Merging Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Merging Companies - Essay Example It lasted till 1929. 1940 saw the mergers due to tax relief. The next wave came in the wake of booming economy and rising stock prices and lasted as conglomerate merger from 1965 to 1969. The fourth merger wave was of mega merges from 1981 to 1989 due to expanding economy, technical developments and international competitions. The strategic restructuring wave lasted from 1992 to 2000. It was again due to the expanding economy, rising stock prices, technical developments and globalization. An understanding of the market structure and the consumer behavior along with the motives for merger, the issues involved, valuation matters, the human resource angle and other related subjects will dictate the correct path to mergers and acquisitions. Both mergers and acquisitions are synonymous, however they have different implications. An acquisition takes place when one company takes over another company and becomes the new owner. The target company does not exist thereafter. The buyer runs the business, whose stocks continue to be traded. In a merger, two firms often of the same size decide to become one single new company; it is a merger of equals. In a merger the stocks of both the companies are surrendered and a new company stock is issued. A purchase deal will also be called a merger. If a purchase is hostile and the target company does not want to be purchased, it becomes an acquisition. The various types of mergers are given below. Horizontal mergers. Vertical mergers. Conglomerate mergers. Reverse mergers. Accretive mergers. Dilutive mergers. Why Mergers Happen Mergers take place due to variety of reasons. However it is primarily the growth, which dictates further strategy. A company can grow internally, but it is a slow and ineffective method. A faster method is to merge or acquire. The decisions are taken with the object of maximizing the wealth of the firm's shareholders. The motives for mergers are as given below. Growth Synergy Diversification Eliminate competition. Economies of scale. Acquisition of new technology. Improved market reach and industry visibility. Cutting costs Reducing taxes. Empire building. Oligopolies. Monopoly. Valuation Matters A company aiming to take over a target company must determine the worth of the company being acquired. Both sides will have a different prospect of the worth of the company. Target company will value at higher price. Purchasing company will value at lower price. The following seven steps will help in evaluation. Step 1. Analyze historical performance. Step 2. Forecast performance. Step 3. Estimate the cost of capital. Step 4. Estimate the cost of equity financing. Step 5. Arbitrage pricing model. Step 6. Estimating the continuing value. Step 7. Calculating and interpreting results, calculating and testing results and interpretingthe results with in the decision context. Some of the methods that can be used to evaluate the company are as given below. Comparative Ratio. Price/Earning Ratio (P/E Ratio). Enterprise Value to Sales

Is debt a bad thing. Discuss the impact of debt on the housing market Essay

Is debt a bad thing. Discuss the impact of debt on the housing market in the UK, with reference to; (a) Levels of pesonal debt (b) Rent Arrears (c) Housing Association - Essay Example The loan seeker might be badly in need of the money and will accept all the conditions of the lender. Western people generally and the UK people in particular have a have a habit of spending all the money they earned and they don’t bother much about the need of saving for the future. Whenever they are in need of a bulk amount for purchasing a home or car they will approach the banks or other financial institutions for loan. These financial institutions are ready to help everybody irrespective of their financial capabilities before the current global economic problems started. But at present most of the financial institutions have tightened the screws by enforcing strict rules and regulations for granting loans for individuals. Housing market is one of the most important sectors as far as the loan exercise is concerned. Some of the statistics available for the UK housing market in 2009 is given below. There were 6,200 first-time buyer loans for properties between the old threshold of  £125,000 and the temporary threshold of  £175,000, representing 32% of the 19,700 loans to first-time buyers in September. In addition, 7,800 first-time buyers (40%) bought properties valued below the  £125,000 original threshold. There were 7,300 home mover loans for properties between  £125,000 and  £175,000 which was 24% of the 31,000 loans to home movers in September (One third of first-time buyers make lucky stamp duty escape, 2009) It is evident from the table that the borrowing habits in the housing market go on increasing. Because of the current recession, the criteria for lending have been tightened by many financial institutions and even then the borrowing habits were not affected. House prices are skyrocketing year after year and the earnings of the ordinary people are not enough to meet even for their daily expenses. The current global financial crisis has come

The Iron Man Of India: Vallabhbhai Patel

The Iron Man Of India: Vallabhbhai Patel As the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, Patel organised relief for refugees in Punjab and Delhi, and led efforts to restore peace across the nation. Patel took charge of the task to forge a united India from the British colonial provincesallocated to India and more than five hundred self-governing princely states, released from British suzerainty by the Indian Independence Act 1947. Using frank diplomacy, backed with the option and use of military force, Patels leadership persuaded almost every princely state which did not have a Muslim majority to accede to India. Hailed as the Iron Man of India, he is also remembered as the Patron Saint of Indias civil servants for establishing modern all-India services. Patel was also one of the earliest proponents of property rights and free enterprise in India. Patel traveled to attend schools in Nadiad, Petlad and Borsad, living self-sufficiently with other boys. He reputedly cultivated a stoic character-a popular anecdote recounts how he lanced his own painful boil without hesitation, even as the barber supposed to do it trembled. Patel passed his matriculation at the late age of 22; at this point, he was generally regarded by his elders as an unambitious man destined for a commonplace job. Patel himself harboured a plan-he would study to become a lawyer, work and save funds, travel to England and study to become a barrister. Patel spent years away from his family, studying on his own with books borrowed from other lawyers and passed examinations within two years. Fetching Jhaverba from her parents home, Patel set up his household in Godhra and was called to the bar. During the many years it took him to save money, Patel now an advocate earned a reputation as a fierce and skilled lawyer. His wife bore him a daughter, Manibehn, in 1904, and a son, Dahyabhai, in 1906. Patel also cared for a friend suffering from Bubonic plague when it swept across Gujarat. When Patel himself came down with the disease, he immediately sent his family to safety, left his home and moved into an isolated house in Nadiad (by other accounts, Patel spent this time in a dilapidated temple); there, he recovered slowly. In 1909, Patels wife Jhaverba was hospitalised in Bombay to undergo a major surgical operation for cancer. Her health suddenly worsened and despite successful emergency surgery, she died in the hospital. Patel was given a note informing him of his wifes demise as he was cross-examining a witness in court. According to others who witnessed, Patel read the note, pocketed it and continued to intensely cross-examine the witness and won the case. He broke the news to others only after the proceedings had ended. Patel himself decided against marrying again. He raised his children with the help of his family and sent them to English-medium schools in Mumbai. At the age of 36, he journeyed to England and enrolled at the Middle Temple Inn in London. Finishing a 36-month course in 30 months, Patel topped his class despite having no previous college background. Returning to India, Patel settled in the city of Ahmedabad and became one of the citys most successful barristers. Wearing European-sty le clothes and urbane mannerisms, he also became a skilled bridge player. Patel nurtured ambitions to expand his practise and accumulate great wealth and to provide his children with modern education. He had also made a pact with his brother Vithalbhai to support his entry into politics in the Bombay Presidency, while Patel himself would remain in Ahmedabad and provide for the family. He was a vegetarian. Fighting for independence At the urging of his friends, Patel won an election to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917. While often clashing with British officials on civic issues, he did not show any interest in politics. Upon hearing of Mohandas Gandhi, he joked to Mavlankar that Gandhi would ask you if you know how to sift pebbles from wheat. And that is supposed to bring independence. But Patel was deeply impressed when Gandhi defied the British in Champaran for the sake of the areas oppressed farmers. Against the grain of Indian politicians of the time, Gandhi wore Indian-style clothes and emphasised the use of ones mother tongue or any Indian language as opposed to English-the lingua franca of Indias intellectuals. Patel was particularly attracted to Gandhis inclination to action-apart from a resolution condemning the arrest of political leader Annie Besant, Gandhi proposed that volunteers march peacefully demanding to meet her. Patel gave a speech in Borsad in September 1917, encouraging Indians nationwide to sign Gandhis petition demanding Swaraj-independence-from the British. Meeting Gandhi a month later at the Gujarat Political Conference in Godhra, Patel became the secretary of the Gujarat Sabha-a public body which would become the Gujarati arm of the Indian National Congress-at Gandhis encouragement. Patel now energetically fought against veth-the forced servitude of Indians to Europeans-and organised relief efforts in wake of plague and famine in Kheda. The Kheda peasants plea for exemption from taxation had been turned down by British authorities. Gandhi endorsed waging a struggle there, but could not lead it himself due to his activities in Champaran. When Gandhi asked for a Gujarati activist to devote himself completely to the assignment, Patel volunteered, much to Gandhis personal delight. Though his decision was made on the spot, Patel later said that his desire and commitment came after intensiv e personal contemplation, as he realised he would have to abandon his career and material ambitions. Satyagraha in Gujarat Supported by Congress volunteers Narhari Parikh, Mohanlal Pandya and Abbas Tyabji, Vallabhbhai Patel began a village-to-village tour in the Kheda district, documenting grievances and asking villagers for their support for a statewide revolt by refusing the payment of taxes. Patel emphasised potential hardships with the need for complete unity and non-violence despite any provocation. He received enthusiastic responses from virtually every village. When the revolt was launched and revenue refused, the government sent police and intimidation squads to seize property, including confiscating barn animals and whole farms. Patel organised a network of volunteers to work with individual villages-helping them hide valuables and protect themselves during raids. Thousands of activists and farmers were arrested, but Patel was not. The revolt began evoking sympathy and admiration across India, including with pro-British Indian politicians. The government agreed to negotiate with Patel and decide d to suspend the payment of revenue for the year, even scaling back the rate. Patel emerged as a hero to Gujaratis and admired across India. In 1920, he was elected president of the newly formed Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee-he would serve as its president till 1945. Patel supported Gandhis Non-cooperation movement and toured the state to recruit more than 300,000 members and raise over Rs. 1.5 million in funds. Helping organise bonfires of British goods in Ahmedabad, Patel threw in all his English-style clothes. With his daughter Mani and son Dahya, he switched completely to wearing khadi. Patel also supported Gandhis controversial suspension of resistance in wake of the Chauri Chaura incident. He worked extensively in the following years in Gujarat against alcoholism,untouchability and caste discrimination, as well as for the empowerment of women. In the Congress, he was a resolute supporter of Gandhi against his Swarajist critics. Patel was elected Ahmedabads municipal president in 1922, 1924 and 1927-during his terms, Ahmedabad was extended a major supply of electricity and the school system underwent major reforms. Drainage and sanitation systems were extended over all the city. He fought for the recognition and payment of teachers employed in schools established by nationalists (out of British control) and even took on sensitive Hindu-Muslim Issues. Sardar Patel personally led relief efforts in the aftermath of the intense torrential rainfall in 1927, which had caused major floods in the city and in the Kheda district and great destruction of life and property. He established refuge centres across the district, raised volunteers, arranged for supply of food, medicines and clothing, as well as emergency funds from the government and public. When Gandhi was in prison, Sardar Patel was asked by Members of Congress to lead the satyagraha in Nagpur in 1923 against a law banning the raising of the Indian flag. He organised thousands of volunteers from all over the country in processions hoisting the flag. Patel negotiated a settlement that obtained the release of all prisoners and allowed nationalists to hoist the flag in public. Later that year, Patel and his allies uncovered evidence suggesting that the police were in league with local dacoits in the Borsad taluka even as the government prepared to levy a major tax for fighting dacoits in the area. More than 6,000 villagers assembled to hear Patel speak and supported the proposed agitation against the tax, which was deemed immoral and unnecessary. He organised hundreds of Congressmen, sent instructions and received information from across the district. Every village in the taluka resisted payment of the tax, and through cohesion, also prevented the seizure of property and lands. After a protracted struggle, the government withdrew the tax. Historians believe that one of Patels key achievements was the building of cohesion and trust amongst the different castes and communities, which were divided on socio-economic lines. In April 1928, Sardar Patel returned to the freedom struggle from his municipal duties in Ahmedabad when Bardoli suffered from a serious predicament of a famine and steep tax hike. The revenue hike was steeper than it had been in Kheda even though the famine covered a large portion of Gujarat. After cross-examining and talking to village representatives, emphasising the potential hardship and need for non-violence and cohesion, Patel initiated the struggle-complete denial of taxes. Sardar Patel organised volunteers, camps and an information network across affected areas. The revenue refusal was stronger than in Kheda and many sympathy satyagrahas were undertaken across Gujarat. Despite arrests, seizures of property and lands, the struggle intensified. The situation reached a head in August, when through sympathetic intermediaries, he negotiated a settlement repealing the tax hike, reinstating village officials who had resigned in protest and the return of seized property and lands. I t was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that Patel was increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar. As Gandhi embarked on the Dandi Salt March, Patel was arrested in the village of Ras and tried without witnesses, with no lawyer or pressman allowed to attend. Patels arrest and Gandhis subsequent arrest caused the Salt Satyagraha to greatly intensify in Gujarat-districts across Gujarat launched an anti-tax rebellion until and unless Patel and Gandhi were released. Once released, Patel served as interim Congress president, but was re-arrested while leading a procession in Mumbai. After the signing of theGandhi-Irwin Pact, Patel was elected Congress president for its 1931 session in Karachi-here the Congress ratified the pact, committed itself to the defence of fundamental rights and human freedoms, and a vision of a secular nation, minimum wage and the abolition of untouchability and serfdom. Patel used his position as Congress president in organising the return of confiscated lands to farmers in Gujarat. Upon the failure of the Round Table Conference in London, Gandhi and Patel were arrested in January 1932 when the struggle re-opened, and imprisoned in the Yeravda Central Jail. During this term of imprisonment, Patel and Gandhi grew close to each other, and the two developed a close bond of affection, trust, and frankness. Their mutual relationship could be described as that of an elder brother (Gandhi) and his younger brother (Patel). Despite having arguments with Gandhi, Patel respected his instincts and leadership. During imprisonment, the two would discuss national and social issues, read Hindu epics and crack jokes. Gandhi also taught Patel Sanskrit language. Gandhis secretary Mahadev Desai kept detailed records of conversations between Gandhi and Patel. When Gandhi embarked on a fast-unto-death protesting the separate electorates allocated for untouchables, Patel looked after Gandhi closely and himself refrained from partaking of food. Patel was later moved to a jail in Nasik, and refused a British offer for a brief release to attend the cremation of hi s brother Vithalbhai, who had died in 1934. He was finally released in July of the same year. Patels position at the highest level in the Congress was largely connected with his role from 1934 onwards (when the Congress abandoned its boycott of elections) in the party organisation. Based at an apartment in Mumbai, he became the Congresss main fund-raiser and chairman of its Central Parliamentary Board, playing the leading role in selecting and financing candidates for the 1934 elections to the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi and also for the Provincial elections of 1936. As well as collecting funds and selecting candidates, he would also determine the Congress stance on issues and opponents. Not contesting a seat for himself, Patel nevertheless guided Congressmen elected in the provinces and at the national level. In 1935, Patel underwent surgery for haemorrhoids, yet guided efforts against plague in Bardoli and again when a drought struck Gujarat in 1939. Patel would guide the Congress ministries that had won power across India with the aim of preserving party disc ipline-Patel feared that the British would use opportunities to create conflicts among elected Congressmen, and he did not want the party to be distracted from the goal of complete independence. But Patel would clash with Nehru, opposing declarations of the adoption of socialism at the 1936 Congress session, which he believed was a diversion from the main goal of achieving independence. In 1938, Patel organised rank and file opposition to the attempts of then-Congress president Subhas Chandra Bose to move away from Gandhis principles of non-violent resistance. Patel considered Bose to want more power over the party. He led senior Congress leaders in a protest, which resulted in Boses resignation. But criticism arose from Boses supporters, socialists and other Congressmen that Patel himself was acting in an authoritarian manner in his defence of Gandhis authority. Quit India On the outbreak of World War II Patel supported Nehrus decision to withdraw the Congress from central and provincial legislatures, contrary to Gandhis advice, as well as an initiative by senior leader Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari to offer Congresss full support to Britain if it promised Indian independence at the end of the war and install a democratic government right away. Gandhi had refused to support Britain on the grounds of his moral opposition to war, while Subhas Chandra Bose was in militant opposition to the British. The British rejected Rajagopalacharis initiative, and Patel embraced Gandhis leadership again. He participated in Gandhis call for individual disobedience, and was arrested in 1940 and imprisoned for nine months. He also opposed the proposals of the Cripps mission in 1942. Patel lost more than twenty pounds during his period in jail. While Nehru, Rajagopalachari and Maulana Azad initially criticised Gandhis proposal for an all-out campaign of civil disobedience to force the British to Quit India, Patel was its most fervent supporter. Arguing that the British would retreat from India as they had from Singapore and Burma, Patel stressed that the campaign start without any delay. Though feeling that the British would not quit immediately, Patel favoured an all-out rebellion which would galvanise Indian people, who had been divided in their response to the war, In Patels view, an all-out rebellion would force the British to concede that continuation of colonial rule had no support in India, and thus speed power transfer to Indians. Believing strongly in the need for revolt, Patel stated his intention to resign from the Congress if the revolt was not approved. Gandhi strongly pressured the All India Congress Committee to approve of an all-out campaign of civil disobedience, and the AICC approved the campaign on 7 Augu st 1942. Though Patels health had suffered during his stint in jail, Patel gave emotional speeches to large crowds across India, asking people to refuse paying taxes and participate in civil disobedience, mass protests and a shutdown of all civil services. He raised funds and prepared a second-tier of command as a precaution against the arrest of national leaders. Historians believe that Patels speech was instrumental in electrifying nationalists, who had been sceptical of the proposed rebellion. Patels organising work in this period is credited by historians for ensuring the success of the rebellion across India. Patel was arrested on 9 August and was imprisoned with the entire Congress Working Committee from 1942 to 1945 at the fort in Ahmednagar. Here he spun cloth, played bridge, read a large number of books, took long walks, practised gardening. He also provided emotional support to his colleagues while awaiting news and developments of the outside. Patel was deeply pained at the news of the deaths of Mahadev Desai and Kasturba Gandhi later in the year. But Patel wrote in a letter to his daughter that he and his colleagues were experiencing fullest peace for having done their duty. Even though other political parties had opposed the struggle and the British had employed ruthless means of suppression, the Quit India movement was by far the most serious rebellion since that of 1857, as the viceroy cabled to Winston Churchill. More than one hundred thousand people were arrested and thousands killed in police firings. Strikes, protests and other revolutionary activities had broken out across India. When Patel was released on 15 June 1945 he realised that the British were preparing proposals to transfer power to Indian hands. Death On 29 March 1949, authorities lost radio contact with a plane carrying Patel, his daughter Maniben and the Maharaja of Patiala. Engine failure caused the pilot to make an emergency landing in a desert area in Rajasthan. With all passengers safe, Patel and others tracked down a nearby village and local officials. When Patel returned to Delhi, thousands of Congressmen gave him a resounding welcome. In Parliament, MPs gave a long, standing ovation to Patel, stopping proceedings for half an hour. In his twilight years, Patel was honoured by members of Parliament and awarded honorary doctorates of law by the Punjab University and Osmania University. Patels health declined rapidly through the summer of 1950. He later began coughing blood, whereupon Maniben began limiting his meetings and working hours and arranged for a personalised medical staff to begin attending to Patel. The Chief Minister of West Bengal and doctor Bidhan Roy heard Patel make jokes about his impending end, and in a private meeting Patel frankly admitted to his ministerial colleague N. V. Gadgil that he was not going to live much longer. Patels health worsened after 2 November, when he began losing consciousness frequently and was confined to his bed. He was flown to Mumbai on 12 December on advice from Dr Roy, to recuperate as his condition deemed critical. Nehru, Rajagopalchari, Rajendra Prasad and Menon all came to see him off at the airport in Delhi. Patel was extremely weak and had to be carried onto the aircraft in a chair. In Bombay, large crowds gathered at Santacruz Airport to greet him, to spare him from this stress, the aircraft landed at Juhu Aerod rome, where Chief Minister B.G. Kher and Morarji Desai were present to receive him with a car belonging to the Governor of Bombay, that took Vallabhbhai to Birla House. After suffering a massive heart attack (his second), he died on 15 December 1950 at Birla House in Bombay. In an unprecedented and unrepeated gesture, on the day after his death more than 1,500 officers of Indias civil and police services congregated to mourn at Patels residence in Delhi and pledged complete loyalty and unremitting zeal in Indias service. His cremation was planned at Girgaum Chowpatty, however this was changed to Sonapur when his daughter conveyed that it was his wish to be cremated like a common man in the same place as his wife and brother were earlier cremated. His cremation in Sonapur in Bombay, was attended by a one million strong crowd including Prime Minister Nehru, Rajagopalachari, President Prasad.

The Alamo Essay -- History Historical Mexican Essays

The Alamo The events that began on February 23, 1836 have roots that span as far back as 1808. This exploration into the events and carnage that took place before, during and after the Alamo will only go back to the events immediately leading up to the Alamo. Mainly the frame of mind the Mexican government had regarding the Texas settlers and the reasons leading to the confrontation at the Alamo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In times before the confrontation at the Alamo, the Mexican government welcomed settlers into Texas. The motive behind Mexico’s act was to create a buffer zone between Mexican settlements and the Indians. Settlers were able to come to Texas as long as they promised to convert to Catholicism and become Mexican citizens among other stipulations. Moreover, Mexico had further problems, the most noticeable was Mexico’ s financial standing. The independence movement that freed Mexico from Spain also left Mexico â€Å"dead broke;† furthermore, they had no real way of watching or parenting the fledgling Texas. Hence, Texas became accustom to doing things without Mexico interfering. Soon after Mexico opened the door to Texas the population of settlers grew to make up 75 per cent of the whole population. This could be seen as a bad thing to the Mexican government because if Texas became entirely made up of settlers what was to stop Texas from breaking a way from Mexico for good. To add to the pressure pot the settlers were illegally trading, and engaging in illegal slavery, among other illegal acts. According to Walter Lord the American Settlers refused to pay any form of tax, in fact according to Lord’s figures only 1,665 pesos where collected from Texas in Two years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These factors and many more including America herself showing interest in Texas, led Mexico to institute a restriction of the number of settlers allowed into Texas. In addition, â€Å"Mexico suspended all unfilled colonization contracts, and required passports issued by Mexican Consulate at their place of residence,† these policies alone angered the settlers who have been accustomed to a lazie fair approach. In addition troops were now being used to see that the laws were enforced and obeyed. As Myers points out: The North Americans had reason to protest. They had gone through the bad years when fields had to be chopped out of the woods and when an Indian raid was commoner that a square meal. An... ...nd bloody tiger to name a few. Many Americans had been opposed to the Texas cause, but no longer were they thinking about that, now they were thinking about revenge. Mexicans had slain American citizens and this had to be avenged in the mind of most Americans. The call to arms had now been rung, â€Å"Remember the Alamo.† The Alamo had been a total loss on the field of physical war fair, but on the playing ground of the mind the Alamo had seized the minds and hearts of every American and sympathizer alike, to rally to its call. So in the end I believe the Alamo was a total victory for the settlers cause. Works Cited General Antonio Lopez De Santa-Anna, D. Ramon Martinez Caro, General Vicente Filisola,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  General Jose Urrea, and General Jose Maria Tornel; Translated by Carlos Castaneda.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Mexican Side of the Texas Revolution. Dallas.: P.L. Turner Company,1956 General Miguel Sanchez Lamego; Translated by Consuelo Velasco. The Siege and Taking of The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alamo. New Mexico.: Sunstone Press, 1968. Lord, Walter. A Time to Stand. Lincolon.: University of Nebraska Press.: 1978. Matovina, Timothy. The Alamo Remembered. Austin.: University of Texas Press.: 1995.

Music Is a Form of Media Essay

Thesis sentence: music is a form of media that can influence and define your life. Listening to music can be a good way to feel better about yourself and those around you. Music, as media, has a huge effect on how a person behaves. The type of music a person listen to can either relax them or put them on edge. The difference is how the music is accepted. Music also has a powerful way of bringing back memories and emotions, such as a song played at a wedding that shows love and passion. Sometimes music will remind you of hard times and bad memories of a break up from a spouse or sufficient other or maybe the death of a love one. Most people do not know the impact music has on one’s life. Music can be used to charm humans and animals alike. The studies has shown that humans and animals can be influenced by the sound and pattern found in music. An example is the King cobra being charmed by a snake charmer using music to put him into a trance. Upon hearing the music the cobra goes into a trance tamed as can be. In summary it is not hard to see how much influence music has. As a form of media, music has the ability to influence an individual as well as those around him. We all share a common connection through music both humans and animals alike are bound to the power and influence of music.

Children of Heaven Essay

Watching the movie entitled â€Å"Children of Heaven† made me realize how a simple plot/ story can be as heart-warming and inspiring as any other film available out there in the market. It doesn’t take an elaborate story with so many twists and turns to make a terrific film for everyone to appreciate. Although the movie has some parts which are heavily dramatic like the scene where Zahra was crying due to Ali losing her shoes, the movie still has a predominant light tone. The film makes the audience including myself feel sympathy towards the main characters – portrayed by Ali and Zahra, two siblings who sincerely care for each other. This technique of touching the emotion of the audience is surely effective since it makes them want to go on and finish the film (as I did when the earlier mentioned scene was shone in the very beginning of the film). Captivating the audience, however, does not stop there. Including certain exciting and problematic moments in their life makes the story more interesting and natural. Examples of which are: the scene when the sneakers fell off Zahra’s foot then landed into the canals so she had to follow where the waters went to recover it and the scene when Ali was at the sprint race about to win when another boy bumped him off the course. More than that, the film also brings the audience to capture the daily lifestyle and culture of the Iranian people (as this film was set in that country). Having a background of the characters helps me understand their values and way of thinking. Therefore, I could comprehend the film in an easier way since it has this characteristic. Capturing the realistic view of the world aided me in relating to the film even though I am foreign to the concept it was showing. Having so many values encompassed in the story, I have learned many things regarding determination, compassion and familial love. These values were interspersed in the different scenes of the story. There were some in the beginning about familial love when both Ali and Zahra agreed that they share the sneakers since they attend school in separate shifts – a natural dramatic device for the story. Determination was clearly seen when Ali tried so hard in the race to win the rubber shoes. Compassion was evident in scenes when they took care of the sick neighbor and their mother. Using the typical backdrop and props (as I see it) made everything very earthly. Nothing to fancy was used to show the social status of the family – it was not exaggerated. The objects to be found in the film were ordinarily available in the daily life of everyone. Also, the acting of the characters in the story was very natural. It almost looked like it is a life-story being told and not just a scripted one. I deem that the view of most people regarding those of Iranians will change after seeing this movie. Their genuine care for each other shows how much they appreciate those people and things around them. This contradicts the stereotype given to them as those violent people of the Middle East. Moreover, the film serves as a heart warming meditation about real goodness in humanity – helping balance the negative prejudices that most people project towards Iranians especially nowadays. With all these to be found in the film, I can say that everyone is encouraged to watch it. Not only will they learn family values and self-discipline, the audience could also be inspired to live out their lives to the fullest in each day that passes.