Capital Punishment Essays (815 words) - Penology, Capital Punishment

Capital Punishment What is capital punishment? Capital punishment is the maximum penalty of a conviction. More than 4, 400 people have been executed since 1930. There is no way of knowing how many people have been executed in U.S. history because they used to be local affairs with nobody to record them. On the edge of the 21st century, Capital punishment is still one of the two most debated issues in the U.S., the other is abortion. This paper will attempt to show the effects of capital punishment and how it is used. Capital punishment has been a very attention grabbing incident over the years. For example, in 1936, about 20,000 people gathered in Owensboro, Kentucky, on the morning of August 14 to see the hanging of a 22 year old black man, Rainey Bethea. Many people have also died wrongfully. Sacco and Vangetti were two Italian immigrants that were accused of payroll robbery. Although they had alibis of there whereabouts, they were still convicted of the crime and sentenced to death by the electric chair. Nearly every culture throughout history has practiced capital punishment. Quartering was a popular method in Europe. Quartering is being torn apart by horses. In India, executions were sometimes carried out by having an elephant crush the condemneds head. In modern times, societies have sought to make executions more humane. Such was the goal of the guillotine, which severed the condemneds head with a heavy blade, and the electric chair which kills with a massive dose of electrical current. The Constitution of the United States guarantees to every citizen certain fundamental rights. The First Amendment, for example guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. The Second Amendment promises that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The amendment most relevant to the issue of the death penalty is the Eighth Amendment. It reads: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted. However simple and straightforward these words may sound, its not always clear what they mean. That is because the words cruel and unusual are subjective. One person may think, for instance, that capital punishment is cruel and unusual, while another person may not. In 1972, the Supreme Court declared the death penalty cruel and unusual, and therefore unconstitutional. It was soon reactivated in 1976 by 35 states. People have tried to influence decisions on the death penalty. For example, the Pope has played a role in the decision of the death penalty. The Pope pleaded for a criminals life and the criminal was sentenced to life in jail instead of the electric chair. Many people that are innocent have been sentenced to death. Harry Blackman, a death penalty opponent, stated Innocent persons have been executed and will continue to be executed, explaining why he could no longer support the death penalty. Isidore Zimmerman, came within 2 hours of execution for a murder he did not commit. Citing instances like this, death penalty opponents claim that the danger of a terrible and irrevocable mistake capital punishment intolerable. Cost often comes up when the death penalty is mentioned. Those in favor of the death penalty say the government shouldnt waste its money on guarding, feeding, and housing a depraved criminal for the rest of his or her life. The truth is, however, that it costs much more to put a prisoner to death than to keep a prisoner in jail. It cost about 2 million to 3 million dollars to sentence someone to death and keep them on death row for 8 years. The same it costs to keep 3 prisoners in a maximum security prison for 40 years. Opponents use this as a contradiction. Race is a big issue in death sentencing although not admitted. There is still a lot of hard decision making when it comes to ethnics being punished. A comprehensive examination of capital murder cases in Georgia, a black convicted of murdering a white has a 22 percent chance of being sentenced to die, whereas a white convicted of murdering a black has only a 3 percent chance. This has been a big thing in the civil issues

Comparison between Walter Mitty and Holden Caulfield essays

Comparison between Walter Mitty and Holden Caulfield essays Comparison between Walter Mitty and Holden Caulfield Inability to live a successful and fulfilling external life The short story The secret life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber, and the novel The Catcher in the Rye by the author J.D Salinger, are two works of literature of the twentieth century which have been analyzed and criticised broadly. Walter Mitty and Holden Caulfield are the main characters of each of these narrations. Both authors refer to the themes of loneliness, escaping reality, meaning of life, and lack of maturity amongst others. These themes are reflected in the protagonists, and similarities between Mitty and Holden Caulfields personality make these two characters recognizable in literature. Both are engrossed in failure, failure to productive society Walter Mitty is a middle-aged man who escapes from his unhappy and mediocre life into a world of fantasies where he is an outstanding and successful man, where he is respected and does not depend on anyone. This contrasts to his real life, where he is dominated by his wife, Mrs. Mitty, and he is just an ordinary weak man, who is constantly humiliated whenever he interacts with normal people. His fantasies and his real world have almost turned into an indivisible one. His illusions make his life tolerable, fulfilling him at least for a concise time. In the Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield is a sixteen year old boy who has been sent to a mental institution after having a mental breakdown. He is an immature adolescent who is scared of becoming an adult, because he sees adults as phoney, hypocrites and obscene. All this has lead him into depression, because he keeps fighting responsibilities, thinking that that way he can achieve not turning into horrible grown ups image he has. Mitty is constantly daydreaming, for he does not know how to confront life, and is afraid to face reali ...

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Reflection - Essay Example Different countries have evolved separate items of mass entertainment, they can therefore be considered as their domestic culture. Youngsters, in the progress of their active life, learn to engage in activities mainly on the basis of information collected from mass media entertainment such as TV, music, movies, mobile and internet of course to the greatest extend these days (Nachbar 1992, p. 414). Engagement in popular culture should be productive, I mean, by way of learning the ethical values of great works done by people in literature, art and architecture. Students need to attend sessions of cultural activities and perform their role thereby. They should realize that culture is a source of ethical values apart from mere entertainment. Learning about modern popular culture encourages people to form a positive attitude towards their community. Movies, stage-shows or any other form of public entertainment should focus on building this attitude among people. Modern popular culture however, imprints the enthusiasm of more indigenous cultures involving tattoos, fashion design, animated photography etc in returning to the primitive style as a fashion. As the globe has been totally trodden by man, the need for cultural globalization has already evolved. People presently have the attitude to respect and follow the indigenous culture as a connection with modern popular culture. Also, with the development of sports and folklore programs across the world, the engagement of popular art in the social life has been reinforced. Therefore, in the light of due consideration of values and standards of popular culture these days, I don’t consider a change in my attitude towards them unless it goes all against social ethics; e ven on such conditions, there are legislative measures to regulate such possible

Argument essay structure Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Argument structure - Essay Example It therefore important for an organization to have an efficient and effective leader in order to direct and bind all these diverse employees in order for the organization’s targets to be achieved. Generally, overtime, many people have had different viewpoints on the concept of leadership. For instance, Daft views leadership as a vital organizational component which involves influence on people, and â€Å"occurs among people who intentionally desire significant changes† (2008). Similarly, Yukl views leadership as a process used by managers to influence employees to get an understanding of what ought to be done and how it should be done in order to achieve organizational targets (2006, p. 8). As such, the concept of management and leadership does not merely entail setting up plans and following the set procedures, but it instead requires the managers to effectively direct the diverse set of employees towards achieving the organizational objectives. However, it is worth noting that unlike the â€Å"Great Man’s Theory† which suggests that leadership is inborn rather than natured, Daft’s and Yukl’s viewpoint implies that leadership is a process t hat requires teamwork, influence and practice in order to achieve organizational goals. Equally important, with increased competition as well as numerous emerging new markets, today’s organizations have become more complex. This has hence led to a high inter-organizational and intra-organizational competition, a factor that has brought up an urgent need for effective and efficient leadership in organizations. Primarily, leadership competency encompasses the various practices, functions and responsibilities which the management are required to take. Thus, the competencies points out the various functional skills that leaders must develop in order to be able to take up responsibility effectively. To illustrate, leadership competencies are used in the

Home Health Care Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Home Health Care - Research Paper Example The system provides a majority of advantages and as well as they provide information security to some extent. To be more specific, the paper speaks mainly of AllScripts software, the information management system used by the Residential Clinical Services. It addresses some of its features, weaknesses along with its strengths and security level. The Residential Clinical Services situated in Merrillville, in northwestern Indiana was established in 1987. This home care facility was established to provide commitment to excellence in patient care. The Residential Clinical Services main mission is to help patients and their families make the transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible. The facility is administered by Aileen M. Ellicott NP and has a total of 23 employees working there. It also serves a wide populous in the Indiana state, inclusive of; Northwest Indiana to include Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke, Newton and Jasper counties. The agency offers skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical social services for financial or psychosocial counseling and identification of appropriate community resources. Home health aides are also available for those patients who are unable to manage their own personal hygiene, prescribe exercises and meal preparation. Additionally, their services include a comprehensive Oncology program with nurses highly competent in the total care and instruction of the patients with cancer. Programs such as Pain Management, Education, Supportive Care, Infusion Therapy, Chemotherapy, Antibiotics, Hydration and Nutritional Support are available for those patients in need. They also have a policy with local hospitals that enable the administration of blood and blood products to those patients already at home whose alternative would be an admission to the hospital or ambulance transport to an out-patient setting for an 8-10 hour stay. Home health care services

Lord Palmerstons Achievements as Foreign Secretary

Lord Palmerstons Achievements as Foreign Secretary Assess the achievement of Palmerstons first period at the Foreign Office, between 1830 and 1841. Viscount Palmerston was, without doubt, one of the most famous foreign secretaries ever to have held the office- and he did so on two occasions- between 1830-41, and 1846-52. As with many famous figures he is also rather a controversial one, receiving a mixture of praise and criticism from historians. Anthony Wood generally sees him as a dextrous negotiator, who threatened to use force in a judicious and responsible manner[1]. Eric Evans, on the other hand, is more inclined to see Palmerston’s obvious sabre rattling and ‘Gun Boat diplomacy’ as an irresponsible and unprincipled pursuit of the National interest[2] that aggravated diplomatic wounds (especially with the French) – and left Lord Aberdeen (when he took over in 1841) to ‘pick up the pieces’[3]. The function of this essay will be to evaluate Palmerton’s achievements in the first (and perhaps more influential) period under the premierships of Earl Grey and Lord Melborne in light o f this historiographical debate. This essay will adopt a chronological structure to facilitate the clarity of discussion. It will cover the three most famous events in British Foreign affairs in this period- the Belgium Crisis of 1830-1, the creation of the Quadruple Alliance in 1834, the finally the Egyptian Crises concerning France and Russia from 1831-41. It will then assess if, on balance, Palemerston’s first period at the Foreign Office can generally be called a success, as argued by Wood, or in fact did more harm than good- as argued by Evans. Palmerston’s general attitude to foreign affairs was famously one of the pursuit of national self-interest above the maintenance of any kind of consistent, or ‘ethical’ position. He told the House of Commons: â€Å"We have no eternal allies, we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow† For Evans, this was attitude represented a carte blance form of pragmatism. Palmerston was able to wrap himself in the union jack- often mobilising British public opinion behind him- and effectively conduct himself as he pleased with little regard for the sovereignty or stability of other nations- and most importantly- without any regard for long term-worsening of diplomatic relations. This approach was first demonstrated in respect of the Crisis in Belgium in 1830-1. In the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Belgium had been placed under the United Provinces of the Dutch- ignoring the obvious differences in religion and national feeling[4]. Eventually, Belgium Patriots were able to gather enough support to drive out the Dutch garrison from Brussels. King Louis Phillipe, who had come to power in France in 1830, was known to favour a satellite Belgium state under a French protectorate- although it was unknown as the extent the French were prepared to use military force to get it. At a London conference in 1831, Palmerston found himself in a difficult position- but refused to hand over two fortresses on the Belgium border to the French- thus ensuring the creation of a neutral Belgium. Some months later, after the French posted troops inside Belgium, Palmerston let it be known that he would be prepared to use force against them if they did not withdraw[5]. The French could n ot take this risk, and retreated. A treaty was signed in December 1832, establishing an international guarantee of Belgium’s neutrality. On the face of it, this seemed like a triumph for Palmeston. It could be argued that he had played the game of diplomatic bluff to perfection, and by refusing to assent to French demands and sabre rattling, had achieved a settlement most inkeeping with his goal of maintaining British national interest- and one which ensured a potentially dangerous French power-base did not grow any more menacing. However, there was no doubt that ‘Lord Pumicestone’s’ abrasive qualities had soured Anglo-French relations and perhaps a more delicate and consensual stance might have yielded a more satisfactory outcome to all sides The diplomatic problems with France did not go away. In 1834, the Queens of Spain and Portugal (who were constitutional rulers) were threatened by absolutist regimes in their own countries- and Palmerston was suspicious that the French planned to take advantage. His idea to create a ‘Quadruple Alliance’ between all four countries seemed, on the face of it, another great success. France could not diplomatically refuse an alliance already agreed to by Britain, Spain, and Portugal[6], and was seemingly once again outmanoeuvred by what Palmerston called a ‘Capital Hit all of my own doing’ (He was not known for his modesty). Palmerston had always been unequivocal in his support for Constitutional rulers, and Britain’s self-interest was arguably sustained by the maintenance of moderate regimes in the Iberian Peninsula[7]. On this occasion, he had arguably used diplomatic guile rather than the implied threat of military force to achieve success- so it can pe rhaps be said that Palmerston was occasionally prepared to dock his gunboat for a spot of peaceful diplomacy. Once again, though, the price of safeguarding British Interests had worsened Anglo-French relations. In 1831, Mehemet Ali, a rebellious vassal of the Turkish Sultan Mahmud in Egypt, declared war and took possession of Palestine and Syria from the Turkish Empire. The Russians- in offering to help forced the beleaguered Sultan to sign a rough treaty which effectively passed control of the strategically vital Unkiar Skelessi Straits to them. Palmerston was worried about an escalation of Russian influence- as it heightened his fear of a potential alliance between Russia and France. In 1839, the Sultan made an ill-advised attack on Ali, and ended up suffering an ignominious defeat, and gave the vassal his excuse to carry the war deep into Turkish territory. It was Palmerston’s policy to support Turkey, mainly because it dispersed the power base of Europe, and also because of a recently signed commercial treaty between the two nations. The Turkish town of Aden (which had the added benefit of being a useful place for British steamships to replenish their coal stocks en route to Ind ia) was placed under a British protectorate. Rather predictably, the French sided with Mehemet Ali. Palmerston offered a deal to his enemies- that Ali could retain Egypt and Syria for his lifetime, but the French encouraged him to turn it down. Palmerston refused to climb down, and instructed Lord Granville (the British Ambassador in Paris) to: â€Å"Covey to him (King Louis Phillipe) in the most friendly and unoffensive manner possible†¦that if France begins a war, she will lose her ships, colonies and commerce before she sees the end of it; that her army of Algiers will cease to give her anxiety, and that Mehemet Ali will be chucked into the Nile†[8] This uncompromising stance once again was a gamble, made more intense when British Marines helped capture the cities of Acre and Beirut after Ali rejected Palmerston’s deal. France (also worried by threatening movements in Bavaria) was in no position to engage Britain in a war, and she ended up having to aid Britain and Russia to defeat Ali[9]. Eventually, Russia was even persuaded to relinquish control of the Straits, and all four powers agreed to return to the original settlement of 1809[10]. Disaster had seemingly been diverted again by Palmerston’s tough diplomatic line. For Wood, he had read France’s hand perfectly[11], and once again maintained peace, even if (for Evans) he had put several noses out of joint with more ‘Gun Boat Diplomacy’[12]. In Conclusion, this essay has shown that Palmerston’s abrasive approach to Foreign policy was generally a great success. In each of the three instances covered, his reluctance to compromise worked in Britain’s interests, and against those of France- her eternal foe. Undoubtedly, he did prioritise the national interest above all else, but it could be argued that- such was Britain’s dominance- that her interests and the goal of stability and peace in Europe were by no means unrelated. In fact, one could argue from this evidence that they were very closely linked, and that maybe Palmerston’s reputation as irresponsible is slightly unfounded. It can be said that Palmerston’s hands-on and confrontational approach was extremely risky, and that there was a large element of luck involved in achieving a successful outcome on each occasion. For example, had France not withdrawn from Belgium in 1831, a bloody war might have ensured. In 1839, it may only have been the sudden advent of threatening activity in Prussia that made the French swallow their pride, and abandon Mehemet Ali. Palmerston was also aided by his fleet of gunboats that backed up everything he said. Britain’s naval dominance at that time allowed him to adopt a far more hard-line and interventionist approach than many other Foreign Secretaries before or since. Overall, Palmerston’s guile- backed up by his luck and his powerbase made his period at the Foreign Office between 1830-41 extremely successful, but arguably it could have easily gone horribly wrong. Bibliography Wood, A, ‘Lord Palmerston at the Foreign Office 1830-41’ in Nineteenth Century Britain , 1960, Longman Droz, J, Europe between Revolutions 1815-48, 1967, Fontana/Collins Evans, E, ‘Influence without Entanglement: Foreign Affairs, 1815-46’ in The Forging of the Modern State 1783-1870, 1983, Longman Felling, K, A History of England, 1973, Book Club Associates Roberts, J, A History of Europe, 1996, Helicon Publishing Word-Count- 1620 1 Footnotes [1] See Wood, ‘Lord Palmerston at the Foreign Office 1830-41’ in Nineteenth Century Britain , 1960, pp.156-63 [2] See Evans, ‘Influence without Entanglement: Foreign Affairs, 1815-46’ in The Forging of the Modern State 1783-1870, 1983, pp.210-3 [3] ibid, p.211 [4] Wood, pp.157-8 [5] In a letter to Granville, he wrote â€Å"The French must go out of Belgium or we have a general War†. See Wood, p. 159 [6] Droz, Europe between Revolutions 1815-48, 1967, p.236 [7] Evans, p.211 [8] See Evans p. 211, also Wood, p.157 [9] Felling, A History of England, 1973, p. 856 [10] Wood, p.163 [11] ibid [12] Evans, p.211

Conduct Books in the 18th Century Essay -- Literature

Conduct Books in the 18th Century Throughout history, conduct books have played an integral part in defining what cultures believed were acceptable and desirable behaviors, as well as representing the ideal person. In the introduction to The Ideology of Conduct, Nancy Armstrong and Leonard Tennenhouse attempt to show how literature and conduct books have been important in relaying these messages and shaping a history of sexuality through the ages. They also point out the interesting fact that these books of conduct have been aimed more at women and far "surpassed in quantity and variety" (Armstrong and Tennenhouse 4) similar types of literature for men. Some of the examples they list of types of conduct literature include pamphlets on marriage, books on manners and morality, and devotional manuals designated for women of the aristocracy. Even in our culture today this type of literature exists in the forms of advertisements, fashion magazines, and exercise books. Again, much of this type of literature is directed at women more than men, which these editors explain as an attempt to specify "what a woman should desire to be if she wishes to attract a socially approved male and keep him happy" (Armstrong and Tennenhouse 5). This makes sense because even today our society is patriarchal, constructed so that women many times have to count on financial support from a man. However, the introduction points out the irony of this, since not only is the desirable woman being defined, but also what a man should find desirable in a woman is defined. also note that this is not necessarily a contradiction, since "the gendered world of information we inhabit today reproduces and maintains the dominant view (Armstrong and Tennenhouse 5). ... ...n," women learn how to be more desirable for men in terms of today's standards. The focus seems to be on independence as well as sexual attractiveness, and although these qualities are quite different from those of the eighteenth century, they are still just as offensive. Just a few of the headings and articles give a clear idea of the messages being sent to women today: "Are you going too far to snag a man?" or "Bikini Body Bummers: Stretch Marks, Bikini Stubble, Flab, Back Acne--You name it, we help you banish it" and even "Cosmo's 10 Commandments" which include, among other things, "ditch the bitchy mood, fall for a nice guy, send thank you notes, keep underwear under cover, and never lose your cool." Even today conduct books remain an integral part of a culture's beliefs and ideals, documenting "a history of sexuality" (Armstrong and Tennenhouse 19) through time.

Sociological Perspective on Religion

â€Å"Sociological Perspectives on Religion† During this semester I have learned that in essence, â€Å"free will† does not gear our decision making process, it is primarily society that influences all thoughts and behaviors in turn, impacting all aspects of our life. The evolutionary socialization process initiates at the moment of conception, in our mother’s womb, through childhood, carries on during adulthood and ends in our graves. The most important and influential agent of socialization is the family. On a global perspective, the primary teachers, our parents, educate us on language, beliefs, physical control, values and civilized behavior for public conduct. The greatest belief instilled is that of divinity and forming part of a religion. According to the Sociology text book, Religion is defined as a social institution involving beliefs and practices based on recognizing the sacred. Ethically, it encompasses what we define to be good or bad. In this paper I will further examine religion on a global perspective from previously conducted social research and just how important a role it plays in our lives. Religion has been used to celebrate life at birth, adulthood, mourning of death and politics. According to Emile Durkheim (1965, orig. 1915) in his structural –functional approach, society on its own, beyond the life of any individual, has life and power. When practicing religion the power of this society is celebrated. He found that within this society people seek to find social cohesion, social control, meaning and purpose. Symbols, values and norms are what shape a religion. Since â€Å"God† is considered to be the divine and symbol of perfection, religious fanatics fear his judgment. In the United States about 85% of adults identify themselves with some type of religion. â€Å"God Bless America,† is widely used by politicians to address our people and demonstrate they believe the higher power is not them but, God. That they cannot lead without the blessing of God. In the past 2008 election many questioned Barack Obama’s faith because his father was born Muslim and then became atheist while, his mother was never genuinely active in a religious organization. Therefore, Obama was raised to be skeptic about religion and showed no true inclination, causing a lot of criticism during the campaign. People want to follow who shares the same values as themselves. Saying a simple phrase as â€Å"God Bless America† convinces them that their political leaders’ views and ruling will be geared under what religion overseas as ethically correct. When I say ethically right, the geographical location of religion must be taken into consideration because social conflict tends to arise due to the fact that all religions don’t support or share the same ideas. For example, in the Middle East there are claims that God is behind the actions we in the United States consider to be evil such as, the terrorist attack of 9/11. This is one of the differences in religion that affected our society in the U. S. and has provoked violence and war. Violence within the United States towards people that appeared of Middle Eastern decent and declared war against â€Å"terror† in the middle east. Religion shapes society and is considered to be socially constructed. With divine being the inspiration, people differentiate the ordinary and extraordinary with in rituals such as, holidays and prayer. In theory, religion plays a major role in behavior, marriage, union and social inequality. For example, marriages through religion have lower divorce rates than those arranged outside of religion. Couples are planning a divorce before getting married by making prenuptial arrangements. Although, love may very well be present in these marriages, they are still thinking about themselves individually and protecting against later implications. I was in a relationship for six years and within those years we conceived to the two precious, Xavier and Joshua. If I would’ve been married through religion, the possibilities of my being a single parent today would be close to none. Religion gives marriage a greater value rather than the usual base of love. At one point we attempted to seek counseling and received a referral to a pastor who geared the entire session on compliance with divinity, plan of marriage and unity of family under his religion. In NRSV Corinthians 13;4-8, 13, Paul described the meaning of true love as follows: â€Å"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end†¦ And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (NSRV, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13) If we were to follow this definition of love, we wouldn’t be projecting our fears as individuals instead building a base for both as a whole. In this instance, my relationship would still be present as many others. Based on this and Emile Durkheim’s sociological findings religion focuses on uniting societies. â€Å"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. †(James 2:24) Surprisingly, another social conflict within religion is due to inequality. Social order as Karl Marx points is justified by religion. He addresses capitalism as the old saying â€Å"rich get richer and poor get poorer. † Especially, in today’s economy we find the unemployment rate rising at a fast pace resulting in homeless and hungry people. Racism also went hand in hand with religion in social inequality since the nineteenth century due to ethnocentrism. It was generally believed the white dominated over people of color. They were to be kept genuine and not integrate other races even within religion, employment and their entire society. In this belief was also the premonition that God was in accordance with white superiority, or at least this was the excuse, causing the creation of â€Å"internal colonialism. † â€Å"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. †(2 Peter 1:10-11) Whites remained together, keeping all other races inferior and living in poverty. On the other hand during nineteenth century many religious groups worked against inequality and stood up for the abolishment of slavery during the civil rights movement. As stated in the Sociology text book Male Orthodox Jews say the following prayer everyday: â€Å"Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, that I was not born a gentile. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, that I was not born a slave. Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, that I was not born a woman. Another form of inequality within religion is through gender. Subordination of women has come along throughout history in modern today. Although, we have come a long way inequality still exists. For example, in poor countries such as Africa and Southern Asia polygamy is practiced where it is legal for men to marry more than two women. Also, in Tibet a form of polygamy named polyandry is a lso practiced where two men can share one woman. In other areas there are still ideas that keep woman from jobs. These women go about their lives marrying, having many children and live in poverty. A man†¦is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. † (1 Corinthians 11:7-9) â€Å"As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. † (1 Corinthians 14:33-35) â€Å"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church†¦. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. † (Ephesians 5:22-24) From a Christian point of view women were sought to be a source of temptation due to the fact that Eve was to blame for Adam’s fall, it was because of her that evil came about into the world. On the other hand once again religious groups sought to fight for equality by supporting feminism and gay rights during the 1960s and 1970s. Religion has caused great social change. In time of need or illness everyone seeks for enlightenment within religion. Max Weber and his colleague Ernst Troeltsch studied precisely Calvinism, a protestant reformation movement. Calvinists believe some are selected by God to be saved and others to be damned. They then looked for signs of divine blessing and worked very hard to acquire great wealth. With this wealth they would reinvest profits resulting in the fulfillment of their calling. This Weber and Troeltsch found as the cause in rise of industrial capitalism. The poor were considered rejects of God. Throughout history Christianity has reached out to people suffering in promise of a better life in faith. Liberating people from oppression, poverty and promotion of greater equality is their purpose. Ironically in most recent years there have been a rising number of cases reported on sexual abuse by Christian priests. The Christian church claims problems arise in our society due to the ignorance in God. Families seek refuge and divinity within their churches and find the cruel reality that evil exists there. Many changes are going about with regards to religion. People are adopting other religious organizations rather than the one’s instilled from childhood. Also, as technology continues to advance secularization arise. Secularization is the decline in importance and value of the sacred and supernatural. In times of despair we now seek answers and depend on physicians. As we see change in religion we find it more questionable. Now spiritual seekers in the â€Å"New Age† movement, look into conventional religious organizations. Modernization has taken on a new twist in religion and the way we view it. With is the desire to continue conserving our real identity is rarely exactly maintained. In the following passage William Ernest Henley writes about extreme individualism and how capable we are to determine our lives: â€Å"Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeoning of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. † Today we live in a world where terrorism, wars, death and torture of innocent are to no surprise. Every day you turn on the news there are children missing, parents killing and mistreating each other and their family. In this society everyone is running at a fast pace with a cold heart, committing selfish acts of corruption, leading abusive relationships, violence, hatred, sexual perversion, etc.. Humans are part of this society and continue responding to and redirecting their social interaction and context. The sad part of it all is that society has created all this and that religion has played a major role in directing everyone’s sense of self. Works Cited Society. J. Macionis, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 10th edition, 2009. Exploring Religious Meaning. Robert C. Monk. Walter C. Hofheinz. Kenneth T. Lawrence. Joseph D. Stamey. Bert Affleck. Tetsunao Yamamori, Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice-Hall, 6th edition, 2003 â€Å"Sociology of religion. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 7 Nov 2009, 23:59 UTC. 18 Nov 2009 . William Ernest Hensley, â€Å"Invictus,†Poems( New York: Scribner, 1919), p. 119 â€Å"Sociological Perspectives on Religion†

Augustus Essays - Julio-Claudian Dynasty, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa

Augustus Essays - Julio-Claudian Dynasty, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Augustus Augustus Gaius Julius Octavius Augustus was born plain Gaius Octavius at Rome on September 23rd. His father was the first in the family to become senator, but died when Octavian was only four years old. It was his mother who had the more distinguished connection. She was the daughter of Julia, sister to Julius Caesar. He was short in Stature, and well proportioned. His body however was covered in spots and he had many birthmarks scattered over his chest and belly. As for character it is said that he was cruel when he was young, but became better when he good older. He was tolerant of criticism and possessed a good sense of humor. Although unfaithful to his wife Livia Drusilla, he remained deeply devoted to her. His public moral attitudes were strict. Octavian served under Julius Caesar in the Spanish expedition of 46 BC. It was possible that he designated to take a senior military command in Caesar's projected Parthian expedition of 44 BC, although at the time he was only 18 years old. But Octavian was with his friends Marcus Agrippa and Marcus Salvidienus Rufus in Appollonia in Epirus completing his academic and military studies, when news reached him of Caesar's assassination. He at once returned to Rome. He learned on the way that Caesar had adopted him in his will. The news sharpened his resolve to avenge Caesar's murder. When he arrived he found power in the hands of Marc Antony and Aemilius Lepidus, who were urging compromise and amnesty. Octavian refused to accept this, and succeeded in undermining Antony's position by winning over many of Caesar's supporters, including some of the legions. He was failed to persuade Marc Antony to hand over Caesar's assets and documents. Octavian was compelled to distribute Caesar's legacies to the Roman public from whatever funds he was able to raise from other sources. This no doubt raised his standing with the Roman's considerably. Octavian's own standing had been heightened by the deification of Julius Caesar. No longer addressed as Octavian but as Caesar he would now also style himself as son of god. Augustus was one of the most talented, energetic and skillful administrators that the world has ever known. The work of reorganization and rehabilitation which he undertook in every branch of his vast empire created a new Roman peace. He won genuine popular support by hosting games, erecting new buildings, and by other measures to the general good. He understood that his personal standing and security would be strengthened by governing in the public interest. Augustus was no great military leader, but had the good sense to recognize the fact. Mainly he relied on his faithful friend Agrippa to do the fighting for him. Agter Actium, Augustus took personal lead in only one campaign, the Cantabrian War of 26-25 BC in Spain. Even there it was one of his generals who brought the war to a successful conclusion. Augustus' reign was more successful that he ever could of imagined. He lived long enough to make his family seem the natural rulers in the eyes of the Roman's. Though to insure that the power should pass down to an heir of his proved difficult. Save for a premature baby his marriage to Livia produced no children. Augustus did have a daughter, Julia, from a previous marriage to Scribonia. His plans focused on Julia's husband and children. In 25 BC Augustus married Julia to Marcellus, the son of his sister Ovtavia, but when Augustus believed himself dying in 23 BC he passed his signet rings not to Marcellus, but to Agrippa. On Augustus' recovery there were all the signs of an impending power to struggle between Marcellus and Agrippa. Marcellus soon fell ill and died. This left Agrippa the obvious candidate to be teh emperor's heir. In 21 BC had him divorced his existing wife and marry the widowed Julia. Agrippa was 25 years her senior, but the marriage produced three sons and twon daughters. Augustus adopted the sons Gaius and Lucius of the Marriage as his own. Agrippa died in 12 BC, leaving Julia widowed once again. Augustus without a guardian. Augustus considered his wife Livia's two adult sons from her previous marriage. Augustus obliged Tiberius, the elder of the two, to

Free Essays on Richard Hamiltons Just What Is It...

The piece entitled Just What is it That Makes Today’s Home So Different, So Appealing by Richard Hamilton is a collage of pictures from the early to mid-50’s. It is my belief that Hamilton attempted to predict the future of America by focusing on the shallow desires of human nature: sex, wealth, and superiority. His prediction was not far off in comparison to present-day standards. In Hamilton’s collage the man and the woman seem to be his main focal points. I believe that Hamilton looked at a man’s most primitive sexual impulses and depicted the characters as he did. In the picture the woman is provocatively dressed in doilies and a lampshade. Hamilton may have been trying to express his thoughts, visually, of what men want in women: beautiful, emotionless, and excited (in the sexual sense). On the other hand, what women want in men is also what men want in themselves: big muscles and an overly large â€Å"blow pop†. Another point I think Hamilton was trying to make was how Big Business, or corporate America, tricks people into thinking that if they have more than others do, happiness is their reward. In the piece the couple has a household of trendy gadgets and toys, even a vacuum that goes all the way upstairs, but they lack happiness. Maybe the reason neither of them is happy is because they’ve realized that even though they have beautiful spouses, a nice house, expensive possessions, and even pre-packaged ham, they’re still miserable. Hamilton’s piece definitely has a deeper meaning and an important lesson, but whether or not the meaning he was trying to convey was received as he would have wanted, I do not know. It was an obvious attempt to give a visual depiction of America or the world in the not-too-distant future. These are young, rich, beautiful white people with a lot of expensive and an emotionally unstable relationship. It seems that his predictions were not as far off as expected.... Free Essays on Richard Hamiltons Just What Is It... Free Essays on Richard Hamiltons Just What Is It... The piece entitled Just What is it That Makes Today’s Home So Different, So Appealing by Richard Hamilton is a collage of pictures from the early to mid-50’s. It is my belief that Hamilton attempted to predict the future of America by focusing on the shallow desires of human nature: sex, wealth, and superiority. His prediction was not far off in comparison to present-day standards. In Hamilton’s collage the man and the woman seem to be his main focal points. I believe that Hamilton looked at a man’s most primitive sexual impulses and depicted the characters as he did. In the picture the woman is provocatively dressed in doilies and a lampshade. Hamilton may have been trying to express his thoughts, visually, of what men want in women: beautiful, emotionless, and excited (in the sexual sense). On the other hand, what women want in men is also what men want in themselves: big muscles and an overly large â€Å"blow pop†. Another point I think Hamilton was trying to make was how Big Business, or corporate America, tricks people into thinking that if they have more than others do, happiness is their reward. In the piece the couple has a household of trendy gadgets and toys, even a vacuum that goes all the way upstairs, but they lack happiness. Maybe the reason neither of them is happy is because they’ve realized that even though they have beautiful spouses, a nice house, expensive possessions, and even pre-packaged ham, they’re still miserable. Hamilton’s piece definitely has a deeper meaning and an important lesson, but whether or not the meaning he was trying to convey was received as he would have wanted, I do not know. It was an obvious attempt to give a visual depiction of America or the world in the not-too-distant future. These are young, rich, beautiful white people with a lot of expensive and an emotionally unstable relationship. It seems that his predictions were not as far off as expected....

Report about my industrial placement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Report about my industrial placement - Essay Example Starbucks coffee is popular in all customer types, irrespective of what age group customers belong to. Customers love to spend not only leisure time but important business decisions are taken while sipping Starbucks coffee. Market for retail coffee is highly competitive but the only competitor from revenue earning perspective has been Nestle S.A. Competition in the coffee industry is determined by the price and quality of products against the product range. Thus, from earning potential angle, Starbucks is second only to Nestle S.A. The table below shows that the product line breadth of Starbucks is high relative to its competitors like Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds showing moderate breadth while other competitors including Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Kraft Foods, Inc. And Nestle S.A. are low in product line breadth (Brown and Nwabueze, 2011). Table1: Direct Competitors to Starbucks Firm Product line Breadth Revenues (2010) in Millions % of Total Group Revenues Starbucks High 10,707 27% Dunkin Donuts Moderate 5,500 14% McDonald's Moderate 2,400 6% Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Low 803 2% Kraft Foods, Inc. Low 3,100 8% Nestle S.A. Low 17,700 44% Source: Harold Brown 2011 Competition in the coffee retail segment is going to be severe with all the leading players bent on capturing new global markets. Starbucks is very well positioned with networked marketing, technology usage, Starbucks rechargeable payment cards and mobile apps for quick and easy order placing and payment (Brown and Nwabueze, 2011). Starbucks has successfully adhered to its policy on corporate social responsibility by identifying coffee farmers as critical partners in the growth history of the company. Starbucks has evolved and strengthened its relationships with all stakeholders and partners, including customers, employees, suppliers and communities over the years (Harnrungchalotorn and Phayonlerd, 2010). The organisational chart of Starbucks has gained significant growth by 1991 with the incr ease in profitability. It prompted Schultz to initiate a new employee programme for the long-lasting success of the Company – a stock option plan for all employees. The purpose was to create a link between their positive role and the rising market value of the Company. Stock options were awarded on the proportionate basis to base pay. Yet another programme, the Bean Stock, was offered for employees benefit. Even part-time employees could also benefit from this programme of the Company. It helped the Company to recruit motivated people with above-average capabilities and good work habits not only due to its fringe benefit programme but also its pay scale. Starbucks has experienced low turnover rates relatively to other companies because of its initiatives for creating a good work environment. The competitive retailers had high turnover rates for store employees in the range of 150 to 400% a year while the turnover rates for Starbucks’ baristas were near to 65%. For the position of store managers, the Company turnover rate was near to 25% relative to approximate 50% for other chain retailers. Schultz’ management of Starbucks through the values and principles has increased the brand performance in the desired way. Employees feel high on morality. There is respect for all, irrespective of the designation one holds. One can see the impact of increased level of

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 31

Discussion - Essay Example This implied significant impacts on the practice as the board has regulatory powers (Minnesota, n.d.). This decision was therefore expected to influence prescription and filling as long as it did not conflict any other state or federal written law. At the centre of the debate, however, is the conscience legislation that accommodates religious beliefs in professions and that has been used to support pharmacists’ refusal to prescribe or fill drugs whose application is against their religious beliefs. This has further led legislative attempts to force pharmacists to prescribe and fill drugs at patients’ request. Pharmacists however still employ personnel who observe the conscience clause’s provisions together with their religious beliefs and the courts have not been active in resolving cases of refusal to prescribe or fill drugs (Bergquist, 2006). The subject therefore seems to be more actively regulated by the conscience clause and pharmacists’ ethical regard while regulatory agencies’ directives remain unenforced. Public health, in Minnesota and other states, is however a universal subject that should not be subject to sub societal beliefs. Relevant healthcare agencies in Minnesota should therefore formulate laws that obligate pharmacists to prescribe and fill drugs that promote public health