coast strong armored divisions, strictly controlled and flexibly led.† (Ose, 9) Obvious geographic challenges along the coast meant that Rommel’s plan to be decisive with armored divisions would have given the German Army little chance of success. The first major problem with Rommel’s plan was the length of coastline which would have been impossible to defend unless he was lucky enough to determine the exact time and location of attack. The long coastline of France had already overextended German forces and their defenses were growing weaker due to commitments elsewhere in the Europ ean theater. (Cubbage, 149) Even with Rommel’s plan for extensive obstacles along the coast, it seems he â€Å"forgot that a concrete and steel barrier with an exploitable wea... ...epts to defeat the Allied invasion of France. Upon examination of each operational concept, it becomes clear that Rundstedt’s plan would have given the German Army the best chance of success. In the summer of 1944, a decisive victory over Allied forces in France could have drawn Great Britain and the United States to the negotiating table. A decisive victory would have also afforded the Germans more forces on the Eastern Front. More forces in the east could have halted the Soviet advance, and could have brought Stalin to the negotiating table as well. Given those possibilities, we know in hindsight that it would have been unlikely for Hitler or the Allies to accept anything less than total victory. In other words, the operational success offered by Rundstedt’s plan would not have translated into strategic victory given the resolve of Hitler and the Allies.

College halls Essay

College halls are being flooded with adults who are returning to school in their mid-life years. Online colleges have also made it easier for adults to further their educations in the midst of their busy lives. They choose to further their educations for various reasons. Perhaps, moms and dads need more education in order to move forward in their career or maybe the kids are older and mom wants to branch out and start a career. These nontraditional college students face different and more complex challenges than the younger student body. Some other areas of difficulty might include juggling multiple responsibilities or feeling academically out-ranked or inferior. Many colleges offer special services catering to the needs of adult students in order to help them achieve their educational goals. Another more recent issue is the state of the economy. Starting college during an economic slump presents it’s out set of challenges. The Economy The sudden nosedive of the economy has actually caused a surge of adults returning to college. The unemployment rate is on the rise and adults lacking a college degree are being left in the white collar dust of the more employable college graduates. Adults are finding that they have no alternative, but to roll with the changing tide of our economy and technology. This includes returning to college and earning a degree in order to find gainful employment. Some choose traditional colleges and many more choose online colleges. A few employers are wary of online colleges. They believe the student is paying for a degree rather than paying for an education. Slowly, the doubt is dwindling and in many cases employers will contribute financially to employees who are choosing to further their education. Employers are beginning to realize the dedication and worth of employees who are willing to go that extra mile. (Armour, 2008) Adults who return to college are faced with many concerns that their younger counterparts are oblivious to. Two major issues are finances and family responsibilities. In many cases, adults have financial obligations such as mortgage payments, care payments, and providing for their families. They must continue to earn a living and allotting time for family commitments while attending college. Sometimes these are single parents and sometimes they aren’t, but either way, if they have families then their lives become a juggling act. There are also other concerns. (Benahoff, 1993) Women with families often experience feelings of guilt in regards to their children. They feel like their shirking their parental responsibilities. They also worry about the cost of childcare and the quality of care that their children are receiving. Women are also concerned about maintaining their roles as wives and mothers while attending college. (Benahoff, 1993) Men tend to be fearful of failing and they doubt their ability to reach their goals. Since men who return to college in order to change careers they experience a great deal of anxiety. They have responsibilities to their family and there is no room for failure since men usually view themselves as the providers. Men also experience frustration in dealing with the loss of time and the increased expense of attending college. (Benahoff, 1993) Attending School with Children It’s common for adult college students to feel uncomfortable in an environment geared towards younger students. Many adult students have children nearing college age or already in college which can increase their feelings of awkwardness. As parents they are used to being in charge rather than on equal ground with young people. College kids usually have active social lives on and off campus while adult’s social lives revolve around their families and coworkers. Adults have limited time for socializing as well because of their responsibilities. These factors can intensify feelings of being out of their comfort zone. (Benahoff, 1993) Adult college students often lack confidence in their learning and study skills. They find that methods of teaching and learning have changed a great deal since they’ve been out of school. That can be an intimidating experience for adults. On a more positive note, adults take their studies seriously. Their choice to attend college mid-life was a huge step. They perceive college as an investment and as such, there is a certain amount of risk involved. As a result they are focused and extremely motivated. (Benahoff, 1993) College students of the younger generation are very social and it’s no different when it comes to their study habits. They often study regularly and work on assignments with their peers. Adults, however, often prefer to work and study independently because of their multiple responsibilities, busy schedules and time restraints. They don’t have time to linger on campus. (Benahoff, 1993) College Access and their Contribution to Success Admissions counselors should be readily available to advise adult students on courses and degrees that might be appropriate for them based on their current careers, areas of interest, or goals for the future. Providing this service would give adult students the reassurance they need that they are making the best choice by returning to college. Colleges that provide financial aid advisors trained specifically to work with adult students provide an enormous service for what can seem like an overwhelming process. Financial concerns are generally a key issue with adult students and they need the guidance and advice of someone knowledgeable about their specific areas of financial concern. Student advisors to offer suggestions regarding such topics as time management, study techniques or any other areas of concern would help to give adult students the confidence they need. Just knowing that there is someone they can turn to for advice when the going gets tough can provide much needed encouragement. Several traditional colleges offer online courses and access to resources such as online libraries. There are also a growing number of online colleges. Online availability provides easier access to adult students who are unable to attend classes on campus. In addition, many traditional colleges offer evening classes or classes in various locations off campus. This makes it easier for adults who may not be able to attend classes during the day and for those who need a closer location. Colleges who work with communities and employers to stress the importance and the benefits of higher education for adults can provide that extra push for those who are considering advancement, but haven’t yet made the commitment. When they join forces with communities and employers, colleges can also learn how to better accommodate adult students. (Lumina, 2008) Academic and Personal Keys to Success There are steps adults can take to ensure that their college experience will be successful and that they will reach the goals they have set for themselves. These keys to success encompass both the academic and personal lives of students. Academically, there are some specific things adults can do to aid them in adjusting to a college environment. It would be wise to take on a light course load for the first semester. This will enable a gradual transition for students. It will allow time for them to settle in to a routine and to find effective ways of managing their time, so they are able to keep up with coursework. Students who balance their course load by limiting the number of difficult courses in each semester and by allowing flexibility in class times find adjusting to college much easier. Students shouldn’t hesitate to seek support or advice from their student advisor if problems arise. Enlist the support of one or two classmates who will give you the assignments if you miss a class and offer to do the same for them. Students should be sure to keep up with their reading and assignments. They should develop good study habits early on. If there’s a problem with a specific class or assignment then ask to meet with the professor in order to clarify things. These steps are no guarantee of success, but they are steps in the right direction. (Office of Student Development and Counseling Center, 2005) On a personal level there are also some steps to success. First and foremost, adult students should have confidence in themselves and their abilities. While they may be lacking in academic experience, adults are ahead of the younger students in life experience. It’s essential that adult students get their priorities in order. They should gather support on the home-front, so they can concentrate on their studies while they’re in school. If need be enlist the help of friends or family to run errands or help with child care. Make sure time is set aside for family. Adult students can even involve their family members in their study time. Younger children can work on a quiet activity like coloring or drawing whiles the parent studies. A spouse or teenage child can quiz mom or dad if they’re studying for a test. Most importantly, adult students should take time out for themselves. Taking time to relax and reflect on the days events is essential. Everyone needs time to unwind and rest mentally as well as physically. (Office of Student Development and Counseling Center, 2006) Returning to college can be an enormous and seemingly impossible undertaking for adults who are in the middle of living their lives. It may not be the right choice for everyone, but for those who do choose to further their education there are wonderful benefits. A college degree may lead to career advancement that could result in a higher standard of living or it could provide a college education for their children. Adult students are role models for their own children as well as younger college students. Achieving one’s goals, regardless of age, is something to be proud of. Works Cited Armour, S. (2008). Classrooms filled with returning adults. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from USA Today: http://www. usatoday. com/money/economy/employment/2003-06-12-backtoschool_x. htm Benahoff, J. M. (1993, November 11). Educational Opportunities, Developmental Challenges, Understanding Nontraditional College Students. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from ERIC Education Resource Information Center: http://eric. ed. gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/13/2e/33. pdf Lumina. (2008). What We Know About Adult Learners. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from Lumina: http://www. luminafoundation. org/research/what_we_know_about_adult_learners. html#dimension1sub3 Office of Student Development and Counseling Center. (2006, January 13). Making the Adjustment School. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from Office of Student Development and Counseling Center: http://www. lsus. edu/sdcc/adults/making. asp Office of Student Development and Counseling Center. (2005, July 21). So, I’m a student again after all these years. Retrieved November 20, 2008, from Office of Student Development and Counseling Center: http://www. lsus. edu/sdcc/adults/so. asp

Philosophy Reflection Essay

This was my first major introduction into the study of philosophy, and I can honestly say that it has had a major impact on my belief system. Many of my views have been changed and my overall view on life is much different than it was five months ago. To me, the two most interesting works were the Tao and The Mind’s I. The Tao describes a really interesting way of life. Of all the philosophies we’ve read, it is the simplest and most beautiful. Instead of scanning for hidden meanings and analyzing all parts of life, Laozi just tells us to live life. Do no more than you have to do, but do everything you have to do. He tells us not to worry about death and just live life. I honestly think very simple and peaceful way of living can bring us much more happiness than we have now in our current society. However, the only way it can be implemented is if everyone follows the Tao, and that is nearly impossible in our current society. We should honestly try to live simpler lives and see the beauty of everyday things. The other work that really impacted me was The Mind’s I. I’m not sure if it qualifies as a single work, but there were several important themes that really interested me and changed some of my views. The section that really interested me the most was the section describing intelligent machines and animals, and their relationship to humans. I had always considered humans superior to animals due to their intelligence and ability to communicate. I never thought too much about the idea of intelligent animals and even machines and their relationship to humans. An intelligent machine or animal that can communicate definitely would be on the same evolutionary level as humans, and thus there could be no way to justify creating an intelligent robotic servant or helper without harkening back to the ideology that prompted slavery. Also, destruction of this machine or animal would be equivalent to murder. However, I still so no moral objection to creating an intelligent robot, as long as we give it its own freedom, just as we would to one of our children. Its may be considered playing God, but if we are his greatest creations, we should have the right to test our limits. Only through a recreation of consciousness done and understood by us can we begin to understand our own consciousness as well as ourselves. I had never really thought about technology in this way and never seriously questioned the origin of my consciousness, so the Mind’s I really forced me to think about life in a different way. Throughout the term, I not only changed and reconsidered many of my views; I discovered things that I subconsciously believed without really thinking about it. My beliefs not only changed, I discovered beliefs that I never knew I had. Some of these views surfaced when reading certain works like The Mysterious Stranger and Nietzsche. Although these two works didn’t change my deep-set views that much, it was interesting to see my instinctual beliefs get challenged. I discovered I was a pretty moderate thinker, but these readings caused many of my views on life to change. However, I still disagreed with many of the views expressed in class discussions with certain works, like the Tao. But then I realized that the Tao is designed to have different meanings to everyone who reads it so they could find their own way of life and thus doesn’t lend itself well to class discussions. I saw that the way philosophy has evolved over the years mirrors the way society has changed throughout history. The older philosophies that we’ve read, like the Tao and Plato’ work, seem to try to tell us how to live our lives to get the most happiness and satisfaction out of it, and how to find the way or see the light. The more modern philosophies seem to disregard the idea of a true path and tell us how to live in the best way, but they don’t guarantee happiness from it. The most interesting pieces for me were a mix of the modern and older philosophies, like Nietzsche and Socrates’ Apology (I guess because he lived in a ancient but modern society). Even though they were completely different and I completely disagreed with one of them, they were much more compelling to me. One important thing that I learned is that I hate reading about something that I agree on, I dislike having my views â€Å"proven†? by another writer and rather read new ideas and opinions. From all the texts read and discussions we’ve had this year, it’s hard to highlight just three things that I learned. One of the most stimulating texts to me was The Circular Ruins. Especially when read right after Is God a Taoist, this simple story made me reconsider all my beliefs on existence and God. Just like the main character was, we are kept in the dark about our condition, where we came from and how we exist. We claim an all-mighty God as our creator, and call ourselves superior beings in his image. However, whose to say that we are not just insignificant nothings, created by another being of no importance. Would that make us less real and important? From this story I learned to stop attaching importance and purpose to everything I do. Maybe there is a reason we don’t know where we come from; perhaps we don’t want to know. Another important lesson came from Reservation Blues. The main characters all had to deal with finding a cultural identity while trying to escape the trap of the white man. The only ones who made it out were the ones who had a strong cultural identity. They knew themselves and identified with their past before they attempted to escape the reservation. Victor and Junior either tried to ignore their past or couldn’t come to terms with their heritage. They tried to escape before they were ready, and couldn’t cope with the failure. The book’s point, despite the suicide and Victor’s destruction, was amazingly positive, it showed that if you come to terms with your past and yourself you can overcome any obstacle set against you, but you must have this understanding or you will destroy yourself. From The Razor’s Edge I learned a lot about the purpose of life from each of the vastly different characters. At first, it seems like the point of the story is that there is a difference between what we want and what makes us happy and fulfilled. Suzanne, Gray and Elliot all got what they wanted yet all seem to live unhappy, unfulfilled lives. Further inspection showed that they all are living the life that they fully wanted and expected to live, and they are perfectly content. Isabel wanted both Larry and high society type of life, and thus is disappointed with her life because she couldn’t have both. Larry didn’t know what he wanted out of life, so he took basically a timeout from the real world, went into seclusion and discovered what he wanted out of life. Now he, knowing full well what he wants, is the most satisfied of all the characters. The lesson to be learned is that happiness is completely relative, and thus you cannot call anyone a failure unless he considers himself one. Also, it’s all right to take some time out of the real world and relax, take a step back and see what you really want to do next. In the end, this class really has changed my views on the best kind of life. I still believe that you need to live the type of life that will make you the happiest and most satisfied, but I don’t think that most people know what type of life that is. If you don’t have a passion, don’t force yourself into any profession. Explore the world and find something that really interests you otherwise you will get forced into a miserable life that you hate. If you have a passion, you have to follow it. You have to come in terms with who you are; understand and remember your past and childhood. We have to examine our lives to discover what we really want, then try to find it. We must simplify our actions, and we have to stop overanalyzing other’s actions and words. We have to lose our ego and sense of shame, and stop caring what people think of you. This is the simplest way to live and live happily, without having to adjust your actions to fit what other people expect from you. We have to stop fearing death and keep on living life in the happiest possible way. This will be the happiest, simplest and best life for everyone.

Infomation essays

Infomation essays The introduction of the computer has created a new type of terrorism known as informational terrorism, which presents a threat, equal to or greater than physical terrorism. E-mail bombs and attacks on internet servers are the lowest forms of informational terrorism in terms of destruction. Higher forms of informational warfare include using the internet as a catalyst to produce physical terrorism on a higher scale. The national security establishment is concerned with a new form of conflict; informational warfare.(Devost, 1) The Department of Defense definition of terrorism is "the calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological." (Research, 1) While in physical terrorism, the perpetrator must come in contact with the target, in informational terrorism the perpetrator only needs a computer connection. Not only are the tools of information terrorism more accessible but the implications can be more devastating. In conjunction with the Internet and the infancy of its laws, the criminal justice system has fallen behind with its vague set of incoherent laws. Terroristic violence, as portrayed in Tom Clancys Clear and Present Danger, presents a serious threat to the U.S. which should be dealt not only with caution and security, but also in conjunction with response. Identifying international terrorists and their networks providing warning so that protective or deterrent measures can be taken, and gathering information on terrorist acts require a major U.S. intelligent effort. (Wilcox, 1) In Tom Clancys Clear and Present Danger, information is not correctly distributed to U.S. agents causing underestimation of enemies. To rectify the drug problem initiated by Columbia, both the United States and Columbia use ph ...

bla essays

bla essays The democracy we have in America today is very complex. This democracy starts out with political parties whose main purpose is to gain control of the government by winning elections Appelbaum and Chambliss(1997:366). In the United States, unlike in most other democracies, there are only two political parties with any substantial influence over government policies Appelbaum and Chambliss (1997:366). Third parties are also apparent in elections. These third parties are often successful in smaller elections, but when we are dealing with national elections it is very difficult for the third party to survive the bigger two due to the lack of funding and publicity of the PACs and other interest groups. However, third parties serve a very good purpose. They provide us with more candidates giving us more choices which is what democracy is about. According to my class notes (lecture on government) third parties are sometimes chosen when people are opposed to the candidates from the other two parties. Third parties stand as a sign of choice as well. Voting for a third party is also seen as voting for a better selection of candidates rather than voting for the usual two candidates from the other parties. The president of the United States is not chosen on the popular vote of the people alone but on the Electoral College whose vote is determined by the popular vote of each state Appelbaum and Chambliss (1997:367). This Electoral College is in a sense a vote of the people but at the same time it keeps bigger states from becoming to powerful overwhelming the smaller states. The United States also has three branches of government the legislative, judicial and executive branches. The constitution of the United States provides a system of checks and balances Appelbaum and Chambliss (1997:369). This system of checks and balances pu...

HR Training And Development M Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

HR Training And Development M - Research Paper Example First of all, it is relevant to analyze specific needs of the audience. Trainings should be developed with respect of special audience needs. Budget planning is appropriate in the context of different types of organizations. Both profitabe and non-profit organizations are focused on ivestment of time and money in their business or services sector to gain benefits or opularity among the audience. It is very important to have a clear goal of the training session (Sanow, 2003). It takes time to make it appropriate and it is necessary to rewrite it several times. This training session was devoted to budget cooking. Training objective depend on approaches and techniques used in the process of training session development. Further on we will focus on a practical meaning of a training session implemented for a firm or company in the food industry (budget cooking). It is very difficult to design a training program, especially the one, which is focused on financial issues. Any type of business depends on its correct budget planning. We were puzzled by development of training, which is devoted to the issues of budget creation. Attention of training is paid to budget cooking. Very often people are prevented from healthy and cheap food. Therefore, it is required to focus on possible options of changing existing menus, full of meat, fish and sea products, by more affordable vegetables and fruits. Firstly, healthy way of life is fashionable nowadays. Everybody gives up drinking, smoking and eating unhealthy food. So, for a business operating in food industry, it is better to get acquainted with the global trends in the lives of modern people. Actually, it occured to me that the mission of budget planning is a comprehensible and a challenging task. We advised following the next 14 Points to reach final goals by any type of the company. Actually, we underlined that it is relevant to follow these steps in the process of budget planning. Point 2. Market survey

Introduction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction - Essay Example It contains the case studies that I have done. The case studies are the students approach to how they would with certain healthcare situations that do arise all the time. I have done five case studies that have been graded with an excellent score. Along with the case studies are the articles that I summarized along with the summaries. I have again gotten perfect scores on the summaries, which is something that I am very proud of. Then I have listed five scientific journals that are in the subject of health science. They were useful to me over the past five years. Last but not least I have used my upper division Health Science projects where I indicated what my responsibilities for each of them were. The second section is the career section where I have indicated what where my career goals and where I want to go in future. I have included a job ad for public health educator in Forsyth County, North Carolina. I have used my cover letter as well as my resume that has been tailored to the field of Public Health and Safety. Also I included my personal essay which goes into what factors made a difference in my academic career. As you read my essay, one can almost say that I am heavily influenced by my parents. Hopefully one can also read how determined I was. The third section is system analysis. In this section, students were asked to use an organizational chart. I used a chart for a government agency that I may consider working for in the future. The agency that I choose is the San Francisco Department of Health (SFDPH).This chart lists the current positions in the field as well as their hierarchy. The vacant places are indicated as well. The fourth section is the papers. The first of the papers is the legacy role. The legacy role really examines the student’s perspective on how the overall Health Science coursework has impacted them. For me, I have chosen to pick the positive and the negative of each spectrum.Overall; I stated that I made the right