The unfair portrayal of Islam in the West Essay

The unfair portrayal of Islam in the West - Essay Example Muslims all over the world are now seen with contempt and hatred by the western community. This is more like a generalization about the whole western world but to some extent it is true. Some important questions arise as to who is responsible for this drastic transformation? Why has such a change taken place? Why does West feel threatened by Islam? For how long this war between West and Islam will continue? What can be done to change the image of Islam in the minds of the western community? For decades there has been a social war between the west and Islam. Their concepts and culture differ from the very beginning. There has always been a very well defined boundary between both the worlds. One cannot ignore the fact that power of the whole world lies in the hands of the West. The West sees Islam as a conservative religion and considers the followers of this religion as narrow-minded beings. Muslims all over the world are being discriminated and in some places it is even seen that they are humiliated. But this is more like digging into the past and gaining evidence on the basis of social sciences. The present scenario of the world is more important to answer the above mentioned questions (Shadid & Koningsveld 2002). It all started when the world was shaken by the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre. According to the investigation reports it was found that the people responsible for these attacks were Muslims. This was the first time when the whole world came to know about Taliban and Al-Qaeda. These are Muslim groups that are believed to be the backbone of all terrorist activities going on in the present world. In the last decade this world has faced the most ominous terrorism events. A list of examples can be quoted where the West has linked Muslims to terrorism in the present day. London Bombings and Mumbai Bombings are a great example of such events. After the 9/11 attacks, London also fell as a victim to the terrorist activity. On July7, 2005 London’s transportation system was hit by deadly explosions. Three bombs exploded in the underground tubes and one explosion took place in a double Decker bus. Together these four suicide bombings took away the lives of fifty-six innocent peo ple and left more than seven hundred and fifty injured. When the investigation report was issued, it stated that the attacks were conducted by group of Muslim people. And the reason stated for the motivation of these attacks was that this group of people wanted justice because they perceived that West was unjust to the Muslims. But the authorities failed to report how these attacks took place and even the involvement of Al-Qaeda remained unclear in the report. Now this is where the role of media came in (BBC News 2005; Amin 2003). Media has been the main factor after the terrorist activity that has led to the deterioration of the image of Islam in the minds of the Western community. Media exaggerates all such activities by showing sick videos of the event and its victims. The vocabulary that the media uses to narrate such events is enough to cause disgust against the Muslims. This all sounds more like a game. It all seems like the West is trying to plot against Muslims. Western medi a is the strongest and the most impactful media. They show what they want to and create the exact impact that they aim to (Amin 2003). Everything is in bits and pieces but when joined together it all gives the same conclusion that Muslims have been cornered out by the West. Now the situation is that whenever a terrorist activity takes place, even before the investigation starts, Muslims are believed to be behind that. And somehow or the other, evidence is created in such a way that the end result is that Muslims are behind the whole terrorist

Effects of Capital Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Effects of Capital Punishment - Essay Example The crimes, which result in a death penalty, include. This study reveals that, around 58 countries across the globe practice capital punishment while the majority has abolished its application (McClellan, 231). Capital punishment is a controversial matter in many countries. For instance, states in the European Union prohibit the exercise of capital punishment. Although many countries have abolished capital punishment, over 60% of the world's population lives in countries that allow executions like china, USA and Indonesia. Application of capital punishment Violent crime according to police information and injured party surveys refers to any offense in which the wrongdoer has some corporal contact with the injured party. These crimes include robbery with violence, carjacking, ambush, rape, physical attack and murder (McClellan, 231). Offenders of such crimes face tough action from the criminal justice system. Proponents of capital punishment argue that the death sentence is a fair and ethically acceptable punishment for offenders who commit intentional murder (McClellan, 231). Whereas opponents of death sentence often, assert that executions deny the fundamental significance of human life; their case reveals a misinterpretation of the intention of criminal justice, which is to discipline a criminal in proportion to the damage caused by his crime (McClellan, 231). Other proponents of capital punishment claim that homicide is evil by executing victims who consciously murder. It is imperative to note that, rehabilitation and correction remain common in states, which rarely practice capital punishment. Capital punishment is not barbaric because the executor makes sure that a convicted offender undergoes minimal pain possible during execution. The state has a judicial a right to perform capital punishment on offenders of violent criminals (McClellan, 231). This is in quest for justice to the victims and the society. Further opposition to the death penalty is based on precise personality of the defendant, for instance there is opposition in sentencing to death delinquent victim at the time of the offence, those with psychological impairment and illness, pregnant women, or the old age (Goldman and Ann, 321). This paper intends to examine effects that result from capital punishment. This may be expounded to the families, victims, society and the justice system. Effects of capital punishment This section aims to examine the effects of the death penalty on the culture of life and a society, and the criminal justice system change of mind towards human life and dignity. In the face of a rising number of deaths, efforts should be made to promote a culture of life (Draper, 119). The response to situations, which require the death penalty, should be attained through endorsement of the needed reform of the criminal justice structure in order to protect the society in an efficient manner. Effects on Families Family values dictate that the affected members should be taken care off and the quest for social justice and compensation enhanced (Draper, 119). They require sympathy, togetherness and assistance of any nature (McClellan, 234). Whereas, supporting family’s victims does not oblige society to use capital punishment because family members left cannot be settled with an illusion of closure and acquittal. Capital punishment cannot bring back the life of a loved one nor erase the wounds by instilling another death. An option to the death

Social Classes Elizabethan Era

Social Classes Elizabethan Era Abeni Figueroa When first this order was ordaind, my lords, Knights of the garter were of noble birth, Valiant and virtuous, full of haughty courage, Such as were grown to credit by the wars; Not fearing death, nor shrinking for distress, But always resolute in most extremes. He then that is not furnishd in this sort Doth but usurp the sacred name of knight, Profaning this most honourable order, And should, if I were worthy to be judge, Be quite degraded, like a hedge-born swain That doth presume to boast of gentle blood. (Henry VI, Pt.I, 4.1). The Elizabethan Era occurred (1588-1603) marked by reign of queen Elizabeth. Some people call it the golden age of English history. It was the start of poetry, music, and literature. This era was also known for theatre including William Shakespeares plays and poems that are still read and shown today. It also was the beginning of exploration and setting up colonies under english rule to further Englands empire. The social classes were monarch, nobility, gentry, merchant, yeomanry, and laborers. The monarch was the ruler of England, during that time the ruler was queen Elizabeth 1, the sixth and last ruler of Tudor. The nobility was at the top of the social ladder and very rich and powerful. Gentry were knights, squires, gentlemen and gentlewomen. They became the most important social class in England. Merchants emerged from the ashes of the War of Roses. Yeomanry was named the middle class and were not very wealthy and only saved enough money to live comfortably. The laborers, the bo ttom of the social class in the Elizabethan Era, were very poor and only made enough to live comfortably. Social classes were very important and very strict. It was very difficult for one person to move from one class to another. There were very few opportunities to change your social status and for some it was impossible. These rules were not taken lightly and people were pushed harshly if the rules were broken. These rules were very strictly enforced and everyone had to follow. These rules were in the form of laws that maintained the social structure. For example, one law stated the color and type of clothes a person could wear This made it easy for others to know which social class they were in. These classes determined a persons status in society, but also determined what kind of job they had, what rights as a human they had, and sometimes it even determined what they could wear, even their jewelry and furniture. The Monarchy In the days of queen Elizabeth the people thought the queen or the king were Gods representative on Earth and the king or queen were thought to be greater than angels, all the animals, and all the living things on earth. Naturally they were better than any other humans. A person obtained this status usually by birth, they spent their entire life in this status. From birth on they were told how to act, what to say, and how the rest of the kingdom should treat them. They knew how all others should behave around them and punish those who did not behave properly. The highest social class was the monarchy in the Elizabethan era, also known as Queen Elizabeth 1 was the leader, she was the last leader of the era and she ruled for forty five years. The Nobility The second highest rank was Nobility. They were very rich and had hugh houses. Most owned large amounts of land that they inherited. There was distinction between old and new families. The old families were Catholic and the new families were Protestant. These people were members of the court and Parliament. A Noble could only be a Noble if he was born into it or was made a Noble by the king or Queen. They had special rights. They could not be put in jail for debt. They could not be tortured. They could not be punished for a capital crime by hanging or other abuses. If put to death they had to be beheaded. They could only be tried by other Nobles. The most rich people were usually Nobles. The Gentry The Gentry is the third highest order of society in the Elizabethan Era. They were sometimes called the Aristocrats. This order was made up of Lords, that owned a lot of land, Gentlemen freeholders who took care of the land owned by the Lords. They did not have to work hard and did not do manual labor. They supported themselves off the rent paid by their tenants. They were thought of as the true rulers of the countryside. The Gentry often held the local offices, such as sheriff and surveyor of the roads. Some were the Justice of the Peace. This gave them much power. Of interest, they held these offices without pay. The Knights came from the Gentry. Being a Knight did not mean you made more money or had more power. The Knighthood could not be inherited. Below the knights were the esquires. They too could hold offices and be in Parliament. What made them special was their right to have a Coat of Arms. Most of them designed their Coat of Arms themselves. The Merchants The fourth order of society were the merchants. Unlike the first three classes, they had a very quiet lifestyle. Most of them lived in London. Most had a goal in life to become Lord Mayor of London. This would give them a lot of power. So much power that they could take on the King or Queen. These men were shopkeepers, traders, innkeepers and citizens of London. The merchants were responsible for producing goods for others to use. The Yeomanry And you, good yeoman, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture; let us swear That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, That hath not noble lustre in your eyes. (Henry V, 3.1) Yeomanry was the fifth order of society. These were the people who had large amounts of property and had a Noble title if they could buy one. They did not work much since they usually had enough money to live.. Those that did work were farmers, tradesman or craftsman. It seems they were happy not to be part of the lowest part of society. The Peasantry Sir, I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no mans happiness, glad of other mens good, content with my harm, and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes graze and my lambs suck. (As you like it, 3.2) The Peasantry is the lowest order of Society. These people worked very hard to keep what little they had. At best, they owned a very small cottage (which gave them the name of cotters) and perhaps one to two acres of land. They could help themselves if they had a skill (carpentry or weaving) that allowed them to make some money. They most often worked for other large landowners. But they did not get paid well. The tenant farmers were just a little better off than the cotters. They were able to get jobs working the land they had rented. They rented the land from the Yeomanry, Gentry or the aristocracy. There was a system in which a tenant farmer could get a lease for the land he worked. These leases could be good for many generations and support a family for a long time. Summary For the most part, living well in the Elizabethan Era seems to have been a matter of luck. If you were fortunate enough to be born into a rich family or a family with some nobility, you had it made. You didnt have to work hard and others gave you a lot of respect. There were laws to make sure you kept your status, and others laws to make sure no one moved up into your position. I like the system we have here in America. You can be born dirt poor, work hard and wind up in White House or Trump Towers or maybe even both. Works Cited Find the information for each website that you are using. 1. Authors last name and first name (If you cannot find the authors name, begin your entry with the title of the article.) 2. The Title of the Article that you are using 3. The Name of the Webpage or the Publisher (If you cannot find the publisher, write n.p.) 4. Last updated date for the page or copyright date (If you cannot find the date, write n.d.) 5. URL (address) 6. The date you accessed the information. Pickard, Liz. The Social Structure in Elizabethan England. The British Library. n.d. https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/the-social-structure-in-elizabethan-england. Accessed March 1, 2017. Social Classes in Elizabethan Era Nobility and Gentry. Elizabethan Era England Life. 2017. ww.elizabethanenglandlife.com/social-classes-in-elizabethan-era-nobility-and-gentry.ht ml. Accessed February 23, 2017. https://www.google.com/urlthe-social-structure-in-elizabethan-england https://www.google.com/elizabethan-era-social-hierarchy https://www.elizabethanenglandlife.com%2Felizabethan-era-hierarchy-classes-ranks-in-society. https://www.google.com elizabethan-era-class-system.htm

The Colour Purple - Spirituality & Religion :: essays research papers

Alice Walker states that ‘The Colour Purple’ remains for her the â€Å"theological work examining the journey from the religious back to the spiritual†. How successful is she in revealing her purpose to the reader? In the preface to ‘the Colour Purple’ Walker identifies her religious development as the inspiration for her novel and labels religion and spirituality as the principle themes in the book. There are a number of principle characters who complete this journey however in many instances the religious element of the novel is overshadowed by other prominent themes such as personal development, female relationships and racial issues. These must be taken into consideration when assessing Walker’s success in delivering her theological message to her readers. Religion is an extremely broad term, in the context of ‘The Colour Purple, Walker’s idea of religion is church based Christianity in which God is presented through the bible as a white man. Although the church is placed in a black community, the teachings of the church are derived from the teachings of white people. Celie discovers throughout the novel that she, like Shug, can not find God in this kind of church that is based on patriarchal religion but searches for him elsewhere. Walker’s personal concept of spirituality is pantheism, the idea that God is in all living things within nature including people. Celie learns from Shug and through her own development that God is within her and she benefits far more from her own spirituality than from the structured religion within the community. Celie is not the only character to undergo a change in her religious outlook and complete the journey â€Å"from the religious to the spiritual†. Nettie also is brought up as a devout believer in the Christian church however throughout her time in Africa and with the help of the Olinka people she discovers a new more â€Å"internal† form of religion similar to Celie’s new found spirituality. The journey from the religious back to the spiritual is reflected in the distance between the white missionaries in Britain and America and the African tribes. The missionaries represent the formal ‘white’ church and the Olinka fulfilling the idea of pantheist spirituality. This is a journey Nettie makes physically and spiritually. Shug and Mr.’s views on religion also change during the novel, and as Walker intends, all make this ‘journey’ with â€Å"courage and the help of others†. At the beginning of the book Celie announces her dependence on God by recognising that she can â€Å"tell nobody but God† about the abuse she is receiving from her stepfather.

Marketing research 3

MR. Walton started Wal-Mart in 1962. The company started as a cheap price alternative store because Mr. Walton adopted the price-cutting or cost cutting by keeping costs down. It was a man who liked to minimize costs. He liked local investments and this was done by giving most of his staff stock options and he encouraged them to invest in the company. Walmart grew technologically ahead of its competitors because they were in fact one of the first stores to use computer to keep track of their products and stocks. They also used computer to link stores, warehouses and this is done up to date. In fact, Walmart has a variety of stores, warehouses that have standard merchandise that is sold at lower prices with lower margin and higher volumes. This includes discount retailing in most of their stores which is mostly used in specially stores like their discounting goods stores. Wal-Mart has placed its stores around major cities and managed its marketing channels well. They have used strategic planning and advanced information system to link their departmental stores and warehouses around major towns and this is boosted by the use of sophisticated marketing tools. Walmart majorly is a low price strategy firm and it has priced its products lower that most of its competitors but however, a research done in 2004 indicated that most people in the US were alarmed by an article that articulated the high cost of low price. This led to negative publicity of Walmart as most of its customers began to be cautious about its low prices but on the other end, Walmart is actually trying to reach to the tougher market of lower income earners. It also uses strategies of efficiency due to good distribution network. The Walmart stores feature a broad line but have low value added and focus on keeping prices low and are perceived to be having a good deal especially to low income earners and they depend majorly on in purchase of goods in large volumes. To attract customers Walmart use various promotional tools to generate traffic and purchases. Most of us have seen adverts both on TV and online placed by Walmart, they run special sales and issue coupons. Most of the frequent shoppers at Walmart are also rewarded to encourage frequent purchases. Walmart also runs special page adverts and magazines to remind customers on their existence. They are also careful to choose locations because customers who like money saving deals will look for stores that are nearest. They plan carefully before choosing on the sites to open outlets. Walmart also has gone a step further to provide one stop shopping where they combine grocery items with huge selection of non-food merchandise. When we compare it with Nordshoms that was started in 1901 as a shoe store by John v. Nordshoms. In Washington, the latter is a rather different type of store as it is a departmental store where we have several products lines i.e. in the case of Walmart we have clothing products, shoes, handbags, gift hampers and in which case each product line is separated and operated as a separate department and managed by specialized buyers or merchandisers. Nordshoms unlike Walmart has its goods priced highly but they insist on quality, value, trust and selection unlike Walmart that depend on volume purchase and search for good deals. It also uses the product expansion strategy because it started as a shoe company but later it has expanded to include clothes and other products managed separately like cars and car parts accessories for women. It has also differentiated its products into segments as we have children clothes, women and men. This is a part of individual marketing where they do not look at customers as a group but deal with them individually. They hold customers by offering convenient locations, special or unique assortment of goods, great services, better quality goods and better services than competitors. They also have included other brands i.e. they purchased best apparels a clothes company and ventured to clothes market. Because most customers complain that their prices are high, they have embarked on serious expansion and have opened many stores in major cities. This is to areas where incomes are high. Nordshoms use direct mails as promotion tools and telemarketing where they use telephone calls to attract new customers. They also contact existing customers to ascertain satisfaction levels. They also run adverts on the levels where clients can log on to and ‘try clothes online’. Apart from visiting the stores clients also would like to see how the clothes look like, online marketing is also very important. They also adopt catalogue marketing where they mail one or more product catalogues to selected addresses to lure more customers, all this will stimulate quicker or greater purchase of particular products. They have adopted psychological prices where they use price as an indicator of quality. High priced goods are preferred to have high quality especially where alternative information about true quality is not available. REFERENCES Armstrong G. & Kotler P. (2007). Consumer Markets: Influences on consumer behavior, Principles of Marketing. Kotler, P. (2005) Principles of Marketing. New York.Melbourne Press Schaik J.L., (2002); The Task of Marketing Management; J.L. van Schaik (Pity) ltd Winer, R.S. (2007). Marketing Management, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. Â  

Controversy Paper on United States Involvement in Global Affairs

Involvement of the United States in Global Affairs A major debate that is being discussed both domestically and internationally is the involvement of the United States of America in international affairs. This debate includes the practicality of where the United States has intervened in foreign affairs, its right to intervene in the first place considering past mistakes and questionable leadership, and whether or not that foreign involvement is in the general public’s best interest.Obviously, the two sides of the debate refer to the ‘yes’ position, explained by Ivan Eland (as in yes, the United States should limit it’s global involvement) and also the ‘no’ position, backed by President Barack Obama (as in no, the United States should not limit it’s foreign involvement). Eland’s basis for his argument is that the United States has habitually overspent it’s treasure and overextended it’s military power to a point where we cannot keep pace economically and which could bring upon the demise of the American government as we know it.He also points out that continued foreign endeavors increases the risk of the United States being a target for terrorist attack. Obama’s vision is that The United States of America needs to re-establish its place as a world leader by maintaining an active foreign policy. Obama admits that mistakes have been made where international affairs are concerned, but that is a reason to fix those mistakes and step up as a suitable leader once more. Discussed later in the paper is my own point of view, which supports President Barack Obama and his plan for active engagement in foreign affairs, in a conservative and confidant manner.In his position, Eland points out that both republican and democratic actors, as of now, support the use of military force and United State intervention in foreign affairs. This begs the question, who is on Eland’s side? His half of the deb ate offers advice to both the conservatives and the liberals who are currently apart of US involvement decision-making. While he upholds fair and good points, his arguments hold less sway due to his non-direct involvement.Eland’s first argument has a basis in the research of Christopher Coyne, a professor at West Virginia University. The bottom line of this research is that the Unites States attempts of bringing about democracy in countries where we have tried to intervene militarily has yielded low percent success rates. So it may be that it is time for America to change its tactics from a military to a more democratic approach. Another notion brought up by Eland is that it is in America’s best interest to unextend it’s military power.He points out that is unlikely for another hegemonic power to arise very quickly in the absence of our lessened military power, and also compares the overextending of the United States assets to when the Soviet Union overextended itself and it’s socialistic government collapsed. However, Eland also points out that economically, European countries and China are achieving much more than the US. Therefore, if America does not keep up its involvement globally, it is likely that one of those countries could succeed us as the new superpower, thus contradicting his earlier statement that there is unlikely to be a new hegemon anytime soon.It is also unfair to liken the demise of Russia to that of the United States, when the governmental systems are very different. President Barack Obama is in favor of upholding US involvement globally, and maintaining a leadership role. He plans to do this with 5 steps. First, by bringing troops home from Iraq but also leaving some to keep Al Queda and other terrorists at bay. However, the president doesn’t explain exactly how this will be accomplished more effectively since we are already supposedly fighting â€Å"The War on Terrorism† with all our best resourc es.The main point in Barack Obama’s debate is that the United States needs to stay active in the world to remain on top. To do that, new alliances must be built within NATO, but also keep up with the times and constantly revise our alliances and position within the global community. It is also clear that The United States of America has made mistakes in it’s leadership and economically, but overall, Obama’s plan is fairly clearly outlined in his debate, that mostly makes logistical sense. The first step outlined in order to regain influential leadership is changing the troops and approach in the war in Iraq.Second, to employ a 21st military that is powerful, bright and able. Third, to reinforce allies and stand by other in countries in attempt to keep the world’s deadliest weapons out of the worst hands. Fourth, to reduce carbon emissions, and lastly, to provide more foreign aid to countries who are lacking in basic needs and fair governments. As stated a bove, I believe that President Barack Obama’s side of the debate, supporting United States involvement globally, is the right path for America. I choose this because it isn’t just about the yes or no side of this debate.Obama successfully explains that continued involvement doesn’t mean America stomping on poorer countries and participating in unsuccessful expeditions in helping third world countries. US involvement in global affairs means leading the by way of example and will result in putting the interests and safety of American citizens first. Obama’s reasoning of this debate will hold the backing of American citizens. It gives a probable solution to our countries problems at hand. This policy is the best because the public can understand it and they can feel a stake in its success.Countering pro involvement is Eland’s isolationism position. I don’t believe it measures up because it ignores America’s ability to do well unto others , and it diminishes our ability to lead. America is one of the only countries able to use a quantifiable amount of money and military power for use of foreign aid. And unfortunately, a lot of counties need that. If America were to withdraw, many states would be worse for wear (Lieber). I also believe that America’s defining attribute is its leadership position.Withdrawing from international affairs would be to sacrifice that privilege. It is because that no other regional power has the economic power, political will, or military strength to match the United States that we have a great international influence. However, the European Union or China are certainly striving for that same international influence and will not hesitate to rise to it if the opportunity presents itself (Guest). Part of Obama’s outline to maintain world leadership is to build and maintain a 21st century military.He clarifies that recruiting the best and the brightest and rewarding the veterans who serve because they deserve it will be the foremost way to build a military power that is confident and skilled. A force likened to this will not only allow America’s staying power in the prime leadership spot, but also allow us to provision foreign aid. Eland does bring up an excellent point though, when he brings up that the US spends a great deal on it’s military compared to other countries. He points out that other countries are able to do better economically because they do not have such large ilitaries weighing their economies down. Nonetheless, sacrificing America’s military power is an unacceptable notion. All things considered, the United States should not limit its global involvement. It needs to maintain its leadership position in the world, not only for our own benefit but for other actors also. The procedures used by the United States to determine how it will become involved need to be always evolving and reconsidered to ensure the best possible out comes for our United States citizens, and also other citizens around the globe.The United States is very capable of accomplishing this if we lead by example and are always mindful of fellow countries and the repercussions, positive or negative, that our actions are able to preform. Citations Database Used: Academic Search Premier Lieber, Robert. â€Å"Examining America's Role in Global Affairs. † VOA. Voice of America, 31 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. Guest, Robert. â€Å"Examining America's Role in Global Affairs. † VOA. Voice of America, 31 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.

Heres What Youre Missing on IndiesUnimited.com

Heres What Youre Missing on IndiesUnimited.com Indies Unlimited is a site full of amazing resources, and a space providing interaction for writers and readers. First, lets talk about exactly what Indies Unlimited is if you are unfamiliar with the site. In short, their focus is on promoting indie authors and the writing community as a whole. An indie author is an author who is not represented by a major publishing house- this means that they will be self-published, published with a small or regional press, or sometimes traditionally published on a smaller scale.First and foremost, Indies Unlimited is a blog. They are not a self-publisher, but rather, they help authors grow their audience, gain knowledge about the industry, connect with readers, and of course, forge a writing community between multitudes of authors. This is something that most authors find invaluable- a group of people striving for the same goals who understand how difficult and confusing the industry is, while also being there for support and brainstorming.Authors benefit from a writing community to learn more about the writing process and industry. Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.Sifting through the overwhelmAll the resources for independent authors on the web can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of conflicting ideas, and even simply too many resources on the web, that its difficult to know which ones to trust. Indies Unlimited has had a lot of success and rave reviews, and they provide tons of resources all in one place. Even if you dont browse around other sites, you will be able to find pretty much everything you could need on Indies Unlimited.Promotions for writersSome favorite aspects of Indies Unlimited are free promotional tools. They have set up numerous promotions to assist in engagement between authors and readers, and these promotions also form a semblance of consistency. One of the promotions they offer is Thrifty Thursday, where authors can list their free or 99 cent e-books and where readers will be directed to find them a ll in one place. As readers, we know that were always looking for a bargain or good deal, so with readers aware that Thrifty Thursday takes place each week, it is an opportunity for authors to get their books in front of a whole new audience. This is something that readers can stay tuned into and look forward to each week as they set out to find new authors.The next promotion Indies Unlimited offers is Print Book Party, which takes place on the first Sunday of each month. This is where authors can promote their print books listed at $15 or less, allowing readers to find a large selection of bargain paperbacks in one place. This is another deal that readers definitely wont want to miss out on when it comes to saving on books. Once again, this is a day of the week that readers can anticipate, ready to find their next great read in the comments section of the blog. They also offer, on the third Friday of each month, Kindle Unlimited Friday, where authors can post their books that are f ree within the Kindle Unlimited program.However, the Guest Post Feature may be the most effective of all the promotions offered on IU. This is where authors have the opportunity to write a guest post for the Indies Unlimited blog. Since they have such a vast following, your blog could have the potential to be featured for a whole new audience of writers, readers, reviewers, and publishers alike. The guest feature does not actually showcase any books, but rather lends to more exposure, which is ultimately beneficial to growing ones audience in the long run. You can reach out to Indies Unlimited with the topic youd like to write a blog about to be considered for a guest spot. We are always told that networking and creating more exposure to multiple audiences is the most effective way to market. Well, this guest opportunity does just that.Author advertisingIn addition to the many free promotion options given by Indies Unlimited, they also offer advertising options. There are several pa ckages available to choose from for marketing a product, service, or event. This is another great tool to give authors, or anyone related to the writing field, more exposure given Indies Unlimiteds high-traffic site. You will have the opportunity to advertise as an author or a vendor with the different package options to choose from.According to the site, We do not actually accept paid advertising from authors because its our mantra to never take money from authors. Everything available to authors is free. We occasionally accept paid advertising from service providers, but only after theyve gone through a stringent vetting process to make sure they are on the up-and-up and will not take advantage of authors. Accepting paid advertising is rare, and maybe happens twice a year. Otherwise, the expenses to run the site fall solely on our admin/executive director K. S. Brooks (Kat).Author researchAside from promotion, marketing, and networking, Indies Unlimited is invested in helping auth ors obtain as much knowledge as possible in this field. They have so many resources and articles available, covering any topic imaginable related to books, writing, and publishing. The best part is that they have all these resources in one place, so theres no need to search around the web aimlessly.The KnowledgeBase tab is definitely worth checking out for anyone, whether youre a novice or have years of experience. They cover topics within publishing like book covers, book trailers, reviews, beta readers, and the publishing process as a whole. If youre looking to improve your craft before reaching the publication stage, then they have resources for you, as well, like grammar, punctuation, characters and story building, and resources on the all-important editing process. They also talk about other tools for authors like social media, newsletters, press releases, giveaways, and so much more.No matter which stage of your writing career youre at, Indies Unlimited has resources for you t hat you will not want to pass by. As writers, we have to be our own teachers, editors, critics, and businesspeople- even if we have others in place for these positions already. So, there is no amount of knowledge within the field that could be too much. As mentioned in the beginning of this article, there are so many competing ideas out there, its tricky to know which methods, rules, and approaches are best for you as a writer. So, even if you dont look at any other databases of knowledge- the KnowledgeBase will have you well on your way to sorting out that confusion.Book promotionsA more specific tab when it comes to resources on the Indies Unlimited site is the Book Promo tab. This lists any and all sites that authors who are published or getting ready to publish will want to research and familiarize themselves with. Some of the sites listed are free and some must be paid for, but they all deserve attention in deciphering if they are right for you and your publication goals. With so many sites about book promotion out there, it is easy to get lost and confused, and especially frustrated. So, the fact that Indies Unlimited has compiled these sites in one place with descriptions about each can save an author a lot of time and headache.With so much information available on book publishing and promotion, its easy for authors to get overwhelmed and frustrated. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.Flash fictionNow, lets say you havent written a book, or arent ready to publish your book, and dont think any of these amazing resources are right for you. This is highly unlikely, but even so, you can still engage with Indies Unlimited. How? They host a flash fiction contest every Saturday. Thats right, not only do they offer free promotions, paid advertisements, links with a wealth of knowledge on every writing topic imaginable, and book promo resources, they even have a fun contest open to everyone, with no commitment.The flash fiction rules are simple: Write 250 words or less that incorporate the provided image and prompt. Its quick and fun! And the most fun part of this contest? The winners are chosen using polls that readers personally participate in, with a readers choice and editors choice poll. The polls and contest are open for a few days, so even if you cant get to the computer right at that moment, you have time to make sure you dont miss out. Indies Unlimited has ways for subscribers (and anyone) to interact with their site every day of the week. There are very few sites that can accomplish this.A final noteFinally, Indies Unlimited has gear and titles for purchase, as well as a full staff of very qualified individuals. They are definitely in the market of helping authors navigate this confusing business, as well as giving them outlets to engage with one another and have fun.If you think Indies Unlimited could be beneficial to you (which we assume you would after reading about all their amazing services and engagement) then we highly sugges t subscribing to their newsletter. If you are an author, reader, or have any sort of interest in the publishing world, then this is a letter you wont want to miss. They will send you a weekly email full of valuable resources and articles that they provide. Plus, the fact that its only a weekly newsletter means you wont get aggravated with countless spam emails- it will be an email you actually look forward to. It will assist you through your craft and writing goals each week- and dont forget, theyre always available for questions at Indies Unlimited.So, head to the site, sign up, start reading about and planning your promotion, and working on your flash fiction contest entry. Most importantly, keep on writing and sharing your work with the world. Indies Unlimited will support you at any stage and offer you the outlet to focus on your writing every day of the week, or as often as you need.