The events that led to the Great War Essay Example

The events that led to the Great War Essay The First World War which is alternatively known by many names such as the World War 1, the Great War, the Global War, and / or, the War to End All Wars, took place   between 1914- 1918 in Europe. It is estimated that over 40 million people died including both   civilians and the military service. The full throttle of the war is exhibited by the fact that in Europe alone, over 60,000 soldiers were deployed to fight in the war. The cause of this war is explained by the historians as touching on economic and military rivalry between Germany and Britain. It held by the same group that the German economy was growing in leaps and bounds so that it was overtaking the British. This translated into military competition which saw rivalry in the construction and the manufacturing of the powerful naval military ships known then as the Droughnut. However, the war was catapulted into actuality with the Sarajevo Assassination on June 28th   1914, which delivered the death of the Austria Hungarian Archduke, and heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand. The action had been carried out by a Serbian student. This incidence was then followed by series of reactions in the form of alliances, only to culminate into the World War one. Austria Hungarian government consequently set a set of demands that were to be fulfilled by Serb, two of them being that the Serbian government was to hand over the culprits to Austria Hungary, and that Serbia was to open up her borders to Austria Hungary police to carry out inspections. Failure to observe these elicited a declaration of war against   Serbia on 28th July.   In return, Russia threatened carrying out war against Austria Hungry, should the latter attack Serbia. The affair took a sudden twist when Germany declared war on Russia on condition that Russia attacks Austria Hungary (Ramarque, pp.23 0). The Entente powers (the France and the Britain) also declared war on Germany, and Austria Hungary- an affair which was concluded by the declaration of war on Russia and the Entente forces. This led to the collapse of diplomatic communication and relations in Europe which is always a catalyst two war. We will write a custom essay sample on The events that led to the Great War specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The events that led to the Great War specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The events that led to the Great War specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Events that made America join the Great War. There are various developments which compelled President Woodrow Wilson who had taken a neutral stand on the war,   to consider joining the war in 1917. Mos t of these factors were raised by the emerging German bullying stance towards the US and other countries. For instance, Germany had extended an olive branch to Mexico, promising to restore the land that Mexicans lost to the US in the Mexican American war, but only on condition that Mexico would fight on the side of the Germans against the Allies. Germanys quest for victory in the war also seemed to interfere with economic interests of the US. For instance, America had been supplying arms to Britain in the course of the war. Germany attempted to curtail these series of activities so as to weaken Britain by closing the supply routes and exchange points. To this end, the Germany army killed many Americans by sinking the Tuscania and the Lusitania. America did not take this very kindly (Ward, pp.34). In addition to the above developments, courtesy of the bullying tactics, Germans had taken to attacking even countries that had embraced neutrality towards the war. Germany attacked Bulgaria which was very neutral for instance. There was no surety on the side of Woodrow Wilson that through neutrality, America was therefore automatically insulated from German attacks. Germans attacks were so severe in the sense that German was the first to use poison gas. German victory also did not seem to carry the prospects that augured well with the American economy. This is because, upon defeat,the Allies (Britain, France and Russia) would suffer financial challenges and imposed responsibility by Germany. America on the other hand had something at stake in this, by the virtue that   she had lent financial assistance to countries like Britain. Paying back the money would be difficult for Britain if she lost the war. Why America hesitated joining the Great War. America took too long to enter the war seemingly because it was a conglomeration of many nations and races. This is because, even before the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, there were other people who inhabited the land. Most of these people included   the Amerindians. More people began to settle in America from Britannia Island and other parts of Europe. The activities of slave trade also sealed the multiraciality of America as she became populated by the black race. This made it hard for America to take sides against or for other nations since   she was a nation of many nations. It is also held by historians that America considered the prospects of the war as profitable given the fact that Britain and her allies were obtaining arms from America. More reluctance on the side of the US according to the historians, must have been also facilitated by self delusion that by taking a neutral stand, America was bound to lose nothing. As the war proceeded, America was to be surprised into action by the economic and political hemorrhage she was suffering. Factors that led to the high death rates in the War. The casualties in the World War One were statistically and alarmingly high due to the fact that the weapons that were used, unlike those that had been used before, were more technologically sophisticated. For instance, the Germans had already came up with M1913 bombs , the discus bomb and the M1913 dark powdered baller kugel grenade which were all detonated by mere friction. There was also the rifle grenade which was used by both sides. Poison gas were used in the war, having the capacity to kill the victim who merely inhales it. For instance, the Germans used the Chlorine gas which worked against the victim, by attacking the lungs and consequently leaving the victim dead in his own bodily manufactured fluids. The French also invented and used the Phosgene gas. Action rifles with the ability to fire more than 10 rounds/ min. were also used. Some of these were the German 7.92 mm. Gennehr and 98 Mauser rifles which had a lot of accuracy and speed. The Germans were also the first ones to use the snipers in the battle. The maxim gun was also used in the battle for more effectiveness. Starting from 1916, tanks began to be used in the war. In addition to all these, zeppelins were also used to drop bombs while submarines were also used to capsize the enemy ships.   All these, combined with the use of electricity and fire throwers, really caused a lot of unprecedented numbers of deaths, harm and extensive damage of capital (Frank, pp. 77). World War 1 Elements that promoted World War 2. The Worlds War One promoted the World War Two in the sense that it had sparked the need for the stocking of weapons for future display of political and military strength. The more lethal the weapons were, the better it would be for the possessor. In a nutshell, the world war one placed an insatiable thirst for military power. In between the First and the Second World War, there was secret manufacturing of weapons and proliferation of military formulas. This fact is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the World War Two was fought with more advanced weaponry, though they were the same. For instance, the US sunk the Japanese war ships using the sub marines. In addition to this, gun fires and the airfield firing were used- but at an advanced level. The First World War was also fought on issues that were serious such as the military race. Yet, after the conclusion of the Great War, the were no international efforts to deal with weapons and global safety. The League of Nations and president Woodrow Wilsons 14 Points were noble attempts at global peace but these lacked stringent instruments of coercion , and thus leaving loopholes for further manufacturing of weapons. During World War One, America did not appear to have the atomic bomb it used to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki since it never used them. Even the tactics that were used to lure or provoke other nations into war in the Great War are the same ones that were used in the Second World War. The Nazi Germany had again provoked the US through cartoons, and by declaring war on US. Japan also attacked China that was neutral, with a high population also being US citizens. Competitive interests were real in the sense that japan and America were both interested in the Pacific (Lesaffer, pp. 400). Factors that led to the collapse of the Post World War 1 Institutions. The institutions of the World War One failed because of the financial constraints that existed in the US ( and other parts of the world), otherwise known as the Great Depression. This is chiefly because the the First World War had huge financial impacts on the US. For instance, the loans worth 22 billion dollars   that were given to the Allies before and during World War 1, was never returned due to the fact that the Allies were also under financial distress. America also involved herself in the war during and after 1917, thereby making the mistake of shifting attention to the manufacturing of the military weapons. In some instances, some factories were transformed from the manufacturing of consumable products to the manufacturing of weapons. After the war was over, there were cases of very high demand for consumables, compared to their distribution. Financial institutions fell after the war because, in order to reverse the financial distress, these institutions gave out high risks loans to the farmers, business men and to the soldiers who had returned from the war. Most of these loans were never recovered, and thus exposing the institutions to bankruptcy. The matters were made worse by the nation wide drought which mostly affected the Mid West farmer. Given that the drought was so severe, the farmers were left with no crops to sell, against debts to pay (the loans). The drought also caused more financial constraints stemming from dearth in food supply. The US government also tried to reverse the situation around by instituting high tariffs to protect businesses. However, the US multinational corporations that specialized in foreign trade were left to suffer more setbacks at the hands of high tariffs. In the same wavelength, Some of these financial firms such as banks and cooperatives were not insured against bad debts- an issue that was further aggravated by the fact that the majority of these loans were not paid back (Ungvary, pp.450). The dangers of Allied Reparations against Germans. The German Reparation Program was carried out in the Inter war period, facilitated by   conferences such as the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, and were branded the Economic Consequences for Peace. The danger of the Allied Reparation against Germany was that it could lead Germany into a massive case of economic doldrums. This is because, the program was too laborious in a financial sense, given the fact that it was to be fulfilled by Germany in three phases, also known as the bonds. The Bond A meant Germany making the restitution for the direct damages that had been caused in the course of the war. Bond B was supposed to facilitate the issuance of financial provision to the allies, while Bond C was to ensure that Germany facilitated rigorously, the economic recovery of the states she considered enemies (Stabler, pp. 200). The glaring fact of this undertaking being so dangerous is seen in the fact that the Allies came up with the Sovereign Debt Theory to ensure that Germany paid in full for the reparations. Otherwise, this concept allowed the imposition of sanctions and embargoes against Germany if she defaulted payment. Therefore, the dangers that the Allied Reparation policy posed against Germany included, the high likelihood that since this bill was too high for Germany, it would therefore cause Germany to undergo economic depression, political instabilities, hunger and the return of militarism. Others who looked into this matter with a cool head saw in this, an artifice to debilitate Germany both economically and militarily. This was especially true by the fact that among the Reparation orders, Inspection orders were also included to monitor the, manufacturing of arms in Germany. To this end, Germany was susceptible to loosing some geographical territories which were very rich in minerals, such as the Alsace Loraine. It is an obvious case that a country with a plummeted territory and inundated budget will definitely be very weak. Another fear a part from the two, was that Germany in defiance to these draconian measures, would resort to another war. However, it is true to state that the overall go al in this affair was to contain the strength of Germany. Realization of the fears of the Reparations. Fears were realized about Germany losing some political and military weight. For instance, Germany had her Ruhr District occupied by Belgium and France, upon having defaulted the payment in 1922. However, this was more temporal than permanent. Therefore, there is lucidity in saying that these fears were realized but not in full. This was because Germany also had immense economics knowledge which was displayed when she chose to disperse these burdens by making credit payment. On the other hand however, Germany experienced internecine communist insurrections, thus, threatening its political cohesion. Albeit, it seems as if the Allies were not so successful in exterminating their fears by trying to debilitate Germany since Germany sill had the military might which it displayed well by being the antagonist to America in the course of Word War Two. Failures of Wilsons Fourteen point. The Fourteen Points were crafted by Woodrow Wilson and delivered in speech to a United States congress joint session on January 8th 1918, with a dominant aim of ensuring that the war in Europe was   fought with a just cause. Although Europe welcomed the Fourteen Points, Woodrows Allied colleagues such as Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Orlando held reservations towards the proposition, citing some loopholes. For instance, Wilsons Freedom of the seas was not going to auger well with many nations given the fact that the World War One was sill in progress. Even after the conclusion of the Great War, there was still acrimony among nations which was evident in some nations wanting to cut down the powers of other nations that were considered as being too strong. It is to this end teat instead of the adoption of the Freedom of the sea concept, nations resorted to the Reparation policies as a way of diffusing diplomatic tension. The concept of the Freedom of the seas, although crafted and proposed out of good will, yet portrayed pitfalls since at that time (1918), any nation that would adapt it, would be very vulnerable to external attacks via the sea. The concept of Free trade also does not auger well with the Least Developed Countries (the LDCs) since it facilitates the global transfer of capital from one country to the other through the open or free market. This leaves the LDCs who are less developed shortchanged since the LDCs compete with the developed economies who due to industrialization, have much superior products. These superior products invade and flood the markets of the LDCs making the products of the LDCs lack market. Consequently this frustrates the industrialization process of the LDCs. However, the Fourteen Points also did well since it catalyzed the conclusion of the Great War when the German imperial, Maximilian of baden in 1918 came across the Fourteen Points and decided to call off the war. It is also out of the Fourteen Points that the League of Nations was formed as the United Nation in embryo. Propositions such as Freedom of the seas and equality of trade have brought about foreign trade, while the concept of open mindedness have also promoted democracy.

Weighing the Aggravating and Mitigating Factors

Weighing the Aggravating and Mitigating Factors When deciding the sentencing for a defendant who has been found guilty, jurors and the judge in most states are asked to weigh the aggravating and mitigating circumstances of the case. The weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors is most often used in connection with the penalty phase of capital murder cases, when the jury is deciding the life or death of the defendant, but the same principle applies to many different cases, such as driving under the influence cases. Aggravating Factors Aggravating factors are any relevant circumstances, supported by the evidence presented during the trial, that makes the harshest penalty appropriate, in the judgment of the jurors or judge. Mitigating Factors Mitigating factors are any evidence presented regarding the defendants character or the circumstances of the crime, which would cause a juror or judge to vote for a lesser sentence. The Weighing of Aggravating and Mitigating Factors Each state has its own laws regarding how jurors are instructed to weigh aggravating and mitigating circumstances. In California, for example, these are the aggravating and mitigating factors a jury can consider: The circumstances of the crime and the existence of special circumstances. Example: A jury might consider the special circumstances of a defendant that was charged with driving while intoxicated on the day that he received divorce papers and was fired from a company where he had been employed for 25 years and he had no previous criminal record. The presence or absence of violent criminal activity by the defendant. Example: The defendant broke into a home and the family inside the home woke up. The teenager in the family attacked the defendant, and instead of attacking back the defendant calmed the teen down and led him to his parents for reassurance, and then he left their home. The presence or absence of any prior felony convictions. Example: A defendant found guilty of shoplifting an expensive television might be given a lesser sentence if he had no criminal record. Whether the crime was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disorder. Example: A woman was found guilty of assault after attacking a stranger, however, it was discovered that she was on new medication for depression which had a possible side effect of patients exhibiting unexplained and unprovoked violent behavior. Whether the victim was a participant in the defendants homicidal conduct or consented to the killing. Example: The victim hired the defendant to blow up his house for the insurance premiums, but he failed to leave the house at the time the two agreed on. When the bomb exploded the victim was inside the house, resulting in his death.   Whether the crime was committed under circumstances which the defendant reasonably believed to be a moral justification or extenuation for his conduct. Example: A defendant guilty of stealing a specific drug from a drugstore, but could prove that he did it because he needed it to save his childs life and could not afford to buy the medicine. Whether the defendant acted under extreme duress or under the substantial domination of another person. Example: A woman found guilty of child abuse suffered years of extreme abuse from her dominating husband and did not immediately report him for abusing their child. Whether at the time of the crime the capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was impaired as a result of mental disease or defect, or the affects of intoxication. Example: It would likely be a mitigating factor if the defendant suffered from dementia. The age of the defendant at the time of the crime. Example: A woman found guilty of severely injuring people when, in the 1970s as an act of political protest, she (who was 16 years old at the time) and others set off a bomb in an office building that they believed was empty. She was never caught but turned herself in for the crime in 2015. For the past 40 years, she was law abiding, had married and was the mother of three children, and was active in her community and in her church. Whether the defendant was an accomplice to the crime and their participation was relatively minor. Example: A defendant was found guilty of being an accomplice in a breaking and entering case after it was learned that he mentioned to the co-defendants that the people who owned the home were away on vacation. He did not participate in actually breaking into the home. Any other circumstance which extenuates the gravity of the crime even though it is not a legal excuse for the crime. Example: A male teen, 16 years old, shot and killed his abusive step-father after finding him in the act of sexually molesting his 9-year-old sister. Not All Circumstances are Mitigating A good defense attorney will use all relevant facts, no matter how minor, that could help the defendant during the sentencing phase of the trial. It is up to a jury or judge to decide which facts to consider before deciding on the sentence. However, there are some circumstances that do not warrant consideration. For example, one jury might reject a lawyer presenting the mitigating factor that a college student found guilty of multiple charges of  date rape would not be able to finish college if he went to prison. Or, for example, that a man found guilty of murder would have a hard time in prison because of his small size. Those are circumstances, but ones that the defendants should have considered before committing the crimes. Unanimous Decision In death penalty cases, each juror individually and/or the judge must weigh the circumstances and decide whether the defendant is sentenced to death or life in prison. In order to sentence a defendant to death, a jury must return a unanimous decision. The jury does not have to return a unanimous decision to recommend life in prison. If any one juror votes against the death penalty, the jury must return a recommendation for the lesser sentence.

Quotes By Congesswoman Shirley Chisholm

Quotes By Congesswoman Shirley Chisholm Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman to serve in the United States Congress. An early education expert, Shirley Chisholm was elected to the New York Legislature in 1964 and to Congress in 1968, where she was a founding member of both the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Womens Political Caucus. She ran for president in 1972, winning 152 delegates in the Democratic primary but losing the partys nomination to George McGovern. Shirley Chisholm served in Congress until 1983. During her congressional career, Shirley Chisholm was noted for her support for womens rights, her advocacy of legislation to benefit those in poverty, and her opposition to the Vietnam war. Selected Shirley Chisholm Quotations I was the first American citizen to be elected to Congress in spite of the double drawbacks of being female and having skin darkened by melanin. When you put it that way, it sounds like a foolish reason for fame. In a just and free society it would be foolish. That I am a national figure because I was the first person in 192 years to be at once a congressman, black and a woman proves, I think, that our society is not yet either just or free. I want history to remember me not just as the first black woman to be elected to Congress, not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself. Of my two handicaps being female put more obstacles in my path than being black. Ive always met more discrimination being a woman than being black. My God, what do we want? What does any human being want? Take away an accident of pigmentation of a thin layer of our outer skin and there is no difference between me and anyone else. All we want is for that trivial difference to make no difference. Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread and deep-seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal. We Americans have a chance to become someday a nation in which all racial stocks and classes can exist in their own selfhoods, but meet on a basis of respect and equality and live together, socially, economically, and politically. In the end, anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - anti-humanism. My greatest political asset, which professional politicians fear, is my mouth, out of which come all kinds of things one shouldnt always discuss for reasons of political expediency. The United States was said not to be ready to elect a Catholic to the Presidency when Al Smith ran in the 1920s. But Smiths nomination may have helped pave the way for the successful campaign John F. Kennedy waged in 1960. Who can tell? What I hope most is that now there will be others who will feel themselves as capable of running for high political office as any wealthy, good-looking white male. At present, our country needs womens idealism and determination, perhaps more in politics than anywhere else. I am, was, and always will be a catalyst for change. There is little place in the political scheme of things for an independent, creative personality, for a fighter. Anyone who takes that role must pay a price. One distressing thing is the way men react to women who assert their equality: their ultimate weapon is to call them unfeminine. They think she is anti-male; they even whisper that shes probably a lesbian. ... rhetoric never won a revolution yet. Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding yet of the immorality involved in double pay scales and the classification of most of the better jobs as for men only. (1969) Tremendous amounts of talent are being lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt. Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth. (attributed to Chisholm; some sources attributed to Marian Wright Edelman) I am not anti-white, because I understand that white people, like black ones, are victims of a racist society. They are products of their time and place. The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, Its a girl. When morality comes up against profit, it is seldom profit that loses. To label family planning and legal abortion programs genocide is male rhetoric, for male ears. Which is more like genocide, I have asked some of my black brothers this, the way things are, or the conditions I am fighting for in which the full range of family planning services is available to women of all classes and colors, starting with effective contraception and extending to safe, legal terminations of undesired pregnancies at a price they can afford? Women know, and so do many men, that two or three children who are wanted, prepared for, reared amid love and stability, and educated to the limit of their ability will mean more for the future of the black and brown races from which they come than any number of neglected, hungry, ill-housed and ill-clothed youngsters. Pride in ones race, as will simple humanity, supports this view. It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more television addicts, more baseball and football addicts, more movie addicts, and certainly more alcohol addicts in this country than there are narcotics addicts. Sources Chisholm, Shirley. The Good Fight. Harper Collins, 1973. Chisholm, Shirley. Unbought and Unbossed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1970. Vaidyanathan, Rajini. Before Hillary Clinton, there was Shirley Chisholm. BBC, 26 January 2016, https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35057641. Winslow, Barbara. Shirley Chisholm: Catalyst for Change. Routledge, 2013.

Exercise 5.3 and 5.4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Exercise 5.3 and 5.4 - Assignment Example He said that many drivers had removed their winter snow tires and the dusting was enough to create conditions in which cars slid off the road.                   A call to the National Weather Service at Fargos Hector International airport also yielded that a narrow band of storm clouds rolled across central North Dakota, dumping just a tenth of an inch of snow. The NWS spokesperson Todd Drizzle said, â€Å"We got a bit more than we expected," adding that forecasters had expected "mere flurries." D. B. Dotty, 124 W. Breedlaw Road, who also witnessed the accident, testified that the ground froze fast the previous night to near zero. â€Å"The concrete was so cold this morning that instead of melting, the snow turned to ice. Nobody expected it. It got slick all of a sudden," She said. When I arrived there, motorists had fled the scene of the accident and backed up half a mile on both sides of the scene. Responding also to the accident were a water-tanker truck, a paramedics unit, a rescue squad, two fire engines, state and county troopers and a tow truck. The other car driver John Washburn, a 22-year-old undergraduate at North Dakota State University, was unhurt after driving his white Geo Metro into a mailbox on Poplar Avenue. Mr.Washbum regretted having pulled off his snow tires the previous week. â€Å"I guess Ill wait a few more weeks next year. Sure stinks to get stuck in the snow," he said. A police spokesperson observed that most of the 60 accidents occurred between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Melinda Frades, a 69-year-old woman has lost to fire a home and small barn at 384 Serramonte Ave. The estimated value of the property was $1.2 million. The fire began at about 4 p.m. at the bottom of a hill near the highway and spread up to the top, where it reached the single-story ranch-style house. According to Woodside Fire Capt. Jan Spiegel, it looked like it might have been something somebody threw from a car, although this is yet to be

A Closer Look on the Religious Liberty in the United States Essay

A Closer Look on the Religious Liberty in the United States - Essay Example The primary focus of this discussion is the free exercise clause and the establishment clause of the amendment. Several scholars had provided different positions regarding the amendment of the constitution and its practical and legal ramifications. Some scholars have highlighted the pitfalls of the implementation of the free exercise clause since it has been used by some individuals as shield against the law by using the notion of religious liberty as cover to their practices that is deemed by others as a criminal activity. Other scholars also suggest that religious liberty is an impossible ideal, targeting the lack of a concrete definition of what a religion is. In order to gain a broader knowledge on the concept of religious liberty as well as to develop a more in-depth understanding on the first amendment, the above said positions will be examined through the course of this paper. According to the Religious Liberty in American Law, the relation of religion and law in the United St ates may be summarized as follows; the government cannot establish a religion or church under the law, the people have the freedom of conscience in matters of religious belief and worship, citizens cannot be discriminated or be subjected to any form of legal preference based on different forms of religion (Bates 538). The citizens cannot be compelled to join any religious worship as well as contribute money in support to the religious institution, Public funds of any state may not be used or appropriated for the support of any religious organization, Religious tests cannon be established as a requirement to hold a public position, to have the right to vote, to be a juror or a witness in court proceedings and for any state policies and functions. The civil rights of a person cannot be reduced or altered based on his religious views and beliefs. All forms of religious beliefs are also given equal protection under the law. The law also states that everyone is guaranteed of religious li berty as long as it does not interfere with peace, good order, and the morals of society. Separation of the church and state, in terms of civil and ecclesiastical functions, is also stated in the first amendment (539). With the understanding of the provisions of the law, the first position may be addressed through the use of past court orders made for cases that involved the concept of religious freedom. The limitations of religious liberty can also be addressed through the examples. According to Chester Antinaeu (221), the freedom of religion provides individual a preferred position in the hierarchy of socio-legal values though it is not absolute. Based on the proposition of Justice Black, a well-organized society cannot allow any individual to make a final decision on everything that he will do or not do that is free from his liabilities to the state. Thus individuals that practice their religious freedom are still subjected to conduct themselves to abide obediently to the laws of the state that are designed to protect the welfare of the society from any form of threats to danger. Thus for societies that are politically organized such as the United States, the judiciary department carries the burden of delimiting the fundamental freedoms that are given to its citizens (221). Historical jurisprudence had been a key guide in determining the limits of the religious freedom. On the early years of the law, an accused claimed that by the virtue of his religious freedom, he was exempted from the statute of the state that forbids polygamy. This may be a norm the members of the Jesus of Latter Day Saints in practicing their

Sonnys Blues Essay Example for Free

Sonnys Blues Essay James Baldwins fictional story, Sonnys Blues, is a short tale between two brothers who grew up in Harlem a place where drugs are known to destroy lives of many young people. The narrators brother, Sonny, is one of those young people addicted to drugs and the narrator got the news that his brother was imprisoned for illegal possession of heroin. Even though the narrator became worried about his brothers bleak future because of drug addiction, the narrator did not reconcile with his brother until the death of his daughter. With this turn of events, the narrator reunited with his brother through letters and finally upon Sonnys freedom from prison. The narrator remembered his mothers last will for him to take care and look after his younger brother, which he was not able to do. This memory and their conversations helped the narrator understand Sonnys perception of life. Even though he and Sonny were very different, the narrator finally understood Sonny as he played his jazz music that described his deep emotions and blues (Baldwin 1-25). Character The narrator is Sonnys unnamed older brother who is a high school teacher in Harlem. His character is very much the opposite of Sonnys. Despite the more common ill-fated living in Harlem, the narrator is a successful man as shown in his occupation and family. However, he is a failure in terms of looking after his brother as his mother had wished before death. On the other hand, Sonny is a musically inclined person who resorted to drugs in order to keep himself from being overwhelmed by the suffering in his surroundings. His contrasting personality from his brother also built the gap and separation between them. Unlike his brother, Sonny was not able effectively cope with his situation that led to his faulty decisions in life. However, all his angsts, angers, and other deep emotions were expressed passionately through his music. Theme The theme of the fictional story revolved around the concept of love between brothers. The narrator and Sonny are brothers who were separated by their differences. However, the meaning of the story tells the readers that no matter how different brothers are, they are obligated to love each other. This can be shown by supporting and understanding each other and seeing through their differences. Brotherly love is also illustrated by not killing the hope that a misguided or misled brother can find his way back, in this case, through Sonnys music. Conflict, Crisis, Resolution The conflict in the story revolved around the narrators doubt about Sonnys capacity for change. Many times over, the narrator did not trust that Sonny can change for the better, hence he did not put much effort in understanding his brother. Even though the narrator did not explicitly show this, Sonny was able to feel the doubt from the narrator and other people around him though he did not express his feelings. The turning point that bridged the gap between the two brothers was when the narrator remembered his promise to his mother to look after his brother. Hence, when Sonny poured out his feelings in his music, the narrator was finally able to understand and accept his brother. Point of View The story is told in the first person through the point of view of the narrator who is a main character in the story. The narrator is the older brother of Sonny who began narrating the story by saying, â€Å"I read about it in the paper, in the subway, on my way to work. I read it, and I couldnt believe it, and I read it again† (Baldwin 1). The use of the first person, I, suggests that the focus of telling the story is through the eyes of the narrator. This means that all revelations and emotions are told to the readers as the narrator perceives them from other characters. Works Cited Baldwin, James. â€Å"Sonnys Blues†. Web. 6 July 2010

Is LEED a Worthwhile Investment for Today’s Environmentally Savvy Devel

Is LEED a Worthwhile Investment for Today’s Environmentally Savvy Developer? What is Wrong with the Environment It should not be a surprise to anyone that landfills around the world are filling up. The North American lifestyle is one to which the majority of the undeveloped world aspires. Such a lifestyle is, however, completely unsustainable, today, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, non-renewable resource consumption, and non-biodegradable waste production, let alone in the future as other countries become developed. As some of the second and third world nations such as China and India quickly jump toward production levels that match those of the developed world this epidemic is destined to worsen. Thus, many different groups have stepped in to develop plans and programs to curb the destruction of our wonderful planet. One of these programs that focus specifically on the construction industry is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED). This program is designed to create awareness and try to decrease the environmental degradation created from c onstruction and demolition. When and How Did LEED begin? This program was designed in 1998 by a government funded organization called the United States Green Building Council. This program was created to generate incentive for environmentally friendly contractors and architects to continue pursuing the implementation of environmentally friendly building practices. Soon, that guide became the leading green construction guide in the United States. As commonly occurs when an idea gains acceptance in the American market, there soon became a demand for a Canadian version of that same guide. The American guide was adopted and aug... ...r Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Benzene, found on April 12, 2007, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mhmi/mmg3.html †¢ http://oce.ncran.gc.ca/newbuildings.cbip.cfm †¢ Canadian Green Building Council, LEED Certified Projects in Canada – Complete Listing, Retrieved April 7, 2007, http://www.cagbc.org/uploads/LEED_Certified_Projects_in_Canada_Updated_070226.p df †¢ Dauncey, Guy. LEEDing the Way; Alternatives Journal, Nov/Dec2004, Vol. 30 Issue 5 http://web.ebscohost.com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=19&sid =323f957c-9796-40e2-a7cd-8a3a5bf34e6f%40sessionmgr2 †¢ Recycle Steel.com http://www.recycle-steel.org/PDFs/2005Graphs.pdf †¢ Terri Meyer Boake, Caroline Prochazka. LEED: A Primer, 2007 from Academic Search Premier †¢ Mark Gorgolewski. â€Å"The Implications of Reuse and Recycling for the Design of Steel Buildings† from Academic Search Premier