Free Essays on Mau-mau

The Mau-Mau Rebellion (1952 to 1959) Mau insubordination absolutely uncovers parts of the historical backdrop of British colonialism in Africa recently escaped see. A few students of history portray the members in the uprising as a group of political dissidents called ‘Mau Mau', who pledged to liberate Kenya from expansionism at any cost....To the British, the uprising was such a ludicrous assault on imperialism, that it defended any reaction, and that reaction when it came, would be severe and stunning. Kenya before the uprising, was brimming with Europeans carrying on with an existence of inactive extravagance dependent on African land and work. Be that as it may, in the post-Second World War period, disdain contrary to pilgrim rule expanded and individually, African nations requested self-rule. John Maina Kahihu from the Mau's political wing stated, In 1942 we had battled for the British. Be that as it may, when we got back home from the war they gave us nothing. The fiercest restriction to the pilgrim specialists originated from the Kikuyu clan who, 50 years sooner, had been expelled from their conventional territories to clear a path for the European ranchers. Before the Second's over World War, 3,000 European pioneers claimed 43,000 square kilometers of the most prolific land, just 6 percent of which they developed. The African populace of 5.25 million involved, without proprietorship rights, under 135,000 square kilometers of the least fortunate land. On the local stores a significant part of the land was unsatisfactory for horticulture. The poor laborers had been compelled to forsake their customary techniques for broad agribusiness and didn't approach the new innovation that would make concentrated horticulture feasible. The populace couldn't take care of itself and the workers were edgy. This realized the arrangement of a mystery society among the Kikuyu, Kenya's biggest clan, one-fifth of the populace. It was known as the Land Freedom Army (LFA). It was compelling Kikuyu to make a solemn vow to reclaim the land the white man had taken... Free Essays on Mau-mau Free Essays on Mau-mau The Mau-Mau Rebellion (1952 to 1959) Mau defiance unquestionably uncovers parts of the historical backdrop of British colonialism in Africa recently avoided see. A few students of history portray the members in the uprising as a group of political dissidents called ‘Mau Mau', who promised to liberate Kenya from expansionism at any cost....To the British, the uprising was such a silly assault on imperialism, that it advocated any reaction, and that reaction when it came, would be merciless and stunning. Kenya before the uprising, was loaded with Europeans carrying on with an existence of inactive extravagance dependent on African land and work. In any case, in the post-Second World War time, disdain contrary to pilgrim rule expanded and individually, African nations requested self-rule. John Maina Kahihu from the Mau's political wing stated, In 1942 we had battled for the British. Be that as it may, when we got back home from the war they gave us nothing. The fiercest resistance to the frontier specialists originated from the Kikuyu clan who, 50 years sooner, had been ousted from their customary zones to clear a path for the European ranchers. Before the Second's over World War, 3,000 European pilgrims possessed 43,000 square kilometers of the most ripe land, just 6 percent of which they developed. The African populace of 5.25 million involved, without possession rights, under 135,000 square kilometers of the least fortunate land. On the local stores a significant part of the land was unsatisfactory for agribusiness. The poor laborers had been compelled to relinquish their conventional strategies for broad farming and didn't approach the new innovation that would make concentrated agribusiness practical. The populace couldn't take care of itself and the workers were frantic. This realized the development of a mystery society among the Kikuyu, Kenya's biggest clan, one-fifth of the populace. It was known as the Land Freedom Army (LFA). It was driving Kikuyu to make a solemn vow to reclaim the land the white man had taken...

Emptiness in Mahayana Buddhism

Buddhism is an orthopraxy where personality originates from executing â€Å"correct† conduct, as opposed to conventionality where character is found through â€Å"correct† convictions. Mahayana Buddhism, named â€Å"the Great Way† is basically a dream of what Buddhism is extremely about. Despite the fact that the saturation of Mahayana was innocuous, the status of the sutras was continually contested. From the very beginning of Buddhism, the ideas of Self/not-Self and ward emerging were conspicuous and crucial. The Not-Self instructing has been considered by Buddhists to be the one of a kind achievement of the Buddha, the disclosure that cements his prevalence over other teachers.According over the Buddha, for something to be described as â€Å"Self,† it would not prompt anguish, it would need to be perpetual, and furthermore it would comply with the individual of whom it is the Self. If something somehow managed to be a Self, it positively should be contr ollable and helpful for satisfaction; or if nothing else not helpful for affliction. Besides, in considering the presence of a Self, he focuses on that the five conceivable possibility for â€Å"Self† (the five totals) in reality can't be the Self since they don't meet these measures. These five totals (structure, sensation, origination, mien, awareness) are unquestionably not permanent.They could be viewed as comparable to a tornado in that they emerge from specific conditions and conditions and are not extractable from nature in which they happen. Any piece of our psychophysical make-up, whatever can be characterized under one of the five gatherings, can't fit the portrayal of a Self and thusly they are on the whole not Self. Because of cases of having discovered a constant Self, the Buddha declares that if there is at all a Self, it is just an aftereffect of the meeting up of causal conditions (subordinate beginning). For this situation, it couldn't be lasting, and hence c ouldn't be a Self.Through further investigation and knowledge contemplation after the demise of the Buddha, the five totals apparently was dissolvable into less difficult components. This kind of examination came to include the psychophysical totals related with creatures, yet everything known to mankind too. These components (dharmas) are unchangeable to any further factors or sources. The Buddhist school of Sarvastivada held a conclusive differentiation between the manner in which dharmas exist as ‘primary existents’ and the way unpredictable elements (optional existents) exist basically as developments of dharmas.The name Sarvastivada itself implies â€Å"the principle that all exist,† and this school presents the thought of the own-reality of the dharma. In any case if a dharma is past, present, or future, it in any case despite everything exists. These dharmas are extreme facts. Essential existents must be the ending purpose of examination, and must not emer ge conditionally the way individuals, tables, and seats do. Consequently, optional existents come up short on this inalienable presence. The Prajnaparamita is the soonest type of writing known to be explicitly Mahayana; paramita meaning flawlessness and prajna meaning wisdom.In Buddhist phrasing, to have prajna is to envelop an understanding that separates how things really are from how things appear to be. In the abhidharma setting, prajna is utilized to decide the estimation of essential existents (dharmas), which are recognizable from applied develops. Flawlessness of knowledge (Prajnaparamita) doesn't infer the misleading quality of what had recently been viewed as shrewdness, but instead its flawlessness. The flawlessness of prajna is the last, legitimate comprehension of the way things genuinely are.Mahayana thinkers felt the idea of the Abhidharma to be excessively objective and deliberate. Distinctively, these sutras are not systematically philosophical nor do they infer doc trinal adherence. The writings involve clear messages that are delineated dully and can be viewed as messages that mean to ask or exhort those in the non-Mahayana world. As we have seen from pre-Mahayana reasoning, auxiliary existents are basically ‘empty’ of essential presence, void of own-reality. In this sense, everything, for example, individuals, sand, grass, the sea, and so forth re void of Self, yet additionally of essential presence. In concurrence with these Abhidharma writings, there then should exist things that without a doubt have essential presence so as to differentiate them to optional existents that are unfilled of such a quality. Be that as it may, the Prajnaparamita sutras don't regard this hypothesis. These Mahayana sutras guarantee that totally all things have a similar status as individuals, sand, tables, and so forth since they are on the whole develops that can't be gotten a handle on. They guarantee that everything is vacant, and that everything is reasonable develops coming up short on own-existence.In the eyes of the Mahayana rationalists, to guarantee that there is own-reality in a manner that accentuates the how basic the dharmas are in the Abhidharma appears to be excessively precise. It makes the dharmas themselves appropriate to become objects of connection. Rather, the dharmas ought to be utilized the manner in which the pontoon was utilized in the anecdote told by the Buddha in the Alagaddupama Sutra. They ought to be utilized as apparatuses that are relinquished after use; they ought not be clung to. Enduring is the consequence of connection, so to handle to the dharmas is to infer suffering.One can't get joined to these things in light of the fact that to append is to miss illumination. Along these lines, stopping connection includes seeing wellsprings of connection (individuals, for example) as vacant. One can't evade connection as long as they see a complexity between essential existents and theoretical existe nts. In the Heart Sutra, the bodhisattva clarifies that in the wake of participating in profound contemplation on the flawlessness of intelligence, bodhisattvas completely stir to a condition of complete freedom and impeccable enlightenment.The bodhisattva discloses to the inquisitive Sariputra that the flawlessness of astuteness includes seeing that the five totals are unfilled, just as the dharmas that make up these totals. Dharmas are not central; they are simply learned develops similarly as are individuals and trees. The Sutra outlines that all creatures, things, and thoughts, which we experience as â€Å"real†, have no characteristic presence and this â€Å"reality† is only a development of the psyche. Dharmas, as well, are void and don't ossess the particular qualities that they have recently been related with. Nothing comes to be as a naturally existing substance, and in this way nothing can stop. In like manner, nothing is finished or fragmented. The bodhisatt va explicitly states, â€Å"form is vacancy; void is structure. Void isn't other than structure, structure isn't other than vacancy. † This is legitimate supposing that nothing at all intrinsically exists, things and ideas, for example, â€Å"form† and â€Å"emptiness† are very much the same. Vacancy itself is unfilled in light of the fact that it doesn't naturally exist.The bodhisattva additionally references the 12 phases of ward start and the four honorable realities so as to harden that they also need innate presence and are vacant. Nothing in presence is discrete from anything. The Diamond Sutra talks dully about amount of legitimacy. Repeating four lines of this Sutra is represented again and again, with the message that training only four lines to someone else would create a limitless measure of legitimacy. According to this legitimacy, the sutra puts a solid accentuation on giving without getting connected to any related notion.The best way to accomplish boundless legitimacy is to sacrificially give along these lines. The Buddha discloses to Subhuti that those on the bodhisattva way ought to have this idea: â€Å"However many living creatures are contained in the all out conglomeration of living beings†¦I ought to carry every one of them to the last eradication in the domain of annihilation without substrate remaining. † Essentially, the Buddha is focusing on the demonstration of empowering all creatures to arrive at Nirvana-without-leftover portion and, in doing as such, outperforming the pattern of constant passing and rebirth.However, for this to be cultivated, one can't harp on the thought of having helped those creatures. The Buddha proceeds to state that after he has carried every one of them to definite annihilation, no living being has been brought to eradication. That is on the grounds that to give like this uncovers the void of giving. Since these creatures are unfilled of Self, while every one of them have be en brought to nirvana, simultaneously nobody has been brought to nirvana. The brain must be liberated from musings of ‘self’ instead of ‘others. ’ There ought to be no recognized â€Å"giver† or â€Å"receiver† or â€Å"gift. Such a demonstration would yield the most noteworthy legitimacy in giving. The finish of the Sutra contains the section â€Å"an figment, a drop of dew, an air pocket, a fantasy, a lightning’s flash†¦Ã¢â‚¬  so as to show the inadequacy, or the void, of the world. Like the Heart Sutra, the Diamond Sutra likewise focuses on that regular the truth resembles a figment. Incomprehensible expressions like â€Å"what is known as the most noteworthy instructing isn't the most noteworthy teaching† are utilized every now and again to stress that the two thoughts are indistinguishable on the grounds that they are both empty.The Buddha endeavors to help Subhuti â€Å"unlearn† the assumptions that he has ab out the real world and discernment. The qualification among arhats and bodhisattvas is clear; and Subhuti discovers that the bodhisattva’s sympathy isn't measurable. The Diamond Sutra declares that there is nothing on the planet that is constant, nor is there anything that autonomously exists, in this way everything is vacant. An existence without connection implies a serene life in void. This instructing of void was alarming for a few, since it appears to be fundamentally the same as skepticism in the manner that it energizes such profound letting go.Nagar

Assess And Respond To Individuals At Risk Of Suicide Case Study

Assess And Respond To Individuals At Risk Of Suicide Case Study Assess And Respond To Individuals At Risk Of Suicide â€" Case Study Example > Kevin’s case According to Kevin’s case, there are several factors that may lead him into committing suicide. The experiences that he has gone through in his life put him at a risk of committing suicide. For example, he has a mother who is an alcoholic and is an addict of other drugs, his biological father was a violent man who left them at an early age, and his parents never had any permanent employment and moved about more often which is a clear indication that the family had a financial problem. When his biological father left, Kevin and his siblings were left to tend themselves at a very early age and his mother brought in a boyfriend who was physically and emotionally threatening towards them. The fact that he has a low self esteem also puts him at a great risk of committing suicide. His alcohol and drug abuse is also a factor that puts him at risk of committing suicide, he also cannot be obtain and keep any form of employment for a given length of time. On top of all the experiences that Kevin has gone through, he feels helpless and hopeless which has led him to voice a desire of ending it all. Having considered all the above that Kevin has gone through in his life, my assessment of his case will be that he considers suicide as the only way out of his problems. In order to reduce the risk of Kevin committing suicide and increase his safety, I will have to deal with all the problems and negative feelings that he holds which give him a desire to commit suicide. For example, Kevin has a problem with his self esteem. I will have to deal with it first before dealing with his other problems that put him at a risk of committing suicide. He has to accept himself as a human being who is special just like everybody else. His educational level does not really matter because he can still do a lot of good for himself without necessary having a high level of education. The only way to do help him get over with his self esteem issues is by taking to him and by c ounseling him. He has to realize that he is still an important human being and that there are people who still need him and who still appreciate him even though his level of education is low. After dealing with his self esteem, the next thing will be to help him get over his drug and alcohol problem. The drugs and alcohol are responsible for giving him the courage of trying to commit suicide. He will have to go through a rehabilitation program which will help him in getting over the drug and alcohol addiction. Once the drug problem is dealt with, then his relationship with his family has to be the next on line. It will be easy for him to accept his family and try to help it get over the problems that it is experiencing after he has dealt with his self esteem and drug abuse problem. The family will also provide Kevin with the much desired love, appreciation, encouragement and understanding which will further help him in dealing with his low self esteem and as a result he will not h ave an excuse of getting back into his habits of abusing drugs and alcohol. At the end of it all, the risks of him harming himself through suicide will have been completely eliminated and as a result his safety will have been increased.

Guns and Violence Essay - 828 Words

Guns and Violence School shootings, gang violence, drive by shootings, murder, and thousands of acts of violence are committed every day. Members of our society criticize their own people for this violence while they continue to sit back and do nothing about it. These acts of violence have many contributing factors. Violence in our country today is escalating because we dont control the distribution of the guns sold. There are not enough restrictions on guns sold legally. The illegal purchase of guns through the black market is out of control. There is not enough education on the usage and storage of guns. There are not many restrictions on the distributions of guns. Guns are sold to any one†¦show more content†¦These guns are sold on what is called the black market to basically anyone. Anyone of any age, with no waiting period, no matter what your criminal record is, can purchase these guns. The fact that these guns are sold illegally allows guns to fall into the wrong hands. Gang members and murderers purchase these guns and go onto the streets and kill members of our own families. These problems are trying to be prevented by catching them and putting them in jail. By this point it is too late, someone?s child or mother has been killed. If the guns were taken out of their hands the crime would never be committed. There should be guidelines set to insure the safety of our society before the gun is purchased. There should be a safety test given before the gun could be purchased. A test to show that the owners know how to properly use the gun. It is a requirement to take a test to show your ability before you get your drivers license, why not a before you buy a gun? There should also be a class taught teaching the proper storage of a gun. Teaching to keep the gun in a locked cabinet with the key in separate area. And the three to five day waiting period should remain. I do agree that there are many legitimate reasons for the purchasing of guns. Some men and women enjoy hunting. This, being a sport they enjoy, makes such a purchase understandable. Other men and women feel theyShow MoreRelatedGun Violence And The Gun Control1253 Words   |  6 PagesGun Violence in America According to CDC, One person is killed by a firearms every 17 minutes, 87 people are killed during an average day, and 609 are killed every week†(CDC). That means gun violence is out of control, and you can be next. In fact, there s been an increase of mass murders occurring everywhere due to guns. Which has brought our attention to the gun violence in our nation. They say guns are for protection, but in reality there seems to be more murder associated with it. There sRead MoreThe Necessary Solutions For Gun Violence1494 Words   |  6 Pages The Necessary Solutions To Gun Violence In today’s time there is no stopping the public from witnessing the day to day violence across America. It floods the daily news, it scrolls past our eyes through our smartphone screens, it blares through our stereos, and it’s published in our newspapers and magazines. As humans, in this day and age prosper where bad news is never hidden from the media. It is recognized all the time, the thoughts of violence crossing one s path never settling just rightRead MoreNo Rights Is Absolute And The Threat Of Gun Violence1687 Words   |  7 PagesNo Rights is absolute and the Threat of Gun Violence is becoming an Epidemic! It was Saturday night while I was just starting on my shift and getting the handover report from the outgoing nurse, when the public address system announced a â€Å"Code Black†. A code black in the hospital setting means that there is an emergency situation involving personal threats to the safety of staff and the public including assaults, confrontation, hostage situation but mostly threats of personal injury or attack. TheRead MoreGun Violence1924 Words   |  8 Pagesis the gun control epidemic. Gun violence in the United States is a national epidemic. Many people take advantage of guns using and manipulating the tool with hardly any thought. Countless lives have been lost due to fact that people have been able to obtain firearms legally or illegally and have taken the notion to be judge, jury and executioner in holding ones live in their hands. This is a common issue that will continue if action is not taken as a nation to try and stop it. Gun violence can Read MoreGu n Violence And Gun Control1406 Words   |  6 Pages Gun violence in America is a huge topic of discussion. Many people have heard about this topic on the news or in the newspaper, but have very little knowledge on this ongoing topic. Those who have a lack of information on gun control tend to not feel strongly towards guns or people owning or carrying guns. People that have never been around guns are often scared of them, but the truth is a gun is nothing more than a hunk of metal. For a gun to go off the gun needs a shooter, so should the realRead MoreGun Violence And Gun Control1043 Words   |  5 Pagesexperienced epidemic level of gun violence taking place in every corner of country. Actually owning gun is legal in the USA, it’s actually our second amendment; the right to bare firearms. Approximately 300 million Americans held gun in their homes. Gun violence has centered in our community as major issue. Gun violence and gun ownership have been in the news lately due to numerous shooting taking place at Movie theatre, Offices, , colleges and even elementary schools. The gun issue discussion were evenRead MoreGun Violence : It Is Well Known Gun1543 Words   |  7 PagesGun Violence in America Thomas Leonard February 9, 2017 As it is well known gun violence is a major problem in today’s society, places like Chicago and New York City have a serious epidemic on their hands. It is not uncommon to hear about an incident where a gun was involved in these big cities on a day to day basis, but it’s not just the big cities, these type of things are happening nationwide. There has been an argument for many decades whether the cause of such violence is due to the lack ofRead MoreGuns And Crime And Violence Essay1260 Words   |  6 PagesGuns and crime. These two words sound interesting, right? Now think about it deeply, do they really link to each other? Do guns surely lead to crime and violent issues? If so, should governments set restrictive rules for people who own and use the guns, such as provide the mental health reports, and test the shooting skills before purchasing the guns? These questions have been mentioned and discussed over and over again in today’s world. We can often hear the news about gun violence, such as a tragicRead MoreGun Control Laws Do Not Reduce Gun Violence779 Words   |  4 Pages Gun control laws Introduction: I believe that gun control laws will actually increase robberies, murders, and other crime. Think of it like this ok, you and your kids are sleeping in your beds. Then you hear your front door being kicked in. You see people walking around your house stealing your tv’s, your kids game systems, computers, and jewelry. You begin to go for the phone and call 911, but they see you and they start to run at you and your kids with a knife. Would you rather have a gun orRead MoreGuns, Myths And Realities Of Gun Violence2210 Words   |  9 PagesThis paper will explore the history of guns, myths and realities of gun violence. Gun violence is a hot topic in America today and some may believe that America was built on gun violence. This country was colonized by the use of violence with guns. We’ve had wars since the invasion of this country. The violence has been around also with the well-known 1775 speech from Patrick Henry, â€Å"Give me liberty or give me de ath† (Jr.). Give me death is a very strong statement that to me means this is of

Differences Between Homosexuality And Homosexuality

Nearly every person has differing opinions on homosexuality. Sadly, these divisive differences are even found in the Church, forcing people to pick sides and stand against those we should be united with. As a young child, this was made apparent to me when my family stopped attending a conservative Mennonite Church due to their stance on homosexuality; rather, we began attending a Missionary Church. However, these two denominations aren’t the only that have differences in belief about homosexuality. From one denomination to another, there may be minor or drastic differences; regardless, these Church doctrines shape how we react to homosexuality and those who declare themselves homosexual. By comparing three major Church views, as demonstrated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Mennonite Church, and the Missionary Church, we will gain a more complete picture of the different prevailing beliefs regarding homosexuality. Once this has been attained, one will be able to compare these beliefs to the Bible. Homosexuality has been, and will continue to be, a hot button topic in the Church; therefore, it is imperative to formulate what one believes about the topic, especially as one decides which Church denomination to attend. The Evangelical Lutheran Church falls on the liberal side of the spectrum. While their doctrine skirts around the issue of homosexuality, it does state that â€Å"this church’s deliberations related to human sexuality require our best moral discernment andShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between Bisexuality And Homosexuality, And Heterosexuality1077 Words   |  5 Pagesman.) Past studies always look at the differences of a bisexual’s stimulation to heterosexual and homosexual stimuli compared to homosexual’s and heterosexual’s stimulations. No study had ever had a specific bisexual stimulus that they could compare bisexuals’ stimulation to non-bisexuals. Lots of studies have found the bisexual orientati on does to not exist. There have been many studies that have found little difference between bisexuality and homosexuality, and bisexuality and heterosexuality.Read MoreDifferences Between Homosexuality and Homosexual Behavior Essay921 Words   |  4 PagesHomosexuality (the tendency to be more sexually attracted to the same sex) is often confused with homosexual behavior (acting on homosexuality by engaging in homosexual acts), but the two are distinctly different. Even though homosexual behavior, especially in more recent years, has become an acceptable standard in our society it is a voluntary act and a sin, but the church has the ongoing responsibility and God-given call to love our neighbors, regardless of their sin because we too are all sinnersRead MoreHomosexuality: Choice or genetic?902 Words   |  4 PagesHomosexuality has become an important issue in our community creating much controversy. The liberal citizens of our country congratulate those who have made the hard d ecision to â€Å"come out.† The decision to be openly homosexual is hard for some because of the rare acceptance that they receive. Society has made it so hard for homosexuals to be accepted, given the discrimination and hate crimes against them. The rights that have been taken from homosexuals, such as marriage, have led to a quest forRead MoreThe Biological Perspective On Homosexuality Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pagescan be led by many factors. Many may believe that feelings and emotions play a role, but could it be our genetic make-up determines our life partner? It is widely favored that homosexuality stems from one’s environment and the people around them. Although less favored, the theory that genetics plays a role in homosexuality is concrete. In agreeance, Heffner Johnson (2003) states the hypothalamus, a highly significant region of the brain, plays a role in sexuality. This theory is supported by evidenceRead MoreHomosexuality in Ancient Greece and Rome Ess ay example1353 Words   |  6 PagesHomosexuality in ancient Greece and Rome Americans endlessly recycle the old conflicts: first we fought about slavery, then segregation, then gender, and now sexual orientation-(Anon). Homosexuality is an on-going conflict in America, as well as other countries. The history of homosexuality goes back to the ancient civilizations. As we have different ideas and ways of dealing with it, so did the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Ancient Greece is consideredRead MoreThe Effects Of Prenatal Hormones On The Developing Fetus1510 Words   |  7 Pagesthe X chromosome. Though genetic tendencies for homosexuality may be passed from mothers to their children (Rahman Wilson, 2003). During human evolution, homosexuality was developed to minimize competition between males for a limited number of potential female mates (Schulling, 2004). A different possibility is that prenatal hormone levels influence the developing fetus (Levay, 2011). According to the prenatal hormonal theory of homosexuality, some male fetuses are exposed to too little testosteroneRead MorePsychology And Science Of A Heterosexual And Homosexual Man Through The Course Of Nature Vs. Nurture1168 Words   |  5 Pagesstudies; Simon LeVay, Roselli, Hamers, Sanders, Hansen. The perception of whether homosexuality conforms to the course of nature vs. nurture can influence the amount of scrutiny judged upon affected individuals. So, the purpose of this extended essay is to answer the research question of to what extent is there a biological basis with neurological structurally, genetically, hormonally, and prenatally behind male homosexuality and how an individual’s perception of this fact influences their behavior towardsRead MoreThe Debate Over Gay Marriage858 Words   |  4 PagesAlthough gay marriage has been legalized in all of the Uni ted States, the idea is still heavily debated. Richard Fitzgibbons, one of the various authors of the book Homosexuality: Opposing Viewpoints (Homosexuality is Caused by Psychological Trauma, p.36) believe that in order to get rid of pain, a person can be overcome by strong, erotic desires and actions, however, this does not entirely make sense. If a man were to be sexaully assaulted by another man, they would, more than likely remain straightRead MoreEssay about The Homosexual Brain?1502 Words   |  7 PagesQuayle said that homosexuality is more of a choice than a biological situation...It is a wrong choice. (1). Quayles statement counters the sentiment of many homosexuals that their sexual orientation is neither a lifestyle nor a personal choice, it is innate and unchangeable (2) . Is homosexuality a choice or does sexual preference have a biological basis? This question is at the forefront of academic, scientific, political, legal and media consciousness (3). The debate over h omosexuality has influencedRead MoreEssay about Homosexuality is a Choice Rather than Genetics749 Words   |  3 Pagespeople now believe the reporting of many popular newspapers and magazines report of the discovery of a link between a certain gene and homosexuality, but hasnt it been considered a choice for such a long time? Is homosexuality a choice rather than genetic? To answer this question well start off by revealing some myths of homosexuality. The next part will explain the difference between a behavioral trait and a genetic trait. Finally Ill end be unveiling the truth behind the homosexual gene.

Direct Democracy Free Essays

The assumption underlying the discussion on the initiative process is that the employment of paid petitioners is a harmful development reducing the quality of our democracy and privileging money over true commitment to causes that are put on ballot. However, this assumption is a questionable one, and counterevidence is abundant. Therefore, this essay will have the following structure: first of all, it will show little harms in employing paid signature-gatherers that are offset by possible benefits of such design of the initiative process, and, secondly, the essay will criticize the workability of the solutions offered in the concluding section of the chapter. We will write a custom essay sample on Direct Democracy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The perceived danger in allowing paid petitioners is that only causes that enjoy considerable financial support can make their way to the ballot. Another threat, as opponents of this policy argue, is associated with the fact that it is devastating to the spirit of volunteerism and civic involvement. There is a view that ‘[p]aying petitioners degraded the signature gatherer because it came to be seen as a sales job rather than as the precious province of the public-spirited citizen’ (Ellis, 2002, p. 48). Thus, the need for mobilizing and engaging citizens becomes virtually irrelevant to policy-making process. However, there is little persuasive evidence that paid petitioners signify the death of grassroots and the advent of the ‘greenback democracy. ’ Issues that arouse strong public sentiment can recruit a sufficient number of volunteers to push their case through. There are several reasons why volunteer signatures drive will survive in the future. First of all, using volunteers in the qualification phase can help save money for the electoral contest. Secondly, volunteer petitioners often gather signatures with higher validity rates, thus the number of signatures needed decreases whenever volunteers are used. Thirdly, volunteer-based signature gathering campaigns constitute a way to mobilize and inform citizens. Fourthly, volunteer signatures drive is a powerful public relations tool, since such initiatives usually enjoy positive publicity (Ellis, 2002). Volunteer campaigns have potential to succeed only if a campaign issue can easily generate strong feelings among the public. Yet issues arousing strong public sentiment are few and far between; more often, it is an interest of a smaller group of people that is at stake, but it is undemocratic to disregard the plea of such groups of citizens only because their case does not excite hearts and minds of their fellow citizens. In the modern democracy, there are few deeply appalling wrongs that need immediate remedy and can attract crowds of concerned citizen, like the case of African Americans in the 1960s. In the modern democracy, incremental changes need to be made to accommodate different interests and to make their coexistence more efficient and pleasurable for all. Numerous notable initiatives, serving community interests best, made their way to the ballot thanks to paid petitioners. Furthermore, the ban on paid petitioners will affect different states in different ways. It will create a dangerous disparity in the quality of the initiative process in states with smaller and bigger populations. For example, it will create considerable complications for signature gathering in such states as California, where the number of signatures that are necessary for an initiative to be put on ballot can be several times higher than in other states. It is especially relevant given the everyday life constraints on citizenship and civic participation. Consumerist ideology makes long working hours an imperative and leaves people with less time to participate in politics and community affairs. People volunteer in their leisure time, and leisure is a competitive sector. It is hard to expect a large number of citizens to sacrifice their spare time for gathering signatures in favor of their cause, however strongly they feel about it. Indeed, ‘[t]he main hurdle that most initiative proponents face is finding enough people willing and able to dedicate a large number of hours to gathering signatures’ (Ellis, 2002, p. 53). Moreover, there are legitimate concerns that the ban on paid petitioners will privilege people with abundant amount of spare time over those possessing more financial resources. In fact, paid petitioners democratize the initiative process by making it more inclusive. Many citizens do not hold strong opinions on some issues, but it by no means indicates that these issues should be excluded from the democratic debate. There are issues that are hard to frame in the way that solicits a passionate positive or negative attitude. In addition, privileging people with spare time over those with money borders on classism. For example, unemployed citizens with a lot of spare time can recruit a large number of volunteer to campaign for a welfare reform, while middle-class businessmen do not have such time to petition for a tax reduction. In a democracy, all groups ought to have equal access to the mechanisms of democratic participation and should be allowed to make the best use of resources available to them to ensure such participation. Therefore, as Ellis (2002, p. 54) notes, ‘the rise of paid petitioners and professional signature-gathering firms promotes democracy by increasing the involvement of a wider diversity of groups. ’ The ban on paid petitioners will not significantly decrease the role of big interests and money in the initiative process. A fact that is often overlooked by the opponents of paid petitioners concerns the evidence that recruitment, training, and coordination of volunteers mean considerable costs to an initiative sponsor, although volunteers work for free (Ellis, 2002). Moreover, the ban on paid petitioners will give an unfair advantage to organizations with better access to human resources. It ‘would advantage firms that employed large numbers of people and would make it impossible for all but the most popular causes to exercise the right of direct democracy’ (Ellis, 2002, p. 48). The opponents of paid petitioners also overlook the fact that signature gathering firms have a more professional approach to the initiative process. One of the possible advantages, as Ellis (2002) acknowledges, is that such firms have more experience in planning signature gathering campaigns and can offer a clear timeline for the process. However, there is another important advantage in employing signature gathering firms. Professionals working there can inform citizens more efficiently by presenting information about the issue at stake in a more accessible and understandable way. Thus, the indirect benefit of using paid petitioners is greater awareness of the citizenry on a wider array of issues. The proposal to ban paid petitioners also underestimates people’s ability to choose whether to sign a petition. It is argued that signatories to petitions do not express their real opinion but agree to sign them ‘for a variety of reasons, among which are desire to be rid of the solicitor or to help him earn a day’s wages’ (Register, 1913; in Ellis, 2002). However, citizens are often more aware and concerned than this notion assumes. Many of them refuse to sign petitions that contradict their convictions. If ignorance was the case, volunteer signature drives would be as futile as professional signature gathering firms. Having proven that the harms involved in the process of employing paid petitioners in the initiative process are often exaggerated, there is a need to critique the proposed solutions to the perceived crisis. Providing more information about signature gathering will have little effect, as citizens are already overwhelmed with information on public issues. Few would dedicate their time to studying booklets on how certain initiatives made their way to the ballot. There are cognitive constraints on the amount of information citizens can consume. Furthermore, few would have enough spare time to devote it to reading booklets with information on how many volunteers and how many paid petitioners were employed to gather support for a certain initiative. The proposal to leave petitions with county registration officers can be dismissed on similar grounds: citizens do not have enough spare time to dedicate to public affairs. Valuing signatures collected by volunteers over those collected by paid petitioners is simply non-enforceable. Abandoning signature gathering altogether is also not a viable alternative, since the process of petitioning presents at least some checks on the power of large interests. Paid petitioners ensure that issues of at least some interest to at least some groups of citizens make their way to the ballot. In fact, it does not quite matter how issues are placed on ballot; what matters most is the citizens’ ability to express their opinion about different initiatives in a popular vote. How to cite Direct Democracy, Papers Direct Democracy Free Essays In the United States, direct democracy takes its most evident form in ballot initiatives. According to the president of the Initiative and Referendum Institute, M. Dane Waters, a version of this practice was said to have existed as early as the 1600s in New England. We will write a custom essay sample on Direct Democracy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The practice then was for proposed ordinances to be placed on the agenda to be discussed by the whole town and later approved by voting on them during their town meetings. However, Dane Waters continued, ballot initiative as it is known today started during the 1900s – specifically in 1978 when Proposition 13 reduced the property taxes in California from 2. 5 percent to 1 percent. That California initiative resulted to limitations in the property taxes of 43 states and a reduced rate in the income taxes in 15 states (Cato Policy Report). A Washington Post columnist, David S. Broder described ballot initiatives as a tool designed to enable the people to directly write laws and in the process, check the influence being wielded by interest groups in the legislative process. Unfortunately, Broder explained, the initiative process is flawed since the opinion of those who are in disagreement is not being heard. Because of this defect, he maintained, statutes approved through ballot initiatives are not being subjected to checks and balances, effectively robbing the minority of their right to be heard. Broder argued that this contradicts the intent of the founding fathers (Cato Policy Report). The chairman of the Cato Institute, William A. Niskanen, disagreed. He stressed that the initiative process is actually a system of checks and balances since it regulates the power of legislatures. In other words, it does not weaken the American system of government. Dane Waters supported the view of Niskanen. He maintained that ballot initiatives were not meant to introduce adverse changes in the American system of government but to enrich it. In fact, he said, even the founding fathers had recognized its wisdom. To prove his point, he quoted James Madison, one of the founding fathers, who said that As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the Constitutional Charter under which the several branches of government hold their power is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory to recur to the same original authority whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of government (Cato Policy Report). Ellen Ann Andersen, in â€Å"OUT OF THE CLOSESTS into the Courts, demonstrated how a ballot initiative works. In her search for a suitable illustration, she decided to look at the effects of the initiative process on the civil rights of lesbians, gays and bisexuals (lgb’s). Her decision was baaed on the fact that until 1993, the focus of approximately 60 percent of all ballot initiatives in the country was the civil rights of lgb’s. She therefore concentrated on the most famous of these initiatives – Amendment 2 which was approved by the voters in Colorado in 1992 (Andersen). Amendment 2 was sparked by a proposed ordinance on human rights which was heard by the Human Rights Commission of Colorado Springs in 1991. The proposal sought to prohibit discrimination of any kind based on â€Å"race and color, their religion and creed, their national origin and ethnicity, their age, marital status, their sexual orientation, or their disabled condition. † It immediately encountered stiff opposition mostly from big fundamentalist Christian groups which included the biggest Christian radio ministry in the country – the Focus on the Family. Due to the relentless assault that they made against the proposed ordinance, it was finally defeated in the city council by a vote of 8-1 (Andersen). Things did not end there, however. The defeat of the proposed human rights ordinance started a statewide campaign against gay rights which culminated to the framing of Amendment 2. A group named Colorado for Family Values (CFV) was organized at the behest of three individuals, namely: Tony Marco, an anti-gay activist; David Noebel, head of anticommunist Summit Ministries, and Kevin Tebedo, who was the son of Maryanne Tebedo, a senator of the state of Colorado. CFV was able to establish links with national conservative organizations. It obtained the assistance of the â€Å"National Legal Foundation† in drafting Amendment 2 and used the handbook which was written by a lawyer who represented the â€Å"Concerned Women for America† as a guide for its efforts to promote the amendment. The proponents of Amendment 2 appealed to the moral values of the people and capitalized on their lack of adequate knowledge about homosexuality as they painted gays and lesbians as a hazard to society. It distributed a bulletin which alleged that Lately, America has been hearing a lot about the subject of childhood sexual abuse. This terrible epidemic has scarred countless young lives and destroyed thousands of families. But what militant homosexuals don’t want you to know is the large role they play in this epidemic. In fact, pedophilia (the sexual molestation of children) is actually an accepted part of the homosexual community (Andersen)! CFV also declared to the people of Colorado that homosexuals represented a great danger to the overall health of the community because they are the most relentless carriers of â€Å"sexually transmitted diseases; they are the most fertile breeders of diseases; and that by the middle of the 1990s, hospital bed would be difficult to come by due to the large number of homosexuals who are infected with AIDS (Andersen). Black propaganda such as these, coupled with the findings of a poll which was commissioned by the Denver Post which showed that 46 percent of respondents considered homosexuality to be morally wrong, 40 percent tolerated homosexuals, and 14 percent declared their neutrality, enabled the anti-gay sectors of Colorado to deal a crushing blow to the gay militants. The CFV campaign also argued that lgb’s should not be granted protected status or â€Å"special rights† because they were not â€Å"legitimate† minorities having failed to satisfy the criteria set forth by Supreme Court decisions, namely: 1. A group wanting true minority rights must show that it’s discriminated against to the point that its members cannot earn average income, get an adequate education, or enjoy a fulfilling cultural life. 2. The group must be clearly identifiable by unchangeable physical characteristics like skin color, gender, handicap, etc. (not behavior). 3. The group must clearly show that it is politically powerless (Andersen). In spite of the sting that black propaganda caused, it was the â€Å"no special rights† campaign slogan that dealt the greatest damage to the gay militants. Lawyer Jean Dubofsky said that The â€Å"no special rights† slogan was very clever, particularly given a time when at least white males don’t like affirmative action. The Amendment 2 people spent a lot of time talking about (how) you don’t want gays and lesbians getting in front of you in line for jobs or scholarships or college. Of course, that wasn’t what Amendment 2 was all about overall, but that’s the way it was sold†¦. People I talked with voted for it because they felt gay and lesbians should not get affirmative action (Andersen). In other words, Amendment 2 was ultimately approved by the voters of Colorado, thanks mainly to the underhanded campaign tactics employed by its proponents. Thus ended the political struggle waged by the gay activists. They were decidedly beaten in the political battle. However, it turned out that they were far from accepting defeat. Defeated in the political arena, they then turned to the legal battle. Amendment 2 proponents had only nine days to savor the taste of victory before the lgb’s petitioned the federal district court. A complaint was filed in the name of the following: Richard Evans (he was a former employee at the Mayor’s office of Denver who was open with his being gay); five other lgb’s; and a heterosexual male who was infected with AIDS. The cities of Boulder, Denver, and Aspen were also included as complainants because they had ordinances which protected the rights of lgb’s which Amendment 2 would effectively nullify (Andersen). The second aspect of the initiative process (the legal battle) turned out to be a different matter altogether. Prepared even before the election day as a â€Å"fallback† strategy, the complaint included several allegations. First, it argued that Amendment 2 violated the equal protection clause of the constitution. Then it claimed that the amendment denied lgb’s of their freedom of expression as well as association. Finally, it alleged that Amendment 2 was in violation of due process and the â€Å"right to petition government for a redress of grievances† (Andersen). The difference between the political and the legal aspects of the initiative became immediately evident. Whereas the voters were the center of decision-making in the political exercise, the legal battle transferred the power to decide to the judges. A total of thirteen judges heard the arguments whether Amendment 2 should be considered constitutional. One was a district court judge; three were justices of the Supreme Court of Colorado; and nine justices came from the United States Supreme Court (Andersen). The two sides presented the same arguments that they used during the campaign. The proponents of the amendment argued that they were simply against granting homosexuals special rights and that they were interested in safeguarding the well-being of children and the family, and allow the state to allocate its resources to assisting the legitimate minorities. The gay advocates, on the other hand, argued that in fact â€Å"special rights† as employed by the proponents of the Amendment was merely a red herring to mislead people and that the Amendment would effectively deprive them of their rights and constitutionally-guaranteed protection. They further claimed that Amendment 2 was only motivated by the hostility of its proponents towards lgb’s and that homosexuality was in fact not only a â€Å"life-style choice† but is comparable to race and sexual orientation (Andersen). What happened, however, was while their arguments won for the proponents the battle for the ballot, the same arguments caused them to lose their case in court. Ironically, a dissenting judge claimed that the act of the majority justices from the Supreme Court in striking down the Amendment had been an act â€Å"not of judicial judgment, but of political will† (Andersen). How to cite Direct Democracy, Papers

Katz Managerial Skill free essay sample

Introduction As the world enters more modern civilization, organizations also morph into more complex and competitive context. Thus, such situation will become more challenging for today’s managers in maintaining the viability of current organizations. Regarding to those issues, it is important to comprehend in depth on manager’s work. This essay commences a brief description of the manager interviewed. It will then evaluate the relevance of the Katz’s theory to the interviewed manager’s work. However, it will be more focused on the conceptual skill. Then, this essay will analyze on the relationship of several theories amongst Katz’ managerial work, Fayol’s management function and Mintzberg’s management roles. Finally, it will also examine the relation on Taylor’s four principles to the manager’s work. This essay concludes that every theory has its own limitation, thus, it disable to perfectly describe manager’s job. Description of the Interviewed Manager The interviewed manager that will be further discussed in this essay is a first-line manager. She is a supervisor in a branch of a non-local multinational in United States of America. The organization is a medium-sized restaurant which is in service sector. It has been running for about one and a half years. The interviewed manager has been working in the restaurant since it was opened. Her major duty is supervising the work of her members to achieve the optimum performance. Besides, monitoring the members work becomes her daily responsibility. Evaluation of Katz’s Managerial Skills Based on the interview conducted, it is significant that the manager’s work reflects particular managerial skills. In this context, the managerial skills will be evaluated based on Kat’s theory. Kat’s managerial skills are classified into three types: â€Å"conceptual, technical and human (interpersonal)† (Robbins et al. 2006, p. 14). Those skills are interrelated in implication of managerial activities. For further understanding, it is essential to identity the conceptual skill of the interviewed manager whether it is relevant to the Katz model or not. Robbins et al. (2006) define conceptual skill as â€Å"an ability to conceptualize and to think about abstract and complex situations†. According to Kat’s, this skill is mostly practiced by upper-level managers. It is necessary for top managers to possess because oftentimes they encounter obscure situations; thus, conceptual skill is required in order to overcome the problems. Furthermore, they have to be able to foresee all contingencies that might happen in the future. Robbins et al. (2006) point out that top manager should be able to interact with heterogeneous conditions in a broader scope of environment. According to the former, conceptual skill is less likely to be practiced by lower-level managers. Nevertheless, in a modern organization especially since global era, ideas can derive not only from executive managers, but also from low-level managers. Likewise, Chapman (2001) suggests that rigid hierarchy structure is no longer exists in new features organization as divisions or departments are connected horizontally to allow the fluid flow of information. In fact, it is reflected on the interviewed manager. Ms. X admitted that although new plans are generally instructed by her top manager, however, she also participated in contributing ideas in meeting. Moreover, she explained that she should be able to coordinate certain parts of business to achieve effectiveness that actually require conceptual skill. For instance, she needs to control the promptness of the work of internal personnel in process of cooking, monitor the waiters in serving food for customers and also ensure the satisfactory of customers for their services. Thus, it can be seen that basic conceptual skill is necessary for first-line managers to have which means Kat’s theory is not strongly reflected to the works of the interviewed manager. Apparently, the irrelevance is first because of in this particular business, conceptual skill is required for first-line manager in the activities. Second, a more flexible condition in modern era has forced managers’ activities to encompass conceptual skill in order to be more agile in engaging the changing conditions. Apart from conceptual skill, technical skill, according to Katz, is a very essential managerial skill especially for first-line and middle managers (Robbins et al. , 2006). However, proficiency of a specific knowledge is not required in the job of Ms. X. Peterson and Fleet (2004) mentions that a manager must have technical skill in order to â€Å"train, direct and evaluate subordinates performing specialized task†. Conversely, it is noteworthy that Ms. X is reasonable experienced to train and direct her members although she had never attended any educational process for her specific job. Thus, it can be concluded Katz theory may not be well reflected for certain jobs. The third is human skill (interpersonal skill) which is compulsory for all levels managers. Regardless on the levels, it is vital for managers to have interpersonal skill, as they need to have regular contacts to subordinates to achieve goals (Gillen and Carroll, 1987). Ms. X also agrees as her work in service sector, abilities to interact with diverse people is essential because she had to be able to cooperate with her members. Furthermore, she also had to get deal with many customers every day. Hence, interpersonal skill is considered as the most supreme skill for her job. Those reasons have advocated the Katz argument that managers at all levels need to have interpersonal skill as to work with and through other people effectively and efficiently. Analysis on Relationship on Theories of Katz, Fayol and Mintzberg Basically, the managers’ work can be clarified by using theories of Katz’s managerial skill, Fayol’s managerial function and Mintzberg’s manager roles. In fact, those theories are related and enable to explain the work of managers in a lucid picture. Katz’s human skill is reflected in Mintzberg’s interpersonal role that requires a manager to be able to interact with people.