Walker IIi V. Texas Division, Sons Of Confederate Veterans...

In Walker III v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans (2015), attorney Scott Keller argues on behalf of the petitioner—Walker III (Walker)—and attorney Roger George represents the respondent—Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). The case concerns the constitutionality of a decision made by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board (the DMV Board) to reject the specialty license plate designs submitted by SCV and its members, and addresses possible violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendment. Four contentions surround the issue: the form of speech embodied by the specialty license plate program; State control over the content of specialty license plates; specialty license plates as a limited public forum; and, ultimately, the potential violation of the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of â€Å"viewpoint neutrality.† Justice Breyer delivers the opinion of the Court, affi rming the plates as government speech. However, Justice Alito, joined by the Chief Justice, Justice Scalia, and Justice Kennedy, Justice Alito dissents, concerned with. the Court’s broad interpretation of government speech. Speaking for the petitioner, Scott Keller cites Summum as precedent and asserts that messages displayed on Texas license plates are, in fact, government speech. Dismissing the claim that specialty plates represent government speech, Roger George, for the respondent, contends the State created a billboard opportunity forShow MoreRelatedThe Confederate Flag : Controversy Or Logical Solution?1717 Words   |  7 PagesThe Confederate Flag: Controversy or Logical Solution? The Confederate flag has been a topic of controversy in the United States for many years. It and other symbols of the Confederacy are parts of many state flags in the South and it is even flown at several state buildings throughout the South. To some the Confederate flag is a historical symbol and is believed to be a way of remembering the Civil War that almost tore the nation in two, but to others it represents fear and hatred due to its useRead MoreTheu.s. V. Texas Division, Sons Of Confederate Veterans, Inc.2555 Words   |  11 PagesUnited States Supreme Court John Walker, III, in His Official Capacity as Chairman of the Board, et al., Petitioners v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., et al. Appealed from the United States Court of Appeals 5th Circuit Statement of the Case This case seeks to protect the right to â€Å"free speech,† as is granted to through the 1st amendment, and affirmed by the (insert court here), in regards to specialty or vanity license plates. The 1st amendment reads as follows: Congress shallRead MoreTexas Division, Sons Of Confederate Veterans897 Words   |  4 PagesIn Walker III v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans (2015), the Supreme Court concerns itself with the constitutionality of a decision by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board (the DMV Board) to reject the specialty license plate designs submitted by SCV and its members, and the Court addresses possible violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendment. Attorney Scott Keller appears for Walker, the petitioner, and attorney Roger George represents the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV)Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesApplications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior ComprehensiveRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesOthers 323 Managing Conflict 373 PART III GROUP SKILLS 438 8 Empowering and Delegating 439 9 Building Effective Teams and Teamwork 489 10 Leading Positive Change 533 PART IV SPECIFIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS 590 591 Supplement A Making Oral and Written Presentations Supplement B Conducting Interviews 619 Supplement C Conducting Meetings 651 Appendix I Glossary 673 Appendix II References 683 Name Index 705 Subject Index 709 Combined Index 713 iii This page intentionally left blank

The Gap Between Africa And Afro America - 1099 Words

The gap between Africa and Afro-America and the gap between the living and the dead and the gap between the past and the present does not exist. It s bridged for us by our assuming responsibility for people no one s ever assumed responsibility for. Slavery may be buried within the history books in our libraries, but America itself is not free because it is still afraid of reading about slavery and shies away from the topic. Contemporary readers have a responsibility to take the leading role in remembering history of American slavery. The internationalization of contemporary English means that reading is the best tool for doing this and bridging the gap (Bennett and Royle, 238). The history of American slavery is not told in the acts of the slave masters but rather in the stories of the slaves themselves. Where the gap between Africa and Afro-America was bigger in the mindset of the society than it was on the physical world. (Bennett and Royle, 243). The society that only considered the existence of a single race. It was a time when the fate of a person was determined by the color of their skin. Individuals who stood against the tide of the society and chose to be defined by who they were and not the color of their skin. This is the type of stories being told in the books by Bennett and Royle and the book The Beloved. Slavery is part of American history that has been referred to as the worst thing that has ever happened to America. These parts of our history has beenShow MoreRelatedThe Afro Bolivian Community Of Kalakala1249 Words   |  5 Pagesstuffing them into a bag that was tied around her waist. The voice of Jorge Medina, an afro-Bolivian advocate echoed from the radio next to her. â€Å"The government has taken significant steps to recognize the Afro-Bolivian population in the census, but more work still needs to be done. In many of rural areas Afro-Bolivians still do not have access to quality education and even learning their history in schools. Many Afro-Bolivian farmers do not have clean water in their homes or do not have bathrooms.†Read MoreMultilateral Relations Between Africa And Africa1407 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction Africa, once regarded as ‘good for nothing but exploitation’, however, the block has gradually gained modest relations, and aspiring to cultivate a multifaceted partnership with major global political players in all directions from Left-Right, East–West, North-South, and South-South. The two major partners forged their own cooperation are Peoples Republic of China and United States of America and the partnerships they created are known as Sino - Africa relations named ‘Forum on China-AfricaRead MoreEssay about Ebonics3741 Words   |  15 Pagescorrect version of Afro-American English. I intend to show that – and comment on how – racialism and competition affects a society and how this, in the case of Ebonics, is actually happening in todays America. Nuuk February 1997 Ral Fleischer THE QUESTIONS ASKED I will attempt to answer the following questions about Ebonics; - what is Ebonics? - what are the underlying reasons behind Ebonics? - who is prospering from Ebonics? What is Ebonics? 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In â€Å"How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie† by Junot Diaz, the story highlights common stereotypes that the narrator picks out about girls that he is attempting to date. Stereotypes are often the first impression before the firstRead MoreRacism And Racism1404 Words   |  6 Pageseven after the debunking of stereotypes, myths and pseudo- scientific research and their conclusions. This phenomenon in society began to produce himself which led to racially disparate life outcomes. ! Historically the process of colonization of America by Western civilization had been integrally connected with the phenomena of Modern Slavery. While the reasoning behind the slave- trade would appear to be strictly economical, the need to rationalize the slave-owning in growingly liberal and humanisticRead MoreCultural Analysis Brazil2706 Words   |  11 Pagesstringent than the United States. In this paper it will be my intent to provide analysis and review the current business culture and relations that take place between the U.S. and Brazil. Although there is already a significant oil trading relationship that exists, the question is, can there be any other successful global business dealings between the two countries. In addition as I am in dealings with Brazil on a daily basis and will travel to visit multiple times during the year I am providing perspectiveRead MoreEssay about Cultural Conformity1473 Words   |  6 Pagesclassification or status. For centuries, discrim ination has been a big issue in many countries over race, socioeconomic status, appearance and ethnicity. Racism continues to exist primarily not only in the United States, but also in Europe and South America, with attempts to block minorities from any opportunities. In Rick Bragg’s memoir, All Over but the Shoutin, Bragg reveals the influence of racism on the modern world. The effects of these unjust social practices can be felt throughout humanity todayRead MoreThe History and Patterns of Interracial Marriage and Families in the United States1229 Words   |  5 Pagespolarized view of either cultural conservatism or egalitarianism. But the public at large has still yet to overcome the taboo, part of the reason behind the currently small rates of interracial marriages. Even though, since the courts decision, America has seen an increase of interracial marriages as well as interracial offspring of those marriages. Occurrences of these multiracial Americans has led to a cha nge in government data collection, such as the census, allowing for self-identificationRead MoreCultural Conformity and Race Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pagesthose who felt were at a higher social class, through isolation and racial exclusion that continues to extend beyond the borders of the United States today. The sense of alienation and loss of self-worth can still be felt in Afghanistan and South America. After September 11, 2001, the terrorist bombings on the World Trade Center’s raised questions towards the Muslim-Islamic community. For a while, many Americans lived in fear against their eastern neighbors. Some people continue to stereotype Muslims

he Development Of Hr Practitioners Sample Guide

Question: Discuss about the Human Resource (HR) for The Development of Hr Practitioners? Answer: Introduction Hr Human Resource (HR) is a department within an organization that has the responsibility of screening, hiring and training of new recruits that fill the job vacancies in the organization and administering programs for the welfare of existing employees. The main objective of the HR department is to enhance the productivity of the employees, resolve any conflict that arises within the workforce and increase the Return On Investment (ROI) for the company. Apart from hiring training, this department is also responsible for performance management, appraisals, promotions, monetary non-monetary compensation, employee satisfaction, conflict management, foster innovation, enforcement of company policies/ procedures and firing of employees. The HR department is involved in Human Resource Planning (HRP) while maintain a balance between the employees and the job positions in order to avoid a condition where there is shortage of employees or where there is surplus manpower. HR professionalism To understand the HR professionalism and to conduct myself as the HR professional, the study of the CIPD HR professionalism map is done. In the CIPD HR map, the core behaviors that are needed for the effective HR professionals are explained. It gives the outlines of the skills, knowledge, and behavior that an HR professional needed to be successful by dividing them into 8 behaviors, 10 professional areas, and professional competences 4 banks (Gareth Bell, 2013). Credibility and integrity are two fundamental attributes of professionalism. HR professional should exhibit several qualities like integrity, situation analysis, strategic decision making, leadership, initiative, commitment, involvement etc. I will be working with Vodafone. Vodafone is a telecom company that is headquartered in London. Vodafone has its network in 26 countries. The organization has over 1 lac employees. The organization has retail stores and also provides online services to its customers. The company offers postpaid and prepaid services (Ulrich et al., 2013). CIPD is a professional benchmark for HR professionals. It ensures knowledge of latest practices and theories and best practices to be followed in the field of HRM. HR professional areas and behaviors Following are the different professional areas and behaviors related to HR professionalism: 10 professional areas - Insights, strategy and solution, HR leads, Good employee relations, Learning and talent development, Employee engagement, Resourcing and talent planning, Performance and rewards, Organization design and development, Service information and delivery (Biswas and Islam, 2012). 8 behaviors- Courage to take challenges, curiosity for new ideas, decisive thinker, ability to influence, personally credible, pro-active, collaborative, driven to deliver. The qualities needed to become an effective HR professional An HR profession should have the following qualities (refer diagram 2) to rise the ladder of success: Talent development: It is the responsibility of the HR team to recruit the right candidates for the job openings in the company. Once an employee gets on-board, HR department need to develop a training program in order to enhance his efficiency. It is important to monitor the performance of employees and recognize their talent and hard work. Flexible: The most important role of the HR professional is being reactive, as the unexpected can happen anytime (Segon, 2014). There are situations like breach of code of conduct, issues related to discrimination and harassment, issues related to inter-department conflicts etc. Each situation should be handled very tactfully. Integrity: The behavior of HR professional should always exhibit honesty and truthfulness. This behavior is seen in the CIPD code of conduct and ethics of the profession (Brimberg and Drezner, 2015). Other employees of the organization look at the HR department for the high behavioral standards. Code of conduct should be followed while dealing with situations. Confidentiality: HR professional has access to a great deal of information that should not be disclosed such as payment records, disciplinary records, medical records, previous employers reference. Corporate social responsibility: There is a necessity to have ethical behavior not only on the personal level also on the organizational level. The eternal stakeholders and employees also expect ethical behavior from the organization (Ellwood, 2011). The HR professionals should exhibit ethical behavior so that they become role models for others. Communication skills: An HR professional should have excellent communications skills and credibility to influence the employees of the organization and should be confident enough to put across his point. Team management and leadership: It is very important for an HR professional to be able to work as a team member and a team leader (Schroeder, 2012). For a team to function properly, a team should be a right size and everybody should be given a clearly defined role. There has to be proper communication between team members and there should be group norms applicable to each team member. HR professionalisms four concentric circles There are four concentric circles that refer to HR professionalism: (2.1) First circle related to HR professionalism The first circle refers to self-management. An HR professional has to improve his knowledge regarding various issues that will increase his personal credibility. The HR professional should have in-depth knowledge of company's rules, policies and code of conduct. He should have a sound decision making ability and ability to take feedback in a constructive way (Bailey, 2011). After making an assessment, I have realized that I should understand all the company policies and code of conduct so that I can be a guide to others in Vodafone. (2.2) Second circle related to HR professionalism The second circle refers to team management. While leading a team it is very important to make impartial decisions, coordinate with other team members, motivate the team, have well-developed plans and delegate tasks in order to meet deadlines. After making an assessment, I have realized that I need to work on my team management skills. In a company like Vodafone, it is very important to have good interpersonal skills, ability to make quick and rational decisions and delegate work to team members. (2.3) Third circle related to HR professionalism The third circle refers to the ability to manage higher authorities. An HR professional should have excellent communications skills and credibility to influence the higher authorities (Ellwood, 2011). Confidence, passion, pro-activeness and the ability to accept challenges are some of the key qualities that an HR professional should have. After making an assessment, I have realized that my pro-activeness and the ability to take initiatives will help in managing higher authorities in Vodafone. (2.4) Fourth circle related to HR professionalism The fourth circle refers to the ability to manage the entire organization. Good interpersonal skills, sound knowledge of company protocols, ability to convince others and rational decision-making are the key qualities that an HR professional should have. Recruitment, training and development, job designing, performance and rewards, motivation and job satisfaction are the areas where HR professionals are involved (Segon, 2014). I have realized that Im good at making rational decisions but I need to improve my communication skills in order to manage people from different departments in Vodafone. Two scenarios where involvement of HR advisor is required An HR advisor needs expertise to advice employees of the company on various laws, company policies and code of conduct that needs to be followed. Recruitment, training and retention of employees is also taken care of, by the HR advisor. (3.1) Scenario 1- Lack of support from immediate seniors The employee's boss does not support him in his learning phase rather pressurizes him to deliver his targets on day one and threatens him that if he will not meet his targets, his performance appraisal will get affected. The boss also threatens that if he does not deliver the expected results his profile or territory will be changed (Bailey, 2011). In such a scenario, the intervention of the HR advisor is required. When a new employee joins an organization, he should be given considerable time to adjust and learn the processes/ technology related to his job position. The HR advisor should interact with both the parties- new employee and his boss to find a way out (Ellwood, 2011). It is important to understand the needs and requirements of the employee in order to enhance his efficiency. The manager should be issued a warning for his rude behavior to his juniors. An HR professional should possess qualities like situation analysis and conflict resolution to handle such a solution. (3.2) Scenario 2- Case of harassment and bias For example, there is a manager who made an indecent proposal to a female employee which she declined. As a revenge the manage always finds faults in her work, humiliates her in-front of other team members, makes deadlines more stringent for her and delegates work to her that is not relevant to her role in the organization (Zheltoukhova, 2015). This is a case of harassment and bias. The employees should be made aware of whistleblowing. They should be made aware that if they encounter any situation that is against the ethics, they should report the incident to their manager or HR professional. A warning letter should be issued against the manager for his behavior. Approach towards CPD CPD (Continuous Professional Development) is an important part of professionalism because of the following matters: there is need of up to date knowledge in the professionalism; new challenges are faced that need new skills; need for the development of progress; requirement of the professional life; intrinsic motivation (Gray, 2014). For the personal development plan, I need to know what my role in the organization is and where I want to reach. For this, I have to focus on the current role and the need of the development that is needed for the achievement of the goal. For this consideration of current, evolving and future role is necessary and also the reflection on the current role is necessary (Ireland, Cure and Hopkins, 2009). The reflection on the current role and development can be done through the self-assessment. It is important to ask for a feedback. (4.1) Three development needs for CPD With the analysis of my strengths and weakness, I have discovered that meeting deadlines, improving communication skills and team work are my development needs that I need to work upon for the achievement of goals (Zheltoukhova, 2015). Thus my top three development needs are: multitasking in order to meet deadlines, improving communication skills and team work. (4.2) Initiatives towards development needs In order to work on the development needs, I have taken the following initiatives: In order to improve my communication skills, I am attending various seminars and tutorials on language proficiency, body language and personality development. I have attended a course on time management and implementing all my learnings in the practical tasks. Setting priorities at work: It is very important to prioritize the tasks at hand. We should distinguish between important work and urgent work. The best way to manage time is to make a to-do list. After completing the list, rank the tasks in order of their priority. Use of a planning tool: A personal planning tool can be used to enhance productivity. We can use diaries, white board, stick notes, calendars etc. to write down the tasks to be completed along with their schedule. It is important to review the planning tool on daily basis. Tasks with the highest priority should be marked or highlighted. Use of PDA: Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) can be used to keep a record for all meetings and appointments (Hirsh, 2010). The technique of color coding can be used to distinguish between business meetings and personal appointments. Tasks can be prioritized and deadlines can be assigned to each task. Work in organized manner: It is very important to work in an organized way to get rid of clutter. Delete all the unwanted information from your desktop/laptop and diaries. All the files and documents should be stored in an organized way so that time is not wasted in sorting out information from files and documents (Hirsh, 2010). Delegate tasks to people who can handle them efficiently and have the appropriate skills to handle a task. Managing time schedules: At this time the person should take up challenging activities and complete them without any interruption (Hempel, 2004). A person should manage time in such a way that he can create a balance between work life and professional life. Breakdown of task: It is always advisable to break a task into smaller tasks with specific and realistic deadlines. This will help in proper utilization of time. Manage external factor: There are external factors that may hamper time management and time scheduling like an unexpected phone call, unexpected visitor, sudden family obligation etc. It is important to keep a check on these factors and stay away from factors that result in time wastage in order to stay focused. In order to be an efficient team leader and team player, I'm working on my interpersonal skills, ability to make quick and rational decisions, work delegation and ability to motivate the team members. I am attending seminars and reading articles on team work/ team management. (4.3) Performance measurement against development plan Performance measurement tools are used to measure the performance against set objectives. In industries various tools like KPIs, performance appraisals (360-degree feedback, management by objective, forced distribution, performance ranking), dashboards, six-sigma, benchmarking, rating scales, self-assessment, balanced scorecard are used for performance management (Ireland, Cure and Hopkins, 2009). 360 Feedback has been used to measure performance related to deadlines, communication skills and team work. As per the feedback obtained from juniors, seniors and co-workers, there is improvement in communication skills and team work but deadlines have not been met for some assignment. As per the graphic rating method, on a scale of 1-5, communication skills have been rated as 4, team work has been rated as 4 and meeting deadlines has been rated as 3. 1 stands for poor and 5 stands for excellent. Appendix Figure 1: CIPD HR Professional Map Figure 2: Qualities required to become a competent HR professional Figure 3: CPD Cycle Figure 4: CPD for the last 12 months Figure 5: PDP plan References Bailey, M. (2011). Policy, professionalism, professionality and the development of HR practitioners in the UK.Jnl Euro Industrial Training, 35(5), pp.487-501. Biswas, H. and Islam, M. (2012). Ergodic theory of one dimensional Map.Bangladesh Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 47(3). Brimberg, J. and Drezner, Z. (2015). A locationallocation problem with concentric circles.IIE Transactions, 47(12), pp.1397-1406. by Gareth Bell, I. (2013). HR at the heart of SME performance: an interview with Dr Jill Miller, Research Adviser, CIPD.Human Resource Management International Digest, 21(5), pp.43-45. Ellwood, F. (2011). Understanding the importance of a personal development plan.Dental Nursing, 7(3), pp.160-163. Gray, D. (2014). Evaluating CPD provision: is it a qualification or a CPD course?.Veterinary Nursing Journal, 29(6), pp.210-212. Hempel, P. (2004). Preparing the HR profession for technology and information work.Human Resource Management, 43(2-3), pp.163-177. Hirsh, W. (2010). Thought leaders share their views on the HR profession and its direction for the future.Strategic HR Review, 9(5). Ireland, B., Cure, R. and Hopkins, L. (2009). Perfecting your personal development plan.Vital, 6(2), pp.40-41. Schroeder, H. (2012). Developing a skills assessment tool for specialist jobs.Strategic HR Review, 11(3). Segon, M. (2014). Managing Organisational Ethics: Professionalism, Duty and HR Practitioners.Journal of Business Systems, Governance Ethics, 5(4). Ulrich, D., Younger, J., Brockbank, W. and Ulrich, M. (2013). The State of the HR Profession.Human Resource Management, 52(3), pp.457-471. Winkler, V. (2008). CIPD HRD conference and exhibition, London, UK, 14-17 April 2008.Strategic HR Review, 7(5). Zheltoukhova, K. (2015). New ways of working: what is the real impact on the HR profession?.Strategic HR Review, 14(5), pp.163-167. Bibligraphy Bailey, M. (2011). Policy, professionalism, professionality and the development of HR practitioners in the UK.Jnl Euro Industrial Training, 35(5), pp.487-501. Brimberg, J. and Drezner, Z. (2015). A locationallocation problem with concentric circles.IIE Transactions, 47(12), pp.1397-1406. Ellwood, F. (2011). Understanding the importance of a personal development plan.Dental Nursing, 7(3), pp.160-163. Gray, D. (2014). Evaluating CPD provision: is it a qualification or a CPD course?.Veterinary Nursing Journal, 29(6), pp.210-212. Hempel, P. (2004). Preparing the HR profession for technology and information work.Human Resource Management, 43(2-3), pp.163-177. Hirsh, W. (2010). Thought leaders share their views on the HR profession and its direction for the future.Strategic HR Review, 9(5). Schroeder, H. (2012). Developing a skills assessment tool for specialist jobs.Strategic HR Review, 11(3). Ulrich, D., Younger, J., Brockbank, W. and Ulrich, M. (2013). The State of the HR Profession.Human Resource Management, 52(3), pp.457-471. Winkler, V. (2008). CIPD HRD conference and exhibition, London, UK, 14-17 April 2008.Strategic HR Review, 7(5).

West Side Story With Romeo And Juliet Essay Example For Students

West Side Story With Romeo And Juliet Essay What would Romeo and Juliet be like if Juliet hadnt died? What if Paris killedRomeo, instead of vice versa? What if instead of occurring several centuriesago, it took place on the streets of New York City during the 1950s, with abunch of fresh-faced youths posing as street toughs and dancing and singingtheir hearts out? Well, just take a look at West Side Story, and you will haveyour answers. It is impossible for anyone familiar with both texts to not notethe obvious major similarities between the two plays. From the opening scenes inboth, up through the rumble in West Side Story/death of Mercutio in Romeo andJuliet, the plays mirror each other (Poelstra). It isnt until the last part ofWest Side Story, where Tony, our modern-day Romeo, dies and Maria, TonysJuliet, doesnt (unlike the two star-crossed lovers of Shakespeares work), thatthe major difference between the two works becomes apparent. Granted, instead oftension between feuding families, West Side Story offers prejudice betwee nraces, as illustrated between street gangs, the Jets and Sharks. Some of thecharacters in West Side Story are carbon copies of those in Romeo and Juliet:Maria (Juliet), Tony (Romeo), Bernardo (Tybalt), Lt. Schrank (Prince), and Anita(Nurse). Others appear to be a composite of characters, namely Riff, acombination of Benvolio and Mercutio, and Doc, who appears to fulfill the roleof Friar Laurence (possessed somewhat of a peacekeeping nature: Youcouldnt play basketball?, he asks, when informed of their upcomingwar council ) yet, at the same time, it is implied inthe film version, not the play that he is a pharmacist, and there was, afterall, an apothecary in Romeo and Juliet . The tomboyish Anybodys, a Jet wannabe,would best fit into the role of Balthasar (although Docs character fits intothis role marginally as well), since it was she who aided Tony in escaping afterthe rumble, which resulted in the deaths of Riff and Bernardo, as well as laterinforming the other Jets that Chino, th e Paris of the Sharks, had a gun and washunting down Tony. In the opening act of Romeo and Juliet, Sampson and Gregory,servants of Capulet, harass Balthasar and Abraham, servants to the Montagues. We will write a custom essay on West Side Story With Romeo And Juliet specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bearit, boasts Sampson (I.i.48-50). In the opening scene of West Side Story,several Sharks, the Puerto Rican gang led by Bernardo, harass A-rab (notice thesimilarity in name to Abraham), a white dude, a Jet, and therefore, an enemy ofthe immigrants. In no time at all, other Jets, led by Riff, rush to A-rabsside. No words are exchanged between the gangs, since it is, after all, amusical, and they basically just jump around in exaggerated fashion. Nevertheless, the scene, like the opening of Romeo and Juliet, sets the stagefor the remainder of the production. It is here where Lt. Schrank and hisfaithful compatriot, Officer Krupke, happen on the scene to break apart apotential rumble just like Escalus, Prince of Verona, did in Romeo and Juliet:If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit ofthe peace (I.i.103-4). Or, as Schrank would phrase it, I got a hotsurprise for you: you hoodlums dont own the streets (Laurents 6). Following the altercation between the gangs, it is decided by Riff that the timehas come to take care of the Puerto Ricans once and for all, clean em upin one all-out fight! (Laurents 10). Riff will challenge them at the danceat the gym later that night. But, he wants his old pal Tony, who founded theJets with him, in as his Lieutenant (Laurents 12). So, he goes to fill in Tony,who has made a sincere effort to forsake the gang life by becoming gainfullyemployed at Docs candy store. This is where another parallel occurs: just asBenvolio talks Romeo into attending the ball at the Capulets, Riff talks Tonyinto attending the dance at the gym. Prior to the dance, a sweet-facedseventeen-year-old gal, fresh up from Puerto Rico, prepares for her first bigsocial event in America. Here, even the exact act and scene (I/iii) are the sameas in Romeo and Juliet, where Lady Capulet and the Nurse speak to Juliet of herpossible impending marriage to Paris. The dance, where Tony and Maria firstmeet, i s comparable to the Capulets ball, where Romeo and Juliet firstencounter one another. At the Capulets ball, it seems to be Romeo who fallsin love at first sight, since he spots her before she eyes him: What ladyis that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight? (I.v.44-5). Afterexchanging a few words, Juliet becomes smitten with the loquacious youth, yetshe doesnt reveal this until the balcony scene. Tony and Maria, on the otherhand, notice each other at the very same moment, falling head over heals inlove. Shortly thereafter, Bernardo is upon them in an icy rage (Laurents31), telling Tony to Go home, American. Bernardo then reveals thatMaria is his sister. Couldnt you see hes one of them? Bernardoasks Maria (Laurents 32). No; I saw only him, she replies. Julietsexclamation at such a revelation was much more poetic: My only love sprung frommy only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth oflove it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy. (I.v.140-3) B ernardo ordersMaria to go home, after which he approaches Tony, who is still intoxicated bythe lingering image of his new-found love (Laurents 35). Riff sidelinesBernardo, mentioning the possibility of a rumble. They agree to meet at Docscandy store at midnight for a war council. Act Two, Scene Two, of Romeoand Juliet, better known as the balcony scene, is reflected in West Side Storyin Act One, Scene Five, or the fire escape scene. Romeo refers to Juliet asthe sun (II.ii.3), calling for her to rise . . . and kill theenvious moon (II.ii.4). During the fire escape scene, Tony and Maria singthe song Tonight: Tonight, tonight, The world is full of light, Withsuns and moons all over the place. Tonight, tonight, The world is wild andbright, Going mad, shooting sparks into space. (Laurents 42) This momentexemplifies the Shakespearean impact perhaps better than any other in West SideStory, since even the Bards imagery is swiped for use in song. Not to mention,before parting, both parties a gree to meet the following day: Romeo and Julietat the hour of nine (II.ii.169) and Tony and Maria atsundown (Laurents 44). In scene seven of Act One, Tony meets Maria at thebridal shop. Anita catches them together. You will not tell? Mariainquires. Tell what? Anita replies. How can I hear what goeson twelve feet over my head? (Laurents 76); Anita is supportive of theirlove, as is Juliets nurse, who acts as an intermediary between the younglovers. Following Anitas departure, Tony and Maria go through a mock weddingceremony, mirroring the real one Romeo and Juliet prepare to undertake, aided byFriar Laurence. Both these instances occur before true tragedy strikes. Thebeginning of act three in Romeo and Juliet features the death of Mercutio by thehand of Tybalt, who, in turn, is slain by Romeo. Likewise, the rumble under thehighway in West Side Story culminates with the deaths of Riff and Bernardo (Laurents94). In both instances, the young romantic lead tries to talk the others out of harming one another. Tony, at the entreaty of Maria, tries to stop the violentproceedings, only to be taunted by Bernardo. It doesnt take guts if youhave a battle. But we havent got one, Nardo, Tony smiles (Laurents 91). .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 , .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .postImageUrl , .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 , .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:hover , .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:visited , .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:active { border:0!important; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:active , .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343 .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8c7ad368489e4360b081892184859343:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Photosynthesis EssayThe taunting escalates, despite Tonys valiant efforts, and Riff soon hauls offagainst Bernardo, just as Mercutio had drawn against Tybalt. Both episodesresult in deaths: Mercutio and Tybalt; Riff and Bernardo. Following the rumble,the similarities between West Side Story and Romeo and Juliet dwindle. Onesimilarity would be the Nurses grief for Tybalt (III.ii.61-63) paralleling thatof Anitas for Bernardo (Laurents 127), but most interesting of all would be themanner in which Romeo and Tony learn of the deaths of Juliet and Maria,respectively. In Romeo and Juliet, Balthasar delivers the news to Romeoregarding the death of Juliet: Her body sleeps in Capels monument, andher immortal part with angels lives (V.i.18-19). Romeo then approaches theApothecary: . . . let me have a dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear aswill disperse itself through all the veins that the life-weary taker may falldead . . . (V.i.59-62). Doc, likewise, is the provider of poison to Tony,for it is he who delivers the news (falsified by Anita) of Marias death, alongwith the money Tony and Maria were going to use to flee the city (Laurents 138). That was no customer upstairs, just now, Doc tells him. Thatwas Anita. (Pause) Maria is dead. Chino found out about you and her and shother. Come, cordial and not poison, go with me to Juliets grave; forthere must I use thee, speaks Romeo (V.i.85-6). Tony pursues the samemeans to an end, only he expresses it in laymans terms: Chino? Chino?Come and get me, too, Chino (Laurents 139). While roaming the streets,searching for Chino, Tony spots Maria, alive and well. Just as they are about toembrace, a shot rings out, and Tony falls via Chinos violent hand, Mariacatching him as he stumbles (Laurents 141). However, whereas Juliet, upondiscovering Romeos death, ends her life by falling upon Romeos dagger(V.iii.169). An anguished Maria doesnt end hers, although she speaks of it withChinos gun in hand, she asks, How many can I kill, Chino? How many andstill have one bullet left for me? (Laurents 143). Whereas Romeo andJuliets love was one intended to last an eternity, attaining a spiritual rea lmwith their deaths, that of Tony and Maria was restricted to the material world,ending with Tonys death and . . . forever lost (Poelstra). Even so,the relationships in both plays reflect the intolerance, misunderstanding,and mistrust that seem to be ever-present in human society. Perhaps thismakes the themes of love and fear, that abound in both plays, all the morerelevant to our modern, commercialized, technological and, to some extent, stillsegregated society, and, therefore, a more accessible vehicle for todaysaudience (Poelstra). West Side Story allows the basic elements of a story fourcenturies old to be retold in a fairly modern-day setting (after all, streetgangs are more prominent now than ever before). A retelling that has garneredits own wide audience appeal over the past four decades, showing that certaintales can stand the test of time more than once, provided the content andcontext effectively reflects the world within which it occurs. BibliographyWorks Cited Laurents, Arthur. West Side Story. (A musical, based on a conceptionof Jerome Robbins; music by Leonard Bernstein; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.) NY:Random House, 1966. Poelstra, James. Romeo and Juliet vs. West SideStory. (17 July 97). Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The CompleteWorks of William Shakespeare, Volume I. Ed. W. G. Clark and W. Aldis Wright. NY:Nelson Doubleday, Inc., 247-277.