America the Racist Tyrant Essay -- essays research papers

America the Racist Tyrant In "The Declaration of Independence," Thomas Jefferson shows the King of Great Britain acting as a tyrant to the colonies, and Jefferson declared America to be free from Britain. In the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King Jr. writes to a clergyman logically analyzing criticisms while communicating to the public his arguments. Jefferson fought for freedom and right for America. King also fought for better civil rights for his black people. They both fought for their people, King however fought peacefully with white people, who in return were cruel. This comparing Jefferson's and King's fought for freedom, different skin color demonstrates racism causing unfairness to this day still exists because the fight for justice and rights still exist which calls for a social contract. Every single human being has a right to life, civil rights, and freedom. This is a right that Americans base their government on. Jefferson states that "all men are created equal" and man should naturally stand for every single person, no matter what color or sex they are. (53) Equality in all men however is untrue. Different race, religion or gender often causes conflicts between people. Conflicts results in discrimination against groups. This can be shown through King's fight for black's civil rights. Americans already have freedom and rights, however, the black people are still being looked down. For King and his people, they were treated without respect. The black people "have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God-given rights."(217) The black people have waited silently while everyone else received their God-given rights. They are rights that everyone should possess; however, the black Americans did not because of their color. People are often judged according to the color of their skin. This judging of another person is often negative and is known as racism. America is known as the melting pot with all kinds of race living there. It is clear that no matter how big a melting pot, it can not contain all race mixed together. As a black man, King witnessed and experienced racism during the segregation period. People were "haunted by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro" shows that black people were being discriminated.(218) This judging and disrespe... ...or poor, strong or weak in rights to have freedom and justice. Just as Jefferson "has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of Government" (54). The colonies have also found equality between them and Britain by becoming an independent government. As King puts it "oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever" (222) people are forever fighting and yearning for freedom from justice. In conclusion, Jefferson demonstrates that by declaring independence, thirteen colonies have given themselves their rightful freedom. However, these freedoms were given mainly to the white. The black, like King, fights nonviolently hard to change the society and government slowly to receive the same justice and freedoms as the whites. When comparing the people in Jefferson's time and the people in King's time, it is surprising to see that they are both fighting for similar rights on the same grounds, yet King is fighting for it later when America already have the rights. This concludes that racism indeed plays an important role in our past and present as we try to be free from other judges.

The Pigman Essay

The 40 Developmental Assets are the positive building blocks that young people use to guide them to a successful future. These assets can even be seen in fictional book called The Pigman by Paul Zindel. One of the 40 developmental assets thats in The Pigman is â€Å"responsibility†. Responsibility is the ability to act or decide something by yourself. Responsibility or lack of responsibility is seen in The Pigman when John and Lorraine take responsibility for their lies, when John and Lorraine throw a wild party at Mr. Pignati’s house, and how John always drinks and smokes.One way responsibility is seen in The Pigman is when John and Lorraine take responsibility for their lies. Well, at the beginning of the book, we learned that John is a frequent liar. He lies to get out of trouble. So he told Mr. Pignati that they are charity workers. Later on in the book, John reveals that him and Lorraine aren't adult charity workers and says, â€Å" We just had to be honest with y ou because we like you more than anyone we know. † (Zindel 102) That quote showed that John was really starting to care for Mr.Pignati and he didn’t want to live his life on one big lie. In this way, John and Lorraine took responsibility for their lies they created. One way responsibility isn’t seen in The Pigman is when John and Lorraine threw a wild party at Mr. Pignati’s house. One day out of the blue when John, Lorraine and Mr. Pignati were hanging out, Mr. Pignati had a terrible heart-attack and was rushed to the hospital. John thought it was a great idea to throw a party so he said, â€Å" Don’t you think Mr. Pignati wants us to have a social life? He smiled, his great big eyes glowing. (130) That quote doesn't relate to responsibility because during the party many things happened that John and Lorraine didn’t anticipate to happen. Music was played so loud, you could hear it outside. Also Mr. Pignati’s precious pigs got destroye d and his dead wife Concetta's dress got ripped and ruined. In this way, John and Lorraine didn’t take responsibility for their actions. Another way responsibility isn’t seen in The Pigman is how John is always smoking and drinking. Well, in the beginning of the book, Lorraine was talking about John’s dad and how he was a heavy drinker until he developed sclerosis of the liver.And she thinks he influenced John to do these things at a very young age. Lorraine is always trying to show John what drinking and smoking can do to you. Once Lorraine showed John the book on Sigmund Freud and said, â€Å"I almost had him convinced that smoking was an infantile, destructive activity when he pointed out a picture of Freud smoking a cigar on the book's cover. † John replied, â€Å"If Freud smokes, why can't I? † Then Lorraine said, â€Å"Freud doesn't smoke anymore†¦. He's dead. † (8) This quote shows that John really doesn’t care that smokin g and drinking can do terrible things to your body.He doesn’t care because he drinks and smokes to escape his problems. In this way, John isn’t taking responsibility for his own health. One of the 40 Developmental Assets thats seen in the novel The Pigman by Paul Zindel is â€Å"responsibility†. When John and Lorraine take responsibility for their lies, when John and Lorraine throw a wild party at Mr. Pignati’s house, and how John always drinks and smokes are some ways The Pigman shows characters acting responsibly and characters acting irresponsibly. Its clear when people act responsibly things turn out much better for everyone.

Islam is one of the world’s greatest religions Essay

I. Introduction. Founded in the seventh century A. D. by Mohammed. The word Islam means â€Å"submission† (to the will of God). Followers of Islam are called Moslems or Muslims, terms that mean â€Å"those who submit† (to the will of God). Non-Moslems sometimes call the religion Mohammedanism and its followers Mohammedans. Moslems, however, dislike these terms because they imply the worship of Mohammed, their prophet, rather than God. There are more than a billion Moslems worldwide, making up about one-eighth of the earth’s population. Islam began in Arabia in the seventh century A. D. and spread rapidly to become the principal religion of northern Africa and western Asia. It also extends into the Balkans and across Pakistan and Bangladesh to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It has extended into sub-Saharan Africa: Sudan, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Africa. The Moslem population in the United States consists mostly of immigrants from Pakistan, Iran, and Arab countries. There are also a number of Islamic sects among the country’s black population (Endress, 1999). II. Background A. How is it founded and who is the founder? The beginnings of Islam go back to Mohammed’s preaching in his native Mecca. However, the faith did not become fully developed until he moved to Medina (until then called Yathrib) in 662 A. D. His migration to medina, called the Hegira, begins the Moslem calendar. Mohammed’s early successors—especially Omar, the second caliph—expanded Islam through conquest. The Moslem warriors believed that if they died for Islam they would automatically go to heaven. This belief, plus the promise land and loot, spurred the Moslem armies on to conquer the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain. They almost overran southwestern Europe under Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours (732) (Ahmed, 2002). a) Early Conflicts During the period of conquest, bitter theological and political dissension developed among the Moslems. In the selection of early caliphs (successors to Mohammed as rulers of the Moslem world), Ali, son-in-law of Mohammed, was bypassed (6 Ruthven, 2000). The third caliph, a member of the Omayya (Umayya) family, was murdered by malcontents in 656, and Ali was elected to succeed him. Muawiyah, the Omayyad governor of Syria, refused to recognize Ali as caliph. When Ali was murdered in 661 by a member of a dissident sect, Muawiyah succeeded him, moved the Moslem capital from Median to Damascus, and made the caliphate hereditary in the Omayya family. Military force was required to establish the new caliph’s political authority. Spiritually, most Moslems never accepted him (Roberts, 2002). The followers of Ali formed a new branch of Islam—the Shiite, as opposed to the Sunnite, or orthodox, branch. Smaller groups continued to break away from orthodox teaching, also, and there was increasing schism in the Moslem world. b) Changing Patterns In the eight century a secret revolutionary movement against the Omayyad dynasty was led by the Abbasids, descendants of Abbas, Mohammed’s uncle. The movement began in Mesopotamia and spread east through Persia. In 747 open revolt began, and in 750 the Omayyad dynasty was overthrown and the Abbasids assumed power. The most significant aspect of the Abbasid caliphate was the Persian influence. The new capital, Baghdad, developed into a major cultural as well as political center (Roberts, 2002). The sciences and philosophy of the Greeks and Persians were translated into Arabic and spread throughout the Moslem world, setting of a surge of intellectual activity such as had not been seen since the days of ancient Greece. During the rule of the Abbasids the Moslem world lost its political unit, as first Spain and then the North African countries set up caliphates independent in Baghdad. In the ninth century there were new Moslem conquests in Europe—Sardinia, Malta, Sicily, and regions of southern Italy. The Christians regained all European territory, however, before the 14th century (Friedmann, 2003). III. Discussion What are the beliefs and doctrines of Islam? Enumerate. A. Beliefs and Doctrine a) God Moslems worship one God, called Allah (Arabic for â€Å"The God†). The believe Allah stands alone, has an absolute will, and controls all of man’s actions. In most other respects, however, he resembles the Christian and Jewish God. †¢ Apostles. According to Islamic doctrine, God gave certain men the power to communicate with him through his angels. The function of these men was to guide other mortals to Salvation. The greatest of these prophets were Adam, Noah, the house of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. Moslems accept the miracles and virgin birth of Jesus, but deny his divinity and resurrection. They do not attribute superhuman or miraculous powers to Mohammed, but simply consider him to be the last (and hence the most authoritative) of all the prophets (Nasr, 1999). †¢ Koran The Koran is the basic source of Islamic law and ritual. Moslems believe it was dictated to Mohammed by God, through the angel Gabriel. †¢ The Hadith The Koran is supplemented by the Hadith (tradition), consisting of the Ahadis (sayings) and Sunna (practice) of Mohammed. The Hadith was handed down orally for more than 200 years before being written down. It and the Koran are the sources of Islamic law. â€Å"Sunna† in a larger sense means the theory and practice of orthodox Islam, as based on the Koran and the Hadith. Further opinions and practices accepted by the highest Islamic learned men become articles of faith known as ijma (agreement) (Nasr, 1999). †¢ Angels The Islamic concept of angels is almost identical with the Christian belief that angels are God’s messengers, his link with mortal man. †¢ Last Judgment Like Christians, Moslems believe in a Judgment Day, when righteousness will be rewarded and wickedness will be punished. The Koran’s description of Judgment Day is generally similar to the Bible’s, although the details differ (Nasr, 1999). B. Is there any religious obligations in Islam? a. ) Obligations A Moslem has five religious obligations, called the â€Å"Five Pillars. † They are: †¢ Profession of Faith. A Moslem’s most essential obligation is the repetition of this creed: â€Å"There is no God but Allah; Mohammed is His prophet. † †¢ Prayer Prayers must be said five times each day. They may be said either privately or at the mosque. In public worship, men and women are usually separated. A worshiper precedes prayer with a ritual washing. He then faces the holy city of Mecca and follows a fixed ritual of recitation and prostration. On Fridays, a worship service at the mosque is required. Besides the ritual prayers, the service includes a reading from the Koran and a sermon (Lippman, 2002). †¢ Almsgiving Moslems are expected to contribute generously to their religion. The money is used to maintain the mosques and to help the poor. †¢ Fasting Moslems cannot eat or drink during the daylight hours of Ramadan, the ninth month of their lunar year. †¢ Pilgrimage Once in his lifetime, every Moslem who is financially and physically able must travel to Mecca. This pilgrimage is called the hajj, or hadj. A Moslem who has made it is a hajji. The pilgrim participates in a number of observances: 1) Circling the Kaaba It is the pilgrim’s first and last act. The Kaaba is a sacred structure in one corner of which is embedded the Black Stone, a meteorite that fell in ancient times and acquired symbolic significance. The pilgrim circles this structure seven times, kissing the Black Stone each time (Lippman, 2002). 2) The Running It consists of trotting seven times between two low hills on opposite sides of Mecca. This act represents a search for water by Hagar, mother of Ishmael, whose story from the Old Testament was adopted as part of Moslem tradition (Lippman, 2002). 3) The Standing The Standing at the Plain of Arafat, 25 miles (40 km) east of Mecca, consists of a day of meditating and praying, facing Mecca. 4) Stoning the Pillars at Mina Stoning the Pillars at Mina, 5 miles (8 km) east of Mecca, is an act in which pilgrims throw seven stones at pillars, symbolically attacking the devil. 5) Feast of Sacrifice Feast of Sacrifice consists of the slaughtering of an animal by pilgrims who can afford to as a thanksgiving to Allah. a) Religious War Some Moslems consider it an obligation to spread Islam by force, or holy war (jihad). This belief is not specifically stated in the Koran. b) What is an Islamic Law? The basic ethical code of Islam comes from the Koran. The most important rule is that all Moslems are bothers. The Koran encourages charity, authorizes slavery, and prohibits wine, gambling, and the eating of pork. A Moslem may have as many as four wives, and divorce is permitted. Divorce is effected by the husband telling his wife three times â€Å"I divorce thee. † The Koran does not provide a political structure for Islam and Mohammed did not reveal how the religion should be organized after his death. His close associates elected a successor, called a caliph, to take his place as a leader—but not as a prophet. This system was called the caliphate and survived until 1924. At the present time, there is no universal Moslem leader (Lippman, 2002). C. What are the Sects of Islam? There are two great divisions of Islam—the Sunnites (traditionalists) and the Shiites (legitimists). The Sunnites are the orthodox Moslems and are in the majority. The Shiites believe that Ali, Mohammed’s son-in-law and the fourth caliph, had divine powers. They claim that he was the first legitimate caliph and that his heirs, also divinely inspired, were the rightful rulers of Islam. These rulers are called imams (Klein, 2005). The Shiites broke off from orthodox Islam beginning about 679 and soon divided into a number of sects. The Imami, or Twelvers, recognize a continuing series of purely secular imams. Another sect, the Ismailis, or Seveners, recognize the same first six imams as the other sects and a seventh not recognized by the others. Historically there have been numerous extreme offshoots of the Ismailis, including the notorious Assassins. The only important group to break off from the Sunnites in modern times is the Wahhabis, who have attempted to rid the faith of what they consider corruptions. The movement began in Arabia in the 1970’s and was marked by a series of bloody wars during the 19th century. The Wahhabis have ruled Saudi Arabia since the 1920’s (Klein, 2005). IV. Conclusion Islam is a severe but simple religion. Moslems consider it to be an extension of Christianity and Judaism, but they believe the Christian Trinity is blasphemy and deny the divinity of Jesus. There is no ordained ministry or priesthood, although there are religious teachers, called ulama, or mullahs, and religious orders consisting of sufis (mystics) called dervishes. Islam’s holy book is the Koran (or Qur’an). References 1. Ahmed, Akbar S. (2002). Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society. Routledge. London. 2. Endress, Gerhard. An Introduction to Islamic History (Edinburgh University, 1999). 3. Friedmann, Yohanan (2003). Tolerance and Coercion in Islam: Interfaith Relations in the Muslim Tradition. Cambridge University Press. New York. 4. Lippman, T. W. Understanding Islam: an Introduction to the Moslem World (New American Library, 2002). 5. Klein, F. A. The Religion of Islam. London: Curzon, 2005. Reprint of classic study, first published, 1996. 6. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Ideals and Realities of Islam. London: Allen & Unwin, 1999. Standard textbook. 7. Roberts, D. S. Islam: a Concise Introduction. New York: Harper & Row, 2002. Accessible information on varied aspects of the Islamic world. 8. Ruthven, Malise (2000). Islam in the World. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Societal Change Motivated by the Brown vs. Board of Education Ruling essays

Societal Change Motivated by the Brown vs. Board of Education Ruling essays The Brown vs. Board of Education sparked change across the United States in many ways. While the ruling was specifically intended to end segregation, it was also responsible for inspiring African Americans to fight for the freedom they deserved. The ruling was the beginning of a new society that could finally be recognized. While fighting for freedom and equal treatment proved to be a painful and difficult process, no one would When the decision was handed down, schools in 21 states were still segregated. The court ruling forced them to decide how they would adhere to a new system. While they were allowed a certain amount of time to comply, they were also told by the court to act with "deliberate speed" (Davidson 1144). The area that experienced the most difficulty with desegregation was the Deep South. In fact, in 1956, just one year after Brown vs. Board of Education, a "Southern Manifesto" (1144) emerged, declaring to use "all lawful means" (1144) to restore segregation. While Brown v Board of Education changed the law, it was apparent that it would take more than law to change the behavior of a society. While it would prove to be a challenging task, the African American community was poised for change. In Alabama, Rosa Parks was one of the first individuals to act on the new ruling. Her refusal to give up her seat on a public bus and subsequent fine stirred what many tense emotions about segregation. Many African Americans participated in a boycott of Montgomery buses, which was significant because African Americans constituted most of Montgomery bus customer base. The white community responded to this challenge with "legal and physical intimidation" (1145). For instance, Martin Luther King's home was bombed because he was leading the boycott. In addition, more than 80 African American leader were arrested for organizing a boycott that was deemed illegal. ...

What Is the What by Dave Eggers Book Review

What Is the What by Dave Eggers Book Review What Is the What is an astonishing, eye-opening, and heartbreaking book that defies classification. Once you’ve read it, the story of Valentino Achak Deng refuses to leave your mind. Even if you’re not familiar with the Lost Boys and their struggles to escape from war-torn Sudan, you’ll be drawn into this pseudo-autobiography. What Is the What tells a devastating story but never plays for sympathy. Instead, the hope, complexity, and tragedy of the situation take center stage. Valentino’s story stands alone as powerful and worth reading and Eggers’ superb writing compellingly brings Valentino’s voice and story to life. The novel is a successful portrayal of  a large-scale  tragedy through one man’s story though it does include graphic depictions of suffering and death. Synopsis Valentino Achak Deng was just a boy when Sudan’s civil war found its way to his village. Forced to flee, he walks for months to Ethiopia and later Kenya with hundreds of other boys. Resettled in the US, Valentino struggles to adjust to the mixed blessings of his new life. Book Review What Is the What is drawn from the real-life story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The title comes from a local story about the reward of choosing what’s known over what’s unknown. As they flee the destruction around them, though, the Lost Boys are constantly forced to choose the unknown future of refugee camps and life in America. What Is the What describes the interminable walking, the militia and bombs, starvation and disease, and lions and crocodiles that kill countless young boys as they attempt to find refuge in Ethiopia and Kenya. The obstacles of their journey are so astonishing and heartbreaking that you - and they - often wonder how they can go on. Eventually, many of the Lost Boys gain entry to the United States, and they form a vibrant community displaced across the country but constantly in touch by cell phone. Valentino ends up in Atlanta, adjusting to the fact that America offers its own evils and injustices. His past and present are masterfully interwoven through Valentino’s habit of mentally recounting his story to the different people he meets. Reading Valentino’s horrifying story can make the mere act of reading a book feel frivolous. The power of literature, though, is to bring remote stories to life. Eggers is famous for his book,  A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. That title could easily apply to What Is the What. Book Discussion Group Questions If youve chosen this book for your discussion group, here are some sample questions. Why do you think Valentino/Dominic/Achak had so many names?Why do you think Valentino directs his story towards Michael, Julian, and the clients of the gym?Which one of Valentino’s friends did you like or remember the most?Did you know the plight of the Lost Boys before you read this book? Did it change what you thought about the situation?What details impacted you the most?

The Olive Tree Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Olive Tree Case Study - Essay Example This is a good aspect for its business position (Porter, 2008). The initial costs that include  £143,000 for annual rent,  £445,000 for turning the bank into a restaurant, and a bank loan of  £335,000 have not been covered especially considering that only sales amounting to  £588,498 were realized in the entire trading period. Nevertheless, without considering all the costs of establishing the restaurant, a net loss amounting to  £76,602 is recorded, further strengthening that the restaurant is yet to make profits. This paper focuses on the Olive Tree Restaurant Case Study. The paper presents an analysis of its performance that give way to meaningful recommendations based on the business performance indicators. In this regard, the analysis is based on an interview conducted with Angelo, the restaurant owner, as the respondent. Some data on the restaurants progress in terms of sales, costs, rent, rates, fuel, wages, and other operating costs were collected. Analysis was done on this data in order to confirm the responses provided though the interview. The Olive Tree Restaurant boasts of a number of strengths although, like any other business, there are various weaknesses associated with its operations. The major strength is its ability to recording large sales amounting to almost  £600,000 (588,498 to be exact) within the first trading period. i. Loyal Customers: With regard to this strength, the restaurant management ensures that customer are warmly welcomed after entering the restaurant thus encouraging them to remain loyal to the business (McQuarrie, 2006). This aspect specifically generates the feeling of being special, appreciated and honoured by being a customer to the restaurant. In return, a customer is likely to feel important to seek the restaurant services a second time or even become a loyal customer (Chamberlain, 2010). ii. Effective restaurant operations: This strength is

Strategic Financial Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Strategic Financial Management - Case Study Example As a result, the share prices listed in the stock market do not always reflect the true market value of a company. This perception has gained such currency that people who invest in stocks are driven more by speculation than certainty. The thinking that the stock market is not always a reliable indicator of firm value works against the interests of the company seeking capital for expansion because it may not be able to attract as many investors as it wants. One such firm is the fast-growth airline EasyJet plc, which was ranked No. 72 by Business Week in the list of the World's Most Innovative Companies in 2006. In the view of its officers, the airline's share prices have been distorted by the current volatilities that they fail to represent the true market value of the firm. Since the firm's formal listing in the London Stock Exchange in 2000, exactly five years after its establishment in 1995, EasyJet has worked hard to create value for shareholders but it seems unconvinced by the s hare prices reflected in the trading floor. For the benefit of investors and its board of directors that needs accurate financial data for decision-making purposes, EasyJet would naturally want to establish the correct market value of the firm. This paper affects a strategic financial analysis for and in behalf of EasyJet to find the true stock market value o... Then we chronicle how EasyJet plc has delivered such value to shareholders for the past five years and the trajectory of change in its equity value over the last 12 months, with the market value picking up in 3-4 months and then dropping without warning. To determine the firm's true market value, this paper evaluates EasyJet's equity at current prices using the firm's net asset value, price-earnings ratio and discounted cash flow for 10 years. Finally, we attempt to reconcile any differences in value obtained from these financial analysis methods. Based on the results, we set the correct stock market value for the firm. Strategic Financial Management Through strategic financial management, the company may find its true stock market value by isolating the sum of all expected future cash flows discounted to the present and then dividing the sum of these discounted cash flows with the number of available shares. Equity valuation can also be done by comparing the firm's current share price with its net asset value, price-earnings ratio and its discounted cash flows for the next 10 years. Strategic financial management is defined as the identification of strategies that can maximize an organization's present net value in order to increase shareholder value (Leading Concepts, 2006). Its key objective is precisely to create shareholder value. According to Grundy & Scholes (1998), strategic financial management seeks control of the company's bottom line through proactive, involved and customized means in a manner that is dynamic, forward-looking and outward-oriented. In effect, the firm looks at the links between corporate strategy and strategic financial management to see how the process can play a positive and proactive role in