Controversial and Banned Books †Why They Were Banned

Youth Crime Of Scotland Has Been On The Upsurge For Some Time

lntroduction Youth crime in Scotland has been on the upsurge for some time. In order to understand this issue better, a critical look at the statistics available show that over 43 per cent of all the crimes in Scotland is committed by young people who are under the age of 21 years. Scotland lies in the scope of the European Union, and instances of crime involving the youth are very rare in this region when compared to the rest ofthe world. The effects of crime range on a broad spectrum, hamper economic progress, spread fear and block the freedom evident when people live in a secure place outside the scope of disturbances and terror (Croall et al, 2010). The future of Scotland lies in the hands of young people, and this observation, therefore, shows a very worrying trend. Youth crime upsurge can be explained from an extensive approach in terms of the models incorporated. This may be due to increased joblessness as well as other socio-economic considerations. This briefing will, theref ore, look at the approach to policies as a way to advise the Scottish government on what it can do to counter the youth crime in Scotland. Policy briefing to the government on the causes and explanations of youth crime in Scotland; and how to handle it As a policy, there are various factors the government of Scotland can put into perspective in order to effectively handle youth crime. These would combat the spread of youth crime. A recent study sought to explain the causes, as well as the

The Case Study of Josh and Eric Accounting Sample for Students

Question: Disucss the Case Study of Josh and Eric. Answer: Introduction: Case study discusses about Josh and Eric, who have partnered up in opening of paint stores. Profit of amount $ 300000 are expected in the first year of operations and are planning to sell the franchise. A franchise is regarded as business arrangement where the right of suing the trademark is guaranteed by one party to another party. There is enough money with both the partners for starting up the business. It is predicted that the cash flow would be the main problem as the business grows. For the long-term of business, the best opinion will be in the corporate form of business. Area does not have any competing painting stores and composition of business should be chosen. Composition of business is to be chosen by partners. In the first year of operations, a profit of amount of $ 300000 are expected by the business. Looking at the amount of profit that is generated in the first year of operations and the planning if selling the franchise, it is thought by both the partners that the operating in the corporate form would be the best option (Bhimani et al., 2013) A corporation is regarded as large form of company that is authorized to act as the single entity and same rights and responsibilities as possessed by individual are enjoyed by it. Charter establishes every corporate entity and creation if new corporations through enrolment is not allowed by most jurisdictions. There are many different parts of corporation and the law of jurisdiction ordinarily divides the corporation. Corporation is chartered into two types and this include whether they are for profit or not for profit. It also involve whether they stocks can be issues by them or not. Corporation is differentiated based on its ability to issue stocks according to local law. Such companies capable of issuing stocks are refereed as stock corporations. Stock provides the ownership of corporation and the shareholders or stockholders are regarded as owner of shares or stocks. Non-stock corporations are referred to non-stock corporations. Individuals who are the part of owners and have say in the management forms part of corporation. Corporations that would be charted according regions are recognized on different basis. It can be divided into corporations that are not intended for profit making, not profit making respectively. Nonprofit corporations such as profit and nonprofit or stock and non-stock gets overlapped. Corporation is always regarded as Non-stock Corporation for profit making entities. On the other hand, there may be some nonprofit corporation those choses to be Non-stock Corporation. Corporations that are registered owned by shareholders and have legal personality. Liability of shareholders are limited to the amount of investment made by them. Shareholders do not actively manage companies. Corporation is controlled in fiduciary capacity and this is done by appointing board of directors. Corporation run its operating expenses by issuance of stocks for raising capital. Investors become a partial owner of any company in which he purchase a share of corporate stocks. There is variation in owning of stocks according to the rights that is granted to owner. There exist difference between stocks as they are if variety of forms (Van der Stede, 2016). Ownership in any corporation is represented by share in a common stock that act as security. Common stock holders exercise control in organization by voting on corporate policy and choosing a board of directors. Structure of ownership has stocks holders on top of their priority list. In the event of liquidation of company, only after the preferred shareholders, bondholders and debt holders are paid off in full; the shareholders can claim rights on companys assets (Otley Emmanuel, 2013). Preferred stock are known by different names such as preferred shares or preference shareholders. Such stock is considered as the hybrid instrument and comes with the combining characteristics of both debt instrument and equity. Such stockholders have greater claim on earning and assets of company. Dividend payment made to the preference shareholders are done prior to dividend paid to ordinary shareholders. On the event of liquidation of company, preference shareholders are given priority over others. Article of association contains the terms of preferred stock (Shields, 2015). Evaluation of preferred stock is done by major credit rating agencies like securities. Ratings for bonds is higher than preferred stock because the same amount of guarantee is not carried by preferred stock. The reason is attributable to the fact that the interest payment received by preferred stockholders and bonds is made before to all the lenders. Analysis: Corporation is distinguished from its proprietors as it is independent and regarded as lawful substance. Corporations enjoy most of the responsibilities and rights possessed by individual. There are several rights enjoyed by corporations such as paying taxes, owning assets, borrowing money and taking loan, entering into business contracts and suing and being sued. Corporation is regarded as legal person (Kaplan Atkinson, 2015). It is already mentioned by the two partners Eric and josh in the beginning of case study that the main issue in the operation of business is cash flow. It would be recommended by me after the thorough analysis to issue common stock rather than preferred stocks. The reason is attributable to the superiority of common stocks over preferred stock. Compared to preferred stock, common stock comes with wide range of opportunities for appreciation. Appreciation of shares and payment of dividend are included in the common stocks. Concerning decision-making, each shar e is equivalent to one vote held. Ability of the common stock in purchasing additional shares is another advantage of the ability of stocks in running the company. Preferred stock does not come with a expiration date and is usually regarded as bonds. Therefore, it involves a preset dividend to be paid and such amount is payable before the dividend is paid on the common stock. Such stocks are generally issued at par value or face value (Hopper Bui, 2016). There is a need for Eric and Josh to raise the capital of amount $ 250000. The initial market price of share at the time of issuing stands at $ 40 per share. Hence, the total amount of shares issued is 56250. The market price per share is obtained by dividing the total amount of capital that is to be raised by the total number of shares to be issued. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the above discussion that the most popular form of business structure is corporation. The reason is attributable to limited liability protection. Corporation would lose its value of shares if they become incapable of paying back the total amount of loans taken. Shares might lose hundred percent of its value given this incapability of corporation. Paying back of the total amount of debt in corporation is not the responsibility of shareholders. However, it is not possible for shareholders to lose hundred percent of vale of shares possessed by them. Shares of the organization would become valuable if the corporation is making profit. Maximizing the value of shareholders is one of the primary goals of employees of corporation. Employees needs to work on behalf of owners for enriching them as much as possible. Investment in the common stock is strongly recommended by me to Josh and Eric. This is so because common stocks have prominent characteristics and is regarded as favorite kind of stock. This is so because; shareholders are entitled to vote on the corporate matters. Matters in which the shareholders enjoys a voting rights concerns with appointment of board of directors, acquiring another company and who should be the members of board of directors and any other managerial decisions. Reference: Bhimani, A., Horngren, C. T., Sundem, G. L., Stratton, W. O., Schatzberg, J. (2013).Introduction to Management Accounting. Pearson Higher Ed. Hopper, T., Bui, B. (2016). Has management accounting research been critical?.Management Accounting Research,31, 10-30. Kaplan, R. S., Atkinson, A. A. (2015).Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning. Otley, D., Emmanuel, K. M. C. (2013).Readings in accounting for management control. Springer. Shields, M. D. (2015). Established management accounting knowledge.Journal of Management Accounting Research,27(1), 123-132. Van der Stede, W. A. (2016). Management accounting in context: Industry, regulation and informatics.Management Accounting Research,31, 100-102.

Hard Times- Dickens [Education] free essay sample

â€Å"I am as proud as you are. I am just as proud as you are. † Dickens is an intrusive narrator who comments on the characters through their dialogues and thoughts. Through the above lines, uttered by Bounderby, Dickens presents his observations of an age in which religion, taking a simplistic view, is the â€Å"opium of the masses†, and is mostly considered to have no relation with the material world. In Christianity, pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins and is usually considered the originator of the other six. Lucifer’s pride led him to compete with God and eventually caused his fall from heaven, and resultant metamorphosis into Satan. However, through Bounderby’s statement, it is made clear that this â€Å"bully of humility†, considers pride a virtue. He has an inordinate love for the self, which shines through his constant reiteration of his progress from a â€Å"gutter snipe† to the â€Å"self-made man† that he considers himself. We will write a custom essay sample on Hard Times- Dickens [Education] or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Bonderby’s supreme belief in himself and his abilities is also a comment on the age itself. The novel is set in the age of industrialization wherein mechanical mindsets were beginning to take the place of the spiritual. All aesthetics and fancies were considered â€Å"nonsense†, and the invention of various machines gave man the sense that he had controlled nature. This led to a growing pride in the abilities of men, and divine interventions were relegated to fairy-tales which the children were not allowed to read as they were too â€Å"fanciful†. Religion became devoid of purpose of purpose and was embroiled in monotony and commodification. Dickens through Bounderby’s pride is his pride laments this down-gradation of God. As Bounderby’s name suggests, he is bound by his class and convictions in his own superiority. He shows no sympathy for the poor, even though he himself has experienced poverty, and instead insults their abilities by saying â€Å"what I can do, you can do†. He negates the individual identities of the people of Coketown, and fails to appreciate the importance of difference of aspirations and capabilities. He practices reductionism, reducing every person he meets down to Economic terms. He is not acquainted with Mr. James Harthouse, and therefore, his attempt at getting on â€Å"equal terms† with him seems only class related. For him, his position in society is almost a moral virtue, and he considers himself equal to other men only though equality in social status. Cut-off Bounderby has been unable to from his poverty-stricken childhood, which is a matter of contempt for Dickens. His is completely unable to empathize with the less fortunate. Having risen himself from the ranks of the poor, he seems to have developed the hypocrisy of the rich, believing that the objective of all â€Å"Hands† in Coketown is to be fed on â€Å"turtle soup and venison with a gold spoon†. He is completely devoid of one of the most important Christian virtues; that of humility. However, Dickens suitably compensates Bounderby for his â€Å"sin†. He dies alone, in the street, mourned by none. He loses his wife, who is so desperate to be free of him that she almost elopes with another man, as well as the only connection he had had with another human; the friendship of Mr. Gradgrind. He is exposed as a liar, and disgraced throughout Coketown, and even in death has to suffer the ignominy of a contested will. The book lives up to the well known adage; pride goeth before the fall.

Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamo an Example by

Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamo When it comes to such specific topics as the anthropological method of participant observation and the concept of culture shock, one particularly relatable article would be Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamo, written by Napolean A. Chagnon. We see that he starts off by discussing the presence of the Yanomamo, who are "thinly scattered over a vast and verdant tropical forest, living in small villages that are separated by many miles of unoccupied land' (1). Throughout the rest of the article we see how important he makes the fact of their habitat and manner of living, as he goes on to say that "They have no writing, but they have a rich and complex language. Their clothing is more decorative than protective...Much of their daily life revolves around gardening, hunting, collecting wild foods, collecting firewood, fetching water, visiting with each other, gossiping, and making the few material possessions they own: baskets, hammocks, bows, arrows, and colorful pigments with which they p aint their bodies' (1). Need essay sample on "Doing Fieldwork Among the Yanomamo" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Our Customers Very Often Tell Us: I've procrastinated to write my lord of the flies essay essay way too much today & I still don't wanna write it Our professional writers advise: Get Your Essay Before The Deadline How To Write An Essay In Mla FormatHow To Write A Research PaperMake An Essay For Me5 Steps To An EssayCollege Papers For SaleBuy Cheap EssayType My EssayCustom Essay Writing Service The majority of the article is based around the Yanomamo's style of living and what their social and personal lives revolve around. We are shown their conflicts and dilemmas, as well as their issues of warfare and welfare, and in particular, "The fact that the Yanomamo have lived in a chronic state of welfare is reflected in their mythology, ceremonies, settlement pattern, political behavior, and marriage practices' (2). In particular regards to the anthropological method of participant observation, we can see how this relates to the article in how Chagnon spent over 60 months living with the Yanomamo, and how during that time he ended up learning their language, submerging himself in their culture and way of life, and overall just becoming familiar with their personality and way of life. He collected data under some very trying circumstances and conditions, and some of which he explained as being significantly relatable to what anthropologists mean when they speak of culture shock, which basically refers to the feelings of confusion, distress, and often depression of well, which can result from the psychological stress that is caused by the body having to alter or change to adapt to an entirely new culture. Overall from this review we can conclude a number of different things, namely that the anthropological method of participant observation can be incredibly effective and rewarding, albeit difficult at the same time, as we have seen here, and also that the concept of culture shock is one that must be taken into serious consideration, especially when dealing with a completely alien culture, as was the case here. Works Cited Chagnon, Napolean A. 2 September 2007

Mrs. Daniels Essay

Mrs. Daniels Essay Mrs. Daniels Essay Running head: THE OPERATING BUDGET The Operating Budget LaToyia N. Daniels Strayer University Abstract This learner will discuss how to operate a Budget for the Department of Juvenile Justice, and act as a budget analysis for this state agency. I will create a strategic plan for this agency as well performs a cost analysis. This paper will also discuss the mission, vision, goals and objectives of DJJ in order to familiarize the direction of this agency. In being a budget analysis I have to forecast and analyze what the challenges are in managing a budget of this stature. There will be recommendations that this agency should review regarding new initiatives and budget cuts over the next five years. Lastly the budget analysis will review the most recent budget or financial plan for their agency. introduction The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is a multi-faceted agency that serves the state of Georgia’s offenders up to the age of 21Years old. In this department there are a total of 26 facilities that house the juvenile offenders for various crimes rather it being misdem eanor or felony crimes. There are also 92 court services offices through the entire state of Georgia. There are more than 4,000 employees that work at DJJ in the different areas whether if it is in the facility, community, education, or health services. DJJ employee’s main goals are to ensure the safety of this youth by providing supervision, planning and treatment to the youthful offenders so that they can be held accountable for their delinquent acts as well as to become productive citizens within the community in which they live. DJJ seeks to protect and serve the victims of crimes which are caused by our juvenile offenders within that community so that they can rebuild their lives in their various communities of Georgia. The Mission of DJJ is â€Å"To protect and serve the citizens of Georgia by holding young offenders accountable for their actions through the delivery of services and sanctions in appropriate settings and by supporting youth in their communities to become productive and law-abiding citizens.† The Vision of DJJ is to â€Å"OFFER HOPE AND YOUTH CHANGE† DJJ will lead the nation in preparing young people in its care to develop and sustain productive lives. The Values of DJJ is to â€Å"strive to create and sustain an agency culture that values accountability, integrity, security, superior, performance, ongoing personal growth, intellectual curiosity, innovation, teamwork, and leadership not only in our staff but also in the young people in our facilities and programs. The Goals of DJJ is to (1) create and sustain an agency culture that is cutting edge and promotes excellence. (2) Provide a continuum of high quality services for youthful offenders. (3) Provide employees opportunities to grow individually and as leaders; and (4) establish collaborative partnerships with families, neighbors, law enforcement, victims, DJJ staff and the youth themselves so that we can maximize our positive impact on youth and families. Budget Overview Georgia’s state budget for juvenile justice is $266 million in Fiscal Year 2011 and may grow to $279 million in 2012. There are almost 50,000 youths are in the system each year, either awaiting adjudication or serving their sentences-50,000 youths who represent the future workforce and citizens of Georgia (Moll and McCutchen). Georgia spends over $63,000 per year to incarcerate a juvenile offender, in which the cost to house each juvenile offender in a Youth Development Campus (YDC) or a Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) is $200 per day. Statistics shows that 13 percent of juvenile offenders are incarcerated in either or facility whether it being the local facility in your city (RYDC) or development campus that house violent offenders. Most of the department’s budget is securing placements for these youth by housing them in secure facility or a non-secure facility like a

Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Cancer - Essay Example However, in the recent times, the incidence of cancer has been on the rise (Dein, 2006, p. 35). There are various dietary, genetic, lifestyle related and environmental factors that could cause cancer (Dein, 2006, p. 35). Medical experts associate this trend with a range of factors such as pollution, smoking, stress, improper dietary choices, faulty lifestyles, substance abuse, genetics and the like, which negatively influence the cell division mechanisms in the body and lead to cancerous tumors in different human organs (Dein, 2006, p. 35). To put it in simple words, cancer happens to be an uncontrolled division of cells in an organism’s body (Weinberg, 1999, p. 1). In a healthy individual the division of body cells is systematic and controlled and facilitates many important body functions and physiological developments. However, in case this cell division gets uncontrolled, it may form a tumor, the name attributed to a mass of abnormal cells (Weinberg, 1999, p. 1). As cancero us tumors are composed of abnormal cells, they do not serve any healthy function in an organism’s body. Rather, an unobstructed growth of cancerous tumors obstructs the normal working of the healthy tissues and in extreme cases, if not checked through medical intervention, may cause death (Weinberg, 1999, p. 1). Cancers are caused by a variety of reasons or factors. They may infect any part or tissue in a body. Many a time cancers are caused by genetic disorders (Adrouny, 2002, p. 7).

Government of the Peoples Republic of China Essay

Government of the Peoples Republic of China - Essay Example An assessment of how majority of the stakeholders (the Chinese living in the countryside) benefit from the economic growth of the PROC is essential to qualify the success of being a world power of the developing country. Therefore, a grasp of the policies is important for policies are statements on how the Chinese leadership grapples issues. Moreover, the timeline of this research is beginning from the crucial years of 1978-1979, the time when Maoist China became Dengist. The establishment of the PROC in 1949 heralded a victory for the proletariat's struggle. Many in this working class are farmers who were mostly concentrated in rural China. Hence, it is understandable that development of the agriculture sector and the rural areas remains a priority in a largely agricultural country. In the early years of the People's Republic, in which Mao Zedong was the leader, the principle of collective agriculture was the primary basis in settling policy incongruity. "Ideological imperatives ensured that under Mao, the underlying policy dilemma was resolved through the establishment of a collective agriculture" (Ash 2001, p. 91). Utilizing agriculture to gain surplus was an important element to industrialize, indeed, "the e"the essential developmental role of agriculture is to generate a surplus, albeit one that assumes various forms. A basic imperative is to produce a real surplus: of food, especially for industrial workers and their urban dependants; of raw materials for light industry; and of exports in order to earn foreign exchange" (Ash 2001, p. 77). Labour development was the most evident result and was parallel to agricultural and rural development in Maoist China. "In general, the process of agricultural collectivization was instrumental in providing an institutional framework that went some way toward maximizing rural employment opportunities, albeit at the expense of waste, inefficiency, and the concealment of large numbers of surplus farm laborers"(Ash 2001, p. 78). Mao's death in 1976 provided an avenue for the moderates led by Deng Xiaoping. Modernization of agriculture remained one of the four top agendas, though Deng opted to achieve this by gradually employing an open system. "The ultimate thrust of agricultural policy since 1978 has been to transform China's farm sector from a supply-orientated to a market-responsive, demand-oriented system" (Ash 2001, p. 83). Furthermore, some capitalist aspects were injected to policies in developing agriculture and rural sector under the brand of "Socialism with Chinese characteristics." "In ancillary farming activities (research, irrigation, crop spraying, processing) there does exist considerable potential to realize scale economies and secure the benefits of cooperation. Typically, capitalist agriculture is characterized by the use of small manpower units devoted to the main farm tasks, combined with a significant degree of cooperation in such activities. Farm policy in China during the post-Mao period has increasingly sought to provide institutions that would preserve these valuable aspects of

Legal Difficulties Faced by any US Based Multinational Corporation Essay

Legal Difficulties Faced by any US Based Multinational Corporation - Essay Example In the global market, it is heartbreaking for an exporting and manufacturing business when its patent, trademark, brand name and even business plans are copied by some businesses in other countries and as a result, it loses the benefits that they aim at. Many businesses are not careful in protecting its intellectual properties. the global market, it is heartbreaking for an exporting and manufacturing business when its patent, trademark, brand name and even business plans are copied by some businesses in other countries and as a result, it loses the benefits that they aim at. Many businesses are not careful in protecting its intellectual properties. This summary points out some strategies that a business can use to protect its intellectual properties in order to keep patent and trademark unique. A tort has been defined as a wrongful act against an individual or body corporate and his, her or its property which gives rise to a civil claim (David Kelly, Ann E. M. Holmes, Ruth Hayward--). A broad area of tort law has been developed regarding the responsibility of employer towards employees and third parties who are affected by employee’s doing while they are in the workplace. Negligence is an important tort because it is constantly growing in the social and economic change. It has been stated in the participation by Michael Seymour that ‘a tort is defined as a negligent or intentional civil wrong not arising out of a contract or statute’. A tort may injure someone in the workplace or not due to employee’s actions and for which the injured party may sue the  wrongdoer for damages. So, the main object of the tort of negligence is to provide compensation to the injured person. Torts that can impact a workplace include negligence, false imprisonment assault, battery, inertial misrepresentation, and malicious prosecution. Negligence on the part of a manufacturer, for example, some manufacturers of China as it is discussed everywhere will cause serious issues and noises both inside and outside the manufacturer. As a manufacturer, it must necessarily ensure that the product is safe and it is up to the level promised to the public. There are products defectively designed by manufacturers that cause either injuries or even dissatisfaction of the ultimate consumers.

The Aspect of Hypocrisy in the Workplace

The Aspect of Hypocrisy in the Workplace From the previous emotion and writing exercise, several sentences were noted down. These sentences were as a result of the frustrations which I had experienced at my previous workplaces following the hypocrisy which existed. This paper seeks to discuss the problem of hypocrisy as per the previously noted down sentences. The problem of hypocrisy in the workplace has always left me feeling both angry and helpless. As a result, I have often wondered why individuals have to be selfish. At the workplace, I observed that managers were only keen to have their orders followed. Already receiving higher incomes, they still found it easy to step on their juniors who had no choice but to follow their orders. People should not expect others to do things which they are not prepared to do themselves. Every other time, such managers made decisions which were not rational and only because they wanted to profit from the benefits alone. It does not hurt to wish and dream and so many times I have wished I had the power to put a stop to this hypocrisy. If only I was at the helm of that company, I would set an example for everyone else. As a leader willing to serve everyone equally I would be prepared to apply the same for those with whom I share special relations. I do not see why one deserves to be treated differently from others simply because they know the boss. Managers often had their friends receive special treatment with most of them being engaged in various workshops which came with a lot of benefits. Some things should just be prohibited. Hypocrisy not only lowers a companys efficiency but it also brings about unethical tendencies which should not be allowed in workplaces. References Check, J. (2004). I Teach, (I Feel), I Write: The Effects of Emotion on Writing About Schooling The Quarterly, Vol. 26, No.3. Greene, S.S. (1995). An Introduction to the Study of English Grammar, Philadelphia: Cowperthwait Co. Nordquist: R. (2010). Basic Sentence Structures in English About.com, Retrieved on 18 January, 2010 from, http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/basicstructures.htm Wiechert, P. (2007). Exclamative Sentences-a Basic Sentence Type? An Analysis of Exclamative Sentences in English and German, Berlin: Grin Verlag

Power of Religion in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay

The Power of Religion in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck's epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, chronicles the struggles of the Joads as they join the thousands of fellow "Okies" in a mass migration westward. The Joads reluctantly leave behind their Oklahoma farm in search of work and food in California. While Steinbeck writes profoundly and emotionally about the political problems of the Great Depression, his characters also show evidence of a deep concern with spirituality. When they feel hopeless and are uncertain about their immediate future, their concentration on religion dwindles. On the other hand, when they leave their home, the Joads regain spiritual faith; they have something to live for: California. Once they arrive and find only more difficulties, they lose their sense that better things are ahead of them and gravitate back towards thinking politically. However, they finally return to the source of their original faith--religion-- at their most desperate time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the first characters Steinbeck introduces (after Tom Joad) is the former preacher Jim Casy, who questions his own faith in his initial conversation with Tom: "Ain't got the call [to preach] no more. Got a lot of sinful idears-but they seem kinda sensibleThe sperit's strong in me, on'y it ain't the sameHere I got the sperit sometimes an' nothin' to preach about. I got the call to lead the people, an' no place to lead 'em" (Steinbeck 20-21). His skepticism precludes him from preaching. He still recognizes the importance of his religion, but he is no longer sure of its role in the times of hopelessness. Casy could not preach when neither he nor those to whom he preached had a purpose. When guided by a goal, though, he pro... ...gles with their own faith in the midst of hunger, poverty, homelessness and loss of family are enlightening, and can inspire people who are not in that terrible situation to reconsider themselves. Work Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1998. Works Consulted Conder, John J. "Steinbeck and Nature's Self: The Grapes of Wrath." John Steinbeck, Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 125-140. French, Warren. John Steinbeck. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1975. Levant, Howard. "The Fully Matured Art: The Grapes of Wrath." John Steinbeck, Modern Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 35-62. Lojek, Helen. "Jim Casy: Politico of the New Jerusalem." Steinbeck Quarterly, Winter-Spring 1982. 30-37. The New American Bible, Gospel of John. 23:34. New York: The Catholic Press, 1976.

Applying Management Theories

Company A was initially formed as a group of engineering students to undertake the project of modifying and coding a Boot to automatically move around a maze as quickly as possible. The group was formed by Dry S. Watson, the project supervisor. The group consisted of four students: J. Peters, A. Shabbier, A. Mohammed and O. Added. The students began their project through the organized Company 1 meetings. In their first meeting they were introduced to each other, though J. Peters was absent, which disadvantaged him later in the project.The group cited that their first action would be to organize a group meeting in the week, before the next company meeting, a good pro-active decision. It was observed that no leadership took place in the group with everyone inputting questions that the group could not answer. The Part D students were then able to answer some questions. In the meeting the group did not discuss project strategy, but discussed sensor systems, there was no clear sensory sys tem decided with A. Shabbier wanting to research into sonar systems and A.Mohammed continuing research into IR sensors and QUIT sensors. Over the next two weeks the group began to realize their task and formed their project structure based on the diagram, [ Figure 1 ]. The strategy overall was carried out well throughout the group, as they became more aware of mistakes that may have occurred without the plan and check stages. Once the strategy was in place, the Plan section was implemented. Within the plan stage the group took into account the following factors for equipment choice: Cost, Complexity and Acceptability.An example of this method was the choice of sensors, the group decided to use IR sensors, as they were cheaper than sonar systems, they were the east complex of all the systems and achieved the groups' requirements. This decision making process was very powerful, as it gave the groups specific criteria that they had to uphold and it prevented members from verging off to pic, which they were prone to doing. Figure 1 – Plan check do act (PICA) model A main failure of the group however, was that they did not choose a project leader.Their failure resulted in a leaderless structure to the group, immediately disadvantaging the group, as there was no one to make key decisions. This can be seen by tensions formed in the group with regards to sub-systems. The group decided to create sub-systems and allocate a person per sub-system, though this was a sensible systematic approach (though it could have been improved by using at a job design chart, such as in [ Figure 21). Breaking down the sub-systems affected the group with some tasks much simpler and straight forward than others. This process led to J. Peters and A. Mohammed wanting the same roles.The decision was made by the rest of the group that A. Mohammed would be better suited to the desired role. J. Peters had little contact with the group up until that point and this showed in the groups' deci sion. J. Peters was left with the difficult task of producing the interim report for the group. This was a poor decision by the group as it meant that they issue also arose from the sub-system approach, where during one week; more than one member of the group was absent. This led to a halt in progress of the project in the areas where team members were away, as absent team members knew their role, but the other team members did not.This should have been factored into the projects' risk contingency plan; however this was yet to be created by J. Peters. This failure resulted in a week without progress and certainly created tension not only thin the group, but between the group and supervisor as well. A better strategy would have been to split the design into sub-systems, but within each sub-system, tasks could be created and given to members of the group, allowing more than one group member to have knowledge of each sub-system to ensure progress continues.What sequence? Who else? How to interface with the facilities? Environmental conditions? How much autonomy? Skills? Where to locate? Tasks? Figure 2 – A Job design chart, enabling users to identify each role After the fourth week it was clear that A. Shabbier had taken charge of the project, which could be a positive factor of not immediately selecting a group leader, as it allowed time for the more dedicated person the project to take control, effectively becoming the natural leader.His indecision however, led to a long delay within an exercise the group carried out. A requirement that the group made was to increase the speed of the robot. The group originally removed the wheel and replaced it with a larger wheel increasing the speed, a good idea; however, their plan did not consider that they were not allowed to remove parts from the Boot. Therefore the approach taken by he group was to use their project PICA strategy and they were able to modify the wheel by creating an extension to use the original w heel as a shaft for a larger wheel.This shows good initiative from the group, however the issue should not and would limitation control. The group would have been better to choose a product design strategy, where they generated a concept, which they could feedback to the supervisor in a company meeting, who could then evaluate the groups' design, making sure it is suitable for the set requirements. This would make sure the design fits the requirements and if not, it could be improved until it did. The groups' strategy for their hardware sub-system had certain requirements, one of which included a LED display.The display was a creative concept as many ideas in the group were; however there was a delay in delivery (due to the University) which the group had not planned for. This delay was unplanned for with no risk contingency plan in place. This therefore meant the group had to alter their Giant chart to their needs at that time. This was poorly planned, as a better Giant chart would have had extra time allocated for work that could not be completed at the specific time.

SIDS essays

SIDS essays Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has always been a topic I wondered about but knew very little information on. I was about fifteen years old when I first became familiar with SIDS. Waking up to the flashing red and blue lights as the sound of the loud siren became closer and closer, I looked out my window and noticed the ambulance was at the house next door. I quickly jumped up and put on my robe and house shoes. I opened my bedroom door and ran down the hall to my mothers room. I shouted, Mom and told her there was an ambulance outside. She grabbed my hand and rushed out the door. There were other neighbors outside by then trying to see what was going on. We watched from our porch as the medical workers raced back and forth to the ambulance getting the equipment that was needed. My mom told me to stay on the porch while she tried to see what was going on. She walked across the street and started asking the other neighbors if they knew of anything or if anyone had been h urt. The little old lady with the gray hair from the house down the street replied, The Johnsons new born, Alex, isnt breathing. Not knowing exactly what all this was about, I saw my mother walking back towards the porch as she wiped the tears that were running down the sides of her nose. At that moment, I knew something wasnt right. Repeatedly, I asked, is everything okay? She rapped her arms tightly around me, Theres something wrong with Amandas little brother, she said. My stomach dropped. All I could think about was the worst. Amanda was my best friend and she was Mr. and Mrs. Johnsons oldest daughter. What could be wrong, I thought to myself. I thought Alex was perfectly healthy. The medical workers rushed to their vehicles and shortly after, the Johnsons came walking out the door. Mrs. Johnson got into the ambulance with the baby and Mr. Joh...

Why Inner City Youth Suffer PTSD

Why Inner City Youth Suffer PTSD â€Å"The Centers for Disease control says these kids often live in virtual war zones, and doctors at Harvard say they actually suffer from a more complex form of PTSD. Some call it ‘Hood Disease.’† San Francisco KPIX television news anchor Wendy Tokuda spoke these words during a broadcast on May 16, 2014. Behind the anchor desk, a visual graphic featured the words â€Å"Hood Disease† in capital letters, in front of a backdrop of a heavily graffitied, boarded up storefront, accented with a strip of yellow police tape. Yet, there is no such thing as hood disease, and Harvard doctors have never uttered these words. After other reporters and bloggers challenged her about the term, Tokuda admitted that a local resident of Oakland had used the term, but that it had not come from public health officials or medical researchers. However, its mythical nature  didn’t stop other reporters and bloggers across the U.S. from reprinting Tokuda’s story and missing the real story: racism and economic inequality take a serious toll on the physical and mental health of those who experience them. The Connection Between Race and Health Eclipsed by this journalistic misdirection is the fact that  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  among inner city youth is a real public health problem that demands attention. Speaking to the broader implications of systemic racism, sociologist Joe R. Feagin emphasizes that many of the costs of racism born by people of color in the U.S. are health-related, including lack of access to adequate health care, higher rates of morbidity from heart attacks and cancer, higher rates of diabetes, and shorter life spans. These disproportionate rates manifest largely due to structural inequalities in society that play out across racial lines. Doctors who specialize in public health refer to race as a social determinant of health. Dr. Ruth Shim and her colleagues explained, in an  article published in the January  2014 edition of  Psychiatric Annals, Social determinants are the main drivers of health disparities, which are defined by the World Health Organization as ‘differences in health which are not only unnecessary and avoidable, but, in addition, are considered unfair and unjust.’  In addition, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in health care are responsible for poor health outcomes across a number of illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma. In terms of mental and substance use disorders, disparities in prevalence persist across a wide range of conditions, as do disparities in access to care, quality of care, and overall burden of disease. Bringing a sociological lens to this issue, Dr. Shim and her colleagues add, â€Å"It is important to note that the social determinants of mental health are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources, both worldwide and in the U.S.† In short, hierarchies of power and privilege create hierarchies of health. PTSD Is a Public Health Crisis AmongInner City Youth In recent decades medical researchers and public health officials have focused on the psychological implications of living in racially ghettoized, economically blighted inner-city communities. Dr. Marc W. Manseau, a psychiatrist at NYU Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital, who also holds a Masters degree in Public Health, explained to About.com how public health researchers frame the connection between inner city life and mental health. He said, There is a large and recently growing literature on the myriad physical and mental health effects of economic inequality, poverty, and neighborhood deprivation.  Poverty, and concentrated urban poverty in particular, are especially toxic to growth and development in childhood. Rates of most mental illnesses, including but certainly not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder, are higher for those who grow up impoverished. In addition, economic deprivation lowers academic achievement and increases behavioral problems, thus sapping the potential of generations of people.  For these reasons, rising inequality and endemic poverty can and indeed must be viewed as public health crises. It is this very real  relationship between poverty and mental health that San Francisco news anchor, Wendy Tokuda, fixed on when she misstepped and propagated  the myth of â€Å"hood disease.† Tokuda referred to research shared by Dr. Howard Spivak, Director of the Division of Violence Prevention at the CDC, at a Congressional Briefing in April  2012. Dr. Spivack found that children who live in inner cities experience higher rates of PTSD than do combat veterans, due in large part to the fact that the majority of kids living in inner-city neighborhoods are routinely exposed to violence. For example, in Oakland, California, the Bay Area city that Tokuda’s report focused on, two-thirds of the city’s murders take place in East Oakland, an impoverished area. At Freemont High School, students are frequently seen wearing tribute cards around their necks that celebrate the lives and mourn the deaths of friends who have died. Teachers at the school report that students suffer from depression, stress, and denial of what is going on around them. Like all people who suffer from PTSD, the teachers note that anything can set off a student and incite an act of violence. The traumas inflicted on youth by  everyday gun violence was well documented in 2013 by the radio program, This American Life, in their two-part broadcast on Harper High School, located in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago’s South Side. Why the Term "Hood Disease" is Racist What we know from public health research, and from reports like these done in Oakland and Chicago, is that PTSD is a serious public health problem for inner-city youth across the U.S. In terms of geographic racial segregation, this also means that PTSD  among youth is overwhelmingly a problem for youth of color. And therein lies the problem with the term â€Å"hood disease.† To refer in this way to widespread physical and mental health problems that stem from social structural conditions and economic relations is to suggest that these problems are endemic to â€Å"the hood† itself. As such, the term obscures the very real social and economic forces that lead to these mental health  outcomes. It suggests that poverty and crime are pathological problems, seemingly caused  by this â€Å"disease,† rather than by the conditions in the neighborhood, which are produced by particular social structural and economic relations. Thinking critically, we can also see the term hood disease as an extension of the â€Å"culture of poverty† thesis, propagated by many social scientists and activists in the mid-twentieth century- later soundly disproven- which holds that it is the value system of the poor that keeps them in a cycle of poverty. Within this reasoning, because people grow up poor in poor neighborhoods, they are socialized into values unique to poverty, which then when lived out and acted upon, recreate the conditions of poverty. This thesis is deeply flawed because it is devoid of any considerations of social structural forces that create poverty, and shape the conditions of people’s lives. According to sociologists and race scholars Michael Omi and Howard Winant’s, something is racist  if it â€Å"creates or reproduces structures of domination based on essentialist categories of race.† â€Å"Hood disease,† especially when combined with the visual graphic of boarded up, graffitied buildings blocked by crime scene tape, essentializes- flattens and represents  in a simplistic way- the diverse experiences of a neighborhood of people into a disturbing, racially coded sign. It suggests that those who live in â€Å"the hood† are very much inferior to those who do not- â€Å"diseased,† even. It certainly does not suggest that this problem can be addressed or solved. Instead, it suggests that it is something to be avoided, as are the neighborhoods where it exists. This is colorblind racism at its most insidious. In reality, there is no such thing as â€Å"hood disease, but many inner-city children are suffering the consequences of living in a society that does not meet their  nor their communities basic life needs.  The place is not the problem. The people who live there are not the problem. A society organized to produce unequal access to resources and rights based on race and class is the problem. Dr. Manseau observes, â€Å"Societies serious about improving health and mental health have directly taken on this challenge with substantial proven and documented success. Whether the United States values its most vulnerable citizens enough to make similar efforts remains to be seen.†

PERSONAL STATEMENT on masters in ECONOMIC REGULATION AND COMPETITION Essay

PERSONAL STATEMENT on masters in ECONOMIC REGULATION AND COMPETITION POLICY - Essay Example Being a female who looks at life from an optimistic mindset, I hail from the Sultanate of Oman and am 20 years old. I have qualified from high school where I understood the basic nuances of life. My academic interests within high school helped me become the head of student council which allowed me a chance to properly understand how work processes within the student regimes were handled. It also gave me an opportunity to believe in the dictum of living for others more than my own self. I transpired to me that I could gain quite a lot if I involved myself whole-heartedly within the student council affairs and thus my vision was geared to look after the people whom I was representing within the high school. Due to my commitment levels shown in the school, I was made the head delegate to model United Nations from Sultanate of Oman to Geneva, Switzerland. I learned a great deal within my high school days, which empowered me to comprehend how life will shape up in the coming times. I beli eve being an economics student, I can better adapt to the financial and accounting dynamics which are significant in the time and age of today. Economics is an important discipline and should be analyzed in such a manner that there is immense growth and development within the related ranks of an individual. I envision economics to be an important part of my life as this has shaped up my professional domains in essence. Since the world is moving ahead at a fast pace, getting acquainted with economics is definitely a point of advantage because it puts the economic champions to know what they are talking about and how to mold the financial management issues with the way learning is done. Within the Sultanate of Oman, I opine that economics has been a successful case study because it has empowered the oil rich state to use its resources in a viable manner – a manner in which there is more efficiency and productivity than anything else. As far as my educational journey is concerne d, I am doing my University Bachelors degree (Joint Honors) from the City University. My majors are International Politics and Sociology. I hope to be a graduate in the summer of 2011. This degree program offers me a chance to understand how economics of competition are manifested as well as the economics of regulation. The applied competition policy, sectoral competition and regulation, and the quantitative techniques for competition and regulation with the regulation law are important tenets of the degree program. My studies have not taken up all of my time. I have paid attention to my personal and professional grooming as well. What this has done is to make me feel proud of who I am and how I interact with the people around me. This is a much looked for aspect in the present day and age, and I am no stranger to this phenomenon. I like to mingle within debates so that my skills get polished. I usually speak on all topics which are clear to my understanding and which make me feel a t home with the topic at hand. I compete with people so that my abilities become strong and hence my competitive spirit is taken in a very positive manner by all concerned. I am usually a good orator as I like to speak fluently and that too within different languages. I speak well on economics and the different economic tangents, which are a central part of any business enterprise and indeed the entire industry of which economics is an integral link. Current affairs are something that I

How do relationships affect an organization In what ways are they Personal Statement

How do relationships affect an organization In what ways are they positive in terms of efficiency - Personal Statement Example The same applies to a soccer team that wins the trophy at the end of the derby. Achieving desirable results when many characters are involved all boils down to creating an effective team. An unfortunate scenario where workers do not understand or relate well with one another could be termed as poor social working environment. An organization housing such irregularities would soon plunge into great debts and losses unless there is some divine- economic intervention. A real socially functional working environment is not achievable by instinct but by practise. For workers to know each other well, it is the prerogative of the management to engage them in team building activities and cooperation and co-ordination workshops all through in the life of the company (Reis & Leukefeld, 1998). In conclusion to have an effective team, employees must learn to relate well with one another. It goes a long way in minimizing conflict between workers so that more time is saved, and less energy is applied in carrying out tasks. This kind of efficiency ultimately translates to increased

CDC children observation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CDC children observation - Assignment Example The second child is Kate, a girl aged 3 years. She is also an active child. Her favorite activity is playing with dolls. As noted the boy is very keen on detail. He plays with his toy car alone at a corner of the playfield. He does not interact with other kids except in situations when they come to him. He seems friendly whenever another child spoke to him. However, he concentrates on the playing with his toy car. At one occasion, he seems to observe something unusual with one of the wheels. He takes up a screwdriver and tries to untighten the screw so that he can remove the wheel. However, he is unable to do it. He seeks help from the caretaker who quickly untightens the screw for him. The boy seems convinced that the wheel has a problem. He looks carefully all around. He notices each detail and observes that the plastic when is cracked. He does not replace the when since there seems to be no replacement. He takes his toy car to the store. I also observed the girl several times. She seemed to enjoy the company of other children. In fact, I did not see her alone at any time. She was always with friends. The girl loves dolls and has several of them. She takes motherly care for them. I observed her trying to feed one of the dolls, soothed it and also lay it to sleep. Along with other girls, she tries to talk to them, assuming that they can hear. She is also quick to cry whenever she is offended by one of her friends. The toys that children use in the center are gender specific. For example, boys are seen to be playing with toy cars. The toy cars are characteristic of male children and are thus male gendered. However, there are also a small number of girls attracted to toy cars. On the other hand, girls are interested in playing mother roles. All of the girls have dolls. Also, I did not see any boy with a doll. Children at the center are always quarreling over toys and playing space. The staff members try to resolve all the

Therapeutic Cloning Essay Example for Free

Therapeutic Cloning Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cloning is the practice of creating a genetically the same copy of an original creature. And although it seems like twentieth-century idea, cloning is actually a part of natural processes, and had taken place many decades before though it was attainable. Since a variant of the cloning process plays such a large role in stem therapies, it’s worth taking a look at how cloning processes work (Cohen, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most public attention has been focused on the area called reproductive cloning – reproducing an entire creature be it frog, sheep, dog, or human being. As the twenty-first century unfolds, it is far more likely that what has been called therapeutic cloning – cloning used to cure disease – is going to have a more immediate impact on all our lives. Your chances of getting a cloned liver are greater than your chances of seeing a cloned you (Avise, 2004). Therapeutic Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Relative to genetic testing, therapeutic cloning is a technology very much in its infancy. Whereas we can plausibly predict, that genetic testing methods and the scope of such tests will dramatically improve in the proximate future, a like projection in the case of therapeutic cloning is more of a stretch. This view notwithstanding, analysis of current regulation of therapeutic cloning does have something to gain from postulating a future world in which therapeutic cloning is in clinical application (Savulescu Hendrick, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One likely application of therapeutic cloning is in the treatment of leukemia, and more broadly in various types of tissue and organ transplantation. Therapeutic cloning is important for four seasons. First, there is a shortage of tissue for transplantation. Second, there are problems with compatibility of transplanted tissue form another individual, requiring immunosuppressive therapy with serious side effects. Cloned tissue would be compatible without the infectious risks of xenotransplants. Third, the role of transplantation might be expanded to include common diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Fourth, cloning may prove to be a cost-efficient means of preventing disability and morbidity, and of promoting distributive justice (Shannon, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In considering the ethical aspects of therapeutic cloning there are two separate issues: should embryos produced during in vitro fertilization (IVF), which would otherwise be discarded, be available for research (with the consent of the couple who produced them); and, should we deliberately create embryos for use in research? It is difficult to argue against using embryos that would otherwise be discarded. The main ethical issue raised by both the production of ES cells and therapeutic cloning, is that of destroying embryos for the purposed of research or tissue for transplantation. If the embryo is considered to have a moral status similar to, say, a child, them embryo research would normally be wrong. On this view, IVF and almost any termination of pregnancy would also be wrong. A less absolute position would be that what is wrong with destroying embryos is a need to respect human life in general. But that wrong need to be balanced against the value of such research. Furthermore, for every live birth, up to five embryos will miscarry. In attempting to have a child by natural conception, we implicitly accept that this loss is a price worth paying to produce a new life. If the loss of embryos is an acceptable price to pay to produce a new life, is it not also an acceptable price to pay to save an existing life (Avise, 2004)? Tissue Therapy via Therapeutic Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   More than 40 years elapsed since Joseph Murray and his colleagues at a Boston hospital successfully transplanted a kidney between identical twins. This landmark approach was later extended by the medical community to other organs (e.g., heart, liver, lung, and pancreas) and to transplants involving more distant relatives and unrelated individuals. Transplants between unrelated individuals are especially challenging because, unless ameliorative actions are taken, the immune system of a transplant recipient sooner or later rejects the alien cells. To alleviate this problem, donor and recipient typically are matched as closely as possible for genes underlying immune responses, and immune-suppressive drugs also are administered. Such procedures are fairly common and have saved many lives. Nonetheless, modern transplantation surgery remains risky due to inherent immunological intolerances of patients to foreign tissue (Cohen, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thus, many research professionals are excited about â€Å"therapeutic cloning,† a new genetically modified (GM) approach that in theory should avoid the immunorejection problem. In this procedure, genes in cells to be transplanted originate from the patient, who therefore serves in effect as both donor and recipient. Because the donor and recipient tissues have identical genotypes, presumably the immune system would not recognize the implanted tissue alien. Another reason for enthusiasm about therapeutic cloning is that this research gives scientists welcome opportunities for basic research on human genetic disorders as they unfold during cell and tissue development (Bellomo, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The notion of therapeutic cloning for tissue or organ reconstruction in humans traces to the development of nuclear-transfer cloning methods for sheep and other farm animals. As applied to human cells, the procedure might work as follows: A suitable cell is removed from a patient and its nucleus is inserted physically into an enucleated egg. The egg then begins to multiply in a test tube, and, from the developing mass, pluripotent cells (those that possess a capacity to differentiate into multiple tissue types) are induced to grow replacement cells needed by the patient. Nerve cells might be grown to treat Alzheimer’s disease or spinal cord injuries, skin cells could be used to repair burn damage, retinal cells for macular degeneration, pancreatic cells for diabetes, hematopoietic cells for leukemia, neuroglia cells for multiple sclerosis, and so on. When returned to the patient’s body the cloned cells in such tissues or organs ideally would repair or replace the damaged body part, without evoking immunological rejections (Avise, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Several technical challenges must be overcome before this approach is medically viable. First, nuclear transfer (NT) techniques developed for farm animals will have to be improved and adapted to our species. Second, cells in the proliferating mass must be generated in such a way that they indeed are pluripotent at the outset. Third, the developmental potential of those flexible cells then must be channeled to produce the specialized kind of tissue that the patient requires. Fourth, methods must be devised to put those now-dedicated cells together properly to make therapeutically useful tissue or organ. This may take place naturally when the cells are placed in a patient’s body, or in some cases it may be accomplished initially in vitro. For example, replacement skin tissue for burn victims might be constructed by seeding the cloned cells onto sheets of a polymeric scaffolding substance. Finally, tissue therapy must be conducted such that the cloned cells do no harm when returned to the patient. It would be disastrous, for example, if even a few cells in the transplanted tissue began to divide in an unregulated, cancerous fashion (Shannon, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Of course, ethical issues will have to be addressed as well. When the initial oocyte created by NT begins to divide into two cells, then four, then eight, and so on, when does the cloned mass become a new human being worthy of protection under the law? Opponents of therapeutic cloning often contend that an individual arises at the exact moment that the first appears, such that any sacrifice of an early cell mass, even for medical purposes, is tantamount to slaughter. Proponents of therapeutic cloning view this notion as nonsense. How, they as, can a few amorphous cells be granted legal rights that take precedence over those of sentient human beings is desperate need of cell therapy? Remarkably, in US society, most of the debate over the possible legalization of therapeutic cloning hinges on this one emotion-laden philosophical issue (Bellomo, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In such public discussions, a common error (or often, an intentional argumentative ploy) is to equate therapeutic cloning with reproductive cloning. Although the initial laboratory steps in the two procedures are identical – both begin by inserting a cell nucleus into an unfertilized egg – that is where the similarity ends. In reproductive cloning, the GM egg would be re-implanted in the womb and allowed to grow into a fetus and baby, the intent being to generate a fully functional and independent human being genetically identical to its predecessor. In therapeutic cloning, the early clump of pre-implantation cells that comes from the GM egg would be grown in vitro and used to produce replacement tissues for medical rehabilitation (Avise, 2004). Elimination or Treating Heritable Diseases via Therapeutic Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although therapeutic cloning does not reproduce an entire organism to develop in utero and live life outside the womb, one motivation for reproductive cloning might be therapeutic. Reproductive cloning could allow genetic engineering interventions to correct defective genes before they have a chance to exert detrimental effects. Correction at the earliest stage would also free germ or reproductive cells and hence subsequent generations from carrying the defective gene (Savulescu Hendrick, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Certain genetic disorders may enhance certain universal human vulnerabilities, such as those to infection, bleeding, and aging. Beyond increasing these, everyone has inherited vulnerability to some disease or diseases. We would all like to be free from the threat of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutic cloning might substantially improve the treatment for these diseases since therapy for these is currently limited by the availability or immunocompatibility of tissue transplants (Avise, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Among the genetic disorders, some are so highly heritable and horrific that we might wish to employ reproductive cloning to enable the use of genetic engineering to correct the defective gene. That would free the clone and all subsequent generations from their ravaging impact (Savulescu Hendrick, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, reproductive cloning is an inefficient and error-probe process that results in the failure of most clones during development. For a donor nucleus to support development it must properly activate genes important for early embryonic development, it must properly activate genes important for early embryonic development and suppress differentiation-associated genes that were transcribed in the original donor cell. Inadequate â€Å"reprogramming† of the donor nucleus is thought to be the principal reason for the developmental loss of most clones. In contrast, reprogramming errors do not appear to interfere with therapeutic cloning, because the process appears to select for functional cells (Shannon, 2005). Ethics of Therapeutic Cloning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Can therapeutic cloning be ethically tolerable? Debates about the theory of proportionality, the slippery slope and the principle of subsidiarity here center again in a little dissimilar way (Savulescu Hendrick, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is uncertain whether the principle of proportionality offers a believable a priori opposition against therapeutic cloning. If it is well thought-out suitable to make embryos for study aiming cryopreservation of oocytes; in vitro maturation of oocytes and the like, then it is contradictory to decline therapeutic cloning in advance as being disproportional (Avise, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A consequentialist opposition, as a slippery-slope disagreement, is that therapeutic cloning will unavoidably direct to reproductive cloning. This objection firstly presumes that reproductive cloning is necessarily and categorically wrong, a premise still debated. Clearly, it would be premature, if not criminally irresponsible, in view of the serious health risks for children conceived by cloning to start clinical trials on reproductive cloning right now. But what if, somewhere in the future, these risks could be controlled? Would cloning then still be entirely baseless – even if it were ‘safe’ – then it is practical to exclude reproductive cloning, and not to forbid other, non-reproductive, relevance of cloning (Bellomo, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Are there suitable alternatives to therapeutic cloning? First, it is important to note that therapeutic cloning strictu sensu, starting with the first clinical trials, will not come up soon. Much basic research is needed, about the question whether it will be possible to control the differentiation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells in vitro. This study can, and ought to, be made with additional IVF embryos. At the same time, research into potential ‘embryo-saving’ alternatives for therapeutic cloning should be stimulated. For the relative ethical examination it is once more essential to evade the drawback of one-dimensionality. Amongst others, the following options are suggested in the literature: a) the use of adult stem cells; b) transferring a human somatic cell nucleus into an enucleated animal egg; and c) the direct reprogramming of adult cells, i.e., to reprogram an adult cell to make it revert to it unspecialized state so that it can then be influenced to develop into a specific type of tissue (this involves the development of undifferentiated cells without the need to create an embryo) (Shannon, 2005). Summary and Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cloning can be divided into therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Therapeutic cloning is the use of cloning technology to produce, for example, tissues for transplantation to people with disease. Reproductive cloning is cloning to produce a liveborn offspring (Avise, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The possibility of therapeutic cloning focuses on the concept of stem cells. Stem cells have the ability to develop into different mature cell types. Totipotent stem cells are cells with the potential to form a complete animal if placed in a uterus. They are early embryos. Pluripotent stem cells are immature stem cells with the potential to develop into any of the mature cell types in the adult (liver, lung, skin, blood etc.), but cannot by themselves form a complete animal if placed in a uterus. Human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines obtained from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst or pre-implantation embryo have recently been established. ES cells are pluripotent. Possible future clinical applications of human ES cell technology include: hemopoietic repopulation (‘bone marrow transplant’); treatment of diseases or spinal cord injury; screening of drugs; and as vectors for gene therapy (Cohen, 2002).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We should distinguish reproductive cloning with a therapeutic intent from therapeutic cloning to produce stem cells. Most of us are familiar with the nightmare scenario of reproductively cloning a person in order to use him as possession for â€Å"spare parts.† Parents who conceive children in the hope that the new child would be a good match immunologically to donate an organ needed by an existing child contribute to this image. With a child cloned from the original, there would be no doubt that the needed organ would perfectly match the recipient immunologically. Creating a person to be a source of spare parts is not what therapeutic cloning is about (Bellomo, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therapeutic cloning provides hope for cures or better medical treatment for people with many diseases. These include many of the genetic disorders for which reproductive cloning with a therapeutic intent might be entertained, but they also include diseases that are not necessarily genetic. A therapeutic cloning, cells are extracted from an embryo to clone specific bodily tissues for medical use, particularly transplantation. Type I or juvenile diabetes is one example of a disease that might be cured by therapeutic cloning to produce stem cells. Without contradiction, we can condemn reproductive cloning and at the same time, if we choose, support research with embryonic stem cells (Cohen, 2002). References: Avise, J. C. (2004). The Hope, Hype Reality of Genetic Engineering: Remarkable Stories from Agriculture, Industry, Medicine and the Environment. New York: Oxford University Press US. Bellomo, M. (2006). The Stem Cell Divide: The Facts, the Fiction, and the Fear Driving the Greatest Scientific, Political, and Religious Debate of Our Time: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. Cohen, D. (2002). Cloning. Brookfield, Connecticut: Twenty-First Century Books. Savulescu, J., Hendrick, J. (2003). Medical Ethics and Law: The Core Curriculum. New York: Elsevier Health Sciences. Shannon, T. A. (2005). Genetics: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy : a Reader. New York: Rowman Littlefield.

Modern Crime :: essays research papers

"She's just another Hollywood whore, an immoral porn queen. She's beyond redemption," he muttered to himself as he paced back and forth outside her apartment building. He had been constantly walking around outside the building for hours now, harassing people passing on the streets with crazed questions. Suddenly, overcome with resolve, the man stomped back to the building and rang the bell. She had rejected him once, but never again. He had given her a chance, but she had turned him away from her life. How could she do this to him, her biggest fan? After letting go of the buzzer, Robert Bardo hid himself in the bushes by the door. This was the only choice he had left after such a rejection. Twenty-one year old Rebecca Schaeffer, actress on the sitcom My Sister Sam, answered the door for the last time in her life. She had politely turned away a disturbing man earlier that day after explaining to him that she had to study her lines for her next show. However, when she answered the door this time, there was no one there. Bardo saw his chance and acted on it. He burst from the shadowy confines of the bushes and pushed a gun into Schaeffer's chest, pulling the trigger after he had her in his grasp. The bullet barely missed the young actress's heart as she fell to the ground, bleeding from a mortal wound. As Bardo flew from the scene, he stashed the incriminating evidence into the bushes. After interrogations performed by the LAPD, it was found that Bardo had been stalking Schaeffer for a very long time. However, this was not the usual case of a voyeur or a stranger trailing someone throughout their day. Bardo had traced Schaeffer through the use of the computer and its vast resources. With the use of computer databases, Bardo was able to find out where Schaeffer lived, what her telephone number was and who she called, what kind of vehicle she drove, and where she spent her money. It was as if Bardo could look through a window and clearly see all of Schaeffer's personal, intimate secrets (Rothfeder 13-14).This is the perfect example of a modern crime, in which all of an individual's privacy and personal information have become little more than a commodity, easily accessible to anyone with very little hassle. In the highly modernized society in which everyone lives, people compromise their privacy in order to live comfortably.

Historical Inaccuracies in the Movie Braveheart

The movie Barveheart in 1995, which was starred, produced and directed by Academy Award winner Mel Gibson, depicted (or tried to depict) the life of Scottish hero and patriot Sir William Wallace. The film gained worldwide recoginition, has won five Academy Awards including best picture and best director, and was nominated for another five. It also sparked the interest of many in Scottish history. The film, however, was also criticized about its historical inaccuracies.Indeed, according to historian Elizabeth Ewan, the film â€Å"almost totally sacrifices historical accuracy for epic adventure. † Sharon Krossa pointed out that in the film, â€Å"the events aren't accurate, the dates aren't accurate, the characters aren't accurate, the names aren't accurate, the clothes aren't accurate—in short, just about nothing is accurate. † Without proper information and understanding of the actual events in Scotland during the time of William Wallace's exploits, one would thi nk that the presentation in the movie is how it really happened during that time.Not much is really known about the life of William Wallace that even the date of his birth is a subject of debate among historians. And much of what is known is based on a fifteenth century poem by aperson known as the Minstrel or Blind Harry. It is the purpose of this paper to present historical facts during the time of William Wallace in contrast to those that were presented in the film. During the beginning of the film, there appears a text stating: â€Å"SCOTLAND 1280 A. D. †, followed by a narration: â€Å"I shall tell you of William Wallace.Historians from England will say I am a liar, but history is written by those who have hanged heroes. The king of Scotland had died without a son, and the king of England, a cruel pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, claimed the throne of Scotland for himself. Scotland's nobles fought him and fough each other over the crown. So Longshanks invited them to talks of truce—no weapons, one page only. Among the farmers of that shire was Malcolm Wallace, a commoner with his own lands. He had two sons—John and William†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This very statement would already have made the film far from fact. As Krossa points out, â€Å"it is the historians from Scotland, far more than from England, who will recognize the errors of the narrator/film. † There is no doubt that the â€Å"king of Scotland† mentioned was King Alexander III. But not only was the â€Å"king of Scotland† not dead in 1280, both of his sons were alive and well, and had an heir to the throne that had outlived him for four years. King Alexander III fell from his horse and broke his neck causing his death .True enough that all of his children—two sons and a daughter—were already dead during that time, but it didn't happen until 1986, six years from the film's 1280. The death of Alexander brought Scotland in a political crisis but its nobles acknowledged Margaret, Alexander's three-year-old Norwegian granddaughter—the product of his daughter's maariage to the King of Norway—and his only direct descendant, as inheritor of the kingdom. They appointed a Committee of Guardians â€Å"to govern in the name of the young queen.† However, the two leading claimants of the kingship after Margaret, Robert Bruce of Annandale and John Baliol of Galloway, together with other nobles, apparently refused to â€Å"submit to a female sovereign, especially if she was a child,† and the country was soon â€Å"distracted by the intrigues and conspiracies of the competitors for the crown† . The guardians of England appealed to Edward I, then King of England, to intervene. King Eric II of Norway, the father of Margaret, also asked Edward I's aid to vindicate his daughter's rights.They agreed to marry Margaret, the Maid of Norway, to Edward I's son, the then Prince of Wales, with the view of uniting the crowns of England and Scotland. In 1290, Margaret embarked for Scotland to marry the Prince of Wales but fell sick during the voyage and died at Orkneys at a tender age of merely eight years. This renewed the disputes between claimants. In 1291, Edward I met the nobles of Scotland, apparently to act as arbitrator, but demanded the Scots to recognize his overlordship. This must have been the basis of the film's â€Å"talks of truce†.Recognizing that they do not have the army to oppose Edward I had he decided to invade Scotland instead, the Scots, after long deliberation, finally agreed to recognize Edward I's overlordship. Edward I then finally awarded the Scottish crown to John de Baliol. John de Baliol soon found out that â€Å"the crown which he had obtained by means of a base concession had only transformed him from a poweful noble into the slave of an imperious and exacting master. † He soon revolted against the English crown.Edward launched his armies to Scotl and and on 1296, finally defeated the Scottish army at Dunbar. He demanded â€Å"nothing less than the total surrender† of John de Baliol and his kingdom. Incapable of resistance, the king of Scotland resigned his kingdom into the hands of Edward I. Considering the facts stated above, it was not until 1296 A. D. that the Scots had an actual armed conflict with the English through John de Baliol's short-lived rebellion, and when Edward the Longshanks â€Å"claimed the throne of Scotland for himself†, sixteen years later than the film's 1280 A.D. Edward the Longshanks is also not a pagan. Being the king of England, he is, in fact, a Christian—a fact that is evidenced by the ceremony of coronation. As John Steane explains: â€Å"the king was invested by the Archbishop of Canterbury with spiritual power as God's annointed, like the kings of Israel before him. Henceforward, the king was set aart from his subjects, at least on a par with, and to some extent superior to, churchmen. † It would be imprudent to think the Archbishop of Canterbury would annoint a non-Christian as King of England.Furthermore, he did not invite the Scottish nobles for â€Å"talks of truce† but presented himself as an arbitrator, which was perhaps a response to an earlier appeal made by the Scots, to the internal conflicts of the Scots themselves. That King Edward I took advantage of the political turmoil that has engulfed Scotland may be true enough but the manner of which it has been presented in the film is nowhere near from truth. The widely accepted, though still debated, father of William Wallace was Malcolm Wallace of Ellerslie, who was descended from ancient knights and baronets of Craigie and who himself is a Scottish knight.Sir Malcolm Wallace was of noble family and not â€Å"a commoner with his own lands. † Although there are sources that say Malcolm Wallace has only two sons, it is also widely accepted that he has at least three sons, an d in any case, Malcolm (same name as the father) or Andrew was the name of the eldest son, William would be the second son while John would be the youngest when Malcolm is presented to have three sons (compare with the film in which John is presented as being older than William).John has also outlived William by two years, compared with the film in which John was presented to have died when William was still a young boy. It should be also noted that Sir Malcolm Wallace (the father) was still alive in 1291, when the Scottish nobles met with Edward I (in contrast with the film wherein he died in 1280). He was one of those who did not accept the claim of overlordship of Edward I and went into self-exile.The inaccuracies stated above happened only during the first few minutes of the film and already there are a lot of them. As the story depicted in the film progresses, there would still be a lot more of inaccuracies. The inaccuracies, however, may be based on the different versions of t he accounts on the life of William Wallace—it has already been stipulated that much of his life is unknown that even the date of his birth is debated.We have already established that Edward I was not able to claim Scotland for himself until 1296. However, in 1291, after he misled the nobles of Scotland that he would act as an arbitrator but instead asserted his overlordship and the nobles had to swear allegiance to him, different towns and fortresses of Scotland had already been garrisoned by English soldiers (still 11 years later than the faulty 1280, although, in the film, there appears nothing that suggest that English garrisons were present in Scotland).The English soldiers, considering themselves masters of Scotland, treated the people with great contempt and cruelty, took from them by force whatever they had a fancy to (which most probably include sexual advances), and if the owners offered resistance, they were abused, beat, and sometimes killed; for which acts of viol ence the english authorities neither checked nor punished.Brawls were frequent occurences between the inhabitants and the soldiers and Wallace seldom remained inactive to those which came under his notice, compared with the film's depiction of Scots being totally submissive to such abuses and the depicion of Wallace as a reluctant patriot. It should also be noted that even as a young man, Wallace already displayed his indignation with the English, not only until his wife was murdered as was depicted in the film.Fact of the matter is that he was outlawed even before the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 where the English had totally defeated King John Baliol's forces and King Edward has taken the throne for himself. He would have been 20-24 years of age during this time if we consider his birth to be between 1272 to 1276, and 15-19 when the English had started setting up garrisons in Scotland.William Wallace â€Å"had witnessed as a boy the independence, the security and the happiness of his country, under the reign of Alexander, and the contrast which he† beheld upon the establishment of English garrisons that roused the feelings in his heart which have â€Å"been animated by a love of liberty and a hatred of tyranny and dissimulation, that nothing but death could extinguish. † The same is true for most of the Scots during that time. Prima Nocte, or the right for a lord to bed the bride on the first night of her wedding day, was also mentioned in the film.It was presented to be one of the oppressions made by the English to the â€Å"sons of Scotland. † The Jus Primae Noctis, or the law of first night, was introduced in the fifteenth century medieval Europe, at least a century later from the death of William Wallace. It was apparently â€Å"developed by the lords and used as humiliating signs of superiority over the dependent peasants. † Edward the Longshanks, in the film, said that â€Å"the problem about Scotland is that it is full of Scot s. † He further asserts that â€Å"if we can't drive them out, we'll breed them out.† Thus, in the film, Prima Nocte was justified as a means to â€Å"breed out† the Scots from Scotland. It is not in the interest of Edward I, however, to â€Å"drive out† the Scots, but, perhaps, only to invade them and expand his territory. There are, in fact, many Scottish nobles that held land in England, regardless they were granted these lands in exchange of them swearing allegiance to the English Crown, much as there were English nobles who held lands in Scotland. However, there are little, if not none at all, evidence that Jus Primae Noctis was practiced in the fifteenth century, much less during the time of William Wallace.While rape and murder most certainly occurred during the English exploits in Scotland, Prima Nocte most probably did not. It is flagrantly adulturous in the eyes of the Church and England, being a Christian country, could not tolerate such an abus e, much less putting it into a law. For most historians, Prima Nocta is but a myth. Even some of the momentous events in the history of Scotland with a major participation of Sir William Wallace was depicted in the film with much inaccuracies.There are two major battles depicted in the film—the Battle of Stirling Bridge and the Battle of Falkirk—which were both parts of the Scottish Wars of Independence. It is very easy to notice that the film did not include a bridge in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, which, as the name already implies, includes a bridge. Perhaps the creators of the film mistook this particular battle for the Battle of Stirling which happened in 1648, more than three centuries after the death of William Wallace.It is important to note that the bridge itself was a major factor for the victory of the Scots against the English during that battle, that despite the advantage in numbers of the English army the Scots still prevailed. The English would have to cross the bridge, which at that time was so narrow that it could be crossed only with at most two horses abreast at a time and would have taken the them several hours to cross, after which they would enter a narrow loop in the River Forth that will leave their flank dangerously exposed to attack even before they were ready for battle, thereby nullifying their advantage in numbers.The participation of Andrew Murray was also not included in the film. Also in contrast with the film, the battle did not commence when Wallace arrived at the scene. Fact is that Wallace's and Murray's armies were already waiting on the opposite bank of the river when the English, headed by John de Warrene, Earl of Surrey, arrived at Stirling Bridge. Even after that, Warrene decides to delay crossing the bridge for several days to allow for negotiations.Two Dominican friars were sent to Wallace to demand their surrender with which Wallace replied: â€Å"Tell your commander that we are not here to make peac e but to do battle, defend ourselves and liberate our kingdom. Let them come on, and we shall prove this in their very beards. † Compared with the film, this speech was more solemn and educated, not a taunting challenge. The English, confident of their advantage in numbers and military superiority, were surprised by the refusal of the Scots to surrender and on the 11th of September 1297 decided to cross the bridge.Wallace's speech in the film was not characteristic of nobles during the thirteenth century or at any other time, not with â€Å"kiss his own arse† language. Compare also the film's presentation that the English negotiated with other Scottish nobles when it was with Wallace they negotiated with. The film also depicted those Scottish nobles introducing Wallace to the English lords when, fact of the matter is, Wallace had already gained popularity at that time with the Scots and the English alike. The Battle of Falkirk also suffered much inaccuracies in the film .In the film, Wallace used the schiltrons to resist the enemy's heavy infantry at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Although, Wallace really used long spears to achieve his victory, the schiltron was never really used in that particular battle. Instead the schiltron was used at the Battle of Falkirk, from which the film failed to include. Wallace had no need for the schiltron at the Battle of Stirling Bridge as it is mainly a defensive tactic against heavy cavalry. Although the English started moving first by crossing the Stirling Bridge, it was really Wallace who started the attack.On the otherhand, Wallace knew he was at a disadvantage at Falkirk and readied his men in a defensive formation, which was mainly with the use of schiltrons. Knowing that the cavalry is useless against the schiltron, Edward I ordered his cavalry to attack the Scottish archers. Edward I did not order to loose arrows with his infantry in a melee with the Scots, as was depicted in the film. Instead, he ordered the arrows loose upon the schiltrons, which were in no position for defense against such attack.It was in such manner that the Scots were defeated in the said battle, which the film failed to present properly. It is true enough that the Scottish cavalry, under the command of the other nobles, â€Å"shamelessly rode off the field, without a blow being given or taken,† but detail by detail, the film's depiction of the Battle of Falkirk is in no way accurate. As for clothing and armor, the poem by Blind Harry gives us a short description as to how William Wallace looks like in battle: A habergione under his goune he war, A steylle capleyne in his bonet but marr;His glowis of plait in claith war couerit wiell In his doublet a closs coler of steyle; His face he kepit, for it was euir bar, With his twa handis, the quhilk full worthi war. † George Grant gives us a simple explanation. The habergione was a sort of chain-mail or ring-mail, extremely light and flexible, allowing the greatest freedom to the motions of the wearer, whether on foot or horseback. It was brought into Scotland by the crusaders in the beginning of the reign of Alexander III. During the period of Wallace, they appear to have been in general use both in England and Scotland.The goune was the surcoat, or coat of arms. It was a long, loose dress, without sleeves, open before and behind for the convenience of riding, and girted round the waist by the cingulum militare or belt. It was commonly worn by noblemen. The steylle capleyne, or iron hat had a rim and convex crown and was worn over a hood. The limbs were defended by being encased in boiled leather. Wallace also wore knee-plates of iron and guards for the shin-bones. His shield was round or triangular, would also have been made of iron (not wood as the film depicted).He also kept a dagger folded back under the arm, between the wrist and the elbow, when not in use, and concealed and secured in that position by the cloth of gloves wh ich appears to have worn over his glowis of plait, or arm-plate. His favorite weapon was a two-handed sword, or claymore, which his great strength enabled him to wield with ease. The mace and spear was sometimes also used by him. Paintings and sculptures of Wallace depict him in much the same way as described above. Wallace, in the film was wearing leather armor and kilts, very much in contrast with historical facts.No one wore kilts during his time as it were not introduced until in the sixteenth century, three centuries later after his death. Instead, the Scots who were lesser in standing wore tunics, its nobles were culturally similar with their English counterparts and would have dressed like them. There are much more historical inaccuracies in the film. The bottomline is that the film really is of an epic adventure genre, something short of a fantasy, not a historical presentation. A few mistakes on the details would be forgivable, but to change the story based on facts, an in a grand scale besides, deserves to be rejected as historical.Krossa suggests not to believe anything depicted in the film if one is truly intrested in what really happened during that time. There are elements in the film that coincide with history but that the elements leading up to those coincidences would need to be properly explained to fit to the real history, which the film obviously failed to present. She said that â€Å"it is far safer, and far more efficient, to just ignore the whole film, as regards history, and read a good Scottish history instead. † She adds, however, â€Å"to enjoy the film†¦by all means—just as one enjoys Star Wars or any other work of imagination—simply do not mistake it for history. † Bibliography BBC. â€Å"The Battle of Stirling Bridge—Factsheet. † Available from http://www. bbc. co. uk/history/scottishhistory/independence/trails_independence_stirlingbridge. shtml. Internet; accessed May 4, 2008. Edgar, John George. Memorable Events of Modern History. (1862) Ewan, Elizabeth. â€Å"Braveheart. † American Historical Review 100, no. 4 (1995): 1219–1221. Grant, George. The Life and Adventures of Sir William Wallace: The Liberator of Scotland. Dublin: James M'Glashan (1849) Kock, John T.Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO (2006). Krossa, Sharon L. â€Å"Braveheart Errors: An Illustration of Scale. † Medieval Scotland (2002). Krossa, Sharon L. â€Å"Regarding the Film Braveheart. † Medieval Scotland (2001). Mitchison, Rosalind. A History of Scotland. Routledge, 2002. Rodger, Robert. Documents Illustrative of Sir William Wallace, His Life and Times. (1841) Rowan, Frederica. History of Scotland. 1851. Steane, John. The Archeology of the Medieval English Monarchy. Routledge, 1999. Wettlaufer, Jorg. â€Å"The jus primae noctis as a male power display: A review of historic sources with

American foreign policy Essay

Foreign policy refers to the strategies that governments employ to guide their actions towards other countries. The U. S. foreign policy is founded on the principles of democracy and tenets liberalization (Goldstein, 2003). The U. S. foreign policy takes into account issues of human rights, economic growth and development, terrorism and environmental degradation and addresses them as challenges that can best be addressed through democracy in countries and institutions throughout the world (Goldstein, 2003). The U. S. foreign policy has undergone significant transitions that match different historical periods in the world that include the World War I, the World War II, the Cold War, the post Cold War period and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The United Nations and the United States are arguably the most influential players in the international system as well as in the global political economics as a whole. Having been formed with the main objective of promoting and achieving sustainable peace in the world, the United Nations remains the most dominant and most influential International Governmental Organization in the world (Roberts & Kingsbury 1994). In theoretical terms, the fundamental significance of the United Nations as well as the operational challenges faced by the institution are illustrated in the theory of realism which states that â€Å"there is no world government, or political authority above the state, a situation that ultimately reduces the international system to absolute anarchy with the absence of any overarching political body with the capacity to enforce law and order among its members or nation states† (Roberts & Kingsbury 1994). The realism theory stresses on the centrality of the state, or nation state as the ultimate political authority in the politics of the international system. As such, the overriding motive of all states is self-preservation through maximization of power, a characteristic that effectively transforms the international system of a war of all against all (Goldstein, 2003). The realism theory further argues that stability is best achieved in the balance of power which can be achieved through increased interactions among states, with the most powerful country playing the role of a balancer (Goldstein, 2003). Today, the U. S. is the most powerful country in the world and has effectively assumed the role of a balancer in the international system, with the United Nations serving as the overarching political body with capacity to enforce law and order among its member states. Domestic Public Attitudes toward Foreign Policy in the United States At the domestic level, the U. S. foreign policy enjoys a lot of support among the citizenry. According to a report by World Public Opinion. org, a strong majority of U. S. citizens support of the U. S. involvement in the world. However, the number of U. S. citizens who feel disgruntled by the country’ foreign policies is growing steadily. The World Public Opinion. org has established that Americans overwhelmingly support the continued leadership role that the U. S. plays in the world. These findings were based on a 2006 GMF poll which indicated that 84 percent of those polled saying it was desirable for the U. S to exert strong leadership affairs, with 43 percent having been quoted as expressing a US global influence as being very desirable, and only 14 percent expressing their concerns about the U. S. global influence. However, the overwhelming support of the U. S foreign policy by its citizenry does support the role of the U. S. in global affairs as a hegemony, but rather supports the idea of shared leadership roles with other players in the international system. A significant segment of the U. S population believes that the U. S security has been threatened by the way the U. S. has been using the threats of military force as leverage in the international system. In a poll conducted by the World Public Opinion. org, 63 percent of the respondents were of the view that the U. S. military threats prompt other countries to be protective by developing and acquiring weapons of mass destruction. In another survey that was carried out in 2003 by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, majority of the U. S. citizens faulted the war in Iraq, with 66 percent of the respondents believing that the war has had negative effects on the relations between the U. S. and the Muslim world. According to the survey, 64 percent of the respondents expressed concerns that the war will not promote democracy in the Middle East while a further 61percent expressed fears that the war will not reduce the threat of terrorism. International Public Attitudes toward Foreign Policy in the United States There has been a growing disdain for the U. S. foreign policy in many countries throughout the world. The September 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent U. S. war on terror are seen as having particularly caused dramatic shifts in U. S. foreign policy (Grant, 2004). The military operations in Afghanistan that have been ongoing since October 2001 to date and the U. S. invasion of Iraq have taken toll on the image of the United States with people from around the world and those in the Muslim countries in particular showing the lowest ratings for the U. S foreign policy. According to the Pew Global Attitudes Project that is run by the Washington DC based Pew Research Centre, America’s image relative to the country’s foreign policy has dropped immensely over the years. According to the report of the project, the United States is trailing many countries in favorability ratings. Countries such as France, Germany, China and Japan are more popular than the U. S in the European Union countries and Muslim countries. The study showed that while the ratings of the U. S were highest in Asian countries such as India, the favorability ratings of the country dropped by 15 percent in India between 2005 and 2006. The study further indicated that levels of negative attitudes that the populations of Western Europe have towards America are even higher than they were in 2002 before the Iraq invasion. The Pew Global Attitudes Project report also showed low ratings for President George Bush both domestically and internationally, with the confidence in bush to make the right decisions in international affairs having dropped in seven of the eleven countries in 2005 as provided by the data that tracked the trends. The report further indicates a steady slump of rating for George Bush in European countries and among predominantly Muslim populations. George Bush registered the largest slump of ratings in the U. S. from 62 percent in 2005 to 50 percent in 2006. In regard to the War on Terror, the Pew Global Attitudes Project reported an overwhelming decrease in international public support for the U. S led war on terrorism. With Muslim countries having obviously registered the highest levels of criticisms against the war on terror, Spain and Japan also registered almost virtual collapse of support for the counter-terrorism war. As of 2006, the support for war on terror in Spain had reduced to 19 percent from 63 percent in 2003 while Japan registered public support of 26 percent from 61 percent in 2002, according to information provided by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.