Indeed, Shakespeares work remains relevant 400 years after his death. The plays by Shakespeare are relatable to present people and situations we recognize in the present day. Characters and themes utilized by Shakespeare have an emotional reality that transcends time. Aside from Shakespeares teachings about ourselves and humanity, he invented numerous words and quotes that are still in use today. Considering Shakespeares substantial influence on English and literature, he is undoubtedly still relevant.
First, Shakespeares work is universal and timeless. He was masterful at decorating his stories with themes and characters that readers of all time can relate to (Yuldashevna et al. 494). Major themes employed in Shakespeares work, such as love or hate, life, and death, have become more significant than ever. For instance, his famous play Romeo and Juliet with a theme of love is cordial to many today. Shakespeares plays themes and characters are timeless, making him relevant today.
Shakespeare had a profound influence on modern English and literature. He invented numerous English words and coined quotes and phrases regularly used in the English language. Paradoxically, compared to the original English, Shakespeare is more understandable today (Rossiter 4). Shakespeare used personalized language before it subsequently became established in English. Therefore, Shakespeare is regularly quoted in English.
Finally, the exquisite plays and corresponding renditions by Shakespeare are still known in modern-day society. Notably, most of Shakespeares plays hold great moral values and messages (Niaz et al. 39). Following his rigid work, Shakespeares brand remains influential, with his likeness still used by theatres and booksellers. His work was captivating and hilarious, hence relished by many in modern society.
Ultimately, Shakespeares work is not limited by time. Relatable characters and themes weave the stories in Shakespeares plays. Moreover, during his time, Shakespeare developed many English phrases, words, and quotes that are still in use. Above all, the quality of Shakespeares work is outstanding, with great moral and educational values appreciated by modern audiences.
Indeed, Shakespeares work remains relevant 400 years after his death. The plays by Shakespeare are relatable to present people and situations we recognize in the present day. Characters and themes utilized by Shakespeare have an emotional reality that transcends time. Aside from Shakespeares teachings about ourselves and humanity, he invented numerous words and quotes that are still in use today. Considering Shakespeares substantial influence on English and literature, he is undoubtedly still relevant.
First, Shakespeares work is universal and timeless. He was masterful at decorating his stories with themes and characters that readers of all time can relate to (Yuldashevna et al. 494). Major themes employed in Shakespeares work, such as love or hate, life, and death, have become more significant than ever. For instance, his famous play Romeo and Juliet with a theme of love is cordial to many today. Shakespeares plays themes and characters are timeless, making him relevant today.
Shakespeare had a profound influence on modern English and literature. He invented numerous English words and coined quotes and phrases regularly used in the English language. Paradoxically, compared to the original English, Shakespeare is more understandable today (Rossiter 4). Shakespeare used personalized language before it subsequently became established in English. Therefore, Shakespeare is regularly quoted in English.
Finally, the exquisite plays and corresponding renditions by Shakespeare are still known in modern-day society. Notably, most of Shakespeares plays hold great moral values and messages (Niaz et al. 39). Following his rigid work, Shakespeares brand remains influential, with his likeness still used by theatres and booksellers. His work was captivating and hilarious, hence relished by many in modern society.
Ultimately, Shakespeares work is not limited by time. Relatable characters and themes weave the stories in Shakespeares plays. Moreover, during his time, Shakespeare developed many English phrases, words, and quotes that are still in use. Above all, the quality of Shakespeares work is outstanding, with great moral and educational values appreciated by modern audiences.
I agree with the judgment of the historian that the social upheaval of the 1960s brought conservatism back into the political arena. While I believe that sixties protest movements produced great advances in civil rights, womens liberation, and the general freeing-up of a culture that had been stiflingly conformist before the 1960s, the fact is that the New Left and the counterculture helped get Richard M. Nixon elected as president of the United States.
The protest movements
It is a terrible irony that the people who tried to make life better should have created the backlash that helped the Republic Party reestablish its dominance. The protest movements have deep roots but the New Left may be said to originate at Port Huron where a group of students met to found Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and to draw up a manifesto declaring their demands for instant and radical change. As Mary Beth Norton says, SDS sought nothing less than the revitalization of democracy by taking power from the corporations, the military, and the politicians and returning it to the people (1003).
The Statement reflects the shock many of these students experienced when they left the suburbs to attend university and first discovered that there was poverty and injustice in America. It also reflects their political naivety in expecting the government to respond to their demands. It is this factor more than any other that led the protest movement to become increasingly frustrated and to resort to more attention-getting tactics culminating in the bombings by Weatherman which, in turn, led to the great backlash that swept the conservatives to power. The Free Speech Movement
The Free Speech Movement was organized two years after Pt. Huron, inspiring students on campuses throughout the country. Its members learned a great deal from the civil rights movement in the South where many of them spent their summers, and they brought this knowledge to their organizations. Their protests against racial injustice and the escalation of the war in Vietnam led to clashes with the police, which only fueled their revolutionary fervor. This led to the formation of a loose coalition grouped under the term the New Left which was united in the struggle against racism and the Vietnam War, as well as the hippie movement which chose to turn its back on the moral bankruptcy and materialism (1004) of mainstream society.
The hippie movement
Like the SDS, the hippie movement began peacefully and with high expectations of changing the world very shortly. The young people who turned on, tuned in and dropped out to flock to Haight-Ashbury intended to redefine reality and create a more just and joyful society (1004) through rock n roll, drugs, and love but soon after the summer of love of 1967 the hippie movement was destroyed by all the attention it got from the media, and the influx of lost souls it brought into the district. Middle-class parents were horrified by the sight of their children destroying their prospects and even their lives and began to question just how permissive society should be, to use a term later popularized by Vice President Spiro Agnew.
The civil rights movement
The civil rights movement followed the same gradient from peaceful protest to violent revolution. The high point of the civil rights movement, after decades of barely perceptible progress, came in August 1963 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his memorable I Have a Dream speech before 250,000 people, black and white, during the March on Washington. When Lyndon B. Johnson succeeded the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, African Americans had every right to think that equal rights were within their reach. Johnson was committed to his idea of a Great Society in which civil rights were an integral part of the war against poverty.
Within months of taking office, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law and a few months later established an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, followed by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Norton 995). It would seem that Kings dream had come true; and yet it was during these years that black unrest caused the ghetto riots, radicalized the Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and created the Black Panthers.
The reason for this is that reforms had had a Southern focus, according to Norton, while the problems in the North went unnoticed until the long hot summer riots brought them to the nations attention (909). Inspired by the revolutionary violence preached by Malcolm X and the black nationalism of the Black Panthers, African Americans in the ghettoes chose to take action rather than wait patiently for the reforms to take effect. The looting, the arson, and the violent clashes between rioters and police alarmed white America and added to the backlash.
Womens Liberation movement
Womens Liberation also progressed from a peaceful, reasonable movement to radical feminism during this time. Betty Friedans The Feminine Mystique confined itself to demanding equal rights in partnership with men, but the National Organization for Women (NOW) was soon superseded by radical feminists who fought against womens economic and political inequality to sexual double standards and sex-role stereotypes (Norton 1010).
Women who joined civil rights and other protest groups found themselves making coffee and providing sexual favors instead of making policy decisions (Norton 1010), and eventually the more radical among them began to formulate separatist ideas along the same lines as the radical civil rights groups. The resultant backlash led to a surge of anti-feminism among right-wing voters and a strong demand for a return to traditional values.
Demonstrations against the Vietnam War
For the silent majority of Americans, the sight of their children attending love-ins, of blacks setting fire to their neighborhoods, entering the California legislature with loaded shotguns, and attacking the police, was deeply disturbing. What unsettled them most, however, were the massive demonstrations against the Vietnam War which made it seem as though the country was in a civil war. The protest movement which had started as a peaceful attempt at persuading the government to withdraw from Vietnam became inflamed with every heavy-handed response on the part of the authorities.
Police brutality, counter-demonstrations by hard hats, and most of all the failure to change the governments policy made the demonstrators look for more effective tactics, culminating in the antics of the Youth International Party ( Yippies ) who had traveled to Chicago to embarrass the Democrats (Norton 1007) during the 1968 Democratic Convention. The resultant street fight between protesters and police played right into the hands of the law and order candidate, Richard Nixon, all the more so since the Republican Convention in Miami was relatively untroubled.
Conclusion
After the pitched battle fought in front of the Chicago Hilton in full view of the delegates and the international media, many Americans decided they had had enough and began to look to Nixon to restore peace and unity to America. Nixon was elected by a slender margin over Hubert Humphreys, ending the hopes of social reform that Kennedy and Johnson had once engendered in peoples hearts. The backlash had taken its effect.
White voters, even those who had been sympathetic to social reform, decided that what the country needed most were stability and order. The combined vote for Nixon and the American Independent Party candidate, George Wallace, came to 57% (Norton 1009) while Hubert Humphrey, who was strongly identified with civil rights, got 35% of the white vote (Norton 1009). The New Left, by increasingly by-passing the political process, had alienated the people they most needed, and from Nixons inauguration on they became less and less effective until they ceased to be a factor in American politics.
Work Cited
Norton, Mary Beth et al. A People and a Nation: A History of the United States Vol. II: Since 1865. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994.
The Bedouin tribes have been romanticized in the literature that represents them as an essence of nomadic ways and customs, an entirely unexplored group of strange people. However, with the course of time, instead of the definition of a lifestyle, the term Bedouin became the determinant of an identity (Cole 237). Today, a Bedouin is the living epitome of tradition. Despite the fact that the Bedouin villages in the 21st century scarcely remain as a tourist attraction, there are many Bedouin descendants, and the Bedouin customs in housing, trading, eating, and clothing still linger. I am going to speak about a traditional and the most basic piece of garment used by Saudi Bedouins: the aba, or abaya.
Analysis
The aba or abaya is defined as a piece of outer clothing. It is stated that, in Saudi Bedouin culture, the aba is worn mostly by men. However, women can see seen wearing the garment as well. Most commonly, the aba looks like a gown without sleeves, buttons, or belts. That means, it is worn on top of all other clothes and is not closed over the body. The form and shape of the aba are common for a wide part of the Middle East; with Bedouins, it is very popular. The aba can be worn by women as well as men, and it is practically equal in size and shape to those of men. Bedouin tribes dwelling in different areas of Saudi Arabia have diverse traditions concerning this piece of garment. In the Eastern regions, the aba is produced out of wool, and the material has a striped pattern in black or brown and white. The colors are plain since wearing bright colors is the prerogative of the notable and rich. These usually have their abas in red or green, richly embroidered with precious golden or silver thread in the upper half of the garment. Nomad tribes in the North wear their abas black, which is a rare color among other tribes (Algar par. 1-4).
The aba has many uses among the Bedouin. It is a loose garment, which means that it can be deployed to a variety of functions. For instance, the aba can serve as a blanket or sheet and as a pillow, when folded. Considering that the Bedouin made their living by trade, one can easily see a Bedouin wrapping their goods in the aba and carrying it as a bag or turning it into some kind of a sunshade. The abas is suitable for wearing all year round. The abas woven of camel wool is very warm and can serve as a winter overcoat. Those made of a finer material are used in warm seasons (Algar par. 5).
Today, a significant change in attitudes towards traditional Bedouin garments can be noticed, especially in women. People of Qatar, for instance, are the descendants of Bedouin tribes dwelling the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. It is stated that older Qatari women still wear their abas as well as other traditional garments, if only more colorful than they used to be. Since the 1980s, Qatari women were seen wearing the abas over modern clothes, i.e., loose gowns. In 1997, Qatar has opened its first shopping mall. Thus Western clothing has become popular with the Qatari female population. Another significant change in the Qatari society was that women started working while at the same time seeking to keep their customs and avoid harassment from the conservative male population. More emancipate women openly fight for their rights to choose the way they dress and look. As a result, the contemporary Qatari aba comes in various and more convenient shapes than it used to (Goto 22-24).
Conclusion
The change of attitudes towards traditional garments is very useful for a clearer understanding of the processes that take place in the Saudi Bedouin society. I have said that a Bedouin, especially a Bedouin woman, nowadays is a representation of tradition, and it is true. The volition to preserve the traditions of womanhood, femininity, and beauty triggers the perseverance of abas among Qatari women. At the same time, the Western styles and ways are gradually and persistently penetrating the lifestyle of contemporary Bedouins. They become more independent and individualistic, they acknowledge that men dictating women how to dress and look is a violation of womens rights. Consequently, the abas, as well as other traditional clothing items, e.g., hijab, experience significant changes in design and come in looser and more convenient forms. Thus, the aba is a crucial piece of garment that means very much for Qatari women. On the one hand, the aba worn with other traditional clothes is a symbol of national identity and belonging to renowned Bedouin culture, both within their homeland and abroad (Fields 58). On the other hand, Qatari women are making use of the traditional aba, changing its design to their liking and convenience to demonstrate their individualism, distinguish themselves in the society they belong to, and embrace the everlasting struggle for female rights.
Works Cited
Algar, Hamid. AB . Encyclopaedia Iranica. Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2011. Web.
Cole, Donald Powell. Where Have the Bedouin Gone? Anthropological Quarterly 76.2 (2003): 235-267. Print.
Fields, Rona. Against Violence Against Women: The Case for Gender as a Protected Class, Basingstoke, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. Print.
The book is devoted to discussing the issue of the quilombolas discovering their construct of identity and heritage. The term quilombola is used to refer to members of communities of African descent dating back to enslaved Brazilians who escaped and formed resistance communities known in Brazil as quilombos. These communities cultures can be described as maintaining a solid connection with their history and heritage. They strive to preserve the customs and culture of their ancestors. Even today, the representatives of this population have distinct cultural features such as traditional carnivals, capoeira, and candomble.
Slavery and Discrimination
Initially, the community was prone to slavery persecution. Even after the elimination of slavery, there were significant problems in formulating quilombos heritage policies, including the recognition and land titles. The Afro-Brazilian activists strive to achieve the economical and cultural inclusio0n of the population. Slavery is one of the crucial inquiries of the cultural heritage of the quilonolas history (Kenny, 2018). Anthropologists call this heritage inclusive due to the significant effect of transatlantic slavery and land acquisition on the cultural formation process. The preservance of cultural heritage is aggravated by the physical location of the described population. People reside in one of the most dangerous neighbors of Santa Luzia, which is noted as full of violence and foments social problems (Kenny, 2018). The issue of slavery has significantly affected the culture of the quilombos. The cultural heritage, kinship, and historical experiences are based on color, racism, and discrimination. Despite suffering from discrimination, even this population has the class distribution seen in the cultural manifestations. For example, the batuque dance responsibilities were segregated based on the criterion of the race (Kenny, 2018). Therefore, the cultural identity of the quilombolas is shaped by inequality inquiries.
Pottery Making
Most of the representatives of the quilombolas are integrated into working in the sphere of pottery. Pottery making has significantly changed these peoples life, culture, and identity. This direction allowed Quilobolas, despite the economys decline and racism, to find an accessible income method. The daily life of the quilombolas is shaped by the pottery creation process. The pots preserve the kinetic memory of the previous generations, which unites the culture and history of the people. Moreover, the difficulties of creation due to the lack of technologies require uniting the efforts of the quilombolas. The pot creation process has not changed from the method applied a century ago (Kenny, 2018). Such a situation is described as the basis for preserving the ancestors culture. From the perspective of the indigenous population, the mechanization of the process because it diminishes the role of people in the creation itself.
Another reason why pottery making is the primary focus of the communitys activities is the anti-racism response. White people often accuse quilombolas of being lazy and incompetent to economic changes, including innovation integrations. However, quilombolas believe in preserving the primordial method of pottery, and they rebel against such a perception. The population proves that the creation process may be free of economic influence. Despite the rejection of mechanization, people there are not separated from the innovative perspective. They have the gadgets, use many social networking sites and actively participate in the worlds worldwide innovation-centered movements. Therefore, their actions can be described as a protest against the stigmatization of their culture.
Legal Protection of Cultural Assets
Through the enormous attempts of the Afro-Brazilian activists, the heritage policies provided the legal basis for shaping the populations identity. The shared history of the population was accepted as significant in terms of analyzing the contemporary forms of inequality (Kenny, 2018). As it was mentioned above, the culture of qiolombola is associated with territorial inquiries. Therefore, the justification for receiving lands signalizes preserving the cultural peculiarities.
Main Research Question
The primary research question of the author can be formulated as follows: hows the history and culture of slavery affect the formation of quilombos and the concept of contemporary inequality? The author strives to analyze the chosen population from the perspective of the key anthropology questions. The issues of the history, geomatics, and territorial peculiarities. Cultural heritage, occupations, and political and social phenomena affecting population formation are described. The researcher also focused on describing the current situation and position of the population based on the legitimacy of the heritage and the issues of slavery. The research also strives to define customary segregation due to color and class. It is considered natural for this population based on eh social, political, and economic divisions. The ethnography of the quilombo is presented from both perspectives: local and governmental.
Difficulties of Conducting the Research
The significant challenges the author encountered were related to his race. Exploring the cultural heritage of the Brown people raises many questions when white men conduct the research. The author mentions such challenges as reinforced suspicion and scrutiny (Kenny, 2018). The problem was also related to various biases issues that occurred during the study and publications. Another problem occurred during the first steps of integrating into the community. Well-established stereotypes about white peoples cruelty towards black communities are imprinted on the authors status (Kenny, 2018). The indigenous people treated him as one of the potentially dangerous white people. Only throughout a particular amount of time did the author gain the communitys trust.
Another issue encountered by the researcher is that the cultural heritage of the population was constructed primarily in the context of the political and social climate. In other words, the scope of the investigation included significant research rooted deep in the history of discrimination. The culture formed based on the political context was challenging to analyze due to the authors race. Many prejudices were associated with his work. The concept of friend and foe was a significant obstacle in conducting the in-depth analysis of cultural heritage. Such characteristics as kinship, settlement patterns, language, and regional identity separated the population and researcher.
The purposeful scientific observation that the author applied required extraordinary adequacy and impartiality. First of all, the description obtained from the results of the fieldwork and the analysis of the data collected must take into account the fullness of the social and cultural context, that is, the conditions in which the study was conducted. This approach is called holistic and suggests that to explain any single phenomenon important for research, it is necessary to understand what connections it is with other sensations. The main issue here is the complexity of the gaining information process. Despite the authors significant preparation, some integration difficulties can be seen throughout the research. The expectations and perception of the author regarding the culture faced the stigmatized opinions of the indigenous people.
References
Kenny, L. (2018). Deeply rooted in the present: Heritage, memory, and identity in Brazilian Quilombos. University of Toronto Press.
In both works, the theme of inheritance seems to be very internal; it is not on the surface. In Everyday Using, on the surface lies the mothers relationship with her daughters, her thoughts, dreams, and memories; her fault and understanding of the mistakes of upbringing. The Parable of the Lost Son explains the parable of filial sins and the forgiving father. The myth raises the topic of forgiveness and the ability to believe in a person again.
In Everyday Using, one of the daughters is a superficial girl, a consumer of modern culture. She unconditionally follows fashion and does not reflect on her actions and the past; she rushes into the maelstrom headlong into adventures and sees the meaning of life in this. The mother looks at her and cannot stand internal conflict. She sees that Dees current values reject their family and family tree altogether, family history. Dee spiritually and mentally left her mothers house long ago and denied everything their family held dear. She rejected the inheritance without realizing it; she rejected the memory of her ancestors, thereby depriving herself of the physical inheritance in the form of blankets. Mom gives preference to Maggie, seeing that she may not lead an active life, but she deserves a heritage because she remains faithful to the memory of her ancestors.
In The Parable of the Lost Son, sons also do not appear in identical conditions and lead a different way of life, which leads them to various life circumstances. The sinful son, who returned home after extravagance, is ready to atone for sins and work for his father as a slave. The father calls him resurrected after death and has a feast. The conflict, fundamentally based on the plot, is not between the two. If we consider the topic of inheritance, then the second son gets into the battle, who worked with his father all this time and never contradicted him, as he himself claims. Here it becomes noticeable that his thoughts were not initially pure. Working with his father, he hoped to receive an inheritance, physical gratitude in the form of material wealth. In this situation, the sinful son rejects the heritage, but the one who was with his father claims. He shows that he is looking for benefits in a relationship with his father.
In both cases, the inheritance was awarded to children who dared not claim it, realizing that they were unworthy. Maggie, overwhelmed by a sense of shame for her condition and a sinful son, feels guilty. Their parents, father, and mother see the actual state of affairs and endow them with benefits. They believe that this is true, even though, at first glance, there is no logic.
Heritage always consists of material wealth and the memory of ancestors or family values. Sometimes, as in the case of blankets, substantial inheritance is a vehicle for intangible values; but this state of affairs is not always so transparent. Only a memory that has absorbed fundamental family values deserves to take possession of material goods, whatever they may be; people cannot deny memory and claim material wealth. In this case, Dees act is intriguing, as she changes her name, which was inherited from her grandmother. She was not even aware of this fact, so she did not know the history of her name. Changing it is very symbolic since giving a child a name is a first and primary gift from parents to children. To change it means to refuse and reject this gift, this heritage.
Mrs. Nasser arrived at the urgent-care center with her 16-year-old daughter, who had been experiencing burning upon urination, itching around her genital area, and a high fever. Mrs. Nasser appeared very anxious, explaining to the nurse that her daughter had never had these symptoms before. The nurse tried to calm Mrs. Nasser and asked that her daughter, Samia, get undressed in preparation for a physical examination. Mrs. Nasser appeared concerned and requested that the nurse inform the doctor that she will not allow the doctor to perform a vaginal examination on her daughter.
The nurse explained to Mrs. Nasser that it will be necessary for the doctor to examine Samia so that she can determine the cause of Samias discomfort. Mrs. Nasser became extremely agitated and explained to the nurse that in her culture, young girls are not allowed to have vaginal examinations for fear that their virginity will be compromised. Mrs. Nasser insisted that she would not allow her daughter to be examined by the female doctor on duty. Mrs. Nasser requested that the nurse ask the doctor to prescribe for her daughters infection, or else she would leave the clinic immediately.
The nurse response to Mrs. Nassers request
Mrs. Nasser has requested to provide her with the prescription for Samia to relieve the pain without doing the vaginal examination. In this situation, the nurse is challenged by the controversial ethical problem because of the necessity to respond to Mrs. Nassers religious visions and to provide the necessary medical help for Samia. Mrs. Nassers request is based on many religious and traditional beliefs such as the idea that the other person cannot see the naked woman, and medical treatment should provide immediate relief (Amir et al., 2012; Kulwicki & Ballout, 2013).
That is why Mrs. Nassers refusal to permit the vaginal examination and her request for the medication which could provide immediate help is based on her strong religious and cultural visions. The nurses task is to find the balance between two opposite resolutions of the problem and meet Mrs. Nassers expectations (Hasnain, Connell, & Menon, 2012).
On the one hand, the nurse is challenged by the principle of respect for the patients autonomy which should be followed strictly (Ziad et al., 2012). On the other hand, the nurse should create conditions according to which Samia could receive all the possible help without violating her religious beliefs. The nurse should try to persuade Mrs. Nasser to permit the vaginal examination by the female doctor because such cases are presented in the medical practice concerning Muslim women (Redshaw & Heikkila, 2011; Zeilani & Seymour, 2010). Moreover, it is necessary to state the arguments that the procedure is not risky for Samia (Marcia & Inhorn, 2011).
Nevertheless, the absence of the necessary vaginal examination is a real risk for the girls health. If Mrs. Nasser rejects any arguments, it is necessary to propose the abdominal ultrasound examination or computer tomography provided by the female doctor (Cohen & Azaiza, 2010). Furthermore, it is important to insist on urinalysis and alternative methods of diagnosing to prescript the medications. The details of all the diagnosing procedures should be carefully described by the nurse.
Culturally congruent strategies that may be most effective
Urinalysis, abdominal ultrasound examination, and computer tomography are only additional techniques to provide information about the patients health if the vaginal examination is necessary. That is why the nurse should draw Mrs. Nassers attention to the fact that there are ways to resolve the problem ethically and without violating the Muslims beliefs. It is important to note that many Muslim women receive inadequate medical help because of following some religious principles (Grose & Pravikoff, 2013).
To avoid this, it is necessary to propose Mrs. Nasser be present in the cabinet of the gynecologist during the procedure. Moreover, the effective technique is to rely on the help of the female doctor who is Muslim or who knows the aspects of the Muslim culture well enough to answer all Mrs. Nassers questions concerning the ethical aspect of the procedure because all the practical elements of the procedure should be explained by the nurse, paying much attention to the religious feelings and beliefs of the Muslims (Hatefnia et al., 2010; Khawaja et al., 2009).
Furthermore, the procedure should be confirmed by the male representative of Samias family (father or brother) to follow all the Muslim ethical and religious principles (Lyberg et al., 2012). Thus, the emphasis on the role of a female doctor who knows the Muslim traditions and does not intend to harm Samia is important.
Ensuring that Mrs. Nassers concerns are addressed appropriately
The nurse should know that Mrs. Nassers concerns are addressed appropriately, and she should provide the necessary support for Mrs. Nasser and Samia. If the male representative of the Muslim family cant be present during the procedure as the third party, the nurse should be present herself and allow the mother to be present in the cabinet of the gynecologist (Hasnain, Connell, & Menon, 2012).
There are situations when medical help and the vaginal examination of the girl are extremely necessary, but only a male doctor can be available. In this situation, the female nurse should be the main assistance of the doctor to provide all the possible procedures which are controversial from the ethical or religious point of view (McLean, Al Ahbabi, & Al Ameri, 2010; Rubini, Mills, & Gazeley, 2011). Thus, the presence of the nurse in the cabinet of the gynecologist is obligatory from this perspective.
Furthermore, the nurse can ensure that Mrs. Nassers concerns are addressed and that Samia can receive the appropriate care based on the alternative methods of diagnosing (Othman et al., 2012). The main task of the nurse is to persuade the mother to permit the vaginal examination or other medical examinations without breaking the principle of respect for the patients autonomy (Kulwicki & Ballout, 2013). It is possible to stress the mothers right to choose the method of diagnosing and treatment, but diagnostics should be provided to avoid any risks for Samias health, respond to Mrs. Nassers request and receive the medication and possible treatment according to the test results.
References
Amir, H., Tibi, Y., Groutz, A., & Amit, A. (2012). Unpredicted gender preference of obstetricians and gynecologists by Muslim Israeli-Arab women. Patient Education and Counseling, 86(2), 259-263.
Cohen, M., & Azaiza, F. (2010). Increasing breast examinations among Arab women using a tailored culture-based intervention. Behavioral Medicine, 36(3), 92-9.
Grose, S., & Pravikoff, D. (2013). Kurdish patients: Womens health care concerns Providing culturally competent care. CINAHL Nursing Guide, 25(1), 2-15.
Hasnain, M., Connell, K., & Menon, U. (2012). Patient-centered care for Muslim women: provider and patient perspectives. Journal of Womens Health, 20(1), 73-83.
Hatefnia, E., Niknami, S., Bazargan, M., Mahmoodi, M., Lamyianm, M., & Alavi, N. (2010). Correlates of mammography utilization among working Muslim Iranian women. Health Care for Women International, 31(6), 499-514.
Khawaja, M., Kaddour, A., Zurayk, H., Choueiry, N., & El-Kak, F. (2009). Symptoms of reproductive tract infections and mental distress among women in low-income urban neighborhoods of Beirut, Lebanon. Journal of Womens Health, 18(10): 1701-1708.
Kulwicki, A. D., & Ballout, S. (2013). People of Arab heritage. In L. D. Purnell (ed.), Transcultural Health Care: A Culturally Competent Approach (pp. 159-177). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Co.
Lyberg, A., Viken, B., Haruna, M., & Severinsson, E. (2012) Diversity and challenges in the management of maternity care for migrant women. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(2), 287-95.
Marcia, C., & Inhorn, G. (2011). Islam, medicine, and Arab-Muslim refugee health in America after 9/11. The Lancet, 378(9794), 935-943.
McLean, M., Al Ahbabi, S., & Al Ameri, M. (2010). Muslim women and medical students in the clinical encounter. Medical Education, 44(3), 306-15.
Othman, A., Kiviniemi, M., Wu, Y., & Lally, R. (2012). Influence of demographic factors, knowledge, and beliefs on Jordanian womens intention to undergo Mammography Screening. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(1), 19-26.
Redshaw, M., & Heikkila, K. (2011). Ethnic differences in womens worries about labour and birth. Ethnicity & Health, 16(3), 213-23.
Rubini, M., Mills, K., & Gazeley, S. (2011). Health is a spiritual thing: perspectives of health care professionals and female Somali and Bangladeshi women on the health impacts of fasting during Ramadan. Ethnicity & Health, 16(1), 43-56.
Zeilani, R., & Seymour, J. (2010). Muslim womens experiences of suffering in Jordanian intensive care units: A narrative study. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 26(3), 175-184.
Ziad, A., Fadi, H., Cury, E., & Brandeis, G. (2012). Muslim nursing homes in the United States: Barriers and prospects. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 13(2), 176-179.
An economy that adheres to the gold standard accepts countries currencies value to be directly linked with the gold reserves that a country holds. Paper money or notes were converted into a certain fixed amount of gold, and therefore those countries that were using the gold standard had to set a fixed price through which they could sell and buy the gold. Therefore, this means that a person holding any currency at that time was able to change it into gold depending on the cost of the gold that was set at that particular time. This enables the gold to be imported and exported around the international markets without any country imposing restrictions to prevent its movement. Although the gold standard was stable owing to its universal usage, and therefore a good store of value, it was not a convenient medium of exchange because it could not be easily divided into smaller units in the same way money currency could.
Brief History of the Gold Standard
The United Kingdom established the use of gold in its monetary system in 1821 after realizing that gold was a precious metal that could be used to determine the value of the paper currency. Before the recognition of gold as the standard of measure, it was used together with other metals such as silver in making valuable coins in some countries. These silver and gold coins were by that time recognized as a medium of exchange that most countries could use to transact. It was later realized that gold was much preferred by many as compared to other metals since its supply was scarce and its value was high.
Before the preference of gold as a currency, silver was the principal monetary metal. In 1870 the monometallic gold standard was also adopted by other European countries such as Germany and France (Mitchell 42). In the same year the United State also followed the suit by adopting the gold standard monetary system, these prompted many countries around the world to do the same.
The United State was able to control and determine the price of gold at the time since there were great discoveries of gold in western North America which made gold abundantly available. The regime and the full dominancy of the Gold Standard survived in a short period until 1914 when the First World War started (Silber and Jacques 102). The war made many countries abandon the convertible paper money and they saw the need of shifting to inconvertible paper money or putting restrictions on the export of gold.
The return to paper money was occasioned by the scarcity of gold in the interwar years. Due to the export restrictions that were placed by many countries and the First World War, gold was scarce and therefore, many countries opted back to the gold exchange standard as of 1925 (Dunckenfield 72). Many countries reestablished these gold standards to supplement their central bank gold reserves with US dollars and the British pound which was by that time the currencies that were easily convertible into gold at a stable rate of exchange.
The Great Depression of the 1930s was another reason for countries abandoning the gold standard. As a result of the crisis, many countries were forced to abandon it and by 1937, it fully collapsed since no country was operating entirely only on the gold standard (Mitchell 102). After the Second World War, the United State determined the price at which gold was bought and sold by foreign countries. This prompted the brief return of the gold standard monetary system. Major European counties reestablished a type of gold standard where their currencies were freely convertible into gold and dollars for international payments as from 1958 (Dunckenfield 127). However, by this time gold had lost its place in the world market as a medium of exchange due to the growing popularity of national currencies.
Another factor that led to the collapse of the gold standard was the floatation of good reserves in the market. To prevent the risk of goods losing their value, the United States president Richard Nixon in 1972 suspended the free convertibility of dollars into gold at fixed exchange rates in the international payments (Mitchell 74). This led to most countries monetary systems being based on the US dollar and other stable currencies. These brought about an end of the gold standard in international trade (Duckenfield 107). These developments marked the exit of goods from the international market as a universal medium of exchange.
The Bretton Wood System
The creation of the Bretton Woods system ushered in a new era far as international commerce was concerned. After the end of World War Second, a conference held by the allied nations was held in New Hampshire, and the Bretton Wood agreement was formed in 1944 (Ghixon 1). In this agreement, countries promised to maintain a fixed exchange rate between their currencies and the US dollar. This agreement brought in a new monetary system that replaced the gold standard system that enable the recognition of the US dollar as the world currency that could determine the price of other currencies in the international market. The dominancy of America in the world economy strived since they were now given the power as the only country which was allowed to print the dollars. Bretton Agreement is what facilitated the establishment of the World Bank and the international monetary fund (IMF) which was given the mandate to monitor the world monetary system.
Components of Bretton Wood Agreement
According to the Bretton Wood agreement, in a situation where a countrys currency value declines can be compared to the dollar. These countries are allowed to purchase their currency in the foreign exchange market to reduce the circulation of that currency in the economy and this enables the price of their currency to increase (Cesarano 17). It also advocated that in a situation where a country feels that their currency value is too high, they were allowed to print more of that currency in order to increase its circulation in the world economy, therefore reducing its price as compared to the US dollar. Countries also agreed to avoid the international trade wars, but they were given an option that if they felt that the international monetary system was leading to the deterioration of their economy then they could take action to stabilize their economy.
Replacing Gold Standard with Bretton Wood Monetary System
After the Bretton Wood agreement, many countries started shifting from the gold standard to the Bretton wood monetary system which allowed them to easily convert their currency for US dollars instead of gold. Therefore, with time Bretton Wood replaced the gold standard since most countries did not have enough gold to replace what the US had, and the Bretton wood agreement allowed the slow transition from the gold standard system to the US dollar system. This made the price of the US dollar start increasing as compared to other currencies since its demand increases in the international market.
Reason Why Bretton Wood Monetary System Was Preferred Over Gold Standard
Many countries opted for the US dollar monetary system rather than the gold standard because it gave the countries the flexibility to manage their foreign currency than the gold standard which followed strict rules. Countries that were using the Bretton wood system could easily alter their currency value in case it was needed to correct the disequilibrium in the current account balance of the country. This, was a more flexible alternative compared to the gold standard, for example, when the central banks wanted to regulate the amount of currency in circulation.
The Collapse of the Bretton Wood system
Considering the high demand for the US dollar by other countries increases the price of the US dollars as compared to the value it had in the actual US gold reserve. These value discrepancies were the start of the collapse of the Bretton wood system. In 1971 United State started experiencing inflation and recession due to the increased supply of the US dollar circulating in the economy. President Nixon deflated the value dollar to gold which brought about an increase in the price of gold in the free market. This devaluation strategy backfired and many countries redeemed the US dollar to the actual gold bring an end to the Bretton wood monetary system.
Economic Performance of the Gold Standard
The Good Standard enabled price stability in the long run. Thus, when it was used the rate of inflation was at an average of 0.1% between 1880 to 1914 and 4.0% from 1946 to 2003 (Andolfaltto 1). When the gold standard was used, it was realized that the prices were unstable. This is because the gold standard was vulnerable to real and monetary shocks in the short term. Gold also gave the government minimum liberty to use monetary policies to address inflation.
Is Full Gold Standard System a Better Monetary System?
For years, there has been a discussion between politicians and economists. Most politicians suggest the return to the gold standard regime terming the argument by the economists on the adverse effect of it just a mere perception rather than a reality. The people who advocated for the return of the gold standard considered some of the following advantages.
For years, gold has retained the value that has made it to be recognized worldwide and therefore it can easily self-regulate to match the money supply in the economy. It has been observed that gold has a real value due to its beauty, usefulness, and scarcity as compared to the American paper money that does not have the real value but is only maintained on the basis of faith and credit.
The real value of gold is what made it possible for it to be used as a medium of exchange during the early centuries when it was molded in the coin form. Proponents also argued that since gold was able to maintain its value, it could therefore be used as a store of value, where people can use it to keep wealth in the form of gold. This is because owners can have confidence that their value will not decrease as compared to paper money, whose value is affected by inflation (Bordo 2). In this regard, good was preferred because of the stability of its values, making it the ideal medium in which to store wealth.
The gold standard can also be used to reduce the risk of economic crisis and recession thereby increasing the real income and reducing the unemployment rate. When America was using the gold standard, the rate of unemployment was lower as compared to the period where the Federal Reserve was printing fiat money that was not supported by the real gold value but by faith and credit. After the abandoning of the gold standard, it was realized that printing of more fiat money brought about the American economy to stumble and therefore leading to a great recession of the world economy. Therefore, considering the challenges of unemployment and inflation that are being faced across the globe some suggest that in order to solve this problem the economy should therefore go back to the gold standard.
During the time when the gold standard was being used the governments ability to print money and create national debt anytime, it feels like was limited, since the gold standard system allowed money to be only printed if there was enough gold to back that currency. This restriction assisted in monitoring the government powers, therefore, reducing the rate of inflation which could be caused by the government printing more money in order to buy treasury bonds. This restriction also enabled people to have confidence in money as a medium of exchange and the store of value, since the money based on the value of real gold cannot be affected by inflation to a big extend.
Currently, most of the countries including America are affected by the balance of payment deficits and therefore the people advocating for the gold standard feel that it can be used to correct this problem. They realize that these deficits have been brought about by the Federal Reserve printing more money in order to finance the US deficits (Lewis 1). This will therefore reduce the value of the US dollar if other countries will start to be uncertain about the stability of the dollar in the future. In order to prevent unnecessary wars around the world, especially the ones that have been facilitated by the US government, some feel that the world economy should go back to the gold standard system. This system will help since the US government will have to reduce its spending in the military as compared to the fiat monetary system where the government can easily print money in order to keep its war policy going.
Reasons against Gold Standard Monetary System
Although some people support the return of gold standards, economists warn against it because of various reasons. Considering the scarce nature of gold, its real value can fluctuate, therefore it cannot maintain stable price stability that can be necessary for a sound economy. Therefore, if more gold is discovered, the printing of paper money may increase, therefore increasing the rate of inflation in the economy (Mitchell 102). At a time when there is a scarcity of gold, it may lead to deflation which is also not necessary for a healthy economy as witnessed in California. It is also predicted that most of the gold ore will be depleted by 2040 thereby forcing the economy to shift to another monetary system.
Economists also feel that the gold standard economy will limit government mandate in preventing and resolving economic depressions, recessions, and unemployment. In the Fiat system, the government can change the exchange rates in order to solve these economic problems. Therefore, reintroducing the gold standard will limit the governments ability in solving these problems. Some economists also warned of the continued trend of deflation that would be brought about by the reintroduction of the gold standard. This is because more money cannot be created unless gold is obtained to back it up. Therefore, the government will not be able to print more money in order to manage the effect of deflation at the right time.
Conclusion
In summation, considering the above discussions for and against the gold standard shows that while it is stable, it is not as convenient or flexible as paper currency.
It is, therefore, necessary for governments to explore the possibility of establishing a hybrid system that uses both the gold standard and paper money. This gold system will offer extra safety against currency inflation and act as a safe store of value. On its part, the Bretton Woods System will provide a flexible means of regulating the economy through monetary policies.
Lewis, Nathan. The World Gold System Will Rise Again. Forbes, 2019. Web.
Mitchell, Kelly. Gold Wars: The Battle for the Global Economy. SCB Distributors, 2013.
Silber, William L., and Jacques Silber. When Washington shut down Wall Street: the great financial crisis of 1914 and the origins of Americas monetary supremacy. Princeton UPA, 2007.
Visiting museums may be very beneficial for enlivening a lot of important things related to historical matters in ones mind. From time to time, when I have a chance to visit this or that museum, I find it very interesting and even inspiring. It helps me to put together the things I learned before. In the following paper, I have my goal to discuss what I have learned during my trip experience to the Museum of Western Heritage, also known as the Autrey Museum. Overall, evaluating the things seen in the museum, I may say that I acquired more knowledge of our countrys history and came to a better understanding of some of the important historical events.
First of all, discussing my experience, I would begin with the fact that I was always interested in the history of Indian tribes, their art, and lifestyle, along with the development of their culture over the duration of time. I also had a measure of interest in the culture of cowboys inhabiting the west. Thus, this trip became a great adventure and also an option to expand my knowledge. I also had the joy of being in a happy mood during this day which also added to my pleasure in this trip.
While observing the exhibit items on display in the museum, I thought about Indian people inhabiting the lands of the west in the earlier periods of American history. I came to the conclusion that their culture was rich and diverse. These people knew how to approach nature with due respect and honor, which shows a great example for the other people living now and me and in the future. Indians knew how to make full use of their land but not to exhaust it. This is a practical lesson to be learned from them. As I studied the objects of their culture and daily life, I saw that they were eco-friendly and natural and still possessed a measure of taste and interesting designer concepts. Thus, I came to a conclusion that eco-friendly things may be good-looking, creative, and make the eye rejoice, so to say.
Evaluating the exhibits, I must confess that not every piece on display was interesting to me. Some of them appeared to be the objects one can easily access in daily life, but I came to a conclusion that maybe these things are interesting for foreigners. Overall, the things I saw became rather engaging for me. I saw that they were organized in a great chronological order which helped me to see the main tendencies in the development of western culture during the centuries. Observing the pictures, sculptures, and weapons, I saw the interests of our ancestors. It involved seeing some of the common scenes of the daily life depicted by the painters.
In the Museum of Western Heritage, everything is done for people to enjoy being here. All the collections are organized with the due investment of creative thought and a great understanding of the history of the country. Due to such great exhibition organization, it was easy for me to connect the things I saw with the things I learned in class. Thus, I was able to deepen my knowledge. At times, I even felt like the one participating in different events of western history. Concentrating on a number of objects of clothing and daily items along with a variety of arms, I felt myself a part of the past.
In closing, I would like to add that I have really enjoyed my visit to the Museum of Western Heritage, and I will long remember this wonderful time as the experience to understand how important it is to preserve our history along with the useful lessons it teaches. This trip enriched me both mentally and spiritually. I absolutely enjoyed my time while studying the objects of culture and art. They appeared to be very interesting to me from the designers point of view as well. From the exhibitions related to Indian culture, I learned that the objects of art can be both eco-friendly and still possess a measure of taste and nice designer concepts. The culture and art of cowboy people, along with their simplicity and minimalism, helped me understand that sophistication is not always an option. In the objects related to the themes of cowboy people life, I saw the reflection of the main developments in the history of the country beginning from the time of European intervention to North America and establishing the colonies of stock-breeders to our modern times, when these people continue to preserve their values and culture being the part of the country and developing its history.
Heritage tourism is the aspect of experiencing destinations and activities that represent a group of people’s culture, history, and the present (Paolo, 2002). Megalithic temple of Gigantija Gozo Malta is an example of a heritage site. Primary data was obtained through interviews and interactive discussions with the head curator of Megalithic temples of Gigantija in Gozo and Malta, Mr. Kenneth Gambin. Further discussion was also held with another official, Mr. James Aquilina.
Data was also obtained from secondary sources that included websites, books, and literature from the libraries and other academic publications (Heritage Malta, 2008). This report identifies the resources and visitor attractions that are present in this site. The report analyses the management of the sites and explores various ways in which sites can be improved to attract more visitors.
Megalithic temple of Gigantija Gozo
Megalithic temple of Heritage Malta
The temples are regarded as the oldest structures standing freely and have been innovated as the culture of the residents evolves. These monuments have been in existence for approximately 7,000 years and form a wealth of artefacts that reflect the island’s history. These natural resources are as a result of man’s discovery and innovation, which have been articulated in the modern art for continuity.
They consist of museums, temples and underground chambers that are very fascinating to the visitors. They portray the creativity and rich culture of the people who inhabited the place before Phoenicians arrived (Heritage Malta, 2008).
Megalithic temple of Gigantija Gozo
This tourist destination consists of two megathilic complex of temples that have a massive wall separating them. The monument has been preserved over the years by a series of restoration works in the 20th century. The name Gigantija originates from the belief that the walls were built by giants who existed in the 16th century. Some of the striking features of this temple are the remains of bones from animals.
This suggests that there were rituals that were carried out in the temples. They make visitors explore and learn historical and cultural aspects of the people who inhabited this destination. Excavations on the surface suggest that liquid offerings were also performed in these temples. Soft limestone was used for the altars and doors and in other decorative slabs. This facilitates creativity in the way the architectural styles are used to bring out beauty and elegance (Heritage Malta, 2008).
Core resources and products in Megalithic temple of Gigantija Gozo and Heritage Malta
The temples are the greatest form of attraction. Visitors want to see the architecture used in the construction of temples and appreciate the beauty depicted by this creativity. The decorations used and some of the remains form a good source of archaeological materials that are preserved to serve the needs of tourists. Paintings and sculptures, most of which have been prepared in the studio, are a common source of attraction.
They are painted on stones, wood and canvas or even on copper plates. They make a bulk of the attractions. Most people from different cultures across the world communicated their emotions through the use of paintings. The temples have immovable objects that form the bulk of artefacts. They include ceramics, glass objects and even moulded metals and carved stone. Textiles are also represented in these temples including veils, flags and costumes.
The way of dressing represents a community’s way of life and culture. It is a form of identification, and this has often been used as a symbol for most communities. Architecture is preserved through the establishment of a conservation studio for reference by future generations (Edgell, 2006; Heritage Malta 2008).
Products
Tangible products in this tourist destination include temples, their compositions and the archaeological objects. The staffs in this site also offer guided tours in which visitors are provided with a lot of information about the destination. They also offer photography filming and visitors are offered these films at a cost for every image.
Visitors also have a chance to rent sites for their functions and events. This promotes awareness and generates funds for the preservation of the site. Augmented products are also available in this tourist site. They include services such as group visits that are normally organized by agents. Gift shops in which visitors can purchase souvenirs paintings and other products are also available. Visitors are also offered transport services that enable them to move within the temples and various sites (Jones, 1999; Heritage Malta, 2008).
Events are also organized to ensure that the visitors experience adventure with memorable moments. These include open days for people who love art and design to explore and learn more about this subject. Artists also visit the museums and get inspiration from the paintings and other well known artists who paint during these events. Frequent visitors are provided with membership schemes where they can attend these events at a discounted rate.
They get an opportunity to experience the heritage trail evening tour and cultural tour facilitated by MCCA. These events are used to make every visit a new experience. They ensure that visitors keep coming back to enjoy the experience. They also provide a variety in the products and services offered every year.
This makes individuals anticipate visits to the temples. These tourist destinations provide interactive sessions with visitors and give them an opportunity to explore and learn more about art and design. Education is provided through libraries in which teachers avail downloadable learning resources used in the sites’ museums.
Higher education is also promoted to willing students. This includes masonry heritage skills that offer learners skills on building and construction. Other short term courses that nurture professionalism in individuals are offered to ensure that learners upgrade their skills and use them to maintain and preserve cultural heritage resources (Gentile, Spiller & Noci, 2007; Timothy & Nyaupane, 2009).
Stakeholders
One of the major stakeholders to this tourist destination is the Heritage Malta that is greatly involved in managing the museums and sites. They also provide up to date collections and facilitate the events and activities run in the tourist site. This is meant to provide the best experience for visitors. Conservation and continuation for this site is maintained to ensure that the future generation will enjoy this tourism experience too (Edgell, 2006).
The Malta tourism authority is also another stakeholder who holds regular meetings with Heritage Malta to plan on how to improve and promote this tourist destination. They organize for ways in which the culture can be maintained while issuing exciting packages to attract many visitors.
Those who have direct contact with visitors include the tour operators, MICE section, and language schools. They work according to the stipulated parliamentary law to come up with ticketing prices. Other packages offered are decided by stakeholders who work with the marketing and advertising sections (Leighton, 2006; Heritage Malta, 2008).
Visitors make up the most significant group of stakeholders. This destination attracts both the local and foreign markets that come to learn the culture of the Ggantija. They are attracted by packages, events offered, and the tourism experience that they get. Students also love this destination because it offers them a wide range of reading resources and skills. The libraries and the museums offer a good learning experience in Ggantija.
The minority groups and disabled representatives form part of the stakeholders. They are great beneficiaries to this tourism site. The surrounding environment to the temples consists of the local councils and neighbours. The research studies are done through the neighbouring communities.
Matters such as drainage or electricity are addressed through the local councils. Therefore, they form a fundamental part of the stakeholders who promote the continuity of Ggantija. When open days and other annual events are organized, there is support from these communities. This helps in building good relationships that promote heritage tourism. The local council, Xaghra, supports the annual events organized by Ggantija (Garrod & Fyall, 2000; Sethi, 1999; Heritage Malta, 2008; Fyall, Garrod, Leask & Wanhill, 2008).
The media channels are critical in publishing reports on the organization and in the promotion of awareness among the public. Media also comprises of the websites, the information kiosks and panels in the museums, info guides, and interactive Ds available in the sites. Social media have also been utilized to ensure that this destination attracts a wider range of markets.
Other people apart from employees working there include the outsourced cleaning contractors, the security companies, and the maintenance contractors. They form part of the Ggantija community. The community also includes experts who are centralized from heritage Malta or outsourced as dictated by the needs. The European Union funds are also part of the stake holders to Heritage Malta and Ggantija.
Other bodies like advisory boards are also recognized as stakeholders. Some organizations that are interested in partnership to promote the tourist destinations as they promote their products are also valuable stakeholders to the Ggantija and Heritage Malta. For instance, “I love food” is interested in combining the Maltese cuisine with the story of culture and history as a way of promoting their products and the tourist destination (McKercher & Cros, 2002).
Key Management issues at Ggantija
Cultural heritage has become very significant in Maltese in terms of culture preservation, society and the economy. Generating revenue is one of the management functions that aim at ensuring the continuity of these tourist destinations. Revenue is generated from admission fees and donations.
Other sources also include the money raised through partnerships like “I Love Food” organization that pays a fee to operate its business in the tourist areas. Open days organized to promote historical and cultural aspects of the people in Ggantija also serve as a major source of revenue (Fyall, Garrod, & Leask, 2002; Heritage Malta, 2008; Hall & McArthur, 1996).
Revenue
Ggantija obtains most of its revenue from visitor admissions fees. In the period between 2004 and 2011, the public, cultural heritage sector had a progressive rise in the revenue generated. In the period between 2004 and 2011, out of the total revenue generated, about 2.8 million Euros were allocated for the purpose of upgrading the tourist sites.
Heritage Malta Admission Fees (2004-2011)
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
2,117,980
2,867,016
3,191,663
3655,118
3867,184
3,928,250
4,920,565
4,427,945
Source: Heritage Malta sources
Expenses are shared between all the sites of heritage Malta. Such expenses include marketing expenses, the amount spent on publicity and media, the experts invited to facilitate open days and annual days and the maintenance costs. The tourist sites often require upgrading and maintenance to ensure that they remain attractive to the visitors. This is a strategy for raising revenue and promoting the continuity of the sites for the future generation (Heritage Malta, 2008).
Conservation of Sites
The tourist sites have been receiving popularity, and the number of visitors has increased tremendously. However, the more the number of visitors, the higher the likelihood of destroying the heritage value of the sites (Cochrane & Tapper, 2006; Leask & Yeoman, 1999). The paintings and sculptures are conserved in the studio rooms, and attention is given to the past restoration techniques to ensure that the original state of the sculptures is maintained.
Treatments are carried out through relining of the paintings, consolidating the pictorial layers, removing the worn out layers and retouching them. The treatments are done by the modern conservation standards that are more superior and long lasting than the traditional ones.
A lot of emphasis has been put on preventive conservation to ensure that chances of deterioration are minimised. This is done through extensive studies on the artefacts and materials used on the archaeological sites to establish how they can be conserved. Proper use and storage of artefacts and other collections is encouraged to give them long life. Attention is also given to the textiles, books, paper and the buildings to ensure that they are preserved for the future (Heritage Malta, 2008).
Security Issues
Ggantija is experiencing a challenge when it comes to the issue of security. Controlling the big multitude of visitors has proved to be very difficult and often visitors go beyond the barriers that can be a threat to their safety. The schools premises are not secure either. This is because they can be easily accessed by people mostly the youths and students. This can result into thefts or even destruction of property if not well monitored.
Walls are vandalized during visits, and tracking this vice is quite difficult because there are no cameras available. The only means of monitoring activities in the tourist areas is by physical checks done by the security people. This is quite a challenge because they cannot be present in all areas at once (Drummond & Yeoman, 2001; Heritage Malta, 2008).
Health and Safety
The movement of the people in the tourist areas is not fully guided, and there is a risk of falling and hurting their bodies. There is no bank in Malta that is willing to insure the archaeological site thus the health and safety of visitors is not guaranteed. This situation can be resolved through a study instigated to establish the number of visitors who can be accommodated in each temple at a time.
This will ensure that visitors’ safety is improved, and they can be controlled while in the temples. This will promote safety and minimise the chances of destruction and misuse of the available facilities (Heritage Malta 2008; Drummond, et al, 2000).
Effectiveness of Management Tools
To ensure that the management of heritage tourism sites is effective, a number of factors have been emphasized in Ggantija. First, customer focus has been used to gain a competitive advantage. The product, people, pricing and marketing have been utilized through the use of multi media technology. People interested in visiting the site can find out information from the website and other social sites like Facebook.
This gives the site popularity and increases the chances of increasing the number of visitors (Poria, Butler & Airey, 2004). Offering guided tours has also been a good strategy of engaging the visitors and promoting their learning and enjoyment experience in the tourist destination. This increases the chances of future visits or even attracting many people who would love to get a similar experience. There is plenty of information through the libraries and information boards.
This promotes a self guided learning in which visitors can choose their subject of interest and explore further. Brochures were initially used on the information stands. However, this has been changed; today, they are only available on the website. This has ensured waste is limited, and visitors can access the brochures at their convenience.
The films that are produced at the site are sold to the visitors. This is a good way of promoting publicity. When visitors leave the site, they are likely to influence their friends and relatives to visit the site. This is a good strategy for marketing products and service offered (Poria, Butler & Airey, 2003; Whitfield, 2009).
Megalithic temples of Gigantija Gozo and Heritage Malta have gained a lot of publicity through their publications including the Heritage Malta magazine. The news letters published inform readers and visitors on the activities that are in progress and offer them the new developments that would attract them. It has also established exhibition spaces that give artists an opportunity to promote public awareness, educate the public, and allow visitors to explore the culture and heritage depicted.
In addition, participating in European Union programs promotes heritage culture and conservation. This is a good strategy that ensures public recognition through participating in activities. These strategies promote good international relations, and this serves to attract visitors who in turn increase the revenue generated (Schwer, Gazel & Daneshvary, 2000; Sigala & Leslie, 2012).
The Malta heritage site management has established a good relationship with the stakeholders, and this has attracted organizations and individuals to make donations. This promotes the continuity of the site because such donations are used to upgrade and maintain the collections and the buildings. Transfers and gifts from other entities have increased the organization’s collection, and this has resulted in a wide variety of attractions for visitors.
The staffs at Ggantija offer quality services through the friendly guided walks. This gives visitors a sense of appreciation, and they have the will to visit the site once more. Education offered to professionals and youths is a good strategy of maintaining good relationships with the communities and improving the quality of their lives. It is a good way to give back to the society.
This is especially because the organisation derives its resources from the surrounding community’s culture and heritage. Partnering with other organisations also promotes good relations (McCain & Nina 2003; Whitfield, 2009).
Recommendation for Management Improvement
The management can coordinate the various activities in the sites to increase visitor numbers. It is recommended that an all inclusive source of information be availed (Buckley, 2004). The brochure can include information on the restaurants, the bookshops and libraries, and updates on the present heritage trails. This offers visitors more than they expect and attracts them to explore the wide variety of services and products offered.
The trends experienced over the recent past suggest that visitors want to experience more than they anticipate. The temples have been there since the 1890s, and previous visitors may not be willing to return to experience the same products and services (Smith, 2003).
To ensure that visitors anticipate new experiences, features and collections can be modified to mimic the currents forms of visitor attraction. For instance, the state of the art site can be transformed into an archaeological park. This way, the originality of its collections remains while the product becomes new. This is a good strategy to stay ahead of the competitors in the competitive tourism environment (Austin, 2002; Boniface, 2003; Leask & Fyall, 2006b).
A visitor orientation centre is also another strategy that can be introduced to make the visitors experience memorable. They can be aided through the introduction of touchscreens spread across the whole site through gazebos, and audio visuals. This way, visitors can easily get information from these tools without having to enquire from the staff. The available education system only focuses on the youths and professionals who want to advance their skills (Timothy & Boyd, 2003).
Children have been overlooked, and they could be targeted to expand the revenue base through admissions and education programs. Integrating children ensures that the available resources are well utilised maximally. Security measures can be improved by ensuring that cameras are installed around the sites to monitor the activities in the tourist areas (Leask, 2010; Shackley, 1998).
The environment in which these heritage sites are built provides a chance for communities to offer their cultural and historical resources (Andereck & Vogt, 2000; Leask & Fyall, 2006a). To ensure that these communities cooperate to promote heritage tourism, it is advisable to reduce negative social impacts. This comes as a result of foreign influence and increased populations of visitors. To ensure that this does not affect the communities, the site can introduce a code of conduct that matches the community’s way of living.
This reduces the social impact and promotes the cultural experience (Alonso, O’neill & Kim, 2010; Timothy, 2011; Timothy, 2009). Meeting and exceeding visitor expectations has been turned into a competitive advantage. Innovation and customer focus are two principle aspects to maintaining good visitor relationships and positive feedback (Hannam & Knox, 2009; Ritchie & Crouch, 2003).
Conclusion
Heritage tourism is based on the historical, cultural and natural resources that a tourist site possesses. The Megalithic temples are rich in history and culture of the past communities that developed these temples. It provides visitors with an opportunity to experience heritage tourism.
The management has employed tools and strategies that have seen the site increase its revenue generation capability and upgrade to meet the current needs of the visitors. However, continued innovation to make the products and services diverse and different from the ordinary is necessary.
Modifying the available collections to fit the current needs of visitors will attract visitors and promote the continuation of the site to meet the needs of the future generation. Focusing on visitor needs improves the chances of attaining a place in the inscription as a World Heritage Site.
Reference list
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