Sunday, October 13, 2019
Pirates terror of the high seas :: essays research papers
I. Introduction à à à à à A. Argggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Ahoy me mates and welcome to the world of pirates. à à à à à B. through the next few minutes I will be informing ye about pirates and their rage on the high seas. à à à à à C. We will be talking about pirates, their ships, weapons, and a few famous ones at that. à à à à à D. I myself have been interested in pirates since I was a wee lad. à à à à à A. Ships à à à à à à à à à à 1. Galleon à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a. ââ¬Å"The Spanish Galleon was the great prize ship for pirates.â⬠à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à (History of Pirates) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 1. Spanish armada used these ships to export gold from the à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Americas. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à b. Weight of cannons was concentrated to center part of the ship. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 1. Used for stability. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à c. Meant to cross the Atlantic in large convoys. à à à à à à à à à à 2. Sloop à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a. ââ¬Å"The ancestors of the modern yacht.â⬠(History of Pirates) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à b. Favored among pirates because of its agility. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 2. Pirates relied on bluff and surprise. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à c. Pirates of the Caribbean used these ships. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 1. Best sloops were built in Bermuda and Jamaica. à à à à à à à à à à 3. Men-O-War à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a. Ship Of the Line à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 1. ââ¬Å"Main battle ship of a Navyâ⬠à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 2. Largest of Men-O-War. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 3. Carried between 32 to 144 guns.à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à b. Frigate à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 1. ââ¬Å"Was the midsized Man-O-Warâ⬠à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 2. Had three masts but was conciderable smaller than the à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à Ship Of the Line. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 3. Had one gun deck, but kept other cannons on the spare à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à deck.à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à c. Corvette à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 1. ââ¬Å"sometimes called a ââ¬Ësloop of warââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 2. had her guns arranged on a single deck. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à 3. had the ability to maneuver easily. à à à à à à à à à à 4. Now we must cover the terror they unleashed with their weapons. à à à à à B. Weapons à à à à à à à à à à 1. Cutlass à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a. ââ¬Å"A rough heavy broad bladeâ⬠(History of Pirates 107) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à b. Shortness of the blade was an advantage when fighting aboard à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a ship. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à c. Was a great hacking weapon due to its curved blade and à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à heaviness. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à d. Was often used as a tool as well. à à à à à à à à à à 2. Blunderbuss/pistols à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a. ââ¬Å"more like a hand-held cannon then a rifleâ⬠à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à (History of Pirates 113) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à b. Ranged in length from about 14 to 30 inches. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à c. When used in close range it could kill about seven people. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à d. ââ¬Å"Pirates prized pistols above all other weaponsâ⬠à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à (History of Pirates 115) à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à e. Pirates used to carry several pistols hanging on a sash into battle. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à f. they were usually loaded from the barrel of the gun with à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à prepared shoot powder and bullets. à à à à à à à à à à 3. Cannons à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à a. ranged in different sizes by being called pounders. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à b. could range from 2 to 32 pounders on board a ship à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à c. swivel guns were mounted on the poop deck to stop boarders. à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à d. the main cannons were mounted on rolling carts and strapped
Friday, October 11, 2019
Cheerleading is Not a Sport Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays
Cheerleading is Not a Sport According to Joe Hatton, the author of the article, ââ¬Å"Sports Beat - The sport of cheerleading: Itââ¬â¢s more than just pompoms and smiles,â⬠cheerleading is a sport because it requires strength, balance, and coordination. The major claim of the article is ââ¬Å"cheerleading is a sport - plain and simple - and cheerleaders are true athletesâ⬠(Hatton C-04). The article offers the following arguments in support of the claim. Hatton claims because cheerleaders are athletes, cheerleading is a sport. Hatton also says cheerleading is a sport because of the competitive aspects. We believe cheerleading is not a sport, because not all cheerleaders compete. Most cheerleaders rarely, if ever, show athleticism. Cheerleading is an activity based on confidence and school spirit. Activities in schools such as debate clubs revolve around the trust, confidence and competition of the team members yet most people do not consider debate club a sport. In Hattonââ¬â¢s article, he acknowledges many people and organization do not identify cheerleading as a sport. The premier collegiate sports organization in the country, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (ââ¬Å"NCAAâ⬠), does not recognize cheerleading as a sport (ââ¬Å"Equal Opportunityâ⬠). Also, according to the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations, fewer than half the states in country recognize cheerleading as a sport (ââ¬Å"NFHSâ⬠). The fact that a respected national athletic organization and a majority of states do not recognize cheerleading as a sport implies that it is viewed primarily as entertainment. We believe the arguments in the article to be unfounded and therefore view the claim that cheerleading is a sport to be untrue. There is more supp... ...leading should not be considered a sport because it is not typically undertaken in a competitive environment and its primary purpose is to lead ââ¬Å"cheering of spectators as at a sports contestâ⬠(Dictionary.com). Works Cited Dictionary.com. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. 2003. 9 October 2003. http://dictionary.reference.com/. ââ¬Å"Equal Opportunity In Intercollegiate Athletics: Requirements Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.â⬠U.S. Department of Education. 27 August 1997. 9 October 2003. http://classweb.gmu.edu/jkozlows/460tixa.html. Hatton, Joe. ââ¬Å"Sports Beat - The Sport of Cheerleading: Itââ¬â¢s a lot More than Just Pompoms and Smiles.â⬠Providence Journal Bulletin 9 May 2003: C-04 LexisNexis CD-ROM. 13 May 2003. ââ¬Å"NFHS.â⬠National Federation of State High School Associations. 2003. 9 October 2003. http://www.nfhs.org/.
Battle of Gettysburg and Union
The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the American Civil War. This is the most famous and important Civil War Battle that occurred on July 1st-3rd 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. More importantly Gettysburg was the clash between the two major American Cultures of their time: the North and the South. The Confederacy had an agricultural economy producing tobacco, corn, and cotton, with many large plantations owned by a few very rich white males. These owners lived off the labor of sharecroppers and slaves, charging high dues for use of their land.The Southern or Confederate Army was made up of a group of white males fighting for their independence from federal northern dictates. The Union economy was based on manufacturing, and even the minorities in the North were better off than those in the South most of the time. The Northern politicians wanted tariffs, and a large army. The Southern plantation owners wanted the exact opposite. The South was fighting against a governm ent because they thought they were being treated unfair. An analysis of the Battle of Gettysburg reveals one challenge facing the Union and the Confederacy was unjustified taxes and slavery.The battle began on July 1, 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg began when the Confederate cavalry ran into the Union horsemen. Both sides then called for backup. The Confederatesââ¬â¢ back up arrived first; they now had twice as many men as the union. Soon after Union General John Reynolds arrived, he was shot in the back of the head and killed instantly. They confederates drove the Union south of town. Everyone set up for battle and waited until day two. The excitement of the battle began on day two, July 2, 1863. By morning, 150 thousand Union and Confederate troops had joined at little Pennsylvania town.The Confederates occupied a line west of the Emmetsburg Road, along the Seminary Ridge. While the Union men waited along Cemetery Ridge. The union had an advantage because; Cemetery Ridge was a somewhat more elevated. On day two the Union won overall. The following events occured on day two: Little Round Top, Devilââ¬â¢s Den, Battle of the Wheatfield, Battle of the Peach Orchard, and the Battle of Cemetery Hill. The number of casualties in the Battle of Gettysburg was enormous compared to any war. The casualties of just day two are the union at 8,750 and the confederate at 6,500. One of the major events from day two was the Devilââ¬â¢s Den.It is unique because the Confederate won which was very uncommon. ââ¬Å"Devilââ¬â¢s Den is the name given to a ridge strewn with large boulders south of the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and about 500 yards west of Little Round Top on the Battle of Gettysburg battlefield. The origin of the name is uncertain. On July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the area around Devilââ¬â¢s Den saw intense fighting as part of General Robert E. Leeââ¬â¢s flank attacks, when Lieutenant General James Longstreetâ⬠â¢s Confederate corps attacked the divisions of Major General Daniel Sicklesââ¬â¢ III Corps of the Army of the Potomac.Some 5,500 Confederates from Major General John Bell Hoodââ¬â¢s division ultimately captured Devilââ¬â¢s Den from 2,400 defenders drawn from Major General David Bell Birneyââ¬â¢s division. It was one of the few Southern successes in that dayââ¬â¢s fighting. Total casualty estimates are over 800 for the Union, more than 1,800 among the Confederates. â⬠(The Devil's Den) This event/location is also significant because Major General John Bell Hood was wounded and was forced to yield his command. There were two main locations of the Battle of Gettysburg, they were Little and Big Round Top.Little Round top is the smaller of the two. It is located between Taneytown and Emmetsburg roads. At the time of the battle ââ¬Å"it was known locally by various names including Sugar Loaf. â⬠(Little Round Top) Major General Governor K. Warren, chief enginee r of the Army of the Potomac, rushed troops to Little Round Top; they arrived minutes before the Confederates did. The 20th Maine Regiment charged late in the battle, which foiled a flanking attempt by the 15th Alabama. Overall the battle at Little Round top the union won. The final day of battle was on July 3, 1863.Both the Confederates and the Union had their plains of winning the battle. Robert E. Lee from the Confederate side decided they should charge into the middle of the Union line and break the line into two. When Robert E. Lee decided on the Plan to charge through the middle of the Union line Major General George Pickett knew it would not succeed. He tried to talk Lee out of it, but Lee instructed Pickett to charge. Major Picket followed these orders. This is known as Pickettââ¬â¢s Charge. The charge took place ââ¬Å"between Seminary and Cemetery ridges, Gettysburg battlefield, Pennsylvania. (Pickettââ¬â¢s Charge)While all of this was occurring ââ¬Å"General Slocum attacked Confederate troops at Culpââ¬â¢s Hill to regain territory loss the previous day. This fight lasted for a good 8 hours finally forcing the Confederates to retreat off of Culpââ¬â¢s Hill. â⬠(Gettysburg Day Three) In the end the Union won. ââ¬Å"Culpââ¬â¢s Hill was the right-most flank of the ââ¬Å"fishhookâ⬠line formed by Union Army troops during the Battle of Gettysburg and saw fighting all three days of the battle. Culpââ¬â¢s Hill has two rounded peaks with a narrow saddle between them.Although heavily wooded and unsuitable for artillery, the main peak of Culpââ¬â¢s Hill rises substantially above the surrounding landscape, at a little over 200 feet above the town of Gettysburg and 127 feet higher than Cemetery Hill. With Baltimore Pike, critical for Union Army supplies and preventing Confederate advance on Baltimore or Washington, DC, to the east and Confederates approaching from Rock Creek to the west, Culpââ¬â¢s Hill was critical to Union strategy. â⬠(Culpââ¬â¢s Hill) The Union had two main places throughout the three days they were located. Cemetery Hill was the site of Armyââ¬â¢s weaponry.The hill is north of Cemetery Ridge. The defense of the Union line begins to ââ¬Å"to turn east to form the ââ¬Å"fishhookâ⬠line to Culpââ¬â¢s Hill. â⬠(Cemetery Hill) Cemetery Ridge is about two miles long and 40feet above surrounding land. The Confederate Army launched attacked the Union many times at Cemetery Ridge. These attacks took place on day two and three. On each attack they were forced to fall back on each occasion. On November 19, 1863 Abraham Lincoln gave a famous speech called The Gettysburg Address. The speech was a dedication to the Soldierââ¬â¢s National Cemetery.Soldierââ¬â¢s National Cemetery is a cemetery for Union soldiers killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. The speech is as follows: ââ¬Å"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new natio n, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate ââ¬â we cannot consecrate ââ¬â we cannot hallow ââ¬â this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the g reat task remaining before us ââ¬â that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ââ¬â that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain ââ¬â that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom ââ¬â and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. â⬠(Gettysburg Address Text) The actual main speaker of the night was Edward Everett. He spoke for two hours all from memory. Finally, the Battle of Gettysburg was won by the Union.The war didnââ¬â¢t end slavery, but instead furthered the advancement in ending slavery. Years after the war in 1865 the 13th amendment was adopted and slavery was then on out illegal. The war was not just about slavery, but also about taxes. The higher taxes came about to the south when Lincoln needed money. All in all the Battle of Gettysburg is the bloodiest war and had the most causalities. Works Cited ââ¬Å"Battle of Gettysburg. â⬠Summary ; Facts. N. p. , n. d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. com/battle-of-gettysburg;. ââ¬Å"Cemetery Hill. â⬠Gettysburg. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Dec. 012. ;http://www. historynet. com/cemetery-hill;. ââ¬Å"Cemetery Ridge. â⬠History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online Cemetery Ridge Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. com/cemetery-ridge;. ââ¬Å"Culp's Hill. â⬠History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online Culps Hill Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. com/culps-hill;. ââ¬Å"The Devil's Den. â⬠History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online The Devils Den Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. om/devils-den-gettysburg;. ââ¬Å"The Gettysburg Address. â⬠History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online The Gettysburg Address Co mments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. com/the-gettysburg-address;. ââ¬Å"Gettysburg Address Text. â⬠History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online Gettysburg Address Text Comments. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. com/gettysburg-address-text;. ââ¬Å"Gettysburg Day Three. â⬠Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg Battle Summary, Gettysburg Address. N. p. , n. d. Web. 01 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. ivilwaracademy. com/gettysburg-day-three. html;. ââ¬Å"Little Round Top. â⬠Battle Summary ; Facts. N. p. , n. d. Web. 09 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. historynet. com/little-round-top;. ââ¬Å"Pickett's Charge. â⬠Pickett's Charge. N. p. , n. d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. . Samit, Christian G. ââ¬Å"Battle of Gettysburg ââ¬â Day Two. â⬠History Net Where History Comes Alive World US History Online Battle of Gettysburg Day Two Comments. America's Civil War Magazine, 29 Aug. 2006. Web. 01 Dec. 2012. ;http://www. hi storynet. com/battle-of-gettysburg-day-two. htm;.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Countering Global Terrorism
Terrorism is defined by the U. S. Department of Defense as the calculated or predetermined use of violence or threat of violence with the intention of inflicting fear so as to intimidate governments or societies in pursuit of goals that are mainly social, religious or political. It is a critical issue that needs to be addressed effectively as its consequences are many and harmful. Terrorism is mostly triggered by radical ideologies of hatred, oppression and revenge. Fighting global terrorism is not just about disarmament but it is a war on conflicting ideas or views.The US has been very keen in protecting her citizens especially after the 911 attacks that shook the whole world. It encourages or rather promotes freedom and human dignity as an effort of reducing the chances of people indulging in perverse ideologies. The root causes of terrorism are varied and they depend on oneââ¬â¢s stand whereby the causes cited by the victims of terror for instance the US are different from thos e cited by the perpetrators. The US is categorical that its enemies exploit Islam to air their oppressive and hate ideologies.(National strategy for combating terrorism). Terrorists on the other hand argue that the US and other western powers are the major causes of the problems facing the Muslim world as a whole. In indulging in terror activities they aim at eradicating the western dominance and to ensure that Islam remains intact. The US however views this school of thought as a means of paving way for additional attacks not only to the US but to its supporters or allies too. They argue that their main aim is to exploit the major disparities between the Muslim and the non Muslim and take full control.The declaration of Jihads or holy wars to those with divergent ideologies is a clear indication of how Islam is exploited to spread radical ideologies. (Chase A, 2004). The root causes can be categorized as economical, social, demographic, political as well as cultural. Poverty is cit ed by some as a cause of terrorism but it is surrounded by divergent views. It can be opposed by the fact that most terrorists involved in the 911 attacks were from the middle class and in fact Osama bin Laden the leader was from an affluent upbringing. The war in Iraq was also viewed as a cause for terrorism.This ideology can be dismissed by the fact that way before the US had deposed the Saddam Husseinââ¬â¢s regime terrorist plans to attack were being carried out. (National strategy for combating terrorism). Citing the war on Iraq according to the US is therefore a way of justifying terrorism rather than a cause of terrorism. Terrorism is also not due to the Israeli- Palestine issues as plans for the 911 attack started in the 1990s when peace talks were being carried out. Political alienation according to the US is a key factor promoting terrorism.In most cases the leaders of terror gangs recruit members from the states where there is minimal freedom of speech. Democracy is und ermined and it becomes difficult to bring about change. (National strategy for combating terrorism). Such people are easy targets as they are very vulnerable to manipulation by those with violent and destructive ideologies. Terrorists are able to convince such people that the causes of all their problems are due to the western dominance. Past grievances and perceived injustices are made fresh in their minds making them internalize revenge motives.The use of propaganda, miscommunication and conspiracy theories keep the terrorism spirit alive in such peopleââ¬â¢s hearts. Bjorgo in the Root Causes of Terrorism explains how terrorism is a by product of a long process of radicalization in the process or preparation for extreme acts. It takes time before terrorists can actually act. Although there are great economic and social injustices in most Arab countries with a reputation of producing terrorists, this factor has never been cited as a cause for the attacks. It therefore suffices t o say that the social and economic injustices in the Arab world do not trigger terrorism.Illiteracy can also be cited as a cause of terrorism but it has been established that despite the rise in the literacy levels in the Arab world terrorism has increased. (Bjorgo T, 2005). This could be attributed to the fact that as people become more educated they can better understand the political, social and economic ills surrounding them and can therefore react accordingly. The notion that democracy would ensure the effective elimination or abolition of terrorism is not only an understatement but a great misconception. This is attributed to the fact that not all democracies are equally inclusive or respect the rights of the minorities.(Club De Madrid, 2005). In cases where the minorities feel that they are excluded from the main stream they can join hands to express their grievances which can be through radical means. Liberal democracies ensure that there is freedom of speech as well as tole rance of dissent which can be exploited for terrorist activities. Separatism, left wing and right wing extremism as well as religions are factors that can trigger terrorism in democratic countries. Terrorism within a democracy is affected by the level or degree of social, ethnic and political heterogeneity of the state in question.The more a society is divided the higher or greater the risk of terrorism. Transitional or new democracies are also at a greater risk of experiencing terrorism due to the fact that their authorities may not have gained popularity to be strong enough. In areas where a legacy of oppression is still fresh in peopleââ¬â¢s minds the chances of registering terror attacks are high. Countries like Chile, Argentina, Spain, and Algeria are good examples of how terrorism affects the effective transition into democracies. (Club De Madrid, 2005). Weak states are more susceptible to terrorism as they can easily become hosts for radical conspiracies.States with prolon ged civil conflicts and instability precipitate high numbers of refugees who seek shelter in other states and terrorists can use this to find shelter. Club De Madrid in the International Summit on democracy, terrorism and security, Addressing the causes of terrorism explain how democratic states practicing stable democracies have minimal chances of terrorism from within but they risk terror attacks from without. Their actions abroad are monitored by many and they may trigger opposition which can be magnified through terror attacks.Actions that are viewed by other states as lacking International legitimacy can be considered as unjust and the radicals may view violent means as an appropriate tool to respond. (Club De Madrid, 2005). The US seems to have lost direction in preventing future attacks especially from the Arab or Muslim world. The use of war as an effort of curbing terrorism is not an effective approach. The war led to the death of many innocent soldiers as well as Iraqis an d this creates room for the emergence of terror gangs to show their discontentment. The US ought to respect the sovereignty of other countries and stop imposing leaders on them.It should leave the independent states to carry out their operations independently instead of influencing the decisions they take especially regarding foreign policies. It should also stop playing double standards by applying the bill of rights without discrimination. (Rogers P, 2005). Should any terrorist be arrested they ought to undergo trial before they are arrested and should not be imprisoned before it is carried out. In my opinion, the US should stop the war in Iraq and try to address the allegations of their dominance and its effect on the people.Using forceful means may work in suppressing their enemies but this would not be successful in the long run. The US ought to let the people enjoy their freedom by exercising what they feel is best for them. What they think is best for the Arab world may not b e necessarily be the best for them given the fact that the two regions are different in many aspects. The US has not been very effective in the fight against terrorism as there are instances where terrorists have been successful in their deeds without the US knowledge. Terrorists have been able to move with the times where they have taken advantage of globalization in their operations.They have been able to use the new media like the Internet to recruit new members, train them, seek funds as well as spread their propaganda messages without leaving any mark behind that can lead to their location. The use of the Internet has an added advantage in the sense that it is global in scale, easy to access, less regulated and less costly. The new media has therefore created a barrier in the successful fight against terrorism. (Hamm M, 2005). Terror gangs have become less centralized making it hard for the US to locate and eliminate them.Again, not all states in the world are US allies and som e do not support their ideologies. Instead some find the causes of terror gangs justified and go the extra mile of supporting them by sponsoring their activities abroad as well as harboring them in their countries. Good examples of such countries are Syria and Iran. The strategies carried out by the US are not without criticism from their enemies. The war in Iraq is one strategy that has been used by some as a political weapon where it is cited as a reason behind the persistent terror attacks.In the fight against terrorism, military power, diplomatic, financial intelligence and law enforcement agencies activities are used. Denying terrorist the access to important tools or equipment needed to survive is a way of paralyzing their undertakings. When terrorists are denied finances and weapons they cannot carry out their activities effectively. The current counterterrorism strategies have been moderately effective in fighting terrorism. Advancing democracies is mostly cited as a way of fighting terrorism.The US cites this as a strong point in the fight against terrorism based on the argument that the lack of open systems where people can air their views is a reason behind the emergence of violent ideologies. Another approach used is the prevention of future attacks by terror gangs or networks. Terror networks are also denied the support of rogue states as well as the control of states that they are likely to use as a base for their terror activities. The US has also laid foundations to build the institutions and structures that are needed to fight terrorism until the bitter yet successful end.Other nations have been sensitized on the need to join hands in the global war against terrorism to a greater level where it is more than ensuring that justice prevails by bringing to justice the perpetrators of the 911 attack. These efforts have seen some nations change from being part of the problem to being part of the solution. (National strategy for combating terrorism). The US Patriotic Act has made a remarkable difference in counterterrorism efforts. The formation of the counter terrorism fund had a positive effect in ensuring that the Department of Justice had the required finances to promote their effectiveness and efficiency.(US Department of Justice, 2004). The Act faces much criticism from those who view it as a way of compromising with their civil liberties. However, the Bush administration has through the act have been able to increase their ability of sharing intelligent information which have been used effectively in the fight against terrorism. Laws have been updated to incorporate the changes brought about by technology. Increased surveillance has enabled the authorities to react swiftly to deter terror attacks.Surveillance in the public places which tend to be targets by most terrorists discourages them from perpetrating their heinous acts. (Michaels W, 2002). According to Mark Hammââ¬â¢s report on Crimes Committed by Terrorist Gro ups it is clear that most terrorists are likely to be involved in money laundering, bank robberies, theft of credit cards and document counterfeiting in trying to satisfy their needs for existence. The law enforcement officials can hinder the effectiveness of terror gangs by simply being keen in preventing the crimes that promote their survival.Curbing what may seem normal criminal activities may have spill over effects in the fight against global terrorism. It is appropriate that the US government invests in intensive research on the causes, effects and means of eradicating terrorism. The research would provide accurate information and the approach used to address terrorism would also be accurate. (Hamm M, 2005). Government officials in the immigration departments must also be keen in their operations. Terrorists must gain access to the areas they want to attack and if this is denied the chances of them committing their acts are minimized.Through their routine work, immigrant offic ials may deter terrorism in the sense that they can identify counterfeit documents of potential terrorists and deal with them before it is too late. (Hamm M, 2005). Routine border inspection can also identify terrorists and thus hinder their effective operations. Local police officers through their routine activities can curb terrorism. The media can play a significant role in determining the success of the efforts or policies adopted to fight terrorism. Media bias can have a negative effect and make the policies unpopular.A positive effect can be created is the media is willing to support the set policies. If the media intentionally ignored the vital information when informing the people of what the government is doing to fight terrorism then the policies might not be supported by many. The information created by the media can also be confusing or misleading paving way for criticism and consequently lowering the efforts made to ensure the success of ââ¬Ëwar on terrorismââ¬â¢. The media has been used by terrorists to show the masses that they still exist. This is clearly evident in the self-declaration of international terrorists that they intend to strike.(National strategy for combating terrorism). This way their supporters and sympathizers are motivated as they can see that the battle is not over. Law enforcement agents must cooperate if the war on terrorism is to be successful. Effective communication must be enhanced so that the fight against terrorism is successful. With combined resources, expertise and intelligence then terror acts would be effectively abolished. The future war on terror is not bliss. Using war to prevent terror attacks has not restored peace and security and instead terror and grief has filled across the Arab world for instance in Afghanistan and Iraq.Many innocent civilians have lost their lives courtesy of the US policies. The remnants of the war can easily collude and wage war against the US as a way of revenge for their loss . The US is laying grounds for fundamentalism and extremism by sowing seeds of hatred which will grow into fruits of a new form of terrorism. (Daniel B and Simon S, 2005). The US should change its strategies as the existing ones are a total failure. Instead of putting the lives of many people on the spot the US ought to explore oil reserves in her soil or better still use alternative sources of energy if it feels threatened by the oil producing countries.Reducing its dependence on the Arab oil producing countries would be one way of their not wanting to poke their noses into the affairs of the Middle East as a whole. The use of diplomacy would also have yielded better results than the use of military force. War brought about the destruction of the countryââ¬â¢s economy creating loopholes for bitter feelings that can be expressed through terror attacks. The US is slowly but surely losing its popularity across the globe. Countries that supported their policies have changed their st and.This has been attributed to the fact that some think the US war in Iraq is not just a war on terrorism but a way of ensuring their control over the oil producing countries and consequently maintaining her status quo as a world super power. Another major reason for reduced support is the fact that it has failed to honor the Geneva convections. It is known for not respecting the International laws by the imprisonment of suspects without trial as well as the torturing of others. (Rogers P. 2005). Critics also argue that thorough investigations were not carried out before the termination of the Saddam Hussein regime was terminated.Proper establishment that he had links with the al Qaeda and that he produced weapons of mass destruction ought to have been done before he was destroyed. The US is also accused of playing double standards where it supports oppressive and undemocratic nations like Palestine probably because by doing so it is at a better position. It should address the unde rlying problems affecting the developing countries. By doing so the developing nations would stop viewing them as being out to dominate them. It is illogical to argue that at one point in time terrorism will be a resolved issue.As long as the US policies are not approved or readily accepted by all and there is the existence of extremists then terrorism is here to stay. The rise of left wing terrorists also increases the extent to which domestic terrorism poses a threat to USA. These include extremists like the animal rights and environmental extremists. (Hamm M, 2005). According to my opinion the future position in the ââ¬ËWar on global terrorismââ¬â¢ will be negative or unsuccessful. The strategies that it is using work to create more enemies and chances are that in the year 2015 these enemies will collude and react to have their voice heard by the whole world.Trying to control the Islam world will not yield a positive effect on the Muslim countries. Terrorists will have a st rong point to motivate people to indulge in terror gangs. The world will become a more dangerous place to live in instead of becoming a haven of peace. The reduced cooperation with other countries to back the US policies is also a worrying fact as far as the global war on terrorism is concerned. Countries opposing the US policies increase the spirit of anti -Americanism and they can magnify their displeasure by supporting the terror gangs. References: Alston Chase. 2004.A Mind for Murder: The Education of the Unabomber and the Origins of Modern Terrorism. W. W. Norton & Company publishers. Benjamin Daniel and Steven Simon. 2005. The Next Attack: The Failure of the War on Terror and a Strategy for Getting It Right. New York: Times Books. Club De Madrid. 2005. The International Summit on democracy, terrorism and security. Addressing the causes of terrorism. Volume 1. Mark Hamm. 2005. Crimes Committed by Terrorist Groups: Theory, Research, and Prevention, Part II, Cases 4 & 5. Retrieve d on 18th June 2008 from http://www. mipt. org/pdf/Crimes-Committed-Terrorist-Groups.pdf National strategy for combating terrorism. 2006. Retrieved on 18th June 2008 from http://www. whitehouse. gov/nsc/nsct/2006/nsct2006. pdf. Tore Bjorgo. 2005. Root Causes of Terrorism: Myths, Reality and Ways Forward Rutledge Publishers. Paul Rogers. 2005. Endless war. The global war on terror and the new Bush Administration. Oxford Research Group. US Department of Justice. 2004. Report from the field. The USA Patriotic Act at work. July 2004. William Michaels. 2002. No Greater Threat: America after September 11 and the Rise of a National Security. Algora Publishing
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Academic review of a journal article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Academic review of a journal article - Essay Example The research was aimed to provide answer to tow questions: the what and the how of decision processes of senior finance executives (Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder 2010). Nobody has built an integrated picture of how executives make the major finance decisions and by what factors/aspects they guided (Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder 2010). The authors highlight that the literature doesnââ¬â¢t offer integrated explanation of the mainline finance decisions and that it is missing not only the joint test but also variables problems as it relies on theories. Therefore, many decisions and firmââ¬â¢s behavior cannot be explained as it omits non-quantifiable data (Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder 2010). Authors of the paper provide the literature review of managers as wealth destroyers followed by the growing importance of sustainability and risk aspects in decision making process. Finance managers are viewed as wealth destroyers, however, there is very limited information in the literature reviewed and discussed by Coleman, Maheswaran & Pinder (2010). Another issue that the authors are reviewing through the literature relates to the importance of sustainability and risk in finance decision making processes. Even though both these factors are not related directly to finance, finance managers increasingly rely on non-financial data in decision making process. Authors review the elements of ESG (environmental, social and governance) and highlight its importance in the modern business environment through the literature review. Finance managers tend to make their decisions based on environmental and social aspects rather than solely on financial data. Authors have designed a methodology that enabled them to resolve the questions set at the beginning of the paper. As the initial step that would provide information for further investigation, authors of the
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Gay Men U.S. vs China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Gay Men U.S. vs China - Research Paper Example In addition, the U S is putting policies in place with prospects of protecting the rights of the gay community. Unlike the US, China has had a dull history regarding its gay community. The subject of homosexuality had been treated as a taboo for a long time in most countries including China. However, the Chinese people are changing their attitude concerning homosexuality. This essay will compare the views of the Chinese and US society in regards to the gay community. In China, Hong Kong is always ahead of the mainland China in terms of information and interactions with the outside world. However, this does not prevent homosexuality from being branded as an illegal behavior in Hong Kong. Until 1991, homosexuality was illegal in Hong Kong. In mainland China, homosexuality was considered both a crime against humanity and a form of mental illness. This indicates that the Chinese gay society was still stigmatized by the community in 1990s. Unlike China, the US has a more liberalized socie ty where people have extreme expectations. the US society acknowledged the existence of Gay community long before the Chinese society acknowledge the gay people are part of every society. In 1997, the Chinese government shot down the hooligan law. This law had been the main source of discrimination against gay society from the Chinese society. Although Chinese people are slowly accepting the existence of gay community in their midst, they are still behind the US community (Lau web). This change can be noted by an increase in the number of self-proclaimed gay communities around the country. China has also recorded an increase in the number of gay people hangouts. There is however, a significant difference between the mainland China and Hong Kong in terms of accepting the existence of the gay community. The existence of special or secluded hangouts for gay people indicates that the Chinese society has not fully accepted the existence of the gay society. Unlike the Chinese society, the US society has high level of tolerance for the gay community. Gay people living in the US are free to mingle and interact with other people who have normal sexual affiliation. However, there are specific joints and hangout that are more popular with the gay society than with the ordinary people. This indicates that the US society has no negative feelings about the gay people. Although the US and China have the biggest economies in the world, the two countries have great variation in terms of access to information and multiculturalism. Most people in United States live in urban areas while China has most of its population living in rural areas. Rural and urban societies have contradicting views towards gay people living in their midst. While people in major cities such as Hong Kong and Beijing have almost accepted the existence and the rights of the gay society, people living in rural areas still live in denial concerning the existence of gay people. A person living in a Chinese vil lage still views homosexuality as mental illness or abnormal behavior. Unlike China, the US society has a homogenous attitude towards the gay community. This indicates that the society has no greatly varying views towards homosexuals and lesbians living in their midst. The main problem that gay people face in any liberalized society is the fact that they are a minority society. This
Monday, October 7, 2019
Apply a critical Perspective to the company decision in the 1980s to Essay
Apply a critical Perspective to the company decision in the 1980s to launch reformulated Coca Cola and suggest where a different approach to the loss of sales might have produced a different outcome - Essay Example The popularity of Pepsi products were focused on the sweetness factor which was missing in the Coke. As such, in April 1985, the company announced the decision to introduce the New Coke which had a sweeter taste and take the old flavour Coke off the shelves. This decision on the part of the company went on to become a big marketing blunder in the history of Coca Cola. The launch of the New Coke received a high level of protests from the consumers and had far reached effects on the sales and profitability of the company. Coca Cola as forced to call back the New Coke products within six weeks of their launch in the market due to extensive consumer protests and criticism regarding the decision of the company. Though, Coca Cola reversed itself and tried to position the old Coke back as the important product of the brand both in terms of production and sales, yet the sales of Coke continued dropping for a long time causing huge damage to the brand reputation as well a the profitability of the company. Coca Cola was known to be a market oriented and market savvy business which was renowned for its ability to serve the customer needs. But the blunder of new coke created much negative impact for the company and indicated its inefficiency in identifying the market needs and being blinded by the sole aim to compete with its rival, Pepsi. The paper will discuss the background of the problem and will try to find out the reasons for decision failure. It will talk about the initial response and the response of the market in the decision problem part and will also talk about the alternative strategies in the next part. The marketing and financial implications of the New Coke launch indicated the decision to be incomplete and inaccurate. Though extensive market research was carried out by the company before making the decision of replacing the old flavour of the Coke with a new flavour similar to Pepsi, it can
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