Homophobia

Homophobia among University Students The term homophobia, sometimes referred to as homonegativity and sexual prejudice, refers to an unreasonable fear, avoidance, and discrimination of homosexuals. Society has greatly changed their views on homosexuality over the years, yet homophobia still exists today. Extensive research has been conducted on homosexuality and how it affects our society. A previous study aimed at measuring homophobia examined literature on the topic since 1987.It was found that while society has seen a reduction in homophobia over the past twenty five years, discrimination still remains to be an issue (Ahmad & Bhugra, 2010). Another study was conducted at a university that examined the impact of college sexuality classes on students’ attitudes toward homosexuality. This study used a comparison group and had participants of both groups take two surveys, one at the beginning of the semester and one at the end.This study found that a sexuality curriculum can he lp to reduce homophobia by exposing students to accurate information (Rogers, McRee & Arntz, 2009). However there continues to be issues with measuring such a sensitive theme for reasons such as, measuring an attitude is difficult to do, and acquiring honest responses can also be a challenge. The present study aims at measuring homophobia among university students by asking a wide range of questions around the central theme. Methods ParticipantsParticipants were ( ) male and ( ) female undergraduate psychology students from a California university. Materials A survey was developed around six main themes. Those sixt themes were then divided among six groups, three in each lab, and each group developed five to ten questions that would measure their assigned theme, and research five to ten more questions from research articles. Seventeen questions were developed to measure homophobia. One question asked if marriage between homosexual individuals is acceptable.Another question asked whe ther homosexual couples are as qualified to raise children as heterosexual couples. Another question asked the participant if they would end a friendship upon discovering a friend was gay. Most answers were presented on a likert scale, using anchors 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neither agree nor disagree; 4=disagree; 5=strongly disagree. 1=strongly agree; 2=agree; 3=neither agree nor disagree; 4=disagree; 5=strongly disagree. However to ensure increased reliability, some questions were deleted and replaced with new ones and the survey was administered a second time.Procedure The survey was posted on psychsurveys. org for three days. Participants were emailed a link to access to and complete the survey. After the survey was complete, a reliability analysis was done, and some of the questions were replaced with new ones. Participants then had another three days to log back into the survey and re-take it. Results Discussion In order to increase this scale’s reliability, a larger survey should be used in the future to assess homophobia, with more in depth questions about feelings and attitudes around homophobia.Directly asking participants whether or not they are homophobic would create a floor effect because it is unlikely that anyone would identify themselves as homophobic. Instead, many carefully thought out questions should be used. Developing questions to assess a feeling like homophobia is a difficult task. Questions need to be worded in such a precise way as to not lead the participant into answering untruthfully. Questions need to be neutral so that the participant does not feel pressured to answer a certain way.In addition, the answer format was not ideal for all questions in the homophobia section of the survey. Answers were mostly reported on a likert scale for statistical purposes, while open-ended responses may have been more insightful. Furthermore, the sample used in the current study was all college students from California. Had this survey been administered to non-students from a more conservative state, or at a religious gathering, the results that were obtained may have been greatly different. Conclusion ReferencesMcCann, P. D. , Minichiello, V. , & Plummer, D. (2009). Is homophobia inevitable? : Evidence that explores the constructed nature of homophobia, and the techniques through which men unlearn it. Journal of Sociology, 45(2), 201-220. Retrieved from http://jos. sagepub. com. libproxy. csun. edu/content/45/2/201. full. pdf html (McCann, Minichiello & Plummer, 2009) Ahmad, S. , & Bhugra, D. (2010). Homophobia: An updated review of the literature. Sexual and relationship therapy, 25(4), 447-455. Retrieved from http://web. bscohost. com. libproxy. csun. edu/ehost/detail? [email  protected]&vid=1&hid=122&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ== (Ahmad & Bhugra, 2010) Rogers, A. , McRee, N. , & Arntz, D. (2009). Using a college human sexuality course to combat homophobia. Sex education, 9(3), 211–225. Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com. libproxy. csun. edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? [email  protected]&vid=1&hid=122 (Rogers, McRee & Arntz, 2009)

Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 13

He doesn't understand,† Poppy said softly as Jamesunlocked the door to his apartment. â€Å"He just hasn'tgrasped that you're risking your life, too.† The apartment was very bare and utilitarian. Highceilings and spacious rooms announced that it wasexpensive, but there wasn't much furniture. In theliving room there was a low, square couch, a desk with a computer, and a couple of Oriental-lookingpictures on the wall. And books. Cardboard boxes of books stacked in the corners. Poppy turned to face James directly. â€Å"Jamie †¦ Iunderstand.† James smiled at her. He was sweaty and dirty andtired-looking. But his expression said Poppy made it all worthwhile. â€Å"Don't blamePhil,†he said, with a gesture of dismissal. â€Å"He's actually handling things pretty well. I've never broken cover to a human before, but I think most of them would run screaming and never come back. He's trying to cope, at least.† Poppy nodded and dropped the subject. James wastired, which meant they should go to sleep. Shepicked up the duffel bag that Phil had packed withher clothes and headed for the bathroom. She didn't change right away, though. She was toofascinated by her own reflection in the mirror. So this was what a vampire Poppy looked like. She was prettier, she noted with absent satisfaction. The four freckles on her nose were gone. Herskin was creamy-pale, like an advertisement for facecream. Her eyes were green as jewels. Her hair was wind-blown into riotous curls, metallic-copper. I don'tlooklike something that sits on a buttercupanymore, she thought. I look wild and dangerous andexotic. Like a model. Like a rock star. Like James. She leaned forward to examine her teeth, pokingat the canines to make them grow. Then she jerkedback, gasping. Her eyes. She hadn't realized. Oh, God, no wonderPhil had been scared. When she did that, when herteeth extended, her eyes went silvery-green, uncanny. Like the eyes of a hunting cat. All at once she was overcome by terror. She hadto cling to the sink to stay on her feet. I don't want it, I don't wantit†¦. Oh,dealwith it, girl. Stop whining. So what did you expect to look like, Shirley Temple? You're a hunter now. And your eyes go silver and blood tastes like cherry preserves. And that's all there is to it, andthe other choice was resting in peace. Sodeal. Gradually her breathing slowed. In the next few minutes something happened inside her;shediddeal.She found †¦ acceptance. It felt like something giving way in her throat and her stomach. She wasn'tweird and dreamy now, as she'd been when she hadfirst awakened in the cemetery; she could thinkdearly about her situation. And she could accept it. And I did it without running to James, she thought suddenly, startled. I don't need him to comfort meor tell me it's okay. I canmake it okay, myself. Maybe that was what happened when you faced the very worst thing in the world. She'd lost herfamily and her old life and maybe even her childhood, but she'd found herself. And that would have to do. She pulled the white dress over her head andchanged into a T-shirt and sweatpants. Then shewalked out to James, head high. He was in the bedroom, lying on a full-sized bedmade up with light brown sheets. He was still wearing his dirty clothes, and he had one arm crooked over his eyes. When Poppy came in, he stirred. â€Å"I'll go sleep on the couch,† he said. â€Å"No, you won't,† Poppy said firmly. She flopped on the bed beside him. â€Å"You're dead tired. And Iknow I'm safe with you.† James grinned without moving his arm. â€Å"Because I'm dead tired?† â€Å"Because I've always been safe with you.† Sheknew that. Even when she'd been a human and herblood must have tempted him, she'd been safe. She looked at him as he lay there, brown hair ruffled, body lax, Adidas unlaced and caked with soil.She found his elbows endearing. â€Å"Iforgot to mention something before,† she said.†I onlyrealizedI forgot when I was . . .going tosleep. I forgot to mention that I love you.† James sat up. â€Å"You only forgot to say it withwords.† Poppy felt a smile tugging at her lips. That was theamazing thing, the only purely good thing about what had happened to her. She and James had cometogether. Their relationship had changed-but it still had everything she'd valued in their old relationship.The understanding, the camaraderie. Now on top ofthat was the new excitement of discovering each other as more than best friends. And she'd found the part of him that she hadnever been able to reach before. She knew his secrets, knew him inside out. Humans could never know each other that way. They could never really get into another person's head. All the talking in theworld couldn't even prove that you and the otherperson both saw the same color red. And if she and James never merged like two dropsof water again, she would always be able to touchhis mind. A little shy, she leaned against him, resting on hisshoulder. In all the times they'd been dose, they'dnever kissed or been romantic. For now, just sitting here like this was enough, just feeling James breathe and hearing his heart and absorbing his warmth. Andhis arm around her shoulders was almosttoo much, almost too intense to bear, but at the same time it was safe and peaceful. It was like a song, one of those sweet, wrenchingsongs that makes the hair on your arms stand up.That makes you want to throw yourself on the floorand just bawl. Or fall backward and surrender to the music utterly. One ofthosesongs. James cupped her hand, brought it to his lips, andkissed the palm. I told you. You don't love somebody because of their looks or their clothes or their car. You love them becausethey sing a song that nobody but you can understand. Poppy's heart swelled until it hurt. Aloud she said, â€Å"We always understood the samesong, even when we were little.† â€Å"In the Night World there's this idea called thesoulmate principle. It says that every person has onesoulmate out there, just one. And that person is perfect for you and is your destiny. The problem beingthat almost nobody everfindstheir soulmate, just because of, distance. So most people go through theirwhole lives feeling not complete.† â€Å"I think it's the truth. Ialwaysknew you wereperfect for me.† â€Å"Not always.† â€Å"Oh, yes. Since I was five. I knew.† â€Å"I'd have known you were perfect for me-exceptthat everything I'd been taught said it was hopeless.† He cleared his throat and added, â€Å"That iswhy I wentout With Michaela and those other girls, you know.I didn't care about them. I could get dose to themwithout breaking the law.† â€Å"I know,† Poppy said. â€Å"I mean-I think I alwaysknew it was something like that, underneath.† Sheadded, â€Å"James? What am I now?† Some things shecould tell instinctively; she could feel them in herblood. But she wanted to know more, and she knewJames understood why. This was her life now. She had to learn the rules. â€Å"Well.† He settled against the headboard, head tilted back as she rested under his chin. â€Å"You're pretty much like me. Except for not being able to ageor havefamilies,made vampires are basically like thelamia.†He shifted. â€Å"Let's see. You already knowabout being able to see and hear better than humans.And you're a whiz at reading minds.† â€Å"Not everybody's mind.† â€Å"No vampire can read everybody's mind. Lots oftimes all I get is a sort of general feeling for whatpeople arethinking.The only certain way to make aconnection is to-† James opened his mouth andclicked his teeth. Poppy giggled as the sound traveled through her skull. â€Å"And how often do I haveto-?† She clicked herown teeth. â€Å"Feed.† She felt James getting serious. â€Å"Aboutonce a day on average. Otherwise you'll go into thebloodlust. You can eat human food if you want, but there's no nutrition in it. Blood is everything for us.† â€Å"And the more blood, the more power.† â€Å"Basically, yes.† â€Å"Tell me about power. Can we-well, what canwe do?† â€Å"We have more control over our bodies than humans. We can heal from almost any kind of injuryexcept from wood. Wood can hurt us, even kill us.† He snorted. â€Å"So there's one thing the movies haveright-a wooden stake through the heart will, in fact, kill a vampire. So will burning.† â€Å"Can we change into animals?† â€Å"I've never met any vampire that powerful. Buttheoretically it's possible for us, and shapeshifters andwerewolves do it all the time.† â€Å"Change into mist?† â€Å"I've never even met a shapeshifter who coulddo that.† Poppy thumped the bed with her heel. â€Å"And obviously we don't have to sleep in coffins.† â€Å"No, and we don't need native earth, either. Myself, I prefer a Sealy Posturepedic, but if you'd likesome dirt †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Poppy elbowed him. â€Å"Urn, can we cross runningwater?† â€Å"Sure. And we can walk into people's homes with out being invited, and roll in garlic if we don't mindlosing friends. Anything else?† â€Å"Yes. Tell me about the Night World.† It was herhome now. â€Å"Did I tell you about the dubs? We have clubs inevery big city. In a lot of small ones, too.†Ã¢â‚¬ What kind of dubs?† â€Å"Well, some are just dives, and some are like cafes,and some are like nightclubs, and some are likelodges-those are mostly for adults. I know one for kids that's just a big old warehouse with skate rampsbuilt in. You can hang out and skateboard. And there are poetry slams every week at the Black Iris.† Blackiris,Poppy thought. That reminded her of something. Something unpleasant †¦ What she said was, â€Å"That's a funny name.† â€Å"All the dubs are named for flowers. Black flowersare the symbols of the Night People.† He rotated hiswrist to show her his watch. An analog watch, witha black iris in the center of the face. â€Å"See?† â€Å"Yeah. You know, I noticed that black thing, but Inever really looked at it before. I think I assumed itwas Mickey Mouse.† He rapped her lightly on the nose in reproof. â€Å"Thisis serious business, kid. One of these will identify youto other Night People-even if they're as stupid as a werewolf.'I :You don't like werewolves?† â€Å"They're great if you like double-digit IQs.† â€Å"But you let them in the dubs.† â€Å"Some dubs. Night People may not marry out oftheir own kind, but they all mix:lamia,made vam pires, werewolves, both kinds of witches †¦Ã¢â‚¬ Poppy, who had been playing at intertwining theirfingers in different ways, shifted curiously. â€Å"What'sboth kinds of witches?† â€Å"Oh. . .there's the kind that know about theirheritage and have been trained, and the kind that don't. That second kind are what humans call psychics. Sometimes they just have latent powers, andsome of them aren't even psychic enough to findtheNight World, so they don't get in.† Poppy nodded. â€Å"Okay. Got it. But what if a human walks into one of those dubs?† â€Å"Nobody would let them. The dubs aren't whatyou'dcallconspicuous, and they're always guarded.† â€Å"But if they did†¦Ã¢â‚¬  James shrugged. His voice was suddenly bleak. â€Å"They'd be killed. Unless somebody wanted to pickthem up as a toy or pawn. That means a humanwho's basically brainwashed-who lives with vampires but doesn't know it because of the mind control.Sort of like a sleepwalker. I had a nanny once†¦Ã¢â‚¬ His voice trailed off, and Poppy could feel his distress. â€Å"You can tell me about it later.† She didn't wanthim ever to be hurt again. â€Å"M'm.†He sounded sleepy. Poppy settled herselfmore comfortably against him. It was amazing, considering her last experiencegoing to sleep, that she could even shut her eyes. But she could. She was with her soulmate, so whatcould go wrong? Nothing could hurt her here. Phil was having trouble shutting his eyes. Every time he did, he saw Poppy. Poppy asleep inthe casket, Poppy watching him with a hungry cat'sgaze. Poppy lifting her head from that guy's throat toshow a mouth stained as if she'd been eating berries. She wasn't human anymore. And just because he'd known all along that shewouldn't be didn't make it any easier to accept. He couldn't-he couldn't–condonejumping on people and tearing up their throats for dinner. Andhe wasn't sure that it was any better to charm people and bite them and then hypnotize them to forget it. The whole system was scary on some deeplevel. Maybe James had been righthumans justcouldn't deal with the idea that there was somebodyhigher on the food chain. They'd lost touch with their caveman ancestors, who knew what it was liketo be hunted. They thought all that primal stuff wasbehind them. Could Phillip tell them a thing or two. The bottom line was that he couldn't accept, andPoppy couldn't change. And the only thing that madeit bearable was that somehow he loved her anyway. Poppy woke in thedim, curtained bedroom the next day to find the other half of the bed empty. Shewasn't alarmed, though. Instinctively she reached out with her mind, and . . . there. James was in the kitchenette. She felt†¦ energetic. Like a puppy straining to belet loose in a field. But as soon as she walked intotheliving room, she felt that her powers were weaker. And her eyes hurt. She squinted toward the painful brightness of a window. â€Å"It's the sun,† James said. â€Å"Inhibits all vampirepowers, remember?† He went over to the windowand dosed the curtains-they were the blackout type, like the ones in the bedroom. The midafternoon sunshine was cut off. â€Å"That should help a little-butyou'd better stay inside today until it gets dark. Newvampires are more sensitive.† Poppy caught something behind his words. â€Å"You'regoing out?† â€Å"I have to.† He grimaced. â€Å"There's something I forgot my cousin Ash is supposed to show up thisweek. I've got to get my parents to head him off.† â€Å"I didn't know you had a cousin.† He winced again. â€Å"I've got lots, actually. They'reback East in a safe town-a whole town that's controlled by the Night World. Most of them are okay, but not Ash.† â€Å"What's wrong with him?† â€Å"He's crazy. Also cold-blooded, ruthless-â€Å" â€Å"You sound like Phil describing you.† â€Å"No, Ash is the real thing. The ultimate vampire.He doesn't care about anybody but himself, and heloves to make trouble.† Poppy was prepared to love all James's cousins forhis sake, but shad to agree that Ash soundeddangerous. â€Å"I wouldn't trust anyone to know about you justnow,† James said, â€Å"and Ash is out of the question. I'm going to tell my parents he can't come here,that's all.† And then what do we do? Poppy thought. She couldn't stay hidden forever. She belonged to theNight World-but the Night World wouldn't accepther. There had to be some solution-and she could onlyhope that she and James would find it. â€Å"Don't be gone too long,† she said, and he kissedher on the forehead, which was nice. As if it wasgetting to be a habit. When he was gone, she took a shower and puton dean clothes. Good old Phil-he'd slipped in herfavorite jeans. Then she made herself putter aroundthe apartment, because she didn't want to sit and think.Nobody should have to think on the day after their own funeral. The phone sat beside the square couch and mockedher. She found herself resisting the impulse to pickit up so often that her arm ached. But who could she call? Nobody. Not even Phil,because what if somebody overheard him? What ifher mother answered? No, no, don't think about Mom, you idiot. But it was too late. She was overwhelmed suddenly, by a desperate need to hear her mother's voice.Just to hear a â€Å"hello.† She knew she couldn't sayanything herself. She just needed to establish that her mom still existed. She punched the phone number in without givingherself time to think. She counted rings. One, two,three †¦ â€Å"Hello?† It was her mother's voice. And it was already over,and it wasn't enough. Poppy sat trying to breathe, with tears running down her face. She hung there,wringing the phone cord, listening to the faint buzz on the other end. Like a prisoner in court waiting to hear her sentence. â€Å"Hello? Hello.† Her mother's voice was flat andtired. Not acerbic. Prank phone calls were no big dealwhen you'd just lost your daughter. Then a click signaled disconnection. Poppy clutched the earpiece to her chest and cried, rocking slightly. At last she put it back on the cradle. Well, she wouldn't do that again. It was worse thannot being able to hear her mother at all. And it didn't help her with reality, either. It gave her a dizzy Twilight Zone feeling to think that her mom was athome, and everybody was at home, and Poppy wasn't there.Life was going on in that house, but she wasn'tpart of it anymore. She couldn't just walk in, any more than she could walk into some strange family's house. You're really a glutton for punishment, aren't you? Why don't you stop thinking about this and dosomething distracting? She was snooping through James's file cabinetwhen the apartment door opened. Because she heard the metallic jingle of a key, sheassumed it was James. But then, even before sheturned, she knew it wasn't James. It wasn't James's mind. She turned and saw a boy with ash blond hair. He was very good looking, built about like James,but a little taller, and maybe a year older. His hairwas longish. His face had a nice shape, clean-cut fea tures, and wicked slightly tilted eyes. But that wasn't why she was staring at him. He gave her a flashing smile. â€Å"I'm Ash,† he said.†Hi.† Poppy was still staring. â€Å"You were in my dream,† she said.. â€Å"You said, ‘Bad magic happens.†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ â€Å"So you're a psychic?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Your dreams come true?† â€Å"Not usually.† Poppy suddenly got hold of herself.†Listen, um, I don't know how you got in-â€Å" He jingled a key ring at her. â€Å"Aunt Maddy gaveme these. James told you to keep me out, I bet.† Poppy decided that the best defense was a goodoffense. â€Å"Now, why would he tell me that?† she said,and folded her arms over her chest. He gave her a wicked, laughing glance. His eyeslooked hazel inthislight, almost golden. â€Å"I'm bad,†he said simply. Poppy tried to plaster a look of righteous disapproval-like Phil's-on her face. It didn't work verywell. â€Å"Does James know you're here? Where is he?† â€Å"I have no idea. Aunt Maddy gave me the keysat lunch, and then she went out on some interiordecorating job. What did you dream about?† poppy just shook her head. She was trying tothink.presumably, James was wandering around in search ofhis mother right now. Once he found her he'd findout that Ash was over here, and then he'd come backfast.Which meant †¦well,Poppy supposed it meantshe should keep Ash occupied until James arrived. But how? She'd never really practiced being winsome and adorable with guys. And she was worriedabout talking too much. She might give herself awayas a new vampire. Oh, well. When in doubt, shut your eyes and jump right in. â€Å"Know any good werewolf jokes?† she said. He laughed. He had a nice laugh, and his eyes weren't hazel after all. They were gray, like James's. â€Å"You haven't told me your name yet, little dreamer,† he said. â€Å"Poppy,† Poppy said and immediately wished shehadn't. What if Mrs. Rasmussen had mentioned thatone of James's little friends called Poppy had justdied? To conceal her nervousness, she got up to dose the door. â€Å"Good lamianame,† he said. â€Å"I don't like thisyuppy thing of taking on human names, do you? I've got three sisters, and they all have regular oldfashioned names. Rowan, Kestrel, Jade. My dad would burst a blood vessel if one of them suddenlywanted to call herself ‘Susan.' â€Å" â€Å"Or ‘Maddy?' â€Å"Poppy asked, intrigued despiteherself. â€Å"Huh? It's short for Madder.† Poppy wasn't sure what madder was. A plant,she thought. â€Å"Of course I'm not saying anything against James,†Ash said, and it was perfectly dear from his voicethat he wassaying something against James. â€Å"Things are different for you guys in California. You have to mix more with humans; you have to be more careful.So ifnamingyourself after vermin makes it easier †¦ â€Å"He shrugged. â€Å"Oh, yeah, they're vermin all right,† Poppy said atrandom. She was thinking, he's playing with me. Isn't he playing with me? She had the sinking feeling that he knew everything. Agitation made her need to move. She headedfor James's stereo center. â€Å"So you like any vermin music?† she said.†Techno? Acid jazz? Trip-hop? Jungle?† She waveda vinyl record at him. â€Å"This is some serious jump-up jungle.† He blinked. â€Å"Oh, and this is great industrialnoise. And this is a real good acid house stomperwith a sort of madcore edge to it†¦.† She had him on the defensive now. Nobody couldstop Poppy when she got going like this. She widenedher eyes at him and blathered on, looking as fey asshe knew how. â€Å"And I say freestyle's coming back.Completely underground, so far, but on the rise.Now, Euro-dance,on the other hand †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Ash was sitting on the square couch, long legsstretched out in front of him. His eyes were deepblue and slightly glazed. â€Å"Sweetheart,† he said finally, â€Å"I hate to interrupt.But you and I need to talk.† Poppy was too clever to ask him what about.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦these sort of eternal void keys and troll groaningsounds that make you want to ask, ‘Is anybody outthere?' â€Å"shefinishedand then she had to breathe.Ash jumped in. â€Å"We reallyhave to talk,† he said. â€Å"Before Jamesgets back.† There was no way to evade him now. Poppy'smouth was dry. He leaned forward, his eyes a dear blue-green like tropical waters. And, yes, they really dochange color, Poppy thought. â€Å"It's not your fault,† he said. â€Å"What?† It's not yourfault. That you can't shield your mind. You'll learn how to do it, he said, andPoppy only realized halfway through that he wasn't saying it out loud. Oh. . . spit. She should have thought of that.Should have been concentrating on veiling her thoughts.She tried to do it now. â€Å"Listen, don't bother. I know that you're notlamia. You're made, and you're illegal. James hasbeen a bad boy.† Since there was no point in denying it, Poppy liftedher chin and narrowed her eyes at him. â€Å"So youknow. So what are you going to do about it?† â€Å"That depends.† â€Å"On what?† He smiled. â€Å"On you.†

Post 9/11 Intelligence Reform Impact and the Way Ahead

Final Post 9/11 Intelligence Reform Impact and the Way Ahead Daniel Ratner INTL 444 Professor Mead October 8, 2012 Introduction After 9/11, an event so shocking, and humiliating to both the American people, and the U. S. Government, vast reforms were identified to ensure that an attack of this magnitude never happened again. From the ashes of this despicable act came two major pieces of Intelligence reform. These documents were the 9/11 Commission Report and The Intelligence Reform Act and Terrorist Prevent Act of 2004 (IRTPA).Both documents worked to reform the Intelligence Community (IC), and streamline current processes to improve the sharing of intelligence information, and products. With the sweeping changes mainly through the ITPRA the Intelligence Community is well on its way to being the major muscle group we need it to be acting as a single unit as opposed to separate and individual muscles all trying to lift the same heavy weight.With the findings of the 9/11 commission, th e implementations of the IRTPA have taken long strides, but what can be done better? We will look at the two pieces of legislation, and then compare and contrast the sweeping changes, and if the are going in the correct direction. The 9/11 Commission Report In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, a group of politicians both Republican and Democrats came together to identify shortfalls and introduce a call for reform. According the report, â€Å"Our aim has not been to assign individual blame.Our aim has been to provide the fullest account of the events surrounding 9/11 and to identify lessons learned. † When we as Americans have a major event in the United States, we always look for a scapegoat, the ideas behind the 9/11 commission was built as a bi-partisan group for just this reason. The report takes the events of 9/11 and attempts to paint a picture of a major lack of understanding of the threat we face from radical Islam, as well as other disenchanted with is around the world.Th e 9/11 report goes deep into the history of the events surrounding 9/11, but really only spends about 25 pages of the 450 pages report identifying the shortcomings, and way ahead. Now while this is a macro view of the reforms needed, it does leave much to the imagination. Post 9/11 Reform As we look at the reforms recommended we see that the commission broke the recommendations into major groups, they divided them into ways to give Overall Government Reform.This is subdivided into five categories, a new Unity of Effort between Foreign and Domestic operations in an attempt to mandate primacy in different types of operations to ensure the proper agency is doing the correct job, A Unity of Effort for the Intelligence Community, Unity of Effort in Sharing Information, Unity of Effort of in the Congress, and finally how to better organizing Homeland defenses. While these are all important, the major issue was the lack of ownership and sharing of intelligence between governmental agencies .As the 9/11 commission pushed for counterterrorism reform, it also pointed to a need for intelligence reform. the IC reform was aimed at the way we collect process and disseminate intelligence. The 9/11 commission struck to identify, â€Å"whether the government is organized adequately to direct resources and build the intelligence capabilities it will need not just for countering terrorism, but for the broader range of national security challenges in the decades ahead. This viewpoint looks at the National Intelligence Agencies and strive to focus their power to be both effective, and balanced. Coupled with these factors the 9/11 commission identified six major problems, the structural barriers to performing joint intelligence work, lack of common standards and practices across the foreign-domestic divide. Divided management of national intelligence capabilities, weak capacity to set priorities and move resources, too many jobs, and too complex and secret. Structural Barriers To P erforming Joint Intelligence WorkAlong with the issues of trying to keep ahead of our enemies, we must also be able to share our information with other intelligence agencies, and our allies. As the 9/11 report shows: â€Å"National intelligence is still organized around the collection disciplines of the home agencies, not the joint mission. The importance of integrated, all-source analysis cannot be overstated. Without it, it is not possible to â€Å"connect the dots. † No one component holds all the relevant information. † While all agencies collect information, only through joint integration can we truly paint an accurate assessment of the facts.As a reference, the report cites the Goldwater Nichols legislation of 1986, in which Operations as a whole were better envisioned though joint co-operative training. It shows the strengths of these types of events and why we must incorporate more joint intelligence to be successful. Lack Of Common Standards and Practices Acro ss the Foreign-Domestic Divide This portion of the report goes on to show the issues we have in the cases of both database management and dissemination of information. In cases of information gathered both home and abroad, there are issues with integration and synchronization of this workflow.Many have cited and shown how across the IC there are multiple databases, of which there is no conduit to share information, multiple programs collecting the same data, but are not cross-matched, and in many cases redundant entries are made, and then not managed creating an abundance of information unable to be processed due to a lack of manpower. Divided Management of National Intelligence Capabilities As the IC swelled in the post World War 2 and Cold War eras, we saw the abilities of many agencies in collections dwindle and collapse.The report shoes the degradation of the CIA’s ability to collect IMINT, and SIGINT. As the NSA, NRO NGIA, and other have been created, the HUMINT, OSINT a nd other intelligence collected by the CIA has had issues being validated due to the inability to task other agencies assets. Some of these issues were solved through their acquisition of their own satellites and some reform, but again we see information that is collected by a sole agency, which is not easily shared or validated by an outside source. Weak Capacity to Set Priorities and Move ResourcesThe task organization of the IC and the way in which it is managed fell on the Director of Central Intelligence, giving the CIA free reign in many cases, and also in many cases too much ability to mismanage or squander resources. As they struggle to manage these resources, and ensure all members of the IC are covered for what they need, there was little oversight in the ability to prioritize collection efforts. Moreover, there was little though given to how to best manage , â€Å"what they collect or the way they collect it. † Too Many Jobs As of the time of the 9/11 report the DC I had three jobs.Running of the CIA, manage the other members of the IC, and head analyst for the President of the United States. Any one of these positions is a capstone to a successful career; in the days of 9/11 it fell on one person. As the report goes on to show, is the fact that, â€Å"No recent DCI has been able to do all three effectively. Usually what loses out is management of the intelligence community†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This overtasking of an individual is not only reckless, but in many cases gave too much power to the CIA. The report finds that the DCI has three major shortcomings.They find that the DCI lacks the ability to control the funds allocated to the IC, the ability to remove or replace agency heads, and the ability to set the quality control and standardization of collection efforts. Too Complex and Secret As if all the previous five findings were not enough, we also see the issue of a cumbersome and hidden group of organizations. At the time of the 9/11 report, th e IC was comprised of 15 agencies, mainly managed by a single entity. This coupled with no clear roadmap to how the groups interact, whom they report to, and how they fund operations.Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) Out of the ashes of the events of 9/11 and the reforms brought forth by the 9/11 Commission report, came the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). This legislation known as S. 2845  was introduced by Senator  Susan Collins  of  Maine. The bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2004. This legislation strove to take the 9/11 Commissions findings and implement them into law. As mentioned at the beginning of this paper, we mentioned six major problems the IC faced.Being that the IC was managed mainly based on the National Security Act of 1947, the IRTPA brought changes to the IC by taking the bad and refining the good of each item. The major change seen in the IRTPA was the crea tion of the Director of National Intelligence. As we had seen in the 9/11 report, the DCI was way too overtasked, and the need for an Intelligence Community to have a director. The Structural Barriers to Performing Joint Intelligence Work In the wake of 9/11 the Joint Intelligence Community Council.This council Chaired by the Director of National Intelligence, is comprised of all major Presidential advisors. It is chartered to â€Å"†¦assist the Director of National Intelligence in developing and implementing a joint, unified national intelligence effort to protect national security†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This council also in the matter of advising the Legislative branch, may make recommendations to improve the IC. Lack of Common Standards and Practices Across the Foreign-Domestic Divide With the creation of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) came the call for a â€Å"performance of common services. This charge stands to ensure that services previously not shared, managed, or understood are standardized. It also stands to provide a set of â€Å"standards† for the agencies to follow, and hence stay regulated. Divided Management Of National Intelligence Capabilities Under the National Security Act of 1947, the DCI was the head of the IC, but under the IRTPA, a new position was enabled. The new position Director of National Intelligence, appointed by the President of the United States. This change gave the DCI more oversight of the CIA, and gave the President a subject matter expert, one who had a single focus job.This also gives the DNI the ability to manage the tasking of national collection assets, a job not really performed before. Weak Capacity to Set Priorities and Move Resources In the case of the ability to set priorities, once again the charge goes to the DNI. He is charged to â€Å"establish objectives, priorities, and guidance for the intelligence community to ensure timely and effective collection, processing, analysis, and disseminatio n†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This charge gives the DNI the ability manage resources, requirements, conflict resolution between agencies to include the use of assets, and collection platforms.The only person the DNI must concede to the President. Too Many Jobs While we had an issue of the DCI having too many jobs before, some might say that the DNO now has too many jobs. This is a misconception, since the DNI has no intelligence agency to manage, rather he has department heads to manage that job. He instead focuses on the seamless and integrated manager of the whole gambit of intelligence. Too Complex and Secret The final goal of the IRTPA served to take the mystery and lack of oversight out of the IC. The establishment of an Inspector General to the DNI was enacted under the IRTPA.This office serves to manage ethical matters, settle complaints of favoritism, and ensure civil liberties are upheld through the actions of the IC and concurrence with National and International Laws. Other Changes Dri ven by the IRTPA The four findings recommended by the legislation are the following: (1) Long-term success in the war on terrorism demands the use of all elements of national power, including diplomacy, military action, intelligence, covert action, law enforcement, economic policy, foreign aid, public diplomacy, and homeland defense. 2) To win the war on terrorism, the United States must assign to economic and diplomatic capabilities the same strategic priority that is assigned to military capabilities. (3) The legislative and executive branches of the Government of the United States must commit to robust, long-term investments in all of the tools necessary for the foreign policy of the United States to successfully accomplish the goals of the United States. (4) The investments referred to in paragraph (3) will require increased funding to United States foreign affairs programs in general, and to priority areas as described in this title in particular.By breaking these findings out, we can better see how the IC can transform and flex the major muscle it has the ability to do. While there were pages and pages of changes, and background these four findings standout as the major players in policy reforms. Long-term Success in the War on Terrorism To be successful in the war on terror, we must utilize all possible assets and allies assets to our advantage. To do this we need to focus our efforts by sharing information, and ensuring that agencies are receiving timely and relevant updates to collected intelligence to ensure overall success.This sharing is critical to both foreign and domestic interests. Balance of Diplomatic, Economic and Military Influences The even balance of lethal, non-lethal and Humanitarian actions must be monitored and controlled. Too much use of any of these can degrade the ability of the United States and it’s ally’s effects in foreign actions. It is also important to remember that even in an attempt to show ourselves as a â⠂¬Å"hard target† we must show compassion and understanding to those less fortunate than us.This is a necessity if only because we must show the rest of the world that we are not so devoid of emotion that we can relate with their plights and ways of life. Overall Governmental Commitment to Success The war of terror is a marathon not a race. Only though the applied funding, legislative drive to ensure resources, and the executive branch push to allow success of the IC can we succeed in the war on terror. We cannot allow political infighting, election cycles, opinion polls, or other media-like reports to stop our drive for the end-state.While not always pretty, cost-effective, and popular, the needs of the IC to gather raw data must be protected. Added distractors such as political infighting in cases such as the passing, or re-authorization of the Patriot Act are great examples of the dangers the IC faces in achieving its goals. Commitment to Success and its Costs As stated abov e, this marathon is not always going to be cost-effective. Emerging technologies, payouts to sources, replacing of equipment, and other costs, not always made privy to the general public must be supported.Failure to the fund the IC can be detrimental to their success. While oversight is needed to ensure embezzlement is not a factor, the budget increases the IC requests should not be delayed or jeopardized by political adversaries, nor used as a talking point. This is currently seen in the $500 Billion defense cuts enacted by supercommittee legislations as face now. Conclusion As we see the changes made in the past 8 years since it’s inception, the IRTPA has helped the IC, but has not fixed it yet.While the DNI creation was a good thing, we do still see cases of the DNI have too much responsibility, and too much work. In some cases the added changes have brought more costs in bureaucratic startup, oversight, and staffing. While the need to separate the DCI from the rest of the agencies was important, the IRTPA has limited the CIA’s abilities an a variety of ways. Other advantages have been the information sharing of intelligence. The sharing has instituted policies and procedures as well as shared technology serves to better share information in a common platform.All things being combined, the IRTPA has been a game changer for the IC, only through reform, and through lessons learned will we strengthen and improve our practices, keeping our country safer. Bibliography 9/11 Commission. The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Report, Washington, D. C. : U. S. Government Printing Office, 2004. Andrew, Christopher. For President’s Eyes Only: Secret Intelligence and the American Presidency from Washington to Bush. New York: Harper Press. Beckner, Christian.Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations: An Analysis. http://www. hlswatch. com/sitedocs/Implementing%20the%209 11%20Commission%20Recs. pdf (accessed October 03, 2012). Congress, 108th. INTELLIGENCE REFORM AND TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2004. December 17, 2004. http://www. nctc. gov/docs/pl108_458. pdf (accessed October 03, 2012). GovTrack. us. H. R. 1 (110th): Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. August 3, 2003. http://www. govtrack. us/congress/bills/110/hr1 (accessed October 3, 2012). S. 2845 (108th): Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.December 17, 2004. http://www. govtrack. us/congress/bills/108/s2845 (accessed October 03, 2012). Jr, Richard A. Best. Intelligence Reform After Five Years: The Role of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). June 22, 2010. http://www. fas. org/sgp/crs/intel/R41295. pdf (accessed October 03, 2012). Rosenbach, Eric. Organization of the Intelligence Community. July 2009. http://belfercenter. ksg. harvard. edu/publication/19145/organization_of_the_intelligence_community. html (accessed October 03, 2012). à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ [ 1 ]. 9/11 Commission.The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Report, Washington, D. C. : U. S. Government Printing Office, 2004. , p xvi. [ 2 ]. iBid. , p. 407 [ 3 ]. iBid. , pp. 407-410 [ 4 ]. iBid. , p. 408 [ 5 ]. iBid. , p. 409 [ 6 ]. iBid. , P. 409. [ 7 ]. GovTrack. , S. 2845 (108th): Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. , Website. , Washington D. C. accessed October 3, 2012 [ 8 ]. iBid. , Sec. 1031 [ 9 ]. iBid. , Sec. 1001 (r) [ 10 ]. iBid. , Sec. 1001 (i) [ 11 ]. iBid. , Sec. 7101

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To Compare the Financial Aspirations and Dealings of Gutenberg with those of Garamond - Essay Example The new ideas that Fussel (2005) notes were not new ideas at all, but ancient ones – humanism, which was based upon classical ideals. The humanistic ideals, which includes an emphasis upon the individual, were, however, merged with the prevailing doctrine of the church, so that the church morality teachings were infused in the classical ideology, making the ideology more mature. These were not the only ideas which were broadly disseminated – other ideas which focused upon solving societal problems were also widely read in the Europe after the printing press, and, since intellectuals and scholars had access to others’ ideas, debate on these topics was made easier. This, in turn, led to intellectual ideas and debates being widely held throughout Europe (Abel, 2011). That said, according to Norman (2005), these new ideas were threatening to the church, as they often conflicted with the church’s teaching. Therefore, the church instituted greater censorship, wh ile also using the Gutenberg press as a tool to better disseminate its own information to the mass. Another important development was that businesspeople were able to afford manuscripts which helped them run their business. Before the printing press, only the richest could afford manuscripts, as these manuscripts were painstakingly made by religious clerics, therefore the production was very expensive (Abel, 2011). This led to greater economic development, and, as Dittmar (2010) notes, cities flourished because of this greater capacity for economic development. This, in turn, led to greater macroeconomic growth patterns throughout Europe, as businesspeople were better able to expand their business and individuals throughout Europe became better educated and better able to take advantage of economic growth. Therefore, Europe changed dramatically after the printing press was invented. This essay details these socioeconomic and religious changes. Discussion According to Fussel (2005), one of the ways that the Gutenberg printing press changed Europe was that it essentially enabled a merge of the classical tradition of the Greeks and the Romans with the prevailing ethos of society. Before the printing press, there was not a way to spread the message of the classical societies. After the printing press, Latin studies flourished, as did different ideas from what the church had been teaching. These ideas include the belief in the individual, and Fussel (2005) explains that the Gutenberg press allowed Europe to merge the classical ethos with the current ethos of the church. This merging was known, according to Fussel (2005) as â€Å"humanistic theology,† which refers to the merging of the classical tradition with medieval theology. Thus, the Gutenberg press allowed a re-emergence of humanism and intellectualism, yet still recognizing the teachings of the church, which was that man is fundamentally flawed and must seek grace. What essentially occurred, according to Fussel (2005) was that the Europeans took the lessons of the classical societies, the humanistic traditions, and brought it â€Å"closer to God† (Fussel, 2005, p. 73). According to Abel (2011), the merging of the classical and humanist traditions with the church teachings was not the only intellectual revolution which was enabled by the Gutenberg press – Abel (2011) states that intellectuals were able, through the Gutenberg invention, to formulate and disseminate theories which were

Comparing and Contrasting Hinduism and Bhuddism Essay Example for Free

Comparing and Contrasting Hinduism and Bhuddism Essay ​Being dedicated is what it takes for these two religions Hinduism and Buddhism. They are considered a way of life for some people. They are two of the most influential and practiced religions in the world today. Millions of people partake in these historical religions. Hinduism dates back to 1500 B.C. Buddhism developed a little while after Hinduism. They both derived in the very rooted country India. Hinduism and Bhuddism have many similarities and differences. ​Hinduism and Buddhism are very similar in many aspects. Both religions goal is to reach enlightenment. Enlightenment means wisdom. In Hinduism it is described as moksha. In Buddhism it is described as Nirvana. In both religions they try and reach this state of perfect understanding. In both religions reaching this state of perfect understanding involves reincarnation. Reincarnation is known as rebirth. It is when an individual soul is born again and again until enlightenment is achieved. These two religions may be similar when it comes to their goal but they do have many differences that make the two separate religions. ​Hinduism and Bhuddism have huge differences. Both religions’ founder and origins are different. In Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs. It is the result of cultural diffusion. Because of that Hinduism has no founder. Non-Aryan and Aryan beliefs intertwined and developed into one religion. There are thousands of gods in this engaging religion. Unlike Hinduism in Buddhism there is a founder. Interestingly Bhuddism derived from the same period as Hinduism. Bhuddism is the result of religious questioning. Siddhartha Gautman aka Buddha is the founder of Bhuddism. He went on a quest to seek religious truth and an end to religious suffering. From then on he was called the enlightened one and Bhuddism was developed out of his discoveries and philosophy. ​In conclusion, Hinduism and Bhuddism have many things they make them different and alike. Hinduism and Bhuddism are what shaped people’s beliefs and understandings in that time period. These are the two religions that developed in the Vedic age. Currently almost 1/5th of the world today practiced these two religions. They are two very respected beliefs still being applied to lives today.

Analysis of the Politics of Problem Definition

Analysis of the Politics of Problem Definition INTRODUCTION Comprehending the pros and cons of issues becoming public problems is the clue to understanding the course of action and agenda setting. In the American system there are issues such as poverty, equity, violence, substance abuse, etc. which continuously encroaches on the system but only few can be regarded as public problems and become a consideration for public agenda. Factors like expansion of participation and issue characteristics are liable for a problem to become public. The study assesses the problem definition process using a threshold model of collective behavior. This is based critically on an individual’s threshold of abstinence from the conditions across society. Expectation of the number of individuals who have already crossed the threshold or are likely to cross it influences the inclination of individuals to cross the non-acceptance threshold. To comprehend this, a theoretical framework to the sexual harassment problem and Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings has been utilized. It has been tested with factual data for statistical assessment to an array of collective behavior. THE PROCESS OF PROBLEM DEFINITION A multitude of conditions such as pollution, hunger, smoking and child abuse have plagued America through time but there has been no public disclosure to define them as problem. Therefore a divorce prevails between objective conditions and problem definitions. Citizens assess conditions at individual levels. Social influences, values, culture and norms cause an individual to have a neutral or favorable response to the existing conditions. Understanding of objective costs, benefits of a particular condition can vary in individuals and are evaluated accordingly. When the costs of tolerating the conditions become ample, an individual will cross the threshold of public non-acceptance. GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS The graphical representation of the threshold model is used to understand collective behavior. Here, p = individual’s expectation of the proportion of the population that fails to publicly oppose the condition Oi = private assessment of the condition based on the ratio of costs to benefit plus costs of the condition. The private assessment is Oi and expected social non acceptance (1-p). The heavy line represents the threshold at which individuals with different costs and expectations of social non-acceptance are precisely indifferent between publicly accepting versus non-accepting the condition. The space to the left indicates individuals publicly accepting the condition and the right expresses non-acceptance. In fig. 1 individuals who privately assess the costs of the condition move to public non-acceptance only if they have expectations that the proportion of social non-acceptance is greater. When Oi=1, proportion of (1-p) is greater than 0.40 and when Oi=0.75, proportion of (1-p) is larger than 0.50. If media educate the public about the costs and benefits of the conditions there will be changed problem definition. As individuals alter their private evaluations, the slope of the function representing the distribution of threshold, changes. In fig.2 if Oi=0.75 then (1-p) exceeds 0.30 and when Oi=0.50 expected (1-p) exceeds to 0.50 to oppose the condition. The media makes the setting more useful to changing problem definition by changing the distribution of thresholds for individuals. In fig.3 a cumulative density function of social non acceptance (the dashed line) is superimposed onto the threshold function depicted earlier. The upper horizontal axis indicates actual social non-acceptanc e after cost benefit evaluations. This diagram implies that there is wide gap between private cost-benefit assessment and public positions. The stable equilibria level indicated may alter to change in factual data made available by media, political leaders. Problem reevaluation occurs in an interspersed manner due to the swift shift from point of equilibria to another. Testing the applicability of such models is difficult because of exact data requirements aggregate data may be used to analyze to crossing of the threshold levels of non-acceptance. The importance of the feedback mechanism has also been indicated. SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AND THE CLARENCE THOMAS SUPREME COURT NOMINATION HEARING The feminist movements in the late 1970s termed the exploitation of women by men in the workplace as sexual harassment. This was emphasized by women’s groups who started to educate and garner their support. Statistics reveal that prior to the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings; sexual harassment in workplace was common in America. The Thomas nomination hearings in September and October 1991 drastically altered the political scenario on the issue of sexual harassment. Thomas, a conservative African American, a member of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was nominated as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee held eight days of hearing on the nomination. The nomination was sent to the full Senate without a recommendation. Prior to the scheduled vote, the National Public Radio broadcasted a story that spread rapidly. Anita Hill, a colleague of Thomas alleged sexual harassment against him. Intense pressure from public group s and interests culminated in the postponement schedules votes to investigate charges. Since the hearings were televised nationally, Americans became more educated and aware of the issue. The hearing ended with public opinion swaying in Thomas’ direction and he was confirmed by a narrow margin as a Supreme Court Justice. Simultaneously it was a failure of the women’s movement to remedy the issue of sexual harassment and it would be tolerated and those making the allegations failed to produce change. The focus on the issue enhanced citizen mobilization enhanced. The EEOC data showed equilibrium prior to the hearing. The increase in the number of charges filed corresponded with the timings of the hearing. It was evident that a new higher equilibrium of charges filed was attained. Thus, the cascading process denoted in fig. 3 was at work since there was inertial movement to a new equilibrium. There was no feedback prior or after the hearing. Before the hearings increased prior charges and successes resulted in fewer new charges. This suggests that negative feedback maintained the pre intervention equilibrium. After the hearings increased prior charges and successes produced new charges and successes. This suggests a cascading effect to the new equilibrium. Before the hearings and enhance media attention to sexual harassment actually produced few charges but after the hearings the effect of the media attention on new charges had a dynamic escalation. CONCLUSION This analysis has amalgamated the individual evaluation of costs and benefits with data and social forces resulting in a dynamic change in collective behavior which is best illustrated by using threshold model of collective behavior and distribution of individuals’ thresholds of non-acceptance on the conditions in society. The application of this was explained through the Thomas Supreme Court Nomination hearings. Focus of media and public resulted in more charges, more successes and increase of media attention. Thus in conclusion it can be said that is there is a pre-existing condition that many find privately costly, with widespread public acceptance, the system is ready for a metamorphosis. Since there is a multitude of such conditions prevalent in America at one time and disturbances are likely to occur and changes in the American political system will be present always. Reference Dan Wood, B., Doan, A. (2003). The politics of problem definition: applying and testing threshold models.American Journal of Political Science,47(4), 640-653.

Examples of Good Globalization

Examples of Good Globalization When attempting to come up with a good example of globalisation, the first things that come to mind are McDonalds and children from third world countries wearing USA t-shirts. Anthony Giddens mentions in his book Runaway World how a friend of his was doing field studies in a village in central Africa. She was invited to a local home to enjoy an evening she thought would be culturally informing; however, the families entertainment turned out to be a viewing of the American movie Basic Instinct, and the movie hadnt even been released in London yet (Giddens 2002). This is merely one of many examples that go to show how the world we live in is undergoing a drastic transformation that is impossible for anyone to ignore. Whether it is noticeable or not, globalisation is affecting every person on earth, in every aspect of our lives and in everything we do. Most skeptics and radicals look at the economic side of globalisation and toss the other aspects of globalisation to the side. Globalisation is technological, political, and cultural, just as much as it is economic. It is modifying and influencing, but not destroying, cultural identities across the globe. No matter what country comes to mind, almost all have a word in their own native language for globalisation. This global trend is impossible to miss, from curry and chips-recently voted the favourite dish in Britain-to Thai saunas, Zen Catholicism or Judaism, Nigerian Kung Fu, or Bollywood films, made in Bombay-Mumbai and mixing Indian traditions of song and dance with the conventions of Hollywood (Burke 2009). This is not to say that we are undergoing global hybridisation or falling to transnationalisation, but rather, that the cultural blending happening all around the globe is helping us gain knowledge of the world through the many means of communication out there. Also, globalisation is not diminishing cultural identities, but rather, it is heightening an individual cultures sense of self. Many believe a World Order is indeed falling upon us, some being for it and some against, but if we were to undergo the transition to a single World/Government Order, we would lose all sense of culture identities and individualism. If we had a global state, what would prevent the leaders of this new order from dictating a world of secularization? Who would want to be forced to be in a World Order where everything is dictated and all are forced to more or less become a puppet to one world government? Whether it is seen as a World Order, a global society, or a world system, its presence is unnecessary in todays world. Emile Durkheim, a sociologist not opposed to World Order and solidarity, states that, any society is motivated by its need to normatize the event of its togetherness by constructing and adhering to common symbols, beliefs, and practices. Those common symbols, beliefs, and practices do not exist, therefore, simply for the sake of their intrinsic value, truth, or logic. In other words, they have no intrinsic essence (Bamyeh 2000). In saying that the societies and cultures in todays world lack intrinsic essence in their beliefs, traditions, and practices, Durkheim is underlying that these societies have no innate feelings for their own cultural identities, and that these identities have been formed out of the necessity to bring people together to form a society. If Durkheim were to simply take into account all the religious and cultural turmoil going on, she would see that a cultures beliefs, symbols, and practices do hold intrinsic essence to the people within. A largely discussed topic pertaining to globalisation revolves around Benjamin Barbers thesis, distinguishing the differences between the forces of McWorld and Jihad. These are two general attitudes in regards to globalisation. McWorld represents global mass culture and the unification by consumerism and transnationalism. Jihad, on the other hand, represents the deterioration of local traditions and histories due to globalisation (Cowen 2002). My idea of how globalisation is shaping the world and cultural identities is a mix of the two. Yes, mass cultural communication is unifying the world is every aspect of our lives, but it is not deteriorating local traditions and histories, nor are the worlds cultures subject to transnationalisation. Globalisation is, if anything, allowing individual cultures to expand their knowledge of other cultures and allowing them to use and share products, ideas, and customs of other cultures in unison with their own cultures. The blending of nations and cultures is going on as we speak. It is at our fingertips every day with global communications and the Internet. These forms of communication due to globalisation are how we can be enriched by other cultures and share what we have to offer, but the main difference is our choice to choose what we want to study, admire and aspire to be more like or what cultures we want to melt into our own. Without falling to the grips of a single World Order or system, and without cultures falling to transnationalism, it is possible for globalisation to continue throughout the world, as we know it. As Bamyeh (2000) proposes, the process of globalisation is beginning to create a common knowledge system, which is being communicated across the entire globe. This common knowledge system is being communicated by means of: international media, through films and music; mass travel, through students studying abroad and backpackers trekking across nations; and the Internet, through Facebook, blogs and chats, and international News websites. All of these forms of communication have aided in the widespread knowledge of the worlds cultures, making way for the adoption of international influences on a freedom-of-choice level (McQuail 2002). Communication is what enhances feelings of togetherness in societies and cultures. It is what essentially started the formation of societies and individual cultural profiles. With the improvement of technological communication over the past few decades, communities that have been isolated from each other have been able to exchange cultural elements of interest between one another (for example, the Basic Instinct movie in the central African village mentioned in the introduction) (Bamyeh 2000). When looking at the overall effects the mass media has had on globalisation, the Western nations control most of the symbolic and cultural aspects of cross-cultural communications through their media products. Though foreign troops may not be deployed, and a foreign government established, the presence of the empire is felt in the everyday presence of Western media products (Macgregor Wise 2008). In this sense, Macgregor Wise is almost saying that the globalisation of Americas media is giving all other countries defensive feelings towards America, and that it poses as a major cultural threat. However, when looking at world music, literature, and visual arts, it is clearly apparent that cultures have benefited from these communal aspects of globalisation, and that America is clearly not a global threat to cultures. These means of mass media have provided a diverse menu of choice for cultures in developing their own cultural identities (Cowen 2002). In developing or maintaining cultura l identities during the processes of globalisation, countries have developed their own unique ways in staying true to their individual identities. This goes to show that the beliefs and practices a culture maintains do indeed have intrinsic essence, as stated earlier, and that a culture can maintain its identity while also absorbing what it freely chooses from other cultures. The worlds wide variety of media products and how countries incorporate them into their own culture is a perfect example of cultures absorbing other cultures while maintaining their own. Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, name the country, and they probably import Western media. Many believe that all the importation from the Wests media markets is leading to Americanisation, but when taking a closer look, it is apparent that these importing cultures put just as much if not more emphasis on their own markets than they do the Western markets. Canada, for instance, subsidizes their own domestic cinema and mandates domestic musical content for a percentage of radio time. Likewise, the French spend billions of dollars a year on cultural matters, aiding in the nourishing and successes of their French culture (Cowen 2002). The fear of Hollywood devouring the markets of other countries is being countered innately by the individual countries themselves. Granted, many of the movies played in international cinemas, in France and Italy for instance, are Hollywood films. The main cultural aspect behind this is that the movies are translated into the countries own native language. This is proof that countries can uphold their own cultural aspects while absorbing those of others. When discussing movies with an Italian and a French friend, we found ourselves talking about the movie titles. The movie Home Alone (1990) to Italians is called Mamma Ho Perso Laereo (which translates to Mom I Missed My Flight). The movie A Man For All Seasons (1967) in France is called Un Homme Pour Là ©ternità ©, which translates to a man for eternity. These small changes to Western media products are only a few examples as to how countries can still maintain a cultural identity. Just because the Western culture is widely disperse d throughout the world does not mean countries are falling to Americanisation, let alone Globalisation. There are always steps being taken by countries and cultures in maintaining their own identity. Many critics of the globalisation ideology refute with the fact that many cultures in the world today have already fallen to the processes of globalisation, namely homogenisation. American Indian communities, for example, have been overshadowed by the entirety of the United States, and these contemporary critics believe these communities are on the verge of homogenization (Lewellen 2002). However, as Cowen stated it best, once these individuals [e.g. the American Indian communities] have been brought into a common pool with well-developed means of communication, however, they sort themselves into more finely grained and more diverse groups (Cowen 2002). With an outlook like this, one can see that, even with the effects of globalisation, communities still find ways to diversify themselves from other closely sectored communities. If a culture is amongst the grips of globalisation, the effects are counter-acted by popular press, interest groups, and social movements who devout great dea ls of attention to these cultural dilemmas. It is the threat of the loss of traditional identities that trigger cultures to look inwards at their own identities. This healthy narcissism that results from the fear of globalisation is what keeps cultural identities alive in the world we live in today (Burke 2009). When cultures begin to look inwards is when they begin to value greatly the differences between their own cultural identities and those of others. A culture thought to be on the brink of distinction isnt on the brink at all. The attention drawn to a troubled culture allows that culture to prevail, and in the process the knowledge and traditions of that troubled culture become known to the public. The world would know very little about, for example, American Indians, or dying languages such as Welsh, Basque, and Yiddish, if it wasnt for the troubles these heritages faced (Cowen 2000). Globalisation isnt simply Black and White, McWorld and Jihad, homogenization or heterogenisation. There is and always will be an in-between area, which is where the world is at now and where I feel it best belongs. With the process of globalisation, there will always be the countering effect. By resting in the middle, through mass communication, people have been able to gain knowledge of other cultures they would have never dreamed of knowing about. The diverse cuisine menus, musical genres, film categories, and traveling opportunities have all made way for the world to gain knowledge of different cultural traditions. The world, as we know it, thrives off of the cultures that cherish and preserve their cultural identities. A world culture which is simply a uniform culture would be no culture at all. We should have a humanity de-humanised. It would be a nightmare (Murali 2010). Why would the world fall completely to globalisation or a World Order when what it thrives on would simply b e destroyed in the process? The absorption of cultural knowledge and traditions through the wide variety of mass communication available to us today truly heightens a cultures sense of self, innately countering globalisation and allowing cultures to continually prevail.

Coherence and Epistemic Rationality :: Mathematics Science Theories Papers

Coherence and Epistemic Rationality This paper addresses the question of whether probabilistic coherence is a requirement of rationality. The concept of probabilistic coherence is examined and compared with the familiar notion of consistency for simple beliefs. Several reasons are given for thinking rationality does not require coherence. Finally, it is argued that incoherence does not necessarily involve fallacious reasoning. Most work in epistemology treats epistemic attitudes as bivalent. It is assumed that a person either believes that there is an apple on the table, or that there is not, and that such beliefs must be either warranted or unwarranted. However, a little reflection suggests that it is reasonable to have degrees of confidence in a proposition when the available evidence is not conclusive. The rationality of such judgments, formed in response to evidence, will be my concern here. Degrees of confidence have mainly been discussed by Bayesians as part of a general theory of rational belief and decision. Bayesians claim that rational degrees of confidence satisfy the standard Kolmogorov axioms of probability: 1. Pr(A) = 0 2. If A is a tautology, then Pr(A) =1 3. If A and B are mutually exclusive, then Pr(A v B) = Pr (A) + Pr(B). It should be observed that people do not generally assign point values to propositions, which is required if their degrees of confidence are to conform to the axioms. Moreover, it is doubtful that an assignment of point values to propositions is usually reasonable, since it seems that our evidence rarely justifies such precision. Such vague degrees of confidence can be treated somewhat more realistically, as interval valued, by associating them with sets of probability functions. For simplicity, I will take degrees of belief here as point valued in my discussion here. The claim that degrees of confidence should satisfy the probability axioms is most often defended by appealing to the so-called Dutch Book argument, which was first presented by Ramsey in his famous paper "Truth and Probability". The idea is that degrees of belief that do not satisfy the probability axioms (commonly termed incoherent) are associated with betting quotients that can be exploited by a clever bookie to produce a sure loss. Ramsey held that an agent's degrees of belief can be measured roughly by the bets that she is willing to accept. If they are incoherent, there will be a series of bets, each of which she will be willing to accept, but which are certain to result in a net loss for her.

Graduation Speech: We Are Not Alone :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Good morning to all of you. I am glad to be here with you, sharing this important and celebratory time. We have all accomplished a great deal and it's sometimes hard to believe it is coming to an end. There are so many stories that all of us have to tell about our time at County High. I would like to share some of my experience from the last few years. That first morning, I walked to County High in the cool September air. I remember looking up at the moon, a pale sliver, lemon-edged and sharp. I remember trying to empty myself of my nervousness, getting ready to be in a room full of strangers. I remember that County High was freezing that morning. I was completely intimidated. Why had I come to school? Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had no specific goal. I vaguely wanted to finish my degree, but I was never sure if I had what it took to be in college. I look around now, at all of us together, and I think, how did we get here? What was the texture, the character, of the intervening years? Some of it will be a series of pictures: I see the long hallways with the lights reflecting off the floors. I see the new buildings rising up, steel and stone, with the workers tethered on the rooftops. I see the wetland, mud and green and baby trees. But what I see the most are the faces. In the classrooms, the instructors looking at us, engaging with us. The smiles of people in the hallways. I see the faces of the people who have looked at me and seen me. I remember, two years ago, feeling invisible. This was fine with me. It provided a comfort, maybe of not having to be responsible. I was accountable only to myself both in the classroom and out. Surrendering that invisibility has been a crucial part of my education at Neda. I realized that I couldn't do it alone. I realized that I didn't want to do it alone. I was helped through, pulled through sometimes, by people who cared for me and who were willing to give of themselves. This extends to the numerous faculty members I've encountered throughout my time here and to you, who have walked beside me. Having accountability to those I am in community with has made the difference for me.

Stabilization Policy

| Stabilization Policy| ECO311E| | Glen Edwards 201102728| | | Contents Introduction3 What is Stabilization Policy? 3 Keynesian vs. Classical4 Stabilization in South Africa5 Conclusion5 Reference list6 Introduction In an era where growth and stability in the economy are at the forefront of economic discussions, the economic policies and principles that are utilized in keeping with a stable economy must be taken very seriously. The way in which the governments of the world manage their income and expenditure is therefore of the utmost importance. The task of managing money is what stabilization policies are in a nutshell.The two schools of thought, Classical and Keynesian, view these stabilization policies differently and the author will attempt to discern whether or not either of them view stabilization policy as worthwhile. Additionally the author will analyze the stabilization policy efforts within the South African economy in recent years. What is Stabilization Policy? â€Å"Stab ilization policy is the attempt to reduce fluctuations in income, employment and the price level, stabilizing national income at its full-employment level, if possible. † (Lipsey, 1993:659). This can be done through a governments fiscal or monetary policy, or both.As the author understands it, fiscal policy refer to those policies of the government that affect the tax rates, interest rates and expenditure, all used and controlled in an effort to control the economy. Simply put, a reduction in tax rates and/or an increase in government purchases (expansionary fiscal policy) causes the government's budget deficit to increase, or its budget surplus to decrease, while conversely, a  decrease  in government expenditures and/or an  increase  in taxes (Contractionary fiscal policy) will cause the government's budget deficit to decrease, or its budget surplus to increase. Stabilization Policies, 2000) â€Å"Monetary Policy is the deliberate control of the money supply for the purpose of achieving macroeconomic goals which are full employment, price stability, and steady economic growth. † (Gregory, 2011:149). From the authors knowledge, a change (increase or decrease) in the money supply has a opposite effect on interest rates, and this has an impact on the amount of investment spending. Therefore utilizing either (or both) fiscal and monetary policy may help a government stabilize the economy in times of turmoil and uncertainty.The different stages of growth or recession throughout the years is commonly referred to as the business cycle. The business cycle is, according to Roux (2002:25), comprised of four elements: a trough, and expansion (called a boom), a peak and a downswing (called a recession). A stabilization policy could therefore be used to combat the foreseeable trends that the business cycle seems to follow, although the two schools of thought differ in the way in which they believe these trends arise. Keynesian vs. ClassicalWhen compa ring and contrasting the views of both the Keynesian and Classical economists when it comes to the business cycle, it becomes clear that the way in which these schools of thought differ on this topic is crucial to understanding their stance towards stabilization policy. The main difference in their views of the business cycle are the ways in which the trends and stages in the business cycle come about. Mohr and Fourie (2008:512) support this by stating that classical economists attribute the fluctuations in the business cycle to exogenous factors, while Keynesians believe the business cycle to be an endogenous phenomenon.From the above sentence, it becomes apparent to the author that Keynesians would be strong advocates of stabilization policies in the economy as this would enable them to use it in reducing the negative effects that arise out of said endogenous phenomenon. This being said, the government can simply not know enough, soon enough. As a result the problem of policy lags arises. Policy lags are defined as â€Å"Time lags that occur between the onset of an economic problem and the full impact of the policy intended to correct the problem. † (Policy Lags, 2000).With this in mind, the author concludes that while strong advocates of stabilization policy, Keynesians would prefer moderate and general practice in this regard, rather than a constantly changing policy as this comes with many shortfalls, policy lags being one. Classical economists on the other hand would see few, if any, benefits from implementing a stabilization policy, this is supported by Economics USA (2013) that states â€Å"Classical and neo-classical economists believe that there is little the government can do to reduce unemployment and increase GDP/GNP growth, especially in the long run.They maintain that in the long run, fiscal stimulus raises interest rates and monetary stimulus raises prices without affecting real growth. † From this the author can deduce that it bo ils down to the question of government intervention, where classical economists believe little or no intervention is needed, and Keynesians believing the contrary. Stabilization in South Africa â€Å"The South African economy has experienced remarkable stabilisation in the course of the last decade, and since 1999 the economy has been expanding in what is now by far the longest business cycle expansion in the country’s history. (Du Plessis , Smit & Sturzenegger. 2007:5). Leading up to the 1994 elections, many economists were concerned with the sustainability of South African fiscal policy. This had a lot to do with the amount of government debt. â€Å"Government debt was rising fast, and the associated interest burden had risen to more than 5% of GDP. â€Å"(Du Plessis et al. 2007:6). Stability thereafter was a priority, not only in prices but in the economy as a whole.This notion of stability can also be seen in the most recent budget speech of finance minister Pravin Gor dan where fiscal sustainability is again cited as a priority, especially the role of taxation. â€Å"A review will be initiated this year of our tax policy framework and its role in supporting the objectives of inclusive growth, employment, development and fiscal sustainability† (Gordan, 2013). This makes clear to the author that although growth is top priority, unregulated growth is not and that the government still has a role to play in maintaining the sustainability of prices and growth in the country.Government legislature can be crediting in the strengthening and stabilizing of the economy, as Du Plessis et al (2007:7) state : â€Å"An important milestone of fiscal reform was the Public Finance Management Act of 1999, which legislated the need for regular financial reporting, sound expenditure controls and a strengthened system of supervision and audit. † In the authors opinion, although the government has not the part of the government in monitoring and encouragi ng sound fiscal principles. ConclusionIt becomes clear that stabilization policy is worthwhile from the Keynesian point of view, where government intervention is encouraged and seen as part of a healthy and prosperous economy. The author supports these views as he believes that the stabilization policies have helped, either directly or indirectly, in the preservation and stability of the South African economy, as well as many other emerging economies. This is largely, but not limited to, due to the government's ability to influence the budget deficit through taxation and its expenditure and its control of the country's fiscal policy.Reference list Du Plessis, S. , Smit, B. , & Sturzenegger, F. 2007. THE CYCLICALITY OF MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICY IN SOUTH AFRICA SINCE 1994. July 2007 Economics USA. 2013. Stabilization Policy. [Online]. Available: http://www. learner. org/series/econusa/unit26/ [2013, April 10] Gordan, P. 2013 . (2013, February). Budget Speech 2013. Speech presented at Parliament, Pretoria, Gauteng. Gregory, P. R. 2004. Essentials of Economics. 6th ed. Prentice Hall: London Mohr, P. & Fourie, L. 008. Economics for South African students. 4th ed. Van Schaik: Pretoria Lipsey, R. G. 1993. An Introduction to Positive Economics. 7th ed. Oxford University Press: New York Policy Lags. 2000. [Online]. Available: http://www. amosweb. com/cgi-bin/awb_nav. pl [2013, April 10] Roux, A. 2002. Everyone's guide to the South African Economy. 7th ed. Zebra Press: Cape Town Stabilization Policies. 2000. [Online]. Available: http://www. amosweb. com/cgi-bin/awb_nav. pl? s=wpd;c=dsp;k=stabi