Attending a Religious Service Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Attending a Religious Service - Assignment Example Indeed, they are significantly different from any other building in the area and they look much like a place where religious ceremonies are held. When I pulled up to the building, my first impression was the astonishment. Indeed, the church looked like a place I have never seen before: there was something spiritual in every aspect of it. I stood for a while thinking that unlike other people who came there to pray, I went to conduct a sociological analysis. In addition to that, the architecture greatly added to the religious feeling of the place: a big cross on the very top of the dome suggested that this was a Christian building. Other elements of the structure made a significant difference between the facility and the building nearby. All in all, an Orthodox Christian church looked like a suitable place to worship. Having entered inside, one of my first impressions focused on the general atmosphere of the place: people seemed to have forgotten the world outside the church and put all their efforts into praying and practicing their faith. Indeed, everyone was tried to listen to the service and not to be distracted by anything else. Thus, the nature of worship relied on performing various rituals which were combined in one complex service. In addition to that, each of the rites had a specific significance which put emphasis on a certain part of the service, allowing people to pay attention to different aspects of it. Nevertheless, one might suggest that there could be the overall religious program identified. Thus, at first people would praise the Lord and thank Him for allowing them to gather together. Then they would read certain passages from the Bible and they will be interpreted in the chants which were sung by the choir. Finally, the priest would walk up to the crowd of the believers and p reach. The message of the day when I attended was focused on the necessity to forgive other people even though it may be hard. The

The Schlieffen plan Essay Example for Free

The Schlieffen plan Essay Explain how the Schlieffen plan was meant to work. The Schlieffen plan was the strategy Germany planned to adopt in the event of a war in 1914. It was intended to bring a fast, effective victory for Germany, and was devised by Count Alfred von Schlieffen who was the Chief of the General Staff of the German Army. If a war broke out, Germany would be faced with a war in the west against France, and a war on the east against Russia. German generals knew that they could not sustain this war on both fronts, and the Schlieffen plan was devised to deal with this. It was calculated that if a war started, Russia would take a long time to mobilize, and therefore Germany planned to defeat France before Russia had enough time to mount an invasion. They would do this by sending the majority of the German forces to attack France, leaving the eastern boarder vulnerable to attack. This was a risky strategy, as if Russia mobilized quickly, than Germany could be easily invaded. As a result of the Franco-Prussian war, ending in 1871, France had built strong defences around the French-German boarder to prevent another German invasion. Rather than invading through the heavily defended boarder at Alsace-Lorraine, the German army was to attack France through neutral Belgium. By using overwhelming force, it was planned that the German army would surround Paris within six weeks, thus causing France to surrender. Afterwards, the German army could be turned around back to Germany and concentrate their force on the Russian army to the East. The Schlieffen Plan was a huge gamble on the German behalf, as for it to work several assumptions would have to remain correct. It was predicted that Belgium would not resist against a German invasion, and British intervention was completely unaccounted for. It was also assume that  the capture of Paris would lead to the defeat of France. However, the success of the plan pivoted on the time Russia spent to mobilize, and was the fundamental assumption required for the plan to work. For the Schlieffen plan to be successful, all these assumptions would have to remain correct, showing that even before it was put into practise, it was already fundamentally flawed. b). Why did a stalemate develop on the Western Front? At the beginning of the war, both sides predicted that the fighting would be based upon a war of movement. With more devastating technology and effective weaponry, it was harder for either side to advance with resulting in heavy casualties, which contributed towards the establishment of the trench system. No one had predicted the effects modern technology would have on warfare, and is partly responsible for the stalemate that developed on the Western Front. However, there were other factors and contributing events that also lead towards the stalemate. Perhaps the most significant cause of the stalemate was the failure of the Schlieffen plan. This was because many of the assumptions that the plan depended on were wrong. Firstly Germany had not accounted Belgium resistance or the involvement of the British Army in the fighting. However, the intervention of these two counties slowed the German advance into France, which reduced the likelihood of Germany defeating France within the allotted six weeks. The Belgium army was outnumbered ten to one, however they managed to slow the rapid German advance, which was essential for the success of the Schlieffen Plan. British involvement was also unexpected, as the British-Belgium treaty dated back to 1839. The Kaiser did not believe that Britain would go to war over a scrap of paper. However, Britain did uphold their alliance with Belgium, and on 4th August 1914 declared war on Germany and sent 120,000 troops across the channel to meet the German advance. Also Russian army mobilized quicker than Germany had anticipated, resulting  in many German soldiers being withdrawn from the west to be used to stop the Russian invasion in the east. This considerably weakened the German invasion into France, and as a result the German troops were forced to advance east of Paris, away from their original goal. This over-stretched the German supply lines, and after weeks of fighting, eventually exhausted the German army. The German 1st Army encountered French troops returning from the failed Plan XVII at the Battle of the Marne on 6th September 1914, resulting in around 250,000 casualties for both sides. Although the German army were not beaten, all hopes for a quick decisive victory had been dashed. As a result, German forces retreated to higher ground, where they dug a series of trenches to protect themselves. The British and French forces soon followed suit, however they were forced to construct their trenches in the flood-prone lower ground. This was the start of the trench warfare that would dominate the Western Front for the next four years. As both fatigued armies rested, their trench systems became more intricate and fortified, and eventually both Allied and German troops were to heavily dug in to be forced out of their trenches by a single attack or offensive. As a result, little ground was gained by either side. This was the start of the stalemate that would remain throughout the duration of the war, until the final German offensive in March 1918. c). Why was the stalemate broken on the Western Front? The German surrender on 11th November 1918 was due to a number of different factors and events. Each contributed to the final end of the war, and were all of significant importance. Some factors contributed towards the armistice more than others however combined they resulted in the end of the war. The first contributing factor was the introduction of modern technology, such as gas shells and tanks. This was of vital importance, as with improved  methods and machinery, it was hoped that the stalemate would be broken more easily. It was hoped this would happen in 1916, where tanks were first used in the Battle of the Somme. However, although the appearance of tanks took the Germans by surprise, there were not enough to have the intended effect. Many tanks broke down in no-mans land or became stuck in shell holes, and were generally very unreliable. As they were a new aspect of warfare, the Allied commanders had no experience of how to command tanks, and as a result they were not used effectively, resulting in hundreds being destroyed. However, by 1918 the design of the tanks had been greatly improved, and the importance of them on the battlefield had been widely recognised. Tanks were being used to break German lines whilst protecting troops from machine gun fire. This was illustrated at the Battle of Cambrai on 20th November 1917, where 378 tanks advanced six kilometres into German territory. However, the use of tanks had not yet been perfected by the Allies, as there was often not enough infantry to follow behind a tank assault, leaving gaps in the Allied lines. However, even though Cambrai was not without losses, it clearly demonstrated how the effective use of tanks could play a decisive role in a battle. Trench warfare had begun in 1914, and was the ultimate cause of the stalemate, with both sides only making small advances at a time. The war was expected to be a war of movement, however this prediction was evidently prove incorrect after only a few weeks of fighting. However, as new weapons and technology were introduced, it became easier for either side to advance and to capture the enemy trenches. An example of this would be the introduction of the gas shell. They were first used by the Germans in the Second Battle of Ypres on 22nd April 1915. At first, only mild tear gas was used, however it was not long before chlorine and mustard gas shells were being used. By using gas attack, it was hoped the enemy would be forced out of their trenches, proving a dangerous yet deadly form of weaponry. With such effective methods being used to a greater extent, it became evident that trench warfare could not sustain such forms of fighting, thus contributing towards the overall breaking of the stalemate. America entering the war was another important aspect in the breaking of the stalemate. For most of the war, America had not intervened with the fighting in Europe. However, Germany had decided to attempt to force Britain out of the war by cutting off all its supplies, and hoping to force the British into submission. This involved the sinking of American cargo ships, which crossed the Atlantic delivering resources to Britain. The German high command knew that this decision was a gamble, and would ultimately result in America entering the war, but hoped that a German victory would be achieved before America had the chance to play a significant role in the fighting. In February 1917, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare, which authorised German U-boats to sink any ships suspected of carrying supplies to Britain. This was yet another risk taken by Germany in the course of the war, which failed, as America joined the war earlier than expected. On 6thApril 1917, America declared war on Germany before a German victory could be achieved. America took a long time to mobilize, but eventually over 250,000 American troops were being sent to the Western Front by March 1918. This was a disastrous event for Germany as America was strong military and economically, and its participation in the war proved a huge threat to Germany, and seriously jeopardised the likelihood of a German victory. The role of the British Navy in the war also helped to bring about the end of the stalemate. The Navys primary responsibility was to enforce a naval blockade around German ports that would cut off supplies reaching Germany, thus weakening the country both economically and military. Without sufficient resources, Germany would not be able support its soldiers on the Western Front, as a restriction of food and munitions would cut off the vital resources needed to sustain the German army in France. The Allies planned to take full advantage of the blockade, and combined with the new American force, were in a position to weaken the German army, and  swing the war into their favour. The Naval blockade also provoked angry riots in Berlin and other German cities, as the inhabitants began to starve as a result of the limited food supplies reaching Germany. It is estimated that over a quarter of a million Germans starved to death as a result of the British Naval blockade. This pressurised the authorities to take action, and relieve the strain the blockade was causing on Germany, before they were forced into a state of collapse. As a responsive to the growing number of Allied forces on the Western Front, and the strain of the Naval blockade, Germany mounted a huge offensive. Russia had recently pulled out of the war as Lenin took power, resulting in the end of the fighting on the Eastern front, and also leaving thousands of spare soldiers that could be used to fight in the west. In their unusually strong state, the German commanders believed they could drive back the Allies in the west before the port blockades and extra American troops begun to take effect. General Ludendorff ordered the training of many stormtrooper units. These were troops specialized in close range fighting, and were used to attack the length of the Allied line. In March 1918, the Germany army began a huge assault on the Western Front, involving the majority of its military force. This was a gamble on the German behalf, however there were no alternative strategies that would achieve a fast victory, as the port blockade and increase in Allied soldiers were already starting to weaken Germanys military strength. The stormtrooper attacks worked well, and within a week the German front line had advanced by 60km, and by April the Germany army was only 80km away from their original goal of Paris. The Allies ended up retreating over the ground they had spent years trying to gain. However, their rapid advance cause the German lines to over extended  themselves, and coupled with the limited food imports, few supplies were reaching the German army at such a distance into France. As a result, the German advance came to a halt, prompting a vicious counter-attack from the combine British, French and American forces. The Germans fell back to their heavily fortified Hidenburg line, however this was taken by the overwhelming force of the Allies on 26th September 1918, resulting in over 400,000 German soldiers being captured. The offensive had backfired tremendously, and left over 1 million German soldiers dead. Faced with the extinction of their whole army, Germany asked for peace, and the Kaiser fled to Holland. The Armistice was signed and the war came to an end on 11th November 1918. This was a result of a series of cumulative events and factors. Ultimately, it was the German offensive in 1918 that was the event which lead to the end of the stalemate, as the German attacks and British counter-attacks broke the trench system, and for the last few week before the armistice, the war was again a war of movement. However, the German offensive would have never taken place if it were not for the other contributing factors already discussed. The impacts of new technology, as well as the strain put on Germany by the American entry into the war and the port blockades forced the German commanders to respond with the offensive, which resulted in the end of the war. Although the offensive was the most important factor, the stalemate would have never been broken if it wasnt for the effect of the other factors, proving that they were all significant contributors to the breaking of the stalemate in 1918.

bombing of world trade center in manhatten 1993 :: essays research papers

Tapes Depict Proposal to Thwart Bomb Used in Trade Center Blast Law-enforcement officials were told that terrorists were building a bomb that was eventually used to blow up the World Trade Center, and they planned to thwart the plotters by secretly substituting harmless powder for the explosives, an informer said after the blast. The informer was to have helped the plotters build the bomb and supply the fake powder, but the plan was called off by an F.B.I. supervisor who had other ideas about how the informer, Emad Salem, should be used, the informer said. The account, which is given in the transcript of hundreds of hours of tape recordings that Mr. Salem secretly made of his talks with law-enforcement agents, portrays the authorities as being in a far better position than previously known to foil the February 26th bombing of New York City's tallest towers. The explosion left six people dead, more than a thousand people injured, and damages in excess of half-a-billion dollars. Four men are now on trial in Manhattan Federal Court [on charges of involvement] in that attack. Mr. Salem, a 43-year-old former Egyptian Army officer, was used by the Government [of the United States] to penetrate a circle of Muslim extremists who are now charged in two bombing cases: the World Trade Center attack, and a foiled plot to destroy the United Nations, the Hudson River tunnels, and other New York City landmarks. He is the crucial witness in the second bombing case, but his work for the Government was erratic, and for months before the World Trade Center blast, he was feuding with th F.B.I. Supervisor `Messed It Up' After the bombing, he resumed his undercover work. In an undated transcript of a conversation from that period, Mr. Salem recounts a talk he had had earlier with an agent about an unnamed F.B.I. supervisor who, he said, "came and messed it up." "He requested to meet me in the hotel," Mr. Salem says of the supervisor. "He requested to make me to testify, and if he didn't push for that, we'll be going building the bomb with a phony powder, and grabbing the people who was involved in it. But since you, we didn't do that." The transcript quotes Mr. Salem as saying that he wanted to

Agriculture Sector Essay

All the tribes living in this hill district are mainly depending on agriculture. The primitive system of Jhuming cultivation are common among all the tribes. The practice of Jhuming not only destroy the micro flora and fauna but also affect ecological balance by destroying forest. So, an attempt has been made through this scheme to replace Jhum by permanent cultivation, terrace cultivation. Moreover the Soil of this hilly region is very suitable summer as well as winter paddy. Horticulture is the main occupation in the district of N. C. Hills farmers. The altitude varies from 800meters to 1200 meters and average rainfall around 2300 mm and temperatures varies from 6 to 12 degree C in winter and 17 -33 degree C in summer. Out of total geographical area of 4888 sq. km. around 1. 88 lakh hectares is suitable for cultivation and 80% of the cultivable land is suitable for horticultural crops. Potential for horticultural development is very bright along with canning and processing industry as this district produces huge quantity of quality pineapple, oranges and ginger through purely organic method as use of agrochemicals is virtually non-existent. However, all the tribes of this hilly district are mainly dependant on destructive slash and burn method of cultivation or Jhuming and in the process forest cover has been largely denuded and ecosystem has been damaged. According to topography, rainfall and other geographical factors the district has been divided into three parts, consisting of the development blocks, 1st Part— Diyungbra ITDP and Diyung valley Block. This particular area comprises mainly of foothill and plains is suitable for field crops such as Sugarcane, Maize, Oil seeds, paddy, pulses and tropical horticultural crops like coconut, areca nut, cashew nut, mango, mousambi, litchi etc. 2nd Part—Sangbar development block has both low altitude and high altitude areas and crops suitable are both tropical and sub tropical crops. Main cultivated crops are sugarcane, Ginger, Turmeric, Pineapple and oranges. 3rd Part —comprises mainly of Jatinga valley block and Harangajao ITDP. Major crops grown are Paddy, Oranges, Ginger, Turmeric, Girenium etc.

ISIS Case Study Essay

ISIS is a terrorist group that has brought much drama and fright to many of late. ISIS stands for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They had actually begun as an al Qaeda splinter group. The aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria. It’s mainly known for killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions and other acts. The group controls hundreds of square miles. It ignores the international borders and has a presence from Syria’s Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad. ISIS rules by Sharia Law, the custom-based body of law based on the Koran and the religion of Islam. The leader of ISIS is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. There is not much known about him pertaining to where he is from, but he earned a doctorate in Islamic studies from a university in Baghdad. Al-Baghdadi was detained for four years in Camp Bucca, a U.S. run prison in southern Iraq. He was captured and imprisoned in 2005, which means he was released in 2009. After ISIS declared the creation of the so-called â€Å"Islamic State,† he began to go by the name Al-Khalifah Ibrahim. Now, all of his followers no longer call him by Al-Baghdadi. A big reason why Americans are becoming worried about ISIS is that ISIS currently has about 300 members/militants with U.S. passports. Washington D.C. officials fear that American ISIS fighters will travel home and use their terror training to launch horrific attacks at either a single or multiple locations in the United States. I believe this is a major problem. My view on ISIS is that we need to put a force on them and treat them as we treated al Qaeda. Yes, it may not be right to say that we should send the marines and army out to Middle East again, but it is necessary in order to keep the United States safe. ISIS’ plans are to destroy people in their way, and there are a few things stopping them from taking over the Middle East. One of the things stopping them is the United States. ISIS instilled fear on everyone in the country when they released videos of their executions on prisoners. The executions varied from chopping off heads to crucifixions. That only leads you to believe what sick-minded things they have planned if they ever want to attack the United States. I believe it is only right if we go into total protection mode. Not one person in this world wants to see another tragedy like September 11th to happen again except for the terrorist lingering around the world. ISIS has made themselves well known to the world. It has put the world on watch, and has everyone preparing themselves for protection and possibly war.

Time Management Strategies for Students

Time Management Strategies for Students Time Management Strategies for Students How Not to Let Game of Thrones  Fail Your Exams It’s 9 pm and you got a fresh new season of Game of Thrones to watch! But, first you promise yourself only 1 episode. Half way through the video you are hooked and by the time it ends, you throw your hands in despair, John Snow and the White Walkers! I have got to know what happens next! Soon enough you end up watching the entire series. Whew †¦ That was one hell of a season. You suddenly notice its morning, and remember you have a Math exam just in two hours! Two hours!? It’s all your fault, Starks and Lannisters! It’s a matter of urgency and you can’t let Game of Thrones fail your exams! Well, let’s identify the problem. The challenge you face is poor time management. Time management is simply planning, prioritizing, delegating, controlling, understanding yourself and identifying your problematic habits. Once you know how to manage time you will be surprised how easily you can accomplish a lot of activities in only 24 hours! Planning You need to make a comprehensive plan besides a simple to-do list. Your plan should include how you target to carry out an effective time management routine. Before that find free online resources, read article, books and keep on changing your plan when necessary. Prioritizing Divide your work into four main areas: Urgent Put all the urgent work in this area, for instance, upcoming exams, assignments or quiz. Moreover, allocate the most of your time in this zone. Plan to do This is perhaps the most essential part but you have to give it the second most importance. This part usually includes work that matters to you. For instance, researching or networking with other student, scheduling and planning other work related activities. Reject Explain Put here work that causes useless distractions such as email notification or requests from others. Resist and Cease You must try to spend the least amount of time for work that involves in this region such as meaningless doodles, watching Game of Thrones marathon, or listening to songs. Delegating First, take the free delegation review form to see how good you are in this matter. Second, follow these simple steps in a sequent manner: Define the task Select the individual or team for the assignment Provide resources Delegate the task to the individual or team Make a feedback system Review Controlling You have an effective plan or a routine. What happens when you fail to abide by it? You end up letting Game of thrones fail your exams all over again! You must practice your routine and use your plan in a controlled manner until you are accustomed to it. Understanding yourself Understand yourself and the conditions you work best in. Ask yourself these questions:- Do I study better under pressure? Do I study better in a calm or a busy environment? Which time of the day am I most productive? Identifying problematic habits Everyone has some problematic habits such as procrastinating, checking the phone every 5 min, chatting with friends while working, taking a break every now and then and so forth. You must identify all the awkward habits in order to address these matters as soon as possible. See? Time management is not an impossible task. Once you apply this knowledge as well as other resources available you can easily manage your time and if you are smart enough you might even be successful at acing exams that you claim you have no time to study for! Our term  paper writing service can be very useful for you during your exams in college and university.

Native Americans transition from freedom to isolation

Native Americans transition from freedom to isolation Introduction The American civil war, which begun in 1861and ended in 1865 is regarded as one of the most violent wars experienced in the history of United States of America. At least 620,000 soldiers died during this war, which was estimated to be 2% of the American population by then.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Native Americans transition from freedom to isolation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The war caused havoc and destruction in the south wiping off about two thirds of the appraised value of the southern wealth, destroying more than half of the regions farm machinery, consuming two-fifths of southern livestock and killing one quarter of southern white males between the ages of 20 and 40 (David 1996). In the mid nineteenth century, America as a nation had conflicting ideological and cultural indifferences as it attempted to adopt the agrarian revolution traditions. Although the country had enjoyed un ity for more than 60 years, political, cultural economic and social differences were the cause of the crisis in 1861 that erupted into a civil war. The consequences of the war were termed as being more positive rather than negative to the country as a whole. According to Abraham Lincoln, the civil war brought to America a new birth of freedom as the war enlightened the people about slavery and destroying slavery paved way to freedom. Reconstruction after the war was an opportunity to adopt and embrace new changes in the southern society placing Native Americans in a new redefined society life. Lifestyle of natives American The period between 1862 and 1865 was a time during which all Native Americans all over the continent were struggling for sovereignty. The civil war attracted many people dwelling in America especially the Native Americans who comprised of various tribe’s, bands and nations. During the civil war, the Native Americans served in both federal government and the confederate states of America military. Even though they participated in the war, they did so knowing very well that, they could be putting at risk their freedom, inimitable cultures and ancestral lands if at all they lost in the war. Most of the American natives lived in the west of Mississippi river. About 360,000 of the American natives were American Indians who were confined in an Indian Territory what is today known as Oklahoma. The American Indians are said to have occupied and lived in America 9,500 years before the arrival of the first Europeans explorers. From the arguments of many anthropologists and archeologist, the first people to arrive in America most probably arrived during the last ice age period of about 20,000-30,000 years ago when they used the bridge at Bering Sound in the northeastern part of Siberia to cross over to Alaska.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"The name â€Å"Indian† was first referred to them by Christopher Columbus, an European explorer, who while in search of a shorter route to India mistakenly came across the islands of America which were part of the Indies in Asia hence the name Indians† (James et al 2010). Native Americans lived in small groups and tribes. Since they were not domesticated and primitive, the American Indians used their hunting skills to kill their prey which they would later bring back to their families as a source of food. Their houses were known as longhouses, which had a rectangular shape and constructed using barks covering. These homes had one thing in common, they had smoke hole in the roof, and the entrance doors were low and covered with animal’s skins, while fires in their homes burned inside their houses all the time both day and night. Everyone in these communities had specific work entitled to them in accordance to gender and age. Men were the head of the families and for this reason they were responsible for bringing food they hunted, protect their families from animals and enemies and cure diseases while the women gathered forest foods and reaped corn in preparation to serve a meal for their families. Women were also responsible of nurturing their children while children helped when necessary as a way of preparing themselves for adulthood. Coming of the Europeans In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, the Europeans started to stream immigrants into the northern and eastern parts of America. This is where they discovered a new kind of society that was very different compared to theirs (Larry, 1986). The natives themselves were amazed by the physical appearances of the Europeans since they were white in complexion compared to their reddish natural skin colour complexion. They also had a very differently mode of dressing from the natives which was deerskins with decors from shell beads or porcupine quills, feathers and other unique ornaments. Apart from that, Europeans had a unique kind of technology with them that made them even more perplexed. This wonderful technology comprised of the fire-belching harquebus and cannon, steel knives, mirrors, hawk bells, earrings swords, copper and brass kettles, and much more wonderful things. In American history, the European exploration is termed as one of the greatest event with ecological impacts since it led to the increase in population of the Americans. The increase in population is as a result of the mass movement of people to embrace ‘new world’. The movement caused conflicts between the Europeans and the natives of the American land (Bowles 2011).Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Native Americans transition from freedom to isolation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Impact of European settlement For a long time since their arrival, the Europeans and the natives coexis ted peacefully as they learned different things from each other since they both had totally different lifestyles. The two societies were able to trade food, fur coats, and beads for weapons, glass while the Indian children enjoyed playing with European toys. The two societies had very contrasting ideas in relation to personal wealth and ownership. According to the Europeans, only those who were rich had the opportunity to own land and strongly believed that once this rich person dies, the land is to passed on to family signifying honor and pride this was contrary to Indians beliefs. Indians believed that property is owned by a tribe, land was a sacred asset and it belonged to no individual person but to a family as a whole. The Indians had a rule that states that ‘everything on the earth is given to all, and each person deserves their own share’. Thereafter, conflicts erupted. Europeans appeared to be oblivious to the culture and traditions of the Indians. They were arr ogant and materialist in terms of land, animals and plants in presence, a gesture that was not appealing to the Indians. This was the beginning of indifferences among the two societies. Conflicts among Native American brought about wars and desperate struggles between the native people and white people for the rich lands that became the United States (Larry, 1986). Europeans desired to conquer the new continent because of what they viewed as materialist opportunity. Their main aim was to force out the natives from their own land compelling them to relocate in order to acquire and own these rich lands for profit. The Europeans perceived this new land as a land of great opportunities hence the motive for pushing the Native Americans into the west to where the Indians were. Their arrival brought about agricultural revolution and several other environmental changes as the Europeans colonies established new and permanent settlements in the Indian country. There was a transformed world as Europeans arrival accelerated already manifested practices of the native community (James et al 2010). These practices included; gradual collapse of chiefdoms, steady coalescence of smaller groups to large communities and introduction of new diseases.Advertising Looking for term paper on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the onset of the ‘new Indian world’ people become aware that they was scarce resources and therefore it resulted to war between themselves in order to acquire what they thought was of value to build and maintain a viable community this was the ‘human asset’. One of the main reason for the war erupting is the introduction of new technology with no way of defeating the Europeans so the natives watched helplessly their society crumble down slowly. Once the Europeans destroyed the way of life of the natives, it was difficult for many indigenous groups to maintain their traditional methods even if they wanted to. The American Indian had no powerful incentive to dream up new technologies to assist human survival. Since their arrival, the Europeans impact toward the natives was negative. The Native Americans suffered in the arms of the Europeans whereby the Native Americans were treated badly as Europeans did whatever they wished with them. At first the natives were determined to defeat their visitors but as soon as a group of the Native Americans rose to challenge the Europeans and stand up for themselves, the Europeans with their advanced technology would quickly put them down. Comparing the native’s weapons which comprised of bows and arrows and the Europeans weapons which comprised of canons and guns, the natives had a hard time battling with the Europeans. It was rare for the Native Americans to fall ill and they had built sweathouses that they used to purify themselves of ills and evil spirits. Richard (2000) notes that, â€Å"the natives had not come into contact with these kinds of diseases from the old world since they were separated from Asia, Africa and Europe by vast water bodies and ice.† Diseases like measles, pneumonia, influenza, malaria and small pox were new to these people. The Europeans are to be held responsible for bringing these diseases to the native’s lands and infecting the native people. Sin ce the diseases were introduced into America, the population of the native people dropped significantly since these people were not immune to such kind of diseases. In just a span of twenty years, about 50% of the American native population had been wiped out many of them dying because of the diseases. The increased number of deaths sparked rage among the natives as they started doubting and questioning their beliefs and religion since they could not understand why their people were dying as they had never experienced anything like these deadly diseases before the arrival of the Europeans. These made them believe that Europeans had the ability to kill and give life to people. Europeans way of life was very different from the natives. They were used to owning land and claiming its ownership arguing that Indians had no land value and no interest to owning any part of the land hence they decided to evacuate them. These conflicts brought about Indian wars, signing of an act ‘India n Removal Act’ that permitted the removal of Indians from their own land signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, including passing of several acts that favored European interest at that time. The war was a great disadvantage to Native Americans since they were few in numbers due to deaths brought about by lack of immunity to new diseases, their nomadic way of life prevented them from having advanced weapons, their weapons were blunt clubs and could only manage to wound and not kill their enemies. They also lacked unified of cooperation among themselves to enhance their defense. On the other hand, Europeans succeeded in conquering the natives due to their advanced weapons like the canons and guns which were considered to have played a major role. But the fact was that they only instilled fear, a psychological effect on the Native Americans as they were also well armed with Spaniards steel swords and daggers which were very sharp with the ability to slaughter the Indians. T hey also possessed horses and horsemen who could override the Indians before they could inform their fellow Indians of an invasion. These horses provided the Europeans with speed of surprise attack and a platform where Europeans could protect themselves during a fight as they could flee before their enemies could succeed in attempting to retaliate. The once peaceful community was now being faced with harsh treatment from colonialists. They had to endure several new and deadly diseases, enslavement and wars. Europeans took advantage during these wars and killed Native Americans indiscriminately. A major setback for the natives was an inconsistency in cooperation among themselves in order to build a strong defense group. This was due to the fact that there were a number of American Indians who were in support of European actions while others did not approve any of what the Europeans were doing. During the American revolutionary war, war between various American Indians tribes accelera ted (Celia, 2003). The new American settlers were struggling with the British people to support the native Americans and the nations in the east of Mississippi therefore many native Americans supported the early European settlers with the expectation of stopping the expansion of colonization in the continent. Unfortunately, the European settlers continued to expand the horizons in which they colonized either forcefully or through mutual understanding. The isolation and concentration of Indian Americans can be traced to this period after the justification of the Indian removal act in 1830. Most of the Indians who were located in the eastern parts of the Mississippi river were relocated to the western part of the river. Some of the groups relocated include: â€Å"Seneca, a group that was evicted from the state of New York and later settled in northeastern part of Oklahoma; the Sauk Indians who were evicted from Midwest and settled in a small area northern central Oklahoma; the Cherok ee who were evicted from Southeast to Oklahoma. Those Indians who refused to move west were forced to give up large tracks of their lands, which they had control over and were concentrated on increasingly small and geographically isolated areas† (Alvin, Joane Troy 1999). The population of European origin in the United States continued to increase in the late 1800 mounting more pressure on the Native Americans to give up more of their new land. The expulsion process was accomplished mostly through peaceful treaties while at times it involved violence. These new lands given to the Indians were regarded by the whites as undesirable and were located far from major population centers, trails and transportation routes. During the 19th century, United States government policies aimed at isolating and concentrating Indians in areas with scarce natural resources, detached from the emergent United States wealth. Conclusion The act signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, ‘the Indian Removal Act,’ essentially could be blamed for taking away any remaining opportunity of sovereignty and freedom for the Native Americans. Literature has constantly shown that these Americans left their original land by choice though this has raised a lot of criticism. Celia (2003) claimed that Native Americans endured immense pressure from European settlers to move away and due to their marginal numbers they had to concede the pressure. Since the European arrival they had been alienated mentally from their beliefs, cultures and practices as the Europeans tried to convince them to adopt to the ‘new culture’ so that they do not feel isolated but rather feel like Americans. Unfortunately, the Native American practices have been erased in an effort to make people believe that Europeans were the first people to settle in America. Towards the end of the 19th century, due to the sub-standard way of life in the isolated reservation, the federal government changed i ts primary approach to the â€Å"Indian problem† from a forced isolation to forced assimilation and now concerns about the reservation problems were resembled in many aspects. Native Americans living on reservations disproportionately lacked access to both basic and advanced technologies because poor infrastructure makes the cost of obtaining new modern technology equipment very expensive. The assimilation was achieved through allotment policy and the first allotment legislation (the Dawes Act) that was first enacted in 1887 and required that the land be sub-divided into smaller pieces so as to give the Indians an opportunity to do farming or ranching since they were the main occupations in the areas where Indians occupied. References Alvin M. J., Joane N., Troy R. J. (1999). Red power: the American Indians fight for freedom. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Bowles, M. (2011). A history of the United States since 1865. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint. Celia, B. (2003). Nati ve American power in the United States, 1783-1795. Madison, NJ: Farleigh Dickinson University Press. David, L. V. (1996). Native American Economic Development on Selected Reservations a Comparative Analysis, American journal of Economics and Sociology. Vol 4 (9) p. 9-45. James, S. O. et al (2010).The Ethnic Dimension in American History. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons. Larry, W. B. (1986). Roots of the Native American urban experience relocation policy in the 1950s. Journal of American Indian Quarterly. Vol-10, 45. Richard, F. (2000). Native Americans: the indigenous peoples of North America Living through history. Mankato, MN; Heinemann.

Review of Online Learning Platform Instructure Canvas

Review of Online Learning Platform Instructure Canvas Canvas Instructure is an online learning platform that allows students to integrate their accounts with social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. It is one of the top online learning platforms available. Best of all,  students and instructors acting individually (not subscribing  as  an entire school) can use the program for free. Canvas offers some unique  Web 2.0  features. However, Canvas Instructures best attribute is its ability to convey information intuitively. Canvas Instructure makes it easy for students and instructors to navigate the well-designed site. The platform isnt without its faults, but overall, Canvas Instructure simply feels better to use than most other online learning platforms. Using Canvas Instructure as an Instructor Canvas Instructure solves a lot of problems for instructors. For example, it allows assignments to be quickly created from several places on the website. Information about each assignment is automatically parsed into the course calendar, syllabus, or grade book without any additional action from the instructor. Grading is simple and weighted grades can be created with ease. A speed grader allows instructors to grade more quickly and without the dreaded load time that many other learning platforms require. Using Canvas Instructure as a Student Students can keep track of their progress in the class, complete assignments, and participate in discussions with ease. The grade book allows students to see both their grades for individual assignments and their overall grade. Students can even enter in alternative scores for assignments to project how their overall grade would be impacted by a higher or lower score. They can choose to connect their accounts to multiple email addresses, text-receiving phone numbers, and social media pages. Drawbacks fo Canvas Instructure Canvas Instructure does have a few drawbacks. The platform was  known to be a bit buggy, and edits sometimes changed back to older versions of a document. Occasionally, the system does something unexpected and leaves instructors worrying about how to fix the problem. Most instructors rely on the dependability of their online learning platform and little issues can end up making a big difference. It would also be helpful if modules could be viewed on stand-alone pages and could be included in the design-your-own front page. Pros and Cons It may be helpful to view a quick guide to the pros and cons of Canvas Instructure Web 2.0, as well as the programs overall features: Basic Information: Its an online learning management system.It offers Web 2.0 integration.It is free to use for individuals. Pros It has an intuitive, easy-to-use formatThe design is clean and simple.It makes grading and viewing grades easy.It offers easy social media integration. Cons The site can be a bit buggyThere is no simple way to add one-sentence reading assignments to a calendar.It is not easy to find online information on how to use the platform. Overall, Canvas Instructures Web 2.0 platform allows for real-time collaboration through a variety of social media platforms such as blogs, Google apps (such as Google Docs), and even via smartphones.

Symphony of Ludwig Van Beethoven Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Symphony of Ludwig Van Beethoven - Research Paper Example The sketchbook of Beethoven shows that some musical materials that were used in the symphony were written in 1811 (Nicholas 231). The symphony also came from other Beethoven’s pieces, while completion of the work on its own right shows some sense for future sketches for the symphony. The choral fantasy is basically a movement of piano concerto, which brings the vocal soloists and a chorus piano near the end of climax. In this symphony, theme is first sung by vocal forces and is played by instruments, thus making it highly reminiscent of the ninth symphony’s corresponding theme. Going further back, the theme of the choral fantasy’s earlier version has its origins from the song â€Å"Gegenliebe† which means, â€Å"Returned Love†, for high voice and piano that dates back to 1795. Scherzo’s theme was composed from fugue, which was written in 1815. The symphony’s vocal introduction part caused Beethoven to encounter very many difficulties. His friend, Anton Schindler said that his work on the fourth movement made Beethoven struggle than never before. The aim was finding out the most appropriate way of Schiller ode’s introduction. One day, he was able to get a version with the words of singing the immortal Schiller’s ode. Though he was very happy to get it, he did not retain it, but kept on writing other versions until he got its final form. This final form had the words, â€Å"O freude, nicht diese Tone, which translates into â€Å"not these sounds, oh dear friends†. ... Beethoven augmented each wind part with two players at the premiere. The woodwinds included piccolo, 2flutes, 2 oboes, 2clarinets, and 2 bassoons. Brass was composed of 2 horns, 2 trumpets, and 3 trombones. The fourth movement was sung in soprano solo, alto solo, tenor solo, baritone solo, SATB choir voices. Percussions were also used and comprised of timpani, bass drum, triangle and cymbals. Finally, his composition was accompanied by strings that included violins, viola, cellos and double basses. Form Beethoven’s symphony was in four movements: allegro, scherzo, Adagio and recitative movements. He changed the common classical symphonies patterns by placing scherzo prior to slow movements, instead of the vice versa (Hopkins 76). The first movement was in the form of sonata, which was accompanied by a stormy mood. His inspiration was felt in the opening theme, when pianissimo was played over string tremolos, to resemble orchestra sound. The theme showed clarity and power that drove the entire movement. On the other hand, the introduction employed relationships, from mediant to tonic, which distorts the key until it is played in the lowest register by the bassoon. Scherzo, the second movement, resembles the first movement in the opening theme. Written three times, its punctuation sounds like it is in a quadruple time when played with meter speed Hopkins 127). This movement made Beethoven to face various criticisms for failing to abide by standard forms of his composition. This movement has an internal structure that is very elaborate, making it a complete sonata. The third movement comprises of a lyrical slow movement in a variation form that is loose. Each variation pair then progressively elaborates the melody and rhythm. The fourth movement is a

Illegal Immigration in the European Union Essay

Illegal Immigration in the European Union - Essay Example The Maastricht treaty of 1992 created what is known as the ideology of the European citizens, the aim of this treaty was to incorporate the national identities of the citizens of the EU into a European identity without reducing the importance of the national identity of the citizens. The Amsterdam treaty of 1999 gave the citizens of the European Union the right to vote and also to participate in the elections for the European parliament. The Amsterdam treaty granted human rights to the citizens of the EU and this led to the creation of European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. It was in the Tampere summit in 1999 that it was decided that there would be certain rights and laws for dealing with the issue of immigration, both legal and illegal. It was at the Tampere summit that it was decided that illegal immigration would be fought against using certain measures that would ensure that the illegal immigrants would be investigated quickly and hence the major goal of this paper was to send back the illegal immigrants to their country of origin as soon as possible. ... Canary Islands is an archipelago that is a part of Spain and it lies west to the African continent and is located at a close distance from morocco though the journey might look very easy but it is a very difficult one especially when the means of transport is not a very stable one. In 2005 around 4500 people entered the Canary Islands through the sea route but in 2006 the number almost grew 6 times when the number of illegal immigrants reached the figure of almost 31000. About 6000 migrants went missing or died and only 5000 people were intercepted by the coast guards. This led the then Canary Islands president to ask the centre for help with the issue of illegal immigrants by setting up a committee to address the problem which he describes as 'critical'. Aden martin, the then president of the canary islands, asked not only thy kingdom of Spain for help but also asked the EU to play its part in controlling this situation because he saw this not as a threat only to the canary islands or Spain but as a threat to a whole of Europe because once the illegal immigrants got through to the canary islands they could pretty much move through the whole of Europe freely as they were no check points because of the relaxation in visa policies for the whole of the European bloc. The problem as illustrated above is indeed quite critical because of the staggering number of people that have been trying to make it to Europe through the canary islands not only risk their lives and more than 10,000 people have already lost their lives but they also pose a threat to every party involved economically and due to the large numbers there are no facilities intact currently to deal with them that leads to the problem of crossing the line with respect to human rights issues and accommodation and

Project Manangement The Reluctant Worker Case Study

Project Manangement The Reluctant Worker - Case Study Example Moreover, these skills promote understanding among individuals at workplace and enable them sustain good relationships and this in turn benefits the organization. This paper represents a report based on the case study of the reluctant worker focusing particularly on key professional skills that influence the growth and development of an organization. Actually, there are core skills that are at play in the case of the reluctant workers. Basically, all professionals are required or encouraged to possess a broad range of skills but most importantly, is the ability to communicate effectively with others and be able to express their views freely. For instance, three key skills that apply or are insufficient here are lack of team building, Leadership skills as exhibited by the project manager, and planning. To start with, there is lack of team building among workers and their team leader in this organization. Ideally, team building refers to the ability to form productive groups and confor m to the rules set and cooperate with others with the aim of achieving a common goal. Arguably, team building at workplace enhances goal achievement, efficiency in working process and satisfies the workers (â€Å"Ferguson Publishers†, 2009). ... Team building therefore plays a significant role in motivating the workers hence, organization tasks progress more efficiently and effectively. Secondly, appropriate leadership skills are very essential in ensuring that the management operate in the required manner, workers are motivated to work accordingly with increased efforts thereby increasing productivity of the organization. According to Adair, leadership is regarded as the most important composition of management (Adair, 2013). A leader has to understand others and cooperate with them appropriately (â€Å"Ferguson Publishers†, 2009). Ideally, leadership involves accountability, transparency and understanding. Generally, good leaders act as a role model in the organization and always concentrate on upholding the name or reputation of the organization. They should be able to understand themselves and other people as well. More so, the best leader ensures completion of tasks, roles and responsibilities both assigned to th em and their subordinates (â€Å"Ferguson Publishers†, 2009). They are expected to exercise self development and self management in the light of leadership knowledge and skills. Based on the case study of the reluctant workers, the project manager, Tim Aston to a larger extent did not exhaust and practiced the recommended leadership skills required in his position. Aston failed to clearly define the sequence of activities, create appropriate time for the juniors to be able to attend the meetings, and motivating the workers maybe through teambuilding process. Aston did not actually communicate effectively to the workers and this we can assume that he lacked good communication skills to be able to convince the workers and understand their

I dont have topic on mind you can choose an easy one Research Paper - 1

I dont have topic on mind you can choose an easy one - Research Paper Example In essence, this paper explores the two major challenges faced by students in their research projects i.e. finding and using of quality research sources. Those who have written research papers prior to this reading have probably found difficulties in the process of searching and citing of sources, with some viewing the process as totally mechanical (McClure 51). However, this process of searching and citing of sources usually ends with a writer producing rhetorical work. In order for a student to get their readers to accept their writing, believe in it and be interested in it, it is vital to locate the appropriate sources of information and make use of them effectively. Types of Research Sources. It has become well conversant with almost every individual in the contemporary world that we breathe in an information age where information is tangible and has numerous capabilities with it including influencing of government strategies and the public’s opinions, destroying and creating of wealth, as well as effecting social change within the community. Students usually have a wide range of information emanating from varied sources (McClure 56). For a student to have a significant influence on their audience, it is essential that they know all the available research sources, how and where to find them as well as how to put them into quality use. Primary and Secondary Sources. A primary source of research can be defined as that which presents the learner with first hand learning and or information about a given subject. They provide the researcher with first hand evidence regarding a topic under study while at the same time offering the researcher with direct access to the events and or phenomena under study. A suitable example is where one is studying the history of the First World War. If the researcher decides to study the maps used by soldiers on battle fields and the letters they sent to their relatives back at home, then these are primary sources. Other

The Kung, Wogeo, Huichol, and Sherpas differ significantly in their Essay

The Kung, Wogeo, Huichol, and Sherpas differ significantly in their social organization. Use the ethnographies Boiling Energy, S - Essay Example However, these cultural practices differ from vast people in other parts of the world as depicted by four ethnographies derived from diverse parts of the world. Analysis The fact that different individuals in the world have their own practices is depicted by Richard Katz in his ethnography â€Å"The Kung - Boiling energy†. In the book, the author outlines the cultural and spiritual way of life practiced by the Kung people in the Kalahari desert in South Africa. One major captivating aspect that the book reveals concerning culture and spirituality is Kung’s unique dance that seems to provide the focal point because anthropologists consider it as a primary ritual that encompasses and expresses cosmology, medicine and religion in a simultaneous manner. The healing dance as it is commonly known is practiced at specific periods of the time of the year and amazingly, everyone in the community participates because these people believe that each one of them has a â€Å"sicknes s† on one way or the other (Katz 332). In this regard, the Kung people believe that illnesses could be physical, emotional or even spiritual and the healing dance simultaneously heals all illnesses irrespective of the sickness nature. Therefore, the healing dance contains much more than just healing because it helps individuals release tension and energy that eventually transform people’s inner feelings. On a general perspective, the healing dance represents the spirituality of the Kung people because after the dance these individuals feel nourished, rejuvenated and reborn just like an individual from the west would feel after seeking spiritual intervention from a church (Katz 332). Therefore, the healing dance greatly affects the religious life of the people of Kung. Another ethnography depicting a different social organization is Barbara G. Myerhoff in her book â€Å"Peyote Hunt†. The ethnography is a story of a Native American ethnic group from western central Mexico, whose culture and spirituality is signified by its ancient practices. Though the book encompasses vast research findings from other sources, the author brings out the Huichol’s religion and culture through personal experience. Ideally, the Huichol people practices vast rituals that involve weeping, singing and contacting the ancestral spirits. Among its numerous practices, the Huichol’s practice a ritual of deer hunting because they believe that deer meat is a source of nourishment due to the magic power that the meat contains. Prior to the magical meat granted by the deer, the hunting experience provides a deep spiritual connection and fulfillment because it brings together people and all creatures (Myerhoff 16). In addition, the Huichol people also adore the maize because they believe that it fosters morality and emotions in their own way of understanding. Though the interrelationship between the Huichol’s and the maize is weird they claim that maize is their life and they greatly interconnect. Generally, the deer-maize-peyote complex is the way of life that determines Huichol’s cultural and religious life because it helps them refresh their inner personality emotionally, physically and spiritually by hunting the Peyote, eating its meat and exercising the maize ritual (Myerhoff 16). On a different perspective, Ian Hogbin chips in with his

I dont have topic on mind you can choose an easy one Research Paper - 1

I dont have topic on mind you can choose an easy one - Research Paper Example In essence, this paper explores the two major challenges faced by students in their research projects i.e. finding and using of quality research sources. Those who have written research papers prior to this reading have probably found difficulties in the process of searching and citing of sources, with some viewing the process as totally mechanical (McClure 51). However, this process of searching and citing of sources usually ends with a writer producing rhetorical work. In order for a student to get their readers to accept their writing, believe in it and be interested in it, it is vital to locate the appropriate sources of information and make use of them effectively. Types of Research Sources. It has become well conversant with almost every individual in the contemporary world that we breathe in an information age where information is tangible and has numerous capabilities with it including influencing of government strategies and the public’s opinions, destroying and creating of wealth, as well as effecting social change within the community. Students usually have a wide range of information emanating from varied sources (McClure 56). For a student to have a significant influence on their audience, it is essential that they know all the available research sources, how and where to find them as well as how to put them into quality use. Primary and Secondary Sources. A primary source of research can be defined as that which presents the learner with first hand learning and or information about a given subject. They provide the researcher with first hand evidence regarding a topic under study while at the same time offering the researcher with direct access to the events and or phenomena under study. A suitable example is where one is studying the history of the First World War. If the researcher decides to study the maps used by soldiers on battle fields and the letters they sent to their relatives back at home, then these are primary sources. Other

Product Reassessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Product Reassessment - Essay Example With respect to gender, 80% of beer consumers using SABMiller products are male. Women account for 20% of SABMiller’s products consumed. The company’s market segments in the US are dived into 21-27 year olds. The Latin America population segment, the African Americans population segment and finally the 50 years or older population (SABMiller 2010). The target market for SABMiller has grown steadily in the past. 9% of the Latin Americans consume SABMiller products. SABMiller has positioned itself in the market to expect a 13% growth in consumption of beer by 21-27 year olds, a 32% increase in consumption of its beer products by Latinos, 15% increase in consumption by African Americans and 25% increase in consumption by individuals who are 50 years and above. As at September 30th 2012, the company’s sales rose by 4 percent in Latin America (Geller, 2012). This shows that the company has positioned itself strategically to solidify it position as the number two brewe r world wide. The company has adopted a strategy to promote its products in the existing markets in the US and avoid markets that are either too volatile or too small. Types of research needed to reposition SABMiller products Branding research SABMiller requires to embark on branding research in order to reposition its beer products. Branding research is instrumental in creating a brand that has a positive and rusted image in the mind of customers and stakeholders. Branding research enables the company’s products to be structured in a way that reflect the products as the best in the market. Through this research, SABMiller will put strategies to make its customers see, hear, experience and believe the company’s products are the best in the market. Branding research provides information that is utilized to increase brand awareness, brand recognition, and improve the perceived quality and credibility of the company. SABMiller needs to undertake branding research to posit ion its brand strategically and ultimately increase the company’s sales and profits (Vernom research group 2012). Business forecasting research. It is paramount for SABMiller to undertake business forecasting research to focus accurately on business trends. This is vital for the company to reposition itself as one of the best brewing companies in the world. This type of research assesses the opportunities for new technologies as vital elements to reposition the company’s products. Business forecasting provides information on how the company is supposed to use its resources. The resources are used to identify the market that is vital with respect to the company’s operations. Through business forecasting research, SABMiller will understand the customer’s acceptance of SABMiller’s products and customer’s likelihood to purchase its products (Vernom research group 2012). Image and advertising research According to Vernom research group (2012), SA BMiller’s repositioning among the fierce competitor should focus on boosting its image in the beer industry. This information should be obtained through conducting image and advertising research. This type of research aids the company to put more emphasis on its brand image when repositioning. Image and advert

Network Key Terms Essay Example for Free

Network Key Terms Essay The Internet- The global network formed by interconnecting most of the networks on the planet, with each home and company network connecting to an Internet service provider (ISP), which in turn connects to other ISPs. Internet edge- The part of the Internet between an ISP and the ISP customer, whether the customer is a company or organization with a large private TCP/IP network, or whether the customer is a single individual. point of presence- A term used by service providers, particularly for WAN or Internet service providers instead of traditional telcos, that refers to the building where the provider keeps its equipment. Access links that connect the customer device to the WAN service physically connect into the POP. Internet core- The part of the Internet created through network links between ISPs that creates the ability of the ISPs to send IP packets to the customers of the ISPs that connect to the core. Internet access- A broad term for the many technologies that can be used to connect to an ISP so that the device or network can send packets between itself and the ISP. analog modem- A device at the customer and ISP end of an analog circuit, created when one modem calls the phone number of the other modem, with the two modems sending data using the analog circuit. DSL- Digital subscriber line. A type of Internet access service in which the data flows over the local loop cable from the home to the telco central office, where a DSLAM uses FDM technology to split out the data and send it to a router, and split out the voice frequencies and send them to a traditional voice switch. cable Internet- A term referring to Internet access services provided by a cable company, using many components, including a cable modem, coaxial cable, and a CMTS at the cable company head end. default route- In a router, a concept in which the router has a special route, the default route, so that when a rout er tries to route a packet, but the packet’s destination does not match any other route, the router routes the packet based on the default route. host name- A name made up of alphabetic, numeric, and some special characters, used to identify a specific IP host. Host names that follow the convention for domain names in the DNS system use a hierarchical design, with periods  separating parts of the name. Domain Name System- The name of both a protocol and the system of actual DNS servers that exist in the world. In practice, DNS provides a way for the world to distribute the list of matching host name/IP address pair information, letting each company maintain its own naming information, but allowing the entire world to discover the IP address used by a particular host name, dynamically, using DNS protocols, so that any client can refer to a destination by name and send IP packets to that host. Subdomain- With DNS naming terminology, this term refers to a part of a host name (or domain name).That smaller part can be the part that a company registers through IANA or some authorized agency to identify all hosts inside that company. IPv4 address exhaustion- A term referring to the very real problem in the worldwide Internet, which first presented itself in the late 1980s, in which the world appeared to be running out of the available IPv4 address space. classless interdomain routing (CIDR)- One of the short-term solutions to the IPv4 address exhaustion problem that actually helped solve the problem for a much longer time frame.CIDR allows more flexibility in how many addresses IANA assigns to a company, and it helps reduce Internet routing table sizes through route aggregation. Network Address Translation (NAT)- One of the short-term solutions to the IPv4 address exhaustion problem that actually helped solve the problem for a much longer time frame. NAT reduces the number of public IP addresses needed by one ISP customer by using one public IP address for the traffic from many real client hosts. Acronyms: BGP- Border Gateway Protocol CATV- Cable TV CIDR- Classes Interdomain Routing CMTS- Cable Modem Terminating System DSL- Digital Subscriber Line DSLAM- DSL Access Multiplexer FTTC- Fiber to the Curb HFC- Hybrid Fiber Coaxial IANA- Internet Assigned Numbers Authority IPS- Intrusion Prevention Systems ISP- Internet Service Provider NAT- Network Address Translation POP- Point of Presence RIR- Regional Internet Registries RJ-11- Registered Jack 11 SOHO- Small Office/Home Office

Islamic Feminism: An overview

Islamic Feminism: An overview Introduction Feminism is a secular ideology and Islam today rests on fundamentalist foundations. Those who advocate that feminist projects be conducted within an Islamic framework have clearly despaired of secular options for change without considering how have elaborated Lilas argument against the possibility of the coexistence of Islam and feminism because it explains the anxiety many Muslim women public intellectuals, including Chandra Talpade (2003), Jasmine (2004), and Martin (2003), feel as they watch the Taliban taking away womens rights in Afghanistan, the Algerian Front Islamique de Salut targeting women intellectuals, the fundamentalist Sudanese government oppressing its women. Many are sure that compromise with such a religion is fatal. Some women are joining religious groups despite their gender conservatism. Others are fighting these same groups, fearing the dangerous chemistry of politics and religion. Whether through or against religion they are choosing to become part of the struggle for a better world. The question many pose to women who voluntarily Islamize is: Do they accept their communities reactionary norms or do they appropriate and in the process subvert them? If there are some who can be considered feminists according to my definition of the term, how do they adapt their convictions that women have certain rights with the perceived need to subsume them to the community interest? How will the ways in which they position themselves to assert responsibility for the construction of their own, new religious identity change the face of Islam? How does participation in jihad allow for feminist activism? These are the questions which are imposed and discussed by Amina Wadud, Badran (1995), Hamid (2006), Saba ( 2005), Lila (2002) and other writers in their respective books and articles. Feminism according to Holy Quran The Quran is unequivocally opposed to gender equality, and the Sharia is not compatible with the principles of equality of human beings (Afshar, 1996, p.122). Despite its growing currency throughout the Muslim world, Lila asserts that Islamic feminism has no coherent, self-identified and/or easily identifiable ideology or movement. Those who advocate its utility as a concept and a marker for a specific brand of feminism are not women from within Muslim societies but rather diasporic feminist academics and researchers of Muslim background living and working in the West (126). These women she later characterizes as exceptionally forgiving, postmodern relativist feminists in the West whose indigenized and exotic form of Western feminism excludes core ideas of legal and social equity, sexual democracy and womens control over their sexuality (146). The attitudes to Islamic feminism span the gamut of leftists like herself who reject its possibility because they consider divine laws inherently hostile toward feminism, to those who posit that feminism within an Islamic framework is the only culturally sound and effective strategy for the regions womens movement (134). The latter group may include secularists overwhelmed by the political and discursive influence of Islamic fundamentalism (134). Here lies the major problem in Lilas argument: she confounds Islam and Islamic fundamentalism, as though the two were the same. This affirmation, she dramatically asserts, relies on twisting facts or distorting realities, ignoring or hiding that which should be clear (135). Her very real fear is that to celebrate Islamic feminism is to highlight only one of the many forms of identity available to Middle Eastern women, obscuring ways that identity is asserted or reclaimed, overshadowing forms of struggle outside religious practices and silencing the secular voices which are still raised against the regions stifling Islamification policies (137-38). An Anti-Modern Feminist Perspective A considerably different perspective is presented in Anouar Majids â€Å"The Politics of Feminism in Islam.† Majid is wary of the dangers of imposing Western feminist traditions on non-Western cultures and attempts therefore to recuperate a feminist tradition within traditional Islamic culture, though he is not entirely successful in doing so. Majid recognizes that the problems women face in Islamic societies cannot be divorced from European colonialism. For Majid, the political and economic structures that have resulted from independence from European domination have not emancipated the poor (341). He feels that nationalist elites have established Eurocentric models of government, namely nation-states (342, n. 17). For Majid, representations of Islamic culture as undemocratic and patriarchal reify the history of Muslim culture and downplay the impact of imperialism on gender relations in Islamic countries (349). Majid finds that a major problem in attempting to develop Islamic feminist perspectives is the difficulty of overcoming the Western and often Orientalist biases that pervade feminist thought. These biases include a dehistoricised notion of human rights and â€Å"an implicit acceptance of the bourgeois political apparatus as a reliable mechanism for negotiating the grievances of the exploited† (339). Western feminism cannot be readily separated from hostility to Islamic culture, according to Majid. To illustrate the point, he cites the example of upper-class Islamic women who have sometimes embraced Western feminist values and in the process â€Å"condemned native customs as backward, proclaimed the superiority of the West, and uncompromisingly equated unveiling with liberation† (338). Females in Islam Even though women may have high-status professional jobs and make important decisions in the course of the day, and even though Islamic sharia insists that women have the right to keep their income, it appears that husbands continue to control the decisions concerning expenditures. The husband is pivotal in allowing his wife to work in the interest of the welfare of the family, he is also the final arbiter in defining what constitutes that welfare. In many instances, while accepting that she may work outside the home, he will not allow her to participate in public events. As already noted, Oven the power of the constitutions of various countries affirming the determination of the sharia that men are in charge of women, there is little chance for change in the foreseeable future. Modernization and urbanization, however, have brought about certain changes in family life. One is a preference for nuclear families. This has altered the traditional power of the mother-in-law which has been undermined by the new system. Instead of being a guest in her mother-in-laws home, the bride gets to be in charge of her own household. But, if she also has to go out to work in order to maintain private residence, her workload is doubled. In addition, the change in housing design from the traditional open courtyard with a garden and opening to the sky to the small apartment has confined the woman and restricted her contact with other members of the family as well as with nature. If her husband restricts her going out, she feels imprisoned and lacks contact with friends and intimate relations. Zine identifies what she sees as the roles for women, determined by the tripartite class structure of Arab society: the working class, the middle class, and the upper class. In the working class, she says, a sharp distinction is made between feminine and masculine characteristics (Zine, 2006, p.19). Conclusion One of the themes that emerges from contemporary writing about Muslim women is that of woman as victim of the experience of oppression in developing countries. The oppression is not unique to the Arab context but is a consequence of disempowerment and feelings of impotence. The condition of the woman serves to demonstrate the extremes of disempowerment. She has become the projection of the inadequacy of the society, shackled with the burden of failure and weakness. Her inherent worth is devalued in relation to her physique, intellect, gender, productivity, and status. At the same time, her role as mother is symbolically elevated. Islam provides security and equivalence to the females and it has made many laws which secures the importance of females in this male dominant world. References Abu-Lughod, Lila 2002. Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others. In American Anthropologist, Vol. 104, No. 3, pp. 783-790 Afshar, Haleh 1996. Islam and Feminism: An Analysis of Political Strategies. In Feminism and Islam: Legal and Literary Perspectives, ed. Mai Yamani. NY: New York University Press, p.122-138 Badran, Margot 1995. Feminists, Islam and Nation: Gender and Feminists, Islam, and Nation: Gender and the Making of Modern Egypt. Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press. Hamid, Shadi 2006. ‘Between Orientalism and Posrmodernism: the changing nature of Western Feminist thought towards the middle east’, HAWWA 4,1:76-92. Mahmood, Saba 2005. Politics of Piety: The Islamic Revival and the Feminist Subject (Princeton: Princeton University Press). Mahmood, Saba 2006. ‘Performativity, Agency, and the Feminist Subject‘, in (eds) Ellen Armour and Susan St. Ville, Bodily Citations: Religion and Judith Butler (New York, Columbia Uni Press). ISBN 0-231-13407-X Majid, Anouar 1998. The Politics of Feminism in Islam, Signs, Vol. 23, No. 2, p. 321-361 Martin F McLelland 2004 ‘Re-placing queer studies: reflections on the queer matters conference’, in Inter-Asia Cultural Studies vol 6, number 2: 299- 311. Talpade, Chandra 2003. Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity. Durham London: Duke University Press. P.71 Zine, Jasmine 2004. Creating a critical faith-centred space for antiracist feminism, in Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. Vol. 20, No. 2, Pages 167-187 Zine, Jasmine 2006. Between Orientalism and Fundamentalism: The Politics of Muslim Womens Feminist Engagement, Muslim World Journal of Human Rights: Vol. 3, p.19 Public Health Issue Analysis: Smoking Public Health Issue Analysis: Smoking ENHANCING HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACROSS POPULATIONS: INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this essay is to identify a public health issue related in my field. To facilitate the discussion smoking as a public health issue has been chosen. The holistic impact smoking have on the wellbeing of an individual will be explored. The stage of change model and the Healthy Lives (2010) policy will be explored in relation to smoking. The rationale for choosing this topic is because smoking is an important public health issue. The smoke is very toxic to every human tissue it touches on its way into, through and out of the smoker’s body (Ewles 2005). Smoking is considered as a health hazard because Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, a poisonous alkaloid, and other harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, acrolein, ammonia and tars.Gorvenment initiatives like the Public Health White Paper, choosing health; Making Choices Easier (DH 2004) will be addressed. The nurse’s role and other professions involved will be highlighted .Confidentiality shall be maintained throughout this essay as prescribed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008). The impact of tobacco smoking on public health extends beyond the direct effects on the individual smoker and their personal health, plus taking into account the effect on their economic, environmental and social effects (Ewles 2005).). Smoking harms nearly every org an of the body thereby causing many diseases, reducing quality of life and life expectancy. Also it has been estimated that in England, 364,000 patients are admitted to NHS hospitals each year due to smoking related diseases which translates into about 7,000 hospital admission per week and 1,000 admissions per day (ASH 2006). In the UK, smoking causes about a fifth of all deaths, approximately 114,000 each year, most of which are premature with an average of 21 years early (Ewles 2005). According to Peto et. al. (2003) cited in Ewles (2005), most premature deaths caused by smoking are Lung and coronary cancer, chronic obstructive heart diseases and coronary heart diseases with 42800, 29100 and 30600 deaths respectively every year. In addition, smoking is known to also bring increased risk of many debilitating conditions like impotence, infertility, gum disease, asthma and psoriasis (Ewles 2005). Research has also shown that non-smokers are put at risk by exposure to other peopleâ₠¬â„¢s smoke which is known as passive or involuntary smoking and is also referred to as second-hand smoke (SHS) or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (Cancer Research 2009). According to the Oxford Medical Companion (1994) cited in the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic 2008, â€Å"tobacco is the only legally available consumer product which kills people when it is used entirely as intended†. Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the World which causes one in ten deaths among adults worldwide and in 2005, tobacco caused about 5.4million deaths, an average of one death every six second Certain behaviors have been labeled as risky behaviors associated with negative health outcomes among which smoking is and which has been the subject of UK national health strategies (Naidoo Wills 2005). Smoking causes about one fifth of all deaths in the UK, most of which are premature and has hugely significant impacts on the wider environment and community through causing air pollution, fires, litter and environmental damage (Ewles 2005). Prevalence of smoking among the low paid groups has been observed to be twice those of the affluent groups because of the great difficulty people in the less affluent groups experience in stopping smoking (Ewles 2005). Tobacco smoking is also widely recognized as a cause of health inequality in the UK because it is common among the deprived groups and also compromises the already poorer health of deprived population such as those that fall within the marginalized groups. Examples are people with mental problems and prisoners, who are more likely to smoke and less likely to have access to mainstream smoking cessation services (Ewles 2005). The Index of multiple deprivation ranks areas from the most deprived to the least deprived and the odds of smoking increases as deprivation in the area increases (The NHS Information centre 2008). Children smoke for all sorts of reasons. Some smoke to show their independence, others because their friends do while some smoke because adults tell them not to and others do smoke to follow the example of role models. There is no single cause. Parents, brothers and sisters who smoke are a powerful influence. Also is the way it is been advertised and the tobacco companies sponsor sport which makes children want to try it (DH 1998). The problems of smoking during pregnancy are closely related to health inequalities between those in need and the most advantaged. Women with partners in manual groups are more likely to smoke during pregnancy than those with partners in non-manual groups: 26 per cent of women with partners in manual groups smoke during pregnancy, compared with 12 per cent with partners doing non-manual work (DH 1998). Health promotion is a complex activity and is difficult to define. Davies and Macdowall (2006) describe health promotion as â€Å"any strategy or intervention that is designed to improve the health of individuals and its population†. However perhaps one of the most recognized definitions is that of the World Health Organization’s who describes health promotion as â€Å"a process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health (WHO 1986). If we look at this in relation to the nurse’s role in smoking cessation and giving advice to a patient, this can be seen as a positive concept in that with the availability of information together with support, the patient is then able to make an informed decision, thus creating empowerment and an element of self control. Bright (1997) supports this notion suggesting that empowerment is created when accurate information and knowledgeable advice is given, thus aiding the development of personal skills and self esteem. A vital component of health promotion is health education which aims to change behavior by providing people with the knowledge and skills they require to make healthier decisions and enable them to fulfill their potential. Healthy Lives Healthy People (2010) highlight the vital role nurses play in the delivery of health promotion with particular attention on prevention at primary and secondary levels.Nurses have a wealth of skills and knowledge and use this knowledge to empower people to make lifestyle changes and choices. This encourages people to take charge of their own health and to increase feelings of personal autonomy (Christensen 2006). Smoking is one of the biggest threats to public health, therefore nurses are in a prime position to help people to quit by offering encouragement, provide information and refer to smoking cessation services. In 2010 the white paper Healthy Live Healthy People set out the government long term policy for improving public health and in 2011 a new tobacco control plan was published (Department of Health 2011). The Whitepaper Healthy Life Healthy People set out a range of measures aimed at preventing people from starting to smoke and helping them to stop, such as banning cigarettes advertising on billboards, in size and action on tobacco intensified (DH, 2011). WHO defines health promotion a process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve, their health. It implies that the ideology moves beyond a focus on individual behavior towards a wide range of social and environmental interventions. Naidoo and Wills (2010), states ‘health promotion is based on theories about what influences people’s health and what are effective interventions or strategies to improve health.

Crossroads of Tibet :: miscellaneous

Crossroads of Tibet Tibet, the roof of the world, is the highest and the most isolated country on earth. Located between China and Nepal, imagine a place tucked safely away from the world, hidden by walls of snowcapped mountains, rich with strange beauty and innocence. Tibetans are very confined people, their clothes are plain and simple like ropes but are actually silky and thick, unlike Chinese gowns which are flamboyant. They may have old fetchers but that is because the cold makes them look dry and old, but they are actually very pleasant people. During those days, they did not allow foreigners to enter their country. They were not hiding anything but they believed that foreign people would want to modernize their country, which they were against. Tibetans want to maintain their culture without changes, like a time capsule. Tibetans believe that walking for a long distance to holy places purifies the bad deeds they have committed; and that the more difficult the journey, the greater the depth of the purification. In 1949, Chairman Moa Tse-Tung was triumphantly proclaimed leader of the new People’s Republic of China, vowing that the first task of the communist regime, was to reunite the Chinese motherland. He declared that remote kingdom of Tibet was an integral part of Chinese territory and must rejoin the great republic. As the news passed to the ears of the Tibetan government, they replied firmly that â€Å"The government of Tibet recognizes no foreign sovereign, and we are an Independent Nation and all Chinese officials will be expelled from Tibet, and have a safe and pleasant return to China†. The government of Tibet knew that they would have a war against China which they did not intend to for it to happen and in the early 1950’s His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama was called upon to assume full political power of Head of State, when Tibet was threatened by the might of China. His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, at the age of 12 was the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people, was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama, was born in a small village of Takster – Northeast of Tibet. His Holiness dreamt that the village of Takster in Amdo including the northern border regions of Tibet was secured by the Chinese killing every man, woman and child. In his dream, images of monks were forced against their own will to point a gun to each other’s head.

The Art of the Renaissance

The Art of The Renaissance by Maria Large Did you know that most likely the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa, was painted in the time of the Renaissance? The oil painting of the straight faced woman (or man), painted by the famous Leonardo De Vinci, is said to be painted between 1503 to 1506. No one knows who the person in the painting is. No one even knows whether or not it is De Vinci himself, a relative or even a man or a woman! The English name â€Å"Mona Lisa†, came from a description by Renaissance Art historian â€Å"Giorgio Vassar†.There were many exquisite paintings done in the time period of the Renaissance. I'm going to briefly tell you what happened in the time of the Renaissance and what styles or cultural aspects influenced these talented artists. Also, how their faith reflected the artwork they made. The Renaissance first occurred in Italy, spreading throughout the countries starting approximately in the sass's and ending around the sass's . It was after the Middle Ages and after the Black Death had swept through many countries and eventually ending up in Europe killing 1. O 4 million people in total. The Renaissance was a new uprising, it displayed many things, such as freedom, independence, creativity, the rebirth of classical learning, the rediscovery of ancient Rome and Greece, and many other things. In the Middle Ages there were only certain religions allowed and certain ways of living. The people thought of the Middle Ages as a dark time but the Renaissance changed all that. They no longer wanted the old ways so they changed many aspects and ways of living in this time period, including there own language.The Renaissance artwork was typically not done for fun or as a hobby. It was usually used to make money or made for religious reasons. Only the paintings done by the masters hand would sell for big money, all others being of little value. Back then, the church was a big part of the income, resulting in many pai ntings that were religious themed. They would sell their artwork to cathedrals and churches for money. Most of the paintings were based off the Life of Christ, the Life of the Virgin, the Life of the Saint or Salvation.The paintings brought new ideas to artwork such as â€Å"a sense of space†, which makes your eye see 3 dimensional and also the use of perspective. A big part of the art of the Renaissance was religious based. The way the artists painted these paintings portrayed faith very well, even to the point of making the humanists think spirituality instead of thinking with human individuality. There were many famous religious paintings done in the time of the Renaissance such as Leonardo De Vine's paintings called, â€Å"The Last Supper† and â€Å"Virgin of the Rocks†.Another famous piece of art, is the painting of the â€Å"Sistine Chapel Ceiling† by Michelangelo. Also among his famous works are his sculptures, â€Å"David†, representing the David in the bible and â€Å"Pieta†, showing Jesus dead body in the arms of his mother Mary. An interesting fact about the paintings is that in the Middle Ages, because of the strong dedication to Catholicism, they were not allowed to study the human body. After the Middle Ages ended, because people had more freedom of religion, people started studying the human body, which resulted in paintings that coked much more realistic.As you have seen, the Renaissance was a very big historical change for the people of that time as well as the people of today. I have only mentioned a few of the many pieces of artwork created during the Renaissance. The artists and their paintings are still remembered to this day. The styles of their artwork have affected how people create there own art today. We can learn from the styles they used, their use of perspective, colors that showed the time period, and even small things added to their ark that changed the whole picture itself.In one sense, the art of the Renaissance could be said to be the true beginning of art and the pathway that was set for the future artwork that is created today. References: Art and Expression- Renaissance Art by Maria Lacy Kitchen Oracle Think Quest- The Renaissance Period by (unknown) Web Gallery of Art- Welcome to the Gallery by Emil Kern and Daniel Marx Renaissance by Thomas J. Choke, Harold E. Damager and Jose Marie Devalue BBC News- Is Ad Vine's Mona Lisa a self-portrait? By Nick Watt and Mama Snappily

Improve end-of-life care Essay

Advocacy to improve end-of-life care and decision-making for patients over the past twenty-five years has frequently turned to the law as a source of protection and procedural innovation. There has been a deliberate strategy to use the legal system to improve the outcome for patients at the end of life by means of courts of law and congressional hearings. Such efforts have resulted in the formation of legislation and regulation but have produced varying measures of gain as well as some serious limitations. As a result of these efforts a wide array of patients’ rights respecting end-of- life care have been established. These include the right to self-determination and to refuse unwanted life-prolonging interventions. Additionally there are regulations which have established decision-making processes and protocols should patients lose the ability to make decisions for themselves. The right to die is understood as the freedom to make a decision to end one’s life, on one’s own terms, as a result of the desire to allay painful effects of an incurable illness (Angus, 2004). The act of ending one’s life can take various forms, depending on the role the patient, their family and the physician plays in this process (Rosen, 1998). Euthanasia refers to the family member or physician intentionally ending the patient’s life by direct request from the patient. Euthanasia can be active or passive, voluntary or involuntary. In active euthanasia either a physician, a family member or another prescribed person, at the directive of the patient or an authorized representative, administers or withholds some form of procedure that leads to the eventual or immediate death of the patient. Passive euthanasia involves these agents withholding a procedure necessary for the patient’s continued survival. Active euthanasia involves administering either drugs or another treatment that will directly lead to death. Voluntary euthanasia is where the patient makes a direct request for either an active or passive procedure and involuntary euthanasia is when this decision is made by someone besides the patient because the patient is probably incapable of making such a decision. Assisted suicide refers to helping the patient end his or her life. There are numerous advocates and agencies throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and other countries, that either promote or oppose the right to die concept. One group advocates the establishment of clear limitations on the ability of healthcare providers or the state to impose undesired life-prolonging interventions against the wishes of the patient or the patient’s authorized surrogate decision-maker. The strength of this effort lies primarily in the articulation by these advocates of procedures for decision-making that respect patients’ autonomy and anticipate the range of circumstances in which patients would lack decision-making capacity and thus would require tough decisions about end-of-life care to be made for them (Johnson, 1998). In contrast to such articulation of ‘negative rights’, more recent advocates for dying patients have focused on using legal mechanisms such as courts of law and legislative processes to try to establish and articulate rights and responsibilities governing the role of the physician in a patient’s suicide. Instead of asking for patients to be free of unwanted interventions, these efforts have lobbied for legal support for positive assistance at the end-of-life. This assistance involves purposefully bringing an end to life through the use of medical interventions. To date, these efforts have met with mixed success. While physician-assisted suicide has been legalized in the Netherlands, achieving the same results in the United States has been challenging. Thus far only the state of Oregon has managed to make any headway in this regard. They managed to pass the ‘Death with Dignity Act’ which came into effect in 1997 (Public Agenda, 2006). This act gives patients a limited amount of legal right to physician-assisted suicide. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has determined that at this time, there is no constitutional violation if a state’s criminal laws prohibit assisted suicide. At a minimum, however, these efforts have succeeded in arousing public interest and inquiry into the suffering endured by patients and their families when serious or terminal illness becomes unbearably burdensome. This outcome may be more valuable than any articulation of a theoretical legal right. Another category of advocates targets the issue at the level of the health centers that provide care for these patients. They argue that the presence of so many discussions on the provision of suicide assistance is a reflection of the U. S. ’ failure to make proper palliative care readily accessible to those who are suffering. They believe that little has been done to ensure that all dying patients and their families receive competent, compassionate care at the end of life, regardless of the care setting or disease process. Such care does not simply involve being left alone or freedom from the use of machines. Efforts and successes in the legal arena have had more to do with decision protocols and processes, documents and directives, than with the substantive clinical aspects of quality care at the end of life. It is not sufficient to simple have a document that articulates a patient’s wish to refuse life-prolonging interventions. What this group advocates is ensuring that doctors effectively communicate with the patient and compassionately provide each with quality palliative care appropriate to their condition (Waters, 1999). There is a limit to the extent to which the law is turned to as a strategy for improving end-of-life care. While considerable time and effort has been spent over the past few decades ensuring, through the law, that certain things should not be done to patients at the end of life, there has been little focus on what should be done for such patients. In this regard the law has limited utility. The earliest and most enduring efforts involving the law in end-of-life care have focused on defining the limits of government intervention and interference, articulating individual freedoms, and creating processes and protocols to address areas of contention. There are precedents from judicial cases, including the cases of Karen Ann Quinlan in 1976 and Nancy Cruzan in 1990, that clearly establish the right of individual patients to refuse all undesired life-prolonging interventions as well as the clear establishment that the interests of third parties or governments cannot supersede individual rights to limit care at the end of life. Also there are legal guidelines and procedures that enable the treatment wishes of patients to be preserved and respected, even when the patients are no longer capable of articulating them. Finally there has been the creation of legal obligations and responsibilities on the part of care providers and care systems to inform patients of their options in this difficult decision-making process. In many ways, the law has been effectively employed to ensure patients’ liberty and privacy against the encroachments of modern medical technology as they approach the end of their lives. However, it is difficult to determine how successful the law has been in impacting positively the quality of care and decision-making provided to patients at the clinical level (Angus, 2004). Through legal principles and legislation, courts at both the state and federal levels have extensively considered the issue of end-of-life care and decision-making. They have consistently emphasized the right of patients to refuse any and all life-prolonging medical interventions, including ventilators, dialysis, surgery, and artificial nutrition and hydration. This protection is extended where patients are able to personally articulate their wishes or do so through authorized surrogate decision-making mechanisms. With respect to the cases that have thus far been examined through the courts, they have extended the fundamental legal right of patients to generally refuse treatment, providing clarity and creating decision paths in situations of uncertainty. The cases have not, however, completely eliminated debate and apprehension in the clinical arena, where moral ambivalence, medical uncertainty, religious convictions, emotional distress, and outright misunderstanding of the law still obscure the decision-making process in individual circumstances. The issue of ending a patient’s life is complex, no two cases being the same. There are significant implications for the patient involved, their family, physician and the facility providing care at this crucial time in their lives. For many clinicians, patients and their families, decisions about whether to withdraw a feeding tube or turn off a ventilator are still difficult. Such dilemmas cannot be addressed by the law, which can provide a process for decision-making but cannot necessarily guide the involved parties to the ‘right’ decision in a particular circumstance. The difficulty of end-of-life decisions are further compounded by evolving standards of care, continuing debate over what constitutes ‘futile’ care and confusion among clinicians, particularly about ‘what is legal’ (Angus, 2004). Evidently there are limits to what the law can clarify and make concrete when the issues are so complex and confounding. Another challenge has been the limited use of the many advance care-planning mechanisms that have been developed through both judicial and legislative processes. Additionally there has been limited advocacy by healthcare professionals for the use of these mechanisms. Mechanisms such as living wills and healthcare proxies or powers of attorney are intended to empower patients and their surrogates. Through the use of these, patients and their caregivers can consider the complex and problematic area of end-of-life care in a thoughtful and deliberate way, long before the chaos that often accompanies an acute, life-threatening event or the onset of serious illness ensue. While none of these mechanisms is perfect, if used properly and as prescribed in the law, such documents and advance planning could help avoid some of the crises that frequently accompany end-of-life care and decision-making (McDonald, 1999). A growing body of studies documents the myriad of problems and challenges that have surfaced in trying to implement advance care planning in the clinical setting. Some studies reveal physicians’ erroneous beliefs about advance directives and their lack of knowledge about how to employ them in clinical care routines. Other studies highlight the inadequacy of understanding between patients and their care providers about treatment preferences at the end of life, even when patients have previously executed an advance directive. Still other studies reflect that there is uncertainty in the clinical arena concerning who is responsible for initiating and helping to formulate advance care-planning decisions. Of course the variety of issues examined by studies are not exhausted as there still needs to be studies on strategies to increase the number of patients who execute advance directives prior to incapacity given that only a small percentage do so now. Also it remains unclear whether more directives will ultimately lead to better care that is more responsive to patient and family needs.