Saturday, November 30, 2019
The United States Of America Is A Machine. It Needs Fuel To Start, Yet
The United States of America is a machine. It needs fuel to start, yet once it does, it can support the people of the United States and people all over the world. The United States supports its territories by using the land as food supply and military outposts. In turn U.S. territories receive money to support their nearly independent governments and military protection provided by the U.S. The U.S. has been an immense help in all of its territories. The Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, Corregidor, Line Islands, Midway Islands, Rawaki and Wake Islands have benefited greatly from U.S. presence. On most of these islands, military bases were set up to protect the islanders and provide half-way points between other countries and the United States. This helped the local peoples and the people of the United States. Also, on some of these islands, the U.S. set up farming projects to supply the mainland with food and enable money to arrive on the island. The United State's presence on these territories saw little controversy and was welcomed by the locals. In Cuba, Nicaragua and the Philippines the U.S. also provided great help for the people, yet local extremists wanted to end all U.S. intervention. The views of these extremists did not reflect the views of the population of the island. I have a message for these extremists, these desperadoes. (I snap, turn on the CD) Nicaragua decided the best way of getting attention for their cause was by killing innocent Americans. This is why their government is an outcast in their own land. Killings innocents is no way to run a country and is why America can't let the government of Nicaragua run itself. The United States was a great provider in the Philippines. Yesterday the Philippines stated "The U.S. gave us many things we otherwise couldn't have, yet were racists." We were called racists by the Philippines yet no proof was given for this accusation. I am appalled that a country that the United States provided so much for would say such a lie. Cuba is a even better example of why some governments shouldn't be allowed to rule. Cuba was under Spanish control and being oppressed. Cuba revolted and the U.S. government intervened on behalf of Cuba. This lead to the Spanish-American War. Eventually, Spain relinquished sovereignty over Cuba to the Americans. Cuba was officially property of America at this time. American felt it would be in the best interest of the Cuban people if Cuba was run by a separate government from the United States, yet still followed U.S. legislation. While under U.S. control yellow fever, was eradicated and the economy was tripled. When Cuba violently took control, they took many loans that they couldn't pay back and robbed money form their people. The United States stepped in and peace was restored. Many small nations can't survive by themselves. The United States has a policy that if a territory wants to become part of the United States, all that must take place is a simple vote. If a U.S. territory doesn't want to be involved with the United States, we will leave if it is in the best interest of the people in that country. To end I'd like to give a perfect example of how the entire world blames its problems on the United States. Lebanon stated that since the United States to enter their war, the people of the United States were idiots. First of all the United States has a policy of remaining neutral and secondly the only idiot is a person who cannot tell who they are fighting a war against.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Irqui sitution end of 2002 essays
Irqui sitution end of 2002 essays Yes, there is little question that Saddam Hussein is no Martin Luther King, Jr.; no question that he is no Ghandi, no doubt that he has subjugated many millions of people and terrorized his own countrymen and has little right to legitimate leadership. Unfortunately, the story is not so simple and our own government is not immune to criticism in the making of this monster. A short chronology of this... The Carter Hostage Situation: It is well known that Regan- Bush Operatives made a deal with Iranian militants to prevent the return of the hostages until after the elections. The Regan Bush tandem won the election vis-a-vis the hostage situation. The result of this deal led to arms and narcotics deals spanning the world from the Middle East to Iran-Contra in violating U.S. law. Moreover, the Regan-Bush administration supported Saddam against Iran giving Saddam chemical and biological capacity. The documents have been published. Eventually these were used against the Kurds. After an eight year war with Iran in which we supported Iraq and had squandered billions of dollars, Saddam asked our ambassador to Iraq (a women) what would our position be if he invaded Kuwait. He was told we do not have a position. Being an Arab and a Muslim, and not trusting a women, he went to a higher up in the State Department and got essentially the same answer. My guess is that he thought it was a tacit consent, and so he invaded Kuwait. Undoubtedly to his great surprise, he was setup. His boys in Washington turned on him: The Bush administration. They played him for a sucker and as the scapegoat of our failed Mideast policy. Not one bit of evidence connects Iraq with terrorism with the exception of funding the families of Palestinian suicide bombers after the fact. There certainly is no connection with the 911 perpetrators. In fact, Saddam suppressed Islamic fundamentalism vis-a-vis war with Iran and at home. He appears to be quite right-wi ...
Friday, November 22, 2019
Harald Bluetooth, Former King of Denmark and Norway
Harald Bluetooth, Former King of Denmark and Norway Harald Bluetooth (c. 910ââ¬âc. 987), otherwise known as King Harald I of Denmark, was best known for three major achievements. First, he completed the work of unifying Denmark under a single ruler. Second, he conquered Norway- an event which had major historical consequences. Finally, he converted the Danes and Norwegians to Christianity. The dynasty he founded went on to rule over an increasingly large kingdom that, at its height, included much of the British Isles and parts of Sweden. Fast Facts: Harald Bluetooth Known For: King of Denmark and NorwayAlso Known As:à Haraldr Gormsson, Harald Blà ¥tand Gormsen, Harald IBorn: c. 910 in Jelling, DenmarkParents: Kingà Gorm the Oldà and Thyraà DannebodDied: c. 987, probably in Jormsborg in the northern part of modern PolandSpouse(s): Gunhild, Thoraà (Tova) the daughter ofà Mistivir, Gyrid OlafsdottirChildren: Thyra Haraldsdatter, Sweyn Forkbeard, Haakon, Gunhilde Early Life Harald Bluetooth, or Harold Bluetooth, was born around 910, the son of the first king in a new line of Danish royalty, Gorm the Old. His mother was Thyra, whose father was a nobleman of Sunderjylland (Schleswig). Gorm had established his power base in Jelling, in northern Jutland, and had begun to unify Denmark before his reign was over. Thyra was inclined toward Christianity, so it is possible that young Harald had a favorable view toward the new religion when he was a child, even though his father was an enthusiastic follower of the Norse gods. So fierce a follower of Wotan was Gorm that when he invaded Friesland in 934, he demolished Christian churches in the process. This was not a wise move; shortly after that he came up against the German king, Henry I (Henry the Fowler); and when Henry defeated Gorm, he forced the Danish king not only to restore those churches but to grant toleration to his Christian subjects. Gorm did what was required of him but died a year later, leaving his kingdom to Harald. Haralds Reign Harald set out to continue his fathers work of unifying Denmark under one rule, and he succeeded very well. To defend his kingdom, he strengthened existing fortifications and built new ones. The Trelleborg ring forts, which are considered among the most important remains of the Viking age, date to his reign. Harald also supported the new policy of toleration for Christians, allowing Bishop Unni of Bremen and Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Corvey to preach the gospel in Jutland. Harald and the bishop developed a cordial working relationship, and although he did not agree to get baptized himself, Harald appears to have supported the spread of Christianity among the Danes. Once he had established internal peace, Harald was in a position to take an interest in external matters, especially those concerning his blood relatives. His sister, Gunnhild, fled to Harald with her five sons when her husband, King Erik Bloodaxe of Norway, was killed in battle in Northumberland in 954. Harald helped his nephews reclaim territories in Norway from King Hakon. He was met with serious resistance at first and Hakon even succeeded at invading Jutland, but Harald was ultimately victorious when Hakon was killed on the island of Stord. Haralds Christian nephews took possession of their lands and, led by Harald Greycloak (the eldest nephew), they embarked on a campaign to unify Norway under one rule. Unfortunately, Greycloak and his brothers were somewhat heavy-handed in spreading their faith, breaking up pagan sacrifices and despoiling pagan places of worship. The unrest that resulted made unification an unlikely prospect and Greycloak began to forge alliances with former enemies. This did not sit well with Harald Bluetooth, to whom his nephews owed much for his aid in obtaining their lands, and his concerns were borne out when Greycloak was assassinated, ostensibly by his new allies. Bluetooth took the opportunity to assert his rights over Greycloaks lands and was able to take control of Norway not long after. In the meantime, Christianity had been making some notable headway in Denmark. The Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great, who professed a deep devotion to the religion, saw to it that several bishoprics were founded in Jutland under papal authority. Due to conflicting and unsubstantiated sources, it is not clear exactly why this led to war with Harald; it may have something to do with the fact that these actions made the dioceses exempt from taxation by the Danish king, or perhaps it was because it made the territory appear to be under Ottos suzerainty. In any case, war ensued, and the exact outcome is also unclear. Norse sources maintain that Harald and his allies held their ground; German sources relate that Otto broke through the Danevirke and imposed strictures on Harald, including making him accept baptism and evangelize Norway. Whatever burdens Harald had to deal with as a result of this war, he showed himself to retain considerable clout in the following decade. When Ottos successor and son Otto II was busy fighting in Italy, Harald took advantage of the distraction by sending his son, Svein Forkbeard, against Ottos fortress in Slesvig. Svein captured the fortress and pushed the emperors forces southward. At the same time, Haralds father-in-law, the king of Wendland, invaded Brandenburg and Holstein and sacked Hamburg. The forces of the emperor were unable to counter these attacks, and so Harald reclaimed control of all of Denmark. Death In less than two years, Harald had lost all the gains he had made in Denmark and was seeking refuge in Wendland from his son. Sources are silent as to how this turn of events came to be, but it may have had something to do with Haralds insistence on converting his people to Christianity when there was still a considerable number of pagans among the nobility. Harald was killed in battle against Svein in or around 987; his body was brought back to Denmark and laid to rest in the church at Roskilde. Legacy Harald was by no means the most Christian of medieval kings, but he did receive baptism, and he did do what he could to promote the religion in both Denmark and Norway. He had his fathers pagan tomb converted to a Christian place of worship. Although the conversion of the populace to Christianity was not completed in his lifetime, he did allow a fairly robust evangelization to take place. In addition to constructing the Trelleborg ring forts, Harald extended the Danevirk and left a remarkable runestone in memory of his mother and father in Jelling. The modern Bluetooth technology used to connect electronic devices was named for the ancient Viking king. According to Jim Kardach, one of the founders of Bluetooth SIG: ââ¬Å"Harald had united Denmark and Christianized the Danes! It occurred to me that this would make a good codename for the program. At this time I also created a PowerPoint foil with a version of the Runic stone where Harald held a cellphone in one hand and a notebook in the other and with a translation of the runes: Harald united Denmark and Norway and Harald thinks that mobile PCââ¬â¢s and cellular phones should seamlessly communicate. Sources The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. ââ¬Å"Harald I.â⬠à Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 4 Apr. 2018.ââ¬Å"The Jelling Stone.â⬠à National Museum of Denmark.ââ¬Å"Legendary Harald Bluetooth King Of Denmark - Who Made The Danes Christian.à Ancient Pages, 16 May 2017.ââ¬Å"Bluetooth: Why Modern Tech Is Named After Powerful King of Denmark and Norway.â⬠à Ancient Origins, Ancient Origins, 20 Jan. 2017.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Social class in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1
Social class in America - Essay Example Today, anyone can join the upper class by making tons of money and they can rise from obscurity to being members of the upper class by virtue of their wealth and hard work. It is worth noting that in the past and even in some traditional societies today, one could not get entrance into the upper class unless they are of noble birth or born in a traditionally wealthy family even if one is not wealthy. In fact, in the old days the aristocrats who were often the ruling class considered it disgraceful to work and left all the working to the working class who were oppressed and often forced to squat in lands of the nobility. However, this changed with time and today, moving from middle to upper class is easy if one was to achieve considerable wealth, which will result in a higher social standing. Notwithstanding, there are a few American families that are informally considered elevated because of their histories such as the Kennedys who have been often called the American royal family. However, even such informal recognition cannot be separated from the wealthy they own and at the end of the day; money counts more than a highbrow history. In line with the definition, the upper class are considered thus because of the way society views them and this make them feel superior owing to their financial power they wield. Immediately below the upper class there is the middle class, they consist of majority of the Americans working white-collar jobs who make up the bulk of the population. In addition, they are considered subordinate to the upper class, chiefly because of their comparatively lower financial situat ion. In addition, the American middle class consist of professionals such as doctors, teachers and dentist and other professionals; this class also includes many of Americans with small business and those working in offices as accountants, clerks and civil servants. For instance, Bill Gates is a member of the upper class while many of those working for him in Microsoft, in different capacities such as programmers and accountants, are mostly in the middle class. This distinction is generally based on the economic prowess although the rift between him and his employees is of near unbelievable proportions. Being the most populous middle class is inevitably the most influential, as such even in politics; they are the main voters, which explain why the two presidential candidates are both going out of their ways to show that they have their interests at heart. However, it is noteworthy that the upper class has the ultimate say, since they are the ones who bankroll contestants, as such th ey can influence a candidate campaigning power by supplying them with more funds. Therefore, they will have indirect control of the middle class who as usual will be manipulated into thinking they are making decisions. Finally, the class holding the lowest social position in is lower class, which was traditionally known as the working class, however, the work done by this class often includes menial jobs such as cleaners and other lowly paid blue collar workers. Furthermore, due to recent economic troubles, unemployment has forced many Americans formerly middle class to end up in this class so their description as working class is not entirely correct. This class includes the homeless and many others living below the poverty line often dependent on welfare. In this class, one will also find illegal immigrants who
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Interpretive Note on Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Essay
Interpretive Note on Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Firs - Essay Example The Country of the Pointed Firs is one such work, in which, Jewett subtly shows how women can live an independent life without following certain stereotypes. So, this paper analyzes how Jewett also focuses on women-dominated space, particularly their psychic. The Country of the Pointed Firs follows the trails of the unnamed narrator in the fictional town of Dunnet Landing, Maine. She is a writer from Boston, who comes to Dunnet Landing to complete the work she has started. Renting a room in the home of Mrs. Todd, she gets acclimatized to the area and becomes captivated by the old-fashioned community. Most of the townââ¬â¢s population are old people with ages ranging between sixty and ninety. All of them are ââ¬Ërichââ¬â¢ with many interesting experiences and thus they tell small stories or anecdotes about the town, the sea, as well as the townââ¬â¢s people, to the narrator thereby enriching the narratorââ¬â¢s experience. The narrator was overwhelmed by the experience with nostalgia flowing through her mind. In course of time, she strikes a ââ¬Ëclose relationshipââ¬â¢ with Mrs. Todd and that gives another perspective to the work. In most of her works, Jewett, pushed by her wish to break all dichotomies, creates female characters who are strong, confident and independent. In The Country of the Pointed Firs, apart from the narrator character, the character who symbolized the above said positive virtues of woman is Mrs. Todd. This semiautobiographical novel follows a young woman writer, who while spending a summer Dunnett Landing and completing her work, comes in contact with a group of women. These women while telling many stories about the town, become emotionally attached to the writer. ââ¬Å"There she is adopted into a loose knit group of women who weave a web of stories about the town, the surrounding islands and the folks who live, or lived, there.â⬠(brothersjudd.com). They spend a lot of time close to each other, sharing good rapport and so
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Restrictive health, safety and technical standards Essay Example for Free
Restrictive health, safety and technical standards Essay Technical Standards: Standards and standards-related technical regulations are pervasive features of global commerce, affecting an estimated 80 percent of world commodity trade. These technical specifications make up much of the vocabulary in the exacting language of industry, consumer protection, and government regulation. As such, foreign standards and methods used to assess conformity to standards can either facilitate efficient international trade and its resultant benefits, or they can impede access to export markets. Divergent standards peculiar to a nation or region, redundant testing and compliance procedures, unilateral and non-transparent standard setting exercises, and a confusing thicket of other standards-related problems are now recognized as major impediments to free trade. For example: Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology publishes a list of imports and exports requiring mandatory quality inspection. Importers and exporters of the products on the list must subject their products to inspection and obtain a permit from the relevant government agencies (such as the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Fishery, and the Ministry of Science and Technology) at the time they go through customs. In the inspection, some products are subject to national standards, some are subject to regulations of the functional agencies, and some are subject to both. China is very concerned with the transparency of Vietnams mandatory quality inspection system. Language Barrier: Communication is the key to building successful business relationships. However, communication becomes complex when more than one language is involved. Interpreters and translators can play a critical role assisting exporters with the delivery of key information to prospective customers and clients. Interpreters and translators fulfill different roles in different cultures. For example, an interpreter in North America or Europe is expected to relay an unbiased account of the information to the audience. In Japan, however, an interpreter will translate the language and quite likely interpret gestures, context and meanings for those in attendance. Exporters should enlist the services of an experienced, fluent translator or interpreter who is also immersed in the culture of the target market. Working as a team, the exporter and the interpreter can review the text, presentation or other materials together to ensure that there will be no difficulties with background information, technical terms or potentially ambiguous messages. Non-tariff Barriers. Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) refer to the wide range of policy interventions other than border tariffs that affect trade of goods, services, and factors of production. Most taxonomies of NTBs include market-specific trade and domestic policies affecting trade in that market. Extended taxonomies include macro-economic policies affecting trade. NTBs have gained importance as tariff levels have been reduced worldwide. Common measures of NTBs include tariff-equivalents of the NTB policy or policies and count and frequency measures of NTBs. These NTB measures are subsequently used in various trade models, including gravity equations, to assess trade and/or welfare effects of the measured NTBs. Conclusion The world has a long history of international trade. In fact, trading among nations can be traced back to the earliest civilizations. Trading activities are directly related to an improved quality of life for the citizens of nations involved in international trade. It is safe to say that nearly every person on earth has benefited from international trading activities. This may be a good time to reinforce the idea that trade barriers are designed to protect some industries but, in fact they may hurt other industries or even consumers. Economists have found that sanctions dont often reach their political objectives and they come with high costs. A good example is the steel tariff imposed by the Bush administration, on foreign-made steel. President Bush imposed the tariffs, ranging from 8 percent to 30 percent, on some kinds of foreign steel in March 2002, in order to help the U. S. steel industry compete with foreign steel producers. Many U. S. manufacturing companies that use steel, including manufacturers of auto parts and appliances, say that the steel tariffs have raised costs for manufacturers and caused thousands of manufacturing losses. Also, people who buy cars or appliances may have to pay higher prices because of the steel tariffs. The U. S. International Trade Commission recently concluded that the tariffs have caused a $30 million net loss to the U. S. economy. In addition, the European Union is considering retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. TBR (Trade Barrier Regulation) is Europes way of removing obstacles to trade, ensuring that countries abide by the rules of international trade, and providing procedures for resolving international trade disputes. Through the European Commission, its procedures interface directly with WTO dispute resolution procedures, affecting all countries subject to WTO rules and agreements notably the United States and Japan and whose industries have been the subject of recent international decisions. Free trade is usually most strongly supported by the most economically powerful nations in the world, though they often engage in selective protectionism for those industries which are politically important domestically, such as the protective tariffs applied to agriculture and textiles by the United States and Europe. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were both strong advocates of free trade when they were economically dominant, today the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan are its greatest proponents. However, many other countries (such as India, China and Russia) are increasingly becoming advocates of free trade as they become more economically powerful themselves. As tariff levels fall there is also an increasing willingness to negotiate non tariff measures, including foreign direct investment, procurement and trade facilitation. The latter looks at the transaction cost associated with meeting trade and customs procedures. Traditionally agricultural interests are usually in favour of free trade while manufacturing sectors often support protectionism. This has changed somewhat in recent years, however. In fact, agricultural lobbies, particularly in the United States, Europe and Japan, are chiefly responsible for particular rules in the major international trade treaties which allow for more protectionist measures in agriculture than for most other goods and services. During recessions there is often strong domestic pressure to increase tariffs to protect domestic industries. This occurred around the world during the Great Depression leading to a collapse in world trade that many believe seriously deepened the depression. The regulation of international trade is done through the World Trade Organization at the global level, and through several other regional arrangements such as MERCOSUR in South America, NAFTA between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the European Union between 27 independent states. The 2005 Buenos Aires talks on the planned establishment of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) failed largely due to opposition from the populations of Latin American nations. Similar agreements such as the MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) have also failed in recent years. Bibliography 1. Barriers to entry: Coping with protectionism. UK Investment. 18 April 2007 http://www. ukinvest. gov. uk/10415/en_GB/0. pdf 2. Boone, L. , and Kurtz, D. Contemporary Marketing. New York: Dryden Press. 2003 3. Brue, S. , and McConnell, C. Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2003 4. Churchill, G. , and Peter, P. Marketing: Creating Value for Customers. Austen Press. 2004 5. Czinkota, M. R. , and Ronkainen, I. A. International Marketing. New York: Dryden Press. 2005 6. Competition and Market Power. Econoclass ââ¬â Sources for Economics Teachers. 18 April 2007 http://www.econoclass. com/imperfectcompetition. html 7. Deardorff, Alan V. , and Robert M. Stern. Measurement of Nontariff Barriers: Studies in International Economics. 2005 8. Debra Ann Skaradzinski. Testing chaotic dynamics via Lyapunov exponents. Journal of Applied Econometrics 20:7, (2003): 911. 9. Fisher, Ronald, and Pablo Serra. ââ¬Å"Standards and Protection. â⬠Journal of International Economics 52 (2004): 377-400. 10. Farese, L. , Kimbrell, G. , and Woloszyk, C. Marketing Essentials. Mission Hills, CA: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. 2003 11. Henson, Spencer, and John S. Wilson, eds. The WTO and Technical Barriers toTrade, in the Critical Perspectives on the Global Trading System and the WTO series, Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. 2005 12. Impact of Standards and Technical Regulations on Trade. Press Release from Commerce Ministry (2003). 18 April 2007 http://www. commerce. gov/opa/press/Secretary_Evans/2003_Releases/March/19_Standards. htm 13. Journal of Behavioral Finance, Vol. 4, No. 2, (2003): Pages 65-70 14. Kee, Hiau Looi, Alessandro Nicita, and Marcelo Olarreaga. Estimating Trade Restrictiveness Indices, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper # 3840.2006 15. Kotler, P. , and Armstrong, G. Marketing: An Introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 2004 16. ââ¬Å"Methodologies, Classifications, Quantification and Development Impacts of Non-Tariff Barriers: Note by the UNCTAD Secretariat,â⬠Document TD/B/COM. 1/EM. 27/2. (2004). 18 April 2007 http://www. unctad. org/TEMPLATES/meeting. asp? intItemID=3411lang=1m=10489info=not 17. Non-tariff Barriers Centre for Rural Agricultural Development (2003). 18 April 2007 www. econ. iastate. edu/research/webpapers/paper_12703. pdf 18. RSIE Working Papers. University of Michigan.(2005). 18 April 2007 http://www. fordschool. umich. edu/rsie/workingpapers/wp. html 19. The Impact of Regulations on Agricultural Trade. Working Paper, Centre dââ¬â¢Etudes Prospectives et dââ¬â¢Informations Internationales, Paris. (2003). 18 April 2007 www. econ. iastate. edu/research/webpapers/paper_12703. pdf 20. Trade, Environment and Development. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (2005). 18 April 2007 www. unctad. org/trade_env/ 21. Vousden, Neil. The Economics of Trade Protection. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 2005.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Double Vision in F. Scott Fitzgeraldââ¬â¢s The Great Gatsby Essay -- Great
The Great Gatsby:à Double Visionà à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à F. Scott Fitzgerald once stated that the test of a first rate intelligence was the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. This intelligence he describes is characterized by the principle of ââ¬Å"double vision.â⬠An understanding of this is essential to the understanding of many of Fitzgeraldââ¬â¢s novels. ââ¬Å"Double visionâ⬠denotes two ways of seeing. It suggests the tension involved when Fitzgerald sets two things in opposition such that the reader can, on one hand, sensually experience the event about which Fitzgerald is writing, The foundation of double vision is polarity, the setting of extremes against one another, which is the result of dramatic tension. The success of the novel depended on Fitzgeraldââ¬â¢s ability to transfer the vision he had himself to the reader. This idea dealt with the ability to believe in the possibilities of several opposite ideas at different levels of abstract...
Monday, November 11, 2019
Crash Essay
Description: The film Crash illustrates through various characters many themes that are sociologically relevant and have been intensely covered in course lectures and readings. With the extensive minority groups presented throughout the film; elements of prejudice, discrimination, deviance, patterns of accommodation, as well as strain theory are evident. The film offers an array of conflict in four characters especially that will be discussed here. ââ¬Å"Anthonyâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Peter Watersâ⬠two African-American men, ââ¬Å"Farhadâ⬠a Persian shop owner, and ââ¬Å"Officer John Ryanâ⬠a white prejudiced policeman all display interesting characteristics of the theories mentioned above. Analysis: Anthony and Peter both commit criminal acts and fit well into the innovation as part of deviance model. They do not believe that they can conform and do not see other opportunities in the largely white areas in which they steal cars, admitting that they want to steal from whites, as they perceive whites to have privilege and hostility toward them. Peter is shot while Anthony attempts to redeem himself by helping another minority group, who he sees to be exploited due to their minority status. Officer Ryan is a prejudiced policeman, who feels the trickle down effect of strain theory. Due to the loss of his fatherââ¬â¢s job due to affirmative action policies and the subsequent issues with him receiving improper healthcare, this officer turns his frustration to blacks as a whole due to the strain of his fatherââ¬â¢s condition. Finally, Farhad exhibits the patterns of accommodation, as he attempts to assimilate to the United States, he distrusts others in the different minority groups and feels the shame of being called a terrorist. He retaliates by attempting to kill a Mexican-American, as his level of conflict with other groups is extremely high. Self-reflection: This film is very effective in showing how theories can be applied to actual events that occur in the lives of minorities and those with white privilege. The complex interactions between the different groups highlight much of what conflict theory proposes and elements of structural functionalism, as well. I would highly recommend this movie to any sociology student or others, who have an interest in how groups in society function and deal with one another on a daily basis.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Mass Society Theories, Social Responsibilty Theory and the Media Essay
The first half of the twentieth century played a vital role in the state of the present media. The century commenced with the influx of new forms of media as modernization uncontrollably invaded all social forms. The dominant medium of the nineteenth century, the newspaper, sustained its power at the beginning of the century. Moving pictures, or film, was born and started to form its own cult of followers. The entrance of radio and television also received a warm welcome from the masses in the succeeding decades. These innovations in media technology received harsh criticisms from different sources (Baran & Davis, 1995). The impact of the new media technology in the recent course of history was evident. Thus, it incited chaos among the social elites that started relentless criticism of the power of media and the formulation of what is now known as the mass society theory. Leaders of established social and political institutions feared the kind of society that would grow out of this aspect of modernization. Long-term effects of the ââ¬Ëuncontrolledââ¬â¢ use of media were the focus of the mass society theory. Mass society theorists highly regarded the power of media, especially the new, more technologically-advanced ones, and how it could influence the average people in the society, which are potentially more powerful than the social elites. They also feared that the power of media could be a tool for the rise of a totalitarian social order in America, as what some parts of Europe had experienced (Baran & Davis, 1995). The reputation of the media also led the theorists to push their assumptions forward. The powerful people manipulated what was supposedly a ââ¬Ëfreeââ¬â¢ media. Yellow journalism was rampant to protect their reputation. Sensationalized and over-dramatized news stories were as widespread to attract audiences for profit. The elites also started to question the quality of culture the media projected. It was accused of being cheap and tasteless, and that the media practitioners were not qualified to formulate that type of entertainment which instantly became popular to the masses. With all these issues raised against the dominant and emerging forms of media, scholars and some media practitioners volunteered and attempted to lead media reform and ââ¬Ëprescribeââ¬â¢ how media system should function, giving birth to the normative theories. Earlier thoughts of authoritarianism and libertarianism were strongly criticized. Many were not convinced what authoritarianism proposed ââ¬â to subject the media to governing authorities that would control these media and sustain social order (Baran & Davis, 1995). Libertarian thought, on the other hand, seeks total freedom of the media from control. After the World War II, the Hutchinsââ¬â¢ Commission formulated the social responsibility theory that compromised the authoritarian and libertarian thoughts. The principles of the social responsibility theory could be considered innovative as it was able to make the two opposing thoughts meet at a certain point. It, somehow, answered the key points of mass society theory, but not totally scrapping them as these assumptions can still be observed today. Social responsibility theory regarded the media the same as the mass society in terms of mediaââ¬â¢s power. The theory considered how much these media could influence the society, and that the media has the power to corrupt peopleââ¬â¢s minds. Social responsibility theory advised that media should consider their obligations to the society through professional ethics and by promoting what was lacking or needed in the society. At that point, most media companies had accepted this thought and strived to achieve its ideals. The social responsibility theory encouraged media owners to recognize their role to the society and that they were an effective catalyst to social change, or to a ââ¬ËGreat Communityââ¬â¢, as the Chicago School envisioned. In that way, the fear of a totalitarian social order was reduced since social responsibility theory appealed for idealism of individual media practitioners through being able to identify their active role in preserving democracy (Baran & Davis, 1995). As the twentieth century moved towards its second half, media systems had exerted efforts to absorb the ideals of the social responsibility theory. It diluted the bad image of media that the mass society theorists projected while the social responsibility theory aimed for informativeness, truth, accuracy, objectivity, and balance (Baran & Davis, 1995). Up until now when traditional media boundaries are slowly melting caused by the rapid innovations in technology, the threats posed by the mass society theory are still present and the social responsibility theoryââ¬â¢s ideals are still being tried and tested. Reference: Baran, Stanley J., & Davis, Dennis K. (1995). Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, and Future. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Revisiting the Rostov Ripper Professor Ramos Blog
Revisiting the Rostov Ripper Between 1978 and 1990, the murderous reign of Andrei Chikatilo was in full swing. Chikatilo was a Soviet serial killer who is responsible for the cannibalistic murders of over fifty people. His case in particular is interesting not only because the large number of victims but also because the society Chikatilo lived in did not accept that a serial murderer could exist in a communist state. That however, proved to be wrong, and indeed, contributed to his success as a murderer and prolonged his spree. He is case and story are definitely one that allows for much discussion. By analysis Chikatilo as a person and his backstory, it is possible to somewhat explain how and why he did such gruesome things. By going in depth about Chikatiloââ¬â¢s life, his murderous rampage, and his reasoning behind killing, there can be a clearer understanding of how not only him, but also other cannibalistic serial killers develop into monsters. Along with a further understanding, it is also interesting t o analyze Chikatilo through the application of Jeffrey Jerome Cohenââ¬â¢s Monster theses. Applying Cohenââ¬â¢s theses allows an outside eye to see the cultural and environmental issues that led to the eventual creation of the monster that Chikatilo became. It is important to understand Chikatiloââ¬â¢s upbringing and life before analyzing his murders. Andrei Chikatilo was born in Yablochnoye, U.S.S.R (now Ukraine). He grew up during the aftermath of what is now known as the great Ukraine famine of the 1930s, during which the struggling people turned to cannibalism because they did not have the food required to survive. Both of his parents were farm workers and lived in a one-room hut. As a young boy, Chikatilo was constantly told by his mother that his older brother was kidnapped and eaten by their neighbors. This is where many people believe the spark of interest in cannibalism originates. Growing up, his mother was very abusive towards her children and that also may be that cause of some mental distress imposed on Chikatilo. His father was reportedly a kind man, but was not there for them being that he was captured as a World War II prisoner. Despite all of the hardships that he experienced at home, Chikatilo still managed to becom e a great student and an ardent member of the communist community.à He had social issues with women as a result of the abusive experience he had with his mother. He had sexual problems that were related to him suffering from Hydrocephalus (water in the brain) at birth, which caused him to have genital-urinary tract problems throughout his life. His hardships, however, did not stop in his childhood, he failed his entrance exam to Moscow State University, which led to him moving to Rodionovo-Nesvetayevsky, a town near Rostov, in 1960, where he became a telephone engineer. Following that, his sister moved in with him because she was concerned about his problems with women. Because of that, she arranged a meeting between Andrei and a woman named Fayina, who he later went on to marry in 1963. Despite sexual problems that he suffered from, they produced two children, and lived and outwardly normal family life. In 1971, Chikatilo decided he wanted to make a career change and became a sc hool teacher. This is where things began to become problematic. As a result of a string of complaints about indecent assaults on young children, he was forced to move from school to school before he finally settled at a mining school in Shakhty, near Rostov (Wilcott et al.). His troublesome background definitely contributed to his mental instability and his eventual cannibalistic killing spree. When discussing Chikatilo, it is easy to apply the monster theses of Jeffrey Jerome Cohen. By applying Cohenââ¬â¢s theses, it is possible to create a better understanding of Chikatilo as a murderous monster. The first thesis that should be discussed in terms of Chikatilo is Thesis VII. Thesis VII discusses the idea that a ââ¬Å"monster stands at the thresholdâ⬠¦ of becomingâ⬠(Cohen 20). This idea is relative to the fact that Chikatilo is the product of a childhood filled with abuse and hardship. His actions were consequential of all of the poor situations that he endured as a child, and therefore, created the murderous mentality of Chikatilo. This is applicable to Chikatilo because it explains how his actions are a direct result of his feeling of not fitting in. From a young age, he had always been surrounded by situations that caused him to feel bullied or out of place. It seems like he felt odd or unsure about himself, and as a result, experienced mental instability. An example of this is when he had a girlfriend in his adolescence. This is the first situation where his impotence caused him to be bullied. His girlfriend of the time went to her friends to ask them what to do because he was unable to perform sexually. Her friends started rumors and told everyone about his impotence, and therefore, was bullied by everyone about it. As a result of this, he was very shy and his only sexual experience during adolescence occurred at the age of 15. He was reported to have overpowered a young girl and ejaculate immediately during their brief struggle (Goldberg). à When his peers heard of this story, he was ridiculed even more than before. That is a reason Chikatilo performed those horrific acts. He killed to satisfy his sexual desires and was stimulated through the pain that he inflicted on others. The creation of a monster, however, is not only physical but also mental. Granted, he did perform horrible and horrific acts, but that is not necessarily th e only monstrous quality to him. The monstrosity of Chikatilo could also be identified through his mind and mentality. He became the monster he was as a result of his horrible and traumatic experiences. That, coupled with his awareness of his actions, confirmed his demented monstrosity, and in turn, shows that his characteristics as a monster are clear. This is how Cohenââ¬â¢s Thesis VII is applicable to Chikatilo and allows for a better understanding of him as a murderous monster. In terms of Cohenââ¬â¢s Theses, it is important to touch on Thesis I when discussing Chikatilo. As a result of many different environmental aspects, it is clear to see how Chikatiloââ¬â¢s development as a monster came to be. Through a number of childhood issues and other flawed cultural beliefs, he became a character that was not only very homicidal, but also unbeknownst to the people of the time. A point that must be asserted in terms of Chikatiloââ¬â¢s cultural being is the political arena he existed in. As stated, Chikatilo grew up in the Communist state and was surrounded by a shrouded view of murderers and serial killers. Because of that culturally flawed view on murderers, it made it very easy for him to be successful as a serial killer. His mental instability also spurred from his own environmental hardships. From a young age, Chikatilo was in a horrible living environment that was also affect by his impotence. Being bullied for his impotence on top of his feelings of not fitting in created a mentality of loneliness. The failures of the police department along with his job situation are factors that allowed him to harness all of that resentment and murder the fifty-plus individuals he did. As a teacher, that was where he first began to commit crimes. As stated by John Philip Jenkins, in an article on Britannica.com, ââ¬Å"He was forced to resign his position, however, after some parents complained of sexual assault by Chikatilo on their children.â⬠Because of those accusations, he moved from school to school before finally settling down in Rostov, U.S.S.R. In Rostov, he got a job as a factory worker and that is when he began to murder his victims. This is another example of an environmental influence on his murders. Because he was working such a typical job, that drew very little attention to himself, he was able to perform these murders without being easily identified. Along with his job, the other factor that contributed to his success as a murderer was the police malpractice. The police had repeatedly failed to apprehend Chikatilo, and instead, arrested and persecuted other men in his place (Jenkins). The police would try to solve cases as quickly as possible in order to keep down the public concern. As a result, they were brutally interrogating innocent men and forcing confessions out of them. Until the eventual in-depth investigation, Chikatilo had already gotten away with several murders, as a result of poor policing. Chikatiloââ¬â¢s actions are a product of cultural and environmental flaws that surrounded him. In conclusion, Chikatilo is one of the most prolific serial killers that has ever existed. His murderous rampage that resulted in the deaths of, from what he stated, fifty-six women and children should never be forgotten or overlooked. With the deranged mind of a sexually driven killer, Chikatiloââ¬â¢s name will now forever live in infamy. Because of a series of failed policing situations and a job that allowed Chikatilo to remain ordinary, his murders piled up like never before. With a further understanding of his development, mentality, and actions as a monster, there can be an identification of such behaviors before another monster like him is created again. Through the analysis and exploration of Chikatilo with Cohenââ¬â¢s theses, a more vivid picture of the monster he was can be illustrated. Seeing how he was unnoticed and, in some ways, disregarded by the society he existed in is dreadful. His reign was heinous and appalling, and as a result, Chikatilo will be considered one of the worst murderous, cannibalistic serial killers to have ever existed. Chikatilo is an apparent example of a monster that was affected by his surroundings. Whether it be his rough childhood, his impotence, or simply his mental instability, his character directly correlates to the way he was treated. As a community, it is important to identify those in need and reduce the amount of bullying that exists in children. His life was tragic, but that does not justify the horrendous deeds he performed. Therefore, as a member of todayââ¬â¢s society, there must be more effort put forth in the preventions of monstrous people like Chikatilo. Cohen, Jeffrey Jerome. Monster Theory: Reading Culture. University of Minnesota Press, 1996. Goldberg, Carey. ââ¬Å"COLUMN ONE : I Was Like a Crazed Wolf : Andrei Chikatilo Looks like a Harmless Schoolteacher. But 53 Murders Make Him the Most Horrible Serial Killer RussiaPerhaps the WorldHas Ever Seen.â⬠Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 1992, latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-04-28-mn-966-story.html. Jenkins, John Philip. ââ¬Å"Andrei Chikatilo.â⬠Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Andrei-Romanovich-Chikatilo. Willmott, Dominic, Daniel Boduszek, and Rebecca Robinson. A psychodynamic-behaviourist investigation of Russian sexual serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry Psychology29.3 (2018): 498-507.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Basics of Christianity and Hinduism
Christian fundamental Christianity is one of the most popular religions in the world. Two billion people worldwide are engaged in one-third of Christianity in the world. Christianity is faith in the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The idea of ââ¬â¹Ã¢â¬â¹how a father, son, and the Holy Spirit will be one seems to be something you might have in a dynamic way or in some way. The fact that this may be impossible for most people is because the Trinity has never been mentioned explicitly in the text. Religion is not so important in today's world compared to hundreds of years ago. In the United States, the main religion is Christianity, no one is worried about other religions like Hinduism. Strangely, Hinduism was always in the world before Christianity, but many people do not know it. As I have seen before, when teaching religious beliefs, There is lack of complexity compared to Christian lessons (Glod). Some people think Christians are perfect to complete other religions, b ut everyone is perfect in their own way. As we all know, Christianity and Hinduism are different. There is a slight similarity between the two beliefs. Religion is a very important aspect of people's lives. Because Christianity only rules over the rules of people's lives, Hinduism is ahead of Christianity. Since Hinduism is a religion with many beliefs and practices, it is more challenging to offer Christianity and Hinduism. It uses Hinduism as an unfair habit, reducing its theology and philosophy to the extent it really provides for comparison with Christianity. But in Hinduism there are some common principles for all Hindus. The first difference between Hinduism and Christianity is that Hinduism considers Christianity as an effective religion, while the Bible does not. Hinduism is a religion that promotes tolerance. It teaches that all religions are different paths to goals and that all religions are different means. Hinduism is not exclusive and admits that all religions are effe ctive. But Christianity teaches that Christ is the only way to God. John 14: 6 replied, Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, the life, nobody can come to the father except me.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Graph theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Graph theory - Research Paper Example iss Mathematician developed a solution to an old puzzle related to the possibility of establishing a path across every one of the seven bridges that span a forked river flowing past (Biggs 140). From a conceptual perspective, a graph is formed by vertices and edges linking the vertices. From a formal perspective however, a graph refers to a pair of sets (V, E), where V is a set of vertices and E is a set of edges. Based on these fundamental concepts underpinning graph theory, this paper seeks to explain the importance and application of the theoryââ¬â¢s theoretical concepts in various fields (Biggs 124). The concept of graph theory is important because graphs allow for a simplification of complex concepts, eliminating the irrelevant details without forfeiting much information necessary for the task. As asserted by Biggs (148), the assumptions made by the graph theory match the real world conditions and are therefore not comparable to any other model. Among the fundamental uses of the graph theory entail; giving a unified formalism for diverse looking real life problems. This has been the sufficient basis upon which algorithms have been presented in this common formalism. The theoretical concepts underpinning graph theory are widely used in the studying and modeling of various applications, in diverse fields. These include; construction of bonds in chemistry, study of molecules, and the study of atoms. Graph theory is widely used in Sociology for instance to measure the prestige of actors or in exploring the mechanisms of diffusion (Biggs 150). Besides, the conservation efforts made in biological sciences essentially apply the concepts of graph theory where a vertex represent regions where certain species exist and the edges are used to represent paths of migration or movement from one region to another (Biggs 152). Such information is important more so when examining the breeding patterns or tracking the spread of parasites, diseases and in the study of the
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