Saturday, January 25, 2020
Aims and outcomes of the Quantitative Revolution in geography
Aims and outcomes of the Quantitative Revolution in geography The Quantitative Revolution in geography refers to the era in the 1950s and 60s when the subject adjusted to a more scientific approach seeking objectivity in the testing of hypotheses and theories. A series of statistical and mathematical techniques and abstract models were adopted leading to a radical transformation of spirit and purpose (Burton, 1963, p151) in Anglo-American geography. As a part of this revolution the old ideographic geography based around areal differentiation and regional geography was displaced. Regional geography was heavily criticised for being too specific and incapable of contributing towards effective generalisation. Both Bunge (1962) and Haggett (1965) argued that one can do little with the unique except contemplate its uniqueness. Thus, the aims of the quantitative revolution were to overcome this specificity and establish nomothetic (universal/general) model-based paradigms. However, as this essay will show, the quantitative revolution was itself as nar rowly focussed and blinkered as the regional geography it replaced. Nevertheless, it did provide greater theoretical awareness within the subject meaning that today this awareness no longer hinges on a simple ideographic-nomothetic binary. Instead, interest in the philosophy of realism and a more focussed contextual approach to geography, together with a critique of grand theory and an interest in situated knowledges, has produced a more nuanced understanding of both the powers and limits of theory. The quantitative revolution was formulated around the paradigm of spatial science associated with the philosophy of positivism (the advancement of science through the formal construction of theories and scientific laws). Spatial science involved the presentation of human geography as a key component of social science, which concentrates on the role of space as the fundamental variable influencing both societys organisation and operation and the behaviour of its individual members (Cox, 1976). Berry and Marble (1968) expressed the goal of spatial science as building accurate generalisations with predictive power by precise quantitative description of spatial distributions, spatial structure and organisation, and spatial relationships. The revolution also strongly influenced physical geography involving the widespread adoption of abstract modelling techniques and scientific methodology in order to reaffirm geographys status as a respected scientific discipline. This had a huge impact upon the subject as a whole, leading to David Harvey (1986) coining the famous slogan by our models you shall know us. However, as many geographers such as Chrisholm (1975) have argued, the phrase quantitative revolution is something of a misnomer. This is due to the fact that geography has in reality been quantitative since the nineteenth century and its formal institutionalisation. For example, The Royal Geographic Society as a centre of calculation (Latour, 1987) involving the assimilation of maps, tables, figures and statistics. As Chrisholm argues, the widespread use of formal statistical techniques from the 1950s to the present day therefore represents more of an evolution than a revolution. Similarly, the significance of the 1950s was not the introduction of numbers per se, but the introduction of theory: it was thus much more of a theoretical revolution. It is this theoretical aspect which has been the most enduring legacy. Before the 1950s geography (human especially) was resolutely atheoretical. With the quantitative revolution, however, a flood of theoretical models from other disciplines were imported and applied. From physics came gravity, from economics spatial science and the holy trinity of Von Thunen, Weber and Loschs models, from sociology the Chicago School and from geometry networks and graph theory. These theories, among many others, were thus applied through an innovative set of practises stemming from a distinct set of technical and theoretical competencies. Both physical and human geography thus shifted away from field-based inquiry to technical, desk-bound roles involving analysis from afar. However, just as the strive for positivism, empiricism, exclusivity, autonomy and universality were the keys aims of the quantitative revolution, they all ultimately culminated in its downfall and critique. By the late 1960s and early 1970s these once-compelling arguments began to slip and with them the grip of the revolution. A different kind of world was emerging at this time that was much less innocent and more restless than before. Huge debates were raging concerning issues of poverty, racial equality, war, gender, environment and civil rights that the quantitative revolution seemed both unable and unwilling to address. Quantitative geographers were thus left somewhat flat-footed in terms of their relevance to this debate. As David Harvey (1973; p129) damningly put it there is an ecological problem, an urban problem, an international trade problem, and yet we seem incapable of saying anything of depth or profundity about any of them. The Quantitative Revolution was thus ripe for an overthrow (Harvey, 1973; p129). The theoretical vocabulary, however, persisted, with a shift towards Marxist concepts and a more radical geography. Human geographers thus argued the discipline should be formulated around situated knowledges based on local cultures, customs and specifics. Based upon poststructuralist and post-modern ideologies they argued instead of concentrating on the universal and global, it was important to attend to the play of different interests from different positions and in different voices. They argued for the reinstatement of the social foundations and responsibilities of intellectual inquiry and refusal to separate science from discourse more generally. Consequently, although no doubt many geographers continue to think of themselves as social scientists, many do not, emphasising their role at the heart of the humanities. In either case, however, probably very few count themselves as positivists. This has ultimately culminated in widening of the gap between the physical and human aspects of the discipline. This is largely due to the fact that so much of physical geography remained largely unaffected by, and indifferent to, the arguments forwarded by the humanists and the critique of the Quantitative Revolution at large. Thus, in the modern era, there is no doubting the fact the connections between the disciplines of human geography and physical geography are much more tenuous. From this perspective, the outcome of the Quantitative Revolution can therefore be seen as profound, highlighting the ultimate question in geography. What does the discipline really entail and can the increasingly disparate human and physical elements continue to operate under the same umbrella?
Friday, January 17, 2020
Helter Skelter Book Report
The year was 1969, and in early August seven people were brutally murdered; words like ââ¬Å"Pig,â⬠ââ¬Å"Healter Skelterâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Riseâ⬠were found printed in blood at the crime scenes. Eventually it is discovered that the perpetrators of these horrific crimes are cult members living on the outskirts of society, led by a man named Charles Manson. But who is Charles Manson? Charles Manson is a monster, certainly, but as a monster he offers us a unique look into the human mind. This semester we have learned about the many different types of people who may engage in individual forms of interpersonal violence. Charles Manson however, provides us the case study of a man whose life revolved around interpersonal violence in all its manifestations. There was nothing this man wouldnââ¬â¢t do to reach his goals ââ¬â he would rape, murder, manipulate, and lie ââ¬â all in the name of his personal ambitions. In Vincent Bugliosiââ¬â¢s book, Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders, the reader is provided a thorough explanation of how Manson developed his criminal lifestyle though the focus is on the famous murders he helped to commit as the leader of The Family and the process used to convict him. After a brief comment about the book as a whole and its writing style and content, Mansonââ¬â¢s connections to the subject of interpersonal violence will be examined. These connections include the subjects of child neglect, rape, domestic violence, and spiritual abuse. This book offers a huge amount of detail regarding how the Manson Family murders were committed, how the investigation proceeded and how the trial against Manson was won. To bring this history to life, Bugliosi organized his book into chapters ranging from one month to five month increments which serve to place the reader back in the summer of ââ¬â¢69 right after the Tate murders were committed, and take him or her all the way to the conclusion of the trial and its aftermath. While this level of detail and careful organization is very good at informing the reader of the details of Mansonââ¬â¢s crimes and how he got convicted, I believe that most important is the analysis of Mansonââ¬â¢s life in regards to interpersonal violence. Therefore, I will focus only on the summary of Mansonââ¬â¢s life provided in the book, as well as his methods for building and controlling his Family. Since this book was written by a lawyer (Mr. Bugliosi was the prosecuting attorney in the Manson case), one might think that Helter Skelter might be rather boring i. e. totally fact driven and concerned with the technical aspects of the Manson trial as Mr. Bugliosi experienced them. This book is certainly very concerned with the facts, and Bugliosi even provides the time that many events took place. The police investigation is especially explicit in this regard. For example, ââ¬Å"about 1:30 that afternoon Lieutenant Burdick interviewed a girl who had been booked under the name Leslie Sankston,â⬠(p. 121). This aspect of the book can be hard to get through at times, as there is a large cast of characters including suspects, law enforcement officials, witnesses and other ancillary characters whose actions and influences on the case are laid out in careful detail. It can be difficult to keep track of who provided what evidence or which Manson family member was or wasnââ¬â¢t involved in the groupââ¬â¢s actions (to make matters worse many of the Family have multiple aliases and nicknames). However, despite some factual overload, Bugliosi does add some comments which add flavor and help the reader to understand what the murders meant for people living around Los Angeles at the time. For example, Bugliosi talks quite about how the general public and the media react to the murders, including details such as, ââ¬Å"one Beverly Hills sporting goods store sold 200 firearms; prior to the murders, they averaged three or four a day,â⬠(p. 73). This color commentary lifts the readerââ¬â¢s head out of the world of the murder investigation to remind them that outside of all this tragedy people were living their ordinary lives, and were obviously scared and nervous about the violence they saw happening in their city. Another interesting aspect of the story is the fact that while this book is in a way a history book looking at the past, Bugliosi actually experienced this history and provides his own emotional reactions to what happened. For example, when Bugliosi read Mansonââ¬â¢s file to understand who he was about to prosecute he commented, ââ¬Å"I was surprised, in studying Mansonââ¬â¢s record, to find no sustained history of violence,â⬠(p. 203). While the reader might disagree with Bugliosi (it seems that instances of armed robbery, homosexual rape and wife beating could be considered a ââ¬Å"sustained historyâ⬠), these personal reactions to what is going on show the reader that Bugliosi is not merely an author or a historian, but a character in this story who experienced all the madness revolving around Charles Manson first hand. Therefore, while Helter Skelter might be considered very fact-driven it certainly has a heart, and Mr. Bugliosi does an excellent job describing not only exactly how the investigation went, but also how it felt for some of the people involved. Anyone interested in interpersonal violence, the 60s or Charles Manson will certainly have learnt a great deal after finishing this book. As Iââ¬â¢ve said previously, the life of Charles Manson revolved around interpersonal violence. From an early age Manson was the victim of child neglect ââ¬â his mother (Kathleen Maddox) would leave him with neighbors, ââ¬Å"for an hour, then disappear for days or weeks,â⬠(p. 91). While there is no evidence provided that Manson was actually abused during these days away from his mother, the lack of any strong parental figures to care for him must have been traumatizing for Manson. Kathleen was sixteen when Charles was born, and was known to drink and party, often bringing home men with the same proclivities. She was also a very poor model for her son when it came to following the law. Along with her brother Luther, Kathleen was sentenced to five years in prison for armed robbery when Charles was between four and five years old. Manson never met his father who is said to have died in 1954. Considering his upbringing, it is not surprising that the boy had trouble adjusting properly, and that his struggle to be noticed and gain attention would be at the core of his being. When Manson was twelve his mother sent him away to the Gibault School for Boys, described as a ââ¬Å"caretaking institution,â⬠(p. 191) because she could no longer to care for him. From this point on Charles Manson would be in and out of institutions (including prison). When the investigations for the Tate-LaBianca murders were taking place Manson was thirty-two years old and had spent over seventeen of those years in some form of institution. During the time Manson was incarcerated personality examinations were conducted and various descriptions warn of the possibility of violence. Manson was described as being, ââ¬Å"aggressively antisocial,â⬠(p. 193) having, ââ¬Å"a tendency toward moodiness,â⬠(p. 192) and as, ââ¬Å"hiding his loneliness, resentment, and hostility behind a facade of superficial ingratiation,â⬠(p. 00). These examinations and their conclusions will be very important when considering what could have been done to stop Manson and what we as a society can do to ensure no one like him is ever allowed to terrorize others again. The acts of interpersonal violence Manson committed during his time in and out of institutions are numerous. When Manson was seventeen he attended Natural Bridge Camp and a month before his release hearing he, ââ¬Å"took a razor blade and held it against another boyââ¬â¢s throat while he sodomized him,â⬠(p. 194). However, this did not stop Manson from being released and he promptly married a waitress and got her pregnant (he was 19). A year later however, he was in trouble with the law for stealing cars (and driving them across state lines ââ¬â a federal offense) and admitted to the judge-requested psychiatrist that he beat his wife, ââ¬Å"at times,â⬠(p. 196). After three years in jail, Manson was released with five years parole (the year was 1958). In 1959, Mansonââ¬â¢s parole officer was informed by a parent that Manson had conned his daughter (Jo Anne) and one of her friends (Beth), telling them he was in the night club, radio and television business. Manson convinced Jo Anne to invest her savings in his bogus company, got her pregnant (there was no mention if the sex was consensual), and drugged and raped Beth as well (p. 199). For violating his probation as well as these new sexual crimes he was accused of committing Manson was sentenced to 10 years in prison (although he was paroled on March 21, 1967). It was after this stint in prison that Manson began to bring his ââ¬Å"Familyâ⬠together and it was with them that he truly began to explore his appetite for violence through the use of spiritual abuse. The Manson Family at first glance may not seem different from many of the communes that had come together in the 60s, representing a desire for sexual liberation and a more natural way of living. However, the Family was not simply a commune, but a cult whose idea of a more natural way of life included violence, submission and eventually control over the world as the, ââ¬Å"pure, white master race,â⬠(p. 330). To members of the family Charles Manson was Jesus Christ or God, and these were the aliases that Charlie Manson provided the police when he was charged for the car theft ring (p. 80). Manson always had a desire for attention and to feel noticed and important, and it was through his creation of his own religion that he could finally get what he always wanted. Unfortunately for his acolytes, Mansonââ¬â¢s appetite for violence and abuse only escalated once he had a multitude of willing victims under his control. It may seem odd that people would want to join such an abusive group, but Manson had various means to attract people to his Family. To convince men to join him Manson would use the sexual favors of the girls already under his control. For example, when trying to attract a biker from the Straight Satans gang to join him, Manson is quoted as saying, ââ¬Å"Move up here, you can have all the girls you want, all the girls,â⬠(p. 131). To get girls to join Manson would ask for the help of some of the more attractive men in the Family to, ââ¬Å"go down to the Sunset Strip, where the teenyboppers hung out,â⬠or ââ¬Å"drive the highways watching for girls who were hitchhiking,â⬠(p. 317) in the hope that they would be able to lure some of the girls back to the ranch the Family was living on. Once these new recruits were introduced to the Family, Manson had a variety of techniques he would use to control them. Manson was said to have possessed an ability to capitalize on, ââ¬Å"a personââ¬â¢s hang-ups and/or desires,â⬠(p. 316). He told plain girls they were beautiful, told girls with daddy issues to imagine that he was their father, and girls looking for a leader that he was Jesus Christ. To ensure that the girls were completely submissive Manson would convince them that, ââ¬Å"women are only as good as their men,â⬠and that they were ââ¬Å"a reflection of their men,â⬠(p. 02). This is obviously ideal for a cult leader because Manson portrayed himself as the father of the Family and their savior. Since ââ¬Å"their manâ⬠was so good, these girls felt that they were good, and that Manson would lead them to salvation and love. This mixture of brainwashing and domination produced in the girls, ââ¬Å"a little girl qualityâ⬠as if they had been, ââ¬Å"retarded at a certain stage in their childhood,â⬠(p. 184-185). Even when considering murder and death the girls would maintain a positive, contented mood, as if nothing could faze them. Manson did not just use words to bring about total obedience however. One thirteen-year-old girl was not considered ââ¬Å"submissive enoughâ⬠for Manson so he, ââ¬Å"punched her in the mouth; kicked her across a room; hit her over the head with a chair leg,â⬠(p. 277). This was not entirely typical of Manson though as his favorite weapons of control consisted of using or withholding sex (especially with the male Family members), as well as drug-aided manipulation. LSD is a hallucinogenic drug which can make the one taking it more susceptible to outside influence. Manson used this property to, ââ¬Å"instill his philosophies, exploit weaknesses and fears, and extract promises and agreements from his followers,â⬠(p. 318) while they were ââ¬Å"trippingâ⬠on LSD (which he provided of course). Mansonââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"religionâ⬠that he would con his followers into believing was based on a mixture of Scientology, passages from the Bible, Buddhism and records by the Beatles. While it is difficult to decipher exactly how this philosophy all fit together, one important element that aided in the control of the Family was fear. According to Manson, ââ¬Å"fear was the same thing as awareness,â⬠(p. 319) and the goal (as in many religions or philosophies) is to gain more awareness, or to come into the ââ¬Å"Now,â⬠which is a term taken from Scientologists and basically means to truly live ââ¬Å"in the moment. â⬠Manson told Family members that they should always be afraid, and he would search out his followersââ¬â¢ greatest fears so that he could use these fears, ââ¬Å"like a magic buttonâ⬠¦he could push at will to control that person,â⬠(p. 319). This aspect of the Manson cult is so important to understand because it explains why Manson had such a strong following. Even though many of his Family members were afraid of him, Manson told them that they wanted to be afraid so they took it as a good thing. Another important aspect of Mansonââ¬â¢s beliefs that is very important for understanding the murders he would later commit was his interpretation of a chapter in the Bible from Revelations. Revelations tells of the four horsemen of the apocalypse who were foretold to arrive on earth to bring about a war where a third of mankind would perish. Manson believed that these four horsemen were the Beatles rock group, and therefore the apocalypse was happening soon if not immediately. Manson believed there was going to be a race war (blacks vs. whites) in which the whites would be wiped out (the third of mankind that will perish) and the only way to escape it was to hide out in the desert where he could later return with his Family where they would rule over the remaining blacks as the master race. The murders that Manson and his followers committed were meant to spark this race war, and move Mansonââ¬â¢s plan into action. Although this sounds quite unbelievable, the combination of LCD, naivete (some of the Family members were fed these theories since they were thirteen), and the time period allowed Manson to assemble quite a sizable group. While it is estimated that there may have been over a hundred Family members at various times, the inner circle remained at around 20-30 people (p. 186). The Family was Mansonââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"greatestâ⬠creation. While previously Manson could only abuse one or two people at a time, he found a way to simultaneously abuse dozens of people ââ¬â all without the knowledge of society as a whole. A lot of research has been done in the field of interpersonal violence since the time of the Manson murders. There are more accepted theories explaining why people commit acts of interpersonal violence and there are more tested methods of how to recognize people or situations that may become abusive. It is clear just how far things have progressed when the ease of which Charles Manson is labeled as the monster he is and the multiple warning signs that appear when looking at his life and personality. Many of Mansonââ¬â¢s personality traits match with those suggested by Rosenbaum, Pagelow and/or Anderson, including ââ¬Å"violence in family of origin,â⬠(although there is no explicit information about physical abuse, Manson was neglected and rejected by his mother) ââ¬Å"low self esteem,â⬠(Manson had a drive to be recognized by others) ââ¬Å"traditionalist, authoritarian personalities, need for power or controlâ⬠(the way Manson ran his Family is clear evidence of this) as well as ââ¬Å"moody,â⬠(mentioned in institutional personality checks of Manson) and ââ¬Å"psychopathology,â⬠(Wallace, Roberson, p. 22 Table 9. 1). Although there is no single accepted checklist for traits of an abuser, Manson would be identified as an abuser using three different (though overlapping) scales. If these types of measurements had been available in Mansonââ¬â¢s early years, he may have been discovered and possibly could have been treated when he was 19 (when he abused his first wife) instead of being released from prison after a few short years with no rehabilitation and allowed to continue his patterns of abuse. The tactics Manson used to control the Family are also very well documented in todayââ¬â¢s research of intimate partner abuse. For example, three main elements in any abuse situation are fear, isolation and lack of resources (Wallace, Roberson, p. 225). Mansonââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"religionâ⬠was based on making his followers as afraid as possible, and having an intimate knowledge of each memberââ¬â¢s fears so that they could be used against them when needed. While many of the Family members appeared to radiate inner contentment, there were several former members of the Family that testified in the Manson case that would talk about how afraid they were of what Manson would do to them if they disobeyed his commands. Isolation was obviously an important part of Mansonââ¬â¢s philosophy as he was very against the ââ¬Å"establishmentâ⬠and saw the apocalypse fast approaching therefore he took his family to the desert and for most of the time the Family was together they lived on Spahnââ¬â¢s ranch, which was an old western movie set that had allen into disrepair. Once in this isolated location Manson had free reign to manipulate and abuse his followers with no one to stop him. Lack of resources could be said to apply to all the members of the Family as they were living the hippie lifestyle with no real employment prospects. However, this is important when considering that very few of the Family members left Manson, especially his ââ¬Å"inner circle. â⬠Although Manson might have been abusive and demanding in many ways, he appeared to have a plan and an answer for lifeââ¬â¢s tough questions. With no better prospects and no real way to successfully fend for themselves, it is no surprise that many of the women especially did not leave (they were taught they were only good as their man after all ââ¬â what would they do with no man? ). With more knowledge about what can cause abusive situations as well as increased awareness among the general population I am hopeful that a situation like the one that developed in the California desert will not happen again, and if it does hopefully it will be quickly identified and shut down. Sexual assault is a common factor in many of the different topics in interpersonal violence including rape, intimate partner abuse and child abuse. There is evidence that Manson participated in all of these facets of sexual assault. Although Iââ¬â¢ve already mentioned how he has raped (Beth in 1959) and used sex as a means of control (with the female Family members), he also engaged in child sexual abuse. One thirteen year old girl was sodomized by Manson as other Family members looked on as part of her initiation (p. 18). Mansonââ¬â¢s motives for sexual assault are easy to match up with the category of ââ¬Å"power rapeâ⬠given in Wallace and Robersonââ¬â¢s text book on family violence. Power rapes (specifically power-assertive rapists) consider rape as, ââ¬Å"an expression of his virility, mastery and dominance,â⬠(p. 342). Clearly Manson desired attention, obedience and wanted control over his victims, that being the same way he ran his Family. By controlling what others did sexually Manson was able to feel in control of them. Clearly Manson was not interested in his followers as people, but merely puppets from which he could get what he wanted. When considering the scope of the spiritual abuse that Manson perpetrated on his followers, it is important to consider his authoritarian personality and his need for attention and control. Mansonââ¬â¢s philosophy was all there was for the Family ââ¬â there was no adding elements to it or putting a personal spin on the information. As one Family member put it, ââ¬Å"everything was done at Charlieââ¬â¢s direction,â⬠(p. 317). Therefore, when examining some of the questions Wallace and Robersonââ¬â¢s book offer as means of determining if a religious group is abusive, the answers to them are uniformly ââ¬Å"no. â⬠For example, ââ¬Å"Does the group allow for development in theological beliefs? â⬠ââ¬Å"Does the group foster relationships and connections with the larger society that are more than self-serving? or the question most indicative of the abusive situation happening at Spahn ranch, ââ¬Å"Does the group encourage independent thinking and the development of discernment skills? (Wallace and Roberson, p. 327). While Manson did not demand any of his followers kill themselves as is the pattern in many cults, his motives were just as sinister. Mansonââ¬â¢s goal was to survive the apocalypse to be the leader of the master white race. With the help of his Family Manson wanted to go from the leader of 30-40 hippies to the leader of the whole world. Luckily his means of obtaining this goal were not as grand as the goal itself and eventually landed him in jail, far away from impressionable minds to warp and twist. Charles Manson is an interesting man in that he offers us the opportunity to see how a human being can transform himself into an animalistic monster if society turns a blind eye. Even though Manson proved from an early age that he was violent and had no respect for authority or law, he was repeatedly let out to wreak havoc on society. Charles Mansonââ¬â¢s masterpiece was a sadistic, brainwashing cult which twisted the minds of dozens of young people, made them experiences the horror of abuse, physical, emotional and sexual, and finally ended in the deaths of at least nine people. What Manson really gives us is a reason to continue the fight against interpersonal violence. As a society we must never again allow such a person to freely exist among us. People with these types of violent tendencies must be identified, understand and if at all possible, rehabilitated. If rehabilitation is not possible then the proper steps must be taken to ensure that such an abusive person is never allowed access to another victim. While people often think that interpersonal violence isnââ¬â¢t their problem because they havenââ¬â¢t personally experienced it, Charles Manson shows just how ignorant this opinion is. While Manson may have been ââ¬Å"someone elseââ¬â¢s problemâ⬠before he started the family, it was still one man that shocked and frightened an entire state, and made the entire country take notice. With our increased understanding we now that the ability to fight to insure that nothing like the Manson Family will be allowed to exist unchecked again.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Exploring Natural Law And Ethics - 1450 Words
The best way to describe natural law, is that it offers a name for the topic of convergence amongst law and ethics. Scholars of natural law comprehend anthropological fulfilment; the morality of human nature, as diversified. The Speluncean Explorers is an anecdotal case in which a group of individuals go to investigate and wind up getting caught in a cavern with exceptionally small assets and luxuries to last them. After reading this case, it is vital to note that the decision that the cavemen recommended by killing Whetmore and feeding on his flesh was only to be executed if all else fails, which unfortunately was the case. The judge whose arguments I found well justified and whose method of approaching law I agree with the most is that of Justice Foster. The way Justice Foster views certain matters and the approaches he takes is quite a similar path in which I additionally would have taken to look at law in the given circumstances of the case of the Speluncean explorers. 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The viewpoints toward space colonization are not simple to categorize as pro and contra, rather they are multi-layered and based on several fields of study, in particular, ethics, science, and economics. I will portray the complexity of the issue by analyzing some of the pro and contra philosophical treatises, economic andRead More Ethics Of The Hellenistic World Essay1265 Words à |à 6 Pagesgoals; the Epicureans felt that the pursuit of pleasure was the correct path to enlightenment, while the Stoics had the idea that the conformation to strict l aws regarding virtue was the proper path, and as for Aristotle, he held the middle ground in this debate of the minds, feeling that moderation was the key to complete happiness. Epicurus ethics was a form of egoistic hedonism, meaning that the only thing essentially valuable is ones own pleasure. Anything else that has value is valuable merelyRead MoreKnowledge, Error, And Accuracy1356 Words à |à 6 Pagesdeal with the error when it is considered as a bad thing? The answering to this query is pretty simple. An error is actually helping in the production of valuable knowledge. In my essay, I will be exploring the production of knowledge by an error in two areas of knowledge which are natural sciences and ethics. In both areas of knowledge, there is certainly a great role of error in the creation of valuable knowledge besides accuracy. What does knowledge, error and accuracy means to me? For me, KnowledgeRead MoreIs Torture Morally Wrong?1265 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe method of virtue of ethics to helps us better understand if he is for torture. The term torture shall be determined by exploring both philosophersââ¬â¢ definition of justice, what comprises a ââ¬Å"justâ⬠act, what is considered ââ¬Å"unjustâ⬠, and then determined if it would be accepted by, or condemned by either of these two philosophers. Begging with John Stuart Mill an English and Economist philosopher who helped developed the concept of utilitarianism. The author from Doing Ethics claims, ââ¬Å"UtilitarianismRead More Pollution and Environment Essay - Man Must Dominate Nature and the Environment1714 Words à |à 7 PagesHence, in this paper I analyze a common environmental claim: Everything natural has inherent value, and we should respect its right to exist. This paper is not meant to be a complete examination of environmental ethics; that would be beyond its scope. This question, however, lies at the heart of environmental ethics, and is certainly worth exploring. à Must we go through life refusing to do harm to any other natural entity, living in harmony with it, or respecting its rights? Or, if
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Essay - 1115 Words
The Canterbury Tales is a set of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. The stories were told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral, in hopes to see a shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. To make time go by the host recommended each pilgrim tell a tale. The tale that each character gives, reveals that personââ¬â¢s background and life. Some pilgrims matched their stereotype of that time but most do not. The Prioress, Madame Eglentyne, and Wife of Bath, Allison, are two characters that do not fit their stereotype of the Middle Ages. Geoffrey Chaucer demonstrates a reflection of change in The Canterbury Tales by comparing their appearances, actions, and morals. The Prioress and Wife of Bath do not match theâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The Wife of Bath is popularly known for her extravagant clothing; she wore an elaborate hat, scarlet stockings, and a skirt (Chute 125-126). She is a clothes maker and she makes herself clothes that look like high class. Her headdress draws attention to her, this shows she has a ââ¬Å"prideful natureâ⬠. She wears ââ¬Å"scarlet hosenâ⬠that resemble wealth and higher class. On pilgrimages she wears a simple pheasant hat and wimple that resemble that of a lower class, unlike her Sunday headdress. Her change of attire from Sundays to pilgrimages, portrays she is on top of fashion in her time (ââ¬Å"The Wife of Bathâ⬠). Not only do they show a change with their appearances but also in their actions. Chaucer describes the Prioress and the Wife of Bath as characters completely opposite from their social status, that ââ¬Å"do not fit into medieval stereotypeâ⬠(GordiÃâ¡). Chaucer makes The Prioress a character on the pilgrimage to show her ways of the church are opposite than a normal nun in this time (Wickham). Although the Prioress is described as ââ¬Å"delicateâ⬠, ââ¬Å"subtleâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"affectionateâ⬠, Chaucer could not help but give the Prioress a twist from her seemingly proper stereotype (Chute 123). In the fourteenth century, a nun was a woman devoting herself to follow religious guidelines of ââ¬Å"poverty, chastity, and obedienceâ⬠(Durant 305). Chaucer makes the Prioress seem like a two faced woman (Wickham). Chaucer calls the Prioress Madame Eglentyne, nuns are called ââ¬Å"Sister not Madameâ⬠(Durant). TheShow MoreRelatedThe Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer1582 Words à |à 7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury tales a collection of short tales in the 14th century. The compilation of stories are told by different characters within the narrative as part of a game proposed by the host. Each individual must tell two stories on their journey and two stories on their way back. Each story tells some aspects of English life during the time and often added satire like qualities to the English life. In particular Chaucer often tells stories with elements of the relationshipRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer913 Words à |à 4 PagesThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer consists of frame narratives were a group of pilgrims that are traveling from Southwark to the shire of St. Becker in the Canterbury Cathedral, tell each other to pass time until they arrive at their destination. During The Canterbury Tales the reader is exposed to many characters that represent all of the social classes of medieval England and the reader gets to know them from t he general prologue to each individual tale. One of these characters is the PardonerRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2127 Words à |à 9 PagesIt is unknown when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, but it is assumed that he wrote it in 1387. There are many different aspects and themes throughout this paper that are very prominent. One theme that is very important is the importance of company. This entire tale is about twenty-nine pilgrims who all tell tales while on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The importance of company is that this is a pilgrimage that requires companions and friendship. ThoughRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1073 Words à |à 5 PagesIn The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer introduced and described a variety of fictional characters that lived in the Middle Ages. It was the time period that European civilians were governed by a system called feudalism. Where kings were the head of the s ystem and everyone was categorized in social classes. In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales the first character introduced was the knight. Geoffrey Chaucer depicts the knight correctly by characterizing him as a chivalrous and honorable man,Read MoreThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer1585 Words à |à 7 Pageswas published toward the end of his life, Geoffrey Chaucerââ¬â¢s Canterbury Tales was his longest and most popular work. The plot is made up of tales told by thirty-one different pilgrims as they embark on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. His initial idea was to have each pilgrim tell four stories a piece during the pilgrimage, but Chaucer either died before finishing or decided to change this idea, as only twenty-four tales presently make up the work. The prologue ofRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer963 Words à |à 4 PagesThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a collection of 24 stories written during the Midd le Ages. The tales were written with the intent of criticizing the functions of societal standards as well as the beliefs of the Church. ââ¬Å"The Millerââ¬â¢s Tale,â⬠one the most popular stories, offers unique insights into the customs and practices of the English middle class during the Middle Ages. The story follows the lives of John, Absolon, and Nicholas, three men who are involved with a beautiful woman namedRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2664 Words à |à 11 PagesThe Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales was written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1392, during the medieval period in Europe. Three important aspects, his familyââ¬â¢s ties to the court, his schooling and working for royalty (XI), and his love for reading and learning (XII) all combined and enabled him to create his greatest work, The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer includes many different characters, pilgrims, all from very unique walks of life. Although there are not as many women included as men, their storiesRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2648 Words à |à 11 PagesThe Canterbury Tales was written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1392, during the medieval period in Europe. Three important aspects, his familyââ¬â¢s ties to the court, his schooling and working for royalty (XI), and his love for reading and learning (XII) all combined and enabled him to create his greatest work, The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer includes many different characters, pilgrims, all from very unique walks of life. Although there are not as many women included as men, their stories give some extraordinaryRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2221 Words à |à 9 Pagesin medieval literature is the Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer. This research seeks to examine the life of Chaucer, the Canterbury Tales, and the impact and legacy of both the author and the work. Agnes Copton gave birth to a baby boy c. 1340, whom she named Geoffrey. The baby took the surname of his father John Chaucer, who came from a family of wine merchants. The family relied on strategic relationships to subsidize where they lacked in wealth. Chaucer was fluent in French, ItalianRead MoreCanterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1380 Words à |à 6 PagesCanterbury Tales Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer was a story of not the people themselves but a social statement of how the people of higher standing were viewed by the middle class. In the time that Canterbury Tales was written it was a time of corruption of the Church. There were many clergy members that were mentioned in this story. Each of the characters was unique in the way they went against the standards they should be held to. The most interesting this story was definitely The
Monday, December 23, 2019
Essay on Business Process Redesign Or Reengineering
Business Process Redesign or Reengineering nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Business Process Redesign (BPR) or Reengineering is quot;the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in critical, contemporary measures of performance, such as cost, quality, service, and speedquot; (Hammer and Champy, Reengineering). Since the BPR idea has surfaced it has been under constant ridicule by the popular press. They say it takes far too long, creates management headaches, fails 70% of the time, and its only for big companies with big checkbooks (Hydrel...). However, I feel that with the right plan, the right people, and total commitment from those involved, BPR or Reengineering can work forâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The new computer system will also be used by the quality team to update their new metrics system. The quality team developed a completely new system for the reengineering process. This new metrics system continually updates them on changes in the market that deal with quality. This is important so they can deal with the changes right away and stay competitive. And finally the information team came in to wrap up the whole process and implement the new computer system. They design a system that fit the current demands but is able to grow and expand a the same rate as the company. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Due to total commitment from the right people, using the right methods Hydrel has successfully reengineered the process of order management and positioned the company for dramatic profitable growth. And they have proved my statement that reengineering can work for every company no matter what their size. The Texas Commerce Bank Experience nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In early 1994, Texas Commerce Bank (TCB) launched a reengineering process called Process Improvement, which included every organizational process and all 9,000 employees (Betting...). TCBs goals for their program were: remove all employee frustrations associated with policies, processes, services, or products; change processes to improve quality, deliver improved service to customers, and eliminate unnecessary expenses (Betting...). However, TBC took aShow MoreRelatedBusiness Process Redesign or Reengineering1009 Words à |à 5 PagesBusiness Process Redesign or Reengineering Business Process Redesign (BPR) or Reengineering is the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in critical, contemporary measures of performance, such as cost, quality, service, and speed (Hammer and Champy, Reengineering). Since the BPR idea has surfaced it has been under constant ridicule by the popular press. They say it takes far too long, creates management headaches, fails 70% of theRead MoreReengineering The Corporation : A Manifesto For Business Revolution1437 Words à |à 6 Pagesthe book Reengineering the Corporation: A Manifesto for Business Revolution, Michael Hammer and James Champy discuss a concept that he originated known as ââ¬Å"reengineeringâ⬠. The process of reengineering involves coming up with new ideas, specifically processes, which are technologically advanced and extremely effective in completing corporate work. Companies must think ahead so that they will not only succeed today, but also set the rules for future business. A critical part of reengineering involvesRead MoreBusiness Process Reengineering : Company Values On Customer Needs Essay764 Words à |à 4 PagesBusiness Process Reengineering involves the radical redesign of core business processes to achieve dramatic improvements in productivity, cycle times and quality. In Business Process Reengineering , companies start with a blank sheet of paper and re-think existing processes to deliver more value to the customer. They typically adopt a new value system that places increased emphasis on customer needs. Companies reduce organizational layers and eliminate unproductive activities in two key areas. FirstRead MoreBusiness Process Reengineering Essay1589 Words à |à 7 PagesBackground Business process reengineering has widely become a significant trend in enterprise organizations seeking to innovate and massage business processes. It should come as no surprise that ââ¬Å"over the last decade, numerous organizations have significantly changed their business processes in order to remain competitive in the global marketâ⬠(Hadaya Pellerin, 2008). The text analyzes business process reengineering as a business process solution for efficiently improving information systems withinRead MoreBpr at Ford Motor Company, India1213 Words à |à 5 PagesCHALLENGE: need for business process reengineering in Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is the worldââ¬â¢s second largest manufacturer of cars and trucks with products sold in more than 200 markets. The company employs nearly 400,000 people worldwide, and has grown to offer consumers eight of the worldââ¬â¢s most recognizable automotive brands. CHALLENGE With inherent large-scale growth issues, more demanding customers, and mounting cost pressures, Ford needed to transform from a linear, top-downRead MoreReview Of Michael Hammer s Reengineering At Net Speed Essay900 Words à |à 4 PagesHammer, Ph.D. The three articles are ââ¬Å"Reengineering at Net Speedâ⬠, ââ¬Å"The New Business Agendaâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Putting Six Sigma in Perspectiveâ⬠. Dr. Hammer earned his bachelors, masters and Ph.D. in computer science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was professor in the computer science department at MIT and a lecturer in the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is best known for his work in business process engineering (https://en.wikipedia.org). Reengineering At Net Speed ââ¬Å"Fasten your seat belt;Read MoreThe Case of Chase Manhattan Bank Essay1516 Words à |à 7 PagesThe scope of reengineering includes process improvement, process reengineering, business reengineering and transformation. The case of Chase Manhattan Bank belongs to the process reengineering, not process improvement or quick hits. In Chase Manhattan Bank, reengineering requires not only the rethinking of the business process but a concurrent examination and redesign of the information technologies and organization that support these processes. The Scope also includes entire business enterprise,Read MoreQuality Management Essays1305 Words à |à 6 Pagesimprove the quality of their services due to fact that the health care environment continues to change dramatically. There are various understandings on what quality is. Kairong (2010) states that it can be refer to the process in which inspections are conducted to detect defects, the process in which products are produced to meet customer requirements, or it can be defined as customer satisfaction. No matter how quality is defined, Manghani (2011) argues that it ââ¬Å"should remain the hallmark of a companyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Reengineering The Business World 1240 Words à |à 5 Pagesbegan reading this book with an open mind even though I have heard mixed reviews about this subject of ââ¬Å"reengineering the business worldâ⬠before. Now, personally I do think this book is a bit out dated as the business world as evolved a lot since this book was written, for example neither of the authors mentioned outsourcing yet in the business world today, outsourcing is one of the newest reengineering solutions for the biggest, most complex, and costly processes companies face today. However there areRead MoreThe Changing Scenario Of Sbi ( State Bank Of India ) After Adopting The Concept Of Bpr Essay1503 Words à |à 7 PagesINTRODUCTION Financial institutions and banks will continuously claim in order to provide the customer driven services. For this the banks and financial institutions are being adopted the unique concepts in business process reengineering i.e., the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign in the business of processes to achieve the dramatic improvements of critical, contemporary measures in performance such as the cost, quality, speed and service. At present the era of cut throat competition in both at
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Case against the Death Penalty Free Essays
string(56) " The sentencing phase almost amounts to a second trial\." When the then United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was presented with a petition containing 3. 2 million signatures from 146 countries for a worldwide moratorium on the death sentence, he had commented: ââ¬Å"The forfeiture of life is too absolute, too irreversible, for one human being to inflict it on another, even when backed by legal process. And I believe that future generations, throughout the world, will come to agree. We will write a custom essay sample on Case against the Death Penalty or any similar topic only for you Order Now â⬠(Gettings) The words of the former UN Secretary General were in fact an echo of the sentiments of the millions of signatories to the petition that was presented to him. The death sentence strikes at the core of human sensitivity and sensibility. The world is divided into almost two equal camps ââ¬â one passionately in support and the other equally passionately against this extreme measure of censure in human history. Forty-seven percent Americans support the death penalty, while 48% would rather prefer life without payrole (Death Penalty Information Centre). Both the camps present practical, logical and convincing arguments favoring their stand. Those who are against the death penalty believe that this extreme measure has minimum deterrent effect, violates the most fundamental of human rights, i. e. the right to life, is completely out of sync with civilized society and should be abolished outright and forthwith. Those who support the death penalty, on the other hand, do so because they hold that it acts as a major deterrent to heinous crimes, crimes committed by criminals who, according to them, not only do not deserve a place in society, but also lose the right to life. They have to die so that any chance of them repeating their crime and adding others to their list of victims is eliminated forever. The state, it is reasoned, takes the life to accord protection to future victims of the convicted. An objective analysis of the arguments for and against the death penalty however can only lead to the inevitable conclusion that the death penalty has no place in civilized society. Two very undeniable and universal facts override all arguments in support of the death penalty: the fundamental human right to life along with all its critical implications to the individual and to society, and the irrevocability and finality of the death sentence that takes away all probability of redemption or reconsideration at the face of the human nature to err. The Deterrent Factor Those who support the death penalty do so on the basis of the belief that it acts as a strong deterrent to crimes similar to those committed by the condemned. The facts and figures, however, tell a different story. In the United States, the south accounts for 80% of the total executions, yet it has the highest murder rate. However, the northeast, which has less than 1% of all executions, also has the lowest murder rate (Death Penalty Information Centre). The figures lend themselves to very straight forward interpretations: either the death penalty is failing miserably to act as a deterrent in the south or it has to be accepted that the citizenry of the south is inherently more murderous in nature or is simply more susceptible to murder. There are other figures that corroborate the fact that the death penalty does not actually result in a decrease in murder rates. In Canada, the death penalty was abolished in 1976. The homicide rate in the country started declining since 1975, and in 1999 the homicide rate was the lowest since 1967. An analysis by the New York Times in 2000 found that the homicide rates in the US states with the death penalty have been 48% to 101% higher than in states without the death penalty (John Howard Society of Ontario). An overwhelming 84% of the top criminologists of the United States have rejected the notion that the death penalty acts as a deterrent to murder (Radelet Akers). The Amnesty International has also failed to find conclusive evidence that the death penalty has any unique capacity to deter others from committing similar crimes. In its survey of research findings on the relation between the death penalty and homicide rates conducted in 1998 and updated in 2002, it concluded that it was ââ¬Å"not prudent to accept the hypothesis that capital punishment deters murder to a marginally greater extent than does the threat and application of the supposedly lesser punishment of life imprisonment. â⬠(Hood 230) If deterrence implies that the condemned is rendered unable to repeat the crime and claim more victim, then it will also have to imply that the condemned would have repeated the crime if allowed to escape the death penalty. That can however be an assumption and an assumption only. And even if we assume that the condemned person would have indeed tried to repeat the crime, it would be possible only if the person is allowed the liberty and the opportunity to do so. Life imprisonment without parole would be a preferred alternative to the death penalty in such a case. Critics would however be quick to point out the financial implications of life imprisonment. Alternative means to incapacitate In practice, however, numerous studies have found that the cost of implementing a death penalty is much higher than the cost of maintaining a prisoner for life. There are many reasons why the death penalty is more expensive than life imprisonment without the possibility of parole (Capital Punishment Project): i. A much higher percentage of cases go to trial in case of death penalties. ii. Murder trials generally take longer when the death penalty is at issue. A capital murder trial lasts over 3. 5 time longer than non-capital murder trials (Cook Slawson). Certain constitutional safeguards have to be taken in the case of death penalty trials leading to greater time requirement. The Jury selection procedure is also more complex and tedious and takes more time. iii. Death penalty trials require more intense pretrial preparations and more elaborate proceedings. The sentencing phase almost amounts to a second trial. You read "Case against the Death Penalty" in category "Papers" All litigation costs, more often than not, have to be borne by the tax payer. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee of the California Legislature has concluded that ââ¬Å"elimination of the death penalty would result in a net savings to the state of at least several tens of millions of dollars annually, and a net savings to local governments in the millions to tens of millions of dollars on a statewide basis. â⬠(Budget Committee) It is therefore amply clear the life imprisonment without parole is a comparatively cheaper and equally effective alternative to the death penalty, but imposed the same degree of incapacitation on the condemned on the individual level. The May 2006 Gallup Poll (in the United States) found that overall support for the death penalty was 65% (down from 80% in 1994). The same poll revealed that when respondents are given the choice of life without parole as an alternate sentencing option, more choose life without parole (48%) than the death penalty (47%). (John Howard Society of Ontario) Irreversibility of the Death Penalty The intrinsic weakness of the death penalty as a justifiable measure lies in the fact that it is irreversible and irrevocable. Numerous examples bear testimony to the fact that even the highest judicial system of any country can make mistakes, that innocent persons have been dealt the death penalty time and again, that persons on the death row had been granted last minute reprieve when their innocence had been proved. Studies reveal that more than 200 people have been wrongfully convicted of serious crimes such as murder and rape in California alone since 1989 (Martin). In the United States, 123 persons have been exonerated and released from death row since 1973 (Death Penalty Information Center). A 1980s study in the United States identified 353 cases since the turn of the century of wrongful convictions for offences punishable by death and 25 innocent persons were actually executed (John Howard Society of Ontario). The death penalty leaves no scope for errors in judgment. If a person is found to be innocent after the sentence has been carried out, there is no way in which the wrong can be undone. Unlike in other cases, the option for compensation for a wrong done is also completely ruled out in the case of the death penalty. It is therefore assumed that the state and the judicial mechanism are infallible, that there can be no mistakes. The facts have proved this assumption wrong. The core issue of human rights The most damning case against the death penalty is that it is an infringement on the most fundamental of all human rights ââ¬â the right to life. A death penalty is imposed in the name of the state. But does the state actually have the right to deprive a person of his or her life? It could be a dangerous proposition even to believe so. Hitlerââ¬â¢s Germany believed in the absolute right of the state. The consequences mark a very dark period in the history of humankind. Are we tempting fate again by according the state the right to impose and execute the death penalty? In the December 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, nations of the world came together to ensure the fundamental rights of every person. These human rights were not subject to the will of the state, but were declared to be inherent in every human being. It was not the stateââ¬â¢s prerogative to grant or withdraw the human rights. The fundamental human rights therefore put limitations on what a state may do to a person. The Universal declaration recognizes each personââ¬â¢s right to life. The death penalty is therefore a fragrant violation of human rights. Human rights preserve the dignity of the individual. There can be no justification inhuman and cruel treatment and punishment that degrades the essence of humanity. The death penalty inflicts the most severe kind of mental and physical torture not only on the condemned, but also on al those who are related to the condemned. Every member of the society also has to own responsibility as a constituent unit of the state. In fact, the broader understanding of human rights issue has been the basis of abolition of the death penalty in many countries. In 1995, Spain abolished the death penalty on the grounds that the death penalty simply could not be fitted into the penal system of advanced and civilized societies, that depriving a person of life was too degrading or afflictive a punishment (Hood 14). The South African Constitutional Court (154) in its historic opinion when banning the death penalty commented that the death penalty violated the right to life and dignity which is the most important of all human rights. And by banning the death penalty, the state was effectively demonstrating the fact. Countries such as Singapore and Trinidad and Tobago have had to deny that the death penalty was a violation of human rights in order to carry on with their practice of the death penalty. However, the fact that the death penalty is a critical human rights issue has gained increasing acceptance at the international level. In 1997, the U. N. High Commission for Human Rights approved a resolution stating that the ââ¬Å"abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and to the progressive development of human rights. â⬠(12) Subsequent resolutions strengthened this resolution by restricting the offences for which the death penalty could be imposed, eventually leading to abolition. The member states of the Council of Europe have established Protocol 6 to the European Council on Human Rights advocating the abolition of the death penalty. On the same grounds, the European Union had made the abolition of the death penalty a precondition for entry into the Union. This had resulted in the halting of executions in many east European countries such as Russia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey which had applied for membership to the Union. Not an eye for an eye Proponents of the death penalty attempt to justify their stand on the principle of lex talionis or ââ¬Ëeye-for-an-eyeââ¬â¢ which advocates that violence must in some measure be answered by violence or that the punishment should fit the crime. They believe that such retribution serves justice to murder victims and their survivors. Robert Blecker of the New York Law School testified: ââ¬Å"Naturally grateful, we reward those who bring us pleasure. Instinctively resentful, we punish those who cause us pain. Retributively, society intentionally inflicts pain and suffering on criminals because and to the extent that they deserve it. But only to the extent they deserve itâ⬠¦. Justice, a moral imperative in itself, requires deserved punishment. â⬠Just as the individual do not have the right to kill, society also should not be empowered to kill. The retribution theory would dictate that the rapist be raped and the house of the arsonist be set on fire. Such a policy would go against the basic tenets of justice. If violence can be justified by violence than it follows that every act of violence whether perpetuated by the state or the individual would be justifiable on some ground or the other. Retribution in kind would bring the state down to the level of the criminal. There would then be no distinction between the dispenser of the law and the one who violates it. Discriminatory Applications The extent of misuse of the death penalty is another reason that calls for its abolition. In the political context, the death penalty has often been used to eliminate opponents and suppress popular uprisings. Here, the question of fairness in making the judgment becomes a very subjective one. What is punishable by death for one political regime could very well be deemed a heroic act of valor for another. The labeling of the act therefore depends very much on the actors and the circumstances and the environment in which they operate. That is the reason why people who are executed are often subsequently turned into martyrs. It happened in Hitlerââ¬â¢s Germany, in India and in South Africa. It is happening in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Serbia and in many other places wherever two groups of people look at the world with conflicting perspectives. Take the example of Saddam Hussien. Richard Dickerââ¬â¢s, director of Human Rights Watchââ¬â¢s International Justice Program, was a rational voice when he said , ââ¬Å"Saddam Hussein was responsible for massive human rights violations, but that canââ¬â¢t justify giving him the death penalty, which is a cruel and inhuman punishment. â⬠(Human Rights Watch) A November 2006 report by Human Rights Watch pointed out numerous serious flaws in the trial of Saddam Hussein. Among other defects, the report found that Iraqi government actions had all along undermined the Iraqi High Tribunal and threatened its independence and perceived impartiality. Handing Saddam Hussein the death penalty has been viewed by a large section of the world as a measure made necessary by the prevailing political and military situation rather than a quest for justice. There is also a very strong view in the United States that the application of the death sentence is racially discriminatory. Studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between race and death penalty in all the states that where the death penalty is still active. The Capital Punishment Project reports that 96% studies found a pattern of either race-of-victim or race-of-defendant discrimination. Of those executed since 1976, approximately 35% have been black, even though blacks constitute only 12% of the population. It has been found that the odds of receiving a death sentence are almost four times higher if the defendant is black. The Amnesty International has also asserted that races does have an impact on capital punishment, and that the judicial system of the United States have been able to do precious little about it. Amnesty International has attributed this failure of the courts and legislatures of the USA to act decisively at the face of evidence that race has an impact on the death sentence to a collective ââ¬Ëblind faithââ¬â¢ that America will never waver on the ââ¬Ënon-negotiableââ¬â¢ demands of human dignity including ââ¬Ëequal justice. ââ¬â¢ Even if the death penalty was justifiable, there is compelling evidence that its implementation falls far short of the standards of fairness expected. There is a tendency to use this extreme measure as an intimidating factor by the powerful forces of the world to assert themselves and to wrongfully dominate and suppress others. The world is coming around The good news is that the world at large is coming together to prove that the death penalty is an unacceptable proposition. The United Nations has declared itself in favour of abolition. Two-thirds of the countries of the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. In the United States itself, 13 states are now without the death penalty. The latest information from Amnesty International shows that: i. 90 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes; ii. 11 countries have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes such as wartime crimes; iii. 30 countries can be considered abolitionist in practice: they retain the death penalty in law but have not carried out any executions for the past 10 years or more and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, iv. a total of 131 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice, v. 66 other countries and territories retain and use the death penalty, but the number of countries which actually execute prisoners in any one year is much smaller. The debate over capital punishment has raged on long enough. The world is finally showing the door to the death penalty. In doing so, it is stating in no uncertain terms that the sanctity of life of a fellow human being is above the purview of all man-made laws. That only the giver of life has the right to take it back. Works Cited 1. Amnesty international, ââ¬Å"United States of America, Death by discrimination ââ¬â the continuing role of race in capital casesâ⬠, April 24, 2003. Library, Online Documentation Archive. November 10, 2007 http://web. amnesty. org/library/index/engamr510462003 2. Blecker, Robert. Letter to the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission supplementing previous testimony, October 24, 2006. 3. Budget Committee, Joint Legislative Budget Committee of the California Legislature, September 9, 1999. 4. Capital Punishment Project, ââ¬Å"Race and the Death Penaltyâ⬠, American Civil Liberties Union, November 10, 2007 http://www. aclu. org/death-penalty 5. Capital Punishment Project, ââ¬Å"The High Costs of the Death Penalty. â⬠American Civil Liberties Union, 2003. 6. Death Penalty Information Center, ââ¬Å"Innocence and the Death Penaltyâ⬠, November 9, 2006. http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/article. php? did=412scid=6 7. Death Penalty Information Centre. November 5, 2007 ââ¬Å"Facts about the Death Penalty. â⬠November 8, 2007. http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/FactSheet. pdf 8. Gettings, John. ââ¬Å"Death Penalty Update, Here Abroad. â⬠Infoplease, November 8, 2007. http://www. infoplease. com/spot/deathworld1. html 9. Hood, Roger, ââ¬Å"The Death Penalty: A World-wide Perspective. â⬠2002. Oxford, Clarendon Press, third edition, 2002. 10. Human Rights Watch, ââ¬Å"Iraq: Saddam Hussein put to Death. Hanging after flawed trial undermines the rule of law. â⬠December 2006. Human Rights News. November 10, 2007 http://hrw. org/english/docs/2006/12/30/iraq14950. htm 11. John Howard Society of Ontario, ââ¬Å"The Death Penalty: Any Nationââ¬â¢s Shame. â⬠March, 2001, John Howard Society of Ontario publication. November 8, 2007 www. johnhowardphd. ca/PDFs/Fact%20Sheets/death%20penalty. pdf 12. Nina, Martin, ââ¬Å"Innocence Lostâ⬠, November 2004, San Francisco Magazine, November 9, 2007, http://www. sanfran. com/archives/view_story/200/ 13. Philip J. Cook Donna B. Slawson, ââ¬Å"The Costs of Prosecuting Murder Cases in North Carolina. â⬠1993 14. The South African Constitutional Court, ââ¬Å"Makwanyane and Mchunu v. The Stateâ⬠, 16 HRLJ, 1995. 15. United Nations High Commission for Human Rights Resolution, E/CN. 4/1997, April 3, 1997. How to cite Case against the Death Penalty, Papers
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Rhetorical And Critical Approaches Public ââ¬Myassignmenthelp.Com
Question: Discuss About The Rhetorical And Critical Approaches To Public? Answer: Introducation With a donation of $ 20 million and various global programs the non profit Pretty Foundation makes a promise to long lasting improvements in education and women empowerment. Their main motive is not only to transform the lives of some of the poorest, but also to influence their global, regional and national agendas to work towards an equal society. The two new partnerships of the pretty foundation with the UNICEF ( Education ) and CARE ( Women empowerment ) has build on the achievements and the learning that has been made on the previous Global Programs that has ended in January 2017. With this new pledge, the total donation to the Global Program is more than a million in terms of the Australian currency. Over 10000 children are reached with education and almost 100000 women are empowered to expand or start their business. In addition to this the Government have added more resources towards the women empowerment and their education in some of the remotest and the poorest parts of the state. These have eventually made the program a huge success. We have seen that our program have made a real change and that makes both our foundation and our partner organisations very eager to move into the next gear. There is a constant need for some new innovative solutions and the Preety Foundation will continue to be a catalyst to make a positive change to the state. It is indeed a long term commitment that the foundation has taken as stated by XYZ, the General Manager of the Preety Foundation. In a recently launched Impact report, 2016 - 2017, the Preety Foundation has completed all its efforts so far and the program is also elaborately discussed in a short film Pretty foundation and its vision on Women Empowerment It is my pleasure to stand before you and deliver a speech on the Pretty Foundation and its work on empowering women. The story of this Pretty Foundation is quite similar to the other non profit organsations and has a far reaching impact on the negative body that has been well documented and it is only degrading due to the social media influences, its traditional and peer pressures. These have a drastically negative impacts on the women in our society and the girls of the next generation. This negative body image not only causes a distress but also contribute to the development of the unhealthy weight loss, depression and low self esteem. Our vision is to make the women feel confident about their body and to empower them with some sort of business or jobs with the help of proper education and health hygiene. The mission of the Pretty Foundation is to empower the girls and the women of our society and make them feel positive about their body. In recent days, it is seen that the young girls have a nose for a perfect body and the concept of the body shamming has developed. From our research the primary focus that we gained is that from the childhood there is a concept that is built on building a positive body. That is the main reason behind making this orgganisation and to help those children counsel through different ways so that they can be proud of their body color, tone and shape. There is nothing called the perfect body structure, these are all our interpretation ass to how we would like to see our self in the mirror. The primary focus or rather the age group that has been targeted is from the age group of 6 to 12 years. In order to make the society understand we need to start with the roots and lay the foundation there, so an early initiative has been taken to speak to girls and their parents as well that will include equipping and educating them with the different tools of confidence, languages in order to build the resilience to their daughters. There is a need to build gender equality in the society, women are in no way backward all they need is a push firm behind and they will conquer the world. I belief the notion o the empowerment comes only when there is a drawback so there are some famous women who are the face of a country, hence it is wrong to state that the women are lacking behind. The world is changing slowly but not rapidly on their way of looking upon a women. Earlier there was no concept of women empowerment, and they were confined to the four walls of the kitchen and maximum to their house but now slowly the concept is changing.All they need is a little push from behind in order to succeed for those who lacks the financial and the mental support and are coming from socially backward class. Text: The first page is all about the reality and the vision of the Pretty Foundation. The main motive of the organisation has been discussed along with its focus and the mission has been briefly introduced. The links to the Instagram and the Facebook pages has also been marked on their page. The website link along with the recently published journals is also described as one liners. logo of the website Text: The reason to chose the pretty foundation has also been described with the use of the different pictures along with catchy tag lines. The name why pretty was used and its recent campaigns has been stated. People could also write newsletter and share various inspirational story and also even if the have any problem. The website is all about the people who checks into their page and get to know about their orrganisation. Text: The campaigns like why the Pretty Foundation is powerful has been described. The reason behind why to chose this foundation, how it will be beneficial all has been discussed in this page. The campaigns are highlighted along with its positive impact on the society and the women has also been described. Text: There are different partners of this foundation that includes the agency and the funding partners. The agency partners include the Green Point media, The Township, The Cadena photography and the Essence Communications are some of the renowned ones. Image: PDF files that can be downloaded on how to help the parents so that the children can get a bright future Text: In this page the guidelines to the parents has been briefly explained. The parents should note this and van easily download the different PDFs which is about the organization as well as the guidelines towards the fake notion of a perfect body has been explained. Colorful pictures of children with the articles has been provided Text: The articles that has been recently published has been provided in the page. The most recent article includes the small changes for promoting a healthy body image in our daughters is the one and the date of the publication was in August. The different ways on how to donate to this organisation and the people who have donated is stated in this page. Text: The places through the social media that includes the Facebook, Instagram, Gmail and various other social medias has been provided. The address of the foundation has also been stated so that the people who are willing to drop in can easily avail their services. Some off the services are even free of cost and some are of minimal charge Analysis of approach document There is a need to alter to the different communication tactics so that the promotion may reach to maximum number of people through all possible ways (Rosenbloom 2014). The use of the speech scripts, the brochures and the press releases will help in all ways to the promotion of the Pretty Foundation and it will make the event successful. The media releases is for the journalists who will be solely responsible to telecast the event live on television or radio services or they will print it on the newspapers and magazines the following day (Van Dijk 2015). Hence, there is a lot o importance of the different communication tactics and so they must contain all the details of the program in a proper way (Friend and Jessop 2013). Apart from the website of the client, different books and journals were used in order to understand how to hold a speech and make a brochure for a non profit organisation . Research have been on the different ways on how to write the approaches of the documents and the web copy also. Apart from the website of the client, a study has been made to the other different non profit organisations even. A depth study and research has been done in order to build this assignment and make it to a good grade. The persuasive appeals that was applied while making this assignment is a mere mixture of the logos that is the logical implementation, pathos that is an appeal to the emotions of the audiences and lastly the ethos which is moral knowledge and expert level. In order to build this project, there was a need pathos to understand what the customer wants and how to fulfill their needs and on the ways on how to approach them (Austin and Pinkleton 2015). The ethos and the logos is also added so that to build this assignment with proper logic and knowledge so that it may be well presented. Lastly, it can be stated that to make any work a success there is a need to add a pinch of professionalism (Toth 2013). References Austin, E.W. and Pinkleton, B.E., 2015.Strategic public relations management: Planning and managing effective communication campaigns(Vol. 10). Routledge. Friend, J. and Jessop, N., 2013.Local Government and Strategic Choice (Routledge Revivals): An Operational Research Approach to the Processes of Public Planning. Routledge. Rosenbloom, D.H., 2014.Federal service and the constitution: The development of the public employment relationship. Georgetown University Press. Toth, E.L., 2013. The case for pluralistic studies of public relations: Rhetorical, critical, and systems perspectives.Rhetorical and critical approaches to public relations, pp.3-15. Van Dijk, T.A., 2015. Critical discourse studies: A sociocognitive approach.2015). Methods of Critical Discourse Studies, pp.63-74.
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