National Political Influence and the Catholic Church Essay -- Politics

Democratic transitions recently became a topic of great discussion among political scholars as a domino effect of democratization began in Latin America in the 1970s and continued through Eastern Europe in the late 1980s. In many of these transitions, the Catholic Church[1] played a crucial role as the protector of civil society during periods of communist and right-wing authoritarian rule, as well as taking an active role to promote the establishment of democracy (Bruneau 1994, Levine 1980, Stepan and Linz 1996, Perà ©z-Dà ­az 1993, Ramet 1987). While the Church’s political role in transition is important, significantly fewer scholars have explored how democracy affected the Catholic Church within the national context (Eberts 1998, Ramet 1999, Vilarino and Tizon 1998). Even fewer have attempted cross-national comparisons of the Church, thus permitting generalizations to be made about the political influence of the Church since the institution of democratic governance (Casan ova 1993, Gill et al.1998). With the establishment of democracy the Church was expected to flourish, due to its organizational and political advantage within new democracies. However, initial research suggests otherwise. Using the involvement of the Church in abortion policy as an indicator of political influence, it is clear the cases of Spain, Brazil and Poland vary extensively. The Polish Church maintained the most political influence, followed by the Brazilian and Spanish Churches (Neilsen 1991, Volenski and Gryzmala-Mosczynska 1997, Gautier 1998, Casanova 1993, Linz 1991, Morris 1993). In Brazil and Poland, the Church played an instrumental role in the democratic revolution, making a political decline in the Church almost inconceivable. While initially th... ...ee is regarded as a non-member state permanent observer allowing it to occasionally participate in General Assembly discussions and decisions and participate in UN International Conferences. Holy See, however, has no voting rights. [3] Secularization refers to the number of clergy that disaffiliated from the Church (i.e. transfer from ecclesiastical to civil). [4] Vatican II theology â€Å"stressed a very different notion of the Church as the people of God, assigned a more important role to the laity, redefined the authority of the Pope over the hole Church and the bishops over the diocese† (Mainwaring 1986). Vatican II theology stressed the need for social justice and vowed to help the less fortunate, this came to be known as the option for the poor. [5] The Roman Curia is the collection of ministries for governing the International Church (Della Cava 1993).

Malcolm X :: essays research papers

Malcolm X was one of the most influential black American leaders of the 1950's and 1960's. At first he was a criminal but then changed himself into an important defender of the rights of blacks. Growing up as a boy his father was a follower of Marcus Garvey, a black leader who worked to create close political and economic ties to Africa. In 1931, Malcolm's father died after being run over by a car. Malcolm believed white racists took his fathers life. When Malcolm was 12 years old, his mother was admitted to a mental hospital. After these two incidents, Malcolm spent the rest of his childhood in foster homes. In 1941, Malcolm moved to Boston where he became involved in criminal activities. In 1946, he was arrested for burglary and sent to prison. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam, also called the Black Muslims. Malcolm was then taught that that white people were devils. After Malcolm got out of prison, he changed his last name to "X". The letter stood for the unknown African name of Malcolm's slave ancestors. Malcolm X quickly became the Nation of Islam's most effective minister. A great speaker, Malcolm urged blacks to live separately from whites and to win their freedom "by any means necessary." But he became dissatisfied with the Nation of Islam, in part because the group avoided political activity. In 1964, Malcolm X broke with the Nation of Islam. Soon afterward, he traveled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He met Muslims of many ethnic backgrounds and rejected the view that all white people are devils. Malcolm X adopted the Muslim name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbazz. After returning to the United States, he formed his own group, the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Malcolm X rejected nonviolence as a principle, but he sought cooperation with Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights activists who favored militant nonviolent protests. But by this time, some Black Muslims had condemned Malcolm X as a hypocrite because of his criticisms of the group's leader, Elijah Muhammad. On Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was shot while giving a speech in New York City. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of the crime. The story of Malcolm X ties into Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison. Guitar and Milkman are together and Milkman’s asks Guitar why he is so secretive. Malcolm X :: essays research papers Malcolm X was one of the most influential black American leaders of the 1950's and 1960's. At first he was a criminal but then changed himself into an important defender of the rights of blacks. Growing up as a boy his father was a follower of Marcus Garvey, a black leader who worked to create close political and economic ties to Africa. In 1931, Malcolm's father died after being run over by a car. Malcolm believed white racists took his fathers life. When Malcolm was 12 years old, his mother was admitted to a mental hospital. After these two incidents, Malcolm spent the rest of his childhood in foster homes. In 1941, Malcolm moved to Boston where he became involved in criminal activities. In 1946, he was arrested for burglary and sent to prison. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam, also called the Black Muslims. Malcolm was then taught that that white people were devils. After Malcolm got out of prison, he changed his last name to "X". The letter stood for the unknown African name of Malcolm's slave ancestors. Malcolm X quickly became the Nation of Islam's most effective minister. A great speaker, Malcolm urged blacks to live separately from whites and to win their freedom "by any means necessary." But he became dissatisfied with the Nation of Islam, in part because the group avoided political activity. In 1964, Malcolm X broke with the Nation of Islam. Soon afterward, he traveled to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He met Muslims of many ethnic backgrounds and rejected the view that all white people are devils. Malcolm X adopted the Muslim name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbazz. After returning to the United States, he formed his own group, the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Malcolm X rejected nonviolence as a principle, but he sought cooperation with Martin Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights activists who favored militant nonviolent protests. But by this time, some Black Muslims had condemned Malcolm X as a hypocrite because of his criticisms of the group's leader, Elijah Muhammad. On Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was shot while giving a speech in New York City. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of the crime. The story of Malcolm X ties into Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison. Guitar and Milkman are together and Milkman’s asks Guitar why he is so secretive.

Julius Caesar Questionnaire

Act I 1. What do the final 4 lines of scene I suggest about the status of the people under Caesar’s rule? 2. â€Å"Foreshadowing† is the technique of preparing a reader or audience for something to happen later in the narrative. â€Å"Beware the Ides of March† is an example of such a technique. Can you guess what event may be foreshadowed by the Soothsayer’s warnings in scene II? (I, 21) 3. Much of scene II is given over to Cassius’s speeches to Brutus, trying to persuade him that he should rule rather than Caesar. Given this fact, what was the purpose of scene I? 4. Does Brutus tell Cassius why he has been feeling â€Å"passions of some difference† of late? (II, 45) Could they relate to his feelings for Caesar as ruler? 5. Cassius tells Brutus that â€Å"many† wished Brutus saw himself the way they do. Why is it important that he tells Brutus that such people are â€Å"groaning underneath this age’s yoke†? (II, 66) What does that mean? 6. What does Cassius mean when he describes his role for Brutus as â€Å"your glass†? (II, 73) 7. What do you think Brutus means when he tells his friend that his advice will only be important â€Å"if it be aught toward the general good†? II, 91) 8. How does â€Å"lov[ing] honor more than than [fearing] death† (II, 95) relate to Brutus’s becoming king? 9. Why does Brutus tell Cassius the story about Caesar and himself, swimming the Tiber River and fearing for their lives? 10. Summarize the meaning and intent of Cassius’s speech to Brutus in lines II, 144-167. 11. What is Caesar’s attitude toward Cassius (II, 205-219)? 12. After what you have heard about Caesar during his rule, do you believe he was genuine in his desire to refuse the crown of king, or not? (II, 269 ff. ) Why? 13. Give evidence from scene II to explain why Cassius is plotting to overthrow Caesar. 14. â€Å"So every bondman in his own hand bears the power to cancel his captivity. † Explain Casca’s statement in the context of the Romans’ growing fears of Caesar’s â€Å"monstrosity†. (III, 106-107) 15. To what does Cassius ascribe Caesar’s feeling that his powers be exercised? (III, 110-111) 16. What â€Å"enterprise† is Cassius referring to in lines III, 129-136? 17. Casca and Cassius hope Brutus will change once he is in power. How do they describe this change? (III, 161-167). Act II 1. Summarize, in a sentence or two, Brutus’s speech on pp. 21-22. Also—has Brutus decided to ally himself with Cassius and try to topple Caesar? 2. Do you think Brutus and Cassius have sufficient grounds to topple Caesar, even though much of their apprehension seems to be based on premonitions rather than Caesar’s bad deeds? Why? 3. What are Brutus’s deepest feelings about his plan to murder Caesar? (pp. 23-24) 4. â€Å"Oh, that we then could come by (influence) Caesar’s spirit/And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,/Caesar must bleed for it! Brutus still has reservations about the murder. Why, then, must Caesar still â€Å"bleed for† his abuse—or potential abuse–of power? (I, 178-180) 5. Why do you think Caesar has grown â€Å"superstitious of late†? (I, 208) 6. Do you think Brutus is lying to his wife, Portia, when he tells her he is â€Å"not well in health†? (I, 272) 7. Calpurnia tells her husband, Caesar, â€Å"When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. † Explain in reference to Caesar’s rule of Rome. (II, 31-32) 8. Caesar says, â€Å"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant taste of death but once. † Explain. (II, 33-34) [Note: This line is one of Shakespeare’s most famous. ] 9. Why is it significant that Caesar tells one of his murderers, Decius, â€Å"I love you†? (II, 78) [Note the play on Decius’s name: To die is to become â€Å"deceased†. ] 10. Do you think the conspirators are motivated by â€Å"emulation† (envy) as Artemidorus says they are? Why or why not? (III, 14) 11. To whom does the Soothsayer owe allegiance? Why, do you think? (III, 32) Act III 1. â€Å"Et tu (you, too? ), Brute? Then fall, Caesar! † says Caesar, dying. What do his dying words say about Caesar’s regard for Brutus’s opinion? Might he have meant anything else by the question, do you think? (scene I, line 84) 2. â€Å"Ambition’s debt is paid. † Explain the meaning of this statement, uttered by Brutus on Caesar’s demise. (I, 90) 3. Lines III, 121-123 proved prescient less than 150 years after Shakespeare’s death with the mutiny of the British during the English Revolution against their king, Charles I, and his murder on January 30, 1649. To what other historical events does Caesar’s murder relate? . Summarize Antony’s sentiments toward Caesar after the murder is committed? (Consult both III, 217-224 and III, 275-296 for this question. ) 5. Why does Antony befriend Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators? (III, 235) 6. When is â€Å"death† a suitable punishment for â€Å"ambition†? (III, 29) 7. â€Å"I have done no mo re to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus,† says Brutus in his funeral speech. Explain in reference to question 1, above. (III, 36-37) Does Brutus expect to be murdered, too? (III, 45-47) 8. â€Å"And Brutus is an honorable man,† is the refrain of Mark Antony’s famous eulogy f Caesar on page 56. Given his expressed love for the fallen leader, this refrain conveys Antony’s anger at the murderers through irony—saying one thing but meaning something quite the opposite. But Antony admits, credibly, that he â€Å"does not know† the whole story of Caesar’s so-called â€Å"ambition† and thus leaves himself—and Brutus and the conspirators—the option to celebrate the murderous act once he knows more. Practice saying this complex oration aloud and try to provide this refrain with an inflection that conveys Antony’s hostility. . Perceiving that he has raised the ire of the crowd to bloodthirstyness, Antony’s sarcasm turns mellow; when, at III, 225, he reiterates that the conspirators â€Å"are wise and honorable†, he seems to mean it and urges the people to listen carefully to the reasons given by t he conspirators for the murder. What was Antony’s true purpose in the eulogy? Did he achieve it or not, given the fact that the crowd does, in fact, go off to kill Brutus? Act IV 1. What is the thematic significance of Portia’s death? That is, why do you think the playwright thought it just that the lead conspirator and usurper, Brutus, should lose his wife as a result of his having participated in the conspiracy? (II, III) 2. â€Å"There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries. † [This is another of Shakespeare’s most famous lines. ] Explain the meaning and significance of this statement to the war between the legions of Antony and Brutus by referring to III, 250-252. . Summarize, in a sentence or two, Act IV’s importance to the play. Act V 1. â€Å"O Julius Caesar! Thou art mighty yet. Thy spirit walks abroad and turns our swords in our own proper entrails. † What truth about wars might this speech by Brutus be said to acknowledge? (III, 101-102) 2. What event does this speech (â€Å"O Julius Caesar †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) presage? (V, 57) 3. Mark Antony’s speech establishes , once and for all, that Brutus’s intentions were honorable, and his sincerity in working for the ultimate good of the Roman people genuine. What, then, does Octavius mean when he suggests that the victorious forces of Antony â€Å"use† his memory by staging a â€Å"respectful† burial? What significance might such a funeral have for the Roman state? (V, 82-83) 4. Now that you have read the play in its entirety, decide for yourself whether or not Shakespeare believed that the murder of Caesar was in the best interests of the Roman people? To answer this question, reflect upon the facts of the play: who lives? (were their acts just? ), who dies? (were their acts unjust? , and how do the speeches associated with their deaths shed light on the way â€Å"God† (in the case of a fictitious story, the playwright himself) would judge them and their actions? 5. Since Brutus himself is said to have been â€Å"the noblest Roman of all† (V, 74), why do you think Shakespeare kills him off before the play’s conclusion? That is, is Shakespeare conveying any message, moral or practical, by killing him of f? [Remember: The reader must assume that nothing in such a play is included by accident. ]

Effects of Deforestation

Tropical rain forest is very important for our nature such as for ecosystem balance, earth temperature and flora and fauna habitat. In our country Malaysia, most of the forest are announced as a forest reserve to preserve our forest from destroyed. Not only important to flora and fauna but also to people. For some people, their lives depends on forest. However, deforestation activity by irresponsible people has led to imbalanced ecosystem. First of all, the effect of deforestation is pollution especially water pollution. This problem occurred when people often cut down the trees illegally. So, there are no roots to hold and prevent the soil from fall down. The soil that does not have roots to hold it can easily fall down into the river. Consequently, the water becomes polluted. Cloudy and shallow. From this, the aquatic life ecosystem will be threatened and damaged. Another effect of the deforestation is flora extinction. As we all know, forest is the habitat of most species for flora. For instance, raflesia, nepenthis, ferns, and various kinds of wood. The loggers who cut down the trees do not care whether the kind of trees is mature or immature. As a result, the trees which is flora habitat will be damaged. The flora will die and extinct due to this problem. Finally, we can see clearly the bad effects from deforestation. If this problem still happen, our forest will be damaged and vanish. In that case, our next generation will not have a chance to know all these valuable flora. So that, government and people should work together to overcome this problem.

Local Literature

A significant amount of literature is available on inventory systems. A majority of the findings are derived from experiences in the US, Japan and Western Europe. Some inventory systems however, can be affected by variations in local conditions such as infrastructure, customs, duties, and regulations. Hence, it is essential to view such systems in an international context. To frame this research, we will examine the literature on operations in NIC countries followed by an analysis of local conditions in Thailand. A number of articles are available that examine the inventory setups in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Korea (Amsden, 1989). For example, Cheng (1988) and Hum and Ng (1995) examine the workings of Just In Time (JIT) systems in Hong Kong and Singapore, respectively. Other studies related to inventory management include facility location decisions (Sisodia, 1992; Nambiar, fielders, and Van Wassenhove, L. N, 1989; Mathews, 1997) and distributed systems. These studies indicate that Thailand is not as industrialized as the other NIC countries such as Singapore, and infrastructure shortcomings play an important role. Next, we will examine the literature on the quality of infrastructure in Thailand. Infrastructure affects both the productivity and effectiveness of manufacturing companies. It has a direct impact on the distribution of raw materials, parts, and finished goods to customers. The few studies focused on Thailand have primarily addressed infrastructural problems in Thailand (Chalamwong, Chalongphob and Wattanalee, 1994; Chalamwong, 1993). In identifying the infrastructure-related problems, Yukio (1990) calls for the Thai government to pay closer attention to transportation systems in their effort to attract more Japanese and foreign investment. Sibunruang (1986) also points to infrastructural constraints having a bearing on the development of the Thai economy. The present government, however, does realizes the importance of infrastructure for the country's overall economy. In its efforts to improve infrastructure, the Thai government has privatized telecommunication service and has started seeking help from private local and foreign companies to cope with the road shortage. The government has also approved a number of projects for the construction of highways in and around Bangkok. Furthermore, the airports in Thailand are now better managed. Although infrastructure remains a problem, there is a substantial pool of investors looking to open shop in Thailand. Information on production and inventory management practices in Thailand can help managers better understand and identify approaches that might be suitable for their companies' operations in that country. As noted earlier, no research on inventory management in Thailand has been undertaken and reported in the literature. The next section presents the methodology used in examining the types of inventory systems employed by foreign companies in Thailand.

Write a response paper about the given article Essay

Write a response paper about the given article - Essay Example s Somers, the author of the article refutes this common belief and illustrates how using the dictionary authored by Webster in its unedited versions presents a wealth of vocabulary and its usage in English. This paper will offer a response to the article by James Somers. James Somers is the author of the article that criticizes many modern dictionaries. Having spent a lot of time with McPhee, a great novelist and author in the American society, Somers developed an interest in the English. Although he had opined that his dictionary was a reliable companion to improve his vocabulary, he really used it. However, he noted the differences in McPhee’s use of the English language a specifically his continued use of a unique dictionary. These two aspects prompted to inquire from McPhee on the differences between his preferred dictionary and those used by many people. Although initially it was his responsibility to find out why this happens, McPhee first illustrated how the meaning of Webster’s book was outstanding and the concepts introduced by the dictionary proved to be very compelling. After Somers discovered that the Webster dictionary was the critical tool that McPhee had relied on, Somers ventured into its use. Over many years, he has be en using the same dictionary which has immensely improved his written and spoken English (Somers n.p). In this article, Somers’s introduces his subject by illustrating how words are searched in the dictionary and the kind of responses yielded by the searches. Using an example of the term â€Å"Sport,† he demonstrates to the leader how limiting many dictionaries are in offering relevant and more provisional results. Using the testimonial from McPhee, the author develops his argument basing it on his comparison of the description of words in the Webster dictionary as well as other common dictionaries. Using words such as sport, fustian and pathos, the author elaborates the differences between the two dictionaries. After giving an

Credit card and Biometrics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Credit card and Biometrics - Research Paper Example Physical characteristics such as face, finger prints and behavioural characteristics such as voice, body movements (Eye movements) etc are used extensively in biometrics to identify a person. The credit card provider take note of either one of the biometric characteristics mentioned above for making and storing biometric template in the master computer at the time of issuing the card. The card holder needs to scan the particular biometric characteristics against a scanning system whenever he was planning to use the credit card for some services. Biometrics increases the safety, security and reliability of the credit card system. Moreover it is inexpensive, fast and easy to use as well. The major disadvantage of biometrics is the loss of privacy. Considering the improvements in electronic transactions, it is necessary to increase the safety of the credit card transactions and the use of biometrics in credit card services seems to be the option for the future. "A credit card is a thin plastic card, usually 3-1/8 inches by 2-1/8 inches in size, that contains identification information such as a signature or picture, and authorizes the person named on it to charge purchases or services to his account -- charges for which he will be billed periodically. Today, the information on the card is read by automated teller machines (ATMs), store readers, and bank and Internet computers" (How Credit Cards Work, 2008).Credits cards are a type of plastic card with a magnetic strip which is used extensively to borrow money or to buy products or services. The card holder need not carry money always with him for his purchasing needs. He can use the credit cards to purchase an object directly or indirectly through internet from anywhere in the world. Each credit card may have the name of the card holder affixed and a unique number. Moreover, a personal identification number (PIN) is also provided by the financial institution which supplies the credit card to its customers. This PIN would be useful for the card holder when he want to withdraw money from Automatic Teller Machines (ATM). Problem "In the end of 2005, MasterCard and Visa generated a sales volume of more than $190.6 billion, from the circulation of approximately 56.4 million credit cards across Canada. Credit card fraud statistics show that about $2.8 million was lost due to credit card fraud, from fraudulent use of MasterCard and Visa alone. In total, credit card fraud costs cardholders and credit card issuers as much as $500 million a year" (Credit Card Fraud Statistics and Facts, 2009) Credit card forgery is one of the big headaches faced by the cyber crime investigating agencies. The big problem associated with credit card is that anybody who knows the card number can use it. Even though many security measures provided by the card supplier for the customers, forgers have better technologies to steal the credit card numbers while the card holder using it somewhere for his purchasing needs or money withdrawal purposes. Biometrics is a new technology incorporated to credit card uses to prevent the card forgery . Instead of the card number, in biometrics oriented credit cards, the finger print, voice or the face of the card hold