GENOCIDIO Essays - DraftQuarzo, DraftJAYKO, Helen Fein

CONSIDERACIONES ACERCA DEL GENOCIDIO COMO PARTE DEL CONFLICTO EN LA SOCIEDAD MODERNA A lo largo de la historia, las sociedades han experimentado varias formas de conflicto en las cuales la violencia ha sido un instrumento constantemente utilizado para imponerse al ?otro?. En este convulsionado proceso, surge el genocidio como una forma extrema de agresi?n, orientada a la aniquilaci?n de un grupo social en raz?n de resolver las diferencias. Justificado por argumentos de diferente tipo, el genocidio se convierte en un crimen que evidencia la falta de tolerancia y plantea una contradicci?n entre los valores y derechos tan promovidos por los estados democr?ticos modernos y sus pr?cticas pol?ticas. El t?rmino genocidio de la ra?z griega Genos (raza/clan) y del lat?n Cidio (matar), fue acu?ado por el acad?mico polaco Rafael Lemkin en 1944 para describir la destrucci?n de grupos enteros nacionales, religiosos o raciales- por asesinato directo e indirecto, lo cual condujo a su desaparici?n tanto biol?gica como cultural durante la segunda guerra mundial; especialmente, por la pol?tica alemana de asimilaci?n de otras poblaciones a sus patrones culturales pol?ticos y econ?micos y la persecuci?n a los jud?os. No obstante lo reciente de la definici?n del termino genocidio, los antecedentes de este crimen hallan en tiempos ancestrales. Existen infinidad de ejemplos de grupos o naciones que conquistan, colonizan o exterminan a otros. Confirmando como una pr?ctica com?n matar a los miembros del grupo vencido. Helen Fein nos da cuenta de los casos del conquistador asi?tico Atila en Europa, las masacres perpetradas en el medio oriente por las fuerzas del mongol Genghis Kan como casos de gen ocidio. M?s adelante, en el siglo XVI durante el periodo colonial podemos calificar de Genocidio, la legitimaci?n que hicieron los europeos de la violencia en Am?rica porque su incursi?n en estas tierras estuvo sustentada en la cultura del terror, en una pol?tica de avasallamiento por medio del crimen con el fin de evangelizar y civilizar a los ?b?rbaros? ind?genas. Al igual que el genocidio cometido por los colonos ingleses o los pioneros americanos contra los nativos norteamericanos. En este punto es interesante analizar como en la conducta genocida de los espa?oles entr? en juego el elemento de negaci?n del ?otro? representado en los ind?genas pues los europeos al enfrentarse con los ind?genas se ven as? mismos superiores. Joseph Fontana plantea: ?El nuevo t?rmino de referencia sobre el que se ha elaborado esta imagen es el de la naturaleza inferior de los no europeos; pero en el espejo al que se han mirado para definirse tiene una doble cara. En una de ellas se ?ven? las diferencias de raza (?) en la otra fundamentada en una visi?n euroc?ntrica de la historia, se ve el de ?primitivo?. Del primero han surgido el genocidio y la trata de esclavos; del segundo el imperialismo?. De esta forma, con la mirada que identificaba a los europeos entre s? y que los distingu?a de los dem?s, surgi? una imagen en la cual el ?otro? se define a partir de sus defectos y limitaciones, neg?ndoles la identidad y el reconocimiento de su diversidad cultural lo que conduce despu?s a una asimilaci?n forzada que tiene como etapa concluyente el genocidio. Posteriormente, en el tr?nsito a la modernidad, siglo XVIII-XIX se va configurando un nuevo orden que sustituye al antiguo r?gimen. Este se apoya en los ideales de la revoluci?n que sirven de referente para la transformaci?n social de occidente, la formaci?n de estados nacionales, las primeras instituciones democr?ticas, la consolidaci?n del capitalismo, la revoluci?n industrial y el sistema imperialista, en un periodo marcado por las grandes guerras y revoluciones en el cual las potencias buscan expandirse m?s all? de sus fronteras en busca de nuevos mercados representados por los territorios y colonias de ultramar que generan ingresos econ?micos. Todo esto viene acompa?ado del uso del concepto de superioridad racial como argumento para validar el genocidio contra los pueblos atacados, se da una lucha encarnizada entre las naciones que buscaban extender su civilizaci?n y su poder, nutriendo constantemente el mito racial y de la despersonalizaci?n y ejerciendo la violencia. Joseph Fontana dice: ?El racismo ha seguido instalado en nuestra sociedad (?) pero pasamos por alto su realidad cotidiana de discriminaci?n y prejuicio(?) no se basa en ideas razonadas sino en tenores inconfesables. No es

Christmas Tree or Floral Preservative Recipe

Christmas Tree or Floral Preservative Recipe Christmas tree preservatives (aka Christmas tree food) and cut flower preservatives contain the same ingredients: a food source for the plant, an acidifier (making hard water more acidic which helps the plant take in water and food), and a disinfectant to prevent mold, fungi, and algae from growing. This is an easy process that takes mere minutes. Christmas Tree Preservative Ingredients 1 gallon water2 cups light corn syrup4 teaspoons chlorine bleach4 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar (optional) How To Make Christmas Tree Food Mix the ingredients together and keep the solution in the base for the Christmas tree or vase for cut flowers. Both trees and flowers will last longer in cooler areas away from direct sunlight.Make sure the tree or flower always has water. Regularly refill the vase or the base where the tree sits. In addition, you may wish to spritz the tree or flowers periodically with water from a spray bottle.You can store the solution for four to five  days at room temperature in a closed container, or two weeks refrigerated. Tips Do not drink! If you plan on making enough tree or cut flower preservative to store, label your container and keep it out of reach of children and pets.Bleach and vinegar produce toxic vapors when mixed. If you add vinegar or lemon juice, add it to the water rather than mix it directly with the bleach. Its okay to use bleach without the lemon juice or vinegar if this worries you.If you dont have corn syrup, you can substitute 4 teaspoons of sugar, dissolved in the water. Some people add a penny to a sugar solution so that the copper can act as a fungicide and acidifier.Another common option is to substitute a can of acidic soft drink, like Sprite or 7-Up, instead of the corn syrup and lemon juice. Just add a can of (non-diet) soft drink to a gallon of water, with a splash of bleach.For flowers, youll probably want to cut the recipe to 1 quart water, 1/2 c. corn syrup, 1 tsp. bleach, 1 tsp. lemon juice.

MEDIATION between Saudi Arabia and The U.S Thesis

MEDIATION between Saudi Arabia and The U.S - Thesis Example With a shift in public policies, increasing numbers of corporates and legal firms are using alternative dispute resolution or ADR processes for conflict resolution. This paper explores mediation, which is a type of  alternative dispute resolution  process, where a third member or party, known as the mediator, helps the disputing parties to  reach a settlement. It will also study the mediation processes followed in the US and Saudi Arabia, while also taking into consideration the mediation methods not adopted by these two countries. Alternative dispute resolution or ADR (also referred to external dispute resolution  in countries, as Australia)1 is a process other than litigation or adjudication in court, in which there is the presence of a neutral third party who helps to resolve conflicts or disputes.2 The process includes  conflict resolution  procedures and mechanisms, which allows the conflicting parties to reach an agreement that would not result in litigation. ADR is actually an umbrella term for different ways in which the conflicting parties can work out a resolution, with or even without the presence and assistance of a third party. Despite a general perspective that ADR processes are capable of elevating the outcome quality and the degree of justice achieved in a conflict situation, ADR has faced a great deal of resistance in the past. As experts claimed, â€Å"for decades different forms of dispute resolution (ADR) have been proposed, developed, critiqued, modified, renamed, redefined and slow ly brought within the usually suspicious, and sometimes hostile, edifice of state-based normative ordering. Some see this as†¦democratic storming of the Kafkaesque citadel of the law†¦[While] others see it as a dangerous dilution or even undermining of justice.†3 Despite the initial resistance, ADR has currently gained global popularity and acceptance amongst the common people and those in the  law

Design consideration - Bryant Park ( Design for the crowd) Research Paper

Design consideration - Bryant Park ( Design for the crowd) - Research Paper Example Today it is one of the largest occupied urban parks in the world. The development of Bryant Park is traced back from 1970s. In the early 70s, the park had turned out to be a haven for drug dealers who transacted their business confidently. The prostitutes, idlers and the homeless also had taken their share in the park. The park was by then considered a ‘no-go zone area’ by normal citizens. Sparked iron fence surrounded the park while the dense shrubbery blocked the view from outside, making the inside hazardous. Whyte suggested some ideas that have led to the development of the park to make it friendlier. The fence was demolished and the shrubbery cleared. This was then followed by the establishment of impressive and welcoming entrances. The insides of the park underwent some serious renovation that saw numerous sitting places, tables and cafes installed (Halle, 2003). This was done by the parks support group called the Parks council. The council brought new life to the park, and their effort continued in the succeeding years. Groups like the Bryant parks restoration Council came in to help improve on the condition of the park. The Bryant ark restoration council later opened up the park to the street and encouraged different activities to take part in the park Landscape architectural advisor Laurie Olin also played a major role in helping rehabilitate the park. This person brought in the idea of adding more seats in the park, increasing the access points, lawns and flower beds, expanding the library`s central book stack underneath the Great awn and more so - the restoration of the Bryant statue and the fountains. Wrangles arose amongst the people about the ownership of the park and if Bryant Park could accommodate all the activities and in addition serve as a place of leisure. The park design was maintained, but the park underwent some petitioning that suited it as a whole. Different activities were located at different places (Carr, 1993). The ren ovation of the park made it enjoy bumper harvest in terms of economic success. Bryant Park today is one of the signature places in New York City. With limited cases of crime, the park is for the workers on sunny weekdays, visitors overflow during the weekend and revel also come to spend their time in the park during the holidays. The park records a large number of people that spend their time in the park daily. The social amenities found in the park have become popular to people thus promoting the businesses that are carried on in the park. District co-operates help run the park, and this means that it has become attractive to white collar job oriented people. The park has launched a free wireless network, and this has made it one of the best parks in the world at the moment. The lawn in the park provides excellent scenery to people enjoying themselves there. The lawn offers tall grass in the Manhattan south of the central park. It serves as launch room for midtown office staffs, as a resting place for the tired pedestrians, and as sitting place for some of the parks events like film festivals and fashion shows. This helps generate a lot of funds that help in the daily running of the park. Various events are carried out on the Great Lawn found in this park. There are many film festivals that are shown on different occasions like in the Monday evenings. Various artists conduct their performances with the aim of generating funds for the park. This has indeed become one of the best sources of revenue

Diabetes and Obesity (Biology) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Diabetes and Obesity (Biology) - Assignment Example It occurs as a result of absolute insulin deficiency insulin, due to rampant destruction of cells producing insulin, the beta cells of pancreas. There is a strong genetic predisposition to this type of diabetes. On the other hand type-2 diabetes mainly occurs in late adulthood and the main predisposing factors are lifestyle factors and obesity. Lifestyle factors in this regard include sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eatimg habits like irregular meals, binge eating and fast foods. Even in this type of diabetes genetic factors play a role. The main cause for diabetes type-2 are a combination of decreased secretion of insulin from the beta cells and also increased resistance of the receptors of the insulin in the peripheral tissue (Votey, 2005), which means that whatever insulin is secreted is not effective. The most common form of diabetes is type-2 diabetes and it has significant relevance to obesity. Thus, diet and exercise play a major role in prevention and also treatment of the disease. In this article, the role of obesity in the development of diabetes will be discussed. The main defect in diabetes type-2 is the inability of the tissues to respond to insulin. There is also decreased production of insulin by pancreas. Both these amount to increased glucose levels in the blood, known as hyperglycemia. An important causative factor is obesity. This is more so when obesity is more around the waist, known as central obesity (Votey, 2005). Obesity leads to decreased resistance of tissues to insulin. The fatty acid and triglyceride levels are high and these further interfere with insulin signaling. Another important aspect in obesity which influences the development of diabetes is dysregulation of the secretion of adipokine which is a hormone that causes peripheral resistance to insulin and contributes to the development of diabetes. Thus, obesity has a major role to play in the development of the most common form of diabetes, type-2 diabetes. Figure.1: Causes o f diabetes type-2 (Source: www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk) Diabetes is a silent killer and can lead to both acute and chronic problems that are potentially fatal or debilitating. Acute problems include, unconsciousness and coma either due to high or low blood glucose levels, confusion, anxiety and tremors. Chronic problems include development of retinal problems, grouped under retinopathy, kidney problems, known as nephropathy and problems related to nerves, known as neuropathy. Other than these long term problems, diabetes also leads to cardiac problems (Votey, 2008). Infact, any organ in the body can be damaged by diabetes. That is why it is very important to prevent diabetes and also keep it in control when contracted by this disease. The main aim of treatment of the disease are prevention of complications (DOH, 2008). This can be done by receiving appropriate medical care a physician-coordinated team which includes physicians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and mental health professionals with expertise and a special interest in diabetes. The most important aspect of prevention and also management of diabetes is lifestyle modification. This includes active physical life through exercise and physical activity, cutting down on excessive eating, following health eating habits like balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables and regular meals, cutting down on excessive alcohol indulgence and avoiding stress (DOH, 2008). Regular exercise is essential

Importance Of Vision And Mission Business Essay

Importance Of Vision And Mission Business Essay Organizational culture is an essential aspect to a company that can influence the strategy of the organization. Organizational culture can define as one organization share their own traditions, values, policies and attitudes during their daily operation (Luthoms 2002 ) Organizational culture is a basement of company strategy. Company can achieve their business goal very easily if they put organizational culture into their business vision and mission; make sure the culture can match with company strategy, in this way company culture can push their business keep going.. Each of organization has their unique culture which the company can benefit from it. The culture can give a large effect to employees, even the companys customers. As long as staffs know about the culture of company, they know the core business of the organizational hence the strategies they make will surround the organizational culture and that will not deviate their organizational goal. On the other hand, a clear and strong organizational culture cans attract customers attention that will let them know the business goal of company and they feel the organization is formal and official(Robbins.PJudge.A 2010).Strategy can be defined as Match Companys internal resource with opportunity to create an external factor (David.R. 2007) Sometimes companies have to choose one of strategy form many of them. Before they do that, do strategy analysis is necessary, strategy can be changed, but organizational culture can not be replaced. Let see some detail regarding how organizational culture influence company strategy with relevant example. Importance of vision and mission Most of successful companies are match their organizational culture with business visions. They try to create a positive relationship between organizational culture and organizational performance to ensure employees can work effectively and customers can fully understand what the organization is about. Business vision and mission should answer two basic questions:what do we want to become? and what do we want to do in long-term?(Huczynski.A Bunchan.A 2007) that is looks like a guideline to encourage employees moving forward ,a good vision can affect bother side, internal and external there is also a goal in their mind which can encourage staffs work in a positive way. Business vision and mission can make organization become stable. Organization should make their business vision and mission with organizational culture clear enough, not only for motivate employees, but for their business partners and customers as well. There are two examples show how vision and mission support company to do business. 1. Durex Company A good example is Durex Company. When we mention the brand Durex the first item comes out is condom and most of people will feel embarrassed. Employees can not advertise their products easily if they feel like that and their business can not become successful. However, the organizational culture they create can balance this negative effect. The culture is Successful; Social responsible and Lively (SSL) which means Durex Company will do a successful business, to fulfill social responsibility and make the life become great. The wonderful part is Social responsible. On the employees side, the organizational culture try to tell them the company you work for is not a simple manufactory to produce condoms, the brand Durex can represent a social healthcare organization. They put the social responsible into their business mission and vision; besides produce their products another companys mission which is more significant, to publicize health sexual behavior to their customer, especially you ng generation and teach them how to prevent the disease by use condoms .Employees who work for Durex is not just a seller or producer, they are people who provide knowledge of health as well. Such as, what is healthy sexual behavior and how important to prevent HIV in our life In this way employees will feel proud and confident during the daily operation. Because Durex Company has a positive organization culture and they can match it very well with their business vision and mission most of countries government are support them when Durex extend their market and do marketing research that why the brand can become famous and has a good reputation all over the world. Durex is a healthcare company and fulfills society responsible, not just a producer and they are one of successful international company in the world, their product has been proved by World Health Organization (WHO) that all benefit form they have a clear vision and mission and transfer an obscure topic become acceptable. 2. Dell Company It is not enough only ask employees understand the business mission and vision; actually organizational culture can support the company from side, employees side and customer side. Make sure employees understand is the first step, as long as employees know about the organizational culture, they can explain to their customers very easily and the decision they make will around the core business of company that is good for company to advertise themselves. (Clegg Kornberger 2006).For instance employees who work in Dell Company can demonstrate their organizational culture to public very well. As we know Dell Company is one of famous computer organization that has been included in the 500 largest companies in the world. The brand, DELL is quite welcome because of they have a good business mission and vision which is Listen, Learn and Deliver, means listen feedback from their customer, keep learning new technique to improve quality of products and deliver their service to customer. Actually , Dells organizational culture is more likely a customer service strategy to build a long-term relationship with customers. And win customer loyally Base on the Dell Companys culture, after customer purchase computers from internet or book by telephone, they will deliver the goods to their home, and we know none of company like did that for their customer, expect Dell. When employees deliver products to customers home, they can performance their organizational culture to them, such as help customer to check is that what the customer need in the box? After that, help customer to check the computer is working or not. If everything is correct, ask customer to sign on the feedback form. Finally, employees will announce to customer if they need technique support they can call customer service number in Dell Company and they will come to you within 3 working days. Because of employees are fully understand the organizational culture and they can show it to customer by good service quality that why the brand Dell can get customer loyalty. Dell Company use employees as media to transfer their organizational culture to public and customers are truly believe they can do a good job. We can see a concrete example which is customer will pay the full price first on internet when they buy Dell computer, after that customer will wait about 5 working days for deliver product to their home. Customers are willing to pay first, and wait company come back to them; this kind of customer behavior which can explain their customer service strategy is successful, because of Dell follows their business mission and vision. Until now, there is no customer complain regarding deliver product delay. Personality, Durex Company and Dell Company are very good example to match organizational culture with business vision and mission and bring a positive effect to internal and external. Strong and weak organizational culture Create a strong organizational equal to build a stable basement for company. Employees have the same option about core business of organization and a strong organizational culture will affect members behavior. (Hellriegel 2009 )It is looks like behavior control, make sure staffs performance on the same level..Strong organizational can reduce employee turnover rate as well that can create a kind of internal organizational climate which can attract employees work for company(Schein.H 2010) that can support company carry out recruitment strategy. The  recruitment strategy  is a complete mix of the recruitment processes, targets and approach to hire the best talents employees for the job market and control turnover rate.  Organization can save cost and time if they have a low turnover rate. Employees leave organization for many different reasons that why company have to use culture to unite them as a team. However Strong organizational culture is not means management level use inte rnal culture to force their members that is not the purpose. The correct way is that make sure employees understand the organizational culture, each of them can transfer the culture to their own understanding. Company need to use organizational culture to persuade members, not force (Hellriegel 2009 ) After staffs understand it, they will follow by themselves. As long as employees can find their expectation in the company they will stay here for a long time. On the other hand, week organizational culture means the internal culture is not clear or lack of explanations and staff control, employees will lose business goal and guideline, in this way, perhaps members will leave the organization that should be improved if company wants to reduce turnover rate. After employee leave, they have to spend more money to organize an interview to hire new employees to replace employees who just leave. Otherwise, company need to provide formal training selection for new staffs and the most signifi cant point is new employees need some time to know about the new working environment and they can not cooperate with their colleague that will make the daily operation become ineffective. The following paragraph will demonstrate a relevant example to support how important to build a strong organizational culture to control turnover rate. Resort world sentosa Singapore Resort world sentosa(RWS) Singapore is a good example to explain how strong organizational culture to help company become successful. RWS is a large resort which provides service and entertainment and there is more than 2000 staffs work for them. It is hard to do a successful business if RWS does not have a strong organizational culture. Let image, they have such a large group of employees, if organizational culture is not strong enough that will lead to employees are not loyal to the organization, turnover will increase and employees performance will float up and down. First of all, let see what the culture of RWS is. They call is as RWS fun which means Responsible, Warm, Supersize and Fun. The organizational culture try to encourage employees become a responsible person in the daily life, when staffs deliver service to guests, try to let customer feel warm and welcome, and remember to supersize their guests, let them feel something different or special. Lastly, create fun to your c olleagues and customers; let everyone enjoy themselves in Resort world sentosa, no matter your staffs or guests. Actually, the culture, RWS fun gives employees what they expect, everyday staff come to Resort World not only for work, create fun as well. The organization culture make Resort World become a large family and all of members have been united by a same belief. The company prints the organizational culture behind the staff card that can make sure each of members can remember it. RWS fun creates a positive working attitude to each of employees that will persuade staffs stay here. The organizational culture plays a good role in recruitment strategy, as a large company, they can not only focus on hire staffs from outside, get current employees loyalty is equally important. Let us image, Resort World has 2000 employees, the organization will lack of cooperation if employees are keeping resign and the whole organization will become unstable and their business can not moving forwa rd. Organizational culture and strategy in action Organizational culture affects strategy development in many ways, company have to base on their companys culture to plan a long-term or short-term strategy. On the other hand, a good organizational culture has to support companys future plan as well. Company need to connect internal culture with strategy Organizational culture and strategy they have a supportive relationship. Organizational culture is the key of company make a strategy Company carry out a strategy have to show to public their particular internal culture, which means use their own method to achieve their organizational goal. The strategy is a kind of reaction of organizational culture. Before a strategy takes action that should be realities, make sure that can be accepted by customers or business partners and manage the cost, increase revenue as well. On the other hand, management level need to forecast barriers between company and their goal, provide some idea to prevent it. The following paragraph will shows how the organizational culture of KFC to influence their strategy in action Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Let use KFC as a example to explain how organizational culture influence strategy in action.KFC is one of successful fast-food restaurant and famous all over the world. Normally, KFC only provide fries chicken with chips to customers, however what they did in China really help them to occupy market in this country. Nowadays, KFC try to do some innovation about their food. They offer congee, rice and some Chinese traditional food to match with the local culture and you can not find this kind of food in KFC where local in the other countries. KFC is first restaurant to do this kind of innovation they take the opportunity to attract customer to come. Otherwise, KFC also deliver mock chicken and vegetarian burger in India and Canada, there are some people are vegetarian, because of religion, this kind of food innovation can be accepted very easily. After the innovation, KFC become more competitive. As we know, a strong competitor of KFC is McDonalds which deliver fast-food as well, both of them are international brand, however, the action about food innovation is base on the KFCs organizational culture which is Positive encouraging Restaurant manager first and Work to excellent. In fact, it is not difficult to find out the food innovation is kind of positive encourage which make KFC become more competitive than McDonald in the market. Because of the one of organizational culture in KFC is encourage employees do a positive change, hence the strategy they did in China and India is quite creative. Employees transfers their organizational culture becomes a real strategy action and that is very successful, the new innovation is not cost too much, but bring in good revenue for KFC and their market become stable. On the other hand, because the innovation is successful that encourage KFC keep doing the food innovation, every quarter customer can find out new thing on their menu, most of them are very good food combination, customers are like them so much. The example can d emonstrate that organizational culture how organizational culture bring a positive effect to strategy in action Conclusion Every organization should build an organizational culture before business start, base on the culture to show their own feature and when the top management level wan to plan their future strategy for the company, the strategy they make have to match with organizational culture and direct go to the companys mission and vision.. Create a positive relationship between organizational culture and organizational performance to ensure employees can work effectively. Weak organizational culture is lack of control, sometimes that will confuse staffs as well, hence as a successful organization, internal culture should be clear and strong enough to unit all the employees in the organization, make sure members can explain the culture by their own understanding.( Alvesson.M 2002)On the other hand organizational culture need to be demonstrate to customer, let them know what the company is and what kind of business they running. On the other hand, strong organizational culture can decrease turnover rate and win employees loyalty which help company carry out recruitment strategy, low turnover rate can make the daily operation become effective that can prevent employees performance float up and down. Decision or strategy they make should follow the companys culture as well. Indentify the merit and demerit form internal and external; recognize the business stage of company, is that time to grow or defend. Organizational culture need to give a positive influence to strategy in action. The strategies they choose have to support company increase revenue and control cost. Internal culture and strategy have to match each other ,and when company carry out the strategy make sure the that can be accepted by local government politics.( Michael A. Hitt   R. Duane Ireland 2008)The organizational culture is the basement of organization, all the strategy has to around the culture. In this way, the organizational goal can be achieved in a successful way.

The Racial Struggles of Puerto Ricans Essay -- Race Racial Culture Ess

The Racial Struggles of Puerto Ricans Another large component of Puerto Ricanness is Race. All of the different cultures that have throughout history combined to form Puerto Rico effect their nationality, history, lifestyles, traditions, music, and foods. The "discovery" or infiltration of the island of Borinquen (or Puerto Rico as it was later renamed) in 1493 by Spain resulted in the decimation of the native Taino population. With the loss of an immediate source of cheap labor to work the fields for their sugar cane industry, they introduced African culture into the region by importing slaves to replace the Taino field workers. In addition to the introduction of African culture into Puerto Rico voluntary immigration brought further divergence from the native population of the island through the influx of foreigners of European descent. The prosperous sugar and coffee industries during the Spanish rule attracted foreigners seeking economic prosperity from area such as France, Italy, Spain (primarily Corsica and Mallorca) and other areas in Europe. The arrival of the foreigners resulted in the "whitening" (Gonzalez) of the racial mixture of the island’s inhabitants. Through the Spanish colonial era briefly describe above, it is evident that Puerto Rican society was a very culturally diverse island. Despite this there has always been heavy emphasis placed on the whiteness of the society by the white elite that dominate the island. Josà © Luis Gonzà ¡lez wrote a controversial article titled Puerto Rico: The Four-Storeyed Country in which he expressed his view that Puerto Rican society was not predominately white but rather black because of the thousand of slaves that were taken to the island to work on Sugar plantations. Gonz... ...aven, 1997) Guerra, Lilian. Popular Expressions and National Identity in Puerto Rico: The Struggle For Self, Community, and Nation. (University Press of Florida: Gainesville, 1998) Dietz, James. Economic History of Puerto Rico. (Princeton University Press: Princeton, 1986) Glasser, Ruth. My Music is My Flag: Puerto Rican Musicians and the New York Communities. (University of California Press, Berkaley 1995) Scarano, Franciso. Sugar and Slavery in Puerto Rico, 1815-1849: An Overview from: Scarano, Sugar and Slavery in Puerto Rico: "The Plantation Economy of Ponce, 1800-1850. (Madison U. of Wisconsin Press, 1984), 3-34. Morris, Nancy. Culture, Politics, and Identity. (Wetsport: Praeger, 1995) Ferre, Rosario. The House on the Lagoon. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1995) Lopez, Tania. Personal Web Page http://frontpage/tlopez