Obama for President an Example of the Topic Government and Law Essays by

Obama for President It is certain that Barack Obama would make the best United States president. All his plans on matters of national security, foreign policy, economy, trade, health care, crime, climate, education signifies that he is ready and able to lead a country that demands new leadership. Obamas political propaganda, eloquent speeches, massive campaigns and various supporters manifest that he would make it to the presidency. This position will be supported by arguments. First, on account of his stand on national security and foreign affairs issue, Obama is a champion. It was Felsen (2007) who wrote that: Need essay sample on "Obama for President" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Obama said that the war in Iraq and President Bush's failed foreign policy had made us less safe than we were before 9/11 attack, and outlined a new, comprehensive strategy to fight global terrorism. Obama declared that by refusing to end the war in Iraq, Bush had given it permission for a United States occupation of unknown length, at undetermined cost, with unknown consequences. (1) Definitely, Obama meant that he would like to decide for a war that has to be won including the implementation of comprehensive strategy involving five elements. Felsen outlined these five elements and these include getting out of Iraq and on to the correct battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan; developing the capabilities and partnerships we need to take out the terrorists and the world's most deadly weapons; engaging the world to dry up support for terror and extremism; restoring our values; and securing a more versatile place to live (Felsen 1). In support of this argument, many leading foreign policy experts commented that Obama has presented a thoughtful, substantive and comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy (Felsen 1). Indeed, it could contribute to the increasing debates concerning national security and foreign policy issue. Felsen also quoted Major General Scott Grations comment that Senator Obama's counter-terrorism strategy intends that he is committed to developing the capabilities needed to defeat terrorists on the field of battle, and that he has the heart to defeat the terrorists in the debate of ideas (Felsen). On the issu e of national security and foreign affairs, Obama is leading among other presidential candidates. Felsen (2007) quoted his speech as follows: As President, I will develop a Shared Security Partnership Program to make an international intelligence and law enforcement infrastructure to take down terrorist networks from the remote islands of Indonesia, to the sprawling cities of Africa. This program will give $5 billion over three years for counter-terrorism cooperation with countries around the world, including information sharing, funding for training, operations, border security, anti-corruption programs, technology, and targeting terrorist financing. (1) Obama is so sure that this project will concentrate on aiding Americas partners succeed without repressive tactics. For him, brutality breeds terror, it does not defeat it (Felsen 1). (Counterargument, concession, refutation) However, Hillary Clinton questions the stand of Barack Obama on national security and foreign policy issue. Not only that, it was John McCain who lambasted him for saying that he would meet the President of Iran without preconditions, and that the said plan could endanger national security (Quaid 1). Quaid reported that McCain raised the specter of a leader Obama meeting with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Quaid 1). In that sense, Obama is displaying a character of inexperience and reckless judgment in his plan to talk with supporter of terrorism. With respect to the issue on trade and economy, Obama is also mindful of the future of America. Barack Obama (2008) stated that: I know that America's free market has been the forerunner of America's great economic development. It created a progress that is the envy of the world. It led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a leader for science, and technology, and discovery. (1). In line with this, the plan of Obama was to give the middle class Americans tax relief (Obama 1). Obviously, he wants to make sure that the masses are given priority so that poverty and crisis at present time will no longer be a problem. What has been the basis of Obamas great faith in Americas capability to progress economically? Obama knows that trade with foreign nations should strengthen the American economy and give more American jobs (Obama 1). Surely, Obama will stand firm against agreements that undermine Americas economic security. He will go for a trade policy that provide engine for foreign markets to support good American jobs (Obama 1). He will also utilize trade agreements to proliferate good labor and environmental standards worldwide, dealing with different kinds of trade agreements as long as it does not become a surplus with other countries, some thing that will harm us economically, and stand firm against agreements like the Central American Free Trade Agreement that fail to stay tune in to those relevant benchmarks (Obama 1). There is one thing we should understand on this. Obama is trying to eliminate the system or pattern in our trade policy that aims to protect special interests, but betray our workers, our environment and our country as a whole. Another argument to strengthen the claim that Obama will become president is the brilliant plans of Obama to address on health care issue. For how many years, health care has been an ever-worsening problem in the United States. Essentially, Obama was a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and has made affordable, quality health care a top priority (Terry 1). He developed a system through Obama's Hospital Quality Report Card Act that would require hospitals to track and report on their quality of care, including safety and timeliness on treatment and services, thus providing consumers higher choice and the information needed to make important healthcare decisions (Terry 1). Aside from that, Obama also plans to proposed the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Efficiency Act in order to combat medical errors and excessive costs due to outdated technology (Terry 1). In fact Terry (2007) wrote that: Obamas website enumerated some surprising facts about children's exposure to lead poisoning that has inspired him to introduce two bills to address the issue, that is the Lead Poisoning Reduction Act and Lead Free Toys Act. These are the aims to reduce the large amount of lead as discovered in many childcare centers and children's toys. (1) In connection with that, Obama is aware that poor community planning can endanger children and citizens through lack of sidewalks and safe places to play. That is why Obama's Healthy Places Act requires communities to check how new projects and policies would endanger the health of community members (Terry 1). Obama is also active in preventing men from AIDS (Terry 1). Thus, his solutions for health care problems are ready to be implemented. Simply, Obama planned to cover uninsured Americans under a quality, affordable and portable coverage for all (Health Care). It also includes mandatory coverage for children in particular. Next argument is the strength of Obamas stand on the issue of crime. Two of the most famous presidential were giving their comments about death penalty. As a bakgorunder, Egelko (2008) wrote that: When Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her campaign for the Senate in 2000, she declared - emphatically, according to an interviewer - that she supported the death penalty.When Barack Obama first ran for the Illinois state Senate in 1996, he said in a campaign questionnaire that he opposed capital punishment. (1) To interpret that, their positions seemed to show their political roots - Clinton, the moderate "New Democrat," a term she has used to describe herself and Barack Obama, the insurgent who got his start as a community organizer. Moreover, if we could still remember, by the time Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, he was not advocating abolition of the death penalty. But at that time, he was saying the system of investigating and prosecuting capital crimes was so flawed that the nation should declare a change on executions (Egelko 1). Egelko pointed out that Barack Obama has changed his mind and abandoned that position as a senator. Since then, he receives the death penalty for the most heinous crimes, and calls for reforms like those he worked for in Illinois to guard against wrongful convictions, such as the tape-recording of all police interrogations (Egelko 1). That would only mean that Barack Obama is a resilient and versatile politician, thinking only of what could be the best solution to any kind of problems. That is how strong the candidacy of Barack Obama. On the issue of climate, Obama is a champion defender of the environment. His main argument about the issue was that, he does not believe that climate change is just an issue that is convenient to bring up during a campaign (Obama 1). Furthermore, Obama (2008) said that: I believe that the issue on climate change is one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation. That is why I have fought successfully in the Senate to increase our investment in renewable fuels, that is to effectively use natural resources like sunlight, wind, rain and others. (1) His main concern then, is to come up with plan to rise our fuel standard. He wants oil companies to be supported in retooling their factories, on the exchange that but they will have to make cars that use less oil (Obama 1). Obama is good in determining the problem and its solution. Obama (2008) pointed out that: In America, the 20-million-barrel-a-day oil habit costs our economy $1.4 billion a day, and $500 billion in 2006 alone. Every single hour, we use $41 million on foreign oil. The result is that, glaciers are melting faster; the polar ice caps are shrinking; trees are blooming earlier; more people are dying in heat waves; species are migrating, and eventually many will become extinct. (1) The awareness of Obama on this issue will help him in going over it as soon as he will be chosen as president. Climate change will be one of his priorities. Lastly, on the issue concerning education, Barack is so much anxious to have a reform in Americas educational system. It was Green who wrote: Obamas long list of educational reforms he is in favor of, ranging from increased access to Advanced Placement courses to expanding summer school programs are being developed. Generally, the common thread in his educational positions is his belief that school funding must be increased in all aspects of education. (1) With that, Obama is in support of extending the Head Start preschool program for poor children, and voted to reauthorize the program earlier this summer (Green 1). Obama was also in the Illinois State Senate when its preschool program for low-income children was instated (Green 1). I am sure, that is what America wants for a leader. As a conclusion, it is still certain that the political plans and propaganda of Barack Obama reflects his willingness to serve his fellow Americans. His approach is highly focused for the economic and social development of America. Barack Obama has also the charisma of a political leader that can undeniably attract more support from other leaders and the American people in general. Apparently, his desire to wage a war that has to be won reflects his capability to address and solve problems of terrorism and place America in its safest and finest pedestal. Barack Obama simply believes that the United States of America will always remain a leader in terms of economic, cultural, and social aspects around the world. Finally, we all know that Barack Obama would make the best United States president. With all the arguments stated earlier, it is respectfully submitted that Obama projects a personality of a politician that thinks only for general welfare and not self interests alone. His political will magnifies his willingness to lead America with all his knowledge and capability. Works Cited Egelko, Bob. Where Candidates Stand On Crime, Death Penalty. 10, February 2008. San Francisco Chronicle. Green, Elizabeth. Where do the candidates stand on education? Barack Obama on Education. Obama 2008: Economy. 2008. Obama 2008. Obama 2008. Health Care. 2008. Obama 2008. Obama 2008: Energy. 2008. Obama 2008. Terry, Alisa. Where Does Barack Obama Stand on the Issues? Quaid, Libby. McCain Hammers Obama on National Security. 20 May 2008. Yahoo News.

American medical care Essays

American medical care Essays American medical care Essay American medical care Essay These early immigrants survived the rough times and hard American clime every bit good as the wilderness on crude basic inherent aptitudes. The early colonies were frequently ravaged by famishment and disease. During the colonial epoch. doctors’ instruction was informal. Most were literate. but some who were raised outside of New England were non. A adult male who wanted to pattern medical specialty did non necessitate any type of enfranchisement. Most did hold a period of apprenticeship with an established doctor. but even this was non a demand. Up until the late nineteenth century. really few physicians had a college instruction. Medical installations were unofficial. Most patients were treated in their places. However. even the smallest towns had poorhouses. where destitute people could populate and have limited medical attention. The few infirmaries that opened in North America during the colonial period were opened in topographic points like Quebec and New Orleans. Public wellness was unknown in North America at this clip. Towns and metropoliss did non hold boards of wellness except during times of epidemics. Because most topographic points did non hold public H2O or sewer systems. most Americans got their H2O from pumps and used privies until good into the nineteenth century. There was no trash aggregation so the streets became a genteelness land for all types of disease. There were a few efforts to act upon public wellness. For illustration. when smallpox inoculations were developed in the eighteenth century. many little town physicians had groups of people that had to remain quarantined for a few yearss to do certain they merely developed a mild instance of variola. Remedies may hold killed more people than the diseases themselves. The populace developed a really disbelieving attitude towards regular physicians. In the early nineteenth century. the bash it yourself attitude of many Americans was popular. These people freely gave medical advice. emphasized the participant of the patient in his or her ain intervention. However. other medical treatments were available besides. Probably snake oil is best remembered. Andrew Taylor Still started the pattern of osteopathy. Osteopathy incorporated bodily uses. similar to those seen in modern chiropractics. In osteopathy. these uses affected the magnetic flow of energy in the organic structure. Osteopathy discouraged usage of medical specialties. but did non prohibit them. Another reaction against epic medical specialty was homeopathy. A university-trained German physician named Samuel Hahnemann started it. Heinemann said that physicians were giving their patients excessively much medical specialty. He believed that bantam sums of drugs should be diluted in H2O before being given to a patient and that practicians should take really thorough medical histories of each patient. Quackery was a manner to gull people into believing they were being cured while doing money from them. Quackery had even been licensed in London. but it was wholly ignored by the America authorities for 100s of old ages. Hydropathy was another particular instance. The mending power of H2O. hydrotherapy indicated the value of the remainder remedy. importance of holding like-minded people around. the utility of light exercising and the fact that adult females who wore baggy vesture by and large felt better and had fewer physical ailments than the 1s who did. Another particular instance is the full issue of faith-only healing. While empirical grounds in favour of faith-only healing is missing. anecdotal grounds suggests that some people who pray do experience self-generated lessening of certain diseases. The late nineteenth century saw major alterations in medical specialty in the United States. Medicine went from being mediaeval to integrating many elements of modern scientific discipline. The progresss in chemical science. and biological science had major impacts on medical specialty. As medical practicians began to understand that the organic structure was comprised of basic chemicals and non cryptic wits. effectual interventions for diseases and hurts were developed. As medical specialty became more scientific. physicians needed both preparation and licensing. In 1847. Dr. Nathan Davis founded the American Medical Association ( AMA ) in Philadelphia to assist make professional criterions for physicians and put minimum educational demands. Medical colleges opened up across the state. increasing demands from a few months without any college background to a figure of old ages with a college grade. However. these colleges provided an highly unpredictable degree of medical instruction. with some of them a sheepskin and others provided a to notch medical instruction. As American metropoliss exploded in size during the nineteenth century due to in-migration from Europe. public wellness became more of an issue. With many 100s of 1000s of people populating in metropoliss: highly crowded. insanitary conditions ; TB was frequently at epidemic degrees in the metropoliss. During the nineteenth century. people understood that TB was non caused by miasma. but was caused by bacteriums. Peoples with TB were sometimes sent out of the metropolis to topographic points in the state. where the cleaner air seemed to assist their recovery. It was obvious that people needed clean H2O for imbibing. and bathing. So metropoliss started monolithic cloaca undertakings to assist convey clean H2O into the metropoliss while taking effluent from the metropolis. Dead animate being remains and refuse littered the street until the late 1800s when metropoliss started sanitation crews to take the rubbish out of town and mopess to travel the waste to. Many metropoliss started dispensaries so the hapless could have intervention and medicines for low cost. With the urban population detonation. the poorhouses ( likely today’s HMO Urgent Care’ ) became even larger and harder to pull off. With new medical progresss. people needed to be in large metropoliss to have certain types of intervention. Americans began to construct infirmaries across the state in the nineteenth century. The new infirmaries were by and large cleaner than the old poorhouses.

Oil and Gas Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Oil and Gas Management - Essay Example Another basic form of unconventional methods is the conversion of coal and gas using synthetic fuel techniques and advanced technology. Unconventional methods of drilling oil are still in their beginning phase and have come out of the need by the advanced nations to cater for the demand and balance it with the supply for continuous use. However, these methods have had their possible dangers especially to human health and the impacts to the environment.Conventional or otherwise the traditional methods pose enormous losses and environmental impacts on the subjects. Firstly, they destroy the formation of the earth’s crust and core. The drilling of the well to create room for exerting pressure so as to extract the oil is by itself noise pollution and especially to the people living around the mining sites and more so to those undertaking the drilling works (Boesch and Rabalais, 2000, p.117). Potential environmental disasters arise in the sense that there are threats posed to the w ildlife living nearby that has to flee to create room for the drilling process; displacement. This, in turn, threatens the survival of wildlife and especially with the availability of predators thus causing the extinction of some species. Drilling requires broad land occupation and the possible environmental impacts would be the release of harmful air into the environment, contamination of groundwater from uncontrolled gas, fluids and spills and even uncontrolled waste discharges and leakages.

United States History up to 1877 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

United States History up to 1877 - Essay Example Correspondingly, young girls were the chief accusers involved in demonstrating against various people for numerous offenses comprising practice of witchcraft. The leaders in the community promptly reacted to these accusation. As a consequence, many people were killed while certain other people were jailed which forced these people to acquire debt for jail charges. Eventually, as a consequence of this incident there was a loss of land along with hampering dignity of people as well as loss of lives (Linder 1-7). The incident of witch hunt in Salem is ascertained to have happened due to various reasons and was widely prejudiced by the dread of the devil and the generally accepted belief that the devil would allocate witches with power to hurt people as a reward of their faithfulness. Salem was established by puritans during 1628. This era also reflected the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Under the regime of King Charles I, the puritans were granted with a royal approval to colonize the area. However, Charles II revoked this charter in 1684 responding to the violation of charter rules by the colonists. These violations were mainly executed against the laws related with beliefs, religion and discrimination against Anglicans. These factors mainly represented the governmental causes behind the upheaval of the Salem witch trials. It can be argued that there were many other social and cultural factors that had significantly contributed towards the occurrence of Salem witch trials. In this regard, gender issue can be ascertained to be one of the major constituents related with the occurrence of Salem witch trials. Responsively, many scholars propounded that a majority of the victims who were accused and executed for practicing witchcraft were women. It has been further determined that the victims involving women were the ones who were perceived as â€Å"not fit into the typical Puritan framework of a good and obedient wife†

Company law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Company law - Essay Example ision in good faith and for meaningful purpose Transaction with other company should not reflect personal gains To inform other members of the board concerning the transaction to seek their confidence. Decision should be rational and in the best interest of the company. The above requirements are to be fulfilled by the directors in order to satisfy the statutory duty of care and due diligence6. Business judgment In accordance with the section 134 of the Corporations Act, the upper and the bottom layers of the management should respect the provisions of the Corporations Act and the constitution of the company. The company in its own discretion can have one or more replaceable rules contained in the Corporations Act in place of Constitution. In accordance with Section 140(1) (b) of the constitution and replaceable rules have the direct bearing on a Contract that executes between the company, each director and secretary. Under the mentioned scenario each one agrees to abide by the const itution and the rules in vogue7. Here we can take example of Turquand’s case, according to which, an agent belonging to the company can make a contract without any authority, which is not in knowledge of the outsider. A rule is settled that ensures the protection of outsiders until and unless the security of company is not at stake8. Another case Crabtree-Vickers Pty Ltd v Australian Direct Mail Advertising Co Pty Ltd can be taken as an example to show that a person who lacks actual authority cannot be entered into a contract on behalf of the company and prior approval is required for entering into a contract by some person having actual authority not apparent one9. Sixty-Fourth Throne Pty Ltd v Macquarie Bank Limited [1998] 3 VR 133 is another example where Kandy used authority of... The Corporations Act is an important legislation passed by the legislators that governs the companies in Australia. It deals with the issues of formation and operation of companies in line with the constitution of the company; determine responsibilities of officers, process of acquisitions, mergers and fundraising.Directors should not deploy themselves in a critical position where they are unable to serve in the best interest of the organization. This inclusive of entering into commercial transactions with other entities where one cannot take decisive part in making a decision for the company. With regard to protect the rights of shareholders in case of oppressive changes in the Constitution by the Board of Directors, we may invoke the provision of section 994 of the Companies Act. According to which â€Å"A member of a company may apply to the court for an order on the ground that the company's affairs are being run or have been conducted in a manner that is unfairly prejudicial to the interests of its members generally or of some part of its members† .The mentioned section in fact protects the interest of the minority shareholders in circumstances where the majority shareholders act in a way which is detrimental to the interests of minority shareholders. Moreover, in view the effective role of the Central Bank of Malaysia and the Security Commission of Malaysia, the chances of jeopardizing the interest of shareholders are diminished.

Importance of Stakeholders in Curriculum Development

Importance of Stakeholders in Curriculum Development Curriculum development requires the input of different stakeholders such as teachers, school heads, parents, community members, students, district administrators and school boards. The role of the teachers involves defining different course components that are considered relevant, in line with the latest technological development in the education sector. In addition to developing the curriculum, teachers help in executing the curriculum development findings. Teachers continuously contribute to the development of school curriculums by developing periodic course teaching plans and giving consideration to the special needs of the students (Dillon, 2009). Therefore, having a good curriculum without the input of teachers cannot help in achieving the learning objectives and goals. Although modern technology is quickly finding its root into the education system, teachers still remain at the center of the students learning progress. In other words technology must be integrated into the curri culum but it cannot provide a perfect substitute for the roles played by teachers in curriculum development and the general learning process. The other important group of stakeholders is the school administrators. Their role in curriculum implementation cannot be underestimated since they are the people that monitor the implementation of the curriculum. In addition, they employ teachers (in the case of private schools). Furthermore, they are responsible for purchasing learning materials which is an essential requirement in curriculum implementation. In other words, school administrators may influence the extent to which the school curriculum is implemented by regulating the release of the necessary learning resources. The school administrators may get information from teachers, students and even the community regarding the success of the curriculum implementation process. In addition, they can also employ the services of professional to evaluate the performance of the curriculum. The parents on the other hand support and influence the implementation of the curriculum through financial resources, that is, payment of school fees. In addition, the parents may help in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the curriculum by keeping a close check at the lessons learnt in school and monitoring the childs home assignments (homework). Moreover, the parent may stand in the gap between the child and school administration by providing the student with resources that may be required in the curriculum but are not available in school. Furthermore, the parents may help teachers to monitor the behavior and social development of the child, especially for children with special education needs. The parents can get reliable information on curriculum development by enquiring from their children or by enquiring from the teachers or school administrators. In addition, professionals such as psychologists and social workers may offer contribution on the various ways of dealing with students with special needs. For instance, professional counselors may provide various useful options of dealing with student of foreign origin or those with disabilities. Community members can assist the school administration in the implementation of the curriculum by co-operating and providing the necessary resources that may not be available in the school setting but are found within the community setting. In addition, the community members can also volunteer and act as school board members. Other stake holders in the curriculum development include the government and the professional regulation commission that provides license to graduates of different colleges and universities. Professionals and community members can source information on curriculum development and progress from government reports on the performance of schools or by enquiring from teacher s, students and school administrators. Organization of Various Curriculum Development Stake Holders The parents are usually organized into parent association. All parents are required to register with the relevant parents association where they are required to democratically elect their leaders. The parents, through this association, give their views regarding the curriculum development to the district curriculum development team. The relevant professional body such as the district association of professional counselors and psychologists, through their advisory boards, also provides their recommendations and suggestions in the curriculum development process. On the other hand, teachers have organized themselves into curriculum drafting and evaluation teams. Such teams are usually charged with the responsibility of drafting, evaluating and amending the curriculum in line with the latest technological development in the education sector. In addition, the teachers curriculum teams are also involved in the evaluation of the output of the curriculum. The various groups work well because there exists a systematic way of engaging every stake holder in the curriculum development process. First and fore most, the teachers and the curriculum development leaders provide guidance and opinions regarding what should form the content of the curriculum. Because students spend most of their learning hours with the teachers, it is assumed that teachers understand the unique academic and social needs of the students better. The teachers start by analyzing the current curriculum, that is, the strengths and weaknesses and possible areas that needs to be amended. Thereafter, opinions from the parents, community leaders and other stake holders are considered before a final draft of the curriculum is compiled. The parents curriculum development team consists of all the members of the parents association teams. However, such parents are required to register with the district curriculum development committee before their views could be considered as valid. The members of the parents team are given the mandate to choose their leadership. Through the parents leadership team, their opinions are sought and taken into consideration by the district curriculum development team. Similarly, the professional counselors association is given the mandate to elect their leaders. However, the leadership of the professional bodies supporting the curriculum development process must be approved by the district curriculum development committee. This is because professional bodies acts as advisory agents on major policy issues related to curriculum development in schools. Therefore, the district curriculum development team must ensure that such professional bodies are led by a credible team. In addition, such professional bodies work closely with the teachers and curriculum development leaders during the evaluation of the curriculum and academic performance. Other community members such as community administrators and religious leaders are also answerable to the district curriculum development team. Such community leaders must however be registered for their concerns to be given attention by the curriculum development team. They are also required to elect their leaders through which their contributions are channeled to the district curriculum development team. In addition to the reports obtained from the various groups of stakeholders in the curriculum development process, the district curriculum development team organizes a curriculum development forum every year where all members of the public are welcome to participate. Such a forum is aimed at collecting information and concerns that may not have been handled by the existing and participating curriculum development stakeholders. In addition, the district curriculum development team has put in place structures that ensure that information flows from the various stake holders to the district curriculum team in an orderly manner. Although the development of the curriculum is the responsibility of all the stake holder (the parents, teachers, community members, members of professional bodies and the school administration), the execution or implementation of the curriculum is often left to the district curriculum development team, headed by the district director of curriculum, in collaborati on with teachers and school administration. Designing a Structure for Stakeholder Involvement In Curriculum Work The designing of a comprehensive structure for stakeholder involvement in curriculum work entails a careful consideration of various factors that contributes to effective learning process both inside and outside the classrooms. Because the size of my district is considerably large with a student population of 13,000, the curriculum development team must considerably be large in order to effectively represent the big student population. The leader of the district curriculum development team would be the district curriculum director who will be charged with the responsibility of chairing all the curriculum development committees as well as providing general direction and leadership in the curriculum development process in the district. In addition, there would be a curriculum director who shall deputize the district curriculum director and would help him/her in discharging his/her duties. The district curriculum development team would also comprise other curriculum development specialists in every subject area such as mathematics and science. Such curriculum specialists would help the district curriculum director in making important decisions during the curriculum development process. The district curriculum development team would seek information and fully engage professionals, parents, the community and other relevant stakeholders when designing the school curriculum. The district curriculum development team would organize for a curriculum development research week every year in which a continuous data collection and evaluation of curriculum in schools would be evaluated. Interview Questions The planned interview with the district curriculum director made the day unique. The interview, as scheduled, commenced at noon and took about three hours, ending at around three oclock in the afternoon. The material day for the interview was 2nd January, 2013. As the chief academic researcher in the district, responsible for careers and student development in high schools, the information from the interviewee, the district curriculum director and the findings of the interview would be very important in helping me to understand the role of different stakeholders in the curriculum development process. The first question of the interview was about the defining elements of a good curriculum. I found that putting focus on the academic development of the student was a key element in developing an effective student centered curriculum. The district curriculum director explained that all the stake holders including teachers, school heads and other professionals in the curriculum development process must put the student at the center of every step in curriculum development. In addition the curriculum director explained the importance of having in place a comprehensive curriculum leadership for a successful execution and implementation of the curriculum objectives. The director mentioned two main types of curriculum leadership, that is, static or managerial curriculum leadership and a dynamic kind of curriculum leadership. He went further to explain that static curriculum leaders try to produce a certain level of predictability and routine in the day to day operations of the school. On the other hand, a dynamic kind of curriculum leadership entails a continuous process of integrating critical thinking and modern technology in the development of a visionary and goal oriented curriculum. However, the director was quick to emphasize on the need to continuously focus on aligning the curriculum to suit the modern technologically advanced world, that is, employing the dynamic kind of curriculum leadership for the realization of a learner centered and progress oriented curriculum. He explained that although teachers and school heads enjoy independence in disseminating knowledge, they must remain conscious to the dynamic work place environments and information communication technology so that the learners may be effectively packaged to adapt to the technological dynamics of the modern world. The second question of the interview session was about which groups of people or stakeholders should be involved in the curriculum development process. The director stated that a good school curriculum should cover all aspects of learning, including academic, social and physical aspects. Therefore, all relevant groups of professionals and stakeholders should be involved in the development of a curriculum that meets the expectation of both the students and the community. He added that parents, teachers, school heads, social workers, psychologists and the community should all be involved in the curriculum development process. In addition, he pointed out the need to address the interest of students with special needs when developing the curriculum. For instance, students of foreign origin or those with disability must be accorded special consideration and care in their learning endeavor. However, the director noted that the curriculum development leader must be competent when coordinating and organizing various ideas into a comprehensive curriculum development policy statement. The other question of the interview was about how to gauge the effectiveness of a good school curriculum, that is, how to assess whether the curriculum is centered on the needs of the learner. Achieving a fruitful learning experience, he posed, should be the main objective of any curriculum developer or curriculum leader. In other words, the strength of a good curriculum development does not lie in the number of policy statements it contains but it does lie in the ultimate classroom experience gained by the learner. In response to the question that was seeking a clarification on the best method to engage the input of all teachers in the curriculum development process, the district curriculum director explained that a new method of training some teachers to be curriculum development leaders is quickly gaining acceptance. Such an approach ensures that those teachers who have undergone such training shares the skills with their colleagues hence effectively disseminating curriculum devel opment skills to all teachers. The findings of the interview were found to be in line with the class readings. For instance, Wiles (2008), explains the importance of curriculum development leadership in the development of a good curriculum. He further pointed out that static curriculum leadership entails the maintenance of all the programs that are already in place. In addition, he emphasized that curriculum leadership should target the impartation of specific, knowledge, attitude and behaviors for students and at the same time help in engineering the school programs to achieve all important aspects of the learning process. Wiles added that curriculum developers should embrace change as an essential variable in the curriculum development process. In other words, curriculum development should be the principle guide to all other activities carried out in the school program. As pointed out in the interview, a more advanced approach to curriculum development where some teachers pursue special training in curriculum development and thereafter work closely with colleagues is gaining momentum. Such an approach is more effective since the curriculum leaders work both as teachers and curriculum developers (Wiles, 2008). In addition, a good curriculum development team must include teachers, community leaders and parents as analyzed during the interview. Furthermore, for the curriculum to be managed effectively there must be a detailed plan showing the time periods within which various curriculum targets are to be achieved and the roles of every participant in the curriculum development and management process. Tallerico (2012) emphasizes on the need of curriculum development leaders to provide direction .Furthermore, the curriculum leader must continuously monitor and review the outcome of the curriculum management and where possible draw up a control program. In general, the interview findings informed me on the importance of an effective curriculum in the execution of learning objectives. In addition, a dynamic approach to curriculum development is more suitable for a learner centered curriculum development because such an approach takes into account the modern technological advancement when developing the curriculum (Dillon, 2009). Furthermore, the interview informed me of the need to involve parents, teachers, school heads, the community and all other stakeholders in the curriculum development process. In addition, the interview findings further stressed on the need to have a continuous evaluation framework that helps in analyzing the success of the developed school curriculum in satisfying the learners needs.

Chivalry :: essays research papers

Chivalry We live in an age where the brutality and the vigilante justice of the knight errant is no longer acceptable for people with positions of stature in society. While courage and honor are still praised by society, one rarely finds a man true to his word regardless of cost. Chivalry towards ladies is sometimes mistakenly decried by those supporting equality for women. And Courtly love, in it's modern form, is frowned upon. Those who might have a keen sense of justice often have only indirect methods of fighting for the right -- legislation just can never be as satisfying as clouting a knave over the head with the flat of a blade. It seems that justice in American society is often tempered by compromise, rather than a blacksmith. Skill at arms is more often attained as an exercise, rather than a useful tool, and strength of body, while glamorized, is degraded by large numbers of "men of the mind." Chivalry is a lot like ethics; it is a governing principle concerning fair play as far as medieval combat among your peers was concerned. Do not attack an unarmed knight - allow him to arm himself first, if you unhorse your opponent and your opponent is still able to fight, get off your horse to fight, etc. - fair play with honor and respect. At the end, there still was a winner, and the winner ended up with more respect and admiration from those concerned that had he fought without chivalry. What am I getting at? Capitalism can be much the same way. American businesses have taken advantage of this system though, a system that one can cheat in and get away with, instead of being honorable and respectable institutions that children could look up to. So many things are like this that I just shake my head and sigh when I think about them - is American just a scam? Where did all the honor and respect go? In "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," Gawain made a promise to the huntsman to give him whatever gifts he received that day in exchange for whatever gifts the huntsman received that day. On the third and final day of Sir Gawain's visit, he received a green girdle from the huntsman's wife, who was his secret lover. The only reason that he accepted it was because he, like Lancelot, had fear in his heart; only Gawain's fear was dying. The huntsman's wife told Gawain that the girdle had magic powers and would protect him from his fate, for the next day Gawain was going to fulfill a promise that he had made to

Economic Recession in Ireland 2007-2012

â€Å"Ireland’s Great Recession. † The Irish Economy, 2007-2012. The title of this essay, â€Å"Ireland’s great recession,† refers to the Irish economy from 2007-2012. From my research into this essay, I found that the Irish economy of this period could be referred to as â€Å"The Great Depression. † There are parallel similarities to the Irish economy now as experienced in America in the 1920’s. This essay will examine what a recession is, why Ireland is in a recession, the effects and face of the recession, and my own personal views on the crisis.Not a day goes by when you don’t hear stories of â€Å"doom and gloom† in relation to Ireland’s economic state of affairs. Everybody you talk to has someone belonging to them or knows someone who has had to emigrate. Australia has replaced America as the land of hope and dreams, as thousands flock our shores in search of a better life. Within the country recession has not only resulted in mass emigration. Internally people are struggling to repay their mortgages because of the housing collapse. Wages have been cut and taxes have been increased. Disposable income for many a non-entity.Ireland was the first EU country to declare itself officially in recession in August 2008. We are the second EU country to have a structural adjustment programme imposed by the IMF/ECB/EU, known as ‘the Troika’. The turnaround of the Irish economy has been dramatic – from one with the highest levels of GDP and employment growth to among those with the highest unemployment, emigration and debt levels across the EU – in the space of just a few short years. The recession has affected everybody, young and old. We are in a time where we have to cut spending in order to meet our EU obligations.The financial crisis that sparked the recession and collapse of our banking system is the most serious problem that we face. The Calm before the Storm- The Celtic T iger Years(1995-2007) â€Å"The Celtic Tiger† was a term used to describe the boom years which our economy went through from around 1995-2007. UK economist Kevin Gardiner coined the term â€Å"Celtic Tiger†, comparing Ireland's unexpected economic take-off to the Asian tiger economies. Many believe the foundations of the Celtic Tiger were laid in the 1990’s in a Dublin pub called Nesbitts.It was here that politicians, economists and civil servants met to discuss future government policies. It was agreed that the government of the day should cut taxes, lower interest rates, reduce import duties which would encourage foreign investment. It was later referred to as the â€Å"Doheny & Nesbitt School of Economics. † Our generous corporation tax of 12. 5% enticed foreign investment into the country. The fact that Ireland was a member of the European Union since 1973 helped enormously. The EU pumped vast amounts of money into infrastructure and grants especially in the agricultural sector.It meant a single currency and free trade within the EU. Ireland had an open economy where trade was promoted and thrived, especially in the area of exports. Ireland has a workforce that is highly educated and attracted further investment especially from high-tech and pharmaceutical industries. As the economy started to grow so did immigration into the country, as there was lots of work particularly in the construction industry. There was a surge in demand for housing and as a result this triggered the housing boom. Banks were encouraging customers to borrow as there were low interest rates.Property prices began to rise and many people sought property as a form of investment not just as a home. Property developers became millionaires over night as a result of the property boom. People in Ireland began living lavish lifestyles and in a lot of cases had lost the run of themselves. Collapse of the World Financial Market On the 15th of September, 2008 Lehman Brothers, one of America Largest Investment Banks in the USA, declared itself bankrupt. Major panic broke out on the inter-bank loan market as a result.As share prices declined, many large and well established investment and commercial banks in the United States and Europe suffered huge losses and even faced bankruptcy, resulting in massive financial assistance. Ireland is a very small fish in a big pond. Ireland is an open economy and our banks, like our businesses, trade with other banks. Irish Banks borrowed huge sums of money on credit from foreign banks. Our main source of repayment was taxes through our construction industry. What resulted was a domino effect; when one major bank fell the others in turn throughout America and the EU started to fall.Governments stepped in pumping billions into their banks to save them. The collapse of the world financial markets triggered the recession but some countries suffered a lot worse than others. Ireland is one of those countries, becau se Ireland borrowed beyond their means but mainly to support the purchase of private property. Recessionary Times A recession is a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters: (oxford Dictionary) GDP is made up of private consumption, government spending, investments and exports-imports.A recession is typically accompanied by a drop in the stock market, an increase in unemployment, and a decline in the housing market. It is also a term that people refer to when there is on-going hardships that people face in their daily lives. In recessionary times people have little disposable income and money is more often spent on necessity items like food and clothing, whereas luxury goods are beyond reach for many. Banks The crash of our banking system was the biggest cause of our country going into recession. Our banks lent recklessly when times were good.Loans were given to people without consideration. People within the banking system were paid bonuses the more they lent. Most people seeking these loans did not meet international regulations. The banks misguided thousands of ordinary people by giving these loans for enormous amounts, knowing that they realistically could not afford repayments. During the Celtic Tiger period of growth, capital to finance Ireland’s boom was raised in the interbank market, typically on a three-month basis, but with repayment not expected until two or three years later.When Irish property values went into decline and the freezing-up of the world's interbank market in 2007, it was certain by the start of 2008 that the Irish banking system would have great difficulty in financing its day-to-day operations. This trading difficulty, and inadequate supervision by the regulatory body, led to a series of government interventions, starting with a Bank guarantee in September 2008. It is nearly four years since the fateful night o f September 29th/30th 2008 when the Irish government guaranteed the key financial liabilities of our biggest banks.That decision has dominated national politics since then. For the economic and political consequences of that decision are immense. Since 2008, Irish taxpayers have invested â‚ ¬64. 1 billion into our banks. In addition to that direct investment, we have also indirectly invested a further â‚ ¬6 billion through NAMA (National Account Management Agency). That was the estimate given by the Controller and Auditor General, in May this year. He reported that NAMA had paid Irish banks â‚ ¬32 billion for loans that were, in fact, worth only â‚ ¬26 billion. In total then, we have already pumped â‚ ¬70. billion into our ailing banks. That’s the equivalent of â‚ ¬46,700 for every person working full-time. It’s a second mortgage that we didn’t want and can barely afford. And we mightn’t be finished yet in terms of how much money we have to pump into the banks. As of December last, the balance sheets of the three main Irish banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland and Irish Life & Permanent) showed a book value of their loans of â‚ ¬218 billion. But the banks’ own aggregate estimate of the fair value of those loans was only â‚ ¬181 billion, some â‚ ¬37 billion below their balance sheet carrying value.That suggests further heavy loan losses to come. Construction Industry During the boom years, demand for housing increased. It increased as a result of many factors: population growth, investments, tax breaks and low interest rates. As a result of this demand there was a rapid growth in housing and house prices began to soar. â€Å"The TSB/ESRI Index reveals that national prices increased at an average pace of almost 15% per annum between the years of 1997-2006, resulting in a cumulative increase of 240% over this period. † (class notes) Ireland tried to grow its economy inward through construction.It did so but there was too much emphasis put on construction. There was far too many people employed in the construction sector and there was an over reliance on construction industry alone to grow our economy. â€Å"Around 330,000 jobs have been lost since employment peaked in 2007, with the construction industry accounting for more than half of this total. † (class notes) Inflation of Egos Whether you are a banker, builder or bus driver it seemed that everyone had a second car and second home during the Celtic Tiger years.Having a little place in the sun seemed the norm. However thunder storms have emerged since the recession. People were running up massive debts in a society gone mad. People were borrowing beyond their means with banks only too happy to oblige. While people must be responsible for the choices they make, perhaps the banks, the so called experts in finance should have been more responsible. Everybody jumped on the band wagon; some builders built houses too quickly, c heaply and not following safety regulations. Priory Hall) Tradesmen were demanding and receiving vast sums of money for their work. According to Ronan Lyons an Economist in Oxford University, a recession becomes a depression when you have a fall in GDP by more than 10%. He has compared both job losses in the USA in the 1920’s to that of Ireland now. The results are striking. As the graph below shows, Ireland’s situation closely resembles the Great Depression. (Lyons ,2012) Irish GDP has fallen recording a peak to trough fall of 12. 4% (Class Notes) ConclusionAs I said earlier Ireland is a small fish in a big pond. The majority of people like to point the finger at the last government as I would, but not as strongly as others. Our last Government had a part to play. However there was a world-wide recession and we would have suffered economically as a result as every country has within the EU. I believe however that our last government could have done some of the followi ng; regulate the banks so they would not lend recklessly, re invests elsewhere in the economy for growth when times were good.There was an over reliance on construction to feed the economy. They could have increased interest rates to bring down inflation therefore slowing the economy. The government could have closed Anglo Irish Bank- Anglo is mainly a commercial bank with little customers in Ireland. This would have saved Irish taxpayers in the region of 30 billion euros. Our current government promised not to make the same mistakes of our previous government in their pre-election manifestos.They now tell us they are locked by the terms of the EU/IMF bailout. Can our government not re-negotiate a deal? Can they not tell Europe that further cuts cannot be put in place if we are to see growth in our economy in the long term? Germany only in the last couple of years repaid there debt after the Second World War. Ireland unlike many of its European counterparts is meeting the terms of t he agreement. We keep hearing how good a nation we are and that we are a success story, and the measures that we are taking in reducing debt.We are receiving a pat on the back from our German friends, but is this a pat on the back, or a further shove into the quick sand that we are already standing in? Is it a sign of success that young Irish people are emigrating, that the dole queues are getting longer? It is a success that the people of Ireland will be in debt for years to come? Recently Enda Kenny was on the cover of Time magazine under the caption â€Å"Celtic Comeback†. Great people like Einstein have also graced the cover of this famous magazine. So too has BART SIMPSON†¦

How Texas Changed U.S. History Essay

The United States of America is the world’s leading super power. Through the years, there have been many events that occurred which contributed to the kind of nation it is at present. It is a country with a rich and extensive history behind it. One of the significant aspects in the history of the United States is the state of Texas. Texas played a crucial role in the development of the nation. This research paper aims to discuss how the independence of Texas and its membership and re-admittance to the Union changed the course of U. S. history. Texas was originally occupied by Indians before the 16th century (â€Å"Timeline†). Numerous tribes of Native Americans resided in what is now known as Texas, and they were the inhabitants before the place was discovered by the Spaniards (Calvert & Doughty 10). For more than a century, Texas was under Spanish control, as it was considered a territory of the Spanish Empire (Calvert & Doughty 1). The Spanish explorers first arrived in Texas in 1519, and Alfonso Alvarez de Pineda was the first one to explore the place and map the shoreline (Calvert & Doughty 10; â€Å"Timeline†). After de Pineda, there were other Spanish expeditions and eventually, missions were sent in Texas (Calvert & Doughty 11). In February 18, 1685, Frenchman Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle claimed Texas for France by setting up Fort St. Louis in Matagorda Bay (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Timeline†). La Salle was soon killed, but the Spanish were threatened by the actions of the French (Calvert & Doughty 11). As a result, the Spaniards eliminated the French port and established more missions. In addition, Spanish towns were built in Texas, such as San Antonio, Goliad and Nacogdoches (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Timeline†). However, the 19th century ushered in a time of struggle for Spain, as it began to lose its power over Texas due to the expeditions of Americans (Calvert & Doughty 11). In 1810, a group led by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla attempted to free Mexico from Spanish authority. The plan failed, but it caused restlessness in Texas and Mexico. In 1813, Mexican Bernardo Gutierrez and American Augustus Magee occupied three Spanish towns in an effort to topple the Spanish authority in Texas (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Timeline†). They failed. Spain soon realized that the Spanish settlements in Texas were not enough to secure it from the threat of other countries (Calvert & Doughty 11). The Spanish authorities thought that an increase in population was needed. American Moses Austin asked permission from the Spaniards in Mexico to be allowed to stay in Texas; this request was continued by his son Stephen after his death. In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain, and Texas became a part of Mexico (Calvert & Doughty 11; Perry 505). The Mexican government agreed to Austin’s plea, and they had begun to let foreigners settle in Texas. In 1836, 50,000 people had resided in Texas; 20,000 of which were from the United States (Calvert & Doughty 11; Perry 505). Most of the Americans in Texas were cotton planters, and went there because of land opportunities (Perry 505). Moreover, these people brought slaves with them to help them with cotton cultivation (Calvert & Doughty 11). However, Mexico met slavery with opposition, as the country abolished it in 1824 (Calvert & Doughty 11; Perry 505). The Mexicans soon realized that they were being outnumbered, so they resorted to efforts that would curb the number of Americans in Texan soil (Perry 505). The Mexican authorities stopped immigration from the United States and banned arrival of slaves (Calvert & Doughty 11; Perry 505; â€Å"Timeline†). This move angered the Texans, but the tension continued to increase with the dictatorship of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Calvert & Doughty 11; Perry 505). The discontent of the people increased with the imposed customs duties collection (â€Å"Revolution†). In an effort to gain their independence, the Texans started the revolution on October 2, 1835 (â€Å"Revolution†;â€Å"Timeline†). The revolution began in Gonzales, Texas (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Revolution†; â€Å"Timeline†). Texans repulsed the Mexican troops in Gonzales, and emerged victorious in the first battle in the struggle for independence (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Revolution†). The succeeding battles were also won by the Texan forces (Calvert & Doughty 11). In November 3, 1835, there was a convention in which a provisional government, based on a document called the Organic Law, was set up by the Americans in Texas (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Timeline†). During the said convention, the Texans held an election for gubernatorial and council positions. On March 2, 1836, American Texans declared their independence from Mexico and established a constitution which allowed slavery; David Burnet was the provisional president while Sam Houston was the Texas troops’ commander in chief (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Timeline†). Then there was the Battle of the Alamo. The Alamo is actually church originally known as the Mision San Antonio de Valero (â€Å"Alamo†). It was used by the Texan forces as a fort. Unfortunately, the Texan forces were defeated by the Mexican troops, under the leadership of Santa Anna. However, Santa Anna was not victorious for long; in April 21, 1836, he was captured by Houston and his forces at the Battle of San Jacinto (Calvert & Doughty 11; â€Å"Revolution†;â€Å"Timeline†). Afterwards, Santa Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texan independence (Perry 505). Texas became a republic (â€Å"Revolution†). In 1845, the Congress of the United States pushed to annex, or make the Republic of Texas a part of the United States (Perry 505). U. S. President James Polk signed a bill that made Texas the 28th U. S. state on December 29, 1845 (Calvert & Doughty 12; â€Å"Timeline†). On April 25, 1846, the Mexican-American war begun over the disagreement on the boundaries of Texas (â€Å"Timeline†). Mexico claimed that Nueces River was the boundary of Texas; Texans, on the other hand, insisted that Rio Grande was the boundary (Perry 505). The Mexicans were defeated; as a result, the United States acquired more than half of Mexican territories, including New Mexico and California (Perry 505). The independence of Texas was relevant in United States history. This is because it was the event that paved the way for the United States to obtain territories that would eventually be a part of it. The addition of states did shape U. S. history, as all these territories contribute to the general legacy of the nation. Without the new territories, the development and growth of the nation would not be the same, simply because certain elements would be excluded. As a member of the Union, Texas also proved relevant in shaping U. S. history. Texas did secede from the Union, but its participation in the American Civil War was still crucial in the nation’s development. The American Civil War came about as a result of Abraham Lincoln’s victory at the 1860 presidential elections (Perry 507). Lincoln was a Republican, and the Republican Party was created with the objective of abolishing slavery. The Southern states, including Texas, who were in favor of slavery decided to secede from the Union. These said states formed the Confederate States of America. Texas seceded from the Union on February 1, 1861 (â€Å"Timeline†). At that time, Sam Houston was a governor, and he opposed that decision to secede as he was a Unionist (Calvert & Doughty 12). However, he was outnumbered by pro-secession delegates at the Secession Convention (â€Å"Timeline†). On May 13, 1865, the last battle of the Civil War was fought in Texas (Calvert & Doughty 12; â€Å"Timeline†). The Battle of Palmito Ranch occurred close to Brownsville, more than a month after General Robert Lee of the Confederate Army surrendered at Appomatox, Virginia. On March 30, 1870, Texas was readmitted to the Union by U. S. Congress (â€Å"Timeline†). After the Civil War, Texas had several other contributions that did affect U. S. history. First, Texas helped the federal government defeat the Native Americans (Calvert & Doughty 12). From the Civil War until the Reconstruction, the western frontier was poorly guarded; the Native Americans bothered the residents, which were prompted to leave their homes. The U. S. government realized this problem and sent out federal troops to address the issue. These troops were helped by the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers started as a group of volunteers that helped curb Indian attacks (Connor 135). Eventually when Texas became a republic, they became an official, full-time corps that was employed to protect the frontier. After the battles between the Native Americans were over, they became agents of law enforcement in the state (Connor 135). The state of Texas also contributed to post-war animal industry with cattle (Calvert & Doughty 12). Except for hides and tallow, cattle were initially invaluable as the markets were too far. However, with the establishment of railroads, Texan cattle were able to reach more consumers (Calvert & Doughty 12). Nonetheless, it was the cotton from Texas that exerted more economic influence in the U. S. (Calvert & Doughty 12). As the railroads progressed in the West, there was enough land for the growth of cotton. The cotton grown in Texas eventually reached the world market. As a result, Texas became a major cotton producer in the U. S. by the year 1890 (Calvert & Doughty 12). Texas again participated in U. S. history in the 1890s, which marked an era of racial discrimination (Calvert & Doughty 12). Texas was one of the states that were characterized by much tension between the whites and the blacks and Hispanics. It all began in 1896 when the Supreme Court upheld that segregation did not infringe the 14th Amendment. Hence, Texas passed legislatures that encouraged and promoted segregation of whites and blacks in the community (Calvert & Doughty 12). Texas was also responsible for the Prohibition (Calvert & Doughty 12). There was a time when progressivism was rampant in Texas, and one of its most notable ideas was to forbid the sale of alcohol. The Texan progressives thought that selling alcohol was detrimental to a democratic society and its consumption was evil. In 1887, Prohibitionists relentlessly campaigned to ban alcohol. When it was thought that alcohol impeded the U. S. efforts in World War I, a law was passed in 1918 to prohibit the sale of alcohol beverages in Texas. In January 1920, the 18th Amendment, which prohibits the sale of alcohol in the entire country, was included in the U. S. Constitution (Calvert & Doughty 12). After the American Civil War, Texas proved relevant in the history of the United States. Along with the federal troops, the Texas Rangers participated in resolving the Native American conflict. Without the rangers, the endeavor would have been more difficult; the task was made easy by the fact that the rangers have been the guarding the frontier for a long time. Texas also contributed to the U. S. economy through its cattle and cotton industries. Segregation also occurred in Texas, an occurrence that would later cause the Civil Rights Movement to arise. Lastly, the Texan prohibitionists were responsible for the passing of the 18th Amendment. If Texas had not been readmitted to the Union, some of the aforementioned events may have never occurred, drastically altering the course of U. S. history. From its independence to its readmission into the Union, Texas proved to be an important player in the history of the United States. Its independence brought the United States the territories it has at present. Its readmission brought both social and economic reform that would not have possible if the state remained in its seceded state. If one would remove Texas from the history of the United States, it would not be the nation it is now. Works Cited Calvert, Robert A. , and Robin W. Doughty. â€Å"Texas. † Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2007. Microsoft Corporation. 10 April 2008 . Connor, Seymour V.â€Å"Texas Rangers. † Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. 21 vols. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc. , 1992. Perry, Marvin. A History of the World. Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin, 1989. â€Å"Texas History Timeline. † Lone Star Junction. 1997. 10 April 2008 . â€Å"Texas Revolution. † Lone Star Internet. 2 Feb. 2007. 10 April 2008 . â€Å"The Battle of the Alamo. † The Alamo Site. 2007. 10 April 2008 .

Trip to the Pole---Annie Dillard analysis essays

Trip to the Pole-Annie Dillard analysis essays In her essay, An Expedition to the Pole, Annie Dillard approaches the tricky technique of symbolism and metaphysical images to portray her thoughts on religion, while avoiding the dangers of making it too confusing, or too preachy. Descriptions combined with the narration of the absurd are effectively used even without informing the reader that her material departs from their own expectations of what is real. Her writing is filled with specific, memorable, seemingly random thoughts that eventually develop deep metaphoric power. On the whole, Dillard writes, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? This statement implies that institutionalized religion has somehow lessened the true emotions and freedoms of nature and experience. Perhaps the structure of an organized religion sometimes require us to hide our genuine feelings, and replace them with what we are suppose to be feeling, or following. Dillard writes in a sly witty commanding tone that shines a mystical light around ideas in the most straightforward prose. Even in the most surreal of sequences, we can still feel her confusion, anxiety, and frustration. She writes, The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. Dillard, like her fellow church-goers have come to this church in pursuit of the sublime, but the existence of many banalities and contradictions seem to insult her sense of dignity. She seems to be saying that an individual would be willing to sacrifice education, reason, and dignity for the sake of a glimpse of the sacred and holy. It seems like the church should be projecting a ...

Physical Security in Different Situations Assignment

Physical Security in Different Situations - Assignment Example It is evident that only negative outcomes result from the scenario in discussion both indirectly and directly. A complex system developed by the Federal Reserve System is vital for ensuring continuity of the bank’s operations because it minimizes the possibilities of negative impacts resultant from the disastrous scenario. In this case, economic development and security on finances of the society is at a minimum in comparison to lack of the complex system. Continuity of operations eliminates unemployment of personnel in the wake of the disaster and offers financial security on resources belonging to its clients and investors. The development of the system is an approach referred to as disaster preparedness. It allows efficient management of the discussed scenario while aiming to achieve a smooth transition from response to the disaster through to sustained recovery transition. An immediate consequence of the bombing, classified as a complex emergency, is the loss of lives and injury of individuals present at the time of attack. The damage of the available resources and assets of the Federal Reserve is an immediate consequence of the scenario as well. On the other hand, indirect effects of the disaster in discussion include the loss of both local and foreign investors from the Federal Reserve. The banking system collapses for this matter and economic depression sets in. In the long-term, the working force of the nation is retrenched due to economic depression. Consequently, the unemployment rate is on the rise while the purchasing power of the consumer decreases because of inflation of goods and services. Crime as a vice stems from the fore mentioned consequence. The security of the nation is then compromised. One negative consequence produces a ripple effect to the nation as an economy.  

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Project Management - Essay Example Handling the project either too early or too late is likely to compromise its success. It is, therefore, very important to organize all the procedures, processes and people required to handle the project well in advance so that the completion of the project is timely (Kerzner, 2010, p. 26). When the project is completed after its time, it serves no purpose at all and all the efforts, the time and costs expended in doing it all come to nothing. Any project requires capital to guarantee its success. The people handling the project must be motivated. Recognition of money as a principal motivator is very fundamental here. Besides, the infrastructure, procedures and all the processes leading to the successful completion of a project require capital. The success of a project is, therefore, limited by the availability of capital (Kerzner, 2010, p. 27). A project has specific scope that it has to adhere to. Any deviation from the scope of the project implies that the project does not serve its purpose. The areas to be covered with the project must, therefore, be followed successfully so that the success of the project can be