Barack Obama A More Perfect Union - 1090 Words

We may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction. Barack Obama’s speech â€Å"A More Perfect Union† (Nov. 17, 2008) captivates our nation with its thought out structure of the division and inequality in America. Obama successfully used allusion and repetition. Along with personal anecdotes to identify with the audience. Opening with We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.† conveys an image of the constitution for the purpose of the speech; what comes next is â€Å"Two hundred and twenty one years ago,† an opening that places him in the tradition of Lincoln at Gettysburg and Dr. King at the Lincoln Memorial â€Å"Five score years ago.† Concentrating on the nation’s misunderstanding and†¦show more content†¦Giving the nation confirmation that he understands the role of history as well as the present-day concerns affecting our nation. Obama uses imagery and allusion, when describing t he countless ways that racism is displayed in our society. The imagery of race and racial conflicts within communities; bringing to light the prejudice and first hand experiences of racism, majority of the American people are aware of the racism dilemma we have as a nation. Obama said â€Å"the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table.† Later he proposes a solution, that it is essential for the African American community to stop becoming victims of and accept their past. Giving the African American community the inspiration to be more positive; being able to identify with Obama’s judgment of race within their community. President Obama also acknowledges a similar issue with the white community. â€Å"Most working and middle-class white Americans dont feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race†¦. As far asShow MoreRelatedBarack Obama s A More Perfect Union1460 Words   |  6 Pages Harsh Kumar Mr. Dowlen 3rd period Barack Obama’s â€Å"A More Perfect Union† Biweekly Journal Summary: President Obama’s, â€Å"A More Perfect Union†, speech conveyed many of his beliefs concerning racism. Obama is the son of a white woman and a Kenyan man, and just because of his race people are either with or against him. He begins his speech by talking about the founding fathersRead MoreBarack Obama s A More Perfect Union 999 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.† Barack Obama begins his moving speech with this message, trusting that new and renewed ethnic views will form in our nation’s voters. In March of 2008, Barack Obama was in the depths of his campaign to become President of the United States. The preaching given at that time, called â€Å"A More Perfect Union† revealed his thoughts about racism and equality in America. Throughout the time since that speech, many voters and politicians have given theirRead MoreBarack Obama s A More Perfect Union1580 Words   |  7 Pagesdoors can be opened. Not only can that result in the idea of change but actually show evidence of it. But this act cannot be done alone. It requires more than one to stand together to complete this challenge. With voices heard and actions done, Senator Barack Obama believes that this can be accomplished while giving his speech â€Å"A More Perfect Union†. Obama argues that the problems we have today are from the past. He states they still remain because we allow them to control us and the world we live. InRead MoreAnalysis Of A More Perfect Union By Barack Obama Speech1178 Words   |  5 PagesDo you believe that the U.S. needs to be more â€Å"united† to be able to become better as a country? Former president, Barack Obama does. â€Å"A More Perfect Union† is the name of a speech given by Barack Obama in 2008 for his presidential campaign. In his speech, Obama builds an argument on how United States citizens must come together and look past racial and ethnical differences in order to better our country. Throughout his speech, Obama states various reasons to support his argument. Some of the manyRead MoreLetter From A Birmingham Jail And Barack Obama s A More Perfect Union1304 Words   |  6 PagesIn Martin Luther King Jr. s Letter from a Birmingham Jail and Barack Obama s A More Perfect Union, both leaders discussed many of the same issues. The big theme in both was about race in the United States and becoming a much more unified nation despite our race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Both of these leaders also touched on the fact that in order to solve the problems in this country, we must be unified and work together. One quote that really stood out to me in Letter ofRead MoreRacial Formation Within Hegemony And Common Sense1673 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstand how the force and the consent plays a major role within each party or community in the United States of America. Now, in the title, â€Å"A More Perfect Union,† author Barack Obama emphasizes that race has diverse stories in which it proves that we still hold common hopes in understanding society as a whole through common sense in racism. Barack Obama’s speech proves several ideas about race by comprehending how he became the president and how society interacts around the topic in which MichaelRead MoreBarack Obam A Black Man From Kenya And A White Woman From Kansas1311 Words   |  6 Pages Barack Obama was born in Hawaii to a â€Å"black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas† in 1961. (Austin 460) Obama moved quite a bit in his early years. He lived in Hawaii, Washington, and Jakarta, Indonesia. He had a strong relationship with his grandparents and mother who provided stability for him to feel comfortable to adapt to the new environments. His father was not present for most of his life. Barack was smart and a good student. Barack attended some of the most prestigious universitiesRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of A More Perfect Un ion 1162 Words   |  5 PagesRhetorical Analysis Essay â€Å"A More Perfect Union†: Obama, Race, and the Necessity to Unite Philadelphia, March 2008. Neither that city nor year suggests a crucial event in American racial history. It’s not Birmingham in 1961, or Washington, D.C. in 1963. However, on March 18, 2008, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon-to-be President Barack Obama, a black man with an African father, took the stage and delivered a speech that would paint the racial landscape ofRead MoreA More Perfect Union - Summary772 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å" A More Perfect Union† is a speech delivered by the presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008. The speech was a response to the controversial comments about race segregation in America made by his former pastor J. Wright. Obama revealed his personal history as a man of color, living in the United States. He encouraged the nation to end the racial division, to overlook all the issues and unite to form A More Perfect Union . Read MoreMLK vs. Obama1461 Words   |  6 Pages Martin Luther King Jr. vs. President Obama Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama have both written and performed their fair share of speeches throughout their respective lives. The two speeches that are being compared are President Obama’s â€Å"A More Perfect Union† speech and Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham City Jail† letter. President Obama spoke this speech while his was campaigning for the presidency in February of 2007, while his was running against Senator Hillary

Autobiography Of An Ex Colored Man Essay - 1449 Words

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored, Still-Clueless Man The narrator of The Autobiography grows up his whole life thinking that he is white. It is not until one fateful day in school where a teacher indirectly tells him that he is black that he finds out. This revelation, which he himself describes as â€Å"a sword-thrust† (Johnson 13), suggests a transformation, a great change, a development in the Ex-Colored Man’s racial consciousness in the future. However, as M. Giulia Fabi says, â€Å"[The ECM’s] proclaimed loyalty to his ‘mother’s people’ is continuously undercut by his admiration for and identification with mainstream white America† (375). She also indicates how when contrasted with previous passers, â€Å"the Ex-Colored Man’s oft-noted cowardice,†¦show more content†¦However, if he’s unaware of it, then it could happen again in the future and he, having learned nothing from his past because of this obliviousness, will still be unaware of it in the future. Addi tionally, he is unable to see the ways in which his relationship echoes that of slavery as well as his mother and father’s relationship (Somerville 397), which subtly illustrates his ignorance. Another consequence that result from this lack of â€Å"race consciousness† is his interaction with black music and culture. As Robert B. Stepto argues in â€Å"Lost in a Quest,† the ECM is â€Å"caught†¦in a kind of illiteracy that argues that technique can pass for art†¦[mistaking] the modulation and exploitation of race rituals along the color line for proper relations between artist and audience† (368). Additionally, Stepto argues that the ECM, â€Å"alienated from the deepest bonds of his race†¦learns to play music without reference to who is ‘in the other room’† (368). Ragtime, as Edward A. Berlin states in Ragtime: A Musical and Cultural History, derived from â€Å"the ‘coon song,’ a Negro dialect song frequently, but not always, of an offensively denigrating nature† (205). As someone who has â€Å"dreams of bringing glory and honor to the Negro race† (Johnson 26), it is very problematic for the narrator not understand the cultural and racial significance of the music he wants to play. For himself, he fails to gain any real understanding and he becomes, as Stepto says, â€Å"aShow MoreRelated Racial Identity in The Autobiography of an Ex-colored Man Essay1327 Words   |  6 Pagescommunity in his novel â€Å"The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.† One does not only read this book, but instead one takes a journey alongside a burdened mulatto man as he struggles to claim one race as his own. In Johnsons novel, the young mulatto boy is at first completely unaware of his unique circumstance, and lives life comfortably and oblivious to the oppression of the black race outside of his home in Connecticut. He is characterized as a bright, quick learning young man whose talents do not ceaseRead MoreThe Autobiography of the Ex-Colored Man: The Ability to Pass Essay1120 Words   |  5 Pages The Autobiography of the Ex-Colored Man: The Ability to Pass The Autobiography of An Ex-Colored Man depicts the narrator as a liminal character. Beginning with an oblivious knowledge of race as a child, and which racial group he belonged, to his well knowing of â€Å"white† and â€Å"black† and the ability to pass as both. On the account of liminality, the narrator is presenting himself as an outsider. Because he is both a â€Å"white† and â€Å"black† male, he does not fit in with either racial group. In the autobiographyRead MoreAutobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Book Review Essay775 Words   |  4 PagesKevin Rance HIST3102 Pratt 8 September 2011 The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man Book Review The novel, The Autobiography of an Ex-Coloured Man by James Weldon Johnson shows a story of a man with mixed blood of white and coloured. Throughout the story, the man is conflicted with his heritage, sometimes accepting his coloured heritage and at other times rejecting his coloured heritage and passing himself off as a white man. The main character travels all around the United StatesRead MoreEssay about Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man and Jews Without Money877 Words   |  4 PagesAutobiography of an Ex-Colored Man and Jews Without Money To be a minority is a very difficult task. Fighting daily prejudices and trying to establish a unique identity that fits into society at the same time is often one of the hardest things for a â€Å"different† person to do. Deciding one’s daily activities and then watching the repercussions of those activities can be discouraging at times. In the novels, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, and Jews Without Money, two characters, theRead MoreAdoption Are Beating The Adoption Odds By Cynthia D. Martin1035 Words   |  5 PagesNoble. N.p., 30 Nov. 8319. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. 1a. Three books and authors dealing with the subject of urban violence are Don’t shoot: One man, a street fellowship, and the end of violence in inner city America by David M. Kennedy, Street Wars: Gangs and the future of violence by Tom Hayden, and The Fallen by Paul Langan. Kennedy, David M. Don t Shoot: One Man, a Street Fellowship, and the End of Violence in Inner-City America. Alibris. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. Hayden, Tom. Street Wars: GangsRead MoreThe Identity Of African Americans1758 Words   |  8 PagesRace was a primary factor used to shape the identity of African Americans which was seen through their culture. Race is portrayed through the narratives such as The life of Frederick Douglas by Frederick Douglass and the Autobiography of an Ex-colored man by James Weldon Johnson. In both the narratives, they state they are slaves due their race. First, this idea is supported in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass when he states in the preface, â€Å"he was a slave â€Å"too (Douglass 325).Read More James Weldon Johnson Essay654 Words   |  3 Pageshe was a proponent. While Johnson was a highly celebrated and versatile literary figure, his most well known work is The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man . Even though this title suggests that this work was his own story, it was actually a novel, the first African-American one to mask itself as an autobiography. In this novel, the illegitimate son of a southern white man and his mulatto mistress struggles to find his identity and place in the world. Being light-skinned, he does not discover hisRead MoreJames Weldon Johnson s The Autobiography Of An Former Colored Man And Nella Larsen s Passing3489 Words   |  14 PagesThe Theme of Passing, Racial Prejudice and Internalized Racism in James Weldon Johnson’s The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man and Nella Larsen’s Passing The concept of racial passing refers to the occurrence in which an individual is able to transcend racial boundaries. During the Harlem Renaissance, the term â€Å"passing† meant to signify mixed race individuals who were light skinned enough to pass as white and mingle freely within white society, almost completely undetected. This was significantRead MoreOn James Weldon Johnson’s â€Å"The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man†2065 Words   |  9 Pageselevations which would not have happened otherwise. Ruotolo points out in her essay â€Å"James Weldon Johnson and the Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Musician†, the narrator earns a living in order to attend college by playing Beethoven’s Pathetique sonata to a white Connecticut audience† (Ruotolo 252). While in Florida, Ruotolo goes on to say, the narrator gives piano lessons so that he may be able to interact with the better class of colored people in that area. Why the narrator chooses Beethoven’s PathetiqueRead MoreJazz Music Of The Time1559 Words   |  7 Pagesjazz bands in the area. He popularized the skill of scat, or improvisations, over top of some never-before-seen rhythmic stylings. Cab Calloway dazzled audiences with his vast range and mastery of scat. â€Å"The Hi De Ho Man†, as he soon became known, was often seen as a charismatic man with a love for his craft. Unlike the other two musicians, Calloway grew up comfortably in a middle class household where his parents actively supported his skills through private lessons. His breakout solo, â€Å"Minnie the

How strong was Nationalism in the Second Reich Free Essays

In 1871, Bismarck unified Germany; however this great achievement did not mean that his job was done. Now, the ultimate threat for him was a revolution, so he needed to make sure that everyone was reasonably happy in the new unified Germany. The constitution of the German Reich was created on 19 April 1871. We will write a custom essay sample on How strong was Nationalism in the Second Reich? or any similar topic only for you Order Now This aimed to please the upper class, middle class, working class and the German states. The upper class were pleased by the fact that they would be ruled by a German Emperor (William I) who was also the King of Prussia and Supreme Commander. This way, they could maintain an element of autocracy and social hierarchy. The Federal Council could over-rule the Reichstag if it wanted to so this helped to avoid democracy, again, pleasing the upper class. Having a constitution would please the middle class as it enables democracy to a certain extent. They would have been pleased by the fact that the constitution allows the middle class suffrage and in turn, gains them more power. Gaining the vote and power within the constitution also pleased the working class. Twenty-five confederal states made up the Federal Council, meaning that Prussia did not overrule everyone; this pleased the other German states. Prussia was only allowed seventeen representatives; however, the council had the power of veto, if they were supported by 14 votes. This meant that it would take only 14 of the 17 representatives of Prussia to overrule the other states. The careful planning of the constitution helped to encourage nationalism, as everyone in it was kept quite happy. The middle and working class got elements of democracy whilst the upper class had elements of autocracy. However, it was more absolutist than it appeared to be. Bismarck and Prussia still had subtle control over Germany. How did the government encourage the people to be good Germans? Nationalism throughout Germany was encouraged in areas such as education, industry and the monarchy. The writings of Heinrich Von Treitschke were very influential to the German people. He believed that Germans were driven by ideas such as nationalism rather than being practical. The acquisition of power was the key to a successful Germany, â€Å"only the truly great and powerful states ought to exist.† As he was such an influential writer, it was causing nationalism to grow amongst the German people. Treitschke also believed in conformity and wrote that â€Å"the individual has no right to regard the state as a means for attaining his own ambitions in life†, meaning that people should do as they are told by their government, and not revolt (like the French did.) Both the acquisition of power and conformity had created a replacement to absolutism known as authoritarianism. His writing showed that nationalism was becoming more and more conservative. To be a good German, you had to pure blooded and a militarist. Treitschke taught that war was a good thing and it makes you a better person. â€Å"The sacred power of love which a righteous war awakes† is an example of what he wrote about war. Germany was founded through three wars, so to Germans it must seem a very good thing. However, this all changed after WWI. Nationalism was also being encouraged through education. Textbooks would contain phrases such as â€Å"the ideal bearers of civilisation with an innate superiority and pureness of blood.† Introducing to children the ideas of the Aryan race. How serious was opposition to nationalism? The main opposition to nationalism consisted of the Catholic church, workers and women. Problems with the Catholic church arose because Bismarck tried to control the country through education. However, for Catholics, their education lies in the hands of their religion so what they were taught by their religion was very different to what Bismarck wanted to teach them. In 1870, the Vatican Council adopted the doctrine of papal infallibility, meaning that whatever the pope said or did was right, and no one was allowed to question it. This was a problem for Bismarck as he continued to try to gain control over German education. He passed many laws such as the May Laws (1873) which forbade catholic inspections of schools, but by 1887, a bill was passed to give the Church its old independence. The Catholics won the Kulturkampf so they proved to be a threatening opposition to nationalism. Socialism of the working class was the most serious form of opposition to nationalism. The social democrats were similar to communists in the sense that they wanted the abolition of classes and class rule. Bismarck tried to prevent them from growing, by introducing anti-socialist laws, but they continued to grow even faster. By 1912, the SPD were the largest party in the Reichstag with nearly 4million votes!! Bismarck even attempted to encourage working class nationalism by introducing state insurance and pension, however, this was simply mocked by socialists. They called it ‘state socialism.’ The social democrats continued to be the largest party in the Reichstag up to the outbreak of WWI in 1914. Another form of opposition to nationalism was women. This was not as serious as the Suffragettes in Britain, although it still posed a threat to nationalism. Women were seen as second class citizens who were oppressed by the ruling classes, generally men. The women’s movement achieved very little under Bismarck, however, they managed to get the right to get involved in politics. It was the most low key of the three main threats to nationalism, as it was not as significant as the Socialists or the Catholics. Out of the three, the biggest threat to nationalism seems to be the Social Democratic party, as they managed to become the largest party in the Reichstag, meaning that they would have quite an influence over parliament. However, the Federal Council could just simply dissolve the Reichstag if they felt it was necessary. How to cite How strong was Nationalism in the Second Reich?, Papers

Cultural - Traditional - Artistic Context from Ramayana - Free Essay

Question: Write an essay that examines the cultural, traditional, and artistic context of the text and painting from the Ramayana book. Research and explain at least one cultural reference in either the painting or the text that helps better understand the significance of the story. Compare the content of the painting and the text to explain how the artist interprets the source material in a unique way. Compare the painting and the text to explain how the change in medium affects the way certain key scenes or events from the text are represented. Follow the basic format of a five-paragraph essay, where each of your body paragraphs addresses one of the three main topics mentioned above. Include a conclusion paragraph that re-emphasizes the importance of culture, tradition, and artistic medium in understanding the two works. Answer: Introduction Ramayana is an oral tale. It plays an important role in Hindu literature. It's been carried out in many forms such as reciting in ritual contexts, song, dance and theatre, paintings. Painting was an important part of that period. Paintings depicted their whole life. It gives us a glimpse to understand their political, social and cultural life. Here we will discuss how painting helps us in understanding it more significantly. Even the Ramayana guides us. It depicts the ideal relationship of husband, brother, wife and king. Cultural reference in painting that helps to understand better the significance of the story Dasharastra was the king of Ayodhya. He had three wives but was childless for a long time. After a long time Rama, Lakshman, and Shatrughna was born. Vishnu was chosen to demolish Ravana. The picture depicts that throughout the story Rama and Lakshmana were Vishnu's companion. They both received instruction as well as supernatural weapons to destroy Ravan.Many of the paintings described the entire activity of Rama. The picture shows the birth of the four sons and the celebration, another picture also depicting Bharata asking for Rama's footwear (Ghosh, 2012). The paintings give us the deep history of Ramayana. A painting helps us to know more about the story. Without the contribution of painting, it would not have been possible to know much about the history of that era. Paintings give us a direct impression of knowing the incident. Paintings are of great archaeological sources (Filliozat, 2012). The most famous painting depicting the Battle of Lanka gives us much information about understanding the Ramayana. The painting showed us how attempts were made to rescue Sita from Ravan. The Lanka Bridge was made by building a bridge. Here Hanuman played a great role. Rama and Lakshmana with their allies proceeded towards the shore. The Rama was successful in rescuing Sita. Ravan was killed by Ram. This incident creates an impression on human society that evil can be destroyed. This is the symbol of the power of good over the devil (O'Brien, 2012). On the basis of this the festival Diwali is celebrated throughout the world. Comparison of the content of selected painting and the artist interpretation of the source material in a unique way In art, word, phrase, an image can showcase different meaning to the artist or viewer. It's a human nature that we see things from a different perspective and interpret differently due to our behavior. The photographer Vasantha half French and half Sri Lankan viewed Ramayana as an epic story that changed his life (Saini, 2014). He used the word "A Myth of two Souls '' his project on the ancient Hindu Poem to bind together a personal allegory. In this project, he uses a combination of text and photographs, even original extract from the epic to related the present events with Ramayana. He used paintings as well as many documents for reflecting the importance of the story in the modern world. He used to travel a lot in searching and interpreting Ramayana in different ways. He came to a conclusion that Ramayana has changed irrevocably. He mentioned that the epic tells us many adventures things as well as gave a description on the exile of Rama. It's the story of courage, friendship, loyalty and justice. It has attached deep religious significance (Kumari, 2014). Throughout the centuries, the artist are inspired by the religious importance attached to the epic. Comparison of the selected painting The Ramayana has grown from a fictional account to a religious scripture. It direct us and gives us a lesson that how a person should live with a noble heart. There are some paintings found that gives a better glimpse of inter-linkage of the paintings and text. Many times political-social culture influences writing. In paintings, there is a greater scope to express them. Visual paintings are hard to create. In Ramayana, there are lots of paintings found that narrated the whole event, but the text is not totally supporting it.There is a painting show casting Sita after been kidnaped by Rama (ADHAM, 2012). The perspective of looking at the painting raised many questions on a part of Sita. The portrayal and description were not the same. Instances are been found that the medium of presenting affects the actual presentation of the piece. The painting and text has a different impression on the viewer. Conclusion The paintings are a great source of history. The painting in Ramayana draws our attention to the great epic attaching the religious significance. The paintings are a source of learning. By looking at the painting, many events of Ramayana was depicted beautifully. The paintings are a great source of learning. Reference List Ghosh, S. K. (2012). Ramayana in the North-East India. Filliozat, P. S. (2012). From epos to metaphysics: the fate of ramayana in sanskrit literature. Comptes rendus des seances de l academia des inscriptions belles-lettres, (1), 359-369. O'Brien, K. (2012). Acri, Creese and Griffiths (eds): From Laka Eastwards: The Ramayana in the Literature and Visual Arts of Indonesia. xvi, 259 pp. Leiden: KITLV Press, 2011. 29.90. ISBN 978 90 6718 384 0. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 75(03), 606-607. Saini, S. (2014). Crisis and response in Ramayana (Valmiki), shahnama and hiad: a comparative study. Kumari, G. P. (2014). Study of Science Fiction in Modern English Literature. ADHAM, N. (2013). Devils of drought in shahnameh and ramayana: a comparative study.

Gun Control Importance

Introduction Over the past years, the United States Congress has been engaged in protracted debates on the efficacy and constitutionality of federal regulation of firearms and ammunition. A number of federal laws have been enacted since 1934 to bolster such regulations. The issue of gun control has been a matter of discussion since time immemorial with gun control advocates advancing that such measures enhance the government’s efforts to ensure that juveniles, criminal gangs, and other high risk groups do not get access to guns.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gun Control Importance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These advocates charge that the only practical way through which availability of guns can be reduced is by enforcing federal regulations. They have even suggested that stricter policies such as near-prohibition of gun ownership by non-security personnel be enforced and that all persons who own g uns should be registered. These advocates posit that such measures have several significant benefits on society. The issue of federal gun control has also received a fair share of opposition. Opponents hold that legislation of federal policies cannot in any way help in keeping guns out of reach of high-risk persons but rather adds an unnecessary burden on law abiding citizens and security personnel. Moreover, they argue that such controls deny the citizenry the privileges of the Second Amendment. To them, widespread gun ownership only serves to decrease crime levels and tyranny by criminal gangs and government. They further argue that state police powers should be strenghtened as opposed to enhancing federal policies. Some of the most noteworthy national statutes enacted to help in controlling firearms within the citizenry were passed in 1934 and 1968. The 1934 Act envisaged strict registration requirements and a transfer tax on machine guns and short-barreled long guns. The 1968 Ac t not only made it illegal to purchase guns through mail, but also forbade interstate trade in firearms, their transfer to underage persons, and access to other dangerous weapons (Gun Control, para. 2). The Act also stipulated penalties and licensing requisites for manufacturers, importers, and dealers. Crime and mortality statistics have prominently featured in the gun control debate (US Constitution, 2011). Statistics indicate that the number of homicides that have been committed annually with a firearm by persons falling in the age bracket of 14-24 years between 1985 and 1993 increased by 173%. Between 1993 and 1999, a decrease of 47% was realized. Fatalities attributed to firearms from all causes and for all age groups decreased by 22%. For minors, especially juveniles, a decrease of 40% was realized between 1993 and 1998 (Gun Control, para. 1). This argumentative essay on gun control will endeavor to support its thesis with reasons and concrete evidence. The argumentative essay will use pathos-a form of emotional appeal to its audience sympathies and imagination. This will make the audience easily identify with the writer’s point of view. The essay will include at least 3 arguments and two refutations to counter these arguments. The essay will try to validate the arguments by engaging in both inductive and deductive reasoning.Advertising Looking for essay on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Gun Control Gun control is an emotive debate that has to be treated with a lot of caution lest people begin arguing with emotions that can be counterproductive. I have been somewhat ambivalent with regard to the issue of federal gun control. Many questions have always been asked pertaining to federal gun control. These questions include: does an individual have a right to own a gun? Does stringent gun control decrease violence and crime?, and, is self-defense a good reason for gun ownersh ip? With regard to whether an individual should have the right to own a gun, it is imperative that one knows that the right to bear arms is an individual and not a collective right. In the Heller v District of Columbia case (US Constitution, 2011), the court ruled that the right to bear arms has always been in existent and that the court only serves to affirm that right. The court reiterated that the right to bear arms is not dependent on military service (Endersby, para. 1). The court ruled that the six plaintiffs in the court case were free to legally own the guns they were previously forbidden from holding. This ruling should be extended to the rest of the population and hence nobody should be barred from owning guns. While it is true that stringent gun control laws can decrease violence and crime, the move can flop and can instead increase the black market trade in guns and other dangerous weapons. Increased sales therefore imply the black market for guns will become profitable to criminals and this will intensify criminal activities and dealings motivated by the drive to increase profits margins. One point that should be made clear is that it is individuals who kill their fellows, not the guns (Malcolm, para. 3). Therefore, it should be noted that gun violence is instigated by sociological factors as opposed to the availability of guns. When citizens are allowed to own guns, the activities of criminals will be deterred. A right thinking criminal would be very cautious when planning to steal from people they openly know are in possession of guns. Indeed, with or without guns, criminal activities will always be prevalent because guns are not the only avenue for committing crimes. Criminals who are determined enough will always find ways of doing what they intend to do. Therefore, enforcing gun control policies cannot have a significant effect on crime and violence. Actually, low homicide and crime rates are not a direct cause of low gun ownership. Law enfor cing officers have established that guns used in committing murders are not registered, therefore, enhancing gun protection through legal means cannot bear much fruit. In addition, guns used in committing crimes are not stolen from registered owners, therefore, there is a possibility that these guns are smuggled from other nations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Gun Control Importance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hence, gun control policies can therefore do very little in limiting the use of these illicitly acquired and owned guns. Gun controls also infringe on individual citizens right to defend themselves when they are attacked. These same laws are not making any effort in trying to restrict criminal gangs from getting firearms from the black market. This leaves law-abiding citizens defenseless. With respect to whether self-defense is a good reason for gun ownership, it is imperative to note that citizens have an inalienable right to use guns for self-defense when they are attacked by gun wielding criminals. Since the government seems ill prepared to protect its citizens from crime and criminals, the only option should be to allow citizens to protect themselves. Therefore, individuals should not be deprived of the ability to come up with ways of protecting themselves. Denying defenseless citizens the freedom to carry guns to protect themselves against lawless criminals only leaves them at the mercy of criminals. Indeed, in the Warren v District of Columbia case, the court ruled that there is no right to police protection as there is no contract between the local police and an individual. The implied meaning of the court ruling was that each and every person should be responsible for their own security hence the need to own a gun. Refutations to counter arguments As refutations to counter the arguments that have been outlined above, it is not enough for people to push for the ownersh ip of lethal weapons just because they want to protect their property. The fact that a person has a right to protect his or her property is not in dispute, but yearning to own a gun to enhance protection of this property by killing one who intends to steal it is not the best way to guarantee this right. The argument that citizens should be allowed to own guns to deter would-be criminals can only hold if the citizens do not have intention to take away life that is very sacrosanct. It is also improper to threaten somebody else just because one is protecting his or her property. In light of whether a person should have a right to own gun, an individual should be allowed to bear arms because this helps protect against domestic tyranny (Kates, para 1). In fact, gun ownership by individuals helps in checking government and police excesses. Police are most likely to be irresponsible and brutal if individual gun ownership is restricted by federal gun control policies.Advertising Looking for essay on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Allowing individuals to own guns may make police weary with regard to infringing individuals’ liberties and abuse of law. Hence, gun control laws should be done away with, however, persons who own guns must be registered or licensed to reduce instances of gun misuse. Works Cited Endersby, Alastair. Gun control. 2000. Web. https://idebate.org/ Gun Control. Almanac of policy issues. 2011. Web. Kates, Don. Why a Civil Libertarian Opposes Gun Control. The civil liberties  Review. 3(2), 24. 1976. Print. Malcolm, Joyce. Guns and violence: the English experience. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 2002. Print. US Constitution. The United States Constitution. 2011. Web. https://www.usconstitution.net/const.html This essay on Gun Control Importance was written and submitted by user Jacoby C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Forest Ecosystem and Biodiversity Definitions

Forest Ecosystem and Biodiversity Definitions A forest ecosystem is the basic ecologic unit in a particular forest that exists as home for a community of both native and introduced classified organisms.  A  forest ecosystem is  named for the primary tree species that form the canopy. It is defined  by all the collective living inhabitants of that forest ecosystem that co-exist together in symbiosis to create a unique ecology.   In other words, a forest ecosystem is typically associated with land masses covered in trees and those trees are often  classified by foresters into  forest cover types. Examples of just a few  broad names in North America are The northern hardwood ecosystem, the ponderosa pine ecosystem, the bottomland hardwood  forest ecosystem, the jack pine forest ecosystem and so on. The forest ecosystem is just one of a number of unique ecosystems including prairies, deserts, polar regions, and great oceans, smaller lakes, and rivers. Forest Ecology and Biodiversity The word ecology comes from the Greek oikos, meaning household or place to live. These ecosystems or communities are usually self-sustaining. The word usually is used because some of these communities can become unbalanced very quickly when detrimental factors occur. Some ecosystems, like tundra, coral reefs, wetlands, and grasslands are very fragile and very small changes can affect their health. Larger ecosystems with wide diversity are much more stable and somewhat resistant to harmful changes. A forest ecosystem community is directly related to species diversity. Generally, you can assume that the more complex the structure, the greater is its species diversity. You should remember that a forest community is much more than just the sum of its trees. A forest is a system that supports interacting units including trees, soil, insects, animals, and man. How a Forest Ecosystem Matures Forest ecosystems tend to always be moving toward maturity or into what foresters call a climax forest. This maturing, also called forest succession, of the ecosystem increases diversity up to the point of old age where the system slowly collapses. One forestry example of this is the growth of trees and the entire system moving  toward an old growth forest. When an ecosystem is exploited and exploitation is maintained or when components of the forest begin to naturally die, then that maturing forest ecosystem goes into declining tree health. Management of forests for sustainability is desirable when forest diversity is threatened by overuse, resource exploitation, old age, and poor management. Forest ecosystems can be disrupted and harmed when not properly sustained. A sustained forest that is certified by a qualified certification program gives some assurance that the forest is managed to allow maximum diversity while satisfying the managers environmental and economic demands. Scientists and foresters have dedicated their entire careers trying to understand even a small part of forest ecosystems. Complex forest ecosystems are extremely diverse, ranging from dry desert shrub land to large temperate rain forests. These natural resource professionals have categorized forest ecosystems in North America by placing them into forest biomes. Forest biomes are broad categories of natural tree/plant communities.

Gile practices can be integrated into Waterfall yields business Thesis

Gile practices can be integrated into Waterfall yields business advantages - Thesis Example Rationale for Qualitative Research Design Acknowledging that people are masters of their own lives, research on how programmers and their managers adopt to new policies and procedures can not be done without interviews those impacted by those new policies and procedures. As Marshall and Rossman (1999) Put it, One cannot understand human actions without understanding the meaning that Participants attribute to those actions—their thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, and assumptive worlds; the researcher, therefore, needs to understand the deeper Perspectives captured through face-to-face interaction. (p. 57) Thus, qualitative research is the best way to understand such personal, individual perspectives. Qualitative research tends to investigate essential and distinctive features of actions and experiences as lived by a person. Groves (2004) explained that qualitative research does not take place in the lab, but happens in the real world. It deals with how people give meaning to their own experience. Furthermore, it aims to interpret the behavior and meanings that people have given to their experience. Kwiatkowska (2013) observed that the goal is to describe and possibly explain events and experiences. The typical language used are the case study, field study and context. The research types include the case study research, ethnographic research and grounded theory. Qualitative research method is used in research with an aim of gathering an in depth understanding information. It investigates the how and why of making of decisions. Therefore, samples that are smaller but focused are often used instead of large samples. According to Groves (2004), qualitative research methods give information on specific studies cases and general conclusions on informed actions. Groves (2004) observed that the qualitative researchers basically are concerned with processes and practices rather than the outcomes. The focus is mainly on the experiences and perceptions of the part icipants. Qualitative research involves fieldwork typically whereby observation and recording on events are done. The researcher goes to the site, setting and the people physically to observe the subjects naturally and normally. According to Kwiatkowska (2013), the method was seen as appropriate due to its several advantages: 1. It uncovers the experiences of the people 2. It is less expensive because of the focus on small groups 3. It is flexible The assumptions made for this research were: 1. The information gathered will be sufficient to make a general conclusion on how the integration process can be. 2. The available data on integration of waterfall and agile processes were holistically researched since it was difficult to break down the study into small independent factors. 3. The research will contribute a substantial amount of data that can be used by future researcher to ascertain the requirements for integrating agile into traditional processes. However, the limitations of the qualitative research method approach in a research include: 1. Research error is associated with survey research especially where assumptions on a sample are made that are inaccurate. 2. Qualitative research method only collects data on selected group of participants. This data cannot be used in making general assumptions. 3. The method does not allow conveniently for statistical data collection 4. Qualitative rese